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About The Oregon mist. (St. Helens, Columbia County, Or.) 188?-1913 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 1900)
ORE GO nn vol. xvi r. ST. HELENS, OREGON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1900. NO. 10. E MIS LATER NEWS. irt mrnr HIT nn Il'irnnlwg ARC an ARlATin phwcr I nr n inn tit t nrrnn i m I ditti c im ennniM I MM in (..hi MKVNl II N h N M M -- . rnnvin pat i wiv ii.. . i vii uii i Li Aii iiiji nun A I m a. f ..j . 1 I 1 1 1 1 1 I I . 1111 fl II 11 I ut i iv i viidii m- vrci iicirmirn nmuan. m naiiTB i .iiriiiij 1 1 . r-m u EVENTS OF THE DAY Epitome of the Telegraphic News of the World. riagne at Maul la 1 spreading. Lord Huberts' force have ni-i'm,lud .NCUUSUHA. TKUSK TICKS FROM Til K WIRES An Interesting Cnlleetlon of Items From the Two Hemispheres Presented In n Condensed Form The revolution In Vcneznela, under t lit leadership of lleruaudoz, i said ta bs gaining head way. The treasurer of Nes reroe county, jumiio, waa arrested lor depositing pub ao muni in national bank. Two hund ml shareholder of the Panama Canal Company met in i'urla and chose a new taiarti of director). A bill tiro)irintinr $ 150,000 fur tha enlargement of tho postollloe building at Portland, Or., waa passed iu tliu senate. After an overhauling at Mara Island uavy yard, the Philadelphia will pro, caed to the island of Tutuilu, oua of tha Samoans. A branch of tha Illinois' union has been formed at Cornucopia. This ia noteworthy in that it ia tha flrat branch to be formed In Oregon. During the last throe months nearly S B0 demented soldiers have arrived in Han Francisco from the Phlllniilnes, ud it it aald 300 more are on the way. Tho Corliss projmtitlon for the go' eminent ownership of a Pacific cable waa defeated by the house committee on interstate and foreign commerce, by a vote of 8 to 5. F. O. Tait, amatuer golf chapmion of Great Britain in 18Ut) and 181)8, was killed during (ienerul Mac-Donald's re rounaiuianco at Koorierlerg, hciugshot through the body. He had previously been wounded at Magersfoutein. The British ship County of Edin burgh went aahore near Manasuan life' saving station, on the Jersey coast, near 1'olnt 1'leaaant. She ia hard and (ant aground, and it ia expected la break up. The crew were taken off iu the breeches buoy by the life-savers. tglisias and Kduardo Coude, Puerto Ktoan labor leaders, have issued an appeal to Ihia government on behalf of the worklngmeu of Puerto Kioo. They declare that the working claas of their Island have been reduced by reason of the war, the hurrlcaue and the action of this government since the storm, to a ooudition of extreme destitution. l!y an executive order, a certain por tion of tho penimula in the district of Alaska, immediately north of the southern boundary, and embracing Camp Point Spencer, baa Ihibii reserved (or public purposes. The trai-t is located on the west shore of I'ort Clar ence bay, comprising the peninsula on which is Point Spetuer, and iucltidea about four square miles. Albsy province is much harassed by the Filipino rebels. A territorial form of government 1 recommended for Hawaii. Dawson merchants aro closing np shop to go to Cape Nome. Congressman Sulzer, of Now York, ii talked of for Bryau's running mate, Fire in tho tlrooklyn navy yard de stroyed property to the value of $100,. 000. Four men were fatally wounded dtir lug a riot at a dance in Northern Okla homa. The strike of tha Cuban cigarmakers has been suttlod. The effort was unsuc cessful. Robber made au unsuccessful at tempt to hold up a Santa Fe ttain in Oklahoma. Klljah Cone, one of the oldest news paper men of Wisconsin, waa frozen to death in rood du Lao. American miners are not allowod to carry arms or ammunition into tho state of Sonnra, Mexico. Chaplain Wells, Jnst returned from the Philippines, says there is too much whiskey sold and used there. The transport Mam, which lost 811 mules out of Dili) ou her trip to Manila, Is back in Kan 1-rauolseo harbor. The city of Skagwa.v protests agaiust the appointment of a delegate to con gross without the vote of the pimple. Kd. Armstrong, a Mudford, Or., bricklayer, was shot and fatally in jured by A. J. Hamlen, during a saloon row. Fire at tha National Biscuit Com pany's works, at Worcester, Mas., de stroyed property to