FHE OMAHA DAILY BEE ESTABLISHED JUKE 19 , 1873. OMAHA , THURSDAY MOBKING , AUGUST 10 , 1899 TWELVE PAGES. SINGLE COPY .FIVE OE TS. FILIPINOS DEFEATED Commander Otis Confirms the Report of a Severe Battle at San Fernando. GENERAL MACARTHUR ROUTS THE ENEMY Bice Fields and Bamboo ThiokeU Form Obstructions to the Advance. TWELFTH AND SEVENTEENTH SHOW METTLE 'They PartioipUe in the Sharpest Engage ments of the Declare Struggle. ARTILLERY IS ORDERED FORWARD AT ONCE i 'to ' * Merely Nominal , Al though nt Moment It 1 * Impos sible to State It frith Accuracy. MANILA , Aug. 0. 7:10 p. m. Details of tJaneral iMacArthur's advance beyond San- Pornando ehowed that * ho Americans cov ered five miles at the first five hours and at 6 o'clock had advanced six miles along the railway , stretching on each side of It for two miles and resting at night three miles Srom Angeles , -which will bo made the .northern base of operations Instead of San Pornando. where a carrlson of 600 men has * een left. The Filipinos were sur- jirtasd , expecting the American forces to move against Tlco. They followed their usual tactics ot holding their trenches until khey became too warm and then retreating 8n disorder. They are now falling back wogtwnrd toward Porlc. The Twelfth and Seventeenth regiments { bad the sharpest engagements. The country our troops passed over Is covered with rice fields nnd 'bamboo ' thlck- ctn , the bardeet possible ground for marchIng - Y Ing : . The mud In places was knee deep. Reports from rebel sources ay 150 Fll- Iplccfl wore killed In General Hall's engagc- trirnt at Calamba and In the subsequent Gklrmtahca. Tbe American loss In the fighting about Ban Fernando at 3 o'clock was known to bo eight men killed and twenty-six wounded. "JThe "loss may possibly exceed these figures , na the Una isjflve mllca long : and it Is Im possible at this hour to hear from every for ( he Artillery. Our troops ore now about Angelce , walt- ng for the artillery , which has the greatest ( fllfflwlty In moving owing to the vet ground. ' The attack was opened at 5 o'clock In th.e anornlne , a battery of the First artillery shelling Bacolorton the loft. Simultaneously ' struck Bacolor Bell's Thirty-sixth Infantry trom the rear nnd drove the rebels out. 'Armored ' cars , each with a six-pounder and two Qatllng revolving cannon on board , were mounted on the railroad track In the center of our lines. Soon afterward these guns did Sharp execution. Battery M of the Third artillery and 100 on of the Iowa regiment made a ifelnt toward iMex'lco. while " the' "main bo'dy. of troops , consisting of the Iowa regiment , the Seventeenth rfeglment and a battalion of the fTwonty-second under General Wheaton , on tlio rlcht , aud the Ninth rcplment , Twelfth regiment and Bell's regiment , under General -Liacum , on the left , advanced steadily , ' "pouring their fire Into the rebels and recelv- dng a heavy fire 3nreturn. \ . The rebels were well protected by trenches end seemed not to lack ammunition. But they were unable to withstand for any length of time the hall ot ehot our artillery nnd Infantry poured In on them and re- Vrefcted , loavlne dead and wounded nn the field. A dozen prisoner ! were captured by our troops. The reports Indicate that the Ninth In fantry suffered the most , though the casu alties of all the regiments are * not yet ro- pofted. The weather was extremely hot and our Droops suffered greatly. But there was no i faltering. , A company of the Sixteenth regiment went f&o the relief of poll's regiment this atter- Jioon. ' M The firing , except at Isolated points , had Ceased by 10 o'clock , Out After Aticelt'N. Angeles Is one of the richest towns north of Manila and is considered to bo a better Cj > a o of operations than San Fernando. The forces at San Fernando consisted of the Iowa ( regiment , the Seventeenth regiment , the ( Ninth regiment , the Twelfth regiment , Pell's new Thirty-sixth regiment , a battalion of the Sixteenth regiment , Troop E of the Fourth cavalry and fifteen guns. The movement had been planned for some Itlmo , but wan delayed by rains , Finally , ftwo dayo of sunshine dried the rice fields BUfflolently to permit of the attempt. The American * ' position had long been un. cloasant. The rebels almost surrounded the Kbown nod Ored nearly nightly Into it- the Americans not replying except on extreme provocation. It wna necessary to keep DOO t. or 600 metn ou outpost duty constantly. Captain Deemi , with a provost guard , last rJeht captured a noted Filipino fakir with vwevoral aliases , who by menus of ventrllo- ' -nulBm hud parsuadcd the natives that he has supernatural powers , Ho raised much noney , ostenttlbly for the Insurrection , which fie kept for himself. Our soldiers surrounded tin houee and corralled thirty Filipinos. ( Many ethers escaped. The troops also cap tured ) 1,000. Immanucl , as the fakir Is generally known , has been predicting tho-fall of Manila. Ills "prophecies" have created excitement among Ihe natives who believed him. OtU Confirms Iteiiort. WASHINGTON , Aijc. 3. General Otis confirms the report of a battle ut San Fer nando in the following cablegram : MANILA. Aug. S. Adjutant General , AVashinKton : MacArthur with 4,000 men attacked - tacked Insurgent army 6.000 strong concen trated around San Fernando at 5l.r. : . thU morning. At 10 o'clock n. m , had driven It JKo mllt-s In the direction of Angeles. Casu alties few. Attack ordered for 7th Instant , rain did not permit movement. Hallway ( from Anxelrs north badly washed by un precedented floods of last six weeks , beyond Ability of Insrugents to