(EortmUifi
VOL. XXXIV.
CORVALLIS, BENTON COUNTY, OllEGOX, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1898.
NO. 48.
Epitome of the Telegraphic
News of the World.
TERSE TICKS FROM THE WIRES
n Interesting Collection of Items From
the New anil tlie Old World In a
Condensed and Comprehensive Form
A Peking correspondent says poor
old China is afraid to borrow from
either Russia or England. She is en
deavoring to secure an extension from
Japan in the payment of the war in
demnity. News lias been received of a landslide
at Qaesnelle Forks, Cariboo. Three
miners, William Allen, doe Rich and
Alex McLean, were buried. The slide
was 1,000 feet wide, 800 feet long and
25 feet high.
Insane jealousy prompted the wife of
William V. Place, an insurance ad
juster of Brooklyn, to kill her 17-year-old
stepdaughter and almost take her
own life and that of her husband.
The crime was fiendish in its nature,
the weapon being an ax.
Clans Spreckles' daughter, Mrs.
Mas.m, who recently deeded back to
her lather $1,500,000 in property, be
cause her parent did not approve of her
recent marriage, now regrets her hasty
action and would like to again come
into possession of the estate.
The steamer Capilano, which has
jrjst returned from the northern halibut
fishing grounds, reports the drowning
oi two of her fishermen, named Robert
Longhead, of Ontario, and Michael
Driscoll. The captain of the Capilano
reports the roughest weather in his ex
perience. The house of representatives has re
ceived the official report of the death
of Colonel Ruiz, the Spaniard who
ww executed for carrying a message
from Blanco imploring the Cubans to
accept autonomy. Aranguren, the Cu
ban general, who is supposed to have
ordered liaiz put to death, is not cen
sured in the official report.
It is annouced that Hetty Green will
build a railroad through Oklahoma.
The proposed road will run from Med
ford'on the Rock Island to Sherman,
Tex., where it will connect with E. R.
Green's road. There the lino will be
concocted with the Hutchinson & Okla
homa, and wil 1 give the territory an
other connection with the Gulf. The
road it is said will be built the present
year.
One of the biggest silk manufactur
ing houses in Europe, with mills at
C'ienfield, Germany, is to remove to
this country, locating at Paterson, N.
J., and build what is intended to be
largest silk mill in the United
Ics. The incorporation papers nleu
laterson give the name of the con-
as the Andiger-Meyer Silk Com-
Employmeiit will be given to
weavers.
lie trial of M. l.mile Zola and M.
jiux, manager of the Aurore, who
being prosecuted by the French
Irnment as the result of a letter
r.h the novelist caused to be pub-
fcd in Aurore in December last,
ligly reflecting upon high officials
Lected with the Dreyfus case, is
ting a great amount of excitement
'aris. When Zola entered the
Itroom the first day of the trial
of "spit upon him" came from
spectators.
Iiomas Thompson, ex-minister to
fcil, ex-representative, ex-secretary
late, and one f the most prominent
locrats in California, cut his throat
temporarily insane at San Jose.
ftie British Atlas Company, of Pani-
Lhas offered to purchase railroads
p ocean to ocean and steamers
fd by the government foi $1,500,-
Mfver. The government demands
100,000.
Ford has been received in Spokane
i uasmngton mat tlie committee
Igrieulture has reported favorably
later Warren's amendments for the
nblishnient of a division of irriga-
in the agricultural department.
The most violent storm known since
1 swept the shores of Cape Ann
esday night and early Wednesday
l-ning, causing heavy loss ot life and
Lint $200,000 damage. More than a
fzen vessels are ashore near Glouces-
at least four more are lost and
Lny others are damaged. The water
it of Gloucester harbor and along
cape is dotted with wrecks and
jckage, schooners, sloops and other
vessels having been driven ashore by
the fierce gale.
A Washington special says: Repre
sentative Kllis, of Oregon, is very anxi
ous to have the land south of Hood
River ami Mount Hood excluded from
the Cascade forest reserve, and opened
up to settlement. He holds that this
land, being very fertile and well locat
ed, should be given up to farm and
school purposes, and opened to those
wishing to avail themselves of its
many advantages. Just now the in
terior department has the matter un
der consideration, but from what Mr.
Ellis has heard from officials there,
and from his colleagues in congress, he
feels tolerably certain of succeeding in
having this land thrown open to settle
ment. While the steamship Coptic, which
arrived in San Francisco recently, was
lying in Shanghai, she narrowly es
caped being sent to the bottom by the
falling of a large weight of bullion
from her deck to her hold. Six tons of
Co ir sacks, piled in the hold, was all
that prevented the precious metal from
going through the vessel's bottom. As
it was, the falling mass penterated five
of the tiers. Third Mate Athens and
Storekeeper Murphy were injured in
the accident, and the mate was left at
Shanghai for surgical treatment.
The latest story of railroad consoli
dation which is going the rounds of
Wall street coijcerns a consolidation of
j?oine ot the , (jroulu lines with the
Reckefeller lines, in the Southwest.
Ti e proposed amalgamation includes
tl:e Missouri, Kansas & Texas, Texas
&' Pacific and - International & Great
JfDrthern. Under the management of
iRockefellei'3, the net earnings of
fissouri, Kansas & Texas increased
0,000 during the year. The Tex-
?acific has also profited by the
, business conditions in the South-
FOUR LIVES LOST.
