Corvallis gazette., March 14, 1902, Image 1

GAZETTE
CORVA
WEEKLY.
COR VALIjIS, BENTON COTHrtY OREGON, FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1902.
UNION. Kstab. July. 1897.
UAZETTK, Eatab. Dee., 1863.
(Consolidated Feb., 1899.
VOIi. XXXIX. NO. 12.
EVENTS OF THE DAY
FROM THE FOUR QUARTERS OF
THE WORLD.
A Comprehensive Review of the Important
.Happenings of the Past Week, Presented
in a Condensed Form, Which Is Most
Likely to Prove of Interest to Our Many
Readers.
Prince Henry has started on bis home
ward journey.
A c6mpromiseon the Cuban reci
procity question is probable in the sen
ate. A hurricane which struck Omaha,
Neb. caused an immense loss of prop?
erty.
Eight thousand men are on strike at
Boston as a result of the freight hand
lers trouble.
The' British have suffered a crushing
defeat at the hands of the Boers. Gen
eral Methuen was captured.
Seretary of the Navy Long has re
signed. He will be succeeded by Rep
resentative W. H. Moody, of Massachu
setts. The American cup 'defender Colum
. bia will cross the ocean to race if any
yacht can be found on the other, side
w-hose owner is willing to make a
match.
The postal bill has been passed by
the house. By this measure carriers
are not only continued under the salary
system, but the maximum - wage is in
creased. Prince Henry sent '"a wreath to be
placed on Genreal Grants' tomb.
The president has signed the Philip
pine tariff bill. .
A message is expected from the pres
ident on the Cuban question.
All arrangements are completed for
the homeward journey of Prince Henry.
Russia has taken advantage of the
bandit trouble in China and sent troops
there.
England will reorganise her army
and place it on the same plan as that
of the United States.
Two boats collided on the Canton
river and 150 Chinese drowned.
Queen Alexandra launched an Eng
lish battleship.
Taft says that in two years, at the
most, the' Filipinos will be able to
maintain a permanent government of
their own.
The revolutionary movement in Rus
sia is spreading.
Prince Henry visited the military
academy at West Point.
Fifteen persons were killed and many
injured in a train wreck in Texas.
The Spanish regency may be pro
longed, owing to the incapacity of King
Alfonso.
The president will not permit his
daughter to attend the coronation of
King Edward.
Five men were killed and 'several in
jured in a coal mine explosion in
Pennsylvania.
The steamer on which" Prince Henry
will return home is being fitted up for
the royal party.
Six firemen were seriously injured
by coming in contact with live wires at
a tire in Beatrice, Neb.
The street car strike at Norfolk, Va.,
remains unbroken.
The Eustern states are in the midst
of another snow storm.
A candy trust, with a capital of $5,
000, Q00, is the latest combine.
Miss Alice Roosevelt will go to Cuba
to visit General and Mrs. Wood.
Boer envoys called on the president,
but were told by him that he was una
ble to help them.
Canada will pass a Chinese exclusion
law similar to that before the United
States senate at present.
The house- is considering a bill
authorizing the purchase of the Giant
Tree tract in California for a national
park.
Rear Admiral J. A. Howell will be
retired the 16th inst. Next to Admiral
Dewey, he is the ranking officer of the
navy.
Prince Henry visited Niagara Falls
and crossed over to the Canadian side,
where he was welcomed by representa
tives of Lord Mmto.
A number of the leaders in the Bar
telona, Spain, riots have been executed.
Thomas J. Humes, Republican, was
elected to succeed himself aa mayor of
Seattle.
Santos-Dumont will visit the United
States and give an exhibition of his fly
ing machine.
The difficulties between the National
Cash Register Company and its em
ployee have been settled.
'William H. Moody, of Massachusetts,
tins been mentioned as a successor for
Secretary of the Navy Long.
The pope told an American visitor
that there are 20,000,000 Catholics in
the United States.
Prince China savs the Chinese eov
eminent will protect rights of Amer
icans in the Canton-Hankow railroad
concession.
Colonel John A. Polk, aged 82 yearsj
a cousin of President James K. Polk
and doorkeeper of the house during
President Cleveland's first administra
ion, died at Kansas City.
PRINCE HENRY HAS GONE.
Sailed from New York on the Big Hamburg
American Liner Deutschland.
