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About Bohemia nugget. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1899-1907 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 1904)
Toilers of the Columbia ny nnuL mi i.txniiy author ot "l.oril tit the nvcrt," "omion HUctehct," nml oilier I'ltcltle I'miaf tit uric 01 1 ATI Kit XX. Hanknla to tliu W 1 1 en I. Captain lliidlnng nml the shnrlH lipid a conlercnco wltli Hnnknln. Tim nlrl hud much to It'll them Hint win ol In Ion nt to llii'lr mission. HIik luul heard nil o tlm plans u( tint noil 1 linlitt-1 nml hint watched (or tlm ipprniiili ol tlm Ixmt tlmt aim might lnturi'i'it II nml Inform tlm otllciirn of tlm Imicheiy ol lliu pilot nml tlm pur poses ol tlm In w bunking gllluellors. Hhi luul hoard tliuin, loin; Imlorti midnight, agree to piwlpiuti tlm ntlni'k liion tlm soilllrldem until daylight on account ol tlm de-lay ol miimi ol lluur ridnlorieinenln ninl luul nlao heard them iilnti- Hint (Ulm Jnrvl, tlm pilot on tlm I icnt to bring thitauldlora, would keep away Irom tlii'tn until they had flnlahul wltli llm noriluldii fishermen. Il hnd la-en agreed by Onbo Hint Im would run nbout tlm river until day Unlit, pirleudltig to Ih) hunting (or the fishermen, when In (net ho would lie studiously avoiding them. Ill tlm laukurss ot III trmchcry Im had piom laed to take tlm liont na nonr llm bar na lio (Urul to nppronrli whor tlm waa roii)ili nnd .ould upset tlm atom acha ol tlm citizen aoldlrra. Hanknla luul cscnpid' Irom tlm old flunk while tlm men worn out on the Ix-ncli nrinnglng (or tlm nltark nml Imd wntrhod for tlm coming ol tlm bont. Hlui knew tlmt It Mould no on tlm soulh nliht ol tlm Island In older to nvold an encounter with tlm fishermen who weie lined up on tlm north aldn, mid when alio m tlm Unlit ol tlm vtwcl (nr up tlm river aim launched n bont which wna aonm dlstnncn from tlm plotting fishermen nml struck out to iuturrrpt tlm big emit Hint a In- n lulit Inlorui tlm olllcers. Him liad lieeii successful, na tlm render knoa, hut n dilemma now coiitiniilcd tlm olllcorn tlmt wus difficult to aoho. Neither ol tlm olfirera knew anything nlioul tlm river mid noun ol tlm men liad Hie alightcst Idea about navlt;n t Ion. Hnukuln told tliom Hint tlm liont waa heading atialght (or tlm ocean ami that they liad passed nil ol tlm fisher men, who were lined il nt tlm head ol tlm lalnnd lor tlm rsirly morning attack. "Dila (idlow Jnrvl la wry mean limn," raid Haukaln. "Iln la now under bond lor tlm murder ol It la nged lather nml la auld to Ihi Hm niii-1 lirutal ol tlm Ignorant Philanders on tlm loutli lila ol Hie river. 1 do not believe lie would atop nt even miming Hila bout out over tlm bai where It would auroly perish." "Wlmt shall wo do?" Inquired Captain Iludloiig ol tlm sheriff. "Arrest him nnd put liim In Irona," replied tlm county ollklal. "Hut who Mould tane mm ol the bontT" Inquired tlm captain. Tlm two men went out on deck. Han kala lollonrd llmm. Tliey could so the lirrakera now leaping high In tlm Ir far away to tlm front of tlm vessel, ml knew Hint Hila waa where the river met the wavea ol tlm ocean. "Tlm acoundrvl seema to l carrying da straight to our death," sold tlm cup tnln. " Wn will go to liim nnd remonatrnto," tuld the almrlfl. "Ami i'(iiniel him nt tlm inuiam ol n t!itn to turn tlm cnurw) ol tlm ol," lepllixl tlm cnptnln ol the in II t In . Tlm ollicvra clliulx-l the iiurnm stair vny nxaiu nnd upproiu-liiil Hie pilot liouae. Jnrvl dlnreKardiid their coining In aullenneM. lie held on to the wheel nml kept tlm mwo o( tlm M-u'el point Inn toward tlm hieakera. riunknln had followinl tlm olllceia nml atood Im-Ii iml tlm aniokeatnek whuru alio nvnlled her tell ol Itawaimth nml nt tlm amim time could llatvn to the Interview with the pilot. "You have lirouiiht ua paat the (lsh ormen mid nru tnklnu ua toward tkt ocean," anid Captain Iludlonx. Tlm pilot Ignored him In tho nccun touii'd iimnner ol atenmboat men. "Wo want nn oxplunutloii," demand td Iliidlong. "Yea, nnd wownntltnt onco," apoke tho eheilft, who win n innn ol pernoiinl cotirnKo nml nccuatomed to tho nature ol tlm rough men nt tho mouth ol tho river. "I am running this boat," roplled Jnrvl. "Hut you nro limning her In the wrong direction," anid tlm captain. "You had better run her youraell then, nlncu you know no much nbout It," retorted tho pilot rcornltilly. "Wo undmatnml nothing about nteamlioatliiK) out wo do know that you nre going In tho wrong direction," replied the aherift. "Well, II you know nothing about running a boat you hnd bettor go lown atalra," aald Jarvl. "We will do nothing ol tho kind," said Ilmllong who waa nlao n nplrltcd follow. "I, na commander ol tho forces loi wlilcli this veesol was chartered, de mand that you