davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
CUBAN PRISONS.
Governor Wood Will Abate Exist.
ing Abuses.

HAVANA, Dec. 27.-General Wood
says that one of the first things he
looked into after his arrival was the
management of Cuban prisons. Inves-
tigation has proved that even amorg
American prisoners there mas been an
average detention of five months with
out trial. There are many things call
ing for immediate atteltion, particu-
larly in the matter of sleeping accom-
modations. Reforms will be promptly
instituted in this respect, and ham,
mocks will be supplied So that the
prisoners will not be compelled to sleep
ON the bare floors. Only few who are
able to pay for them have cots. He
intends to make weekly visits to The
prisons until majority of the existing
abuses are abated, and he is trying to
devise means that will insure prompt
trial for persons accused. So far as the
Havana Penitentiary is concerned. this
has been found to be in a perfectly sat
isfactory condition. 1t is clean. airy.
well drained and well ventilated and
the inmates seem healthy.
A lawyer who recently visited sew
eral of the island prisons says the
Charlton T. Lewis report gives only u
portion of the terrible truth. Early last
January General Ludlow appointed a
military board to inquire into the ques-
ton. Over 800 prisoners were reported
upon, and General Ludlow issued
orders for the release of more than
100 Before fifty had been discharged,
however, General Brooke ordered a
halt, and the matter was referred to
the Cabinet Secretaries, since which
time practically nothing has been done.
Men whom General Ludlow ordered to
be released are still held, after three
or four years waiting without trial.
General Wood thinks that when his
order goes into effect calling upon all
judicial officers and military command
ers to send complete lists of prisoners
awaiting trial the congestion of untried
prisoners will be relieved within fifteen
days thereafter
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
GERMAN TOPICS.
STATEMENT OF THE REICHS-
BANK, JUST ISSUED.
Regarded in Business Circles as
Highly Unfavorable-Very Cold
Weather Prevailing.

| BERLIN, Dec. 27-The Reichbank
statement issued this evening is regard
ed in German business circles as high
| ly unfavorable It shows II 10000
| marks less metal in stock than a year
ago, "a 100000 marks in notes in cir
cuation and 241 100000 marks in dis
counts in excess of last years figures.
Herr Roche, President of the bank,
admitted to the correspondent of the
Associated Press thar the final state
ment at the end of the year would be
the worst in the banks history. The
usual relaxation in January will be less
marked than in former years, owing to
London conditions, while a further ad-
vance in the money rate is expected.
An official of the Allgemene Electri-
citaets Gesellschaft General Electrical
Society, which is the largest in the
world, discussing the fall in copper
prices, said to-day: $50 far as Ger
many is concerned. there is no occasion
for fall in prices, since copper con-
sumption here is still increasing and
the condition of the electrical industry
points to an increased consumption. l
must admit, however, that aluminium is
coming into sharp competition with
copper for trolley wires"
Two officers named Schlabitz and
Kisslig, belonging to the One Hun
dredth and Twelfth Regiment, which is
garrisoned at Muelhausen, fought a
fatal duel yesterday on the Swiss from
tier under previously agreed murderous
conditions. Schlabitz was killed. The
cause of the duel was trif1ing.
An illustration of the severity of the
cold Throughout Germany is the fact
! that communication between Scher-
rebek and the Island of Roem is now
had exclusively over a frozen arm of
the North Sea, condition which had
not previously existed for twenty years.
A horrible wholesale murder has inst
been committed in Osiek, near Kalisch.
Poland. Nine members of the family
OF wealthy landed proprietor named
kowalsk were killed after frightful
fortunes. The house was robbed of
everything valuable The mutilated
corpses were discovered to-day. but
there is no clue to the murderers.
A company with capital of 80 OOO
marks. to be known as the Vulcan Com
pany, has just begun operations in
Crefeld, Rhenish, Prussia, with the in
tention of erecting iron wroks and
other industrial establishments
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
THE CLAN-NA-GAEL.
An Officer Talks Of Possible In
VaSicu of Canada.

