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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 14, 1905)
-f-W1 VI rrf R VOL. XLY.-XO. 13,941. PORTLAND, OREGON, 3IOXDAY, AUGUST 14, 1905. PRICE FIVE CENTS. 5WUS OF CO H Eft FIRST QUESTION Four-HourTalk Brings No Result. SITUATION IS MORE HOPEFUL Witte Shows the Tactics of the Russians. SPECTER OF YELLOW PERIL Japanese Declared to Be Obtaining a Foothold on the Asiatic Conti nent Under Formula Con cealing True Purpose. . TAKE A DAY OF BEST. Thore was no f9sien ml the peace conference at Portsmouth Sunday. The following official statement was iseuod: "By mutual agreement of the pleat potenUariee of Japan and RusMa, It has been decided to postpone thin aft ernoon's meeting until tomorrow morn ing at 0:8." PORTSMOUTH. X. H., Aug. 13. Xo progress has been made with the peace negotiations over Sunday. Thoy stand exactly wnere they did last night. The session of the plenipotentiaries, which was to be held this afternoon, was postponed by mutual consont out of reverence of the Holy Sabbath, which Is universally observed In Russia as a day of rest. The Russians had not been anxious for a session today, and this morning the Japanese took the Initiative. And throxgh the intormodiary of Mr. Pierce it was decided to postpone the sitting until tomorrow morning. The situa tion, therafo-e, remains the same. It would, perhaps, not be too much to say that the goneral feeling is more hopeful,, in spite of "'open predictions made by personages connected with both sides of the negotiations that before next Sunday the plenipotenti aries will reach a point where a rup ture will become inevitable. This pes rJmistic view Is based upon the fact that so far as known the two big bar riers to an agreement remain as high and unsurmountable as ever. Reasons for the Optimism. The real struggle is only postponod. The main problems are no nearer solu tion than when the plenipotentiaries met The principal reason for optim ism lies In the fact that, confronted with the absolute rofusal of the Rus sian reply to admit the discussion of either indemnity or the cession of the Island of Sakhalin, the Japanese pro posed to take up the consideration of the conditions seriatim. From this It is assumed that the Japanese are pre pared to yield or have reason to be lieve a way will be found to overcome the objections of their adversaries when the crucial tost comes. An intimation eomes from a high sourpe that very strong outside in fluences are at work on both sides, and that for the moment the effort Is to gain time. The plan of having Rus sia practically satisfy Japan's claim of reimbursement for the cost of the war by the purchase of the Japanese mili tary 'evacuation of Sakhalin continues to be advanced. Such a solution would permit Russia to say she had paid neither indomnlty nor coded a foot of territory. Russia's Hand Is Shown. The debate in yesterday's confer ence over the first condition, the rec ognition of Japan's "preponderating influence" over Coroa. involving ner right to control the administration of the Hermit Kingdom, use the littoral for strategical purposes, etc., was of a- remarkable character. Indeed, the position taken by Mr. Witte was sen sational in the extreme. His attitude shows the Russian tactics. They pro pose to raise before the world the specter of the "yellow peril?' Russia alleges that Japan's present purpose Is to get a foothold on .the Asiatic continent, from wnlch to ex tend her dominion. Mr. Witte made no objection, but he declared the words "preponderating Influence" did not ad equately describe what Japan proposed to do, and he Insisted that the lan guage used should show Japan's true purpose which he contended was to make a Japanese province of Corea. His argument ''might be summarized as follows: Plays on the Yellow Peril. "Russia has no objection to Japan taking Corea, but you must avow it plainly. If it is to be taken. It should be taken officially, so that the woria will understand your purpose to take possession of the persons of the entire administration of the kingdom from the Emperor down to the smallest of the people. Corea will have no repre sentative abroad who can explain the situation from the standpoint of the Coreans. All of which means "Corea is to belong to Japan. "So be it Russia will not objeot, but Japan should avow a purpose which is against the Interests of Eu rope and America, and practically against the interests of the United States and China, and even of your ally, England. If this is satisfactory to you and America, Russia raises no protest. "You propose to destroy ever' vos tige of the sovereignty of the Emperor of Corea, but you desire to employ a formula which will conceal your true purpose. The country which will suffer most