Evening star. [volume], December 31, 1905, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
SIX PARTS
Including;
Star's Sunday Magazine
and
Colored Comic Section.
WASHINGTON, D. O., SUNDAY
{few
WEATHER.
Farr today; tomorrow increasing
cloudiness, probably rain.
MORNING, DECEMBER 31, 1905.*
FIVE CENTS.
DEFEAT FORM REOS
Workmen's Council to Declare
Strike Off Monday.
NEW PLAN NOW IN MIND
WILL ORGANIZE FOR Ai, ARMED
INSURRECTION.
Failure Attributed Not Only to Force
Employed, but to Lack of Public
Sympathy.
ST. PETERSBURG, December
30.?The Workmen s Council of
St. Petersburg tonight decided to
declare the strike off on Monday
and proceed with the organization
of an armed insurrection.
ST. PETERSBURG. December St.?The
council of workmen met secretly Utst night,
and after an eight-hour pension at 2 o'clock
this morning adopted a resolution to call
oft the strike Monday "because the tight of
the people against the government can no
longer be limited to the disorganization of
the economic life of the nation through a
universal strike and is already In many
parts of the country taking t ie character
of an armed uprising."
"The council of workmen's deputies," the
resolution concludes, "de.'ides to proceed
Immediately with warlike operations and
the organization of an armed uprising.
The trnimr" recognized that the attempt
of an immediate uprising could not succeed
In the capital, but that while making prep
arations it would be necessary to under
take a sort of guerilla warfare, consisting
of the disarming of police and soldiers
wherever they are found alone in the
streets, the use of bombs from ambush and
other acts of terror.
The council drew up a proclamation to
the Cossacks warning them that if they
continued to fight against the people they
would be treated like mad dogs, and if
they desired to be treated as brotheis they
should remain in their barracks.
An appeal was also drawn up requesting
the proletariat of all countries to support
the tight begun at Moscow.
Claims of the Government.
The government claims that the attempt
at an armed reliellion has failed signally. In
a semi-official communication Issued tonight
it declares the movement has been broken
and within a few weeks It will be definitely j
crushed. It attributes the defeat of the
"reds" not only to the force it employed,
but to a lack of public sympathy.
Simultaneously the government an
nounces that the regulations for the elec
tions to th?? national assembly have been
completed and will be published tomorrow,
end that everything possible will be done
to accelarate the meeting of the douma,
when the voice of the nation and not of a
single class can be heard.
A member of the cabinet said today:
"The result of the attempt of the revo
lutionaries to overthrow the government by
force was never for a njoment In doubt,
but what has occurred and what is occur
ring we believe will have a salutary effect
on public opinion. Revolution will go on,
but It Is our purpose to confine it to peace
ful channels."
Revolutionists Blundered.
The Associated Press tonight talked with
a prominent revolutionary, who is a lead
ing spirit In the movement to raze the
dynasty and Its regime and for whom the
police are searching. Jle was unable to
conceal his depression, but nevertheless he
claimed that the movement had received
only a temporary check.
"We blundered badly." he said. "We fell
into the trap Witte set for us. Emboldened
at the seeming paralysis of the government,
we proclaimed broadcast our intentions of
preparing an armed revolution for Janu
ary or February. We virtually threw our
cards on the table then.
"Witte challenged, and we rashly accept
ed before either organization was perfected
or plans were matured. It was all too sud
den and ill-timed. The workmen were
worn out by the recent strikes and the holi
days were at hand; and bes:di s, we obtain
ed neither active co-operation from the
populace, on which we had counted, nor
from the troops, among whom we know we
have support. It Is a bad reverse. Our
most skillful leaders have been arrested,
and the supplies of arms which we la
boriously collected have been seized.
Situation Has Bright Side.
"But the situation has also its bright side,
for it Is the first time the proletariat has
fought in the open against the bayonets
and cannon of the government. That is a
great victory. The government must not
Hatter itself that It has dealt a decisive
blow. We have dedicated our lives to the
work. We are fighting not only for the
emancipation of Russia, but for the social
revolution of the world."
The elements are now fighting on the sida
of the government as they did In the days
of Napoleon. The northern winter, with
all its rigors, has set in, and the upper
half of the empire is locked In enow and
Ice. and It would be difficult for the prole
tariat to build and defend barricades In the
streets and light a winter campaign. In
Bt. Petersburg tonight the temperature is
18 degrees below zero, and everywhere fires
are burning in the streets to keep the
homeless from freezing.
Hundreds Perish at Moscow.
No other details have been received of
the horrible affair at Moscow today when
Cov. Gin. Doubassoffs artillery brought
the v..lis of the Prokharoff cotton mill
tumbling down on the heads of several
thousand strikers and revolutionaries, ex
cept a aliment that hundreds perished.
