The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

v :.'"h f K ^ ' V 4 *'*, '"* 5v"r i v v.. * ;» «» v i. -a £•: •:; v,-u;t ,* W j THE McHENRY PUWDEALE1 IfcRENRT PLAINBBALER OCX McHKNRY, I1 'J 111 ILLDKH& Ewmmc BPEVmE/1 ifn- r* • ^r.-« • % / • . II I, • ̂- •• P&-.V fN: " "* • - ijs/•; IP }iu: $V-v. • ••* r:';,*: , %': m> ks* •S'fr- tfy" ^VJ;. B- % • - ---- «f»-- -- Poster, 6-year-old son of Sheriff Stout at Fort Wayne, Ind., has small pox in the resident portion of the jail. The entire sheriff's force has been ex­ posed and many of the prisoners. Telegrams from Santiago de Cuba report that all the members of the provincial electoral board of scrutiny have been arrested on the charge of falsifying the results of the elections for congressmen. "Prof. Albert, Astrologer," was ar­ rested at Boston charged with using the mai^sT^) defraud by sending iden tlcal horoscopes at $2 each. Thomas Baldorf, a farmer near Wposter, Ohio, his wife and son, were drowned while attempting to ford a swollen stream. B. S. Bonesteel, a lawyer, arrested In Dallas, Tex., under indictment for forgery at TaylorsviUe, HI., escaped from the police by feigning sickness More than 300 Filipinos, members of savage tribes, arrived in St. Louis al­ most naked, having thrown their cloth­ ing through the car windows. Many are suffering from pneumonia. Emil Paur, formerly conductor of the Boston Symphony orchestra and the New York Philharmonic Society, has been elected conductor of the Pitts­ burg orchestra for three years. Dynamite was used to stay the progress of a conflagration that threat­ ened to wipe out the town of East Brady, Pa. Thirty buildings were bnrned; loss $100,000. The insurance may reach $50,000. Albert Fisher, recently convicted of the murder of William Marshall, a bartender, at Toledo, O., was sen­ tenced by Judge Taylor to be electro­ cuted the morning of July 7. Walter Howe, a full-blood Chicka­ saw Indian and ex-member of the In­ dian territory legislature, is dead as the result of an attack made upon him by Monroe Littrell, a noncitizen, who has so far escaped arrest. Louis Jones, 20 years old, shot his stepfather, Carl Yates, with a shot­ gun at Oskaloosa, Iowa. The boy was defending his mother, whom Yates assaulted with a revolver. Yates was wounded in the hip and may die. Gov. Cummins of Iowa is reported improved, and his physicians say that all danger of pneumonia is past. In the Bothin murder trial at San Francisco Prof. Price, chemist, testi­ fied that there was no arsenic in the verdigris from copper kettles used by candy makers. Wallace S. Hall, formerly manager of the Boston office of the American Surety company of New York and treasurer of St Luke's home for con­ valescents, pleaded guilty at Boston to the larceny of $238,000 from those institutions. Mark Abrams, proprietor of a con­ cert hall in Cincinnati, was fatally shot by James Tracey. Afterward Tracey was pursued in the street By Isaac Abrams, known as "Ike Eng­ lish," a brother of the victim, when a street duel was finally stopped by the police arresting Tracey. Prof. John Underner, widely known as an organist and musical director, died in Cleveland, Ohio, after a long Illness. Prof. Underner accompanied Jenny Lind as accompanist during her visit to the United States. • Frenchman who has just arrived at Vera Cruz, Mexico, from Havana, has been arrested at the request of the Cuban consul on the charge of stealing $28,000 at Havana. The Jacob Tome Institute at Port Deposit, Md., has been closed owing to the prevalence of typhoid fever, which has broken out nmnny the hoarding school scholars. Tile historical coach, stndded with gold, silver and pearls, used by Max­ imilian while emperor of Mexico, is on its way to St Louis to be placed with the Mexican exhibits at the ex­ position. Colonel Symons announces that he will accept Governor Odell's appoint­ ment to the New York canal commis­ sion, even at the expense of losing his army salary while serving in the position. J. J. Kennelly, deputy water in­ spector; Otis T. Hare, former county clerk; and Frank Keogh, a printer, were indicted by the Milwaukee grand Jury and arrested in connection with the city and county Investigation. General von Puttkammer, governor of the Cameroones, cables to