davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Florence tribune., 1898-06-18
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

Boston is to have a restaurant wherein only vegetable productions will be cooked and served.
 Dogs are annually taxed two dol lars each in Paris; but pups are ex- cmpt until they are weaned.
 A French agriculturist has grafted tomatoes upon potatoes, with the re- suit that his plant produces potatoes underground and tomatoes above.
 A jealous husband in Bellefonte, Pa, thought his wife had too many ad- mirers, and to make her beauty less at tractive, he shot off the tip of her nose.
 After sharpening an indelible lead pencil, John Renshaw, of Yonkers. x. Y, used the same knife to cut his corn. Blood poison resulted, and tle man died
 Stale sermons are not admired by the archbishop of Canterbury. He ad- vises his clergy to burn their sermons after they have been preaeled three times.
 Taxes are remitted on Paris houses which are unoccupied. If any part of the house is untenanted, correspond ing reduction is made in the amount of the tax.
 A small inheritance came to London pauper at the age of 70. He in vited his friends to a champagne sup per, and he drank so freely that within three days he died.
 An undertaken at Leavenworth, Kan, during the recent reunion of sol- diers in that city, displayed in the win dow of his coffin shop a banner with these words, Welcome, Comrades!"
 The dairyman of Syria marches his goats to the houses of his patrons, and milks them on the street in sight of his customers. Should they express a wish for the milk of any particular goat, the wish is gratiied.
 If one dollar were loaned for 100 years, at six per cent, with the interest annually collected and added to the principal, the investment would amount to s340. At eight per cent. it would amount to $2,2o5; at ten per cent, s13,- S09.
 A gentleman who needed wifely attentions was recently married at Van Buren, Ark. He interrupted the cere- mony long enough to adjust one of bis suspenders, both of which were held in place at the back by the restraining influence of one button.
 A cord of wood, weighing 4,0O0 pounds, will yield nine gallons of alco- hol, 200 pounds of acetate of lime, 25 gallons of tar, and S5 bushels of char coal. Wood alcohol is almost perfect substitute for grain alcohol for me- chanical and manufacturing purposes.
The Florence tribune., 1898-06-18

Before 1883 Spain wss one of the great powers. Between 1855 and 1876 there were actually 3s rebellions. changes of government and coups d'etat. Since 1883 Spain has declined in the scale of nations, and now ranks as little more than third-rate power. A glorious tribute, indeed, to the wisdom of interfering with the settled success sion. In order to understand the pres ent condition of Spain, we have only to read the daily papers. On the one hand, in Madrid, we see a titular sovereign struggling Intellectually with an empty treasury to stave off bankruptcy, mak- ing futile attempts with discredited army to subdue his rebellious colonies, and relying upon martial law to crush civil anarchy, which, be it remembered, is ever the result of bad government. incompetent and tyrannical police, and especially of corrupt finance and of tax ation pressing too heavily on the class least able to bear it. On the other hand, in Venice, we see the king waiting un- til the moment shall arrive for him to make his final essay to save his coun- try from the distress with which the queen regent has proved herself unable to cope.-Fortnightly Review.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
GONE FROM PORTO RICO.
Spanish War Ships Sail to Join the
FlotiIIa-

Chicago, April ia special to the
Times-Herald from Washington, says:
SPANS two cruisers, the Vizcaya
and the Almirante Oquendo, which re-
Gently arrived at Porto Rico from Ha-
vana, have sailed from Porto Rico. 1t
is understood their destination is the
Cape Verde islands.
In withdrawing the armOred cruisers
Vizcaya and Almirante Oquendo from
western waters, Spain has acted in a
manner which is approved by naval eX-
perts, when thinking of her interests
At the Cape Verde islands they will
join the armOred cruisers CriStobal
Colon and the Infanta Maria Teresa,
which are en- route to that place, and
is officially stated, consists of transport
steamer Ciudad de Cadiz, torpedo boat
destroyers Furor, Terror and Pluton,
and torpedo boats Ariete, Azor and
Rayon.
1t is appreciated by the officials that
the union of the four armored cruisers
and the f1otilla makes a formidable
force, but it of course impossible to pre-
vent it at this time. 1t had been hoped
by the officials that the American fleet
would be able to catch and destroy the
Vizcaya and Oquendo before they could
join the remainder of the Spanish fleet,
and it is admitted that Spain acted
with good judgment in directing them
to proceed to the Cape Verde islands.
1t is admitted by the authorities that
Spain has at her disposal a force which
will prevent the American navy from
gaming an easy victory, and if war
should break out some hard fighting
may be expected.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
IN NEW YORK THEATERS.
Sousas Opera at the Knickerbocker
and Mrs Fiske in Two Imported
C0noaifS

