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The Herald
T. J. O'Kkkkk, PiiMiMior.
HEM1NGF0RD, - NEHKA8KA
NEBRASKA NEWS.
A painful accident happened tc
George Huclil, an employe of the We.it
Point machine shops. Whilst loading
castings ho had ono hand crushed o'l
most to a Jelly.
Stephen Adklnn, the 12-year-old son
of County Superintendent R. P. Ad
kins of Tecumsoh, fell from a tree arid
suffered a sovero fracture of the left
arm at the shoulder.
Whllf threshing east of Avoca, Roy
Taney, 19 years old, got his foot caught
In the master wheel of a horse power
and the ankles Is so badly crushed that
nniputatlon is thought necessary.
As John Hlnkle was going home from
attending tho Ancient Order of United
Workmen lodge at Howells at about
11 o'clock ho found Michael Munson
dead on the track of the Fremont,
Elkhorn & Missouri Valley railroad.
President Wnttlcs of the exposition
received a telegram from the assistant
secretary of war, saying: "I sent you
yesterday, through the quartermaster's
department, by express, a Bpanlsh flag,
the first trophy secured by the mill
tary force from the enemy. You aro
requested to deliver It personally to tho
representative of the war department's
exhibit, with Instructions to have It
carefully preserved and protected."
The mystery surrounding tho where
abouts of Canoy Hanks, the wealthy
German farmer, who dlsapearcd from
his homo three weeks ago, has been
cleared up by the discovery of tho body,
almost entirely embedded in a sand bar
In the Missouri river near Peru. An
Inquest was held, the Jury finding that
the deceased cams to his death by
drowning. Mr. Hanks was a ploncci
resident of Otoe county, settling thero
in 1855. He was 68 years of age and
leaves an cstnte valued at about $150,
000. Ex-Governor Gllck and Commissioner
Lamb of Kansas are in Omaha attend
ing the exposition. While there thoy
will look after tho establishment of a
honey nnd a dairy exhibit In the Apiary
and the Dairy buddings. Both men are
pleased with the exposition nnd pre
dict a large attendance from the Sun
flower state as soon as the crops are out
of tho way. They will maintain tho
excellent standard of the fruit exhibit
in the Horticulture building and will
see that new varieties aro added as tho
season advances.
Ferd W. Peck of Chicago, who Is to
be the commissioner general of tho
United States to tho Pnrls exposition,
announces his Intention of drawing
largely on the Trans-MIsslsslppl expo
sition for exhibits. He will take much
material from tho Government build
ing, including the models of battleships,
which will bo supplemented by later
models. A great many of the exhibits
In tho Mines and Mintng budding will
also be taken, because it Is qonsldered
that this Is a mineral collection that
has never been surpassed.
As the fast mall pulled out from
Schuyler going west tho attention of
the trainmen was called to a man ap
parently fastened to one of the trucks
and dragging on the track. Stopping
the train It was found that the man,
who had been riding on the trucks, had
fallen forward across the framework
In such a manor that the axle had
twisted his clothes and held him to
a horrible death, which ended with a
few slight gasps made while the brake
beam was being removed, which had
to be taken off to get him loose. On
his person were letters addressed to
N. Kingman Seamens, 1G9 W. So. Tem
ple street, Salt Lake City, Utah. He
was apparently about 35 years of age.
About 6 o'clock a few nights ago, as
Mrs. M. S. Watklns and Mrs. C. TC.
Cooke of Beatrice started to drive out
of the timber at Iron Mountain, where
they had been visiting a camping party,
the horses became frightened at an ap
proaching train, resulting in both wo
men being thrown from the carriage.
Mrs. Cooke alighted safely, but Mrs.
Watklns, who was driving, fell under tho
carriage and was pined to the ground.
After being released it was found thai
both bones In her left leg below the
knee were broken. Dr. Fall, who was In
the party, made a temporary reduction
of the fracture, after which Mrs. Wat
klns was brought home by Br. Platte,
accompanied by the nurse who Is car
ing for Mr. Platte's daughter.
Colonel Champion S. Chase, the new
collector of customs for the port of
Omaha, is In full charge of the affairs
of the office and Is devoting his time
to learning the ropes. Regarding the
prospect for changes In the personnel
of the office force or Inspectors, the
colonel declined to say whether he con
sidered that the provisions of the civil
service law applied to all or any of
the attaches of the office. With
the exception that the familiar face
of Dr. Miller was no longer to be
seen about the office, the affairs of
the place moved along in the old
groove. Deputy C. D, Woodworth con
tinues to administer the affairs of the
office, as of yore, and the Inspectors
pursue the even tenor of their ways.
