Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-12-19
NEWS OF THE DAY.

Gift of 81 100000 to the University OF
Chicago.
A seat on the New York Stock Ex-
change was sold yesterday for $50, GOO,
the highest price on record.
DIR. Charles S. Taft. who attended
Lincoln when shot at Ford's theatre in
Washington, died at Mount Vernon, n.
Y, yesterday, aged 65 years.
Claiming 2. Barnes, train rohber,
who had been wounded by the police,
committed suicide in Louisiana swamp
yesterday, rather then be captured,
The Sells divorce case at Columbus,
Ohio, came to a sudden end yesterday,
a compromise being effected. Mrs.
Sells, the showman's wife, agreed to a
divorce with $4,000 alimony.
The Bouse committee on rivers and
harbors has recommended an spprOpris-
tiou of 1925, 900 to survey Chicago
Drainage Canal, with view to making
it waterway between the lakes and
Mississippi river.
1t is said in Washington that an
understanding has been reached. &C
cording to persons who are we'll inform
ed, to the effect that Secretary Hay is
to retire from the Cabinet at the be-
ginning OF President McKiDley's second
adminisl ration.
The House rivers and harbors COM
mittee has decided that the total car
ried by the appropriation bill, incIud.
ing provisions for continuing contracts,
shall not exceed 1000, 600, and tenta-
tive items will be scaled accordingly.
The bill will carry about 500, 900, 900 Of
direct appropriations.
The United States government is
building q magnetic observatory In
Prince Georges county. Nd, the like Of
which has never been attempted any
where Ia this country. Influences upon
the compass will be measured and
errors in surveys corrected. The build
ing will be a marvellous construction Of
nonmagnetic materials.
Entire responsibility for the Hay
Pauncefote treaty has been assumed by
Secretary Hay. Mr.. Hay stated yes.
ter lay that be conceived the idea of
arranging new agreement to practical
ly take the place of the ClsytonrBulwer
Convention, and that the treaty was
drawn up under his direction and sub
mitted to Great Brit,in By him without
previous negotiation. He also said that
England approved the compact with
out making the slightest alteration.
Itnow appears that General Clements
entire force had narrow escape from
capture by the Beers at Nooitgedacht.
The Beers, who crossed the Orange
river into Cape Colony, encountered the
Cape Rifles and Brabant's force, who
retired with loss. The Beers have
raided Cape Colony at two seperate
points. The British government. in
view OF the recent British reverses in
South Africa, has postponed the general
Thanksgiving service at st. Paul's
Cathedral, which was to be held in con-
nection with the return OF Lord Rob
erts.
A Pekin dispatch to London news
paper says that the situation has not
improved by the representatives OF the
powers naVluR EeaCneu al agreement,
as the scope OF negotiations is limited
and the effect is neutralized. Ambas.
sador Choate had a conference with
British officials in London in an Effort to
straighten out the tangle over the note
to the Chinese government. Tung Fuh
Slang has assumed the position of die
tator in Chine; he terrorizss the En-
press and controls the whole move.
ments of troops.
The famous steamer Alpha, whose
unauthorized trip to Cape Nome last
May brought her into trouble with the
Treasury department at Washington,
has been wrecked on reef near the On
trance to Uoion bay, and not vestige
of the vessel remains. Her managing
owner, captain, purser, two engineers,
two able seaman and stowaway were
drowned and the balance of the crew OF
81 were saved by the pluck OF an un-
known member of the crew, who swan
10 a raging sea from the wreck to a
lighthouse with line around his waist.
DeWitt's Little Early Risers are dainty