Fl
G-reatest and Most Costly Fire in the City's
History Burned for Several Hours
During Friday Night.
LOSS MAY REACH $3,000,000
More Than Two Blocks in the Center of the
Town Are Destroyed by the Fierce
and Furious Flames.
More than $3,000,000 worth of most
valuable property went up in smoke Fri
day night in the most disastrous confla
gration that Sioux City , la. , has ever
sustained. One life is known to have
J > oen lost.
Approximately two-thirds of the losses
sire covered by insurance.
Th < > devastating blaze originated in rho
li.'isemenl of the Massachusetts block at
Fourth and Jackson Streets at 8:10
< iYIock.
Tin' Pcllelier Dry Goods Company's
= -toic was crowded with Christmas shop-
JHM-S when suddenly there was heard an
xjilosion. A blight flame sprung up and
in a fo.w seconds had enveloped the whole
front part of the building. The toys and
inflammable goods which littered the
> lmw windows wore soon a mass of blaze
.and before the fire department could ar
rive on the scene the whole building was
-i terrible holocaust.
The strong west wind which was blow-
Ing roared through the tall buildiug and
the flames soon spanned Jackson Street
TO the cast , lapping with greedy tongues
tall Toy building. In fifteen minutes
r the inception of the fire the Toy
Imilding had caught and the firemen were
unable * to cope with its terrible fury.
Fanned by Uiu strong wintry wind it
would not denied. It seized within its
liot grasp that magnificent structure and
> ooii there was no hope to save it.
To the south the devouringilaines made
their way from the front of the Massa
chusetts block and the apartments oc-
-cupied by Brown's Business College was
in its terrible thrall. The three upper
floors in the rear of the Pclletier build
ing were occupied by families. There
wore about seventy-five roomers thoro.
Tho progress of the flames was so rapid
lhat many of these had a hard time in
escaping with their lives.
A firo escape was the friend in ucod
11 nd down this , down five stories through
*
smoke and flaiiio , men , women and chil
drenwended their way to safetjwith
tho brave firemen acting as helpers. It
is thought that all of the occupants os-
cnpcd. but nothing definite is known at
-this time. One man was caught asleep
and did not awake until too late. Tho
fire escape was cut off by seething flames ,
lie appeared at a fourth story window.
The firemen brought the net and he
jumped. He missed the net by six inches.
His bones crunched as he hit the bricks
below.
Xothiug could stay the progress of the
flames. They would not be denied their
prey. They lapped 'fiercely everything
that eamo in sight. They leaped alleys
and streets , jumping in devouring glee
from one building to another. They
burned brick as if it were kindling and
> teel was the same as pine knots.
The fire swept an area of two blocks
on the south side or Fourth Streeet , be
tween Jackson Street and Pierce Street ,
jnid the half block across Jackson Street
to the east , upon which stood the mag
nificent seven-story Toy building and an
nex.
The Pelletier store , which , was in the
Massachusetts building , owned by the
Massachusetts Real Estate Company , of
Boston and Sioux City , was completely
lestroycd.
In the path of the flames stood the
Badgerow block , owned by G. R. Badge-
row , postmaster of Sioux City ; the Mer-
nntile block , owned by T. S. and J. P.
Martin ; the Lcrch block , owned by the
Val Blatz Brewing Company , of Milwau-
Alas ! Alack !
The fool-killer sat in his easy chair
moking his pipe of clay , for he hadn't
a thing to do on earth but while the tim
away. But soon the fool-killer's pipe
went out and then he burst into tears ;
it was only a dream his regular work
was behind full a dozen years.
Lovesick , Perhaps.
Smithinslci I notice Dr. Singleton has
been calling at the home of that young
widow almost every day for a week.
.She mart be pretty sick.
Irownovicli Not sick ; only pretty.
kee ; the Bolton block , owned by J. II.
Bolton ; the Commercial block , owned
by Jonathan W. Brown : the Brown
block , owned byV. . P. Manley and as
sociates ; the Peavey & Nash and Dow
stores , owned by D. T. Oilman ; the dou
ble Schulein building and double Purslow
building , the former the property of the
Schulein estate and the latter the proper
ty of the Purslow estate.
