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i RUSSIA! DISASTER Battleship and Destroyer Sunk With Great Loss of Life. RUSSIAN BA'ITLKSUIP SUNK. The most serious disustcr to Uus- siaii aru)8 since war was declared oo- 'Mrred on Wednesday. morning at Port Arthur, wlien the lirst-class battleship Votropavlovsk was lost. Vico-Admir- al MakarolT, commander of thn naval forces in the Far Kust, and practical- ^V the entire crow going down with tho vessel, says a St. I'ctersburg des- patch. Of 050 ofllcers and men on board, but 38 wore rescued, all of thctn more or loss severely wounded. Included in the latter is Grand Duke Cyril and the commander of the war- ship. According to the official advices, tho disaster was due to tho warship ac- cidentally striking a mine. Makorolt had gone out with the vessel to the rcacu*' of a cruiser which had been cut off by the Japanese fleet, but finding himself outnumbered, returned to tho roadstead, in entering whfch he struck the mine. A torpedo boat flotilla, supported by Ove Japan&so warships, engaged the Russian cruiser Uayan, making for Port Arthur from the direction of tho Yalu. The Russian cruiser As- kold and tho Petropavlovsk issued from Port Arthur to assist the Bay- an. At 6.45 o'clock the Russians made for the shelter of tho forts, and the accident occurred. Whether or rot a nava! battle occurred is not officially stated. Subsequently the •fapanese were reinforced by their full fleet, and Port Arthur was bombarded for two hours, but no dtuiiage was occasioned. ENTRANCE SEALEfD? Tho London Times prints a des- patch from its correspondent on board its despatch boat Haimun, sent from off the coast of Coroa by means of wireless telegraphy to Wci-Hai-Woi quoting the Japanese official report that tho Petropavlovsk was destroyed by a, torpedo, and adding that it is .believed that tho entrance to Port Arthur is now scaled. TRVINO TO LAND. Rumors were In circulation at St. Petersburg ot a fresh engagement on tho Yalu River, which has resulted favorably to the Russians, but a des- patch recci\cd by the general staff to-n«fl;ht aays that the situation is unchanged, and that all is quiot on the Yalu. Th«ro is nothing conlirmatory of the oft-rcpeatod Htntciiient ot the landing of Japanese troops in tho vicinity of Port Arthur, although tho (oueral opinion in military circles there is that tho latest bombardment was intended as a mask to cover the landing of a Japanese force. It is said that tho Japanese torpedo flotilla attack on Port Arthur April IH was intended to cover a landing from nino transports at Khomang-tai- tse, twenty miles south-west of TaKu- Bhan, with a view of cutting olT tho retreat of tho Port Arthur troops to Siu-Yen and Kaiping, destroying tho railway and preventing troops sta- tioned in Southern Ijiao-Tung elloct- Jng a juncture with the main Russian forces concentrated at Liao-Vang and Mukden. The execution of this oper- ation only failed owing to tho fact that all places on the pcninstila suit- able for the landing of troops aro protected by niine.f, are well forti-iad and strongly guarded. miral AlcxielT, ho exclaimed : "That man brings us nothing but ill-luclc" -At tho same time he declared his in- tention to recall Admiral AlexicfT, but was dissuaded, his councilors urging the bad impression such a step would make in the [>resent cir- cumstances. FAIL TO BLOW UP BRIDGE. Two JapancBo ofllcors, attired as Tibetan lamas, have been arrested for trying to blow up a railway bridge on tho River Uonni, in Man- churia. Tho scene of their attempt- ed exploit was Fouliardi, north of Hurbin. THE JAPANESE EXPLOSIVE. A despatch to tho London Express from Tokio, says that the eflectivo- ness of the Japanese mines was duo to tho explosive invented by Prof. Shimosc, a Japanese. He claims that it is far more pow^ertul than lyddite, melinite, or any other high explosive. ILLNESS AMONG TROOPS. According to the reports of spies, the Japanese troops in Corea have been ravaged b,y various diseases. One of these diseases, called "im.