Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

PORT ARTHUR SEIGE. Courage and Ingenuity of Foes a Notable Feature. New York Times. All things considered, the seige of Port Arthur must be set down as one of the most remarkable in history. It will be thus -regarded on account of its duration. the loss of life in volved, the courage. pertiaacity and ingenuity displayed by the opposed torces. Seiges of fortified qtrongholds al ways have formed important and .n spicuous features of the struggle be tween warring nations, and some of the most interesting passages in re corded history refer to events of that kind. But as human inventiveness has produced successive improve ments in all fighting machinery. whether employed for defense or at tack, so .the correspondingly increas ed difficulty of investing and subject ing a fortified place has tended to decrease the number of seiges. As late as the middle of the eigh teenth century the estimated aver age number o seiges in a campaign exceeded the number of battles by far. In the early part of the last century the relation in frequen cy be tween seiges and battles was as 16 to ioo, and the tendency continues in the same direction. It is also safe to say that, as a rule, beleaguered places cannot hold oit as they once did before thdkad vent of the rapid firing gun, the co lessal pieces of modern heavy artil lery and the high power explosive. It is not expected that the record of a Gibraltar, which withstood all efforts of a determined and ingenious enemy for more than three years, will ever be equaled again. If, however, not only time but conditions be borne in mind, the months of resistance of fered by General Stoessel must be said to equal a period of two or three times as long in the days of less per fected military art. Even Gibraltar would have suc cumbed had its governor had to con tend with the means employed for the reduction of Port Arthur and the utter- disregard of death displayed by the Japanese . Scanning the records of the achievements credited to Gen eral Nogi and the assaulting army, it seems only fair to conclude that be fore their impetuous onslaught Sev astopol would have had to fall in a couple of months, and Plevna would have been made a brief incident of the campaign. Neyertheless these three famous seiges form, together with Grant and Sherman's reduction of Vicksburg, the most fiting prece dents the past has to offer.. The longest seige that history men tions is that to which the Palestine ciy of Azoth or Ashdod was subject ed by the Egyptian Psammetichus the Powerful in the sixth century be fore Christ. Herodotus,relates that it lasted twenty-nine years, that of Troy, by the allied Greek forces, seems brief in comparison, accord ing to Homer. It lasted ten years to accomplish the destruction of Car thage. The first seige of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, lasted one year, five months and seven days. General Elliott and his 5.300 Brit ish troops held Gibraltar against the allied French and Spanish forces un der the Ducw de Crillon for three years. seven months, and twvelve days. During that time, however. he was twvice re-enforced. Conistantinople f ell under the attacks of the French men after an investment of only fifty three days. It took Grant nearly fourteen months to subdue Vicks burg, the final storming of that place being only the climax of a campaign on land and water that has much in common with the one conducted by General Nogi against Port Arthur. "Chinese" Gordon held Khartum within a few days of a year against the forces of the mahdi. Sevastopol resisted eleven months. The shortest seige on record is without doubt that of Alexander in 1881. It may be said to have lasted only a day, but during those twelve house ro.ooo projectiles were thrown into the city and its fortifications. Antwerp was taken by the French in 1832 in twenty days. and the opera tions resulting in its reduction have been said to constitute that event "the most regular and scientific" seige in history. Other seiges famous in~ modern his try lasted as follows: Saranosan 4 asE Iet&i. four months and nine days; Metz, two months and three days; Strasburg, one month and seventeen days: Paris, four monis and nine days; Maie king. .n6 days: Kimberley, 123 days, I and Ladvsmit h, four months. It is (Ificilit to obtain exact fig ures in regard to the number of lives lost in the seiges of the past. Those available seem to indicate that the most sanguinary struggle of that kind in modern times at least, was the tak ing of Plevna by Generals Skobcllff and Taleben. Several of the assaults connected with that struggle equal ed in loss of life the storming of some of Port Arthur's main defenses by the Japanese. Thus the second great attack, in September. 