A Boat Containing Five Men Goes Over
the Falls at Oregon City.
Oregon City, Feb. 10. At a few
minutes past 7 o'clock this morning,
crossing the river in a boat a short dis
tance above Oregon City, and while
trying to find their bearings, the
mighty current seized the craft and
hurled it to destruction.
Five men started on the maddening
ride to what seemed inevitable death,
but one miraculously escaped. He
was almost insensible from the shock
and could not have held out a minute
longer when he was picked up by the res
cuers, who got out in time to see the
boat go over the falls.
Three of the victims of the accident
were members of the same family. All
were employes of the Crown paper
mills, at Oregon City. They were resi
dents of Canemah, and were on their
way to work. The lost are:
George Freeman, 50 years old, of
Canemah; married.
. George and James Freeman, his sons,
26 and 10 years old respectively.
L. J. Shannon, 36 years old, of Can
emah; married, and leaves a wife and
four children.
For years George Freeman and his
sons have worked at the paper mills on
the west side of the river. The trip to
and from their daily labor has been
made from the village of Canemah over
on the east side.
The Willamette has been rising very
rapidly since Sunday, and it is sup
posed the current carried the boat
farther than they suspected before the
discovery was made that something was
wrong.
In the dense fog it was not possible
to locate familiar signs, and in that gray
mist the men had no warning by the
ominous, sullen roar of the falls as
they drew nearer and nearer the most
dangeious point.
The boat gave a wild lurch as the
main torrent struck it. In the same
instant all five of the men discovered
that they were far below the usual
point of crossing and that the powerful
current was carrying them down at a
velocity that increased every second.
Additional hands were put to the oars
and an attempt was mide to pull out
of the swirling, rushing stream.
But it was too late. It was but a
half moment later that the launch
plunged into the churning waves of
the upper falls. The boat was caught
and whirled around. One oar was torn
from the rower's hands, and then the
craft shot ahead, straight through the
middle current to the yawning gulf be
low. In wild despair each man clung to
the plunging craft in the rapids, which
swept it along at express-train speed.
The occupants of the boat began to
shout an alarm. Their cries reached
the ears of some of the employes at the
power station of the Portland General
Electric works. Rushing out on the
trestle walk, which runs into the
shore, they could just discern the out
lines of the boat containing several
men.
A general alarm was then given. A
boat was put out from the electric
works, but it was some time before the
rescuers could see anything of the ill
fated party.
Muffled cries caused them to row
toward the bank. There they saw an
upturned boat slowly drifting about.
Harry Freeman had just scrambled on
to the bank, and lay there completely
exhausted.
Latei he revived and stated that he
had left a man clinging underneath
and that he had shouted once or twice
for help. In his exhautsed condition,
he said, it was . impossible for him to
tell whether it was one of his brothers
or Shannon. From the survivor's
statements, it is evident that three of
the party were flung out in the dash
over the falls. The other two got
through, but the man caught under the
boat could not hold out longer, and
sank to his death in the eddying waters,
where he could easily have swam
ashore had he been released.
CUBA IN THE SENATE.
Three Resolution Introduced Favoring
the Insurgents Cause.
Washington, Feb. 10. Three propo
sitions, differing materially as to
methods, were presented in the senate
today for the relief of the Cuban insur
gents. Allen offered as an amendment
to the diplomatic and consular appro
priation bill a resolution recognizing
the belligerency of the insurgents, and
said he hoped this would afford the
house an opportunity to vote on that
proposition.
Cannon offered a resolution urging
the president to notify the kingdom of
Spain that if it did not recognize the
independence of the Cuban republic by
March 4, 1898, the United States would
recognize the belligerency of the
Cubans, and within 90 days thereafter
would asset t the independence of the
Crban republic.
Mason followed with a resolution re
questing the president to notify Spain
that the Cuban war must cease at once,
and declare the intention of the United
States to restore and maintain peace on
the island of Cuba.
The right of Hon. Henry W. Corbett
to a seat in the senate from Oregon oc
cupied the senate's attention for two
hours, Chandler speaking in favor of
seating the claimant.
The house today entered upon consid
eration of tbe Aldrich-Plowman con
tested election case, from the fourth
Alabama district. The majority of the
committee reported in favor of seating
the Republican on the ground of con
spiracy, an allegation vigorously denied
by the Democratic minority. Plow
man's plurality on the face of the re
turns was 2,967. The majority revised
the figures so as to give Aldrich a plu
rality of 342. Two speeches were
made on each side, by Taylor and
Mann, for the majority, and by Fox
and Settle, for the minority. It is ex
pected that a vote will be reached to
morrow. Spokane, Wash., Feb. 10. A Wal
lace, Idaho, special to the Spokesman
Review says: Thomas Locke, a miner
at the Morning mine, was killed in a
peculiar way this morning. He was
standing by the ore chute, when a
rock came down, striking him in the
stomach and knocking him against the
wall with tujh violence as to break his
back. He was brought to the hospital
here, but died two hours later. He
left a widow and two ehildri
10 PRESERVE THE PEACE
Fourteenth Infantry
to Alaska.
to Go
THE NEED IS VERY PRESSING
Troops Will Go on the First Steamer
Four Companies Ordered North Two
Others Held in Readiness.
