ifniirn- crin vrrvis -h . is ) i . liiiJID SEui-'Z. -' TUESDAY A!ID FRIDAY TO - j FirTY-TTTT RD TEAK NO. 43. gATJTVT. OREGON, FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 23, 1904. SECOND SECTION EEC PACrZ. M ' ' v JJ f W- Av J 1 ! tftf f tmtfl ii . iii iii ' ':' :j TORP EDO DESTROYERS ESCAPE LONDON; -Dec. 22. The Daily Tele graph' Chef 00 correspondent reports that eight torpedo boat destroyer bar escaped from Port Arthur, where for the last twenty-f.jur bears., he say.), a severe snow storm baa been raging. . Situation la Unchanged. , Mukden, Dee. 22. The situation nnebaoged. The opposing armies still continue theirjartillery fights, and both , i 1? bare extended their positions far . to the eastward. Chinese report thai Oyama has estab lished headquarters at Liao Yang and the Japanese are now e."ii,meting new for' a aronrd tbe rity. The Japanese are reported to It suf fering from cold and sickness in tho vicinity of Palaszandzi and Shilikhe, where, it is asid, they lost 2000 men in tingle wee. , HAD TEE GOODS NEORO ACTOR STEALS CLOTHING AND BICYCLE AND POLICE HAD HTM EARLY. Found the Clothing in His Possession In Vsttlse at Theitre and Had the Bicycle In Hall at His Rooms He U Now to the City JaU. ; What was really a fine piece of work was that accomplished by the local po lice force yesterday. . Yesterday Marshal Gibson received notification from Dr. W. Car let on Smith th.it be had lost two pairs of trousers nnd nn overcoat from his office sni the martial started out on their trail. It was not long before he had his eyes on a new "coon" who struck the eit on Monday as a part of the Edison lhe.it riesl company, Benjamin Jarrett,' the boy who has been so popular in the the atre as the terpsichorean artist. Tjkliis bu a ah rt.-tlae to sa.:tfy h-i'tt'M (hnt Jarrett wss th iigt nin the marshal run him in and proceeded to search the boy's room, in which he found a valine, and in the valise the clothing. x in addition to this in the corridor by bis room, was a bieyje, which tho ifirm had stolen from llarry Bonier of 37C Charch street. Jrj "' One of the peculiar tilings about the cast in that the negro made no attempt to mt nwsy, and when he was taken in said: " Ah don 'no what. I've been ar rested fob thhy ; say' it 'i aboult a bi ctIo or a tricycle or vsuth J but ah don 'no nothin' about 'em." It is said he is a frequenter of Chinese - houses and ther nro it is mr than likely he iA itsor t'f the festive, Hop, Had he 1on wtll overloaded with Chinese opi um, he may have stolen the things whije in that peculiar state when everything rn opium takes sees is his in his own imagination.. Jarrctt tame here from' the Bijou theatre in Portland, to play a few n-ghf s at the Ediron, and had msde n bt there as a dance tittist, and the man apers of the theatre are vry much cur prise.d and sorry to know that one cf their number shoul I prove a simple lar ceny thief. Doe Gibson, the marshal, arrested him- about 7 o'clock and li will appour hef ore the eity iee.7lcr tbH tbis morning for examination. ' MINNESOTA AT ESQUIMALT. V1CTOU1A, Dee. 22 The steamer Minnesota which -arrived today from New London to enter the Oriental trade' fer t'n Great Northern Railway was obliged to let go her anchor at Esquimau, owing to the heavy gale. The reception by thd local board of trade and other orgaair-ations was abandoned in consequence of the etorra. TO CONTROL RAILROADS Inanural Ball Question la Passed CTver Until After the HoUday f by Congress, Attorney General Moody Preparing Bill 4 for Legislation Governing Railway Bates Through Interstate Commis sion Freight Rebates Especially. WASHINGTON, Dee. 21.-The Trest hnt today discussed with several call ers the proposed legislation regarding the question of Railroad freight rebates and the question Of empowering the in terstate commission with authority to dje'er freight rates where found tp be excessiTe.: ,,' . :. ;-;. l :. ' - ' .. The President i anxious that legisla tion in the interest of tbe shippers be enacted at the earliest practicable date, ! It is stated today by one of t'ne Pres i'lcnfi callers, that Attorney General Moody is engaged In the preparation ol lill thit will substantially embody the views of the administration. .. Inaugural Ball Held Up. 1 Washington, Dec. 21.