r 3 1
L j
1 FULL RETREAT
Russian Army to Make
3 Staild
- at Tie Pass.
JAPS MAY DRIVE THEM FURTHER
Left and Center Beaten 'Japanese
Draw Near Mukden and Camp
. Followers Stampede.
Tokio, March 4. While a few offi-
-cial dispatches from the army before
Mukden have been received, nothing
has been given out officially. Other
reports state that the Japanese attack
against the Russian left and center has
i ; .,Doi Th ,;,
wing of the Russians has held so far,
but it is believed that, on account of
other reverses, it is onlv a ouestion of
few hours until General Kuropatkin'.
, I
whole army will be in flight before tne
Tictorious Japanese.
The Russian general's objective is to I
reach Tie pass in the hope of establish
ing another line of defense there. The
elaborate and complete campaign
planned by Marshal Oyama, if carried
out exactly as outlined, will make this
extremely difficult of fulfillment, how
ever. It is probable that Mukden must
be entirely abandoned by the Russians,
or that they must face surrender event
ually.
' From the front have come reports of
continued heavy , fighting last night.
The heavy cannonading could be plain
ly heard and the greatest confusion
reigns in ' Mukden, according to the
latest reports. Every means of trans
portation is being utilized by the peo
ple, who are hurrying away before the
Japanese.
Heavy artillery firing has been the
feature of the fighting again, the Jap
anese continuing to hide their move
ments under the smoke of the large
guns. The -attacks developed under
this cover and during' the night time
have been fierce and in most cases ef
fective.
Admit They are Beaten.
St. Petersburg, March 4. it is now
generally admitted that after the long
and heavy battle which has been wag-
- ing before Mukden, General Kuropat- I
kin has been forced to abandon at least
a part of his most advanced position
under tne nerce attacK oi the enemy.
The next stand will probably be made
at Tie pass, and little doubt is expressed
of the ability of the Russian commander
to bring his forces safely , from the
scene of the present conflict and firmly
establish himself in a new position.
FEAR RUSSIANS WILL FLEE.
Japanese Eager to Decide War with
' Present Battle.
London, March 4. A dispatch from
Tokio to the Daily Telegraph states
that the Japanese are endeavoring to
force a, decisive battle in Manchuria,
but it is feared General Kuropatkin
will retreat, fighting a rear-guard ac
tion.
Reports from the Shakhe river indi
cate, says the same correspondent, that
the Russian morale ib seriously im
paired and that there are numerous
voluntary surrenders, not only of Poles
and Jews, but of recently arrived Euro
pean troops. They relate that the ru
mors are current in the army that
General Kuropatkin has been recalled,
and knowledge of the internal-troubles
in Russia causes a deep impression in
the army.
Reports are current in Tokio, but not
confirmed officially, that the Japanese
have occupied Sakhalien. ' .,
Czar Welcomes Stoessel.
St. Petersburg, March 4. General
Stoessel, who was given an audience of
the emperor yesterday and was invited
to luncheon with him, was received by
his majesty with a warmth which went
far to atone for - the cool reception
which he was given by several of the
newspapers and military factions. Gen
eral Stoessel is being feted by society.
A large dinner was given in his honor
last night after his return from Tsar-
skoe-Selo. No steps have been taken
yet toward an investigation of the
surrender of Port Arthur. , - !
Cannon Roar on All Sides.
Mukden, March 4. The thunder of
artillery is heard from all positions
PoutiloS and Novgorod hills are hidden
'by the smoke from . the guns. The
bombardments . were resumed after the
repulse of an infantry attack . by the
Japanese. . A heavy bombardment is
also in progress in the neighborhood of
the Shakhe liver, apparently, in pre
paration for an attack tn that quarter
The weather ', continues fine and warm.
The Chinese are preparing to sow grain.
Knows Nothing of Arid Land "Grabs.
Washington, March 4. Replying to
a resolution of the house, the secretary
of the interior today gave the informa
tion that the general land office had no
. knowledge of the "surreptitious" ac
quisition of land set apart for irrigation
uses,' as alleged by resolutions of the
National Business League of Chicago'
PEACE IS NEARER AT HAND.
Russians' Only Hope is in a Decisive
Defeat of General Nogi.
