davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
SCANDAL in ARMY.
Colombia's Guns Made In Uncle
Sans Hills.

Washington, March 25.-Another
scandal is disturbing the peace of the
war department. This time the bu-
reau of ordnance, commanded by Cen
eral Burlington, the man who was ac-
cused of having surrcptitiously
brought charges against a young ar
tillery officer for alleged theft of the
plans of the new French gun last fall.
is involved.
According to letters and other doc
uments filed with the comptroller of
the treasury today, General Bnfing-
ton in July, 1899, permitted the
Driggs-Seabury Gun and Ammunition
company of New Jersey, private
corporation, to use the Frankfort ar
senal at Philadelphia, including it's
power, machinery and workmen, all
property and employees of the United
States government, to manufacture
thirty-two siN-pounder guns, eight
guns of heavier caliber and 1900
shells for the Colombian government.
This ordnance was not only manu-
featured in the United States arsenal,
but shipped from there, with the con.
sent of General Burlington, to New
York, where it was loaded aboard the
Atalanta, Gould's private yacht,
which had been sold to the Colon
bian government and converted into
a cruiser. The cargo was taken to
the capital of Colombia. The most
extraordinary feature of the matter
lies in the additional; charge that
after the briggs srabury company
had held control Of the arsenal, with
it's equipment Of machinery and men.
for several months in 1899, it was or
a second OCCASION enabled to lnanu-
facture additional gums and shells,
which were also sold to the Colum.
bian government for cash.
There is on file in the war depart
ment a letter written by Secretary
Root, dated September /, 1899, show
ing that the secretary was aware of
the misuse of government property,
but beyond demanding the fulfllment
of a certain contract with the United
States government held by the
Driggs-Seabury company the secre~
tary took no steps to secure repara.
ton for the violation of the United
States laws. Certainly Secretary Root
never instituted an investigation to
determine how much, if any, damage
had been done, but permitted the
matter to be hushed up until it was
brought to the public notice by the
filing of charges with the comptroller
of the treasury.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
TORNADO HITS BIG Cko,
twenty-five Killed and Many
iured at BIRMINGHAM. Ala.

Birmingham, Ala, Mar. 81 hort1l
before 10 o'clock yesterday morningt
a fearful tornado, travelling in an
easterly direction, swept over the
southern part of this city. The num-
Der of killed is estimated at twenty
five, of whom five are white. The
destruction of property is placed at
a quarter of a million dollars. Eigh-S
teen bodies have been recovered and.
scores of injured have been removed
to the hospital.
Among the dead are the DIR. &C..
Chapman, of the firm of Tally &
Chapman, who conduct private in
Urinary in this city, and the wife and
infant child of Hon. Robert j. Lowe,
chairman of the democratic state
executive committee.
The storm struck the city in the
extreme southwestern quarter and
plcwed itseway eastward, leaving q
path $50 feet wide through the entire
southern section, extending from
Green Springs on the west to Avon
dale on the east, and continued its
course until its fury was spent in the
mountains beyond Irondale, small
town six miles east of the city.
A terrific rain storm followed the
wind, and greatly retarded the work
of relief.
Fully five hundred houses were de-
aolished or damaged, and the total
property loss is estimat ed at $751;
900.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28

Willing to Cease Fighting on Cer-
tain Conditions.

