Nebraska Newspapers

    THE NORFOLK WEEKLY NEWS-JOURNAL.
rV- NOKKOL1C , NKHHASKA , KH1DAY , AUdt'ST h. 11105.
TERRA NOVA SUCCEEDS IN SAV
ING FIALA EXPEDITION ,
THEIR SHIP CRUSHED IN ICE
.Early . In the Winter of 1903-4 the Ship
American , With All of Her Coal and
Provisions , Was Crushed to Pieces
In the Northern Seas'
' Honnlngsvnag , Norway , Aug. 10.
If' 'The Arctic steamer Torru N'ovn , which
wont to the rollof of the Flnln-Sleglor
Polar expedition , rescued Anthony VI-
nln anil all others connected with the
expedition with the exception of ono
Norwegian seanmn who died from na
tural causes.
The ship American , which toolc out
the expedition , was crushed In the Ice
early In the winter of 190-I ; ! , and was
lost with a largo part of her coal and
jprovlslons.
J3HHSON OFFERS TO MEDIATE
'Urges ' Northern Railway and Op orators
tors to Settle Strike.
Bt. Paul , Aug. 10. The first definite
step looking toward arbitration of the
struggle which has been in prop-'J t
lor over a week between the "
Northern and the Northern Pa *
and the Order of Railway Tologiv
pliera was taken when Governor John
A. Johnson addressed letters to Presi
dents J. J. Hill and Howard Elliott of
the railroads and President H. O. Per-
ham of the telegraphers , urging a set
tlement of the trouble and offering his
-services as mediator. The exact terms
of the letters written by Governor
Johnson are not known , as the gov
ernor preferred that they should be
.given out by the recipients , if they
saw fit. In a general way , however ,
the governor outlined to the Associat-
d Press what was contained In the
letters. He called the officials' atten
tion to the fact that the present strike
was working a hardship in various
communities throughout the state and
appealed to them to take speedy steps
to secure an adjustment of the exist
ing troubles. To this end he tendered
the good offices of the chief executive ,
saying that he stood ready to appoint
a commission to consider the differ
ences between the contending par
ties , or in any other way to assist
them to come to some agreement that
would permit the roads to move their
traffic without the delays and incon
veniences that now exist.
Governor Johnson was prompted to
take this action by numerous letters
he has received from commercial or
ganizations and citizens of the stata
urging him to take some measure to
end the struggle. The governor stated
that some of the letters ho had re
ceived declared that business In somn
sections was almost paralyzed by tha
conditions which now prevail.
There were no oilier develop
ments in the situation. Both sides ara
Btill maintaining that conditions ara
improving from their standpoint with
each passing day.
Father and Two Sons Drowned.
Pittsburs , Kan. , Aug. 10. John Wal
ters and his two sons were drowned
in Hickory creek , near McCiinc , Kan. ,
while trying to ford the creek with a
load of hay. Recent heavy rains had
caused the stream to rise.
Bennlnaton Inquiry Near End.
San Diego , Cal. , Aug. 10. The Dctt-
nlngton court of inquiry again en
gaged in listening to a reading of the
testimony that has been heard up to
the present time and in authenticat
ing documents. It Is expected that
the report of the board will be made
in a day or two.
REPRODUCTION OF THE FAMOUS
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
AT THE PORTLAND EXPOSITION
Indians and Soldiers Participate In
the Spectacular Exhibition Which
Was Witnessed by a Great Crowd of
People.
Portland , Ore. , Aug. 10. Tho-dus
ter massacre was reproduced with
wonderful fidelity to detail at the
Lewis and Clark exposition today with
Umatllln Indians and soldiers of the
Oregon National Guard and the Tenth
United States Infantry as the partici
pants. The affair proved ono of the
most attractho In the program of
spectacular events arranged for the
entertainment of exposition visitors.
