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About Oregon City courier. (Oregon City, Or.) 1896-1898 | View Entire Issue (March 25, 1898)
Oregon Gity Goarier. A. W, CHENEY, Publisher. OREGON CITY OREGON SEWS OF THE WEEK Interesting Collection of Current Event! In Condensed Form From Both Continents Representative King, of Dtah, intro duced Tuesday a joint resolution recog nizing the independence of Cuba, The submarine boat Holland has made another trip in New York. At a depth of 15 feet under water she showed good speed, and was handled with ease. A dispatch to the Borlin Vossiohe Zeitung from Dare's Salaam, 25 miles Booth of Zanzibar, East Africa, says that last month a party of German for esters was attacked, and three Germans and many of the native carriers were massaored. The Vionna newspapers annonnoe that Japan, between 1805 and 1905, will have devoted 194,000,000 yen to the building of warships. Forty-seven have already been ordered with Bhort terms of delivery in England, Franco, Germany and the United States. While returning home from church in Wellsvillo, O., Olivor Reed asked Sarah Walton to marry him, and upon her refusal he shot her through the heart. Ho then blew his brains out dying in a short time. Papors found on his body show thodeed was premed itated. The house committee on naval affairs has com pleted the naval appropriation bill. The bill isoalcnluted as carrying betweon $80,000,000 and $37,000,000, of which about $3,000,000 will bo ex pended on this year's work on the three battle-ships, six torpedo boats and six torpedo-boat destroyers. Replying to a resolution of inquiry, the attornoy-goneral sent to the senate Tuesday a statement that the records of his department do not show that any writs of injunction or restraining or ders have been issued by United States courts against labor organizations or their members engaged in strikes in 1897 and 1898. A dispatch to the New York World from Madrid says: Instructions have been given sinco Friday night to the press censor to stop all foroign and do mestic pross telegrams and even tele phone messages containing news un palatable to the government. Unau thorized details of naval and military preparations of the movements of war ships, particularly of the flying squad ron, of the purchase of vessels of war and stores abroad ore especially inter dicted. "'lioland Worthington, the votoran journalist, died at his homo in Boston, god 81 years. He entered the news paper business as an omploye of the counting-room of the BoBton Adver tiser. In 1840 he took ohargo of the Boston Traveler. Whon Daniul Wob Btor mado his famous speech at Marsh field in August, 1848, Mr. Worthing ton publishod a verbatim report and had it sold by the nowaboys in the Btreots, an innovation which called xlown the severe critioiam of the other Boston papors. " . t The British Columbia, Seattle & Pa cifto Coast Railroad Company has made application to the city council of Se attle for a franchise 30 feet wide ovor Railroad avenue. It was Btatod to tho council that it was the purpose of the company to construct n railroad from Portland, Or., to Seattle, and thence to tho British Columbia boundary. The company was willing that a condi tion be impoHud in tho franchise that the work of construction should begin in 80 days, and the line be finished within 18 months. The two incorpo rators of tho company are Henry J. Urokaw and Austin J. Fletcher, well known financiers of New York. The road will cost between $4,000,000 and 15,000,000. Tho Republican loaders of tho house are pressing for an early adjournment, and it is said that their course meets the full approval of tho president. All gave three of tho appropriation bills have gone to tho Bonato. Tho action of the appropriations committee in prepar ing tho general deficiency bill at this time is the best evidence of the inten tion to secure early adjournment, Tho construction of five modern dry docks has boon agreed on by the houso committee on uaval affairs. They are to bo located at Portsmouth, N. II. i Boston, Loiigne island, near Philadel phia; Algiers, La., and Mare island, Cal. TIiobu docks aro to bo of wood, except those at Algiers and Ports mouth. Tho material of construction of those will not be determined upou until later. Oeueral Superintendent MoQutrohni) announced that large gangs of men are at work all along the line of the Astoria & Columbia River railroad, and only 11 iniloH of rails are yet to be laid. Tho last spike will be driven about April 