davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1898-09-11

ninistration, maintain that unless 1t is
assumed that Surgeon General Stern
berg and the medical department was at
fault, the board should be authorized to
examine the operations of the line officers
as well as the staff officers OF the army.
The limited scope of the investigation
as decided upon will not, of course. de-
velop any facts in regard to the contro-
versy between Gen. Miles and Secretary
AIger At the time Secretary Alger asked
the President to order an investigation
he expressed a desire to have all matters
examined which concern the expenditure
of money during the war. The charter
of ships for transporting troops he wished.
10 be made a special object of inquiry.
One of the men whom the President
asked to serve on the commission is
strongly opposed to an investigation of
the army at this time This is ex-senator
Manderson, who has talked with the
President recently on the subject and
urged strongly that the matter be not
taken up at this time Nevertheless. the
President has been assured that Senator
Manderson viii accept the appointment
II has been said also that Gen. Schofield
will consent TO serve on the commission,
but most of the others have not been
heard from in any way on the subject.
The times., 1898-09-11
METEoRIC SHOWERS.
Inhabitants of MIX River. Jamaic
Badly Frightened.

VI tlXer, Jamaica.
Badly Frightened.
New York, Sept 10.-The Herald prints
the following letter dated Kingston. Ia
maica, August 81:
shower of meteorities gave the in
habitants of Milk River, Jamaica, a.
fright on August 20. At O'Clock in the
afternoon in the heat of the day, when
all was still, a loud cracking explosion
startled everybody. 1t was accom- auied
by showers of sparks and streaks of
flame and smoke, which continued like
volley of musketry for fully half a
minute.
The birds flew in fright from the SPOT.
animals ran to and fro in blind alarm
and the people were in abject consterEa-
tion For moment the tension was ter
rible Many dreaded that their dwellings
were being rent by fire and it would de-
scend upon them, but were too terrified
to rush out into the open air.
People of Jamaica are accustomed to
and have little fear of earthquakes, as
they are almost of monthly occurrence.
but this was a phenomenon, and its
strangeness threw them into the deepest
fear. When the shower had ceased the
inhabitants ran into their fields and
lanes and each inquired OF the other:
What was it?" Are you hurt ?"
Nobody was hurt, but nobody could con-
lecture what had happened. 1t was scon
noticed however, that the ground was
studded and strewn with little polished
stones. very much resembling shot. The
phenomenon was at once concluded to
have been shower Of meteorites, and
search for other evidence resulted in the
finding of injuries to many trees.
h,-n a-if r,1o
had been snapped off and were strewn on
the ground. Down the trunk of a regia
tree there was a small round hole. one
and half inches wide, scooped as finely
as could be. The same tree had one of
its roots broken as If. it had been struck
by some heavy object. The leaves of
many trees were torn and jagged.
The polished stones scattered all around
have been submitted to the government
scientist, and he draws from them the
hypothesis that a meteorite burst in the
air. The stones are easily crushed and
belong to the class known as asiderites.
The times., 1898-09-11
OWED FROM THE ENGINE.
Railroad Fireman Injured Under
Peculiar circumstances

Jersey Shore. Pa, Sept. ia remark
ably unique accident occurred on the
Beech Creek Railroad at 1 o'clock yester-
day morning. and as a result William
Charles. fireman of engine No. S.. is in a
temporarily crazed condition. brought on
by leap from train when there was no
need of 1t. Charles was taking a dog
nap" on his seat in the cab as fast freight
No. 26 was dashing round a curve at
Hayes.
Suddenly Weakening and looking ahead
he saw red light which he supposed was
that of caboose. and expecting a rear
end collision before he collected his dazed
thoughts he dived head first through the
window The engineer stopped the train.
which was running at the rate of 10
miles an hour, and Charles was found
on a pile of ties with his skull fractured
and his right arm broken.
He was brought to his home in this place
crazed. and is now in a precarious cOndi
ton Tho red light was switch sig
nal.
The times., 1898-09-11
SCARCITY OF FOOD.
PitffuI Conditions Exist in saRun
and BaracOu.

