Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (May 5, 1904)
THE O’NEILL FRONTIER D. H. CRONIN. Publisher. 5’NEILL, NEBRASKA Concerning the fundamental nature of electricity Itself, there is still no cer tainty, but there are several hypothesis, •ays Electrical World. There are sev eral theories for explaining both elec tricity and magnetism In terms of the ether. None of these theories seem ca pable of being submitted to experimen tal demonstration. It Is certain, how ever, that since the interconnection of electricity and magnetism Is known, a demonstration of the nature of the one must, by corollary, Include a disclosure of the nature of the other. Moreover, it would not seem likely that the complete unraveling of the nature of electricity wq>uld necessarily Include a revelation of the nature of both matter and gravi tation. Sarah Bernhardt attributes her per sonal'youthfulness to a skin lotion thus composed: "Half a pint of alcohol, two ounces of spirits of camphor, two ounces of spirits of ammonia and five ounces of sea salt, to be added to suf ficient boiling winter to rqp.ke a quart In all, when the mixture should be place.d in a bottle and thoroughly shak en before use. This lotion which should be well rubbed Into the skin dally, is said to be especially efficacious In tak ing the fatigue out of tired muscles. A .Nagasaki correspondent writes: “East night the Japanese, who often try new methods In secret, essayed a novel experiment In embarking and debark ing troops. It was one which would be or great, use In rough water, when men had to be transferred to or from a lighter to a larger vessel. Some thir ty soldiers sat upon a net, the ends were caught up, and they were swung on board like so much ordinary freight or curgo.” Pilgrims to both Iluddhlst and Shinto shrines ire numerous In Japan, and their pure white dress makes them con spicuous among their compatriots, clad In the universal dark blue and gray. Even their long staves are white. They wear broad straw hats or white cotton ic.ps with long streamers, and carry on their hacks immense packs made of lacquered ware. A number of Japanese staff officers have been Instructed at the School of Military Ilalloonlng at Aldershot, Eng., which Is the most Important one In the world. Officers are taught to take Important observations from great heights, as well ns the making of maps ami tuklng photographs from both free and captive balloons. French economists are asserting that when a monopoly becomes injurious It should be bought by the state and managed In the Interest of the public. This question has gone so fur beyond the theory that M. Rouvier, the min ister of finance, has seriously thought of taking In hand the refining of oil. Notwithstanding the most careful seurch, the causes of a number of transmissible diseases, both human and animal, still remain unknown. Of the human diseases belonging to this group may bd mentioned esepclally starlet fever, chlckenpox, typhus fever and hydrophobia, tv --- Italian children of the poorer classes can neither hang up their stockings «t Christinas nor put their shoes out the window at Twelfth night for the wise men,to 1111. For when uie weath er is too cold for them to go barefoot they wear rags bound round their feet for coverings. ' The laws In Russia pertaining to bankruptcy are very severe. A mer chant In Russia can be declared bunk _ rupt if his liabilities exceed *772, and " he has not the ready cash to meet them. He can be arrested, and his re tention depends on the good will of his creditors. A machine has been Invented which fs capable of splitting wood two feet long and eighteen Inches thlnek. It Is run by a three horsepower gasoline en gine. and consists of n huge knife which works through the knottiest wood at the rate of sixty strokes a minute. In 1903 Minnesota showed an In crease In the totul number of wage earners of 11.91 per cent, over 1902; that of the male adults was 12.67 per cent.; that of the female adults 9.36 per cent., and of children a decrease from last year’s number of 9,!i8 per cent. Drury Dane theater Is to have two asbestos curtains—one inside the proscenium wall and the other outside. They will be operated by separate ap paratus-one set controlled from the prompter’s side of the stage and the Dther from the orchestra. The other day an Australia who had fought in South Africa reived from the Hrltish War office notice that he had been overpaid J2.75, with a request that he return the money forthwith. He •ays he will not and dares the War Office to do Its worst. Eastern Asia is one of the richest mineral fuel regions In the