CORVALLIS GAZETTE. WEEKLY. UNION Eatab. Jnl v. 1897. GAZETTE Eatab. Dec, 1862. Consolidated Feb. 1899. CORVAIiLIS, BENTON COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1900. VOL. XXXVII. NO. 19. EVENTS OF THE DAT Epitome of the Telegraphic News of the World. TERSE TICKS FROM THE WIRES an Interesting Collection of Items From the Two Hemispheres Presented Condensed Form. i.nzon rebels lost 333 killed in two days. Oregon wool growers are urged to de mand 20 cents a pound for their pro duct. Pennsylvanians believe that Quay's deleat in the senate winds up his polit ical career. War taxes have brought in a total of $183,405,292 to the United States 'government. The rumor .of an American plot to lestroy the Welland canal has proven to be unfounded. The transport Bavarian has sailed from Cape Town for St. Helena with 1,050 Boer prisoners. Heinhold Harms, convicted at Walla Walla of stealing cattle, was sentenced to four years in the penitentiary. The prospect for the admission of Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma as states at this session of congress is slim. Chinese emperor is said to be dying by inches. Some aver that slow pois oning by the empress dowager is th cause. Hon. W H. King, representative from Utah, successor to Brigham H. Roberts, the polygainist, has been sworn in. The Tammany delegation (700 strong) to the national convention at Kansas City, will have five special trains to carry them. Casualties of the garrison at Mafeking up to April 1 had been 368 killed and wounded. They are now living on bread made of oats. Prominent American capitalists of Philadelphia and Richmond, are en deavoring to secure the contract for a $90,000,000 railroad line from St. Petersburg to Odessa, in Russia. The naval board of construction has finally approved the plans for the three battle ships authorized by the last con gress and given instructions to have the specifications prepared at once prelim inary to calling for bids from the ship builders. The ships will be enlarged Iowas in type, with the same rectangu lar superstructure and the two turrets, bow and stern, on the main deck. The state department at Washington has notified Mrs. Rita L. Ruiz, widow of Dr. Ricardo Ruiz, who was murdered in prison at Cuanabacao, Cuba, while a captive of the Spaniards, that the chair on which he wrote his last message in blood would be forwarded to her. The message reads: "Mer cedes, mine, Evangeline, Ricardlito, goodbye. My children of my life, I give you my blessing. Be obedient to your mother. Goodbye, Rita of my bouI." Plumbers of Chicago have gone on a strike. Turkey's reply to the United States is unsatisfactory. Boer peace commissioners' mission has been a failure. China is growing more and more opposed to the "open door." Japan will take steps to stop the emigration of her coolies to this country. Captain Denning, on trial before court martial at San Francisco, has pleaded guilty. Frank L. Campbell has been nomin ated to succeed Webster Davis, as as sistant secretary of the interior. . William A. Clark, of Montana, wil) resign his seat in the United States senate, having decided that it will be wiser to retire gracefully. Vote on the Qua' case was taken in the senate with the result that the Pennsylvanian senator was shut out by one vote. It stood 32 to 33. Floods in the South grow worse. Traffic in Louisiana and Mississippi is paralyzed, and the crop and property damage will amount into millions. John Horton, a negro, his wife and four children, were drowned in the backwaters of Pearl river, near Jack son, Miss., while trying to escape from the floods. The Sixty-ninth Regiment Veterans' Club, of Sew York City, celebrated the 89th anniversary of their departure for the war, with a dinner at the Sturte vant House. Just before the close of the festivities, Sergeant John Gleason, who has been in the regiment for 40 years, offered a resolution offering the services of the regiment to Paul Krnger. Before introducing the resolution. Ser geant Gleason said: "I am willing and prepared to go to the front with ; j'aui Krnger now, aitnougn i nave not shouldered a gun for 40 years." The resolution was adopted with tremend ous cheering. Colorado congressmen want a sol dier's home established at Denver. John H. Reagan, the sole surviving member of Jefferson Davis' confederate cabinet, is writing his recollections. John William Rey, a famous min strel 40 years ago, is dead at his home in North Paterson, N. J., aged 77 years, j A mummy discovered two years ago in Egypt has now been identified in France as that of the Pharoah of the Exodus. I LATER NEWS. Rush to Cape Nome has begun at Seattle. The Boer peace commission is coming to America. General Olivier is reported to be wounded. President McKinley signed the Hawaiian bill. Governor Pingree, of Michigan, has turned Democrat. Four deputy fish commissioners are watching the Clackamas river. It is now known that Captain Carter's gigantic steal will reach $2,000,000. Many