New York' Special: The battleship
Texas has been placed in the dry dock
at the navy yard. An examination of
It shows that except for a slight dent
in Its keel made by striking a coral
reef off Dry Tortugas It Is la very
fair condition.
THE WINNING TICKET IS NAMED
Hon. W. A. Poyntor or Jloono County -Will Load tho Itoforni
forces to Victory This Frill.
All Tlirco ConvontloiiH Act an Ono Body of Men Tho Platforms
Adopted Ily tho Allied Parties.
Lincoln, Neb. The populist, demo
cratic and free silver republican con
ventions havo been held and all the
thousands of Jelegates liavo( returned
to their homes. '
The following ticket was nominated
by all three conventions:
Governor W. A. Poyntcr.
Lieutenant Governor ,15. A. Gilbert.
Attorney General.. C. J. Smyth,
Treasurer .......J. B. Meserve.
Auditor ., J. F. Cornell.
Secretary of State.. W. F. Porter.
Commissioner J. V. Wolfe.
Superintendent Public Instruction
The threo conventions, through a con
ference committee agreed upon the fol
lowing manner of getting together:
REPORT OF CONFERENCE.
"Your committee, appointed to confer
with like committees from the people's
Independent and silver republican con
ventions, begs leave to report. We
recommend that, upon the adoption of
this report by all of the three conven
tions, each of tho threo conventions pro
ceed to take a ballot for governor. If,
upon tho first ballot, or any subse
quent ballot, any one candidate shall
receive a majority vote In each of the
three conventions, he shall be declared
to be the nominee. Upon the comple
tion of the ballot the result In each
convention shall be submitted to each
of the other conventions before pro
ceeding with another ballot. If, on
the first ballot no choice be made, a bcc
ond ballot shall be taken and the result
reported as above.
"This procedure shall be followed by
aditlonal ballots until a choice shall bo
made. After the governor Bhall have
been chosen, each of tho three con
ventionsHhall proceed In the same man.
nor to select a candidate for other of
ficers, lieutenant governor, auditor of
public uccounts, secretary of state, at
torney general, treasurer, commissioner,
of public lands and buildings, superin
tendent of public Instruction. It Is
distinctly understood that n mujorlty of
the votes hi the threo conventions shall
be nocessnry for a choice of the offices
to bo lllled. Your committee also rec
ommends that when any of the three
conventions shall tako arcccss a com
mittee shull promptly notify the other
two conventions.
"We recommend Immediately, upon
the completion of any ballot, a com
mittee of two shall bo appointed, whose
duty It shall bo to promptly notify tho
other two conventions of the result of
such ballot. Wo further recommend
that the addition of a report from the
committee, two shall be appointed to
duty notify the other two conventions."
The report was adopted without a dis
senting vote.
The conventions were largely at
tended and at no gatherings In the
state were there evor assembled to
gether a more representative body ot
Nebraskans. The earnestness, good
will, and, withal a more harmonious
crowd has seldom done business to
gether. The following Is the platform adopt
ed by the populist and democratic con
ventions. The resolutions of the free
silver republicans will appear next
week:
Populist Platform.
Following Is the platform adopted by
(ho populist state convention August 3,
1MIX, nt Lincoln:
Tho people's Independent party of Ne
braska, assembled in its ninth annual state
convention, reaffirms its alleglanco to the
principles declared hy the fathers of tho
republic and to tho fundamental principles
of tho Just government as enunciated and
set forth In tho Omaha and St. Louis plat
forms of our party. Wo stand upon every
one of the grand truths therein enunciated,
nnd specifically reiterate our lovaltv to tho
free coinage of silver and gold at tho ratio
of 1G to 1.
We pledge the people that thero shall bo
no fnltorlnK on our part until prlvato cor
porations aro Btrlpped of the privilege of
Issuing money anil until all tho currency,
whether coin or paper, shall bo Issued di
rectly by tho government and shall bo
standard money of the United States.
We condemn tho attempt of the present
administration to retire the greenback cur
rency and to issue gold interest-hearing
bonds In place thereof, and we denounce
such course as a change In the sottled
policy of the nation and a betrayal of the
Interests of the people.
We denounce the usumatlon of the fed.
cral courts In the Issuance of writs of In
junction by which tho constitutional right
of freedom ot assemblage and speech Is
denied Amertcnn citizens.