The attempt of the "black hundreds" to
march Into the city and wreak vengeance
on the revolutionaries and strikers only
tends to confirm the fears that the final
collapse of the revolt at Moscow will be
follow d by an awful massacre, and, al
though Gov. Gen Doubassoflf succeeded In
p: vi-ntlng their entry Into the city today.
: nd will take stern measures in the future,
it will le difficult to restrain the lower
c; who regard the revolutionaries as
4 reti ies of the emperor and the country.
Alri vly rowdies are taking advantage of
t: 0 situation to plunder on a large scale.
Figures of Losses.
Gov Gen Doubassoff has not yet given
t&e flgttW. of the losses during the fighting
at Moscow, saying: that It Is Impossible at
present to more than make a guess. How
ever, he places the outside limit as 3,000.
The troops and police did not suffer nearly
so heavily, and It Is reported that up to
Thursday night there were less than fifty
casualties among them everywhere.
Throughout Russia, Immediately on the
appearance of disorders, the authorities
tire declaring martial law, making whole
sale arrests and confiscating arms.
The general strike sems to be going to
pieces. It was declared off at Riga today,
and at Odessa It Is breaking up and many
railroads are resuming operation.
The result of the call for an armed up
rising In Poland tomorrow Is awaited with
anxiety.
Confess Strike a Failure.
WARSAW, Russian Poland, December
30.? The socialists have Issued a proclama
tion in which they confess that the gen
eral strike Is unsuccessful. They Impute
Its failure to the national democratic
party.
THOUSANDS UNDER BUINS.
Meeting Place of Revolutionists Razed
by Artillery.
ST. PETERSBURG, December 30 (7:30 p.
m.)?Governor General Doubassoff has tele
graphed to the government from Moscow
that a large meeting of revolutionists and
strikers at the Prokharoff cotton mill, out
side the city, was surrounded by troops of
all arms today.
The artillery opened a terrific bombard
ment and made a large rent In the walls,
which suddenly crumbled and the building
camp down In a heap. Hundreds, if not
thousands of persons, were burled In the
ruins.
Doubassoff regarded the Prokharoff mills
as the stronghold of the revolutionists, and
he reports that Moscow will be entirely
cleared of them in three days.
The governor general also reports that
he prevented several thousand "loyalists,"
who assembled In the Sakolniki district in
the outskirts of Moscow, from marching
into the city for the purpose of attacking
the strikers, revolutionists and Jews.
The police force of Moscow has been in
creased by a thousand men, and the night
watchmen "by two thousand men.
INSURGENTS MOWED DOWN.
Doubassoff Assumes the Offensive
With Cannon.
MOSCOW, December 30.?Governor Gen
eral Doubassoff today assumed the offen
sive against the revolutionary stronghold
in the northwestern or Presna quarter, and
all day the inhabitants of the city have
been listening to the thunder of cannon
and the rattle of small arms. At this
writing firing is still audible, but more
distant, and the lurid glare on the heavens
shows that many structures are in flames.
It was essentially a surprise attack.
During the night artillery and machine
guns moved to the streets leading to the
Presna district, all of which were heavily
barricaded, and at 4 o'clock this morning
the troops began an advance, clearing the
way ruthlessly. By 10 o'clock much of the
region had been cleared, and the main body
of the insurgents and strikers had been
driven Into the Prokharoff cotton mills, an
Immense establishment which was forti
fied to stand a siege. A smaller force of
the revolutionaries held the Kornosoff,
another four-story factory, in Kudrinsky
place. The latter was bombarded and re
duced without much difficulty.
It Is Impossible to penetrate the quarter,
as the pickets have the strictest orders to
allow no one to pass.
The artillery fire was resumed at '2.
o'clock this afternoon and still continues.
According to officers at Gov. Gen. Dou
bassoff's headquarters, the Prokharoff
mills is momentarily expected to fall, and
It Is asserted that It Is the program to finish
the revolt tonight. It is admitted that the
slaughter has been immense.
The Semlnovsky regiment Is understood
to have distinguished itself in many places
by storming barricades, and Is the heaviest
loser on the side of the troops.
The Insurgents displayed great stubborn
ness and were mowed down on refusing to
surrender.
A terrible affair took place at a work
men's tea house In Novaya Derevnya
street, near the Presna district. It was
surrounded by the "Black Hundred." who
finally applied the torch and were watching
the victims Inside consumed by the flames
when Cossacks arrived on the scene.
Gov. Gen. Doubassoff has posted an Im
perial ukase guaranteeing pardon to
strikers who have not used arms.
RIGA STRIKE ENDED.
Business and Work at the Factories
Resumed.
