Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon mist. (St. Helens, Columbia County, Or.) 188?-1913 | View Entire Issue (April 8, 1904)
HE OREGON MI VOL. XXI. ST. ILELEKS, OREGON, TJLLDXY, AT'IIIL 8, 1904. NO. 17. nn.T Brp .1L- a EVENTS OF THE DAY QA TIIEKKD PROM ALL PARTS OP TUB TWO HEMISPHERES. Cam pre hen Ive ttevlaw of the Import' ant Happenings ol I ha Put Week I'raaentad In CoruWniad form, Most JJaaly to Provn Interesting U Our Many Readers. The lioimo liu Iwtn asked to see tint Jews gut lielter treatment In Russia . . Tha roil Arthur channel it not so till closed as Admiral Togo reports The Prohibit lonists are. likely to nominate (ineeral Kelson A, Miles lor president. 1 ii iioiiho commutes iim neciund on lump appropriation ol 13,000,000 (or ilvei ana harbor. Tho opening of tha Cubau congress was attemlrd by wild iih of disorder. right were quilt) numerous. Russian will only harass Jspanrne force in ('ores, playing the waiting K inn decided upon by Kourotkia. Secretary Day will Intervene lor the release n two American finwapaper cor rpnpoiiih'iiti held by tha Kusxlaua at Mil Chwang, Siiuator Gibson, of Montana, declare the line and rry about a land lobby urging the reiwal of several lawi to be largely baaelca. Sal lfr lory negotiation arc proceed lug rapidly for a settlement of the strike In t'olorado and It la believed the trouble will xwu be over. OffScere have laiullt rifle for a clew in rch for Oregun ripreaa robber. Japau will fai' big odd on Ilia Yatu river a the Kuaatan force Is the larg eat. Kuaaiant tmliavt that the Chlneae ol Manchuria are secretly aiding tha Jap aneee, Wichita, Kan,, women aliow their disapproval uf Smoot by hanging blui in fdigy. Clri'iilatlon ol counterfeit Japaneae money in Coiea la causing great an noyanre, Japan expect a long war and urge all her rltlaeu to louia U lue ucieliee of the coon try. Rusela will let China make proteeta, il any are made, agalnat the Itiitlah advance In Thibet. The Santa Fs la building itnrkadoi around the Topeka shops prejiaratory Ifor the expected atrlk. Kouropalkin la willing that the Jap aneae hall win a few victor Ira In the hope ol luring them on to Harbin, Secretary llltchrork hai enured Ore gon entrymen that fillnga made In good faith will itand, even U tha Umbel and ton act ia repealed. Japan haa finally allowed war eorre pondenU to proceed to tba front. The liouee baa voted down the senate amendment to build military road In Alaaka. Ft. Mary, Ohio, reservoir, one of the largeat In the world, la in danger of breaking. Odessa gave a warm welcome to the Russian survivors of tha battle of Chemulpo. Rumilan captured a Janese teeni er, anlred maie, telegram, etc,, and then aunk her. Semi -official advice give the number of Russian troopf In tha Far Kaet at nearly 200,000. Russia ia too busy with Japan to U1 low or make any objection to British a.Hram-e In Thibet. t Another attempt has been made on tha life of Tope Pin, this time by two men dirgulited aa clergy. It la reported that Japan atfer bom barding Vladivostok, dropped a nombei of floating mine in that vhlnlty. The three bandita who held up the Oregon express and killed a messenger got no loot from tha wrecked express car. Ilalna make the flood situation In In diana more grave. French court decides tha Panama canal case against Colombia. The Hotkln murder trial has been re sumed with the ary alleged to have been bribed. William J. Bryan has been decided against In contest lor $60,000 in the Uonnott will contest. Semitor Clark, of Wyoming, says land ring boasts ol spending money to sveura rewal of present laws. F. A. Holnio and superintendents of his mines have paid fli ea of 120,000 for contempt ol court In Montana. Tho Oregon express was held up at Copley, Cut., and Express Messenger O'Neill killed. The treasure box was emled away. Ilell, of Caliornla, created a annua Hon In the house by declaring that vet erans in the soldiers' homes in his state are roblxid by the canteen system. I inns of the Jamestown exposition J rove an olislacle In the passage of tha) wl and Clark fair bill. Russia is found, technically, to hava fired the first shot of the war. John Mitchell will come to Colorado to conduct the miners