FIRST FLAG OF TRUCE AND CORTLAND UNIVERSITY CENTER

USS Uncas (AT-51).

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, May 17, 1898.

FIRST FLAG OF TRUCE.

Exchange of Prisoners Will Soon Take Place.

THE MISSION OF THE UNCAS.

Her Trip to Havana Was Practically Successful.

   KEY WEST, May 17.—The government tug Uncas was sent to Havana to enter the harbor there under a flag of truce and endeavor to arrange for the release of two American newspaper men, named Thrall and Jones, who were reported captured near Havana last week, on the basis of an exchange of prisoners. The Uncas has returned and makes the following report of the trip: The Uncas, after leaving here, headed for Havana and spoke the Mayflower, which was acting as flagship of the blockade fleet. Lieutenant Brainard, United States navy, special agent of the United States government, boarded her and handed sealed orders to the captain, who thereupon instructed the Uncas to hoist a white flag and proceed into Havana harbor. The Uncas then steamed toward Havana, and, when within signaling distance of Morro castle, she signaled to the latter, asking for an anchorage. The castle signaled back that its commander was waiting for instructions and that the Uncas must certainly not anchor.

   After an interval, a launch with the harbor authorities on board put out from the shore and took on board Lieutenant Brainard and Mr. Knight, the correspondent of The London Times, who had been chosen to negotiate the exchange of prisoners. As the launch was returning to the shore she was met by Captain General Blanco's launch coming out with the captain general's aid de camp and Mr. Gollan, the British consul general. The boats drew together and a conference followed. Lieutenant Brainard and Mr. Knight were assured that Messrs. Thrall and Jones were absolutely safe, and were being treated with every consideration. It was added that Captain General Blanco was willing to release them the moment the United States authorities should send him two Spanish prisoners in exchange.

   Mr. Knight was told he could not land at Havana from an American boat, in spite of the flag of truce and it was explained to him that if he desired to reach Havana he must go there on a ship belonging to some neutral power. The Uncas then returned to Key West and delivered this information to the department.

   It is understood that two of the Spanish captives now in Fort McPherson, Atlanta, will be promptly sent down and the exchange of prisoners will be consummated without further trouble.

Capt. Gen. Ramon Blaco.

SHORT OF AMMUNITION.

Blanco's Powerful Batteries Deprived of their Strength.

IN DESPERATE STRAITS.

Daring Attempts at Blockade Running Looked For.

   WASHINGTON. May 17.—Information has been received here that Captain General Blanco at Havana is very short of ammunition, in which case the powerful batteries at the entrance of Havana harbor, of course, would be deprived of a large part of their defensive strength. This statement of affairs may lead to some desperate attempts at blockade running on the part of the Spaniards., in the hope of getting more ammunition into Havana. It is believed that the supplies so frequently referred to as being on the Spanish flying squadron were of this character, rather than food supplies, which makes it all the more important that Sampson and Schley should succeed in keeping Admiral Cervera from reaching Havana or Cienfuegos or any port in Cuba connected by Havana by rail.

   Commodore Schley probably is well down on the Florida coast now and should soon be able to guard the Florida straits. His appearance on that side of Cuba would enable Sampson to bring his ironclads with perfect safety to Cienfuegos, on the south side, and, with this disposition of our naval force and the free use of a considerable number of our scouting vessels, it is hard to see how the Spanish fleet can escape from the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean sea.

RESTRICTING NEWS.

Navy Department Curtailing the Supply of Information.

   WASHINGTON, May 17.—An order signed by Secretary Long, relating to the publication of news emanating from the navy department, had the effect of considerably curtailing the supply of information that heretofore has been rather freely given out. The secretary's order was directed to Captain Crowinshield, chief of the navigation bureau, and he in turn gave it effect by making an order in his own name that no person connected with his bureau in any capacity should have any conversation whatever upon subjects in any way pertaining to the navy with representatives of the press. As an offset it was ordered that bulletins of such facts as have actually occurred, and are proper for publication and are not connected with existing or projected movements, shall be prepared and posted on the bulletin board.

   The sum total of the information published by the bulletin board under this rule was a notice of the intention to start the Philippine relief expedition, and of the permission given to some foreign neutral vessels to pass the blockade in Havana.

