THE PANAMA ROUTE IS RECOMMENDED Supplemental Report of the Csnal Commission. ISELL FOR FORTY MILLION DOLLARS 31m Report li Very Long, Ooloi Into All the Phases el the Question, aod Attempt! to Meet the Objections That Any Legal Com plications Will Arise Out ot the Purchase Tke Report Seat to President Roosevelt- Washington, D. C, (Special). The supplemental report of the Isthmian Canal Commission on the proposition of the Panama Canal Company to dispose W its property to the United States for $40,000,000, has been delivered to Presi dent Roosevelt. The members of the commission refuse to discuss the nature of the report, and like reticence was maintained at the White House, but it was stated on excellent authority that the report unanimously recommends that the offer of the Panama Company be ac cepted. The report, it is stated, is very volumi nous, going into all phases of the ques tion and attempting to meet the objec tions that any legal complications will arise out of the purchase or that there will be any international differences should the deal be consummated. The re port was completed about 6 o'clock, and, after being signed by the members of the commission, was carried by Admiral Walker, chairman of the commission, to Secretary Hay, who transmitted it to the President. The report goes fully into the steps which must be taken in order to insure a perfect title to the United States, for in addition to the present Panama Canal Company, the old organization and the Colombian government must be reckon ed with. The report finds, however, it is said, that the new company can give a clear title. It is stated that the report says that when the commission made its recent report, favoring the Nicaratigan route, no offer to sell to this government liad been made by the Panama Company. The offer of $40,000,000 made in behalf f the company by M. Lampnc, it is said, changed the situation completely. It is further stated that the report shows a little over 1.000 shares of Panama Rail road stock is owned by individuals out side the Panama Canal Company, and that these can be purchased for a com paratively small sum. Other obstacles to the sale, the report says, also have been removed. BOILER OF ENGINE EXPLODES. Two Men Killed on a Fast Train on the Rock Island Rojd. Victor, la., (Special). As the Denver limited passenger train No. 5 of the Rock Island Company was passing through the town the boiler of the engine ex ploded, resulting in the death of the en gineer and fireman, and slightly injuring two porters and a brakeman. The accident took place within 250 feet of the depot, and the noise of the ex plosion aroused the town. The force of the explosion threw the seven coaches of the train from the track, but overturned only the Des Moines Pullman. Fortu nately the passengers were uninjured. Prices of the wrecked engine were strewn around for a distance of 200 feet, and the boiler was found 150 feet away from the scene of the accident. The bodies of the engineer and fireman were terribly mangled. Train No. 5 is not scheduled to stop here, and was running at full speed when the accident occurred. A THRILLING" FIRE ESCAPE. A Man and a Woman Rescued by Firemen From a Fourth Floor. Boston, (Special). Cut off from ac cess to a fire escape a few feet away, Mrs. Helen M. York and John Blanch, lino type operators, stood in a window of the fourth floor of a Milton Place building, with flames below and behind them. Slowly the firemen raised a long ladder until the top reached the windows. where Mrs. York was trying to keep her dress from taking fire. The man beside her helped her to step on the ladder. Then, through smoke, lighted up by flames sweeping over the sill they had just va cated, both descended to the street. It was the most thrilling tire incident wit nessed in Boston for many months. Though the aspect was serious for some time, the actual loss was not very heavy, being only somewhat over $50,000. The building was occupied by printers and paper dealers and for storage of elec trical goods. French aod German Trade. Berlin, (By Cable). Official provi sional estimates of the foreign trade of Germany for 1001 give the imports at $4491,750.000, a decrease of $19,000,000 from the imports of 1000. The same au thority gives the exports for 1001 at $1, 189,750.000, which is an increase of $1, 750,000 over the exports for the preced ing year. The actual values of these im ports and exports are much smaller than the figures given, as the amounts are based on the prices of goods prevailing in 1000. Confessed Old Murder. Elkhart, Ind., (Special). James Mather, formerly a well-known business man here, has confessed to the murder of Peter Olsen, near Muskegon, Mich., o years ago. The murder was the re sult of a quarrel. Olsen's body was not found until the following spring. Mather is a patient at the State Hospital for the Insane at Logansport. He declares he was driven mad by memory of the crime. l argest Mining Tunnel, Port Townsend, Wash. (Special.) Preliminary work has been commenced on one of the largest and longest mining tunnels in the world, near Juneau, Alas ka. The tunnel will be more than 8,000 feet long, and will be started on the beach south of Juneau and run into the mountains to tap a large number of claims