THE MORKING OREGONIAN, MONDAY, JAmiARJ 15, 1900.
TTERSOFTHEMEN
Those In the Ranks Write From j
South Africa.
STERN WORK AT MODDER R1YER
Description of Boer as Well as Tom
my Atkins Julian Ralph Ac
count of Engagement.
XjONDON Jan. t Letters from the sol
diers fighting against the Boers are pub
lished te large numbers, and in many cases
are- Just as Interesting as the accounts by
trained -wax correspondents. A medical of
ficer under Lord Methuen, describing the
battle at Modder River, says:
"A lot of North Lancashire men were
horribly wounded. I turned over a ser
geant. Mack in the face, dead. One man
was brought t me who had been struck
by & shell, with his face mutilated, throat
cut ad chest lacerated. Oh, God! the
eight was sickening Wood everywhere!
Very few of our men being wounded, I
went out near Sunset to aid the High
landers. They had been lying" all day
under the frightful sun, and their wound
ed were still there. No stretcher-bearers
could advance, as they -were all shot at.
They shouted to me to crawl on the
ground, as, though most of the firing was
over, there were still three or four burgh
ere, with express rifles and explosive bul
lets, who were under cover, and who kept
picking off our men. Some men utterly
collapsed, and all I could do was to put a
pad to their wounds and my whisky flask
to their lips. I then crawled back io my
horse and made my way to some ambu
lances two miles distant to get their aid.
I was under Are all the time, bullets danc
ing around tne. I felt a kind of solemn dis
regard, as I had been exposed to danger
before."
In a letter written to bis father from
Moei river on November 3, an officer in
the Queen's Royal West Surrey regiment
says:
"Against an enemy like the Boers, in
fantry is ueele. The Boers have spies
everywhere, and, as they are well mount
ed, they can move away hours before our
infantry can get within striking distance.
On the other hand, they will never attack,
eind when we advance toward Pretoria,
commandos will be left all over the coun
try looting and burning farms. The only
people who have a chance with them are
the local volunteers. If the government
would only raise about 20CK) volunteers and
send out a lot of mounted infantry who
could work witih the local volunteers, these
isolated Dutch forces would soon be in iped
out. At present we are helpless, as they
make rings around us."
Bombardment on Kimberley.
The special correspondent of the Cape
Argus thus describes a, bombardment of
Ximberley:
'What will probably be handed down in
the annals of history to Boer posterity as
the bombardment of Kimberley probably
occurred Thursday, November 7, and If
ver the farcial elements were Introduced
into such a serious business as far, the
puerile attempts to raze Kimberley can
surely claim it. The Boers had two guns
mounted, one at Schlotz Nek, trained on
the Premier mine at Wesselton. at a range
of something like 3500 yards, and the other
at Spyfontein, 7009 yards distant A
couple of shots were fired between 5 and G
o'clock la the morning, and then the Boers
desisted until M, when one gun, appar
ently a. nine-pounder, firing a French
shell, opened fire at "Wesselton. The fire,
however, proved quite harmless, nearly
all the shots falling in the debris heaps,
and our guns at Wesselton replying and
quickly getting the range. Induced the
enemy to cease firing, and they cleared
off about noon."
The following Is from a letter from a
reservist sergeant in the Coldstream
guards, w! is with Methuen's column.
He was at the battle of Modder River, and
says: t
"During the afternoon some one seemed
to have spotted me from the trenches.
First a shot struck the side of my boot
and struck my rifle just in front of my
face, Ailing myeyes with dirt and splin
ters. I rose up a little, when another bul
let struck the middle finger of my left
hand. I had got on my knees when a
"bullet struck me fair In the chest on the
buckle of my haversack, breaking through
It and causing a slight puncture of the
skin and bruising my chest I have been
congratulated as being the luckiest beg
gar in my battalion."
From the Boer side come reports just
as interesting. A lad of 17 wrote to his
mother after the battle of Eland's laagte,
and the letter is published In the Journal
de Geneve as follows:
Letters From Boers' Side.
"We were on a kopje. Our horses were
behind it In a hollow. Ae the infantry
advanced against us; we began shooting.
When it looked as if we were going to be
surrounded, a certain number of our men
fell back to another position. About 100
of use remained on the kopje. But the
fire of the Maxims and other guns became
so violent that we withdrew a little to
find cover. The general and Commandant
Viljoen raltied us and brought us back to
the top of the hill and advised us to get
under shelter there as much as possible.
I followed the general with a dozen others
to the right, and Viljoen led the rest to
the left
"The English were still advancing, and
they were now within 500 yards of us.
It was easy to recognize the kilts they
were wearing. We fired at them inces
santly. All our bullets seemed to strike,
T had not time to be afraid. I prayed
God and fired on, aiming each time at
one of their men. Tou know I am not a
bad shot Their Maxims gave us back
what we sent them without a moment's
stop. A. few of us, finding our positions
too risky, ran back to where the horses
were, and went off. I was close, to the
general and remained. We fired on, he
as well as I, and tried to get cover be
hind three blocks of rock, when a lyddite
shell burst close to us and covered us
with earth and stones. The general with
drew us a little back. At this moment
one of my neighbors was hit in the side.
But he had strength enough to get to
his horse and galloped off.
"We. were now only fighting on the
kopje with the general, and the British
were still advancing and crushing us in
a circle. At 8 yards' distance we were
still firing on them. Just then the gen
eral fell. The group around me was re
duced to eight, of whom three were
wounded. My friend had Deen wounded
in the wrist but he kept on firing with
his other hand, resting his gun on his
right arm. We could neither carry away
the general nor defend him, and our
cartridges were exhausted. "What now?'
said Coghill, while wc looked at each
other. One of the wounded said: We
must raise the white flag.' Coghill an
swered with a curse. The balls whistled
all around us. Something had to be
none. 'Well, said one of the wounded
Coghill completed the phrase, 'we must
run for it' 'Good luck,' cried the general,
who was seated on the ground and pale
as death.
