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RQ-U. LAST EDITION. 4:30 O'CLOCK. VOIj. Mil. NO. 57. BOCK ISLAND, LLIi.f THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1903. PBICE TWO CENTS. ROCK ISIjAMjB A S?A WRECK Limited on the B. & 0. Thrown From Rails. STRIKES LUMBER PILE Victims are Mainly Negroes and Foreigners. Corncllsville, Pa., Dee. 24. As a re mit of last night's wreck on the Fal tinmre & Ohio, near Dawson, 00 dead are in temporary morgues in this city. It is believed several more -will be aiided to this list before the day is over. Fort v-nine have been identified. and 11 designated as unknown. Most of the latter are foreigners, principal ly Italians. With a few exceptions the dead were scalded to death. I'.ut few were mangled. In the hospitals three of the injured expired, and five others are in a critical condition. The lead and injured are from Pennsyl vania. West Virginia and Maryland. Struck I'll- of Lanilter. Coi.nellsvil'e. Pa., Dee. 24. With n terrible crash .ind a grinding noise the Duqucsne limited. the fastest through passenger train from Pitts burg to New York oil the Haltimcro and Ohio, ploughed into a pile of lum f'cr at Laurel linn, two miles west of h.nvsnn, at 7:4. p. m.. and. it is iisti mated that fully forty lives were lost and thirty persons were injured. Th train left Pittsburg a few min utes late, in charge of Fng'.noor Will iam Thornloy. of Coiiucllsville. When approaching I-utrel Hun. which is a particularly tine piece of roadbed, .the train was rur.iiing at a high raie of Tpepd. Comet a Terrific Crash. Suddenly the passengers were thrown from their seats by the lightning-like application of the air brakes and a moment later there was a ter rific crash. The train was made up of two baggage, two-day coaches, one f-leoper. and one dining car. and waft carrying at the time, at the lowest es timate. l."0 passengers. The train ploughed along for a considerable dis tance, and. the cars were torn to pieces, passengers jumping, screaming, falling from the wreck as it tore along. Sud denly the engine swerved to the left, and the machos plunged down over the embankment to the edge of the Youghiogheny river. Then There Va a Wild Sce.ie. The minute the cars stopped rolling there was a wild scene. Many were pinioned beneath the wreckage, and the si-reams and cries that r.nt the air were lvoiid description. Many of the injured, in their mad excitement, plunged into the river. Others, pin ioned beneath the "heavy timbers, pleaded in agonized, tones for release. So torriuc was the force of the wreck that nearly every passenger suffered a moments unconsciousness, and many of the able-bodied men were unable to assistant in helping the injured from the wreck on account of having faint ed. Kant Mail Wrecked. .Mexico, Mo.. Dec. Jl.-Tho Wabash fast mail collide:! with a cattle train between Mexico and Menton City early today. Kngineer Wit 1 en. of the freight, is believed to be under the wreck. The fireman of the freight, head brakeman and two tramps were injured. No pas sengers were hurt. The engmes "w ere demolished. Crash on Mlwcmii Pad He. Atchison. Kans.. I lee. 24. The Mis souri Pacific southbound passenger ran into an open switch at Kverest early today and collided with a freight standing on a siding. The mail and baggage car and smoker were damag ed. Two of the crew and two passen gers were hurt, none dangerously. The injured: Cornelius Young, Moone, Iowa; Ulanche Jackson, l.ecompton. Kans.; .loseph Donley, fireman, and Henry Schibcl. engineer. Other pas sengers escaped with a severe shaking' up. Chicago Bandits' Delay Trials Chicago. Dec. 24. Van Dine, Xieder meier.and. lloeski. three of the car barn bandits, are not so desperate as they were when arrested and are pre paring to delay their trials, on the grotesque ground they fear "lynch law." Attorney Isadore Plotke has made a long affidavit for his client, Emil Hoeski, which will be used in an appli Feasibility of Escape Submarine Newport. II. I., Dee. 24. An impor tant test made with one of the sul marine torpedo boats a few days ago sets at rest the idea that it would be impossible for the crew of a submar ine boat to escape if anything' should happen to the boat while submerged. It is suggested that the men could es cape through the torpedo tube at the bow of the boat, but many naval offi cers thought this could not be accom plished without injury. It was de cided to have a test