(WWi.,w.KcjE:J
Oregon Gity Goarier.
1 A. IT. OHINIT, mbllsher.
OREGON CITY OREGON
HWS OF THE WEEK
i '
W '
IiUrwUii Collection of Current EreaaJ
E In Condensed Font From
j t Both Continent
While skating on the ioe near Gard
er. Miss., three young people sudden
ly broke through, and before assistance
ooid reach them were drowned.
At Tonawanda, N. Y., while a party
were skating, the ice gave ' way and
precipitated four young people into the
nter.T .Three of them were drowned.
Ofaina approves of the Russian fleet
wintering at Port Arthur, being per
readed that this action is taken in the
interest of China, and necessitated by
the German occupation of Kiao Chou.
General Blanco reports to Madrid
that negotiations with several influen
tial insurgent leaders are progressing
favorably; that he hopes to detach from
tie rebellion important forces which
re willing to accept autonomy.
A rate war is on between the various
liver transportation lines running to
The Dalles. A reduction of fare from
The Dalles to Portland is the result.
This out in rates has been looked for
by the public since the opposition lint
was put on, some two months ago.
The statement of the collections of
the internal revenue show that fur the
month of November last the receipts
mounted to $18,959,206, an increase
compared with Novomber last year,
at $1,257,937. For the last five
Months, however, there is shown to
have been a decrease of $5,912,
F. M. Gideon, the clerk of the gen
eral land office, who was referred to
jrXb.onuB Reddington in the testi
laony before the senate Pacific railroad
orumittee, Saturday, as having
iiaiiged'ihe land-oflioe records so as to
throw 5,000,000 acres of government
laud to the Southern Pacific, has nude
clear denial of the charge.
A dispatch from ChriHtiania, Nor
way, to the London Chronicle, says the
political situation, sinoe the failure of
the united committee on foreign affairs,
has beoome critical, and it is feared
that Sweden will seek an occasion for
wined intervention in Norway. The
dispatch adds that the Swedish press
Jiopos for assistance from Emperor
William.
The committee appointed at the
house civil service conference 10 days
go to draft modifications of the civil
service law have met and gone over
1fae various bills pending before the
house. The committee expects to have
measure framed by the time congress
reconvenes. Its members are opposed
t the present law as including too
many offices within its scope.
"A freight train of 21 loaded oars,
traveling down the mountain to Al
toona, Fa., hooiiiiie unmanageable in
onsnquence of the slippery condition
f the tracks, making the 12 miles
from Ualltra into Altoona in as many
minutes aiid crashing into a freight
train directly iu front of the passenger
station. About 50 cars were com
jtfotaly broken up, and the Holidays
burg passenger train, which was stand-
dag on the track near the passenger
jMied, was thrown over on its side.
Three of the train crew were fatally in
jured. An effort is oti foot to reduce the
froduution of ootton.
Gold has been discovered at Skagway
which goes $4 to the pun.
Mormons have secured 8,000,000
ores of land in Mexico for a colony.
John Cross, of Cove, Or., was arrest
sd for having counterfeit money in his
om session.
Bitted Super, who murdered his wife
ad tw( children at Aschie, Mo., in
1891, and who was recently arrested in
Oregon, whore ho married again, whs
eutoiioed in Harrisonville, Mo., to be
hangoj on February 4.
- About 100 wholesale druggists from
the cities of the Central West held a
conference in Chicago for the purpose
et considering the cut rates at which
drugs and patent medicines are being
old by the department stores, as well
a by many retail druggists, and to take
tops to stop tho practice if possible.
The Dingley tariff -law will not bo
hanged in any of its custom features
t the present session of congress. A
general understanding to this effect
has been reached among the Rcpuhli
an members of the ways and ineaiii
oimnittee, who feel that it is most do
irablo to avoid what is generally
known as tariff tinkering.
The subcommittee of the senate com
mittee on Indian affairs, appointed to
consider the problems, presented in In
dian territory have praetioufly decided
to recommend amendments to the pres
ent law, providing for the apportion
ment of all the lands held hy the five
civilised tribes among the members of
these tribes, and aslo an amendment
providing that all valid louses shall be
recognized by the government of the
United States, and the money paid on
account of them covered into the treas
ury of the United States for tho bene
it of the various tribes as such.
