Daily RUSSIA VERSUS JAPAN. Fullest news of the conflict in The Bee. ROOSEVELT VERSUS PARKER. Read all about it daily in The Bee. KSTAIILISHI:!) JUXK 1S7I. OMAHA, MONDAY MORXINU, (KTOHEl. 1. 11)04. SINULK COPY TIIKi;i: CKXTS. The Omaha Bee OFFICERS TO BLAME Beport of Commission on ths Burning of the Ganeral Slocum. INSPECTORS ARE HELD R ? IBLE Eecommnds Discharge of Men 5; fail to Do Their Duty. . " S FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS L ?f U 5 Deck Crew Composed of Incompet VI "i l Who Are Poorly Trained. " PRESIDENT REVIEWS THE EVIDENCE He Directs that Findings of the Hoard lie Cnrrleii Out ami SuKwests ( luniira In Present Law. WASHINGTON, Oct. lj.-The report of the United States commission of lnvesttga tlun on the disaster to the steamer Gen eral Slocum, uppolnted June 23 last by the then secretary of commerce ami labor, Air. Cortclyou, was made public today. In connection with the Important findings of the commission presented in the report. President Roosevelt, to whom the report was submitted, has written a letter to Sec retary Victor II. Metcalf of the Depart ment of Commerce und Labor, briefly sum marizing the report and directing him to carry into effect the recommendations of tho commission. He also directs that Hubert S. Rodle, supervising Inspector of tho Second district, steamboat Inspection Service, and James A. Dumont and Thomas H. Barrett, locul Inspectors In charge of tho port of New York, be discharged from the service, the commission holding them directly responsible for ttie laxity of the steamboat inspection to which the Slocum disaster was directly attributable. Commissioner Uhler dissents to that por tion of the report which places responsi bility on the supervising inspector of ths Second district, Rober. 8. Rodle; otherwise he concurs with the commission. Appondcd to the repoit Is a report from tho Department of Justice on the criminal proceeding connects! wita the disaster and the life preserver cases. The president's letter to Secretary Met calf follows. President Kooitrrlt'i Letter. WHITE HOI.BE, WASHINGTON. Oct. 12. 1!H)4. My Dear Sir: 1 have received tho report of the "commission of the I'nlted Slates on the investigation of the Central Slocum disaster," and the report of the Department of Justice, of October 12, re capitulating what has been done by the Department of Justice In connection with th: criminal proceedings taken against various Individuals because of their con nection with the disaster. I send you here with both reports. Punitive action by tho fovernment can, of course only take two orms: One, that of legal proceedings against those either within or without ths service; ana, two, removal from ofllco of those within the servic. It appears that the Department of Justice has already sj curec Indictments against the mnster ard captain of the Slocum and agalnjt the managing directors of the Knickerbocker Steamboat company, to which company the Slocum belonged, for misconduct. nsgll ' griiee and inattention to duty by the cap tain, , arid : fur aiding and abetting therein by the mnnuglng directors. Furthermore, the Department of Justice has secured In dictments against Henry Lundberg and John VV. Fleming, the Hss-intant Inspectot of the Bteamhoai Inspection service, who actually Inspected the Slocum. for fraud, misconduct and Inattention to duty. Lund berg had been appointed mer ly on proba tion in tho service and has been dropped. There can, of course, be no fuither action taken about Fleming until his trial has been finished.; although It does not follow that nn acquittal would prevent the department from dlsvhurglng him from the service. In addition the Department of Justice has secured indictment of the manager and 1 three employes of the Nonpareil Cork works' of Camden. N. J., for putting- upon the market compressed cork blocks for use In mRklng life preservers, each of. which block J contained In its center a piece of bnr Iron weighing: several ounces.' This last offense was of so heinous a character that it In difficult to comment nn It with proper self-restraint. It appears that th national legislature, has ntver enarled a law piovldlng In set terms for the punish ment of this particular species of Infamy doubtless because It never entered the head of any man thrt so gross an Infamy could be perpetrated. I nuggcar that you' report this whole matter t,, congress, transmit ting theso two reports, and at that time calling special attention to the need of Im posing an ndeqnnte penalty for the making or selling of defective life saving appli ances. Removes Three Inspectors. So much for what the Department of Justice has done in reference to the disas ter. Rut In addition to ;lie men put on trial by the Department of Justice, action should be taken ugalnst those employes whose responsibility for the stale of iliiug producing the accident has been brought out in the report of the comuiisiu.. Ac cording to this report it appeals that Ul addition to the t w assistant Inspectors who aie now on trial, the supervising eii spector of the Second district. Air. Rodle und the two local inspectors of the port of New York, Messrs. Dumont and Bcr rett, should all three be removed for laxity and tu gleet 111 pel forming their duties As regards the conduct of Mr. Hoilic. Mr. Cider eliss-inU Horn, Hie conclusions of the four oi her commissioners. 1 agree with the conclusions of the other lour. Laxity and neglect, where the consequences may be so terrible as they have proved to be In this case, cannot Iki passed over even where there liar been good conduct In other respects on the part of the men Implicated. Accordingly the three utllcluls iiained will be removed from the service dureover, you will please direct their suc cessors In ottlce at once to conduct a thor ough examination of the entire inspection force of the port of New York, with tho object of weeding nut ail the men whom such examination shall show to be unlltted to perform the very arduous and re sponsible, duties of their positions. You will also make such changes in the regulations us are recommended by the commission r.nd you will therefore qall a perk: I meeilog of the board of supervising Inspectors lor this purpose. You will also lay laifore the congress a request that tho law 17e changed In the various particulars recommended by the commission. 