TilT
HILL
VOL; IV.
IIILLSJiORO, OltEGON, THURSDAY, MAHCII 17, 1898.
NO. 52.
SBR6
n
NEWS OF THE WEEK
From all Parts of the New
and Old World.
BRIEF AND INTERESTING ITEMS
Comprehensive lie view of the Import
ant Happening! of the Cur
rent Week.
Thirty-six carloads of ammunition;
have been sent to Turn pa, Fla.
Clmi. A. Behlbredo hiiH been ap
pointed ounmilaaioner (or the district of
Aluska.
Not alnoe the civil war, it is anid,
has Biich ncrivlty boen seen at Sandy
iiook.
The first step looking to consolida
tion of the Amorioan and Pacific Ex-
'j'priws Companies has beon taken. J.
''A. Browster, of New York, lute head
' clerk in the accounting department of
the American company, has taken
charge of the auditing department of
the Pacific.
A patient at the Oregon Katate in
sane asylum, O. D, Chatflcld, pualied
unaittondant, Artliur Moore, through a
window and jumped nut himaelf. The
fall was from the third story, and the
attendant and patient are now in Iho
aaylum hospital, under treatment for
fraoturud bones and bruised flesh.
Two estimates of appropriations to
meet the oost of the recent addition of
two regiments of artillery to the army
have been sent to congress by Hoc re
tury Alger. One was of a supplemental
estimate of $ 10, 18 1 fur the pay of tho
army for the fiscal year, and tho other
of a deficiency of $154,150 in t ho cur
rent year appropriations to defray the
expenditures fur the remainder of this
year.
The Washington state superintend
ent has refused to issue certificates to
applicants in the recent examination
on account of violation of the rules
which prescribe that no communication
shall be allowed during the time the
caudidute is writing upon the ques
tions. This ia the third time tho su
perintendent has enforced the law re
lating to certification. One of the
cases is held in the courts of Pierce
county still undocided, upon the de
cision of which rests the superintend
ent's rights in the premises.
Benjamin Cluff, jr., president of the
Briglmm Young academy at Provo,
Utah, has returned from a visit to the
Hawaiian islands, where he went at
the solicitation of Unltod Stutes Sena-
tor Frank J. Cannon, to determine tho
"V status of the annexation sentiment
among tho Hawaiian islands. lie said:
"As a result of my investigation I
would aay that probably one-lnilf of tho
intelligent natives of the islands are
pronounced advocates of annexation.
Of the remaining one-half I would say
that the great majority are primarily
in favor of the Restoration of the mon-
. archy, and secondly they would much
prefer annexation to the United States
to a continuation of the present govern
ment."
Dispatches from Western Ontario
tell of the overflow of the Grand and
Thames rives, oausing serioua damage
along their valleys. Sections of Loiv
don, Brantford and Oalt are sub'
merged to a depth of from five to seven
feet. In London 1,500 people aro
homeloss. Bridges and buildings were
swept awuy by tho rushing torrent. In
Brantford the firemen and citizens
fought the raging water an entire day,
but were finally beaten out, and Woat
Brantford ia a regular lake. At Gait a
heavy loss ia sustained by the business
portion. , Tho ice jam in the Grand
river gave way and the flood following
it tore away bridges, treoB and wrecked
a number of factories and private resi
donees.
Charles Cutten, night agent of the
Adams Express Company at Orrvillo,
O., disappeared with a $10,000 pack
age. The United States supremo oonrt has
affirmed the decision of Judge Bellin
ger, of the cironit court, upholding the
mortgage tax law of Oregon, passed
October 28, 1803.
Tho PnnlUn naKla kill l.ni !.....
i Agreed to in the house committee on
.-.(interstate and foreign commerce. It
jprovidos for the oonstruotiou of a cable
from San Francisco to the Hawaiian
islands.
Advices from the Orient, brought by
the steamship Empress of India
whioh has arrived in Vancouver, B. C,
tell of the almost complete destruction
of Manila, Philippine islands, by fire
Five million dollars' worth of property
was destroyed.