-- bion," is a kind of intermittent tyrihus. Another called "aouda," which has not yet been studied by European doctors, promotes prema- ture senility. Tho patients lose their teeth, become extremely weak, and tho nails are twisted back on tho fingers. Dysentery is very pre- valent among the Russians at Har- bin. FIGURES ON I,ONG WAR. Henry Norman, M.P., who has consistently hold a brief for Russia, writes from St. I'etersburg to Lon- don of the calm confidence of tho heads of Russian official life in re- gard to tho final issues of the war. While they recognize the courage and resources of the Japanese, and tli.i fact that tho war was liegnii a year before their own preparations wore complete, they believe that all-round power will insuro victory. In regard to money, they point out that tho war chest contains 1,600,- 000,000 roubles, which is twice tho gold reserve of the Hank of England. Mr. Norman himself saw ingots of gold. In regard to the condition of the Czar, Mr. Nurnan, who had a long personal intervii^v with him on Thursday, strongly rontradicts the reports ot his physical and i;icntal breakdown. He says that ho hoard from tho Czar's lips tho clearest and most concise statement of tho situa- tion. His Majesty spoko with per- fect frankness, asking very direct questions and requesting equally frank replies. 790 HUS.SIANS PERISHED. It is officially announced at St. Petei-Hburg that 40 officers and 750 men iwrished in tho sinking of the Petropavlovsk. â- It is statod that un American cn- Srincer arrived on Saturday and start- ed for I'ort Arthur to direct tho op- erations of three submarines which were forwarded in Sfarch on ordora from Admiral MakarolT. POBIEDA HADLY DAMAGED. Thn Now-Chwung correspondent of tho Lnrnlon Daily Mail telegraphs that h« interviewed an officer who Was on a train that passed through Taihichiau. carrying men wounded on tho I'l'.tropavlovsk to Ilnrbin. Ho said that during the running action the battleship i'obioda was badly damaged by a torpedo. Thcro was a large hols mada in hor bows at the watorline, and three of hor compart- rarnts filled. Tho officer claimed that one .larNinRSO torpedo-boat destroyer Was sunk, llefore tho Petropavlovsk went down there were two distinct ox- ploeinns, tJia first ono bi'ing a mine and (ho second the buttloship's maga- llnes. •THAT MAN AUOXIRFF." On tho evo of tim disaster to the battleship Petropavlovsk it is â- tntcd that th« Caar roonivod a tol- egraai from Admirnl MakarofT, stat- ing that ho was abovit to B^ht a dnriKi\o engHg«ment with the enemy. A ftory is currant awvt|( tho ChHt'a antonrajro, that iwen his Majesty heard of tho dlsast«r he wopt. Afterwards, speaking of Ad- PORT ARTHUR DEMORALIZED. A despatch to tho London Express from New-Chwang says that tho naval disaster on Wednesday has com.plotely demoralized tho defenders of I'ort Arthur. Tho confidence in- spired by Admirnl MakarolT has en- tirely evaporated. Tho gloomiest forebodings aro expressed regarding the fate of tho stronghold in view of tho possibility of Admiraf Togo following up his advantage with an- other attack. Tho Chefoo corresi>ondont of tho Express says that a Chinese vessel which has just arrived there reports that there is now no trace of tho Japanese outside of Port Arthur. Other reports confirm tho impres- sion that Admiral Togo has gono to his base to refit, as some of tho vessels must have sulTorod damage. LAND BAITLE. A despatch to tho London Stan- dard from at. I'etersburg says it is rumored that Admiral Togo's fleet escorted a groat niunber of trans- ports to a point west of the Valu Rivor. Tho troops began to disem- bark without detecting a force of liuEsian troops, who