r
MORNHffG
. - -. -- t,v
Post.
Hi
Vol V.
RALEIGH, N. C SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1899.
No. 31.
BOOMING OF GANNON
Premonition of Engage
ments in the Near Future
FIND TIME FOR CONCERTS
-fl,c Fnirlih Captured Boer Provision
Ylaon The Boers Will Attempt to
Marie the British Garrison at Lady
..in Uli Two British Strongholds
W ere Taken The Government Taxes
(.old Klines.
.n-on
Dt
CO. "Groat event is
; ling" are the concluding" words
, dispatch dated December 27, in
, :i Winston Churchill, the corres-i.-nr
of the Morning Post, de-.-s
the respective positions of tlie
rs and British -at and near Tugela
, r in Natal. The expectation is
a :. that Duller will shortly make
nd attempt 'to cross the river.
'..-; news regarding transports in
i -i s that he 'has been reinforced by
v .hi men and eighteen suns since the
:V ' re of hi first -attempt, but as the
..r.tian. with twij batteries, left
Town yesterday for Durban, it
! v We assumed that iio move will be
,.,,' until the additional twelve guns
reached the front.
TVn liuller's strength will' be sitf-
r r.t to enable him to employ two
,!V:o'.is for attack, while .holding his
with a whole brigade,
j host informed criticism here is
m wise over sanguine as to the re
- half fearing an attack will be
a r'.'nrn hope.
1:..' Boers, according to the latest
vrams. are carefully preserving the
o ,:,: of their artillery emplacements.
; .. therefore do not reply to the
vf!ir.g of the. British. According to
: : r.'I- -raph's Chieveley correspond-
t. all Boers who were south of the
Tr.-.-la River nave recrossed. fearing
ivreat would be barred by the
,w. Hen river. Their laagers seem to
n .- !wn removed nearer Ladysmith,
:i the object of further prTssing
'';e garrison there.
Heavy Firinff.
T.nn.lon. Dec. 29. A War Office dis
;,;ir ii from Mafeking. dated December
! savs:
There is a daily bombardment and J
nu-kerrv tire from all- sides. The
alfh
and spirit of the garrison are
;fa.-tory.
rra.lo. k. Cane Colony. Dec. mJ (Le-
n Heavy firing is reported in
-II lection of Stormberg.
Find Time for Concert.
M odder River. Dec. 24 (Delayed).
! -;ly to a heliograph inquiry yes-
: lay as to the health of the gnrri
- n. Kimberley signalled: "Thanks, all
v 'ii."
The Ninth Lancers gave a concert
night. The camp was crowded,
i there was great enthusiasm, espe
tIIv during the singing of the nation
al: nn them.
Government Taxes Gold Mines.
V
ona.
Dec. 2.", (Delayed). The
- ' .'riiinent lias imposed a tax of 30
;, r .nr on the output of gold mines
1 :ke 1 by their owners, and 50 per
- n: rax on the output of mines work
' 1 hy the government. A tax of 30
'i ent will be levied on suspended
..' calculated on the output of
ir-e months -working. The tax is ret-
i -iv.- and will be operative from
-T,i.r 11 last.
Two British Ports Captured )?)
I.-ir-nzo Marquez. Dec. 27 (Delayed).
N reported that Commandant Vis-'.ij.-m-ed
two British forts at Kus-
aa n Dewember 17.
Attempt to Starve Garrison.
f .;i 'iysrnith. Dec. 22 (Delayed!. Gen-
a! White is suffering from a slight
a-k
i
fever.
1 encualties since the siege began
v- !.e;-n 70 killed and 235 wounded,
"i Boers have mounted a Howitzer
Surprise Hill, to replace the one
''i"o. by the Rifle Brigade some
"'-ks aro. They are strengthening
' '' HJsition on Lombard's Kop and
:i ;eljaeent hill. Apparently they do
r ii:r -nd to make another assault,
will attempt to starve out the gar
'a. There is an ample supply of
1 ' -ioas. however.