along this line STATE PROPERTY VALUES INCREASE Illinois Has $.;i,3HO,7 IK More to Tax This Year Than 4 Last. Springfield, 111.. Hoc. 2 4. After a tessioii of Jihi days the state board of equalization has adjourned. The re ports of the board show a big increase in the value of all property, amounting to $r:5,oSO,74S. The total assessed, or one-tifth, value of all proiverty in the state is $l,OS2.f72,lS:;. against $1,00, 2l2,lS:i last year. The capital stock of corporations is tiie only class of prop erty showing a decrease. This is less because higher values had been placed on the tangible property of the Cook county and state corporations by the boards of review and because of the stock and hind losses of Union Trac tion company, which is now in the namls of courts. The net -apitaI stock assessment on corporations is fixed at $l.".7tii.SS4, or about .0,0t Kl.ot K less than last year, llailroads are increased nearly ,$.'.(HX, 0o. The total assessed value of rail roads is ?NS.::4n.224. against $S.".!10.m2 in l'.M2. The elevated railroads of Chi cago are assessed on capital stock a total of .,?2.:;4.s.tks;!. a loss of $:;o-.:;7!. The total assessment on railroad prop erty is therefore :'.m .CSS.f t7. against SS.270,14 list year. Throughout the state there has been a general increase in the values of personal property and real estate. DREYFUSS CASE TO BE REOPENED Commission Kecomniends Taking Up the Famons Trial Again. Paris. Dec. 24. The Drcyfuss com mission today unanimously recom mended the revision of the case by the criminal branch of l;n- court of cessation. The court will assemble next month in hear the case. GOES OVER UNTIL MARCH Trial of the Persons Inilicted for the Mur der of Miss Ciilleapie at ICisinpr Nun, Ind. Rising Sun. I ml.. Dec. 2 4. Judge Downey, of the circuit court, heard the hab'vis corpus ease of James Gillespie, Mrs. P.elle Seward and Mr. and Mrs. Myron P.arbour. held Jointly for t lie murder of Miss Elizabeth Gillespie. The bonds of the women were re newed, and Myron Harbour, also, an accessory, was also released on bond, but his bail was double that of thr women .$20,000. All the officials of t'he First Nationtil bank weiif on Har bours lKnd, and the; arc guaranteed by a blank check from Dr. Thad a. Kearny, of Cincinnati. James Gillespie was refused bail. Captain Coles and his daughter Cyn thiana appeared for the prisoners. Prosecutor Wull on and the McMullen brothers appeared for the state. The two men were brought out of the jail together .strongly guarded. Mrs. Har bour siient the night with Mrs. Seward, and they had not been accessible to anybody except counsel since rhey were released on i10.t;0 each. They were accompanied in a closed carriage by Dr. William Gillespie. Hail for the two women was reduced to $7,r0O each. Court, adjourned to the first Monday in March, when fhe defense said no change of venue would be asked. De fense and prosecution compromised be fore court convened on holding Janice Gillespie and releasing the others. McClellan Taken Oath. New York. Dec. , 24. Mayor-elect George IS. McClellan took the oath of otlice todav. Bravado Gone: to Last Moment cation for delay. Hoeski does not say anything about his defense that Nie dermeier hypnotized him. but claims the public mind has become so inflam ed with stories of.-outlawry that a trial at the present time would surely result in conviction, tantamount Jo "lynch law." The other defendants are said to be ready to make similar motions. From a Boat is Demonstrated j ami two large dogs were secured as subjects. The Holland boat Shark was chosen for the tests. After being submerged one of the dogs was plac ed in 1he torpedo tube and a wooden wad placed behind the animal and the whole expelled in the same manner as a torpeilo. Many thought the force of the compressed air charge 'would kill the animal, but it came to the surface and swam around as if noth ing had happened. The other dog was then experimented on and it like wise came to the surface uninjured. NO HOPEFORCHINA That Is the Opinion of as Good a Judge as Wu Tung Fang. HE DESPAIRS OF HIS COUNTRY Helpless in a Situation Where SIio Should lie Somewhat Potential us a Factor. Peking. Dec. 21. The two members of the diplomatic corps at the Chinese capital whose opinions regarding the present critical condition of affairs in the Par Cast are probably most val uable are Japanese Minister L'nchida and Sir Ernest Mason Satowa. who for three