Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, July 13, 1904, Image 1

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PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1904.
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Hlfc rII"T"nTIIF" USE I ft I safety. At 6 o'clock Monday evening a 1 1 I f 1 II I
Hff' LiV ill lUL Uiiiw -vN'a11 o water rcet high came down LI I L ill 1
H III 111 111! 81 I I I I Bridge and Mill Creeks, which unite about fl I f IU 8
HK' 8 Li! I U BIILa iliLLU S00 yards above the town. The flood J 8 U l II 8
flHjw claimed two vlctlme, Martin Smith, a man
IHWfc nearly 100 years old, and Mrs. Bethune,
HHr an aged woman. It also carried away 23 """
jp Mitchell PeopleEscape
mt- Cloudburst.
B TOWN IS SWEPT AWAY
- Two Aged PeopIeCaught
B by a Huge Wave.
BB DROWNED IN THE CANYON
tMH V
Others Take Warning From
Great Storm in Mountains.
WAVE CREST IS 30 FEET HIGH
Buildings on Narrow Strip Along the
Creek Bed Are Demolished by
the Resistless Impact of
the Waters.
MITCHELL. Or., July 12 (Special.) A
wave of water from 26 to CO feet high
swept down Bridge and Mill Creek Con
yons, which converge just above town,
and. destroyed a great portion of this place
about 6 o'clock last night. "Warned by a
storm of unusual violence, accompanied
by a brilliant electrical display, all
escaped, so far as known, but Martin
Smith and Mrs. Bethune. They were
caught by the flood and drowned.
The main portion of Mitchell lies in a
narrow canyon. A storm of unusual se
verity had raged in the hills during the
afternoon, and the inhabitants, mindful
of the disaster to Heppner of a year ago,
Afetook themselves to high ground along
the side of the canyon- About 6 o'clock
the roar of the flood could be heard, grow
ing louder with the great wave's nearer
approach.
Shrieks Drowned in Crash.
The crash as the great mass of water
struck the first buildings was deafening,
drowning the shrieks of terror of women
and children as they strove to climb still
higher out of harm's way. Far down
ahead of the yellow mass rode a mes
senger on horseback warning those still
further down stream of impending death.
The buildings in the path of the flood were
6wopt away like so much brush. Of over
a score scarcely a veStige remains save
where shattered boards and timbers are
caught on trees and brush, far below the
town site. The business portion of Mitchell
was not greatly damaged, being built on
ground above the reach of the main force
of the torrent On the North Side, all the
buildings, some 2S In all, were carried
away.
Horses Drowned in Stable.
Loneys store was the first business
building to succumb. Two livery barns,
directly in the path of destruction, were
carried away. About 40 head of stock
had not been removed and were drowned.
Every thing else on the way down stream
"was washed away.
The postoffice, Oakes mercantile store
and "Waterman's general store were out
of the main path of the flood. Stock of
these places of business was damaged to
some extent. The Mitchell Sentinel office
was ruined by the mud and debris de
posited. Refused to Leave Homes.
Stories of the death of Martin Smith
and Mrs. Bethune vary- Both were aged
people, close to the century mark. One
account that seems most authentic says
that the man and woman had lived in the
canyon through many such a scare as
preceded the present wave of water down
the narrow confines of the rift in the
mountains. To run away from an imagin
ary danger was to them the helghth of
foolishness. Had not the water risen and
fallen many a time in the canyon, and no
damage been done to life vor property?
"Why should they exert their aged muscles
at the cry of wolf?
But the whelming waters came, and
somewhere far down the canyon are the
bodies of the hoary disbelievers.
The loss will foot up several thousand
dollars. The excitement Is too great to
get anything like reasonable figures.
Mitchell lies 30 miles south of Fossel, In
."Wheeler County. It is the county seat
and principal point of business between
Shanlko and Canyon City. For a half
mile the town, of about 200 Inhabitants,
was strung along a fork of the John Day.
There Is a very steep rise of 50 feet on
either side of a level space bordering the
creek of perhaps 100 feet. The Oakes
Mercantile Company's store Is built on a
Btone foundation on a slight rise In the
gulch. A mill that escaped Is very sub
stantially constructed. The high hills in
every direction from Mitchell are ranged
by sheep and cattle.