1 wish particular emphasis laid upon the proposal of the commission that there be created by law a special body thoroughly to in vestigate the laws which are sup'pnned to provide for the safety of passengers on steamboats, especially on excursion boats, where the prime causes of danger are the overcrowding and the flimsy and hlgnly Inflammable character of the superstruc tures. Very truly yours, T 1 1 lit ) 1 0 1 li ROOS E V EI.T. Hon. V. H. Mitcalf. Secretury of Com Ineice and Labor. Fire Hose Itotteu. The commission sharply criticises the fire lighting upparalus, saying: "There Is a strong probability that the tire would have been controlled hud the (Ire hose been of required statutory strength." Many of the life preservers, It U said, were bad, und further that only a small percentage of the passengers used them. "The Inefficiency und poor quality of the deck crew of the Vessel, doubtless typical of the majority of the crews of excursion steamers," says the report, "Is one of the essential facts that caused the loss of so many Uvea While it Is trus that It. Is the business of the steamboat Inspection ser vice to see thut proper safety appliances us required by. law are provided, this by no means relieves the owners from a simi lar legal and moral obligation, nor from the liability for the maintenance of proper crew disvlpllne.1 The commission is of ths opinion that the owners of the General (Contiuusil on Second .) COFFEE DRINKING IN ENGLAND Systematic Effort of Merchants to Pop ularise the Mererage Among the Masses, LONDON, Oct. 1C (Special Cablegram to The I;.-e.) A trade movement that has been p-.-reeptiblo this week at the grocers' exhibition at the RoaI Agricultural hn'.l has been in the direction of drawing atten tion to coffee, and in various ways the retailer has had It rather specially i brought before him as u branch of his trade, he nilEht develop auvantngeously. The revenue returns which have been Is sued this week for the past year demon strate conclusively thut we ate not a coffee drinking nation, and that the overage, consumption per head of it is less than three-quarters of a pound to be exact .71 against oe-r six pounds per head of tea. Moreover, while the tiicnnhil averages ot consumption per head havo shown a steady rise In tin, that of coffee stands at a pro hibitive pine; on the contrary a study of wholesale rates would go to show that u good quality ough'. to be obtainable from Is a pound upward. The duty on it is only ISid a pound und it would appear thai the year's crops have come up to expectations. Cocoa generally has been more largely drank, and in view of complications which may reduce pioiits upon Hie bale of t'il- commodity, there Is likely to be In the near future a strong t--iTi.it to restore 'u coffee some of the flavor which it has lost. With regard to the probabilities of a re- vlval In the demand tor coffee, li is thought likely that a great Impetus in this direction will rtsull In the increasing use that is being made of It in the royal navy, where it is now being extensively substituted for cocou. This last was for many years one of tho few Items thut the admiralty manu factured for itself, which it did at the Deptford victualling yard, turning out a most excellent cocoa, alike as to sustain ing qualities, purity and flavor. But with the alternations of "dietary for the sea service, which came Into force a few months ago, coffee was assigned a prom inent place, ami tha manufacture of cocoa Is being steadily diminished. It will give an idea of the extent to which coffee Is now In use In the navy to mention that a contract wus recently placed with Messrs. Henderson, Simpsor. & Co.'s wholesale firm for COO.OnO pounds of coffee, to be packed und prepared ready for making. The bulk was to bs put up in pound tins, and by means of special processes of rousting and grind! it' beiore It wus packed in air-tight cases, full guarantee could be given that It would keep fresh and fragrant for two years. Il has found special favor on tho torpedo boat destroyers from its con venient stowage. Cocoa Is still served for supper, but coffee Is now vtry gen-rally used for breukfust, and It is much liked by nil ratings. Indeed, this approval Is re flected In an appreciable Increase, In the or ders for coffee that come from the dock yard towns, showing that It Is being more drunk by tho men when they are away from their ships. In the nnvy there would be adequate, If not very elaborate uppllar.cc-s for tho pre paration of coffee, und It Is tho absence of these in private houses that has mili tated against Its popularity In the home. There Is no denying that to make good coffee Involves mors trouble than does tea or even cocou, and It is the miserable decoc tions which are often served that have done much to discredit It. Few housewives hore will allow a sulllcleht quantity to make a satisfactory cupful, whether at breakfast or after dinner, while what Is used should be freshly roasted and ground. Wise Sn their generation, those who wish to pro mote the Increased use of coffee havo turned their attention to the Improvement of the accessories desirable for its prepara tion. A particularly simple and clever lit tle machine for roasting the berries has at tracted much notice nt Islington this week. The apparatus Is connected with the kitchen gas pipe by a few feet, of rubber tubing and the coffee, In any quantity re quired Is placed In a small cylinder, which Is set In revolution by simple clockwork meehanlsn. This works for the exact period required for the sufficient rousting of the berries before It runs down, nnd they are then ready for grinding, where again were to be noted several amendments upon clumsy and old-fashioned methods. DISTRESS AMONG LONDON POOR Approaching- Winter Will Prove One of Crest Hardship for the Pependert Classes. LONDON, Oct. 10 -(8r-cla; Cablegram to The Bee.)