WEEKLY ffjii toiles Aft ritk I VOL. X THE DALLES, WASCO COUNTY, OREGON, SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1U00. NO. 30 HURRY REINFORCE MENTS FORWARD Boers Now Control All ofOrauae Free Slate East of the Railway An! Are Active in North Natal. SITUATION AT MAFEKING Boers Are Continuing Their Fight Against Brabant at Wepener and Have Two Thousand Men on the Way to Springfonteio. Ladvsmith, April 10. Heavy firing was heard this morning in the direction of Sunday River. It continued for few hours. No details of engagement have been received. Piktebmakitzbuko, April 10. Heavy cannonading commenced this morning in the vicinity of Elandslaagte. Bktiiulik, Orange Free State, Monday, April 10. It Is expected the Boers will endeavor to retake and destroy the bridge over the Orang river. Con sequeutiy, extraordinary precautions have been taken. A force of Boers is located twelve miles east. As a matter of fact, the-Boers practically again hold the Free .State eastward of the railroad and are greatly encouraged by their sue cesses at Reddersberg and Korn Spruit London, April 10. The Boer attack on General Brabant's force at Wepener was resumed at dawn today, The enemy's attack on two or three sides on Monday lasted nntil 2:30 In the afternoon, when firing ceased and it was believed the enemy bad been beaten off, but it was announced this morning from Aliwa) North that fighting had again been be gun. Brabant's force, numbering form 2000 to 3000, holds positions in a rough country. It is not known what the numerical strength of the Boers is, but whatever it may be, it is being rapidly augmented. A body of 2000 is marching towards Springfontein from Smithfield, between Wepener and Springfontein Events in the southeast portion of the Free State have ransed the Eighth division, which had been ordered to Fourteen Streams to be diverted to Springfontein. The mysterious movements of troops ot Bloemfontein are proceeding. News popers' correspondents are not allowed to telegraph their destination, and the pereumption is that Roberts is making a disposition ot troops to cnt off the raid ing Boer forces when they try to with draw to the northward from the pursuing British columns. Reappearance of the Boeis in the oc cupied country has caused a revival of the warlike feeling among the Free Staters of the Fauresmith and Philippolia districts. Federal agents are busy, getting details of surrendered Boers, and, owing to t lie Irish garrisons being withdrawn from these districts, the British residents are uneasy. Boers are reported to have ventured couth of Biggarsberg, and to be posting heavy guns four miles north of Flande laagte. They are also said to lie forti fied in the vicinity of Wesselsnek. General Garrington has reached Cape Town ami is going to Beira, Portuguese. F.ast Africa, forthwith. The war office proposes to land at Cape Town before the end of May 20,000 horses. They will le conveyed there in twenty three steamers, sailing from New Orleans, Buenos Ayrei and Australian ports. Nlttlntlon at Mafeklng. ISiilcwavo, March 31. Colonel Ba-den-Powell wires from Mafeklng, March 21, confirming the report that the Boers hail been pushed back so far that the town was comparatively out of range of the mii'ketry. He conclndes with say ing: "All promises well for eventually flitting off this force of the enemy, if we tan hold Shyraan here." lienors oM'lamer'a right. Bi'llcwavo, April 3. Colonel Plumer engaged the Boers between Ramath iabama and Mafeklng on March 31. The Boers appeared in considerable force six miles from Mafeklng, and to prevent be ing outflanked on both sides, Plumer had to withdraw on Ramathlabama, subsequently retiring to hit base camp. The engagement lasted thrrs hours, and the retirement mat carried out in good order nnder a heavy fire. The above dispatch is the British version of the defeat of Colonel Plunder's force, announced April 5, in a dispatch from Lonrenco Marquee. A dispatch from Gaberones, dated April 1, gives the British loasea in the above engagement as killed, three officers and seven men wounded, three officers and twenty-four men; missing, 11. REVISING THE PENSION LAW Important Legislation to Be Brought Betore Congress. Washington, April 9. The most im portant piece of general pension legisla tion before congress, that of revising the pension act of June 27, 1890, and other general pension liws, was passed npon in a tentative manner today by the bouse committee on invalid pensions, and the sense of the committee taken on reporting the bill to the house and plac ing it on tha house calendar for early consideration. The revision Las been advocated by delegations of the chief officers of the G. A. R., and Pension Commisssoner Evans has been heard at length on the subject. The committee decided today to taka the bill of Senator Gallinger as a basis of action, and to make several amendments. The details of the