THE RUSSIANS IN A BIG FIGHT. They Have a Battle With Several Thousand Chinese. RUSSIANS LOSE SEVERAL OFFICERS. Tare Regime! ol East Siberian Troops In an Engagement With Several Thousand Chinese Troops Many Men Killed and Wounded-The Chinese Retreat Alter .Losing Heavily Prince Tuan to Be Banished. Berlin (By Cable). A dispatch to (he Cologne Gazette from St. Petersburg says hard fighting is reported to have oc curred between the First, Second and Third East Siberian Rifle Regiments and several thousand of Chinese troops between Kobantsy and Sin-Miu-Ting. The Russians lost a captain and several men killed and a lieutenant colonel, sev eral other officers and many men wound ed. The Chinese lost heavily and re treated, with the Russians pursuing them. The date of the engagement is not mentioned in the dispatch. Another dispatch to the Co'ognc Ga zette from Pekin, dated Thursday, April 4, says the Chinese plenipoten tiaries have agreed on the punishments of the guilty provincial officials to be demanded by the foreign ministers on account of the murder of 242 persons, missionaries and their wives and chil dren. Prince Tnan's fate has finally been decided. His death sentence will be commuted to banishment to Turkestan. The list of guilty Chinese provincial au thorities includes only four to be be headed and several degradations. The Chinese commissioners are surprised that the guilty officials should escape with such light punishments. The in formant of the correspondent of the As sociated Press added "and well they may." The Frankfurter Zeitung published another letter from Pekin containing a verbatim account of the interview be tween Dr. Munn Von Sehwarzenstein. German Minister to China, and a Chi nese Prince. The most interesting point in the interview is the Prince's open ad mission that if the allied troops are now withdrawn the Boxers would immedi ately appear in strong force. Washington (Special). The determi nation of the Russian Government not to press to a conclusion the negotiations begun sometime ago with the Chinese Government in regard to Manchuria has naturally given great gratification to the Government of the United States. The President is understood to recognize in this act of the Czar another proof of his sincere regard for the harmony, of the powers now engaged in negotiations in China and his determination to do nothing to impede the speedy and satis factory conclusion of these negotiations. Bid GRAIN ELEVATOR BIRNED. I About 899,030 Bushels of Wheat and Cora Are Destroyed. St. Louis (Special). Sparks from a switch engine set fire to the big elevator on the river front at the foot of Biddle street, owned by the St. Louis Elevator and Storage Company, and within less than two hours the building was re duced to ashes, entailing a loss of nearly $650,000. H. C. Haarstick. president of the company, said the building and the contents, which consisted of about 800, 000 bushels of wheat and corn, were fully insured. It was his opinion that the loss of the grain would not affect the local market. The burned elcvatoi was the second largest in St. Louis, and was used for storage purposes by others titan members of the St. Louis Elevator and Storage Company, but the latier iust at this time happened to own n.ost of the grain. The building conl.-ir.n-d corn and wheat of grades below No. 2. Only a small quantity of high-class rcrcals was stored there. Suicide of Evangelist's Daughter. New York (Special). Mary Rivers. tS-ycar-old daughter oi Mr. and Mrs. Charles V. Rivers, evangelists, of Jer sey City, committed suicide by taking carbolic acid. The parents insist mat :hey know of no reason why she .-hould have ended her life. They were away from home in an adjoining town when ;he girl took the poison, Mr. and Mrs. Rivers having gone to pray ior a per on whom they s-ay needed prayer, and lid not know oi their daughter's act until they returned later in the day. Damage by Floods In New England. Boston (Special). From all over New Kngland reports come of damage lone by rio.uls. which have been threat tiling (or several days to equal those 91 l8. Bridges have been swept away, railroads inundated, mills ruined, anil :he flooding oi itllars is a common complaint. While the greatest damage seems to have been done in Maine, the Merriniac river in New Hampshire anil Massachusetts is proving to be as tur bulent as any. Eighty Men P;r Troop. Washington (Special). An r.rdrr has been issued by the War Department, di recting that the five new cavalry regi ments (excepting the Fifteenth Cavalry, under orders to the Philippines) be or ganized on a basis of 80 men per troop. L'nder the elastic provisions of the Army Reorganization act a troop of cavalry may consist of from 65 to 100 men. The IVar Department has concluded that a Itrength of 80 men per troop will meet II military requirements. Re-elected Mayor of Raleigh. Raleigh. N. C. (Special). The first galize1 primary in the Stale under the jew law was held here Tuesday by the Democrats for Mayor, other city ofii :ers, and Aldermen. There were two tickets. The administration won by a arge majority. A. M. Powell, the pres ort incumbent, was re-elected Mayor. Stabbed by a Madman. Stinbury, Pa. . (Special). Dr. John ion, a physician in the State Hospital ior the Insane, at Danville, Montour rounty. was stabbed to death by an in lar.c Italian patient named Capello. Wapello became unmanageable during flic afternoon a:id threw the institution mo