is America, which will understand It In about ten years, when it Is too late." Komura's Vigorous Dissent. To this argument Baron Kemura dis sented most vigorously, although in the most friendly manner, contending that Japan only sought to secure fer herself in Corea the commercial and Industrial positions tp which she 'was' entitled and to aid fa its civilization and development as well as te protect the kingdom from administrative an archy. The .fact that the Coreas question should be the first to be discussed in the peace con for once is strangely fit ting, as it was ovor. Corea that the long struggle between Russia, and Ja pan which culminated in the present war began. After Japan was forced out of Port Arthur and the L4ao Tung Peninsula in IS, oaeh became sus picious of the other's Intentions in Corea, and first in the LobanoIT agree ment in 1S9G and later in the Nlssi Roson agreement in 1S9S, they onterod upon mutual obligations. Former Negotiations Over Corea. In the former, Japan secured the right to protect the imperial family and to build the Seoul-Fusan tele graph, and Russia to establish the tel egrapn from Seoul to the Russian frontier. In the latter, while there were mutual obligations to protect the Independence aad the integrity of Corea, Japan's industrial and commer cial position in Coroa was recognized. Ever since Coroa has been the bone of contention, Japan has always beon suspicious of Russian encroachment. At last the continuation of occupation of Manchuria and the Yalu lumber concessions induced Japan to try to come to a definite settlement with Russia in the negotiations preceding the war. Those proved futile, and in the Japanese Imperial rescript declar ing war, the Emperor of Japan said: "The safety of Coroa is in danger. The interests of the' empire are men aced." Xow by a sort of inexorable logic, tho fate of Coroa comes up at Ports mouth for final settlement. AGREEMENT MADE OX SECRECY One of die Conditions Arranged in the Preliminaries. PORTSMOUTH. X. H.. Aug. 13. Tho Japanese version of the origin and history of the decision of the pleni potentiaries to observe tho strictest se crecy regarding the proceedings of the peace conferonoe differ materially from the Ttusslan. From an authori tative Japanese source, the Associated Press Is informed that secrecy was one of the conditions preliminarily ar ranged between the representatives of the two countries at Washington be fore the plenipotentiaries arrived In this country. One of the chief reasons advanced by Count Casslni for not desiring to have the conference hold in Washing ton was that public sentiment In America was hostile to the Russians, and that the proceedings could not be kept out of the press. Therefore he Insisted if the conference was to be held in the United States it was es sential that the most rigid secrecy be observed. The matter was the subjoct of an exchange of viows between Count Casslni and Mr. Takahlra, conducted through a medium which is not dis closed, as a rosult of which secrecy was agrood upon as a condition prece dent to the conference. "Moreover," said this Japanese au thority, "all international procodent and usage favored the rule of se crecy." It would be manifestly Improper for great international issues to be tried in the newspapers day by day and hour by hour. Publicity would necessarily hamper and harass the ne gotiations. In the peace conference at Paris. following tho Spanish American War, that rule obtained, and It was not until some time after the conference adjourned that the pro ceedings became public But in view of the world-wide in terest and the enterprise of the Amor lean Journalist, Mr. Takahira decided that it would be proper to make to the press at such tinies as were deem ed adIsable brief formal statements agreed to by both sides. All othor statements publishod were to be con sidered unauthonticated. It was to secure the possibility of secrecy that the United States placed at the dis posal of the plenipotentiaries the building on a Government reservation, where the ontrancc could be cleared. It would be considered remarkable If Mr. Witte was not apprised before arrival at Portsmouth of this prelim inary agreement as to secrecy ontcred into at the particular suggestion of Count Casslni. At any rate when the Question was raised by the plenipo tentiaries at the first session of the conference he assented and has not since protested. Mr. Witte, however, still insists that he courts, on behalf of tho Russians, the widest publicity of the proceed ings. He said today In response to the Japanese statements: "I am not acquainted with the un derstanding which may have taken place before I was appointed plenipo tentiary for the peace negotiations. What 1 said and what I repeat Is that the