Corvallis gazette., February 12, 1904, Page 2, Image 2

03
CORVALLIS GAZETTE
Gazette Publishing Co.
CORVALLIS ...... OREGON
EVENTS OF THE DAY
Comprehensive Review of the Import
ant Happenings of the Past Week,
Presented in Condensed Form, Most
i jkely to Prove Interesting.
The house is considering the loan of
$4,500,000 aaked by the St. Louis fair.
Senator Hanna is resting easier and
his condition is considered a little more
encouraging.
The Dnited States will preserve strict
neutrality and hold war orders until it
can consult Japan and Russia.
A tornado almost entirely wrecked
the town of Union, Fulton county, Ar
kansas Three persons lost their lives.
If the two powers do not object, the
American Asiatic squadron will proceed
to Port Arthur to witness naval engage
ments. Italy has ordered more war vessels to
the Far Eastern waters to protect her
interests there during the Russo-Japanese
war.
French diplomats deem the final
crushing of Japan certain. The
French government stands ready to act
as mediator between the two hostile
nations.
President Roosevelt has telegraphed
the mayor of Baltimore to call on him
if there is anything the federal govern
ment can do to help the fire stricken
community.
Japan has issued a "first call" for
subjects in foreign lands.
A canvass of the senate shows almost
a unanimous vote for the 1905 fair
bill.
An organization had been formed in
Chicago for the promotion of interna
tional arbitration
Britain fears that out of the present
Far Easvern trouble a war will follow
involving all Europe over the Balkans.
Japan has issued orders that all sec
ret language messages must first be
shown to the authorities before being
sent.
While at practice the muzzles of the
eight-inch guns on the starboard for
ward turret of the battleship Iowa
were blown off.
Russia and Japan are thought to
have severed diplomatic relations and
the ministers at Tokio and St. Peters
burg are preparing to depart.
The belief is prevalent with many
that war has been on for several days,
but, owing to the strict censorship
maintained, news has not been allowed
tob e sent out.
The Russian fleet has left Port Ar
thur.
Advices from all sections point to
hostilities soon.
The house committee promises to be
very liberal to the 1905 fair.
The senate has passed the bill to
lend the St. Louis fair $4,500,000.
Senator Hanna is gravely ill. His
sickness is pronounced typhoid fever.
The Japanese minister at London
says his nation wants no help to fight
Russia.
An issue of 1905 stamps is proposed,
similar to those of other national ex
positions.
Japanese residents of Vladivsotok are
terror stricken and leaving as hastily
as possible.
The candidacy of Senator Elkins, of
West Virginia, for vice president has
been announced.
The house has passed the agricul
tural appropriation bill, thus insuring
free seed distribution.
Dominican rebels fired on an Ameri
can launch, killing the engineer and
thus insulting the flag.
Senator Hanna's condition is prac
tically unchanged.
Charles'M. Schwab gives in and the
ship trust will be reorganized.
The house has passed the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill.
The last of the American troops in
Cuba have taken their departure.
The naval committee of the house
has decided for heavy fighting ships.
A bill has been introduced in the
Maryland senate to eliminate the ne
gro vote.
Eastern manufacturers are evincing
great interest in the 1905 fair and will
make large exhibits. '
The United States government has
been drawn into the Iroquois fire affair
by the burning of the scenery, which
was the property fo an English concern
and in this country under bond.
Russia has dispatched her reply to
Japan's last note. It gives slight hope
for peace. The entire Russian fleet is
cruising off the peninsula and an at
tempt will be made to send troops to
Corea. Japanese troops are already
moving toward Seoul.
The house has given the Porto Rican
commissioner all the rights of a dele
gate. French cotton mills are short on ma
terial and the factories are unable to
operate steadily.
The Russian fleet at Vladivostok has
been made ready for sea. All wood fit
tings have been removed.
A bill has been introduced in the
house to declare the citizens of Porto
Rico citizens of the United States.
FIRH IN CHECK.
