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About Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 1898)
AS THRU TIKES THE CIRCULATIO OF AWT PAPER IW THE COUNTY. ADTKKTIIIK0 BAT.. NDON ProfsMlonal cards... .11 09 per Biotitb una nin . Ooe-qnaiter columa.... On half eolmm n. ....... n. i ou pr nonu I 80 pet nautk f 00 per mouth ..M 00 per moatft On oolnma Striae local will b charged at 10 ent par Una (or first Insertion and I cent par Una U .re alter. Legal advertlseaieat win la all eaae be Charted to tba party ordarlDg them, at laf al rate, and paid lor befor affidavit 1 iuralsaed ubacrlptloa ataiaa. i1 On yt (In dni;) ..... II not paid lu tvuu II M lit mouth...... 100 ;t it CONDON, GILLIAM CO., OIIEGON, jflllDAY, lfEJJItUAliY 25, 1898. liugl oou1m..... HHHHmmmtMim VOL. VII. NO. 50. TBI OFFICIAL AND LEADING PAPER OF GILLIAM COUNT!. rCBLISHKD fVIRT FRIDAY IT LOAN P. SHOT T, Editor mn rrprUtt. GO GLOBE KntertA at thl Pnttnffl?4 at OmuUm, Oregon, a smwnilWiua mail rwiMrr OFFICIAL DlllKCTOllT, United Stale.. ' Prcsldr-nt , ..William MrKlnlfj Vlre-I'reidilttnt (larrelt A. Ilnlmrt Krorntary o( Hlntn ..,. John Hlmrwaii (Vnrelary of Trra.ury l.vitiail ,1. llano Hwrmury f lim-rlor (.'iirimlliiit N. rwrniary of War... ItimM'll A. Alcir l'or(ry nf Spy , Jnlm II. Uuiit l'i'iMiRivri(MiiTl,,... Jniiiio A. (fury Atnriiy-l('ii(riU Joaopli MrKi'tma Hwrtilsry ul AKf Itullure James W llnon a tat of Oregon, Onvarnnf ........... Win. P. Lord Hnirvtary of Hittte. II. H. Kln'-nl'l TrcHiirir l'hll. Metwiian Atiiirtu--lriii'ral C. M, Mlmnan Kiipl. Of I'libllu limtcuetloti H. M. Irwin mutator I - W- Multrl'l . .....,.....,. ... " CoiigrvaitMtn ZIZZZZZZWm. w". TniiKii., 1'rliittir , W. II. ,.,.,..,.:. E. Wolverum . A. MiMir Il.B. Uuart Ollllain County. Joint Hrnator (or tlllllHin, Micrman ami ' urn ii ikw , K. H. iMtftif Hi'prt'nliiuv... ... J. K. liavld Jmlmi..,, , ,,W. i. Mariner 'lerk ... ... .... II. N. rrar Hlturlff . . , ,W. I. Wllto Tivamirvr .. H. It, Itarknr Cominlarionor. j -WmX A.M'Wuir i M.M. I'larke Mnml HHwrlnliiinlrnt,.,... K. W. Iiitiwtt Kurvuyor ...... Juilil y II mw i VUH-k ln)!lir,....,... Rulwrt M, JcilniMin ' O. 11. M. ). Tim Card. Aiti.lKon m, mt.um. Kw time earil, uklng cir( HuniUy, Fcforu. arytlih: m BdfKU. , , Mo. i-Via lltintlriun.il, Hmvcu.... M a. m. ho. 4- Via HtHtkaiie, Ivavp ,., :v . m. No, lfll.ocl In lKlit, luavc. ,...7:ffl i. m. i . wawr ixi'M. No. 1- I'nrtlniirt, lcvt .,.......,.., 12:47 a. m. No. n- l'.irtlniKl, leave 4: It a. til. Ho. 21 Wat fivtitlit, U'MV.-i 11 :Mt a. lu. . C, IIINUI.K, Alfiitit, ArllliKluIi. D It. J. J. HtXlAN PHYSICIAN AND 8URGEON, Vondon, Or. OfflpeOrrffnn ave., brtwtit Catliollc Church and inuluiioti ul M. I'. Hliutt. I W. DAttUSO Attorney at Law, Notary Public and Conveyancer, Condon, Or. rnllrptlnttitaitd liiaiiranrf. 1rmi r""nWe. Utile In rt'nr ul pmtulllee UtllltlliiK. ilaln .trtwt. Cintl.EY it ItonVNH, I . b. A. U. Ourlcy. W. II. nibyn. Attorntjt and Oomaeiou at Law Arllna-toa. Or. t!. 8. Commlmlaii nl Kotary Put.lle lit elllnt. Practioe in all the mam and (ixtural r-ourtaul tircgun and tvhlni?tiKl. All ktuda (ul U. . land and luai litt Hu-wi trau.dVU'il. ARL1NCTON-F03SIL ...STAGE LITJE. a a 1I.HBEP A.C.OOH.VIB. I'KOI'HIETOlWv , ', Fnru from ArlliiKlun tu Fimull im tnlli-ii) ..) Itimtid trip.... Ifl.Mt Muvvttlf (VI fi.tii-H) 4 H Idiiuid trip 7.1l t'tnidoil (. mllifiij, .I0 Itnt'iid trip K.t t l.'m mill-.) S MI It.Ailid trip 8 .Mi OU'i (W ill) I..W Itiiunil trip 2.M Kiaifil)vt' Arllmtloni-vi-rv mnriiliiK(Siindy cxc pK'.l) at lit ii'i'lork ! I dm at t'ntidon at 1 t. in. and arrive, at KnU at 7 p. m, t 'iiinfortablv ouui-lii-iind iiirtiiiil,cx.i'rliii'Hl UMVITH. TO THE GIVE. THC CHOICE OF TWO TRANSCONTINENTAL ROUTES ' GREAT KORTHEEN BY. VIA SPOKANE, MINNEAPOLIS, ST. PAUL AND CHICAGO. n SHORT LIKE " VIA SALT LAKE, DENVER, OMAHA AND KANSAS CITY, I.OWKST TtATKS TO KASIACKN CI 11 ICS. A 1.1. Ocran Btoamera Unv Portland Every 6 Day! SAN FRANCISCO. 