The San Francisco call. [volume], December 21, 1903, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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ST. LOUIS, Dec. 20. — Attorney Gen
eral Crow, whose health has been
broken down in his Incessant fight to
convict the Missouri legislators
charged with boodling. has decided
to go to Redlands. California, to re
cuperate. He is suffering from n«r>
vous prostration. .- . ; -
Enemy of Boodlers Breaks Down.
PREFERRED DEATH TO
LIFE OF DISGRACE
NEW YORK, Dec. 20.— Senator Han
na, who was too sick to attend the ban
quet of the national executive commit
tee of the Civic Federation last even-
Ing, was confined to his bed at the Wal
dorf Astoria all day. He is being at
tended by Dr. Calvin Adams, who said
to-night that the Senator has a severe
cold, which is in no way serious. |
Ohio Senator Too 111 to Attend Meet
ins of the National Civic
. Federation.
HANNA IXDISPOSKD
WITH SETTLE COLD
According to advices received by the
Nippon Mara, which arrived from the
Orient yesterday, changes of great sig
nificance are taking place in the army
and navy of the Mikado. The informa
tion is to the effect that the. Japanese
Government is quietly dispensing with
the services of foreigners who have for
a number of years been attached to the
army and navy as Instructors.
It is asserted by some that fear pre
vails among the heads of the Japanese
army and navy that these foreign in
structors might be partial to Russia
and in the event of war between the
two countries betray the secrets of the
Japanese army and navy, but those
who are familiar with the affairs of the
army and navy of the Mikado know
that no foreigner is ever allowed to
hold ; a , position , in the Japanese army
or ' navy^ in time of ; war. Therefore 'the
course • of ¦ the- Japanese Government % ii>
MOVE THAT PORTENDS WAR.
TIENTSIN, Dec. 20. — The reason
for the degradation of Chang Yi. di
rector of the Northern Railway, and
the taking from him of all his honor?,
as cabled yesterday, Is that in 1900 he
sold the valuable mines at Kalping.
Chang Vi has been given two months'
grace during which he is expected to
again bring the mines under Chinese
control. Should he fail to do this
further punishment awaits him.
Cause of Chans Yi's Degradation.
S;*cia.! DiFpatch to The Call.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 20.— As a result
of a cuarrel over a dice game in the
"red light" district this morning: an un
known negro, said to be a Porto Rican,
fired a shot at a negro barkeeper named
. George Wilkinson at a range of less
than ten feet and missed him.
Patrolmen Roller and Whalling saw
the shooting— ln fact, were within less
than 100 feet of the place. When they
started after the unknown negro there
began a pistol duel with him. which
only poor marksmanship prevented
from resulting in a tragedy. Instead of
running when he saw the officers, the
r.cgro for a moment stood his ground
and began shooting at them.* He did
rot try to escape until they brought
their revolvers into play and by that
time he had only three shots left in
his sun.
V> halJing would have killed him but
for the failure of a cartridge to explode.
The officer's gun fouled and before he
could make it work again the negro
was out of his reach and was reloading
his gun. Roller chased him into China
town, and as he disappeared up a dark
hallway he turned and fired a parting
shot which struck the sidewalk, glanced
and struck Whalling in the hand, in
flating a painful wound.
The two officers promptly returned
the fire and a showrr of bullets was
sent into the hallway. Later a search
.vas made there and blood was found
on the stairway, she-wing that the negro
had been wounded. One of the officers
went to the other side of the China
town block to prevent the escape of
the fugitive, while Roller remained
guarding the plajce where he was last
teen. Thinking to summon reinforce
ments Whalling blew his whistle and
Roller, supposing that he had cornered
rhe nVgro. responded to the call. While
he was away the negro ran out and
made his escape.
WASHINGTON/.. Dec. , ¦ 20.— At the
State Department ' and .elsewhere in
administration circles — not even, it is
said, excepting 'the .White / House- I 
there is considerable ' feeling '¦ against
Wayne Mac Veach, ¦ former Attor
ney General, who is now acting as
legal .counsel -for General ; Reyes, Co
lombia's, special -envoy here, land is
assisting . him ¦in preparing .. a , note of
remoristrance'to the" United, States. " ¦
MacVeagh : only" recently: returned
Former Attorney General Acts as
• Counsel for : General Reyes.
