davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
MUST BRIDGE ruGELA RIVER.

British May Have to Construct Pom
toon Under Pitiless Fire of Beers.
LONDON, Dec. 6.-There is still q lull
in the war news. One interesting
item is to the effect that the Beers had
very bad time at Kimberley on Tues
day. One of their laagers was cap
tured by the Beuchanaland police.
Kimberley is now in searchlight COM
nunication with the relief force at
Modder river. From Natal we hear
that on Tuesday the enemy was To-
Gated at Cheveley station, on the rail-
way between Frere and Colenso. The
general body of the Beers fell back on
Colenso and crossed the river. It
would seem that the great railroad
bridge was scientifically destroyed.
+ The Beers are posted along Grobler's
Noof, on the north of the Tugela
river, which they evidently intend to
defend at all COSTS so that it will be-
come necessary to construct pontoon
bridge for the passage of the British
troops. This operation, unless the
enemy be first dislodged by superior
artillery, will have to be performed
under fire and amid considerable diff
culties.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
ANOTHER BATTLE IN IUzoN.
Col. Bells Forces Scatter a Large Num-
Der of Insurgents.

Col. Bells Forces Scatter Large Num-
Der of Insurgents.
MANILA, Nov. 3O.-A fight in which,
Col. Bell defeated the rebel brigades
Of Generals Alejandrino and Miguel
took place on the summit of the moun-I
tains west of Mangalaren forming the
divide between. the Dagupan valley
and the ocean. Col. j. Franklin Bells,
regiment, the Thirty-sixth infantry
and Fowler's company of the Thirty
third, left Mangalaren Monday morn
ing and marched twenty-four hours,
with four hours rest over bare and wa
terless ridges, along narrow trails and
through canons. At daylight, No
vember %, the troops emerged from a
timbered canon upon the divide, run
ming into the rebels advance guard J,
who retreated to the main body before.
shooting. Col. Bell, who was in adj
vance with scouts and one company,
had the rebels in full route before thel
main body of his troops arrived, feel
ing down the mountains to the swamps|
between Mangalaren and Auitas, leaySs
ing ten dead and many wounded, and
abandoning two Nordenfelts, one two1
inch Krupp, one Maxim and one3
Hotchkiss. They were chased through
the swamps and thoroughly dispersed. ]
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
TERRIBLE BATTLE,
ut Is Said to Be the Bloodlest Of the
Century.

LONDON, Nov. 3d.. The war Office has
received the following from Butler:
'CAPErowN, Nov. 29.-Gen. Methuen
reports;as follows: Reconnoitered at
. tins morning the cnemy's position on
Modder river and found them strongly
tntrenchedand concealed There were
no means OF esnttlanlSing, the river be-
lng full. Action was commenced with
ARTILLERY, mounted infantry and cavalry
at $3.50. The guard on the right and
Ninth brigade ON the left attacked
their position in a widely extended
formation :at $50 and supported by
ARTILLERY. found itself in front of the
whole Boer force, eight thousand
strong, with two large guns, four
krupps, etc. The naval brigade rem
'dered great assistance from the rail-
way. After desperate, hard fighting,
Which lasted ten hours, our men, with
'out ac'sd or water, and in burning
sun, made the enemy quit their posi-.
ZION. General Polecarews was success
tul In getting a small party across the
river, gallantly assisted by three hun
dred Sappers."
LONDON. Nov. 3O.-General Methuen
wires the queen that the battle at
Modder river is the bloodiest of the
century He says the result is terrible.
LONDON. Dec. Although telegraph
and railroad communication is open
with Modder river, no further news of
General Methuen's movement or the
big fight has been given out. This is
generally taken to indicate that Cen
eral Methuen is again on the march
and that, as heretofore, he will not
again be heard from until he has
fought another battle and gained
another stage. Those who are ac-
quainted with General Methuen think
his terse description of the battle of
Modder river forecasts "a fearful
butchers bill"
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
ROBERTS WILL BE BARRED.
Polygamy Charges to be Investigated by
the House.