initiative of keeping the delibera tions of the conference secret was taken at the first meeting by the Japanese plenipotentiaries. It Is true that the Russian plenipotentiaries made no opposition, because the Rus sians did not come to America to de Zend the rights of the press. "There are so many differences pn serious questions between Russia and Japan that we would not undertake to add more or less important affairs. What I wish to make clear Is that if .the Japanese have nothing to the con trary. I am ready at any moment to publish the full text of all the docu ments concerning the peace conference as well as the record of the proceedings." If NOT CALL 1 . EXTRA 5E5510H President Receives Numerous Protests From Members of Congress. PLANS FOR TRIP SOUTH Atlantic Coast States May Be Visited in October and the Mississippi Valley Section at n letter Date. OYSTER BAY. Aug. 13. Notwith standing the more or Ifss definite an nouncement which has smanatod from various sources during the last few months, Congroes may not b called into extraordinary session next No vember. Indeed, the indications are now that no extraordinary session will be held this year. This statement Is made on the au thority of President Roosevolt him self. He has not decided definitely yet and will probably not reach a deter mination until he shall nave returned to Washington the latter part of Sep tember. The chanees of an extraor dinary session appear, howevor, to be fading. ' Strong pressure is being brought to bear upon the -President to Induce him not to call an extra session. So much interest has been manifested in the subject throughout the country that the President has received a large number of letters regarding It, Many Senators and Representatives have urged against an extra session. They point out thatpractically nothing will be gal nod by an extra session that will begin not more than three weeks be fore the opening of the regular long session, honce it will cause some in convenience to many members of Con gress in both branches. Taking those things into considera tion, the Presidont has reserved a definite decision of the matter, the chaneos being that the session will not be called. Abandonment ofFirst Plan. Last Spring It was the President's Moa to isstke ax the proper time aj call for an extraordinary session of Congress, to be held In Oetober, fer the purpose of onacting. if possible, railroad legislation. Incidentally, it was expected that some reoommenda tiotts might be made by the President regarding proposod changes In the ex isting tariff law. The idea, of an October session final ly was abandoned, and subsequently the President made arrangements for J a two-weeks' trip through the South wost, beginning October 17. It then was announced that the extraordinary session would be after the November elections. If finally the Prosldont should decide to call Congress together,- the session will begin on the first Monday after the November a lections, which will be just three weeks before Ihe begnning of the regular session in Decomber. Visit to the South. In this connoetion. It can be said to be not unlikely, in view of the preva lence :f yollow fever In New Orleans, that the President may conclude to make his trip through the South in two sections, visiting the Atlantic Coast States in October and Louis iana. Arkansas and perhaps. Tennessee on another trip to be made lator. No definite arrangements to this end have been completed, but the matter is boing considered. Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts, who returned late yesterday afternoon from his Europoan trip and was a guest of the President last night at Sagamore Hill, left today for New York, whence he expected to go di rectly to his home at Nahant, Mass. "My visit to the President at this time," said Senator Lodge." was of no significance whatever. It was purely a personal visit." Continental Powers Cordial. Being a member of the Senate com mittee on foreign relations, the Sena tor In his sojourn abroad manifested a natural Interest In the attitude of Europoan powors toward the United States. He found everywhere In Groat Britain and France evidence of a par ticularly cordial feeling both in offi cial circlos and among the people for America, and that President Roosevelt is hold by Europeans in gonoral In iiigh regard. The hope. Senator Lodge said, was expressed everywhere that the nego tiations for peace would be success ful, but he notod that the feeling that peace would be the outcome of the present conference was not optimistic "While I hope most profoundly, not only Jn the Interost of the two bellig erent nations, but also In the Interest of the entire civilized world," said Senator Lodge, "that a treaty of peace may be negotiated at Portsmouth. I really know nothing of the situation. For a week I have not read the news papers, and in my conversation with the President we touchod on the sub ject of the conference only incidental ly and generally." President Roosevelt and his family attended morning services as usual to day at Christ Episcopal Church. He received no visitors during the day. Pension for John MInto. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington, Aug. 13. tSpeciaL A pension of JS a month has Just been granted to John MInto, of Salens Or., father of John W. MInto. Postmaster "at Portland. This claim was filed under the Indian War veteran act, not because Mr. Minto felt In need of assistance -from the Government, but because he thought a Federal pension would be an official recognition of his services In the early Indian wars. Mr. MInto. as shown by the record. Is now in his S4th year and is one of the oldest beneflclarlos under the Indian War act. He has resided In Oregon for more than 69 years. John MInto saw service in the Cayuse War, as a member of Captain Levi Scott's company of the First Oregon Riflemen, and was one of the 16 men detailed by Governor Abernathy to escort Hon. Jesse Applogate to California. Applogate went South, it will bo recallud, for the purpose of obtaining ammunition for the soldiers who were then in the field fighting the Indians. Tho record shows that Mr. MInto served from January 25 to March 7. lSi3. and was granted a bounty land warrant for 109 acres. His claim is one of thoso that was tied up by red tape In the Pen sion Office, having been once rejected on technical and Ill-taken grounds. "WOMAN KILLED BY LIGHTNING IN A BOATHOUSE. Crowded Trollcy-Car Is Struck by Bolt and Fourteen Persons Are Hurt in the Panic. NEW YORK", Aug. 13. Widespread damage was caused by a thunderstorm of unusual violence accompanied by a high wind and a deluge of rain that burst over New York and vicinity today. A boathouse at the foot of Forty-fifth street, whero a large number of persons had taken shelter, was struck by lightning and Miss Jeanette Freer, aged 20 years, was killed. A dozen other persons were rendered unconscious but quickly recov ered, sustaining no injuries. A Webstor-avenue trolley car, carry ing nearly 103 passengers was struck the lightning running down the trolley pole. Although the car and Its occupants were unscatned. a panic was precipitated among the passengers. Fourteen persons almost all women, were injurcd-in a fran tic struggle to escape. Nine of them were severely hurt. Many small boats vferc capsized In the harbor. The Immigrant, steamer John E. Moore effected rescues. Five hundred immigrants were In dan ger for an hour when two barges on which they were broke away from the dock at Ellis Island and were blown down the bay. pitching and rolling In the heavy seas. Three tugs grappled the barges and succeeded In holding them until the storm subsided. One death and three cases of prostra tion resulted from the heat which was In tense before the storm broke. TRIED TO ENTER LIONS' DEN : . Pari! o Boast(ul Workman's Re mains Aj-o- Found. BLACKPOOL. Eng.. Aug. 13. Two liens, the property of tho city, were found loose today In the yard adjoining their cage, together with portions of the body of a worklngman. It appears that the man had made the boast that he would onter the lions' cage Evidently in an at tempt to carry out his boast he opened the cage. Rioting at Seoul. LONDON, Aug. 14. A dispatch to the Times from Toklo says that there has beon considerable ferment at Seoul, the merchants claiming that they have been embarrassed by Japan's financial reforms. -.ie Japanese gendarmes, says the dis patch, wore compelled to use force to dis perse a mob which was threatening the home office. CONTENTS TODAY'S PAPER The Weather. YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 75 deg.; minimum. 5S deg. j TODAY'S Cloudy and occasionally threaten ing, with possibly chow era; cooler; south to weal winds. Frace Conference. Plenipotentiaries take a. day of rest. Page 4. First question brought up Saturday was tho status of Corea. Page 1. Witte ues the "yellow peril" spook tvx an argument. Page 1. Secrecy of meetings declared by Japanese to have been decided on aefore the confer once. Page 1. War In the Orient. Russians are said to be retreating a crow tho Tumen River In Northern Corea. Page 8. Two expeditions sent to capture Russian seal rookeries. Page 3. Foreign. By an overwhelming vote. Norway decides to part company with Sweden. Page 1- French sailors give an enthusiastic farewell at Portsmouth. Page 1. National. Extra session of Congress win probably not be called by the President. Page 1. Exports of the United States In manufac tures the greatest In the history of the country. Page 4. Armours preparing for investigation of refrigerator-car service by Congress. Page S. Domestic. Death list at New Orleans Is expected to grow for a few days. Page 3. Heavy storm with lightning destroys life and property In New York. Page I. Twelve killed and 25 injured In collision on the Nickel-Plate road In Ohio, Page 2. Pacific Coast. Idaho wheat crop willrrobjhly be 4.E0O.0OO bushels, the rtfHBB Page 3. Mountain G-Hfcake River run to Bage quaHH Hanlln U klllrH Page FatriHldaho mmWmmV Pace partner. and kills Victoria; rd place. Page S. ght Page 7. Pase 14. vtssmmmmmmmmmmmsmsmmmb Los An le 4; Ta 3. 