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ESTABLISHED JUNE 19. 1871
OMAHA, Fill DAY MOUSING, JUNE 17, 1901 TEN PAGES.
SINGLE COPY TIIHEE CENTS.
JAPAN WINS BAT
Eis.ian Hope of BliriDf Port t V
Eabed b; Clak of Armiei.
FORCE OVERWHELMED AND DEFE
Japanete Capture Pri.oneri and Ta
Fuurtaen Gnni from tba Enemy.
SAY RUSSIANS USED UNFAIR FUSE
Alag-ed that Tbay Difp'yed Japaneie
Fla$ to Deceive I.Undeia.
BATTLE CONTINUES FOR TWO DAYS
At End of Time Russian. Completely
Moated, Harry from Field Closely
Pursued by Island CsT
alrr.
TOKIO, June 16.-4 p. m. The Russian
hope of relieving the pressure on Port
Arthur by threatening; the rear of General
Oku, the commander of the Japanese forces
investing; the Russian stronghold, came to
an end yesterday at Tellssu, a point on the
railroad fifty mllea north of Kin Chou and
twenty-live miles north of Vafangow, when
the Russians were outmaneuvered, en
veloped and aweeplngly defeated. They
left over 100 dead on the field and the Japa
nese captured 100 prisoners and fourteen
quick-flring; field guns. The Russians re
treated hastily to the northward.
The Japanese charge that the Russians
violated the Japanese flag. Certain officers
aver , that during the righting a body of
Russian soldiers appeared carrying a Japa
nese flag and that the Japanese artillery,
deceived by this flag, ceased firing upon
that particular body of Russians. Official
dispatches from the Japanese commanders
made specific charges of this flag violation.
Early estimates of the Japanese loss say
that COO men were killed or wounded. The
Japanese attacking force was divided Into
right and left columns and began the ad
vance on Tuesday along both sides of the
railroad. They encountered the Russians
east of Vafandten and drove them back. At
a late hour In the afternoon the Russians
held a line between Lung Wang Tlso and
Tofang Bhen. The Japanese artillery
opened on this Una and tba Russians re
sponded. '
Russlaaa Are Enveloped.
The shelling continued for two hours and
It was followed by the advance of the
Japanese Una to a position extending from
Lung Chla Tung to Yuhotun. Darkness
put an end to the fighting. The Japanese
dispatched a column to .the westward to
ward Fuchau for the purpose of covering
the Russian right wing and to protect
their left and rear. ;
v During the night K 4ecame apparent that
tit RUMlana wera being reinforced and it
was decided to make a. general . attack In
the morning and force the Russians into a
defile back of Tellssu. When morning cam
it was discovered that' the 'Russians "held a
line extending from Ta Fang Bhen to
Cheng Tsu Bhan with. a. force estimated at
over two divisions.
The Japanese planned to envelop the
Russians near Tellssu and they succeeded
admirably. While the main Japanese force
was moving north along the railroad col
umns were swung to the left and to the right
and Anally converged at noon on the main
Russian position. The Russians In thin
position were at a disadvantage, but they
held It with determination until 3 o'clock in
the afternoon. At this hour they were
rod fed. The Japanese, cavalry continued
to pursue the enemy and probably inflicted
considerable punishment.
The Japanese commander makes no esti
mate of the Russian losses, but says they
probably were great. Among the Russians
captured by the Japanese is the colonel of
the Fourth regiment of rifles.
Rnsstans Admit Reverse.
ST. PETERSBURG, June 16.-7:30 p. m.
A special dispatch from Uuo Yanar to the
Official Messenger says tn oattle of Vaf
angow raged the whole of yesterday and
the Japanese, receiving considerable rein
forcements, crushed the ttusslon left flank
and compelled the Russians to retire north
ward. No estimate of the loa-os is given
one no mention is maae of the loss of
Russian guns.
The war office announces that General
Btukeiborg was forced back before greatly
superior r umbers and retreated to Vant
non, thirty miles north of Varungow. The
ofT.cials rere deny thut there was anything
H the nnli:ro of a rout. The enemy had
over four divisions in action.
'A semi-official dispatch from Mukden,
dated June 16, saya the engagement at
Vafangow, June 14 and June 15, was un
dertaken with the object of drawing off a
portion of the Japanese forces from Port
Arthur and resulted in Improving the Rus
sian position. The Japanese losses were
vary heavy.
Another correspondent, describing the
fighting, writes:
Tba date June II will forever be memor
able in our nnnnls. A succession of furious
attacks by two ulvUlona of II. o enemy and
ballerina of rlx-lncli guns were repelled by
our troops, who nowhere yielded an Inch of
ground despite heavy lotaes. The Fourth
battery lost many gunners, but did not
waver. Our guns were served superbly,
puraiyslng the attack of the Japanese In.
iuntry and csuxing their batteries to re
coll. The soldiers of the Siberian rlrte
regiments behaved magnificently. All the
troops are full of enthusiasm.
Story Closes Akraptly.
Emperor Nicholas has recolved the fol
lowing dispatch, dated June 15, from Gen
eral Kouropatkln:
An engagement occurred June 14 at Wa
ang lieu (north of port Arthur), with a
Japanese luice numbering at least two
Uivathms. our loaae in killed Inolude
Colonel Rho.stoiwiow, commanding (lie
first regiment of Eastern fciueiian Kines,
and Second Lieutenant lruostuft Nado
cliliieky. adjutant of the regiment. The
wounded include Major Oenerui Uoingross,
wVin.f?ln'l'?K ,n n",d- " Captain
.Ailntsky vt the general staff.
