Union gazette., December 15, 1899, Image 1

T2E&8?&&BJZ3kM. I Consolidated Feb. 1899.
CORVALLIS, BENTON COUNTY, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1899.
VOL. XXXVI. NO. 51.
THE NEWS OF THE WEEK1
From All Parts cf the New
World and the Old.
OF INTEREST TO OUR READERS
Comprehensive Review of the Import
ant Happenings of the Past Week
Called From the Telegraph Columns.
' New York 'wants both the big con
ventions. The investment of-Mafeking is closer
than ever.
: John S. Chase, the socialist' mayor
of Haverhill; Mass., has been re
elected. - '.-.i' :i :vV'
Ten shipwrights from Seattle took
the places of the strikers at Vallejo
navy yard. ''
Ex-Governor Lord, of Oregon,, has
departed for Argentina, to take his
post as United States minister.
Legality of the war revenue act is
involved in the inheritance tax case be
fore the United States supreme court.
The Six Chinese Companies, of San
Francisco, have subscribed $4,000 to
promote commercial relations between
China and the United States.
. The New York coffee exchange hat
petitioned the authorities to release
the coffee cargo of the plague ship
Taylor. They claim there is no danger.
Chaplain Shields, being tried at San
Francisco by court-martial for drunk
enness, will try to prove that his
brother clergymen are per seen ting him.
Beet-sugar men are much disturbed
over recent discussion. Their industry
is flourishing, but free sugar from the
islands they say would be disastrous to
them.
The German ship Wansbek, which
has arrived at Astoria, lost two men on
the voyage from Philadelphia, and the
boatswain says it was the captain's
fault. ; .
Crawford, the soldier who permitted
Wardner bull-pen prisoners to escape,
was dishonorably discharged and sen
tenced to 13 years six months imprison
ment. Dispatches indicate that the Boers
are making all preparations for a hasty
retreat to the Transvaal borders in the
event of defeat at Tugela and Lady
smith. ' i '
VA Kentucky mob had no mercy for &
negro who murdered and outraged a
woman.' He was dragged through the
streets at the end of a rope and finally
bound to a stake and burned alive.
Sick soldiers were compelled to fight
at Vigan. The Americans had but one
company and 150 sick men. They had
marie in the early morning, and it be
came a hand to hand conflict.
Fighting has ceased between the
Mexicans and Yaquis, the Indians hav
ing retreated. It is said they may be
joined by others. , A courier says the
Yaqui's losses in killed and wounded
during 10 days' fighting were estimated
at 2C0. The Mexican . losses were 15
killed and 30 wounded.
The postmaster of Boston has re
signed. An illicit oleomargarine factory has
been une-u-thed at Chicago.
The Payne-Hanna subsidy bill has
been introduced in the house. '
Jeffries and Corbett are planning to
fight at the Paris exposition and France
Is horrified.
Ninety Boer prisoners are said to
have been massacred at Eland's laagto
by British soldiers.'' .
General Hughes is now occupying
SO Panay towns. His lines extend 35
miles north of Ho Ho.
The United States supreme court has
decided that the conductor of a freight
train is not a vice-principal.
England is buying mules, horses,
canned good, hay and rails in this
country for shipment to South Africa.
An Astoria contractor wants to haul
the stranded lightship oveiland from
Ocean beach to Baker's bay. He claims
it can be done.
A cablegram from Hong Kong says
that Aguinaldo is now ready to sur
render if Consul Wildman will receive
him. The junta at Hong Kong advised
him to take such action.
The industries of Cuba are in a de
plorable condition. . In two provinces
the destruction of sugar interests alone
is estimated at $680,000,000, and there
are no efforts at rebuilding.
Huntington has bought another big
block of Southern Pacific stock and
there are said to be others in on the
deal. Railroad men believe the Van
derbilta are in some way concerned.
The shelling of the British camp at
Ladysmith has been far more effective
than previous reports have led people
to believe. Hundreds were killed and
wounded from the Boer bombardment.
Rapid telegraph system will revolu
tionize all correspondence. Such low
rates will be made that merchants can
afford to use the system instead of the
mails. It is to be placed in operation
at once.
Chickamasua is to have a confeder
ate monument to cost $65,000.
Baltimore claims the largest negro
population of any city in the world.
The Berlin police forcibly dissolved
an anarchist meeting in memory of tht
Chicago bomb throwers.
Commissioner Evans has granted a
pension of $15 per month to Adelaide
W. Bagley, mother of Lieutenant
Worth Bagley, who was killed in the
wax with Spain.
Dr. Gnmey Spalding, of Niagara
county. New York, is the youngest
sheriff in the country, as he is under 26
years of age.
John H. Haswell died at his home In
Albany N. Y., aged 58 years. For 8C
years he was a clerk in the state dt
part m en t at Washington.
Justice Hooker, in the New Yolk
supreme court set the week beginning
January 2, 1900, for the electrocution
of Howard C. Benham, the banker of
Batavia, N. Y., who is under convic
tion for the murder of his wife on Jan
uary 4, 1897, by poison.
LATER NEWS.
The transports Sheridan and Grant
are at Seattle.
Engineers and firemen of the Union
Pacific have asked for more pay.
The Pacific Express office at Omaha
was robbed of from $5,000 to $20,000.
The British ship Glenholm will ba
fumigated at Astoria for fear of yellow
fever.
