The Press., 1896-12-31

low. OVor tnlrty IVoS were lOSC. AC IS thought that the accident was caused by train robbers, who had removed rail from the track.
 The Cubans of Havana are rejoicing over the report that Maceo is alive. It Is said that when he fell from his horse his followers thought him dead, but found that he was still living, and spread the news that he was dead in order to carry him to place of safety. It seems that only one wound was dangerous, that be- ing in the stomach. but the bullet did not touch the intestines, and he Is now slowly recovering.
 The most destructive fire in the history of North Grosvendale, started at a. m. Saturday in Chandler's Opera House block, gutting that and the Paradis build ing adjoining and damaging Henry WOis- ards two buildings to the extent of 5000. Word was sent to Grosvenordale and Webster. Delay in the arrival of the ap- paratus from those places was responsible for large part of the loss. The Gros- ven dale machine broke down on the way and then froze up The fire was started by an employee at the opera house block who, while caring for the furnace, threw a match into some waste paper Tenants in the blocks saved little of their furniture. The losses are Chandler block, in which there were Wright's iewelry store, Farleys clothing store, a harness shop and millinery store. $t8,OOO insurance $9,OOO; H. Paradis block and store, $7,OOO, fully insured; Henry Wo- isard, $5,OOO. insured.
 While it is not true that the Spanish government will accept the mediation of the United States in giving autonomy to Cuba, 1t has been known for some weeks that the Spanish ministry purpose giving the Cubans larger measure of home rule than they have heretofore enjoyed. President Cleveland has been repeatedly assured that these reforms will be lnaugu- rated when the province of Pinar del Rio has been pacified. It is in that province that Gen. Maceo and his followers have been located for the past year, and since Maceo's death the work of paciication has been considerably expedited. The time IS now believed to be ripe when the home rule reforms will be instituted there and also in the provinces of Matanzae and Havana, where the insurgents have never secured foothold. It has beer frequently asserted by Spain that the in tended reforms would have been put into operation long ago but tor the insurrectioI and that some of the leaders among tht insurgents started the rebellion in order to prevent the reforms. These reforms embrace the election of the entire Cubar congress, instead of 6 mixed congress of 15 elected members aud 15 appointed by the queen regent, and also a complete control by Cuba of her tariff. The Span ish ministry are now understood to be en- gagged in drafting the proposed reforms but thus far the only knowledge respect ing them Is of a general nature. It il believed that they will be completed witt In the next fortnight, and 1t Is not unlike ly that copy will be cabled to Secretary OlneY by the permission of the Spanish government before their public announce ment.
 The London Daily News publishes 8 dispatch from Paris saying 1t is QuIt' clear that Spain Is carrying On negotia tions with the United States, although her pride compels her to do so in an un- derhand manner. The dispatch adds that the proceeds of the popular loan re gently issued by the Spanish governmen are virtually exhausted, ,thatth buoyancl that followed the death of Maceo Is evap orating and that the government Is unabl, to avoid seeking an agreement with th' United States.
 Hartford Courant Evidence was heard in the superior court before, Judge Shum way in New Haven Monday after-noop or the motion. of the defendant to dismiss the complaint in the case of Mrs. Isabelle Hicks, wife of Hon. Radcliffe Hicks against the latter for an absolute divorce The defendant claims that Mrs. Hicks hat not been resident in the state of Connec ticut for a sufficient length of time to entel a suit for divorce here. She has haC papers served on her husband, who Is now --zlIlArizona, for divorce and claiming @1OO, }. 0O0 alimony. Mrs. Hicks testifIed thst she married him October 19, 1895, al Ho nd hot went to her former home In Chicago ,ther South and across the Atlantic on a wed ding trip. They started to return to th' United States December 29, 1895, ant arrived in New York in February las year, and afterwards went to Washington DC. There Mrs. Hicks testified tha her husband deserted her, and she hal been searching for him ever since. ShG testified that she came to New Haver last May. Mrs. Hicks said that her hus- band owned property in Holland, Sara toga, N. Y., and New Orleans, and sh' considered that she, being wife of thu owner, should be considered resident O this state as much as the defendant. Chas F. Holcomb, the confidential clerk fol the defendant, testified that at the present time Mir. Hicks, Is living in Flagstaff, AriS., and since his marital troubleG began he has been In every state in the Union. The witness was asked where Mir. Hicks paid taxes and he replied that in 1898, 1894 and 1895 Mir. Hicks paid taxes in Holland, Bridgeport and Meriden and that in 1899 and 1894 he was elected representative to the General Assembly