davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-28

IL Flew In Rebellion Days ana Was thu
signal OF Famous Commanders in
the American Navy-It Denoted
Rank Used ny No Other Nation.
The enactment Of the navy personnel
hill is going to make q great change in
many naval manners and customs. Fol
orc thing there are to be eighteen Rear
Admirals, instead OF seven Rear Admir-
us and ten Commodores; and the officers
without the gold stars on their cuffs are
to he hereafter just as good as those with
the stars. In other words, the distinction
between the lire and staff Is to be done
away with.
The most interesting change ia the
abolition Of the grade of Commodore. 1t
will not mean so much for the Commo-
dores as for outsiders They will become
Rear Admirals, but will have only the
pay of CoDnnodores They will wear
moro braid ON the cuffs Of their uniforms,
,nd have "a few more expenses, and be
entitled to have thirteen guns fired in
their honor instead of eleven. and to hoist
u 1lue flag with two white stars on 1t in
stead of u swallowtailed flag with one
| altar But in other respects, except for
these things, they will be about the same
as if they were Coinpodores. And with
the Passing of the rank Commodore go
good many traditions of the navy. 10
| begin with, the rink is peculiar to the
American navy. No other navy has 1t
rs q permanency. The United States has
had it AS such only since 1862. but before
that the title, though nots the rank, was
thu highest to which n naval officer could
hore to attain. In 1857 "a law decrsed that
captains in command of squadrons should
be denominated flag officers, and that
was the first official recognition iof title
under which most American naval heroes
had made history. Under the broad pen-
nant of the Commodore, the blue swal-
lowtailed flag with the single white star,
all American naval history had been
made from tho time of Paul Jones to that
of Porter and Farragut at For.s jackson
and st Philip in 1852. And now that
broad ponnant has come down, at Ports
mouth, Norfolk, Mare Island, New York
and Havana, it has been Eauled down,
and in it's place, alocg with new blue
dag with four white stars hoisted at
Manila, has gone up blue flag with two
white stars, the flag Of Rear Admiral.
But the disappearance of the hroad pen
nant of Perry, Stewart, Decatur. Barragut
and the others who have written their
names pretty distinctly on the pages Of
Amer lean history will be regretted by
many because Of its associations. The new
Adnirals, however. are pretty good
writer's in their,o way, and have been
putting things on those pages for good
many wears, so it is not likely that any
one will have moro than sentimental
reason for regrettins the passing of tbs
broad pennant.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-28
WEATHER PROPHECY.
Progress Stated by che Chief OF the
Weather Bureau.

AS regards weather forecasting. ample
proof can be furnished that very material
advances in the accuracy and value of the
warnings are being made each year, and
that data collected and experiences gained
by experience are being utilized to meet
the demands of progressive business and
commercial interests whose representa-
tives have, in the last few years, become
thoroughly alive to the fact that the work
business proposition which must be con-
sidered in modern business operations.
Twenty years ago the forecasts OF the
signal service We're made for large areas
which embraced groups of states; today
they are made for states and parts of
states. and, locally, for cities. In the
meantime the experiment of having fore
casts for states and parts of states made
by local forecast officials has been given
a thorough test, and it has been found
that better forecasts and better results
can be obtained by having this work per-
formed at forecasting centers by officials
who have been selected with special refer
this line OF work.
Twenty years ago the storm signals or
dered ON our lakes and coasts made no
distinction between "a harmless offshore
wind and devastating hurricane: today
the signals indicate the gales direction
and force. and fun Information is fur
nished and distributed regarding APP
preaching storms. Twenty years ago no
sy stepatic plan had been adopted for CIV
ing warning of cold waves, heavy snow
northers, frost, etc. during the last few
years no important storm, cold wave.
heavy snow. norther or frost has visited
any considerable area of the United States
unheralded by warnings which have been
most thoroughly distributed by tele-
graph telephone, signals and mail The
.vnlne of these Mornings Is indicated by
the following notes from our records. OF Il
few of the many instances which Illus
trate the general character of the work We
are accomplishing: -
Before the weather service was extend
ed over California, and the vineyards
were connected by telephone. the loss
from unexpected rains equaled hundreds
Of thousands of dollars annually We
now have testimony from hundreds OF
those owning vineyards TO the effect that
during the last four years practically not
pound of raisius has been damaged by
rain.
Let us consider what the bureau does
for the states OF the Rocky mountain
slopes. On the 1st of January. 1853, there
were in these states Il QUO, 600 head OF
| sheep, and 13.000.0Oo head OF cattle, ex-
elusive of all mich COWS, horses and
mules. The cattle will live through all
except the severesu billiards. but great
less is suffered by sheep owners, unless
they are able to protect their fiocks.
DuYing recent years the cold wave warn
inqs for these western states have attained
much higher degree OF accuracy than
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-28
sula lies the long coveted Port Arthur,
the goal of the greater Russia.

