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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 11, 1899)
THE AILY BEE ESTABLISHED OMAHA , THURSDAY MOKNING , 21 * AT 11 , 1800-TWELVE PARES. SINGLE COPY JSffV\13 \ GENTS. UNDER HEAVY FIRE ThurEton Eifles Bear the Brunt in i\ Red Hot Engagement , WIRT THOMPSON WRITES ALL ABOUT IT " " * Omaha Boys Lead the Attack Directed Against Malolos , BATTLE IN WHICH LEE FORBY WAS SHOT Death of tbo Gallant Captain Later Shocks ilia Comrades. PLENTY OF INSURGENTS BITE THE DUST Ucnt niul Hunt Work Do nn Much to 1'rontrntc the American Soldier * n * Do the Filipinos' UllllclH. The following letter to his parents from WIrt Thompson of the Thurston Rlllos , now at Manila , detailing the part of the Omaha hoys In recent engagements , should afford Interesting leading to the friends of the coldlcrs about whom It relates : MANILA. April 1. Well. It Is sure enough war wlti ) us and no April fool Joke either. I expect by tho. way cablegrams are rolling into Omnha within the last few days telling of the dead and wounded and how Ill-for- tune has fallen to the lot of the Omaha boys you people must certainly be In an Intense etato of excitement , to say the least. I dearly hope \ho last has como , but no one can tell when one of these deadly messengers 111 como his way. Matters wore rather quiet for several days up to March 23 , when our forces began a move on the city of Mnlolos , the Insurgents' capital. This Is about thirty-nine miles from Manila. Late on the afternoon of March 21 a part ot the newly arrived regulars , the ( .1 Seventeenth United States Infantry , came out . to toke our position , which was holding part of the line Just outside of Manila to check nny advance of the Insurgents on the city. When the regulars come out It was plain to see that Nebraska was to form part of the flying brigade that was to sweep the Mara- qulna valley , with Malolos as the objective point. On the night of the 24th we moved along our trenches In the direction of the bay , whore we joined South Dakota. It was a damp night and while wo halted to sleep I was busy all night In entertaining the chills that besieged my frame , but I said nothing , yut I never felt so miserable for many years as I did lhat night. At daybreak we started out In the direc tion of San Francisco del Monte to rout a band that was congregated In that vlclnlfy. Ot course Company L was made the "bat- toilng ram , " or , to speak more military , the advance guard , as It usually Is whenever It comes Nebraska's turn to stir up a little Ii 1 , nnd thereby hangs a tale. Well , wo advanced on the above place , but before we got close we ran Into n hornets' nest , which was composed of nineteen niggers behind ono of the finest brcastwoiks I ever saw. Uiulcr a Hot PI re. They waited until 'WO ' got within clcso rnngo and then opened upon us. This was Just the warmest flro I was over under. But It only took Captain Taylor a second to determine what to do and up the hill and through a dense bamboo thicket wo charged with a mighty yell , lighting our way through clouds of smoke. The boys fought llko tigers. We made short nnd sweet work of It and got our nineteen victims , killing fourteen In ono bunch. U was In this short engagement that Captain Taylor and seven of our gal lant follows wore wounded. They wore Crawford , Koopman , Pcgau , Fay , Darnell , "Bobble" Frltscher nnd Hanson. But happy to say , none were serious and they are a'l getting along tiptop. Bill Hall wns hit on the heavy brawi buckle of his belt , which made a tremendous dentLlko the story of William Tell , he had an "arrow" escape. BUI Mason. Harry Murray and Herb Tay lor had a hand-to-hand engagement , but It did not take them but a second to lay the tiger low. Beahr and Fanning -wore shot through their clothes , All of this engage ment belongs to Company L alone , "Bobblo" Frltschor's wound consists In . having n small piece ot flesh taken off the end of his little finger on his left hand. I cannot as yet figure out how It was that I had the luck to get through with only a slightly sprained knee. This I received while plunging through a rocky ravine to make the attack and charge. There was no more firing In that vicinity for qulto .1 whllo , so we took a rest and bandaged up our wounded and got them back to the field hospital , whence they wore placed In am bulances and conveyed to the large hos pital In the city. Vnrliy Scrlounly AVouiulfil. Not feeling nny too well at the start , to gether with the sprained leg and the sight of BO much blood , fairly turned my stomach Inside out and It wao plain for mo to see my finish there and then. Bill McKcll was In the same boat with me. Captain Taylor had us both take him back and then lie sent us back to our camp to remain and take earn of ourselves. We got the cap tain back In good shape , and whllo the doc tors were dressing his wound a squad came In with Captain Leo Forby , who waa se riously wounded , the bullet lodging In tbo liver. In the afternoon I took Taylor's little pony and brought him some clean clothes at the division hospital. I also saw Leo Forby , but ho could not talk a great deal , as his wound won painful , I stayed around camp Saturday. Sunday and Monday , and Tuesday morning I went down and took tbo train to find my regi ment , which waa reported to bo In the direc tion of Malolos. On Monday night neural gia set In In my right Jaw. This and tbo oppressive heat Is what has and Is keeping mo from the front today. Slnco the ad vance on Malolos was commenced a week ago the Insurgents toro up the track and raised U I in general. Wo have a con struction train that Is repairing the > track as fast as possible In order to reach the Hying columns with supplies and bring In the sick and wounded. Tue.