THE NEWS-RECORD
iMucd Each Thursday
ENTERPRISE OREGON
NEWS OFTHE 1VEEK
la a Condensed Form lor 9nr
Easy Readers.
A Return of the Lew tmportantfcut
Not Lee Interesting Evnt
.Of the Past Week.
The rush
subsided.
of aliens to Europe baa
The Pe Beers 'company wiill reduce
the output of diamonds.
Quiet has again been 'restored in Te
heran, the Per lean capital.
The premier of Huagary baa chal
lenged a man to a duel becaaae he was
accused of being 4ishoaest.
The Kansas City grand jury is very
busy returning indictments, principal
ly for violation of the Sunday closing
law.
The mint at Philadelphia has been
ordered to cease coining silver and coin
only double ag)e. About 1, 000,000
geld a day -will be ooinefi.
The explosion at tbe .Darr mine,
Jacobs Greek, Pa., killed every miner
at work in 'the turrrel. Only-six bodies
lhave 'been taken oat and there - are at
Jeast ItiO dead.
Immigrants aillioted wHh contagious
diseases are eomingUnto'Kew'ork fast
er than the local authorities -san- care
iforthem. Oko day : recently M immigrants-suffering
fioon contagious diseas
es were turne" over toi the 4!oeal author
ities, byethe Federal health inparotors.
Smallpox has broken -out 3ar Pe
.Ell, Wash.
' An assay office-has been - established
.at Albany , Oregon.
James Hamilton iLwisli-o candidate
tfor governor of Jllinoic.
Goldfisld reineownet a say efforts at
compiomlse corae too tote.
Legal holidays are over in California.
December 21 wac the last. ,
The-battleship fleet ia well -off the
Floilda coast And all is well oa boaai.
Japanese are .cnxiouc for .Admiral
Evans towtait tbeon witk his htttleabip
ifleet.
Representative sScott, .of CCaiuau,
would prohibit dealing lib futures .on
grain.
The first train has passed under' tho
Hudson. river -at Ner Yrk throuth; tbt
McAdoo tunnel.
The total i loss to .wossel property on
rthe great lakes amounted to $74f,000
for cue season tf 1007.
The lUinols-Cmupree const has de
clared unconstitutional the law forbiad
ding speculation in theater tickets.
Ihe SearohUght Bank Tiust com
jiany,, of Searchlight, Nevada, ihas been
looted by tbe . president of the .corpora
tion.
friction between Cortelyou antf
Roosevelt may result in tie resignation
of tbe former.
Michigan elecitrlc jroad ceanagexs say
they cannot operate ai a profit for less
than i oents .a ii le.
An Atlanie liner arrived at Uew
Vork a few days Ago with only seven
first class passengers.
George Eex Clarke, blind since birth,
has Just graduated from the University
of Chicago with an A. B degree.
A New York ruan has had hit name
changed from Crooke to Croohe,be
cause bli sweetheart would not accept
auoh a name.
The Supreme court of Illinois holds
that the anti-cigarette law does not
prohibit the sale of cigarettes made
from pure tobacco.
More than 100 all steel paseenger
cars will be in nee on the Pennsylvania
railroad between Pittsburg and New
York shortly after January 1 .
The liner Oceanlo, which has just
sailed for Europe from New York, car
ried 85,107 money orders, worth $1,
192,422.25, which is a record cargo.
The regulation requiring soldiers to
stand at salute while the "Star Span
gled Banner" is being played is modi
lied so as to permit the men to stand
erect and to salute only at the last note
of the music.
The ciar and the donma will clash
on the rebuilding of the Russian navy.
Cortelyou deniea that he li a candi
date for the Republican presidential
nomination.
Wireless messages from the Meet
how that it Is making good progress in
its journey south.
Butte mobs have defied the Federal
court's orders and deported nonunion
telephone linemen.
Electrio power haa been cut off at
Goldfield and the minea have had to
suspend temporarily.
Justioe Gould has enjoined the Amer-
loan Federation of Labor from boycot
ting the Buck Stove A Range company,
Tbe state does not seem to be making
much progress in the Petti bone trial.
Judge Wood will not permit Colorado
labor trouble! to be brought into the
case.