repair. OTIS. SATURNUSAlJoMPLETE WRECK Ilencheil In Front of luiturjrent TrenclieM nail Abiiiiilonril by I In Crew. MANILA , Aug , D.The steamer Saturnus of the Companle Murltlma , coasting under the American flag , was discovered August 2 by the United States gunboat Pampanga beached at San Fernando under the Insurgent trenches there. The steamer was boarded by nn armed boat's crew and the passengers were taken off. The cargo , consisting of general meiv-handUe and $100,000 in specie , had been fucked. Set era ! at'emptg * o tow the Saturnui off were unsuccessful1. The Fampanga then left San Fernando In search of further assistance , whereupon the Insur gents returned and net flro to the vessel. The United States gunboat Yorktown ar rived hero yesterday after bombarding San Fcrnnndo. The Saturnus , It reported , was etlll smoldering and the steamer was a total wreck , i IT ALONG Slow Th I rtj-I'I cnuvcr Ilin" ! WASHINGTON , , Aug. 9. GcncTal Shatter has forwarded to Adjutant General Corbln a dispatch ho received yesterday from Lieutenant - tenant Colonel I'lummcr , who Is organiz ing the Thirty-fifth Infantry at Vancouver barracks. The dispatch Is In reply to ono sent from the department suggesting that Blow progress was being made In recruit ing that regiment and that efforts should bo put forth to hurry It along. Colonel Plummer says : Every possible effort Is being made to recruit this regiment. Recruits are coming much faster since regimental recruiting officers have been out. There nre now 253 men here ( Vancouver ) . The material ) s ex ceptionally good , Southern California and other portions of the district have not been covered. It Is believed there Is ample ma terial In the district to All the regiment with the same class of men .IB these already secured. About 600 men of the Second Oregon gen volunteers wltl arrive In Portland within a few days and It Is believed that many of these men will enlist In this regi ment. In view of these facta , It Is earnestly recomtncndcd that recruiting officers In the past bo cautioned to select only the most desirable men , as It Is believed the best In terest of the service will be served by filling the regiment as far as possible from the district nriottcd to It. " In forwarding this to the War department General Shatter says : In my opinion recruiting will be more rapid os soon as the Oregon regiment pets hack and as officers of the regiment are dis persed throughout the country , but there are very few surplus men In California. I recommend that If reerults are available for the Thirty-fifth they be uent from the east. TOO MUCH RAIN AT MANILA City it Tnrncd Into tin Immense I'ottil by the Recent Typhoon * . VANCOUVER , B. C. , Aug. 9. Manila ad vices received on the steamship Empress of Japan say that typhoons nnd rains have turned the city , wet enough at the best of times , Into nn Immense pond , with guttois o or a , foot deep In water. Sampaloc district was completely flooded BO that the people were forced Into the upper stories of the houses. The police barracks were completely surrounded and soldiers stood guard and carried on patrol duty In two feet of run ning water. Hundreds of creeks that Intersect the city overflowed their banks and boats were seen on a dozen streets. Admiral Watson had a narrow escape on the Paslg. His launch was about to pass under the Puenta Espana when the roaring water caught It up and Jammed It broadside Into a stone pier , breaking the funnel and tearing off the gunwale. Hecrnltlmr Naval Apprenticed. CHICAGO , Aug. 9. Lieutenant B. B. Wells , Jr. , In command of the naval re cruiting station at Chicago , has received or ders from .Washington for the recruiting of a. jiumbor'of navul apprentices'between 15 nnd 17 years old. The boys -will bo given a thorough physical examination. They will bo sent to the Pacific coast training station when recruited , and there given a course ot Instruction before being Assigned to duty. Thirteenth Minnesota Heine I-onded. ST. PAUL. , Aug. 9. Governor Llnd today received the following cablegram from Lieu tenant Colonel Prledrlch , In command of the Thirteenth Minnesota : "Regiment starts for home on steamer Sheridan about the llth. Loading today. " It Is expected the regiment will reach San Francisco about September 10 and bo home October 1. PIRATES AREJPLYING TRADE Attack Ilrltlnb CIII-RO Ilont on Canton River nnil Secure Uooty Snnil- lilpcr Given Clinfte. VANCOUVER , B. C. , Aug. 9. The Em- ipresa ot Japan brings news that a British cargo iboat on the Canton river was boarded by pirates , who carried away cargo worth $5,000. The commander of the Sandpiper , an admiralty launch 'built ' last year at Hong Kong for protection of trade on the river , steamed after the pirates , who succeeded , however , In landing their goods near a vil lage called Kamchut. The commander of the Sandpiper asked that the pirates be de livered to him and the goods 'be ' stored. No satisfaction was given to him and he sbclfed the place , which was entirely destroyed. GOVERNMENT RESTS EASILY Amply Kiiiilppeil to Heal with tbe Ilontlle Ynqtil 'IlllIltlllM. ' AUSTIN , Tex. . Auc. 9. A dispatch from Durango , .Mexico , isayfl that Manuel Lopez Scrna , constructor In the service of the Fed eral Telegraph company , has Just reached that city from the Yaqul Indian country. Ho enys the government Is In much better shape to wage a campaign against the rebellious tribes than In any of the previous wars. There Is hardly a point In the turbulent ter ritory that In not In direct telegraphic com munication with the War department , and every move the Yaquls