Polygamy Charges to be Investigated by
the House.
WASHINGTON, Dec. AT confer
ence of about twenty-five prominent
house republicans, held at the capitol
last night, it was decided that the
eligibility of Representative-elect Rob-
erts Of Utah tooccupy seat in the
house of representatives should be in
vestigated and determined and that
pending the decision he should not be
permitted to take the oath of office.
This decision was arrived at by those
present without dissenting voice.
Representative Taylor of Ohio, who
will have charge of the matter in the
house, explained after the conference
had adjourned that this proceeding
does not involve pre-judgment of the
case, but irrespective of party will
afford the members an opportunity to
vote after a thorough investigation
and complete presentation of the case
for their consideration.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
NEWS In GENERAL
a NEW TRIPLE ALLIANCE.
Anglo Recommendations sCombina ton
anged llss Chamberlain.

Anglo iCombina tiou
| GGged lt,w Chamberlain.
LONDON, dee. 1.-Joseph Chamber.
lain, the secretary of state fortthe col.
onies, in "a speech at IA luncheon at
Leicester yesterday, said that ever
since the gneut split lin the liberty
party he had found lhimseh "a mark for
tine SANDERS and Representations Of
the 'sbaser sort of politicians bus
that he had found compensation in the
generous appreciation OF the snaiority
OF his countrynnen. Continuing, Mr..
Chamberlain said he was deeply graf
ified that the foreign relations. ofaGreat
Britain We're SO satisfactory, and as
serted that the country owed debt of
gratitude to Lord Salisbury for the
great Improvement in Great Britaia7s
position. 1t was especially gratifying.
he said, to note the friendly relations
existing between the Anglo-Saxon
branches, saying that the understand
ing between the United States and
Great Britain was indeed a guarantee
OF the peace of the world. A new
triple alliance, between the Teutonic
race and the two great branches of the
Anglo-Saxons, would, said the colonial
secretary, be a potent influence in the
future of the world. The speaker ex-
planned that he used the word .alli-
ance," iut that it mattered little
whether they had an alliance commit
ted to paper, OF ''an understanding
which existed in the minds of the
statesmen of the respective countries.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
pe.perate cuttinc scrane,

DENIsoN, Dec. "A terrible cutting
affray occurred at Schleswig, a new
town on the Mondamin branch of the
Northwestern railway. The fight had
its origin in Tipping a nickel for the
drinks. One of the Mayne boys, living
in Ida county, six miles north of
Schleswig, lost. but kept the nickel
and refused to pay for the drinks. A
fight soon followed between the Mayne
boys and Pat McDonough and Pete
Gilmore, two railroaders. The Maynes
had knives, but the railroaders were
unarmed. Gilmore's throat was cut
from the back of the neck to the chin
and his face from the ear to the mouth.
His jugular vein was also cut. Nc
Donough was cut in the abdomen,
making a cash through which his in
testines protruded. His hand was also
badly cut. jim Mayne's hand was cut
by broken glass. The two wounded
men were taken on a special train to
the hospital at Carroll, and it is re-
ported that McDonough cannot live.
The Maynes disappeared and at last
accounts had not been captured.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
TIE BUTCHERS BILL.
British Losses at Modder River Reacl
Nearly Thousand Men.

DTlLiSu l.OSACS aC NlOOOer HlvCr Reach
Nearly n Thousand Men.
LONDON, Dec. 3.-As surmised, the
British dead and wounded at the hard
fought battle of Modder river number
only bare total of 43s, of which num-
Der 10 We're killed, had been given out
So it is impossible to deduct from the
butchers bill" such information re-
garding the nature of the fight as the
details as to losses of different units
generally indicate. From General
Observation-Disclosures dispatch it is proven
that all reports of General Methuen's
advance after the battle of Modder
river were premature, though with
the railroad working, he should not
be long in constructing a temporary
bridge. His enforced delay, doubtless
will be of considerable service in Civ
ing his hard pushed column needful
rest and in allowing for the arrival of
reinforcements, of which he must be
sorely in need, after three such fights,
placing hors-de-combat upwards of
thousand men out of less than seven
thousand. General Forester Walkers
announcement that the Canadian
marksmen and other reinforcements
have been pushed forward to the
neighborhood of Orange river, to pro-
tect Methuen's line of communications,
has relieved much anxiety here, where
it is fully expected the Beers would
attempt to attack the vulnerable points
of our line of communication.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
AT MoDDER RIVER.
story of the Bloodiest Conflict British
Arms Ever Endured.