New York, April 13.-The first comic
opera for which John Philip Sousa has
written the language as well as the mu-
SIC, The Bride-[Elect," will have it's
nrst New York production at the
hnlckerbocker theater tomorrow night,
but IL mas been approved in Boston and
Ph1ladelphia, and therefore the intro
auction OF it here is hardly experiment
tai.
The plot relates to a princess who is
a brlde-elect, but is determined not to
became the wife of the king to whom
she is betrothed. The action is placed
on Mediterranean island very long
ago. whimsical incidents, picturesque
costumes, and extraVagant cOnceitS are
thus made possible
Two important plays will have their
hrst American performances at the
Firth Avenue tomorrow night with
Minnie Maddern- Fiske as the heroine
in each. "A Bit of Old Chelsea by
Mrs. Oscar Beringer. has been brought
from London Its pictures of a famous
quarter in the British capital are said
TO be true and attractive. The role for
Mrs F1ske is that of a flower peddler.
whose mlsfortunes are pathetic and
who finds hopeful friend in an artist.
The longer and more important disclos-
ures OF new matter will be that of a
German drama freely translated into
EngIIsh by Margaret Merington. Mrs.
Merlngton has named the play piece
Love or the Finest Way
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
A STEP BACKWARDS.
The President to Reduce the Civil Ser
vice List.

Washington, April 13.-The president in
q few days will issue an important order
in regard to the classification of offices
under the civil service law. He has called
upon the heads of each of the executive
departments for statement of such Of
fees in their respective departments as in
their Judgment may be removed from the
classified service. governed by the rules
of the civil service commission as to ex-
animation, etc. All the reports are now
in.
Although it lacks official authority, there
is good ground for the statement that the
president, on the advice of a large major
tty of his cabinet, has practically decided
to restore the offices of chiefs and assist
ant chiefs of divisions and messengers and
assistant messengers in the executive de-
partments and many outside offices to the
status they held before President Cleve-
land included them in the classified serv-
ice. If this is zone all the offices named
will be put in the class exempted from
examination and the appointments to
them will be left to the heads of the re-
spective departments, as was the case up
to the time of the issue of President
Cleveland'S order
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
SPANS WAR PLANS.
She is Forming Two Big Fleets-One
for Defense.

New York, April 13.-Advices received
by the navy department indicate that
Spain is organizing as rapidly as pos
sible two powerful fleets, which will,
it is supposed, be opposed to the two
fleets that this country has assembled
at Key West and at Hampton Roads,
says a Washington correspondent of
the Times.
One of her fleets is forming at Puerto
Grande, St. Vincent, Cape Verde is
lands, and the other is forming at Ca
dix, Spain.
Naval experts think that the fleet
at Cadiz is intended for the defense of
the Spanish coast from any attack by
the flying squadron, while the fleet that
is assembling at the Cape Verde islands
is intended for retaliatory attacks upon
our coasts.
1t is remarked that the latter fleet is
composed of very fast vessels, torpedo
boats, torpedo boat destroyers and also
swift cruisers. Even the supply YES
keep up with the movement of the rest
of the fleet. 1t is just the kind of a
squadron that would be formed for the
purpose of marrying the coast and in the
meanwhile lodging an enemy's fleet.
1t is probable that it could keep out of
the way of the majority of Captain
SIMPSONS vessels; and it would not be
safe for one or two American ships to
leave the squadron too far and subject
themselves to a sudden attack by a
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
INSANE At THROTTLE.
Engineer Pickard Becomes Suddenly
Crazy While on Trip.

