< ll THE NORFOLK WEEKLY NEWS = JOURNAL , , , , iNOKKOMv NU1WASKA I'MMDAY I'MMKUAKY 5 1001 V Vessels , Cleared for Action , Leave Port Arthur. THEIR DESTINATION UNKNOWN May Establish a Blockade Russian Commander at Vlalsvostock Notifies Japanese to be Ready to Leave at Moment's Notice. Port Arthur , Fob. 4. The entire Russian fleet , with the docks of the vessels cleared for action , loft this port this morning. The destination of tlio fleet Is un known , buyc. . ' - believed here that something f { S/.1f ( ) * o take place , and It hatf u * ' " < o-/ ' 'ock- ndes of Japanese i-- iin- plated. WARN JAPS TO LEAVE. Order of Russian General Says a Siege May Come Soon. Vlatlisvostock , Feb. 4. The Rus sian commander has notified the Jap anese residents of the city to bo ready to Icnvo at a moments notice. lie gave out the statement that a siege Is likely to ho in effect at any time now. War on , Perhaps. London , Fob. 4. At 4 o'clock this afternoon n special was received by the Evening News which says that Japan has refused further negotia tions and has decided to begin notion nt once. This is Interpreted here as meaning that war has already com menced in the far east. Calls Convention. Lincoln , Feb. 4. Chairman Harry C. Lindsay , of the republican state committee , yesterday Issued his for . ' 5- mal call for the state convention of V Nebraska republicans to bo held May 18 in Lincoln. The pall specifies that the vote cast for J. B. Barnes for supreme premo judge at the election last No vember will serve as the basis of rep resentation. The different counties will bo entitled to ono delegate for every 100 votes or major fraction thereof cast for Judge Barnes. CHANGfc DATE OF OMAHA MEET. Farmers' National Co-operative Con vention to Be Held In March. Chicago , Feb. 4 The meeting of ! the Farmers' National Co-operatlvo v Jfat * association , which was to have oeen „ _ ' _ . ' ' * - i' held In Omaha , June 14 , will bo held March 1 , and all persons interested in co-operation are being Invited to at tend the meeting. The change In the date is because June is such a busy month with the faimers that many of them would be unable to attend the meeting on the original date. The meeting in Omaha Is being held for the purpose of consolidating the vari ous co-operative movements nnd or ganizing the American Farmers' ex change and to inaugurate measures deemed necessary to secure better prices for farm products HANNA IS SUFFERING SERIOUSLY A Physician In New York Has Been Sent for as he Has Recurring Attack of Grip. Washington , Feb. 4. New York physicians have just been wired to come to see Senator Ilanna. A bul letin says that ho has recurrent at tacks of grip with unusual pryslcal depression. SENATOR GAMBLE ACTIVE. Will Take up House Bill Opening the Rosebud and Urge Its Passage. Washington , Feb. 4. Senator Gam ble will take up the house bill opening the Rosebud Indian reservation to set tlement and hopes to secure n favor able report from the Indian commit tee , of which ho is n member. "I have no fear about the bill , " said Mr. Gamble tonight. "I have seen Sen ator Platt , of Connecticut , and ho told me that ho would not oppose the mea sure. This gives us a fair field and I hope to see the bill signed and made a law by next week. " Will Move Cave to St. Louis. Hot Springs , S. D. , Fob. 4. J. II. Keith , of Cascade , has concluded ar rangements for exhibiting his famous Crystal Cave at the St. Louis expo sition. This is ono of the chief ex hibits which constituted ono of the chief attractions at the Chicago expo sition , and was visited at that tlmo by 2,000,000 people. The exhibit requires three cars to convey it to St. Louis , where it will arrive during February ready for exhibition at the time of the opening. NEW TRIAL FOR KEERL. Convicted Murderer Will Have An other Chance. Helena , Mont. , Fob. 4. Because of defect In the Information charging murder , and errors in the instruction of the presiding judge to the jury on the question of insanity , the supreme court has reversed the order of the Lewis and Clark county district court denying a motion for a now trial , made by the attorneys for James S. Keorl , who was convicted In Helena last fall of second degree murder for the killIng - Ing of Thomas Crystal ! , n bartender with whom