The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-12-21
Domestic,

EIGHT men were killed and four others
injured near Cuttenden, N. Y, last We'd
nesday morning. The men were shovelng
snow on the railroad track and were struck
by an express train.
For some time to come the United States
and Spain must get along without any treaty
to regulate commerce between the two
countries. An effort was made at Paris to
secure an arrangement with the Spanish
commissioners looking to a revival of old
treaties until they could be replaced by 9TH
ers, but this having failed no negotiations
for new commercial treaty will be under
taken until the ratification of the peace
treaty
THE United States Court is now in SEES.
sion at Juneau, Alaska and the docket
shows the largest number of criminal cases
siuca the organization OF the district of
Alaska. The grand jury is still turning out
indictments, principally cases of selling
liquor to Indians. The court has also taken
up the matter of snppressing witchcraft
practised among the Indians, who are very
superstitions When one tribe becomes
sick with some disease which The Shaman,
is unable to cure, he pronounces the patient
bewitched. Then the relatives of the sick
Indian will accuse one of the tribe as a
witch. This accusation is equivalent to a
death sentence, as the accused is immedi-
atey tortured to death.
THE steamer Rosalie that arrived at Ia
coma, Wash, a few days ago brings news
that an exodus of men is taking place from
Dawson City. One passenger says: "Near-
ly 1000 men are strung along the Yukon be-
tween Dawson and Chilkoot pass. All are
making an effort to reach the coast l had
a good dog team plenty of grub and a we'll
filed sack. Consequently L came along
booming, passing many who started from
Dawson ten days ahead of me. Many left
Dawson short of provisions and with little
T. not. 1t
these unfortunates will die on the trail.
This winter is proving the most severe ex-
perienced in the Yukon for years. Several
severe storms have ragged in the interior"
THE Brooklyn, Texas, Castine and Reso.
Lutte have been ordered to Havana. While
there is not the faintest desire to convey a
threat in the despatch of these warships to
Havana, it may be noted that when they lie
within the harhor they will hold the town
in perfect subjection. It. is surmised that
the suggestion came from Admiral Samp-
son. With only small force OF American
soldiers in Havana province and those re-
moved at such distance from the city as
to make it difficult OF access in time to be of
service to the American element in the city
now swollen to large proportions by the adj
vent of many hundred commercial men and
others seeking opportunities for employ
ment, the necessity for some protection was
apparent
THE grain blockade at Buffalo, N. Y, con-
tinues. 1t is unprecedented in tho history
of that city. AT noon last Thursday fully
eighty large steamers were in the river
waiting to be unloaded or frozen in. They
carry about nine million bushels of grain
while in the different elevators 100000
bushels are at present stored. This total of
16 900 900 bushels of grain af1oat and tenn
porarily in store is a record breaker of the
first dimension. Ice is forming too rapidly
to permit any of the boats attempting an
other trip up the lakes. Consequently this
great fleet Of grain carriers will be forced to
winter in that port. The railroads are
greatly hampered in their efforts to get the
grain to the seaboard by the continued snow
blockade.
MAJ GEN. BROOKE has been designated
by President Mckinley as the new military
governor OF the island of Cuba. This APP
pointment carries with it all control over
the military and civil branches of the island,
formerly exercised by the captain-general
under the Spanish regime. Each of the six
provinces OF Cuba will have its own mill
tary governor, just as Gen. Wood is now
military general of the province of Santiago,
but all these will receive their instructions
directly from Maj Gen. Brooke, who is the
supreme authority in the island. Thus in
Havana Gen Ludlow will be governor OF
the city, but answerable to Gen Lee, gov
ernor OF the province OF Havana, who in
turn will be apswerable to Maj Gen.
Brooke, governor Of the island.
IT is stated that Secretary Bliss will
shortly tender his resignation to President
Mckinley. He has had the step under con-
sideration some time, deeming it necessary
that he should be free to devote his time
to his large business interests. The resig-
nation, il can be stated, will not be due in
the least to any differences with the Presi-
dent or his other advisers but to Mr.. Bliss
reluctance, for purely private personal rea.
sons, to continue longer in Office as secre-
tary of the interior. AT the time he entered
the cabinet 1t was said semi-offically that
he did not intend to serve the term of four
years, but would retire at some fitting OPP.
portunity. IL is presumed the official an.
nouncement will not be made until the
President has chosen Mr.. Bliss successor.