davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
ST. JOsEpH'S CHURCH BURNED.
The sudden DISPERSAL, Ivy Fire, of "a
Large Congregation nt Me-
Henry, Illinois,

Chicago, Feb, 20.-A special TO the
Tribune from Mcllenry, H., says.
ST. Joseph's church was burned sun
day. A large congregation was M
worship when the fire was discovered,
hut there was little excitement, all
escaping without injury, The loss is
100000, with $4,000 insurance. The
church will be rebuilt.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Political Crisis In jamaica.

Kingston. jamaica, Feb, 2l,-1herc
Is excitement here over the political
crisis. The elected members, as a pro.
test to the subyersion of the legislu-
ture, left the chamber in body Adj
diiional official members where then
introduced and sworn in, marking the
re.cstobiishment Of crown govern
mcnt. The American reciprocity treaty
will he considered Wednesday,
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Hot Spring County Tragedy.

alvin Sanders, Cal, Jones and Bud
Allen, members of charivari party,
were shot and badly wounded, the lat
ter fatally, at Bismarck, Hot Spring
county. The party had gone to the
homo Of n newly married couple to
charivari them, when some one in the
house fred load Of buck-shot into the
crowd with the above result.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
DECISIVE BATTLES Or THE WAR.
spencer Wilkinson Reviews the Sit
uatiou in Natal,


London, Feb. 2l.-Spencer Wilkinson,
reviewing the military situation in the
Morning Post, says:
"The meaning of the position in Ma
tai is that the Beers have sent the bulk
of their forces to resist Lord Roberts.
Gen. Buffers aim is to join Sir George
White, and then either to push on 70
Lairg's Nek,or to send back two divi-
sions to reinforce Lord Roberts, retain
ing two in Natal to complete the re-
co,ery of the northern triangle"
1t is hoped that Lord Roberts will
overcome Gen. Cronje before the latter
is reinforced. Otherwise the British
commander may find himself facing
Roer army equal in strength to his
own, as all the Beers appear to be hur-
rylni toward Cronje. The British com
m0nders ought soon to be able to free
bo,h Natal and Cape Colony from the
enemy. The actions now in progress
are the decisive battles of the war, and
every effort must be made to reinforce
LCrd Roberts.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Convict Stockade Burned.

The convict stockade at Hannaberry,
jefferson county, was destroyed by fire
last week. There was no insurance and
the loss will be several Thousand dol.
lars. Col. Oracle, who has the contract
for the labor of convicts in Jefferson,
Pulaski, Lonoke and Lincoln counties,
will rebuild the stockade at once.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Political Union.

The Railway Mems Political Union
Of Arkansas was organized at Little
Rock last week. The objects Of the
union is TO secure the election of men
TO Office "in favor of just laws for tho
protection Of property and employees
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Coicnso Occnpied ~ Gen. Hart

London, Feb. 20, 5:g2 p. m,--Ncws
has been received here that Gen, Hart
hos occupied Colenso after slight en-
gngement
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Mostly Under Ground.

London, Feb. 21.-A dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Mafeking, dated Fri
day, February 0, says: "All business
here is being conducted underground.
The resident commander has fine
apartments in u subterrancan bomb
proof room. The Cape police have II
large hail, with II piano The MAIZE
king hotel dining room seats 40. All
these have been dug out, and are i'm
pcrvous to Shells
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Burghers Busy "SnipinG."

Durham, Feb. l0.-Eyening.-Whilc
Gen. Butler is continuing his move
ment on the extreme right, and has
made every disposition for the defense
of his position to the left and south
of the Tugela, by maintaining there
a force adequate for that purpose, iso-
lated parties Of Beers sometimes cross
the river. There is much sniping.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Killed An Old Man,

Robert Flanagan is under arrest at
Fort Smith, charged with killing James
Ward, aged 20 years. Flanagan and
Ward met in the road and quarreled
about the price Of some timber for
which Flanagan owed ward. Flanagan
claims that Ward came at him with n
knife, and that he (Flanagan) defended
himself with q knife.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Hotel Fire M Knoxville, Tenn.

Knoxville, Tenn, Feb. 2i,-The
Hotel Flanders was partially burned
Monday morning, rs guests being
forced on, into the streets, with the
mercury hugging ,he zero mark, Me-
Nabb's cure, in the hotel block, was
guttcd. Six fremcn were overcome by
lmokp.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
couu,r, Free Of nocrs.