London. March 7. The intensely
dramatic situation in Manchuria devei-
loped by General Nogi'a rapid advance
and its strategic possibilities have
raised excitement in Europe to the
highest pitch; English papers tor a
long time have practically ceased to re-
ceive war specials, ana in mis respect
are lacking much information- that is
available in Associated Press dis
patches.
It is believed here that General Ku-
ropatkin is in a very tight place, and
the chances of his extricating his army
are keenly discussed. The abandon
ment of Mukden is considered to De in
evitable, the only question being
whether he will be able to effect a re
treat to Tie pass. -
An immediate repulse of uenerai
Tfoi'a .,m it U hM. miriit save the
situation, but failing
" J : ,
that, iieneral I
Kuropatkin will have
onmmittAi! tn I
... a ar.A AUGnnit taar nf
... MrtW.,i harassed bv flank-
jng attacks by" the Japanese army,
Whatever mav be the result it is felt
that peace ,s appreciably neare, ,
- ... 12
i a ninrn 1 n tr ts inn 1H.11 v leuxi&uu a 1 x.
m -nt. the Russian
official purchasing agent there has re-
ceived orders to cease buying for gov-
ernment account. This is a significant
h ma uintomhuhMn
throughout the war the principal center
of Russian purchases for carrying on
the conflict in the Far East.
FOR GERMAN TRADE.
Overtures for Reciprocity Treaty are
Being Quietly Made.
Berlin, March 7. Relative to the
German government's overtures for a
reciprocal trade arrangement" with the
TTniftvi stoteo it ia afaWl that the ia
no disposition here to expose Germany
to a refusal nor to place the United
States in a position where it would be
obliged to refuse, provided the Ameri
can government regards the time in
opportune. Therefore the German
ministry desires to learn, informally,
privately, as it were, how such a pro
posal would be treated
That the state department has some
idea that ' the commercial treaty may
be discussed is indicated by its inten
tion to retain Consul General Mason
here for some months or until it is seen
whether a commercial treaty would be
considered, instead of sending him to
Paris
The German government has been
testing public opinion on the subject
hv nnnmcm 1 nn m ifn 1 1 nne uncn a a the
Commercial Treaty association's recent
leatter advocating a treaty with the
United States, arguing that it is one of
the natural consequences of Germany's
arrangements "with other countries.
The editorial treatment of the associa
tion's letter was generally favorable.
CRASH HEAD-ON.
Express and Freight Trains Meet on
Curve in Montana.
Missoula, Mont., ' March 7. Two
men are dead and six people injured as
the result of a collision of a freight
train and the west-bound Twin Cities
express on . the .Northern Pacific at
Bearmouth this afternoon at 2:30.
The express was 30 minutes behind
time and the freight had orders to wait
at Bearmouth siding. Engineer Shee
han misunderstood his orders and pro
ceeded east. ' As the freight' rounded
the curve east of Bearmouth it' crashed
head on Into the express.
A high bank shut off the view of both
engineers, and no attempt had been
made to slow down. Both engines
were thrown from the track and the
mail and express cars telescoped, but
the passenger coaches came to a dead
stop and remained on the track.
The dead and injured were brought
to this city on a relief train. The in
Jured are being cared lor in the com
pany hospital. Traffic has been re
sumed. -
Dodging Military Service
Vienna, March 7. As a result of in
quiries which were commenced in De
cember last it has been discovered that
in Upper Hungary there has been a
system of falsification of records,' such
as the changing of names, false entries
of deaths, , etc., by which many thou
sands of young Hungarians have avoid
ed obligatory military service. These
practices have been in vogue in certain
localities for the past 12 or. ltr years
and the authorities decalre that those
guilty of the falsifications will be se
verely punished. ;v i
' : -
Japanese Squadron Sighted,
London, March 7. The German
steamer Numidia, according to the cor
respondent of the Daily Mail at Hong
Kong, reports having sighted two Jai
anese squadrons on Saturday, 100 miles
southeast oi nong jv.ong. j.ne nrst
squadron, comprising nine battleships
and cruisers, was Seen at 2 o'clock in
the morning, going at full speed with
all lights out, and the second squad
ron, of 13 large warships, was sighted
in the afternoon.