The reproduction of the massacre
had for its location a plot of ground
on the government peninsula in
Guild's lake , near the river entrance
to the fair. The lay of the ground was
similar In many respects to the peog-
raphy of the Llttlo Big Horn , which
circumstance added much to the In
terest of the spectacle. Indians from
the Umatllla reservation , garbed in
the war clothes of the plains , formed
the attacking party , and the attack
was maintained by them until the last
of the soldiers representing Custcr's
heroic llttlo band had fallen.
WATCH TWO PORTSMOUTH
London Papers Devote Space to Peace
Conference and French Fleet.
London , AUK10. . All the I < nndnn
morning papers devote the greater
part of their space to the news from
the two Portsmouth . Special dis
patches from Portsmouth , N. 11. , giv
ing the opinions of the correspond
ents relative to the poaeo negotiations
arc fiomowhut pessimistic , especially
those to the Times and the Dally Tele
graph , both of which convey the Im
pression that the negotiations are cer
tain to end In failure.
The visit of the Kronen squadron to
Portsmouth Is receiving unusual atten
tion. Today the French naval otllecrs
will visit London as the guests of the
city. The decorations throughout the
city are oven more elaborate tlian on
the occasion of visits of foreign rul
ers to Ixindon. The provincial papers
continue to sponk enthusiastically In
their editorials on the entente cordlalo
many of thorn even printing their edi
torials In the Krcnch language.
Cruiser Varlag Again Afloat.
Toklo , Aug. 10. The imperial navy
department has announced the suc
cessful floating of the cruiser Varlag.
In view of the dtfllculty encountered
there Is a strong feeling of general
satisfaction over the raising of the
vessel.
SUCCUMBS TO AT-
YELLOW JACK.
NEW ORLEANS MUCH DEPRESSED
Thousands of Volunteers Aid Laborer *
and Prisoners In Work of Cleaning
Up the City Quarantine Madness
on the Wane.
Now Orleans , Aug. 10. Yellow fe
ver report of the board of health : Now
cases , G3 ; deaths , 7 ; total cases to
date , C79 ; total deaths , 119 ; new sub-
foci , 12 ; total to date , 130 ; cases un
der treatment , 2G5.
Public Interest In the general yel
low fever situation suffered a tem
porary eclipse In the unexpected
death of Archbishop Chappolle , the
most distinguished victim of the dis
ease. Although the venerable prelate
was a subject of scientific treatment
and had the most assiduous attention ,
his physique always counted heavily
against him , while his fatigued condi
tion on his return from a particularly
irksome trip through the country also
was against him. Ills death , there
fore , while generally deplored , Is not
considered to negative the opinion of
the medical fraternity that with gooa
care and proper treatment , the mor
tality is unlikely to bo heavy during
the present visitation.
What has been considered remark
able is that the archbishop should
have contracted the disease so quick
ly here after arrival , though he had
spent many of the later years of his
life in Cuba and Porto Rico , in hot !
of which countries the disease has
been epidemic , without ever having
contracted It. Among the scientific
men there 's ' little doubt that the arch
bishop fell a victim to a mosquito dur
ing a brief visit ho paid to the old
archblshopr'c on Chartres street or
from an Insect which found its way
into his residence , which is not far
from the territory within which there
has bf > en Infection.
In accordance with the mayor's
proclamation urging everybody In tin *
city to devote a day to a general house
cleaning , there was a general closing
of stores. Besides the paid laborers
of the city and the prisoners from the
jails , thousands of volunteers took off
their coats and rolled up their sleeves
and went to work to give Now Orleans
a thorough scrubbing. Hundreds of
carts and wagons were employed In
carrying off the refuse.
Advices from Mississippi Indicate
that the people of the rural districts
are growing restless under the severi
ty of the quarantines , which have
proved of great inconvenience to
them In cutting off their supplies.
This Is regarded as encouraging in
view of the modified views of Secre
tary Hunter of Mississippi with re
gard to quarantines.
VIEW OF TEXASJHEALTH OFFICIAL
Submits Report to Governor on Yel
low Fever Situation In South.