-Spoiklng nn hehaK' Of ths church, army nnd a'so as one of the trus tees of Ihe Houseless Poor society, Mr Colin F. Campbell this week fully confirmed the view that the approaching winter wus likely to prove one of exceptional severity for the poorest of the poor. Climatic con siderations have i:ttl to d with the prob lem. Tlio season will be one of hardship, even If there be no frost. It would almost seem that the volume of destitution it- ths metropolis has Increased beyond the means to the difficulty of obtaining suitable site for the necessary buildings snd Wbor yards. The church army has Its own plan of dealing Willi the houseless and hungry, and its rresent policy was thus outlined by the honorable r-ecretury of Its social depart ment staff: "During the summer months," said Mr. Campbell, "our labor homes have been without exception, full, and I have never known that to be the case during the twelve years that I have been here. It has been very difficult to And accommoda tion for tho people who have come. Last winter at Edgware roud alone we Investi gated l.S'15 applications, mostly of married men. and the Instance of special distress throughout the metropolis dealt with at a dozen centers by the Church army was j li.OM). I do not believe. In the shelter prin ciple myself, without in any way dgpreclat Ing the shelters of the Salvation Army. I want to do something more permanent than taking people in night after night, giving them a bed, nnd going on In thut way Indefinitely. I believe In requiring the performance ofa certain amount of work. "In a word, the policy ( f the Church army is to put every person asking aid. except 111 a few cases where humanity manifestly li-quiiv-n m n'liiiMUi C Wie TUIC, to ft labor test The giving of wages for honest work has been strictly adhered to, both as the means of sifting out the loafer from those In real distress and of Inducing habits I of work. Bald Mr. Campbell: "We pro vided for the special distress applicants temporary work at labor yards, at which these married men were puld 2s fid a day. They actually earned about la 3d st wnod rhopplng, the balance being met out of a speclul fund. Each man was given work three or four days a --eek whilst the dis tress lasted. We shall have lo continue thut system this coming winter, but I do not know to what extent ". W. A. Hogcra o; ,,l!hince nnd Mr. and Mrs. John Gibbous uf Walnut srs at tiw Dvlluu DIRECT PRIMARY A SUCCESS Late Experiment in Douglas County is Generally Commended. INTERESTED PARTIES ENDORSE THE PLAN Some Snaaestlnns for Modifications Are Made, bnt the Haste Idea Is Looked t pon as the Proper Thing. The recent experiment with direct pri mary nominations, Instituted by the re publican county committee for the selec tion itf lli firtiiTitv nnfl Irff I -dative tickets. seems to have met with general unnrnvnl Hflr" '- lave ben it of the The disposition of those who hav party machinery from Interviews here- ! with presented Is very plalnlv against going; back to the system of delegate conven- lUtllll II I Vtllll lllO IIIIlliIRtlln,,. vj , tiotis. In which nominations are secured by barter and trade, nnd In favor of per- fectlng the plan of direct nominations by legislation coaled after the method known us the Minneapolis system. The questions propounded are: "In the '.Ight of the re cent primaries, do you prefer direct nomi nations? If so, what Improvements would you suggest ?" Charles F. Tuttle. Secretary of County Committee The direct nomination plan is certainly ar. improvement over the dele - gi'te convention plan. While Irregularities I 1,;1V0 ,,cn eharged in the recent primary, the on V thing brougnt out is m '.i na- tloiieei lug was done nearer tho polls than the law permits, bjt I have never known of a prlniarj or fl regular e'ectl ni, either, at which this has not occumd. There were no Irregularities which were at ull mate rial. No republican was prevented from voting und no ballot was counted dlf feiently from the was the voter marked It. The elictloti hoards werei madj up of rep resentatives of all factions and the en rollment, books were more perfect than at any previous primary. I hnve not heard of a trlngli case where a registered repub lican failed to iind his name when he applied for ballots. As to tho canvass of the voie. all complaints were given a full hearing nnd fair decision. Imagine what would have occurred had a contest been presented before one of the old delegate conventions, to be decided by tho cre dentials committee, while the convention was waiting for a report. Perhaps the rules should bo made more definite at cer tain points, but beyond this the recent primary cou?d not be greatly Improved upon. Jcfferls lias a Suggestion. A. W. Jeffens, Co.if. ; "sslnnul Chairman I have always been in .'avt- of direct pri maries, believing that in any form they constitute the best way to secure the free and correct expression of the will of the people. 