davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-06
THE CANADA OTTER,
Its Lovely Coat the Doom of Its
Early Extinction.


This is another of the animals proba-
bly, doomed to extinction in New England
at least. In its own beautiful coat il car
ries its death warrant, and The greed of
man and the vanity of woman have sup
piled the executioners. The otter sleeps
in the shadow of steel trap, and swims
with a shotgun in his wake. Were he
prolific, like the Norway rat, he might
survive. even under these conditions. but
he is not. The CANADA otter has but ere
litter of young each year. and there are
usually but two or three young in a litter.
The consequence is that the animal has
already been eXterminated in many
places and is now quite rare in most
parts CT New England.
OF course, it is easy to find excuses for
The wiping out of almost any animal, and
in the case Of the otter perhaps the best
to be found is that he himself is a great
destroyer of fish. lie is, il is true, a very
tiger of the streams and ponds he in
habits. and as he has an appetite TO match
his ferOcity. he Kills and deyours vast num-
bers Of fish In year.
II you can imagine a very, very thick
snake, between four and five feet long.
mounted on four short, stumpy legs, with
webbed feet, with a roUndsh head and
short ears and covered all over with dark,
glossy brown hair. you will have some
idea OF what a Canada otter looks like
lie is not quite the same color all over,
as the under parts are usually a shade
lighter than the upper and the chin and
throat are a dirty white
Under the long glossy hair which covers
almost the whole body is a fine soft,
waterproof fur. nearly equal to that of the
beaver. He also has a stiff bristly mus
tache.
His home is usually in a burrow in the
bank of the pond or stream he inhabits,
with the entrance under the water. II is
often protected by being made amongst
the roots of an o.erhanfing tree and is
generally safe from rains and floods The
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-06

About fifteen minutes after ! saw the
position pinioned, with q gendarme by
his side The two sat on a bench hard
by hot oven at the next station. The
geHdarme was drowsily smoking a cigar
cite, while his charge was grimly gazing
at the foor.-New York Commercial Ad-
vertiser.
The times., 1901-04-06
THE ABBoTT-BoRALMA RACE.
Both Owners Agree to n Contest at
Lexington. Ky.

NEW YORK, April Sit is now almost
a certainty that there will be a meeting
between The Abbott, the champion trotter
of the world and Boralma at the fall
meeting of the Kentucky Trotting Horse
Breeders Association at Lexington under
conditions that should bring out q good
contest
Both the owners have accepted and
nothing remains to be done except to
post the forfeit money. Mr. Lawson. in
his acceptance, states that should he win
he will give his share of both stake and
gate receipts to Lexington hospitals
The chance for race was offered by
Secretary Wilson of the Kentucky asso-
citation in a telegram 10 John j. ScanneH,
the owner of The Abbott under date of
April l. The Kentucky association asked
Mr. ScanneIl if he would meet Boralma
with The Abbott in a match race at its
fall meeting under these conditions:
The contest to be for $40, 900, the associa-
ton to add onehalf the gate money.
which it guarantees 60 be not less than
$1,000; a forfeit of 5000 to be posted by
each owner when the match is made: the
balance the night before the race; the
winner to take all.
In response to this communication Mr.
Scannell telcgraphed an acceptance TO
Secretary Wilson.
The times., 1901-04-06
CUTTING PHILIPPINE TIMBER.
Mr.. Root Decides the Hoar Amend
ment Does Not Prevent 1t.

The Secretary of War has rendered a
decision to the effect that the Hoar
amendment TO the Army bill prohibiting
the granting of concessions in the Philip
pines does not prevent the cutting of tim
ber upon public lands as regulated by
general order issued last July by General
Macarthur. The decision of Secretary
Root is that Senator Hoar's amendment
does not interfere with existing forestry
laws and regulations in the Philippines
These regulations do not permit disposi-
tion 10y the Government of public lands,
but do provide for the granting of licenses
to persons who desire to cut timber upon
State lands. The Taft Commission. in a
report 10 the Secretary of War on this
subject, says:
1T seemed extremely important that an
order allowing the cutting of timber
should be put in force at the earliest pos
sible time, as there was practically a
lumber famine at Manila and other i'm
portant points in the archipelago while
the destruction of buildings incident to
the war, and the increased demand 10.
good dwelling houses, resulting from the
large influx OF Americans, made il inper-
attye that provisions should be made so
that the telling Of trees and marketing
OF lumber might lawfully begin. The
regulations We're therefore necessarily
somewhat hastily compiled by those hay-
the work in charge"
ne regulations referred to were pre-
pared by the Forestry Bureau, and be-
came effective July J. 1900
They were based on those in force un-
Ger Spanish Sovereignty and divide forest
products into six groups. according to the
grade, quality. and value Of the timber
u is prov ided that the Government shall
charge FOR timber cut on public lands the
following prices per cubic foot: Supe-
rior group, : cents; first group, cents:
second group, 4 cents; third group ~
cents: fourth group, l cent: fifth group,
= cent a. nited States currency.
There are given lists Of the trees of the
several groups, with their common names
and their scientific names, so far as the
latter have been aScertained together
with rules governing the cutting and
measuring of timber and payment OF the
charges thereon. as well as provisions as
10 how the various gums shall be gath
cred
The times., 1901-04-06
IMPROVEMENTS AT MANILA.
Specifications for Work 10 he Done
in the HarbOr.