Austin , Tex. , Aug. 10. State Health
Officer Tabor submitted a report to
Governor Lanham concerning the yel
low fever situation In the south , in
which ho says : "Yellow fever exists
now In ' Louisiana , Mississippi , Ala
bama , Florida , and the republic of
Mexico. Texas Is sandwiched between
the Infected districts , with very llttlo
hope of escaping Invasion by the
Ecourgo with the long summer before
us. Wo are guarded as closely as pos
sible , but It is very hard to maintain
a successful quarantine. I would
most certainly Insist that there be no
mobilization of citizens or soldiers at
this time , as any excitement might
cause a general stampede and a gen
eral quarantine that would tie up the
entire railroad service of the state.
I would therefore- urge upon each and
every community that they look after
( heir sanitation aud keep us clean aa
PATH FIVE MILES LONG AND ONE
MILE WIDE IS CUT ,
SIX INCHES OF HAIL DROPPED
Within Fifteen Minutes a Half Foot of
Icy Spheres Fell Along the Nlobrara
River , Destroying all Crops In Their
Path.
Spencer , Nob. , Aug. 10. Special to
The News : A hall storm along the
Nlobrnrn river live miles long- and ono
mlle wldo yesterday destroyed every
thing.
Six inches of hall fell in fifteen min
utes.
CROPS IN NORTH NEBRASKA.
Counties and Conditions up 'to Date ,
According to Weather Man.
Following Is a summary bylcountles
In northern Nebraska of the condi
tions of the crops to date , according
to the bureau of agrlculturo at the
Nebraska university :
Antelope Prairie hay good crop ;
early oats about cut ; second cutting
of alfalfa about finished ; him Im
proved by local rains. |
Boyd Small grain tlireo , fourths
cut ; early oats badly ruHtedj will ho
light ; corn needs rain ; gioijnd hard
and baked.
Hurt Oats nbout all cut , thrashing
delayed by rain ; some plowing done ;
corn growing finely. '
Cedar Harvest well advanced ,
stacking In progress ; too dry for grass
and corn.
Ciiming Good week for ; cutting
small grain ; outlook for corn not ex
tra good. '
Dakota Stacking In progress ; hayIng -
Ing commenced ; rain would bo bene
ficial to corn.
Holt Small grain about nil In the
shock ; corn earing finely ; pastures
good ; rain would bo beneficial.
Madison Spring wheat and oatn be
ing cut with prospects of good crop ;
winter wheat and rye yielding well ;
corn doing finely.
Platte Oat harvest well advanced ,
thrashing and stacking delayed by
rain ; corn growing finely with excel
lent promise ; apples short crop.
Wayne Some small grain cut , much
small grain-and some corn badly dam
aged by hall , and wind ; oats Injured
some by rust.
Boone Oats ready to cut ; spring
wheat doing well ; winter grain
stacked In good condition ; corn grow
ing well , some damage by hall.-
Garflcld Wheat all cut ; oat nndlm >
harvest just beginning , hay line , oatfl
fairly good ; potato crop good ; millet
doing finely.
Wheeler Fall wheat , oats and rye
good ; hay big crop.
Cherry Wheat harvest just begin
ning ; haying well advanced , good
crop ; cattle doing well ; range In excellent
cellent condition.
Woman Suicides at Hotel.
Lincoln , Aug. 10. Mrs. Gibson
who committed suicide by drinkinj
laudanum at the Her Grand hotel ,
Omaha , whore she registered from
Lincoln , was not well known hero
Slnco the middle of Juno she had not
seen her husband , and that fact great
ly worried her , as they were seeming
ly much attached. Some weeks ago
she wrote a letter to J. II. Gibson ol
Chicago saying she feared her bus-
band , L. n. Gibson , had boon kUl < vi In
the Lake Shore wreck near Cleveland
and that explained why ho had not
written to her every day , as was his
custom. She left here with the an
nouncemcnt that she was going to
Sioux City , la.
Will Compel Assessment.
