In "IT'S A COLD DAY WHEN WE GET LEFT." i VOL. XIY. nOOD RIVER, OREGON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, l'J02. NO. 31. HGOD RIVER GLACIER I'ublisheil Kvery Friday by 8. K. K1.YTHE, TublUhxr. Terma of subscription-a yeai when paid in aavauce. THE MAILS. The mal? arrlvet (rom Mt. Hood at 10 o'clock a. m. W tvim'MlayB and Saturday; departs the ameaai at noon. Kor ('hunoweth, leaves at S a. m. Tnesdays, Thuradaya and fcaturdaja: arrives at 6 n. m. For Whit Salmon (Wa.) leaves daily at : a.m.; arrives at r.ui l m. F rom Wbit Kaltiion leaves for Fulda, Gilmer, Trout Lake and (ilenwood daily at 9 A. M. ForBniKen (Wash.) leavea aio:4jp. in. ; ar. rix et at 2 p. ra. 80CIKTIKS. V AK (iKOVK COUNCIL No. ll'i, OKDKK UP f FKN DO. Meets tte rJecoiu ana i-ourtn ' Fridays of the month. Vliritum cordially wel comed. C. I'. Dakin, Counsellor. Mrs. Henby McCuiks, Secretary. ORHKR OK WABIIINITION. Hood River I'nion No. 1(2, meets in Odd H'llows' hall aecond and fourth Saturday In eaen month, 7:au oVU.ck. V. U. Cui-ixb, 1'resideiit. lJB. H. L. Uuhblk, Secretary. IAUREL KKKKKAH DKfiKEK I.OIX1K, Ni 1 87, 1. O. O. F. Meets tlrsl and third Moil drya In each mouth. Mm. V. 0. Ash, N. 0. Misa Ota Waj.kks, Secretary. CANBV POST, No. 16, (i. A. K. Meets at A. O. V. Yi. Hall M'l oiiil and fourth Matur lays of each mouth at It o'clock p. in. All U. A. K. intiu hers invited to meet with us. J. W. Kiuuy, Commander. 0. J. Hayes, Adiuiant. (ANHY V. K. C, No. 16-Meets first 8atnr ) (lay c.f e.ch ninnlh in A. O. U. V. hall at 1 ). m. M ks. B F. Hhokmakkr, President. Mrs. 0. L. Stranahan, beeretary. IIOOD RIVER LODGE No. 1U5, A. F. and A 11 M. Meets Saturday evening on or before eai h full moon. Win. M. Vatks. W. M. C. I). Thompson, Secretary. HOOD RIVER CHAPTER, No. 27, R. A. M Meets third Friday uiglit of each month. E. U Smith, H. P. A. N. Rahm, Secretary. HOOD KIVEK CHAPTER, No. 2A, O. B. 8. -Meets second and fourth Tuesday even inks of each month. Visitors co dially wel comed. Mas. Moi.uk (,'. Coi.k, W. M. Mrs. Maev It. Davidson, Secretary. 0I,ETA ASSEMBLY No. 103, United Artisans, Meets first and third VYedneadats, work; accond and fourth Wednesdays social; Art! tans hall. F. C. Kkosiis, M. A. Mks. E. A. Barnes, Secretary. TITAl'COMA I.OIKIE, No. 30, K. of P. Meets in A. O. U. W. hall every Tuesday night. C. E. Makkham, C. C. W, A. Firrbauoh, K. or R. and S. KIVERBIDE I.OfKiK, No. 68, A. O. l W. Meeta first and third Saturdays of each month. Fkeu Huwe, V, M. E. R. Bradley, Financier. Chehteh Shute, Recorder. 1 PLEWILDE LODCE, No. 107, I. O O. F. J Meeli iu Fraternal hall every Thursday night. W. O. Ash, N. ti. J. L. Henderson, Secretary. HOOD RIVER TENT, No. 19, K. O. T. M.. meets at A. O. U. V. hall on the first and third Fridays of each month. Walter (Jkbkinb, Commander. TlVERSIf)K LODGE NO. 40, IiEKKEK OF l HONOR, A. O. l. W.-Meets first and third Saturdays at 8 P. M. Mrs. E. It. Bradley, C. of II. Mrs. II. J. Frederick, Recorder. HOOD RIVER CAMP, No. 7,702, M. W. A., meets In Odd Fellows' Hall the first and third Wednesday,! of each month. F. L. Imvumon, V. C. E. R. Bradley. Clerk. y B. TRKSBY, lttorney-at-Law and U. S. Commissioner. Uuldendale, Wash. Makes a specialty of land ottlce work. Final proofs In timber and homestead entries made before him. JjR. J. W. VOGEL. OCULIST. WIU make regular monthly visits to Hood River. Residence 3t3 Sixteenth Street, Portland, Oregon. 1 II. JENKINS, I). M. D. DENTIST. Specialist on Crown and Bridge Work. Telephones: Ofllce, 281; residence, 94. Office In Langille bid. Hood River, Oregon. 1) R. K. T. C A UN'S, Dentist. Gold crowns and bridge work and all kinds of Up-to-DaU Deutlstrj. HOOD RIVER OREGON LJ L. DUMBLE, rilYSICIAN AND SURGKOX. Successor to Dr. M. F. Shaw. Calls promptly answered in town or country, Dav or Mitht. Telephones: Residence, 81; Office, 83, Office over Everhart's Grocery. J r. WATT, M. D. Physician and Surgeon. Telephones: Office, 281 ; residence, 2S3. ? SURGEON O. R. 4 N. CO. JOHN LELAND HENDERSON ATTORNEV-ATLAW. ABSTRACTER. NO TARY PCHLIC and REAL ESTA'IK AGENT. For 28 vf ars a resident of Orenon and Wash fnston. Has hnd many years experience in Krai Estate matters, as abstractor, searcher of lilies and ageuL. batisfaclion guaranteed or Lo charge. pREDERICK A ARNOLD CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS. Estimate! furnishevl