sula lies the long coveted Port Arthur,
the goal of the greater Russia.
When China and Japan became en-
gagged in their struggle for supremacy,
that one sided conflict was watched close.
ly and anxiously by the powers that be.
At that time Russia had already extended
her dominions from the Ural mountai ms
to the Pacific ocean and was reaching
down dangerously near to Peking. Great
Britain, intrenched in her Indian empire,
watched the struggle from the west and
south, not unwilling to move little to-
ward the northeast should the preserva-
ton of the balance of power demand any
such action. Eastward of the English
possessions was Cochin China, already in
the hands of unsatisfied France. Outside
of the Asiatic circle watched Germany.
waiting for the opportune murder of a
missionary or two as an excuse for land
ing her marines.
1t was no matter of diplomatic sur
prise, then, that the Russian bear should
pouncs down upon Port Arthur as soon
as that war was over and that the Eng
lish lion should follow by springing on
Wei Hai-Wei. Then the German emper.
| or seized on his murdered missionaries
as a heaven sent excuse for occupying
Kaio- Chau, which practically means that
Germany will some day put up claim
for the central zone of China.
Such was the beginning of the end.
So far Russia has had decided advan-
tage. but she has won it at the price OF
tho deep seated resentment and distrusU
of England. whom she directly and indi-
rectly deceived In her abrogation of Dip
lomatic and treaty promises. There has
| indeed been an element o: deep mystery
| in all Russia's late moves in the land OF
flowers. So far it has never been official
| ly announced that Russia obtained any
cession of territory by her recent secret
| treaty with China. Indeed the very ex.
| istence of a treaty is stoutly denied by
Russia, who protests that the Cassini
convention was merely for the purpose Of
arranging for concessions in connection
| with the Trans Siberian railway extcn-
| sion through Manchuria. But 1t is known
| that the willy Count Cassini, the Russian
minister at Picking, by hook or ty crook
secured the enviable privilege of placin G
Russian cavalry and infantry along this
Chinese railway where it ran through
sparsely settled districts. Such q oonoss-
sion is equivalent, obviously, to direct
| transfer to the Gar of the territory SO
patrolled by Russian TROOPS In Asia II
| is the early bird that catches the terri.
torial worm. Manchuria, therefore, is al
ready pointed out as Russian ground and
to all intents and purposes may rs we'll
hereafter be shown on the map In the
same color as Russia itself.
The result Of such developments, &C.
cordingly, is peculiar. We see China,
still nominally and outwardly intact,
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-28