We declare that the money necessary to
Cay the expenses of the war could have
een easily rnlsed by Judicious taxation,
the coinage of the seigniorage now lying
idle In tho treasury, the imposition of u
Just and reasonable Income tax nnd tho
Issuance of treasury notes, thus prevent
ing an increase of the interest-benring
obligations of the government, and we hold
to the doctrine that the United States
should nay on Its obligations as speedily
as possible. Government bonds should
never be Issued, except in case of the most
extreme necessity, and not then until con
gress has specifically declared the neces
sity therefor, and never at the mere behest
of or to afford Investment for the owners
ot idle capital.
CONDEMN WAR BILL.
Wo condemn the republican party for re
fusing to retain in the war revenue bill
firovlslons for tho taxation of all monopo
les and trusts, and for yielding to tho de
mands of such organizations for Immunity
from taxation, thus violating the law of
equity and casting the burden of taxation
upon those least able to bear It.
We demand more money and less misery
for the people. Wo protest against the re.
tlrcmcnt of the greenback and nn increase
In the Interest-bearing debt of the nation
as a step in the creation of a perpetual na
tional debt and a permanent enthronement
of banks of issue, having power to ex
pand and contract at will the circulating
medium to the detriment of all the Indus,
trial Interests of the country.
We emphatically condemn the scheme
of the secretary of the treasury, embodied
in a bill now pending in the house of repre
sentatives and favorably reported by the
republican members of the committee on
banking and currency, conniving ut the re
tlrement of the greenback and making the
liver coin now in circulation redeemable
in gold, thus greatly contracting the dr.
dilating medium, reducing the value of
all forms of property except gold and caus
ing widespread distress and ruin.
Wo are in favor of a vigorous prosecu
tion of the war with Spain to the end
that thereby an honorable peace may bo
tho sooner secured.
FOItEIGN POLICY.
Tho policy to be pursued by the United
States respecting foreign nations and peo
ples of the Islands of the sea Is one ot
great momont and far-reaching in Its con
sequences to present and futuro gonora
tlons of our countrymen. It is of such
tnngnltudo that It should not bo hastily
determined, ond in view of tho probable
closo of tho war with Spain nt an early
dote, wo alllrm that tho 4wiso course for
this government to nursun with inn rn.
sped to Its relations with the Islands lost
to Spain during tho war would be to post
poiio consideration thereof until the con
clusion of the war, to bo thon taken up for
inut tiro deliberation by the people, when
no public excitement exists.
Tho decision of the supremo court of
tho United States In tho Nebraska maxi
mum freight rate case makes it more ap
parent than ever that tho only true solu
Hon of the railroad problem Is to be found
In government ownership, nnd wo ngnln
declare and renfflrm our allegiance to the
doctrine of government ownership of rnll
rondn. telegraphs and telephones, nnd In
tho meantime wo demand tho enactment
of a maximum rato luw, granting tho
people all possible relief within the limits
of said decision.
Tho natural seaport markets for tho
trans-MlsslsslppI states are those of tho
gulf of .Mexico, and If the people of Ne
braska and this entire western country
could be provided with proper transporta
tion facilities for marketing their produce
through these southern nnrln It wniilri
save to tho producers from 33 1-3 to 60 per
wm, ur even jiunsiuiy more, on me pres
ent freight charges, making an aggregate
saving to our people of this state of sev
eral millions of dollars annually. There
fore, wo declare that It would be a wise
and Judicious move on the part of Ne.
braeka and her sister states to unite in
providing WnVS and menns for liiiHiUmr
owning nnd operating a system of trnns-
ponuuon lines norm and south through
tho states from thn eulf nf Mnrlrn tn thn
north borders of the nation.
PATRIOTISM OF NEBRASKANS.
We congratulate thn nennln nf Nnhrnnkn
upon their prompt and patriotic response
to the cull of tho president and of Gov
ernor Holcomb for volunteers, and we
extend to our soldiers and sailors our
henrty congratulations and best wishes,
and anirm It to bo our belief that all non
commissioned olilcers and private soldiers
should havo an Increase of pay, more
nearly commensurnto with the gallant
and valuable services they nro rendering
their COlintrv. nnrl nnt fnrr-olllni. Dm onl.
dlors and sailors of tho late civil war. to
nuuiii o ub'iuu pieuge our irienusnip anil
support. We decliirn thn Mm t-nln nf Mm
administration prohibiting the application
ii uu nicren.so or pension or tho recon
sideration of a rejected claim, for one year
after such action, should be speedily ro-
.. vl alIl " ruio is unprecedented in
thO United Strifes, ntlll lu nnlrMllntn tn
deny Justice nnd to make more difficult
iiionicuniiK mo pensions justly due.