make Is Instantly known to tbo military authorities and the movement of the troops Is directed ac cordingly , PREPARING FOR IMMIGRANTS Governor of Xe fonnillnnil to Kxtenil All AMNlNtnnee Within HU I'ovi-er , ST. JOHNS , N. II. , Aug. 9. A deputation of Flnlanders U here Inspecting the country with a view for arranging for the Immigra tion of thousands of Klulandcrs , who are emigrating because of the Oranuy ot tlio Russian government. Joseph Chamberlain , secretary of state for the colonies , sent with thorn a special rcqucbt to the govurnor of Newfoundland , Sir Hugh McGalluii. ihat nil assistance practical be tendered them. To day the deputation started on a tour of in spection of tbo various sections of the island which seem adaptable to their neeJr. IJltJltlllaur Sail tin Out T\vo LHex. MILWAUKEE , Aug. . A Journal special from Camp Douglas , WIs. , says- At crifton. six miles from here , lightning struck the barn of Engclbcrt Jersley , de stroying It nnd killing his two 30113 , Vin cent and Engelbrrt , aged 16 and "t years respectively. Mrs. Jersley was also Verl- ously Injured. It was with difficulty that tbe bodies of tbe two sons who \\oro m the barn were recovered. Chliiene Crew .Striken , TACOMA. Wash. , Aug. 9 , The Chinese crew of the steamship Victoria struck today because the ship has been turned Into a transport to carry troops to Manila , They were engaged at Hong Kong for the trip to Tacorno. and return , but refused to go to Manila. A white crow -was engaged after several hours delay. KAISER PUFFS PEACE PIPE William Believes that German-American Friendship Will Be Eternal , FUTURE OF NATIONS LIES ON THE OCEAN I.nrRe Nnvnl Kqnlpment Snlil in In volve No Thrrnt o Other Power * , but to He In llenllty the llcnt 1'rncc Conference , ( Copyright , 1839 , by Press Publishing Co. ) LONDON , Aug. 9. ( New York World Ca blegram Special Telegram , ) Qeorge Ed mund Foss of Chicago , member of the house ot representatives , accompanied by Captain Bcchlcr , an American naval attache , has been received by Emperor William on board the 'Hohenzollern ' nt Kiel and had an audtcnco lasting three-quarters of an hour. Ills majesty began by referring to remarks attributed to 'Admiral ' Dewey , nnd declared ho had not given credence to newspaper re ports. Fosa answered that he had just come from Trieste , where , with the American ambassador - bassador in Vienna , he had lengthy conver sations with Dewcy , who touched upon the Philippine question nnd In no way showed hostility to Germany. The emperor declared his conviction that the relations of Germany and America would always remain friendly. German- Americans would take good care of that , ho said , and would not permit any aggressive hostile policy toward Germany. His majesty passed on to the Increase In Gorman and American fleets and remarked : "Formerly It was the German army which was the chief support to European peace , but the future of nations lies on the ocean. There each power must try to 'bo ' sufficiently strong to protect Its Interests properly. An Increase In the German fleet by no means Involves a threat to any other power , for the stronger a nation is at eea the more will others hesitate before beginning hos tilities. An increase of navies Is therefore In reality the best peace conference. " BERLIN , Aug. 9. According to the Ber liner Taggoblatt Emperor William received Congressman George Edmund FOBS of Illi nois and United States Naval Attache Beehler on board the Imperial yacht Hohen- zollern , Wednesday last at Kiel , granting them an audience of three-quarters of an hour. , REBEL ADVANCE A SUCCESS Regular Troops Are Said to lie Con- ntnntly DcncrtliiK to the Revolution In IB. CAPE HAYTIEN , Haytl , Aug. 9. General Francisco Llrlano , sent from Monte Ohrlsto by the Dominican government to attack General Ramon Pacheco at Dajabon , the headquarters of the revolutionists , was abandoned when ho arrived1 In front of the enemy , toy his troops , who , without firing a ehot , deserted and entered the camp of General Pacheco. The advanced posts of tbe latter are at Las Aguas , and the revolu tionists are ra : ter = of the fnrds across the river Yaque , thus cutting off communica tion between Monte Chrleto and the In terior. The forces ol Don Juan Isldro 'Jim- Inez , leader of tbe revolution , are < beln ? augmented every day , arid the news from all parts of th'd Dfcmtaican republic la favor able to him. PUERTO PLATA , Aug. 9. The Haytlen government has seized at Fort Llbcrto arms and ammunition destined for Dominican in surgents. Several Dominicans In Haytl have been arrested for violating the neu- trarity laws. Among them Is Francisco Deetjen , In whose keeping arms were found. President Sam of Haytl has wired the Dominican government that Insurgents will not bo permitted to use Haytlen territory aa a hasrt for operations. The forte ? for the government under the command of Minister Cordero have encoun tered Insurgents led by General Pablo Reyes. NEW YORK , Aug. 9. A dlspatcn to the Herald from Port Au Prince , Haytl , eaya : Word was received from Monte Chrlsto that Dominican troops had 'been ' hurried there. The Haytlen government Is pre pared to prevent Jlmlnez from landing on Haytlen territory. All is quiet In Port Au Prince. Suspects are being Interrogated by the authorities. NEW YORK. Aug. 9. A special to the Herald from Washington says : General Brooke was given Instructions today to prevent at all hazards any filibustering ex pedition In Jlmlnez's Interests leaving Cuba. The charge d'affaires of the Domini can republic In this country has called the attention