Kimberley Feb. lS,-By hcliogrnph
to Modder River Feb. 49, The coun.
try is all free around Kimberley The
Beers have evacuated Dronteld, Salt
pan, Spytfontein and Scholtz' neR.
One Of their i2'pounders, with 8mmu-
milton, was captured, as was also their
la0per at Dronileld, which was aban.
doncd Friday night. Rails are being
laid 20 Modder river. Several herds OF
cnt,lc have been captured.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
The philippine commission.

Washington, Feb. 2l-Judge Taft,
president Of the Philippine commis-
sion, hud long conference with Sec
retnry Root ut the war department,
Tuesday, in regard 10 the proposed
work Of the commission. II Is snld
the commission will be completely or.
gunilcd in the near future.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
ndwin Nave Drorpcd Dcnd,

Quebec, Feb. l0,--lIdwln Mayo, Of
the "Pudd'n Head Wilson, company,
dropped dead in the Chateau Fronto-
nae at two o'clock. Mr.. Mayo was the
son Of the late Frank Mayo FOR whom
the ploy "Pudd'n Head Wilson" was
written.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Capture of the british Convoy.

Cradock, Cape Colony, Feb. 21.-Do-
tails have arrived here with respect 10
the capture of the British convoy ut
Riei river, II appears that the wag-
ons were laagered near the drift, and
that the convoy was attacked by l,600
Beers, with four guns The shelling
continued all day, One hundred and
eighty wagons were captured, contain
ing provisions and forage. Half the
drivers aud leaders were killed or are
missing.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
ola Ian imark Destroyed.

The residence Of Mrs. NJ X, Roane at
Tulip, Dallas county, was destroyed by
fire last week In the destruction Of
this building the last Of the old land.
marks Of Dallas county is wiped out
The building was erected by Gen. Nat
Smith and was for many years occupied
by Gov Roane
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Republican State Executive Committee

Republican State Executive Committee.
The republican state executive com
mittee held meeting at Little Rock
last week and issued call for con.
vention TO be held in the above city
March Goth to elect four delegates at
large to the national convention. The
basis of representation in said conven'
ton was fixed at one vote for each
county, and one vote for each two hun
dred votes and one additional vote for
every fraction of one hundred votes or
over cast for president Mckinley in
each county in 1896. Resolutions en-
dorsing President McKinley's admins
tration were adopted,
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
lIlrnil Of llNlnu.

Miss Ida Bass, u Little Rock seam
stress, committed suicide by swallowing
30 grains Of morphine, She had been
IN poor health for some time, and gavo
us reason for taking her life that sho
wns tired of living
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
A "s,op the war, Meeting stopped.

leicester, England, Feb, 2i.--An at
tempt to hold a "Stop the War" meet
ing here, Tuesday night, was iiasco.
Mr.. Cronwright-Schreiner, husband Ct
Ollv, Schreiner, was on the list OF
speakers. The proceedings broke ur
In disturbances.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
WIN Lny ~ Gable 10 .ino-chou,

Berlin, Feb, 2l,-Thc German for
cign olllce confirms the report that
Germany intends 10 lay cable to
klao-Chou, and later extend this TO
the Cnrolines, and TO connect the Ger.
man cable with the American Philip.
pine cable.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Gales on the spanish cons,.

Sontonder Spain, Fen, 10, Gales arc
causing number Of shipping diSNs.
ters on the north coast of Spain, Three
small vessels have been wrecked near
here and "a scamcn drowned, Eight
other vessels are missing,
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
The Oldest Bible.

VIM, Stone Of Fulton county, is the
owner Of probably the oldest bible IN
Arkansas, The book was brought TO
the United States by Mr., Stones great.
great grandfather over 200 years ago,
and II has been in the family ever since,
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Aged N.gress Passes Away.

Sarah Chapman, colorcd aged 100
years, died in Grant county last week,
At the age Of 80 years she homesteadcd
100 ncrcs Of land, which she cultivated,
and through her thrift accumulated u
small fortune,
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Railroad TO Nimper,cy open.