New York, March 12. Prince Henry
of Prussia sailed for Germany on board
the Hamburg-American liner Deutsch
land yesterday afternoon. His last day
in America was spent entirely on board
the Deutschland, but it was filled with
pleasing incidents.
The prince breakfasted early and about
10 o'clock began to receive official fare
well visitors, including representatives
of Germany in this country and those of
the United States government.
The members of the party which ac
companied the prince on his tour were
his guests at luncheon. Covers were
laid for 28 persons in the dining room
of the ship, and music was furnished
by the band from the Hohenzollern.
At the close of the luncheon, when it
came time to say goodbye, the prince,
taking a rose from the table, said:
"This is the badge of that which I
have been admiring during my entire
trip to the United States American
beauty." He placed the flower in his
buttonhole, and each guest followed his
example.
Immediately after the luncheon, at
the prince's invitatiaon, the party
went to the commander's bridge of the
Deutschland, and was there photo
graphed. Then the real leavetaking
began. The final farewells were said
by members of the German embassy at
Washington.
When the ship sailed all the ap
proaches and the pier was crowded.
The first cabin section of the Deutsch
land was packed all the afternoon with
passengers and their friends, and in
many cases women had to be rescued
from the crush to see the prince. The
Deutschland sailed at 3:45. As she
moved away from her pier the cheering
was continuous. The prince appeared
on the bridge and bowed. All down
North river the passing tugs and craft
of every description gave the great liner
and her distinguished passenger a noisy
send-off. At the Battery, which was
reached at 4 o'clock, a crowd cheered as
the vessel steamed down the bay. The
Deutschland reached the Narrows at
4:35. Forts Wadsworth and Hamilton
fired salutes, which were answered by
the Deutschland, and the garrison at
Fort Wadsworth lijled up on the1 bluff
until the steamer had passed . out into
the lower bav.
The prince's apartments on the
Deutschland include the captain's cab
in and three other adjoining rooms, es
pecially connected for his nee. The
social hall on the Deutschland was
beautifully decorated with flowers, and
there was a profusion of them in the
prince's suite of rooms. The com'pany
had als-o tastefully decorated the pier.
PRINCE AND PRESIDENT.
Henry and Roosevelt Exchange Farewell
Telegrams.
Washington, March 12. The fol
lowing exchanges took place between
Prince Henry of Prussia and President
Roosevelt :
"Hoboken, N. J., March 11, 1902.
The president of the United States: On
this day of my departure, I beg to
thank you personally, as. well as the
nation whose guest I have been, for all
the kindness, consideration and good
feeling I have met with during my
visit to your interesting country. I
hope that my visit might have in
creased the feelings of friendship be
tween the country I represent and the
United States. Bidding you farewell,
let me wish you every possible success,
and, pray, remember me to Mrs. Roose
velt and Miss Roosevelt, who so charm
ingly and with so much pluck accom
plished her task when launching his
majesty's yacht Meteor. Once more,
most hearty thanks. May we meet
again.
"HEINRICH, Prince von Prussian."
"White House, Washington, D. C,
March 11. Henry, Prince of Prussia,
Steamer Deutschland, Hamburg Dock,
Hoboken, N. J.: Not only have I en
joyed your visit personally, but on be
half of my countrymen I wish to ex
press to you the pleasure it has been to
see von and the real good I think your
visit has done in promoting a feeling of
friendship between Gemany and the
United States. It is my most earnest
wish that this feeling mav stengthen
steadily. Mrs. Roosevelt sends her
warmest regards, as would also Miss
Roosevelt if she were not absent. Pray
present my heartiest greeting to his
majesty, the German emperor. Again
I thank you for your visit and wish you
all good luck wherever you may be.
"THEODORE ROOSEVELT."
More Shocks at Shamaka.
St. Petersburg, March 13. Severe
earthquake shocks have recurred at
Shamaka, Transcaucasia. About 12,
000 persons are destitute as a result of
the subterranean disturbances which
occurred at Shamaka about the middle
of February.
Railroad Wireless Telegraphy.
Dallas, Tex., March 13. President
E. H. Green, of the Texas Midland
Railroad, has received a telegram from
the United States patent office at Wash
ington, announcing the award to him
of a patent on a system of wireless te
legraphy. President Green stated last
night that he will, as soon as possible,
install his wireless system on the Mid
land, which will be the first railroad in
the worldthat will use the system.