Twenty officers, whose names at present
are unknown, mere uUo killed or wounded,
be. des 311 soldiers, of wi.lch the First
rrglmun! of Hiberian Rlries lost twelve
"'h"""" and v '"en and the First brigade
of ariillery six o (tiers and fitly men.
The following night wua quiet until 1 In
'J1"..!1""'","' "I1""" ruailude began on our
r ght flank along the line of outposts,
'ilia firing soon slackened. At t:S0 In the
morning Japanese artillery opened on our
left Hank, rlhorlly before this our cavalry
discovered on our right flank the presence
southward of Taan t hou of a considerable
force of the enemy. The Japanese Infantry
opened fire on our cavalry occupying (he
heights between Tafun Cfeou end Tin Chou
on the edge of a woods. Towards :3u the
enemy, consisting of a renliuent of In
fantry with artillery, attacked from those
woods. At the same time the cannonade
u our left hank became heavier. At si
lJuuUuu4 oa Be coal Page.
ADVANTAGE LIES WITH JAPS
Victory oa Land More Tama Oat
welgba the Roaslaa 'access
rt Beo.
"opyright, by New York Herald Co., 1904.)
iONDON, June 17. (New York Herald
5 legram Special Telegram to The Bee.)
neral Kouropatkln moved to the south
, to march to disaster. Admiral Skryd
luring raid into the Straits of Coroa
vuitod in two large transports being In
tercepted arid torpedoed by the Vladivos
tok squadron, with the loss of at least 1,000
Japanese troopa, but this bold stroke in Its
Inuflence upon the war Is as chaff in the
scale by comparison with the Russian
catastrophe on land.
Buch in brief la the view taken here of
the latest events In the far east.
The Daily Mall, however, points out that
as yet the Japanese success on land has
not gone to the extent of surrounding and
destroying General Stakelberga army, aa
many British observers had confidently ex
pected. "After two days' hard lighting," It
sas, "in which the force engaged on the
Japanese side appears to have been about
three divisions of over tSO.OOO men, the Rus
sian army under Stakelberg, which the
Japanese describe as two division strong,
and which should therefore have numbered
between 80,000 and 40,000 men, has been dis
lodged from a strong position on the Port
Arthur railway in the neighborhood of Wa
Fang Tien. As at the Yalu and Kin Chou
the Japanese made a considerable capture
of Russian artillery. Fourteen guns In all
were taken and if the Japanese cavalry
had been stronger the defeated army must
have lost far more heavily in guns and
prisoners, since it appears from the Japa
nese report to have retreated in aoma con
fusion. "The Japanese success was only a par
tial victory, not annihilation, because the
flank turned by the Japanese troops waa
the Russian right and not the left, which
would have cut off Stakelberg a re
treat. "The Japanese forces at SiU Yen may
make an immediate advance so as to
coma in upon the Russian line of retreat
and convert thla defeat Into disaster. The
next few hours will show whether auch
a move has been made."
The Dally Telegraph'a military critic also
thinks the full denouement is yet to
come,, .
Rear Admiral Ingles, writing In the
same paper upon the naval situation, says:
"It must be presumed that if there was
a containing . force watching ' Vladivostok
when Admiral BkrydloK emerged in the
mist or fog at night with all lights ahut
down It must have been of sufficient power
to defeat three Russian shlpa in the open
aea.
'lf as I imagine, they have followed on
the heels of the Gromobot, Rossla and
Rurik to the Straits of Bushlma, the Rus
sians are literally between two fires. ' To
the northeast must be one imperial squad
ron and to the northwest the whole of the
remainder of the Japanese fleet under Ad
miral Togo. Even in -these circumstances
It is not impossible that Admiral Skrydloff
may escape for tha present in the fog tf
the soouta have failed to nans pntt Wro,
and fling out wireless signals to the heavy
ships on either hand. 'This is presuming
that he is satisfied-with the frtilta of his
raid and chooses rather to run back to his
only secure ' base at.. Vladivostok, count
ing upon once more eluding tha containing
squadron.
"If he has pressed' on Into the Bay of
Corea, which must be Infested by Admiral
Togo's scouts, it means that he is going to
sacrifice himself ond his ships in order to
deal a crippling blow at the main Japanese
fleet"
RUSSIA ANXIOUSLY AWAITS NEWS
Hopes mad Fears Are Exciting; Pope
lace of St. Petersburg.
BT. PETERSBURG, June 16. The result
of the battle at Vafangow (north of Port
Arthur), which has now been In progress
for three days, is awaited here with
breathless interest. Excitement prevails
In all quarters. . The losa of more than too
on Tuesday ahowa that tha fighting baa
been of a desperate character, and Gen
eral Kouropatkln'a report thla morning
proves that both armies are determined
to force matters to a decisive issue. The
public has been considerably elated by the
news of the success which thus far has
attended the expedition of the Vladivostok
squadron to the straits of Corea, and
should General Stakelberg win a victory
over General Noau on land, it would make
the deepest impression. Already there is
much talk of his success, but the War
office prudently advises caution against
the acceptance of Irresponsible reports In
the absence of official news from either
side.