After Thirty-Two Honrs' Fighting Balti
more Believes Worst Is Over.
Baltimore, Feb. 8. When darkness
fell tonight, the people of this stricken
city knew the worst was over. The
flames which for 32 hours had Bwept
resistlessly through the heart of the
city were checked. An army of fire
men from many cities, working nn
weariedly, and aided by a muddy little
stream, finally conquered.
Worn by a nijrht and day of terror,
the great crowds that watched the ruin
of their city turned homeward, and at
midnight the streets were deserted,
save for the police and military, who
guarded the burned area.
To the south, a red glow rises and
falls, marking 140 acres of devastation,
75 squares of property that yesterday
represented values to the extent of
$75,000,000 to $125,000,000. Net
even a close approximation can be
made of the loss. No guess can be
made of the insurance. An expert,
the city building inspector, estimates
the loss in buildings alone at 15,000,
000. This, with the goods carried will
carry the total to not less than $20 ,
000,000. On the other hand it is said
that insurance estimates do not place
the total loss at a greater figure than
$15,000,000. So far there has been no
systematic attempt to fix the values
that were represented in the district in
that which is tonight a devastated
waste.
Not a single life has been lost, and
not a human being hs even been dan
gerously injured. The hospital lists
consist of minor burns, with the excep
tion of Jacob Ilgingritz, a fireman from
York, Pa. He has a fractuted leg and
is badly burned. .
There has been little or no excite
ment, and there has been no hysteria.
There has been nd disorder, and there
has been no looting or attempt at loot
ing. Baltimore tonight is as orderly
as a village, and only the throb of the
laboring fire engines and the boom of
dynamite, as it brings dangerous walls
to the grt und, disturbs the quiet.
So far there has been no call for aid.
Proffers of assistance have come from
many quarters, from sister cities, from
corporations and from private citizens,
but Baltimore tonight cannot say
whether it will be needed or accepted.
That will be decided tomorrow.
WHEN FRANCE WILL BB CALLED.
Rnssia Must Be Attacked, iand By Two
Powers.
Paris, Feb. 10. Officials have .care
fully considered just how far France is
likely to become involved under the
terms of the Franco-Russian alliance,
which they say contains two distinct
safeguards limiting French participa
tion. The first of these is that Russia
must be attacked, and the second that
the attack must be by two powers.
The requirement that Russia be at
tacked has been one of the chief causes
for Russia's temporizing, as she has
not wished to sacrifice the chances of
French support. Officials here, how
ever, have believed and hoped that
Russia would strike the first decisive
blow, as such action would in a meas
ure relieve France from participating
in a profitless war.
Concerning the condition in the alli
ance providing that two powers must
attack Russia before France beromes
involved, M. Delcasse has distinctly
stated to members of the diplomatic
corps that Corea and China would not
be considered such powers if either
joined Japan against Russia.
SENATE MAY VOTB ON TREATY.
Some Fix the Day of Decision as Friday
or Saturday.
Washintgon, Feb. 10. The senate
will proceed this M'eek with the Pana
ma canal treaty, both in open and ex
ecutive sessions, and there are not a
few senators who express the opinion
that the week may Eee a vote on the
treaty. Some senators fix the vote as
for Friday or Saturday of this week,
and none puts it beyond ten days
hence.
Senators Hopkins and Clayton will
speak in favor of the treaty. The diplo
matic and consular appropriation bill
will be reported from the committee
and taken up at the first convenient
opportunity, wKen interference wit',
the canal treaty will not result there
from. Some attention also may be
given to the general calendar.
Great Sum for Irrigation.
Washington, Feb. 10. The secretary
of the interior has approved the setting
aside of $2,250,000 of the reclamation
fund for the irrigation project on the
north side of the Shoshone river, in the
Big Horn basin, of Wyoming, pro
vided that satisfactory rights to land
and water can v be secured. This pro
ject provides for the construction of a
dam and storage reservoir in Shoshone
river, and a canal heading in the can
yon above Cody. It will provide
water for approximately 90,000 acres
on the north side of the river.
