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About Oregon City courier. (Oregon City, Or.) 1896-1898 | View Entire Issue (March 11, 1898)
PREPARING FOR WAR Unwonted Activity at New York Arsenal. the AMMUNITION STORES INCREASED Shipment of Shells and Other Trojoc-' tile to Harbor Fortifications Twenty New Mortars. New York, March 5. There ia a -continuance of unwonted activity at the New York arsenal. The shipping of shells and other projectiles, to the fortifications about the harbor con tinues. At army headquarters there are no new developments, and no or 'ders out of the customary routine are expected. It is said that a battery of 20 12-inch mortara will be soon re ceived at Sany Hook for testing before they are forwarded to the points for which they are destined. There are a .number of unmounted guns at the proving-grounda awaiting the contsruc tion of carriagea. The supply of am munition has been increased in all the magazines, and is so arranged that it can be made immediately available. The men at the posts seem much more pleased at the work they have to do than when the guns lay idle and in a condition unfit for active use. At Sandy Hook, however, there is a slight complaint among the men, who say that too much work is expected of too email a force. A large consignment of ammunition, including powder and proiectilea, is ;ready for shipment at the ordnance de partment in the Brooklyn navy-yard. Commander Swift, who has charge of the department, superintended the work of packing. Commander Swift lias received instructions from Wash ington to forward the supplies as soon as possible to Key West, whence they will be distributed among the United States war vessels now in that neigh borhood. When asked if the consign ment was not an unusually large one, Commander Swift replied that it is not, and that when it had been divided up betweon the several shipa none of them will have more than the regular complement in her magazines. Many of the projectiles are for guns of large caliber. As yet no informatiort has been re ceived as to what disposition is to be made of the guns which have recently been shipped to the yard from Washing ton. These guns are of different sizes, aud as neither the Chicago nor the At lanta, which are being overhauled at the yard, will be ready to reoeive the .guns for at least six months, it is ru mored that they are for auxiliary ves sols. PROCTOR FULLY POSTED. Hat Seen the Darkest Side of the Cuban Situation. Havana, March 5. A naval officer '.here today, in reply to a suggestion that it was a pity such an important decision as the veruict ol the court of inquiry into the Maine explosion should rest solely upon the testimony of divers, who seemed men of only average intel ligence, replied: "The court of inquiry has not had to depend upon divers' testimony alone, Then, realizing that he hud said more than he intended, the officer resumed his habitual reserve. It ia believed that the testimony of Lieutenant Com' mander Wainwright was highly impor tant as bearing on the question of the existence of submarine mines. senator rroctor naa seen much in a ehort time, and there ia good authority for saving that he will make the results rof his observations known in a strong speech in the senate on his return to Washington. Senator Proctor, however, said to a correspondent: "Certainly a peculiar state of affairs exists. Residents of Matanzas told me that if I wished to correspond with Oeneral Gomez they would send my letter to him and have an answer back in a short time." The Fleet at Hong Kong. Madid, March 5. The public is much exercised over the report of the pres ence of a squadron of United States warships at Hong Kong, as it ia pre sumed the vessels intend to threaten Manila, the capital of Philippine island, in the event of war between the United States and Spain. Imparcial, in an article headed "To Manila, to New York," quotes an un named high personage who scouts the idea of an imminent rupture, and says: "The presence of warships at Hong Kong is only Washington's policy with A view to contenting the jingoes." The high personage is said to have added: "But America haa not so many warships as to warrant such bold action. If the Yankees go to the Philippines, the Spaniards will go to New York." El Qlobo remarks: "The govern ment is still alive to the critical situa tion, and is silently preparing for the worst. But it ia too diplomatic to dis close the procedure by which it is pre paring for emergencies." San a ranclsco, .March 6. Ihe war department has issued orders for the immediate transfer of ammunition from the Benicia arsenal to this city. The object is to supply the needs of the mortar batteries and heavy ordnance at the Presidio and Black point. Chicago, March 5. A special to the Daily News from Washington savs: Spain will have to reckon with Japan as well as with the United States in the event the responsibility of the Maine explosion is laid at the door of the don. The navy department haa as certained that on the Maine were sev eral Japanese subjects employed as cooks or