CONFERENGE'ON
COAST DEFENSE
Oregon, California and Washington
Officers Summoned.
Conference It Called by War Depart
ment Manning of Coast Fortifi'
cation by State Reserve to Be
Subject of Council at Washingtcn
Who Will Pay the Bills?
Portland, Jan. 2. Adjutant generals
of the three Pacific states Oregon,
'Washington and California have been
invited by the War department to go to
Washington, D. C, for a conference at
the earliest possible date on the sub
ject of coast defense. Adjutant Gene'
ral W. E. Finzer, of Oregon, and Gen
oral J. B Lauck, of California, are
leaving for the capital tomorrow, while
General Otis Hamilton, of Washing
ton, will start EaBt Saturday. ,
The request from the War depart
ment for this conference is regarded as
peculiarly significant, indicating the
government's determination to prepare
for any emergencies that may arise
from the West. The principal topic of
consideration at the conference will be
that of training volunteer coast aitil
lery reserves to man Oregon, Washing'
ton and California fortifications. The
subject of perfecting the Infantry regi
ments of the three states in coast de
fense operations will likewise be taken
up. It is assured that the meeting will
result in assignment of National Guard
troops to coast artillery work. The
ttiree adjutant generals will very likely
return with the task ahead of recruit
ing new coast companies for this eer
Tire. For several months General Oliver
has been in communication with Gene
rals Finzer, Lauck and Hamilton on
the subject of coast defense. Only a
few days ago he submitted memoranda
from the chief of artillery recommend
ing assignment of the Oregon troops to
coast defense maneuvers in May, a
well as the permanent setting aside of
certain infantry companies for heavy
Artillery training.
This plan was not regarded by the
three coaBt adjutant generals feasi
ble. There appeared to be a disinclin
ation among infantry commanders to
Apportion their companies for artillery
work. Concerted objection was alBO
made to the month of May for maneuv
ers, as it is difficult for the average
guardsman to leave his business or
work at tht busy time of the spring
TUBh.
It is known, however, that the War
department will find it necessary to
offer more than a plan of coast defense.
The carrying out of such a plan will be
attended by more or less expense. That
the states should foot the bills does not
seem just. It is believed that the gov
ernment will be asked flatly what aid
can be given in the organization of re
serves or the assignment of infantry al
ready organized.
VICTIMS OF JAP MOB.
Three Firemen Badly Injured at Van
couver, B. C.
Vancouver, B. C, Jan. 2. Allan
Anderson, fireman, is dying and two
other yotins men, also members of the
city fire department, are badly wound
ed and in the hospital as the result of a
fight they had early this morning in
the Japanese quarter with an over
whelming number of the subjecta of the
mikado. The fight was the worst in
the city since the September riots, and
indicates that the Japanese are at all
times ready for trouble and eager to
fight with their long knives that have
blades keen as razors.
Anderson, accompanied by J. Frost
and T. McDonald, was passing "a Jap
anese store, when Frost stumbled and
fell hard against the plate-glass window!
none ine glass smasneaana me irag
ments were still rolling on the s:dewalk
when a score of Japanese appeared from
the inside and rushed at the trio of
whites. The firemen were in uniform,
with brass buttons and official caps, but
the Japanese knifed them furiously.
Steal Chest of Nickels.
Rochester, N. Y., Jan. 2. Two men
stole a chest containing $2,859 from a
street car standing in front of the Main
etreet Eastxarbarns at 6:25 o'clock this
mcrning and got safely away with it in
an automobile. The stolen money rep
resented the earnings of the Rochester
Railway company yesterday on what is
known as the Eastern division. It was
being transferred according to custom
from the Federal street carbarns to the
State street office' to be counted when
the robbery occurred. Officers are in
pursuit.
More Stolen Mail Found.
Waco, Tex., Jan. 2. Another large
batch of mail has been found west of
here near where the first batch was left
by the pouch looters Christmas night.