New Custom-House Must Be Rebuilt.
Baltimore, Feb. 10. As a result of
an examination ot tne new custom
house building, it is almost certain
that the entire structure must be torn
down and rebuilt. Nearly $350,000
worth of work has been done on the
building. The vaults have been found
in good condition in several banks,
where examinations were made. This
includes the vault of the National Ex
change bank, in which it is understood
there is $800,000 ot government funds.
To Report Naval Appropriation BilL
Washington, Feb. 10. Mr. Foss,
chairman of the naval affairs commit
tee, will report the naval appropria
tion bill in the house this week, and
probably call it up for action late in
the week. ,
WAR HAS BEGUN
JAPAN ATTACKS RUSSIAN SQUADRON
AT PORT ARTHUR,
Two Battleships and 1 Cruiser. Badly
Damaged Mikado's Forces Escaped
Unharmed Several Russian ilereh
antmen Also Seized Both Nations
Sending Troops to Corea.
Berlin, Feb. 9. A special telegram
from St. Petersburg says three Russian
shipB at Port . Arthur were severely
damaged last nignt by - torpedoes dis
charged from Japanese torpedo boats
while the latter were passing the har
bor. Subsequently a large fleet of Jap
anese battleships and cruisers appeared
before the port
Martial Law Proclaimed.
Port Arthur, Feb. 9. Inconsequence
of the attack by the Japanese torpedo
boats, martial law has been proclaimed
here.
Japan Seizes Russian Ships.
London, Feb. 9. In a dispatch dat
ed Nagasaki, February 6, and which
was delayed by tbe censor, a corre
spondent of the Daily Telegraph asserts
that Russia deliberately precipitated
the crisis by secretly dispatching, a
few days ago from Port Arthur, trans
ports loaded with a full division of
troops and escorted by a fleet and land
ing them near the Yalu river, thus oc
cupying Northern Corea.
Japanese patience became exhausted,
and today Japan moved her ships and
took unresisted possession of certain
merchant vessels, including the Shilka
and Manchuria, the correspondent con
tinues :
"Two other Russian vessels were
seized and escorted to Sasebo, Japan."
The I aily Telegraph says it supposes
the foregoing seizures occurred at Ma
sampho, but that the censor suppressed
the location.
A special dispatch says a strong fleet
of Japanese warships, reported to be on
the way to Chemulpo, has" seized sev
eral Russian trading vessels.
In a dispatch from Tokio, a corre
spondent of the Daily Mail says the
Jiji Shimpo has received a telegram
from Fusan, Corea, declaring that the
firing of guns was heard to the east of
Koje island.
FAIR BILL PASSES.
Senate Votes to Extend Aid to Lewis
and Clark Exposition.
Washington, Feb. 9. Without a dis
senting vote the Lewis and Clark expo
sition bill passed the senate -at 5:30
yesterday afternoon, carrying an aggre
gate appropriation of $1,775,000. Sec
tion 16 of the bill, providing for the
construction of a memorial building
was stricken out; the number of na
tional commissioners was reduced from
seven to three ; an amendment was at
tached absolutely closing the exposition
and grounds on Sunday, and the frank
ing privilege denied to the national and
state commissions. Aside from these
changes, the bill was passed in sub
stantially the shape in which it recent
ly came from the senate committee.
The Lewis and Clark bill came up
unexpectedly at 3:15. The attendance
at this time was Blight, but as the de
bate proceeded, senators returned to
the chamber, until, at the time the
bill was passed, there was a fair aver
age attendance. Twice during the af
ternoon it looked as if the bill would
have to go over until some future time.
Senator Piatt, of Connecticut, made a
rather vicious attack upon the large
amount carried by the bill, and threat
ened to force a fight, which might have
been temporarily disastrous.
Later Senator Allison became critical
of the phraseology of the bill, and but
for the intervention of Senator Fulton
would have forced the senate to ad
journ without taking action on the bill.