NEWS OF THE STATE
ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM ALL
PARTS OF OREGON.
Commercial and Financial Happenings of Im
portanceA Brief Review of the Growth
and Improvements of the Many Industrie
Throughout Our thriving Commonwealth
latest Market Report. "
Agitation has been started in La
Grande for a $25,000 public building.
The first ticket in the ! field in Coos
county was that of the Socialist party.
Twenty-six homestead entries were
filed at the Oregon City land office dur
ing February
The Clackamas county Socaliists held
their convention in Oregon City March
8 and nominated a full ticket.
From six to twelve contracts for 1902
hops are filed in Salem every day.
Prices range from 11 to 12 cents.
Forty thousand pounds of hops,
owned by G. W. Perkins, of North
Yamhill, sold at 14fc cents per pound
a few days ago.
The Snmpter city conucil has passed
an ordinance authorizing the mayor
and recorder to borrow money for the
city to pay its outstanding indebted
ness and to issue warrants therefor.
Since the WashingtonTcounty tax
rolls opened March 1 , the sheriff has
collected $40,000 of the $100,000 levy.
Everybody wants to get the benefit of
the S per cent rebate for prompt pay
ment. The Wasco county Republican con
vention, held in The Dalles March 8,
was one of the shaipest political fights
the county has ever known. One hun
dred and seven delegates were in at
tendance. The meeting was held in
the courthouse and delegates to the
state and congressional district conven
tions and' candidates for the various
county offices named. The principal
issue lay between the two aspirants fcr
congressional honors, Malcom A.
Moody, the present incumbent, and
State Senator J. N. Williamson. The
first ballot showed the Moody forces to
be in possession, 70 to 37.
A large cold storage building and ice
plant will be erected at The Dalles.
Bandon, in Coos county, has raised
its quarantine against places outside of
the city.
During February 32,800 acres of
state land was sold. Most of it was in
the eastern part of the state.
Complete returns from Wasco county
Republican primaries show that Moody
supporters received 72 votes and Will
iamson 34.
Fish Warden Van Dusen says the
legislature will be obliged to make
some provision at its next session for
increasing the revenues of the fisheries
department if the proposed work in
connection with artificial propagation is
continued.
The new tax law . is having a good
effect in Linn county on payment of
taxes. There is a universal desire
among taxpayers "to secure the 3 per
cent reduction. A large force in the
sheriff's office is kept busy day and
night. At the ;loee of the first fire
days of colletions almost $25,000 was
taken in.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Wheat Walla Walla, 6565Kc;
bluestem,66667c; Valley, 6565c.
Barley Feed, $2021.; brewing,
$2l21.50 per ton.
Oats No. 1 white, $1.151.25;
gray, $1.101.20.
Flour Best grades, $2.803.40 per
barrel; graham, $2.502.80. '
Millstuffs Bran, $19 per ton; mid
dlings, $21; shorts, $21.50; chop,
$17.50.
Hay Timothy, $1213; clover,
$7.508; Oregon wild hay, $56 per
ton.
Potatoes Best Burbanks, $1.101.25
percental; ordinary, 7080c percen
tal, growers' prices; sweets, $22.25
per cental.
Butter Creamery, 2530c; dairy,
1822c; store, 1315c.
Eggs 1314c for Oregon.
Cheese Full cream, twins, 13(8
lSc; Young America, 1415c; fac
tory prices, llc less.
Poultry Chickens, mixed, $4.00(5
4.50; hens, $5.00(15.50 per dozen, 10
12c per pound; springs, 11c per pound.
$34 per dozen; ducks, $56 per doz
en; turkeys, live, 1212)c; dressed,
1415c Jper pound; geese, $6 per
dozen.
Mutton Gross, 4c per pound ; dress
ed, 77fcc per pound.
Hogs Gross, 63c; dressed, 67c
per pound.
Veal 8SH for small; 77& for
large.
Beef Gross, cows, 34c; steers,
44c; dressed, 67e per pound.
Hops 1213c per pound.
Wool Valley, 1315c; Eastern Ore
gon, 812Mc; mohair, 2121)c per
pound.
Snuff is coming into fashion again,
says the London Daily Chronicle, with
the early Victorian fashions. Snuff
taking increases the size of the nose
and keeps it in a state of perpetual ir
ritation.
