davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22
BEEF INQUIRY BOARD.
Great Amount of Testimony Has Bee
Taken hv the COuuaissiou

Great Amount of Testimony Has Been
Taken by the Commission,
| The beef inquiry board visited Chicago
and held sessions at army headquarters,
| where the testimony of local officers re-
| garding their experience with canned beef
| in Cuba is being heard by the commits
sioners. Commissary ofticcrs, Govern
ment inspectors and the officers Of the
animal industry bureau were called, Then
appeared Messrs Swift, Nelson and Ed
ward Morris, the representatives of Mr..
Armour, the fJremen Of the different es-
adjustments and such skilled officials in
the packing industry as We're able TO
throw light on the methods of preparing
contract meat
Fifteen hundred typewritten pages of
testimony have been taken by the board,
and ii is said they have come to the con
clusiOn that Gen. Miles was not justified
in making the charges he did concerning
the conduct of Gen. Eagan and the com
missary department.
The report of the board. it is said. will
eXculpate every one from the charge of
dishonesty or negligence. The canned
roast beef will be condemned az an army
ration IN tropical climates, but the Chi
cago PACKERS, who were chiefly concerned
in furnishing this ration. will be eXoner-
ated from all blame aud their processes
commended.
DIR. Devoe, chief of the bureau Of animal
industry, says that since the accusations
acre first made cattle for canning have
fallen from three cents Il pound 10 three
quarters of a cent. and that the market is
almost stagnant. Australian and Argcn-
tine Gamers have protited by the loss Of
the packers in this country.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22
NINE NEGROES SHOT.
Bloody Work of a Masked Mob of
Whites at Palmetto, Ga.

Bloody Work of "A Masked Mob Of
Whites at Palmetto, Ga.
Early Thursday morning mob OF
masked men stormed a little house used
as jail at Palmetto, Ca, and shot nine
negroes. -Four were killed outright and
the other five were badly wounded. There
was great excitement aud Coy. Chandler
was called on for troops tn, militia from
Atlanta arriving about II o'clock.
Two fires Of iucendiary origin have late
ly occurred. Fourteen business houses in
all were destroyed Nina negroes were
arrested on suspicion and taken to John
sons warehouse to await preliminary
trial. The mob rode into the town about
l O'Clock. The little house was near the
center of the town. he guard was cali
ed upon to turn over the nine negroes held
there for trial on the charge of arson
Upon his refusal he and his assistants
were quickly overpowered. The negrof -
begged for mercy TO the leaders, but the
appeals were passed over. aud drawing
guns those OF the mob who managed tol
get inside the building quickly shot the
prisoners down.
The mob was composed Of $50 men.
Where they came from is Il mystery, so
far as the people Of the town can find out
1t is known that some Of the people Of
Palmetto, but not the better class, were in
il. Every face was masked. When it's
work was finished the masked mob turned
and quickly disappeared as it had come,
on horseback. The negroes of the com
munity threatened last week to burn Fair
burn, the county seat, and 1t Is reported
that the mob came largely from that
town
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22

exchanging ratifcations, and the results
Of the formal termination of The war on
the mastering out of volunteers Accord
ing to the terms of the agreement drawn
up at Paris the ratifcations must be ex-
changed by June 10.
In the absence of any direct diplomatic
communication between the United States
and Spain, Secretary Hay expects tc re-
ceive his first formal notice of the ratifi-
cation of the peace treaty by the Queen
Regent through the medium of the French
embassy. Spain must name her special
envoy and notify the United States Gov
ernment q the probable date upon which
he will present himself in Washington
with the exchange copy of the treaty of
peace. Although in most instances little
more than a perfunctory ceremony, in
the case of the exchange of ratifcations
of this treaty the details will be of more
than ordinary interest, for the occasion
will be historical
The draft of the treaty of peace between
Spain and the United States was signed
in Paris Dec. 10, 1898. 1t was approved
by the United States Senate by vote of
81 to 27 Feb 6, and was signed by the
President Feb 10
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22
snarks from the Wires.