"We threw down our muskets and ev
erything that might delay us, and then
we rushed down Trom the kopje, for it
was a case of saving our own skins. The
two bodies of the advancing English
troops were within 300 yards of each oth
er. I ran down between them without
turning my head to the right or left
The buliete gave me wings. I don't thmk
that I ever ran so quick. I was lucky
enough to get to the horses without being
hit I could not find mine, but I got hold
of another. Then off I went on him and
managed to get clear of the lancers, who
were pursuing us. I passed the night m
an abandoned Jlaffir kraal, and the next
morning mnged to join the commando
of Viljoen. I don't know what became
of my comrades, -but I hope that they
were as lucky as I was."
Departing: From Pretoria.
The Standard and Diggers News gives
this picturesque account 'of the departure
of a commando from Pretoria:
"The parade of 400 sturdy warriors of
the police commando excited admiration.
The Afrikander men have received their
mandate from the women folk, though
the shadow of Eland's laagte hung like
a pall upon the mourning robes of many.
Venerable dames in kappes, and maids In
I chintz, and babies of all ages, upon whom
the warriors showered, a oenecuction.
clung and struggled fiercely around the
carriages. It was admitted that no finer
or more serviceable force had been sent
off. By the time It gets to the Natal
border It will be 800 strong. It is under
the commandant of police, Gert M. J.
Van Dam. C. D. Shoutte addressed the
men as follows:
" Tou are going to defend your rights,
your liberty and your Independence that
dearly bought independence God lias
granted you and which is once again con
tested. Tou are not going to fight for
honor or money or mercenary ambition
or sordid .gain.' "
From "Wrecked Transport
One of the soldiers rescued from the
wrecked transport Ismore writes:
"The most satisfactory part of the
whole business has been the splendid be
havior of all the -troops. They were as
steady as if we were parading in the
hanracks square. Every man stood in
his proper place. There was not the
slightest confusion or hurry, and they
did exactly as they were told.
"There is not the least doubt that it is
owing to their splendid discipline that all
were saved. Had there been the slightest
panic a dreadful loss of life must have
occurred, as getting the boats off was a
most difficult thing, owing to the heavy
swell."
Plodder Silver battle, with its many dra
matic incidents, its heavy losses, its long
duration, proves a never-failing topic of
the war correspondent lucky enough to
have witnessed It Julian Ralph, in the
Daily Mail, gives a long and vivid ac
count of this engagement.
"A common reliance of the Boer," ho
writes, "was upon empty gin bottles.
Bottles still containing gin and one full
bottle -of that liquor were to be seen
stuck in the loose dirt of the trenches."
Speaking of the Boer losses, this cor
respondent declares:
Boers Conceal- Their Losses.
"First in the mind of the Boer Is the
desire to hide his dead and to He about
their number. It Is from their own that
they most desire to hide the truth. The
prisoners we took all said that only IS
bad been killed, but the deserters said
the loss of life was very great and that
In the river alone 1Q0 were sunk with
weights. For my part I shall not be .sur
prised If we learn some day that In killed
alone the Boers lost quite 300.
J 'After every battle the veldt has been
dotted with Boer horses, In consequence
of the custom of bringing two horses for
each well-to-do man, and in consequence
of the loss of riders by death and wounds.
But both previous battlefields combined
showed no such number of riderless
horses as Modder River. There were
"hundreds of them.
"One word as to that phase of their
warfare which must be touched upon In
justice. In every account we correspond
ents write of. With my own eyes, being
upon the scerie, I saw the Putt-Putt gun
and the fire of the sharpshooters trained
upon our ambulances three times, and
upon our stretcher-bearers on innumer
able occasions In fact, whenever they
rose to their feet (on the right of the
line) and attempted to perform their
work."
Ralph relates with the feeling of one
who suffered the hardships which ladk of
water imposed ujion Methuen's men dur
ing their march toward Kimberley. "AVe
never joke about water now," he says.
"The first time we really appreciated it,
we were starting out from Orangjiver.
We were marching and watchjfng the
day break. In breaking It seemed to
rend the earth's blanket of atmosphere
and let the sun's heat out upgfh u as if
we were so many thousandstokers in
the broiling belly of a ship. 'On and on
we marched, in .heavy sand or" over stones
or stumbling across furrowia ground all
gasping like fish thrown- on a beach.
"At first, our lips dried and cracked,
then our mouths parched, and finally our
throats became as if jthey were coated
with plaster of parls. The hair shriveled
on our hands and our feet grew dry.
Here and there a man fell forward on
his hands and knees, or stumbled out
of the ranks and fell prone on the veldt.
"We came to Finhams, a yellow, Spanish-looking
house. All about, were trees.
In and about its yard horses and mules
passed in scores, and behind the house
the Tommies crowded like bees around
a honey pot filling their bottles out of a
stone tank, while other Tommies walked
around and around a sort of windlass
that pumpjiP new water into the tank.
Every nurrr filled his bottle, emptied it
down his throat and filled it again. A
"water mania, a thirst madness, was upon
the army. We paddled In spilled water,
and the sounds it made in pouring, gur
gling and splashing were as delicate mu
sic to all of our eairs.
"We have learned what war is, and
more about the Boers than we knew a
month ago, but, above all, we have
learned the value of water."
RODMILL MEN Ttf STRIKE.
Will Throw About 4000 Workmen
Out of Employment
CLEVELAND, Jan. 14. At a meeting of
the Cleveland branch of rodmill-workers
tonight it was decided to inaugurate a
strike in the four mills of the American
Steel & Wire Company in this city to
morrow. The strike here will throw about
4000 men out of employment by closing the
four mills, and the number affected in
other states will be very large. The strike
was brought about by the demand of the
workers for a substantial advance in
wages.
"Woman Labor in Factories.