A prominent Frenchman says that
England is ready for war with the
whole world, . ,
A negro was shot at Lewiston, Id.
The bullet flattened on his skull and
he was comparatively uninjured.
Washington officials are anxious over
the possible fate of the American pris
oners in the hands of Aguinaldo. , '
' The debate on the finance bill has
commenced in the house. Representa
tive Overstreet made the opening ad
dress, ? )
The football team of "the University
of California will play the Carlisle In
dians on Christmas day, in San Fran
cisco. . ; " '. '' '
Commander E. P. Wood, U. B. N.,
is dead of typhoid fever at Washington.
He commanded the Petrel in the battle
of Manila bay. -
To increase Admiral - Dewey's
troubles Minnestoa people Will present
him with a large black bear recently
captured. , v
General Gatacre lost nearly six hun
dred men near Stormbarg. The Brit
ish forces were led into the trap by
treacherous guides.
' The supreme court of Oregon has
finally passed upon the case of the
Btate vs. Magers, the petition for a re
hearing being denied.
Congressman Bailey will protest
against the entrance of ; General Joe
Wheeler into congress on his return
from the Philippines. ,
"Governor of Cuba" will be the offi
cial designation of the office to which
Major-General Leonard Wood will : be
assigned early in the new year.
The North Atlantio squadron com
mander, Admiral Farquhar, will leave
New York , Saturday on his" annual
cruise. The fleet will be met in the
Gulf of Mexico.
Colonel James Graham and William
P. Cunneen, prominent politicians of
St. Marys, Kan., drank from a disin
fectant bottle which they supposed to
contain whiskey, and are not . expected
to live. . f y '
The president will soon send a spec
ial message to congress regarding . re
wards for officers and men from .the, At
lantio squadron who distinguished
themselves during the war with Spain,
and whose gallantry has not yet been
recognized. :- . -
The controller of the currency has
declared the fifth dividend of 10 per
cent in favor of the creditors ..of The
Dalles National bank, making 95 per
cent ; paid : on " the claims proved,
amounting to $26,318.20.
Englishmen are depressed by the sit
uation in Africa. :
Arizona will apply for statehood to
the present congress.
v The Americans have occupied Bang
ued, province of Abra. ' V
Steamers will leave Portland , every
10 days for Cape Nome.
The Kentucky election commission
gives Taylor's plurality as 2,383. .
The Filipinos' treasury was captured
by the Americans at Manga tar em.
The government's herd of reindeer in
Alaska is rapidly increasing and now
numbers 2,600.. - .'
Bishop Henry Potter, of New York,
has arrived in Manila on a brief visit
to study the Philippines. . .
A gas explosion killed many coal
miners at Carbonado, Wash. Cause
of the accident is a mystery.
The British artillery arm in. South
Africa has been materially strength
ened by the arrival of six big guns.
Commander Charles I. Howell is
dead at New York city. He was chief
engineer of the Maine when she was
blown up. "' .
Lady Francis Cook, formerly Tennie
Clafflin, announces her intention to
forsake England and take up her resi
dence in New York.
Two hundred miners are on a strike
at the Tesla coal mines, California,
because of a dispute with the superin
tendent over the wage schedule.
The horticultural commissioners .of
Southern California propose to estab
lish a quarantine against infected nur
sery stock imported from foreign coun
tries. -
General Gregorio" del Pilar was
killed in a fight with the Thirty-third
infantry, 18 miles northwest of Cer
vants. . The insurgents lost 70 men in
the engagement. .
The Vananda group of mines near
Baker City was sold for $1,500,000.
The property is to be extensively devel
oped by the new owners, who are Brit
ish Columbia capitalists.
Genral Grant's expedition in Luzon
has viBited Orani and several western
towns, meeting, small bands. He
killed several of the rebels - and cap
tured a quantity of munitions of war.
Erastus Lathrop, of Westfielid, Mass.,
in his will left $15,000 to D. L. Moody.
Cornelius Yanderbilt was fined $110
for failure to act as juior in New York.
The commissioner of education urges
the American system of schools for col
onies. ,
Ira D. Sankey, the singer, who used
to be associated with Mr. Moody is to
become an evangelist on his own ac
count and will conduct a series of is
vivals in various cities this winter.
' An epidemic of influenza in England
causes fear of the disease's spread to
America. '
Baroness Hirsch has given about
$90,000,000 toward charity since the
death of her husband.
Australians want England to buy
Kaiser Wilhelm's Land, and thus make
New Guinea wholly British.
' An admirer of Admiral Dewey in At
lanta, Ga., has presented him with a
valuable autograph letter written by
Admiral Farragut, in whioh occurs the
phrase: "That young Dewey is a very
promising chap."
ADVANCE ON COLENSO
British Take Up the March
. . to Ladysmith.
THE MOVEMENT NOT OPPOSED
Frere Bridge 'Rebuilt Casualties Among
' White's Forces In November Brit
ish Arming; Natives.
Pretoria, Dec. 11. The following
dispatch has been received from the
head laager near Ladysmith:
; "The British are advancing on Co
lenso, but last night passed without an
attack.',"' There was a desultory : can
nonade this morning, the - naval guns
in Ladysmith replying vigorously to
our fire." ,
Free Bridge Completed.
