The Hemingford Herald. 1" VOLUME IV. HEMINGFORD, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, FIUDAY, JULY 1, 1898. NUMBER 20. rr f r i r t BIG GUNS WANTED GENERAL SHAFTER WAITING FOR HEAVY ARTILLERY. CLOSING IN ON SANTIAGO HOSTILE ARMIES WITHIN MUS KET RANGE OF EACH OTHER. On the Eve of an Important Battlo Where Some Fifty Thousand Men Will bo EngaBod-Board of Strat egy Anxiously Waiting. Washington, D. C, June 27. Interest lms shifted sharply from the navy de partment to the war department. The newspapers' brief and graphic story, telling of the short and bloody little engagement between the Spaniards de fending Santiago, and the rough rid ers, has aroused popular interest to a high pitch. Consequently newspaper men have besieged the war department, seeking Information that would supply missing data. The explanation of this Is that Gen eral Shatter failed to take with him from Tampa the splendid field tele graph outfit that had been prepared for such a campaign. It Is believed he has already seen his error, and will avail himself of the Instruments Just as soon as they can be Bent to him. WAIT FOR ARTILLERY. There Is a general expression of grief at the loss sustained by the sol diers In Friday's fight. Still the of llcers In high places express themselves as thoroughly satisfied with the result, realizing that the war cannot be waged without sacrifice of life. The Impres sion gained from one of General Shatter's dispatch Is that he Is now about to delay his advance until he has secured his artillery. Such a course will be dictated by Common pru dence, for It Is known that the Span lards have fortified as far as they could advanced positions outside of Santiago, and it would be the height of folly to throw soldiers unsupported by artillery against such works. Unfortunately there promises to be some delay In landing all the artillery, owing to the loss on the voyage to San tiago of the big lighter which seems to be necessary to transfer the heavy guns from the ship to the landing pier. The naval authorities have responded promptly to the appeal of the war de partment, and some means will be found through the aid of warships to accele rate the landing of the guns and sup plies. SENDING MORE TROOPS. Secretary Alger and General Miles have had several conferences, so as to give every military preparation for the great struggle to come. As a result heavy reinforcements will go forward at once, both from Tampa and from Newport News. An expedition of 6,000 men is expected to leave Tampa In the next few days. It comprises the com mand of Brigadier General Snyder of the Third division of the First army corps. The stores are already going aboard the transports and the start of the expedition only awaits the arrival of the naval convoys. Part of the consorts sent with Shaf ter have been released from Admiral Samp son and are on their way back to Tampa to escort additional troops. Others will follow, and another marine procession will start across the gulf to Cuba. Whether the Indiana will ac company this expedition Is not defi nitely settled. There will be several heavy warships, however, as well as lighter craft, to give safe conduct to General Snyder's division. Simultaneously General Henry's divis ion will be moving to Santiago. To gether with the reinforcements there will be In the neighborhood of 12,000 or 14,000 men. Drafts on Chlckamauga are likely to follow soon, as the hurry or ders recently given have led to the full equipment of several commands. The war department is not desirous of tak ing possible chance of a serious re verse near Santiago. ENEMY'S ARMY LARGER. The latest Information reaching the authorities here shows that the Span ish army is greater than haB been esti mated thus far. Lieutenant Joyce of the regular army reported to General Miles giving full Information as to the number and location of the Spanish troops. Before Joyce entered the United States army he had served with Gen eral Garcia and had traversed a good part of Santiago province. He was on the ground only a few weeks ago, leaving there In April, and at that time he had opportunities to get an Idea of the Spanish forces at the east ern end of the Island. He reports the number at 37,000, of which 12,000 are at Santiago, 10,000 at Holguin and 15, 000 at Matanzas. Separated by forest and mountain the Insurgents are expected to keep the forces at Holguin and Manzanillo from getting to Santiago. One of the curious features of the situation was that of opening direct communication between Spaniards In Santiago and the outsldo world, over the French cable through the medium of an American military, censor. This was effected by the restoration of the circuit running from Santiago overland to the place where the American linos Playa del Este where