| Show sailed a schooner to chicago trading post chicago august 1 captain B osier believed to be the oldest resident in illinois died yesterday aged he was born in erie pa following his father as a sailor the cakss mr osier had become a master of a small sc nooner before he made his first voyage to chicago the ship was welcomed as the largest craft that the new port had seen and made a sensation seeing great possibilities in the trading post mr decided to make it his headquarters in 1861 be enlisted in the navy and was assigned to the mississippi river service under admiral porter on whose h was an ensign he took part in the river battles between new orleans and vicksburg after the war he became a life insurance agent and was engaged in active business until one asar ago OPINION AS TO PEACE IS GROWING pessimistic wittes attitude against indemnity and that japan wants cost of war refunded basis of doubts portsmouth H august 9 with the probability that baron komura will tomorrow reveal to the russian the terms upon which japan Is willing to conclude peace opinion as to the outcome among those who are congregated to the proceedings has become de pessimistic this is due to the growing conviction that japans conditions will not prove as moderate as were at one time anticipated and especially in the matter 0 indemnity may preclude the possibility of their acceptance by the russian envoys as a basis 0 negotiations the firm attitude of M witte in private conversation against the payment of indemnity and the insistent reports emanating from japanese quarters that a stiff war contribution approximating ahe cost of the war variously stated at from six hundred to eight hundred millions of dollars constitutes utes adne of japans demands and indicates a wide an ble difference between japans minimum and at which russia is prepared to accept upon the question bof the payment of a large indemnity the instructions of the russian plenipotentiaries are believed to adroit of no concessions although it is possible a certain compensation pensa tion in kind might be arranged for instance it Is suggested that lor the relinquishment ot the island of sakhalin Sak halin now potentially in japanese hands the possession of which by japan would give her command of the whole siberian littoral russia could with propriety pay a large sum of money gloomy forebodings however may be premature at this juncture as everything indicates me diaries on both sides arc sincerely desirous of concluding y treaty 0 peace the first meeting of the diaries today was of an entirely informal character so informal in fad that baron komura did not bring his letter of credence to the portsmouth navy yard whereas M witte was armed with ahe original document in russian setting forth the powers conferred upon him and also with a translation of the document the latter he read baron komura was embarrassed and offered to send back to the hotel for his communication but M witte expressed his faith that the credentials were full and ample and it was arranged that official exchange of credentials denti als would be made tomorrow later in the afternoon however copies of the credentials were informally exchanged in order that they might be examined before the meeting tomorrow it Is known that the credentials differ slightly in exactly what respect could not I 1 be ascertained tonight but the associated press correspondent la assured both by the japanese and the russian emissaries that the difference Is not essential and constitutes no obstacle to the official opening of the neg otla eions indeed the president was officially fici ally informed tonight that tha credentials denti als were fully ample and satisfactory to both sides it was decided to hold two dally session one in the morning beginning at and one in the afternoon beginning t 3 to avoid delay and alv the plenipotentiaries and delegates time for consultations between ses slona it has been arranged that luncheon will be served at the navy yard and the envoys upon leaving their quarters in tho morning will not return until the afternoon session adjourns three secretaries for each sida will be in attendance to draw up the protocols of the meetings which will be written in both english and french the french text however in cafa ot dispute will be accepted in evidence dalre fol the official versions of meeting given out by each eada as satisfactory and other accounts indicate that everything passed off amicably con reserve was displayed epou both sides baron komura whom M watte had in st petersburg during th formers service as japanese there was pleasantly greeted by tho chief russian envoy in french bui the baron was obliged to shake hi head and turn to his secretary mr honda who explained that baraj komura had forgotten the little french ho knew while in st petersburg while the russian plenipotentiaries expect the japanese to present the japanese terms immediately upon aba official exchange of credentials tomorrow they admit they are in the dart baron komura and his colleagues du dine to give any intimation ot their coure of procedure pursuing the tactics which they have t constantly followed in all their and military operations ther are carefully guarding all their plans regarding the present meeting there was some disposition today to attribute baron komuvas Ko muras forgetful nass in not bringing his credentials to the meeting to a desire to spar for time and tor that reason some doubt was expressed whether the japanese would show their band tomorrow bist the russian envoys do not question baron komuvas Ko muras good faith and frankly say it was dus to a misunderstand ing this evening the amities were observed by a general exchange of cards mr witte baron boscn and his suite bending theirs through the hotel office chifa the cards of the japanese Japa mission were left at the doors of the members of the russian mission by a little japanese messenger boy commanders and also made their official calls upon the two missions late this evening the japanese and russian newspaper correspondents have broken the ice and have begun to fraternize it la perhaps significant that the correspondents pon dents on both sides are sending to their respective homes dispatches ot anything but an optimistic character in be opinion of the russians the emperors manifesto promulgating the national assembly project will materially strengthen tha of the russian envoys by relieving the international situation As the russians like to smoke while at the table the whole russian mission tonight dined in their apartments a practice which they have decided te continue hereafter |
