THF. MASTER OF YHE HOUSE. He cannot walk, he cannot speak, Nothing he knows of books or men; He is the weakest of the weak, And has not strength to hold a pen. He has no pocket and no purse, Nor ever yet has owned a penny; He has more riches than his nurse, Because he wants not any. He rules his parents by a cry, And holds them captive by a smile A despot strong through infancy, A king through lack of guile. ne lies upon his back and crows. Or looks with grave eyes on his mother. What can he mean? But I suppose They understand each other. Indoors or out, early or late, There is no limit to his sway, For, wrapped in baby clothes of stat?, He governs night and day. Kisses he takes as rightful due, And Turk-like has his slaves to dress him; His subjects bend before him, too I'm one of them, God bless him! Standard. THE BOND BETWEEN THEM. MRS. LORDIN uttered a faint, frightened cry as a dripping little figure came into her pres ence that summer afternoon and put up both hands, saying: "l'se been iu ze river, mamma." She folded the boy to her in an em brace that soiled her immaculate bodice and dampened the frizzes on her fore head. Wet-eyed aud alarmed she asked for an explanation. Reggie gave it In his childish treble. "So it was Gen. Dartmouth saved you, my child?" half sobbed the haughty beauty, forgetting everything in her ecstasy of joy over the return of her boy, her very all, from the swift waters of the river. He had fallen In while at play, and the angry current was whirling him onward . to the rapids below. Gen. Dartmouth, austere and stately, was taking his usual afternoon promenade when the accident occurred. Although the child's screams brought many people to the scene none ven tured to risk life save the General. He sprang at once into the river and snatched the boy from death at great risk to himself. He treated the affair very coolly, and himself carried Reggie to the door of his own home, and bade him go at once to his mother. Then the dark-faced man with military bearing went to his hotel ind exchanged his wet garments for dry ones. Mrs. Lordln was one of the group of very pretty women at the Riverside Resort. She had been a guest at Wil low cottage a month when her boy met with his mishap. She had noticed Gen. Dartmouth for the first time a week earlier. He had passed her once, lift ing his hat with cool decorum. A hot fire had leaped into Millis Lordln's cheeks, and her heart gave a sharp bound; then the blood receded, leaving her very pale. "How dared he Intrude here?" she thought. "I knew he was at Oakland earlier In the season, and sought this secluded nook, hoping to avoid the sight of his hateful countenance." To-day, with little Reggie folded against her wildly beating heart, Millis Lordin realized how much she owed to the General. She sat swaying back nud forth, the tears coursing down her cheeks. The thought of what might have been had he not been at hand when the cruel waters closed over the blonde head of Reggie quite unnerved the woman of the world. She straightened herself up at length and sent the boy to his nurse. A maid entered with a card; it bore the name of George Dartmouth. "It Is well," she said, "I will see him and have it over as soon as possible. How I hate that man! Why has fate been so unkind as to permit him to do me a service?" She entered the drawing-room, never looking more beautiful, ndt even in the t hour when she stood at the altar of the old South church, a bride of 18, seven years before. Her visitor turned from surveying a picture on the wall as she entered. Her visitor was very pale. She grew rigid the moment their eyes met. She noticed a great change in him since the hour of their parting, now some years in the past There was a whitening of the abundant hair at the temples, a thinning of the cheeks, and a slightly perceptible stoop of the stal wart frame. He was only five and for ty. It seemed to her that he had aged with unnecessary rapidity. "I called to inquire after the boy, Mil lis," said he, without offering his hand. Doubtless he wished to save himself from rebuff. "ne met with no harm. How can I thank you enough. Gen. Dartmouth?" cried Millis, forgetting herself fof the moment, and extending both bands to ward her visitor. Then she suddenly bethought herself, and withdrew her hands as swiftly as she had advanced them. His clear gaze ruffled her, and she looked aside, dumb and confused. "I assure you, Mrs. Lordln, I am amply repaid for the little Incon venience the affair caused me by learn ing of the boy's escape from injury," paid the General, his gaze lingering on the fair face of the woman haughtily. An awkward silence followed. The drawing-room contained no other occu pants save these two. Had they been friendly the hour and place was every way calculated for a delightful tete-a-tete. "I wish I might repay yon In some way, General. Reggie