-" t J
ill
wttatt.
TIBOY-FWR PAGB
'PAOES1TD12
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VOL. XIX. NO. T.
PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 18,' 1900.
PRICE WFTB GENTS.
GENERAL RETREAT
Boers Said to Be Also Retiring
From Natal. '
RENEWED P1CHT1NG ON THETUGELA
General Kelly - Kenny Captured
Crenje's Supply Train The Rc-
tirentoa From Bench ere
LONDON. Fob. K.IMA. M. The -tear
ofHoe made the usual statement at xald
xagr tbat it had no news, but at about
the mm tine came dtapatohee from Dur
1cl:: dated late Saturday evening, giving
reports of tbe renewed fighting on the
Tug( la, where the censor stopped all tele
ms Arrivals at Durban from the
Tug la cay that Important operations are
progressing, and that fighting has occurred
da., y since the commencement of the
wc-f-k In these engagements the British
casualties have been comparatively light.
Aording to theee unconfirmed reports,
O-w-rai BuUer had reooeupied Vaal
Icrntz and tbe Boers had retreated in the
direction of the Free State. In the mean
t me wounded officers and men are arriv
ing dailj at Durban, and are placed aboard
th four hospital ships new there
Iuspatchee from Zululand, received at
In 'ban, Bay the country to quieting down,
J t alike to the appearance of a flying col
limn The Boers seem nervous and un
certain, and have stayed their advance.
BOER SUPPLY TRAIN CAPTURED. -
Kell) -Keaaj-'s Brigade Seized 78
"Hagroas Laden AVitk Supplies.
LONDON, Feb. 17. The following dis
patch has been resolved at the war office
frm Lord Roberta:
Jaeobsdal. Feb. 17, 6 A. M. General
Ivellj -Kenny s brigade captured yesterday
Tn wagons laden with stores, two wagons
of Mauser rifles eight boxes of shells, 10
t arms of explosives and a large auan
tty of stores, all belonging to Crenje's
laigtr which was still being shelled by
our artillery, when Kitchener, dispatched
fc s messenger "
V ith General Cronje in full retreat and
Geriwal Kelly-Kenny harassing his rear,
fc P s run high that a decielve actios will
vcirr if It has not already been fought
The dispatches from Jaeobsdal confirm
i'lis ! Kt saying that General Cronje has
b r obliged to "outepan," m other words,
'""i & laager or camp. In order to rest
1 " oxen This exnjalns the latest dls
1 a -h referring to the shelling of the
I ttgr, which also brought the long-ex-T
'ted word of Kitchener's whereabouts
That the general who so relentlessly pur
Ejri the Khalifa to his doom is super-
-i f- ng me pursuit of Cronje. adds sreatlv
1 Uf confidence of the nation so eagerly
v c uing iurtner news. If General Tucker.
v h the Seventh division, is able to ef
f et i lie projected Junction with the farces
yasBSKSfflnSS
-ho, .id have sufficient force decisively to
i gape cronje ana -prevent him from
a ing Bloemfontein with an effective
Ii the whole Modder district there is
e h tremendous military activity that
J Is hard to realise the area covered or
Era i the full meaning of the movements.
The Boers, though retreating from Ma-
re fontein, are active elsewhere. A ape
s' dispatch from Orange river, dated
I"rida sajs they are attempting to cut
t'n British line of communications at
raspan, but It Is said ther are not llke-
to effect serious results. "They are,
I wever, undoubtedly making strenuous
effort to cut the British lines to De Aar.1
" t f c other hand comes the news that
rr-v&l Maedonald has agate occupied
IvxkT rsberg
"ft hat precautions Roberts has taken
acrn counter attacks are not yet
I twn but the war office and public are
" uphiv convinced that he to fully
-' to cope with all contingencies, and
" t ir it is within human possibility he
v 1 it flict the defeat on Cronje that is
iruch more Important than the relief
C Kmberiey, brilliant as was the latter
.. 1 k ement While Kelly-Kenny's, or
--. v " Kitchener's, dispatch referred to
ner rear guard as being Crenje's,
j -till doubtful If that general Is per-
v with It, and It Is possible he may
tt; ploying more thatt one line of re-
reported captwre of a Targe line of
I h convey by the Boers Is still net
md officially.
l lichee from Cane Town announce
an enthmdafrttc demonstration
wd the ywneiinesmawt of the re
Lf Mlmtpetley. The government
v was surrounded by huge
. v s, and the British high corn
tier and governor of Cape Colony,
" fred Xflaer. received an ovation
r ef of KImberley was similarly
'M!Ht in other towns of Cane Colony.
t r?t unit of the special corps of
i r called the Duke of Cambridge's
i ft London tWs morning to em-
k at Southampton for South Africa.
" - corps hr composed entirely of men
o s od soewl position. Lord AWnger
" " corporal's stripes, while Lord
i'ur s son Is & trooper. Sack men
1 ' paj Ut for the privilege of Joln-
' In money going to purchase their
c ' ts while their nay to donated to a
' i 'or the relief of widows and chll-
" i Killed soldiers. Immense crowds
he 'gentleman rankers," as they
mod, on their way to the station,
th train started amid remarkable
s i f enthusiasm. The Duke of Oara-
T f1 ard other titled personages went
) Southampton to hid the yeomanry
i Wfll
1 ets reports the British casualties
c ng the fighting at Jaeobsdal as fol
ws One killed. 14 wounded and three
tr st ng
special dispatch from Serkstrera,
c'ed today, says the Boers, with artil
, t commenced an attack early this
c ng on Molteno. near that place, oc-
- b the troops commanded by Gea
." atacre.
queen has promoted General French
! major-general French heretofore
1 z onl ranked as a colonel in tbe army.