other servants, and that they were lost. The fact of their death haa been made known to the Japanese gov eminent through the state department. BUILD THE CANAL. Object of a Newly Formed Syndicate of Eastern Capitalists. Chicago, March 7. The Tribune says: A syndicate to take the conces sions granted the Maritime Company by the republics of Nicaragua and Costa Rica for the construction of the canal is in process of organization by E. F. Cramin, of this city, who is now in New York negotiating the contracts by which the new owners of the conces sions granted by the Central American republics and for the work already ac complished will come into his posses sion.' T. E. Cooley, who haa been aa sooiated with Mr. Cramin in the enter prise, is also in Now York, gathering material for the specifications, which will be within the next 10 days present ed to contractors for bids on the differ ent sections of the work. The new syndicate for the construc tion of the Nicaragua canal will soon know within a few million dollars just how much it is going to cost, fin ished and ready for the passage of the first ship. A rough estimate from the data at hand on the return of Mr. Cramin and Mr. Cooley from their trip over the canal a few weeks ago, placed the cost within $75,000,000. Mr. Cooley was of the opinion that as fur ther data was collected regarding the nature of the excavation over a part of trie route, the cost might be out down to $05,000,000. This is far inBide the estimates which have been presented to congress in the appeals of the Mari time Company for government aid. The preparation of the specifications of the contractors has been aa thor ough aa the data in existence permitted. Mr. Cooley secured all tho material col lected by the engineers for the Mari time Company. He then took the re ports of the commission from the United Statea engineer corps and to these he added all the material to be had during his thorough inspection of the oanal at the capitals of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Immediately upon hia return from his trip of inspection a force of engineers was set to work un der hia direction, bringing into form this mass of material. Just prior to his departure from New York, he inti mated that the specifications were so nearly comploted that in a short time they would go into the hands of the contractors for bids. Bonds will be re quired with all bids, and when the figures have been added, for the first time in all the years that men have been trying to join the Atlantio and Paciflo by ship canals it will be known somewhere near the actual figures just how much the work ia going to cost ine .Nicaragua canal, ' lie said, is being treated aa a business proposition. Our people want to know where the thing is going when they begin putting in their money. We are going to'tell them. There is no great mystery in oanal-building that it should not be determined approximately what a canal is going to cost, if engineers are honest enough to estimate properly the work before them. The construction of the Illinois drainage canal has educated the contractors who did that work, and they know just what to expect on the Nica ragua canal. Their representatives have been over the ground, they have studied climatic conditiona, learned what their labor would cost, can esti mate closely the oost of transportation to the canal of their machinery and niateiial. With the specifications in their hands they can bid as intelli gently as if the work was in an Ameri can state. " The terms by whioh the control of the property and concessions of the Maritime Company has come into the hands of the new syndioate are not given out. Their arrangement was the work of several months before the trip to JNicaragua waa made. Who are back of the syndicate is not given out by the promoters, but it is claimed that the contractors have been satisfied of its financial stability. How much government aid and in what shape will be asked are also matters which neither Mr. Cramin nor Mr. Cooley gives out for publication at the present juncture. Mr. Cramin and Mr. Cooley are expected to remain in New York about a week longer in the settle ment of the transfer of the canal from the Maritime Company to the new syndicate. ALASKA BILL PASSED. Concessions Given Canada in Lien ol Certain Privileges. Washington, March 7. After a de bate lasting several days, the senate late this afternoon passed the bill ex tending the homestead laws and pro viding for right of way for railroads in the district of Alaska. Comparatively little discussion of general interest waa created by the bill. Section 18, pro viding for oertain bonding concessions to Canada, in lieu of privileges to be extended by the Dominion government to this country, however, induoed a rather lively debate, as it brought into the controversy the old fisheries ques tion on the New England coast, which has been pending between the United States and Great Britain for 100 years. The statement waa made on the floor of the senate that there was every rea son to believe that by the