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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 1903)
4 32 PAGES PAGES 1 TO 8 VOL. XXIL 20. 10. PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH - Si 1903 PRICE FIVE CENTS. " " N Ml Murderer is Captured Near Olympia. HE OFFERS NO RESISTANCE Howling Mob Wants to Lynch the Criminal. FOUHD IN A DESERTED CABIH Skerlfr Order Fugitive to Throw Up His Ilaud and He Comes Out Meek rxn a. Lnml 1 Sorry for HI Deed and Crieu Like a Child. Christ Reason, tbe murderer of Jailer MorreU. at Olympia last Sunday, was captm-ed last night, and is again In his cell at Olympia. Benson w found In a deserted cabin two miles wast of town- He offered no resistance whan caucht. A mob surrounded the Jail, with loud cries of "Hang hlml hang him!" but every precaution was taken against vio lence. When telling his tory the murderer cried llko a child. Hts wanderings tallied very well with the newspaper reports. He has several times been In the hands of men looking for him. but who let him go after look ing at his face. He was In Tacoma half a day and then returned to Olympia. OLYMPIA. Wash., March 7. (Special.) Christ Benson, the murderer of Jailer Morrell, was captured tonight two miles west of town, and Is now safely lodged in the ste. l cage of the Thurston County Jail. A half-dozen armed men patrol the jail grounds, and a doputy with a "Winchester stands at the head of the narrow stair way leading to the second floor, -where the steel cage is, and admits no one to the foot of the steps. At this hour, 9:30, a large crowd of men- surrounds the Jail, and there are frequent yells of "Hang him!" The first news of Benson's appearance west of town was telephoned to the Sher iffs office late this evening. The first message was so jumbled that Deputy Bay lor, who ariswered the telephone, did not understand its importance, and left for the locality alone. Ho reached the west side of town, and met a man coming on horse back, who told the news secretly. The deputy stopped only long enough to get Sheriff Mills, and with the team on the run they soon reached a deserted cabin 'In which it was said Benson was located, and which was surrounded by five woodchop pers. Faylor was stationed at the window where Benson had broken into the cabin, and Sheriff Mills stood at the front door with a double-barreled shotgun In hand. TnroiTB Up His Hands. "Como out. Benson, with your hands up," ho demanded. "I can't: tho door is locked on the out side," camo the reply from within. Mills unlocked the door, threw it open, and out walked no other than the much- sought fugitive murderer, -with hands held high in the air. Ho was Immediately hur ried to tho carriage in waiting, and the team was headed for Olympia. When Olympia was reached the horses Tivero whipped to their utmost speed. They dashed through the town and toward the Jail, hut tho news spread like wildfire. From every doorway men ran toward the Jail, shoting, "Hang him! Hang him Tho officers and prisoner heard the shouts. and Benson ran up tho steps of tho jail, realizing that every second was valuable to save his life. Tho heavy door was swung to, and in a few minutes a big dep uty with Winchester In hand stood on a narrow landing and admitted no one hut a few deputies and newspaper men. For half an hour Benson stood in the main entrance of the Jail where on last Sunday he had fired tho first shot Into Dave Morrell's body and talked to half a dozen newspaper men. He presented the most abject appearance. There was noth lng about him that denoted the desperate criminal. Tears rolled down his checks us he related his story, and sobs choked his breath. All the while the mob out sldo could be heard demanding admittance and that the priaoner be delivered over to them. Benson, was dressed according to tho descriptions, but with disheveled appear ance. wet clothes, unshaven and dirty face ho would be hard to recognize from the pictures that have been published of him. Between his sobs Benson admitted the whole murder to the men surrounding him. and in dolns so endeavored to lmpli cate three other prisoners in a plot to break out of jail. For over a week, says Benson, tho men had talked of escape. Last Sunday Clarke, tho murderer of Lela Page, and Bradley and Green, two