It is eft i mated that checks, money or
ders and drafts left lying in the gulch
where the pouches were opened will ag
gregate $50,000. Special government
officers are working on the case. Some
two or three thousand letters from vari
ous parts cf the United States were in
the pouches.
Torpedo Boat in Pari.
Parla, Brazil, Jan. 2. The torpedo
boat flotilla which is preceding the bat
tleship fleet to the Pacific, arrived here
today from Port of Spain, Trinidad.
The flotilla, which bad a rough voyage,
encountering head seas, was delayed
one day on the ran by bad weather.
FEELING IS BITTER.
Vancouver I Aroused by Latest At
tack of Japanese.
Vancouver, B. C, Jan. 3. While at
no Btage did the fight between the
three city firemen and the Japanese
reach anything like the dimensions of
the September riots, the incident has
revived the bitterest feeling. After all
the explanations and apologies that
have' been made, bothjjivic and govern
mental, citizens of Vancouver did not
believe it possible that an attack such
as occurred could be made.
All three victims are still alive
though at least two are disfigured for
life. Young Front, a fine-looking ath
lete, had his nose sliced off by one of
the sword-like knives of the Japanese
The other men, though fearfully in
jured. are recovering. McDonald was
removed to his home, while Anderson
is still in the hospital with Frost.
The most serious feature in the pop
ular view is that the Japanese section
is practically an armed camp against
the whites of Vancouver. Two thou
sand men live together there, ready to
murder any one who makes the Blight
est disturbance. The present instance
is regarded as particularly flagrant, be
cause the young men were in uniform
with firemen's caps, and for all they
knew the Japs might have been as
saulting policemen.
The truth is simply being forced
home to the entire city that the Jap
anese here are barbarians enough to
murder on the slightest provocation
Vancouver has been a little ashamed of
herself since the night of the Septem
ber riots, but the frightful attack is
just now being regarded in Borne quart
era as showing complete justification
MAY SUE HARRIMAN.
Bonaparte Soon to Issue Statement
on Railroad Merger,
Washington, Jan. 3. "Within
week or ten days the department of
justice will issue a statement regarding
the ownership by the Union Pacific of
stock of the Southern Pacific," said At
tornev General Bonaparte. It had
been contemplated to Issue the state
ment earlier, but the absence in Eur
ope of special counsel employed by the
government has caused the delay."
While the attorney general will not
admit at this time that the statement
will be the announcement of proceed
mgs against the Union Pacinc for viO'
lation of the law prohibiting restraint
of trade, there is excellent authority
for the statement that it will be. The
department of justice, according to one
of its high officials, has reached the
conclusion arrived at by the Interstate
Commerce commission that the control
which the Union Pacific has obtained
over the Southern Pacific by the pur
chase of stock is in violation of the law
and amounts in substar ce to the merg
ing of two competing railways.
Not only will the government pro
ceed for a dissolution of the merger and
a restoration of the competition which
prevailed before the Union Pacinc
boueht Southern Pacific stock, but the
courts will be asked, it is stated by an
official of the department, to break up
the combine under which the two rail'
roads are alleged to operate their steam
ships.
NIGHT RIDERS FIRE A TOWN.
Burns Tobacco Warehouses In
Rus-
sellville and Wounds Men.
Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 3. A
long
distance telephone message to
American from Russellville, Ky.,
the
says
that night riders visited that town
12:45 o'clock this morning. The
at
to
bacco warehouse of H. G. Work& Com
pany ana the American (snuff company
were dynamited and burned. The
planing mill of Roberts & Brown and
three other smaller houses were more
or less damaged.
Many shots were fired, and it is re
ported that two men, one of them a
commercial traveler, were wounded.
Russellville is a town of about 4,000
inhabitants and it is the county seat of
Logan county, which borders, on the
Tennessee line. It is in the heart of
the dark tobacco district and but one
county, Todd county, separates It from
Christian and Trigg counties, the scene
of the recent depredations in and
around Hopkinsville. Further details
were not obtainable at 3 o'clock this
morning.
Smelters Are Closed Down.