Johan Poulsen, of the InmanP-oulsen
company, of Portland, told the Inter
atate Commerce commission his oom-
Eny could make money even with the
tu eased lumber rate on railroads.
RtCE(fr AND fcXPENSES.
Secretary Cortelyou Makea Report to
Congress
Washington, Dec. 23. Secretary Cor
telyou haa repotted to congress the re
ceipts frem customs from Oregon during
the past fiscal year to be $1,140,612, of
which there was collected in Portland
$1,123,291; Astoria, $17,319 and Ya
quina, $1.35.
The total for Washington, all ports,
was $1,022,033. From internal reve
nue tke collections were in Oregon,
$378,428; Washington, $1,046,238,
and California,1 $5,536,796.
The immense lead of New York state
in both items is shown: Customs re
ceipts, $223,127,065; internal revenue,
$32,353797.
. Tbe reports of receipts from sales of
public lands gives Oregon $1,621,287,
of which there was collected at Port
land, $163,796; The Dalles, $344,276;
Roeeburg,- $415,004; La Grande, $435,
208; Burns,-$91,962; Lakeview, $171,-
048;. i In Washington the receipts were
$060,714; California, $367,270. Total
receipts from land sales in the country
were $7,878,811.
The territorial government of Alaska
cost $51,472 In salaries, and $4,919 in
expenses.
The fine custom house at Portland
coat in improvements only $770.42, and
the Baker City postomoe only $50, and
the Halem public building $5,628.
During the year the government ex
pended $2,201 on its exhibit which was
at the Lewis and Clark exposition, and
$1,382 on' the exposition government
buildings.
On 'harbor improvements tbe dis
bursements were: Entrance to Coos
bay.- Oregon,- $2,600; dredge for Oregon
and Washington harbors. $1,000:
Grays harbor, Washington, 410,000;
Grays harbor and Chehalia river, $1,-
990.
River improvements eost: Columbia
and lower Willamette, below Portland,
$72,668;. Columbia, at Cascades, $270;
Columbia, bet wee Wenatohee and
Bridgeport,- $l,O00: Columbia, Wash
ington.-$12,500; gauging waters of tbe
Columbia,-$773,636; tipper Columbia
and Snake rivers, $1,000; Coos river,
$500; Coquiile river, $4,400; Tilla
mook,' $3,80: Willamette and Yam
hill,- $23(000.
Tue surveyor generals olfioeat Port
land oost m salaries, $-8,760; at Seattle,
$9,750.
Crater lake cost the government $2,.
999.
Oregon's five per -cent of the iprtblie
land sales amounted tef 22,489, Wash
lngtoh'e, $20011.
1 Pacific Northwest Indians oost, for
support: ' CmabiJlas, Cayases and
Walla Wallas, $2,718; Yakimas, $3,
891; Nee Peroee, 0987; Warm Springs,
Oregon, $3,397; 'Ctamtrtth Indians, A,
203. besides dnoiuiatratiion especses at
all .reservations.
lo maintain tbe (Jcaumbia river
lightvessaL $74,496 was Che expense.
The summary of tbe nation's expenses
shows the eoet of itbe war department
for the year was $123,290,600; navy
department, $95,306,694; treasury de
partment, $72,174,930; state depart
ment, $2,06,994; executive idopait
raent,. proper,- $26,407 ; Interior depart
ment,'$16fi,048,667; ostoffice depart
ment,. $10,097,771 ; agncultaral dqpart
menW $9,651,514 .cormneroe and Ubor,
$9,828,831; judicial department, 47-
5173396.
It Js an Interesting fact thaialthough
the department of commerce and 'labor
has been . organised onlr .a few years,
uts expenses equal those of the depunt
unent of agriculture.
The gtaud total of the governmental
department expense was $762,448,753,
wtiich dad not include many in. 11 ions
of appropriations ..aad same items
which brivg the actual outlay close to
$1,600,000,000.
Lumber Case Cndee.
Washington, ;Dee. 23. T king of
testimony in 'tbe lumbermen'. case ve-
if ore the Interstate Coruaieroecominds
ion has been ooncluded.