Portland, Or., Feb. 10. Four com
panies of the Fourteenth infantry,
under Colonel Thomas M. Anderson,
have been ordered to start for Alaska
at the earliest possible date, and two
more will hold themselves in readiness
j to follow at a moment's notice. The
j order was received at Vancouver bar
; racks yesterday, by General Merriam,
commanding the department of the
Columbia, who intsantly set about the
preparations for the movement of the
troops. The constantly increasing dan
ger of disorder at Skagway and Dyea
has led the war department to insure
peace by the presence of a force suffi
ciently large to hold any disturbance
in check. Whether the Fourteenth
will be permanently located in Alaska
has not yet been determined, but it
seems not unlikely, as only two com
panies are left at the post.
As soon as the order reached Vancou
ver barracks, General Merriam and
Major Jacobs, his chief quartermaster,
came to Portland to secure, if possible,
passage for the troops on the Oregon.
The result of their interview with
Agent Poston was not entirely satisfac
tory. The latter was not disposed to
disappoint those to whom the accom
modations on the Oregon have been
sold, and would make no definite reply
without consulting the officials of the
Pacific Coast Steamship Company. He
proposed, however, to bring the Au
stralia, a 2,200-ton steamship now fit
ting for the Alaska trade in San Fran
cisco, to Portland, to carry the com
mand, a plan which was favorably re
ceived, and which, from pesent indica
tions, will piTbab!y be adopted. In
this case the start will not be made till
March. Everything on the Oregon ex
cept ten berths, has been sold, so that
she could be of no service to the gov
ernment for the movement of troops.
It is well understood that ingaseof ur
gent necessity, the steamer could be
seized, but such a course is hardly like
ly to be taken unless late reports
should bring news of serious trouble in
Skagway or Dyea. Negotiations are
also in progress for the transportation
of part of the troops by way of Puget
sound.
Colonel Anderson has not yet been
fully apprised of his duties and author
ity, but it is generally supposed that
he will be placed in command of a de
partment of Alaska, which will be at
least temporarily created, and be given
full charge. His headquarters will be
at Dyea, and two companies will be
stationed at Skagway. The two com
panics which are to follow will be
quartered with the commander at
Skagway. i
SALTER WO R DEN CONFESSED.
Hopes Governor Budd Will Commute
His Sentence.
San Francisco, Feb. 10. Salter D.
Worden, convicted of wrecking a mail
train bearing a guard of the United
States soldiers, near Sacramento, dur
ing the great strike in 1894, and in
whose behalf the supreme court of the
United States declined to take favor
able action on his plea for a new trial,
has confessed his crime to Governor
Budd with a view to receiving a com
mutation of the death sentence from
the executive of the state.
Worden's confession covers 3,700
wrords, an.i gives the full details of the
crime. He says he, with several oth
ers, had been ordered by a committee
of strikers to remove the rails from the
Yolo bridge for the purpose of wrecking
the train carrying the troops. He gives
the names of his accomplices and
makes known many details of the work
of the strikers heretofore unknown to
the general public. Ex-President
Cleveland interested himself in Wor
den's behalf, out of sympathy for the
mother of the condemned man, and
Governor Budd determined to probe
the matter to the bottom before decid
ing the case, with the result that Wor
den confessed in the presence of the
governor, Warden Anil, of the Folsom
prison, and a stenographer.
Worden throws the blame for the
hatching of the trainwrecking plot on
Harry Knox, chairman of the griev
ance committee of the Sacramento
lodge, A. R. U., who, he says, gave
him all his instructions, and decoyed
him into accompanying the gang of
wreckers to the Yolo bridge. He also
charges complicity in the plot to
Mullin and Compton, the other two
members of the committee, who, with
Knox, managed the strike on the Sac
ramento division of the Southern Pa
cific railroad.
Worden's story is that Knox in
structed him, as a member of tbe A.
R. U. , to procure a team to convey
eight men to Davisville, saying that
Tom Kelly, another striker, would ac
company him, "knew all about it."
At the same time Knox gave Worden
an order on a Sacramento livery
stable for the team. Worden says that
in the wagon they drove out from Sac
ramento were Kelly, Dunn, Hatch,
Appleman, Barrett and Wheeler. He
then describes how the train was
wrecked, and concludes his confession
with an appeal to the governor to save
him from the gallows.
Spanish trains so seldom leave sta
tions on time that the time tables in
many cases merely indicate the hour of
departure say 8 and "minutos" this
is, an indefinite number of minutes
after 8.
Shipwrecked Sailors Rescued.
New York, Feb. 10. The steamer
Burgundia, which arrived today from
Mediterranean ports, brought 16 sea
men rescued in midocean from their
sinking craft. They were Captain Lar
son and 15 of the crew of the Norwe
gian bark B. D. Metcalf, from Savan
nah to Hamburg with a cargo of naval
stores.
Disappointed by his inability to
solve the problem of aerial navigation,
Max Pauly, a machinist at the Um
iron works, San Francisco, committ
suioide.
HAWAII'S CHAMPION.
Senator Teller Urges the Ratification of
the Treaty.
Washington, Feb. 9. Senator Teller
occupied the entire hours of the execu
tive session in the senate today in dis
cussing the Hawaiian annexation
treaty. During the course of his speech
Teller took occasion to say that he
should have been glad to discuss the
treaty in opan session and to the re
mark he added the opinion that the
time had almost come when the ques
tion of annexation should be debated
on a bill looking to legislation by both
bouses of congress rather than on the
basis of the treaty. While he thought
there might be a bare possibility of se
curing the 60 votes necessary to ratify
the treaty, he considered that under the
present cicrumstances this was exceed
ingly doubtful, and he thought the
sooner the fact was recognized and a
change of front made, the better it
would be from all points of view.
