davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-05-04

lk.
 r the above occasion the Cotton Nl TTiII sell tickets at rate of one
 ghr the round trip. Tickets on 7 Nav 2nd, Sd and 4th, return linn
 ,5ays with an extension of l5
 siiso desired.
 ,jpnniall Conference 4. M. E. nrcb, Columbia, $. C., May 4th ], 5HthlS9s.
 0r the above occasion the Cotton
 will sell tickets at rate of one
 pIor the round trip. Tickets on
 April 3Oth, May 1st and 2nd, re-
 rnllmit May 22nd.
 H. BRINGMAN, Agent. SSn Mountain Excursion Rates
 neral Conference NJ. E. Church
 Mouth, Baltimore, Md, May 4. '9S.
 For this occasion the Iron Noun In Ry. will sell tickets to Balti-
 lore md return at one fare $2S.60. aes of sale, May 1st, End and 3d; bal limit for return, June l.
 atng of the Imperial Council No bles of the Mystic Shrine, Dallas, Texas, June IA and 15, 1898.
 For this occasion the Iron Noun sln Ky. will sell tickets to Dallas nd return at one fare, $10.20, and tkets to Fort Worth and return at p oi Sl090. Dates of sale June 12 |ld l3. Limit for return June 9. Euttion Sale of Lots and Lands, Du- mas, May 10, 1898.
 ,,For this occasion the Iron Noun |'n'Ry. will sell tickets to Dumas hd return for fare of $l.60. Dates of kaA, May 9 and 10; limit for return, Hay l2th.
 tfand Lodge Knigh ts of Pythias, Eureka Springs, Ark, May 16 to 2l. For this occasion the Iron Noun |an Ky. will sell tickets to Eureka FPFlngs and return at one fare for aeround trip, $10.15. Dates of sale, aay b, Is and r; return limit, May aR' Medical Society. Eureka Springs, ark, May 11th to 13.
 TOT this occasion the Iron Moun- laln Ky. will sell tickets to Eureka spEngs and return at one fare for aeround trip, $10.15. Dates ofsale, Aay and 10; return limit, May 18th. ufand Lodge of Knights and ,aules of Honor, at Batesville Ark, aas 5d to 7th. For this occasion us Iron Mountain By. will sell "Aees 10 Batesville and return at ue ana one-third fare on the certifi- ''e plan, limit of certificate May II. 'ieeting of the General Assembly 'ae Presbyterian Church at New 'tans, La, May 19. For this oc- ''loh the Iron Mountain By will, May +, Is and 19 sell tickets to IVY Orleans and return at one fare 20 final limit return June 4th. .olored Baptist Convention at 'ue Rock, Ark, April 24th and v lth. For this occasion the oa Mountain By will sell tickets Little Rock and return at one and s'snlrd fare on the certificate plan, A1 oi certificate May 1lth.
 N. B. MIzELL, Agt
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
SUPPORT OF MLI7ARY AND
 NAVAL ESTABLISHMENTS
Passage Of fife Urgent Deficiency
 BW Practically Without 0p- position,

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8-The urgent de- ficiency bill to provide for the support of the military and naval establishments was passed by the House to-day, practically without opposition. A fear had been ex- pressed that the measure might open Up a prolonged debate upon the conduct of the war, but the Democratic leaders de- cided that such a debate would properly come later upon the regular appropria- ton bills or upon the bill for the reorgan- ization of the army There was not word of criticism of the war during the debate. The only point upon which an issue was raised to-day was as to whether the bill, providing, as it does, for the pay of the volunteers until July 1, 1899, might not be construed as a modification of the law under which the volunteers were mus tered into service.
 McRae of Arkansas offered an amend ment providing that it should not be so construed, and upon 1t there was a gen. mastering out the volunteers before the regular army was increased.
 Cannon finally accepted the McRae amendment, and that removed the only shadow of opposition to the bill. A num- Der of amendments were adopted upon tions Committee, which received some supplemental estimates after the bill was prepared. The largest of these was an item of S3OO0,0O0 for an emergency fund for the War Department S57S, 900 for the Ordnance Department, increasing the amount carried by the bill to $69 S59, 1892. The conference report upon the bill to render the suretieS of Consuls, Vice Consuls and Consular Agents liable for damages In suit at law was adopted.
 The House adjourned over until Mon day to give the committees an opportunity to work without interruption.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
ASK AN iNVES7IGATION
 OF INDIAN SCHOOLS
Petition Presented to the House and Senate From Arch6ishops Of the
 Catholic Church.

WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-Cardinal Gib- bons, in behalf of himself and the Arch bishops of the Catholic church in Ameri- ca, has submitted petition to Congress asking that the question of the contract school system be reopened and that Con- gress again go over the whole subject of Indian education. The petition sets forth at length the history of the Indian school question and the legislation applying to 1t up to the recent provisions in a bill looking to the gradual discontinuance of Government aid to sectarian schools.
 The petition asks that Congressional inquiry be made in place of the depart and defects of contract schools and Gov
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
DRJEcT LESSON M
 FEDERAL OWNERSHIP.
Found in fife Telegraph lines m he Islands of Porto Rico
 and CUbo

WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-The situation In Porto Rico promises to force on this Government, for a time at least, the ex- pertinent of Federal ownership of tele- graph and telephone lines. The War De- partment now controls all lines in Porto Rico and in the evacuated sections of Cuba. In both places the lines are being repaired, and the Government is handling commercial messages after Government matter. The signal service in charge of this work says it is too soon to draw con- clusions as to the expense of the service as the cost for maintenance and long-de- layed repairs is just now more than the Income from the lines But in six months from the 1st of January the signal service expects to be able to furnish some inter- esting data as to the profit in the insular wire service. This enforced object lesson in Federal management is naturally ex- pected to have considerable influence in the agitation for like control in this country,
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09

that the widow of her former husband would die within two years, and within month of the expiration of that period her enemy dies apparently by her own hand but without any known reason for ending her life. Moreover, there were circumstances attending the. finding Of her body in her apartments at 515 Pacific street last Tuesday morning that are dlf- ficult of explanation.
 For instance, the woman was found with her hands folded across her breast. which in itself was remarkable, for phy- sicians will tell you that ordinarily per- sons who die from strychnine poisoning pass away in frightful convulsions, their features distorted and limbs and body drawn into most unnatural positions.
 That the dead woman was aware of Bertha Bockmans threat to pray" her to death is certain, for the threat was first made in the presence of friends who repeated the terrible old woman's words to the intended victim. That it made a deep impression was manifested by vari- ous acts of Mrs. Wittmeier during the twenty-three months prior to her death.
 Mrs. Bockman is not present to tell of the wrongs she has suffered at the hands of the woman she swore to pray to death A month ago the rooms on Seventh street near Adeline, in Oakland, she had occu- DleU WItn her SOn Dy HST marriage lO Bockman were vacated and nobody can be found who knows where she Is now To some of her neighbors she said she was going to Arizona. She told others she intended to remove to Idaho, while one family with whom she was on terms of intimacy has since received informa- ton that Mrs. Bockman is now in San Francisco. Her son, George Wittmeier. who lives in Alameda, has no knowledge of his mothers whereabouts more than that she told him she was going ito Ari- zona.
 The other son, Frank, gave up his po- sition with David Kerr & Co. in this city about a month ago. and this fact would indicate that he and his mother have left this vicinity. She was not an agreeable person, and her neighbors rejoiced when she betook herself to parts unknown, leaving only the tradespeople in the vi- cinity to mourn her departure, their grief being due to sundry unliquidated bills.
 The life story of the first Mrs. Witt meier is full of pathos Landing in New York some thirty-ive years ago she en- tered service as domestic. and at the house of mutual friend. who had come from the same part of Germany as her. self, she met John Wittmeier, sturdy young German, working at his trade as a natter 1t was a case of love at first sight, and within a year the pretty frau lein-for she was pretty then-and the stout young natter were married.
 | They were both of a frugal yet specu-
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
# AMeres Strictly to the Protocol Pro-
 posaE.
TOOK LONGER THAN THE WAR
Span,ards Em6ittered and Crest fallen Oyer fife Results Of Ther Work.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

