The Mena star., 1898-11-23

from Tacoma for an African port with
 wheat. The vessel was broken in two. Dr. William F. Sensibaugh dentlst of Port Byron, H., is in a serious con dition as a result of pranks played
 upon him during his imitation III
 fraternal insurance lodge in that vll- lage. He was pushed into an electric
 battery and received Q shock which partially paralyzed his right side ana
 may cause his death.
 Of late Havana has been am ost over run with Americans without means ot support, but who came m hopes of get ting lucrative emploment. Scores of them are now begging on the street of the city. There is really no induce ment whatever for outsiders at pres ent. and begging will be the almost inevitable fate of nine tenths of those who come here in search of work.
 The transport St. Paul sailed from San Francisco last Friday for Manila, carrying cargo of Christmas presents for the soldiers and sailors in the Phil ippines. Thousands of packages of all sizes and description have reached the quartermaster's department in the last ten days from every part of the coun- try. since it became known that Uncle Sam would act as Santa Claus and con vey Christmas gifts free of cost. A mum Der of men drafted to recruit com panies now at Manila and forty nurses sailed.
 Jesse T. Gates, off the Second United ' States artillery, who lost part of his upper lip in the West Indian campaign, has been awarded the first pension on account of the Spanish war. The president and the secretary of war each took an interest in this case. Gates called on them in person soon after the close of the campaign, and convinced them of the merits of his case. Gates will receive ST per month. Claims on account of the Spanish war are now coming in rapidly. The total on file up to date IS 1,947 for war service aud ITS for naval service.
 A fire broke out at Wagoner, I. T., last Thursday night about 10 o'clock and one block on Main street between Church and Cherokee streets was de stroyed. The buildings burned are V. Lamb, shoe store, S3, GOO; Mrs. Mont gomery, millinery, Sl, 900; Oiom gro cery Co. store, S2, 500; grocery store, Sl, ,000; F. A. Walters second hand store, S4,000; picture gallery, Sl ,oO0; Lecon saloon, ss,000 Cloud May, &, 900; con nfectionery store, $500. The loss on buildings will foot up Slo.OOo, about fifty per cent covered by insurance.
 J. D. Robinson of Columbia, Mo, presented a check at one of the Colum- bia banks, signed by himself, and pay able to himself. Payment was refused on the ground that the check bore no revenue stamp. Mir. Robinson insisted that, as it was check drawn on his own funds, by himself, it was not subject to tax, contendng that it would be direct tax. while not deny ing the authority of congress to i'm pose a stamp tax upon checks payable to other parties. The attorney generals decision is in Mir. Robiuson's favor that checks drawn in this manner are not liable to the war tax
 One hundred and forty bales of cot. ton burned on the railroad platform at Scuiiyviiie Saturday. Scuiiyviile is at the Fort Smith junction, and is some. times called Oak Lodge. The cotton was waiting shipment and had all been signed for by the company except thir- ty bales. Trainm aster H J. Johnston. who happened to be present, tele- graphed the Fort Smith fire depart ment fer aid and sent special train to bring the firemen Within fifteen minutes from the receipt of the mes- sage Assistant Foreman Frank Horne and fifteen experienced fremen were on their way to Scullyville at he rate of sixty miles an hour. They returned at nightfali. The fire caught from Jo- comotive sparks
 The Maria Teresa is given up as