COOLING BREEZES
BLOW ON PRAIRIES
last Day of Hot Wave Causes Eight
Deaths In Kansas City.
Other Sections Report Prostrations
and Deaths End of Longest Hot
Season in Years Temperature
. Ranges Up to 113 Corn Crop
Has Escaped.
Kansas City, Aug. 19. Severe warm
weather throughout the Southwest
gave way to a limited extent last
night before cooling breezes.
The day was the most trying Kan
sas, Missouri and Oklahoma have ex
perienced for years. Despite the ex
cessively high temperature, however,
there were comparatively few prostra
tions. Eight deaths were recorded at
Kansas City.
Oklahoma reported excessive heat.
Government thermometers at McAles
ter registered 113; at Ardmore, 111;
at Vinita, 101; at Oklahoma City,
Guthrie and Tulsa, 106.
In KansaB City and Western Mis
souri the temperature was near the
100 mark all the afternoon.
New York Has Big Downpour.
New York, Aug. 19. The Bteady
downpour which during the last two
days has broken all August rainfall
records, is over. The city's rain gauges
show a total precipitation of 5 inches
as the official record of the storm.
Fierce Wind in Charleston.
Charleston, S. C, Aug. 19. As a
result of a fierce wind and rain storm
which passed over this city yesterday,
all the telegraph wires leading into the
city are down and communication
with the outside world is by long
distance telephone. No loss of life is
reported.
Heat Record at Fort Worth.
Fort Worth, Tex., Aug. 19. With
the weather bureau thermometer regis
tering 111 degrees and street thermo
meters recording 120 degrees, yester
day was the hottest in the history of
Fort Worth.
Five Killed in St. Louis.
St. Louis, Aug. 19. Despite a de
cided drop in the temperature, five
more deaths were recorded here yes
terday as a result of the heat. Three
of these were persons previously pros
trated. The maximum temperature
today was 89 degrees.
Three Deaths at Norfolk.
Norfolk, Neb., Aug. 19. The heat
claimed three victims in Norfolk and
vicinity last night.
ROBBERS BIND WATCHMAN.
Desperate Attempt to Blow Safe of
Portland Factory.
Portland, Aug. 19. Safecrackers
made a desperate effort to get into the
eafe of the Dornbecher Manufacturing
company yesterday morning and suc
ceeded in badly damaging the safe
with three charges of nitro-glyceruie,
but did not get at the contents.
E. R. Mickley was in the fireroom of
the factory when he was suddenly
seized by one of four men, all of them
masked and armed. He was thrown
down and his arms tied behind him.
They then went back to the factory,
gathering up a sledge hammer and
other tools, and went at the safe. They
knocked off the knob with a' hammer
and drilling holes, set off in all three
charges of nitro-glycerine. In the
midst of their work a switch engine
pulled into the siding to pick up cars
from the factory, the brakeman enter
d the rear door to get his orders and
was met by a volley of shots from the
robbers, one of the bullets going
through his hat. He promptly ran off
and the engine backed down town,
going back in half an hour with police
aid. As the engine returned, Mickley
was found but the robbers had gone,
leaving a pint bottle of nitro-glycerine
and all their tools in the factory office.
Miss Elkins May Marry.
Rome, Aug. 19. Rumors are cur
rent here today that all the objections
of the royal family to the marriage of
the Duke of Abruzzi to Miss Katnerine
Elkins, of West Virginia, have been
removed. The couple, according to
the latest reports, will be married as
soon as the duke returns his explora
tion trip in the Himalayas. United
States Senator Elkins has repeatedly
denied that his daughter was to marry
the duke, declaring that if Miss Elkins
is ever married it will be to an Amer
ican. Powers Caution Cretans
Canea, Crete, Aug. 19. The foreign
consuls here, on behalf of the interna
tional squadron now anchored in Ca
nea bay, today notified the Cretan gov
ernment that the Greek flag would be
hauled down today. They warned the
government that irreparable conse
quences will follow any attack jnade on
a landing party. On account of this
warning the Cretan authorities issued
an appeal to the people not to obstruct
the action of the powers.