Appropriations made by the Fifty-fifth
Congress aggregate 81, 100000.
Gov Smith of Montana has vetoed the
bill legalizing prize fghtin in that State.
Philadelphia has a milk trust. which
controls the entire milk supply of the
city
The Kansas Legislature has passed a
bill reducing telegraph tolls in thar State
40 per cent.
The anti-smoke ordinance of Kansas
City has beer sustained in court. The
court held that careful firing of furnaces
is preventive of the smoke nuisance.
The Navy Department records show
that at the time Of the destruction of the
battleship Maine in Havana harbor the
total number of persons on board was $50.
OF these 26I were lost and ninety four
survived.
The reception committee in charge Of
the dinner given 10 President Mckinley
in Boston issued 10 those invited TO be
present circular OF suggestions" in
which guests were requested to avoid
wrenching the Presidents hand in greet
Ing him.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22
TAKE ANOTHER TOWN
AMERICANS UNDER WHEATON
CAPTURE GuADAlOuPE.
Filipinos Retreat After Offering Little
Resistance Loss Is Small
tive Campaign Is Begun-De-
structive Cyclone in Oklahoma.

Manila advices say that Guadaloupe
was captured Monday morning by Gen.
Wheaton's new brigade, consisting of the
Twentieth and Twenty-second regulars,
portions of the Oregon and Washington
volunteers, the Fourth cavalry (mounted)
and the Sixth artillery The troops ad-
vanced southward from San Pedro Ma
catl, the right thanking behind the town.
The resistance was slight, the enemy re-
treating toward Tasig and Pateros. A
gunboat steamed up the Pasig river she'll
ing the jungle and materially aiding the
troops.
The American loss in the attack was
slight, 1--WE men wounded being the total
of their casualties. The enemy's loss was
forty Killed. large number wounded and
sixteen who fell into the hands of the
Americans. The prisoners were taken in
the vicinity of Guadaloupe The Ameri-
cans wounded were all regulars.
The advance of the flying column under
Gen. Wheaton is the first step in the ag-
gressive campaign planned by Maj. Gen.
Otis. 1t is intended that Gen Wheaton
shall advance as far as Laguna de Bay
and clear the territory between Manila
"hN mat punt VI insurgents. i MS ulONt.
Gen. Otis believes, will stretch line of
American troops across the island, thus
cutting off all communication between the
northern and southern wings of Aguihal-
dos army.
Gen. Wheaton troops were eager for
action, and fought with spirit, despite the
intense heat. The fight was brief, how
ever, the Filipinos being easily outfianked
and driven back in disorder They made
several attempts to rally, but the fire from
the front drove them toward the river.
and there the shells of the light draught
gunbOats sent them back again. They
finally broke into small bands and fed.
This is only the beginning of the drastic
measures that are to be taken in future
dealings with the Filipinos. Gen. Otis is
determined to open the country from Ma
Mia to MalOlos, the capital of the insur-
gents. The American troops are to be ad-
vanced day after day, and the rebels will
be compelled to retreat. IL their COM
plete subjugation has not been accomplish
ed by the time the Americans reach Ma
loios, the capture of the capital will, it is
thought, put an end to the fighting. Agui-
nalde is expected to make final stand
at the capital
Gen. Otis has given notice that the ne
gotiaticns between the Filipinos and the
Spanish prisoners must be stopped at once.
Gen. Otis object in doing this is. presum-
ably, to prevent the Filipinos from OBJ
tanning indemnity (which they demand for
freeing the prisoners.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22

all the powers begin grabbing land in
China they are bound TO quarrel and war
will be the result. | am convinced that
we can keep China on her feet, if we do
not go in for a policy of every nation
grasping territory. The thing for Japan,
Germany and the United States and Great
Britain to do is 10 agree in maintaining
the open door policy. insisting that no
ports shall be closed against their ships
of trade While in America | endeavor-
ed to show that with her growing trade
she is as much interested as England, Ger
many and Japan in securing unrestricted
trade with China. OF course, | do not
suggest a cut-aHd-dried alliance between
these powers, or between us and America.
| don't think it necessary and don't sug-
gest for moment that America should
join an alliance of that kind, but l think
we might agree working together, TO
maintain the open door"
Lord Charles Beresford expressed his
appreciation of the kind treatment which
he had received in America and paid
glowing tribute to the business activity
and industry of the country. He stated
positively that his mission was purely
commercial, not political
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22
JOSEPH MEDILL DEAD.
Veteran Chicago Newspaper Man Ex-
pires in San Antonio.