world. The area of all the paying coal layers In Europe comprises only 22,760 square miles, an area equal in extent fo that of one of the Russian provinces—the Kazan province. British manufacturers appear to be steadily losing ground ns regards agri cultural machinery In Russia, says the Mechanical Revelw of London, while America and Germany are continually increasing their output in that district. A German scientist has succeeded, by treating the cleansed vegetable fibers of peat moss with the waste mo lasses of beet sugar manufacture, in producing a compound that serves ac ceptably as food for domestic animals. Numerically the Methodists lead the Sunday school host of Brooklyn with i membership exceeding 25,000 out of • total enrollment of 100,000. Most of the schools have efficient primary and intesmedlate or junior grade work. The United States navy intends to emulate Germany in equipping all war ships with ' miniature skeleton models of themselves, in order that the men # may be made acquainted with the hid Sen part of the ship. The cembalo, a quaint instrument. 200 years old, upon which Rossini took music lessons when he was ten years old, will be exhibited at the St. Louis fair. It is the property of the Malorbl family of Lugo. Italy. Pasteboard made of 40 per cent, peat fiber and 60 per cent wood shavings is a standard product both in Germany and Sweden, being stronger, lighter and cheaper than pasteboard made in the ordinary way. Professor Charles L. Norton, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, fieclares that every skyscraper in Bos ton is In danger of collapse, owing to •orrostoa of the structural steel. - STATE BOARD FIXES RAILROAD VALUATION Will Also for Six Weeks Hear i Complaints From Discon tented Persons A FORGER CONFESSES Stranger Who Trie* to Pass Number of Checks at Numerous Places in Hastings Is Apprehended and Confesses Guilt. Lincoln, Neb., May 3.—For nix weeks the state board of equalization will dally with the assessment of railroads. During the same period the corpora tions will condust a campaign of edu cation, seeking to show that the farm ers have been shirking taxes hereto fore. The dallying will begin tomorrow. Secretary Bennett, obeying instruc tions from the board, must recapitulate, analyze and tabulate railroad returns. The figures are already tabulated, but the process which the board desires Is the one that will cause a delay of six or perhaps eight weeeks. Then the farmers will be busy with their crops and the railroads can have an oppor tunity to argue with the people. A se ries of arguments are now being pre pared by the railroad bureau and an effort will be made to inject them Into the country papers In order to encour age flighty members of the board. The levy will probably vary between I 3% and 4 mills. The amount of assessa ble property In the state Is merely a matter of conjecture. The board will meet tomorrow. Very little business Is expected and nothing definite Is looked for to Indicate the probable action of the board. Tire mem bers decline to discuss the subject. FORGER CONFESSES. Stranger Tries to Pass Checks at Sev eral Stores in Hastings. Hastings, Neb,, May 3.—Ed O’Brien was taken to the county Jail char ged with for gery, to which he pleaded guilty. He came to this city yesterday, und going to a butcher shop ordered two hams. In pay ment Ire presented a check drawn by I’. J. Morrison and Indorsed by E. J. Brown, whom O'Brien represented to be a farmer living four miles from town. Knowing no such farmer the butcher refused It, whereupon O’Brien proceeded to another butcher, attempted similar tactics und was again refused. Next he tried a cigar store arid tried to collect >10 upon the check, which was for >16.80. Refused here he re lumed to Blades asjclng the clerk lo take the check for >5. His fourth refusal drove him to a saloon where he became drunk ami was arrested for disorderly conduct. Meanwhile the story of tho check had reached I he police, who compared the slg miturc of the prisoner with those upon the check and found them essentially the rarnc. O'Brien Is well dressed, middle aged. and claims to be an artist from Nev Vork, CLUE TO MISSING MAN. Victim of Recent Wreck Believod to Be Runaway From Germany. Plattsmouth, Neb., May 3.