the cable line which runs across to Cape Haytlen Is located. At the office sits the American army officer who discharges the duty of cen sor. So far only test messages have gone through, but it will be open to ordinary business that will pass both American and Spanish censorship. The navy department haB acquired the fine steamship Pedro, which was declared a prize, having been captured by the Nashville early in the war. She was bought subject to prize liens and was today christened Hector and ordered to be converted Into a collier. The steamer Norse King. Just pur chased, has been christened Rainbow, and changed into a distiller to supply the fleet with pure water. General Blanco's sudden dislike for flags of truce Is excusable. Flags of truce are suggestive of fate. BRAVE BOYS WHO FELL. In Santiago Battle In Dofonse of Human Rights. Playa del Este, By Journal Dispatch Boat Simpson to Guantanamo. There was hot, bloody fighting Friday morn ing between Colonel Wood's rough riders and the Spaniards In ambush. After a forced march, the troopers dis mounted. They heard the enemy felling trees three miles Inland from here. Eight miles from Santiago occurred a fierce harge through the grass and chapparel. They were met by a withering volley. The dead arc: Captain Alvln Capron. Hamilton Fish. Captain Luna. Privates James Crews, Edward Cul ver and Dawson of troop L Harry Heffner of troop G and three others. Wounded, First regular cavalry: Captain Knox. Captain McCormlck. Lieutenant Bryan. First volunteer cavalry: Major Brodle. Captain McCllntock. Lieutenant Thomas. Privates Darnett T. Isabel and Keene S. Whitney. Troop L: Sergeant Cavanaugh. Corporal Stewart. Private M. Coyle. Troop G: G. W. Arlnto. Troop F: A. Rebrutlrch. A. F. Hartle. Ferd Beal and twenty-one others. The rough riders had begged to be sent to the front at once. They marched over the foothills from Balqulrl last night. Colonel Leonard Wood, who was re ported killed, Is all right. He and Roosevelt led the charge with great bravery, scornlg to He In the grass or underbrush as the Spaniards did. The enemy was driven back toward Santiago with heavy losses. The Montgomery, Suwanee, Scorpion and Wampatuck shelled the woods hotly In the mornlg at Slboney, cov ering the landing of supplies and horses. Edward Marshall, the Journal cor respondent, was seriously wounded at the front with Roosevelt. Journal Cor respondent Lalne Is with him. Journal Correspondent Menlchol and G. A. Collin, the Journal artist, have gone with food and water and a surgeon to bring Mr. Marshall to the coast. General Castillo, with 2,000 Cubans, reports engaging the Spaniards at Guasima, capturing two railroad trains laden with food and 100 tons of coal. He killed many of the enemy. Our own losses were fewer than fifty. The Spaniards, reinforced from San tiago with ten field pieces, are fortify ing the hill at Sevilla. In the battle today Roosevelt's men utterly routed the Spaniards in splen did style. Transports are on the way to Cer radero to get Garcia with his forces. Albuquerque, N. M., Special: Private Frank Booth, one of the Rough Riders wounded at the battle of Santiago de Cuba. Is a son of W. A. Booth, a busi ness man of this city. When he en listed he was assistant bookkeeper for E. J. Post & Co. High Albers, also one of the wounded, Is a son of a well-known dairyman of this city. W. T. Erwln, reported killed, Is be lieved here to be I. R. Erwln, who en listed here In troop F. Sergeant G. W. Arrlngo, wounded, is thought to be Armljo, son of an influ ential Mexican of this city. Denver, Colo., Special: First Lieu tenant George L. Bryam of the First cavalry, who was wounded at the bat tle of Santiago, was for four years, and until about a year ago, military ad viser on the staff of the governor of Colorado. His wife and little son are now residing In this city. Washington, D. C, Special: Major James M. Bell of the First regular cav alry, who was wounded, is a veteran of the civil war. He enlisted as Urst lieu tenant of the Eighty-sixth Ohio infan try in June, 1862, and served until the close of the war, coming out as a cap tain. He went into the army July 28, I860, as second lieutenant, and went up the grades until he was appointed ma jor of the First cavalry. May 23, 1896. Captain Thomas J. Knox entered West Point from Tennessee.July 1, 1867, and entered the army as second lieu tenant of cavalry In June, 1870. He was made a captain In 1889. Captain Lloyd S. McCormlck Is also a West Pointer. He entered the military academy from Ohio and graduated In 1S7G, when he was appointed second lieutenant of the Tenth cavalry. He was promoted to a captain's rank three years ago. Edward Marshall, who was wounded, was one the first correspondents sent by the Journal to Cuba. He was a most Intrepid and