Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette. (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1899)
eMollie's WHEN James Redfield, of C h Ic ago, was appointed Indian Agent lie moved to Nebraska, taking with Mm his wife, a baby girl and a young Irish maid of the name of Mollie. Mr. Redileld en Joyed frontier life, it being an agreeable change from office work. But Mrs. Redfleld did not like living In a log house at a small trading post on the prairies. She declared that she would have died of .homesickness if the blithe, light-hearted Mollie had not always been cheering her with: "Ah, but this is a foine country, Mis Redfield. Jist look at the big ocean of land n-stretchin' to the end of the wurld." 'But it looks so lonesome, Mollie, to see neither hills nor trees," Mrs. Red Held would reply. '"TIs the better widout thlm, I'm thinkin'; they'd be for obstructin' our foine view," said the Irish girl. "And both day nnd night it Is so still," Mrs. Redileld said, sighing. "Do ye say it's still? Whin every night of our lolfe we hear buffalos a-bellowln' an' wolves a-howlin' an' wild InJIns a-hootin' wldin gunshot of our door. Sorra! an' ain't that noise enough for any livln' sowl?" declared Mollie O'Flynn. One Sunday morning In early spring Mrs. Redfield stood at the open door, looking out across the prairie. The skulls and whitening bones of slain buffaloes glittered In the sunlight. Crows, ravens and turkey-buzzards floated lazily between the blue sky and the brown prairie. Mollie, seeing her mistress' woeful gaze, began singing, "Come Back to Erin, Mavourneen, Ma vourneen." But Mrs. Redfleld did not heed the Irish girl's song. Then Mollie suddenly recollected that it was Sun day, so she said: "An' 'tis meself that knows that ye're listenin' fer, Mis' Red fleld; it's thlm church bells In Chicago. They was always remludin' me of me duty; but away out here I can't help meself, and so the bells do not trouble me at all, and they've left me moind almost since I've seen the grand loife on the prairies," Mollie confessed. The secret of the matter was that Mollie had three admirers: a mountain trapper, a cowboy and an Indian. At sunset of that same day the mountain trapper, on horseback, drew rein at the Indian Agent's quarters. Mollie was In the log stable, milking the cow. She heard her lover call, "Whoa!" but she did not come out to greet him for fully ten minutes, then she walked leisurely across the yard, balancing a milk-pail on her hpnd and humming an Irish mel ody, seemingly unaware of her admir er's presence. "Good-evening, Mollie," said the trap per, walking toward her, leading his horse by the bridle. "Evenln', Jim," Mollie returned, with a flourish of her free arm. "Let me carry the pail," he said. "Go 'way wid ye. I'm no weaklln'," the girl answered. Mollie went Into the house. Jim Parker waited patiently outside until she returned, then he seated himself by the side of her on the doorstep and said: "I'm hearin' you have another beau, R cowboy, Charlie Rankin by name." "It's many a beau I have; the prai ries is full of thlm " "Nonsense, Mollie; be honest. Do you think more of Charlie than you do of me?" Jim asked. "I'm fond of thlm all. 'TIs hard choosin'," Mollie answered. "But I'm the one you like best, eh, Mollie?" Jim queried, nudging her with his elbow. "Go 'long wld ye. Don't be so famil iar," Mollie quickly said, moving away from her wooer. "But, say, Mollie, who air the fellers what comes courtin' you?" Jim wanted to know. , "It's not fair to be tellin' on thlm. But there's one I'm havln' nowadays I don't be lolkin'; he creeps around like a snake In the grass; an' 'tis niver wunst I can git a good sight of him: Oh! there he is now, a-peekln' from be hind the hen-coop." "It's an Indian," said Jim, Jumping op. "Sure as faith It's one of thim hathen crathers," Mollie said. "I'll shoot him down," declared Jim Tarker, running toward the hen-coop. Mollie sat quietly on the doorstep. Jim came back In three minutes. "An' did ye kill him?" Mollie asked. "Nan, he wasn't thar," Jim answered. "He's a sly fox. I can nlver ketch sight of him," Mollie said. In a few minutes Jim said good-night to Mollie, mounted his horse and rode way. The Irish girl watched the trap per gallop eastward, saying aloud: "Tis strange, but the feller what's furtherest away I'm fer loikln' the best" As Mollie turned to go Into the house a shadow fell across the doorstep. "Ow -w! ye Ingln, git away wld ye!" she screamed, hurrying in and banging the door behind her. The next morning when Mollie was hanging out the family wash Charlie Rankin rode by. Mollie saw him, but she was too busy to take time to notice the cowboy. He rode by again; still Mollie did not look at him. The third time be came In sight Mollie nodded her head. This gave the cowboy cour age to speak. "Fine inornin', Miss O'Flynn," he aid, raising his broad-brimmed bat "I s'pose It Is; but I'm too busy to be heedln' the weather," Mollie replied. "I thought I'd call In the mornln. eeln mountain trapper takes your time every evenln'," the cowboy said, winging himself off his mustang. "Hey, thar! don't be lettln' that crazy baste of yourn bedrabble me clean elothes," the Irish girl called out The cowboy led Ms mustang away lpver$. 