—Four yei\vF ago a yo.ung man named Herman Englemaiei’ disappeared from his home in Germany, Much mystery was at tached to the ease as only a short time before announcement bad been made of bis approaching marriage to the daugh t ■: of a prominent merchant. Several theories were advanced as to the cause of his sudden disappearance—one being that he sought lo escape the military duties imposed upon all able-bodied young men by the German government. It appears that the young man has rel atives In Gass county and at the time of bis disappearance they were fully advised as to the circumstances con nected with the Incident and were asked by the relatives in the old coun try to report to them In the event any trice of the missing man was found. As the years passed the case was al most forgotten, but a few days ago a newspaper account of a railroad accl j < nt near Chicago contained the name , of "Henry Englemelar" among the list 1 of seriously Injured, and this, together with statements the Injured man Is said to have made In the presence of the hospital authorities, has caused the young man's relatives In this country to believe that they have at last round a clue which tnay solve the mystery. Letters of Inquiry have been forwarded to Knglemeler, addressed to the Chi cago hospital authorities. BIG LAND DEAL. Holdredge Ranch Changes Hands at Consideration of $50,000. Louisville, Neb., May it.—The big ilold rege ranch of 800 acres, one mile east of here, changed hands Saturday, the pur chaser being Thomas E. Parmele of Plattsmouth. The consideration Is said to have been $50,000. The sale Includes the old Stout house, or castle, built years ago by "Boss" Stout for houstng convict laborers who worked In the stone quar ries along the Platte river. It Is said that Mr. Parmele will sell the house, with about five acres of land, to the National Swedish Mission association for $10,000, to be used us a training school for clergymen. To help out the mission In the purchase the town of lanilsvllle will donate $2,000 to the association. The Holdredge ranch has been Improved by Mr. Holdrege, general manager of the Burlington railroad, until It la one of the finest ranches In Nebraska. Enormous . hog uml cattle barns have been built re gardless of expense and everything that Is required for an up-to-date ranch has been put on the place. Whether Mr. Parmele wjl 1 preserve the big ranch Intact or sell It Is not now known CRACK OMAHA SAFES. Robbers Secure Several Hundred Dol lars and Escape. Omaha, Neb.. May 3.—Robbers blew open the safe of the Norcross and Ma hnnna I.umber company and Mllleras cereal mills, wrecking the latter build ing, at Glenover. a suburb of this city. They secured several hundred dollars and escaped. Bloodhounds were sent after them, but they were not captured. State Dentists to Meet. Lincoln, Neb., May 3.—The twenty eighth annual convention of the Ne braska State Dental society will be held in Omaha Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday. May 17. 18 and 19. Hearst Headquarters Still Open. New York, April 30.—A report is sent out from here that this state's Hearst headquarters were closed. This is an untruth. The Hearst league has moved to a building just made ready for oceu I pancy on the Grand Circle, in the heart I >f the city, where sufficient room is j available SIGNS KINKAID BILL. President Signs Measure Which In creases Homesteads to 640 Ac.'es. Washington, May 2.—President Roosevelt, in the presence of Judgt Kinkaid and others, affixed his signa ture to the bill providing for 640-acrt homesteads in the sand hill country This was done In the president's roon: at the capitol. Senator Millard spoke to the president In support of the b!l. soon after he reached the capitol, am. the president replied that if Judgt i Kinkaid would get the parchment ovei to him at oflce he would take pleasure in approving the measure. Senatoi Millard sent this word to the Judge who induced the house clerks to ex pedite the case. Later President Roose velt sent to Judge Kinkaid the pen with which the bill was signed. To say thal the Judge was gratified is putting il vepy mildly. Senator Millard and Representative Hitchcock called upon Generals Chaf fee and Greeley to clear up a misun derstand relating to the signal corps training school to be established at old Fort Omaha. They were assured thal the original plans would be adhered to, HOMESTEADER'S INTERESTED. Now Is the Best Time to Look Over Lands Under New Law. O'Neill, Neb., May 2.