The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-07-05

u6elueQ worm taxing into the truS1
were rehabilitated and set to pro-
ducing again. These were able tt
produce fine table salt and get it in
to the Portland Market on terms
that were better than those quoted
by the trust. A number of large
orders were placed with their East.
ern producers, mostly in Ohio, and
the shipments are now on the way
to Portland, but the cut announced
by the trust will have the effect Of
making that more improbable fc,
those who did not patronize the
trust. Instead of a gain of $3.50
more or less, per car load, it is said
there will be loss of about that g.
mount. But there is no assurance
that the cut price will be retained
when the trust gets possession of the
field again.
New York World: Prof He'll.
prin, of Philadelphia, who has just
returned from careful study OF
the crater of Mount Pelee and of
the terrible destruction and devas-
tation caused by the explosion OF
the volcano on May 8, is not yet
prepared to give his theory of the
cause Of the eruption.
He thinks it is fully established
however, that "the destruction was
caused by explosive gases the ma
ture of which is not yet determin-
ed. 'The instantaneous death of
the ill-fated inhabitants of St..
Pierre resulted, he thinks, from
gaseous asphyziation, and posi-
bly, from a removal of the oxygen
from the atmosphere, besides in
tense heat"
The professor said his observa-
tions had no bearing upon the the
ory of a molten mass or seething
sea of fire in the interior of the
earth; but he is positive that the
recent outbreak twas caused by ex-
plsoive gases, not by superheated
steam." Does not this conclusion,
taken in connection with the ab-
sence Of lava or other products of
fire, tend to support the theory that
the forces which caused this tremen-
dous explosion were purely chem
ical? TO sustain fire. in the
heart of volcanic mountain there
mustssbe oxygen, and how could this
gas, essential to combustion, find
it's way into that colossal chimney?
The secret of natures great labora-
tories in the interior of the earth
are not we'll known; but when one
thinks of the reservoirs of oil and
of natural gas,' of the deposits of
coal. sulphur, salt, asphalt and,other
materials for the formation of gases
of inconceivabls explosive force,
underlying the crust of the earth,
even the unparalleled catastrophe
on Martinique may not unreasona-
bly, be attributed to some such a
gency.
Portland Oregonian: A verdict
not guilty was rendered by the
jury in the Nick Anderson case at
~ o'clock yesterday, after deliber-
ations lasting for "a hours. The
verdict was received by Judge Gle
land. who ordered the defendant
discharged from custody. Ander-
son shook hands with the members
of the jury, and also with his at
torneys, Ed and A. r. Mendenhall.
He was charged with murder in the
second degree, in having stabbed
George Tooley with pocket knife,
as the outcome OF fight in which
Tooley was the aggressor.
Salem, June 3o.-James A. Ray
and about 30 other citizens Of Co.
lumbia county today presented to
Governor Geer petition asking
him to commute the sentence of
August Schieve to life imprison-
ment. Schieve is under sentence Of
death for the murder of Joseph
and tho date of his
execution has been set for July 2.
The petitioners say the evidence
was wholly circumstantial and that
there is a possibility of his inno-
cence. The petition is accompan-
led by statement from Sheriff
Haitian, of Columbia county, in
which he says he believes Schieve
is guilty, yet, knowing the evidence
he feels there is possibility of his
innocence, and he would rather. see
him sent to the penitentiary for life
than to see him hang.
Governor Geer said in answer to
an inquiry tonight that be would
take no action on the Schieve petit
tion, and that he would not inter-
fere with the execution of Schieve
unless some very unusual showing
should be made in his behalf.