Nebraska Newspapers

    The Omaha Daily Bee.
For RELIABLE
war news read
TIID BEE
If The Bee 5ay It Happened It Did.
Rumors Are Labeled If Printed.
ESTABLISHED JUNE 19, 1871.
OMAHA, MONDAY MORNINd, ATOIL 18, 1904.
SINGLE COl'Y THREE CENTS.
a
I
l
HOSPITAL IN FUMES
Liree of Hotel Guesti nt nts in
Indianapolis Endangj
WOMAN JUMPS FROM THE FOUKv OR
Victimi of ths Enrgton'i Knife Sol vt
Smoking etairwajs. "
SEVERAL f ATIENTS MAY DIE FROM SHvK
Attendant! and Jfomi BeoeWt Injuries
in Their Flight'
HOTEL GUESTS SAVED WITH DIFFICULTY
levers! Hundred reople la Hotel mad
Many of Tbenm in Compelled to
Leave la Their Right
t
Robes,
INDIANAPOLIS, April 17. While the city
fire department, reinforced by companies
from tbe suburbs, was being taxed to Its
utmost fighting- the Occidental hotel (Ire
this morning, an alarm was turned In from
St Vincent s hospital. When the first fire
company arrived one life had been lost and
several persons were seriously Injured In
the panio that followed.
The dead:
. HARRIETT LEAHT, Jumped from the
fourth floor and Instantly killed.
The Injured: '
Mlns Kate Beach, believed to be fatally
injured by falling from third floor while
trying to escape oy means of a rope niadi
of bed clothing.
Bister Huperior Stella, seriously Injured
by shock following a surgical operation.
Bister Nordics, seriously injured by shock.
William Schneider, a putlent. who, at. the
time of the Hie, was uudei going an opera
tion. Harry Nichols, Cnnnersvllle. Just oper
ated upon for appendicitis; ran down stairs.
Several other nurses and attendants were
more or less bruised In their endeavor to es
cape from what they thought was Instant
death.
Panle In Hospital.
For a time It seemed the flames, which
ntarted among a pile of rugs under the east
stairway, would burn their way to the tip
per floors, resulting in a frightful holo
caust. At every window on the third and
fourth floors were crowded the panic
. stricken men and women, screaming for
help to those on the stroet below, who
were for more than twenty minutes pre
vented from entering the building by the
dense smoke.
The panlo that raged on the third and
fourth floors continued until long after
the fire had been quenched. Patients who
had Just undergone surgical operations
rushed from their beds to the windows
and attempted to throw themselves to the
ground.
Harriet tieahy, an old employe of the
hospital, leaped from a window on the
fourth floor, and when picked up was
dead. In the rear men and women were
making ropes of bed clothing, by which
they escaped to the ground below. Kath
arine Beach, less fortunate than the rest,
'lost her hold and fell from tba third floor
"arid is' now 1iv-HlcaleondHfon from In
ternal Injuries sustained.
An unusual number of surgical opera
tions were performed In the hospital on
Saturday, many of the patients, carried
from their beds by the rescuers, were In
a critlcsl condition. The physicians In
charge fear that many fatalities may re
sult. The patients were carried to the male
ward, which la on the first floor and was
rot seriously affected by the panic which
raged In the upper floors. Improvised cots
and mattresses were brought Into use and
a general call for, medical assistance sent
throughout the city. , Within a short time
about 100 physicians arrived and the' pa
tients were cared for.
. aves Twenty-Seven Lives.
Henry Nichols, who underwent an opera
tion . for appendicitis a few hours before
the outbreak of tha fire, Jumped from his
bed and ran down four flights of stairs into
the street. His condition ii critical.
James Dawson, an emaciated patient,
worked heroically among the panic-stricken
men and women on the third floor. One
after another he pulled away from the win
dows those who were preparing to Jump
to the street below and piloted them
through tha smoke to places of safety on
the first floor. After saving twenty-seven
nurses and patients from possible Injury
in this manner, he lost consciousness ami
was carried Into the male ward, where
medical attention, wag given him. For a
time It was thought that be could not un
dergo the terrible strain to which he had
been subjected.
Owing to the fireproof construction, the
actual loss to the building will not exceed
11.000.
That there was no greater loss of life
la due to the prompt and efficient action of
the firemen and attendants.
Hotel Gaeets la Danger.
Fire, which for almost two hours threat
ened to destroy the principal retail district,
was discovered at an early hour this morn
ing In the Occidental hotel. Every fire com
pany In the city, as well as those from the
outlying suburbs, were summoned.
The hotel was filled with guests and a
psnlc was narrowly averted. There were
many narrow escapee from the flames and
auiffocatlon, the several hundred Inmates
beinffflRveIled to leave the building clad
(inly in their night robes.
The hotel, which fronts for half a block
on Illinois street south of Washington, Is
valued at 1I00.ua) and Is gutted. The los
la estimated at $75,000. The following U
the Hat of losses to business houses on
the ground floor of the building:
Fergus Pharmacy. $.00t: Florm's randy
kitchen. $5.0u0;-Reubens Clothing company.
Ij.ioO; Raphael Millinery company, lio.uou;
P. J. Ryan, hatter, $8,000; Henry Berghelm.
Jeweler. li.OUO; Reinle A. Miller, $2.k0; A.
tVhomberg. cigars. 11,000. In every case the
loss la fully coveted by Insurance.