There has been a heavy fall in stocks
of all kinds in London in consequenoe
of rumors from China, West Africa,
Spain and Amerioa, with rumbling
thunder all around the sky. There are
signs of alarm in every section of the
stock list, Amencaa securities showing
the greatost weakness. Nothing short
of a miracle can' preserve the peace of
the world, it is believed among British
statesmen and politicians, wires the
New York World s London correspond
ent. Not sinoe the Napoleonic wan
has danger threatened from so many
quarters.
Three Italian laborers were killed by
dirt cart which fell upon them while
they were at work in the new Bast
river bridge.
The Russian demands upon China
have oaused the greatest excitoraent at
the Japanese legation in Pekin, and the
Japanese minister has had several in
terviews with officials of the Chinese
foreign office, urging the rejection of
the Russian demands. In addition, it
is reported that Japan has threatened
to take vigorous action if the demands
of Russia are oonoeded.
WILL ACT AS ONE.
England anil Japan Combine to Keslst
KuMla'i Kuoroachnients In China.
New York, March 16. A dispatch
to the Herald from Tokio says: The
Herald correspondent learnB on un
questionable authority that Japan is a
party to the negotiations now going on
betwoen England and Russia at St.
Petersburg, and that while no alliance
exists between England and Japan,
they have a definite understanding and
are acting in harmony. A high diplo
matic oflleml said:
"You may say positively that Japan
will bark up England against Russia,
ami if England maintains a firm atti
tude, all immediate danger of war is
passed, unless Russia is resolved to
light at onco. In view of England's
great superiority at sua and her pos
session of all the available coal in tho
Eastern ports, Russia will probably
take a conciliatory tone for the pres
ent." Tho Herald correspondent visited
Marquis Ito today, and asked him
whether tho Jajanese government
would sell tho cruisers Cliitose and
Sakugi to America. The marquis hesi
tated a moment, and replied:
I will make intiniries of my naval
colleagues, but I think I may say that
Japan prefers to get possession of all
tho ships building for her as soon as
possible. Orders have already been
made to bring tho ships to Japan, and
the builders liave boen requested to
hasten their completion."
After a pause the marquis continued
slowly and impressively:
The news of the last few days in
dicates a critical stato of affairs else
where than on the Western continent,
and we consider it only prudent to con
tinue our provisions for the national
dofense. I hope the people of tho
United States will not take offense at
Japan's unwillingness to part with
these cruisers. I have always appreci
ated their kindly feelings for Japan.
The United States is a nation above all
others where public sentiment abso
lutely controls the national policy, and
for that reason I wish to have the peo
ple there understand that Japan re
tains the ships, not from a luck of
willingness to oblige the United Ktates,
but because she needs them herself."
"In case of war between the United
States and Spain, your excellency," the
correspondent asked, "will Japan al
low the warships of both belligorents
to take coal at Japanese ports, or refuse
it to both?"
"That opens a long vista of possibil
ities," he replied. "Some authorities
contend that coal and evon provisions
should be contraband of war, as both
aro necessary to maintain hostilities at
sea. whenever war is deciured be
tween two or more powers, Japan, if
neutral, will bear in mind in deciding
the coal question the manner in which
her decision will affeot all the belliger
ents and her own interests,"
The Herald correspondent learns that
Japan has received a cable from Eng
land for all the warships building for
hor in English private yards, consist
ing of three 15, 000-ton battle ships and
threo first-class armored oruisers of
about 10,000 tons each. The offer has
boon refused.
. NEW REVENUE CUTTERS
The Senate Fas a Kill for the Con
struction of Klglit
Washington, March 16. During tho
session of throe hours today the senate
passed a considerable number of bills
from the general calendar, among them
being one authorizing the seoretary of
the treasury to have constructed eight
vefiBols for the revenue cutter Bervice,
as follows: One to take the place of
the Seward, cost not to exceed $160,
000; one to take the place of the Me
Lane, cost not to exceed $160,000; one
to take the place of the Boutwell, cost
not to exceed $160,000! ono for servioe
on and in the vicinity of the Columbia
river bar, Paoifio coast, cost not to ex
ceed $260,000;. one for harbor service
at Philadelphia, to replace tho steamer
Washington, cost not to exceed $45,
000; one for harbor sorvico at Boston,
to replace the steamer Hamlin, cost not
to exceed $45,000; one for harbor ser
vice at New York, to replace the Chan
dler, cost not to exoeed $45,000.