Is ray all; had the fates been unkind and permitted Mm to drown I should have been in despair. "Is that all you have to say to me, Millis?" She bowed coldly. He regarded that pale, haughty face one moment, and a great agony rushed over his soul He trembled throughout bis stalwart frame; one moment thus, then he walked to the door; on the threshold be paused unintentionally. "I got away from nurse and come to see you, Uen'raL" cried a shrill, child ish voice. Two small hands clutched the wrists of Dartmouth, and tried to draw him back Into the room. "&, mamma's cry'u'; won't you say some fin' to her. please?" The General, taken by surprise, faced about and caught sight of Mrs. Lordln with her handkerchief to her eyes. The sight seemed to move him strangely. He suffered Reggie to draw him across the carpet toward his mother. "Mamma, don't cry; the Gen'ral wants to speak to you. Tell her not to J cry, Gen'ral. Her Reggie ain't drowned. Tell mamma how you did It, please, Mr. Gen'ral." The child's voice had a pleading ring, and Its very sound seemed to effect the soldier deeply. Ho suddenly lifted the boy in his arms and pressed him close ly to him, Imprinting a kiss on the smooth, soft cheek. And Reggie flung both arms about the General's neck and kissed him in turn, seeming pleased at the friendli ness of the man whose name was in everybody's mouth, since he had re cently received his party's nomination to Congress. "Reggie," cried his mother, "go back to nurse at once, you naughty boy!" The "naughty boy" looked appeallng ly at his champion. The General stood irresolute, regarding him with a long ing expression. "He is our boy, Millis," he said, and then started and trembled at the sound of his own voice. He seemed to realize that he had ven tured on dangerous ground, and in this he was not mistaken. She turned upon him with the menace of an aroused tigress. "Not yours, but mine, George Dart mouth!" cried she, hotly, caressing the blonde curls that lay clustered like spun gold against her skirts. "Think you I would permit hlra to bear your name after the act of his father made him an orphan, in part, at least? From that hour, three years ago, he has been Lordin, and the name of Dartmouth has not been mentioned to him. He knows you not; his father died years ago, and this boy will never know him as he really was. Go now, before " A stern, almost angry look appeared on the face of the listening man while the woman talked. He felt a keen sense of wrong now, and resolved not to permit her words to pass unchal lenged. "Madame," said he, "I would have quitted your presence before now but for this boy, I repeat It, our boy. You had no right to take from him the name of his father. It is an honorable one. No act of mine has ever tarnished it." "Think a moment," coolly interrupt ed the beautiful woman. . "What do you mean?" "Do honorable men desert their wives and children? Was it a mark of manli ness to fly from home, from wife and boy In the hour of financial calamity?" "But you had means, Millis; and I knew that you would not be happy with me after my fortune was gone." "Ah! You knew this?" "Yes. I was an austere man of 40 while you were young and vivneious. I was blind enough to think you loved me. I did not know till It was too late that it was my standing and wealth you craved. You filled a high niche In the social world and was satisfied. My heart hungered for love, It was satisfied until the truth dawned one fatal day." "The truth?" She seemed to have lost her resent ment, and was interested in what he was saying. Reggie cowered In his mother's skirts and listened, wonder ingly, to the conversation he did not understand. "That it was for money and social position you married your father's middle-aged friend." "You say you learned this one fatal day?" "Yes, by merest accident. I had gone out, but missing my glove, returned to overhear words uttered in the conserv atory by you." "Indeed!" "You were talking with your bosom friend, Almeda Winans. I heard plain ly what was said. She laughingly re minded you of a former lover of yours, Albert Turner. In reply you said if It hadn't been for my money and stand ing you might have been Mrs. Turner instead of an old man's slave." "Did I say that?" The woman's face was white as death, and she seemed scarcely to breathe. He stood up tall and stern, continuing: "The truth hurt me terribly. I felt like a criminal. Although there had been no coercion on my part, I could see that my money hnd won you aud I was miserable. I think, but for our baby boy, I should have been coward enough to take my own life. The rev elation of that hour broke my heart. Scarcely a month later tne collapse of a bank nearly ruined me. I had $50,- 000 In bonds; these I turned over to you through a friend, then quitted your presence forever. I knew . that you could obtain a divorce at the