Berlin that the revolt of the natives has spread to British territory in Nigeria, and that the British custom house at Obokum was attacked on March 10. In the chamber of deputies opposi­ tion by the clerical party practically stopped progress on the religious edu­ cation bill. Eventually, the sitting was adjourned, owing to the lack of • quorum. Evidence Was introduced in the Bot- kin murder trial at San Francisco to Bhow that Mrs. Botkin sought infor­ mation regarding the effects of ar­ senic. Mrs. Alvina Reuff, a trained nurse, identified the address on the box of poisoned candy as in the hand­ writing of Mrs. Botkin. George Collins, doomed to hang at Jefferson City, Mo., for murder, gave testimony at Union, Mo., favorable to his friend, William Rudolph, ac­ cused of the murder of Detective C. J. Schumacher. All pleas for a re­ prieve for Collin 8 were futile. The Crown Prince Frederick Will­ iam attended United States Ambassa­ dor Tower's official reception at Ber­ lin, No credence need be attached to the rumor from Askabad to the effect that the Ameer of Afghanistan has been poisoned. Division No. J of the Missouri su­ preme court has reversed and remand­ ed the case of John H. Schuettler, con­ victed of boodling while-a member of ,the house of delegates in St Louis and sentenced to four years in the nenitentiary. ENACTING LAWS FOR THE Mil Review of the Legislation Be­ fore Both Houses of Congress OUTLINE OF DAILY ROUTINE Special Correspondents Tell of the Business Transacted by Senators and Representatives In 8esslon st the Capital. Tuesday, March 22. Th» senate spent the greater part of the day on the Indian appropriation bill. Tho Bection exempting the position of Indian agency farmer from civil service examination was dropped. Ttio superin­ tendents of Indian schools are to bo al­ lowed to act as Indian agents for the next year, according to the house amend­ ment. which was adopted. Another amendment adopted authorizes the pay­ ment of claims made by Indian tribes on account of the differences between the value of payments made them In greenbacks and coin payments, as re­ quired by treaties. Mr. Gibson Intro­ duced a bll! to repeal the desert land act and the commutation provision of the homestead act. Mr. Proctor introduced a bill makinj appropriation for the es­ tablishment of four military camp grounds near Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Camp Douglas, Wis.; Conewago Valley, Pa., and San Luis. Cal. The bill also appropriates $100,000 for the purchase of 10.000 acres of land for the enlargement of the Chattanooga and Chickamauga national park. The house continued consideration of the postofflce appropriation bill. Mr. But­ ler (Pa.) made an unsuccessful endeavor to have passed an amendment transfer­ ring back to the office of the first assist­ ant postmaster general jurisdiction of the free delivery and rural delivery serv­ ices, which was declared by Mr. Moon (Tenn.) to be an effort to punish Mr. Bristow for discovering frauds In an­ other bureau of the department. An amendment agreed to prohibits the post­ master general from ordering out of postofflcefs telephone companies other than the Bell company. Another amend­ ment prohibits the further renting of canceling machines. The resignation of Charles Dick (Ohio) was read. A reso­ lution was passed fixing March 25. after the disposition of the pension bills, for the ceded portion of the great Sioux res­ ervation. "v The house again put itself on record 'fegainst any investigation of the poM- omce department, an amendment by Mr. Vllliams providing for a relect commit­ tee of five members of the house and three members of the senate, being voted down, 133 to 99. on a point of order. A rirovision appropriating $45,000 for carry- ng malls from San Francisco to the Island of Tahiti was stricken from the appropriation bill. An amendment was passed making it mandatory on the postmaster general to enter into a con­ tract for marine postal service at De­ troit, Mich., for a period of five years, •t not to exceed $4,500 a year. The chair Sustained a point of order by Mr. Mann Sgainst the provision in the bill that rural carriers after July 1, 19M, shall not solicit business or receive orders of any kind during their hours of