cool-headed man In those days and since has shown remarkable aptitude and skill. He Is a man of fine education and has traveled widely. Captain Knox Is a brother of John S. Knox, trafllc manager for Cudahys at South Omaha. The captain was sta. tloned at Fort Riley when the war Denver, Colo., Special: Captain James H. McCllntock of troop B, who was shot through the right leg in the bat tle before Santiago, Is from Phoenix. A. T. He Is well known throughout the southwest and for many years until n year ago was editor of the Arizona Re publican, published at Phoenix. Wichita, Kas., Special: Lieutenant J. R. Thomas, who was wounded at San tiago, is a son of Judge Thomas, who Is stationed at Muskogee. He Is one of the four Judges In service, and Is called war governor, as to him was as signed the duty of granting nil com missions to territory officers. He ap pointed his son a lieutenant over the objection of Judges Clayton and Town send. New Tork. June 27. Hamilton Fish, Jr.. one of the killed, was one of the young New Yorkers of good position and family who went to the front with Roosevelt's rough riders. He was of distinguished ancestry, his family being one of the oldest In this state. His father, Nicholas Fish, Is the son of the late Hamilton Fish, secretary of state in Grant's cabinet. He Is a banker and lives in this city. Hamilton, Fish was over six feet tall, of herculean build and rowed as No. 7 of the Columba college crew In Its winning race of 1894 over the Poughkeepsle course. AN OMAHA BOY'S ACCOUNT. PATRICK FORD, JR., WRITES OF THE BOMBARDMENT. ' A Gunner on the Marblohoad Ro tolls a Story that Never Grows Old-The Oatos of Hell Hnd Oponod. Omaha, June 2S. From a letter Just received by Patrick Ford, sr., from his son, Patrick Ford. Jr., a gunner on the Mrtrblehead, readers or the World Herald can gain a view of the bombard ment of the south coaBt of Cuba and of Hobson'B daring dash, hb seen from a "Yankee's" standpoint. Here Is the letter In part: On Board United States Ship Mar blehcad, Laying Off Santiago do Cuba, June 6. Dear Father: We have had quite a little excitement since I last wrote to you. 1 guess you have bv this time road all about the Merrlmnc. It was as gal lant and brave deed as ever occurred und the United" States cannot do too much for the heroes who manned her. That Is. if they ever return. There were eight of them, including the two officers. We on board the Marblehead did not know she was going until Thurs day afternoon. iVe were all excited that night. "Will It lie successful, do you think?" was the question we were asking one another. We were all on the watch the early part of the night, and as midnight passed and nothing had yet happened we all thought It had been put off, but were mistaken. The moon had shone brightly all night and between 3 and 4 o'clock Friday morning a dark cloud began to loom up, und It could be seen that It would soon obscure-the moon. The Merrlmac was lying close to us and we saw her head toward the har bor. Slowly she steamed nlnntr. TIip clouds were fast hiding the moon. Soon the moon was out of sight. Then the black smoke was seen to come from the Merrlnmc's smokestack. At the rate of about eight knots an hour she steamed Into the entrance of the harbor. All at once, ns If the gates of hell hnd opened, you could see nothing but a stream of lire from the shore on both sides of the channel. How It happened she was not sunk right In the en trance Is a mystery to me. The next morning we steamed up and down In front of the harbor, and we saw by the Merrlmac's masts that she had sunk In the right place and that the Spanish could not escape. About 10 o'clock the same morning a tug steamed out of Santiago with a flag of truce. She informed the ad miral that the men of the Merrlmac had been captured after they had sunk their ship and they were In a small boat trying to escape. He had a letter from one of our officers to the admiral. Admiral Cervera of the Spanish fleet Informed our admiral that in recogni tion of the gallantly and bravery shown by our men, he would allow our officers to communicate wljh Admiral Sampson. We all fell kind of good toward Cer vera for his message complimenting our men for their bravery and allowing them to communicate" with us. Cer vera made more American sailor men his friends by that message than he ever had In his life before. We landed rifles, ammunition, cloth ing and food for the Insurgents here. This morning we were all given an early breakfast, the fleet was divided Into two sections, Sampson In com mand of one and Schley the other. The Marblehead Is In Schley's division. We formed for battle at 7 o'clock. Schley was to destroy all batteries on the left of the harbor and Sampson those on the right. We opened lire about 7:45 and kept It