Fhe Omaha Daily
Bee.
Compare The Be War Reports. Lean Head
lines But Reliable Reports of All That
Happens.
When The Dee Issues An "Extra," Oet On
.Something Has Happened.
K
E8TA11LIHIIED JUNE 19, 1871.
OMA1IA, TUESDAY MOltNINO, MAKCIt 15, 1004 TEN PAGES.
SINGLE CC1Y TIIKEE CENTS.
MERGER IS UNLAlt;
" ""
Uaited States Supreme Court Bender,
olaion in Horthern Securities Case! "
. '
. - .,
OPINION IS READ BY JUDGE HARLA V
'
Holds that Government Em Proved All of
Iti Material Allegation
COURT IS DIVIIED ALMOST EQUALLY
Font Judges Think Aotion of Hill and
Morgan Legal
CONGRESS HAS POWER TO REGULATE
Br Majority of Ono Coort Defeat PI on
to Bring; Great Northern, North
ora Pact do and Burlington
Too; ether.
WASHINGTON. March 14. Tho opinion
Of the supreme court pf the United Btates
In tho case of tho Northern Securities
company against the United States, in
volving the merger of the Northern Paclflo
Railroad company, was handed down today
and was In favor of the government. The
opinion was read by Justice Harlan.
Justice Brewer concurred in affirming the
merger decision, but for different reasons
than thst of the majority. The decision
was concurred In by Justicea Brown,
Brewer, McKenna and Day, while Chief
Justice Fuller and Justices White, Peck
ham and Holmes dissented.
The opinion of tho United States circuit
court for tho district of Mineaota was
affirmed.
The effect is to sustain the contention
that the Sherman anti-trust law applies
to railroad combinations of the character
In question.
Justice Harlan sold that in tho merger
of the two roads the stockholders disap
peared and reappeared In tho Securities
company, tho two thus becoming practic
ally consolidated In a holding company,
the principal object being to prevent com
petition. "No schema or devloo could cer
tainly more effectively come within the pro
hibition of the antl trust law and it is
within the meaning of the act a trust."
Tho case has attracted more attention
than any other suit before tho court
since tho first Insular cases were decided
and has been regarded by bench and bar
as equal In Importance wtlh those cases
and with tha lncoma tax case. It was
argued In December last for two days, and
attracted general attention at that time,
as It did previously when the decision
was rendered by the circuit court for tha
district of Minnesota.
Tha action was brought In tho circuit
court under tho law of February 11, 1903,
which was for the purpose of expediting
the case, and was heard by the four cir
cuit court Judges of tha circuit. They
united In a decision favorable to the
United States and opposed to the conten
tion of tha railroad companies.
Restraint of Trade LalawfaL
Hjo .fuU .ws.Jnttt,utd bx the Unltod
States against the Northern Securities
company and the two railroad companies,
the Northern Paolflo and tho Great North
ern, and their leading stockholders, for
the purpose of dissolving the merger of the
two roads, which tha United btates de
clared had been created by tha creation of
a holding company, the Securities com
pany. This consolidation was claimed to
be In violation of tha Sherman anti-trust
law. It was claimed on behalf of tha
government that this consolidation Is in
affect a pool, created to promote tha In
terests, not only - of one system at the
expense of tha other, but of both at the
expense of tha public The railroads
claimed that tha transfer of tha stock of
the two companies to tha Securities com
pany was la the nature of a sale and par
fectly legitimate. The contentions of th
Securities company wmo reviewed, and
Justice Harlan said they had received
full attention. He quoted the various
pinions Involving tho trust question, say
ing that from them It Is to be gathered
that all contracts In restraint of trade,
reasonable or unreasonable, are prohibited
by tha Sherman law, and that congress has
tha power to establish such regulations
as are laid down In that law. Congress
had power to enact tke statute.
Replying In detail to the points made
for tha Beourltiea oompany. Justice Harlan
aid that tha contention that tha law la
an Interferenoa with the rights of tha In
dividual states by which tha companies are
fjaoorporated was not well founded. In
such cases, ha said, tha authority of con
gress la supreme. He also declared It to
be unnecessary to determine the right of
owners of railroad stock to sell the prop-
arty, nor was it true that the right of the
Securities company to own and hold rail
road stock was the only question Involved.
Such contentions are wide of tha mark
mere men of straw. All that the govern
ment complains of Is the existence of
corporation to repress commerce and Is
not concerned with tha -other points.
Justice Harlan said that In this day
there should be no doubt of the complete
power of congress to control Interstate
commerce; all appropriate means might be
resorted to for that purpose; all the prior
trust cun were In support of that con
tentions Whether free and unrestrained
competition was wise, he aald, was an
soonomlo question with which the court
heed not concern Itself; the question was
that of statutory taw.
Power of Consress Complete.