years has represented the Hritish government at Teking. It is no secret that loth see only a faint prospect of waTbeinga verted. M inister Satowa was connected with the Hritish diplomatic service in Japan for a quarter of a century. He is one of the greatest liv ing authorities on Japanese history and literature, and is in constant com munication with the foremost states men of Japan. Il Says Japan Will Fislit. lie is quoted as saying th.H any one who imagines that Japan will not tight for what she conceives to be her great est interests does not know the Japan ese people. Minister l'nchida is an ad herent of the "Young Japan party." and has always advocated war. if nec essary to secure the evacuation of Manchuria. Sir Hobert Hart, director of Chinese imperial maritime customs, says that he fears China will be the chief sufferer of the war; should it oc cur, for she might be ground between the two millstone. Uermlrnrr of Ah Sin. The decadence of the Chinese gov ernment has' never been more com pletely displayed than in these limes, when her ministers go from legation to legation imploring other govern ments to help China, without any thought of China helping herself. There is absolutely no strong man among the ruling ministers no Prince Chung, Marquis Tseng or Li Chang all are venerable conservatives like Prince Ching. Wu Tung Pang, the well-known ex-minister to the 1'nited States, tells- his official friends that he despairs of China's future. "I see no hope." he says, "for China. The partition of the empire sooner or ltaer is inevitable." Wu Tnnjt Wants to Hrsign. lie is disgusted with official life at Peking, ami proposes to resign his po sition at the lirst opportunity. His experience is that of the majority of the enlightened Chinese officials. lie did good work in negotiating the com mercial treaties recently sigiunl. and was summoned to Peking and given the vice presidency of the board of commerce. The president of this im portant hoard is Prince Tsai-Chcn. a youth whose only qualification is the fact that he took a hurried trip around the world when he represented China at the coronation of King Edward. Vet Ife Ha a Veto on Wu. Yet he vetoes mot of the practical proposals made by the other mem bers of the board. The greatest dis couragement prevails among the pro vincial officials who come to Peking. They all declare that they never be fore found the government so lacking in able mora. ROWDIES ATTACK A PREACHER Wlio Kc:im Tlieir Fire, mid Ouile a I'usiilailf of Cold I. cad Is K.xclianKcd, Pueblo. Colo.. Dec. 24. A number of rowdies tried to break into the home of Hev. J. X. Sheridan, of the Congre gational church at Hessemer, the steel v.orks' suburb, near here, and when warned away opened fire. Hey. Sheri dan, who had armed himself In anti cipation of an attack, returned the fire and a number of shots were exchanged. X'o one was hit and the rowdies soon withdrew. Sheridan has been waging a severe war on, a certain tougli cle ment and has shown much boldness in his efforts. The raid is attributed to members' of this gang. Xo arrests have been made. MrAdoo on M('lellanit .Stan". Xew York, Dec. 24. Mayor-Elect McClellan has announced the appoint ments of ex-Assistant Secretary of tlit? Xavy William McAdo as police com missioner, Maurice Featherstone as dock commissioner and John C. Ilertle and William Harman Black as com missioners of accounts.. USSIfl IS TO COMPLY Yielding to Points Japan NEWS FROM BERLIN Rumored England In tervened With Good Effect. Merlin. Dec. :.'4. I n t i ma t ion has reached the Chinese legation here that Uiissia will concede Japan's request. Inquiries as to particulars of this in timatit n and whether it came from Tokio or St. Petersburg' brought out nothing more than that a peaceful so lution is now highly probable. The Hritish go eminent, it is understood from another source, ha- represented to the car that (ireat l'.ritain deems Japan's demands just ami earnestly requests, that Kiissia will grant them. KuhhIuii Market Jtiiit. St. Petersburg. Dec. :.' I. Hopeful ness ill official circles of a pacific set tlement of the llusso-.l a pa ncse dispute was reflected todav on the bourse, which has largelv recovered from the nervousness which has prevailed for several days. STEBBINS HELD NOT GUILTY OF CRIME Jury Takes View That Scott Was Killed By Ac cident. Chicago. Dec. -t.- Walter I.. Steb-hin-. o'i trial for maiisl:, itght cr in con nection with the ceatl, of Walier A. Scott, was f . 