davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The evening times., 1899-03-20
Chemically TrenIcd

The last day of the Court of Enquiry be-
10 the course of adverse testimony On the
contrary, there was indirect evidence that
much of the beef was treated chemically
10 prevent or retard or conceal decay. This
came not from a volunteer but regular
whose duties made it necessary that he
should inspect the meat. He is Sergeant
Mason. Troop A. First Cavalry, who served
as commissary sergeant for the regiment
during the Cuban campaign and at Lake
wood. Fla. He appears TO be an intelligent
man. and that he was trusted by his Of
ficers is obvious.
He saws he objected to the appearance
and smell of a carload of beef. 1t looked
as though il had been painted oTer with
paraffine and he rejected it. An agent Of
Armour & Goa man who was known in
the place as one of Armour's two agents
there and who was urgent that the meat
should be accepted-told him, in the pres
ence of Lieutenant Hartman and Others
that the strange look was due to ''preser-
vative' the chemical we use to protect
or preserve the meat OF course the man
might not have been an Armour agent, but
there is every reason TO think he was and
no cause to doubt it. He may have lied
about the meat being chemically treated,
but its appearance favored it.
Undeniably the strength of General Miles
case is much greater as result of the in
yestigation up TO this time. The testimo-
ny in refutation has come entirely from
interested sources-from persons in the
Commissary Department or in the service
of the packers. To it is TO be added, un-
til some attempt is made to answer the
affidavit of Thomas F. Dolan describing the
use of diseased cattle, and his later
statement that he has received five thou
sand dollars from Armour & Co., through
an agent to deny his first charges and to
leave the country until the investigation
is over. There is no present reason to be-
lieve the packers or the War Department
officials have in reserve evidence that will
disproye the unfavorable testimony and
convict the many army officers and soldiers
of ignorance or conspiracy against the
packers Yet unless it is Forthcoming,
there can be no doubt as to the conclusion
the facts establish. Neither can there be
any doubt that the Government must
promptly prosecute the responsible officials
of the packing companies and bring COM
missary and other Government officers to
trial The coming sessions of the Court of
Enquiry at Chicago will be watched with
eager interest by the whole country.
The evening times., 1899-03-20
LawIessness i'm Cuba.

About the best work that has been done in
Havana since the purely voluntary retire
ment of Blanco. was the sending down of
Expert McCullagh. formerly of New York
10 organize a police force. He did it we'll
When he looked over the field he found
that Weyler's men filed most of the places
Weyler's men were the worst criminals
Spain ever had, and that is equivalent to
saying the most desperate and iuhuman
monsters that ever bathed their brutal
hands in blood. The unspeakable butcher
had sent to the African penal colonies for
the most diabolical homicides and estab-
forms 10 make a hell of the city. They did
il and TO spare. To fall into the hands of
The police was regarded as the worst fate
that could happen one. The populace being
mostly concerned about getting something
10 eat and upbolding the honor of Spain or
Cuba, according to their preiudices, no
attention was paid by persons of influence
10 the constant police outrages. The des-
peradoes were still in authority when the
New York expert took up the work of re-
organization.
The lower class of Cubans look upon
all authority with disfavor The police are
rated as natural enemies, like wild beasts.
their apparent purpose being to interfere
with such harmless pleasures as shooting
affairs at Sunday night balls or Sunday af-
ternoon bull or cock fights the shooting of
craps" and other delights of the lower
and mixed orders OF Havana society. Mr.
McCullagh. by the offer of good salary
The evening times., 1899-03-20
AboIishing the slums.

New York is seriously considering the
question of wiping out its Chinatown"
This is one of the most hopeful signs of
civilization which that metropolis has
shown for some time. Chinatown" is a
blot on the face of the earth, not so
much because it is Chinatown as because
it is slum; and if New York could see
her way clear to destroying some of the
other tenement-house districts, including
the disgraceful rookeries and dives owned
by two or three of her richest and most
respectable churches it would be equally
good.
There is no doubt in the mind of anyone
who has thought about the matter that
the tenement house is one of the most
dangerous institutions in our civilization,
and that eventually it must disappear il
the community is to make any progress to-
ward a higher level of thought. When
men, women, and children are huddled
into huge barrack-like buildings, to the
destruction of all privacy and real social
The evening times., 1899-03-20
MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1899.
Unsafe Hotels.