turn back mid proceed to tho head ol the Island." "I can't do It," roplled Jnrvl. "Why" aaked tlm cnptnln. "I mil in the south channel mid will now bo compelled to round tho went point ot tho island nnd return on the north tldo," said tho pilot. "Why did you como bo far out ol tho way'" asked tho sheriff. "swept into tho old couth channel by accident nnd couldn't got out," re plied Jnrvl, doggedly. Tho boat continued to bond for tho lirrakera. Jarvl looked coolly out Into tho dark ocean, now and then lit up by n dasli of spray, while tho olllcora look ed on In doubt. They did not bollovo tho man. Hut still they did not bo llovo that ho would tako them Into n Ooath which would carry liim with thorn. Tho point ol tho Island butting out toward tho bar was now cloeo nt hand. While tho broakors from tho ocean cbmo nearly to Its Bhoros, tho men bo lloved that tho Island could bo passed by tho Hat bottomed river boat, Iiut Jarvl headed straight on, "Why do you not turn to tho right?" asked Captain Budlong. "W would run her Into llm sand," replied tlm pilot. "Hut you am running Imr into tlm breakers," replied Hm sharlff. "It la hotter for her them," coolly replied tlm treacherous limn nt the whtiid. Tlm boat began to rock and leap like a wild animal which found Itaoll ami denly In tlm clutvhra ol nn enemy. It una but n shell, on y Intended for the ainooth wntern of tho liver, nnd could not lie exHieted to live on thiiorenn nml especially mi the river bar, one ol the roughen! plan a known to seamen. 'J'hn mini down atnlra lull nlioiit tlm deck like drunkards nml while sumo bocnlne deathly sick, olhoia were tilnrinitd. Hanknla could conceal her dura no longer. "That man," alio anid, "la taking ua to our doom. Tin bont can not live In this aea. lie could have passed the point ol the lilnud without coming Into tlm breakers. Tlm water la deep there. Him had come from her place ol con cealment mid apoko with all ol the earneitimaa ol a woman, nnd tho cool nes ol a man. Jarvl looked around nt her with n ghostly smile ol contempt, but did not tiuilgii Hm wheel. "Consider youraelf a prlaoner," aald Captain lludlorg. "All right." replied tlm pilot.' Then he released the wheel and walked out ol tlm pilot house. The boat leaped and reeled. Tlm propelling wheel al ternately rnao nlxivn nod sank deep into the water revolving na lifelessly na n llutler-mill. 'I ho vessel was ielt to the mercy ol tlm breakers. The last rxtrrmlty hnd been reached. The sherlfl drew Ills revolver, and, pointing It at Jarvl, said: "(io hack to that wheel and tnke ua out ol this or I shall shoot you like a dog!" "All right," replied Jnrvl In a con temptuoui voice. Then tho man atarted aa If bo would enter the door of the pilot houso, but be turned quickly nnd leaped Into the foaming hieakera below. Hanknla, keenly nlive to the Impend mg'trlsls, bale headed nnd bare armod sprang to tlm wheel. Hho glanced down Into the nngry pea, and hurriedly examined the shore line to the north-, then wltli distended mueclea aim born dim u mi the lever that governed the miller, nnd rang tho engineer to turn on tho steam. CUAiTKH XXI. Old Beadog Wounded. "la that a bont or light on shore?" "It la boat, you eeo dm la to tho right ol Chinook I'olnt nml them la a wide channel ol river there." "Him may bring the aoldlrra." "I hops to Ood alio will. Thoae fellows are reinforcing their strength and we can't hold out much longer against them." Thus apoke Old Beadog. A hand to hand right had juot taken place on the water nnd while tlm encounter waa a draw the northildera knew that Ihoir strength waa being exhausted while that ot their enemy waa being in cieaied by lorco ol numbers. llm only Iioh ol tlm n-irthslderB wne tho arrival ol the etate troopa. The militia una not ordered out lor tho pur mxo ol taking pnit in the tight, if it could be avoided, but to patrol the river nnd prevent bloodshed. Tlm statu maintained tlm right of Its cltitena to fish to the middle ol the stream wherever that might bo determ ined to be, and claimed tho right to protect their lite and property north ol that point. It waa n question ol boundary line nml as la usual whero therenredisputea nbout such matters, each aide constant ly encroached on the rights ol the oth er. Tho first bloodshed hnd brought out the woiat element ot the aouthalde and they determined to drive back or destroy, even to the line o( the north ihore. The loat enmo alowly down thn river. The bolllgerent llahermen watched It with intense Interest on both aidea. "I hopo to (iod bIio brings tho sol dlfors," repeated Old Headogaait enmo nearer and ncaior. "Oabo Jarvl will tnke cnio of them," casually remarked a aoutbslde leader to his companion. It did contain the soldiers, and tho reader already