EASTERN WAR SCENE CHANGES i! Reported * here May Be Con* flict Between Russian and Chinese Troops. ARE SENDING ARMY NORTH Japanese Have Landed a Force on Korean Coast—Russians Said to Be Crossing the Yalu River Into Chinese Country. St. Petersburg, Jan. 26.—Reports of an alarming nature of the situation there continue to pour out of the far east. These include the statements that the Japanese are landing an armed force at Masampho, Korea, but that 8,000 Russian troops are crossing the Yalu river. The reported dispatch of a Chinese army of soldiers trained by European officers beyond the great wall to pre serve order in Manchuria can not be confirmed here, and the reports of the Japanese at Masampho and Russians at Yalu are discredited at the toreign of fice here by M. Kurion, the Japanese minister to Russia. i M. Hartwig, a departmental chief of ‘ the Russian foreign office, yesterday spoke feelingly to M. Kurino regarding the harm being done by exaggerated and often utterly baseless reports. M. Kurino is in no way anxious because of the delay in Russia’s response to the latest Japanese note and says that Ja-‘ pan is not pressing for an immediate reply. •Russia will be given all the time she needs,” the minister is quoted as saying. The statement published by the No * voe Vremya that while Russia desires peace she can not surrender all, coin cides with the distinct impression gath ered by the correspondent of the As sociated Press at the foreign office that Russia will continue to maintain that the question of the sovereignty of Manchuria is solely a matter between Russia and China. May Mean War with China. The Svjet and the St. Petersburg Llstoe have raised an outcry over the reported sending of Chinese troops to Manchuria, and the latter newspaper fieclared that if it is true that these, troops go with the purpose of threat ening the railroad between Port Arthur end Vladivostock, it means war with, China, and not with Japan. In an interview the Chinese minister; to Russia is quoted as saying: ' The talk of China going to war with anyone is absurd. We have no inten tion of fighting. If Chinese troops are being sent north it is solely for the pur pose of Inspiring confidence in our own, people, who are alarmed and who, would become panic stricken in the event of hostilities between Russia and Japan. Personally I have no knowl edge of this reported movement, but' the fact of ft would not necessarily be. communicated to me.” The Russ has attacked the Novoe Vremya for what it terms its col league’s stupid mistake about the des tination of the American Asiatic squadron, the Novoe Vremya having said the American warships were go ing to Nongampho, when actually their destination was the Philippines, and also for presaging American Interven tion in the far east. Japan to Issue a Huge Loan, London, Jan. 26.—No news from the far east was received at the Japanese . legation here yesterday. Special dispatches from Tokio pub lished here report that the Japanese minister of finance has had a confer ence with the leading Japanese bankers and has decided to issue a loan of 100, 000,000 yen. The Japanese newspapers assert that at the new year reception the czar re minded Minister Kurino that the Japan ese ougtht to remember that Russia is a great power The Daily Telegraph says it learns from a Russian correspondent that Viceroy Alexieff recently advised the mobilization of the Siberian troops. To this Minister of War Kuropatkin dis sented, but the czar after considering the matter concurred with Viceroy Alexieff, and the necessary orders were issued. WUU dV)C ujr nuooinM i'iai mv«. I-on'don, Jan. 26.—The Tokio corre spondent of the Times says letters re ceived there from Vladivostok declare a party of Russian marines landed at Vladivostok January 9 and subjected the Japanese residents to great vio lence. They wrecked twenty-four houses, maltreated women and inflicted wounds upon the aged persons and chil dren. The rioting lasted for twenty hours. The rioters were accompanied by their officers, according to the let ters from Vladivostok, and were not re strained by the local authorities. Japanese newspapers advocate the withdrawal of all Japanese from Si beria and ask what may be expected in the event of hostilities if such things occur during peace. Russia Very Active. New York, Jan. 26.