n 1
H
VOL. XV.
ST. HELENS, OREGON, -FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1898.
NO. 11.
r
OREGON
Ml&T
JL. V aT- -aA T V. y M- . tl
NEWS OF THE WEEK
From all Parts of the New
anil Old World.
BRIEF AND INTERESTING ITEMS
' Cuinpralian.lv llevlew of tha Import-
lint Happenings of tha Cur
rant Wk.
Ttie steamer El lor plying between
. Portland and Alaska porta, report a
exasedlnly rough trip down. The tea
wai the worst the orew and officers ol
the Elder have ever encountered, and,
owing to her being without bal lust, all
control of the vessel waa loat, and it
u only owing to the vigilance of the
officer that alia wu saved from itning
with a orach on one of the thousand of
mall inland in thia district. She wa
forced to remain at tea for 86 hours,
The gale, while it lasted, wa torriilo,'
and attained a velocity of at leant 100
mllci an hour. The vessel 'a propeller
blade were broken and (he waa com
pelled to lay over at Nanalmo (or
repair.
At Philadelphia the birthday anni
voraary of George Washington com
memorated with appropriate exercise
at tho Academy of Music. The feature
of tiie day waa an address to the stu
dent of the university of Peimiiylvatiia,
delivered by President McKinley. The
president paid an eloquent tribute to
the memory of the Father of Our
Country, and from hi life and deed
drew a lesson a to the duties of the
American people of today. At Chi
cago, ex-President Ilnrrriron delivered
an address before the Union League
Clou, ohomlng a hi subject, The
Duties of Wealth." At Humorous other
allies) the occasion waa appropriately
'' observed, with atreet parades and liter-
- . ary exercise. .
The innate baa passed a bill to add
two artillery regiment to the strength
of the army. This measure has been
urged for many month by officials of
the war ' department, who foresaw that
while congress of late year bad taken
measure for the protection of our
const by additional appropriation for
extensive work rnd great gum, It had
not provided the men necessary to
operate thorn engine of war. Should
the house pas the bill, it will enable
the department to carry out puna it ha
long had in view. Criticism lately
passed upon the stats of the army and
our fortification have caused increased
activity in military matters, and to
oine extent this la responsible for re
port arriving from various quarter of
movements at army posts.
The Bethlehoin Company's steel
mill, giving employment to 1,000
hand, ha resumed work, after an idle
ness of some month.
The Carpenter Steel Company, of
. Reading, P-i ' working a double turn
on order from the navy department for
stool projectile.
W. J. Scanlan, the once famous
Irish actor, died of puree is in a Mew
York insane asylum, where he bad
jf.-en confined for live year.
Luther C. Billings, pay director in
the United State navy, ha been found
guilty of falsehood and scandalous con
duct by a court mattial ut Washington,
and sentenced to dismissal from the
rvice. . .'
The Great Commonwealth Develop
ment and Mining Company has applied
to the Dominion parliament for a rail
road charter from Edmonton to the
Alaska line by way of Peace, Laird and
Felly river.
The board of director of tho Emit or n
Oregon A Washington Firemen' Asso
ciation have met in Walla W til In and
elected La Grande a the place for
holding the next annuel meeting and
tournament of the associations,June 14,
IS and 16.
A sweeping reduction of over $8,000,
000 from the amount . carried by the
- current law ia made In the sundry
civil appropriation bill, reported to
the house .Tuesday, the aggregate ap
propriation carried being f44.749.8tiU.
The total is (18,2114,641 lens than the
regular and supplemental official esti
mates made for the flacal year 18U9,
and f 8,8(11,880 loss than the appropria
tions made for the ourront flacal year.
A Port Townaend, Wash., di--"'
ays: A a consequence of the unfa
vorable critioism that baa followed the
inking of the steamer Clara Nevada
and tli trouble that attended the de
parture of the North Paoitio for the
north, carrying goldseckors, Colonel
Huestia, collector of customs, ha de
termined to compel vessel bound for
Alaska to carry only the number of
pnssqngera allowed by the federal er
wit. ' The new wharf at Tamplco, con
st rue tod by the Central railroad, under
government supervision, waa totally
destroyed by Are Sunday. Tho cause
of the fire ia unknown. The construc
tion of the wharf wu commenced in
July, 1803, and it waa to be one of the
finest on the Spanish-American coast.
