Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Corvallis gazette. (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 1902)
QAZEr A. WEEKLY. SSM-i-'Zil!"...! Consolidated Feb., 1899. CORVAX.I.IS, BENTOK COUNTY, OREGON", FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1902. VOIi. XXXIX. NO. 52. CQRVALLIS EVENTS OF THE DAY GATHERED FROM ALL PARTS OF THE TWO HEMISPHERES. Comprehensive Review of the Import ant Happenings of the Past Week, Presented in Condensed Form, Most Likely to Prove Interesting to Our Many Readers. Miners continue to spring damaging testimony against the coal operators. A fruit company with a capital of $4,500,000 has been organized in Cal ifornia. John D. Rockefeller has contributed another million to the University of Chicago. Germany approves of the United States' protest against the Venezu elan blockade. Ohio River rose 12 feet in 24 hours r.nd swept away coal-laden barges valued at $50,000. Trainwreckers removed a rail from an Alabama road and caused a bad wreck. No fatalities. A coroner's jury decided that Mrs. Mary Collins, of Seattle, was mur dered by strangulation. A British collier sank during a storm in the English Channel and 16 men went down with her. Venezuelan troops were twice de feated by revolutionary forces, who are now advancing on Caracas. The house has passed the senate bill appropriating $22,000 for a light house at Mukilteo Point, Wash. A noted Umatilla chief named Five Crows was found dead near Athena, Ore. He was drunk when last seen alive. Secretary of War has sent to con gress an estimate of $60,000 for a new hospital at Vancouver barracks, Wash. A company of crack rifle shots is being organized among mountaineers in Montana to go to the aid of Presi dent Castro. Admiral Dewey has been ordered to keep his fleet together near Venezu ela, presumably to escort American ships through the "peaceful blockade" of La Guayra. President Gompers, of the Ameri can Federation of Labor, testifies be fore strike commission that operators are directly responsible for importa tion of ignorant foreigners. The Japanese government has or dered several large X-ray .machines to be used in the mint for photographing employes who are suspected of swal lowing coins. The coins show plainly on the photographic plate. Severe cold weather In Austria is causing acute suffering. The strike Commission may investi gate freight rates on coal. The Alaska salmon pack for 1902 will amount to 2,470,000 cases or more than the pack of 1901. Martin Tower of Marshfleld, has been appointed collector of customs for the Coos Bay district. Hon. Solomon Hirsch, a pioneer merchant of Portland, legislator and ex-minister to Turkey, is dead. A Columbian steamer, carrying a large number of soldiers, was wreck ed and nearly all on board drowned. New York continues -without enough coal to meet the demands. At present 50,000 tons a day are con sumed. The Marseilles strike is practical ly over. The men are returning to their old places without gaining any of their demands. Three men attempted to hold up an Alvord, . Tex., bank. The officers had been notified and were waiting for them. One of the robbers was killed, another seriously wounded and the third Is in custody. Germany, though its claims are clear, is willing to arbitrate the Vene zuelan trouble. The new army staff bill, if passed, will not be effective until the retire ment of General Miles. Italy has taken a hand in the Vene zuelan affair and has demanded the same treatment as England and Ger many. Coal shortage in Nebraska is causing intense suffering, aggravated by the extreme cold weather prevailing throughout the state. A joint resolution has been intro duced in congress changing the term of president, making the term begin at noon April 30, instead of March 4. The president has appointed Lloyd Griscom, jr., now minister to Persia, to be minister to Japan. He has also Belected Richmond Pearson, of North Carolina, at present consul general at Teheran, Persia, to succeed Mr. Gris com. The announcement is made that Mar coni has another invention, which he expects will startle the world. He will not formally announce it nntil the wireless experiments are completed, which he says will be before the end of the year. Spain is trying to buy warships from foreign powers. The first blizzard of the winter has swept Iowa and Nebraska. Ice forming on the "third" rail of the New York elevated roads has stop ped all trains. A Rock Island passenger train was wrecked by a broken rail near Terrill, Tex., and the engineer and fireman killed. Fire destroyed a five story building at Scranton, Pa., in which was located a wholesale grocery firm. The loss will mount to $175,000. ANOTHER SURPRISE. Middlemen Getting $11 to $12 Per Ton for Coal While Poor Are Freezing. Scranton, Pa., Dec. 18. When the coal strike commission met yester day Chairman Gray opened the pro ceedings by saying that the com missioners were impressed with the