Frere Camp, Dec. 11. The trestle
bridge is finished, and the trains are
now traversing it. ''
' Buller Communicates With White. " -
London, Dec. 11. A war office dis
patch from Buller confirms the state
ment that heliographic communication
has been fully established with Lady
smith, and that Buller and White
have been conferring as to their future
movements. The latest advices from
Frere camp show that the bombard
ment of Ladysmith was continued
Thursday, December 7. A pneumatic
dynamite gun on Umbnlwana hill has
commenced work. . According to a
special dispatch from Pretoria, Gen
eral Joubert recently proposed an ex
change of prisoners, and especially
mentioned the exchange of Lady Sarah
Wilson for a Boer lady taken prisoner
at Maf eking. -'- '
' . British Losses at Ladysmith.
Ladysmith, Thursday (via Weenai).
The total British casualties here
since November 1 are 5 officers and 20
men killed, and 15 officers and 130
men wounded, with 3 missing. The
Boer force is still around us in large
numbers, but all within the town are
well and cheerful. ;
British Arming Natives.
Cape Town, Wednesday. It is an
nounced that Major Elliott, command
ing in the native territory of Griqua
land East, is arming the-natives by, im
perial authority, with a view of assist
ing the defensive forces.
r.'" -A
i ' Great Battles Impending.
" New York, Dec. 11. A dispatch to
the Tribune from London, dated Friday
says: Two great battles are impend
ing before Ladysmith and Kimberley,
and the hotspurs are impatient to have
them come.
On Western Border
London, Dec. 11. General Forestier
Walker has sent the following dis
patch, dated Friday to the war office
from Cape Town: .
Telegraph and every communica
tion to Modder river has been reopen
ed. A battery of field artillery and a
battalion of infantry were dispatched
from Modder river against Command
ant Prinz Loos' foroe of 1,000 Boers,
with one gun, who had destroyed the
railway. Our loses were 14 wounded.
"Belmont has been strengthened by
infantry and two guns, and a cavalry
regiment and troops from Naanwport
occupied Arundel Thursday.
FIVE HOURS BATTLE.
The Filipinos Desperately Resisted
Young's Column.
Manila, Deo. 11. There was consid
erable relief in Manila when the news
was received today that General
Young's small force, had arrived safely
at Vigan, province of South Hoobs, De
cember 6. Anxiety had been" felt for
General Young and the garrison at Vi
gan since it was known that General
iTino had a large, aggressive body, of
Insurgents operating in the vicinity: '
'. General Tino made a stand in . the
mountain pass between Narvacan and
San Quintin. The natural strength of
the position was augmented by trenches
and pitfalls. ' The fight lasted five
hours.
General Young had three companies
of the Thirty-fourth infantry, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Howse, and two
troops of the Third cavalry, Captain
Swigert. " He was reinforced during
the fight by Colonel Hare, with a bat
talion of the Thirty-third, en route to
Vigan.' General Young ended the fight
by charging and routing the enemy,
whoAleft 25 dead and several rifles and
thousands of rounds of ammunition in
the trenches. The enemy employed
artillery. Only one American was
seriously wounded.
The uprising in the island of Negrot
was led by the police of La Corlata
district, where there is a small Ameri
can garrison. The police inspired
false reports of insurgent victories ; in
Luzon and Panay. There are 250 na
tive police in Negros, who are armed
with Springfield rifles.
Canned Beef For British Soldiers.
Chicago, Dec. 11. Libby, McNeil &
Libby have shipped 750,000 pounds oi
canned beef to the British army in
South Africa. Twenty-four cars were
required to carry it. This is the
largest shipment of canned beef ever
made from this city.
Advances in Wages.
Lewiston, Me., Dec 9. The mills of
this state will grant a general increase
in wages, now being arranged in cotton
manufacturing towns of New England,
Notice of a 10 per cent advance is be
ing posted gradually throughout the
cotton districts of Maine.
Manchester, ' N. H., Dec. 9. The
Manchester cotton mills will grant an
increase of 10 per cent December 18
In all, nearly 15,000 hands are affected
by the new schedule here, meaning an
increase of nearly $600,000 a year in
wages. .
Sailor Sharkey Wll Train Corbett. '
New York, Deo. 11. The Journal
and Advertiser says: Tom Sharkey
will train James J. Corbett for his
coming fight with Champion Jefferies.
The former sailor and the ex-champion
met last night and Sharkey offered to
train his former antagonist. Corbett
promptly accepted the offer. :
To keep the hair in curl before put
ting into curlers, dampen it with a so
lution of isinglass dissolved in hot
water. . ? . .
WOMAN IN BERTH.
He Sned the Wagner Company and Ke-
. : eel ved Damages. ;" ' .
New York, Dec. 11. One of the
most singular suits on record has just
been decided in the city court in this
city, Marcus Braun having secured a
judgment against the Wagner Palace
Car Company for $750, as damages for
a mistake made" by one of tie com
pany's conductors, who alotted a berth
already sold to Braun to a woman.
When the error was discovered every
berth in the train was sold, and Braun
was compelled to sit in the smoking
compartment during a trip from Cleve
land to this city. !
- When Braun bought his coupon for
the berth he left his luggage m the seat .
and went to the smoking compartment, j
He did not return for two hours, ac-1
cording to his own story, but when he
did, he found the berth made up and
occupied. The comments of the pas
sengers so injured his feelings, he says,
that a money compensation is due him,
he alleges . The woman in .; the berth
produced a coupon which was an exact
duplicate of the coupon given Braun.
ONE WEEK OF DEBATE.