It length was 3,676 feet, and all ia
burned. The cuatom-house under con
struction and nearly completed, wa
damaged to the extent of about (300,
000. The total losa on wharf, custom
house and merchandise i nearly $9.-
' 000,000; f ii Illy insured.
Hon. Sanford B. Dole, president of
the republic of Hawaii, was tendered a
publio reception at San Francisco at the
chamber of commerce, and met with a
cordial and flattering recognition on the
part of the crowds of people.
Secretary Gage points with a good
deal of interest to the fact that the cus
tom receipts for this fiscal year at last
have overtaken th receipts fur the
same period of the prior fiscal year.
Tbe total receipt for this Steal year
Lav reached (88,080,600.
SHOT AT KING GEORGE.
Desperate Attempt of Would-Ha-Assa.
sins, Who Mevapod
Athens, March 1. -An unsuccessful
attempt waa made today to assassinate
King George. The king waa returning
from Phaleron, at 6 o clock in the
evening In a landau, accompanied by
the Princes Maria, when two men,
who were hidden in a dltcb alongside
the road, opened fire with gun npon
the occupant of the carriage. The
first shot missed, but theeacond wound
ed a footman in the arm. The coach
man whipped up hi horses and the
royal party dashed away at a gallop.
The miscreant fired aoven more shots
after them, none of which took effect,
and the king and tho princess returned
to the palace unhurt.
The king states that one of the annas
sin wa dressed in gray clothing, and
hi majesty declares he could easily
identify him. When the second shot
whlxxed past the earrings, the king
rose and stood in front of his daughter,
in order to shield ber. One of the
horses waa (lightly wounded. One of
the assailant knelt in the middle of
the road and aimed straight at the
king, who noticed that the man a hand
waa ahaking. The shot missed, and the
king had a clear view of this man, who
liia majesty ray wa barely 80 year
old. Tie continued to fire alter the
carriage until it was out of range. Hi
companion did not leave the ditoh.
BLOWN ON THE FLATS.
The Oregon fttrnek lT Terrlne Onle la
duneau Harbor.
Seattle, March 1. The atoamer To-
peka arrived here tonight from Juneau
The officers of the Topeka report that
In a tern Ho wind storm at Juneau last
Sunday the steamship Oregon was
blown ashore on Juneau flats. She
wa lying in Juneau harbor at anchor
when the gale struck her, and, after
training at her anchors for some time,
he began to drag, and then at tremen
dous speed she wa hnrled on the fl'its.
Several horses were thrown heavily
against the aide of the vessel as aha
struck, and some were killed. All
day she lay in that position, the pas
lunger suffering terribly, as during the
gale a dense mow storm raged. The
thermometer registered 8 degree below
aero, and the fierce wind wa piercing
cold. When tbe gule abated, at high
tide, the vowel was floated. Fortun
ately, the flat are soft, and the Oregon
suffered no Injury.
LA CHAMPAGNE SAFE.
Anchored OST tha Newfoundland Banks
With "haft Broken.
New York, March 1. The Holland
American line steamer Rotterdam, from
Rotterdam, arrived at quarantine to
night, with Third Officer George Una
worth and nine seamen of the overdue
French liner La Cham pagne, who were
picked up from a. lifeboat Thursday,
February 34, in latitudo 43.10 north,
longitude 67 west. The men, when
takon aboard the Rotterdam, wore in a
helpless condition, having been in tbe
hip's lifeboat for ix day and nights.
The men were all more or lea frost
bitten. Unsworth stated that La Champagne
broke her tail-end shaft Thursday, Feb
ruary 17, at 9 P. M., in latitude 45.27,
longitude 61.63. Tbe steamer ' being
helpless. Captain Perrott anchored.
The steamer was on the edge of the
Newfoundland banks, anil there being a
possibility of the steamer not being
picket! up in iier position, Captain Per
rott decided to send a lifeboat in search
of assistance. - . ' ' ' '
La Champagne carried 804 passen
ger, and waa nearly two weeks overdue.
BURNED AT SEA.
Terrible Kxpertence of Crew and Pas
senger of Steamer Legislator.
Boston, March 1. The British
steamer Legislator, Captain Tennant,
bound from Liverpool for Colon, wa
burned at aea February 16, in latitude
81:38 north, longitude 44:10 west.