A Birmingham, Ala., dispatch says:
The Tennessee Coal & Iron Railroad
Company and tho Slows Iron & Steel
'Company have shipped 5,000 tons of
Alabama pig iron to Peusacola, from
whence it will bo forwarded to Kobe
ad Yokohama, Japan. A trial ship
ment of Alabama iron made to Japan
ewral months ago gave such satisfac
tion that extensive orders are result
ing, this shipment being the first of
series. Japan heretofore was supplied
If European furnaces, but Alabama
la superseded these.
BONDING MINERS' OUTFITS.
Canadian Custom Commissioner Gives
Out Regulation.
Washington, Deo. 22. A response
has been received to a recent letter
from Secretary Gage to the commis
sioner of customs, requesting informa
tion as to the bonding of miners' outfits
through Canadian territory on the
route from Juneau by way of the Chil
koot pass and the Yukon river to Circle
City. The commissioner says that the
following regulations have been pre
pared to meet the case:
Imported goods, as above described,
shall be reported'fhe Canadian custom-house
at Tagish, and may be en
tered for exportation there in the usual
form, "in transit," in duplicate. The
goods may then be delivered without
payment of duty to be carried to their
destination out of Canada by any tran
sportation company which has duly
exeouted a bond in the form prescribed
by the minister of customs for the due
and faithful delivery of all packages
carried by such company and for the
general compliance with the customs
laws and regulations governing euch
traffic.
A duplicate of the entry in transit,
duly signed and marked with the proper
oustoms stamp, shall accompany each
shipment of goods conveyed by a bond
ed carrier, so that the same may be re
turned to the custom-house at Fort
Cudahy with a certificate thereon as to
the landing of the goods in the United
States, or of their having passed out
ward from Canada, within six months
from the date of the entry.
If the goods, when entered in transit
for exportation, are not delivered to be
forwarded by a bonded carrier, as pro
vided in the last proceeding section,
the duty thereon is to be deposited with
the customs officer at Lake Tagish,
subject to a refund of same at the port
of Fort Cudahy, when the goods pass
outward thereat, or upon the certificate
of an officer of the United States, or of
the Canadian customs, that the-said
goods have been landed in the United
States within six months from the date
of entry. The duty deposited on such
is to be indorsed on the entry and cer
tified by the customs officer in charge,
and the duplicate of the entry, duty cer
tified and marked with the customs
stamp, is to be delivered to the person
making the deposit.
A report of such entry in transit
shall be forwarded by mail without de
lay by the oustoms officers at the send
ing port to the oolleotor of customs at
Fort Cudahy, for the collection of du
ties on the goods entered in transit and
not duly exported. The articles
ususally classified as travelers' baggage
are to be passed free, without entry.
Commissioner McDougall, in a letter
accompanying these regulations, says
that they are framed with the desire to
afford the utmost facilities for traffic
in question, compatible with security
to the revenue. He further says:
"Responsible transportation com
panies will be soon in operation for the
conveyance of goods over the Chilkoot
and other passes down the Yukon river
and its tributaries, in which case
United States goods may go forward
into Alaska without payment of du
ties." OVER A PIECE OF GROUND.
Dispute Between the United Htates and
and the Btate of Texas.
Chicago, Doc. 22. A special to the
Chronicle from Fort Worth, Tex., says:
The state of Texas and tho United
States government are in conflict over
a piece of ground on the east end of
Galveston island, on which is located
the state quarantine station and which
has been taken possession of by the
federal authorities, who intend erecting
a torpedo station thereon.
The United States claims it under
tno terms of the Texas annexation
treaty, which requires the ceding to the
government by the republio of "Texas
of all lands used for the purpose of mil
itary defenses or upon which fortifica
tions were standing. The state will
dispute the claim on the ground that
there wore no available fortifications in
existence on the ground in controversy
at the time the treaty was made.
Leedy's Modest Hcheme.