employment, or carry iiw^BStwridise for hire. The sec­ tion appropriating $5,000 for the salary of the purchasing agent of the postofflce department, thus consolidating the sev­ eral supply divisions of the department, was stricken out of the bill. Friday, March 25. In the Senate Mr. Hansbrough charged that the movement to secure the repeal of the desert land and the timber and stone laws and the commutation clause of the homestead act were due to the efforts of a lobby composed mainly of the holders of lands bought in large tracts from railroad companies. He held that their desire was to increase the demand for their property. Senator Dubois inti­ mated that the pressure for repeal was due to the large holdings of forest lands by the railroads. Mr. Newlands favored modification of the law. The bill mak ing appropriations for the support of the District of Columbia was considered for several hours, but without completing It the Senate took up the private pension calendar, passing a large number of bills. The House passed tne postofflce appro­ priation bill, after a prolonged debate on the paragraph affecting rural letter carriers. This waa stricken out Thurs­ day. but restored under a special order of the committee on rules. It increases salaries to $720 a year and prohibits the soliciting of business or the reception of orders by carriers frorjj any person, firm or corporation, but permits the car­ riers, under certain restrictions, to carry merchandise for hire for and upon the request of patrons residing on the routes. The paragraph appropriating $5,000 for the salary of a purchasing agent for the Postofflce Department was restored and passed. The fortifications appropriation bill was sent to conference, Messrs. Lit- tauer. Marsh and Taylor being appointed conferees on the part of the House. Saturday, March 26. The Senate continued consideration of the District of Columbia appropriations bill. Senators Hoar and McComas spoke in favor of a high-pressure water sys­ tem for Washington. Mr. Foraker gave notice that the services in memory of the late Senator Hanna would be held April 7 instead of March 31. The House began consideration of the sundry civil appropriation bill. Chair- PUN TO BU SecrjJatyTdft Submits Scheme Secure Rail Lines for * jlffe^fhilippineSi AtifHGRtfis ISSUE OF BONDS JAPS GET A SETBACK t-'M"': "WlS " l" : Propoaes to Allow ths Island Govern­ ment to Guarantee an Income of 5 Per Cent or Under on Capital li> vested or to Construct the Roadways. BACK TO THE MINE8. /// Washington dispatch: A new plan for obtaining railroads in the Philip­ pines, authorizing the Philippine gov­ ernment to guarantee an income not exceeding 5 per cent on capital Invest­ ed, or to isstte bonds for 130,000,000 and construct the road itself, was pre­ sented to the house committee on in­ sular affairs by Secretary Taft. He submitted an entirely new section for the hill under consideration. It au­ thorizes the Philippiite government to guarantee 5 per cent interest on bonds or Income on preferred or common stock, as it may decide, the total lia­ bility not to exceed $1,500,000 annual­ ly. It provides that the act shall con­ tain proper rules for ascertaining the capital Invested and the actual net income and for government supervi­ sion, with two or more government di­ rectors on the board. In case the Philippine government cannot secure the construction of the roads desired, it is authorized to is­ sue 5 per cent bonds at not less than par to an amount not exceeding $30,- 000,000 and with the proceeds con­ struct the needed roads. The bonds shall run for not less than ten nor more than forty years. The roads may be leased to responsible lessees for a period not exceeding fifty years. The guarantee provision is made to apply to electric aa well as steam roads. No duty Is to be paid on material im­ ported for the construction and equip­ ment of the roads. COMPLETES MEMBERS' LI8T. The Public--Stiake, old man, I'm with you. Indianapolis News. the consideration of the bill providing for the election of a delegate from the territory of Alaska and making the bill privileged thereafter. Wednesday, March 23. Senator Dick took the oath of office at the opening of the senate session. Con­ sideration of the Indian