Boer Provisions Captured.
r iN veley Camp, Dec. 27 (Delayed).
v. ajrr.Q conveying provisions to the
'rs were captured last night and
!A'n J( prere Camp.
Vfsterday the Boers heliographed,
orher (iiiestions, "How's Bul
' " The ruse failed to draw any
:"'y from the British. Major Chi-
"r has leen appointetl provost
;i a!'.al of Natal. All the troops a t
ii led divine service today.
. Ir still hot and the grass Is badly
burned up.
Boers Open Heavy Fire.
M odder River, Dec. 29. The Boers
-riiii flre(j severai Tjne volleys use-
"iy last niirht. Four British i?uns
iitissii s111-.
h gun and j
l"o li'-pounder from the warship .
- J" lmri ii I'liifi :i i-iiu-ii niiii auu t -
Monarch and another 4 .7-ineh mn
the right of the railway were ordered "
to successively shell the Boers. Firm- i
oegan on the left of the line by a 4 7
inch gun. Then the 12-pounders drop
ped shrapnel apparently over the Boer
trenches. The enemy broke into a
heavy and. continuous fusilade along
three miles of their trenches, evidently
thinking the British were advancing.
As a matter of fact, the British in
fantry did not fire a s-iot. The Boers
kept up an intermittent rifle fire until
midnight. It is evident that they live
in the trenches. This morning the
enemy found their range and dropped
a number of shells- dangerously near
the British naval guns.
Canada's Position on War.
Ottawa, Dec. 29. The -Dominion
Parliament will be summoned to meet
February first. The principal item of
business will be in connection with
Canada's participation in the Boer
war, and Important developments are
expected. It is anticipated that the
session will foe an exciting and mo
mentous one.
HEATH ON THE RAILS.
Crash on the Union Pacific Through
Conductor's Ne;lisence.
Denver, Colo.. Dec. 29. The Chey
enne Flyer on the Union Pacific Rail
road crashed into the Boulder accom
modation train this morning, and as
a result one man was instantly killed,
five fatally injured and fully tweatv
less seriously hurt. The blame for the
accident has been placed on Conduc
tor McAllister of the Boulder train
who lost his mind after the disaster
and tried to kill himself.
The Boulder itrain was on the main
line, seventeen minutes out of her
time. The passenger train was godn.c
over sixty miles an hour and struck
the accommodation squarely in tin
middle. The cars took fire and thi
mail and baggage cars of the Five;
were consumed. Baggageman William
Randallman perished in the flames.
MORE BOER SYMPATHIZERS.
Philadelphia Irishmen Resin an Ac
tive Campaign.
Philadelphia, Dec. 20. The Irish
Americans of this city are about u
enter an active campaign in favor oi
the Boers. The initiative has beer
taken by the Irish-American Club, am
.a. mass-nieetingc will be held in tin
Academy of Music on Saturday night
January 13. The call says: "That xht
voice of the City of Brotherly Love
and of Independence Hall shall rin
out loud and clear in behalf of hu
inanity and libertj. We Invite out
fellow-citizens to assemble with us
and especially ask the aetiveattT'o?
the German, French, Dutch and Ital
ian organizations."
WANTS LINNEY'S SEAT
Winston Leads the State in
Shipment of Tobacco
Gamma Province Adjourns After a
Most Interesting and Beneficial
Session Died from Effects'
of a Shot Gun Wound
Winston, X. C, Dec. 29. Special.
