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About The Corvallis gazette. (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1897)
ontr Clrk VOL. XXXIV. CORVALLiIS, BENTON COT NT Y, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1897. ; u . ; , . ; NO. 41. VIP . I i! AM CURRENT EVENTS OF THE DAY Epitome of the Telegraphic News of the World. TERSE TICKS FROM THE WIRES Kn Interesting Collection of Items From the New a ml the Old World In a f'omlensed and Comprehensive Form While skating on the ice near Gard ner, Miss., three young people sudden ly broke through, and before assistance could reach them were drowned. At Tonawanda, N. Y. , while a party were skating, the ice gave way and precipitated four young people into the water. Three of them were drowned. China approves of the Russian fleet wintering at Port Arthur, being per suaded that this action is taken in the interest of China, and necessitated by the German occupation of Kiao Chou. General Blanco reports to Madrid that negotiations with several influen tial insurgent leaders are progressing favorably; that he hopes to detach from the rebellion important forces which are willing to accept autonomy. A rate war is on between the various river transportation lines running to The Dalles. A reduction of fare from The Dalles to Portland is the result. This cut in rates has been looked for by the public since the opposition line was put on, some two months ago. The statement of the collections of the internal revenue show that for the month of November last the receipts amounted to 113,959,296, an increase as compared with November last year, of. $1,257,S27. For the last five months, however, there is shown to have been a decrease of $5,912. P. M. Gideon, the clerk of the gen eral land office, who .was referred to by Thomas Reddington in the testi mony before the senate Pacific railroad committee, Saturday, as having changed the land-office records so as to throw 5,000,000 acres of government land to the Southern Pacific, has made a clear denial of the charge. A dispatch from Christiania, Nor way, to the London Chronicle, says the political situation, since the failure of the united committee on foreign affairs, has become critical,' and it is feared that Sweden will seek an occasion for armed intervention in Norway. . The dispatch adds that the Swedish press hopes for assistance from Emperor William. . '- . . The committee appointed at the house civil service conference 10 days ago to draft modifications of the civil service law have met and ' gone over : th various bills pending before the h use. : The committee expects to have a measure framed by the time congress recoi venes. Its members are opposed many offices withn its scope. A freight" train of 21 loaded cars, traveling down the mountain to Al toona, Pa., becaroa unmanageable in consequence of the slippery condition of the tracks, making the 12 miles from Galltiz into Alteon a in as many minutes and crashing in'to a freight train directly iu front of the passenger station. About 50 cars were com pletely broken up, and the Holidays burg passenger train, which was stand ing on the track near the passenger shed, was thrown over on its side. Three of the train crew were fatally in jured. An effort is on foot to reduce the .production of cotton. Gold has been discovered at Skagway ' which goes $4 to the pan. Mormons have secured 3,000,000 acres of land in Mexico for a colony. . " John Cross, of Cove, Or., was arrest ed for having counterfeit money in his possession. Bates Soper, who murdered his wife and two children at Aseliie, Mo , in 1891, and who was recently arrested in Oregon, where he ma-ried again, was sentenced in Harrisonville, Mo., to be hanged on February 4. About 100 wholesale druggists from the cities of the Central West held a conference in Chicago for the purpose of considering the cut rates at which drugs and patent medicines are being sold by the department stores, as well as by many retail druggists, and to take steps to stop the practice if possible. The Dingley tariff law will not be changed in any of its custom features at the present session of congress. A general understanding to this effect has been reached among the Republi can members of the ways and means committee, who feel that it is most de sirable to avoid what is generally known as tariff tinkering. The subcommittee of the senate com mittee on Indian affairs, appointed to consider the problems, presented in In dian territory have practically decided to recommend' amendments to the pres ent law,providing for the apportion ment of all the lands held- by thi five civilized tribes among the members of these tribes, and aslo an amendment providing that all valid leases shall be recognized by the government of the United States, and the money paid on account of them covered into the treas ury of the United States for the .bene fit of the various tribes as such. A Birmingham, Ala., dispatch says: The Tennessee Coal & Iron Railroad Company and the Sloss Iron & Steel fVimnanv have shinned 5.000 tons of i Alabama pig iron to Pensacola, from whence it will be forwarded to Kobe and Yokohama, Japan. A trial ship ment of Alabama iron made to Japan several months ago gave such satisfac tion that extens'ive orders are result ing, this shipment being the first of a series. Japan heretofore was supplied by European furnaces, but Alabama has superseded these The work of collecting salmon eggs at the California fish commission hatchery on the Sacramento river at Anderson has just closed. The result of the season's operations are the most remarkable on record. Forty-eight and a half million eggs were collected. This exceeds the previous record by 