of the authorities to the con templated expedition and he was assured that everything possible would be done to prevent any such proceedings. PORT AU PRINCE , Haytl , Aug. 9. The latest news from Santo Domingo says the revolutionary movement Is extendlnc and that the prolvnce of Vega Is In arms. It Is Impossible to obtain any details here. This city Is calm. The relations between the United States nnd Haytl nre cordial. The Haytlen government has authorized the erection of an American meteorological sta tion ut Capo Haytlen. The permission to es tablish such a station had been previously refused , and the fact that permission has now been granted demonstrates the oxtcn- fclon of American Influence In Haytl. AGREEMENT IS REACHED Convention Hetiveeii Ilrltntii and China ( Jive * United .State * Set tlement nt Ilankoiv. VANCOUVER , B. C. , Aug. 9. According to Hong Kong advices an agreement has been reached between Great Hrltam nnd the Chi nese government that the United States shall 'have ' an exclusive settlement at Han kow. HI5PI.V HAS NOT III3KX IlKCKIVKn. IlfTnrt AVIll lie Made to Iliive VolUn- rnnil Mnkn Further ( 'iiiieemiloiin. CAPETOWN , Aug , 9. The Transvaal gov ernment has not forwarded to Sir Alfred Mlraer , British high commissioner for South Africa and governor of Capo Colony , Its reply to Mr. Chamberlain's proposal of a Joint commission of Inquiry Into the effect upon the Outlanders of the now franchise legisla tion , but Sir Alfred Mllner still hopes for a peaceful settlement. It Is reported that a movement U on foot among the burghers to send petitions to urge the Volkraad to make further concretions , The Liverpool regiment sailed for Natal today. While the transport was leaving the bay the crew of the United States cruiser Chicago loudfy cheered the troops , who re plied vigorously for several minutes. I'ope Unit .Several Kiilnllnur .S pi'I IN. VIENNA , Aug. 9. The Allcgemelne Zelt- 11 tig t a > a that thn pope Is ill In consequence of the heat and has ihad several fainting fits , Dr. Laponnl , his phyalclaa , was hastily summoned. LONDON , Aug. 9. The dispatches from Rome to the morning papers do not confirm the alarmist statements of the Allegcmelne Xcltung regarding tlio pnpe. On ( * " em. trary , they assert that bis holiness Is preparing nn cnclycllcal on the peace con ference which will urge the necessity of the Holy See. Gaining complete temporary lib erty In order that It may promote the work ot pcaco and arbitration. ' % QUAKERS TO VISIT OMAHA Tenth I'enti * } Mnnln Itegliaciit Ac cept * .Mayor .Moorex * Ofter of UonpUnlKy. Mayor Moores last night received the fol lowing acceptance to the .city's Invitation to the TentU Pennsylvania volunteers : "SAN FRANCISCO'Aug. , P. Mayor Frank E. IMoorcs : On oebalt of and with the hearty accord of the Tenth regiment , Penn sylvania volunteers , nnd their escort com mittee wo accept your generous Invitation to spend ono day In your city as your guest. We will arrive there Friday evening , August 25. A. iMUEHLFRUNNHR , Chairman [ Pennsylvania Escort Commit tee. " HURRICANE INWEST , INDIES _ _ UnmnRf * on the Inland of fit. Crolx Wire * DOTVII anil All Com munication Suspended. _ _ _ _ A * , ST. THOMAS. D. W. I. , Xlg. 9. A hurri cane swept over the Island of St. Crolx Mon day night. The lowest barpmeter was 3D. 12. Much damage was done , but no deaths have jet been reported. The foioo ot the cturm was also experienced at St. Thomaq , but the damage done was slight. Negro huts were the chief sufferers. Enormpus waves , iiow- over , did damage to the whanes , liut there was no loss of life. St. Kltts and Antl < ua are believed to have suffered , but communi cation with these Islands la temporal tly In terrupted. WASHINGTON , Auz. 9.-The weather bureau today Issued the following special bulletin : "No We.st Indian reports received this morning from points cast ot Cuba. Hur ricane center probably near Porto Rico. " Later advices from St. Kill's said that on Monday afternoon a very severe hurricane with a velocity of seventy-two miles , de stroyed about 200 small houses In the towni and did considerable damage to the estates. No Injuries are reported. . , Antigua also suffered severely In damage to estates and buildings In towns. There were tow fatalities. , Later reports from St : Crolx Increase the amount of damage dolio 'there. Nearly every estate has been wrecked , the large buildings In the towns haVfc 'been unroofed , stock has been killed and a minimum of eleven deaths Ihas occurred among the la borers. * - iPUERTO PLATA , Aug : } 3. 11:30 : a. m. A hurricane has swept the north coast since last nteht and Increases In violence. Shipping In the port Is In peril , but up to this hour no vessel has been damaged. The destruction on land will probably be considerable. KINGSTON , Jamaica , Aug. 9. The barom eters are alarmingly low here and Turk's Island reports a hurricane blowing with rapidly falling barometer at 3:30 : p. m. , caus ing great excitement. Detail * ncnchVnshlnKton. . WASHINGTON , Aug. 9. Meager details ot the western cyclone began to reach the Navy and War departments late this after noon In the shape ot the following mes sages : SAN JUAN , Porto Rico"ji ,9 , Adjutant Gonnmli Washington : -Tortl-nie "Tiurtlcane ; cavalry barracks destroyedatorc ! houses and other buildings damaged ; Iron roofing and lumber required. CLEM. SAN JUAN , Porto Rico , Aug. 9. Signal Officer , Washington : Cyclone Just passing over Island ; prostrated telegraph and tele phone lines ; several killed ; my quarters wrecked and signal1 barracks partially dp- mollshed ; many other