" ' the local rank of Ucmiemiil ruilmirl
1 .tenant-Colonel Kekewich has been
r-vBotd to colonel for his services te
-- defense of KImberley.
OCXTPATMK F JACOBSDAL.
British Invasion a Hard Blew to the
Free Staters.
JA )BMAL. Thursday. Feb. K.-Ler
X !e-ts troons today entered this town.
v u h has been In the poMession of the
-i ir sines yesterday The utmost or
" - prevails. The military tv
. -is but not a stick of furniture has
taken A sentry has been li w
' ' -ach store and the soldiers are ai-
v ed to enter and purebase what they re-
i. rt Everything Is so peaceful that the
naoiiants express me utmost surprise.
as it had been dtogenttr reported that
e British occupation mount Instant loot-
F
Ju Igln from the conversation rf the in-
i?-aMtants the Free Staters are weary of
:e war It to openly stated that Pree-
ident Steyn betrayed the people. "When
the latter became satisfied there was .'no
truth in the stories of the looting procliv
ities of the British, the townspeople wel
comed the troops as friends. Since the
battle of Modder River the town has not
been garrisoned, but has been merely
used as a hospital depot When the Boers
fired on the British "Wednesday the towns
people protested. Although the British
shelling yesterday considerably frightened
the women, the shells were only directed
at a ridge beyond the town which was
Intrenched. The German hospital remains
In beautiful order. It Is clean and sani
tary, and the wounded of both sides are
equally well attended. A correspondent
talked with a number of the Boer wound
ed, and they all acknowledged that the
British movement had nonplussed the
burgher commanders. Even now, it is add
ed they are under the Impression that the
sole object was the capture of Jaeobsdal.
"When Informed of the relief of KImberley,
they were at first Incredulous and then
astounded.
News has reached here that the Boers
are leaving Magersfonteln, and are re
turning in disorganized masses to their
farms. The Invasion of the Free State
has undoubtedly struck a hard blow,
which may result in the defection of
large numbers of Free Staters.
RETIREMENT FROM REINSBERG.
British Retreat Was Conducted Or
derlySome Missing; Men Show Up.
ARUNDEL, Friday, Feb. 16. The re
tirement of the British from Rensburg
was most orderly. The railway had with
drawn the stores the previous day, and
the baggage wagons left before the evac-i
uation took place. A part or tne two
companies of the Wiltshire regiment,
which was missing, and the members of
which 'wore presumably asleep, after hav
ing been on outpost duty, have since ar
rived. The other members of the com
panies have probably been taken prison
ers. All was quiet today. No Boers were
about The British outposts are guard
ing the railroads. Reinforcements have
arrived.
DRAWN FIGHT AT DORDRECHT.
Eight Hoars' Engagement Between
Brabant's Horse nnd the Boers.
LONDON, Feb. 18. A special dispatch
from Bird river reports a drawn fight be
tween Brabant's horse and the Boers at
Dordrecht, February 16. The engagement
lasted eight hours, until darkness set in.
The British loss was eight killed and
four wounded. The Boer casualties are
unknown. The latter had burned the
grass around the position, so that the
British khaki uniforms showed up dis
tinctly against the black background. Af
ter the fight, the dispatch says, the-Britlsh
entered Dordrecht but left later;
Captain Slocum nt Jaeobsdal.
LONDON, Feb. 18. Llojds weekly Lon
don newspaper this morning publishes a
dispatch from Modder Biver, under date
of Friday, February 16, eening, saying
that tho American and Austrian attaches
are reported to be missing. Another dis
patch dated at Jaeobsdal, the same day,
states that Captain Slocum and the Aus
trian attache are at that place.
is
PRETORIA. Friday. Feb. 16. It anDears
.from further reports of yesterday's fight
ing at Jaeobsdal, .that 2000 British troops
got through tho federal position at Mod
der River, and entered KImberley. The
federals intercepted the rear guard of the
British, and captured great booty, many
oxen and a number of prisoners.
THE TRANS-SIBERIAN LINE.
From St. Petersburg to Vlndivostock
In Twenty Dnjs.
SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 17. Among the
passengers on the steamer Coptic are R.
A. Neglemackers. acting general mana
ger of the International Sleeping Car Com
pany, which operates cars on the Trans
Siberian and other Russian roads, and B,
BoditI, engineer of the same company.
They state that through sleeping cars
are operated from St Petersburg to Irk
utsk, a distance of about 7000 miles. They
also announce that the Trans-Siberian
road will be completed and in operation
as far east as Strenesk by April, when
it wiil be possible to go from St Peters
burg or Paris across the continents of
Europe and Asia to "VJadlvostock with
out relying upon any of the primitive
methods of crossing the Siberian wastes
which, now have to be operated a con
siderable, distance.
With the line In operation to Strenesk,
the regular schedule, between St Peters
burg and Vladivostock will be 20 days.