'Steamers Monthly from Port'and to Yokohama and llona Kong, via the Northern Pacific Steamship Co., In con- " -i-t i.t. .i.. -v i) a. XT Beclion wiiu mo v. , . - ' For full Information call en O. R. A N. agent, 'i A Jr. U. llieiuua, Ariiugtuu, . vi., ui address " TV DWRU., OA niJLX, A CO., General Agent iloribfruI'aolne8ieamhipt:o., Portland, Or. W. H. HURLBURT, . ten, PaMrni r Asant, Portland, Ortfoa V' - THE MAINE . IS DESTROYED Terrible ; Accident in , Harbor of Havana. the OVER TWO HUNDRED KILLED Number of Wounded Cnknown Caiiae of Kiploalon a Myatery Hpanlurda Dome toth Aid of the Injured. llnviinu, Fob. 17.At quarter to 10 'clook this evening a terrible expkttioi, took pluco on bonrd tlit) United Htntui battlfl-Hhip Maine, in Havana harbor. Muny wero killed or wounded. All the bouts of the fcpaniHh cruiwir Alfonso XIII are .twitttlng. A rut the cuiibo of tiie explonion i not oppwrcnt. The wounded nailers ox the Maine are nnublo to explain it. It ia believed that the battlo-ship ia total" ly destroyed. The explosion shook the whole city. The windows were broken in all th. houses. A press correspondent say. that he has conversed with several of tho wounded snilors, and understands that the explosion took place while they were asleep, so they can give no particulars as to the cause. The wildest consternation prevails in Havana. The wharves are crowded with thousands of people. It is b- lipvod the explosion occurred in a small powder magazine. At a quarter of 11 o'clock what re mains of the Maine is still burning. Captain Sigsbce and the other offi cers have been saved. It is estimated that over 200 of the crew were killed, but it is impossible yet to give exact details. Admiral Munturola has ordered that boats of all kinds should go to tho as sistance of tho Maine and her wounded. The Havana firemen are giving aid, tending carefully to the woundod who are broncht on shore. It is a terriblfa ight. , General Zolana and the other gen er&lshavo been order I by Captain- Ounora! Blanco to send troops to help tho Maine crew in every way possible. A press correspondent has been near the Maine in a boat of tho cruiser Al fonso XIII, and has seen others of the wounded, who corroborated the state ments of those first interviewed that they were already asleep when the ex plosion occurred. Captain Sigsboe says the explosion occurred in the bow of the vessel. Orders were aivon to tho officer to save themselves as best they could The latter, who were literally thrown from their bunks in their uight cloth inti. Btive the necessary orders with groat solf-poHosBion and bravery. At 1:30 tho Maine continues burn Ing. Tho first theory was that there had been a preliminary explosion in the Santa Barbara innnmsine of powder or dynamite below the water. Admiral Manteroln believes that the first explosion wits of a grenado that wos hurled over tho navy-yard. Tho report that Captain Sigsboo was wounded is inaocurato. Captain Bigs beo, with other officers, went in a small boat to tho Ward line steamer City of Washington.' Two officers and mora than 200 of the crew are missing. Fomo of tho crew who were abl. to support themselves by swimming were saved by tho boats. Six of the wound ed crew and ono of tho officers have been token to tho military hospital by General Blanco's orders. New at the Navy Department. Washington, Feb. 17. The secretary of tho navy reoeived tho following from Captain Sigsboo: , "Tho Maine was blown up in Ha vana harbor at 9:45 and destroyed. Many wero wounded, and doubtless many wero killed and drowned. The wounded and others are on board the Spanish man-of-war and the Ward lino stoamor. Bond tho light-house-tender from Key West for the crew and tho few pieces of equipment still above wotor, , No one had other clothes than those upon him. Public opinion should bo suspended till further re ports. All