NEWS OF THE WEEK
In a Condensed Form for Our
Bisy Readers.
HAPPENINGS OF TWO CONTINENTS
IS Resume of tho Lois Important but
Not Lot Interesting Events
of tho Past Wssk.
Itlo Janeiro U prepsrlnj hospitality
for tho battleship (lent.
Tho ttovornnr has ordered out troop
to suppress IhoMuncIo, Iml,, riots.
Tho rotinUs ot Yarmouth, Harry
Thaw's slutor, I suing lor a divorce.
Wltta and Kuropatktn havo had a
word oontrovoiay over tho lluaao-Jap
ntiose war.
Hank of tho country havo mado a
lance Increase In business fur the year
Juit ended.
Hoven of tho nlno companies of Unit
ed Btatce Infantry at Uoldflold liavo
loen withdrawn.
Poraker denounces Uio method of
holding Ohio primaries, whllo Tall
men defend them. ,
A hospital ihlp will bo quipped Jit
tho Maro Island navy yard which will
inert ths big Meet at Magdalena hay.
Judg Hunt hai aent foui Ilutlo labor
Iradni to til for contempt In oonnoo
t on with the telophoiio itrlko In that
city.
Kuropo la anilcuity watching devel
opmenta between tho United Slates and
Japan. Tho nxt two inonthi aro con
Ueied critical.
Tho Blata bank of Hooky fork, Colo.,
Iiaa suspended.
Asiatic labor la causing a crlili In
British colonies.
trailer of tho Itusalsn .(evolution
ary jwirty hsvn Ixmn r rotted.
Ituckefellor haa given another 2,
000,000 to Chicago unlveialty.
Ilecolvrra hav been appointed for
the Seaboard Air l.lno rallnwd.
Vancouver, II. 0., laboring men ar
bitter In their denunciation of Ailatlc
labor.
ItecognUIng the Improved condition
of finance In tho United fctatrs, Kng.
land haa lowered tho rate of dlaoount
on gold.
Itlotlng ' la In progress at Munole,
Ind., whrro a streetcar itrlko la on,
Tho governor threatens to tend troop
If peace la not restored.
HuMlan police discovered a plot to
kill tho dowager rtnpreaa. Ho aura
were tho oontplratora that they iHurd
Invitations to Um funeral.
Count llonl and Princs do Ssgan rn
gaged In a street tight In Pari. The
rotiul la Anna Gould's ex.huabsnd and
tho prince haa several time been re
potted engaged to Madame Gould.
Federal tioopi at Goldfleld will be
reduced to two companies.
Secretary Talt advocate free trade
with tho rhllllnei In augar and to
ll coo.
Ambassador Aokl haa started for
Japan, oontldent o( lettllng tho Immi
gration queitlon.
Tlio government hai replied to the
Standard Oil company, aylng that Hi
lino of 20,240,000 It porfectly JtuL
All Indlctmonta against Colorado
coal land grabber havo boon quaihrd.
Tho court could llud no law applicable.
New York inotlien havedeolarod war
on tho nervo-racklng Initiation of the
societies of private and public ichoola
maintained by glrli.
George Edward Adama, who atole
about $00,000 from rnlncra whllo In
tho Heattlo amy olllce, will leave prle
on worth a quarter of a million.
In a speech by Secretary Talt It waa
declared that the money panic waa duo
mainly to dishonest flnaneo. He also
aid loolallim wlllcomo if a tnonoyed
oligarchy giowi up.
Itooievolt predicts) Tatt'a nomination
on Uio drat ballot.
A blanket ot anow rover tho Dako
ta, Iowa and Nobraika.
ford Ourion ha toon persuaded to
ro-enter English politic.
An eminent Fro noli doctor says Kal
aor William ha consumption.
English aro protoitlng agalnat lav
ery In Uiu. Portuguese oolonloa.
Kama City theatera hove glvoq up
the fight agalnat Hunday closing.
Nearly 11,000,000 more graft by tho
Bohmlta gang haa boon discovered.