He asserted the power of congress over
Interstate commerce to be as complete as
the power of a state over domestic com
mere. Coming to the plea of the railroads
that the anti-trust law should be declared
unconstitutional, he said that the court
could not see Its way to that end. "If," he
went on, "the Securities company's conten
tions are sound, why may not all the rail
roads of tha United Btates enter Into a
combination and by the device of a holding
corporation control rates throughout the
country In defiance of congress f"
Justice Harlan also took occasion to say
that there had been nothing In the Securi
ties company's certificate of Incorporation
to Indicate Its purpose to be that of de
stroying commerce, and ha therefore ab
solved tha state of New Jersey from any
oharge of such knowledge In advance. It
nilght be true that a federal court had no
power to dissolve a corporation of a state,
but this circumstance could not be an Indi
cation of powerleaaness to enforce tha law,
than which no corporation Is stronger. No
device could suffice to prevent this enforce
ment of tha national statutea
Tha courts had. Indeed, consistently held
to tha supremacy of tha national laws In
caw of conflict between those laws and tha
law of tha state. So long as congress con
Si'td iUelf to Its prescribed functions, ha
said, there could be no danger. At any rate
the error, if any, was with congress, and It
(Continued Second Pga.4
GERMANS TO FIGHT NATIVES
I Colonial Governor Report Rrrmltr
Cavalry and Two Mounted
Batteries.
, :RL1N, March 14. -In the Reichstag
norning wu announced tha receipt of
,, mtHlge from colonel Leulweln,
n r.t lran DnulliBuil Africa
r of German Southwest Africa
that S00 cavalry, with two mounted
. Aiterles, were Indispensable for subduing
the Herreroa,' of whom 6,000 were under
arms and still occupying strong positions
at both enda of the railroad. A bill pro
viding for these reinforcements will be In
troduced In the House as soon as It can
be prepared.
The Lokal Anselger aays Emperor
William has ordered relpforcements to
tho number of 1,000 men, with 1,200 horses,
to be sent to southwest Africa. The troops
will sail as soon as possible.
KING HOLDS SECOND LEVEE
Aurrlrais Are Presented to Ruler of
Great Britain at Formal
Function.
LONDON, March 14. King Edward held
the second levee of the season In the
Throne room of St. James' palace at noon
today. Large crowds lined the route along
which the king tfrove In state from Buck
ingham palace. The diplomatic corps wna
strongly represented, including Ambassador
Choate and other members of the United
States embassy. The attendance of cab
Inet ministers, naval and military officers,
peers and members of the House of Com
mons was also larger than usual. The
Americans presented by Mr. Choate were
Walter Neef of Chicago and Herman Kln
nlcutt and Louis Hay of New Tork.
TALKING OF FROZEN MEAT
Question, of Effect I'pon Oonsnmers I
Raised In Ilonse of
Common.
LONDON, March 11 The question was
raised In the House of Commons today
whether chilled or frozen meat has any
injurious effects on consumers, and espe
cially whether such meat contributes to
Increasing the number of coses of cancer
in the United Kingdom.
President Long of the local government
board, said that wh: he had no in
formation to the abovo effect, he thought
the matter might properly be referred to
the royal commission of Inquiry Into the
causes of cancer, which is now sitting.
CHAMBERLAIN TO BECOME LEADER.
Friends Predict Balfour's Overthrow
If tho Unionists Are Defented.
LONDON, March U In tho lobby of the
House of Commons tonight there was
much comment upon the unexpectedly
early departure from Egypt on his return
to London of Joseph Chamberlain. The
Chamberlain section of Parliament, glory
ing In their triumph on March 9, predict
that If the unionists are defeated in the
general election Mr. Chamberlain and not
Mr. Balfour will be the leader of the oppo
sition in tho next Parliament. They also
talk of forcing tha government In tha com
ing budget to xelmpo tha shipping duty
on grain.
Mrs. McOormlek Leaves It. Petersburg
ST. PETERSBURG. March 11 On ac
count of tha miserable weather In St.
Petersburg, Mrs. McCormlck, wife of the
United States ambassador, has gone to
Paris. She may extend her visit to the
Mediterranean, but expects to return bare
wlinln a month.
USE DYNAMITE ON THE ICE
Gorge Holds la Spite of Effort to
Sre-ak it at Wllb.es
barr. WILKES BARRE, Pa., March ll-Efforts
to start the big Ice gorge In the Susque
hanna river above this city were made to
day by dynamiting. Great blocks of Ice
have been dislodged, but the gorge remains
Intact.
An effort will also be made to remove the
gorge below this city by tha use of dyna
mite. Tha railroad companies have hundreds of
men at work clearing the railroad tracks
and cutting roadways through tha heavy
lea which, in many places. Is fifteen feet
thick.
M0R0S AREAGAIN HOSTILE
General Wood Reports Attack on R
connoltarlnaj Fore Which
Is Repulsed.
WASHINGTON, March 14.-AdJutant
General Hal! has received tha following
cablegram from Major General Wade,
dated Manila, March 13:
Major General Leonard Wood reports
an attack on a reconnolterlng force east of
Cotabato by a strong party of Moros
made hostile by tha passage of tha anti
slavery law. The Moros' position was
shelled, the Moros flanked and the out
works taken. They were strong and well
constructed. Twenty-one old Spanish can
non were captured, as well as thirty-three
Lantakas and large quantities of ammuni
tion and supplies. No casualties on our
side.
COLLECTOR JOLLS DEBTOR
Colored Woman Wonld Not Pay
Grocery BIU and Clerk (Shoot
Her and Commit Bnlcldo.