Topeka, Kan., Dec. 23. Governor
Lowly announces that he will present
a scheme to the Nebraska irrigation
convention which, if carried out, will
cause the arid plains to blossom as the
rose. A one thousand seven hundred
mile canal from Montana to Texas is
the startling proposition to be formally
made hy Governor Leedy to the coining
irrigation congress. The purpose of
the canal would he to divert tho flood
of waters of the Missouri and Missis
sippi valleys and let them down when
wanted. The canal would tap the
Missouri river at Milk river in Montana
and empty into Red river in Texas.
The governor maintains incidentally
that the cost would bo only $300, 000,
000. Lost Her Keek Load.
San Francisco, Dec. 23. The
schooner Mayflower, Captain Olson, ar
rived today, 15 days from the Coquillo
river. The vessel had 113,000 feet of
lumber as a cargo when she Blurted, but
when she reached here she was 10,000
foot short of that amount. From De
cember 3 to 14 inclusive, heavy gales
were encountered, the seas washing
completely over the schooner. It was
during an unusually heavy gale that
the lumber was washed away. A sea
man was at one time carried over the
side of tho schooner, but was caught by
a wave and carried back on board
again.
Wages Are Reduced.
Manchester, N. H., Deo. 23. No
tices of a 10 per cent reduction in
wages on Jauhary 1 have been posted
in the Amore. Stark an J Jefferson oot
ton mills, in this city. The Amoskeag
mills, employing 9,000 operatives,
posted similar notices last week. The
Amore, Stark and Jefferson mills em
ploy 11,000 operatives.
I A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
Largest Jewelry Store in the
World Destroyed.
JIERM0D & JACCARD, IN ST. LOUIS
An Immense Stock of Costly Goods
Lost Another Bad Blaze In
Grand " Forks.
St. Louis, Dec. 21. A fire started in
the basement of the building occupied
by the Mermod & Jaccard Jewelry
Company, at the corner of Locust and
Broadway, early this morning, and in
an almost incredibly short time the
five-story building was completely
gutted. The total loss will reach
$335,000, fully covered by insurance.
The fire had been burning some time
before it was discovered at 4:40 o'clock,
and at 5 P. M. the south wall and all
the floors began falling, making one of
the fiercest and quickest fires in the an
nals of the city. Next to the boiler
room in the basement was a room used
for packing. It is thought that the
fire started in the boiler room, com-,
municating to the packing-room, and
shooting up the elevator shaft, quick
ly spread over the building. W. A.
Rutledge, the engineer, and his family,
lived on the fourth floor. They barely
escaped with their lives. The firemen
dragged them, unconscious, from their
beds and carried them down the fire
escape. Five minutes later the floors
fell. Several other tenants in the
building had narrow escapes, but there
were no fatalities.
The Mermod & Jaccard Jewelry
Company is one of the largest in the
world, and it being Christmas season,
they carried an immense stock. One
half of the stock had been placed in the
two large vaults and was saved.
The Model Cloak Company, in the
northeast comer of the building, was
wiped out, sustaining a loss of $50,000,
on which there is insurance of three
fourths. The Mermod & Jaccard Company oc
cupied but two floors and basement of
the structure. On the fifth floor was
the repair shop. A large amount of the
repair work had been i finished, anil
most of it was saved by the salvage
corps. The corps also saved a dozen or
more grandfather clocks, ranging in
value from $500 to $1,800 each, and
many old Vienna vases and valuab.e
pieces of pottery. The silverware,
melted by the heat, will be found un
der the debris of fallen timbers. On
the first floor, left out of the vaults,
wore clocks, silverware, china, art pot
tery, out glassware and other articles,
all of which will be a total loss.
There were over 40 tonants in the
building, whose losses range from $500
to $4,000. They were partially in
sured. The jewelry firm carried insuranoe
to the amount of $400,000, which, if
the stock in the vaults is found intact,
will amply cover the loss sustained.
The building was owned by the estate
of the late Luther M. Kennett, but un
der lease to the Mermod & Jaccard
Company. The firm estimates the value
of the building at $125,000, upon
which there was insurance of $105,000.
Late tonight the burned-out firm de
cided to continue in business, and to
morrow will take possession of the store
and Btock of another leading jeweler of
this city, which they have bought.