prisoners In for larceny, and Benson evolved a plan. Tliey drew lots to see which should strike the Jailer on the head, secure the keys and let the other prisoners out. He Drew the Shortest Straw, 'The man who drew the shortest straw was to be the one. and I drew It," said Benson. I did not Intend to kill the Jailer. I only wanted to stun him and get the keys, but I did-not hit him hard enough and he drew his revolver. grabbed his wrist and twisted it and he pulled the trigger while we were fighting and shot himself. I was so excited I did not know what I did. I got the revolver and shot him again in the little room there and then ran out the door." "When asked where be went from there, BENSON Benson waved his hand In an easterly di- 1 rection. He swam a big creek and slept i In the woods. He told of crossing the Nesqually bridge much as the newspapers have told it. "Did you know that you had killed the Jailer?" asked one of the listeners. "I did not know that I had." and tears, which for a moment had ceased, again trickled down the prisoner's lace. "The guard at the bridge stopped me," he con tinued, "and took off my hat and looked at my face. He said I "was not the man wanted, and let me go. I went to a store there, and the owner gave me some crackers and cheese. Then I went on down the track to Tacoma- I was in Ta coma, half a day. I couldn't get anything to eat. No one would give me anything. stopped at a farmhouse, and the man knew who I was and said they were after me. He said he would not dare to give me anything to eat and told me to go away. I was "all around in Tacoma on Thursday and came back to Olympia on the evening train." On the trucks?" he was asked. No: on the blind baggage. I got off at the Olympia Depot and intended to give myself up-". The story of Benson's wanderings are not clear from this point. If he knows where he was, he does not choose to tell, except that he stopped in a cabin Thurs day night and in the cabin in which he was captured last night. "When taken he had no shoes on, and his feet were soaking from the tramping In the snow and rain. He said time and again In repeating his story that he had had nothing to eat since Sunday before today. But this Is not bome out by his previous statement that he got crackers nnd cheese Monday night at the Nes qually nridge. Sheriff Mills does not be lleve that Benson went to Tacoma. He says there were four men guarding the track and it would have been Impossible for him to get hy them. Benson -was unarmed when captured. "When asked what he did with the re olvcr he took from Dave he slid: I threw It away, over there (indicating an easterly direction); I did not want it." He met lots of people, he said, and talked to some that knew him. They ad- ised him to return and give himself up, Gives Up Like a Lamb. Tho story of Benson's capture tonight is not a bloodthirsty tale. It had littlo of the elements of capture of the desperate criminal such as he is supposed to be. The messenger from the woodchoppers camp was a man named Morrison. He said, their suspicion was first aroused hy seeing sparks flying from the chimney of the deserted cabin. They surrounded It, and one of the men who had' worked with Benson in the same camp talked with him through . the window, so they were "positive it was the man. Morrison came to town and left five men, named Plank, Itohr, Rose, Conklln and Burdick, standing guard. Benson made no at tempt to escape and came from the cabin on demand of the Sheriff, as meekly as a lamb. According to Benson's story he was never In trouble before. He denies that he was ever In prison In Illinois. Christ Benson is" his right name, he says, and he was born in Germany 25 years ago. Ho has been In this country 21 years, and cannot read nor write a word, except his own name. His father, John Benson, a laboring man, lives in Park Ridge, HL, with his mother, fivo brothers and two; sisters. Benson talks without a trace of foreign accent. The hurden of his tale was that he did not intend to kill the jailer, although he says the jailer -was (Concluded on Second Page.) CONTENTS OF TODAY'S P.APER. Domestic. the new cruiser Launching of Chattanooga. Page Wabash employes still await raising of injunc tion. Page 2. Nineteen men drowned by s tramping of ferry boat. Page 