known of its movements, and the treachery of Ita pilot. After tlm hint passed away to tho south ot the Island, tho northslders re laxed Into n feeling almost hopeless. The nlglit was cool and calm, but nn unusual darkness rettlod down upon tho waters. I'ho stars shown out and gave forth shadows that darkened the surtaco ot tho water. A black veil hung above it like a mantle. The contending llahermen lay upon their oar a and nrma. Tho first blush ol dawn would bring tho soutbslders up on their enemy. Tho noithsldera wore counseling one another to stand Arm to tho end, It thoy could only Btay the destruction1 ol their traps until tho ar rival ot tho soldiers they cared no further trouble. With the first Hash ot the red in the east the southsldors moved out to tho north. Thoy did not apprehend any danger of interferenco from the sol diers, They left that to Gabo Jnivl. Their purpose was to make tho light thiol tills morning. They knew that thoy possessed tho numbers nnd should thoy succeed In destroying tho north elders' traps nnd roturn to their homes on the southsldo tho victory they bad eo long sought would bo complete. When once nt their homes tho enormi ty ot tholr crlmo would bo lost sight ol In n measuio and the future would find them masters ot tho rlvor. Wbon tho traps Tore onco destroyed It would bo dilllcult to rebuild thom, and through tho prejudice thoy expect ed to cioate against tho traps, thoy hoped to Interest their own state and tho United States congress against tho construction ot flshtraps In tho Colum bia river, They had already Bont a long petition to tholr congressman, not only showing that llm traps were de structive to tho fish Industry but wore also detrimental and hazardous to nav igation, Aii-s, drags, anna mid dynnmlto had been provided by tho southslilers. They did not wish upon llm wholo to resort to bloodshed. They came, how ever, determined to win. They ex pec ted to do this through Intimidation nnd overwhelming numbers. Hut them wro those among them who nm nlwnya loiiud In n mob organ ization, Hint preferred hliKlshid to any other feature of tlm fight between the two factions. The southslders moved along Ilka so many shadows to the attack. A cou ple of launches used lor towing In tho Hilling boats on other occasions hnd been secured, mid sailboats bad been converted Into rowboiils for the morn ing nttack. Thesit were manned by largo forces and formed a lino (or the main encounter. Old Heailng had assembled his men near the center of the largest group ol traps and took active command nt this point. It meant more foi him than for nil tho other northslders combined and ho lutereated hlmsell accordingly. lie possessed an lion nerve and this win wrought up to the highest tension. It was the critical point of tho long struggle and should Im lose, thousands ol dollars worth ot property would pass from bla hands. Willi his traps de stroyed Ills cannroy would bo useless; with traps and cannery both out of use the men would be out ol employment and could not pay tholr bills at his atom; neither could they pay their rent. Tho traps were tho llfo of the town and tho town waa owned by Sea dog. Ilia dark flotilla rose nnd fell with the awella of tho bay llko a school ol whales lying at rest, and old Euadog waa aa silent and watchful as the bull leader of such an ngrgegatlon. Ho was as rugged as a water god and feared the wave no more than did oid Neptune, who ruled them. The suspense was finally relieved. In tlm shadows ot the slowly approcah- Ing morn could bo seen the boats of the aou.haldera stretching up and down tlm river like a great black wavo. Their nutnbera looked as ominous ns did their dark line ot advance. "Men, to your arms and oars!" hitsod old Hoadog. And this command was taken up nnd pawed down the line. The arms consisted principally ol long polea. These hnd been cut for the double purpose ol keeping back His ImioIs ol the enemy nnd at the same time to bo used aa cudgela In case o! distance and hand to hand conllict. While It waa a Justifiable case for employing firearms, the fishermen found that they were not nccistoincd to their use and limy leallxed further that the lens bloodshed on tho occasion the better it Mould be lor their cause In tho long run. This was the sentiment on both aides though many had brought along rifles and levolvera to use in the direst extremities (To le rou!liiU(i "Tho Whim Man's lltinlcn." lie had won his KUiel after a pro tracted courtship, and now, although ho waa tilled with a sense of delighted ocurlty, he thought It wise to ask one or two questions. "I nm ure you are not the sort of (rlrl who would tell of domestic trou blei before a man has eaten his din ner," he said, with confidence, hut rising