FIRST STEP TAKEN. Jfapan and Russia Recall Miniaters and Sever Diplomatic Relations. I Conflict I'.xprrted to Itoffln Without Forma) Declaration of Wat Japs Weary of Wnltliur the Slow Process o the Czar. SL Petersburg, Feb. 8. Although the 'Tear was general hero that tho pro v sontatlon of the Russian noto to Japan jtfnight be followed by an act on the , part of the Japanese government which would cplungo the two countries Into war, the startling action of Japnn In .levering diplomatic relations with Run ,ala before the actual delivery of the .Russlan note came like a bolt from a .clear sky. It was believed that the .receipt of the note might have un .masked an ultimatum, but that Japan .should sever diplomatic relations, n step little short of a declaration of war, was almost like a blow In tho face under the present circumstances .and it Is resentod here accordingly. ,Tlio authorities believe this action places Japan distinctly In tho wrong .before the world, and moreover, after such a "piece of Impudence," as It Is denominated here, makes easy an ap peal to the patriotism of the Russian people. Tho news that at any moment Japan 'had drawn the sword and that tho first slash had occurred would not be sur prising. .The -events leading to Japan's abrupt action hnvo marched with great rapidity. Tho Russian noto was al ready in the hands of Baron do Rosen, Russian minister at Tokio, for delivery to Baron Komura, tho Japanese foreign minister, when at four o'clock Satur day afternoon M. Kurlno, tho Japanese minister bore, presented himself at tho foreign ofllco and informed Foreign Minister Larasdorff that his govern mcnt. In view of tho delays In connec tion with the Russian answer and tho futility Hitherto of the negotiations, considered it useless to continue dlplo matic relations and would take such steps as it deemed proper for tho pro tection of Japan's Interests. In obedl ance to Instructions, therefore, ho osked for his passport. With war imminent, orders havo been given for a rigid censorship over ill Information relating to naval and military movements. Preparations were also made for tho czar's journey to tho ancient capital, Moscow, whoro he goes in accordance with tho tradl- tlonal custom of his forefathers to In- roke divine guidance. While tho Im perial train is passing to Moscow troops will line every foot of the way. Outbreak In Italkans Kxprotod. London, Fob. 7. The prospect for a great war breaking out In the far east which Is acknowledged oven in hithorto pacific quarters, has been brought ap- prcciably nearer by tho dovelopements of the last day or two. That a Russo- Japanese conllict will be followed by a Balkan outbreak, which In time may - develop into a widespread European conflagratJ-on, Is also considered prob .ble and Increases tho depression here pervading all political circles in En- . gland and on tho continent HO HEAR MORMON CHILDREN. - Senators Investigating Koed Smoot Want to Know About tho Violation of tho AntWolygumy Laws. Washington, Feb. 7. Complete In veatigatlon of the protests against Sen- ator Reed Snoot retaining his seat in ho United States senate will begin March 1, before the committee on priv- leges and elections. Chairman Bur- trows was given unlimited power to summon witnesses and to appoint a subcommittee to go to Utah to take testimony if such a course shall bo found to be necessary. A list of 20 witnesses was submitted by the pro- testants and moat of these will bo here soon after March 1. It was determined that the hearing of the case shall bo .public. The witnesses to bo summoned are Cor the most part members of the Mor- mon church. Among them aro children alleged to bo the offspring of polyg amous marriages contracted since the manifesto of 1S90. Fell Olf tho Itrldce. Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 8. Patrick . Sheehan, a laborer -15 years old, was drowned yesterday afternoon by falling off the Missouri Pacific bridge Into tho ' Kaw river. Ho started across the board walk on tho south side of tho bridge and lost his balance, fell for ward and struck his head on the heavy girders that bind tho bottom part of the bridge. To Colonize ?0,000 Farmers. Chicago, Feb. 7. Now that the Santa D'e has become interested in land and colonization schemes In Texas Is la .purposed to settlo at least 20,000 farm ers Immediately. C. L. Tallmadge, of this city, and several others havo se ' cured more than 1,000,000 acres In ' northern and western Texas. Speed to l'roseento Oklahoma Frauds. Lawton. Ok., Feb. 8. Horace Speed, United States attorney, of Guthrie, has arrived hero to begin the prosocu- tion of alleged frauds against the gov - eminent In the letting of