CHICAGO, Jan. 14. Woman labor is to
bo abolished in all factories where build
ing material Is produced in Chicago, if a
resolution passed by the Building Material
Trades Council tonight can be made ef
fective. The resolutions provide that each
of the organizations affiliated with tho
council demand that a clause be inserted
in all union contracts hereafter specltying
that no woman be employed in tho shops.
There are 2500 women at work in the vari
ous factories, for the most part as metal
polishers and buffers, and' on, plumbers
supplies. The principal reason given for
the action of the council is that the work
Is totally unfit for women. It is said,
however, that the council fears that there
is an effort being made by the manufac
turers to gradually replace the men In
favor of the cheaper woman labor.
Farmers' Negro Help Leaving.
MADISON, Ga., Jan. 14. W. A. Will
lams, the emigrant agent, wno during the
past six weeks has sent 2500 negroes out
of the state, has been in jail here for 24
hours to save him from a mob of farmers
who threatened his life at Greensboro Sat
urday. Williams had engaged the negroes
to leave Greensboro for the West, and was
arranging for their departure. The ne
groes have been leaving the farmers In
large numbers of late, and many farmers
are entirely without help. Their exodus
will materially reduce the cotton acieage
for the present year, perhaps from 20 to
25 per cent.
Plaprue in Anstralla.
ADELAIDE, South Australia, Jan. 14.
The health authorities report two cases
of bubonic plague here, one being fatal.
The victim was a runaway sailor from
the British' bark Formosa. . "
PLANS FOR THE CONTEST
B33AIUXG iJviDnXCE IN KENTUCKY
CASEt "WILL TAKE TEN DAYS.
Republicans Claim to Be Able io Hold
the Offices, Even if Decision
Be Adverse. r.
FRANKFORT, Ky., Jan. 14. The hear
ing of evidence In the contests for gov
ernor and lieutenant-governor will begin
tomorrow, tinder the rules already adopt
ed by the committee, contestants are givein
four days in which to Introduce their
proof. The contestees are then given five
days in which to present their sFde, and
one day is allowed the contestants to bring
in rebuttal evidence. Both sides are. to
'be given a reasonable time for argument
by their respective counter In addition to
the general counsel, Mr. Goebel will have
a special counsel, who will look after his
case when certain counts are being considered-
Ex-Governor Bradley and Judge
Yost, of Lexington, and Judge Humphrey
will be among those who will look after
Governor Taylor's case.
Senator Blackburn, who has been in
Washington for several days, will return
tonight It Is stated he will assist Goebel
until the fight Is ended.
The republican leaders claim to have
encouraging news from the lawyers who
are representing the contestees. They
claim to have assurances from that quar
ter that, even should Governor Taylor
and Lieutenant-Governor Marshall be un
seated Ty the legislature, they will in
stitute proceedings before Federal Judge
Evans at Louisville to restrain the demo
cratic contestants from taking the offices,
and that a year or more will elapse be
fore the case can be finally decided, as
It will be carried up to the supreme
court, no matter how it might be de
cided hy the inferior courts. Meanwhile
they say the republicans will hold the
offices. Senator Goebel's attorneys and the
Goebel leaders generally do not think there
Is anything in this claim, as they Insist
that no federal question is involved, and
the case. If filed, w-ould have no standing
in the federal courts.
Ex-Governor Bradley gave out an In
terview tonight In response to the charge
that he was In conference with the re
publicans and the anti-Goebel democrats
in Louisville prior to the election. He
said:
"The statement that I was the agent
of a plan to confuse or terrorize the voters
In Louisville, or bo carry the election by(
force of arms or money, is a malicious
falsehood. The statement that I was in
duced to take part in the campaign by
promise of the senatorship is also a de
liberate He. I went Into the campaign be
cause I felt it my duty to the party and
to the country, especially after the oppo
sition speeches and platform were leveled
at my administration." ,
SENATOR BEVERIDGE'S SPEECH.
Received Great Attention, and Was
Declared. Very Successful. t-
Of Senator Beveridge's speech, the Bos
ton Transcript, a ver'rconservatIve TieJ&s-
paper, says: . jt?
It was intended to be a eupremfe effprt to
prove the wisdom of retaining the islands as
permanent possession; and, from thejSrcum
stances, le of vastly more Importance Im any
previous speech on the expansionlstsmS'of the
question, and la In lin with otnjr strong
speeechea that hae been made whn5uestlons
vital to the nation were under u&tttffelon. It
was expected that In it the best - argument
would be presented, and the most convincing
reasons put forward for carrying on the war
of subjugation to the end and the full exercise
of our sovereignty over the people, and it would
seem as though these expectations were fully
realized.
Senator'Beveridge's eoeech is notable from the
fact that It la the result of personal Investiga
tion of affairs In the territory under discussion,
and, whatever may be thought of his views re
garding the points of constitutional law ap
plicable to tlwj governing cf the Philippines,
the enormous figures that he uses In estimat
ing their future commerce, or of his belief, that,
as "trustees of the world's progress," the
American people can do nothing else than per
sist in their present course until every vestige
of rebellion is stamped out, considerable weight
must be accorded those portions of his speech
that deal with the character of the Islands and
of the people, as wejl as his "Opinions, formed
upon the spot, of the conduct of the war, which
has been open to so -TnUchjcrltlclem. here. His
estimate of the Filipinos Jas indolent, lmproii
dent, with no aptitude dull stupid, superficial
and -never thorough, and as incapable of self
go eminent as children, and, withal, so little
enlightened that not 100 out of the 5,000,000
comprehend what Anglo-Saxon government
means, Is on a .par with tne opinions expressed
by others, but lacking the authority that goes
with the senatorial utteranoe.
