KHI Of ill
The Ex-President Passed Away
Yesterday Afternoon.
UNCONSCIOUS TO THE LAST MOMENT
End Cams Palnlculy While iht General wi
Surrounded by Membcri of his Fimlly,
Except Mil Sen and Deughtcr.
Indianapolis, March 14. General
Ilenjumln Harrison died at 4:45
o'clock yesterday afternoon without
regaining consciousness. His death
was quiet and painless, there being
a general sinking until the end came,
which was marked by a single gsp
for breath as life depurted from the
body of tho statesman. The relatives,
with a few exceptions, and several
of the ei presldent's old and tried
friends were at the bedside when be
passed away.
None of General Harrison's chil
dren were present at his death.
Neither HusskII Harrison nor Mrs.
McKce had reacbe. the city, although
both were hurrying on their way to
the bedside of thiir dying father as
fust as steam would bear them. KHz
th. tho little daughter, had been
taken from the sick room by her
Aurso before tho end came.
General Harrison's Career.
Itcnjunitn Harrison, 23d president
of the United States, was burn at
North Bond. ().. August SO, 1833. His
father, John Scott Harrison, was third
son of General William Henry Harri
son, ninth president of the United
States, who was the third and young
Ht son of Ucnjamln Harrison, one of
the signers of the Declaration of In
dependence, from Virginia. He was
married October 20. 1853, to Caroline
Scott, duughter of Dr. John W. Scott,
who was then president of Oxford
female seminary.
After studying law under Storer &
Gwynne In Cincinnati he waa admitted
Til K I.ATK HKNJAMIN IIAKUIHON.J
to the bar In 1854 and began the
practice of his profession at Indian
apolis, which .had since been his
home. Soon' afterward he was ap
pointed crier of the federal couit at
$2.60 per day. This waa the first
money he ever earned.
In 1800 Mr. Harrison was choRcn
reporter of tho supreme court of Illi
nois on the republican ticket by a
majority of 6b8. When the civil
war began ho assisted In raising the
Seventieth Indiana regiment of vo un
teers, and became Its second lieuten
ant nlthoueh Governor Morton ten
dered him its command. At the clone
of the war ho went to Wnshln-ton.
I). C to take part In the Grand Army
review, at which he was duly mus
tered out, Juno 8, 18(15; not, however,
until he had received a commission
as brevet brigadier general, signed
by Abraham Lincoln and counter
signed by R. M. Stanton, secretary
of war, dated March 22. 1865, stating
that it waa given for "ability and man
ifest energy and gallantry in com
mand of the brigade."
In 18(18 and 1872 he took part In
the presidential campaign In support
of General Grant, traveling- over In
diana and speaking to largo aud
iences. In 186 ho at first declined
a nomination for governor on the
republican ticket, consenting to run
only after tho regular nominee had
withdrawn. He received almost 2,000
more votea than hla associates on the
ticket, but was nevertheless beaten.
In 1880, ns chairman of the Indiana
delegation In the republican national
convention, ho cast nearly the entire
vote of tho state lor James A. Garfield
for president. President Garfield of
fered him a place In his cabinet, but
he declined It, preferring the UnltoC
States Benatorshlp from Indiana, tc
which ho had Just been chosen, and
which he held from 1881 to 1887. He
was dolegate-at-large to the republican
national convention in 1884; June 19
1888, at Chicago, 111., and on the elpht
and final ballot he had received 544
votes to 118 for John Sherman. 100
for Russeil A. Alger, 59 for W. Q
Greshar.i, 5 for J. G. Blaine and 4 for
William McKlnley, as the candidate of
that party for president. The nomina
tion was made unanimous, and in No
vember he was elected, receiving 233
votes In the electoral college to 1C8
for Grover Cleveland. He waa duly
Inaugurated March 4, 1889.
Since General Harrison's retirement
from the presidency he had devoted
himself almost entirely to his law
practice, his only public service being
his appearance in 1898 as counsel for
Venezuela In the South American re
public's dispute with England over her
boundary line. Last ycir he was ap
pointed by President McKlnley one of
the American members of the inter
national arbitration tribunal.
WILL REMOVE OBSTACLES.
Colombia Wants Ua to Control tha
Canal Rout.
