Reading Times from Reading, Pennsylvania • Page 1

the occupation of Branarori, wnere, they say, the British were welcomed in a manner similar to their reception At CllnTifnnta(n They declare the Free) Staters are wholly tired of the war, and continue fighting only under compulsion by the Transvaal Boers, being virtually; pris oners. REBELS LOSE HEAVILY. London, March 6. The. Colonial office has issued a number of dispatches rVrm flnvprnor Hndimnn.

nf Onldrnafit Colony. These dispatches were sent from AumaeBi irom April i to may a. Since the. last news, the situation became worse. Rebels have made several attacks on Kumassi, but were repulsed each time with heavy loss.

Several of the besieged were killed on May z. The British, with native auxilaries, attacked the rebel stockade at Wes ley an mission 'housed The place was not ca.pt urea, out tne re Deis suiterea neav ny. WILLIAM C. ENDICOTT. SUMM0NEDBY death.

CLEVELAND'S FIRST SECRETARY OF WAR SUCCUMBS TO AN AT ATTACK OF PNEUMONIA. Special to The Times. Boston, May 6. William C. Eniicott, Secretary of War 1885 to 1889.

died of pneumonia at his home here late this afternoon. His daughter is the wife of Colonial Secretary Chamberlain. 4 GARCIA CAPTURED. ONE OF TOE MOST ACTIVE FILIPINO INSURGENTS HAS BEEN TAKEN PRISONER. ISpecIal to The Manila, May 6.

General Pantaleon Garcia, a. rebel leader, who has been very active, was captured near San Isidro yesterday. He had only a small guard with him. His capture was most fortunate, as General Funston was preparing an ex pedition to destroy Garcia, who recently had occupied himself in harrassing American transports. No expedition is now necessary, as Ga'rcia's force, being without a leader.

will disperse. A HINT TO HOUSEHOLDERS. Wall Paper and Paint are attractive and effective improvements. Give us a trial before making: your choice. M.

Earl. 625 Penn street. THE WEATHER. Forecast for Eastern Pennsylvania: Partly cloudy Monday; Tuesday, showers, probably thunderstorms; winds mostly fresh north. FOR SALE.

1 $1,000 Reading Womelsdorf Electric Railway 5 per cent. Mortgage Bond. W. W. LIGHT, Telephone, 4242.

() 36 N. 6th St. CARPENTERS GAINING CONTRACTOR FOCHT IGNS THE SCALE AND MANY OTHER BUILDERS FOLLOW STJIT. At Kriday night's meeting of the Carpenter's union the executive committee was empowered to Inform the contractors and builders that the union was willing to eliminate the last paragraph of the scale of wages, which provided for the payment of carfare and board at the rate of $4 per week when men are sent out of the city to work. This was granted In consideration of the fact that but a small portion of the men would be benefited by its provisions and the burden of the extra expense would fall almost entirely upon one or two of the contractors.

When the committee laid this information before the contractors Saturday morning, the first to offer to sign the scale was Contractor L. H. Focht, who employs about 120 men. The scale as amended provides for $2.26 a day of nine hours, 37 cents an hour for overtime and 50 cents an hour for Sundays and holidays. In speaking of the matter later Mr.

Focht said: "I did not object to paying the men the Increase In wages because I think they are entitled to it, but I did object to being made responsible for their car fare and board. Had this not been included in their demand there would have been no delay in granting their request. My men have all promised to be at work on Monday." Several of the other contractors who had not signed put their names to the scale and all are expected to do so to day, as the matter eliminated seemed to be the sole objection to. the scale on the part of the employers. An informal meeting of members of the union was held at Krebs' hall Saturday evening, at which the situation was discussed.

No action was taken. as the meeting had not been regularly called, but it is quite probable that one win be called for this evening. The men whose employers have sign ed the scale will all be at work today. and it is expected that but few will be in enforced idleness after today, as the majority is already on the pide of the union. HOLDERS' STRIKE SETTLED.

The strike at the Reading Stove com pany, Orr, Painter Canal near Chestnut, has been temporarily settled after two weeks duration, and the 225 mounters, molders and other stove mechanics will return to work this morn ing. The trouble was caused by the firm refusing to grant the request of the 25 mounters lor a 10 per cent, in crease. The latter went on strike and this was followed by the 125 molders refusing to work to supply castings to the non union mounters that had been employed. The difficulty threw about 12 polishers and 25 finishers out of work. After a number of meetings, at which tne matter was considered, the mount ers have concluded to go to work, and the firm has agreed to allow the matter to be investigated by the chief officers of the union.