The national quarantine bill was
made the regular order, and will bo
taken up probably on Friday.
The proceeding in the house today
were utterly devoid of public interest.
The time was devoted to District of
Columbia business. This was oonclud
ed at 4:15 P.M. The senate bill waB
passed to change the name of the port
of collection at Suspension Bridge, to
Niagara Falls, The senate bill was
passed which granted a right-of-way
through the Indian territory to the
Dennison, Bonham & New Orleans
railroad, also a senate bill granting a
right-of-way through the Winnebago
Indian reservation to the Northwestern
road; also to authorize the Monroe
company to construct a bridge across
the Bed river at Grand Ecore.
MRS. THURSTON DEAD.
The
Senator's Wife Expired on
thi
Anita In Cuba.
Havana. March 1A. Cnnmil-Gnn
eral Lee received ..the following tele
gram this afternoon from Mr. Barker,
united oiaies consul at Bagua
Grande:
'The wife of Senator Thurston died
on the Anita today. Shall give every
attention and wire you from Boca."
Meager advices say that Mrs. Thurs
ton died from apoplexy about 8 o'clock
this morning, when the yacht was in
sight of port.
The Anita left Matanzas last night
with all the party except Representa
tives Smith and Cummings, who went
to Sagua by rail. The passage from
Havana to Matanzas was very rough,
and that to Sagua even worse. It is
thought that this, together with the
rough passage down the coast, may
have hastened the end, but ' nothing
definite is known here.
FEEDING THE CUBANS
America Doing What Spain
Has Failed to Do.
WORK OF DISTRIBUTION BEGINS
Senator Tractor Believe! That the
Maine Eiploilon Came From
the Outside.
Havana, March 18. Everything in
dicates that the distribution of relief
stores Bent from the United Statea will
go forward hereafter more speedily and
effectively, attaining better results
than ever before. While much good
has been done, no doubt there ia more
room for improvement.
Matters appear to have reached a
crisis yesterday in Matanzas, where
there was a want of proper preparation
on the part of certain relief agents ap
pointed from Havana, where, in view
of the large daily average of deaths, it
was felt that there should have been
greater dispatch in delivering supplies
and in arranging to have them properly
cooked. But it is stated that tho
United States consul-genreral and
Lewis Klopsch, of President McKinley's
special commission, will not only ex
ercise a close business supervision, but
will insist that the work of today shall
not be put off until tomorrow.
Everyone Ib gratified to learn that
a famous Catholic priest, who will not
allow his name to be published, will
give all the aid in his power to Consul
General Lee and Mr. Klopsch, not only
in Havana, where the suffering is
much alleviated, but outside, where re
lief ia most urgently needed.
The United Stales consuls at Matan
zas and Sagua and the consular agents
in other cities can be relied upon, it is
believed, with the help of the local
Spanish committees, to push forward
the good work with all due speed. The
need of relief supplies is praotioally
undiminished, and there is no fear that
tho contributions already here or to
come will not be properly used.
A correspondent at Matanzas saya the
governor has appoionted a distribution
committee. They secure his signature
to orders for food, which ia then deliv
ered by United Statea Consul Brioe
from the warehouse. The local firemen
see that food ia delivered to the needy.
They have been active in relief work
hitherto, and have made a careful can
vass from house to bouse.
Mr. Brioe has appointed three Amer
ican women with power to give aid in
dependently of the governor's signature
to those who are called silent suffer
ers," the class who have sold or pawned
everything, but are too proud to let
their wants be known.
The Fern and Bergen have gone with
supplies. Mr. Brioe is satisfied with
the arrangements and is much en
couraged, lie says great good will be
accomplished in the course of a week.
Condensed milk, of which too muoh
has been sent to Havana, is badly
needed at Matanzas and Sagua. One
woman in the Matanzas hospital, on
hearing the word "milk", went frantic,
shrieking "milk" for hours.
Mr. Brice has supervision of the en
tire relief work, with full power to
give personally in cases he knows to be
deserving. Senor de Annas, the gov
ernor, is said to be a humane and good
man. !"
The Anita, with the congressional
parcy, left today for Sagua. ,5;
TO MEET THE EMERGENCY.
Policy Said to Have Boon Formulated
by the' Administration. .