Inflection. No, Indeed," aald KtlieL "And when I aeein a trlllo ruffled or worried you'd bo the very one to aay soothing things. Now, wouldn t your proceeded Henry. "Certnlnly. I should." aald Kthel, "and you'd like to do It, too, I know." "llo what?" naked Henry, with a sudden fall to earth. "The soothing and comforting, and putting me in good humor when the cook had been called to her aunt's funeral for the third time, and your bunlnvfM friends were coming to din ner." aald i:thel, gently. "Ye-e.s, of course 1 should try to," faltered Henry. "And when you'd lioen bored at the ottlco with your cousins from the coun try you'd never apeak of It till dinner wns nil over, would you, dear Henry?" aald tho trusting Ktliel. "I know the sort of man you are, who wants to carry Ids atiuro of the burdens, don't I?" "I I hope you do," aald Henry. In n disheartened tone. "Let us apeak of the new magazines, IHhel. and why not go out on the piazza, whero It II cooler?" Youth's Companion. Opal Fossil of n Hhnrk. Since they were llrst dlieovereil the frtinout opal fields at White CHITs, N. S. V., have yielded many curious fos bIIs, particularly thoio of prehistoric marine life, ltut the latest discovery is a most extraordinary one, and will provo of tho deepest Interest to tho scientific world. It Is that of a fossilized, or rather opallzed, member of the shark family, which was found on block Na 0, at a dtjith of thirty-llvo feet from tho aur face. The Sydney press says that tiie apeclment measures ;i feet 0 Inches from the snout to the Up of tho tall. Tho body is In seven sections, tho cir cumference of tho largest of which (tho bend and shoulder iwrtlon) Is eighteen Inches; each section Is six Inches In length. Tho deeply Indented eyo-sockets show plainly, "and thin veins of pur ple opal encircle tho fish from tip to tip." At tlio mouth these veins make nn oblong and clearly defined course, though the continuity Is occasionally broken. No particulars ns to weight nro given, but ns the fossil has been sent to London these ond other mat ters ot Interest will soon be deter mined, It was purchased from the llndcrs by an opal buyer. AVorso nml AVorao. "My wife and I went to call on tht I) urn leys last night. I can't Imagiui anything moro tiresome than spending an evening with them." "You cnu'tV Walt till tliey come to spend an evening with you." Philadel phia Tress. Houl Borrow. "Madam, your husband has been mur dered and robbed." "Just my luck I I forgot to go through bis pockets last night." Town Topics. It Is generally more profitable to reck on up our defects than to boast of our at talurucut. Carlyle. WEEK'S DOINGS Newsy Items GiiHiered from All Paris of flie World. OP INTEREST TO OUK READERS General llcvlew of Important Happen-pcnlfj-i Presented In a llrlcf and Condensed Conn. A Itusslnn captain has been anestod for criticising tho admiralty. Washington lias four aspirants for tho olllco of fish commissioner. Tho Southern states are flooding Koosevolt with Invitations to visit them. The remains ol Kruger, Ilia ex-presl dent ol tho Transvaal, have arrived nt Pretoria. Hevern skirmishes have occurred on llm Hhahlrn river 111 which the Hus sions were defeated. A Japanese cruiser stiuck a mine at the entrance to the i'ort Arthur Harbor and sunk. Ot tho crew enly 30 were lost. A number ot piomincnt llusslan of!) cials have resigned on the czar declar ing ho will stand by the new mlnistet ol tho interior. Twenty years ago, when both were stationed at I'arls, General Kuropatkin and General Teruchl, now Japanese minister of war, met and bccaina fast friends. On the eve of tho present war mi exchange ol swords as presents took place between them. Tho first snow ot the season has fall en In Eastern Oregon. Kt. Petersburg authorities deny that a (amino exists in Southern Itussia. The torpedo boats at I'oit Aithur have not been sunk, and they may try to escape. It Is reported that tho czar has order ed the Halite fleet not to proceed to the Far Kast. Secretary Hay will ask congiees lo Increase the salaries of a number ot diplomats. Governor elect Douglas will appoint General Miles as adjutant general ot the Masachusetts militia. The School' coal mine, near Peoria, lllnols, is on fire. There were 100 men at work nt tne time the flames were discovered, but all escaped. The property loss will be heavy. The bouse committee on rivers and harbors has decided to send for some of the ill'trlct eng neers, as ibey deiire to hear from them on the needs ot rivers and harbors in their respective dls tilcts. Many shells sent to the Russians at Mukden have proved detective. A son ot Geneial Nogl was killed In the attack on 203-Meter hill at Port Arthur. Tho Japanese have sunk all the Rus aian battleships