davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1899-08-15
TUESDAY. JULY Is. 1899.
To the District of Columbia.

As predicted yesterday, the Secretary of
War has appealed to the people of Wash
ington and the vicinity. through the Dis
rrict Commissioners. for aid for the fam
ishing and pestilence-threatened Porto
Ricans. Our local authorities have under
taken TO Go what they can in the premises
reminding Mr. Root that large number of
our citizens best able TO exercise charity in
q liberal way are now absent at their sum-
mer residences or are abroad OF otherwise
out CT reach. Nevertheless, most OF them
can be communicated with in some man
ner. and others who remain in town viii
do their best to help out
The need for 4 really extensive national
relief subscription GROWS with each hour.
Even now Goyernor-General Davis has
only reports from part of the devastated
area, and his apprehension is that the
worst Of the calamity has not been learned.
Judging. however, from what the authori-
ties at San Juan and Ponce know already,
there is good ground for fearing that even
the most thorough and speedy organiza-
rion OF relief measures may be insufficient
TO at once check famine and perhaps pes
thence in the interior of the island. About
all Of the bridges and very many Of the
roads have been swept away. The unfor-
tunate country people are completely un-
able to help themselves. They have lost
everything. including crops, fruit trees.
gardens. tools, animals of all kinds. and
in wide districts are absolutely without
clothing, food, or shelter
Moreover, their dead and the carcasses
Of thousands OF cattle and goats lie fester-
ing in the sun It viii take not only a
large sum of money. but devotion and
fearless bravery on the part of many
American men and women, professional
and lay, 10 bring order out Of this chaos.
and TO help these starving new members
Of our national family to their feet.
But the great heart Of the American
people is always open to the cry OF mis-
eryi Whether famine or pestilenee rage
in Ireland, Russia, Armenia, OF India, the
Good Samaritan wrapped in the Stars and
Stripes is always in evidence with his oil
and wine. The present demand viii not
80 unheeded any more than have those
preceding
The times., 1899-08-15
otis According to St. John.

II is not thought probable that the Gov
ernment will take any notice of the re-
marks attributed to Commander Percy st.
John. OF the British navy, on the sub
iect of Otis and his failure in the Philip
mines. Not so much because they rep
resent good deal OF the truth as 1t is
known in this country. as because the
gallant Briton has denied ever having
made them-for publication.
As far as we are concerned We are salts
fed that Commander St. John has explain
ed his alleged verbal indiscretion in hand
some manner, and are perfectly willing to
regard the incident as closed. If Secre-
tary Hay is agreeable, it will be so con-
sidered and treated. The form of denial
used on this occasion was so uniquely
satisfactory that we reproduce a part of
ii. Said st. John to a newspaper man at
Vancouver:
did not say anything for publication at all.
/ was asked by young man about the war.
and I told him what / thought about it. But
never gave an interview, and there IS no telling
what they viii think ot such statements as that
in the office at London ON, never gave an IN
teryiew ct all. j only went 10 see Otis once,
and Of course he entertained me very well. But
he is silly old fellow. anyway. lie doesn't know
much about war. and there Is no end IN sight for
the war 50 far. The gen5ral impression around Ma
mia is. that he is not competent The officers
down there cannot bring the war TO a success
fnl issue, but although Otis is incompetent, ii
would not do Cor me TO say -, you know
AS a perfect illustration of a new and
effecsiEe method OF denying an interview.
after ii is In cold type and the officer or
statesman interviewed desires to escape
its sentiments or consequences. the inven-
tion OF Commander Percy St. John. R, N,
The times., 1899-08-15
Ensuand,s Black Spectre.