strike. The Lewis and Clark exposition bill received a setback in tiia house. It U estimated that the damage from floods in Michigan will reach $5,000,-000. UFFOKT TO PROTBCT THB JAWS. Russian Autheeltle Do Not Desire Rep, tlttoa ol Caster Outrages. St. Petersburg, A pi 11 6, Report re ceive. by the ministry of the Interior Indicate that the precautionary meas ures taken to prevent antl-Jewlsh dis turbances during Ksster week, when the Ignorant are easily aioumd to a sort of religious Ireniy regarillng "blood aUMiomeiil," will result In the avoidance ol serious trouble. In s)lte of tho precautions, however, It Is considered possible there msy be attempts at rioting, but the authorities may he rolled upon to suppress these with a strong hand. The folio Inn private telegram was received today from Odessa : "Reports of anti-Jewish disturbances which are Common at I'nuter time cause more alarm than usual this year, lie- cause of the occurrences last year The Jows here are nervous but the authorities hate confidence In Gover nor Kldhardt, who is iu charge of the city, and who Is an energetic and hu mane man, as well as In Rsron Katil hart, cotiinisnder-lu-chief ol the troops In southern Russia. Under the clr cumetancca, therefore, anything like rlous disturbance Is regarded as im poMilile. The official paiiers have published Btrongly-wnided warnings, and the city Is plat-aided with noltc(s that all who disturb the peace will he severely pun Islied." CHANNEL ALMOST BLOCKKD. Japaaess Caa Haslly Finish the Bottling ol Pert Arthur. Iondon, April 6, Fuither reports ol akltmishing between the Ruwlans and Japanese in the Yalu river legion are reaching London, but no reliable details are given. The Daily Telegraph's Beoul corree- pomlent believes that the defenses of Port Arthur have been so weakened that the early rapture of the rt ia to be expected. There la little doubt, the correspondent says, that only a narrow laaaage la left and that at the first favorable opportunity the Japanese ill block the channel. The Russians have taken many 12-luch guns out Of their ships to arm the old and new de lenses of Port Ailhur. A correspondent of the Morning Post at Vlnkow says that the position there daily becoming stronger. A fort night ago the Japanese could have landed with couiarative saae, while now they would experience great aim- eulty. The correitondent says lie naa re ceived trustworhy information that the concentration of troops along the rail- way has been so rapid that it is now miKMsihle lor the Japanese to cairy the war Into Manchuria, with any hope ol sncceas and that the moat they can do la to Isolate Port Arthur and possibly ladivostok. FOR TREATY WITH RUSSIA. Aeabaesaaa Working lor Prot actios ol American Corporatloaa. Bt. Petersburg, April 6. AmUssador McCormlck is negotiating with the for- ign office for a treaty with Rumta which will give to Din Vnited PUtc corporations the right to sue in Russian courts and to Russian corporations the right to sue in courts of the United States. Under the Russian law, United States corporations can lie sued, but cannot sue in the courts of the empire. This has caused United States firms great annoyance as well aa losers In the past. In addition the ambassador hopea to secure in tne treaty a uroau liiuan which will authentically givo w niled Btates corporation all privileg es In whatever character, now enjoyed by the corporations of any foreign country. Although there are dimcumca in me way ol accomplishing the desired re sult, the Ambassador's advances hate been met In the friendliest spilit and the Indications are that his negotia tions will terminate successfully. The oulv countries now enjoying the tirlvllemvs wlilcn Amoaiweiior juct orni- Ick is striving to obtain for the United States are Uermany, Greece, Rulgnrla nd Italy. Ceal Found Near Port Arthur. , St. Petersburg, April fl. A corres- pnlldent Ot 1110 ASH-iaiei I reiw at i on Arthur telenraphs ttwisy as follows: The Chinese prophesying new attempts to bhx k the channel are at the present ... . 