-day morning , as I said before , I started out and got as far as possible , There I found Lieutenant Rich ards done up front the heat and waiting for a return train , HP advised me In my con dition not to attempt to ratch the regiment , as they had advanced about eight miles. He took u train in and I waited nearly all day i in hopes of reaching my command , but at last I had to glvo In , as my face was pain ing mo eo that I wad nearly wild. It wns nearly midnight when I got back to Manila. I hung out that night with a man of the Twentieth Kansas but was un able to fileop a wink. In the morning I went to a dentist and go ( some mcdlclna ani am taking treatment every two days. When I canto out of his oJUce who should I eoa but Baxter , who came In all played out , I took hint out to tbo hospital near Santa Mesa. Oouil riiii-c to lleuiiiierate. I saw Captain Taylor and he advhcd me to eo out and remain with our bojs from the custom house. Buchanan , Cross , Stokes , I Kumbe , Auchrnoody nnd Roberts of our I company wore retained nt the custom house. They have n beautiful homo out in Malate where all the foreign consuls live , as well as many officers and their families. It Is right on the bay front and just fine. With mo are Baxter , Frltschcr , McKcll , Roth , Heller nnd Lieutenant Thompsctt. A belter place to recuperate could hardly bo Imagined. The regiment has had considerable fightIng - Ing but nothing at any time like what wo had the first cmck out of the box on Satur day. During the week Sayles , Roy Rlley Wltheo and Gay Blakely were brought In wounded , but none seriously. They are doing finely. But the hot weather Is bringing In more men than the bullets. Friday morning Howard Whltmore was shot and died a short tlmo afterwards. This makoB the third man taken from Company L. Tuesday night wo were shocked to hear that Captain Forby died from the effect of his wound. On the morning of that same day wo learned that be was doing nicely and that the bullet had been removed without any trouble. It hardly seems possible- that this fine young man has been removed from our midst. If nny man ever died a true American hero it was Leo Forby. Malolos , the Insurgent capital , was takm without much effort , greatly to the surprise of the army , as it woo here wo expected that the rebels would make a decisive stand , tout I guess they what was left of them vamoosed to the mountains. During the week It Is estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 of them have bit the dust. Just what the future outcome will bo I am un able to nay. WIRT THOMPSON. WEST WANTS TO GREET DEWEY Mil ? or * CnMe Their IVUli tlint He He- turn liy Hie Ciolilcn Onte mill Groin the Continent. SAN FRANCISCO , May 10. Mayor Phelan last night sent the following cablegram to Admiral Dewcy SAN FRANCISCO , May 0. To Admiral Dewey , U. S. N. , Flagship Olymplo , Manila : On behalf of our citizens we , the mayors of western cities , cordially Invite jou to return by way of San Francisco across the great ocean which was the scene of your victory nnd which you have opened to American In- tluenco nnd trade. The Pacific const cities feel especially grateful for the protection you afforded them. The Olympla was built In our yards nnd the volunteers who answered your call nio from western homes. Wo are all eager to show our appreciation of your patriotic services and would bo honoicd by your acceptance. The message was signed by the mayors of the following cities : San Francisco , Chicago , Omaha , Denver , St. Paul , Now Orleans , Portland , Ore. , Los Angeles , Seattle. WASHINGTON , May 10. The effort begun In the west to have Admiral Dewey return by way of San Francisco Is being supple mented here. The representative of ono of the largo transcontinental railways called nt the Navy department today and stated that If Admiral Dewey returned by way of San Francisco this railroad proposed to place at his service an entire train , the finest that ever crossed the continent , and make It subject to his wishes as to the places and tlmo of stops on the way cast. It was urged also that this would give practically the whole country an opportunity to join In the reception of the hero of Manila , Instead of restricting It to the stretch between New- York and Washington. Mayor Moores has received no direct tele gram asking him to petition for Admiral -DOWCV'B return to this couatrv by wav of San Francisco , but has given the matter hla heartiest support on pi ess wires. In this way the San Francisco city officials weie , warranted in adding Omaha's weight to the petition. Before this plan was broached Mayor Moores received a telegram from the New- York World asking If ho would Join In mak ing Dowoy's return to this country the oc casion for a national reception , nnd If ho would appoint delegates to represent the city In such nn affair. Not knowing at the time of the efforts that are being made to secure ttie admiral's return by way of San Francisco Mayor Moores responded favorably to the telegram. Movement * ot Traii | > ortN. WASHINGTON , May 10. The follpwlng dispatch has been received at the War de partment : MANILA , May 10. Adjutant General , Washington : Transport Pennsylvania loft for San Francisco today ; Nelson leaves llth , Cleveland 12th , St. Paul 13th inst. OTIS. It is not known at the War department what troops are being brought home on these transports , and , owing to the general in terest on this point In all parts ot the country , Jho adjutant general sent a cable message to General Otis asking to bo In formed as to what troops are on each of the transports scheduled to sail for the United States , as mentioned In his telegram of today. Alhiiiiiiernue Invlteu Itouuh IllilerM. ALBUQUERQUE , N. M. , May 10. At a meeting of the Commercial club a committee was appointed to extend