The firm that goes out of business is
that of A. Kurtzborn & Sons.
Another Fire at Grand Forks.
Grand Forks, N. D., Dec. 21. The
business portion of the city was threat
ened by another fira tonight, which
might have been more destructive than
that of Friday, when the Hotel Dakota
and the Mercantile Company and Nash
Bros.' buildings were burned. Shortly
after 6 o'clock, smoke was seen issuing
from the floor of tho department store
of Benner & Begg, and in less than 15
minutes the building was iu flames,
and the fire had crept into the Stanch
field clothing house and the II. A.
Stone jewelry store, in building ad
joining. After three hours work the
fire was Bubdued. The damage to the
building and stock of Benner & Begg
will be $55,000. Losses to the other
firms will be small.
JACK DALTON'S ADVICE.
Bays Horses Would lie Better Than
Reindeer for Belief Expedition.
Seattle, Dec. 21. Jack Dalton. the
well-known Alaskan prospector, after
whom the Dalton trail is named, in an
interview tonight, speaking of the
proposed relief expedition of the gov
ernment to Alaska, said:
"The proposal to use reindeer teams
does not strike me as being the right
thing. HorBes can be used to much
better advantage. Instead of reindeer,
the department ought to get together a
large number of hardy horses, and
sufficient food should he taken along to
feed them. They can do much better
work than reindeer. I would use sleds
for carrying the food for tho men and
provender for the horses. To handle a
reindeer expedition successfully it
would he nocossary to have relay sta
tions established a day's journey apart,
with food for the animals at these sta
tions." Mr. Dalton, speaking of the best
route by which to take relief, said that
lie would go over the Chilkoot pass and
then down the lakes and the Yukon
river over the ice.
riate-Glass Strike Ended.
Kokomo, Ind., Deo. 21. The plate
plass strike is over, the 1,000 men in
the Kokomo and El wood plants hav
ing accepted the company's proposition
for polishers to be paid for piece work.
Uotb factories will resume operations
wnwea. '
EDICT OF THE TRADES UNION
Members Are Askrd Not to Serve in the
National Guard.
Chicago, Dec.22. The Times-Herald
says: Trades unionists are required
by the Chicago Federation of Labor to
leave the National Guard at once.
This was the unanimous deoision
reached by the delegates at their week
ly meeting. It was said without con
tradiction that a union man could not
consistently serve in the militia and
incur the risk of being called out to
shoot down fellow trades unionists who
were on a strike for the betterment of
their condition. So, every trades
unionist who is now a member of the
National Guard will be required to se
cure a discharge from military service
at once.
Delegate P. J. Hassett started it all
with a motion to compel trades union
ists to leave the National Guard. An
amendment by McPhee was offered to
have every workman enlist and learn
how to handle a gun. This was lost,
and a less warlike substitute was
offered by Delegate B. P. Williams,
that a request be made to all union
men now in the militia to get out of
the service." A second motion was
offered by Delegate Williams and
ssed, urging all union men who are
not members of the militia to refrain
from enlisting. General Miles' sug
gestion of guns for the postoffioe was
denounced as a shadow of coming
events. The tocsin was sounded that
oapital was organizing and that labor
should be prepared. ' The delegates
later declared their opposition to tho
creation of the proposed new cabinet
position of secretary of commerce and
industry. The adverse report of the
committee to which the subject had
been referred was sustained.
A motion was passed favoring the
creation of a cabinet department of la
bor.
Reports from Nashville -indicating
the triumph of a movement for an
eight-hour working day evoked much
enthusiasm.
A STEAMER ROBBED.
Strong Boom of the City of Washington
Burglarized.
New York, Deo. 22. The Worlu
says: The Wan! liner City of Wash
ington, that sailed from Vera Cruz De
cember 1, has arrived in this port, car
rying in her strong room $000,000 in
Mexican coin. This was not ah nn
UBually large shipment of treasure for
the Ward line to handle, and no one in
authority dreamed of danger.
Nevertheless, during the voyage the
strong room, built to withstand the at
tacks of almost everything but dyna
mite, and located so as to be under
constant observation, was broken into.
