of this conjunction and Jupiter 15° behind. Accompanying the classical planets in this grand conjunction are Uranus (technically visible unaided in pollution-free skies), Ceres and Pallas. Rebel Venezuelan General Jose Manuel Hernandez captures the city of Maracaibo in his revolt against Cipriano Castro's government, but is only able to hold it for 15 days. December 4 – As the 56th U.S. Congress holds its first session, David B. Henderson (Republican-Iowa) is elected Speaker of the House. The House refuses permission for Brigham H. Roberts (Democrat-Utah) to take the oath of office as a U.S. Representative, pending investigation of allegations of bigamy. December 5 – Germany's cabinet agrees to repeal a Prussian law that had prohibited the creation of political societies or clubs. December 6 – A lynch mob in Maysville, Kentucky forces its way into the county jail to seize an African-American indicted for murder, tortures him and then burns him to death. December 9 – An explosion kills 32 coal miners at the Carbon Hill mines in Carbonado, Washington. December 10 Four-month-old Sobhuza II begins his 82-year reign as King of Swaziland, on the death of his father, Ngwane V; his grandmother Labotsibeni Mdluli serves as queen regent. Battle of Stormberg: The British Army makes a disastrous attempt to surprise the Boer position in Natal and suffers the loss of 687 officers and men. The college fraternity Delta Sigma Phi is founded at the City College of New York, by Charles A. Tonsor Jr. and Meyer Boskey. December 11 – Second Boer War – Battle of Magersfontein: Boers defeat British forces trying to relieve the Siege of Kimberley. Philippine-American War: Filipino General Tierona surrenders the province of Cagayan to U.S. Navy Captain McCalla of the USS Newark. December 13 – General French routs Boer troops that had been advancing into the Cape Colony toward Noupoort. December 14 – Walther Hauser is elected President of Switzerland by the Swiss Federal Assembly. December 15 – Battle of Colenso: Britain's General Buller loses 1,097 officers and men in a fight against the Boers in Natal, the third serious British reverse in South Africa in a week. Glasgow School of Art opens its new building, the most notable work of Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The Republican National Committee votes to hold its 1900 national convention in Philadelphia, to start on June 19, 1900. December 16 – The Association football club A.C. Milan