undergoing an actual. mysterious and
underground Acknowledgement. and doing
so with unexampled rapidity. This dis.
integrating Chinese empire in theory is
made up of one central territory, which
is China proper. and its numerous outly
ing dependencies. Msnchuria. together
with II central provinces, forms the hub
OF this wheel of many dilapidated feudal
spokes. But district by district these
different outlying territories are passing
out of Chinese control. Burmah and Ne
paul are openly British, and Siam is as
good as British. Thibet and Korea still
pay their little tribute to the emperor,
but Mongolia and Chin ese Turkestan
are new practically beyond the pale of
Chinese jurisdiction. Anam. is openly
French. AS has already been said, Rus.
STA practically owns the whole of Man.
chur.a. Hongkong is British, and so also
might rs well be called the entire valley
of the Yang e-Kiang though of late
Russia has been most vigorously disput-
ing this fact. IL Is this last mentioned
territory which constitutes the actual
China. This wide, fertile valley is
studded with huge cities and contains
population of 800, goo. 600. 1t is the gar
den of all Asia and is worth a score of
sterile Manchu rias. But at the present
moment Russia has the upper hand in
Asiatic affairs. and consequently her
present denial of the British claim Is of
u nusu al embarrassment to those men in
London who control the destinies of the
empire. But Chinese officials have fallen
under the thumb OF Russian ministers,
and the result is that if there Is to be
warfare in the east it will in all proba-
bility be over the possession Of this same
rich. broad valley of the Yang -tse. Kiang
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-28
A GREAT INVENTOR.

Jinks-That man does not look very
smart, and yet you say he has made a
million.
Winks-Smart9 He's genius He's
great inventor.
"You don't say sol What did be in
ventY'
holds scarcely anything. New York
Weekly
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-28
THE BROAD PENNAlT.
JIG Will Fly No More from Yankee
Ships Of War.
HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE UNDER
THE COMMODOREs FLAG.

IL Flew In Rebellion Days and Was thu
signal OF Famous Commanders in
the American Navy-It Denoted
Ra6T Used BY No Other Nation.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-28
Alarmed.

A scientist says, ST the earth were fiat
tened out, the sea would be two miles
deep all over the world.
II any man is caught flattening out the
earth, shoot him on the spot. A great
many OF us can't swim.-Tit-B
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-28
He Waited Too Long.

excepting those fancy chickens now?"
"Nop. Sold 'em all. "
"What was the troubled"
"For month or more had been prom
Using dealer my entire egg output. Well,
when the hens finally commenced laying
he wouldn't take the eggs"
"Why not?"
'He said he didn't see how they could
be strictly freshp'-Cleveland Plain
Dealer
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-28
The Smallest.

Cawker-Hc is addicted to small talk,
Cumso-I am surprised to hear you say
that My experience is that he says but
little, although he is well informed.
Cawker-That is what 1 mean. His
language consists largely of monosylla.
bles.-Detroit Free Press
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-28
Another Bank Joke.

Bank Clerk (scrutinizing check)-Mad-
am, we can't pay this unless you bring
some one to identify you.
Old Lady Uartly)--I should like to
know why!
Bank Clerk-Because We don't know
you.
Old Lady--Now, don't be sillyi I don't
know you either.-Tit- Bits.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-28
Followed the DOCTOR. Advice.

Justice-What have you to say in an
swer to the charge of stealing this mans
plank walk?
The Accused--I look 1t by advice of my
physician, yer honor He told me to take
a long walk every day. This was the first
long walk / saw today, and of course /
took it.--Boston Transcript.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-28

Don't speak too plainly. II man were
to set out by calling everything by its
right name, no would be knocked down
before he got to the corner of tho street.
Exchange.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-28

The gifted man is he who sees the essen
tial point and leaves all the rest aside as
surplusage. Carlyle.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-23
BRIDGEPORT HAPPENINGS.
Events of a Day in the Town at the
End of the Bridge.

A lively scrap occurred yesterday
morning in John Patterson's saloon. be-
tween Frank Burk and a Cleveland,
Lorain g. Wheeling employe, by the
name of Ryan. II is said II took about
one round for the former to knock out
the latter. No arrests were made.
The funeral Of Charles Branum,
whose death was noted in yesterdays
issue Of the Intelllgencer. will occur to-
morrow afternoon at 9 o'clock, from his
late residence, corner Of Howard and
Whitley streets. Interment will be at
Weeks cemetery,
The young ladies' euchre club will be
entertained New Years evening at the
home OF Miss Minnie Musser. in Kirk
wood.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Carlisle leave
to-day for Pittsburgh. to spend the
holidays with relatives.
Bob Wick returned to his home at
Bradford, Pa, yesterday, after visit
with Park ]. Alexander.
William Moury left yesterday for
Chicago. to spend a couple of weeks
with relatives.
The town was full OF farmers yester-
day, who were purchasing holiday sup
plies.
Mrs. John Topping. of Leatherwood,
was calling on friends in town yester'
day.
Capt. Edward Mul!eman has returned
from business trip to Pittsburgh.
The employees OF ths Aetna-Standard
mill will receive their pay to-day.
oliver Porter goes to zanesvil!s this
morning, to visit his son.
William Swingle goes to sardls to-
day, to visit relatives.
The schools closed yesterday after
noon until January 2.
Attorney Reece. Of st. Clnirsville, was
in town yesterday.
James Higgins Is recovering from a
few days Illness.
F. c. Newton. of Pittsburgh, was in
town yesterday.
A dance will be given at Mentz's hall
tonight.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-23
Along the Landing.

