davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
RUSSIAN CANAL TO
CONNECT THE BLACK
WITH THE BALTIC SEA
This viii Place the Fate of Turkey n1d
China Absolutely In the Hands
of the Gar

NEW YORK, Dec. 23.-A Washington
special TO the Herald says: The Rus
sian Government will begin work next
! spring upon a stupendous piece of engi-
neering, which, like the trans Siberian
railroad, will be of great strategic and
/ commercial value to her when com
pleted The project contemplates the
construction Of canal connecting the
Baltic and Black seas, which can be
! traversed by battleships of the heaviest
! tonnage at six knots per hour Bv
means of this canal Russia will be able
to mobilize huge fleet in the Baltic
in 167 hours by bringing to that sea
the Black Sea squadron, or she can COL
! lect in the Black sea in the same time
! the Baltic and Black sea fleets.
In case of a general European war
| over the division of China, at the time
of the completion of the canal. it would
not be difficult matter for Russia +o
| send her fleet through the Bosphorus.
the sea OF Marmora and the Darda-
neIleS into the Mediterranean, down the
Suez canal and across the Indian ocean
to China, while she could utilize the
trans-Sioerian railroad to transport
troops. The canal will remove the ne
cesSity Of sending a fleet across the
= W "a L
order to reach the Mediterranean and
through that sea to the Suez canal and
| China. 1t is pointed out that in case
OF war Great Britain or Germany
would take measures to see that the
Russian fleet did not pass through their
waters without a hard struggle
The length of the canal VIII be 1000
miles. 1t will have an average depth
Of 2S.4 feet. The cost of the work will
be $91 900, 600, and it must be completed
by 1902
1t is frankly admitted by the Russian
authorities that the canal is being
built for military purposes, just as the
trans-Siberian road is being con-
structed, but they say that the water
way would be of benefit commercially.
! Wheat raised in the southern part of
Russia, near the Black sea, and coal
and petroleum obtained from that sec
ton can be transported more cheaply
to markets than by railroads or by
steamers going through the Bosphorus
into the Mediterranean. Sixteen cities
are situated along the route of the pro-
posed canal, and they will all be bene-
flied by it's construction.
Russia maintains a formidable fleet
of battleships and cruisers in the Black
sea-" said a well-known naval COM
mander to me to-day, "such action be-
ing in violation of the provisiC ms of the
Berlin treaty. The construction Of the
canal will mean that this fleet can be
reinforced within seven days at the ut
most by an equally formidable feet
from the Baltic, and in case of the dis
memberment of Turkey, or the neces-
sity for a large force of naval vessels
in Asiatic waters, Russia would be able
to get her reinforcements to that sec
ton ahead of any other European Gov
ernment, which would be compelled to
use the Atlantic ocean and Mediterran-
can. So far as Turkey and China are
concerned, the completion Of the Rus
sian canal will place the Car in posi-
ton which will be envied by all other
European Governments"
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
YOUNG v ADE'S
BOND MISSING
Discovery of the County
Clerk Of Santa
Clara.
Document Representing $4,000
Believed to Have Been
Stolen.
The District Attorney Preserves
Copy, However, and Will Sue
the Sureties.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, Dec 23.-It was learned
to-day that $4,000 bond in criminal
case is no longer in the custody of the
County Clerk, and the general belief
is that the document has been stolen.
The bond was given in the Steve Wade
case. Wade was convicted and fined
$4,000, with the alternative of $50 days
imprisonment. His parents were
wealthy and took the case to the Su
preme Court. Pending a decision
Wade was placed under $4,000 bonds
and allowed his liberty. Now, after
the judgment of the lower court has
been affirmed, both Wade and the
bond are missing. The District At
torney says he has a copy of the bond
and that the judgment of the court
will not be thwarted. 1t is expected,
however, that Wade's attorney will
object to collecting the amount due on
the bond, and interesting legal pro-
ceedings will follow.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
PREDICT A WAR
IN THE FAR EAST
WITHIN SIXTY DAYS
White Men Who Live in Japan and China Do
Not Believe a Conflict Can Be
Avoided.

