The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 7, 1903, Page 1

VOLUME XCIV—-NO. 129, _— gy GBS SAN FRANCISCO, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7. 1903. PRICE FIVE CENTS, STEEL TRUST IS FORCED TO REDUCE THE DIUVIDEND ON ITS COMMON STOCK DESPERADD DS LIES PURSUERS Fugitive Burglar Kills Two Law Officers. Egbert, Roseburg. in as special tempting to A HOUSE. w in the house ursuers approached from be- ng. West shot struck paralyzed. | er covered with ed into the house | dashed in at | fled to the ell Egbert’s wife rifie, drew a revol- | fought * s rifle and | ther through | n was shot oulder, but kept up iis left hand to fire his withdrew to the upper | led Santon from the of water. San- | twice to the| er concluded to | d away from | t through m!i. LAW RIDES FREE. ki OUT. After the double foot to a ram a hor ) give him perad se wanted at the muz- She of rode away. Since then | 20 W heard of Allen, the Coroner and a new | e are now in the viek and will | e & close se. Messages have been | every direction, but Wild Horse one of the most isolated re- | the Pacific. Coast and the start will give him a good oppor- escape. He is supposed to be a boundary line, headed , where he has relatives of SBanton has been brought rgue here. A reward of $500 | 1 he Calif t for Egbert's capture, dead | ——— GOVERNMENT OFFICERS FUGITIVES FROM JUSTICE MANILA, Oct. 6.—George Herman, chief . 3. Johnson, constabulary officer, both stationed at Misamis, ), whose accounts were under in- vestigation, took $600 from the safe, seized e steamer and have started for Borneo. Running short of coal they stopped a na- tive vessel and took from her a new sup- ply. A steamer has been sent to Borneo i intercept the fugitives. v offered by the Harney|® Marked Decrease in Dolume of Business. EW YORK, Oct. 6.—The divi- dend on the common stock of the United States Steel Corpor- ation for the last quarter was to-day reduced from 1 per cent to one-half per cent, thus setting at rest a matter which has agitated Wall street and financial circles generally for many — i ripzEr 4 Ny CHARTTAN XECUTIVE tco)illml‘-' v b 2 7 i WORLD'S BIGGEST TRU! DOWN THE DIVIDENDS O] WHICH HAS BEEN FORCED TO CGT ITS COMMON STOCK. i R g | | OFFICIALS OF THE UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION, THE | ELOPEMENT FRUSTRATED BY THE LAW Sensational Inci- dent at Ventura Depot. Special Dispatch to The Call. VENTURA, Oct. 6.—Miss Grace Flem- ing, or Mrs. Grace Fleming Luddy, as the case may be, and Archle Van Curen at- tempted to elope this morning, but their plans were frustrated by J. K. Luddy, with the assistance of Under Sheriff Reflly. The couple intended, it is said, to go to the Kiondike, and might have suc- ceeded but the officer arrived at the a few minutes before the train started. Upon this exciting incident hangs a tale of considerable mystery, and Ventura is” eager for detalls .of the affair which culminated so unromantically. Luddy is a prominent retired capitalist of Southern Callfornia. The woman is a bhandsome and dashing blonde, about thirty years old. * She was stylishly dressed. Several thousand dollars’ worth of diamonds also figured in the affair. At the Hotel Rose Mrs. Luddy registered as Grace Virginia of Wheeler Hot Springs. In all it is a most perplexing affair for the curious. ““Miss Fleming,” as she registers at the hotel, claims to have secured a divorce In Los Angeles last aturday from Luddy. Luddy has her held on a charge of perjury for swearing in court that they were married. He further claims that she has numerous dlamonds valued at several thousand dol- ars and which he wants returned. He tes that they were never married. Mrs. Luddy says that she and Mr. Luddy were married secretly two years ago in Santa Barbara. This secret mar- riage, she declares, was at her request. She claims that the diamonds are not in her possession as they were stolen from Luddy at a hotel in Los Angeies over a year ago. During the past year Luddy and Mrs. Luddy or Miss Fleming have resided at Wheeler Hot Springs, where they have enjoyed life. The divorce, according to Mrs. Luddy, was obtalned on the ground of desertion. g ’ LOS ANGELES, Oct. 6.—The court rec- depot ords here do not contain any reference to | sold around 40. & Luddy divorce o 2 weeks. To quote a very high authority in the affairs of the corporation, “‘the ac- tion of the board was unanimous and was | caused by the falling off of business,” | -This is borne out by the financial state- | ment issued shortly after the meeting. | The statement shows a decrease of $4,642.