Troops to Quit Fort William.
Winnipeg, Aug. 19. The regular
soldiers who have been on duty at Fort
William returned to their barracks
here today, leaving 30 special Canadian
Pacific railway constables armed with
rifles to maintain order. Five hundred
men are now working on the docks.
THIRTY BUSHEL WHEAT.
Montana Farmer Makes Success of
Working Dry Land.
Caldwell, Mont., Aug. 20. F. F. Ir
vine, member of the Montana board of
control of the Fourth Dry Farming con
gress, and one of the successful dry
land farmers of this vicinity, is now
harvesting 40 acres of wheat, which he
estimates will yield about 30 bushels
an acre. This grain was planted in
September on sod ground that had been
plowed in May and June. Being the
first crop from this ground Mr. Irvine
regards his crop as unusually good. He
says the field has been attracting at
tention and people have been coming
in from miles around to see for them
selves what can be accomplished by
conscientious application of dry farm
ing principles.
Mr. Irvine has informed Secretary
John T. Burns, of the Dry Farming
congress, that he will send a sample of
this crop to Billings, Montana, for ex
hibition at the Fourth Dry Farming
congress, which will meet at Billings,
October 26-27-28 next.
WIND AGAINST WELLMAN.
Twice Prepares to Fly to North Pole,
but Puts Back.
Hammerlest, Norway, Aug. 20. A
dispatch from Walter Wellman's Arc
tic expedition camp at Spitzbergen
dated August 14 Bays:
" A north gale which had been blow
ing on the 5th dropped on the 12th,
and Mr. Wellman made ready to start
in search of the North Pole. The bal
loon was inflated and provisioned, and
the motors were working smoothly. On
the 13th the wind was still variable,
but Mr. Wellman decided to get the
airship out of the house.
"The officers and crew of the Thalia
assisted in swinging the airship, which
was of fine appearance, out of the shed.
The wind, however, again freshened
and at 6 o'clock in the morning Mr.
Wellman ordered the airship back into
the shed to wait for more propitious
weather."
C. P. R. Discovers Fraud.
Montreal, Que., Aug. 20. The legal
department of the Canadian Pacific
railway believes it has unearthed a
huge conspiracy to mulct that and
other corporations by means of false
claims for damages for personal injury
received in alleged accidents. The
claimants are alleged to have a regular
organization, with branches in Chi
cago, Toronto, Vancouver and other
places, and to carry on a systematic
scheme of fraud by means of false
claims, false witnesses, etc. Three
arrests have been made and others are
promised.
Yoakum is Optimistic.
Oklahoma City, Okla., Aug. 20. B.
F. Yoakum, chairman of the executive
committee of the Chicago, Rock Island
& Pacific railway, who is making a
tour of the West to observe the crop
and general business conditions, said
today: "I find business conditions are
good and improvement general all
along the line. Cotton is in good shape,.
In some sections it needs rain. The
corn crop has been hurt in this state
in some sections, but there will be
more corn than last year by reason of
the increased acreage."
Black Handshake Costly.
Cincinnati, O., Aug. 20. The ex
ecutive board of the Freemen's Aid
society of the Methodist Episcopal
church here has elected Rev. J. F.
Decking to be president of Rust uni
versity, at Holly Springs, Miss. The
election was made necessary by the
abrupt resignation of Dr. F. C. Eng
lish, of Cincinnati, who said he had
been threatened by a mob at Ethel,
Miss., because he had shaken hands
with a colored presiding elder.
Ocean Falls After Quake.
Mexico City, Aug. 20. A delayed
dispatch from Acapulco says three se
vere earthquake shocks were felt there
Monday. The ocean dropped far below
the normal and along the entire shore
line of the port the beach was exposed
for a distance of 30 feet. The shocks
are believed to have been those regis
tered at the Washington observatory.