-The objection from Mann, of Illinois, for the unani mous consent to take up the inaugural resolution in the House of Rtresenta tives today sent the whole matter over until after toe holidays. MerrilL : of PeansylvanU, moved the passage of the Senate resolution, which among otiier things provides for the boldlug laangural ball in the pension building, bat Underwood, of Alabama, and Hann insisted that a- quorum" of the House be present to conseider the mat Ur. ...... . ;.- , '- . ' Immediately after Mann objection tbe House adjourned till aftvr January BOAT : The port of Yinkow is elosed with ice, and the Japanese retnf oreemente are landing at Dalny and going in the uirrvuou Ol AHtUr. , Japanese off for Madagascar. St. 1 Petersburg. Dm. 99 T'nm ' nouneeraent that the aants ernisers - A. I - . ana torpeuo ooats are proceeding west from Singapore has been received here with mack interest. It is not believed however, that sneh a small squadron has been gent out by Japan with any idea f engaging in offensive operations bnt it is regarded M more probable the purpose of this squadron is to keep sur veillance over the two detachments of the Russian fleet, whieh ,is expected to soon unite in the neighborhood of Mad agascar. J FIX THE RIVER ALBANY BOARD OF TRADE WILL ! MAKE MOVE TO PRESENT RIVER IMPROVEMENT. reels That as Senator Mitchell and j Congressman Hermann Are Coming ! Here, Now Is the Time 2nd This the Opportunity to Discuss Matter. Tho Albany Commercial club has 11 nully wakened op on the question of the Willamette rivr improvements and a telegram from that eity to a Portland paper says as follows: 'The board of directors of the Al hT Commercial club met last eve ning and, after discussing the metter of an on river, appointed a commit tre to lay the matter of the necessity of an open channel from Portland to OorvsIIis before United States Senator .Tphn II, Mitchell and Congressman Binder Hermann when these two arrive in Portland from Washington. The two will be invited to eome to Albany ont: evening during their stay when an ef fort will be made to seenre the co-operation of commercial bodies of Salem, Indepcnhne and Corvaljie in present ing the necessity of an open river to the two nieu. and they will be urged to Import the - recommendations for the Willamette. "Theme recommendations include re vetment work for the river at Albany, C onKalli, Independence, and Salem, as wel'yss dredging of the river from Sa lem to Corvallis so that boats can reach A'bany and Cor vail is throughout the 'The frame eommittee was also in structed to memorialize the War De rrtmenfc nrging the purchase of the Oregon f.ltj locks so as to remove that obstruction to river navigation. Thee un are now the only ones in tbm Uni ted Ktates where tolls are eharged for the. passage of traffic. Captain A. B. Grnbarr. was before the boar I auO ex p!.ti.d the necessity for work on th to ipen fc h:.u!t"t ao.l for ktMp inff tli river in its prc..-.-.t ehannol." Hegsrding the revetment here when rViiaicrs Mitehcll an.l Fulton were here a1; nt Bttte Fair tine they were taken over and shown the n iesities of the of thevimprovement demanded by this city ands concurred ia the suggestion that something ehould be done there with. JX is also necessary that some thing be done to keep the river open for transportation all the year and it is a simple thing if gone about rightly. It is to be hoped that Senator Mitchell and Congressman Hermann may find time to investigate the matter. GIVEN THE DECISION. NKW ! ORLEANS,, Dec. 22.