Senatorial Routine.
A communication was received by the
senate from the secretary of war pre
senting the urgency for immediate ac
tion to control the disorderly element
that is assembling in Alaska.
Chandler presented a memorial call
ing the senate's attention to one of the
thrilling events of the civil war. The
memorial was prepared in 1884 by the
late Admiral Worden, who, as a lieu
tenant in the navy, commanded the
Monitor in the historic fight in Hamp
ton roads between that vessel in and
the Merrimac. Chandler said that
Admiral Worden conceived the idea
that it would be proper for the govern
ment of the United States to pay the
officers and crew of the Monitor the
sum of $200 each in the nature of prize
money, but after having prepared the
memorial, concluded not to present it
to congress, lest his motives might be
misconstrued. Chandler said he now
took occasion to present the memorial
himself, and ho hoped that congress
might see its way clear, in view of the
wonderful victory by Admiral Worden,
to do something substantial for the
surviving members of his family, who
are not in good financial circumstances.
He asked that the memorial be refer
red to the naval affairs committee.
A house bill authorizing the secre
tary of the treasury to purchase or
have constructed a suitable revenue
cutter for uso on the Yukon river, at a
cost not to exceed $40,000, was passed.
Washington, Feb. 9. The house to
day passed the military academy bill,
with only one important amendment.
The debate on the measure was desult
ory and touched a variety of political
topics. As passed, the bill -carries
$453,540, being $26,032 less than the
amount carried by the current law.
The bill to limit the period for the
refunding of the certificates of deposit
of 1879 to December 81, 1899, was
passed. Tomorrow the house will take
up the Aldrich-Plowman contested elec
tion case.
A Spanish Victory.
Havana, Feb. 9. According to in
formation from Spanish sources, a col
umn of troops commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
Hervas has been engaged
with an insurgent force at Canalaveja,
province of Santa Clara. After inflict
ing some loss on the enemy, the Span
iards followed the insurgents in the di
rection of Arroyo Honda and later be
came engaged with 600 insurgent
infantry and 60 insurgent cavalrymen,
who occupied an entrenched position.
The Spaniards, it is claimed, after
some lively firing, dislodged the insur
gents, who retreated with a loss of 27
killed, and leaving one wounded pris
oner. The loss of the Spaniards is said
to have been insignificant.
Armed Troops Obnoxious.
Chicago, Feb. 9. A special from
Ottawa says: An official announcement
was made in the Dominion house of
commons tonight that armed troops of
the United States will not be permitted
to accompany the American relief ex
pedition to Dawson. The government
also stated that the question of allowing
United States troops not under arms to
do so was under considertaion by the
cabinet, and was also the subject of
negotiation with the Washington
authorities. It is generally conceded
that an unarmed body of American
troops will be permitted to accompany
the expedition over Canadian territory.
Rescued Crew of Sinking Schooner.
New York, Feb. 8. It is reported
that the schooner Ida K. Hull, Captain
Gabrielson, which arrived today from
Savannah, met the schooner Jacob
Reed, Captain Bunker, in a sinking
condition, took her crew off and
brought them to this port. The Reed
sailed from Ferdinanda, for New York.
The locality in which the reported
rescue was effected could not be learned
tonight.
Dole Returns Home.
Washington, Feb. 8. President
Dole, ceased to be a guest of the nation
tonight when he started for Buffalo,
and thus began his return journey to
the Hawaiian islands. The president
arrived at the Pennsylvania station a
few minutes before his train was ready,
and was not kept waiting, but imme
diately went to the private car Coronet,
which he will occupy on his trip to
Buffalo. ;
Cast Into the Sea.
Honolulu, Feb. 9. The heafth de
partment has ordered 1,778 tins of
opium seized by the customs depart
ment dumped into the sea. The gov
ernment has unsuccessfully tried to dis
pose of the drug in the San Francisco,
Portland, Vancouver, Hong Kong and
Sydney markets in order to realize a
sum sufficient to cover the expenses of
seizure.
A Brazilian doctor says that coffee
is a certain cure for anaemia.
Russian Bark Capsized.
Grimsby, Feb. 9. The Russian
bark Neptune, from Darien November
29, for Aberdeen, which was reported
spoken on January 22 off Beachy head,
leaning, capsized when six miles from
Spurn head. Fourteen of her crew
have reaohed here. Her captain is
missing.
Carlisle, Pa., Feb. 9. Elizabeth A.
Landers and Fanny Eaglehorn, Indian
girls, who tried to burn the girl's
building at the Indian school here, to
day pleaded guilty, and were sentenced
to one year and six months.
M OFFICIALS POWERLESS
Citizens of Dyea and Skag
way Want Martial Law.
ASK FOR GOVERNMENT AID
Local Authorities Are Unable to Cope
With the Situation, Owing to Hordes
of Bad Characters.