Joliet, Ill, April bike Pickard, a
well known engineer on the Rock Is
land road, suddenly became insane on
his engine in La Sale and was removed
from his cab by the train crew by force.
The demented man was taken to his
home near Blue Island and cared for.
Pickard is one of the best known en-
gineers on the road. About a month
ago he was assaulted by footpads in
the railway yards at Blue Island and
received a severe pounding on the head
with club in the hands of one of the
thugs. The injuries appeared slight at
the time and Pickard reported for work
the next day as usual.
Since then he has complained of Sc
we're pains in the head. While on this
trip he suddenly began acting very
strangely. Trainmaster Sickels was on
the engine and noticed the queer ac-
tions of Pickard.
BY a clever ruse Sickels succeeded in
bringing the train to a stop and had
the poor engineer removed before he
could harm himself or anyone else
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13

swarm of torpedo boats. If this Ameri-
can squadron keeps together, therefore,
it seems probable that the Spanish fleet
which is the faster as a whole-could
evade it on the high seas and choose
its own way of fighting.
The plan presupposes that the Spanish
fleet now rendezvoused in the Cape Verde
vana or seek to draw off the American
ships by a foray on our coast 1t is evil
dent that Spain expects an attack on Ha-
vana and 1t was for this reason that she
Oquendo from that harbor.
1t is true that she has not, at least ac-
cording to the latest adviceS of the navy
department, moved this torpedo and
this is thought to be due to the fact that
she is afraid to start it this way on it's
long journey across the ocean lest war be
declared and the feet be taken at a great
which would be advised of the outbreak
of war instantly and could move across
its path. OF course, if the Spaniards
sailed from Porto Grande they would come
under sealed orders, or on orders to look
out for hostile American ships but this
would not prepare them for a sudden at
tack by the flying squadron, which could
pick it's time and place for fighting.
If Havana is invested and the Spanish
fleet moves to its assistance, part of Cap
it unless the flying squadron be kept in
these waters. The Cape Verde fleet is
not strong enough now, however, to make
such precaution necessary, and it is con-
be sufficient for the work of capturing
Havana and of holding the torpedo f1otilla
at bay or of dispensing and destroying it
and allowing the flying squadron to carry
ing dash at the Canaries and cutting in
two Spain'S weak line of defense.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
SPAIN DID IT.
Consul General Lee Tells the
Senate Committee
There is No Room to Doubt
That Spanish Officials
BLEW UP THE MAINE.
EXOnerates BlancO From Any
Completely.
He Will Appear Before the Com
mittee Again
BLEW UP THE MAIN.
TO GIVE FULL DETAILS
Of How the Destruction Was
Accomplished.

Washington, April 13.-Consul Cen
eral Lee was before the senate commit
tee on foreign relations for an hour
late yesterday. He talked freely with
the committee in regard to conditions
in Cuba. and especially with reference
to the destruction of the Maine. y
He said that in his opinion there was
no room to doubt that the destruction
of the vessel was due to Spanish agen-
cies.
DO you mean the Spanish authorities
in Cuba?" he was asked by a member
of the committee.
81 mean the Spanish officials" he re-
piled, but not General Blanco. 1 think
some of the officials were cognizant of
the plans to destroy the vessel, but
do not believe that the captain general
was
General Lee said he had no knowledge
of the reports that a mine had been dis
covered by a diver under the Montgom-
cry while that vessel lay in the harbor
at Havana He will give additional
testimony later.
Consul General Lees appearance before
the senate foreign relations committee
today or tomorrow. 1t is believed that
he knows more about the Maine explo-
sion than any other man.
There is an extremely interesting but
unverif1ed story told in the best inform
ed circles here that General Lee has
been able to trace the shore and harbor
batteries which controlled the 500-pound
submarine mine planted by the Spanish
government under the Maine. Six keys
could have been used to explode that
mine. The knowledge of these keys
and how to use them was necessarily a
secret of the Spanish government.
At least three of the keys or switches
must have been used to make the cleo
trio circuit which exploded the mine.
The officers who were in charge of three
of the keys are said to be known to
Consul General Lee, and their where
abouts on the night of the explosion
has been accounted for sufficiently to
free them from any suspicion of COM
plicity in the plot.
The names of the other three Spanish
officers having charge of the keys that
were used are known to General Lee, it
is said. Detectives employed by the
government know every movement of
these officers during the evening before
and after the Maine was blown up.
They can not prove an alibi. This is
the report credited by high naval Off
GERS, and at least one member of the
cabinet who has been informed of it.
1t is this report which makes General
Lees testimony waited with the keen
est interest.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
WOMEN AT PARIS
! In Come ction With the United States
| Display Will Have an Exhibit