—-Military activity at Black Sea ports continues on a more extensive scale than ever, cables the Russian correspondent of the Times. Men are arriving for shipment on transports to the far east, and the rail ways are gorged with military stores. Private freight is sidetracked in ordei to expedite shipments of supplies. Five more transports carrying 25,00t tons of cargo and a large number of troops will be dispatched as soon as possible. The transports will take guns and munitions which are needed at Port Arthur. Naval and military stores in unusual quantities are being bought on condi tion of immediate delivery. The ad miralty authorities, answering inquir ies on the part of a shipowner, decline to define the rights of neutral ships bound for Japan. Shipping rates have advanced 100 per cent, during the last fortnight, otherwise traffic of foreign ships, especially in Japan coal, was ob tained by indirect purchase and con tinues normal. Japan Hasn't Moved Yet. • __ London, Jan. 23.—There is no con I * flrmation here of reports that Japan * has occupied Masampho. Baron Haya 6hi, the Japanese minister, has not only discredited them, but said the Japanese government had previously decided not to take any half measures, or any steps which could be construed as being prejudicial to negotiations so long as they are proceeding. “When Japan decides to take ac tion," he added, “she will announce it frankly to Russia and the rest of the world.” According to Baron Hayashl the sit uation is unchanged and he continues to taka the gloomiest view of the sit uation. | OUTRAGED BY COSSACKS lapan Thinks War More Desirable Than a Peace Which Permits Such Things. New York, Jan. 27.—A Toklo cable says that letters from Vladlvostock state that a party of Russian marines was landed (place not stated) on Jan uary 9, and submitted the Japanese residents to great violence, wrecked twenty-four houses, ravished women and wounded old people and children. The riot lasted twenty hours. The riot ers included officers. The civil author ities did not restrain them. The Jap anese press asks what Is to be expected in the event of war if such crimes can occur in time of peace. The dispatch adds that rumors of Russia’s pacific intention do not affect Japan. The na tion is absolutely determined to fight for a thoroughly satisfactory settle ment. Japan Can’t Wait Long. The Herald's St. Petersburg specla. says the same almost painful silence which preceded the dispatch of the previous reply to Japan again reigns. In spite of optimistic views expressed, I own I am unable to find any con vincing proof of the same, while there are abundant warlike signs. Quite true, Japan has placed no time limit for Russia’s reply, but I have it on the best authority that the Japanese consider delay In the highest degree dangerous. This was stated to me in an emphatic manner, which left no doubt of the earnestness of the speak er’s meaning, and which I Interpreted as being that Japan may at any mo ment find herself unable to stem the public sentiment there toward war. The Danger in Thibet. London, Jan. 27.—With the danger oi a clash in the far east believed to be averted, interest has been partially di verted to the almost equally serious position in Thibet, where Russia and Great Britain have divergent claims to paramount influence. At the present moment far-seeing diplomats regard the danger of open hostilities between the lion and the bear as by no means slight. It is realized, of course, that much will have to be done through dip lomatic channels before a clash could come, but it is realized also that unless one side or the other backs down com pletely war is the only possible event ual outcome. Russian Encroachments Seen. Following her usual policy in such matters, Russia has been gradually pushing her frontier forward. One year a lone ’ survey party” appears and lodges Itself In tents. The next the tents are replaced by little stone huts occupied by a party of soldiers “sent out to guard the surveyors.” Then fol lows a garrison and then strong forti fications. Meanwhile the “surveyors” have pressed forward still further and the small detachment of guards have followed. Thus It has been going on for some years, till the British India office is seriously alarmed as to the ultimate fate of Thibet, which, as a buffer state, is one of the Indian empire’s chiefest safeguards. Matters came to a head last year when news was received that Musco vite officials were coquetting with the Dailai Lama, the spiritual and political ruler of Thibet, making him presents and striving to obtain the right to sup plant China as his traditional protector. To offset this British envoys were sent to Interview the Lama, but in ac cordance with that practice which for centuries has kept Thibet closed to all but Buddhists, they were turned back. Then It was decided to send the envoys back, guarded by a Btrong military force