appropriation bill was resumed. A controversy over Choctaw Indian land leases dating back to President Harrison's administration was revived In the amendment to pay a claim of J50.W0 of J. Hale Sypher, as at­ torney in making the leases. Mr. Pat­ terson moved to amend the amendment by reducing the amount to $25,000, and in this form the original was lost, 25 to 23. The amendment to exempt farmers at Indian agencies from civil service rules was agreed to, and after two minutes' executive session the senate adjourned. The house disposed of only six pages of the postofflce appropriation bill, al­ though It made considerable progress in reading the bill for amendment. The ap­ propriation for inland mall transporta­ tion by star routes was scaled from 18,100.000 to $7,250,000. An amendment by Mr. Tawney of Minnesota fixing the life of a postal car at fifteen years, by pro­ viding that none be retained in the serv­ ice after having been used so long, was agreed to. An unsuccessful fight was made to cut off the appropriations for special mail facilities over trunk lines south of Washington and west of Kan­ sas City. The house accepted an amend­ ment by Mr. Hughes of New Jersey that In future the postofflce department shall make no contracts for supplies made by convict labor. Laying aside the post­ offlce appropriation bill, the, house passed a bill extending to Feb. 28. 1907, the time for completion of a bridge across the Missouri river at Kansas City. Thursday, March 24. The senate passed the Indian appropri­ ation bill. It was amended so as to per­ mit the attendance of Alaska Indians at the Indian school in Salem, Oregon, and to pay for their transportation to and from the school. Other amendments agreed to were as follows: Reapproprl- ating $50,000 originally appropriated for an Indian school at Mandan, N. D., so as to make it available for a school at Bismarck, N. D.; appropriating $3,600 for the payment of $200 each to the eighteen Sioux Indians for the rescue of white women and children from the Santee Sioux. Senator Hopkins' amendment to remove the Indian warehouses from St. Louis and Omaha was defeated. Mr. Ba­ con raised the question of civil service appointments, contending that the south­ ern states practically were disfranchised under a Republican administration. Mr. Gibson spoke in support of the bill for the repeal of the desert land, timber and ptone laws and of the commutation clause of the homestead law. The following billu were passed: Authorizing the an- iuttl collection of statistics regarding births and deaths in registration areas; authorizing tne state of South Dakota to select school and indemnity lands in Plan to End 8trike. Trinidad, Col., dispatch: Delegates of the coal miners' unions of southern Colorado held a convention here to consider a proposition to return to work on the terms in effect when the Strike was inaugurated last fall. man Hemenway of the appropriations committee estimated the expenditure^ for 1905 at $594,802,324, to which must be added the interest on the public debt, estimated at $84,971,830. The revenues for the year are estimated at $704,472,060. Several minor bills were passed by unanimous consent, and special orders were made for the consideration of pen­ sion bills which had the right of way. It was decided that after the sundry civil bill shall have been disposed of the omnibus claims bill will follow as a special order. Mr. Pou of North Caro­ lina attacked the Republican party. He mentioned tne failure to suppress all trusts and said the party had broken its promise in falling to build up the mer­ chant marine and to ratify reciprocity treaties. Mr. Baker of New York spoke in opposition to ship suosidiea. THANK8 JUDQE FOR 8ENTENCE Indiana Murderer Is Grateful When Death Penalty la Pronounced. Terre Haute, Ind., dispatch: Tat* last night the Jury in the trial of Jerry Duggins for the murder of Mrs. Sarah Ramsay and her two children, Burle and Marie, returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first de­ gree against the prisoner. Judge Pi­ ety immediately sentenced Duggins to be hanged by the neck until dead be-, fore sunrise on the morning of July 8 at the Michigan CRy prison. "All i have to say is that I thank you all," was Duggins' reply