changes are not made public for the present, but it is understood the most important of these increases the age limit on which pen sions are to be allowed and fixes a slid ing scale between the ages of 62 and 70, viz: t6 at 62 years, $ 8 at 65, $10 at 68, and $12 at 70. Another important amendment increases from $96 to $250 the amount of annual income which a widow may have without forfeiting the right to a pension. As amended, the bill la to be reported, but Chairman Sul loway is given considerable latitude in the matter, In order that an opportune time may be chosen to secure practical results in the house. Not W let Id 1'lace. Washington, April 9. A defense of the administration of affairs at Manila is contained in a report just made to the war department by Chaplain C. C. Pierce. Thin officer particularly antago nizes the ex-Chaplain of volunteers who has been severely crititcising the morals pf the American troops in the Philippine!1, making charges of wholesale intoxication and telling of the enormons increase in the number of liquor drinking saloons in Manila. The Chaplain declares tt.st the figures as to the number of saloons have been perverted; that the American saloons took the place of an untold number of native gin ehacks which dis pensed liquid poison with deplorable ef fect upon the American troops, and that the substitution of the regimental canteen has resulted in an improvement in the sobriety of the troops. Chaplain Pierce also speaks in terms of praise of the reformation of sanitary conditions in Manila, resulting in genera! improve ment in health. Child Scalded to Death. Ashland, April 9. A distressing fa tality took 1 1 ice on Wagner creek, three miles south of Talent, Saturday, the victim being the 2,',1-yenr-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Low. Mrs. Low had been airanging to scrub the floor of her home, and placed a good- sized tub filled with scalding water and pot ot concentrated lye on the floor. She stepped outside the house to get a bucket fill of cold water to cocl the Bcald- Ing water, and while so engaged the cl.il 1, Fanny, who was lUyimc in the room, approached the tub and fell head long.luto the scalding water and lye. The agonizing cries of the child recalled the mother, but too late to save the child, who lingered in great agony for twenty-fonr hours before death rame to her relief. The funeral took place to day. John K. HcLiin Changed Ilia Ml ml. New Yokk, April 10. A Washington special to the Evening World sari: It is asserted this afternoon, on what seems to be gooil authority, that Admiral Dewey has decided to withdraw as 0 candidate (or the Presidency, and that within a few days be will formally an nounce tils decision. His brother-in-law, John R. McLean, is alleged to te re sponsible for this latest move. Within forty-eight hours, Dewey has been in consultation with Democratic leaders and others antagonistic to Presi dent McKinley, and the opinions they expressed, together with the unfavorable views voiced by the newspapers, decided hlin, it Is aiserted, to withdraw from the contest. THE ALLEGED Burs Report flat Tttj Have Killsi, ViDiici 8iiCagH 15(11). REPORT IS NOT YET CONFIRMED Battle Is Said to Have Taken Place North of Bloemfouteia, Near Mee- kartsfoutein, South of Brandfort, the Boers Killing and Wounding 6oo aud Capturing 8oo or 900 and Twelve Wagons. New YonK, AprilTl. A dispatch to the Tribune from London says: The seventh month of the war in South Africa opens with repcrts from Boer sources of another British disaster. If the news can be trusted, a terrjble reverse has been inflicted upon the British arms According to an official announcement in Pretoria, telegraphed by the News correspondent, a battle fought south of Brandfort in which the British suffered a loss of 0U0 killed and wounded, in addition to 800 captured by the Boers. This intelligence is amply confirmed by the Mail's correspondent on the Boer side, who reports from Brandfort that General Deweton Saturday defeated the British for the third time within a week, the scene of this last engagement being Meekartsfontein. No confirmation has been received from British sources of the reverse and it wonld be advisable not at once to give to statements of British losses their face value. Dot Mentioned Ity Robert. London, April 11. Lord Roberts wires to the war office from Bloemfontein, un der date of April! 