WASHINGTON, March 15,8enor
Mart'nez Sllvola, minister of foreign
affairs for tha republic of Colombia,
and at present accredited aa Colom
bian mlnlBtor to Washington, had an
other conference with Secretary Hay
tonight In connection with the In
formal discussion concerning the Pan
ama canal rout lying within Colombia.
It cannot be aald that any formal ne
gotiation are under way, or even are
open, but the presence of Bllvela here
at thla time gives assurance that If
there la any deposition on tho part
of the American authorities to toke
up the canal queatlon with the Colom
bian government, the lutter la now
dlsposod to remove any obstacles on
her part In the way of adoption of
that route. It la recognized that there
are three parties to any negotiations
which would be undertaken namely.
the United Btatea government, the
Colombian government and the French
company. The purpoHe Is to see if
there Is any .means of reconciling the
Interests and or disposing of all thrco
parties. Dr. Sllvela said today that
tha French nrotartnra had pmipai.
slon which had been renewed for six
years, out ir the American government
desired the Panama route, he said,
there can be an arrangement ITrtnl
to meet the requirements set forth In
the recent report of the Walker com
mission. SAMPSON-SCHLEY CONTROVERSY
Recurrence Likely Over Design of
Medals for Santiago Heroee.
NEW YOHK. March 15. A special
from Washington says: Naval circles
are deeply interested In the designs
to be placed by the navy upon the
bronze medals to be awarded to of
ficers who distinguished themselves
during the war and subsequently.
Officers and men who participated In
the battle of Manila bay received a
medal, on one aide of which was the
profile in bas-relief of Admiral Dewey.
Some of the frlenda of Rear Admiral
Sampson urge that the medal to be
given to officers who participated In
the Santiago battle should have the
profile of that offlcer. In order to pre
vent any controversy on the subject.
Secretary J Mag haa referred the mat
ter to the board of awards, of which
Assistant Secretary Hackett Is chair
man. None of tne members of thla
board participated In the West Indian
operations, with the exception of
Hear Admiral Watson, who haa taken
no part in the Schley-Sampson con
troversy. In addition to awarding medals to
the officers and men who served with
distinction In the Santiago campaign,
Secretary Long, In accordance with
the authority granted him, will con
fer medals upon officers and men who
participated In the Samoan, Chinese
and Philippines campaigns.
IS GERMANY LIABLE?
She May Be Obliged to Pay for Dam
ages In Samoa.
NEW YORK, Marcn 15. Germany's
responsibility for the troubles that oc
curred In Samoa three years ago, and
resulted In the killing of American
and British oftlcers and men and the
partition of the Samoan Islands will
be determined by King Oscar of Nor
way and Sweden.
According to a special to the Her
ald from Washington, Great Britain
and Germany have completed their
briefs of the property claims filed by
the subjects of each, which grew out
of the military operations of the Eng
lish and American forces. The state
department at Washington has prac
tically completed Its brief. The docu
ment will not be made public until
submitted to the royal arbitrator, but
It Ib understood that while It does not
directly mention the part Germany
played in the Samoan troubles, there
are pointed references to the activity
of certain foreign agents. These
references are to be reinforced by an
attorney, wno will be sent to Stock
holm as the American representative.
If the American contention should be
established, Germany would have to
pay dnmnges to both Great Britain
and the United States for losses sus
tained In San.oa.
During the Samoan troubles, Great
Britain acted in concert with the
United States and waa disposed to
hold Germany responsible. Whether,
after the change in the relations, she
is willing to reassert the views then
entertained, Is a question that will be
determined only when her brief la
submitted.
THE THIRTIETH RETURNS.
Transport Hancock Brings Home a
Regiment of Volunteers.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 15.--The
transport Hancock has arrived from
Manila with the Thirtieth United
States volunteer infantry. There were
in all 875 people on board, of which
number 26 are army officers and 738
non commissioned officers and men
of tho Thirtieth volunteers. The reg
iment U composed of men from Mich
igan, Illinois and Indiana, the Mich
igan men predominating. The Han
cock also brought 72 prisoners and
discharged soldiers, who were deport
ed on a military order.
Among the prisoners on the Han
cock were two under life sentence
James Dugan, Eleventh cavalry, who
killed a comrade during a quarrel,
and Ellwood Morgan, a negro, Forty
ninth Infantry, wno assaulted a Fili
pino woman. Brigadier General Camp
bell waa among the cabin passengers.
