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| —— Papr not | to be taken from '~ the Library.++++ VOLUME SAN FRANCISCO, TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 16, 1897 PRICE FIVE CE LIS VERY BOLD Defies the Great Powers in the Occupation of Crete. CANEA IS INVADED BY FOREIGNERS. Combined Fleet of Protesting Nations Lined Up for Action. BUT THE HELLENIC KINGDOM IS ‘ UNDAUNTED. Meanwhile Loyal Subjects of King George Volunteer to Fight Against the Turks. leets at Canea and fifty Austrians e been landed under the command of Italian officer and have occupied the kish officials having given nt 1o the step. Tne flags of the represent the oc ng force been hoisted upon the ramparts of ave , Feb. 15.—When the was made here that the upation,” under the com- 1 Va chief aid-de- to King George, had landed in nonstrations of the wildest joy ged in by the populace. A dis- 1 Canea says that Colonel Vas- sed a proclamation to the Cre- 1as demanded that the Turks eived here from the island of ounce that ‘‘the corps of occu- of infantry, artillery ineers, numbering 1500 men, which s vesierday, have , fourteen kilometers ships of the pow- state, have pre- detachments at nd Canea. Feb. 15.—In the Cham- M. Hsnotaux, Min- fairs, replying to an . Jaures regarding the situa- aia that the status of ai- d was such as to rendera Jau information. Thereupon declared a discus- request for ed squadron as senior flag officer in Cretan rs will take command of the united s of the powers, and every movement e warships will be made under his ction. Itisfurther stated that ali ar- «ments for definite action on the part > combined fleeis of the powers have completed. bee 5., Feb. 15.—The Standard -morrow print a dispatch from its spondent, saying that the ed to supervise the exe- rter for Crete, tae coief of which is the autonomy of the 1 under the joint rule of the powers. d’s correspondent t ne has been assured by a Gre igh position that Emperor Wil- liam used his influence very largely to effect this solution of the matter, which is light, and the crisis is con- ¥ onicle will to-morrow pub- tish a dispatch from Brussels, saying tha itisstated there that the Gresk Govern ment has purchased 100,000 rifles at Liege. The matter of disorders in Crete and the independent action taken by Greece in sending a torpedo flotille and transport ships with troops to that island came up in the House of Lords to-day, when Lord Salisbury declared that the reforms for the istand of Crete had been arranged and were already being put into effect when intervenea. The powers, the r said, were unanimous in regard- £ the action of Greece as 1ll-advised, to ,and had lost no time in ex- this opinion in language of most earnest and unmistakable character to the Greek Government. The Government ‘of Great Britain, Lord Salisbury declared, 4 in complete accord with the powers, and there was no ground for <ing that they would depart from the which they had hitherto pursued. #MANY, Feb, 15.—The many hat actually occurred result of the two confer- tic representatives of and the subsequent resentation of the conclusions arrived at by.the conference 1o Premier M. Dely- annis, M. Bouree, the French Minister be- ing the spokesmun of the diplomats, have been setat rest by a semi-official ment which was given out here. According to this statement M. Dely- annis, upon being formally notified of the action of the foreign Ministers, which notice was put in the form of a protest against the action which Greece has tak- en in Crete, asked tnat time be allowed him in which to consider and formulate a polic; B state- his request having been grantea M. Delyannis diplomats through M. Bouree an answer 10 their protest. The Greek Premier, fter a brief review of the situation, de. qualification that it is the ose of Greece to occupy Crete. . Inview of thisdefiant attitude of the Helenic Kingdom the German Govern- ment will consider that it is no longer consonant with dignity to proceed further in the patns of diplemacy at Athens and after having communicated this conclu- sion to the Government will instruct the commander of the German warship Kai- further | to-day communicated to the | serin Augusta to proceed to Canea and Jjoin the associated fleets off the Cretan coast in preventing any hostile action on the part of Greece and co-operate with them in restoring order in the island. According to the semi-official statement this decision on the part of Germany is final. occUPAalL - OF CANEA. ntercention by Powers. Welcome the Buropean Mostems LONDO! will publish to-m spatch from Canea giving details of the landing from the foreign warships of the force which occupies Canea. The debarkation ot the men took place in the afternoon under the direction of the Italian admiral, who is the senior commaander. The weather was brilliant, and the men in their different uniforms made a picturesque scene. The quays were crowded with curious specta- tors, but not the least demonstration of hostility was made. The Mohammedan population are evidently pleased action of the powers in occuy city. A small fanatical minority exhibited signs of discontent. | Mushavier Ismacl Bey, to