up until close to 11 o'clock. We fired about 170 shells. It was hot work for a while. Shells flew all around the Marblehead, but they never hit us or injured a man. We fired plenty of shrapnel, and soon drove the Spanish gunners from their posts. As soon as we let up a little on our fire, they would return and open fire on us again. At about 9:30 we ceased to fire almost altogether. We took a rest of fifteen minutes and then re turned to the fight to finish them. We had gotten their range by this time, and we let them have It the Texas with her 12-lnch, the Massachusetts with her 13-inch, the Brooklyn with her 8-Inch, and the Marblehead with her 5-Inch. When we got done this time and "cease firing" had been sounded, there was not a sound from the batteries that we had engaged. They were .completely silenced. The firing of the ships with the big guns was beautiful. It seemed they could put a shell wherever they wanted It. The firing of the Marblehead wns unusually fine. The Massachusetts gave us three cheers as we passed them. Our ship is a marked one In the fleet. She Is called the Battleship. Our crew Is composed of some of the best shots In the nay. They can put a shot wherever the commanding officer asks them to. When we are at Key West and go ashore and the people find out you are off the Marblehead. you are all right. The Marblehead's crew and captain are known as the fighting captain and thp fighting crew. They are always ready for a fight. You would think they were going to a picnic. They have confidence in their captain and he in thorn. He will fight anything that runs In the Mar blehead's way, battleship or gunboat. It makes no difference to him and we will follow him. I don't know when you will get this letter, as It Is liable to leave tonight and may not leave for a week. You must let me know If you get these let ters of mine marked as ship's letters, as that Is the only way we can send tliem, as wo can get no stamps. As a commissary Inspector Russell Harrison Is giving contractors much trouble and spoiling tholr profits. Sev eral of thorn have been turned down In attempting to unload counterfeit grub on the army. THE OMAHA POLITICIANS. BN S. BAKER AS THEIR CAN DIDATE FOR GOVERNOR. But He May bo Only n "Doooy Duck" The Shrowd Workers Havo Bogun to Pull the Strings to JurrtpInK Jacks. Omaha, June 27. Douglas county re publicans at their county convention held here Saturday evening, allowed Judge Ben S. linker, candidate for gov ernor, to 'name his delegates to the republican state convention. The old machine wbb thoroughly greased nnd It worked Just as it has worked for many years. ItJs one thing to Indorse a candidate nnd It fi some other thing who does It and how It Is done. Evidently Ben Baker hns a cinch so far as Omnhn republican politicians nrc concerned. Immediately after the organization of the convention wns completed John C. Wntson. legal adviser and political promoter for Frank E. Monies, arose and proposed a resolution to nllow Baker to select his own delegation to Lincoln and that DouglnB county In dorse his candidacy for nomination by the Btate convention, The resolution follows: INDORSE BAKER. "Whereas, The republicans of Doug las county In convention assembled. bellevu It to be for the best Interests of the republican party In this state. that the nominee for governor of the stnte of Nebraska come from Doug las county; and "Wherens, The distinguished ability of Hon. Benjamin S. Baker and his unblemished record, both In public nnd private life, Is a recommendation for him for the high and responsible posi tion of governor of this Btate. To the end, therefore, that the choice and will of this convention may be observed and carried out In the state conven tlon, be It "Resolved, By the republicans of Douglas county, In convention assem bled, that the Hon. Benjnmln S. Baker be, and ho Is hereby, requested to select the delegation nnd nnme the chair man thereof, to represent Douglas county In the state republican conven tion to be held In the city of Lincoln on the 10th day of August, 1898, and said list of delegates so selected by the said Benjamin S. Baker shnll constitute and be the delegation of Douglas county in said state conven tion; nnd said delegation Is hereby In structed to use nil honorable means to secure the nomlnnjjjin of the snid Benjamin S. Baker for governor of the state of Nebraska; and be It further "Resolved, That no proxies be nl lowed from this county In said conven tion, and In case of vacancies In said delegation the said Benjamin S. Baker Is hereby authorized to select bucIi re publicans ns he may see lit to fill such vncancles, nnd at such Btate convention the vote of nil absentees, If nny, shall be cast by said chairman of said Doug Ins county delegation. " Wharton moved the