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About Oregon City courier. (Oregon City, Or.) 1896-1898 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 1897)
NEWS OF THE WEEK From all Parts of the New and Old World. BRIEF AND INTERESTING ITEMS v Comprehensive Review of the Import ant Happenings of the Cur rent Week. The Italian cabinet has resigned. General Pellieux's action is regarded as a political move, to make possible for the Marquis di Rudini to secure a unanimous ministry. The ministers of finance, justice and public -works, in the retiring cabinet, will not appear in its successor. E. L. Hewes, the Wichita mountain boomer, who has been at Wichita for three weeks trying to organize a party, has left for Olkahoma City without a single follower. At different times he claimed to have from 500 to 1,000 boomers ready to follow his lead into the country. Toru Hoshi, envoy extradordinary and minister plenipotentiary from Japan to the United States, was a pasesenger from the Orient on the City of Peking, which 1 as just arrived in Ban Fran cisco, lie will leave for Washington at once carrying with him instructions in reference to the Hawaiian treaty of annexation which will be considered by the United States senate. When the German reinforcements, consisting of four companies of ma rines, numbering 23 officers and 1,200 men, and a company of naval artillery, arrive at Kiao Chan bay, for which point, as already cabled, they will si on set out, they will bring the German force there up to 4,50ti men, the lar gest body Germany has ever sent be yond Eropeau waters. It is understood that the reserves had to be drawn upon. Surgeon-General Wyman, of the marine hospital service, has submitted his, annual report to Secretary Gage, It shows that during the fiscal year ended June !10, 1897, the total number of patients treated at hospitals and the dispensaiies connected with the service was 54,477. Although the total num ber of patients-treated was 873 in ex cess of those treated during the pre vious fiscal year, tho expenditures were $i!18,5:JU, which is $21,000 less than the previous year. The annual report of Janus II. Eukles, controller of the currency, for the year ended October 31, 1807, opens with a brief resume of the history of the loyis lation which constitutes tho present National-bunk act, and invites tho at tention of congress to amendments to the law recommended in former reportB, without specifically repealing them. The controller renews his recommend ation of last year, urging that national bank examiners be paid an annual sal ary instead ot fees, us now. Further information from Washing ton respecting the proposed canal and locks for the channel at the dalles is to the effect that it is proposed to push the work with a deal of rapidity. The contract system and modern methods of excavation and building have made it clear that years need not be spent upon a work of this character. If the con tract for improving the Columbia by a small channel at the dalles is adopted it will no doubt be stipulated that the work must be done with rapidity. A terrible railroad accident has oc curred in Warsaw. While a passenger train was stationary at the terminus, a heavy freight train ran into it, owing to the error of a pointsman. Klcven persons were killed and 22 others were seriously injured. Tho receipts of the customs so far this fiscal year undoubtedly will fall j considerably short of estimates made by the managers of the new tariff bill luring its pendency in congress. At that time it was estimated that the customs would yield about $180,000, 000 during the lirst year. The indica tions are now said to be that the re ceipts from this source will not aggre gate more than $103,000,000. A plate of armor, representing a lot of 600 tons for the turrets of the battle ships Keursarge and Kentucky, was tested at the Indian Head proving grounds Tuesday. For testing pur poses, two eight-inch shells, one a Car penter projectilo and the other a Wheeler sterling, were fired at the plate, one at a high and the other at a low velocity. Neither penetrated nor cracked the plate, but both partially welded themselves into it. Word conies of a wreck on the Santa Fee near Williams, Ariz., in which three men lost their lives and lunch valuable property was destroyed. After the first section of freight train No. 33 had pulled out of Williams the air that controls the brakes gave out and the train dashed down the steep grade with rapidly increasing velocity. The hand brakes were unavailing to check the speed, and when a point ulsiut 10 miles west was leached the train left the track. Two engines were coupled to the tram, which was a very heavy one. Engineers Newton and Watsons ami Fiieman Horry were pin ned under their respective engines and lost their lives, it is said, by being burned to death. Emperor William opened the session of the German reiohstag in pet sou for the first time since 1804. Tho cere mony took place in White hall, in the royal castle. His majesty reud the speech from the throne. The steamer San lHus lias arrived in San Fiunoisco from Panama and way ports. SI io brings the new that the Salvador coffee crop for this ecasou will be oue-third larger than