The fire broke out Irfcimiary 18, and
burned fiercely for three days, during
which time Fireman Thomas Hubert
waa burned to death, Second Officer
James Bateman and Seaman William
Angoll wore drowned by tho capsiiing
of a boat, Third Officer Martin and
Steward John Gaffney went adrift in a
boat, and Chief Cook Fred E. Lee,
erased by fearful burns, jumped over
board. The rest of the orew of 80
men, with two passengers, Dr. Morti
mer and wife, of London, were rescued
by the fruit steamer Flowergate and
brought to thia port, arriving here to
day. Four Of the orew, Chief Engineer
Traueher, Second Engineer John Hoi-
den, Fourth Engineer Robert Milne and
Charles Ibbittson, were so severely in
jured that they were taken to the ma
rine hospital upon arriving amis port.
Ilolden ia not expected to live.
Raven Young Paopla Killed.
Chicago, Maroh 1. An omnibut
containing nine persona, eight of whom
were young men and women, who were
on their way to attend a -party in the
hotel at Blue Island, was Btriick by a
Grand Trunk passenger train at the
Western aveuue crossing south of Blue
Island, at 0 o'clock tonight, and six of
the pleasure-seekers, were killed almost
instantly. None esanped Berious in
jury. The train was running at a high
rate of speed, ana approacnoa cne cros
sing after rounding a sharp curve. .
Alfred Tennyson's Brother.
London, March 1. Frederick Ten
nyson, eldest brother of the late poet
laureate, died yesterday.
Tha Nones Filibusters.
Tamna. Fla.. March 1. General
Rmlln Knnm. Dr. Niinec. J. Eoartava.
John O'Brien and Ave members of the
last Cuban expedition, arrived here
this afternoon from Key West. Mr.
Ecartaya reports mutters on the island
a aatisfaotory to the Cuban cause.
LEAGUE ISLAND YARD
Four Warships Nearly Ready
for Active Service.
THE WORK OF ENLISTING MEN
Great Activity at Watervliet Arsenal
Monitor Terror In New York
Harbor War Rnmore.
Philadelphia, March 1. League
island -navy-yard literally swarmed
with visitors today, in consequence of
the report from11 Washington that the
cruiser Columbia and Minneapolis,
the double-turxeted monitor Mmntono
moh, and the ram Katahdin, had been
ordered to go into commission, witb
dispute!). Botfc cruiser! have skeleton
crews aboard, while the monitor ha
been lying at her dock for several yeaia,
and the Katahdin since last winter.
None of the naval official at the yard
would any anything relating to the fu
ture movement of the vessels, but from
workmen it waa learned the oom mis
sion order had been issued. This
waa borne out by the fact that all day
a large force of men in the construction
and repair department were actively
at work on the Miantonomoh and the
Katahdin. Viaitora were kept off these
boats, and only those having friends
among the officers and crew of tbe
cruisers were allowed on board.
The repairs to the monitor are all of
minor nature, and will be completed
in a day or two. . Over SO men have
already been detailed for her, and it ia
said her full complement of 160 will be
made up a rapidly a possible.
A largo force waa busy on the Katah
din, removing her ventilating appar
atus and fitting her with steam pipes.
This work will only take a few day.
The navy department inten J to get
the vessel ready for sailing at a mo
ment a notice. Late tin afternoon
ateam wa gotten up on board of the
monitor for the purpose of testing her
boiler. In one of the lofts, nearly 100
men were at work on small spars and
boat fittings.
Everything is shipshape on the Min
neapolis and Columbia, and beyond
filling up tiieir complement of officer
and men, and taking coal and provi
sions, nothing remains to be done.
Thia will consume about five day at
the most, and then both vessels will
be ready for active service.
The work of enlisting men will con
tinue until order to atop have been re-
cevied from Washington. " Captain
Casey, the commandant, said he did
not know for what vessel the men now
being enlisted are wanted. The roster
wa simply being filled up, and he did
not know how many men were wanted.
or where the recruits would be as
signed.
At Watervliet Arsenal.
Albany, N. Y., Maroh 1. The great
est aotivitr since the Rebellion ia wit
nessed at the Watervliet arsenal. The
entire force is working eight and day.
