Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-07-28
FROM WASHINGTON.
T Correspondence OF the Alexandria Gazette.
WASHINGTON, July 2S.

Correspondence OF the Alexandria Gazette.l
WASHINGTON, July 2S.
West Point Cadet Ernest E. Haskell,
one of the Rough Rider regiment,
reached Washington to-day. His case
is one of the most remarkable in sur
gical annals. He was appointed to the
Military Academy three years ago at
the age of IS. Last fall he seriously
injured his spine playing football on
the academy team and in February last
came to Washington on six months
sick leave and placed himself under the
care of DIR. Wood, the Presidents ply.
stefan, who is now governor Of Santa
go. His body was encased in plaster OF
pasis for two months while he lay in
Garfield Hospital in this city and in
April he was pronounced cured. DR..
Wood, who had just been made Colonel
of the Rough Riders, and Lieut.. Colonel
Roosevelt begged the President to per-
nit young Haskell TO continue on leave
from the academy and accompany them
10 the front. On account of his mill
lary training he was able to do most ef-
iective work at San Antonio organizing
the regiment and he was made first
lieutenant of Captain Luna's troop,
when Cuba was reached, although he
could not be commissioned without Civ
ing up his cadetship. He was slightly
wounded in the first fight in Cuba at
La Quasina, where Captain Capron and
Sergeant Hamilton Fish were killed,
but he remained in front of his troop
aud assisted in the capture Of Ell Caney.
On July /, while he was leading his
platoon, d Msuser bullet entered his
left side at the waist line, and passed
diaeonally through his intestines, COM
ing out at the left side of his back, and
when he was taken to the rear the sur
geons shook their heads and pro-
nounced recovery impossible. Colonel
Wood aud Captain Luna took him
back to the division hospital where he
scent 10 days and was then transferred
&c the hospital ship Relief and brought
10 Fortress Monroe where his conya-
lescence has finally been completed.
1t was stated at the War Department
at II O'Clock that General Brooke seiled
from Newport News for Porto Rico this
morning. 1t is believed that he has
with him about 5000 troops.
1t is feared that the Spanish hospital
ship Alicante, now bound to Santiago
and which will carry the first detacn-
ment of Spanish prisoners home, may
be overhauled while attempting to pass
the lines and taken in as handsome
prize by some of the auxiliaries on
blockading duty.
An order has been issued to the dead
letter office directing that all letters
mailed in Annapolis by the Spanish
prisoners be sent to the Bureau Of
Navigation to be censored, but no or
der looking to the transmittal Of the
letters "a Spain has yet been issued.
II is said to-day that the President
has not vet determined how he will
treat the Philippines in peace negotia'
tons with Spain. He snd Secretary
Day, it is said. aye opposed to the an
nexation of the islands. 1t is stated,
however. on excellent authority that
the President would Withdraw his OBJ
lection if he were certain that the
American people demanded the acqui-
sition of the islands. The best in1or-
nation to-day is to the effect that the
question SIS regards Porto Rico, Cuba
and the Ladrone Islands has been
agreed upon. In the case of the La.
drones and Porto Rico anueEation is
the plan. Cuba is to be free, the United
States becoming responsible for the
government established there.
The President has given no informa-
ton to the French Ambassador thus fer
as to when the answer OF this govern
ment to SPANS peace overtures will be
communicated. Its learned from dip
lomatic quarters that the peace propo-
sition took form in Madrid last Friday,
and not until then had the Spanish
Cabinet itself determined to risk a
direct proposition to the United States
fer peace.
1t is reported that the administra-
ton has received appeals from highly
respected conservative men Ia all parts
of the country, and materially interested
in its welfare, in favor of the immediate
and favorable consideration of the
peace proposals, and that at tomorrow
cabinet meeting those proposals will
receive a satisfactory response, and
that tbs friends of peace will soon be
gratifed.
Congressman Kixey. OF the Alexan-
dria district, who was here fof chort
time yesterday, said he would attend
the Temperance bush.mesting near
PurcelIville. Loudoun county, next
Tuesday. Mr. Likely is temperate,
though not temperance man, and ex-
poets to receive a large share of the
temperance vote of his district.
People from Virginia here to-day say
the rain of last night is worth millions
of dollars to the farmers of their State,
and that few more days of the late
drought would have entirely destroyed
the corn crop in large part OF that
State.
Secretary Day said this evening there were
no further developments looking to peace
that could DO msdo public. He also said that
ne could not yet tell just when the reply to
Spain would he ready for transmissal. He
jntimated that negotiations were proceeding