spectacle of the little girls who. were before the commission- yesterday and testified that 'they worked all night. He said the people of the community and citizens of the commonwealth should not let the incident pass with out taking some steps to have the Legislature of Pennsylvania serious ly consider the enactment of a law that will forbid the employment of children at night. At the suggestion of the commission the statements' of the wages of the fathers of two of the girls were presented. One earned more than $1000 last year and the other over $900. The miners sprung another sur prise by presenting an individual operator on the witness stand against the operators. He was John C. Had dock, of WJilkesbarre, president of the Ffymouth Coal company. Mr. Haddock, in answer to questions put to him by C. S. Darrow for the miners, said he had been in the coal business 35 years. His company op erated the Black Diamond and Dod- son mines near Wilkesbarre. He said his company went into the hands of receivers on March 14, and on No vember 14 trustees took hold of the property. Mr. Haddock - then explained that the miner's ton, which runs from 2700 to 3200 pounds, was fixed years ago so that the employer could get out of the ton 2240 pounds of pure coal above the size of pea. Pea coal and all sizes below that was waste. This is now being utilized. Regarding the price of Coal Mr. Haddock said the middlemen in New York are paying $11 and $12 a ton. Judge Gray "Do they pay the op erators that price?" "Possibly." MURDERERS SENTENCED. Oscar Bradshaw Must Suffer Death Kellett Oets 20 Years. Walla Walla, Wash., Dec. 18. Un der sentence of death to be carried out, at the state penitentiary, Oscar Bradshaw, a young man, arrived in the city yesterday .morning, in charge of Sheriff I. J. Davis, of Franklin County. Bradshaw was sentenced to death at Pasco by Judge Rudkin, of North Yakima, for the murder of Peter Nelson, at Pasco, last July. The death penalty is to be inflicted February. 2, jjnless an appeaL,to the Supreme Court is perfected. With Bradshaw came William Kel lett, a much older man, under sen tence of 20 years at hard labor, for the part he took in the murder of Nelson. Bradshaw was tried Decem ber 3 and 4, and a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree was en tered by the jury after a strong ef fort for a lighter verdict. Upon the action of the jury being announced to Kellett he asked to be allowed to plead guilty to murder in the second degree. After the state had advised in the matter the plea was accepted, and the sentence of 20 years inflicted by Judge Rudkin yesterday. VOLUNTEERS FOR CASTRO. Crack Shots and Old Mountain Men from Montana Will Join Venezuelans. Butte, Mont., Dec. 18. It is stated on what appears to be good author ity that a filibustering party is being organized in Butte to go to Venezuela. It is said, at least, that an alleged josh" story in the Inter-Mountain, concerning a party of Montana fili busters, who are organizing to go to Venezuela, is really based upon fact. A number of Butte .men have already enlisted. The men conduct ing the scheme are keeping it quiet, but it is said at least one well-armed company, all crack-shots, and old mountain men, will go South in 'a few days. A number of Spanish war vet erans and several veterans of the Fenian invasion of Canada are among the men enlisted. CONTINUE TO RUN TRANSPORTS. Ludington Advising House Committee Against Contract System. Washington. Dec. 17. Quartermaster-General Ludington of the Army, before the House committee on military affairs, today advocated con tinuing the transport service under the control of the War Department. He said the cost of the service as now conducted is about $3000 less than any of the estimates submitted by private concerns, but said that in his opinion it would be in the interest of the soldier and service for the War Department to operate its own line. General Ludington, speaking of mat ter of carrying private parties on the Government transports, said the num ber was insignificant and that where abuses had occurred in that direction they already had been corrected. A Western Philanthropist. Louisville, Ky., Dec. 18. A deed was recorded yesterday, whereby South Park, formerly a Summer re sort, situated 13 miles from Louis ville, passed into the hands of Wil liam H. Beach, a Los Angeles, Cal., capitalist. It is stated that he will i'onvert part of the property into a Summer resort and another part into .t children's home, where abandoned waifs will be given every care and attention. The place contains about 300 acres of land and a 25-acre lake. Russians Raised Wheat in Alaska. Tacoma, Dec. 18. That wheat was grown in Alaska by the Russians a century ago is proved by the discov ery of two old flour mills built -by the subjects of the Czar. One of these is on Wood Island, in South eastern Alaska, and the other in the interior. The former mill has just been investigated