adoption of the resolution and It carried unanimously nnd Ben Bnker then wnlked right up. on Invitation, to the band stand nnd cheered to enthuse him. Big Expedition of Cubans." Tampa, la., June 27. The largest and best equipped expedition of Cubans that ever left this country sailed from Port Tampa Thursday night on the steamers Florida and Fanlta. The press censor has refused to allow anything to be sent out about the expedition until he was satlslled that the ships were close to the landing place, which is supposed to be Port de Banos, on the northern coast of the province of San tiago. This is the same plnce where the Florida so successfully Innded a large expedition one month ngo. When the ships left Port Tampa they carried 600 Cubans and two troops of the Tenth United States cavalry. General Emlllo Nunez, who bus super intended the departure of many filibus tering expeditions from this country to Culm, wns In command of the Cuban forces. The cavalry troops were com posed of colored soldiers, who have been camped at Lakeland for nearly two months. They have become acclimated and have also been thoroughly In structed In the use of the machete. Besides the arms and ammunition for the men forming the expedition, the ships carried 15,000 rllles and 5.000,000 rounds of ammunition with which to supply the Cuban forces commanded by General Garcia. A large quantity of provisions, about 2,000 tons, wns car ried, in ndditlon lo sixty dayB' rations for the men forming the expedition. The provisions nre for the Cuban army und any of the Cuban people that mirj be In need of them. There were several thousand Cubans nnd Amerlcnns nt Port Tampa to wit ness the departure, and ns the ships swung out the crowd cheered and the bnnd played "Yankee Doodle," "Dixie" and other airs. The Cuban soldiers nnd colored cavalrymen swarmed the rig ging of the vessels nnd unswered the cheers. It Is the intention of the army officers to have the men on the Florida and Fanlta Join the Cuban forces on the northern coast and march ncross the country to lelnforce the Cuban army In the rear of the city of Santi ago. Washington. D. C, June 27. The firirt detachment of the First army corps will leave Tnmia on nine trasports within Shafter's forces. The men nre now hard at work loading the vessels with provisions for the Journoy. Major Gen eral Mllets will In all probability ac compnny this first detni-hmeut to San tiago. He informed mo that the troops to go on these transports are In readi ness to embark upon the shortest no tice, and that the expedition will start as soon as the naval convoy arrives at Tampa. The strength of this first ex pedition s'lll be about 8.000 men. The remainder of the Fourth artillery corps will not leave Tampa until tho return of the ships that convoy Major General Shafter's army to Santiago. In the sonorouB words of Ramon Blanco, "the feat of the foreign in vader now presses the sacred soil of Cuba." They are also pressing on to Santiago, Havana. Caramba! M'CARTY QANQ IS CAUQHT. Votoran Counterfeiters Trapped By Dotootlvos. Omaha Special: Secret Service Agent Donnella has captured the notorious McCartys, counterfeit coin makers, at Bellevue, together with the plant and several hundred dollars In snurlous sil ver dollnrs and other smaller denomin ations of the queer. Mr. Donnella Bet his trap nt Frank Detroit's saloon, Twenty-fourth nnd F streets, South Oniahn, Saturday morn ing about 10 o'clock and then bided his timu pending the nppenranco of his game. He had not long to wait, but to while away the mlnutcB he amused himself and his assistants, Sergeant I or, Detectives Hnvey and Cormlck of this city, by engaging In a gnmo of nigh rive. a,Q tnil, wnH nrunL,,i Wtl, a merchant, who, acting as a stool I'ibi-uii uimer me uirection or Mr. Don nella, hnd contracted with the Mo CartyH to buy $50 worth of the bogus dollars for $12.50 or at the rate of 25 cents for each dollar. The merchant made nn appointment with the Mc cartys at the place mentioned, nnd the latter were on hand with the money, which wns wrapped up In rolls of $10 and $20 each. John McCarty, his wife Anna and wn.Bate,r Sarnh ft B,rl of 18 ycrs; Will Schartow, John Brown and Isaac Beadle drove up from Bellovuu and stopped In front of the Bnloon. Tho horses were hitched and the men went Into the saloon. Before uny words were spoken by either of the McCarthy gang or tho "merchant," Donnella Informed the party that they were his prisoners. No resistance was offered, but there was a mighty mean look cast In the direc tion of the Btool pigeon. The prisoners wore brought to Omaha and booked as susplclouB char acters by Detectives Havey and Cor mlck, Mrs. McCarty and her daugh ter were locked up In the matron'B de tention room and the men lodged in Beparate cells. None of tho nnrtv unnT1 .1lu...,,. ,. subject of their arrest except to say wuvi nit-y guesseu uonnciui did not have a dead cinch on them." Donnella, "Deputy United States Mar shal Holmes and Sergeant Her, accom panied by the stool pigeon, left for Bellevue Immediately after tho arrest, where the latter had seen, ho told them, the counterfeit coin mnde In full operation only Saturday, grinding out dollurs at tho rate of one every minute. The stool pigeon got next to the McCnrtyB' nnd gaining their con fidence, wna present when they were making the money. It is reirnrrlprl na rma rt .Its. l.. catches In years In the secret service, vu.iiuwit.