Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1898 — VICTORY FOR MEXICO. [ARTICLE]

VICTORY FOR MEXICO.

ARBITER’S AWARD IN THE OBERLANDER CLAIM. Mrs. Messenger Loses-Without Warrant Mexican Officers Dragged Oberlander from United States Soil-End of a Long Suit—Elevators Burn. A Surprising Decision. Greatly to the-surprise of administration officials in Washington, the award of the arbiter in the matter of the claims of Charles Oberlander and Barbara M. Messenger, citizens of the United States, against the Government of Mexico, is against the claimants. The only expense to which Mexico will be put will be to l>ay half of the cost of the proceedings, while the United States will not only have to defray its share of the expenses, but has lost what administration officials have considered the best claims on file in the Department of State. The- award of the arbiter, which is final, has been filed in the Department of State and in the Department of Foreign Affairs of Mexico. The claims of Oberlander and Mrs. Messenger grew out of the alleged, brutal treatment of the man and the inhuman treatment of the woman some years ago. Oberlander was a deputy sheriff of the county of San Diego, Cal. He went into Mexican territory to examine into a suit in progress just across the line and became involved in a dispute. He was knocked down and searched by Mexican police, who found in his pocket a warrant for the arrest of a Mexican who had committed an offense in California. Oberlander was at once taken to jail, but managed to escape and get to the house of Mr. Messenger, just across the boundary line in California. Mrs. Messenger was very much frightened when the Mexican officials entered her house and seized her guest. Despite her protestations, Oberlander was dragged out of the house. The matter was finally brought to the attention of the American minister in Mexico, who secured the release of Oberlander.

LARGER WHEAT ACREAGE. Farmers Plant 11.4 Per Cent. More than in I SUB. The special crop report of the New York Journal of Commerce and Commercial Bulletin says: "Final returns make the area of winter wheat 26,663,000 acres, as compared with 23,930,000 acres harvested last year, an increase of 11.4 per cent. In the more important wheat producing States north and west the increased acreage is: Ohio, 4 per cent; Michigan, 16; Indiana, 4; Illinois, 40; Missouri, 10; Kansas, 19; California. 4; Oregon, 10, and Washington, 5 per cent. Favorable weather during December improved the conditions of wheat. The present average is 87.8 per cent as against 84.1 per cent last month. According to the January returns there are 240,000,000 bushels of wheat held on farms, which is 41.3 per cent of last year’s production. On the corresponding date last year there were held in the same position 190,000,000 bushels.” BIG ELEVATORS BURNED. Ten Thousand Tans of Wheat Destroyed at Stockton, Cal. Fire was discovered in warehouse No. 5 of the Farmers’ Union and Milling Company at Stockton, Cal., and before the department could respond the flames were beyond control. The fire quickly spread to warehouse No. 6, and it was soon seen that neither warehouse could be saved. The lowest estimate of the amount of wheat destroyed is 10,(XX) tons, and many put it higher. There were besides considerable barley and rye. Much of the grain was the property of the Union, but by far the largest proportion was held in storage by farmers. The loss is placed at more than $500,000. The loss on the warehouses will be heavy, though both the buildings and grain were insured for a reasonably large share of their value. The fire started in the machinery of a grader and cleaner. Kansas City Express Robbery. The Port Arthur express of the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf road was robbed the other night within the city limits of Kansas City by two daring young men, who secured from SIO,(MM) to $15,000. The men remained on the blind baggage car until the train reached the east bottoms. There they burst open the rear door of the express car and before Express Messenger E. N. Hyde could give the alarm one of them thrust a revolver under his nose and compelled him to remain quiet while they robbed the safe.

Santa Fe Collision. While Janies Scott, a Santa Fe Kailway engineer, slept in his engine cab near Kansas City, there was a collision. Chas. K. Landers, stockman of Brazilton, Kan., was killed, and M. L. Miars, stockman, Waverly, Kan.; A. C. Olin and John C. Myers, stockmen, Brazilton, Kan.; J. M. McAdow, liveryJl.an, Ottawa, Kan., were injured. Convict’s Plan Failed. At Minneapolis, Minn., John Moschik, a murderer, condemned to death, threw a handful of cigar ashes in the eyes of Special Watchman Peterson and tried to escape, but failed. Burned to a Crisp. Mrs. Jacob Brown of Fremont, Ohio, went into the cellar with a light. Natural gas exploded. She was burned to a crisp. Value of One Navy Yards. The property value of .the navy yards and various naval stations of the Government is in excess of $60,000,000. Murdered in Their Own Home. George Baker and his aged wife were murdered at their home near Fairbury, Neb. They had been shot from the outside through the north window with a shotgun, and so close was the murderer to the window that the powder had burned the framework. Quail shot was used. Purchased by the Glass Trust. The Pittsburg Car Company, a branch of the American glass combine, has purchased the plant and business of the F. A. Drew Glass Company of St. Louis, one of the largest plants in the country. Hall Floor Gave Way. At a home talent theater given in a hall at Cedar Point. Kan., the floor gave way, precipitating fifty people a distance of twenty feet. One man had a leg broken, (another his ribs crushed and about thirty •others were scratched and bruised. None ’was fatally hurt. No names are given. Earnings of Western Roads. ; The earnings of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad for the six months just (dosed show a total of $4,184,883, an inierease of 17.11 per eent. over 1896. The total earnings of the Union Pacific, Denver and Gulf are $3,454,321, an increase of 13.74 per cent.