PLASTERERS MEET. The plasterers and hod carriers, re cently organized, held a meeting Satur day evening on the second floor of 541 Penn street, when officers were nominated. About 26 members were present and matters of interest to the union were discussed. The next meeting will be held on Friday evening. The de mand made by the men for an increase from 51.

SO to $2.26 was granted recently, A SAD CASE. HUSBAND DEAD AND WIFE AND CHILDREN WITHOUT FOOD OR FUNDS. A sad case of destitution was reported to the police last evening, which, upon investigation, revealed details of misery that would touch the heart of a pagan. John J. Palm, 847 Locust street, formerly a cigarmaker In the empy of Spatz after an illness since last December with consumption, during which time he was unable to provide maintenance for his wife and six children, all of them small, died yesterday morning at 9.40 o'clock.

The wife, a weak looking little woman, besides having no funds to bury the dead husband, has very little to eat in the house and very little coal for the fires. What support the family received sine the husband's illness was furnished by kind neighbors, while some relief was accorded them by the police after a public appeal. 'ine room in which the body lay, by common courtesy called a parlor, was almost devoid of furniture and five of the children, bright looking little ones. every one of them scrupulously clean and wearing clothes which, while hav ing1 seen hard service, were neatly patched, clustered around their mother as she detailed the misery of their existence since the husband and father was incapacitated from work. immediate relief is needed, cash to defray the expenses of burial, and clothing and provisions for the family.

Contributions can be sent direct to the house or will be received b'y the police. The deceased, besides his wife, Isa bella, and six children Robert Maggie Minnie Isaac Arlien and John J. Palm, Jr. leaves several sisters ana a brother, two step orotners and a step mother, residing in Philadelphia. TWO FIRES AT BIRDSB0R0.

LEVI HOOK'S BARN DESTROYED AND DIAMOND DRILL WORKS DAMAGED. Special to The Times. Blrdsboro, May 6. Fire tonight de stroyed the large barn on the farm of Levi Hook. With it one horse and two cows were burned to death.

The Sbsa is $2,000. This afternoon a lot of wooden flasks in the yard of the Diamond Drill building caught fire. Before the flames could be stayed, a portion of the fence and several hundred flasks were burned. The fire was caused by sparks from the cinder locomotive. Loss, 500.

Neverslnk Oars every day. James S. Brusstar Shlrtmak ers, 709 Penn street. Headquarters tot all kinds of shirts. Eavl's rail l'apor 025 Penn.

GRAND K. OF M. COMMANDERY Eighth Annual Convention to be Held in Reading Tils Week. RECEPTION THIS EVENING FIRST SKSSION OPENS IN ACADEMY HALL TOMORROW MORNING PUBLIC WELCOMING OF THE OFFICERS IN THE EVENING, WHEN MAYOR LEADER WILL SPEAK ELABORATE PREPARATIONS MADE FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT OF THE VISITORS OVER ONE THOU SAND MEMBERS OF THE ORDER IN THIS CITY. Beginning with today and for the balance of the the fraternity of Malta will be in its glory, the occasion being the eighth annual convocation' of the Grand Commandery of Pennsylvania.

Ancient and Illustrious Order Knights of Malta. For some years past it has been the object of this body to hold a session In this city, but not until at the meeting of last year were the final steps taken to secure Reading as their meeting place this year. Long before the news reached the members of the order, last May, steps had been taken for the Institution of a new commandery, and just two months prior to the convocatlo of the grand body, last May, Friendship Commandery, No 247, was instituted, with a membership of over 400 persons. Since the institution of Mystic Star Commandery, No. 47, in 1889, Malta has been steadily on the increase, until today the order numbers one thousand members in Reading, by the addition of Bohemond Commandery, 277, instituted last March.

The knights of this city feel proud of the honor conferred upon them by the grand body, of the organization and for some time have been busy making preparations for this event. The Academy hall has been secured as the council chamber, in which to hold the sessions of the Grand Commandery. and has been elaborately dec rated by I. Rambo Son for the occasion. Decorators were busy all day Saturady and part of Sunday.

A force of men will put the finishing touches to th hall today, while another force will work on the decoration of the Mansion where the headquarters of the grand body a'nd visitors will be located. The general committee, consisting Dr. Theo. C. Pachall, P.

chairman; Jacob H. Scheifele, secretary; A. H. Boyer, P. treasurer; George A.

Miller, P. Daniel Fields, E. Taylor, P. H. B.

