Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-03-31

with some OF the house congressional
leaders Thursday, stated emphatically
that he would avert war if possible, and
J expressed the hope that he could do so.
Commodore Schley, at present con-
nected with the lighthouse board, has
been ordered to command the flying
squadron at Hampton Roads, with the
Brooklyn as his flagship. Capt. Evans
ORDERS TO take command of the Iowa
had most important Seqnel in the as
signment of Captain Sampson, present
commander of the Iowa, to succeed Ad-
mlral Sicard in command of the north
Atlantic squadron. This is probably
the most lmportanU assignment the de-
/ partment has made in many months.
1t IS due mainly to the findings of a
medlcal court now Sitting at Key west
that Admiral Sicard is temporarily in
capacltated for active duty, owing to
long continued illness
A large contract for disappearing gun
carriages was awarded Saturday to the
Walker company of Cleveland, o.,
whose immense foundries and machine
shops have been placed at the disposal
OF the government. The company will
run its plant night and day to rush the
work for rapid delivery. 1t is probable
that the first delivery will begin in
three weeks. This is the first contract
the Walker company has taken direct
from the government.
Intense interest is being manifested
among officials Of the navy department.
over the movement of the Spanish fleet
OF torpedo boats from the Canaries to
Porto Rico. The sending of the fotilla
to the West Indies at this time is re-
garded as an indication of Spain's en-
deavor to be prepared for any emer-
gency that may arise in or near Cuba.
Naval experts are of the opinion that
under ordinary circumstances it will
take the hotilla about 10 days to make
the journey, but it is exceedingly likely
that it will actually require several
days longer.
Considerable alarm was created among
the friends of ex-senator j. G. S. Black
burn of Kentucky, by the report that
he had suffered a stroke of paralysis
while returning from the launching of
the two battleships, Kearsarge and Ken
tucky, at Newport News, Thursday
Senator Blackburn was overcome while
passing from the boat to his carriage
and was taken to his hotel in semi
conscious state. 1t is stated that he is
now out of danger and will probably be
about in few days.
The board of inquiry into the loss of
the Maine finds that the explosion
which destroyed the Maine was from
the outside and does not fix the respon-
sibllity for the disaster. 1t does not ex-
press an opinion as to the character of
the explosive, but the testimony goes to
show that it was a powerful submarine
mine, the exact character of which is
not determined by the testimony,
though the belief is expressed that it
was what is known as a floating SUBJ
marine mine There We're two explo-
sions, the board finds. The first was
from the outside and that set off one of
the smaller magazines.
miscellaneous News.
Columbia won in the first intercol-
tegiate debate with Chicago university
at New York.
Lightning set fire to the docks at
Fiume, which were damaged to the
amount of 100000.
By vote of 95 to 2S, with IL dele
gates absent, the Louisiana consti.
tutional convention adopted suffrage
plan.
The firing of a dynamite cartridge in
the Hazard coal mines near Liege
caused an explosion of coal gas. Twenty
miners were killed.
Fire destroyed the Wisconsin indus
trial school for boys at Waukesha. The
$50 inmates escaped without injury and
there was not much excitement.
The notorious George Knowlton, bet
ter known as "Rebel George one of
the smoothest confidence men in the
United States, has been convicted at
Yreka, Cal.
The citizens of Moundsville, w. Va,
are incensed against passing vessels,
| because OF the heavy swells which fol-
low and swamp the houses. The tow
boat Tornado was fired upon.
The grand national steeplechase, the
grandest event of it's kind OF the year,
which was run at Aintree, near Liver
| pool, Friday, was won by Drogheda.
Cathal was second and Gauntlet third.
Twenty five horses started
| S. G. Cobban, one of the wealthiest
men in northern Wisconsin, is one of
the victims of the colossal frauds prac-
tlced by government clerks at ST. Paul.
Reports state the amount of Mr. Cob
bans loss will reach $4,000.
At the shoot off at Elkwood park,
New Jersey, Friday for the silver cup,
| omu1euldtlC VI ldulplOuSnlD nOQOrS, III
the grand American handicap contest
At live pigeon shooting, E. D. Fulford
of Utica won the trophy with 23
straight kills.
The Ohio river continues rising. The
kanawha river has risen five feet at
Charleston. The flood continues at
GAINESVILLE. Two persons are reported
drowned More than 200 box cars have
oeen destroyed and the city is without
light or water supply. Two thousand
persons are sheltered in public halls and
he market house. The loss at Pittsburg
S now estimated at millions.
E. D. Fulford, of Utica, N. Y. won
ihe grand American handicap shoot at
Ilkwood park. Nj, March 20, with As
straight kills to his credit. Immediately
lfter the grand American handicap was
inished Frank S. Parmalee Of Omaha,
Neb., tackled Captain Jack Brewer in a
contest of 100 birds EACH The western
nan proved to be by far the cleverer
ind won out with score of "a kills
.gainst 10 made by Captain Brewer.
The annual boat race between crews
representing Oxford and Cambridge was
| owed Saturday Ovar tho uo,ol oo,,rea