in the Silver Bow Basin. A large mill will be built on the beach, where it can be operated the year round. The tunnel will probably cost $2,000,000. Shipwrecked Crew Picked Up. Bermuda, (Special). The shipwrecked crew of the American Ella, of Philadel phia, which was abandoned at ea, ar rived here. They were picked up and brought here by the BritiU steamer Co ronda, Captain Smith, from New York, January 13, for River Plate. The Ella, in command of Captain McLaughlin, sailed from Perth Amboy, N. J., January 10 for San Juan, P. R. She vvaj built at VVet Brook, Me., in 1800. SlfViMARY OF THE LATEST NLWS. Domestic Mr. Carnegie offers to provide a libra ry for Louisville if the city will contrib ute $25,000 annually for its maintenance. The La Strain, a seven-story apart ment hotel, on Ellis avenue, Chicago, was burned. The building was occupied by about ,10 families, all of whom escaped safely. The estimated loss is $100,000. Cross-examination of E. G. Rathbone, ex-director-gencral of posts of Cuba, in the trial of charges growing out of the postoftice frauds, was concluded. C. K. W. Neely wa9 examined and explained why he made no record of the sur charged stamps he gave to the stamp clerk with instructions to sell. In a buggy, near Coffecn, III., were found the dead body of Miss Gertrude Clifford, and Fred Brockman seriously wounded. The girl had been shot in the temple. Brockman had two bullet wounds in the head. He was placed under arrest. Rev. G. F. B. Howard, who served a term in the Ohio penitentiary, was sen tenced to two and a half years in the Detroit House of Correction for securing money by false pretenses. The Pere Marquette Railway Steamer Company's steamer struck at the mouth of the Ludington harbor, and the pas sengers and crew were taken off by the breeches buoy. James Cooke van Ben Schoten, I.L. D.. professor of Greek language and litera ture in Wcslcyan University, died nt Middletown, Conn., at the age of 74 years. President Francis, of the Exposition Company, finally decided that the Lou isiana Purchase Exposition should be postponed for one year. Two negro miners were killed and eight injured in an accident at the Cum berland Coal Company's mine, at M'll stone, Tenn. A syndicate of Pittsburg capitalists concluded negotiations for 11,000 acres of coal land at a price said to be $$,000,000. Isaac N. Conklin, of the Tenth Pennsylvania regulars, accused in Cali fornia of bigamy, tried to commit sui cide. An application was filed by the di rectors of the Commercial Bank of Al bany, Ga., for a temporary receiver. General Chaffee will make a thor ough investigation of the Filipino situa tion on the Island of Samar. I he junta at Hongkong has authorized Insurgent Leader Lukban to surrender, if he so desires, but says he must not deliver any Filipino soldiers or officers to the Americans. , The Flood amendment, providing for biennial, instead of quadrennial, sessions of the Virginia Legislature, was adopt ed by a vote of 38 to 37 in the Con stiutional Convention. A. B. Cummins was formally inaugu rated as Governor of Iowa. His in augural address discussed the remedy for the combiue evil. The State Pure Food Commission is having sellers of impure vineear and adulterated flavoring extracts indicted in Chicago. Officers of the Independence Mine, in Victor, Col., had a desperate battle in the mine with ore thieves, who escaped. Willis Petty, who narrowly escaped lynching in Alexandria, Va., was set free, a nolle pros being entered. Open winters and overproduction have caused a shutdown of the Woonsocket Rubber Company's mill. J. V. S. Oddic, secretary of the New York Yacht Club, died at his residence, in New York. foreign. Col. Arthur Lynch, the Irishman re cently elected to the House of Commons, and who is said to have fought on the side of the Boers, is still in Paris, and says his future movements will be guided by the advice of the Irish party. Herr von Bennigsen, landrath of Han over, died from his wounds, inflicted in a duel with Herr Falkenhagen, the result of intimacy of Falkenhagen with Von Bennigsen's wife. The French Chamber of Deputies, bv a vote of 308 to 214, adopted a resolution approving of the statement of General Andre, the Minister of War, in reply to an interpellation, in which tie explained that he took the system of army promo tions out of the hands of the former array commission and assumed the task himself. Dr. Kuypcr, the Dutch premier, after a conference with leaders of the Boers at Brussels, proceeded to London, with the view, it is said, of presenting to the British government a basis upon which the Boers would consider peace negotia tions. Col. Arthur Lynch, recently elected to the British House of Commons from Galway, who is said to have fought on the side of the Boers, will be arrested so soon as he lands on English soil. Mr. Balfour states that Lord Lans downe recently pointed out to the Ger man ambassador that Mr. Chamberlain had made no charge of barbarity against the German Army. Herr von Bennigsen, governor of Springe, near Hanover, Germany, was seriously wounded in a duel with Herr Falkenhagen. The British government issued a blue book 011 the concentration camps in South Africa. The Poles are boycotting articles of German manufacture. Earl Spencer, in the British House of Lords, criticising the address from the throne, said that while he recognized the impossibility of granting the Boer demands for independence, he depre cated insistence upon unconditional sur render. King Edward opened Parliament in state. 