London, March ga correspond.
ent of the Times, who is near Bloem-
fontein, gives the report that General
DeWet, General Botha and two other
Boer commanders, addressing force
of burghers at Senekal, Sunday, said
they were still able to continue the
war, but were ready to accept annex
alton on conu,tlon that the British
would guarantee joint education in
Dutch and English, liberty to re-
tain sporting rifles on license, indem-
nifty to the amount of 10000
pounds for burned farms, no fran
chises for natives and amnesty for
all beligerants still in the field.
General DeWet, according to the
correspondent, has gone north to the
Transvaal. after ordering suspension
of active operations until his return.
The Daily Chronicle, Processing to
be able to give an outline of the ne
gotiations between Lord Kitchener
and General Botha, says:
1.-The chief obstacle to settlement
was Lord Kitchener's refusal to grant
complete amnesty to the leaders of
the rebels in Cape Colony. He offered
self-government on the lines of ia
maica, Immediately upon the cessa-
ton of hostilities, with Legislative
bodies partly elected by the burgh-
ers. s.
"The government agreed to pro-
vide 100000 pounds to compensate
the Beers for property destroyed and
articles Communicated by the Beers
on commando, provided the sigma
lures of the officers who comman-
deered the goods were Forthcoming.
He also offered to grant loans on
easy terms for rebuilding and re-
stocking farmsteads.
Moreover, he agreed that the chill
dren should be instructed in English
or Dutch at the discretion OF their
parents. Tho government undertook
to make no claim on church property
or funds of the hospitals or upon pri-
vate investments.
No burgher for either state was
to be allowed to possess rifle ex-
cept by special license.
General Botka was generally in
favor OF these conditions, but he dis
sented strongly from a proposal to
give the full privilege of citizenship
to properly dcmlclled and registered
blacks. He was also greatly con-
cerned about the position Jewish cap
italists would occupy in the co antry
and was told that Jews and Chris
tions would enjoy equal rights, no
distinction being made in the mat
ter of concessions.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
FUNSTON IS ArTE1s AGU1SALpo.
Daring Project to Capture the Filipino
Insurgent Leader.


Manila, March 25.-General Finn
ston is now, engaged in daring pro-
Ject which promises to be the gHeat-
est and most romantic achieuement
of his eventful career. Ip January,
from his hiding place in 1sXe province
OF Isabella, Aguinaldo Wrote letters
anathematizing the~+sub chiefs who
had taken the oath of allegiance to
the United States. Later Aguinaldo
ordered insurgAnt forces in southern
Luykon to jJh him at a rendezvous
in Isabella| province. The rebel Off
Ger intYdsted with these orders Sc
eretlyI negotiated with the Ameri-
a9&A On securing necessary infor-
lation, General Funston planned
Aguinaldo's capture, and, with GEN
eral MacArthur's authorization, pro-
ceeded two weeks ago to make the
attempt. General Funston, with Sur
geon Major Harris, Captain Newton
of the Thirty-fourth infantry, Lieu
tenant Admire of the Twenty-second
infantry, Lieutenant Mitchell of the
Fortleth infantry, six veteran scouts
and company of native scouts, all
picked men, embarked on the gun
boat Vicksburg and were landed on
remote beach above Baler. 1t was
GIess!me s.opIeu!n5y 4eul pa5upIle
with the native scouts, should pass
themselves off as insurgent troops
who, having captured General Fun
ston and others, were taking them
as prisoners to Aguinaldo. At the
right time. when brought before
Aguinaldo, General Funston was to
give a signal, when the tables were
ito be turned and Aguinaldo was to
be seized. Six days march into the
interior were contemplated. Treach-
cry was considered possible, but
every precaution was taken. The
troops in New Viscaya and New
Ecija and the gunboats Vicksburg
and Albany were to cooperate with
| General Funston's force
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
WHOLE DEAL IS NOW OFF.
China Has Turned Down Agreement on
Manchuria.

I. E Z.
New York, March 25.-A special to
the Times from Washington says:
The Rnsso-Chinese treaty has been
rejected by China. The powers OPP
posed to the Russian acquisition Of
Manchuria have won the first round
and there is every reason to believe
that notes are passing between them
with view to preventing any further
efforts on Russia's part to secure
convention with China.
The sudden face-about on China's
part is the result of work done by
other powers. The way in which it
was done is secret that is being
closely guarded, but it is certain that,
the pressure from European capitals
was the cause of China's rejection OF
the treaty.
This is, of course, only temporary
check to Russia. She can now insist
that China accept the treaty, making,
if necessary, some notifications in it
which will give ground for reopening
the subject. 1t is to prevent this
that, according to reliable informa-
ton, negotiations are now going on
between the powers. The proof
which the rejection of the treaty fur
nishes that Russia's influence at the
Chinese court is not omnipotent has
evidently given encouragement to the
opposition powers. who believe that
the game can be blocked as far as
the treaty is concerned. However,
even if they succeed in preventing
Russia from concluding any kind OF
agreement with China they will NOT
have made any progress toward get
tinp her ont of MaDphuria Ge
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
ALLIES STILL FAR APART.