eoniusion. The other patients be came alarmed, and their cries could be jeard some distance way. An attend int finally subdued the Italian, and as Dr. Johnson was stooping over him iking his temperature he plunged his nife into the doctor's breast three limit!, Jews Massacred la Persia. Constantinople (By Cable). A dis patch from Teheran says that religious disturbances have been renewed in the Persian Capital. A Moslem scheik tamed Ibrahim harangued worshipers is tliey were leaving the mosques, sc rcrely denouncing the Jews and urging in attack on the people of that creed. Many were aroused by Ibrahim's utter inces. and he led them against the Jew ish quarters, where the mob of fanatics Indulged in indiscriminate wrecking, Sunder and slaughter. SUMMARY OF THE NEWS. Domestic. Governor Stone, of Pennsylvania, ap pointed A. M. Brown and John R. Murphy recorders for Pittsburg and Al legheny City, respectively, under the Ripper Bill. Percy I.. Johnson, a Bridgeport, Ct., lawyer, who defaulted, returned from Mexico and voluntarily went back to Bridgeport to face the charges. Capt. F. A. Rice, administrator for the esta'e of his brother, William Marsh Rice, of New York, dropped dead in a railroad car in Texas. Twenty-eight buildings were burned, involving a loss of $250,000, in Lisbon Falls. Me., the town having no fire ap paratus. I. H. Mover was acquitted in Rich mond of the charge of murdering How ard Lpp. a icilow-worknian, at the Union Depot. The bill for the paroling of the noto rious Younger Brothers, now serving life sentences in Minnesota, was killed. William Bradley fell into the tire at his home, near Accaquan. Fairiax county, Va. The wile of Rev. Beniamin I". De Costa died .suddenly at her home in New York. Gen. Iri:zhugh Lee has recovered from his recent indisposition. General Samuel Thomas, president of the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louis ville Railroad, confirms reports of a combination of the Southern Railway, the Cincinnati. Hamilton and Dayton, the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louis ville and the Cincinnati Southern. The famous Gainsborough portrait of the Duchess of Devonshire, valued at $50,000. which was stolen 25 years ago ft 0111 a London gallery, was recovered through a Chicago detective agency. The Interstate Commerce Commis sion sat in New York to hear charges of New York lumber dealers brought against the Norfolk and Western. Charles L. Poller, indicted in New ark, N. J., on a dozen charges of forg ery and uttering forged notes, was committed in default oi bail. The steamer Chester W. Chapin. of the New Haven Steamship Line, went ashore as she was feeling her way out of Providence harbor during a storm. Her passengers were taken off and sent to New York by rail. The Philadelphia, Trenton and New York Railroad Company was incorpor ated at Trenton to build a trolley line through Trenton as part of the pro posed road from New York to Phila delphia. A coroner's jury in Lynchburg. Va., justified the shooting oi a negro who. while delirious, had escaped irom the small-pox hospital and was running amuck. The appellate division of the Supreme Court in New York dissolved the in junction forbidding the Goulds to pay over to the Castcllancs the full amount of Anna Gould's income. John Meyers and Ignatz. Miller were arrested as they were about to carry $10,000 worth ot laces from the import ing house of Joseph Rothschilds in New York. The coroner's jury in Trenton placed the blame for the disastrous Nellie BW collision on Engineer Thompson and Conductor Sapp, of the local train. General George T. Anderson, a noted Confederate commander, died in An niston. Ala., aged 77 years. Robert Clarkson Stribling. a young lawyer, died suddenly in Newport News of heart failure. Foreign. The German press continues to de plore the Kmperor's utterances and the ; iact that he has had the barracks of the , Alexander Regiment built close to his ; palace that his Liie Guards may thus afford him better protection, j The Chinese authorities have agreed I on the punishment of the guilty pro I vincial officials demanded by the ior ; eign ministers on account of the nnir j ders oi 242 persons. Prince Tuan. it is said, will be banished to Turkestan. 1 The big Sprudel spring at Mannheim , has ceased to How. and the people blame I the government for artesian borings in the vicinity, which it is claimed have : caused the trouble. I A Russian regiment had a hard fight with Chinese troops near Kobantsky. Four Russians, including a captain. j were killed, and several officers vcr. wounded. London has information that a dc-.-.l 1 is on foot ior the consolidation 'if the : Kreat banking interests of Chicago, ; Omaha and Kansas City. I Census returns show a decrease of I one million in the population oi India I on account of the famine. I A mob made a demonstration at the i Russian and Italian consulates in Geneva. Switzerland, j The Black Bull Inn, in London, im ! mortalized by Dickens, is to be torn ; down. The delayed Allan liner Buen.is 1 Ayrcan a'rived at Greenock. ! Dr. C. Stoiloff. ex-premier of Bul garia, is dead. I Russian officials in Paris say that it : was never intended lhat the Russian : squadron should remain at Toulon dur ; ing the France-Italian festivities, and i lhat no political significance attaches ; to the departure of all but two ships, which will remain to grcu President Loubet. j The foreign Ministers in Pekin are j considering proposals of