end of two years for desertion." "It was to please me, that you left me?" the woman asked hurriedly. "Certainly. I knew you wished to be free from bonds that were galling now that wealth was gone." "Gen. Dartmouth, what if I tell you that I never received those bonds you speak of?" asked she with changing color. "What if I tell you that my bos om friend, Almeda Winans, disap peared at the same time you did, and that gossips coupled your names? What I said that day In the conserva tory was the idle prattle of a silly girl, and meant nothing whatever?" "You did not receive the bonds?" "No. I have lived on the little left me by my father, who died soon after your disappearance. I have had to bear the stigma of being spoken of as a deserted wife. Can you blame me if 1 almost hated you?" "Perhaps not, but I meant It for the best Are jrou sure you were not In earnest when you told your friend that you married old Dartmouth for his money, Millis?" "Was I so wicked as to say that?" "1 think my memory serves me cor rectly." Mrs. Lordin had sudden recourse to her handkerchief. The General stood in an embarrassed attitude. ' "It was the boy who brought us to gether, Millis. For bis sake may we not part friends?" ne held out his hand. She did not see the movement her eyes being hid den In the handksrchlef. Reggie quick ly divined the situation and seized and conveyed bis mother's band to that of the Genera L "We part friends, I hope, Millis?" "Y-e-s, If If we must part, George," faltered a small voice from behind the handkerchief. "Millis, do you mean" '' - I mn that I have been a silly fool," she said. "I I never loved any one but you. Can you ever forgive me, George?" The pitiful little sob that accom panied the request quite did the busi ness for the General. He stepped i;tr er to her aud said eagerly: "It is my opinion that we have Irotb been foolish, Millis. If It were 'not foi that divorce " "There has been no divorce, George." "Is it possible? Then you are still Mrs. Dartmouth?" He trembled like one in a chill. "I am still your wife, George," she murmured. While he stood Irresolute a small voice piped from below. "Kiss mamma, Gen'ral! Kiss mam ma!" And Gen. Dartmouth did.-. Waverley Magazine. TOO SMART FOR HERRMANN. A Card fharp Who Beat the Wizard by Losing to Uim. "The dead magician, Herrmann, loved nothing better than a game ol poker, and by his wizard touch could manipulate the cards beyond the possi bility of detection if he so willed," said R. W. Scully, of Boston. "But Herrmann scorned to do any thing crooked. If he ever cheated he did so for a joke and Invariably re funded any money won by his art. Once he was tricked in a very funny way. He got into a two-handed game with a noted Western gambler who was almost as expert as Herrmann. The latter had been told to look out fot this man, but he hadn't the slightest doubt of his ability to protect himself, "The pair sat in to play freeze-oui for big money. Herrmann had a lol of rather worn paper currency and some gold and silver, while the pro fessional had mostly crisp new bills of large denomination. The game was warm and very interesting, but Herr mann had the best luck, and he man aged to get hold of the new bills of high figure, the gambler acquiring the old notes and a major part of the coin. Herrmann quit a heavy winner, and then said to his opponent: 'I want you to take back all the money I have won of you, for I did not play fairly. I wouldn't keep a dollar unless I had won it on the square.' "To his surprise the gambler abso lutely refused to accept the offer. 'I played just as crookedly as you did,' he said, 'and whenever a man beats me at my own game he Is welcome to my money.' All efforts of the magi cian to get him to reconsider were un availing, and finally Herrmann went away with about $800 of the fellow's new currency, while the gambler took off something like $300 that he bad ac quired from the wizard. "Later on the wizard saw the method In the professional's madness. He was telling some friends of his queer ex perience while taking a drink in a bar room, and Herrmann, saying he was enough ahead to set-up the wiue, offer ed a $50 bill in payment. The bar keeper, affer a second's hesitation, handed him back the money. It was a counterfeit, and so was all the rest That was Herrmann's last game of poker outside his own circle of personal friends." FATHER OF AN EMPRESS. Played Zither for Money and Bnid HU Dannhter Had Married Well. The death of the Empress Elizabeth of Austria has brought out many stories of her and her family. Some of tho most interesting are about her and her family. Some of the most Interesting are about her father, the Duke Maximilian. This man was a re markably simple and genial character. Once he was making a pedestrian tour and stopped in a small tavern to eat. He had a zither with him, and some guests asked him