LEAVENWORTH, Kan., March 11 WIN
Hum Gunsauer, a white man, today shot
and killed Mrs. Anna Palmer, colored, the
wife of a mill haad, and then shot himself.
Three young children of tha woman were
the only witnesses to the tragedy. Gun
sauer, who was a grocery clerk, had been
sent to collect a small account from the
woman. Mrs. Palmer refused to pay the
bill and Gunsauer shot her. Then seating
himself in a chair ha shot himself In tha
head. Both were dead when found.
THREE KILLED IN WRECK
Kansas City Soathera Train Is De
railed Near Joplln with Fatal
Remits,
JOPLIN. Mo.. March U-A Kansaa City
Southern freight train was derailed six
mllea south of Joplln while running at a
rapid rata down tha Saginaw hill. Three
men were killed, three Injured and seven
teen cars of merchandise demolished.
Rteamhoat Clerk Commits Saielda.
ST. LOU1B. March 14 -Falling health and
alleged domestic troubles led Alexander E.
Protcnant. a well known steamboat clerk
to commit suU-lde today with carbolic
add, at the Home or his brot oer-tn-la w.
It. H. Clark, iTotcnsrtts wife and two
children are living In Memphis. Tenn. Ha
and his wife separated a year ago and he
couunuauy prouoa over we miliar.
DIETRICH TAKES THE STAND
Den lee Earing Allied or Received Anj Enm'
for Appointment!.
EXPLAINS RENTING OF THE BUILDING
Adam Breede Denies Offering Money
for Appointment or Even Being;
an Applicant for Position
of Postmaster.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, March 14. (Special Tele
gram.) The feature of the Inquiry Into
the charges against Senator Dietrich, now
being conducted by a special committee of
the senate, was the testimony which Sena
tor Dietrich gave today. Two days have
already been devoted to hearing testimony
on the part of the government's witnesses.
Toduy Senator Dietrich decided to take
the stand. Waiving his right not to t
sworn, which Senator Hoar, chairman of
the committee, said was his right, as It
was the practice of the senate never to
swear a colleague on the ground that all
senators held equal rights. Senator Diet
rich stated that he desired to be treated
as other witnesses and the oath was ad
mlnlntered. The witness stated that he w:is
Inaugurated governor January 3, 1901, and
served until April 30 of tha same year,
when he resigned to take the oath of office
as United States senator, to which position
he was elected on March 28, 1901. That
while governor he had been waited upon
by friends of Jacob Ftoher of Hastings to
appoint the latter oil Inspector. That hav
ing had a continuous friendship with
Fisher for twenty years, ho objected to
appointing Fisher to tha place on the
ground that it would necessitate Fisher
breaking up his home in Hastings and
removing with his family to Lincoln. He
stated to Fisher and the friends who ac
companied him to the governor's office that
Instead he had decided to recommend
Fisher for postmaster at Hastings upon
the completion of Hahn's term
This was entirely satisfactory to Fisher,
who saw the wisdom of remaining with
his family in Hastings. The witness said
he believed his recommendatilon would
have weight with whoever was elected sen
ator, tha senatorial fight at that time be
ing at white heat Ha did not sea Fisher
to have any definite conversation with him
until after his election as senator, when
Fisher and J. D. Mines called at the gov
ernor's office to extend their congratula
tions upon his election. That in tho
course of the conversation Dietrich stated
to Fisher:
Pledare to Fisher.
"I guess now there will be no trouble
In getting the United States senator to ap
point you as postmaster."
Then and there Senator Dietrich pledged
Fisher that his name would ba reoom.
mended fur tha plaoa.
in answer to a question by Senator
Hoar, Senator Dietrich stated that ho had
nover received a cent for appointing any
person to any position, either as governor
or senator, nor had he any knowledge of
any person who demanded a penny from
such appointees for their appointment.
in tha strongest terms possible, the
senator denied that Jia had paid D. E.
Thompson 114,000, which. Williams had
testified to on Friday that Fisher had
said to Williams that Dietrich paid toward
Thompson's campaign expenses. He went
further and said that he had never paid
Thompson a cent nor had Thompson ever
suggested to him that such , recompense
should ba made. The witness denied ever
having; seen Fisher, Mines and other Hast
ings friends In a room in Lincoln when
tha conversation alleged by Williams took
place. It waa a clear case of tha He direct
being given to Williams.
Fisher and Mines were called later to
testify to this same conversation and both
witnesses corroborated Senator Dietrich.
Building; Was Daughter's.
Benator Dietrich further stated that he had
Informed his brother-in-law, John Slaker,
wnen rue daughter. Miss Gertrude Diet
rich, received an Inheritance from her ma
ternal grandfather, that it was his Inten
tion to put up a building In Hastings with
the money received by his daughter, ndd
to it whatever was necessary and whan
completed deed it to his daughter. That ho
had done this, although the deed was not
executed until ha came to Washington In
the fall of 1901 after his return from the
Philippines.
Mr. Dietrich then told of the manner
in which the contract for tha Dietrich
building came to be executed, stating that
he ,Jiad entered Into an agreement with
the Postofflce department while governor
to let the building for 11.800 per year. That
later the government thought the price
was too high and he agreed to let the
building for 11,100 per year provided the
government would supply heat and light.