- | 068 (September estimated) for the third qus ter of the calendar year with the same perfod last year, and decrease of $4,239487 compared with the | preceding quarter of this year. On Octo- ber 1, 1%02, the corporation had unfilled | orders for 4.843,000 tons on hand. This year the unfilled orders on the same date amounted to 3,728,324 tons. The official statement of net earnings for the quarter (September estimated) shows: July, $12,384,647; August, $10,819,- 174; September, $9,000,000. The course of steel common recently clearly indicated that to-day’s cut has been largely -discounted.. In fact, wagers that the dividend .would be reduced were plentiful recently and there were predic- tions that it would be passed completely. Nevertheless to-day's action came as a surprise to many who argued that it would be impolitic to make any change at this particular time. - The importance of to-day's meeting, | which was preceded by that of the finance committee, was emphasized by the at- tendance of nineteen of the twenty-four directors, including J. P. Morgan, whose presence at these meetings has been very rare. Among the absentees were John D. Rockefeller and his son, John D. Jr.; Willlam H. Moor and Marshall Field of Chicago. The absence of the Rockefellers was the subject of some comment, be- cause of the rumors industriously circu- lated for weeks past that the Standard Oil faction had arrayed itself against Mr. Morgan and his friends and would hold out for a reduced dividend. The unanimous action of the board on this point, however, disposed of these rumors. The regular dividend of 1% per cent on the preferred stock was declared. This dividend is payable on November 16. The dividend on the common stock is payable on December 30. The statement for the nine months gives the total net earnings, after monthly de- ductions for repairs, renewals, mainte- nance and interest on bonds and fixed charges of the subsidiary companies, as $94,014,8%. Deducting amounts for sink- ing funds on bonds of subsidiary com- panies and depreciation and reserve funds brings the net earnings down to $82,211,692, A further deduction of interest on the corporation's bonds, including the sinking funds, Jeaves a balance of $65,978,217. Divi- dends on the preferred and common shares for the nine months aggregate $36,629 475, leaving a balance of undivided profits or surplus for that - period of $29,348,742, Trading in the steel stocks was the chief feature of the market to-day. The common stock sold as low as lvj, ad- vanced a full point from that figure and closed at 17%, a fractional net gain. The preferred stock, on heavier transactions, sold as high as 66, but closed at 64%, a one point gain on the day. Dealings in the sinking fund bonds were in very large volume, the price ranging from 71 to A little more than three months ago, just before the last regular dividend on steel common was declared, that stock Bince then it has sold as low as 1% compared | WAR FLEET 15 HOVERING NEAR KOREA Japan Delays the Landing of Her Troops. i Russians Are Erecting Forts on Yalu River. —— Subjects of the Mikado Eagerly Await Summons to Arms, —,— TOKIO, Japan, Oet. 6.—Rumors are afloat here that the Russlans are erect- ing forts and mounting guns at Yong- { ampho, on the Yalu River. | PARIS, Oct. 6.—Offictal advices show | that the Japanese fieet is in the harbor {of Masanpho (south of Korea). No troops | have yet been landed. | YOKOHAMA, Oct. 6—~With the ap- lproach of October 8, the nominal date | for Russia’s evacuation of Manchuria, great tension is observable among the | Japanese populace, but in diplomatic cir- i cles it is reaffirmed that hopefulness pre- vails of an amicable settlement of the | imbroglio between Russia and Japan, on | the basis of minor concessions by Russia in Korea and Manchuria, though officials | do not profess to expect that the evacu- ation of Manchuria will be effected on | the exact date named, Baron von Rosen, the Russian Min- ister to Japan, has returned here from a | conference with Viceroy Alexieft at Port | Arthur, and had a short confcrence with Baron Komura, the Japanese Foreign Minister, on October 3. Baron Komura | has since given out a hopeful interview, | but the Japanese Ministers for War and t.: Navy thereafter had long conferences with the Emperor, Marquis Ito, Presi- dent of the Privy Council, and Viscount Katsu, the Premier, indicating that pre- | parations are going on to meet any event- uality. The fleet and the army are both with- | out question in readiness, and large sup- plies