INHABITANTS WERE WARNED
Unusual Storm In the Mountalna
Above the Town.
ARLINGTON, Or.. July 12. (Special.)
The residents of Heppner and Mitchell ex
perienced a thrilling repetition of the
great catastrophe of last June yesterday
evening, and while the damage was very
slight at the former place, the Mitchellltes
were compelled to flee to the hills Jot
hpuses in its mad onrush, including the
Mitchell Sentinel, of which A. Helm, Jr.,
is editor. Everything below Looney's
store was carried away, and two large
livery stables with 20 horses were lost.
The Oakes Mercantile Company store,
"Waterman's store and the flour mill es
caped being wrecked, but the first men
tioned lost ten tons of barbed wire.
There was little rain at Mitchell, but the
thunder and lightning gave tho Inhab
itants warning that a flood or a cloud
burst might be expected, so they were
prepared for It. Over half the population
fled to the top of the high hills bordering
the valley, and the others were prepared
for the water when It suddenly burst
upon them. The two aged people who met
death by drowning had refused to ac
company the others to the hills, feeling
that the alarm was unnecessary. Their
bodies had not been recovered at 3 o'clock
today. There was naturally greatest ex
citement prevailing when indications of
the flood were first noticed, and the awful
calamity of last year seemed about to be
repeated.
Mill and Bridge Creeks join just above
Mitchell, the head of the former being
about ten miles up the valley and of the
latter about five miles above town. Ine
sudden rising of these two creeks, caused
by the heavy rainfall up the canyon,
caused the great wall of water at their
juncture which 6wept over Mitchell with
appalling suddenness.
The excitement at Heppnor was even
greater than at Mitchell, for the people
have hardly recovered from the nervous
strain of last year's flood. The damage at
this point was confined to the washing
away of a few footbridges and a weaken
ing of the O. R. & N. bridge at Lexing
ton. The creek rose suddenly, and with a
rush overflowed its banks, but there was
no great volume of water as at Mitchell.
There is no travel over the O. R. & N.
bridge today, a wrecking crew being at
work upon It making repairs to the weak
ened points.
No reports have come in from the farm
ing districts, so it Is Impossible to state
what damage has been done to crops,
herds and ranch property.
IMNAHA DISTRICT DAMAGED.
Houses Carried Away and Roads
Washed Out by Floods.
LA GRANDE, Or., July 12. (Special.)
Among the many minor cloudbursts which
have taken place In Eastern Oregon one
of the greatest for loss of property is the
one reported in "Wallowa County a few
days ago, especially in the Imnaha dis
trict One cloudburst occurred on the di
vide of Prairie Creek and the "Wallowa
Lake. Part of the water came Into the
lake and part flowed down Into Prairie
Creek country. Cordwood. fences, etc,
were carried with the flood and the engine-room
of M. C. Davis' sawmill was
filled a foot or two deep with mud.
On Crow Creek the water reached an
alarming height, but no damage has been
reported. However, it is said that Charles
Holmes was forced to climb Into the hay
loft to keep from being washed away.
The Imnaha district fared very badly.
The water washed down the Trail Creek
canyon, which Is the roadbed to the Im
naha country, in such quantities as to
carry away houses with it. John Hamble
ton's house and several others below, are
reported as being carried away. The
wagon road was almost completely
washed out and the mall to that section Is
being carried on a packhorse.
The Road Supervisor of Imnaha had,
after a careful Inspection of the road, said
It would take $3000 to replace the roadbed.
The weather has turned cooler In this
section of Eastern Oregon, and no more
trouble Is now feared. For ten days in
some places and in La Grande for sev
eral days It was Intensely warm, and
great clouds would come up, but no
severer damage than the above resulted.
MITCHELL IN NARROW CANYON
The Loss by Flood Will Reach a
Large Sum.
SHANIKO. Or., July 12. (Special.)
About 6 P. M. yesterday a cloudburst
struck the town of Mitchell, Or., about 60
miles south of this point, doing Immense
damage to business houses and residences.
The entire town Is situated in a deep,
narrow canyon, which drains considerable
territory, and a volume of water about
30 or more feet high, rushed down through
the business portion of town, carried away
the Red Front saloon, livery barn of "W.