financial cx- pens lor raising sufficient sum ior pay j ment of the Chinese indemnity. Some I of the powers are averse to compelling j China to contract a loan for the pay j ment of the indemnity. The German Minister to China says j that Russia will not abandon Prince Tuan to punishment because she owes j Manchuria to him. General Chaffee cabled the Depart ment that the allies propose to erect a scries oi fortified posts between Pekin to the sea. The condition of Waldcck. Rousseau, the French Premier, is critical. The German imperial 3 per cent, loan offered yesterday was oversubscribed, subscriptions being received from the United States, France, Kngland and Belgium. The envoys in Pekin have practically arranged everything except the indent- 1 nities, the British, German and Japanese having not yet handed in their claims. The Chinese Government has formal ly notified Russia that China, owing to the opposition of the other powers, can not sign the Manrhurian agreement. The flagship of Prince Henry of Rus sia grounded east of Arcona, but was subseuqently floated and reached Kiel under her own steam. Financial. The Standard Oil Company has made a reduction of 3 cents a barrel in the price of crude oil to $1.27. The value of securities quoted at the London Stock Exchange is $37,600, 000,000, exclusive of foreign loans. The International Steel Company, with a capital of $1,000,000, has been incorporated at Trenton, N. J. The American Car and Foundry Company declared the regular quarterly dividend of ii yer cent, in the pre ferred and 'i of 1 per cent, on the BRIDGE GAVE WAY AND CAR GOES DOWN. Thirty Passengers Are Injured in the Crash at Syracuse, N. Y. DROP OF THIRTY FEET INTO MUD. Several Persons and Horse and 1 Loaded Lumber Wagon Fall With the Car Into the Oswego Canal-Had the Canal Been Filled Wlih Water, Many ot the People In the Car Would Have Been Drowned. Syracuse. N. Y. ( Special ). While a car on the old Fast Side suburban line of the Syracuse Rapid Transit Company was crossing the James street bridge over the Oswego Canal in the heart of the city about 5.50 p. in., the bridge sud denly gave way, dropping the car and its 40 passengers to the canal bed JO feet below. Several persons who were crossing the bridge at the time went down with the car. while a horse and loaded lumber wagon piled on top of the heap. About ,10 persons were injured. It is not believed that any deaths will result, although there are reports that several were very seriously injured. I lad the canal been filled with water , the result would have been terrible. The ear struck the towpath end on first, and then slid off into the mud at the canal I bottom, where it stuck. The water would have been deep enough to cover all but a few windows and the front ! door, and many of the passengers would have undoubtedly perished. When the crash came persons on the . street called the fire department. Lad ders, were quickly lowered and the in jured carried up and sent to their homes 1 or to hospitals in carriages and ambu- lances. for more than a year there have been criticisms of the condition of the bridge. The bridge was about 80 feet long and to feet wide. It was broken sharp off at both embankments, the entire struc ture going into the canal. TURNED TABLES ON HIGHWAYMEN. Nervy Conductor Wellman Shot Two Negroes Who Tried to Hold Him Up. Ccredo. W. Va. (Special). It was scarcely breaking dav when Conductor M. A. Wellman. of the N. & V left the hotel in Kenova on his way to catch his train southbound. He was not more than a hundred yards from the hotel when a gruff voice 'shouted, "Halt! Hands up!" and two burly negroes sprang Towards him out of the dark ness, with pistols in their hands. There was no time to think, but Wclbnan's nerve did not leave him for an instant. When his bands came out of his over coat pockets a pistol was in each one of them, and before his assailants could pull a trigger the bulldogs of the nervy Wellman began to bark. The negroes turned to run. and it looked as though they might escape because of the little light. Wellman. however, shot to hit, and in a trice he had brought both to the pavement seriously injured, .one shot through and through, the bones of the other's thigh shattered by two balls. The men were turned over to the local authorities, and Wellman caught Ins train. Bnlfalo Men Show Grit. Buffalo, N. Y. (Special). At a meet ing of incorporators of the Pan-American Exposition. President J. G. Mil burne stated that the funds available would meet all obligations covering the. completion of the Exposition except about $500,000. After the recent failure of Congress to grant a loan of $500,000 to the Exposition, Director-General Win. I. Buchanan had stated that this action would in no way affect the car rying out of the project In the fullest as planned. This assertion was justi fied by the results of the meeting of the incorporators, when within an hour over $200,000 was subscribed. Conductor on Ball. Trenton. N. J. (Special). Conductor Edward W. Sapp, whom a coroner's jury found guilty of negligence in con ncction with the collision of his train with the "Nellie Ely" Atlantic City Ex press, on February 21, came to Trenton and surrendered himself. He was re leased by Judge Rellstab in $2000 bail to await the grand jury's action. Strikes In the South. Birmingham, Ala. (Special). The 400 coal miners who have been on strike several days a; Blossburg on account oi a difference regarding the