Kouropatkln's dispatch, ' given out this
morning, brought the report up to 3:30
o'clock yesterduy afternoon, but stopped
at the most critical point of the battle,
when Etakclbeig whs meeting an attempt
to turn his right wing by a similar move
around Nozu'a left flank. Btakelberg'a re
serves had already been brought up and
the Japanese had been heavily reinforced.
Exactly what portion of Stekelberg'a
Cossacks were engaged at Vafangow Is not
ascertainable. It consists of the First,
Second and Sixth East Siberian rifles di
visions, the Vsurl mounted brigade and the
Flrat East Siberian Sapper battalion.
General Oolngross, who was wounded,
commands the First Siberian division of
four regiments and a machine gun bat
talion. General Bamsonoft commands the
Usurl mounted brigade.
The operations leading up to the battle
of Vafangow date back to June 11, when
two Japanese divisions, one commanded
by General Nosu, advanced from the Pu-lantlen-Pitsewo
line, probably prompted by
Intelligence that the Russians were receiv
ing reinforcements. A sharp skirmish
took place tha night of June U at tha
village of Oudiden, five mllea west of the
railroad ar.d seven miles south of Wa
Fang Tien, and another skirmish occurred
on tha heights near the village of Lldla
tun. ten mllea east of Oudladen. The Jap
anese wero repulsed but the Russian ad
vance posts retired. On June IS two Jap
anese divisions were five miles north of the
scene of the skirmish, their left wing rest
ing on the village of Vafangow and their
right on the valley of the Tassa, which
flows parallel with the railroad, falling into
I the sea ten miles aouth of Pltaewo. After a
day'a rest the enemy advanced fifteen miles
June 14 and attacked the left of the Rus
sian position, four miles aouth of Vafan
gow. The Russians had the best of tha
first day'a fight, annihilating a Japanese
cavalry aquadron and taking aoma prison
ers, although at nightfall both armies) re
tained their positions.
This dispatch reached the emperor yes
terday afternoon, but through a plunder
In transmission tha war commission did
not receive It until this morning. There
waa no Intention to withhold Its contents
from the public. Nothing further tuts
reached tha Wac offloa to thla lima.
TWO JAP TRANSPORTS SUNK
Russian Squadron 8urronnd tod Daitroyi
Hitachi and Eado
LOSS OF LIVES MAY R1ACH 1,000 MEN
Iis4rs Which Torpedoed tha Help
less Japanese Vessels Near Iki
Island Has Returned to
Vladivostok.
TOKIO, Juno 16. p. m All doubt as to
the sinking of the transports Hitachi and
Sado by the Russians has been removed.
Three hundred and ninety-seven survivors
of tha Hitachi arrived at Mojl and 153 sur
vivors of the Sado have arrived at Ko
kura. Details of the destruction of the two
transporta and the full extent of the cas
ualties are not obtainable.
The transport Hlno, which has returned
to Mojl, reports that It encountered the
Russian Vladivostok squadron at 11:20 a.
m. yesterday twenty mhos west of the
Island of Shiro of the Okl group. The
transports Hitachi, 6,172 tons, and the Sado,
6,219 tons, were seen two miles to the west
ward. When the Hlno sighted the Russian fleet
It turned, ran and signalled a warning to
the Kanaxawa and they both took refuge
inside the Island of Chlyt. Both signalled
danger to the Ibu, which also escaped. The
Hlno saw the Hitachi and Sado surrounded
by Russian vessels. The loss of Ufa will
probably be heavy.
The survivors report that tha Sado and
Hatachl were aunk by torpedo.
Details obtainable from the survivors of
the ill-fated Japanese transporta show that
the Hitachi and the Bado met three Rus
sian' warships near Iki island at 10 o'clock
Wednesday morning. The Russians fired
on the Japanese ships and atopped them
and aoon afterward they torpedoed and
aunk the helpless transporta.
The captain of the Bado and several other
men were captured. Over 100 men escaped
in the boats and landed at Kokura.
A message has been received here from
Hagi aaylng that several survivors of the
Hitachi had drifted north to Shlmonosekl
and been saved. The transport Isuml is
still missing.
It is reported that the transports carried
only 1,400 men. If this la true, the loss
in lives probably Is less than 1,000.
Tha transports, however had many horses
and auppllea on board.
Hitachi Tries to Ram Warship.
NAGASAKI, June 14.-10 a. m. The re
port that the port of Hakato, about sixty
mllea to the north of Nagasaki, has been
bombarded by the Russians la denied. .
Yesterday the Russian warships appeared
at the Island of Okl, In tha Covtn strait,
one of the Liu Kiu group, aouth of Japan,
where there la a plentiful supply of water.
They fired on three merchant steamers,
but the latter escaped.
' The Japanese transport TTgo, homeward
bound, arrived at Okl Island yesterday,
after having been fired upon by the Rus
sia na. It waa not damaged.
The captain of the transport Hlno, which
has arrived at Mojl, reports that he saw
the transport Hitachi, Captain Campbell,
being attacked by a Russian warship with
four tunnels. Tha Russian waa on the
starboard side of the Japanese transport,
which changed Its course and steered for
the enemy' with the Intention of ramming
it The. Russian vessel, however, crossed
the transport's bows and attacked It on the
port side. .
Vladivostok Fleet Retnrna to Harbor.
ST. PETERSBURG, June 16.-9:66 p. m.
Tha Vladivostok aquadron has returned to
Vladivostok.
ARTILLERY RVSHE9 THROUGH TOWN
New Cbwangr Hears Firing; and Sees
Activity at Russians.