MacVEACH AIDS COLOMBIA.
Strength of United States Squadron on
«j Duty at tlie Isthmus. ' ¦
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.— The Navy
Department has now a very, formidable
array of vessels on duty at the. isthmus
of Panama. To the south of the.isth
mus' are the Concord, the Boston, the
Wyoming and the • Marblehead, to be
augmented by the New York, Rear Ad
miral Glass* regular flagship.
To the east of the isthmus are the
Mayflower, the Atlanta, the Prairie, the
Nashville and the Bancroft. Proceed
ing southward - to Join 'the other ves
sels under the immediate command of
Rear Admiral Coghlan ls.the.Olympia,
his regular flacship.
Naval officials say that so far as the
reports at hand show ]no Colombian
troops have been discovered on the
southern part of the isthmus, while on
the other side the only ones seen have
been those on the shore -bordering on
the gulf of Darien:j, ;\ ?' . '-': \
FORMIDABLE NAVAL ARRAY.
Japan Recalls Two Army Chiefs From
• Service in China.
PEKING. Dec. 20.— While no news
has been received at the Japanese le
gation that Japan has sent an ultima
tum to Russia, it is recognized at the
legation that a grave crisis is ap
proaching. Major General Tamani,
the Japanese military attache, and
the Japanese colonel who has been
instructing General Tuan Shai Kai's
troops, have both started for Japan.
The native press has reiterated a cir
cumstantial story to the effect that,
in the event of Manchuria being re
tained by Russia, it was the inten
tion of Great Britain to establish a
protectorate over the Yang-tse Val
ley as compensation and to appoint
a Viceroy therein, so that her prestige
in the Far East would be equal to
Russia's. Some of the native papers
give Wai Wu Hu, of the Chinese For
eign Board, as authority for the story.
This fiction is largely credited and
gravely discussed, and is creating hos
tility against Great Britain. It is sus
pected that the story has been fos
tered by unfriendly agencies appoint
ed for the purpose, and the British
legation is investigating its origin.
OFFICERS SUMMONED HOME.
: CONSTANTINOPLE. Dec. 20.—The
Porte'has agreed to the demands of
the United States Government and has
ordered the Governor of Alexandretta
to make ample apology to Consul Da
vis for the insults and assault to
•which he was subjected by the police
of Alexandretta while he was escorting
to a departing steamship a naturalized
American citizen named Attarian, who
had been' liberated from the prison
through the Intervention of Davis.
The Porte notified the United States
Legation orally and in. writing of the
instructions telegraphed to the Vali of
Aleppo; to order the Governor of Alex
andria to call upon Davis immediate
ly on his arrival at Alexandretta and
offer, to •, him a complete apology. The
Porte also has promised to punish the
police officials who assaulted Consul
Davis and will allow Attarian to de
part unhindered.
..The .United States cruiser San Fran
cisco with Rear Admiral Cotton, which
left Beirut. on Friday, is expected to
arrive" there to-day, and when the
Turkish Government carries out the
programme it has formulated the Alex
andretta incident will be considered
closed.;"lt is' felt that delay or com
plications are not likely, but Rear Ad
miral Cotton has received instructions
to meet all eventualities.
from The Hague, .where jhe repre
sented! the- United States and other
peace 'powers in the Venezuelan arbi
tration. He will get.a large fee for
this, but he ;has not-received it yet, it
is said, 'and ' his association with; the
Colombian cause has not Increased.his
popularity at the State Department.
His action is, considered'hostile.
*;.*sTheV State Department is naturally
much disappointed at; the _ Senate's ac
tion in reconsidering,the;confirmation
of William.l.^Buchanan as Minister to
Panama. , Buchanan i probably will re
main'in Panama'until he is confirmed,
Porte Humiliates the
' Governor of Alex
andretta,
The Senate is divided into fifty-seven
Republicans and thirty-three Demo
crats. The Democrats include Teller
and Dubois, who formerly were Repub
licans, and until the last Congress were
classed as fuslonists or free- silverites.
but who were always found voting with
the Democrats. They have now gone
into the Democratic caucus and are
bound by the decisions of that body.