The third biennial convention of Cam-
ma province of S. A. E. adjourned th!s
afternoon. Interesting reports wert
made by the committee at the closing
session. It was shown that the prov
ince., is in fine shape and making rapid
strides in the fraternity world. Tlu
report of the finance committee show
ed the order .to be out of debt and
money to its credit in the bank. Manj
amendments to the by-laws wen-
adopted. The Avhole system of fiiiances
was changed
A large group joicture rft the con
vention was taken this afternoon
Was left with, the province council to
ueciut? ujjuia u"j- " i' - -
eonvention. It will probably be held
at either Atlanta or Athens, Ga
Touiirht the fraternity men met
around the festive banquet board at
Fdk Cafe. Several happy toasts were
rwrnonded to
Tr is announced today that Assistant
District Attorney. Spencer Blackburn
will contest wnth congressman ivinue.
before the next Republican convention
for the nomination to represent this
it! strict in the next uongress
fianrxr Newsoin, who had the mus
cle of one arm shot off by the acci
dental discharge of a gun, died today.
The Wachovia aXtional Bank today
declared the regular semi-annual divi
of four per cent and an extra
dividend of two per cent, both payable
T,mnarV 1
Winston .shipped over one ' million
and a quarter pounds ot manuracturea
tobacco this montn.
SUCCUMBED TO THE COLD.
iri.hrrman Frozen Stiff and Stark.
While Oysterlns In Bo sue Sonnd
Beaufort, X. C, 'Dec. 29. Special .
.1 nxan warned Suggs was found frozen
in tthe-bottom iof -his :baat on the shore
of Bogue Banks this afternoon, near
here. lie left Morehead City yester
day to go oysteringl. The wind shift
ed to the northwest during the after
noon, blowing a sale, sleeting and
snowing, -and . prevented me ltrim.
. . .
He succumbed during the night to the
intense cold.
CLOSE COMMUNION
Money Power and Adminis
tration in Complete Accord
SEC. GAGE MUST EXPLAIN
Congress Will Ask Why He Diverted
Treasury Funds to National Banks
Inflation of Stocks Brou slit a Panic
and National Money Bridged the
Chasm Northern Bankers up In Arms
Investigation Rival Beef Scandal.
Washington, Dec. 2S-JSpecial. The
close alliance of the Republican ad-;
ministration with 'the money power of
- .
the country was never more clearly V t Sk , , , 1 ,
. c , . Admiral: Dewey holds a higher rank
shown than when Secretary Gagej.tharJ . - .Major-General Miles, for the
went to its relief by diverting funds usual order of receiving is to be ob-
froni the Treasury into the national
banks of the country. His action will
be inquired into when 'Congress re
assembles in January. Through over
capitalization, which has 'been in pro
gress for over a year, many of the in
dustrial s
tocks were inflated five times
their true value. These stocks have of War, and M. Lanessan, Minister of
been pumped up in Wall street with Marine, ;held a conference today and
1 1 approved the naval program, which is
the hope it hat the innocent public believed to include the building of
would -buy. Many such men sold hut (twelve of the most powerful battle
in such a hnge mas of balloon-stocks ships afloat. An expenditure of 400,
many men still held by the original 000,000 vfrancs for the increase of the
rsockholders, who tiring of having -
their money tied up or carrying their
stocks at a heavy interest, finally
threw great blocks upon the market.
There was no support and the panic;
or last week .resulted when many in
nocent holders of securities lost every
cui i-iic iittn nui rmi iu an Sinn f '' i I I j. r X i r I I
hut throughout the country. It wasjUOl. LOCkett UeteatS HebelS
simply a stock gamblens panic with
which the government had no more
connection than .it has with the rise
and falling of the tides. And yet
toekga m biers, the monied allies of
the lter)ublican party. Secretary GageJ
sends them $40,000,000 to relieve their
iistress brought about from the fact
.... , , ,
rs" enough to dupe to absorT all
their wind-filled stocks.