an Invitation to the Roosevelt Rough Riders to hold their first annual reunion In this city. Letters were read showing that Colonel Brodlo , the presi dent ot the organization , had decided upon Juno 24 as the tlmo and Now Mexico as the place. The Rough Riders of the southern part of the territory have voted unanimously for Albuquerque and almost every officer Is in favor of the same place. NewM for the Army. WASHINGTON , May 10. ( Special Tele gram , ) Corporal Ernest M. Bradley , Troop B. First United States cavalry , at Fort Robinson , has been discharged , Privates Albert A. Roby , Troop B , First United States cavalry , Fort Robinson , and Louis Morrow , Troop K , First United States cavalry , Fort NIobrara , have been trans ferred as privates to the hospital corptat their respective posts. Tuo DentliN In ItrnoUe'M Coiiiniiiiul. WASHINGTON , May 10. General Bwnko reported to the War department today two deaths In the Department of Santiago. TU.-y were Private Joe W , Bradlcr , Hospital corps , abscess of liver , and Corporal Edmund T. Mackln , Company L , Fourth volunteer in fantry , consumption. HnlelKh Not Injured. WASHINGTON. May 10. A dispatch to the Navy department from Captain Coghlan says that an examination ot the Raleigh after It floated last night shows that It sustained practically no damage In grounding off Charleston , Major I.OKIIII AimlKiieil to Duty. WASHINGTON , May 9. Maor John A. Logan , assistant adjutant general United States volunteers , now In this city on leave of absence , has been ordered to Atlanta , On. , for duty as adjutant general of tbo Department of the Gulf. > o IlentliH III A miIn Culm. WASHINGTON , May 10. General Brooke at Havana advised the War department today that no deaths were reported on the 7th or 6th Inst. Out MlmioiirliinN , SWANNAH , Ga. , May 10. The Sixth Mis- sourl regiment , Colonel Lester Harderaaun , was mustered out hero today. IIlK I'l-lue for Stock i\uliunee Sent. NEW YORK. May lO.-rA seat on the Stock exchange was sold today for $40,000 , tbo hlehest sum over paid. That turn ia now bid for a Beat. CONGRESS IN FAVOR OF PEACE Brief Session of Filipino Body Said to Have Advised Capitulation MACABEBES ARE EAGER TO FIGHT TAGALS Property Dcntrojcd In Capture of Hello Will \nt He I'nlil fnr nn Xn Adequate I'root IN 1'rrnriitcil. MANILA , .May 10. 7:20 p. m. Reports received from the Insurgent line , which , however , liavo not been confirmed , say that n mooting ot the Filipino congress has been held at San Pedro. There was no quorum present , but in sptto of this fact some busi ness was transacted. The reports add that although those who attended were mostly partisans of Agulnaldo , a strong deelro for peace was expressed. Major General MacArthur will probably remain at San Fernando until fresh troops can be forwarded to him from this city to replace some of ( bo volunteers , who have bccomo exhausted from the long campalgh. Filipino riflemen to the number ot 8,000 are entrenched on three sides ot Bacolor. The Americans , however , nre fully able to hold the city If Monday's attack was a specimen of the enemy's fighting ability. The United States Philippine commission has been considering a provisional coimtltu tlon for the Island of Negros , which waa framed by Colonel Smith and leading natives. It Is largely modeled after the constitution of California. This constitution , Is In tended , will give the natives self-govern ment , co-opcratlng with the military re gime. Work on the constitution has been apportioned to the several members of the Philippine commission. The report of Presi dent Schunnann will glvo special attention to national , provincial and municipal gov ernment ; Colonel Charles Denby will con sider the organization of courts and Prof. D. C. Worcester will Investigate tribal , phys ical and commercial features In the Islands. All the members of the commission are con sulting with resident experts. "TliiclniU" on n. Tour. 4'10 p. m. The army "Unclad" gunboata Laguna do Bay and Cavedonga , under com * round of Captain Grant , steamed up the Rio Grande to Calumplt today , clearing the entire - tire country of rebels from the bay upwara. When the vessels reached Macabobe about 1,000 of the Inhabitants ot the place assem bled upon the banks of the river , cheering the expedition lustily. Captain Grant was given an ovation when lie went ashore. Many of the Macabobes expressed them selves as being anxious to enter the service of the American army for the campalgh against the Tagals. The United States transports Puebla and Pennsylvania sailed for home today by way of Nagasaki. The transports Charles Nelson and Cleveland will leave on Thursday and Friday. 10:15 : a. m. The Filipino army of General Mascardo. inspired by wine taken from the storehouses of Bacolor and by the general's oratory , on Monday evening , attacked San Fernando. There was tremendous yelling and a grpat expenditure of cartridges by the rebels , but very little result. General Maa- cardo holds the outskirts of Bacolor west of the railroad. " In front of his positions are the Kansas and Montana regiments , which occupy trenches that the Filipinos built In anticipation of an attack from the direction of the sea. MiiHcnrilo HnrniiKiicM Troops. During the afternoon of Monday General Mascardo , with a largo retinue of officers , rode along the lines , frequently stopping to harangue his warriors. At dusk a detach ment of rebels rushed toward the outposlo of the Montana regiment , but were met by a hot flro from the Montana line. The Insur gents , from trenches nearly three miles long , responded. After an hour's firing , during which one private soldier of the Montana regiment was wounded , the Insurgents subsided , although they kept up a scattering flro throughout the night. Prisoners who were