The people of Acapulco are still living
in the open, not having ventured to re
turn to their homes.
Quake Tale Exaggerated,
San Francisco, Aug. 20. Passen
gers arriving from Mexican ports to
day on the Panama Bteamer Acapulco,
the first vessel to bring naws of the
earthquake of July 29, 30 and 31, de
clare that the reports reaching this
country by wire greatly overestimated
the loss of life resulting from the dis
trubances. They declare that only
two persons were killed outright at
Acapulco, although hundreds had nar
row escapes.
Moors Cut Wires Again.
Madrid, Aug. 20. Advices received
here from Penon de la Gomera, on the
coast of Morocco, says the Moors again
have cut telegraph wires and isolated
the Spanish garrison there. The bom
barding at Penon de la Gomera is con
stant and there have been many casual
ties among the Moors. The Kabylis
are mobilizing near Alhucemas pre
paratory to marching on Melilla.
Wreck on Leper Island.
Honolulu, Aug. 20. The steamer
Nilhau went ashore early today on the
coast of the Island of Molokai, and
has been abandoned by her officers and
crew. The vessel, which is of 600
tons burden, will probably prove a
total loss. The steamer Claudine has
gone to the scene of the wreck to at
tempt to float the Nilhau.
HAPPENINGS GATHERED IN AND
AROUND WASHINGTON, D. G.
NEW LEPROSY CURE.
Philippine Quarantine Officer Uses X
Ray Successfully.
Washington, Aug. 21. The X-ray
as a cure for some cases of leprosy
has been demonstrated by the Ameri
can health authorities in the Philip
pies, according to Dr. Victor D.
Heizer, quarantine officer in the
islands.
Dr. Heizer, in a report to Surgeon
General Wyman, of the public health
and marine hospital service, says the
X-ray is suitable only for specially
selected cases, and is valuable appar
ently only in the earlier stages. San
Lazro hospital, at Manila, is the first
institution in the world to use the X
ray for leprosy treatment.
Official figures show that on March
31, 1909, there were 2,446 lepers in
the Philippines, segregation having
reduced by more than 1,000 the num
ber of cases during the last two years.
At the beginning of the American oc
cupation, 11 years ago, there were
nearly 4,000 lepers. .
Americans perfected the establish
ment for lepers on the island of Culien
in 1906. It is estimated that under
the Spanish regime 700 new cases de
veloped every year. At present the
number of new cases averages 300 an
nually. Money Order Business Immense.
Washington, Aug. 18. Money order
transactions in the postoffices of the
country have grown so in the last year
or two that it now is necessary to
maintain a force of about 750 account
ants, bookkeepers, assorters and exam
iners in the office of the auditor of the
department. There are 50,000 money
order offices, from which 850,000 mon
ey order accounts annually are received
by Auditor Chance. They are accom
panied by 68,000,000 paid money or
ders, aggregating $575,000,000. Post
masters are required to deposit surplus
money order funds and about 2,500,000
certificates of deposit, aggregating
$550,000,000, also are received by the
auditor for official record and inspec
tion. The auditing of these vouchers
and statements represents 140,000,000
separate transactions. Approximately
250,000 paid money orders, weighing
500 pounds, are received at the audi
tor's office each day. In the process
of reassembling these vouchers numer
ically into states and offices of issue,
every money order is handled seven
times, or the equivalent of 1,750,000
each day. This work alone requires
165 expert sorters, all of whom are
young women.
No Information Obtainable.
Washington, Aug. 20. The acute
ness manifested itself here today more
strikingly by the dead silence at the
Interior department and the suppressed
but all pervading atmosphere of enthu
siasm at the forestry bureau. Assist
ant Secretary Pierce, who is back again
and is acting secretary of the Interior
department, does not care to discuss
the charges of misadministration made
against Secretary Ballinger by Chief
Forester PiDchot. Acting Commis
sioner Swartz, of the general land
office, has just the same aversion.