This money too has been or will; lie
olaced. in one single bank The Na
tional City Bank -thus giving to one
institution-an enormous profit, to the
injury of other hanks. In effecSecj.
retstry Gage's-cUon -revives Utetdeat
f a' siingle bank v clearing houstei af
"air against which Jackson fought to
successful termination. His action
partment from General Otis at Manila
jas directed attention to the fact tliat
section 5 IK? of the Revised Statutes says:
rives him that dangerous discretion. "Colonel Lockett, with a regiment
The financial world in the -North Is and two battalions of the Fortv-sixth
ii) in arms against Gage and a Aiian--"1 , - x, . " -
ial scandal i in a fair way to show fml a-mpany of the Twenty-seventh
Its head to keep company with the , (In cR wo guns, attacked the enemy, ;00
embalmed beef scandal, the transport 'strong, in a mountain stronghold be
scandal and others with, which thefyond. ont Albany northeast of San
combed.
STEAJ1EII ASHORE
3ig Liner Went Agreund at Dungeness
During a Heavy Gale.
Dover, England, Dec. 29
A violent
gale is prevailing here. An outward-
bound line steamer tor itne ijimetif
States -is aground at Dungeness, and j
sne nas signaueu an urgent request
for tugs to be sent to her assistance.
Lifeboats will go to the stranded ves
sel. Tugs have been ordered sent, but
it is feared the gale will prevent their
departure before morning. The steam
er's position is reported to be danger
ous. It is feared rhcre will be a seri
ous diaster before aid reaches her un
less the gale abates. It is reported
that she had many passengers aboard
and is one of the iHatnburg-American
line steamships.
Later Advices.
Tendon, Dec. 30. Up 0 0:30 this pose of -perfecting the "organiation was
morning mothihg further had heen held Thursdaj. evemlng, when the fol
learned oonceming the stranded low4n, officers were chosen:" W. E.
steamer. Enormous seas are dashing-. . - w , . f r ArjlsfM.. (W t.
over her and the position of the ves
sel as most perilous.
UNKNOWN SCHOONER ASHORE.
Supposed to Have Been Wrecked In
Recent Storm.
Norfolk, iDec. 29 The steamer Ash-
, .1 " J". 1 f .rtrr i H rcftl 11
touched here for bunker coal toaay. 't, ! - . r '
Her captain reports that he passed under the name of Raleigh Lodge.
34sterday, near dlat terns, a submerged This lodge numbers among ats mem
iSooner'with all her masts gone. The bership some of the brightest Masons
captain believes the wreck a recent tn tne Mate
one. There was no trace of the(
schooner's crew, Avhich probably con the latest is abi valve truts
sisted of eipht men. The Tessel is he-J .
lieved to have been wrecked; dn the Combine Gains Control of of All Missis,
storm of 'December 22. .ripiion,. ..c..
AMERICAN MINISTER SLIGHTED
"
Hunter at Guatemala Cut by British
Consul Traynor.
Xew Orleans, Dec. 29. IPassengers
-ti'f arrived from Gau tenia la City re-
Lrr Tiiji.t Americans were for a time
rninistered to American Minister Hun.
na-r .im TAcentron ariven iov Tire xrm.
rpcl;ll fTC,ign repre-
ter In connecrrou hiui me iuuimjc u h 110
T?ritlh Consul Travner to the daugh- trol of the orter andustry in the
ier of the German 'minister to Gaute- hands of a single company. .However,
mp.rria?rei -waa a social a large number of companies are now
function of except'muai ibrillJancy. The engaged in dredging and canning oys
cnief feature was the diplomatic din- ters. .These company rfnnotince their
CU1 . .. . , rji,u i,xtrrtTi -t ivrpvpnt this nroDOsed cen-
; sen'tatiives weire. invited except Mr.
Hunter. As the slight tlreatened to
create some international prejudices,
Sf not cam plications, the British min
ister explained that the slight was not
directed towards ' the American gov
ernment, but iHunter personally. The
explanation was accepted as satisfac
tory and thf excitement quieted down.
A. majority of the Americans in Gua
temala and Honduras are as strongly
opposed to Hunter as the British min
ister and recently sent a petilon to
Secretary 'Hay asking for his recall.