Lincoln , Aug. 10. "Unless the coun
ty clerk of Douglas county proceed
immediately to extend the assessmen
of the reserves of the Woodmen o
the World and the Woodmen Circle in
his book , this department will instl'
tuto mandamus proceedings , " said At
torney General Norrls Brown. "Tho
action of the county board in striking
out the assessment of the $3,000,000
reserve Is without authority of law
and a nullity. I do not want to drive
the organization from the state , but
the law and constitution of the stale
requires the assessment of the reserve -
servo and they must bo enforced. "
St. Thomas Church to Be Rebuilt.
New York , Aug. 10. Announcement
that a now ? 50U,000 church edifice , al
most an exact duplicate of the fine
St. Thomas Episcopal church which
burned Tuesday in the heart of New
York's- fashionable residence section ,
will bo built Immediately on the old
site , was made 1 > K the pastor of St.
Thomas , Rev. Ernst M. Stircs. Largo
sums of money for the now edifice
have been offered Rov. Stlres. One
check alone was for $50,000.
President Starts on Trip.
Oyster Bay , N. Y. , Aug. 10. Presi
dent Roosevelt left Oyster Bay this
morning at 8 o'clock on what prob
ably will bo the last trip ho will make
during his summer sojourn at Saga
more Hill. Late this afternoon he will
deliver an address to the United Mine
Workers and members of the Catholic
Total Abstinence union at WllkeS'
barrc and tomorrow be will speak be
fore the Chautauqua assembly al
Cbautauq.ua , N , Y.
FATAL DUEUN WYOMING
J. R. Darcasner and George Slane
Fight at Moetcetso Both May Die.
Meoteotso , NVyo. , AUK. 10. An a re-
milt of R duel buro both J. A. Iliireus-
Ri'r , proprietor of the MoctooUo hotel ,
ind ( Icni'Ko Shine , a well known mi-
oonkcopor , may die. Had blood has
existed for Hometlmo between the
nen over a rooming hotel In which
Slano was Interested. llarcaHHor wont
o Shine's Haloou and whipped the
troprlotor. He then warned him note
o co to the rooming houi * again or
ia would bis killed.
I.utor BureiiHsor went to the room
ing house , entered Slant's room mid
Ired llvo shots , ono taking effect in
Slnno' left side. Relieving ho had
( HU'd him UarciiHsor wont out. Slano
crawled to a window anil shot Bureau-
ser with a shot gun In the loft Hide ,
shattering his arm and fatally wound
ing him. Shine Is well known In the
wont. BurciiHHer has a wife and llvo
children nud relatives In Kansas City ,
Firemen at Toronto.
Toronto , Aug. 10. The Interna-
ilonal llrothorhood of Locomotives
[ 'Iremen began u thron-days" session
here. About 800 duU'Kateu are In at-
. ( Midunco , 500 of whom are from the
United Stulca. Their meetings are
secret.
PRECIPITATED BY RUN ON DEN
VER SAVINGS CONCERN.
BUYS TWO BANKS WITHOUT CASH
L. A. Imboden Is One of the Prin
cipal Owners of Doth Institutions.
In Trouble Before at Kansas City.
Assistant Cashier Is Now Assignee.
Denver , Aug. 10. The Western
bunk , u mate Institution , fulled to
open. A notlco was posted aniiomu-
Ine that Henry M. Iltmlty , assistant
cashier of the bank , had heon appoint
ed assignee. W. ( ! . Hrown la presi
dent and W. T. Perkins cashier of the
Western banit.
It Is understood that u run on the
bank was feared , as L. A. Imboden ,
ono of the principal stockholders of
the Denver Savings bank , on which
a run Is being made , Is also Interested
In the Western. 'The Western's de
posits are In the neighborhood ( ' .
$1,000,000.
Imbodon Is believed to bo In SU
Ijoiils trying to raise funds.
H. M. Heady , the assignee of the
Western , Is treasurer of the local Or
der of Eagles. A few days ago tha
Eagles drew out about $25,000 , leav
ing a small balance to cover out
standing checks.