thousands of people greeted Admiral Dewey on his arrival at Chi cago. Governor Taylor has returned to Kentucky. No warrant was served on him. Washington courts have declared $50,000 worth of Olympia warrants to be illegal. Nine people were killed by the fall ing of a condemned bridge at the Paris exposition. Roberts must have more horses be fore he can advance. London complains of his slowness. By a vote of 20 to 29 the senate re fused to consider the resolution of sym pathy with the Boers. Charles Ingersoll, of Ithica, N. Y., an embezzling county treasurer, was arrested in San Francisco. German officials at Washington think that Secretary Root's speech on the Monroe doctrine was aimed at their country. Forest fires are raging furiously north of Fish, Mich., and the property dam age will be large. The town of Ames has been wiped out. The Boer forces have moved irom Thabanchn to a stronger position, and General French has abandoned the effort to capture the burghers. The American chamber of commerce at Manila has entered a protest against the excessive taxation exacted by the military government under General Otis. William F. Miller, manager of the Franklin syndicate, who was recently convicted of grand larceny, was sen tenced in Brooklyn to 10 years' im prisonment. Rev. William F. Crafts, superintend ent of the National Refrom Bureau, in a speech at New York, said that heath en nations look upon Americans at drunkards and that drink is a great hindrance in mission work. The first batallion of the Fourteenth United States infantry, which has been in quarantine, has landed at the reser vation wharf at the Presidio, San Fran cisco, after two years of continuous fighting in the Philippines. Three persons were drowned at Port Gamble, Wash., by the capsizing of a sail boat. Fire destroyed the building occupied by the Atlas Brewing Company, of Chi cago. Loss $200,000. At an Indian famine mass metting in New York, $1,667 was contributed. Helen M. Gould pledged $200. George C. Tod, formerly of Ken tucky, a brother-in-law of President Lincoln, died at Barnwell, S. C. Desk Sergeant Timothy S. O'Connell, of the Woodlawn police station, Chi cago, was shot and killed by footpads. Mayor Harrison has issued an appeal to citizens of Chicago to use their in fluence in settling the labor troubles there. The Berlin press says Lord Roberts has blundered in believing that the southern half of Orange Free State was fortified. Senor Perfecto Lacoste has accepted the office of secretary of agriculture ol Cuba, made vacant by the resignation of General Ruiz Rivers. British ammunition wagons passing through Basutoland were stopped by Basutos, who informed General DeWet. The British were forced to retire. The British government has issued orders for the clearing of all the hos pitals at Cape Town, with a view tc providing for future contingencies. Mrs. M. I. Warfield Clay, the di vorced wife of Hon. Cassius M. Clay, sage of Whitehall, died, 86 years old. She was the mother of Brutus J. Clay. Floods in Texas continue unabated, and hundreds of families are moving from the submerged district. The rainfall has been the heaviest since 1852. The engagement of Albert G. Van derbilt, second son and the principal heir of the late Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Miss Elsie French, the daughter of Mrs. Francis Ormond French, is an nounced. In the accident at Matanzas, Guba, which resulted in the death of the wife of General Wilson, governor of the de partment of Matanzas, Santa Clara, the daughter, who was driving with her, was also burned, though not seri ously, while endeavoring to extinguish the flames. Mrs. Wilson's hands were so badly swollen before death that if was found necessary to cut the rings from her fingers in order to give hei relief. From Cuba 10,000,000 pineapples will be shipped into the states this year. The fruit now reaches New York from Havana in three days. Judge Foster, in charging a New York grand jury, said that they must go to the bottom of corruption and could use the military if necessary. Gov. Richards, of Wyoming, hai called on the women of the state tc raise $4,000 to purchase a silver serv ice for the new battleship Wyoming. PERISHED IN A FLOOD ight Persons Drowned at Waco, Texas. GREAT DAMAGE TO PROPERTY a Succession of Cloudbursts Raised tit Streams to aa Unprecedentedlj High Stage. Waco, Tex., April 30. A cloud irarst, accompanied by a high wind, de icended upon this city at noon today, md the result is that eight people are mown to have perished in the city lim its, and property valued at many thou tand dollars has been destroyed or in jured. The known dead are: Mrs. Sanoy Caudle, Miss Clara Caudle, Rosa Chapman, Emma Decker, Thomas 3apps, Frank Walker and two negro ai en, names unknown. The downpour of rain commenced about noon and was incessant until lark. It was in the shape of a water spout, and the rise in the creeks and branches was so rapid that it did not give the inhabitants