NEW YORK. Dec 27.-Relative to
the attitude of the Irish revolutionary
societies toward the Government of
Great Britain at the present juncture
of affairs, the Evening Post" to-day
quotes an officer Of the Clan-na-Gael as
saying:
England can only be made TO feel
by physical force. We're now going to
give her some Boer treatment. We did
intend going out and sinking that first
expedition from Canada to South At
RIGA, but thought it better to walt a
little. We can mobilize our men with
out much difficulty for an attack on
Canada, and we are fairly well armed
AS well as the United States troops
in the Spanish war. We have lots OF
Springfield rifles, and are handy with
the bayonet. No decision has been ar
rived at yet. Everything will depend
upon the immediate future. We have
either regiments or companies all over
the country, and are fairly well drilled,
and a great many of our men are in the
militia.
1.-The Ancient Order of Hibernians
has really nothing to do with this. 1t
numbers about 100000, but majority
of it's members belong to our organlza-
ton. All of it's officers do, and so, OF
course, it will act with us. We have
lots of men in the regular army-camps
or clubs in every post-and even if they
were sent against US to stop us on the
border they would either march across
with us or give US blank cartridges.
eff it is decided to attack Canada,
oh do oil in, RI kppn
matters so secret as not to embarrass
the Government until we are actually
on the border. The French population
in Canada would be with u.s. and there
are numbers of our own countrymen
ready to welcome us. Canada would
be an easy mark. We would have the
Canadian loyalists on the run in
week."
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
The Danish West Indies.

WASHINGTON, Dec. Pin official
German quarters it is stated that Ger
many has never contemplated the ac-
QUESTION of the Danish West Indian
Islands, and that, consequently, there
has been no occasion for advices from
the German Embassy here to the home
Government against the acquisition, on
the ground that it would be regarded
in this country as an unfriendly act.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
Irish Raising Money for Beers.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 27-There is
movement among the Irish here to aid
the Beers The call was sent out to-
day for a special assessment of every
member of the Ancient Order of Hi
bernians, of which there are %, 900 ia
this city. A return of SIS, 600 is expect
ed, which will help TO swell the general
fund of 81 100000 which organizations
throughout the country seek to raise.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
Miners Strike in France.

ST. ETIENNE F'rance), Dec. ~
The coal mine strikers marched in pro-
cession to-day to several of the mines.
where partial work is proceeding, but
dragons stationed at the pit heads
protected the workers, and no disorder
has occurred. The strike has spread
to the mines of Rive de Gier, town
in Loire, twelve and a half miles by
rail from this place.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
Railway Contractor Dead

JOLIET Qll), Dec. 27.-John Flem-
ing, well known throughout the country
as a railroad contractor, died here to-
day of paralysis. He was 10 years old.
He was resident of Des Moines. Ia
for over thirty years, and has helped
construct many of the prominent trunk
railway lines in the United States.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
Fatal Boiler Explosion.

DENVER, Dec 27.-The boiler of a
locomotive on the Denver and Rio
Grande Railroad blew up at Minturn
to-day killing Engineer S. H. Quacken-
bush and injuring Fireman Salden so
badly that he died in a few hours Alex
H. Wilson, roundhouse foreman, and T.
E. Richardson coaler, We're also in
jured, but not seriously.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
Plague Raging at Noumea,

SYDNEY On. S. W., Dec 27.-The
British Consul at Noumea confirms the
report that the plague in a severe type
is raging, and that many deaths from
that cause have occurred in New Gale
donia. The Governments of Australia
have taken stringent precautions for
quarantining arrivals from Noumea.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
Roland Reed Resting Comfor+ah,v

NEW YORK, Dec. 27.=Roland Reed
the comedian, who underwent an opera-
ton yesterday for the removal of
caneerous growth in the stomach, was
resting comfortably to-day.
NEW YORK, Dec 2S-Early this
morning 1t was said at the hospital
that there was no change in Roland
Reeds condition.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28

cable message from Colonel Miller OF
the Quartermaster's Department at
Manila, saying that arrangements have
been made to send home the remains
of Major General Lawton, Major John
A. Logan, Jr., and Major Armstrong
on the transport Thomas, which will
sail on the Both inst for San Francisco
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
A City Official Commits Suicide.

