t
1
- PAGES-1 TO 8
32 PAGES '
VOL. XXI. NO. 52.
fOKTLANlX OKlGOI SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 28, 1902.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
Of
MANY ARE KILLE
Terribly Fatal Wreck
in Canada,
TWENTY-EIGHT ARE DEAD
The Trains Meet Head-On at
Full Speed.
CHOICEBETWEEN FIRE AND COLD
Mangled Passengers Escape One to
Saffer From the Other Ah
Operator's Blunder the Cause
Of the Disaster.
LONDON, Ont, Dec 27. A frightful col
lision occurred a short distance from the
little station of "Wanstead, OnL, -on the
Sarnla branch of the Grand Trunk Ball
way, last night. The express was running
nearly two hours late, and was making
fast .time. The freight was endeavoring to
make a. siding to get clear of the express,
but failed by a minute or two.
There was a dreadful crash, the locomo
tives reared up and fell over in a ditch, the
baggage-car of the express telescoped the
smoker, and In an'istant the shrieks and
cries of the wounded and dying filled the
air. The loss of life Is 28. The injured
number many more, and many of these
may die. Several of the dead were horri
bly mutilated. Heads were cut off, legs
were wrenched from their bodies, and the
level stretch of snow became crimson with
the blood of the victims.
Operator Is Blamed.
The responsibility for the accident has
not been definitely fixed, but It Is believed
to have been due to a telegraph operator's
error. The operator at one of the stations
where the two trains stopped gave an or
der to the freight to pass No. 5, the Pacific
express, at Wanstead. In the system of
the Grand Trunk this order should have
been duplicated, a copy being given to the
conductor and engineer of the express. In
stead of this the conductor, of the express
received a clearance order, telling him that
be might-xua through.. The freight - train
in the meantime bad stopped at Wanstead
to sidetrack, and was telescoped by the ex
press. The blinding storm which was .rag
ing rendered objects invisible at the dis
tance of a few feet.
- The operator at Wanstead is not usually
on duty at night, but last evening he hap
nPTrt to be In the office for a short time.
w was cointr out of the door when, he
heard the telegraph instrument click and
Immediately call repeatedly the message.
Rtnn "NTo. 5." "Stop No. 5." Seizing a lan
tern, -the operator dashed for the door, and
as he closed it behind mm no nearu u
oCv. nf the collision up the track.
Thwp -eras not a houBe at hand to which
lniured could be carried. Fortunately,
however, the two Pullman cars on the
(n- flld not sustain any damage, xney
tvero warm and comfortable, and were
converted Into a temporary hospital. j.ne
irwi were nlaced In the berths and
everything possible done to ease their suf
ferings.
The Dead.
Following is the list of the dead:
-. --rn wrWiHT. Petrolia. Ont.
MRsTaLEXANDER STEWART, Petrolia,
n ,TrtTr-n.Trc cnrnla Tunnel, fireman No. 5,
J. G1XXJES. Sarnla Tunnel, engineer freight.
MRS. J. TROTTER, Petrous, unu
tt t t attopncT!. "Watford. Ont.
F. s". FREEMAN. Oil Springs or HensalL
Ont.
Mrr-TrnT.AK JONFREY. London.
GUT D. RENIER. ticketed for La Crosse,
TIM.
DR. FENNWARDEN. ticketed for Petrolia,
Woman, supposed to bo wife of Dr. Pean-
warden.
J. H. BROCK, Brucefleld, Ont.
O. B. BURWELLi, Port Huron. Mich.
CLEM BODLEY, Port Huron.
WILSON MORTON. Chicago.
ALEXANDER CAMERON, Strathroy, Ont.
MISS GEDDES, Sarnla, Ont.
ED DE BEAUS. Prescott, Ont.
MRS. BODLEY. Port Huron.
LOTTIE LYNCH, Port Huron.
GEORGE BURKHOLDER, Sarnla, Ont.
A. DOUGLASS, Alvlnstol. Ont.
WILLIAM JOHN LUCAS, Strathroy, Ont.
ROBERT STEVENSON. Wvorainr. Ont.
Unidentified man about 40 years of age, well
dressed.