The Times says : "Leonard Imbo
den Is said to have secured control of
the stock of the two banks ( the West
ern and the Denver Savings ) without
a dollar of Investment. He bought
the holdings of former President Wll-
fley of the Denver Savings bank ,
which wore hypothecated In New
York , assuming the Wllfley notes , It. Is
claimed. Within the past six months
ho Is understood to have borrowed
from the Denver Savings hank $51,000 ,
with which he purchased control of
the Western , putting up as collateral
with the Denver the stock of inti
Western. "
Imboden Has a Record.
Knnsnfi City , Aug. 10. Leonard Im
boden organized the Planters' hank
hero In 1S)9. ! ) An examination by the
fitato bank examiner showed that the
hank's cash on hand some ten days
after It opened Its doors was $2.85
Imbodon was arrested , convicted and
sentenced to ton years In prison on a
charge of forging a $5,000 draft to in
crease , It Is alleged , the paper credit
of his bank. This was In September ,
1899. The supreme court ordered him
retried , and as K. R. Yates , who wan
then prosecutor , had no new evidence ,
Imboden was released , a free man.
J , J , HILlTTATESllS POSITION
Bays Striking Telegraphers Will Not
Be Taken Back.
New York , Aug. 10. James J. HI1
setu at rest the reports said to hava
been spread among the striking telee
rapbcrs of the Great Northern am
Northern Pucllic roads that he would
intervene lu their behalf In tno con
tention with the operating officers o
the road. Mr. Hill said in regard to
the case of the strikers that the men
had been dismissed because they
would not obey orders. "Men , " con
tinned Mr. Hill , "who will plot to em
broil a railroad and Its employes Jus
at the beginning of a season who :
they know a heavy movement of tral
fie is expected , as at present with the
approach of crop moving , do not deserve
serve to bo on the pay rolls of any
road. They are positions or trust and
the plotters are not fit to hold thorn
I will see to It that any of those wli
have been active In bringing abou
this strike will never again enter th
employ of the road. "
Garcia President of Equador.
Guayaquil , Aug. 10. Llgardo Cm
cla , who was elected president o
Equador In January last , was forma
ly Inaugurated today at Quito.
YELLOW FEVER IN SOUTH TRIED
TO OUTDO CUPID.
OUT CUPID HAS WON THE DAY
Miss Iva Smith , Made a Refugee In St ,
Louis by the Yellow Scourge Panic ,
Wired to the Showman and Then
Hastened to Marry Him.
Plorco , Nob. , Aug. 10. Special leThe
The NOWH : Yellow fever In the muith
tried but fulled to outdo Cupid In a
game that ho WIIH playing between two
porsoiiH whotio romance him JUKI cul
minated bore In their marriage.
Last February P. L. Dlxou , manager
of concessions with Took .t Imrrotl'n
HlmwH , met Mltm Iva Smith , daughter
of I'M. C. Smith , u prominent himlnomi
man of Dalian , Toxait , In Dalian. It
WIIH a CIIHO of "lovo at Unit night , " and
after a brief correspondence they bo-
cnmo engaged , expecting to bo married
fioino tlmo thin fall.
The breaking out of yellow fever In
the south made Miss Smith a refugee
In St. Loiiln. An exchange of loin-
grams reunited In Iho woddlng being
decided on at once , mi Hho cnmo north
and mot her Ihinco hero. They has
tened to the court house whore 11 II-
COIIHO WIIH secured and Judge Wil
liams , who IUIH performed many idml-
hir ceremonies , did the rest.
For the present they will continue
with the Rhmv hut they hope to nettle
In the south soon.
Death List Is Thirteen.
Albany , N. Y. , Aug. 10. The collapse -
lapse of the John ( ] . Myers company
department store , which reunited In
the death of thirteen persons and
probably the fatal Injury of two others ,
will bo Investigated by a special com
mission. The discovery that the thlr
teen bodies already Inkon out will
account probably for nil the victims of
Iho accident , Is a surprise lo Alban
ians , who expected that at least n
dcwoii more mangled forms worn
burled beneath the ruins. So Riirc nro
the wreckers that no more bitdloH arc
them they have miHpcndcd the search
Two Crcniiitod In Wreck.