Helena, Mont., Jan. 3. The Ameri
can Smelting & Refining company, it is
authoratively announced here tonight,
will shortly close down several of its
smelting plants because of the depres
sion in the lead market. At the East
Helena plant today the company reduc
ed its force 100 men and tomorrow a 10
per cent reduction in wages will be
posted for the 250 men who are retain
ed. Manager Frank M. Smith, of the
local plant, received notice several days
ago from officials of the company that
the smelter would be closed.
Rebel Against Zelaya.
Panama, Jan. 3. Advices from Bo
cas del Torres say that passentrers arriv
ing there from Bluefields, Nicaraeua,
report that the Mosquito Indiana have
risen against the government of Presi
dent Zelaya, who is accused by them of
being responsible for the death of their
chief. Conditions were considered so
serious by the commander of the British
man-of-war cruising in Nicaraguan
waters that bluejackets were landed to
protect the interests of foreigners.
Growth of New York Values.
New York, Jan. 3. Controller Metz,
in a review yesterday on the growth of
the city in the ten years since consoli
dation said that the assessed valuations
of real estate owned by the people had
advanced from $2,532,416,819 in 1898
to $6,240,486,602 in 1907.
HAPPENINGS GATHERED IN AND
AROUND WASHINGTON, D. C.
FUND FOR EX-PRESIDENTS.
Senator Allison Favors Some Such
Action by Congress .
Washington, Jan. 1. Senator Wil
liam B. Allison, of Iowa, chairman of
the committee on appropriations, favors
action by songress looking to the eare
and support of expresidents of the
United States. In an interview to
nizht he referred to the recent utter.
ances of ex-President Grover Cleveland
on the subject, and agreed with him
that some provision should be made in
this direction. The matter deserved
consideration at the hands of congrees
he said, and undoubtedly would receive
it. In times of Thomas Jefferson, who
died poor, Mr. Allison said, the gov
eminent would have done well to pay
his debts. At present Mrs. Garfield is
receiving an allowance from the gov
ernment, and he said that to make pro
vision for ex-preeidents would cause on
considerable drain on the treasury, as
rarely have there been two of them
alive at the same time.
MARINE CORPS NOW COMPLETE
Full
ComDlement of 8,700 Men I
Enlisted,
Washington, Jan. 1. General El
liott, commandant of marines, reported
to Secretary Metcalf yesterday that for
the first time in many mcnths the ma
rine corps was now up to its full com
plement of 8,700 enlisted men. Gen
eral Elliot reports that not only has he
secured all the men he wants, but has
withdrawn from the newspapers adver
tisementa calling for recruits, and he
is now in a position to pick his men
when there is need for further recruit
ing.
The reasons assigned for this state or
affairs represent the depressed condi
tion of industries, resulting in forcing
men to obtain employment outside of
the factories, mills and mines, and to
such of these as are not able to perform
sailor's duties, yet would make good
soldiers and desire to see the world,
the marine corps offers a tempting re
fuge. Utcle sam Going Behind.
Washington, Jan. 3. The forth
coming reports of the government's re
ceipts and expenditures for the month
ending Dec. 31 will show a decrease in
the receipts as compared with Decem
ber last year of $8,529,152 and an in
crease in expenditures of $9,381,414,
making the net loss for the year $17,-
910,566. The decrease in receipts from
customs is $6,895,959; from internal
revenue, $2,768,645. Miscellaneous
receipts increase $1,135,452. Increases
of expenditures are: Civil and miscel
laneous. $3,000,000; war, i,ouu,uuu;
navy, $4,000,000; pendona, $2,400,-
000; public works, increase from $4,-
843,711 to $8,899,000.
Immense Traffic Across Ocean.
New York, Jan. 2. Trans-Atlantic
passenger traffic during 1907 was in
creased by nearly a million passengers
over the traffic m 1906. The total pas
sengers carried both eastrand west has
reached the enormous number of 2,957,
328, according to figures given out by
the North German Lloyd company.