Final Arguments will be ttnads befote
the comBuisston on March 4 and a de
cision is anticipated shortly thereafter.
In the meantime wmbermea of the Pa
cific Northwest named as complainants
in the case will be entitled to ship un
der the protection of lhe injunction Is
sued by the Federal courts at Portland
and Seattle.
Tries to Steal Treasure.
Philadelphia, Poo. 3. Charged
with attempting to break into an ex
press car on tbe Buffalo express which
contained $60,000 worth of bullion
which was being shipped by the gov
ernment to Philadelphia, William A.
Hewitt is under arrest. He was cap
tured on the car with a jimmy concealed
on his person and was evidently wait
ing until the lights went out before he
made the attempt. Hewitt Is an old
express car inspector and was familiar
with the construction of the cars and
the practices of the company.
Hope to Rescue Miners.
Ely, Nev., Nov. 23. The three min-
srs entombed in the Alpha mine will,
unless further trouble is experienced.
probably be released by Christmas day,
according to Foreman Gallagher. The
500-foot level was reached last night by
the rescue party at work on the cave-In,
and now that danger of a further cave-
In hue been averted, work is being
pushed with all possible speed. Tbe
men have been imprisoned since De
cember 4 .
Dr. Hanna Is Appointed.
New York, Dec. 23. According to a
srteolal dispaU-h from Rome tn the New
York World, Rev. Dr. Edward J. Han
na professor of dogmatlo theology in
St. Bernard's seminary at Rochester,
N. Y has been appointed coadjutor
archbishop of San Francisco, in succes
sion to the late George Montgomery.
OREGON STATE ITEMS OF INTEREST
HELP FOR STUDENTS.
University Establishes Loan Fund In
stead of Making Gifts.
University of Oregon, Eugene The
University of Oregon is planning a loan
fund of at least $5,000, based on the
belief that a loan is better than an out
right gift in the form of a scholarship.
Some subscriptions have already been
made to the f and, and a number of
prominent men of the state have agreed
to guarantee amounts up to $500. Pres
ident Campbell is using his best efforts
to raise the entire $5,000 this year if
possible.
In almost every high school graduat-1
ing class there are some who do not
have the means for a college education, j
but who would take advantage of any
fair opportunity offered them to secure
one. The treasurei of the loan fund,
who is to be the high school inspector
and will thus have an opportunity to
know personally the members of the
classes, will work in conjunction with
the city superintendents and high school
principals. He will make lcaus to general home management. The sub
such students as need them each year jects to be discussed will be of interest
at a low rate of interest, with the agree- and importance to every farmer and
mere mat iney are io repay me princi-
pal as soon as they are able after leav-
ing college. A small amount of life in-.
surance will be taken out on each at
tbe expense of the fund. It is the plan
to nave ten men guarantee the tuna,
against loss to the amount of $500 each
The university has had a Small loan
fund of about $300 for tbe past four
years. During this time, 25 students
have been enabled to complete (heir
college course' who otherwise oould not
have dene so. Only one loan has been
lost. '
WANT BRAND ON ALL SHODDY
Woolgrowers Working for Protection
of the Industry.
Pendleton In accordance with one
of tbe resolutions passed at the recent
convention of the Oregon Woolgrowers'
association, the secretary has sent to
the Oregon congressional delegation a
request for an act compelling tbe brand -
ing ot manufactured goods and clothing,
the object being to protect the public
irom snooay arm cowon commorients or.
wooien gooQB. une pure iooa jaw is
cited as an example that it is right (or
the government to protect the people
from frauds, counterfeits and adultera
tions -of all kinds.
Anonner resolution passed atrne same
time calls for the retention of the import
duty on wool, woolen fabrics, hides,
. . i i , . a ...
meat anaaeat antmais, witn trie oo -
ycv.. .,uu,., V"; yruBr-
uudvuluivuuwuhiivuimn nioiHKk
ilndastry.
New ttoad Is Under Way.