3 from the clothesline, and tied it to i corner of the cow stable; then he asked "How many lovers have you, Miss Mol lie O'Flynn?" "I don't be bothered countin' thim," Mollie answered. "Ain't you ever goln ter choose a hus band? Women are scarce In these parts. Won't you be my wife?" Char lie Rankin boldly said to her. "Don't be a-botherin' me on a Mon day mornln' wld such nonsense. Have ye no better work to do thin to be ridin' yer wild horse around the country a-askln' every girl ye see to be yer wife?" "Hold on, Mollie O'Flynn! I don't ask every girl to be my wife," the cowboy said indignantly. "Sorra, I've no tolme to be botherln' wid ye now, so be off, I say," Mollie said, waving her bare arms around her head. The cowboy Jumped on his mustang and sped over the prairie. Mollie, with her arms akimbo, laugh' ed a good, hearty Irish laugh. "He'll be back afore many days, or ine name ain't Mollie O'Flynn," she said aloud. Then she went into the house. Mr. Redfleld's office was a lean-to on one side of the log house. One after noon he was busy at work In there when Mollie came rushing in, saying: "I'll not be standin' it no longer. That sneakin' Injln follows me loike me THB INDIAN POINTED AT TUB TKOPHIKS, IHKN AT MOLLIS, SAYING, SQUAW. snauow. I see his hathlnlsh eyes a-peekln' at me round the cow stable whan I'm mllktn'; he's lurkin' 'bout the hen-coop whan I'm huntin' eggs; an' whan I'm washln' dishes he comes an looks in the window rolght In front of me face." - "Do you think he's an Indian 7" Mr. Redfleld calmly inquired. "Yes; an Indian wid a buckskin shirt on, an' fedders In his snaky hair," Mol lie exclaimed. "Oh, Neshoba; he's a good, peace able fellow; you needn't fear him; he'll do you no harm." "Thin why do he be a-followin' me?" the girl asked. "I'm sure I don't know, but I'll find out," Mr. Redfield said, taking his hat to go out of doors. Mollie waited in the office. In ten minutes Mr. Redfleld returned. "Mol lie," he said, smiling, "Neshoba wants you to be his squaw." "Squaw!" Mollie screamed. "Tbat's what he told me," Mr. Red fleld answered. "The black hathen! Sorra! what does he take me fer?" the Irish girl wanted to know. "He's waiting outside for an answer, Mollie," Mr. Redfleld said. "Tell him to skedaddle. I'll have nothing to do wld the loikes of him," Mollie scornfully replied. Mr. Redfleld went out to talk again with the Indian boy. When he returned he said: "Neshoba insists on having you for his squaw. He offers me two horses and a cow, If I'll give you to him " "Am I a slave?" the IrlBh girl said In a fury. "No, no, Mollie; you're a free woman. You must decide the question. I'll call him In." Neshoba came and stood at the threshold of the door. "Do ye think I'd marry ye?" Mollie asked Mm. "Three horses, two cows," the Indian meekly said, with downcast eyes. "Ye're a pretty man for a husband!" Molile screamed. "Four horses, three cows, five buf falo skins, two white wolf skins," the Indian offered. "Away wld yer' Mollie exclaimed, stamping her feet violently. "Four horses, three cows, five buf falo skins, two white wolf skins, four caribou skins," the Indian bid for his bride. Mollle's quick Irish wit came to her assistance. "I'll tell ye what I'll do," she said, with a merry twinkle in her eyes. "I'll be yer squaw If ye'U bring me fifty gray squirrel skins, a dozen mink skins, a half a dozen white wolf hides, an' the bides of two leopards, an' the hides an' antlers of four rein deer; an' ye molght bring me the wings of a white beron an' the breast of two grebe." Then Mollie added, laughing, "bring me a couple of the right-band wings of the wild turkey to brush me harth whan I'm a-keepln' me own house." The Indian boy ejaculated: "Ugh! Ugh!" Mr. Redfleld said: "Neshoba promises to get all you ask for." "All right thin be about It ye wild Injln," Mollie said, shooting Neshoba with her gingham apron. Neshoba raised his eyes and said to Mr. Redfleld: "Before snow fallls." Then