The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-04-23
PERSONAL AND GENERAL,

SECRETARY A has issued a circular
in which he states that in case any Off
Ger, clerk or employee under the treas,
ury department desires to leave the
service temporarily to engage in the
military service in the event of war, he
may be reinstated at any time within
one year.
THE Spanish cabinet has decided to
protest to the powers against the
charges made by the United States
senate in reference to the Maine dis
aster. The charges have aroused the
| Spanish people to the highest pitch of
excitement.
THE Spanish cruisers Vizcaya and
Almirante Oquendo it now trBnspires
sailed from Porto Rico, on the 9Th,
with secret instructions.
ANDREW AIKEN, a prominent pioneer
of Kansas, and once register of the
land Office at Topeka, died at Omaha,
Neb., on the 14th, aged IS. Mr.. Aiken
was very prominent in the early po-
litical history of Kansas, being one of
the anti-slavery leaders.
As INDICATED in the Madrid Heraldo
Spain is figuring on yellow fever being
an important factor of the Cuban sit
uation. 1t says: 1--WE have zoe, 600
troops on the island, perfectly acclima-
tized, and any Americans who are
landed there will die like flies"
GEN. MILES says in the event of the
passage of the resolution reported by
the senate foreign relations commit
tee, the president would have authori-
ty to call into the service of the gov
eminent militia to the number of about
IL, ZOO, 900 men.
THE rules of practice of the patent
Office have been changed so that when
an appeal is taken the primary exam
liner shall furnish the board of exam
liners with the grounds for his decision
within five days, instead of Is days, as
heretofore.
On the 18th Congressman Charles
Curtis was renominated from the first
Kansas district on the 73Oth ballot.
The British colonial authorities at
Kingston, Jamaica, received instruc-
tions, on the 18th, from their home
government to declare coal contraband
in the event of war.
WIN. ]. BARRY, the comedian, died at
his home in Brooklyn, on the 18th,
aged 4s years. He had been i'll of a
complication of stomach and liver trou-
BILE for some time.
Mr.. GLADSTONE was reported, on the
18th, as holding his ground and suffer-
ing less.
A MILLIoN-DoLLAR fire, prefaced by
an explosion that shook the whole city,
occurred in Charlestown, Mass, early
on the morning of the 18th. 1t was
the most spectacular and terrific con-
fiagration of the year. A high eleva-
tor was completely destroyed, together
with 600, 900 bushels of grain awaiting
shipment to Europe, mostly owned by
Mr.. Joseph Letter, of Chicago.
THIRTY-Two boats started down the
Ohio river, from Pittsburgh. Pa, on the
18th, with 3,557,OOO bushels of coal.
About one-half of the shipment was in
tended for Louisville and the balance
for Cincinnati.
CAPT. p. II. RAY, Eighth United
States infantry, who spent the winter
in Alaska, arrived in Portland. Ore,
on the 18th, from the north, and went
Immediately to Vancouver barracks.
Capt. Ray will recommend to the war
department the sending of troops into
the interior of Alaska and the estab-
lishment of a military form of govern
ment in the Yukon.
GEN. SHAFTER has received orders
from the secretary of war to send 500
tents from the quartermaster's stores
in San Francisco to st. Louis.
On the 10th the associated banks of
New York city held S37, 375,O 75 in ex-
cess of the requirements of the 25-per-
cent. rule.