'ta. Pag a. Louisiana Page S. hlch Mr, definition jftmmmmmmm PoEsnnH Party IcaoW. ORWAY TOTES TO FORSAKE SWEDEN About One in a Thousand Voted Against the Dissolution. SCENES OF ENTHUSIASM Citizens or tho Principal Cities Tnrn Ont en Masse "Willi National Colors and Pictures of Premier Mlchelscn. CHRISTIANIA. Aug. 13. The Nor wegian people, in a referendum vote taken today, pronounced in favor of the dissolution of the union with Sweden with remarkable, though not unexpected, unanimity. Of 43O.0CO voters. 320.0CO cast ballots. While the full result will not be known for some hours, up to midnight returns show that about one person in 3000 voted against dissolution. The difference between the total number of voters and the number of votes cast Is attributable to absentees, such as sailors abroad and others who are out of the country at present. There were scenes of the greatest enthusiasm everywhere. Thousands of women who did not have tho right of franchise signed petitions in the streets Indorsing the dissolution. In Christianla and other towns, the entire population turned out, every one wear ing long streamers of the national colors and pictures of Premier" Mich el sen. One of the members of the Cabinet said to the Associated Press tonight: "The result surpasses tho most, san guine expectations. The next official steps will be taken after the Storth ing meets. August 21, when the result of the vote will be communicated to the Swedish government. The Storth ing will repeat the request that the Ridskag declare the rlksukt in opera tion and the union dissolved. The Storthing will also" express a willingness to negotiate concerning the details of the dissolution. 'It Is tho earnest desire of Norway to conclude the dissolution amicably. Nors.y will never-rotrwA but ver?- thing will be done to meet the wishes of Sweden in other directions. "If peace depends upon abolishing the forts they will be abolished. Nor way must remain a monarchy; the peo ple do not desire a republic" At midnight, returns from 173 places showed a vote of 49,533 for and 37 against dissolution. TIL NOT ENTIRELY FI 3IITCTTF.TjL'S CONVICTION COM 3EBNTED ON BY THURSTON. Says Jury Had Formed an Unfavor able Opinion in Advance From Reports. CHICAGO. Aug. 13. (Special.) Ex Senator John M. Thurston, who is In Chicago on the way to Washington, D. C. from the Pacific Coast, said he had completed a bill of exceptions to the trial of United States Senator Mitchell by the Federal Jury at Portland. Or., and would appeal the case to the United States Suprqme Court. Mr. Thurston expressed .the opinion: that his client did not have an entirely fair trial, because the Jury had formed an unfavorable opinion of his case in advance, owing to the wave of graft reports which were sweeping over the country and arousing public sentiment. He further said that there are a num ber of errors in the court records. When asked how Senator Mitchell took his conviction, Mr. Thurston Inti mated that he felt It deeply, but had never uttered one word of reproach to him over the result. WOMAN TO GO ON STAND Cotton Scandal Is to Bo Investigated nt Washington. WASHINGTON, D. a. Aug. 13. (Spe cial.) The legal end of the cotton scandal will be reopened Here this week and Interesting developments are expected. The special session of tho Federal Grand Jury will resume sittings Tuesday. Mrs. Sarah Pack ham, wife of an alleged beneficiary of the leak, will appear and be examined. A number of men and women em ployed In vnrlous bureaus of the Agri cultural Department will also appear before the grand Jury. District Attor ney Beach has Interviewed more than fifty of these employes to ascertain what evidence they could furnish. If the bureau employes refuse to assist the legal branch of the Government, a number of 'dismissals from the pub lic service will doubtless follow. FATALLY BEATEN BY NEGRO Episcopal Minister nnd "Wife Are Victims Assailant Killed. B ALSTON, N. Y., Aug. 13. Rev. Bernard Schulte and his wife, of New York City, were attacked at Mechanicsvllle last night and probably fatally Injured by W. Curtis, a negro, who was today shot and killed In Saratoga while resisting arrest. Mr. Schulte came to