for both the army and navy have been accumulated. The arsenals have been quietly at work for a long time past | and the defenses have been minutely in- spected. | Popular feeling in Japan is exasperated at Russia’s dilatory tactics and the ex- | citement has been aggravated by the sen- | sational press, which is constantly circu- lating rumors of fresh Russlan aggres- sions. Many of these are of the most circumstantial character and are calcu- lated to inflame public opinion. The offi- | clals deprecate these reports, which, it is believed in some quarters, emanate from Russian sources, with the object of forc- ing Japan's hand. The Japanese statesmen remain calm. Japan apparently considers herself capa- | ble of dealing with Russia single-handed. It is true that England is supporting Ja- pan strongly in PeKing and Seoul, Korea, | but it is thought here that England and France desire peace at any price. Ger- many is ostensibly neutral. The United States is chiefly concerned in her com- mercial treaty with China, to be signed on October 8, but the Japanese press claims that America is ready to give Ja- pan her strong moral support against any unfair encroachments. G R PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. Japan and Russia Reported to Be Ominously Active, VICTORIA, B. C., Oct. 6.—The steamer Shinano Maru, which arrived to-day from Yokohama, brought news that the situation in Japan was regarded as most critical at the time of her departure, Offi- cers of the steamer tell of increased movements of soldiers, and A, M. Knapp, editor of the Japanese Advertiser, says that Japan had been pouring troops into Korea. Japan was preparing for war he says, and if it comes would not be taken unawares. Russia was also continuing warlike preparations and, according to re- liable reports from Manchuria, did not intend to evacuate. On the contrary, troops were being hurried in, and the tourist travel had been stopped on the Russian Transcontinental Railway. The Japanese fleet was concentrated off Sasebo, Korea, and every vessel of Japan was in commission. The war feeling was very keen throughout Japan, and Mr. Knapp says weré it not for the fact that Japan feels that the opinion of Great Britain must be reckoned with in consid- eration of the Anglo-Japanese alliance ‘war would have been declared before now. It would surprise no one resident in Japan, said the Yokohama editor, to hear that war had been declared any day, and in this connection it was a significant fact that the Japanese transportation staff were securing large amounts of equipment for winter transportation, % Admiral Evans, with four vessels of the Dnited States squadron, arrived at Yoko- ‘hama as the steamer Shinano Maru sailed. PHENOMENAL GOLD s'x‘m. IS MADE IN NEW MEXICO Ore Is of Peculiar Quality and Is Re- ported to Assay as High as $6000 per Ton. SILVER CITY, N. M. Oct, 6.—There is a great deal of excitement in Silver City and, the surrounding country over a phe- nomenal ‘gold strike at Gold Gulch, ten miles northeast of here. The ore is of a peciliar quality and has not yet been classified, although some experienced min. ers maintain it is telluri Assays as lhlgh as $6000 per ton are reported GLASGOW THRONG APPLAUDS SPEECH OF CHAMBERLAIN e \ WIFE OF GREAT BRITAIN'S FORM ONIES, WHO IS' DEEPLY CAREER INTERESTED AND WILL ACCOMPANY HIM DURING HIS CAMPAIGN. IER SECRETARY FOR THE COL- IN HIS POLITICAL 5 Tk | Champion of Fiscal Reform Opens ~ Campaign by Explaining His Plan. LASGOW, Oct. 6.—Whatever may be the opinion held regarding the great question which Joseph Chamberlain has raised, or the probable issue of his campaign, it is generally admitted that he has opened it i a mastcrly manner befitting the momentous occasion, and that he can no longer be accused of nebulosity in pre- senting his case. For nearly two hours to-night, only referring occasionally to fairly full notes for figures and statistics, he held a vast and enthusiastic audience absorbed by one of his finest oratorical efforts. As though inspired by the knowledge that the practical collapse and break-up of the Unionist party left him in sole pos- sessfon of the field, he spoke with more than his customary energy and persua- siveness, lacking-nothing in lucidity, either of phrase or argument, while his appeal to the working class, upon which more than any section of the community, espe- clally since the defection of. the Duke of Devonshire from the Unionist administra- tion, the success or failure of his prefer- ential scheme will depend, was eminently calculated to