to play, thinking, on account of his plain clothing, that he was a strolling musician. He obeyed readily and played everything that he could think of till coins rained into his hat Then he ordered a meal that was so expensive for a strolling musician that the tavern-keeper became suspi cious that his strange guest Intended to run away after eating without pay ing. There was hesitation about serv ing the food, and while the Duke was waiting a corporal of one of his regi ments entered the inn. He saluted, much to the Duke's embarrassment, who threw the money for the meal on the table and ran away, says the New York Press. Once the Duke was In a train travel ing to Vienna to visit the Imperial fam ily. In the coupe with him was a bank er, who, misled by his fellow traveler's simplicity, patronized hlra, and In the course of a conversation told him that be had a daughter in Vienna who had married very well. She was, he boast ed, the wife of one of the richest bank ers in the city. "So?" said the Duke. "Wrhy, that is quite a coincidence. I have a daughter In Vienna who has married very well, too." "Who Is the husband of your daughter, my good man?" asked the banker, and In bis most harmless tone Maximilian an swered, "the Emperor of Austria." An Heroic Lad of Long Ago. "In "The Field of the Cloth of Gold," In St. Nicholas, Roberta B. Nelson says that It was not King Henry VIII., or Philip I. of France, but the peasant lad, Victor Bacbeaux, that was the hero of the day. When 200 young Frenchmen were appointed to storm a hill held by the English archers, their flag was given to him, to bear against the foe. And gallantly he bore It in the face of cannon-balls and flying ar rows; though his companions turned tall and fled down the hill, believing, as be did, that It was a real, and not a sham, battle that they were engaged In. But the English gunners and artbers had been Instructed to aim above the heads of their assailants, and the gal lant boy was welcomed with chers when he reached the summit of the hill. A Little More Appropriate. "Your wife?" asked the casual ac quaintance as the aggressive-looking woman passed. "WelL" replied the little man, doubt fully, "perhaps it would be a little more appropriate to say that I am her hus band." Indianapolis Journal. Matrimonial Item. "Maud says she would be willing to marry If the proper man came along." "And I guess he would not have to be any too proper at that." Cincinnati Enquirer. - PHILIPPINE CONGRESS Authorizes Aguinaldo to De clare War. NATIVE WOMEN WANT TO FIGHT An American Sentry Kills a Captain ol - Philippine Artillery at Tonto. Manila, via Hong Kong, .Tan. 38. Republica, the official organ of the Filipinos, announces that congress at Malolos has adopted a Philippines con stitution, passed a vote of confidence in Aguinaldo and empowered him to de clare war on the United States when ever he may deem it advisable At a mass meeting of the women of Cavite yesterday, the paper adds, it was en thusiastically resolved to petition Aguinaldo for permission to take the men's places, in defense of independ ence and to bear arms if neceessary. An American sentry yesterday killed a captain of the Filipino artillery at Tonto outpost. As a result the native press is intensely excited and denounce it as a "cowardly assassination." On Saturday, January 21, five Fili pinos determined to have revenge for the captain's death and attempted to enter the American lines. An Ameri can sentry killed one of them, who was armed with a revolver. After an exchange of shots, the others were ar rested. The incident has intensified exoitement here. The cabinet yesterday insisted on the liberation of Spanish civil prisoners, in commemoration of the proclamation of the Filipinos republic and also do nated money to the native clergy. An elaborate programme lias been arranged for formal ratification of the constitution today. Nothing was ac complished at tho conference liore yes terday, and it is rumored the Filipinos at their next meeting will give the Ameroans eight days in which to accede to their demands for recognition. The rumor is discredited. CYCLONE SWEPT THE SEAS. Many Persons Drowned and Much Prop erty Destroyed. Victoria, B. C, Jan. 28. The steamer Aorangi, from Australasia, brings details of the teriible cyclone which swept tho South seas about the middle of December, devastating vil lages, wrecking shipping and causing many deaths. At Samarai, in New Guinea, on December 11, the gale was terrific Cocoa palms went down by hundreds and wero carried to. sea. Torrents of rain fell. Twelve vessels were wrecked. The cutters Mayflower and Nabua were total wrecks at Baailiaki. The ketohes Bebem and Baidan were lost off Goodenough island, and Mr. Ken nedy, manager of the New Guinea De velopment Company, was drownod, to gether with his crew, save one boy. The schooner Ellen Gowan and