by R. B. Taylor. He says the old flour mill was built early in the last century. NEWS OF OREGON ITFMS OF INTEREST FROM ALL PARTS OF THE STATE. Eastern Oregon Wants Law Prohibiting Sheep Herding Within Two Mile of Habitations Wasco Is Refused Rural Mall Routes Linn County Sportsmen Favor More Stringent Game Laws. Commissioner Hermann hag recom mended the repeal of the lieu land law. The Multnomah club of Portland has commenced airangements for holding a street fair. Three men have heen nrmsfpd at Ash land charged with the recent Grants Pass stage hold-up. The nrenent session of coneresp will not be asked for a government appro priation for the 1905 fair. " F. S. Ingram, who fa circulating a petition asking for aid from the state legislature, is securing many signa tures. He has in the neighborhood of 400. Very few people refuse to sign. Linn county sportsmen ara taking active measures to secure the -enact ment of better game laws.- All concur in the opinion that hunting for the market should be entirely prohibited. . C. Clement, special agent of rural free delivery, after viewing two ruial free delivery routes out of Wasco, states that he is not able to approve the peti tions. The reason given is that there are not the required number of families within the 50 miles of territory covered by the two petitions. There is a petition being circulated in the eastern part of the state asking the legislature to enact -a law prohibit ing the herding of sheep within a dis tance of two miles of any habitation. It is being pressed by cattlemen in the main although a great many business men who are not interested in stock are signing. Idaho and California have such lawp. Senator Mitchell called the attention of Commissioner of Pensions Ware to the number of applications for pensions under the Indian war veteran act of the last session which have not as yet been granted. The commissioner states that considerable difficulty is being experienced in getting the mili tary service of the claimants but he hopes to have all straighened up shortly. M.jJ A A Jt J JX iuai I TV 111 WVUilUQUtV in Albany March 1, 1903. An Odd Fellows lodge has been in stituted at Durkee, Eastern Oregon. There are about 30 members. Probably the largest shipment of wool ever made from Independence at one time occurred last week. H. A. Doutj shipped direct to Boston 120,000 pounds of wool. The shipment made up almost 10 freight cars. The Linn county jail walls will be lined with three-sixteenths inch steel plates. The ceiling will also be cov ered with a network of steel bars. These improvements to the jail have been made necessary by numerous jail breaks in the paBt two years. The new Oregon code, compiled by Judge C. B. Bellinger and W. W. Cotton, has been issued. This code was authorized by the last legislature and will hereafter be used in the courts in place of the codes heretofore in use. One thousand copies will be delivered to the secretary of state. There is a movement on foot to di vide the Eighth judicial district, con sisting of Baker, Umatilla and Wallowa counties, into two districts. Union and Wallowa will constitute one,, and Baker county will be constituted a judicial district by itself, if the plan is carried out. The reason for the change is that the district is so popu lous that there is too much for one judge to do. PORTLAND MARKETS. Wheat Walla Walla. 70,3 71c: bine stem 7879c; valley, 7576c. Barley Feed, $23.50 per ton; brew ing, $24.00. Flour Best grade, 3.60(34 10: grah am, $3.203.60. Millstnffs Bran. 119.00 tMtr ton: middlings, $23.50; shorts, $19.50; chop, $18. Oats No. 1 white, $1.151.17J; gray, $1.121.15 per cental. Hay Timothy. $10011: clover. $9.00; cheat, $89 per ton. Potatoes Best Burbanks, 60 79c ner sack: ordinary. ftQGh&Qp. nnr mntal growers' prices; Merced sweets, $1.75 $z.per cental. Poultry Chickens, mixed, 11c; young, 10c; hens, llll$c; turkeys, live. 13 0 14c: dressed. 15 0 17: ducks, $56 per dozen; geese, $6.5 " 7. Cheese Full cream, twins, 16 M 17c; Young America, 17s18 . factory prices, l13tfc less. Butter Fancy creamery, 27)30c per pound; extras, 30c; dairy, 20 22c; store, 1518. Eggs 2535c per dozen. Hops New crop, 2326c per pound. Wool Valley, 12)15c; Eastern Oregon, 814Kc; mohair, 2628c. Beef Gross, cows, 33)c per pound; steers, 4c; dressed, 67c. Veal 78Xr. Mutton Gross, 3c per pound; dressed, 6c Lambs Gross, 3Xc per pound; dressed, &Hc Hogs Gross, 6Ji6Jfe per pound: dressed, SNOW IN THE ROCKIES. -: fv-:,. Fell Over Large Area and Is Gladly Wel- corned in Most Places. Denver, Dee. 17. The entire Rocky Mountain region fromJNorthern Wyom ing to Southern New Mexico - has been visited by a storm daring! the past 36 hours. The ground in the plateau section is covered to a depth of six inches, while the fall in ; the moun tains has been much Heavier. The greater portion of the precipitation fell yesterday and last , night. Today about two inches of snow, fell during the morning in most