Northwest Postofflcet. ,
Washington, March 15. A postofflce
has been established at Agate, Jack
son county, Or., on the route from Tolo
to Eagle Point. Jefferson F. Grlgsby
has been appointed postmaster.
An office has also been established
at Grant, Mason county, Wash., with
John H. Bill aa postmaster.
To the Limitations of the Man
churian Treaty.
PLACES RUSSIA IN ABSOLUTE CONTROL
Foreign Envoyi Again Consider the Question
of Indemnltiei Earl U Hung Qunj
Hai fully Recovered.
Pekln, March 16. China has strenu
ously objected to the limitations of
the Mancburlan convention respect
lng the importation of arms, the re
organization of the army and the
practical control by Kusala over Chi
nese officials.
At today's meeting of the foreign
ministers the question of Indemnities
was further considered. LI Hung
Chang Is reported as again in good
health. Field Marshal Count von
Waldersee left here this morning for
Tien Tstn. General Gaselee has left
for Wei Hal Wei, and will go thence
to Shanghai.
The Russian Agreement.
Washington, March 16. Our gov
ernment has not yet been able to
obtain anything like an official state
ment of the contents of the alleged
agreement between Russia and China
respecting the protectorate over Man
churia. The opposition to the Russian
move has not crystallized up to thla
moment, but it la felt that there is
every prospect of a consummation of
the agreement, unless the other pow
ers, which now hang undecided, speed
ily come to a determination to op
pose It In view of this Impending
crisis, tne oincials here would regard
as of secondary Importance the ne
gotiations at Pekln respecting the In
demnities and punishments were It
not for the bellei that there Is great
(danger by undue Insistence by the
I ministers at Pekln upon the collec
tion of Impossible Indemnities and
the continuance of punitive measures.
The United Statea government will
be obliged In deference to public sen
timent here to mantaln an attitude
of exast neutrality and withhold any
assistance that might otherwise be
reasonably requested, In the greater
flurpoBe of checking the consumma
tion of an agreement which Is almost
certain to result In the partition of
China. So. as already stated, Special
Commissioner Kockhill Is acting
under the Instructions of the depart
ment, doing his best to keep the de
mands of the ministers within the
bounds of the ability of the Chinese
government to meet, thereby follow
ing the consistent policy of the de
partment, laid down as far back aa
last summer.
TOWN WIPED OUT.
Cloverport, Ky., Burned and 1000 Per
sons Rendered Homeless.
CLOVERPORT, Ky., March 16.
The bursting of a natural gas pipe at
midnight started a tire that destroyed
property worth $500,000. The greater
part of thla little town was com
pletely wiped out, and over 1000 per
sons, about one-half the population,
are homeless, and were In great dis
tress until a special relief train from
Louisville reached here. The heaviest
oser is the American Tobacco Com
pany, which lost two large stemmertes
and 1,000,000 pounds of tobacco. The
company's Iobs has not been esti
mated. Bucket brigades were formed
and men and women alike fought the
flames valiantly, but to no purpose.
Exhausted women and children hud
dled in little groups, wherever shelter
could be found, from the biting cold
of the night and early morning.
Neighboring towns were asked for
assistance in fighting the fire, but
before it could be rendered, the high
wind nad swept the flames through
the place, making' the devastation
complete.
Aa soon as the management of the
Louisville, Henderson & St., Louis
railroad learned that hundreds of peo
ple were homeless, they ordered avail
able coaches between Louisville and
Henderson hurried to Cloverport, anJ
there the unfortunates - will, for the
time being, make their homes. The
management also sent 5.000 loaves of
bread and other food. Not a store was
left in the town where a mouthful of
food could be obtnlned. Adjutant
General Murray telegraphed that 500
tents had been shipped from Frank
fort and the authorities at Louisville
wired that a tralnload of relief sup
plies quickly gathered would leave at
noon.
IN INTERESTS OF BOTH.
Piatt Says Hla Amendment Is Not a
One-Sided Affair.
WASHINGTON, March 15. Senator
Piatt, of Connecticut, author of the
much discussed Piatt amendment relat
ing to Cuba, had a brief talk with the
president today regarding Cuba, and
later saw Secretary Root. Mr. Piatt,'
when asked concerning the published
criticism from Havana concerning the
amendment bearing his name, declined
to enter into any discussion as to a
particular criticism made by a certain
distinguished Cuban leader, but on the
general subject said:
"The Cubans will see in the end that
the amendments are as much in their
Interests as they are in the interests
of the United States. There may be
at the start a little offended dignity
growing out of misapprehension of pur
poses and alms, but I have no doubt
that the Cubans will Ultimately see the
sincerity of purpose which has actuat
ed us in framing the amendment, alike
in their Interest and in tho Interest
of thla country."