contracts fof Improvements which were paid out ol tho lot sale fund. JURY FREES ED BUTLER.; A Wild Whoop from the Alleged llrlber't Follower Greeted tho Verdict at Ful ton Folk Dumbfounded. Fulton, Mo., Fob. 7. Tho jury In tho Butler bribery caso returned a verdict Saturday morning at ten o'clock which read: "Wo the Jury, find the defend ant not guilty." Tho verdict was read by Judgo Graves. With a wild whoop a dozen of tho But ler followers dashed out of the room and down tho street Butler stepped i quickly from his place and shook hands with the foreman, Rooser. Then ho walked down the line of jurors quickly shaking hands with each of them. Judge Graves polled the jury and dis charged them. Butler was himself again In an Instant. The old man was fairly laughing and his followers could hardly find ways enough to express their satisfaction with tho result. Circuit Attorney Folk, who was In tho court room, appeared dumbfounded. I thought the state presented a good case," no said, "ueyonu mat 1 navo nothing to say at this time." About 18 ballots were taken, accord ing to Foreman Rosser, and at tho start the jury stood ten for acquittal and two for conviction. "Ono of those voting to acquit changed after tho first ballot," said Mr. Rosser. "The other man held out stubbornly until 9:45 o'clock n. m., when ho finally camo Into lino. I do not care to mention tho names of the two men who held out for conviction, nor tho ono who remained firm up to the last moment. Tho Ju rors did not want to convict tho de fendant on tho testimony of boodlors and perjurers, whoso statements wero flatly contradicted by men of good char- actor. Again, we did not think tho cir cumstances pointed to the defendant's guilt. On the evldenco of tho state, oven though wo thoroughly credited It, there was serious doubt as to Butler's guilt. Weighing tho facts carefully, wo think wo did our full duty fairly and Impartially." GREAT FIRE IN BALTIMORE. Many lllncks In Iluslnes I'ortlon Wiped Out Karly Reports Placed Loss at Nearly 850.00U.U00. Baltimore, Md., Feb. 8. Fire started a few minutes before 11 o'clock yester day morning In tho wholesale dry goods house of John E. Hurst & Co and at three o'clock this morning It was raging fiercely. It steadily ato Its consuming way eastward In Baltimore street, after having destroyed almost all of the larce stores and warehouses In the wholesale district around Hop kins' place and all tho buildings on both sides of Baltimore street from Howard to Holllday street, from Charles and Baltimore to Charles und Lexington, and in Fayetto street from Charles to Holllday, Including a total of about 20 blocks of the most modern and substantial buildings In the city, involving a loss which cannot now bo estimated, biit which has certainly al ready reached $30,000,000 or $40,000,- 000. DID NOT SPARE WOMAN. Mob at Dnddsvllle, Miss.. Hanged a Necro and lib Wife Charged with Killing a Whlto Planter. Doddsville, Miss., Feb. 8. Luther Holbert and his wife, negroes, wero burned at the stako hero yesterday by a mob of over 1,000 persons for the killing of James Eastland, a prominent white planter, and John Carr, a negro, on Wednesday at tho Eastland planta tion, two miles from this city. The burning of Holbert and his wife closes a tragedy which has cost eight lives, has ongaged 200men and two packs of bloodhounds in a four-days' chaso across four counties and has stirred this section of Mississippi almost to frenzy. Clov. Mickey Scores Uruln Uamblers. Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 7. In a speech before the State Y. M. C. A. convention Gov. Mickey said that In 99 cases out of 100 the man or boy who mado $100 on the board of trade would go to hell. He said he would rather have his boy work on tho farm for $1 a day than have him make $1,000,000 in grain spec ulation. Tho governor criticised bucket shops and grain exchanges and said that one-tenth of every dollar honestly mado ought to bo given to tho Lord. To Oust a Hakim; Vowdor Company. Jefferson City, Mo., Feb. 8. It was said here that a proceeding would bo Instituted In a few days In the supreme court by the attornoy gonernl In tho nature of an ouster against the Royal Baking Powder company, of New York, to bar It from doing business In this stato on account of a violation of tho state statutes pertaining to trusts and monopolies and likewise on account of a violation of tho state criminal stat utes respecting tho bribing of public officials. A Oulo at St. I.oiils. St. Louis, Feb. 8. A heavy gale swept over St. Louis before dawn yes terday and did considerable damago to property. For 15 minutes tho wind maintained a velocity of 00 miles an hour. Signs wore blown