Giants Piles The government is
making good .progress under tbe direct
eupenpvinlon of the local forestry serv
ice, in extending a road down Rogue
Tiver into Curry county. This particu
lar stretch of coad wiili open up a wide
latitude of country ricti in mineral and
pronncoi me nest scaraeiaoie pine.th the ClatsoD Mill
When this work has 'been completed,
19 per cent of tbe prooeeds will be di
verted to the school fund, thus increas
ing the permanent means of keeping up
schools. About 45,000 -has been appro
priated toibe used in developing the
higiway, and it is -expected that con
gress will set aside $5,060 more to be
used. on this project.
Another Mill for Albany.
Albany Albany ie tc haye another
Hourmill. In the next few weeks a
slant with a capacity .of SO barrelB a
day wiM be established by E. A. John
son, whe now operates a saw mill at
Drum, ana r. a. juasfinail, who for
years has been secretary .of tbe Albany
Fanners' company . The two saen have
consummated tbe purchase of tbe three
warehouses of tke Albany Farmers'
company, sMuated at Albany. Tillman
and Tangent, and ia addition to carry
ing on a warehouse business, will oper
ate a nourmiu in one of the local taild-
isgs of the'old-compaaj.
Heat and Light for Agency.
Pendleton Supervising Engineer
Pringle of the Indian department, who
has been at the Umatilla agency exam
ining the facilities for heating and light
ing the buildings of tbe agency, will
recommend, it is understood, the erec
tion of a one-story briek structure, 4 Ox
70 feet, in whieb a complete electrio
lighting and heating plant will be in-;
stalled. It is desired that the building
shall be completed for the opening of
school next year. .
Fruit Meeting in Eugene.
Eugene Plans are under way for an
important meeting of Jthe Lane County
Horticultural society with the ofheers -
or me orate Horticultural soeeitv. in
t i t . v i sr
augene, the nrst week In January,
newel, ii.iv, ntmi nuu owrtuiT
IKM. Williamson, of the state beard, ,
will be here to address the meeting,
and there will be some members of the (
vuuy iium me Ag-riouum-ai coiiege in
attendance.
Land Claimants Anxious. 1
Pendelton In the Umatilla land
fraud cases, which will soon heoln.
about 200 entrymen will be Involved in
th La Grande district. Great uneasi
ness is being Bhown as to tho outooms
of these oases.
New Notaries Public.
Salem Governor Chamberlain has
named the following notaries public:
Thomas Coates, Tillamook; J. L. Camp
bell, Glendale; Virgil H. Maasey, B.
I. D. No. 8, Balem.
SPECIAL SHORT COUR8ES.
Oregon Agricultural College Plans to
Aid Farmer With 'Little Time.
The Oregon Agricultural college will
give winter short courses, 'beginning
January 7, 1908, as follows:
1. General Agriculture; two weeks.
2. Dairying; six weeks.
3. Horticulture; six weeks.
4. Mechanic Arts; six weeks. -
5. Household Science; six weeks.
Many young men as well as many
mature farmers who are so situated
that they cannot take a four years'
I .course of study desire toaoauiant them-
selves more fully with tbe most recent
developments in agriculture. There
are others who feel the need of a more
practical knowledge of farm mechanics
and the use of tools. It is to met the
needs of these classes that these courses
will be given. The course in House
hold Science will be of value to the
women of the borne who desire lo more
thoroughly acquaint themselves with
the principles of good cooking and of
nomeueeper ana n is hoped that a
large number" will take advantage of
this opportunity.
A circular containing further inform
1 ation will be sent -on application to
tee Agricultural College, Corvallis.
Oregon.
CHANGES FOREST BOUNDARIES
Department Heeds Demands of John
' Dap Stockmen.
jonn uay ti. smgnam Has re
ceived his commieaion as acting forest
supervisor for the Malheur national
forest Ireeerve, with headquarters at
John Day. The boundaries of tbe
new reserve are the John Day river on
the north, previous withdrawal on tbe
east, former lines on tbe south, irreg.
ular lines running near the center of
townships in range 27 on the west,
Heppner forest is extended to tbe John
Day river and headquarters removed to
1 Monument
The remaining portion of
'the western division is renamed Des.
chutes and headquarters at Prineville.
stockmen rejoice at the change
Grain instead of Hops,
Aurora During the paBt two weeks
this section has been well soaked with
the usaal winter rains and tbe farmers
' . -
are well pleased with the outlook. The
gr0und is in good condition, and much
work has been done for the winter
: RrajD8, An unuswally large acreage of
g,.alrl nag Deen gown tnjg Ja)ll many J
, th hnnvMsara h nl no it-. Hot fox ts
put m smau grain tiian to depend en
tirely on hops for financial .returns on
their properties.