TO INVESTIGATE EXPLOSION
Hear Admiral Baker Wires Wasblng-
WASHINGTON, April IJ.-The Navy de
partment today received a dispatch from
Rear Admiral A. 8. Maker, commanding
the North Atlantlo fleet, giving the ir
sonnel of the court of Inquiry that Is en
gaged In making an Investigation of the
cause or tne recent accident on the Mis
souri. They are Rear Admiral Chadwlck.
president of the court: CaDtaln Ji.nh
N. HemphUl, commanding the Kearsarge,
... v-'w. inu. coin-
n
V
P
manfllng the Cleveland, with Lieut.n.m
vara Urtstol as judge advocate. It Is ex
peeled that tha court will eomlte It.
it
li
Inquiry th present week, and on Its flna-
trigs e..! Irpcnd wbetbtr ftiilhsr proceed
us ers w ve ua
TRIES TO WALK ON THE WATER
Kevr York Man Who Attracts Crowd
Is Mow In Observation
Ward.
(Copyright by New York Herald Co., 1904.)
NEW YORK. April 17 (New York Her
ald Service Special to The Bee.) So ear
nestly was the little less than half clad
man wailing In the shallow water of the
East river at Flghty-slxth street, one
afternoon late this week, that a crowd of
V curious persons soon collected. To
them the little man paid absolutely no
attention. He had his whole mind on his
work. He would raise one foot to the sur
face, and then, throwing his Weight on
It, would come down with a splash. Each
time he did this he would shake his head
and look disappointed or surprised.
The majority of the onlookers were of
the opinion that the little man was a mem
ber of some new health cult. Others be
lieved It was a bet. After the questions
of many hhd been Ignored, Policeman
Hitler of tha East Sixty-sixth street sta
tion so Impressed the mysterious stranger
that he skipped ashore.
"Why, don't you know," said the little
man, confidentially, "I have about solved
the problem of walking on the water. Al
most, but not quite there la Just one little
hitch somewhere, but I'll soon find that
out."
After the man had been persuaded that
It was a bad day for water walking he
clothed himself and accompanied the po
liceman. On his way he said he ' was
Vladimir Mens, 34 years old, of no address
In particular. He Is now under observa
tion at Bellevue hospital. ,
FIGHTS FOR LIFE IN HELL GATE
Remarkable Gsrape of New York Boy
from Deatk In tbe
Tide.
(Copyright, by New York Herald Co., 1904.)
NEW YORK, April 17. -(New York Her
ald Service Special to The Bee.) In the
swirling waters of Hell Oate, clinging to a
box, William Llnneck, a 17-year-old boy.
made a plucky and successful half-hours
fight for life recently. Hundreds on the
shore watched the lad's struggles, but did
not dare to go to the rescue, as he was
swept along for nearly two miles on the
swift ebb tide. At last Captain John Wass
nas of the volunteer life crew of Hell Gate
put out In a boat and saved the boy.
Tke boy was collecting driftwood along
the shore, when. In reaching for a large
box, he lost his balance. Luckily he caught
hold of the box that caused his misfortune.
Several tuga and Incoming vessels passed,
but did liot dare to deviate from their
course to rescue him. The hundreds of
people brought to the shore by the pleasant
weather raced madly along the beach
shouting directions, but accomplished noth
ing. '. i
Life preservers thrown from passing ves
sels were filched from his hands by the
whirling eddies off Mill Rocll. . Time and
time again this happened. His nerve alone
kept him from releasing fcta hold and
perishing. Once upon the shore Linneck
was soon revived.
FISD DEFECT IS COLONIAL TREATY
Newfoundland tHsrovera Serious
law
Which Prevents Flshlnsr.
ST. JOHNS, N. F.. April 17. The text
of the Anglo-French colonial treaty has
not yet been published here. A serious
defect has been found In It which the
colonial government Is trying to have cor
rected. .
The second clause of the French shore
arrangement obliges French .and British
fishermen to terminate their operations by
October to. This clause if enforced would
mnko the condition of the Newfoundland,
fishermen worse than before, because they
would be prevented from Ashing during six
months of the year. . '., -
Especially would it debar their prosecu
tion of the winter herring fishery at Bay
of Islands and Bonne bay, to which United
States and '.Canadian vessels resort for
herring', cargoes. It would also cause
trouble between Great '. Britain and the
United States Inasmuch as the fishermen
tt the latter country were granted Ash
ing rights there by the treaty of 1818. ,
It is understood that the Newfoundland
government will not guarantee the rati
fication of the treaty until this defect be
remedied.
PLOT AGAINST PnESIDEXT LOTBET
Italian Government Places No Faith
' ' 'laAlleared Consplrney.
ROME, April 17. Judging from the In
formation which It has received the Italian
government considers groundless the plot
alleged to have been hatched at Marseilles
to kill President Lew bet during his coming
visit to Italy."
RKPOHT JAPAKKS& CRIISER LOST
Alleged Warship Struck One of Its
Own Mines,
ST. PETERSBURG. April 17. A dispatch
from Port Arthur says several eye-wlt-nescsea
assert that a Japanese cruiser was
lost outside Port Arthur April 12 by strik
ing one of Its own floating mines.
Mrs. Goelet Dines the Emperor.
SYRACUSE, Sicily. April 17. -Emperor
William, accompanied by fifteen members
of his suite, dined today with Mrs. Robert
Goelet on board the latter' s yacht Nahma.
The emperor expressed hlroeo'f as delighted
with the event and said he wished the em
press were with him to share his pleasure.
TRAIN WIPES . OUT LIVES
T
Three People Returning; from Chnreh
Service Watch One Train and
Arc Strnek by Another.