House Arranges : for Consideration of
Currency Bill.
Washington, Dec. 9. The house
adopted a special order for the consid
eration of the currency bill, beginning
Monday. The general debate will con
tinue until Friday, and Saturday
nve-minute rule, ana me iuiiowmg
Monday the vote will be taken. The
Democrats, ' Populists and Silverites
presented a solid front against the
adoption of the resolution, and every
Republican voted for it. .
. .Koberts, the Mormon representative
elect from Utah, was not in the house
when it convened today.
. . ... lt '
They May Be Vice-admirals.
New York, Deo. 11. A special to
the Herald from Washington says:
President McKinley, during an inter
view with Senator Wellington, ex
pressed himself in favor of reviving the
grade of vice-admiral in ' the interest
of both Bear-Admiral Sampson an
Bear-Admiral "" Schley. He believt
that this is the simplest solution of tht
whole Sampson-Schley controversy,
and it is expected that Senator Well
ington will introduce a bill in a few
days providing for the appointment of
two vice-admirala without specifying
names. - .-
The president - very frankly said that
if such a bill became a law, he would
promptly nominate both Sampson and
Schley in the order named. This ar
rangement, both the president and Sen
ator Wellington ' believe, will meet the
approval of a majority of the friends of
both officers.
Railroad Conferences in New York.
! New . York, Dec. 11. The World
says: Some important conferences be
tween Union Pacific and Chicago &
Northwestern railroad officials, have
been held in this city within the past
week and a report is again in circula
tion to the effect that the former sys
item will be absorbed by -the latter,
which the Vanderbilts already control.
This will be done under along term
lease, it is said. Both President
Hughitt and President Burt, of the two
lines, are how in the city. They de
nied yesterday that their presence here
had any such significance as was - indi
cated by the report.
Is in Favor of Taylor. :
Frankfort, Ky., Deo; 11. The state
board of elections tonight gave out its
official findings that W. S. Taylor, for
governor, and the rest of the Republi
can ticket, have been elected on the
face .of the returns.' .Commissioners
Ellis and Pryor signed the majority re
port, in which they held that,., as a
board of canvassers, they have no right
to go behind the returns of the county
boards, that their duties are purely
ministerial as canvassers, and that the
face of the returns, as received by them
from the counties, shows . the . election
of the Republican state ticket. Ac
cordingly, the report says, ' certificates
of election were ordered issued to each
candidate thereon.
. Xiake Steamer Missing.
Fort Colborne, Ont., Dec. 11. It is
believed here, tonight , that the Cana
dian steamer Niagara has foundered on
Lake Erie .and that all hands were lost.
The cew" comprised 16 persons, all told.
Of these, : Captain Henry . McGlory,
master of the lost steamer, is the only
one known here. The Niagara had a
cargo of lumber and shingles, bound
from Georgian bay to Buffalo. Tuesday
the Niagara was sighted off Long Point
in the heavy gale and snow storm. The
steamers Orion and M. T. Greene ar
rived this afternoon from Buffalo, and
report passing through a quantity of
wreckage. It consisted of lumber,
shingles and pieces of a wooden
steamer, i The Niagara is the only boat
known to be missing. ., , .
Cape Nome Will Rival Monte Carlo.
' Seattle, Dec. 11. Arangementshave
been completed for a big gambling and
theatrical enterprise, to be established
at Cape Nome in the spring. The
plans involve an expenditure of $60,
000. A special steamer will take
North 40 variety performrs, the para
phernalia for the ; biggest gambling
bouse in Alaska and a building 60x140
feet, three stories high.
: Argentina's Crops.
Buenos Ayres, Dec. il. The wheat
prospects in the Argentine Republic
are excellent. There will probably be
an exportable surplus of 2,000,000 tons.
The linseed crop will reach 850,000,
and the total wool clip is about 225,000
tons, which guarantees an exportable
surplus. ,
To prevent obstruction to traffic in
the main streets of Boston in the day
time, all the repairs are made at night.
Bnruing of Hainan Beings.
Chicago, Dec. 11. The burning of a
negro at Marys ville, Ky., was . de
nounced in resolutions at a meeting of
the Ida B. Wells Woman's Club, a col
ored organization. . The resolutions de
clared that it was time for Christian
forces to unite in condemning the burn
ing of human beings and indorsed the
action of the National Anti-Lynching
Bureau, of Chicago, which,' through its
chairman, Mrs. Ida B. Wells, has
asked various organizations to send
resolutions oi protest to the governor of
Kentucky and the mayor, ministers
and papers of Marysville. -
MM GOAL MINERS KILLED
Gas- Explosion Wrought De
struction at Carbonado.
CAUSE SHROUDED IN MYSTERY
Deadly Blackdamp Followed the Ex
plosion, hut the Mine Was Easily
Ventilated List of the Dead.
Tacoma, Deo. 12. A mine explosion
at Carbonado, 40 miles easterly from
Tacoma, at 11 o'clock this morning,
killed 82 men. Identification of the
dead men is. almost impossible. The
scraps of clothing that still cling to the
bodies of the men are . carefully ' pre
served, laid aside and labelled to aid in
the- identification. Frenzied relatives
of tie missing men . gathered at the
mouth of the mine and watched eagerly
to catch a glimpse of the forms as they
were hurried by to the coroner's office.