L. Campbell and doing a .great amount of
damage to the general merchandise store
of Waterman & Co., also damaging to
quite an extent the large store of tho
Oakes Mercantile Company and carrying
away their warehouse.
So far only two lives have been reported
as lost, those being Mr. and Mrs. Smith,
who were visiting In town. Twenty-eight
buildings have been reported destroyed,
but definite information cannot be ob
tained, owing to telephone wires being
down. The damage will no doubt reach
several thousand dollars, and as Mitchell
Is a very Important Inland trading center,
this will be felt in many ways.
HEPPNER PEOPLE ALARMED.
Great Rush of Water Comes Down
Willow Creek.
HEPPNER, Or., July 12. (Special.) A
big electrical storm, accompanied by a
terrific rain, occurred here last night. A
great downpour of rain commenced at a
little before S o'clock, and continued for
an hour. All of the people living on the
flats of "Willow Creek moved to higher
ground.
At 10 o'clock a rush of water with a
tremendous roar came down the "Willow
Creek Canyon, and in the blackness of the
night many people were alarmed in fear
of another flood. Outside of taking out a
few bridges, the damage was small in
Heppner. There was considerable damage
in the country "by the flooding of alfalfa
fields and the washing away of quite an
(Concluded on Page Three,
EOOT
Bryan Damns Parker
With Faint Praise.
FRIEND OF WALL STREET
No Progress to Be Expected
on Economic Lines,
ANTI-TRUST PLANK IS VOID
Nebraskan Declares the Success of
the Nominee Was Due to Crooked
Methods, but He Will
Support Him.
LINCOLN, Neb., July 12. W. J. Bryan
today gave out the following statement:
"I shall vote for Parker and Davis, the
nominees of the Democratic National
Convention, and shall do so for the fol
lowing reasons:
"First Because the Democratic ticket
stands for opposition to imperialism,
wnile tne .Republican ticket stands for
an imperialistic policy. On this question,
which was the paramount Issue in 1300,
and which must remain an Important is
sue so long as an attompt Is made to hold
colonies under the American flag on this
Issue the convention was unanimous, the
platform emphatic, and I have no doubt
that the candidate will carry out the
platform.
"Second Mr. Roosevelt Is injecting the
race Issue Into American politics, and this
issue, if It 'becomes National, will make
it impossible to consider questions that
demand solution. The election of the
Democratic ticket will put a quietus on
this subject
"Third Mr. Roosevelt stands for the
spirit of war. His friends present him
as a man of blood and Iron. He believes
In strenuousness and inculcates a love
for warlike things. The Democratic
ticket stands for peace, for reason, and
for arbitration, rather than for force,
conquest and bluster.
"Fourth The Democratic platform de
clares In favor of the reduction of the
standing army, and as this plank was
unanimously adopted, there Is reason to
believe a Democratic statement on this
subject would bring some advantage to
the people. For these reasons, I .feel
justified in supporting the ticket.
Parker on Side of Wall Street.
"A Democratic victory will mean very
little. If any, progress on economic ques
tions so long as the party is under the
control of the "Wall-street element On
the money question Mr. Parker Is as
thoroughly committed to the side of the
financiers as Mr. Roosevelt If he docs
not go as far as the Republicans would
In retiring silver dollars. In establishing
branch banks. In enlarging the powers
of the National banks, and In the sub
stitution of an asset currency for the
present currency, it will be because he
Is restrained by the Democrats In the
House and Senate. Nothing greater can
be expected from him on the money
question.
"On the trust question the Democratic
platform Is very much better than the
Republican platform, but the nomination
of Judge Parker virtually nullifies one
anti-trust plank. Unless In his letter
of acceptance he commits himself to anti
trust legislation we need "not expect him
to pursue a different course from that
pursued by President Roosevelt
"So far as the labor questions are con
cerned, we must await Judge Parker's
letter before we shall know whether the
laboring man .has anything to expect
from his election. The labor plank as
prepared by Judge Parker's friends on
the subcommittee was a straddling,
meaningless plank. In the full committee
planks were adopted In favor of arbitra
tion and the eight-hour day and against
government by injunction; also a plank
on the Colorado situation. If Judge Par
ker is silent or ambiguous on these sub
jects, it will mean that the men back of
him will not permit him to take the labor
side on these disputed questions.