Open Bids for Battleships.
Washington, Aug. 21. Bids for the
construction of the two battleships,
Arkansas and Wyoming, authorized by
the last congress, were opened at the
Navy department today. These two
battleships are to be among the most
formidable fighting machines afloat.
They will carry as heavy armor and as
powerful armament as any known ves
sel of their class, will have a speed of
21 knots, which is believed to be the
highest practicable for vessels of their
type and class, and will have the high
est practicable radius of action.
John Barrett Is Coming.
Washington, Aug. 18. Director
Barrett, of the international bureau of
American republics, left here today to
attend the Trer.s-Mississippi congress
to be held this week at Denver. He
will be joined there by General Carlos
Garcia Velez, the Cuban minister to
the United States. Afterward they
will go to Seattle to attend the exposi
tion, and they may make official visits
to San Francisco and Portland at the
request of the commercial bodies.
Seven Get Honor Medals.
Washington, Aug. 20. For gallant
conduct while under fire of the enemy
in the Philippines or in Cuba, five offi
cers and two enlisted men yesterday
were awarded medals of honor by the
War department. Those thus honored
were Major James Church and Major
Paul Straub, of the Medical corps;
Lieutenants George Shaw and Charles
Beckman, Twenty-seventh infantry;
Lieutenant Charles E. Kilbourne, Sig
nal corps, and H. T. R. Quinn and Seth
Ewald, privates.
Wyoming Sheep Quarantined.
Washington, Aug. 17. Owing to
the presence of an infectious disease,
known as lip and leg disease, or necro
bacillosis of sheep, the secretary of ag
riculture has ordered a quarantine,
effective August 12, on the counties of
Fremont, Natrona, Converse, Weston,
Crooks, Sheridan, Johnson and Big
Horn, in the state of Wyoming.
Slight Quake Recorded.
Washington, Aug. 20. The seismo
graph at the weather bureau in this
city recorded a Blight tremor of the
earth at 2 :22 o'clock this afternoon,
but in the opinion of the observers this
disturbance did not assume the propor
tion of an earthquake.
WANT MORE BATTLESHIPS.
United States to Lead World With
Battleships of Great Power.
Washington, Aug. 19. Congress
may be asked next winter to provide
for two 30, 000-ton battleships, each
with 12 14-inch guns, and each costing
$12,000,000. It is stated that such a
program has been pretty carefully stu
died out.
After considerable preliminary work,
the first 14-inch gun has been con
structed at the Mid vale works, and is
shortly to be tested at the naval prov
ing grounds at Indian Head. If it is
deemed desirable to have guns of 14
inch caliber, it will immediately be
come a question whether there shall be
10 or 12 of such guns on each battle
ship. The proposition of two years
ago, during the Newport conference,
was to have 10 14-inch guns instead of
12 12 inch guns, the former caliber to
have a relatively diminished velocity.
It was finally decided, however, that
when the 14-inch gun was developed it
should be of a hitting power commen
surate with the increase of caliber com
pared with the 12-inch gun. There is
an inclination also to adhere to 12-inch
guns in the battleship battery, and it
is possible that with the adoption of
the 14-inch gun there will be 12 instead
of 10 of those rifles, in which event
the next battleships to be authorized
will be of at least 30,000 tons displace
ment, and estimated to cost approxi
mately $12,000,000 each.
It is likely such a battleship will
have the same speed and endurance as
the 26,000-ton battleships now build
ing. Much may depend in the determ
ination of this question upon the plans
adopted by European navies.
PROBE ALASKA COAL LAND.
Hearings Soon in Seattle and Other
Cities on Alleged Frauds.
Washington, Aug. 17. Much inter
est was manifested here today by Inte
rior department officials in reports from
Denver that a hearing in Seattle,
Wash., next month, will disclose proof
of gigantic frauds in connection with
coal lands in Alaska. They declined,
in the absence of Secretary Ballinger
and General Land Commissioner Den
net, to discuss the nature of the report.