Friday night waa received an order for
the shipment of two carload of 18-inob
projectile to Fort Hamilton, with the
greatest possible haste. Yesterday they
were dispatched. Orders have also
been recevied for the shipment of all
projectiles now on hand to' the several
forts about New York, and to forward
all complete guns as speedily.aa possi
ble to the proving ground at Sandy
Hook. Such an ordor has not been
received at Watervliet since the close
of the war. It I thought that the last
six loads of projectile will be shipped
during the present week.
A Key West Rumor.
Kev West, March I. The latest
story as to the way the Maine was
blown up ia contained in a letter for
warded by secret Cuban clubs, in
Havana, to J. M. Govin, a Cuban in
surgent agent here. Govin received it
in the ordinary course of mail, it waa
written in English, but was signed
"Maquinista," (Machinist). After a
long preamble, saying that the writer
knew the Maine' fate wa due to a
Spanish plot, the letter goes on to say
that in an old warehouse at Santa Cat
alina, 200 yards from where the Maine
waa moored, some diving apparatus
bad been hidden, and from this, base
two diver had worked by night and
filled the torpedo holes of the Maine
with dynamite cartridges connected
with a battery to the land, by which
the cartridge were exploded. Ac
cording to the letter, the diver were
to have been paid a large sum, which
has not been forthcoming.
Cuban In Key West say that the in
vestigation in Havana has tended to
confirm the statements of the letter,
which will go before the court of in
quiry. An officer of the Maiue, whose
attention wa called to the story today,
asserted positively to the correspond
ent that the torpedo-holes of the Maine
had not been opened during her stay
in the harbor.
Tiie naval board of inquiry arrived
today, and will begin its sessions to
morrow, .,
Orders for tha Alliance.
Portsmouth, N, H., March 1. The
first positive order received at Ports
mouth navy-yard aince the blowing up
of the Maine were received today,
when ordera oame to send the warship
Alliance to sea on April 1, She will
be put in tint-class repair by that time.
Tha Terror In New York Harbor.
New York, March 1. 'The monitor
Terror passed in at quarantine at 13:60
this morning and anchored off romp-
klnevilleat 1:06.
W J oil) li( Mllltla Orders.
Denver, Maroh 1. A special to the
Newa from Laramie, Wyo., says: J.
Fred Heese, jr., captain of company A,
W. N. ., has received ordera from
Colonel Frank A. Foote, of Evanaton,
to gut hi oompany and equipment in
read i lies for service on short notice.
A CLASH INEVITABLE.
Costa Itloa and Nicaragua Apparently
Upon tha Verge of War.
New York, Feb. 88. A dispatch to
the Herald from Panama (aye: Ad
vice received Unlay from Costa Rica
atate that at a banquet given on Sun
day night, President Iglesias said the
aituatioii between Costa Rica and Nic
aragua I uch that war i inevitable.
Further advice from Costa Rica say
that on February 20 there war s large
popular demonstration in which more
than 6,000 persona allowed their ap
proval of the attitudo of the govern
ment toward Nicaragua, and more
troops were sent on February SO to the
frontier. Hostilitie with Nicaragua
are expected at any moment. Many
prominent member of the American
colony have offered to aid the govern
ment with men and money. One of
them, James Bennett, offered to give
(00,000. The French colony haa also
promised to take up arma in defense of
Costa Bioa in the event of war.
Since the oneuccesslul revolution,
broke out in Nicaragua on February 6,
which President Zelaya charges the
Costa Kican government with aiding,
there haa been little communication
with the Costa Kican capital. Mes
sages sent from here are in plain lan
guage at tender' risk and subject to
censorship.
A special commissioner arrived at
Colon a few day ago with a dispatch
from Washington. Replie were sent
to Port Limon by the steamship New
port. It i stated that the same com
missioner had a private conference
with the government authorities here,
His object is to enlist Colombia on
Costa Rica's aide should the Greater
Republic of Central America or tiie
triple alliance declare war against tier,
AUTONOMISTS WANT PEACE,
Cuba Libra' Hour of Triumph Near
at Hand.
New York, Feb. 28. A dispatch to
the Tribune from Havana says: in
the uncertainty of tbe relation with
the United States, the importance of
the recent action of the autonomist
party is overlooked. Its central com
mittee has formally approved the plan
which i a confession of the failure of
the present scheme of autonomy and an
offer to the insurgenia to conoede every
thing except the withdrawal of the
Spanish flag.