tho officers are belipved to be saved. Jenkins and Merritt are not yot acoountod for. Many Spanish offi cers, including representatives of Gen eral Blanco, aro now ' with mo and express sympathy. SIGSBEE." The officers referred to in the above dispatch are Lieutenant Frank W. Jenkins and Assistant Engineer Dar win R. Morritt. From the wording of the dispatch, the navy' department thinks it ia f oaaiblo that they were ou shore at the timo of the accident. ' The secretary of the navy received another dispatch from Key West at the same time as the above, but its con tents were not made public. ONLY NINETY-SIX SAVED. Been In Haaii at iha Time of tho Maine' Kxploalon. Havana, Feb. 18. Out of 854, tho total number of tho crew of tho Maine, 08 were saved. Captain-General Blanco's official culilo message was filed at midnight. Half an hour after midnight 3U of the crew of the Maine had been carried to the military hospital of Ban Ambroso. They were all seriously wounded. Five others of the crow , were taken to the Alfonso XIII hospital. On board tho Spanish cruiser Alfonso XIII 26 of the wounded were treated, and 30 were succored ou board the City of Washington. -wa--- George Cowlor, an accountant of tho Maine, is among tho men seriously wounded. The crew of the steamer Colon saved two wounded men. Tho Maine, at tho time of the explo sion, was at anchor about 600 yards from the arsenal, and some 200 yards from the floating dock. The explo sion put out the street lights near the whatf and blew down telegraph and telephone wires in tho city. Admiral Manterola and General Halona put on: to the Maino soon after tho explosion and offered their services to Captain SigHbee. The first explosion ia said to have been caused by over 000 pounds of gun cotton, and tho subsequent explosion ia alleged to have been caused by shells and cartridges. The passengers of the City of Wash ington gave up their staterooms to the injured men. An iron truss from the Maine fell on the pantry of tho City of Washing ton, breaking the tableware of the steamer. Lieutenant-Commander Wainwright, of the Maine, was half undressed at 45 P. M., and was smoking in his cabin next to that of Cuptaiu Bigsbee, it is said, when the explosion occurred and put out the electric lights. Wain wright then lit a match and went to Captain Sigsbee's cabin. Tho captain, it appears, had been thrown from his bod, but was uninjured. They both went on deck and gave orders to flood 2,500 pounds of gun-cotton which was ou board. The demand was carried out, but the men who fulfilled it never returned. Havana, however, was saved from a still more terrible explo sion. Four boats were lowered, all manned by officers, and one of them was lost. Captain Sigsbee went in hi own launch on board the Spanish cruiser Alfonso XIII to thank her captain and officers. He nfterwari went on board the City of Washington, where Lieu- tenant-General W. T. Brunner, acting sanitary inspector of Havana, and the correspondents of American papers had already gathered. Cantain Siusljeo, interviewed this evening by a corregmndent with refer ence to the cause of the explosion, said: "I cannot determine tho cause, but competent investigators will decide whether the explosion was produced from an interior or exterior cause cannot say anything until after Bitch an investigation has boon made. will not and cannot conscientiously anticipate the decision, nor do. I wish to make any unjust estimate of tho reason for tho disaster." Lieutenant-Commander Wainwright believes the explosion was due to the short-circuiting of the dynamo. One of the officers of tho Maine said today that at 8 o'clock lust night all the magazines on board the battlo-ship Maine wero closed, and the keys turned over to Captain SigHbee, the com mander. Tho mutilated bodies ol 13 men were washed ashore at Kegia and Casa Blanco, opposite Havana. Seven bodies wero identified by