Mechanicsvllle re cently to take temporary charge of the Episcopal Church. Early last evening Curtis presented himself at the door of the rectory and asked for a drink of water. Mr. Schulte was In the act of turning back to get the water when the negro felled the clergyman with a piece of lead pipe rendering him unconscious. Mrs. Schulte appeared at that moment and the negro struck her down. He beat her with the lead pipe. Inflicting probably fatal Injuries. The clergyman and his wife, lying unconscious and covered with blood, were discovered by neighbors. A policeman found Curtis in a negro colony, at Saratoga today and arrested him. The negro, however, broke away when the officer shot and killed him. BRINGS THE DEAD TO LIFE Doctor Pinches Heart ot Italian Who Was Frightfully Stabbed. DE3 MOINE3 la.. Aug. 13. (Special.) Left for dead and stripped for post mortem examination. Louis Vlele, an Italian, frightfully stabbed by a negro, astounded the hospital corps today be coming to life. The heart had ceased beating and respiration had ended when Dr. Wilbur Conkling Inserted his hand In the wound which had been made by a razor, pinched the heart and waited de velopments. Suddenly a shudder passed over the frame of the patient. The pale face be came suffused with a swift inrush of blood and the veins and arteries began to pulsate. In five minutes the erstwhile dead was living and the physicians pro ceeded to sew the gaping wounds. Local doctors declare that this case has no parallel In the annals of medical science. SMOTHER WITH ATTENTION English Give Enthusiastic Farewell to French Fleet. PORTSMOUTH. England. Aug. 13. The last day ashore of the French naval visitors was marked by scenes of enthusiasm unprecedented during a week in which the English simply smothcred their guests with attention from seamen to Admiral. Enormous crowds of excursionists thronged the town. The closing function was a reception given by Vice-Admiral Sir Archibald Douslas. at Portsmouth, at the Ad miralty House. The fleet will start for France tomorrow. VIce-Admlral Cuillalrd has issued an autograpn message to the people of England, thanking them for their magnificent reception. MRS. DUBOISJS RESTLESS Idaho Senator's Wife Is Suffering From Effects of Accident. MANILA. Aug. 13. At 3 o'clock this nfternoon Mrs. Dubois, the wife of Sena tor Dubois, of Idaho, who was Injured In a runaway, was very nervous and rest less, but her condition is not considered serioua Taft Party Off for Ho Ho. MANILA Ar.g. IX Secretary War ira.it. Miss Awe Roosevelt and party sailed at 1 o'clock today on the United States Army transport Logan for Ilo Ilo. Governor-General Wright. Major-General Corbln and all the Insular commissioners except Commissioner Ide accompanied them. TWO TRAINS ARE DERAILED Traffic Delayed Over Fifteen Hours on the Northern Pnclflc. MISSOULA, Mont., Aug. 13. Rumors were current here today of a serious' wreck on the Northern Pacifie road near Sandpolnt. Idahfo. The story was to the effect that there had been a head-on collision of a freight and pas senger train, but passengers who ar rived here tonight at 10:05 on No. 4, which was due -at 8:45 this morning, say they were delayed by tho derail ment of two trains, one at Sprague, Wash., and the other near Sandpolnt. No one was Injured, but all traffic was delayed over 15 hours. SHOOTS DOWN HIS WIFE Ohio Engineer Flees After Trying to Kill Children. BEREA. O., Aug. 13. After many threats to take the lives of his wife and nlno children, Adam Boyer, an engineer, shot and killed his wife and shot at but mlused his three eldest children on the street here tonight. Although pursued by his S-year-old son, Frank, and seized by a neighbor whom he frightened away, Boyer escaped to a stone quarry In which he is employed. All the male citizens of the town were called out by Mayor Marting to hunt him down. A posse was sent out in all directions. THE DAY'S DEATH RECORD James J. Cone, STEVENS POINT, Wis.. Aug. 13. James .J. Cone died here today of inflam mation of tho brain, aged 70 years. Ho was for a time the principal owner of the Dostor mine at .Cripple Creek, which ho sold. He was sole owner of the Ophlr mine at Anaconda, Colo. Lady Sherborne. SPECIAL, CABLE. COWES. Eng., Aug. 13. Lady Sher borne, wife of Baron Sherborne, died of heart failure yesterday in the gardens of the Royal YachC Squadron Clubhouse. Lady Sherborne was very popular and her sudden death has greatly shocked the nobility. Rev. F. Semple, D.D. NEW YORK, Aug. 13. Rev. F. Semple, D.D., Is dead at the Presbyterian Hospi tal, aged 77 years. He was moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly of 1S39. Horaco S. Silsby. ROCHESTER. N. Y., Aug. 18. Horace S. Silsby, a veteran manufacturer, is dead. aged S3 years. He made the