VIOLET BROCK, aged 11, Chicago, formerly
or uruccneiu, jnu
Unidentified woman, about 35 years old.
MRS. JULIA BARNES, Woodstock, Ont.
The Injured.
Followlnc is a list of Dasserurers lnlnrefl
in the wreck, most of those named not
' being seriously hurt:
Alexander M. Steward, 090 Jackson building,
Chicago.
Mrs. J. J. Cuthbertson, Port Huron, Mich.
James Ramplln. Toronto.
Mrs. Samuel Cummlngs. Port Huron, Mich.
Hattlo Norbey, Peterboro, Ont.
James B. Norrcy, Peterboro. Ont. '
Mrs. Coote. Chicago.
Frank Baker, London, Ont.
William M. Morse, wife and child, Sarnla.
Thomas Coote. London. t
George Staccy, Wanstead, Ont.
Dr. Basil Harvey, Chicago.
Mrs. J. M. Stewart and two children. Osh-
kosh. Wis.: Mrs. Stewart, fractured law: Earl.
. broken arm and collar-bone: Hobart fractured
hip.
Russell Qulnn, Chicago.
James Barnes, Woodstock, Ont.
Beatrice Geddes. Sarnla.
J. -J. Cuthbertson, Port Huron, Mich.; frac
tured jaw; serious.
John Bird. Chlentro? frnntnrArt flrm
L. A. Lemont. Wyoming. Ont.; fractured leg,
alts. vk. uoiios ana aaugmcr, lonqon.
J. S. Lawler, Strathroy.
W. H. Cole and wife. Flint, Mich.
R. K. McDonald. Strathroy.
Mrs. I. N. Byrnes, Sarnla.
Annie Sinclair. ETnmnlto Ont
Miss Flossie Cuthbertson. Port Huron, Mich.
jars. jrugsiey. uonaon.
. R. Jackson, Petrolia, Ont.
Watford AjrcntSo Blame.
According to Master of Transportation
Price, .of this city. It was Andrew Carson.
jibe -agent and operator at? Watford,' the
next station east of Wanstead, who failed
to deliver to' the train crew of No. 5 the
orders to pass the freight train at Wan- ,
stead. Trainmaster Price says that in i
explanation of the mistake that brought
such terrible results the operator says he
understood the dispatcher to say to kill
the orders for No. 5 to pass the freight
at Wanstead, but It is denied In the dis
patcher's office here that the order was
killed.
The Pacific, express, which was lateand
endeavoring to make up time, was made
up of two Pullman cars, two first-class
day coaches and two baggage cars. The
engineer opened wide his throttle as he .
pulled out of Watford at 9:58 o'clock. A
blizzard was raging, tand the air was
thick with swirling snow. The train was
crowded with people returning from holi
day trips. The express train was running
at a speed of fully 50 miles an hour
through the blizzard, when at the Wan
stead siding the headlight of the freight
engine loomed up through the snow. It
was impossible to see 100 feet ahead be
cause of the snow, and the trains
crashed together almost before the en
gine crews realized that a collision was
imminent.
The Impact threw the two engines clear
off the track on the right-hand side. The
two day coaches of the express were be
tween the heavily loaded baggago cars and
the weighty Pullmans. A terrific grinding
crash and the rear baggage car was
driven Into the coach for three-fourths
of its length, killing a score of the occu
pants and pinning down two-score more
in the wreckage, crushed and mangled.
Horror of the Scene.
The horror of fire was mercifully spared
the suffering persons buried In the wreck.
A little flame broke out, but the uninjured
soon extinguished it with snow before it
could gain headway. The occupants of the
two Pullmans and the second day coach
swarmed out of their cars to the rescue.
A perfect bedlam of noises greeted them.
The hiss of escaping steam from the
wrecked engines did not drown the pit
eous cries of the unfortunates pinned in
the ruins. The bitter cold added to their
sufferings. "Volunteer rescuing parties
were immediately formed and did heroic
ork.
Meanwhile a brakeman had rushed
through the storm to the telegraph office
and notified both London and Sarnla of
ficials of the collision. Relief trains with
surgeons and wrecking cars were on their
way to the scene from both ends of the
division; In the shortest possible time.