under Colonel Younghusband, than who the British army has few abler diplomatic officers. That expe dition is now on its way, hampered by a total lack of accurate information of the country, but, apparently, progress 'ng slowly and surely. Danger Is Imminent. The immediate danger lies in a clas.. with the Thibetans. Should they feel that the British expedition were an en croachment on their privacy and appeal to arms, England would, of course, avenge any attack on her "peaceful mission.” Then the Thibetans would more than probably appeal to Russia for aid and the fat would be in the fire. It is a matter in which Great Britain can hardly recede without laying her Indian empire open to possible Rus sian attacks. It is a case in which Russia would be unwilling to give way, as surrender would defeat her carefully followed plans of half a century. Con sequently, diplomats and soldiers are watching the progress of events with the keenest interest, not unrnixed with anxiety. _ It is hinted, by ti way, that Eng land has been keenly in her support of Japan during her trouble with Rus sia than might otherwise have been the case, as she felt that a blow to Rus sian prestige in the east would cer tainly be carried to the Dalai Lama and would be likely to influence him against the Muscovite should the clash come. A discredited Russia is less like ly to be invoked as a protector than a Russia successfully defying the world to remove her clutches from Manchu ria and keep her clutches off Korea. Hence Britain’s anxiety to insure the success of the Japanese remonstrances. Arrest tor I reason. Tokio, Jan. 25.—Takashima, the Japanese interpreter for the Russian attache, was arrested Saturday on sus picion of acting as a spy in the Yoko suka fortified zone. He has been taken to Yokohama for trial. It is alleged that conclusive evidence has been ob tained regarding other suspects, which is causing a very strong feeling against such treachery, which is a capital of fense in Japan. Port Arthur Isn’t Hurt. Port Arthur, Jan. 27.—The highest 01 flcials here repudiate the published ac cusations of Russian hostility to the United States because of its Manchur ian policy, and the appointment of American consuls under the new treaty with China. Ofiicially is is asserted that no large reinforcement of eastern forces is exptced at present. This Will Cheer Russia. Manila, Jan. 25.—Japanese merchants in this city have received advices from the home government in case of out break of hostilities, they had better transfer their business over to Ameri cans. CITY IS FLOODED. Parksburg, W. Va., Is Largely Under Water and Hundreds Driven From Homes. Parkersburg, W. Va., Jan. 27.—The lower portions of Parksburg are under water today. This includes the bus iness part of the town almost up tc Third street, while among the residence districts, Riverside, Westwood, and the South Side are pretty well inundated All public buildings available were oc cupied last night by persons from the flooded districts, and several hundred were driven from their homes while many are living in the second stories SENATOR BURTON OFJ KANSAS IS INDICTED I 6t. Louis Grand Jury T >.ks He Sold Influence to Fraud ulent Concern. THE JERUSALEM AFFAIR it Is Recalled as Having Caused Strained Relations Between the Senator and President Some Time Ago. St. I.ouls, Jan. 26.—United States Senator Joseph Ralph Burton of Kan sas was today indicted by the federal grand Jury, charged with accepting a . bribe from the Rialto Grain company ■ for his influence in securing the use of the mails for their advertising matter. Burton is charged with attempts to Becure the aid of a number of high ; postoflice department officials In per ! hiltting the use of the malls by the Rialto people. The Rialto Grain com pany has been under Investigation by the state courts for several months on account of Internal troubles on com plaints of Investors, and indictments were found against its officials, but hone has been convicted. At one time the offices were closed by alleged cred itors, but were reopened on making grrangemets to satisfy the claims which had been made. The Indictment of Senator Burton will not be a severe shock to people who have been reading the reports connect ing him with various dubious transac tions In St. Louis. It has been repeat edly charged that he gave letters of recommendation and commendation to gome of the bogus turn concerns of the city, and that for these he was paid large sums. Burton has denied these stories at time, but has never made a very clear case. The Jerusalem Affair. Some time ago the Kansas senator got on bad terms with the president by trying to use a private letter of Mr. Roosevelt’s for advertising purposes. It seems that Burton was deeply In terested In a project to reproduce a Jerusalem In miniature on the World’s fair grounds. It was to cover about ten acres. The senator was a silent part ner. He wrote a letter to the president referring to this exhibit, and the presi dent courteously replied expressing in terest. The letter promptly appeared gs advertising matter, to help sell stock In the new Jerusalem company. The i president was very angry, and rela tions with Burton have been strained ever since. Burton Explains. Washington, Jan. 23.