and cruisers at Port Arthur. Japan has signified her willingness to participate In a second Hague peace conference. So far In the Far Eastern war Rus to bus Inst 2.1 warshlns ot all classes and tho Japanese four. Ilnn.at'ull liaa tthnnilntlMl flip tdpn nf a speciul session ot congrcsB in the spring to consider tarin revision. A 1,111 will lm ntrndnrpd In rnnprpsa to connect the canal zone on the isth mus with tho United states ny cauie. Secretary Shaw will urge congress to inciease the appropriation for the Tn coma public building from $400,000 to (800.000. The handwriting experts in the Den ver election frauds found evidences of repeating for both the Democratic nnd Republican tickets. Senator Mitchell has a fight on his hands tosecurethechairmanship ot the canal committee, mado vacant by the death ol Hanna. The stand he took for tho Nicaraguan route two years ago is tho cause. Liberal appropriations (or Columbia river jetty nre assured. Russians have lost 3,000 men trying to tetake SOS-Meter hill. Cooos county will spend (100,00 on Lewis und Clark fair exhibit. .TananpsA frnm 203 Meter hill are shelling Russian fleet and have sunk one battleship anil set a number 01 other ships on Hie. A i.rnnd Inrv lias been empanelled to investigate tho Denver election frauds. Tnft neknmvledres he made a 111 in l.iliB In nxtendlni! Dlnclev tariff to ca nal zone at Panama celebration. A prominent cannsryman says greed and defiance of tho law are ruining the Balmon Industry of the Columbia rlter. The lurr In the land fraud cases lound five ot tho defendants guilty as charged, hut cleared Miss Maiie Waie. Rpnnlnp Plntl rclll Introdncfl a bill tn reduce the representation of several Btates, particularly In the South. OA.in.nv la ilnilllltni- llPr mllltATV V.V..IIM..J " " O V Btrength at Klaouchou, tho German nnrt nn t b Slinn Tuiiir KeiiliiBula. and sending theio an experienced officer Irom the Admiralty stan. Elcliteeon persons wero Injured, some ot them seriously, in a New York lire. Simon l.ako. an inventor, is building a submarine torpedo boat at Newport News in which ho expects to cross the Atlantic. Tho now vessel is to bo 83 leet long nnd proportionately large, Sho will carry four topedo tubes. It Is asld tho large shipment of beef Irom Omaha for the Russian nimy will go by way ot tho l'uget sound Instead of Portland, James M. Tyner, postmaster genoral under President Grant nnd assistant attornely general until forced to resign under the iccent postal (rand investiga tion, is dead. A Kanta Vn train wfln hnld tin nnd robbed between Ludlow and Dggett, Jal nnd the express messenger wound ed. Drafts and money to the amount ot (0,000 was Becuted. TO PUSH LAND rRAUD CASC5. Nation Asks Appeals of Hyde, Den son and Dlinond lie Heard. Washington, Dec. 13. Solicitor Gen crnl lloyt, on bebaltol thegovornmcnl, today filed a motion asking the su preme court to advanco (or hearing the appeal taken by Frederick A. Hyde and Henry P. Dlmond from the decision of Judge Morrow, ot Han Francisco, who directed that they he brought to Wash ington for trial on Indictments for con spiracy to defraud the government out of large tracts of public lands. In Ills (million the solicitor general states that tho appeals were "taken (or purposes of delay and to prevent the appellants fmm being removed to the District ot Columbia lor trial." A similar motion was also filed In re gard to the appeal of John A. Denson, nlao alleged to bo n member of the Kan Francisco land ring, who was arrested In New York on a Washington indict ment charging him with bribing offi cials In the general land office. licnaon Is out on (10,000 hall and trying to escae trial in Washington. The solicitor general exects to bo given a hearing belay in support ol his motion, and If the couit advances the cases there Is every prospect that tho famous San Francisco land ring will ho placed on trial in this city during the piesent winter. DECREASE IN WHEAT ACREAGE. Department ol Agriculture Also Re ports on Condition of Crops. Washington, Dec. 13. The crop re port Issued today by the department ol Agriculture says: Returns to the chief of the boreaa ot Statistics of the department ot Agricul ture Indicate that the newly seeded area ol winter wheat Is about 31,105,000 acres, a decrease nf 1.0 per cent from the area sown in the fall of 1003, as finally es'imated. The condition ot winter wheat on December 1 was A2 9, as compared with 80.0 in 1903, 99.8 in 1902, and a 10 year average of 92.1. The acreage as compared with last year la 98.4 per cent. The newly seeded aret ol winter rye is provisionally esti mated at 90 7 per cent of the area sown in the fall of 1903. The condition of winter rye on December 1 was 90.0, as compared with 92.7 on December 