—Now that the president has signed the Kinkaid sec tion homestead bill many desire in formation how to proceed to work out a home. ?he bill will not become effective un til sixty days after It Is signed by the president. Those who are pioneers In Nebraska express the opinion that this measure will .be a great benefit io the state and that It will be the means of many families securing homes under Its provisions that would not be able to make a living on 160 acres as was heretofore allowed. There are thou sands of sections available that will give good pasture to more than 100 head of cattle. The settler should at the beginning plant out at least ten acres of timber. The government maintains a plant on the Dismal river that produces an nually millions of tree plants adapted to Nebraska, and the plants can be had for the asking. While tree plant ing is not required, still it must be re membered that when a settler comes to make a final proof he must show im provements to the value of $1.25 per acre, and a nice ten-acre tract planted In trees would count for a considerable amount. Settlers should not go onto these lands with the idea of doing extensive farming. The plans should be along the lines of dairying and stock raising. Generally speaking the slock can graze on these lands about nine months of the year, except the most severe win ters. On small tracts raise millet, oats, cane for fodder, alfalfa and other ioughness for winter feed for cattle. The dniry business has now grown to great proportions and the lands now available under this law are just the kind for that purpose. With families living on each section, schools, churches and other advantages will soon follow. • HANGS SELF IN JAIL. Unkonwn Prisoner at Beatrice Fount. Dead in Cell. Beatrice, Neb., May 2.—An unknown man, .supposed to be about 4b years old, committed suicide in the city Jail by hanging himself in one of the steel cells. His dead body was found by Officer Hall just as the latter was com ing on duty for the night. Nothing was found on his person to indicate ills identity, except an envelope bearing the name of M. Alexander, Geneva, Neb. Inquiry at Geneva' by telephone elicited the Information that Mr. Alexander formerly owned a meat market there but left for Missouri about three months ago. When discovered by Officer Hall tHe man's corpse was hangi. ; from the top bars of the cell with his face against the front bars, hi body being suspended by a piece of a bed quilt which he had torn from he bedding. He had slippi.l the imp vised rope over the top bars and standing with either foot upon a bunk had tied It around his neck and then dropped from the beds. He had $6.10 in cash on his person but no letters that would give a certain clue to his Identity. In speak ing to one of the officers late in the aft ernoon he said he had a wife and two children in Omaha, but gave no more Information concerning himself. He is about 5 feet 7 inches In height, weighs about 140 pounds. He wore a cap, black coat and vest, grayish trousers, black shirt and a pair of congress shoes. His hair is gray and is closely clipped, while his mustache is red. Arrested for Embezlement. York, Neb., May 2.—The Rogers Lumber company, having yards in York and nearly all other towns in this county, recently placed under arrest L. R. Leonard, manager of its yards at Waco, charging him with embezzlement of the company’s funds. This week J. W. Stratton, manager of the Rogers company in Henderson, was arrested for embezzlement of the company’s funds, and yesterday before County Judge Taylor pleaded guilty to the charge of embezzlement of $32.85 of the company’s money. Mr. Stratton claim ed the company owed him. He was fined $65 and costs, amounting to a total of $75. Bank Changes Owners. Oakland, Neb., May 2.—The Waynv National bank has sold Its business to the Citizens bank, and the building a.«d fixtures were purchased by all the oth er banks of Wayne together. The move Is for the reason that four banks were too many for Wayne to do a good busi ness. Buried in Sand Bank. York, Neb.. May 2.—William Mc Cullough, a well known citizen of this place, while loading sand yesterday narrowly escaped death. The sand bank caved In and buried him nearly three feet. Henry Graham and Patrick Mc Gowan fortunately were near and saw the accident and Immediately dug Mr. McCullough out. Escape From McCook Jail. Kearney, toeb., May 2.—Another one of the Shelton railroad coal thieves has been caught. Last night Detective Powers arrested John Osborn at North Platte while he was beating his way out of the country. He was brought here this morning, charged with stealing a quantity of coal from a car January 12. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to thirty days in the county jail. Another Shelton Robbery. McCook, Neb.. May 2.