—Senator Burton said he did not know why the Indictment was returned at St. Louis against him. He was attorney for Dennis, head of ths Rialto Grain company, and his only con nection with the postoftice department was in acting as Dennis attorney. BLOW TO DEATH TRUST. New York City Offers to Supply Chi cago With Anti-Toxin at Cost. New York, Jan. 26.—"It costs New York about $20,000 a year to run the laboratory and furnish all the anti toxin used In Greater New York," said Dr. Parks, in charge of the antl-toxln laboratory at Willard Parker hospital. "I am Informed, however, that one of the three houses in the trust alone clears a profit of more than $100,000 a year on the sales of anti-toxin. It was the knowledge of this condition which caused us to offer aid to Chicago, and If the trust keeps on raising prices as they have done, we shall offer to fur nish all cities that need the serum at cost.” Before the first of January the New York laboratory had been furnishing supplies to several other cities, includ ing Chicago. The complaints of the anti-toxin trust were of such a nature, however, that It was determined not to sell the serum to other cities. As soon as this determination was made known the trust sent the price of the serum up 100 per cent. Inasmuch as the three firms In the trust supply 95 per cent, of the serum used In this country, this meant death to thousands of little ones throughout the country unless some relief could be secured. New York again offered to furnish Chicago such supplies as might be needed, with the assurance that no further regard for the feelings of the trust magnates would cause a with drawal of the supply. REMOVES THE DANGER. New York Man’s Invention Is Guaran teed to Make the Third Rail Safe. New York, Jan. 26.—Employes of the telephone company In Harlem are all talking about an Invention for render ing safe the third rail on elevated roads, which John C. McDonald, the com pany's wire chief at the Tremont ex change, has made. Mr. McDonald will not tell the details of his work until he has secured a patent on it. He did say that his invention or attachment would render it harmless or "dead” ex cept only on the space occupied by a train. "My invention.” he said, “makes it Impossible for a person to receive a shock from the third rail, unless he falls under a train. It will also be possible by the use of my contrivance to avoid collisions, as, by regulation with my Invention, the power on the rail for 600 feet, or one mile behind each train, may be rendered inert. The inter-borough company has promised me space for a trial of my Invention, and I shall hold it as soon as I learn whether my appli cation for a patent has been successful. To prove that I am right, I'll stand on the rail in my bare feet.” H00SIERS BOOZERS. Drunkenness in Indiana Seems to Bs Rapidly Increasing According to Statistics. Indianapolis, Ind., Jan. 26.—Drunken ness in Indiana was greater in 1903 than in 1902, according to reports of county sheriffs made to the hoard of state charities. The total number of ntoxicated persons harbored in the Jails in 1903, was 12,394, and in 1902, 11, 866. Of the total number admitted in 1903, 11,804 were whites and 690 colored. There was 32 boys and 7 girls under the aged of 16 years; 9,563 men and women, from 17 to 60 years; 1,891 men and 16 women w'ere more than 60 years old. If the remaining 383 the age is un known. The sheriff of Wabash county reports that one man admitted on ac count of drunkenness was 104 years old. SUPREME JUDGES MIFFED Diplomats Placed First in Line at Washington Judicial Reception. Washington, Jun. 27.