1 . .1 Y. A II . moment awed. All Is quiet in port nd the situation is unchanged through out tho. peninsula. .Deposit of coal Imllsr to that of i:aiuill. wales, nave hoen found in the vicinity ot fori Artliur. The discovery isaji oxtronicly timely one, in view of the necessity of obtaining an ample supply of fuel for the fleet. Railroad an lea at End. Irkutsk. April fl. The railroad act oss Lake Ralkal has ceased In conse quence of the breaking up of the Ice. Its aWBtance to uia government in transportation of supplies has been In calculable. As an indication of its service, it ia said that between March 2 and March. 2N there passed over it 1,(I2H freight cars, 67 troop cars, 25 pAssenger coaches carrying otllcers and 65 locomotives. The cost of the io road was 1250,000. Cannon Bought la Bnglaad. ' raria, April 8. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Figaro says that Russia has ordered 250 cannon in Eng land lor the Mnnchurian army. -U-U l.Jl-1 1 UUU W-U--U1 . . I i LJ I'.BBg-Jl I I,, Nil IBt HAPPENINGS HERE IN OREGON ItUAKI CONICTCHV. Pictures ol Discharged Men No Longsr to Be Olvta Out. Salem In accordance with instruc tions from (ioternor Chumlwrlaln, the teniteutlsry aiithoiitles have discon tinned the practice of furnishing peace officers with pictuies and descriptions of all discharged prisoners. This change In the rules of the institution was made a few weeks ago upon tbe be lief tint it would encourage ex-convicts to try to lead honest lives. 1 he custom ol sending out dettenp tions of diHchurgiKl prisoners was adopt ed in response to requests from chiefs of police in the cities. The police offi cers wanted the descriptions so that when a convht bad been discharged they could he on the lookout for him and could more easily locate him if he committed any offense. beveral lnci dents which came to the attention of the governor convinced him that more harm than good resulted from the send Ing out ol the descriptions, and be di rected that the practice be stopped. TO CONFIMB THB WALLA WALLA. Pre Space Under Railway With Levees Will Be Provides. Milton This scaxon will probably see the lait high water damage ioi some time Jint beyond the Junction of the Walla Walla liver and the O. K. & N., a mile north of Milton, where the river bed is almont on a level with the flats on either side. For several yearn the piers in the O. R. A N. trestle over the river have caught brush, floating logs and debris of all kinds, causing the current to cut into the gravelly low banks on either side and scurry over the land. The pierx are only Id feet apart. The railroad has material on the ground to build a new span which will be supported by stone piers ou either end, 10H feet apart. This will leave an uninterrupted epace lor the river, snd the county commissioners of Walla Wfv'U and I'nialilla counties will di vide the expenne of levees to confine the rushing waters of the fast flowing Walla Walla pant the danger point. OOOD PRICES FOR SHEARERS. Work Will Be Expedited Owing to the Uooa Condtloas. Pendleton Seven and eieht cents. the former figure including board, are sheep shearing prices throughout Kast- ern Oregon this season. Sheep shearers will not starve at this figure, as a good ahearer will handle 100 head a day, while fast men will take fleeces off more. Shearing will be faster than usual this season on account of the good condition both aheep and wool are in. Few outside professionals have come n vet. whut a number of local shear ers are at work around Echo and farth er west. A crew of about a dozen have loft for towns along tha Northern Fa cilic in Franklin and Lincoln counties, Washington. The majority of outside hearers will come in in about 10 days on their migration northward and east ward. After finishing in Umatilla and kindred F.astern Oreiron counties they push on to Idaho, Wyoming and Mon tana. Coning Cventa. Republican convention, First congres ional district, Salem, April 13. Keiuihlican convention. Second congressional district, Portland, April 13. Republican state convention, Fort- land, April 14. Oieiron Cattlemen association, fori- land, April 16. Democratic state convention, rort land, April 11). Convention state federation of labor, Oregon City, May 2-fl. State grange, Corvalllis, begins My 24. General election, June fl. Annual reunion, derartment of Ore gon, O. A. K., Hood River, June 