whom was | delegated by George Berovitch Pasha, the | Christian Governor of Crete, the powers of | government, has addressed a note to the commanders of the foreign fleets, gladly accepting the occupation of Crete and ex- pressing the hope that the towns in tne island will all be occupied by the powers. Other prominent residents are agreed that the occupation be extended over the entire island. No information, the dispatch states, can be obtained regarding the movements of the Greek forces under Colonel Vossos, which effected a landing at Placetinas. A fight is said to have taken place near Heraklion during the afternoon, and three more Mobammedan villages are said to bave been burned. alone N — GKEECE 1S NOT ALONE, Some Powers Willing to Sen That George Acquires Crete. NEW YQRK, Y., Feb. 16.—A special cable dispatch from London to the Sun | says: It is announced that the powers bave agreed to make a joint occupation of | Crete with the ultimate object of turning the island over to Greece. The belief is still widespread in Europe | that Greece has not followed the defiant policy of the past few days without a ccret assurance from some quarter that she would not be atlowed to suffer for her | apparent foolhardiness. It is, of course, impossible to judge of | the probable development of the present | erisis without some knowledge of itssecret | inception, for it is incredible that it has | reached its present phase spontaneously. It is easy to see how the Sultan might profit by creating complications and diffi- cnlties in the hope of warding off the dis- ciplinary measures which have been 50 | | 1ong preparing. | It is by no means clear, however, how anybody else would benefit by the warlike events of the past few days. A highly in- teresting report bearing upon this point was discussed to-day in u usually wejl-in- formed circle of London bapkess. It isto this effect: A fortnight ago Lord Salisbury became fearful that one or two powers, which had yielded acquiescence to England’s pro- posal that coercive measures be adopted tosecure genuine reform in the Ottoman | Empire, were beginning to waver in that policy. There were signs that when the moment came to use force protasly |{two of the Continental Governments would, on one pretext or another, put ob- stacles in the way of decisive action. Lord Salisbury believes firmly, as does most of the rest of {he world, that noth- | ing whatever shortof sharp coercion ap- plied directed at the Yildiz Kiosk will secure the establishmentof decent and safe government in Turkey. | A fresh emergency such as the Cretan | crisis would demonstrate pretty conclu- | sively the correctness of this view. At all events, the powers have agreed to do what they have not done, namely, to take some joint action that would show that | the European concert is something more than the sham it has apparently been for | eighteen months. ! It was not necessary for more thana | hint to this effect to reach the ears of | King George, and the result has been what the world is now witnessing. Those who discussed the story conld | not altogether discredit it, nor did they | criticize Lord Salisbury very severeiy for the divlomatic subterfuge thus imputed 0 him. Lord Salisbury’s language in the House | of Lords vesterday regarding the situa- | tion showed no leaning toward Greece, | but he insisted with great vigor on per- | fect harmony among the powers, which is | the only essential thing, as far as Europe | at large is concerned. The principal point of interest with re- gard to the latest situation in Crete itself is in respect to a possible collision between the Greek force which has been landed on the island and the foreign bluejackets who are aiso there. | Allreports agree that the war fever in Greece is increasing in intensity. Con- stantinople is, however, the point of greatest importance. The probability is that Greece will get Crete one way or an- other, but what Europe wants to know is what the Sultan is going to do about it. o MEANS MUCH TO AMERICA. Farmers and Merchants Would Profit by | a War, CHICAGO, Inw, Feb. 15.—The Tribune this morning publishes the following: With the threatened outbreak of hostili- ties in the Mediterranean Russian ship- | ments of wheat are certain to stop. This means a great deal to the American grain trade at the present juncture. It so hap- pens that Southern Russia isnow the | only competitor with America in furnish- ing Western Europe with its supply of wheat. India and Argentina haye stopped shipments altogether and have ceased to be a factor in the food supply of Western Europe. The field has been left to South. ern Russiaand America. With Russia out of the way by lowering | clonds of war it seems certain that Amer- ican wheat must be in more active de- mand than it has been for years. If the trade takes this view of yesterday’s excit- 1g events off Crete to-day is likely to wit- | ness a remarkatle advance in wheat and wheat-producing. _ Corn will not be so much affected, but is expected to advance somewbat in sym- pathy with wheat. These were believed last might by ex- perienced observers to be the effects of the shot which went flying near