St. Paul, March 15. The Globe's
Washington special Bays: The.: presi
dent and his oubinet know officially the
result of the Maine inquiry. They are
prepared to act. They, have canvassed
the course of events so far as they can
foresee them, and have formulated a
polioy to meet the emergency. Along
ita line, the administration expects to
move, unless it is swept off its feet by
a wave of popular dissatisfaction.
The Globe's special correspondent is
able to present the foreoast of events
as viewed by the president and his
cabinet. It can be outlined thus:
First The board of inquiry will re
port that the explosion was external.
Seoond The president will imme
diately,, through Minister Woodford,
demand from Spain an indemnification
of $10,000,000.
Third Spain is expected to reply, ex
pressing her willingness to pay if she is
responsible, but maintaining that her
own investigation shows that the ex
plosion was internal and purely acci
dental. She will, therefore, suggest
reference to an international board of
arbitration.
Fourth In such an event, the ad
ministration would be disposed to com
ply with the suggestion, unless there is
a conflict in Havana or an irresistible
demand for war sweeps through con
gress.
Fifth If congress acquiesoes in the
suggestion, the attempt will be made
to adjourn the body and leave the whole
matter in the president s hands.
Sixth It is expected that a large
majority of congressmen will olaim that
Buoh a matter of honor cannot be arbi
trated. It is further expected that the
leaders of both houses, including Sen
ator Davis of Minnesota, will favor
arbitration.
Senator Froetor's Return.
Washington, March 15. Senator
Proctor and his companion, Colonel
Parker, who have been Bpending some
time in Cuba, returned to Washington
tonight. To a Post reporter, Senator
Prootor said:
"Concerning the Maine disaster, I
feel free to say that such information
s I have obtained Indicates that the
.explosion was from the outside. It
does not show that the Spanish govern
ment or any of ita officials in Havana
were participants in the crime.
TWO FINE CRUISERS.
The Government Secures Pair of Bra
clllan Vnuli,
Washington, March 16. A week's
negotiations closed today by the tri
umphant purchase by the navy depart
ment in London of the two fine cruisers
Amazonaa and Admrral Abrenall, built
and building at Eleewick for the Bra
zilian government. Possibly the offi
cials took more pleasure in closing the
business in this matter because of the
knowledge ; that Spanish agents had
been driving to secure these very ships,
and that to Spain, it is said, they would
be of muoh greater value in case of
trouble than to the United States.
The next question is how to got the
ships home, and that has not yet been
settled, according to the secretary of
the navy. The United States flag will
be hoisted over the new ships within a
week, probably, and just as soon as the
crew can be put aboard the Amazonas,
she will start for the United States.
The other vesselwil follow at the
earliest possible moment. The terms
of the Bale are secret.
The availability of the two Brazilian
ships was first brought to the attention
of the navy department by Mr. Lane,
agent of the Nordenfeldt Company, who
was authorized to dispose of these ships
building at Elsewick, and two others
in course of construction in France.
Mr. Lane said today that the two ships
purchased would be a most desirable
acquisition to the American navy, as
they were the latest and best products
of the famotiB Armstrong yards. One
of the ships is complete in every re
spect, has her coal supply and ammuni
tion on board, and steam can be raised
at any time. There will be no trouble
in bringing this ship across, as an ade
quate force from the local yards can
be secured for the service. It is said
the coal and ammunition on board
passed with the sale to the United
States. The ammunition is not of the
Kind in use by the American navy, 'so
that the supply of ammunition is a
necessary adjunct of the new ships.
The other ship has been launched,
but it will take some time to make her
ready for sea. Mr. Lane believes, how
ever, that there will be no difficulty in
bringing her over immediately if it is
desired to make the move without de
lay, as the hull of the ship is so well
along that she could be towed, and her
own sail power utilized for the trip.
Senator Proctor visited the White
House and up-town departments today,
and his calls excited a great deal of in
terest. He spent half an hour with
Seoretary Alger, explaining, it is be
lieved, the military situation in Cuba,
and afterwards held a conference with
Judge Day, assistant secretary of state.
