2
THE 'MORNING 0BEG03OA2S', SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1900.
Interesting Particulars Brought
Out at thc Hearing.
ttETTERS FROM THE SENATOR
Testimony of One Legislator Who
"Vfaia Approached and Afterwards
Bolted From liim.
WAsklNGTOX, Jan. 12. There were
again fur or five witnesses before the
senate committee 'on privileges and elec
tions today Jn connectlonjvvith the attack
upon tfielBgnt of ISeMtor Clark, of Mon
tana, to .Ms seat Jn the- senate. One of
Uie -Rtelses, St3te Senator.. Myers, pro
duced a letter ffom-CW.'tJlark, son of
the senator, telling him '(Myers) he had
forwarded $500 as a retainer for him as
ttttorney in connection -with the coal in
terests of the Clarks. A dentist named
BctJor displayed letters from Senator
derJs himself, referring to William Bick
or. as, a representative of his. and that
while he (Clark) knew nothing- of Ector's
claims for services, his policy was to re
amnerate all that had served him. Prob
ably the most Important witness of the
flay -was H. H. Garr, a member of the leg
islature, who had voted for Mr. Clark for
the saaate. He Is one- of the men in
whos name -money was turned over to
She state. Mr. Garr said that while this
jmoney, $5000 in H000 bills, had been shown
te ''him by Mc Wffteslde and he had
jn&lkfid the enrelope containing it, Mr.
3VMtes1de had not said anything to him
ohaut $vtng for Clark.
The Hearing:.
The committee began its session "with a
equest fram the prosecution to have the
books of the pomas Cruse Savings bank,
at Helena, Mont., showing the deposits
of A. J. Davidson and a man named
Toole, brought before the committee. The
original subpena had only called for the
deposit slips. The point was not decided.
IS- Xu P, Ector, a dentist at Missoula,
Was the first witness. He had partici
pated in the campaign in Ravalli county
in the interest of E. P. Wood, who was
tho democratic candidate for the legisla
ture In the last campaign, and who was a
Iriend of Mr. Clark. Ector said he had
acted at the instance of Mr. Bickford, one
of Mr. Clark's managers. letters from
Bickford were exhibited. In one of these,
written after the legislative election,
Bickford Teferred to the presence of "our
iriend" in Hamilton, and asked Ector to
ascertain his financial condition. Ector
eaid "our friend" was Mr. Wood, and
that he replied to this letter, saying his
indebtedness was S65Q0, and that 570C0
would probably be necessary to settle alj
his debts. Afterward Bickford had given
liim ST009 to give to Wood. He had then
refused to accept the money, telling Bick
ford "it was all off," as Wood had told
him that he could not aiford to sell him
self. The witness said Bickford had prom
ised to pay him for his services, but no
specific sum had been mentioned.
"He asked me how much I expected,"
said the witness, "and I told him I wanted
all I could get out of it. I continued by
Baying, 'Ko doubt you will make a stake
out of it.' He asked me how 10 per cent
would do. I said, 'That would be satis
factory," as I have no doubt you will get
$20,000 or ?25,O0O out of If "
It appeared that no settlement was made
with him by Mr. Bickford, and that Mr.
Ector wrote to Senator Clark about the
matter. There was a correspondence with
that gentleman, beginning December 10,
IS9S. and closing November S, 1S99.
These letters were read to show that
Mr. Bickford had been the agent of Clark
in the senatorial race. In the first letter
Clark said the matter concerning which
Mr. Ector had written him had been left
entirely in the hands of Mr. Bickford, and
that ho would confer with that gentleman
concerning the matter. In the se&ond let
ter. January 8, 1SS9, Mr. Clark spoke of
the fact that he had just been elected,
saying Bickford was wild with joy, add
ing that, while he had no personal knowl
edge as to what he had done, he "never
disappointed any one who had Iielped
him." This last statement was practical
ly repeated from Paris in April last, and
In another letter, written from New York
November 8, last. In the New York let
tor Clark said he would refer Ector's
matters to Bickford, and in the Paris let
ter he said it was his desire that any one
who served him should be amply remun
erated. One of the letters of the series was
signed in typewriter, and the defense ob
jected to its admission. This objection
brought out the fin,t division in the com
mittee, Senators McComas and Cattery
casting the only rotes against admission.
Cross-examination was postponed until
the defense should look up the letters re
ceived from Ector.
Wanted Twenty Thousand.
Hep&asentative P. G. Sullivan, a mem
ber of the last Montana legislature from
Granite county, testified that he had been
approached by Mr. Bickford when he
went to Helena, previous to the meeting
of the legislature, and asked to vote for
Mr. Clark.
"I said," the witness testified, "that I
might do so If there was enough in it.
He asked how much. I said $30,005. He
then asked me if half that amount would
not be enough. I replied No,' and we"
separated."
Sullivan said that afterward ne naa
again met Bickford, and that the latter
had suggested $15,000. He had told Bick
ford then that he would not vote for
Clark under any circumstances, and had
seen no more of him. Sullivan said his
purpose had been to lead Bickford on, and
that he had not expected to vote for
Clark, even if the offer of $20,000 had been
accepted.
The witness stated that he is now the
proprietor of the Florence hotel, at Butte,
Mont., and the crossexaminatIon was de
voted to showing that this hotel is owned
largely by Marcus Daly. The witness said
he paid his rent to Mr. Hennessy, and did
not know whether Daly was the owner.
He admitted that his patronage was
largely from among the miners of the
Anaconda mine, and counsel brought out
the fact that whereas before the legis
lature met the witness had been the pro
prietor of a saloon, paying ?30 a month
rent, he now pays $2000 a month for the
Florence house.