   In explanation of the issue of this order the naval authorities say that some of the leading American newspapers have been so far lacking of patriotism as to print plans of campaign and projected movements of naval ships with the result that the war board has been obliged to completely revise its plans in the knowledge that the Spanish had promptly taken notice of the publications and were prepared to profit by them.

   Complaint was made to Secretary Long that the newspapers were working injury to the government in such cases. It is not the purpose of the secretary to prevent the press having any information that is not calculated to cause a miscarriage of the plans of the department, but it remains to be seen whether the naval officers to whom the order has been directed will not by their ironclad interpretation of it bring about a [modification] in the interest of liberality.

Louis Polo y Bernabe.

BERNABE IS BUSY

DIRECTING AN ELABORATE SYSTEM OF SPYING.

In Constant Communication With Porto Rico and Havana—Telegraph and Cable Bills are Enormous—Secret Service Men Have Their Eyes on Him.

   NEW YORK, May 17.—A special to The World from Montreal says: Although Senor Polo y Bernabe, the former minister from Spain at Washington, states that his only object of staying here is to reorganize the consular service, it is evident from matters that have transpired that the

United States has sufficient reason to view his presence here with apprehension.

   It is very difficult to penetrate the action of Senor Polo and his suite thoroughly, but it is clear to all here that he is directing an elaborate spy system. Some United States treasury officials have been here and have shadowed the party closely for days, and from what can be gleaned of their carefully veiled remarks the work of the Spaniards is of a very dangerous kind.

   It is known that they have kept up constant communications with both Governor Macias of Porto Rico and General Blanco of Havana, but this alone would not account for the immense sums of money that they have spent with the telegraph companies while here. For the space of three days their bill for the Western Union and Postal Telegraph companies amounted to nearly $1,000.

   After an investigation it was found that a large amount of this expenditure was caused by cablegrams sent to the United States. When they found out that they were unable to get messages to or from the United States direct, they cabled to and from there by the way of London.

   They have also been in communication constantly with strangers who afterward have been seen going into the United States, and the secret service agents seemed to have positive proof that at least one woman in this city has been approached by them for spy purposes.

ENLISTING WITH SPAIN

BUT WILL DESERT TO THE INSURGENTS WHEN READY.

Will Then Have Possession of Spanish Arms and Equipments—Eggs Ten Cents Each—Meat Fifty Cents and Flour Thirty Cents a Pound.

(Copyright, 1898, The Associated Press.)

   KINGSTON, Jamaica, May 16.—The Cuban provisional government has directed insurgent sympathizers not to try to evade in garrison cities General Blanco's conscription order forcing into the ranks of the volunteers all males from 15 to 45 years of age.

   Refugees who arrived here by the French steamer Fulton from Havana, and who have since been released from quarantine, say that the Cubans in Havana are joining the volunteers by hundreds. Spain is thus arming enemies ready to rise at an opportune time and to desert. The Spaniards in Havana, for a communal police purpose, spy out Cuban sympathizers and cause their arrests.

   Eggs there were 10 cents apiece, meat was 50 cents a pound and flour 30 cents a pound when the Fulton left on May 7.

   The Atlas line steamer Adoula sailed for Santiago de Cuba to-day with provisions and to bring back refugees. Three or four schooner cargoes of food leave Jamaica ports for Santiago weekly.

GAME OF PEEK-A-BOO.

Spaniards Trying to Dodge Around to Get into Havana.

   NEW YORK, May 17.—A special cable to The World from Madrid says: Admiral Cervera's fleet will dodge about in the Caribbean sea and Gulf of Mexico, it is expected by naval men here. Cervera will avoid a fight in case he finds himself overmatched. His chief aim is to draw the American squadrons away from the Cuban coasts so that he may make a dash and get into Havana. The principal object of such a dash, it is asserted, would be to allow the cruiser Vizcaya to go into drydock to clean her bottom and thus improve her speed, for in her present condition she cripples the movements of the remainder of the fleet. Great expectations are founded also upon night raids by the Spanish torpedo boat destroyers upon the American blockading squadron.

   Later, when the rainy season sets in, fast blockade runners, both Spanish and foreign, will undertake to carry ammunitions and provisions to Cuba and Porto Rico.

SPANISH AID FOR PHILIPPINES.

Six Thousand Men With Ammunition and Stores to Start Soon.