—George Ivi. Burchart and Harry Raymond were arrested and lodged in the city jail, charged with burglarizing the store of C. 1,. Degroft & Co. Goods to the amount of $16 were found on their per sons. They had sold some articles and have more in hiding. During the night both, broke out of jail. For Beet Fields. McCook. Nob., April 29—Twenty-three families of Russians left McCook. They formed part of a train load gathered up at various Nebraska points, all bound for Colorado sugar beet fields. JAFS VICTORIOUS IN LAND BATTLE The R ussians Are Driven From Chiu Tien Cheng With Heavy Losses. FIVE DAYS OF FIGHTING Japanese Are Now in Full Control and May Force Russia to Abandon Defenses Erected at Antung. Toklo, May 3.—The Russians were forced to abandon Antung yesterday. They burned the town and retreated to Feng Huan Cheng. The Japanese now control the estu ary of the Yalu. Toklo, May 3.—After five days of fighting, largely with artillery, the first Japanese army, Gen. Kuroki, has forced a crossing of the Yalu river, and today with a gallant Infantry charge cover ing a frontage of four miles, drove the Russians from Chiu Tien Cheng and the heights on the right bank of the ■Iho or Aida river, which enters the Yalu from the north, almost opposite Wiju. The Japanese turned the left flank of the Russian position, and In the battle they swept away the new front interposed by the Russians to check their onward movement. Japanese Dominate. The present position of the Japanese Is a dominating one, and they may force the abandonment of ihe defenses erected by the Russians at Antung and other points lower down the river. General Kuroki began the movement oa Tuesday by ordering a detachment of the imperial guards division to seize the island of Kurlto, which is in the Yalu above Wiju, and a detachment of the Second division to seize the is land of Kinteito, which is situated be low Wiju. The detachment of the im perial guards met with some resist ance, but succeeded in clearing the en emy out and occupied Kurito island. The Russians abandoned the island of Kinteito when attacked by the detach ment of the Second division. The actual loss sustained by the de tachment of the imperial guards is not known, as there is an error in that part of the message received here refer ring to the number killed, but nine of the detachment were severely and eight slightly wounded. The section of the detachment which took the island of Kineito gpstajhied no losses. Russians Shell Wiiu. During these movements on the isl- I ands the Russians opened fire on the Japanese with eight 9% centimeter guns from a hill behind Chiu Tien Cheng, and two Hotchkiss guns, which were mounted on the tihiik of the riveT at Kosan, where the Russians seemed to have established their headquarters. One battery of Japanese artillery, which had taken a position on a hill to the east of Wiju, fired three volleys at Kosan, and at noon of Tuesday the Russian batteries behind Chiu Tien Cheng shelled Wiju, wounding one Japanese soldier with shrapnel. On Wednesday the Russians resumed the bombardment of Wiju, firing at in tervals through the day. The Japanese artillery did not respond to this fire. General Kurokl has received reports to the effect that the Russians are for tifying the heights on the right bank of the Iho river. These new defenses are declared to extend from Chiu Tien Cheng through the village of Makafi to KbsHotci, a distance of three and a quarter miles. Russians Resume Bombardment. The Russians resumed their bom bardment on Thursday, but it was gen erally ineffective. Subsequently Gen 'eral Kuroki ordered two companies of the imperial guard to cross the Yalu and make a l-econnolssance along the left bank of the Iho for the purpose of discovering the character of the Rus sian fortifications along the heights on the right bank of the river. The Jap anese force advanced toward Kosan and then dispatched a small detach ment to the village, where a party of Russians was encountered. In the en gagement which followed five Russians were killed. The Russians shelled the reconnoiterlng party from an emplace ment in the hills in the southeastern part of Yoshoko. This fire was with out effect. The Russian artillery on the hill be hind Chiu Tien Cheng, firing at a high angle, opened on Wiju, the island of Kurito and Seikodo, to the south of Wiju, where some Japanese batteries had taken position. Attack on Wiju. This firing continued into Thursday night, and General Kuroki reports that, while ineffective, it disturbed his prep arations for an attack. The Russians resumed the shelling on Wiju on Fri day, but the Japanese guns did not re ply The Twelfth division of the Japanese army was chosen to make the first crossing of the Yalu. It began its prep arations on Friday by driving the Rus sians from their position on the bank of the river opposite Suikochin, which Is eight miles above Wiju, and the point