Big Lumber Contract.
Astoria The Olson-Mahoney Lum
ber company , of San Francisco, which
baa been awarded a contract for 6,000,
000 feet of lumber by the Isthmian
Canal commission, is closely identified
wttn tbe Clatsop
the Astoria Bo company, of this city,
ana it is expected a large part of this
order will be cut at the local mills.
Present for University.
University of Oregon, Eugene The
Alumni association has lust presented
to the University of Oregon a painting
ot f resident Johnson, the first preai
1 a. m i t . i .
aeat oi me university, ine work was
done in Eugene by R. LeBarre Good
win, of New York, at a cost of $500.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Wheat Club, 8081e; bluestena, 2
83c; valley, B081c; red, 787c.
Oats No. 1 white, $28: gray, $28
Barley Feed, $27.60; brewing, $31;
tolled, $30.
Corn Whole, $32; eracked, $33.
Hay valley timothy, No. 1. $18:
Eastern Oregon timothy, $2023 ; clo
ver, $16; cheat, $16; grain hay, $15
aifaiia, its; vetch, f 14.
Butter Fancy creamery, 3537c
per pound.
Veal 75 to 125 pounds, 89c;
126 to 150 pounds, 7c; 150 to 200
pounds, 56e.
Pork Block, 75 to 160 pounds, t
packers, 66)c.
PoultryAverage old hens, li12o
per pound; mixed chickens, 11c;
spring chickens, 12c; roosters, 8o;
dressed chickens, 12(a)! 3c; turkeys.
I live, 16c; dressed, choice, 1719c;
geese, llve.acj ducks, 12J$13J6c;
pigeons, ii(3i.ou; squabs, $2(a3.
Eggs Freeh ranch, candled, 35
17 s per dosen.
Fruits Apples, 75e$2 per box;
peaches, 76c(4$l perorate; pears, $1.25
(81.75 per boxj cranberries, $9.6012
ner harm).
vMiih Mu.Tnrnina.7Rn t ..ot.
carrots, 65o per sack; beets, $1 per
urk brans. 7Hc ner nound ; nhhuu
io per pound; cauliflower, 76c$l per
dosen; celery, $3.603.75 per crate;
onions, 1520o per dosen; parsley, 20o
.per dosen; peas, llo per pound; pep
pers, 8(a) 17c per pound; pumkpins, 1
lHo per pound; radishes, 20c per dos
en; spinach, 6c per pound; sprouts, 8o
per pound; squash, 1140 per pound;
tomatoes, $1.60 per box.
Onions $1.75(32 per hundred.
Potatoes 60 65o per hundred, de
livered Portland; sweet potatoss, $2.60
per hundred.
Hops 1907, 67o per pound; olds,
nominal.
Wool Eastern Oregon averagn best,
1320c per pound, according to shrink
age; valley, 1820c, according td fine
ness; rnctojr, choice, 2930o per
pound.
MORE ON LUMBER RATE.
Elliott, of Northern Pacific. Gives His
: Reasons for Increase.
Washington, Dec. 20. Howard El
liott, president of the Northern Pacific
railway, was tbe principal witness yes
terday at tbe hearing of tne facinc
Northwest Lumber companies before
the Interstate Commerce commission.
Mr. Elliott asserted, as James J. Hill
asserted two or three days ago, that tbe
advanoe in rates on lomber made by
the railroads was necessary in order
that they should be compensatory on
tbe various lines. He said that it had
become evident to the railway managers
that it was necessary to raise the rates
on lumber in order to prevent an abso
lute loss to the roads on the traffic.