1 here was a gorgeous proccsbion, the King and the Queen riding in the state coach. The King read the speech from the throne. The Venezuela steamer Librrtador is believed to .have landed more arms on the Venezuelan coast. President Cas tro's gunboats do not dare to attack the Libertador. Financial. 'Ihe Investment Company of Philadel phia has declared a dividend of i'j per cent., payable February 15. The Southern New England Telephone Company will increase its capital from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. The annual meeting of the stockhold ers of the United Slates Steel Corpora tion will be held in Hoboken, N. J., on February 15. The Grand Rapids Railway directors have declared the regular quarterly divi dend of per cent, on the preferred stock, payable February 1. It is said the Atchison Company will pend $13,000,000 for equipment. English provincial bank earnings in Kjoi showed decrease of id; 4 per cent, at Manchester, usg at Liverpool. iS at Newcastle and 3) at Birmingham. The production of the gold mines of Western Australia for the year were I,- 8O.I80 ounces, as COIlluarrd uith 1 cHi . 950 ounces in jgou, an increase (if The United Slates Steel Corporation has purchased for $250,000 the rolling mill plant of John H. Palmer, Muncie, lnd. It was the last independent rolling mill in Eastern Indiana. THREE HUNDRED DEAD IN RUINS Cily of Chilpaocingo Destroyed by an Earthquake. CHURCH FELL IV-ON WORSHIPPERS. Slate Capitol and Other Buildings Wrecked Telegraph Line Interrupted by Destruc tion of the Office and Instruments Troops Sent to Assist In the Work ot Rescue Tbt Shock was Also Very Severe at Cnllapa. City of Mexico (Special). One of the most terrible catastrophes ever recorded in this country occurred when an ex tremely violent earthquake shock was felt at Chilpancingo, causing great loss of life and injuring many persons. Details from the stricken district are meagre, but scattering reports received here indicate that probably 300 persons were killed and as many more injured. In some quarters it is reported that boo were killed, but this is believed to be excessive. It is known that the State Capitol, the parish church and many business houses and residences are in ruins. One of the buildings that suffered most was the Federal telegraph oflice. Though the telegraph lines and other ap paratus at Chilpancingo were badly dam aged, the employes, ali of whom were un injured, quickly proceeded to erect an improvised office on the outskirts of the city. The number of deaths was greater in the parish church than in any other sin gle place, as a crowd of worshipers was gathered there for the afternoon service. 1 he solid masonry-walled root came top pling down as if it had been wrenched from its bearings by a thousand strong hands. The duration of the shock was 50 sec onds. The War Department has ordered the troops in the neighborhood to co-operate in the work of rescue.. Until this work is completed it will be impossible to learn accurately the number of victims. The greater part of the people of Chil pancingo are now camping out under trees around the town. Earthquakes were felt in many other cities and towns. In this city the shock came at 5.17 P . M and was of such violence as to move the most substan tial buildings. The Tan-American Con gress was in sesssion at the time, and many of the delegates were greatly alarmed. The first earthquake movement here was sharp. It was followed by an easier oscillatory movement nortli-northeast to south-southwest. The duration was 55 seconds. The actual damage in this city was slight. SEEkS TO BLAME BOTHA. Kitchener Says tie Offered to Spare Farms of Burghers. London, (By Cable). A bfiid book just issued on the subject of the concen tration camps in South Africa contains further detailed explanations from Lord Milner, the British High Commissioner, and Lord Kitchener, as to the causes of the excessive death rate in the camps, and denials of the charges of cruelty. Lord Kitchener emphatically denies Commandant Schalk-Burger's allegations of the forcible removal and exposure of sick women and of rough and cruel treatment of women and children. He says : "I offered Botha to leave the families and relatives of fighting Burchers in un disturbed possession of their farms if Botha would agree to spare the farms of the families of surrendered burghers. Botha emphatically refused, saying: " T am entitled to force every man to join, and if they do not join, to confis cate their property and leave their fami lies on the veldt.' " The blue book gives the statistics for December, when there were 117,017 in mates of the camps and 2.380 deaths, of which number 1.767 were of children. DR. KRA11SE SENT TO PRISON. The Charge That He Had Incited to Murder Not Sustained. London, vy Cable). The Lord Chief Justice, Baron Alvcrstone. sustained the contention of the defense of Dr. Krausc, that the charge of inciting to murder must fail, as there was no evidence that the letters in the ease had reached Broecksman, but