"The work of rescue is being rushed
forward, but it may be days before the
last blackened form is taken from the
mine, for many men are believed to lie
buried under masses of earth and rock.
To extricate them will take time, and
thus far the work of rescue has been
pushed forward at the extreme endur
ance of the workers, for the black
damp and noxious gases have driven
the rescuers back repeatedly.
When the explosion occurred a rush
of the inhabitants was made in the di
rection of the mouth of the tunnel.
Women, the wives of the men supposed
to be in the shift, ran to and fro,
screaming and wringing their hands
with anguish, crying children clinging
to their skirts. A .
It was all that D. T. Davies the
superintendent of the mine, could dc
to stop the wives and friends of th
doomed miners from plunging madly
into the tunnel's mouth. : '
A revised death list follows:
Company ' men Leonard Johnson,
Henry Soni, Matt Rehela and Victor
Ruhinaki (formerly given as John Hill)
all Finns; Michael Kichinko, John
Mellon and Andrew Gecey, Poles;
John H. Jones, David X. Thomas,
Howell Meredith, sr-, Watkin Jones,
Evan M. Lewis, Daniel Davis and Rees
Jones, all Welsh; William Wilson,
Joseph Lee and Richard Dare, Amer
icans, and Ben Zeidler, jr., German.
' Contract . miners August ; Hainut
and Emil Hainut, Belgians; Paul Cur
tiss, Adam Pavoll, John Flota and
Stephen Kraunoga, Poles; Ben Zeidler,
sr., Germans; Matt Nuland and Jacob
Lands, Finns. The cause of the ex
plosion is a mystery to every one.
Only safety lamps are worn when at
work. Governor Rogers will con
duct a searching examination as to the
cause of the explosion. He has tele
graphed State Mine Inspector Owens,
now at Spokane, to attend the inquest
and examine witnesses himself. The
question of the ventilation of the mine,
in conformity with the state law, will
be thoroughly gone into.
The total number of men in the un
fortunate shift was 76, of whom 44 are
alive, all of them having escaped or
been rescued. .
The mines are owned by the Carbon
Hill Coal Company. They give work
to 400 men, and have an output of 300,
000 tons annually, and are situated 40
miles from Tacoma, on the Cascade
division of the Northern Pacific. The
mines are in a deep ravine, through
which the Carbon river flows. : The
mines are supplied, with every appli
ance for safety. They are largely tun
neled, and the tunnels are so big that
locomotives are run into them.
In 1890 an explosion at this same
mine cost two lives, and John Hartman
and some others were severely burned.
Aid for Needy.
Seattle, Dec. 12. Washington min
ers, through the local union, haw
taken steps to render the families of the
victims and those injured in the Car
bonado explosion financial aid. All la
bor unions in Western Washington
will contribute to the fund.
SERIOUS REVERSES. .
Gatacre Was Defeated at Storinberg
Junction.
Molteno, Cape Colony, Deo. 12.
General Gatacre left Sputter's kraal by
train for Molteno and then proceeded
by forced march 12 miles toward
Stormberg. He had 2,000 men, in
cluding the Northumberland fusiliers,
the Royal Irish rifles and two batter
ies of field artillery.
The British were unmolested by the
Boers until the Boer position ' was
reached, when a hot fire was unex
pectedly opened upon the advancing
column.
The engagement began at 4:15 A. M.
At 7 A. M., after a sharp artillery
duel, the British retired. They are now
marching toward Molteno. General
Gatacre found the enemy's position
impregnable. It was impossible for
the British infantry to get at the Boers.
Trying to Monopolize Nome's Gold. .
Seattle, Dec. 11. Cape Nome min
ers have held a series of meetings in
this city and employed counsel to de
feat what they claim is an attempt on
the part of certain corporations to
withdraw in their favor the famous
Cape Nome beach diggings.
- New Train Put on.
The O. R. & N. Co. has just com
pleted the. purchase of a lot of new
modern passenger epuipment, which
will permit the putting on of a second
train, via the Huntington route. This
will give Portland by this route both
morning and evening - service two
trains in each direction, and will be a
great benefit in handling the business
for the Baker City mining district,
which is having such a tremendous
growth.
Washington, Dec. 12. Mr. Roberts,
the director of the mint, in his annual
report says: "The mints and assay
offices operated upon more bullion in
the aggregate and a greater coinage
was executed during the last fiscal year
than in any previous year.
Steamer Niagara Iost.
Buffalo, Dec. 13. It is now certain
that the Canadian steamer Niagara,
Captain McCleery, foundered on Tues
day evening last about eight miles off
Long Point, Luke Erie, with all hands,
numbering 16.
SEIZURE OP SUBIQ.
Important Capture by titeneral Grant's
Command.
Manila, Dec. 18. .The advance
guard of General Grant's command,
under Major Spence, arrived at Olon
gapo, Subig bay, at night, December
0, which place was occupied with lit
tle resistance, the enemy fleeing. Ma
jor Spence had' an arduous march over
the mountain trails.