"At the clubs in Hongkong and
Yokohama the betting is even that
Russia and Japan will be fighting
within the next sixty days." remarked
DR.. A. n. Beach, surgeon Of the
China, who arrived from the Orient
yesterday The seizure of an import
ant station in China by the German
fleet has added to the excitement and
indignation in Japan. It is common
talk in Japan that the German ad-
miral apprised the admirals respec-
lively of the United States, English
French and Russian fleets of his in
tended stroke, but never said a word
to the Japanese admiral. The Japan
ese regard this slight as something
but little less than an open insult. 1t
is said that the German admiral was
not at all afraid of the Japs, and
therefore did not conceal his inten-
tions through any apprehension of
danger, but fancied that Japan was
not entitled to the recognition usually
accorded to f1rst-class nations. This
is the view of the case which the
Japanese take, and they do not at
tempt to conceal their chagrin.
When DR.. Beach left Yokohama al
sorts of wild rumors were afoat. One
SlOry was 70 the erect Lnat the Ger
man invasion of Chinese territory had
been followed by the seizure of For
mosa by the French. When it is con-
sidered that Formosa was the only
territory ceded to Japan by the treaty
at the close Of the late war, it may be
conjectured how intensely alarmed
the Japs were when the report of a
French occupation of the island
reached Japan. The island belongs TO
the Mikado by the terms of the treaty
with China, but the Japanese have
not been able to subdue the islanders
and enjoy undisturbed possession of
the country. The inhabitants of the
island are not as mild and submissive
as the Chinese on the main land. and
so they select strongholds in the hills
and resist the Japanese soldiers.
The best of feeling continues to ex
1st between the American and Eng
lish naval officers of the Asiatic sta
ton. In honor Of the Queens Jubilee
the United States ships were dressed
'out of sight" Last Fourth of .J1lIv
the Britishers returned the commit
ment. 1t is common talk that Ameri-
cans would be bound to help England
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
If Able to Ride He Must
Race on the 9Th of
January.
James Michael Will Hold the
Buffalo Boy to His Con-
tract.
There Is Possibility of a Controversy
for the Racing Board to
Decide.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, Dec. 24.-Eddie Bald, of
Buffalo, may be forced to ride James
Michael, Of Wales, in their match at
one mile on January s next. Bald has
been i'll at a Broadway hotel, but he is
now on the mend and will in few
days, it is expected, be on his wheel
again. Michael and his manager, David
Schaeffer, have just arrived in this city
and when informed that the friends of
Bald had called off the match with the
Welshman, Schaeffer showed real in
dignatien.
There must be two parties to that
agreement" he said, land unless Bald
can show a doctors certificate that he
is unfit for racing on January we will
hold him to his contract. In the event
OF his neither having such a certificate
nor coming for the race, we will forward
copy of our contract to Chairman
Mott of the racing board and let him
deal with the case"
Schaeffer pointed out that Bald has
fortnight in which to recover his
speed. Michael, he said, had a nasty
fall in Saratoga on Wednesday and as
result had trouble with his stomach
all day, but on that account would not
withdraw from his match with Chase.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
A Broad-Gauge Railroad
Now Running Into
the Town.
Many Advantages Will Accrue
to the Lively Mining
Camp.
Preparations for the First Excursion
over the Line-A Business
Boom Anticipated.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


RANDSBURG, Cal, Dec. 23.-The
Randsburg and Kramer broad gauge
railroad is at last completed. 1t was
expected that it would be finished
some time ago, but shipments of ties
We're very much delayed, thus imped-
ing the progress of the road. The
first excursion viii consist of the
members of the Mining Exchange and
the Chamber of Commerce of Los
Angeles, who viii come up to inspect
the camp and outlying district.
The advantages to accrue to Rands-
burg and the adjoining district from
the advent OF this railroad cannot be
overestimated. Heretofore it has
taken from six to ten hours to make
the stage ride from Mojave and Kra-
mer, which will be cut down to an
hour and a half, thus putting this
rich mining territory into close COM
municatiOn with the outside world
and make it a very desirable place to
live.
There is not the least doubt in the
world that Randsburg is a permanent
mining camp. n Board of Trade has
lately been organized of the foremost
business men of the camp, which is
actively at work preparing TO give all
NCA - VI 1l4OLnldllOIls anu, WIN InS
c1tlzenS' committee, it has started in
to improve the general appearance of
the town by grading the thorough
fares. The chemical engine recently
purchased by the Fire Department
does excellent work, and danger Of
hre is we'll guarded against.
The miners union is a very strong
body here and is composed OF a good
class Of miners who have a good in
huence on the general behavior of the
camp. Assessment work is being
pushed forward at a rapid rate in all
directions, as this is the close of the
year, and rich strikes are being re-
ported every day. The placer diggings
are pannlng out extremely we'll and ali
OF the men who are running dry wash
ers are making good money. In the
last month or two quite a number have
been running right in the heart of town
and paying well. Some of the school
boys are running machines after school
hours, also Saturday and Sundays. This
is the first year of the school, which
has been q success from the start
There are about seventy on the roll.
with a good average attendance
The little church is very nearly fin
Ished inside and would be a credit to
any town. It has a good attendance
The OrDheus Theater is we'll filled every
night, which is a good indication of
prosperous times. A great number Of
miners from Colorado and Arizona are
intending to come here after the hoIi-
days which will help to make things
lively in the camp. Now that tho
railroad is in, many Of the miners and
business men are sending for their
families and there is an increasing de-
mand for dwelling houses in corse-
quence. ChaunCey NJ. Depew and a
number of railroad officials are ex-
pected here to spend Christmas in
specting the camp
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24