The Division Of Insular Affairs, War
Department, has received copies of the
specifications and blue prints showing the
proposed Improvement of the port of Ma
Mia. authorized by the Philippine Com
mission. The work includes about l30. 900
cubic yards riprap. 2l.VO cubic yards
concrete and rubbie masonry in break
waters. about $500 600 cubic yards dredg-
ing. ana pile bulkhead 400 feet long.
The dredging will in mud sand and
shells to a depth Of thirty feet, the
dredsed material to be used for reclaim
ing land
The conditions require that the bids be
accompanied by a bond for 100000 gold
One contract will be made for the whole
work. with "a contractors bond Of 10 per
cent Of the amount bid. Bids will be re-
ceivcd At the office Of the CHIEF Engineer
Division Of the Philippines, Manila. until
II O'Clock a. m, August J. 1901. and the
Commission reserves the right TO reject
any or all bids.
The specifications and blue prints may
be examined by those Interested at the
Division Of Insular Affairs War Depart
ment. Printed specifications containing
blanks for proposals viii be received bv
the division. and viii then be Obtainab BILE
by prospective bidders upon application
Specifications and blank forms viii IN
due time, be accessible for inspection al
the offices OF the United States Engineers
At New YORK, Chicago, and San Fran
cisco.
The times., 1901-04-06
WANT HIGH STRUCTURES.
Georgetown Citizens Discuss Plans
for New Potomac Bridges.

The projected bridges across the Po-
tomac were the topics Of discussion AT
TIE meeting OF the Georgetown Citizens
Association last night in the office Of the
First Cooperative Building Association.
The meeting was called TO order by Presi-
dent B. I. Janney and the bridge ques-
tion Immediately forged to the front
The members of the association were
unanimous in the opinion that the new
bridges both the passenger and railroad
structures. should he constructed high
enough above the water level to allow
the passage OF the ships and tugs devoted
TO the commerce Of Georgetown 1t was
stated That the girders should be at least
twenty-seven feet above the low-water
mark. Vt the conclusion of the argu-
IneDts offered, - committee, composed OF
Oliver L. Johnson, James H. Taylor John
1.eetch. George q. BoteIer, and George
". kluS, was appointed 10 present the
views OF the association to the commits
son Of army engine6As having in charge
lhe work OF prepariS - plans for the con-
StrGctlon Of the passenger bridge. The
committee was empowered to draw up
any resolutions il saw lit in the name OF
the association.
VI hen the bridge matter had been dis
posed Of William . Donnen, J. +. Dar-
cey, aIU DIT. W. d. Briggs were elected
members OF the organization and the
meeting was adjourned TO meet again at
tla call % the president.
The times., 1901-04-06
HOPING TO SHAKE JONES.
The Wallets Testimony Firm Under
Examination SO Far.