0, as follows : 'The enemy have been very active during the past few days. One com mando is now on the njrth bank of the Orange River, not far from Aiiwal North, while another is attacking Wepener. The garrison there it holding out bravely and inflicting serious !oss on the Boer. Major Spring, of the Cape Mounted Rifles, was killed. No other casualties have been reported as yet. The troops are being moved up rapidly. A patrol of seven men of the Seven Dragoons, under Lieutenant Letherby, who have been repdrted missing since April 7, have returned safely." As the foregoing dispatch does not mention the alleged British reverses on Saturday at Meekartsfontein, the Boer telegrams are not credited at the war office. ' FIGHT AGAINST THE SPECIAL ORDER It is Adopted; However, by a Vote of 158 to 142 Senational Speeches on Both Sides of the House. Washington, April 11. The closing struggle over the Puerto Rican tariff bill today in the house attracted great crowds to the galleries. As eoon aa the reading of tho journal was concluded, Dalzell presented a spec'al order under which tho hane was to operate today. Richard son, the minority leader, called attention to the fact that the rule wonld permit tiie house to vote only upon a single proposition. He further asserted that it was never the intention of the Repub licans of the house in the first instance to enact any such measure, and drew a salvo ot applause from his Democratic colleagues by characterizing the presi dent in the language of ex-Speaker Reed as "the einreror of expediency." He also recalled the statement in a local newspaper that a Republican member of the house had said that in return for the passage of the bill a large contribu tion was to be made to the Republican campaign fund. Babcock, chairman of the Republican congressional campaign committee, challenged anyone to name a Republican responsible for the charge that the Republican campaign committee had received or was lo receive a money consideration for the Ruerto Rican tariff bill. Pierce tried to interrupt Babcock, but I tie latter waved him aside. "He withdraws the challenge," (bonted a volca on the Democrt:c s'de, amid a howl of derision. Grosvenoe followed with a sperch that kept his side in almost continued ap plause. He said it was a glorious thing to witness the anxiety of the Democratic party and the mugwump press, lest tha Republican party should destroy itself, Da.zell concluded the debate on the rule. He recalled the rule brought in when the Democrats cnncuired in the senate amendments to the Wilson tariff bill, evoking frequent applause. "Seribta, Pharisees aud hypocrites," he de nominated the Democrats for prating on a change of baee by the Republicans The rule was adopted, 158 to 1-iS. The Hill I'Mi'd, ..Washington, April 11. The final vote, unofficial, on the Puerto Rico bill was 163 to 153. Battr'i Milling1 Congreta. Bakes City. April 11. At the meet ing of the chamber of commerce tonight the committee in charge reported in favor of raising $1000 for the purpose of entertaining the vieiiors to the Mining Congress, to be held here in June. The Industrial Agent of the O. R. & N., R. C. Judson, is co-operating with the chamber, and it is proposed to make the meeting the best one of the kind ever held on the coast. The visitors will be given excursions to Sumpter and the different mining districts and will be afforded every opportunity to investi gate this great camp. Resolutions were also passed making the representatives of local newspapers and authorized representatives of the leading journals of Portland members of the chamber with the privileges of the new club rooms. Ladies of the families of members of the commerce will also be admitted to the rooms on slated days, and members have been given the orivi lege of listing visiting friends at the club. Georgia l'opullata, Atlanta, Ga., April 10. Two hnndred delegates of the Populiel organization of Georgia met at the etate capitol here to day for the nomination of a state ticket and the election of fifty-four delegates to the National convention in Cincinnati. Chairman W. L. Peek said Marion Butler, of North Carolina, was the "chief of all traitors," and the Democratic parly had adopted the platform of the Populists, except that the former was opposed to a "free ballot and a fair count." Wharton Barker, of Philadel phia, also addressed the convention. At the conclusion of his address the con vention unanimously indorsed him for the head of the National Populiet ticket, and Ignatius Donnelly for Vice-Presi dent. Iewey Has Not Withdrawn. Washington, April 10. Admiral Dewey said tonight that the report pub lished in a New York afternnon news paper to the effect that lie intended to withdraw his candidacy for the Presi dency was. all a mistake, and that he had never given any one whatever any such information. The New York story was to the effect that his brother-in-law, John R. McLean, was responsible for this latest move, and that within forty-eight hourg Dewey had been in consultation with Demo cratic leaders' and others antagonistic to President McKinley, and the op.nions they expressed, together with the unfa vorable views voiced by the newspaper, decided him to withdraw from the con tee t. Con grrNflluii nl Con rent Inn. McMinnvii.lk, Or., April 10. The first district congressional convention was called to order by R. J. Hendricks, chairman of the congressional