held that the question of "attempting to persuade" must go to the jury. Dr. Krause was found guilty and sentenced to two years' imprison ment. Before he was sentenced Dr. Krause protested that he never intended to mur der any one. The Lord Chief Justice, in passing sentence, declared the offense was morally as great as though the crime had been carried out. The pris oner, the court said, did everything he could to insure murder being committed, and the maximum sentence was, there fore, imposed. MAIL PACKAGE EXPLODED. Kooxvllle Postofflce Clerk Injured Probably Smokeless Powder. Knoxville, Tenn., (Special). J. W. Martin, a postoflke clerk, was injured by the explosion of a package of powder, nito-glycerine or an infernal machine. While stamping letters and packages with the "received" stamp a package ad dressed to a local hardware house ex ploded when struck with the stamp. Ex amination revealed on it the name of a New York smokeless powder concern. The interior of the parcel showed a tin box. in which the explosive had been packed. The local hardware firm dis claim having ordered such a package or having been notified of its shipment. First Quality Diamonds In Montana. Lewiston, Mont., (Special). Dia monds, said to be of the first water, have been found in the northern part of Fer gus county, according to a report which has just reached here. The news of the discovery caused commotion among the prospectors of this region, and dozens of them are on their way to what they be lieve is a new land of riches. The dis covery was ma le on Hood Creek, a mountainous country. Out a Bag of Diamonds. Glcndive, Mont., (Special). Robber's got between $10,000 and $'0,ooo worth of unset and set dimonds by stealing two trunks from the baggage-room of the Northern Pacific Station, and breaking them open. A bag of unset diamonds and 300 or 400 rings, mounted in gold settings, arc missing from the trunks, but the other articles were left intact. A tray containing 24 set diamonds was overlooked by the robbers. The trunks were the property of C. B. Clausen, trav eling representative nf S. 11. Clausen & Co., of Minncanclis. NATIONAL CAPITAL AFFAIR3. To Report Ship Subsidy Blil The Senate Committee on Commerce has authorized Senator Frye, its chair man, to make a favorable report on his ship subsidy bill. Senator Frye's report accompanying the bill places the cost of the "mail" subsidy at $4,700,000. Based on actual navigation of American vessels in for eign trade in 1000, the subsidies proposed would amount to $1,072,000. The boun ties on the deep-sea fisheries is estimated at $175,000. He says the receipts from the ocean mail postage will provide $3,000,000 of this amount, leaving a deficit under the system proposed of nearly $2,000,000. The committee made several amend ments to the bill. The most important were : Allowing mail-carrying vessels under the bill to be either iron or steel instead of steel only, as originally provided, and another reducing to 1,000 gross register ed tons the vessels receiving a bounty under the bill. President's Visit to Charleston. Arrangements for the President's visit to the Charleston Exposition next month have been concluded at the White House and include his departure on the evening of February 10, accompanied by Secre taries Root, Hitchcock and Wilson, Postmaster-General Payne and Attorney- General Knox, of his Cabinet; Mrs. Roosevelt and Miss Roosevelt and some few other persons. He will spend one day in Lnarlcston and leave on the even ing of the 12th or the morning of the 13th, in order that he may be absent from Washington not more than three davs. D. S. Purse, president of the Board of Trade of Savannah, Ga., invited the President to visit Savannah on his Southern trip. The Savannah people, he said, were anxious to be the first to wel come the President to the native State of his mother. The President thanked Mr. Purse for the invitation, but said it was his intention to go to Charleston and return to Washington direct. Case of Asakl Manklchl. The L'nitcd States Supreme Court set for hearing on April 14 the first criminal case to be brought to that court from the Territory of Hawaii. The case is that of Osaki Mankichi, a Japanese resident of the Hawaiian Isl ands, found guilty of manslaughter by a majority vote of the jury by which he was tried. This proceeding occurred in the interim between the surrender of Hawaiian sovereignty and the act of Con gress providing a government for the territory. -Mankichi secured his release on a writ of habeas corpus on the ground that the Hawaiian Islands were United States territory, and that conviction by a majority vote of the jury was invalid. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court by the Territory. The motion to advance was made by District Attorney Breckons. Oood Chance (or Coffee Crop. Consul-General Sccger, at Rio Ja neiro, informs the State Department of a desire on his part to correct an impres sion conveyed in previous reports from him in regard to the next Brazilian coffee crop. Mr. Seeger says he is of opinion that the pessimistic reports sent out at the beginning of November have been contradicted by subsequent events, among which were copious rains in many parts of the coffee district, and that Brazil will have a very fair coffee crop next year, probably from nine to ten million bags. More for Armor on Ships. The Urgent Deficiency Appropriation bill was completed by the Appropriation Committee and reported to the House. It carries $16,791,445, distributed among the different departments. The naval items in elude $4,000,000 for armor on ships now under construction. Filipinos Surrender. The War Department is advised of the surrender of 365 insurgents to Brigadier General James F. Wade at Cebu, Philip pine Islands, January 14. On January 15 they took the oalh at Taglibaran, Bohol. Special Envoy to Spain. Dr. J. L. M. Curry has been appoint ed Special Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to represent the President at the coming of age of the King of Spain. Capital News In General. The government officials at Washing ton have arranged the itinerary for Prince Henry's travels in the United States and cabled the programme to the Emperor for his approval. Extraordinary precau tions will be taken to protect the Prince from cranks or anarchists. A census bulletin says the population in the large cities is increasing very rap idly in proportion to that of the country. Five thousand two hundred and thirty three soldiers have been ordered to the Philippines. The date for the opening of the fair at St. Louis will be postponed until May I, 1004. Before the House Committee on Com merce, Government ownership of the proposed Pacific cable was advocated by General Greely and others. Orders were prepared at the War Of fice for the return from the Philippines of the Ninth Infantry. A majority of the Isthmian Canal Commission is favorable to the Panama route. The House Ways and Means Commit tee continued its hearing of arguments in reference to the proposed Cuban reci procity proposition. A number of amendments were pro posed in the United States Senate to the bill providing for a department of commerce. Wholesale dismissals have begun i" the Census Bureau and the force will soon be on a permanent basis. 'I he Senate Committee on the Philip pine Islands made some reductions ii the House Tariff Bill. I Admiral George W. Suninef 'was as signed to the command of the South Atlantic Station. The House passed the Pension Appro priation Bill and the resolution provid ing for memorial services in the House in honor of Mr. McKinley 011 February 27 1 Ion. 1 lenry C. Payne was sworn in as Postmaster-General. Hatchet Cuts Mr'. Nation's Foot. Topeka, Kan.. (Special) .Mrs. Car rie Nation, while flourishing a large hatchet which she received as a present from an Eastern manufacturing firm, dropped it. and the keen edge of the in strument severed the large toe of her right foot. Died at Ihe Ag of 106. Oswego, N. Y-, (Special). Mrs. Ellen Collins, died suddenly here. She was said to be 106 years of :ig- SIXTY KILLED, JANY INJURED Spanish Mill Town Wrecked by ao Explosion. TERRIBLE SCENES OP SUFFERING. Sixteen Mutilated Bodies of Working Peo ple Burled In the Debris Hare Been Re covered These Include th Manager of Ihe Spinning Mill and His Two Sisters The Dead Included Many Children. Barcelona, Spain, (By Cable). The explosion of the boiler of a spinning mill destroyed half the village of Pttcnte dc Vilumara. A hospital is filled with the injured. Sixteen mutilated bodies of working people buried in the debris have been re covered. These include the manager of the spinning mill and his two sisters. It is estimated that 60 were killed and 100 injured. The dead include many chil dren. Queen Regent Maria Cristina has wired her condolences. The boiler exploded . in the evening when the the mill hands, many of whom were accompanied by their wives and children, were eating supper before be ginning their night's work. The build ings of the mill collapsed and the debris was hurled in all directions, destroying other buildings and killing or injuring many of those in the vicinity. Owing to the darkness the work of extricating the victims proceeded with great diffi culty. Groans came from victims whose mutilated limbs were pinned down by the ruins. LUKBAN MAY SURRENDER. Letter From the Filipino Junta at Hong kong Discovered Manila, (By Cable). General Chaffee left here for the Island of Samar. He will thoroughly investigate the situation there, as it is desired to stamp out the Samar insurrection during the dry sea son. A captured communication from the Filipino insurgent junta at Hongkong, addressed to General Lukban, insurgent leader on Samar island, authorizes Luk ban to surrender if he wishes to do so, but does not advocate this action. If he surrenders, the letter goes on to say, he need not deliver a single Filipino soldier or officer to the Americans, nor must he or any other officer be forced to accept civil appointment. They may emigrate if allowed to do so, but no Filipino must be obliged to take the oath of allegiance to the LTnited States. Under these terms the Hong kong junta has no objection to Lukban's surrendering. RIDICULE PEACE MOVEMENT. Boers Declare That the Stories Are Fabri cated by the British. London, (By Cable). Dr. Lcyds, the representative in Europe of the Trans vaal, according to a dispatch from Am sterdam to Renter's Telegram Company, held a conference with the Boer delega tion at The Hague at the house of