time to flee. Three persons, two women and a man, all colored, were drowned within 100 yards of the city hall. Their bodies were washed into the Brazos river and have not been recovered. There were several people, mostly negroes, standing on a bridge watching the rapid rise of Barron's branch, when the bridge, a brick structure, gave away without warning, precipitating them into the water. The number positively known to have been drowned within the city limits tonight is eight, and it is al most certain that several more lives have been lost. Searching parties are out looking for the drowned and help ing to move those who are in danger or distress. In the southern part of the city, where the two white women, Mrs. Caudle and her daughter, lost their lives, the rise was the highest ever known. The damage done by the storm will be heavy. Incoming reports indicate that one of the heaviest rainfalls experienced in years visited many sections of the state, and rivers and smaller streams are again rising rapidly. All points along the Brazos and Colorado rivers have been notified, and while much damage to property may result from another rise, yet it is believed that the timely warning will enable those who live in the valleys fully to protect themselves. Reports from Belmont and Rockport state that the storm was especially severe in those sections. ANOTHER CHINESE CRISIS. Era of Widespread Horror and. Blood shed Mot Far Ofl." Yokohama, April 7. (Via San Fran cisco, April 30.) The flury over the Masampo incident and the fears of Rus sian encroachments in Corea, are today entirely in the shade by the tidings which indicate serious trouble in China nd the approach of another of the crises of which the empress dowager's reign has been so prolific. It is quite evident that this restless female intriguer has another coup in contemplation, and it is as evident that this time the western powers are re solved by concerted action to prevent it, as is evidenced by the presence of their fleets. The China Gazette, in a recent editorial, has declared that "if the recent policy of the empress dow ger inspired by her evil advisers, Kang Yi, Prince Ching, Li Hung Chang and Usui Tong, on the 'one hand, and by the Russian and other continental political wire pullers on the other, is not speed ily restrained, an era of widespread horror and bloodshed is not far off. The people and even many of the Man darins in almost all the provinces, most certainly in the middle and south, are ready to rise and throw off the strang ling yoke that binds them." Whole Faintly Hanged. Cambridge, Md., April 30. A German family consisting of Carl Ker- nig, his wife and son, were discoverd dead in their little farm house seven miles from this city, each corpse hav ing a noose about the neck. Strangu lation was probably the cause of death in each case. From the decomposed condition of the bodies it is thought the act must have been committed sev eral days ago. As far as known the last seen of any member of the family was on last Saturday, when the elder Kernig came to Cambrigde and drew $600 from a bank. No trace of this money could be found today. The au thorities are of the opinion that young Carl Kernig assisted his father and mother to hang themselves, and then, after making a half hitch with the rope, strangled himself and fell where he was found today. A Mother Lost Her Child. Los Angeles, Cal., April 30. C. Cole took his 3-year-old daughter from in front of her mother's eyes because his wife would not return with him to his home in Massachusetts. Cole placed the child in a buggy, and, de spite the protestations of the young mother, proceeded to the Southern Pa cific depot, and is now well on his way East. Loss of SI 7, OOO.OOO. Ottawa, Ont., April 30. Over five square miles of territory burned over, more than 2,000 buildings destroyed, seven lives lost, 7,000 men, women and children homeless, and a property loss of $17,000,000, according to the latest ' estimate, insured for about half its value, are the results as viewed tonight j of the destruction which swept this city and Hull, yesterday and today. Although under control for many : hours, the flames were not entirely ex. I tinguished until about noon today. ROOSEVELT IN 1904. slogan of the Marquette Club Banquet. Chicago, April 30. "Theodore Roose velt," of New York, for President in 1904," was the slogan of the Marquette Club banquet tonight. Governor Roosevelt was there, and looked happy at its suggestion and its hearty endorse ment of cheers from the 200 banqueters. Toastmaster Frank Lowden told the guest of honor that only a few years ago the Marquette Club had brought out William McKinley as a presiden tial candidate, and when his remarks switched to "Roosevelt," "White House," and "1904," the 200 tried hard to make themselves hoarse. Governor Roosevelt was the first speaker of the evening, because he had to leave early. He pleaded for high ideals in politics, but said nothing could be