North Carolina haa again refused to
pay tho bond iHued during tho recon
struction day.
There la a monitor ihlpment ot war
material on tho San Franclsoo docks
billed for Manila.
EXPflEHS OHAdQES HIQH.
WollsFrf;o Accused of Discrimina
tion Against Merchant.
Han FrnncliK-n, Cal Dec. Ill, Inter
state Comincrco CoinmlMloner Frank
lin K. litnn, today held n hearing of
the complaint of tho California Com
mercial association, compose! of 20
mercantile firm In tills olty, charging
tho Welli-Fargo Kxprc company with
concealing from tho public tariff sched
ules that had been filed with tho Inter
Rtate Cominerro commlaalon In Wash
higton and with making unjust and ill
criinlnatiiry rate. The actual qtiottlen
Involved, however, waa whether or not
the quantity rate cf H cents a pound
from Now York to Ban Francisco for
ihlpment of 10,000 to 20,000 pound
applied to bulk or assembled ship
ment, gathered and forwaided by a
forwarding agency to one concern or
association organized for tho purposo of
getting the lower rate, tho shipment
ultimately Intended for numerous oon
lgnee who were designated by nuiri
ler of tho label to the one contlgneo.
The charges of discrimination are
baed upon the re fun I of Uio express
eompany to transport a ahlpmenl of
10,000 pound conilstlng of 443 pack
act, from New York to the California
Commercial automation In Ban Fran
olaoo but Auguat, at tho bulk or quan
tity rate of f H per hundred pounds, tho
company charging tho regular package
rato. It I alio alleged Uiat the ex
pre company charged a higher rate
Uian that published and filed with tho
Interatata Commerce commission, tho
latter being wilfully concealed and hid
dn from the public Thl complaint
aver that It I a dlatlnct violation of
the Interatate commerce act.
In aoawer, tho express company
denle all ths allegation made, and
charges that th aMoclatlnn lesorted to
aubUrfuge In order to rxtoit unjuat die
crimination in ita own favor, and baed
Its itfusal to grant a quantity rato
upon Uio ahlrnent In queatlon on the
ground that, whllo coiiilgned to ono
conalgnee, It waa Intended for more
than a score of firm.
iXATRIATEa IN CHINA.
Judge WHfley Warts Congrea to Mske
Laws for 7 htm.
Ban Franclsoo, Cat., Duo. 3. Judge
I.. It. Wlltter. of the United HUtes
court at Shanghai, agalnat whom
charges of Improper conduct of hit
court nave Ix-en preferred at Welling
ton, arlved In Ban Franclsoo thl morn
Ing on ths I'aclflo Mall liner Manchuria
from the Orient, arid after a atay of two
day In thl city will proceed to the na
tional capital. On board tho Man
churia with Jndge Wiltloy wa F. M.
flrooks, a lawyer, who ha flltM an ac
tion for fSO.lHX) damage at Hono
lulu, charging the head of the couit In
tha Far Kaat, togUier with his olerk,
I.. It. Ilkkel, with conspiracy in stop
ping the practice of Ilrooka In Hhanghal.
Judge Wlltley denied that ho waa go
ing to Waablnglon to meet the charges
preferred agalnit him.
"I am going to Washington," he
MM, "to sld In drawing an act that
will extend to Americans In Chins a
mors complete body of Isw than they
now liavo. The law now in force com
pilao little more than I embodied In
the common law and are so Indeflnlto
aa to bo absolutely useless. It will be
suggested to congrees that Uie Califor
nia cole of laws bo made to extend to
China, whorein auoh laws aro applies
hie.
"In addition to thl matter, I am
Journeying Kat that congress may be
asked for an appropriation for a proper
Federal building at Shanghai, where
the American conaulato and oourts may
be under one roof."
Jail Wracklns; Ola' Health.
Ban Franolico, Deo. 31. Affidavit
have been served on District Attorney
Langiton by T. C. Coogn, Loola Olni'
attorney, In hi attempt to got hi
client out of Jail. Tlio district attor
ney will fllo counter altlilavlt. Dr.