-Jimmy Kelley of Chicago, was given the de eesion over Frank Crazy, of New York, in a 10-rpund bout tonight. SENATOR MAYS ! IS INDICTED It la Claimed Mays Conspired With Others to Defraud United ). States. . : Jury Declares the Conspiracy Was in an Attempt to Secure Public Lands in Township 24 South, Range 1 East in Callpooia Mountains, f PORTLAND, Dee. 21. The first sen sational indictments whieh it has been expected would result from the present investiirations being made by the fed eral graad jury were returned today, when fiVanklln PiernBr Mays was ac cused of having conspired to defraud the United States government of publie lands situated In township Z soutn, " A. range 1 east. This towns nip is i in tho t aiipooia. moaDiaioi Lane and Douglas counties. , Mays Is a prominent young lawyer of this eitr and a member of the most prominent pioneer families in this state. - i . ,r. The indictment also meiuaws aicxvin- ley. Pater, Emma Watson, wno are al ready convicted of conspiracy against the government, and Marie Ware, a de; fenaant in-tne. nxs iuu but who was aequitted, Robert W. Simpson John Doe and Bicnara The last tnree, u hitherto connected with those cases so far as ia known. .i The indictment aueges w ' by the use of false and forged applica tions, affidavits and proofs of home stead entry and settlement. ' - Part ot tbw applicant, "- ivs. were wuiioo SJired by Iuter and MclUnley. ..... JURY WAS LOCKED UP MLSS PATTERSON HAS ' TO WAIT UNTIL 10:30 O'CLOCK TODAY - THERE MAY, EE DISAGREEMENT When She Hea?d the 2fews That Case VT jxvy VKUUl BiM buns i Nosr'CcUslax. It Is Rumored That Jury Stands Nine for Acquittal and Thro for Convic tion One JnroriSaid to - Hold Out for Murder in Second Decree NEW YOBK Dec. 22. The jury in the Nan Patterson ease was locked up at 11:26 tonight, not having reaehed a verdict. When Miss Patterson beard the news ia the "pea" it was so un expected she came near collapsing. There is no opportunity of bearing the jury again until 10:30 tomorow morn ing, the hour fixed by the court for the report of the twelve men who will de cide the fate of the chorus girL The latest rumor from the jury room is that three men are holding out against nine who desire to acquit the defendant. It is reported there are throe jurors at odds over the seriousness of the crime. One juror, it is said, is holding out for conviction of murder in the second de gree, and two are reported to favor manslaughter. , : ; . - . . POPULATION OP ALASKA. WASHINGTON, ? Dec. 22. The an nual report of Governor Brady of Alas ka, was made public today. 4 It esti mates the total white population of that district as being 26,500. The total number of natives is 29,536. The total pack of the salmon canning industry aggregated 1,910,000 eases during the past year. ' ; The report asks for better transpor tation facilities, representation in Con gress, legislation to encourage the hont seeker, and the building of boats to C'te 1 tie Alaskan waters and vj irto te:i the industiics there. MORE MEN IN IT CONGRESSMAN WILLIAMSON AND OTHER PROMINENT MEN UN KNOWN ARE MENTIONED It Is Said By the Oregonian That Three of Oregon's Congressional Delega tion Are To Be Indicted By the Grand Jury. PORTLAND, Dec. 22- (Special to the statesman. The Qregonian will prini the following tomorrow: 'To secure the indictment of Re presentative Willianwou for ai legediP conspiracy to defraud the Government of the United States of a portion of its publie lands is as much t'ne purpose and intention of officials -now engaged in conducting the investigation of the Federal Grand Jury as it is their en deavor to have indictments returned against Hcnator Mitchell and Congress man Biftger Hermann. "Evidence and testimony are being and have been prepared by which the Government hopes and vxpeets not on ly to indiet thce force men but there will also be a determined effort to se cure their conviction at the succeeding trial. Sueh is the opinion of an authori ty which cannot be questioned and in view of the certainty of . statements whieh have been made,' t'ne remainder of .the session of the Grand Jury will be fraught with intense, interest to the people of the entire country. "The entrsnce of Mr.. Williamson in to the Isnd fraud cases comes as a great surprise, but it 'nss developed through a connection existing betweva him and I. P. Maya, as well as many, other deals which have been discover ed in various parts of the state by the Government officials who have been probing the records of the land trans actions of the past few years. It is stated that Williamson has been closely connected with Mays in his dealings, and the charge is made by the Goveernt that he has handled lands and helped