Anthony Dougherty, of Helena, proved vo
be the first witness who was apparently
unwilling to testify. He was questioned
with the view of showing that he had
allowed a friend named Gallagher to oc
cupy for several days a room in the
Brown block, rented by himself, and that
he remained in the closet of the room and
overheard a conversation between A. J.
Steele and Representatives Gillette and
Flyn. concerning the senatorial election.
Dougherty declared he had not remained
in the closet and had heard no such con
versation, answering only yes or no in re
ply to questions. He said he had let
Gallagher take the room, and had lived
elsewhere while he occupied It; but that
he had seen or heard no one there.
State Auditor Poindexter testified that
A. J. Steele had premised to give him
JSO.Oftd to secure the vote of the three mem
bers of the legislature from Beaverhead
county for Mr. Clark, he (Poindexter) to
have $5000 for his services, but that he had
newer approached the members, because
he was opposed to Clark's election 'aod
had only agreed to see them for him to
prevent others acting in the capacity of
go-between. The cross-examination of Mr.
Poindexter did not develop anything of
importance.
State Senator's Tehtimony.
State Senator Myers was the next wit-,
ness. He was one pf the members who
turned $10,4)90 over to the legislative lnves
tgatag oommlttoe. stating that it had
beets put Jn "Whtteside's hands for him .on
the condiJon that he vote for Clark for
senator. Myers detailed not only the par
ticulars of his taking tne money, but alto
other -circumstances., leading up to this
episode. He said that he had first betn
approached after thu election as a sena
tor by Dr. Mlnshall and Bickford, and
his vote for Clark had been requested.
He had been told by those men that if
he would agree to vote for Clark, the lat
ter would appoint him attorney in con
nection with his coal interests at Bridger.
He said he had declined this offer, but
notwithstanding this he had received a
letter from C. W. Clark, son of the
senator, written from Butte, December 14,
1SSS. This letter was put in evidence. In
it Mr. Clark stated he had forwarded ta
Dr. Mlnshall $500 as "a retainer for his
services in the Bridger coal mine."
Mr. Clark, Mr. Myers said, had after
wards asked him not to read the letter be
fore the joint legislative assembly.
He said that he had only agreed to
Mr. Whiteside's proposition to accept $10,
000 from Mr. Wellcome for the purpose of
exposing what he believed were efforts at
bribery. He said he had received the
money from Mr. Whiteside, the latter
saying Mr. Wellcome would see him then.
The witness said that after the exposure
in the legislature he had been persuaded
to go to see A. J. Steele, when the lat
ter, he said, had tried to persuade him
first to vote for Clark, next to leave the
state until after the excitement over the
senatorial race had subsided, and lastly,
to sign a statement denying his connec
tion with the exposure and contradicting
his jown testimony,hefore the legislative
committee. In each, case Steele had asked
him if there -was any inducement or con
sideration which would secure his assent
and he had replied that there was- not,
Mr. Myers also said that Mark Hewitt
had offered him $10,000 to vote for Clark,
saying' Charley Clark had authorized him
to make the proposition. The latter had
told him, he said, that he could put up
$10,000 with Whiteside. to be paidto him
in case he voted for Clark.
On cross-examination .Mr. Myers said
that It was his opinion that the attention
of the grand jury, which undertook to
investigate the alleged bribery, was given
to whitewashing Mr. Olarlc. Witness de
clared he was not prejudiced in this case.
He said he had gone into the combination
as a matter of duty to the state. He
went into it upon the advice of John R.
Toole.
In reply to a question he said he knew
Mr. Toole and Mr. Daly were on friendly
terms, and he also knew Toole was op
posed to Clark's candidacy. "He had at
first thought Mr. Whiteside's proposition
a "little unique," but after thinking it
over he had decided that it was proper.
The" witness said Dr. Mlnshall was 'to
have been appointed a physician at Mr.
Clark's coal mines, but that instead of
his getting the place it was given to a
member of the legislature who had voted
for Mr. Clark.
He Voted for Clark.
The last witness of the day was Henry
H. Garr, a member of the legislature
from Flathead county. Montana. He is
one of the members of the legislature In
whose name money was turned over to
the legislative investigating committee by
Mr. Whiteside, and the only one of them
who afterwards voted for Mr. Clark for
the senate. Beferring to his transactions
with Mr. Whiteside, the witness said Mr.
Whiteside had been a warm supporter of
his, and he had listened respectfully when
Whiteside had asked him to go to his
room, and had complied with his request,
when Mr. Whiteside had asked him to
mark foF Identification an envelope con
taining $5000 In $1000 bills, which White
side had brought to him at the Helena
hotel during the session of the legislature
last winter. He had no reason for doing
this except his confidence In Whiteside
and the additional fact that he himself
was an "egregious ass." He had, how
over, put his initials on the envelope ex
hibited yesterday in the committee as the
one so marked. He declared that Mr.
Whiteside had never said anything to him
about voting for Clark, and that he had
kept his promise to Conrad's friends to
vote for him. as long as he had a chance
of election. He pronounced as untrue the
ropprt that he had told Judge D. P. Smith
that he was to vote for Clark and receive
$6000 for so doing.
In reply to questions from Mr. Camp
bell, Mr. Garr stated that since the ad
journment of the legislature he had pur
chased a ranch for an aunt living with
him, paying $3000 for It. and that he had
also loaned $600 for her. This aunt had
lived with him for seven years, and he
had never before transacted any business
for her or known whether she had money
or not. The ranch was paid for In cur
rency, one of the bills being of the de
nomination of $1000. He had had to vote
for Clark in the, end to avoid a deadlock
in the legislature.
