Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-04-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
That Story About villamil- Additions to
the Zoo Havane Is Pick
ing UP.
fsnecinI Cnrresnnn.l.nce.l


Especial Correspondence
Further assurance Of the falsity ii
the sensational stories about the horri
bic death of Admiral Villamil have
reached this city Lieutenant A VI
Proctor of the navy. who was naval
engineer in the Sampson squadron and
who is n son Of Civil Service Commits
sioner Proctor has written letter to
his father in which he says
There has never been any serious
doubt as to what became of Villamil
While in Porto Rico was shown an
extract from letter written to Span.
ish paper by Arderius lieutenant of
the Juror in which h. fully described
Villamil's death He WAS killed on the
bridge of the Juror and WAS left there.
| and | remember hcarin. the chief
boatswains mate speak If seeing AN
officers body on the bridge of the Furor
when he was on Euaid inst before il
sank
II was ashore for two hours. and the
idea that there were any dead or wound
ed admirals hiding in the bushes with.
out my knowing il is hardly probable
The SpaniardS we're ready to tell me
who got ashore. and their one idea was
to escape from the Cuhans That they
would have left an admiral. dead or
alive To the tender mercies of the Gu
bans is improbable feel personally
| .,,. tal ,,,, l,,,t md IL
want To see his homes incorporating as
an admiral
Additions to the Zoo.
Territorial expansion and the conse-
quent addition Of many new species to
the American fauna have inspired a
magnificent project for the enlargement
" the National Zunlogical park. located
nj Rock Creek inst outside the city of
Washington DR. Frank Baker the 81
perintendcni of the park has plan for
developing his popular institution along
the same lines ana ultimately ON as
large a scale N the famous geological
gardens of London Berlin and Paris
He is now preparing Il pamphlet CON
tanning many photographs If Rock Creek
and of the animals there. which he pro
poses 10 send Ia all the foreign consuls.
army officers and others. with "A request
that whenever they SEE or hear of good
specimens fol the geological garden
they should cu-uperatc with the man
agement in securing them
Frequently officials located in foreign
countries can secure native wild ami
mails at small cost while those pur-
chased through the dealers are expen
sive Then. too. army officers and 9th
ers often come into possession of mag
nficpnt prizes through gift or other
wise which they would gladly give TO
the National geological park if this
were suggested
Havana Picking Up.
II appears from an official report inst
made to the war department that the
trade of Havana'is reviving and the in
dicatiunS ar,. that Cuba will soon enjoy
another ETA of prosperity During the
month Of February last 1877. $50
pounds uf tobacco in - iSS bales We're
exported from Havana. 10. IA 400 ci
gars l.Oia lO5 packages of cigarettes.
81 BIS pounds of cut tobacco and s.9i6
pounds Of leaf tobacco Nearly all this
trade was with the United States In
addition L. the tobacco ll.9l3. SOL
pounds of other merchandise. chiefly
sugar pineapples and preserved fruits.
was also exported The report also
shows that during the month .Sl3 pas
Sengers arrived from the United States.
$50 from Spain and $40 from other
countries. a total of 3.OI2 while 1872
left for the United States. 26i for Spain
and e. for other countries. a total of
| .63S or gain of 1874
Athletics For Soldiers.
General Lee. who is in command of
the Seventh army corps. has advised
the war department of his plan 10 get
his men interested in athletics He has
ordered that the usual drill be aban.
doned on two days each week and the
time devoted to outdoor sports. carried
ON under the officers. who will prepare
programmes for contests Prizes are TO
be off sred the trophies To he purchased
out of the post exchange fund or OBJ
talneu from ItrSondl SuiStTiptluHs ne
reports "A keen interest among officers
and men in the project and says there
is every evidence that the events will be
diverting and helpful To the men
The White HCusr has not only under
gone its spring cleaning. Int modern
plumbing AMI other improvements have
been Installed Besides the improve
ments in The interior Of the mansion
the gardeners have been hu>ily engaged
IN beautiiyin. the grounds surrounding
the White House The flowers which
arr. new h,:ng sci ont IN the grounds
are all the product III the extensive hot
huu~, adjoining the White House
There l. u larger number II accounts
under thu war tlan ~ lS1N than under
all uih,r '.Nl~ilu. laws ami Il proper
tiunair Intfcff~- IN the nm. her Of un-
settled aCr,mni> ~ the cl,I-.' Of the
fiscal v,;ir ,lnIn- June 80 1898. thei
were ~ unsettled accounts while March
l>9I ihar, were 3S0 unsettled ac
commits a@.;,r:.aiIng so nOO n10 These
ar. ~rtil,t! through the assistant treas
ni,r. at in, ul,rd States at the varions
>uhtrra>urit> VIM file theIr accounts
with tnr treasury
- n