RIGA, Livonia, December 30.?The strike
ended here today, the papers having re
appeared and business and work at the fac
tories have been resumed. The termination
of the strike will rescue the city from
famine. The supply of fresh meat gave out
three days ago.
Gen. Sollogub, the new governor general
of the Baltic provinces, is moving north at
the head of 10,00l> troops with artillery.
Upon his arrival here he is expected to be
gin an energetic campaign against the revo
lutionists, who have created a condition of
anarchy In the country. Two of the most
famous castles In the Baltic provinces?
Dondangen, built in the thirteenth century,
and Odessee, a stately structure, which was
filled with the rarest collection of knightly
treasures?have been burned.
During the strike many high-handed atro
cities were committed. The revolutionists
established an "execution block," where
persons condemned by the revolutionary
committee were shot.
The police here are now armed with rifles.
Situation at Other Places.
BARANOVITCHI, Government of Minsk,
December 30.?Gov. Gen. Orloff has pro
claimed martial law here and has compelled
the railroad men to resume work.
ODESSA, December 30.?The strike here
Is going to pieces.
WARSAW, Russian Poland. December 30.
?Attempts to erect barricades at three
places in this city today failed. There are
heavy patrols in the streets and the banks
are closed.
I?ODZ, December 80.?Several hundred
revolutionists have been arrested hero.
SCHULAVKA, Russia, December 30.?The
perquisitions made here have resulted In
the seizure of a large quantity of arms and
explosives. Seventy-eight arrests were
made.
IvREMENTCHUa, Russia, December 30.?
The governor general has Issued a procla
mation announcing that persons guilty of
throwing bombs from houses are subjected
to trial by court-martial and are to be sen
tenced to death.
$190,000 for College for Women.
PITTSBl'RG, Pa., December 30.?A prom
inent local business man who requested
his name withheld today gave his checfc
for $10,000 to the Pennsylvania College for
Women, making $150,000 raised through
popular subscription for the maintenance
of the college in this city. Two other
anonymous subscriptions, each for $20,000,
which were given conditional upon the
whole sum of $100,000 being subscribed, were
also paid to the endowment committee,
making a total of 1190,000.
THE
LOOKS LJKE_PERJURY
Two Midshipmen Charge De
catur With Hazing,
HE PLEADS NOT GUILTY
McCRARY AND CHURCH GAVE
INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE.
Annapolis Court Shown Methods of
Hazing?Rigid Cross-Examination
Failed to Shake Stories.
ANNAPOLIS, Md? December 30.?Two
midshipmen of the fourth class?Isaac N.
McCrary of Calvert, Tex., and Gaylord
Church of Meadville, Pa.?testified positive
ly this afternoon that Midshipman Stephen
Decatur, jr., of Portsmouth, N. H., a mem
ber of the first class, had hazed them on
different occasions.
Decatur will, according to his counsel, go
on the stand on Tuesday, when the court
will again meet, and deny under oath the
statement which the two under classmen
mads incriminating him.
As the evidence of each of the prosecuting
witnesses was to separate incidents and
entirely uncorroborated, there is a possibil
ity that the evidence wall be considered in
sufficient to convict Decatur; but the ap
parent fact will remain, should the latter
make the denial promised, that a perjurer
is wearing the uniform of a midshipman of
the United States navy.
Decatur Pleaded Not Guilty.
Young Decatur was arraigned at 2:20 this
afternoon and pleaded not guilty to every
charge and specification.
Midshipman Mc?rary was then called and ]
testified clearly and positively that he had
been hazed by Decatur, who, he said, had
sent for him to come to Decatur's room.
There he had ordered him to stand on his
head in the closet, and he had done so
until he was exhausted, about 150 times.
Decatur then compelled him to do "No.
16," and then he was ordered by some one,
possibly not Decatur, he said, to perform
"the leaning rest." All of these were con
tinued until the witness could do them no
more.
The witness showed the court the manner
of performing two exercises. In "No. 16"
the hands were placed on the hips and the
body lowered and raised by bending the
legs outward and straightening them again.
In "the leaning rest" the hands and feet
were placed on the floor, with the body
rigid and the body raised and lowered by
bending and straightening the arms. This
was designated as "No. 7"' in the specifica
tions, but this was apparently a blunder.
Rigid Cross-Examination.
McCrnry was rigidly cross examined, but
his story was not shaken. Finally he said
In answer to questions that he would not
believe Decatur if he swore that he had
not told him to stand on his head and per
form "No. 16."
Midshipman Ohurch testified that De
catur had ordered him to stand on li s head,
but he was not so positive as McCrary and
admitted that he might be mistaken. These
were the only witnesses for the prosecu
tion.