MILWAUKEE,, Dec. 27-Alderman
George Hill committed suicide to-day
by shooting himself through the head.
Worry over the street railway ordi-
nance is SAL to be the cause Hill was
a Democrat, and supported the ordi-
nance. He was 80 years old and mar
RED
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
Democratic National Convention.

CINCINNATI, Dec. 27.-Active bust
ness men of Cincinnati are making
every effort to secure the location of
the Democratic National Convention in
this city. 1t is assured here that the
competing cities will be Kansas City,
Chicago, Milwaukee and New York.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
Subscriptions to Lawton Fund.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-The sub
scription to the Lawton fund received
by General Corbin at the War Depart
ment us to date amounts to SIT, 323.
The total subscription list now amounts
to $31, 404, including outside contribu-
TONS
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
OUR DUTY TO
THE PHILIPPINES.
Chairman Schurman Of the United
States Commission
Points Out the Way Reconstruction Can
Best Be Accomplished.

IN Large Numbers
Needed In the Islands to Edu-
cate the People and Relieve
Their Minds of Suspicion and
Hatred for the White Man-An
Honest Civil Service System
Should Also be Made a Perma-
nent Institution in the Islands.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28

LISBON, Dec. 27.-King Carlos to-
day gave an audience 10 the new United
States Minister to Portugal, John N.
Irwin.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28

LONDON, Dec. %, 100 a. m.-Win-
ston Churchills new arrival at Chiveley
. Camp is perhaps responsible for some
overlooking of the gravity of the sit
uauon, but all to-day's news conveys
the impression that Butler may be in
tending another attack upon the Boer
position. Certainly the Beers are not
inactive. AT both Modder River and
the Tugela they are said to be
strengthening their forces and extend
ing defense works, which in both cases
are seemingly almost impregnable.
AS showing the difficulty of obtain
ing accurate information, a cores
pendent of the Daily News" at Cape
Town, under date of December DIST,
announces that General Butler is COM
ing to Cape Town to meet Sir Charles
Warren, and then both will go to Mod
der River. AS five battalions of Cen
eral Warren's fifth division are said
TO have gone to Natal, his arrival at
Pietermaritzburg seemed natural.
Dispatches from Chiveley indicate
that General Buffers forces will re-
mobilize at Frere before attempting
another advance. Doubtless he would
be glad to retrieve the Colenso reverse
before another frontal attack. 1t is
more likely that he is preparing to
strike, should the Beers make any Of
fensive movement.
Mr.. ChurchilIs reference to Lady
smith may imply that the situation of
the garrison is more desperate than
had been supposed The Beers con-
tinue fortifying the hills commanding
the town. General White, however.
photographs that all was well in Lady
smith on December Goth.
Competent military critics in London
regard the campaign as at complete
deadlock for the present, owing to the
dispersal of the British forces and for
lack of adequate transport. 1t will be
many weeks before Lord Roberts is
, able to reorganize and make an effect
i've movement.
The War Office here has received the
following dispatch from Cape Town,
dated Tuesday, December 10Th:
There is no change in the situation.
Methuen reports that the enemys
force has increased and has engaged
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-Quarter4
master General Ludington received a
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28

KIMBERLEY, "Wednesday. Dec. 20.
AT half-past o'clock this morning
mounted attachments under Colonel
Peakman, with three maxms and three
seven Founders under Major May, re-
connoitered. Leaving the entrench-
ments, the British advanced on Toll
Pan. The Boer pickets fired and our
maxims replied, the Beers disappear
ing over the bridge.
Our guns then began to shell Toll
Pan at range of 1900 yards. a
Boer gun dropped four shells near our
men. but did no damage. AS the
Beers We're strongly entrenched, we
withdrew. Their guns are well
planted.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28

PIETERMARITZBUR Dec. 90
General Sir Charles Warren, COM
handing the fifth division, arrived here
last evening with his staff and imme-
ci-ately proceeded for the front.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28