Al.I.ENTOWN, Pa.. April 17.-George
Clauser. aged 40; Edith M. Mettler. aged 15.
and Stella Knaus, aged 17, were struck and
Instantly killed by a Reading railway pas
senger train near their home near Macun
gie last night. Miss Metaler's sister Annie
saved her life by Jumping aside. The party
had attended a church service in Macungle
and were taking the short cut home by
walking cn the railroad track. The noise
of a passing freight train prevented them
hearing the approaching passenger train.
IRISH LACE FOR ST. LOUIS
aarde Leaves, with Display
Finery Valned at aa.&OO.OOO (or
Exhibition ot Fair.
of
QUEENSTOWN. Ireland. April K.Ths
Cunard line steamer Elrurla, which sails!
tutlay for New York, carries the Irish sec
tion for the St. Louis exposition. It In
cludes) lace valued at CSC0.QO9 sad several
Urns of soil gathered from the fnir prov
inces. The exhibit Is accompanied by seventy-two
persons. ' f
HILL DAS MS LONG RNIFE OUT
Policy of Former Hew York 8enator 14 ij
Precipitate Fight.
TAMMANY HAS NOT FORGOTTEN GRUDGES
Lenders on the Floor of the State
Convention to Be Held Today
Promise to Open Vp (
Old" Wounds.
ALBANY, N. Y., April 17. If the policy
sdopted by the friends of Judge Alton B.
Parker, at whose head stands former
United States Senator David B. Hill, Is
carried out at the Sessions of the demo
cratic state convention tomorrow, there Is
likely to be precipitated upon the floor of
the convention a battle royal, which has
not hnd a parallel In state political con
ventions for many years.
Since the Saratoga convention In ison,
when General Charles N. Bulger of Os
go, representing Senator Hill, putting his
finger almost under the noBe of Richard
Ctoker, denounced Tammany and Its pol
tlcs, Tammany has awaited as an organlaa
tlon to present Its compliments to Mr. Hill,
and nlthnugh It Is perfectly apparent to
night that the Interests dominated by Mr.
Hill Include a large portion of ' the con
vention vote. It Is a foregone conclusion
that such orators as Bourke Cockran,
Thomas O'Orady and Victor Dowling will
on the floor of the convention personally
accuse Mr. Hill of attempting to wreck
the party.
These, ore not statements' of mere sup
position, for although Leader Charles F.
Murphy of Tammanr hull will not say a
wtrd tonight, nnd although former Senator
Hill Is equally reticent, there are those
close to them who are making definitely
these assertions: r .,.pn. .
Knife Oat for Tammany.
(1.) On behalf of Mr. Hill that unless
Tammany withdraws what he calls a use
less opposition to the instruction of the
state delegation for Judge Purker, Tam
many hall will be practically rend out of
the convention, delegations in favor of
Manhattan refused a seat In the convention
and Taniniuny its a body not allowed to
name a national delegate at large.
(i.) In behalf of Mr. Murphy, as rep
resenting Tammany hall that New -York
Iiuh met defeat in national conventions only
when It has Instructed Its delegation, that
because of the fact that the party plat
form and policy are as yet vaguely defined.
It is unwise to send an instructed dele
gation; that Tnminuny, casting the great
est proportion of the democratic vote in the
state, is entitled to name a delegate at
Inige: that a democratic state committee
should not be elected at this convention,
but the matter should wait until the fall
convention, when state issues are dom
inant. Mr, Murphy, with his Tammany lieuten
ants, arrived In the city this afternoon and
for,, nearly an hour was In conference with
Benator Hill. Ho presented the name of V:
Bourke Cockran ' of New Yofk as Tam
many's candidate for delegate-at-large.
" It la understood that Mr. Hill immedi
ately asked Mr. Murphy to name his can
dldate for president of the United States,
a request which Mr. Murphy parried, say
ing that Tammany had no candidate, but
pelleyedand wjyjld jreilejtate, tb,e.haUftf.J
the convention tomorrow and at the na
tional convention at St. Louis, that It
should not be compelled to name Its can
didate or be Instructed for any particular
candidate until the platform was agreed
upon and a proper man found who would
accord with Ita Issues.
Murphy Dodares .uestlon. ,
To this Benator Hill replied that it must
be perfectly appurent to Mr. Murphy that
almost two-thirds of the delegates to to
morrow's convention would be In favor of
Instructing for Judge Parker, and that
Tammany should therefore gracefully ac
cede to the majority demand. If It did
not, Mr. Hill Is quoted as saying that Tam
many must take the consequences of its
opposition, because the delegates-at-large
must not Include any man who might on
the floor of the national convention re
pudiate the unit rule as adopted for in
struction by the state convention. '" '
He intimated that In place of Mr. Cock
ran, a majority of the delegates might se
lect, so as to be sure that their instruc
tions for Judge Parker would be carried
out, August -. Belmont, who already had
pledged himself for Judge Parker.-, . ,-
When Mr. Murphy ' left Benator HUT s
headquarters he was asked bV the repre
sentative of tbe Associated Press whether
he would make a statement. This he pos
itively declined to do, but Senator Victor
Dowling, who Is his chief lieutenant, said
that there was absolutely no change in the
situation. "Senator Hill declines to meet
us half way and the fight will go to tbe
floor of the convention," said Senator
fJowling. "where even though we may be
In the minority we shall by voice and ac
tion try to Impress the people of the state
that we are In the right."