in their handling, which he knew 'to have been taken from the Government tinder fraudulent pretenses. ' "It is said he has operated in West ern Oregon and that the vicinity of Prineville, his home, has also been the seat of bis operations and that there are those now living in both sections of the state who will yet come under the notice of the Grand Jury. "Tonight Senator Mitchell and Mr. Hermann will reach- Portland, "the . des tination of their ' transcontinental journey, i They come with the expecta tion of being able to ' explain away their alleged connection, with fraud in publie lands which are apparently' reaching such " proportions -that: they ' are t'ne subject of Cabinet discussions in Washington. ' . - "hey , nay they are innocent, and that time will rignt their wrongs and show that tbey have been and are now the objects j of : a, conspiracy, it stead of being the originators or par ticipants ia one. r'Bot it ia now definitely stated the prosecution expects to ' prove entirely to the contrary of the declaration made by t'ne two Congressmen from Oregon. Their talk ha not been idle rumor it is said, and it will be cold facts be fore another twb weeks have -passed over the waiting people. ' "How, though, jare the Senator and the Representative connected f is the common query. That is a hard question to be answered with any amount of de tail. ' But if Williamson 4s entangled with Mays, so is Hermann a ad so k Mitchell! it is said.. It has' been chows by the story of May's connection with Puter, who fct convicted of one offense, that he baa been more interested with Pnter in his dealings. It was Mays, who, as attorney of Pnter. gave the l&t ter the letter of introduction to John H. Mitchell at Washington. This much m shown in the testimony of the trial at which Pnter was convicted. Mitebell took Puter, upon the presentation of the letter to nim, to Hermann and told the commissioner that Puter was one of the best men ia Oregon, entirely re sponsible and it would be a favor if the lands in which he was interested were to be passed through, ont f their order; that thev be taken from the list of suspended claims and made sueciai and immediate. This much has I been shown at foe former triaL But this is hot atL Allegations will be made t oat Mitchell waa the friend and helpmate oi timber - dealers aad lobbyists, that his committee room, in Washington were headquarters for this class of men and that he shared in their confidence and helped in their benefits. This is, ia part, the nature of evidence which it is reported will be brought to bear against the testimony of the Senstor when be enters the jury room to ex plain 'id the men there his innocence of ill wrong. Hermann will have his turn ia the jury room with the Senator. His connection with the Puter-Mas ieal will be shown, it ia asserted. He it was, who, acting as commissioner of the general land office, took the sus pended claims from t'ne table and expe dited fhem to - patent at the reauest anS solicitation of Puter and Mays and others. : JSor is this all the ex-commissioner win be asked to explain. The storv of the missincr letter files will apply not alone to Washington, bo't to Oregon. .Thus the atones run, and but tne first chapter has yet been written Thread after thread is being taken up and fitted into them. Corroboration ia eoming in from every part of the state and wilt continue to do so for days yet, uniil the Grand Jury writes "fini" at the end." SENATE ADJOURNS. WASHINGTON, Dee. 21. After ,s session of four ,minutts duration, the Senate adjourned today until January 4, next. ' The proceedings consisted of a prayer by Chaplain Hale, the reading of the journal of Monday's brief ses sion, and . the receipt of a, number of nominations from the President. PUBLIC WORK MEETING OP COMMERCIAL CLUB TO CONSIDER MATTERS CON NECTED WITH CITY. Independent Companies Desire to Con nect Rural Lines With City Phone System Resolutions Favoring Street Pavinc Matter. , , There was a good attendance of th Commercial Club to hear the discussion relating to the establishment of a Farmers' Co-operative Telephone Com pany, the erection of .which as being agitated