Kolsnd K. Hartley snd Dr. J. M. Wil
liamson atiito In their nflldavlts that
they visited Louis Glare at tho county
Jail and that ho allowed 'maiked gene
ra I ntryslcal deterioration and general
derangement." They lay they found
him In a tiervou condition which will
permanently Injure his health.
fUtaas Rsnt of Hot Spring.
Chicago, Deo. St. A dispatch to tho
Tribune from Hot Springs, Ark,, saysi
Announcement was made ycetorday
that tho United 8 tales would double
tho price for Its healing hot waters
after the first ol the yoar, and that all
bnthhoueo leases alao would bo doubled.
A protest will bo aont atonoo to Wash
Ington, Tho hot water now Is dis
pense by the government at $30 por
annum for each tub supplied. Tho
bathhouse owners alato they aro unable
to meet tbo raise.
,
Oarnota In New York Bedrock.
Now York, Dec. 31. That Now York
City rests on a vast macs of garnots Is
tho dltoovory of llftlph K. Morgan, an
Kngllsh mineralogist, now visiting
here. Ii a mass of rook thrown up
from a subway excavation, ha discov
ered a largo garnot. On the dumping
ground at Bheopshed bay he found a
number of excellent garnets.
i- - .I I I ' II , . I !ft I
NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL) ,
MnMEjajsBjVjpjBjpMsSHSBjMMeW I
FUND FOH IX-WltttlOENro.
Kenstor Allison Favors Soma Such
Action by Congrass
Washington, Jan. 1. Senator WIN
Usui II, Allison, of Iowa, chairman of
the committed on appropriation, favors
action by sougns looking to tho card
and supjiorl of exprealdent of the
United Htntcs. In an Interview to
night ho referred to tho recent utter
anoes of ex-1'rmldenl Grover Cloveland
on tho subject, and agreod with him
that soius provision should be msde In
this direction. The matter deserved
consideration at tho hands of cnngrria,
he said, and undoubtedly would receive
It. In limes of Thomas Jefferson, who
died poor, Mr. Allison said, tho gov
eminent would have done well to psy
hla debts At present Mrs. Garfield la
receiving an allowanco from the gov
ernment, and ho said that to make pro
vision for nx-prc(ldente would csuae on
considerable drain on tho treasury, aa
rarely havo thro been two of thorn
alive at thn sarno time.
MARINE CORPS NOW COMPLETE
Full Complement of 0,700 Men Is
Enlisted,
Washington, Jan. 1. Goneral Kl
Holt, commandant of marines, reported
to Secretary Metcalf yesterday that for
the first time In many months tho ma
rine corps was now up to Its full com
plement of 8,700 enlisted men. Gen
eral Klllot reports Out not only has he
secured all Uie men ho wsnts, but has
withdrawn from tho newspapers adver
tisements calling for recruits, and ho
Is now In a position to pick his men
when thoro Is need for further recruit
ing. The reasons assigned for this stste of
affairs represent ths doprosaed condi
tion of Industries, resulting In foiclng
men to obtain employment outside of
the factories, mills and mines, and to
such ol these a are not able to perform
tailor's duties, yet would mske good
soldiers and desire to too the world,
the marine corps oners a tempting re
fuge. .
Uncle asm Qong Behind.
Washington, Jan. 3. The forth
coming reports of Uie government's re
ceipts snd expenditure for tho month
ending Deo. 31 will snow a uecreaso In
i . '... .
tho receipt as compared with Decern
ber laatyearot fB,o'.'0,102 and an in
crease In expenditures ot iu,3H1,h,
making the net loes lor tlio year 117,-
010,600. Trie decrease lu receipts from
customs la JO, 8011,059; from Internal
loventte. 12,708,045. Miscellaneous
receipts Incresso tl, 135,452. Increase
of espendlturca are: Civil and miscel
laneous. 1 3, ow. wo : war, skduu.uuu;
navy, 14,000,000; rxmtons, 12,400,
000; punilo works, increase iroin fi,
843,711 to 18,800,000.