1 think delegates should bo elected to execute the decision of the voters, prin cipally because this gives a r;ireseiUative body to decide contests, and such decisions would be more popular than if made by a committee or board. I incline towards the Minnesota law, which provides for prima ries on registration duy. N. P. Dodge, Jr.,- Nominee for Repre sentative I am in favor of direct primaries and I think, with the exception of the fraudulent ballots, the recent primaries were as fair as any ever held In Douglas county. Some provision snouia ue maue for recounting the ballots before the offl- i clal returns are declared. The recounting should be done by a board. The direct primaries should be made permanent by legislative enactment and not left to tho will of tho party leaders. If I am elected to the legislature I will try to pass a law similar to the Minnesota law, which also provides for registration on primary day. Michael IjCe, Nominee for Representative I decidedly favor the direct primaries. The only Improvement I can suggest Is that a rule be made requiring that any attempt to question or rontr-st a ballot shall first be made while the votes are being counted by the election boards, nnd the objection Plod with the canvassing board, so thnt It can have definite and exact knowledge In order to act lntelligentl upon questions In volving recounting the. ballot llurbank Not Satisfied. Byron O. Burbank. Former County Chalr man My Judgment is thut the system of direct primaries as Invoked and carried forward In the city of Omaha, nnd in Doug las county Is not a success. The machin ery of the republican party has not yet worked out a proper plan for a direct primary. My Judgment Is that a delegate convention Is the fairest form of a con vention that can be held In this city and county. The laws of the state and na tion are- enacted by delegates. A conven tion composed of delegates Is analogous to al! legislative bodies and "when honestly conducted will produce the same satisfac tory result. that are reached by state und national legislative bodies I have never favored the Jefferls rules. T. W. P.lacklurr. Former Congressional Chairman I have always favored u direct piimnry system, iut I am opposed to minority nominations and to machine man ipulation of the V! Kots at the primaries and ji the vount i.fterwards. I certainly think no direct primary can be satisfac tory which makes It possible for fraud to be perpetrated without recourse. Charles I'nltt, Former CHy Chairman I favor direct primaries, but I am In favor of having two primaries held for the nomi nations in order that the successful candi dates may get a majority vote. At present nominations by plurality vote Is possible. The two highest candidates In the first primary should contest again to decide which one the majority of the party favors. Ilest Plan Known. W. W. Slahaugh, Nominee for County At torneyNo bitter plan can be devised for nomination than that In which each voter expresses his preference. C. I.. Saunders Nominee Tor Btate Sen atorThe direct primary Is a success In my opinion and a much better plan than the old way of making nominations. If any changes are made they should be along the lines of the Minnesota laws. Nelson C. Pratt I am In favor of direct primaries, but believe that the Minnesota system whereby the primaries of both par ties aa-e held on the same day under state supervision, should be adopted. Dr. H- A. Foster, Nominee for Represen tative I believe In the direct primary sys tem. I think Improvement shonld bo made In the way the names go on the ballot and that candidates should draw their rispec- tlve places by lot so as to obviate arbl trary advantages that may be gained by alphabetical arrangement. C. E, Herring, Former City Chairman I favor the principle of direct primary, . hut believe that practical results are In favor of the Minnesota plan, of a flxed date for primary for all parties on the first day of registration, when each voter can select tho party primary ballot he desires with out questioning his party affiliation. Charles A.. Goss. Former County Chair mn As a general principle I favor direct primaries, but I have not been sufficiently In touch with their workings to analyse the results and to suggeat improvements. j world's fnr attendance arly Two Militias See the" Big Show First Two Weeks In Octeber. ST. LOfIS, Oct. 19 The following state rnent of the attendance at the World's fair 1 was clven out today by the department of ! admissions: Monday, October 10.. i uedny W( dnesday Thursday Friday Saturday 117.1" K'.'.m: ih.i.:'7i P'S.JMi l.'3.7 II lii.-'ti: Total U. 9,771 Recapitulation : April one day May. twenty-six days . 1.i'el.::sl . M;m.v ..a.n::i."i57 . :.uss.7i l ...1.iil,s7.t . 1.W.V0I7 June, twenty-six days ' July, twenty-seven divs I August, twenty-seven days . September, twenty-six days October, thirteen dais , I Total H,:;i6.'i.n Tho Louisiana ruih.ise exposition has made the seventh of jthc stipulated IW.otio ! mcms on , .,e go . i in u man n .,', turn, which was advanced by the federal authorities a few we-ks previous to the opening of the Worlds fair. This pay ment, together with the percentage of pay ments made previous to the lirst stipulate! payment, leaves a tnl;nce of $KlM,sru.45 due the I'nlted States government. i KANoAb CITYSTOCK SHOW i i Great Exhibition e Cattle, Horses, .Sheep nnd Sirln. flcctns This Aflerm i. KANSAS CITY, Oct. i . -The American Royal Live Stock show widen opens here tomorrow to last ull week, will be the greatest live stock exhibition ever held in the west, with the execution of the World's fair live stock show, and practically all the leading prize winners at the World's fair show ure here. C' isignnients of show cattle, horses, swine and sheep have been coming in for several days und the entries In the cattle und horse departments ure much larger than nny previous show In this city. All the lending bleeders of fine cattlo of Missouri. Kansas, Iowa, Texas. Indiana Hnd Minnesota are already on the ground. The horse department will Include nearly all the champion percperon. Fr. ncli coach and Belgian stallions cj both 'continents. The Judges who will pa- on these classes are men of national reputation. Prof. C. F. Curtis, dean of the Iowa State Agricultural college, will judgo the pcrcheron class. R. B. Ogl'vie. superintendent of the horse department of the International Live Stock exposition wbl tie the ribbons on the Bel gian stnlliors. CLEVICLAXO I Will i; TO ATTEND j Former President AVI II Not Come to Hcfornl Club's