New York, April 13.--The Paris EXPOSE
connection with the display to be made
by the United States. Until eff
fort has been made to interest women in
this movement.
After consulting with a number of her
friends, Mrs. Ledyard Stevens sent out
letters OF invitation to representative wo-
men in this and nearby cities asking them
to meet to decide upon some plan where
by the womans department might be
made great success and a credit to the
daughters of America. The result was
that many attended the meeting.
1t was proposed to furnish house after
the style of any well regulated American
establishment in order that the French
women might see how well beauty and
comfort are combined in our American
homes: There was a suggestion also for
a STAN of hospital nurses, and for rooms
fitted up showing their work and every
thing connected with their training.
1t is well known fact that our public
school system has been copied on the other
side, and working illustrations of this may
be given. The fine arts will be represent
ed by numerous specimens of womans
work, as will all the other branches in
which she excelS.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
A GREAT LIFE.
Biography of Miss Frances E. Willard
Soon to Be Published.

Chicago, April 13.-Miss Anna Gordon,
who for 81 years was the close personal
friend and private secretary of Miss
Frances E. Willard, will give to pub
fishers of this city on May 1 her work,
entitled THE Beautiful Life of Frances
E. Willard
The book will be a complete history
of Miss Wizards life. It will contain
grouped photographs of her various
homes, both exterior and interior, views
of the new national offices of the w. c..
7. u, photographs of her father, moth
er, sister, brother and Lady Henry Som
erset and a view of the little school
house in which she taught when in her
teens.
Miss Gordon has been assisted in her
work by the best literary talent in Chi
cago. Lady Henry Somerset has writ
ten the introduction and contributed
many articles. Dean Farrar and Arch
bishop Ireland, representing the Church
of England and the Catholic church,
have furnished rare selections.
IllustriouS women who have contrib
uted to the work are: Elizabeth Stuart
Phelps Ward, Mrs. Mary A. Livermore,
Clara Barton, Susan B. Anthony, and
Mrs. Ballington Booth.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
UTES SCATTER SETTLERS.
Only IS Claim Holders Remain on
the Uncompahgre Reservation.

Vernal, UTAH. April 13.--Considerable
excitement is prevailing here over the
action of the Indians. The reds have
pulled most of the location stakes with
which the land seekers on the reserva-
ton had marked their claims. This is
especially the case on the east side of
Green river.
The Indian police have advised all
would-be settlers to keep away as the
Indians are becoming very hostile and
ugly in their demonstrations. 1t is
said that they are determined to pre-
vent any settlers from taking up land
on the east side of Green river in what
is known as the White river country.
The rush to the reservation is beginning
to slacken, fear of the Indians being
the restraining cause. Those who had
already located claims are fastening
away from the reserve as rapidly as
possible. Thursday evening there were
but 16 men left in possession of their
claims, the rest evidently being too
frightened to stay.
Numerous parties have had their eyes
upon the asphaltum claims, some even
going so far as to locate upon the as
phaltum district. Further develop
ments are anxious1y awaited.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
TO BLOW UP THE ALFONSO.
Naval Men Think It Can Be Done
Easily.

Key West, Fla, April 13-Inquiries
made carefully among the newspaper
men recently in Havana as to the con-
ditiOns of the Spanish cruiser Alfonso
XII which was recently locked, make
it safe to say that her boiler tubes are
probably not yet repaired, although
work on them was being rushed as soon
as she came off the floating dry dock.
1t is believed that there will be no
trouble in sending a pair of torpedo
boats, which draw less than five feet,
past the chain of torpedoes and mines
opposite Ell Moro to blow up the AL
fonso XII. and a couple of transports
now in the harbor and to get them
safely to sea again. You can hear
grave and gray headed naval men talk
ing over this scheme, their eyes gliSten-
ing as they think what sweet, if only
partial revenge At would be for that
wreck which lies a couple of cable
lengths from the Alfonso XII.
The war spirit is on the increase and
every body hopes that today will bring
the desired developments.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
MILL HANDS STRIKE.
Over One Thousand Workmen Refuse
to Accept the Cut.