places along the coast of Arabia and
India have not seen the United States
dag on ship of war for many years.
Ex Minister DENLY writes letter
the New York Herald reviewing
he recent seizures of Chinese ports
oy Germany and Russia, and suggest
ing that the United States ought to
demand, whoever shall be master of
the soil, that equality of tariffs shall
be maintained; in other words. that
American merchants shall not be put
IN any worse position than they are
IN now by reason Of new occupation
Of Chinese territory This is GER
talnly reasonable demand We have
treaty rights at various Chinese
ports, which are valuable now and
are likely to be more so as the in
terror of China becomes civilized. AS
long as Chinese authority is main
tanned those treaty rights must be
recognized. If Germany makes a vio-
lent seizure of a portion of the coast
IL VIII be within her power to throw
Gown everything that depends upon
Ch!nese rule, including the privileges
Chlna has guaranteed to other ma
tlons. If any other nation finds its
pre-ex1sting rights threatened, it
may justly demand that the intrud-
ing power shall respect them, and,
II the latter fails to do so, it may
make the matter a casus belli, if it
is worth While to do so.
1t is believed here that a firm pro-
test should be lodged with all who are
helping themselves to Chinese terri
tory, and they should be given to un-
derstand they will incur the i'll will
of the United States if any trade
privileges we now enjoy are abrogat-
ed or changed to our disadvantage.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
PRIZE fowls SEEN At
FRESNO'S POULTRY SHOW
Sister, a Buff Leghorn Hen, Scores O
Record Creating Degree of
Excellence.

FRESNO, Dec 22.-Several hundred
people visited the poultry show in the
library building, and the managers of
the exhibition were highly pleased
with the great interest taken by the
general public. In the row of pens on
the right, as the visitor enters the
hall, are the buff leghorns exhibited
by Charles d. Pierce of Oakland.
Without exception this is considered
by competent experts to be the finest
collection of buff Ieghorns ever ex-
hibited in America. Pierce's cock,
Duke, has produced more prize-win-
ners than any other bird of this va
riety in the world. Sister, a beautiful
hen, also in this exhibition, scored 95,
the highest degree of excellence ever
made by a buff leghorn in America.
Fresno Girl, a puflet, scoring 9453, and
Fresno Boy, a cockerel, scoring 94, are
world -beaters in points and also be-
long to the Pierce exhibit.
S. p. Lindgren of Kingsburg has a
fine display of buff leghorns.
Judge Breed of Oakland has award
ed the prizes. The first prizes were
taken as follows: Brown leghOrn cock
erels, j. j. Reyburn; buff leghorn
cocks, c. d. Pierce; black Langshans,
r. j. Venn light Brahams, T. B.
Mather; white Plymouth Rocks, c.. H.
Glassford; white leghorn cockerels, s.
p. Lindgren; blue and AIusians, ]. J.
Reyburn; buff Cochin bantams, r. J.
Venn; S. S. Hamburg, F. B. Mather;
barred Plymouth Rock cockereIs, G..
J. Cox; buff Plymouth Rock cockerels, l
@ T Cox
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
CAME TO CALIFORNIA
EARLY IN THE F0RTIES.
John n. Mehone, Pioneer Resident OF
Kings County, Succumbs to
Lo1O Illness