1, with appropriate ceremonies. The man to drive it lias been selected from the ranks of tho men who have worked faithfully during tho winter to push the line through. Dr. Toning Estrada Talma, of the Cuban junta in New York, is quoted m Baying: "1 consider Mr. Quosadtt'i presenco nt Vioe-Piesidont Hobart'i reception to the Belgian prince in Washington Tuesday a matter of groat importance. He was invited as the accredited representative of the Cuban republic, together with tho Spanish minister and other members of the dip lomatic corps. Mr. Quesada't presence as an honored guest is very significant. It ia a semiofficial recognition of Cuba." ITS CONTENTS KNOWN. Summary of the Court of Inquiry's Re port Keceived. Chicago, March 23. A special to the Tribune from Washington says: Late last evening Secretary Long ad mitted that a telegraphic summary of the report of the court of inquiry had been received, and he also admitted that Admiral Sicard had received the report last evening and would forward it to Washington without delay. With the telegraphic summary received as a basis the state department lias already proceeded to notify Minister Woodford officially of the character, and he in return by this time has probably com munioated the news to the Spanish government with an intimation that it must be prepared to present a satisfac tory reply within a few days. THEORY WAS NOT TENABLE. Spaniards Privately Admit the Maine Disaster Was Not an Accident. : New York, March 23. A dispatch to the Tribune from Havana says: The Spanish inquiry into the Maine disaster has gone to pieces in seeking to establish the accident theory. This admission ia privately made in govern ment circles. The nature of tho board's report will not be charged to unknown causes, but the Spanish find ing will be with a view of making a case to be passed on by a third party. The work of the Spanish divers has not been thorough. Apparently thoy have found no little evidence on which a theory of internal explosion can be based that the Spanish court is not willing to stand unequivooally on the theory of accident, whioh it Bet out to. maintain. The faots have boon known for three or four dayB. They may ac count for the statements from Madrid that the Maine incident will not be a cause of war between the two countries, and also hints at arbitrating the dis pute on the question of facts. This talk is semi-official. The Span ish recognize the improbability of suc cessfully controverting the oaso whioh will be presented when tho report of Cuptain SampBon and his associates on the American board of inquiry is pub lished. Thoy have had an inkling that the evidonce on which the external ex plosion due to foul play will be charged, is meant to satisfy, not simply the American people, but the judgment of experts throughout the world. How strongly the conclusion of the American board is fortified will soon be known. The one recoived from Madrid is to have a oountcr-case ready, so a suspen sion of the world's judgment can bo asked until diplomacy can arrange a satisfactory settlement. The evident hope of Blanco's government is to keep the Maine incident entirely distinct from other Cuban questions. Not withstanding this lack of conildonce in thoir own theory of accident, it cannot bo learnod that the authorities are do ing anything to uncover the conspira tors who are responsible for the blow ing up of the Maine. RELIEF BILL PASSED. k Substantial Tribute to the Maine's Herolo Crew. Washington, March 23. The house today unanimously passed the bill for the relief of tiie survivors and victims, of tho Maine disaster. Tho bill reim burses tho survivors, officers and men for tho losses they sustained to an amount not to exceed a yeur's pay, and directs the payment of a sum equal to a yoar's pay to the legal heirs of those who perished. Tliero was quite a spir ited debate over an amendment suggest ed by Cannon to give tho survivors a year's pay out of hand instead of at tempting to reimburse them for actual losses. Somo old alleged scandals in connection with the reimbursement of the survivors of tho Snmoan disaster wore raked up, but tho debate in the ond was saved from a rather sordid tono by a beautiful tribute paid to the gal lant dead by Cousins of Iowa, in a short but eloquent speech. Ho aroused the galleries to spontaneous applause. The remainder of tho day was occupied in tho consideration of the old claim of John Roach, the shipbuilder, for $331, 000. No uction was taken upon tho claim, Tho