sections of Colo rado, but tonight the .weather has cleared. No snow fell in Western Wy oming today, although around Chey enne and in the regiorr immediately north of there a light snowfall was ex perienced. In Southern 'New Mexico a light rainfall was reported, with snow in the north. In some parts of Colo rado, particularly in the San Lais val ley in the south, the enow was the heaviest for years. . . For the past three years- drouth has visited the San Luis valley, and the present moisture has brought rejoicing, assuring as it does good conditions for next year's crops. Rairoad traffic is experiencing no serious 'interruption as a result of the storm, because of the fact that the snow drifted but little. For the same reason there is no fear for the safety of stock on the ranges, and no losses have been reported. The storm originated in Arizona, and the temperature at no time Las been un comfortably cold. THE .AIDED RAILROADS. Only One Owes the Government, Accord ing to Commissioner Longstreet, Washington, Dec. - 17.--The annual report of General Longstreet, the' com missioner of railroads, says that, of the railroad companies which have received government subsidies in bonds, all have settled their indebtedness with the gov ernment except the Central Branch railway company, the su jtessor of the Central Branch Union Pacific railway company. The reports of the bond aided and land grant roads show an in crease of $20,000,000 in 'net earnings over those for 1901. There was an in crease of over $5,000,(100, in gross earnings and of $27,000,000 in ex penses, v The report deals with ! detailed an nual summaries of the operations of the roads, embraces the principal ' laws of congress that relate to the bond-aided and land grant roads, and includes ab stracts of the decisions of the supreme court in cases affecting the bond-aided Pacific companies, and to which the United States is party. THREAT TO RENEW STRIKE. Coxe Brothers' Miners Demand Relnstafl ment of Union Men. New York, Dec.' 17. More than 4, 000 miners at Drifton, hear Hazelton, will go out on strike unless their em ployers adjust grievances they com plain of, says a dispatch from Scran ton to the Press. The shipment of coal to New York will be decreased 10,000 tons a day if this strike is de clared. The dissatisfied miners are employed by Coxe Bros. & Co., the large independent operators. They say that the company has repeatedly refused to re-employ all its union miners. District Presidents Duffy, Fahey and Nichols, who are in this city, have had a conference regarding the ques tion. Duffy upholds the attitude of the Drifton miners, but the other dis trict presidents, together with their attorney representing the miners be fore the strike commission, are doing their utmost to prevent a suspension of work. They belive that the action of the Drifton miners in declaring a strike before they see whether the commissions Intend to protect their rights in their decision will have a bad effect. MORE SHOTS AT THE KING. Leopold of Belgium Fired Upon as He Was Leaving the Royal Train. New York, fDec. 17. The Ameri can's correspondent at Brussels says: As Leopold, the king of the Belgians, was leaving the royal train at the sta tion at La ken, two shots were fired at him, although neither took effect. It is not known"; whether the shots where fired by an assassin or by poach ers, but in view of the dissatisfaction with the king becasue of his cruel treat ment of his daugther, the Princess Stephanie, the shooting is generally be lieved to have been a deliberate at tempt to kill him, and much excite ment prevails. The guards that surround the - king have been doubled. Snow All Over Kansas. Topeka, Kan., Dec. 17. The first heavy snowstorm of the winter pre vailed all over Kansas today. The fall in some places amounted to four inches on the level. No severe cold accom panied the storm, and great goodt o the wheat crop in Central Kansas will result. Trains on all roads were de layed today, the snow in some places preventing traffic. There has been no relief of the fuel famine in Kiowa county. Logs to Increase In Price. Vancouver, B. C, Dec. 17. Another increase in the price of logs is ex pected by Coast loggers within the next few days At the present time the ruling price is from $7.50 to $8. It is thought this will be increased by at least 50 cents before the end of the week. . SHIPS WERE SUNK BRITISH CANNON PUT FATAL HOLES THROUGH VENEZUELAN BOATS. Towed Them to Sea from the Harbor of La Guayra and Returned Two Hours Later Without Them Cannon Shots Were Distinctly Heard by Officers in Venezuelan Forts. ; Caracas, Dec. 18. The Governor of Margarita Island reports that British and German warships are off that island. -. - ' When the combined fleets seized the Venezuela ships at La Guayra the German commander delivered to the Venezuelan captains the following document: "By order of my . sovereign and at the command of the commodore of the