charges ior yardage work, have returned to work. Thirty linemen in the employ oi a telephone company here have qi it work because the management put ne groes to work with them. STEALINGS IN MANILA. AGUINALDO TO COMMAND PEACE. Manila (By Cable). l.teut. Fredk. Boyer, of the Thirty-ninth Volunteer Infantry, chief commissary for the 2d district of the Department of Southern Luzon, has arrived at Calamba, prov ince of Laguana, where he has been charged with misappropriating fifty cases of bacon and with other irregu larities. It is alleged that the shortage in the commissary depot at Manila aggregates $1X5,000. In contrast with the scandals in the commissary department, the collection and admini-tration of the insular funds are matters ior congratulation. The ac counts of the custom house, internal revenue department, and license office have been inspected and are reported perfectly straight. India Depopulated by Famine. London (By Cable). The depopula tion of India through famine and chol era is assuming alarming proportions. The latest advices from Simla say the census returns ol the central provinces show a decrease of over a million since I ,sg I . when, under normal conditions, an increase of a million and a half might have been expected. It is esti mated that five millions have died in India since 18K6 from causes directly due to the famine. In Western India things are even worse. The Oodeypoor State returns show a decrease of 840, 000, or 45 per cent, of the population. Former Consul General SHI Dead. Detroit, Mich. (Special). John M. B. Sill, minister resident and consul general for the United States to Korea Irom 1893 to 1897, died at Grace Hos pital here. For a year or more, in (act since his return from the Orient, when his health was shattered, Mr. Sill has been failing, and since Christmas has wasted rapidly away. Mr. Sill was frirn in Black Rock, N. V., in 1831, was nr bl ister to Korea during the Chinese-Japanese War, and his legation was the refuge ol many of the Korean court dignitaries alter the sensational assassi nation of the queen of that kingdom. FIGHT WITH BURGLARS. Ohio Night Watchman and a Citizen Over powered by the Robbers. Chardon, Ohio (Special). Half a dozen robbers blew open the sale ol the Citizens' Savings Bank here, an J after a fight with Night Watchman Pomeroy and another man, succeeded in making their escape on a hand-car. They got about $125 in money and missed $30,000. The night watchman discovered the men at work in the bank. He was seized, bound and gagged, but not until he had shot one of the burglars. Dr Hudson, who lives near the bank, was aroused by the noise and came to the scene. He was also seized and tied hand and foot. Three big charges ol dynamite were required to blow olT the safe door. Cashier C. L. Smith, of the bank, said: "The robbers got $125 in gold. $20,000 in certificates held against the bank by individuals and $25,000 or $30, 000 worth of mortgages and other se curities belonging to individuals. None of the paper taken is negotiable. There was $30,000 in currency in an inner vault, which they did not get. The hooks and records of the bank were not disturbed." Pomeroy, the night watchman, is bad ly used up. After he shot one of the burglars he was unmercifully clubbed over the head. After being bound and gagged the watchman was dragged into the bank. He lay there a witness to all the operations. Two men charged with being implicated in the robbery were arrested at Willoughby and brought here. A bundle of bank checks, some old coins and other aritcles were found in their pockets and were identified by Cashier Smith. BIO STORM IN PENNSYLVANIA. B. & 0. and Pennsylvania Trains Delayed By Snow. Pittsburg, Pa. (Special). Pittsburg was the center of a snowstorm that be gan early in the morning, continued with great force until after noon, doing thousands of dollars' worth of damage! It made practically useless for a time every electric wire in the city, suspend ed all street car travel, and in the early hours isolated the city from the out side world. Heavy" rain fell before the storm came, and all reports from up-river points tell of rising streams, which may bring about a flood here and below. The losses cannot be fixed, but con servative estimates place the amount at between $.250,000 and $300,000. Tele graph and telephone companies are the heaviest losers. The storm passed outward and all the suburban towns suffered proportionate ly with this city. Harrison Re-elected Mayor ol Chicago. Chicago (Special). Carter H. Har rison (Deni.) was Tuesday elected Mayor of Chicago for the third time. The total vote was 282.477, or 23.000 less than the vote two years ago. Har rison polled 156,952, or 7000 more than he ever did before. He won by 28.257. This shows how great the stay-at-home Republican vote was. In the last Mayoralty election Harrison's plurality was 41.059- Last fall in the Presidential campaign the city gave McKinley a plurality of "62t, but Samuel Alsehuler, the Democratic nominee for Governor, ran ahead of Bryan and carried the city by 10,I35. Monument to Harrison. Indianapolis (Special). A systematic movement was inaugurated here for honoring former President Harrison with a public monument. The Com mercial Club, of which General Har rison was a member, will act in the matter as a body and it is understood that other civic bodies will join in the movement. It is proposed that the statue be erected in front of the new Federal