the cutter Ivy were lost in the Kossraan group and Captain Qodet and crew were drowned. In the Solomons the hurricane did the most damage, whole villages being destroyed. Hundreds of oocoa planta tions were uprooted and yam patches leveled. Over 500 natives are report ed to have been killed. Captain Pentoonst, of the yacht St. Aubin, who brought the news of the disaster to Sydney, says he saved a woman who was to have been killed as a soroeress, she being accused of having caused the hurrioane. . He bought her, the purchase price being a pig, and took her to another Uland, where she was released. Urging Release of Prisoners. New. York, Jan. 28. Through the French embassy here Spain has again urged the United States to procure the release ot Spanish prisoners held by the Philippine insurgents. Information officially received by the Madrid gov ernment from the Philippines shows that the lives of Spanish vomen and children, as well as men are in danger and that the prisoners are not receiv ing proper treatment. -Secretary Hay replied that General Otis had been instructed to give im mediate attention to the matter, but this government has made no promises to obtain the release of the prisoners. It is the growing belief that they will be able to obtain the release of the prisoners only by force. The Search Abandoned. New Orleans, Jan. 28. Lawrence Jones, owner of the ill-fated launch Paul Jones, which was lost near Breton island about January 6, with all on board, and Mayoi Taggart, of Indian apolis, whose daughter was among the party, have returned to the city from down the river after having made a fruitless search for some trace of the victims of the disaster. They only found some wreckage, among which is a part of the stern of the launch. Strike Blots In Russia. London, Jan. 28. There have been serious strike riots in the cotton mills of the St. Petersburg district. The police, while attempting to raid the workmen's barracks in order to arrest a ringleader, were attacked by the work men, one policeman being killed. Oklahoma Want to lie a Stale. Gutherie, O. T., Jan. 28. The ter ritorial statehood convention has re solved for a constitutional convention in June and a state election in October on a proposition to go to corigrc and demand admission in December. Accident on the New York. New York, Jan. 28. While cleaning a boiler in the cruiser New York today six men were injure. seriously by es caping steam. One of them will die. Three others were scalded slightly. Seattle, Jan. 28. The steamer Rosalie, arriving tonight from Alaska, brings news that the fishing schooner St. Lawrence, of Seattle, has been wrecked on Turnabout island in Fred erick sound, Alaska. Her crew se cured Indian oh noes and made their way td Jtfneaa. They were three weeks making the voyage, and suffered many hardships. A dispatch from Coliina, Mexico, states that the volcano of that name is in full aotivity. An outburst of smoke followed by lava, occurred directly sf ter the earthquake Friday. BUTLER'S AMENDMENT. Ae Proposes to I' tot I do for ex-Confederate Soldiers. Washington, Jan. 28. As the senate seemingly was about to conclude con sideration of the pension appropriation bill, Butler (Pop. N. O.) 'offered his amendment announced some time ago, providing for the pensioning of ex-Confederate soldiers. Upon this he took the floor and delivered a speech which, as he proceeded, developed into a most unexpected utterance. While his col leagues on both sides of the chamber listened with interest, Butler defended the position taken by the South dur ing the great civil conflict of a third of a century ago. He declared that the South was right, and that history would so record, and that every shot fired by a Southern soldier was fired in defense of the rights of his state constitution, in self-defense, and in defense of his home and fireside. The amendment was finally with drawn. Mallory (Fla.) was then recognized. He said that in the very face of the declaration of our disinterestedness in Cuba we proposed to take Porto Rico and the Philippines. He thought wa ought not to be inconsistent. We could not, therefore, afford to take the Philippines, although in the case of Porto Rico the case might fairly be re garded as different. The Philippines, he said, were 7,000 miles away from our shores, and inhabited by a people with which we could have nothing in common a people who were semi-barbarous, if not absolutely savage. He complained that if the treaty of peace should be ratified, the inhabitants of the Philippines, from 7,000,000 to 10, 000,000 in number, would have the right to come to this country and com peV'i with our own laborers, and if'thoy did not actually come here, they would have the right to send their products here to compete with those of our own laborers. The senate committee on commerce has agreed to report favorably