mehG AT
Washington, March 21.-Another
communication was received yester-
day from Special Commissioner Rock
hill touching the complications that
have resulted at Pek4ng from the
efforts OF the various powers to
reach a uniform basis for their in
demnity claims, but there is nothing
to indicate that an agreement Is
nearer than it was when the subject
was first taken up by the ministers.
Although the state department is
more than ever convinced that It's
suggestion looking to the reference
of the entire subject of indemnities
to The Hague commission is the true
solution of the difficulty, that prop
osition having been definitely reject
ed early in the negotiations, is not
now before the ministers.
No precise instructions have been
sent to Mr.. Rockhill within the last
few days on this point, owing prin-
cipally to the absence of the presi-
dent from Washington. 1t is pre-
sumed that, now that the presidents
attention is again directed to the
subject, there will be more complete
definition of nolicv.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28

(
An application to congress for ar
appropriation of $4,000 has been made
by Secretary Hay as preliminary
step to the entertainment in Wash.
ington next December Of the interna-
tional congress which considers the
protection of patents, trademarks and
other industrial properties of SINH
lar nature An article OF the conven-
ton concluded in Paris in 1883 pro.
vides for the periodical revision OF the
agreement The last conference was
held last December in Brussels. The
arrangements for the conference in
sclude the gathering from the various
parties to the convention and the dis
tribution of the suggestions for
amendments. all of which must be
completed at least six months before
the meeting.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
BoERs SUFFER- REPULsEs.
General Kitchener Shows Signs of Re.
newed Activity.

neWed ACTIVITY.
Capetown, March 26.-It is said the
Beers lost very heavily in attacking
the garrison at Lichtenburg last
week. Upwards of seventy burghers
are reported to have been shot at one
spot among the wire entanglements.
London, March 26.-The war office
has received the following dispatch
from Lord Kitchener:
Pretoria, March 25.-Babington's
force, including Shekleton's column,
attacking Delarey, 1900 strong, south
west of Ventersdorp, and having de.
feated him, followed him up rapidly,
with the result that the Boer rear
guard was driven in and their con-
voy, including the guns, captured a.
Vaalsbank.
"our troops displayed great gall
lantry and dash. They captured two
15-pounder guns, one pom-pom, six
MaXims, 800 rounds of big ammuni-
ton, $4,000 rounds of small ammuni-
ton, 160j rifles, SIS wagons and 81
carts, besides taking $40 prisoners.
''Our losses were slight. Many
Beers were killed or wounded.''
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28

The University of Chicago is said
to have been chosen as one of the nine
institutions which will select the can
didates for the Nobel prizes. The
other eight are the Universities Of Ber-
lin, St Petersburg, Vienna. Rome,
Legion, London, Paris and Zurich. M.
Nobel was Swedish millionaire, who
left large legacy for prizes to the
greatest benefactors of humanity. The
prizes go to the greatest discoveries
in physical science. chemistry and
psychology; also to the author Of the
greatest literary work Of idealism and
to the greatest promoter of peace.
THE Wild and Woody West" can at
ford to smile at the phrase In Cali
fornia there is one college student for
every four hundred inhabitants. a
larger proportion than in any other
state OF the Union. President Wheeler
of the State university attytbutes this
to the fact that mo class in California
consciously accepts the doom of me-
diocrity." In advertising a, piece of
land Cor sale. Themistocles noted that
1T lay by good neighbor." SCalifor-
MIA, in bidding for immigrat io1 lives
scholastic proof that her peop! II
'lready good neighbcrs. @
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28

The British foreign office, it is said
is not disturbed by the speeches made
in the senate on the Nicaragua cana
question. "They are dismissed with
the remark that treaties cannot be
abrogated without the consent of both
the contracting parties" Cheer up
said the lawyer to his client; 'they
can't put you in Jail for that" May
be they can't replied the victim
through the bars, sbut they have
Whether treaties "can" be abrogatet
or not, we know of one that will be
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28

The sound of the woodsman's ak
may soon be a thing of the past. In
the forest Of Potter county, Pa, ma
chine is to be tested which is claimed
to be capable of peeling bark, cutting
down trees and then Transforming
them into logs. After being fastened
to tree the machine will peel it from
the ground to the branches, then cut
it down and saw it into the required
lengths.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28

Other holidays commemorate events
of the past; Arbor day speaks for pos
terity. John Frederick Oberlin, the IA
nous Alsatian pastor, would not per-
NIT the peasant boys and girls to come
to communion until they had planted
at least two trees in their 1ock-strewn
valley. Had the great educator of a
century ago lived on the present site
Of Chicago the university of that city
might not to-day be paying $4,000 for
transplanting a single row of big elm
trees on its campus.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28

The municipal government of St.
Petersburg has appointed commits
sion to study the question of sanitary
workingmen's homes. The city, with
its marshy surroundings and it's liza
bflity to overaows, is regarded as IN
healthy at best. The evil is aggravat-
ed by the use of the poor OF rooms be-
meath the overflow line.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
Vessel and Crew Lost In collision.