Imminis Traffic Across Ocssn.
Now York, Jan. 2. Trani-Atlantlo
passenger traffic during 1007 was In
creased ly nearly a million passengers
over the trnlllo In 1000. Tlio totsl pas
sengers carried both east and west haa
reached thn enormous number of 2,057,
328, according to figures given out by
tho North German Lloyd company.
The movement has been gicntbr than
In 10011 by 072,040and 1,451,151 great
er than In 1004. Tlio paaengors from
Kuropo to tho United Btatea number
000,340, which Is 200,000 In oxcess ot
tho entlro eaat and west trstlle In 1804.
Englnesrs to Tour Cosst.
Washington, Deo. 28. Colonola
Leach and Lockwood ot Uie board of
United Btatea cnglneeia, will leavo for
tho Pacltla roast on January 0, begin
ning with California, and will hold
fiubllo hrarintra on ft, number of pro
cats, Including Oregon undertakings.
People will havo the opportunity to
present tho local need of their com
munities, lloth tho oillceis aro loyal
supporters of const developments. It
Is suggested Uiat 1'ortland proparo to
present necessary works for Its section
No Action In Bristol Qiao
Washington, Deo. 28. Member of
the Oregon delegation in oongros met
and Informally discussed tho Bristol
caso but no action whatsoever wa tak
en. Tho matter may come up for more
formal discussion later but no an
nounoement of plana has been mado.
Cruisers at Plchlllrque
Washington, Jan. 1. Admiral Be
brco's squadron, consisting of thcoruls
ors Tonnc'soa and Washington, havo
arrived at Plohlllnquo, off tho southern
roast ot Lower California. Tholr next
stop is expected to bo at Magdalcna
Day.
Viscount Ackl Save Farewsll, v
Washington, 7 , 2. Viscount Aokl,
tho Japanese ambassador who was re
cently recalled by hla homo govern
ment, uauo rarewoii to w&suington
Monday, Ho will salt fiom Ban Fran
oleoo for Japan on January 7.
Oregon Postmasters Appointed
Washington, Jan, 2, Oregon post
masters appointed: London, Jsmes K.
listen vice J N, Uogue, resigned; Mill
City, Mabel Moltao vice K. J. Uryans,
resigned.
TWO COMPANIhrJ ON QUAHD.
Qsnsrat Funaton Advises Ooniollds
lion for Sske of Economy.
Washington, Jnti. 34. The War de
portment hss been In correspondence
by telegraph with General Funston In
Han Francisco, relative to tho disposi
tion of the troo;is at Gotdtleld In con
formity with tho president's Intention
to maintain the force there, pending
the ir.eHlng of tho legislature of No
vada. General Funaton Intended a reduc
tion In tho number of troops at tho
mining camp, but the War department
haa decided to retain there all of the
present force, numbering 283 men. In
tho Interest, however, of simplicity,
snd to avoid tho maintenance cf a con
siderable number of officers who were
not needed, It has instructed Gcnersl
Funaton to consolidate the companies
into two.
Bsnk Condition Is Qood.
Washington, Jan. 1. Senator An
keny has had several conference re
cently with officials of the Treasury de
partment concerning the Interests of
the national banks In the state of
Washington. During Uie recent finan
cial flurry some difficulty was experi
enced In the fsr West by reason of the
Inability of Uie bank to obtain Uie
actual money from It reserve cities or
even from the subtresiurles. Mr. An
keny feels confident, after his talks
with ofliclsls of the treasury, that the
situation haa been greatly relieved
within the last few weeks, and Uiat
from now on tho same difficulty will
not be experienced.
Oil Burners to Be Tried.
Washington, Jan. 3. Poealbly the
fact that California produces great
quantities of petroleum Inclines Becre
tsry Metcalf to favor the use of that
fuol In the navy, where It can bo done
beneficially. Therefore plans for tho
now torpedo destroyers about to be
prepared will probably Inoludo re
quirement that Uioy be designed for
burning oil. The fact Uiat the newest
British boats of this class, which have
attained the extraordinary speed of 40
mile an hour, are oil burner, lias In
fluencrd our Navy department In favor
of the adoption of liquid fuel.