ever tie fore, ami will do much toward making up the loss occasioned by the revolution. AGAIN IN SESSION. First Regular Meeting of the Fifty-Fifth Congress. At noon Monday the first regular ses sion of the 55th congress was launched upon the unknown seas of legislation. Simultaneously at both ends of the Cap itol, Speaker Reed in the house and Vice-President Hobart in the senate, dropped their gavels and called to or der the bodies over which they preside. The sun shone brightly from a cloudless sky, making a glorious bright Decem ber clay, with a tine of frost in the air, and a breeze just strong enough to keep the stars and stripes snapping from the flagstaff's. At tho eapitol orowds swarmed into the corridors at an early hour and choked the marine steps as they ascend ed to the galleries from which they were to view the show. As is usual on such occasions, the reserved galleries were carefully guarded, admission be ing only by card, and the public had great difficulty wedging itself into the limited space set aside for it. In the Upper House. The senate chamber at the opening session was a veritable conservatory. The floral display was beautiful. Pre cisely at 12 o'clock the gavel of Vice President Hobart fell, and the senate was oalled to order. An invocation was delivered by Rev. Milburn, the blind chaplain. Seventy-seven senators responded on roll-call. The venerable Mr. Morrill, of Ver mont, was first recognized by the vice president. He offered a resolution, which was passed, in tho usual form, that the secretary inform the house that the sonato was in session and ready to proceed to business. Allison of Iowa presented a resolu tion that a committee of two senators be appointed to join a like committee from the house to inform the president that congress was in session, and pre pared to receive any communication he might desire to make. The resolution was passed, and the vice-president named Allison and Gorman as a senate committee. By resolution of Cullom of Illinois, the time of the daily meetings of the isenate was fixed at noon. On motion of Hale of Maine, a recess was then taken until 1 o'clock. At 1:30 the senate reassembled -and the committoo, headed by Gorman, re ported. The president's message was presented by Mr. Pruden at 1:30 o'clock, and was laid before the senate and read. In the Lower House. The house of representatives present ed nn animated appearance long before noon. The surrounding corridors were filled with jostling, moving crowds be foro 11 o'clock. The galleries which overlook tho floor were black with peo ple. Floral tributes for members were numerous, and in some instances im posing. As tho hands of the clock pointed to 12 Speaker Reed, attired in a black cutaway coat, and wearing a red tie, ascended tho rostrum, Tho crack of the gavel subdued the din on the floor ami conversation in the galleries. In the deep silence which followed the calling of the assemblage to order, prayer was offered by the eminent divine, Rev. Chillies A. Boney, of England, who delivered an invocation solemn and impressive. The speaaer then directed the olerk to call tho roll. The roll call showed the presence of 301 members. There were 05 vacancies from death or resig nation during tho recess, and the cre dentials of the members-elect were read by direction of the speaker, who then administered tho oath of office to them. On motion of Dingley a resolution wa adopted for the appointment of a com mittee of three to join the senate com mittee to wait upon the president and inform him that congress was ready to receive any communication he desired to make. The speaker named Dingley, Grosveuor and Bailey for this honor. On motion of Henderson of Iowa daily sessions to begin at noon each day were ordered. The house then took a short recess, , When tho house reassembled tho committee appointed to wait upon the president reported, having perfected its mission. Mr, Pruden, who had fol lowed the committee into the hall, im mediately presented tho niessage.which, by direction of the speaker, was read at the clerk's desk. Appropriations Recommended, Secretary Gage Monday transmitted to congress estimates of tho appropria tions required for the lineal year ending June 311, 1S99, as furnished by several executive departments. The total amount called for in the estimates is $102,647,885, which is about $32,000,. 000 in excess of the appropriations for 1898, including deficiencies and miscel laneous expenses, and about $41,000, 000 more than was estimated for 1898. Under the head of public works the treasnry department, among other items, asks for 100,000 for the erection of a courthouse, penitentiary, etc., at Sitka, Alaska, and (50,000 for continuation of the work on the public building at Portland, Or. Ilnyll Ready to Pay. A dispatch to the Frankfurter Zoi tung of Bei I'm from Washington says Hayti is ready to pay Germany the in demnity demanded for the alleged ille gal arrest and imprisonment of 1 loir Emil Lueders, a German subject. Fatal Hutct Fire. Fire broke out in tho Lako house in Milwaukee, Wis. Sixty people were asleep in the hostlery at the time. Charles Patterson, a dock laborer, lost his life, being overcome by smoke, and five others were injured. The pe cuniary loss is HID it 1 1. Antl-tlebrew Itlot Ujuelled. An anti-Hebrew' riot which started in Builapesth ha finally been quelled by the police who made 100 arrests BRINK OF A CIVIL WAR Austria and Hungary Appar ently Drifting Apart. CZECHS PROPOSE TRIPLE EMPIRE Factions Drawing Vp for a Great Strug gle Can the Emporer firing Order Out of Chaos? London, Dec. 7. International ques tions have been temporarily over shadowed by the gravity of the situa tion in Austria, where things are as gloomy as imaginable. In addition to the imminence of a civil war, the next few hours may possibly witness a revo lution in the relations between Austria and Hungary, which might mean the reconstruction of the map of Europe. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that the factions are drawing up like con tending armies. The Germans have appealed to their compatriots on both sides of the frontier, and have appar ently prepared to run all risks to keep the hated Czechs in subjection. The Czechs make no secret of the fact that their final aim is to abolish the dual empire, and to make it a triple empire by placing Bohemia on an equal footing with Austria and Hungary. To grant these demands would set Hungary on tire and destroy tiie foundation of the present imperial system. It looks as though the employment of force is the only solution of the question, but against whioh faction will it be used? The question of the provisional aus glich bill (or agreement to prolong for a year, instead of 10 years, the compact between Austria and Hungary, pending arrangements for a longer compact), is, if possible, more grave than the threat ened civil war. The Hungarian diet has given Baron von Gautsche von Frankenthurn, the Austrian premier, till Monday next in whioh to state whether he can reasonably expect the ausglich bill to pass, and, failing a de cisive answer, Baron Banffy, the Hun garian premier, will introduce Monday a bill whereby Hungary will act inde pendently as regards the duties to be levied, oontinuance of commercial rela tions with Austria and the charter of the AuBtro-IIungarian hank. This compact between the two portions of the dual state may be maintained tem porarily. Hungary will establish her claim to the right of independently disposing of these questions. It is easy to ep that victory will only whet the Hungarian appetite, and that it will be a short step to the dissolution of Austria, which, in turn, wiJI hurl Europe into a furnace of terrible possi bilities. Apparently the only hope of escape is that the personal ascendancy of the old emperor will once again enable him to solve an apparently impossible situ ation. Failing in this, the reichsrath will be dissolved and a reign of abso lutism will begin in Austria, and, tech nically. Hungary will have resumed her independence, the first step toward a federation, as distinguished from a dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Rioting in Bohemia. Prague, Dec. 7. At Taber last night Czechs attacked the houses of Hebrews and broke the windows of a synagogue. Several rioters were arrested. The local force of gendarmes were called upon to assist in restoring order. A mob of over 1,000 persona at Brannan last evening attacked the houses of Czechs, and in spite of the efforts of the gendarmes smashed the windows and did other damage, tjuiet was not restored until midnight. In Prague the military patrol was fired upon, but none of the patrol was wounded. THE GREAT TYPHOON. Further Particulars of the Disaster in the Philippines. Soattle, Dec. 7. The steamer Kago shima Maru arrived here today, 16 days from Yokohama, bringing Orien tal advices up to November 19. The following additional particulars have been received of tho terrible typhoon which swept over the Philippine islands October 6, devastating the prov incect Leyte, Manilla, and causing the death of several hundred persons. About 250 Europeans aro reported to have perished, and the number of nai tive victims is put at from 400 to 500. The typhoon seems to have done its worst damage at Taelohan, the capital : ot tieyte, wnere the whole town was I converted into a mass of ruins. The ! bodies of 120 Europeans were reeov- ered. The government, house, treas- ury, barracks, etc., were destroyed. Tho coast is strewn with the wreckage j of vessels torn to pieces by the hurii cane. It was reported that the town ot ilemoni, 6,000 inhabitants, had disap peared. Assaulted With a Hall Hat. Junction City, Kan., Dec. 7. Cor poral Fennoll, battery B, Fourth artil lery, at Fort Riley, died last night. Fennell was one of the two victims whom Private Leach, of the same bat tery, some days ago, endeavored to kill with a ball bat, attacking them while they slept. FennelPs skull was boken. Private Uiley had his jaw fractured, but will recover. Tho tragedy is the outcome of a drunken quarrel. Dark Palouse Crime. Falouse, Wash., Dec. 7. -An un known man was found dead yesterday on tho track of the Northern Pacific, one mile south. The body was mangled beyond recognition. The man was 5 feet 8 inches, dreaesed in a blue checked suit, sack coat and brown overcoat. The coroner's jury returned a verdict that the man came to his death by hav ing his throat out, but