, Soldiers Keeping Lodz Quiet,
Lodz, March 7. The town is quiet,
Strong military ; patrols guard the
streets. " There are - 7,000 workmen
from the Poxznanski cotton mills on
strike. . The outlook is not promising
The -workmen are indignant because
several mill owners . are
remaining
abroad and threaten s to
unless the latter return.
cause trouble
WILLI MiOaE iLAW
Western Railroads Decide Upon
: livestock Bates.
WILL MAKE TEST CASE IN COURT
To Obey Decision of Interstate Com
merce Commission Would Mean
Heavy Loss To Roads.
Chicago, March 2. Executive offi
cials of Western railroads today decid
ed to ignore the order of the Interstate
Commerce commission requiring them
to charge no higher rates for livestock
than are charged for the transportation
iv- J i: 4 u -D-. V
"I lue pruuutwvi mraiwi. aj vito
advice oi general counsel me matter
will be tested in the courts, as the rail
roads have determined that it will be
impossible either to lower the livestock
rates or to increase the rates on pack-
lJL,-
1 J rni,A la iw..
tract which the Great Western road has
- ? -
with the packers
for an 18-cent rate
and the Missouri
between Chicago
river manes such acnon lmpracucaoie
A reduction in lives tocx rates in
compliance wun me decision
of the
commission would mean a minimum
reduction oi 3 cents per 100 pounds
and a maximum reduction of about 8
cents, . and the reductions would affect
fully 40 per cent of . all the livestock
traffic west of Chicago. A compliance
with the commission's order by a re
duction in the , livestock rates would
mean, it is now estimated, a loss to
western railroads of at least $2,000,000
annually. They say that such a loss,
in view of the contention , of the rail
road officials , that the rates are even
now unremunerative,
thought of.' ; -
is not ' to be
POISON IN VIAL.
.
Mrs.
Leland Stanford Drinks a Fatal
Dose and Dies in Agony.
Honolulu, March 1. , Mrs. Jane
Lathrop Stanford, of San Francisco
widow of United States Senator , Leland
Stanford, died at 11:40 o'clock last
night, 40 minutes after she was taken
ill, at the Moaao hotel here, under
suspicious circumstances, pointing, in
the opinion of the physician who at
tended . her in her dying hour, and
seemingly in that of others, to poison
ing by the administration of strychnine
in a vial of bicarbonate of soda- given
just before retiring.
An . autopsy on the remains showed
that the cause of death was tetanus of
the respiratory organs, but how this
was brought about will not be known
until after an examination of the con
tents of the stomach.
Mrs. Stanford built . the children's
hospital, Albany, N. Y., costing $100,
000, and supported by an endowment
of $100,000 more. She also gave $160,
000 to kindergarten schools in San
Francisco. Since the death of her hus-
band Mrs. Stanford had devoted her
attention to the development of the
university, and had been residing
Palo Alto, Cal.
at
TALK OF RETREAT.
Japanese Have the-Russian Army in
Very Tight Place.
St. Petersburg, via the frontier,
March 2. Official circles at the Rus
sian capital have been seized with great
alarm, owing to the ominous news
from the Far East, and a conference
has been held of the military experts.
who discussed the Japanese movement
and debated at length what action the
Russian government should take at the
present time to uphold General Kuro
patkin.' .'..
It is felt that the Japanese have him
in a very precarious position, and one
in which it may be necessary for him
again to order a general retreat. It
recognized that the Japanese movement
at this time is prompted bv a desire
to crush General Kuropatkin ' in ; the
belief that a Russian defeat at this time
would compel the czar to sue for peace
because of internal conditions in Rus
sia. . : I
Ice Tearing Things Loose.
Louisville, March 2. Drifting with
the -ice, the steamer New South, one
of the largest passenger .and freight
boats on the Ohio, was today sightedat
Carroll ton, Ky. A mile below Miltori,
Ky., men finally succeeded in getting a
line aboard and tying the boat up to
the bank. The local harbor authori
ties, on being advised from Cincinnati
that 60 barges and 50 coal boats, all
containing more or less coal, were com
ing with the ice, despatched four tow-
boats np the river. They will attempt
to rescue the boats.