for all kinds of work. Hepairirg a apet'ialtv. All kin ts of thop ork. Shop on State Street, between FirBt and Second. J HE KLONDIKE CONFECTIONERY Is the plar to pel the latent and lx.st in I'onffctioneriw, Candiee, Nuw, lobacco. Cigars, tw. ICECREAM PARLORS.... W. B. COLE, Pniprietor. p C. BKOSiUS, M. D. " THYSICIAN AND SURGEON. Tlione Centra!, or 121. Office Honrs: 10 to U A. L; 2 to S and 0 to 7 1 M. gUTLER A CO., BANKERS. Do a general banking brines. UOOD RIVER, OREGON. ANOTHER SURPRISE. Middlemen (Jetting $11 to $12 Per Ton for Coal While Poor Are Freezing. Scranton, Pa., Dec. 18. When the coal strike commission met yester- djiy Chairman Gray opened the pro ceedings by saying that the com missioners were Impressed with the spectacle of the little girls who were before the commission yesterday and testified that they worked all night He said the people of the community and citizens of the commonwealth should not let the Incident pass with out taking -some steps to have the Legislature of Pennsylvania serious ly consider the enactment of a law that will forbid the employment of children at night. At the suggestion of the commission the statements of the wages of the fathers of two of the girls were presented. One earned more than $1000 last year and Jhe other over $900. The miners sprung another sur prise by presenting an Individual operator on the witness stand against the operators. He was John C. Had dock, of Wlkesbarre, president of the Plymouth Coal Company. Mt. Haddock, in answer to questions put to hl.m by C. S. Darrow for the miners, said he had been In the coal business 35 years. Hid company op erated the Black Diamond and Dod son mines near Wilkesbarre. He said his company went Into the hands of receivers on March 14, and on No vember 14 trustees took hold of the property. Mr. Haddock then explained that the miner's ton, which runs from 2700 to 3200 pounds, was fixed years ago so that the employer could get out of the ton 2240 pounds of pure coal above the size of pea. Pea coal and all sizes below that was waste. This Is now being utilized. Regarding the price of Coal Mr. Haddock said the middlemen in New York are paying $11 and $12 a ton. Judge Gray Do they pay the op erators that price?" 'Possibly." MURDERERS SENTENCED. Oscar Bradshaw Must Suffer Death Kellett Oct 20 Years. Walla Walla, Wash.. Dec. 18. Un der sentence of death to be carried out, at the state penitentiary, 03car Bradshaw, a young man, arrived In the city yesterday .morning, In charge of Sheriff I. J. Davis, of Franklin County. Bradshaw was sentenced to death at Pasco by Judge Rudkin, of North Yakima, for the murder of Peter Nelson, at Pasco, last July. The death penalty is to be Inflicted February 2, unless an appeal to the Supreme Court Is perfected. With Bradshaw came William Kel lett, a much older man, under sen tence of 20 years at hard labor, for the part he took in. the murder of Nelson. Bradshaw was tried Decem ber 3 and 4, and a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree was en tered by the jury after a strong ef fort for a lighter verdict. Upon the action of the jury being announced to Kellett he asked to be allowed to plead guilty to murder In the second degree. After the state had advised In the matter the plea was accepted, and the sentence of 20 years Inflicted by Judge Rudkin, yesterday. VOLUNTEERS FOR CASTRO. Crack Shots and Old Mountain Men from Montana Will Join Venezuelan!. Butte, Mont., Dec. 18. It Is Btated on what appears to be good author ity that a filibustering party Is being organized in Butte to go to Venezuela. It is said, at least, that an alleged josh" story in the Inter-Mountain, concerning a party of Montana fili busters, who are organizing to go to Venezuela, is really based upon fact. A number of Butte .men have alrendy enlisted. The men conduct ing the scheme are keeping it quiet, but it Is said at least one well-armed company, all crack-shots, and oii mountain men, will go South In a few days. A number of Spanish war vet erans and several veterans of the Fenian invasion of Canada are among the men enlisted. CONTINUE TO RUN TRANSPORTS. Ludlngton Advising House Committee Against Contract System. Washington, Deo. 17. Quarter master-General Ludington of the Army, before the House committee on military affairs, today