the Torkish flag. With Western Europe de- pending entirely on America for wheat == GREECE AROUSED. Earth! render back from out thy breast A remnant of our Spartan dead ! Of the three hundred grant but three To make a new Thermopylz. -—-Byron. the position of the American farmer will be better than it has been since the de- cline in farm products began, In stocks and securities it was believed that the first effects will be to force a de- cline. This would come, not for any good | reason for a scare, but capital has become subject to hysterics and other nervous troubles, which bave apparently grown chronic, and doubtless will be badly scared at the outset. Why Americau en- terprises have anything to fear from a war in the Mediterranean was not clear to these same observers. It was believed that 1n the end the result of such a strug- gle would result in a bettering of Ameri- can securities. e WAR NOT YET DECLARED, But if It Is Consul Fotassi Says Greece Can Hold Her Uwn. NEW YORK, N. Y., Feb. 15—D. N. Bo- tassi, the Greek Consul to the port of New | York, speaking of the commercial rela- tions between Greece and other countries, to-day said: Greece hus not declared war on Turkey yet, and even if she dia I do not think it would disturb our commercial relations with other nations. Turkey's fleet is not large enough to blockade our yorts and stop commerce. Turkey’s army is large, but her navy is weak. The army of fnva- sion, in case of war, would pass through Macedoniz into Thessaly. Macedonia is nominally under Turkish rule, but most of the inhabitants are Greeks and Chris- tians. In Thessaly the Greeks would have many natural advantages, as the land is hilly. Therefore the Turkish army would have a large contract on hand in trying to invade Greece by land. I think that eventually Crete will be added to ureece.” TEXAS EDITORIAL CONVENTION, Several Hundred Members of the Press Arrive at Galreston. GALVESTON, Texas, Feb. 15.—Several nundred editors to attend the convention of the State Press Association arrived to- day and to-night, and large contingents are expected on the early morning trains, The association will convene in annual session at 2 o’clock to-morrow. Addresses of welcome will be delivered by Mayor Fly on bebalf of the city, and President Baille of the Texas Press Association on benalf of the State Press. The battle.ship Texas, which has been eagerly looked for all day, is expected to arrive to-morrow morning. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the entertainment of the editors and the officers of the warship, | | | i WILLIAMP. ST, JOHN | CALLEDTO REST Death of the Noted Eastern Banker From Kidney Troubles. Remarkable Career of the “Apostle of Free Silver Coinage.” After the Def:at of Bryan He Entered the Pro’uce Business in New York. NEW YCRK, N. Y., Feb. 15.—William P. St. John, formerly president of ihe Mercantile National Bank and one of the principal champions in the East of free silver, died at 8 o'clock last night irom a complication of kidney and stomach trou- ble. . William Pope St. John, banker, was boru In Mobile, Ala., February 19, 1847; the sen of Newton 8t. Jobn, banker, of the firm of St. Joun, Powers & Co. of Mobile, Ala., for twenty-five years agents in the South for Messrs. Baring Bros. & Co. of London. His mother was a daughter of Alexanaer Pope of Delaware and Dor- othy Bibb of Georgls, the latter a sister of Thomas Bibb, the first Governor of Alabama, and for whose family Bibb County, Ga., was named. A paternal an- cestor was one of the two brothers St. John, menticned in Trambull's “Con- necticut.” Young St. John began his education in Mobile, continued it in Europe, and on his return passed one year in Andover, Mass. His first business em- ployment was in a banking-house in Wall street, New York. In the same city he subsequently filled clerkships in several different kinds of business, and always with houses prominent in their line, hav- ing under bis control and' manage- ment during a period of four years the sales, prices and credits for the leading "l.n the custody of his counsel until to- | firm of sugar refiners in the United States, for which the yearly sales were said to ex- ceed the sum of $50,000,000. | In January, 1881, hé was elected cashier | of the Mercantite National'Bank of New York City, and two years later was made president. During his incumbency of the office the Mercantile National Bank’s ae- posits increased in’ tén ye:rs from an average of $3,500,000 to $11,000,000, while over §1,000.000 has been accumulated from the earnings, aiter constant ‘payments of seml-annual dividends, and the market price of the capital stock has advanced from 85 cents to §2 25 on the dollar. Mr. St. John was also a director in other banks, and trustee in several financial or- ganizations, was a member ot the execu- tive committee of the American Bankers' Association and of the financial commit- tee of tte New York Chamber of Com- merce. Mr. St. John has b2en a frequent and valued contributor to financial news- papers, magazines and other literary pub- lications, and had published important original pamphlets on economic topics. He nhas bsen conspicuons among bankers for his earnestness in urging the historic basis for the argument in behalf of the equally free and unhimited coinage of gold and silver in the United States, disputing as unhistoric the antagoristic statements of Senator Sherman and otners. He has been called the ‘“Apostie of free coinage of silver.” Williams College conferred upon him the honorary degree of M. A. After the defeat of Mr. Bryan Mr. St. John went into the produce business, hav- ing bought a seat in the Produce Exchange. JACOB 1ASIGI'S CASE. The Turkish Consul-General Claims to De Exempt From Arrest. NEW YORK, N. Y., Feb. 15.