On cross-examination, Mr. GaTr said he
had never recelvedany money for voting
-for Clark or for promising to vote for
him.,
The committee, at 5:30, after a seven
hours' sitting, adiourned.
THE FRENCH CLAIM.
Snnto Domingo Is Settling; the Dif
ficulty. SANTO DOMINGO.. Jan. 12 (via Haytlen
cable). The United States gunboat Macn
ias and one more French warship have
arrived here. The French admiral has haa
a conference with the government. Ac
cording to a rumor, the difficulty is be
ing settled in a satisfactory manner.
Ordered to Santo Domingo,
NEW YORK, Jan. 12. A dispatch to the
Herald from Santo Domingo says:
The French government, anticipating tho
arrival of the United States gunboat Ma
chias here, has ordered two more warships
to Santo Domingo. The vessels are ex
pected to reach here tomorrow.
A MILLIONAIRE'S WILL.
Department-Store
Fortune to
Pioneer I,cft
His Family.
nis
CHICAGO, Jan. 12. The will of the lato
E. J. Dehmann, the originator of the department-store
system in this country,
was filed for probate today. He left an
estate valued at $6,076,000. Of this, $3,520,
000 is in personal property, and $2,550,000
In real estate. The will was written
February 22, 1SS6. Practically the whole
estate is left to the family of the de
ceased. The will was accepted for pro
bate at the value of the estate at the
time of the drawing of the will. It Is be
lieved the estate has increased $4,000,000
since that time, and Is now worth $10,
000,000 at least.
Newfoundland Fishing Rights.
LONDON, Jan. 12. The foreign office
officials say emphatically that the ques
tion of the Newfoundland fishing rights
has been settled for at least a year
through the acceptance by Great Britain
of the French proposition that the modus
vlvendl be extended for another year, as
Great Britain Is not prepared In war
time to discuss the matter, which is now
a question between Great Britain and
the colonial parliament, as the latter must
ratify the extension.
Crispi's Son Goes to Jail.
ROME, Jan. 12. Xuigl Crlspl, son of
SIgnor Francisco Crispl, the distinguished
Italian statesman and ex-premier, was to
day sentenced to four years' imprison
ment for the theft of jewelry from the
Countess Cellere in April, 1S95.
q 0
Engrlnnd'jf Armored Trains.
The magnificent armored trains used by
England in her war with the Boers will
transport her troops, protect bridges and
telegraphic communications in about the
same way that Hostetter's Stomach Bit
ters drives dyspepsia from the human
stomach, and then mounts guard that it
does not return. The Bitters has woh In
every case of Indigestion, biliousness, liver
and kidney trouble for the past 50 years.
It Is invaluable at all .times.
THE HEPBURjN CANAL RILL
HQUSE COMMITTEE ORDERED,
FAVORABLE REPORT ON IT.
Practically the Same One Reported
in tlie Last Congress Text
of the Measure.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, Tho hpu.se
committee on interstate and foreign com
merce today ordered a favorable 'report
upon the Hepburn bill for the construc
tion of the Nicaragua canal. The hill is
practically the same one reported by this
committee in the last congress. There
was some discussion about the advisabil
ity of delaying action on the bill until the
isthmian canal commission reports, but
this was finally regarded as unnecessary,
and all the members excepV'F'letcher' of
Mississippi voted, to report the bill favor
ably. The latter said his silence bhould
not bo construed as opposition, to the
measure, hut merely' as a reservation of
his right to support or oppose it after
further consideration.
T)ie committee made soino changes- In
the original bill, inserting a new section 3
and making verbal alterations. As finally,
agreed to, the bill is as follows:
"To provide for the construction of a
canal connecting the waters of the Atlan
tic and Pacific oceans. - i-
''Be It enacted, etc., that the 'president
Of the United States be and. Ify- hereby
authorized to acquire fromvtho',sfat6s of
,0 v
o
A Potent Immigration .
Agency '
o
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e
o
a
o
e
o
Office of R. O. Evans & fColV
Manufacturers of School" Sup
plies and Books.Chicago, Jan.
8. 1900.
Oregonlan Publishing Com
pany, Portland, Or. Gentlemen:
We are In receipt of your an
nual number of The Oregonlan,
for which accept thanks. Wo
wish to compliment you upon
your enterprise and also upon
the contents and appearance of
this number. Only, you had
better not send us any more
like it The writer took this
copy home, and now all of my
family have the Oregon fever.
With our beastly climate here
we are qulto apt to get such
notions, and a little stimulant
such as The Oregonlan affords
Is -very likely to make us un
patriotic ( regarding Chicago.
Such enterprise as The Ore
gonlan shows will undoubtedly
accomplish wonders In helping
to develop the resources of your
state. Very truly yours,
R. O. EVANS & CO.
Costa Rica and Nicaragua, for and in
behalf of the United States, control of
such portion of territory now belonging
to Costa Rica and Nicaragua as may bo
desirable and necessary, on which to ex
cavate, construct and defend a canal of
such depth and capacity as will be suffi
cient for the movements of ships of the
greatest tonnage and draft now in use
from a point near Greytown, on the Car
ribean sea, via Lake Nicaragua, to Brito,
on the Pacific ocean; and such sum as
may be necessary to secure such control
is hereby appropriated out of any money
in the treasury not otherwise " appro
priated. "Sec. 2. That when the president
has secured full control over the terri;
tory In section 1 referred to, he shall
direct the secretary of war to excavate
and construct a canal and waterway from
a point on the shore or the Carrlbean
sea, near Greytown, by way of Nicaragua,
to a point near BritO, on the Pacific ocean.