Yesterday morning the Baltimore
and Oregon and a chartered transport
arrived at Olongapo from Manila. The
navy was disappointed to find the
army in possession of the place, which
they had hoped to capture. A detach
ment of marines, under Captain Myers,
occupied the navy-yard at Olongapo,
and will hold and occupy it as a naval
station. . The yard consists of . seven
new, large buildings, and some repair
and machinery shops, all damaged by
the bombardment of September 23. '
, During the morning of December 10
the navy transported Major Spence's
command from Olongapo to the town
of Subig. five miles distant." The en
emy was seen deserting Subig as the
troops landed, and the latter occupied
it without resistance.' They found the
place abandoned by the retreating en
emy, who fired a few. shots. The
Americans deployed to the right and
left of the town, and killed one of the
enemy. ' " 1
General Grant and the remainder of
his command arrived at Olongapo yes
terday afternoon. He will proceed to
Subig and join Major Spence. General
Grant will move north along the coast,
and will effect a juncture with ,the
Twenty-fifth infantry, under Colonel
Andrew S. Burt, who was reported
eight miles from Iba, December 7.
The enemy encountered in General
Grant's advance fled to the mountains
and scattered. General Grant is not
garrisoning the towns he occupies. No
casualties are reported in his command,
THE DEBATE OPENED.
House Takes Up 'Consideration of the
. Currency Bill.
? Washington, Deo. 13. The feature
of. the opening day of the debate on the
currency bill in the house was the
speech of Dolhver of Iowa. It was
characterized by all the wit and elo
quence for which the Iowan ". is noted,
and held the members, without regard
to party, for more than an hour. Dol
liver declared that the least "doubt in
the Republican party as to the wisdom
of enacting the gold-standard law had
been removed by the experience of the
business world during the past three
years. He scored Mr. Bryan and gen
erally ridiculed the alleged false pro
phecies of the Democrats in 1896. -
DeArmond of Missouri was the
heavy gun on the Democratic side. He
warned the Republicans from the West
that they could not deceive their con
stituents in the coming congressional
elections by claiming that they had
yielded to the wisdom of their col
leagues in caucus. Overstreet of In
diana opened the debate in support of
the bill, and Maddox of Georgia re
plied to him.
McClellan of New York was the only
other speaker today. - He announced
his opposition to the bill on the ground
that it would contract the currency,
extinguish bank notes and enhance the
value of coin bonds. He appealed to
those of his Democratic colleagues from
New York who it is reported intend to
vote for the bill not to do so.
lighthouses for Alaska.
After a conference with the chief of
the lighthouse board, Representative
Cushman of Washington has concluded
to introduce a bill appropriating $500,
000 for the erection of suitable light
houses and signals along the Alaskan
coast. While this sum will not begin
to supply a sufficient number of aids
to navigation, it will be a starter, and
it is hoped that further appropriations
will follow. Mr. Cushman intends to
insert a provision in the bill ' making
the Alaskan coast, together with the
Puget sound shore, from Cape Flattery,
around to the boundary line, a sepa
rate lighthouse district, to be known as
district No. 17.
Sympathy for the Boers.
Washington, Dec. 13. An appeal by
Mason for an expression of sympathy
for the Transvaal republic in its war
with Great Britain was the feature of
the senate proceedings today. It was
the first formal address delivered in
the senate this session, and was listened
to with thoughtful attention by both
the members and by a large gallery of
auditors. The resolution upon which
Mason based his address was referred
to the foreign relations committee.
Lodge, considering it too delicate a
question in view of the position of this
government to pass upon without seri
ous consideration. No business of im
portance was transacted by the senate.
Bomb Destroyed Spanish Theater.
Madrid, Dec. 18. Durgin a perform
ance yesterday at the theater at Mur
cia, captial of the province of that
name, a bomb was exploded, fire broke
out and the theater was destroyed.
The audience, however, got out with
out serious accident.
Powder Mills Blown Up.
Pottstown, Pa., Dec. 13. The pow
der works of James S. Miller, near
Sumneytown, were completely wrecked
by an explosion today, and three men
were killed and several others were in
jured. ' .
Bottle Paper From the Niagara.
Port Colborne, Ont., Dec. 18. A
bottle containing a piece of paper on
which was written the following, ap
parently by the captain of the found
ered steamer Niagara, was found on the
beach today:
"Expect to go down any " minute.
Captain McGlory. Good-bye. Steamer
Niagara foundered about three miles
from Port Maitland."
Pieces of the wreck identified as be
longing to the Niagara have drifted
ashore.
Transvaal Cargo Seized. '
London, Dec. 11. A special dis
patch from Cape Town announces that
the British gunboat Partridge captared
the British steamer Mashona, which
left New York November 8. for Algoa
bay, laden with flour for the Transvaal.
The cargo will be landed at Cape Town
and the ship released.
Wheat Imports at Liverpool.
Liverpool, Dec. 13. The imports of
wheat into Liverpool during the past
week were 70,200 quarters from At
lantio ports, and 6,000 quarters from
other ports, -
BATTERIES SAVED GATACRE
His Artillery Arrived in the
Nick of Time.
fAS TREACHEROUSLY GUIDED
British Set at an Impossible Task and
Against Superior Numbers Opinions
of the Press England Depressed.
London, Dec. 13. Later details re
garding the disaster to General Gat
acre's column show that but for the
magnificent work of the British artil
lery the disaster would; have been far
more extensive, as the incessant Boer
fire in the midst of . repulsed infantry
ultimately led to disorder, which only
escaped developing into rout through
the batteries of artillery occupying suc
cessive positions, covering the- retreat,
thus drawing a portion of the Boer's
galling fire.