If the Republicans were able to poll
their entire vote for ; the treaty ¦ they
would still lack three votes of the two
thlrda necessary to ratify. ' But the
Senators who . are managing the flght
for the administration must make al
lowance for one or two . defections. As
Senator Hoar has denounced the Presi
dent's policy, it is unwise! in case • of a
close contest, for the- Republicans to
depend absolutely on ;his vote*. '.?,
Gossip has been busy with the name
Republican membership, 67; possible
Republican defection, 2. -
-Democratic membership, 33; Demo
cratic defection, 2; other Democrats in
doubt, 13. " .•- rr
Democratic defection votes needed to
ratify, 5.
To defeat the Panama treaty and thus
record a vote of .want of confidence in
the Roosevelt administration is the aim
of Senators Gorman, Morgan and
Daniel and other Democrats who are
leading the assault upon recognition of
the new republic. '
The treaty is in danger. There cart
be no doubt about this. It is gleefully
affirmed by the Democrats and assented
to even by the most outspoken friends
of the administration in the Senate. But
before its defeat can be accomplished
much progress must be made In the di
rection of obtaining Democratic unity.
The minority leaders are bending every
nerve to marshal their entire vote
against the treaty. If they do that they
can prevent ratification at this session
of Congress or amend the treaty in such
a way that it would have to be sent
back to Panama or voted -down in a
straight-out contest, according to the
plan of action which . may be deter
mined.
WASHINGTON. Dec. # 20.— The treaty
situation in the Senate is as follows:
Necessary to ratify, 60.
Its Supporters Lack the Necessary
Two-Thirds Vote In the Senate, j
CAXAIi TREATY IN DANGER.
*tu\\ YORK. Dec. 20.— The following
advertisement appears in the Herald:
"Information or whereabouts wanted
of William Lancaster, formerly of Pat
erson. N. J., dead or alive, by his moth
er. Mrs. Edward Lancaster, care Nor
ton, 846 Hancock street, Brooklyn.
N. Y."
The advertisement says that, tied up
in the New Jersey courts, is a fortune
of $100,000. which cannot be distributed
until it is determined whether William
Lancaster Is living or dead. With a
mother's faith. Mrs. Edward Lancas
ter is certain that her son is alive, al
though shfc has not seen him in nine
teen years. In the hope that the ad
vertisement would reach his eye. she
inserted it yesterday. ,
Edward Lancaster, father of the
wandering heir, died in January. l^g.
For thirty years he had been connected
with the Cooke Locomotive Works in
Paterson. William, who had a roving
disposition, left home when he was 21
years of age. Six times a year he
wrote, but in 1337 this correspondence
ceased and William was heard from
no more. His last letter came from
San Francisco and said he was doles
well as a civil engineer, which profes
sion he and his brother, Edward, were
skilled In.
When the father lay dying Mrs. Lan
caster telegraphed to Illnols, where Ed
ward was employed, and to William's
last address in San Francisco. Edward
reached Paterson Just as 'his father
died. William neither came nor an
swered.
After his father's death Edward Lan
caster obtained a position in Paterson
and made his home with his mother.
Stricken by heart disease, he died on
December 2 of this year, and Mrs.
Lancaster, left alone, came to Brook
lyn.
Mrs. Lancaster has a dower right in
one-third of the estate left by her hus
band and this would revert to her mis
sing son at her death. Under the New
Jersey law If the son does not appear
within a specified time after his moth
er's death he will be declared legally
dead and the entire property will go to
the brothers and sisters of Edward
Lancaster Sr.
Mrs. Lancaster is 70 years of age.
William, if living, is 40.
quietly getting rid of its. foreign In
structors signifies that Japan is pre
paring for war.
An instance of the Japanese mistrust
of foreigners occurred recently while
the Nippon Maru was preparing for her
homeward trip. Among her passengers
from Shanghai was Lieutenant A. H.