Building .which will be begun in a short time. $100,000,000 Added to Capital. Philadelphia, Pa. (Special). By the largest stock vote ever cast in the his tory of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com pany the shareholders of that corpora tion re-elected the old board of direct ors and authorized an increase of $100, 000.000 in the present capital stock. The number ol shares voted was 1.793,442, representing 59.18 per cent., a greater percentage than any previous election Increased Fertilizer Sales. Raleigh, N. C. (Special). The State Commissioner of Agriculture reports an increase of 30 per cent, in the sales oi fertilizers this season as compared with last. He says this indicates a largely increased cotton acreage, though there is a tendency on the part of farm ers to use a larger quantity of fertilizer per acre. Manila (By Cable). Aguinaldo has the assistance of Chief Justice Arellano and Mr. Fisher, General MacArthur's private secretary, in preparing his man ifesto. 'Ihe work is not completed, and the tenor of the contents is not di vulged. Chief Justice Arellano had a long conference with Aguinaldo. He says Aguinaldo is realizing the futility of further resistance, and is desirous of sparing the Filipinos additional distress trusting to the justice and generosity of the American people. The chief of the revolution will urKe the insurgents to cease fighting and ac cept American sovereignty, Senor Arellano says that Aguinaldo's manifesto is not yet prepared for pub lication, and that lie is unable to furni h the text. Ihe authorities assert that" a lormal announcement will be made when anything definite is accomplished. Gen. Casslus M. Clay Defies Ofncer! Richmond, Ky. (Special). Hostili ties have ceased at White Hal! the resident- of Gen. Casaius M. Clay, vet eran of two wars, who resisted the offi cers when they attempted to serve a writ for furniture sworn out by General Clay's daughter. The parties securing the wrt: withdrew the suit. There is w;'La KC r,,lorts from the barri caded W hile Hall. I. i (eared General Clay was slightly wounded in the scrim mage 1 he officers say they could have killed him easily, but did not want to do so. Doctor Has Somt Few Right. Indianapolis, Ind. (Special). The Supreme Court of Indiana has decided that a licensed practicing physician is not legally bound to attend any patient for whom he is called. The case came up from Montgomery county, where Dr. George Weddingficld refused to attend the wife of George D. Hurley, although called on three times, the last time by a preacher, who offered to pay the fees in advance. It was charged that the wo man's death was due to lack of a phsyi cian's aid, and the doctor was sued tor $10,000 damages. BIfi COMBINE OF THE RAILROADS. Alleged Plan to Form Company of All the Lines In the Country. SCHEME SAID TO BE UNDER WAV. Proposed Formation of a Company that Will Hold Controlling Interests in All the Great Railway Systems of the Country Plans In Line With Those Already Executed by Plerpont Morgan. New York (Special). Reports that huge railroad combinations are in pro cess of formation were widely circu lated here. Detailed statements concerning the plan already published looking to the combination of all tiic great railway systems of the United States under the control of one company were given, but as a general thing prominent railroad officials anil bankers declined to discuss the matter. According to all accounts the enter prise involved the greatest combination of capital known in the history of finance. It was said the company would be formed under the laws of New Jersey for the purpose of conducting a gen eral freight and transportation business throughout the United States; that the company would hold a controlling in terest in all of the great railways, and that the management of the road would be vested in the controlling company. According to the proposition, each road would preserve its identity and corporate existence, but the new com pany would control the affairs of all. By this policy it was claimed large sums of money could be saved as a result of economics in management and the stoppage of rate cutting. The names of men like J. Pierpont Morgan, William K. Vanderbilt, James J. Hill, Edward H. Harrison, George . Gould. John D. Rockefeller. Jacob H. Schiff and James Stillman were free ly used. One report said that the first step in the .proposed plan would be the securing' of control of the stocks of the Chicago, Burlington and Cjuincy, the Erie, the Great Northern and Northern Pacific, and that provision would be made for the acquisition of other properties in the immediate future. THE KINO'S CIVIL LIST. Proposals of the Committee Call for $335,000 Additional-Labouchere Presents a Minority Report. London (By Cable). The report of the House of Commons committee appointed to consider changes in the civil list the appropriation for the King recommends t'ha the new list be fixed at about 470,000 ($2,350,000), divided as follows: Privy purse 110,000 ($550,000) Salaries of house hold and retired allowance Expenses of house hold Works Royal bounty, alms and special ser vices Sundries 125,000 (625.000) 193.000 20,000 (965.000') (100,000) 13.000 (65.000) (40,000) 8.000 The report recommends an annuity of 20.000 ($100,000) to the Duke ot Cornwall and York. 10.000 ($50,000) to the Duchess of Cornwall and York, and 6000 ($30,000) to each of the King's two daughters. The Queen's annuity, in the