Such canal shall be of sufficient capac
ity and depth that it may he used by
.vessels of tho largest tonnage and great
est depth now in use, apd shall be sup
plied with all necessary locks and other
appliances to meet the necessities of ves
sels passing from Greytown to Brito, and
the secretary of war shall also construct
such safe and commodious harbors at tho
termini of said canal and such fortifica
tions for defense as will be' required for
safety and protection of said canal and
harbors.
"Sec. 3. That the president shall
cause such surveys as may be necessary
for said canal and harbors and in the
constructing of the same.
"Sec. 4. That In the excavation and
constru'ctlqn of said canal the San Juan
river and Lake Nicaragua, or such parts
of each as may be made available, shall
be used.
"Sec. 5. That in any negotiations
with the states of Costa Pica or NI5J
ragua uie presiaent is autnonzefl'tp guar
antee to said states theuse..of a& canal
and harbors npon such terms, asT-maybe
agreed upon for all vessels owjled by said
states or by the citizens thereof
"Sec. G. That the sum of $140,000,
000, or so much thereof as may be neces
sary, is Hereby appropriated out of any
money in the treasury not otherwise ap
propriated for the completion of the work
herelh authorized, said money to be drawn
from the treasury from time to time as
the same shall be needed, upon warrants
of the president based on estimates made
and verified by the chief engineer in
charge of tho work, and approved by the
secretary of war."
QtlAY'S CASE HOPELESS.
His Democratic Friends Will JTot
Arote for Him.
NEW YORK, Jan. 12. A special to the
Times from Washington says:
A senator who has been friendly to Mr.
Quay, and who until recently "expressed
the hope that he could be seated, says thai
he does not believe it potesible for Mr. Quay
to be seated, and that his case should be
permitted to come to a vote. When the
committee on privileges and elections
voted against Quay a few days ago, It was
expected by the Quay men that enough
democratic votes to assist republicans of
the right turn of mind would be secured
to defeat the majority report, and to give
Mr. Quay the seat. The claim was madf
that Senators, Daniel, Martin, McLauiin
and Sullivan, all democrats, would vote for
him, and so make up the necessary ma
jority. Senator Morgan was also counted
for Quay. Later .-investigation shows that
possibly one of these democrats will vote
for Quay. The others have looked Into
the matter with care, and while all are
personally friendly to Quay, they cannot
find any justification In the practice of the
senate fof such a 5dtinc as that proposed
by Mr. Quay and his friends.- Qtiay,'s
friends still Insist that the senate Wlil
never vote to keen him out.
The Alnslca Hearing-.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 12. The Sendto
committee tm territories today continued
Its Investigation of the conditions in
.Alaska. Governor Brady, Judge Price
and John P. Hartman were heard. Mr.
Price advocated, a law allowing taxes col
lected in the territory to be expended
there. Instead of being paid into the treas
ury. DaHy Treasury Statement.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12. Today's state
ment of the condition of the treasury
shows:
Available cash balance 4...?2S2S35jll4
Gold reserve .,..'.. 231.dSS.e63
An American machine Shop.
Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Fqrelgners Who visit the Paris exposi
tion in 1900 will have an opportunity of
seeing a typloal American machine shop
in full operation. Not only will the ma
chinery in Jhe. bulldjng, such, aa traveling
'cranes, hangers, shafting, electric mo
tors, etc., be of American make, but the
structurq itself will have been made on
this side of tho Atlantic.
a '
.INDIANA BANK ROBBED,
Thieves. Carried Qfl! Their. Plunder
on a Handcar.
PRINCETON," Ind7 Jan. 12. Robbers
blew open the safe and vault in the bank
ing house, of McGinnls, Teel & Co., a.
OwensvIHe, this county, early this morn
ing and secured $15,000, the total currency
in the bank. The money was placed on iv
handcar on the Mount Vernon branch ot
the Evansville & Terv Haute Toad and
run to Posoyvllle, 12 miles southeast. Hero
the handcar was left, and the money was
removed to a Vehicle. The robbers then
crossed the Wabash river, to tho Illinois
side and escaped.
MYSTERIOUS ROBBERY.
Experience of a. California Woman
In Chicago Streets.
CHICAGO, Jan. 12. Mrs. John Corso, ot
239 Deai born avenue, was seized by rob-
bers shortly after midnight at Chestnut
street, near North Clark street, thrust Into
a eab 'and. afterward robbed of diamonds
valued at $600. She was brutally beaten,
her hands lacerated and her face bruised.
She was so badly hurt and so completely
overcome that she is almost prostrated.
Mrs. Corse, who ls",26 years of age, came
to Chicago recently' from California fpr
the purpose of studying elocution. Wed
nesday evening she attended an entertain
ment on the West Side, returning to her
apartments about midnight. She was feel
ing 111, and went to a drug store about two
blocks from where she lived. This store,
however, was closed, and Mrs. Corse
started for home. She had not proceeded
half a block, homeward, when, according
to the story, she told to the pqllce, she was
seized frmnbehind by,twomen', who drove
npjn a. cab, and they "thrust"" her Into the
1 .vehicle, stifling her pries, and-drovo away
at- a rapid eralt.
The cab was driven to a resort near
Clark and Division streets. The woman
was forced to enter the building, and be
ing too ill and frightened to make an put
cry she was partly carried and partly
dragged. ,Here an effort was made to se
cure the diamonds she had worn to the
entertainment in the evening, and which
she still had on. The gems wore Bet in a
brooch. The brooch was secured, but the
rings were tight and could not easily be
removed from her fingers. The robbers
then procured a pair of pinchers and
wrenched the diamonds from their set
tings. While this was going on, Mrs. Corse re
sisted as best she could, but found, herself
almost powerless In the grasp of the men.