HANFORD, Dec. 23.-John Henry
Melone, a native of Fulton, Galloway
County, Missouri, and a resident of
Hanford since 1878, died at his home
in this city at o'clock yesterday
morning after a painful and protract
ed illness.
Melone had been a prominent char
acter in the history of Hanford and
the development of Kings County.
AT the age of % he joined the rush to
California, arriving here in 1S41 via
the route across the isthmus He set
tied near Stockton, where he followed
farming to some extent and also
worked at clerking until 1865, when
he returned to Missouri. In 1866 he
was married and in 1869 moved to
ChillicOthe and afterward to ST. Louis.
AT the latter place he was supervisor
at the State Insane Asylum, and re-
mained there until 1875, when with his
family he returned to California He
came to Hanford and built a store in
1878.
Melone has been prominent in near
ly every local enterprise and was
member of the Hanford Board of City
Trustees. In respect to his memory
the City Hall has been draped, the
flag hung at half-maSt and suitable
resolutions passed by the Council at
a special meeting to-day. The funeral
Will take. place on Friday from his
late residence. Melone was a member
of Hanford Lodge No. 279, F. and A
M, and that order will have charge
of the funeral ceremonies. He was
also Royal Arch Mason and a
knight Templar
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
POWERS IN FEAR
OF EACH OTHER.
Continued from First Page.

dom and the apprehension that harm
may befan the missionaries should an
uprising of fanatics occur.
Information comes from China,
through Admiral McNair, the present
commander in chief, of the active ma
val preparations that have been made
in the past few weeks by the powers
maintaining squadTonS on that coast,
and through his timely warning the
United States has begun to strengthen
its fleet, which may eventually lead to
the assembling of the largest number of
war vessels this country has yet main
tained in Asiatic waters.
The concern felt here by officials of
both the State and Navy departments
is not so much whether China is to be
partitiOned, but that in the event of
partition disOrganization would follow
and serious disturbances would break
out among the fanatics which might
mean harm to the large number of
American missionaries and disaster to
American property. At present the
American fleet is held together ready
to sail for any port threatened with an
outbreak. The officials do not fear
harm to Americans and American in
tion by the powers, but that the Chi
nese, who have been demoralized since
their defeat by Japan, might break out
and treat all Europeans alike. 1t is
fear, therefore, of some sudden riot of
Chinese in the interior, where the
American missionaries chiefly reside,
that has led to active preparations by
the Navy Department
fl1a n ,x,,,
the most formidable ship the navy
could have there. She is an immense
armored cruiser and carries more men
than most of the battleships of higher
fighting power. The Boston is another
well-equipped vessel, and other cruis-
ers are capable of landing a large
number of men. The Raleigh, a fine
cruiser, attached to the European sta
ton, is now at Port Said, bound to join
Admiral McNair
She was rather hastily detached
and ordered to the Far East. The
Concord has been directed to get
away from Mare Island as soon as
equipped, and should be on the way
across the Pacific before the New
Year. Other vessels are held avail
able to be sent to China, and it is be-
ieved Admiral Selfridge, on the Euro
pean station, has been instructed to
hold his ship in readiness to sail for
China in case further additions to the
naval force there are deemed ex-
pedient.
The gunboat Helena arrived at
Bermuda to-day, on ner way to the
ASiatic station. She will occupy many
months in reaching her destination.
unless she receives orders on the way
to hasten, as it is the design of. her
commander to take the ship to the
Azores, and up the Euphrates, as many
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
Fight a Draw for the Third Time.

NEW YORK, Dec. 23.-For the third
time in the ring career of Billy Whis-
tier of Philadelphia and Joe Bernstein
of New York met tonight at the Green
Point Sporting Club. Their first meet
ing was in South Brooklyn, when, after
fifteen hard rounds, Whistler got the
decision. They met again for ten
rounds at the Broadway Athletic Club
and fought a draw. Both boys agreed
tonight that if each was on his feet
at the end of the twentieth round the
bout should be declared a draw. They
fought at catch weights, and Whistler
proved TO be the better man, but owing
to the stipulation the referee had no
alternative, and decided the mill a
draw, as both were on their feet and
able to go along for several rounds
more.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
RECEIVER CLARK
SUDDENLY TAKEN I'LL.
The WeH-Known Railroad Man Is Now
Confined to His Private Car at
San Antonio.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Dec. ga
special to the Times from San Anto-
Mo, Tex, says: S. H. H. Clark, one of the
receivers of the Union Pacific Railway,
and also vice-president of the Inter-
national and Great Northern and
Texas Pacific roads, arrived here yes
terday
Before he could leave his private car
and go to the hotel where apartments
had been engaged for him he was TAX
en- i'll and has not been able since to
leave the car.
Mr.. Clark has been in poor health for
some time and came here in the hope
of spending a few days and then going
to a ranch north of here, where he was
to spend the winter. If his condition
does not improve within the next few
days he will be taken back to his home
in Omaha
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
FINANCIAL STRAWS
AND ANNEXATION