The committee amendments were most
ly adopted without discussion, but the
last committee amendment, relating to
Sunday closing, provoked a protracted
debate, and in the end resulted in the
adoption oi an amendment offered by
Senator Piatt, of Connecticut, closing
both buildings and grounds on Sun
days. Japan Cuts Cable to Corea.
Paris, Feb. 9. The French foreign
office was advised this afternoon that
the Japanese have cut the cable con
nesting Japan and Corea. The' object
of this action is believed to prevent
news of the operations of the Japanese
reaching the Russians, which was pos
sible, no matter how closely censored
the dispatches sent might be. Follow
ing the breaking off of relations between
Russia and Japan and the cutting of
the cable is regarded here as significant
of the purpose of the Japanese to begin
hostilities.
Japan Landing Men in Corea.
London, Feb. 9. The Chee Fee cor
respondent of the' Daily Mail cables
that six Japanese transports are land
ing troops at various ports in Corea,
from Masampho and Fusan, on the
south of Kusan, and Mokpho and Che
mulpo, on the west. Seoul is to be oc
cupied and the landing is to be covered
by torpedo divisions. The main body
of the Japanese fleet, the correspondent
concludes, will sail in the direction of
Port Arthur.
Executive Ability Counted.
Washington, Feb. 10. It is said at
the war department that Cameron
Forbes, of Boston, who has been tend
ered the position of Philippine commis
sioner, was selected principally because
of his executive ability and technical
knowledge of engineering matters.
STRICTLY WITHIN TREATY.
"Records Show America Took No Part n
; ; : Internal Affairs of Colombia.
Washington, Feb. 6. The presi
dent sent to the senate today a mass
of correspondence in response to Sena
tor Gorman's resolution calling for the
dates and circumstances under which
the United States used military forces
in the internal affairs of New Granada,
or Colombia, and whether such uses of
military forces were on the initiative
of the United States or by the request
of New Granda or Columbia, or in con
sequence of any official representation
of either. The resolution also called
for copies of the orders by the navy de
partment relating to such use of mili
tary force.
The circumstances under which forces
were landed are given by the president
in detail, but orders by the war and
navy departments concerning the work
ings of such departments, and which
constitute a part of the offices of the
military and naval intelligence, are
withheld on the grounds that the dis
closure of such confidential matters
would be incompatible with the public
interests.
As a preface to the correspondence
Acting Secretary of State Loomis
writes a letter in which he says all the
correspondence on record in the depart
ment of state is given, and that from
this it appears United States forces
have been landed on the Isthmus of
! Panama 10 times from October 1856 to
September, 1902, the last mentioned
landing being the only one made with
out actual request from the govern
ment of the isthmus.
BITTER ATTACK ON AMERICA.
Russian General Says if War Comes, It
Will Be Her Fault.
London, Feb. 6. Special dispatches
received from the Far East, and pub
lished this morning, add nothing to
the knowledge of the actual situation.
The St. Petersburg correspondent of
the Daily Telegraph quotes from the
Novo Vremya a bitter editorial attack
upon the United States, which he sup
poses to be an outcome of the dispatch
of American consuls to Mukden and
Antung The Novo Vremya accuses
the United States of a desire to win
the hegemony of the entire globe, and
exclude Europe from the Far Eastern
market, and declares "if, as it seems
likely, wai breaks out, it will have
been instigated by the Yankees with
their utilitarian views."
Baron Hayaahi, Japanese minister to
Great Britain, describes the situation
in the Far East as "certainly very
threatening," but said everything de
pended on Russia's reply.
' " 1904 FAIR STAMPS ORDERED.
They Are to Be On Sale in All Post
offices the First Day of May.