ALLEN'S LABORS APPRECIATED.
The distinguished services of Hon. Wil
liam V. Allen have proven of incalculable
benefit to tho peoplit of the stato nnd na
tion, and wo recognize him as one of tho
ablest men In the populist party. We
heartily indorse his patriotic and stntes-mnn-llko
course In thn senato of tho
Unltud,.sHl.t.es-. In w- L- Stark, Samuel
Maxwell, W. L. Greene and R. D. Suth
erland, tho common - people of Ncbrnska
have capable and trustworthy representa
tives In congress.
Wo commend tho sifo. sound and sensible
administration of Governor Holcomb nnd
tho other state ofllcers, under which tho
ciedlt of tho stato has been brought to a
higher point than over before, the patri
mony of our school chlldten has been
doubled, tho public money, as fast as col
lected, la being upplled to tho payment of
tho public debt, all tho state institutions
are being more economically administered
thnn nt nny previous time in their history,
nnd tho different departments of govern
ment are being ndmlnlstered In an honest,
careful and buslness-llko manner. We de
mand a reform In our system of assess
mnnt and taxation by the revision of our
recnuo laws, to tho end that all forms of
wealth shall bear their equitable and Just
portion of the burdens of taxation.
We demand the enactment of a law pro.
hlbltlng the issuance of free railway passes
to public officials ond private citizens, ex.
cept bona fide employes, or the acceptance
of the same, and favor tho furnishing by
law of necessary traveling expenses to
public officers when engaged In the trans
action of public business.
RECORD IN SCHOOLS.
The people's Independent party from Us
birth has been the earnest friend of our
fieo school system. We point with prldo
to Its record, to tho free text book law, to
tho school transportation law, to the in
crease in funds available to the common
school and to tho liberal appropriations
for the stato university's work. We' favor
tho practical Industrial education that
ruins our boys and girls for earning an
honest living In tho mechanical nnd agrl
cultural walks of life, ond wo pledge our
nominees, If elected, to work for tho pro
motion of this form of education In all the
departments from the common schools to
the stnto university. We condemn In un
measured terms the nttempt of organized
capital to suppress tho freedom of social
and economic views, formed as a result of
long study and careful investigation.
In contra-dlstlnrtion to the splendid rec
ord of our populist officials, we point to tho
recreant acts of their republican prede
cessors who havo robbed Nebraska ' of
$1,000,000; filled state Institutions with cor
ruption nnd scandal; taken the patrimony
of her school children nnd farmed It out
to precinct "heeler" ond small-bore politi
cians: practico nepotism In all Its branches
of her stato government; nnd. when llnnlly
driven from a thirty years' feast at tho
public crib, smote the hand that had fed
It and sourht to Injure the credit of the
Btato by dlsnnil forebodings.
We heartily Indorto tho efforts of tho
publishers of tho Reform Press associa
tion to take tho control of the preparation
of their ready prints out of tho hands of
ino repuuueans,
Tho Initiative and referendum nre car
dinal principles of tho populist party; by
these principles the enactment or repeal of
laws Is left to the people themselves; the
present constitution of this state makes it
Impossible for tho people, by direct vote,
to enact or repeal any law; we therefore
favor tho adoption of a constitutional
amendment whereby the Initiative and ref
erendum will become part of the funda
mental law of this commonwealth.
Wo demand a speedy determination of
tho litigation Involving the validity of tho
stock yards act regulating charges for feed
and yardage, to the end that it may bo
determined. If said act Is Ineffectual, what
steps should be taken to reduce said yards
to slate ownership.
ED L. ADAMS.
JOHN H. FELBUR.
M. F. HARRINGTON.
ELMER E. THOMAS.
W. H. BARNES.
Domocrfitic Platform.
Immediately after assembling the
committee on resolutions reported thro'
its chairman, W. H. Thompson, and
the following platform as reported was
adopted:
We, the democracy of Nebraska, In con
ventlon assembled, send greeting to the
brave men of our nation who are fighting
humanity's battle and attempting to re
lleve the suffering, privation and hunger
of a courageous but oppressed people, and
for that purpose to guarantee unto the fer.
tile Island of Cuba 11 government created,
maintained and upheld by the consent of
the governed, and pledge the president of
the United States our most hearty sup
port and co-operation ln the vigorous
prosecution of the conflict.