brought into the American lines said that General Mascardo distributed barrels of wine among his sol diers , telling them that ho expected to cap ture the city of San Fernando. The trenches undoubtedly saved the Americans from heavy lose , the bullets falling thick about them during the engagement. General Luna Is massing his army cast of the railway , bringing up troops by trainloads - loads In sight of the American lines. The country between San Fernando and Calumplt Is filling up with natives , who profess great friendship towards the Americans , but who are suspected by many of sympathy with the Insurrection. A Filipino connected with the American hospital icorps was killed. It Is supposed , by amlgos. CliilniN Rejected. NHW YORK , May 10. A special to the Herald from Washington says : Major General - oral OtU has virtually decided against the legality of claims for indemnity illed by residents of Hello whoso property was de stroyed duiing the operations Incident to the capture of that city on February 11. Claim ants who reside in other countries are ad vised to present their claims through the governments of their respective countries. The claims , according to Information re ceived here , are held by persons of various nationalities , Including Filipinos , and amount to several millions of dollars. Ger man subjects resident at Hello are said to bo among tbo principal claimants. In re sponse to those claimants General Otis has addressed to thorn a circular letter , a copy of which reached the War department today. This letter calls attention at the outset to the fact that the claims presented vary greatly In their statements , and offer no proof of actual ownership by the claimant of property destroyed , so that even if lia bility of the United States were conceded , no conclusions could be reached on tbo facts as presented , The general further says that the liability of the United States to Indemnify owners of the property even if destroyed In rebellion against this country would not exist. The only valid basis for claims would bo the charge that the destruction resulted from neglect by the United States authorities , and General Otis adds : "Such neglect Is not charged , nor can It bo truthfully alleged. " FIRE FIGHTERS IN MANILA Itenort of Ocnernl IIURlie * Slioiv * the M Jlet In Comhutlni ; Iiicvndliirlam , WASHINGTON , May 10 , Tlio adjutant general has received the report of General R , P. Hughes , provost marshal general ot Manila , giving an account of the fires which occurred in Manila In the early days of the Filipino rebellion. The report Is Indorsed by General Otis , who says that It should be stated that General Hughes was present In person during the period covered and di rected all the operatlous , and that his tact and vigilance saved the city from conflagra tion. / General Hughes' report shows that the fires were clearly Incendiary , and that even after they started the Filipinos tried in every way to prevent their extinguishment. The flromon were shot at by persons con- cenled In houses and nffdrts were made to puncture the hrse. Genflral Hughrs com mends tlio troop * for ths norvlces they per formed and also speaks in high terms of the KiiRlith volunteer fU brigade. Thu troops wcro detachments ontlio Twenty-third Infantry , Second Oregon , 'fcilrlocnth Minnesota seta and Tenth Pennsylvania. WORK OF THE SIGNAL CORPS Vnt Nutiilicr of McnftiiKcN DnlljKf * IletiTocn I'lrlnn llnc niul Hcudftunrtern. WASHINGTON , May ICf-Generat Orccley has received n report dated March 4 from the chief signal officer afl Manila , showing what the signal oorpe hn done during the early days ot the campaign. During the military operations linns 'were constructed In every direction. Where they passed through thickly settled districts they were often cut and communication was carried on by rockets and other signals. As the troops were advance * ! the telegraph wires wcro carried forward with great celerity. Some thing of the use of the wire In field opera tions may bo Judged from the fact that the number of messages handled on the day preceding the battle of February G was 515 and on the day followlnglthat action 1,120 wcro transmitted. Upon tjio day the report to General Greoleyvas written 1,209 mco- cages \\ero handled , wlthSa total of 30,631 for the preceding month. * The report states that flit Is possible to reach any command , depot , outpost or Indi vidual line from twenty-nine different tele graph ofllccs , the only dfclay being consequent quent on the great volume of business and the necessity for precedence in order of importance. Among the men mentioned In the report as being especially efficient are Captain Russell , Lieutenant Charles E. Kll- bourne , Jr. , Lieutenant F. | II. Balloy , Lieu tenant Charles H. Gordon , Lieutenant 13. Kelly , Lieutenant George S. Glbbs , Jr. , and a largo number of non-commlssloned officers and enlisted men. FUNSTON'S POLITICAL FUTURE DiiKliliu ; IvniiMUii liitlmntcx Hint He Would Accent ItceiiKiiltloii from HIM State. KANSAS CITY , Mo. , May 10. Under data of Stanford university , Cal. , the Star today prints excerpts from a letter from Brigadier General Frederick Funstoa , whoso brilliant work with the Twentieth Kansas regiment In the Philippines hag won him fame , to Prof. V. L. Kellogg , u former fellow student In the Kansas State university. In his letter - tor , which Is dated April 10 , the Kansan gives the flrst Intimation so far made by hint regarding a political career. Ho says : "I cannot think there is much In the talk about doing the handsome , thingby me. Politically the rank and file ot the repub lican party might be willing , 'but ' how about tbo bosses ? "There are mighty few offices , " Funston continues , "that I would have , and the one or two In the gift of the people