The plan of government that he outlines Is
comprehensive, and, under the circumstances,
is of peculiar "Interest Its keynotes are sim
plicity and. strength, and he insists that the
meaning of these words must be written In
every line of Philippine administration. A
protectorate he thinks Impossible, because there
are no hereditary rulers through which to ad
minister government as there are in Java and
in the Malay possessions of the English, "tfhat
ha says about the necessity of sending ideal
administrators, rather than politicians, to the
new possessions, will meet with ready assent,
for, in the wlsa choice of officials lies the suc
cess of the whole project, as he admits that It
were better to abandon the islands with all
their advantages than to attempt their govern
ment by any but the most perfect administra
tion our country can produce.
The Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Record has this to say about the
speech:
Seldom has a young senator, or an old senator
for that matter, received so handsome a com
pliment as that tendered to Senator Beeridge,
of Indiana, by the brilliant audience that gath
ered to listen to his maiden speech. The gal
leries were filled with the best people In Wsh
ington, there was an unusually large attendance
of members of the house of .representatives and
other ductals, and every senator In town was
present. Mr. Beveridge held his audience to
the end of his speech. There were no Interrup
tions and no senator left the chamber, although
Mr. Hoar, who with ostentatious Indifference
occupied himself by writing- letters, got restless
and changed his seat when the joung Indianlan
declared that the resistance of the Filipinos
to tho authority of the United States and the
blood they bud. shed were cue to the encourage
ment and support that had been) afforded them
by misguided sympathizers 1ft this country.'"' It
was evident that Mr. Hoar did not relish, that
suggestion.
Mr. Beveridge has a pleasant manner, a
graceful delivery and a light sweet-toned tenor
voice. He spoke for two hours with great
earnestness, and at times was impressive, and
It was a marvelous exhibition of memory. His
remarks, -which would fill seven or eight col
umns of an ordinary newepaper, were prepared
with great care, and proofs had been furnished
in advance to the press associations. Several
people In the reporters' gallery had the proofs
before them and followed him through his en
tire oration, which was recited from memory
almost without the change of a single word.
Mr. Conkllng U9ed to be able to do such
things, but nobody in tne senate since his
time has had the memory to retaiii so long- a
speech. Mr. Beveridge did not even have a
note to guide him, but each paragraph followed
in its proper sequence.
CARTER HARRISON RECUSES.
Says He Will A'ot Accept Nomination
for Governorship. '
CHICAGO, Jan. 14. Mayor Carter H.
Harrison today formally refused the offer
of the democratic nomination for gov
ernor. He was waited on by Chairman
Watson, of the democratic state com
mittee. It was urged .that it was his duty
to accept the nomination. The mayor re
plied that he did not look at it in that
light
As a result of Mayor Harrison's action,
friends of ex-Vice-President Stevenson
are urging him to accept the nominati'on.
Bliss Urpred for Vlce-Presldent."
ANDBRSON, Ind., Jan. 11, Hon. W. T.
Durbln, member of the national republi
can committee of Indiana, 1bv out H in an'
interview today strongly urging Cornelius
N. Bliss, of New York, ex-secretary -of
the interior, for the republican nomina
tion for vlce-.presldent.
' The CominK Fiht in Indiana.
NEWCASTLE, Ind.,, Jan. 14. Chairman
Hernley," of. the republican state commit
tee, said today:
"With, the plan of organization I have
in mind, we can carry this state, and it
can only be carried by the most thorough
Organization. This is going to be the hard
est campaign we have gone against In
many years, and it Is the most important
one we have had since lS&fe We frequent
ly hear it said that this is an important
campaign, but when we think of the ques
tions presented to the country, we can
readily see the Importance of continuing
President McKinley in office. All eyes are
turned to Indiana. TJie financial bill that
has been introduced in congress by Mr.
Overstreet; the work that has been done
by the monetary commission in Indiana,
tqgether with the speech of our -junior sen
ator, brings Indiana, into prominence. In
diana shall be organized this year as she
has never been before."
FOREIGN TRADE OF CHINA.
Great Increase in Its Imports and
Exports.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14. The latest of
ficial report upon the foreign commerca
of China showing Imports and exports by
countries and articles, and the growth of
commerce during a term of years, which
has been received by the treasury bureau
of statistics,- presents much information
especially Interesting to the public at the
present moment. It shows, that the im
ports into China, which in 1S6S were 64,
943,000 haikwan taels, in 1878, 73,1SS,0, and
in 1SSS, 126,827,000 taels, were in 1853, 209.
579,000 haikwan taels; while the exports
from China, which in 18CS were Tfi.S26(OCO
haikwari1 taels, in 1878, 67,172.000, and in 18S5,
92,401,000, were, in 189S, 159,037,000 haikwan
taels. The imports from the United States,
which in 186S were 742,000 haikwan taels,
had grown to 2,253,000 in 1878, 3,146,000 in
188S, and 17,163,312 in 189S, while the exports
to the United States, which In 1S6S wer.e
5,891,000 haikwan taels, were in 187SI6:576.
000, In 188S, 8,963,000, and in 189S;SL1,9S7,0Oj
haikwan taels.
Discussing the foreign trade of China,
the report says: "So much?-foreign capi
tal has been lately invested in China that
tho condition ort the external trade of the
country, as an index to the national rei
sources, is watched with a certain anxi
ety. "It is observed that in every year
the value of the imports has exceeded
that of exports and for the period 1886,-98
the excess of Imports over exports Is 437
027,679 Haikwan taels, an annual average
of about 34,000,000 taels. These figures
have given rise in some quarters to the
strange belief that China Is being gradu
ally denuded of silver to" pay for the bal
ance, and it has even been gravely stated
that the country is approaching bank
ruptcy. It Is pointed out that China has
not only to pay for her imports, but has
to find funds to meet remittances abroad
for the service of loans, for the purchase
of war material, and for the support of
legations, etc. The depressing picture
thus presented to the imagination has a
tendency to destroy credit, and prevents
.many people from investing in China's se
curities, and It may be well to show that,
as far as can be ascertained, the position
is one that need cause no anxiety. It
must be explained that the figures of im
ports and exports represent the value of
goods on the Chinese market; that is to
say, in the case of Imports, the value
after they have paid duty to the govern
ment and a profit to the Chinese buyer;
and in the case of exports the value on
the market before 'they have been sold
to the foseign buyer and paid export duty.