1 1 ii 1 1 inuoc-n.t by the jury todav. Stebbins is a civil engineer and Scott was president of the Illinois Wire company. The men wen- office nighbors and had been u good terms until a t titling disagreement arose over some p!;:ns f r the wire mill. The defence was that Stebbins accidental ly killed Scott during a quarrel. WINDOW GLASS TRUST SECURES A CHARTER Incorporated in New .Jersey With Capital Stock of .$1, OOO.OOO. Pitt-burg-, lice. 'Jt. -A charter was granted today in New Jersey to the Man u fact lirers" Window (Ilass com pany, the proposed combination of the- principal interests in the country. The capital stock is . 1 .()(( I.OUO. The company has not vet been perfected, but the promoters .n re confident the plan will be successful. DID JOB AFTER THE CHICAGO METHOD Ilobbcrs Murder Servian Statesman and Family in Their Home. Melgrudc. Servia. Dec. :Jf. Former State Counselor Davidovics, the oldest and richest man in Ilclgrade. and his vvife and daughter were murdered to day by. three men who attempted to rob hj hj)sc. Two servants were fa tally wocyrAxl and others dangeroiisly injiiredJ.tjtytf. of the murderers was captured. HEARSE DRIVERS ARMED BII3SfJf(jlLE APPEARS Chicag.V"l)cc. rll.-Today. for tlje first time in a week, hearses carried the dead to the cemeteries in and around Chicago. The hearses were driven by non-union drivers. Although the police were orderil to attend fu nerals if necessary ami non-union dri vers went armed in ji nt ici pat ion of imposition from union' pickets, no dis order occurred. s BRYAN REACHES BERLIN: GREETED BY abIMETALIST Merlin. Dec. 24. William J. P.ryan arrived here today from St. Peters buig. He was met by Dr. Otto Ahr endt, member of the reichstag and one of the principal advocates of bi metallism in (Jerinatiy. Bryan goes to Copenhagen tonight and returns here Saturdav. New York Electrician Way to .New York. Dec. 24. Following the announcement in London a few days ago that an English experimenter found that his vacuum tube emitted light for days after it had been dis connected from his battery, V. .1. Hammer, an electrical engineering ex pert, of this city, declared last night that he had obtained sounds from a vacuum tube in much the same way. In his laboratory, in the presence of former Assistant Attornev (leneral LETTER GIVEN OUT Gen. Wood Writes Concerning Charges Against Him. ASKS TO HAVE THEM REFERRED Communication Written Last Sum mer Has Reen Sup pressed. Washington. Dec. 21. The war de partment has made putiiic the follow ing letter, dated Manila, July 2S. T.MC;. and addressed to the adjutant general, United States Army. Washington: "Sir I have the honor to invite your attention to statements made in the editorial columns of the New York Sun of Juni' 4 ami ".. and later dates, which clearly charge me with conduct of a most censurable character, per haps contemptible would be a better -it' a jfv LIT' V. - 1 MAJOR JAME3 E. RCNCIE. word. I also invite your attention to the source from which the paper claims to have obtained its informa tion, namely, statements of First Lieu tenant James K. Muiicie (late major United States volunteer cavalry! made to various reliable parties, and to re quest that the matter be referred to the inspector general of the army for such action as may be required under the circumstances or to any other au thority w hich the war department may deem proper. Somls Statement of Hi Own. 'I enclose herewith a statement of the tacts in the case, together with true copies of letters, extracts from let ters, etc.. bearing on the subject. The matter is now one of three and a half years standing, ami during the greater portion of this period I have been with easy reach of the aggrieved party or parties. The statement enclosed gives the addresses of most of the persons who have more or less knowledge of the affair. It will be noted that many of the letters are confidential in char acter, the originals of which are in the confidential otlicial tiles of the sec retary of war." This is signed by (renoral Leonard Wood. Will Nut Appoint a Democrat. Chicago. Dec. 24. In a statement in which he said that he had tendered the superior court judgeship "to the most tireless and fearless judge" who had ever sat on the Cook county bench. F.lbridge llanecy. (lovernor Yates in formed a committee from the Demo cratiocountycoiiiniittoethat in any case he would not appoint a Democrat