Then he went to the White House, and
was closeted with the president for two
hours.. When he' emerged from the
room he courteously declined to speak
regarding the nature of the informa
tion he has communicated to the presi
dent. The two Brazilian ships will be ex
tremely valuable additions to the Uni
ted States navy in either war or peace,
in the opinion of Seoretary Long, who
acknowledges they have been bought
by the United States. They are steel
sheathed and Coppered, with twin
screws. The ..Amazonas is rated at
1,400 tons displacement, with an indi
cated k horsepower, under natural
draught, of 7,000, whioh is calculated
to develop 20 knots opeed.
Thus, while the ship is about the
size Of the Charleston, she is much
faster.: Her armament is also much
more formidable, not so muoh in cali
ber, for the main battery is made up of
six-inch guns, but the guns are what is
known as 50-caliber length, giving them
an unusual range and power. In addi
tion to tli is they have 10 6-pounder
auick-firine (runs, four 1-nounders. four
.Maxim machine guns, and two boat or
01 d guns. , The torpedo tubes are
ihree in number.
' The coal capacity is 850 tons, giving
her an effective steaming radius of
8,000 knota, a most valuable feature,
inasmuch as it would enable the ship
to cross and recross the Atlantio with
out coaling, Such a vessel as a com
merce destroyer , would be vastly more
effective than what appears to be more
powerful oraft, because of their ability
to get along on long oruisea without
touching at. neutral ports to coal, and
thus exposing themselves to capture.
The bureau of ordnance of the war
department opened bids today for a
large supply of armor-piercing projec
tiles, and for 13,000,000 rifle ball car
tiidges. The bidding brought together
a number of representatives of large
steel and ammunition companies, some
of whom took oooasion to give assur
ances that in the present emergency,
government would be given the prefer
ence over commercial orders.
The bidders for steal projectiles,
varying in size from the 8-inch steel
capped shot to the 1,000-pound shot,
were the Midvale Steel Company, the
Batha-Illlngsworth Co., the Carpenter
Stoel Company and the Furth Sterling
Company. The bids varied only slight
ly on the various olasess of heavy shot,
running from $116 each for the 8-inch
to $185 each from the 1,000-por.nders.
The bids for rifle cartridges were in
two parts, 10,000,000 being standard
metallic ball oartidges, with brown
powder, and 2,000,000 new cartridges,
with smokeless powder. There were
three bidders, viz: The Union Metal
lic Cartridge Company, the United
States Cartridge Company, and the
Winchester Repeating Arms Company,
The bids were the same in eaoh case,
$18.50 for the brown -powder cart
ridges, and $37 for the smokeless pow
der cartridges. One company offered
to deliver 50,000 at once, and all the
offers contemplated a delivery of 100,
000 a day after a few days.
The bids for shot, shell and cart
ridges will be considered, and the
awards made within thejiext few days,
Osaka has been called the New York
of Japan. With the manufacturing
villages that cluster around it, it baa a
population of about a million.
HE CALLS IT TREASON
Governor Leedy's Denuncia
tion of Supreme Court.
A STARTLING PUBLIC ADDRESS
Special Session of Kamai Legislature
Will Be Called to Fait An
other Rate Law.
Topeka, Kan., March 14. The Popu
list administration of the state of Kan
sas gave out a startling public address
today, one bristling with severe criti
cism of the recent decision of the
United States supreme court in the Ne
braska maximum freight case. The ad
dress is significant in that Governor
Leedy has already taken steps prelim
inary to calling the state legislature in
special session, with the especial pur
pose of enacting a maximum freight
rate law. While the address ia given
out over the signature of Governor
Leedy, it had first been approved by
Chief Justice Bosler, of the state su
preme court and other prominent Pop
ulists. In giving the address to the
reporters Governor Leedy said:
"How long do you suppose a man can
write treason like this without getting
into jail? You may nut my signature
to it and make it a signed statement, so
that if anybody goes to jail it will be
me."