—Jacob Tasigi, Turkish Consul-General in Boston, who was arrested in this city last Satur- day evening on the charge of emlezzie- ment, was arraigned before Magistrate Cornell in the Center-street Police Court this afterncon. The prosecution was rep- resented by General Francis Peatody of Boston and Lawyer Frederick R. Coudert appeared for lasigi. Lawyer Coudert said that his clientis an accredited agent of a foreign power and is Consul-General at Boston and that te is exempt from arrest by State authorities. - Mr. Peabody claimed that a Consul is nothing but a business agent to a country and th t he is not exempt from arrest. Magistrate Cornell adjourned the case until (o-morrow morning in order to study up and advise over the case. he Consul-General was then paroled morrow. i S Ten Years for an Embezsler, PHILADEL‘PHIA, Pa., Feb. 15 —John H. Hoffer, wi'o embezzled $100,000 from | the First National Bank of Lebanon, was sentencea to ten years’ imprisonment to-day. —_——— Great Machine Bolt Trust Collapses. CLEVELAND, Osnio, Feb. 15.— The great machine bolt trust, which com- prised all ths leading machine bolt manu- facturers in the country, has collapsed. CALIERNA TO B FREE | Brighter Prospects for a | New Transcontinental | Railroad. LEGISLATURE READY TO LEND AID. | |An Amendment to the Civil i Code That May Mean L Much to the State, | SANTA FE AND VALLEY LINE ACT IN CONCERT. Technicalities Tending to Prevent the Opening of a Through Line Will Be Removed | SACRAMENTO, Car, Feb. 15—Judge | C.N. Sterry, solicitor for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, appeared | before tne Senate Judiciary Committee | to-night to secure on bebalf of kis road | certain legislation that indirectly affects | the Valley road and the people of Cali= | fornia who are interested in securing a } competing transcontinental road into San | Francisco. 5 There is shortly to be sold under a de« gree of foreclosure the property of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, including | the contract between that corporation and | the Southern Pacific Company relative to the line between Mojave and The Needles. This line is owned by the Southern Pa- cific Company, but under a contract dated October 1, 1884, it is leased to the Atlantic and Pacific for a term of thirty | vears. One of the conditions is that the | Atlantic and Pacific shall not extend irs own line into California without five years’ notice to the Southern Pacific. | This would preciude the construction by the Atlantic and Pacific of a line to close | the gap between Mohave and Bakerstield | s0 as to connect with the Valley road at the latter town. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe has cquired all the outstanding bonds of the | Atlantic and Pacific, and is ready to pur- | chuse the property and sll the vested | ricits of the latter company, inciuding | the contract with the Southern Pacific. Judge Sterry’s object in avpearing be- fore the Judiciary Commiltee to-night was to secure the passage of a bill which would give his company the power to form a corporation unler the laws of | California which wiil have the right to | purchase railroads already constructed, | together with all their rights, franchises | and privileges of all kinds. The present | law provides for the organization of cor- | porations to transact any kind of business | not in itself untawful, and the Civil Code | also specifically provides for the incor- | poration of railroad companies, but no- where is it specifically stated that a cor- voration shall nave the right to purchase | and operate roads already constructed. | There wasa general disposition on the | pert of the committee to grant anything that Judge Sterry desired on this matter, but there was objection to the bill he had prepared and which he bad submitted to the committee. [t was contended that the law as it stood permitted the forma- | tion of such a corporation as he had out- | lined. He admitted this, bur explained | that some technical objections might be raised as the law stood at present, and for | that reason his company desired to thor- oughly protect itsell. It was suggested that the Civil Code could be more safely and satisfactorily amended to secure the object he sought. | He suid he did not care how the end was effected and would be satisfied with any- thing the committee recommended as long | as what his company desired was granted. Senators Simpson and Dickmson were named asa committee to draft a suitable amendment to section 455 of the Civil THE LATE WILLIAM POPE ST. JOHN,