to succeed Judge Jonas Hutchinson. They Just Carrh-if Off the Sale. Moulder. Mont., Dec. '24. Cracksmen entered the saloon of Harris iS: Ander son at Klkhorn and stole the iron safe, which they carried away on a sled a quarter of a mile from town. The robbers then blew the safe open and secured about ?l.lH in gold coin and jewelry valued at J?."0. The safe was the banking place of many men in the camp. Iln I Wanted for !Miuler. Two Haritors. Minn.. Dec. 24. Jonas Kolemann, a Finiander. who is wanted by the Michigan authorities on a charge of murder, has been arrested ii"ar a lumber camp north of Virginia. The crime for which Kolemann is wanted is for the murder of a man named Makf seven weeks ago. Kent 'Km All to Jail. Telluride, Colo., Dec. 24. Sheriff llutan has sent twelve of the union miners arrested for alleged intimida tion' of non-union men to the Montrose jail. He refuses to give his reasons for the actios. Finds a Store Waves of Sound James M. Heck and several other per sonal friends, Mr. Hammer set his au tomatic music box to work. For live minutes at a time a low murmuring sound like A on the musical scale came from u big vacuum tube that had been disconnected from the induc tion coil and laid on a pasteboard box rilled with excelsior. If one of the auditors spoke the sound ran up into the treble, but soon sank to its regu lar rhvthm. The cause is a mystery. COAST STEAMER IS STRANDED ON ROCK Crew Taken Off by Tug Liner Dlacher lias Rough Paesaee. South Norfolk, Conn.. Dec. -'4. The Star Line steamer I-'rasttis. coming from New Haven to New York, during a thick fog ran into the rocks off Norvvalk early today. It is supposed the navigator lost his bearings. The vessel lies high upon 1 he rocks and partly rilled with water. Her .(! pas sengers are being taken otT by a tug. During the confusion resulting from the ci.lli.-1on with the rock six passen gers left the sieamcr in a small boat, and have not been heard from since. The other passengers and crew reach ed here safely on board the tug. The passengers left by train for New York. Mri:!geport. Conn.. Ilee. :jl. A re port from (ireen's Farms savs a small boat containing six per.on who were pii.bably pas.-eiigers on the wrecked steamer Krnstus Corning lauded at that point. Xew York. Dec. 24. The Hamburg American liner P.hichor has docked aft er an exciting voyage. During the tirst night out from Hamburg, while she was running in a dense fog at only half speed, w ith fog horns blowing, she was run into by a l.rrfMi-ton tramp steamshift and a hole stove in her 1 ovv. "he forward (impart meiit was flooded and the ship had to delay o;m day at Cherbourg to have new plates ritted where the collision damaged her. After leaving Cherbourg she ran Into a stiff northwest gale. On the night of the l'.ith. when the fury of the storm had reached its climax and the Mlucher was rolling and pitching furi ously, a panic among the steerage pas sengers was only averted by prompt action on the part of the officers. The steerage passengers had become so alarmed by the stormy weather that they feared the vessel would sink. CHARLES F. FOX PROMOTED BY POSTAL TELEGRAPH CO. Ile Moines. Dec. -M. -Charles 1'. F x. manager of the Postal Telegraph c nipanv at this place. ha been ap pointed superintendent of the newly created districts iiiclu iing lovVa and Dakota, with headquarters at lies Moines. DECLARED A MURDER CASE Iat;litcr of (lie Victim ( li.irs It to Her Stepfather, ami lias llim laileil. Ies Moines. Ia., Dec. 24. Inquiry into the death of Mrs. Charles W. tJ raves, whose charred remains were found by her husband resulted in a verdict of murder. No arrests have been made. Winnie Header, a member of the (Iran Opera company, daughter of the deatl woman, has arrived from Chicago. She knew nothing of the tragedy until she reached home. Winnifred Mender, who arrived home to find that her mother had been brutally and mysteriously murdered, had neon secretly married for two years to an actor lover. Walter Hal bach, also a member of the tJrau Opera company. She was coming home to tell her mother of her marriage as a happy Christinas surprise. Midding defiance io detectives who had been working on the case without results. Winnie Mender within twenty four hours after returning home, swore out an information cli irging her stepfather. C. W. Crnvos, with the murder of her mother. The couple had nut been on good terms and divorce proceedings had