That tho fixtures were purchased from
the Grand Army of the Republic and jald
for by Jacob Fisher, who said he wduld
rather pay for the fixtures himself than
go out with a subscription paper and so
licit subscriptions. That Fisher had prece
dent for paying for the fixtures, because
every postmaster in many years bad paid
for the fixtures except one.
Senator Dietrich stated that he had never
received a cent for the rent of the build
ing, the rentals all going to his daughter,
and that the rent for the back room, about
which so much had been said, and which
Fisher leased for $300 a year. Francis
agreeing to stand half of the rent, was
also deposited to her credit.
Asked If he would have deeded the
property In question to Miss Dietrich If
he had not been elected senator, Dietrich
replied:
"Certainly. I told 8Iaker when I began
building that I proposed to finish It and
give It to my daughter so that from the
rents she might have a balance at the
bank of her own. Other citizens of Hast
ings knew of my Intentions."
Throughout his testimony Senator Diet
rich showed that he was aiming to give
the committee every opportunity to get
at the facts In relation, not only to the
lease of the bul'dlpg. but to the appoint
ment of Jacob Fisher.
Breeds Never a Candidate.
Adam Breeds of Hastings, who was al
leged to have offered 12,800 for the Hastings
office, testified that he was never a can
didate for the office; that he never di
rectly or indirectly had Intimated to Sen-,
ator Dietrich that ha desired to be con
sidered for the place, neither had anyone
intimated to hlra that he might receive
the appointment for a consideration. Ha
denied every statement made by Hahn and
Williams as to his alleged candidacy for
the position.
Frank N. Clarke of Omaha, who arrived
In Washington this afternoon, was called
and related a conversation had with Fisher
and Francis, in which Fisher had told of
the purchase of the fixtures and Fisher
asked Clarke whether ha (Fisher) should
turn states evidence.
"If what you have told me Is true,"
Continued oa Seooad Page,
wrangle without results
City Electrician i nnd Electric Com
pany Officials Debate Overhead
Mire Matter.
Spirited arguments between City Elec
trician Mlchaelson nnd President Nash and
General Manager Iloirirege of the Omaha
Electric Light and Power company as to
the practicability of using ornamental cor
ner Iron pouts down town, instead of sus
pended arc lamps over intersections by
means of wooden poles, occupied the at
tention of the council for an hour yesterday
afternoon. In the end no action was taken
and the resolution directing the corpora
tion to make the change still hangs lire.
Tha electrician charged that the electric
light company had violated the conduit
ordinance by fulling to use the corner
posts, because It' had filed plans showing
that such a method of swinging the lamps
would be used in the business district. He
Bald his principal object in advocating the
change proposed was to avoid the certain
danger that exists; In the second place, to
benefit the appearance of the streets, and
third, to lessen the chances of darkness
during stormy or windy weather.
Mlchaelson contended that the council
resolution authorizing the wooden poles and
the overhead connections was illegal, be
cuusc It sought to repeal an ordinance,
which it requires a like measure to do.
He had examined tho pluns filed by the
electric light cotripany and found it to pro
vide for iron posts.
President Nash and General Manager
Holdrege declared against tho chango be
cause, they said, the lighting would not
ba as good or as uniform. Mr. Nash said
ha had bought Iron poles and sold them
again after it wu found they were not
needed. He maintained that "Omaha is
the best lighted city in the world, In the
business district," and said that the trolley
wires and other wires down town wore as
dangerous as the light wires. The latter
statement was disputed by Mlchaelson.
FIRE AND POLICE MATTERS
Long- Executive Session Followed by
Settlement of Minor Depart
ment Affairs,
i
Members of tha Fire and Police board
spent tho greater part of their time at
their regular meeting last night In execu
tive session. Annual leaves for ten days
each was allowed to the following patrol
men, the date to be fixed by the chief of
police: S. E. Flske, Dan Davis, J. E.
Johnson, J. R. McDonald and Albert F.
Lambert. A letter of resignation from
Henry Wilson, driver of Hoso No. 8, was
accepted. Three old fire horses were sold
to A. B. Dlllranoe for 1140. The board ap
proved the sale. Firemen Ellington, Bow
ham Simpson and , Tobin were appointed
temporary lieutenants for ninety days, and
W. Oliver. P. Miller and W. M. Welsh
were placed on the reserve list for Bre
men. Firemen Ellington applied for and
was allowed two days' leave.
Two members of the fire department were
before the board in falling to respond to
alarms and this led Mr. Broatch to speak
ing his mind pretty clearly on the sub
ject. It appears that there have been a
number of cases of failing to respond of
late and he said that the board had come
to the conclusion thitt the practice, must
stop. "We have bean lenient with the
past offenders," he soldi "but hereafter
anyone before the board charged with
violating the rules and regulations of the
department will be taken to task severely.
We are about tired of these constant com
plaints." DAKOTA C0UNTY LOSES SUIT
Bridge Company Not Liable for School
Tax Levied In Sooth Sioux
City.