whether by hit own hntid or the hand ( another they could not say. A bloody knife. DR. WYMAN'S REPORT. Danger of the Importation of Asiatic Cholera. VVashincton. Dec. 7. Surgeon-Gen eral Wyman, of the marine hospital ! service, has submitted his annual re port to Secretary Gage. It shows that during the fiscal year ended June 80, 1897, the total number of patients treated at hospitals and the dispensaries connectetd with the service was 64,477. Although the total number of patients treated was 673 in excess of those treat ed during the previous fisoal year, the expenditures were $538,530, which is $21,000 less than the previous year. The number of immigrants inspected by officers of the service at the various ports aggregated 232,327. The Burgeon general says: "The necessity of legislation to secure proper shelter for deck crews on West ern waters, to which my attention was called in the last report, was met by the act of congress requiring every steam boat upon the Mississippi river and its tributaries to furnish a place for the crew with protection from the weather. This subject is one that has long en gaged the attention of the marine hos pital surgeons, who have made frequent reports thereon, and this action of con gress will bb productive of much relief, although the act does not take effect until June 30, 1898. To meet the growing demands for the service, new regulations have been prepared, and will shortly be issued." The surgeon-general invites attention to the excellent work by officers of the corps during the recent visitation of yel low fever in the South. Officers were assigned to infected districts, and, al though a number of them were not im mune to yellow fever, nevertheless they responded with alacrity and performed their duties with judgment and effi ciency. Three officers contracted yellow fever and one lost his life by accident in the line of duty. TROLLEY CARS COLLIDED. Three Persons Killed and a Score ln juved Near Detroit. Detroit, Dec. 7. Two suburban cars, carrying some 20 passengers, and both running at a speed of 25 miles an hour, collided on the Detroit & Oakland elec trio railroad, at 1 o'clock this afternoon. Three men were instantly killed and a score of persons injured, several of them seriously. The dead are: John Savage, superintendent of the road; Charles M. Whitehead, motor- man; John Kelly, of Detroit, book agent. A dozen others were more or less seriously injured. The exact cause of the accident is not yet known. According to the schedule, a car leaves Detroit and Pontiao every hour, and there are three sidings along the road. Today the cars wore behind time. Tho one bound southward for Detroit had passed an outbound car at a switch two miles from Pontiao, the orew apparently being ignorant of the fact that another outbound car was ap proaching them lees than two miles away. The weather was foggy and the rails slippery from sleet. The collision occurred near a gravel pit half way be tween Pontiac and Birmingtiay, at the foot of two steep grades, down which the 3ars ran at full speed. The cara were driven half through each other, and were crushed to pieces. Had it not been for the stout con struction of the cars, both of which were new, it is doubtful whether any of the occupants would have escaped alive. As it was, nearly all of the 14 passen gers in the southbound car suffered some injury. Some of the injured were taken to farmers' houses, others were brought to city hospitals. The Matter Arranged Washington, Dec. 7. It was official ly announced at the White House today, on the return of the president to Wash ington, that Governor John Grigg, of New Jersey, has been tendered and has accepted the office of attorney-general of the United States, which will be vacated by the nomination of Attorney General McKonna to be associate jus tice of the United States supreme court. It has not yet been settled when Gov ernor Griggs shall assume his new office, but it is probable that the date will be about the beginning of the new year. Will Give Spain a Trial. New York, Deo. 7. A special to the Herald from Washington says that con gress will concur with the wishes of President McKinley anil give a trial to Spain's new scheme of autonomy. The Herald poll of the senate and house shows the following results; Senators against action, 42; senators who favor, but do not expect action, 24; senators for immediate action, 9; sena tors noncommittal or not seen, 14; rep resentatives against action, 178; repre sentatives for action, 159; representa tives noncommittal or not seen, 18. Rurned to the Water Line. Chicago, Dec. 7. The steamer George W. Morley, of Cleveland, was burned to the water's edge on the beach at Evanston tonight. Her crew of 13 men got ashore without trouble. The Morley was bound from . Milwaukee to Chicago without cargo, am! when off Evanston a lamp exploded in the engine room. Before the pumps could be started the fire wasbevoud control, and the boat was beached, the crew wading ashore. The Morley was a wooden steamer, and was valued at $35,000. Ardmore, I. T., Dec. 7. At the close of the performance of "Sam'ltrf Posen" by the Curtis company tonight, Nellie II. Fillmore, the cashier, disappeared with the evening's receipts