Hatlore Mset Oafeat.
Wahlngton, Jan. 2. The Seamen's
union wet temporary dofeat today in
their fight against Uie employment of
Chlneee seamen on I'aclflo coast ves
sels, llepresentatlve called upon At
torney General Ilonanarte today and
expressed an opinion that Uie employ
ment of Chlncte on the vesaols was a
violation of tho exclusion set. Bona
parte Informed the ccmmlttee Uiat be
could only famish the president and
the heads of Uie departments affected
with their opinion for optional action.
The union will petition tho president.
Jumpjrs Msy Qat a Chinee.
Washington. Jan. 1. The Dartlelt
mining awcesment bill did not' pass.
Tlio roller bill, wtilcn ts similar, pass
ed the senate before Uio holidays, but,
It is understood, will not pass the
uouso. ralluro to pass such legislation
means that all mining claims upon
which tho required amount ol assess
ment work was not done during tho
calendar year 1007 can bo legally
Jumped aftei January I.
Urge Brownaon to Talk
Wellington, Doc. 28. Lino officers
In Uie navy aro urging Admiral Drown-
son to publish rorrespondenco relative
to till resignation, holding Mini Kixej's
statement was really Inspired at tho
White House, it has developed that
tho acceptance ot his resignation was
announced 15 minutes after it had been
given to Secretary Metcalf to take to
President Roosevelt.
Around ths World In 10 Seconds.
Washington, Jan, 2, In accordance
with a custom begun several years sgo
the naval observatory last night at 13
o'olock sent a New Year greeting
around the world. This I dono by
prearrangomeut with tho telegraph and
tablo companies, and Uio message com
pleted the tolegraphlo circuit ot Uio
-wcrld In about 10 seconds' time.
Hswlay In Society.
'Washington, Jan. 2. Representative
and Mis. Hswler made their first bow
to olllolal society In Washington Mon
day evening as dinner guests ot Vice
Proahlent Fairbanks. On Frldav even.
Ing Mr. and Mia. Hawloy will be guests
of Mrs. ltoosAvott at a musical to bo
given at tho White House.
Taft to Talk Politic.
Washington, Dec 28 Secretary
Taft will make his first political pro
noutKomont elncohlsroturn from abroad
at lloston, December 30, In a speech bo
fore the Merchants' association.
Oongressmsn Celderhead III,
Washington, Deo. 28. Representa
tive William A, Cahtethead, of Kansas,
is critically til with double pneumonia
at his apartment in tbjs olty.
LET TROOPS 8 fAY.
Senator Newlanda Thinks Qoldflsld
Nssds Them.
Washington, Deo. 30. Senator New
lands, of Nevada, Is endeavoring to pre
vent withdrawal of the government
troops from Goldfleld until some other
mean of protection is had. Todsy he
called upon Secretary Taft at the War
department and strongly urged that ex
ecution of tho order Issued by Uie secre
tary for the withdrawal of the troops be
suspendod until he has had an opportu
nity to communicate wIUi Governor
Hpaika and Indue-) him to cell the Ne
vada legislature together.
Mr. Taft has been advising with Sec
retary Root on this subject and tonight
ommanlcated with the president at
Pine Knot on (be subject. There wss
every disposition to refrain from break
ing In npon Mr. Roosevelt's -privacy at
this lime, snd the only excuse for do
ing eo Is found In the tact that, unlees
the origins! order Is modified, tho
troops must leave Goldfleld before the
president returns to Washington.
Tho secretary declined to state what
course he had recommended In ths
matter, nor would he say whether ho
had heard from the president In turn.
Becretarfy Loob ssid the White House
was entirely without advice from Pine
Knot, aa Uie Goldfleld queatlon was
being handled by the War department.