It is learned that upwards of 700 en
tries on coal lands in Alaska, involving
about 112,000 acres containing valua
ble veins, have been suspended by the
department during the last three years.
Estimating that these entries are
worth at least $2,000 per acre on a
basis of 1 cent per ton, these coal lands
would be worth $200,000,000.
Hearings will be held in other cities
in the West in addition to Seattle, but
just what ones was not disclosed.
Tieton Land to Be Opened.
Washington, Aug. 19. The acting
secretary of the interior vacated the
former order of withdrawal under the
reclamation act in connection with the
Yakima (Tieton) project, Washington,
today and restored to the public domain
where not otherwise withdrawn, re
served or appropriated, about 33,000
acres of land in the North Yakima dis
trict, the same to become subject to
settlement on and after November 9,
and to entry December 9.
Coal Output Less.
Washington, Aug. 21. The effect of
the national depression beginning in
1907 and continuing in 1908 was the
most powerful factor in the marked
decline in the production of coal in the
United States in 1908, according to
statistics compiled by the geological
survey. The total production in 1908
was 415,842,698 short tons, having a
spot value of $532,314,117.
General Townsend Dead.
Washington, Aug. 20. Brigadier
General Edwin F. Townsend, U. S. A.,
retired, is dead here as the result of
apoplexy. He wa3 born in New York
in 1833 and graduated from West Point
in 1852 in the same class with Generals
Hood, McPherson and Howard. Dur
ing the Civil war he was promoted to
be major for gallantry.
Philippine Bonds Sold.
Washington, Aug. 21. Bids were
opened at the bureau of insular affairs
today for $1,500,000 4 per cent, 10 to
30-year Philippine public works and
improvement bonds. This issue is the
balance unsold of the $5,000,000 au
thorized by the acts of congress, last
amended February 6, 1905.
Taft Appoints McConnell.
Washington, Aug. 17. By direction
of President Taft, ex-Governor J. W.
McConnell, of Idaho, has been appoint
ed to an important position in connec
tion with the land fraud investigations
in Idaho. The position pays $2,500 a
year and is permanent. Ex-Governor
McConnell is the father-in-law of Sen
ator Borah, of Idaho.
New Marshal for Arizona.
Beverley, Mass., Aug. 17. The
president today appointed Charles A.
Overlock, of Arizona, as United States
marshal for that territory. The retire
ment of B. F. Daniels, who has served
as marshal the last few years, marks
the passing from office of another of
Mr. Roosevelt's Rough Riders.
State Department Pleased.
Washington, Aug. 20. The news
from Fekin that Americans would par
ticipate in the Hankow railway loan
was received here with intense satis
faction, it being a victory for the
State department.
BAKER'S CRATER ACTIVE.
Vapor May Be Seen Rising From the
Mountain at Times.
Bellingham, Wash., Aug. 18. Stor
ies of smoke seen arising from Mount
Baker's snow-crowned dome following
the earthquake in this territory last
winter do not appear so far-fetched,
following the investigations made by
the Mazamas of vents in the crater of
the huge extinct volcano. Secretary
John A. Lee, who returned to this city
today, declares that at a favorable
hour in the early morning he has no
doubt but that the vapor could easily
be seen from this, city, 50 miles away,
with a good pair of field glasses.
The "vents" in the crater appeared
especially active this year to some of
the Mazamas. Secretary Lee, how
ever, who ascended the mountain in
1900 and again in 1906, concludes that
on the whole there is not any increase
in the activity of sulphurous gases
blowing out of the so-called "vents."
"The actual crater of the mountain,"
said Mr. Lee, "is that portion lying
between the secondary peak and the
main peak. It is easy to see that the
peaks originally constituted the north
and south sides of the crater rim. The
easterly and westerly sides have been
broken and crumbled away by the ac
tion of weather, thus leaving the val
ley or Bo-clalled 'saddle' between in
between.