15-17. Form New Creamery Company. La Urande Articles of incorpora tion have. boon tiled by the Cirnnd Ronde Creamery company as successors to the Cove Creamery company. The new company intends to operate cream eries at Ij Urande and Union und en gage in tho nianufactuie and sale of butler, ice cream, cheese, etc. It will have skimming stations .at Cove and Medical Springe. The creamery at La Grande will be in a new brick building on Kim street, which is 40x60 feet, with a cellar. O. F. Harper is presi dent of the company. . Land Office Receipts. Salem The receipts of the state land office for the month of if arch aggregate (M7,476.65, which reprenonts an un usually largo month's business. The heavy receipts were due to an order from the board, made some time ago, requiring holders of land sale certificates upon which small balances are duo to pay the Jjal ancea and take deeds. Over "200 deeds were Issued during the month for that reason. C. D. Wade Cattle Dipped Again. Pendleton The C. B. Wada herd of thoroughbreds, sold at the recent sale of the defunct caHhier'f Union county stock, have again been dipped and can now be shipped out of the state. The entire herd was dipped the first time, while only those whose purchasers In tend shipping out of Oregon underwent the laBt operation. Tho herd was Bilghtly Infected with mange. NEW ORUOON CORPORATIONS. Articles Filed With "the Secretary of Stat at Salara. Salem Articles of Incorporaticn were filed In the office of the secretary of state last week as follows: Smith-Premier typewriter company, Syrause, N. Y., 1 100,000. Woodoy Island fishing company, Port land, 0,000. Orpheum" amusement company, Port land, $25,000. Hutte Falls sugar pine lumber com pany, Medford, 170,000. - Northwestern logging company, Cot tage Grove, $ 10,001). Lost Valley land and lumber com pany, Lost Valley, f S00. , (.'ttMtle Rock land association, The Dalles, $20,000. Medford athletic club, Medford, $1, 600. Kxpiens telephone and telegraph company, Durkee, Raker coonty, $1, 500. Oregon lumber, wood and tight com pany, Falls City, $10,000. Ilridal Veil box fattory, Bridal Veil, $25,000. White Rock irrigation and power company, Tetherow 'Bridge, Crook county, $25,000. Grande Ronde creamery company, Union, $10,000. Clatxkanie lumber company, Clats kanie, $20,000. fear man water. Heavy Snow Followed by Rain as4 Chi nook Endanger Pendleton. Pendleton High water again threat ena Pendleton. During the past two weeks the weather has been extremely cold and much snow fell in the moun tains. Kven the lower foothills were covered1. I kinli had 17 inches of new snow and the full was heavy at Meacb- am and other Blue mountain points. A change for the warmer with heavy rain and a chinook have set in. The snow ia fast melting and tributaries of the Umatilla nar the base of the mountains are overflowing. There is fear if the river gets too high that the town will be flooded on account of a man moving away riprap work from the upper end of the levee. The city conncil at its last meeting ordered the riprap replaced, but it has not been done, leaving a broken point in the levee. Rkh Find of Iron Ore. Oregon City Resident in West Oregon City thia week discovered a rich deiHMit of iron ore in the vicinity of Willamette Falls. The ore assays 54 per cent metallic iron, and the de posit is believed to he quite extensive, since the same quality ore has been found in a number of tbe ravines and side hills surrounding Willamette falls. The land on which the discovery haa been made belongs to tbe Oregon Iron A Steel company, and members of the corporation are now investigatiang the extent and value of the And. Saver Warehouse Burned. Independence The McClain ware house at Suver, a few miles south of here, haa been destroyed by fire. The building and all of the contents were burned. About 12,000 bushels of wheat and 1,500 bushels of oats were lost. With the exception of about 500 bushels of oats, owned by Mr. McClain, it is thought the loss will be small on the grain, as it was insured. The loss to dinners will be slight, as 60 bushels, will comprise tbe loss. PORTLAND MARKETS. Wheat Walla Walla, 75c; blue- stem, 81a82c; valley, 81c. Barley Feed, $23 per