be turned quickly and walked away. "Neshoba promises to return before winter," Mr. Redfleld explained to Mol lie. "It will take him all his lolfe to git all thlm hideSj" Molile said, laughing. "You've asked a good deal of the poor Indian, I think," said Mr. Redfleld. "Sure, 1 did.l want to keep him busy a-shootin wild beasts the rest of his loife, so he'll not le botherln' me all the toime," said Mollie. The winsome Irish girl stood at the door to watch her lover depart. The In dian mounted his shaggy pony and gal loped westward. Mollie gazed stead fastly after him until the horse and rider were a mere speck on the horizon. Then she gave a sigh of relief and went to work with a merry heart All summer Mollie played the co quette with the mountain trapper, the cowboy and another admirer, a Mexi can ranchman, who had traveled many a mile on hearing of the Irish girl's charms. But she baffled them all. "Away wld ye! Yer blarney I'll not listen to," she would say. At another time she would encourage them, say ing: "Arrah, some day I'll choose me husband." So the three lovers waited patiently, each thinking that he was the favored one. One evening in early autumn Mollie was busy at work In the kitchen. She heard footsteps in the yard, so she flung open the door, exclaiming: "An' who comes a-courtin' me to-night?" There stood Neshoba. Mollie could scarcely see him because of the pelts and feathers that hung from his body. "Ow ow ow! Begone, ye wild In jln!" the girl screamed. Neshoba stepped across the threshold and threw down at the feet of Mollie fifty squirrel skins, a dozen mink skins, half a dozen white wolf hides, two leop ard pelts, the bides and antlers of four reindeer, the wings of a white heron, the breasts of two grebe and two wild turkey wings. The Indian pointed at the trophies, then at Mollie, saying: "Squaw." Mollie ran to the farthermost corner of the room and climbed upon a rough beam and there she cringed upon her perch like a terrified bird, while the Indian fixed bis hawk-like glance upon her. Mr. Redfleld heard the commotion and hastened to the kitchen. When he saw Neshoba he said: "Oh, Mollie, we've played a serious Joke on the poor Indian. What shall I say to him ?" "Tell him to be dacint an' go away loike a gintleman. I'll give him money fer all his hides," said Mollie. The Indian understood Mollle's pro posal. He said, persistently: "Squaw, squaw." "Slnd him off, Mr. Redfleld; slnd Mm off!" Mollie said. Mr. Redfleld argued with Neshoba, but the Indian stood resolute, saying: "Squaw promise." Mr. Redfleld offered him money, but the Indian would not take it Mollie kept crying out: "Slnd him away or I'll die!" At last Neshoba gathered up his pelts and walked slowly out of the door. Mollie descended from the beam and fell all in a heap at Mr. Redfleld's feet, crying: "Be me sowl, I've sinned!" From that moment all the blithesome ncss died out of the Irish girl's life. A great cloud overshadowed her gay spirit. Her merry heart seemed to turn to a lump of lead; she could neither laugh nor sing. Her three lovers called daily. Mollie told them: "Me heart Is broke fer the poor Injln. I'll marry no man." Mrs. Redfleld tried to comfort the girl, but Mollie answered: "I hate- the biff prairie; It reminds me, of Neshoba. I hate this wild, hathen ish loife. Oh, poor Neshoba! I've killed the honest Injin's sowl. I must go away to a convent to find comfort" So Mollie went back East and enter ed an order of the Sisters of Mercy, where she spent the rest of her life do ing deeds of kindness to atone for her sins. Every night she prayed at her window, which faced westward, for the soul of her Indian lover. Mr. Redfield never saw Neshoba again. It was reported that he rushed unarmed into one of the Indian battles and was killed. New York Ledger. LAW AS INTERPRETED. The right of the creditors of an In solvent to the proceeds of his life in surance is denied, In Roberts vs. Win ton (Tenn.), 41 L. It. A. 275, where the only premium be has paid Is by a worthless check. The negligence of a contractor or his employe in blasting rock on a vacant city lot, causing damage to a building upon an adjoining lot Is held, in Berg vs. Parsons (N. YJ, 41 L. R. A. 301, to give no right of action against the pro prietor of the premises. A gratuitous lender of brackets for use in a staglag is held, in Gagnon vs. Dana (N. H.), 41 L. R. A. 389, not to be liable to a servant of the borrower for a defect In the brackets which the lend er did not actually know. The construction of an Insurance pol icy as to fires set by steam engines oth er than those "using coal for