"On the tariff question some little prog
ress may be hoped for. But the Parker
men on the committee "were nearly all
in favor of a very conservative plank,
and it remains to be seen whether Judge
Parker will carry out the definite plank
which was substituted by the full com
mittee." Won by Crooked Methods.
After describing the manner of Judge
Parker's nomination, which he main
tains was secured by "crooked and Inde
fensible methods," Mr. Bryan concludes:
"After having stated that I shall sup
port the ticket, and after having given
my reasons for so doing, I think it due
to the Democrats of the Nation to say
that while the fight on economic ques
tions Is postponed. It is not abandoned.
As soon as the election Is over. I shall,
with the help of those who believe as I
do, undertake to organize before the
campaign of 1S0S, the object being to
marshal the friends of popular govern
ment within the Democratic party to the
support of a radical and progressive pol
icy to make the Democratic party an ef
ficient means in the hands of the people
for securing rallef from the element that
controls the Republican party, and for
the time being is in control of the Dem
ocratic party. This plan of organization
will be elaborated soon."
Mr. Bryan returned today from St
Louis. He was met at the station by bis
family and a large number of friends,
but the reception was very quiet, in ac
cordance with the decision of a meeting
I which discussed plans for a reception. It
was decided that, on account of Mr.
Bryan's exhausted condition," he would
prefer to come home quietly, rather than
have a demonstration. He said he was
tired, but otherwise was all right
MESSAGE TO. PARKER MISSING
Reply of the Convention to His Fa
mous Wire Not Yet at Hand.
ESOPUS, N. T., July 12. It is begin
ning to be a source of some wonder as to
what has become of the telegram to
Judge Parker, which was formally
adopted by the St Louis Convention
Saturday night It has not yet reached
Esopus, and Judge Parker knows its
tenor only from the Associated Press
bulletin, which was telephoned him, "that
night, and from the newspapeis of the
next day. It may have gone astray, as
did the Hearst telegram, which reached
Judge Parker only after It had been du
plicated 24 hours after it was filed at
Chicago.
Judge Parker sent to ex-President
Cleveland this afternoon a letter in reply
to the latter's telegram of congratula
tion and commendation. The letter Is
of considerable length, but its contents
have not been made public.
Telegrams of congratulation continue to
pour In upon Judge Parker.
Judge George Gray wired as follows
from Wilmington, Del.: "Hearty con
gratulations on your nomination, and on
your brave and manly telegram."
Mayor Carter H. Harrison, of Cnlcago,
telegraphed: "Please accept my con
gratulations on your nomination."
J. N. Street, Bellalre. Md.: "The Demo
cratic editors of Maryland, through their
president, congratulate you on your nom
ination and telegram."
Edward L. Merrltt, Springfield, 111.:
"Illinois Democrats like your brave mes
sage to the St Louis Convention. It puts
an edge on the campaign which should
make jou President."
The return here of "W. F. Sheehan from
the St. Louis Convention marks the open
ing of the National Democratic campaign,
which will be largely conducted from
Esopus. Actual plans for tne campaign
have not been completed, but It Is proba
ble that Judge Parker will remain at
Rosemont most of the Summer and Fall.
His friends say that Judge Parker will
advise on tho National questions of Im
portance that may come up during the
campaign. Mr. Sneehan expects to enter
tain many political visitors at his Sum
mer home, at Tweed, between Esopus
and "West Park.
Judge Parker will answer personally all
congratulatory telegrams and messages.
He spent several hours In this work this
morning.
No details have been fixed for the
meeting of tho National Committee on
notification, but It will be in about two
weeks. In view of suggestions made that
Mr. Sheehan be selected for National
chairman, It was said today that ho Is
not anxious for that position, believing
he can be of more value to Judge Parker
In other ways. As chairman of the Na
tional Committee he would find himself
hampered by much routine business,
which would interfere with the work he
would otherwise do. Mr. Sheehan and
his friends, it is understood, hope that
the matter will be amicably settled.
CONTENTS OFJCODAY'S PAPEB
Cloudbursts in Eastern Oregon.
Mitchell, Or., is overwhelmed by a cloudburst;
all Inhabitants escape but two. Page 1.
Rush of aterMti Willow Creek causes great
alarm at Heppner, Or. Page 1.
