Image provided by: St. Helens Public Library; St. Helens, OR
About The Columbia register. (Houlton, Columbia County, Or.) 1904-1906 | View Entire Issue (June 24, 1904)
f Btiia Hiit Sjcletf COLUM H VOL. I. 1904. NO. 9. REGISTER BIA EVENTS OF THE DAY GATHERED FROM ALL PASTS OP TUB TWO HEMISPHERES. Comprehensive Review of the Import ant Happenings of tbe Past Week, Presented la Condensed Form, Most Ukely to Prove intorotiaf to Oar Many Readers. Tbe Vladivostok squadion has turned to I'ort. re- Japanese artillery is using lyddte hells extensively. Russia believes Japan li thing of the war and would welcome mediation. The coroner'a inquiry into the wreck of the General Slocum baa commenced. The release of captives Perdicarliand Varley has again been delayed for a week. According to Russian advices the 8tandard Oil company baa absorbed the Russian oil truit. The RumUd army at Mukden la now able to take a much needed rest aa the Japanese advance has a topped. The Portland mine, in Crlpplecreek, the former stronghold of onion lira, will hereafter employ nonunion help. The Connecticut court has ruled that W. J. Bryan must turn over to Mra. Philo Bennett all the money from the estate of her late huiband. The Transcontinental Passenger as sociation is in session at St. Paul. The most important matter to come be foie the meeting for consideration will be rates to the Lewis and Clark expo sition. A big bsttle la imminent in Southern Manchuria. The British battleship Prince of Wales la at Tangier. All the Russian ahipa at Port Arthur are repaired and ready for sea. Representative Tawney Is sure the Lewis and Clark fair will be a success in every way. The city of New York will raise the wreck of the General Blocum to make are it contains no bodies. ' The fourth of the transport! which mot with the Russian Vladivostok squadron is now known to have been sunk. Fanatical Mongols are being urged to revolt by alleged apostlea of tho god Ariol and may cause the Russians much touble. Lieutenant General von Wahl, for tnerly chief of police of St. Petersburg, is likely to be appointed governor gen eral of Finland. The directors of the Portland mine will dismiss the damage action begun bv their superintendent against the etate of Co'.orado for closing the mine. It la believed that the Japanese fleet has met the Russian Vladivostok squadron near Sasebo. Tbe Teamsters' anion, of Chicago, and their employers are expected .to have trouble shortly. Many of the Japanese on the trans ports sunk by tbe Russians committed euicido rather than be captured. Tbe number ,of vessels in the Port Arthur harbor at present is 15, includ ing merchantmen and warships. Authorities at Cripple Creek claim to have the man in Jail who blew up the Independnce depot platform. Gieat Britain and Russia are said to be on the eve of reaching an under standing regarding the yellow peril. The bis break in the Sacramento riv er near Stockton has been closed and the flow of water checked. The loss to farmers, however, will be extensive. The train robbers who held up the Northern Pacific train in Montana se cured $55,000. Kid Curry, the former Montana bandit is leading a posse in pursuit. Cuba has been swept by a hurricane which caused many deaths and great damage. The sultan of Morocco has alarmed Tangier by sending troops of the worst type there. ' The Porttland mine wlil sue the state of Colorado for $100,000 on account of being closed by the military. The Vladivostok squadron is now known to have sunk two Japanese transports, which carried about 1,000 men down with them. Gneeral Stalxelberg, badly beaten at Vafangow, may yet save his army by retreating. Two batteries of artillery have been literallyc ut to pieces by the Japanese and of their 16 guns, 13 were so badly damaged as to be rendered utterly worthless ana were abandoned. Two masked men held up the North CoaBt Limited Northern Pacific passen ger train near Bearmouth, Montana. The safe in te1 express car was blown open and tbe contents taken. It is not known how much was secured, but it is beliveed the sum was large. HOULTOH", WAY C0MB- CANADA MAY COMB. Appropriation of I SO. OOO for LewLs and Clark Pair. Portland, June 22. Canada may conclude to take an active part in the Lewis and Clark exposition. While that government has. in the past seemed disinclined to participate, a change has been wrought in the eleventh hour. A bill making an ap propriation of $50,000 la