Keeeptloii. NEW YORK. Oct. lii. A letter received j from former President Cleveland addressed to Everett ,AhboU of the New York Re I form club was mad public today. The letter follows: j PRINCKTON, N. J., 'Oct. 1?. My Dear Sir: In answer to your letter of yesterday I have to suy that while I am In complete sympathy with ull th Reform club may do in furtherance of the pending cnmpuign and in favor of your jKpfendid nominee, for governor, ant wane rut. ,iiut-ti,s with pe culiar satisfaction the services of the club In times pust, I regret that my enpuge- menLs are suen as to -ender it impossible for me to bo nresont at the reception to Judge Henlck appointed for the ltsth Inst. Vourj very truly, C.ROVKR CLEVELAND. Parker Cioes to-cvr York Taesclny. E.iOPl'S, N. Y.. Oct It!. Judge Parker will go to New York Tuesday morning and will return to Rosemount Thursday night. His callers today were William F. Shechan, chairman of the democratic executive com mittee, and Charles M. Preston of King ston, chuirmun of the democratic, com mittee of l ister county. Judge Parker and his family went to Rondout today and at tended service at Rev. C. M. Hail's church. Watson Will Follow liryan. N.W YORK, Oct. lii. Thomas K. Wat son, candidate for president on the people's party ticket, will this week follow William J. Bryan In Indiana, speaking In Vln cennes on the lUth and in Indianapolis on tho llith. On October "2 he will speak In Purkursburg, W. Va., and on the :Mth he will be the principal speaker nt a mass meeting to be held by the people's party at the Grand Central palace In this city. FEDERAL OFFICER Pl.EAU t'll.TY Clerk Fined :KH for I siiik Olllcial Envelopes for Private IJuNlness. SIOUX FALLS, S. D., Oct. 16. (Special.) Donald R. Osborn, formerly clerk in the Indian service at Yankton Indian agency, appealed before Judgu Carland of the irnlted States court In this city and pleaded guilty to one count of an indictment charg ing him with having used ofllcial envelopes for private business without attaching the necessary postage stamps. Judge Carland imposed a tine of $300, which was paid, und trie case against the defendant was dis missed. After Osborn had furnished bonds for his appearance before a federal grand Jury he was transferred to un Indian agency In Indian territory, where he yet makes his headquarters. Duel lo Death at Dillon, W o. CHEYENNE, Wyo.. Oct. Hi. (Special.) A duel to the death was fought ut Dillon, a small mining town in the southern part of Carbon county, last night, between John Lemon and his brother-in-law, George Reed. The latter protected himself with his Injured. The men were drinking und quar reled. Lemon seized a knife nnd attacked Reed. The latter protected himself with his bands and the pair struggled for possession of the bowie knife. Finally Reed reached a rifle. He was unable to fire a shot, but succeeded' In dealing Lemon a fata! blow on the head with the butt of the weapon. The dead man was a wealthy ranchman on Snake river. Reed Is under arrest. MlasInK Hunting; Party Found. ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo., Oct. K (Spe clul.) The party of hunters composed of Toklo Courtney, A. C. Stephenson, Nels Anderson und Harry Schultz, have been found on the prulrles near Ihe Big Sandy, where they became lost Wednesday after noon during a storm. All were exhausted from hunger and exposure and wandering in the storm, but they will be all right In a fe-w days. The men tell Interesting stories of how they got separated und fin ally lost In the storm. The party of res cuers and hunters will reach the city to night. H4I.TK; Htll'AIlHOX IMS RAILED Copenhagen Heporla It as Paasluir Danish Islands. LIB AC, Oct. 16 The Baltic squadron put to sea ut 1 o'clock this morning. COPENHAGEN. Oct. 16,-During the day the Baltic squadron passed Bornholm Is land In two sections. It comprised a total of six battle-ships, eleven criiln rs and numerous smaller uafl. and was going uol luuask OFFICIAL VEIL IS LIFTED Russian Army Falling Back Upon Harbin Fighting as it Retreats. STORY OF UAO YANG IS DUPLICATED All Hopes of the World Heralded Advance I pou Port Arthnr is Abandoned Streams Hank llluh. (Copyright by New York Herald Co., 1?4.) ST. I'KTEKSIH'R'5, Oct. Pi. (New York Herald Cablegram-Special Telegram to The Bee. A terrific rainstorm on the sixth day has put an end to tho continuous fighting, I during which whole battalions have been completely wiped out and both sides hnve fought like lions. Blood has flowed In a manner which has made the previous bat tles of the war child's play. Such was the stubbornness of the fighting that con stantly, after every man und horse at tached lo batteries was killed, other aol dlers ran up nnd fought like demons, wag ing small pitched battles for their pos session. General Oku ha reached a point north along Ihe Manda- n road on a level with Mukden to the eastward. The Russian cen tral army has been forced back to the Sha ho, which river has been the scene of some bitter battles. Tho one hope upon which Russians are I buoyed tip Is the taking of Tourmellng, the crest of which dominates a road leading to the rear of tho main fortllled position of the Yfntal mines. General Grlppenberg Is hnstening his de parture In the hope of seeing his son, who was bo seriously wounded at Llao Y'ar.g thut It has been necessary to amputate both his legs. At Port Arthur the counter trenches of the Japanese are sj near to those of the Russinns that the combatants can hear each other talk nd throw bombs nd even stones from one to the other. Opinion gains ground here that the relief of Port Arthur Is hopeless and that the place should surrender so that the lives of the noble defenders may be saved. KoiiropntUlii Falling Hack. ST. PETERSBURG. Oct. 17.