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About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 1904)
VOL. LVI1. ASTORIA, OREGON. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2S, WOlJ NO. 121. B1TTF ER TOWARD AMERICANS STATE CAPITOL RUINED BY FLAMES " Defective Electric Wiring Creates ; Fire That Destroys Legislative ; ' Building at Madison, ' Wisconsin. " Structure Practically Gone, though Valuable State Re cords Thought to Be Safe. AJ. LOSS WILL BE ABOUT $800,000 Alniuly There I Tnlk of lt. bulhlliijr at Milwaukee, and Make That l ily Capita! of thefttatr. Madison, Wla., Feb. 2T. The Wl. cotiHln tat capltol building waa dam. aged to the extent of 00,000 by fire today. Th fire InvolveJ the building of r new capltol, a special seaalott of iht legkuatur and tht probable re newal of the agitation In fav.r f the removal of the capital from Madison to Milwaukee. The Are waa caused by defeo'.We elec tric wiring. The fire atarted before daylight, and at I o'clock had complete. y ruined the and went wlnga, con taining tht tnale and aaaembly chtm ber and the departmenta of the tax lu-Ht. 'JttttJtriilfcjra, Toad rAmniirifl in'V, iu a hm -nucer-Intendent, uporlntsndent'of p-onerty, board " of agriculture, atato normal fuhihil, eommlloner of fisheries, fish and game warden, elate board "f pharmacy, atate land office, dairy mid food commlaiilon, atate treasurer, com mlsaloner of labor, governor c.r.tary of atate, state board of control and In aurnnco commissioner, the supreme uurt, law library and the atate library t'lininilaalon, Practically all the valuable atate rec ord are believed lo be afe. Most of them remain In masonry and steel vault In the rulna. Fire apparatus waa ent from Mil waukee. Governor Hchoffleld maintained In surance on the building throughout hie term totalling $600,000, but the laat leg islature Instituted an Inaurance fund and directed (he itate'a officer to al low the Inaurance policies to lap. In June laat there lapaed t&lO.iKW, and n December 190,000. There la In the Inaurance fund at the preaent time about $s000 to meet the loan, which conservative estimate place at 100, 000. ' ' t r ' " f ' ' - The Are practically devaalafd every portion of the capltol building with the exception of the north end, (1Ma waa aaved, but la In uch a delaplJated condition that thl portion, toytther with the atandlng walla, will have to be torn down. Governor La Follette wa early on the acene, and by hla coolneaa and tIf- poaaeiilon did much to enforce older among the worker. All the content of the Immense law library were cur rled out, together with a large i"t'n lit y of other book and paper. The prlc-lcaa record tord In the Grand Army room alao were aaved. Chief t'harle Bernard wo ovrcome by amoke and fell from a ladder, re ceivlng serious Injurlea. He I unton clou.. , From an original cost of $40,000 In Hit, appropriation from time to time for new addition made the coat of the itata 'capltol to date about $900,.000. IDIOT THROWS ROCKS. Ashland, Ore., Feb. ;'7.-It-r Kel ler, familiarly known a "Pete," who I alleged to be demented at time and who la strongly auapected of being c n- nected with the attempt to fire Mr A. II. Russell' houae Wednesday morning, waa taken. Into cuHtody fc)t night by the officer and 1 being de talned In the city Jail, pending hie ex amtnatlon for Insanity by County Judge Charlea Trim. On the' morning of the lire, about 12:30 o'clock, the family of ejc-Myor .'JR."Wani-w,r-terr0rtxed by wine- olid ihrowioif r-ka A neighbor waa telephoned, who en lite arrival saw a form In the front yard, which he believe to have been FVte and told him to leave the ,reinle. Pete ahowed fight and told him to stay on his own aide of the fem e. An offi cer was summoned, but ivte dlwtp peard m the darkness. He waa later, however, placed under surveillance. The "rocking" 'of Mr. Grant bouse oc curred only a short time bef tie the fire alarm Bounded. Pete ha been working around Ash- hind for the naat two year, and ha the reputation of being a &od bund, but 1 wild to be Intermittently insane. Keller waa examined today nnd v a declared to be :nane. Judge Prim ha made an order committing him to the asylum for the inane at Salem. EXTENSION GF PACIFIC CABLE TO JAPAN HEIGHTENS THE GRIEVANCE NOW FELT Americans Residing at St. Petersburg Treated Coldly by Russian Friends Because ofVicKsburg Incident. Recent Versions of Affair Satisfy Russian Government that Right Was Done, and This Governmeut Is Not Blamed Counts Strongly on Continued Friendship of United States In Spite of Popular Prejudice. Ht. Petersburg, Feb. 27. A flapatcrf published here, purporting to be from Waaiiington, tliat the United State eteamer Kwang Ping ha arrived here from Chin Wang Tao with 630 Japan- ee refugee, and women from Man churia. Many of the women claim they were robbed am? maltreated by the GOOD WORDS FOR ROOSEVELT. which It I apparent from Olepatche received here today from Waehlr.gton, will put another complexion upon the VIckKbtirg Incident, column of the pre for day have been full of ex cited comment bnatd or? the original verflon of the affair. In spite of the Mate of popular opinion, the govern ment. It can be asserted, nutce the hltfhent value on American frlendahlp, and although the course of American diplomacy la at time privately viewed aakance, officially the government of the cxar uaaume that the American uttliuije ha bee strictly correct, nor Is the llghtet dlapoMtlon to question it net nmnlfeMed. nbuL nn HartSchiffncri V Mirx Had Tjilored W are selling superior grade hand tailored cloth ing in latest styles and matorials at prices any man can afford. 