22,000.000 and is 28,000,000 more than were collected at all the other hatcheries on the coast this year. These eggs will De natcned audi tue try plant ed in the waters of the state, with the exception of 3,000,000 that will be sent to Oregon and 6,000,000 that go to the fSew England states. BONDING MINERS' OUTFITS. Canadian Customs Commissioner Gives Oat Regulations. j Washington, Dec. 22. A response has been received to a recent lettei from Secretary Gage to the commis j sioner of customs, requesting informa- j tion as to the bonding of miners' outfits , through Canadian territory on the route from Juneau by way of the Chil koot pass and the Yukon river to Circle j City. The commissioner says that the j following regulations have been pre pared to meet the case: Imported goods, as above described, shall be reported to the Canadian custom-house at Tagish, and may be en tered for exportation there in the usual form, "in transit," in duplicate. The goods may then be delivered without payment of duty to be carried to their destination out of Canada by any tran sportation company which has duly executed a bond in the form prescribed by the minister of customs for the due and faithful delivery of all packages carried by such company and for the geneal compliance with the customs laws and regulations governing such traffic. A duplicate of the entry in transit, duly signed and marked with the proper customs stamp, shall accompany each shipment of goods conveyed by a bond ed carrier, so that the same may be re turned to the custom-house at Fort Cudahy with a certificate thereon as to the landing of the goods in the United States, or of their having passed out waid from Canada, within six months from the date of the entry. If the goods, when entered in transit for exportation, are not delivered to be forwarded by a bonded carrier, as pro vided in the last proceeding section, the duty thereon is to be deposited with the customs officer at Lake Tagish, subject to a refund of same at the port of Fort Cudahy, when the goods pass outward thereat, or upon the certificate of an officer of the United States, or of the Canadian customs, that the said goods have been landed in the United States within six months from the date of entry. The duty deposited on such is to be indorsed on the entry and cer tified by the customs officer in charge, and the duplicate of the entry, duty cer tified and marked .with -.the customs stamp, is to be delivered to the person making the deposit. A report of 9uch entry in transit shall be forwarded by mail without de lay by the customs officers at the send ing port to the collector of customs at Fort Cudahy, for the collection of du ties on the goods entered in transit and not duly exported. The articles ususally classified as travelers' baggage are to be passed free, without entry. Commissioner McDougall, in a letter accompanying these regulations, says that they are framed with the desire to afford the utmost facilities for traffic in question, compatible with security to the revenue. He further says: "Responsible transportation com panies will be soon in operation for the i!wiMWHse of -goeda-ovt-r thw Ctittfcoot and other passes down the Yukon river and its tributaries, in which case United States goods may go forward into Alaska without payment of du ties." OVER A PIECE OF GROUND. Dispute Between the United States and and the State of Texas. Chicago, Dec. 22. A special to the Chronicle from Fort Worth, Tex., says: The state of Texas and the United States governinent are in conflict over a piece of ground on the east end of Galveston island, on which is. located the state quarantine station and which has been taken possession of by the federal authorities, who intend erecting a torpedo station thereon. The United States claims it under the terms of the Texas annexation treaty, which requires the ceding to the government by the republic of Texas of all lands used for the purpose of mil itary defenses or upon which fortifica tions were standing. The state will dispute the claim on the ground that there were no available fortifications in existence on the ground in controversy at the time the treaty was made. Leedy'g Modest Scheme. Topeka, Kan., Dec. 26. Governor Leedy announces that he will present a scheme to the Nebraska irrigation convention which, if carried out, will cause the arid plains to blossom as the Prose. A one thousand seven hundred- mile canal from Montana to Texas ia the startling proposition to be formally made by Governor tjeedy to the coming irrigation congress. The purpose of the canal would be to divert the flood, of waters of the Missouri and Missis-, sippi valleys and let them down when wanted. The canal would tap the Missouri river at Milk river in Montana and empty into Red river in Texas. The governor maintains incidentally that the cost would be only $360,000,- ooo: . Lost Her Deck Load. San Francisco, Dec. 22. The schooner Mayflower, Captain Olsen, ar rived today, 15 days from the Coquille river. The vessel had 112,000 feet of lumber as a cargo when she started, but when she reached here she was 10,000 feet short of that amount. From.De cember 3 to 14 inclusive, heavy gales were encountered, the seas washing completely over the schooner. It was during an unusually -heavy gale that the lumber was washed away. A sea man was at one time carried over the side of the schooner, but was caught by a wave and carried back on board "B"'" Wajei Are Reduced. Manchester, N. H., Dec. 22. No tices of a 10 per cent reduction in wages on January 1 have been posted in the Amore. Stark an I Jefferson cot tori mills, in this city. The Amoskeag mills, employing 9,000 operatives, posted similar notices last