public l-iilldlngs like wise ; hundreds of native houses destroyed ; center and south probably fared worse. GLASSFORD. The Navy department late this afternoon received a cable from Captain Snow , In com mand of the naval station at Ban Juan , an nouncing that the hurricane had destroyed about $2,000 worth of property at the sta tion there. \o Pnrther DnmnKe 'Feared. ' WASHINGTON , Aug. 9. The hurricane which has been raging \l. \ a portion of the West Indies evidently has , according to re ports received from the weather bureau , left that group of Islands and shifted out In the open sea to tiho north of Porto Rico. It Is expected that the storm will wear Itself out without doing further damage. Cable com munication , which was Interrupted yesterday and a great part of today In the path of the storm , has been resumed and the weather hureau received reports from a number of places shut off from communication yenter- day. The storm was predicted by the weather "bureau " several days ago. It com menced on the 7th , apparently east of the Island of Dominica and moved northwest to Porto Rico and Hayti. There Is no im mediate prospect of the storm coming toward the mainland. No reports of the amount of damage done have reached the office here. The rainfall at Snn Juan last night must have done considerable damage as there was five Inches. REACH WATER HOURS TOO LATE Herd of Five Hundred llorNe * Driven Into .SIIIIHIIIN by Prolonged Tlllrxt Ma ii > ' llle. 'MINNEAPOLIS , Aug , 9 , A special to the Times from Billings , Mont. , says : A trolnload of JOO horses , which Powell Bros , were bringing from North Yaklma , Wash , , to South Dakota , were unloaded al the Northern Paclfio stock yards here lasl night for water and feed. They had had no water since , leaving Spokane , thirty hours previously. They were at once fed hay and water was run Into the troughs. Soon after feeding and drinking the horses toogan to go Into spasms and many died. They have been dying ever since and at this writing about half of the shipment Is dead and It Is feared they all will die. It was nottlced that the horses were scouring when they came In , 'but ' no ono here seemn able to solve the mystery of their taking off , The stomachs of several have been saved for analysis by experti. , They were a flno lot * The neighborhood of the stock yards looks llko a hard fought battlefield. SIX FIREMEN ARE JNJURED SurloiiH CoiitliiKrnllon In Sail Krnit- clHco U'bloh Nearly llennltK In Iout of Iilfe. SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. 9. Six firemen were injured at a fire which broke out to night < ln the restaurant of Star & Owen , near the corner of sixth and Market streets. The flames spread to the saloons of Horn brothers and James Conway and from these to an adjolnlnc lodclns house. All of thu buildings were of wood and only two stories hlch , Suddenly the roof of the Market street front fell In and several firemen were burled beneath Ihe debris. They were extricated and all are expected to survive. James McOlvcn , skull fractured and leg and arm broken. Dan Levy , scalp wound. Daniel HigKlna , left leg broken. J Fechan. sprained ankle. Edward O'Neill , leg broken Eugene Crowe , head severely cut The property loss will not exceed J15.000. UNLUCKY , BUT JUSTIFIABLE Shot from a British Cruiser Which Kills Helmsman on a French Smack , ENGLAND APPROVES ENERGETIC ACTION Clininberlnln'n Statement In Home of Common * on TrnnntnnlSituation Causes n Profound Sensation ( Jrntlltc * the Jlnuoe * . ( Copyright , 1S03 , by Press Publishing Co ) LONDON , Aug. D. ( Now York World Ca blegram Special Telegram. ) The klfllng of the helmsman ot a French fishing smack by a shot from the British torpedo dct > troycr Leda , commanded by Lieutenant St. John , Is regarded as an unfortunate , but a Justifiable Incident. The. French smack was trawling within the three-quarter-mile limit. Being ordered to Ho to iby a blank charge from the Lcda , the smack attempted Instead to oscaps. Owing to Increasing complaints recently made of the audacity of the French fisher men In Infringing on the British limit , St. John fired the phot which killed the helms man. The smack was towed Into Folkestone with thoibody on the afterdcek , covered with blood of the dead man , who was led lying where ho fell. St. John Is 31 years old and a member of a family well known In the navy. Ho has seen service In un expedition to the west coast ot Africa. Ho Is a smart , capable , de termined fellow who for some time has been marked out for promotion. The fishing popu lation along the south coast strongly ap prove of thla energetic action , claiming that while the regulations are enforced against them along the French coast with the ut most rigor , the Frenchmen habitually poach within English limits. Chamberlain's statement today on the Transvaal crisis caused a profound sensation and Intense gratification t'o the Jingoes. It Is a praln Intimation 'that ' the ministers In tend to enter on a more aggressive policy and that Kruger twill bo given an option on a quisle cholco between surrender or war. Chamberlain did not deny the proposed Joint AngloiBoer Inquiry Into the operation of the now franchise law , by which all 'Internal allalrs reserved for the control of the Boer government -will be Investigated. Many shrewd observers consider Chamberlain under the delusion of Imagining that such a war would lie popular In England. PATAli niSIUCr.AlU ) OV SIGNAL. II el in N in ii ii of French IFInhlnpr Bout Pity * Penalty for I'oauhluK. FOLKESTONE , Enc. . Aug. 9. The Brit ish torpedo gunboat Leda this morning