PRESIDENT'S RECEPTION.
Army and Nary Squabble as to Post of
-' 1 I Honor.
Washington, Dec. 29. The program
for the annual New Year's reception
to be given by the President o the
officers of the government, the army
an dthe navy, the diplomatic corps and
tTl fP n P T"l 1 tlllW!i ii- (l o omnAimr.ojl f a.
3ay. Apparently no official notice has
been taken of the controversy regard-
in ne precedence of the army over
served, the anny preceding the navy.
RUSSIA WILLINCBEASEI1ER NAVY
U'lll Add Twelve New and Powerful
. Ships.
Paris; Dec. 29. Premier Waldeck-
Rousseau, General Galliffet, Minister
navy, is contemplated.
- :
OUR BOYS VICTORIOUS
Near San Mateo,
AMERICAN LOSS TRIVIAL
'
..- . . .
Captured Point was a Mountain Strong-
hold Supposed to Be Impregnable
' .-
A Larcv'Amount of Arms and Ammu
nitlon Was Captured by Americans
- . i
IlentjtEnslow and Five Privates
. v- '
.Wonndedr-Eneray Were 00 Strong
, Washington, Dec. 29. A cable dis
patch received today at the War De-
Mateo. A large number were killed
ami wounded, and twenty-four were
taken prisoners. Lockett captured one
cannon, forty rifles,.. 20,000 rounds of
ammunition, 500 pounds of powder,
arsenal fortifications, the enemy's food
supplies, and considerable other prop-
ferty
"The captured point is located on a
mountain (trail and was formerly sup-
r0sed to be imnresnable. Our casuai-
ties were Lieutenant Enslow, of the
Eleventh cavalry, and five enlisted
men wounded, mostly slightly, and
Private Matson of the Forty-fifth in
fantry, drowned. OTIS."
NEW MASONIC LODGE.
Organized Thnrsday NIsht To
Be
Called Raleigh Lodse.
Grand Master R. J. .Noble having
granted dispensation to twenty-four
Master IMasons to form a new lodge
in this city, a meeting for the pur-
-Holding. Senior Warden; H. C. Butler,
Junior Warden: M. -S. Clark, Treas
urer; C. M. Prit?hett, Secretary; W.
E. (White, .Senior Deacon; 0. D.
Green. Junior Deacon; "YV. R. iSniith
and F. F. Harding, Stewards; Thos.
Pence, Tyler; Z. P. Smith, Marshal.
Application will be made to "the
Grand Lodge, wjiich meets in this
! New Orleans, Dec. 29. dedications
point to the organization of an oyster
' trust, controlling all the oyster beds
on ;ne Mississippi iSound. A bill has
been introduced in the Mississippi leg-
islature proMbtng the dredgng of
oysters an w-ater ot iess deptli than
fonrteen
feet and authorizing the
ties interested in leasing the ovs-
ter reefs for a long period of years.
antji"" v-
tralizat ion df they caii.
DUN'S WEEKLY REVIEW
Failures Fewer Than in Any
Year Since 1883.
PROSPERITY IS EVIDENT
The Few Speculative Troubles Due to
the Volume of Legitimate Business
and Unprecedented Distribution of
Profits Railroad Stocks Advance
and Earnings Show Gain Consump
tion of Cotton Larger Than Ever.
New York, J)ec. 29. Dun's Weekly
Review' of Trade- tomorrow will say:
No correct report of failures in 1S99
can be made until the year has closed.
A collapse of speculation in copper;
stocks has swelled the aggregate at
Boston alone over $18,000,000 within
4- , , , . , . . , . i
a few days, -and -might yet add to the j
reeord. The failures thus far report-j
ed are fewer in number than in any
year since 1883, and smaller amount
of liabilities than in any year sdnce
1881. The aggregate of defaulted
bilities is $120,160,000.