NEW CHWANG, June 16. Firing has
been heard distinctly in the direction of
Kin Chou since 10 o'clock last night.
Two batteries of artillery rushed through
town at midnight. The second division
of General Kurokl's army la reported to
be marching toward Kin Chou yesterday
afternoon for the purpose of taking the
enemy In the rear. It la positively known
that the Russian forces In the vicinity of
Kin Chou are divided. Half are at Kin
Chou and the remainder at about twenty
mllea eastward. The entire forces num
bers 36,000 men. Including 600 Cossacks.
There are rumors here of fighting at Port
Arthur, with tha Japanese almost In the
city.
A private letter from Mukden says the
correspondents there are not hopeful of
getting newa from the Russians, who give
every Indication that the correspondents
are not wanted.
KUROKI HAS CAPTURED 8UI YEN
Saya that Chinese Bandits Joined
nasslans la Defending; Place.
T)KIO, June 16. A detachment of the
army under General Kuroki captured the
town of Siu Yen on Sunday after routing
and defeating a force of 800 Russians and
800 mounted Chinese bandits. The enemy
retired toward the Tao river, leaving be
hind them three dead and two wounded
men belonging to the Fifteenth East Si
berian regiment. The total of their losses
Is not yet known. The Japanese sustained
no, casualties. This Is the first actual re
port of Chinese bandits fighting with Rus
sian troops and It may mean that the Rus
sians have enlisted large numbers of these
irregulars.
Conditions at Port Arthur.
CHE FOO, June 16. Eight Junks arrived
here today from Port Arthur, all of them
loaded with Chinese. They left the town
yesterday. Up to that time the condi
tions were unchanged. Small skirmishes
are reported continually ashore and the
Japanese ships throw a few shells dally Into
tha city, around which the Russians have
Just completed an Immense trench.
CfarUtlaa Workers Are Meeting;.
SIOUX FALLS, 8. D., June 16. (Special.)
One of the great eventa of the summer In
South Dakota will be tha sUte convention
of the Christian Endeavor aocietlea of
South Dakota, which commence here this
afternoon for tha session continuing until
Sunday evening. Elaborate efforts bava
been made to make the convention the.
most successful ever held by the organisa
tion In tha atata. All of tha 164 branches
of tha society In South Dakota have aent
large delegations and the attendance la all
that could ba dealred.
The regular aeealona are being held In
tha Methodist church, but a huge rally
Sunday evening will be held in tha audi
torium. Thla afternoon a conference of atate, dis
trict and local union officers, convention
executive committee, subcommittees and
speakers was held at tha executive head
quartera at tba Congregational parish
house.
GOVERNOR 0FJ-INLAND SHOT
General Robrlkoal Mortally Wounded
at Entrance of Senate at ,
Ilelslna-fors.
ST. PETERSBURG, June 19 :14 p. m.
General Bobrlkoff, governor general of
Finland, waa shot and mortally wounded
at 11 o'clock this mernlng at the entrance
to the Finnish senate at Helslngford.
The asxassln. a man named Schaumann,
a son of Senator Schaumann. Immediately
committed suicide. Robrekoff was shot In
the stomach and neck. He Is being brought
to St. Petersburg in a dying condition. The
attack is ascribed to Finnish patriotism.
Schaumann la believed to be a member of
what is known aa lae Finnish Patriotic
party.
A private message from Helslngfors says
Governor Bobriknff was taken to a hospital
at Helslngfors. Schaumann was a lawyer
by profession.
General Count Bobrlkoff, who was ap
pointed governor general of Finland in
1S99, made himself very unpopular by his
severe measures against the press of Fin
land and tha stern manner In which he
followed out the policy of Russia towards
the Finns. This led to serious rioting at
Helslngfors In 1902, which was suppressed
by Cossacks. The last recorded act of
General Bobrlkoff waa In March of this
year, when he issued a proclamation for
bidding the people to darken their windows
at "unusual hours." People who chose
to go to bed before 10 o'clock at night were
subject to heavy fines. This step waa due
to the neglect of the Finns to lllummate
their houses In honor of the beginning of
the war with Japan.
MOORISH TROOPS AT
TANGIER
Fear that Ralsoall Will Consider
Hove aa Treachery.
TANGIER, Morocco, June 16. About 400
Moorish troops of the worst type were
landed here today. They were sent by the
sultan for the protection of .Europeans.
These troops had an exceedingly bad repu
tation at Cos a Blanco, when they came to
Tangier. The residents of this City are
uneasy, aa the troops have no discipline
whatever and endanger life end property.
Their arrival' is exceeding dangerous to
Messrs. Perdicarla and Varley. Ralsouli
la almost certain to consider this treachery
on tha part of the sultan and cease the
negotiations which up to the pesent ap
pear favorable.
Tha British and American authorities
were entirely' Ignorant of this move until
the troops landed, and strongly protested
to Mohamed El Torres, the representative
of the sultan. Tha commander of the
troops brings letters announcing that more
soldiers will probably arrive here aoon.
Ralsouli demands aa a further condition
for the release of his captives that he be
consulted about the governorship of other
tribes In northern Morocco. This haa been
granted already.
capture;
PERSIAN ASSASSIN
Man Who Killed American Missionary
Broua-ht to Trial.
ST. PETERSBURG, June 16. A private
letter from Urumlah, North Persia, dated
May 31, says that Seld, who murdered Rev.