-iu or oisewnere, as no spu rious eolnmakers have worked without molestation for a longer period to time than the McCartyB, and their work Is par excellent. Other arrests are to follow of par ties who have been circulating the coin In these parts and DonneUa promises to cinch some very good people before the case Is ended. It is believed that Vic McCnrty, who escaped from the county Jail at Omaha i. jraia ugo wime awaiting sentence for a murderous assault, Is the gen eral distributing agent for bucIi of his Bellevue relatives as are engaged In the business, und that his headquarters are at Kansas City. Missouri officers have been notified to be on the look out for him. During the last three months the west has been flooded with counterfeit dollars, many of which havo been passed In Omaha, Council Bluffs and .-jiiuwi umana. Tiie workmanship is clever, the ring, weight nnd milling being exceptionally like the real, thus making the money a dangerous coun- icwcu. .nit- oniy ueiect is in tho BUr face or face of the coin which when subjected to tho touch and close scrutiny presents a too smooth and a rather greaBy appearance. Most of the money is dated 1888. John Brown, from whom the money was taken Saturday, Is believed to have been engaged in molding money for years, but owing to the cautloUB manner in which he worked the offi cers have been unable to secure a con viction nlthough he has been repeat edly arrested, ns also has John Mc Cnrty. Mr. Donnella, however, determined to call a halt to the work, and he person ally worked up the case. Removing his mustache and otherwise disguising himself, he secured nn introduction to the McCartys at Bellevue as one who could be depended upon not to "squeal" on the gang. Donnella gained the con fidence of John McCarty sufficiently to buy about $100 worth of dollars made at Mccarty's house. This he has as evidence safely locked up In his office snfe. John McCarty says Donnella's visit to Bellevue will not profit him, as there Is nothing there meaning molds or material to be used as evidence against him. The McCartys are pioneers nt coun terfeiting, hnving been doing business in thnt line for a score of yenrs, ac cording to the authorities. Isaac Bendle is nn old timer, nnd has made frequent visits to Bellevue, say ing It was to buy grain. To Invade Spain. Washington, D. C, June 27. The war Is to bo carried Into Africa, meta phorically speaking. If Spuin is fool hardy enough to send the Cadiz fleet through the Suez canal to attack Dewey in the Philippines. It Is announced on good authority thnt before the last Spanish vessel hns passed through the canal, an American squndion will be steaming at fulj speed ncross the Atlnntlc, strnlght for the coast of Spain to bring the war home to the Spanish people. There Is no doubt thnt Dewey can take care of himself against this Cadiz fleet, since his own squadron will be reinforced by Ironclads long before Camara's ships sight the bay of Manila, and he will have the shore batteries with him Instead of against him In the struggle. But It has been concluded by the ndmlnlstrntlon that nothing save tho most severe measures will suffice to bring the Spnnish people to n realizing sense of the hopelessness of the continuance of the present war and even kindness, it Is held, will dictate such a blow as that it is pro posed to administer If the Spanish per sist In this last project. A RANK DECISION. SUPREME COURT KEEPS ,UP ITS RECORD. HELPS OMAHA REPUBLICANS DESPERATE MEASURES USED TO CAPTURE CONTROL. A Suprome Court Doclslon which Smaoks Strongly of Rank Politics --To Oust Prosont Fire and Polloo Commissioners. Lincoln, Neb., June 28. The supremo court has handed down another decision which appears to be more in line with republican polltlcB than It does In ac cord with the constitutional law and Justice. The frantic effort of the most disrep utable criminal and political characters of Omaha, have bent every effort to secure control over the police system of that city. Falling In every other at tempt, they have resorted to tho 'su preme court nnd have found there help ing hands, ns have many another set of schemers against tho public