Seattle, Feb. 8. A petition is being
circulated in Skagway and at Dyea ask
ing the war department to send 300
troops there that law and order may
be preserved. The petition also asks
that inartial law be declared. The
petition is being signed by nearly all
the best element. It reads as follows:
"To the Honorable Secretary of War,
Washington We, the undersigned cit
izens and business men of Alaska, re
spectfully petition and set forth:
"That there is an extraordinary con
dition of affairs existing at and near
Dyea and Skagway, Alaska, which calls
tor prompt attention from the proper
authorities. As a result of the recent
discoveries of gold in and near Dawson
City, N. W. T., Canada, during the
past two years, there is an enormous
rush of people to that country from all
parts of the world, and it is estimated
that there will be 250,000 peoplo start
for the gold fields of Alaska and North
west territory during the present year,
and not less than 75 per cent will at
tempt to get in by way of the Chilkoot
and White passes. Even at this early
date, the full capacity of every steam
and sailing ship on the Pacific coast is
taxed to its utmost capacity to' carry
the passengers and freight that are be
ing offered, and they are being dumped
off at these two points to the number
of 300 a day, which will soon be
largely increased.
"In view of the fact that there is no
local civil government in the territory
of Alaska, and no one with sufficient
authority to enforce the laws of the
land, much less to prevent crime and
disorder, and in view of the large num
ber of the undesirable and criminal
class, who are now flocking to our
community to prey upon the unwary
and innocent pilgrim, and in order to
have sufficient numbers to prevent
disorder and blockades on the trails
leading to the Lakes Lindemann and
Bennett, and to protect the property of
citizens of the United States, we, the
undersigned, petition that immediate
action be taken by the proper au
thorities; "And, believing this to be an ex
traordinary emergency, we believe that
martial law should be declared in all
this part of Alaska, comprising the
communities of Dyea and Skagway,
and tlu? tivjls loading therefrom to the
international boundary. And that
sufficient troops, not less than 300, be
immediately dispatched to these points
to enforce the laws and preserve order."
It is stated that Governor Brady has
ordered one of the government vessels
now stationed at Sitka, to this place, to
preserve order. The cutter will arrive
in a few days.
Good prospects have been found on
the big Salmon river. Prospect holes
have been sunk to the depth of 54
feet, but water interfered with the work
before bedrock was reached.
Inspector of Mines McGregor, who
started for Dawson some weeks ago,
with several tons of supplies and a
number of horses, has abandoned the
trip. McGregor got as far as Lake La
barge, where he received orders from
Major Walsh, administrator of the
Yukon distirct, who is camped at Big
Salmon river, to abandon the trip be
cause of the impossibility of reaching
Dawson with horses. McGregor iias
gone to Big Salmon to confer with
Major Walsh.
The recent order of the Canadian
customs officials at Lake Tagish, pro
hibiting any person to pass there with
less than 1,000 pounds of provisions
for each man, has had the effect of
stopping many people who had started
for Dawson with less than that amount.
ACCIDENT AT A DANCE.
Supports of an Overcrowded Balcony
Gave Way.
Chicago, Feb. 38. A panic among
200 dancers was narrowly averted last
midnight at the North Shore hall.
Thirty spectators were crowded into
the little balcony watching tbe dance.
The supports became loosened and
slipped back to the wall. The balcony
sank gradually, allowing the spectators
to slide topsy-turvy to the polished
floor. When the creaking and pulling
indicated that the balcony was falling,
the large number of people gathered
underneath quickly stampeded toward
the central portion of the hall, leaving
John Krusie behind. Krusie was
caught by the falling timbers, and hail
his side crushed in. As the north end
of the balcony commenced to fall, the
musicians became panic-stricken and,
seizing their instruments, made a dash
for the door. The dancers followed.
Several police stationed at the door
shut it and held it against the panic
stricken dancers, thus averting a cer
tain catastrophe on the narrow stair
way. Of the 30 persons in the gallery,
Krusie alone sustained serious injuries.
All of the others, however, were pain
fully bruised.
New Port in Texas.
Houston, Tex., Feb. 8. The steam
ship Drumelsier sailed todav from
Sabine Pass, the new harbor on the
southeast coast, for Liverpool. She is
the first European steamer to sail from
that port. While there has been 24
feet of water on the bar for two years,
nothing has hitherto been shipped ex
cept lumber. The Drumelsier carried
out a general cargo, most of which came
from the Kansas City, Pittsburg &
Gulf road.
Asphyxiated by Gas.
San Francisco, Feb. 8. Sam Martin
ovich, a miner from Butte, Mont., was
found dead in his room at the Europe
hotel this morning, having been as
phyxiated by gas. A draft for $1,600
was found on his person, and there is
no reason to suspect that death was not
accidental.
A Premature Explosion.
Mariposa, Cal., Feb. 8. By the pre
mature explosion ot a blast at the Ala
bama mine at Whitlock, Thomas
Beckerly and W. C. Denbridge were
killed.
DIED ON THE GALLOWS.
Gus Wachline Expiated His Crime In
Hillaboro.
Hillsboro, Or., Feb. 7. Gus Wach
line, the condemned murderer ot John
D. Ledrick, expiated his crime on the
gallows at 12:10 o'clock this afternoon.
The hanging of Wachline was made
a good deal of a holiday affair in Hills
boro. Not only were the residents of
the town alive to the occasion, but there
were many people in from the country,
particularly from Iowa Hill, where the
murdered man lived. In addition there
was a trio of negro singers from Port
land, a peripatetic fiddler patrolling
the saloons in an effort to pick up a few
dollars, and a phonographic outfit on
the streets, with all the latpst songs
at a dime per tune. The hanging
brought business to town, and in emu
lation of city dailies the Independent
and Argus, weekly papers, issued "ex
tras" shortly after the execution.