Minor cloudbursta In Wallowa, Morrow and
Umatilla Counties do considerable damage.
Page 1.
RuBso-Japaneso War.
Japanese reported to have lost 30,000 men by
coming in contact with land mines near
Port Arthur. Page 1.
Russians are officially warned to be ready to
leae Nlu Chnang. Page 5.
Japanese are within eight miles of Nlu
Chnang. Page 5.
Russian fleet did not try to escape from Port
Arthur, but went out to shell Japanese posi
tions. Page 6. '
Political.
Bryan damns Parker with faint praise. Page 1.
Message of conention In reply to Parker's
famous telegrarfi has- not yet reached him.
Page 1.
Dawson men capture West Virginia Republican
Convention, and name him for President,
amid great disorder. Page 3.
Senator Blklns says Democrats are mistaken It
they believe nomination of Dals will carry
West Virginia. Page 3.
Meatpackers' Strike.
Forty-nve thousand employes In all the Im
portant centers quit work. Page 1.
Chicago employers will try to secure nonunion
help; In most other cities the plants will be
closed. Page 1.
Meat famine In Eastern cities is not Improb
able. Page S.
New Tork butchers advance prices. Page 3.
f"oreI-n.
Great Britain and Germany sign arbitration
agreement. Page C.
France will send warships to Tangier, If nec
essary, to make her supervision oC cus
toms complete. Page 5.
Commercial and Marine.
Oregon weekly crop report Page 13.
Change In sentiment In Chicago wheat pit.
Page 13.
Further advance In stock prices at New Tork.
Page 13.
Stockton shipping potatoes to Southwest. Page
13.
Dredging operations of Port of Portland In
past year. Page 12.
Arrival of China liner Aragonla. Page 12.
Sports.
Portland, defeats Seattle, 3-2. Page 12.
High Ball, the Derby winner, suffers a broken
leg at Brighton Beach, and Is shot
Page 0.
raclflo Coast.
Troops at American Lake to flght sham battle
today. Page 1.
William Ford and Emily Bogard found
drowned; supposed to have eloped In Douglas
County. Page 4.
Twel e-year-old boy accidentally shot while
Toledo, Or., butcher tries to kill a steer.
Page 4.
Manager Tom Richardson wins the hearts of
Salem people by Development League ad
dress. Page 4.
Domestic.
Government gives Malheur County unUl Octo
ber 1 to decide whether they will make It
possible for great Irrigation work to pro.
ceed. Page 2.
Santa. Fe Railroad desires J. M. Hannaford,
general manager of the Northern Pacific,
succeed Morton as second vice-president
Page S.
Mayor Jones, of Toledo, O., Is dead. Page 3.
Portland and Vicinity.
Orpheum gambling-house opens in defiance of
city administration, and la raided. Page 14.
Chautauqua sessions open at Gladstone Park.
PS 1- - .
North Pacific Coast Jobbers units. Page 2.
Bert C Ball, automobile owner. Is fined.
Page. 7.
Sheriff Word captures- escaped prisoner. Page 8.
Attorney' C. C. Palmer missing: since July- 6
Page 8. t
Judge Bellinger decides thaUAstoria, & Colum
bia River Railway may charge Government
full rates. P-age 8, . -. ,
Babies' nlfbt at Carnival .tonight Pago 14.
5,000 WALK OUT
Meatpackers Begin
Great Strike,
FAMINE NOT IMPROBABLE
Great Centers Have Only a
Few Days5 Supplies.
BOTH SIDES ARE DETERMINED
Employers Believe They Can Get
Help, While Union Has Funds to
Carry On the Fight for
a Year..
THE TWO SIDES TO THE STRIKE.
PRESIDENT DONNELLY, for union
Wc are fighting against a decrease in
wages. The average pay for unskilled
workmen was 18 cents an hour. "We
asked this be made the minimum.
The emplojcra cut it to 17 and 15
cents. With steady -work, a man could
live on 15 cents, but in some plants
men have been able to work qnly-13
hours a week.
ARMOUR . CO., for employers "We
consider the demand for an advance
In wages entirely unwarranted by
conditions. "We propose to submit
the question to arbitration, but the
union declined. "We have had applica
tions from hundreds of men for posi
tions at less wages.