Judge Munger handed down a decision
Monday evening overruling the motion for
a rehearing In the case of the Sioux City
Bridge company against the County of
Dakota, Nebraska, and others.
Suit was brought several weeks ago by
the commissioners and county treasurer of
Dakota county to recover school taxes
levied by South Sioux City against the
bridge company on that portion of its
bridge lying in Dakota county. The bridge
company contested on the ground that the
portion of the bridge against which taxes
were levied was not In the school district
of Dakota county, and that while tha ap
proach may have been, there was no way
of determining how much of the bridge
proper was subject to taxation, as the
bridge and approach constituted practically
a single structure. At the original hearing
In the United States circuit court the court
held that there was no means of separating
that portion of the tax upon the approach
to the bridge which lies within the limits
of the village or school district, conse
quently the whole of the tax was invalid.
The application for a rehearing Is there
fore denied and the tax Is declared void
because of including a part of the ap
proach or bridge outside of the corporate
limits of the district with the portion within
the corporate limits of the district, and
consequently there was no way of deter
mining what part of the levy was valid
or invalid.
INSPECTS THE LOCAL GUARDS
General Daairett Looks Over the
Thurston Rlffes and Omaha
Gnards.
The Omaha Guards and Thurston Rifles
last night underwent their first annual In
spection by an officer representing the na
tional government. General A. S. Daggett,
U. 8. A., retired, who had been assigned
to the Nebraska National Guard, performed
the Inspection In the respective armories.
The scrutiny was largely into the books,
accounts, equipment and quarters of the
companies, little time being given to the
demonstration of proficiency In the manual
of arms. The guardsmen, without notice,
were ordered to appear In heavy marching
equipment, which with no warning the
general Inspected minutely. Each Inspec
tion required a full hour and there were
no audiences. Comment on the condition
of the companies will be withheld by the
general until ha makes his report. Tonight
he will Inspect the Millard Rifles end the
South Omaha cavalry troop.
DOUBLE TRAGEDY IN KANSAS
While Temporarily Insane Herman
Remert of Great Bend Shoots
Wile and Then Kill Self.
GREAT BEND, Kan., March 11 Herman
Remert, a farmer living near Helxer, north
west of here, while temporarily Insane,
killed his wife and then himself. While
Mrs. Remert was preparing a meal Remert
stepped up to her without warning and
fired a bullet Into her temple. She died
almost instantly. Remert than went to
another room and shot himself. Ha was
In poor health.
PORT ARTHUR IS UNTENABLE
Such ii the Opinion of British Experts Whe
Discuss the Situation.
JAPANESE NAVY WILL NOT BE DENIED
Military Men Do Not See How Place
Can Long Be Held If Russlnn. Army
Retires Into Manchnrla suid
Leaves It 1 nsnpported.
(Copyright, by New York Herald Co., 1904.)
LONDON, March 15. (New York Herald
Cablegram Special Telegram to The Beo.)
Premature, so far aa the latest report
received here this morning tells us, Is the
story that Port Arthur has been either
evacuated or captured by the Japanese.
At the same time, Judging from dispatches
received from all sources, there seams an
impression that the Russians are prepared
for what is the Inevitable outcome of Ja
pan's complete control of the sea. Com
menting on the situation. Rear Admiral
Ingles, writing in tho Daily Telegraph,
this morning, says:
"It is perfectly certain to my mind that
the Japanese navy has decided that the
capitulation of Port .Arthur has become an
immediato necessity. Nothing will now
stop Admiral Togo unless It Is an Immedi
ate negative from the emperor himself.
The retrocession of port Arthur is, I be
lieve, only an affair of a day, and then
the whole coast of China Is in the hnnlla
of tho Japanese to do what they like with.
"Vladivostok does not count further.
Details of the naval battle off Port Arthur
have only confirmed me in this idea. Even
now there are probably mines laid down
across the entrance to the harbor which
will prevent the Novlk and Bayan ever
coming out again, and as the power of
the forts and their supply of ammunition
becomes less and less,, so the cordon of
ships will be drawn tighter and tighter.
The navy has got its teeth into Port Ar
thur, and, even after having seen Ad
miral Makaroff's first attempt, it is evident
that they will nut be denied."
The Dally Chronicle's military corre
spondent. In the comment on the situation,
this morning, says:
"Tho difficulties of the Russians at Port
Arthur and New Chwang are very seri
ous. It Is stated that it Is Russia's Inten
tion to fall back Indefinitely till It has 300,
O00 troops concentrated for an advance to
say nothing of 20,000 more to watch the
Chinese frontier. ,
"That is all very magnificent. But how
about their position, when Russia's army
has fallen back Indefinitely T Then If Port
Arthur has not already given way, it must
mean surrender of that place as well as
New Chwang and Vladivostok, with or
without a struggle.
"It will probably Involve the surrender
of Mukden as well, not to spjak. of Harbin.
But the Japanese will hardly need to fol
low the Russian retirement as for as that.
With those points In their hands, with
Corea occupied and command of the sea
assured, they could calmly await develop
ments." BEE ONE DAMAGED JAPANESE BOAT.
Russian Refugees from Saaebo Tell of
Vessel Badly Battered.