passage of the bill the fisheries question could be settled without great effort, a assur ances to that effect had been received from a large and influential element in Canada. In the Rouse. Two more appropriation bills were sent to the president today, the pension bill and the consular and diplomatic bill, both of whioh went through their final stage is the house today. This was private bill day. The most im portant action taKen was acquiescence in an agreement to make the bill ap propriating aoout fi.HUU.UOO lor war claims, approved by the court of claims, Tinder the provisions of the Bowman act, a special order for next Friday. CABINET IS ANXIOUS. Want! to Know When the Report Slay Be Expected. Washington, March , 7. It was de veloped this afternoon, through tele graphic correspondence between Seore tayr Long and Admiral Sieard that the oourt of inquiry is unable to fix even an approximate date for 'the conclusion of its investigation into the disaster to the Maine. Sharing in the general anxiety for information, Secretary Long today, at the instance of the cabinet, telegraphed Admiral Sicard asking when it was probable that the report of the court would be made, and late to night the following was reoeived: "Secretary of the Navy I have talked with the president of the oourt of inquiry and agree with him that .it is not yet possible to fix a date for the finding, as so much depends upon the progresa of the divers and wreckers, and the results they obtain. Every effort is being made to advance the in quiry. The court intends to return to Havana this evening, having finished the investigation at Key West. SICARD." Admiral Sioard's message is regard ed as disposing of the reports that the court haa obtained positive or oonolu- Bive information beaiing on the subject of its investigation. It is taken to mean that upon the testimony or dis coveries of the divers will depend the finding, the examination of the officers and crew having been insufficient to enable the court to even form an idea aa to what lines may be opened up from the inveatigation of the wreck itself. While the telegram was naturally somewhat of a disappointment, in leav ing the termination of the inquiry as much in doubt as ever, it was wel comed aa practically setting at rest the reports as to the results of the invest igation up to date. . It is stated that the board, in all probability, will not return to Key West, the department having intimated that it was its desire that the examination of the officers and men should be concluded at this sit ting, as they are needed for reassign ment to other ships. THE SOUND'S DEFENSES. Contractors Are Offered lionuses to Expedite the Work. Port Townsend, Wash., Maroh 7. It ia reported here today that both firms of contractors, now constructing fortifi cationa for the government at Marrow stone point and Admiralty head, have been offered bonuseB to expedite the work. An additional gun pit, not pre viously provided on the estimates for this year's work on Admiralty head, at the entrance of the straits opposite this city, will be commenced in a short time. The pit will be about 50 feet square, sufficient to accommodate guns and the machinery for operating them. In ad dition to the pit proper, there will be underground rooms for storing ammuni tion. The work of securing title to land to be used for the government fortifica tions at Point Wilson is being pushed as rapidly as possible, and the work of construction will be under way there early in the coming summer. Spain Hought Two Cruisers. London, March 7. Spain has pur chased two oruisers which the Arm strongs have been building for Brazil, the Amazonus and her sister ship, un named, of 4,000 tona each, 23 knots and 10 gnus. Spain is also negotiat ing for and will probably secure two cruisers of a similar typo whioh have been building in France for Brazil. The Amazonus is ready for launching, and Ler sister ship will soon be ready The Spanish government is also en deavoring to hocure guns and large supplies of ammunition in England and the Continent fur immediate use. The government of Spain seems to have funda, for it ia understood to be paying a large part of the purchase nrnney in cash, giving good security for the balance, these being the only terms upon which the Armstrongs would deal. . Will Be Authorized. Washington, March 7. -The senate committee on military affairs today de cided to recommend the passage of a joint resolution authorizing the aban donment of the expedition for the re lief of the miners in the Klondike re gion, which was authorized last Decem ber. There solution provides for tho sale of both the reindeer and the sup plies purchased for the expedition. There was a suggestion that the rein deer brought here from Norway could be utilized by the interior department, but the committee took the view that the animals should be sold in prefer ence to holding them for any depart ment of the government. Proctor Saw a Fight. New York, March 7. The Herald's Havana correspondent says that in hia recent excursions Senator Prootor saw a lively