veteran Nhicago Newspaper Man TX
pires in San Antonio.
Joseph Medill, for almost half a century
editor of the Chicago Tribune and former
Mayor of Chicago, died at his winter home
in San Antonio. Texas, Thursday. The
great journalist was as years old, and the
cause Of death is assigned simply as old
age, with its attendant weaknesses.
Mr.. Medill decided last fall that he
could not risk the severely cold weather
in Chicago and went TO San Antonio. The
deaths of his wife and his favorite daugh-
ter. Josie. were shocks from which. ii is
believed, Mr., Medill never recovered and
he had been growing perceptibly weaker
for the last three years.
Joseph Medill was born i'm st. John,
n. b, April g. 1923. His parents, who
were of Scotch-Irish descent, moved to
Stark County, Ohio, in 1881, establishing
themselves upon n small farm near Mas
sillon. Joseph helped his father with the
work and made his pocket money by get
ting up clubs Of subscribers FOR the New
York Weekly Tribune. In the winter and
spring for several years he taught school
The law had great attractions for the
young man and in 1916 he was admitted
TO the bar in New Philadelphia, Ohio
Mr.. Medill did not engage long in the
practice of law, Becoming interested in
politics and having natural bent for
writing he determined to enter journalism.
In 1S49 he bought the CoShocton Wing,
which he renamed the Republican. 1t
was free-soil whig paper. In the win
ter of 1S54-53 Mr.. Medill sold his Ohio
paper and, going to Chicago in May.
bought large interest in the Chicago
Tribune a paper which was then almost
bankrupt. II was placed ON a paying
basis 10y the new owners. Ia 1874 Mr..
Medill secured full control of The paper
and through il made fortune.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22
CLAIM DAMAGES FROM SPAIN.
Amounts AsASH for Losses in Cuba
Fnnf In $50. OOO.0

Under the provisions of the seventh ar
ticle Of the peace treaty with Spain. which
stipulates that the United States shah ad-
judcate and settle the claims Of its citi-
zens against Spain growing out Of the
insurrcction in Cuba, there have so far
been filed with the Department of State
claims aggregating nearly $30,000,000.
President Cleveland, in the closing days
of his second administration. sent 10 the
Senate list of claims fled Up to that
time, aggregating, in round numbers, S10,-
100000. A list Of the claims which had
been filed since then was sent to the Sen
ate by President Mckinley at the end Of
the session just closed. These foot mp
some S2O,O00,000. not including three
claims where the reeompense is not
named.
The largest individual claim is filed 10y
jobs W. Brock, who asks for 81, ,162, ,5l4
81, 162, ,514 for himself and $1.0O0,000
for Joseph Rigney, for property destroy
ed. Mrs. Ricardo Ruiz claims $4,000
for the imprisonment and death of her
husband. The other claims range from
sTT1 900 to 800. The number Of claim
ants is 123.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22
s:gSlJLDNsleffek,,Og On g

Gen. Sir Arthur Cotton is one Of Eng
lands oldest soldiers, being In his Goth
year.
The Prince Of Wales breakfast never
varies. 1t always consists Of tea, toast
and one egg.
Mr.. Hall Caine shows that carelessness
permitted to genius in his dress, but Lon
don has few more handsomely gowned
women than Mrs. Caine.
Queen Victoria possesses two of the old
est watches in the world. Both have sill
yer dials, and are about as large as half
Il crown, one being a blind mans watch
and the other repeater.
Count and Countess Boni de Castellane
have just leased for three years, with the
option Of purchase, the Chateau de Ma
rias belonging to the Due de Noailles.
Three million dollars will be spent in re-
storing the estate.
Prof Blumentritt, through whom Agui-
naldo and his colleagues have been max
ing their cause known TO Europe Ia a,
member Of the faculty Of an Austrian uniS
versity, and has MADE a thirty yeaI4t
study OF the Philippine archipelago and
its history.
Don Carlos has taken curious and
striking advantage Of the foreign post
card craze" 10 further his cause. having
had some printed with portraits OF him
self and his wife, with fac simile sigma
lures below, under which comTunica-
tions are written.
An enormoug pipe has just been made
for President Kruger by Dublin firm.
The bowl Is of the finest briar root, the
stem Of cut vulcanite, and the case of
leather lined with chances. On the front
Of the bowl and carved into the wood IL
the Transvaal coat Of arms.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22
TeIexraphic Brevities.