Chaplain Clmdwick as thoso of Graham. Mc Donald, Kay and, Nero, Kinsman Dlerking and Brown. Tho others have not yet been identified. They have been taken to the morgue and will be buried tomorrow at 2 P. M. A monument will bo erected by sub scriptions, headed by the American newspaper correspondents. An Immediate Inveatlgatlon Ordered. Washington, Feb. 18. Secretary Long has undoubtedly summarized the general opinion of the majority of the naval experts in finding it impossible just now to state the oauso of the de struction of the Maine. There are a great number of theories, but most of them aro of a character that makes it easy to prove or upset them by a singlo investigation by a diver. Secretary Long has taken immediate steps to make this investigation. Ho has tele graphed to Admiral Sioard, at Key West, to apiioint a board of naval officers to proceed at onco to Havana, employ divers and gonereally make such inquiries as the regulations of the navy department demands shall be made in the case of the loss of a ship. All flags on department buildings and on naval vessels have been ordered at half mast. Public men express their opinions with reserve - when' approaohed, but everywhere there was a demand for an investigation and full details, in tho light of which tho horror may bo justly viewed. : Capalaed With Fatal Jieeolta. New York, Feb. 18. A tugboat said to be the Frttnkio caiwizeil and sunk in the lowor buy. It is said at least fiva men were lost. i - - VI A Court of Inquiry to Look Into Maine Disaster. THE WRECK WILL BE RAISED Man 4bnrd Bumor Afloat Concerning Cant bf Dlaa.ter Burial of tba Dead and Caring for the Wounded. Washington, Feb. 19. Tho govern- ineiii has settled book into waiting attitude in respect to the terrible Maine disaster in Havana hariior. The great shock caused by the news has given way to a calmer and more judicial state of mind, and, realizing from the events of the day that the court of inquiry is the solo dependence in the search fox the cause of the Maine's disaster, the naval officers are'now resigned to await the results of that inquiry by a court openfcd today by the navy department, There was little news to arid to the sum of information as to the disaster re ceived during the forenoon. No tele grams came, and the only news gleaned was a denial of some absurd story or other that had crept into pimt or be. come current gossip. All the news ol the day came in the lato afternoon in the shape of Captain Sjgsbee'a report of tho authorization of tho funeral of his dead sailors, and General Lee's pranl.io atorv of the tarrlhile stmctrle fnr life In the dark hull of the Maine. The officials at tho navy department devoted the day to the effort of correct ing the list of living and dead, to an swering frantic telegraphic appeals from relatives of men on the battleship. and last, but not least, in meeting with unwavering courtesy and patience the exacting demands upon their time Dy the press reporters. The disposition ol thesumvora, Cap. tain Pickens, acting hiel ol the navi gotion bureau, has arranged for as well as could be done from this distance. The wounded sailors in the Havana hospitals, on the Spanish flagship and elsewhere, when not in condition to be brought back to Key West, will b carefully looked after by Miss Clara Barton, who has been given carte HI. .!. A lAltHwanvlliln. avorv.lt inn I Uiuwrew..,.,...s--M necessary, lood and delicacies, ana Hire nurses and physicians. The wounded able to get across to Key West will be taken care of In the marine hospital there. Tho sound survivors will be quartered in the array barracks there As for the Maine herself, notwith standing discouraging reports . from Lieutenant Howe as to her condition, the navy department will try to raise her. They say they are bound to re move the hull from the small harbor, in any case, and it may be as easy, or easier, to raise her as a