After the robbery she was again put in the
cab, and, in response to her pleadings, she
was taken to her boarding place, in Dear
born avenue. Tho robbery was reported
to the police. The story was regarded as
a strange one by the officers; but the vic
tim repeated her assertions and showed
her lacerated hands and the rings with the
empty settings to prove her statements.
Detectives were detailed on the case.
The only theory that would fit the case
is that the diamonds worn by Mrs. Corse
were exposed to view while she was trying
to get into the drug store In North Clark
street, and that she was followed by the
men In the cab. The Chicago avenue po
lice are puzzled over the affair. Besides
the diamonds her pocketbook, containing
$o in money and a draft for $250, was also
taken. Mrs. Corse's home is in San Fran
cisco. THE MOLINEUX TRIAI.
Proceeding's Yesterday Were Unin
terestinir. NEW YORK, Jan. 12. The proceedings
today in the trial of Roland B. Mollneus.
were uninteresting. Harry Cornish ana
Mrs. Florence Rogers were recalled fot
tho pupose of identifying the glass fom
which Mrs. Adams drank the poisoned
bromo-seltzer and for the purpose of tes
tifying as to the details of the (death or
the Victim.
H. J. White, a Cincinnati lawyer ana
ex-assistant to the chief of detectives In
the Ohio metropolis, was called to iden
tify a letter which he obtained from thfe
Van Mohl company in Cincinnati., The
letter is what is known as a bogus Cor
nish letter, and cohtalned a request rot
a "five-day trial remedy." The witness
also Identified other bogus letters ob
tained from the Van Mohl company, also
for the "five-day trial remedy," and signed
"H. C. Barnet."
Professor Wltthaus again made his ap
pearance on the witness stand and testi
fied in great detail concerning the amount
of poison which he found in the body of
Mts. Adams. Being asked the cause of tnn
death of Mrs. Adams, he replied, "hydro
cyanic poison." Professor Wltthaus, In
conclusion, said that the cause of Bar
net's death was poison in the absence of
violence, and when asked If he woula
place his judgment against tho judgment
of the attending physician, if the latter
testified that the patient died of diphtheria.
f he replied in the affirmative.
Tliievlnpr Cashier Sentenced.
NEW YORK, Jan. 12. Lewis E. Gold,
smith, for years the assistant cashier of
tho Port Jarvls. N. Y., National bank,
who pleaded guilty to having stolen about
$100,000 from that institution, was today
sentenced to serve eight years in tho pen
itentiary at Sing Sing.
CABINET MEETING.
Engrlnnd'M Reply to the State De
partment Gonsitlered Satisfactory.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12. At tho cabinet
meeting today. Secretary Hay read the
reply of the British government to tho
representations regarding the flour seizure
in Delagoa bay. The members of the cab
inet, after meeting, said the British an
swer was entirely satisfactory to this gov
ernment. The several resolutions of inquiry as to
tho cpnduct of the war, which have been
introduced in both houses of congress,
were discussed, and the statement was
made that full and complete informa
tion would be furnished on all of the mat
ters covered at the earliest day possible.
A dispatch from General Otis announo
ins further successes In Luzon was reaa
and favorably commented upon.
Increase in Postal Receipts.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 12. The statement
of the gross postal receipts for December,
1S99, as compared wth the receipts for the
same month during the preceding year,
show a net increase of $199,S35, or 5 per
cent.
4 e '
Domestic and Foreign Ports.
San Francisco, Jan. 12. Arrived Steam
er Queen, from Victoria: steamer Sunol,
from Gray's harbor; bark A. S. Thompson,
from Port Blakeley. Sailed Steamer Sig
nal, for Columbia river.
Movllle, Jan. 12. Sailed Ethiopia, from
Glasgow for New York.
New York, Jan. 12. Arrived Steamer
Marquette, from London.
Hamburg, Jan. 12. Arrived Graf Wal
dersee, from New York, via Plymouth.
Bishop Rndcmnncher Dead.
FORT WAYNE, Ind., Jan. 12. Right
.Rev. Joseph Rademaneher, bishop of the
Roman Catholic diocese of Fort Wayne,
died today after a long Illness.
s Gold) for Bnenos Ayres.
NEW YORK, Jan. 12. The steamship
Hildur, Which sailed today, took out $1,000,
000 In gold to Buenos Ayres.
8 fr
While Morris Campbell was working
the"cut-off saw In J. E. Nlchol's mill, at
LaConner, last Friday, his right arm
was mangled so badly that it had to be
amputaledjust below the shoulder-blade.
IN A PRETORIA PRISON
LIFE
THERE DESCRIBED BY AN
EG1.ISH OFFICER.
The Mfn Are Well Treated and Sjnf-
llciently Fed AllOTvetHto JLur
, rP?ehnse Luxuries Outside. -
NEW YORK. Janl2. A dispatch "to th
Herald from Paris says: r. .
TTho Figaro publishes a long letter
which an Erigllsh officer, a -prisoner of
war in Pretoria,- has written to a member
of his family. The writer says:
''We are completely cut oft from all news
of the outside world, and are not allowed
to see tho newspapers. We know, how
ever, of Ladysmlth being bombarded. Here
we are prisoners of war, and I assure you
it is a pltlfurcondltidn. Sometimes I feel
as If I wore going na.d, and wish I had
been shot. We had hoped we should be
oxebanged or released on parole, but -the
Boer authorities do not appear to under
stand what parole means, and seem to
think we snould not keep "bur word.