BACKED BY A FLEET. England Makes Objection to Corea’s Dismissal of Mr. Brown. The London Daily Graphic asserts “on authority” that the British squadron was definitely instructed to assemble eff Chemulpo to support a strong British expostulation with Corea on the dismissal of McLeavy Brown, British superintendent of Corean customs, who, under the advice of the British consul, has twice returned the notice of dismissal served upon him. With regard to Port Arthur the Daily Graphic asserts that there is every reason to believe the Hussions will adhere to their pledge to evacuate at the end of the winter, and there is therefore no ground for complaint on the part of England. Neither does the Government regard the occupation of Kiao-Chou as calling for action, because British interests are not threatened. According to the Daily Graphic both the foreign office and the admiralty agreed upon this point. A dispatch to the London Daily Mail from Shanghai says: “A British fleet of eight ships and four torpedo boats has arrived at Chemulpo, the port of Seoul. It is reported that there are two Japanese cruisers in the Yang-tse-Kiang river. Japan is working night and day preparing for war. It is believed that the' British and Japanese fleets are in close touch.”

BANNER GOLD STATE. Colorado’s Output of Yellow Metal This Year Ahead of California’s. The books of the United States branch mint in Denver, Colo., for the year 1897 are now closed. The deposits of gold are the largest ever received. The total will slightly exceed $12,200,01)0, and a conservative estimate made by the mint officials places the entire output of Colorado at $22,000,000 in round figures. Colorado will go far ahead of California, as it is said to be doubtful if California’s output will touch the $18:000,000 mark. Last year Colorado’s output was $16,500,000 and that of California was $17,000,000, while the total production of the country was $61,717,926. The great increase in the Colorado output this year will send the total for the United States up to the $70,000,000 mark. Alaska to Have Better Laws. The Senate and House Committees on Public Lunds and on Territories are at work on legislation for Alaska, preparing the way for action by the two houses. The chief problem is to provide for a better government. Secretary Bliss recommended in his annual report that Alaska be made a regular organized territory. The sentiment of the committee is that the time is not yet ripe, that the population, practically dependent on the rich mining strikes, is a roving one, and that even towns having a large population today may be abandoned to-morrow. It is probable that there will be some enlargement of its present government as preferable to a general system of local legislation and territorial organization. The jurisdiction of Federal officials there may be extended and their number increased. This is to be a temporary bridging over of the problem until the transitory feature of the population is largely eliminated. As to the extension, in toto, of the general land laws, the sentiment now is that the Lacey bill, providing for this, is too sweeping. The homestead laws will be extended. Mineral and town site laws already are in force. A prime difficulty is the absence of surveys, and it is said that in all probability there are some portions of Alaska that never will be surveyed. This interferes with the operation of the public land law extension.

Nay Fight It Out in Court. If Judge Wofferd adheres to his intention, that he has announced from the bench, the edifying spectacle of prize fights between belligerent attorneys may be one of the attractions of the criminal court in Kansas City in’ future. Opposing attorneys in this court lately have been using uncomplimentary language toward each other, and the other day, after a tilt of this nature between Prosecuting Attorney Lowe and Attorney McCoy, Judge Wofferd, after calling them to order, said: “Hereafter when lawyers talk about fighting in this court, I shall adjourn court and let them fight it out. If you fellows want to fight, I’ll just adjourn court, and you can come in this room and fight it out, and I’ll see that there’s fair play. Now, if you are in earnest, come right along and let’s have it over with.” They did not accept the judge's offer, however, but apologized instead. Britain Plans Finely. Ambassador Hay has notified the State Department at Washington that Great Britain positively refuses to join in the suspension of pelagic sealing. Coincident with the rejection comes the announcement that Sir Julian Pauncefote has resumed reciprocity negotiations with Special Commissioner Hasson. Certain officials in Washington believe that on the linking of these two questions depends the final decision of Great Britain on both.

Dying Man Shot. A lynching occurred at Kingstree, S. C. Christmas Eve Deputy Philip Poston went to Georgetown County to arrest Sam Turner, colored. Turner resisted and Poston shot him, inflicting a mortal wound, and was in turn shot dead. Turner lingered between life and death until he was conveyed to Kingstree in a wagon. When the wagon reached Kingstree a crowd of men put pistols against Turner's head and shot him to death. Died for Her Husband. While removing the debris from the burned Hotel Dacotah at Grand Forks, N. D., the remains of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Howe, who perished in the fire, were discovered. The crumbled bones of Mrs. Howe were lying near those of her husband, which establishes the theory that she lost her life while endeavoring to rescue him. Mr. Howe was a cripple. The bodies were shipped to Michigan for interment. Boats and Crew Missing. The bark Tidal Wave, which left Tacoma Dec. 18, with lumber for San Pedro, Cal., is now being towed into Port Townsend, Wash. All the bark's boats are missing, from which it is supposed that the officers and crew, fearing she was going to sink, put off and left her to her fate. As there has been very rough weather, it is feared the boats and their occupants have been lost.