The figures for 1898 reduced to the value
of imports at the moment of landing, and
the value of the exports at the moment
of shipment, the moment when a balance
may be fairly struck, show, instead of an
excess of imports amounting to 50,5-12,000
Haikwan taels, an excess of only 7,321,000
taels. But we must also take into ac
count the value of gold exported (gold in
China being simply a commodity;,
amounting to 7,703,S43 Haikwan taels,
and the value of the tea sent to
Siberia and Russia via the Han river,
valued at 1,372,099 taels, and thus we have
an excess of exports over imports of
1,754,798 Haikwan taels. .Further, It must
be remembeiod that the figures which
come under the cognizance of the customs
do not represent the whole of China's for
eign trade. There Is a junk traffic to
Corea and the south of which we, have no
statistics, but which Is certainly profitable,
and a considerable trade with Mongolia
and Thibet The large income derived
from tho expenditure of foreign vessels
for provisions and other necessaries must
not bo forgotten, and the sums which are
remitted or hrought back by emigrants
probably reach a total which would be
surprising were figured available, It hav
ing been stated apparently upon good
authority, that the remittances from Cal
ifornia alone amount to 10,000.000 or $12,
000,000 in gold annually. In the absence
of definite Information, the above consid
erations can only be put forward as pre
sumptive evidence that the nation Is well
able to pay its way; but the proof is to
be fouijd in the fact that the government
remittances to Eurppe for the service of
loans, amounting during 1S9S to nearly
18,000,600 taels, are made through foreign
banks by the medium of bill of exchange
against exports. So far from silver being
exported abroad, there was a net import
during the year of 4,722,025 Haikwan taels,
and information from all parts of the
country points to no scarcity of silver,
while tho general course of silver prices
indicates that the metal is plentiful. It
may be confidently asserted that China
meots the whole of her obligations without
any depletion of her currency, and that
the Chinese buy no imports except such
as can be obtained In exchange for ex
ports. No doubt the government Is hard
pressed for funds, but the country grows
wealthier every year."
The following table taken from the offi
cial reports of the Chinese government
shows the total imports Into China and
the arnount from the United States at de
cennial periods since 1S6S, stated in Haik
wan taoR the value of the tael being in
186S $1 5W in 1878, 31 37; In 1888, $1 15 and
In 1S9S, 69 cents.
Total
imports.
1R6S 64.q-n.000
1878 733RS.0O0
1888.... ,...126 827.000
189S 209,579,000
Imports Per rent
from U. S from U. S.
742.000 . 1.14
2 25T 000 3.0?
3.146 000 2.4R
17,163,000 8.19
n 0
THREE BURNED TO DEATH.
Old People" Consumed With Their
Mcrrimac Home.
MANCHESTER, N. H., Jan. 14. A.
Bianchard, aged 65, his wife, aged 43, and
a boarder named William Money, aged 53,
were burifed to death in their home in
Merrimac last night The cause of the
fire" is unknown.
Coal Shortage on the Schuylkill.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 14. Inability to
secure bituminous coal In sufficient quan
tities Is necessitating the shutting down
of some of the manufacturing concerns in
the Schuylkill valley. At Birdsboro, the
plant of the I. E. & G. Brooke Iron Com
pany has been shut down for several days,
but it is expected that by tomorrow suffi
cient coal will be on hand to enable some
of the departments, If hot the entire
plant, to resume. The Reading Iron
Company is practically without coal, and
unless it can be secured a temporary
shut-down must follow. From other points
throughout the valley come reports of
coal shortage for manufacturing plants.
Brother of Ben Harrison Was Kicked
BEAUM.ONT, Tex., Jan. 14. QS. Har
rison, a real estate man of Kansas City,
and brother of ex-President Harrison, was
kicked on the head by a vicious horse
here. He was knocked senseless and his
skull was fractured. He Is resting easily
under .the 'influence, of opiates, and his
physicians hope for his recovery.'
K OF LONE ROBBER
HELD
UP TWO RESTATJRAKTS
MIDST OP KANSAS CITY.
IN
Both Jobs Finished In Five .Minutes
Gapiner People Slade No Re
sistance He Escaped.
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 14 In true
Western fashion, a lone robber, masked
and armed, cleaned out two restaurants
in the center of the city at 6 o'clock this
morning under the glare of an electric
light. In Lewis' restaurant, at 1210 Walnut
street, he pointed a pistol at Stanley
Krushwood, the cas"hier, and tapped the
register while he kept his revolver in
plain view of two customers eating near
by. The contents of the register had been
transferred to the safe but a few minutes
before and the robber secured onlya.
handful of change. " n"i
When he had satisfied himself that there
was nothing more in.- sight, he gave the
waiter and the two customers a parting
word of warning and skipped across the
street to the restaurant of Robert Mc
Clintock. Here the robber coveffed Cash
ier John Drysdale and commanded two
waiters and three customers to hold up
their hands. They complied promptly,
and the robber emptied the register In a
twinkling. He pocketed the entire con
tents, 146, and, backing out of the door,
encountered a grocery solicitor. He poked
his revolver into the solicitor's face with
the command not to make an attack, and
forced him Into the restaurant, whore all
the others still stood with arras up
stretched. At this the robber darted up
anear-by alley and disappeared. Hardly
more than five minutes was consumed at
both jobs, and the robber had plenty of
time to get-away before the scared vic
tims hadv recovered composure.
BOXFILS may JDIE.
Lavryer "Who Shot Him Has Been Ad
r mittcd to 910,000 Bail.