week. The Ainoie, Stark and Jefferson mills em ploy 11,000 operatives. Collision OIF Kenosha. Milwaukee, Wis., Dec. 21. The big passenger steamers, the Iowa, of the Goodrich Transportation line, and the Petoskey, of the Huron line, collided off Kenoslia this morning. The Petos key was bound for this city and the Iowa for Chicago. The extent of the damage is not known, but was not seri completing their trips. There's is no kissing in Japan except ostween husband and wife not even between a mother and child; no shak ing of hands in salutation. Russia Occupies Port Arthur With China's Consent. JAPAN YET TO BE HEARD FROM The Czar's Move Is looked Upon In Europe as a Reply to Germany's Ac tionThey May Come Together. London. Dec. 21. The correspond ent of the Times at Peking says: China approves of the Russian fleet wintering at Port Arthur, being per suaded that this action is taken in the interest of China, and necessitated by the German occupation of Kiao Chou. A dispatch to the Times from Shang hai says the occupation of Porf Arthur by Russia cannot fail to provoke popu lar indignation in Japan, where public opinion is already excited over the Kiao Chou affair. .According to a dispatch to the Daily Mail from Shanghai, the high officials of the Chinese court have advised the emperor, in view of further complica tions, to remove the court to Nanking (the southern capital). The dispatch says it is reported that overtures have been made to England to exercise pro tection over the Yang-tse valley and the West river, and that numerous ru mors are current regarding the activity of the British squadron in Chinese waters. The Times, commenting editorially on the situation in China, says: "Instead of the kaiser's mailed fist, . we have Russia's bent glove, but the grasp in not less vigorous and unyield ing. Great Britain ought now cour teously to invite China to extend the same privileges to the British fleet at Chausan." Telegrams from all Continental cap itals show that Russia's step at Port Arthur is regarded as tantamount to a permanent occupation, and a reply to Germany's action. A well-informed St. Petersburg cor respondent says there was no agreement between Russia and Germany, and the latter simply warned Russia when the occupation of-Kiao Chou was already decided upon. The Novoe Vremaya pretends that Japan has no cause for complaint, "since China is only giving the same shelter to Russian ships as Japan had hitherto so kindly afforded." " " v This view is not held in Berlin, where the papers are already talking of the pos8iblity of Prince Henry having to shake his mailed fist at Japan, which is supposed to be secretly backed by England. Some of the Berlin papers express anxiety, but most of them wel- . come the news from Port Arthur as justifying the German position at Kiao Chou, if not as actual evidence that Russia and prrrrer.- Curiously enough, Emperor William visited the Russian ambassa dor Friday night on his return from Kiel, ostensibly to congratulate him on the name-day of Emperor Nicholas. The visit lasted one hour. There is no doubt now that the emperor and am bassador discussed Chinese affairs. The Paris papers, without pretend ing to be deceived by Russia's innocent explanations, are pleased with the ac tion of the ally of France. The burden of Viennese comment is, what will England do? The British fleet now in Chinese waters consists of one iron-clad, nine cruisers and 18 smaller men-of-war. A HORRIBLE MURDER. Baker Was Pushed Into a Mixing; Tat and Cut to Pieces. , New York, Dec. 21. The Herald says: Circumstances pointing to a murder of unusual horror were recently brought to the attention of District Attorney Oleott and Captain McClns key, of the detective bureau, the al leged victim in the case having been Peter Doggett, 30 years old, who, if his relatives are correct in their stories, was thrown into a dough-mixing vat at 427 West Fifteenth street on August 28 last and literally cut to pieces. Doggett's sister, the police have been told by her and her lawyer, has re ceived a letter from her mother in Ire land, in which the writer says the only witness to the crime is now there. The letter sets forth that this witness was in the factory of the New York Biscuit Company, where Doggett worked, on the morning of August 28, and saw an other man shove him into a mixing machine, the bottom of which was swept by flanges moving at high speed. That Doggett was ground to pieces in the factory vat is known, but a coro ner's jury on November 15 decided that his death was due to an accident. The latter, which is now in the hands Df the district attorney, alleges that during a quarrel with another work man, Doggett was pushed into the vat below. liat Poison In Their Coffee. Elk' City, Kan., Dec. 21. John Strauss is dead, his two sons are dying and Mr. Reed and his daughter are critically ill from drinking coffee into which rat poison had been dropped ac cidentally. The unfortunates were participants in a social at the Strauss home. . Death Under the Bails. Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 21. Arthur Eckhardt, a brakeman on the Mesa lo cal train of the Miricopa & Phoenix railway, was. killed last night by being ground under the wheels of the car at Tempe. He was standing on a box car at the end of a backing train, and fell to the track. Three cars passed over him, the head and arm being severed from the body. Eckhardt was 24 years old, and came to Arizona four years ago from Illinois. Engine Jumped From an Incline. St. Louis, Dec. 21. While piloting a heavy freight train up the Merchants' bridge incline today, an engine of the Terminal railroad jumped the track and plunged to the ground below. Fireman A. Pensonger was instantly killed; Engineer J. H. McCullough was dashed head first through the cab window and badly injured, and W. N, Cobb, yard agent, - had several ribs broken, in addition to receiving other injuries. Pensonger was crushed into an unrecognizable mass nnder the en gine. He leaves a widow. EDICT OF THE TRADES UNION Members Are Asked Not to Serve In the ...National Guard. ; r Chicago, Dec.22. TheTimesHerald says: Trades unionists are required by the Chicago Federation of Labor to leave the National Guard ":,at once. This waa the : unanimous decision reached by the delegates at tbeii week ly meeting. It was said withopt con tradiction that a union man could not consistently serve in the' militia and incur the risk of being called out to shoot down fellow trades unionists who were on a strike for the betterment of their condition. - So, : every; j trades unionist who is now a member of the National Guard will be required to se cure a discharge from military Service at once. . j , -. Delegate P. J. Hassett started ' it all with a motion to compel tradea Union ists to leave the National GuarfV An amendment by McPhee was offered to have every workman enlist and .learn how to handle a gun. "This was lost, and a less warlike substitute ' was offered by Delegate B. P.. Williams, "that a request be made to all union men now in the militia to get out of the service." A second motion was offered by . Delegate Williams and passed, urging all union men who are not members of the militia to refrain from enlisting. General Miles' sug gestion of guns for the postofflce was denounced as a shadow of coming events. The tocsin was sounded that capital was organizing and thai labor should be prepared.- The delegates later declared their opposition to the creation of the proposed new cabinet position of secretary of commerce and industry. The adverse report ofjthe committee to which the subject had been referred was sustained. - - A motion was passed favoring1 the creation of a cabinet department of la bor. ' r Reports from Nashville indicating the triumph of a movement lor an eight-honr working day evoked1 much enthusiasm. - - . r-ir . A STEAMER ROBBED. Strong Room of the City of Washington Burglarized. New York,' Dec 22. The World says: ; The Ward liner City of -Washington, that sailed from Vera Cruz De cember 1, has arrived in this port, car rying in her strong -room $600,000 in Mexican coin. This was not -an un usually large shipment of treasure for the Ward line to handle, and no que in authority dreamed of danger. ; . Nevertheless, during the voyage the strong room, built to withstand the at tacks of almost everything but dyna mite, and located eo as to b under constant observation, was broken into. Only $3,000 was taken by he robbers, but the general impression is . that the soheme of the thieves was tr .ifeize the entire treasure. ' v Evflrv effort has been sen riiiide keep j force of detectives put upon the case by the company might work to the best advantage. . . A. G. Smith, the company's secre tary, admitted that the robbery had been attempted. TO USE PNEUMATIC TUBES. Proposed Innovation for the Chicago Postofflce. Chicago, Dec 23. Pneumatic tubes for the mail service of Chicago will be in operation between the depots, sub stations and the general office before long. This is the word Postmaster Gordon brought with him from Wash ington. After a month's absence in the East, Mr. Gordon arrived in Chicago last evening, after having conferred with Senator Mason, Congressman Fobs and President McKinley. In addition to the tubes, Mr. Gordon will also establish a special delivery service, which ha promises will be a great help to the business men of this city. Mr. Gordon investigated the pneu matic tubes in Boston, New York and Philadelphia. He was much pleased with their operation. Mr. Gordon is sure the corner-stone of the new postofflce building will be laid either July 4, or October 9. If the latter date is chosen, the famous society of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery of Boston will attend, as well as President McKinley, Postmaster General Gary and Secretary Gge, who will lay the cornor-stone. . The Fighting Germans. - Berlin, Dec. 22. The Arbiter Zei tung reports an unprovoked attack by a party of officers, including Chevalier d'Ansel and Lieutenant Witschin, on a number of civilians in the Cafe Raphael, at Krema, Austria. Three civilians were badly wounded with swords before the police stopped the fray. . When asked to pay the bill, Lieutenant d'Ansel struck the waiter with his sword. The officers were not arrested. - Czechs and Soldiers Fighting. London, Dec. 22. A dispatch from Vienna to the Telegraph reports there have been sanguinary conflicts at sev eral barracks in Prague during the last few days between Czechs and German eoldiers. Twenty-five men have been seriously wounded. The authorities confiscated the Czech newspapers that reported the affrays. - Walla Walla, Wash., Dec. 21. The committee of citizens that has been so liciting funds for the purpose of send ing two representatives to Washington to look after Walla Walla's interests in the matter of the alleged report re garding the abandonment of Fort Walla Walla will complete i;s labors Mon day. The committee has been very successful, and has secured sufficient money to defray the necseaary expenses. The delegates will probably leave for Washington after the holidays. - A Smart Fool. Stroudburg, Pa., . Dec. 22. T. C. Beatty, formerly secretary of the A. P. A., and a prominent lawyer of the Middle West, and his son Edward, were taken today to Philadelphia to serve . 