senate, after passing somo minor bills, to which there was no objection, adjourned ut 1:55 o'clock until tomor row. Keller for Stricken Cuba. Concord, N. H., March 23. Senator Chandler, in an editorial in tho Con cord Monitor today says President Me Kinley is ubout to take action in the name of the United States to relieve famine and sickness in Cuba. "Food and medicine and clothing," he says, "given by the generous people of the United States, will be sent with tho appioval of Spain, if she consents, or will be carried by American sailors and Boldlera without her approval, if she does not consent. Tho end of starvation and torture is near at band. Every humane person in this whole land should sustain and bless the piesi dent in his coming proclamation, which is to cause the name of William Mo Kinley to be held in Baored reverence by Cuban generations as long as will bo the revered name of Abraham Lin coln by the colored race in America." Barcelona is now the most populous city of Spain, the result of a census just taken showing 520,000 inhabitants to Madrid's 507,000. Insurants I'slng Dynamite. Havana, March 23. Generals Panda and Saliodo, it ia announced today "continue advancing with considerable forces toward Puerto Principe," The insurgents on Saturday dynamited nn iron railroad bridge near Madmga, province of Matanzas, partly destroying the structure, and last night they de stroyed with dynamite a culvert be tween Roblos and Mudruga. Long Beach, Cal., has a 70-foot whale staked out in the ocean near the town. SPAIN'S LIST CARD Pando Seeking a Conference With Cuban Leaders. THE FINAL OFFER, OF AUTONOMY Masso and Gomez, It Is Believed, Will Keject the Offer, and March on Havana Other News. Havana, March 22. News has just reached this correspondent, from au thentic sources, that the autonomist government at Madrid, is now playing its last card to secure peace in Cuba and prevent intervention by the United States. Near Palo Prioto and ViaJacas Gor das, in the province of Satita Clara, on the wost sido of the Juoaro Moron troclia, are gathered several thousand insurgentB, under command of Calixto Garcia and other prominent chiefs, ac companied by Sonor Masso, president of the Cuban republic, witli several members of his cabinet; also on the west side of the trocha, in the district of Sancti Spiritus, less than 10 miles distant from General Garcia's forces, are stationed 2,000 insuregnts under Generals Pancho, Carrillo, Montoan guedo, Lanclise, Legon and Gonzales. The Spanish commander, Goneral Pando, with General Ramirez, Cliar vez and other generals, is within a few miles of General Calixto Garcia. Gon eral Gomez is west of the Jucaro Moron trocha, within easy reach. All tho in surgent generals, President Masso and the insurgent officials with General Garcia, got through General Pando's lines some time ago, and the hitter gave up the campaign, which was to be a grand military coup-do-grace, in the province of Santiago de Cuba or the province of Puerto Principe. In addi tion to passing through the troclia, the insurgents turned Goneral Pando's flank. It is just possible that this flank movement will be tho means of General Pando's oarrying out a long-contemplated conference. General Pando's purpose, to further which he has or dered a practical armistice in the east ern part - of Cuba, is stated succinctly as follows: To have a personal conference with Goneral Calixto Garcia, President Masso and other insurgents, and even with Goneral Gomez, if possible, and to make them a formal offer of auton omy, according to the programme drawn by the left or radical wing of the party. Ab previously cabled, this offer in cludes, in return for the ending of the insurrection, the disarmament and d ia baniWng ot all volunteers, commercial treaties to be concluded without Spanish interference, a maximum sum of $2, 000,000 annually to be paid to Spain by Cuba, as the latter's nominal suzerain, no insurgents to be Bliot or imprisoned on account of the existing insurrection, and no insurgents to bo sent as prison ers out of Cuba for future offenses. The advices received hero aro in sub stanco that General Pando felt confident of securing the conference, while, on the other hand,Captain-Geteral Blanco, Secretary-General Congosto and the Spanish staff officers of high rank, and many radical members of the autono mist government, felt sure that the proposition, being the best ever offered, and assuring practical independence, would be accepted, that the rebellion would