PARIS, Dec. S.-The United States and Spanish Peace Commissioners con- cluded their work to-day and finally settled the terms of the treaty of peace. They will meet once more in formal session on Saturday or Monday next, when the Spanish Commissioners, sor- rowfully. and the Americans, with feel ings of relief will write their signatures upon the document which embodies the results of the war and the preparation of which has consumed eleven weeks, a longer time than the war itself. In the meantime the treaty will be en- grossed under the supervision of Mr. Moore and Senor Ojeda, the secretaries of the respective commissions.
 The Spaniards are exceedingly bitter over the result, though observing the forms of friendliness and courtesy. Montero. Rios, whose strong and per sistent struggle to save for his country every possible asset from the wreck of her colonial empire has commanded the respect and admiration of his op- ponents, went from the council cham Der to-day to his bed in a state of com plete collapse, as a result of the long SlL dlll otllO HIS III OfCA tiiC oilldli fruits of his efforts.
 Senor Ojeda has been prostrated since yesterday and was unable to attend the joint session to-day.
 The. Spaniards charge equal blame upon the European powers and the United States for their downfall. One of the Spanish Commissioners said this evening: The European nations have made a great mistake in deserting Spain and leaving her to spoliation by the brute force of a conscienceless giant. They all know that in the Phil ippines Amer ca has taken more thar she can digest. She will ultimately sell the islands to England or Germany and when the transfer is made they will precipitate general European strife. We have refused to sell any island in the Carolines. We never thought of considering an offer. Nor have we con- scented to negotiate upon any questions except those directly involved in the protocol signed at Washington.
 Judge Day said to-day: We have settled all the points on which we can agree. It only remains to engross and sign the treaty. That will be done in two or three days"
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09

thing better, she was obliged to take in washing for some wealthy families
 She prospered from the start-so much that she was soon able to give her hus- band the best of medical attendance and care, and it was not many months before he was discharged from the hospital a we'll man, his recovery being, the physi- clans in attendance said. almost a mira cle, and entirely due to the influence of his young wifes constant devotion and self-sacrificing love. When he returned to active life he found son as we'll as a wife awaiting him, for child had been born shortly after Mrs. Wittmeiers ar rival in California, and the father and mother had an incentive to industry in the person of their baby boy.
 For some months the husband was en- forcedly idle, and tried to regain the strength he had lost, but meanwhile the bit of hand wash had grown into a laundry and Mrs. Wittmeier was, by close attention to business and good work, making money rapidly. At last John Wittmeier obtained work as porter in a hotel down on the water front. Later he bought out a saloon on Pacific street and, aided by his wife's efforts, soon made 1t the popular resort of the seafaring men. The name "BottIe Meier" was given to the proprietor because of his being the first one on the coast to bottle his beer and sell it in that form to his customers.
 For time peace reigned in the Witt meier houehold. The husband and wife were both engrossed in money making and all went well with them until Mrs Witt meier, finding herself unable to attend to the demands of both business and home engaged pretty German girl as house servant.
 That servant girl was the woman who was found dead last Tuesday.
 From that day trouble began in the Wittmeier household. Bottle Meier fell in love with the buxom servant girl, and the hard working wife soon found herself relegated to second place in the household. Sent on some pretext or an- other to Germany Mrs. Wittmeier re- turned to find "Lena's" personal belong ings lying about MT. Wittmeiers room with an unpleasing appearance of famili- arity and habituance, and a divorce suit was the result.
 Mrs. Wittmeier won her case and a large share of the community property together with the custody of George, the only child. Shortly after the decree was granted Lena and MT. Wittmeier were married and kept on serenely making money at the old stand. For nearly twenty years Mrs. Wittmeier No and her spouse prospered; and then one day,
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
CONTAINS L77LE
 OUTSIDE THE PROTOCOL

PARIS. Dec. S.-The members of the commissions say the treaty will contain little outside the scope of the Washing ton protocol and the matters directly based thereon, like the provisions for the evacuation of the ceded territories, the transfer of public property therein and guarantees of the safety of the property and rights of the Spanish citi- zens remaining there.
 The details of the last class of ques- tions covered by the statement which the Americans handed to Senor Mon- tero Rios at the last meeting, were con- sidered to-day but all the commission CTS refuse to divulge the details of the conference. Several points upon which they were unable to agree were left
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
ROBSON NAMED AS
 NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR
The Hero Of the Merrimac AmoDo Those Nominated for Office by
 fbe President.