F. Reinhard, Clifford. V. Johnson, Wm. F.

Wagner and Elmer Levan, P. have arranged an excellent program, which will be rendered throughout the week, and is as follows: Monday Reception of grand officers and representatives to the grand body. Evening Informal reception in the council chamber of Mystic Star Commandery, No. 47, Elks' hall, 518 Penn street. Tuesday 10 a.

opening of Grand Commandery of Pennsylvania in the past commander's degree in Academy hall. 1.30 P. M. Afternoon session, annual address of Sir David F. MilviHe, G.

exemplification of the degrees by the Supreme Instructor, Sir George H. Pierce. 8.00 P. M. Public reception tendered to the grand commandery and visiting companions by the three com manderies of this city, to which all knights and their lady friends are invited, and for which occasion a musical and literary program has been provided; address of welcome by Hon.

Adam H. Leader, mayor of this city; other addresses by the grand and supreme officers of the order Wednesday 9.00 A. M. Morning session; 1.30 P. M.

Afternoon session; 8.00 P. M. Dramatic presentation of a degree by the degree staffs of Mystic Star and Friendship Commanderies. consisting of 55 persons. Thursday 9.00 A.

M. Morning session; 1.30 P. M. Afternoon session. No evening session will be held, but instead an attractive entertainment will be given exclusively for companions of the order.

Friday Trips over the mountain roads, sightseeing and social features will be indulged in. The visitors will be well cared for by the committees, and, as all other visitors to this city, will leave Reading with pleasant memories of this old Berks county 'town along the Schuylkill. ESCAPED FIRE TO DROWN. FATE OF A BABE WHOSE FATHER LEAPED FROM A BURNING VESSEL. Special to The Times.

New York, May 6. Mallory Line pier. No. 20, East river, was destroyed by a Are which began early this morning and burned an hour before it was gotten under control. The total loss is estimated at $150,000.

Captain Lackson, with his wife and child, were sleeping on the barge Sherwood, lying north of the pier. They had barely time to rush out of their sleeping apartment and plunge into the water. Lackson held the baby in his arms when he leaped, but lost It as he struck the water and it was drowned. Lackson and wife were rescued. The steamers San Marcos and Nueces were at the pier.

The San Marcos was towed out into the stream in time to escape serious damage, but the Nueces was badly scorched and charred. Other vessels were threatened, but none were seriously damaged. MEMORIAL SERVICES. Special services. In memory of the members the congregation who died during the past year, were held in the First Presbyterian church yesterday morning.

The pastor, Rev. George C. Heckman, D.D., LL.D., paid a loving tribute to the memory of the departed In his sermon, but especial stress was laid on the life and works of the late Mrs. Elisabeth Sprecher. ienn Troy opposite post VOIjMUE 86.

NO. 29. MONDAY MOIiNING. MAY7, 1900. 8 PAGES.

TEN CENTS A WEEK. BRITISH SWEEP TO THE NORTH Tin) Are Progressing Rapid) la Their Adrian ea tbi Traosnal Csfltit. MOVING UPON MIFEKIM. A NEW RELIEF COLUMN SAID TO HAVE STARTED FOR THE BESIEGED CITY SEVERAL DAYS AGO FREE STATERS DECLARED TO BE WELCOMING THE INVADERS, AS THEY ARE TIRED OF THE WAR BLACK WATCH AGAIN DISTINGUISHES ITSELF THE VET RIVER CROSSED AFTER SOME FIERCE FIGHTING IN WHICH THE BOERS ARE FLANKED. Special to The Times.

London. May 7. With the exception of the report from Bloemfontein that General Hamilton has occupied Win burg, there is little to add to General Roberts description of the advance of the British force from Brandfort to the Vet river. It is assumed here that operations continued actively on Sunday, but no details have been received. The neighborhood of Thaba N'Chu seems to continue the scene of active engagements, notwithstanding the northward advance.

ROBERTS PUSHING FORWARD. HR FORCES THE PASSAGE OF THE VET RIVER BY TURNING THE BOER FLANK. Special to The Times.) London, May 6. The following has been received from General Roberts: "Vet River, May 5, 7.15 IV M. I marched here today with General Pole Carews' division.

Headquarters and Wa veil's brigade are two mllea to the rear. Maxwell's brigade is the same distance to the right. "The enemy in considerable force occupy the opposltebank. Our guns engaged theirs some three hours without being able to force a passage, but shortly before dark th mounted infantry, under General Hutton, turned the 1 enemy's right andjivjSL. iJtnncV pushed across the river undera "heavy shell and musketry fire, 1 "We are now bivouacking for the night within three miles of Vet river.