ton; rolled, $24C25. Flour Valley, $3.SH)4.05 per bar rel; hard wheat straights, $44.30; clears, $3.85(M.10; hard wheat pat entK. $4.40(34.70; graham, $3.50(3 3.00; whole wheat, $3.65(84.05; rye flour, $4.60(4.75. Oats No. I white, $1.151.17, ; gray, $1.10(31.13 per cental. Millstufls Bran, ilut-'0 per ton; middlings. $26.50(27; shorts, $20 21; chop, $1S; linseed, dairy food, $l. Hay Timothv, $15(910 per ton; clover, $10 11; grain, $11(912; cheat, $11 12. Kggs Oregon ranch, 173l8c. Butter Sweet cream butter, 30c per pound; fancy creamery, 25c ; choice creamery, 22S24c; dairy and store, nominal. Butter Fat Sweet cream, 28s'c; sour cream, 2Cc. Poultry Chickens, mixed, 13(S13c per pound; springs, small, 17(3 18c; hens, 13.S,(S14c; turkeys, live, 16(3 17c; dressed, 1820c; ducks, $89 per dozen; goose, live, 8o per pound. Vegetables Turnips, 80c per sack; carrotB, 80c; beets, $1; parsnips, $1; cabbage, 1 V2e; lettuce, head, 25(8 40c per dozen; paraley, 25c; tomatoea, $2.25(32.60 per crate; cauliflower, 75c $I per doten; celery, 60 80c: squash, 2c per pound; cucumbers, $1.75(32.25 per doxen; asparagus, 8S lie; peas, 0c per pound; rhubarb, 7Dc; beans, 10c; onions. Yellow Dan vers, $2(32.50 per sack. Potatoes Fancy, $1(31.15 per cen tal, common, 60(380c; new potatoes, 3,S)C per pound; sweets, 5c. Fruit Apples, fancy Baldwins and Spitxenbergs, $1.5092.60 per box; choice, $1(31.50; cooking, 75ciS$l. Beef Dressed, 6(37o per pound. Veal Dressed. 77Xc Tork Dressed, 7X38o. Hops 1003 crop, 23(325c per pound. Wool Valley, I718c; Eastern Oregon, 12(316c; mohair, 30(331c per pound for choice. NOW WAIT ON IDAHO. Engineers Are Ready to Report M Qreat Irrigation Project. Washington, April 5. The Boi Payette irrigation project in Idaho Las reached the stage where, having re ceived tbe endorsement of tbe engineers of the reclamation service, it It ready to be reported to the secretary of the interior for his approval, as toon as tbe stste land board has designated wLa disposition it will make of the 60,000 acres of land belonging to the state and lying under this project. It is doubtful if tbe secretary of the interior will pass on this project until a clear and explicit statement has been received from the state authorities as to the policy which will be followed by them in disposing of these lands. Un der tli provisions of the reclamation law of June 17, 1902, tbe right to use water of lands in private ownership cannot be sold for a tract exceeding 160 acres to any one landowner, and such landowner must be an actual bona fide resident on such land, or occupant thereof residing in the neighborhood It is within the discretion of tbe secre tary to set the limit of area for each homestead, which limit shall represent the acreage which, in his opinion, may reasonably be required for the support of a family. Under tbe terms of this law the farm area under the Boise-Pay- ette project will probably be set at 40 to 80 acres, according to the locality and character of the soil. OOVERNMENT AID ONLY HOPR Tart Says PhUlpplnes Cannot Oct Nec essary Railroads W It bout It. Washington, April 5. Secretary of War Taft was before the senate com mittee on the Philippines today to go over the Lodge and Cooper billa for tbe amendment of tbe act providing for the civil government in the Philippines. Great interest was manifested in tbe section providing for aid in railroad building by authorizing the Philippine government to guarantee an income of not exceeding 5 per cent on capital in vested in the construction and equip ment of such roads. Referring to the sections of the bill providing for the government building of railroads in the event willing capital was not found to undertake tbe projects, Secretary Taft said that he did not favor government ownership of the system, but he had offered it as an alternative, after hav ing investigated thoroughly the experi ence of the British government in In dia and the Dutch government in ita colonies. Senator Burrows inquired if it were not possible to interest capital in rail road building in tha Philippines with out government aid. Secretary Taft said he believed a few links of a sys tem might be constructed, but not tbe general railroad building