engagement between a band of 250 insurgents and an equal number of Spanish infantry. This took place al most within sight of Matanzas, in the streets of which citv the senator was later approached by a messenger from General Gomez, who openly proclaimed his identity and mission. Marines Sent West. Atlanta, lia., March 7. The ravy department is transferring marines from the Atlantic to tho Pacific coast, For three daya a party of two or three marines have passed through Atlanta each day on their way to the Pacifio coast. The marines come from Norfolk and are all going to Vallejo, Cal. Wants Cuban Correspondence. Washington, March 7. Senator Morgan said today it was his purpose to introduce a resolution at an (early date making, a second call upon the president for consular correspondence bearing upon the condition of affairs m Cuba. ... IN A DEATH TRAP. Spaniards' Terrible Defeat in the Battl of Hiilqulu. New York, March 4. Reports of th recent battle at Holguin, Santiago d Cuba, have been received in New York Instead of the battle being a Spanis' victory, as represented from Havana, i was. a disastrous defeat, followed by retreat of the Spanish forces. This ii formatiun comes from Cuban source: and is the cause of great rejoicing, bi cause the guns, and ammunition shippe from Long Island less than a mont ago were used in the light. Maji Miranda, who landed the expeditioi reports the faots without , many detail but from other letters whioh came L the same mail the story is told. The Spanish forces were comraande by General Linares, who for some tiir haa been at Holguin, making prepar tion8 to march to the city of Suhtiagi His army included cavalry and arti lery. Previous to his starting to marc he boasted that he would make the coast, a distance of 00 miles, in a di rect line, in four davs. His troops were the most valuable in the Spanish army, many of them having been on the island for three years. A week be fore the starting of the march the Long Island expedition had been landed. To protect it a force under General Garcia had been sent to the southern coast. Colonel Manuel Rodriguez was left with a vanguard of 900 men to worry Linares if he .should try to leave Holguin. While the expedition, one of the lar gest ever landed there, was being pro tected from attack, the Spanish general marched out from Holguin. Ten miles from Holguin the road became hilly, and tho rocka afforded protection equal to any modern fortification. Rodri guez' men took their stand in this natural fortification near the town ol San Franoisco. Owing to the character of the coun try, leas than 200 of the Spanish troops could be brought into action when the Cubans opened fire. The road, a wind ing one, waa a regular death trap. Linares used his artillery as muoh as possible, but the Cuban force of less than a thousand men could not be dis lodged. Failing to make progress, Linares marched a portion of his cora mand five miles out to move by the road which runs to Jiguana, expecting to follow the railroad leading to Santi ago. His command was intercepted by a portion of the Cubans and harassed so that it was unable to reach the Cau to river. For two days it was held in oheck until General Garcia and his command could reach the place. Every day SpaniBh dead were buried and the wounded sent back to Holguin. General Garcia a command did not reach its full strength until the fifth day after the fighting began. On this day the Spanish columns retreated in confusion, carrying the wounded to Holguin and leaving 200 dead on the field. The Cuban loss in the five days' fighting waa less than 50 killed. The real Spanish loss will never be known, aa the dead and wounded were taken from the field at night. It ia es timated that nearly 1,000 were killed and wounded. From word received from Holguin it was learned that there were several companies annihilated by the Cuban fire. Other letters report the Cuban army in good condition, and one from ex- President Cisneros states that the whole eastern end of the island ia safe in con trol of the Cuban government. The ex-president says ho is to be appointed postmaBter-general, and speaks of the republic's plans as though there was no war in the island. Dr. Joaquin Castillo, of the junta, for hia work in landing arms on the Cuban coast, has been appointed to the rank of brigadier-general. MAINE'S BACK WAS BROKEN, Keel Said to Have Been Found in Two j Pieces. New York, March 4. A Herald dis patch from Havana says: The Maine' back was broken. Later discoveries made by divers not only support the information printed by the Herald con cerning the disclosures of paramount importance by Ensign Powellson, but convince those in charge of the subma rine investigation that a mine rent the battle-ship asunder. The keel of the ship has been found in two pieces, tlx nearest ends ol whioh are now sopa rated by a distance of from K to 8 feet. The sections are no longer lying in one straight line, but show theeffeot of a force executed from port to star board. It is evident from the discovery of the present condition of the keel