We are proud to belong to a party that
acknowledges as Its chieftain and lender
the Hon. William J. Bryan, the people's
champion, whose arm is ever lifted in de
fense of their rights and tn redressing their
wrongs, whether In peace or in war.
We renew, our allegiance to tho .prlnci
pies taught by Thomas Jefferson and coui
agcouely defended by Andrew Jackson
and wo demand that the great politic
problems of today bo solved by tho appll
cation of theso principles to the present
conditions, and, therefore, reaffirm our ad
herence to tho platform of 1806, adopted b
tho democratic party in national conven
tion assembled.
And that tho paramount Issuo of the
campaign of 1900 ought nnd will be tlu
restoration of our monetary system to It
position prior to 1873, tho froo nnd unlim
ited colnago of tho two metals at the
ratio of 16 to 1. and bcllovo that no per
manent prosperity will reward the efforts
of our producers until such a law is on.
acted.
ON MONEY QUESTION.
Wo bcllovo that all money Issued by tho
government, whether gold or sltver or pa
per, should bn made a full legal tender for
all debts, public and private, and that no
citizen should bo permitted to demonetize
by contract that which the government
tnnkes monry by law.
IVo further declare that we aro opposed
UAY. .. ., "". .""" iiuiiimni wiai nil
money, whether gold, s.lver or paper, shall
...Y. " ." l" ""uunai government.
While always willing nnd ready to fur-
nlsh fnr Mm aimrtm.. nt iu .tMH tH i
i,.,; ;rr;ir." '.";. '''"'"i,u"
..... i ,uin uvcrjr uouar ot our property
and every possible assistance, both In
money and men. the democratic party Is
opposed to tho issunnco of Interest bear
ng bonds except as a last resort, but nre
in fnvor of issuance of full legal tondet
?iS?X " lV ,Wo ,h0,d iho rec!nt S8U" of
JJOO.OOO.OOO of bonds unnecessary under tho
circumstances and, therefore, condemn it.
YVo denounce as unjust nnd Inequitable
Inlln . I MlilUMlUIHjr III CIUH9 leglS-
latlon, robs tho many for tho benefit of
the few. and that a tnrlff should be for a
revenue only, and, therefore, denounce tho
,,nS.K,oy b '.' anU nrr'Bn the republican
party for Its enactment.
ii i aTfL ,n favor of an income tax, be
liovlrig that each person should pay to
ward the support of the government In
acennlntiro ultii ikni ...tii. i , ...
favor a liberal pension policy. That all
differences between the larger corporations
oiVJi.il. "u,"f'u" employes Should bo
settled by arbitration.
W. ifa.vor..tno, maximum freight law
passed by tho democratic and populist
leglslnturn nt Mtvt o.i ..., i t '. ...
amendment In harmony with the constitu
tion, as defined by tho supremo court.
INDORSES ALLEN.
Wfl fn.Vflr iht Alfwtn ttu-.i ci.
senato hv ATrf ii"" , '.u"""":".?1"'1"
appreciate ami approve the efforta of our
h ,VS. ., ViVEVA ..'" -l"e-.?eilS-1?. "a i"
rn-S'i!!?.1" V AIlen ,n rl candidacy
;?.r1,fcct,0,l'..lnd osk the closest scru
tiny of tho public on the conduct and man-
Of Annh rnanw( ipa m MlJ
tlnn nf (h T.i. '":rJLl 'J'""81"":
WO IftVftr nh nmnrKlMAnt it... At..
rViSKvI of.i.tno ""Preme court to flvo and
"eat'ng tho office of three railroad com-
..vT m- . " ivj"mg tor tnc lining of
such offices by the direct voto of the peo.
8CHOOL BOARD RECORD.
Wft Imlnran M,n -MnMMn.j.n - . .