DENVER, Jan. 14. Frederick D. Bon
fils, one of the Post proprietors here,
Who was shot by Lawyer W. W. Ander
son, Of this city, yesterday, is in, a crit
ical condition. Physicians are In constant
attendance. at the bedside of the injured
man. Thil aflernbon a hemorrhage of the
lungs had-.theieffect of weakening the
patient, andWtonlglit- grave fears are en
tertained for his recovery.
H, H- Tammem associated with Bonfils
In .the proprleforship'-oiTthe Post, and who
was also shot by Anderson in the trouble
that resulted in Bdnflls' injuries, is rest
ing easy tonight, and is in no danger un
less complications should set in.
W. W. Anderson, the lawyer who did
the shooting, was released last night by
Judge Butler, on habeas corpus proceed
ings, held In a room at the Denver Ath
letic Club. His bond was fixed at 10,000,
and was Immediately furnished by friends
of Anderson.
LOUISVILLE STAKES.
Entries for Spring: Meeting: Will
Close There Today.
LOUISVILLE, Jan. 14. The new Louis
ville 'Jockey Club announces that the fol
lowing stakes for the spring meeting of
1900 will close on January 15:
Debutante stakes for 2-year-old fillies,
value $LJ00, four furlongs. Wenonah stakes
for 2-year-old colts and geldings, value
1300, five furlongs. Those entered to ne
sold for 2500, to carry weight for age.
Blue Grass stakes, for 3-year-olds that
have not won a sweepstakes or two races
prior to the closing of this stake, value
1300, six and one-half furlongs.
Mademoiselle stakes, a selling sweep
stakes for 3-yoar-old fillies, value 1250,
seven furlongs. TWjse entered to be sold
for $3000, to carryroveight for age.
Premier stakesifor 3-year-olds, value
1300, one mile. Tnank Fehr stakes, sell
ing sweepstakes for 3-year-olds and up
ward, value 1300. Those entered not to
be sold to carry five pounds extra; if for
3000, weight for age, one mile.
The turf congress handicap for 3-year-olds
and upwards, 2000 added ($1000 by the
club and 1000 by the turf congress), ot
which 300 to second, $150 to third and $50o
to be apportioned, as follows: Forty
per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent to the
trainers of the first, second and third
horses, respectively, and 15 per cent, 10
per cent and 5 per cent, respectively, to
the jockeys riding them. Weights to ap
pear three days prior tb the day of the
race; mile and one-sixteenth.
The following stakes (closed in 1S9S) will
also be run: Kentucky Oaks, 3-year-old
fillies, 1 1-16 miles; Clark stakes, 3-year-oJds,
1 miles; Kentucky derby, 3-year-olds,
V& miles.
Breeders Make n Protest.
CHICAGO, Jan. 14. Tho Times-Herald
says:
Breeders of thoroughbred horses have
taken a hand In the turf war between tho
factions of the American Turf Congress
and are likely to wield a big influence in
the deliberations- of the body, which will
assemble in special sess'on at Covington,
Ky., January 25. The breeders are asainst
the shipment of circuit racing property by
tho Applegate-Corrigan-Schulte combina
tion. Their argument is that It will in
jure the Interests of the men who sell the
horses that make the runners. The, claim
is that the more competitive racing is and
the higher the purses, the better is the
demand for good horses. t On this propo
sition, breeders d-'sllke the plan of arrang
ing fixed dates for each of the big run
ning tracksand thus removing competition.
Secretaries of tho principal jockey clubs
of the West have received protests against
the circuit plan.
FAST CYCLING AT LOS ANGELES.
Local Man Defeats H. B. Freeman, u
Portland Wheelman.
LOS ANGELES. CaL, Jan! 14. At the
Indoor races this afternoon, Fritz Lacey,
of this city, defeated H. B. Freeman,
of Portland, in a 10-mIIe motor-paced race.
After the first mile all coast competition
records were broken, up to the seventh
mile. The 10 miles were finished a minute
inside the coast record, made by McFar
land, at San Francisco last 'February,
Lacey's time being 19:07. Orlando Stevens
won a heat of the handicap in 2 i, only,
one second slower than the world's rec
ord. Following is the summary:
'Professional handicap Won by Iver
Lawson, Chicago (15 yards); O. L. Stevens,
Ottumwa, la. (scratch), second; Clem
Turville, .thliaueiphla (00 yards), third;
time, 2:0-1.
Two-milq motor tandem race Won by
.Turville and 'Stevens; Lawson and. Chap
man, second; time, 3:16.
0
Questions of Art.
The Saturday Review.
One person of taste will give the palm to
the furniture of Chippendale; another will
prefer the French style of the period of
Louis Quatorze, of Loula tjuinze, or of the
empire; and there is an Immense amount
of "furniture, no matter what Its style,
which all persons of taste will agree in
pronouncing Intolerable. But each piece
of furniture, bad, good or indifferent, has
accidentally aesthetic qualities, which are
quite independent of its design, and which
could never be even suggested in any auc
tioneer's catalogue. They are qualities
coming to It constantly and Indefinitely
changing from the-positlon in which It Is
placed from the way in which lights fall
on It, ,from. the relation of its curves' and
colOrs to the other objects that are near
to it, and also from the historical or so
cial suggestion which It. conveys. Some
old harpsichord, of the meanest and most
awkward design, will give to a faded room
In which it has grown old, a mellowness
and beauty which the most magnificent ol
modern instruments would destroy. The
unintended, process of fadlnwili give col
ors to walls and carpets which no dyer.
on earth could equal. ,
Few objects, as works or art, can, be
uglier than most modern, racing-cups; yet
the play of light on their silver surfaces,
and the streaked mosaic of reflections that
shine in them, will be as exquisite as If the
cups themselves had bteri modeled by Ben
venuto Cellini. Qr, again, Ie't us take a
garden. A garden long deserted, with the
weeds hiding Its walks, with its rose trees
bending to the earth, and its grass, once
closely shaved, growing long, and tufted,
will qften receive from "decay's effacing
fingers" a charm deeper than any that was
given to it by the care of a dozen garden
ers. ' ,
. a
WOMEN IN THE LEGISLATURE
Experience in Colorado Since the
Right o Suffrage Was Extended.