CHICAGO, July 12. As the result of a
stubborn disagreement chiefly over wages
for unskilled labor, one of the most ex
tensive strikes In the history of tho meat
packing industry of the. United States be
gan today In Chicago, Kansas City, Oma
ha, St Joseph and other cities where
large packing plants are located. If pro
longed, the strike is expected to causo
wldespreak Inconvenience, possibly equal
ling the anthracite coal famino-of two
years ago.
The unanimity of the strike was com
plete. More than 45.CO0 employes are di
rectly Invoked, In Chicago alone 18,000
men are on strike.
The effect of the strike on the food
supply of the country and the price of
meats Is being earnestly discussed, not
withstanding the announcement tonight
that the packing-houses, contrary to ex
pectationB, will continue operations with
out any close-down, employing whatever
help may be available. How much al
leviation in the furnishing of supplies to
the public this course may afford Is a
matter of wide variation of opinion. The
packers declare that hundreds of men
have applied for work, but could not be
provided TIth places.
Consideration Shown Packers.
The walk-out here was started by the
employes of the killing departments at the
various packing-houses. The killers were
followed by the workers In the other de
partments as fast as the current work
left by the slaughterers could be cleaned
up. Thus a3 the workers In each depart
ment disposed of their part of the work
they threw off their aprons and departed.
This consideration was shown to the pack
ers, the labor officials announced, because
It was not the desire of tho men to cause
the employers any financial loss as a re
seult of neglecting meat that was on hand
to be dressed.
"Watched by cordons of police, the strik
ers filed briskly out of the packing-houses,
carrying overalls, rubber boots and knives,
cleavers and steels. The strikers were
greeted by crowds of women and chil
dren, many of whom joined hands with
the workmen on the outward march.
There was absolutely no sign of disor
der. A picturesque scene was presented when
the sausage factories and canneries were
left by their forces. There are 1000 girls
employed In these two departments of the
meat Industry. Clad In the variegated
garb of factory girls, this army of femi
nine strikers tripped blithely along the
main thoroughfare of the stockyards and
were roundly cheered as they emerged
through the gates and distributed them
selves in the crowd of men who had
awaited their coming.
Girls With Them to the Last.
"Wc are with you to the last," the
girls exclaimed, as they stood around and
talked over the situation with their male
companions In the movement
"How long do you think it will last?"
Inquired one of them, looking quite se
rious. "Dunno," he replied, "except that Pres
ident Donnelly says the men managed to
hold out for 15 months In Buffalo, and I
guess we can do as much.",
President Connelly, of the Amalgamat
ed Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen
of North America, leader of the strik
ers, said In a conversation tonight he
believed the strikers would have little
difficulty In withstanding a siege of more
than a year with the strike funds the
unions have on hand. In Chicago 33 local
unions are involved In the strike. Presi
dent Donnelly 'and the presidents of the
various locals assembled at the head
quartera this morning, thinking they
might receive a notice of surrender from
the packers, but no word came. The
packers took the position that they had
replied- decisively to the workers' de
mands and had nothing more to say ex
cept to. emphasize a refusal to pay the
wage scale asked. t
Arthur Meeker, of Armour & Co., said
tonight:
"We consider the demand of the union
for an advance In wages of unskilled labor
entirely unwarranted by conditions. We
could not concede It, and proposed to sub
mit the question to arbitration, which the
union declined to do, and called a strike
today at all our plants. Every department
Is kept running, however. We have had
applications from hundreds of unemployed
men for positions at less wages than we
have been paying, and every day expect
to increase our output We regret exi
tremely the hardships and suffering that
will be imposed on the thousands of men
who are thrown out of work, directly and
indirectly, through the strike and the
temporary Inconvenience caused the pub
lic at large, but we consider the fault
rests entirely with the union, which not
only asked what it was not entiled to,
but declined to submit the question to Im
partial arbitration."
Strike Leader Defends Action.
President Donnelly, the strike leader,
said: "I wish to make it clear that we
are not fighting for an increase of wages,
but against a decrease. Our original de
mand was for a minimum of 20 cents an
hour for laborers. This demand was
amended after our second conference with
the packers In June.