fuel, with sufficient wood to kindle or start the fire, Is held, in Thurston vs. Burnett & B. D. F. M. F. Insurance Company I (Wis.), 41 L. R. A. 310, to be a question ' solely for the court A statute prohibiting the deposit of sawdust in the waters of a lake, or in tributaries thereto, Is held, in State vs. Griffin (N. II.), 41 L. R. A. 177, to be a proper exercise of the police power. With this case Is a note on the statu tory protection of water used for sup plying a municipality. The fall of a staging built In a new building for use by a servant of a man ufacturer of whom decorations have been ordered for the building Is held, In Channon vs. Sanford company (Conn.), 41 L. R. A. 200, to give no right of ac tion against the manufacturer, who 111 a. X A 1 I. ..11 1 - . 1 . I Win tie bit mm. me uuiiuur wuuiu nee to the staging, although his foreman told him it would be safe. Saved Her Heal p. A remarkable surgical operation has been recently performed in Paris. A laundress bad her scalp torn off from the nape of the neck to the eyebrows by her hair catching In some belting. She was taken to the Broussals Hos pital, where Dr. Malherbe, after seeing her, sent for her scalp. He obtained It after a delay of several hours, shaved off the balr, washed it with antiseptics, and applied It In place again. The scalp has grown on to the bead. London's Infortunate Births. Over 1,000 children are born yearly In London workhouses. What baa become of the old-fashioned man wb carried his "books" home r cry rJgM after bUHlneus hours REVENUE DEFICIENCY It Will Be Larger Than Former Estimates. THE CANAL AND SUBSIDY BILLS They Cannot Be Passed at Thli Scission For Lack of Time to CoDslder. Washington, Feb. 11. Chairman Cannon, of the appropriations com mittee of the house, in the course of a general debate on the sundry civil bill today, sounded a note of warning against extravagant appropriations, and particularly served notice that neither ship-subsidy bill nor the Nicaragua canal bill could be passed at this ses sion. Although lie speoifioally dis claimed speaking for any one but him self, the statements lie made, coming fiom the chairman of the appropria tions committee, caused great inter est. Cannon made a statement of the expenditures and revenue for the pres ent fiscal year, increasing Secretary Sage's estimate of the deficiency in the revenues from $112,000,000 to $159, 000,000, exclusive of the 120,000,000 to be paid to Spain under the provi sions of the treaty of Paris. At the opening of the session of the house today, a bill to amend the war revenue act was passed, providing that when a bond or note was seoured by mortgage but one stamp should be affixed, of a higher rate due on either instrument. Among other bills passed was one granting railways. the right of way through the Nez Perces reserva tion, in Idaho; to grant Boulder, Colo., 1,800 acres of land in ti e mountains for a park; to remove the existing dis ability of Confederates, preventing them from sittina on federal, netit and grand juries (this was the last of the ' political disabilities of ex Confederates ; to be removed), and for the relief of the heirs of the late Edward De Leon, late consul-general to Egypt. The bouse then went into committee of the whole and took up the consider ation of the sundry civil appropriation bill. Cannon (Rep. 111.), in charge of the measure, made a general analysis of what it contained. It carries f 03, 928,101, but $20,000,000 id for pay ment to Spain to carry out the provi sions of the Paris treaty. Exclusive of that, the bill carries $8,095,758 less than the estimates, and $5,929,811 less than the current law. Cannon's statement of the condition of the revenues brought on a general discussion, which lasted until adjourn ment. In the Senate. Washington, Feb. 11. Several bills of minor v importance were passed by the senate this morning. One of them was to restore to their original status as to promotion officers of the navy and marine corps who lost numbers by rea son of advancement of othei officers for exceptional and meritorious service dur ing the war with Spain. Another bill passed authorized the purchase or construction of a launoh for the customs service at Astoria, Or., to cost not more than $2,600. Consideration of tiie executive, legis lative and judicial bill was then re sumed. The paragraph relating to the deposit of copyright works in the na tional library was stricken out with the intention of revising it in oonference. A brief but lively civil service de bate was preoipitated by an inquiry of Cookrell, concerning the expenditure of money