Australia has, proportionately, more
churches than any other country, the
number being 6,013, or 210 ch aches to
144 churches to every 100,000; Russia
only & to the same number. J
8.000 MEN GO 'ON STRIKE.
' .' is - -1-"
Boston Freight Handlers Making Bard Fight
for Unionism.
Boston, March 12. War between
the organized teamsters, freight and
express handlers of Boston and ; two
great railroM " corpora Kona, the New
York, New Haven & Hartford and the
New York Central Hudson River
Railroads, the latter locally known as
the Boston & Albany, broke out today.
The strike, which isi sympathetic one.
already involves 8.000 men in and
about Boston. I t-:
Stopping work because of the dis
charge of union men r who have refused
to handle non-union moved freight, the
various organizations now on strike
made every effort today to extend their
sphere of influence to affiliated bodies,
while the corporations energetically
tried to fill the strikers' places and to
receive and dispatch goods offered them.
Both met with some measure of suc
cess. Tomorrow the local employes of
the great express companies, the Adams
and the New York & Boston, two com
panies which handle practically all of
the fast freight in Southern New Eng
land, will refuse tojwerk, while several
smaller bodies of organized labor, such
as the brewery teamsters and the piano
movers, as well as freight handlers in
East Boston, will be idle. On the
other hand, the New York, New Haven
& Hartford Railroad, after succeeding
today in moving considerable freight
by Italian labor, Will augument the
force tomorrow, and the Boston & Al
bany expects to have a large number
of men at work in its freight sheds.
The action of the express men in
joining the freight handlers will quick
ly affect the freight business with near
by business centers like Worcester,
Springfield, Hartford, New Haven,
Providence, Fall River and - New Bed
ford. -f .
LONG STEPS OUT.
Secretary of the Navy Hands His Resignation
to the President
Washington, March 12. The third
change in the cabinet of President
Roosevelt occurred when Secretary
Long submitted his resignation in a
beautiful letter, it being accompanied
by one equally felicitous by the presi
dent. The change was made complete
by the selection of Representative Will
iam Henry Moody, of the Sixth con
gressional district of Massachusetts, as
Mr ling's "successor' in: Ihe navy "de
partment. -
This change has been expected for a
long time. Mr. Long had intended to
retire at the beginning of the late Pres
ident McKinley's second term, but he
consented to remain until certain lines
of policy in which he was involved
were more satisfactorily arranged.
Then when President Roosevelt suc
ceeded, though anxious to return to
private life for Secretary Long will
never again enter public life a strong
feeling of loyalty toward Mr. Roosevelt
induced the secretary to defer his re
tirement until it was convenient for the
president to make a change. Recently
Mr. Long has been in Massachusetts
making arrangements with his old legal
connections to re-enter the practice of
law, and he has had his house at Hing
ham put in order for his occupaton.
When Mr. Long entered the cabinet
originally he was an active member of
the firm oi Hemingway & Long, a well
known legal firm of Boston. He has
always maintained a silent connection
with the concern, and will again be
come an active partner.
DANGER TO SHIPPING.
Immense Ice Floes Reported Off the Coast of
Japan Early Spring in the North.
Port Townsend, Wash., March 12.
The British ship Bann, the last of the
storm-bound fleet off the entrance to the
Straits of Juan de Fuca, has arrived,
98 days from Iquique, 34 days of which
she was storm-bound off the straits.
Seven times the Bann got inside of
Cape Flattery, and as no tug was there
to pick her up, she was compelled to
put back to sea. The Bann reports no
other vessels off the Cape.
The British steamship Oceano reports
to the local United States hydrographic
office as having encountered an im
mense ice floe about 200 miles off the
Japanese coast, abreast the entrance to
Sugar straits. So extensive was the ice
floe that the steamer was compelled to
change her course and steam for several
hours tc avoid coming in collision with
the ice. The ice floe is in the direct
path of vessels sailing to the Orient,
and as it is quite extensive, it is dan
gerous to navigation. The captain of
the Oceano says the ice is from iour to
six feet out of the water, and some of
the bergs are many feet across, and
cannot be seen until the vessel is among
them. This is the first time ice has
been seen off the Japanese coast in that
vicinity. It is thought that the floe
came from Behring Straits and the
Arctic oceanr and that through some
unknown cause the ice pack in the
Arctic has broken earlier and that it in
dicates an early spring in the north.