u.
Santiago, Sept 10-The steamer San
Juan returned from Sagua de Tanama
and Barocoa this morning. bringing 90
rifles and a quantity of ammunition,
taken from the Spanish garrison at Bara-
Goa. She brought news of the occupation
of sagua and Baracoa by American
troops.
The San Juan left Santiago with four
companies of the Third Immunes on Aug
ust 30, and reached Baracoa on August 81
at midnight The Spanish commandant
surrendered his arms TO Mai. Wiley with
out trouble, and they were loaded on the
San Juan She then proceeded TO Sagua
de Tanama. reaching there September 4,
Two more companies, consisting of 160 Of
ficers and men, under Capt. Harris, de-
baIked.
The Spanish garrison was eighteen miles
from the place where the steamer landed,
and could not get their arms TO the boat
before the San Juan was ready 10 start
on the return voyage. The Spanish COM
mander said he would have the arms
ready for the San Juan when she returned
TO get the prisoners TO take TO Guantana-
mo TO be returned home on the Spanish
transatlantic Company's ship. The Span
iards at Baracoa and Sagua were over
joyed at the arrival of the Americans.
Food and medical supplies were exhaust
ed, and they were about to send overland
to Guantanamo for fresh supplies. They
were afraid TO venture out in the country
for forage, because 2.000 Cubans were en-
camped on the hills outside of Baracoa
and ], 500 near Sagua
The Cubans have been there since early
in April. but they never attempted to mo-
lest the Spaniards in the towns and the
Spaniards let them alone.
The Spaniards did not have TO go out
into the country for supplies before the
surrender. All they needed were deliv-
cred from coastwise steamers from San
uago. The privates of the Spanish and
Cuban forces were on the best of terms.
When the Americans arrived the Gu
ban outposts were trading tobacco with
the Spanish outposts for wine The Amer
fcan flag was raised on the principal
building at Baracoa with great ceremony
on September l. The Americans and
Spaniards saluted the flag and had great
jubila,ion The Cubans watched the cere-
monies from the hills
An American flag was raised at Sagua
on September 5. A great celebration
among the Spaniards and inhabitants fol-
lowed. Business in Sagua and Baracoa
Is at a standstill. Scores of people are
starving Merchants worth hundreds of
thousands of dollars applied to Major Wi
ley and Capt Harris for rations. They
had plenty of Spanish gold but found it
impossible TO get anything TO eat
The Cuban forces about Sagua are anx-
ious to disband and return to their homes
The cubans about Baracoa are disposed
TO be ugly. They resented the refusal of
Major Wiley to allow them TO take part
In the occupancy of the city. They de-
ciared that they would not give up their
arms and return to work until ordered to
90 so by the Cuban government
The health Of Santiago is about the
same. Two new cases of yellow fever
were reported this morning
The times., 1898-09-11
GUARANTEES A CURE.
MODERATE, MEDICINES INCLUDED
WOULD WED A NEGRO.
Pretty scotch Girl Comes to America
to Marry PhiiadeIphian