story of the Bloodiest Conflict British
Arms Ever Endured.
LONDON, Dec 5.-The Chronicles
dispatch from Modder river says:
Our infantry advanced across the
plain toward the river in two brigades.
The guards on the right were met by
an awful hail of bullets from the en-
emys sharpshooters, who were posted
close to the river on the opposite bank.
Ours had no cover whatever and were
simply moved down. 1t seemed inn
possible to live through such fire, lbu
our brave fellows did not retreat al
inch. The Boer fire was horribly a$
curate, and they must have numbered
at least ten thousand. Scott's guard
advanced 600 yards before they werI
fired upon. Then they had to lie dow
to escape the deadly fusilade, whiel
lasted without intermission through
out the day. The Highlanders mad
several attempts to force a passage
the river. but they were exposed III
such murderous enfilading fire thd
they had to retire after they had SUI
fered terribly. Subsequently partYF
of guards got over and held their owl
for hours against vastly superidE
force. The general opinion of TIL
staff is that there had never been Il
the annals of the British army such
sustained fire as that which our troo
hau to face yesterday. Our men Il
in dozens while trying to rush
bridge. The Beers retreated at nig1
taking their guns with them, and n #
we are occupying their positions.
enemy's loss was tremendOus. ~
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
THE NEWS IN IOWA
GENERAL ByERs. REPORT
IL is Deteaed Review of Iowa1 Part in
Recent Wars

IL As a DetGaied Review of Iowae Part in
Recent Wars.
DEs MONIES, Dec. 2.-Adjutanh Cen
eral Byers has submitted to the .goyer-
nor his biennial report covering the
period ending November 80, 1899. 1t
is one of the largest reports made ito
the governor from this office since
the civil war and contains much OF
historical interest relative to the part
Iowa troops took in che Spanish-Amer-
lean and Philippine wars. In addition
there are some recommendations that
will be of particular interest to men,
bers of the guard, among which are
those that the election of officers be
abolished and that they be appointed,
that the guard be made part of the
national military forces in fact as well
as name, some recommendations with
reference to the reorganization, rec
onmendation that a new arsenal be
built i'll Des Moines and another that
permanent camp ground with perm
anent improvements be provided for
the troops and one that officers of the
regular army be detailed to service
with regiments and companies with a
view of promoting their efficiency and
several others OF almost equal impor-
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
BILLS ALL PAID.
Rock Island Gets Its Money for Trans
portatiOn of Soldiers.

pOrtation of Soldiers.
Dies MONIES, Dec. 4.-Adjutant Cen
eral Byers, accompanied by Private
Secretary Fleming, of the governors
Office, called on the officials of the
Rock Island road Saturday and pre-
sented them with New York draft
for $3l,o97. This covers the figures of
the contract made by state authorities
with the Rock Island road for trans
porting the Fifty-frst Iowa regiment
from San Francisco to Council Bluffs,
lacking $3.50 which is withheld for the
price of two meals caused by the delay
of the last section on the Union Pacific
road. The amount withheld will be
taken from the sub-contract of the
Union Pacific with the Rock Island,
the former being responsible for the
delay. Money has been advanced to
meet all the bills incurred in bringing
the soldiers home, including besides the
transportation, $7,4OO for other ex-
penses. The meals cost $2,941, the
Pullman charges were So, $50, and there
were smaller bills, including telegraph,
ETC., all of which have been met by
the state through its governor. 1t is
understood that the largest part of the
expenses have been paid by the gov
ernor himself, and the remainder has
been covered by temporary loans from
different banks of the state. The
entire sum, it is expected, will be re-
funded by the legislature, the major
ity of the members, it is understood,
having already pledged themselves for
its return.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
AN AMERICAN NAVAL VICTORY.
Port of vigan Captured by Blue Jackets
and Marines.

Port of vigan Captured by Blue Jackets
and Marines.
MANILA, Nov. 3O.-A dispatch from
che Associated Press correspondent at
Namacpacan, province of Union, dated
Sunday, November 26, says: "The
Oregon captured the port of Vigan,
province of South Iloces, north of here,
to-day. The Samara and Callao ran
close in shore, a few shots were fired,
and then the Samara, Callao and Ore
gon engaged in a sharp bombardment
of Vigan. The firing from the shore
ceased almost Immediately, and the
sailors and marines, with field piece,
landed. 1t is reported that 1,7O0 in
surgents under Generals Tho and
Pillar We're massed at Taguden, ten
miles north, and it has been concluded
to wait at Namacpacan for reinforce
ments. The American military force
was still at Namacpacan Sunday, but
a move north was expected to take
place Monday. Two companies of the
Thirty-third volunteers are on their
way north to reinforce the troops at
Namacpacan.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
OFFICIAL CANVASS OF VOTE.
Judge Sherwin's Plurality is Nearly Sixty
Thousand.