The governor begins his address with
the statement that for a year the press
dispatches have said that the opinion
in the Nebraska case would be adverse
to the state. Then he says:
"The opinion has been handed down,
and the Associated Press dispatches say
that it is a clean victory for the rail
roads. On the contrary, it is an un
clean victory in every respect of the'
case, showing that no matter how care
fully the robes of justice are folded
about the personnel of the supreme
court, the robes can no longer conceal
the cloven hoof of official malfeasance
and usurpation. As this decision was
due a rear ago, and as there was no
known reason for the delay, and aa the
decision aa rendered confirms the state
ments made in the Associated Press
dispatches from time to time, strong
color is given to the suspicion that
the press dispatches emanated from
some person in touch with the court,
and were for the purpose of feeling the
pulse of the public and preparing it
for the decision which goes muoh fur
ther in the direction of usurping power
than any that has been made."
The governor declares that the con
stitution of Nebraska gives the legis
lature power to establish maximum
charges for transportation, and de
clared that the supreme court has tried
to abrogate it.- He challenges Justice
Harlan's declaration that a corporation
is a person under the 14th amendment
to the federal constitution, and says:
"I deny it, and so will everybody
but a corporation lawyer or a subserv
ient judioial tool of corporate inter
ests."
Governor Leedy then quotes the 14th
amendment, and says:
"How, in the name of God, can this
apply to corporations? Corporations
are not born; they are created made
by law. They cannot be naturalized
they can take no oath of allegiance;
only human beings can do that."
After more in the same strain, the
governor, still referring to the 14th
amendment, says:
"Who are the persons who shall not,
according to the provisions, be deprived
of life, liberty or property, nor be de
nied equal legal protection? Every
body outside the asylum and off the
judicial bench knows them to be and
to only be natural persons. They are
those . who, beside the capacity to
hold property and enjoy legal protec
tion, also have life and can enjoy lib
erty, and that means human beings."
Continuing, the governor quotes
"Hare on American Constitutional
Law," and a decision by Justice
Woods, of the United States circuit
court, afterward supreme court justice,
to prove that the 14th amendment does
not refer to corporations, and declares
that the Woods deoision had been fol
lowed in California, Rhode Island and
other states from 1870 to 1882, "when
Justice Field and another ' federal jus-
tice of the peace named Sawyer decided
the other way, and since then, when
ever a corporation starts out to commit
highway robbery, pick a man's pocket,
or loot a pubho treasury, it diguisee it
self as a 'person' and goes out on its
mission of plunder. Nobody but
slave or a knave will yield assent to the
hideous distortion of meaning which
Judge Harlan gives to the word 'per
son,' as used in the 14th amendment.
and upon which he bottoms his infa-
mous decision, and whioh shows to
what depths of iniquity the supreme
court of the United States has de
scended." ,
"I desire," the governor said, "to
quote some of the decisions of the su
preme court of the United States before
it went into partnership with Morgan,
Vanderbilt, Gould & Co., in opposi
tion to the opinion they hold in the
Nebraska case." (Long decisions by
Marshall in 1860 are quoted).
In conclusion, Governor Leedy states
that his maximum rate bill will be
presented to the Kansas legislature, in
such shape that to decide against it the
court must reverse its decision in the
Nebraska case, and he states that "if
the court still pursues the corrupt and
rotten practice that it has heretofore,
by chancing its decisions to suit the
shifting interests of the railroad corpor
ations," the remedy will be with the
people in their dealings with thecouts
or in building railroads oi tneir own.
In 1860 the manufactured product of
St. Louis only amounted to $27,000,
000. Last year the output was about
$300,000,000.
BOWERY MISSION FIRE.
Eleven Men Were Burned to Death la
the Flames.
New York, March 15. Eleven men
lost their lives in the fire which swept
the Bowery mission lodging-house this
morning and left it a blackened shell.
Their bodies are bo charred that most
of them may never be recognized. The
dead are supposed to be:
Ellas Cuddv, 29 years old, address
not known.
John Moran, Stapleton, S. I.
McDermott, 29 years old, address not
known.
James O'Rourke.
James Soden, of Spottswood, N, J.
Six bodies unidentified.
No. 105 Bowery is one of the beat-
known lodging-houses on that thorough
fare. It ia called the Bowery mission
lodging-house, and is conducted by the
Christian Herald. In one part of the
building there is a cheap restaurant.
Ihe second floor is used exclusively for
mission purposes, gospel meetings be
ing held there daily. The two upper
floors were fitted up aa cheap lodgings,
with accommodations for 150 males,
who paid 10 to 25 cents each, accord
ing to the location of the room.