Wachline passed his last night on
earth much the same as he had since
he was sentenced to death. He spent
most of the time talking to the death
watch, and went to sleep about 3:30
o'clock this morning. He was up be
fore 8 but refused any breakfast.
Three hours before the execution took
place, the office of Sheriff Bradford was
beseiged with a crowd of men, all anx
ious to be close at hand when the
prisoner was brought from his cell to
the scaffold. So great was the crush
that at times it was difficult to move
about.
It was nearly 10 o'clock when Cap
tain A. M. Collins appeared with the
rope, and, walking out of the west win
dow on to the scaffold, be adjusted it to
the crossbeam. In this he was assisted
by Sheriff Bradford, Sheriff Phy, of
Union county, and ex-Sheriff Ford, of
Washington county. After the noose
was adjusted, the rope tested with a
weight of sand and the trap found to
work without a hitch, the more active
preparations to enforce the death sen
tence weie begun.
It was 11:15 A. M. when Sheriff
Bradford and the 12 jurors passed into
the corridor of the jail through the
door leading from the sheriff's office.
Ordering the door of the cell opened,
Sheriff Bradford said:
"Wachline, come out."
The condemned man shuffled out
from the cell, coatless, both hands in
his trousers pockets, with an ugly, surly
look upon his face. The sheriff told
him he was about to read the death
warrant, but this drew forth no re
mark. During the reading Wachline
seemed to rivet his eyes on the floor,
and when the ceremony was over walk
ed back into his cell, sat down on a
chair, rested his head in his right hand
and seemed absorbed in thought. He
was then asked by one of his spiritual
advisers if he intended to make any
statement on the scaffold. Wachline
signified his intention of doing so, and
it was thought he would at the last
moment make a full confession.
Wachline was brought from his cell
to the scaffold through the sheriff's
office at 12:03 P. M. , accompanied by
Sheriff Bradford and Deputies C. E.
Deichman and J. H. Westcott. He
was placed on the trap, facing north,
and asked by the sheirff if he had any
thing to say.
The prisoner said "yes," and then,
in an almost inaudible tone, continued:
"All that I want to say is that the
statement 1 have made is true. I am
an innocent man. Let Jesus take me
as I am."
This was a disappointment to the
crowd, which had expected a confes
sion. It was all he would say, and his
legs, arms and hands were quickly
pinioned, the black cap put over his
head, and the noose adjusted about his
neck. At a signal from Sheriff Brad
ford, the trap was sprung at 12:10 P.
M., and Wachline was hurled into
eternity.
Life was pronounced extinct in 14
minutes, and one minute later the body
was cut down and placed in the wait
ing coffin. The body was afterward
removed to the undertaking establish
ment of G. VV. Patterson, where it was
viewed by many men and women dur
ing the day.
Wachline was hanged for the murder
of John D. Ledrick, an aged German
farmer, who lived three miles south of
Cornelius.
Bad Fire In Wlnnepes;.
Minneapolis, Minn.. Feb. 7. A
Journal special from Winnipeg says the
Mclntyre business block in the heart of
the city was destroyed by fire this
morning. The building was four sto
ries high, and contained retail stores,
sample rooms, offices, secret society
rooms and the lecture rooms of the
Manitoba university. The total loss
was about $500,000; fully insured.
Houses Buried by Snow,
Waterville, Me., Feb. 7. Small
houses have been buried by 20-foot
drifts of snow. The Lockwood cotton
mills have closed, the operators being
unable to reach the factory. There
has been no train over the Maine Cen
tral for 24 hours.
Lima. Pern, Feb. 7. According to
dispatches from Sucre, Bolivia, there
is much excitement there as to the pol
icy of Peru. The pressure on the gov
ernment to increase its armament, and
get ready for the pending conflict, as
serting the existence of a treaty be
tween Peru and Argentina is strong,
but the existence of such a treaty is de
nied in responsible quarters.
Fatal Naptha Fire.
Baku, Russian Caucasus, Feb. 7
The fire that broke out here last week
destroyed half a million pounds of nap
tha, and is still burning fiercely. Many
deaths are reported.
A Famine in Russia.
London, Feb. 7. The St. Petersburg
correspondent of the Times says a fail
ure in the harvest has caused terriblo
distress among the peasantry of the in
terior provinces, and especially in Cen
tral and Southeastern Russia.
Telephoned His Surrender.
Fort Scott, Kan. , Feb. 7. George
Finch, the murderer who broke jail
here last Tuesday, called Sheriff
Wheeler up on the telephone, from La-
monte, Mo. , today, and told the sheriff
he had surrendered to a Lamonte con
stable, and would be brought here
this evening. Finch murdered Frank
Swofford, in this city, In 1894, for the
purpose of robbery.
A Al 1 C i ,t'ii
acetylene us now uaeu tur iigi.uug
Paris nmnitmaas oonarafnr ami iafKia
: ..I. : L a oft
Ill
Cubans to Buy Their Inde
pendence of Spain.
MORE TROUBLE IN HAVANA
The United States Cruiser Montgomery
Leaves for Cuban Ports Several Oth
ers May Follow.
Chicago, Feb. 7. A special to the
Tribune from Washington says: Se
cret neogtiations are now actually in
progress between the state department
and the insurgents in Cuba looking to
a stoppage of the war on some financial
basis to be agreed upon hereafter.