Dies MONIES. Nov. 3O.-Of1icial can
vass of the vote cast for supreme judge,
superintendent of public instruction
and railroad commissioner has been
made by the state executive council
1t shows that the republican for Judge
with four opponents, had 59,s1s plu-
rality. while the candidate for super
intendent, with five opponents had
1904. The candidate for railroad
commissioner on the republican ticket,
with five opponents, had 1929 plural
ity. Judge Sherwin had no opponent
on the socialistic labor ticket, whose
strength was about $50 votes only.
His vote, therefore, is regarded as
about the average strength of the
ticket. The canvassing board does not
go into the returns for governor and
lieutenant governor. The legislature
does this work. The secretary of state
receives a semi-otficial return from the
county auditors, upon which the peo-
pie have to depend until the legislature
canvasses the vote for the two highest
offices. These returns are not yet
wholly in hand.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
ADVANTAGES OF THE war,
otss Says ut MAS Taught n4s Hilipinos
f. n LesaOn.

u L0S8Ons
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-Tke report OF
General Otis,on the operations in the
Phihppines'upfto August 81 last has
been made public by the war depart
merit. lit is:a volume of 273 pages,
with:sn appendix of minor reports al
most as large. The report is "a chrome
logical -ecapitulation of events in the
islands. since General Otis took com
mand. Generals0tis says that it may
prove fortunate .tshat Aguinafdo's in
surrection was nat stamped .out in
stanter, srpon its ;inception. Tie says
that the natives !thre ughout the islands
!have peacefully, aud even gladly, ac-
cepted American occupation Of their
towns whenever American troops APP
peared, and that they have learned by
experience that the insurgents have
made a speciality of lnnrder, outrage
and robbery, under the gs1ise of estalb-
fishing free and independent govern
mcnt, and his opinion is THAT they will
gladly submit to the former, so soon
as they can be protected from the lat
ter. column of 5000 TROOPS. he says,
could at any time during the insurrec-
ton have marched from one end of the
island to the other without encounter
ing any serious difficulty, but tsae in
surgents would Inevitably have closed
in behind them as soon as they passed,
showing the necessity of having suf-
ficient troops to hold the country after
it had been captured.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
ONE OF TWELVE BEST

Iowa Newspapers In The Highest Rank.
DIES MONIES, Iowa, Dec. 2.-The New
York National Advertiser, prominent
journal for newspaper men, recently
published list of 1.-THE twelve best
and most progressive American daily
newspapers, y including the Des Moines
Daily News as one of them. This is
considered high compliment to the
News, which is the only daily news
paper in the world offered to yearly
subscribers for 81 a year. The News
now has over 81, 900 circulation, which
is more than any four other Iowa
dailies combined 1t belongs to the
Associated Press and publishes all the
news condensed for the busy reader.
Its market reports are alone worth the
price of the paper. 1t is a real miracle
of journalism.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
DEATH OF JUDGE woouso,,.
He Had Reen On the Federal District
Bench Since 1891.


Dies MONIES, Dec. 5.-yaean Simson
Woolaen, United States district Judge
for the southern district of Iowa, died
at his residence in Des Moimes wester-
day. after an ILLNESS of about five
weeks. Judge Moolson's death was
unexpected up to Sunday by the at
tending pbysieiansand the memasers of
the family. and WAS a complete sur
prise to his ssaany friends and acqnain-
tances in the city. Five weeks ago,
while holding court ip KeokulS, he was
taken suddenly i'll and was compelled
to adjourn the term and return imme-
diately to his homein nes Moines At
that time he was suffering from a
nervous breakdown, the result of
oyerwork. Acting on the advice of
his physician, he gave up his work and
arranged with Judge Shiras, of the
northern district of Iowa, to hold his
court term in Des Moines during
November. Almost from the time he
returned to Des Moines until last
Thursday he continued to improve, and
had gotten along SO well that he was
able to walk about his room and to sit
up for considerable periods at time.
Judge Woolson's home prior to his APP
pointment to the federal bench was at
Mt. Pleasant. where he was in the law
business with his brother-in-law,
Judge Walter L. Babb. Hewas elected
to the SENATE from Haprv oouptu in
1876 and served that county in the
upper house of the legislature contin-
uously until 1891, when he was APP
pointed to the federal bench. He was
chairman of the senate judiciary COM
mittee for number of years and was
regarded as one of the strongest and
most able members of the senate and
a legislative leader practically the en-
tire term of his service
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07