Mr. Wolmarans. No official statement has been given out, but there is the best au thority for asserting that the conference was merely a periodical meeting. The dispatch says the reports of a strong peace movement are ridiculed by the Boers themselves, who say that such stories are simply fabricated by British agents, with a view to British publica tion, subsequently turning to advtantage in South Africa. The Boers deny that any negotiations arc in progress. Engineer Went to Sleep. Kansas City, (Special). The west bound Missouri Pacific passenger train that left St. Louis at 7 o'clock collided head-on with an east-bound freight train one mile east of Etlah, Mo. Five pas sengers on the passenger train were in jured, but no one was killed. The wreck proved a costly one for the road. En gineer William Maze, of the freight train, had fallen asleep in his cab and ran past Etlah. where he had been ordered to meet the passenger train. Cut. Flesh From 15 Girls. Chicago, (Special J. In an hour's time Dr. D'Orsay Hecht, before a clinic at the Postgraduate Hospital, cut bits of cuticle from the arms and legs of 15 young women and covered a burned and livid face with tresii healthy epidermis. The patient is Miss Helen Peck, 16 vears old, whose face was terribly burned by an explosion of gasoline. Three times the number of young women chosen vol unteered to make the sacrifice for their suffering friend. ODDS AND ENDS OF THE NEWS. ! The Santa Fe, it is stated, will issue , $30,000,000 of bonds, of which $13,000,- ! 000 is to be used in practically renew- ', mg ne equipment of the road. The Cincinnati Southern Railroad Company placed an order with the Southern Car and Foundry Company for i, 250,000 worth of cars. A mob stormed the jail at Flemings burg. Ky., to secure Charles Gaskins, colored, accused of murder, but the sheriff kept the prisoner. It is rumored at New Orleans that a Boer spy has blown up in the Mexican Gulf a British transport loaded with mules. It is reported that the British warship Condor was lost in a typhoon on her way from Victoria. B. C, to Honolulu. Hon. David McConaughy, the oldest member of the Adams county (Pa.) bar, is dead. Vincent Yeucclsick, a Pole, while drunk, killed bis wife and children at Pittsburg. l'nitcd Slates Senator Joseph B. For aker was re-elected by the Ohio Legis lature. Norman P. Eyre was killed at Phila d Ipbia by a train. Fire caused a damage of $150,000 in Los Angeles. Fire 111 St. Louis caused a loss of $.'x,ooo. Cecil Rhodes has secured contracts amounting to several million pounds sterling for supplying South Africa, es pecially the British troops, with meats. It is reported that Russia, in spite of her protestations of firmness, is disposed to compromise with China 011 the Man churian question. The Emperor of China offered sacri fice!! in the Temple of Heaven and gave thanks for bis safe return to Pekin. According to present plans. Prince Henry of Prussia will sail on the Kron prinz Wilhelm on February 15 and meet the imperial yacht Hohcnollern at Newport News, whence the Prince and his retinue will go up the Potomac to Washington. Rear Admiral Evans has been selected to have charge of the naval reception. AWED TRAIN CREW. Masked Outlaws Hag and Rob SoulhbounJ Eipress. Fort Smith, Ark., (Special). A south bound Kansas City Southern Railroad passenger train was held up half mile north of Spiro, I. T., by seven masked men. The local safe in the express car was opened, but nothing was sccucd from it. The robbers tried to open the through safe, but failed. Then they tried the mail car, and, it is said, secured a quantity of registered mail. The robbers flagged the train between Spiro and Redland. While two of the seven men covered the engineer and fire man with revolvers, others forced a por ter who had appeared on the forward coach steps to uncouple the baggage car from the rest of the train. John Block, a traveling salesman from Fort Smith, alighted from the train and was about to fire upon one of the rob bers when he was prevented by Conduc tor Sullivan, who feared that the men would fire into the passsenger coaches. The baggage car uncoupled, the en gineer was compelled to pull up the road a distance of one mile. There the rob bers, after disarming the messenger, went through the baggage and mail car. Their work finished, one of the robbers handed the messenger the revolver taken from him and all made for the timber. Postoflice officials here deny that any registered mail was taken, and the ex press officials say that one package con taining $3 covers their loss. Spiro is a small station near the Arkansas river in Indian Territory, 15 miles from Fort Smith. It is a desolate place in the timber, which affords good cover for a robbery. Potcau, the second station south from Spiro, was tb scene of a former train hold-up. BRITISH SHIP BLOWN UP? Bodies of Hundreds of Mules Floating on Waters of the Oulf. New Orleans, (Special). It is be lieved in shipping circles here that a British transport laden with American mules bound for South Africa has been intercepted and blown up by a Boer spy in the Gulf of Mexico or else has foun dered. A schooner arriving on the lower coast reports hundreds of dead mules floating on the waters of the gulf for a distance of 30 miles. This