New York, Sept 10.-A girl from Scot
land is detained prisoner at the Barge
Office. She is without money. yet there
is no law for holding her. The pauper
provision of the law does not compel the
detention of the LowIand lass. for her
sweetheart is ready and willing to sup
port her after their wedding.
Her name is Maggie Wood. She Is
blonde and pretty: her home is seven
miles from Edinburgh
She has crossed the ocean to become
the bride of negro. In her choice of
a husband lies the reason of the immi-
grafton authorities for keeping her a
prisoner.
Miss Wood is twenty-five years old.
and has rosy cheeks and blue eyes. She
entered the Barge Office with the Other
steerage passengers from the steamer
Mongolian, from Glasgow. yesterday. She
said the man she was going 10 marry liv-
ed in Philadelphia, but he would meet
her here.
A tall. well-formed negro. finely dress
ed and with regular features called al the
Hamilton, of No. 5l1 South Eighteenth
Street Philadelphia and Maggie's s
sweetheart.
Deputy Commissioner McSweeney de-
termined to prevent the girl committing,
as he believes. a terrible mistake
The blue eyes of the girl filled with
tears when she was told she could not
see her betrothed. Led into the room
Of the matron. Mrs. Strickland. the lass.
dressed in a black travelling gown. was
a picture of grief
she explained. While working for the
Albatross Asphalt Company he was sent
to Glasgow to lay pavements. and in that
city he boarded at the home of her sis
ter.
Miss Wood was visiting her sister. She
met Hamilton, the intelligent, athletic
well-favored. jet-black colored man. who
is graceful in carriage and careful about
his dress. There were no social barriers
in the clearinghouse 10 their daily asso-
citation.
An acquaintance of four months deveI-
oped into love on both sides. Comeiy
Scotch lass and coal-bIack negro piighted
their troth. He gave her an engagement
ring, promised that when he returned to
America he would send the money to
bring her over the sea TO marry him.
Such was the girls story.
Deputy Commissioner McSweeney said
to the man:
You will make a great mistake. Ev-
erybody of her own race will ostracise
this girl as your Wife
Hamilton is thirty years old. and talks
with dignity.
Il will make Miss Wood as good a
husband as nine out of ten white men,"
he replied hotly. THE system which you
decry was first inaugurated by the white
race when one of the people of your own
color, Mr.. Commissioner. married eous-
in of Ham" But he was kept away from
his sweetheart, and departed in anger.
The weeping girl, in the detention pen,
said: My parents approve of this match.
They say If Mr.. Hamilton strikes my
fancy they have no objection to offer. He
is the only man who ever struck my fan
cy. lie has kept every promise. / shall
marry him if he has to go to Europe TO
get me-"
The times., 1898-09-11
WAR PRISONERS BOUND HOME.
Cervera's Sailors Aboard Ship for
Their own Land.

New York, Sept. 10.-Released from
their nominal confinement at the Naval
Academy at Annapolis, fifty Spanish Off
GERS who were captured when Cervera's s
ships were sent to the bottom arrived in
this city yesterday and went on board
the City of Rome which will sail today
for Portsmouth. n. H, to pick up the
sailors of the lost fleet and then proceed
to Santander, Spain. There was jollifi-
cation in the saloon of the big Anchor
liner over the thought OF returning home,
and officers clinked glasses in honor of
their departure.
Even the sick and wounded sailors who
arrived on the steamer Old Dominion
from the hospital at Norfolk on Thurs
day, and who are cooped up in the steer
age IN an improyised sick bay aft on the
City of Rome, frightened up every time
a word was said about their return home
OF the forty-four men from the hospital
Dr Gomez, one of the surgeons in charge,
told me that twenty-five were "rl,iy
malo'-very sick-and that the others
are convalescent. He said that one poor
fellow, who occupied a cot on the main
deck, would never live to see his native
land and that two others were hopeless
Gases. Among the convaiescents were
Win an dALl siiol away, others with
their arms in sings and several who hob
bled about on crutches
About half of the sailors were dressed
IN regulation duck suits. The others Wore
many colored pajamas, the gifts of the
Women's War Relief Association.
Commander Jose Maria Paredes. for
merly second in command of the Maria
Teresa. was the senior officer of the party
tnat arrived from Annapolis YESTERDAY
They 1a
read, and took the ferryboat to West
Twenty-third Street They went immed,-
ately TO the City of Rome. at the adioin-
ing pier All were in citizens clothes
Many of the officers were young men and
they laughed and chatted together. They
seemed to have forgotten their experience
IN front of the guns Of Simpsons fleet at
Santiago
Breakfast was served on the shin unop
their arrival
In the afternoon the officers left tbe
ship and took look at the city Parties
OF them rode about in surface cars in
open-eyed wonder at the tall buildings.
The contract provides for the feeding of
the men by the steamship line, the we'll
sailors TO have a diet similar to that
given them in the Spanish navy. and the
sick men to be given special food, under
the direction of the surgeons
Captain Euiate, of the Vizcaya: Captai,
Concas, of the Maria Teresa and Lieut.
Commander Azuan of the same sIio. will
go on board the City of Rome this morn
ing.
Admiral Cervera will join the Others at
Portsmouth. The ship will probably get
away at noon today
The times., 1898-09-11
LETTER STILL IN DEBT.
He Denies That His Father Has Paid
His Bills.