On the side streets were the buildings
of T. S. & . J. P. Martin occupied by J. K.
Prugh and the Iligniau & Skinner Com
pany ; the Higmaii building , occupied by
\Varfield-Pratt-Uowell Company : th *
AVost Hotel , owned by R. E. Purslow
and leased by Frank J. Donohue ; the
Leader Hotel , owned by Paul Leader ;
the Selzer wholesale liquor house and .sa
loon , owned by Charles Selzer.
East from the Pelletier buildiug was
thu stately Toy building , the home of the
First National Bank and the Farmers'
Loan and Trust Company. This build
iug. which was owned by the State Bank
Building Company , was seven stories in
height and every floor was crowded , the
tenants being mostly doctors and law
yers. On the ground floor were the Can
on drug store , the Toy block barber
shop , the saloon of J. W. Kennedy and
the jewelry store of Brodkey S : Good-
site.
site.All
All the stores across the street woic
damaged , the heaviest loser being Fag-
ley fc Co. . Clothiers , in the Metropolitan
block , across Fourth Street , north from
the Toy building The Metropolitan
block is owned by AA' . P. Mauley and as
sociates.
In the burned district were some of the
finest stores of the city. In addition to
the Pelletier store there were the stores
of the Gillette Hardware Company.
Johnson & Aronsou , clothiers ; Orkiu
Bros. , cloaks ; George M. Conway , whole
sale and retail tobaccos ; the Peavey it
Nash Furniture Company , Dow Clothiup
Company , Harstad & Halseth Shoo
Company : Weld Hardware Company ; J
T. Becker , haberdasher.
The AArest Hotel was a complete loss
and the guests sought quarters at oth n
houses' .
The Ideal saloon and gambling house ,
owned by Magner Bros. , and Carey S :
AValsh , were burned with a valuable
stock of 'liquors. The gambling para
phernalia was removed before the flames
crossed Nebraska Street.
The stores in the district which was
burned have brought the highest rentals
in Sioux City and it was a question Fri
day night in the minds of large property
holders what the effect of the fire would
be.
be.A
A miniature engine in ' 'Santa Clans'
cave" in the basement of the Pelletier
Dry Goods Company was the indirect
cause of the most disastrous fire in the
history of Sioux City.
In the cave was a man made uj > to rep
resent St. Nick , lie was entertaining n
crowd of children by going through : i
pantomime demonstrating the action of
mechanical toys. He pointed to the lit
tle engine which was to furnish the pow
er for a toy saw mill and a grind stone.
The engine was propelled by hot air.
which was furnished by a city gas jet.
A check boy struck < a match and touched
the fire to the jet. It is said iie threw
the match into a corner. It struck in a
pile of flimsy material and in an instant
the cave was on fire.
"Santa Clans" quickly tore the beard
ed mask from his face and led the way
to the door. By this act the crowd in
the basement got out before many on the
ground floor knew there was a fire.
Many families were left destitute by
the fire , but only two or three persons
applied to the police department for shel
ter during the night. In the Pelletier
building alone there were forty-six fam
ilies and a total of about 200 people.
There were also a large number of fami
lies in the other buildings , which were
destroyed by the fire , besides some living
in cottages on Third Street , who were
forced to leave their homes and seek
shelter from the flames.
It is believed that many of these peo
ple found places for the night , at least ,
with friends. Many of them were too
distracted to look for shelter and stood
watching the terrible progress of the fire
find.
Forgot His Namo.
Magistrate Why didn't you answer to
rour name ?
A7agrant Beg parding. jedge , but I
forgot wot name I gave las' ni7ht.
Fogistrate Didn't you give your own
n me ?
Vagrant No , jedge , I'm trarelin *
incog.
Audacious Tom.
Ethel Did you give Tom permission
to kiss you ?
Clara Of course not. He didn't ask
it. Ptanorn * * Weekly.
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h
H - H M 4 - : KMWi
January.
2 All Chlenpo theaters closed. In conse
quence of Iroquols Theater holocaust of
Dec. 20 Death of Gen. Jumcs Long-
street.
4 Congress reassembles and hears spe
cial message from President on Panama
question Fire destroys north whig of
Iowa State capitol.