for the office of supervising larohitect. He maintained that the work of the supervising architect's office was done slowly, if not badly. The construction of pulilio buildings dragged through year after year. Were those buildings being erected by private individiuals they would be completed in one season. Following a general discussion, the pending bill was laid aside, after 61 pages had been disposed of, and at 5:10, on motion of Hoar, the senate went into executive session and sooon adjourned. Army BUI Mint Pass. Washington, Feb. 11. The Post lays: "The army reorganization bill must pass or the president will call an extra session of congress. The opposi tion to the bill in the senate has al ready been frequently referred to in the Post, and the prediction made that some compromise would be agreed upon whereby legislation of a temporary character would be placed in the army appropriation bill. This will not satisfy the administration. No make-shift expedient will be accepted. The president lias determined that the passage of the army bill shall be made an issue, and there is no doubt in administration circles that he will be successful. If, however, an ob stacle should prevent action, an extra session will surely be held." An Independent I. Ine. Portland, Or., Feb. 11. Millionaire William G. Tiffany, of New York, the largest holder in the proposed Portland and Seattle road, vehemently denies that the Union Pacific or any other road will bave any interest in the new line. He states it will he entirely in dependent. More to the point, work on the road is to begin at once. The American Casual Itlee. Washington, Feb. 11. General Otis cables the war department that the to tal casualties resulting from all engage ments since the of evening February 4 aggregate 208, as follows: Killed, 8 officers, 60 enlisted men; wounded. 8 officers, 169 enlistd men; missing, enlisted men. Wichita, Kan., Feb. 11. It is re ported here that many cattle of the range are suffering from frozen hoofs. This usually proves fatal. Burned by Insurgent. Washington, Feb. 11. The navy department today received the follow ing dispatch from Dewey: "Manila. Feb. 11. After continued interference and intimidation of our workmen, I ordered the armed insur gennts to leave San Koque by 9 this morning. Many of them left during the night A few remained, and they fired the Tillage this morning. It is now ooenpied by oar troops; all quiet." Can Roqne is a village on the neck of land connecting Cavite and tbe mainland of Luzon. A STORM-SWEPT COAST. Snow, Gales nnd High Tide Prevailing on the Atlantic. Boston, Feb. 11. A howling north east snow storm has prevailed in the bay and along Massachusetts coast dur ing the past 24 hours. A three maBted schooner, name unknown is imported wrecked off Nantasket beach. The Hull lifesaving crew has sent out boat. At present writing it is not known whether or net the vessel's crew are still alive. Boston harbor was a fury of driven snow and scattered spray. The ferry boat slips were under water, and pas sengers had to wade for it The storm played havoc with prop erty along the Lynn and Swampscott shores. The exceptionally high tides swept away all buildings and de molished yachts and other small oraft lying upon the shore at Kings Beach in Swampscott. At Lynn, at high tide, the water went a considerable distance up New Washington street, flooding the oellars of several residences and making car and foot traffic difficult. The sea de molished $5,000 worth of stone break water on the front. Down on Cap Cod a howling northeast blizzard, sue! as preaviled last November on the aw ful night when the steamer Portland went down with all on board, raged all day. None of the lighships could be seen and it was Impossible to learn whether the Pollock Rip lightship was holding its moorings or not. BY TREMENDOUS SEAS. Six Men Lost Overboard From the Kin hln Marti. Vancouver, B. C, Feb. 11. The steamer Empress of Japan arrived yes' terday from Hong Kong and Yoko hama. Mail advices say that the steamer Kinshni Maru, which sailed from Seattle Deoember 28, lost six men overboard on her trip across. When two days out the wind blew a gale from the northeast with mountainous seas. Some of the crew, led by Mr. Laprack, chief officer, were seeming hitch covers and all movable fittings on the after deck, when a very heavy sea broke on board, completely filling the after deck and washing overboard the apprentice, officer and four sailors. Captain Brady at once put about in searoh of the men, but oould not find them. Several companion-ways of the Kinshui were carried