after the sentence had been pronounced. LOSES LARGE 8UM IN THE MAIL Rain Benefits Wheat. Sallna, Kan., special: The only rain of consequence in months fell throughout central Kansas, thorough­ ly soaking the ground. Wheat was badly in need of moisture. Charge Murder to Minister. Palestine, Texas, dispatch: The Rev. Mr. Kuykendall, who had been conducting a revival here, was mur­ dered in a mysterious manner. The Rev. Early Phillips has been arrested for the crime. British Revenue. Liverpool cablegram: The revenue Is coming in better than expected, the treasury having instructed Its of­ ficials to use every means to swell ths government receipts. Bank 8ends Registered Package to An­ other, but It Doesn't Arrive. Kansas City, Mo., dispatch: A reg­ istered package containing $5,000, mailed by the Traders' National bank of this city Feb. 18 to one of Its cor­ respondents at Great Bend', Kas., is missing and postofflce inspectors are endeavoring to locate it The pack­ age was registered at the local de­ pot office and the clerk has a receipt showing that it was regularly dis­ patched for Great Bend. The post­ master at that city says he has no record of the package. Musician Is Made a Noble. Munich cablegram:' The Bavarian official organ announces that Herr Felix Weingartner, the conductor of the Kaiser concerts here, has been made a noble, with the hereditary title of Edeler von Muenzberg. Low Dividend. London cablegram: The Bank of England has declared a semi-annual dividend of per cent, the first time in seven years. It has been be­ low 10 per cent per annum. Cyclone Wrecks 8chooihouse. Little Rock, Ark., dispatch: In a miniature cyclone near here, Nellie Bogins, aged 13, was killed by a school house blowing down. The teacher and thirteen other children were badly hurt.' Mm Strike Ties Up Car Line. " Huntington, W. Va., dispatch: AO the employes of the Camden Inter­ state street railway have Rtruck. Two hundred men are out. The entire thl^ ty miles of line are idle. Committee Finishes Roster of Ap­ pointments by Congressmsn. Washington dlsatpch: The Mc- Call investigating committee has com­ pleted its preliminary consideration of each case mentioned in the charges against congressmen" re­ port. The impression of the members of the oommittee, as expressed at the time in each instance has been re­ corded by a stenographer. This im­ pression, Chairman McCall states, is not necessarily the ultimate conclu­ sion of the committee. It is under­ stood that many; of the cases have been eliminated from further consid­ eration on the ground that they con­ tain absolutely nothing which might be considered censurable. The invi­ tation to members of congress to pre­ sent their views on their own cases haa resulted in a large number of re­ plies, many of the members declaring themselves satisfied to let their cases stand as recorded in the report. The committee has summoned no wit­ nesses, and has not decided whether any are to be called. P08TAL EMPLOYE'S PAY. Congressmen Block Legialatlon to Ad­ vance Wages of Clerks. Washington dispatch: The pro­ posed increase of pay of postal clerks and mail carriers was ruled out from further consideration on a point of order in the House, the chair holding that it was new legislation. Chis was done after a spirited fight by Repre­ sentative Mann of Chicago and other champions of the carriers. Mr. Mann made one of the points of order, as he had threatened, in his fight against increasing the salary of the carriers and not that of the clerks. To quell the outburst of indignation at defeat of the proposed increase, Mr. Over- street said he would introduce a reso­ lution asking the committee on rules to bring in a special rule enabling the House to consider those parts of the bill that had gone out on the point of order. Judging from the sentiment de­ veloped it is expected the House will vote to increase the salary of rural free delivery carriers to $750. Cotton Factors Protest. Washington dispatch: The pro­ tests of southern cotton manufactur­ ers against interference by Congress in regulating labor contracts was the feature of the hearing on the eight- hour bill before the Senate commit­ tee on education and labor. Jack J. Spalding of Atlanta, Ga., asserted that the South does