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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.
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ft a. m .
I n. m .
7 a. in .
Ha. m.
1 a. nt.
to a. m.
1 1 n . m .
Its m.. . .
71
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7
Tl
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71
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lit
IKI
ra
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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.