Newport , Ark. , Aug. Id. That two
passengers were killed and tholr bodies
ies burned In Iho wreck of a passen
ger train on the St. Louis , Iron Moun
tain and Southern railroad at DUz ,
uly 29 , IH now practically corlaln.
'ho two lost travelers were Tliomai
3. Scunlon and lilw non , Bryan , of
R'dmadN ) , Ark. The fact watt hrouuht
o light through the Inquisition pro
ceedings begun by Coronrr llarrlnon
lore. Mru. T. E. Si union If. lion1 and
confirms the report thaC bur hus'ouud
and son are missing.
Dlackleg In Massachusetts.
Brookflold , Mass. , Aug. 10. Tim
Iroadert cattle plague , known at
backlog , a form of murrain , hat
broken out In lirookflold , and as a r
suit three young cows are dead
Blackleg Is mild to bo a disease much
moro to IIP dreaded than the hoof and
mouth dlHoano , which created mica
mvoc In Massachusetts three yeara
ago.
THE DAY'S ' BASE BALL SCORES
_
Results of the League Contests Played
Throughout the Land.
Nation il ! . < aiu < - ClUuo , 7 ; Now
York , 2. Pills-burg , 3 ; Ho : ton. 5. St
Unite , -1 ; IJrooKlyn. 5. Cincinnati , 8 ;
'hlladclphla , 3. American League
Washington , 1 ; St. LoulH , 12. Amor-
can Association Columbus , 8 ; Kan-
Eas City , 3. Western League Sioux
City , l ; Dos Molnos , 3. St. Joseph , 7 ;
Pueblo , 10. Omuha , 1 ; Deuvor , 3.
Creighton Wins From Stanton.
Crolghton , Neb. , Aug. 10. Special
to The News : Cielghton gathered her
ild league baseball players together
lore yesterday afternoon and deefatcd
the Stanton team , 14 to 4. The fca-
turo of the game was the hard hitting
tjy Creighton.
Score by linings :
Creighton . . . .40311050 0 14
Stanton 001000300 4
Hits : Creighton 17 , Stanton 10.
Errors : Creighton 3. Earned runs ,
relghton 7 , Stanton 1. Three base
hits , Carroll ; two base hits , Green (2) ( ) ,
Pont (2) ( ) . Struck out by Plorco 8 , by
Stanton 10. Batteries : Creighton ,
Plorco and Carroll ; Stanton , Eads ,
May and Monroe.
Spencer Beats Butte.
Spencer , Neb. , Aug. 10. Special to
The News : Spencer played at Butte
yesterday and won , 18 to 4. The day
was very hot. Each team used two
pitchers. Spencer fielders played gilt
edged ball all of the tlmo. Ilattorlcs :
Spencer A. Smith , Hunt and Alberts ;
Duttc Miller , Glgnln and Adidas.
Uy Innings :
Spencer 22002723 x IS
Hutto 200110000 4
Ilaso lilts : Spencer 17 , Butte 1 :
struck out by Miller 5 , by Gignln 0 ,
by Smith 2 , by Hunt C.
THE CONDITION OF THE WEATHER
Temperature for Twenty-four Houra.
Forecast for Nebraska ,
Condition of the weather ax record *
( id for the ! ! l hourit ending at 8 a. in.
today :
Maximum 07
Minimum tilt
Average 80
Total rainfall for month 38
Total rainfall for year 25.55
Dnromolor 20.8'J
Chicago , Aug. 10. The bulletin IH-
fined by the Chicago illation of the
United Stalon weather bureau thin
morning , given the forecast for No-
liuntlm an follown :
Partly cloudy and cooler tonight
with idioweni In extreme east portion.
Friday fair with cooler east portion.
Hnml Organ Grinding Pays.
Now York , Aug. 10. Hack to Italy ,
rich from ( ho profile of hand organ
grinding , Villa Miizaohl and wlfo will
nail on tlm earliest ateamor leaving
New York for Italian ports. The pair
wore arroNtod horn and warned off the
streetn for playing without a license.