The remainder of the session was taken
up by witnesses who testified to the good
reputation for truthfulness enjoyed1 by
Decatur. Those who gave this testimony
were Commander W. F. Fullam, Lieut.
Commander Edward E. Capeliart, Professor
Harry P. Huse and Midshipmen Lawrence
S. Ste-wart and Charles E. Upvey.
Decatur to Deny Every Charge.
Mr. Theall, Decatur's counsel, stated that
the accused midshipman will go on the
stand Tuesday and deny specifically every
statement made to the effect that he had
hazed either McCrary or Church, and that
there would also be evidence offered tend
ing to establish an alibi. Ho would prove,
Mr. Theall said, that the case was one of
mistaken identity.
Trenmor Coffin, jr., whose trial for the
alleged hazing- of Midshipman Jerdone P.
Ktmbrough was concluded yesterday, was
before the coiur.t for a brief period and
heard the record of yesterday read' and ap
proved. It is practically conceded that
Coffin has beim convicted and will be dis
missed, though, of course, nothing is
known officially.
ChargeB Against Foster.
Charges have been filed against Midship
man Worth Wright Foster oi New Albany.
Jnd. It is specified in his case that ho
hazed Midshipman Chester S. Roberts of
Jollet, 111., by compelling him to get undier
the table while eating his supper. This Is
another usual form of hazing at the
academy, but one which has not yet been
specified in any charge.
As an officer is always in the room dur
ing meals, the hazing, If it took place, must
have been under an officer's eyes, but it is
explained that he cannot see all that goes
on because of the large number of midship
men and the distances between the differ
ent parts of the room.
Steamers in Collision.
IQUEQUE, Chile, December 30.?The Ger
man tank steamer Sals, Capt. Bartels, from
Hamburg and London, bound to 8an Fran
cisco, has been in collision with the British
steamer Endslelgh, Capt. Baker. The Sais
was not damaged, but the Endslelgh had a
number of plates on the port side above
the water Ui? stove and l?aks.
NEW HIGHWAY BRI
TAMMANY IS TORN OPEN
LEADERS GRIMLY DECLINE TO
DISCUSS APPOINTMENTS.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. December 30.?Tammany
leaders today grimly declined to di=cuss the
mayor's appointments and their bearing on
the organization except in one or two in
stances to utter stereotyped expressions or
satisfaction, which were belied by their
manner of saying them.
As a matter of fact, the Tammany or
ganization is torn wide open from one end
to the other, and it was said on authority
that the days of C'has. F. Murphy's leader
ship are nearing the end.
The merest glance at the list of appoint
ments was enough to convince the leaders
that McCleilan and Murphy had readied
the parting of the ways and. realizing that
Murphy's power had passed, groups began
to get together and plan for the reorgani
zation of Tammany and the elimination or
Murphy.
It will be many days, perhaps weeks, be
fore the combination gets its bearings suf
ficiently to do anything In the open to this
end, but, lacking the backing of the mayor
and with knowledge of this condition
broadcast, it is only a matter of a short
time, so candid district leaders dcc:are, be
fore Murphy will cease to be the head of
Tammany.
THE STAR TODAY.
The Star today consists of six parts, as
follows:
Pages.
I'ort I?News.
16
Part II?Editorial 8
Ptrrt HI?Msgazlae 20
Pert IV?Women's anil Local Features S
Part V?Sports and Miscellaneous ^
Part VI?Comic Section *
Part One. pagp
Strike io Russia to Be Declared Off 1
Ix>oks Like Perjury in Hazing Trial 1
New York Insurance Inquiry Ended 1
Correspondent Ordered to Find the North Pole. 1
New York Police Commtofioner Resigns 2
Y. M. C. A. Dinner to Mr. Mott -
War Between France and Germany Declared in
Paris to Be Inevitable -
Plans of the Firth-Steillng Steel Company.... 3
The Foster School Measure Criticised 3
Rioting Continued in Moscow 3
Ariny and Navy News 5
Ariny and Navy Officers Who Retire In 1906.. 8
Georgetown Affairs 1
Stories of Russian Atrocities (i
New Railroad on the Isthmus. By William
E. Curtis "
Society of Texas 7
New Year Festivities?Those Receiving To
morrow If
News of the Neighboring States 11
Alexandria Affairs 11
Schoo.s and Colleges 12
Situation ill Shanghai 13
New Plan In British Elections 13
Progress of Uruguay 13
Employes Do Not Want Time Clocks 16
Just a Few Local Items 16
Part Two. p>f#
Guardians of the President's Home 1
The Sheriff of Arnim 1
As the Cartoonists See the News 2
News of the Ix>cal National Guard 2
Around the City 2
Among the Clubs 2
In the Realm of Higher Things 3
Our Day (New Year Sermon) 3
The Year In Local Churches 3
Editorial 4
Fifty Years Ago In The Star 4
Russia's Turmoil 4
The City Discoverer 4
Society in the National Capital aud Elsewhere. S
The Theater 6-7
Part Three.