of Kansas I have not tlie gall to ask for. " General Funston apparently remembers some of the criticisms in connection with his Cuban campaign when he says : "Now , I have proved a dozen times at the risk of my life that I am not a fake , " nnd ho adds that It Is his main hope that his record In the Philippines may satisfy the former critics. T Continuing , General Itonston mentions some of the battles In which ho nnd his men engaged In the Philippines , saying : "We had a number of good stiff fights in which nil of the troops behaved splendidly and cariled everything before them. Kan sas can always be counted on to take Us place In the vicinity of the band wagon. " MUST RECROSS THE PACIFIC Return of Wente.m Volnntcern A'ln Suez Cnnnl In Deemed Inexpedient. WASHINGTON , May 10. The secretary of war has received earnest applications from all the states west of the Mississippi hav ing volunteer troops in the Philippines ask ing that these troops bo brought homo to the United States by way of the Suez canal route , Instead of across the Pacific to San Francisco. The applications cover every volunteer organization In the Philippines and are backed by the personal appeals of the representatives of the various states now In thlii city. Although he would llko to accommodate the people in this matter , Secretary Alger has- been compelled to deny every one of these applications. The reasons given for the action of the department nro that It would bo inexpedient to take the troop ships from their regular station on the Pacific ; that the Suez route is much longer nnd more expensive , and that the route Is regarded as unsafe , owing to cli matic conditions at this season of the year , especially for troops which have , undergone the fatigues and hardships of a long cam paign In the Philippines. Sketch of "Wounded Major. MINNEAPOLIS , May 10. Major A. M. DIggles of the Thirteenth Minnesota , who was wounded in the head while leading two companies of his regiment and two com panies of the Oregoh volunteers on a recon- noiterlng expedition near San Miguel , Is a resident of Minneapolis and had been for a number ot years previous to tbo beginning of the war with Spain a member of the Na tional Guard as captain of Company B. The resignation of Lieutenant Colonel Prlco while the regiment was yet at Camp Ramsay and the promo tion of Major Fred Ames to the lieutenant colonelcy made Captain DIggles , who was at that tlmo the senior captain of the regiment , the Junior major , and the resignation of General Reeve advanced him another grade and made him the second In rank among the battalion commanders.- Major DIggles was born In Boston May 18 , 1855. Ho spent hla youth in Now England and was educated there. For a tlmo he attended a military school at Sing Sing , N. Y. , and then entered Yale college , where ho graduated In the scientific course with the class of ' 70. Ho has lived In Minneapolis thirteen years. Cniitnlii Ilnrlcer Will He Relieved. WASHINGTON , May 10. Captain Barker , the senior officer of Oowey's fleet and the commander of the ibattloshlp Oregon , will bo the next commanding officer to como homo , The Navy department has arranged for Captain George F Wlldn , at present In command of tbo Boston , also at Manila , to relieve him. Captain Barker was one of the most active members of tbo naval war board. The cruiser Boston Is also to como to the United States. It will cross the Pacific to Son Francisco and will be extensively overhauled and altered at the Mare Island yard. The Boston Is a sister ship of the Atlanta , which is just emerging from the handa of < ho repairers at the Now York navy yard , and will be Improved at all points , aa was the Atlanta. .Sallor Are In fiooi ) Health. WASHINGTON , May 10. Rear Admiral Van Reypen , surgeon general of the navy , has received a letter from the surgeon of tbo Oregon , Dr. Stevenson , at Manila , stating that tbo health ot the ship's company Is excellent , notwithstanding the trying heat of tbo tropics , Surgeon Stevenson adds * "Tbo admiral ( Downy ) IB Icoklng v. ll aud reeling well. " OMAHA DIVINE IN A FIGHT Rev , Frank W , "Weeks is Given a Black Eye in Kansas Oity , MIXED UP WITH ASrOCK EXCHANGE MAN Three-Cornered Altercation In Which the I'lirlloliuutlH Are n 1'ollcc- . innn , HI * llrnthcr niul u I'rcahj tcrlnn 1'renelier. KANSAS CITY , May 10. ( Special Tele gram. ) V , M. Weeks , n traveling repre sentative of a Now York stationery nrm , had trouble with L. B. Green , n special po- llcemnn stationed at the stock yards , this afternoon , which resulted In n street light later In the day between Weeks and George T. Green , n biother of the officer. The three men met at Sixteenth and Ocnesce streets and George Green draped Weeks' left eye In mourning with a blow from his fist. George Green Is n. speculator at the slock yards and Weeks declares that ho assaulted him without provocation. Weeks Is a Presbyterian minister and lives In Omaha. On account of bad health ho gave up his pulpit some time ago and began tiavellng for Osborn & Co. Today ho went to the Stok Yards exchange to solicit or ders for calendars and art goods for his flrm. His story Is that Policeman Orceu met him In a hallway and ordered him to Icavo the building. Ho refused to do so and an hour later Weeks met him In front of the cigar aland. He says the officer called him n vllo name In addition to brushing him roughly usldo and ordering him to leave MIR prem ises at ouco. The two men Indulged In a heated argument , but did not come to blows. Later Weeks says he met OfTlcer Green and his brother at Sixteenth and Genesoo streets and that the latter assaulted him. Weeks also avers that Ofllcer Green turned to his brother and told him that If ho would give Weeks a thrashing he would pay his fine. Officer Green's story Is