advocated con tinuing the transport service under the control of the War Department. He said the cost' of the service as now conducted Is about $3000 less than any of the estimates submitted by private concerns, but said that In his opinion It would be in the Interest of the soldier and service for the War Department to operate its own line. General Ludington, speaking of mat ter of carrying private parties on the Government transports, said the num ber was insignificant and that where abuses had occurred In that direction they already had been corrected. A Western Philanthropist. Louisville, Ky., Dee. 18. A deed was recorded yesterday, whereby South Park, formerly a Summer re sort, situated 13 miles from Ixwis vllle, passed Into the hands of Wil liam H. Beach, a Los Angeles, Cal., capitalist. It is stated that he will convert part of the property Into a Summer resort and another part into t children's home, where abandoned waifs will he given every care and attention. The place contains about 300 acres of land and 25 acre lake. Russians Raised Wheat la Alaska. Tacoma, Dec. 18. That wheat was grown in Alaska by the Russians a century ago is proved by the discov ery of two old flour mills built by the subjects of the Czar. One of tl.ese is on Wood Island, In South eastern Alaska, and the other in the irterlor. The former mill has Just teen investigated by K. B. Taylor. He says the old flour mill was built early in the last century. NEWS OF OREGON HFHS OP INTEREST FROM ALL PARTS OF THE STATE. Eastern Oregon Wants Law Prohibiting Sheep Herding Within Two Miles of Habitations Wasco la Refused Rural Mail Routes -Linn County Sportsmen Favor More Stringent Oame Laws. Commissioner Hermann hat recom mended the repeal of the lieu land law. The Multnomah club of Portland has commenced airangements for bo'ding a street fair. Three men have been arrested at Ash land charged with the recent Grants Pass stage hold-up. The present session of congress will not be asked for a government appro priation for the 1905 fair. F. S. Ingram, who is circulating a petition asking for aid from the state legislature, is securing many signa tures. He has in the neighborhood of 400. Very few people refuse to sign. Linn county sportsmen ars taking active measures to secure the enact ment of better game laws. All concur in the opinion that hunting for the market should be entirely prohibited. E. C. Clement, snecial aeent of rnral free delivery, after viewing two ruial free delivery rontes out of Wasco, states that he is not able to approve the peti tions. The reason eiven is that there are not the required number of families within the 50 miles of territory covered by the two petitions. There is a petition being circulated in the eastern part of the state asking the legislature to enact a law prohibit ing the herding of Bheep within a dis tance of two miles of any habitation It is being pressed by cattlemen in the mam although a great many business men who are not inte'ested in stock are signing. Idaho and California have such lawr. Senator Mitchell called the attention of Commissioner of Pensions Ware to the number of applications for pensions under the Indian war veteran act of the last session which have not as yet been granted. The commissioner states that considerable difficulty is being experienced in getting the mili tary service of the claimants but be hopes to have all straighened up shortly. Free delivery of mail will commence in Albany March 1, 1903. An Odd Fellows lodge has been in stituted at Durkee, Eastern Oregon. There are about 30 members. Probably the largest shipment of wool ever made from Independence at one time occurred last week. H. A. Doutj shipped direct to Boston 120,000 pounds of wool. The shipment made up almost 10 freight cars. The Linn county Jail walla will be lined with three-sixtepntbs inch steel plates. The ceiling will also be cov ered with a network of steel bars. These improvements to the jail have been made necessary by numerous jail breaks in the past two years. The new Oregon code, compiled by Judge C. B. Bellinger and W. W. Cotton, has been issued. This code was authorized by the last legislature and will hereafter be used in the courts in place of the codes heretofore in use. One thousand copies will be delivered to the secretary of state. There is a movement on