While they were steaming at top speed
the work of rescue was carried on by the
uninjured passengers. They delved into
the debris, and, guided by the moans and
cries, found the sufferers and pried and
chopped them out and carried them to the
Pullman cars, where they were given such
attention as was possible before the sur
geons arrived.
The surgeons on board the wrecking
train from Sarnla were the first to reach
the scene. They hastened from the wreck
to the temporary hospitals, and began,
making emergency dressings of tho most
seriously wounded. The raen of the
wrecking crew, with their appliances, were,
able to penetrate deeper Into the tangle
of the wood and steel and extricated sevr
eral whom the passengers had been unable
to remove. While they were at work the
wrecking train arrived from London with
more surgeons.
As soon as it was positively known that
all of the Injured had been found, an en
gine was coupled to the Pullman and the
pitiful journey to London, 40 miles away.
was begun. Opiates were administered to
lessen the agonies of tho wounded, aggra
vated as they were by the unavoidable
jarring and jerking of the car. As soon
as the news of the wreck was received
at London, the Grand Trunk officials be
gan arrangements for caring for the
wounded at Victoria Hospital, on South
street. The hospital car was switched on
to the tracks of the Detroit & Lake Erie
road and run to within a block and a half
of the hospital. Twenty ambulances .were
in waiting. Strong arms carried the
wounded and torn people tenderly out of
the car and they were hurried to the
hospital It was 5:30 In the morning when
they arrived, and It was noon before tho
surgeons had finished dressing all the
wounds.
Ed de Beaus, of Prescott," Ont., And Lot-
(Concluded on Second Page.)
NEW SPANISH MINISTER AT WASHINGTON
5 UXOR DON
AS F IE OF ALL
Roosevelt Is Helping
Peace Negotiations.
BASIS OF ARBITRATION
That Is Next to Be Arranged
in Venezuelan Affair.
SHALL BLOCKADE BE RAISED?
Allien 3Iay Consent, Provided They
May Renew It If Castro Does Not
Pay French Statesman. Says
Roosevelt Saved Arbitration.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27. There Is now
in progress an active exchange of notea
between the allied powers, Venezuela and
the United States, respecting the method
of submitting to arbitration the Issues
which have arisen between Venezuela and
the 'allies. Tho weight of official opinion
here this afternoon was that several days
at least must elaspe before anything In
the nature of a preliminary protocol can
bo made ready for signature. German In
sistence upon a prepayment of 10 per cent
of her full claims before submitting her
case to arbitration, and perhaps Presi
dent Castro's resistance to meeting what
the allies claim as the obligations of honor
are believed to be now the sticking points.
But it is hoped that these can be passed
within tho next few days, and it is fur
ther hoped that some arrangement will
be made in the preliminary protocol for
the raising of the blockade, though it is
intimated that the allied ships will be
kept ready to renew it In case of any de
fault on, the part of Venezuela In her ob
ligations. Washington haying been the pivot about
which all the negotiations have turned
up to this point, It Is surmised, that it
may also be the scene of the final act in
the shape of the signature of the protocol,
either by the resident representativs here
of tho powers 'iritercsttzj p" Ijir 'special
agents, sent to thta nfeutrat gro.und for the
purpose." An e'rroneo.us idea has bbti&ned
in some quarters as to the functions of
the. President arid Secretary Hay in this
matter and they have been represented
as endeavoring personally to conduct the
negotiations, as drawing up protocols and
generally taking a leading part In all that
is going on. It is pointed out at the State
Department that, while ordinarily a mis
understanding on this point would be
trifling, it happens In the present case
that reports of such activity on the part
of the United States officials after the
President had expressly declined to as
sume tho duties of arbitrator would surely
be ill received In Europe and might per
haps lead to some backward steps that
would be a matter of regret to the Gov
ernment, which earnestly desires to have
the parties reach an honorable settlement
of their differences.
It is explained at the State Department
that the part of the United States Gov
ernment Just now Is that of "good friend"
to all parties; that It Is not undertaking
to draw up protocols or Impose llmlta
t'lons upon the parties, but it is confining
its offices to getting them together and
keeping them so. In this view It will not
be necessary for our Government to pre
scribe how the Monroe Doctrine shall or
shall not figure in the protocols; it will
judge for Itself by results how our lnter-
E3I1HO DE OJEDA.
ests are affected, and will not indulge in
premature or uncalled-for protests.