that Weeks was soliciting ordeia for work In the Stock ex change In violation of an order which ho Is expected to enforce. He declares that ho did not curse and abuse him and did not strike him , but that Wocks angered his brother and that the latter struck him sev eral times. Weeks appeared at polloo head quarters soon after the trouble occurred with blocd flowing from an ugly wound Just be low his left eye. Ho swore out a city war rant for thu arrest of both men on the charge of disturbing the peace and will file charges against Officer Green with the secretary of the Board of Police Commissioners. The Omaha city directory gives the resi dence of Rev. Prank M. Weeks as 4327 Grant street. Inquiry among local Presby terians elicits the fact that Mr. Weeks Is under the Jurisdiction of the presbytery ot Kearney , that ho has preached for brief periods In several churches In Nebraska and Iowa , but that ho has never been Installed as a. pastor In any of thorn. The minutes of the general assembly of the Presbyterian church do not show that Weeks has ever acted In any other capacity In Nebraska than stated supply Llttlo Is known of Mr. Weeks locally , further than that his resi dence Is In Omaha. M'KINLEY'S CARES ROLL'AWAY' I'rcMlilent'M llenttli IK Xotlcenlily Ilct- ter nn n IlcNnlt of the Ilntlin niul Thorough Kent. HOT SPRINGS , Va. , May 10. The reassur ing news forwarded from Apia by Admiral Kautz was a source ot relief to the president. The extent to whicti ho Is being allowed fieeedom from official cares is evidenced by the fact that not even this welcome Informa tion was forwarded to him , his knowledge of the fact being given through the Associated Press representative here. Tlio president expressed his pleasure over the renewed as surance that the Samoan situation Is st peaceful. With the tripartite commission now at the Islands further bloodshed is not anticipated. During the morning Mr. McKlnley gave some attention to the forthcoming civil serv ice order. Ho has a number of papers before him relating to the matter , but Is handi capped by being absent from touch with the officials upon whose judgment he must de pend to some extent for the effect of the order In the various departments of the gov ernment , The formal final order need not bo expected for some days. Whether It Is the effect of his absolute re laxation from duty , the dry atmosphere , or is the result of his medicinal bath this morning , this treatment having been bcguii today , the president Is recuperating per ceptibly. A gentleman who has known him for many jears , after seeing him today , sala bo never know the president to appear to bo ID better health. His color , ho explained , was an apparent statement of facts in Itself. -I'riUIlUB Ul U1U UAUUUL1VU UIU illUVll UUUUJfUU by stoiics that Mr. McKlnley Is smoking ex cessively nnd Injuriously. Friends In our now Ihlaiul poEscsslons'havo sent him quanti ties of cigars of various brands , but they have remained untouched. An aftermeal cigar Is a source of thorough enjoyment to the president , but ho docs not Indulge him self to an extent that Is harmful , A jiumber of commissions wcro signed b > tho"presldent today , most of thorn belns army promotions. The formal announce ments will bo made from Washington. Secretary Gage accompanied the president for a stroll ttirough the grounds late In the afternoon and tonight , assisted by his wlfo nnd Secretary and Mrs. Gage , Mr. McKlnley received the guests of the Homestead In the commodious parlors , being Introduced tt > each by Manager Frank Stcrry. The or chestra played the national airs. President McKlnley was gl\cn the Asso ciated Press news from Manila , teportlng the failure of the Filipino congress to act on the cessation of war through n lack of a quorum , but showing a strong peace ten dency , just as ho was retiring for the night , The Information was most pleasing to him. Secretary Gage , though ho did not express himself , showed by his smllo and brlghtenprt countenance that do shared the president's feelings. FLAMES IMPRISON VICTIMS I'lijileliin nnd lilt Three Children Are IJnuhlu to IMCIIM- : | from llurii- IIIK Henldenee. CHATTANOOGA , Tenn. , May 10. Dr. L. P. Bagwell , a leading physician and drug gist of Spring Point , a village In Murray county , Georgia , with his three children , aged 10 , 8 and 4 years , and an aged woman who did housekeeping duties , wcro burned to death In a flro that consumed their homo about 4 o'clock this morning , The resi dence was just outside of the little town and parties arriving after the alarm had been given saw Dr. Bagwell with his three children In bis arms making hla way amid the smoke and blaze to a front window. Be. fore ho reached the window , however , ho was overcome with the heat and smoke and fell , covered with the burning debris. Two young men , whose names were' not learned , were boarding with Dr. Bagwell and they barely escaped , both being horribly burned CONDITION OF THE WEATHER forecast for N'ebrmkn Pair ; Southerly Winds. DEFENSE OF GENERAL MILES Couiincl HC UMIN the Tc llmon > mill 1'olntn Out InciiiiNlNtctic ) of tin * Verdict Hcndered1. CINCINNATI , May 10. The Enquirer to morrow will print the following Interview with Hon. H. R. Prolmsro , o\-t'nltcd States district attorney here , a relative of ex-Sec retory Sherman and recently counsel for General Miles : ! "When the court convened , having pro- i \iously served General Miles as counsel In older matters , I was nnkod to go to Wash ington and confer with htm as regarding the proceedings before the court of Inquiry. H was determined that Inasmuch as General Miles was not In the attitude uf oua ac cused , that It would bo Inadvisable to In troduce a lawyer , and Major J. M. Leo wa selected by General Miles to aid the couit and the