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. ' . , . ..
-