Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-12-17
HOPING FOR STANLEY.
Englishmen Loath to Believe That
lie Is 0sman Digna's Prisoner.
THE PANAMA CANAL SMASH
De Lessep's Ditch Deserted by the Cow
ernment-The Company, and Not the
Project, Condemned-SurprIse
Over the Russian Loan.


tion asked everywhere about the prisoner>oi
Osman Digna, the new mahdi of the Soudan
Most people think Stanley is the man who il
in the hands of Osnan's Arabs along with
Emin Pasha. The threat to kill the prisoner.
if Suakim is not evacuated gives the little
blaze of war on the Red sea coast between
the English invaders and the Arab patriot.
a suddenly intense interest
1t has been ascertained that the date 1S6s
was stamped upon the cartridges which &C
companied Osman Digna's letter announcing
the capture of Emin Pasha and a white
traveller, and which were alleged to have
been taken from the latter The letter how
ever, is relied on to give fuller particular
when its full translation is received. Many
believe that the ''white traveller is Casati
the Italian.
Refugees at Handoub are said to confirm
the statements in Osman Dignas letter re
lating to the capture of Stanley and Emir
Pasha by the mahdi
The Arabs fired twenty shells into the
British camp outside Suakim. 1t is reported
that Osman Naib, the rebel commander, has
been seriously wounded in the exchange oi
shots
In the house Of commons Lord Randolph
Churchill asked whether the announcement
of the capture of Emin Pasha and Henry NJ.
Stanley by Osman Digna was well founded
and if the government would negotiate for
the release of the Europeans imprisoned al
Khartoum before beginning hostilities.
Mr. Goschen, replying for the government
said it was impossible to suspend the proposed
measures for the relief of Suakim during
the many weeks necessary to ascertain the
fate of Emin Pasha and Stanley.
A woman named Gallagher, a passenger
who landed here from the steamship Umbris
from New York, was arrested and searched.
Fifty cartridges were found concealed in her
dress The woman was relnanded 1t was
evident that the detectives were thoroughly
informed about her, having most probably
been warned of her coming from New York
by either detective or an informer. The
cartridges are said to contain dynamite
Irish matters go on in the same dull, grim
way. The Parnell commission has adjourned
to Jan. Is
Mr.. Gladstone, however, keeps to the
front. Although the weather was cold,
gloomy and foggy, he made triumphal
progress through the east end on his way tc
Limehouse, where he delivered an address
The pr esent, Mr.. Gladstone said, afforded
golden opportunity to alter the system OF
governing Ireland Owing to the m odera.
tion and wisdom displayed by the people OF
Ireland and the Irish representatives in par
lament the home rule policy was perfectly
practicable. He predicted an increase OF
home rule members that would ultimately
become a majority.
Parliament expects to finish this week, ex-
cept formal sitting after Christmas to pro-
rogue the two houses.
noa
pany is doomed Its last effort to obtain as.
sistance from the government has failed.
In the chamber of deputies the bill submit
ted by M. Peytrol, minister of finance,
authorizing the company to suspend payment
of its interest and bonds for three months,
was reported adversely by the special com.
mittee appointed under the vote of urgency
to consider it.
A long and excited debate followed. Pa,
thetic appeals were made to the house to sus
tain the great enterprise with which the
honor and pride of the nation were bound
up. On the other hand bitter denunciations
We're heard of the mismanagement of the af.
fairs of the company, the wanton extrava,
gance, the misappropriation of funds, the
wholesale corruption of the press and the de
ception of the public.
president more than once threatened to sus
pend the sitting. Finally, amid excitement
SO intense that it nearly qnieted the chamber.
the question on the committees report wal
taken, and it was adopted by vote of 362 to
1SS; - -
1t was noticeable throughout. the debate
that the attack was directed against the
company. and its officers, Little was or Is
said against the work itself. The people,
although. staggered by the failure of the
financial scheme, still have confidence in the
ultimatel completion of the canal, and are
ready again to pour forth their money foI
that purpose. This is, indeed, surprising, but
France has not surrendered the pferogative
OF making the world wonder 49,, !.
:. In. thai midst OF a collapse which was ex-
pected to bring ruin and perhaps revolution
to the entire country, this nation, out OF
pure sentiment, q yearning in her isolation
for the friendship OF a great power, has laid
its bard won earnings at the feet of Russis
to the extent of hundreds of millions OF
francs. In one day the Russian loan, feared
and refused By the rest Of Europe. was taker
up three and four times over by the enthusi
astic FEenchmen. TIE spectacle has paralyzed
the rest OF Europe Berlin, Vienna and st
Petersburg are astounded They did not
believe the. French in their days of de.
preston and despair capable Of such splen-
did exhibition Of spirit and power. 1t ha,
almost restored France to the front rank
out Of which Germany has 50 long endeayored
to keep her. What the effect has been upoB
Russia remains to be seen. The Russians
have not yet sufficiently recovered from their
surprise to speak their sentiments The gen
erous act canmot fail 10 bind the two c0un
tries closer together, and the people may
have thus found the means; by- instinct o.
inspiration, of bringing about an alliance al
which diplomats have Iabored for years il