recorder. " "What is jour opinion as to the report of the court of Inquiry ? " "I have not read the full report , but have seen the synopsis of It. I was amused that three Intelligent army officers , sitting as A court for weeks , and examining several hun dred witnesses , should have tendered such nn Illogical and uncertain decision. The de cision amounts to the court finding that the beef packers were saints , sent to our sol diers with manna from heaven , and that General Miles was careless liwauso ho did not report the first \ague rumor which came to tils ears that this food was bad. Every witness condemned In unstinted toims the so-called canned roast beef as an unlit ra tion. The chief clerk of the commissary general's office testified that canned roast beef In 1878 wns as an experimental ration and was adversely reported on after a short trial. The court was evidently so well sat isfied as to the proof of the truth of Gen eral Miles' allegations as to canned roast , beef that when , before the testimony closed , they were asked to subpoenao an additional Hat of 131 witnesses they declined to suu- poenao all except ten , for the reason thai the 124 would glvo cumulative testimony only against the canned roast beef. " I'roof of n 1'roccxn. "What about the embalmed beef ? " "Before blOs were received by the com missary general ho wao advised by expert cattle and beef men that fro-h beef would not hold up twenty-four haurs after do- llvored from the refrigerator In the climate that prevailed In Florida and the West In dies , and that the beet course to pursue would bo to Issue the beef on the block , or Jtset jjnthe hoof. He told thcbo gentlemen hat the parties who desired to furnish the fresh beef had a process which they said would enable them to deliver meat which would keep sound and fresh for eeventy- two hours after delivery from the refriger ator. The day after the bids were opened attornojs In Washington addressed a com munication to the secretary of war , making the argument that notwithstanding their clients bid somewhat higher than the oth ers , that they ought to to awarded the con tract , ticcauso of their ability to perform their task , by means of the Powell process for the preservation of meat , which thay controlled , and which had been satisfactorily tested under the auspices of the govern ment. This letter was referred by the secretary - rotary of war to the commissary general for his consideration , who returned It to the secretary with his Indorsement , In whlch'fio said'These tests arc not the only tests which have been made , ' leaving the plain Inference that the other bidders albo had processes for the preservation of meat , which had been tested. This letter was re turned by the secretary of war. "Dr. Daly's testimony that he had found by chemical analjos ! that the meat furnished the soldiers contained chemicals , was in no wise contradicted. Three witnesses , Ser geant iMason , Lieutenant Gampher. and Dr. Castle , testified that the agent 'at Lake land , Fla. , had told them that they had found It Impraslblo to comply with their contract to deliver fresh meat which would remain sound and sweet for seventy-two hours after delivery from the refrigerator without the means of a chemical process , which process was a secret oven to him , If the court found In the face of this testi mony that no meat delivered wee chemically treated It amounts almost to stultification. "Tho great majority of the papers add of the people. Including the president (1 ( know this from a convocation with him about three weeks since ) believe that General Miles would not mitke a statement concern ing any person or circumstance which ho did not honestly believe to tie well founded and well timed. General Miles has no po litical ambition whatever , and no more thlnke of being a candidate for president nor any other office than I do. " Mr. Probasco 'blames ' the secretary of war and the adjutant general with opposing the general commanding the army. STONE IS STILL FOR BRYAN SIIJH the ZVehriiNldin AVIII AKIIII | He. the No in I nee inn ! hilt er the iNMiie. NEW YORK. May lO.-rFormer Governor William J. Stone of Missouri said In an Interview last night : "William J. Bryan will bo the next democratic nominee for the prifcldency. As to the platform. I do not know what better wo could do than reaffirm that of Chicago. ' Nothing can bo gained by a change. If the silver plank U left out , away go the populists and the silver repub licans who flocked to Bryan , and In their stead would como the gold democrats of the east , whoso number Is Inconsiderable. "By the tlmo the conventions are hold the war will bo all over and I don't stie why there should bo any war planks. I believe there should bo a Declaration against Im perialism. The declaration against trusts might be strengthened and wo should be strong in favor of an Income tax. " MRS , GEORGE HAS POOR HOUSE Only Tourteeii I'erNOiiM Pay Admit tance lo Hear Story of Her IJfe. COLUMBUS , O. , May 10. A State Jour nal special from Steubenvllle , 0. , nays : Mra. Anna E. George delivered her first lecture at the Olypmla In thU city tonight The house seats 1,200 , but there were only fourteen people who paid the admission fee to hear her. Slio delivered , however , the lecture , < whlch was practically a aketch of her life. DAMAGE BY STORM Rain , Wind and Hail PlayHavooln North eastern Nebraska. THURSTON , DIXON AND DAKOTA C OUNTIE Hailstones of Immense Sic ) Demolish Drops and Break Windows , REGULAR TWISTER NEAR BY EMERSON Several Iloasca and Barns Wrecked nnd Some Stcok Killed. RAILROAD TRACKS COVERED WITH WATER Omaha I.lnc Suliiucrwcd anil Tralim Compelled to lie on Knnt Side of Itltcr I'ender It 1'artly Inuiidnted , EMERSON , Neb , May 10. ( Special Telegram - gram ) Rrroits received today