1. Buffalo police arrest wrong woman for Burdick murder. Page 3. Spectators of flro on Montreal steamer mangled by collapse of building, rage a. Foreign. French statesmen nlvo banquet to Governor Francis. Page 9. Ameer of Afghanistan discards nis surplus wives. Pago 2. Pnclflc Coast. Good work of "Washington delegation In Con gress. Page 9. Surveyor-General Meldrum will soon be re moved. Page 1. Plans for President's tour in tho Northwest. Face 1. Murderer Benson is captured near Olympia. Page 1. Northwest Legislatures. The Olympia Legislature has but five days more. Page It. Idaho Legislature adjourns. Page 6. Olympia House has long discussion on bill mak ing Fish Commissioner uame- warden. Page C Sports. Jimmy Britt is 10-to-7 favorite in betting oa coming fight. Page 14. Northwest League organises club and secures grounds in San Francisco. Page li. Slddons easily wins Wateshouse cup at Oak land. Page 17. Commercial and Marine. Surplus reserve of New .York clearing-house banks wiped out. Page 23. New York stock market demoralised. Page 23. Shipping men want drydock located at Mock's Bottom. Page 24. Heavy trade la sugar from Hawaiian Isles. Pace 2. Portlnnd and Vicinity.. Percy Nash, formerly of Portland, has narrow escape In Yukon Territory. Page S. Llpman, "Wolfe- & Co. continue employes at lull pay in spite of recent heavy fire losses. Page 10. Meat packers seek site la Portland for $750,000 plant. Pare 32. Laws that labor forces will 'seek to have en acted by Initiative and referendum. Page 11. Granges will hold institute Tuesday. Page 10. Judge Sears holds that Sheriff must sell lots separately at tax sales. Page 16. F. V. Holnsan writes oa Portland as a rose city. Page 32. Features and Departments. Editorial. Pace 4. -Church announcements. Page SI. Classified advertisements. Pages 11, 12. 13. 14. 15. Work of ' the manual tralnlnc school under auspices of the Council of Jewish "Women. Pago 23. Roosevelt's "Lord Chamberlain-"' Page 28. Dramatic and musical. Page 20. Social. Pages IS. 22. Household and fashions. Pages 2S 3B. Mr. Cooler's letter. Page 22. Touth's department. Page 30. Ade's fable. Page 21. 1 DROMTU 0 Hitchcock Tells Fulton So With Emphasis. HE CANT BE TOLERATED Mitchell's Illness Only Cause of Long Delay. MANY WOULD LIKE HIS OFFICE Successor to Be Appointed and Con firmed" at Extra Session. New Postmasters for Orrsea City, EsgcBe and Ashland. Surveyor-General Meldrum will be re moved as soon as his successor Is ap pointed and confirmed. This will be done at the extra session of the Sen ate. Senator Fulton was Informed of this intention with emphats by Secretary Hitchcock yesterday. The only reason for Meldrum's long respite was Senator Mitchell's inabil ity, through illness, to recommend a successor. New Postmasters will ajso be ap pointed for Oregon City, Eugeno and Ashland. OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, "Wash ington, March 7. Senator Fulton this morning called on Secretary Hitchcock to make inquiry as to reports that have been printed from time to time saying it was the desire of his department to re move Surveyor-General Meldrum from of fice and to appoint a new man to that place. He ,-saId afterward, that he was somewhat -surprised at the emphatic way in which Ibe Secretary confirmed the re ports aad Insisted that Meldrum could not lonser be jtolcrated. Land Commis sioner Richards was equally emphatic in insisting upon a -change. Senator Fulton says he will consult with his . colleague, and probably the two will join 'in making a recommendation of Mel drAm's successor early next .week. "When recommendation Is made, it will no doubt be acted upon at once, and the name of the man recomaiended will be promptly sent to theSenate and the nomi nation be confirmed Secretary Hitchcock has been -anxious to appoint a -Successor to Meldrum for several weeks, ever since the severe ad verse report made by the Inspector, but Senator Mitchell has not been able to give the matter his attention. With the as- slstauce of his colleague, however, he will now be able to act There Is as yet no Intimation as to who will be recom raended, although it Is understood there are a number of candidates for the office. which pays a salary of $2000. Senator Fulton also intends consulting his colleague, with