As for the terms of tho arbitration. It is
stated that they are in a f lir way speed
ily to be adjusted, but nothing can be said
of the details. It is presumed that the
allies will -agree to terminate the. block
ade, though rip stipulation, has yet been
entered into on that point. Nothing has
been heard recently of the part to be
taken by United States Minister Bowen in
the final settlements and It begins to ap
peal that, after all, Venezuela will prob
ably be represented by one of her own
people.
CASTRO TRUSTS AMERICANS.
German Merchants In Caracas Object
to United States Control.
BERLIN, Dee. 27. The Lokal Anzelg
er'c Caracas correspondent says:
"President Castro Is one of the Vene
zuelans who do not distrust the Yankees.
Minister Bowen has his confidence fully.
The German wholesale merchants would
regret arbitration If It tends to American
instead of International financial control.
Some of them have "declared emphatically
that If American control is established It
would be better to. transfer their business
relations forthwith from Hamburg to New
York.
President, Castro Intends confiscating
the 'property of British, German and Ital
ian subjects whenever the blockade ex
hausts his resources."
The Foreign Office, officials here decline
to indicate what Germany will do regard?
ing President Castro's reported demand
that the powers raise the blockade and
restore the Venezuelan fleet before Vene
zuela will accept The Hague arbitration.
The correspondent of the Associated Press
was Informed -authoritatively today that It
was at Germany's suggestion that Presi
dent Roosevelt was Invited to arbitrate
the Venezuelan dispute, with The Hague
as an alternative If the President re
fused.
ROOSEVELT POINTS THE WAY.
French Statesman Says He Has Saved
Hague Tribunal.
PARIS, Dec 27. Baron D'Estournelles
de Constant, the French Deputy who was
one of tho delegates of France to the In
ternational Peace Conference, and who Ja
a member of The Hague arbitration tribu
nal, has written a strong congratulatory
letter to President Roosevelt on the sub
mission of the Venezuelan arbitration to
The Hague court. The letter expresses tho
view widely prevailing In official and dip
lomattc circles here, " that the American
course not only adjusts the Immediate la
sue, but eaves The Hague tribunal .from
practical extinction. The Baron says In
part:
"A great number of Frenchmen and Eu
ropeans are happy to join with me in ex
pressing to you their gratitude for the
generous, unyielding ilrmneea you hayej
competition morn effective than the other.
Twice you have reminded the governments
of their duty, pointing out, amid -the dif
ferences resulting from the transformation
of the globe, that the court of arbitration
offered the governments its resources and
the jurisdiction instituted by all, and that
It was always ready. Th!a jurisdiction had
been boycotted. By a - silent, senile un
derstanding, the governments thought to
abandon The Hague tribunal. On the mor
row of Its official creation. It was, about
to perish through ill will, when you came
(Concluded on Second Pago.)
CONTENTS OF TODAY'S PAPER.
National Affairs.
President Roosevelt brlnslns tho allies and
Venezuela together; hailed as savior of Tho
Hague tribunal. Page 1.
Senator Morgan condemns attitude of both par
ties on trusts and proposes new remedy.
Page 17,
Domestic.
Terrible train-wreck on the Grand Trunk Rail
road; 28 killed and many Injured. Page 1.
Interstate Commerce Commissioner and rail
road official debato on railroad rates. Page
IT.
South Carolina lynchers wreak swift venge
ance. Pare 0.
Funeral paceant oC Minister Buck ln Japan.
Page 2.
Chicago musicians will give Mascagnl a bene
fit. Pare 2.
Wholesale election frauds alleged ln Denver
contest Page 3. ,
Foreign. -Whole
Chinese province ravared by Boxer re
bellion. Page 0. '
Japanese Ministry may.be defeated on Increase
of navy. Page 3. ;
Russian Foreign Minister stirring up the Balk
an States. Page 2.
PnclBc Coast. ,
Vminr -woman shot by Jealous lover near
Haines Christmas nlrht dies, and there Is
talk of'lynchlng her assassin. Page 7.