not need the help of Congress "when that help consists of embarrassment and discouragement to the manufacturers in their efforts to obtain a percentage of the foreign trade, hamstringing them and setting barriers in the way of their progress in the interest of labor agitators and against the interest of the working- man and woman." Calls Good Roada Convention. Springfield, 111., dispatch: A call has been Issued, by Gov." Yates, Secre­ tary of State Rose and heads of otlter state departments for a state good roads convention to be held in Repre­ sentative haii in this city May 3 and 4. Resigns Mayoralty to Carry Mail. Mexico, Mo., dispatch: I. J. Head, young democratic mayor of Centralia, a prosperous town Just west of here, has resigned his office to become a rural mail carrier for Uncle Sam. Children to Check Disease. New Yori dispatch: 111 attempt to check the dissemination germs of dis­ ease of the respiratory organs Presi­ dent Darlington of the board of health has enlisted the aid of half a million school children. Seeks Ammunition Abroad., Belgrade cablegram: An Austrian military attache at Belgrade has se cured details of Servian efforts to ob­ tain heavy supplies of ammunition flnm abroad secretly. i Admiral,Togo's Attempt to Sink Ships at the Entrance of Port Arthur ileets with Failure* S Tien-Tsin, March 28.--It is officially ' - - - here *.^vi . . . . * „ J fi' > ^ i ' announced here that the Russians have proclaimed New-Chwang under martial law. Vladivostok, March 28.---A mine has been discovered under the fortress, with wires leading to a Chinese house in the town. St. Petersburg, March 28.--Vice Ad­ miral Makaroff's report of his recon- aoissance of the Elliot islands contains the startling statement that he cap­ tured a Junk filled with Chinese regu­ lar troops which was being towed by a Japanese gunboat. Chee-Foo, March 28.--Chinese Junks which arrived here last night, report that they passed the Japanese fleet yesterday midway between here and Port Arthur. The Japanese fleet was going in an easterly direction. Cossack Cavslry Sent to Capture or 8lay Japanese. St. Petersburg, March 28.--Two di­ visions of Cossack cavalry have been sent to intercept 8,000 Japanese in­ fantry between Chasan, thirty miles southeast of Anju and Yangtok, la hope of capturing them before they can Join the main' army at Pingyang. Russian outposts near Chasan cap- ing to this fact, and the probable ex haustion of the Japanese, that the lat­ ter will be unable to mak% sistance. • Little Hope of Holding New Chwang,for Czar. New Chwang, March 25.--Feverish activity is shown by the Russians here in their efforts to construct as many batteries as they can before the Jap­ anese descend on the town. But, while there is no such opinion made public, it is certain the czar's men have little or no hope of being able to make a strong resistance, and that the town will fall into the hands of the Mikado's forces is considered al­ most certain. The Ice in the river is rapidly break­ ing, and in a few days it will be pos­ sible for the Japanese to carry out their plan of sending many transports up the river to a landing place, under protection of warships. Japs Fail in Attempt to Close Pisif-t Arthur. Chee-Foo, March 28.--The Japanese fleet made another bold attempt to bottle up the Russian warships In the harbor of Port Arthur and once more failed to accomplish it. ceeded in blowing up the scow of ths ! first of the merchant ships, but found i himself at once in the midst of a hot battle with the Japanese torpedo boats. The quick-firing guns working at close range brought prompt results and within a few minutes the gallant; commander of the little Russian craft lay stretched upon the deck with what will probably prove a mortal wound. Chief Engineer Swyereff and six ma­ rines were killed and a dozen others badly wounded. Having to contend with such odds, the Silni put, about and escaped into the harbor. In the meantime the merchant steamer which had been attacked by the Silni, now in a sinking condition, turned to the right, her commander making a desperate effort to sink her across the entrance to the harbor. She was closely followed br two oth­ ers, $he batteries of the Russian ships and (the forts along the shore playing mercilessly upon them all the while. Riddled with shot and shell, they be­ came unmanageable and were Strand­ ed to the right of the cntranoe. The fourth steamer passed on the other side and was soon sunk. Not until it became clear that the ^fr¥ia:n< ^ vV - \'&ik HahovSo * r M &:<>** XtW jtk J)* JtH, •****} - x-**-- SuvnOo'nf?