1877, re sulted in the killing of 7,ooo Russians in fo-ur 1.avs, and the Turkish losses must also have been appalling. Af ter the third attack the assailants left i8.;co dead behind on the ield. The total cost-in life of the Russian vic tory- over Osman Pasha is estimated at about ;o.oco. Similiar sacrinces of human lives accompanied the taking of Vicksburg by the Federals during the civil war and the reduction of the powerful French f-'rtresses of Metz and Strass burg by the Germans -n 1870. In one way times have changed for the better. Today bloodshed stops as soon as the invested stronghold has surrendered. It was different in the olden days, when fort and city were almost synonymous and the taking of one often meant the complete de struction of the other. After the Romans had scaled the walls of Car thage the fighting continued in the streets for six days and night and did not come to an end until all life was extinct within. Probably the most horrible event of this kind recorded in history is the I taking of the Greek city of Scio by the Turks during the Greek insur rection in 1822. The entire popula tion, said to have numbered 40,000 souls, was slaughtered in a few hours. The same number of non-combatants were killed or died from sickness in Paris during the four months of seige. What losses of this latter kind have been suffered at Port Ar thur is not yet known yet. but there is reason to believe that mortalIy has largely been restricted to the active defenders. The ingenuity displayed by both assailants and defenders in their struggle for the far eastern strong hold has many precedents in the past' although it may never have been ex celled. The devices of Archimedes have made famous the seige of Syra cuse by the Romans in 212 B. C. The seiges conducted by Alexander the 'Great were epoch ,naking in the his tory of warfare. The Early Dog Gets the Drink. New York Press. "The little copper drinking foun tains for dogs, put on the street cor ners at the bottom of lampposts." said the man who stands all day at Fifty-ninth street and Lexit'gton avenue handing out transfer tickets. "would be a fine thing if the dogs got a chance at them. They are attrac-! tive in apipearance, and are all right until freezing time. They are too shallow for winter wveather. The dog fountains arc filled every morning by mp~n from the Humane society. and it is the early dog that gets the drink. As soon as the car rush be gins. goodby doggie.. "This fountain has been here just one week. In that time I have seen a man waiting for a crosstown car spoil the dog's chance with a mouth ful of gobacco juice; then kids and young men fill 'em up with cigarettes: seen women and girls throw orange peel and apple cores into them; matches are thrown into them by the dozen. Before noon that dog foun tain looks like a small swill-pail. Dogs prefer the leakings of a' fire hydrant on the opposite corner. "In summer the dog fountains will be a blessing, but the people will have to be taught that they are for the use of dogs, not hogs." What He Said. Philadelphia Press. Tess-Vee. he was an old flame of mine. Did you tell him I was en gaged to Jack Hansom? Jess-Oh, yes. Tess-I suppose he wondered how soon I would be married to him. Jess-No; not 'how sooni,' but 'how South Carolina Diversifies Manufacturers' Record. -hough investments in cotton mill: in Souwh Carolina during the yea: have not been up to the limit reachet in recent years industrial activity ii th:T state has hy no means been re axed, 1dging from the record o charters granted. These have beet for nitcen ,Itton seed oil mills,witf an aggregate capital of $312.000 eight clayworking plants with an ag gregate capital of $1,163,ooo. a lime cnm1pany. a tin-mining company. lum. her companies. granite companies, ice nmpanies. etc.. most notable among the new undertakings perhaps being those for the development of the clay deprsits: attribt,.:d by the Columbia State to a treatize on the subject by Mr. Farle Sloan. and those for the velopment of water-power for elec tric light and power purposes. rep resentng an in rstenit of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The situa n n the m:1rket for raw cotton was largely responsible for the com parative slackness in cotton mill con .hod~ *-~ mlst1 take intc consideration the inclination to en airge the operations of eXistina plants. But tis slackness did not mean any loss of industrial vigor The chartering of many other indus tries is evidence of healthy 'diversifi cation in manifacturing. South Car olina is not content to carry its eggs in one basket. Gounod's "Amber Ear." New York Press. "Play the 'Amber Ear," said the waiter to the leader of the restaurant orchestra, while the people at near by tables chuckled. "You mean 'The Gondolier,' " cor. rected the leader, leaning over the edge of the little music balcony. "No," persisted the waiter, "I ask ed her was that it, and she said 'No.' She wants you to play 'Am ber Ear.' " "You go back and ask her again,' aid the leader with a laugh, and he watched the waiter make his way across the room. In a moment he was back. "I asked the lady, and she said she wanted you to play the "Ambei Ear.' " he said. with a touch of vexa tion. "She says you ought to kno-. it if you're a musician." Looking I,nto the Future. New York Press. "I guess I might as well qui' school, pa," said the boy. "Why, my son?" "Oh. there ain't any use going, ex cept to be able to help my little boy when I grow up, and if they have changed the way of doing thing! since you were a boy so that yot can't help me it's likely I'm just wast ing my time getting ready to help my little boy." He got the help he wanted, but i1 was a good thing he didn't hear wha1 his father had to say about new fan gled school books after he had gon to bed. A Large Deficit in Treasury Report The :rcasury departnment recently issued a reviewv of tIhe treasury op eratio'ns for the calendar year 1904 Tie receintS for the y'ear were $550. 