Page.
SLR NIGEL; A COMPANION TO THE
WHITE COMPANY. BY SIR ARTHUR
CONAN DOYLE 3
Exile from "Gods Country;" When Ben
Habersham of Windmill Fame Thought He
Killed a Alan in Painted R<ick. By Alorley
R? berts &
With My Indian Friends; the Friendliness of
8i>otted Tail. By Franklin Welles Calkins.. 7
The Obon Festival. By Clara Whitney Kaji.. 8
Mary's ^'Broader Life;" an Experience in Bo
hemia and How She Came to Leave It. By
Winifred Bluck i>
Mental Capacity of Animals. By William T.
Hornaday 31
Mr. Puffer's First Wife; and How He Came
to Appreciate the Virtues of the Second.
By J. L. Harbour IS
Huppiness In the Making. By Sarah Grand 14
Part Pour.
Pate.
In Fashion's Realm 2
New York Empire aud Princess Gowns 2
Parisian Styles for Children 2
Latest French Fashions for Wet Weather 3
New Separate Skirts Are Indispensable 3
The Practical Housekeeper's Own Page 4
Plscatawny, Maryland's Ancient Hamlet 5
Fading Phantoms. By Kate Masterson 8
Italy's Queen Mother Plans American Motor
Tour 1
Diamond Shoal Light 1
London News and Gossip 1
The Happenings of 1905 6
Sunday Star's Prize Photographic Contest 7
Unnavory Reputation of Hairy Alnus 7
The American Exchange Bank Robbery. By
Cleveland Moffett 8
The Well ? Groomed Woman, By Katherlne
Morton 8
Part Five.
Page.
Department Bowling Teams Are Bunched 1
inactive Week 1n Bowling Leagues 1
Well-Known Washington Equestrians 1
Trotting Outlook for 1906 l
Excellent Sport at New Orleans 1
The Value of a Base Ball Manager 4
Racing Car Men Bound for South 4
Ways of Jockeys at New Orleans 4
Getting Lave Cross 4
Finance and Trad* of the WorKl 2
Financial Situation In Washington 3
Part Six.
Pa??.
Willie Cute Gives a New Year Party 1
The Dippy Dudes; a New Year Resolution 2
The 61ns of His Father Fall Onto Little A*>e
Corncob 2
"Wags"?the Dog that Adopted a Man S
Tncle 'Rastua' Invention Was a Success A
; Uncle George Washington Bing* ?
"Bub"?Ha s Always to A
DGE.
WINO-UP OP INQUIRY
Legislative Committee Com
pleted Insurance Probing
NEW YORK YESTERDAY
FORMER EQUITABLE AGENT TOLD
OF REBATE SYSTEM.
Declared It Impossible to Make Money
?Ex-Senator Hill's Hurry to
Testify at Close.
YORK, December 30.?Joel G. Van
Cise, actuary of the Equitable Life Assur
ance Society, was the first witness before
the Armstrong legislative Insurance com
mittee today. He has been with the so
c'i-ty for thirty-eight years, and, answering
Mr. Hughes, said that he was responsible
for the actuarial methods of the society.
He was asked if any of the management
interfered with him, and replied:
"Henry B. Hyde attempted to make me
make figures on dividends declared on de
ferred dividends policies higher than X
thought advisable. That was about fifteen
years ago. 1 reported it to \ ice President
James W. Alexander and explained the
dangers of this plan, and he persuaded Mr.
Hyde to give way."
Van Cise's examination was given over
to the description of the various policies
issued by the Equitable, the manner of
computing the dividends on the participat
ing business and the method of arriving at
the estimates of the loadings on the pre
miums.
When Mr. Van Cise -was excused Mr.
Hughes produced a number of statements
that had been requested by the committee
from several of the companies. They wore
so numerous that the time was too short
to reiyl them all for record, so they were
presented and marked for identification.
Some letters to the committee from wit
nesses who desired to correct their testi
mony were also read by Mr. Hughes for the
record.
Sickles Tells of Rebate System.
George H. Sickles, a real estate agent of
Buffalo, formerly of the Equitable Life
Assurance Society, was called and told of
the manner in which Gage E. larbell, vice
president of the Equitable, prompted his
agents.
"Did you and Mr. Tarbell talk about re
bating?" asked Mr. Hughes.
"Yes, we did. I understood it wasn't
legal, and asked lilm how it could be done,"
said Sickles.
"And he told you how?"
"Mr. Tarbell said to collect the whole
premium, and, for instance, in one case I
remember, he said then buy five letters of
introduction from the man at $100 apiece."