away, besides large pieces of bulwarks. INVESTIGATE MILES' CHARGES. President MeKlnley Appoints Court of Inquiry. Washington, Feb. 11. The president has appointed a oourt of inquiry to ex amine into the charges touching the meat furnished during the wat with Spain and other matters involved in the charges made by General Miles against the administration of war affairs. The court will consist of Major-General Wade, Colonel George W. Daivs, Ninth infantry, and Colonel Gillespie, corps of engineers. The couif will meet in this city Feb ruary 15, to investigate the allegations of Miles as to the meat furnished the army. The oourt will also submit an opinion upon the merits of the oaso, and Miles' charges, together with such recommendations' of further proceed ings as may be warranted by the faots developed in the course of the inquiry. Miles declined to discuss the appoint ment of the oourt. TO SUCCEED EAGAN. Colonel John F. Weston to Be Com-mlssnry-Oeneral. New York, Fob. 11. A dispatoh to me i n Dune trom Washington says: General Eagan is to be placed on the retired list of the army in a few days on his own application, after 80 years' service, and Colonel John F. Weston, the senior officer of the subsistence de partment is to be nominated by the president as commissary-general of sub sistence. The arrangement for General Eagan'a retirement was made before the presi dent commuted tbe sentence of dismis sal imposed upon him by the court martial. By his retirement General Eagan will forfeit $1,875 from the annua) pay to which he would have been entitled for the next six yeais under tbe sen tence of suspension. To Bury Its Dead. Olympia, Wash., Feb. 11. Gover nor Rogers has reoeived a letter from the fathei of a young man killed in the recent engagement at Manila, ask ing the governor what, if any, provi sion would be made by the state for burial, in the event that the bodies were brought home by the United States. The governor referred the mat ter to the legislature in a special mes sage, giving his opinion that the state would honor itself by providing suit able burial for its soldiers killed in s foreign engagement. The lee King's Orasp. Chicago, Feb. 11. This city is in the grip of the coldest v. eat hoi since 1872. Twenty-two below is last night's record. About 20 persons were so no verely frostbitten during the early morning that they had to be taken from the streets to hospitals. Several por tions of the pity are suffering from lack of water, due to frozen pipes. One man was frozen to death on too street last night while intoxicated. Twenty Million Dollar Mortgage. Denver, Colo., Feb. 11. A mortgage for $20,000,000, given to the Central Trust Company, of New York city, by the Colorado & Southern railway, was filed in this county today. The rev enue stamps used aggregated $35,250. Transport Grant Passes Algiers. Algiers, Feb. 11. The United States transport Grant, which sailed from New York January 19, bound for Ma. tiila, passed here today. Another Kleh Strike. Skagway, via Viotorla, B. C, Feb. 11. The richest gold strike made for months is reported from McDonald creek. Northwest territory. The strike is close to tbe boundary line of British Columbia and tbe Northwest Territory. Tbe creek drains a natural basin that lopes down toward Lake Marsh and the Upper Yukon. The oreek is five miles long. Surface gravel gave from $1 to $3 a pan. In the country adjacent to Mc Donald creek there are innumerable, oreeks not yet prospected. The gold if coarse and assays high, AFTER A TOWNSITE. A Portion of the City of Rostra Claimed by Swan Kelson Other Coast News. Ira M. Krntz and Bogle & Rigg have begun an aotion in the superior oourt of Kititas county for the recovery of 160 acres upon which the townsite of Roslyn, Wash., is located, and the im provements of the Northern Paoiflo Railway Copmany, amounting to about $150,000. This suit is brought against the ooal company and railway com pany in .behalf of Swan Nelson, who claims under title of an application lor homestead filing, made in June, 1884, but which was rejected by the local land offioe. The main auestion involved in the contest for possession of this valuable pioperety hinges upon the validity of the railroad company's withdrawals of 1873 and 1879, and re filing of maps of definite location. Fishing Suspended. Fishing has been praotioally sus pended on the Columbia and the steel head buyers have gone out of business for the winter. The steelheads are now running up the oreeks tributary to the Columbia. Farmers on the Lewis and Clark, John Day, and other rivers are using setnets and catch enough to