Administration officials feel that tho
present situation In tho matter of Gold
field's case cannot be continued, In view
of the donbt that exists as to the con
stitutional and lesal right of the ex
ecutive to employ any part of the regu
lar army In Nevada under present con
ditions. HENEY GIVES FULTON A DIQ.
Save All ImpPcated In Land Frauds
Aro Sanatoria Friends.
Washington, Deo. 30. In an Inter
view telegraphed from New York, Fran
cis J. Ileney Is quoted as saying.
"I hope to close these Oregon eases
with Mr. Bristol In two or three weeks."
Inquiry at Uio Department of Jestice
failed to elicit definite information as
to whether or not Mr. Bristol would as
flat Mr. Heney with the prosecution.
II no new district attorney Is sppolnled
by the time Uie land trials begin, Mr.
Bristol may assist Mr. Heney, bat.there
appears to be an expectation Uiat a new
man will be available before then, in
which case Mr. Bristol will be out and
have nothing to do with the land trials.
In the same Interview Mr. Honey
takes another rap 'at Senator Fulton.
He denies having Implicated Mr. Fat
ten in the land frauds, bat adds:
"All of these persona who have been
implicated in organised land frauds ars
friends ot Senator Fulton. Therefore
It appears whimsical to me that Senator
Fulton should, thruugb the power of
senstorlsl courtesy, ba sole to defeat
the nomination cf Mr. Bristol, who Is
capable of making It unpleasant for the
yet unconvicted land thieves In Oregon."
UTES RAID SOUTHERN UTAH
Pen Up Cowboys and Band of Cattle
In Canyon.
Salt Lake City, Dec. 30. Co'orado
Uto Indians are traveling In bands in
Southern Ulab, raiding sheep and cat
tlemen, accosdlng to a report received
by Governor John O. Cutler. Accord
ing to this report, a small band of In
dians attacked three cowboys near Ven
dure, San Juan county, on December
23, and at tho muzsle of rifles com
pelled Uiem to drive tho rattlo tack
into the canyon from which they were
trailing onto the winter range, threat
ening to kill them unless they did so,
Cowboys and cattle aro still couflned to
the canyon.
The givernor will tako np the mat
ter with Uio authorities at Washington,
ss according to a ruling ot the commis
sioner ot Indian affairs the Colorado or
Southern Utca aro forbidden to enter
Utah.
Attack on Wells-Fargo". ,
San Francisco, Dee. 30. Before In
terstate Commerce Commissioner F. K.
Lane tomorrow charge of illegal rate
making mado agalnat Uie Wellr-Fargo
Kxpreas company by the California
Commerce association will be heard.
The Commerco aseoolatton, composed of
prominent dry goods housesjn the city.
alleges that the express company haa
violated tho interstate commerce law of
1000 In oharglng more than tho pub
lished rate, and that It has kept the
rates filed with the commission hidden
from Uie public, contrary to the law.
Radical Decision In Hamburg.
Hamburg, Dec. 30. Tho suit oi the
harbor authorities against the Port
workers' union, crowing out of the re
cent dock strike, has resulted In a de
cision of the widest importance agalnat
the lattor. The union Is forbidden In
tho future to interfere with the intro
duction of strlko breakers, snd a penal
ty of 1,500 marks la provided for each
instanco in-which a conviction Is ob
tained on Uie charge. The union hss
entered an appeal.
Negroes Bsgln Suits.
Nw York, Deo. 30, Papers In a
case to test the legality ot the discharge
)! tho private ot companies u, U and U
ot the 25th United States infsntry (col
ored), following the disorders In the
streets ct Brownsville a year ago, nave
pes prepared by a tow Arm of thkt city.
EPIDEMIC OF GRIPPE
Spreads Tlinsfb Hie East Like
Fralrli Fir?.
VICTIMS BY TENS 8F THOUSANDS
Fssrsd That Erldsmlc Msy Surpass
That of I809-8C Strsst Csr
Service Is Crippled.
Chicago, Deo. 31. Deadly grippe,
which has already fastened ittolf upon
nearly every city east of the Mississippi
river, is spreading weatward with ap
palling rapidity. Not since the Urrl
tie epidemic of 1880-00 have there been
such ravages by the fearful malady aa
at the present time, according to special
dispatches gathered from many aoarcef.