"As far as. health goes, we are well and
very well treated. We sometimes receive
visits from those in command at-Pretoria
the secretary of war, field cornets, chief
magistrate "and others. They are all very
polite, but are under the firm impression
that their prisoners are not well treated
by us, and they are convinced 'that our
troops use 'dum-dum' bullets. At first wo
were nine officers prisoners and about ISO
men, but the other day our number was
increased by 45 officers, almost all offi
cers of tho. Gloucester reglment-and Royal
Irish ;fu3lllers, with Colonel Carleton, so
that now we are about 54 officers and 1400
men.,
"In front qf the building- there Is a ve
randa on which we sit and watch the peo
ple go by. The government gives us
canned beef, bread, and water to drink and
from time to time lime juice. Once a week
we get potatoes. Happily we are now al
lowed to buy whatever we please, so we
have-been able to organize a mess, and.
our menu is reinforced by bacon, porridge,
preserved vegetables, potted meats, pickles
and tobacco.
"Each day we -send out our orders,-and
the things come later. Of course, when
taken prisoners 'we had only what was on
our persons, so we had to purchase many
necessities, such as sponges, soap, tooth
brushes, hairbrushes and combs. The
Transvaal government, however, has given
to each of us an iron bedstead, with mat
tress and pillow, a pajama suit, slippers,
flannel shirt, pocket handkorchlef, towels,
socks, etc. We also .received ready-made
suits, as our khaki uniforms were too
much worn.
"We officers live in a large building that
was formerly used as a schoolhouse. The
men are still kept on the racecourse. We
are certainly far more comfortable than
we -were on the racecourse, for this Is a
stone building while on the racecoures
are nothing but zinc sheds. It is, however,,
not so warnv as the Tacecourse prison.'
We are not so much annoyed by flies, but
atnlghtther.e are a good many mosquitoes.
We are guarded night and day by a strong
police force, although none of us has any
Intention of trying to escape. We are sur
rounded by iron palisades'. Behind the
house there Is a small grass plot on which
a little zinc hut has been erected to serve
as a kltohen.
"Here ten,ts have been put up for ser
vants. We were allowed to bring 10 men
from the racecourse to act for us. There
are also tents fer the guard and a zinc
hut which does duty as a bathroom. We
rise at 6:30 o'clock and indulge in a cold
bath. When I am dressed I walk around
the building eight times, which makes a
mile. At 8:30 we breakfast on porridge,
bacon, sardines, butter, jams and tea or
coffee. They give us the tea ahd coffee
and bread, and the rest we buy. After
breakfast we generally read and smoke
until lunch time, at 1 o'clock, when wo
get beer, bread, butter, jam and water.
"The afternoon seems very long. At 4:30
we have tea, and at 7 dinner. After din
ner some of us play whist or chess, while
others jread. I generally go to bed at 9:30
o'clock. Our checks are provided. They
are countersigned by the senior officers and
cashed."
CHANGE OF COMMANDERS.
Soldiers Were Discontented Under
Their Old OUlcers.
NEW YORK, Jan. 12. A dispatch to the
Tribune from London says:
The fourth month of the war opens with
Lord Roberts in command of the scattered
British forces in South Africa. The gov
ernment has made so many mistakes that
it might have credit for sagacity In send
ing to Cape Town a grat soldier, -capable
of commanding the confidence of tho
armies in the field and silencing the critic
ism at home. While the situation has not
been materially altered since he received
the queen's orders, evidence has been sup
plied from the field operations that the sol
diers are fretting and discontented, and
that changes of commanders are Impera
tive. The censorship has mutilated the
press dispatches and exercised a restraint
over war correspondence by mall, but it
has -not tampered with private letters from
officers and men, which are now finding
their way into print.
The truth about .Gatacre's repulse and
tho retreat and slaughter of the High
land brigade at Magersfonteln and the ac
tion of Hart's and Barton's brigade at the
battle on the Tugela has come out with
cumulative effect in short letters ot sol
diers published in London and the prov
incial press. These revelations have pro
duced a painful Impression that the ar
mies have not been led prudently and that
the time has passed when generals who
have blundered should be allowed to re
trieve reputations when the soldiers have
lost faith In them. General Buller stands
in a better light than any other general,
because he offered conclusive proof of his
caution and consideration for tho lives of
soldiers In ordering a retreat from Colenso
when they were eager to continue fighting
under hopeless conditions. General White
alone has redeemed his reputation and
rendered the relief of Ladysmlth a duty of
paramount Importance.
The story of the Suffolks reverse, which
Is told in detail by several agencies and
correspondents this morning, is a sorry
repetition of Gatacre's ambuscade an a
smaller scale. The Dutch were evidently
Informed by spies that a night march
would be made, and awaited In silence the
attack, allowing the Suffolks to come
almost within .bayonet reach. Colonel
Watson was making a speech to his offi
cers, when an appalling fire was opened
up on the Suffolks, and he barely closed
it with the word "Charge" before falling,
fatally wounded. There was a stampede
down the hill when the cry, "Company re
tire, was heard and the officers were left
with one-quarter ot their force to fight
hopelessly and surrender. Only one offi
cer escaped andthe losses In killed, wound
ed and missing now exceed 100.
This Is final proof that night attacks
when the British forces are beset with
spies are highly hazardous, and that pre
cautions should be taken to guard against
treacherous orders from the enemy's side.
General French has remained inactive
since this minor disaster.
The clubs were filled with vague rumors
last night that General Buller's second bat
tle had been fought during the day, but
there was no dhrect confirmation of them
at a late hour. The silence which has
been maintained in upper Natal since Sun
day was unbroken save by mortality lists
from fever at Ladysmlth. The military
writers are UTging in this morning's press
the doubling of contemplated reinforce
ments and forecasting Lord Roberts' cam
paign, but a jaded public is weary of ex
pert criticising and Impatient for news of
the right sort. The man in the street
wants to have all the critics sent to the
front.