PORT ARTHUR, March 14. Two Rus
sian passengers of the steamer Argun,
captured by the Japanese off the coast
of Corea February 7 and taken to Sasebo,
have returned bete. The passengers say
that whl'e at Sasebo February 17, on board
the Tokal-Maru, to which they had been
transferred, they the Japanese
cruiser Asuma brought in tow Into that
port. The Asuma was without smoke
stacks, masts or bridge and Its decks had
been ploughed up by projectiles. The
other Japanese prises, the Mukden, Rus
sia and Ekatorlntoslaff, besides the cap
tured Russian whalers Michael, Nlcolai
and Alexander, were alBO at Sasebo when
the tassengers left there. They say that
the Japanese are refusing to subscribe
to the war fund. The president of the
Japanese bank, M. Laldem, sacrificed a
gold chain and other presents from the
mikado to contribute to the fund.
The Japanese navy Includes three cruis
ers Aduuma, Asama and Summa either
one of which might be the "Asuma" re
ferred to in the foregoing dispatch.
RCSSIAX Flit E COSTS M AN I LIVES
Shot from Battery Prevent Japanese
from Rescuing" Russian Sailor.
TOKIO, March 14. A supplementary re
port from Vice Admiral Togo, concern
ing the efforts made by the crews
of tke Japanese torpedo boat destroyers
In action off Port Arthur on the 10th In
stant to rescue the crews of the disabled
Russian torpedo boat destroyers, reached
here today. Captain Shojiro A sal. com
manding the flotilla of torpedo boat de
stroyers, states that the Japanese would
have been able to rescue many more of the
enemy but for the deadly fire of the shore
batteries and the close approach of the
Russian cruiser Novlk. The report also
explains that four men rescued were not
part of the crew of the Stereguschtcht, as
originally reported. When the Japanese
rescuers reached the boat, only tha dead
remained on board, and it Is believed the
living members Jumped overboard and per
ished in the sea. Three of the rescued
Russians are engineers and two are tor
pedo workers. Two were slightly wounded.
All were placed on board a Japanese bat
tleship and were given food and medicine.
KILLS HERSELF TO HELP COl'NTRV
Japanese Woman Die to Permit Son
to Enter Army.
NEW TORK. March It A Japanese
woman at Takasakl, on learning that her
only son had been exempted from active
service on the ground that she was de
pendent upon his earnings, has committed
suicide, says a World dispatch from To
klo. In a letter she stated that she waa about
to kill herself In order that her son might
be free to light for his fatherland. Then
she plunged a dagger Into her heart
Withdrawing the weapon, she handed It
to ber son, who Immediately volunteered
for active service.
Condemns Stenmer Manchnrla.
NAGASAKI, March 14 The East Asiatic
steamer Manchuria has been condemned
by the naval rrlze court at Sasebo, In
cluding Its general cargo, which Is par
tially neutral proptrty.
NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST
Fair nnd Warmer Tnrsiln eiltien
clny Showers nnd folder In W est
Portion.
Temperature nt Omahn lestcril.
V I
Hour.
itcir.
Hour.
11
n, m , .
O a. m
T a. m
n, m
0 a, ni
to a. ni
11 a. m
12 nt
1f
is
IS
11
2
'Ml
JM
i ,
. , .
7
:t
:n
:ti
:ti
1SS
in
i . ,
FUNERAL OF EMPRESS DOWAGER
Weird and Sir on tie Ceremonle at In
terment of Wo-nnn Who Died
In Jonisr),
SEOUL. Match J4.-The fune.rwl of the
queen dowuger, who died In January, was
held hero today. The bier was rlnced cn a
catafalguc at the west gate r.f tho city,
where Minister Allen nnd other diplomats
gathered at 5:30 o'clock this morning. II
was a weird m-ene. Thousands of lantern
bearers, soldiery and tho populace in white
dresses gathered around a t-ontlru vnUl
daybreak.
The emperor, a'Urcd In saw -rolnrod
robes and head dress, arrived at o clock
and performed his devotion over the bvidy
within a canvasK pavilion. The procession
then started to the tomb, eight miles out
side of the city, tho bands playing the
funeral dlrgos.
The procession was a couple of milee long
and full cf Oriental color. It was headed
by native police, followed by lantern bear
ers nnd spearmen in fantastic attire, cur
rying banners and huge pnper horses. Then
came two clers, gorgeously colored and
surmounted by dragon heads. They were
borne on tho shoulders of 100 men, there
bring 100 pall bearers. The blcrs were sur
rounded by eunuchs nnd court funetlma
ries. The first bier was empty, being in
tended to cheat the devil.
The populace crammed the streets and
covered the roofs to witness tho pageant.
After the start of tho profession the e'n
peror received the foreign diplomats and
the Japanese minister, being the senior
member, presented tho condolence of the
corps.
RUSSIAN OFFICERS ARE INCENSED
Do Not I.Ike Question of Foreigners
Regarding: Rlockade Plan.