be declured at an end, ami that, consequently, all excuse for the inter vention by the United States would be ended. Suoh vlows, however, were not held when this dispatch was sent by those best acquainted witli Goneral Gomez und bis chiefs, nor by the Spanish Cuban merchants, bankers, editors or lawyers, nor the liberal class in Havana. Tho latter were sure that nothing but absoluto independence for Cuba would ever be considered by General Gomez or any of his principal followers. In support of the latter view it is officially announced that after the efforts near Manzanillo only two privates of Salva dor Ruiz' band surrendered. It is known besides that General Pando, in order to advance his plans for the proposed campaign in Santiago do Cuba, greatly weakened all the trnchas, taking from them several thousand men and much artillery. It is regarded as certain in well informed circles here that Generals' Gomez and Garcia, after refusing to confer with General Pando, or if they do confer, , after refusing tho terms offered, will tako sufficient cattle and provisions from their comparatively well-stocked plantations immediately west, and then Inaugurate a raid upon tho provinces of Matanzas, Havana and probably Pinar del Rio, appearing near hero within 15 or 18 days, which is considered possible. Letters received here from prominent autonomists in tho provinces of Santa Clara and Puerto Principe havo been shown to this correspondent. The writers aro not favorable to the United States; they still cling to the theory of autonomy, and class as false tho asser tions that the Spanish soldiers are un paid, unfed and living in towns, while their officers aro conspiring against tho autonomist government and refuse to tako the Held, either denying the pres ence of insurgents or saying "Let tho troops who are in favor of autonomy fight its battles." Other letters from the same sonces insist that all the plans laid to secure the surrender of tho insurgents have been badly conceived and poorly exe cuted. These letters add that only in isolated instances have any of tho in surgents laid down their arms, and the leader, Masso, who surrendered, it is still further asserted, was proscribed by General Gomez and was liable to bo tried by court-martial, while of the 100 insurgents who surrendered with him at Fomento, mere than half were back with the lusurgouta within a fortnight. DEATH IN THE FLAMES. Many Killed and Injured in a Hotel Fire in liutte. Butte, Mont., March 23. The Hale house, a large three-story brick build ing on East Broadway, used as a lodg ing and boarding-house by miners in tho employ of the Anaconda Company, was entirely destroyed by fire, which broke out shortly after 3 o'clock this morning. So far as known, two men are, dead from injuries in jumping from windows, another is dying and 20 are missing, while a search of the ruins may disclose the fact that many tran sient lodgers lost their lives also. The casualties were as follows: Doyle, aged 45, miner at the Mountain Consolidated, jumped from third-story window, turned over in the air and struck on head. Frank Rhodey, aged 40, lately from Portland, Or., jumped from third-story window, turned over and struck on head and shoulders, fracturing his skull; dying. Hugh Boylo, aged 80, miner at Ana conda mine, started to lower himself from third-story by means of impro vised rope, which parted 50 feet from the ground. He was 'just recovering from the effects of a broken leg through an accident a month ago. Six men were severely injured. There were 250 men and women in the building when the fire broke out. Of these, it is believed about 200 es caped without injury. The fire started in tho bakery south of the center of the building, and had a good start be fore discovered. The blaze was first discovered by Billy White, Jake Yuch and Jack Dooley, who were awake at the time, and, smelling Bmoke, went down stairs to make an investigation. Two of tho men immediately attached a small hose to a hydrant and began to throw water upon the fire. After a few minutes' work, however, the men realized that the task was a hopeless one, and they retreated to give the alarm. They summoned the watch man and rushed to the' upper portion of the building, shouting that the house was on lire. By this time, tho fire had broken through tho first floor, and smoke filled the hallways. Dooley and his companions realized that there was no time to lose, and they began kicking in the doors of the rooms. The men thoughtfully