supply their tables with fresh fish. Occasionally a chinook salmon is taken, but these fish, with a few steelheads, are chiefly caught in the sloughs in the vicinity of Clifton. Chinooks sell at 6 cents and steelheads at 5 cents, but scarcely enough are taken to sup ply local demands. An Old Offender. A. B. Trilwud, who was found guilty in Klamath county in November, for attepting to kill J. F. Adams, has been identified by the superintendent of the insane asylum at Kankakee, 111., as Newton Ritohie, who escaped from that institution in 1881. Trilwud. or Ritohie, is serving a 10 years' sentence in the penitentiary. Profit From Cows. W. M. Allingham, of Shedd, Or., has 14 cows which he milked during Deoember and shipped the milk to Al bany creamery. He received a cheok for $98.60 for the milk during that month, besides selling $1.60 worth of milk to local parties and using plenty for his family. It is nearly an average of $7 per cow a month. . Gov. Rogers as an Author. Governor Rogers, of Washington, has received the advanoe sheets of a woik of fiction he is about to issue. The title of the work is, "Looking For ward; or, the Story of an Amerioan Farm." The work is in a sense auto biographical in character, and is out of the usual line of the executive's liter ary efforts. Price of Hay on the Rise. Hay was reported a month ago to be worth $10 per ton in the region south of Pendleton. It sold for loss when the warm weather came on; but, now that the cold has come again, hay com mands a high figure. A large quantity will be needed to feed livestock through the remainder of the winter. Artesian Well Irrigation. The Wilson artesian well, in Wide Hollow, Yakima county, Wash., is now down 1080 feet, and water has been secured sufficient to irrigate about 10 acres. Operations have been temnor- arily suspended to await the leceiut of casing, the drill having struck a stratum oi gravel. An Old Pioneer Dead. Thomas Finlayson, aged 78, a Scotch pioneer, who came to Oregon in 1802, and made the' first or second land entry in the present Bakor county, died at Baker City Innt week. The sturdy pioneer's farm is now a part of the thriving Pacific addition to this city. Found His Brother Dead. A young man named Piner died near Ellensbura last week. A sad mrnnm. stance was the arrival of a brother from tho East to visit him after a separation of eight years. The first he knew of his brother's death was when he met the party with the body. Frozen Heating Apparatus. The steam heating apparatus in the public school at Independence was frozen during tho rocent cold snap. and school had to be adjourned for a week, or until the heating apparatus oould again be gotten into working or der. Warrants Now at Par. - Umatilla county warrants are Quoted at par at Pendleton. Ordois for scrip to be issued at the March term of the county court sell for 100 cents on the dollar. Pendleton city waramts sell at 90 and 92. I.a Grande on Her Muscle. An athletic club, with 63 members. has been organized at La Grande. Tiie officers are: Dr. E. D. Steincamp, president; Dr. R. Lincoln, vice-president; F. L. Meyeis, seoretaiy and treasurer. Killed While Skating. While out skating with a number of other boys, at Independence. Or., re cently, Georgo W. Phillips fell on the Ice. His head struck forcibly, and he died in the evening. Native Sons at Ashland. A cabin of Native Sons will be or ganized at Ashland February 21. The Penny In Business. A Bakor City merchant has in augurated the custom of giving even change to customers, and finds that it takes. This puts 1-cent pieces into circulation. A Narrow Escape Eight boys and girls.who wore coast ing on a bob-sled, at Tacorna, were run over by a laundry wagon. For a won der, every one escaped without a scratch. Twenty Years In Mexico. Rev. C. II. Thompson, who succeds Rev. R. McLean, as pastor of Bethany Presbyterian church, Grants Pass, was for 20 years a missionary in Mexcio. Burned to Death. Olive Renny, 8 years old, was burned to death at Sholton, Wash., a few days ago. Her clothing oanght fire whiflj she was playing with matches. Warrant Sold at a Premium. Tacoma school warrants amounting to $10,000 were sold recently at a pre in him of 1 pel cent, New Creosoting Plant. The creosoting plant of the Southern Pacific has recently began operation at Latham, in Lane county. Huge re torts or boilers, long enough to take in piles 110 feet long, are first filled with timber, which aie then covered with creosote ami heated to a temperature of 250 degrees. This heat drives the water all out of the wood by evapora tion, and the hot creosote takes