needed for the progress of the islands. TAKINO ADVANTAQB OP WAR. Dlptomata Confident Britain la Moving Because Ratals la Baey. Paris, April 5. The British advance on Thibet is attracting widespread at tention, the general view being that it is dne mainly to Russia's preoccupa tion in the Far East. Government officials are inclined to share this opin ion. An ambassador said today : "It is manifest that Russia's hands being tied gives Great Britain an op portunity to advance in Thibet. As part of the same diplomacy. Great Britain is re-establishing friendly rela tions with France, thus neutralising any French opposition to the Thibetan program." In this connection the ambassador related a conversation with Foreign Minister Delcasra regarding the Faah- oda incident. It was pointed out dur ing tli ib conversation that if the inci dent had occurred while Great Brit ain's hands had been tied by tbe Boer war, the future of Central Africa would have been entirely different. It was the conclusion of those taking part in the conversation that the time to settle minor scores was due to the preoccupa tion of your adversary elsewhere, and it is the diplomatic view that Great Britain is now adopting that principal and advancing in Thibet while Russia is elsewhere engaged. 100,000 Men Have Crossed tbe Lake. Berlin. April 6. One hundred thous and men and 6,000 horses, besides con siderable artillery, have crossed Lake Baikal since the outbreak of the war, according to the Tageblatt's military expert. Writing from Lake Baikal un der date of March 19, he says that he found that the authorities had done everything imaginable for the comfort of the soliders on the railway and the lake, and that the railway equipment was admirable. All the bridges are steel, with Blone abutments and are carefully guarded. Damage Will Be $2,000,000. Cincinnati, April 5. Floods in Northwestern and Central Ohio today broke all previous records, but dis patches indicate that the wateis are re ceding, especially along the Miami val ley. The damage from Findlay south through Troy and other points as far aa Hamilton is estimated at $2,000, 000. Four lives have been lost. Twenty towns are without natural gas. Several cities are without power or waterworks. Working Hard to Oat Fleet Ready. Paris, April 5. According to a 8t. Petersburg correspondent of the Echo de Paris, work is carried on night and day at Cronatadt in order to prepare a fleet to leave there at the end of July or the beginning of August for a war port in the Far Fast, which is expected to be free from ice in three weeka. VICTORY IN SIGHT MAJORITY OP HOUSE FAVORS 1905 BILL ON TEST VOTE. Neceeaary Iwo-Thlrda to Suspend Rules Lacking Tawney Not Discouraged and Will Try to Secure Special Rule and If Unsuccessful, Appropriation Caa Be Placed on Sundry CIvH Bill. Washington, April 5. The Iewis and Clark exposition bill scored a great victory in the house ytsterday, al though the necessary two-thirds vote to past the measure was not secured On two separate votes, it was shown that there was a very large majority in the house in favor of an appiopriation. It now remains to be seen-whether a majority of the house, desiring to aid a laudable undertaking, can be defeated through inabilityto bring the bill be fore the house. The first vote was on tbe bill direct, and tbe second on a proposition to make it a privileged measure, so as to make it possible to call it up at any time. Three members, or the majori ty, of the committee on rules opposed the suspension of the rules on both votes. Some might take this to mean that it will be impossible to secure a rule bringing tbe bill to a vote, but as Speaker Cannon ia undoubtedly in favor of the appropriation, and General Gros venor, of Ohio, a member of tbe com mittee on rules, is with him, the prob abilities are that the committee will decide that the majority of tbe bouse is entitled to pass this legislation, and therefore a special rule will be granted. I he Oregon delegation is much pleased with the character of the men who voted with them. The majority was composed of the leading represent atives on both aides of the party aisle, prominent Republicans and Democrats both giving voice to the