awakened the women help first. By this time, the alarm had been turned in, and the de partment responded promptly. When tho firemen arrived, men in thoir under clothing and others half dressed wore clambering down the fire escapes in the rear. Others, and the servant girls were at the windows in the front of the building, frantically calling for help. They wero cut off from the rear of the builuing by the dense smoke. Laddors were run up, but not before many of the frightened people had jumped. Others, including all the fe male help, were gotten out by the fire men. On the aide of the buidling, many had made ropes of their bed clothes and sought to escape in that way. Somo of them suoceded, but in other cases the ropes broke and the mon dropped many feet to the ground. A SERIOUS BLAZE. A Jersey City Railroad Depot Damaged to the Kxtent of SIOO.OOO. New York, March 23. The Penn sylvania railroad depot in New Jersey City was damaged by fire early today to the extent of $100,000. The mammoth train shed and large offloe building es caped. Much mail matter was do stoyed. Train and ferry traffic is seriously crippled. All of the frame portions of the depot, with tho shed covering the approach to tho several ferry Blips and the waiting-room and restaurant, were destroyod. The rolling stock was promptly run out of tho shod when the firo was discovered, and the ferry boats were simultaneously hurried out into tho stream and over to this city. Thero wero several acres of glass on the roof of tho big train Bhod, and, be ing melted and cracked by the intense heat, it fell upon the firemen and made their work more perilous. The Key stone restaurant, whero the greatest damage was done, was one of the most spacious and handsomely fitted up restaurants in the country. Kallroad to the Vukon. San Franoisoo, March 23. At a meeting of capitalists interested in the construction of a railroad to the Yukon country, W. O. Alders presonted a re port based upon recent explorations and from observations mado during an ex haustive surveying trip to Alaska, and showing that a routo up Copper river was not only feasible, but practicable. It was decided to organize a party of surveyors who are to start as soon as tho weather conditions will permit, probably by May 15. Tho programme is to start for Orca and proceed up Cop per river to its head, and thence across to tho Yukon to its junction with American boundary line. From Copper ltlver. Senttlo, Maroh 23. Tho schooner General Siglin arrived tonight from Copper river. Captain Johnson states that 800 people have crossed the Val doa glacier and are now making their way into the interior. The day the Siglin left Copper City, which is now of 000 inhabitants, the theft of a quan tity of bacon had been discovered. No tices were being posted that the thief if caught would be hanged. Would Affect France. London, March 23. St. James's Gazette, commenting on tho mobiliza tion of the Freuch fleet, suggests that it may bo connected with the Spanish question, and says: "If trouble between Spain and the United States should become acute, it would precipitate issues of great mo ment for France." The common pond frog's natural life time is 12 to 15 years SUPPLY IS SUFFICIENT Food Enough in Dawson to Last Two Years. FROM THE MINOOK COUNTRY Skagway Gambling Houses Closed Down But Few Cases of Scurvy at Dawson Now. Skagway, Alaska, March 16, (Via Port Townsend, March 21. Ben At water arrived here last night from Cir cle City and Dawson, N. W. T., bring ing 100 pounds of mail from the above places. Atwater's former home was in Morrison, 111. He went to the Yu kon country in 1886, and has resided there ever since. Atwater, accom panied by H. C. Pettit, of Snohomish, Wash., left Circle City January 10 and Dawson February 8, with dog teams. The trip up the river and lakes was a hard one, the weathor being bitterly cold. Atwater says that there is food enough in tho Klondike country to last the present population two years. As a consequence of the tood scare the output of the mines will be curtailed. He estimates it at about $8,000,000. Atwater says that many claims which were considered to be only wild oat properties on various creeks aro turning out well. Dominion is pay ing finely, and will have a big cleunup next spring. Sulphur and Hunker are also good, and so is Indian. Quartz ledges have been found on the latter creek whioh look well. There is quite a settlement at the month of Stewart river, but no reports have as yet been received from the