The movement has been greater than
in 1906 by 972,640 and 1,451,151 great
er than in 1904. The passengers from
Europe to the United States number
699,340, which is 200,000 in excess of
the entire east and west traffic in 1S04.
Engineers to Tour Coast.
Washington, Dec. 28. Colonels
Leach and Lockwood of the board of
United States engineers, will leave for
he Pacific coast on January 9, begin
ning with California, and will hold
public hearings on a number of pro
jects, Including Oregon undertakings.
People will have the opportunity to
present the local needs of their com
munities. Both the officers are loyal
upporters of coast developments. It
is suggested that Portland prepare to
present necessary works for its section.
Steamship Company Embarrassed
New York, Jan. 2. Announcement
was made tonight on behalf of the Con
solidated Steamship lines by D. II.
Campbell, the treasurer, that the com
pany would default on the interest on
ts $6,000,000 collateral trust bonds,
due tomorrow. The official statement
explains that "Owing to the prevailing
financial conditions it had been com
pelled to devote its earnings to pay
ment for new ships and hence is unable
to meet the coupons maturing."
No Action in Bristol Caae.
Washington, Dec. 28. Members of
the Oregon delegation in congress met
and informally discussed the Bristol
case but no action whatsoever was tak
en. The matter may come up for more
formal discussion later but no an
nouncement of plans has been made.
Cruisers at Pichilinque.
Washington, Jan. 1. Admiral Se-
hree's squadron, consisting of the cruis
ers Tennessee and Washington, have
arrived at Pichilinque, off tha southern
coast of Lower California. Their next
Btop is expected to be at Magdalena
bay.
Viscount Aoki Says Farewell.
Washington, Jan. 2. Viscount Aoki,
the Japanese ambassador who was re
cently recalled by his home govern
ment, bade farewell to Washington
Monday. He will sail from San Fran
cisco for Japan on January 7.
Oregon Postmasters Appointed.
Washington, Jan. 2. Oregon post
masters appointed: London, James E.
Baton vice J N. Uogue. resigned; Mill
City, Mabel McRae vice E. J. Bryans.
resigned.
TWO COMPANIES ON GUARD.
General Funtton Advises Consolida
tion for Sake of Economy.
Washington, Jan. 34. The War de
partment has been in correspondence
by telegraph with General Funtton in
San Francisco, relative to the disposi
tion of the troops at Gold field in con
formity with the president's intentions
to maintain the force there, pending
the meeting of the legislature of Ne
vada. General Funston intended a reduc
tion in the number of troops at the
mining camp, but the War department
has decided to retain there all of the
present force, numbering 283 men. In
the intere t, however, of simplicity,
and to avoid the maintenance of a con
siderable number of officers who were
not needed, it has instructed General
Funston to consolidate the companies
into two.
Bank Condition is Good.
Washington, Jan. 1. Senator An
kenv has had several conferences re
cently with officials of the Treasury de
partment concerning the interests of
the national banks in the state of
Washington. During the recent finan
cial flurry some difficulty was experi
enced in the far West by reason of the
inability of the banks to obtain the
actual money from its reserve cities or
even from the subtreasuries. Mr. An
keny feels confident, after his talks
with officials of the treasury, that the
situation has been greatly relieved
within the last few weeks, and that
from now on the same difficulty will
not be experienced.
Oil Burners to Be Tried.
Washington, Jan. 3. Possibly the
fact that California produces great
quantities of petroleum inclineE Secre
tary Metcalf to favor the use of that
fuel in the navy, where it can be done
beneficially. Therefore plans for the
new torpedo destroyers about to oe
prepared will probably include a re
quirement that they be designed for
burning oil. The fact that the newest
British boats of this class, which have
attained the extraordinary epeed of 40
miles an hour, are oil burners, has in
fluenced our Navy department in favor
of the adoption of liquid fuel.
Sailors Meet Defeat.