Senator Hill, when seen, said that so
far as he understool the matter Tammany
was prepared to take the flghk to the floor
of the convention. He saw no objection to
that from a democratic standpoint, and. In
deed, he believed that " was the place to
fight It out. He bad no fear of the result,
and not only believed,' but knew that the
convention would instruct for Parker. He
added that care would be taken that the
delegates-at-large selected would be those
who properly carry out the wishes of the
state convention and that this would apply
also to the selection of electors. .-
Platform May tease Treablc.,
Asked whether It was unusual to elect
a stste committee at this conventionhe
vuld it was not, but that It wus an excel
lent policy to select it at this time, so
It' might be In working order afier the
convention In July. '
(There was some discussion tonight as to
the platforra to be adopted. It la said-to
have been "Senator Hill's 'Idea that the
lilatform should deal quite extensively with
state and national Issues, but WUliam Y.
Bheehan, speaking, It ts believed, for Judge
Parker, has won tonight probably a con
cession so that the platforra adopted to
morrow will be very brief, dealing not In
any minute particulars, but generally with
the failures of the republican party.
It Is understood that it will assert that
since the death of President McKlnley the
party In power has practically run riot,
has failed In Its promises to carry out He
Klnley's policies, has catered, lo the cor
porations ar.d trusts and has demoralised
the public service. It will hot In any way
allude to the monetary system, nor will It
endorse any particular platform heretofore
adopted by democratic conventions.
In a word. It Is Intended to relieve Judg
Parker, If the convention Instructs for hiss,
from any possible embarrassment until such
time as the national platforra Is adopted.
It is understood tonight that the delegates-at-large
to the national convention will be
former Benator David B. Hill of Albany
and fctiwarJ Murphy, Jr., of Troyv August
Belmont of New York and James-w. Ridge
way of Brouklyo, -
GREAT WESTERN SCORES COUP
Hollanders Gala Control ot
the
Kansas I'ity Southern
oad.
CHICAGO, Aprlf 17. A merger of the
l 1". A
Chicago Great Western and the Kansas
City Southern ralgoads Is planned. It la
said, by the Hollitnd capitalists who are
now the heaviest stockholders In both of
those rosds.
After the reorganisation of the Kansas
City Southern, several years ago, E. II.
Harrlman, Edwin Hawley, George J. Gould
and others bought enough stock to give
them control. They operated the road In
dependently of the Harrlman and Gould
systems, compelling It to depend on local
trafHo for Its revenue.
Not until the recjVnt meeting of the di
rectors of the Kansas City Southern did
It develop that the -Holland capitalists hud
quietly added largo blocks of stock to their
holdings, until they had more than Harrl
man and his associates. The latter had
planned to issue Additional bonds of the
company to the extent of $5,000,000. It Is
understood that his issue was advised by
Max 1'am, who, as-general counsel of the
company, received a salary of $15,000 per
annum. . - '
When the dlrecloM were ready to cast a
perfunctory vote authorising the new bond
Issue, the director representing the Holland
stockholders created a sensation by mak
ing this statement: t'The proposed issue of
bonds can be made, only by vote of the
stockholders. I an perfectly - willing a
meeting of them should be called. It will
then be seen by wht right the Union Pa
elflj and Southern Iaclflc railroad Interests
appear to be running this property."
"By the .right of A community of Inter
ests," was the answer made by E. H. Har
rlman. i J
"Where Is the dpmmunlty of Interest
when it Is all oneVway? demanded the
representative of the Holland stockholders.
"The Kansas City Southern Is forced to
exist on Its local ,'buslness, although it
could be the rate maker from Kansas City
to the gulf. It Is foced out of the through
business by the Union Paclllo and Gould
Interests. i
The plan to Issue onds for $5,000,000 was
dropped. The representative c the Holland
Ir.terests said they! would advance the
$1,000,000 or $2,000,000 tiecessary to meet the
pressing demands on) tha company, and the
offer was accepted. 1 .
At a later meeting of fbe directors to
elect officers the Holland Interests de
manded that Herman N. Slelcken be elected
vice president and that George J. Gould
and John Lambert be deposed as vice presl
dents and Max Pam aa counsel of the com
pany. Rather than precipitate a fight
which might sever all the, relations with
his system, Harrlman agreed to the de
mand ' of the Dutch stockholders. Then
S. R. Knott was re-elbCted.Dresldent and.
excepting the vice prewldentf, all the other
officers were re-elected.
At the next annual meeting of stock
holders of the Kansas City (.Southern,. It Is
expected that tha Holland Interests- WB1
take control of the! comp inn, oust the
Harrlman representa jives and then carry
out the plan to combine theChlcago Great
Western and Kansas City roads. It Is said
that President Stlcknly originated the' plan
to add to the Great ZWestern the Kansas
City Southern and iayired the.ndorse-
aided him In hie plane for tha develop
ment of the Great Western despite the op
position of both eastern and -western capit
alists. The combination of the Great Western
and Kansas City Southern roads would
give a aystem of nearly 3,000 miles. It
would have almost an air line from St.
Paul to Port Arthur, on the Gulf of Mexico,
much shorter than any other railroad has.