Benjamin W. Labaree, son of Dr. Ben
jamin Labaree, superintendent of the Amer
ican mission, haa eea brought by lae
British consul to TjLa.a for trial.
The murder of Rev. Mr. Labaree, who
was assassinated In March last, waa an
act of vengeance. Beld, his murderer, a
ahort time previously killed a Syrian who
was a British subject, whereupon repre
sentatives of the Anglo-British mission
insisted that the assassin ba punished.
When the culprit learned of this he an
nounced that he would kill the missionaries,
so the latter no longer insisted upon his
arrest Seld, nevertheless, took his re
venge, Mr. Labaree being his first victim.
EMPEROR ATTENDS MOTOR RACES
Paale Is Occasioned hy Stream of
. Bnralag Petroleum.
HAMBURG, Prussia, June 16. Emperor
William and the empress arrived here
today to attend the motor contests. There
waa considerable excitement this morning
during the weighing of the cars which are
to compete for the James Gordon Bennett
cup tomorrow. A lighted match carelessly
thrown down Ignited petroleum which was
escaping from one of the cars and the
whole street became a stream of flame,
causing a panic among the spectators. The
cars, however, were removed uninjured.
The Swiss competitors have withdrawn
from the James Gordon Bennett contest.
Ralsonll's Friends Released.
TANGIER, June 16. Two of Ralsoull's
followers, who were imprisoned at La
rache, have arrived here. This is con
sidered another proof that the government
Is gradually complying with all conditions
proposed by the bandit.
DEDICATES SIAM BUILDING
Simple Ceremonies Mark Formal
Opening; of Pavllloa of East
India Kingdom.
ST. LOUIS, June 16. The national pa
vilion of Slam was dedicated today with
simple ceremonies. The Siamese commis
sioner general to the World's fair, J. H.
Gore, called upon President Francis of the
exposition and escorted him to the pa
vilion. A gold key was then presented to
President Francis, who unlocked the doors
of the pavilion, and the ceremony ended.
The building is a miniature reproduction
of the Temple Benchama Bopit, at
Bangkok. -
A bronse death mask of Pope Leo XIII,
which forma pArt of the Vatican exhibit,
was unpacked today. It shows the face,
neck and shoulders, and la considered an
unusually fine likeness of the dead pontiff.
WRECK ON THE BURLINGTON
Mall aad Passenger Train' Goca Iato
Ditch la Illluols, Injuring;
the Crew.
MENDOTA, ID., June lfl. The mall and
passenger train on the Burlington road
Jumped the track near Merlden, but no
passengers were killed or seriously in
jured, according to reporta. The engineer
and fireman are said to be slightly hurt.
The track waa badly torn up. The train
left Chicago at t:U thla morning.
Nebraska students Uradunte.
NEW YORK, June 16. (Special Tele
gram.) John William Balrd of Omaha and
Lester Seaman Jones of Ashland were
graduated by the Northweatern university
at Evauaton, 111., receiving tha degree of
bachelor of science.
Geaeral Bates Now Doctor of Laws.
BT. LOUIS. June 18. At the commence
ment exercises of the Washington univers
ity of St. Louis today honorary degrees of
doctors of laws were conferred on Major
(Itinera! John C. Hates, commander of the
Northern division. I'. S. A., and i'r. Hugo
htuiuitrbiira of Harvard university.
FINISHES UP ON RAILROADS
EUU Board of Equal latlon GiTfi Oat
Beio.lt af I. Labors.
INCREASE OVER NINETEEN MILLIONS
Belt Line la Pat la aa a Portloa of
the MJssoarl Paclne Instead of
Being; Left for Local
Assessmeat.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
LINCOLN, June 16. (Special.) After six
weeks of hard work and much worry, lam
basted on the one side by railroad tax
agents and held In check by publlo senti
ment, the State Board of Assessment com
pleted its work in so far as the railroads
are concerned lute this afternoon. The
total assessment of nil railroad property
In the state Is (46.105,2:2.77, Ave times which
sum Is tho actual value of all the railroad
property, amounting to t'jao, 526,203.85, an in
crease over lost year's assessment of $19.
027,899.27, or 69.7 per cent.
Douglas county will lose Its Omaha belt
line, owned by the Missouri Pacific, be
cause the board Instead of giving all of
this to that county has divided It between
the main line and the Weeping Water
branch.
Every branch of each separate corpo
ration was assessed on an average at the
same value per mile. For Instance, the
Omaha & North Platte, a port of the Bur
lington, was assessed as main line from
Omaha to Ashland at $15,000 a mile and
from Ashland to Schuyler as a branch
line at $3,500 a mile. The board added these
two values and divided by the mileage to
arrive at the average valuation.
A motion made by Auditor Weston this
morning to apportion the value of tha
various systems on the unit system was
voted down by the board, Mr. Weston and
Secretory of State Marsh voting togelher
on the proposition,, and Governor Mickey,
Treasurer Mortensen and Land Commis
sioner Follmer voting In the negative, be
lieving that to adopt the motion would
be to deprive many of the counties of
taxea that they were Justly entitled to.
The board then adopted the motion to
assess each corporation separately.
The aggregate value was arrived at by
taking Into consideration the value of the
stocks and bonds, not at their market
value, but at a value thought to be Jusi
by the board, after which deductions were
made for securities held, the net earnings
and the tangible property. The proposition
to assess the franchises separately and
In tha finding record ita value waa voted
down.
Valaatloa of Roads.