The average of li-a.biliities per fail
ure is less ihan-i'$9,500, the smallest
in any year of twenty-five years. The
week has been exciting ' only at Bos
ton, where failures growing out of
speculation and the efforts to re-establish
banks and firms suspended
have not given the week a holiday
(character. Yet no important firms
have failed, save some which were
individually connected with concerns;
involved by speculation. The failures!
th Pmn .Kv,hanM pAm.i
T . i
pany ana a DroKerage nr.m nere were
likewise due to the sudden fall in
industrial and street railway stocks.
These speculative troubles come be
cause the volume of legitimate busi
ness and the unprecedented distribu
tion of profits, interest and dividends,
make it no longer possible to carry
some stocks on, borrowed moner.
Prosperity itself placed a cheek on
speculative ventures. The railroad,
stocks have advanced $3.S4 per share
for the week and industrials- $5.40 per
share. Railroad earnings gaing sn De
cember 9.7 pen ceot. ' - "'
Wheat and cotton speculation . has
taken a holiday, prices sea rcely vary
ing, and the movement of both is sur
prisingly small. Atlantic exports of
wheat in four weefo? have been cnlj
S,278,G18 bushels, against $19,874,587
latst year, and Pacific exports 3,314,
271, against 3,850.808 last year.
Cotton "experts this month have been
less than ; half of 1-a.st year's, with
some decrease in the takings of spin
ners. .
The increase in demand for iron
and steel products di the great feature
of the year. The industry is now' pro
ducing about 300,000,000 tons weekly,
and yet orders un'filled will require
from six to m!.ne months work froii;
most of the establishments. The av
erage of prices closes 119.5 per cent
higher than January 1 for pig and
102.S per cent higher for products.
The consumption of cotton has .been
larger than ever, with an average ad
vance of 29.5 per cent in prices of
goods and is now 29 per cent higher
than January 1. Wool has been raised
by speculation 35 per cent and for
goods. 17 per cent.
Of boots and shoes the east has
shipped 400.000 cases, or 9 per cent
more than last year, and prices have
advanced only about 11 per cent
since January 3.
Failures for the week have been 221
in the United States, against 252 last
year, and 25 in Canada, against 22 last
year.
Rradstreet's Review
(Bradst reefs tomorrow will say:
Trade reports from the South are
generally good, Atlanta reporting a
specially good paist trade, and collec
tions are, as a rule, good in this sec
tion. -New Orleans expects a heavy
business lin spring goods after the turn
of the year.
.Bradstreet's, in the review of the
year's business, says:
Rarely have sanguine commercial
and financial hopes found such ade
quate realization as they did during
the year of 1899. 'Linked with an im
mense business, there was with dt an
advance of staple values which com
bined, have served to establish the
yea i as a record breaker, and set up
new standards by which succeeding
3ears will be -measured.
Certainly nothing like the general
advance .In wages of -industrial em
ployes has been witnessed for many
yearsl
A tremendous rise in values has
taken place in fully three-fourths of
all staples. '
Taking bank clearings as an Index
of tile volume of the general trade
and speculation, there is no doubt that
this year nas set up a standard of
measurement which at wall require
exceptional activity to equal.
The railroads of the country have
done the heaviest business dn their
history.
The veal's record for failures 5s an
1 exceptional one. In any effort to fore
f.',st the coming year's business, sighx
will of course, not .be lost of the fact
that 1900 will be a Presidential year,
yet the business community looks for
ward to 1900 with almost equally
i mixed feelings of hope and confidence.
I
SOUTHERN EDUCATORS ADJOURN
Dr. Alderman Delivered One of the
- Concluding Addresses.
Memphis, - Dec. 29. The Southern
Educational Association concluded to
day a successful convention. At the
morning session Superintendent Aber
crombie, of public instruction of Ala
bama, delivered an address on "Edu
cation in the Old and in the New
South." He said: "The progress .which
the new South is making in educa
tional affairs is rapid and marvellous
as that which she is making along
d us trial and commercial lines."