The wlfn iihowod Magistrate Wahlo In
, loffornoii Market court a bank hook
containing a $7,0(10 ( account , and mild
thai thlVIIH the proceeds of hand
organ grinding and that thin name
amount would make them rich In
Italy.
ENVOYS AT PORTSMOUTH COM
MENCE NEGOTIATIONS ,
THINK PEACE IS UNCERT/'lN '
Pessimism Prevails and Fear U Ex
pressed That Russian and Japanese
Plenipotentiaries V\ II Be Unalilc to
Agree an to Indemnity.
i
Portsmouth , N. II. , Aug.10.J'Wlth '
the probability that Huron Komura
will today reveal to tlm RunMati pleni
potentiaries the terms under which
Japan IH willing to concludit pence ,
opinion as to the oiilronu among
those who are congregated hero to
watch the proceedings has IxM'omo do-
cldodly pessimistic. This LH due to
the growing conviction Unit , Japan's
conditions will not prove iuy moderate
as wore at ono tlmo antlcl ) uloil , and
especially In the matter of indemnity ,
may preclude the possibility of their
acceptance by the Iluuslnn 'itivoys ' as a
basis of negotiations. Th , firm nttl-
tudo of M. Wltto In prlvnri1/ conversa
tion iit.AinHt tliii pnymeuan In
demnity and the Inslsto ? ! oporto
rmanatlng from Japanese quartern
thai a Htlff war contribution , approxi
mating iho cost of the war , variously
estimated at from ? l00,000,000 ! to
1800.000,000 , const Itutos ono of Japan'a
demands , Indicates a wldo , If not an
Irroconclllablo , difference between Ja
pan's Irreducible minimum and what
Hiissla Is prepared to accept. Upon
the question of the payment of a largo
Indemnity the Instructions of the nun-
Klan plenipotentiaries are believed to
admit of no concessions , although it
Is possible a ct-rtnin compensation In
kind might bo arranged. For Inntanfo ,
It Is BiiKgostod that for therflin -
qulFlimcnt of the Island of Sakhalin ,
now potentially In Japan's hands , the
possession of which by Japnn would
give her command of the whole Sibe
rian littoral , Ilussla could with pro-
pi lot y pay a largo sum.
Gloomy forebodings , however , maybe
bo premature at this Juncture , as
everything Indicates the plenipoten
tiaries upon both sides are Rlnc < T ly
desirous of concluding a treaty of
pearo. The llrst meeting of the pleni
potentiaries was of an entirely In
formal character , so informal in fact
that Haron Komura did not bring bin
letter of credence to the Portsmouth
navy yard , whereas M. Wltte was
armed with the original document In
Russian setting forth the powers con
ferred upon him and also with a trans
lation of the document.
The latter he read. Baron Komura
was embarrassed and offered to send
back to the hotel for his communica
tion , but M. Wltto expressed his faith
that the credentials were full and am
ple , loiter copies of the credentials
were formally exchanged.
It Is known that the credentials dif
fer slightly , but the difference Is not
essential , and constitutes no obstacle
to the official opening of the negotia
tions. Indeed , the president was offi
cially Informed that the credentials
were full , ample and satisfactory to
both sides.
H was decided to hold two dally
sessions. Three secretaries for each
elde will be In attendance to draw up
the protocol of the mootlnps , which
will bo written In both Kiml'sh ' and
French. TI'P French text , liov > vrr. In
case of dispute , will bo accepted In
evidence. The ofllcial versions of the
first mooting given out bv onh si < ! o
described It as "satisfactory , " and
other accounts Indicate that while
everything passed off amicably , con
siderable reserve was displayed upon
both sides.
The Japanese and Russian newspa
per correspondents have broken the
ice and have begun to fraternize. It
1s perhaps significant that the corre
spondents on both sides are sending
to their respective homes dispatches
of anything but an optimistic charac
ter. "