Potter, a well-known young American
cavalry officer, who with his wife, for
merly Miss McNutt of this city, was on
his way from the Philippines to Yoko
hama on a sick leave. He wore civilian
clothes with the exception of the regu
lation campaign hat bearing the in
signia of his branch of the military
service, and his identity was well
known to all on board. Notwithstand
ing this fact the lieutenant and his
wife when they disembarked at Naga
saki with the intention of going over
land to Yokohama by way of Kobe
were placed under the espionage of
Japanese secret agents, who accompa
nied them aboard the train and kept a
close yatch on the officer. Lieutenant
Potter had not proceeded far on his
Journey before he discovered ' that he
and his wife were being closely fol
lowed, and at Kobe he protested
against the action of the Japanese
agents, who only smiled at his annoy
ance and continued on the Journey to
Yokohama with the American couple.
There the lieutenant again com
plained about ,being followed and tried
to convince the government representa
tives that he was an American army
officer in Yokohama on sick leave. Ap
parently his statements were of no
avail, for when the Nippon Maru de
parted from Yokohama the secret
agents were still tracking Potter and
his young wife, who had planned to re
main there several weeks. Their only
consolation was found in the Informa
tion, imparted to them through the me
dium of a prominent American resident
of Yokohama, that the Japanese Gov
ernment was treating all army officers
and other foreign strangers in a similar
manner.
OFFENDING
TURK MUST
APOLOGIZE
"Our Government would have been
derelict if it had not foreseen the revo
lution that was comics and made prep
arations to protect American Interests
and safeguard transportation across the
isthmus. That our Governmeant had
anything to do with fomenting the re
bellion Is Incredible and absurd. The
people of Panama had a right to rebel.
They, had Just cause, they said, and in
a sense they made good their independ
ence."
i NEW. YORK, .Dec. 20.— President Ja
cob Gould Schurman of Cornell Univer
sity delivered an address in Cooper
Union to-night in the People's Institute
course on "The True Elements of Na
tional Greatness." Afterward, taking
up the • Panama question and Mr.
Roosevelt's connection with it, he said:
DEFENDS PRESIDENTS. COURSE.
Head of Cornell University Says Pan
ama Policy Was Justified. - ,
of Senator Ha2e, and It is said that he
Is by no means pleased with the rapid,
progress of events oh the isthmus. Sen
ator Hale opposed the administration's
policy during the Spanish War and he
has very pronounced ideas on our rela
tions with foreign Governments.
ARMED NEGRO
FIGHTS POLICE
FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL. "WHO, IS COUNSEL -FOR COLOM
BIA'S REPRESENTATIVE. AND DEMOCRATIC SENATOR WHO. IS
• FOREMOST IN OPPOSITION TO THE PANAMA- CANAL TREATY.
The camp at Empire is -situated on
the top sides of a hill. The health of
the men is good. , They have been en
gaged since their arrival in bettering
their surroundings, building roads,
clearing the brush near their dwellings,
in getting stores and. in other duties.
The marines have done some scouting
for the purpose qf ascertaining the con
dition of the near-by trails and the
points to which they lead.
The four companies of marines at
present occupy fourteen one-story
houses belonging to the canal company.
The company commanders are respec
tively Captain H. R. Bears, Captain W.
W. Low, Captain L. M. Little and Cap
tain John N. Wright. Captain S. D.
Butler, formerly of the converted cruis
er Prairie, is in command of the com
pany of marines at Yaviza.
PANAMA, Dec. 20.— Serious trouble Is
reported in the Darien district. Ameri
cans who arrived there to-day were
given notice by the Colombians to leave
within twenty-four hours.
News was brought to-night by the
steamer Martinique • from ? Savanilla
that two battalions of Colombian troops
have left Savanilla for Quidedo. -
Three hundred and eighty American
marines are now at Empire station, on
the Panama Railroad, under the com
mand of Major John A. Lejoune. The
marines are comfortably settled and
are well supplied with good water.
CLEVELAND. Ohio. Dec. 20.— Roscoe
W. Derby, a machinist, despondent
over his financial affairs, killed his wife
and their three children at their home
here early to-day and then committed
suicide. The dead:
ROSCOE W. DERBY, aged 45.
MRS. DELLA S. DERBY.
HAROLD DERBY, aged S.
ALICE DERBY, aged 7.
THOMAS DERBY, aged 5.
The crime was extraordinary in its
thoroughness and evidently had been
planned carefully by Derby.