Only $3,000 was taken by the robbers,
but the general impression is that the
scheme of the thieves was to seize the
entire treasure.
Every effort has been made to keep
the matter quiet, so that the strong
foroe of deteotives put upon the case by
the company might work to the best
advantage.
A. G. Smith, the company's secre
tary, admitted that the robberv had
been attempted.
TO USE PNEUMATIC TUBES.
Proposed
Innovation for
l'ostoftioe.
the Chicago
Chioago, Doc. 23. Pneumatic tubes
for the mail service of Chicago will be
in operation between the depots, sub
stations and the general office before
long. This is the word Postmaster
Gordon brought with him from Wash
ington. After a mouth's absence in the
East, Mr. Gordon arrived in Chicago
last evening, after having conferred
with Senator Mason, Congressman Foss
and President McKinley.
In addition to the tubes, Mr. Gordon
will also establish a special delivery
service, which he planuses will be
great help to the business men of this
city.
Mr. Gordon investigated the pneu
matio tubes in Boston, New York and
Philadelphia, Ho was much pleased
with their operation.
Mr. Uortlon is sure the corner-stone
of the new postofllce building will bo
laid either July 4, or October 9. If
the latter date is chosen, the famous
society of the Ancient and Honorable
Artillery of Boston will attend, as well
as President McKinley, Postmaster,
General Gary and Secretary Gage, who
will lay the corner-stone.
The Fighting Germans.
Berlin, Deo. 22. The Arbiter Zei-
tung reports an nnprovoked attack by
a party of officers, including Chevalier
d'Ansel and Lieutenant Witschin, on
a number of civilians iu the Cafo
Haphael, at Kroma, Austria. Three
civilians woro badly wounded with
swords before tho police stopped the
fray. When asked to pay the bill,
Lieutonant d'Ansel struck the waiter
with his sword. The officers were not
arrested.
Cxechs and Soldiers Fighting.
London, Dec. 22. A dispatch from
Vienna to the Telegraph reports there
have boon sanguinary conflicts at sev
eral barracks in Plague during the last
few days between Czechs and German
soldiers. Twenty-five men have been
seriously wounded. The authorities
confiscated the Czech newspapers that
reported tho affrays.
Walla Walla. Wash., Dec. 31. Tho
committee of citizens that has been so
liciting funds for the purpose of send
ing two representatives to Washington
to look after Walla Walla s interests
in the matter of the alleged report re
garding the abandonment of Fort Walla
Walla will complete its labors Mon
dav. The committee nas been verv
successful, and has secured sufficient
money to defray the necsesary expenses.
The delegates will probably leave for
Washington after (he holidays.
NEGLECTED WARNING
Cubans Hang Colonel
a Spaniard.
Ruiz,
HE CARRIED AUTONOMY PAPERS
Two More Filibustering Expeditions
Are Safely Landed Major Fer
nandez Was Murdered.
New York, Dec. 20. A Herald dis
patch from Havana says: Much anxiety
is felt for the safety of Lieutenant-Colonel
Joaquin Ruiz, aide-de-camp to
General Blanco, who, it is said, has
met death as the penalty for bearing a
proposition for surrender to a rebel
camp. It seems tnat uolonei Kuiz is
a personal friend of Colonel Aranguen,
who was employed by him before the
war, when Colonel Ruiz was engineer
in charge of the Vento water works.
Reuently, under orders from General
Blanco, Colonel Ruiz opened corre
spondence with Colonel . Aranguen,
with the object of arranging an inter
view, Colonel Aranguen wrote that
he would meet the colonel if the latter
only desired to talk on personal affairs,
to which the colonel replied that he
wished to talk about political matters.
Colonel Aranguen wrote that he would
absolutely refuse to receive him on
these condition, and called his atten
tion earnestlylo General Gomez' order
that all persons entering insurgent
camps to offer terms of surrender
should be put to death. lie assured
Colonel Ruiz that he was prepared to
carry out Gomez' orders to the letter,
and that while he esteemed him highly
as an old friend, he would hang him if
he neglected the warning.