Last night almost every bed was was
occupied. At 1:30 o'clock this morn
ing, one of the lodgers discovered flames
coming from a washroom on the third
floor, but before he had time to alarm
the house, the fire was noticed by per
sons on the street. By this time the
flames had eaten their way to the top
of the building, and were bursting
through the roof when the alarm was
given and the inmates aroused. Wild
scenes of excitement ensued. Many of
the lodgers became panic-stricken.
They rushed into the halls and fell
over each other in their efforts to reaoh
the streets. Those on the lower floors
got to the streets safely by the stair
ways, while those on the upper floors
groped their way through the blinding
smoke to the fire escape in front of the
building. A majority of them saved
only portions of their clothing, while
several of them were naked. Those
who made their way to the streets by
the fire escapes were superficially
burned by the excessive heat of the
iron ladders, which in many places had
become redhot from the flames within.
The firemen saved many lives.
DOLE HOME AGAIN.
He Believes That Annexation Will Ulti
mately Succeed.
San Francisco, March 15. The
steamer China which left Hong Kong
February 12 and Honolulu February
24, arrived today, bringing these Ha
waiian advices:
President Dole returned to Honolulu
the morning of the 4th. After a cabi
net meeting held immediately upon his
arrival he was interviewed by a press
representative. He spoke very frankly
on matters pertaining to his mission to
Washington.
"Yes, I shall be very glad indeed to
tell the people anything I may know
relative to annexation," said the presi
dent. "The Maine disaster absorbed
the attention of the statesmen in Wash
ington previous to my departure for Ha
waii. When that has quieted down
interest in Hawaiian annexation will
be paramount in congress. When I
was in Washington I met many frienda
of Hawaii. They feel confident that
annexation will come. While there
was a doubt whether the treaty would
secure the required politioal votes in
the senate, still it was the concensus
of opinion that a joint resolution would
carry in both houses. I place muoh
reliance in what was said to me by sen
ators and representatives who are fight
ing for Hawaii, for I know them to be
working faithfully and earnestly.'
"What is Speaker Reed's attitude?'.'
When 1 was in the American capi
tal I learned that he has always opposed
annexation, although he has made no
demonstration against the treaty. ' My
impression of President McKinley?
Well, I will reply that it is extremely
favorable. I found him to be an unas
suming, frank and sterling man.. He
seems to have Bet his heart and soul on
the annexation treaty.
"Our reception was extremely cor
dial and hospitable. All along the
line to and from Washington throngs
of people came to see me. We shook
hands, and in many instances I was
obliged to speak briefly from the car
platform. It was from these people
that I gathered the impression that the
addition of Hawaii waa the popular
sentiment throughout the land."
GAVE UP THE ATTEMPT.
Klondike Could Not Get In by the
Sttckeen Route
Port Townsend, March 15. The
steamer Cottage City, which arrived
from Alaska tonight, brought a num
ber of passengers from Fort Wrangel
who have given up the attempt to get
into the Yukon oonntry by way of the
Stiokeen route. Among them was A.
L. Brown, of Massachusetts, who suc
ceeded in getting about 40 miles above
Wrangel with his outfit before the
depth of the snow stopped further
progress. Mr. Brown says about 1,000
men with their outfits are' snowed in
between Wrangel and Glenora.
Philadelphia, March 15. Over $0,
000 was realized for the fund of the
wounded survivors and the families of
those killed on the battle-sihp Maine
by a monster theatrioal matinee given
at the academy of music
Insane Woman's Suicide.
Pittsburg, March 15. While insane
through illness, and grieving over the
death of a favorite niece, Margaret Mo
Adams, wife of G. W. McAdams, a
well-known business man, drowned
herself in the Ohio river. The body
was found by her 14-year-old son, an
only ohild.
Traffic on the railroads between
xienstm ana re kin has increased so
muh that a double track must be laid
at onoe, . v-
flfORK IN NAVY YARDS
Arming and Manning of the
Merchant Marines.
MANY UNAUTHENTIC RUMORS
Vhe United State Not Buying Any Cart-
On Warahlpa Large Number of
Offers Have Been Made.
Washington, March 12. The United
States government has not acquired a
single additional ship for the navy.