.....ti T V. "'""""-imuwonH ot UOV-
nf Hlc1?mb 'P reference to the Invest-
mc"dment to tho constitution for Invest-
hh ",cltr"1 in siuie ana county warrants.
thV tinShSfnSZi "?"J "r.,nPPr2va ?r
..Mi..V "- nHuuiuiaiiuii oi Blnte
2 "tutlons, that tho people through thel?
n7.Y.i-. .-'L V'" """"".' v.es m ino state
."" ,"llvo ""a retain the right to
SfZWM.X. , " not .
constitutions. ' ul"" "i"vo siuic.
iinn -?U7CV.10 hypocrisy of the repub.
ffi ln ,f,nls0Jy Pretending to bo tho
i!tfi'i.wJ.,no lts ol"cors wero embezzling the
! i A " "'"' wo ln contrast win com-
UlniijT10 l.rose"t st,nto administration for
exnoslnir Mm rmn.ia ,i, i. ,,..
offlceholilcrs. whereby the school children
fll t tin flfntn hml liAn .1 AU. t... . . m . v
-- ... ...,., u,Cii ui'iuivuu or Hundreds
of thousands of dollars.
WY fflVnt ailnll Inrvlnlnll... . ...111 - .
m...r.-i , "" ih'omuuii iih win losier
mutual and fraternal lnsuranco companies
Wo favor redisricting the stato so thnt
each part thereof may ixs moro fairly rep
resented ln tho legislature and moro ln ac
cordance with tho population.
Wn nm In fnvny rf ,i.n iHiir..i..A .1
erendum in nil cases whore such legislation
Wo again nsk the suffrage of each voter
who desires an hondjt, economic and wise
nilmtn fltrnt nn nf n..l.lt ,(
"'"", V""":, " . i'umiiu uiiuirn, nnti
promise them the fulfillment of this sacred
trust if clothed with its duty.
"Wire Men on a Strike.
A strike has been formally declared
on by tho federated wire trades at
the works of the H. R.Nall company
and American Wire company of Cleve
land, O. The strike will throw about
2,100 out of employment. The cause is
the general cut of 33 1-3 per cent
in wages, and a threatened cut of 30
per cent more.
Word came to the strikers that the
Brackus mill had closed, ostensibly for
repairs, but It was stated the move
was for the purpose of checking any
dissatisfaction that might obtain In the
plant. This swells the number of idle
men to 2S.000.
The federated wire workers' officers
say the strike will be extended to every
mill controlled by the American wire
trust, employing over 6,000 men.
The strikers held a meeting
at which It was resolved to send no
more committees to Manager Shuler;
to keep away from the mills and give
no opportunity for the company to call
on the militia, or appeal to the United
States court for an injunction, but to
maintain a peaceful .attitude and
wait.
Lincoln Special: The democratic con.
ventlon for the Fourth congressional
district was held ln the Funko opera
house after the adjournment of the
democratic state convention, and the
candidacy of W. L. Stark, the popu
list nominee, was indorsed " by ac
clamation. The republican congressional conven
tion of the First district was held In
this city, at which Hon. E. J. Burkett
of Lancaster county was nominated on
the first ballot. The committee on
resolutions was composed of Gere of
the B. & M. Journal, Taggart of Otoe,
Glfford of Pawnee, McGrew of Nemaha,
Varner of Johnson, Grlnstead ut Rich
ardson and Mayfleld of Cass.
The platform adopted Indorses Mc
Klnley and congress In the enactment
of the tariff und revenue bills, com
mends the foreign .policy of the admin
istration and the conduct of the war
and rejoices in the annexation of Ha.
wail. Allegiance Is renewed to the na
tional platform of 1896 and to the cauw
of sound money nnd protection. The
conduct of Congressman Strode Is also
commended.
The California raisin growers will
pool the raisin products. Eighty-five
per cent of the crop In Fresno, Tulare,
Madeira and Kings county has been
signed and over 60 per cent or the
crop of Kern county has been thrown
Into the pool. The association will con.
trol 90 per cent of the output.
"DUTCH COURAGE" IN WAH.
Tho Custom or Giving SpIrltoiiH
JLtquor to Men in Buttle.
It Is Bald that to prepare them for
the desperate dash out of Santiago har
bor, Ccrvera's sailors were well dosed,
with spirits to give them "Dutch cour
age," for the Spanish article was pre
sumably at a rather low ebb Just then.
Of its kind, this is an Instance quite
apart from anything recorded of mod
ern sea fights. Tho mind revolts at
the thought of reeling, drunken men
tolling at their guns or sweating In
the hell below deckB, the stoke hole.
Ab Ccrvera's mad dash with drunken
crews was typical with that which Is
old and decaying, equally typical with
that which Is new and modern was the
little episode that occurred during
Dewey's fight at Manila harbor. When
he had strewn the sea with the pierced
and battered hulks of hla enemy, and
the game was all In his own hands, he
drew oft and had coffee served to his
men. There are whole volumes In this
cotnrast.
