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- ^ 11 ' 'A " ' FORT MILL TIMES. VOL. XIIl. FORT MILL, S. C., WEDNESDAY. MARCH SO, 1904. NO. 2. THE HAUNTED CITY. Some heart's remcmbranci' and regret Kill every street with life profound; This corner where of old we met To me has sinre been hallowed ground; T novel pass in nun or rain Now, but 1 meet you here again. We cannot go from where we dwell Aim! leave behind no lingering trace; Where ui the past our shadow fell A shadow of us haunts the place; Ketinning now. ourselves tnnv there Disturb some Iitin?l of .... ? ? ? Tli?> stones are thrilled t>\ many a tread 'I'll.it leaves no footprint where it strays; fc?h;ides of the living and the dead In silence throng the noisv wnvs: 11 ere where 1 meet in gltowcr-or hliitie Your ghost, you haply meet with mine. The air has sounds we eannot hear, l< iltm with shades that, none can see; Th"' <i?ar the living voice, and dear The sight of living voices he. "With kindlier yearnings yet we greet Tin- mends we set* not when we meet. ?A. St. doun Adcock. iu The Xneetntnr ?|? ?m^ ?!? A BASHFUL j SUITOR. i | | | | | I li. WAKXK, |>leuH?', mis-." 4 w m \l Margery Young rose ami O \| O held out a friendly haml ^ x*'iL to her visitor. "tlooffrey War no was a man with a distlnot porsonnlit.v. \o longer a youth, ho was yet on tin- right side of forty, persona bio. even distinguished looking, and a solf. mailo man. Ills faro wore habitually ? ii! ? <! expression, but bis *uiile, if rare, was very pleasant. Jlo w..s smiling now. Margery looked very pretty in her vim! pink gown. "Mother will In* here direetly Why tier- >oi not at the tennis niateh today "?'otiidn't get away." lb absently held her two oulstreti hed hands in his till she blushed. "It's ages sinee you've been to see ns." withdrawing them nervously. "I never go anywhere. rou know?to pay rails 1 menu." "I know it's very nice of you to emit" :;t all when v<m"n> lumr t 1 mi' taU? your hat and stick, autl won't you sit down? You'll tind that chair comfortable.'* | please myself when I come hero," ho rctuarkctl, with a slight glance at .Margery, and letting her take his hut and sti'-U. Then he sat down and slaved hard at her as she sat opposite. Sli" rested hint, this fresh young creature. His tired mind relaxed in her presence. He felt younger, better. .Margery's color canto and went. She was looking her best. A sparkle of excihmient muddier bright eyes brighter. The man was her hero, her king among men. She admired him for the very poverty wlileh had rendered his struggle with life necessary, for the tired look in his eyes, for his smile, and perhaps because lie went nowhere exccpt to her. She watched the tired f 1-ill'lT Ifltli .? O..III *-t * ..111! II lllllll Ul II I llllipil. II i* lingers stole Insensibly to the jut. where veposeil his pipe. "You may smoke, if you irjj,nt. MmiJk i wouldn't mind." il.tw- you been to set* the n.-w 'CJnrnien V*" "No. Is. she pood?" "Splendid," edging his ehair closer to hers and leaning forward with a look of affectionate interest: "yon wuiid like her- immensely. Ask Mrs. Ymilig to take you." Margery rose, and taking a book from the table, said: "l.ook what a pretty book Mr. Itockly sent me." Warne scowled. A rose dropped from between the leaves, tie picked it up and elaborately returned it to her. "You are throwing away a treasure." She tossed it into a bowl of potpourri. " It was stieli a pretty rose. I pressed it. Some one left it 011 the table." Waiue sneered imperceptibly. "How have things gone with you I lately:" ho asked, returning the l>ook negligently, and pressing liar rtngors in tin* ad. ! vary quietly." said Margery, with a sigh. 