he Den1eS atner ms
His Bills.
Chicago, H., Sept. 10.-Somebody has
been telling stories about Joseph Letter.
according to the young mans own state
ment.
There is not a word of truth in it, he
said yesterday, referring to a statement
that he had cleared off all his indebted
ness and owed no one except his father.
MY Indebtedness is in the same position
it has been all along. think my father
has done all he could be expected to.
certainly can ask him to pay no more
''I hope some day to work out of what
1 owe. 1 have no present expectation of
seeking relief from my indebtedness
through the bankruptcy court, and shall
not unless I am forced to take. that step
by some such action as one of my credi
tors has taken. The people 1 owe must
wait on me. That is all there is to it.
If 1 can make the money 1 will pay them
off. One cannot pay out what one has
not got"
Mr.. Letter thus sets at rest one state
ment that is going the rounds that he
proposed to go through bankruptcy.
When Joseph Letter ceased his bull
campaign nearly three months ago his
total losses were put at about S., 600. 900,
of which his father assumed more than
half. This vast amount the elder Letter
has paid, judging from the fact that he
has placed mortgages aggregating nearly
$5,50O.OO0 on downtown property.
Joseph Letter. it is now said, owes only
about s.. Zee, 000 possibly a little more. One
board of trade man, Murray Nelson. has
sued him, the item in controversy being
less than 100000, but the other creditors
seem willing to wait.
Who the other creditors on the board
ale is not definitely known. All the banks
which lent money on the cash wheat
have been paid up including the Illinois
Trust and Savings Bank, which, 1t is
said, lent about s4,0e06o0 or so on the
wheat, which was ample security
Young Letter says his creditors will not
be compelled to wait an unreasonable
time, but he cannot pay them just now.
The times., 1898-09-11
WAR BREVITIES.

1t is probable that Gen. Hains, of the engineer
Corps, who has been in charge of the engineering
operations in Porto Rico, will be assigned to his
former duties as engineer officer at Baltimore.
He will also resume his duties as a member OF
the Nicaragua Canal Commission.
Gen. Greely believes Col. Allen of the signal
corps, who is suffering from malarial fever con-
tracted at Santiago in Porto Rico, will be able
TO come from Governors Island TO Washington
in a few days.
About 125 discharges of officers of the navy who
were appointed TO serve during the war will he
made as rapidly as possible. Twenty-Five of thes /,
temporary officers were honorab.y discharged yes
terday.
While the gunboat Bennington is in Samoan
waters she will make careful survey of Pago
pago Harbor, which is to be the site of one OF
the most important coaling stations of the United
States Commander Taussig commanding tn,
bennington, was formerly in charge of coast sur
vey work.
The times., 1898-09-11
JAMES F. EGAN,s SWORD.
Unique Office of the Former Irish
Political Prisoner.