LONDON, Dec. 27.-The Privy Coun-
Gil held a meeting at Windsor to-day
at which Queen Victoria proclaimed a
warning to all British subjects not to
assist the inhabitants of the Transvaal
or Orange Free State or to sell or
transport merchandise thereto under
penalty of the law. The proclama-
ton was gazetted tonight
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28

CHIVELEY CAMP, Friday, Dec. y
Our scouts having reported Beers in
force on this side of the Tugela River
three regiments of regulars, supported
by artillery, and all available mount
ed volunteers, under the command OF
Lord Dundonald, advanced The
Beers retired across the river. The
British captured 500 cattle.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28
Where the Enemy Has Been Energetlcally
Opening Entertainments.
Defense Works Of the Beers at
Modder River and the Tugela
Said to be Almost Impregnable
indications That Buffers
Forces Will Remobi1ize at Frere
Before Attempting Another Adj
vance.

CHIVELEY CAMP (NataD, Tuesday
Dec 26.-The naval guns began shen-
ing the Boer position at O'Clock 'h'S
morning. using lyddite. The sheinne
continued about two hours.
Ever since the engagement at Co
lenso the enemy have been energet-
ically opening their entrenchmehls'
They can be seen galloping freely from
hill to hill.
Ladysmith also had a busy morning
to-day, Smelling the Boer position on
Umbulwana Mountain. The bursting
shells were plainly visible at Chiveley.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28

CHIVELEY CAMP (NataD, Mon
day. Dec. 25.-Although the two armies
were in sight of each other, ana Win
the temperature 1902 degrees in the
shade, the British to-day enJoyeo
Christmas cheer.
Gleenfield and Kirkwood OF the
South African Light Horse left here
yesterday to inspect the patrols along
the eastern hills. Their horses re-
turned at night alone.
Colonel Donald of the Royal F'usil-
GERS has had his collarbone broken by
being thrown from his horse While on
outpost duty.
The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-28

Continued on Eighth Page,
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-08-10

vain her lie as the stake Dr.. Hum
phreys, Dr. Carter and Prot, Stevenson
declared that the deceased had died
from arsenic poisoning. ana based
their views on the main symptoms
principally on the bright red or rosy
blush OF the intestines, In direct con-
tradiction came two of the first pa
biological authorities of the world, in
the persons of Prot H. +. Tidy and
Prof. Mcnamara, to declare that the
four main characteristics of arsenic
poisoning We're absent, namely, suf-
fusion of the eyes. pains in the calves
Of the legs, irritability of eyellds, and
the intolerance of light. Sir James
Poole, former mayor of Liverpool. to-
gether with several witnesses gathered
from both sides OF the Atlantic. were
called to prove the constant use OF
arsenic by Maybrick,
The balance of expert testimony was
clearly in favor of Mrs Maybrick, and
the element of reasonable doubt had
been raised Yet in the way Of the
prisoner to freedom-grlm, immovable,
insunountable-s stood the incident OF
the Valentines meat juice, battling the
skill even Of the mighty Russell.
1t remained for Mrs. Maybrck her
self against advice, against warning.
to hnaliy turn the balance against her
self by her attempt, in statement
read to the jury to explain away this
damning evidence.
II admit bat ! ~. thu ,saasaeEqS M. eht
meat juice. My husband begged me
TO do So and in a weak moment !
yielded"
This was the substance Of her reply.
Give jury the choice between plain
fact on the surface ar an eXplana-
ton under the surface and they will
invariably choose the fact in prefer
ence to the explanation. Is it sur
prising that this jury followed the safe
rule, and after only two hours DELHI
GRAFTON delivered the verdict that con-
demned her?
Thus is the Maybrick case simply
and fairly stated by one whose fortune
it was to play an unimportant part in
the trial. The home secretary chose
to afford Mrs. Maybrick the benefit OF
the doubt arising from the conflict OF
expert testimony, and, in trying and
convicting her of an offense for which
she had never been indicted to ar
rogate to himself the powers Of a jury
~, a., . -. -. ~
ton of the British government is in
defenslble-S agui Smith in Lesle's
Weekly.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-08-10