President McKinley has not recognized
the insurgents as belligerents, and he
cannot therefore treat with them open
ly, as he would do with a diplomatic
representative of an independent na
tion. Direct communication has, how
ever, been had within the last few
weeks between the insurgent govern
ment and the administration here.
The insurgents have expressed per
fect willingness to assume a reasonable
share of the Spanish bonds issued
against the Cuban revenues. The
proposition has been considered with
some favor, and the president and his
cabinet have discussed several plans for
guarateeing the Cuban debt on the sole
basis of independence.
These negotiations have gone side
by side with the gradual massing of
the ships of the North Atlantic squad
ron within striking distance of Cuba.
Orders to the cruiser Montgomery to
sail at once for the harbor of Matanzas
have been issued, and the ship is ex
pected to be received there quite as cor
dially as the Maine was in Havana.
The orders to her commander contem
plate a call on Consul Brice at Matan
zas. Should everything be found peace
able the ship will proceed to Santiago
de Cuba, but should affairs look
threatening in Matanzas, another ship
will quietly be slipped to the latter
port, and before Captain-General Blan
co knows what is happening to him
American ships will be in the harbor
of every important port in Cuba.
The gradual occupation of the island
by a naval force is understood to be
part and parcel of the negotiations
with the insurgents. When they are
concluded, if everything goes well, the
United States will be in a position to
offer Spain a heavy fiancial bonus for
giving up the island, while at the
same time the insurgents will find
themselves in a position to make a
junction with the United States naval
forces at any one of the half dozen
ports.
A cablegram has been sent by the
state department to Consul Brice at
Matanzas notifying him that the Mont
gomery is en route to that port, and
directing him to make the necessary
arrangements for its reception. Al
though it is not admitted by state de
partment officials, the impression pre
vails that Consul Brice in advising the
department of the recent riots occurr
ing in Matanzas, suggested that a war
ship should be immediately sent there
for the protection of American inter
ests. The fact that the state depart
ment requested that the Montgomery
be sent there strengthens this be'ief.
The sending of the Montgomery to
Matanzas is regarded here as of equal
importance to the dispatching of the
Maine to Havana.
Stripped of His Rank.
New York, Feb. 7. Official state
ments which will soon be published are
to the effect that the reason that Gen
eral Blanco was not successful in se
curing General Rabi's surrender was
that General Rabi had been arrested
by General Garcia and stripped of his
rank because it was feared he would
surrender, says the Havana corres
pondent of the Herald, (ieneral Rabi's
brother, it is reported, had been ar
rested by order of General Garcia for
the same reason.
Failing in securing the presentation,
Spaniard here expected General Blanco
to take the field and conduct a vigorous
and aggressive campaign. He publicly
announced that such was his intention,
but for some reason his plans miscarried
and now he is coming home without
having struck a decisive blow.
Reports say the rebel forces under
General Garcia inflicted a severe blow
on the Spanish under General Linares
and General Luque, killing several
officers. Reports say that 85 were
killed or wounded.
Volunteers are making threats again,
and the authorities, in order to be fully
prepared, have deemed it necessary to
take precautions against a demonstra
tion. Guards have been placed about
public buildings and the American con
sulate. One of the most important engage
ments of the present campaign in the
Orient was fought on January 21 near
Caiman, between the forces under Gen
eral Luque and the rebels under Gen
eral Garcia. The Spanish, it is report
ed, had 150 killed and a large number
wounded. -From accounts received the
fight was a veritable slaughter, the
Spaniards being boxed up in a ravine.
General Luque sent to Cauto, where
the main body of troops was stationed,
for assistance, and commenced to re
treat toward Holguin. He reached
Holguin on January 27, and on the
same evening General Linares, who
had been sent to his assistance, was
chased into that town by another rebel
force. The rebels employed light field
guns with great effect.
Washington, Feb. 7. The senate
committee on commerce today author
ized the reporting of a bill in accord
ance with the recommendation of the
treasury department, establishing a
steamboat inspectors' district in
Alaska.
Licensing of Mates.
Washington, Feb. 7. The house
committee on merchant marine and
fisheries favorably reported today the
senate bill authorizing the licensing of
mates on river and ocean steamers.
Cowboys and Cattle Thieves Fight.
Great Falls, Mont., Feb. 7. Word
reached here this evening of a pitched
battle between cowboys and cattle
thieves west of Glasgow, near the Da
kota line. One of the thieves is re
ported dead and the cowboys are in
pursuit of the other members of tbe
gang, who have crossed into Dakota.
WEEKLY MARKET LETTER.
Trade Conditions in the Leading Cities
of the World.
A Liverpool cable says that stocks of
contract wheat there are small, apart
from spring, held presumably for Chi
cago account.
It was supposed that the Leiter party
had disposed of all the spring wheat
delivered to them in September, but
this would indicate that they still have
some of it on hand. Dornbusch, under
date of January 21, admits that early
estimates of United Kingdom require
ments were too large, and that for the
last 20 weeks the consumption has
fallen short nearly 70,000 quarters, or
560,000 bushels per week below the
average of the two preceding years. In
other words, their theoretical require
ments for the preceding 20 weeks were
overestimated over 11,000,000 bushels.