New York, Sept. 10.-Irishmen in New
York are jubilant over the cabled intelli-
gence that James f. Egan, after his ten
years in English prisons for political
offense, has been appointed sword bearer
TO the Dublin corporation, an agreeable
and influential post, the duties of which
are interviewer with many ancient tradi-
tions. In this patriotic appointment it is
acknowledged that the council has atoned
for its action In electing an English Tory,
Sir Robert Sexton, for lord mayor next
year.
The sword bearer Is an imposing figure
at public functions in Dublin. He attends
the lord mayor, sheriffs and aldermen on
all state occasions. attired In grand opera
habniments and bearing aloft the sword
of state, which is weapon with a history
as long as its blade and a weight of tradi-
ton commensurate with its avoirdupois of
twenty pounds No council meeting can
be held unless the Sword-such is the
technical appelation of the official who
bears the historic weapon-occupies his
position in front of the lord mayor with
ms comrade, the mace. near by
AHeie are many singular duties and
some valuable perquisites attached to the
once, The Sword is ex-officio auctioneer
OF forfeited pledges in the city of Dub
lln and clerk of the table in the Corn
Exchange. The weapon from which he
derives his title is a valuable object of
art, and Is preserved under lock and key
IN the monument room of the City Hall
when not in use. Its bearer must wear.
When on duty. court suit of black in
Guiding silk stockings and silver-buckled
shoes, many ruffies and profusion of
lace on the sleeves. Over this costume
Is thrown long black silk robe with
velvet collar. The headdress is tall.
brown bearskin. similar to the busby
worn by Grenadiers
But 1t is in its human aspects that
Irishmen chiefly see cause to congratu-
late themselves in Mr.. Egan's appoints
ment. For such is the dignity and honor
of his new position that he will be bet
ter equipped to carry out the work to
which he has devoted mis- remaining years
the procuring of amnesty for his COM
rades who are still political prisoners in
England
Moreover there is much conjecture
over an element of the situation which
may give rise to humorous complications
With a Tory lord mayor social relations
between the mansion house and the lord
leutenant's palace will be resumed after
breach of seventeen years. BY virtue
of his office James Egan. patriot and
ex-convict will be an henorea guest at
the castle. That in itself is enough to
make many a dead and gone lord lieu
tenant turn in his grave
The times., 1898-09-11
A NIGHT OF MIRACLES.
II --r
Carpenter Has Two Wonderful
Escapes From Death.

escapes from Death.
New York, Sept. 10.-Picked up in the
tracks of the NewgYork Central Railroad
tunnel one momens and seeing an express
train thunder by where he had been
lying the next was only part of William
McNamara's experience Thursday night
That was only one escape from death
He had another a few minutes before
which was more miraculous.
1t was along about midnight that he
was found groaning in the tunnel III
Park Avenue between Eighty-ffth and
Eighty-sixth Street, by Policeman Con-
way, of the bicycle squad His leg had
been broken by fall Just as Conway
got MIN to safe place. the Central fast
train went laundering through.
Now, McNamara's fall into the tunnel
is quite as wonderful as his two escapes
from death
MCNAMARA lives at No. 1851 Park Ave-
nue.. In some sections of Park Avenue
IL Is not possible TO cross the street at
the corners. walk of half a block is
required to reach the bridge. 1t is sup
posed that Mcnamara wished to make a
snort cut across the street and leaped
over the iron guard railing. and stum-
oled through the flower beds to circu-
lar iron. railing, which guards the air
smart of the tunnel and stands on a level
with mans chest How Mcnamara
got over this is a mystery, but he got
over.
1t would have been quite easy to go
over head first. but mighty hard to get
over feet first
Whatever way Mcnamara got over he
shot through the airshaft to the tracks
in the tunnel. thirty feet below.
This fall was further remarkable in
that Mcnamara struck on his feet at the
bottom. That Is how he broke his leg
Otherwise he was not much hurt.
1t was pitch dark in the tunnel, and
Mcnamara could not help himself.
Policeman Conway came riding slowly
along Park Avenue his wheel shortly
after the accident and heard voice of
suffering from he knew not where. He
looked around, but could discover moth
ing. Finally the cries led him to the air
shaft and. using his light to peer down.
he saw the injured man lying at the bot
tom. He knew that a train might ap-
proach at any minute. and with bound
he ran for the stairway leading 10 the
tracks below. He reached Mcnamara not
moment too soon.
Conway summoned an ambulance from
the Presbyterian Hospital and the injured
man was taken there.
Mcnamara is thirty-two years old and
unmarried. He is a carpenter.
The times., 1898-09-11
SECRET CoRTES MEETINGS.
Measures Discussed Concerning tn,
Philippine Islands.