foot to di vide the Eighth judicial district, con sisting of Baker, Umatilla and Wallowa counties, into two districts. Union and Wallowa will constitute one, and Baker county will be constituted a judicial district by itself, if the plan is carried out. The reason for the change is that the district is so popu lous that there is too much for one judge to do. PORTLAND MARKETS. Wheat Walla Walla, 70971c; blue stem 7879c; valley, 75$76c. Barley Feed, $23.60 per ton; brew ing, $24.00. Floor Best grade, S.604 10; grah am, $3.20(33.60. Millstuffg Bran, $19.00 per ton; middlings, $23.50; shorts, $19.50; chop, $18. Oate No. 1 white, $1.1591..17; gray, $1.12i'1.15 per cental. Hay Timothy, $10(311; clover, $9.00; cheat, $S per ton. Potatoes Best Bnrbanks, 6079t per sack; ordinary, 60B0c per cental, growers' prices; Merced sweets, $ 1.75(3 $2 per cental. Poultry Chickens, mixed, 11c; young, 10c; bens, llfllc; turkeys, live, 13 He; dressed, 1517K; ducks, f56 per dozen; geese, $6.6 ' 7. Cheese Fall cream, twins, 16 l'H'c; Young America, 17X818 factory prices, 131 He less. Butter Fancy creamery, 27X30c per pound; extm, 30c; dairy, 20 22c; store, 15(318. Eggs 25 (g 35c per dosen. Hops New crop, 2326c per pound. Wool Valley, 110 15c; Eastern Oregon, 8314)ic; mohair, S6(328c Beef Gross, . cowi, S3Xe per pound; steers, 4c; dressed, 6(3 7c " Veal-7?8Kr. Mutton Grose, 3c per pound; dressed, 6c Lambs G-oes, Jc par pound; dreaeed, 6 H. Hov; Gross, 6ig8e per ponnd; dreewed, 7fl7c SNOW IN THE ROCKIES. Fell Over Large Area and la Oladly Wel comed in Most Places. . Denver, Dee. 17. The entire Rocky Mountain region from Northern Wyom ing to Southern New Mexico has been visited by a storm daring the past 30 hours. The ground in the plateau section is covered to a depth of six inches,, while the fall in the moan tains has been much heavier. The greater portion of the precipitation fell yesterday and last night. Today about two inches of snow fell during the morning in most sections of Colo rado, but tonight the weather has cleared. No snow fell in Western Wy oming today, although around Chey. enne and in the .region immediately north of there a light snowfall was ex perienced. In Southern New Mexico a light rainfall was reported, with snow in the north. In some parts of Colo rado, particularly in the San Luis val ley in the south, the snow was the heaviest for years. For the past three years drouth has visited the San Luis valley, and the present moisture has brought rejoicing, assuring as it does good conditions for next year s crops. Railroad traffic is experiencing no serious interruption as a result of the storm, because of the fact that the enow drifted but little. Kor the same reason there is no fear for the safety of stock on the ranges, and no losses have been reported. The storm originated in Arizona, and the temperature at no time Las been un comfortably cold. THE AIDED RAILROADS. Only One Owes the Government, Accord. ing to Commissioner Longatreet. Washington, Dec. 17. The annual report of General Longstreet, the com missioner of railroads, says that, of the railroad companies which have received government subsidies in bonds, all have settled their indebtedness with the gov ernment except the Central Branch railway company, the suxessor of the Central Branch Union Pacific railway company. The reports of the bond aided and land grant roads show an in crease of $20,000,000 in net earnings over those for 1901. There was an in crease of over $5,000,000, in gross earnings and of $27,000,000 in ex penses. The report deals with detailed an nual summaries of the operations of the roads, embraces the principal laws of congress that relate to the bond-aided and land grant roads, and includes ab stracts of the decisions of the supreme court in cases affecting the bond-aided Pacific companies, and to which the United States is party. THREAT TO RENEW STRIKE. Coxe Brothers' Miners Demand Reinstall. ment of Union Men. New York, Dec. 17. More than 4, 000 miners at Drifton, near Hazelton, will go out on strike unless their em ployers adjust grievances they com plain of, says a dispatch from Scran ton to the Press. The shipment of coal to New York will be decreased 10,000' tons a day if this strike is de clared. The dissatisfied miners are employed by Coxe Bros. & Co., the large independent operators. They