Large Fire at Paris.
Paris, March 12. The biggest blaze
seen in Paris since the burning of the
Opera Comique, in 1897, broke out last
night in the corner of a block of ware
houses in the Rue Montmartre. The
warebouses were occupied by 10 firms,
and the lower floors of the building
were filled with silk, velvet and woolen
goods. These materials caused the fire
to rage furiously and the flames spread
rapidly to the upper portions of the
buildings, used as residences.
CANAL AND LOCKS
GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE
AT OREGON CITY.
Many Points of Justice Involved Regarding
Rights of Present Owners of Locks and
Manufacturing Enterprises Shall Govern
ment Buy or Build? Stipulations as to
Lake Washington Canal.
W shingt n, March 13. The rivers
and harbors bill, as presented by the
house committee, authorizes the secre
tary of war to ascertain through a board
of engineers whether the acquisition of
the present canal and locks at Willam
ette falls, or the construction of a canal
and locks by the government and their
operation for the exclusive benefit of
the navigation of the Willamette river
would, by -withrawing the- waters of
this riverfrpni its .customary, .chanels,
materially injure . the manufacturing
enterprises now in ejperation or contem
plated at the falfs; also to ascertain
through "the department of justice
Whether the Portland General Electric
Company, by view of - its ownership of
property at Willamette falls, has legal
right against the United States for the
full, free and continued use of the man
ufacuring enterprises now located on its
property ; whether the water is needed
for navigation, and if so, what method
would be necessary on the part of the
government to acquire title to such
water for navigation purposes, and the
measure of damages it must . pay the
company. '
In naking the allowance of $160,
000 for theSeattle canal, the bill stip
ulates' that this appropriation, together
with the unexpended balance, shall be
expended in securing, by dredging the
low water channel 10 feet in depth
from Shilshole bay 'through Salmon bay
to the wharves at Ballard. "The bill
also provides for a board of engineers
to make surveys and examinations as
to the feasibility and advisability of
constructing a canal connecting Puget
sound with Lakes Union and Washing
ton, and to also examine a route for a
similar canal connecting Elliott bay
with Lakes Union and Washington,
with a view to determining the feasibil
ity of such a route. The board of en
gineers shall invite proposals for the
Seattle and Lake Washington waterway,
and for the construction of a similar
canal connecting Elloitt bay witn both
lakes. This board shall also report on
the relatve advantages of all proposed
routes. "Nothing herein shall be con
strued as the adoption of any project
for the construction of a waterway con
necting Puget sound with Lakes Union
and Washington," is the precautionary
saving phrase inserted in the bill after
the foregoing provisions.
With regard to the appropriaion for
Tacoma harbor, the bill stipulates that
none of the fund shall be expended un
til a release from liability for damages
shall be obtained, if any liabilty exists
arising from a contract between the
state of Washington and R. B. Leh
man, and right is obtained to deposit
materal dredged from the proposed
channel on adjacent tide lands, or in
the deep water of Commencement bay.
POOSEVELT'S FIRST VETO.
He Objects to a Bill Removing the Charge
of Desertion.
Washington, March 13. President
Roosevelt has sent his first veto mes
sage to congress. It was directed to
the senate and the bill vetoed was one
removing the charge of desertion from
the naval record of John Glass.
After the message had been deliv
ered, Senator Gallinger, from the com
mittee on naval affairs, read the re
port of the committee on which the
senate acted. From that statement, it
appears that Glass enlisted in January,
1864, when only 16 years old, and that
having, witnessed an act which com
promised the second officer of the ship,
he was taken on shore in March of that
year by that officer and told not to re
port again for duty. The committee
says that this order together with Glass
youth was resposible for his desertion.
Rebel Loss Was 600.
Colon, Colombia, .March 13. A pa
per published at Honda, on the Mag
dalena river, contains an account of a
battle at Socha, near Bogota, February
23, in which the revolutionists num
bered about 2,000 men, while the gov
ernment had 3,000 engaged. The rev
olutionists lost 200 men killled or
wounded and had 400 men taken pris
oners.
Big Warehouse Burned.