selected for the crossing. This division constructed a pontoon bridge ever the river, and at 3 o'clock Sat urday morning It began crossing, the | entire division passed over the river during the day, and by 6 o'clock Satur day evening It was In the position as signed to It for the battle of Sunday, The movement of the Twelfth di vision of the Japanese was covered by the Second, regiment of field artillery posted to the north and to the east of Chiu Tien Cheng began shelling the patrols of Japanese infantry which had been dispatched from Kinteito island to Chukodal, another island north of Kinteito, and under Chiu Tien Cheng. The Japanese batteries replied to this shelling and silenced the Russian fire. Later eight Russian guns posted on a hill to the east of the village of Makao opened up on the imperial guards. To this shelling the Japanese artillery to the east of Wiju responded and the Russians ceased firing. Russians Silenced. Then both the Chiu Tien Cheng and the Makao batteries opened, and this fire brought a vigorous response from the chain of Japanese batteries on the Korean side of the river. The Russian guns fire for two hours before they were silenced. In his report General Kuroki ex pressed the belief that his shelling was very effective against the Russians. The Japanese losses in the bombard ments of Saturday were two men killed ind five officers and twenty-one mei Vounded. A flotilla of gunboats from the squad dron of Admiral Hosto participated in I the fighting of Saturday. It encoun- ] tered a mixed force of Russian infan try, cavalry and artillery on the Man churian bank of the Yalu below An (ung, and after’a sharp fight scattered them to the hills A ridge across the main stream of the Yalue just above Wiju was com pleted at 8 o'clock Saturday night, and the Second Japanese division and the imperial guards began crossing. They advanced and occupied the hills hack of Kosan. facing the Russian position on the right bank of the river. Kuroki True to His Promise. All through Saturday night regiment after regiment of Japanese soldiers poured across the bridge and at a late hour Saturday General Kuroki tele graphed to the general staff of the army: "I will attack the enemy on May 1 at dawn." True to his promise, General Kuroki at daylight centered all his artillery on the Russian position between Chiu Tien Cheng and oshoko. To this fire the Russians made reply with all their batteries. At 7 o’clock in the morning the Rus sian battery at Yoshoko was silenced and half an hour later General Kuroki ordered his line, stretching for four miles to attack. The Japanese Infantry on the word of command charged across the Iho, wading that stream breast deep, and began storming the heights at fifteen minutes past 8 o'clock. At 9 o’clock they had swept the Rus sian line back across the plateau. No detailed report has been received in Toklo concerning the losses sustained by the Japanese in the fighting of today. It is belled that these losses were heavy, particularly during the infantry charge. The reports of this fighting which have been receiped here do not indicate wheth er the Russians retired down the river or in the direction of Feng Huan Cheng, on the road to Liao Yang. General Kuroki’s Report. The report from General Kuroki cover ing Sunday’s fighting says: "The Russians made two stands. The enemy’s strength included all of the Third division, two reglmtnts of the Sixth di vision, one cavalry brigade, about forty quick firing guns and eight machine guns. "Wo have taken twenty-eight quick fir ing guns, many rifles, much ammunition, more than twenty officers and many non commissioned officers and men as prison ers. I am Informed that Generals Zazo litch and Castolinski were wounded. Our casualties number about 700, and the Ru* sians' loss is more than 800 men." Japs Still Concentrating. St. Petersburg, April 30.—The Jap anese troops are still concentrating in the neighborhood of the JYalu river, but nothing of particular moment has thus far been reported. The emperor has received the following telegram from General Kuropatkin under today’s date: "General Sassulitch reports that the nights of the 28 and 29 passed quiet ly. Small bodies of Japanese are mov ing on the right bank of the Yalu, at the mouth of which steamers are ar riving. On Thursday afternoon the Japanese columns were seen going from Yongampo to Wiju, and a party of Japanese scouts were seen on a mountain to the south ward of Sindl aju. The Japanese have not yet under taken any active operations. Believe the Reports. London, April 30.