II is not true, as some people may sup
pose, that, as far as England is concerned,
the South African problem is simple one
On the contrary, it is painfully complex
II only the Transvaal Beers had TO be con-
sidered, there need not be much trouble in
handling them. But there are other Dutch
settlers. They are called Afrikanders, form
the largest farming class Of Cape Colony
and are entirely in sympathy with theiI
brethren at Pretoria. Ii is unnecessary to
say that they are not implicitly trusted BY
the British authorities, and they resent the
fact
Some time ago. when a large number OF
special officers were sent out from England
to instruct the Cape Colonists in the gentle
art of war, with view TO threatened ma
tive uprisings, these specialists organized a
volunteer corps and armed its members
with improved rifles. They strangely omit
ted TO invite the Dutch residents to join
As the ostensible object was TO provide pro-
lection against the KalI1rs, the burghers
consider that they are treated worse than
Dom Paul treats the Outlanders.
But really the preparations against
trouble with the natives are by no means
in the nature of a subterfuge. There ac-
tually is serious danger Of a monster re-
volt of the blacks ali through the region.
Both in Cape Colony and Natal the
Kaffirs are suIien and insubordinate. In
Rhodesia the Matsbele are restless, and
the Swazis, who are under the protection
Of the Beers, are likely to go on the war
path at any moment. Worse than all, the
Basutcs, in Basuto,and. hereditary enemies
of the Dutch, are with difficulty prevented
from making war on their Own account.
This is especially hard. as MIR. Chamber-a ain
has promised in Parliament that he will
not use blacks to fight whites.
1t is estimated that it might take ten
thousand British troops TO hold these eager
Basutos in check, while the rest Of General
Buffers forces were fighting their, and
his, enemies. Altogether. unless Kruge7
and the Colonial Secretary can get together
pretty soon and reach some basis OF ad-
jCstment, the blacks are likely TO take the
iniative and begin hostiiities against either
one or the other of the white e.ements,
according to their tribal grievances. men,
ories, or location
The times., 1899-08-15
A REPORT FROM HoBsoN.
He Wants to Raise More Ships and
build n Dry Dock.

hu11d
Lieutenant Hobson has sent to the
Navy Department a long report upon the
condition of work on the three Spanish
ships raised from the bottom of Manila
Bay and sent to Hongkong for repairs and
overhauling. In this report Mr.. Hobson
expresses himself at some length upon the
advisability OF this Government having its
own shipyard and dry dock at Cavite,
where vessels attached 10 the Asiatic sta
ton may be attended to without entail
ing the heavy expenses involved when sent
tt. private shipyards at Hongkong, where
the warships of all nations in those waters
are overhauled. MIR. Hobson tells Of the
experience Great Britain has had with
private firms, and shows the policy she Is
pursuing of building her own docks, an
example which, he says, it would be well
for this Government TO adopt at Manila
Ho5son wants TO attempt the raising Of
several vessels still on the bottom of Ma
Mia Bay. where they have rested since
sunk there by the guns of Admiral Dewey
fleet. 1t is doubtful if the Navy Depart
ment gives HobSon the necessary permiS-
sion to attempt the rescue of the ships,
however, as il is believed their long i'm
mersion has caused rust and corrosion of
all the vital parts of machinery and hull.
anu the tApcEoc VI 6CtliAS tlAChi Up
be far greater than the original cost of the
craft.
Hobson in his report shows that Manila,
as he believes, is destined TO become an
important commercial port in future and
a place of call for merchant ships bound
across the Pacific. Regardless of the COM
mercial value Of an important dry dock
and repair station. he believes that econ
omy requires that the Navy maintain it's
own establishment in the Philippines in
stead of depending upon private firms at
Hongkong to perform repair work.
Three Spanish cruisers. the Isla de Cuba.
Isla de Luzon and Don Juan de Austria
are now ready for sea, with the exception
Of their armament, which he expects to
have on board in four weeks. He places
the value of the vessels at s215, 600 each for
the Cuba and Luzcn and the Austria at
s1Se, 000 or a total OF Ss10,0 900 for the three.
To raise, repair and get ready for service
the ships has cost the Government as fol-
lows: The Cuba 100000; the Luzon,
$4,000, and the Austria, $4,000; or total
of S304, 900.
The times., 1899-08-15
DARING THIEVES In CUBA.
Cannon stolen ON n Forged Order
From GenernI Ludlosv.

From General Ludlow.
Havana, Aug 14-Four bronze cannon,
valued at 0,00O which were in the fort
built at Guanabacoa during the war by
the Spaniards, have been stolen by
two Americans, who presented an order
purporting to have been signed by General
Ludlow for their delivery. The guns were
melted and the metal shipped north on
Saturday. The theft was not discovered
until today, when a genuine order from
General Ludlow was presented. Thirteen
persons have been arrested in connection
wSh the robbery.
Colonel Bacallao, chief of detectives has
received information that $4,000 was
stolen from the treasury by the men who
forged the money order that was presented
last week An investigation is being
made.
Colonel Bacallao held a conference with
General Ludlow today regarding the expe-
ditions that are being fitted out in Cuba
for the invasion of Santo Domingo, He
informed General Ludlow that two expe-
ditions have already left Santiago de Cuba,
and that another, carrying 1,000,OOU cart
ridges is being prepared at Cienfuesos.
General Ludlow at once communicated the
information to General Wilson, command
ing the department in which Cienfuegos IS
located. General JimiIez, the Santo Do
miniean conspirator, in whose behalf the
expeditions are sent out. was seen here to-
day. 1t is probable that ne will not leave
Cuba for several days.
The cyclone which devastated some OF
the West Indian islands was not felt here.
There is some anxiety regarding the safety
of the Ward Line steamer Vigilancia.
which is now thirty-six hours overdue.
The times., 1899-08-15
craker,s ahoriglnal view.