that the section of the bottom found 25 feet from its natural position wiis wrenched from its belt by the first explosion and driven upward. The keel itself was forced in the middle until it was broken in two and then collapsed in two sections nad fell in the position the divera found it yesterday. Reliable persons familiar with the effects of high explosives and with the wreck above and under water, say that the discovery of the manner in which the Maine's back was broken, taken together with earlier disclosures, has convinced the men working about the wreck that farther investigation as to the manner in which the ship was blown up is perfectly useless, and they consider the question solved beyond doubt. San Francisco, March 4. W. Taka saki. the newly appointed Japanese consul to Chicago, and S. Ito, an im perial naval constructor, en route to Philadelphia, who arrived here from the Orient Monday, had narrow escapes from death at the Occidental hotel last night. The Japanese blew out the gas upon retiring, anil when the escaping gas attracted the attention of the hotel employes, some hours later, both were unconscious. Physicians wore sura mnned, and the Japanese officials were A resolution providing wr a congres sional investigation into the murder of the postmaster at Lake City, S. C. and his family and the burning of his hoShie was laid before the senate. Mc Laurin (Dem. S. C.) said he hoped the resolution would go to the committee without discussion. The state author ities were exceedingly active in invest igation of the crime, and he waa aa sured that every effort was being made to bring the perpetrators of the outrage to justice. He then had read clippings from the Columbia, S. C, State to show that the people of South Carolina were not in sympathy with those who committed the crime, but strongly re pudiated it. Hawley (Rep. Conn.) said the crime was clearly within federal jurisdiction by the fact that it was a federal official who was murdered, and that govern ment property had been destroyed. He expressed the opinion that the federal authorities ought to maintain a close watoh upon the procoedinga. The resolution was then referred to the committee on contingent expenses. Bills were passed as follows: Grant ing free entry to a set of bells presented by the czar of Russia to the orthodox Russian churoh at Bridgeport,Conn.j to provide for the transfer of the Sid ney military poat reservation to the state of Nebraska for eduoational pur poses, and to establish an assay office at Seattle, Wash. NEW SUPPLIES LANDED. Futile Attempt Made by Molina to In tercept Them. New York, March 5. A Herald dis patch from Havana says: A report has been received of the landing of a very large expedition almost in Matan zas harbor. It is believed to be that taken on the Dauntless by "Dynamite Jack" O'Brien. , The. supplies were taken charge ot by rebel cavalry num bering 400. They were attaoked by 800 of General Molina's soldiers. It ia reported that the rebels refused battle, and escaped with the supplies without loss. Reports of insurgent aotivity con tinue to come to Havana and greatly exasperate the public, although every attempt is made to suppress the faots. The rebels are especially active in the provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Puerto Principe and Santa Clara.. The Antartio Expedition. New York, March 5. The Brooklyn Standard Union publishes a lettei from Dr. Frederick A. Cook, surgeon of the Belgian Antartio expedition, dated Ushuala, Terra del Fuego, De cember 27. He wrote: "We have ooine in here to take our last supply of ooal. Tomorrow, we will start south ander steam, passing out west of Cape Horn to the South Shetlands, thence to Cape Seymour, along the eastern border of Graham land,- in Larsen's track, then east and out of the ice again, perhaps In the neighborhood of Enderby land. After visiting some of the sub-Antartio islands, Bonnets, Prince Edwards and Kerguelen, the Belgian will put into Melbourne to- winter. There will be no wintering party left south until next year, unless the ship is held ia thepaok." Caught In a Squall. Key West, Maroh 5 r-The sohoonei Speed woll, from Marco, for Key West was struck by a squall today whle off Marquez, 18 miles from iiere, and cap sized. Nine persons were drowned out of 13 on board. Among the victims were three children of Captain Collier, George, Thomas and Williambur, aged 4, 6 and 8 years, and Bradley Nichols and his wife, their son and the lutter's wife and two grandchildren. Th family was from Bridgeport, Conn Those saved are Captain Collier, Sara uelCates, deckhand ;j.Iesse Green, deck hand; R. W. Bates, of Myers, Fla., passenger. Found In the Ruin. Olympia, Wash., March 5. Tb residence of O.'King, seven miles froi Ye 1 in, was burned last night. In th ruins was found a charred body, whiul is thought to be that of Mr. King. One of th Maine's Victims. Omaha, March 5. A letter just r ceived from Havana shows that anion the seamen on board the Maine at tb time of the disaster in Havana harbt was young Pat Ford, who escaped froi his jailer