say that the company has repeatedly refused to re-employ all IU union miners. District Presidents Duffy, Fahey and Nichols, "who -are in this city, have had a conference regarding the ques tion. Duffy upholds the attitude of the Drifton miners, but the other dis trict presidents, together with their attorney representing the miners be fore the strike commission, are doing their utmost to prevent a suspension of work. They bellve that the action of the Drifton miners in declaring a strike before they see whether the commissions intend to protect their rights in their decision will have a bad effect. MORE SHOTS AT THE KINO. Leopold of Belgium Fired Upon as He Was Leaving the Royal Train. New York, 'Dec. 17. The Ameri can's correspondent at Brussels says: As Leopold, the king of the Belgians, was leaving the royal train at the sta tion at Laken, two shots were fired at him, although neither took effect. It is not known' whether the shots where fired by an asrassin or by poach ers, but in view of the dissatisfaction with the king becasne of bis cruel treat ment of bis dauglher, the Princess Stephanie, the shooting is generally be lieved to have been s deliberate at tempt to kill him, and much excite ment prevails. The guards that surrcund the king have been doubled. , Snow All Over Kansas. Topeka, Kan., Dec. 17. The first heavy snowstorm of the winter pre vailed all over Kansas today. The fall in some places amounted to fonr inches on the level. No severe cold accom panied the storm, and great goodt o the wheat crop in Central Kansas will reeolt. Trains on all roads were de layed today, the snow in some places preventing traffic. There has been no relief of the fuel famine in Kiowa county. Log to Increase la Price. Vancouver, B. C. Dec. 17. Another increase in the price of logs Is ex pected by coast logger within the next few day. At the present time the ruling price is from $7.60 to $1 It is thought this will be Increased by at least &0 cent before the end. of the week. SHIPS WERE SUNK BRITISH CANNON PUT FATAL H0LLS THROUGH VENEZUELAN BOATS. Towed Them to Sea from the Harbor of La Ouayra and Returned Two Hours Later Without Them Cannon Shots Were Distinctly Heard by Officers In Venezuelan Forts. Caracas, Dec. 18. The Governor of Margarita Island reports that British and German warships are off that island. When the combined fleets seized the Venezuela ships at La Guayra the German commander delivered to the Venezuelan captains the following document: "By order of my sovereign and at the command of the commodore of the German squadron in West Indian waters, I, the commander of the Pan ther, request you to lower your ship s flag Immediately and leave your ship with your crew within ten minutes. This is not a measure of war on the part of Germany, but only with the object of making a provisional seiz ure of your ship in order to oblige the Venezuelan Government to re cognize our just demands. In case you disobey and wish to defend your ship I shall be obliged to prevent you from so doing by the discharge of arms. "ECKERMAN, Commander." Further details of the sinking of the Venezuelan ships have been ob tained from an entry .made In the books of the signal men of the fort ress at La Guayra. It is as follows: "Tuesday, December 9, 1:30 night. "The Adjutant called me to see If I knew the steamer Retribution of the English Navy was towing the steamers Crespo and Totune, of the National Navy, three or four miles north. I had heard four cannon shots and saw the two steamero had disap peared and understood they, had been sunk by the VIneta and Retri bution. At the end of an hour the Retribution returned to the harbor alone." The fact that the Retribution re turned to La Guayra alone two hours after leaving with the captured ves sels was confirmed by English res idents of La Guayra. Consequently she did not have time to conduct the Venezuelan ships to Curacoa or Trin idad. Oermany Accepts America's Protest. Berlin, Dec. 18. Secretary Hay's note excepting American ships from certain restrictions of the Venezuelan blockade Is favorably received by the German Government. The Foreign Office treats the matter as not rais ing any essential difficulty as being without precedent, Blnce Germany made a similar reservation In the Cretan blockade. The precise status of American vessels under