among the farmers residing in the vicinity of Salem, and a most not iceable feature of the evening was the interest displayed by all present and their active participation in the discus sions on the different subjects presen ted. The interests of the Bell Telephone Company were ably looked after by Mr. W. H. Danev, who said that if the farmers would build their own line his company would maintain the serviee for $S per year. - s Or tb company would install a com plete system and maintain" the lines for a monthly rental of S2. I Mr. Goodrich of Chemawa, appeared in the interests of the independent line, saying the fsrmers wre anxious to unite with the towns in establishing a rnra! telephone system. Mr. Gilbert of Rosedale. reviewbd the matter of a farmers' , terepbone system, giving a history of its construction, aad thought the demand- of the farmers to enter the eity should not be lightly Is id aside, and considered it only fair that they should be allowed to enter as the eity corporations wre constantly asking for permission to string wires ' along ihe eountr roads.. Mr. Goodrich closed the debate by asking that the farmers be met half way." A eommittee of three consisting of V. W. Spencer, L. M. Gilbert and Gid Sherwood was appointed to eaeonrage the establishment of the rural lines. Mr. McDonald of the committee on spraying frnit trees and prevention of insert ptr .reported ttrt the commit tee had secured a modern spraying ma chine and' employed a first class man. The Infected trees on the property of non-rrsidnts would be carefully looked after under the direction of the State Horticultural Society. The action of the eommittee was unsuimooftly endorsed by the dob. The following resolution was adop ted: '-:, ' V ."--::? " Resolved, That this organization of business men of the city of Salem hear tily endorses the efforts -of public spir ited eitixcns. to see te the laying of pavements on the bneinss streets of this city. - "Resolved, That this organization lend its influence to this great step of enterprise toward making tbis city, cleaner and more healthful business an j residence city, snd-we recommend the eity eouneil to do all in' its official ca pacity that will promote the paving of oar business - streets aad the improve ment of our residence and surbnrbao streets with crushed reck or some better material." . ' ' WILL DISMANTLE EQUTMALT. VICTORIA, B.' O, Dec 22. The British naval station at Esquimalt will be partially dismantled ia keeping with the new policy of the British Admiral ty. , . . , , : .' '. : ' ' - When the process of reduction is complete it ia expected that ; none but caretakers will hare elisrgo of the dock yard and repair shops which heretofore have employed large q ambers of men. CANVASS OF VOTES CASt OriTCIAL COUNT OP THE VOTES FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS. SHOWS THE VOTE BY PARTD2S Associated Press Sends Full Statement ; . - of Official Canvass Completed ' Testerday. ' ' Total Vote 'la 460,078 Less Than Four Years Ago In the Presidential Else. ; Won 15,60893 Votes Cast In All- Roosevelt Gets 7,627,362, CHICAGO. DeeJ 22. The official can vass of the votes east for Presidential electors was ' completed today. The Associated Press ie therefore able to give the first table of the official vote in forty-five states. i The total vote is 13,508,4 90 against 13,058,574 ia 1900, a decrease of 460,- 078.' ( The ballots are divided as follow: Roosevelt, 7,627,632; Parker, 5,080,- 034; Debs, 391,587; Swallow, 260,303; Watson, 114,637; Corregan, 33,453; Hileomb, Continental Labor, 830. i Mcinley polled more votvs than Roos evelt in, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, 'Maryland, Mississip pi, New Hampenire, North Carolina, Houth Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, white Roosevelt got more than did McKinley in tre other thirty-two states. t Parker received more votes than Bry an 1ft Delaware, Georgia, Mississiffd, Newk Jersey. New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wst, Virginia, while Bryan got more than Parker in the remaining thirty-seven states. r Roosevelt carrieTl thirty-two states, against twenty-eight by McKinley