accomplished unless things were gone at practically and deter minedly. He mocked at the "goody goody man" who refused to do his political duty because he was "jostled by the rude man." In an interview today Governor Roosevelt declared that he would rather be in private life than be vice-president of the United States. He said that his position in regard to the Republi can nomination for this office was abso lutely unalterable. He said he would be glad if the Republicans of New York should renominate him for gov ernor, and expressed the belief that he could be of more service to his party and the public in that position than as vice-president. In reply to a question as to how he regarded Admiral Dewey as a presiden tial possibility, he said the admiral was a personal friend of his, and he did not care to talk of him politically. STORY OF REDDERSBURG. Told hy a Correspondent Who Was With General Da Wet. Lourence Marques, April 30. A cor respondent of the Standard and Digger News wiht the Boer commander. Gen eral DeWet, gives a full description of the British disaster at Reddersburg. He says: "Five hundred Irish Rifles entered De Wet's Dorp on April 1 under Cap tain McWhmnie and demanded the sur render of the town which was readily given. Captain McWhinnie was sur prised to hear that a Boer force was ap proaching and he promptly retreated to Reddersburg. "General DeWet, fresh from his brilliant victory at Sannas Post, fol lowed the retreat along a range of kopjes for hours. The two opposing forces were in camp on different sides of the range. General DeWet knew all about the British positions and movements but the Irish were quite unaware of the proximity of the Boers. They blund ered again as at Sannas Post and the scouts were not alert. "Before sunset DeWet had the Brit ish force in his power after an engage ment which lasted all the afternoon. The Irish made a most brilliant de fense, but their fate was never in doubt. During the afternoon DeWet sent 800 burghers to cut off their re treat and he then moved forward a small force of Boers to the top of the kopjes held by the British. The latter boldly attacked the Boers then DeWet's plan was suddenly developed. "The British soon found themselves surrounded. They had, indeed, fallen into a beautiful trap for they were com manded at every point by the Boer guns while their force was surrounded on two kopjes with the Boers in be tween. "At sunrise the next morning the ijoer guns commenced to hurl shell on the devoted Irishmen who, however, refused to surrender, but fought with the utmost fierceness for three hours. At 10 o'clock, however, the British commander saw that further resistence would only involve a useless waste of life, as his military position was quite hopeless he therefore hoisted a white flag. "Twelve officers sorrowfully handed over their swords to General DeWet and 459 non-commissioned officers and men surrendered. All the prisoners were forthwith sent to Thabanchu under escort and Genreal DeWet con tinued his march toward Wepener." Carter Behind the Barm. Leavenworth, Kan., April 80. Oberlin M. Carter, late captain U. S. A., arrived at the federal prison here at 7:30 o'clock this evening, under guard of Lieutenant Thomas Haker, Fifteenth infantry, a corporal and three soldiers. By special orders issued from the department of justice, newspaper men were not permitted to interview the prisoner, who was immediately dressed in the prison garb of gray and assigned to a cell. His prison number is 2094, and he is now the occupantof cell No. 425. When the late army officer begins the monotonous grind of prison life it will be as prison book keeper, for he has been assigned to this task in the harness, broom, shoe-repairing and carpet-weaving shops, which are in the third story of the big east building. New York Central Strike. Buffalo, N. Y., April 28. Twenty two hundred employes of the New York Central railroad shops and yards went out on a strike this morning. An increase in wages and the reinstate ment of men alleged to have been un justly discharged is demanded by the men. Mill Burned at Lewiston. Lewiston, Idaho, April 30. The plant of the Lewiston Sawmill Com pany was destroyed by fire at 2 o'clock this morning. The loss was $7,000; no insurance. Burglars Got Five Thousand Dollars. Richmond, April 30. The vault of the Massanntten bank, at Strasberg, Va., was blown open by burglars this morning and $5,000 taken. The burg- ! lars escaped on a band car. NINE WERE KILLED Sunday Accident at the Paris Exposition. A CONDEMNED BRIDGE FELL Nine Other Persons Were Severely Hurt Fair Officials Are Sharply Criticised by the Press. Paris, May L An accident within the exposition grounds caused the death of nine persons and injured nine. A temporary bridge, unable to with stand the Sunday crowd, broke. The injuries were mostly compound frac tures of the legs. One woman and a child are still unidentified. The accident threw a pall o,er the immense throng who had