Antwerp, March 23.-The steamer
Chemnitz of the German-Australian
Steamship company, and the British
steamer Tay collided in the Flushing
roadstead. The Tay had put into the
Flushing roadstead owing to the pre-
vailing storm. The Chemnitz sailed
from Sidney, Australia, for Hamburg
on January IA. The first officer and
two seamen of the lay were saved
and fourteen persons persisted, in
Guiding the wives of two sailors who
had boarded the vessel on a farewell
visit.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28

Washington, March 30 General
Macarthur at Manila, under date Of
March %, cables the war depart
ment as follows:
Hughes reports surrender Fulton
and command, Antique, province OF
Panay, $50 rifles. This ends insur.
rection Panay."
Hartman Syndicate Backs Coal Combine
Chicago, March GA special to
the Times-Herald from Springfield.
ILL.,, says: ut has developed that the
Hartman syndicate. controlling the
Chicago & Alton ana Illinois Central
is back of the movement to consoii-
date the coal, mining properties Of
Illinois into $75,0OO,OOO combine,
The capitalists of the syndicate will
lend their financial backing to the
consolidation project and will Fold
a majority of the stock in the enter
prise. The authority for connecting
the Hartman syndicate with this lat
est industrial movement is an Official
of the Chicago & Alton railroad
1t is said that gray horses live long
err than those of any other color.
Two inmates in Glasgow asylum,
working in the garden, decided upon
an attempt at escape. Watching
their opportunity when their keeper
was absent, they approached. the
wall. moo, bend doom, Sandy said
the one, s'and I'll elm up yoir
shoulder to the top, and then III
gle We hand up tae." Sandy, &C,
cordingly, bent down. Tam, mount
ing his back, gained the top of tina.
wall, and dropping over the othAC
side, shouted, as he prepared tX,
make off: .I'm thinking. Sandy.
you'll be better to kide apither fort.
night, for your noy pea1 chit yet.r
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
Fight to the Death.

London, March 26.-The colonial
secretary, Mr.. Chamberlain, when
asked in the house of commons TODAY
if it was possible to change the Offer
of peace terms to the Beers, said the
negotiations were closed and there
was no intention of re-opening them.
Thomas K. Beecher, who recently
died, once prefaced n sermon preach
ed at Plymouth, for his brother, with
the startling intimation: "All those
whc have come here to worship
Henry Ward Beecher will now have
chance to retire; all those who
have come to worship God will re-
MAN."
The Rev. John L. Sewall, pastor of
the First Congregational church in
North Brookfseld, Mass, has announc-
ed to his parishioners that he will
accept reduction of 10 per cent of
his salary for $1,000 year, inasmuch
as many of the congregation are fac
ing a 10 per cent reduction in their
wages earned in the local shoe shop.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
RUSSIA HITS AT BRITAIN.
Secures Dismissal of Director General Of
of Customs in Korea.


Yokohama, March 26-Advices from
5eaul announce that the Korean gov,
eminent has dismissed from office
McLeavy Brown, director general of
Korean customs, and that Great Brit
ain is protesting against his dismiss
sal.
London, March 26.-The dismissal
of McLeavy Brown from the post OF
director general of Korean customs
is regarded in London as another
score for Russia. In 1895 and again
in 1898 Russian pressure was exerted
to procure his removal. In the latter
case he was only reinstated after
British squadron had moved to Che
mulpo.
AS recently as few months ago
Russia strongly opposed an attempt
by Mr.. Brown to raise loan for the
Korean government to purchase
shares in the railway from Seoul to,
Fu-San. AS result of her OPPOSE
ton the negotiation for the loan
failed
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28

The honor of being made an earl
cost Lord Roberts. as it costs every
new-made peer of high degree, thou
sands OF dollars in fees Nevertheless,
hosts OF Englishmen. and probably
not few plain American citizens who
esteem themselves-while not under
temptation good republicans, would
gladly pay the price.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28

Boys who work their way" through
college often hit upon odd ways OF
turning an honest penny. Girls in
similar circumstances also appear to
be resourceful. Several Radcliffe stu
dents are earning their college ex-
penses, or part of them, by tending
babies. They receive from twenty-five
to fifty cents an hour, and are acquir-
ing information not obtainable
through the regular curriculum.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
England Not Informed.