prospectors who went up the river early in the winter. On Walsh creek, five miles below Big Salmon, dirt has been found whioh yields 75 cents to the pan. A stam pede occurred from Circle City about January 10 to American creek, about 800 men leaving for that section. At water mot 800 or 400 men from Daw son making their way to American creek. American creek is 50 miles from Forty-Mile, and about 25 miles below the international boundary on the Alaska side. The reports from the Minook conn try aro very encouraging. A courier from Minook arrived at Circle City just before Atwater left that place, with about 50 pounds of mail. This At water brought out. Tho courier had with him a quantity of gold from Minook, and he stated that the pros pectors had struck it rich in that sec tion. Atwater says there are but few cases of scurvy in Dawson. The hospital contains but 45 inmates, and these have either met with accidents or are suffering from chronic diseases. The goneral health of the people is good. As a result of tho agitation here against the "sure-thing" men lod by "Soapy" Smith, United States Com missioner Smith and Doputy United States Marshal Melnnes closed all the gambling-houses on Wednesday night. It is said that an arrangement was made whereby the gambling will bo re stricted to so-called legitimate games, and all sure-thing or bunco games will be prohibited. Tho sure-thing men are leaving the town in twos and threes. The weather here for the past week has been mild and spring like, and the warm south wind and the sun are play ing havoc with the winter trail, which follows the river for a distance of eight milos. Hundreds of people aro making their way over the divide, however, undoterred by wind or weather. Tho snow has ontiroly disappeared from the streets, which are now muddy beyond conception. The strike of the longshoremen for 75 cents an hour has been declared oft by a vote of tho local union. Tho rate now paid is 50 cents an hour, the steamship companies agreeing not to employ Indians in hauling freight on the docks. Lived on Dog Dlot. Seattle, Maroh 21. II. C. Pettit, who arrived here from Dawson City this morning on tho City of Seattle, says that a large party left Circle City in January, with supplies for the Tan ana Indians on tho headwaters of Tan ana river. Tho Indians number about 800. Every winter they depend on a run of moose and cariboo for food. The run did not materialize this winter, and, after they had exhausted their supplies of salmon, they were foroed to eat their dogs, the supply of which was Bmall. A trapper passing through the dis trict became acquainted with their sit uation. He immediately carried the news to Circle City, and a relief expe dition was at once sent out. Down From Copper lilver. Seattle, March 21. The steam schooner Rival arrived today from Copper river. Tho Rival encountered a terrible storm on the way down and was forced to put into Yakutat bay for three days. Of tho 1,000 prospectors that have landed at Valdes, 000 have started into the interior. The remain dor aro camped on the ice at Valdes. The Rival reports having spoken the schooner Moonlight, northbound, with all well on board. The schooner Gen eral Siglin arrived out safely, dis charged and is now returning. Noth ing was seen of the brigantine Blakely or her consort, which left here some woeks ago for Copper river ports. Scheme Is Impossible. Madrid, March 21. A semi-official agency today publishes the following announcement: "It is useless to talk of the sale ot Cuba. The sale could not be arranged, except by parliament, and it is impossi ble that any Spanish chamber would agree to Bell the island at any prioe." FOR THE OMAHA FAIR. Thirty-Five States Making Preparation' to l'artloipate. Omaha, March 23. Plans for state buildings at the Trans-Mississippi ex position are coming in rapidly. The department of publicity has just re ceived the architects' drawings of the Minnesota building, the Arkansas building, the Denver building and the Missouri building. The plans for the proposed Iowa building meet the' hearty approval of the exposition au thorities. The Illinois building is nearly completed. The 'Wisconsin building is well under way. The Ne braska building is practically com pleted. The plans for the Denver, or Colorado building have been accepted, and the coutraot will be let In a day or two. Plans for the Georgia pine pal ace have been submitted. It will be a handsome structure, built wholly of pine donated by the people of Georgia. The