the blockade will be defined in an official notifica tion. Minister Bowen's communication to Germany through the United States Government in behalf of President Castro, received here yesterday, was simple proposal to arbitrate the question in dispute, and was not ac companied by any conditions. England Will Qo After Castro. London, Dec. 18. Replying to a question In the House of Lords to day, Lord Lansdowne, the Foreign Secretary, said that if the seizure of the Venezuelan gunboats did not pro duce the desired effect, further co ercive .measures would be employed. The matter had been considered In consultation with Germany, and It had been decided to resort to a block ade of the ports. It was not intended to land a British force, and still less to occupy Venezuelan territory. New York, Dec. 18. Secretary Hay has cabled to Ambassabor Tower, at Berlin, says the World's correspond ent at Washington, to ask the Ger man government to define for thU country exactly what is meant by a peaceful blockade. Although It has not been put into public expression, this government contends tnat there is no such thing as a "peaceful blockade." If a state of war does not exist this government will contend, at the proper time, that United States ships must be allowed to pass. The test will come when the Red D Line steamer Caracas arrives lit La Guayra, probably next Saturday. If that ship goes through, as it Is ex pected it will, other ships from other nations will also demand to go through, and the "peaceful blockade" will become a farce. If Germany insists on its right to blockade peaceably and refuse to let American ships through, then Ad miral Dewey'a fleet will be sent W Venezuela to convoy the American ships through the German and English lines. Admiral Dewey has been told to keep his fleet together. The rea son this government makes this de mand of Germany Is because it has In writing In black and white, the fullest statement of Germany's inten tions in Venezuela. It has ncTsuch statement from England. The diplo mats of that country were shrewd enough to make only a verbal state ment of intent The Administration is awaiting Ger many's answer with same anxiety. The situation Is now more critical than It baa been since the trouble be gan. Italian! Gladly Join In Blockade. London. Dec. 18. News has been received in London that all the em ployes of the La Guayra-Caracas and Puerto Cabello-Valencia Railroads are safe. Telegrams received here from Berlin confirm the statement that It has been arranged for Italy to Join the blockade, and say that the German Government will ak consent of the Bundersrath to a pro posal to make the Venezuelan block ade more stringent MRS. GRANT DEAD. Widow of Warrior President Succumbs to Heart Failure. Washington, Dec. 15. Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant died at her residence in this city at 11:17 o'clock Sunday night Death was due to heart failure, Mrs, Grant having suffered for years from valvular disease of the heart, which wag aggravated ' by a severe attack of bronchitis. Her age prevented her rallying from the attacks. Her dangh ter, Nellie Grant Sartoris, was the only one of her children with her at the time of her death, her three sons, who had been summoned here, all being ont of the city. There also were present at the bedside when the end came Miss Rosemary Sartoris, a grand daughter; I. Bit-hop, one of the attending physi cians, and two trained nurses. Death came peacefully, the sufferer retaining consciouness practically to tbe end. Julia Dent Grant was born January 213, 1820. She was married to U. S. Grant August 22, 1848. Four children were born to her three sons. Frederick Dent, Ulypses, Jr,. and Jesse, and one daughter, Nellie. Tbe remains of Mrs. Grant will be deposited in the tomb at Riverside park, New York, where those of her husband now repose. Whether they will betaken there immediately or this ceremony postponed for a time could not be ascertained tonight. GREAT FIRE IN OHIO TOWN. Sheet Steel Company's Mills Burned at a Loss of $1,000,000. Canal Dover, O., Dec. 18. The corrn- gating mills, tbe paint shop, the store room and the building containing the four mills on the west side of tbe American sheet steel company's mills, were burned to the ground here last night, and the company is confronted with a loss of