Apparently, the British were set at
an impossible task, and were treacher
ously guided. After a trying march
and being under arms 16 hours, they
attacked the wrong part of the Boer po
sition, where the hill was impregnable,
and the burghers were estimated to
number 6,000 men instead of 500, as
spies.had reported. There is little in
the story to mitigate the immense hu
miliation caused by the episode, which
as almost 'an exact counterpart of the
battle of Nicholson's Nek. The war
office was besieged by anxious relatives
today, and successive editions, of the
newspapers were . eagerly scanned.
Men and women are equally persistent
in pleading for information, but the
authorities either do not possess any,
or are not prepared to publish it at
present.
The affair has caused a most de
pressing influence everywhere, not ex
cepting the stock exchange, where
consols were at the lowest price in
many years, and South African securi
ties slumped, not so much on account
of the military reverse, which is re
trievable, but owing to profound appre
hension as to its political effect. No
great surprise would now be felt in
Cape Colony's becoming aflame from
end to end.
ENGLAND IS DEPRESSED.
London Papers All Regard the Defeat
as a Most Serious One.
London, Dec. -13. Discussing the
defeat of General Gatacre at Storm
berg, the Daily Mail says:
"Quite apart from the loss of 600
fighting men, the unexpeted Boer suc
cess will probably cause a more gen
eral and serious movement among the
Cape Dutch. The government must
promptly face this by the immediate
dispatch of further troops."
The Daily News says: "The reverse
General Gatacre has suffered is a sadly
emphatic commentary on the. peculiar
difficulty of military operations in a
semi-disaffected country. The en
emy's spies are everywhere, and no
where can we rely confidently on any
counter information. General Gatacre
seems to have been completely trapped.
Of course he will immediately be rein
forced." '
The Daily Chronicle says: "There
is only too much reason for fear that
this is the worst illustration we have
had yet of inadequate equipment and
insufficient scouting. How far this
disaster was due to lack of judgment
on the spot and how far to lack of ar
tillery is not quite clear, but the pa
tient public cannot help reading that
General Methuen's victory at Modder
river was won by artillery reinforce
ment at the critical moment, and all
they would like to know is how many
times this particular lesson is to be
learned." ':
, The Standard says: "The event is in
the highest degree deplorable. It
will tell against us unfavorably in the
Free State, among the colonial Dutch
and even among the natives. A great
deal of evidence has been accumulat
ing during the past weeks to show how
deeply the colony, or at least the north
ern and western portions of it, are
honeycombed by dissatisfaction. . Our
generals have to cope with a rebel col
ony as well as hostile republics, and
must take measures to lay their plans
in accordance with the details."
-SHERMAN REGRETS, v
Says the President's Phillplne Policy Is
. Wrong. , ' :
Philadelphia, Deo. 18. In response
to an invtation to attend an anti-imperialist
mass meeting to be held at the
Academy of Music,, on the centennial
anniversary of the death of Washing
ton, December 4, the following letter
has been received from ex-Secretary of
State John Sherman, dated at Washing
ton: .
"1 have a strong conviction that the
president erred in sending soldiers to
the Philippines to take possession of
their country. The United States had
wisely, as I think,: assisted the Fili
pinos in driving the Spaniards out of
the Philippine islands, and should, : I
think, have aided them in . protecting
their country against all assaults. He
no doubt was advised to adopt the
measures taken, and all I can do is tq.
express my regrets. Yours very truly,
"JOHN SHERMAN." .
A -Kentucky Hanging.
, Paris, Ky., Dec. 13. Clarence. Wil
liams, colored,' was hanged in the jail
yard here this morning. March 2
last Williams, while intoxicated, eho
and kyied Josie Tillman, a womaq
with whom he had quarreled.
An Appeal for Help.
. Carbonado, Wash., Dec. 13. A re
lief committee was organized here to
day, and an appeal issued ' for aid foi
the destitute families. . Seven bodiei
were taken from the mine today.
Federation of Labor.
' Detroit, Mich., Deo. 13. Nearly 20q
delegates, representing all branohes ol
trades unionism, with an estimated
total membership of nearly 800,000,
were present at Harmonie hall today
when the .10th annual conference of the
American Federation of Labor was
called to order. " " 1.
The British at Ladysmith made ' a
brilliant sortie and captured a strong
Boer position. The-, movement was
made at night and was a surprise to
the besiegers. Two . guns were de
stroyed and one taken, , ;
NO HESITANCY IN TRADE.
Usual Shrinkage at End or the Kea.
Not Apparent.
R. G. Dun & Co. 's weekly review of
trade says: The approach of a new
year usually brings so much of hesi
tancy in business that the small shrink
age this year is surprising. Probably
never before have the productive forces
of the country been so largely covered
by contracts at this date, inducing
employment and profit far into the
coming year. This results not from
any mere speculative excitement, but
from actual demands for consumption
running far beyond the producing ca
pacity hereafter, and pushing it to re
markable expansion. The increase in
foreign trade has been significant, com
pared with the increase of $24,000,000
in payments through clearing-houses.
For the week the payments have been
20.3 per cent larger than last year, and
88.1 per cent larger than in 1892.
Demand for cars and other railway
equipment is enormous, and alsb for
shipping, both lake and ocean. Tin is
weak at, 2740, and copper declined to
16o, ' but lead and spelter are
stronger.
Wool has advanced further, with
much speculative buying, though most
manufacturers have supplied wants for
the present, and are less disposed to
purchase at - prices now averaging
higher than at any time since June 15,
1891.