16 months'' in the penitentiary. Before he left, Beatty wrote an account of his life, which he headed, "Life Ex perience of a Smart Fool.". London, Dec. 31. In an explosion aboard the Bteamer Southern Cross, from Buenos Ayres - for ' Liverpool, which arrived today, several persons were killed or wounded. t Colonel Ruiz, a Spaniard, Neglected a Warning. WAS WELL LIKED IN HAVANA The Penalty for Carrying a Proposition for Surrender Into a Cuban Camp Two Filibustering Expeditions Land. New York, Dec. 20. A Herald dis patch from Havana says: Much anxiety is felt for the safety of Lieutenant-Colonel Joaquin Ruiz, aide-de-camp to General Blanco, who, it is said, has met death as the penalty for bearing a proposition for surrender to a rebel camp. It seems that Colonel Ruiz is a personal friend of Colonel Aranguen, wb waa employed by him before the war, when Colonel Ruiz was engineer in charge of the Vento water works. . Recently, nnder orders from General Blanco, Colonel Ruiz opened corre spondence with Colonel Aranguen, with the object of arranging an inter view. Colonel Aranguen wrote that he would meet the colonel if the latter only desired to talk on personal affairs, to which the colonel replied that he wished to talk about politioal matters. Colonel Aranguen wrote that he would absolutely refuse to receive him on these condition, and called his atten tion earnestly to General Gomez' order that all persons entering insurgent camps to offer terms of surrender should be put to death. He assured Colonel Ruiz that he was prepared to earry out Gomez' orders to the letter, and that while he esteemed him highly as an old friend, he would hang him if he neglected the warning. In spite of this, Colonel Ruiz started alone on Sunday for Colonel Aran guen's camp, deterimned to rirk all in the attempt. On leaving he said if he had not returned by Tuesday night he might be given up as , dead. So far nothing has been heard of him, and there is little room for doubt that the insurgent leader has put his threat into execution. If this be true, much regret will be felt even in Cuban circles in Havana, where Colonel Ruiz was well known as a gallant soldier and an accomplished gentleman, but it is pointed out that his death will have a good effect as showing the indomitable spirit animat ing the insurgent leaders. Major Fernandez, better known as Pitore, the insurgent leader, who. ac cording to official reports, was slain in combat with Spanish troops, was really killed while ill and helpless awaiting an opportunity to surrender to Thomas Garcia, recently autonomist alcalde of Guines, an old friend. Pitore being dangerously ill, applied to him to ar range terms for his surrender. Garcia caused him to be taken to the Cancio estate, where he made liinT comfortable and arranged to have a detail of Spanish troops sent to bring him to the hospital in the town. Instead the troops went to the country and butchered the man. Senor Garcia is infuriated at this breach of faith, and has declared Ji is in tention of coming to Havana to lay the matter before General Blanco and de mand the punishment of the officer re sponsible for the murder. The battle of Guisa appears now to have been a more important insurgent success than was at first supposed. Ad vices received by the junta state that the insurgents captured 270 Mausers, 220,000 cartridges and 116 prisoners. General Calixoto Garcia has sent word to General Pando that he will only re lease the prisoners under solemn pledge signed by General Blanco that they will be sent back to Spain. He com plains that after the capture 'of Las Tunas the prisoners released on parole were sent back to the ranks. The insurgents in Santa Clara prov ince have more than 6,000 men well armed, and are confident of ultimate success. They are also well provisioned with medicine and other necessaries. General Gomez is at La Reforma, where he has been for nearly a year. Within the last four days two large filibustering expeditions have safely reached Cuba, one landing in Matanzas province and the other at Baracoa, only five leagues from Havana. They brought clothing, medicines and dyna mite. The rebels are now using large quantities of dynamite with consider able effect. General Pando, who ia operating in the east against General Garcia, has asked for reinforcements, which have been sent, several battalions being withdrawn from Pinar del Rio. General Bernai has started across Pinar del Rio to Cape Antonio, where a large body of rebels is congregated. Reports from Guira de Melena state that the rebels fired on the town almost every night. Rebels uncer Colonel Colazzo and General Rodriguez surrounded a Span ish column yesterday at the Carmen estate, Havana province. Spanish re inforcements arrived from Guines and a fierce engagement occurred. The detalis are suppressed, but the loss is admitted to be heavy on both sides. Another engagement is reported to have occurred December 14 near Guira de Melena between Morroto and Col onel Arango's forces. ' New York, Dec. 20. The Herald correspondent in Rio Janeiro telegraphs that the government authorities have seized a letter written by Vice-President Peirera which proves beyond doubt that he was at the head of the revolu tionary movement which led to the re cent l attempted assassination 6f Presi dent Moraes. -- Brazilian authorities still have cause to fear a revolution, and the government has requested Uruguay to prevent the gathering of revolution ary groups along her frontier.' A Fatal Collision. Clinton, Ind.. Dec. 20. Tran No. 3, on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, which left Chicago at 11:30 last night,, ran into an extra here this morning. Three employes were killed and half a dozen others injured, but no passengers were hurt. Both engines