This does not mean that the Trans-Siberian
railway is completed. By using the
big passenger steamers on the Amoor
river, however, the trip across two con
tinents can be made in comfort
Fisrhts With Chinese Pirates.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 17. According
to news brought by the Coptic, pirates
are causing much trouble in Chinese
waters. The government seems power
less to stop their depredations. During
the early part of last month the crew of
a steam launch from the British gunboat
Tweed, stationed near Choutou Chang,
China, had a lively fight with pirates,
who are now known in the Orient as the
"Order of the Red Flag." Several pirates
were killed, a number wounded, and one
British bluejacket was shot through the
chest
Other fights have been reported near
Canton, and merchant vessels and boats
have been held up and robbed.
Will Testify for Macrnm.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 17. Charles
Grote, formerly superintendent of mines
in the Transvaal, but who returned to
this country after the breaking out of
the war for the reason, as he states, that
he could not get his American papers ow
ing to the interference by the British
with ex-Consul Macrum's mail, wiH leave
for Washington tomorrow to meet Mr.
34acrum, and to testify before a congres
sional committee should his testimony be
desired.
Aalc for Free Hides.
SAN -FRANCISCO. Feb. 17. The local
leather men, through a committee ap
pointed at a recent meeting, have for
warded a resolution to the California dele
gation In congress, asking for a repeal
of the duty of 15 per cent on hides and
for the restoration of hides to the free
list
a
Declined by Sampson.
BOSTON, Feb. 17 Rear-Admiral Samp
son has been offered and declined the
woAlrionc.v ef the Massachusetts Ine-ttttita
f of .technology. The offer was a-surprise-.
as It wasv thought that the question of
& suobesser td President James M. Craft
who retired in June, had been laid, aside
te ajvait the action of the trustees.
B
"Wood Alcohol Killed Indians.
BUTTE, Mont, Feb. 17. Some of a
band of Cree Indians camped near town
came to the city to get a quantity of al
cohol. By mistake they were given
wctod alcohol. Three of the band, two
bucks and a squaw, drank it They all
three died In great agony.
CLEARED. OF BOERS
British Now in Control of the
Western Border.
MAFEK1NG WILL BE RELIEVED
Honors in Store for Roberts, Kitch
ener and French Colonials
in the Front RanJ.
NEW YORK, Feb. 17. A dispatch to
the Tribune from Dondon 6ays:
The western border has been cleared by
General Roberts' first stroke, since the re
lief of KImberley carries Mafeking with
it and secures British, control of the Bar
kly West district and Bechanaland. Gen
eral French, by leading the way to KIm
berley, has become tbe Sheridan of this
campaign, while "Bobs," halting in tri
umph at Jaeobsdal before turning east
ward, Is in a fair way to win a duke
dom If he goes on. without check or re
verse to Bloemfontein and Pretoria. Nor
ought .Kitchener to be left out of view.
He has transformed an immobile British
forcejajWhich was tied up to railways, into
an army remarkable for mobility, with a
system of flying transport, and if all goes
well he seems destined, at the end of the
campaign, to succeed Lord Wolseley as
commander-in-chief, and to reorganize the
military forces of the Britisn empire.
Various suggestions are put forth as to
the movements of General Cronje and Dr.
Leyds, wh6 has been interviewed with
respect to the situation, has expressed
the opinion that the Boer commandant
has' deliberately allowed General French
to enter KImberley, so as to cut him off
from communication with his commander-in-cblef.
London is fairly ringing with praises of
General French. Every mounted officer
will now want to serve under h m. It is
learned that the young Duke of West
minster, wiho is a stepson of George Wynd
ham, will join French's division when he
arrives at the Cape, and not serve on
Sir Alfred Milner's staff.
KImberley has been, invested 123 days.
The garrison cons'-sted of 2500 men, in
cluding half a battalion of the North Lan
casblres and a detachment of the Black
Watch, and five bodies of local forces.
Cecil Rhodes has been the chief organ
izer of a most gallant defense, but Colonel
Kekewich has been a commander second
only to Baden-Powell in resource and
practical ability.
One feature of Lord Roberts campa'gn
is the prominence which he gives to the
colonial forces. It recalls his remark at
the queen's Jubilee, when he was at the
head of the colonial contingents, that he
boped to have them under his command If
he were ever called upon to take the field.
Lord Roberts has rallied tbe local volun
teers for the defense of the colonies, and
is making large use of them In this cam
paign. the skeleton army left behind at Coles
berg Is regarded by military men here
as an affair of slight importance. Gen
eral Roberts takes the situation lightly
enough. Boer accounts describe tbe cap
ture of one line of kopjes after another,
with heavy British losses. Five Dutch
commanders are named, so that it is clear
that a large force has been concentrated
In that quarter.
Lord Roberts' striking success has
caused an Intense feeling of relief through
out England It has also spiked the guns
wnlch Lord Rosebery and Mr. Campbell
Bannerman have opened up on the min
isters' new measure of national defense. s
A WAR EXPERT'S OPINION.
Thinks the Boers Have Entirely
Abandoned "Western Country.
LONDON, Feb. 17. The Morning Leader
expert thinks the Boers have entirely
abandoned KImberley and the Modder
river points. He adds:
"It is scarcely likely that the Boers will
waste many men by further opposing Gen
erals Gatacre and Clements. We do not
think they -will hold on long In any part of
Cape Colony. But what will be the effect
on Ladysmlth? Will the Free State men
hang on there while their own land and
families will have fallen or are about to
fall under the care of the advancing Brit
ish?" H. W. Massingham, formerly tho editor
of the Chronicle, writes as follows to the
Morning Leader, under the ieadlng:
"What Will America tfo?"