In spite of this, Colonel Ruiz started
alone on Sunday for Colonel Aran
guen's camp, deterimned to risk all in
the attempt. On leaving he said if he
had not returned by Tuesday night he
might be given up as dead. So far
nothing has been heard of him, and
there is little room for doubt that the
insurgent leader has put his threat
into execution.
If this be true, much regret will be
felt even in Cuban circles in Havana,
where Colonel Ruiz was well known as
a gallant soldier and an accomplished
gentleman, but it is pointed out that
his death will have a good effect as
showing the indomitable spirit animat
ing the insurgent leaders.
Major Fernandez, better known as
Pitore, the insurgent leader, who, ac
cording to official reports, was slain in
combat with Spanish troops, was really
killed while ill and helpless awaiting
an opportunity to surreuder to Thomas
Garcia, recently autonomist alcalde of
Guines, an old friend. Pitore being
dangerously ill, applied to him to ar
range terms for his surrender. Garcia
caused him to be taken to the Cancio
estate, where he made him oomfortable
and arranged to have a detail of Spanish
troops sent to bring him to the hospital
in the town. Instead the troops went
to the country and butchered the man.
Senor Garcia is infuriated at this
breach of faith, and has declared his in
tention of coming to Havana to lay the
matter before General Blanco and de
mand the punishment of the officer re
sponsible for the murder.
The battle of Guisa appears now to
have been a more important insurgent
success than was at first supposed. Ad
vices received by the junta state that
the insurgents captured 270 Mausers,
220,000 cartridges and 118 prisoners.
General Calixoto Garoia has sent word
to General Pando that he will only re
lease the prisoners under solemn pledge
signed hy General Blanco that they
will he sent back to Spain. He com
plains that after the capture of Las
Tunas the prisoners released on parole
were sent back to the ranks.
The insurgents in Santa Clara prov
ince hare more than 6,000 men well
armed, and are confident of ultimate
success. They are also well provisioned
with medicine and other necessaries.
General Gomez is at La Reforraa,
where he has been for nearly a year.
V .thin the last four days two large
filibustering expeditions have safely
reached Cuba, one landing in Matanzai
province and the other at Baraeoe, only
five leagues from Havana. They
brought clothing, medicines and dyna
mite. The rebels are now using largs
quantities of dynamite with consider
able effect.
General Pando, who is operating in
tho east against General Garcia, has
asked for reinforcements, which have
been sent, several battalions being
withdrawn from Pinar del Rio.
General Bernai has started across
Pinar del Rio to Cape Antonio, where
a large body of rebels is congregated.
Reports from Guira de Melena state
that the rebels fired on the town almost
every night.
Rebels under Colonel Colazzo and
General Rotirignez surrounded a Span
ish column yesterday at the Carmen
estate, Havana province. Spanish re
inforcements arrived from Guines and
a fierce engagement occurred. The
detalis are suppressed, but
the loss is
admitted to be heavy on both sides,
Another engagement is reported to
have occurred December 14 near Gnira
de Melena between Morroto and Col
onel Arango's forces.
New York, Dec. 20. The Herald
correspondent in Rio Janeiro telegraphs
that the government authorities have
seized a letter written by Vice-President
Peirera which proves beyond doubt
that he was at the head of the revolu
tionary movement which led to the re
cent attempted assassination of Presi
dent Moraes. Brazilian authorities
till have cause to fear a revolution, and
the government has requested Uruguay
to prevent the gathering of revolution
ary groups along her frontier.
NO MORE SEALSKINS.
important Clause In the Bill That Ha
Just Passed Congress.
Washington, Dec. 21. It has been
developed that the bill relating to pe
lagic sealing which has just passed
both branches of congress, and is before
the president, contains a provision of
far-reaching character which has thus,
far escaped attention. This is an abso
lute prohibition of the bringing of seal
skins into the United States. As the
United States is the largest market in
the world for sealskins this complete
stoppage of the trade in this country
will be a severe measure against the
British and Canadian industries which
take and cure the skins and then dis
pose of them largely in the United
States.