Dr. J. M. Kirkland, of Vanderbilt
University, Nashville: Dr. E. A. Alder
man, president of the University of
North Carolina; S. G. Gilbreth, of the
University of Nashville, were among
the other speakers.!
TWO CASES AND TWO DEATHS
Is the Official Report of Honolulu.
Plasrue Situation.
Washington, Dec. 29. Surgeon-General
Wvman todav received a dl snatch
from Surgeon Carmichael at Honolulu,
j dated December 20. saying that there
jAvere two cases reported of bubonic
piaue tnere auu nv.i t eatns iecem-
lmt no uew v..os Xo Decein.
i,t.r 20. He added tun: t-.;e quarantine
against infection wa- rlsed on the
19th. .
Surgeon Wyman immediaitely noti
fied t"hfk a iTtlirif5oc o r covpvnl Tnrifie
lia-!Dorts of t.he.renorts .f.nm Honolulu.
He said bevond the exercise of ex
tra vigilance, no measures will be ta
ken at present regarding the plague,
as he does not consider the situation
critical.
Census Director Coming South.
Washington, Dec. 29. Dr. W-ines. as
sistant director of the census, will
start next week on a tour of the
Southern 'States for the purpose of
oonf erring with the super visors of the
census of that section. The intention
is to fully traverse the work of the
cansus committee to -the supervisors
instruct them regarding several
schedules.
Gen. Lee Will Soon Return.
Washington, Dec 29. tL'iemfenanfc
Fitzhu'gh Lee, Jr.. at his own request,
is detached from his father's staff and
ordered to proceed -to New York and
report by telegraph To the Adjutant
General for further orders. 'This is in
terpreted to mean that ' General Leo
will soon return home.
Revolution Adbruptly Ends
Caracas, Dec. 29. 'General illernan
dez, the rebel leader,-with a fey men
are in full flight towards the Ool6ru-.
'Man rcihtied. "The; revolutions is. prac
tically over., ... -." ',
WATCHING FILIBUSTERS
England May Detail Ships to
Watch Our Coast.
If U. S. Government Overlooks Any
Violations of Neutrality Laws
England Will Carry Out
This Plan at Once.
Halifax, Dec. 29. A report was cur
rent last evening that two ships of
the British North American Squadron,
now at Benmuda, would be detailed
for patrol duty on the south and north
Atlantic coasts to wa tch for filibusters
from the United States. At the dock
yard .it was said none of the officers
could impart any information for pub
lication while England was at war.
Information is gleamed that the fleet
at Bermuda had received cable in
structions, but nothing could be learn
ed beyond the fact that if 'the United
States government failed to prevent
any violation of the neutrality laws,
vessels .would be dispatched from the
North Atlantic Squadron to patrol the
north and south Atlantic coasts to
keep watch for any craft conveying
contraband of war for the use of the
Boers. Th officer who gave this in
formation, however, said that it was
believed the United States government
would enforce the neutrality laws.
The ships best suited for such ser
vice are the (Proserpine, twenty-knot
vessel, and either the Tribune or the
Pearl, both eighteen knots. These
would be able to overtake any filibus
ters. Louisiana Rice Men Organize.
New Orleans, Dec. 29. Rice-mill
owners of southwest Louisiana, after
a two days' secret session, adjourned
today. It developed that it was de
cided to hold their rice crop, in he
belief that it will stimulate prices. It
is said all the country mills have gone
into the arrangement.
Boutelle's Condition Unchanged
Boston, dDee. 29. Congressman Bou-'
telle, who is at the McLean Hospital
in Waverley, Mass., suffering from an
attack of congestion of the brain, was
reported this morning as resting eas
ier. He was able to sleep the greater
part of last night.
Lawton Fund Growing,
Washington, Dec. 29. The Tawton
fund continues to increase. The cash
on hand, at noon today was $30,525.10,
1 ; 1