Wheat has risen 8c, and corn a frac
tion, with a decline in Western re
ceipts of both. Atlantic exports of
wheat this week, flour included, were
only 3,859,667 bushels, against 5,636,
767 last year, and Pacific exports 886,
172 bushels, against 556,523 bushels
last year.
. Failures for the week have been 221
in the United States, against 248 last
year, and 33 in Canada, against 22 last
year. . --
PACIFIC COAST TRADE.
Seattle Markets.
Onions, new, $1.00 1.25 per sack.
Potatoes, new, $16 20. '
Beets, per sack, 75 85c.
Turnips, per sack, 60c. .
Carrots, per sack, 50c.
' Parsnips, per sack, 75 85c.
Cauliflower, 75c per dozen.
Cabbage, native and California, 95
Q 90o per 100 pounds.
Peaches,-65 80c. .
Apples, $1.25 1.50 per box.
Pears, $1.00 1.25 per box.
1 Prunes, 60e per box.
Watermelons, $1.60. :
Nutmegs, 50 76c. ' - , '
Butter Creamery, 82o. per pound;
dairy, 17 22c; ranch, 22o per pound.
Eggs Firm, 8031o. 1
f!VinAAA Nat.i va. 1 fi. fc .
Poultry 9 10c; dressed, 11 13c.
, Hay Puget Sound timothy, $12.00;
choice Eastern Washington timothy,
f 17.UUtS18.UU
Corn Whole, $23.00; cracked, $23;
feed meal, $23.
- Barley Rolled or ground, per ton,
$21; whole, $22. 1 .'i
Flour Patent, per barrel, $3.35
blended straights, $3.10; California,
$3.25; ' buckwheat flour, $6.00; gra
ham, per barrel, $3.80; whole wheat
flour, $3.10; rye flour, $3.804.00.
Millstuffs Bran, per ton, $16.00;
shorts, per ton, $17.00. : v : '
Feed Chopped feed, $20.50 per ton;
middlings, per ton, $22; oil cake meal,
per ton, $35.00.
Portland Market.
Wheat Walla Walla.' 60 51c;
Valley, 51c; Bluestem, 52o per bushel.
- Flour Best grades, $3.00; graham,
$2.50; superfine, $2.15 per barrel.
Oats Choice white, 86 86c; choice
gray, 35o per bushel.
Barley Feed barley, . $16 16.50;
brewing, $18.00 19.00 per ton.
' Millstuffs Bran, $17 per ton; mid
dlings, $22; shorts, $18; chop, $16 per
ton. " . .
Hay Timothy, $911; clover, $7
8; Oregon wild hay, $6 7 per ton.
Butter Fancy creamery, 50 65c;
seconds, 42)45c; dairy, 8740c;
store, 25 35o.
Eggs 1 8 H 2 1 o per dozen.
Cheese Oregon full cream, 13c;
Young America, 14c; new cheese 10c
per pound. - - .
Poultry Chickens, mixed, $3.00
3.50 per dozen; hens, $4.50; springs,.
$2.003.50; geese, $7.008.50 forold;
$4.606.50 for young; ducks, $4.50
per dozen; turkeys, live, 1415o
per pound. ..
Potatoes 50 60c per sack; sweets,
2 2 H o per pound.
... Vegetables Beets, $1; turnips, 90o;
per . sack; garlic, 7c per pound; cauli
flower, 75o per dozen; parsnips, $1;
beans, 56o per pound; celery, 70
75o per dozen; cucumbers,. 50o per
box; peas, 34oper pound; tomatoes,
75o per box; green' corn, 12
15o per dozen.
Hops 8 11c; 1898 crop, 66o.
Wool Valley, 1213o per pound;
Eastern Oregon, 814o; mohair, 27
80o per pound. .
Mutton Gross, best sheep, wethers
and ewes, 8c; dressed mutton, 6
7o per pound; lambs, 7 o per pound.
Hogs Gross, choice heavy, $5.00;
light and . feeders, $4.60; dressed,
$5.606.00 per 100 pounds.
.Beet uross, top steers, ?3.ou34.uu;
cows, $3 3.50; dressed beef, 6
7)io per pound. '
. Veal Large, 67c; small, 8
8)o per pound.
San Francisco Market.
Wool Spring Nevada, 12 15o per
pound; Eastern Oregon, 12 16c; Val
ley, 1820c; Northern, 10 12o.
Hops 1899 crop, ll12o per
pound. -
Onions Yellow, 7585o per sack.
Butter Fancy creamery 24 25c;
do seconds, 22 24c; fancy dairy, 21
22c; do seconds, 1920o per pound.
Eggs Store, 25 27c; fancy ranch,
86o.
Millstuffs Middlings, $17.00
20.00; bran, $14 15.00. .
Hay Wheat $7.00 10; wheat and
oat $7.609.50; best barley $5.00
7.60; alfalfa, $5.007.50 per ton;
straw, 85 45o per bale.
Potatoes Early Rose, 4050o; Ore
gon Bur banks, 60c 1.00; river Bur
banks,. 46 65c; Salinas Burbanks,
$1.00 1.25 per sack.
Citrus Fruit Oranges, Valencia,
$2.78(23.25; Mexican limes, $4.00
5.00; California lemons 75o$1.60;
do choice $1.75 2.00 per box.
Tropical Iruits Bananas, $1.60
2.50 - per bunch; pineapples, nom
inal; Persian dates, . 66o per
pound,