With a direct line to the Gulf of Mexico
the Great Western would occupy an im
pregnable position among western and gulf
roads, '
TARA'S , HARP FOR ST. LOUIS
President Roosevelt Asked to Use His
i Good, OtTlces for World's
f. '
1. ; , Fair. r
;? ! i - : '
8T. LOUIS, April 17. -President Francis
of th World's Fair has received from the
Department of State a copy or a resolu
tion adopted and forwarded to ' president
Roosevelt asking him to -use his good of
fices In obtaining; Tara's harp for the Irish
exhibit.' ' , ' . '
' It has been decided by the World's Fair
to Install electrical devices Instead tif hav
ing ticket sellers, and ordinary' turnstiles
during the exposition period. '-v x
; The Llndell entrance will be" the main
gate to the exposition. JfThare thirty-two
turnstiles are, being Installed and, through
this entrance alone It Is estimated that at
least GOO persons can pass every.elxty sec
onds. 4 .- " , 4
To gain admission to the gTounils per
son must approach the turnstile and place
a half dollar in aslot. This half dollar
aa it, descends Is still visible aftd releases
a -lever which unlocks ttst turnstile. The
person ran thetrpass through . the gates
and the minute) that he. Is Inside .the turn
stile lsjocked. .
Individual gate are being Installed for
children. At these turnstiles a-, "quarter
will operate the -.mechanism.
PROF. BROOKS' TWCOIVrET
Saysf the Visitor Mas a '.Stellar
j Nucleus aad at, Short
! "' ' . Tall. : .
: . '" .
GENEVA, N. Y., Aprlf 17.Prof.-Brooks,
director of brti'th observatory, mad a-second
ohservi tlon of his new comet -in Her
cules tonight, i It's position tonight was
right ascension, 18 hours 55 minutes f sec
onds; declination north, 44 degrees 48 min
utes. This gives a dally motloa,' of about
three-quarters of a degree northwest.4 This
comet has a stellar nucleus and a short
tail.
NCCDLES tWILL BE UNIFORM
Manufacturers to Meet la Plttabera
to Amalgamate Ipterests aad
Reg slate Present Prlrea, '
- , r
CLEVELAND. April 17.-A meeting of
noodle manufacturers of the United States
has been called to meet 'at the Lincoln
hotel, Pittsburg. Tuesday. April 19, at 10
a. m. for the purpose. It is said, of forming
an amalgamation of interests and making
a uniform price V a number of mahufa'
tiirera of that article have responded o
letters of Invitation and will be present, ,
Memorial to Dead Sailors. 'V
. NEWPORT, .!.. April 17.-Ns.v4;f offi
cers, enlisted men, and (i prentice boys to
the number of 7i attended memorial ser
vices at the naval training station' at
Coster's Harbor 'Island today In honor of
the sailors wtio losg their lives In .the
aceMent on the bsttletihtp Missouri. 'The
BK-morial address, was' mad by Chaplain
vailiam 8. Caaaeril laitud Stales navy, , I
- 1 . .--21
CONGRATULATIONS FOR TOGO
Japanese Xxprrsa Their Admiration for
Natal Commander.
PLANTS THE MINES WHICH WRECK SHIP
Rear Admiral Dewa In Commaad of
Flotilla Which Artaally Accom
plished the Portions
Task.
TOKIO, April 17. I p. m. The Japanese
are elated over the successes they have
won at Port Arthur. They are also proud
of the achievement of Vice Admiral Togo,
particularly of his newest strategy In coun
termining the enemy's harbor and decoy
ing him across this field ot mines to. an
equally dangerous flank attack.
The success of the system of placing
deadly countermines Is due largely to a
series of careful observations made by the
Japanese during their previous attacks on
Port Arthur. The Japanese saw the Rus
sian fleet leave the harbor and return to
it several times and they discovered that
the Russian warships followed an Identi
cal course every time they came out or
went In. evidently for the purpose of
avoiding their own mines. The Japanese
took bearings . on this course.
When the destroyer divisions of the
Japanese torpedo flotilla laid the counter
mine during the night of April 12-1$ they
placed them along this course. The lay
ing of these apuntermlncs was exceedingly
perilous, because If any Japanese boat
with mines on board had been struck iy
a lucky Russian shot It would have been
annihilated. '
The weather of the night of April 1M
favored the work. There was a heavy
rain, the night was dark and cloudy and
the Russian searchlights playing over the
channel failed to reveal the presence of
the Japanese destroyers. ,
Rear Admiral Dewa was In command of
the Japanese squadron which decoyed the
Russian ships over the field of mines. His
squadron consisted of the cruisers Chltose,
Yoshlno, Kasagt and Takasagn, all un
armored vessels, which pteaented a tempt
ing bait for the heavier Russian ships.
Vice Admiral Togo directed the flank at
tack. He had the battleships Hatsuse,
Mlkasa, Asahl, Bhlklshlma, Hashlma and
Fuji. He waited thirty miles out at aea
until Rear Admiral Dewa signalled him
by wireless telegraphy to come In. His
vessels then dashed at full speed toward
the entrance of the harbor.
Russians Ar Trapped.
All the battleships under Vice Admiral
Togo are capable of a speed of eighteen
knots and they quickly covered the dis
tance. It la not clear what warned the
Russians that they had been trapped, but
they probably discerned the battleship
squadron on - the horlson sand , retreated
precipitately to the harbor, Vice Admiral
Togo did not succeed' In rr venting the
Russians from entering,' but did force them
to a disastrous retreat, which ended In the
destruction of the Petropavlovsk and tbe
disabling of the Pobieda. After these 'oc
currences the cruisers Nlahln and Kaauga
were used to bombard Port Arthur. They
possess the highest angled guns In the
fleet, capable ef throwing shells to tha
slsVwtsd. ' Buaalaw land'- wywlcs.- vfliMlr ere
beyond attainment by the average naval
weapon.
