The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-03-09
Domestic.

THE barns on the famous Chester Brook
stock farm near Berwyn, Pa, were COM
pletely destroyed by fire last Wednesday
afternoon. Twenty head OF valuable Guern-
sey cows were burned to death. The origin
OF the fire is unknown. The damage is es-
timated at 100000, covered by insurance.
The steamer "Islander" that arrived at
Victoria, B. c., last Thursday from Alaska
brings word that several days ago the
Canadian police at Tagish brought in the
bodies OF two men who had frozen to death.
They were returning Klondikers and had
in their possession 100000 in paper and
gold dust Names not learned.
THE largest mortgage ever filed in Col
orado was placed on record last Thursday at
Colorado Springs. 1t was filed by the Chi
cago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad and is
for the sum of one hundred million dollars,
in favor Of the Central Trust Company OF
New York, to secure the pay ment of Ger
tain bonds. The mortgage is on the rail-
road and equipment.
A DISPATCH sent out from Washington on
Monday says that Spain has withdrawn her
request for the recall of Consul General Lee
and that 1t is believed the incident is prac-
tically closed. The withdrawal. came on
Monday in the shape OF an official communi-
cation from Minister Woodford. 1t is now
stated that the request was never put in the
shape OF demand, but IL was merely a sug-
gestion on the part of Spain and when she
found 1t would not be pleasantly received
by this country she promptly receded.
In United States Supreme Court on Mon
day an opinion was rendered in the celebrat-
ed Nebraska maximum freight rate case.-
The opinion as handed down by Justice
Harlan held the Nebraska law to be con-
trary to the fourteenth amendment, in that
1t authorized the taking of property with
out due process Of law, and was therefore
invalid. Justice Harlans opinion affirmed
the opinion OF the circuit court of appeals
for the eighth circuit which was against
the maximum freight rate law and favor
able to the railroads.
For several days past the subcommittee
appointed by Chairman Walker of the
house banking and currency committee to
draft q currency reform measure for sub.
mission to the Republican members of the
committee has been at work at the resi-
dence OF Mr.. Mitchell of New York. and
while the members of the subcommittee
have agreed to keep their proceedings a Sc
cret, 1t is known that they have practically
agreed upon the principle to be embodied
in the bill, and that their labors will result
in reporting a complete bill to their COL
leagues. Mr.. Prince of Illinois and Mr.. Nc
Cleary of Minnesota are associated with Mr..
Mitchell on the sub committee.
Mr.. AND MRS. JOANNA BONNER of Liv-
ingstone. Ala, went to prayer meeting last
Wednesday night leaving five children
ihhkihB III aye lfOu TWO 10 nine years at
home alone. For safe keeping, as they
thought, they locked the children in and
left blazing log fire to keep them warm.
Returning home thew saw in the distance
their house in flames. They ran to it
breathlessly and reached the house just
moment before the roof fell in and could
hear the piteous cries Of their children as
they beat against the door and cried for
help. In another moment the roof fell in, |
and before the flames could be subdued the |
five children were charred corpses.
THE people Of Foxcroft. Me-, are pecu-
liarly situated over the outcome of the |
Hale note case. That the enormous debt |
cannot be paid is the expression Of a large |
number interviewed, who further state that |
the statute OF 1878 provides that the town |
cannot be held liable for more than three |
per cent Of the valuation. The business of |
the place will not warrant the assessment |
OF a tax, II legal, to cover the debt, and it is |
thought the people will abandon their prop |
erty and that the place will be deserted I'M |
less the holders Of the notes will agree to |
compromise. This will be brought about II |
possible. The note cases are the outcome |
of the embezzlement Of a large sum of |
money by Judge Hale, town treasurer, who, |
when confronted with his crime, committed |
suicide.
IT is expected that on his return from |
Cuba the last Of this week, Senator Proctor |
will address the Senate and that his speech |
will have great weight in determining the
future policy OF the United States. He is |
much affected by the suffering he found In |
Mantanzas and highly indignant at what |
he calls the "inhumanity of the course pur-
sued" During visit to Artemisa, he saw
thousands OF reconcentrados who refused to
beg, though starving. They were evidently
OF the class accustomed to make its own
living and unwilling to become paupers.
He saw thousands OF acres of the best to-
baeco and banana lands in the world re-
duced to waste with trochas and garrisons
at every village and CROSS road. His drivers,
pointing to the mountains fifteen miles
away, said, "There are plenty of insurgent
camps there that the Spanish have never
discovered"
A STEEL wire rod and nail combination
was founded in New York last Friday with
capital Of $4,000, 900. The name selected
and Wire Company" The largest steel
wire and rod companies in the country to
The number Of fifteen will be in the combi-
nation. Only five concerns engaged in the
manufacture Of steel wire rod and nails
the entire United States are not
n the combination. Although Judge e. III.
3ary OF Chicago, who is the leading man in
he consolidation thus far, would not con-
tent to mention the names Of the obdurate
after the meeting he said, how
,ver, that they are located in Oregon, Hi.
lois and Indiana. There will be In all
q, 900 men employed by the new concern
nut az the export trade Of steel wire rod
md nails Is expected to be largely increased
through the combination 1t Is likely that
he number OF workmen will also be in
reased very materially in the near future
1t is authoritively stated at Washington
hat whatever action President Mckinley
axes regarding the disaster to the Maine ,
IT In the settlement Of the Cuban question,
10 will undoubtedly have the unanimous
Import OF the American Congress. A demo-
ratio senator some days ago drew up reso.
ntion which expresses 1t to be the sense of
he Congress- that the hands Of the admins
ration should be upheld, no matter at what
ost, in any controversy with Spain that
hould go beyond the limits of diplomatic
difference and correspondence, and a can
ass OF the republicans, democrats and '