"And you were to do as you saw fit tear
them up, for Instance?"
"Yes."
"Did you give rebates, Mr. Sickles?"
"Why, I don't think that a fair question,
Mr. Hughes."
"Yes, 1 think it Is."
Chairman Armstrong was appealed to, and
he said: "This happened In 1898. so any
offense Is outlawed, and you're not incrim
inating yourself," whereupon Mr. Sickles
replied promptly:
"Yes, I gave rebates."
"Did you buy the letters?"
"No."
Mr. Sickles asserted that he "couldn t
make a dollar?the practice of rebating was
general," and was then excused.
Mr. Hughes announced that Gage E. Tar
bell was out of town, and as he could not
bo reached his testimony regarding the
statements of Mr. Sickles as to rebating
could not be taken. Mr. Hughes suggested
that Mr Tarbell be permitted to submit a
deposition under oath if he cared to do so
after adjournment, and Chairman Arm
strong said that this would be allowed.
Hill Anxious to Testify Now.
Mr. Hughes, continuing, said that the
counsel for the committee had communi
cated with David B. Hill with a view to
having him appear as a witness and tes
tify in relation to his *5,000,000 retainer for
the Equitable Life. Mr. Hill replied that
he was too 111 to do so. Later, Mr. Hughes
said, the committee telegraphed to Mr.
Htll and he replied, saying that he
was confined to his house and was unable
to attend.
Mr. Hill recorded a protest against the
adjournment of the committee before he
had a chance to testify, or at least without
apolnting a sub-committee to take his tes
timony. Mr. Hill declared that he had
been ready at any time since the appoint
ment of the committee to testify and was
desirous of doing so.
Chairman Armstrong said that it
would be impossible to have Mr. Hill b
testimony before the committee, as was
desired. He said that he understood Mr.
Hill was 111 at his home and that no Im
proper motive could be attached to his ab
sence. If-it was in ary way practicable to
get Mr. Hill's testimony before the com
mittee it would be done.
Statements From Companies.
Rufus Weeks, actuary of the New York
Life, was then called to supply further
information on the methods of his com^
pany in arriving at dividends.
Almost the entire afternoon was taken
up by Mr. McKeen, associate counsel of
the committee, in reading from therrecord
the statements of companies
in other states, but doing buslnese in ^this
atat?, the officers of whkfh toad been asaea
by the committee for a statement of their
condition and management.
Among these statements that of the
Provident Life and Trust Company of
Philadelphia declared that in 1WHJ at a
special meeting of the board of directors
n resolution was passed authorizing the
expenditure of $2fi,t>00 for contributions to
the campaign for "sound money" in 1NSW.
Of this money $10,000 was given to the re
publican national committee.
WILL RETURN THIS EVENING.
The President Enjoyed a Fine Hunt
Yesterday.
RICHMOND, Va., December .'!0.?The
President enjoyed a line hunt this morning
at Pine Knob, his Virginia retreat, witn
only an old negro guide as companion.
Ills btig at the close of the expedition was
one wild turkey, half a dozen quail, two
rabbits and some snowbirds. Surgeon Gen
eral Rlxey, with the two boys. Kermlt and
Archie, went in a direction different from
that taken by the President, and were not
nearly so successful. The President and
Mrs. Roosevelt today accepted an invita
tion from the Rev. Thomas P. Baker, rrc
tor of Christ Episcopal Church, in the
neighborhood of I'lno Knob, to attend serv
ice at his place of worship tomorrow morn
ing.
The Roosevelt party will leave for Wash
ington tomorrow afternoon. The President
and Mrs. Roosevelt have greatly enjoyed
and been much benefited by their stay in
tho Virginia^ Mil country.
HEREROS PROBABLY BEATEN.
End of Uprising With Practical An
nihilation of Tribe.
Special Cablegram tt> The Star.
BERLIN, December 30.?'The surrender of
the Witbois upon the death of their leader,
Hendriclc Witboi, and the prospective nego
tiations between the new governor of
southwest Africa, Ilerr Vonlindequist, and
the Hottentots, mark, in all probability,
the ultimate stages of the uprising. The
latest parliamentary report on the subject
states that the northern regions of the <jol
ony have been cleared of insurgents and
that the campaign against the Horeros lias
come to an end with the practical annihila
tion of the tribe.
. Of a community numbering from 60,000 to
80,000, or even 1(0,000 souls, it is only pos
sible to account for 1.275 under supervision
in British territory. In addition to the 2.054
men and 5,018 women and children who are
prisoners in German hands. Apart from a
few scattered predatory bands, the bulk of
the tribe has perished in the Omaheke
I desert, since the number killed in action
has always been relatively small.