Bombs Imported as Oranges.
St. Petersburg, March 2. Vastquan-
tities of hand bombs are being imported
into Russia. The discovery was acci
dentally made by the customs authori
I ties at Wireballen, Russian Poland, on
I oneninir an ordinarv fruit box marked
oranges." which was found to contain
100 small ' bombs. Scores of similar
boxes have been coming in for ,. weeks, J
and the authorities fear they are already
distributed. The bombs are not of the
type of those used by the terrorists. .
More Strikes in Poland.
Lugansk, Poland, March 2. The sit
uation is growing woise. Today 4,000
men struck at the Hartmann works.
A general Strike of 200,000 miners in
i the Donetz
coal fields is expected on
I March 6
RACES WITH FIRE.
Steamer Oregon will be Beached at
Eureka if Possible. ;
.Crescent City, Cal:, March. 1. -The
steamer Oregon, with a burning, eargo,
left here today for Eureka, where she
will be beached. The Oregon was ac
companied from Crescent City by the
steamer Del Norte, Captain Payne, and
every effort will be made. to reach
Eureka.
The Oregon has a heavy list and is
drawing about 20 feet of water. This
will make it difficult to take her over
the Humboldt bar. It is thought her
cargo of general merchandise will, be a
total loss.
Fire broke out in the cargo of the
steamer Oregon when the ship was
north of Crescent City, on her voyage
from San Francisco to Portland. There
were 56 passengers on board the. Oregon
besides the crew.
Signals of distress were at once made,
and these brought- the collier Meteor
promptly alongside. -'.,
The first thing considered by Captain
Warner was the safety of his passengers,
and all of the 66 were at once trans
ferred to the Meteor. The Oregon was
then turned back in her course and
headed for Crescent City, where it was
determined to beach 'her in the event of
extreme necessity. -
Nearing Crescent City, the steamer
Del Norte was attracted by the signals
of distress that were still flying. The
Del Norte was at once headed toward
the Oregon, and within a few minutes
the passengers made another transfer,
this time to the Del Norte.
Soon after this the burning steamer
and the Del Norte shot out of Crescent
City harbor, Captain Warner believing
he could make Eureka in time to beach
his vessel. ' Smoke was coming out of
the Oregon in clouds, however, and it
was deemed .very doubtful by those
who saw her that she would ever' reach
the more southerly port. Captain
Warner and his crew were fighting the
flames in heroic fashion.
IN DEATH GRIPS.
Battle ' Rages Along Entire Front of
Two Great Armies.
St. Petersburg, March 1. Last even
ing's news from Manchuria is of the
most important nature, the Associated
Press dispatches from :- Mukden, which
were transmitted at noon of Tuesday,
indicating that a general battle was be
ginning along the whole of the ' 100
miles of front . occupied by the two
armies. General Kuropatkin appears
to have taken a leaf out of Field Mar
shal Oyama' s book and replied to Gen
eral Kuroki's attack on ' the Russian
left by a counter attack on the Japanese
left,, in which General Kanlabrs' initial
success is better fo the Russians than
the success of General Grippenberg,
the Russian vanguard being establish
ed in the outskirts of Sandiapu. At
the same time General Kuropatkin . de
livered a . blow against the Japanese
center, seizing a railroad bridge across
the Shakhe river. These reports,
therefore, give a more hopeful aspect to
the situation, as the Russian army,
tnougn duven out oi U pass, appears
to have succeeded in stopping, at least
for the moment, the further advance of
the Japanese eastward and beaten off
the attack on the center.
. The effect of yesterday's develop
ments on General Kuropatkin' s report
ed intention ' to withdraw from the
Shakhe is problematical. Retirement
in the face of an enemy, which is ex
tremely hazardous under any circum
stances, are doubly dangerous when
the armies are grappling in a general
engagement; but, if General Kuroki
succeeds in rolling up the Russian left
much further, the perilous experiment
may become necessary. The counter
strokes on the right and ; center may
possibly be intended to cover the with
drawal of trams and stores. If, how
ever, General Kuropatkin is deter
mined to stand and fight out the battle
on the line-up he has held during the
winter and if he should be able to ad
minister a vigorous check to General
Kuroki, he has scored a good position
for his Becond move in the great game
.Declares Picketing Legal.