When Colorado gave women the right
of suffrage, six years ago the whole coun
try became interested in. what waa re
garded as rather an amusing experiment
on the paTt of the Centennial state, say3
Mary H. Klnkald in Ainslee's fOTJan
uary. "The first campaign under equal
suffrage conditions developed as many ri
diculous complications as a comic opera,
and none was quicker to laugh at them
than the woman with a vote. Per
plexing problems had to be met and odd
methods had' to be adapted to changed
demands. Democratic, republican and
populist headquarters were removed from
their old haunts and established la the
leading hotels. Afternoon-at-homes and
evening receptions were substituted for
ward rallies. The pink tea took the place
of the barroom as ,a faptor in politics.
Women attended primaries, sat in con
ventions and served on all committees.
Party leaders were quick to recognize
the executive ability possessed by the
women to whom they apportioned enough
offices fo stimulate Interest in the results
'of the election. Women of all classes
took an active part In campaign worr,
and social distinctions were obliterated.
sion&ii!?B oesinning of the equal sur
flagSpgCation in the United States, there
have eefefadvocafes of ja. woman's party
that shalLhg; a' perpetuarmenace to all
forms of pblitlcaF corruption, n If theso
advocates had hope of seeing such a par
ty started in Colorado they were disap
pointed, for the moment that women
knew they had the right to vote, they
allied themselves with democrats, republi
cans or populists.
When the votes were counted after the
momentous campaign of 1S94 three of the
65 seats In the house of representatives of
Colorado belonged to women. It had been
claimed on the stump that the home
maker would prove herself well qualified
at a lawmaker, but most persons were
skeptical of statements made in ante-elcc-tion
flights of oratory. Within the first
30 days of the session It was clear, how
ever, that In some mysterious manner the
women had prepared themselves for their
wider duties. They understood parlia
mentary law. They could make speeches.
They Introduced Important bills, and they
pleaded eloquently for needed reforms.
At the end of the session It was acknowl
edged that the women legislators had
made remarkable records. The most Im
placable enemy of equal suffrage could
bring no damaging charge against the
three women who had the right to use
"Honorable" before their names. To bi
sure, it was said that once, when a mem
ber from a mountain county had been so
unchlvalrous as to refer ironically to a bill
introduced by "one of the lady members
from Arapahoe," there had been a sudden
retreat from the house and tears in the
cloakroom. Further than that no one
dared to go in tho line of criticism.
Three seats at the right of the center
aisle in the house of representatives, In
Denver, Colo., are reserved for the wom
en members of the legislature. The
places are the most desirable in the hand
some legislative chamber. It has been no
ticed that the women aro seldom absent
from their places. The story is. told that,
during a previous session, one of the wom
en members failed to appear at her desk
for a week. Owing to all previous rec
ords for conscientious attendance, the va
cancy caused much comment Finally one
of the oldest men In the house mustered up
the, courage to make Inquiries of-the othei-
, women, , . . ., L
"Where is the Hon. Mrs. Blank?" he
asked. "We have been missing her, and
w hope she is not ill."
"111? No, indeed," said one of tho Hon.
Mrs. Blank's women colleagues. "She has
a new grandson, and she Is so proud she
has been staying home a few days just
to rock the cradle."
Notwithstanding the fact that some
man offered the sarcastic toast to women.
"Once our superiors, but now our
equals," women, are treated with the same
courtesy and consideration that was ac
corded them before they entered public
life. Smoking ia not indulged In on the.
floor of the house, and no turbulent
scenes hav.o been recorded since the es
tablishment of equal suffrage. If there
Is any lesson taught by the changed po
litical conditions in Colorado, It Is that
men always pay to the true woman the
deference and respect to which she is en
titled. .
Mrs. Frances S. Lee, who Is the young
est of tho three women representatives,
was born in Chicago les3 than 30 years
ago. When 11 years old she went to Colo
rado with her parents, who settled in
Denver. She was graduated from the West
Denver high school, and taught for a short
time before her marriage to Frank W.
Lee, a leader in the Colorado state Fede
ration of Labor. Mrs. Lee is the mother
ot five children. Tho youhges was 3 years
old when tho campaign of 1893 began. Al
though her homo duties had kept her busy
for a number of years, she had been a
conscientious student. She joined the Col
orado Woman's Democratic Club, because
she felt It to be her duty to do her part
as a qitizen. She soon gained the friend
ship of the members, who put her forward
as their candidate for the legislature, Mrs.
Lee was slow to accept the honor, for she
had been too much occupied to cultivate
the art of public speaking, and she hesi
tated to assume duties so at variance with
h'er quiet habits. The club had chosen Its
candidate and the members would not
hear of her refusal to run for office.
The campaign showed that the woman,
who could manage a house successfully
and who could care for a family of .chil
dren hatt the qualities of a leader. When
the time came for her to take up her
public duties It was. evident that tho re-"
tiring home woman could be trusted to do
her part la tho legislature.
Mrs.Lee is of medium height and slen-
ier1 fade shows that she is of a high
Jtruntr. sensitive nature. B.v her woman
liness and her gentleness she won the
chivalrous regard of tho men who were
her colleagues. She was the first woman
ever called to the chair of the house dur
ing a session of a committee of the whole.
The other women members had often pre
sided during the regular discussions, but
When Mrs. Lee was asked to take the
gavel during tho consideration of an Im
portant question there was a momentary
sensation. The honorable member from
Arapahoe blushed, and showed some hes
itation. During the session Mrs. Leo not
only managed her house and cared for
the children, but she found time to en
tertain many guests ait her home. Once
some one. suggested that the cares of
state must be something o a burden,
when added to domestic duties. Mrs. Leo
laughingly replied that any one who had
the executive ability to run a house ana
rear several children ought xnot to find
any duties too exacting for her strength.