a view to recom mending the appointment of new Post masters at Oregon City, Eugene and Ash land, all In the First District. The terms of the present Postmasters at these places have expired. No recommendations were filed by Representative Tongue. FOR SURVEYS IX "WASHINGTON. "Foster Ah Us for Increased Allotment by Land Ofllce. OREGQNIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, March 7. Senator Foster has re quested the General Land Office to allot to the State of Washington about 575,000 for making public land surveys during the coming year. He says the amount here tofore allotted, about $40,000, Is Insufficient. In view of the great demand for land, because of the unprecedented Influx, of settlers. 'His recommendation Is under advlsenyjnt. AWAIT REGULAR SESSION Drjmocrats Notified That Senate ..Will Not Fill Committee Places. "WASHINGTON, March 7. The Demo cratic steering committee of the Senate held a session today for the purpose of considering the question of filling vacan cies on the Senate committees. After the committee adjourned Senator Gorman said that the committee had been Indirectly informed that it Is the policy of the Re publican Senators not to fill the committee vacancies during the called session, and that, if this policy should be adhered to, the Democrats could do nothing in that di rection. He added that at any rate the Democratic managers would wait upon the Republicans and would necessarily con form to their wishes In the matter. . The committee decided to recognize the propriety of Senator Clark's appointment as a member of the committee on foreign relations to succeed Bailey. It was stated that Bailey himself would withdraw -from the committee, and, before suggesting Clark as his successor, consulted indi vidual members of the steering- commit tee. The committee had Senator Clark In mind two years ago for the place, and would have put him on the committee then had there been a vacancy. ATPOIXTMEXTS IX NAVY. Captain Barclay to Take Command at Bremerton In June. "WASHINGTON, March 7. Captain G. F. "Wilde has been detached from the Ports mouth navy-yard and made Captain of the Boston yard. Captain Thomas Berry has been detached from the Iowa and made Captain of tho New" York yard. He will be succeeded In command of tbe Iowa by Captain Henry B. Mansfield, who has been detached from recruiting duty at the New York yard. Captain Barclay's assignment to com mand the Puget Sound naval station will take effect June 1. He will become a Rear-Admlral soon after that date. Captain Cook will be promoted to be an Admiral upon the retirement of Admiral Crowninshield, March 20. Captain Harrington, who stands No. 2 on the. list of Captains, has been assigned to the Norfolk navy-yard, and will become an Admiral at the same time as Captain Cook. TE3IPORARY' OFFICE SECURED. Cortelyou Has Quarters and "Will Soon Make Appointments. "WASHINGTON, March 7. Secretary Cortelyou has secured temporary quarters for the Department of Commerce and La bor In the Builders' Exchange, 721 Thlr teenth street. Northwest. The temporary offices are not commodious, but Secretary Cortelyou believes they will serve until a reasonably suitable building can be ob tained. Important official positions have prac tically been decided upon, but public an nouncementi of the appointments will not be made for a few days. CONTRACT FOR ALASKA CABLE. Kirit41Ciigr Stretch Evi'f Made J United State. "WASHINGTON, March 7. A contract to furnish the signal corps of the Army with about 11C0 statute miles bf submarine cable to be laid between Puget Sound and Alaska has been awarded to the Safety Insulated Wire & Cable Company, of New York. It will be entirely of American manufacture, and will be the first long telegraph cable .ever made in the United States. Retirement of Detchemendy. WASHINGTON, March 7. Acting under the provisions of a special act of Con gress. the President has reauested Geonre 1 Detchemendy, late Captain of the -emy-secona iniamry, to report in per son to Major-General Young, president of the Army Retiring Board, In this city, for examination and inquiry by the board as to whether at the date of his resignation, March 10, 1902, he was incapacitated for active service, whether such Incapacita tion was the result of service, and wheth