profited by the magnificent weather to visit the ex position. Today's was probably the record attendance. Not merely the in terior of the grounds, but the precinct also were crowded, and the concourse was particularly great along the Avenue de Sufren, which forms the northern boundary of the grounds. Here is situated a big side show, the Celestial Globe. A footbridge, on which the finishing touches were being put today, crosses the Avenue de Sufren. connecting the side show with the ex hibition. It was constructed of wood, with a stucco facade ana with a plaster-made tower at each end. Strangely enough the bridge had been condemned only this morning. The public was, therefore, not allowed to go upon the structure, and in this way a disaster even more terrible than that which occurred was averted. The gay crowd was passing along the avenue and some hundred or more per sons were walking beneath the bridge, when suddenly an ominous crash was heard. Before those underneath could turn aside, the structure fell with a fearful crash, burying nearly 50. A cry of horror arose from the spec tators and mingled with the cries of the victims. For a moment nothing could be distinguished but a cloud of dust and plaster. A scene of the greatest excitement and confusion followed. But this was only for a few seconds. Almost immediately the crowd attacked the debris in an effort to release those lying beneath. The workmen within the grounds, who had witnesed the ac cident, the police and the Republican guards, together with quite a number of soldiers, joined in the rescue work. The promenaders forgot their Sunday attire and covered themselves with dirt in tearing away the rubbish with their hands. Wooden beams and poles were brought from the half finished build ings near by and were used as levers to raise the fallen mass. The victims first recovered were most ly only the injured, the dead being found later beneath the center of the structure. Messengers were dispatched to bring firemen and sappers, with their equipments, and the first body was found after a quarter of an hour's frantic labor. It was that of a little girl about 7 years old, whose head was horribly crushed. Victim after victim was brought to light, until, a row of six mutilated corpses had been placed upon the sidewalk, and nearly 40 other per sons, some badly and others less seri ously injured, had been carried in am bulances or driven to the hospitals. WORSTTOF FLOOD OVER. Still the River Is Out of Banks and There Is Great Damage. Galveston, Tex., May 1. Tonight's reports indicate that the worst of the trouble in the Brazos basin is over, if more rains do not follow. Bryan, about 150 miles from the mouth of the river, reports the Brazos out of its banks and considerable bot tom land overflowed, and the river ris ing two inches an hour. The Navasota river is out of its banks and flooding the lowlands, and in Velasco county, near its mouth, the water is three feet below last June's high mark. The river is rising slowly, and lowlands are inundated. The Texas railroads have not suffered any great losses in the de struction of property, and those who have wash outs are operating ny mak ing detours over other lines. The Southern Pacific bridge at Columbus, which was washed out about three weeks ago and which was replaced by a temporary structure, was again washed out. The Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe lost about 2,500 feet of track and some small culverts on the San Angelo branch. About two miles of its track on the Montgomery branch is unner water and two or three small trestles are gone. The main line is intact. Embezzler's Money Gone. San Francisco, May 1. Charles In gersoll, of Ithaca, N. Y., was arrested here today on the charge of embezzling $15,000 of publio funds belonging to Tompkins county, New York, of which he was treasurer. Ingersoll, who is 57 years of age, admits his identity, and says he is willing to return without the necessity of extradition proceedings. He says he took the money to tide over a temporary financial embarrasment, and if he had only been courageous enough to have told his friends, he would not have been compelled to take refuge in flight. He is extremely nerv ous, and says he has been almost crazy since December. All the money he took with him when he fled in Decem ber was $255. When searched at the city prison he had $1 .50 in his pocket. "Boxers" Still Troublesome. Tacoma, May 1. The steamship Olympia brings news that the "Box ers" are having more trouble in Shan Tung and Chihli provinces. They have been stirred up against foreigners by the reactionary policy of the empress dowager. AGAIN TURNED DOWN. senate Refused to Consider the Boer Resolution. Washington, May 2. Again today the question of expressing sympathy for the Boers was thrust on the attention of the senate. This time it came up on a motion to proceed to the consider ation of the resolution introduced by Pettigrew (Silver, S. D.) which was before