Lord Salisbury's reply to the American
request for information respecting the
seizure of breadstuffs at Delagoa bay is
entirely satisfactory to neutral traders.
Tho export of florur or other food from
American ports to neutral territory will
not be Interfered with, unless the ultimate
destination for the enemy ba apparent
from the manifest. American exporters,
under this official ruling, can send food
stuffs without risk of seizure a3 contra
band If they consign them to Portuguese
merchants at Lourenzo Marquez. although
they ought naturally to take the precau
tion of shipping them under neutral rather
than the British flag, and of avoiding all
traces of their ultimate destination In tEe
clearance papers.
Compensation will be made without
doubt for the selzuje of provisions whlc
have not passed out of thehands of Amer
ican owners nor been tainted with evi
dence In the ship's papers of ultimate des
tination for the enemy. Close students of
International law are confident that tno
American merchants will not be hindered
In supplying the Dutch republics with
foodstuffs if these precautions are ob
served. They are also convinced that the
precedent Is a dangerous one for England.
Lord Salisbury's ruling, If England and
France are at war, will exclude all food
stuffs destined for the enemy, unless they
are consigned to a neutral port, with pa
pers untainted. Americans, In event ot
such a war, can ship flour and bacon to
France via Belgium, but not to the United
Kingdom.
If 'the experts understand Lord Salis
bury's ruling, he is securing Continental
nations with neutral borders against star
vation In war time, but not Great Britain,
and meanwhile he Is not preventing neu
tral trading with the open market of Dela
goa" bay, where Boer agents will be free
purchasers of whatever they want.
AID FOR, BOERS.
Subscriptions by Chicago and Mid
dle West Dnt,eh.
CHICAGO, Jan. 12. H. Vanderploeg, sec
retary of the South African Fund Associa
tion, reports a fund of $3000 on hand, which
will be forwarded to the Red Gross So
ciety when $2000 has been added. Enthusi
asm among the Dutch-Americans Is at
high tide over the subscriptions now be
ing taken to aid the sick and wounded
Boer soldiers.
During the last week the Dutch Re
formed church, of Alto, Wis., raised $53$;
the South Holland church, of Chicago,
raised $250 by popular subscription, and tne
South Dutch church made $240 by a con
cert. Many churches of the sect in various
parts of the surrounding country have sent
in smaller sums. It was not more than a
month ago that the circular letters asking
aid -were sent to all churches In Illinois
of the Dutch and Christian R.eform denom
inations. In many cases where money
hag not yet been sent, the association of
ficers have received letters stating that
the people were doing their best to help
the cause along, and would forward money
as soon as a sufficient sum had been ac
cumulated. The officers of the association are In
communication with Baron Hardenbrook,
who Is presldqnt -pf the Red Cross organ
ization of The Hague, and have learn1-1
from him that much help already has been
given the Boers by the people of Hol
land. The treasury of the society, how
ever, is In a depleted condition. The $2000
first sent over by the Chicago association
reached the Red Cross Society a week ago
and was Immediately spent for medicine
to be sent the sick and- wounded. Later
funds will be spent for the organization of
hospital and ambulance corps.
A meellng will bo held on January 27
in Stelnway hall, to be under the aus
pices of the fund association. Among those
to speak are Miss Jane Adams, Dr. Emil
HIrsch, J. L. Jones, D. J. Schuyler and
Clarence Darrow.
FOR OPENING THE RIVER.
Congrressmnn Cnshnmn's Resolution
for Improvement nt The Dalles.
WASHINGTON, Jan. . The joint reso
lution introduced by Congressman Cuch
man, directing the war department to pre
pare plans and estimates for the Improve
ment of the Columbia river at The Dalles,
recites the resolutions adopted by the
Washington, Oregon and Idaho legislatures
favoring the proposed improvement, and
then continues as follows:
"Resolved, by the Senate and House ol
Representatives., in Congress Assembled,
That the secretary of war be, and he Is
hereby, authorized and directed to cause
a preliminary survey to be made of the
Columbia river and the adjacent shore lino
and banks thereof, at and near The Dalles,
In the state of Oregon, and Celilo, In the
state of Washington, for the purpose of
reporting upon the probable cost and ad-
vlsablllty- of constructing at said point a
portage railway suitable to be used by the
public for the transfer of freight from
steamboat to steamboat around said ob
struction, and after said preliminary sur
vey Is made, the secretary of war is au
thorized and directed to make a report on
the same."
For Improvement of Gray's Harbor.
Mr. Cushman's joint resolution for the
Improvement of Gray's harbor, reads as
follows:
"That the secretary of war be, and he
Is hereby, authorized and directed to cause
a preliminary survey to be made of Gray's
harbor, in the state of Washington, and
the sloughs and rivers adjacent and tribu
tary thereto, for the purpose of reporting
upon the probable cost and advisability of
dredging a single continuous channel
through one bar in said Gray's harbor be
low the city of Aberdeen and ahove the
city of Hoqulam, commonly know as 'Cow
Point bar said dredged channel to con
tinue from thence to and through one bar
below the city of Hoqulam, commonly
known as 'lower shoal' ; said investigation,
preliminary survey and estimate, to be of
the amount necessary, to dredge said single,
continuous channel between the two pointa
mentioned, said proposed channel to be
100 feet In width at the bottom and IS feet
deep at mean low water.