Mild, open weather, highly unseasona
ble, Is held responsible by health au
thorities. Pittsburg Is the chief complainant.
Bo many people there are 111 that the
streetcar ssrvlce Is crippled and office
buildings are practically empty. Be
sides Pittsburg, New York, Baltimore,
Cincinnati, PhllSdelphla, Cleveland,
Boston, Milwaukee and other Eastern
snd Western titles were reported to be
wrestling with thn disease, a number of
deaths in each city occurring dally.
"La grippe, as the French call It,"
raid Dr. Herman Spalding, of the Chi
cago Health department, "travel, with
the sped of a prairie fire. It travels
along thv linos ot transportation, as It
Is carried by traveler fbora one city to
another. It la decidedly contagions
and there is no effectlvo way of check
ing Ha spread. If other cities become
badly affected, Chlago Is snre to be bit,
becsuso of the thousands of travelers
who arrive dally In Chicago from every
point of Uio compess."
From New York word comes that the
grippe has begun a devastating crusade
In that city ana that among; Its victims
have been opera alngers and many
actors and actresses. There were 63
deaths In the metropolis tost reek.
Besides this there were many deaths
from pneumonia, Inflaeaeed by the
grippe bacillus.
PhyalelaBs in Boston say there are at
least 60,000 cases now In that city.
Cincinnati has 2,000 cases and physi
cians say that new cases are developing
by Uie score every boar.
ON SECOND STAGE.
Battleship Ffsst Leaves Trinidad (or
Rte Janetrv,
Port ot Spain, Deo. 31 .The Ameri
can battleship fleet weighed anchor at
4 o'clock Sunday afternoon and steamed
for Rio Janeiro. Accompanying the,
fleet were tho supply ships Culgoa and
Glacier. Early in the morning th
signal went op from Bear Admiral
Evans flag-hip Connecticut to prepare
for deartnre at 8 a. m., bnt owing to a
delay In the coaling of Uie battleship
Maine from the collier Fottuna, it was
necessary to change the time ot sailing.
Long before the hour set a myriad of
small craft, chiefly launches and steam
yschts, moved up sod down along the
lines ot anchored battleships, the mer
ry parties aboard shouting farewell to
the departing visitors. Thousands of
residents climbed tbo surrounding hills
to view Uie great ships as they moved
outward on their Journey of 3,000 miles
and more, while bcatlrada of excursion
ists wept to Uio small Islands In the
gulf sod others to Uie floating dock to
catch the last glimpse of the ships.
The fleet presented a magnificent ap
pearance as it steamed out in four col
umns with the supply ship trailing,
distance of 400 yards separating one di
vision from another. With the Con
necticut in Uie lead the battleships
headed for the Boom and steamed ma
Jeatlcally Ui rough the grand Booa and
thence along the northern coast of Trin
idad. An average of from 10 to 11
knots an hour will carry tho fleet to the
end of the second lap of the 14,, 000
mlle Journey la about 12 days, and It
was announced by Admiral Evans be
fore his departure that he expects to
reaoh Itlo Janeiro on Friday evening
January 10,
Natives Facing; a Famine.
Hillsdale, Mich,, Dco.31. Secretary
II. S. Myore, of tho general conference
of Free Baptists, laid today, "Ac
cording to advices Just received by mo
from our missions in Bengal and Cris
es, India, four months of rain is the
usual allowance in Lacknow, India, in
a year, but during tho year 1907 it haa
rained only tour days. Uie result la
famine everywhere. Thousands of the
population are suffering and before re
lief comes next August huudreds of
thousands must die unless relief cornea
from Christian land."
Earthquake Breaks Company.
Hamburg, Dee. 31. The Trans-
Atlantlo Fire Insurance eompany haa
voted to liquidate o& aeeouiK ol tbo
foot that more than half ot Ita capital
was lost by the San Franehwo in an4
arthqaakvi.