"Our I hope, are not numerous. "General Hamilton yesterday succeeded in preventing a junction of two Boer forces by a well executed movement of cavalry, who charged the body of the enemy and inflicted serious loss. "General MacDonald's brigade dislodged the enemy on the right under cover of the naval guns, in which operation the Black Watch distinguished themselves. "General Hamilton was advancing this morning to a different drift over the Klein Vet river. "General Hunter reports Barton's brigade as heavily engaged this morning two miles north of Rindam.

Our men carried ridge after ridge in grand style." TIRED OF THE WAR. Free Staters Said to be Compelled to Fight by the Transvaalers. Cape Town, May 6. The Argus reports tiie secret departure of a relief column for Mafeking before General Hunter's advance to that place began. Several correspondents send details of tflGHXANDERS BAYONETING THE BOERS AT MAGEESFOWTETJT.

One of the thrilling Incidents of General Lord Methuen's 111 fated attack npon the Boers who lay In ambush at Magersfonteln was the storming of a Boer trench by a number of Highlanders. In the trench were 47 Boers belonging to General P. A. Cronje's command, who made such a plucky defense that the Scotchmen were compelled to bayonet them. It was a fight to the death.

The Boers simply would not surrender, preferring to die rather than be taken as prisoners to Cape Town. Ordinarily the Boers have a very wholesome dread of the British bayonet and are willing to surrender when "the men with the knives" come charging toward them, but this incident proved to be an exception to the general rule. Very few of the Boer soldiers are sup piled with bayonets. THE INDISCRETION OF ADMIRAL DEWEY. STATE OFFICIALS SURPRISED AT THE STATEMENT HE IS RE PORTED TO HAVE MADE.

Washington, May 6. "We can whip any nation in the world and England is our best friend." Admiral Dewey, as reported, at the University club, Chicago. All persons belonging to the Navy Department are forbidden to publish or cause or permit to be published, di rectly or indirectly, or to communicate by interviews, printed letters or otherwise, except as required by their official duties, any information in regard to the foreign policy of the United States. Extract from the regulations of the United States Navy. i The above remark is attributed to Admiral Dewey In a speech at the St.

Louis University club. The report came as a surprise to the President and of ficials or tne wavy ana ataie i epari ment. The utterances of the Admiral were of sufficient importance on account of their international significance, and the Implied slights to such nations as France and Germany, to have them re ferred by the President to tne wavy Department to determine wherein the Admiral had offended. The office of Judge Advocate General of the Navy was called upon for an opinion, and It promptly discovered that Admiral Dewey had violated section 235 of the regulations of the Navy quoted above. "INDISCREET" SAY OFFICIALS.

The opinion of the State Department officials was that Admiral Dewey had been very indiscreet and injudicious, but no report to that effect has yet been made to the President, at least not officially. The concensus of opinion of the Navy Department was that Admiral Dewey was at least subject to a reprimand. After talking it all over, however, the President and his advisers came to the conclusion that even if the Admiral had laid himself open to official crrtcism, it would be bad policy for the President to authorize an attack on a political rival. So far as the administration is concerned, the matter has been dropped. Admiral Dewey will not even be asked, in the usual course of procedure, if he actually said what was attributed to him.

The Journal correspondent showed ihe Admiral's remarks today to Secretary Long, Rear Admiral Kenney, Rear Admiral O'Neil, Rear Admiral Bradford and several other high officials of the Navy Department, and to officers of the State Department. CALL IT BAD POLITICS. The administration following is secretly delighted with the Admiral's remarks. The general opinion can be summed up in the remark of one of the officials which was, strangely enough, general, that "Dewey had killed himself by his pro British utterances, certainly with the Irish of the country, and more probably with the Germans." "Dewey will now," said another very high official, "not only have no chance to get a Presidential nomination at Kansas City, but he has eliminated himself as a Vice Presidential candidate at the Democratic National' con vention." "Dewey may be a Nelson In naval war," said another official, "but he is certainly not a Napoleon in politics, national or international." COMPLICATIONS POSSIBLE. One of the State Department officials said: "The speech, if correctly representing what Admiral Dewey said, was injudicious from an international point of yview.

We are on good terms, of course, with Great Britain, but we are also on good terms with Germany, France, Austria, Italy and Russia. It wa an invidious thing to because it excludes the other nations. "The incident will not be considered originally by this department that is to say, the initiative will not be taken here. It would be quite another matter, if the German, French, Russian and Italian Ambassadors and the Austrian Ministers were to call on the State Department and ask for an explanation. In that case it would be necessary to ask the Admiral to furnish it.