to be Intro duced at once In the Canadian parlia ment. Telergaphic communication to this effect was received at lewis and Clark headqturters yesterday morning. The telegram was received from Colonel II. E. Doscb, commissioner general, wbo recently went to Ottawa to interest the Canadian officials in the fair. It was addressed to Director General Grate, but, as Mr. Goods has been out of the city for a week past, the message waa received by Secretary Henry Reed. Tbe message is as follows: ' After many consultations and inter views, outlook for Canada's participa tion is favorable. Ministers will ask parliament for $50,000." This news was a pleasant surprise to fslr officials, wbo bad all but given up hope of getting the Canadian govern ment Interested. All communications sent to Ottawa and to Canadian official had been courteously replied to, but the tone of the replies was not encour aging. There seemed to be a disposi tion on the part of the Canadian people to concentrate their efforts on making a fine exhibit at the fair in Belgium, which takes place next year, almost simultaneously with the Lewis and Clark exposition. In the event parliament makes the appropriation asked for, it is thought the province of British Columbia can be brought into line. It is known that British Columbia has been holding back to see what reception the exposition will get from the general government before taking any action. Favorable action from the general government will, therefore, it is believed, insure the participation of British Columbia as a province. RAID STILL ON. Russian Vladivostok Squadron Is Again Sighted Off Japan., Toklo, June 22. The Russian Sibe rian squadron from Vladivostok. was sighted again at noon yesterday off Main island in the sea of Japan, but was apparently following out a prear ranged plan, as the vessels steamed at about 11 knots speed slowly toward the northwest, paying no attention to tbe shores. Judging by their position in the water, they are heavily laden ana it is sup posed that before leaving Vladivostok on this last trip they filled all of their reserve bunkers with coal, so that tkey can keep out of port for not less than three weeks. In spite of the menace to their trans port fleet the Japanese ofllclala here de clare that their oriignal plans will be carried out, no matter what tbe cost. They declare that there is no chance for the Port Arthur squadron to make a sortie to join Admiral Skrydloff, as Admiral Tog has so disposed of bis ships about the harbor month that any vessels putting out will be sunk before they are even clear of the roadstead. WORRYINQ THB JAPANESE. Skrydloffs Squadron's Work Apprecl atlve at St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg, June 22. Vice Ad' mlral Skrydloff's menage to the em peror from Valdivnstok, In which he detais the operations of the squadron, indicates that he has accounted for at least three of the Japanese transports besides a suspected collier. ' The mes sage does not ind.cate the present whereabouts cf the squadron. The fact that the collier was cent to Vladivost k under a prise crew might indicate that the news of the operations of the squad ron was brought there by her and that the cruisers are still f t sea. The destruction of an aggregate of 15,000 tons of shipping besides troops and crews and a valuable cargo of sup' plies is considered here as being a good showing for the raid made by tbe cruis era. It is thought that it will have a moral effect and will besides necessarily divert a considerable Bection of Vice Admiral Togo's fleet. Strategy la Criticised. Liao Yang, June 22. For the first time Bince the beginning of the war, General Kuropatkin has taken personal direction of the operations, and in con sequence of his having assumed the offensive results different from those following recent events are anticipated The tactics of the Japanese are admired here, but their strategy is criticised, es pecially with regard to the battle of Vafandien. During the battle the in fantry extended over tbe field further than the eye could reach, one division covering six miles. Liner Australia Wrecked. Melbourne, June 22. The Peninsula & Oriental liner Australia, inward bound, struck on the rocks at Point Nepean today, and it is feared she wil be a total loss. The passengers and crew were landed safely. She was of 3,700 tons net. , COLUMBIA COUNTT, QUITO ON, FMDAY. JUNE 24, Iqhht rv duqqiawqI