idea that the exposition ought to be encouraged, at least to tbe extent of government par ticipation. There ia another feature of this prop osition which is encouraging to Oregon people. JI there is any gieat delay in tbe matter of securing a special rule to consider the bill, the appropriation will be put on the sundry civil bill by tbe senate, and it is certain that the house will support it, the votes record ed today being inch a guarantee. The sundry civil bill is still in the hands of the senate committee on appropria tions, but before it is reported from that committee, the Oregon men can definitely ascertain whether there is to be a special rule for the consideration of the bill in the house. If tbe three members of the committee on rules who voted against the appropriation adhere to their position, then the bill will be carried as part of the sundry civil bill. TROOPS POURINO INTO HARBIN. Nearly Every House In Town Is Occupied by Soldiers. St. Petersburg, April 6. An Associ ated Press correspondent en route to the front writing from Harbin, March 13, describes the scene there aa he ob served it. From all sides soldiers were pouring into Harbin. The uncom pleted railroad station there had been transformed into a barracks, and al most every house in the town wag oc cupied by soldiers. Pristan, a short distance away, which until recently had been a small village on tbe bank of the Snngari river, had become a city with temporary buildings which were being used by the troops and with stores, a hotel and restaurant. Merchants and lestauranteurs, tbe cor respondent adds, were accused of extor tion, bnt money was cheap. WILL SINK STONE LADEN SHIPS. Russians Hope to Thus Keep Japanese Out of Nlu Chwang. Niu Chwang, April 6. In connec tion with the Russian plans for the for tification of Niu Chwang, the Russian port commander has prepared 12 junks laden to water edge with stones, which will be settled on the first appearance of the enemy in such a position that it will be impossible for any vessels eith er to enter or leave tbe harbor. The river between here and Yinkow is ex tremely mined. Railway Traffic Not Congested. St. Petersburg, April 6. A high Russian official, vi ho has just returned from a trip ovei the Trans-Siberian railway, coutradicts the report that there is great congestion of traffic. He declares that ten trains daily traverse hte road in either direction as far as Irkutsk, and nine freight trains, in ad dition to many passenger trains, daily run from beyond Lake Bailkal to Har bin. He says that there is no concern for the safety of the line. Every foot of It is strongly guarded. This is es pecially so at all bridges. Japanese Surprise Them. London, April 6. Eight weeks from the opening of the war sees Japan, without any real fighting, apparently in possession of Corea, and the first stage of the campaign meet ended. The correspondent of the Standard at Tokio reports that the Japanese corre spondents at the front who followed the army through the Chino-Japanese war, express great surprise at the im provement of the Japaneae troops in the past decade. Again Shell Port Arthur. Chefoo, April 6. Russian officers here admit that there was another bom bardment of Port Arthur by tbe Jap anese on Sunday, April 3. No au thentic particulars of the engagement are obtainable. BRIBES STOP TRIAL. Botkla Jurors Approached to Clear tha Alleged Prisoner. San Francisco, April 2. Tbe second trial of Mrs. Cordelia Botkin on tba charge of having caused the death of Mrs. J. P. Dunning by means of pois oned candy virtualy ended in a sensa tional manner late this afternoon. Acting upon information that fonr jurors had been bribed to favor tha prisoner, Judge Cook ordered the Jury into tbe custody of the sheriff until to morrow morning, when he will for mally dismiss tbe jury and begin the impaneling of a new one. It ia al leged that besides four jurors who are said to have been influenced, an at tempt was made to br be the fifth on. When the denouement came in court today, Mrs. Botkin's attorney made a passionate speech, disclaiming that Mrs. Botkin or any one connected with her case was implicated. He also said that be would not continue with tha present