event of her surviving the King, is increased to 70,000 ($350,000), and an annuity of 30.01x1 ($150,000) is provided for the Duchess of Cornwall and York in the event of her surviving the Duke. The proposals for the civil list show a net increase of 67,000 ($335,000). Henry Laboucherc, as a member of the committee, has presented a minor ity report declaring that no increase is necessary. CUBANS TO REJECT AMENDMENT. Very Little Hope Now of Piatt's Proposals Being Accepted. Havana (Special). The defeat oi the compromise propositions of Senor Cjucsada and Secretary of State Tamayo on the Piatt amendment is believed to be the death knell of the amendment, so far as the constitutional convention is concerned. The aspect of affairs seems so serious to some people that a society of Americans has been oigan i.cd for mutual protection in tliu event ot an emergency. The change in the situation is a sur prise, even to the best-informed Ameri cans, as up to a few days ago there seemed to be no doubt that a policy oi conciliation would prevail, and that the Piatt amendment would be substantially accepted. This view was based 011 opin ions informally expressed by some of the leading men in Cuba, who appear to have been unable, however, to stand out against popular outcry. Hounds Trailing Bank Robbers. Somerset,- O. (Special). The Sheriff of Perry county and a posse, with a pack of bloodhounds, are in pursuit of a gang of seven robbers who wrecked the State Bank of Somerset, stole $5000, appropriated two livery rigs, held a posse of citizens at bay, and escaped in the face of a heavy fire. Bonds and securities to the amount of $30,000 and $5000 in gold coin were overlooked by the bandits. The bank was fully in ftired and its business will not be in terrupted. The Jefferson to Be Rebuilt. Richmond, Va. (Special). It is .said that Mr. George Arnits. president of the Jefferson Hotel Company, has stated that the Jefferson Hotel will be rebuilt. The work of construction will probably be begun at an early date. Plans have not taken shape as yet, it is said, but the company having the matter in charge will hurry the work of rebuilding as much as possible. St. Louis Commission to Meet. Washington (Special). Ex-Senators Thurston, McBride and Lindsay, ex Representative Allen, of Mississippi, and Mr. John F. Miller, of Indiana, five members of the recently appointed St. Louis Exposition Commission, called upon the President Wednesday. Mr. Allen remarked humorously after the interview that the Commission had simply called to thank the President, on behalf of the country, for the wise selections he had made. The five mem bers of the Commission took the oath of office at the State Department and received their commissions. Women Fight la Oklahoma. Wichita, Kan. (Special). Because she lost a case in court Mrs. Ella Sriglin went to the farm of Mrs. Daughson, near Newkirk, O. T., and challenged Mrs. Daughson to fight a duel. The challenge was accepted, and the two wo men stood 50 feet apart and fired four shots at each other with pistols. Two shots took effect in the breast of Mrs. Seiglin, and she now lies mortally wounded at her home. Mrs. Seiglin was tried in the District Court in Newkirk for malicious trespass upon the pioperty of Mrs. Daughson, and the judge fined her fjoo. LIVE NATIONAL AFFAIRS. Mr. Allen Will Return to Porto Rico. Charles H. Allen, governor of Porto Rico, who arrived in Washington Satur. day; had an hour's conference with President McKinley. Great interest was manifested in Governor Allm's visit on account of the rumors that have been rife ever since he sailed from San Juan that it was his intention to relinquish his post in the island. After the conference, however, Governor Allen announced that he would not resign, and would re turn to his duties about the first week in May. after settling up some private affairs in Boston. It is pretty will un derstood that Governor Allen came to Washington in the hope that the Presi dent would relieve him of his duties in Porto Rico, and that he asked the Presi dent to do so, but the President prevail ed upon him to continue at the head of the administration of the affairs of the island. Governor Allen enjoys the con fidence of the President to a very high degree. AttorreyGeneral Knox. President McKinley announced to the members of his Cabinet that Mr. Phil ander C. Knox, of Pittsburg, has accept ed the Attorney Generalship, which was offered him last week. Mr. Knox has been one of the most prominent lawyers in Western Pennslvania for years. He is still a young man and appears even younger than he is. By the side of the other members of the President's Cabi net he will seem like a boy. However, few members of the Cabinet arc more competent than Mr. Knox will prove to be. He has been successful to a marked degree as a corporation lawyer, and his legal knowledge will make hnn a worthy successor to Mr. Griggs. Mr. ''Knox began his career as a lawyer early in the '80s. He met with success from the start, and there have been few cases in volving corporations in Pennslvania during the past 20 years in which Mr Knox has not figured. Plans for Canal. The story that a company organized by J. Pierpont Morgan had offered to construct the Panama canal and givt this Government every concession de sired if the Nicaragua project is given up has been practically admitted b State Department officials to be true. While the officials are not willing to admit that they are familiar