No one accuses the Spaniards of
cowardice. It Isn't that They are sim
ply pathetically out of date. Soldiers
and sailors today do not depend on
stimulants to furnish them their In
spiration for courage; training and skill
does that.
"Dutch courage" has played quite un
important part in history. Though the
expression villifles a bravo people, who
have had better need to pump courage
out of the depths of the spirit caBk.
The phrase probably originated ln the
seventeenth century, when Holland
was worsting England on the high
seas, and even burning her fleets ln
the Thames. The English attributed all
this success on the part of their en
emy to the Inspiring Influence of their
"Bchnaps."
It la not likely, however, that the
Dutch Bailors used stimulants any
more freely than did the English, for
in the old navies spirits of some sort,
usually rum mixed with water, was
always served before a fight. In the
case of a hopeless combat, or one
against great odds, It was sent among
the men ln liberal quantities, the great
er the odds the more "Dutch courage."
On board pirate vessels, where disci
pline was lax, there was no stint of In.
toxicants on the eve of battle, and
when one of those sea rovers fell ln
with a ship of the line, and .'elt that
the "Jig" was up, every ordinary re
striction was removed. The despera
does would drink themselves Into a
condition of brutal recklessness. And
when defeat became Inevitable, It was
'this that in more than one Instance
gave them the heart to blow up their
ship and themselves, and their victori
ous foes along with them.
Among soldiers it has beeri custom
ary to give raw recruits a mtxture of
gunpowder and whisky, a mixture that
is supposed to create a frenzy which
renders men utterly insensible to fear.
Whether It does or not Is a matter of
doubt. Though the mingling of the
i powder and alcohol may have a chemi
cal action which really produces the ef
fect attributed to it.
Perhaps the most striking and dra
matic instance of the display of Dutch
courage anywhere recorded ln history
occurred at Moscow at the time of Na.
poleon's Invasion of Russia.
Kutusoff hod withdrawn his army,
while the citizens had fled from the an
clent capital of the czar's, as the French
moved upon It. When the advance
guard of the Invading force entered the
city there was no Blgn of life to be seen
anywhere; an appalling quiet reigned
on every hand, but when they pene
trated the Kremlin, the gates of which
were closed, they were greeted with a
discharge of musketry from the walls.
It was then discovered that the place
was defended by a squalid, wretched
band of men and women, of most repul
sive nnd'dlsgustlng appearance, and In
a Btate of bestial drunkenness. They
were .the sweepings of the Jails and
prisons. Count Rostopchln, the gov
ernor of Moscow, had released these
outcasts and had delegated to them a
stupendous task.
Napoleon did not enter the city until
nightfall. Shortly after 1 In the morn
ing he was informed that the Mer
chants' exchange was ln flames. As
soon as It was day he hurried to Gen
eral Mortler, whom he had appointed
military governor. Mortler was al
ready apprehensive; he showed the em
peror closed houses, from which the
smoke was issuing. They had not been
broken Into, but had evidently been
fired from the inside. The flames were
checked by the exertions of the French
soldiers.
All thlB while and during the entire
day the Incendiaries kept themselves
so well concealed that their presence
was not suspected. It was thought that
the squalid defenders of the Kremlin,
all of whom hud been either killed or
captured, were the only Russians left
In the city, but when night came the
alarm was again sounded. The city was
on fire nnd the wind was sending the
flames surging down upon the Krem
lin. Three times during the night the
wind shifted, and each time a new
Are was started In a different quarter,
to sweep toward the Kremlin. The
cause ot these fires was soon made
manifest. The hell Rostopchln had pre
pared broke loose. Men in filthy, tat
tered garments, and frenzied women ln
rags were seen rushing or reeling
among the flames. They were the Jail
birds who, as the price of their liber
ation and pardon were to destroy the
city, and most thoroughly did they per
form their work, delirious with intoxi
cation and excitement. They no longer
sought to hide themselves, but ran on
reeling to and fro, uttering ravage yells
and Imprecations, while they moved
blazing torches above their heads.
Orders were given to shoot cwory
drunken wretch on the spot, bi their
task was accomplished. Tho flro was
raging at half a hundred placca The
French soldiers were hastily put Jn
marching order. Conquerors of Mos
cow, they wero obliged to mako Utelr
camp ln the snow outside Its gates.
At Coruna ln the war of tho AUBtrlan
suscesslon, an episode occurred which
shows how baleful an influence unlim
ited "Dutch courage" may exert.