were badly wrecked, the baggage car was thrown down an embankment, and the mail car smashed. " It ia stated that the right hand, which ia mora sensitive to the touch than the left, is leas sensitive than the latter to the affect of heat and cold. NO MORE SEALSKINS. Important Clause in the Bill That Has Just Passed Congress. Washington, Dec. 21. It has been developed that the bill relating to pe lagic sealing which has just passed both branches of congress, and is before the president, contains a provision of far-reaching character which has thus far escaped attention. This is an abso lute prohibition of he bringing of seal skins into the United States. As the United States is the largest market in the world for sealskins this complete stoppage of the trade' in this country will be a severe measure against the British and Canadian industries which take and cure the skins and then dis pose of them largely in the United States. When the bill was proposed it was r generally supposed that its only pur pose was to prohibit American citizens from carrying on pelagic, sealing. This feature was the only one to attract at tention during the discussions. At the adoption of the bill, however, a section was discoverd which was not restricted to Americans, but applies to sealskins in general, "taken in the waters men tioned in this act," which include the whole Pacific ocean. The provisions ia as follows: Section 9. That the importation into the United States by any person what soever of fur sealskins, taken in waters mentioned in this act, whether raw, dressed, " dyed or manufactured, is hereby prohibited, and all such articles imported after this act shall take effect shall not be permitted to be exported, but shall be seized and destroyed by the proper officers of the United States." Those who are thoroughly familiar with the bill say this provision is of far more importance in its effect than the prohibition against pelagic sealing by Americans. ' RELIEF BILL SIGNED. Two Hundred Thousand Dollars to Aid Starving Yukoners. Washington, Dec 21. Both houses of congress today passed the joint reso lution for the relief of miners in the Yukon valley, Alaska, and in a short time it had received the signature of the president. The bill appropriates $200,000, to be expended under direction of the secre tary of war in the purchase of supplies for the relief of the people in the Yu kon country or other mining regions of Alaska, and for the transportation and distribution of such supplies, provided that, if the consent of the Canadian government be obtained, the secretary of war may extend the relief into Can adian territory. The resolution fur ther provides that the supplies may be sold in that region at such prices as may be fixed by the secretary of war, or donated to those unable to pay for them. The secretary of war is author ized to use the United States army in .carry ing inta. effect ..the;, proxiiona .of. the act, to import reindeer and drivera for the transportation of supplies, and to adopt such other provisions aa are practicable.' The secretary is directed, when the work shall have been com pleted, to sell the reindeer or turn them over to the secretary of the inter ior, in his discretion, and to make a detailed report to congress at the be ginning of the next session of such dis bursements made and results accom plished under the act. A Northwestern Wreck. Vail, Ia., Dec. 21. The overland limited on the Chicago & Northwest ern, which left Chicago last night, ran into an open switch near here at 6 o'clock this morning. The mail-catch, it seems, flew ont of the mail coach, which was next to the engine. The catch struck the switch lever, bro&e it off and opened the switch. The train was going at the rate of 60 miles an hour. The engine and mail car re mained on the track, bnt the buffet car, two sleepers and two coaches were completely overturned on the prairie. Everybody on board was knooked about considerably, and many were scratched and bruised, but no person was killed or apparently seriously injured. A wrecking train was sent to the wreck, and within a short time the passengers were on "their way to Omaha. Report Blames Indians. Denver, Dec. 21 D. C. Beaman, Josiah Walbridge and Charles E. No ble, the commission appointed by Gov ernor Adams to investigate the recent Indian troubles in the vicinity of Lily ParK, filed their report with the gov ernor this afternoon. The report is an almost complete vindication of the game wardens, and shows that the In dians were alone responsible for the bloody conflict in Routt county last month, in which several of their num ber were killed. A Boston Rumor. Boston, Dec. 21. A prominent Gef man-American merchant of this sity has received a private cipher cable from German capitalists advising Lira to sell out all his holdings in Boston immediately. It is rumored that the cable disclosed a startling coup planned by Germany, and exposed the secret destination of the mysterious German fleet. According to the dispatch, the fleet is really being sent to threaten the United States, and secure absolute supremacy of the Pacific by seizure oi Hawaii and Samoa. Earthquake in Italy. Rome, Dec. 21. Strong earthquake shocks lasting twelve seconds were felt this morning. In central Italy the walls of houses split, many chimneys fell, bells rang and a panic prevailed among the inhabitants. New York, Deo. 21. While Mrs. Margaret Spencer was cooking on an oil stove tonight, her pet dog upset the stove. An explosion followed, and the woman was so badly died. L. .J 1 I 1 lU. I t. burned that she Collision on the Southern. Tucson, Ariz., Dec. 21. A South ern Pacific engine, running fall speed down the Dragoon mountain east