Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-11-29
WASHINGTON.
4 Word of Caution TO Postmasters--
The Profeus Inqn.ry-statisucs
showing Increase I'm Exports.

y
showing Increase I'm Exports.
A Washington dispatch says the
following official order has been
made:
1t appearing that certain persons
have been practicing systametic frauds
on ex-Union soldiers and their widows
and orphans, or other heirs, by max
ing false representations concerning
pension claims, and extorting illegal
fees for services pretended to have
been or promised to be rendered, and
this department having reason to be
heve some postmasters have been aid
ing these fraudulent claim agents by
furnishing them lists of names of ex-
Union soldiers and Others supposed to
be entitled to pensions, and also by
distributing their unaddressed circu-
lars among that class, therefore, post
masters are forbidden hereafter to fur
nish such lists or to distribute any
circulars Of the kind indicated unless
they are addressed to some individual
and are prepaid according to law.
w. g. GRESHAM, PoStmaster-Gen
The IholhlS lNQIlhA'
Commander Frank Wildes, com
handing the Yantic, appeared before
the Proteus Court of Inquiry, and
previous to take the oath asked wheth-
err he was summoned to testify to the
acts Of others, or to have his conduct
as commander inquired into The
room was cleared while the subjects
was considered. After a short con
ference, Commander Wildes was in
formed that he was summoned as a
witness, and that he had the privilege
of refusing to answer any questions
tending to criminate himself. He
was then sworn, and said that upon
learning Of the disaster to the Proteus,
it occurred to him to land stores for
the Proteus, of the Greedy party He
refused, however to give the court
his views on the subject
The witness said, aside from the
wooden sheatthmg, the Yantic was
equipped for Polar voyage the same
as she would have been for trip to
the West Indies. Inc failure of the
expedition, the witness thought, was
due to the following causes: INSULT
cient and scanty means employed, for
manning the Proteus with an ineffec-
tive captain and crew of beach
combers' and 'longshoremenn and
the neglect Of those by whose orders
the expedition was fitted to acquaint
themselves with the business in hand
before dIspatchiug the vessel north.
His ship has been cruising in the
West India waters and he only re-
ceived orders to go north three days
before sailing.
EXPORTS EXHIBITS.
The Chief of the Government
Bureau of Statistics, IN his last bulle-
tin reports a continued increase in
the exports of domestic provisions
and dairy products. During the
twelve months ending Oct. 81, 10S.-
927, nc pounds of fresh beef were
against AZ, S42 81 pounds
last year; exports of sailed and pickl-
ed beef, 43, AT, 203 pounds, a little
less than last year bacon, 1852, 400. 3S7
pounds, against $50, 792, $50 pounds
last year; hams, 81 ,513. 1876 pounds,
against 81 6O4, 666 pounds last year;
lard, 270, 7S5, 573 pounds, against 233
500, 200 pounds last year; pork II, =
$50, 1876 pounds, against 67514, 291
pounds last year; tallow, 52,2S6, 547
pounds, against Al, 619, $50 pounds last
year. During the six months ending
Oct. 81, the exports of butter were ID, :
53l, 1866 pounds, against 1898, $50
pounds for the corresponding period
last year; ana the exports of cheese
for the same time were IS, 700, 600
pounds, against 7G,222, 234 pounds
for the corresponding six months last
year.