Chicago, March 13. The five story
brick warehouse of the Brunswick-Balke
Collender Company, located at Wells
and Superior streets, was practically
destroyed by fire tonight. Losb, $175,
000. The principal item of loss was a
great quantity of glass recently import
ed, and which, would have been used
for making mirrors. The value of the
glass destroyed was $100,000.
OF NO CONSEQUENCE.
Trouble in Morong Province b not Serious
Chaffee and Wright Report
Washington, March 11. Desiring to
ascertain the facts aa to conditions in
the province of Morong, Luzon, Secre
tary Boot recently cabled inquiries to
Commissioner Wright . and General
Chaffee, which have brought the fol
lowing replies:
"With reference to your telegram of
the 6th inst., the facta from Morong
are: About a week ago the presidente
of Cainta was kidnapped. The perpe
trators of this act was a new organiza
tion gathered in Morong province about
60 strong. They were vigorously
searched for and driven to hiding and
will probably be captured in a day or
two. They have inflicted no material
damage. No special significance need
or should attach to this event.
"CHAFFEE."
"There is no foundation for the state
ment of insurrection in Morong or that
the inhabitants are fleeing. Small
fragments of ladrone bands, dispersed
and driven out of the mountains of La
guna by Bell's operations, and from
Cavite through recent operations of the
constabulary, in the mountains there,
having about 15 guns, gathered in the
mountains of Morong and probably
aided by a few outlaws of that section,
raided the village, kidnaping the pres
idente. A small detachment of con
stabulary under a native sergeant at
tacked them but made no impression,
being short of ammunition. Assistant
Chief Atkins was on the ground in a
few hours with an adequate force of
constabulary, and, assisted in every
way by the native governor of the prov
ince and the inhabitants, gave pursuit.
They have already killed two, injured
one, captured six and are running the
band down. The presidente has been
released without harm. So far from
there being hostility on the part of the
mass of people to American authority,
they give us full information of what is
passing and aid us as much as possible.
These ladrones do not interfere with
the whites and confine their operations
to levying tribute upon and occasion
ally Kidnaping natives in remote local
ities. There is nothing new in this, as
it was in existence under the .Spanish
government, less so now than then.
They are being rapidly broken up and
exterminated by the constabulary.
There is no political significance in
their operations. WRIGHT."
RUSHING WORK ON WARSHIPS
Phenomenal Advance at the Union Iron
Works in .Construction.
Washington, March 11. Apparently
phenomenal advance in the work on
some of the war vessels building at the
Union Iron Works, San Francisco, is
the feature of the monthly progress re
port issued by Admiral Bowles, chief of
the oureau of construction and repair.
The report shows a gain during the
month of February of 12 per cent on
the battleship Ohio, 20 per cent on the
protected cruiser Tacoma, and 5 per
cent on the monitor Wyoming. More
over, 1 ,per cent of the work on the ar
mored cruiser California, which vessel
had formerly been the only one of that
class of vessels showing no start, was
completed.
It is explained at the navy depart
ment that during"the prevalence of the
strike at San Francisco a great mass of
material had accumulated and made
ready for placement, and with the end
ing of the strike and the return of the
men to work, it had been possible
within the last month to make a great
change in the status of the work on
the vessels.
Freight Handlers Strike.
Boston, March 11. Four hundred
and fifty freight handlers employed in
the freight houses of the Haven & Hart-
lord Railroad at South Boston struck
tonight because of the refusal of the
company to reinstate several men who
had been discharged for refusing to
handle freight delivered by the R. S.
Brine Transportation Company, aganist
whom the union teamstersj are on
strike. Although a strike of freight
handlers had been threatened for the
past two or three weeks, it was from an
entirely unexpected quarter that it fin
ally came. The strike is expected to
be far reaching in its effects.
Priest Captured by Bandits.
Pekinir. March 10. Bandit soldiery
have captured a priest at Jehol, about
100 miles northeast of Pekins. Both
the French and Russians are anxious to
send troops to rescue the priest, but as
Jahnl in a. rich minim? district, the
court has ordered General Maiyuwan to
hurry and release the prisoner, m order
to forestall the entry of foreign troops
into the district.
Results of Shamaka Earthquake.