the value of $00,-000. The Kansas supreme court holds that railways cannot be compelled to fur nish free transportation to livestock shippers. Huller's attack is now known to have been no feint. He was really de feated in a third attempt to reach Ladysmlth, Thomas O. Merrill, of Halt Lake City, widely known throughout the .West as an energetic worker in the sil ver cause, is dead. Terrific snow storms Northern Ciermany, The house passed the legislative, ex ecutive and judicial appropriation bill. General Kolloy-Kenny's brigade can turod a lloer supply train of 78 wito near jaconsuai. A blizzard is raging in New York. I!linding clouds of snow are being whirled about by a strong northeast wind. Au armor plate trust, composed of IS firms iu the world, which practically monopolize armor plate, will be formed. Will Hurts, a negro, was lynched near liaakett Mills, H. C, by a mob of zou men. lie assaulted the wife of a planter. Itear-Adiniral Sampson has been offered and declined the presidency of tho Massachusetts institute of technology. i hree men were caught In a snow slide in Colorado, nearSllverton. Two were killed and the third saved his life by running, The A blxitt-Downlng Carriage Com pany, of Concord, N. H., has made an assignment, with llahllltes of f 200,000 ami assets of $li00,000. The strike situatien at the island of Martinique is now calm. Several ar rests have lieeu made of strikers for in terfering with men at work. The body of Miss Fsther J. Collen, of Olympia, Wash., was found on the tide flats of that city. A complete air of mystery surrounds her death, The Vermont State Federation of Women's Clubs Is attempting to secure tho appointment of women en the state board of penal and charitable insti tutions. A band of Cree Indinas, camped near Ilutte, Mont., bought a quantity of alcohol, and by mistake were given wood alcohol, three of the band dying in great agony. Tho Owen brothers, two of the band its who held np ami rubbed a Wells Fargo express car at Fairbanks, Ariz. have been captured near Pearce, Ariz., bv a Tombstone posse. Pirates are causing much trouble in Chinese waters. A crew from a British gunlsmt had a lively fight with them near Choutou Chang, in which several pirates were killed and oue sailor shot. At l-.l Paso, lexas, a mob o negro soldiers from Fort Bliss attacked the city police statiou with the object of releasing two of their comrades who had beeu arrested and during the fight one olticer and oue soldier was killed, The Doers now claim to have 120,000 fighting men. The army appropriation bill carries 1111,700,304. Treaty between the United States and Trinidad has been signed. Charles Lewis, of Lewiaville, Or., killed himself accidentally while hun ting. Astoria, Or., is taking special pre' cautious against the introduction of plague. The anti-trust conference has de clared in favor of the government own ership of railroads. A press agent of the defunct Franklin syndicate believes that Miller made a million dollars out of the swindle. Manufacturing, railway and ice har vesting interests have been greatly damaged by severe stoims in New Eng- laud. Three well-known oitizens of the town of Nanaimo, 1). C, were drowned while on a hunting trip on Vancouver Island. The United States government has 61 new naval vessels nnder construe tion, which will require in oflicers alone, 3,000 men. Willis P. Sullivan, Mayor Fhelan'l secretary, was chosen by the board ot police commissioners of San Francisco to be chief of police Sam Hes'vlek, an old and tlw xuown character on the Chicago I-oirrd ol Trade, died as a charity patient in the llaptist hospital of that city, Mexican papers are giving much at tention to the proposed construction of the Nicaragua canal. They believe it will benefit Mexicau trade. Knglaud is suffering from severe blizzard. Trains are snowed np in all directions and street-car lines blocked and telegraph and telephone wires are down. The Salvation Army celebrated the 20th anniversary of its establishment in the United States with the baptizing of Hooth Tucker's-baby. The oereuiony took place in New York. The Vladimir Vostock, one of the supply ships chartered by the govern ment for the transportation of quarter master's and commissary stores, ar rived at San Francisco from Manila. r raging in retirement ot Uronje ana the