found a French fishing boat , the Etolllo do Mer , belonging to Boulogne-Sur-Mcr , fish ing within the three-mlla limit. The flshor- man attempted to escape and did not stop when a blank shot was fired. The Leda then fired a shot , which disabled the Etolllo do Mer and killed Its helmsman. The flshlns boat was afterward towed to this port with the -body of Us helmsman on deck. The arrival of the Etollle de Mer caused much excitement , -whore It Is hoped the regretablo incident -will draw attention to the serious Inroads made by foreign fishermen In British waters. The admiralty -authorities express ex treme Burnrlso at the fact' that the , fishing boat disregarded the Leda's signal to heave- to and in the absence of the official report they assume that the commander of the Lcda only resorted to drastic measures when other means were ineffectual. The captain of the Etolllo do Mer has been arrested. FOLKESTONE , Eng. , Aug. 9. The coro- ner'3 Inquest upon the body of the helmsman resulted In a verdict ot accidental death , the Jury exonerating the officers of the Leda. ENGLAND WILL NOT TURN BACK PoMtion Taken trltli tbe Trnniivnnl AVIll lie Maintained nt Any Cont. LONDON , Aug. 9. Replying to various questions In the House of Commons today , Mr. Joseph Chamberlain , the secretary of state for the colonies , said no official con firmation had 'been ' received of the report that the Transvaal had declined to agree to a Joint Inquiry Into the effect which the franchise reforms will have on the Out- landers. Several regiments , ho added , were about to bo dispatched to South Africa for the de fense of Natal , In response to the request of the Natal government , and preparation was being made for all contingencies. Later , replying to T. P. O'Connor , Irish nationalist , member for the Scotland divis ion of Liverpool , Mr. Chamberlain depre cated a resumption of the debate on the Transvaal situation , which he pointed out , while serious , still remains doubtful. The colonial secretary added that he sin cerely hoped that the report Baying the In quiry proposal had been rejected was untrue. While he regretted the necessity ol answerIng - Ing Mr. O'Connor , It would bo a fatal mis take to allow the latter's views that a war was entirely needless and that the govern ment ought to express willingness to wait , maybe twenty-five years , for a redressal of the grievances of which they complained , to be considered. Ho added : "The representative opinions of even the small minority In tbe House of Commons or anything but the most In significant minority In the United Kingdom on the government's policy have been clearly expressed. Wo recognize the grievances of tbo Outlandcrs and have aald that these grievances are not merely of themselves a oerlous cau&o for Interposition , but are a bourco of danger to tbe whole of South Africa. Wo say our predominance Is menaced by the action of the Transvaal In refusing to redress the grievances or give consideration to requests hitherto put In the most moderate language of a suzerain power. Wo > ay that this state of things cannot bo tolerated. We have put our hands to the plow and won't draw back. With that Htatcment I proposa to rest content. " The additional troops ordered to bo In readiness for transportation to South Africa Include a battalion of the Grenadier Guards and three batterlc of artillery. The gravity of the Transvaal situation In generally regarded to have been Increased by the latest news and the tone of Mr. , rhamberlaln'b statement on the eve of the prorogation of Parliament adversely affeclej prices on the Stock Exchange , where , however - ever , the prices of South African securities are now above the worst. Consols are dull , partly owing to politics and partly because of the monetary situation. While the -members of Parliament nnd officials present In the House of Commons at the prorogation of Parliament today ex pressed hope of a peaceful settlement of the Transvaal difficulties , It was evident that uneasy apprehension was prevalent that an autumn session might be necessary to vote war supplies. A run men t on Venezuelan Ilonnilnry , PARIS , Aug. 9. M Mallctt.Prevost at to- day's sitting of the Anglo-Venezuelan boundary - ary commlKS-r | proceeded ulth his present ation of the Venezuelan case and Introduced CONDITION OF THE WEATHER forecast for Nebraska Fair and Warm ; Variable Winds. Teniperntnre nt Onmhn yeMenlnyi evidence with the obpect of proving that the Spaniards ejected the Dutch from the Cuyanl river In the right of Jurisdiction. M. Mallctt-l'rcvoat will conclude his argu ment tomorrow , when Prof. John n. Soley will discuss the question .from the date ot the British occupation In 1814. American * Meet SpenUer Onlly. LONDON , Aug. 9. l're ldcnt McKlnley's secretary , John Addlson Porter * and Solic itor General John K. Richards visited the United Slates embassy today and -was nft- crwnrd Introduced to Speaker Gully. They witnessed the prorogation of patllamcnt. VARIOUS CENSUS DISTRICTS Ileailnunrtem nt the Home Town of Sn lie rvl worn l > iinti Author I Urn Send nut for Information. WASHINGTON , lAug. 9. ( Special Tele gram. ) Letters have ibeen addressed to per sons In Omaha , Lincoln , Sioux City and other large tawns In the northwestern states by the acting director of the Census bureau , asking for the political subdivision of these cities. This Information Is to bo used In mapping out the precincts of the various census districts. During the last census the districts Avere outlined > by the supervisors. This was found to bo unsatisfactory and this work will bo performed