"We then agreed to a scale of 18&
cents an hour, except in Omaha and Sioux
City, where the ecale la 19 cents. The
packers, on the other hand, refused to
pay more than 17 cents an hour, and
declined to sign any agreements at all,
except with a small portion of the work
men.. "The question of wages to skilled men
was not discussed. To unskilled workmen
the average wage was 18 cents, but
when we asked that this be made the min
imum wage they cut It to 17 cents and
13 cents. Men could live on 15 cents If
they got steady work, but In some plants
men have been able to make only 13
hours a week at this wage scale. They
could not live on it No one could."
A feature of the strike that Is apt to
be overlooked is the fact that the strik
ers' organization does not include the
electricians, steamfltters, firemen, engi
neers, carworkers and teamsters. These
make in Chicago alone a total of 10,000
additional men who may, or may not be,
made Idle wholly or in part, voluntarily
or otherwise, according to the develop
ments In the struggle betw een the direct
contestants the packing-house proprie
tors on the one side, and the butchers and
helpers on the other.
Union Stockyards Not Affected.
The employes of the Union Stockyards
here are not affected by the strike of the
packing-house employes, and while In view
of notices sent by commission-houses to
their country customers, shipments may
fall off to some extent. It 13 expected that
cattle, hogs and sheep will still continue
to arrive from the West and the South. "
If the- strike continues long, it is quite
probable that many small slaughterers
will resume business again in the large
cities throughout the country anij that
the large part of tho cattle, sheep and
hogs received at the Union Stockyards
here will be bought and shipped East
It was stated at the yards today that
since the decision of the Interstate Com
merce Commission that rates shall be
equal to large and small shippers, the pur
chases of animals on the hoof for East
ern consumption have so largely Increased
that they are now almost equal to the
total bought by the local packers.
It Is not probable that the strikers will
interfere with the small slaughterers
throughout the countr inasmuch as the
more work they do, the more they will
injure the business of the big packers,
upon whom alone the strikers have made
demands. The Union Stockyards people
are taking a calm view of the situation,
and while business at the yards will un
doubtedly show a falling off. It Is be
lieved that receipts and shipments will by
no means come to a standstill at the
yards and the supply will be sufficient to
take care of the local and Eastern de
mand. Edward Morris, vice-president, of Nel
son, Morris & Co., eald the company's
plant did not have kiore than three or
four days' supplies of dressed meats on
hand.
Arthur Meeker, manager for Armour &
Co., said he did not care to make any
statement with reference to the strike.
The Swift plant has about three days'
supplies.
Arbitration may bring about a set
tlement of the strike, but late tonight
there was little evidence that either
side intended to make any further ad
vances. The packers said they were
hoping to hear from an arbitration pro
posal contained in a letter sent to tho
unionists in reply to the notice of the
strike order sent out last night The
strike leaders say they do not Intend
to consider that proposition, as it was
submitted before the strike was called.
What promised for a moment to de
velop Into a riot was nipped In the bud
at midnight while cots were being" un
loaded from wagons to be used by non
union men Inside the packing-houses.
A large crowd of people had congregat
ed across the street, and as soon as the
work, of unloading commenced a rush
was made to overturn the wagons. Po
licemen frustrated the attempt, how
ever, and placed three of the ringlead
ers under arrest The rest of the crowd
was dispersed after much difficulty.
KANSAS CITY PLANTS TO CLOSE
Employers Do Not Expect the 8000
Men to Continue Strike Long.
KANSAS CITY, July 13. "All of our
men are out," said Louis Relnhardt, who
has charge of the strike In Kansas City.
"All the men of our unions who were at
work came out, and there are as many
again who were not at the plants today
that will not go to work until the strike
Is settled. The men have been Instructed
to stay away from the plants and avoid
any violence. We do not expect the
strike to last long; but we can stand it
all Summer if necessary."
Eight thousand meatcutters, butchers
and others affiliated with their union con
stitute the strikers here. As a result all
the plants are shut down and 13,700 em
ployes in the various departments are af
fected. Those out or affected by the
strike of the mealcutters arc distributed
(Concluded on Page 5.)
WIEETBlGDEFEft
Japanese Suffer Los:
of 30,000 Men.
MINES ARE RUN INTOp.'Vii
r- ni r a t - """Hf J
Hnrro mar Pnrt Arthur ,.''-
1 Jt JJ 11VUI i Ul k IU 111UI -
akes a Dash.