with the details of the scheme they acknowledge that the main facts arc true, and do not deny that the plans arc well under way. The proposition was made to the Presi dent by Mr. Morgan during hii recent visit to this city. It is said that the President is inclined to regard the matter favorably. Despite denials is sued from Wall street, it is known, as stated in these despatches yesterday, that Mr.'J. P. Morgan is planning to secure control of the Panama canal. j with the ultimate purpose of eirher turning it over to this Government lor its completion or of operating it as a purely American concern. Plague Cases in San franc s:o. Surgeon General Wyman, of the Ma rine Hospital Service, has at last made is.,1.1,- ...... .1. t . rs 1 I I'uuiis iiiv ii-suu ui me recent i-cueia. investil.irinn nf thf r,la,rn citiintiri.l .it San Francisco. It is to the effect that since, January 1 of this year there have been 10 cases of the plague there, all fatal, the details occurring as follows: One on January 6. two on January 15, and one each on February 5, 6, 7, 10. 11, 12 and March 2. As had previously been reported in Secretary of the Treas ury Gage's last annual report to Con gress, there were 32 denths from plague in San Francisco during 1900. making in all 42 cases since the first one was discovered, on March 6, 1900. Gage Buys Short-Term Bonds. In accordance with Secretary Gage's announcement that he would buy irom time to time the short-rrm bonds, the Treasury Department was tendered $2,000,000 Government short bonds on practically the same basis as the 2s re turned at the current market quotation of about io6;4. Exact figures canno: be given, for the details have not been completed, but it is practically certain that the Secretary has availed himself of the opportunity to purchase bonds in accordance with his announcement. Capita! News in General. President McKinley and the other of ficials at Washington have implicit faith in the Czar's policy as to Manchuria, and that he is desirous of preserving the concert of the powers. Secretary Cortelyou is busily engaged in arranging ior the President's exten sive, tour through the West. No change will be made in the office of assisaut secretary of the navy be fore next autumn. Mr. Hackett, al though entering the otlice with the stip ulation that he should remain only until March 4 last, has consented to remain as acting secretary until November next. A committee representing the Na tional Civil Service Reform League called oil the President and submitted charges against several Federal officials. The Navy Department appointed a board to inquire into the availability of wireless telegraphy for the naval ser vice. Only the Cramps and the Union Iron Works of San Francisco submitted bids to build the new cruiser Milwa-aVee. Lloyd C. Grisconi, American Charge at Constantinople, has arranged for the settlement of this Government's long standing claims against Turkey. Postal receipts lor February in fifty cities show a pain of $461,151, or 13.2 per cent., as compared with those of the same month a year ago. Mr. J. M. Langlry, representing the Merchants' Association of New York, testified before the Industrial Commis sion in Washington that the classifica tion of freight rates is absolutely in the hands of the railroads, and that the Interstate Commerce Coimuiksion . is powerless to act. Our New Possessions. The Discr.scion, a newspaper In Ha vana, has been suppressed by Gov. ernor-Gencra! Wood for publishing an illustration representing a Cuban sol dier being crucified. A number ot important surrenders of Filipino leaders have been reported. The wholesale grocery dealers of Ma nila report double sales of groceries since the investigation into the alleged commissary scandals were commenced. Lieutenant Colonel GoodnelL of the Marine Corps, rcKrtd the surrender of the insurgents at Olangapo. Nineteen officers, 173 men, 133 rifles, 9 revolvers, Pablo Tecson's command, surrendered at San Fcrnandino Satur day and took oath. Privates Edward M. Brodie, a-id Jac. P. Coffey, Troop C, Third Cavalry, were recently convicted by court-martial, at Manila, P, I., of murder, and sentenced to imprisonment at hrd labor for life. The transport Kilpatrick jailed for Manila from San Francisco with the headquarters staff of the Third Bat talion of the First Infantry. The Waid liner Mexico arrived at New York from Havana wlih the first cargo of tobacco or. which iherc was no export duty. PENNSYLVANIA NEWS. The Latest Happening Gathered From All Over the State. The shooting of Mrs. Emily Keck, formerly of Allcntown, after she had alighted from a trolley car near her home, at Siegfried, and the arrest ol Mrs. Alice Ditchings, her former friend, has revealed a most remarkable story. It appears that Mrs. Ditchings was a most intimate friend of her victim and had assisted her pecuniarily in conduct ing a millinery shop, although Mrs. Keck failed in the venture. Recently their friendly relations ceased, and Mrs. Keck ook up her home with her sister, who was then living in South Bethle hem, 'but has since removed to Sieg fried. Mrs. Hitching followed her al most daily, pleading for a renewal ol friendship. On one occasion a trolley car conductor had to threaten to put hrr off the car, so boisterous had she become. Recently Mrs. Keek's brother-in-law met her at the trolley car each night so as to preevnt Mrs. Hitching from doing any harm. Thursday night, however, for an unavoidable