The assessment by roads, showing the
increase over last year follows:
Assessed Value l
Per Mil.
Road. 1904.
1903.
$9,900
2.6U0
$00
5,700
10,500
3,600
1.70Q
I.2U0
1,200
1,500
4.600
$.250
1.60A
t.ooo
.60
1,200
1.000
3.100
4,600
6,000
6.500
4,000
2,600
4.000
1.600
l.SOO
6,500
1.660
1.000
6.000
6,000
4,700
8,800
U. P. main line $ 16.000
O. & H. V. branch 6,500
Kearney branch 4,770
A. & N. 10,000
B. & M 16,470
C. N. & K 6,000
O. I. & W. C 6,500
K. C. A 0 6.000
Lincoln A B. H 6.&00
L. ft N. W..... 6,500
Nebraska railway 1000
Nebraska ft Colorado Ry,... t.iMO
N. W. ft Wyoming 4rf00
Omaha ft North Platte S.5O0
Omaha ft B. W.., .'
Oxford ft K -4,000
R. V. ft W 4.000
R. V.. K. ft S. W 4,000
Republican Valley 10,000
M. P. main line 8,400
Lincoln branch 8,000
Weeping Water branch 8,000
Paplllton branch 2.f2t
Crete branch 6,500
K, C. ft N. W 6,000
Pacific railway in Nebraska. 4,000
C, St. P., M. ft 0 8 600
C.'& N. W .60
Willmar ft Sioux Falle 4.000
Bt Joseph ft Grand Island.. 6.500
C! R. I. & P. main line ,800
St. Joseph branch 8,000
Nelson branch 6,000
Omaha Bridge and Terminal,
whole system 100,000
Mason City & Fort Dodge,
whole syntem 46,000
Tho Omaha Bridge and Terminal com
pany's mlleege la 3.13 miles and the Mason
City ft Fort Dodge mileage la .646 of a mile.
The valuation of the last two named was
added at the laat minute and caused the
increase of the aggregate value. The mile
age of the various systems Is practically
tho aame aa last year, varying three or
four miles only. To make comparison with
the returns It la necessary to deduct from
the total $148,000 of new property not here
tofore assessed.
Troubled Over, Division.
Tha board haa had considerable diffi
culty in fixing the value to be assessed
against the various corporations, even
after it had found the aggregate assess
ment, and for the last two daya It haa
dono nothing but work over this propo
sition. This morning Tax Commissioner
Pollard of the Burlington waa aent for to
assist the board In paaslng upon aome of
the lines. In dividing out the aggregate
to the branches and the main line, the
board took into conalderation tha condition
of the tangible property and Ita bearings
on the earnings of the road aa a whole.
The board haa certainly had a hard time
of It and from the expression let loose by
the railroad aganta and othera some sur
prise haa .been occasioned by the Increase,
the Impression apparently being that the
board would not make the valuation so
high. The figures finally decided upon to
day are very little different from those in
the possession of the board at tha time
of tha republican atate convention when It
waa thought that the convention would
make a recommendation to the board. At
that time Mr. Mortensen became consider
ably worked up and waa anxtoua that the
board make ita report and stand or fall
before the convention on Ita record, but
this proposition was voted down. Mr. Mor
tensen made hie figures and moved their
adoption, but the board refused at that
time to concur with him, though no mem
ber of the board thought he waa far wrong.
At first Auditor Weston was an advocate
of the ayatem of finding the value on the
net earnlnga and thla method would have
made the total In the neighborhood of
$45,000,000.
ODELL DOES NOT SEE PLATT
Governor Doee Not Want Cartelyoa
Named an Committeeman
froaa New York.
NEW YORK, June lb.-Jovernor Odell
haa returned to Newburg without aeelng
Senator Piatt, but not before making It
known that he opposed Senator Piatt's
plan of naming Secretary Cortelyou for
national committeeman from New York.
"I did not see the governor," said Sen
ator Piatt, when spoken to regarding the
niatter, "but I understand both he and
the president do not think It necessary for
Mr. Cortelyou to be elected national com
mitteeman In order to serve aa chairman
of the national Committee. It is a matter
for the New York delegation to settle. I
will see the governor on tha train tnrouto
to Chicago Friday and talk over the mat
ter with him
NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST
Pair Friday aad Warmer In South
Portloni Showers and Cooler at
Maht or aatarday la Xorth Portion!
Fair la South.
Temperature at Omaha lesterdnyt
Hoar. Deer. Hoar. l)ea.
A a. m wo 1 p. m Tl
a. m no a p. m 7"
r a. m IO 8 p. m 711
8 a. m 1 4 p. m 7t
ft a. m 4 5 p. m
10 a. an M p. m 7t
11 a. m 7a 7 p. m 7
II n 7tt 9- T!S
9 p. m 7a
BIGGEST FIGHTJS TO COME
.National Committee Dlsposca of All
Contests txceptinar that of
Wisconsin.
CHICAGO, June 16 After deciding several
state contests on delegates-at-large to the
republican national convention and a num
ber of district disputes, the republican na
tional committee tonight adjourned until
tomorrow morning, leaving the biggest
fight, that of the factions of Wisconsin,
still unsettled.