THE PAN-AMERICAN
Arrangements Nearly Completed
Will Open May 1.
BUFFALO, N. Y March IS- It has
been decided to open the Pan-American
exposition May 1. At that time
President McKlnley and bis cabinet
are expected to be on their way to
the Pacific coast. It is proposed to
connect the president's train by tele
graph with the temple of music. Di
rect telegraphic communication will
also be established with the executive
offices of the presidents of all the re
publics of the Western hemisphere
and the governor general of Canada.
At precisely 2 o'clock, Buffalo time,
they will all be requested to touch
electric buttons in their offices, which
will start pieces of machinery at the
exposition. At the same time It Is
expected that each will transmit a
message of greeting.
President McKlnley, from his spe
cial car, surrounded by his cabinet,
will then start the great fountain
pumps, and will transmit over the
wires a message of greeting.
May 14 it is proposed to hold im
posing dedicatory ceremonies when it
is expected that Vice-President Roose
velt, Governor Odeli and a large num
ber of national and diplomatic of
ficials will be present. A day, prob
ably between June 9 and 12, will be
designated President's day, when
President McKlnley and his party, on
the return from the coast, will be
present.
Taft Commission's Plan.
New York, March 16. A Washing
ton dispatch to the l imes says:
The Taft commission has been or
dered to forward to the war depart
ment Its recommendations for the
form of government to be adopted In
the Philippines. This Is in accord
ance with the original instructions, by
the terms of which the commission
was to prepare such recommendations
whenever ordered to do so. The time
has come, in tne estimation of tne
president, when plans for the govern
ment of the Philippines may be sub
mitted for his consideration. No in
timation of the nature of the scheme
has yet been received. The commis
sion, it is declared, has not received
any suggestions from Washington,
but has been left entirely unham
pered. It may propose any form of
government it thinks fit.
Demand on Sultan of Morocco.
New York, March 16. A special to
the World from Washington says:
The cruiser New York will stop at
Tangier on the way to Manila, and
take on board Consul General Gum
mere, who will be conveyed to the
nearest port to tne Moroccan capital.
The consul general is to demand that
the sultan settle the claim of Ameri
can citizens against his government
The Wew York will await the return
of . the consul general. The consul
general could make the trip from
Tangier on merchant vessels plying
In those waters, but it has been the
policy of the administration 'to Im
press the sultan by a naval demon
station in Moroccan waters.
India's Population Stationary.
Calcutta, March 18. Complete cen
sus returns give the population of
India aa 294,000,000, an Increase In the
last decade of 7,000,000. Deducting
the population of the Baluchistan,
Shauetaksat, Chlon hills and Sikkim
territory, enumerated for the first
time, a net increase is shown of only
1.4 per cent, which is due to improved
census methods. Thus, the population
Is for the first time stationary. Ow
ing to two famines, mortality from
disease and a great decline in the birth
rate, the native states show exces
sive declines.
A CLASH IMMINENT.
Trouble at Tien Tsin Between British
and Russians.
TIEN TSIN, March 18. The British
and Russians a-e disputing over the
limits of railway property in the Rus
sian concession, and the guards of the
two nations, are in close proximity to
each other. The British have been
strongly reinforced, and trouble is im
minent unless the Russians retire.
Warships In Venezuelan Waters.
Port of Spain, Island of Trinidad
(via Haytien cable), March 18. The
German second-class cruiser Vineta Is
reported to be making further inves
tigation in regard to the matters In
connection with the Island of Mar
guerita. The Italian third-class cruiser
Dogali is here watching Venezuelan
affairs and is ready to start at once
to protect Italian interests in Vene
zuela If necessary. The United States
cruiser Scorpion has arrived here.
Fire in Washington Hotel.
Washington, March 18. At 3:53 A.
M. today, electric light wires started
a fire in the Merchants hotel, 485
Pennsylvania avenue, which spread
rapidly, causing panic, among the.
guests, several of whom Jumped from
the window. L. F. Henry, 48 years
old, was killed. The injured are;
Stephen Collins, proprietor of the ho
tel; W. B. Catchings, of Kentucky;
John Scanlon, and W. B. Ketchum, of
Connecticut.