—The old-ttine precedence feud between the diplomatic corps and the supreme court broke out anew at the White House Thursday night. The diplomatic theory Is that members of the corps represent kings, potentates and sovereign states when they are the persons of these powers by proxy. Hence they should be accorded the precedence that would be accorded their rulers If present. If King Ed ward, President Loubet, or the kaiser were the guests of President Roosevelt, he would take precedence as being at home with such guests Immediately fol lowing him. The corps argues that Its members should follow the president and precede all others. Members of the supreme court argue that diplomats are simply foreign of ficial persons, officials holding appoint ive Jobs, while they form a co-ordinate branch of the United States govern ment. The controversy Is nearly a cen tury old and has broken out at most unlikely places, notably the funeral of Admiral Sampson. Thursday night's reception at the White House was to the Judiciary. First, but Last. The supreme court headed the list. Or. arriving at the White House members pf the court were detained at the door pf the blue room while the diplomatic •orps was received by the president, .lajor McCauley of the marine corps las been recently attached to the IVhite House entourage as social aide fe-camp. He stopped the members of he supreme court last night. “The diplomatic corps goes first, Tour Honor,” he told Chief Justice f'uller. “But this is the reception to the Ju Jlciary, sir,” responded Chief Justice Puller, in cutting tones. "Tonight, at least, we should take precedence." “The diplomatic corps goes first,” in-; listed Major McCauley, in his soft, low, veil modulated voice. Chief Justice Fuller talked to Major UcCpuley, while the court waited. The( forgeous aide-de-camp turned very redj ind looked his discomfort. Chief Jus !lce Fuller had ample time to express! dearly what was on his mind, because pot only ambassadors and ministers, put under-secretaries and attaches of Ihe diplomatic corps were all passed jhrough before the court was allowed jo begin its stately procession past thi| President. Chief Justice Fuller left th^ |ouse immediately on passing the re-* felving line. So did several othe| (nembers of the court. CHEAP FAfflfENJOmED. Federal Court Delays Reduction or Cleveland Street Car Line to Three Cents. Cleveland, O., Jan. 27.—Judge Win, »f the United States circuit court, upo# application of the Cleveland Electric Hallway company, issued a temporary Injunction today, restraining the citj Oflleials from enforcing the ordinance recently adopted by the city council providing for 3-cent street car fare! Within a certain zone. The ordinance llxed tomorrow as the time for the in auguration of the new fare schedule) l'he injunction is to hold until Febru ary 13. In its application for an injunction the railway company claims that all 11.# I'apital and the security for bonds will he jeopardized if the acceptance of a 8-cent fare is forced. It asserts that the enforcement of thi ordinance will amount to "taking prop erty without due process of law, and deny to it the equal protection of th^ law, In contravention and violation ol the provisions of the constitution." BABY BAKED’TO DEATH. Act of a 5-Year-Old Girl at LaCrosse Wis. LaCrosse, Wis., Jan. 27.—While Mrs Edward Smith was chopping wood he) daughter, 5 years old, pKiced a babj brother in a hot oven, closed the dooj and baked the baby to death before thi mother returned. The oven had bee# heated for baking. THE MARKETS. Sioux City Live Stock. Sioux City, Jan. 26.—Sioux City Star, Yard3.—Hogs—Butcher ami heavy, 4.85; light ami mixed, $4.4004.63. Cattle—Fat cows and heifers, $2.2503.70 stock cows and heifers, $1.7503.00; mock ers and feeders, $2.5003,80; butcher steers, 43.5005.00; yearlings and calves. $2.2503.5(4 Chicago. Chicago Jan. 26.—Hogs—Receipts, 35,000 Market steady to easy, flood heavy. $5.i| 0 6.20; light, $4.6005.00; mixed and butcher, $4.8505.10; rough heavy, $4.5505.05. Cattle—Receipts, 0,00o. Market steady. Sheep—Receipts, 16,000. Market steady. Closing; Hogs—Bulk, $4.7004.85; good, heavy. $4.8504.95; light, $4.4504.75; mixed and butchers, $4.6004.90; rough heavy, $4.60 ®4.85. Cattle—Slow and lower, with beeves quoted at $3.3003.60; cows and heifers, $1.5(1 04.25; stockers and feeders, $2.2504.10. I Sheep—Slow and lower at $3.000 4.35:1 lambs, $4.260 5.90. South Omaha. South Omaha, Jan. 26.—Cattle—Native steers, $3.2505.00; cows and heifers $2.50® 3.80; stockers and feeders, $1.5002.40; calves, $3.000 5.25. Hogs—Heavy, $4.6504.80; packers, $4.60®i (.65; light, $4.4004.65; pigs, $3.500 4.25. Sheep—Yearlings, $4.000 4.75; wethers, $3.7504.40; ewes, $3.0003.80; common and stockers. $2.2503.60; lambs. $4.7505.80. Kansas City. Kansas City, Jan. 26.