wou.ni oe to destroy the hull and machinery by the use Of divers and dynamite. It is be IteveiPthe work can be done by private wrecking corporations, and negotia tions are already afoot for placing the contract, baBed1 on work by the day, at an estimated cost of $200,000. At the navy department specific de nial was given of the report emanating from Madrid that a torpedo flotilla was about to leave Key West for Cuba It was stated that only two torpedo boats, tho Cushing and Ericsson, are at Key West, ami these have not been ordered, and will not be ordered, ac cording to the present plans, to Cuba. It was strongly asserted that no pres ent purpose existed of sending another warship there. On the streets there was noticeably less excitement than yesterday, when tho people were loth to believe that the loss of the Maine could be traced to other than Spanish sources. All the flags throughout the city, in cluding those on the capitol and the de partment buildings, are flying at half mast, and among tho others is oon epicuously that of "Cuba libre," which flies from the staff ol the Hotel Raleigh, the headquarters of the Cuban junta. Believe a Ilarvey Torpedo Did It. Chicago, Feb. 19. Emil Gathman, the inventor, believes tho Maine was destroyed by a Harvey torpedo. He ia oonversant with Havana harbor, and from personal examination is familiar with the equipment of the Maine. Mr. Gathman served two yeais as a naval apprentice aboard the training- ship Portsmouth when Captain Sigsboe was her commander. Xhree years ago he was a member of the engineering corps which conducted the second trial trip of the Maine. The Ineolenoe of Weyler. Baroelona, Fob. 19. Lieutenant General Weyler, who arrived hero to day, expressed the opinion, in the course of an Interview, that the dis aster which had befallen the United States warship ia Havana was. due "to tho insolence of her crew." Ho an nounced his intention to ask the gov ernment's permission to go to Havana and stand as a candidate for the Cham bor of deputies for the Havana district. Direr and Wrecking Gear. Key West, Feb. 19. The coast sur vey steamer A. D. Bacho arrived this afternoon from Dry Tortugas In com mand of Lieutenant Barnet. Early to morrow morning she will leave for Ha vana, taking divers and such wreckage fear as is obtainable. EXPECTED TO BE BLOWN UP. Prediction of One of the Men on tho Battte-Shlp. Detroit, Mich., Feb. 19. A special to the News from Bay Cty, Mich., says: A letter was received today from Elmer Meilstrup, a gunner on the Maine, dated February 11, in which Meilstrup wroto that he would not be surprised if they should be blown up any day; that the ship was surrounded wth tor pedoes and could not leave the harbor without the consent and direction of the Spanish authorities. Meilstrup s letter says: "The Spaniards have a couple of gun boats and a cruiser and there are two German gunboats. .-Tho gun of Morro castle are pointed at ns as I write. The whole bottom of the harbor is covered with torpedoes, so, if they did not want to let us out, we would not be able to go very well. We are lying between the Spanish and German men- of-war, and they have picket boats out all night watching ns." In a letter of February 7, Meilstrup says: "Don't look for any trouble unless something very unexpected should hap pen In a letter of January 15, Meilstrup told of an accident aboard the cruiser Marblehead, when five men were in' jured by a shot. Commenting, he says: "It is a wonder some of the ships don't blow up; tl.ey are so careless. These letters were addressed to the writer's mother, Mrs. James Meilstrup. Washington, Feb. 19. Elmer M Meilstrup, of West Bay, Mich., accord ing io trie naval records, was not a gunner, but was rated as an ordinary seaman on the Maine, Meag;e of Condolence. Washington, Feb. 19. A number of messages have been received at the state department from foreign govern