-3:46 a. m. The official veil was today lifted from tho ghastly tragedy uround Shakhe, but even the official account, supplemented by num erous press dlspatcheo, leaves much un certainty as tc the situation. Out of the fragmertary masi of Information at hand I. Is possible to conclude that the costly withdrawal and retreat from Liao Yang is being duplicated upon an even grander scale, after mors desperate lighting and heavier losses. General ouropatkln's story leaves the Russians still tenaclouKsly hold'.ng the north bank of the Shakhe rive.-, but gen eral belief is that this Is only the desperate finals of one of the grej'east military. dramas of history and that the Russian army as a whole Is retiring towards Muk den, having suffered, at most conservative estlmatees, a loss of over 30,000. Of the left flank, which was one ot the most important points In the lino of buttle, absolut-dy nothing Is heard, which leaves the Inference that It Is not In n position to communicate with the remainder of the army. Taking; Wounded to llarhln. All the wounded fire being carried to Harbin, further north. It Is understood that the correspondents ulso have been ordered to Harbin, which Indicates that the retreat will not even stop ut Tie puss. All hopes of the world-heralded udvance to Port Arthur have been abandoned. The weather conditions ure even worse than during the retreat from Llao Yang. Streams are bank high and fords "are lm- passauio, out u is unpossinie to say now this will uffect the final situation. It may prove itussias saivuuon oy preventing u Japanes-j puisult. On the other hand however, If, the Russians are on the wrong side, the flooded rivers may only emphu size the complctncss of the the disaster. Another serious fact that remains unde termined Is the ammunition supply. Seven days of furious fighting must have greatly depleted the supply of both armies. Official circles express greut confidence that Gen eral Kouropatkln Is better off In this re spect, but at last accounts the Japunese were bombarding us if they were confident of un Inexhaustible supply. The ofllcial story of the battle says that tho Japanese made u determined effort to break the Russian center Friday night, but this, it seems, may be a clerical or telegraphic error for Thursday. Simultane ously the Japanese launched a heavy as sault against the village of Shakhe, which had already been the scene of so many furious attacks nnd counter attacks. The Russians were forced to evueuate the vil lage, but heroically recaptured tho posi tion. Tills brought reserves of both sides Into action, but whether the whole of the Veserves of either side were engaged Is not clear. In any event the Russians were again and finally driven out, making five times that Shakha hud changed hands In the course of the battle. The Russians then retired to a new position north of Shakhe. General Kouropatkln says that Friday night was passed In comparative quiet, but that Saturday saw an Immense con centration of Japanese on the Great Man darin road, where tho Russian butteries were vigorously playing In un effort to hold them In check. The reesult of Satur day's light bus not been officially given, but there Is every evidence that was of tho most severe character. Itun Down l- Train, RED CLOI D, Neb., Oct. 16.-(Speclul Telegram.) Fritz Blrkner, an old tailor of this city, was struck by the eastbound passenger and Instantly killed this after noon. He was walking along the track one half-mile from town. The engineer whistled und expected him to leave the track until It was Impossible, to stop the train. Drive Ends at Police Nlallnn. Whllo driving around town during the evening Ixittie W illiams and Mamie John son, both residing at lHHg North Ninth street, manugid to get more than unusually tanked up." Winn night fell the two cliiste the dark spois under t lie Tenth street viaduct In which to drive and they were having a greut old time when tlui rig hit an Iron girder and both the girls w.re deposited in muddy pools Nothing daunted ihey started a concert and had 1. mn singing for half an hour when ar rested. 1 ..minutlon showed the rig had been completely demolished, the horse cut in se'-eiai places hiui in e (jay ii.'ni h muss nf n ml. I lie rig lo-longed to De li !!'. " i ' .T.l::,"?.t.'a.". 1','.".rk " up, dialed with being drunk uud disorderly NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST Fair a n il Fair. (older Monday. Tuesday Trmperat nre at Omaha Yesterday! lloor. I If i llnnr, l)r. ft a. m . I n. m . 7 a. in . Ha. m. 1 a. nt. to a. m. 1 1 n . m . Its m.. . . 71 Tl TT TS 7 Tl rn 71 ;. HO " :o lit IKI ra T.t BATTLE AI.OM THE t'EM'I'.K Russians Fall Mark After SI D.ljn' Slrennoua Flaht. MFKPF.N, Oct. 15. Via Peking.-! With the Russian Army of the Center.) A iter six days of the hardest kind or lighting, this section of the Russian army fell back last nlgit on the Shakhe river and Is now holding a position on the north side of that streHin. The fighting, which com menced rhortly after noon, October 9, has been In progress continuously ever since. On October 9 the Russians ndvanced to the southeast crossing of the Shakhe river, thence to Hamaluug. twenty miles south east of Mukden and ten miles north of Ymtnl. On the hills around Hamantnng, the Japanese had planted four batteries. I'pon the advance of the Russians, these batteries retired to the southward across a narrow valley which runs east and west und Joined the main Japanese force on the hills beyond. In the lighting around Ham antnng a few Japanese prisoners were taken. The Russluns followed the Japa nese across the valley, taking positions In the foothills, from which the nrtlllery shelled the Japanese force while the In fantry advanced through the defiles. On October 10 the artillery duel continued, ths Russians advancing slowly. During the night the Japanese changed their positions and at daylight enfiladed the trenches, pouring a terrific shrapnel fire upon tho Infantry composed of one regiment, only a remnant of which was left. From this on tho Japanese took the offensive the en flre of the llth, throwing