Washington, Feb. 6. An order for
ehe first of the new Louisiana purchase
txposition postage stamps, which are
to be p:aced on sale at all postoffices in
the United States May 1, has been sent
to the bureau of engraving and print
ing by Third Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Madden. It calls for the printing
of 90,000,000 of the one-cent stamps,
bearing the portrait of Robert R. Liv
ingstone; 225,000,000 of the two-cent
stamps, bearing the portrait of Thomas
Jefferson; 7,500,000 of the three-cent
stamps, with Monroe's portrait; 9,
500,000 of the five-cent stamps, ! with
McKinley'a portrait; and 6,500,000 of
the ten-cent stamps, with a miniature
map of the United States, showing the
territory acquired by the Louisiana
purchase.
CHINA AGREES ON WAR ACTION.
Railing-Stock of Railroad Will Be Brought
Inside a rest WalL -
Tien Tsin, Feb. 5. In the event of
an outbreak of hostilities between Rus
sia and Japan, the railroad administra
tion has arranged to bring the rollings
stock of the extra mural line inside the
great wall.
Russia has ordered another 20,000
tons of Kaiping coal for delivery at
Port Arthur, making 70,000 tons in a
week. It is pointed out here that if
war break 8 out soon the coal will hard
ly reach its destination, as the stocks
here are low and the steamers scarce.
It is reported that the Russians are
building a railroad to connect Mukden
with Sin Min Ting, 30 .miles west of
Mukden, on the railroad running to
Shan Hai Kwan and Tien Tsin.
Panic General in Corea.
' St. Petersburg, Feb. 6. Advices re
ceived here from Corea say that the
feeling of panic is general there and
that depression prevails in all the sea
ports, where massacres of foreigners ate
feared. Europeans aie preparing to
end their families to Shanghai. Ev
ery steamer from Japan conveys to
Corea many Japanese officers and sol
diers in disguise, and their presence in
such numbers is regarded by the Rus
sians as being a secret occupation.
Sixty doctors have left St. Petersburg
during the last few days.
Lighthouse Service for Alaska.
Washington,-Feb. 6. Secretary Cor
telyou today sent to coDgresa a report
from the lighthouse board recommend
ing changes and improvements in the
lighthouse administration in Alaska.
The board primarily recommends that
Alaska be made a separate 'lighthouse
district, and a buoy station be estab
lished at Ward cove, Tungas Narrows.
The board further recommends the con
struction of a lighthouse tender for
service exclusively in Alaska.
Agricultural Appropriation BUL
Washineton, Feb. 6. The agricul
tural appropriation bill reported to the
house today carries a total of $5,711,
240. an increase of $233,000 over the
current law.
FLAMES LEAP HIGH
BUSINESS PORTION OF BALTIMORE
THE SCENE OF DESTRUCTION.
Loss Will Amount to Over $40,000,000
Help Summoned. From Philadelphia,
Washington and New York Dyna
mite Used to Prevent Fire from
Spreading Troops Called Out.
Baltimore, Md., Feb. 7. The most
destructive fire in the history of Balti
more occurred here today, raging prac-
j tically unchecked during many hours,
completely destroiyng scores of . the
largest business houses in the whole
sale district, involving losses which
cannot yet be estimated, as the fire was
still burning fiercely when night fell.
Owing to the wide extent of the calam
ity it will be tomorrow before an ap
proximate estimate can be made,
though it is certain that it has already
exceeded $40,000,000. '
I The fire broke out shortly before 11
o'clock this morning in the - wholesale
dry goods store of John E. Hurst & Co.,
on Hopkins Place, in the heart of the
business district, with a series of loud
explosions, which were heard in remote
parts of the city, and spread with fear
ful rapidity.
In a half-hour a dozen big ware
houses in the wholesale dry goods and
notions district were burning fiercely.
The entire city fire department was
called out, but was utterly powerless to
check the epread of the flames; which
j weie aided by high winds, and by noon
' there was savage fires in at least 30 big
warehouses, and the flames were stead
ily eating their way into successive
blocks northwest and south.
Though every bit of the fire fighting
apparatus in the city was called into
requisition as the flames continued to
spread, the firemen realized that they
had a task before them which was too
great for them to combat. Telegrams
for fire engines were sent to Washing
ton and Philadelphia, and about 1
o'clock six engines arrived from Wash
ington and four from Philadelphia and
joined in the battle with the flames.