in Omaha in January, 18U6 with a sentence of eight years fc highway robbery over him. Klch Strike at Canyon City. Ileppncr, Or., March 6. Wor reached here this evening of a rich fin at Canyon City. It is said that a nug get worth $700 was taken out todaj ami another as largo, if not large: partly uncovered. This undoubted! the richest strike ever made in Gran county. Spanish Duties Keduced. Madrid, March 5. The queen reget has signed a decree reducing th ,1m i,. g i " - ---- .. ' I on wheat and flour. : -v DUNtfAjM'S STORY. . Interesting Keporfv of a Government Official on thaJKlontlike. X Located in Circle itv. ISO milin northwest of Dawson, iiich all the river traffic to and from thV Klondike passes, is the man whom Oiq United States government haa sent wit to gather information regarding the Klon dike which the pubjio may know is Ac curate Samuel C. Dunham. Mr.1 Dunham is under the direct jurisdic tion of the commissioner of labor at Washington. All the long winter mon tits he haa lived in a room in a $20,000 house at Circle City, a house that is made of logs and boards, ami whose real worth seems preposterous. Mr. Dunham haa sent some valuable information to Washington or to the United States, as he puts it. While Alaska is a part of the United States you never would think so if you lived there and heard the people talk. They always refer to the rest of the nation as: "Back in the Statea." It is safe to Bay that of the thousands already en route to the new Eldorado only a small percentage are aotually aware of the real conditions that exist in the land of their destination. As gorgeous piotures of wealth have been painted for their edifioation as imagin ation could devise, and that is why the oold facts that have come to us by the aid of carrier, dog and sledge, and finally the United States mail, create something of a feeling of astonishment. Mr. Dunham tells us that there is riot work for the people who are al ready in the Klondike, and that before the spring rush ia half over the conn try will teem with the destitute and homeless. However, the destitution is not now so great as it was imagined would be tho case, and this because it has been found possible for the differ ent camps to help one another. When Mr. Dunham's roport, whioh is now on its way, reaches Washington, it will be sent to congress at once. but owing to the fact that the report ia not likely to reach the department be fore Maroh, after the Klondike emigra tion has passed flood tide, Mr. , Dunham has deemed it best to forward the more. important facts here presented. In his latest letter to the Commissioner ol Labor Mr. Dunham sava: I am making fair progress on my report, and have reached a point where I can give an outline of its practical features. I have comploted an intro duction, giving a short sketch of the stampede as I saw it from the other Bids of the mountains; a chapter on the Klondike containing the first accurate aooount of the original discovery and the development of the' mines, and what I hope will prove an approxi mately oorrect statement of the output (an exceedingly hard subject to handle); a chapter on Dawson and its surround ings, giving full information relative to wages, oost of living, opportunities for employment, etc, and ending up with an account of the food famine and the exodus, and achapter on navigation 6f the Yukon. f "I have well under way a chapter on Circle City and the Birch Creek dis trict, and have all necessary data for one on mining laws and local regula tions, incidentally touching on the only form of government that has been known hore previous to the present year miners meetings. In addition' to these I shall give considerable space to the trails and the best means of get ting here, expouse, etc.; the best route for railroads, which we assume are bound to come within a few years, al though we do not know what is going; on outside; the possibilities in agricul ture, which are considerable In the Yukon valley, as wheat, oats, and veg etables of many kinds can be grown here successfully; the outlook from the commercial point of view, etc. j "A thousand pages could be written on the situation without exhausting the subjeot or the reader; but I bIiuII stop short of 400 typewritten pages. It is exceedingly difficult to got information hero, on account of the great distances and the unsettled condition of the pub lic mind on the food question. It is hard to work when one hears constant ly on every hand stories of starvation and death from exposnre. I consider the situation grave, but not desperate. There is food at Fort Yukon for 600 more men than are wintering there, and this oan be freighted to Dawson or part of Dawson can go to it. It may be that the transportation companies can feed the population next year, but it is doubted here. "I have secured an accurate state ment of the amount of freight landed in Dawson by the steamers during th season, made up from the manifests of the boats and from information obtained from the agents of the companies. "n.a -run tons rencboH there, and resuscitated.