were concealed on shore. When 12,000 had disem- barked tho Russians attacked them, and drove Ihcm back to their ships, inflicting heavy losses in mon and guns. ATTACK ON FORT. Tho London Timos prints a despatch dated "OlT Port Arthur," and sont by wiroless telegraph to Wol-Hoi-Wei, which says that Japanese torpedo boats attacked I'ort Arthur early Wednesday morning. The bombard- niont began at 0.45 o'clock in tho morning. In another despatch the correspond- ent 8a.v»â€" "At 4.ao this morning, in thn dim light and amid rain squalls. I saw a s(iuadron of warships in line ahead steering a course similar to our own. As the light Incroased it proved to be a Jat>aneHo wiuadron of «ix battleships followed by a flrst- cliuw eruiacr squadron. Six ships wore In tho line alwad, tho third and fourth vpusflls boing tho Kaauga and Nissbin, which were making their first apiwaranco in tho fleet. The Mitska was loading. They wore shaping their course for Port Arthur. Forty miles distant from the port tho battleships drew out at full speed, and tho Kasu- ga and Nisshin left the cruisers and joined the battleships, the other crui- sers remaining behind. Tho interval between them was maintained by tho destroyer division and a despatch boat. As wo nearod Port Arthur we found two first-clase and four second- class cruisers ali-cady there. This sr^uadron had covered the torpedo boat attacls, which was made in tho small hours of the m.>rning. "Tho battleships now hoisted their fighting flags and steamed in tormor- tion, the Mikasa leading and tho new ships bringing up tho rear to witliin six miles of Port Arthur's frowning promontory. "At 10.20 tho shore batteries open- ed, but their fire was only desulotory, and it seemed as though Admiral To- go was making a demonstration ra- ther than a bombardment. Three times his fighting squadron circled around in front of tho enemy's posi- tion, drawing a desulotory fire, and at noon Admiral Togo withdrew his battleships to tho south. It was in- spiring to see how the powerful squadron of fighting machines mano- euvrud. The battleships went boldly in, while the less protected vessels manoeuvred with them, conforming to their evolutions at u safer distance. Later, although I went closer to Port Arthur than I had ever been before, I saw no sign of any Russian shipping. Tho shells which tel! nearest to us exploded On impact with tho water. The Japanese manoeuvring was at eighteen knots an hour. So far as I could see, they suffered no damage. Tho expenditure of ammunition was small. It was a magnificent force, tho most powerful individual fleet, indeed, which ever sailed the Eastern seas. Including tho torpedo craft, thero wore forty Japanese vessels." JAPS WIN SKIRMISHES. Details of the first skirmish on the Yalu River, which occurred last Sun- day, arrived at "Tokio on Wednesday in the official report of Admiral Hos- oga. The text of the report follows: "In accordance with my instruc- tions, the captain of tho cruiser Kas- aga directed Lieut. Yamaguchi, with five men, to scout in the mouth of tho Yalu. They accomplished their work and safely returned to the Kasaga on Monday. Thc.v entered tho river in a Corcan junk, and at 2 o'clock Sun- day discovered a party of Russians leaving the right han't of tho river near Toag Toryuho iu a junk. Lieut. Yamaguchi attacked them, a patrol of mounted Japanese troops on tho loft bank of the river joining in the attaclc. In tb\ meantime another large Russian Julk joined tho first ono and opened firo on the Japanese. Tho Russians retired and reached the bank. They then fled inland. Tho exchange of fire lasted ono hour and twenty minutes. The enemy had nino killed and two injured We had no casualties." JAPS SENT IN MINES. It has been learned from Japanese sources at Chefoo that tho attack on the Russian Port Arthur fleet Was planned and p»it into effect in tho following manner. "At daylight the Japanese torpedo boats made a demonstration before tho port, and at the same time laid mines acro.ss tho outer entrance to tho harbor. They then retired and joined the main squadron. The squadron then advanced and as it drew near tho Ru.ssinn ships wore seen coming out. Tho battleship Petropavlovsk struck one ot the mines laid by a Japanese torpedo boat and was destroyed." 