NEW YORK. April Whether or not
the extraordinary tale of conspiracy and
crime which Charles +. Jones, who was
valet and secretary to the aged million
aire, William Marsh Rice and who says
that he chloroformed his employer on
September % last. at the instigation of
Albert i. Patrick. has told on the witness
stand in the murder proceedings against
Patrick will be torn TO pieces by cross
examination remains to be seen. After
a day and half of nagEing cross-ques-
tiouing by Robert NJ Moore. of counsel
for Patrick, Jones is still mistaken.
His latest story is. Of course. discredited
in advance by the rule of law that the
testimony of an accomplice, which Jones
says he is. is worthless unless corrobo-
rated. 1t is also discredited in advance
10y yarns he spun for Captain McClusky
on October 4. when he was arrested, for
Assistant District Attorney Osborne en-
October X. when he was a prisoner IN
the Tombs. and for George G. Battle, his
lawyer, when he was patient IN Belle
we Hospital on November s.
But so far Mr. Moore has been able to
do nothing more with Jones testimony
on oath than to bring out the fact that
the valet is a self-confessed co-conspira-
tor, and to put him on record as saying
that all his other stories were, in whole
or in part lies.
The upshOt of the cross examination has
been so far that Jones has heard himself
called a liar by counsel for the defence,
has been told that his testimony renders
him liable to the death penalty. has heard
the court call him unfortunate, wicked,
and a self-confessed murderer, who is
entitled to public dislike. and all with
out fiinching. He falls back on the dec
laration that he cannot recall his lies,
that he is telling the truth now because
Mr.. Osborne told him that IT was best to
tell the truth, that his conscience urges
him to this course, and that he gathered
from his counsel and Mr.. Osborne that he
might escape the death penalty if he
stopped lying.
It is conjectured that the defence after
Jones has left the stand for good, will
have to rely on the legal necessity under
which the prosecution labors to corrobor-
ate the Wallets story, and that Patrick
lawyers will urge that the Wallets fourth
story is a lie like the first or the second
or the third. The hearing Will probably
end next week
The District Attorneys Office this af-
ternoon received an affidavit from Will
lam L. Jones, Of Texas brother Of Charles
F. Jones, saying that in July and August,
1899. he sent bottles of chlOrofoTm to
William Marsh Rice's valet
The affidavit says that Valet Jones said
he wanted the drug for a friend who
wanted to make toothache drops. AS
sistaHt District Attorney Osborne de-
from Texas in court II necessary to hold
Albert T. Patrick.
The times., 1901-04-06
ADMIRALS CHANGE PLACES.
Higginson to 'eommund the North At
Iantic SQUADRON.

An important naval change was provided
for yesterday fn orders directing the de-
tachment of Rear Admiral Farquahar
from the command of the North Atlantic
Station and naval force and assigning
Rear Admiral -Higginson to that duty.
Admiral Farquahar recently expressed a
wish to be detached unless there were an
immediate prospect for more important
duty for his small squadron. The orders
provide for his assignment as Chairman
of the Lighthouse Board. in Washington.
the position now held by Admiral Higgin-
son. The change in command will take
place May ]. at Hampton Roads.
1t Is the purpose of the Navy Depart
ment to arrange a programme of extend
ed exercises this summer for the North
AtIan.S> Squadron. There are only three
ships in the squadron, but the number will
probably be increased and it is intended
to attach to it a ffotilla of torpedo boats
now being put into condition for service
at the Norfolk Navy Yard. The squadron
is composed of the battleships Kearsarge
(1agship), Alabama. and Massachusetts.
1t is now at San Juan and will sail thence
for Kingston, Jamaica. and Fort Monroe.
On reaching the last named place the
Kearsarge and the Alabama will be de-
tached the former proceeding to the New
York Navy Yard for repairs to one of
her 1S-inch guns, which was injured by
the premature explosion of a she'll and the
Alabama to the Cramps shipyards at
Philadelphia, where she was built, to be
overhauled preliminary to her final in
spection to ascertain whether all the work
done by the contractors is satisfactory.
The squadron will probably not be ready
for sea again until. late in June, when it
will go to Newport to participate in a
series of maneuvres arranged by the
Naval War College. These exercises will
be In continuation of the course in prac-
at the War College have been studying.
This viii be Admiral Higginsons first
command under his flag commission.
Rear Admiral Evans applied for the
Craftsmanship of the Lighthouse Board
but the department decided to retain him
as President of the Inspection Board
The times., 1901-04-06
ABUSED THE POLICEMAN.
A Lawyer Arrested on Complaint of
n NiGht-Liner.

John w. Patterson, lawyer, President
OF the Mutual Improvement Society, was
arrested shortly after ! o'clock this morn
ing, charged with refusing to pay hack
hire and with disordcrly conduct He
gave collateral in the sum of $40, and was
released by the Sixth precinct police. to
await hearing this morning in court.
According to Policeman Vermilion. who
made the arrest Patterson was engaged
in "A controversy ut First street and Penn
syIyauia Avenue northwest with a hack
man, respecting the rates of cab fare.
The policcman attempted to settle the dis
pute when Patterson is said to have be
como very abusive in his language. di-
rectcd toward the patrolman. NcrmfIlion
then took the lawyer to the station 80
That the matter might be finally settled
Because of the conduct Of Patterson.
Nermillion made an additional charge
against him Of disordcrly conduct, besides
that brought by the hackman Pattpr-
soa liNea at - Z street northwest.
The times., 1901-04-06
A CANAL FOR WARSHIPS.
To Connect Puget Sound With Fresh
Water Lakes.