Hanna's Bteamship subsidy bill. Without preliminary business, the house todav resumed consideration of the army bill. The debate drifted into a discussion of the government's new island possessions, and lasted until 5 P. M. At the night session the fea ture was an hour s speech by White (Rep. N. C.) the only colored mera bor of .the house, against the election methods in the South. At 11:14 the house adjourned. Irving Coming to America Again. New York, Jan. 28. The Herald says: "Sir Henry Irving is now in active negotiations by mail and cable with several American managers look ing to the completion of his plans for the tour of America, whioh he will make next season. He lias personally communicated to them the ideas he has in mind for the trip. "Sir Henry Irving's present inten tion is to pioduce 'Robespierre,' his new Sardou play, at the Lyceum in London at Easter, anil his engagement there will last until well into the sum mer, At its termination and after a short rest he will sail for America early in October. His stay in America will be limited to 20 weeks, and in that time it is his wish to visit all the prin cipal cities. He is particularly anxious , to play in San' Franosico, where his previous engagement several years ago I was remarkably successful in evury way. Cubans Welcome Lee. Havana, Jan. 28. General Lee re turned to camp tonight from a trip to the southeastern part of the province, ending at Guinea, which is the next largest town after Havana. The jour ney was made with a team of mules along the highway and the return by rail. A battalion of the Fourth Illinois preceded General Lee, and was en camped there upon his arrival. The American troops were welcomed everywhere, and their presence was made the occasion of demonstrations. General Lee reooived an enthusiastic welcome at Guines. Insurgent troops escorted him, and the town was deco rated with American and Cuban flags. Chinese In Hawaii. Honolulu, Jan. 28. The supreme oourt this morning rendered an opinicn in the eight Chinese habeas corpus cases submitted last week. It sustains Jurisdiction, but gives the collector general of custom's authority to enforce United States laws. Chief Justice Judd concurs in the first proposition, but dissents from the second one. The Chinese will appeal from the de cision to the secretary of the tieasury. Customs of Santiago. Havana, Jan. 28. As a result of a conference between Governor-General Leonard Wood, governor of the military department of Santiago, a mutual un derstanding lias been reached regarding the customs receipts at Santiago. San tiago's 1280,000 will not be used in other provinces, but will be mortgaged to defray the cost of works now under way. Another Earthquake. Kingston, Jamaica, Jan. 28. A severe earthquake shock was felt throughout the island on Saturday morning, and was followed by another on Tuesday night, the direction being from west to east. No damage has been reported. The Northern West Indies are telegraphically cut off. The reason is unknown, but in all proba bility it is due to an earthquake. A Schoolboy's Crime. Albany, Mo., Jan. 28. T. B. Hun ter, a teacher in the Adams school, 12 miles northeast of here, iiai been fatal ly stabbed by a 18-year-old pupil named Charles Ayres, whom he was whipping. The boy is in jail here. Christiania, Jan. 28. United States Senator Knuto Nel son, of Minnesota, American commissioner to the Bergen exposition, and O. T. Thorpe, of Chi cago, have been gazetted Knights of St. Olaf. Washington, Jan. 28. The presi dent talked with a number of callers from congress today about the peace treaty. He expressed eatisfacftion that an agreement had been reached for a vote and expressed confidence in the result. The president told his callers the.-e was need for prompt action, and the situation as one that should not be prolonged. An amendment has been offered te the sundry oivil bill in the senate ap propriating 120.000,000 to pay Spain, in accordance with the terms of the peace treaty. NEWS OF NORTHWEST Items of General Interest Gleaned Prom the Thriving Paelila States. Vo Freese Out Americans The government measure recently enacted into law, and aimed at the Amerioans in the Atlin district, pro vides for the amendment of tfie placer mining act, providing that no one who is not a British subject shall take out a free miner's license, and that no company shall have the ame lioense unless incorporated or registered under the laws of the province. The act is not retrospective. Licenses take out previously may be renewed, but under a renewed license no one is entitled to take up new claims. Section 5, which is the most far-reaching, pro vides that no free miner after the pas sage of this act shall hold any claim under the British Columbia placer mining act or an interest therein as trustee or otherwise for any person who is not a British subject, or