   NEW YORK, May 17.—A special cable to The World from Madrid says: Preparations for the relief expedition to be sent to the Philippine Islands are being hurried in both the military and naval departments. Five battalions, each 1,200 strong, under thirty-eight officers, are assembled at Cadiz, Barcelona and Valencia all ready, or will be ready for embarkation this week. This force will be commanded by General Camprubi. It is made up wholly of picked men who have served two years. Several batteries will go with the expedition and large supplies of stores and coal. Warships to convoy the transports will go from Cadiz to Barcelona.

A UNIVERSITY CENTER

Organized in Cortland—Election of Officers—General Plan.

   For three weeks past Mr. C. Davies, representing the university extension movement, of which Bishop Fallows of Chicago is the head, has been in Cortland making arrangements for the organization of a center here in Cortland. He has met with much encouragement, and the result is a local center which was organized last night with a membership of over a hundred, and a possibility of a few more members.

   The Y. M. C. A. parlor was crowded at the preliminary meeting last night and Mr. Davies was present and explained the object of the center and its work. The name "The Cortland University Center" was adopted. The association will meet each Monday night from 8 to 9 o'clock for study. The material for the studies is prepared by some of the most eminent educators in the world. The plan is for some one to prepare a paper, which shall constitute a review of the lesson of the week, and present this at the meeting, and the reading of the paper to be followed by a general discussion of the subject by all present.

   Officers were last night elected as follows:

   President—Dr. F. W. Higgins.

   Vice-President—Miss M. W. Bishop.

   Secretary and Treasurer—Mr. E. H. Richards.

   Executive Committee—The three officers named above and Rev. O. A. Houghton, D. D., Mrs. N. H. Gillette, Miss Minnie M. Alger.

   Integrity Committee on Examinations— Dr. F. J. Cheney, Prof. E. C. Cleaves, Dr. S. J. Sornberger, Hon. D. W. Van Hoesen, Rev. John T. Stone, Rev. O. A. Houghton, D. D., Rev. Amos Watkins, Rev. W. H. Pound, Rev. Adelbert Chapman, Rev. J. Barton French.

   The executive committee was authorized and directed to arrange for a permanent place of meeting. The meeting next Monday night, May 23, will be held in the Y. M. C. A. parlor.

   The following committee on leaders was appointed: Rev. W. H. Pound, Rev. Amos Watkins, Dr. F. W. Higgins, Miss Clara E. Booth, Mrs. Wm. H. Clark.

   Arrangements were made that the first meeting should be led by Edward D. Blodgett, and the second by Rev. Amos Watkins. Other leaders will be named later by the committee.

   Future applications for membership should be filed with the secretary and treasurer, Mr. E. H. Richards, at the Second National bank.

BREVITIES.

   —Additional local on the eight page.

   —The Ladies' Literary club meets with Mrs. F. D. Reese at 10 Tompkins-st. to-morrow afternoon.

   —The Fortnightly club will meet tomorrow afternoon with Mrs. Fred I.

Graham, 5 North Main-st.

   —The board of managers of the hospital request all persons having bills against the hospital, not already presented, to send in the same before June 1.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Case & Ruggles, New Goods, page 6; S. Rosenbloom & Sons, Carpets, page 8, D. McCarthy & Sons, Furniture, page 4.

   —L. B. Rowlingson, the baker who was burned out by the fire at the rear of

Hopkins' grocery last week, is now located in the Squires block, formerly occupied by T. M. Marks.

   —The Normal Athletic association will realize about $25 from the Field day of Friday last. This money will be used to send representatives to the athletic meet at Syracuse, May 28.

   —Frank O. Halley, shiner of boots, this morning placed his new chair on the walk on Main-st. by the Savings bank building, where he is giving those patent leather shines for which he is so famous.

   —The New York Tribune of Sunday published a cut of Miss Juliette P. Atkinson of Brooklyn, champion tennis player of America, and sister of Miss Kathleen Gill Atkinson, gymnasium instructor at the Normal.

   —A very interesting meeting of the Cortland Political Equality club was held Monday afternoon at the home of Mrs. L. A. Strowbridge. The membership was increased and a profitable business meeting was held.