ho had quarreled while un der the Influence of liquor. The trial was long drawn out nnd bitterly con tested , and attracted n great deal of attention because of the defendant's former social and business standing In the community , ho for years having ranked as ono of the most prollclont civil engineers In this section , All members of the oupremo court con curred In the action. RECEPTION FOR THOMPSON. Lincoln Friends Will Tender Brazil Minister Welcome. Lincoln , Feb. 4. A reception will ho given at the Lincoln next Tuesday night in honor of Mr. and Mrs. D. 13. Thompson. Mr. Thompson , the United States minister to Brazil , has returned to this country for a short visit and will ho in Lincoln by that tlmo. A meeting of about fifty leading citizens and business men was hold at the Lin coln last night and preliminary ar rangements for the reception were made. Attack a Stage and Murder the Passengers. CRIME WAS AT ORTIZ , MEXICO Band of Natives Attack a Coach and KIM all the Passengers in Country Near Ortiz Effort to be Made to Bring Them to Justice. Ortiz , Mex. , Feb. 4. Ynqul Indians attacked a stage near this place nnd killed all the passengers. A force of officers and citizens will endeavor to capture the band and place them un der arrest. GYMNASIUM FOR FT. ROBINSON Forty Thousand Dollars Approprlatacd For the Use of Cavalrymen. Washington , Fob. 4. Fort Robin son , Neb. , is to have a now gymnasi um , to cost $10,000. Some time ago a recommendation was made for a gymnasium at Fort Robinson to cost $10,000. Later an effort was made to divert this amount to other forts in greater need of Improvements. Quar termaster General Humphrey , how ever , was firm in his determination that Fort Robinson should have a gymnasium commensurate with its importance as a cavalry post , and yesterday It was decided to build a "gym1 to cost $40,000 Instead of $10- 000 , as originally planned. SHARKS OFFER BRIBE. To Stop Interference With Their Money Loaning Business. Chicago , Feb. 4. Loan sharks , whoso business has been ruined by the district attorney's anti-usury cru sade , have made a formal offer of n $25,000 bribe to Assistant District At torney Isadore J. Krasel to induce him to drop the prosecutions. As n result of the bribe , Acting District Attorney Rand is preparing to move against several persons. Charges of attempted bribery will bo made as soon as the district attorney can rivet ono more link in the chain of evi dence. When the usurers saw that Mr. Krasel would not accept the $25- 000 bribe they intimated that the sum would bo doubled. Mr. Krasel's an swer was to cause the arrest of four more persons on the charge of usury. WEDDED A LABORER. Wealthy Wellesley Girl Elopes With a Farm Hand. Boston , Mass. , Fob. 1. Miss Grace Whittaker , daughter of Mrs. Clifford Weld and heiress to $1,000,00 has eloped from her mother's country es tate at Middleboro , Mass. , with Ken- rick Harrison Trlbon , a laborer , and the couple were married upon arrival in tills city. Tribon is 25 years old and of good appearance , but has never had any educational advantages and has always worked as a farm hand. Mrs. Trlbon is 20 years old , a graduate of Wellesley college , handsome , dash ing and brilliantly accomplished. The couple had never shown indica tions of anything ardent in their ac quaintance , and the elopement oc curred during the bride's mother's ab sence in New York and caused a surprise to the people of Middleboro. They were aided In eloping by an other employe , who hitched up a team upon Miss Whittakor's orders , but Myles Standish , the head farmer on the Weld estate , suspecting their ob ject , telephoned to Mrs. Weld and also to the police of the neighboring town. They , however , thwarted this by leaving their rig with n farmer and boarding an electric car , traveling in that way to this city. The couple nro spending their hon eymoon at Plymouth , anxiously await ing tlio parental blessing , which does not seem probable to come to them. Socialist Secretary. Omaha , Fob. 4. The national com mittee of the socialist party has elect ed William Mallly secretary for an other year. There was no opposition. Four Business Houses De stroyed This Morning. THE LOSS IS ESTIMATED AT $0,800 A Saloon , Meat Market and Two Of fice Buildings Went In Early Blaze In South Dakota Town Livery Bam and Hotel Threatened. Fairfax , S. D. , Fob. 4. Special to The News : Flro at II o'clock this morning destroyed four buildings In the business part of the city and threatened two others which were saved by hard work. The loss In es timated at $0,800 , with insurance of but $1,200. The buildings burned : Mike Slagel , otllco building ; loss $100 ; liiHiinuico , $200. S. 13. Atkinson , real estate olllco ; losn $100 ; no Insurance. 