Indlcnto that Emerson was about the center of ycs- toiday's storm. So far as learned no lives were lust , but nn Immense amount of dam age was done to buildings , live stock and crops. The storm was of the nature of a cyclone , but the whirling winds only touched the ground occasionally. Southeast ot Emrr- son Robert and Thomas Ingrains' buildings weto all blown to pieces. George Klraclt- ner'a dwelling was unroofed. William Schooling's bain Was dcstrajed and forty head of hogs killed. In Umcrson the twister only touched in two places , tearing down the barn of James llcmstrcot and the dwell ing cf Frank Paul. The most damage , however , was done by hall and Hoods. Within a radius ot ton miles of nmcrson small grain wns pounded into the ground , window lights were broken out , fences and bridges wore swept out. The ravines and sloughs becnmo rivers , carrying away llvo stock and buildings. In some cases families 1 > aiely escaped with their lives. Hailstones were picked up that by actual measurement weio eight Inches lit circumference , and plato glass window lights a quarter of an Inch In thickness went Into pieces the some as or dinary glass. It hailed for Just an hour and then the rnln came down In torrents , flooding the stores and dwellings and ruin ing merchandise , furniture and carpets. Thea Chicago , St. Paul , Minneapolis & Omaha railroad was one of the greatest sufferers. About a mile of track was taken out and tinned bottamslde up In the ditch between Huhbard and Coburn. Three- quarters of n mile was taken out between Cmerson and Wakefleld and between hero and Thurston the track Is out or under mined. The St. Paul limited , due hero at 0 Pm. . , got us far as Thurston last evenIng - Ing , then backed down to Blair and went to Sioux City on the Iowa side of the river. All the men available have been put to work , and It Is expected trains will bo run ning by Friday1 ; Inundation rtf 1'cinjer , ' PENDER , Nob. . May 'lO. ( Special Telo- gram. ) The worst rain In years feh In the northern part of this and Dlxon and Dakota counties last evening. Fifteen hun dred feet of railroad track Is washed out between hero and Emerson , SOO feet at Hub- bard and about that amount near Wayne. No trains from the north have run today. Workmen from the south arrived hero this morning to repair washouts. The track at Wakoflcld was three feet under water this morning. This town was partly Inundated and two feet more still coining. This amount of water will como Into one-third of the houses In this town and do more damage. No mail has yet ar rived from Wlnnebago agency and It la supposed all the streams nro Impassable , SIOUX CITY. May 10. The terrific rains which fell over northeastern Nebraska last night destroyed a considerable amount of property , CGpecIally on lowland farms. Tim Chicago , St. Paul , Minneapolis & Omaha and the Pacific Short Line roads wore also largo Icucra. The town of Homer was the principal suf ferer. Omaha creek rose twenty feet , driv ing many families from their homes. Much llvo stock was lost. At Wlnnobago agency the storm was accompanied by enormous hall , many of the stones being ot the regula tion hen's egg size. At Coburn Junction the wind was cyclonic. A &trlp of seventy feet of track between the junction and Pendcr 'was torn from the 'right of way. Trains on the entire Nebraska division of the road north of Kmerson , In cluding the Bloomfield , Hartlngton and Newcastle branches , have been abandoned. Much damage was also done at Hubbard. Alt Jackson 300 foct of the Pacific Short Lino's track wu-j washort out. The domago was all done between Laurel and Beltlen. No fatalities have been reported. llnny Hull nt I'alriiiont. FAIRMONT. Neb. , May 10. ( Special. ) A hall storm of considerable magnitude struck Fairmont yesterday afternoon about 4 S'cloclc and lasted about fifteen minutes/ Hall fell an largo as hen's eggs and did a great amount of damage , breaking forty-seven lights nt glass out of the High school ibulldlng. Scarcely a house In town escaped. Soma shingles wore blown off the roofs , Several farmers were caught out In the storm with their teams. Sid Avery had four horaoj hitched to a harrow when the ntorm struck. They ran awny nnd scattered the harrow all over the fluid. NHBUASKA CITY , Nob. , iMny 10. ( Spn- clal. ) A heavy rain fell ht-ro last night nnd lhl morning. The continued wet weather Is delaying corn planting. DUNI1AR , Nob. , May 10. ( Special. ) A. heavy rain full hero yesterday afternoon fol lowed by a light shower thin morning. Tills will Btop the faimcrs in the midst of their corn planting. A very largo ncreago of corn' will ho put In because of the loss of the wheat crop , OAKLAND , Xili. , May 10. ( Special. ) At 3 p. m , yestdrduy u hullstoim did consider able' damage , breaking windows and de stroying vegetation , pounding It Into the ground. Hall etoncs foil the size of lien's eggs. Fortunately the stofm extended over a small area and with no wind. OtherwlHo It would have been dangerous to mart ami beaut. I'JI'IOIK'I'OIK'lll'H ll ) | ICllMNIIH , WICHITA , May 10 , A special to the Beacon says a cyclone struck Colilwater , Kan , , ut 10 o'clock last night , completely destroying twelve houses and killing Joseph Dowura , a prominent cattleman. Aldrlch'g general store was wrecked and a brick block on Main street blown down. The Presbyterian church wan blown away and the court uousu was uuruofed. llrlUxli .Miiii-of-\Vnr nl Tjiinpii , NK\V YORK. May 10 , Information has been lecelvcd hero that the British war bhl | > IVarl will arrive at Port Tampa. Fla. , oil May 20 and remain untlf May 2f > to accept an Invitation extended by citizen * of Tampa , who will hold a celebration on May 21 111 hrnor of the qucun'B birthday. H U possi ble that the Pearl will bo accompanied bjr nether ship.