from build ings, a number of smokestacks and telegraph poles were blown down, and a row of flats on Twentieth street was unroofed. HE ADMIRES BRYAN. Senator Patteraon, of Colorado, Digs Up Soine Recent History. Gays the Nebrasknn Is Urnro Knnueh to Fight Those "Who Oo from One Had of the Political Teeter to tho Other." Washington, Feb. G. In his prayer at the opening of the senate tho chap lain, Rev. Edward Everett Halo, made referenco to tho Illness of Senator Uan na, saying: "Father, wo ask for thoso who are In great sorrow; wo ask for those who nro on tho bed of sickness; wo ask for thoso who minister to them, that Thou wilt give them life and light and lovo." A bill was passed providing for tho transportation of COO teachers from Porto Rico to and from tho united States next summer for tho purpose of study. Tho urgency deficiency appropriation bill was laid before tno Bonato, me provision for tho SL Loute exposition loan being tho immediate question un der consideration and Mr. Patterson (Col.) took up tho political phaso of tho question, making a special reply to Mr. Foraker. Ho said that having noted tho want of prosperity on the part of tho trusts and syndicates, tho Ohio senator had Introduced a bill, which, If It should become a law, would supply that deficiency. Mr. Patterson conceded that prosperity was not. so much dependent on tariff laws or tho balance of trade as most people believe. On the contrary, ho found that good times depended more upon tho volume of currency than on other causes, and ho traced tho prosperity of tho decade from 1880 to 1890 to the extonslvo coin ngo of silver In that period. Tills epoch coverod Mr. Cleveland's first term but Mr. Pattorson declared that when democrats contended that his second term covered a prosperous pe riod they did violence to tho facts of history. The panic of 1893 had been tho result of the crusado against tho greater circulation of silver both In the United States and elsewhere. Ho declared that Mr. Cleveland's last term was not a democratic administration, in fact, but that It presented the spec- tacle of a democratic president putting republican politics in execution. Patterson referred to Mr. Bryan, say ing: "I am glad that there is ono man In the party with power and Influenco enough to mako himself felt who en ters his protest against surrendering tho party to those who go from ono end of tho political teeter to tho other as their Interests may seem to require." Mr. Patterson reasserted his convic tion that tho nomination of Mr. Bryan by the Chicago convention of 189G had Insured a far larger vote than another candidate on another platform would havo secured. He then announced his intention not to press for a further recognition of free coinage by the dem ocratic party, saying that "tho party Is worse than Insane which continues to advocate a policy which tho coun try has declared against." Such a courso would destroy the usefulness of any party. Tho polt of order mado by Mr. Bai ley against tho St. Louis fair appropri ation of $1,000,000 was lost by a vote of tho senate, and tho amendment was agreed to. The urgent deficiency bill was then passed. DRIFTS TWENTY FEET HIGH. In Montana Trains Wero Ktuck In .Snow and I'iiuni'Iicum Suffered for Food. the Lewlston, Mont., Fob. G. Pushed by four locomotives tho great snowplow ?n Montana railroad yesterday headed the first train that has reached this place in ten days. During that tlmo three expresses havo been tied up in tho drift between hero and Helena and, it being Imposslblo to send aid to them, some of the passengers suf fered for food. Two trains are r.tlll to be rescued. In somo places the drifts wero 20 feet deep and tho snow falls down the locomotive stacks, mak ing It impossible to proceed. LOPEZ IS IRRECONCILABLE. Well-Known Filipino Agitator Will lie De ported Hecuuxe lie Ilefiises to Tako the Oath of Allegiance.. Manila, Feb. 0. Slxto Lopez, tho well-known Filipino agitator, whose unfriendly disposition toward Ameri can rule in tho Philippines has been exhibited upon occasions in the past, has arrived here and refused to take tho oath of allegiance. Ho will be promptly deported. VOLCANO IN EAST INDIES. Near Java an Kntlro Town Is Reported Swallowed Up and Hundreds of I'uoplit Perished. Amsterdam, Feb. G. Advices re ceived here say that an entire town in the east end of Java, Dutch East In dies, Js reported to have been swal lowed up by a volcanic eruption and that hundreds of persons wero killed. Stone's Farm Drought I .'I.OOO. Nevada, Mo., Feb. G. W. A. Lants, of Creston, la., purchased tho farm of Senator V. J. Stone, containing 400 acres, in Vernon county, for $i:j,000. HARM A HAS TYPHOID