enlist its support. It was an inspiring scene within St. Andrew’s Hall, where he delivered his speech. Every corner of the auditorium was packed with men and women, cheer- ing, singing and 'waving handkerchiefs as the chairman, Matthew Andrew, led Chamberlain to the platform. The late Colonial Secretary, pale, but self-pos- sessed and alert, with his customary eye- glass and orchid, stood " bowing his acknowledgements of the acclamations, while the organ played, “See the Con- quering Hero Comes.” HAS A NOTABLE AUDIENCE. A distinguished company of Peers and members of the House of Commons were present, with a host of ladles, including Mrs. Chamberlain, whose great interest in her husband’s political career has in- duced her to accompany him throughout his entire campaign. The hall was crowd- ed to suffocation as early as 6 o'clock. ‘When the applause which greeted his | arrival had subsided Chamberlain began to speak, and in addition to encouraging cheers from time to time in the course of his oration he was greeted at the close with a great demonstration. n‘ The points of his speech attracting re- markable attention were his eulogy of Balfour and his repudiation of the idea of superseding him; his representation of the coming struggle as one greater in its consequence than the Boer war; his declaration that all workingmen in the colonies were protectionists and that any labor leader visiting the colonies would inevitably be converted to protection; his description of the American tariff as an abomination, and his curious presentation of the case as affecting the workmen's exchequer. 7 Thus, according to him, the increased o g cost of the new duties to the laborer would be 9% farthings (4% cents), to the artisan 10 farthings (5 cents), while the saving by the proposed reduction to the laborer would be 18 farthings (9 cents) and to the artisan 19 farthings (3% cents). NO LONGER PARTY LEADER. Chamberlain, commencing his speech, said that his first duty was to thank the great representative audlence for offer- | ing him the oppertunity of explaining for | the first time in some detail his views on the subject of the fiscal policy in the city | from which free trade first took birth and in which Adam Smith taught. He paid a tribute to Adam Smith, to whom, however, he sald, it was not given to foresee all the changes which had oc- curred during the last century and a half. | Adam Smith, nevertheless, was aware of the importance of home markets com- pared with foreign ones, and Chamberlain had been impressed by the manner in which he advocated retaliation under cer- tain conditions and how he urged recip- rocal trade between the colonles and the mother country. Hence the speaker was not afraid in Glasgow to combat free 4m- ports and preach preference to the colo- nies. It was known to every man that Scotland had contributed out of all pro- portion to her population to the building | up of the empire which genius, capacity and courage had created and maintained. Chamberlain sald: I do not regard this as a party meeting. I am no longer a party leader, but an outsider. I do not think it right to raise any exglusive party issues, but after what has occurred since the meeting at Sheffield a word ‘or two might be given me to say that, though I am no longer a leader, I am still a loyal servant of the party whose union and strength are essen- tial to the welfare- of the empire and which has found a leader whom every man may be proud to follow. LOYAL TO THE PREMIER. The speaker paid the highest tribute to Balfour, with whose principles and poli- cles he fully agreed, and sald he admired the courage and resource with which the Premier had faced difficulties unsurpassed in political history. Chamberlain con- tinued: It seems as though in this country there have | always been men who do not know the mean- ing of loyalty and friendship. To them I say thit nothing they may do will have the slight- est influence to affect in the slightest degree the friendship and confidence existing between the Premier and myself. To my friends and supporters in the great struggle on which I have entered I say, give no encouragement to mean or libelous insinuations, for in no con- ceivable circumstances will 1 allow myselt to | be in_ any sort of competition, direct or in- direct, with my friend and leader. I have invited discussion upon a question peculfarly within my province owing to my past life and the office so recently held. Taking Continued on Page 2, Column 4. | countles. 