WASHINGTON, Dec. s.-The Fresident to-day sent these nominations to the Sen- ate:
 Assistant Naval Constructor Richmond P. Hobson to be naval constructor.
 Also a large number of appointments under the head of Interior and a number of promotions in the navy which have been heretofore announced.
 Likewise the following appointments of Postmasters: California-Samuel J. Brunn at Stanford. Idaho-Robert N. Dunn at Wallace. Oregon-Samuel s. Train at AL bany. Washington-Lloyd Dubois, Van couVer.
 Navy-Citizens to be assistant surgeons: D. G. Beebe of Minnesota; w. M. Carton of Iowa; F. F. McCullogh of California; w. H. Bell of Wisconsin; H. c. Curl of California;: w. L. Bell of California.
 M. A. Skinner of Illinois, to be pro- lessor of mathematics.
 R. H. Rousseau of Pennsylvania, to be civil engineer.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09

these nations the problem of properly governing the people of the archipelago. Such a measure, 1t was stated, would not probably be introduced during this session of Congress, but would be ma turely considered pending the military regime, which would continue until the meeting of the Fifty-sixth Congress.
 It was urged that the holding of the Philippines by the United States would only demonstrate the inconsistency of this country in insisting upon the Monroe doctrine, and that their sale would keep the doctrine intact, preserving the Western Hemis- phere from the occupation of for elgn powers.
 It was believed by the Senator that this proposition would com mand strong support in the coun- try, a proviso being always that the United States should retain as naval station the island oi Luzon.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
PHILIPPINES WILL n1o
 PROBABLY BE SOLD

ernment schools may be shown and mot kept as a secret of state concealed In the files of any department or bureau"
 The petition was presented by, Repre- sentative Mcintyre of Baltimore, and was referred to the House Indian, Affairs Com mittee, which is now preparing Sthe h. dian appropriation bill Senator German presented a similar petition in the Senate.
 Representative Sherman, chairman of Is in favor of granting the prayer that an investigation be made. He Is of the opinion that as the Catholic church has made large expenditures for Indian edu- cation in the erection of buildings, etc., 1t is fair that Congress should know the exact condition of things. Mir. Sherman said that he probably would take some action to bring about such an inveStiga- ton, but not for some time yet.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
TO MACDA- LENA WITTMEEER'S
 SUICIDE,
HAUNTED BY THE TERRIBLE vow OF THE WOMAN SHE HAD ROBBED OF HUSBAND AND
 HOME.

lative disposition, and soon as they had saved money enough the husband came to California, hoping to pick up gold in the streets, as people were supposed to do in those days. Fortune did not smile on him, however, for instead of making money he lost what little he had brought with him, and fell sick besides-so sick that he was removed to a hospital. and word was sent to the waiting wife that he could not recover.
 Mrs. Wittmier decided that if she were near her husband he would weather the storm, and she straightway made the rounds of her acquaintances in New York, and by borrowing little from each man aged to raise sufficient means to bring her to San Francisco.
 Arriving here. penniless and friendless, after comforting her husband by her presence. she tried to find employment; but at last, in despair of securing any
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
RESIDENT SAID TO BE w VOR OF THIS
 COURSE.
JAPAN HAS ALREADY MADE AN OF- FER OF TWO HUNDRED MIL LIONS FOR THE ARCHE-
 PELACO.