Water plugs in every section within
a radius of half a mile from the fire
were in use, and it is roughly esti
mated that 350 hose were playing at
one time upon different parts of the
fire.
Fire Still Beyond Control.
Baltimore, Feb. 8,4 A. M. The fire
continues to spread in an easterly di
rection, and continues beyond the con
trol of the multitude of firemen.
Mobs of wagons are busy at this
hour removing the household goods of
the residents just east of Jones Falls,
the hundreds of residences being threat
ened by the rapidly extending flames.
The Fourth and Fifth regiments of
militia, together with a company of
regular artillerymen from Fort Mc
Henry, reinforce tne police to keep the
crowds in check.
WARSHIP IS SENT.
America Takes Hand In Santo Domingo
Revolutionary Affairs.
Washington, Feb. 9. Simultaneous
ly at the state dpeartment and the
navy department today the announce
ment was made that a serious state of
affairs is prevalent in Santo Domingo
Complaint has been made to the state
department by the' owners of the San
Isidro plantation that their property
had been beseiged, and an appeal is
made for immediate relief. Other
Americans having interests in Santo
Domingo have made similar com
plaints. Mr. Moody,v the secretary of
the navy, and Mr. Loomis, the acting
secretary of state, had long con ferences
with the president upon the subject
With his return to the navy depart
ment from the White House, Secretary
Moody held a conference with Rear
Admiral Taylor, and a cablegram was
dispatched to Rear Admiral Wise, com
manding the training squadron now at
Guantanamo, instructing that officer
to take immediate and effective steps
for the adequate protection of Amen
can lives and property at the Domini
can capital, limiting his action at all
times to the recognized tenets of inter
national law.
Mouth of the Amur Is Mined.
New York, Feb. 9. A Russian offi
cer, who has lately returned from the
Far East, is quoted by the Moscow
correspondent of the Times to the effect
that the Russian Pacific squadron pos
sesses at least two submarines. They
were built on the Black sea, carried
east in sections and fitted together at
Fort Arthur where they now are.
The officer also states that the mouth
of the Amur river is heavily mined
and that the river is equipped with
light craft, each patroling about 66
miles and carrying light artillery.
Russia. Would Still Parley.
London, Feb. 9. A dispatch to
Keuter's telegram company from St.
Petersburg says : An authorative state
ment from a Russian source regarding
the contents of the Russian reply is as
follows: "If the Japanese eovernment
is animated by the same pacific senti
ments as the Russian government, there
is reason to hope that it will give Rus
sia's fresh proposals such favorable re
ception as to permit mutual accord be
ing finally reached.
War Supplies for Rebels Seized.
Cape Haytlen, Hayti, Feb. 9. Mu
nitions of war intended for Genreal
Jiminez, the Dominican revolutionary
leader, were seized at Puerto Plata, on
the north coast of the republic of Santo
Domingo, yesterday, after having been
landed there by the steamer New York,
from New York, January 30.
ARB DRIVEN OUT.
Russia Making Thousands of Hebrews
Leave Moscow. v
London, Feb. 4. Moscow is being
depopulated of its Jewish residents by
order of the Russian governor of the
city. Investigation, begun at his or
der, into the domiciliary rights, under
an old law, of 30,000 Jewish working
men and artisans has resulted in the
expulsion of thousands.
The police are carrying out the in
structions given them with the great
est zeal. Jewish houses throughout,
the city are entered and searched at all
hours of the day and night for evidence
that will permit the expulsion of the
residents.
The law upon which the governor
bases his right to make the crusade
against the Jews is an old one undtr
which any Jewish workingmen and
those who were members of the First.
Guild of Merchants, or were academic
ally educated, were allowed to remain
in Moscow after the expulsion of 1891.
Recently the governor ordered a strict
investigation into the rights of those
residenta. On finding the slightest
flaw the order of expulsion is issued.