com mittee. I. A. Miicrmn was made temporary chairman, and Hurlburt, of Lane, secretary. Aftt r appointmcrt of the usual com mittees the convention adjourned till 1 .dork. On the reassembling of the convention TI.0111KB II. Tongue was renominated for congress on the first ballot. The convention nominated as dele gates to the national Republican con vention : J. B. David, of Yamhill county, and Geo. A. Steel of ClackaniMS county. Derided Agalnat Clark. Washington, April 10. The senate committee on privileges and elections to day decided by a unanimous voto to rec ommend an option resolution declaring that Honorable W. A. Clark, o! Montana, is not entitled to occupy his seat as Senator from Montana. The dtcislon was reached after a two hour's silting, at which all members of the committee weie present except one. The absentee was Senator Caffery, and he wired ids vote in opposition to Clark. M. B. Smith, Butternut, Mich., say, "DeWltt'i Little Early Riser are the very heat pills I ever used for costiveness, liver and bowel troubles." LAND MATTERS IN ALASKA Special Privileges Denied Status of Tide Lands Effort to Legalize Miners Meetings Mr. Hermann Predicts that the Next Mining Excitement Will Be on the Siberian Coast. Special t) Thk Ciikonici.e. Wahiiinoton, D. C, April 5 So much interest attaches to Alaskan matters that information concerning Die manage ment of public lands there will be read iug for the public. Since the die Nomo discovery of beach gold, thegener.il land office has received continual applications from discoverers, inventor and Fchemtr in general, for exclusive rights aud privileges connected with beach mining aud deep sea excavation, on c!a:m that some method, procees or invention had been perfected that would uliiiw what might be otherwise unavailable. Some have offered to build railways alon,c the beach, if granted exclusive privilege. Commissioner Hermann, of the Land Bureau, has had ninny such propositions and has respectfully declined to enter tain them. Aa for rights to mine on Cape Nome beach, all have been declined on the ground that there ia no authority in existing law to dispjse of beach mines. This question is not new to him, aa there are extensive beach grounds orf the Southern Oregon coast, near his home, where gold is mixed with tide sands. The S-juthern Oregon beach sauds have black snnd, or iron sands, mixed so that it is not easily separated from the gold. The Cape Nome beach has no black sand and the gold is easily separated. As government holds all lands be tween low and high water in trust for future states, congress will legislate to grant temporary privileges, pending statehood and the relations miners meet ings may establish. As lor mining on the high seas, within the three mile limit, there is dispute in congress, as it is a serious question if it is in the power of the government to convey rights that can conflict with navigation and fisheries. The commissioner of the general land office has declined to consider applica tions for beach or deep sea mining, hut the secretary of war has granted encli privileges. Within the last few weeks many audi applications have been granted, on claim that the war depart ment has a right to make these grants, but they will not be exclusive. As under the law any miner would be trespasser the government gives its sanction to legalize their work. The interior de partment and general land office recog nize the rights of miners meetings and regulations passed there, aa confirmed by past experience in mining districts. iompiaint is made that claims are often located by attorney, which has been greatly abused. For instance: A Boston man may have filed by attorney on valuable locations and hold for a long time. There have been instances where entire gulches have been thus ap proprlated, with no ownership visible or present. Commissioner Hermann de cides against this aa illegal, and congrese ia recommended to decide that personal presence is neceseary to establish title. Mr. Hermann has been consulted by Judge Lscey, chairman of House Lands committee, as to legalizing miners' meeting for reguluting claims along Nome beach, or elsew here : which he strongly recommends. There were three land offices in Alaska, but two were found to be practically useless as there was no business and expenses were enormous. Peavy, was discontinued, that was on the Koynkuk, '.'."0 miles south of the Arctic Oircle. Also Circle, that U near the international line. Rimpard, that was retained, is on the Yukon, and will assume the business done at Circle and Peavy. The now of fice is at St. Michael. Kfforl made to locate this at Capo Nome, but it ia recognized that the Nome sands may be worked out and leave no place of Im portance while St. Michael is so situated as to be alway an important location. Commissioner Hermann predicts that the next mining excitement will pertain to the region tot ha northwest, on the coast of Siteria, across Behring aea northwest from the mouth of the Yukon. He eetimutea that $2,600,000 haa been aent to the mint from Cape Nome lince ita discovery not over a year ago. Add the dust taken by miners themselves and th- total output should be $4,000,000. 