Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-04-02
PERSONAL AND GENERAL,

THE activity at the Charlestown
(Mass.) navy yard continues Orders
were issued on the 23d for the employ
ment of AZ men in the engineering de-
partment, on the gunboat Machias, in
making necessary repairs.
SECRETARY LoNe has determined to
bring into service the eight old single
turreted monitors used during the war,
and since lying at League Island navy
yard, Philadelphia.
On the 23d Capt. Sigsbee was ordered
to hold himself in readiness for sea
duty. The other officers of the Maine
who had not already left Havana were
ordered home.
Work on the Notifications at Ballast
Point, Cal, is being pushed with all
possible speed. Orders have been re-
ceived not to permit anyone to land in
the government reservation where the
big guns are to be mounted.
CoMMANDANT FoRsYTHE, at Key West,
has received orders from Washington
to refuse to give out any information
regarding the movements of the fleet.
The order is very emphatic and does
not mince words regarding reporters.
The selection of the battlcship Iowa
for the commandcr-in-chief's flagship
is regarded as significant, in view of Adj
miral Sicard's probable retirement.
THE president, it was said, would
take two days for the consideration of
the report of the Maine court of in
quiry, and send it to congress prompt
ly at noon on the 18th with a short
message, at the same time having a
copy of it cabled to Minister Woodford
to present to the Spanish government.
THE incessant rains of late have
caused disastrous floods throughout
Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois,
West Virginia and Kentucky, accom-
panied by loss of life through accidents
caused by washouts and weakened
bridges. Railroad traffic suffered Sc
verely.
THE cold wave which recently swept
in from the west did much damage to
fruit trees and early vegetation in all
the states which it has traversed. The
injury was increased by the fact that
the preceding warm had caused the
trees to blossom freely.
Ir was announced in Madrid, on the
24th, that the Bank of Spain would
lend the Spanish government 100000,
600 pesetas, (S3S, 500 900, O),guaranteed by
the new treasury bonds.
Miss CLARA BARTON, head of the Red
Cross society, Gunner Morgan of the
Maine. and four divers, with an uniden'
titled body from the ill-fated Maine
arrived at Key West Fla, on board the
steamer Olivette from Havana on the
23d. Miss Barton went through to
Tampa.
PRESIDENT Mckinney issued an Or
der, on the 23d, placing ten vessels o.
the revenue marine service under the
control of the navy department and,
when properly armed, they will be at
tached to the fleet at Key West.
WHILE returning home from market
on the cath, Samuel Hagey and wife
living north of New Hagerstown, o.
were drowned while crossing the Nc
Guire creek.
THE statement of the condition Of
the treasury, issued on the 24th, showed
Available cash balance, $224, ,7l6,0s2
gold reserve, Sl7l, ,s67, ,76l.
A, DISPATCH from Erie, Pa, on tht
cath, said the crew OF the lake gunboat
Michigan had been ordered to the sea
board.
JOHN s. HOPKINS, cashier of the Peo
ple's national bank Of Philadelphia
died suddenly, on the Gath, of heart dis
ease.
| THE house committee on coinage
weights and measures has decided t.
report bill for an assay office on TIN
Pacific coast, to be located at Seattle
Wash.
ORDERS were received at Newport
R. L., on the Gath, to ship crews for th
new torpedo boats Gwyn and Talbot.
THE cabinet session, on the 25th
lasted until nearly $40 o'clock. TIL
entire situation was discussed a
length, but no definite or final conclu
sion on any particular point wa
reached. The situation was regarde
as decidedly critical, aud 1t was feare
that there would be great difficulty Il
avoiding trouble.
THE purchase by the United State
| Of NJ. c. D. Derden's yacht Sovereign
has been recommended by the nava
board appointed to select vessels TO
the navy. No one connected with tn
board would state the price asked 70
the Sovereign.
/ Hon. TRUMAN P. HANDY, who 1t
said, had the distinction of being Tn
i Oldest active banker in the Unite
States, died at his home In Cleveland
4 o., on the s5th, aged Of. Death wa
due to heavy cold, followed b
| stomach complications and exhaustion