Later she was arrested and released on bond. Miss Fillmore claims that Curtis owed her, and that she took this means of paying herself. The convicts with a good record in the Kansas state penitentiary now wear suits of cadet gray instead of striped suits. ! GENERAL PANDO SHOT Spaniards Discredit It in the Absense of Proofs. SPANISH DEFEAT AT MATANZAS Santa Clara the Reported Scene of Fan do's Last Fight Smallpox in San Domingo. New Tork, Deo. 6. A Herald dis patch from Havana says: A report that General Pando, who was placed in charge of military operations in Cuba by General Blanco, has been killed in an engagement' with insurgents in Santa Clara province, has -just reached Havana. This has caused the utmost excitement in palace and social oircles, and every effort is being made to get news from General Pando's force to verify the startling news. . No details of the killing of the com mander have been received, but the statement is that he was shot in a bat tle with insurgents while on the march from Sagua la Grande to the southern coast of Santa Clara, where he was to take a ship for Manzanillo. Officers at the palace declare that the Btory must be thoroughly confirmed be fore they will believe it. General Pando's plan was to march right through the heart of the territory where General Gomez' forces are said to have control. Simultaneously with the report of Pando's death comes news of a battle near Matanzas in which the Spanish forces were driven from the field. This engagement was bitterly fought, and it is asserted that the losses of the Spaniards was very -heavy. The same report says the Cubans will not allow any cane grinding, and also that the Spanish towns do not fa vor grinding," because they hold the zones of cultivation and grow tobacco with cheap labor, which they would lose if the reconcentrados return to work on the estates. A letter received by a local paper from a correspondent in the East gives news of big fighting last week near Bayamo between the rebel Chief Rabi and General Linares. General Rabi had only 500 men when General Lin ares had two columns. No details of the fight are at hand, but the Spanish loss is said to have been heavy, one eol- i umn being nearly destroyed. A force of 1,000 Spaniards, with ar tillery, have forced the rebels into the hills of Pinar del Rio. They must re main there or come out and fight, a thing the Spanish commanders think they are not likely to do. Small bands are still moving about with great cau tion. Reports of the condition and move ments of rebels in the east are most conflicting. It is said that Gomez is coming west with 40,000 men, but it is also said that Gomez is still at the camp where he has been for the last 10 months, and is being attended by Dr. Candea, staff surgeon. ' Smallpox In San Domingo. Havana, Dec. 6. The deplorable condition of the country grows more and more apparent. Refugees and re concentrados are growing more and more miserable. According to reports from San Domingo smallpox is making terrible ravages among the concentrados. Since April last more than 4.000 have died in the city alone, to Bay nothing of the suburban towns, which are like wise nffocted. The local authorities take no steps whatever to check the mortality. The streets of the city are thionged with famine stricken wretohes, who succumb to disease under perhaps some lonely porch, and sometimes fall dead in the gutter, where they remain. , DUE TO THE KLONDIKE RUSH. Itlg War In Passenger rlve Soon. Rates to Ar- Milwaukee, Dec. 2. The war in pas senger rates between Chicago, Milwau kee and St. Paul is likely .to continue, and railroad men look for the liveliest kind of cutting in rates further west, owing to the big rush to the Klondike. A well-known railroad man said today that since the rate dropped to $7, reduc tions in fares will likely result as far west as Portland. The nominal rate iB $49. 70 second-class on the St. Paul road, and $59.70 first-clans. With $7 from Chicago to St. Paul as a basis, the fare will probably be changed to $47 second class and $57 first-class. He added that this was merely a preliminary for the establishment of an entirely new sched ule of rates to the West January 1, which will be much lower. All the roads are preparing to make special rates to the points nearest theKlondike region, and each road ia after all thert is in it. Outlaws Were Frustrated. St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 6. A special to the Post-Dispatch from San Antonio, Tex., says: "Advices were received here this morning of an attempt to hold up and rob a passenger train on the Mexican National railroad near Mon terey, Mexico, by nine masked and well-armed Mexicans. The passengers made resistance, and the outlaws were unsuccessful. They are being pursued by soldiers, and if captured will be shot. Killed Her Rabies. Philadelphia, Dec.' 6. Anna Nig gle, the young wile ol M. iviggle, a pio ; ture frame dealer, living at 738 Jackson street, tonight killed her two babies, one aged 3 years, and one aged 6 months, by smothering them with illu minating gas. The woman attempted ' to coinniitt suicide in the same nian ' ner, and the returning husband f ootid his children dead and his wife in an unconscious