iby the present offi cials at this end .with . the local Information submitted. The ipreclncts In the larger towns of the country are .being taken up first. first.Acting Acting Director Wines said today that 'the headquarters of the census districts will bo In the .homo . town of the supervisor , provid ing such a town Is convenient to the other parts of the district , with facilities for transportation and communication. Supervisor Rakestraw of the Indian school service , who has 'been transferred to the school district embracing Iowa ana the Dakotas - kotas , has been ordered to Washington for a conference iwlth the Indian officials. TJio Indian commissioner has under con sideration a report of Special Agent Dtxon , who recently made an Investigation of the charges filed against Superintendent Davis of the Flandreau , S. D. , Indian school. Mr. Dlxon has arrived here and has had a con ference with the commissioner today. It is probable that Mr. Davis will bo transferred to another school. The postoffico at Allerton , la. , has been assigned to the presidential class , and the salary of the postmaster Increased to $1,000. CRYPTIC MASONS GATHERING Imnrcnntvc Ceremonies to Take Place on the Summit of Pike's I'cak. SUMMIT PIKE'S PEAK. Colo. , Aug. 9. The _ first Installment of Cryptic .Masons ar rived on the summit of Plko's Peak this morning on four specials on the Cog road. Initiatory services wore held 'In the south ern rooms of the Cog depot , which had been especially reserved for the purpose. Tomor row further delegations follow , first by three sunrise trains from Mainltou to the eummlt , then by other special trains following fast upon each other to witness the ceremonies ot the "Crypt , " for which , upon one of the great solid rocks of ages upon the north ern end of the peak , Just off the Cog read , the crypt has been prepared Into which will be placed the records , which no hand of man will ever desecrate , and upon which the sun will rise and set for centuries to come , the ( hurricanes upon the cliff will blow con tinuously , but never rock , and future ages will look upon and view with awe and won der , but dare not touch. Tonight the peak Is covered with people anxiously waiting to view the ceremonies. The weather Is clear and fine. A fine sunset greeted these who looked across the broad plains and mountains for hundreds of miles around and a grand day for Cryptic Masons on the morrow Is anticipated. DISCUSS THE ELEVATOR TRUST \atlonnl Industrial Communion Take * Up Chartfen Made by CHICAGO , Aug. 9. The subcommittee of the National Industrial commission ap pointed to Investigate agricultural condi tions met here today and took up the In vestigation of the alleged elevator trust. The charges of an elevator combine have been brought by farmers In the northwest , who allege that combination exists between the elevator Interests and the railroads for the control of the visible supply of grain and for Its handling In general. It Is al leged that the railroads make- better rates to the elevator people than to the receivers. Today's session was held behind closed doors at the request of John Hill , Jr. , of the Chicago cage Board of Trade , who was called us the first witness. Mr. Hill gave the committee a general outline of the situation , reading copies of agreements , contracts , etc. , tend ing to show that the farmer was given the worst of It In the disposition of his grain. This afternoon an open session was held nnd several other witnesses examined. CANAL COMJMISSION SAILS Will Spend Some Time In Pnrln ! < - riialnrv Papers anil Data Iteliitlnff to I'nniiiiiii Monte , NEW YORK , Aug. . The remaining niembc-Ts of the ( .ubooinmlttce of the Isth mian Canal commlcslon , who were appointed to go to Paris and look Into the plans and financial affairs of the Panama enterprise , galled today on the American line steamer St. Louis. The members who sailed today are Rear Admiral J. 0. Walker , U. S. N. , retired ; Colonel Pater C. Halnes. U. 8. A. , corps of engineers ; O. S. Morrison , Now York , president of the Society of Civil Engi neers , and W. II , Burr of Connecticut. The committee will bpentl some months In Paris studying the plans , papcrw und the route of the Panama canal. Dead Jii Altitude of Prayer. MINNEAPOLIS. Aug. 0. A special from Bessemer. Mich. , says' Patty Meager , the only survivor of the Lady Elgin disaster , was found dead , kneeling at his bedside. He Is supposed to have bcon dead ulnco last Sunday. He lived In a email shanty near the mine. MovenirntN of Oeenn VemtelN , Aui { , ; i. At New York Arrived Servla. from Liv erpool and Queenstown ; American , from London ; Bremen , from Bremen. At Glasgow Arrived Ethiopia , from New York , At Queenstown Arrived Pcnnlaml , from Philadelphia for Liverpool , New England , from Boston for Liverpool. At Hong Kong Arrived Carlisle City , from San Diego via Yokohama At Rotterdam Arrived Statendam , from Now York. KILLS FOUR FIREMEN Fatal Electric Shook from Live Vr ire Hi ths Mercer Pin ) . TWO OTHERS ARE SERIOUSLY INJURED Horrible Accident Occurs Just aa the lira ! i Oonqiured. FALLING WIRE WINDS ABOUT THE VICTIMS Oauses Almost Instant JDeath to-Four of the Entangled Men , BODIES ARE REMOVED TO THE MORGUE Severe Shock In the Community Orlnlti of ( ho VIre In Unkonvrn- I.odn < o Mercer Chemical Com pany JSot Vet AnccrtnlncU. Killed. OTTO GE1SEKE. 112S Ilarncy street , truckmnn hook and ladder company No. 1. JAMES ADAMS , 1025 South Eighteenth Btrcot , engine , company No. 3. CHARLES A. HOPPER , 2416 Bancroft street , plpeman , hose company No. 3. GEORGE UENSON , Twenty-fifth and Jones street , plpeman , hose company No. 3. Injured. Albert T. Livingston , 1810 Farnam street , truckman , hook and ladder company No. 1. O. C. Farmer. 