the senate last Saturday. The motion was defeated, 29 to 20. The conference on the joint resolution re lating to the administration of civil affairs in Puerto Rico and providing for the appointment of temporary offi cers on the island was agreed to. Dur ing the greater part of the session the Alaskan civil code bill was under con sideration, bnt no progress was made. The house today passed the Lacey bill, to enlarge the powers of the de partment of agriculture and to prohibit interstate commerce in game killed in violation of local laws. It authorizes the secretary of agriculture to provide for the introduction and restoration of game and insectiverous wild birds. It gives him the power to prevent the in traduction of undesirable birds an animals and prevents the killing oi game in violation of state laws for con cealed shipment to states where it can be sold in the open markets. The senate bill to create a commis sion of five to investigate and report upon the commercial and industrial) conditions in Japan and China was de bated at length, but was vigorously an tagonized by the Democrats, and they finally succeeded in striking out the enacting clause in committee, and this motion was pending when the house adjourned. If the motion prevails in the house, the bill is dead. The bill for a constitutional amend ment to disqualify polygamists for elec tion as senators and representatives and to prohibit polygamy, which was re ported by the committee on the elec tion of president, vice-president and representatives in congress, was re ferred to the committee on judiciary, after meeting with opposition from both sides of the house. Every speaker who antagonized the bill said he opposed polygamy, but did not see any reason for legislation on the constitution and invading the rights of the states. The house agreed to the conference report on the joint resolution extending the tenure of military officers in Puerto Rico. WRECKED MANY LIVES. The Cause of a Beautiful Woman's Suicide. Chicago, May 2. Standing before a mirror in her room at the Palmer House, Minnie H. Wray, a beautiful young woman, pressed a revolver to her temple and sent a bullet crashing through her brain. Scraps of a torn letter found in the waste basket, and put together said the writer "had wrecked too many lives already and must cease." This letter was ad dressed to A. N. Ohler, of Moline, Ills. Miss Wray came to the hotel last Friday. She carried a small hand grip. She gave the name of "Miss L. Gray," to the clerk, who registered for her, and when asked for ner address re sponded that Chicago would do as well as any. She handed him the check for her trunk and asked to have it brought to her immediately. The death was encompassed by a number of theatrical features, the young woman having taken every pre caution to render impossible her iden tity. While she entered the hotel at tired attractively and wearing a num ber of diamonds, nothing was found in her room but a coarse, black wrapper, which she wore when she killed her self. Her diamonds were gone, only a single unset stone being found on the dresser, where it had dropped from her purse. She left a note to the manager of the hotel, diiecting them to take the money from her pocketbook to settle the hotel bill. She requested especially that no effort be made to find her rela tives, as she did not wish them to know of her deed. In Memory of Grant. Pittsburg, April 30. The 14th an nual banquet of the American Repub lican Club of this city in commemora tion of the birth of U.S. Grant was held at the Hotel Schenley tonight, and was in many respects the most success ful dinner yet given by the famous or ganization. The guest of honor was Mrs. Julia Dent Grant, widow of the great soldier and statesman, and among the distinguished personages present were Postmaster-General Emory Smith, Congressman R. G. Couiiins, of Iowa, Senator M. A. Hanna, Governor G. W. Atkinson, of West Virginia, Colonel J. E. Barnett, of Pennsylvania, Charks F. Dick, of Ohio. Indiana Will Be Laid Up. New York, May 2. The battleship Indiana left for Brooklyn navy yard to day, bound for League island, where she is to be laid up in ordinary. Woodworkers' Strike. Minneapolis, May 2. The wood workers, 800 strong, at 2 o'clock this morning, decided to go on strike today. Tarantulas are common in Santiago, Cuba, and sometimes make their way into the beds of sleepers. In the best houses, as a protection against these poisonous spiders, a close netting sur rounds every bed. Cloudburst in Mexico. San Antonio, Tex., May 2. Meager information received by the Express early this morning, from Hondo, Mex., states that much damage was done by a cloudburst yesterday, with possible loss ot life. The mines are badly flooded. Shots of Drunken Husband. Chicago, May 1. William Edmunds today shot his wife and then himself. Both may die. Edmunds was intoxi cated and bad been despondent. ON WESTERN BORDER Uncommon Activity of Boers North of Kimberley. fHEY