shrapnel and shlmoso powder shells among the Infantry and artillery. The Russians held tena ciously to their positions. Early In the day the Japanese commenced to work around the Russian left and succeeded in dropping a fe w shells upon the road and In the villages where the transport and re serves were gathered. The Japanese had the range of the road und vllhiKe perfectly. They compelled the men and wagons to take to the fields. This shelling did little dnmage beyond disconcerting the men and horses. Additional guns were sent for ward to protect the left, while the bat teries withdrew across the plains to tho hllU on the north side This gave the Japanese possession of a high hill on the south side, from which they shelled the valley through which the Russians had advanced during the evening. The Japa nese apparently suffered greatly from tho Russian Are. The morning of the 12th found lltt'e change in t le positions of tho armies ex cept thnt the Japanese had worked further around to the left. Probably the greatest artillery fight of the battle took place Oc tober 12. Batteries were placed on every available hill and at the same time regi ment after regiment of Infantry was td. Lola. .Ulk PULu Jiy ,.tuUh.sidej! mly to be thrown bock, shattered nnd torn. It Is Impossible as yet to estimate the loss of life. During the night a heavy rainstorm occ.iirred In tho midst of which the Japa nese Infantry charged. They were met by Russian Infantrymen In the darkness, which was lighted only by flashes of guns, the bursting of shells and the streaks of lightning. The men fought hand-in-hand, the Jupunese regiment being finally driven back. The thunder and rain ooutiinud all the morning of the I3th, but notwithstand ing the guns opened fire promptly at day light. The Russians fought stubliornly, but retired slow'y. Tho Japanese continued to I threaten the Russian lift. Toward evening the Japanese ojiened with all their guns on I tho Russian positions, th,- shells dropping j like hail in the field nnd on the hills. The j morning of the 14th found the Russians j with their backs to the Sakhe river, acros.-i which transports had lioen withdrawn dur ; lug the night. Fighting continued from positions nil during the day of the .4tlli whllo thl? Russan reinforcements, took ul) positions imon the nil s to th north of the river Another thunderstorm broke shortly after noon, flooding the streams und turning tho roads Into sens und by evening the main Russian force had with drawn ucross the Shakhe river. The Japa nese shells were Jropplng within a short distance of tho river on the li-ft. The fighting recommenced at daylight to day, the boom of guns being distinct y heard In Mukden. The whole Russian army is slowly retiring and fighting every Inch of thu way. Whe-i. the Associated Press cor respondent caine north today there ap peared no danger of any part of the army being cut off. In an Informal talk which the Associated I're-si correspondent hnd with General Kou ropatkln In the lit Id just before the battle commenced, he spoke In g'owlng terms of thu bravery of the Japanese, saying that they were" a gallant foe nnd also that they were most correct in the observance of the rules of war In this respect he said It was the moat pleasant war he hud ever been engaged In. IIATTI.E IS VII 1,1 OIIKIIUKII All Reports Aire that Fiuht Already Overshadows Lino Vault. ST. PETERSBURG, O.-.t. 16.-2 a. m.-The latest report from the front brings the story of the groat battle up to Saturday morning, when the fighting at Shakhe wus renewed with unabated vigor. The Rus sians are holding their position at Shakhe and apparently neither they nor the Japa nese are able to advance. All uccounts agree that the battle of Llao Yang Is already being overahudowed In fierceness and the number of casualties. It Is now the sixth day of desperate fighting and the Issue Is still In the balance. The feeling In St. Petersburg Is one of extreme gloom und depression. The task of official news, the undoubted checking of General Kouroputkln's aggressive move ana the enormous Russian losses In men and guns, compared with thu optimistic, reports from Tokio, all combine to prepare the public for anything short of a total rout of tho Russians. Nevertheless tho reports of the ncwspaper'coi respondents nt the front, while admitting the heavy losses of the Russian troops and their retreat beyond the Shakhe river, describe the sol diers as lighting with undiminished ardor. One dispatch ev?n Lints at extremely en couraging news from the eastern Hank, but counsels patience und ofllcial confirma tion beiore ace-eptlng It us true. There Is u noteworthy absence of bitter ness against General Kouropatkln, und the belief Is prevulent tliut he was compelled to assume the offensive. A majoilty of the people ure Inclined to regard lilin as a victim of circumstances and ull admire the skillful manner in which he again removed his forces as soon as he realized the dun ger of pressing ths advance. The report thut he personally assumed command of three dlvislotiu In order to cuver the retreat finds widespread cri-eietica. LULL IS THE BATTLE Both Armies Nearly Worn Out and Thera Was Little Fighting Saturday. HOSTILITIES RESUMED YESTERDAY Russians Near Mukden and Will Be Alia to Extricate Themselves. CZAR'S LOSS PLACED AT THIRTY THOUSAND Field Marshal Oyama Reports Finding 0n Thousand Dead Russians. NO FIGHTING AS MATTER OF PRIDE Mnnrhnrla Is Fortiotlr n nnd Kooro patklti'a .Men Feel thnt They Must ln at Least On , Hat tie. MUKDEN, Oct. 17. The battle was r howtd and continued throughout tlid night, being especially heavy ut midnight. Tha Russians retain their position along th Shakiie liver und have made frequent at tacks upon the Japanese, rnpturing six of the hitter's gnus. The eastern army is helping the western forces. There- has been very heavy artillery fire today. The fight ing is now centered on the plain. (Inlet on