Wahington, Jan. 2. The Seamen's
union met temporary defeat today in
their fight against the employment of
Chinese seamen on Pacific coast ves
sels. Representatives called upon At
torney General Bonaparte today and
expressed an opinion that the employ
ment of Chinese on the vessels was a
violation of the exclusion act. Bona
parte informed the cemmittee that he
could only furnish the president and
the heads of the departments affected
with their opinion for optional action.
The union will petition the president,
Figures Are Astounding,
Washington, Jan. 1, The engineers
on the Panama canal are dealing in
vast figures and the canal record con
veys in a graphic manner an idea of
the magnitude of the work to be done
upon the locks. It is stated that the
amount of concrete to be used in build
ing these locks would suffice to con
struct eight-room city houses of the
generous s'ze of 30x30 feet with two
stories and basement and with concrete
floors and roof to the number of 22,842
Jumpers May Get a Chance.
Washington, Jan. 1. The Bartlett
mining assessment bill did not pass
The Teller bill, which is similar, pass
ed the senate before the holidays, but,
it is understood, will not pass the
house. Failure to pass such legislation
means that all mining claims upon
which the required amount ot assess
ment work was not done during the
calendar year 1907 can be legally
jumped after January 1.
Urge Brownson to Talk.
Washington, Dec. 28. Line officers
in the navy are urging Admiral Brown
son to publish correspondence relative
to bis resignation, holding that Rixey's
statement was really inspired at the
White House. It has developed that
the acceptance ot his resignation was
announced 15 minutes after it had been
given to Secretary Metcalf to take to
President Roosevelt.
Around the World in 10 Seconds.
, Washington, Jan. 2. In accordance
with a custom begun several vears ago
the naval observatory last night at 12
o'clock sent a New Year greeting
around the world. This is done by
prearrangement with the telegraph and
table companies, and the message com
pleted the telegraphic circuit of the
wcrld in about 10 seconds' time.
Hawley in Society.
Washington. Jan. 2. Representative
and Mrs. Hawley made their first bow
to official society in Washington Mon
day evening as dinner guests of Vice
President Fairbanks. On Friday even
ing Mr. and Mis. Hawley will be guests
of Mrs. Roosevelt at a musical to be
given at the White House.
Taft to Talk Politics.
Washington, Dec. 28. Secretary
Taft will make hi9 first political pro
nouncement since his return from abroad
at Boston, December 30, in a speech be
fore the Merchants' association.
Congressman Calderhesd III,
Washington, Dec. 28. Representa
tive William A. Calderhead, of Kansas,
is critically ill w ith double pneumonia,
at his apartment in this city. j
LADD WILL PAY.
Agrees to Meet Account of Busted
Bank in Three Years.
Portland, Jan. 1. W. M. Ladd has
agreed to take over the assets of the
Ross bank and pay all its deposits
w thin three years.'
Details of the plan were arranged
yesterday in a conference between a
committee of deositors, agents of Mr.
Ladd, John Manning, district attorney,
and W. C Bristol, special counsel for
the state, and for the American Surety
company.
Mr. Ladd will not be prosecuted, but
officers of the bank, Mr. Manning says,
will be indicted next Monday.
Investigations of the smashed bank's
accounts will be continued, in order to
gather evidence for prosecution. Offi
cers involved are J. Thorburn Ross,
George H. Hill, T. T. Burkhart, J. E.
A itch i son and F. M. Warren.
Experts continue to dig up sensations
in the bank's accounts, and to confirm
the knowledge that its dealings were
the most scandalous Portland has ever
seen.
Committee of depositors will insist
on payment of interest by Mr. Ladd
until claims are fully met.
Whether the receiverhip will be con
tinued has not been decided, but if it
shall be, C. E. Meara may be supersed
ed by a receiver of Mr. Ladd's selec
tion. Mr. Ladd will succeed to whatever
claims the bank may hold against the
$202,000 property of Ross.
The bank continually ran behind in
its earnings, bat Ross had a happy fac
ulty of marking up assets with "en
hanced value" to make up the defi
ciency, and entered it in a mysterious
account called "suspense earnings,"
which is full of puzzles for the exerts.