ATTACK IS REPULSED
in i i f Ol xL ". K
mIIL 15 UIIUbBII db uik iimci-w-
Tor tne Advance.
SEVERAL POINTS MOVED ON
Frenchman, Who Has Just Arrived
From Beleaguered City, Reports
Mikado's Forces Have Taken
One of the Forts.
ST. PETERSBURG, July 12. A dispatch
from a Russian correspondent at Mukden,
dated July 12, says:
"According to Intelligence received here.
the Japanese last night attacked posltlof
near Port Arthur, and were repulsed with
enormous losses, not less than 30,000, it Is
said being killed or wounded by our
mines."
Places Casualties at 28,000.
LONDON, July 12. The Morning Post's
Shanghai correspondent says that the
Japanese casualties by land mines at
Port Arthur Sunday night are reported to
have been 28,000. but none of the many
special war dispatches mentions a Jap
anese disaster at Port Arthur.
General Staff Without Advices.
ST. PETERSBURG, July 13,'-7:36 A. M.
The General Staff has received no In
formation regarding the reported attack
on positions near Port Arthur and the
loss of 30,000 Japanese killed or wounded
by Russian mines.
Japanese Capture Fort.
CHEFOO. July 13. Noon. A Frenchman
who arrived here on a junk from Port
Arthur this morning reports that on July
7 the Japanese captured Fort No. 14.
JAPANESE MAY DELAY ADVANCE
Yinkow Not Expected to Be Taken
Until After Ta Tche Kiao.
ST. PETERSBURG. July 13, 3:14 A. M.
The Japanese advance to Ta Tche
Klao is shrouded In mystery. No tele
grams have been received by the Gen
era Staff of the Admiralty since Lieu-tenant-General
SakharofTs dispatch of
July 10, with the exception of a report
from General Kuropatkln covering the
events detailed by General Sakharoff.
which was delayed because it had fol
lowed the Emperor on his Journey to
the Volga region.
The special commission of censors sat
for only one hour last evening, becauau
it was a holiday the festival of St. Pe
ter and St Paul and left without re
ceiving or giving out a single dispatch.
The lack of news from Ta Tche Klun
is not causing anxiety.
The Japanese account of the fighting
at Klachou is offset by the admission
that they are being greatly worried by
General Rennenkampff's Cossacks.
It has been intimated to the Asso
ciated Press correspondent by tho Gen
eral Staff that it is probable the Jap
anese do not Intend to make an at
tempt to take Yinkow before they cap
ture Ta Tche Klao, otherwise they
would be liable to an unexpected at
tack from the Ta Tche Klao force,
which is within easy striking dlstunce,
thanks to the railroad.
The Japanese advance north will per
haps be delayed for somedays until the
Southeastern columns converging at
Slan DIan. compel Major-General Mlst
chenko to draw off, leaving the Sluyen
road clear to Tanchle and Ta Tche Klao.
As soon as the Japanese troops enter
Yinkow and succeed In removing- the
mines from the mouth of the Llao
River, the Japanese gunboats lying
along the coast will come up, out it is
not believed that the Japanese will
venture to land a force or send war
materials so long as the Port Arthur
squadron Is able to go out whenever it
likes.
There is some anxiety here regarding"
a report that the cruiser Askold has
been damaged, and it is noticed that
she was not mentioned in the list of;
warships constituting the squadron on
its last appearance.
CLOSELY GUARD TUMEN RIVER
Russians Constructing a Permanent
Fort Near Its Mouth.
8EOUL-, Corea, July 12. Japanese
scouts, who have arrived at Gensan, re
port that the Russians are constructing
a permanent fort near Kyong Heung,
situated In Northeastern Corea near the
mouth of the Tumen Rh'er.
The Russian garrison at Hunchun has
been reduced to one battalion, tho re
mainder of the garrison having be$n
concentrated at Possiet Bay. The Jap
anese scouts report that they found the
Tumen River closely guarded. A num
ber of Japanese who took refuge at Gen
san some months ago intend coming. It
is reported, to Seoul, as the recent visit
of the Russian Vladivostok squadron has
impressed them with the belief that Gen
san is an unsafe location.
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