Counterfeiter and Outfit Captured. United States Marshal Ide and two deputies raided a shack on the big island in the Spokane river, Wash., and captured Ernest Willoughby on a charge of counterfeiting. His outfit, consisting of plaster of paris molds, ladle, lead and composition metal, and a large number of spurious nickels, dimes, quarters and halfdollars, was seized. Skagit River Rises. At Seattle, Wash., it is reported that recent rainstorms seriously interrupted railroad traffic, and a Chinook wind which is converting the snow in the mountains into water threatens considerable damage. The Skagit river is reported to have risen ten feet. Eleven bents of the Seattle and International trestle over the Stillaguamish have been washed away at Arlington. Mexico Rubs Against Us. The steamer Albion has arrived at San Diego, Cal. Her officers and passengers report that the Mexican gunboat Democrat* landed an armed force on Clipperton Island and in spite of protests hauled

down the United States flag and raised the Mexican colors in its place. Having taken formal possession of the island, the marines withdrew and notified the men who remained on the island not to allow anyone to take away guano under penalty of violating the Mexican laws. The island is about 800 miles off the Mexican coast, almost due west of Acapulco. It is about four miles in circumference. Two palm trees constitute the sole vegetation of the island, which is made the home of millions of sea fowl. Thousands of tons of the richest guano are to be found on the island. When the marines landed to take possession of the island in behalf of Mexico they were fully armed and prepared to do battle it resistance were offered. VOLUME OF BUSINESS Larger than in 1892-Strong Foreign Demand for Grain. Dun’s commercial report says: The volume of business through clearinghouses—for the week 14.2 per cent, larger than in 1892—has for the month been 0.3 per cent, larger than in that year, and in many industries and branches of business the later months of this year have surpassed all records. The iron industry hns been greatly encouraged by increased demand during the last few weeks, and while the slight improvement in pig iron at Pittsburg has been maintained, notwithstanding the greatest output ever known, the new contracts for finished products have been unusual for the season. Minor metals have been rather weak. The cotton industry is halted by the question of wages, although a general reduction now seems probable. The manufacturers have been buying largely of material for worsted goods, and their purchases have stimulated buying by wool manufacturers, so that the wool markets are stronger, though without changes in quotations. After the great excitement at Chicago wheat still goes out of the country as largely as before—from Atlantic ports, 3,570,783 bushels, flour included, against 1.542.540 last year, and from Pacific ports, 1,712,625 bushels. In four weeks the Atlantic exports, flour included, have been 15,060,047 bushels, against 8,500,161 last year. Heavy western receipts are only reflecting temporary conditions in the Chicago market. Extraordinary exports of corn—--14,404,905 bushels, against 9,444,853 bushels in the four weeks last year—show how sorely foreign markets are pushed by the increasing demand for breadstuffs. Wheat has declined fiveeighths of a cent with the Chicago market and corn has meanwhile advanced threefourths of a cent. The cotton movement continues remarkably heavy, and yet the slight advance last week is maintained. The movement to .date, although more than 7,000,000 bales have come into sight, scarcely supports the largest current estimates. Failures for the week have been 395 in the United States, against 439 last year, and twenty-one in Canada, against thirty-nine last year.

SPAIN ACTS PROMPTLY. Wcyler Placed Under Arrest to Forestall Diplomatic Remonstrance. Gen. Weyler was placed under arrest by the Government nt Madrid for the memorial which be has addressed to the queen regent assailing President McKinley in connection with his message to Congress. This prompt action of the Spanish Government was taken to forestall any diplomatic remonstrance on the part of the United States. Editions of the three papers containing the address were also seized, and proceedings will immediately be instituted against the publishers. England Looks for Aid. The United States Government has been sounded by England for moral if not further support in the event of war in the east. That country desires to secure an actual alliance with the United States; if this is not possible, then the moral support spoken of. In the event of failure to secure either it would like guarantees of neutrality. The fear now agitating England is that the United States will help Russia in case of hostilities. Prominent Americans in London have been carefully questioned in this matter. Standard Oil Trust Plans. A member of the Standard Oil Company writes from New York that the coming season will see that big corporation operating extensively on the Pacific coast. Its oil field in Alaska will be developed and the output brought not only to the cities of the Pacific slope for distribution west of the Rocky Mountains, but also for shipment to South America and Australia. A Rival to Standard Oil. According to the London Star the Rothschilds of Paris and Vienna, in conjunction with the Russian petroleum refiners of Baku, are financing a company which proposes to supply Great Britain with high-flash Russian oil of 103 degrees to compete with the Standard Oil Company. Conclusion of Panama Cases. All the deputies and others who have been tried in Paris on the charge of participation in the Panama canal intrigues have been acquitted. Akron Tailor Missing. A. J. Ruth, a tailor, has been missing from Akron, 0., three weeks. He had a large sum of money when he left home.