The Windsor Hotel, in whose ruins are
buried many human bodies and whose
burning caused other deaths, went up in
q flash. In few minutes after the fire
started escape was difficult and in the case
nj some of the guests and employees i'm
possible Forty minutes from the first
alarm, its walls We're in the streets. 1t is
evident. apart from the testimony of fire
department officials and building experts,
that il was yeritable death trap. Whether
its owner complied with all the provisions
of the law is a question: that he did no
more is certain. One report says there
We're no fre-escapes, or rOt more than
one. Ii is stated that some of the ropes
in the sleeping rooms were rotten. When
The beIl-boy. who discovered the flames,
attempted to ring The alarm bell the chain
broke. 40 attempt was made to use the
hose and pumps. probably only because
Jhere was not time. This elegant and in
NiGng hotel. seeming so secure, was IS
unsafe and innammable as any cheap tene-
ment house in the city.
When Mr.. Leland. famous as a landlord
leased the house of Commodore Elbridge
T. Gerry. ii was decided that a great deal
OF money should be spent on it TO increase
its elegance aud comfort and prevent a
suspicion OF its insecurity. The walls were
Known 10 be thinner than is common and
owing 10 The manner and circumstances OF
iIs erection nearly thirty years ago, it was
plain that ere would be difficult. if not
impossible 10 control The money was
spent on paint and royal furnishings. plate
glass ard oil paintings and whatever would
CRAFTY the eye or rest the body. Nothing
Went toward the easier saving of life Yet
Mr.. Gerry is rich man and he drew a
rental Of eightythree thousand dollars a
year from this house. He is at the head
OF the society that is popularity known by
his name. the object of which is to prevent
cruelty TO children and save them from
vicious surroundings. Whether he was
willing 10 save money at the cost of hav-
ang the lives Of children and adults lost in
his hotel the verdict of the coroner's jury
will probably determine. 1t should. No
man stands so high that he should be ex-
empt from fearless and searching en-
quiry when there is reason to suspect that
he has neglected any reasonable means to
prevent such a tragedy in order to Put
money in his pocket There is too much
ri stake-there are too many hotels that
are tinder- boxes-to warrant the least ten
derness in getting at the exact condition
al the Windsor.
Even if il should appear that there are
criminals so fiendish as TO risk such a de-
structon of life by setting fire to the
house on several floors at one time for
robbery this could not acquit the owner
from blame if it is true that the laws were
enacted as il it was practicable to dimin-
ish the danger by any reasonable outlay of
money. II is undeniable that people take
loo many chances without cause and in a
measure the owners of hotels and other
public places are Influenced by the same
spirit But there is limit beyond which
ca9elessness and cupidity should not be al
lowed TO go.
The evening times., 1899-03-20
SMALLPOX RIOTS IN LAREDO.
National Troops to Aid Texas in
QaelIiuE Disorders.

Adjutant General Corbin received this
morning the following dispatch from Cap
tain Ayres. in command of the troops sent
to Laredo. Tex, AT the request of Gov
ernor Sayers, TO suppress the -smallpox
riots there:
Laredo, Texas March 10.
Have informed mayor OF Laredo OF your in
structous to me- Great bitterness ON part Of
Mexicans this side river account of at
tempt To Isolate smallpox cases. MeXicanS fired
civil officers to-day; OF latter hurt Quiet
at present. | believe the situation within my
control. AYRES.
Captain Commanding.
The telegram from Governor Sayers to
the War Department, and General Corbin's
orders to the commanding officer at Fort
Mcintosh follow:
Austin Texas, March To-
Secretary OF War, Washington:
Please immediately order hy wire commanding
officer OF the United States troops To assist
mayor OF Laredo and the sheriff OF Webb county
to-day in preserving the peace and maintaining
order at Laredo until can get State troops To
that point. A very serious riot is pending.
JOSEPH ID. SAVERS
Governor OF Texas
Washington d. C.. March 10
Commanding Officer, Fort Mcintosh, Laredo
Texas:
Al the request OF the Governor Of Texas the
Secretary of War directs that You yOur force
in assisting the mayor OF Laredo and the sheriff
tanning order until the arrival Of State troops
Acknowledge receipt and report situation by
telegraph. H. G. CORBIN,
Adiutant General
The evening times., 1899-03-20
Courtesy I'm Public Office.