Boer Army. BRITISH EVACUATE RENSBRRO rhs War Ofllea lias Issued Orders fat the formation of 1 1 New Batteries Three Battalion of Infantry. London, Feb. 17. The war offloe announces that General French reached Ki mberley Thursday evening. following is Lord Roberts' message to the war ollice: "Jacobsdal, Feb. 17. French, with a force of artillery, cavalry and mount ed Infantry, reached Kimberley this evening (Thursday)." Cronje'a Retirement. London, Feb. 17. As Gen. Cronje's communications with Vloemfontein have been cut, England would like to hear that he elects to give battle among the low hills and ridges east of Kim lierley. Should he determine not to do this, he must retreat to a joint where he would prefer to fight. This retire ment could be a long detour around the head of the ISritish advance to Bloeui fontein, or, as seems to military stu dents more practicable, he could with draw to the north, using the railroad for his guns and heavy baggage, mov ing to Fourteen Streams station, and thence into the Transvaal territory. The Boers have made no preparations to defend Bloom f on teiu, and there is no particular reason why General Cronje slioud risk a battle to protect the capital of the Free State. Operations elsewhere are apparently suspended. A correspondent, writing from Cheve- ley, February 16, says: "We are still hopeful of relieving Ladysuiith United States Alone Opened of China. , Ithaca, N. Y.. Feb. 1 .President Jacob O. Hchurman, of Cornell univer sity, in au address before the Business Men's Association, of Ithaca, spoke at some length on the Issues arising out of the Philippine question. Regarding the commercial benefits which the United States is to derive as a result of the Spanish-American war, he said: "The markets of the world are open to ns and receiving our products. The Spanish war gave ns a solution to that question. That wnr was waged to drive from Cuba an effete European power, a government of tyranny. The irony of fate has followed np our late war, and, paradoxical though it be, we are now an Asitio power, with new outlets for onr products. "These are hurd facts, and as strange as they are true, Where England and Germany kept us from the competition, it is now all our own, and the lion share ia coming with it. We allowed Africa to be sliced np by European powers. It is our national crime China has opened the door to its 400, 000,000 bnman souls for ns. Russia, I ranee, Germany and England were dividing that great empire as Africa was divided. We might have lost it. England was in despair. Its trade was ridiculed by Russia, Germany and France. But the United States alone opened the doors of China, and aocom plished one of the greatest achievements in history. "Our flag is anchored in the Pacific it is floating over the Philippines, Henceforth we are to be on an equal footing in Asia with Russia, Germany, France and England. But onr mission is not alone to make money there although Providence dropped the island into our lap. Eight million people with immortal souls have been re deemed from the tyranny of ages, and onr mission is to share with them our ' highest American civilization and Making: for Bloemfontein With All Speed. FRENCH'S STAY AT KIMBERLEY libertv. Thev will accent onr flair Colonel Iiadeu'-Powell, in a dispatch onr education, and then our mission fmm M.r.i,in .i.,i i. ao .ft, I wiu oc accomplished, it win oe tneir mentioning matters alreadv sent out ! fla8 ,nd onrs their ory by correspondents, gives his total cas ualties up to January 25 as follows: Killed, five oflicers and 00 men; wounded, eight officer and 123 men; missing, 84 men. No word ha been received regarding General Gatacre' 12,000 men at Storm- berg. The impression is that these forces are on the way to Lord Roberts. Mr. Chamberlain's announcement in the honse of commons of the intention of the government to encourage the their glory and ours, their pride and ours, emblem of .the Orient in its highest and noblest form. BETTER CONDITIONS. Otis Reports a Cleneral Improvement In the Philippine!, Washington, Feb. 17. The adjutant general received the following cable message from General Otis: "Manila, Feb. 17. Bates left today with two regiments and battery artillery on transports for San Miguel lulus to detend themselves from the bay, province of Camarine Sur, to