mente, expressing regrets in connection with the Maine disaster. Among them are the following: 'Secretary of State: I have the honor to inform you that I am com manded by the queen to convey to the president the expression of her majesty's sympathy with the American people on the ocasion of the sad disaster which has befallen their navy by the loss of tl.A hartlraari.n Maine .nil thA mam I bars ol nor crew. I -request that you .... . onnd ennilv to traBm,it the above message to its high destination, I have the honor to be, with the high est consideration, your most humble servant, "JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE Berlin, Feb. 19. To the President of the United States, Washington "Let me express my sincere sympathy to you and your country at the t'errible loss of the Maine and the death of so many brave officers and men. "WILLIAM III." Secretary Long received the follow ine cablegram from the Kusstan nun ister of marine at St. Petersburg: 'I have just received the news of the Maine's terrible disaster. I beg you to accept my own and the Russian navy's sincere sympathy. "VICE-ADMIRAL P. TYRLOW, "Minister of Marino." Secretary Long received the follow ing during the day: I regret with all my soul the ter rible catastrophe of the Maine, and sen mv condolence ior the victims an their families. The Spanish navy is in mourning for the American navy. SOBRAL, "Naval Attache, Spanish Navy." WRECK OF THE FLACHAT. Only Burring Faaaenger Tell of the Diaaater, Teneriffe, Canary Islands, Feb. 19. M. Munoz, tho only surviving pas senger of the Campagnie Generale Transatlantic steamer Flaohat, bound from Marseilles for Colon, that was wrecked at Amiga point, this island. early yesterday morning during thick weather, says: ' "When the Flschat grounded, her engineers let off the steam and thereby prevented tho boilers irom bursting. The passengers, under charge of the doctor and the second officer, were shut up in the deckhouse under tip bridge. The captain ordered the boats out, but the vessel took a heavy list to port, and three of the port boats were car ried away by a heavy sea directly after launching. An attempt was then made to launch the starboard lifeboat, and, after working steadily from 2 till 9 in the morning, it succeeded. "Those on board made a rush and 50 jumped into the sea in an endeavor to reach the boat. Only 16 succeeded, and two of these were washed out. The boat was full of water, and it was impossible to use the oars. After half an hour the steamer Susie arrived and picked up the 14 iu the boat. There were still about 40 people on the wreck, but when the Susie re turned from Santa Cruz not a soul was to be seen, and the sea was washing over the wreck. The captain and officers did their best, but owing to the mountainous seas it was impossible to save the women and children. All were obliged to jump to save their lives. , The captain was in bed when the vessel struck, and the second officer was in ohargo," The fastest railroad in the world is "t FWina Welshman;" its fame hut extouded around the globe. Epitome of the Telegraphic News of the World. fERSE TICKS FROM THE WIRES In Interesting Collection of Item From the Kew and the Old World In Condenaed and Comprehensive Form The secretary of the interior has dis missed the appeal of the state of Ore gon from the decision of the land office, holding for cancellation the indemnity school selection of lands in The Dalles land district of Oregon. Authentic reports have reached Shanghai of recent date from all sec tions of the Chinese empire, indicating that riot and attack upon ' foreigners it the order of the day. The attacks -seem to be those of isolated ruffians rather than a concerted aotion on the part of the populace. Another rich strike is reported as having been made in the Bine Jay mine, on Yorrison gulch, a tributary of Coffee creek, Trinity county, Cali fornia, by the