6 Thirty killed in Rod ; Island wreck
near Topeka. Kans Boiler explosion on
British cruiser Wallaroo killsU5 persons.
9 Death of Cm. John 15. Gordon
Steamer Clallam sinks in Straits of Juan de
Fuca ; 32 lives lost Chinese Emperor
ratifies treaty making Mukden and Antnng
open ports Death of Hon. Chas. Foster
of Ohio.
13 Death of Col. Chas. Denby of Indi
ana.
14 Death of ex-Governor Asa S. Buslinell
of Ohio.
15 New government takes hold in Pan
ama.
IS Death of Goorpe Francis Train.
22 Tornado in Jtfoundvllle. Ala. , kills 37
persons and Injures over 1 < > 0 Floods
along Indiana and Ohio rivers.
23 Anlesunrl , Norway , destroyed by firo.
25 One hundred and ninety miners en
tombed In mine near Pittsburg Ver
dict In Iroquols Theater fire case returned
in Chicago Mrs. Florence Maybrick re
leased from English prison.
2G Fifteen lives lost in mine accident in
Victor. Colo Conviction and suicide of
AVhltaker Wright , English promoter.
li'clirnary.
2 Death of ex-Secretary of Navy William
C. Whitney.
G Russia and Japan break diplomatic re
lations.
7 Great conflagration in Baltimore.
8 Japan lands troops in Korea.
9 Japan wins naval victor } ' over Russia
at Port Arthur.
10 Japanese destroy two Russian ships at
Chemulpo , and capture 2,000 Russian troops
near that city Russia and Japan de
clare war.
15 Six hundred Russian soldiers frozen
to death on Lake Baikal Death of
Senator M. A. Hanna.
22 Japanese take four Russian torpedo
boats off Port Arthur.
23 Panama Canal treaty ratified by U.
S. Senate.
2f Great fire in Rochester. N. Y.
27 Burning of Wisconsin Statehouse la
Madison.
March.
2 Collapse of steel frame for 11-story
hotel In New York ; 14 people killed.
(5 ( Japs bombard Port Arthur.
11 New York and Hudson River Tunnel
Co.'s tunnel under North River completed.
Five-hour naval battle off Port Arthur ;
Russians abandon the town.
14 United States Supreme Court hands
flown decision adverse to great Northern
Securities Company merger.
16 Russian torpedo boat destroyer blown
up In Port Arthur harbor.
18 Daniel J. Scully , cotton king , sus
pends payment ; panic on New York Cotton
Exchange Leonard Wood confirmed as
Major-General by Senate.
21 Earthquake shocks felt In New Eng
land States Tornado damages Iligglns-
vllle. Mo.
23-30 Destructive flooods in States of
Middle West.
24-Death of Sir Edwin Arnold Five
nesroes lynched by mob at St. Charles ,
Ark.
20 Two more negroes lynched at St.
Charles , Ark. , making 13 lynched In one
week Tornado kills six persons near
Caruthersville , Mo.
31 Big strike of Iowa miners begins.
April.
4 Russians driven from Korea by Japa
nese advance.
C President of Mormon Church Issues or
der prohibiting polygamy.
12 Russian battleship Petropavlovsk sunk
off Port Arthur ; Admiral Makaroff and 700
others killed , famous painter , Verestchagin ,
among them.
13 Explosion on battleship Missouri kills
29 men.
19 Great fire In wholesale district of To
ronto. Canada ; loss , $10,000.000 House
passes Oklahoma and Arizona Statehood
bill.
20 Death of Grace Greenwood , once pop
ular writer.
22 Cam-barn bandits , Neidermeyer , Marx
and Van Dine , executed In Chicago.
23 Japanese routed nt mouth of Yalu
River.
27 Ownership of Panama canal property
transferred to United States.
30 Opening of Louisiana Purchase Expo
sition In St. Louis.
May.
1 Japanese rout Russians at end of five-
days' fight on the Yalu Death of An-
toiiiu Dvorak , Bohemian musician 100
lives lost by hurricane in Cochin , China.
2 Death of Edgar Fawcett Japa
nese capture Newchwang.