"The case would thus become of much more importance than that of Captain Coghlan, who offended the Kaiser, for which action he was reprimanded bv the Navy Department after representations by the German Ambassador. "Admiral Dewey's offence touches more than one nation in fact, all nations with which the United States is on friendly terms. Incidentally, it goes without saying that the Admiral has not improved any chances he may have had with the German vote or with the Irish vote. Republican or Democratic." The unanimity with wnicn tne ad ministration officials and politicians re gard Admiral Dewey as naving maae a mistake from his own political point of view remarkable. BIG IRON PLANT CLOSED.

Over 3,000 Men Thrown Out of Employ ment by an Illinois Shut Down. (Special to The Times. 1 Jo 1 let. 111., May 6. With the excep tion of the blast furnaces the entire local plant of the Federal Steel corny pany closed down today for an Indefi nite period.

over men are affected. 1 Over production is said to have been the cause of the shut down. But the closing of the steel and wire mills, which used a large proportion of the Federal Steel's output of rods, was partly responsible. tti MILLINERY. Only "a Few EARLY SPRING flATS LEFT.

WILL SELL AT SPECIAL, PRICES Friday and Saturday. FOSTER, 40 N. 6th. Medtalne cures Grip, Influenxa, Hore Throw, Aathtna, Kidiwy UlReawn, i in in sua ou, Ci isst Slid Back. WRITING FLUID.

THREE 0ES PAUL'S CHOICE WRITING FLUID 1ST AX Automatic lon Spillable Saftty Battle For ioc. An Automatic Ink Stand that will not spill when upset. Absolutely non evaporating. The most important invention In this line ever accomplished. Used in all the departments at Washington.

Roland's Book Store, 625 Penn St. OMElMTS' FURNISHINGS. Money Well Invested PDBCBA5INO The New Spring flats OFrXBKD HX VS. Prices Way Down, '3 I PIANOS. Having First Cholcs nt all Pin manufactured and being practical piano people, we have selected the best line pianos made at hi time and discorded all makes of Pianos which are not to the standard of modern pianos.

WE LEAD OUR COMPETITOKS FOLLOW. The Pianos which we discarded you will find amongst our competitors A call will convince you that the A. B. Chase Pianos and Shaw Pianoc are the best in the world. EDWARDS' Temple of Music, 410 Penn St.

CORN, HAY, OATS ATTENTION, FEEDERS We Have Just Bbcetved No. 1 Stock. 1 Car Rest Yellow Corn 1 Our Choice Tlinptfay BT 1 Cur Clipped White Oata 1 Car Salt AT" A. N. KISSINGER SON'S a 8TH AND CHKRRY Please get our prices.

FJNisnrtLI vv Funeral Director and Embalmer, 24 N. Third Reading. Phone Mwlicr, TIMOTHY H4.Y. JUST ARRIVED TWO CABS OF Choice timothy At Yocom's Flour Mills, 844 and 246JT. ElKhtht.

B4CYCLES AND TIRES. XHE BIG BICYCLE TIKB HOUSE. Bicycles Tires Milwaukee Patent Pnnctnre Proof Tires are replaced if punctured Uunlop, G. dt Newton, Hartford, I'nion, Morgan At WriKht, Goodrich, Palmer and I. Green Sc Co.

tires, in stock at bottom prices. Solar Ijamps, 20th Century, Arc and almost any other make, cheap. Hertzog Heilman, Largest Dealers in Bicycles and Sundries in Wholesale and Retail. eth and Bingaman Ste. 4g Send for Catalogue.

PIANOS. EXCELLENT HECOND HAJID PIANOS. One WOO Ste1nwy Square for $200. OnefflW nee Jock arior wranu, erj $375. One $350 Stuyvesant UpriRht for $22S.

One $150 Square Piano for $125. One Small Six Octavo Square Piano for $00. The above unexceptional barfynine at H. W. HAMSEH'S.

7 S. Sixth Street. PIANOS. IF YOU WANT TO BUY A piano Call and aee the HAZELTON BEAUTY. EVERY INSTRUMENT GUARANTEED EDWARD A.

BERQ. lOO South Third Stoet. SEED STORE. OAKDEH SHEDS. MARKET OAKDKNERS mrt lnvitd to ea amine our fine etuck of New Crop Seeds luet received.

Come now. Some varieties of end Pees may be out of market later. DWIOHT BBIICI, STORK. 1 South Ninth DRLGCItT. Fr eel Taka row Preasrlptfooa to IftPeTmA'S DRUa STORE, S23 North Sixth atreet, a4 receive a sradusted MedleuM Ohuja Free.

AO. CUIUVCT aad rCMTT. ''tj. i in uu.