"One of the active vents is situated
at the easterly end of this depression,
and the other at the westerly end. The
east vent is apparently by far the most
active, the westerly one consisting at
this time merely of cracks and fissures
in the Bnow and ice through which the
vapors escape. The west vent, how
ever, consists of a hole extending down
into the snow to the porus rocks be
neath. It is perhaps 20 to 30 feet in
diameter. The vapor puffs out inter
mittently, rising up in dense clouds,
and the snow is crusted with sulphur
deposits. I am inclined to believe that
most of the visible vapor is merely
steam arising from the overheated
rocks, though the gases sometimes are
almost overpowering.
RULE VANDERBILT LINES.
Wizard of Wall Street Has Option on
Control of System.
New York, Aug. 18. The elimina
tion of the Vanderbilts from New York
Central lines and the complete ascend
ency of Edward H. Harriman in the
control of more than 12,000 miles of
railroad comprised in that system is
declared to be the next important move
in the railway world.
It is reported on what seems to be
good authority that the Harriman back
ers have secured an option on the great
er portion, if not all, of the Vanderbilt
holdings and will soon close a deal in
the interest of the "Napoleon" of the
railway world. The option which has
been obtained, it is stated, is on $50,
000,000 worth of New York Central,
which is to be purchased for Mr. Har
riman at $150 a share.
The last report of the Union Pacific
road shows that it has in its treasury
$14,000,000 worth of New York Cen
tral securities and it is generally be
lieved that Mr. Harriman and a few of
his friends have large personal holdings
of New York Central securities.
The total capitalization of the New
York Central is $178,632,000 and it is
understood that the option, if exper
cised, will give Mr. Harriman and his
friends absolute control of the com
pany. This carries with it the control
of the West Shore and practical con
trol, though not by stock ownership, of
all roads in the New York Central lines
system.
Swedish Strike Dwindles.
Stockholm. Aug. 18. The police to
day prohibited a great demonstration
arranged by the strikers. The attempt
to force the agricultural workers to
strike and to refuse to harvest the crop
has proved a failure. Hotel propriet
ors are appealing to the military gov
ernor of the city for permission to sup
ply liquors to guests who take substan
tial meals in their places, on the ground
that the prohibition against such serv
ice is seriously affecting their tourist
trade. All the newspapers are now
appearing as usual.
Ship Needed at Inquiry.
Vallejo, Cal., Aug. IS. The Navy
department having failed to issue or
ders temporarily detaching from the
cruiser South Dakota Lieutenant Com
mander H. O. Stickney and Lieutenant
J. O. Fisher, who are members of the
board of inquiry into charges of al
leged inefficiency against Edward Kav
anaugh, it is expected the South Da
kota, on her return to Seattle, will be
ordered to return to Mare Island to
complete the inquiry.
Bogus Cash Made Abroad.
Philadelphia. Aug. IS. With the
arrest of Guiseppe Spica, of New
York, secret service operators believe
they have unearthed an unusual coun
terfeiting plot. Spica is alleged to be
in league with a band of counterfeiters
who have their plant in Italy, manu
facturing American silver certificates.
He was held today under $2,000 bail
for the September grand jury.
Nebraska Records Broken.
Lincoln, Neb., Aug. IS. All local
hot weather records for this year were
broken yesterday, when th? weather
bureau reported a temperature of 103.
Suffering has been intense. There
have been no rains in this section for
two weeks and reports from the coun
try are that the corn crop has already
been seriously damaged.
WITHERING BLAST
HITS SOUTHWEST
Hot Wave Strikes Down Hosts and
Kills Ten.
Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma in
Stricken District Corn Shriveled
Up and Much Vegetation Killed
Official Records Give Temperature
as High as IIO.