noers u a contingency me tsoers seem move on Nueva Caceres and towns in to have antioiiatted, as they have been that section. The road east from doing everything in their power to win Antimonan through the province of the good will of the iiasutos, who have Tayabas ia not practicable for troops, thousands ot good rilles. lhe HoersiXhe insurgents in Camarines show gave 2,000 Basutoa safo conduct. If considerable activity and make attacks viia iiriun ins innoo nna . inn itmin ' HIV SUV elfUCVU UilU UHf tllv JVV1 will probably let loose another. coast of Luzon Island. the southeastern It is reported The war ollloe has Issued orders for that they hold several hundred Spanish the formation of 21 new batteries and three battalions of infantry. lhe cabinet council was in session yesterday for two hours. It will meet again today. This is quite unusual. lirllUh Evacuate Kenebers;. Loudon, Feb. 17. The Cape Town correspondent of the Daily Chronicle, telegraphing, says: "It is reported here that the British have evacuated Rensberg and retired to Arundel." Arundel, Feb. 17. General Clem ents withdrew fiom Rensberg during the night, bis rear guard arriving at Arnndel early tnis morning. The Boers promptly followed, reocenpying their old position on the Taaisbosch hills, wheu they have been shelling the British cavalry patrols, bnt ineffectual ly. The British guns returned the tire, making fairly ac urate practice. PASSED BY THE SENATE. DeolslT Majority for Hill. the Financial Washington, Feb. 17. The senate substitute for the house currency bill was passed by the senate today by the decisive majority of 4H to 90. Prior to the final passage of the bill, amendments were considered nnder the 10-minute rule. Only two ot these amendments were adopted, viz: One offered by the financial oommittee, keeping the door open to international blmotalism, and one by Nelson, of Min nesota, providing for national banks with $35,000 capital in town of not more than 4,000 inhabitants. The house today completed 20 of 124 pages of the legislative, execntive and judioial appropriation bill, without amendment. During the general de bate, which closed at 4 o'clook, a variety of topics were touched upon. Bontell, of Illinois, Miers, of Indiana, and Showalter, of Pennsylvania, dis cussed the Philippine question; Gros veuor, of Ohio, and Gillett, of Massa chusetts, civil service reform; Briggs, of New York, pensions, and Under wood, of Alabama, his resolution to repeal the 15th amendment to the con stitution. Tho legislative bill proba bly will be passed tomorrow. shipment, besides handkerchiefs. sweaters, caps and Corbett-Jeft-riee Fl(ht. New York, Feb. 17. The date ol the fight between J. J. Jeffries and J. Lima, Pern, via Galveston, Feb. 17. 1 J. Corbet t has been fixed at Mar 14. A severe earthquake shook, which Georee F. Considine and W. A. Bradv. caused great alarm, wa felt in this manager of the men, met Tom seotion. in the course of the day the . O'Rourke. manager of the Seaside today, and formally prisoners and a few Americans, in the vicinity of Nueva Caceres. Kohbe, with two regiments, occu pies the southeastern extremity of Luzon from Tabaco on the north to Donsol on the south; all important point of the island of Catauduanes, Samar and Leyte. "The conditions throughout the Philippines are gradually improving. All coasting vessels are now engaged in transporting merchandise and products, The Ladrone element is troublesome in all of the islands and keep troops very actively engaged." Maine Day in Havana. - Havana, Feb. 17. The second anut versa ry of the destructin of the United States battleship Maine in this harbor was suitably observed here today, Several hundred Americans went out to the wreck of the Maine, over which the United States flag was flying at half mast. Every available piece of the wreckage above the water was banked with laurels. From the search light platform short prayers were offer ed by Dr. McGee, of the Episcopal church, and Father Jones, of the Cat ho lie chnrch. At the chnrch of Mercede, the municipality arranged for imposing memorial services which were attended by Governor-General Wood and other civil and military officers. Freshet In the Hudaon. Albany, N. Y., Feb. 18. Three men were drowned and $500,000 damage done to property along the Hudson river by the worst