Fitchburg Mass, April 13.-The en-
ployes of Parkhill mills went out on
strike this morning, refusing to accept
the cut in their wages, announced last
Tuesday, to go into effect this morning.
The strikers went to the mills this
morning started up their looms, and,
after running them a few minutes, left
the mills and proceeded to the upper
common, where a mass meeting was
held.
The mills are three in number and
give employment to about LOO hands
at present, more than is employed by
any other one concern in the city. To
be forced to shut down at this time will
mean a great loss to the city. 1t is
hoped that the trouble will be of short
duration.
The operatives claim that the new
schedule of wages offered by the mill
management was equal to a cut of %
per cent of their SalerieS.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
TEST AN EXPLOSIVE.
Mirex, Chicago Invention, Shows Its
Deadly Possibilities.

Chicago, April 13.-Ten pounds of mi
rex, the new explosive, proved powerful
enough yesterday to annihilate large
yaWlboat off the government breakwa-
ter at the foot of Harrison street. Tim
bers We're splintered and the stones
with winch the craft was laden were
shattered and thrown hundreds of feet
by the explosion
w. j. barley, one of the inventors of
the deadly compound, at the suggestion
OF government officials, conducted the
experiment. The results will be re-
ported to Washington at once.
Mr.. barley and his associates went to
the government pier at Van Buren,
street early in the morning and prepa-
test.
A small brass cannon was loaded in
to a sail boat and twenty shells loaded
with m1rex were taken along. A TWEEN
ty-four foot yawl had been secured the
night before to the western side of the
breakwater.
Half ton of large stones weighted
the yawl deep into the water and made
her capable of resisting successfully
small charge of the explosive Mr.
barley took a small spar from the bot
tom of the sailboat and set it in the
stock of the yawl.
A bit of canvas was raised and the
small craft catching the western breeze,
dipped away from the breakwater in a
choppy sea.
Inventor barley fastened to place the
IequlTeu cnarSe OF powder IN the can
non and point it lakeward. A 10-pound
shell of mirex was rammed home and
the sight directed the yawL Mr.
barley pulled the lanyard when the
boat appeared to have covered a quar-
ter of a mile of her course.
The explosive struck the exposed side
of the boat and fell into the water.
Count Is and it will be all off, shout
ed Mr.. barley, and at II there was con-
vulsion where the boat had been. Tim
berS were seen on the crest of a huge
water spout and a shower of stones fell
in the lake. When the water became
calm again not a vestige of the boat
could be seen.
Mr.. barley and his companions man
ned the sailboat which had taken them
to the breakwater and went in search
of the yawPs wreckage. Where the
shells had fallen many dead fish were
seen floating.
Mr.. barley expresses confidence that
mireX will be used by the navy depart
ment in the event of war with Spain.
Secretary Long is fully acquainted
with the properties of our invention"
he said, land when he learns of the re-
suits of this mornings test L think he
will be eager to give mirex trial.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
ANOTHER ARMADA.
Spain is Massing Her Fleet at Cape
Verde Islands

New York, April 13.-A dispatch to
the Herald from ST. Vincent, Cape
Verde islands says:
The second Spanish f1otilIa is expect
ed daily by the officers of the torpedo
boats now in port. Portuguese war YES
sells are expected to arrive rehe within
a very short time.
The governor of the Cape Verde is
lands has arrived here from the capital,
Porto Praya. 1t is said on good author
ity that he will remain here until he is
officially advised that the differences
between the United States and Spain
have been satisfactorily settled.
The name of the transport with the
torpedo boats is the Cludad de Cadiz.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-13
NO NAIL FOR CUBA.
getty of Washington" Car
ries the Last for the Present

New York, April 13.-With the depar-
ture of the steamship City of Washing,
ton for Havana tomorrow the postai
service from the United States to Cuba
will close for the present. The route
via Tampa, Fla, closed several days
ago. said A. B. Maze, SUPERINTENDENT
of mails today, land the sailing or the
City of Washington, as scheduled, is
the only means in sight of forwarding
mails to Cuba. We have no positive
assurance that she will sail, but mail
is accepted on the chance that the sche-
duled arrangement will be carried out.
After that, according to present knowl-
edge, the service will close for the pres
ent''
The City of Washington has taken on
a large quantity of freight and the
agents say she will sail tomorrow.