While there waa much Interest taken In
the settlement by the committee of the
contests in Delaware and Louisiana terri
tory the quarrel in Wisconsin Is regarded
as the most serious In the party, and the
outcome is anxiously awaited by republicans
and democrats alike. '
Some surprise was occasioned when by
a vote of 23 to 18 the committee decided to
seat the delcgates-at-largo from Louisiana
who are opposed to the "Lily White" ele
ment. Not only did the contending party,
the Cohen faction, win In the matter of
Uelegates-at-large, but their reporta were
victorious In practically all of the district
contests In that state. The "Lily White"
faction expected the contest would be de
cided in their favor and the colored dele
gates had practically given up hope of
being auccessful before the committee.
When the vote waa announced the negro
delegatea hurriedly left the committee room
to tell their friends assembled In a room
adjoining. Instantly there were shouts by
all the negroes who were present and it
waa some minutes before tha committee
could proceed with Ita work.
The recognised delegates-at-large are
Walter Cohen, Emit Kuna, Garault Farrar
and H. B. Brown.
The contest on the district delegates was
taken up, but the supporters of ex-Gov-ertior
Warmouth decided not to carry the
district contests further, with but one ex
ception, that of the Seventh Louisiana con
gressional district, and the Cohen men
were seated In all ef the other six districts
in which there had been contests.
Chairman Henry C. Payne whs so far re
covered today that he was able to leave
his hotel to go to the Coliseum, where the
meeting of the national committee waa
held.
The republican national committee today
voted unanimously to place the Addicks
delegates from Delaware on the temporary
roll of the convention.
United States Senator Reed Bmoot of
Utah Is among the arrivals here. Accom
panied by two other delegates to the repub
lican national convention the Mormon
leader reached Chicago today. Ha declined
to ba Interviewed, and spent the day sight
seelngV V n- v - -
The namea of W. P. Aldrich and W. A.
Cook, the' administration delegatea from
the Fourth Alabama district, were ordered
placed on the temporary roll.
WITHDRAWS PUBLIC LANDS
Action Taken Preparatory to In
augurating; Irrigation
. Project.
(From a Staff Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, June 16. (Special Tele
gram.) The acting commissioner of tha
general land office today inatructed the
registers and receivers at the Alliance,
North Platte and Sidney, Neb., land dis
tricts to withdraw from all forma of dis
posal, except restricted homestead entries,
a considerable territory in their respective
districts, to carry out the North Platte
Irrigation project The landa withdrawn
are thus officially described: Alliance dis
trict, township 19 north, range 45 weat.
North Platte district, north half township
It north, ranges 32 to 37; south half of
township 16 north, ranges 32 to 36; all town
ship 15 north, rangea 37 to 40, and south
half of township 16 north, ranges 89 and 40
west. Sidney district, township 16 north,
range 41 west; township 16 north, ranges 41
to 43 west; south half township 17 north,
range 42 west; township 17 north, ranges 43
to 45 west; south half township 18 north,
ranges 43 and 44 west; township 16 north,
ranges 45 to 49 west;- township 19 north,
ranges 46 to 48 west; south half township
20 north, range 48 west.
Captain Asa T. Abbott, V. B. A.,
retired, upon his own application la detailed
aa professor of military science and tac
tloa at the University of South Dakota at
Vermillion.
Upon nil own request Captain John C.
McArtbur, Twenty-eighth Infantry, is re
lieved from duty at the South Dakota Ag
ricultural college, Brookings, to take ef
fcet August 10, and will Join his company.
Postmasters appointed: Iowa Haifa,
Emmett county, F. H. Stoufer, vice Her
bert Moore, resigned, i Wyoming Egbert,
Laramie county, A. Wllklna, vice Ida A.
Gllland, resigned ; Lewlston, Fremont
county, J. H. Artist, vice C. C. Smith, re
slRned. Rural carriers appointed: Nebraska
Steele City, regular, John H. Friday; sub
ntltute, H. B. Friday. Wayne, regular, P. J.
Wads worth; substitute. O. F. Wadsworth.
Iowa Bayard, regular, F. Buardsley; sub
stitute, Ella Beardnley.
CORBIX GOES TO THE PHILIPPINES
After Year aad One-Half There He
Mnr Succeed General Chaffee.
WASHINGTON, June 16. Major General
Henry C. Corbin has been ordered to com
mand the dlvlHlon of tha Philippines, suc
ceeding Major Wade, the order to take ef
fect In October. General Corbin, at pres
ent, commands the division of the Atlantic
and Department of the East, with head
quarters at Governor'a Island, New York.
He will have had about a year and a half
of eervlce In the Philippines when Lieuten
ant General Chaffee reaches the retiring
age. It Is expected that Major General
Corbin will then succeed General Chaffee
aa lieutenant general.
Will Send Frnlt to Japan.
WASHINGTON. June 16 The Depart
ment of Agriculture haa decided to send
to tha Agricultural department of Japan a
large collection of citrus fruits Indigenous
to tha United States. The action la in re
turn for Jspan'a courtesy in adding a sim
ilar collection to the Chicago exposition.
Cnnrslrncr Jours Starts Wri.1,
WASHINGTON, June 16.-C0mmlsiioner
Jones of the Indian "bureau left here today
for the Pacific coast to open bids for In
dian supplies for next year. He will be ab
sent about alx waeka.
DEATH LIST CROWS
Saw York 8taamboat Cataitrof ha Surpatiei
Previous Eatimatas of Victim.
SOME PLACE DEAD AS HIGH AS 1.50C
Poasibla that Invattigit'oa Will Inoreatt
tha Liit to Oca Thouitod.