Tue omnipresent microbe is making
its disturbing influence felt in strange
and unexpected quarters. Boards and
mustaches are placed under ban as be-
ing nesting places of errant intruders,
some of them pathogenic, or, in every
day parlance, having the power to pro-
duce disease. Because of this, the
London Globe states, on the authority
Of French scientific journal, that on
motion Of the celebrated DR.. Hubenck,
of Breslau, the leading surgeons OF
Austria and Germany are considering
the adopting of a rule requiring sur
geons to be clean-shaved, or to, at
least, as a preventive of danger, dis
infect the hair Of the face before oper-
ating. Nothing is said as to the hair
of the head, but if this, too, is includ-
ed in the interdict, bald-headed sur
geons will enjoy gratifying advan-
tage.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
HENDERSON NOMfNArED.
Republican House Caucus Does It ny
Accln ma tl0n.sst ~ ~. sil.SSss

Republican House Caucus Does It ny
1 Acclama tion. rs
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 3. The caucus. pf
the republican members of the house
last night nominated David b. Henier-
son, of Iowa, by acclamation Tor j
speaker. The officers of the last
house, except Colonel Russell, the
sergeant-at-at-arms were renotninated
without opposition, as follows: Clerk
Alexander Mcdowell, of Pennsylvania;
doorkeeper, w. j. Glenn, of New York
postmaster, j. c. McElroy, of Ohio, and
chaplain. Rev. Henry Couden, Of Mich
lgan. Colonel Russell was not q can
dldate for reelection, and, Colonel
Henry A. Casson of Wisconsin was
nominated-in his stead The caucus
was held in the house of representa-
tives and was largely attended. It
was presided over by General Gros-
venor OF Ohio, who was reelected
chairman of the caucus. Mr.. Loudenz
slayer of New Jersey was reelected
secretary. General Henderson's name
was presented by Mr.. Payne of New
York and seconded by Mr.. Hopkins oil
Illinois, both of whom had been can
dldates originally. The roll was not.
called the nomination being by accla-
mation. After Il short address INF
which Mr.. Henderson expressed hiss[
appreciation of the honors conferred
upon him, Mr.. Payne of New York
called attention to the narrow maior-
'ty IN the house and offered a resolu-
ton, which was adopted. that no leaves
OF absence should be granted except
1of urgent reasons and that one men,
per should be appointed to look after
the pairs. A resolution by Dalzen.
declaring that the rules of the fiftv.
Eourte and fifty-fifth congressional (the
Reed .rnlAsa should he adontad
an attack by Heppurfi W., 49,, "
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
METnUEN WAS WOUNDED.
He Received Bullet in the Thigh at
Modder River.

He Received Bullet in the Thigh at
Modder River.
LONDON, Dec. 1.-The Times pub
fishes the following dispatch from
Frere, Natal dated Monday, November
%:
"Ladysmith was heavily bombarded
to-day
LONDON, Dec. lit is officially an
nounced that General Methuen was
among those wounded at the battle of
Modder river. General Methuen, it
developed later, was slightly wounded
by bullet which Inflicted a flesh
wound in the thigh. The war Office
makes public the following dispatch
from the officer commanding at Cape
Town. under date of November go:
kimberley all well to November %.
Rail and telegraph open to Modder
river. Gatacre reports November %
that the situation is unchanged"
A dispatch from Estcourt says Cen
eral Joubert has retreated to Colenso
to oppose Colonel Baden-Powen.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-07
scoFF AT empty THREATS,
French Papers Discredit Anglo-Ameri
Gentleman Alliance.

French Papers Discredit Anglo-Ameri-
Gentleman Alliance.
PARIS, Dec. 3.-Some of the news
papers attach considerable Importance
to the utterances of Joseph Chamber
lain at Leicester and consider that
they show that Emperor Williams
visit to England was partially political.
The majority, however, characterize
certain of Mr.. Chamberlain's declar-
ations as empty threats and regard the
suggestion of an alliance between
Great Britain, the United States and
Germany are simply eccentric. The
Matin observes that Mr.. Chamberlain
alludes to the alliance as an accom-
plished fact and as being his work,
and "seizes on the opportunity to adj
dress threats to France, which leave
us as unmoved as does the famous
prospect of a new triple alliance