MAY CUT OFF WARRENTON Still in Possession of Thabanchu Hills Duller Resigned, But it Was Not Accepted. London, May 2. The Boers are now ihowing uncommon activity west of Bloemfontein. They are in force be tween Fourteen Streams and Kim berley. Sunday they occupied Wind sorton, west of the railway, and now threaten to interrupt the communica tion of the British force at Warrenton, to the north. This, too, at a time when General Hunter is about to start on .a 200-mile march for Mafeking, proba bly with 5,000 men. To the east of Bloemfontein the Boers Sunday night were still holding tl; hills near Thabanchu, while behini. them long wagon trains, loaded with wheat for the Boer army in the north, are moving through Ladybrand. The British captured one Boer convoy Satur day, but its size is not mentioned in the dispatch, which barely announces the fact. Wepener. lately the scene of inces sant fighting, is deserted, General Bra bant and Colonel Dalgety having moved northward. A dispatch from Maseru, dated Mon day, says: The Basutos are again astounded to see the Boers peacefully retiring with herds which the natives think should be the booty of the British, who are said to be the conquerors." According to information from Ma seru, the main uoay oi tne isoers reached Leeuw river, due west of Lady- brand, Sunday, small parties trailing behind at intervals of 10 miles to pro tect the rear and whip up their herds. Slight outpost actions take place daily beyond Karee Siding, where the head of the British invasion is can toned. African horse sickness has broken out in General Buller's army. It proves especially fatal among freshly arrived animals. The Bloemfontein corre spondent points out that the deficien cies in the veterinary department cause thousands of losses. General Lucas Meyer, replying to General Buller's complaint, that some of the British prisoners at Pretoria are lodged in the town jail, says that only those are so treated who have tried, or who are suspected of trying, to escape. He retorts, moreover, that Boer prison ers are confined in the town jail at Pietermaritzburg with the natives. The morning papers give special prominence to the statement of a news agency that Sir Red vers Buller sent his resignation to Lord Roberts after the pionkop censures were published, and that Lord Roberts declined to accept it. FRAUDULENT USE OF MAILS. Charge Made Against a San Franciscan. Who Was Arrested. San Francisco, May 2. John Bar- stow, alias James Buckner, alias James B. Blair, alias Robert Deuprey, was ar rested today on a charge of using the mails for fraudulent purposes. The man gave his name as James Buckner, but operated bis various schemes under different aliases. His schemes, though not entirely new, had some rather novel features. He posed as the Oneida Oil Company, incorporated for $250,000, with offices in this city. He had a contract with a clipping bureau to fur nish him with all death notices in Cal ifornia, Oregon, Washington and the Pacific coast states, except places with in 75 miles of San Francisco. Some weeks after the death of an adult male Barstow or Buckner would send a notice to the address of the deceased, asking for the last payment on the stock of the Oneida Oil, which the deceased had purchased and paid for, except one payment The notice was invariably accompanied by a letter, written on a printed letter head of the mythical company, telling of the value of the stock, which was selling at par, with an upward tendancy, and congratulat ing the lucky purchaser upon his most judicious investment. The balance the swindler asked for as still due on the valuable stock was usually small, $1 a share, and usually amounting to from $5 to $15 in each case. He figured on the relatives of the deceased opening the letter and remitting the amount asked for, under the belief that their deceased relative had secretly invested in oil stock. Judging from the re plies, checks and money orders in the letters found upon him by the authori ties, Buckner had many victims. It is estimated that Buckner's receipts were from $25 to $40 a day. Train Robbed by a Negao. Little Rock, April 28. A south bound St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern passenger train was held up by a negro bandit near Higginson, 50 niiles north of Little Rock at 1 o'clock this morning. The negro had no visi ble confederates, and confined his oper ations to one passenger coach, compel ling the passengers to band over their valuables at the point of a pistol. The bandit escaped. Printers' Assessment Doubled. Indianapolis, May 2. Beginning to morrow the assessment of the members of the International Typographical Union will be 30 cents a month, just double the amount heretofore paid by them. This increase has been decided upon by a vote of the members, and carried by a majority of 1,700. By this action the income for the aid of striking printers and paying the gener al expenses of the union will amount to about $11 000 a month.