Rank. RnssianTrans-Caucasia. March
11. The official report of the commit
tee which has been investigating ine
recent earthquake at Shamaka shows
that 19ft Tillnmn. with a total of 9.084
houses, were included in the area of
the disturbance; that 3,496 houses were
destroved and 3.943 damaged. Besides
X 1B3 farm buildings. 11
churches, 41 mosques, 11 factories and
three seaoolhoasos were seriously dan-
aged. ' ,
CAPTUEE METHUEN
BOERS UNDER DELAREY HOLD
THE BRITON PRISONER.
British Force Badly Defeated, Forty one Be
ing Killed and Seventy-seven Wounded,
While Two Hundred More Are Reported
as Missing News of the Disaster Came
Like Thunderbolt to London.
London, March- 12. It was an
nounced today that General Lord
Methuen and four guns had been cap
tured by the Boers commanded by Gen
eral Delarey. The news came like a
thunderbolt to London. The extra edi
tions of the evening papers giving an
account of the disaster were eagerly
bought up. Their readers hurried
through the streets with anxious faces
and bitter remarks were passed on the
subject of the government's declaration
that the war in South Africa was over.
The news was received in the house
of commons amid great excitement.
The reading of Lord Kitchener's tele-
gram by Mr. Brodrick, the war secre
tary, was listened to in deep silence,
which was broken by loud Irish cheers.
Instantly there were cries of "shame,"
"shame,"' from the government
benches. Then the Irish members
seemed to think better of their outbreak
and suddenly subsided. The subse
quent eulogistic references to General
Methuen were received with cheers.
In brief Lord Kitchener announced
that when General Methuen was cap--
tured, wounded, with four guns, three
British officers and 38 men were killed,
and that five officers and 72 men were
wounded. In addition one officer and
200 men were reported missing.
The text of Lord Kitchener's dispatch
announcing the capture of General
Methuen is as follows:
"Pretoria, March 12. I greatly re-,
gret to have to send you bad news of
Methuen. He was moving with 900
mounted men under Major Paris, and .
300 infantry, four guns and a pom pom
from Wynburg to Litchenburg, and was
to meet Grenfel, with 300 mounted
men, at Rovirainesfontein today. Yes
terday morning early he was attacked
by Delarey's force between Palmietenill
and Twebosch. The Boers charged on
three sides.
"Five hundred nd- fifty men have
come in at Maribogs and Kraaipan.
They were pursued by the Boers four
miles from the scene of action. They
report that Methuen and Paris, with
the guns, Baggage, etc., were captured
by the Boers. Methuen, when last
seen, was a prisoner. I have no de
tails of the casualties, and suggest de
laying publication until I can send
definite news. I think this sudden re
vival of activity on the part of Delarey
is to draw off the troops pressing De
wet." ,
In a second dispatch Lord Kitchener
says :
"Paris has come in at Kraaipan with
the remainder of the men. He reports
that the column was moving in two
parties. One with the ox wagons left
Twebosh at 3 A. M. The other with
the mule wagons, started an hour later.
Just before dawn the Boers attacked.
Before reinforcements could reach them
the rear guard broke. In . the mean
time, a large number of Boers galloped
on both flanks. These were checked by
the flank parties, but the stampede of
the mules had begun and all the mule
wagons, with a terrible mixture of
mounted men, rushed past the ox wag
ons. All efforts to check them were
unavailing. Major Paris collected 40
men and occupied a position a mile in
front of the ox wagons, which were
then halted. After a gallant but use
less defense the enemy rushed into the
ox wagons and Methuen was wounded
in the thigh. Paris, being surrounded,
surrendered at 10 A. M. Methuen is
still in the Boer camp."
Surveying an Oklahoma Road,
Guthrie, O. T. March 12. The survey
has been made and portions of the eon
tract let for the grade of the Denver,
Guthrie & Southeastern Railway, which
enters Oklahoma at the extreme north
west corner and runs southeasterly to
Guthrie, South McAlester and New
Orleans. It is financed by Denver capi
talists. Business Block Destroyed.
Beaver Falls, Pa., March 12. The
Harold block was completely destroyed
by fire at an early hour in the morning,
entailing a loss of $75,000.
Government Troops Gaining.
Washington, March 12. The United
States minister to Colombia reports to
the state department, under date of
March 3, that during the preceding
week the government troops had stead
ily advanced and occupied important
positions near Bogota which had been
vacated by the revolutionary forces,
who are understood to be in a desperate
situation and seeking an opportunity to
escape. r