—Cattle—Native steers, $3.600 4.60; cows and heifers, $2.15® 3.50; stockers and feeders, $3.000 3.76; bulls, $2.2503.75; calves, $3.500 6.00. Hogs—Bulk of sales, $4.5004.75; heavy, $4.6004.85; packers, $4.5004.65; pigs and light, $1.2004.65. Sheep—Receipts, 4,000. Market lower; muttons, $3.5004.30; lambs, $4.6505.75. GRAIN MARKET8. Grain and Provisions. Chicago, Jan. 26.—Cash quotations were, as follows; Flour—Market firm. Wheat—No. 3 spring, 780 86c? No. 2 red, 86®92‘ac. Corn—No. 2, 4644c; No. 2 yellow, 48c. Oats—No. 2, 3944c; No. 3 white, 374404144c. Bye—No. 2, 66c. Barley—Good feeding, 40® 12c; fair to choice malting, 47058c. Timothy Seed—Prime, $3.25. Clover—Contract grade, $11.25. Provisions—Mess pork, $13.03013.1744; lard, $6.9744; short rib side, $6.3006.55; short clear sides. $6.62440 6.75. Whisky—On basis of high wines, $1.27. Butter—Market steady; dairy, 13®19c; creamery, 15021c. Eggs—Market steady, 25®27c. Cheese—Market steady, 1001944c. Minneapolis. Minneapolis, Jan. 26.—The closing cast, prices on track were as follows; Wheat—No. 1 northern, 91c; to arrive, 31c; No. 2 northern, 87%c; to arrive, 8744c. Corn—No. 3 yellow, old 40c; no. 4, old 3944c. Oats—No. 3 white, 38c; No. 4 white, 3744c; No. 3, 35037c. Rye—No. 2, 5644c. Barley—Feed, 37®41c; malting, ■,206644c. Flax—No. 1 northwestern, $1.10: to ur rlve, $1.10; Alay, $1.12. TORNADO KILLS ‘ SCORES OF PEOPLE Fuller Report of the Terrific Calamity at Mounds ville, Ala. village is wiped away _ Thirty-Seven Persons Are Known to Have Lost Their Lives and More Than 1d0 Injured—Every Busi ness House Destroyed. Tuscaloosa, Ala., Jan. 25.—A disas trous tornado swept over Moundsvllle, Ala., a town of 300 Inhabitants, fifteen miles south of Tuscaloosa, and as a re sult thirty-seven persons were killed and more than 100 Injured. Every bus iness house, with the exception of a small drug store, was completely de stroyed. The tornado struck the city from the southwest and mowed a path a quarter of a mile wide through the town. The following Is a list of the white persons killed: E. P. SEYMOUR, of Nashville, Tenn., telegraph operator at station. A. H. WARREN, of Birmingham. J. H. REDMOND, superintendent jpumplng station. ' ROBERT S. POWERS. Tuscaloosa. The negro dead are: W. N. MILES, WIFE AND SIX CHILDREN. ALBERT WILSON, WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN. IKE HOLSTON. WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN. FOURTEEN OTHER NEGROES, unidentified. Some of the Injured will die. Surgeons were rushed to Mounds ville from Greensboro and Tuscaloosa, and everything possible was done to al leviate the sufferings of the Injured. By the force of the storm persons were blown hundreds of feet from their beds In the blackness of night. Through terror a mother and three children fled from their home to seek refuge, and in their excitement left a 5 year-old boy In bed. Today he was pulled from beneath some timbers, and thus far It Is Impossible to find another member of the family. Bedding, carpets and wearing apparel are scattered for a distance of ten miles through what was a forest, but which Is now a mass of uprooted tim ber. The depot, the hotel, warehouses, cot ton gins, thirty homes, the storehouse occupied by R. L. Griffin, A. W. Wig gins & Son, J. W. Domenlck, A. D. Griffin and W. P. Phifer, together with their stocks, were completely destroyed. Bales of cotton which were stored In the warehouses were torn to atoms, the fragments of lint lodging In trees, mak ing It appear as though that section had been visited by a snowstorm. A young clerk employed by W. P. Phifer, hearing the terrible roar of the storm let himself Into a well In the center of the store. The store was com pletely carried away, but the young man was rescued uninjured. BIG BANK FAILURE. The Liabilities of the Cleveland Pro duce Exchange Company Placed at $1,500,000. Cleveland, O., Jan. 25.—The Produce Exchange Banking company closed Its doors. The Insolvency court has ap pointed the Cleveland Trust company as receiver. The assets and liabilities of the bank are each placed at $1,500,000. An official of the bank Is now un der guard at his home. He will be ta ken before the grand Jury, and will, ac cording to statements of other bank of ficials. plead guilty to the charge of embezzlement. An indictment will be brought against him and the case hur ried to trial. There Is a great deal of uneasiness among the depositors, many of whom are small merchants, Ital ians and other nationalities, who sell fruit and vegetables from door to door and deposited their money In the Pro duce Exchange bank. The Irregularity has been going on for eight years, It is said. $300,000 FIRE. Great Blaze at Bay Mills, Mich., De stroyed All the Factories in the Town. Milwaukee. Jan. 26.