This is true, not because of a lack of
offers of warships from abroad, but
simply for the reason that the navy de
partment is proceeding with all the
circumspection consistent with the
needs of the case in looking to the
prices and qualities of the craft. There
strong disposition to refrain from
being drawn into bad bargains and to
insist on getting good vessels at prices
not extortionate.
Secretary Long was in receipt of a
large number of cable messages today,
almost all relating to offers of ships.
Lieutenant Niblock, United States na
val attache at Berlin, St. Petersburg
and Vienna, is paitioularly active in
quest of vessels.
There was a good deal of talk during
the day about the assignment of offi
cers to the command of auxiliary crui
sers, the St. Paul and St. Louis being
especially mentioned, but Secretary
Long set these stories at rest by the
statement that he had not made any
such assignments, and had only pro
gressed to the point of informing him
self of the possibility of getting the
ships officered and manned quickly.
While looking after new ships, the
officials of the navy department are not
neglecting the other vessels, and ar
rangements have been made to make
short repairs on several ships that in'
the ordinary course would not be
treated in that fashion, but would re
quire an entire overhauling. Thus, in
the case of the Philadelphia, which has
had five years hard work, and has never
yet been gone over, as is the custom,
orders have gone to Mare island to put
her in shape for sea within 40 days.
The Yorktown. at the same yards, is
not to be touched at present, not only
because she is in fair condition, but
also because Bhe is not bo formidable a
craft as to make it desirable to divert
to her repair the attention required
elsewhere. At Norfolk the Newark is
set down for 30 days' repairs, and as a
good deal of work has already been
done on her, she will be almost a new
ship when she comes out of the yards.
The big monitor Puritan has practi
cally completed her repairs. The
monitor Comanche at Mare island has
been examined and found in tolerable
condition. At League island the Mon
itor Miantonomoh and the ram Katah
din went into commission today, al
though they have not yet received their
orders. They will probably remain in
the Delaware river or drop down into
the bay. The torpedo boat Dupont
sailed today from Mobile to attach her
self again to the flotilla 'at Key West.
Again it was said at the navy depart
ment that nothing had been heard from
the court of inquiry at Havana, nor
from Admiral Sicard at Key West.
The presence in the oity of persons
connected with steamship lines and
steel works led to the circulation of a
number of sensational stories during
the day, but perhaps none of these had
the persistency of one, which met sum
mary denial at the hands of Assistant
Secretary Day, to the effect that Minis
ter Woodford had notified the Spanish
government that the president intended
sending to congress a message announc
ing his recognition of Cuban independ
ence. ; ,r-;i
A conference was held at 3 o'clock in
the office of Assistant Secretary Roose
velt, to map out plans for arming and
equipping merohant vessels as auxiliary
oruisers. This work, it is said, could
be accomplished readily within two
weeks' time, as all materials, except
the guns, are on hand. The bureau) of
ordnance could not supply all the guns
required within that short time, al
though aome 70 or more are now avail
able. The supply would be adequate,
however, for the most effective auxil
iary oruisers and the complete arma
ment of the merchant ships could pro
ceed as rapidly as possible thereafter.
As to the question of manning the
auxiliary fleet, the navy department
feels that the most effective step would
be to enlist in the United States naval
service the present merchant crews of
the several ships. These crews are
thoroughly famliiar with the vessels,
and could handle them with far greater
effect than green crews of bluejackets.
The ships would be officered from the
line of the navy. In the oase of enlist
ing a merohant crew, the pay and allow
ances would be about equivalent to the
rates paid ordinary sailors, and the
time of enlistment would doubtless be
limited to short periods.
In the Interest of Miles.
Washington, March 12. The senate
committtee on military affairs today
deoided to recommend the passage of a
bill authorizing the revival of the grade
of lieutenant-general of the army. The
bill authorizes the president to nomi
nate any officer to this grade. The hill
is in the interest of General Miles.
Bastia Wants New Warships.
St. Petersburg, March 12. The im
perial ukase juBt issued orders the dis
bursement of 90,000,000 rubles as an
extraordinary expenditure for the con
struction of warships. It is added that
no loan will be raised to provide the
money. . .... ,
Berlin, Maroh 12. The news of the
Russian naval credit was received here
with eqanimity as justifying the Ger
man naval bill,
Vi" fc.