Library for St. Louis.
St. Louis, March 18. Andrew Carne
gie haa offered to donate $1,000,000
for a new public library in St. Louis.
The offer is similar to many others
which Mr. Carnegie has made to cities
throughout the United States and
abroad.
Simplicity.
There la still now and then a man
simple enough to go gunning for an
office without a barrel. Detroit
Journal.
IK IB LOST
Fire in a Boston Newspaper
Building.
THE PROOFREADERS ARE THE VICTIMS
Upper Floor of the Advertiser Office Burned
Out Most of the Employe! Escaped
to an Adjoining Roof.
BOSTON, March 18. Three fires
sacrificed, nearly a dozen men more
or less Injured, and many thousands
of dollars of damage were the result
of a fire In the Daily Advertiser and
Record's seven-story, gray front build
ing In Newspaper Row tonight -
How the fire started is not known,
but it was first seen in the pressroom.
It spread to the elevator well, and
darted to the top so rapidly that be
fore the occupants of the two upper
floors were aware that the building
was on fire their rooms were filled
with flames and smoke.
In the editorial rooms on the sixth
floor there were but five men. All
had to run for their lives. On the
upper floor, occupied by the compos
ing room, were 18 composers and
proofreaders, whose situation waa
most critical. Panic stricken, they
rushed for the windows leading to
the lire escapes, and all but three of
them succeeded In gaining the roof
of an adjoining building. Long lad
ders were raised as quickly as the
network of electric wires over the
street would permit, but before a lad
der could be placed In position the
men had dropped through a skylight
in the adjoining roof and reached
places of safety. Except In the press
room in the basement tnere was prac
tically no fire In the building below
the fifth story. No one was in the
pressroom at the time the fire started
except the fireman, who had not been
seen up to a late hour. It took three
hours of work to drown out the fire.
The three victims were suffocated
before they had time to reach the
fire escapes.
Late tonight the loss was estimated
at $150,000, with little insurance.
DEWET IS INSANE.
Statement Made by Prisoners Lately
Released.
BLOEMFONTEIN. March 18. Pris
oners who have lately been released
by General Dewet say they think he
is a madman. They aver that the ter
rible fatigues he has undergone, his
anxiety and the intensity of his feel
ings have unbalanced his mind. Apart
from this view of Dewet's mental state,
some of his peculiarities are that he
rarely sleeps within the bounds of his
camp. He seeks rest outside with a
few trusted followers. Thus the or
derlies of his subordinate commanders
are frequently unable to find him to
receive orders. His secrecy Is ex
treme. He absolutely Imparts his
plans to no one. Dewet repudiates
the peace negotiations which are go
ing on. He declares openly to the men
that no terms except independence
will satisfy him. A recent utterance
attributed to him is that, after the
British, he hated tne Transvaalers.
The whereabouts of Dewet during the
last two or three days is unknown,
nor is it known whether President
Steyn is with him.
AFTER HIGH. DAWSON OFFICIAL.
Governor Will Charge Him With Crinv
inel Libel.
SEATTLE, Wash., March 18. Gov
ernor Ogilvie, at a meeting of the Yu
kon council, March 5, announced that
he had been informed that at a recent
banquet an official In a high position
had declared that the governor and
D. Matheson, a contractor, had worked
together in carrying out a gigantic
swindle. The governor said that he
would collect evidence and charge the
official with criminal libel.
Another charge was made at the
same council meeting. The entire
council was charged with blackmail
by a Mrs. McConnell, who conducts a
hotel at Dawson. She says that the
council and. Mr. Matheson connived to
gether to ruin her business, out of a
desire for personal gain. Gold Com
missioner Senkler has filed a libel suit
against Mrs. McConnell. The charges
have stirred up a great excitement in
the city.
Decision on Eight-Hour Law.
Tacoma, Waeh., March 18. In the
superior court today Judge W. H.
Snell decided the state law making
eight hours a day's work for all men
employed in public works applied
only to men employed by the day, and
not to men working by the month or
year. :
A Dangerous Complaint.
' If you tell a woman she is good,
she may thank you. Tell her she is
pretty, and she will love you. Chica
go Times-Herald.