hard work for the rescuers, but men
rushed in Within short time the
pools of water We're red with blood
from those crushed and bleeding in the
wrecked ear. As fast as the bodies
could be got from under the ear they
were carried up the steep embankment.
Those already dead were laid out on a
little knoll In the yard OF the Peek
homestead. Those injured were hur-
ried into such vehicles as were handy,
and started off for the hospitals in
the city.
The knoll in the yard of the Peck
homestead presented srewsome sight
when the work of rescue had been
completed. Lying stretched out were
twenty-three dead bodies, aged men
and women, young men and women,
and children and infants making up
the list.
Scores of physicians from the city
hurried to the scene and rendered such
service rs they could. There was lit
Tie for them to do, however, as nearly
all of the injured were past helq and
had been hurried to the hospital All
the way along the road from STRAIT
ford to the scene of the accident one
driving would meet every now and
then a business wagon with a body
covered With blanket in 1t, driving
TO the town hall Of Stratford whore
Medical Examiner Cogswell had or
dered all the bodies taken.
Within etg-a bears. MS or -tife rcofGaift
fully 1000 persons had gathered at the
bridge and until just at dusk, when
the last body in the long line on the
knoll had been picked up and placed in
a wagon and started for Stratford
there was crowd Of spectators
Except those on the wrecked car
who so fortunately escaped with their
lives, Miss Frances T.. Peck, who lives
Just at the south end OF the bridge on
the east bank Of the stream, Is the only
eyewitness OF the accident.
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-08-10
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FRANKS.
Changes Course and Farms From One
State to Another

The Mississippi River is most
capricious stream, and during the
countless ages It has flowed through
this valley and to the gulf 1t has
changed its course more times than
one man could count in day,
Not only does the boat channel
change often, but the body Of the river
changes, River pilots know that
they may find deep water on one
side OF the river on one trip o.
steamer, and on the other side ard
dangerous sandbar where the deep
water was but a short time before.
The sand which constitutes the bot
tom OF the river is shifted iucessantly
by the current, and Is rolled up into
heaps and then strung out again and
then piled up again farther down. The
same current that does this takes an
angry turn every now and then and
shoots against the river bank. finally
breaking Though and reaching some
low place A rush of water follows
II, and in a night the great river has
made a new bed for itself
These changes Of the course of the
river have caused some peculiar con-
ditoins to exist, and one of the most
peculiar now exists at Centennial
Chute, about twenty-five miles above
Memphis. A this point, before the
year 1876, the Mississippi took gud-
den turn westward from It's cou. Sc,
and, after going In a southwesterly
direction turned south, then south
east, and then directly south. It was
simply a horseshoe bend and the land
inside % the horseshoe was titled as a
farm This farm was in Tennessee,
and across the river from Il was
Arkansas. In 1876 the river cut
through the narrowed neck OF the
peninsula on which the farm was sit
uated, and since that time the entire
stream flows through the cut, leaving
the bend through which the river once
plowed free OF water except when the
river Is very high
The owner Of the farm now has to
cross the river to get to the Tennessee
mainland, whereas formerly he had
TO cross the river to get into Arkansas.
He can walk up to his line fence and
still be in Tennessee. though his
neighbors on all Sides are Arkansans
He stlll pays taxes to Tennessee,
though the river has put his land into
Arkansas. A steamboat coming along
the Arkansas bank OF the river sud
denly passes portion OF Tennessee
nestled right IN the lap OF Arkansas
Farther NJ the river the same prank
has been played by the father OF
waters. except that In this case the
river threw a part Of Arkansas into
Tennessee The state Of Tennessee
granted TO a man this land which was
formerly In Arkansas, and now n law
suit has been brought by the owner
of the Arkansas farm from which the
land in question was detached 10 re-
cover the land, the man 70 whom II
was granted by the state Of Tennessee
after the river put It on the Tennessee
side refusing to give It up.
The lawsuit promises 10 be a most
interesting one, aad Will show
whether the boundary line between
Tennessee and Arkansas Is the Miss
lsslppi River n It Is. a revised edI-
ton OF the biographies OF these states
will be needed each year. Memphis
Seimitar