jury. The state's attorney concurred in a motion to discharge tba jury. A brief investigation was held by Judge Cook after the jury left tha room. Chief of Police Wittman testified that one of the jurors bad followed him to bis office aftei the noon adjournment yesterday and said that on the previ ous evening a strange man had called upon him and said: "We have secured four jurors for tha defense and want a fifth; we will give yon $50." The juror told the chief that he turned down the offer, assert ing: "I am no such dirty man. I wonld not take $50 or $50,000." Continuing, the chief of police said that when the juror left the court room yesterday afternoon he was shadowed by a detective, who saw him secietly meet a woman with whom he talked for several minutes. Judge Cook declared that the man had violated his duty in talking with anybody about the case. TERTS AMERICA MUTUAL FOB. Leading Russian Paper Now Urges an Alliance With Britain. St. Petersburg, April 2. The Novo Vreroya today executed a faceabont, strongly supporting the idea of a Rnsso Britieh understanding in an editorial entitled "The Blindness of England," in wuich tbe paper argues that the suc cess of the Japanese would be more in jurious to Great Britain than any other European nation, and points to tha United States as the common rival of both. It describes Japan aa "Ameri ca's sharpshooter," and says: "Remember that nation, in tbe per son of the commander of one of ita men-of-war at Chemulpo, refused to join in the collective protest of tbe oth er foreign commanders before tha Jap anese destroyed tbe Variag and Korieti. "Remember whose flag alone among all did not take on board the crews of our perishing ships. To the honor of England, the ally of Japan, it was not her representative, but the commander of an American ship. "The Americans wish to convert the Pacific into an American Mediterr anean. Wo aid that ba to the advan tage of England? Doea England not understand in her blind policy and hatred toward Russia that she is turn ing this ocean into an Amreican Medi terranean? Sooner or later the Euro pean countries will recognize that America is their mutual enemy. Why should not Russia and England, in view of their possessions outside of Enrope, combine?" Mine la River. Niu Chwang, April 2. The Russians have improvised mines and anchored cables across the Liao river. This ia expected to prevent tbe Japanese from coming np the river past Yinkow. The Russian officials here aie disappointed at the news received of the engagement between the Japanese and Russians in the vicinity of the Yalu river. Trust worthy details, however, are still unat tainable. Mine Exploded by a Whale. Valdivoetok, April 2. One of tha mines in Possiet bay has been exploded by a whale. Tbe mangled carcass sub sequently was washed ashore. It bore evidence of the destructive qualities of the mines laid by the Russians in ex pectation of a Japanese landing at Possiet bay. Alabama flakes a Record. Pensacola, Fla., April 2. With tbe arrival here today of the gunboat New port and Castine from Colon, the larg est fleet of United States warships ever assembled in target practice, includes seven battleships, five cruisers, seven gunboats, five monitors, two torpedo boat destroyers, besides a number of tenders, colliers and supply boats. The fleet includes more than 25 vessels of various classes. The battleship Ala bama has established a new world's record for rapidity and accuratenesa in firing all classes of guns. Will Make Channel for Warships. Cronstadt, April 2. Tbe ice-breaker Ermack is bound here from Revel to cut a channel for tbe warships which are awaiting their armor at the St. Petersbuig yards. Lights will ba burned to help the Ermack steer straight course through the ice at night. A correspondent of the Rnsaky Viedmosti writes from Port Dalny that the Russian cruiser Boyarin sank two hours after striking the mine there. Six of the crew were lost. Request American to Return. Seoul, April 2. The military au thorities have requested Brigadier Gen eral Henry T. Allen. United State military observer with the Japauieaa army, to return to Seoul from Ping Yang until they are able to provide fitting accommodations.