8. A. Clarke. ruerto Ktcan Kill I'aaaed. Wahiiinoton, April 11. The leng and bitter struggle over the Puerto Rican tariff bill ended today when the House by a vote of 161 to 153 concurred In all the senate amendments. The bill now requires only the signature of the speaker of the Hons) and the president of the senate before going to the president for hia approval. These signatures will bo attached tomorrow and before nightfall the bill probably will be a law. As tho bill originally passed tho house it was a simple bill, imposing 15 per rent of the Dingley rates on goods going into Puerto Bico from the United States and coming from Puerto Rico into the United States. As amended by the senate and today agreed to by I lie House, all the restrictions on good into the United States from Puerto Rico are eliminated and certain foodstuffs and other articles which heretofore have gone into Puerto Eiico free by executive order, are ex cluded from the operation of the 15 per cent duty imposed on goods entering t lie island from the United States. A complete n-heme of civil govern ment foi the island is aleo attached to the measure. Itoera Want lu Fight. Bloemfontein, April 11. According: to information received here, the Boer activity eastward of ti e railroad and in proximity to the border, Is largely duo to the fact that Presidents Krnger and Steyn have found they are uuablu to keep their forces together in inactivity, the burghers declaring they are unwill ing to remain with their commandos, unless actively employed, as they are convinced the British game ia a waiting one. It ia believed the Boer movement was originally designed to oblige Lord Roberta to weaken his force at Bloem fontein, in order to protect the railroad, when the Boers would have attempted to recapture the capital. But the burghers ore evidently iguorant of the enormous forces Lord Roberta has at his disposal. Advices from Karoo Siding say the Boers are busily entrenching their posi tion east of Brandfort, running parallel with the railroad, while strongly hold ing the Waterval Drift waterworks. ICemer kalile Cures of Klieumatlfim. From the Vindicator, Rutlicrfordton, N. U. The editor of the Vindicator has had occasion to test the efficacy of Chamber lain's Pain Balm twice with the most remarkable results in each case. First, witti rheumatism in the shoulder from which he suffered excruciating pain for ten days, w hich was relieved with two applications of Pain Balm, rubbing the parts afflicted and realizing instant, benefit and entire relief in a very short time. Second, in rheumatism in thigh joint, almost prostrating him with severe pain, which was relieved by two appli cations, rubbing with the liniment on retiring at night, and getting up free from pain. For sale by Blakeley & Houghton. American I'late-Olaaa Tract. Pitthhukg, April 8. The American Plate Mirror Company waa chartered at Harrisburg Saturday, with a capital of $50,000,000. This company is composed of well-known plate-glass men, and is looked npon aa the beginning of a de termined move on the part of the Amer ican plate-glasa men to wrest the trade in this country for plate mirrors from foreign manufacturers. A Good Cough Medicine for Children "I have no hesitancy in recommend ing Chf.mberlain'a Cough Remedy." says F. P. Moran, n well known and popular baker, of Petersburg, Va. "We have given it to our children when troubled with bad congh, also whoop ing cough, find it has alwuj s given per fect satisfaction. It was itcjiumended to me by a driwirist ne the best cough medicine for children as it contained no opium or other harmful drug." Sold by Blskelev A Honjhton. Governor of ruerto llleo. Washington, April 12. Charles If. Allen, aseiTant secretary of the navv, will be the first civil governor of Puerto Rico under the provisions of the bill passed yesterday. No Ittght to I'gllnraa. The woman who is lovely in face, form and temper will a'wayj have friends, but one who would be attractive must keep her health. If she ia w eak, sickly and all run down, she will be nervous and irritable. Ii she lias con stipation or kidney trouble, her impure blood will canBe pimples, blotches, skin eruptions and a wretched complexion. Electric Bitters ia the best medicine in the world to regulate stomach, liver and kidneya and to purity the blood. It gives strong nerves, bright eyes, smooth, velvety skin, rich complexion. It win make a good-looking, charming woman of a run-down invalid. Only 50 cent at Blakeley A Houghton's drugstore. Clarke A Falk hye received a carload of the celebiat d James E. Patton strictly pore liquid paints i I