13. Aosta , meat market ; lottn , $2- 500 ; no insurance. 13. Stanuard , saloon ; IOHH , $11,500 ; Insurance , $1,000. The 11 ro started on Iho west nldo of Main street , apparently In Iho Slagol building , and Its origin IB a mystery. From the Slagol building It quickly cominuucatcd with the AlUnson buildIng - Ing and the million and meat market. Hotel and Barn Catch. During the progress of the flro It caught In the Alford livery barn and the Merchants hotel , but by the prompt and vigorous action of the flro lighters these biiildlngH were saved and the flames were prevented from spreading from the four doomed build ings. Fortunately there was no wind , or the loss would undoubtedly have been much larger. When the blaze was llrst discovered it had gained good headway , and it was Impossible to sup press it for several reasons. There was no night watch on duty , or it is believed that ho could have extinguished the blaze In Its Inclp- iency or given nn alarm that would have aroused the citizens and enabled them to do some effective work. Water Mains Burst. The work of the flromcn was great ly handicapped by the fact that ono of the water mains had burst yester day and had not been repaired In tlmo for use. It was Impossible to reach the blaze with n stream of water from the hose and all efforts toward Its suppression were necessarily limited to n bucket service , which was Inef fectual so far as the four business houses were concerned. Very little was saved from tlio doomed buildings. In the meat mar ket the fixtures went up In smoke and some of the stock In the saloon was destroyed as well as the fixtures , and the furniture and books and papers in the otllco buildings were destroyed. CASE OF NEGLECT. Coroner Robblns Views the Remains of Child Found Dead. Sioux City , Feb. 4. Lying in a room so cold that the bottle of milk by Its sldo was frozen , --months-old ( child of Mr. and Mrs. Alviim Nicknm was found by County Coroner J. II. Robbins - bins when ho was called to view the body. It is his opinion the child died from neglect. It seems the child had been given the bottle of milk early in the morn ing and left alone in the cold room while the parents busied themselves with their work in another part of the house. When they went to see the baby later in the day they found it dead. Frat Men In Biennial Session. Minneapolis , Feb. 4. Members of the Sigma Alpha Elstlon fraternity , one of the most prominent of the college - lego Greek letter societies , are gath ered here for the biennial session of the Province Delta. The attendance includes delegates from Michigan , Ohio , Illinois , Wisconsin , Indiana and Minnesota. Elaborate entertainment has been provided for the visitors by the University of Minnesota chapter , which is acting as host to the conven tion. Northwestern Betterments. Winona , Minn. , Fob. 1. Orders have been received hero for the work of permanent Improvement to bo made by tlio Chicago & Northwestern road on the Minnesota and the Dakota di visions. For the former division , the sum of $92,000 has been set aside , and for the latter division the sum of $29- 000. The work to bo done comprises masonry and steel bridges. The ap propriations are generous , considera bly In excess of last year. COAL MEN MEET TODAY. Three Hundred of Iowa and Nebraska Gather to Talk. Omaha , Feb. 4. The Coal Dealers' Association of Iowa and Nebraska held the first of their mid-winter meetings in Crclghton hall today. This is ono of n scries of meetings which nro be ing hold In Nebraska and Iowa , two others having boon hold , ono at Sioux City and the other at Waterloo , Iowa. Two of the main questions to bo discussed will bo short weights nnd demurrage. An address will bo dollv- ored by C. II. Clilsum of Council HluffH , president of the lumoulutlon. M. A. Moore of LoMurn , lown , will also deliver an tutilroHH. A cotnmlnnlonnr from the llllnolH Hhlpporn1 association will also ho prun- out and take part In the dlncunnlonn. A telegram wan received thin morning that A.V. . Monte , Hoc-rotary of the Northwestern Coal DenlorH1 usnoclu- Unit of Minneapolis , would bo present and partlolpiito. An attendiim'.o of IIOO IH anticipated. The nonHlon will lust hut one day. The vlHltora will bo entertained In the evening by the Omaha dealorH with a banquet at the Commercial club. County Judges of Texas. Kort Worth , TOXIIH , Fob. I. The an nual meeting of the County Judges and ComiulnnloncrH1 iiHnoclutlon of Texan began In Fort Worth today with nearly 100 momberH of the annoi-lullon present from various parlH of the state. One of the principal matters to receive attention In the Terrell elec tion law , which many of the judges desire to have modllled. Business Reported Good From Chicago Resources. BETTER THAN IT HAS BEEN Improvement Shown In all Lines of Business , Encouraged by Advanced Prices for Securities and Grains Lumber Market Improves. Chicago , III. , Feb. I. The general himlncHS Hltuallou In the Middle West In reported better now than It bun been for HOIIIO montliH. With ad vanced prices for HceurllleH and graliiH , with cotton at the highest price since the war , and with nllght supplies of practically all inatorlahi except pig Iron , the general condition IH genuinely healthy. The change In the Hcntlment of the trades Hlnco No vember hiiH been roinarkable , and Iho IndivMitloiiH are that the Improvement will continue Indefinitely In almost all branches of hiiHinoHH. Wire and nail mills are full of ordera for both domestic and foreign accountH and the light hard ware bunl- liens In likewise showing fdgiiH of Improvement , many spring orders be ing received. Metals are Htronger , lend ore in the Jopllu district advanc ing to the highest price within the last ten years. . The 'spring biiHlnesH In the dry goodH trade IH lair , showing an Im provement over liiHt January. The clothing trade reports bettor advance order business than for several yearH past. With the shoe trade more busi ness has been done than In the cor responding period last year. The lumber market is also In Im proved condition , owing to bettor de mand from many interior sections. There Is a heavy demand from west ern railroads for yellow pine. The wholesale grocery trade , according to best reports , IK showing moderate ox- pnnslon. Roadmen report good busi ness on the road , with easy collec tions , and the prospects arc for a still further improvement in the de mand for staples. OPPOSE THE JIGHT-HOUR BILL Organized Labor Working for the Measure , But There Is Strong Op position by Other Interests. Washington , Feb. 1. Organized la bor is vitally Interested in the Elght- Ilour Labor bill , which comes up for hearing today before the house com mittee on labor , and is lighting hero ically on behalf of the measure , but from all appearances there Is little hope that the bill will meet any bettor fate than the similar measure defeated at the last session of congress. The present measure is designed to prohib it work on any government contract from being prosecuted more than eight hours a day , even in the shops of sub contractors. The National Building Trades association , which was formed at Chicago last fall , Is prosecuting a vigorous fight against tlio bill and also against Grosvenor's " "anti-Injunc tion" or "anti-conspiracy" bill now pending before the house committee on Judiciary. DEAD IN SNOW DRIFT. North Dakota Woman Overcome by a Blizzard. Mandan , N. D. , Feb. ( . Mrs. John Frank , who lived ten miles north of Mandan , was found this morning dead in a snow drift half a mile from her house. She wont to the school house during yesterday afternoon's storm for her little girl , and was lost on her return. Many Want to Join Team. Fremont , Nob. , Fob. l. George Howe , who Is to bo captain of the state firemen's running team which will go to St. Louis during the big exposition to compete in several Inter state events , has received requests from forty men to bo assigned places on the team. Ho will try to arrange matters so that every one may have a trial , but only twenty men can bo sent with the team. Many Delegates and Visitors