freshet which this city has seen' since 1857. The dead are: Thomas Shea, of llath; William Rhienhart, of New York; Joseph Vo- gel, of Van " Rensslaer island. Shea and Rhinehart broke through the ice. Vogel was drowned while trying to res cue four horses on his farm. Fifty men are imprisoned in the second story oi an ice house on Montgomery island, across the river, bnt they are in no danger, as the water has begnn to re cede. The flood reached its height at 8 o'clook this afternoon, when it regis tered 20 feet above the ordinary level. At midnight it bad gone down two feet. Patriotic women of Vancouver, B. C, have devised a means to aid the ltrltlah aiilfllttni lii Knnt.h Africa. Three thousand pairs of socks are ready for River Rimao flooded its banks in the j Athletio Club, Frenoh railroads have ordered 80 lo comotives from Philadelphia. A Leipsio newspaper warns German manufacturers may crowd them out ot Russia. A Fiench oonrt sent a man to prison for three mouths for Insulting Queen Victoria in a pamphlet. The queen of Italy has a handker chief valued at $110,000. It took sev eral women more than 20 years to piakt it. Captain Charles Loeffler ha been doorkeeper at the entrance ot the exec utive chamber in Washington for over 80 years. The oldest consul of tlie United States in continuous service is Horatio J. Sprague, who became oonsul at Gibraltar in 1848. The persons engaged in raising fund to buy ft home in Washington for Rear- Admiral Schley have made another ap peal for money. outskirts of Lima, endangering life and property. Fighting In Albay Province. Manila, Feb. 17. Insurgent forces, estimated at 5.000 soldiers, mostly bolomen, attacked the American garri son in the convent at Daraga, province of Albay, the night of Febrnary 5. They were repulsed, however, after they had burned mnoh of the town. One lieutenant wounded wa the only loss sustained by the Americans. Steel ornaments kept in powdered their rusting. should starch always be to prevent accepted the offer of the Coney Island Club for the fight. Selae the Roads. Chicago, Feb. 15. After a heated debate, the resolutions committee ol the anti-trust conference decided to re port in favor of government ownership of.rairoada and for their seizure on pay ment of actual value and withont pay ment for "watered stock ot other ficti tious values." - The manager of the Belleville Woolen mills, at North Kingston, Rhode Island, granted the demand of the operatives for a 10 per cent advaiu-e iu waves. Boer Wagon-Train Being Punned Te ward the Capital Poblle Joy In England. London. Feb. 19. General Cronje, with a start of a day or two, is seem' ingly in fnll retreat from Lord Robert, moving northward. General French, with the cavalry, simply stayed ovei night in Kimberley, and then pushed on to get in touch with the retreating enemy. A long Boer wagon train mov ing toward Bloemfontein, followed pre sumably by a large force of British in fantry. In their hasty departure the Boers lost quantities of supplies and ammunition. Military opinion here is that Lord Roberts will not posh far after the Boers immediately, becanse of trans port problems and the need of rest for the troops. He has to feed 70,000 per sons in his army and the whole Kim berley population. He must rebuild the railway from Modder River town to Kimberley, and revictual the latter. General French lost a few men only in action, but the forced marches and the heat have probably made many ill, Numbers of remounts must be provided. Retreating to Bloemfontein. Jacobsdal, Feb. 19 via Modder River. General Cronje, with 10,000 men, is in full retreat towards Bloem fontein. General Kelly-Kenny is fight ing a rear guard and harassing the re treat. The Boers are reported to be leaving Spyfoutein, going in a north westerly direction. lhe Doers captnrtS a large convoy as a result of Thursday's f g'lting at Riet river. The British casualties were comparatively light in view of the tremendous bombardment. Less than 80 men were wounded and but one killed. General r ranch's division was en thusiastically welcomed at Kimberley. The officers dined at the club last even ing. The news of the entry into Kim berley has greatly cheered the troops, who are working splendidly. Klota la Martinique. . Fort De France, Martinique, Feb. 19. A mob of rioters yesterday at Rivierre