'V Chicago, March li An injunction
issued by ; Jduge ; Kavanaugh against
picketing of tailoring esiablihsments
and factories :' by striking garment
makers has . been so modified that it
will be resumed legally . around the
plants today. Members of the union
declare that they have won a victory,
and the action marks a change in the
attitude of the courts in labor struggles.
Men, women and girls will picket all
factories where the walkout prevails,
and attempt by peaceful means to per-.
suade nonunion workers to quit.
' Bandits Ready to Ha-rass Russians
riiu unwang, March l Advices re
ceived here say that over two Russian
army corps are engaged in building
elaborate defensive works opposite the
extreme Japanese left and that large
forces of cavalry are protecting the Rus
sian flanks. It is reported here that a
railroad bridge between Tie . pass and
aiyuam has been destroyed. It is also
reported that large bodies of well armed
Chinese bandits are prepared to harass
the retreating Russians.
A Costly Shooting Scrape.
' London,' March 1. The Renter Tele-
grim company . Btates that the com
pensation for the North sea affair has
been fixed at between 75,000 and
100,000.
LONG REIGN
According to ths Cincinnati Post, the
Bute of Ohio is about to close the last
chapter of Its expose of one of the most
remarkable gangs of incendiaries ever or
ganised a gang that operated in north
western Ohio, eastern Indiana and sonth-
vnsiera micuican lor twentv-nva rears.
that was composed of men of repnte In.
their communities, that reduced arson to
such a businesslike basis that Insurance
companies were robbed of $1,000,000 and
that perfected its organisation to such a
degree that its members, though guilty
of crimes, went unpunished for a quarter,
of a century.
The gang 'had Its beginning in 1874. In
Williams eounty, Ohio, it hsd Its head
quarters, though It operated In Fulton
and . Loess, counties ImpartlsllT and
spread Into the two adjoining States.
The leaders of the cane were men of
bnsiness standing. farmers,' merchants
tpd the like. To all appearanees they at
tended strictly to their own business. In
reality they were as busy at night plan
ning and executing their crimes as ther
were in the daytime at their stores or on
their farms.
Their main line of business was the
burning of property, by collusion with the,
owner, for a consideration, the owner re
imbursing himself out of his insurance.
Though more profitable to themselves,
the Incendiaries seldom burned their own
property, fearing to fix suspicion upon
themselves. They preferred to maintain
their pose as irreproachable men of busl-
t, while destroying other peoples
property for a share of the proceeds, of
A Little Lesson
In Patriotism
'Let oar object be our country, our
whole country, and nothing bnt oar
country." Daniel Webster.
Toward the close of President Bu-
chsnanan's administration, the admin
istrative body of tiie gOTernment was
almost completely
disorganised.
Where one man
was for the union
two were for the
rights of secession.
Resignations and
dismissals alternat
ed. The President
was unable to meet
the crisis adequate
ly. A great Presi
dent might have
averted the Civil
OKHXRAI. BIX.
War as Andrew Jackson -had averted
it ' during his administration. But
James Buchanan was not one of the
great Presidents.
The country was in a state of apa
thy. The North wes appalled at the
treachery of some of the 'higher offi
cials in Washington.' . The South was
busily making preparations ' for the
Inevitable conflict.
It was at this time that President
Buchanan appointed John Adams Dix
of New York Secretary of the Treas
ury. Di t nce ordered Captain
Breshwood, who commanded the rev
enue cutter at New Orleans, to sail to
New York. The captain was' a Con
federate and proposed to turn Ms ves
sel over to the Confederate govern
ment, whereupon DtxT sent this order:
"If any man attempts to haul down
the "American flag, shoot him on the
spot" ' '". ' :; . V ' ,
A sentiment so loyal and so fear
lessly uttered awakened In the North a
lofty enthusiasm for the flag and. the
cause of the Union. In the midst of a
vacillating government a man and a
patriot had been found. The order of
Dix became tne watchword and the
battle cry of the Union. ,
BLE88INQ OF THE WATEP&
Quaint Ceremony . Observed Wherever
the Greek Charch Holds Sway.