Vice Admiral Togo calls this attack on
Port Arthur the eighth, whereae It Is num
bered the seventh. A probable explanation
Is that Vice Admiral Togo regards the
latest operation as two distinct attacks.
Expressions of regret at the death of
Vice Admiral Makaroff are general here.
Speaking for the naval ' staff Commander
Ogasawara has published a lengthy state
ment In which he laments the death Of
the Russian Vice Admiral and pronounces
It to be a loss to the navies of the world.
Commander Ogasawara reviews the Ufa,
professional career and the personal at
tributes of Vice Admiral Makaroff and de
clares that he Is entitled to be classed with
the best admirals In the world.
,The Koryu Maru,. which participated In
the latest attack on Port Arthur, Is a tor
pedo ship under the command of Com
mander Oda. Oda Is a mine expert and
the success of the Japanese countermining
operations was due largely to his Ingenuity
and bravery.
The Japanese' report' that the wreck of
the Petropavlovsk lies southeast of Golden
Hill, one mile obtslde the entrance to the
harbor.
Toao Is- Coaa-ratnlated.
S p.m. Admiral Baron Yamamoto, the
minister of marine, sent the following con
gratulatory message to Vice Admiral Togo
today: , -
I am delighted over the success of tha
eighth attack on Port Arthur. The result
was splendid and while- It Is attributed to
the eniperor'e- Illustrious . virtue, the loyal
and gailant action of the officers and men
of the -fleet played a conspicuous part.
Their behavior leaves nothing to segret. I
tender my congratulations to you anil to the
officers and men in your command and I
hope that the same noble discharge of
duties will be continued while the present
great national problem lies before us.
The goojl Is. as yet distant. Take) the
best care of yourself in order that1 you
all may be enabled to finish the great Work
expected of you..
CUTS FOO, April 17. t p. m A letter
from Port Arthur, dated April ' 8, which
has been received here, aaya:
I would like to tell you of the conditions
existing hore, but the censorship le too se
vere to allow me to do so.
Raaalsvns Near Sungjta.
SEOUL, Corea, April 17. 6 p. m. Further
reports received here from SungJIn declare
that thirty-three Russian soldiers , are
within thirty miles of that place and that
the Japanese consul and residents left there
on a steamship for Gensan yesterday,
SungJIn is a small port on the east coast
of Cores, fifteen miles northeast of Gensan
and about the same distance southwest of
the mouth of the Tumen river, which
marks the northeastern boundary between
Corea and Manchuria.
It has been learned here that thirty
three Cossacks occupied Bungjin on tbe
night of April 16. The Japanese refugees
who fled from there arrived at Gensan
this morning. The rumors that (.000 Rus
sian troops are following this advance
of thirty-three men continue, and It Is
declared that they Inted to divert the
Japanese from the Yalu river.
These statements, however, are dis
credited because It would be quite possi
ble for the Japanese to effect a landing
near SungJIn and cut off these troops.
Two English missionaries reside at Sung
JIn. but It Is not known whether or not
.they have left there. They are not be
lieved to be In danger.
The emperor has appointed Ylaa Muaa
Chan, who waa at one time prime minis
ter of Corea, to auperlntend the construc
tion of the palace. ' .
-
Report a Bombardsaeat.
TIEN TSIN, April Is. -A report haa been
received here that Port' Arthur was bom
barded all day yesterday. Friday, and that
the action Is being continued today. No
detailed or official account f the destruc
tion of the petropavlovsk or of ihe dam
aging at Port Arthur of the I'obieda hi
been received here, but It la nut UrUvd
j
NEBRASKA WEATHER FORECAST
Fair Monday and Tuesday.
Temperatare at Omaha Yesterday!
Honr. Dew. Hoar. Ilea.
K a- m ...... K.'t t p. m ...... nJ
e a- m ...... It J a p. m Itt
T a. aa...... 84 it p. m Ml
ft a, a BT 4 p. m KM
9 a. m 41 R p. m o
M I, m.mmi 41 l p. m !
It i. n 4T T p. m ..... fttt
IS as 4H n p. m Kl
f p. m R.'l
that either one of these vessels withdrew
from the action of the 13th, which un
doubtedly wna the most Important of the
war. It la declared here that one Japanese
torpedo boat waa sunk In this engage
ment, but this statement lacka confirma
tion. Believes Japs Irfild Sflnra.
ST. PETERSBURG, April 17. "Notwith
standing Vb-e Admiral Togo'a claim that
mines laid by his vessels were responsible
for the disaster to the petropavlovsk," said
a high naval authority who Is in a po
sition to have access to all government
reports, to the Associated Press:
I am more than ever convinced that the
Petropavlvosk and the Pohbdu did not
strike, Japanese mines. Krtch ship was
struck under the hull HmUishlps, while u
mine would have exploded on firttt con
tact near the bows. The fact that In
both enses the ships were struck amid
ships might warrant the acceptance of the
theory of submarine vessels, although
personally I do not hold thnt Idea.
The Pobieda hss probably ecned the
fate of the Petropavlovsk been use It
carried coel In Its bunkers between the
bottom and the boilers, whlctt moreover,
are of the Belleville tyne. whereas the
boilers of the Petropavlovsk were of Hcutch
mnke and were not protected by Its
bunkers.