condition. She may re ! cover. DECISION BY GAGE. Dutch Sugars Subject to a Discrlmlnat I Ing Duty. I Washington, Deo. 6. The secretary of the treasury, today deciled that the Netherlands government pays bounty on raw and refined sugars exported 'from that country, and hence, under the new tariff act, all sugars from the 'Netherlands entering the United States are subject to a discriminating duty equal to the export bounty paid. The exact rate of this countervailing duty has not yet been definitely ascer tained, but it is said that it will ap proximate 48 cents per 100 pounds on raw sugar and a slight advance on those figures on refined. , It is known that the seoretary has also come to the conclusion that the Belgian government pays an export bounty on sugar, and a decree to this effect may be expected in a short time. The additional duties will apply from September 22 last. The amount of raw sugar imported from the Netherlands during the last year was over 88,000,000 pounds, of which about 25,500,000 was not above No. 16 Dutch standard. The sugar imports from Belgium during the last year aggregated over 123,000,000 pounds, of which nearly 121,000,000 was below No. 16. THE CASE CLOSED. Consular Agent Clark, at Plnra, Peru, Forced to Resign. Washington, Dec. 6. Secretary Sherman has closed the oase of Emil Clark, consular agent at Piura, Peru, which attracted much attention some months ago, by calling for the resigna tion of Clark. April 22 last, Clark was ousted from the quarters used be low as the United States consular office, and above as a residence. It was stated that the consulate had been sacked, the house plundered, and in dignity put upon this government through its representative. The state rlepartment promptly oalled on Mr. Clark for particulars, which he said he would furnish. Tho Peruvian minister, Senor Egi nuern, put a different phase on the matter, by submitting a statement that Clark was in arrears to a considerable amount on rent for the building; that only the lower portion was used for consular purposes, although he had placed the United States coat-of-arms on all the doors of tho house, thus using the American emblem for igno ble purposes. The oourts had given a regular decree against Clark, it was stated, directing hira to vacate the premises for non-payment of rent, and in pursuance of this decree he wal ejected. Seoretary Sherman waited until re cently for Mr. Clark's statement, and as this was not furnished, after five mouths, the secretary directed our minister at Lima, Mr. Dudley, to call on Clark for his resignation, unless the proofs of the alleged sacking were in liand. Mr. Dudley has evidently not received the proofs, for he has notified the state department that he has called on Clark for his resignation. GHOST MADE HIM CONFESS. William Kern Implicates His Sweet heart in the Killing of His Slra. Waterloo, la., Deo. 6. William Kern, under arrest for the murder of his father, Jerome Kern, has made a confession in which he implicates his sweetheart, Delilah Falzo. Kern's father opposed his marriage to the woman, and Kern states that she plotted killing both his parents, and prevailed upon him to attempt the carrying out of her plot, that they might acquire possession of the family's farm and live there together. Jerome was lured by the son into the woods, and there the girl shot him. The dead man's clothing was then sat urated with oil and Bet on fire. Kern was scared into his confession by detectives, who haunted him in the guise of a ghost of his father. He also confessed that the murder of his mother was to have been accomplished at a later date. Charcoal-Burner's Crime. Milford, Del., Dec. 6. Salvage Bide-back, a charcoal-burner, attempted to kill his family last night. He said to his wife: "I have just learned how to use the kind of a sword the Cubans use. Now, I want all of you to stand up." The mother and four children arose and Biderback tied their hands with a rope, which he fastened to the rafters. Obtaining a corn-knife from an adjoin ing room, he commenced cutting his family, inflicting some dreadful wounds. Before he could complete his work, his i son came in. Biderback seized a mus ket and disappeared. The villagers threaten to lynch him. The condition of Mrs. Biderback and the children it serious. An Eccentric Clergyman. Toronto, Dec. 6. Rev. William Bates, rector of the Anglican church at Thornhill, was arraigned in the police court on a charge of having "shop lifted" two dozen lead pencils, four books, a hairbrush and a quantity of stationery from stores. The clergyman wore a long cloak and the police allege that ho was caught secreting articles whioh he had not bought under this garment. Mr. Bates is a graduate from Cambridge and one of tho most schol arly men in tho church. His friends state that he has been somewhat eccen tric for some years, and if guilty he committed the act in a fit of mental aberration. ' Patruultlng Home Industry. Washington, Dec. 6. A po'ioy of using, wherever possible, American made goods in the snppliei of the pos tal service is announced in a letter ad dresesed today by First Assistant Postmaster-General Heath to M. Lewis, su perintendent of the division of postuffict supplies.