'We hardly go anywhere or da anything." Warno looked intensely sympathetic and moved his chair lialf a foot nearer "You should persuade Mrs. Young to take you'down for the May week." nddinc In a low. sweet voice, "yon ought never to lie dull, you have bo i many resources." llis chair was opposite to hers now | As lie leaned forward her dress j touched him. ? Tea wan brought in. ; J ? ? v *' S' ~.i3 . - I "Do you take milk ami sugar?" haml- j itig iilm & cup. "Both, please." with a faint pressure of the lingers beneath tlie saucer. "Thank you. I will help ntycevf. ^on't you take sugar?" tenderly. "No." "Then you don't care for sw^ehj." anxiously. \ "Oh! yes." said Margery, puzzled at his eagerness. "I am very fond of sweets." \ A look of relief crossed his features, and lie leant back with a sigh, to gaze unremittingly at the piquant fare before him. "Would you like to see my new photographs';" Margery asked presently. "Yes." lazily, "do show them to me." He got up and stood by her till she unearthed Ihern from n olio ?? ? -or. nor of tlie table, thou rosontoil him- i self. "See! which do you pro for?** she asked him. leaning down to hold one in the host light. Their sleeves touched. An electrie thrill transmitted itself to each. As lie felt her breath on his check a delicious sense of happiness pervaded his being. Youth would not be gainsaid. Their hearts boat wildly, intoxieatingly. Involuntarily their hands mingled. It was nn instant of exquisite bliss to both. When Mrs. Young came in an instant later she wondered at Margery's Hushed cheeks and Warno's evident nervousness. Having pronounced sentence 011 the photographs and shaken hands live times. Warne left. Margery wont to the door with him. On the step lie paused, gazed at her intently, and half sighed. Then he took both her hands in his. "I think it will he line for the match tomorrow." he said, earnestly. "Shall you lie there?" "I think so." "Ah! I thought perhaps you'd had <*nmi?r]i ipnnis il>i< " A parting squeez of the hands how hot his w?<r<> they burned like tiroanil ho was gone. 'What was Mr. Warno talking to yon about when I came in?" said Mrs. Young. "Oh! tennis and books and photographs." said Mai gory. blushing as she remembered that hand elasp. "lie seemed very nervous, and aotunlly said good-h.v live times, and held your hands quite an nnneeessarily ions time." severely. "Hid he. inainiua?" innoeently. "Weil." said Mrs. Young. with apparent irrelevanee. "your father and I will he eon tent as long as yon are happy." That evening Margovy dreamed that fleoffrey Warne had proposed. I'nt ho never did. Violet Uefries, in i xiv* r rvu* ijsiiicc*. A lit omolillr* Will Frrp SnflVriii? lIornri(. TIik humane societies Lave done a great ileal to free the suffering horses from their troubles on our icy streets, but the automobiles will <lo more. The latest figures show that there were UiS.tNKi automobiles made in the United States last year. Their easli value is about $.".<>,000,000. The automobile is no longer a toy for millionaires. rr.e cheapest ones cost no more than is paid for a team of horses. And they are to be found today in all parts of the world. For instance, automobile trucks are now being used to carry supplies to mining camps. They are carrying the (Sovernnient mails in (lermauy. Italy and even in some parts of India. Automobile stages are carrying passengers along the mountain roads of the Western States. In California automobiles are hauling lumber: in Mich ignp. they are pulling snow plows, ami 111 Ohio llic.v aiv doing chores on the farm. In New York City there are automobile coal trucks, operated by one man apiece, which carry and deliver live tons of coal at a load. If the fittest is to survive, the days of the work horse will soon be ended.?New York Journal. Wniitetl No I- rill*. Lloyd Morgan. Professor of Mineralogy and Geology at the University of Oxford. England, who passed through Philadelphia the other day on his return home, tells a story ol" an English commercial magnate which equals those absurd but veracious tales that used to come out of Chicago. lie says that the great merchant in question came to him to eonsult about the Instruct ion of the hopeful son and heir, who was some day to run the vast business interests from which the pater had made his wealth. "But mind you," said lie. "I don't want hint to learn about strata or dips, or faults, or upheavals, or denudations, and 1 don't want liini to till his mind with fos-ils or stuff about crystals. What 1 want hiin to learn is how to tlnd gold and silver and copper in paying quantities, sor?In paying quantities."