Jessie Benton Fremont, widow of the. famous
"Pathfinder." dies ln Los Anccles. Paso 3.
All Pacific Coast ports which buy Government
transports will share tho business. Page l
Nine miners were swept away by an avalanche
in the Slocan district of British. Columbia.
Page C
Report of Secretary of State of Washington
shows a gain of 560.DQO in receipts, rage u.
r-AgeU Montana placer miner went crazy, goi a
Wilson and Preston opposing caucus ln Wash
ington Senatorial fight. Page 1.
Commercial nnd Marine.
Local markets dull nfter Christmas rush. Page
23.
Wheat dull and. steady at Chicago. Page 23.
Weekly bank statement Is considered unfavor
able. Pago 23.
New Tork stocks .not adversely affected by the
bank statement. Page 23,
Eastern hop market dull, with holders .steady,
Paze 23.
British ship County of Linlithgow ordered Into
quarantine. Paje 10.
American schoolshln under construction at
Perth Amboy. .Page 10.
British bark Norma chartered to load Oregon
wheat for Australia. Page 10.
FcntttreB nnd Departments.
Editorial. Page 4.
Church announcements. Page. 11.
Classified advertisements. Pages 13, 1,4, .15.
Syroroslum o? New Tear thoughts.- Pake 23.
Life on German traljilng-shlp. Page 32.
Judge John R. McBrldp's recollectlonsr of Ore
gon s constltutionaj convention. '1'age- zr.:
Fashions and household. Pages,- 28. and ' 30.
Touths' department. Page, "29.'
Social. Page 18.
Musical and dramatic Pge .
Ade's fable. Page 28. - -r
Dr. Lorenz' great tour of mercy. Page 38.
disnlaved In sunnbrl AT International Ins-J "'. -Ww". ,
Th.,mru i Aafiw cnvi,i. nf Mr Wilson, who Is. credited with from 15 I nortant -tezlsl
American oompti.qh tiif,it? to 20 V0t8 ln th,e Gialature, -flatly avers ; .wltht .
tferial "advantaee.1 Ihl-iimuiMirfE-ofi &Ma If? !ahsl!ntf(X' fox; .a. caucus. For years it
rfes, buf.vou have inaugurated a nW Wimate result of the; situation ihgtoh to
CAUCUS OR NOT?
Question in Washington
Senatorial War.
WILSON ANDPRESTONrNO"
Their Cry Is "Anything to'
Beat Ankeny
CLAIM THEY HAVE THE VOTES
VUcy Shun, a Caucus Shovrdovrn, but
Friends. of CommisHion Bill Insist
on Quiclc Action, That They May
Reach. Their Pet Measure.
SEATTLE. Dec. 27. fSneclal.1 PnllH-
clans in Washington, oblivious In a m'eas- j ex-Senator from Spokane has admitted
ure to the ethics of the Christmas season, that he would not likely favor an imme
are busy discussing the probable action 1 diate caucus. Wilson Is reported to have
of the Republican majority in the coming . said In effect:
Legislature regarding a caucus to deter- j "I am not opposed to a caucus on prln
mine the Senatorial election. The ques- ' ciple, but I believe that we should first
tlon of a caucus Is-now uppermost in the ' get together at Olympla and become ac
minds of the able strategists in the W1I- i qualnted with each other before anything
son and Preston camps. As for the An
keny men, they say nothing beyond'clalm
Ing that Mr. Ankeny will have enough
votes to elect him, either with a caucus
of the Republican Legislators, or without
it.
However this may be, the fact remains
that the Wilson-Preston contingent In the
coming Legislature will ,ln all probability
endeavor to prevent a caucus. This Is
plainly the talk of the Preston men in
various pai'ts of the state, and state
ments made privately by certain follow
ers of the banner of John LWIlsqn in
dicate that the -ex-Senator from Spokane
will work to prevent a nomination for a
Senator by tho usual and well-recognized
methods of the Republican party.
Mr. Preston, the King County candi
date for Senator, will not say whether
or not he will favor a caucus. Governor
McBride, who ia supposed to control a
number of votes "outside of the Preston
may, within all probability, be a unldn
between the 'King County candidate, the
Spokane claimant and the Governor to
prevent a caucus.