"A new world power has arisen the
great American people.
'President McKlnley and Secretary of
State Hay share, I believe, the opinion
of the minority of Englishmen that
the war In South Africa is an error and
a crime but they remember that thanks
to the press from below the British gov
ernment, the English government was be
nevolently neutral In the Spanish war.
Therefore, so far as public opinion will
allow them, they would like to sail on an
even keel In South Africa. But as they
well know, behind them lies ajnlghty and
an ungovernable force, expressing itself
with absolute freedom, forcing its will on
party managers, knocking Imperatively at
the doors of tbe president
"Because a few American ladles, who
had married or fought their way into En
glish society, started a hospital ship, it
was imagined that American sympathies
were with British power. Nothing can bs
more unfortunate than any political action
that comes from such quarters and blessed
by such negllgable persons as Smalley, a
New York correspondent
"America Is not pro-English, and never
-will be. America Is profoundly attached to
the republican principle. She will not sec
it weakened to the profit of her ancient
mistress. The great popular newspapers
like the World have been quick to read
this sign of the American temper. Hos
tile Intervention on the part of America
would not be tolerated; but what if, using j
tne maenmery oi Tne Hague conference, or
acting upon a hint from private sources,
America were to propose a policy of mu
tual disarmament?"
The writer then suggests this basis of
intervention:
"Demolition of the Boer government.
"Withdrawal of the British army, except
the Durban and Cane Town garrisons.
"An International guarantee of the inde
pendence of the republics, subject to Brit
ish control of their foreign affairs.
"Five year naturalization for Ultland
ers. ""
"The South African states and colonies
to meet in convention one year after the
close of the war to arrange a confedera
tion." '
Krnger Not Uneasy.
NEW YORK, Feb. 17. A dspatch which
President Kruger is said to hae sent to
The Hague since the successful movement
of General French for the relief of KIm
berley reached a former official of Hol
land in this city today. The message,
which was apparently sent with a view
to quieting the apprehensions of friends of
the Boers, reads:
"No uneasiness. General operations in
the west fully planned."
The recipient of this dispatch, who con-
ceals his Identity from the public, re
ceived and published the dispatch an
nouncing the defeat of the British at
Spionkop 24 hours before the news of that
event was made known through British
sources.
More American Flour Seized.
PORT ELIZABETH, Feb. 18. The Brit
ish steamer Sabine, Captain Taylor, from
New York January 4, with a miscel
laneous cargo, has been seized by the
British gunboat Thrush and. brought to
Algoa bay on suspicion of having on
board articles of contraband of war. "Be
fore the Sabine sailed from New York it
was rumored that she had on bpard a
large quantity of provisions, arms and
ammunition, army blankets and general
suipuca, uui uu uunuiuiciuim ui ( uie ru
mor could be obtained. The vessel was
cleared for Delagoa bay. ,
Canadians Given a Show.
MONTREAL, Feb. 17. A cable dispatch
to the Star dated Jaeobsdal, February 15,
says tho Royal Canadian regiment was1
given a show In the operations which
have resulted In the occupation of Jaeobs
dal by the British forces. The Canadians
were in the Ninth division and partici
pated In ah attack at Waterfall. In the
advance from Wafegedrall six Canadians!
fell out and are either in the hospital or
captured.
General Hntton's Opinion.
NEW YORK, Feb. 17. Major-General E.
P. Hutton, who recently resigned "his post
as general commander of the militia in
Canada, and who is en route to South
Africa for special service, arrived in this
city last night, and will sail for England
today. When questlonea concerning the
news from KImberley, he said:
"It does pot amount to much. You can
not hold a town with a few mounted men."
Reported Effort at Mediation.
PARIS, Feb. 18. The London' corre
spondent of the Figaro says he learns
that President McKlnley recently sound
ed Lord Pauncefote with a view of as
certaining how an offer of mediation in
the Transvaal difficulty on the part of
the United States would be received, and
that the English reply was that such an
offer, made officially, would be consid
ered an unfriendly act
Attnck on Vaalkrantz,
LONDON, Feb. 17. A dispatch to the
Evening News from Lourenco Marques,
dated today, says from Boer sources it Is
reported that the British are attacking the
Boer position at "Vaalkrantz, and that the
Boers arc still holding the position. This
report is probably lndentlcal with the
bombardment of Blauwkrantz, announced
yesterday.
No Tclegrrama for KImberley.
NEW YORK, Feb. 17. The Commercial
Cable Coiripany this morning sent out tho
following notice:
"The British postoffice requests us to
cancel yesterday's notice in regard to KIm
berley. There Is no telegraphic communi
cation at present with KImberley."
Canadians Reach the Cape
CAPE TOWN, Feb. 17. The! British
which sailed from HamaxjJanuj.JO
with the first artillery section ofTHesetS 1
ond Canadian contingent of troops for ejr
viceTagalnst the Boers, arrived at this'port
today.
M'KINLEY'S POLICY.
Attltuuo of the Administration
To-
ward Our New Possessions.