HONOLULU, Hawaii, Dec. ia
financial straw shows which way opin-
ion blows here in regard to annexa-
tion. The Calls correspondent is re-
liably informed that such wealthy men
as w. r. Castle and Alexander Young
are loaning money on real estate at
lower rates than has been customary
here, while the Minister of Finance is
calling in all mortgages except those
with gilt edged securities. The doubt
about Hawaii's fate has a depressing
effect upon many, but the shrewd men
are busily at work laying traps for the
unwary newcomers who must protect
their own heads when looking for in
vestments. Hawaii is undoubtedly on
the eve of big land and coffee boom,
but the Japanese are taking the cream
by degrees Of the coffee lands directly
or indirectly, and will continue to do
so unless strenuous efforts are made
to prevent them.
A coffee plantation, big itself, is not
a paying speculation for some years
except under the most favorable con-
ditions. The only thing that is genuine
and profitable is sugar with its neces-
sary adjunct of Asiatic labor.
How TO Vote on the Charter.
Read tO.daV's Star Toe II Dorry
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
Six Hot Rounds and q Draw.

CHICAGO, Dec. 23.-The principal
affair in the bouts at the Chicago
Athletic Club was a six-round contest
between Otto S. Cloff and Jack Lewis.
1t was declared a draw after six hot
rounds. Leslie Pierce of Philadelphia
was given the decision over Charles
Byrnes of Cincinnati. Byrnes injured
one of his hands and was unable to
continue the fight. George Kerwin of
Chicago defeated Mike Butler of New
York, the bout being stopped in the
second round to save the Eastern man
Peter Boyle and Johnny Van Heest
went six rounds to a draw.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
GENERAL SENTIMENT
FAY0RS THE STRIKE
1t Is Now Beheyed the Cotton Operatives OF
Fall River viii Be Called

FALL RIVER, Mass, Dec. 23.-The
conference of the operatives commit
tee with manufacturers tonight
lasted two hours. While it is real
lied that the general sentiment is
for a strike, the method of making the
strike operative is not agreed upon.
The delegates who took the most ac-
tive part in the discussion tonight de-
clined to talk. 1t is believed that the
influence of the most conservative of
the operatives has had an effect on
the committee, and it is not unlikely
that proposition to postpone strike
will be made.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
CREAT EVENT IN THE
COL0RED SOCIETY CIRCLES.
George Albert Hawkins, codchmun for Six
Presidents of the United States,
Takes Bride.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23-The prime
event of interest in colored society cir
cles tonight was the marriage of
George Albert Hawkins, coachman for
six presidents of the United States, to
Miss Isabella Elizabeth H Williams.
for eleven years an employee in the
Bureau of Statistics. Rev. John DAILY
performed the ceremony. The brides
gown was white satin, with a sweeping
train, the bodice blazing with diamond
buttons and a brooch. Chiffon nestled
about her throat and wrists and in her
white gloved fingers she carried a lace
handkerchief. Serene and dignified the
couple went through the service.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-24
TOUR or STANF0RD'S GLEE
AND MANDOLIN CLUBS.
Musical Bodies of the University Start on
Their Three Weeks Southern

STANFORD UNIVERSITY, Dec. %.
The Glee and Mandolin Clubs left on
the $3.50 train this afternoon on their
southern trip. The clubs will be gone
about three weeks, in which time nine
teen concerts will be given Both or
ganiZationS are in excellent form and
a successful tour is expected. The Glee
Club will be led by PhiIipA AbbOtt, '9S,
and the Mandolin Club by JAMES Lani-
gan, 700.
The following men make up the GIee
Club: First tenor-RiIey, 700; James,
'98; Gum, p. g.; Maxwell, '01. Second
tenor-Bush, '98; McNeal, '9S; Morgan,
'01; Macy, 90. First bass-Abbott, '98;
Van Katheven, '99; C. Strohn, 90; Dill
Ion, ex-'99. Second bass-Lanigan, 90;
R. Strohn, '9S; P. Gilman, 'O1; Ross, '01.
The Mandolin Club contains the fol-
lowing: First andolin-Lanigan, 100;
Field, 01; Arnold, 90. Second mandolin
C. Strohn, '00 Corbusier, '01; Knecht,
'01. Guitars-Sladen, '98; r. Strohn,
'9S; McNeal, '98; DurreIl, '99; Nichols,
'99; Hedger, 100.
When tea was first brought to Eng
land the leaves were eaten.