He explained that the prosperity of
the West and Northwest had so in
creased the traffic on the lines of all
railways in that Bectlon that the com.
panics were phvsicallv unable to han
dle the traffic promptly and efficiently.
inis was particularly true of lines in
tbe Northwest, the traffic of which was
interfered with in the winter season
very considerably by adverse weather
He explained that tbe cost of handling
traffic had increased materially in the
past year or two on account of higher
wages, increased prices of materials
and similar conditions. He believed
that the rates as fixed by tbe railway
lines in the advanced tariffs promulgat
ed were fair among shippers generally,
although he was not so certain that
they would enable the carriers to make
very much profit.
BOND BID IS IGNORED.
Secretary Cortelyou Cited to Court
' on Canal Issue. .
Washington, Dec. 20. Justice
Gould, of the District Supreme court,
yesterday sited George B. Cortelyou,
secretary of the treasury, to appear In
court January 3, to show cause why he
should not be enjoined from turning
over or delivering the balance of the
$21,450,000 of the Panama canal bonds
to certain banks and persons to whom
he has announced allotments.
Tbe citation issued by Justice Gould
is bared on a petition filed by George
W. Austin, of New York, who describes
himself as a taxpayer and property
owner in the United States and who
declares he made a proposal to purchase
bonds of the advertised issue of face
value of $3,000,000. He avers he
agreed to pay at the rate of $103,375
and accrued interest per $100, and on
notice of tbe acceptance of bis subscrip
tion stands ready to deposit the amount
with the assistant treasurer at New
York.
Mr. Austin informs the court that he
has been advised through the public
press that in direct violation of the
statutes and in absolute disregard of
the Treasury department's circular, of
tbe $25,000,000 of the bonds allotted
only f l.uou.ooo were allotted to per
sons who were individual bidders, and
who, in accordance with the statutes
and said circular, .were given equal
opportunity to, subscribe therefor; the
remaining $24,000,000 were allotted to
divers national banks and only $3,550,
000 of which were allotted to banks
which had offered a higher price than
that bid by him.
ISLANDERS CHANGE FRONT.
FilipinosJWant Power to Make
merclal Treaties.
Com'
Manila, Dec. 20. The assembly has
received a favorable report from the
.committee to which was referred a res
olution asking, congress to give the in
sular government power to make com
mercial treaties with other countries
is the event of failure of tariff reform.
This subject has been much discussed
by the native politicians and press and
as a result tbe Filipino attitude on free
trade with tbe United States has under
gone a complete change.
Heretofore the politicians and the
press regarded tariff agitation as an
effort to bind the Philippines closely to
tne mainland and it was opposed by
tne independent factions. Sow all
parties unite in demanding the aboli
tion of the Dingley rates.
The commercial treaty project was
presented to the assembly by s Nation
alist member, who declared that, al
though his first effort would be toward
free trade, he would in the case of fail
ure urge the commercial treaty plan as
an alternative.
Yaquis Again Break Loose,
NoralfB, Ariz., Deo. 20. Informa.
tion which has just reached here tells
of the frightful murder of 12 men by a
band of 100 Yaqui Indiana, 45 miles
southeast of Magdalena, state of So
noro, Mex., last Wednesday. P. J.
Mclntyre and a party of minins men
of this section have arrived from the
scene where they viewed the remains
of the murdered men. Among the
number was JoeeHernandes, son of the
president of the town of Cncurne and
owner of the mescal plantation where
the killing occurred.
Jewa Ordered to Depart. .
St. Petersburg, Dec. 20. A disnatch
reoelved here from Vladivostok declarm
that the Jews have been ordered to de
part within four days. Jewish prop
erty holders, however, have been given
eight days in which to liquidate. Be-
yond this dispatch nothing ia known
here regarding the renorted emulsion
of the Jews and the report baa been
skeptically received. The oommandant
of Vladivostok, onder the martial law,
haa full power to issue such an order.
Gallagher Returns to Testify.
San Francisco, Deo. 20. Ex-Bnnor.
visor James L. Gallaghsr. who will be
the principal witness for the prosecu
tion in the trial of Patrick Calhoun.
accused of bribery, has returned from
the East
MORE MINERS DEAD
Third Explosion In Pennsylvania
In Nineteen Days.
RAISES TOTAL DEATHS TO 550f
Between 200 and 250 Men Entombed
and Hope of Escape for Any
Is Very Slight.