Kansas City, Aug. 17. Unusually
intense heat, officially recorded by the
government weather bureau as high as
110 degrees, caused at least ten deaths,
numerous prostrations and much dam
age yesterday in Missouri, Kansas and
Oklahoma. Throughout the Southwest
the day was the most trying since the
devastating'drouth of 1901. As the
withering winds swept across the plains
much vegetation fell.
In this city the heat continued and
prostrated a score, some of Whom are
in a dangerous condition. The Union
depot was like an oven. Babies be
came seriously ill and medical attention
was needed before their mothers could
resume their journeys. The distress of
a party of immigrants was great.
The likelihood of an ice famine added
to the gravity of the situation here.
Dealers reported that the . factories
were running night and day, but that
the demand had exceeded the supply.
Most of the dealers refused to deliver
more than 25 pounds to any residence,
and feared they would have to cut this
quota down.
At Wellington, Kan., the official
temperature was 106. Corn was suf
fering greatly in that district. The
day was the hottestTopeka has had for
eight years, 102 degrees being official
ly recorded. Two prostrations resulted
there.
QUAKE FELLS MOUNTAIN.
Thousands of Buildings Destroyed and
Great Property Loss.
Tokio, Aug. 17. Reports received
today concerning the earthquake in
Central Japan Saturday, show there
were many fatalities and great damage
was done to property. The dead at
present are said to number 30, though
it is feared further fatalities will be
reported from the outlying districts.
The number of persons injured is 82.
Thus far 362 buildings, including many
temples, are reported to have been de
stroyed and more than 1,000 others
badly damaged.
The town of Asaku, in Gifu, suffered
terribly. The banks of the Hida river
broke and the country is inundated.
The people of the district fled to high
ground and remained in the open all
night. Intermittent shocks were felt
throughout Saturday night and early
Sunday morning.
The mountain Ibuki, a short distance
west of Gifu, collapsed with a thun
derous roar.
Slight damage was done at Nagoya,
to the southward of Gifu, and neigh
boring villages.
CANADA CAN FEED BRITAIN.
Grain Crop of Dominion is Reported
Greatest in History.
Winnipeg, Aug. 17. From all points
in Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan
and British Columbia the unanimity of
opinion points to the anticipatory re
sult of this year's harvest as being the
greatest in the history of the Canadian
West. In some places, such as South
ern Alberta, the phenomenal growth
makes it hard for the people to con
ceive such prospects. Farmers are
now busy gathering the hay crop,
which is a heavy one. The grain har
vest will be general during the latter
part of the present month.
The statement is made on good au
thority that the completed Grand Trunk
Pacific railway from Winnipeg to Ed
monton is tributary to wheat lands cap
able of feeding the whole people of
Great Britain and Ireland in case of
need.
Spanish Turn on Moors.
Madrid, Aug. 17. Fighting between
the Moors and Spaniards was resumed
today at Melilla. After a disastrous
week for the forces under General
Marina, during which the Moors have
kept the' garrison of 38,000 men closely
hugging the walls of the city while
they poured shot into the fortifications
from the mountainside, Marina moved
aggressively against the tribesmen to
day. The long expected munitions ar
rived several days ago and in spite of
the attempts of the Moors a number of
French field guns have reached Marina.
Yuma Flooded by Rain.
Yuma.Ariz.," Aug. 17. The most
disastrous rain storm experienced in
this vicinity since the great flood of
1S91, when the downtown part of the
city wa3 washed away and hundreds
of people rendered homeless, broke
over Yuma today. The adobe houses
of the poorer classes crumbled like
sugar. Dozens of families were com
pelled to move out, wading waist deep
in the water, which poured over win
dow sills.
Big Sperm Whale Taken.
Victoria. Aug. 17. The steamer
Tees, which arrived from the west
coast of Vancouver island this after
noon, brought news that a sperm,
whale, the first taken since last year,
was caught by the Kuyoquot whalers
last week, and 5S barrels of oil taka
from the whale.