and has 336 electoral votes under the ap portionment of 1900. i Parker carried thirteen tetat'js against eeventen by Bryan, and has 140 electoral votes. Bryan had 155 un der the apportionment in force in 1900. WILL BE FINE MARION COUNTY EXHIBIT AT LEWIS AND CLARK FAIR TO BE FINE ONE. Commission Appointed by the County is Doing Excellent Work and is Making Fine Collection of Various Products for the Exhibition. W. A. Taylor, of Maeleay, appointed by the county court to make a collec tion of grains and grasses for the Mar ion county exhibit at the Lewis and Clark Fair, was in the eity yesterday and in conversation with a Statesman Siaa ssid that the work of making the collection - waa progressing very finely in every way. "The people of Marion county .are the best in the world when it comes to anything like this," -said -Mr. Taylor. Xot a single one of those that I have seen, has refused to give some sample ef grain or something that will aid in staking- up the exhibit, and you may feel sure that the exhibit when it is Completed will be the best showing of Marion county's products ever gotten together, v One man, Hon. John A. Hunt, has offered es ten bushels of corn, and says that if .we will let him be will put up a ctitt of logs, after the old fashioned cqrn crib and will make such a showing of the corn in the Ssr as will attract attention from Ml visitors. Many others have offered or 1 ready given large samples of differ ent tilings. The collection will be made from all parts of the county and will be marked in each individual instance wbPre'tbe exhibit hails from nnd there will b a mar of the count v hand v to Show the visior exactly, where lite art- eles are grown, and tons ail the coun ty will receive attention from every Visitor. Thee will be no 'varden raised samples' among Ms rion count 's exhibits, and all things shown will be Wat thy purport -to be prolurts cf the fsrms." MEN SUFFOCATED IN MINE. Seven Lose Lives Near Bolivar, Penn sylvaniaAccident Has Pe culiar Features. BOLIVAR, Pa Dee. 22. Seven nren kufToeatml todav.in th soft clav mine of the Reese Hammond Fire Brick Co. near here. The victims weer Austrians. About twenty-five nren were in the mine and all but seven were rescued, though all are in bad condition and two are likely to die. A small bnildinz burned down at the mouth of the mine, and the airshaft extending from the working part to the Surface some distance in mine acted as a sort of a flue and drew into the drift the heat and smoke from the fire. As soon as it could be done, the burn az shanty was torn away and the res cuers rnbed into t be mine, bnt already five of the men had succumbed to the heat and smoke and the others were ia a dying condition. NORTHERN PACIFIC MINING MAN- . - y AGES. ST. PAUL. Wn. Dee. 22. President Elliott, of the Northern Paeifie Rail way Company, ha appointed Cbarlel R. Claghorn as Msnajrer of the North era Pacific mining properties; , J; TO ANNEX ISLANDS. SYDNEY. V. k. Wn Deei 22. Two British "wan&iiM have sailed for the Tons Islands-, with the reported in- lentioa of annexing taem. . . THE BRIBED MEN DENY THE STORY LONDON! Dee. 22. The.publicaticn at St. Ptel?urg of a statement that the Hull fishermen have voluntarily deposed that there were foreign torpedo boats among the Dogger Bank trawlers when the latter were fired upon by the ships of the Russian fleet, is probably nothing more than a repetition of sim ilar statements emanating from Hull and appearing in the London papers ithm the last few days. These -are eirenmstantial and would certainly make it appear to be true that sonre of the men of the Gamecock fleet had made statements before the Russian ConsuL The name of only one of the men has been revealed. He is a boatswain on tb trawler Ava and be said today be was indneed to "make the statement while be was intoxicated. He admits CAUSE OF ERROR NEWS MAN UNWTTTINGLYvPUB- LISHES STATEMENT OF TAX PAYERS IN MARION. List Was Taken From New Directory and, no Doubt Was Had of Its Cor rectnessOther Information in the Directory. ' The Statesman published yesterday a list giving the names of sueh persons as presumably paid taxes on a sum equalling or