for any corporation not authorized to take out a free miner's certificate. A miner's license taken out by any person not authorized to do so by this section shall be null and void. This section shall not affect free miners' licenses issued before the coming into force of this seotion, and such licenses may be renewed from time to time. The only neoessitites for a person to become naturalized are that the applicant is a poison of good character and has re sided in the Dominion for three years. For Upper Yukon Within the next two weeks three river steamers constructed on the plan of Missouri river craft will be taken in sections to Lake Bennett, where they will be put together ready for service when navigation on the Upper Yukon opens. The machinery and ma terial for the vessels weighs 340 tons. The steamers will draw 12 inches light tnd S4 feet when loaded. The ca pacity of each will be 400 passengers and 200 tons of freight. Sale of Big Steamships. Anthony T. Prichard and Charles Stewart, of Tacoma, have sold to the North American Mail Steamship Com pany, a corporation organized under the laws of the state of Washington: Steamships Olympia, consideration, $150,000; Tacoma, $127,500; Victoria, $240,000. These vessels were formerly operated by the Northern Pacific Steam ship Company between Tacoma and the Orient, and reoontly received Ameiicau registers. To Close Up Cannery Combine. It is reported that A. B. Hammond has left New York for Astoria. Upon his arrival he will close up the cannery combine deal if it is possible. In the event of the combine being consum mated, it is said, by one who is fa miliar with the plans of theooinbine, some new and important features will be introduced, one of which will bo the development of the deep-sea fishing industry. To Buy a Sunken Ship. A joint stock company is being formed at Tacoma to buy and raise the sunken ship Andulnna in- ease the insurance company decides not to at tempt the almost impossible task of raising her themselves. The ship sank in the Tuooma harbor during a storm recently. First of a New Line. The steamer Belgian King, the first of the fleet of fine vessels of the Cali fornia & Orinetal Steamship Company plying between Hong Kong, Yokohama and San Diego, Cal., lias ariived. Over 200 carloads of freight are await ing shipment on the return trip to the Orient. Embezzler Sentenced. W, H. Donaca, the 22-year-old post master at Sweot Home, Or., who em bezzled $1,257 postal funds, was sen tenced by United Stales Judge Bellin ger, at Portland. He was fined $1,257 and sentenced to six months imprisonment in the county jail. Pnget Sound Export. The exports of Puget Sound cus toms district for the month of' Decem ber, 1808, exceed imports by $1,584, 404. Imports for the month were valued at $1811,703, while exports amount to $1,728,257. The duly col lected was $19,872.83. A Large Mortgage. The largest mortgage ever recorded In Wasco county, Or., was that execut ed recently by the Columbia Southern railroad at The Dalles, in favor of the New York Seouiity & Trust Company. The consideration is $3,100,000. Mustering Out Volunteers. Captain Taylor, mustering officer, was given official notice to tho officers and members of the Eighth California volunteers, tbut they will be mustered out of the service of the United States cn Tuesday next. The Badger Gold-Alining Company, of Susanville, Or., has within the last ix weeks shipped 75 tons of ore to the Selhy smelling works at San Francisco, the values ranging between $100 and $300 per ton. During his incumbency of the ex ecutive of Oregon, Governor Lord granted 55 pardons, and 03 pardons to restore citizenship, and commuted 23 sentences. The three bridges across Yellowhawk, on the Walla Walla cemetery road, have been reported washed away, and travel is impossible. The heavy grade a mile above Mar cus, Wash., in tho plane commonly known as the Seven Devils, lias slid down on the railway track of the Spo kane Fulls & Northern railway, caus ing a complete blockade of the line, and necessitating a transfer of all busi ness. It is probable a week will elapse before tiie blockade is broken. Spokane hackmon have organized and have raised the rates. They still carry passengers from any of the depots to Howard street for 25 cents, with the usual extra baggage charges. If the passenger desires to go beyond Howard street, however, 60 cents is charged. About 4,000 feet of the Astoria Rail road Company's track between Clifton and Svenson has been torn up by a slide and oarried into the river. Miss Millie A. Wilson will ma Olympia for $5,000 damages stiHt.tineJ bv fitllioa throuah a sidewalk last July Ylce-Consul Advanced. Wellesley Moore, British vice-consul (n San Francisco, has been advanced to the consulship at Porto Rico, W. I., to succeed George W. Crawford, who died at aen, France, recently. Mr. Moore's head