BY the breaking of log booms in the
Kentucky river, as the result of the floods.
logs valued at 81 100000 were lost.
Prof. NJ. NJ. Curtis of Adelbert College
has given that institution his private col
lection of Oriental curos valued at thou
sands of dollars.
Senator Hoar is a whist player of no
small ability and passionately fond of the
game, which he plays nearly every even
ing of his life.
Admiral Sampson when child ,,as
made to learn by heart long passages of
the Bible. and says the method is the best
foundation for any kind of education.
An error in the naval appropriations
bill will prevent the department from buy
ing the best quality of steel armor for the
new battleships Maine, Ohio and Mis-
souri,.
Ex-senator Allen of Nebraska has been
appointed by Gov. Pointer judge of the
Dietrict Court, to fill the vacancy caused
by the election of Judge John S. Robinson
as Congressman.
The Isabf :. mine in Colorado, which is
now turning out free gold at thousands
of dollars ton, was once owned by boy
of 10, Robert Mooneyham. who gave it to
his uncle, Daniel Threikeld.
4 high official of the German navy has
admitted that Admiral Won Diedrici's ac-
tions at Manila were indiscreet and I'M
warranted. and his removal is an evidence
of Germany's friendship TO the United
States.
The captured war vessels Don Juan de
V.1. A. 7 ISL IL Ttt,l,,
at Manila, are not available for immedi-
ate service, as they are in need of re-
pairs. but they win soon be put in fight
ing condition.
The historic Washington elm, in Cam
bridge. Mass. beneath whose branches
Gen Washington took command of the
continental army. is rapidly decaying, and
the Cambridge Park Commissioners say
that ii will be impossible TO save il more
than a few years longer. A short time
ago workmen went over the tree and cut
off n considerable amount of dead wood,
and there il not very much left to keep
alive. 1t is intended 10 make thorough
oyerhauling of the tree in the spring. and
TO do everything possible to preserve it.
Mayor Quincy OF Boston has been pre-
sented with several petitions urging bim
TO organize an aggressive crusade against
the imported finch, or what is known to
the general public as the English sparrow.
Ii is proposed that the feathered pests
shall be driven away by destroying their
nests and eggs in the city parks. by snar-
ing them in TRAPS and mercifully putting
them TO death. and By giving them poison
ed food in sections of the city where such
a course would not be source OF danger
10 domestic animals or to human beings.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22
BECKER TELLS ALL.
Kills His Wife with Hatchet and
Burns Her Body.

August A. Becker, the Chicago wife
murderer, made second confession to
the police Tuesday night In a detailed
statement to Inspector Hunt he told Of
a crime so revolving that for some time
even the police officials refused to be-
lieve it.
In the presence of Chief of Police Kip
ley, Inspector Hunt, Captain LAWN and
Assistant States Attorney Pearson the
bufly sausage maker broke down and said
he had killed his wife by striking her on
the head with hatchet in the kitchen of
MS nome. lie then cut the body to pieces
and boiled it in large kettle. After
watching the disintegration of the re-
mains for several hours, and when moth
ing was left that resembled a human body
Becker says he took what remained and
burned 1t in red-hot stove, the fire hay-
lng been prepared by him. The bones.
winch would not burn, he buried on the
prairie near his home.
becker asserts the crime was not nre
meditated, but that he quarreled with his
wiie, ana IN the heat of passion he struck
her on the head with the hatchet. Only
one blow was needed to cause death and
aIter nat had been struck the sausage
maB+f says he thought of the way to dis
pose of the remains OF his wife in order to
destroy all chance of detection.
August A. Becker killed his wife Jan.
-, put was not arrested for the murder
untii after he had married 17-year-old
girl named Ida Sutterlin. When Becker
brought his wife home it caused gossip.
which reached the ears of the police, and
nnaiiy led to Becker's arrest. At first
Becker denied having killed his wife, stat
ing that she had left him and gone to Mil
waukee. Under pressure he finally made
raise confession, in which he said that
ne had pushed his wife into the lake at
the foot of the Randolph street pier This
was not believed, and until Tuesday night
the true story of how Becker killed his
wife was not known.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22
THE 1LL-FATED WINDSOR HOTEL, NEW YORK.