Sallee refused to hear Senator Knight, who ia favorably disposed toward their cause. At midnight the planta tion of La Cocollee and Champigny were set tire to. Ttews has been re ceived from Paris announcing that the garrison ia to be reinforced and the French cruiser Sachet ia ou her way here. The situation grows worse rather than better, in spite of the concessions by the employers. Work ia stopped, and the strikers, urged on by their ringleaders, are becoming more men acing ana exacting. m. liayott, a prominent planter at Petitborng, with his family, has arrived here, abandon ing bis effect and plantation. There are more than 3.000 rioters in the Petit borng district, and as there is a consid erable supply of liquor accessible, it is feared that the night will witness scenes of violenoe. The governor hav ing declared himself nnable to afford the desired protection, the command ant made an urgent appeal, and at 6 o'clock this evening the entire local brigade of gendarmerie was called into requisition. More Plague In Honolulu. Honluln, Feb. 10. Five cases of plague have developed since the Ala meda sailed, February 2. Among the stricken ones were two white men J. W. Robertson, a clerk in a large hard ware store, and J. H. Hartinan, a stable man who recently came from San Francisco. Robertson lingered 24 hoifrs and then succumbed. Hartinan is said to be improving, under the Pasteur treatment. No new cases have leveloped during the past fonr days. The house-to-house inspection ia being kept up. The schooner Golden Shore had a narrow escape from destructionn from fire on the 7th. The vessel was fumi gated, and 4S hours later names were discovered in the hold. The vessel was damaged to the extent of $1,500. The schooner will leave for Puget sound in ballast. French Force Defeated Rabah, n Native Chieftain. Paris, Feb. 19. M. de Crais, min ister of the colonies, has received a telegram from the governor of the French Congo, M. De Laraothe, an nouncing the defeat in battle of Rabah, the principal chieftan of Central Son- dan, by a French expedition nnder M. Gentil. Rabah has long been the strongest opponent of the extension of French influence in the Soudan. It appears that be was strongly intrenched at Kouna, between French Congo and Lake Tchad. Kouna waa defended by 12.000 men, with 2,500 rifles and three cannon. Altera desperate fight, the French demolished the fortress. Ka bah, who was wounded during the fight, fled six honrs before its conclu lion. The commander of the French expedition, however, admits that prao ticaily half of his own force was placed bor de combat. Forty-three Senega lese sharpshooter were killed, and fonr European, including Captain Robillot, and 106 Senagalese were wounded. The commander of the ex pedition say in hi report: "We had altogether 820 rifle, so thought it advisable to continue the march to Lake Tchad. Captain Robillot occupied a fortified canton ment at Tonnia." The commander of the expedition returned to Bangne to inform the gov ernor of the defeat of Rabah. He re port that the result will be very im porta nt, as Rabah is completely de moralized by his losses, estimated at between 2,000 and 3,000 killed. Doubt About Capture of the British Wagons. HOW ROBERTS' PLANS WORKED YAQUI PRISONERS. Six Hundred of Them Will Be DUtrtb uted In Varioua Titles. Austin, Tex., Feb. 19. A dispatch from Manzaniilo, Mexico, say that the Mexican gunboat Oaxaca has ar rived there from the month of the Guaymas river with 600 Yaqui Indian prisoners on board. They were cap. tnred in the battle fougut about three weeks ago near Mazocoba. The pris oners will be taken to Guadalajara, and there distributed to the various interior cities. They will not be confined in prisons, bnt will be kept under surveil ance for a few years, until they have become educated in the habits of the Mexican people when they will be allowed to return to their tribe and im. part their newly acquired knowledge to their fellow tribesmen. When the Oxaca left the Yaqni river the government troops were making good progress toward subduing the rebels. General Torres had divided his command, and the two armies were to advance into the Yaqni country from two different points. No official con firmation is obtainable as to the gov ernment's loss in the recent battles, nut it is reported