"That the secretary of war be, and he
Is hereby authorized and directed at tho
same time, and as a portion of said In
vestigation, ta cause a preliminary survey
to be made of the conditions of the pres
ent government dikes In the sloughs and
rivers adjacent and tributary to said
Gray's harbor, with a view to the neces
sity of tho repair of said dikes, In con
formity with the recommendation regard
ing the necessity for their repair In the
annual report of the chief of engineers to
the secretary of war for the year 1S96."
THE WIRELESS TELEGRAPH
Natives of Africa Communicate by
the Use of Drums.
Much surprise has been expressed at the
quickness with which the natives of South
Africa have learned the results of the re
cent battles between the Boers and British.
These natives know nothing of our method
of telegraphing, and yet, when victory has
been declared for either of the contending
parties, the news has been flashed with
amazing celerity to remote parts of the
country. The manner In which, the news Is
carried Is novel and most Interesting.
Throughout Africa the natives are expert
In the use of what is known as the drum
language, and they use It as we use the
telegraph and the telephone, namely for
the purpose of sending a message from one
place to another.
The most important events, as well as
the dally occurrences In every village are
transmitted In this way. In the Congo re
gion, nearly Stanley Falls, some of the na
tives are so skilled In the use of the drums
that they can carry on a conversation with
one another at a great distance, just as
easily as though they were standing side
by side. The chiefs or head men of the
various tribes converse daily in this fash
Ion, and thus each quickly learns what has
occurred in the surrounding districts during
the preceding 21 hours. The drum used for
this purpose is fashioned, as a rule, out ot
a hollow tree trunk, which is covered with
theyskln of an antelope.
In regard, to the quickness with which
news la transmitted In Africa, Peter de
Deken, the famous traveler, tells two good
stories. While Inspector Five was in con
trol of the station at Basoko, he visited
one day a distant outpost, and found that
it would be impossible for him to ram
home until late at nfeht. As he looked
forward to a hearty dinner, he request a
a head man, Who was with him, and wno
was an expert drummer, to send word fo
the station, several miles away, that din
ner was not to be served until he returno '.
The head man drummed, straightway an
other drummer repeated hte message, ana
so the news was flaahttd from point a
point until it reached tne distant statio"
When Five reached hom at night he four I
the table laid and the dinner ready to b1
served. This was the massage his servants
had received: "The bute ma tori (governor
or inspector) will be noma ta.t in the even
ing. Don't eat everything up."
Mistakes are sometimes made in tel -graphing
and telephoning, and Peter 1
Deken's second story shows that one mav
blunder also in using the drum language
This seme Five took several photograph
during his stay at Basoko, and, on tr
day of his departure the thought struck
him that It would be wall to take a photo-
graph of all those natives who, from tim
to time, had afted as his domestic sen, -ants.
Accordingly he ordrd a drumme"
to notify them that they wre to appear
before him at a certain hour In their holi
day clothes. The drummSr at once sent
message, but what was five's surprise to
find at the appointed nour, not his serv
ants, but all the police of the station
drawn up In front of his residence. Th
drummer, It seems, had eittfer mlsundi-r-stood
Five or had blundered in sendirg th
message. Instead of summoning domett f
servants he had. summoned state servant..
It Is In the, evening and at night, wlirn
deep silence reigns m the African -woutH
and villages, that the drum language la
heard at Its best. Then for hours th
drummers ot each village converse with
one another, and long before dawn th
news which one communicates may be
known to his fallows nundreds of miles
away.
3
Charms and Witchcraft.
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly.
The Malay Is a firm believer in the ef
ficacy of charms. He wears amulets,
places written words of magic In houses,
and sports a tiger's claw as a prevents cs
of disease. If he is especially pnmi o
and batekwoodsy, when he enters a for
est he says: "Go to the right, all my ene
mies and assailants' May you not look
upon me; let me walk alone!" To allav a
storm he gays: "Th elephants coilt c
they wallow across th sea: go tu t ia
right, go to the left. I break the tempr
When about to begin an elephant hunt, i -cording
to Thompson, he uses this c'ur-n
"The elephant trumpets, he wallows a-"- 3i
the lake. The pot bolls, the pan bi..i
across the point. Go to the left, go to t':i
right, spirit of grandfather fthe eiepha-' ,
I loose the fingers upon th bowsinrg
The Malay believes in witches and wl - '
craft. There Is the bottle Imp the I -long,
which feeds on its owner's bipul
the time comes for it to take pos-t?- i
of an enemy. Then there Is a horrid t ir t.
the Penangalan, which possesses wuirer.
Frequently it leaves its rightful aba i t
fly away at night to feed on blood, tak
the form of the head and intestl e "
the person It inhabited, in which ?4ur"
it wanders around.
Such beliefs may perhaps have the
origin In metempsychosis, which In ot i r
ways has some foothokl among the c v
mon people. For Instance, elephants a '
tigers are believed sometimes to be huma-i
souls in disguise, antl so the Malay al
dresses them as "grandfather" to a" la -their
wrath and avoid direct reference ti
them. Crocodiles also are often regar! I
as sacred, and special charms are usel It
fishing for them. One such, given I"
Maxwell, is as follows- "O Dangsa
lotus flower, receive what I send the".
If thou recelvest It not, may thy ej
be. torn out!"
s a
A Mercy to Lowell.
Newberg Graphic
It was certainly a kind providence
which did not allow the great poet, Jams
Russell Lowell, to live to- see the Inspired
lines of his Immortal "Crisis" quoted 7v
one of the greatest political demagogues
in a harangue against our aatlonal In
terests. I o
The Cat Did. thelestjr-.
Syracuse HecaKL
Mother Stop pulling the oat's tail, Reg
gie. Reggie I ain't pullin' it; I'm. jsr holdia
it.
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