Wilson nnd Preston's Clnlms.
There will be 113 Republican members In
the next Legislature, 57 votes being re
quired for a caucus nomination. Of the
113 members and members-elect Preston
claims some 44 and Wilson 20. These
claims can naturally be liberally discount
ed. Preston will have from King County
24 members, who will vote for him until
they are released by him. He claims the
solid vote of Skagit, one vote.m Whatcom
County, and a number in' the Southwest
From a recent photograph.
x SIR MARCUS SAMUEL, LORD MAYOR OF LONDON.
. ; x ' '
Sir "Marcus Samuel, the" new Lord Mayon of London,' ta a leading Jewish
merchant with important business Interests In "the East. He Is a man 40 years
old. who lnherit"d a fortune and added largely to It with the profits of his busi
ness investments.-:Hls elevation to his high oulce was a tribute to his' ability as
a financier and executive.
and in Central Washington. He" has never
yet given, but for publication the names
of the members-elect whose votes he ex
pects to receive butslde'of King County.
In the state outside of King there are a
number of Republican Legislators who.
before entering Preston's camp, will wait
to see how the Republican delegation
"from King County lines up on the rall-
Lrbad fight. This fact is well understood
not only here, but also generally through-'
out the state. For this reason, there is
more or less doubt concerning, the ac
curacy of the figures given by Preston
antf his managers as to the Preston
strength. As The Oregoniari has told, Ihe
seven Republican Senators from King
have, until the present time, refused ab
solutely to commit themselves on the Mc
Bride commission bill, although It Is no
secret that at least six, out of the seven
nr TKrnrm Ilir nnrl nosltlvelv ODOOSCd tO
"5. bf
hold the strength he now claims outside
of King County. Providing he finds tms
impossible, In view -of the attitude of the
King County Senators-elect on the rail
road measure, his natural recourse would
be to combine with Wilson and McBride
to prevent a caucus, In order, if possible,
to defeat Ankeny.
Wilson Asalnst Caucus.
That an alliance of this sort Is already
In contemplation Is practically certain. It
is well understood here that Wilson will
resort to any extremes to defeat the Wal
la Walla candidate, and, despite the bit
ter feeling that exists between himself
and Governor McBride, he will welcome
an offensive and defensive alliance with
the state's executive. To his friends, the
of that -kind is done."
Politicians who are in the confidence of
the Preston-Wilson combination declare.
that with the Governor's help 60 votes
could be mustered against a caucus. This
claim, like all others, can be liberally dis
counted. But it is valuable as indicating
I the trend of political affairs in this state.
On the other hand, tnere is every reusuu
to believe that many of the friends of
both Wilson and Preston will sign a call
for. a caucus, under proper conditions, as
soon as the Senatorial question Is taken
up at Olympla. In other words, there Is
no reason to believe that the men who
nr now counted as either Wilson or
Preston" men will go to the extreme .of op
posing a caucus to settle the Senatorial
controversy early In the session. It Is
positively known that several of the King
County Legislators, pledged as they are
by Ironclad resolutions to Preston's can
dldacy, are In favor of quickly, disposing
of the Senatorial fight In order that 1m-
atlon may not be Interfered
has been the rule In Wash-
Jyfn'f fii-iiiliia - nTnitiftn nf- :1
'United States Senatdr" by: a: caucus. The
only striking violation of the rule was ln
1893, during the Allen-Turner deadlock,
when the"" supporters of Turner prevented
an election by refusing to participate ln a
caucus. As a t result, the state had but
one Senator at Washington for two years,
He Won by Cancus Before.
But the most Interesting phase of the
situation undoubtedly is Wilson's outspok
en- opposition to a caucus. The ex
Senator owed his seat In the Senate to
the action of a caucus of the representa
tives of his party at Olympla In 1S95,
(Concluded on Third Page.)
EE FUR ALL
Transport Business Not
Yet Decided.
ALL PORTS MAY BID ON IT
Auction Sale of Government
Ships Will Be Held.