M EW YORK, Dec. 8.-A ! V Washington special to the Herald says: In a conversation yesterday between President Nc Kinley and a United States Sen ator, 1 am informed, on the au- thority of the Senator, that the President has apparently signi- fled his approval of the policy of selling the Philippines. More oyer, 1t was developed during the conversation that at the proper time measure to this effect would be introduced in the Senate.
 This Senator stated that Japan had already offered 2oo,ooo,ooo for the islands, and, though au- thority for this statement was not forthcoming, the Senator said that 1t was semi-officia1.
 He favored, if such a thing were necessary for the preserva- ton of the balance of power" " the selling of a portion of the isl ands to Great Britain, France, Germany and Spain, leaving to
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
WILL AGUiHALDO
 SURRENDER PRISONERS ?

NEW YORK. Dec. S.-The Washing ton correspondent of the Herald tele- graphs: A report was current here to- night that Aguinaldo, the insurgent leader in the Philippines. had refused the request of General Otis to release the friars held by him as prisoners of war. Secretary Alger, whom saw. de- clared there was not word of truth i nthe report, and that he had received no such information from General Otis and he appears to be confident the rebel leader vii surrender the prisoners now that peace Is practically concluded.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09

Prayed to death by the woman she had robbed of husband and home.
 The Coroners jury has returned yer dict of suicide, but there are some who, knowing all the circumstances, look be- yond the emptied bottle of strychnine found beside the body of Magdalena Witt meier and see the answer to the pray CTS of the discarded wife of the late Bottle Meier
 For Bertha Wittmeier or, as she is now known, Bertha Bockman, made VOW
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09

matic contest between France and the United States, which will have an im- portant chapter in history.
 The French Government is reported to have resolved to take up the case of the French holders of Cuban bonds, and it is believed France will declare that the .repudiation of the bonds is the re- suit of the treaty which the victorious nation imposed upon Spain. It is ar gued that, through the treaty, respon- sibility has been shifted upon America, and, therefore, the French Government will endeavor to exact some pledge for the payment or guarantee of the bonds.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
GARCIA SERIOUSLY HL.
Attacked With P1eumonia---Has Two
 Physicians in Attendance.

WASHINGTON, Dec S-General Gar cia' of the Cuban army, who has been confined to his hotel for some days. is announced to be quite seriously sick. His illness has developed into pneumonia and two physicians are In attendance. Because of his advanced
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
FRA YER DROVE HER TO DEATH

open for diplomatic negotiations.
 The Spaniards refuse to admit that they had failed to respect former treat les guaranteeing religious freedom in the Caroline Islands or that there was a necessity for new guarantees.
 The conclusion of the worK was, &C., cording to the commissioners, marked by politeness and all outward evidences of good feeling and relief at the fact that the task was accomplished.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
age, 62 years, the outcome is viewed with some apprehension. TAMASESE WILL BE
 HOMINATED KING
Tie Question Of Selecting Nominal Ruler for Samoa Yet caus-
 ing Strife.

AUCKLAND, N. E., Dec. s.-The fol- lowing advices were received here from Samoa: The supporters of Mataafa hav- ing elected King, certain chiefs lodged a caveat which the Chief Justice decid- ed in their favor. It is now understood that Tamasese will be nominated.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
BANKRUPTCY LAW UPHELD.
But Judge Seaman Divests State
 Courts of Jurisdiction.

MILWAUKEE, Dec. S.-Judge Seaman upholds the Federal bankruptcy law and declares in an opinion filed to-day that it divests the State courts entirely of the Jurisdiction in insolvency cases Judge Sutherland of the Superior Court held a few days ago that he had exclusive juris- diction of insolvency proceedings com- menced before him before the commence ment of the proceedings in the Federal courts. Judge Seaman declares that the State courts are absolutely without juris- diction in such matters.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
DlPLOMATlc CONTEST
 WITH FRANCE HEX7

PARIS, Dec. S.-Diplomatic circles in Paris predict, as one of the results of the Spanish h-American treaty, a diplo-
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09
" Health Causes Suicide.

SANTA CRUZ, Dec. S.-Ths afternoon M. Silva committed suicide at his home in Ben Lomond by shooting himself through the head The cause was i'll health. He was a native of California, aged 33.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-09

Continued on Second Page,