—A special to the Sentinel from Saulte Ste. Marie, Mich., aa ys: Fire started In one of the Hall & Munson factories at Bay Mills, twelve miles west of here, and spread rapidly until it reached every factory In town. The company owned a large saw mill, ! woodworking plant and box factory, and a large stock of lumber. The total value of the plants was $300,000, and a message received here says that nothing has been saved. As soon as It started a special train left the Soo carrying a company of fire men. The Hall & Munson plants were the largest of the kind In the upper penin sular, employing 300 men. The plants were Insured, but It can not be learned how heavily. The town, which has 1,200 Inhabit ants, will probably be left desolate, as there will be nothing to keep It up. The origin of the fire can not be learned. ST. LOUIS*AROUSED. City Will Wage Fight on the Christian Science Cult as Result of a Recent Death. St. Louis, Jan. 25.—Aroused by the death of Mrs. W. H. Davis of 1016 Grat tan street, which occurred at the city hospital Monday night from blood poi soning, and which, according to the coroner's verdict, was due to "culpable negligence,” Dr. John H. Simon, health commissioner, has resolved to wage a crusade against the practices of the cult known as Christian Scientists. "In a civilized community we have no place for such an alleged faith as the one known as Christian Science,” said Dr. Simon. "A science which will permit the sac rifice of lives which it is possible, nine cases out of ten, could be saved by ade quate medical attention, Is anything but Christian. "Such instances as the death of Mrs. Davis seem to make up an important chapter in the history of Christian Science, and It is revolting to think that In this age we permit such a social faith to flourish. "Personally I am determines to stamp out what I regard as one of the most menacing evils of our day If it can be done, and the fact that the evil masquerades under the cloak of relig !• ‘us faith should not savs It from the 1 hand of the law.” HEIR TO MERGER. ' I •Vail Street Believes the Erie Road Will, Succeed the Northern Secur •ties Company. S New York, Jan. 26.—The directors ot, .'JW (lie Erie Railroad company declared at dividend of 2 per cent, on the first pre-! Efj| ferred stock of the company yester-] H| day. making 4 per cent, for the fiscal H year. By this action the great system ffll passed automatically out of the hands Hj of J. Pierpont Morgan, Louis Fitzger- >£|§ aid and Sir Charles Tennant, the vot- jgg Ing trustees, in whose hands it had H been since the reorganization was com- Hi pleted August 20. 1395. Under the H terms of that organization all of the stock of all classes must now be issued « by J. P. Morgan & Co. to the stock- §1 holders in exchange for the voting trust 3g§ certificates, which they have held since » December 1, 1895. pi Wall street believes that great devel- Jy opments are in store for the road. SS Many people believe it is to become the § successor of the Northern Securities SI company if the United States supreme ||| court compels its dissolution and the] IP distribution of the stock of Great. Mi Northern, Northern Pacific and Bur- ?f| llngton, which it owns. ||g What Lawyers Think. are Eminent lawyers, it is said, have tola, tH Mr. Morgan that the legal objections to w the Northern Securities company can-1 H not be successfully made against the' |g Erie, whose entire system has been! H built up by the absorption of compet-j j£ ing ami contributory lines, which has) 3 been unquestioned. They have pointed ;jg| out to Mr. Morgan and Mr. Hill that the! Sp absorption by it of the western roads* « would have a legal precedent in the! jw absorption of the Lake Shore and thej & Michigan Central by the New York HI Central, in accomplishing which the If New York Central exchanged its own* 4jtj 3% per cent, bonds for the securities' ifS of the other roads, which were de-J Si posited in Us treasury as collateral. Iti ® is said on very good authority that justj 9j such a scheme is now being worked out H in the office of J. P. Morgan & Co.,; *1 contingent upon the decision of thej 3 United States supreme court next| ;H month, which, it is said. Mr. Morganl jgj expects to be unfavorable. in connection with these reports, it is! M* significant that several months ago Mr. j ifl Harrlman, who is now at peace with] £■ Mr. Morgan, was elected a director of; IB the Erie, in which he has acquired aj *9 very large interest. It is also sig-| H nificant that Kuhn, Loeb & Co. have! also bought heavily of the stock. Tills. flij places the control of the road in the; 55 hands of J. Pierpont Morgan, James J. flfi Hill, E. H. lla-rlman and Jacob Schiff, j fly the men who controlled Northern Pa-i 3 cific, Great Northern and Burlington] |;| before tlie great fight which precipl- H tated the Northern Pacific panic. It is 9 plain that the redistribution of the se- H curittes of Northern Pacific in obedi- 98 ence to the mandate of the supreme H court would return the securities into Bfj the hands of these four men who con trol the Erie railroad. Probable Plan of Absorption. 