over $1,000,000, nearly $750,000 is finished product and tbe re mainder in buildings and machinery. A strong wind was blowing. over tbe burning pile toward the offices and the machine shop. Fear that these, too, might be doomed caused a call for help to be sent to New Philadelphia. The fire engines from that city rendered good service. Tbe offices, machine shops, galvanizing department and the mills on the east side are 'all that re main of this great paint. The loss is partially covered by in surance. A dozen railway cars stand ing at tracks were consumed. REORGANIZE CONSULAR FORCE. BUI to Classify and Provide for Examina tion of Applicants. Washington, Dec. 16. A bill has been introduced in tbe house by Repre sentative Adams, of Pennsylvania, to provide for the reorganization of the consular service of the United States. Provision is made for the classification of consuls general and consuls, specify ing the number and salary of each class, and for tbe examination of ap plicants and thope now in the service. Of the latter, those who fail to pass are to be dropped, but none can be called for examination within six months of the day of tht passage of the bill. Consuls general and consuls may be transferred by the president from one place to another of tbe same class. Special examinations are provided for thora who may be sent where tbe United States exercises extra territorial jurisdiction. Naval Training Station on Lake. Washington, Dec. 16. Secretary Moody has transmitted to congress tbe report of the naval board, headed by Admiral Taylor, which was created to select a site for a naval training sta tion on the great lakes. The report recommends that tbe station be located on Lake Michigan, oelow latitude 43:30, and aeks for an appropriation of $250,000 to buy the land and develop the station, leaving the exact location to be determined later by the board. Secretary Moody approved the report and points out that an immediate ap propriation will prevent the raising of land values. Union Men May Picket. Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 16. Judge Carter, in the supreme court today, issued an order restraining 20 onion men by name from gathering at the plant of the Drop Forge company, where a strike has been on for several mouths, for tbe purpose of intimidat ing men who wanted to go to work. Tbe court refused to interfere with the peaceful picket, which he held to be legal. The order is a modificationfof a former decision, which restiained tbe entire anion from gathering at tbe plants. Fatal Wreck In Missouri. Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 16. A spec ial to the Star from Bucklin, Mo., aays a serious wreck occurred on the Hanni bal & St. Joseph railroad tonight at 9 o'c ock. A local freight was wrecked four miles west of Bucklin. A steam wrecker was sent from Bloomfield. The wrecker and eng'oe went through the bridge at Yellow creek. Five men were killed and one other fatally injured and half dozen others seriously hurt. All are railroad employes. Contract for Rapid-Firc Ouna. Washington, Dec. 16. General Crosier, chief of ordinance, has award ed a contract for the manofactuie of 30 15-pound rapid fire guns and monntt to tbe Bethlehem steel works at its bid of $3,930 for guns and mounts. The only other bid received was from the American & British ordnance companX at slightly higher flgnffc. POWERS WARNED AMERICAN VESSELS MUST NOT BE IN TERFERED WITH. Secretary of State Hay Denies That Peace Blockade Has Ever Been Recognized la Following Precedent Established In 1898-Must Declare War on Venezue la to Stop All Shipping. Washington, Dec. 17. Minister Bowen has confirmed the press re ports to the effect that the guns of the allied forces which bombarded Puerto Cabello were directed entire ly at the fortifications and not at the town. Regrettable as It was, this statement relieves the affair of the first -suspicion that it constituted a violation of International law, in the fact that 24 hours notice was not served of the bombardment. The re quirements as to the notice applies to unfortified or fortified towns where the fire must be directed upon the In habitants, and this was not the case at Puerto Cabello, so that, while the officials here regret that the firing took place, they have as yet no cause to protest. But it is now probable