917 South Thlrloenth street , Bitbstltuto truckman , hook and Jaddsr com pany No. 1. Coming as a horrlblo climax to a short , heroic and brilliant exhibition of fins fight ing on the part of the Omaha department , which had practically sained control of what promised to too a serious conflagration , four firemen sacrificed their lives In the bravo discharge of duty and two others -wore seriously Injured. The flro occurred at ubout 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon In the crude drug room of the 'Mercer ' Chemical company , occupying the < rear of the fifth floor of the Mercer 'block on Howard street. Hose company No. 3 and hook and ladder company No. 1 , to which the firemen belonged - longed who lost their lives , liad done espe cially fine work In battling with the flames which Issued from the windows of the fifth floor of the .block , and ofter having gained the mastery the men-were engaged In lo-w- crlng the ladder of truck .No. 1. This ladder had been In use In the rear of thebuilding. . The six men gripped the crank of the truck tightly and 'were gaily chatting together , congratulating themselves that the flames had been controlled before- great damage had been committed , -when suddenly a look ot horror overspread the countenances of each. They spake not aword , but In an instant each was thrown to the s"iund , limp and lifeless. They had been electrocuted. The ladder , In Its descent , had oumo in contact with a Hvo olectrlo wlro and'2,000 volts were opn- vcyod through the ladder , Bonked as It was with rwatef Irom , Iho hose and ribbed with iron. Crowd IluMieN to Scene. At first realization of the fearful catas trophe , which followed In the wako of an otherwise successful battle with the flamea , < lld not come to the vast crowd which had gathered to iwltneas the work of the fire men. When It did dawn upon the curious and excited throng that such a terrible accident really had happened , the police offi cers and flrcmon had difficulty to keep the crowd from rushing madly to the eceno of the fatality. Physicians were quickly sum moned and then began a heroic struggle to restore the men to llfo , but It soon 'became ' apparent that four of them iwero ibeyoiut the reach of medical aid. Dr. Mercer wns among thci first of the physicians on the ground and , assisted by his son , Dr. N. 6. Mercer , labored long and faithfully. The victims were removed to aa open spaoo back of the store , where volunteers soon began to try to rorlvei them. Artificial respiration was attempted and everything known to medical science was tried to bring the men back to consciousness , but It was all to no avail. Their arms and legs were worked frantically , Ice was put upon them , and hyperdermlc" Injections were given , but all the effort was frultl'eai , and In lees than nn hour the four firemen were pronounced dead. The men working with Otto Gelseke thought twice that h'e was reviving , and had strong hopes of bringing" him out all right , but tbo third time ho had a sinking spell his llfo went out. Hopper walked from the truck In tha alley , the whole length of the- building , to Twotfth street , and then fell to the earth and never revived after ttiat. Ills face became purple nnd all the work of the men did not so much aa create an Impression upon him , The two Injured mon were removed to their homes as BOOH as possible and after It was found that the other four were dead the coroner was notified and their bodies were removed to the morgue. L'nnblo < o Kocixe Their Hold. The flro which called the nen to the fccono orlelnated In tha rear of the fifth floor of the Mtrcer block , which Is occupied by the Mercer Chemical company. Tbe room la used as a store room for crude drugs. No one seemed to know Juat how It caucht. but 0. W. Mercer , who wus In the bulldlnc nt the tlma of the flro , said ho thought It caucht from the electric ; light wiring. Mr , Mercer xald he had no means of determining what the damages were. The fire was under control when the acci dent occurred. WltutBses say that the men had beEun to lower the long laddw when It touched the wire aud there was a sicken ing eaiittor and the six men turning on the crank were struck as If to stone. They were unalile to lot loose their hold for a number of beconds , and then fell to the earth. It Is thought that the reason the firemen were not Injured when they put the ladder up was because everything was dry and the Insulation had not worn from the wire. During the tlmo the ladder was up It Is believed that It rubbed against tbo wlro and wore the Insulation off , thus allowlnc tha current full play downward through the ladder and on throueh the bodies of the men who were standing on the wet pave- nitm. One of the other firemen accidentally touched the wagon after the men had boon shocked , and he received a charge that made him scream In agony. During the flro Walter Grarhart , employed In the Mercer Chemical works , was knocked In the face with u hose and fell down the stairway from the fifth to the fourth floor. Ho was overcome with heat and smoke and had hu not been found In the nick of tlmo might have perished In the flames. He was removed to a store room below , where restoratives were prilled and he was soon able to bo around once more , When the alarm of flro wa clvcn the large building wan full of employes and u panic was narrowly averted ( About four hundred ulrla working In the overall fw-