1, 1903, 93.1 at the corresponding date in 1902, and 90.2 the mean ot December nverages of the last ten years. The percentage of acreage sown to winter rve this fall as comapred with that sown laBt year Is 80.7, tbe average condition December 1, 1904, was 90.5. Corresponding averages for 1903 nnd 19(12 were 02.7 and 98 1, respectively, and the mean of the December average ol the last ten years 90.2. The final estimates of the total acre age production and farm values of the principal crops for 1904 will be issued on Decembei 28 at 4 o'clock P. M. WAR CRAFT TO CO ON LINER. Torpedo Boats for Russia Shipped from New Jersey Yard. New York, Dec. 13. Nine torpedo boats, built at Perth Am boy, N. J., for tbe Russian government, have been completed, and lett tbe yards today They were loaded on a barge and towed toNew lork. They will be shipped as merchandise on a liner. The tenth boat will cross the ocean under its own power. Two six-cylinder gasoline engines have been installed. Each Is expected to develop a 300 hoisepower, and drive the little boat at a speed of 20 knots. The crew of eight men is already aboard the boat, which is 80 feet long. Below deck it is not possible to stand elect, for there is only a five foot bpace. Should tbe passage be stormy, the crew will be almost as effectually bottled up as It In a sub marine. Tho only entrance to the compartments below deck is through a conning tower, from which the boat ib navigated. Each boat will carry one torpedo tube. One ot the five watertight com partments into which the hull la di vided will contain the spare torpedoes. School to Teach Socialism. New York, Dec. 13. Insplied by tbe national vote ot 600,000 for Debs at the last election, tbe New lork sectirn of the Socialist party Issued a statement today to the effect that It has laid plans for establishing a school of social ism. A board of Instructors has been appointed, consisting of Morris IIII quist, A'gernon Leo, Henry L. Slobo dan and John bpurge. The school term is to extend Irom tne first week In Jan uary to the Inst week in May, and there will be one lesfon each week, or 21 lessons in all. Men Blown to Atoms. Cattletsburg, Ky., Dec. 13. An ex plosion of a tank of glycerine blew to atoms three men, totally demolished three boats, splintered a big rait of logs, smashed windows along Front street and did much damage to prop erty along the river front today. The explosion occuried on the river below the wharf, Irom causes which will never be known. Three men were tak ing 200 quartB ot explosive to Mays ville, where It was to have been used In shooting wells. Kuropatkin Reports Encounters. St. Petersburg, Deo. 13. Ueneral Kuiopatkln reports some unimportant eicounteis during tho night of Decem ber 8. Russian sharpshooters recoil- uolteiing south ot llentslapn, attacked a Japanese post, bayoneted nnumb.'r ot Japanese und took 11 prisonous, ot whom only four wore wounded. Tho samo night a number ot Japanese at tacks weie mado on Russian advanced intienchmentB near the railroad. They were all repulsed. May Have Sunk Own Ships. St. Petersburg, Deo. 13. Tho state ment that the ItUBsian warships at Port Arthur were Bunk by the Russians as a protection from the Japanese gun fire is regarded at the admiralty as being quite possible. If true, It is Interpret ed as a sign that General Btoessel be lieves tbe fortress can bold out until the arrival ot the second Pacific squad ron. The supposition is that the gar rison, as a last resort, will rotiro to the Liuo 11 forts. OREGON NEWS 0E INTEREST WATER ECHO LAND, Coming Season will See Rapid Ad vance In Irrigation. Echo The coming season will mark more Improvements and enterprises In irrigation (or Echo and the vicinity tributary than ever heloie experienced, Not only aie there Immense extensions planned for old ditches, but new ones are being constructed, and land lying under both old ditches and proposed ditches Is prepared for cultivation for the coming year. With the hope of having more fav orable irrigation laws passed In the coming legislature, those who have been planning projects are beginning activities. Heretofore the present laws or the lack of laws pertaining to water rights have Interfered with tho devel opment ol tho country. Water has been in dispute. Land has been In litigation, and those who have been anxious to see tbe betterment of Echo and ita splendid lands have hesitated In risking their all in projects that might at any time be taken Into court. The Hatter creek water company has purchased an elevating grader and has commenced widening and strengthen ing their ditch. The Cold spring Irri gation company Is preparing to extend the company's ditch acrcss to their lands on the north side of the Umatilla