FEVER. Examination of the Senator' lllood by a Mlcrotcoplst Confirmed the Diagnosis Made by I'hyslclan. Washington, Feb. C Senator Hanna Is officially pronounced to havo ty phoid fever. The following bulletin was issued by his physicians imme diately after tho consultation: "Sen ator Hanan has typhoid fever. Tho diagnosis Is confirmed by tho comploto blood examination reported by Dr. Edward Bchrond. Tho senator rested fairly well last night, and his tcmpor aturo is 100, pulno 82." President Roosovolt walked over from tho white houso personally to Inquire after tho senator's condition. Ho spent ten minutes at tho hotel. Dr. Behrond Is a microscopic oxpert of this city. Ho made two tests. Tho first one showed the presenco of tho typhoid baccllus. Tho second test was mado to confirm tho first one. The doctors say tho caso of typhoid is Ir regular. THREE WANT THE PLACE. Klklns, Fairbanks. nnd Webster Actively la tho Have for Vice Vresldent on the Republican Ticket. Chicago, Feb. (5. Tho accoptanco of plans for seating 8.2G4 peoplo, allot ment of 2,000 admission tickets to Chicago people and somo vlco presi dential politics, marked tho mooting yesterday of tho sub-commltteo on ar rangements for tho republican na tional convention. Senator N. B. Scott, tho chairman, proclaimed tho candi dacy of Senator Stephen B. Elklns, of West Virginia, for vlco president. Com mlttecmnnNcw, of Indiana, nnnouncod that Senator Fairbanks was his candi date, and R. B. Schnoldor declared that John L, Webster, of Omaha, was also out for tho' place. CANNOT ROB THE RIVER. Mohruska Supremo Court Decides Against Irrigators mid In Favor of a Mill Owner ut Concordia. Kim. Lincoln, Neb., Feb. C Tho supremo court yesterday handed down an opin ion In which It holds that Nebraska lrr'.cators using the water of tho Ro- j publican river to tho dotrlment of a Kansas mill owner may bo enjoined In The stato courts from making such uso thereof. The complainant, a miller named Cllne, at Concordia, Kan., al leged that tho water in tho river Is di minished by Its uso for Irrigation In Nebraska and his mill cannot run. The lower court denied him rollof, but the supremo court decides that comity, as well as riparian rights, aro Involved and reverses tho trial court. TO SAVE A BROTHER'S LIFE. One Hundred Members of the Modern Woodmen Cuvo Strips of Flesh to Charles Shlsslor, Who Was Scalded. Des Moines, la., Fob. C Ono hundred Modern Woodmon ot Los Angoles, Cal., bared their arms to a surgeon's knlfo here giving strips of flesh from their aims to save tho life of Charles Schiss ler, tho Des Moines stationer who was almost fatally scalded by tho oxploslon of an Instantaneous heater. The oper ation, if successful, will bo recorded ns a remarkable surgical feat, as great patches of skin of Schlssler's chest, neck and arms wero burned out. The Woodmen lodge of which ho is a mem ber volunteered Its services. Tn Muddle In Oklahoma. Guthrie, Olc, Feb. 0. Should the opinion of P. C. Simons, tho attorney general of Oklahoma, relating to tho payment of taxes, bo sustained, and many attorneys think that It is a cor rect Interpretation. of the law, all deeds to Oklahoma property sold for taxes since November, 1898, will bo Invali dated. The next legislature will bo asked not only to amend tho tax law, but to validate thoso lax deeds. Law yers question tho power of tho legisla ture to cure tho defectivo titles. The National Flag Law Dnolared Invalid. New York, Fob. 0. Tho law forbid ding (lie desecration, mutilation or im proper uso of the national flag, passed by I lie stato legislature last year, was declared unconstitutional yesterday In the appellate division of tho supremo court in so far as It relates to tho uso of the flag in advertising devices nnd on trade labels. Tho caso grew out of the salo of cigars In boxes bearing labels which included tho national flag In the design. Dewey's Naval I'lans Approved, Washington, Feb. C Admiral Dew ey's suggestions In favor of heavy light ing ships lor tho navy prevailed with the house committee on naval affairs, over the recommendation of tho gen eral board, submitted by Secretary Moody. Tho bill carries an aggregate appropriation of $95,000,000. The ships authorized aro ono battleship, two ar mored cruisers, three scout cruisers and two squadron colliers. Situation ICeported as Hopeless. London, Feb. 0. The Toklo corro Bpoudent of tho Times says tho sltua tion la regarded as hopeless. It is gen erally believed, ho continues, that tho councils of the eldor statesmon held February .' and 1 decided upon the final measures to bo taken in tho event of an unfavorable reply 1'rom Russia. MARSHAL HACKETT REMOVED, Oniccrof Central Indian Territory