In the south of the colony the situation
has been materially Improved by the sur
render of the Witbois, but so long as any
! of the leaders remain at large the opera
tions must continue to be pressed with
vigor. Moreover, the final settlement of
the country will necessitate tho mainte
nance of a considerable body of troops In
I the various districts for some time to come,
I especiafly in order to cope with the guerilla
I bands which infest the frontier regions.
FERRYBOAT BLOWN ASHORE.
New Vessel Was En Route to New
York.
Special Dispatch to The 8t?r.
WILMINGTON. Del., December 20.?The
new steel ferryboat Crar.ford, which was
built by the Harlan & Holllngsworth Cor
poration for the Central Railroad of New
Jersey, was blown aehore in the Chris
tiana river in this city today while en
route to New York. She was In tow of a
tue and remained in a dangerous position
on a mud bank throughout the day and
until this evening, when she was floated.
She was then towed to the Delaware river
and proceeded under her own steam to her
destination.
The ferryboat wlss pass out of the Dela
ware capes early tomorrow morning if the
weather is favorable, and will arrive at
New York and go into service tomorrow
night. A high wind was responsible for the
mishap on tho initial trip of the craft. She
was not damaged.
THE YERKES WILL.
To Be Probated in Chicago Within
Thirty Days.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO, December 30.?The will of
Charles Tyson Yerkes will be probated In
Chicago within the next thirty days, and
it is said to bequeath vast amounts to
charity. The document, disposing of a for
tune estimated to be about $15,000,000, will
occupy a position on tho records of the
probate court in the class that includes the
estates of George M. Pullman and Levi Z.
Leiter.
Clarence Knight, president of the Chi
cago and Oak Park Elevated Railway Com
pany, and who was Mr. Yerkes' lawyer, an
nounced today that inasmuch as Mr. Yerkes
never changed his legal residence from
Chicago after moving his household and
himself away five years ago. the will is to
be filed in. the probate court of Cook
county.
Mr. Knight was asked as to the truth of
reports that the Instrument gave almost
the entire fortune of Mr. Yerkes to
charity.
"I cannot discuss the contents of the will
at this time," said the attorney, "although,
of course, I know what the contents are.
Mr. Yerkes was a charitable man, but
he did not parade the fact publicly."
Hospitals, art museums and colleges will,
it is saiu, receive the bulk of the great for
tune.
PRINCESS LOUISE'S TROUBLE.
Conditions of Settlement of Long
drawn-out Quarrel.
PARIS, December 30.?The conditions of
the settlement of the long-drawn-out quar
rel between the Princess Louise of Saxe
Coburg and Gotha, eldest daughter of King
Leopold of Belgium, and her husband.
Prince Phillippe of Saxe-Coburg and Goths,
are as follows:
The prince pays her as alimony $211,000
anfiuaJly and also the sum of $1,000,0.(0 by
installments, while King Leopold guar
antees his daughter an annuity of $10,000.
The princess undertakes to hand over to
the prince's lawyer all the documents and
photographs intended to be used as evi
dence, the divulgation of which will arniul
the arrangement. The two parties agree to
accept a decision of the court of Gotha
granting them a divorce on the ground of
incompatibility of temper and on that
ground alone.
DEATH OF MRS. STANFORD.
Revelations Promised by President of
Leland Stanford University.
DENVER, Colo., December 30.?President
David Starr Jordan of Leland Stanford,
Jr., University today announced in an in
terview that a full report of recent dis
coveries tn ^connection with the death of
Mrs. Jane Stanford would soon be made
public. He is said to have accused un
named Honolulu officers and servants of
the decedent of plotting to secure big fees
from the Stanford estate He is also said
to have declared that it has been estab
lished beyond a doubt that Mrs. Stanford
died a natural death, ami that the story ,
of murder was originated to Invalidate, if
possible, a bequest to Miss Berner, h?r pri
vate secretary. I
"GO, FIND THE POLE"
Startling Assignment to a
Washington Correspondent.
WILL UNDERTAKE TASK
AIRSHIP WILL BE BUILT UNDER
SANTOS DUMONTS DIRECTION.
Important Mission Given to Walter
Wellman by Frank B. Noyes. Editov
of the Chicago Record-Herald.
I CHICAGO. December 30.?' Build an alr
| ship, go find the north pole and report by
wireless telegraphy and submarine cables
! the progress of your efforts."