One-, of the shrewdest naval attaches at
8L Petersburg, . however, told the Asso
ciated Press that, he believed the Japanese
laid the. mines' which were responsible for
the disaster, pointing out thnt this was
one of the oldest systems of blockading
when ships did not dare to run the rlrk
of entering under an enemy's guns. The
attache said he thought they would do
this when he noticed that the Japaneso
fleet always made a wide detour of the
entrance. -.':
It Is also significant that Chinese Junks
have been reported as cruising off the
hsrbor, and It Is consedered possible that
the Japanese kept these Junks there sys
tematically in order to throw the Russians
oft their guard If they were seen when
the actual time arrived to lay the mines.
Captain Crown, who went down with the
Petropavlovsk, Joined that ship on the pre
vious day, having succeeded In getting
through from Shanghai, where he left Ms
gunboat, the Madjur. Captain Crown was
a descendant of a Scotchman who fought
with Russia in the war with Sweden when
he captured the first Retvlsan.
, Nothing bat HI Luek.
- Rumors were In circulation here today of
a fresh engagement on the Yalu river
which had resulted favorably to the Rus
sians, but a dispatch received by the gen
eral' staff tonight saya that the situation is
unchanged and thr.t alt la quiet ot the
Yalu.
It la said that on the eve of the dis
aster to the Petropavlovsk vice Admiral
Makaroff telegraphed to the emperor that
he was about to fight a decisive action
with the enemy's fleet. A story Is cir
culated among the entourage of the court
tliat' tni -t-.eetftrfg -wr-f,w"iaiHirrof,-m
emperor wept and, referring to Viceroy
Alexleff, exclaimed: "That man brings us
nothing but 111 luck."
Attack Covers Attempted Laadlaa;.
It la said that the Japanese torpedo flo
tilla attack on Port Arthur April 13 was In
tended to cover a landing from nine trans
potts at Shwang Tal Tee,- twenty miles
south of Tako Shan, wlta view to cutting
off the retreat of the Port Arthur troops
to Slu Yen and Kaiplng, destroying the
railway and preventing troops stationed In
touthern Liao Tung from effecting a Junc
tion with the main Russian forces concen
trated at, Liao Yang and Mukden.
The execution ot this operation only
failed owing to the fact that all places on
the peninsula suitable for the landing of
troops are protected by mines, well fortified
and strongly guarded.
M. Suverlne, manager of the Novoe
Vremya, aays he has seen a letter dated
March 19 from Dr. Volkovitch, who was
drowned cn the Petropavlovsk, In which
It la alleged that Vice Admiral Makaroff
and his staff declared that the Japanesu
were using submarine boats and that Port
Arthur was not defended by Russian mines.
CHARGES DISASTER TO SVBMARINH
Russians Confident 'Japanese' Have
j .1' '' ' Such a, Boat. '
(Copyright, by NetrYork Herald Co., 1904.)
. ST. PMTETtSBURO. April 17.-CNew York
Herald Cablegram Special Telegram to The
BM.)Vlth regard to the much discussed
nature of the cause of the sinking of the
Petropavlovsk and the dumags to the Po
bieda, It may possibly be explained by tit
fact that for some weeks Russian outlooks
had reported, an object rising out , of the
water, and disappearing aguln, and sup
posed to be a', submarine boat.
i Torpedo boats sent out to look failed to
find anything. . However, .so assured were
the authorities of the existence of a sub
marine boat that special watches were es
tablished and classes formed. In order to
explain to the officers and crews the work
ing of submarine boats and the action to
be taken In case of an attack by the aame.
It la no secret that the Japanese did pur.
chase submarine boats from the Untied
Btttteg. '
It Is now believed that. In view ot the re
cent disasters, no attempt will be made to
send the Bliltlc fleet to the far eust, Kour
opatkln being left to cover the situation.
FIRE REC0RD7 .
Hooper Lighting Plant.
HOOPER, Neb., April 17. (Special.) The
Hooper electric light plant was badly dam
aged by a fire which occurred about It
o'clock last night. The flame started above
the boiler and rapidly spread to the other
parts of the building, which was a frame
structure covered with Iron. The fire de
partment responded promptly and soon had
the Are under control. The building, al
though still standlpg, Is a complete wreck
and will have to be entirely rebuilt. The
engine Is not thought to be seriously dam
aged but the dynamo la almost a complete
loss. Mr. Martin, the proprietor, carried
about $1,500 Insurance, but It Is not thought
to be sufficient to cover the entire loss.
The town will be seriously Inconvenienced
by the fire, as nearly all the business
houses and residences 'were dependent on
the plant for light, and It la Impossible to
say how long It will take to put the plant
In order again.
DEATH RECORD.
Dr. K. J. Mrtlorrlsk.
DEd MOINES. la. April 17.-8peuil
Telegram.) Dr. E. J. M.-Gorrixk, one of
tbe oldest physicians in IV Moines, died
at ah early hour this .morning. He was
Surgeon it) to loa regiment during the
civil war. .
STORY OF DISASTER
Eye-Witnese Describes Elowinf Up ol
Battleihlp FetroptTloTsk.
TORPEDO BOAT FIGHT STARTS TROUBLE
sewmamsumm
Bnuian Craft Puts Up 8tiff . Conteit
Agninit B!g Odds.
CRUISER BAYAN ATTEMPTS RESCUE
Other Bnuian Bhipi Ooms Oat to Join
in Fray.
CHASE THE JAPANESE AND THEN RETURN
Bla- "hip Wna Minply Drlftln When
the Explosion Occurred Which
Sent It and Crew to
Bottom.