Graves brothers. The new pocket is said to be worth $60,000. It will be remembered that a $40,000 trike by the Graves brothers caused a rush to Coffee creek last summer. The senate committee on education and labor has decided by a unanimoua vote to report favorably the bill pre pared by the trainmen of the country, and recently introduced in the senate by Kyle, providing for the arbitration of railroad strikes by a board -of arbi tration to be chosen by the strikers and the interstate commerce committee. A special from Washington says: A cablegram received by tbe secretary of state from Minister Woodford, at Mad rid, announces that the government of Spain has disavowed the letter of Da Lome to Senor Canalejas. This dis claimer, as tbe administration officials are pleased to call it, is regarded as satisfactory, and the president has au thorized the announcement that the incident is closed. Rev. C. O. Brown, the California minister who figured in the Overiitari -case, has been formally ..dropped , from membership in the Chicago Congrega tional Association. The outlook in France is gloomy, and many prominent men fear a down fall of the government may result from the recent agitation. One writer de clares that anarchy prevails in the army, the law and the streets. Dispatches from Guatemala state that anarchy reigns supreme through out the country, as a direct result of the assassination of President Barrios and the plotting of the leaders of vari ous factions to get into power in the republic. The house library committee has made a favorable report on the bill to appropriate $10,000 to erect a statue in Monterey, Cal., to Commodore John D. Sloat, who, on July 7, 1840, landod at Monterey and declared the land United States territory. A dispatch to the New York World from Havana says: General Blanco's fiasco in Eastern Cuba, the postponing of tho elections, Do Lome's retire ment, and the recent activity of the in surgents make the outlook black for autonomy and for Spain. The failure of the scheme of election will lie proof to all nations that autonomy is dead, and the government ia naturally do laying the evil hour. There is a rumor in Havana that the palace authorities have a letter written by Consul-General Lee, the contents of which are as interesting, even exciting, for Spain, as' the Do Lome letter to Canalejas was for the the United States. Another report was set afloat that Genearl Leo had resigned. This, however," is known to be untrue. A strong effort is being made to get Gen eral Lee in the same boat with Do Lome. The members of the autonomist cabinet do not like him. There is a general impression among the pan-American diplomats in Wash ington, says a correspondent, that Costa Rica and Nioaragua are very near war. Both governments have as sumed belligerent attitudes, according to information which has reached Washington, and it is the expectation of Central Americans in Washington that President Zehtya will demand a disavowal of Costa Rica's responsi bility in connection with the revolu tion in San Juan del Sur. Two British warships are now in Nicaraguan wa ters, and more are expected. One of these now in Nicaragua is at Coriuto and the other at San Juan del Sur. The annual report of the civil service commission for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1897, has been presented to the president It begins with a state ment to show that after an experience of nearly 15 years the hopes of the ad vocates of the civil service law have been largely realized. In practice the law has proved effective in the direc tion of economy. Considering the few changes in the service under the merit system, following the wholesale re movals system the economy and effici ency of the one stands iu striking con trast to the extravagance and ineffioi. ency of the other. The report speaks highly of the promotion system, based on the efficiency record.