exceeding $5000 in this county, but the hail 8torhof complaints of errors caused the news editor to hunt his hole early in the day and stay in until be had time to explain. The statement was unwittingly cull ed from the list of taxpayers as given in the new eity direteory oublisbed by R. L. Polk & Co., which list the States man news man supposed was correct. In looking through the directory he discovered the list, recognized its news value, and used it. That the list was very carelessly made is perhaps not the fault of R. L, Polk & Co., as they em: ployed the services of a man to make it up for tbem. , This compiler, like the news editor of the Statesman, was probably ignor ant of the fact that each taxpayer is assessed by precincts, and not alone in one precinct, but such seems to, be the case, .-.'.. ... , .... The errors -were glaring in many eases, resulting in understating the amount, and in others in omitting the names of persons paying taxes in Urge sums. - . - , For example, Mr. A. Bush was cred ited with paying taxes on $18,000, when in point of fact, he pays on an assess ment of $180,000. Had the Statesman not supposed the directory list was eoreetlv compiled, it would not have used it. Otherwise, the directory is a valuable book, and gives much interesting in formation regarding the eity and coun ty. There are 4637 names in the book, and the compilers say that tbis wilt rive the eity an approximate popula tion of fourteen thousand inhabitants. The book shows that there are twen tyflve churches and six religious soci eties. ' Here it is believed the list is faulty, there being one or two more. There are ten social societies in Salem. Fifteen schools and colleges, six public schools. Thirty-eight secret orders are reported ss having lodges here. The book also carries a brief direc tory of the others towns of this county. THE CODY BANK ROBBERS. BASIN, Wyo., Dee, 22. Bob Irwin, the larger cf the iwo Cody bunk r l bers, was captured Tuesday and is in !fi nwniting iilrati3 ration . . Erwin was sten at a ranch near the mouth of Gooseberry creek. Fcrcn and Will Hammitt took the trai.', leaving BertJIoitx to watch thu mouth fof the Gooseberry, The robber made a circle to beat off the officers and about two hours later the latter came upon Holts, who held him up with a Winchester and waited for the arrival of Fen ton and Hammitt, There is no doubt ss U the prisoner' identity. . . ARE AFTER PORT JAPANESE WILL ATTACK PORT ARTHUR ON UNEQUALLED ' SCALE, AND TAEX FORT. They Say They Hope to Take the Fort Before Chinese New Teat Rumors Thai They Have Lost Position Are Rife, But Seem Doubtful at Present. LONDON, Dec. 21.-The Daily Tele graph's Cbefoo correspondent ways the steamer Lady MitCnell, which sailed from Tsmgtau with supplies, ammuni tion and dynamite, reached Port Arthur during the snow storm four nights ago. It is rumored that the Japanese were compelled to evacuate their position on Etz mountain by a flanking fire and explosion of the Rusian mines, from which they lost heavily. The Japanese, the correspondent adds, are employing thousands of cool ies ' rn making strong forts at Dalny, and around Port A rubor. They express a- determination to cap ture Port Arthur before the Chinese New Year, aad an attack is preparing mat win te on a tut nerto unequalled scale, and will mean either success or terrible disaster to the besiegers. , KNOCKED HLM OUT. ST. LOCT8, Dec. 22. Monte Antell knocked out Johnny Regan of New York, in the seventeenth round ia a 20- round fight. . . . having received a certain amount of money but says now that the statement he made was untrue. 