District and Ills Subordinates Chanted with Incomprtunoa and Drunkenness. Washington, Feb. 5. Acting upon recommendations of tho attornoy gen eral, which were based upon an Inves tigation of tho charges agatnso cortaln officials under tho department of Jus tice In tho Indian territory, tho presi dent has removed from ofllco Benjamin F. Hackett, United States marshal of tho Central district of tho territory, and his successor will bo Instructed not to rotnln as deputies- Frank S. Doming, T, P. Hnckott, J. E. Emmcrt, H. F. Donnthan, W. W. Wall, T. D. Smith, John A. Hunt, 11. K. Wall nnd J. T. Hackett, nor ns Jail physician Dr. M. C. Wilson. Marshnl Colbert, of tho Southern district, will bo directed to dismiss Deputy Marshals Gcorgo F. Gates and Oscar Wilkinson. Tho Investigation also resulted In tho removal of J. C. C. Rogers, deputy mar shal, and II. L. Rogers, a constable, of tho Northorn district. Tho chnrgcH ngalnst Mr. Hackett wero incompotonco nnd failure to punl3h his subordinates lor misconduct, particularly In permit ting tho escape of n man named Short, indicted for manslaughters Tho dep uties, Genung, T. P. Hackett, J. P. Em inert, nnd tho Jnil physician, Dr. Wil son, wero tho porsons Involved in this escape. The other deputies dismissed wero guilty of drunkenness, permitting prisoners to escape nnd violating tho law concerning tho Introduction of in toxicants Into the territory. TORNADO AT RENO, NEV. Several Hie llnlldluc Demolished by m Terrlllo Storm That Struek tho City Karly In tho Morning. Reno, Nov., Fob. 5. A tornado struck oast Reno at 0:45 a. in. It destroyed considerable property, cutting a BWath through tho town. Tho Stono building. a ntructuro 70 feet long, 24 feet wldo and 22 feet high, was torn from lta foundations and tho walls crushed to gether In an lncxtrlcablo mass of bro ken timbers. Tho Wah-Hoo hotel was lifted from Its foundation walls and carried to tho oastward. It collapsed and Is nn utter ruin. Other structurea were damaged. No ono was Injured. Children Tried to lie Outlaws. Elrono, Ok., Feb. fi. James Rico and William Blackburn, nged 11 and 12 years, wero arrested for many alleged robberies committed whllo enthused by reading wild literature. Thoy have lived several weeks In a cave, whero dynamlto and loaded weapons won found by tho ofllcers. Numerous ponies wore stolen from tho Arnpahoo In dians, and their last alleged act was to steal a team in broad daylight from tho bU8lnosB portion of Elrono. Ther Didn't Arrest Her. Norfolk, Nob., Fob. B. Impersona ting Carrie Nation, Mrs. J. Courtney vlBited a saloon at Bassott with a ham mer and smashed all of tho glas3 In tho mirrors behind tho bar, pounded tho bottles Into bits, rolled amber fluid and liquors out upon tho floor, poured beer Into tho cuspidors nnd scared tho llttlo crowd of mon who wero standing up to drink uptll thoy trembled. Mrs. Courtney has not yet been arrested. Dry an (lives Salem a Library. Salem, III., Feb. 5. Whllo hero Tues day, William J. Bryan confirmed tho report that ho would erect and glvo to tho city of Salem a Hlbrary building ol splendid slzo and pattern. Tho build ing is to cost $25,000, and In addition Mr. Bryan will furnish it completely and install tho library at a cost of fully $15,000. Mr. Bryan said that this li brary building was to bo erected In memory of his father and mother. Adopted a Clever Kline. Altamont, Mo Fob. 5. Leo Do Ford, cashier of tho Bank of Altamont, which closed Its doors hero last week, was not captured In Council Bluffs, la., as was reported. Do Ford lied Monday night after confessing that he was an embezzler to tho amount of $21,000. Do Ford had tho dispatch sent from Council Bluffs to throw his pursuers off the track. Ittirstlug I'lpes Wrecked a Residence. Guthrie, 111., Feb. 5.A lino resi dence was partially wrecked and thu occupant, C. G. Brothorton, ono or tho leading citizens of Guthrie, was pos sibly fatally Injured by a remarkable explosion of hot water pipes. It is presumed that tho water In the pipes run low and steam generating brought about tho explosion. Itullet-I'roof Vest for Kooiovelt. South Bend, Ind., Fob. 5. Caslmer Zoglon, of this city, has Just finished a bullet-proof vest for President Roose cit. The vest Is one-fourth of an inch thick. It Is soft and flexible, and la designed to bo worn under an outer vest. A Campaign for Cnckrell, Washington, Fob. 5. Senator Cock rell's presidential boom, according to telegrams received from St. Louis, Is to be organized into a fight, at a meet ing In St. Louis this month. He Stole Diamonds at Wichita. Oklahoma City, Ok., Fob. 5. Chavlea Julian, wanted at Wichita for tho al leged theft of diamonds, has .been ar rested here.