Secretary Long yesterday appointed a
board of officers, consisting of Captain
Perry of the Iowa; Captain Burwell,
commandant of the Puget Sound naval
station: Lieutenant Commanders Peters
and NiIletts. and Naval Constructor
Hibbs, with Ensign Jensen as recorder
TO examine into the feasibility, desiTa-
bility, and practicability of a proposition
to use Lakes Union and Washington as
fresh water basins for naval vessels.
This action Of the Secretary was the
outcome Of representations made by the
Seattle Chamber of Commerce, which de-
sires the navy to become concerned in a
practical way in the project Of connect
ing these two fresh water lakes with
Puget sound An appropriation Of $40
90 for starting work on a canal to form
the connection has been secured from
Congress. and II the board of naval Off
GERS thinks it advisable the canal will be
made of sufficient depth and width to ac-
commOdatc the biggest battleship. Lakes
Union and Washington are near the
Puget Sound naval station.
The times., 1901-04-06
shot At BY GENERAL CLAY
A Sheriff and His Deputy Meet
With a Warm Reception.
Officers of the Law Return the Fire
The Aged kentucISiaD Thought to
Have Been Hif-ImpOssible tn Gain
Access to the House at Present.

| WHITEHALL, Ky, April 5.-Gen.
! Cassius NJ. Clay, who Eps been brood
| ing alone in his palatial home at White
han, Madison County, aroused from
his lethargy today and started on the
warpath. An attempt was made to
serve writ on the old man by Sheriff
Colyer aided by Deputy Terrill.
The men met with hot reception. the
general standing in the doorway and
firing shot after shot at the officers of
the law, who concealed themselves be-
hind the large oak trees in the yard.
EXasperated at length, they returned
the fire. and it is thought that General
Clay was struck. although ii is impos
sible to learn, as no one can approach
the house.
General Clay lived alone, except for
servants, for some time after he was
deserted by his twelve-y year-Old child
wife in 1895, but recently he sent for
his daughter law, Mrs Mary B. Clay.
to come and live with him. She has
now been keeping house for him for
more than year
General Clay some weeks ago in
structed her to go and see the other
members of the family and get them to
relinquish all claim to his property.
1t was his evident wish to Will it TO
his child wife, whom he still loves.
When Mrs. Clay returned her father
met her at the door with a revolver in
his hand. He had all the appearances
of maniac, and to soothe him she
said: Father, it is all right"
You lie!" he shrieked, and forced her
from the door. She returned to Rich
mond and had a writ issued for her
furniture, which was at Whitehall.
This she put into the hands Of Sheriff
Colyer, who attempted to serve it, but
was driven away.
General Clay had two men with him
in the house who assisted him in load
ing the weapons while he fired. They
We're Bud Litrell and Jim Bolin. Bolin
was driven from the house during the
afternoon by Clay, as he feared he
would prove traitor. He was captured
by the sheriff and declares that Clay is
crazy and that he and Litrell We're
afraid not to do his bidding
No attempt will be made to serve
the writ on Clay before Monday, as the
sheriff thinks that by that time he may
be in a more reasonable mood.
The times., 1901-04-06
LOOMS TO SAIL TOMORROW.
The Minister to Proceed without De-
lay to Washington.

Minister Loomis at Caracas has teIe-
graphed the Navy Department that he
will sail on Sunday from La Guayra on
the United States gunboat Scorpion for
San Juan. Porto Rico, where he expects
to catch a steamer that viii reach Hamp-
ton Roads about April IS He will start
from Hampton Roads for Washington
without delay in obedience to the orders
Of Secretary Hay to come here for consul
tation about the serious conditions of the
relations OF Venezuela and the United
States.
Mail advices received at the State De-
partment yesterday from Minister Loom
is tell of the presentation on March q of
the petition of the Warner Quinlan AS
phalt Company in the high court of Nene-
zuela praying thaJhthe New York and
BermudeZ Company be compelled to per-
nit the petitioners to take possession of
the Felicidad asphalt lake. The Minister
said that il was expected that the court
would issue its citation within few days.
The times., 1901-04-06
MORE ARRESTS EXPECTED
The Maryland Census Frauds TO BE
PrObed to the Bottom.