Derby had been down town as late
as 11 o'clock last night, ostensibly
shopping:, but in all probability procur
ing ammunition for his revolver. When
he arrived home his wife and he talked
for a time with a neighbor about a
Christmas festival they had planned.
WIFE SHOT WHILE ASLEEP.
The crime Is believed to have b«en
committed at about 4 o'clock this
morning. Mrs. Derby was shot to death
in bed, two bullets having been fired
into her forehead and a third, probably
fired after the children had been killed,
penetrating: the back' of the neck. # She
probably was killed i while asleep, the
expression on her face showing no sign
of a struggle.
Two of the children, however, prob
ably had a struggle with their father
after they had been awakened by the
shooting and made an ineffectual at
tempt to escape. Harold's body was
found in a pool of blood in the kitchen
and that of Alice in the dining-room
with her face to the floor and a bullet
In her breast. Harold evidently nad
been pursued through the house by his
father, as the furnishings were iri dis
order. From the location of his wounds
the boy probably was caught by his
father and held while the revolver was
placed against the little fellow's fore
head and two bullets sent into his
brain. There also was evidence of a
struggle on Alice's part.
LOSES MONEY OX RACES.
The last of the children to die was
Thomas, aged 5. He had remained in
bed, probably still asleep when Derby
shot him in the head.
After the crime had been committed
Derby went to the bedroom where his
wife lay dead, and, lying down by her
side, fired a bullet into his own brain.
A number of poolroom race checks
were found about the house, showing
that Derby had been trying his luck
at betting.
The first knowledge of the tragedy
was communicated in a letter written
by Derby yesterday to a friend in this
city. The letter was to the effect that
when it should be received the Derby
family would be dead. When the friend
hurried to the house this morning the
terrible tragedy was revealed.
Apart from the delicate state of
negotiations between the two nations,
Reuter says, it also is known that
Russia is assuming a more defiant at
titude and the outlook may be regard
ed as more gloomy than it hitherto
has been, although it cannot be said
that the resources of diplomacy have
been completely exhausted.
The Daily Mail's Pekin correspond
ent declares that a few Manchu no
bles who are under Russian, influence
are delaying the conclusion of an al
liance between China and Japan.
"All of the positions cannot be de
fined, as not half of them are yet
provided With guns. The Russians
are preparing for the investment of
Port Arthur, but will make, a fight
to secure Dalny from occupation."
Keuter's Telegram Company has
learned that considerable anxiety ex
ists in the best-informed circles of
London regarding the possible out
come of the situation in the Far East.
Fears are expressed that the Russian
Government may have overstepped
the bounds which would make peace
ful negotiations with Japan possible.
It may be regarded as quite certain,
it asserts, that Japan will not accept
the principles of the Russian note,
which are altogether at variance with
Japan's main contentions, and that
Japan's reply must necessarily be
cast, in this sense.
* The correspondent of the Daily
.Telegraph;~Tvh<v«fte**«£ tour, of Man
churia,'has arrived at Nagasaki, ex
presses the belief that there will be
no war— certainly not before the
spring — and that Russia does not
want war. before she has consolidated
her position in Manchuria. She is ap
prehensive, however, of the strength
of the Japanese fleet and over the
attitude of China and Great Britain.
The correspondent doubts whether
there are as many as 100,000 troops
south of Moukden or whether the
stores there will last for sjx months.
Electric lights have been installed in
Moukden. The correspondent believes
that Port Arthur is over-fortined and
says:
The special cablegram from the
Far East published in this morning's
newspapers . throws ho light on the
situation, but all . are agreed that
Japan has not sent an ultimatum to
Russia.
LONDON, Dec. 21. — The morning
newspapers display increased alarm
over the aspect of affairs in the Far
Easjt, rather from the fear that some
unforeseen incident may precipitate a
conflict than from any belief that the
resources of diplomacy have become
exhausted, the opinion being still al
most general that both Russia and
Japan are anxious to avoid war.
The Morning Post, which is inspired
in the Japanese interest, makes a sug
gestion which may possess significance
— namely, that Japan should cut the
Gordian knot by declaring a protec
torate over Korea. The paper con
tends that such a solution would com
mend itself to all the powers, with the
exception of Russia, and that it might
even be welcomed in St. Petersburg,
if it be true that Russia does not de
sire war.