its place during an immersion of eight to twelve hours. It is claimed that piling thus treated will last 50 years. The life of untreated piles is about 10 years. Mnny Horses Perished. Reports from Gilliam county, Or., are to the effect that range horses have perished in enormous numbers during the late cold snap. Persons who trav eled over that section of the country have seen the animals lying by the roadsied, having been frozen to death after reaching the stage of starvation. More Gnats Than First Reported. Instead of only 1,400 goats in and around North Yamhill, the local pa per says that, according to a recent careful count, made by some local men, there are about 4,000 head, all of which are within a comparatively short diijtance of the town. New Shingle Mill. E. L. Gaudette, a Whatcom oounty, WaBli., logger, is building a new shingle mill at Saraish lake. The mill will cost about $8,000 and be finished and running about March 20 or later during that month. The mill cat about 150,000 shingles a day. Increase In Wheat Acreage. The reports of confidential agents of the Southern Pacifio show that a 10 per cent increase iu acreage has been sown in wheat tins winter, and also that the oondition of the crop is excellent. PACIFIC COAST TRADE. Portland Market. Wheat Walla Walla, 68c; Valley, 69c; Bluesteni, 61o per bushel. Flour Best grades, $3.20; graham, $2.65; superfine, $2.16 per barrel. Oats Choice white, 4142c; choice gray, 89 40c per bushel. Barley Feed barley, $22 23; brew ing, $23.00 per ton. Millatuffs Bran, $17 per ton; mid dlings, $22; shorts, $18; chop, $16.00 per ton. Hay Timothy, $9 10; clover, $7 8; Oregon wild hay, $6 per ton. Butter Fancy creamery, 6055o; seconds, 4550o; dairy, 4045o store, 2580o. Cheese Oregon full cream, Young America, 16o; new oheese, 10c per pound. Poultry Chickens, mixed, $4 5 per dozen; hens, $4. 00 6. 00; springs, $1.258; geese, $6.007.00 for old. $4.605 for young; ducks, $5.00 5.50 per dozen; turkeys, live, 15 16c per pound. Potatoes 60 75c per 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, 76o per sack; beans, 8o per pound; celery 70 75o per dozen; cucumbers, 60c per box; peas, 88c per pound. Onions Oregon, 75ofl per sack. HopB 1518o; 1897 crop, 46o. Wool Valley, 1012o per pound; Eastern Oregon, 8 12c; mohair, 20c per pound. Mutton Gross, best sheep, wethers and ewes, 4o; dressed mutton, 7c; spring lambs, 7c per lb. Hogs Gross, choice heavy, $4.25; light and feeders, $3.004.00; dressed, $5.005.60 per 100 pounds. Beef Gross, top steers, 8.60$3.76; cows, $2.503.00; dressod beef, 66J.l'o per pound. Veal Large, 67c; small, 89 por pound. Seattle Markets. Onions, 8590o per 100 pounds. Potatoes, $18 20. Beets, per saok, 75c. Turnips, per sack, 50 75c. Carrots, per sack, 45 00c. Parsnips, per sack, $1. Cauliflower, 75fl.00o per dos. Celery, 8640o. Cabbage, native and California $1.25 per 100 pounds. Apples, 85 50c per box. Pears, 60c$1.60 per box. Prunes, 60c per box. Butter Creamery, 26o per pound; dairy and ranch, 1620c per pound. Eggs, 27c. Ciieeso Native, 1212c. Poultry Old hens, 14o per pound; spring chickens, 14c; turkeys, 16c. Fresh meats Choice dressed beef steers, prime, 8c; cows, prime, 7c; mutton, 8)c; pork, 7o; veal, 68o. Wheat Feed wheat, $23. Oats Choice, per ton, $26. Hay Pugot Sound mired, $9.00 11; choice Eastern Washington tim othy, $ll14. Corn Whole, $23.60; cracked, $24; feed meul, $23.50. Barley Rolled or ground, per ton, $2520; whole, $22. Flour Patent, per barrel, $3.50; straights, $3.25; California brrnds, $3.25; buckwheat flour, $3.60; graham, per barrel, $3.60; whole wheat flour, $3.76; rye flour, $4.50. Millstuffs Bran, per ton, $14; shorts, per ton, $16. Feed Chopped feed, $20 22 per ton; middlings, per ton,$17; oil cake meal, per ton, $35. Baa Francisco Market. Wool Spring Nevada, 1012o per pound; Oregon, Eastern, 1012o; Val ley, 1517c; Noithern, 9llc. Millstuffs Middlings, $1920.60; bran, $18.00 19.00 per ton. Onions Silverskin,60 90c per sack. Butter Fancy creamery, 27o; do seconds, 25 20c; fancy dairy, 28oj do seconds, 1922c per pound. Eggs Store, 18 17o; fancy ranoh, 20 22o. Hops 1898 crop, 18 15o. Citrus Fruit Oranges. Valencia, $3 2.60; Mexican limes, $66.60; Cali fornia lemons, $3. 00. 800; do choice. $3. 60 4. 60; per box. Hay Wheat, $1317; wheat an I oat, $13 16; oat, $14 16; best bar ley, $1314: alfalfa, $1214 per ton; Straw, 60 75c per bale. Potatoes Early Rose. $1.00 1.10: Oregon Buikanks. 76c (f $ 1. 15; ilver Burbanks, 7Jo$l; Salinas Burbanks. $1 1.10 per sack. Tropical fruits Bananas, $1.26 9.60 per bunch; pineapples, $3.60 4.60; Persian dates, 66a per pound.