'SGUTCHEON JOINED T0 A FORTUNE Noble Carman Weds Sole Legatee of $700,000. —— Miss Harry Floyd Is Bride of Servian Knight. Self Styled Scion of Obren- ovitches Woos Lady on Dummy. The rank is but the guinea’s stamp, The man's the gowd for a' that. A prince can make a beited knight, A marquils, duke and a' that; But an honest man’s aboon his might, Guid faith, he maunna fa' that. Hobby Burns‘of immortal memory has found at least one disciple in this mater- ialistic age and that one is Miss Harry A. L. Floyd, heiress to nigh a million. Yesterday before the Superior Judge at Lakeport she gave her hand and fortune to B. M. Gopchevitch, a Servian noble- man, who up to the day of his wedding was a gripman on a Sacramento-street cable car. In the olden days the noblemen were wont to woo their lady love ‘neath castle wall and then carry her from her ances- tral home on a prancing steed. But to- day your nobleman wears a uniform in- stead of his suit of shining mail and carries his lady’s heart away on a street car. Such are the sad ways of our work- aday age. Albeit that the knight errant wore a vizored hat instead of a coronet and that his hands were more accustomed to the brake than to the sword, romance is not lacking in this tale of a nobleman’'s suc- cessful wooing. The man * who once clanged the bell and warned passengers to look out for the curve is now copartner in his bride’s wealth. The woman can now put a crest on her carriage door, even though the 'scutcheon be quartered by a cable car rampant. HEIRESS TO A FORTUNE. Miss Floyd is the daughter of the lats Captain Richard S. Floyd, a retired of- ficer of the navy, who was prominent as the secretary of the famous Lick trust Upon his death and that of his wife Miss Floyd was left the sole heir to $100,000, which is held in trust for her. After ex- tensive travel and a perfect education, Miss Floyd had gone to live with Mrs. W. B. Prichard, a distant relative, at 2833 Sacramento street, when the romance of her courtship commenced. In her daily journeys to and fro on the cars which passed the house, Miss Eliza G. Prichard, the boon companion of Miss Floyd, chanced to strike up an acquaint- ance with Gopchevitch. Through her Miss Floyd came to have a smile and a pleasant word for the gripman when she chanced to be on his car. After a while it always chanced that it was Gopcheviteh’'s car upon which Miss Floyd rode, and the rules against talking to the gripman were sadiy broken as the little tete-a-tetes on the dummy grew in frequency. But never a word was sald at the famfly table about cable cars or gripmen. To the heiress Gopchevitch told his story. Of the oid house of Obrenovitch was he—the dynasty which came to such a bloody end in Belgrade's palace. The blood of robber barons of the Balkans coursed his veins. He was an heir to the throne; a pretender of the deposed Obrenovitches. The heiress heard and she was captivated. SECRET IS KEPT. Finally Miss Floyd, accompanied by Miss Prichard, went up to her beautiful summer home on Clear Lake. Then the letters began to be left by the postman at the humble doorstep of Gopchevitch, out at 3284 Mission street. Suddenly the gripman asked for a leave of abscnce. There was a hurried journey to Lakeport, Superior Judge Sayrd sald a few words over two clasped hands in his chambers yesterday, and the romance had reached its denouement. So secret had everything been kept that only Miss Prichard and Leonard Cook, a clerk in Lakeport, who stood as witness to the ceremony, knew of the binding of the love-knot. Among Miss Floyd's city friends, even in the family where she made her home, not an inkling of her marriage had been received. That the former Miss Floyd is one who is wont to scorn conventions and take the bull by the horns has been demonstrated already. Last September she instituted suit in the Superior Court of Lake Coun- ty to break the frust which has her es- tate in hand and come to her own. ‘When her mother, Cora L. Floyd, died in 1893 she stipulated In her will that the estate should be left in the hands of James T. Boyd, Adolpheus D. Grimwood and Cora Skeeler as trustees. Two- thirds of the income should be given to Miss Floyd, the sole legatee, and the other third expended upon improvements of the property. Miss Floyd's suit to break this arrangement was lost and her estate is consequently still held in trust. It comprises the beautiful summer home, Kono Tayee, on Clear Lake, the Quercus ranch in the same vicinity, North Point dock and warehouse in this city and property in Merced, Alameda, San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Santa Clars