There is a .quaint ceremony of the
annual -blessing of the waters which
may be ('witnessed In any -country
where the Greek Church exists. The
ceremony takes place during the first
two months of the year and is always
attended with great demonstrations
and rejoicings, particularly in Rouma
nian Russia and Bulgaria. '
"Great preparations are made the day
before the ceremony; The route is set
apart leading from the church to the
spot on the quay which has been -se
OF ARSON.
which the fire insurance companies were
defrauded.
The gang sought as confederates most
desperately in debt, who were possessed
of buildings or chattels heavily insured o
capable of being so Insured. When such
a man was found one of the gang; likely
enough a respected business acquaintance
of the victim intimated 'to him, carnally
or Jestingly, that a fire would provide
timely relief from pressing obligations.
When the power of suggestion had
had time to do its work, the man was ap
proached by another of the gang ready
to 5!talk business,"
According to the confessions of eem-
victed members, these advances Were al
most never repulsed.
The following summary of facts tells '
of the dpings of the northwestern Ohio
gang of firebugs:
Gang organized in 1874. Numbered
from IS to 20 men.
Incendiarism ' plaeed on commercial
basis. Burned buildings for from $10 to
$100. , ;-' J
Operated for 28 years ' throughout
northwestern Ohio, . 1 c
Estimated losses to insurance com
panies in that time $1,500,000. Insur
ance Josses so heavy that the State Leg
islature created a State fire marshal's
department.
The gang exposed two years ago by the
marshals. Over 40 indictments returned.
Eighteen men sent to penitentiary. Many
fled from country to escape exposure.
Two members of the gang committed
suicide, fearing arrest. t
One turned State's evidence and com
fessed, implicating many prominent men.
lected for the ceremony, s carpet of
straw being laid down. It Is usually
a bitter cold day, but the people aro
eager and .happy. They arrive on foot
or in sledges, dressed in the pictur
esque national attire., All of. the horses
ere gayly decorated with worsted fa
vors and tassels. '
On the quay a layman Is actively en
gaged in stirring a barrel of water to -keep
it from freeslng. At 10 o'clock,
heralded by the sound of many brass
Instruments, the . priests leave the
church, preceded by a troop of cavalry.
With them are borne numbers of re
ligions emblems and . banners. Tne
priests chant as they march to the
quay, where they go through the "spe
cial form of blessing the .waters of tbe
country. - No matter how severe ths
weather no word of the long service
is omitted.
The water is distributed among ths
people, who treasure the few drops
which fall to their share as an anti
dote against the evil eye and other
fearsome ills. The straw Is eagertjr
grabbed up after the ceremony to per
form the same office for horses and
cattle. Until a few years ago it was
the custom to' rat a hole in the ice of
a stream and into this hole a cross was
cast. The Roumanian men dlvea for
this snd the fortunate man could car
ry it for three days and collect money.
Doable Faaiihmeiit.
A young woman went into a New
York restaurant for her lunch, but aft
er a glance at the tablecloths and a
sniff of the close 'air, says the New
York Sun, she decided not to eat. there,
and started to go out. The proprietor
thought that she was leaving without
pajring for a meal, and Stopped her.
In order to avoid hurting his feelings
by telling the truth,, the girl said: .
. "I find 'I have, forgotten my purse,
so I can't eat here now." She was
hurrying on, but the generous man's
heart was touched.
"My dear girl," he exclaimed, "yon
sit right down and eat! No young
woman is going out of my place hun
gry because she hasn't her money with
her. You eat now, and to-morrow you
can come in and pay me."
The young woman sat miserably
down and tried to eat, and as she left,
hiding her purse, she wailed: "That's
what I get for lying! And I've got to
come around to this place again to
morrow, too!"
. leather's Fireworks.
-"In my lecture on mediaeval history
I was giving an account of the spec
tacular burning by Martin Luther of
the papal bull which put him outside
of the Church of Rome," said a Co
lumbia college . professor. "The next
day I found this in the notebook of
one of the students who had heard the
lecture: r : - ;
" 'Luther gives a vaudeville show,
accompanied by fireworks,;" !
When a farmer wants to say that a
building has been remodeled, he says
it has been "worked Over."
1