The coal fleet will pass down to-day
The Virginia passed up at 10 a: M,
with good trip. She will be here Sum
day at a. m. for Cincinnati.
The Catherine Davis passed down at
10 a. M, with small tow OF coal. The
Charles Brown passed up with empties
at p. m.
The marks at p. m. Friday showed
II feet 3 inches and falling. Weather,
cloudy and moderate. The top-notch Of
the rise, II feet inches, was reached
early yesterday morning.
The big towboat John A. Wood, oper-
ated by the John A. Wood & Son
branch of the MononGahela River Con-
solldated Coal d Coke company, broke
a piston rod of her machinery while
passing Leavenworth, Ind, on her way
10 New Orleans with tow OF twenty
1--WE coalboats The steamer. however
succeeded In making landing With
out sinking any OF her tow. The Ray
mond Horner was ordered to proceed
TO Leavenworth and Will take the
Woods tow south.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-23
BENWooD.
News Notes From the Busy Marshall
County Town.

Z
County Town.
Freeman Fair. the school teacher,
wanted in this county on 4 paternity
charge, preferred by Miss Maud Ham
mond, Of Franklin district, was locat-
cd at Marietta. and proceedings viii be
instituted II he can be brought 10 West
Virginia. Fair left here over a year
ago. and was only lately located at
Marietta, He was married six months
ago.
The political pot IL beginning to boil
at a high rate Of steam. 1t was
thought the list OF sherlffalty asplrlnis
had been exhausted. but yesterday an
other doomed up, according to a report,
namely Mayor Charley" Parkinson,
of Moundsvllle. There is good mater
ial 10 select from.
An automobile. advertising medicine,
came to Benwood from Wheeling yes
to-day. and attracted much attention.
It broke down. however at the ferry
landing grade. A wagon hauled 1t back
10 Wheeling.
Mrs. Mansell. wife OF Rev, Walter
Mnnsell. Of East Liverpool. is visiting
her brother. Harry N. Stewart Mrs.
Mansell. who was formerly a teacher
here. visited the Central school yes
terday.
The Democrats are talking of rum
ming for sheriff, james Dunlevy Of
Cameron. Mr.. Dunlevy polled over
1000 more votes for county commits
sIoner than he will for sheriff.
Albert Policy. who made such a good
race for the Republican nomination for
city sergeant two years ago, is talked
OF In the same connection again. He
viii poll large following.
Dairyman Lorentzs wagon was
struck by a Moundsvllle car yesterday
and badly wrecked. The driver didn't
hear the cars alarm gong.
John Turner, of the Fourth ward, is
horne from the southern normal univer-
slty, at Huntingdon. Tenn, where he
is pursuing law course.
Toilet Cases Handkerchief and Glove
Boxes, Perfume Atomizers, Med0llions,
Photo Albums, Fine Cigars in presenta-
tion boxes and other handsome novel;
ties at Gates drug store.
About 800 was cleared at the "A
Flsherman's Luck" production, and the
young people will repeat 1t soon, owing
to the general request.
An interesting programme Of Christ
mas music and readings will be given
at the NJ. L. church tomorrow after
noon.
The teachers at the Central school
gave the pupils the annual Christmas
treat yesterday.
Frank Warsenskl returned yesterday
from rabbit hunt at Powhatan.
Mrs. Sarah Calvin will visit Pitts
burgh friends during the holidays.
Miss Mary Hall will spend the holl-
days in Cameron.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-23
MART1N,s FERRY NEWS.
The Daily Chronicle Of Wheeling's
Progressive Neighbor,