^ mtoif bwh'ke V i\ *5? OS ?*** { oBiklQlissia D O M A V C B MmNjiAki Jlrcna. vJiere Thrfe <zncf JButgartcin The Balkan peninsula is a great land for warfare such as will be waged with the coming of spring, either between the forces of Turkey and Bulgaria, or Turkey and Macedonia, or all three. The mountains offer excellent ground for guerrilla bands as well as for ar­ tillery skirmishes and dismounted troops. Bulgaria, Greece, and Macedonia number perhaps 10,000,000 souls. Each has subjects in Turkish territory im­ ploring help. Either is too weak to overthrow the rule of the Turk, and they have up to the present refused to combine their efforts. Should such an amalgamation be formed against Tur­ key It might be successful. Heretofore uprisings against Turkey have been conducted chiefly by Mace­ donians who live in Bulgaria. They move about in bands of from fifty and 200, well armed and ready to fight any­ thing Turkish. By swift, sudden de­ scents upon Turkish posts and moving troop, a quick retreat and disappear­ ance, they maintain guerrilla warfare of the most approved pattern. When pursued they split into small parties, secrete their arms, and hop over the border into Bulgaria, where they are safe. Bulgaria has always encouraged these depredations. They fermented the people; and continual fermentation will in time, it is thought, causes the whole land to rise. Now. with Russia's back turned, Turkey is preparing to revenge her- mpj/ Contest self upon not only Macedonia, but Bul­ garia as well. Many Macedonians are brigands pure and simple. These men prtfy on the country at large, but chiefly upon the Turkish inhabitants. All Bulgaria sympathizes with them, so they are safe from molestation from this quarter. They do not call it brig­ andage, but some one has termed it "Turkophobia." Where Bulgaria gets the money that makes a war possible is no longer in doubt. Every one believes that Russia supplied it before the situation in the far east crystallized. It bought modern arms of every description and brought into the country the sustenance for an army in the field. tared a party of Japanese scouts with a Corean guide. They extracted from the guide the statement that 8,000 Jap­ anese Infantry and several field guns had arrived at Yangtok from Gensan after crossing the five mountain passes with the greatest difficulty. The passes were covered with snow, the surface of which was alternately thawed and frozen. Frequently ava­ lanches added to the trials of the pass­ age of Massulion pass, which is 2,700 feet high. The worst difficulty, how­ ever, was met in Aobinlch pass. The Japanese, who marched in four columns, arrived at Yangtok in an ex­ hausted condition. Many of them were on the sick list. Immediately the news reached head­ quarters Gen. Linievitch sent two Cos- sack divisions from Syunchyon and Syukchyon to operate along the road from Pingyang to Yangtek. They oc­ cupied the town of Sountchen and Pouriougan pass, west of town. Three sotnias were sent across the moun­ tains to stop the Japanese advance. The Cossacks expect to intercept and attack the Japanese as they leave Mamounion pass. The country there­ abouts is difficult, and it is hoped, ow- In the fierce fight that followed the Japanese attempt Chief Engineer Swy­ ereff of the Russian torpedo boat Silni and six marines were killed and Lieut. Krinizki, commanding the boat, and twelve men were badly wounded. It is reported that a Russian torpedd- boat was sunk, but it is believed it can be recovered. The Russians claim that the Japanese ..lost two torpedo- boats. At 3 o'clock in the morning four big merchant steamers loaded with stone were sent toward the harbor under guard of eight torpedo-boats, the inten­ tion being to sink them across the narrow mouth of the harbor. As the stone-laden steamers ap­ proached they were discovered by the lookout at the searchlight station and a heavy fire was opened on them by