Londou, fcb, 20, 1850 p. m,-rhc war
Office las issued dispatch from Lord
Roberts, the main Importance of which
Is the fact that II IL dated pnarccbcrg,
7,0S p. Mo Monday, Puurdcbcrg IN 20
miles east of JacohsdHh The dispatch
announces that the railroad TO KIM.
bcrley is open, and that Gen. Methucn
will proceed there with reinforce.
m,nts forthwith, and that large sup.
plies win be forwarded 10 that town,
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Repairs Needed on the Missouri

San Francisco, Feb, lD,-A board Of
survey has inspected the United
States hospital ship Missouri and
found that many repairs orc needed.
II will probably be nearly two months
before the vessel In reody for sea.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Gilbert sun ChMmpiony

The contest NJ Hot Springs between
Fred Gilbert and j, A, II, Elliott for
the worlds championship as target
shot resulted In Uilbcrt's favor. The
mntch was Ut ib0 birds, Gilbert winning
by u score Of i35 " ~.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
A GRIND Gift TO Obcriln,

Oberlin, o., Feb, 81, President Bar
rows announced gift Of $4,000 fos
Dbcrlin college from the estate of Vim.
u. Osborn, OF Pittsburgh, who died In
Florida few weeks nso, fer the en-.
dowmont OF the presidents chair
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
started IN on van Timc,

Philadelphia, Feb, 2O,'- Sprcckels'
tug0r refinery owned by the Amcrl.
can Sugar Refinery Goa which has
been closed since last Monday, has
Hiratcd up on full time. one thou
sand men returned TO work.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
ROYAL RESERVE pArrALIONs.
Queen Victoria suggests u Measure
for Nome Defense.

London, Feb, 90-Thc queen, through
her private secretary Sir Arthur John
Bipgc, has sent the following letter TO
the ommondcr-in-chief of the forces,
Field Marshal Lord Wolscley;
Osborne House, Feb. l7.-My Dear
Lord Wolsclcy; As so large proper
tion of the army Is now in South Afr
cn, the queen fully realizes that nec-
csyary measures must be adopted for
home defense. Her majesty is advised
that IL would be possible TO devise, for
year, un efficient force from her old
soldiers who have already served as
officers, non-commlssioned officers or
piiyatcs, and confident Of their de-
yotion TO the country and 10y
atty TO her throne, the queen
npnens TO them TO eserve
her once more in place of those who,
for II time, side by side with the peo-
pies of her colonies, are nobly resist
ing the invasion of her South African
posst ssions, Her majesty has signitcd
her pleasure that these buttulions shall
be designated the Royal Reserve bat
tnlons Of her army,
Islgnedl "ARTnuR BlGGE.'
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
nig rive NJ Decatur, Ala.

DecutuY Al0n Feb, 2l,-Fire de.
stroycd the greater portion Of one OF
the main business blocks, causing u
loss of 100000, insurance about S5O,.
900. Six buildings, all brick, were
burned, together with their contents.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Factory Burned.

The Henry Wrap heading factory at
Parogoud was destroyed by fire. About
60 men were thrown out OF employment
by the destruction of this property,
There was about $4,000 insurance,
which is about one.nfth Of the loss.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
TO Abolish the sophomorcs,

New Haven, Conno Feb, 2l,-'rhe
Yale faculty has consented TO the pc
titlon of the junior closs asking for
the abolition Of the sophomore soclc.
ty.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
Received the Diplomatic Corps.

Pckin, Feb. 2i.-The emperor re-
ceiyed the diplomatic corps In audience
Monday He In described as looking
extremely III and worn. The dowagsr
empress was not present.
The Van Buren press., 1900-02-24
I,IncI, Eye for the SufYrnpists

Boston, Feb, 2l.--lu the house, Tues.
day, had It's annual debate ON womln
suffrage, resulting in ;he defeat Of the
proposition, l9l TO 20, larger ma.
iorty than for many years.
New-York tribune., 1900-04-06
THE talk OF THE DAY.