NEW YORK, Feb. 17. The World to
morrow will publish a summary of a long
statement made by President McKlnley
to Henry Loomls Nelson as to the Ameri
can policy toward the nov?ly acquired isl
ands. The article is -vouched for as an au
thoritative interpretation of the president's
views. According to Mr. Nelson, "It Is
Mr. McKinleys belief, and It will be his
purpose to carry the belief into operation,
that the constitution does not apply to any
of our new islands; that those people are
not fit for self-government, beyond that
proposed for Hawaii; that our new pos
sessions must not be permitted to Injure
any of our protected Interests, and that
free trade with Puerto Rico is right be
cause our protected interests will not be
Injured thereby.
"The president believes and this is the
most Important statement that can pos
sibly be made tpuching his beliefs that
congress has plenary power over Hawaii,
Puerto Rico and the Philippines. He holds
that congress may pass one tariff law 'for
Puerto Rico, another for Hawaii, another
for the Philippines, and that all may be
different from that of the United States.
"It does not appear llkery to his mind
that any question can ever1 arise as to
the civil rights of the people of these
places. McKlnley's attitude, then, toward
the natives is benevolent. He desires to
elevate them, to educate them, and he
hopes that. In the end, they will become
worthy of being entrusted with local self
government He does not think any Of
these natives worthy now, except the few"
In Hawaii upon whom it to Intended to be
stow the suffrage a few mote than pos
sessed the suffrage under the Dole gov
ernment "Mr. McKlnley holds that the constitu
tion only applies to a territory when It
is set up by a treaty or by legislatiqnw
Upon this point there are authorities In
his favor, but he goes beyond the authori
ties and holds that congress Is not bound
by tho limitations of the constitution
when It enters upon the task of lcglsla
lng, i. e., it may refuse to the natives
and to the American citizen , who may
go to our colonies the right of Jury trial,
the right of free speech, the right to bear
arms, the right of peaceable assemblage
and of petition, freedom from unwarrant
able arrest freedom from search all those
rights which the constitution guards jeal
ously.
"But the main purpose of tho president
is to deal with the Islands as markets
for American products, and .as the sub
jects of commercial exploitation gener
ally. -"One thing is settled definitely in re
spect to the Philippines. The open door
Is not to be applied to them. The repub
lican party will not consent to give to the
Asiatic world an opportunity to land Its
goods In the Philippines free of duty to
enjoy whatever modified tariff there may
be established between the Philippines and
this country."
a
Negro Fiend Iyncbcd.
AIKEN, S. C, Feb. 17. Will Burts, a
negro, was lynched near Baskett mills,
eight miles north of Aiken- today, by a
mob of 250- men. Last Monday night
Burns attempted to. assault Mrs. C. L.
Weeks, a. planter's wife. He escaped, and
a posse captured him, last night When
Burts was strung up, the rope broke. The
rope was tied and Burts agajnswung up,
the crowd emptying their guns Into his
body, Burts confessed to attempting to
cut Mrs. Weeks throat, and said he told
her he would kill her.
iqi
Turkish Decoration for Lonbei.
PARIS, Feb. 17 The sultan's envoy,
Munir Bey, presented President Loubet
today with the insignia and grand
cordon of the Order of Nichimlmaz, the
highest decoration in the Turkish empire,
which the sultan sent specially by Murdr
Bey, the envoy, and his suite.
HouseCommktee'sRecommen
dation of Hepburn -Measure. '
ADVANTAGES OF THE "ENTERPRISE
Estimates of Cost and Revenue Tne
International Aspect o&
. the Case.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 17.- Chairman
Hepburn, of the house committee on in
terstate and foreign commerce, today
submitted the report of the committee in
favor of the Hepburn bill for construct
ing the Nicaragua canal. The report says
m part:
"If the provisions of the bill can be
carried out, the United States will, within
a. few years, be in full ownership and
control of a waterway connecting the
oceans that it can defend and that it can
use In the Interests of Its navy and its
merchant marine, as wisdom may dictate.
"There seems to be but little ddubt
that the states of Nicaragua and Costa
Rica will give their consent for the con
struction of this great work. It will tra
verse either the border or the interior
of Nicaragua for a distance of about 190
miles. It will give to that state a water
way from its capital and its most pro
ductive region to tlje sea. It will place
that country on one of the" great water
ways of the world, bringing it into im
mediate contact with a large foreign
commerce and those who conduct It In
very many ways the state will have ad
vantages not now possessed and that will
be for a long time lost If another route
by which the oceans are connected should
be adopted. All of these considerations
Induce the belief that these two enlight
ened states will be glad to aid our gov
ernment cordially and efficiently in carry
ing out this great design."
After reviewing the several surveys,
the report continues:
"These reports above referred to, In
the opinion of engineers and scientists
believed to be entirely competent for their
work, justify your committee in recom
mending the undertaking of the enter--prire
as one entirely practicable and one
that can be completed for a sum of
money, the expenditure of which will be
wise. It Is true that the estimates of
cost are variable, ranging, as they do,
from less than $40,000,000 to a possible
5145.000,000. It is, however, proper to say
that the size and character of the canal
estimated for is as variable as is "the
cost"
Probable Income of the Canal.
Dealing with the varying estimates as
to the probable income of the canal, the
report says:
"One gentleman has said that In his
Judgment not more than 300,000 tons would
pass through the canal annually. An
other has said that 11,000.000 tons would
nass thro itch the canal. ' Gentlmn mn.
"MtjedTwlth the Maritime?1 Canal Company
Kftye ic as- uieir opinion tnat tj.WJ.iw or
.009,000 of tonnage would bo. the amount
that would pass through tha canal annually-
Of coUrse, we have the right to
assume that whatever the amount be, it
would be an increasing" amount from year
to year. At present, $1 65 per ton is the
toll charged for the use of the Suez canal.