Director Mcrrtnm and senator Me-
Conns Hold Protracted Confer
eucc-ImpOssibIe to Forecast the
Action of the Bureau at Present.
In probable consequence Of recent dis
closures in the St. Mary County cen
sus frauds, Senator McComas and the
Director of the Census met yesterday
in a conference Of unusual length. For
several hours the Senator from Mary
land discussed the reports made by the
experts who have examined the St.
Mary enumeration Mr. sloane. chief
of the geographical division, and the
man on whose information most of the
Maryland arrests have been ordered,
was frequently called to the confer
euce.
When Senator McComas had gone D.
rector Merriam refused to discuss the
visit except to say that it was an eX-
animation into the fraud cases for the
information of Mr. McComas. 1t was
indicated the Senator had brought no
new facts TO light, and that the atti-
tude Of the Census Bureau would not
be affected by the discussion.
When asked whether the refusal of
Nessrs Ching and Abel to permit en-
pIoyes of the Federal Census to ex-
auine the Republican registration
books in st. Mary County would com
plicate the investigation, the Director
replied that it would not. The United
States Attorney FOR Baltimore. he said,
would now undertake the legal proc
csses necessary to obtain possession of
the books. and the matter was wholly
in his hands. Meanwhile the investiga-
Jion would continue as though no OBJ
stacles TO it had been encountered.
No new arrests had been ordered
None was to be made right away"
IL was impossible to forecast any fu-
ture steps Of the bureau in that direc-
tion. however. as the bureau could not
decide what to do until ali reports had
been received from the clerks now al
work in Anne Arundel and St. Mary
counties. Director Merriam had the air
of a man with an important business
project on hand. Senator McComas
seemed very much worried.
persistent rumor was heard last
night that several sensational arrests
are TO be made in connection with the
alleged conspiracy in Maryland to pad
the -eeEsus.- This story could not be
verified. 1t is remembered the Director
has expressed himself emphatically to
the effect that everyone concerned in
the conspiracy shall be prosecuted. II
further arrests have been made of the
sensational character reported, the ST
ience Of the officials would be only in
conformity with their policy from the
beginning
The times., 1901-04-06
MOVES IN THE FALK CASE.
Action Taken in Both of the Court
Proceedings.

WILKESBARRE, Pa, April 1.-Two
moves were made today in the sensational
shooting of DIR. Harry l.. Falk by Samuel
Salisbury The first was the taking of
the charges made by Salisbury against
Falk before the grand jury, which heard
evidence in secret and has not yet handed
in it's decision. The second was an effort
to have Falks counter suit against Sails
burg on the charge of slander and for
$4,000 damages, quashed.
The argument in this case took place
before Judge Halsey i'm open court, but
the attorneys for each side were careful
to avoid mentioning any particulars Of
the encounter between the two men.
Judge Halsey finally refused to quash
the capias. but he reduced the bail from
81, 900 to $500.
FaIk is suffering severely from his
wound, and it is said that his arm may
have to be amputated.
The times., 1901-04-06
BARRY's WORDS PROPHETIC.
Thought Funston Would Succeed in
Capturing AguinaIdO

sonal letter dated February 10, 1901, from
Gen. Thomas II. Barry. to Secretary
Root. and received yesterday from Manila;
The bottom has about dropped out of
the insurrection. The insurrectos seem
to be falling over each other in surrender
ing themselves and arms. We have Agui-
naldo definitely located with good pros
poets of running him down in the near
future. He is now in the town of Palanan,
northeast coast of Luzon about 100 miles
north of Casiguran. Funston is going to
make try for him in a few days. He is
going TO take desperate chances, but L
believe III bag him. -
The times., 1901-04-06
BURNING PLENTY OF COAL.
Shipments for the North Atlantic
Squadron Excite Comment.

NORFOLK. Va, April 5.-Comment has
been excited by extraordinarily large
shipments of coal from here by the Navy
Department, ostensibly for the use of
the North Atlantic Squadron. The col
Iiers go to Target Bay for orders.
Twelve or fifteen thousand tons of coal
are expected TO go out within few days
The Hannibal took fun cargo yester
day The Leonidas is preparing to load
at Lambert's Point tonight. the Alexander
will proceed at once TO Baltimore to load,
and the Evelyn. which was reported as
passing in Cape Henry today, viii also
go, 1t is believed, ~
The shipment of coal is being hurried.
and the opinion Is expressed here that
the squadron is buSning a lot OF it.