Minnesota building will be con-1 structed on similar lines of unhewn,' logs. Plans for the Oregon building are now being drawn, and will be submit ted next week. Other states send as surances that plans for their state buildings will bo forthcoming within a short time. It is highly probable that the states of New York and New Jersey will construct handsome buildings. Thirty-five states have to date de cided to participate in the exposition. In 80 of these, commissioners have been appointed and reports from agents, in the field are to the effect that at least five more states will be organized within the next ten days. The great government building, 500 feet long, and the pinnaole of whose dome is nearly 200 feet high, is nearly done. Tho management finds it neces sary to build several annexes to accom modate the extraordinary demand for exhibit space. THREE' DEATHS RESULTED. Murderous Attack of White Men on a Negro's Cabin. Muskogeo, I. T., March 23. A das tardly outrage was committed last night at Wybark, five miles from here, resulting in the death of two men and a woman. The house of Ed Chalmers, a negro, who recently married a white woman, was attacked during the night 'by six white mon, who had evidently determined to murder both the negro and his wife, both of whom had been1 threatened by white men who disliked the union. A door of their cabin was broken in, and both the negro and his wife were shot down, but not before' Chalmers had put up a good fight against Ins assailants. Tho woman was killed outright, and although Chalmers sucoeeded in driving off the attacking party, they left him mortally wounded and he died before daylight This morning, the body of Matthews, an aged white man, who lived at Gib son station, was found near the Chal mers cabin pierced with a bullot. Matthews answers the description given by Chalmers before he died of one of ids assailants. Thero were evidences that Matthews'" body had been dragged from Chalmers'' house to the plaoe whore it was found. A gun lay beside the body, evidently put there to give the impression that the dead man had murdered the negro and his wife. Deputy United States marshals are investigating the killing, and it is believed the murderers will bft brought to justice. MASSING HER SHIPS. Kngland Gathering a Powerful Fleet In the Orient. Tacoma, Wash., March 22. Officers, of the Northern Pacific steamship Vic toria, whioh arrived last night from China and Japan, report that the British government is massing a very powerful fleet of warships in Chinese waters, and that the British are buying all the coal coming to those waters for the men-of-war. So anxious are they to get it that they send vessels to sea and there hail colliers and bargain for their cargoes paying gilt-edge prices if necessary. They are said to be buying all the available coal from the Suez to the northern coast of Siberia, as they do not want to use Japanese coal. Pursor McDonald says there are now 85 or 40 British warships on the China station, and tho fleet lias been consider ably augmented in tho past few weeks. Among the latest arrivals was the big marine fighter Powerful, one of the most destructive war vessels afloat. FOR STARVING CUBANS. Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma Send Train South. Kansas City, Maroh 22. A relief fund of $9,033 and 12 cars of provi sions and clothing, collected in Mis souri, Kansas and Oklahoma for tho starving Cubans, were forwarded south from Kansas City today. The relief measures are being carried out under the management of the Kansas City Star, and the agents of the Star will aid in the distribution at Matanzas, under the direction of United States Consul Brice. This relief is being car ried free in a special train over the Memphis road to Memphis, thence over the Illinois Central to New Orleans. The United States government has granted transportation from New Or leans to Mautanzas. The principal artioles of food Bent are wheat, flour, oornmeal, rice, potatoes, rolled oats,' condensed milk and soup extracts. The contributions of clothing include a great number of calico dresses for women and children, mostly of the "Mother Hub bard" pattern, made by various church sewing circles. Ssm Francisco's Defenses. Saii Franoisco, March 22. Within three weeks San Franoisco will have one of the most strongly fortified har bors in the United States, and will have a fleet of warships capable to bold its own with a country that has more ships than Spain can send to the Golden Gate.