wel fare. The deal was to test the constitu tionality of the law creating the fire nnd police commissioners of Omaha be fore tho supreme court. It was looked upon generally ns an absurd proposi tion, because the provisions of the con stitution and of the statutes were so plain; because the Bupreme court had time and again affirmed and reaffirmed the constitutionality of the law. But the republican machine wns not In such desperate atratts as it Is to day, In fnct, the wnrd politicians, with their ally the gnmbllng syndicate were highly In fnvor of such a decision. But things change and men change with them. So the supreme court now handB down nn opinion declaring tho law authorizing the governor to ap point four members of the fire and police board of Omaha 1b unconstitu tional nnd that a Judgment of ouBter be entered ngnlnst the present members. The opinion of the court Is written by Judge Norvnl and Commissioner Ragan and ! concurred In by Chief Justice Harrison. There Is a dissenting opin ion written by Commissioner Ryan, In which Judge Sulllvun and Commis sioner Irvln Join. This makes an even division of the numbers of the members of the supreme court, but as the two Judges control the opinion of Judgo Norval and Commissioner Ragan, con curred In by the chief Justice, becomes the opinion of the court. The attorney for the board appointed by the city council of Omaha was present when the opinion was made public and he at once demanded Of tho clerk that tho writ of ouster agalnBt J. II. Peabody, D. D. Gregory, W. C. Bul lard and R. E. Lee Herdman be at once lF-ued. The clerk declined to do bo, ana went Into the Judge's consultation room to nsk what he should do. He was Instructed by the Judges to not Issue the writ until the forty days allowed for filing a motion for a rehearing hod expired without the attorneys for the old board having filed such a motion. When this motion for rehettrfiig is filed the clerk will refrain from Issuing the writ until It can be heard by the court and determined. The court adjourned for the summer vacation and will not meet again until tho flrBt week In Hentember. This will necessitate a day in the hearing of this application for a rehearing until the fall term. MAKES STRANGE MOVE. "When the case waB argued before the Bupreme court there was a some what strange Bight presented of an at torney appearing and asking that a, former decision of the court, made when ho was on the supreme bench and concurred In by himself, should be overruled. This was ex-Chief Justice M. B. Reese, who appeared in this caso as attorney for the men appointed by tho Omaha city council. Judge Reese was on the supreme bench when the Seavey case was tried and' he con curred in tho opinion In that case, which ,the court today, in response to his nrgument as an attorney, over ruled. In other words, the present members of the bench attached greater weight to the arguments of Judge ReeBe when he apeprtred as counsel be fore them than they did to his opinion ns a Judge when he was occupying the same position they now hold; at least that construction might be put upon It. The opinion seemed a surprise to the attorneys who were around tho Btate house. The general expression has been for some time that the opinion would be handed down at this time, but tho feeling nmong those who have followed the cuse was positive that it would be In favor of the validity of the law and the sustaining principle which the court has adhered to since the first police commission came into existence In Ne braska. SOME TELL-TALE MARKS. The fact that the opinion which now appears as the minority opinion has about It evidences of having been writ ten for the signature or with the under standing that It was approved by the mnjorlty tends to strengthen the belief of those who held to the Idea that the law was to be sustained. The obliterated line at the close of the dis senting opinion Is now the only thing that leads to the belief that It was written first and what Is now the ma jority opinion was written last, and the latter was at Its writing, perhaps, Intended to be the dissenting opinion. The circumstances are Interesting and It has been sugested by an attorney who Is apt with his quotations from holy writ If he does not live up to the precepts therein taught, that It la but an Illustration of how "The first shall be last nnd the last shall be first." If one of the Judges changed his mind after the original discussion of the case this state of affairs could and would be brought about. As a mat ter of speculation as to what goes on In the privacy of the consultation of the Judges the present case and the chat about It is Interesting. The strength of the enlisted force of the navy, including the naval reserve. Is 20,400 men, and 5,000 more are wanted.