5 Death of Marcus Jokai , Hungarian pa
triot and novelist Death of Franz van
Lenbach , Bavarian artist.
6 Japanese capture Dalny.
7 Death of Andrew McNally , Chicago
publisher.
10 Death of Henry M. Stanley , African
explorer.
12 Illinois Republican convention meets
and deadlock developes.
ir Japanese battleship Ilatsuse strikes
Russian mine off Port Arthur and sinks
with 441 men ; cruiser Yoshluo rammed by
Knsaga and 210 of crew lost.
IS Japanese army driven back to Feng-
waupclieng with heavy loss.
20 Illinois Republican convention ad
journs until May 31 with deadlock uu
broken.
122 Explosion of fireworks factory In Find-
lay , O. , kills several employes Japa
nese lose 15,000 men in land attack on Port
Arthur ; Russian loss 3,000.
25 Ten miners suffocated In tunnel at
Williamstowu. Pa. , in coal mine Yazoo
City , Mies. , destroyed by fire with $2,000,000
loss.
20 Boilers of towboat Fred Wilson blow
up near Louisville , Ky. . killing 13 persons.
Russians defeated by Japanese in Ta-
tung pass Japanese capture Kinchou
and drive Russians from Nansuan Hill ;
heavy loss of life on both sides Rus
sians burn , loot and abandon Port Dalny.
28 Death of Senator M. S. Quay of Penn
sylvania.
29 ? 5,000,000 fire in piers and shipping In
Jersey City , N. J.
June.
3 Illinois Republican convention adjourns
after ll-day session.
4 Fire In Corning distillery In Peoria ,
111. , destroys 14 lives and $1.000,000 worth
of property.
3 Mob wrecks amphitheater In St. Louis ,
when bullfight is stopped.
6 Fifteen non-union miners killed by dy
namite explosion at Independence , Col.
9Deatu of L. Z. Leiter , Chicago multi
millionaire.
10 Death of Laurence Hutton , lltreray
man.
EJhort News Notes *
Fire destroyed the Children's Home of
the Sisters of Mercy in Loretto , Pa.
Sixty orphans in the building escaped
unhurt.
The steamer Henry D. James of the
Rutland Transit Company , plying be
tween Ogdensburg , N. Y. , and Chicago ,
burned at the former place. Loss $90-
000.
000.John
John Allen , who in July. 1903 , shot
and killed his wife near Luther , Ok. ,
was fouud guilty and sentenced to life
imprisonment.
Mrs. Katherine Clemmons Gould and
her husband , Howard Gould , are defend
ants in a suit in the Supreme Court of
New York brought by two dressmakers
for $5,760 for gowns for Mrs. Gould.
Fire at Columbia , Tenn. , destroyed the
feed mill and elevator of the City Grain
I and Feed Company , with thirty care of
J ear corn and about 50,000 bushels of
' shelled corn. Loss , $72,000 , insurance
i 142,000.
14 End of r.trlko of lake captains.
15 Burning of steamer General Slocum
in East River. New York ; 1,000 persons per
ish Vladivostok squadron sinks two
Japanese transports , destroying 1.000 Jives.
18 American Derby In Chicago won by
Highball.
" 0 Five thousand Russians killed and
wounded at Halchenjj.
21 Republican national convention opens
In Chicago.
23 Roosevelt and Fairbanks nominated In
Chicago.
2G-27 Japanese defeat Russians In two-
days' fight at Dallu Hill.
28 Death of "Dan" Emett , composer of
"Dixie. " Nine million acres of land
thrown open to settlement In Nebraska.
29 Steamer Norg lost in North Atlantic
Ocean ; over 700 persons perish.
July.
3 Twenty persons killed In Wabash
wreck at Lltchlleld. III.
T People's party national convention
nominate ? "U'atson and Tibbies.
6 Democratic national convention meets
in St. Louis Heavy rains cause great
Howls In Kansas.
J ) Democratic convention nominates Al
ton B. I'arker for President.
10 Henry ( ; . Davis named for Vice Pres
ident by Democratic convention Mar-
blehead , Ohio , wrecked by explosion 17
killed and fK ) injured In train wreck at Mid-
vale , N. , T.
11 Thirty thousand Japanese killed or
wounded In attack on Port Arthur.