1 0
Asphyxiated hy Gas.
NEW, YORK. Jan. 14. John Woessner
and George Lehman, young German farm-H
ers from Iowa, on the way back to thelt
former homes In Germany on a visit, put
up at the "True Blue," a Second-avenue
hotel, on Saturday night. One of them
blew out the gas. Woessner's dead body
was found today, and Lehman is In an
unconscious condition, with few chances
of recovery.
Daniel Pearsal, the Brooklyn manager
of a well-known hat concern, was asphyx
iated by gas in a hotel In Dry streotlast
night. The gas escaped from a gas stove.
WRECK IS UNIDENTIFIED
TEN BODIES .HAVE BEEN LOCATED
AMONG THE ROCKS.
Sunken Ship Believed to Be the Hel
goland, Chartered liy the
Standard Oil Company.
ST. JOHN'S, N. F.. Jan. 14. The gala
has not yet blown Itself out, aad tho sea
Is still too rough to allew boat3 to gtt
near the wreck .In St. Mary's bay. As yet
there is nothing to show the name of the
vessel. Ten bodies have been loca.oi
among the rocks, and others can be seen
floating about.
The Roman Catholic priest of the d 3
trlot waa given by a villager a photograph
which had been washed ashore, apparent
ly from the wreck. Tnls represents a sea
man wearing a cap upon whteh are the let
ters "S. M. S. Falke." The priest waa
also told that the ship has supped off tha
rocks into deep water, and had disap
peared, except for the top of one most,
and that a guernsey with the letters "S.
M. S.'.had also been picked up near the
wreck.
It appears that 'the ship's funnel-name
was banded red, white and black, with a
white diamond. This funnel could not be
that of the Falke, as she, being a North
German Lloyd liner, would have a yellow
funnel. It Is also thought that the pho
tograph might be one of a seaman on tho
German warship Falke,. or one taken whilo
its owner was on the other Falke. Tha
funnel most resemblea,those of the Ameri
can Petroleum Company, and the veteel
certainly had a lot of petroleum on board,
as the ocean Is covered, with it, causing
hundreds of birds to perish.
The Warren line, of Boston, Is known a3
the White Diamond line, although the fun
nels of its vessels are black. The wreck
may have been a chartered steamer with
a white diamond painted over the red
signal to -show her as. a Warren liner.
Probably the Helgoland.
NEW YORK, Jan. 14. The Times to
morrow will say
"Itj Is believed here that the wrecked ves
sel feQn& of three steamers chartered by
tho Standard Oil Company, very likely
the Helgoland, which left Philadelphia
January Stir Bergen. Norway.
"The HaJgoland. Captain Rttter, Is a
steel vessel, 294 feet long, with a tonnao
of 2397 tons. Sha carried a crew of aoout
50 men."
The Durbrldffe "Was In a Hurricane.
LONDON, Jan. 14. The British ship
Durbridge, which arrived at Queenstown
yesterday from Portland, Or., ran through
a hurricane November 24. Captain Mc
Lauchlan and five of the crew were In
jured severely, two lifeboats and the main
bridge were smashed, the skylight In tha
cabin stove in, and theforacastl and cabla
were flooded. She has other sundry dam
ages. Domestic and Foreljrn Ports..
San Francisco, Jan. 14. Sailed Ship
Bohemia, for Nanaimo; steamer Charles
Nelson, for Seattle; 6teamer Miami, for
Nanaimo; steamer Tillamook, for Tilla
mook; schooner Volunteer, for Wlllapa.
Sailed Jan. 13 Schooner Guide, for Coos
bay!
Queenstown, Jan. 14. Sailed Steamer
Campankt, from Liverpool for New York.
WAR AND FINANCE.
Features of rrogrnmrac for the Week
in the Senate.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14. The senate will
probably resume consideration of the Pet
tigrew resolution making request for cer
tain information concerning the beginning
of tha war in the Philippines. Monday
morning. This will be succeeded at 3
o'clock by a speech on the financial bill,
by Senator Rawlins, oCJJtah, If the area
ant programme is foUowwLSaiw.tor Per
t!srew- -will continue- h!R speeK. on fEa
Philippine resolution and after he shall
conclude. Senator Berry, of Arkansas, will
take the floor for a general speech on tno
Philippine problem, if sufficient time re
main to the morning hour. When the Per
tigrew resolution Is disposed of, the Hoar
resolutions will supply food for talk each
day In the morning hour, and after that
the Hale resolution concerning the selzura
of American goods by Great Britain will
be taken up.
It Is Senator Aldrlch's announced pur
pose to press consideration of the financial
bill each day after the conclusion of tho
morning hour, but it Is not probable that
he will succeed In securing a daily speech
on the subject. Senator Teller probably
will speak some time this week, after
Senator Rawlins shall conclude. It Is also
understood that Ser.itor Daniel will bo
heard soon on the question of the finances.
Other addresses on this subject will coma
later.
The consideration of the Snmoan treaty
In executive session will be resumed if tho
legislative work permit, and Senators Ba
con and Money will make speeches In op
position to it. It Is also probable that tha
report In the yuay case may be presented
late in the week.
Headache, biliousness-, heartburn. Indi
gestion, and all liver ills are cured by
OOtf
Sold by all druggists. 25 cents.
Fancy Glassware
Bargains.
It's Wortli Ycmr
Coming Jnst to Sec.
tat Eastern Tea Co.'
tiZC. "vrn-Mnrrfnn ... PftrtMnfl.
22K First St.. Portland.
11C Grand Ave.. E. Portland.
S t
Liver Ills.
nvmg
in malarial districts Tutt's Pills
are indispensible, they keep tha
system ia perfect order and are
ail absolute cure
for sick headache, indigestion,
malaria, torpid liver, constipa
tion and all bilious diseases.
Tutt's Lfver Pills