If that rate was tho rate charged at the
Nicaragua canal and 4,000,000 be the ton
nage passing through It, an aggregate
sum Of-'more than- $6,000,000 would be the
receipts. It Is estimated that the cost
of maintaining and operating the canal
would be $l,000,06o annually. If the United
States borrowed the money to Invest in
the enterprise this sum would pay the
annual interest the cost of maintaining
and operating and le&ve a surplus of more
than $1,000,000. And with the Increasing
tonnage, we might reasonably hope for
such accumulations of surplus- that would
In a few years fully reimburse the gov
ernment for, Its outlay.
"Your committee are aware that there
are a mimber of persons who claim to
have concessions from the government of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica Investing them
with rights to navigate the San Juan
river and Lake Nicaragua, Others claim
to be authorized to conduct this great
waterway connecting the oceans. But It
is believed, by your committee that these
rights have either lapsed or are of in
considerable value or have been obtained
for speculative purposes- However this
may be, it should be the purpose of the
government to deal directly with the gov
ernments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
These governments can adjust all ques
tions growing out of these concessions
much more easily than the United States.
It is our opinion that the people of the
United States want a government canal,
one that will be completely under the
control of the United States."
Clayton-Bnlwer Treaty.
After alluding to the possible Interna
tional objections to the. building and con
trol of the canal by this nation alone,
owing to the advantages that would ac
crue to the United States navy, the report
says:
"We want to increase our power upon
the high seas. -Our people are Intent on
having their full share of tbe commerce of
the world. The canal is an aid in that di
rection. It is true that It. will disturb the
conditions of equality that now exist, but
every effort that the truccessful merchant
makes is an effort to disturb this equality
and to secure advantages for himself.
Steamships Instead of sail vessels, the
huge vessel of today instead of the small
er one of 60 years afeo, improvements In
machinery, in manufacture, all of these
are efforts to disturb the equality of con
ditions that exist between merchants. They
are all deemed justifiable, praiseworthy,
and the securement ot this short route Is
only an effort of greater magnitude In this
same direction. We save 10,000 miles In
the passage to China over the old route
by way of Cape Horn. Our government
would have precisely the same right to
take offense at the use of the Suez canal
by British merchants as would the Eng
lish government at our using the Nica
ragua canal.
"There are persons who say that we are
bound by treaty stipulations with the gov
oouna oy treaty stipulations w.tn tne gov-
ernment of Great Britain to refrain frond
carrying out this great enterprise. This
statement we don't believe, we recognize
the fact that 50 years ago the United
States and Great Brltkln entered Into an
alliance to secure the mlldlng of the Nica
ragua canal. Any person who dispassion
ately studies carefully that treaty must
come to the conclusion that the primary
stipulations In the Clayton-Bulwer con
vention, looked to the Immediate building
ofa canal under Influences that might be
exercised by the two governments, rather
than a prohibition of either to build It."
After quoting the treaty, the report goes
on:
"Great Britain has allowed 50 years to
elapsewlthQut any movement on her part
to .carry out the provisions of that article
It has been a dead letter from the day
the treaty was signed to the present mo
ment And the provision of the first arti
cle were agreed to necessarily in connec
tion with the seventh, that neither gov
ernment shall have exclusive control over
said ship canal, jtolng the ship canal that
was provided foPPin the seventh article,
and which means tbe two nations were to
use their friendly offices In immediately se
curing. "We are blandly told that, notwithstand
ing the failure f England to observe the
letter of the seventh article and the spirit
of the first article, we are bound by
a treaty of alliance entered into 59 years
ago.
Chances in Fifty Years.
"The last 60 years has wrought a re
markable change In our relations to a
waterway crossing, the isthmus; 1860 was
only four years removed from our first
occupation of California. It was qnly four
years later than the passage of the
first party of emigrants from the Missis
sippi river, under the protection of a. mili
tary force, to Oregon, It was but two
years after the cession of large landed in
terests on the Pacific coast from Mexico.
It was only three years after settlement
of the disputed boundary of our North
west Pacific possessions. In 1860, not more
than 10,000 inhabitants were on the Pa
cific coast Our coastwise trade with that
coast was insignificant In value or amount
Now we have millions of citizens living
on that coast. We have hundreds of mil
lions of commerce; we have thousands of
millions of wealth. We have acquired
Alaska, Hawaii artd the Philippines. There
is no comparison between the meager in
terests of 50 years ago and the colossal
Interests of today. The necessity of re
sponding to these changed conditions is
so overwhelming that the most censorious
of those who lead In the formation of
the world's judgment would say that our
present action must bj In harmony with
these new conditions, rather than the old.
There Is a law of self-preservation that
should control the action of communities
no less than of IndlvMuals."
The report quotes Professor Lawrence
In "Principles of International Law," in
which he discusses the extent to which
treaties are binding. The report then
proceeds:
"We think It safe to say that neither
tho United States nor Great Britain has
continuously regarded the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty as in force. In 1SS8 the United
States and Nicaragua exchanged ratifica
tions of a treaty of friendship, commerce
and navigation. It gives to the United
States the right to send its forces Into
Nicaragua to defend the citizens of the
United States and their property, the prop
erty In contemplation being the Nicaragua
canal. The use of a military force always
implies the right to establish fortifications
for defensive purposes."