Publication of Obituary Notices Results
ill the Prompt Picketing of
Stricken Homes.
CHICAGO. Dec. 20.— Shrinking from
the espionage of strikers' pickets and
fearful that funeral parties -would be
attacked by the striking livery drivers,
many Chicago families have refrained
from publicly announcing their be
reavements. In the vaults of seven un
dertakers' establishments lie the bodies
cf persons about whose death the ut
most secrecy is maintained, and whose
funerals will be postponed until after
the settlement of the strike. In other
cases the stricken relatives have ar
ranged for evening funerals and pri
vate burials, of which no announce
ment is made.
The scenes that attended several fu
nerals held on Saturday, when pickets
attempted to interfere with the re
moval of bodies, have led the Health
Department officials to sanction the se
crecy that is being preserved. The un
dertakers have been informed that, un
less public safety demands it. burials
will xi'ot be insisted upon until such a
Tim-e as funeral parties shall be safe
frc-m molestation.
|' A. A. Perriso. president of the Liv
erymen and Undertakers" Association,
said to-night:
¦ The reason more deaths are not be
ing announced is because we have
learned that the strikers have been
reading the list of death notices In the
papers and sending pickets to watch
the houses."
Practically no attempt was made by
funeral parties to-day to reach the
cemeteries and the day was free from
disturbances.
Mother Advertises in New York for
Information as to Missing Man's
Whereabouts or Death.
Warning Letter Written Before the
Tragedy Reaches Friend After
Family Is Destroyed.
Inspired London Journal Suggests That
¦ Japan Declare a Protectorate
Over Korean Empire.
Health Officials Sanction
Infractions of the
City's Laws.
Children Struggle Vainly
Against Murderous
Father.
When Last Heard 01 Was
Working as Machinist
in San Francisco.
British Government Officials
Fear Clash Cannot
Be Averted.
Fortune of $100,000
Awaits William
Lancaster.
Each Day Adds Gloom
to Far Eastern
Situation.
Quidedo Reported
to Be Destination
of Soldiers.
Two Battalions of
Troops Marching
to the Front. 0
SEARCHING
FOR HEIR
TO RICHES
SLAYS FOUR,
THEN DIES
A SUICIDE
Cleveland ,lan Kills
V/iie, Babes and
Himself.
DRIFTING
NEARER TO
CONFLICT
Mourning Ghicagoans
Afraid to Bury
Their Dead. .
FUNERALS
AWAIT END
OF STRIKE
COLOMBIA GIVES AM ERIC ANS
TWENTY-FOUR HOURS' NOTICE
TO DEPART FROM DARIEN
VOLUME XCV— NO. 21.
fors«firt*£xa*e at San rr»n
cifco for,thirt7 houn en&fcisr
iai^yisl:i*' December 21:
-'s*n rraacisco ti* Vic:ti^t7—
rair ltt<ad *y: Uarht aorthw««t
wiaa.' a. c. wzx.x.sozr.
PRICE FIVE CEXTS.
SAN FRANCISCO, , MONDAY;- DECEMBER L>l, 1903.
The San Francisco Call
r.- > ' w * ¦
TKB;THEATKtS... _^_
Alca-rcr — "Blue Jeans."
California — "?oxy Orandtp-i.**
Central — "Alpliosse and Garten."
ColiunTjla — "Dolly Vardea."
Fischer's — "X. O. IT."
Granft— "A Little Outcast.''
Orpbcum — Vaudeville.
The Chutes — Vaudeville.
Los Angeles Patrolmen and a
Porto Bican Have a Despe
rate Battle With Pistols
NEW YORK. Dec 20.— Alexander
Haff. the suspended superintendent of
foreign mails in the New Tork Post
oflicf. who was to have been brought
to trial In the Federal Court this week
for robbing; the mails, killed himself
to-night by shooting. Haff had been
moody fnr many weeks, the approach
ing trial weighing on him. He gave
his family no hint of his intention -to
kill himself. Haft entered the postal
eervlce in this city in 1574.