TIN KOW, March M Tho local Russian
authorities are tprarently Incensed r.nl
rr;iiiilfestly much r.r.reyed at the solicitous
Inquiries of the commanders of foreign gun
boats regarding the projected blocking cf
the Lino river before tho arrival of the
Japanese, which latter event Is regarded
as a foregone conclusion. Al'.hrogh tho
blocking of the Llao aud also tho defenso
of the settlement and native town are re
garded as untenable, It Is certain ths.t an
Important disposition of guns and the ar
rangement of a defense plan have already
been made. Tho arrival of General Kondra
tovltch a few days ago has arrested the ar
rangements and threaten to causo tho aban
donment of the original intention.
. The best Russian information obtainable
at Port Arthur and New Chwang admits
the gonrernneut's Intention to. fall bvf In
definitely until the mobilisation of SOO.000
troops for the purpose of asnaultlng and
opposing the Japanese and probably '200,000
more to oppose the Chinese. '
The same opinion asserts that Vice Ad
miral Makaroff will fight hard. He Is de
termined to weaken tho enemy at any cost
and make the operation of the DaJtla sea
fleet In the far eat feasible, though It muy
be necessary to fight without the Pullada,
Csarevitch and Retvlzna, which. It is ad
mitted, cannot be fully repaired within six
months. On account of the uncertainty of
the success of the scheme cf constructing
a modern dock In which to repair tho Czare
vitch and Retvlzan nnvul experts allow a
year for the work.
MIST SAVE BIO GIN AMMTNITION.
Indications that It Is Running Short
at Port Arthur.
(Copyright, by New York Herald Co., 1904.)
YIN KOW, March 14. (New York Her
ald Cablegram Special Telegram to The
Bee.) Admiral Makaroff waa aboard the
Novlk during the engagement at Port
Arthur on Thursday. He has Issued orders
to the effect that the saving of coal Is
unnecessary, but that his men must be
cautious about wasting the big gun am
munition In tho forts. Evidently this Is
running short.
With regard to my telegram of March
9, reporting the presence of Japanese
troops at Feng Wang Cheng, my runner
has evidently been detained. Details are
unobtainable, but constant Chinese re
ports confirm the previous one of Japanese
occupation.
Russians are buying up all the available
foodstuffs here. There is great scarcity
of everything. Cossacks are scouting fifty
miles ' wrst of the Llao river.
JAPANESE PATHOL IS DEFEATED.
Falls Into an Ambnsrnde Prepared
by Russian Troop.
ST. PETERSBURG, March 14 General
Zillnskl telegraphs as follows under yes
terday's date:
"On March 7 our patrols discovered four
of the enemy's posts on the Chong Cheng
Ang river und a troop of cavalry acting
aa scouts near Patentchen, northwest of
An Ju. A Japanse cavalry patrol fell Into
an ambuscade prepared by our patrol and
were dispersed, losing one killed. The
Japanese left behind them a quantity of
gun cotton and some swords and blankets.
"The population in Manchuria is quiet.
On the night of March 11 the ships ex
plored Helena bay and the shore opposite
Seneutrhene with searchlights.
"According to lnformotlon whlrh has
been verified the Japanese have not made
any attack north of Oensan. The popula
tion along the Tumen river Is favorable
to us."
SHUTS JAPANESE Ot'T OF HARROR.
Mnksroff Will Keep War Fleet Out
side with Steam I p,
IjONPON, March 15. A correspondent of
the Dally Mall at New Chwang says thnt
after the removal of the battleship Retvl
xun four Russian steamers, the Harbin,
tho Hnllar, the Nlnguta and the Sungnrl,
were anchored at the mouth of the en
trance to Port Arthur In proper position
and sunk, leaving only a small channel
available. Vice Admiral Makaroff having
previously ordered the whole fleet to re
main outside with steam up.
till go t'r Barn ilurna.
CHICAGO. March ll-The cur barn of
the Chicago Union Traction company at
Blue Island avenue and I-eavitt street waa
destroyed by fire today. About 61)0 summer
cars, stored In the buldlng. were burned.
The lots was estimated at IITAOOQ. Crossed
tlocUlo w ire aauned tha blaze.
JAPS CLAIM THE CITY
Declare Positively that Tort Arthur Has
Fallen Into Their Hands.
RUSSIANS SAY SITUATION IS UNCHANGED
Deny the Story that the Town Hu Bees,
Abandoned,
COMMENT ON" RECENT PROCLAMATION
Russians Aooept it as Representing Changs
of Sentiment
GIVE CREDIT 70 PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
Keel Ins; In St. Petersburg; Towr
lultrd State la Vastly Uette
Since Receipt of Latest
Order,
(Copyright, by New York Herald Co 1904.)
SEOUL, March ll.-(New York Herald
Cablegram Special Telegram to Tha Bee.)
Persistent reports arc current to the ef
fect that the Russians have turned and
evacuated Port Arthur and Dalny and ar
retiring up tho peninsula.
Flat Denial by Russian.
(Copyright, by New York Herald Co., 1901)
SHANGHAI, March 11 (New York Herald
Cablegram Special Telegram to TUa Bee.)
Telegrams from Russian source at Tlea
Tsin nnd from Admiral Makaroff at Port
Arthur absolutely aeny the report that thaj
IliiHRlans havo evacuated the plaoa.