dbati, list owws. Lnn 1 1 SHOT BY RUSSIANS NEW YORK NEWSPAPER MAN WS- TAKEN FOR A SPY. Coioael Edward GntrMS, Jr.. Cabled Last Month That He Wol4 Leave Japanese Army, as He Could Oct late Lines of tbe Eoeniy Report aivss No Details. New York, June 22. A cable dis atch to the World today, which Is not Igned, and which the World says was probably forwarded by the American legation at Pekln, announces the shoot ing of Colonel Edward Emerson, Jr., one of the World's correspondents in the Far East, and conveyed the impres sion that be had been killed. The ca ble stated that it was reported that merson bad been shot by Russians, who mistook him for a spy. A letter wss received from Emerson by the World shortly before the receipt this cable, dated May 14, containing these expressions: ; "Mukden Is muzzled; bo news can get out from there. I find I can get nto tbe Russian lines." Emerson left the Japanese army some me ago, and pushed on to Mukden. 5AY8 RUSMA LOST 7,000 MEN. ' Wouoded Officer Saya No Troops Could nave Withstood Japanese. NiuChwang, June 22. A Russian officer who was wounded in the battle' at Vafangow (Telissu) told an Assocl-J ated Tress correspondent that the losses on both sides were severe. lie places the Russian casualties at least at 7,000. He says no soldiers in the world could withstand the Japanese as they have been fighting lately. Their artillery fire, he asserts, is marvelously effective. Tbe Russians fought stubbornly, des perately, but were unable to withstand the enemy's dashing persistency. Several hundred wounded Russians have been sent north, owing to a lack' of hospitals and surgeons. All the available transpoitation has to be used for supplies at the expense of the sick and wounded. Tbe Japanese buried most of the Russian dead after the bat tle. It is estimated on the information obtainable that tbe force moving north ward is 70,000 strong, with 90,000 men in the sggregate engaged in the opera tions at Fort Arthur. Several Japan ese spies have recently been captured a lew miles south of Km Cbwang. The Russians are becoming more vig ilant and are watching newspaper mes sages closely. JAPANESE! LOSSBS ONLY 1,000. Toklo Believes Vafangow Battle Cost tbe Enemy 10,000 Men. Toklo, June 22. Further reports re ceived here show that tbe blow in flicted by General Oku on the Russians in the fighting at Telissu (Vafangow) on June 15, was more severe than at first was believed. The number of Russians killed in this battle probably will exceed 2,000, and theit total losses, including prisoners, is estimated at 10,000. The Japanese losses are less than 1,000, or about one-tenth of the Russian total. Up to June 17, Geneial Oku had buried 1,51b dead and he reports that many more dead have been found. Chinese who witnessed the fighting from the Russian side report that the Russians removed many dead men from the trains with their wounded, and that they buiied or cremated many corpses in the village of Huasungkou before they retreated. The number of prisoners and trophies taken by the Japanese is increasing General Oku is not yet able to report the total number of prisoners. Four-Story Brick Collapses. Kansas City, June 22. One person was allied, another probably is dead, buried under tons of debris, and seven others were injured, one fatallv, here today by the collapse of the four-story brick building at Third and Delaware Btreets, occupied by the Block preserv ing company. The collapse was caused by the explosion of ammonia on the fourth floor. One side of the structure, extending its whole height, fell in. There were 50 girls on the upper storieB at the time, and a panic prevailed among them. Largo Fire at Utah Mine. Park City, Utah, June, 22. The big No. 2 hoist of the Ontario mine, locat ed near this city, was totally deetroyed today, throwing 200 men out of employ' mertt and causing a nominal loss of $400,000. The actual loss, however, will not greatly exceed $600,000, the loss otherwise being an immense Corn' ieh pump, which , has not been used since the completion of the Ontario tunnel, which drains that district, sev eral years ago. Total Leas of Life la Stoaassr DUastor Now Put at 700. New York. June 18. With unceas- ng effort search la going on for tbe bodies of those wbo perished yesterday on the steamer General Blocum.' What tbe list of victims will total scarcely snyone dares venture to pees, out whatever the number may be, there is hardly a parallel