German squadron in West Indian waters, I, the commander of the Pan ther, request you to lower your ship's nag Immediately and leave your ship with your crew within ten minutes. This is not a measure of war on the part of Germany, but only with -.the object of making a provisional seiz ure of your ship in order to oblige the Venezuelan Government to re cognize our just demands. In case you disobey and wish to defend your ship I shall be obliged to prevent you from so doing by the discharge of arms. "ECKERMAN, Commander." Further details of the sinking of the Venezuelan ships have fceen "ob tained from an entry .made in the books of the signal men of the fort ress at La Guayra. It is as follows: "Tuesday, December 9, 1:30 night. "The Adjutant called "me to see if I knew the steamer Retribution of the English Navy was towing the steamers Crespo and Totune, of the National Navy, three or four miles north. I had heard four cannon shots and saw the two steamers had disap- peared and understood they had been sunk by the Vineta and Retri bution. At the end of an hour the Retribution returned to the harbor alone." The fact that the Retribution re turned to La Guayra alone two hours after leaving with the captured ves sels was confirmed by English res idents of La Guayra. Consequently she did not have time to conduct the Venezuelan ships to Curacoa or Trin idad. Germany Accepts America's Protest. "Berlin, Dec. 18. Secretary Hay's note excepting American- ships from certain restrictions of the Venezuelan blockade is favorably received by the German Government. The Foreign Office treats the matter as not rais ing any essential difficulty as being without precedent, since Germany made a similar reservation ira the Cretan blockade. The precise status of American vessels under the blockade will be defined in an official notifica tion. Minister Bowen's communication to Germany through the United States Government in behalf of President Castro, received here yesterday, was a simple proposal to arbitrate the question in dispute, and was not ac companied by any conditions. England Will Go After Castro. London, Dec. 18. Replying to a question in the House of. Lords to day, Lord Lansdowne, the Foreign Secretary, said that if the seizure of , the Venezuelan gunboats did not pro duce the desired effect, further co ercive .measures would he employed. The matter had beeu considered in consultation with Germany, and it had been decided to resort to a block ade of the ports. It was not intended to land a British force, and still less to occupy Venezuelan territory. New York, Dec. 18. Secretary Hay has cabled to Ambassabor Tower, at Berlin, says the World's correspond ent at Washington, to ask the Ger man government to define for thi3 country exactly what is meant by a 'peaceful blockade." Although it has not been, put into public expression, this government contends that there is no such thing as a "peaceful blockade." If a state of war does not exist this government will contend, at the proper time, that United States ships .must be allowed to pass. The test will come when the Red D Line steamer Caracas arrives at La Guayra, probably next Saturday. If that ship goes through, as it is ex pected it will, other ships from other nations will also demand to go through, and the "peaceful blockade" will become a rarce. If Germany insists on its right to blockade peaceably and refuse to let American ships through, then Ad miral Dewey's fleet will be sent to Venezuela to convoy the American ships through the German and English lines. Admiral Dewey has been told to keep his fleet together. The rea son this government makes this de mand of Germany is because it has in writing in black and white, the fullest statement of Germany's inten tions in Venezuela. It has no such statement from England. The diplo mats of that country were shrewd enough to make only a verbal state ment of intent. The Administration is awaiting Ger many's answer with same anxiety. The situation is now more critical than it has been since the trouble be gan. Italians Gladly Join in Blockade. London, Dec. 18. News has been received in London that all the em ployes of the La Guayra-Caracas and Puerto Cabello-Valencia Railroads are safe. Telegrams received here from Berlin confirm; the statement that it has . been arranged for Italy to join the blockade, and say that the German Government will ask consent of the Bundersrath to a pro posal to make the Venezuelan -blockade more stringent. MRS. GRANT DEAD. Widow of Warrior President Succambs to Heart Failure. Washington, Dec. 15. Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant died at her residence in this city at 11:17 o'clock Sunday night. Death was due to heart failure, Mrs. Grant having suffered for -years from valvular disease of the heart, which was aggravated by a severe attack of bronchitis. Her age prevented her rallying from the attacks. Her daugh ter, Nellie Grant Sartoris, was the only one of her children with her at the time of her death, her three sons, who had been summoned here, all being oat of the city. There also were present at the bedside when the end came Miss Rosemary Sartoris, a grand daughter; Dr. Bishop, one of the attending physi cians, and two trained nurses. .Death came peacefully, the sufferer retaining consciouness practically to the end. Julia Dent Grant was born January 26, 1826. She was married to U. S. Grant August 22, 1848. Four children were born to her three sons. Frederick Dent, Ulysses, Jr,. and Jesse, and one daughter, Nellie. The remains of Mrs. Grant will be deposited in the tomb at Riverside park, New York, where those of her husband now repose. Whether they will be taken there immediately or this ceremony postponed for a time could not be ascertained tonight. GREAT FIRE IN OHIO TOWN. Sheet Steel Company's Mills Burned at - a Loss of $1,000,000. Canal Dover, 0.-Dec. 16. The corru gating mills, the paint shop, the store room and the building containing the four mills on the west side of the American sheet steel company's mills, were burned to the ground here last night, and the company is confronted with a loss of over $1,000,000, nearly $750,000 is finished product and the re mainder in buildings and machinery. A strong wind was blowing over the burning pile toward the offices and the machine shop. fear that these, too, might be doomed caused a call for help to be sent to New Philadelphia. The fire engines from that city rendered good service. The offices, machine shops, galvanizing department and the mills on the east side are all that re main of this great paint. The loss is partially covered by in surance. A dozen railway cars stand ing at tracks were consumed. REORGANIZE CONSULAR FORCE. Bill to Classify and Provide for Examina- tlon of Applicants. Washington, Dec. 16. A bill has been introduced in the house by Repre sentative Adams, of Pennsylvania, to provide for the reorganization of the consular service of the United States. Provision is made for the classification of consuls general and consuls, specify ing the number and salary of each class, and for the examination of ap plicants and those now in the service. Of the latter, those who fail to pass are to be dropped, but none can be called for examination within six months of the day of tlrt passage of the bill. Consuls general and consuls may be transferred by the president from one place to another of the same class. Special examinations are provided for those who may be sent where the United States exercises extra territorial jurisdiction. Naval Training Station on Lakes. Washington, Dec. 16. Secretary Moody has transmitted to congress the report of the naval board, headed by Admiral Taylor, which was created to select a site for a naval training sta tion on the great lakes. The report recommends that the station be located on Lake Micnigan, Deiow laiuuae 43 :30, and asks for an appropriation of $250,000 to buy the land and develop the station, leaving the exact location to be determined later by the board. Secretary Moody approved the report and points out that an immediate ap propriation will prevent the raising of land values. Union Men May Picket. Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 16. Judge Carter, in the supieme court today, issued an order restraining 20 union men by name from gathering at the plant of the Drop Forge company, where a strike has been on for several months, for the purpose of intimidat ing men who wanted to go to work. The court refused to interfere with the peaceful picket, which he held to be legal. The order is a modification'of a former -decision, which restiained the entire union from gathering at the plants. Fatal Wreck in Missouri. TCnnpas Citv. Mo.. Dec. 16. A spec ial to the Star from Buck 1 in, Mo., says a serious wreck occurred on the Hanni bal & St. Joseph railroad tonight at 9 o'c ock. A local freight was wrecked four miles west of Bucklin. A steam wrecker was sent from Bloomfield. The wrecker and engine went throngh the bridge at Yellow creek. Five men were killed and one other fatally injured and half a dozen others seriously hurt. All are railroad employes. Contract for Rapld-Fire Ouns. Washington, Dec. 16. General Crozier, chief of ordinance, has award ed a contract for the manufactuie of 30 15-pound rapid fire guns and mounts to the Bethlehem steel works at its bid nt ta Q3ft tnr anna and monnts. The only other bid received was from the American & British ordnance companA at a slightly higher figure. POWERS WARNED AMERICAN VESSELS MUST NOT BE IN TERFERED WITH. Secretary of State Hay Denies That Peace Blockade Has Ever Been Recognized Is Following Precedent Established In 1898 Must Declare War on Venezue la to Stop AU Shipping. Washington, - Dec. 17. Minister Bowen has confirmed the press re ports to the effect that the guns of the allied forces which bombarded Puerto Cabello were directed entire ly at