It is admitted that the working classes
are living more largely on meat and
vegetables than heretofore, but it is
also true that cheaper substitutes have
crowded out wheat flour. What is true
of Great Britain is doubtless true of the
continent. The European visible is
estimated to have decreased in January
3,675,000. Broomhall cables that fairly
large Indian shipments are anticipated,
and the quantity on ocean passage will
still further increase. Argentine ad
vices are to the effect that the crop is
turning out a large one. The temper
of our market is bearish, also, and the
trade is, if anything, too willing to aid
a decline. The weak domestic feature
is the continued large receipts at pri
mary points and the probability of their
growing temporarily larger instead of
smaller, and giving us an increasing
visible supply when it should be dimin
ishing. The reason for this undoubt
edly lies in the fact that farmers in
the Northwest are so willing to take
advantage of present high prices that
they are letting go their seed wheat,
anticipating no trouble in getting what
they require later at lower prices.
The present receipts at Minneapolis
are just about equal to their full grind
ing capacity and there is little possibil
ity at present of much drain upon their
reserve elevator stocks, particularly in
view of the fact that their output last
week was nearly 100,000 barrels in ex
cess of the same week last year.
Portland Market.
Wheat Walla Walla, 73 74c; Val
ley and Bluestem, 76 77c per bushel.
Flour Best grades, $3.75; graham,
$3.30; superfine, $2.25 per barrel.
Oats Choice white, 35 36c; choice
gray, 33 34c per bushel.
Barley Feed barley, $1920; brew
ing, $20 per ton.
Millstiffs Bran, $19 per ton; mid
dlings, $24; shorts, $20.
Hay Timothy, $12.50; clover,
$1011; California wheat, $10; do
oat, $11; Oregon wild hay, $910 per
ton.
Eggs 18c per dozen.
Butter Fancy creamery, 55 60c;
fair to good, 4.5 50c; dairy, 40i
per roll. -m - -
Cheese Oregon, 12c; Young
America, 12c; California, 9 10c
per pound.
Poultry Chickens, mixed, $2.75
3.00 per dozen; hens, $3.003.50;
geese, $3. 50 6. 00; ducks, $4. 50 5. 00
per dozen; turkeys, live, 10llc per
pound.
Potatoes Oregon Burbanks, 45 50c
per sack; sweets, $1.752 per cental.
Onions Oregon, $1.752.25 per
sack.
Hops 416c per pound for new
crop; 1896 crop, 46c.
Wool Valley, 14 16c per pound;
Eastern Oregon, 7 12c; mohair, 20
22c per pound.
Mutton Gross, best sheep, wethers
and ewes, 4c; dressed mutton,
7c; spring lambs, bc per pound.
Hogs Gross, choice heavy, $4.00;
lightand feeders, $3.004.00; dressed,
$4. 50 5. 00 per 100 pounds.
Beef Gross, top steers, $3.003.25;
cows, $3.00; dressed beef, 4 6c per
pound.
Veal Large,
55c; small, 6
6)c per pound.
Seattle Market.
Butter Fancy native
creamery,
brick, 27c; ranch, 22 23c.
Cheese Native Washington,
13c;
California, 9c.
Eggs Fresh ranch, 23c.
Poultry Chickens, live, per pound,
hens, 10c; spring chickens, $2.50
3 00; ducks, $3.503.75.
Wheat Feed wheat, $22 per ton.
Oats Choice, per ton, $21.
Corn AVhole, $23; cracked, per ton,
$23; feed meal, $23 per ton.
Barley Rolled or ground, per ton,
$22; whole, $22.
Hay Puget sound, new, per ton,
$11 12; Eastern Washington timothy,
$1718; alfalfa, $12.
Fresh Meats Choice dressed beef,
steers, 7c; cows, 6Jc; mutton sheep,
8c; pork, 6c; veal, small, 7.
Fresh Fish Halibut, 56c; Salmon,
3c; salmon trout, 10c; flounders
and sole, 34; ling cod, 45; rock cod,
5c; smelt, 2'2'4c.
Fresh Fruit Apples, 40c$l per
box; pears, 25 75c per box; oranges,
navels, $2.252.75 per box.
San Francisco Market.
Wool Nevada 11 13c; Oregon, 12
14c; Northern 7 8c per pound.
Hops 12)2 16c per pound.
Millstuffs Middlings, $22 25; Cal
ifornia bran, $20. 50 2 1.50 per ton.
Onions silverskin, $2.602.75 per
cental.
Eggs Store, 21c; ranch, 22 23c;
Eastern, 18 19; duck, 16c per
pozen.
Cheese Fancy mild, new, llc; fair
to good, 7 8c per pound. .
Citrus Fruit Oranges, navels,
$1.252.50; Mexican limes, $6.00
7.00; California lemons, choice, $1.50
2.50; do common, 7oc$l. 25 per box.
Hay Wheat, $1618.50; wheat and
oat,$1617.50;oat, $14.5016. 50; best
barley, $13. 5015.50; alfalfa, $10.50
11.50; clover, $11 12. 50.
Fresh Fruit Apples, 30c$1.45 per
large box; grapes, 2540c; Isabella,
60 75c; peaches, 50c$l; pears 75c;
$1 per box; plums, 2035c.
Butter Fancy creamery, 2oc do
seconds, 2526c; fancy dairy, 24c;
good to choice, 2223c per pound.
Potatoes New, in boxes, 45c$L10
The Eternal City.
Though Rome is called "the Eternal
City," the name by right belongs to
the city of Damascus, in Syria, which
is the oldest city in the world. Asj
long as man has written records Mj
city of Damascus has been known.