the batteries. The Japanese steamers kept boldly on their course, although struck many times. Finally Admiral Makaroff, fearing that they would succeed in reaching the mouth of the harbor, dispatched a number of torpedo-boats to intercept them.; Lieut. Kriniski with the Silni suo- stcamero could not be guided Into the desired positions did the little crews of Japanese sailors desert them. Only a minute before the steamers sank a. small boat filled with sailors put off from each and in the rain of shells from the Russian guns rowed out toward the Japanese fleet. It is reported that one bast load was picked up by a Russian torpedo boat. The fate of the others is un­ certain. At daybreak the Japanese fleet ap­ peared before Port Arthur and Ad­ miral Makaroff moved out with his fleet to give battle, though keeping all the time within the protection of the shore batteries. At 6 o'clock the big guns of both fleets began a ter­ rific cannonading, but at such long range that little damage was inflicted. Finally the Japanese fleet drew off toward the southwest and disap­ peared. That the plan to block the harbor was not successful is clear from the fact that Admiral Makaroff had no difficulty in taking his fleet out to meet the Japanese. EXERTS AN AWFUL POWER. Exploding Dynamite Is the Most Tre­ mendous Force in Existence. When dynamite explodes it leaves little to mark the spot where it has lain save evidences of its destructlve- nes84 'Two interesting exhibits of its force are-shown in the Stevens Insti­ tute of Technology at Hoboken, N. J. They are steel blocks, six Inches in diameter and four inches thick, show­ ing respectively ihe impression of an oak leaf and the imprint of the head­ line of a western newspaper. It was during a test of high explosives that a cartridge of dynamite was placed on a newspaper covering the block of steel, the object being to see how much dynamite would be required to split the metal. The dynamite was fired without in­ jury to the steel, but to the surprise of the experimenter the print of the newspaper was deeply pressed into the metal. The experiment was re­ peated with the same result, and then was elaborated by trying the charge on an oak leaf placed between the bloek and the dynamite. This tins the stem and the ribs of the leaf were deeply impressed in the metal. "What happens is this," said the ex­ pert in charge. "Unlike most other explosives, dynamite exerts practical­ ly all its crushing force downward and not in a general direction. So in­ conceivably quick and forceful is the discharge of this powder that the im­ print of the ribs of an oak leaf are made before the leaf has time to be blown to atoms. In the case of the newspaper it appears that where printer's ink touches the paper the paper is hardened and more capable of resistance than in other places, and so it is that before the paper is de­ stroyed the printing on it is forced deep into the metal." Interesting. To hear the music of sweet bells, and also to test solid silver, take a solid-silver tablespoon, and tie two cords of equal length to the handle. Hold the end of the cordi to each ear, at the same time closing the ears with the fingers. Then by a motion of the body swing the spoon, letting it strike ths back of the chair or like wooden object You have no idea what sweet music you will hear. Try it, and see.--Woman's Home Compan­ ion. French Fortifications. Not less than ninety-three fortified places of modern type, some of them being nearly impregnable, guard at present the French frontier from Dun­ kirk to Nice. Most of them have been built since the Franco-Prussian war at a cost of $400,000,000. France has to appropriate annually about $1,000,000 for the maintenance of these for­ tresses. Of late there are not a few military men, and among them Gen. Pierron, the former commander of the Fifth army corps, who express grave doubts as to the value of this chain of fortifications in time of war. They point to the fact that it would take about 600,000 men to garrison all the fortresses, including Paris and Lyons, an army which would undoubtedly be of more value in the field. Gen. Pier­ ron predicts a "total collapse" in case of a new war with Germany If the numerous fortifications are to be re­ tained.