London, March 23.-Replying to a
questionHgin the house of commons
as to whether the government pro-
posed to ask Germany to act with
reference to Russia's action in Man
churia. the foreign under secretary,
Lord Claiborne, replied that the Rus
sian government had repeatedly de-
clared it's intention to respect the in
tegrity of China and the British gov
eminent. was not aware that Russia.
had infrinped IT,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
TROOPS ALL WITHDRAWN.
Conflicting Forces at Tien Tsln A
Taken Away.


Picking, March 23.-The troops on
both sides of the disputed land at
Tien-Tsin have been withdrawn and
all danger of a fracas is ended. The
opinion of the British is that the
promptness of General Barrow in
calling up the marines from Taku
prevented collision. The British
report that prior to the arrival of
the marines, sentress were supplied
from the Madras Pioneers, who for
several days were surrounded by
crowds of foreign soldiers, mostly
French, who assailed them with all
kinds of abuse, calling them Coolies"
The Madrasses were becoming FESTIVE
when the marines arrived at night
and quietly relieved them; and it was
only when daylight appeared that
the Russians discovered the change.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
Running sewing machine might
be properly termed home run.

A coroner's jury in New York con-
isidered the circumstances of a fla
grant murder and on being asked
what conclusion they had reached,
returned this verdict: I'VE find the
gentleman guilty"
Our national game" makes GOOD
start in Cuba. A Havana item says:
The new Spanish baseball court has
been opened, General Wood and a
number of officials attending the Ger
emonies. Manager Sbarretti, bishop
of Havana, blessed the structure,
which is the largest of its kind in
the world, and cost 100000. The pro-
motors hope that baseball will re-
jlace bull fighting in the affections of
Cubans.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28

In the electric cars and railway
waiting rooms OF many cities the
boards OF health have posted notices,
forbidding, under heavy penalties, the
unwholesome and nauseous practice of
splitting on the floors. But have the
authorities ever looked into smoking
car?
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28

William Dickerson, an engineer, liv.
Ing at Chelsea, Mass, is the moving
spirit in an organization of fifty or
sixty men and women of that part OF
the state who say they are descendants
OF Oliver Cromwell, and as such en-
titled to share in the division of
more than $25,OOOOOO, which, they
have been assured, has been lying for
generations in the Bank of England
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
Civil Government Of Philippines

Washington, March 23.-The trans
fer from the military to the civil GOV
eminent in the Philippines is expect
ed to occur about June 30, according
to calculations made at the war de-
partment upon information received
from the Taft commission and Cen
eral Macarthur. 1t is known that
even where civil governments are be-
ing established by the Philippine
commission the military will be nee
esssary for some time to support the
civil authorities. 1t is the intention
to withdraw the military. as, far. as
possible, however, from any partici.
patton in the governments estah.
lished.
Hal Lucination is a name that
would buy advice. He sells it.
The lawyer is one man that profits
ut many men.
Babies are no respectors of per-
sons. All are equal with them.
Did you ever go to land full of
optim.sts?
Profit by the experience of Others
if you are looking for a short road
to success.
Sure things are more or less un-
certain.
Some people would rather do a
thing twice than do it right in the
first place.
Some actors appear at their best
in 9 dying scene.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28

11lc last annual silk crop Of China
was estimated at 21.oOO.OOo pounds
weight. OF this total, more than 60
per cent is consumed In China.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-03-28
Beers Near Oueenstown,

Queenstown, Cape Colony, March
26.-The guard here has been called
out owing to reports that force of
Beers is near the town. Business has
been shut down in order to allow the
employees to man the trenches and
forts day and night. The Beers who
are said to be twenty miles off are
alleged to have crossed the railroad
near Drummond.