news has excited shippers, who fear that further attempts will be made to stop the ex port of mules to Cape Town. Conservative persons attribute the floating carcasses to a disaster to one of the British vessscls during the storms that have been raging near the coast this week. At Quintana, Texas, Captain Peterson, of the schooner Olga, reports having seen long rows of dead cattle and mules floating in the wafer. New Hope for Miss Stone. Constantinople, (By Cable). Reliable news has been received here that Miss Ellen M. Stone, the captive American missionary; Mrs. Tsilka, her companion, and the latter's baby, are well. Negotia tions which it is expected will result in the early and safe return of the captives are in progress. John G. A. Leishman, the American Minister here, is now di recting the negotiations. Old Lady Burned to Death. Philadelphia, Pa., (Special). Mrs. Ju lia Mitchell, aged 70 years, while pre paring breakfast, accidentally set fire to her clothing and was burned to death. Her son-in-law, Joseph W. Hammond, with whom she lived, while endeavoring to extinguish the flames, was severely burned and was taken to a hospital. The Hammond family and Mrs. Mitchell came to this city about a month ago from Boston. Army Officer's Terrible P. If. New York, (Special). Earl Edmond son, believed to be an officer of the United States Army, recently returned from the Philippines, and said to be from Nashville, Tenn., will probably die from injuries received in falling from a third story window of the Continental Hotel. He struck on the dome of the dining room, which is at the bottom of a court. His skull is apparently fractured. Nurse Hanged Child. Cincinnati, (Special) While Mr. and Mrs. W. 11. Whittakcr were off on a visit their 5-year-old child was left with Annie Loge, a domestic. When they re turned the nurse was found on the sec ond floor in an unconscious condition from asphyxiation. She had turned on the gas and inhaled it from the jet. Later Mr. and Mrs. Whittakcr found their dead child fastened to a gas pipe in the cellar. Train Blown From Track. Vienna (By Cable). Over 100 per sons were injured, many of them se verely, by a great windstorm vviiich swept over Vienna. Houses were un roofed, chimneys were blown down and the streets were so tilled with debris as to seriously impede traffic. People were mown down while on the street and a number of horses were killed. A freight train was blown off its tracks and pas senger traffic has been tied up. Mors Merciful Than Just. Des Moines, Iowa, (Special). As practically the closing act of his adminis tration. Governor Shaw made public the names of 473 prisoners to whom he had extended executive clemency within the lir.t two years. The Governor's -record in this respect, it is stated, has never been equaled in Iowa. Direct Vote lor Senator. Frankfort, Ky., (Special). The Sen ate unanimously concurred in the House resolution asking Congress to provide for election of United States Senators by direct vote. The House resolution peti tioning Congress to remove the revenue tax on tobacco and criticising the Tobac co Trust was passed by a party vote. Blew Her Head Off. Toledo, Ohio, (Special). Louise Avery, of Delaware, who was 23 years old, committed suicide in a horrible man ner. Her brother found her lying dead upon her bed with the barrel of a shot gun held by one hand against her tem ple. Evidences were found that the woman had taken paris green and mor phine, but bad finally resorted to the .shotgun. The entire top of her bead was blown off. '1 he refusal of a man to marry her is said to have prompted the deed. Chinese Murder French Missionary. Washington, (Special). A cablegram was received at the State Department from Consul McWade, at Canton, stating that a rench missionary bad been mur dered by the natives at Nan Huing, Kwang Tung Province, 260 miles north west of Canton, Big Order for Southern Works. Birmingham, Ala., (Special). The Cincinnati Southern Railroad placed in order wilh the Southern Car and Foun dry Company for 1,800 Ikix" and flat cars, estimated to cost $1,250,000. PENNSYLVANIA BRIEFLY TOLD. Condensed Special Dispatches From Many Point. PATENTS AND PENSIONS GRANTED. State's tocome During 1901 -Nearly $18,000, 000 In Revenues Collected, Part ol Which Has Been Returned to the Counties Con science Money $2.02 Farmer's Frenty Causes Disaster Tries to Kill Himself. Pensions granted: William Putnam, Stoncy Fork, $10; Thomas Griffith, Claysville. $10; Addison H. Simmons, Banksville, $8; John Thomas, Bradock, $12; lames H, Vores, McConnellsburg, $12: Jacob Dutra, Kcrrmoor. $8; Olivet S. Rumbergcr, Warriors Mark, $12: David Bchana, Monongahela, $8; Henry 'Bearly, Lewistown. $10: Jeremiah M IWiblev, Port Royal, $12; Robert Mil ler, Soldiers' Home, Eric, $6; Mary Bloom, Troy, $12; Peter J. Hand, Titus ville, $8; William D. McTcctcrs, Black lick Station. Sio: David Putt, Sax'ion 514: James Huffman, Oak Forrest, ?to; acob Zimmerman, Coalport, $10; Bell ; McDowell, Grove City, $8. ; Patents granted: Harry W. Baker iOakmont, hot air furnace; James H. Ba ,ker, Allegheny, brake beam; John T : Blake,. Pittsburg, rail joint connection; 'Burtwin L. and W. P. Brington. Brad ford, piston valve for air compressors ; Henry L. Dixon. Pittsburg, glass