0o.00oo and tile expenditures. includ ing Panama. $36o.o00.000. making thi deficit for the year S1oo.ooo.0oo. Ac compared w.ithl previous year! receipts show a falling off of S8.ooo. ooo and the expenditures an increase of $50.000.000. Tile decrease in cus toms receipts were $9.o00,000, civi: and miscellaneous expenditures in creased $9,000.000, the navy depart ment $23,ooo,ooo. pensions $2,ooo.o and the interest $I.ooo,ooo Leather Colored Stationery. Careful women always remain loy al to plain white glazed note paper but there are thousands who do no1 see the wisdom'of this. To them the fashionable paper is the new leather color: the French call it plain brule burnt bread. Th.is is used with the house address at top in dull browr or black. The envelopes are oblong and the surface smooth and glossy. It cannot last long, but while it doe! it will be immensely popular. A watched pot never boils over. WHEN MIMNAUGH SAYS A CHEAP SALE YOU ALL KNOW WHAT IT MEANS. BE ON TANE AUDITOR'S NOTICE -OF Assessment of Personal Property For 1905. I or an auhorized agent will be ;at thC following named places for the purpo-e of taking rctirns of per s)na! proerty for the year 1905: Jaybinton-Tuzuday, jan. 10. - iymphrille--Wednesday, Jan. Ii. Walo--Thirsdav. Jan. :2. Poniaria-Friday, Jan. 13. l Jolly -rcet--Monday, Jan. 16. Little Mountain-Tuesday, Jan. 17. O'Nea];.s---Wednesday, Janu:ry 18. 1 St. Luke's-Thursday, Jan. 19. Pr):p-r -%--Friday and Saturd-a% aluary 20 and 21. A 1(1 at Newberry until F4ebr ry "o, a*.*r wh:ch time a penalty of fty per cent. .i l be added a.-aiist par: i ng to make return-. While oil the ronlicis named above my tnice i opcn fo,)r the i: ruse Of tak nlg r-:urns at that place. The law re (IireS a tcx on all notcs. mortgages and onIS, also an invo ne tax on gro-S incomes . S.:,soo and upwards. There shall be -i .*apitation tax of 5o cen ts each assp.sed on all (logs. the .m procreds to 1: e:xpended for schoo. pirposes. AH males between the C .ges of 21 and 6o years, except Con federate soldiers or those persons in- a capable of earning a support by being maimed or from any other cause, si are liable to poll tax, Don't ask that your return be taken from the books o: the same as last year. All personal property must be relisted and sworn to. Parties moving out of townships in which their taxes were paid last e, year should so state to assessor, so ' as to avoid their names being enter- c ed in two townships. u Name or number of school district % must also be given. Theie will be no assessment of real estate this year, but be sure to make transfers of all lands or lots bought or sold since last return. Wm. W. Cromer, Auditor. COME SOO] g Whenever you start out on a sh< * This plan will save you many * time. If we haven't just what y *We shall not urge you to buy, b1 *goods as soon as you can. It wi every way to make selections be: +MAYES' DRi SEA BC AIR - LINE - NORTH -SOUTH - Two Daily Pullman Vest Between SOUTH an FIRST4C.ASS DIND' The Best Rates and Rout Via Richmond and WA Norfolk and Steame Nashville, Memphie Louis, Chicago, Nevi Points South and Southwi and Jacksonville and a and Cuba. PossS-IVELy THE SHORT NORTH AN: aSeFor detailed information, man reservations, etc., appiy board Air Line Railway, or Jo Passenger Agent, Columbia, C. F. STEWART, Asi SAVANNA HIIDIPO N -I RESTORES VITALITY Made a Weli Man ThiE of Me. R E \"Ci r -c tcil above result M r.' ::Dl/:r/plny s ' r s ::2-. v%w.rds off In na c -' :Vigor. It we .s3 :et rn 3 r:u,ad fits nz.n or cus oss or cr.T: e. E:..i: carried in :: .;-ckt. --" ' ox s2-50 mail, in 1N :k. i .Izec t Dr. R. M. Kennedy, DENTIST. Newberry, - - S. C. OVER NATIONAL BANK. rick! Brick!! For Sale by . C. H. CANNON. A Hard Task. hicago News. Midget-The fat lady says she.had hard time making both ends meet. Glasseater-Was she in debt when ie said that? Midget-No, she was trying to'put a her belt. NOTICE. The customers of the undersingn I banks and the public generally ill please take notic,. that they *ill ose daily at 3 P. m., beginning Jari ary ioth., 1905, and that no business ill be tranacted after that hour. National Bank of Newberry, by T. S. Duncan, Cashier.. Commercial Bank, by Z. F. Wright, Cashier. Newberry Savings Bank, by J. E. Norwood, Cash ir. December 29, 1904. A& A&4A, I& 4 AND SEE-* >pping tour come here first. * unnecessary steps and much on want then look elsewhere. 2t we do wish you to see our4 11 be to your advantage in ore the final rush begins. JG STORE.+ RAILWAY. 2 EAST -- WEST. ibuied Limited Trains di NEW YORK. IG CAR SERVICE. e to all Eastern Cities. ashington, or via rs.--To Atlanta, ~, Louisville, St. Orleans, and All est-To Savannah .11 poInts In Florida EST LINE BETWEEN D SOUTH. rates, schedules, Pull to any agent of The Sea s. W. Stewart, Traveling . C. H. GA.