DIVERS AT WORK ON SUBMERGED HULL
Over Five Hundred J3od!n Have Already
Bean RecoTettd.
STORIES OF CAUSE OF FIRE VARY WIDELY
Complete Death 1.1st Will Show tha
Catastrophe to Be One of Most'
Appallnar In American
History.
NEW YOIlK. June 16. With unceasing
effort search is going on for the bodlea of
those who perished yesterday on the Oen
eral Slocum. What the list of victims will
total scarce nny one dare venture a guess,
but whatever the number may be there la
hardly a parallel In the history of disas
ters where death rama to so many In so
brief a period of time.
Police and health department cfllcliils
have placed tha number at a flgure as htah
as 1,000 and more, but tonight It would
seem that the maximum fatality will not
largely exceed 700.
All day long, from sunrise until darknesa
shut off even tha melancholy satisfaction
of watching for the dead, anxious search
ers kept up their vigilance and at dunk
there had been recovered 636 bodies, for the
greater part women and children. Mothers
who weeks ago hnd planned that fatal out- ,
ing for their children; little onca who had
longed for the coming of tha happy day.
Up to dusk 499 bodlea had passed through
the morgue and of these more than 100
were Identified. The East aide haa Ita
human sympathies aroused to the fullest
extent and down by the river, where the
boats unloaded their dead thousands
gathered throughout tha day. Streets lead
ing to the morgue were blocked, and only
with difficulty could the police keep clear
the passages leading to the long rowa of
coffins for those who came to search for
the missing.
Up the sound, where the hulk of the
General Slocum lies submerged, showing
only a paddlebox, scores of email craft
aided the tuga In grappling for the victims.
Dlvera went down time and time again,
and when their work ended for the day
they declared there were no more bodlea In .
the wreck.
Mr. Barnahy's Statement.
The coroner'a investigation to flx the
responsibility of the disaster will begin on
Monday next. The federal authorities as
well aa the district attorney also will hold
an Investigation. The society for the pre
vention of cruelty to children, through Ita
counsel, haa signified its Intention to puHh
the Inquiry to the utmost. President F. A.
Barnaby of the Knickerbocker Steamboat
company, owners of the Elocum, made a
general denial today of the reporta that
the steamer waa equipped with worthless
hose and life savers, and that the .Ufa
savers were lashed to the ateamer with
wire.
"Tho apparatua for fire fighting on tha
boat at the time of the accident was of
the very best that money could buy," ,aaid
Mr. Barnaby.
"The boat waa thoroughly overhauled
early this year and we spent over 130,000
on refitting machinery, hose, extinguishers,
aa well aa for life preservers. We did all
and more than the law requires. Tha hose
waa all new thla year and waa all right.
The fact that the vessel was grated as a
Al rlHk Is the best evidence that all that
human foresight could provide was done.
The reports that the life rafts and boats
were tied on with ropea and wires Is ab
solutely false.
The life rafta were almply laid on tho
deck and could have been thrown over
board by anyone. The boata wera almply
lashed with thin rope that was not cov
ered with pa(nt and which could easily
have been cut. No wires were used what
ever. I venture to say that many people
were killed simply in the efforts to get at
the boats, 100 fulled in doing what "one
man could have done. We had over 609
life preservers more than the-legal capacity
of the boat, something like 1,000 or 1,600
new ones having been put In this year.
The allegation that they wore old, rotten
and worthless Is not true."
Lose Falls on One Neighborhood.
Unlike the Iroquois theater tire and other
great catastrophes of recent years, where
the woe of the disaster' reached through
out the land, the blow of the Slocum'a
mortality list falls practically upon a little
neighborhood in a great city. 8t Mark's
parish, which furnished nearly every vic
tim, lies within the crowded blocks of the
middle eust aide, and therein toduy there
is hardly a house that Is not one of mourn
ing. The membership of the little Lu
theran church Is practically German or of
German descent, and all of the compara
tively well-to-do cluss.
The race of the burning steamer from
the moment the Are was discovered until
its bows crashed on the shelving beach of
North Brother Island laatt-d little mora
than ten minutes, yet that tlmo sumct
tor deeds of heroism which make the one
bright chapter in the hcurtreniling story.
Brave men, devoted mothers and even
maidens and youths of tender years each
contributed their part to the roll of herolo
acts.
There were rescues In the face of almost
certain death, and useless, but exalted self
sacrifice. The credit for the greatest sav
ing of life is due to the hardy tugboat men
and other followers of the river, who
braved flames and held the noses of their
beats uutiinst the tire-wrapped steamer
until driven off by the awful heat, scorched
and choking. Dead bodies of women with
their burned arms cluxplng close the piti
ful forma of little children and b.thles were
found, their tiny arm enfolding each other
In the stiff embrace of death.
Examples of Heartlessaesa.
But there is a darker side hinted (it
along the river front, where are told stork's
thut seem to be tho inevitable itcconipanl
mtnt of America's great calamities. There
has been no evidence of character siietlllo
enough to fasten It upon individual and
permit of punlxhmcnt, but survivors and
eye-witnesses say that some brutal acts of
StlflHhncss and cowardice on the part of
the Slocuni's crew were seen and thut dis
tress signals from the burning boat Wero
dlxregardel by posting mat. One murt
users that a big white yucht pinned thu
lociii when the bodlea of women and
children were going overboard and did not
even siucken speed. According to this man,
the yacht flew the pennant of the New
J York Yacht club, but not the owuer'e (jets-