river, and a company has been formed to build a small dltcb to water a tract of land of 160 acres adjoining Echo, now in sagebrush. The Maxwell ditch people are Improving and enlarging their ditch until it will reclaim nearly 8,000 acres ot land. Besides these ditches smaller ones are constantly being bnilt, and in a few years the entire section of waste land will be homes for faimers. This season a large number ot land holders aie clearing laige tiacts of land vary ing In size from 20 to GO acres, and will sow to alfalfa. Turns Out Many Bricks. Weston Clark Nelson, manager of the Weeton brickyaid, has returned from The Dalles, where he has been on business connected with his yard. The new I. O. O. F. temple, for which be furnished brick, has just been complet ed and will be dedicated at an early date. Four hundred thousand bricks were nsed in its construction. 'While in The Dalles Mr. Nelson closed a con tract for the sale of 300.000 brick to be used in tbe construction of the new bank to be erected at Condon. The brick will not be delivered until the railroad, which runs from Arlington, to Condon, is completed, which will be early in the spring. Land Sales fallen Off. Salem The 5 'per cent land sales fnnd in Oregon this year is (04,602.24, as compared with (90,135.24 last year, Tills fund is received from the United Btates and la 5 per cent of the receipts from tin sales ot government land In Oregon. The.year 1903 was a bumper one in public land business In Oiegon, dne in a large degree no doubt to tbe activity of men who were securing tlm ber land through the medlnmship of people who bought It and soon there after transferred it to tbe men who furnished tbe money for tbe deal. Needs of the Station. Astoria To complete the construc tion of the government quarantine sta tion at tbe mouth of the Columbia river an additional appropiiation of about (S5.000 is necessary. Tbe plans for tbe station were made a long time ago, but only about half the construction woik has been done, owing to lack of funds, although tbe department has requested several times that the money be sent aside for the purpose. While several improvements ore needed at the station, the most Important is a reten tion hospital. Sold Half Interest in Ranch. La Grande An Important real estate deal.bas oeen perfected at Elgin, 35 miles from here. H. Towner has eoli one-half Interest in the property known as Hlndman & Towner's Indian creex taim to J. L. Hlndman, the considera tion for the half interest in the land and livestock being (90,000. This farm is about two miles from Elgin, andjcontalns 1,160 acres, and is one of the best agricultural properties In Union county. War on Scabby Sheep. Eugene County Stock Inspector A. G. Mathews Is now engaged in an at tempt at purifying the sheep of the county, reports having been received fiom some sections that scab lias oeen observed. Mathews went out to the district northwest ot Junction to Inves tigate reports of stockmen driving dis eased sheep on the county road in vio lation of tho law, and expects to make some arrests. One ariest and convic tion for this offense has been made. Will Chop the Alfalfa. Echo Robert Stanfleld, who resides on Butter creek, 10 miles west of here, has received a large hay cutter to chop alfalfa hay for winter feeding. A gas oline engine supplies tho power. In feeding tbe hay unchopped tho large stems remain uneaten and are wasted, but by chopping the stock eat the hay up clean, saving a large per cent ot the hitherto waste. New Shipping Point for Coal Nine Cooullle Tho Coquille Coal Jc Luni- bei company has rented part of the Beavei hill bunker at Marsbfield and is now shipping coal by rail to Coos bay wheio It coes to San Francisco. John Tawso. manager for the company, is working a five-foot vein of coal ol good quality. A large contract for machin ery has been let. Delivery will occur in the spring. Eugene to Springfield. Eugene A prolcet Is on foot to con nect Eugene with the bustling little city ot Bprlngfield by a Blx-foot sldo walk. The distance between tbe two cities is three miles, but only a little over a mile ot sidewalk will have to be built to connect them. This walk, it built, will be a great convenience to bicyclists and pedestrians. SIUSLAW WORK UNflNISIICD. Congress to be Asked lo Make Use of Plant Already Installed. Eugene In view ot the uncompleted condition ol the bar Improvement at mo moiitn ot too Hluslaw river, prom inent citizens ot this county are now Interested In bringing tho matter bo fore the river aand harbor committee ol congress, hoping to make It clear to that body that the continuation of work on that harbor would tie wleo. Many yeara ago the government be gan the Improvement ot the titualaw harbor, alter