—The Japanese lega tion up to 5 o’clock this afternoon re ceived no confirmation of the reported important engagement between the Japanese and Russians on the Yalu river, but officials think it quite prob able. The main body of the Japanese army, it is believed, has traversed the mountain passes and crossed the Yalu 100 miles from the sea, with the object of taking the Russian forces near the ' mouth of the river In the rear. The legation is of the opinion the Japanese operations at the mouth of the Yalu are merely in the nature of a feint. —♦— Where the Forces Were. Shan Hai Kwan, April 30.—The re ports of a big battle on the Yalu river have been given considerable substan tiation by the Information brought in by four Danish missionaries, who have Just arrived at New Chwang. When the missionaries left Antung, ten days ago, the Russians in the vicinity num bered 30,000, and occupied strongly fortified positions between An-Tung and the Ai river, which empties into the Yalu river about twenty miles northeaJst of An Tung. There were also small Russian forces at Hsu Yen and Feng Huan Cheng, where the bases had been established. Vladivostok Not Bombarded. St. Petersburg, April 30.—Absence of telegrams from Admiral Yeszen this morning is regarded at the admiralty as proof the Japanese have not at tempted to bombard Vladivostok. f Jap Story of the Kinshiu-Marj. Washington, May 2.—The Japanese legation today received the following re ports from Toklo on the sinking of the transport Kinshul-Maru: Tokio, April 30.—As the 9th coinpany of the 87th Infantry regiment (peace strength about 150), was returning to Gen San in the transport Kinshui-Maru after reconnoitering Yiwon and the neighborhood of Hang-Yorigdo, they were stopped at 11:10 p. m., April 25, off Sin Pho, by three Russian cruisers and some torpedoboats. The Russians then approached and her captain ac companied by a superintendent, a naval officer and two other officers, went abroad the Russia, where they were detained. The enmy gave an hour's respite for surrender, but the soldiers, in strict discipline and obeying the of fleers’ orders, refused. , At 1:30 p. m. the neemy discharged a torpedo, whereupon our soldiers, form ing themselves into a line on deck, ex changed fires with the enemy, during w hich many of our officers and men perished. About 2 a. m. another tor pedo was discharged, and hitting the engine room split the transport in two. “Some coolies and merchants had previously taken to the boats and were subsequently joined by some soldiers, after the explosion. The boats were then rowed westward and after in describable suffering the men reached Singpho on the 27tli. There were forty five petty officers and privates, six coolies and three merchants. Most of the crew and coolies appear to have been taken by the enemy. All the military except the above mentioned surviviors are believed to have died. Of the company lost there were two captains, two fi-st and one second lieu tenants, one ensign, seventy-three privates and two interpreters. Of the surviving soldiers, ten were slightly and me seriously wounded. Attaches Join Army. I Tokio, April 30.—Fourteen military I ttaches who have been assigned to he first army left here today for the iort of Shimo-Moseki. They will sail lay 5 for an unknown destination. Berlin. April 30.—The correspondent f the L.okal Anzeiger, on the way to •out. telegraphs from Tj.ijin. Liberia, lilt transportation across Lake linik '1 I us interrupted through the wcjtUur • it the ice four days ago. RUSSIANS SUNK A JAP TRANSPORT Part of Crew Are Taken Off, But 200 Ruthlessly Sent to the Bottom. THE JAPANESE ADVANCE It Is New Well Toward Antung, and oit the Road to Mukden—Gunboat Forces Its Way Up the River Past the Batteries. 0 St. Petersburg, April 30.—Russian, torpedoboats belonging to the Vladivo stok squadron sank a Japanese military transport, the Klnshiu Maru, of 4,000 tons, during the night of April 26, with all on board with the exception of sev teen officers, twenty soldiers sixty-five of the crew and eighty-five coolies and carriers. The others, who refused to surrender, were sent to the bottom with the ship. The official report of Rear Admiral Yeszen to the emperor follows: “During the night of April 26 two Russian torpedoboats met at sea a Jap anese military transport ,the Klnshiu Maru, of 4,000 tons, laden with rice and other military stores and about 1,500 tons of coal. The transport was armed with four Hotchkiss guns of 47 milli meters. The Russians captured on board seventeen officers, twenty sol diers and eighty-five military carriers or coolies and sixty'-five of the crew, who surrendered. The remainder of the men, who