   —Every Republican should read the article on Primary Election Reform on our second page, also the new primary election law for cities and villages in our session law supplement, and the resolutions passed by the regular Republican county committee last fall which we re-publish. No better time than the present, either, could be found for the regular and Independent Republican county committees to get together, compose their differences, and agree on holding caucuses and a convention which shall re-unite the party.

TOWN LETTERS.

Scott.

   SCOTT, May 16.—Mr. L. M. Price and son Howard of Jamesville visited recently at Alfred R. Burdick's and Chas. M. Kinyon's.

   Mr. Otis Cobb and bride of Cincinnatus visited at Mrs. Cobb's grandfather's, Geo. Fox and her uncle's, Chas. Fox, Friday and Saturday.

   Mr. Geo. Frisbie has been very ill of late.

   Mr. Lovinus Tinkham is improving in health under the treatment of Dr. McClelland of DeRuyter.

   Dr. Hutchinson and wife of Westfield, Mass., are spending a few days with Mrs. Hutchinson's mother, brother and family here.

   The funeral services of Mr. Jesse Foster of Scott Hollow were held at the M. E. church, May 7, conducted by the pastor Rev. Mr. Heinmiller. Mr. Foster was 24 years old. He had been in failing health for several months, but was taken with hemorrhages which was the immediate cause of death. A wife and three small children are bereft of a kind husband and father whose care and help were much needed.

   Mr. Peter Wood who has sold tinware through here for over twenty years made his first trip of the season last week. He works for a firm in Borodino, where he resides.

   Mr. and Mrs. P. Knight of Homer attended church here May 14.

   Mrs. Loretta McConnell and Edith Bean of Cortland are spending a few days in this place.

   Mrs. Wilber Maxson's sister has been visiting her lately.

   Mr. Elbert Barber was in town last week, selling and repairing sewing machines for M. L. Decker of Cortland.

   Geo. Winchester. Jr., was home from his work in West Homer over Sunday.

   Miss Leona Williams of Syracuse has been spending some time with her sister, Mrs. Pound.

Babcock Hollow.

   BABCOCK HOLLOW, May 16.—Farmers in this locality are behind with their work on account of the almost constant rains.

   Mr. A. H. Strong, wife and son Lee visited Sunday at J. W. Shevalier's in

Messengerville.

   Mr. John Tillotson spent last week with friends in Dryden and also visited the lake.

   Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kinney attended church in Harford yesterday.

   Mrs. Nettie Tryon and Miss Delia Bloomer were in this place on Tuesday calling on their old neighbors.

   The school picnic, which was held in Mr. Rickett's yard passed off very pleasantly.

   Messrs. Wm. George and A. H. Strong are in Cortland to-day on business.

   The pie social on Tuesday evening was not very well attended, doubtless on account of the very busy time with farmers.

   Mrs. D. M. Vunk is having a large amount of grafting done this spring.

   Mrs. Wm. George of Speedsville is spending some time with her husband at J. E. Reed's.

   Prof. Wing of Cornell university visited the creamery on Monday last and pronounced everything in fine condition.

   Mrs. Riley Hammond and Mrs. Samuel Mott of Virgil visited Mrs. Jane Keys recently.

   News reached this place yesterday of the death of Mr. E. A. Crain of Virgil.

He was well known in this locality and will be greatly missed by all. The bereaved ones have our sympathy.

Hunt Corners.

   HUNT CORNERS, May 16.—Mr. Grant of Cortland was at Wm. E. Hunt's Saturday and Sunday.

   Hunt Corners and Chicken Point nines played a game of ball at the latter place Saturday which resulted in favor of Hunt Corners.

   Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox of Harford visited at Fred Shapley's last week.

   Charles Jordan and wife visited her parents, Alva Decker and wife, the first of the week.

   Wm. and Henry Hunt were in Berkshire last week on business.

   Daniel Ninegar has moved onto the Hopkins farm instead of into Mrs. Day's house as he first intended.

   Decoration day will be observed here May 28 with appropriate exercises.

   C. A. Burgess, wife and son visited Lee Johnson's last Saturday.

   F. Jennings and wife were called to Cortland the first part of the week on business.

   Our horse trainer, A. C. Crannel, has two fine horses training for parties in Dundee.

   Some from this place attended the entertainment at Harford Mills Saturday night.

   Elder Flory preached his first sermon here Sunday. We hear him spoken of very highly.