were equipped with electric alarms and
with colored globes that. should have
shown everybody how to reach the es-
capes. Yet they might almost as well not
have been there, for of all the persons
rescued not more than half dozen were
taken down by means of the fire escapes.
while scores jumped or slid down murder
GUS rope escapes, which burned their
hands and compelled them to drop many
feet above the street.
Within two hours of the discovery Of
the fire the hotel itself was total wreck
and the walls had fallen out on eyery side
except the eastern side, where adjoining
buildings shored them up. Those two
hours were as full of thrilling incidents
as any that Fifth avenue ever witnessed
Over 25,00O, and perhaps $4,000. peopIe
were jammed together in the smallest
space that they could be jammed in. and
they saw women and children and mon
leaping from the windows of the hotel
They saw tiremen climbing up the outer
walls with scaling ladders and bringing
down panicstricken and often Struggling
women. They saw rescues almost with
out number, and they cheered the firemen
as they worked. For time the mob
swamped the police and surged back and
forth through the streets, now rushing TO
see this unfortunate falling to death, now
to witness another caught in the life nets
by the firemen, and again to look in bor-
ror upon another impaled on the iron rail-
ings that surrounded the hotel, or dashed
to death on the huge iron flower urns.
This mob was as panic stricken almost
as the people in the hotel. They scream
ed as unfortunate after unfortunate lean
ed out; they mingled their cheers now and
again with the cries for aid of the people
who did not jump.
The loss on the hotel is estimated at
about 81 100000. Several adjoining build
ings were damaged considerably, but the
loss on these is comparatively small All
the papers and books of the hotel are be-
lieved to have been saved.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22

The Windsor Hotel, occupying square
on Fifth avenue, between Forty-sixth and
Forty-seventh streets, in New York, for
nearly thirty years one of the most fam
Gus hotels in this country, if not in the
world, was completely destroyed by fire
Friday afternoon, and at least eighteen
persons were burned to DEATH and prob
ally more than half hundred were in
Jured. There were rescues by the score,
some OF them the most thrilling imagina-
bic. Among the rescued were Mrs. Abner
Mckinley, wife of the brother of the
President; their daughter, and Miss Helen
Mckinley, the sister of the President.
From the roof and windows, from the
fire escapes and cornices, frenzied men
and women threw themselves to the pave
ment five, six, seven stories below. Be
wildered guests within the roaring fur
mace were carried down to death by fall
ing walls, and all the while $4,000 human
beings watched the tragedy.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22
GUSTS GOMEZ FROM OFFICE.
Cuban Military Assembly kemov.
the Generai-in- Chief,

Cuban Military Assembly kemovA ,
the General-in- Chief.
The Cuban military assembly, in public
session at Havana, impeached Gen. Max
imo Gomez and removed him from his
command as general in chief of the Cuban
army, the first ballot taken resulting in
twenty-six votes being cast in support of
the motion 10 impeach and remove Gen.
Gomez agaiI t four in opposition.
Gen. Gomez's only supporters were Gen.
Cespedes and Gen. Nunez. Aguerro de-
clared that Gomez was insubordinate and
should be punished and Sanguilly insinu-
ated that the general was traitor to
Cuba. Much passion was evident in the
speeches, in some of which Gomez was de-
clared to have, been delinquent in his du-
ties and disobedie' because he had ac-
cepted the proposition of Robert p. Por-
ter, President Mckinley's special ennis
sary, without consulting the assembly, be-
cause he had taken upon himself the ar
rangements for the payment and disc rm-
ing of the Cuban troops Independent of
the assembly and because he had declared
to the assembly that he would observe its
rulings in so far as he considered them
beneficial to Cuba.
The assembly then declared that the 49,
10000 is insufficient
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22
g2}&7!yGi|1lggsaI|kIs9
G. }gSg0DE D9Ey;55==

1t has been determined to withdraw all
the volunteer troops from Cuba with all
possible dispatch, orders to this effect hav-
ing been issued by the Secretary of War.
There are two reasons for this decision,
one being the reorganization of the army
and the other because the unsanitary con
ditions which will exist in Cuba at the be-
ginning of the rainy season. 1t is expect
ed to have all the volunteers out of the
island within a month and certainly by
May 1. There are now about 25,000 vol
unteers and when these are withdrawn
regulars will not be sent to relieve them
at once, as the President wishes to garri-
son Cuba with as small a number of troops
as possible on account of the health con-
ditions. This movement will begin at
once and all the volunteers viii be return
ed as soon as transports can be supplied.
When the troops reach this country they
will be mustered out ri the port at which
they arrive, and given two months extra
pay, together with their fare home.