II is much to be regretted that Mr.. Rich
ard Croker did not leave well enough alone.
and dessicaie after firing the original bomb
shell of his Saturday interview. That Gre
ated a genuine sensation which the views
or remarks OF the Tammany Grand Saehem
never have before. outside of New York. By
rsiteration, emendation. and explanation he
is weakening the force Of both his lauda-
ton Of Mr. Bryan and his denunciation
Of war allowed TO lag along without def
mite results in the interests Of Mr. McKin-
lsy's second term. and other valuable con-
sideratsons too numerous TO mention.
The first deliverance of the oracle was
short. sharp. and to the point. Later edi-
tions suggest that the inspiration-was it
Whitney2-is absent, and that the high
priest is drawing OF his own mental re-
sources for thunder. Else why should Mr..
Croker make the mistakes he does when he
tangIes himself up with the facts OF the
Philippine unpleasantness? For Instance
he accuses the President Of sacrificing
thousands Of lives ito capture a country
that would be useless to US If we had it. ;"
The effort has cost more in lives than the
necessity demanded. but only because oil
the Administrations Grass stupidity in
sending an inadequate force OF soldiers and
an incompetent commander to do the work.
Mr.. Croker would find il difficult to produce
his thousands of lives" in any court, 10
prove MS liberal assertion. We admit that
the fact of establishing that slippery person,
/ Denby. at Manila, and his antics while
there constitute some ground for the Gro
ker assumption that the Administration de-
sigred to prolong the war for political pur-
poses: but that does not excuse complete
/ defiance Of vital statistics.
we may sympathize with Mr.. Croker,
uerhaps. in his sudden grief over the woes
of pecple whom he tearfuIly calls "others
| of foreign race" He is the head OF a
triba himself-a tribe of terrible Tammany
tigers. and q little fellow feeling for his
brother Sachem in Luzon is not only al
,owable. but may be intrinsically commend
able. That amiability, again, viii hardly
cover the faIlacy of his declaration that the
( Philippines would be Of no use TO US II
we had them. They viii be Of great utility
and. in fact. we have them and are likely
10 keep them unless DENLY should sell them
IN England or Germany some night and es-
cane TO Tibet. They would be Of so much
use Importance, and profit that all the
powers OF Europe are sitting around howl
ing for a chance to get US out and get
themselves in
Yet. in certain circumstances. Mr.. Croker
| wants it to be clearly understood that he
il mot against legitimate expansion,
which we take to mean that the kind oi
expansion which suits his political book
for the time being. is legitimate. and all
others are limitations. snares. and crafts
and assaults of the Republican devil.
The times., 1899-08-15
WORK ON THE wARsHrps.
Two Battle Craft Nearly Ready for
Their TrfnIs.