From the New York commercial Advertiser)
Perhaps nowhere, even in the most unadul-
terated commercial society, is the genesis of
courtesy SO plainly discovered as in the demeanor
of persons in public Office. The two traditional
motives, fear and sclf-interest, are mixed The
public officer courts the power that puts him in
Office, like servant when it is person like a
shopman when 1t is community. When this
power is above and independent of the public
he is employed to serve, he bullies that in re.
venge, and the public has hard time of it.
When the master that appoints him is the public
itself, his manners may lack smoothness, but they
are full OF the sincere purpose Of courtesy Amer
leans well served in general by public Of
ficers that need their votes as by shopmen that
need their custom The contact OF travel with
the brusque and arrogant minions Of the Ger
man Emperor would be intolerable by them. were
it not for their domestic experience with the
officers of private transportation companies that
need not solicit public favor either for votes or
custom.
The evening times., 1899-03-20
MARVEL IN PHOTOGRAPHY.
Camera to Take Six Hundred Pie
lures in u second.

Chicago March 20.-What is to be the
fastest camera in the world is being con-
structed in Chicago for the Smithsonian
Institution at Washington. The speeifica-
tions for this splendid instrument require
that il shall be capable of making a sue
cessful exposure in one siX-hundredth part
of a second and it is hoped that this speed
will be so greatly increased that a good
negative may be secured by an exposure
of only a thousandth of second This
marvellous rapidity in photographing has
never been approached save by one cam
era, which is said TO have secured mega
tive by an exposure of one fve-hundredth
of second.
A better appreciation of the marvellous
alertness of this mechanical eye is to be
gained from the statement that it is cap
able OF catching the image of an arrow
speeding through midair while the bow
string is still quivering from the recoil o.
its propulsive action. The snap of its
trigger when its sights are well aimed
for an instant on the body of the feetest
game bird in full flight will imprison on
the negative a faithful picture.
The camera is designed by William
Gaertner. who was formerly in the employ
of the Smithsonian Institution.
The evening times., 1899-03-20
AT JEKYL ISLAND.
After the Visit Mr.. Mckinley Re-
turns to ThOmasyiIIe.

Thomasville, Ga, March 20.-All inter-
est in President McKinley's Southern trip
for rest now centres in the visit to JekyI
Island, where it is believed events of more
than ordinary Importance are to occur The
presence of Speaker Reed and the proba-
BILE visit of other leading Republicans to
the island on the day Mr.. Mckinley end
party are to be there has given rise to
the belief that there is something in the
wind, and that Republican leaders will
talk over important questions
Although the host of the Presidential
party continues to deny that there viii be
any conferences. Mr.. Hanna has not yet
explained why Judge Day came to Thorn
aSyille, and how it is that Speaker Reed
happens to be on Jekyl Island Just at this
time, and why the trip TO that place was
hurried up several days, so that it will be
made tomorrow.
Instead of going TO Washington after the
Jekyl Island trip, as heretofore arranged.
the President and party will return here
and remain some time.
The sudden change of plans may have
nothing to do with Speaker Reeds visit to
Jekyl Island, but the change was made on
the very day it was first definitely learned
here that MIR. Reed had arrived at Jekyl
Island. 1t will be regarded here as at least
an OQ0 cOlnCIdence II a chaucS meeting
occurs between Messrs Mckinley, Reed
Hobart, HANNA, Bliss, and others while al
Jekyl Island.
Speaker Reed was doubtless invited TO
Jekyl Island Senator Hanna said yester-
day, and he has the right to go there.
presume. Because the Speaker is there il
does not follow that our party must 90. We
may or may not meet with him. The ISL
and is small. and We will all be the guests
of the club. | knew nothing of his arrival
there until the papers told of it,
Judge Day simply declares there is nc
politics in his visit here. Just merely a
friendly call" he said, when asked the
purpose of his visit.
Mr.. Mckinley has not set definite time
for his return TO Washington. He viii
come back here from Jekyl Island and re-
sumo his daily drives and short walks anc
the routine which he has established OF
looking over the important mail soon aft
er breakfast, and then taking things
easy the rest of the day He is improv-
ing under the influence OF the warm sun
shine and piny woods air herea bouts. There
is a better color in his cheek and he is
more cheerful and ready for exercise.
Mrs. Mckinley is not very well, and Il
taking extra precautions 10 prevent "A cold
Vice President Hobart and Mr.. Mckinley
are frequently together. They sit on Mr.
Hanna's front porch and smoke and tall
and go driving together.
The evening times., 1899-03-20
A Cure for Pneumonia.