12 Strike of 50,000 packing house em
ployes begins in Western cities Death
of Mayor S. M. ( Golden Rule ) Jones In To
ledo. 0 2 < K ) lives lost in cloudburst and
flood near Manila.
13 C. & E. l. excursion train wrecked
at Glenwood , 111. ; 1M killed and 72 Injured.
14 Death of Paul Kruger.
22-24 Ritous times at Bouesteel. S. D.
24 Russians evacuate Newchwang after
two-days' battle Russians sink British
steamship Knight Commander off Izu.
27 England protests to Russia regarding
sinking of steamship Knight Commander.
28 Drawing for Rosebud reservation land
begun In Chamberlain , S. D.
Anjjuat.
1 Death of ex-Governor Robt. E. Pattl-
son of Pennsylvania.
2 Illinois Central train robbed near Har
vey , 111 Death of Mrs. Nelson A. Miles.
3 British expedition enters Lhassa , the
"forbidden city. "
4-S Japanese attack Port Arthur.
7 Wreck on Rio Grande railway near
Pinon , Col. , causes 100 deaths.
0 Death of ex-Senator Geo. G. Vest of
Missouri.
10 Former Premier Waldeck-Rousseau of
France dies Naval battle off Port Ar
thur.
13 Turkey yields to demands of United
States In regard to American schools.
14 Russian Vladivostok squadron defeat
ed by Japanese in Straits of Corea.
10 Mob burns two negroes at stake in
Statesboro , Ga Death of Hon. Perry
Hannah at Traverse City. Mich.
19 Tornado in North St. Louis Gen
eral attack on Port Arthur.
20 Tornado In St. Paul , Minneapolis and
vicinity kills 1C persons and causes $3,000-
000 loss.
21 Russian cruiser Novlk beached after
two days' fight Russians win battle at
Port Arthur.
28 Cable line to Alaska Is completed.
September.
1 Japanese take Lalo-Yang.
3 Big fire In Memphis , Tenn.
4 Tenement house fire in New York ends
14 lives. I
8 Stockyards strike in Chicago Is ended.
Death of Rev. Geo. C. Larimer.
11 Russian cruiser Lena arrives in port
at San Francisco.
IS Death of Prince Herbert Bismarck.
19 Two million dollar wharf fire In Hal
ifax , N. S.
21 Peter Karageorgevltch crowned King
of Servla.
24 Sixty-two persons killed in train
wreck near Knoxville , Tenn Mt. Vesu
vius in eruption. ,
2G Death of Lafcadlo Ilearn , author.
28 Japanese capture Ta Pass.
30 Death of Senator George Frisble Hoar
of Massachusetts.
October.
1 Death of Sir William Vernon Har-
court.
4 Death of Frederic A. Bartholdl , fa
mous French sculptor Postmaster-Gen
eral Henry C. Payne dies. I
10 Robert J. Wynne appointed Postmas- '
ter General Missouri Pacific wreck
near Warrensburg , Mo. , kills 29 people.
11 Steamer Call sinks off Priuce Ed
ward's Island ; 19 lives lost. j
14 King George of Saxony dies I
Famine in Swedish province of Goteburgj j
"onus Russians lose great battle near j
Yental.
13-17 Great battle south of Mukden. '
22 Russian Baltic fleet fires upon English
fishing boats and sinks two of them.
24 England dema-uls reparation for sink
ing of fishing boats by Russl in fleet.
26 Russia sends note of apology to Eng
land.
27 Mrs. Rae Krauss confesses murder of
stepdaughter In Hartford City. Ind.
28 Ex-Governor Geo. K. Nash of Ohio
drops dead England and Russia agree
to refer North Sea affair to arbitration
court Twenty-one miners killed by
mine explosion in Teroio. Col.
Novemb-r. |
3 French steamer Glronde sunk in col
lision off llerblllon , Algiers , and 100 lives
lost.
8 Roosevelt and Fairbanks elected by
unprecedented majorities.
13 Gale sweeps Atlantic Coast States.
10 Russian torpedo boat destroyer Ras-
toropny blown up in harbor of Che-Foo.