er said resignation should have been ac cepted as valid. Applegate Will Jlcmnln. WASHINGTON, March 7. Representa tive Williamson and ex-Representative Moody called today at the Indian of fice to see about the bonded superinten dency at the Klamath reservation, t Both were assured that at the end of the year Ageut Applegate would be -continued In charge of the agency, only his title will be changed from agent to superintendent. The salary will be the same as before. Not Ready for an Obituary. CANTON, S. D.. March 7. Senator M. E. Rudolph, of Canton, whose death was reported at Pierre during the closing hour of the General Assembly, Is not dead, but Is critically ill. When the Legislature heard the report of his death. It adopted appropriate resolutions and appointed a committee to attend the funeral. NEW STEEL CRUISER CHATTANOOGA LATEST AMERICAN HE FLOOD Passengers on Ferry boat Are Thrown. A PANIC AMONG ITALIANS Nineteen Bodies Are Strewn Along Hudson's Banks. ONLY THREE ARE RECOVERED Timid Boy Causes Panic and All Rush, to One Side, Capsizing Boat on Swollen River 'Bodies Lost Among: Loss. ' Through the capsizing of a ferryboat on the Hudson River, at Glens Falls, N. Y., yesterday, a large party of Ital ians were plunged into the swollen stream. Three bodies have b&en recovered, and 16 other men are missing and are surely drowned. GLENS FALLS, N. Y., March 7. Nine teen men are dead as a result of the capsizing of the boat used by the work men at the Spies Falls, about ten miles west of Glens Falls, on the Hudson River. More than 1000 men are employed there at present in the construction of the power dam of the Hudson River Power Company. The laborers and many of the masons are Italians, who live in shanties on the north side of the river. The main portion of the work Is carried on at present on the opposite side of the river. The men have been In the habit of cross ing a small bridge, where the river, flows through an unfinished portion of the dam, but the river has been rising for several days, and the coAipany, fearing the bridge was unsafe, destroyed It with dynamite. , j Below -the. bridge about the WTjrk is a ferry- The boat Is a scow-shaped affair, about 30 feet long and about 13 feet wide, and I3 operated by means of cables. It Is large enough to carry a heavily loaded team and as many as ISO men have been taken across on It at one time. When the men were being carried across yesterday an Italian boy became fright ened and fell overboard. He was rescued, however. This morning 70 or 80. men got aboard of the boat, leaving a big crowd on the bank waiting for the next trip. When a few feet from shore, the water splashed against the rail, and the boy who had fallen over the previous day seized one of the tackle ropes which ran from the over head cabin to the stern of the boat. Some of the men started toward him and In stantly the boat careened and filled. The Hudson, swollen by the fresh rains, bore a score or more of the struggling men down the stream. Many others succeeded In catching hold of the boat, which had righted, and they clug there until they were pulled ashore. The wildest excitement prevailed, but the current carried many of the men to ward shore, where they were rescued. Teams- were quickly harnessed and loaded with skilled log-drivers and sent down the river to points where the bodies would likely be found. Dozens of dinner pails, hats and coats were fished out, but it was nearly 6 o'clock before the first body was "found. This was found in a log jam two miles below the dam, and was recognized as that of an Italian Inter preter. The river for miles la being watched and dragged In hopes of finding the bodies, of v. nitior vltlm3 Thfr wpre hut two or I three Engll&h-speaking men on the boat. WARSHIP LAUN CHED. the Italians being all designated by num ber. The rolls of the men were called. and tonight everybody has been accounted for except 16 men, and It Is certain that these men were drowned. Those known to be dead are: Michael Kennedy, married; left a wife and four children. "Cigarette," the Italian boy who started the panic Fred Ferran, Italian. Sixteen others are missing. It la unlikely that all the bodies will be recovered. The river is full of logs, and at the high boom, five miles down the river, there