teeii instituted, (raves has beeu arrested and is now in jail. Miss Header swears vengeance against her stepfather. BIG COLLIERIES CLOSE FOR HOLIDAY SEASON Keading. Pa.. Dec. 24. All collieries of the Keading company shut down this evening, to remain idle until Jan. 4. A hundred and seventy-five thous and men and boys will be out of em ployment temporarily. Mayor of Philadelphia Prevents Poultry Show at Faneuil Hall Huston, Dee. 24. Permission to use historic old Faneuil hall for an exhi bition of poultry was denied by Mayor Collins in a message to the board of aldermen, which had granted the priv ilege to the New England Light Hrah n;a club. "I regard such use of Fan WAR WILL BE CERTAIN If Colombia Makes an Attack on Pan ama. SO REYES TELEGRAPHS Is Now Hastening to Complete His Mission. Washington. Dec. 24. "War oil Par. una means war with the 1'nited States." is the substance of cablegrams which Ooneral Mafael Hcyiat. the Co lombian minister, is sending to the P.o gota government ami to his more in tlueiitial followers throughout Colom bia. Heali'.ing the gravity of the sit uation (Jeneral Meyes is endeavoring to bring the Colombian people face to face with the situation as he knows it here. He is convinced that the dated Stall's will not permit a Colom bian army to land within the territory of Panama. Oeneral Meyes. with the assistance of Dr. Herran and the 1'nited Statesan lawyer whom lie has employed, is ac tively engaged in the preparation of his communication to the state dejxirt nient. He is not certain when this will b completed, but no time will be lost in presenting to Secretary Hay. Heretofore tieneral Meyes has not been in any hurry to complete hi-s mission in Washington, thinking that in the meantime the war feeling In Colombia would siibsde. Dispatches, however, which lie has received from President Marroqtiin and from influential Colom bians, have caused him to hasten his work. It is his present intention to return to Colombia and assume personal com mand of the army as soon as he has filed his stateinent at the state de partment. In Colombian quarters it i pointed out that unless (General Meyes pwiii returns the war patty in Hogota will gain the upper hand, and his hitherto predominant influence there 'will be seriously injured. Panama lii-Kistern a Kirk. Washington. Dec. 24. The republic of Panama, through its minister. M. P.unau-Yarilla. has tiled its first pro test against the action of a I'nited States otlicial affecting mattirs per taining to that republic. The Pana ma consul at San Francisco. It. Arias Feraud. Jr.. has notified him. Munau Varilla. that the postal authorities of that city have refused to accept regis tered mail or parcel post addressed to the republic of Panama. The consul itates that these authorities insist on mail leing addressed "Hepublic of Co lombia." The postmaster general has ordered the San Francisco otlice to rec ognize the new republic. Keeoenlzexl by Cnlia. Washington. Dec. Minister t;ic sada has received a cablegram inform ing him the Cuban government has formally recognized the republic of Panama. DESIRES TO SUE DOWIE IN COURTS OF THE STATE Chicag-o. Ilee. M. A petition was tiled in the federal court todav asking for permission to start .-nits against John Alexander Howie in the state courts while bankruptcy proceedings are still pending. The attorney who tiled the petition ami who represent s a number of creditors, gave as rea son ihe belief that llowie is to leave the jurisdiction of the court Ilee. '2 on a trip to Australia. Howie's .oiin sel will be advised and given a chance to appear in court. BRITISH IN A BLOODY FIGHT IN SOMALILAND London. Dei-. :Jt. The wai otlice to dav receive I a dispatidi from Maj. Ceo. Sir Charles Kgertoii. dated at Kerrit. Somalila ml. .-aving 700 I'ritNh and native troops had surprised 2.00H dervishes near P.advvin. The engage ment lasted three hours. The enemy's casualties were so killed anil 100 wounded. The Hritish h ss was two killed, four wounded and one-missing. Krr Do Know th Men. South McAIester. I. T.. Dec. 24. The money safe in the Krebs postof fice wrs blown open by two unknown men. and several hundred dollar in postage stamps secured. euil hall as illegitimate and substan tially a profanation." wrote the may or. "The hall 0 a resort of all pa triotic visitors who come to Hoston, and its use for a poultry exhibition or any kindred show ridicules and con temns its sacred memories."