The monthly progress report prepared by
the Construction Bureau. on the condition
of all work on ships and torpedo craft
building for the Navy, shows that two
battleships are SO far advanced that their
speed trials viii take place this autumn.
one other is within 10 per cent OF readiness
for sea service. and the remainder are pro-
crossing rapidly. The report does not men,
ton the three battleships for which no de-
signs have yet been drawn. or the three
srmored cruisers provided in the same bill
last March. But for the yellow fever scare
at Newport News. which led TO the de-
parture of large number of skilled me
chanics for Northern yards. the Kearsarge,
which is now within per cent OF compile
tion. would have been given her speed trial
next month The delay caused by the re-
duced force will probably prevent the trial
being held now until November. The Sis
ter ship. the Kentucky. is but / per cent
behind and should have her official test
before the close of the year. 1t Is the
department s intentions to commission both
ships soon after they have been accepted
by the Government. OF the three sister
vessels, the Illinois the Alabama. and the
Wisconsin, the Alabama is within IL per
cent of readiness and the Illinois 10 per
cent behind her. while the Wisconsin
building at San Francisco, is 10 per cent
in the rear OF the Illinois. All these yes
sells, according to officials estimates, may
be expected to be commissioned early next
spring, and assigned to some squadron
The new Maine. building at Cramps, is
advanced 10 per cent, the Ohio per Gems,
and the Missouri is just beginning.
But one cruiser class OF vessel is build
ing for the Navy, and she is the Albany,
under construction at Sir William Arm
strong's yard in England This craft has
been under way since months previous to
the Spanish war. and is still 10 per cent
from readiness. Her builders have notified
the Government that the vessel will be de-
livered on this side before the end OF the
present year.
Four monitors. the Arkansas, Ccnnecti-
cut. Florida, and Wyoming are all NOV
ing along well and each will be completed
within the contract time. The report
shows a large number of torpedo craft
building at the various yards, varying IN
speed from thirty knots TO twenty-six-
Few of these have progressed more than
80 per cent. except the thirty-knot de-
stroyers Dahlgren and Craven, which are
practically finished. The Stringham is
also in about the same condition.
There is one vessel building for the Navy
that has made no progress In the past
three years. and the prospects are not
favorable to her being completed for
months yet. She is the submarine boat
Plunger building at Baltimore, under
contract with the Holland Company. and
still Is per cent from readiness. This boat
was contracted for five years ago, but ow
ing to alterations and changes made has
been delayed. The department hopes that
she may be completed before she becomes
rusted on the ways from old age and ex-
posure. ~
The times., 1899-08-15
The INSANITY Doare OF copr.e

The line Of defence in the Smell batchery
case, which was outlined in yesterday
mornings edition OF The Times. is to be
hereditary insanity a grsst-grandaunt OF
the most horrible miscreant who ever be-
fouled the air Of Washington, is said to
have died in a condition OF alienation.
while several other members OF his family
are vaguely thought, by the present gener-
alton OF II. 10 have been more or less ''un-
balanced"
So counsel learned in the Law win be
retained here. TO DO the best they can to
secure delays, raise techniealities. trap the
trial judge into errors. pick flaws in the
indictment, and all the rest OF it, while
it is also thought desirable to engage a
Georgia attorney to look up the family
history for crazy persons.
In any case the wretch cannot be brought
TO trial until October. and, in the mean
time, he viii have the satisfaction OF know
ing that the resources OF the criminal bar
viii be used 10 save his neck. and possibly
secure for him the mild punishment of in
carceration in a sanitarium, from which he
need not despair or being discharged, curei,
In the course Of two or three years, IL
change Of air and diet and the exclusion
OF small female children should happily
lead to a restoration OF his shattered
health.
Smells total forgetfulness Of the unpieas-
Snt circumstances OF Lizzie Weisenberger's
murder is doubtless considered by himself
TO be most convincing proof OF his being
a raying lunatic. Probably he would be
the frst to admit that he does not remem-
ber pulling a razor on the child the last
night she spent in his house, In circum-
stances which need not be here repeated
Yet II must be confessed that, for an in
sane person, Smell carried himself shregd-
ly up TO the very time of his most sicken-
ing crime Even on the afternoon before
he played one OF his accustomed games OF
checkers with fellow clerk. and with US
uzl ability and lack OF excitement. He is
represented to have been qaiei and meth
odicai person while In office; one that no.
body would even suspect OF wheels or
delusions. All this, OF course, was merely
part Of deeply laid plan 10 make people
think him sane. while. In truth. the awful
fact remained ever present. that one OF his
great-grandaunts Was mentally unbalanced.
The times., 1899-08-15
rhe Rrnnd OF Ownership.

(From the Philadelphia RecoTd)
1t so happens this year that each OF the par
ties in Pennsylvania will name candidate ior
Judge OF the Supreme Court; ana both eahdi-
dates, under the provision for minority repre-
sentation IN the State constitution VIII De
elected. The nomination is, therefore. praeti-
eallv equivalent TO final choice. the voting being
only n required formaity. But, promising that
the Republican nominee viii be cf such chaTac-
fer. ability. spirit. and self-respect viii fit
him for high judicial functions, how the manner
of his choice must irk and prick the pride and
u,anIiness of such man He viii know that
unless it had suited Mr. Quay's purposes he
could not have been named and that he must go
TO his place or the bench with the brand Of
the machine writ across the face OF his com
missien.
The times., 1899-08-15
OPPOSES ORGANIZED LABOR.
Mr.. Chamberlain Says He VIII Not
Treat With a Union.