The English Bailors had made & land,
lng near Coruna, and as they advanced
upon the lower town it was vacated by
the Spanish, who retreated to the more
Btrongly fortified upper town. Before
they retreated, however, they left where
it could easily be found an immense
quantity of wine. When the Bailors
came upon It a debauch ensued, and
while they were In a condition of stu
por they were assailed from the, upper
town. In the fight that followed Bomo
two thousand were killed.
Among savages or seml-clvlllzcd peo
ples the Use of stlmulnnts on the "eve
of battle is quite a common practice.
The blacks of Australia are said to
have employed the leaf of a certain
plant which had great powers of lnvlg-
oratton, and when used ln large quan
tities it produced frenzy or madness,
which rendered them insensible atlko
to fear or wounds.
Tho natives of Afghanistan se a
preparation made from the hemp plant.
It gives them a tremendous temporary
strength, and to their natural courage
a quality ln which they are by no
means lacking It adds a wild fury.
The Malays, from all accounts a mild
and Inoffensive people In the main, but
having a remarkable propensity for
narcotic Btlmulants, go to the excess
in the use of certain vile homemade
concoctions. While he Is drunk, ln the
superlative tense, the Malay equips
himself with a kris or dagger and runs
amuck. That Is, he dashes through
his village at top speed, slashing at
any one who happens to cross his path,
and he continues this pleasant diversion
until knocked on the head.
But by far the most remarkable in
stance of the use of narcotics by Ori
entals nB an Incentive to nerve men to
deeds of blood was In the case of the
Fedavees ln the twelfth century.
These creatures were hated and
feared from one end of the world to
the other. Caliphs, kings, emperors,
princes and sultans, whether Chris
tlans, Mohammedans or Jews, all alike
lived in terror of the secret and uner
ring stroke of these assassins. Philip
gustus, king of Franco, warned that
he hnd been selected as a victim, In
stantly surrounded himself with a
guard of chosen men, and never ap
peared In public unarmed. Nothing
could show the terrible power of 'these
murderers more fully Chan tho answer
returned by their chief to nn envoy
sent to him by tho sultan. Bidding the
sultan's messenger to follow him he
led him to the top of n tower, whence
he ordered one of his subjects to fling
himself to the ground. The order was
Instantly obeyed. He then commanded
another to stab himself, and It was
done without question.
"Go," said the chief to the envoy,
"tell your master that I have seventy
thousand men ready to do as much."
The headquarters of this nest of mur
derers was In the mountains south of
the Caspian sea. The society was un
der the control of a grand master,
known all over Europe as "The old
man of the mountains."
The first old man of the mountains
was Hassan Ben Soboh, who founded
the society in 1000 A. D. It flourished
on the secret pensions received from
kings, emperors and the great and rich
of the world. Let one of these cease.
In his payments and a Fedovee was'
straightway sent to take his life, a
mission he seldom failed In.
The stimulus urging the wretch at
any risk to perform his murderous un
dertaking was the means he used to
fortify himself before setting out on
his Journey.
He chewed the hashls, or hemp plant,
and from this practice he was some
times called Hashlshln, u word that
In course of time became assassin. The
use of the hemp plant threw him Into
a stupor, and while ln this condition
he was taken to the Garden of Ala
moot, where on awakening every in
dulgence was permitted and provided
for. His pleasures ln the garden, he
was further taught to believe, were but
a forecast of the rapture ln store for
the faithful. This future bliss was to
be his If he perished In the discharge
of his duty, while he would lose all
chances of it should he fail in a ready
submission to the commands of the
grand master.
With such a faith he set forth, scorn
ful of death and all earthly punishment
determined only to do or die.
Gibbon tells us the power of this so
ciety was Anally broken by the Mogul
conqueror, Holzgon Khan, ln the year
1258, and not a vestige was left of the
enemies of mankind except the word
assassin, which In the most odious
sense has been adopted In the language
of Europe.
"Say, how much do I get?" asked
an Immune yesterday afternoon of a
comrade who had preceded him In an
interview with the paymaster on the
transport Berlin, says the New Orleans
Times-Democrat. "What do I get and
what do I say when it comes my turn?"
"One question at a time, me bold sol
dier boy," replied the happy posses
sor of the long green; "you don't do
nothing, you don't say nothing; you
Just take the piece of money the pay- V
master gives you, look grateful and
fall out of line. He's got It all figured
out, and you don't have to do any
thinking, except how to spend It."
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