Berlin Dispatch to the London Standard.)
Joyful tidings come from the meteorological
Institute here, provided they true. Prof
Wassermann, one Of the most diligent and capa-
BILE pupils of Prof Koch, hopes to have found
the for the of pneumonia One may
imagine what! !'such discovery would mean but
in view of the former dsappointments, jubila-
tion would be premature Pneumonia, as is
known, is said to be caused by the pneumococ-
Gus bacillus. DR.. Wassermann inoculated rabbits
with this and with the serum thus gained he
inoculated mice infected with pneumonia. After
prolonged experiments he discovered that it was
the red marrow uf the bones in which the pro-
duction of the antitoxin took place, and the
most promising discovery is that the red marrow
taken from human subject dead from penumo-
mia, and used as serum, will cure mice infected
with that disease. Prof Wassermann thinks
therefore, that he has reason to hope that the
serum discovered by him will also prove effective
with human beings.
The evening times., 1899-03-20
A swts. Department store

(Berne Letter in the Chicago Record)
Berne is peculiar in some things, and in mat
tiers of progress and enterprise is far behind the
other Swiss cities. A tradesman who had done
quite a business in small wares bought several
small stores on gthe main arcaded street of the
city, and prepared to erect modern department
store as far as the Continental idea goes. He
wanted to make his establishment attractive
as possible, and accordingly sought to have the
dark and gloomy arcades in front OF his pro-
posed building removed. Such a storm of pro-
tests was made against this willful destruction
OF the ancient and typical stonework that he
was obliged to abandon his scheme and get even
by making his store the finest in the city. He
be four in Berne. When the little dealers
this and knew that it was good, they held a
largely attended meeting to protest. 1t is their
desire to have store with several departments
so heavily taxed that it will be impossible for
the owner to realize anything out of his venture.
The evening times., 1899-03-20
Strnining II Gnats.
(From the Hartford Courant. }

The New York papers getting up a new
the coming of the automobile car
riage. They demanding special examinations
and licenses for all who undertake TO manage
such vehicles. 1t is claimed that the things may
nun away. But why in the world do not the
brave New Workers demand examinations and
licenses for all who undertake to drive horses in
the streets of the metropolis? There is no law
at present to prevent the craziest fool who can
show the money from hiring skittisl horse at
any stable and within five minutes making a
wild runaway in the most crowded street. Why
not deal with the real risk before taking fright
at an anticipated danger?
The evening times., 1899-03-20
MIR. .ALGER LIKELY TO RESIGN.
Ambassador Porter Talked of AS HIS
Probable Successor.

1t Is again rumored in War Department
circles that Secretary Alger has made up
his mind to retire from the Cabinet. 1t is
stated that he has been advised by the
President that his resignation would be
pleasing to the Administration and relieve
it of many embarrassments, especially so,
as the charges made by General Miles with
reference to furnishing spoiled meat to the
army has been proven conclusively by the
Court of Enquiry. The result of the in
vestigation since the Court went TO Chi
cago and other beef centres in the West
has had the effect to clinch all the charges
that have been made Notwithstanding the
disclaimers of Eagan and his friends.
The situation, as viewed in it's present
light, has changed completely from what it
was when the Alger Relief Commission was
engaged in whitewashng the Secretary of
War and the lately deposed Commissary
General.
1t is stated upon what appears good au-
thority, that the name of General Horace
Porter, the present Ambassador TO France,
is being seriously considered by Mr.. Nc
Kinley as Mr.. Alger's successor as the head
of the War portfolio.
The evening times., 1899-03-20

Evidently Ambassador Choate has still
to learn that a diplomat cannot treat sub
jects of international concern with the in
accuracy that an after dinner speaker in
New York is allowed to show. His igno-
rance of the Venezuelan affair is appal-
ling yet he might have muddled and bun
gled it in popular speech here with i'm
punity, being humorist. But to expose
his shallow knowledge of public matters
as the representative of America in Eng
land is almost beyond comment. To speak
of our attitude there as a twisting of the
lions tall in mere playfulness is to show
that training in diplomacy, or at least some
degree of information about recent his
tory. is absolutely necessary in an ambas-
sador.
The evening times., 1899-03-20
poSToFFICE ROBBED.
burglars Blow Open the Safe With
Dynamite.