THE Detroit Journal calls attention to the fact
radically the question whether Briton or Boer is
in the right in the present conflict and it names
two such men, both Americans as an Illustration
of the fact, namely. Julian Ralph. the newspaper
correspondent, who Is strongly prO-English, and
Webster Davis who is just strongly pro- Boer.
Admitting for the sake of argument that these two
men are equally unbiased and equally capable OF
forming judgment the question. the inevita BILE
conclusion would be that their testimony makes for
neither side, as they would. TO speak. cancel
each other. like the figures in equation.
The pro-Boer bias OF The Journal however pre-
vents II from seeing this. and II up by saying
that "the position taken by Mr. Davis must go far
toward confirming the pro-Boer sympathies of
Americans. But would II not be Just fair to say
that the position taken by Mr.. Ralph will tend
strengthen American pro-English sympathes?
And If not why not?
said the pet of the heegT1Ing house after he had
know he Vas goinf, 10 sa ,s stbio 80 ~
indeed" said the landlady, who likes him be-
cause he lets her be interlocutor. I'm what
Well, it looked like any other typewriter, ex-
And everybody laughed. because they all knew
the lanilady was his slde.-(Washington Star
The price of the Transvaal sixpence in London is
now five shngs Krjiger pennies. however are
relatively expensive. One London dealer who
that he parted with four dozen shilling each
the other day.
Bingo-Lets see; when did your sister visit us
last?
Mrs. Bingo-How 90 you expect me to remember
so far back that? She was here the last time
you took me to the theatre.-(Detroit Free Press.
A Georgia judge recently, in deciding a case
against man who had been missing for many
years. then suddenly appeared and claimed part of
an estate, made this comment: Il scarcely think
the statute of relations will stop and wait for him
any more than the village of Falling Waters
awaited the awakening OF Rip Van Wrinkle or the
wife of Enoch Arden awaited his return
UNITED IRELAND
Irish Nationaists dined together at the Hotel
Cech 70 celebrate the reunion of Irish parties.
There was free fight and the police were
called fn."-Daily Paperl
The hall of Cecil's gIowin' bhoys
The craytur-good luck it's fowin' bhoys
An our hearts afre
Wild amazin' desire
10 show It's united we're grown'. bhoys
Then well go for each other tonight me lads
Tis never too late for delight, me lads.
An the best know
To unite wild foe
Is TO grapple him close in a fight. lads
Punch
In the museum at Brussels. where the works of
the eccentric painter Wertz preserved is a
painting representing Napoleon in the Internal
regions A Dutch artist has reproduced the picture
but has placed Mr.. ChamberIain's head on Napo-
Icons shoulders. The painting has been exhibited
in Holland for the benefit of the Boer fund
A Real Marvel.-"What is the miracle OF spring
We'll the miracle of spring is the astonishing
mother is laying out money her Faster clothes
indianapolis Journal
New-York tribune., 1900-04-06

"have not allowed Puerto Rico that privilege,
'but in spite of her protests that she could
"raise sufficient revenue without customs dues
ION trade with us, have imposed tariff upon
cher" True! But who could draw up customs
schedules at present for Puerto Rico but Con
gress? Congress is the local legislature or
Puerto Rico and there is nobody in Puerto Rico
yet to leave the question to. The present Dill
provides for the creation Of such body, and
also for the submission of the tax question to It,
Meanwhile as the only power existing able to
make laws and raise money by taxation for the
island Congress is acting. and In acting pro-
poses TO secure revenue by an imposition which
The Transcript comedies is moderate. 1t ques
tons the power of the future Puerto Rican
legislature TO deal with the tariff laws which
"can only be changed by the Congress OF the
United States but the fact seems TO be for
gotten that the Puerto Rican legislature will
have nothing to do with the National tariff
laws. 1t will simply enact local tax measures TO
take the place of local tax provisions of the
present bill. which automatically lapse in two
years or on action of the Puerto Rican authori-
ties to whom Congress delegates local powers
The National tariff will remain as fixed by Con
gress in The pending measure. That difficulty
disappears the instant consideration is given to
the two functions of Congress National and
a local territorial egislature-long ago clear
ly dis inguished by the courts.
How far Congress in either capacity can act
concerning territories without regard to the
Constitution is much disputed question. III it
has free hand all the imagined difficulties or
reconciling island legislation with domestic laws
are avoided. If ii has not of course the National
policy must be determined accordingly. Pending
decision. the people can rest content with the
knowledge that Puerto Rico is we'll treated.
New-York tribune., 1900-04-06
THE GAMBLERS WIN.

The policy gamblers have won their game al
Albany. and. whatever the temporary cost of
their victory may have been, no doubt their ulti-
mate profits will be large. On motion of Sena-
tor Elsberg the bill which was designed to break
up their nefarious business was sent back to
the Codes Committee yesterday, with instruc-
tons TO strike out the enacting clause. Such is
the outcome OF Mr. Anthony Comstock's cooper
alton with Senator Grady and the representa-
tves of the policy ring. When the amendments
which made the bill acceptable to them were
adopted last week Senator Elsberg frankly said
that he should choose to have it killed rather
than passed in that form. believing that it had
been rendered worthless and having no inclina-
tion TO appear in the character of a man who
had been fooled. Assemblyman Lewis took a
similar course last year when his Horton Law
Repeal bill had been mutilated in the interest
of the priZefighters, and we hope that his subse-
quent experience will encourage the honest enc
mics of the policy shops to renew their efforts
at the next opportunity. Mr.. Lewis was sent
back to Albany in spite of the activity and the
money of the prizering. and has just won a
notable victory. The policy ring can be beaten
next year if proper amount of zeal and courage
is employed against it,
This is a matter which ought to have con-
spicuous place in the next legislative campaign
of gambling. 1t appeals chiefly to the cupidity
of the poor and ignorant and in the aggregate it
takes from them annually an immense amount
of money. The harpes who prey on the pas
sions which it promotes and gratifies get enough
ont of the desttution they cause to buy influence
here and votes at Albany. During the last month
they have scarcely made pretence Of conceal
ing the means by which they have confidently
expected to protect themselves, and their sue
cess is a blisterng disgrace to the Legislature.
New-York tribune., 1900-04-06
FIGHTING AROUND MAFEKING.