6opyrlM ttt k, rl tuttBmt JU, P. uad aented to an extenalon of the Pacific cable from Manila to Japan, further aggravate the popular re'lef ; Kuaslan Boldler at Harbin. that the United States I aiding with Japan agulnat Ruala. The few A mer it an In Bt. Peteraburg have all re marked upon the changed ; demeanor ehown by their Russian friend. How deeply the Ruaalan were wounded by their belief la ehown by the everance of pernonalltles, of which a striking Instance occurred thla week when the most Intimate Russian frh-nd of an American lady declined her f-roffered hand. Unon the lady' ex clamation ot astonishment her friend buret Into tear and said he felt ag grieved at all American since the re ported'actlon of the commander of the Vk-keburg at Chemulno, COMMANDER TELLS STORY., Vicktburg Affair Mountain Out Of Mole Hill. Washington. Feb. 27. The text of the message to the navy department from Commander Martin of Vlcks burg 1 a follows: "1 took the Initiative by sending med ical nssjstance to the Vlnig aa soon us possible after learning they were abandoning the vessel. I ent four bout and assisted In taking off the Russian natlora, putting them on board the British and Italian vessels. The Varlag remained afloat over Ave hours filling slowly. Our bout were Instruct ed not to bring the Russian sailor to the Vicksburg, offering the Zutlro temporarily, but the offer was declined." Republican of Hi Own Stat Solid For Him. New York, Feb. 27.-April 12 agreed upon aa the date for the elate republican convention, and Wesident Roosevelt waa Indorsed for the r resi dential nomination at the meeting of the atate republican committee nere 10 day. Both resolution were adopted unanimously. The convention will be held In Carnegie hall, tbl city. A committee waa appointed to draw up resolution of respect 'on the death of Senator Ha nna and Timothy KHsworth. ijnvernor Odeirat '"in the meeting, holding a proxy for L. 6. Good fell, rf Hii-hland Fall. The resolution indorsing Piesident Roosevelt were aa follow: "The republican state committee of New York take .his occasion to declare their entire loyalty to President Theo dore Rosevelt 8 the representative of hi party In his native state. We are proud of hi distinguished services to hi country. We admire hla alert Americanism and bis devotion to the highest Ideals of government. His character, his fidelity to the progres sive principles of republicanism and hla singleness of purpose In adminis tering the affairs of government In the Interest of the entire nation have com mended him to all good citizens with out regard to party. "We pledge to him our earnest bup port for nomination and with confidence In the verdict of the people on election day." The meeting was held In the Fifth Avenue hotel. Senator Piatt did not attend the meeting of the committee, but during the scBalon remain-jd In the lobby of the hotel, where, with former Governor Woodruff, he held an Infor mal reception and was greeted by many republican politicians present. that all of the government' witnesses were In California, It would be more convenient for all concerned If the ex amination were held there, and offer ed to surrender Benson to the Cali fornia authorities and then have the examination In that atate, those rep resenting the government saying the suggestion would be acceptable. Ad journment was taken until Tuesday to afford-time to consult with the Washington authorities. STATE MUST BE REIMBURSED, Attorny-Gneral Crawford Renders Opinion Regarding School Land. . Salem. Ore., Feb. 27. In response to PEN FARE AND . FINE FACE THEM Two Years in the Penitentiary To gether With $10,000 Imposed On M?chen Lorenz and D. B. Groff. 'Defendants' ' Counsel at Once Give Notice to Court of Ap peal to Court of Appeals. S. A. GROFF MAY GET OFF a question propondejd by Clerk of the, State Land Board O. O. Brown f ter day, Attorney-General Crawford ren dered an opinion In which he holds. In substance, that If a person purchase indemnity school land from the state and divest It of It timber, and there after It Is found that the tate cannot convey title thereto, said purchaser l entitled to the repayment cf Ii!8 rr chaae price paid to the elate, under section 3310 and JSll of the code. In holding this way, however, the attorney-general goes a little deuer Into the question and adds that, if such timber is removed from the land and it Is found that the title thereto l!es In the United State, such party re moving said timber is held accountable for the same to the government, hut that the government cannot hold the state liable for uch devastation. In support of thl opinion the attorney-general comments as follow: The Indemnity was selected by the state at the request of the purchaser, and the case having failed he cannot get title from the state. The lai.d se lected wa vacant government land when selected, and under the United State W no timber should be recjov ed until title wa recovered from the United States. The purchaser hav'ng removed the timber from the land , ftcient evidence to convict, was not sen- while the title was in the United States j tencej and his motion for a new trial muH answer to the owner of the fee j Rnd Ior arrest of Judgment being al for the same when called upon. It M- owe& further consideration, his- coun-; lows