Hyattsville, Md, March 2O.-The pest
office at this place was robbed Saturday
night. The safe was blown open with dy-
Mantle. and 1896 in cash. stamps. and
money orders taken. Some OF the money
was the private property of the postmas-
ter George Tise.
The postoffce was in a store. and the
burglars attempted first 10 break into the
safe with a bit, which was broken in the
attempt. Then they resOrted to dyna-
mite after the knob of the combination lock
had been knocked on with a sIedge ham
mer to permit the insertion OF the explo-
sive The safe doors were blown into
pieces and all the glass in the windows Of
the store was smashed. Postoff1ce Inspec-
tor c. ID. Owings claims TO have clew TO
the burglars. who got on with their plum
der
The evening times., 1899-03-20
The Presidents Vacation.

No President in the past thirty wears has had
such task as the present Executive As the
law makes him the actual and not the nominal
Commander in-chief Of the Army and Navy, it i'm
poses upon him responsibility that cannot be
shifted to the shoulders of other, but must
be personally performed by the President He
must approve campaigns land and operations
at sea, directing in a general way the whole CON
duct OF war. This burden rests upon him every
hour Of every day while war IS in progress. 1t
is imposed in addition TO the ordinary onerous
duties Of domestic administration. For more than
u year the President has been constantly at
work, having no time for hunting and fishing or
to lay aside official cares in favor of any diver
sion. Even his trips through the West and South
means OF recreation He deserves re-
taxation from the cares of Office
The evening times., 1899-03-20
KipHng,s Unconscious Humor.
CFrom the New York Advertiser,


We are surprised sometimes that great men
have small failings-that they are sometimes
conceited in small way. But again ii is won.
derful that they have not more egotism than they
have. When Kipling WAS beginning to recover
when he came to himself after having been deIir-
ious for some time, he said to his wife: Have
been i'll p and then asked if for long Then rails
ing himself up in bed, he asked: Has anyone
called?' 1t was perhaps little exhibition oi
vanity. yet think of the magnificent modesty oil
this man. for whom the world has been holding
its BREATH and after whom most of the great
ones of the earth have asked, wondering if any
one had called.
The evening times., 1899-03-20
a GALE AT NEWPORT NEWS.
Wall of the New Jones BUILDING
Flown Down.

Newport News, March pa windstorm
struck Newport News yesterday morning.
In a few minutes the rear wall Of the
new Jones building, next 10 the postOffice,
was blown out, and crushed in portion
Of a building in the rear. No one was in
jured although much excitement was caus-
ed among the inmates of the house
The water in the harbor was lashed with
great fury, but so far as can be learned
none OF the small boats lying in he sea
waters were lost.
number of large plateglass windows
were smashed and shade trees and signs
were blown about promiscuously. The wind
AT one time attained a velocity of between
90 and 20 miles. Afterward the wind shift
ed TO northwest and the weather cleared.
The evening times., 1899-03-20
FOUR MEN KILLED.
Three Freight Trains Wrecked on
the Norfolk and Western

Roanoke. Va, March 20.-Three freight
trains were wrecked 10 miles this side of
Bluefield, on the Norfolk and Western
Railroad, Sunday morning. Fireman Van
Landingham. of this city, and a brakeman
S. \. Graham-and two tramps we're
killed. Several others were more or less
injured.
The three trains were coming east and
running down grade, when the first In line
stopped. The second train broke in the
middle and the engineer was running to
escape a crash from the wild cars. when
he ran into the rear OF the first train The
wild section of train No. then crashed
into the wreck and was soon followed by
the third train, which. in. the wild con-
fusion, had not been tagged.
The evening times., 1899-03-20
Bombardment From Balloons
lFrom the New York Tribune.)

lFrom the New York Tribune)
Although the original purpose of the military
balloon to observe an enemys position and
works, there has been a growing disposition
within the last few years to consider how far
an airshp might be used for offensive operations
Bombs weighing only few hundred pounds, ii
dropped at the right point. might do tremend
GUS deal of harm. The Importance of this posi-
bility has been recognized by the Gar of Rus
sia. who has included it among the topics to be
discussed at the proposed International Peace
Congress.
Great Britain has gone step further, how
ever. for she has what is probably the only fort
in the world SO constructed that protection IS
afforded from an overhead assault. This is the
station at Esquimault. which is almost entirely
IN excavation from solid rock.