1 All the published reports from null say positively that these statements were seenred by-two sgents of the Rus sian government, but the Russian Em bassy in London tonight repeated the denial, saying there was no truth in the statement. MAY LIVE OUT OF QUARTERS. WASHINGTON, Dee. 22. The Secre tary of War issued an order today au thorizing recruiting officers 'to grant the privilege of living out of quarters to soldiers mi tried prior to enlistment or prior to their transfer to the recruit in servixv snd also to soldiers who receive permission from the War De partment to marry. BETTER ROADS LIBERTY ROAD DLSTRICT TO TAEX ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW ROAD LAW. Meeting to Be Called for Levying Spec ial Road Tax Englewood Precinct Also Reported as Figuring on Getting in Line Action Necessary at Once, The iberty road district is again taking the lead in the matter of levy ing a special tax for road purposes. A, meeting is to be held for tbis purpoioj and it is hoped the citizens of that dis trict will take the proper interest in' the matter and attend the meeting. The new law provides that whenever three freeholders of any road district shall petition the road supervisor of sueh district to call a district road meeting of the legal voters of the dis trict, and shall state in such petition the object for which the meeting is de sired, the supervisor shall cause writ ten notiees or such meeting, stating- the object thereof, and the time and place of holding the same, and signed by him self, to be posted in three public places in the district at least ten days before the day appointed for the meeting; and the supervisor shall make due proof of the giving of such notice by affidavit, vjhich, together with the petition, shall !e filed with the secretary of the meet ing, and shall become a part of the min utes thereof. , The meetings shall' have power to determine what, if any, county roads, or portions thereof, of the road dis trict shall be improved In, any special manner, and to determine the extent rand character of the improvement. Provided, however, that the manner and character of "the improvement shall have first been submitted to the county court. The meetings shall also have power to levy a special tax, not to ex ceed ten mills on the dollar, upon all taxable real and personal property of the district, for the puroose of raising money with which to defray the ex pense of such special improvement. The levy shall be based upon the valuation of the taxsble property as shown by the last certificate of the county clerk next preceding the district road meet ing at which the tax is levied. The special road taxes shall be col lected in the same manner and at the same time as taxes for county pur poses are collected, and shall be paid to the county treasurer, to be kept in a separate fund for each road district. District. -No. 27 is also reported ss taking action under the new road law, and the tax payers of road district No. 19 are also figuring on getting into line. This latter district comprises Englewood precinct, and as the forth coming funds will undoubtedly ttr In adeqnate to meet tb demands of this district, which is called upon to keep ii T many important roads leading into Halem, it is more than probable that advantage will be taken of the special tax law. , Besides those mentioned, a number of rsod districts have signified their inten tion to call meetings of the taxpayers to consider the matter of levying a speeisl road tsx, and as the time is growing short it will be necessary to take action at once. WANT J)EPEV A CONFERENCE HELD Ut IfEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSE OF STRENGTHENING DEPEW. Committee Was Appointed to Call ca Governor OdelL Who Was Not I... -vited to the Meeting as it Waa a Purely Depew Session. , NEW YORK. Dec. 21 Th ...,nt,.. enee of the Republicans t'nat was tali- uj nenaior i-iatt in tbe Interest of il s iuo reeieeuon or Benator Depew wa held aeeordicte to oroimm f tK v.r . Avenue Hotel today. It was in fu sion about three hours and1 adjourn- I after appointing a committee of sevc headed by ex-Lieut. Governor Woo -ruff, to wait upon Governor -Odell, wl. ot invite!, ana to inform lim the sentiment expressed at the , . ferenee. Woodruff was accomr ani 1 by Senator Depew and met Odclt 1 ,f , Odell said he did not know what t . plaeo at Piatt's conference, but ci. ' be knew that whoever was ehon i -the Republican organization would elected. - After the conference d A -Piatt said it waa truly represent and dearly showed that Ibe STiti of the people of the state was tr m favor of the re-election of " Mrs.'8. A. Kozer went to'Por"-yesterday-afternoon to spend the ' days with relatives. 1 Vl"V