were to form a landing party and who were left without offi cers, constantly refused to surrender or go on board the Russian cruiser. Fur thermore. they offered armed resist ance to the Russians. In the end they were sent to the bottom with the trans port." The number drowned is not given. Admiral Yeszen reports that besides sinking the Japanese steamer Goyo Maru at Wonsan (Gensan), April 25, the Russians sank at sea the same eve ning the Japanese steamer Nakamura Maru, of 220 tons, whose crew waa saved. Two Hundred Drowned. The satisfaction of the people of St. Petersburg in the exploits of the Vladivostok squadron is tem pered with admiration for the bravery of the Japanese soldiers who were on board the sunken transport, and wild preferred to drown rather than surrender. Rear Admiral Yesz en's full report says 200 men went down with the transport. The ad miralty admits the men acted heroical ly, but holds that Yeszen had no other alternative than to sink the transport, since he could not spare a prize crew or hamper his sfift squadron with a slower steamer. It is pointed out that the officers on board the Kinshiu-Maru appreciated the situation by accepting imprison ment rather than death. In the case of the smaller Japanese transport sunk by torpedoboats at Won san the crew was sent ashore, because there were no accommodations for them on the torpedoboats. The crew of the Japanese steamer Nakamaru-Maru as well as the Japanese of the Kinshiu Maru who surrendered have been taken to t?ie Russian cruisers. The ad miralty here professes ignorance as to the future plans of Admiral Yeszen, but it is believed he is in communication with Vladivostok by wireless teleg raphy and is not likely to be surprised by a Japanese squadron sent to prevent lis return. RUSSIAN DEFEAT. ^ After Two Days’ Fighting With Jap anese Along the Yalu, Czar’s Forces Retreat. Shanghai, April 30.—It is reported here that the Russians have suffered a disastrous repulse after two days’ fight ing on the Yalu river. The Japanese forces crossed the river and the Rus sians retreated. Doudon, April 30.—The Daily Tele graph’s Tokio correspondent asserts that the Russian cruisers slipped past the Japanese squadron during a fog and regained the harbor of Vladivostok. This is the only additional news that has reached London concerning the Vladivostok squadron. No further de tails have been received regarding the sinking of the Japanese transport Kin shiu Maru, which incident is much commented upon here as proving that the Japanese placed too great confi dence In their command of the sea, and there is no doubt that it will in duce greater vigilance on their part. There is some disposition to criticise harshly the action of Rear Admiral Yeszen, but most of this morning’s pa pers prefer to wait particulars of the affair before passing judgment upon it. The report that the Japanese have oc cupied Kiulien Cheng has not yet been confirmed. According to the Standard’s Tien Tsin correspondent the whole country outside the Great Wall is abnormally flooded and any movement of the land forces is impracticable for the pres ent. _ A special dispatch from Port Arthur says that the demonstration made by Japanese torpedo boats covered by a Japanese squadion off Port Arthur yesterday morning was for the purpose of creating a scare and inducing the batteries to waste their ammunition, but the Russians refrained from an swering the Japanese fire. The Copenhagen correspondent of the Morning Post says there are rumors that Russia is negotiating for the pur pose of the Danish liners Hekla, Norge and Island. No Mediation Is Wanted. St. Petersburg, April 30.—The Russian press is aroused over talk of mediation and is inclined to attribute the respon sibility for the proposal to the Anglo French agreement, the result being that the agreement does not obtain favor. The Novoe-Vremyea declares the Anglo-French understanding has rendered poor service to Russia In prompting the idea of mediation, amA adds: • ' W "It is idle to expect an Anglo-Russiav* understanding as a result of the Anglo French entente. It will take a long time for Great Britain to reach Rus sia’s confidence.” The Port Arthur correspondent of the Russky-Invalid writes: "The m Japanese have invented a new com- | bustible. It is inextinguishable. They | tried to burn the battleship Retvizan 1 by setting adrift rafts loaded with this * burning material. The Retvizan sank j them, but the combustible continued to 0 burn under water. A Japanese 12-inch M shell exploded in the yard of General- a Stoessel s house, outside Port Arthur, | It broke a rooster’s leg.” t i •