SOLDIERS AND POLICE FOUGHT
Riot Precipitated by Negro Regnlara
at El Puso.
EL PASO, Tex., Feb. 17. At 5 o'clock
this morning a mob of negro soldiers
from Fort Bliss attacked the city police
station with the object of releasing two
of their comrades who had been arrested
yesterday. During the fight, Police Of
ficer Stewart and one negro soldier were
killed, and It is believed another pf the
soldiers is wounded.
Yesterday afternoon the police1 locked
up a corporal from the fort for being
drunk and threatening to chase the po
lice force out qf the city, and last night
another drunken soldier was arrested.
comrades of the prisoners took thesn
to the post. Arescuo d
xvrag-jergensens, was orKaaiz
just before daylight a descent was made
on the, city. A few minutes before S
o'clock two of the soldiers, rifles In band,
entered the police station and demanded
of Officer Stewart the only man on duty,
the surrender of their comrades. Stewart
ordered the men out of the station, and j
tney opened fire on him. Jailor Richard
Blacker, who sleeps in a room adjoin
ing the station office, aroused by thej
snots, sprang out ot Dea, graobea bis pis
tol and started Into the office. As soon
as he appeared In the doorway one ot
the soldiers opened fire on him. Blacker
dropped to his knees, and at his first shot
one of the negroe.3 staggered and ran out,
closely followed by his companion, and
the entire squad left on a run. About 20
shots In all were fired.
Stewart was shot twice through the
lungs, and died at 7 o'clock. A trail of
blood leading from the station was fol
lowed, and half a block away the dead
body of a negro was found. Another
rifle and traces of blood were also found,
which indicates that another of the ne
groes was wounded. Officers BlaGker and
Scott pursued the fleeing soldiers, but
Were unable to moke any arrests.
The company stationed at Fort Bliss Is
company E, Twenty-fifth Infantry. Posses
are out looking for the marauders, though
at tbe postlt is claimed that the only
missing soldiers are the dead man and
the two prisoners in the police station.
The police have learned from the two
prisoners the name of one of the soldiers
who did the shoo'tlng' In the station of
fice, and Sheriff Boone and Chief of Po
lice Lochart have demanded the sur
render of the man from the commandant
of the post The latter has given assur
ance that he will lend all possible assist
ance in bringing the guilty men to 'jus
tice, and it is believed there will be no
further cjash. The entire police force,
however, has been mounted and armed
With Winchesters, to be in readiness for
any einergency. The feeling here against
the soldiers Is very bitter, and many cit
izens have offered their services to the
civil authorities.
The commanding general of the depart
ment of Texas, at San Antonio, has tele
graphed orders to Captain Loughborough,
commanding at Fort Bliss, to not permit
any soldier to leave the garrison until
further orders,, and to make Immediate
and thorough investigation, of the circum
stances connected with the shooting, and
incarcerate every soldier believed to have
taken part In the raid. It Is thought not
less than 10 negro soldiers were In the
raiding party:1 Captain Loughborough re
fused to give any Information as to what
Is-being' done at the garrison, further than
that a rigid Investigation is in progress.
There Is no unusual excitement in the
city over tha affair.
u
WILL MEET AT FRANKFORT
Democratic Leglslatare Held Its
Last Session at Louisville.
LOUISVILLE, KyT Feb. 17. A Joint
resolution was adopted by the democratic
legislature here, adjourning that body to
meet in Frankfort next Monday.
The grand Jury refused today to indict
State Senator S. B. Harrell oh John H.
Whallen.s cnarge of obtaining money by
fai nrtnB tm LJ,,?ffi
false pretenses,
u K.wn,wuuuu AUIIUWCU
faenator Harrell's statement before the
democratic caucus that WhaMen had at
tempted to bribe him to ke'ep away from
the caucus and had paid him $4600 for
this purpose.
Republicans Thanked Roosevelt.
FRANKFORT, Ky, Feb. .-The re
publican house today, adopted a resolu
tion extending its thanks to that gallant
soldier and patriotic statesman, Governor
Roosevelt, for words of cheer to Governor
Taylor, and further resolved that they
would never cease in their efforts until
the Goebel election law is repealed. The
senate merely met and adjourned.
s
Etxpreas Robbers Caught.
NOGALES, Ariz., Feb. 17 Word was
received this afternoon from Charles
Hood, one of tbe sheriff's posse from
Santa Cruz county, saying that the Owen
brothers, two of the bandits who held up
and robbed a Wella-Fargo express car at
Falrbank Thursday evening, had been
captured near Pearce, Ariz., by the. Tomb-
J stone posse.
ANXIOUSTOADJOURN
Session
of ' Congress to Be
Cut Short.
IMPORTANT -BILLS TO GO OVER
Little- Probability TJuat the Hay;
Treaty or thei Oaaal BUI "Will
Be Aeied typea.
WASHINGTON. Fee. 7. Tho isoobHoan
managers are sWwmg on anna Us woe Hi
hurry throng alt legislation and go away
as soon as possible, and are discouraging
every one who la urgftog any legteUxtloa
which will tend to create debate. For
this reason, it seams very probable that
neither the canal treaty nor the Nicaragua,
canal bill can go through at this session.