pot furnace; Simon J. Freeman. Bradford coffee or tea pot; Edward E. Frutchrv. Towanda, shoe lace fastener; John W Frye. Oil Citv, casing head for oil wc'Is; Franklin R. Heister, Centernort, steerinR mechanism for motor vehicles; Julian Kennedy. Pittsburg, shaft coupling; : Walter Kennedy. Allegheny, plant fot coke making; Daniel Lcsh. West Fair view, spirit level ; Herman Moon, Grove City, clutch ; George R. Moore. Erie, mail bag catching and delivering me chanism : Josph Morgan, Johnstown, ap paratus for metal rolling; George Saylor, Mattawana. grate; Edward A. Schoolcy. Pittsburg, railway torpedo: James Shel ton, Towanda. stocking: Herman Tirde mann. Pittsburg, rail joint ; Christ Fa re, Tyrone,' bolt fastener. Tamaqua Lodge, Spanish War Vet erans' Association, w'as organized at Ta maqua, with about fifty charter members The officers are: Commander, G. B Kline: senior vice-commander, W. H. Clewell, Summit Hill; junior vice-commander, C..F. Shindcl ; adjutant, F'rank D. Kcrshncr; quartermaster, Edward M. B. Shepp. During the fiscal year recently ended the State collected as revenues $17,727, 432.46, and returned to its source about $2,000,000, leaving about $15,000,000 for the payment of all expenses. Of the per sonal property tax three-fourths was re turned to the counties and the depart ments which imposed or collected them received all of the fines for maintenance. The School Directors of Vrpper Gwynedd have received $50 bequeathed by the late Lizzie H. Jones, of Bonilla, South Dakota, with which to purchase library books for the West Point and Gwynedd Western Schools. Miss Jones was for a number of years teacher of these schools. William Kinkus was killed and Rollis Dumpsky was badly injured by a! ex plosion of dynamite at Primrose Col liery, Mahanoy City. The men under took to tamp a charge of dynamite with a drill. An explosion followed, which hurled Kinkus and his comrade down the breast. Joel Troutman, aged 65, a farmer of Center Township, was committed to pri son at Reading charged with assault and battery with intent to kill his son, How ard, aged 35. As an outcome of the trou ble two barns were burned. The prison er is supposed to be insane. The Schuykill County Medical Socie ty elected the following officers : Pres ident, Dr. Joseph P. Morris, of St. Clair ; vice-president, Dr. George Little, of Ta maqua ; treasurer. Dr. Dav id Taggart, of Frackville; censor, Dr. J. S. Callen, of Shenandoah. Judge Johnson, at Medis. granted a new trial in the suit of J. E. Johnson against the Chester Traction Company for damages for the loss of a leg by being run oyer .bit a car. It was shown that an official of the company was seen talking to a juror. Johnson lost his case. The business offices of A. M. Wcll mer's Sons, wholesale grain dealers, and Knerr & Bowman, coal dealers, Lebanon, were entered by thieves, and at both places the safes were opened by means of the combination. Little booty was se cured. Mine Inspector Edward Biennan, of the seventh anthracite district, reports that in 1901 there cre 158 accidents, six ty fatal and ninety-eight non-fatal. In 1500 there were 140, forty-nine of which were fatal and ninety-one non-fatal. The Laubach grist mill, at Northamp ton, owned by the Eastern Milling & Export Co., and managed by ex-Senator E. H. Laubach. was almost totally de stroyed by fire. The loss is about $8,000, fully insured. F'dward M. B. Shepp, Tamaqua, was unanimously elected captain of Compa ny B. Eighth Regiment, to fill the vacan cy caused by the resignation of Captain H. B. Russell. , ( It was announced at Pottsville that W. M. Stellwagon. master mechanic of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway shops at Palo Alto, has been placed on the com pany's retired list with a pension. Joseph Covelsky, a repairsman. fell down an old manway, 150 feet in depth), at the Shenandoah City Colliery, but sus tained only slight injuries. A man supposed to be suffering with smallpox was nrrested at Darby, but be fore a physician ivyild be summoned lie escaped from his captort and fled. A charter was issued by the Stale De partment to the Keystone Silk Weaving Company, Philadelphia ; capital, $30,000. A two-wreks-old infant has heen aban doned at the home of Morris Ropers, West Chester, by a young woman who recently came from the Maternity Hos pital of the University of Pennsylvania. John Brcker, son of Samuel Becker, aged 21 years, was killed by falling from a hay loft on the farm of John Hoflinger, in Heidelberg Township. The borough officials of the town of Exeter1 have decided i.i view of the smallpox epidemic to stop all weddings and Burgess Max Gross has issued a public order to that effect. Conrad Ward, aged 27 years, a brake man on the Central Railroad of New Jersey, jvas accidentally knocked from a ' freight car and crushed to death beneath the car. ' Alderman Irvin, of Altoona, is en couraging men to sign a total abstinence 'pledge by making out the legal papers jfrca of charge. It is reported that the I number of pledges has run as high as ' forty in a day. ; I James O'Miillcy, a pump runner at No. ,3 shaft, Olyphant, fell down the shaft, a distance of 150 feet, but escaped with out severe injuries. Counterfeit silver dollars are in cir culation throughout Schuylkill County.