in the history of dis aster where death came to so many in so brief a period of time. Police and health department officials have placed the number at a figure as high as 1,000 and more, but tonight it would seem that the maximum figure will not argely exceed 700. ' All day long, until darkness shut off even the meiancnoiy satisiaction oi watching for the dead, anxious search ers kept up their vigilance and at dusk there had been recoveied 536 bodies, for tbe greater part women and chil drenmothers who, weeks ago, bad planned that fatal outing for their chil dren, and little ones who had longed for tbe coming of the happy day. Up to dusk 499 bodies had passed through the morgue and of these more than S00 were unidentified. The East Side bad its sympathy aroused to tbe fullest extent, and down by tbe river, where the boats unloaded their dead, thousands gathered throughout the day. Streets leading to tbe morgue were blocked, and only with difficulty could the police clear the passages leading to tbe long rows of coffins for those wbo came in search for tbe missing. Up the sound, wbere the hulk of the General Blocum lies submerged, show- ng only a paddle-box, scores of small craft aided the tugs in grapling for tbe victims. Divers went down time ana time again, and when tbe work ended for the day they declared there were no more bodies in tbe wreck. A score of times a diver reappeared alter his plunge with the body of a woman or a child. Two of them eoming to the surface together on one occasion had in their arms two little girls, Bisters, clasped in each other's embrace, and their mother, it was thought, whose dead hand tightly clenched the skirt of one of them. As far aa they could, the divers searched the wreck from stem to stern. The wreck lies about 200 feet off Et. retoa Point. At this point the water is deep and the current is swift, and beyond a doubt many bodies have been borne along with the tide to be given up on a later day at some distant point. HARBOR FRBB TOO LATE. Japanese Have Already Landed Men to Attack Port Arthur. Tokio, June 18. A flotilla of tor- pedoboats and torpedoboat destroyers, under command of Captain Tsuchiya and co-operating with the army, made reconnaissance in force near Siau Ping island yesterday and bombarded the Russian outposts on the coast to the west of the island. Siau Ping 1st land is 12 miles to the weBt of Por- Arthur. At noon the Russian cruiser Novik, convoying ten torpedoboat destroyers, steamed out from Port Arthur. The Ruseian shore batteries protected these vessels with a heavy cannonade. The Japanese flotilla retreated slowly, fir ing as it went, for the purpose of decoy ing the enemy to sea. At .3 o'clock in the afternoon the Russian ships re turned to the entrance of Port Arthur. The fact that the Novik came out of Port Arthur makes it certain that the Russians have succeeded in blasting a channel through the . cement laden merchantmen sunk by the Japanese in the entrance to tbe harbor. This free dom of egress comes too late to permit of any effect upon the operations of the Japanese army, for men, guns and stores have practically all been landed, and Admiral Togo is capable of keeping (he remnants of the Russian fleet im prisoned in Port Arthur. LaBt Monday night Japanese vedette boats, protected by torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroyers, succeeded in reaching the entrance to Port Arthur and planting a series of mines there. The darkness of midnight favored the oepration. Tbe Japanese vessels were not observed and they returned to the rest of tbe squadron without having sustained any damage. Urges Fair Exhibit. St. Louis, June 1H. Before depart ing for New York, Prince Pun Lun an nounced himself as a self appointed committee of one to secure China a par tlcipation in the Lewis and Clark expo sition to be held in Portland, (Jr., in 1905. The prince remarked to Theo dore Hardee, assistant to Secretary Walter B. Stevens, that he was very much impressed with the American idea of celebrating the anniversaries of great events with big expositions, and declared he would use every effort to secure. Chinese participation. Russians Marching on Port Arthur. Tien Tnin, June 18. It has been learned here from a KuBSian source that 40,000 Russians passed Tashichao, 20 miles south of Niu Cbwang, going south. It is supposed that this force is going to the relief of Port Arthur. 