in Lincoln , TWENTY-FOURTH CONVENTION Splendid Program for the Meeting Has Been Prepared Hcporto of the Officers Show Gratifying Progress Throughout the State , Lincoln , Neb. , Fob. 1. Many dele gates and vlnltorn have arrived for the twenty-font Hi nimuiil convention of the NehniHka Y. M. C. A. , which will bo In HCHHlon hero during the next three da.VH. Among the cllleit ropro- Kontod by todiiy'H urrlvulH were Omaha , llentrlco , llaHtlugtt , York , NotIh Plalte , Grand Inland , Fremont ami Chiidron. The Hplendld program prepared for the convention proiulm < H ono of the inonl nncceHHful meetlngH over hold by the nlnto iiHHoclatlon. W. M. I'ur- HOIIH of Mlnncapolln , ( ' . C' . Colton of ChleuHo. Ilev. ( ) . W. Flfer of York and Dr. 13. I ) , .lenklmi of Omaha are among the prominent Hpcukorn to bo heard. Itoporlti prepared by Iho vnrloim of- flcern nhinv the anHiicIatloii to bo mak ing gratifying progroHn In NebranUa. PUBLIC SCHOOLS BEST. President Eliot Says Their Graduates Do Better In College. Cambridge , Mann. , Feb. I. During the pant year President lOllot , of Har vard , had Homo iitallstlcH gathered ante to the lolntlvo methodn of the work and general elllcloncy of the boy who prepares for college In the public nchool mid thono who were prepared In private nchooln. Tlicno ntiitlHtlcn nhow that Iho pub lic school boy did better work on the entrance exainlnatloiin and after ho had got Into college than the prlvalo .school hoy. Last Juno In the Harvard entrance examliiatlonn the public school boy both won moio hoiiom than the prl vale Hdiool boy and fewer public Hchool boyti fulled In their oxiimlna- tloiiH than Iho private school boyn. Again In the other test the public nchool man came out victorious In the onllio graduating class at Harvard last Juno 172 men graduated with lion- orn ; of this number SI came to college I mm public high Kchooln , II from academic ! ) and endowed KchoolH. ; ,2 from private schools and 12 from oilier colleges. , I'rcHldcnt Ullol sayn those factnaro llmite'il to the jeaf under review , uul are bused on observation of about 700 porsoiiH. So far as they go , however , they lend no countenance whatever to the allegations that the public ncliooln turn out a lens vlgoroiiH and conscien tious eliiHH of young men than the other schools. On the contrary , so far an they go , they tend to prove that Iho product of the public Hcbool bus more character and power of work than the product of the other schools. Concerning athletics , the report sayn : "Games In which the public In most Interested foot ball , base ball and rowing are Kcrvlccablo to a compar atively Binall number of Htmlonts , uo one of these three nportn nerving more than one-sixth of the total number of students , who reported the exercises they used. The game which has been conducted at Cambridge with the least Intelligence and success Is foot ball , except from a pecuniary point of view. "Hi-caking up of college work for In dividual students and frequent ab sences to play games at a distance from Cambridge are an evil which ought to bo checked. It Is a greater evil than formerly now , that the Inter- eolloglattto gnuiCH take place all the year round , In winter as well as in spring and autumn. HAD A GOOD TIME. Then Richard Davenport Goes to Jail for Beating a Board BUI. Chicago , Feb. ( . Richard Daven port , a mining promoter from Dawson City , Alaska , yesterday was arrested charged with attempting to "beat" his board bill at the Great Northern hotel , Ho said he came to Chicago for a "good tlmo , " and had it , but it cost all his ready money. Davenport de clares ho Is a graduate of a western art school and has property In Alaska. Tennessee Democrats. Nashville , Tenn. , Fob. ( . Pursuant to the call of Chairman F. M. Thomp son the members of the democratic state executive committee are in ses sion nt the Dulano hotel today for the purpose of deciding upon the date and place for holding the state con vention. Views expressed by mem bers of the committee prior to going into executive session indicate that the conventon wll probably bo hold about the middle of April , or two weeks later than the date sot for the republi can convention. Vaudeville In a Palace. Boston , Fob. 4. In the music room of Mrs. Jack Gardner's palace , In the