are many thousands of them. FUNSTON CALLED BACK. Goes to Washington to Confer Re garding Alaska Land Allotments. DENVER. March 7. Brigadier-General Frederick Funston, commanding the De partment of the Colorado, U. S. A., has received unexpected orders calling him to Washington for a conference with Assistant Secretary of War Sanger. No reason was given for the sudden summons. The General will leave today for Wash ington, accompanied by his personal aide. Lieutenant MltchelL The orders caused a revolution in Gen eral Funston's arrangements. He was In structed to assume command of the. De partment of the Columbia, embracing Washington, Oregon. Idaho and the whole of Alaska, succeeding General Randall, who sails for the Philippines on April 1. His orders were to reach Vancouver Bar racks, Wash-, the department headquar ters, not later than March 10, and he had arranged to leave Denver for the Pacific Coast today. General Funston declined to discuss the new order, or to make any comment on the change In the arrangements. It Is be lieved, however, that the War Depart ment has In view extensive plans for the handling of troops In Alaska, in connec tion with the Impending difficulties over the Alaskan boundary question. WASHINGTON, March 7. It was learned tonight that the visit of General Frederick Funston to Washington has no special significance. A number of ques tions have arisen in the department with respect to allotments of land belonging to the Government reservation In Alaska to persons and various companies desiring to do business there. As Alaska is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Co lumbia, to which Geneial Funston has been assigned, and General Funston In all likelihood will visit Alaska during the coming season. It was deemed advisable to summon him to Washington for a con ference. FLOOD IN ARKANSAS. Levee Brents anil Farmers Have to Leave Their Homes. MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 7. The water has been pouring through an unfinished gap In the St. Francis levee for two days and the countlea of Lee and Crittenden, In Arkansas, are overflowing. Reports from points south of Memphis state that many LfArjp,ers--and . dweUers.ln. - the lowlands nave ieii tueir uuiEta wiui uicit siucix. Heavy Storms in Colorado. TELLURIDE, Colo., March 7. A severe snow storm has been in progress- in. the mountains near here for three days, ac companied at times by terrific gales, Snowslldes have occurred at different places, but as yet no serious damage or loss of life Is reported. The snowfall in this vicinity this Winter has been very heavy, and It is feared much damage to mining property and possibly loss of life will occur when the slides begin to run with the coming 01 warmer weainer. Mississippi Is Overflowing1. NATCHEZ, MIS3., March 7. The Missis sippi Is one foot above the danger line, The steamer Senator Coram, from vlcks burg, is 12 hours overdue, having been delayed by the removal of stock and peo ple to safety. All landing places save two between here and Bayou Sara are sub merged. CAN'T ENJOIN JOINTS. Kansas Supreme Court Denis Blow at LitiuorVi Enemies. TOPEKA, March 7. The Supreme Court" today decided that the clause In the Kan sas prohibitory law allowing the closing of joints by Injunction was valid. The court held that the Hurrel law, passed two years ago. repealed the old statute. Many of the prosecutions against joint Ists have been carried on by means of injunction proceedings. Inprnll.n for 3Inyor of Clncinnntl CINCINNATI, March 7. The Citizens ticket, which had been previously named by the fusion committee of Democrats and Independent Republicans, was. to night formally nominated by a mass con ventlon at the auditorium. The ticket Is headed by M. E. Ingalls as candidate for Mayor. D MS FOR TOUR resident Maps Out His Movements on Coast. WHOLE DAY IN PORTLAND Stop at Salem and Possibly Other Oregon Cities. WANTS NO LONG SPEECHES Five Days Allotted to Washington, and Oregon Details of Programme to Be Arranged by Local Representatives. The President Is arranging tho pro gramme for bis Western tour. He will spend a day arid possibly a night In Portland, and will stop In Salem and possibly Rosehurg, Albany and Eugene. In Washington he will visit Chehalls, Olympia, Tacoma. Seattle, the 'Bremer ton navy-yard. North Yakima, Spo kane and possibly Walla Walla. He win spend five days In Oregon and Washington. Details will be left to each locality to arrange, but he objects to recep-' tlons, banquets and set speeches.- OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU, Wash ington, March 7. President Roosevelt has begun to turn his attention to his In tended trip to the Pacific Coast, but has not yet arranged all details. He Is dis appointed that It was necessary to have an extra session of the Senate, as it will necessitate cutting down his trip some what and shortening his stay at several Important points; notably In the Yellow stone Park. His only stop of any .length In Oregon will be at Portland, where he expects to spend a day and pceslbly a nlghU At what other points he will .stop in Oregon will depend upon the hour he crosses over from California, on his way up the Coast. If the hour - Is suitable, he will undoubtedly make a short stop at Salem and possibly at Roseburg. Albany and Eugene. If, when he reaches the Coast, the President finds his time is being over taxed, he will have to cut down his stops at Salem and Portland. As he goes north from Portland, the President will follow largely the routo laid out by President McKlnley, going first to Chehalls. on to Olympia, then to Tacoma. He Is being urged to go from Tacoma by boat to the Bremerton navy yard, thence-to Seattle, giving him an op portunity to view the Sound. After crossing the mountains, as he turns eastward, the President contem plates running to North Yakima, possibly to Walla Walla, and certainly through Spokane. His only stops of any length in Washington will be at the three principal cities. He will probably spend not more than five days In the two states. As far as possible, President Roosevelt will leave details of his visit In the large cities to the local representatives, allow ing them to lay out his programme. His only request Is that he may be exempt as far as possible from tiresome recep tions, banquets and set speeches. He does not care to make a campaign tour, nor does he desire to be forced to listen to long speeches from local talent- As soon as the President has fixed the dates for his arrival and departure from the lead ing cities along his route, he will request, through his secretary, that local repre sentatives make their plans accordingly. FIVE PEOPLE BURNED. Horrible Fate of Family on Hunter Creek, Alaska. SEATTLE, March 7. A special to th'e Post-Intelligencer from Diwson says: Five people were burned to death In the, Aurora roadhouse on Hunker Creek at 2 o'clock Thursday morning. Charles Bern- sle. who owned the house, his wife and two children and Thomas Balrd, who was In charge of one of the government road houses, were burned to a crisp. Neigh bors near the burning building were un able to enter on account of the smoke. The Bernsle family cime from Portland, Or. Balrd was from Ontario. ' (The name of Charles Bernsle does not appear In any city directory of Portland for the past 10 years. Charles Befnsee. however, resided here In 1SS5. At one time he ran a restaurant on Third street, and when last listed in the directory was a cook on the steamer G. W. Shaver.) Great Hani In Gambling- Raid. NEW PORK, March 7. Fifty prisoners and an immense quantity of gambling ap paratus were captured tonight in raids on two gambllng-houees in West Thirty fourth street. The police forced an en trance Into both places by battering down doors with axes and sledge hammers, having previously drawn cordons around the houses to prevent the escape of any of the Inmates. All the prisoners, many of whom were in evening dress, wefo driven in patrol wagons to the police station, where most of theme were re leased on ball. Soldiers Are Coming Home. WASHINGTON. March 7. Adjutant General Corbln has received a cable mes sage from General Davis, commanding the troops in the Philippines, saying that the transport Thomas sailed from Manila oa. March 6 for San Francisco with Brigadier General Frank D. Baldwin, Brigadier General Morris Foote, 54S enlisted men of the Twenty-fifth. Thirty-first and Thirty-seventh Coast Artillery and tho Seventeenth and Fifteenth Batteries of Field Artillery. 33 sick, 118 casuals, 3 In sane and IS discharged, sojdiers.