The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-07-14

Washington, July lit may be au-
thoritatively stated that reports that
Secretary Alger has rendered his res
ignation are without foundation. The
secretary has taken no such action nor
has his resignation been asked for.
Surgeon General Sternberg has re-
ceiyed two cables from Major OReilly,
chief surgeon at Havana, regarding the
yellow fever situation. In the first he
says:
Harvard at Santiago telegraphs re-
vised list today showing 122 cases with
"a deaths, including fou officers, Nc
Laughlin, Clendenin, Fabricius and
Healwole; also 20 civilian cases and 5
deaths. No cases In camp in last three
days. Headquarters ordered to in
terror"
The other dispatch reports two addi-
tional cases of yellow fever at Man
zanillo, five in all.
The attorney general has rendered an
opinion, in which he holds, in effect,
that the Havana street railway fran
chise, known as the Tore concession,
on the evidence submitted, is superior
to all others, n is such as entities its
owners to be permitted, at their own
risk, under the permission of the mu-
nicipal authorities, to proceed with h
work of construction without the in
junction of the military authorities.
This will not interfere" he says, with
an adjudication in the courts of the
Ultimate and final rights of the par
ties"
UNDER THE AMERICAN FLAG.
An order has been issued by the pres
ident extending privileges and protec-
tion of the American flag to the ship
ping of Porto Rico and the Philippines.
All ships owned by residents of these
islands at the time of the exchange of
the ratification of the treaties are in
cluded in the order.
GENERAL WHEELER STARTS FOR
MANILA.
General Joseph E. Wheeler left Wash
ington this afternoon en- route to the
Philippine islands. He goes via Chi
cago, Omaha, Denver and Salt Lake,
but, as he is scheduled to reach San
Francisco on Saturday, he will not stop
long at any place on the way. He will
sail for Manila on the Goth. Il have
no plans of campaign" he said to an
Associated Press reporter today, land
shall not know what I am to do until
/ receive my instructions from Genera
Otis. 1 should like ito have it under
SIOOu, lie COIILlIlucu, llldI L 81 ~ ~
Philippines in an entirely subordinate
capacity. Not only General Otis, but
Generals Lawton n Macarthur will
rank me and it MS proper that they
should, for while Generals LaWton and
Macarthur were my juniors they haYe
been in the field while I have not, and
they deserve ITO nave places superior ITO
any assignment that may be given me-"
He said he would not resign his seat
in the house.
COINCIDENCE TO THE CAR.
The p~residence has sent the follow
ing message of coincidence upon the oc-
casion Of the death of Prince George,
of Russia:
ITO His Imperial Majesty, Nicholas II,
Car of Russia, ST. Petersburg:
Il tender to your majesty in my W
name and in behalf of the American
people sincere condolences by reason of
the af1iction that has befallen your
majesty and the Russian nation in the
death Of your brother, his imperial
highness, the Grand Duke George.
"WILLIAW M'KINLEY."
ORDERED TO THE PHILIPPINES.
Captain T. S. Bratton, assistant sur
geon at Tybee island, and Assistant
Surgeon H. H. Bradley, at Savannah.
Ga, have been ordered to accompany
the Nineteenth infantry from Camp
Mead to the Philippines.
DEWEY'S MEDAL SENT HIM.
The navy department today dispatch
ed to Admiral Dewey the medal award
ed to him by act of ongress to COM
memorate the battle of Manila bay. The
admiral's medal rs identical with those
sent ito each man in the fleet, with the
exception of his own name engraved
upon the edge. 1t vas sent to Dispatch
Agent Stevens in London for delivery.
PARDONED BY THE PRESIDENT.
The president has granted a pardon
to Harris Bramblett, convicted in GeOr-
gia April 1, 1898, of illicit distilling and
sentenced to two years in the North
Carolina prison.
The president has pardoned w. D..
Westmoreland, who pleaded guilty to
resisting a United States officer and
vas sentenced to five years imprison-
ment by the district our for the west
ern district of Virginia. This section
is k because of the precarious con-
dition of the prisoners health.
VOLUNTEER OFFICERS AP-
POINTED.
The president today appointed a large
number Of officers for the new volun-
teer regiments. Among them was Jo-
seph w. Avery, formerly of the Sec
ond North Carolina volunteers, to be
second lieutenant. He appointed two
majors, six captains, nine first and
three second l~ieutenants.
The president also today confirmed
and commissioned the officers recon-
mended by General Otis for the Thirty
sixth and Thirty-seventh volunteer reg
iments now being organized in the Phil
ippines. The officers named are at
present serving in the Philippines and
are principally members OF h west
ern volunteer regiments. The First
tennessee, however, is we'll represent
ed in the list.
MISS FAVRE'S CLAIM DENIED.
The secretary of state has sent Am
bassador Cambon, Of France, an an
swer to the latter's recent letter sub
uniting the claim of Miss Ivan Favre
for 10000 damages attending the cap
ture OF the French steamer Olinde Rod
riguez, on which she was a passenger,
by the cruiser New Orleans during the
blockade of a Juan.
The secretary reviews the facts in
much detail, and states the conclusion
thai the government is not liable on
this claim. The answer is likely to es.