28 OFFICERS LOST. Twenty-eight Russian oflficors were lost on board ot the Petropavlovsk, including Capt.V asilief, belonging to tho ship; Admiral MakarolT, fourteen members of his staff, including Roar- Admiral Molas, the chief of staff, and Lieut, von. Kobe, tho aide-de-camp of Grand Dviko Cyril. That Verestchagic (tho celebrated painter of battle scenes) was among thoso lost is now ofincially known. BADLY CRIPPLED. U'hcro are now only two undam- aged Russian battleships, tho I'ore- uviot and tho Sevastopol, in tho harbor at Port Arthur, but some of tho damaged vessels havo been re- paired, although their exact number and condition are not known. The other elTcctives aro th(! armored cruiser Uayan, tho firat-cla.ss cruisers Askotd and Diana, tho -socoml-class cruiser Novik, tho torpedo gunboats Vsadnik and (ia.v'laiuak. the gun- boats (ireuiiashchi, Olvunsi, Oiliakis and Hobr, tho cruisers D.iidjid, Raz- boynik and Zabiabak, and the tor- pedo-boat destroyers, whose "exact number is not known. Altogether ton Rus.iinn vessels have been damaged or lost since the outbreak ot the war. Tho disaster of Wednesday ends tho hope that tho Ill-fated Port .Arthur squadron would bo ablo to bocomo an aggressive factor In the operations before it is rointorced by tho arrival of the Baltic fleet. Until then the aim of the Russians will bo to hold I'ort Arthur and conserve Ihe remaining ships within the pro- tection of its guns. Practically tho last hope of suc- cesses at sea died with Admiral Ma- karofT, and* tho Riisslan people now look to the artny. in which they have implicit confidence, to retrieve on land tho reverses and dislicss Bufforod on the water. THE mm MARKETS REPORTS PROM THE MJADHIO XILADE C£NTBBS. Prices of Cattle, Grain, Cheese, and Other Dairy Produce »t Home and Abroad. Toronto, April 19.â€" Wheatâ€" No. 2 white and red Winter quoted at 92 to 93c low freights. Spring wheat is nominal at 87c east, and goose at 81 to 82c east. Manitoba wheat steady, with No. 1 Northern selling at 99c to $1 at Georgian Bay ports; No. 2 Northern at 96, and No. 3 Northern at 92c. No. 1 hard is nominal at (1.01. Grinding in transit prices are 6c above those quoted. Oats â€" No. 2 white quoted at 31c north and west, and 314c low freights. No. 1 white quoted at 32c east, and No. 2 at 31 Jc east. No. 2 offered- at 33ic on track, Toronto. Barley â€" No. 2 offered at 44c middle freights; No. 3 extra at 43c, and No. 3 at 41c middle freights. Peas â€" The market is unchanged, with No. 2 quoted at 65 to 66c out- side, and choice milling lots at 68 to 70c. Corn â€" No. 3 American yellow quot- ed at ."jic on track Toronto^ No. 3 mixed at 53c. Canadian corn is nom- inal at 38ic west for yellow, and 38c for mixed. Ryeâ€" No. 2 quoted at 59 to 60c east and west. Buckwheat â€" No. 2 quoted at 50 to 51c middle freights. Flour â€" Ninety per cent, patents are unchanged; buyei-s at $3.55 middle freights in buyers' sac^s for export. Straight roll'^rs of special brand3 for domestic tr.ido quoted at $4.30 to $4.50 in bblp. Manitoba flour un- changed. No. 1 patents, $5.30, No. 2 patents, ^5, and strong bakers', $4.90 on track, Toronto. Millfecd â€" Br.an is steady at $17 to $17.50. and .shorts at $18.50 here. At outside points bran is quoted at $16.50, and shorts at $17.50. Mani- toba bran, in sacks,- $20, and shorts at $21 here. COUNPRY PRODUCE. Apples â€" Prices steady at $2 to $2.