of Benson today, came in collision with a double-header freight, killing instantly iBgineer n. i. jrauorauu,. ui , freight train, and smashing the loco motive and many of the freight cars. Repton,' Ala., Deo. 21. Last night, on the Bear creek logging road, a loco motive exploded, killing the engineer, John O'Connor; the fireman, Jack Clipper, and two trainmen, John John son and Henry Vickery. Both Houses Vote for Relief ' Appropriations. VOTE ALMOST UNANIMOUS Rouse Bill Appropriates 8175,000 and the Senate Bill S25O.00O Secretary of War Given Full Control. Washington, Dec. 18. Congress has heeded the petition of Portland, Or., for an appropriation foi transportation of supplies to the starving Klondikers. j -ihe bill which passed the house appro priates $175,000, and the senate resolu tion $250,000. It will be necessary be fore either becomes a law, for congress to get together on a common basis. The house bill encountered practical ly no opposition. As passed, the sum carried by it is to be expended under the direction of the secretary of war for the purchase, transporation and dis tribution of subsistence stores. It pro vides that these subsistence stores may be sold at prices fixed by the secretary of war, or donated where the people are unable to pay for them.. It empowers him to purchase reindeer and employ drive8 not citizens of the United States, and allows him to dispose of the reindeer. Represenative Cannon brought for ward the bill, and Sayers and Bailey spoke in favor of it. Cannon submit ted to the house a statement prepared by ' Dr. Sheldon Jackson, one of the agents of the commissioner of educa tion, who was in the region as late as September 15, that there would be no suffering as far up the river as Fort Yukon, but that the food supply on the Upper Yukon would not last beyond Maroh, and he indorsed the recommen dation of the secretary of war that food be sent in by reindeer via Dyea. Cannon said: "Whether these miners are in Ameri can or British territory, whether they are American or British subjects, if they are starving, it does not become the American congress to hesitate about voting them relief." The bill was passed without division, although there were scattering .noes when the speaker called for the nega tive vote. Secretary Alger was on the floor dur ing the debate. Hawley, of the military affairs com mittee, reported to the senate the Mc Bride relief resolution. The committee struck out all but the enacting clause, "and amended the resolution by appro priating $250,000, which is to be used by the secretary of war for -the purchase of subsistence and supplies and for their transporation and distrinbtion, the con Bent of the Canadian government first to be obtained to pass over Canadian territory. The resolution further pro ' vided thatfthe"BUpplies nre-to "fee d is tributed among the needy miners as the secretary of war may determine, and that the supplies are to be transported by means of reindeer, the reindeer to be sold after they have performed their service. Hawley asked for immediate consid eration of the resolution, and it was adopted. Secretary Alger, in anticipation of immediate action by congress, has be gun to prepare plans for carrying out the intent of the bill. To this, end, this afternoon he sent a telegram to General Merriam, commanding the de partment of the Columbia, at Van couver barracks, directing him to send two or three competent officers of the army to Dyea and vicinity to recoon noiter and report to the department how supplies can be sent across the passes to Dawson. ' Sent to the Senate. Washington, Dec. 18. The president today sent the following nominations to the senate: Joseph McKenna, to be associate justice of the supreme court of the United States; Charles G. Dawes, of Illinois, to be controller of the currency. The Day In Congress. Washington, Dec. 18. In the senate today, Pritchard, chairman of the civil service investigating committee, de livered a brief speech upon the execu tion of the civil service law, as de veloped by his committee. Frye, of the committee on commerce, favorably reported and the senate passed a bill directing the secretary of the treasury to purchase or construct a suitable boat for the revenue service on the Yukon, to cost not to exceed $40, 000. Cannon of Utah offered and had passed a resolution directing the secre tary of the treasury to furnish the sen ate information regarding filibustering off the coast of Floriday ' In the House. In the house Hitt, chairman of the committee on foreign affairs, secured unanimous consent for the considera tion of the bill passed by the senate yesterday to prohibit pelagic sealing i by citizens of the United States. He ' ..... , i explained its scope ana purposes ana the necessity for its enactment. . Hopkins thought a time limit should be placed on the operation of the act, so that in case negotiations with Great Britain should collapse, our citizens should not be at a disadvantage. Johnson made a vigorous speech of an hour in opposition to thejbill. He argued that the effect of this bill and the negotiations now being conducted would be the bolstering up of two great. British industries, one id Behring sea and the other in London. The present herd was not worth protecting. The purpose was to build up a new herd. He declared that Canada would only be too willing to join with us in prohibit no,io sealing on condition that & L O O . we should allow her to write our tana laws. He was particularly sarcastic in his referenoe to John W. Foster, the "great snrrenderer." Italy Will Act Different. Rome, Deo. 17. It was semi-official- lv announced today that the Italian eovernment never thought of sending ironclads