Its significance ia in the fact that
Senor Govin, of the autonomist cabinet,
waa a leading spirit in tbe meeting,
and offered tbe resolutions for treating
with the insurgents, which contain a
series of propositions outlined by Bibra
two weeks ago when the radical auton
omist party was formed. These cover
everything but independence.
The transignetes are still hostile to
the government. Among them the
Maine inquiry ia adding to the smother
ed anti-American feeling. The author
ities profess ability to hold it in check.
NINE LIVES LOST.
A T. aeanent Home In Charleston, 8. p.,
Hurna With Fatal Reaalta.
Charleston, 8. C, Feb, 38.-Nine
lives were lost in a fearful fire which
raged for a short time here thia morn
ing. At 2:10 A. M., a polioeman on
duty noticed big sparks flying from the
tenement house at 100 Church street.
The officer found that a blase was is
suing from one of the windows on the
first floor. The doors were broken open
and the family on that floor rushed out
without injury. Somebody yelled that
a family of women were sleeping on
the third floor. The police rushed up
stairs and when they reachd the top
floor the lifesaving work was stopped
by the flames, which seemed to be over
the entire floor, bcreams from dying
women were heard, and Otileer Bagley
rushed in and pulled out three charred
bodies. Tbe quick work of the fire
department checked the flames, but not
until nine lives bad been lost. The
dead are: Mrs. Rebecca Knickmeyer,
Albert O'Neil, Caswell O'Neil, Joseph
ine Knickmeyer, 7 years old; Katie
Knickmeyer, 19 years old; Leon a
Knickmeyer, 9 years old, Francis
Knickmeyer. 6 yeara old, Lillie Knick
meyer, 8 yeara old; a baby of Mrs.
Knickmeyer, 1 month old.
BRANDING SEALS.
The Process Deserlbed In tho Kleotrloal
Review. '
New York, Feb. 88. The Electrical
iteview will publish today the first
authentio account of branding fur seals
by electricity to prevent the destruc
tion of the female seals. The article is
written by Elmer E. Farmer, of Stan
ford university, who accompanied the
United States fur seal commission to
the Prihyloff islands last August,
when the experiment was tried.
The electrical apparatus consists of
a small dynamo operatedby a gasoline
engine and a branding cautery simi
lar to that used by physicians. The
young female seals were marked by
drawing the hot platinum cautery
across tiie back, which resulted in de
stroying the fur 10 that even if the seal
were afterward killed the commercial
value of the tur would be destroyed. ,
It ia probable that the experiments
will be carried further by means of im
proved electrical apparatus.
A writer in the Fortnightly Review
thinks that 66,000 farmers, each with
a 100-acre farm in Canada, could sup
ply all the wheat England needs. :
Wovind Around tha Shaft.
Pendleton, Or., Feb. 38. Clarence
Dupuis, aged 33, was fatally hurt by
being wound around the shaft at the
woolen mill late last night. Dupuis
was employed in the pioker-room, and
went below to remove a belt without
waiting for the machinery to stop. A
sot pin in the shaft caught his blouse,
whirled him over ana over, Dreamng
many hones and hurting him Internal
ly, so that he died several hours after-
ward.
FEELING OF SUSPENSE!
Due to Warlike Preparations
Throughout the Land.
STRENGTH OF NAVAL MILITIA
Morenient of United State Warships
Alleged Interviews With
President MeKlnley.
Washington, Feb. 38. While there
is nothing to indicate that war with
Spain is inevitable, a feeeling of sus
pense pervade all sections of the coun
try. The government, without a doubt,
is preparing for a possible emergency.
Unusual activity is reported at navy
yards, barracks, and recruiting stationa,
and where war material is being mann
factured, orders have been received to
push the work witb all speed. A a
result of the tension, stock and bonds
on the New York exchange dropped
from 1 to 13 points, and tbe New York
and Chicago wheat markets were affect
ed sympatheticallly.In the London stock
market. American shares sold at de
clines. The senate fortunately did not
add to the excitement yesterday, the
jingoes doubtless being absent. In the
house, an increase in tbe appropriation
for caring for the Springfield, Mass.,
arsenal, was accepted without protest.
Tha JCaral Mllltla.
Washington, Feb. 26. The navy
department today gave out figures show
iug the strength of the naval militia up
to date. This shows a total force of
4,445 officers and enlisted men, which
is a gratifying increase from the 8,703
shown by the former report.