Madrid. Sept. 10-The deputies of the
parties of the minority met yesterday to
consider the question of absenting them
selves from the sittings of the Cortes in
consequence of the action of the ma
jority in resolving to hold secret sessions
of the chamber. but only nine members
agreed to hold aloof from the sittings
as matter of duty.
The cabinet council yesterday decided to
continue the secret sessions of the Cor
tes and discussed measures to the end of
organizing the Spanish government of
Mindanao and the Visayas Islands in the
Philippines, irrespective of Luzon.
Instructions were sent to Gen. Rios. the
new governor of the Philippines. in ac-
cordance with the decisions reached.
The times., 1898-09-11
DIED.

WALKER-ou Friday, September 9. 1873.
REAYE BYRON, infant daughter Of William H.
and Lila B. Walker, aged one year seven months
and nineteen days
Funeral from parents residence. No. 62 Fenton
Street northeast Sunday. September II, 1S9s-
Friends and relatives are respectfully invited
to attend II
HUGHES-on Saturday. September 10. ls9s. az
5:45 a m ABSLON, beloved husband OF Ada
Hughes in the forty-sixth year Of his age.
Funeral from his late residence. HIS Sd 81. ne /.
Monday. Sept. I2 1925. at 2;20 p. m. Item
GRIFFITH-At Montauk, Sept. 5. Is9S. FRANK
R GRIFFITH private. of Co. l, aged twenty
one wears and eight months, son Of Walter s
and Mary C. Griffith. Of COG 9Th st. sw-
Funeral at First Presbyterian Church - st..
between st. and La ave. Sunday, Sept II. at
p. m Burial at Arlington. It-sm
The times., 1898-09-11
DEATH IN A WRECK.
Engineer Killed and Two Others
Hurt.

Lock Haven, Pa, Sept. 10.-The west
bound Erie mail train on the Philadelphia
and Erie Railroad was wrecked yester-
day morning at North Bend. caused by
the locomotive jumping the track. En-
gineer John NJ Butler, of Harrisburg,
had both legs cut off, and died soon after
Fireman John Kutz and Baggage Mas
ter Devictor. both of Harrisburg, were
also slightly injured.
The engine ran a hundred feet on the
ties and went over on its SIDE the tender
going entirely over the engine. The bag
gage car turned end over end and landed
twenty feet from the track The passen-
ger coaches did not leave the track. and
none of the passengers were injured
Traffic was delayed a. few hours
The times., 1898-09-11
COL. HARRIEs REPORTS.
Calls mt the War Department to An
nOunce Arrival.

Among the callers at the War Depart
ment yesterday was Col Harries, of the
First District of Columbia Regiment. He
called to report the arrival of himself and
his command in Washington. and to ar
range for the issuance of furloughs to his
men tomorrow at the National Guard
ATmory.
Acting Secretary Meiklejohn and Adjt.
Gen. Corbin stated that they were highly
pleased with the conduct and appearance
Of the District volunteers. Gen. Corbin
said the regiment had by far the lowest
seath rate of any in the foreign service
This, he believed, was due to the disci-
pline maintained in the command
Qualification was expressed at the ac-
ton of Col. Harries and the regiment in
placing themselves at the Disposal of the
department, ready either TO be mustersd d
out or to serve under the two years en-
iistment as long as their services were re-
quired by the Government