to Havti, The difference between the tallest and shortest races in the world ia one foot four and a half inches, and the av erage height is five feet five and a half inches. - American hickory as wagon-material ia better suited than any other wood for moist tropical climates. WEEKLY MARKET LETTER. Office of Downing, Hopkins & Co., Chicago Board of Trade Brokers, 711-714 Chamber of Com merce Building, Portland, Oregon. The Chicago wheat market is in an nnusual condition. During last week December wheat sold at premium of from 3 to 12c, over cash wheat at New York, Baltimore, St. Louis, Toldeo, Duluth . and other points. At one time the premium at Duluth was 15. With such premiums is it a wonder that men like Armour and Weare should take the risk of selling Decem ber and buying the cash wheat in the Northwest when the cost of getting it here from Minneapolis- by rail is not over 7o to 8c? They not only get the profit in the difference, but also run the risk of the bulls changing their minds and leaving the wheat here, or at least a good part of the 5.000,000 bushels that will be here by the end of the month. They know that there is a good prospect of a large milling demand before another crop is harvested. This will give them a chance to secure fancy premiums for all the good millling wheat they may have on hand the same as last spring. In addition they get the storage. They believe in merchan dising wheat the same as any other ar ticle, and when a profit presents itself they are not slow to get into the ter ritory tributary to other markets and take the wheat away from them. There never has been such a chance in years, and they have taken advantage of. it and run the risk of the wheat grading. Not only has the bulge brought in free offerings from the Northwest, where over 1,000,000 bushels have been bought within a week, but it has stimulated holders in the winter wheat country to send their wheat wheat here. The howling about the grading made them timid about risking December sales, and last week brought out offers ol more wheat than was supposed to be in the country. This will place a larger quantity in the visible supply and give th6 bulls a chance to see what there actual ly is and enable them to make better plans for the future. Portland Market. Wheat Walla Walla, 74 75c; Val ley and Bluestem, 77 78c per bushel. Four Best grades, $4.25; graham, $3.40; superfine, $2.25 per barrel. Oats Choice white, 35 86c; choice gray, 33 34c per bushel. Barley Feed barley, $19 20; brew ing, $20 per ton. Millstiffs Bran, $17 per ton; mid-' dlings, $21; shorts, $18. Hay Timothy, $12.50 13; clover, $10 11; California wheat, $10; dc oat, $11; Oregon wild hay, $910 pel ton. Eggs 18 25c per dozen. Butter Fancy creamery, 55 60c; fair to good, 45 50c; dairy, 40 50c per roll. Cheese Oregon, lljc; Young America, 12c; California, 910c per pound. FoBHry Chickens, - mixed,"'$r.'75 2.25 per dozen; broilers, $2.002.50; geese, $5.506.50: ducks, $4.00 5.0(1 per dozen; turkeys, live, 10 lie pel pound. Potatoes Oregon Burbanks, 35 45c per sack; sweets, $1.40 per cental. Onions Oregon, new, red, 90c; yel low, 80c per cental. Hops 5 14c per pound for new crop; 1896 crop, 4 6c. Wool Valley, 14 16c per pound; Eastern Oregon, 7 12c; mohair, 2C 22c per pound. Mutton Gross, best bheep, wethers and ewes, $3.50; dressed mutton, 5c; spring lambs, 5Jc per pound. Hogs Gross, choice heavy, $4.00; lightand feeders, $3. 00 4. 00; dressed, $4. 50 5. 00 per 1 00 pounds. Beef Gross, top steers, $2. 75 3.00; cows. $2.25; dressed beef, 45c pei pound. Veal Large, 4J5c; small, 5 6c per pound. Seattle Market. Butter Fancy native creamery, brick. 28c; ranch, 16 18c. Cheese Native Washington, 12c; California, 9c. Eggs Fresh ranch, 28c. Poultry Chickens, live, per pound, hens, 10c; spring chickens, $2.50 3 00; ducks, $3. 50 3. 75. Wheat Feed wheat, $2,2 per ton. Oats Choice, per ton, $19 20. Corn Whole, $32; cracked, per ton, $22; feed meal, $22 per ton. Barley Rolled or ground, per ton, $22; whole, $22. Fresh Meats Choice dressed beef, "steers, 6c; cows, 5c; mutton sheep, 7c; pork, 7c; veal, small, 7. Fresh Fish Halibut, 5 6c: salmon, 3c; salmon trout, 710o; floundert and sole, 3 4; ling cod, 4 5; rock cod, 5c; smelt, 24c. Fresh Fruit Apples, 50c$1.25 pei box; peaches, 7580c; prunes, 35 40c; pears, 75c$l per box. San Francisco Market. Wool Nevada 11 13c; Oregon, 12 14c; Northern 7 8c per pound. . Hops 1014c per pound. Millstuffs Middlings, $2023; Cal ifornia bran, $17.0018.00 per ton. Onions New red, 7080c; do new silverskin, $1.902.00 per cental. Eggs Store, 22 23c; ranch, 27 30c; Eastern, 14 19; duck, 20 25c pei dozen. Citrus Fruit Oranges, Valencias, $1.503.00; Mexican limes, $2.00 3.00; California lemons, choice, $1.75 2.25; do common, 50c$l per box. Cheese Fancy mild, new, 12c; fail to good, 7 8c per pound.. Hay Wheat, 12 14; wheat and oat, $1114; oat, $1012; river bar ley, $7 8; best barley, $1012; alfalfa, $g.5010; clover, $8.5010. Fresh Fruit Apples, 25c $1.25 per large box; grapes,- 25 50c; Isabella, 6075c; peaches, 50c$l; pears, 75 $1 per box; plums, 20 35c. Butter Fancy . creamery, 30cj do seconds, 2425c; fancy dairy, 26 27c; good to choice, 2224o per pound. Potatoes New, in boxes, 85 85c. A Flywheel Burst. Pittsburg, Pa., Deo. 28. Adam Brodrich was killed and a number ol others slightly hurt by the bursting oi a flywheel at the South Third street plant of the Oliver Iron & Steel Com pany, at an early hour this morning. The accident was caused by an engine becoming ungovernable. The flywheel was 15 feet in diameter and weighed several tons. Giraffes are from 15 to 16 feet from the ground to the tip of their horns. Specimens from 18 to 23 feet have been known. ' . , . .. -