Af'.la from this, new brigades are
In process of formation, which promises
to swell the total to much larger figures
at an early date. The organization of
this auxiliary arm of tbe naval service
is under the immediate direction of
Lieutenant Gibbons, C. S. N whose
energy has accomplished much is se
curing state organization and in tbe
harmonizing of tiie bodies into one com
pact force, capable in emergenoy of co
operating with the regular navy.
In bis last report, Assistant Secretary
Roosevelt said that the state naval mil
itia, in the event of a sudden emer
gency, could be utilized at once for
manning the smaller cruisers. It could
be depended upon mainly, he said, as a
second line of defense, and also be used
in placing bines and the establishment
of signal stations for coast defense.
The appropriation of $50,000 that is
to aid tiie work of the naval militia will
be distributed among tbe state in a
few days. '
FOUND BY DIVERS.
Brldeace That tha Flret Kxploalon Waa
Beneath tha Ship.
Washington, Feb. 26. The Evening
Star has received the following cable
gram from Charles Pepper, its staff cor
respondent in Cuba:
' At this writing divers are developing
important res una. From tbe examina
tion of the inner wreckage they have
secured evidence which seems conclu
sive that the explosion came from un
derneath the ship. Some of the smaller
magazines may have exploded. The
main, 10-inch magazine did not explode.
The condition of the interior of tbe ship
shows further probability of th wreck
having been due to outside forces. The
further the investigation progresses,
the more untenable becomes the theory
which the Spanish government adduced
to show accidental cause. It is evident
tbe Spanish case will be based on the
claim that the fire preceded the explo
sion. Captain Sampson and his col leagues
of the naval board say that outside
evidence is offered regarding the tor
pedo float producing the explosion.
Said one diver, who had been engaged
in tbe work of getting bodies out from
under the hatch:
"God may be merciful to tbe men
who blew those poor fellows into eter
nity, the United States should not.''
This was before Long's order pro
hibiting officers from talking had been
issued. This diver evidently thought
the explosion was not an accident. He
had an expert's capacity and oppor
tunity for judging.
: The Havana publio is n6t permitted
to know the intensity of public senti
ment in the United , States. Only
meager details are permitted to be
known" of what happens in Washington.
Congress is watched with exoeesivo
anxiety by palace, officials, but the1
populace know nothing of what ia
liable to happen. Evidence of ill-feeling
toward the American people and
anxiety over the Maine disaster does
not lessen.
The Maine inquiry dwarfs interest
in Cuban politics, but recent develop
ments carry an official confession of
the failure of autonomy.
War Preparations In Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia, Feb. 88. Major-Gen
eral Snowden, commander of the na
tional guard of Pennsylvania, has issued
general orders to every officer in the
state to recruit his command up to the
full quota required bylaw. The or
ders were issued five days ago with in
structions that they be kept a profound
secret. The officers were instructed
to have their men ready to march fully
armed and equipped at 24 hours' notice.
New York, Feb. 86. A Tribune
dispatch from Havana says: The out
look in Cuba does not grow more prom
ising. The exact siuation is that the
government officials were never so
much disturbed as today. This is part
ly dua to information from Washington
and Madrid. News from these places
whioh is permitted to reach the publio
ia so meager that better judgment can
be formed in the United States than
here as to whether the fears of the
officials are exaggerated.
THE PRESIDENT'S VIEWS
War With Spain Not Inevitable, but the
Sltnatlon Is Orave.
Chicago, Feb. 26. The Tribune this
morning prints the following special
from Washington:
To a senator who called upon him
yesterday in order to ask some serious
questions as to the policy of the admin
istration, President McKinley, with the
utmost frankness, ottered the following
words:
1 "I do not propose to do anything at
all to accelerate war with Spain. Up
to the present I do not think war is
either necessary or inevitable. I wonld
be lax in my duty, however, if I did
not prepare for the future. The altua
tion is grave, and the policy of the ad
ministration will be determined almost
entirely by the course of events from
time to time. There is no necessity of
alarming the people, but congress must
be ready to assist the administration
without making too many inquiries as
to the course of current events." (
There is no dout; of the fact that the
government of the United States is
actually preparing for war with Spain.