Fens , there was given this afternoon the flrst of two vaudeville perfor mances In aid of the Massachusetts THE CONDITION OFJIIE WEATHER Temperature for Twenty-Four Hour * Ending nt 8 o'clock this Morning. Forecant ( or Nebraska , CondltloiiH of thu weather mi re corded for tlio 21 Iionru ending nt I ii. in. today , Maximum 17 Minimum R Average n lluromctcr 29.9G Total Hiiowfull for month 8.15 Total precipitation for month. . . .fid Chicago , Koh. I. Tlio bulletin in- nuuil by tlio UlilcnKo utntlou of tlio Unltoil Stilton weather liuronu thli morning , given tlio forocaat for No- hniHlm IIH followti : Generally fair tonight anil Friday. Warmer tonight anil oant portion Frl- day. Hoeloty for tlio iirovi'iillon of criiolty to children. Tlio iinlorlaliiiiiont wim provided nololy hy ninnlnuni , tlio por- tormi'i-H IIH well an the ntidloneo In cluding tlio cream of Muck Day no- del ) Invitation Issued ly President and Mr.s. Roosevelt. IS TO BE A BRILLIANT OCCASION Five Thousand Gucato arc to bo En tertained nt the Executive Mansion Tonight , Including Many Important Personages of the City. Wunhlngtoii , Fob. 4. Elaborate nr- nitigcniciiln liavo boon made at tlio wlilto IIOIIHO for tlio congressional ro- eepllon , which tlio I'roHlilcnt and Mm. Koonevolt will glvo tonight. Nearly 5,000 InvltatloiiH have boon extended and It IH expected Iho attendance will bo larger tliiin at any provloun func tion at Iho wlilto hoimo thin noanon , except Ing , of cournc , Iho Now Yonr re ception. In addition to tlio momboru of cougrcHH , many ImportiuiL porson- ugen In olllclal , military and civil llfo will bo proHont to loud brilliancy to ( ho ocennloii and Iho altondanco will bo further swelled by tlio prcHonco of llio meiiiberH of tlio Now York Hopub- Mean Editorial HHKOclatlon and tlio National Hopnbllcan Editorial IIHHOCII- | tlon. Moth iiHHoclatloiiH are In ncHHlon hero today and tlio pi tholr wlvoH liavo boon ospocliuljrln- vltod by llm preHldont to attend tlio wlilto IIOIIHO reception 'nils ovohlng. V t - I _ . Wloconsln Checsemakcrs. Montlcollo , Win. , Fob. 1. The Sonthorn Wlnconnln CliuHfiomnkors' association , ono of the largest and strongest organizations of Its kind In Iho country , begun its annual convon- tlon here today with a good attend anco. I'nporn by dairy exports and dlnciisslonn on various topics relating to practical chooHOinuklng will occu py the two dayH of the convention. 'Renomlnated ' for Congress. Ottawa , 111. , Fob. 1. The ropubllcnii congressional convention for the Twelfth district was hold here today and resulted In tlio renomlnatlon of Congressman Charles 13. Fuller. BISHOP FARLEYJAILS FOR ROME Reported That He Is the Bearer of the Decision of American Heir- archy on the Primate. Now York , Feb. ( . Archbishop Far ley nailed for Rome today and consid erable interest Is manifested In his mission owing to the reports that ho In the bearer of the decision of the American holrarchy regarding the pro ject for the creation of a primacy In the United States. The archbishop himself declined to discuss the matter but persons in his confidence declared that bin trip to Rome at the present tlmo is merely in accordance with the custom of the church requiring now bishops and archbishops to visit the Holy See soon after their eleva tion. Archbishop Farley is accompanied abroad by Father J. J. Hayes , chan cellor of the archdiocese , and Father James V. Lewis , secretary to the arch bishop. Minnesota Y. M. C. A. Rochester , Minn. , Fob. 4. More than ono hundred delegates and visi tors assembled hero today at the thir tieth annual convention of the Young Men's Christian association. Every branch association In the state Is rep resented and in addition there are prominent Christian workers from nu merous parts of the country. Some of the leadng speakers to bo heard dur ing the three days the convention will bo in session are State Secretary I. 13. Brown of Illinois , International Secretary C. C. Kchner of Now York , Dean Edward Increase Bosworth of Obcrllu Theological Seminary and In ternational Railroad Secretary E. L. Hamilton of New York. Today was devoted chiefly to the reception of the visitors. This even ing there will bo an Informal welcome and tomorrow the regular business of the convention will bo taken up In earnest. .