3 It Is believed that the absorption ot H the roads by the Erie would be accom- H pushed by an issue of collateral trust "H bonds of the exact amount of the hold- If lngs of the Northern Securities com- H puny in Northern Pacific and Great Northern, botli roads controlling Bur- H llngton. The Northern Securities com- H pany holds practically all the stock of H the Northern Pacific railway company H and over $90,000,000 of the stock of the H Great Northern railway. It is said that H this plan can be carried out without re- H qulring one dollar in cash. |Jj J. P. Morgan & Co. would say yester- H day only tliut the Erie voting trust H would be dissolved as the result of the H action of the directors yesterday. ag IF DIPLOMACY SHOULD FAIL. The Czar and Mikado Urged to Resort to The Hague Tribunal. f London, Jan. 26.—Two Identical cable dispatches, originating with W. T. ' Stead, and W. R. Cretnor, M. P., were sent tonight to the czar of Russia and i the mikado of Japan, urging these potentates, if diplomacy failed, to sub mitli the far eastern dispute to The Hague tribunal. The messages are lengthy and theyl j appeal especially to the czar as "The', courageous originator of The Hague conference," to take the initiative in re-1 ferrlng the matter to The Hague. The appeal Is signed by sixty prom-; inent English advocates of arbitration.' Among the signers are all the mem-' bers of the labor delegation In parlia-! j inent, Lord Avebury, Lord Hobhouse,! the marquis of Bristol, Frederick Har-| rison, George Meredith, Sir John Gerst, Earl Grey, the Iiev. J. C. Clifford, the Rev. R. J. Campbell and many labor leaders outside of parliament. i The Pekin correspondent of the Lon-! don Times lias cabled a corrected and) minutely detailed Hat of all the Rus sian military forces In the far east, east of Lake Baikal, in Eastern Siberia, and Including the frontier guards, which shows a total of 3,115 officers, 147,479 men and 266 guns. The correspondent adds that the line of communication between Manchuria and Western Siberia is a single line of lightly constructed railway which trav erses 1,600 miles of unfriendly coun- S try. He says further that the entire) Russian fleet, with the exception ofl four armored cruisers at Vladivostock,) Is now wedged In the harbor of Port Arthur, where only one dock is avail-; able for repairs. The Tokio correspondent of the! Times cables it will probably be nec-, i essary to remove the entire Japanesel population from Vladivostock, as they: are suffering greatly at the hands of; the Russians. Cabling from Moscow, a correspond ent of the Times says that Grand Duke’ Vladimir, commander in chief of the, I Bt. Petersburg military division, and Grand Duke Serge, military commander' t at Moscow, are strongly supporting. Viceroy AlexielT and that the czar, al- | though anxious to avoid war, is not I wavering. Special dispatches from St. Peters burg to the Daily Telegraph and the Dally Malt assert that Russia’s reply to the latest Japanese note was drawn j up yesterday at a ministerial council at which the czar presided. The tenor j of this reply is courteous but firm, and it was approved without a dissenting i voice by the ministers, including M. Witte, president of the committee of ministers. Nothing has been given out officially concerning this reply, but it is understood, according to messages from St. Petersburg, that Russia main tains that Manchuria must remain amenable, politically and strategically, to Russian influence, the concessions' i made being only of a commercial char acter. Rich Man Starved. Brussels, Jan. 23.—Lucien Lecocque, a» i Frenchman, was found dead from star-,1 i vatlon in a grain field near this city with 18,000 francs in bills In his pockets.' Investigations have shown that he stole I the money from the desk of the Banquet Natlonale at I.ille and tramped to! ! Doual, where he put up at a hotel, but.; tendering a 1,000-franc note for pay-j | ment, suspicious were aroused, and hej made off before the police arrived. Thence he walked to Noyelles, Doeuges. Henin-Lietard and Billy Montigny, but wherever he asked t<* buy food with his notes people refus*d( to serve him.