THE PLAN OF SECRETARY ROOT
Portland Will Have Eonnl Chance
With Other Ports and All Buyer
of Ships W111 Have Share in
' the Philippine Traffic.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, Dec. 27. Since his award of a week
ago to the Boston Steamship Company of
all Government transportation business
from Puget Sound, Secretary Root has
given little consideration to the future of
the service from San Francisco. He has in
mind the ultimate abandonment of the
Government service, but will not take any
new course until he has thoroughly exam
ined the several propositions made. At
present he is Inclined to sell all transports
at public auction, at not less than a fair
appraised value, in which event all Pacific
Coast ports would have an opportunity to
bid.
If these vcs92ls were bought In at Port
land. San Francisco and the Sound, the
Secretary would then sue that all Govern
ment freight was equitably distributed
along the Coast, although, on account of
superior equipment, it Is probable that
troops will continue to go by way of San
Francisco for some time to come.
DELAY OF JETTY ISLAND REPORT.
Absence of Gillette nnd Sanford
Given as the Cause.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, Dec. 27. The report of the Board
of Engineer Officers! that Inspected tho
mouth of the Columbia River last Summer
with a view to recommending a final pro
ject for jetty extension is to be further de
layed- because of the Illness of Captain
Gillette and .the .- special asslimment of
dataln Saniord to-let the contract and-get
work under way looking to remodeling the
transport Grant Into a sea dredge.
Captain Sanford is now in San Fran
cisco, and will not come East again for
several weeks. This means that the report"
of the board will not be filed before the
end of January, and perhaps later. A final
meeting of the board to determine on de
tails cannot be called until .after Captain
Sanford returns to New York.
The Dalles board, as well as that which
Inspected the Seattle, ditch, has not been
heard from, and the department has no
Intimation of when they will report.
GREAT REINDEER RESERVE.
Hermann Is Considering; Fitness of
St. Lawrence Island.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash
ington, Dec. 27. Commissioner Hermann
Is considering the advisability of recom
mending the reservation of St. Lawrence
Island, oft tho Alaskan Coast, as a pre
serve for the breeding and maintenance of
reindeer. A suggestion to this effect has
been made by Dr. Sheldon Jackson, ln
charge of reindeer in Alaska, and is favor
ably regarded ln the department.
Jackson says the island, lying 110 milca
southwest from Nome and within 40 miles
of the Siberian Coast, produces nothing
hut reindeer moss, but this grows in profu
sion. He estimates that the island will
support from 15,000 to 20,000 reindeer, and
will afford them every protection from
hunters, because of Its isolated location.
There are "now on the island 300 or 400 na
tlvs, whose main, support Is- derived from
fishing. These people would not be dis
turbed by the creation of a reserve, but
would rather be benefited.
It is the belief of the department that the
island would never be settled to any ex
tent, because of lack of resources. Bclns
on the direct line of travel from Siberia,
It would be conyenlent for vessels bring
ing over reindeer from Siberia, where the
main supply has heretofore been derived.
MUST LEAVE WIFE ASHORE
Naval Commander Whose Devotion
to Hymen Angers Ncptnne.
WASHINGTON, Dec. .27. Commander
John E. Roller, ex-commander of the old
gunboat Monocacy, has reached thl3
country from the Asiatic station, having
been ordered home by Rear-Admiral Ev
ans for persistent infraction of the rules
which prohibit the commander of a vessel
from permitting his wife to make her
home aboard the ship. It Is charged that
after offending in that particular several
times Roller's attention was called to uia
violation of the regulations, but with no
apparent effect. When his. last offense
came to the ears of Rear-Admiral Evans
the. -latter detached him and ordered him
home.
Commander Roller considers that he has
been unjustly treated, but It Is doubt
ful whether he will nrejw the matter, as
the regulations against such practices are
explicit. He Is now on waiting oruers.
Panther Snlls to Join Dewey.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec 27.-The Unitej
states cruiser Panther sailed toaaj jroi
the League Island, navy-yard to Join A
miral Dewey's fleet at Culehra Islan
The Panther-carries 250 seamen and n
rlnes for Dewey's fleet, and also a eu
piy oi medicines.
To Command the Nevada.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-Commandi
Thomas D. Howard now on duty at ti
Naval Academy, has been selected j
command the new monitor Nevada, wbM
Is to go into commission about FebnuS
x next.
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