abundant reports had been secured from engineers regarding; the proper method ol deepening tho water on the bar. The pla.i adopted was the Jetty system. Small appro priations wero made and tho work progressed to the extent ot tho funds available. Then all would rest until another small appropriation would bo made. The Jetty was only fairly under way and Just beginning to show what might bo done, when appropriations ceased to come. The business of the harbor has been increasing and now amounts to consid erable, and business men ot Florence and Eugene hope to prevail upon con gress to go ahead and finish the work now well begun. The government has a plant with which to work and could In a abort time deepen the channel several feet by tbe confining ol tho water to tbe channel. QUIT WOOD rOR COAL. Wood for fuel is Getting Scarce About Pendleton. Pendleton Fnel dealers of the In land empire are of the opinion that the day ot wood burning is soon doomed, as coal is rapidly replacing It. Tho best of coal from the Wyoming beds is sold at this place for (8.60 a ton, and tbe coal from British Columbia and Washington beds Is fast becoming gen erally used, both In Oregon and Wash ington. At Kamela and Meacham, from where Walla Walla and Pendleton draw the greater part of their wood, tnere seems to be Immense quantities stacked; In ricks for shipment, bat competent jndges ot fuel say that bat about 25 per cent of It Is clear, dry, grccn-cnt wood, such as commands tbe high prices. So closely has tbe timber sup ply been cut away that two trips a day hauls are being made from back in the mountains sli and eight miles. Al though spurs from the main line back in tne mountains might easily bo built, tbey will probably never be built, as coal wilt be much cheaper than the construction of a road. Safe Cracked at Hood River. Hood River Robbers cracked the sate in the Hood River postoffice and got away with (227 in stamps and (173 In money. There Is no clew as to the thieves, except that a crowbar and oth er tools need In effecting an entrants came from the railroad shops here. On discovering his loes Postmaster Yates immediately wired the postal inspect ors at Portland, who will make efforts to apprehend tbe culprits. Common black powder waa used in cracking the safe dooi . One or two persons sleeping; near by claim to have beard a slight explosion during the night, bat paid. no attention to tne noise. Big Business by Sugar Plant. La Grande Tbe whistle of the beet sugar factory here has sounded the last call for its employes, and has shut down after one of the most successful runs It has made since establishment in this valley, it having consumed something over 21,000 tons of beets, which yielded over 55,100 pounds of sugar. The entire season's run was made without a hitch, much to the sat isfaction ol all concerned, and the many persons who embarked In tbe raising of Bugar beets expiess themselves as well satisfied with their venture. Sets fire to School. Albany A fire that came near cost ing Albany tbe central school building; waa narrowly averted by tbo active work ot tbe fire brigade. Incendiaries undoubtedly did the woik. Just a few minutes before 6 o'clock an alaim waa turned in, when the basement ot the public school building was discovered In flames. Someone bad built a fire against tbe cold air shaft, which would distribute tho flames to all parts ot the structure, and when the department arrived the basement was inflames and. tho air shaft almost eaten through. Insures a Good Crop. Pendleton Tbe rains that have fall en the past few days have proved ot In estimable benefit to tbe wheat growers of the country, although not a great amount of water has fallen. What rain has fallen hag dampened the ground sufficiently to insure the sprout ing of the grains and heavy rains later will Insure a good crop for the coming season. Some ot the grain sown sev eral weeks ago is still lying In tho ground unsprouted, Indians In Better Health. Tendleton Dr. T. M. Henderson, who has been In attendance upon the cases ot diphtheria among the. Indians at the mission on tbe reservation, re ports that no others have taken the dis ease, and that those affected are rapid ly recovering. Only one ot the patients has died, tbe others having been inoc ulated with toxine In tbe early stages of tho malady. Coming Events. Toultry allows Salem, December 15 17; Portland, December 20-20; New nerg, January 10-13; Albany, January 18-21. Oregon Good Roads convention, Salem, December 13-15, Oregon State Dairymen's association, December 20-21. Inland Empire Sunday School insti tute, Pendleton, January 30. Northwest Wheat Markets. Poi Hand Walla Walla, 83o; blue atem, 88a; valley, 87Kc Tacoma Blueatem, 89o; club, 80o.