600 LIVES ARE LOST BIQ EXCURSION STEAMS TAKES FIRE OFF NEW YORK. Pot of Oroaso Overturned and Flames Spread to All Parts of Boat la Short TUae-WeoMa and Children Trample Uader Foot, Many Pushed Overboard, Others Leap to Escape Meat. New York, June 17. One of the most appalling disasters in tbe history of New York, tragic in its immensity, diamatic in its episodes, tad deeply pathetic in the tender age of most of its victims, took place today in the j East liver, st the entrance to Long Is-1 land Bound, within a short distance of the New York shore, and within sight of thousands of persons, the majority of whom were powerless to minimize tbe extent of the catastrophe. By the burning to the water's edge of the Blocum, a three-decked excursion steamer, one of the largest in these waters, more than 600 persons, the majority of whom were women and children, were burned to death or drowned by Jumping overboard or by being threwn into the whirlpools by the lurching of the vessel and the fran tic rusn of the panic-stricken paK ti gers. Four hundred and eighty-five bodies have been recovered, and are now being tagged at the morgues of Bellevue hospital and Harlem. Diters were still busy at a late hour taking bodies from the hold of the ves sel, which, they say, is choked with the remains of human bodies, while the bodies of scores wbo leaped, ot were thrown, into the river have not been recovered. It is variously estimated that there were Between i,ouu ana z,ot)0 persons on board tbe General Blocum when she left the pier at Third street. East River, though the Knickerbocker Steamship company, which owns the Slocum, officially states that the num ber of passengers was 837, that being only one-third of the vessel's capacity. It is thought, however, that there were several hundred children in arms, for whom fares are not usually charged on these trips. The General Slocum left Third street, East River, at 9:30 o'clock this morn ing, having on board the Sunday school excurison of St. Mark's German Luth eran church, located in Sixth street. Her destination was Locust Grove, one of tbe many resorts on Long Island Round. The Slocum had reached a point near the Sunkden Meadows, off 185th street, Manhattan, which is at the extreme eastern end of Randall's Island, when the fire broke out. The headway of the vessel and the high wind almost in stantly fanned the insignificant flame into fury. Efforts were at once di rected to subduing the fire, but they were futile. The blaze spread aft with almost lightning rapidity. Captain VanBchaick then headed for shore. The great open decks, built for ex cursionists, with little obstruction from bow to stern, offered a clear sweep for the fire. As the Slocum dashed for ward, the flames caught stan hion and cabin woodwork, eating and tearing their way across the vesBel. As the fire increased, the struggle to gain a point of vantage at the stern be came frightful. Women and children crowded against the aft rail until it gave way and hundreds were pushed off into the river. After this there was a steady stream of persons who jumped or were thrown into the water. Tn the wake of the Slocum as she hurried up stream was a line of little black speaks marking the heads and bodies of those who bad sought to escape the roaring furnace on the ship by throwing them selves overboard. Reinforcements for Kuropatkin. St. Petersburg, June 17 The ap pointment of Lieutenant General Leon- idas Dembowski as commander of the Fifth East Siberian army corps is'evi dence that larger reinforcements are to be placed at General Kuropatkin's dig posal. Tbe four corps originally formed of (Siberian troops are mobilized in Manchuria and other drafts have been sent out to the Far East. The organization of the new corps, inde pendent of the ' Russian corps ordered out from European Russia shows that Kuropatkin now has 200,000 troops. Another of Bandit's Demands Met. Tangier, June 17. Two Sheiks of Ben M. 8uar have been imprisoned by the governor of Tangier. This fulfills another of Raisuli's conditions for the release of his captives, Messrs. Prdi caris and Varley. The sheiks impris oned are two of those who nelped treacherously to capture Raisnli some time ago. FBAR to pay bandit. Ministers Object Otrlflg tfUe Ooid vats Captives are Pre. Washington, June 21 A cablerram received at the state department from Consul General Gummere at Tangier, in confirming the press report that the ultan has agreed to all of