that the state must settle with j were given four days within w hlch Evidence Against Him Not Strong:, Government's Coun sel Agreeing to This Mo . . t jon to Be Argued. Washington. Feb. 27. August W. Machen, formerly general superintend ent of the free delivery "postal service; Dr. George F.' Lorena, of Toledo, onc postmaster of that city, and EMler B. Groff. of this city, all of vhom were convicted of conspiracy against the government In connection vith the supply of Groff -fasteners to the post office department, today Were sentenced by Judge Pritchard to two years' Im prisonment in Moundsvllle, V. Va., penitentiary, and a fine of $10,100 each. The defendant Immediately gave no tice of appeal to the' court of appeals ad were released on $20,000 bonds. Samuel Ju Groff, i to whom SpecUl Counsel Conrad, for the government, said some day ago there was not suf- lts customer the -same as though the timber had not been emov.d, unless the United States can hold the state liable, and I can see no way ?n which, that can be done." So. far as is known at the present time there is only one ease ct this kind in existence, the one on which the to prepare to argue the motion. V: Relieved at Hi Own Request. Washington, Feb 27. Commander Henry McCrea. a detailed officer In the bureau of navigation, has been re lieved at his own request and will go to the Fifth lighthouse district as the question was raised, and In this :l?e successor of Commander John li the timber has .all been cut, but ( Hawley, now Inspector of that dis mains upon the land, owing t a lack j trict. 1 of facilities for bringing It out. WITNESSES IN CALIFORNIA. Searchlight Find Them. Toklo, Feb 27. The official report of the naval afflcers, who attempted to block the entrance to the harbor of Port Arthur February 2. differs in some respects from the accounts al ready printed. From this report It ap pears that" a Russian searchlight dis covered the approach of the five Japan eae steamer before they had reached the point where It was proposed to Blnk them and the Russian guns dis abled three of the flv?. Another new feature Is thut a portion of the crews of the sunken steamers were not picked. up until the afternoon of tht 24th. . Will Rait Cruiser. Paris, Feb. 28. The Tokio corres pondent of the Petit Parlesenne cables that Japanese englners have left foi Chemulpo, Corea, to endeavor to raise the Russian cruiser Varlag. Russian Rob Women. Nagasaki. Feb. 28. The British Hearing at New York Conclude With ; Motion to Dismiss Charge, - New York, Feb. 27. The hearing of John A. Benson, charged by the govern ment with bribing O. A, Harlan and S. A. Vol k, clerks In the land office at Washington, was concluded today and motion was filed by council for the accused to dismiss the charge. This motion was based upon the evi dence of Harlan and Volk, both of whom testified that the money Ben son paid them had been for work and services rendered him in 1899, and not to divulge the result of the examina tion made by the land office. United States Commissioner Shields said he would render the decision later. , Evidence was then taken on the second charge, wherein Benson was churged, together with Frederick A. Hyde, of San. Francisco, of having con spired to defraud the government in securing titles to school lands. , Benson placed In evidence hi' con tract with Hyde concerning the lands In question, showing that Hyde had secured a title to the school lands before Benson became Interested in the deal. j Judge Campbell, representing the ac cused, said that in view of the fact; MANY OFFER SERVICES. Toklo, Feb. 27. Ten naval officers commanded and, 67 "Jackles"' manned the five steamers sunk t the m trance to Port Arthur. Merchant sailors vol unteered for the dangerous undertak ing, but their services were not ac cepted. The volunteers bade farewell to their comrades, expecting to die un der the fire of ihe batteries of the en emy. The rescue of the entire crews surprised even the Japanese. The steamers did not carry lights rfnd were not armed and consequently were not discovered until the opera tion was practically completed.. It Is understood that Admiral Togo's main fleet is still In the vicinity of Port Arthur, and it is expected his fleet will continue bombarding the place un til It Is untenable or until the Russian fleet is destroyed. . "1 Army Officer Brings Suit. Washington, ' Feb. 26. W Captain George Cochran Broome, of the United States army,, now stationed, at Porto Rico, today filed suit for $250,000 dam ages against James S. Barbour and his wife Annie D. Barbour, of this city, for alleged alienating the affec tions of Captain Broomai and wife. The, Barbours are prominent socially here. Bribery Charge Dismissed. Butte, Mont., Feb. 26. The district court today dismissed the bribery charges against Charles W. Clark, son of Senator W. A.. Clark, . based upon an alleged offer of $250,000 to Judge E. W. Harney. Sleeveless nightgowns are a devel opment of the present season. They are made low necked and sleeveless. the neck and armholes being finished "with a ruffle of lace or of the material. Do you know it all Pocket Dictionary, only 25c, Hand Books, now 25c. - Hoyles Games, only 50c. Pocket Encyclopedia, for 2oc. See the show window tells the tale. J. N. GRIFFIN Groceries, Hardware, Ship Chandle ry, Paints, Oil and Glass Hardwood Lumber Boat'Supplies etc. jZ? ? AT FISHER BROTHERS Cor. Bond and 12th Sts. Astoria, Oregon 3 1 WiWiiIWlft,.4'