clerk, Montague Hankin, has been advanced to the position of vice consul. at Buenos Ayres. Government Control of Locks. The preliminary proceedings looking to the purchase by the government of the locks at Oregon City have been taken by the secretary of war, under whose jurisdiction the matter comes. He has been authorized to report to congress, after making a thorough in vestigation, as to the amount of money needed for this entire enterprise. Lower Kate on Prunes. Fiuitraisers in the vicinity of Spo kane are asking for lower rates on green prunes to St. Paul, The present rate on apples is 75 cents, and on mixed fruit $1.12. The fruit men want the rate on mixed fruit reduced to 87 cents, and they Btate that the prune in dustry cannot live unless this reduc tion is made. Settling an Estate. Transfers to the amount of $18,000 in deeds were made in connection with the estate of Henry Buokman, at Port land, this past week. It was simply the Bottling up and division of the state of the deoeased, who died in testate. Increase In Insurance Business. Insurance Commissioner Clunie, of San Francisco, has made a report show ing that the amount of insurance writ ten on the Pacific coast in 1808 was $656,057,005, an increase over 1897 in the former total of $160,000,000, and n the latter of $2,400,000. The coast losses omountod to $5,638,021 last year, and $4,040,541 in 1897. PACIFIC COAST TRADE. Seattle Markets. Onions, 8590o per 100 pounds. Potatoes, 15$20. Beets, per sack, 75c. Turnips, per sack, 50 75c. Carrots, per sack, 45 60c. Parsnips, per sack, $1. Cauliflower, 5090o per doz. Celery, 8540o. Cabbage, native and California $1.25 per 100 pounds. Apples, 85 50c per box. Pears, 60c$1.50 per box. Prunes, 60c pur box. Butter Creamery, 2Go per pound; dairy and ranch, 18 20c per pound. Eggs, 83c. Cheese Native. 1212e. Poultry Old hens, 14c per pound; spring chickens, 14c; turkeys, 16c. Fresh meats Choice dressed beef steers, prime, 7c; oows, prime, 7c; mutton, 8c; pork, 7o; veal, 68o. Wheat Feed wheat. $28. Oats Choice, per ton, $24. Hay Puget Sound mixed, $9.00 11; choioe Eastern Washington tim othy, $15. Corn Whole, $23.50; cracked, $24; feed meal, $28.50. Barley Rolled or ground, per ton, p2520; whole, $22. Flour Patent, per barrel, $3.50; straights, $3.25; California brrnds, f 3.aB7tmcfrwtieat- fttmr, -f ari por barrel, $3.00; whole wheat flour, $3.75; rye flour, $4. Millstuffs Bran, per ton, $14; shorts, por ton, $16. Feed Chopped feed, $20 22 per ton; middlings, per ton, $17; oil cake meal, per ton, $35. Portland Market. Wheat Walla Walla, 60c; Valley, 62c; Bluestem, C3o per bushel. Flour Best grades, $3.20; graham, $2.65; superfine, $2.15 per barrel. Oats Choice white, 41 42c; choice gray, 89 40c per bushel. Burley Feed barley, $2224; brew ing, $23.50 per ton. Millstuffs Bran, $17 per ton; mid dlings, $22; shorts, $18; chop, $16.00 per ton. Hay Timothy, $910; clover, $7 8; Oregon wild buy, $0 per ton. Butter Fancy creamery, 5055o; seconds, 4550o; duiry, 4045o store, 2530o. Cheese Oregon full cream, 12oj Young America, 15o; new cheese, 10c per pound. Poultry Chickens, mlxod, $2.253 per dozen; hens, $3. 50 4. 00; springs, $1.253; geese, $0.0007.00 for old, $4.50 5 for young; ducks, $5.00(3 5. CO pur dozen; turkeys, live, 15(4 16c pur pound. Potatoes 6570cper sack; sweets, 2c per pound. Vegetables Beets, 90c; turnips, 75o per sack; garlic, 7o per pound; cab bage, $1 1.25 per 100 pounds; cauli flower, 75o per dozen; parsnips, 75c per sack; beans, 8c per pound; celury 70(3 75o per dozen; cucumbers, 60u per box; peas, 83c per pound. Onions Oregon, 75c$l por sack. Hops 1517o; 1807 crop, 40o. Wool Valloy, 10 12o per pound; Eastern Oregon, 812e; mohair, 26c per pound. Mutton Gross, best sheep, wethers and ewes, 4c; dressed mutton. 7gCj spring lambs, 7Jk'c per lb. Hogs Gross, choice heavy, $4.25; light and feeders, $3.004.00; dressed, $5.006.60 pur 100 pounds. Boef Gross, top steers, 3.60$3.75; cows, $2.50(43.00; dressed beef, 6 6 Jo per ound. Veal Large, 6J7c; small, 7 8c per pound. San Francisco Market. Wool Spring Nevada, 10 12c per pound; Oregon, Eastern, 1012o; Val ley, 15 17c; Northern, 9 11c. M i 1 1st ii ffs Midd I i ncs, $22 24. 00; bran, $20.50 21.60 per ton. Onions Silverskin,6075cpor sack. Butter Fancy creamery, 24o; do seconds, 21 23c; fancy dairy, 22o; do seconds, 1820c pur pound. Fggs Store, 2627o; fancy ranoh, J728o. Hops 1898 crop, 1317o. Citrus Fruit Oranges, Valencia, $J 2.50; Mexican limes, $0.60; Cali fornia lemons, $2. 00. 800; do choioe, $3. 60 4. 60; per box. Hay Wheat, $1417; wheat an.l oat, $18 10; oat, $14 16; best bar ley, $1314; alfalfa, $1214 pur ton; straw, 60 75c pur bale. Potatoes Early Kose, $1.101.15; Oregon Burkanks. 75cfl.15; tlver Burbanks, 75o$l; Salinas Burbanks, $1 1.10 per sack. Tropical fruits Bananas, $1.25 9.60 per bunch; pineapples, $2.60 4.60; Persian dates, 66o per pound.