WEI 1IAI WEI, March It Tha Japanese
report that Iort Arthur has been captured,
TIEN TSIN, March ll-The reported oc
cupation of Port Arthur by the Japan
Is untrue, according to a Uleiram re
ocived hero at 11 o'clock, which left Port
Arthur nt 7 o'clock Sxiday evening. Upon
inquiry the riot nt P.hnn Si turns 'out t
have been unimportant.
The government :s trv.gly opposed to)
tho proposed immigration of Chinese td
tho Transvaal.
Japanese Lost No Boat.
TOKIO, March 14.-V!ceroy Alexleft'a r
port slating that a Japanese torpedo soat
dostrvyer was sunk and tte cruiser TlJia
Kajro heavily damaged by the fctell fire of
the Rjsslans during the fourth attack on
Port Arthur Is officially pronuun.d untrue.
The damaged Japanese torpedo boat de
stroyers can be repaired In one week and
it will not be nccessaty to dock hem.
jftnfnn r-enr tie Report.
ST. PETERSBURG, March 11 (Noon.)
Tho.-e la no truth In toe rumors that tha
Russians have abandoned Port Arthur. Ad
mnal Abazo, secretary, of the commission
on far eastorn affairs, authorises tha As
sociated Press to dtny the story. He
says the situation at Port Anivr is vn
changed and that nothing of ir.. pittance
has occurred there in the last twerty-four
hours.
President Roosevelt's recent proclamation
regarding the observance of rieutraKt
ail officials and the abstention from either
action or speech which might oaiaa lr
rltatiori to either Japan or Russia has
produced a great Impression hee. Th
newspapers this morning print rjomlnently
articles commending the substance and
spirit of the proclamation In the h.ghest
terms. ,
The Official Gaaette accepts It unreserv
edly as a complete answer to the rssertlon
that the American government Is hostile
to Russia and declares that hereafter, de
spite any seemingly vrtovrard Ihrndont
which may orlso. It will tte considered set
tled once for all that "the American gov
ernment has taken a friendly attitude to
ward our alma and policies In the far east,"
adding: '
"This undoubtedly narks a change In
American sentiment, the people there re
alising the danger of supporting Japanese."
The Noovooetl halls the auspicious In
itiative of President Roosevelt In tha ls
tereet of universal peace and good relation
ship between Russia and the United States,
saying:
'Ho wields practically unlimited author
ity with respect to the foreign policy of
the country. Secretary Hay submitting to
the will of the president."
Rns Welcomes Pr. elamatlon.
The Ruks welcomes the proclamation aa
convincing evidence of a more friendly feel
ing on the part of Americans for Russia.
The Boerse Gnsctte remarks: '"Theodora
Roosevelt was tho first ruler to respond to
the warning cry Issued many years ago by
Emperor William against the yellow peril."
The St. Petersburg Zeltung asserts that
the proclamation leaves r.o further doubt
that the United States has a firm Invention
to cbserve strict noutrallty. It bears the .
rtamp of strong and most distinguished
personality."
These papers also make ,a display this
morning of a denial of the New Chwang
report that the United States intends to
support tho protest of the United States
gunboat Helena against the plan of the
IJtiwlar authorities to sink Junhs t tha
entrance of the Llao river, evidently con-
lderlng that this puts an end to the State
ment, which caused a flurry here yester
day, and that further comment Is unneces
sary. The Alexander committee announce
that In addition to the regular army pen
sion IX a year will be given to the widow
nnd orphans of the noncommissioned offi
cers and 124 to those of soldiers end sailor
killed in tho face of the enemy.
Trains Moving Slowly.
A Russian correspondent proceeding to
the front writes to the St. Petersburg
Telegraph bureau from Irkutsk. Siberia,
as follows:
Our express train travels slower than
the slowest train In European Russia. The
seat of war Is ktlll remote but Its presence
is felt. The long rows of car filled with
soldiers, the caravans and the primitive
sleighs, drawn by mangy htsoa, which wa
pass along the way at the crowded sta
tions, break the monotony of the snow
bound wastes and endless forests, and the
stillness Is broken by the songs of the
Jolly reservists and tiie bells of the villas
churches, sounding cloar through the
frosty air. This bustle and activity amidst
tho Siberian desolation strikingly illus
trates the Itusxlan giant stretching his
litr.hs prepwratory to punishing the foe.
General Rennenkampf. who Is to lead the
CoHsack division, is traveling en the same
train. He tells rk" that all these re
servists will become splendid, hardened
soldiers a fortnight after reaching the
front.
At Irkutsk we met the first victims of
the war.
These were women snd children trying
to get bark to European Rustda. On our
entrance into the semi-darkness of th
stxtlon we were greeted by the wailing r
children Issuing from the dirt heap and
bKKge encumbering the floor. Their
waxen faces and bloodshot, sleepless eves
would melt a heart of stone. The wild,
pnnlo-strlcken flight of their-mothers from
Manchuria nfter the startling outbreak of
Him war Ico. to great sufferings. They
narbad this place after untold hardships,
onlv to find tlmt they will have to WHlt
weeks more till there is sufficient train
ncrommodstlon to enable them to proceed
further. Bo the children have been pining,
tileepIeK and motionless, in this fetid at
inoHphere, because outside reign tha obillaT
frost.