- 50 per bbl. for tho best stock. Dried apples â€" Prices are steady at 3 to 3ic per lb. Evaporated apples, 6 to 6ic per lb. Beans â€" Prime beans are quoted at $1.50 to $1.60, and hand-picked at $1.65 to $1.70. Hops â€" The market is unchanged at 20 to !}2c. according to quality. Honey â€" -The raarljet is guiet at 6 to 7c per lb. Combs quoted at $1.50 to $1.75. Ha.vâ€" No. 1 timothy guoted at $9.- 50 a ton here. Straw â€" Prices unchanged at $5.50 on track here. Mal)le syrup â€" The market Is quiet at $1 per Imperial pallon. Potatoes â€" Choice cars are quoted at 85 to 90c per hag on track here, and inferior quality at 7/>c per bag. Poultry â€" Tho ni,arket is steady, with limited ofTcrings. Chickens. 12 to 13c per lt>.: turkeys aro quoted at 15 to 16c. per lb. for fresh killed. THE DAIRY MARKETS. Butterâ€" Finest l-tt>. rolls, 164 to 17c; choico, large rolls and selected dairy tubs, 15 to I6c: medium and low grades, 12 to 14c; creamery prints, 20J to 22c; solids, 19 to 20c. I'^ggsâ€" Cttso lots quoted at 14c per do7.en. Cheese â€" Finest September's 10} to lie; late Fall and seconds, 9i to lOic HOG PRODUCTS. Dressed hogs are unchanged, with oflorings fair. Car lots quoted at. $0 delivered here. Cured meats are in good demand at unchanged prices. We quote: â€" Bocon, long clear, 8 to 8Jc per lb., in case lotis. Moss pork, $16.50 to $17; do short cut, $18.50. Smoked meati*â€" Hams, light to medium, 1 24c; do, heavy, 12c; rolls, 10c; shoulders, 93c; backs, 13i to 14c; breakfast bacon, 13 to ISJc. Lardâ€" Tiorces, 7} to 8c; tubs, SJc; pails, 8Jc; compound, 7i to 8ic. BUSINE}«S AT MONTRP/AL. Montreal, April 13 â€" There being no sales of oats reported to-da.v, prices can be quoted nominally at 37 to 37ic for No. 2 white, and at SO.J to 36|c tor No. 3 [lor bush ex store; wo quoto peas, 72 to 725c afloat May; No. 2 barley, 52c; No. 2 extra barle,v, 51c; No. 2 oats, ;i7c; and No. 8 oots, !i6c. Floui^â€" Manitoba spring wheat patents, 85.40; Manitoba strong biikors", $5.10; winter wheat patents, $5.10 to $5.25; straight roll- ers, $4.85 to $5; straight rollers, in bags, $2.30 to $2.35. Itollod oat.sâ€" $2.32} to $2.35 per bag; in cornmeal a fair trade is passing, at $1.40 to $1.50 per bag. I'Yedâ€" Manitoba bran in bags, $20; shorts, $21 per ton; Ontario bran in bulk, $19.50 to $20; shorts, $20.50 to $21; and mouillie, $24 to $26 per ton. Provisions â€" Heavy Canadian short cut pork. §18 to $19; light short cut. $16 to 1S17.- 50; American short cut clear, $17 to $17.50; American tat backs, $19.50; compound lard, 7} to 8c; Canadian lard, 81 to ^*^: kettle rcndort>d, 8 J to 9ic; hams, 11 to 18c; bucon, 13 J to 14c; fresh killed abattoir hogs. $7 to $7.25;, country riressod hogs. $7; live hogs, $5 to $5.i:i. E<Tg9_New laid, 15c. Butter â€" Winter creamery, 19 to 19ic; new mode. 2(i«; full grass Fall makes, 184 to 21 }c: Western dairy. 1,S to 15Jr: rolls, I.")} to IRc; cream- ery. 18 to 18J--. Chccsoâ€" Ontario, 0| to lOc; Townahipa, 94 to lOo UNITED STATES MARKETS. Buffalo, April 19.â€" Flourâ€" Steady. Wheat â€" Spiring steady; No. 1 North- ern, $1.10; Winter, No. 2 red. Now York State, $1.00 asked. Corn- Strong; No. 2 yellow, 57c; No. 2 com, 534c. Oats â€" Stronger; No. 3 white, 45ic; No. 2 mixed, 414c, Bar- leyâ€"Western, 51 to 62c. Ryeâ€" No. 1, on track, oftcred at 81c. Minneapolis, April 19.â€" Wheat â€" May 98Jc. July 93{ to 94c, September 84Jc; on track. No. 1 hard, 96ic; No. 1 Northern, 954c; No. 2 Northern, 92JC. Flourâ€" First patents $5.05 to $5.15; second patents, $4.95 to $5.- 05; first clears, $3.60; second clears, $2.45 to $2.55. Branâ€" In bulk, $14.- 50 to $14.75. LIVE STOCK MARKETS. 