UPPER HAND OF PLAGUE.
Dying Out in San Francisco Seven
Cases In December.
San Francisco, Jan. 1. With only
seven cases cf bubonic plague reported
during the month of December and but
threre cases lemaining under treatment
at the isolation hospital, the plague in
San Francisco is almost eradicated.
More that $600,000 has been expended
in the sanitary campaign, of which the
Federal government is paying three
fourths. It is estimated that approxi
mately 130,000 rats have been de
stroyed during the past four months.
Thirty-five thousand, six hundred and
forty two rats were brought to the la
boratory of the health department. Of
this number, 11,391 were examined by
bacteriologists for plague and 106 found
to be infected.
"The situation is greatly improved,"
said Dr. Blue today, "despite the apa
thetic attitude of the people of San
Francisco, some of whom have been
inclined to hostility toward us for the
work that we are doing for their bene
fit." The total number of cases reported to
date is 136; deaths 73; cured 60; re
maining under treatment 3 ; suspected
caaes 18.
RUSSIA GIVING UP ALL HOPE
Japan Slowly Strangling Foreign In
vestors in Manchuria.
Pekin, Jan. 1. Ivan Shipoff, agent
of the Russian finance ministry, has
concluded a three-months' invest iga
tion of the serious conditions which
confront the China Eastern railway,
and as a result he has recommended
that expenditures be reduced in every
direction possible. This action is con
strued here as a reflection of the hope
lessness of Russia's position in Man
churia. The railroad was isolated dur
ing the Russo-Japanese war and Ja
pan's policy since then has practically
strangled it. It is believed that the
deficit of the Chinese Eastern railway
for 1908 will amount to $15,000,000.
Traffic over the line is declining, par
ticularly at Harbin.
Japan has forbidden China to extend
the Hsin Min Tun railroad in the di
rection of Tsitsikhar. This step has
aroused exasperation among the Eng
lishmen who have capital invested in
the line, and it is characterized as an
other evidence of the monopolistic atti
tude of Japan in Manchuria.
New Road Finished.
Portland, Jan. 1. The first electric
car operated over the Uregon .biectrie
railway between Portland and Salem
traveled over the new line Monday,
reaching Fulton Park at 5:40 p. m.
The car was run through under the di
rection of R. L. Donald, on behalf of
Barstow & Company, the construction
company, ot which Mr. Donald is resi
dent engineer. The operation of this
car completes the contract of Barstow A
Company, which calls for the cpera
tion of the road by December 30. The
trip was made without a hitch.
Registered Mail Stolen.
Waco, Texas, Jan. 1. Officers have
just disclosed the fact that a bundle of
letters, registered packages, etc., was
stolen from the mail trucks at Temple,
Tex., probably Sunday, and taken to
the brush near here and opened. About
15,000 worth of checks, money orders
and drafts was found in a pile where
the letters had been torn open, but. all
registered packages and money in let
ters had been taken out. It is impos
sible to tell how much was secured.
Calls Extra Session.
Carson, Nev., Jan. 1. Governor
Parks yesterday afternoon called an ex
tra session of the legislature to convene
January 4, 1908. For the last 24 hours
the governor hs been deluged with dis
patches from all over the state and many
places outside Nevada, urging the rail-
ing of the extra session to
trcables.
settle labor
GRIPPE FASTENS
ON GREAT CITIES
Nearly Every Cliy East of Mississippi
River Affected.
Mild, Open Weather Held Responsi
bleEpidemic May Surpass That
of 1889-90 Street Car Service
in Pittsburg Crippled Chicago is
Apprehensive.
Chicago, Dec. 31. Deadly grippe,
which has already fastened itself upon
nearly every city east of the Mississippi
river, is spreading westward with ap
palling rapidity. Not since the terri
ble epidemic of 1889-90 have there been
such ravages by the fearful malady as
at the present time, according to special
dispatches gathered from many sources.