They are coming to close quarters at Mafek-
Ing. Only few days ago Colonel Plumer was
reported to have met with check at Lobatsi,
forty-five miles north of the beleaguered town,
and has since been supposed to be practically at
a standstill at that point. Now we hear of him
raiding down as far as Ramathlabama. which
is only fifteen miles from Mafeking. The dis
patch states that he was repulsed in his attempt
to break through and effect a junction with the
garrison.
He did not apparently, advance straight down
the railroad, but by detour to the eastward, in
the Transvaal territory. That was partly to
threaten. possibly to cut, the Beers lines of
communication 1t was doubtless, also, partly
because the Beers We're massed along the rail-
road, while there reason to suppose the
country eastward to be fairly free from them.
Such latter seems to have been the case. We
are told he got within dozen miles of zeerust-
an important Transvaal town the high road
to Pretoria That means that he was fifteen
miles across the border, within Transvaal terri
tory. In all that raid he saw white men.
That looks though the country had been
pretty well stripped to fill the Boer army, and
as though an advance across country In that
quarter might be easily effected.
The chief interest In the war. from military
and political point of view. is centred al Bloem-
fontein. Bat personal and sentimental interest
Is centred at that remote little border town
where for nearly half a year handful Of men
has held out against an army, with never a
word of repining OF despair. but with salts
faction that occasional lull in the battle per
mts them TO play cricket and golf. The reiefs
of Kimberley and Ladysmth were strategically
far more important, but neither touched the
fancy and the heart more deeply than will the
succor of Mafekng which now seems TO be
near at hand
New-York tribune., 1900-04-06
THE CANAL SURVEY.

An interesting illustration of Legislation as
she is legislated'' was applied yesterday at AL
bany in the passage by the Senate under sus-
pension of the rules of the bill appropriating
$200OO for surveys preliminary 10 the proposed
expenditure OF S62.OOO,OOO on the canals. The
clerk having been directed to read the BILL and
the same having been found in his possession,
Mr.. Malby desired to know how it got there;
whereupon Mr.. Higgins. chairman of the
Finance Committee in whose custody the bill
has reposed ever since the beginning of the
session. responded with truly remarkable ex-
planation. The committee. he said had refused
to report the bill, but nevertheless II now an
peared on the clerks desk, stamped as having
come from the committee in the regular man
ner. This circumstance had naturally enough
aroused his curiosity. and caused him TO make
an inquiry which had resulted in the discovery
that Mr.. Ellsworth had gone 10 the clerk of the
Finance Committee without consulting the
chairman or any other member and desired him
to report the bill. The clerk had promptly and
amably consented, and there II was Mr. Hig-
gins characterized this performance. without
undue warmth, as unusual. unklnd and i'm
proper. but Mr.. Ellsworth held his peace and
few moments later the transaction was com
pleted. 1t is a fact to which attention has been
called once or twice, believe, that in the
closing hours OF a session Everything goes"
with the occasional exception of the clock: but
this particular instance of legislative locomo-
ton may nevertheless be safely regarded as
novelty.
AS for the merits of the bill. we are rather
disposed TO think that they entitled 1t to pass
in less irregular and shabby manner There
was force well az tartness in the point made
by Senator Malby that about quarter of a
million dollars had lately been spent on surveys
for canal Improvement enterprise which pro-
duced nothing but scandal. and that the peo-
pie were not at all likely to rejoice In the
expenditure of about as much more for the
same purpose. That is not, however, exactly a
fair statement of the case. New-York Is con-
fronted with complicated problem Of far
reaching importance which needs to be intelli-
gently discussed and deliberately settled. The
Tribune is not ready to advocate at this time