the fortifications and not at the town. Regrettable as it was, this statement relieves the affair of the first suspicion that it constituted a violation of international law,' in the fact that 24 hours notice was not served of the bombardment. The re quirements as to the notice applies to unfortified or fortified towns where the fire must be directed upon the In habitants, and this was" not "the case at Puerto Cabello, so that, while the officials here regret that the firing took place, they have as yet no cause to protest. But it is now probable that the Unit ed States will break its attitude of in- activity in the event that an attempt is made to enforce the "peaceful blockade" toward an American shin. While the allies were considering the ways and means of bringing Vene zuela to terms and a blockade of this character had been decided upon, the German government informed the United States that when the blockade was established it would turn back all shipping, though no effort would be made to seize the ships. The Unit ed States government made no re sponse to this statement at the time (last year) not feeling called upon to do so, before presentation of an actu al case. But now that the blockade is sought to be established, Secretary Hay has informed the German govern ment that American ships should not be interfered with in their trading, except the inhibition applies to all shipping, and further, the note inti mates a disapproval of stoppage at In so doing the state department is following a precedent, for, during the effort of the pewers to establish a peaceful blockade" off Crete in 1698, Secretary Sherman formally re corded a refusal to be bound by it. It happended that no American ship nad occasion to enter a Cretan port during the brief period of time the blockade was in force, so the issue" was not .made then, but in the present case, with regular lines of American steamers entering . Venezuelan ports at short intervals, a test case may soon follow. It is within the legal rights of the allies to close these ports, but probably this can be ac complished without a protest on Our part only after a formal declaration of war. The hope is growing here that such a declaration can after all be averted, owing to the energy with which Mr. Bowen has acted. The proposal of President Castro to the allied powers for a peaceful set tlement was suggested by Mr. Bowen, and it camte to the State Department throneh his hands. It has been for warded to London and Berlin through the embassies here, and as both Great Britain and Germany have heretofore professed a desire to settle the issues peaceably, it is hoped that they will avail themselves of this opportunity. The proposal did not mention the methods of arbitration nor the limita tions, and the point of doubt which may prevent the acceptance of the scheme is believed to be Castro s un willingness to bind himself in advartce to the recognition of the principal liability; he would leave the arbitra tors to determine whether or not ,he is liable at all. COLOMBIA MAKES READY. t i ' Will Invade Nicaragua in Order to Hold Both Canal Routes. ' - Washington, Dec. 17. Whatever doubt existed in Nicaragua as to pie intention of Columbia to carry out ner threat to attack her as soon as her own revolutionary movement had been checked has been removed -iby the receipt of advices of a semiofficial character here that the Colombian army officers at Panama and Colon are steadily but quietly making ready for ah invasion of Nicaragua. It is stated further that there is a double reason for the attack. In fhe first place, Colombia wishes to take forcible possesion of the Mosquito strip, which would control both route's available for an Isthmian canal, and " so enable her to make her own terms ; . and secondly, she must find congenial employment for the Colombian ibl-. diers who have been fighting rebels for four years, and cannot noyr'Jpe easily turned to ways of peace, and would, it is feared, start a new reto lution if not allowed an outlet ,lor their energies outside of Colombia. The advices are to the effect irfat the officials in Managua are seriously disturbed at the outlook and are cast ing about for means to avert thd'at tack by Colombia. . zi . Want Patos Island. ' Panama, Dec. 17. It is the general opinion on the isthmus that Patois land is at the bottom of the aggres siveness of-England. It is beliejtd that England has combined with -Crer-many under the futile pretext of- -$1-lecting unacknowledged debts anjj-to punish President Castro for his Jm ilAtarminatinn n nf tn nllnw "Rnp-tsd b.vu J ' - IU y . to quietly usurp Patos Island :Xad other valuable acquisitions in, 460 neighborhood of the Orinoco river. - Shut Down for Lack of Coal, f-flf ' Wilmington, Dec. 17. The wqta of the Diamond State Steel Company J in this city were shut down todayn account of inability to obtain coal," temporarily throwing about 3000 men and boys out of employment.