Mild, open weather, highly unseasona
ble, is held responsible by health au
thorities. Pittsburg is the chief complainant.
So many people there are ill that the
streetcar service is crippled and office
buildings are practically empty. Be
sides Pittsburg, New York, Baltimore,
Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Cleveland,
Boston, Milwaukee and other Eastern
and Western cities were reported to be
wrestling with the disease, a number of
deaths in each city occurring daily.
"La grippe, as the French call it,"
said Dr. Herman Spalding, of the Chi
cago Health department, "travels with
the speed of a prairie fire. It travels
along the lines of transportation, as it
is carried by travelers fbom one city to
another. It is decidedly contagious
and there is no effective way of check
ing its spread. If other cities become
badly affected, Chiago is sure to be hit,
because of the thousands of travelers
who arrive daily in Chicago from every
point of the compass."
From "New York word comes that the
grippe has begun a devastating crusade
in that city and that among its victims
have been opera singers and many
actors and actresses. There were 63
deaths in the metropolis last week.
Besides this there were many deaths
from pneumonia, influenced by the
grippe bacillus.
Physicians in Boston say there are at
least 60,000 cases now in that city.
Cincinnati has 2,000 cases and physi
cians say that new cases are developing
by the score every hour.
ON SECOND STAGE.
Battleship Fleet Leaves Trinidad for
Rio Janeiro,
Port of Spain, Dec. 31 . The Ameri
can battleship fleet weighed anchor at
4 o'clock Sunday afternoon and steamed
for Rio Janeiro. Accompanying the
fleet were the supply ships Culgoa and
Glacier. Early in the morning the
signal went up from Rear Admiral
Evans' flagship Connecticut tQ prepare,
for dearture at 8 a. hi., but Owing to a
delay in the coaling of the battleship
Maine from the collier Fortuna, it was
necessary to change the time of sailing.
Long before the hour set a myriad of
small craft, chiefly launches and steam
yachts, moved up and down along the
lines of anchored battleships, the mer
ry parties aboard shouting farewells to
the departing visitors. Thousands of
residents climbed the surrounding hills
to view the great ships as they moved
outward on their journev of 3,000 miles
and more, while boatloads of excursion
ists went to the small islands in the
gulf and others to the floating dock to
catch the last glimpse of the ships.
The fleet presented a magnificent ap
pearance as it steamed out in four col
umns with the supply ships trailing, a
distance of 400 yards separating one di
vision from another. With the Con
necticut in the lead the battleships
headed for the Booas and steamed ma
jestically through the grand Booa and
thence along the northern coast of Trin
idad. An average of from 10 to 11
knots an hour will carry the fleet to the
end of the second lap of the 14,000-
mile journey in about 12 days, and it
was announced by Admiral Evans be
fore his departure that he expects to
reach Rio Janeiro on Friday evening
January 10.
Provide for Presidents.
New York, Dtc 31. Ex-President
Grover Cleveland, under the title of
"Our People and Their Ex-Presidents."
has contributed an interesting
article to the Youths' Corrpanion for
January 5. Referring to the poverty of
Jefferson after he left the presidency as
a blow to national pride, Mr. Cleveland
declares definite and generous provision
should b3 made for the maintenance of
chief magistrates. He deals with the
subject at length, and explains that he
feels he can do so without his sincerity
being questioned.
Fatal Row Over 5 Cents.
San Francisco, Dec. 31. Arthur
Sassman, a conductor of the United
Railroads, was shot and killed today at
the intersection of Twelfth and Folsom
streets by Bonaventura Arcieri, a pas
senger. Previously Arcieri had ten
dered a transfer which Sassman had
refused to honor. He then paid a cash
fare and began to argue the matter.
Sassman slapped Arcieri in the face
and the latter drew a revolver and
shot Sap? man.
Earthquake Breaks Company.
Hamburs, Dec. 31. The Trans
Atlantic Fire Insurance company has
voted to liquidate on account of the
fact that more than half ot its capital
was lost by the San Francisco fire and
(earthquake.