that there were over 400 killed and wounded. It is claimed that the Yaqnis left 200 killed, about 800 wounded and 600 captured. Bacon's Resolution. Washington, Feb. 17. Considera tion of the financial matter havina been concluded, discussion of the Phil ippine question waa resumed in the senate today. McEenry, (Rep. La.) strongly opposed the permanent acquis tion of the islands, and believed the United States ought to relinquish them a soon as the authority of this country had been asserted. Stewart, (Silver Nevada), took a pnoounced position in favor of the admission of the products of any of the island possessions of the United State free of duty. The bill providing a form of government for the territory of Hawaii waa read, bnt be yond that formality nothing wa done with it. Injured at Fires. unicago, jreD. 1 a.--tight person! were injured, one fatally, in fonr fires that occurred late last night and early this morning in the residence portion of the city. In all about 85 live were imperiled by the fires, and there were heroic deeds of rescue bv the firemen. M. W. Littlefield, Mrs. M. W. Little field, Curtis Jamieson and Frank Hampden were overcome by smoke and rescued by firemen. The two small children of Mrs. H . E. Bnmp, sleeping on the first floor, were also overcome by smoke and rescued by their mother at the peril of her life. The total loss will not amount to $50,000. Most of the fires were caused by overheated furnaces. Broom-Corn Truvt. Uhlcago, l-eo. ia. There was a meetiug of the members of the Union Buoui Company, known as the broom corn trust, in this oity, and it ia said an effort was made to advance the price of brush from $200 to $220 a ton, but the wiser heads thought it best not to do it. The dealers outside claim this will be done at the next meeting. From all sections come reports of increased acreages this year. Large shipment of Opium. San Francisco, Feb. 19. One of the largest shipments of opium received at this port fur some time waa brought from th Orient by the steamer Coptic. It consists of 38,821 pounds, and its alue, with duty paid, is about $400,- 000. The duty on the opium will amount to $142,926. In Asiatic Russia. San Francisco, Feb. 19. Advices from Japan, per steamer Coptic, report that the Japanese government has knowledge that Russia will place 60, 000 troops at Port Arthur within two year. Japan is apprehensive of the move, as Russia could fill Corea with soldiers in a very short time. As the matter now stands, Japan would have to dispatch transports to Chemnlpo with men, and this would be a big nn. dertaking. K.ooomotlve Exploded. ropeaa, nan., jteD. i. Two men were instantly killed and three fright fully injured by the explosion of a loc omotive boiler in the Santa Fe round house this afternoon. The dead are: John Heustis, a boilermaker; Nels Linden, fireman. The injured are: J. L. Beardsley, will probably die; Artie Sailor, bruised and badly shaken np, and Bert Shields, f.ice cut and one eye injured. The explosion was caused by compressed air, which was to be used as a motive power in the "midget" locomotive, a small switch engine. Beardsley was letting the air into the boiler when the explosion occurred. Boers From Natal Aro Reported to Be Moving to Assistance of the Free State Forces. London, Teb. 20. It i now amply confirmed that General Cronje escaped. Every detail received, however, prove tow admirable Lord Roberta' plan were conceived and were succeeding. But for the unexpected delay at Deklel idrift, which was almost inmpassable for wagons, the whole Boer force would have been surrounded . The delay of one day there gave them their chance for a hasty retreat. All the other movement of Lord Robert were exe cuted on time. Apparently. General Cronje 1 retreating with the main army, and even if he shall escape alto gether, he will probably lose all his baggage. There is still something doubtful of about the capture of the British convoy. According to a Daily Mail correspond ent with the convoy, which consisted of 200 wagons, each loaded with 6,000 pounds of ration and forage, and each drawn by 16 oxen, it was quite unex pectedly attacked by a commando supposed to come from Colesburg. The escort, consisting of 80 of the Gordon Highlanders, 40 men of the army serv ice corps, and a few of Kitchener' horse, maintained a