LIAO YANG, April lT.-"Your correspond
ent, believing that the Japanese would at
tempt to block the entrance to Tort Arthur
with fire ships on Easter evening, went
from Liao Yang to Port Arthur a week
ago yesterday. For four nights I watched
with the sentries on Golden Hill. Three
nights passed quietly. On the night of
April 1$ Vice Admiral Makaroff took to sea
with his squadron. Including fourteen tor
pedo boats. The next night. April IS, In the
teeth of a gale eight torpedo boats were
sent out to reconnolter. From Golden Hill,
on which I waa standing, through the
blackness the searchlights of the fortifica
tions flashed over the Inky waters of the
roadstead' and far out to tho haay horlson.
"At 11 o'clock I hradd firing at sea and
counted seven shots nnd could not see any
thing. At daybreak I made out to the
south, five miles from shore torpedo boata
strung out In line, ell firing. In the lend
and outstripping the others wit a boat
heading at full speed directly for the en
trance of the harbor. The laxt In line was
beclouded In steam luid lagging. It had
evidently been hit. It was difficult to dis
tinguish our boats, hut finally through my
glasses I saw that the leader and the lag
gard were Russian and that the four others
were Japanese. The flash ot the guns and
the splash of the projectiles aa they struck
the water showed the Intensity of the con
flict. The torpedo boat from which steam
wae escaping was firing viciously. Tho
four center craft drew together, concen
trating their Are upon It, but the crippled
destroyer poured out tta flre and waa suc
cessfully keeping off Its assailants.
The signal station flashed the news to
the men of the batteries that the veesel
wns the Strashni.
Combat la Unequal.
.The unequal combat was observed with
(bteathlms Interest but the net drew close
around the doomed boat.. The four J a pa
rens boots formed a nctnlclrcle and poured
n a deadly lire. J ne steam trom ins
Strashni grew aenscr, covering It like a
white pall. Btlll It fought like a des
perately wounded animal broupht to bay. i
Running straight for the adversary, bar-
djng JtawiuUto aiifcjjt, ft iweedjthe Japa
ncse astern und fired at them, t
At this stags Vice Admiral Makaroff,
who had been observing tho progress of
tho conflict through a telescope, signalled
to the cruiser Lay an. lying In the Inner
harbor, to weigh anchor and go out to the
rescue '
The Japanese destroyers olung to their .
victim like hounds In a chase. They had
become separated but araln resumed their
formation. Small Jets of flame and smoke -were
spurting from the rapid flrers, varied
by dense c'ouds as torpedoes were dis
charged against the Strushni.
It wes the end. The stricken vessel fired
a final round, but It was aa If a volley
hud been tired over Its own grave, for It
disappeared beneath the waves, only a
little cloud of steam marking the place '
where it went down.
Bayan Makes Brave Fight.
Satisfied with what they had accomp
lished, the Japanese torpedo boats turned "
and made off at full epead, followed by
the Bayan. To their support enme six of
the enemy's cruisers.' Still the Bayan went
one, seemingly inviting certain destruction. ,
It soon ported Ita helm to bring a broad- '
sldo to bear upon the foa, which was ad
vancing In line of 'battle. It opened on
some of them and turned quickly and stood
Into the hall of the enemy's broadside. Tha
Japanese steamed at a slight angle, enab
ling all their guns, to bear, and projectiles
rained around the Bayan,' raising columna .
of water as they burst, but none Struck
home. '
To the eastward suddenly appeared five
more of our torpedo boats returning to
the harbor under forced draught. Two of
the Japanese cruisers were Immediately de
taolied to cut them off, but the Bayan,
noticing the movement, checkmated It by
turning a hot fire on them. The movement
was effective. The Japanese cruisers slowed. -down
and the torpedo boata- slipped
through into the harbor.
Meantime, In accordance with Vice Ad
miral Makaroff s orders, the battleships
and cruisers In the Inner harbor slipped
anchor. Majestically the Petropavlovsk,
flying the admiral's flag, steamed through
the entrance. On Its appearance the more
formidable enemy , of Japanese cruisers
turned at) fled. At this the admiral slg-
nailed the Bayan to return. Then a stream
of var-colored signal flags fluttered out
"Brave Bayan."
Squadron to He.ee.
By this time the entire Russian squadron
was In the cuter harbor. Besides the Petro
pavlovsk I saw the Peresvet, Poltava,
Pobieda and Sevastopol, the cruisers Novik.
Diana and Askold and the torpedo boats.
The flags announcing the admiral's ap
probation of the Bayan were hauled down
and replaced by another signal. Immedi
ately the torpedo bouts dashed, ahesd and
the heavier ships began to ; spread out.
Seeing the flight of the Japsriese cruisers
the Petropavlovsk opened fire with its
great guns, but the eneme. was out of
range and aoon disappeared,
Our squadron continued the chase.
Anally fading from view. I waited anx-'
lously for Its reappearance and In about
an hour It came In sight. Far beyond It, a
number of points from which smoke arose
announced the presence of the enemy.
Nearer and nearer came the vessels, and
at last I made out behind our squadron
a fleet of fourteen, of which six were bat
tleships and tha remainder armored and
unsrmored rrulsets.
Unable to get within e (Tec live range of
Vice Admiral Makaroff s ships, the enemy
stopped eighteen versta from shore.
Our squadron, with tha Petropavlovsk
leading arrived at tha entrance to the bar
bor and dsew up In line of battle. Another
signal was floated from tha flagship and
the torpedo boats at once proceeded
through the entianoe Into the Inner hr
1m, r. Vice Admiral Makaroff was evidently .
unwilling lo risk his vulnerable craft Las
f
''