18 Explosion in mine at Morrissey. Man. ,
kills 14 miners Gas explosion in Chi
cago kills four men.
19 Burning of Missouri building at the
World's Fair ; one fireman killed W. C.
P. Breckinridge ( lies.
20 Twelve persons lose lives in burning
of Brooklyn , N. Y. , tenements $700,000
fire in business section of Cincinnati.
23 Steamer Elpis lost In Black Sea , with
77 persons aboard.
29 Death of Madame Janauschek , famous
actress.
December.
1 Louisiana Purchase Exposition In St.
Louis closes Seventh Inauguration of
President Diaz of Mexico Haley GIpe
found guilty of manslaughter at Newcastle ,
Ind Peter NIssen. inventor of c roller
boat , dies In contrivance on Lake Michigan.
2 Death of Mis. G. H. Gilbert , veteran
iff ross
5 Death of ex-Postmaster General James
N. Tyner. . . . . Opening of last session of
58th Congress.
8 Japanese wipe out Russian fleet at
Port Arthur.
13 Big fire In Minneapolis.
21 Death of ex-Senator George L. Shoup
of Idaho Cougrefas adjourns for holiday
recess.
Frank L. Gibbs shot and fatally
wounded his wife in Barnsville , Minn. ,
and then killed himself. The couple , it
is said , had been quarreling.
The naval colliers Ajax and Brutus ,
now on the Asiatic station , have been
ordered to the United States by way of
the Mediterranean for the purpose of
obtaining a fresh supply of coal for the
vessels of the Asiatic fleet.
Superintendent Frank Leach of the
San Francisco mint made good the de
falcation of former Cashier Walter M.
Dimmick by turning over his Oakland
home to the surety company which was
on Dimmick's bond for $25,000.
The New York State railroad commis
sion denied the application of the New
York Canadian Pacific Railroad Com
pany for permission to issue a first mort
gage of § 25,000.000 for the purpose of
utilizing an old franchise to build anoth
er steam railroad from New York to Al
bany and trest and north to thr ffcna-
Hat ,
f
S
WAE IN THE OHLEiNT.
COLD WEATHER PREVENTS
ACTIVE OPERATIONS.
Both Armies Occupy Substantially the
Positions They Have Jleld for AVecka
I' osrrcss of the Baltic Fleet Next
Battle May Be oil the Sea.
A Mukden dispatch says that "the
extreme cold keeps things quiet along
the front. " When the thermoineter is
bplov zero one cannot look for active
and continued military operations.
There are reports of movements of
Russian and Japanese Hying columns ,
particularly on General Kuropatkiu'a
left flank , but both sides occupy sub
stantially the positions they have held
for weeks.
If it be the intention of the Japanese
to take their time henceforth about
the reduction of Port Arthur it will
be in their power to send Marquis Oya-
rna a strong re-enforcement The low
est estimate of General Stoessel's force
is 4,000 men. That probably is too
low , but if he should have three times
as many the Japanese can safely send
away a considerable portion of their
Port Arthur army.
In the opinion of the Chicago Trib
une , if Marquis Oyama , after having
been re-enforced from that quarter ,
does not take the offensive speedily he
probably never will. Ilis army will
have reached the highest point of efli-
ciency after the arrival of the trained
soldiers who have been lighting under
General Nogi. The men whom he may
receive from Japan will not be of so
good quality. On the other hand , the
troops now reaching General Kuropat-
kin are drawn from the garrisons on
the western frontier of the empire and
are superior to many of those previ
ously sent to him. .before long Gen
eral Kuropatkiu should have at his
disposal all the troops the carrying ca
pacity of the Transsiberiau railroad
will permit him to keep supplied with
provisions. The road is constantly be
ing made more eilicient by the con
struction of new sidings and the sub
stitution of iron for Avooden bridges.
It would not be surprising to hear
that the Japanese have given up the
plan of assuming the aggressive for a
policy less prodigal of the lives of the
soldiers. In that event Marquis Oya
ma could choose between holding his
present position after fortifying it
more extensively , or he could fall back
upon some point nearer his base and
await his enemy there.
It is admitted that the Russian ships
at Port Arthur are destroyed , or are so
badly damaged as to be unserviceable.