Saturday. MUKDEN, Oct. 16. There was a lu'l lit the battle yestrrduy, but lighting was con tinued today on the right. Th army Is south-we-st of here ten miles. It is now certain that the army will be able lo extrlcats itself. The losses amount to 3'VA. It has be-en a. bigger battle than Llao Yang. Tho Russians ure attacking on the right to day. Many ItUKslan OIHcors Slain. Evening. The firing to the southwest Is less violent. The men are tired out and lood has been insufficient. Every available) sun nr,d man ure being usej. The troops have behaved most gallantly, hurling them selves repeatedly ugaiust lmpieguabie pa slilons. The heavy storm of October U added to the misery of tho troaps. There is givnt depression, but stolid tenacity Uoiong the men. There has been great mio ruice of officers. The piain occupied by the retiring Rus sians is covered with bursting shrapnel. The gunners shovelled shells into tha breeches of thu guns us stokers shovel coul into furnaces. Howitzers ure used by the eastern army. The Russian guns have superior range and burst shrapnel at o.ouo yards. There is a Hcarcity of reliable maps. Two divisional commanders have lc.it their chief staff of ficers, one of them "oslng killed and many commanding officers u.ivo met death he roically leading -hair regiments. Shrapnel fell r.ep.r General Kouropatkln. He showed desparaie energy and even In lfieJ darkest hour remained hopeful. There wus a cassation of hostilities' Sat urday. Neither sl.le can stand another such contest, the ferocl y of which was frightful. The Russians are now fighting as a mut ter of pride;- Marchu.ia 's forgotten. They feel that they c.nnot stop; thut they must win one battle.- This evening the Jepsneso seem no near er. Fires are burnlnp; to the south. About twelve miles from heri? the eastern army Is retiring without fighting. TOKIO, Oct. ic 1 p m. Field Marshal Oyamc estimate the Russian dead left oiv the Held, including the fighting of the 15th, ut over lD,(K0. A report dealing with tho Russian cas- uu'iie-8 received Here ut midnight suys thut according to a report from the center army, lio prisoners were taken on October 13. The Russian dead under Investigation on that day will reach D00. On October U tho enemy's ib ad totalled 1,000. One hun dred prisoners were taken, together with their rille-s, guns and wagons. Under in vestigation the- total Russian dead left In front of the- center nrmy are estimated at 2,M). The enemy's dead already Investi gated totals nt S.fiaU, but the enemy's losses during the two days of fierce eugugomonU on October It und 15 are not Included In this number. Moreover there are some undiscovered dead by all of the armies, so that the enemy's dead left on tha field wi:i reach a total of over 10,000. lie-port from Kouropatkln, ST. PETERSBURG, Oct. 16.-Under date of October 15, General Kouropatkln sent tho following telegram to thu emperor: On the night of October 13 large force.! il Japanese uttm-keu me corps euawu ,.p In line ut Hhiikhe, on the Great Mandarin road Several attacks were repulsed, but the last succeeded, und the corps was broken. At that moment fighting began on the right Hank with u neighboring sec tion. Ihe possibility was that with tho rupture of our center our whole formation would be threatened and that the neighbor, lug troops might force u re-Heat. In order to support the troops on the Great Man darin road several battalions were rupldly pushed forward. The troona n n,,,. enabled io take the offensive und succeeded In retaking tho Ullage of Shakhe, reocoupy ing the lust positions. Rolnlorced by re serves, the Japanese dislodged us again from the village of Shakhe. Then ths nd vanced reserves and troops defending tho position resumed the offensive and after a stubborn light we suece. del In re-iccupylng Shakhe, repulsing the Japanese nnd driving them back two kilometres from thut place on our right wing the position was for some time very nlurmlng. The troops were attacked from the front nni by a turning movement on their risbt flank. A chief of a detachment advanced the troops set upart for a last rally, they having attacked the Japanese from the flunk In tbclr turn. Several villages were retaken bv eis. The right wing maintained Its positions on tho line of the Shakhe positions. The troops on our c liter wa re noticeably advanced In comparison with other tron'is in the gen eral position of the line. One position on our right flank had been chosen before hand and partially fortified. Our troops retired from these positions in a stubborn light. The troops have been fighting for four days and many regiments have not slept for three nights. Nevertheless, I hava full hope In their e-apnclty to continue tho struggle. The Japunese losses must be v. rv considerable. The nlKlit of October 14 passed quietly. Before o'clock this morning a rather niaiked movement of the enemy was noticed In the direction of our positions on Ihe Great Mandarin road. Our batteries opened tire nn Ih'-m. I hive received a report from the commander nf the left wing thnt the enemy has been stronirly reinforced there, hh was the e-ase at Llao iiiiit. 1 lie quantity of heavy firing onus".! h storm to burst forth, followed by a tor- , reiithd rain The roads are In a very bad condition and the level of the rivers has risen. The general order for all troops re mained the same as before, to offer most rcolute resist ai I have Just received u report Unit n conslderab'e Japanese force has crossed the railway lino from west to oust. Illiteklnirn IHnkes Denial. In a report which appear In the columns nf The. Sunday It.-e T. W. Blackburn Is represented as having uccoinpa lilt d R. It. Howell, candidate us member of ths wster board, to Ihe city clerk's office and joined him In a request to put Mr Howell's nam mi ihe city ballot. Instead of thut of Coo lies H Weller. In dlsriuaril of tho republican, city eoiiimltteu. Mr. Uluckbuni duidas Lu fcllctfutlun.