It is not inevitable that war will follow,
but the activity is too unmistakable to
be concealed. The president and his
cabinet unite in the belief still, in spite
of all evidence to the contrary, that the
explosion of the Maine was an unfortu
nate accident, but they recognize tbe
fact that the contrary may prove true
at almost any hour, and that if it is
shown even inferentially that Spain
bad a hand in the catastrophe there
will be but one thing to do, and that
will be to seize the island of Cuba by
force of arms. At no time since th
war of the rebellion has the military
branch of tbe government been so active
as it is today.
It is a significant fact that within the
last two days there has been a remark
able change of opinion in tbe navy de
partment n regard io the explosion on
the Maine. When the first news arrived
here last week experts at tbe depart
ment were nearly divided as between
accident and design, but today after
studying the late reports, and especially
photographs sent from Havana, nine
out of ten of the officer of the depart
ment express the belief that tbe Maine
was anchored over a submarine mine.
The only difference of opinion seems
to be as to whether the mine was ex
ploded by Spanish officers acting under
ordera, or by some enthusiast. The
latter opinion is generally held, but it
is said that this does not lessen in any
degree the responsibility of Spain for
the horrible catastrophe.
If tbe Spanish officers, allowed the
warship to be moored to a buoy which
was attached to a submarine mine,
they thereby became responsible foi
the result, whether the mine was ex
ploded by official orders or not. The
plaoing of the Maine in an exposed
place in the harbor if it was done at all,
was done by Spanish officers, and ii
the mine was exploded by anybody at
all, they were directly responsible, and
will be so held by President McKin
ley' administration.
RELIEF FOR MAINE VICTIMS.
Bill for That Purpose Introduced Inte
the House.
Washington, Feb. 26. Represents'
tive Boutelle, of Maine, chairman of
the house committee on naval affairs,
introduced a bill this afternoon provid
ing for the relief of the victims of tha
battle-ship Maine. It follows generally
the lines of the Samoan disaster relief
bill of 1890, and is the result of sev
eral days' conference in committee,
and embodies the views of tbe admin
istration. Boutelle had a conference
with President McKinley today, al
which he went over with him the pro
posed legislation, and later submitted
the measure at an informal meeting of
some of the committee. It will be re
ferred baok to tbe committee immedi
ately, and its pasaage expedited. Th
bill provides for the payment of IS
months pay to the widows or child
ren, or, if there be no such, to th
parents, or if neither of these, to tht
brothers and sisters of each of thest
killed in the Maine disaster. In addi
tion, the legal heirs of each ot the vic
tims shall receive any arrears of pay
due at the time of death. It is pro
vided also that any allotments previ
ously made by any of the deceased tc
any relatives of the men mentioned
shall be continued for three months,
the amounts ao paid to be deducted
from the 18 months' pay otherwise al
lowed. ; -
THAT SUBTERRANEAN PASSAGE.
Spaniards Confess There I a Mini
. Under the Harbor Entrance.
Havana, - Feb. , 26. In connection
with the claim made by .the Cubam
that there are mine galleries under the
harbor of Havana, leading from sub
terranean passages and known to have
existed for years, between Fort Caban
as, Mono castle, and thia port, th
Spaniards explain that for over a cen
tury, a aubterranean passage about two
miles long and eight feet wide at iti
narrowest diameter, oapable of giving
passage to a column of troops, has ex
isted from the navy-yard to Castillo del
Principe. But, the Spaniards furthei
assert, the existence of thia passage wai
not known to the present authorities,
or to those who have been in power for
many yeare past. The entrance and
exit, it is added, have been closed foi
years past, by thick walla now covered
with debris, and their exact location it
said to be lost. At the same time, it ii
admitted that the matter regarding tha
subterranean passage can be found in
old documents in the archives of Ha
vana. Finally, the Spaniards insist
that this passage doe not go undei
the harbor at any point.
Warahlpa Headed for Havana. . .
Las Palas, Canary Islands, Feb. 26.
The Spanish armored cruiser Almi
rai. te Oquondo left today for Havana,
The Italian third-class cruiser Gio
vanni Bausani is expected here Satur
day next. She ia on her way to Cuba.
A STRICT CENSORSHIP
France Denies Right of Free
Speech and Free Press.
MELINE'S OFFICIAL WAESINQ
RareVal Newspapers Notified to Cease
DiscuMlna; Drejrfne Campaign
Lawyers Olebarred.
Paris, Feb. 28. The new dictator
ship has decided to suppress the free--dom
of speech and the freedom of the
press. '
This decision waa announced by
Meline in the chamber of deputies thia
afternoon.