Progressive Neighbor,
The contest for the nomination Of
street commissioner In this city already
promises to be very exciting. Although
the Republican primaries are over
three months on. there are at present
five candidates for the office and Will
probably be many more before the old
year terminates. The five candidates
announced are all old ex-Union soldiers
who arc namely. the present lncum-
bent Seth Howell. James Miskell, NJ.
s. Meyers, Adam Wernlg and Robert J..
Lewis.
The many friends OF John GOodhue.
who have been insisting upon his name
being used In connection with the cam
dldacy for mayor before the Republl-
can primaries, viii doubtless be glad to
learn that he has consented TO enter
the race. and he win probably let the
other fellows know he Is lin It"
Adam Wernig will be candidate for
street commissioner before the Repub-
llcan primaries In the spring. Mr..
Wernig, II nominated and elected, would
no doubt prove to be the right man in
the right place
Charles Wood win be home tO-mor-
row from Decatur, Illinois, to spend the
holidays with his parents on North
Third street.
Mr.. and Mrs. william McWIllIams
and son Harry, go to Uhrichsville to-
day, to spend Christmas with Mrs. Lin
coin Horn.
Rev. and Mrs. Everett Norris, of
Lucyville, Pa, are the guests of the
formers parents. on North Fourth
street.
Mr. and Mrs. II. S. Stewart. OF Allie
Rheny, VIII be here to-day, to visit the
family OF Samuel HeatOn, on Walnut
street.
The Woman's Club will meet ut the
home of Mrs. George II. Smith, on
The Heights" Wednesday afternoon.
City Solicitor George Cooke went to
New Athens last evening, to spend the
holidays with his parents.
Mrs. F. c. Bumgarner left last even
ing for Newport. o., to spend the holi-
days with her parents.
Prof. NJ. D. Morris went to Flushing
last evening. to spend the holiday va
cation with his family.
Springfield. Mo-, to spend several
weeks with his mother.
Miss Edith Brown left yesterday for
Portsmouth, Ohio, to spend Christmas
with relatives.
Joseph Hilton will be in to-day from
Scottdale, Pa, to spend few days
with relatives.
The Star Athletic Club gave Il very
enjoyable dance at Maennerchor hall
last evening.
Prof. c. S. Eaton went to GAINESVILLE
last evening to spend the holidays with
his family.
Joseph Green, Of scottdale. Pa, will
be here to-day, to spend Christmas with
his family.
Harry Elliott, of Mingo, is the guest
of John oxley and family, on Broad
way.
Mrs. Morris Bradley, of Jewett. Ohio,
Is the guest of relatives on Main street.
r. P. ]. Drennen was In Pittsburgh
yesterday on business.
To-day is payday at the Aetna
Standard.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-23
Pittsburgh River News.

PITTSBURGH, Dec, 22.-The Ohio
river reached stage Of only thirteen
feet at the Davis Island dam yesterday
and commenced TO fall last night. The
!. N. Bunton departed this morning
with six coalbonts and the Alice Brown
was to make up tow at II a. m. at the
point. and will start this afternoon,
II was reported that while Joseph
Iadlcy was dynamiting wrecks at inc
Steubcnvillc bridge, he placed charge
100 close to the structure ana blew up
q portion OF II, 49,
II was also reported that capt james
I,atta. OF McKeesport, pilot OF the
pave Wood. had been drowned OF thar
boat, The Wood Ii between GinCinnnt'
and Louisville. but John A. Wood u
son knew nothing OF the report here
md It IL not believed.
The W. W. O'NcIl win get away to,
morrow for Louisville, with tow oil
coal boats. -.
The Joseph .. Williams " en- route
to Pittsburgh, and II ia said she wiz
take thirty cOalboats from Bcl'alrC on
her next trip south. She viii go to New
orleans on her next trip.