When the bill was proposed it' was.,
generally supposed that its only pur
pose was to prohibit American citizens
from carrying on pelagic sealing. This
feature was the only one to attract at
tention during the discussions. At tho
adoption of the bill,;however, a section
was discoverd which was not restricted
to Americans, but applies to sealskins
in general, "taken in the waters men
tioned in this act," which include the
whole Pacific ocean. The provisions is
as follows:
Section 9. That the importation into
the United States by any person what
soever of fur sealskins, taken in waters
mentioned in this aot, whether raw,
dressed, dyed or "manufactured, is
hereby prohibited, and all such articles-
imported after this act shall take effect
shall not be permitted to be exported,
but shall be seized and destroyed by
the proper officers of the United
States."
Those who are thoroughly familiar
with the bill say this provision is of
far more importance in its effect than
the prohibition against pelagic sealing
by Americans.
RELIEF BILL SIGNED.
Two Hundred Thousand Dollars to Aid
Starving Yllkoners.
Washington, Dec. 21. Both houses,
of congress today passed the joint reso
lution for the relief of miners in tho
Yukon valley, Alaska, and in a short
time it had reoeived the signature of
the president. ,
Tho bill appropriates $200,000, to be
expended under direction of the secre
tary of war in the purchase of supplies
for the relief of the people in the Yu
kon country or other mining regions of
Alaska, and for the transportation and
distribution of such supplies, provided
that, if the consent of the Canadian
government be obtained, the secretary
of war may extend the relief into Can
adian territory. The resolution fur
ther provides that the supplies may b
sold in that region at such prices as
may be fixed by the secretary of war, or
donated to those unable to pay fur
them. The secretary of war is author
ized to use the United States army in
carrying into effect the provisions of
the act, to import reindeer and drivers
for the transportation of supplies, and
to adopt such other provisions as ar
practicable. The secretary is direotod,
when the work shall have been com
pleted, to sell the reindeer or turn
them over to the secretary of the inter
ior, in his discretion, and to make a.
detailed report to congress at the be
ginning of the next session of such dis
bursements made and results accom
plished under the act.
A Northwestern Wreck.
Vail, la., Dec. 21. The overland
limited on the Chicago & Northwest
ern, which left Chicago last night, ran
into an open switch near here at (i
o'clock this morning. The mail-eatoh,
it seems, flew out of the mail conch,
which was next to the engine. The
catch struck the switch lever, brone it
off and opened the switch. The train
was going at tho rate of 00 miles an
hour. The engine and mail car re
mained on the track, but the buffet
car, two sleepers and two coaches a ere
completely overturned on the prairio.
Everybody on board was knocked about
considerably, and many wore scratched
and bruised, but no person was killed
or apparently seriously injured. A
wrecking train was sent to the wreck,
and within a short time the passenger
were on their way to Omaha.
Report Blames Indians.
Denver, Dec. 21 D. C. Beaman,
Josiah Walbridge and Charles E. No
ble, the commission appointed by Gov
ernor Adams to investigate the recent
Indian troubles in the vicinity of Lily
Park-,, filed their report with the gov
ernor this afternoon. The report is an
almost complete vindication of the
game wardens, and shows that the In
dians were alone responsible for the
bloody conflict in Routt county last
mouth, in which several of their num
ber were killed.
A Boston Humor.
Boston, Dec. 21. A prominont German-American
merchant of this aity
has reoeived a private cipher cable
from German capitalists advising him
to sell out all his holdings in Boston
immediately. It is rumored that the
cable disclosed a startling coup planned
by Germany, and exposed the secret
! destination of the mysterious German
fleet. According to the dispatch, tho
fleet is really being sent to threaten
the United States, and secure absolute
supremacy of the Pacific by seizure of
Hawaii and Samoa.
Earthquake In Italy.
Rome, Dec 21. Strong earthquake
shocks lasting twelve seconds were felt
this morning. In central Italy the
walls of houses split, many chimneys
fell, bells rang and a panic prevailed
among the inhabitants.
New York, Deo. 21. While Mrs.
Margaret Spencer was cooking on an oil
stove tonight, her pet dog upset the
stove. An explosion followed, and the
woman was so badly burned that sh
died.