Four newspapers tonight were noti
fied that nnuless they cease disoussii:;;
the Dreyfus campaign tomorrow they
will be rigorously prosecuted.
A number of correspondents of for-'
eign newspapers were warned that un
less they abandon their hostile dis
patches they will be expelled from
France.
It is even asserted that Blowitz, the
correspondent of the London Times,
was also warned.
Because of his courageous action
as an officer in the war department
and in the Zola trial, Colonel Picquart,
by a decree issued tonight, was expelled
from the army and placed under three
years of police surveillance. '
The lawyer who advised him has
been suspended from the bar.
Esterbazy has received official per
mirsion to prosecute Mathieu Dreyfus.
' The. announcement was made that
more rigorous measures of the same
high-handed policy will soon be prom
ulgated. ; ,
Concluding his official warn ing, Me
line said:
"I trust it will be understood that if
the agitation continues after yester
day's verdict we shall be in the pies
enee of a party issue. Enough evil bus
already been done internally. The
life of the nation has been checked.
A part of tiie foreign press denounces
us. This must be stopped, in the in
terests of peace, of the army, and of
our foreign relations. Tbe government
must deal with the wound it desires
to heal, and it will impose silenoe
upon everybody. It will take such dis
ciplinary measures aa the circum
stances demand. Nobody can continue
the agitation in good faith, and after
tomorrow the government will sup
press all attempts to continue it. The
government is applying the law at its
disposal, and if the weapons are insuffi
cient, it will ask for more." (Great
tumult). "The vote of this house will
prove that when patriotism is involved,
there are no parties. Everybody ral
lies under that flag."
A CUT AT SAN FRANCISCO.
The Canadian FaclHe Makes tow Bate
'to tha Eait.
San Francisco, Feb. 28. The Cana
dian Pacific threw a bombshell into the
camp of the American railroad agents
this morning by announcing that tick
ets would be sold from San Francisco
to New York via Vancouver at $40
first-class and $30 second-class. The
lowest first-class rates by the Central
and Union Pacific are $79. Agents
here say that east-bound business by
the Canadian road is slight at this sea
son, and they don't feademoralization,
but they recognize the daneer to Klon
dike business if these rates are enforced
in the East. In fact, the Southern
Pacific will have to meet the out or see
all Klondike travel go to Victoria and
Seattle. Everything depends on the
Chicago meeting. If tbe Canadian Pa
cific cannot be placated then the South
rn Pacific will be compelled to cut the
present rates nearly in half. ;
Cruehed to Death.
San Franoisco, Feb. 38. Charles
Lapan, superintendent of construction
on the Call building, waa instantly
killed this afternoon. In the freight
elevator on the Third-street side of the
building.. ': .
Lappan was at work in the base
ment, and stepped on tbe freight eleva
tor. It is believed he pulled tbe wrong
rope, and when tbe elevator started up,
attempted to jump out His body was
caught between the floor of the eleva
tor and the first floor and waa terribly
crushed. Death must have been in
stantaneous, for his whole chest waa
crushed to a pulp. - .
Will Not Sell Onba.
London, Feb. 28.-1116 Standard's
Madrid-correspondent Buys that he has
found by an exhaustive canvass that all
parties are amazed and indignant at
the suggestion that Spain should sell -Cuba,
saying that it meant that tho
monarchy would be menaced by an ir
resiH table popular movement supported
by the army and navy. The financiers
make the practical objection that, as
the Cuban debt is almost entirely held
by Spaniards, the price suggests!
would not satisfy half the compensa
tion required. None of the ministers
would entertain the suggestion.
Shipments from Canadian Point.
Ottawa, Feb. 28. The Canadian
government has decided to permit Can
adian goods to be shipped from Van
couver and Victoria in American ves
sels free of duty by St. Michael to tho
Yukon for the coming aeason. An or
der to this effect haa been sent to the
oustoms office on the ooast. The order
applies to the Yukon route by St. Mi
chaels, and does not include Skngway.
Tacoma, Feb. 28: Tho Midnight
Sun Is the name of a tiny craft h' -,
to sail for Alaska from Tacoma. 'The
boat is flat bottomed, 24 feet long,
feet Wide and 8 feet deep, provided
with side paddlo-whe!, a two-home
power boiler and a taia engim. Only
her two owners will go ia bt wit:i
their outfits . .