'Poronto, April 19. â€" Deliveries of stock at the city cattle market are fairly heavy. Business on the whole is good, though trading was a little slow, especially in the export trade. Tho general quality of the winter fed cattle is very good, and tho market on the whole is steady to firm for the best butchers cattle. Export â€" The export trade is still slow, with prices only steady around $4.75 to $4.80. Though cables are a little firmer, the condi- tions are not considered quite good enough to warrant any higher prices in the local market, in view of the present state of the Chicago market. . Several of the local firms in fact are still buying largely from Chicago. Butchers â€" Thero are some very fino- lots ot winter fed cattle coming in tor the local butcher trade, and these cattle ai'c fetching fair prices, though the local retail trade is said to be unusually dull at the present time. Choice handy weight butch- ers aro worth from. $4.25 to $4.50 in the market to-duy. Medium and ordinary butchers' arc quoted at from $3.75 to $4. Good butchers' cows, at $3.50. Stockers and Feeders â€" ^There is a good market for all kinds of stock- ers and feeders. Prices have a range from $3 to $4.40. Sheep and Lambs â€" ^There was a light run and everything sold quick. Prospects aro steady for grain-fed yearling lambs, spring lambs, and good veal calves. Bob calves are not wanted and are unsaleable. Heavy ewes are quoted at $4 to $4.25, steady; light ewes, $4.25 to $4.60; bucks. $3.25 to $3.75; grain- fed lambs, $5.50 to $6.12i; spring lambs, $2.50 to $5.50 each; calves, $2 to $10 each and $3.50 to $5.50 per cwt. ! Hogs â€" The market is still steady at former quotations. Selects at $4.75 and heavy at $4.50. SEOUL PALACE BURNED. Corean Emperor and Suite Made Their Escape. A London despatch says: A cable received here says, that the Imperial Palace at Seoul, Corea, was com- pletely destroyed by firo on Thursday night. Onl.v the ruins of tho palace remain. The Emperor and his suite succeeded in cscai>iug to a bcarby re- fuge. Tho Japanese Legation has received the following account of the lire: â€" "Tho fire broke out at 10 o'clock on the evening ot April 14. With the exception ot the Kiuseikcn Building, which is in tho European stylo, all the other palaco buildings were con- sumed, 'l"he Emperor took refuge in tho library of the Kiuosoken Building. It is believed that the fire originatod in tho heating apparatus ot the Kauvoi Palace, which was undergoing repair. The jiapanesc soldiers took a most prominent part in guarding the per- son of the Emperor, as well as in ex- tinguishing tho fire, and this produc- ed an excellent fooling among the court circles. Our troops also did their best to guard tho foreign lega- tions, and the foreign rcprosentativcs afterwards expressed to us their sin- cere thanks." Other reports say that all the ar-. chives, treasures and jewels were de- stroyed. THE SCOURGE OF CANCER. Most Prevalent Malady in tho United States. A New York despatch says :â€" Lead- ing surgeons and physicians ot New York on Tiicsday coufirmod the statement made by Dr. Roswell Park of Buffalo, ia Berlin on Monday night, that cancer is the mo.st pre- valent disease in the United States, and that the State of New York is well within the "cancer belt." Thoy doclaicd that Ihe dreadful malady is rapidly increasing all over the civilizwl world and that they nro still utterly in the dark as to its cau.so or its cure. In the last 24 years, as Rhov>-u by statistics, it has doubled in provaloncy in tho United Stales and is to-day claiming more victims than consumption. Tho sur- geon's knife is the only reniody ac- cepted by the most skillful membcra of tho profoHsion, and that treat- ment must be applied very early to insuro against roturn of tho di,<;onso in a more serious form. Several prominent surgeons snid that tho di.sea.<K> wa.s a much moi-c serious question thon the average porEon realized, and made doubly so 1h>- Cause of the fact that it may at- tack any iwrson without wun-^ng, and, once developed physicians arc powerless to coi* with it undeP- â- tanditigly.