The Japanese ships which have been
blockading Port Arthur have gone
home to refit and get ready to meet
an advancing Russian fleet , which ,
though superior on paper , certainly ia
inferior in personnel. Naval officers
of all nations have turned their eyes
to the orient and are waiting eagerly
for the result of the impending con
test between great fleets of armored
vessels. They have a professional in
terest in the matter aside from tin
general interest felt by all.
General Stoessel has given General
Nogi a map showing the positions of
the hospitals in Port Arthur , so that
they may be safe from Japanese fire
Progress of the Baltic Fleet ,
It is almost three months and a half
since the Baltic fleet was officially de
clared to have sailed from Cronstadt
for the far East However , the fleet
lingered at Reval and Libau for over
a month after that , and the real be
ginning of its voyage must be dated
from Oct. 1C.
It covered the first 2,200 miles of
its 17,500-mile journey at the average
speed of about four miles an hour.
Then , at Tangier , it divided into two
squadrons , one of which , under Vice
Admiral Rojestvensky , started around
the Cape of Good Ilope and the other ,
under Rear Admiral Voelkersam , went
by way of the Suez Canal.
Rojestvensky's squadron is now
coasting along German Southwest Af
rica. In forty days , since leaving Tan
gier , it has covered about 5,200 miles ,
at the average speed of five and a hall
miles an hour. Voelkersam's squadron
has left Jubutil , in French Somaliland ,
with a speed record up to date of
about three miles an hour.
The Chagos Islands in the Indian
Ocean are generally assumed to be the
rendezvous for the fleets. At the pres
ent rate of speed Admiral Rojestvens-
ky should be there about the 15th ol
January , the distance he has to cove *
being something less than 4.000 miles.
Then , assuming that the second squad
ron has arrived and that a third squad
ron which left Libau in November hai
caught up , he will be ready to take up
the serious part of his adventure.
It is G.GOO miles from the Chagos
Islands to Vladivostok by way of the
Tsugaru Straits , or , for a fleet aver
aging five and a half miles an hour ,
about fifty days' steaming. The fleet
ought to cover this distance , it is true ,
in thirty to forty days , but experience
up to date is sufficient to show that if
it ever approaches Vladivostok at aJi
it will not be till the month of Marcfc
at the earliest.
War News in Brief.
The Japanese cruiser Saiyen was sank
by a Russian mine in front of Port AT-
thur. i
Japan is preparing to dispose of Rus-
sia's Baltic fleet when it reaches Asiatic
waters.
The Japanese cruiser Adsama is re
ported to haTe been blown up by a Rus
sian mine. i
i
The Japanese blew up Ribling HiD
Fort at Port Arthur , killing several hun
dred Russiamt and rendering twenty got *
UM'tSS. i
IS ! 1
S ? as
>
Wl
In the Senate Thursday n resolution
providing for "proper action" on tho
charges against Judge Swnyne when ar
ticles of impeachment are presented by
the House , but fixing no date for the be
ginning of the proceed ings , was adopted.
The urgency deficiency appropriation bill
was passed without debate. The Philip
pine administration bill was taken up
and amendments were offered by Mr.
McCuniber striking out the provision for
the guaranteeing of interest on railroad .
bonds to 2 2 P < ? r cent providing that they
be guaranteed by the government of the
United States , and prescribing method
for taxation of railroad receipts in the
Islands : by McGomas empowering the
Philippine commission to amend the
tariff laws of the islands. by Mr. C'ulber-
son granting 20,000 acres of Philippine
public lands for every mile of railroad
constructed , by Mr. Bailey giving : the
Philippine government authority to reg
ulate the charges of the aided ronds and
by Mr. Spooner restricting the authoriza
tion of municipalities to contract indebt
edness to promote local improvements.
By agreement the bill and the amend
ments wi'l ' he voted on Friday. Mr. Per
kins introduced u bill appropriating $1-
100,000 for n federal building ; at Hono
lulu. Mr. Berry presented n memorial
from the Cherokee Nation , asking that
Indian Territory be allowed n delegate
in Congress. In executive , session extra
dition treaties with Hayti and Cuba
the latter amendatory were ratified and
ordered made public. In the House a
resolution discharging elections committee
No. 2 from further consideration of the
Reynolds-Butler contest from the twelfth
Missouri district because the contestant
had not com plied with the law in regard
to time in which testimony should be
taken was adopted.