first rotary steam tire engine. Allen W. VToed. NEW YORK. Aug. 11 Allen W. Wood. of Pittsburg, who was operated upon at Roosevelt Hospital Thursday night, died today. Miss Dunlap Hunt. BREST, France, Aug. 13. An American girl. Miss Dunlap Hunt, was drowned while bathing today. IS. IN Oil ID OF POISOS Prussic Acid Found in Gingerale. FOUL CRIME WAS DONE Chemical Tests Prove Pres ence of the Drug. KITTEN GIVEN DOSE DIES Reasons Which Cause Husbnnd ot Head "Woman and Investigators to Declare That a Murder Was Committed. HOW PKUSSIC ACID ACTS. ' The diagnostic stsns f death from prasstc aeld are the olr of th body, the wide-staring eyes, the clenched teeth, covered with froth, ami th livid, agonized faee. Death eomes at once, so that the person drops Wrt to the floor with a gasp. A good dose causes paralysis of heart and resplra ttoa. and sometimes produces con valetons. One grain of prutute acid eauses Instant death; 48 minim of a diluted solution has been lciwwn to produce death. Symptom la Mrs. Van Dran's death eotaM with te foregoing statement. It is believed by those who haVe inves tigated that Mrs. Minnie B. Van Dran. wife of Kasper Van Dran, who was re cently shot by Joe Young, wa murdered. Yesterday afternoon Dr. Mary E. Parker and Dr. Marie D. Equl made chemical tests of the contents of the gingerale which Mrs. Van Dran drank, and th? test3 proved beyond any doubt that prus sl acid had been placed in the botti- from which- Mrs. Van Dran drank. Prr Parker and Equl made three different tests of tho contents of the glass from which the dead woman drank, and each tost proved the presence of this deadly poison. Not Due to Bottling Works. At first it was thought that perhaps the presence of prussic ald might have been due to carelessness In the bottling works, but a subsequent visit to the home of Mr. Van Dran tends to prove that this was not so although It is said that prussic acid, or, as it is sometimes called, cherry laurel water. Is used In flavoring soft drinks. There Is. however, every reason to believe that Mrs. Van Dran was d.--liberately murdered, and that tho fatal bottle containing one of tho deadliest poisons known to chemistry was substi tuted for the one which Mrs. Van Dran had at home. Who would bo guilty of such a dastardly deed. If it was done by some one, remains for the police to ferret out. Theory of Murder. What makes the theory of murder al most Indisputable is tho fact that both Mr. Van Dran and his wife wero very fond of gingerale, and that they always kept several bottles at their home. It was tfco habit of Mr. Van Dran to take home a couplo of bottles of this drink. H did so twice last week, and whether the b t tlo contained tho deadly poison before he took It home, or whether the real bot tle containing the gingerale was takrt and tho one containing the poison was left in its place. Is a mystery that prom ises to bo oneof the greatest in the his tory of Portland. It has beon proved by the skillful chemical analyses mado by Dr. Parker and Dr. Equl that what tho dead woman drank was poison, and to prove further that they conld not be mis taken as to the character of the poisor. they gave a very small dose to a kitten, and Its death, like that of Mrs. Van Dran, was almost Instantaneous. The shocking and sudden death of Mra, Van Dran has almost prostrated herh'i band. They had been out walking t gether and ho had Just left her 15 minute before, and when a telephone messago summoned him home stating this his wife way deud, ho was almost, crazed w;ti grief. It was only the presence of mill shown by the strickenwoman that av ! the life of her sister. Miss MontIth. fir she, too, was about to swallow the dead y draught when warned noi to do so. Aft---r leaving Mr. Van Dran down town, bot! women went to the Van Dran home. 33 North Seventeenth street- Mrs. Van Dran complained of being thirsty and In vited her sister into the house to have a drink of gingerale. At first Mis Mon telth declined, but afterward consented While Mr. Van Dran will not admit that he or his wife had an enemy that would have taken such awful means of getting rid of them, he le firmly convinced that the poison was placed there for hlnv Wlyjn Mrs. Van Dran and her sister left the houye they believed that they left the home securely locked and the windows fastened. It was discovered by Mrs. Gore, who was called to the Van Dran homo later, that a window In the pantry where the bottle, together with a bottle of milk, some butter and a piece of Ice was In a bucket, was open. This Is what lenda strength to the murder theory- Slnce Mr. Van Dran was shot down by Joe Young, ho has had every reason to belrevb. that the man who $hot him would make further attempts upon his life, and for that reason he has been (Concluded on Page 4.)