Treat With a Union.
New Haven. Conn, Aug. 14.-GeneraI
Manager Chamberlain. of the New Haven
Railroad. came TO this city from Boston
today to confer with committee repre-
senting the conductors OF the line. He
declined, and so does the conductors com
mitteee. 70 say what the conference was
about Mr.. Chamberlain discussed the at
titude of the New Haven road with refer
enee to the telegraphers. irenen. and
brakemen. who want more pay, and Who
have consulted the executive committee
of the federated board about the matter.
Mr. Chamberlain said: The cousoIi-
dated railroad will not under any eircun-
stances ever deal with any of its employees
il they come TO US as Representatives OF
labor organizations.
Mr. Chamberlain was asked what the
road intended to do with the telegrapiers'
appeal. Nothing he said in the first
place We do not admit that the telegraph
ers have any grievance. l know what they
ask and it amounts to more pay and less
work The firemen ask the same thing
and the brakemen. 1t is natural that
they want, perhaps even il we felt dis
posed to do so. The New Haven road tries
to treat its men squarely. and with the
utmost fairness. We try 10 pay what our
employees are worth TO US, and / think We
do. Il the men want to strike. let them
do so. II rests with them entirely ECw
to take the next step But. If they do
strike. they win meet something they do
not expect I'll tell you three minutes
after the telegraphers strike what III do
with the situation"
The times., 1899-08-15
vERmoNT's DEWEY RECEPTION
The Celebration VIII Occur or
About October 10.


Montpelier, VT, Aug. 14.-Twelve OF the
fourteen members of the State Dewey re-
ception committee met Governor Smith
this afternoon to arrange plans for the
coming celebration at Montpelier. Before
the meeting Governor Smith expressed
qualification over the interest the people
of the State were showing In the matter.
Governor Smith called the meeting to or
der, and Col. G.. w. Hooker, OF Brattle-
bcro was elected chairman. Governor
Smith,ssid that he had been criticised be-
cause he had appointed no Democrats on
the State committee, but that the appoint
ments were made largely on the sugges-
ton of prominent men from the various
counties and that there was no intention
OF sighting anyone. Col. D. 8. Forbes, OF
ST. Albans, was elected secretary, and Olin
Merrill. of Enosburg Falls, treasurer.
Colonel Hooker suggested that the ca
dets Of Norwich University should act
as a guard OF honor and the First
Vermont Regiment as escort. 1t was the
unanimous opinion OF the committee that
the celebration should be confined to one
day, and that an Illumination and fire.
works in the evening should close the
celebration. 1t was unanimously voted
that the parade should be confined strictly
to Vermonters and that no outside organ
izations should be invited. 1t is expected
that the celebration will take place on or
about October 10.
The times., 1899-08-15
DEWEY AND voN DIEDERIcH.
Lieutenant Kehrl Tells of the Maniia
Incident.

Chicago, Aug 14.-Lieutenant Kehrl, OF
the German navy, who is travelling in
America fer pleasure. is at the Auditorium
Annex. The lieutenant was an officer on
the Gefion, Admiral Won Diederich's flag
ship in the Philippines during the war with
Spain. He said, today:
There was misunderstanding between
Admiral Dewey and Admiral Won Died
erich over harbor regulations. but the af-
fair has been much exaggerated. The ad-
mirals were good friends and frequently
dined together. The stories of the bitter
ness of the feeling between them come
from English sources. The English peo-
pie wish to impress upon the American
mind the aid they rendered this country in
order to pave the way for the alliance they
seek with the United States. England
would like nothing better than to see the
United States and Germany go to war so
that she might get control of that much
more commerce of the world. The feeling
said to have grown out of the Manila in
cident does not exist in Germany"
The times., 1899-08-15
rho Dress Amid the cold.
CFrom the Kansas civ star.l

:
No patriotic citizen begrudges a single dollar
paid by the Government TO deserving old sol
tiers The men who risked their life and their
health. who gave up home and business, to fight
for the life OF the nation and who out
with impaired vitality and incapacitated TO en-
gage in the struggle for bread deserve the care
and support of the nation So. also, the widows
and orphans of soldiers who lost their lives in
battle or from disease contracted in the Army
are entitled to all that the Government has done
for them But after this is sn;d, the fact re-
mains that almost everybody believes the million
pensioners now on the rolls include many thou
sands even hundreds OF thousands, who ought
not 10 be drawing money FROM the public
treasury; who are receiving pensions as result
Of fraud of one sort another.