The day in the Senate was principally-
devoted to debate on the Philippine civil
government bill , which finally was passed
by a vote of 44 to 23. Mr. Beveridge ,
from the Committee on Territories , re
ported the statehood bill and announced
he will make a motion on the first day
that the Senate convenes in January that
the consideration of the bill shall be
entered upon at once. Representing the
minority of the committee Mr. Bate noti
fied the Senate that he would enter a mo
tion to recommit the bill for the purpose
of taking further testimony. Mr. Bard
pave notice of an amendment confining ;
the provisions of the bill to the State to
be formed by the union of Oklahoma ami
Indian Territory and eliminating all ref
erence to Arizona and New Mexico. Mr.
Hepburn and Mr. McCuuiber sought to
get up the pure food bill , but Mr. Lodge
moved an executive session and his mo
tion prevailed. The session of the Honsa
was given over almost exclusively to con
sideration of bills on the private calen
dar , a dozen or more being passed. The
Senate amendments to the urgent defi
ciency bill were agree'.T"t j * * - -
The Sennte held a session of three min
utes Monday and adjtmrned until Wed
nesday. Mr. Perkins ( Cnl. ) had beea
designated to preside by President
Tern Frye. There was a short prayer
Chaplain Hale , a message from the Pres
ident , a message from the House , and
adjournment was taken. The House dis
approved the proposition to hold the in
augural ball in the capit l building. .The
committee having the matter in charge
had substituted for the pension building ,
as provided in the Senate resolution , the
congressional library , but Mr. Marreil of
Pennsylvania , who called the matter np.
announced that the opposition t the lat
ter building was so great the committee
had concluded to substitute the capitol
building. A storm of protests came from
both sides of the chamber. The resolu
tion offered by Mr. Mvrrcil was Toted
down , the result being te delay action un
til the next District ef Columbia day in
January. The House also voted down a
resolution making a special order on Jan.
\ of the bill to restore to the naval acad
emy three naval cadetswho were dis
missed for hazing.
* _
*
As soon as the House met Wednesday
Mr. Morrell ( Pa. ) called np the Senate
resolution granting the inaugural com
mittee permission to use certuiii public
buildings and reservations , including. the
use of the pension building for the in
augural ball. Mr. Morrell explained that ,
the resolution was exactly as it
from that body and said that after con
sultation with the members f the
trict of Columbia committee and in viej
of the very evident desire f the
that the inaugural ball shall be
the pension building , it hud be < m
to accept the Senate resolution
entirety. The House adjonrncd to . ,
4 after a brief session. After n session
of four minutes' duration the Sennte ad
journed at 12:04 p. m. nirtil Jan. 4 next.
The proceedings consistad of a prayer
bjChaplain Hale , the reading of the
journal of Monday's brief session and
the receipt of a number f aoauoations
from the President.
Notes of the National Capital.
The Congressmen wh risked Panama
favor a sea-level canaL
President Roosevelt has ntviinated
George Horton of Chicago for United
States consul at Athens , Greece.
Robert J. Thompson f Chicago is an
applicant for the position f c nsul gen
eral in Paris , to succeed John K. Go-wdy.
Speaker Cannon declares appropria
tion bills and Philippine Bieusures will
consume most of the time f the short
session of Congress.
Postmaster General Wynne has de
cided to take no action in the case of
Assistant Postmaster Riley Kansas
City , Mo. , recommended for remeval.
Secretary Shaw transmitted to the
House an estimate of $9.2:55.015 as the
cost of collecting internal rerenae for lha
year ending June 30 , ItXX * .
Secretary Hay issued a circular note to
be presented to the powers aigimtory to
The Hague convention , giving the replies
t * his invitation to a second wnference.
The feeling in Congress is bitter be
cause of revelations made in the Mormon
inquiry , and matters are believed to be
rapidly approaching a crisis. Senator
Dnbois and other members ef ffce Smoot
investigation board belirre all ( fa tkarge *
teen 3tablk > h > d.