defense until the arrival of reinforcement sustaining insignificant casualties. The Standard's correspodent . at Jacobsdal, telegraphing Febrnary 17, ays: "An attack was made yesterday upon the rear guard of our main body by a force of 1,400 Boers, who were hurried np from Colesburg. They succeeded in capturing some of our wagons, bnt Lord Roberts did not de lay his march to retake these. There were few casualties on our side." The last ot our supply columns ar rived from Honey Nest kloof today, having met with no opposition on the way; Special from Ladysmith report an apparent movement on the Boers to ward the Free State, presumably with the object of assisting General Cronje. Bonded Warehouses. City of Mexico, Feb. 20. The presi dent has issued a decree for the estab lishment of a system of bonded ware houses at port of entry. Manager ol warehouse may lend money on the goods deposited, as well as enjoy the usual privileges pertaining to this busi ness in foreign countiies, collect stor age charges, etc. Exemptions of cus toms duties on the materials for the construction of the warehouse is grant ed for five year. Several bank here are interested in this business, and New York parties are expected to take a portion of the capital required. The business was projeotd some years ago, but was defeated in congress, bnt it ia now certain to pass. Steel Plant for Mexico. Chicago, Feb. 20. A special to the Record from Monterey, Mex.. says: An American syndicate with a capital of $10,000,000 will immediately begin the construction of a great steel plant in this city. The plans for the mam moth concern have been completed and the ground purchased for locating the several building. An abundance ol high grade iron ore and coal is within easy shipping distance. The plant will make a specialty of manufacturing steel rails, and will be the first in dustry of the kind to be established in Mexico. It will give employment to about 4,000 men in the different de partments when they are in operation. Several American capitalists in Monte rey are heavy stockholders in the enterprise. The Teneiuelan Revolution. Havana, Feb. 20. General Ignacio Andrade, former president of Vene zuela, who is now in Havana, said today: I left Venezuela for the good of my country, as it was olaimed that I was the cause of the revolution. A the revolution continues, I can scarcely have been the sole cause. I confess that I do not know the precise cause of the war. By some it ha been at tributed to the division of the country into 20 states by congress. The revo lutionists pretend to consider it uncon stitutional, but they have themselves maintained that diivsion." Calaveras Big Tree Grove Sold. San Francisco, Feb. 17. Robert Whiteside, of Dulnth, Minn., has prac tically purchased the CalaveraB Big Tree grove, having paid the company owning it $1,000 for an option of 90 days. The price for the grove is $100, 000, and it consists of 8,800 acres. He has already purchased 5,000 acres oi timber land west of the Calaveras grove and has bonded two other large tracts east and south of the big tree park. A joint resolution is pending in congress authorizing the secretary of the interior to open negotiations for bonding of the Calaveras connty groves of sequoia gigantea for a government park. If cakes and cookies stick to the pans in which they are baked, rub the pan with salt before using them again. Elephants Ran Amuck. London, Feb. 20. An exoiting scene took place at the Crystal Palace, Syden ham, this afternoon. Two large ele phants belonging to the ciroua ran amuck, killed their keeper and gored another man. There wa a terrible panic in the audience attending the concert in the place. One animal waa captured after great damage to prop erty. The other escaped through the grounds, but was captured late thi evening in the suburb of Breckenham. Fire in Denver, Colo., destroyed a tour-story building. Los ia estimated at $150,000. Seven Stores Worth 60,000, Burned. Clarksdale, Miss.. Feb. SO. Fire which started in the rear of Bacol Ss Capps' general store destroyed seven briok stores in the business portion of the oity today; loss, $50,000. College Destroyed by Fire. - New . Orleans, Feb. 20. The St. Charles college, at Grand Cotean, to gether with a large and valuable libra- was destroyed by fire today; loss. $50,000.