This was the startling assignment given
a few days ago to Walter Wellman. Wash
ington correspondent of the Chicago Ree
ord-HernIrl by Frank B. Noyes. editor-In
eftlef of the paper, and the commission has
been accepted by Mr. Wellman, it was an
nounced tonight. As an assistant In this
expedition Mr. Wellman will liave the serv
ices of Alberto Santos Dumonl of Pari*,
who will have charge of the construction
of the airship, and will act as aeronautic
director and pilot of the ship on its voyage
toward the North Bole
The airship, the order for which lias been
given, will be built by I?uis Godard of
Paris, under the supervision of M Santos
Diimont, and will be completed by the end
of next April. No definite date has been
set for the start on the journey, but it is
expected that everything will be In readi
ness to get away next July or early In
August.
After completion the airship will have
several trials at Paris, and In June all the
paraphernalia for the journey will lie as
sembled in Norway. Early in July head
quarters will be established in Spitsbergen,
where the explorers wiil await a favorable
opportunity for the trip toward the pole,
which, according to Mr. Wellman. should
the expedition meet with a good run of
luck, should be readied in less than a
wee-.
Wellman is Hopeful.
In announcing his acceptance tonight of
the proposed expedition, Mr. Wellman said:
"If I did not believe the chances of suc
cess were greater than those of failure I
should not accept the commission. Mr.
Noyes acted upon no sudden whim or Im
pulse when he gave me the order to try to
find the much-sought north pole, as he had.
before him p. report, which I had submitted
to Ulm as tha outcome of (wo visits to tho
Inner polar regions, of years of study of
the problem of the pole, of many months
of special investigation of airship constrrc
tlon and navigation, the wind and climatic
conditions to be encountered, and all tho
multitudinous mechanical and meteorologi
cal factors Involved. In this Investigation
scores of eminent exports and specialists
were consulted, voluminous technical re
ports were received, and finally a complete,
symmetrical and at least promising project
was evolved by me as representing a seem
ingly practicable combination of the latest
development of many of the arts for ac
complishing the result in view.
"The problem of reaching the north pole
by means of an airship does not require
high speed, and the present state of the
art of aerial navigation by gas-buoyed and
motor-driven ships is ample for that pur
pose. From an easily reached base of op
erations in northern Spitsbergen we have
but 350 geographical miles to go to the
pole, and a like distance for the return voy
age. If we take the whole at 1,200 miles,
it means but 100 hours of motoring at 12
miles an hour. Santos Dumont has repeat
edly made from 10 to 25 miles an hour with
small airships equipped with relatively
small motors.
The Proposed Airship.
"The airship in which we purpose to at
tain the north pole will be the largest prac
ticable airship ever built. It will be 190
feet long and its greatest diameter will be
45 feet. Its surface will measure 23,000
square feet and its volume will be 226,000
cubic feet. Inflated with hydrogen, it will
have a total ascensional force of 15,300
pounds. Seven thousand pounds will be
the weight of the ship and Its equipment
complete, leaving 8,000 pounds for cargo.
The slip will be provided with three mo
tors, with a combined energy of 70 horse
power. If the winds hinder no more than
they help and there are no delays this ship
can motor from North Spitsbergen to the
pole in 45 hours. The airship will have an
endurance capacity in buoyancy sufficient
to enable It to remain 25 to SO days in the
air. It will carry 5,500 pounds of gaso
line. and its distance capacity during calm
wea!ther will be 1.S00 miles more than the
distance from Spitzbergen straight across
the pole and the whola Arctic ocean to
Alaska.
? As our airship will be constructed it
will be able to make headway against two
thirds of all the winds that blow, even
though they may be squarely adverse, but
it is part of our project to motor only with
favorable" winds and to anchor our ship to
the ice and 'lie to' in unfavorable winds
of velocity exceedtog one-half the normal
speed of our craft. The ship will be
equipped for safe anchorage in the high
est winds ever known In the Arctic re
gion. In fat, the ship will be subject to
the will and hand of the navigator just
like a steamship upon the ocean.
Airship Will Carry Five Men.
"Besides the 5,500 pounds of fuel men
tioned, the ship will carry five men. a com
fortable car to live In (which is also a
boat In case of need), food and supplies for
seventy-five days, and a complete sledging
outfit ready for use should it be necessary
to abandon the airship and take to the
Ice. If at the worst our ship of the air
carries us only to the vicinity of tho po!e,
or two-thirds of the way to it, we have an
alternative method of travel by which we
may reasonably hope to complete our task
and make our return to land in safety.
"At no time will our airship be out of
touch with the surface of the earth. Our
guide rope, so called, but In our case a
smooth, tapering line of steel, is to drag Its
lower end over the ice, to keep the ship at
a fairly stable height (ISO to 200 feet), the
altitude most favorable to wireless telegra
phy, and to maintain under ordinary condi
tions the vertical stability of the craft.
Will Take Wireless Equipment.
"Wireless telegraph stations will be estate
lshed at Spitzbergen and Hammerfest,
Morway, 600 miles distant. Further than
Ibis * wireless equipment will be carried la 51