that the Unit- ed States will break its attitude of in activity In the event that an attempt is made to enforce the "peaceful blockade" toward an American ship. While the allies were considering the ways and means of bringing Vene zuela to terms and a blockade of this character had been decided upon, the German government informed the United States that when the blookade was established It would turn back all shipping, though no effort would be made to seize the ships. The Unit ed States government made no re sponse to this statement at the time (last year) not feeling called unon to do so, before presentation of an actu al case. But now that the blockade fs sought to be established, Secretary Hay has informed the German govern ment that American sMns should not be Interfered with in their trading, except the inhibition applies to all shipping, and further, the note Inti mates a disapproval of stoppage at 11. In so doing the state department is following a precedent, for, during the effort of the pewers to establish a peaceful blockade" off Crete In 1&8, Secretary Sherman formally re corded a refusal to be bound by it. It happended that no American ship had occasion to enter a Cretan port during the brief period of time the blockade was In force, so the Issue was not .made then, but In the present case, with regular lines of American steamers entering Venezuelan ports at short Intervals, a test case may soon follow. It is within the legal rights of the allies to close these ports, but probably this can be ac complished without a protest on our part only after a formal declaration of war. The hope Is growing here that such a declaration can after all be averted, owing to the energy with which Mr. Bowen has acted The proposal of President Castro to the allied powers for a peaceful set tlement was suggested by Mr. Bowen, and It came to the State Department throueh his hands. It has been for warded to London and Berlin through the embassies here, and as both Great Britain and Germany have heretofore professed a desire to settle the issues peaceably. It Is hoped that they will avail themselves of this opportunity. The proposal did not mention the methods of arbitration nor the limita tions, and the point of doubt which may prevent the acceptance of the scheme is believed to be Castro's un willingness to bind himself In advance to the recognition of the principal liability; he would leave the arbitra tors to determine whether or not he is liable at all. COLOMBIA MAKES READY. win Invade Nicaragua In Order to Hold Both Canal Routes. Washington, Dec. 17. Whatever doubt existed In Nicaragua as to the Intention of Columbia to carry out her threat to attack her as soon as her own revolutionary movement had been checked has been removed by the receipt of advices of a semiofficial character here that the Colombian army officers at Panama and Colon are steadily but quietly making ready for an invasion of Nicaragua. It is stated further that there Is a double reason for the attack. In the first place, Colombia wishes to take forcible possesion of the Mosquito strip, which would control both routes available for an Isthmian canal, and eo enable her to make her own terms; and secondly, she must find congenial employment for the Colombian sol diers who have been lighting rebels for four years, and cannot now be easily turned to ways of peace, and would, it is feared, start a new revo lution if not allowed an outlet for their energies outside of Colombia. The advices are to the effect that the officials In Managua are seriously disturbed at tbe outlook and are cast ing about for means to avert the at tack by Colombia. Want Patos Island. Panama, Dec. 17. It is the general opinion on the isthmus that Patos Is land is at the bottom of the aggres siveness of England. It is believed that England has combined with Ger many under the futile pretext of col lecting unacknowledged debts and to punish President Castro for his firm determination not to allow England to quietly usurp Patos Island and other valuable acquisitions In the neighborhood of the Orinoco river. Shot Down for Lack of Coal. Wilmington. Dec. 17. The works of the Diamond State Steel Company In thla rltv wprn ahut rlnwn trvfnv nn account of inability to obtain coal, temporarily throwing about 3000 men land boya out of employment