reason, he (ailed to meet her, and the shooting followed. Mrs. Keek's friends say that she owes Mrs. ditchings nothing; that the latter had advanced her some money, but that Mrs. Keck paid it back and has a receipt for the same. When Mrs. Hitching was brought to jail she denied all knowledge ol the shooting. An empty chamber in a 38-calibrc re volver saved the lile of Iinnl Glockler, a young Alleghenian, who tried to com mit suicide in the public square. He had placed the weapon to his car and pulled the trigger. A second effort was stooped by Police Superintendent Glenn and an officer, who seized Glockler and . wrested the weapon from him. When taken into the station it was found he had swallowed some poison, which was pumped out of his stomach. While engaged in adjusting a revolv ing buzzsaw in the saw mill of Kulp & Co., of Lewisburg, Foreman Charles Wagner fell forward. In his attempt to save himself the wrist of his right arm came in contact with the saw and the hand was severed in an instant. Wagner immediately picked up the sev ered hand, walked to the telephone in the office and summoned a physician to his home. He then walked home and had his injured arm dressed. The body of Loi Hugh, the China man who was murdered by robbers in his laundry at Lancaster, was turned over to his brother-in-law, Lee Yup. Lee Yup is an expert mechanic in the Baldwin Locomotive Works, at Phila delphia. A boy has told the police he saw three masked men break int.i the laundry the night of the murder. There is no further clue. John Rceser. of North York, is lying in a badly bruised condition, the result of a collision at the foot of Cemetery Hill, on North George street, with a horse and buggy. Mr. Reeser is em ployed as a hostler at the Central Hotel, and rides a bicycle to and from his work. Reeser was on his way to the hotel, and when at the foot of the hill collided with a horse and buggy. He was rendered unconscious by the colli sion. Colonel M. Guffcy. of Pittsburg, has drilled in another gusher near Beau mont, Tex. The oil. when struck, shot up in a solid column 100 feet over the top of the derrick, but a gate valve had been put on it so that the flow was readily shut in. This new gusher is the equal of the famous Lucas well. While oiling a shaft in the Eddystonc Print Works, Patrick Bonner's clothing caught in a cogwheel and was torn irom his body. Bonner saved his life by ducking his head beneath the shaft ing and leaping to the floor, a distance oi 20 feet. Judge R. VV. Archbald appointed Ed ward R. W. Searle, of Susuqehanna county, to be clerk of the Federal Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Mr. Searle is a member of the Susque hanna county bar. The position is worth about $3500 a year. August Ulrich, the 4-year-old son of David Ulrich. of West Hazlcton, tried to pull off the boot of a boarder when the boot suddenly slipped from the foot. The child fell backward into a tub of hot water and was so badly scalded that he died in half an hour. A wagon containing Mrs. Evalinc Scull, her young daughter and a Mr. Hickman was struck at Chester by a Darby and Wilmington trolley car. Mrs. Scull was badly injured. The wagon was smashed. Mrs. Sarah Coover, of Mechanics burg. Saturday celebrated her one hun dredth and third birthday. Mrs. Coover is still very lively and cheerful and her mind is still clear and her sight good. She wears glasses only when she reads. Reed and Samuel Anderson, father and son, narrowly escaped death by asphyxiation at Lancaster. They had left the gas turned on and were uncon scious when found. Negotiations have been concluded by the Goodyear Brothers for the purchase of a valuable tract of coal land 111 Clear field county from the Clearfield Coal Company. The consideration was $220, 000. After being a fugitive from justice for over a year. Levi L. Kreider was taken into custody in Marietta on the charges of passing forged checks, false pretense, larceny, desertion and de frauding landlords. Amos Martin, of Sharon, celebrated his 104th birthday anniversary. He was born in Scotland in 1797 and was twice married. Two years ago, unassisted, he built a brick cistern, and follows the occupation of a cobbler. The children of the late Nicholas Funston, who was killed by his horse plunging over an embankment while driving from Muncy -ta. Lairdsville, have brought suit against Morclaud township lor $10,000 damages. J. M. Nichols, of Jersey Shore, killed the first swan that has been seen in that locality for 25 years. The bird was snow white, measuring nearly 8 feet from tip to tip and weighing 30 pounds. Miss Lauretta M. Funk and Edwin E. Hickman, of Challont, were married at the home of Mr. and Mra. Austin E. Griffiths at Doylcstown. Rev C. H. Pinchbeck, 'ol Colmar, officiated. After two unsuccessful attempts to take his life, Ellis Fiestcr, of Liberty, succeeded in killing himself with a re volver. Despondency is said to have caused Fiester to commit suicide. Thirty students of the School ol Mines of Columbia, in Columbia, in charge of Prof. F. R. Hutton, visited the plant .of the Bethlehem Steel Corn - . pany. The driver boys at the Keystone Mine, Mill Creek, quit work because a favorite stable boss had been dis charged. The mines had to be shut down. The Chester board of Health has re organized by electing Dr. S. V. Hoop man president and Frank Innis vice president. ' Rudolph Rutntosky was instantly killed at the Pennyslvania Colliery, Mt. Carmcl, by a fall of coal.