Either of these measures, If brought be
fore the senate, would create a tremend
ous debate, involving all oar present and
past relations with Great Britain, together
with the position of the administration
relative to the South African war, and
every contingent Issue in any way con
nected with the canal Itself.
Many ether measures are Iflteh to be
abandoned for the same reason, indading
the reciprocity treaties and akm th Im
portant matter of reorganising tho army.
Every suggestion that an army bill should
be passed at this session meets with the
same opposition, although the friends of
the army think something should be done.
The belief is also now general that the
election cases of Quay and Clark are likely
to go over with the other business which
Is likely to cause debate.
Moody and Tongue en Civil Servlee.
Representative Moody says be thinks tho
civil servlee law ought to be modified,
as the way it Is now operated it Is a good
deal of a fares. He would be glad to see
some measure passed which would
strengthen the commission and secure the
very best service for tho government He
has no patience with tho programme of
trying to cripple the commission by strik
ing out the, appropriation, which Is always
attempted by the ultra spoilsmen ot the
house.
Representative Tongue did not vote, be
ing absent from tho house at the thaw, but
said tbat he favored the amendment be
cause all past efforts to bring about a
reform In the ervll servteo have been ridi
culed by the republican leaders. Ho say3
he favors a merit system, but not as it
Is being administered. He also favom the
Hepburn amendment, and thinks that per
sons appointed to government office should
not be allowed to serve more than four
or six years. The present life tenure to
him is objectionable.
CONFERENCE ON FINANCIAL BILL.
Secretary Gajce Called la to B30.
nlain It.
WASHINGTGX, Fob. ML Tho Tiain
V 9V nHiVllllim sMMmMmMf
tee, having charm at th ihwki t,m
held a protracted session today, begin
ning at 11 A. M. and lasting until shortly
before 6 P. M. During part of this time
Secretary Gage Was present, having been
invited to give his views upon certain
features of the measure. At the close of
the day's session It was stated by mem
bers of the eonference that no conclu
sion had been reached on the bill as a
whole or on any single proposition, the
entire time being given to preliminary
discussion of the general principles In
volved. Secretary Gage was called In to give
Information concerning administrative
features of the bill, the issue of notes
aadV other matters of a technical nature
relating to carrying out the provisions of
the bill when it should become a law.
The conference Went over both the house
and senate bills, and it was found tbat
differences exist an along the line. The
house conferees Insisted tbat their meas
ure best met the requirements of tho sit
uation and the senators were equally
firm In standing by their nil. Strenuous
objection is made by the house conferees
to the bimetallic section of the senate bill,
and they also oppose tha refunding sec
tion of the bill. The conference did not
reach a. stage where any proposition to
adjust any of the differences was favor
ably considered. It is not meant there
is a deadlock, because the consideration
has not reached that stage. Tho eonfer
ence will continue Monday.
Compromise on Carrency BUI.
NEW YORK. Feb. 17. A special to the
Times from Washington says:
It is probable that the senate confer
ees on the currency Mil, Messrs. Aldrlch
(rep. R. I.), Allison (rep. la.), and Jones
(dam. Ark.), will contend strongly for
everything that to regarded essential in
the senate Mil. The effort of the house
conferees, Overstreet (rsp. Ind.), Broslus
(rep. Pa.), and Cox (dem. Tenn.), will be
to secure, If possible, some of the features
of the house measure that are regarded
by them as better than parts of the sen
ate bill. A compromise Is certain, but
members of both committees agree that
the principles sought to be embodied in
the )aw will be asserted, whatever hap-
rpens.
THE PLAGUE AT MANILA.
Twelve New Cases During the Past
Week.
MANILA. Feb. lTOut of a total of a
cases of suspected bubonic plague re
ported, 42 proVed genuine and 38 deaths
resulted half of them being Chinamen.
There were 12 cases during the past week,
mostly within the walled city, and 1W In
spectors, under the superintendeney of the
health officer, Major Bdy, are enforcing
the sanitary regulations. Thirty inspect
ors are Chinamen who have been fur
nished by Chinese merchants. Tho local
health department census shows tho oop-
I ufetlon of Manila, te about m,m, roetudtng
31,000 Chinese.
The Transport Servlee.
SAN FRANCISCO, Fob. 17 Tho trans
port Sherman sailed at noon today with
4500 tone of cargo and 175 recruits, be
sides a number of cabin passengers. As
soon as she was out of tho way tho hos
pital ship Missouri was docked at the
transport wharf to prepare for aoa. Cap
tain Dillon, master of tbe Missouri, has
asked for a survey on his vessel, and
Major W. H. Arthur, the surgooa, who
has commanded her staco sho entered the
service, has been released front duty on
her. The transport Indiana Is scheduled
te sail next Saturday, with frofcrkt, for
Manila.
Otis' Casualty Rensrt.
WASHINGTON, Feb. .-Ooofa4 Otis
today resorted the following casualties
'among the troops:
Killed, Thirty-math Infantry, January
13, Lipa, Luzon, James C. Ryan. February
3, Begbag province, Bataaaas, Luaon, Al
bery Votrie, Sixth infantry; February 4,
Antkniie, Paaay, Georga H. Schucbard,
Sixth Infantry.
Wounded Fourth cavalry, February 7,
Ross G Miller; Horace X. Monnett; Thirty-eighth
infantry, Reuben C. Mleronymus.
Thirty-second Infantry, Claude L. Pear
son, Thirty-third Infantry, Sergeant-MaJof
Robert E. Neelson.