Jacobs Creek, Pa., Deo. 20. An ex
plosion of gas in the Darr mine of the
Pittsburg Coal company, located here,
yesterday entombed between 200 and
250 miners, and there is scarcely a ray
of hope that a single one of them will
be taken from the mine alive. Par
tially wrecked buildings in tbi vicinity
of the mine and tbe condition of the
few bodies found early in the rescue-
work Indicate an explosion of such ter
rific force that it seems impossible that
any one could have survived it. All of
the 13 bodies taken out up to this time
are terribly mutilated, and three of
them are headless.
This is the third mine disaster since
the first of the month in tbe veins of
bituminous coal underlying Western
Pennsylvania and West Virginia, for
the Naomi mine, near Fayette City, and.
the two mines at Monongah, W. Va.,
in which tbe earlier explosions hap
pened, are in tbe same belt as the local '
workings. Yesterday's catastrophe,
swells the number of victims of deadly
mine gas for the 19- days to between 550
and 600.
That this disaster does not equal or
even surpass in loss of life and attend
ant horrors the one in West Virginia is
due to the devotion tc church duties of
a considerable number of the miners.
In observance of the church festival,
many of the 400 or more men regulaly
employed at tbe mine did not go to
work. These who escaped through
tbla reason are members of tbe Greek:
Catholic church and they suspended,
work to celebrate St. Nicholas' day.
As was tbe case at Monongah, the
explosion followed a brief shut down.
The Darr mine having been closed
Tuesday and Wednesday. It was just
11:80 o'clock when tbe tenth trip of
loaded cars bad been brought out to
the tipple that there came an awful
rumbling sound, followed immediately
by a loud report and a concussion that
shook nearby buildings and was felt,
within a radius of several miles. At
the same time there came out of the
mouth of the mine an immense cloud
of dense smoke and - dust that floated
across the Youghiogheny river.
Intuitively everyone in the vicinity
knew what had happened and all start
ed for the one place the mouth of the
mine. As far as known only one man who
went to work escaped. Joseph Maple
ton, a pumper, emerged from one of
the side entrances Shortly after the
explosion. He had left the part of the
mine where most of the men were
working and was on the way to the en
gine room for oil.
A considerable number ef the miners:
were Americans, some of the officer
estimating that, probably more than
half of the victims are Americana, as
the majority of the foreigners did not
work.
Tbe Darr mine is located on the west
side of the Youghiogheny river, in
Westmoreland county, along the line
of the Pittsburg & Lake Erie railroad,
40 miles southeast of Pittsburg and 18.
miles northwest of Connelsville. It
is one of the largest of the Pittsburg
Coal company. ,
There was much drunkenness here
tonight, some of the men who got a.
good start on account cf the holiday
continuing their carousal after the ex
plosion in celebration of their escape.
A new air shaft for the mine is being
constructed, work having been started,
on it several months ago. .Had this
been completed, it is said, the loss of'
life today would have been much leas,
serious. I
Does Immense Businsss.
New York, Dec. 21. That ODe job
bing firm affiliated with the American
Tobacco company does a business of
$13,000,000 a year in New York Citv
and Yonkers was brought out today in -
tne nearing ot tne government s action-
against the company before United
States Commissioner Fields. Adolpfo
B. Bendheim, president of the Metro
politan Tobacco company, testified with
reference to this concern. Over 75 ner
cent of the jobbing business of New
iorx uity was controlled by the
Me'
ropolitan, Mr. Bendheim stated.
New Grand Jury at Work. '
San Francisco, Dec. 21. The new
C-ranty grand jury held its first session.,
yesterday and after quickly perfecting.,
the details of organization took np the--ease
of the missins Cotton iwnriHe.,
and the connection of former officials of '
the California Safe Deposit A Trust
company with the disappearance of val-
uaoie biocks and bonds. A number of
witnesses were examined, and the tak
ing cf testimony had not beenBonc!uded
when the meeting adjourned nntll today
New Drydock Projected.
San Francisco, Dec 21 The Bulle- 1
tin says that within a few months the
Union Iron works will let a contract
for a floating drydock large enough to
scoommodate all vessels that come to.
this port, with the possible exception
of the Pacific Mail liners Mongolia and
Manchuria. ,