Many families whose fathers during
the '50s paid for the freedom of the
city to their heirs have been expelled
suddenly. It was charged that the
fathers who paid for this right paid
taxes only as members of the First
Guild of Merchants for eight years.
According to a recent law the free
dom of the city cannot be secured by
any oBe who has not paid his taxes as-
a member of the lirst Guild for ten
years. This recent law has been ap
plied m the cases of the dead Jews
and their ancestors have been expelled
undei its provisions.
Those of the expelled Jews who have- (
means have been taken to the railway .
station and compelled to bny tickets.
Those who have not the means to buy
tickets are forwarded without expense-
SCORE FOR FAIR.
Oregon Senators flake Diplomatic Move
by Giving Way to St. Louis.
Washington, Feb. 4. Senators--Mitchell
and Fulton appeared before
the full committee on appropriations
today, in connection with the proposed
amendment offered by Senator Mitchell
yesterday, to the urgent deficiency ap
propriation bill in the interest of the
Lewis and Clark exposition. The St.
Louis fair people, whose appeal for a
loan was under consideration at the
time, felt that they would be embar
rassed by the retention of the Oregon
amendment, and on this showing and
the assurance of the committee that the
Oregon exposition should receive favor
able consideration, it was decided to
withdraw the amendment and bring it ,
up later in connection with the sundry
civil bill.
The senators believe that by their
diplomatic course, taken at this time,
they have greatly advanced the inter
ests of their cause, and they feel more
hopeful than ever of favorable action
later on. They are now assured of the
cordial and active support of the St.
Louis people. The St. Louis proposi
tion will undoubtedly be retained in
the urgent deficiency bill, and this will
be a good precedent for Oregon in the
Bundry civil bill.
FIGHTING IN PANAMA.
Colombian Troops Attack Indians on the
San Bias Coast.
Panama, Feb. 4. A report has
reached the isthmus that Colombian
troops are fighting with the Indians on
the San Bias coast, which is in Panama
territory. It is impossible, however,
to obtain reliable confirmation of this.
The United States gunboat Bancroft
was to have sailed today from Colon to
Bocas del Toro, but the orders were
countermanded at the last moment, be
cause of the report of fighting on the
coast.
A letter was received here some time
ago from Captain Torres, commanding
the Panama troops at Chepo, on the
south side of the isthmus and directly
south of the San Bias country, saying
he had decided to cross over to the At
lantic side. There is a possibility that
the Indians are fighting with Captain
Torres' command, mistaking them for
Colombians.
Ex-Secretary Whitney Dead.
New York, Feb. 3. William Collin
Whitney, ex-secretary of the navy, died
a few minutes after 4 o'clock yesterday
afternoon at his home, 871 Fifth ave
nue, in his 64th year. He died while
under the influence of ether, adminis
tered preparatory to a second operation
for appendicitis. By his bedside, were
his son, Hairy Payne Whivney,, and
his daughter, Dorothy Whitney, as
well as Dr. William T. Bull, the chief
surgeon in attendance. Mr. Whitney
was taken ill Friday night at the per
formance of "Rigoletto."
Taft a Friend of WUIamette.
Washington, Feb. 4. One of the
first communications to the house
signed by Secretary Taft related to the
improvement of the Willamette river
between Portland and Oregon City.
He approved the recommendation of
the engineers that $5,100 should be
spent to remove Capeley's rocks and
dredging a channel to four feet deet
and remove the sandbars at Jennings,
Waldron's and Magoon's and at the.
head of the Clackamas river.
Considering Successor to Wright.
Washineton. Feb. 4. It is Ifarnuf
that the president in selecting a suc
cessor to governor JLuKe is. Wright, on
the Philippine commission, will toto
a man of prominence from this coun
try. Governor Wrieht wishes to h
the benefit of the counsel of a man fresh
from the states and in tmwh nrii.
events here, and desires, it is said, an'
associate rather thar a subordinate.