Raisuli'a terms, adds the bandit requested that the money ransom, $55,000, be paid over today. Mr. Gummere expressed grave doubts as to the advisability ef making this payment before Perdicaris and Varley were actually released, and safely returned to Tangier. in his cablegram tbe consul general states that Raisuli's negotiator re turned to Tangier last night and re ported that the terms hsd been ac cepted and the money as well as the prisoners released by the sultan today must be immediately turned over to Kaisuli at Taradant, where he is sow located, and the captives will be re leased. Mr. Gummere and the British minis ter both objected to this plan, on the ground that they placed everything in itaisuirs hands and they bad no assur ance that he would carry out his agree ment after he got hold of the money. Therefore they sent a special courier to Kaisuli, suggesting that the exchange be effected through the sheris of Waxen, who had a powerful influence over Raisuli. The answer is expected . to morrow. Based on past experience, it Is feared Raisuli is not to be depended upon. and once be has the money in hand and still controls the prisoners, he will make fresh demands. However, noth ing more can be done at this stage, ac cording to Mr. Gummere, and the state department will await the conclusion of this last attempt to free the prison ers. CURRENCY FOR PANAMA. Commlssloa Makes the Dollar of the United States the Standard. Washington, June 21. lhe com mission charged with the preparation of a currency system for Panama today reached an agreement, which estab lishes a coin equivalent in fineness and weight to the dollar of the United States as the standard, and which also makes the United 8tates dollar legal tender in Panama. ; v Under the terms -ef the -agreement, the Panama government will recoin or convert the Colombian silver into coins of the size of a silver dollar. Tbe amount of this silver in Panama is now estimated at $1,500,009. At the request ef Secretary Taft, it was agreed to coin more silver until a total of $6,000,000 is reached. In or der to retain a parity with gold, there will be deposited in some reputable bank in New York 15 per cent of the amount coined, and, in addition, there will be deposited all the seignorage which Panama Till make in the coin age to meet the American government's lequirements. The agreement provides for a joint arrangement between the government of Panama and the canal commission, under which, by selling drafts and drawing on the funds ex change can be kept down to a reason able figure, not above 2 per cent and thus avoid large fluctuations of the rate. UNABLE TO BLOCK HARBOR. Japanese Make Another Desperate AU tempt at Port Arthur Liao Yang, June 21. According to trustworthy news from Port Arthur, the Japanese, before June 14, made a fourth unsuccessful attempt to block the entrance to the harbor, using four fire ships, two of which were immedi ately sunk by shots from the batteries, the other two withdrawing. The Rus sian fleet, according to these advices, ia intact, and the spirits of the garrison and inhabitants are excellent. The soldiers are eager to fight and are confident of the impossibility of the taking of Port Arthur by the Jap anese. Most of the inhabitants have enlisted in the volunteers and 600 women have offered their servi' es. Perfect order is maintained and trade and industry are carried on as usual. Provisions are plentiful, there being a sufficient supply to last six months on full rations and a year at reduced rations. The Japanese outposts are 18 miles from Port Arthur. Forces Now More Fven. Liao Yang, June 21. The retirement of the Russians before a superior force from Vafangow and the- advance of the Japanese east and north makes immi nent a still more important engagement in the southern region. The Japanese have now arrived at a point where the forces are more equal, and where they must fight on more even terms. The loss of 2,000 men by the Russian divis ions at Vafangow shows the courage and ability of the officers and troops to retain their position under a percent age of loss almost unprecedented. Japanese Loan In Great Demand. London, June 21. A dispatch to the Central News from Tokio announces that the total subscriptions to the sec ond issue of exchequer bonds ($50, 000,000) amounted to $160,246,762. The bonds are issued at 92, bear 5 per rent interest and are to run for seven years. . , ,