?Philadelphia Press. FretUne N If ro*?*ii Art i llrlally. The chemists of tlio Agricultural! Department have shown that ability to tlx the nitrogen, which is infinitely abundant in the air. and apply it to the w or no lit fields of the world, will enable mankind to cultivate what is practically virgin soil forever. A plant St Niagara Falls is taking nitrogen from the air by electrolysis, hut uot yet in commercial <iuantlty. THE COTTON FIGURES Full Report for 1903 Given Out i!y the Department. Washington. Special.?The final report of the census bureau on cottonpinning, showing the total cotton production for 1903, gives the following: Number commercial bales, including Ilnters. 10,399,55S, against 11.275.105 for 1902 The following table distributed the crop, exclusive of linters: In the United States 10,205.073 commercial bales. 0,359.472 square bales, 770.20S round bales, 75,393 Sea Island bales. The total crop reduced to a common basis as to site of bales Is an equivalent of 9,851,129 500-pouml bales, as against 10,630,945 500-pound bales in 1902. The number of bales counting round as half ba es. including linters. 1 1 was 10,014,154, against 10.784,743; the | equivalent naies oi a BUU-pound stand- I aril, including linters. were 10,405.610, ! against 10.2x7 16% In 1902. The square bales upland crop reported from gin- j nerles which aggregated 9.359.472 shows a decrease of 633.193 from 1902; i the round bales, upland crop, reported from ginneries were 770.208, a de- ; crease of 211.0.76; the bales of Sea , Island cotton reported from ginneries were 75.393, a decrease of 29.560. and the bales of linters reported from cot- ! ton seed oil mills were 194,485. a decrease of 1.738. These statistics were j collected through a canvass of the in- ' dividual ginneries of the \otton States | 1 bv 631 local special agent*. who found | that 30.218 ginneries ha<. been ope- t rated for the crop of 1903. compared ' witli 30.94S for 1902. In the final canvass for this crop where gtnners had , not finished ginning the.v were re- < quested to prepare careful estimates ; ' of the quantity of cotton which re- ! 1 maiued to be ginned at their establish- i I meats; their estimates, amounting to ; ! 75.401 commercial bales, have been Included in the totals of the' .above table. i The distribuiion of the crop, exclusive of linters, Ly States and terrl- ! tories. giving the total commercial 1 halM fnllniua- llaham. I.ioincn. I IVIIV/ no. ?"VIUW01U(l, 1 I I Arkansas. 741.236; Florida. 6k.572; | 1 Georgia. 1.329.278; Indian Territory. 1 312.776; Kansas. 75; Kentucky. 4; i ! Louisiana. 858.5(58; Mississippi, 1.439.- ? 294: Missouri. 39,283: North Carolina. 1 555,130; Oklahoma. 204.957; South ' Carolina. Ml.351; Tennessee. 250,437; 1 Texas. 2.5G2.632; Virginia. 13,681." ' The complete annual report of cotton ginned will be issued May 1. Canal Commission. ! Washington Special. Two impor, , tanr. points has been developed in } \ connection with the work of the Is- j thrrian Canal Commission. One is ; that the headquarters of the commit- i tee will probably be on the Isthmus |< of Panama, instead of Washington, although an office probably will be | maintained, and the other, that all of the time of at least five of the com- i missioners will not lie devoted to the j canal work. Their private interest wiii demand a part of their time. Legislation now pending before Congress I provides for the appointment of a government of the American zone. < In Panama. Should it be enacted into law, it Is quite probable that the ' President may designate Oenerat i I Davis as the governor of the canal ' strip. The President has practically : determined that the Panama Canal ' Commission shall be atachcd to the ' War Department. I!. G. Mills Dead. \ Wilmington. Special.?Mr. Fh fl. < Mills, a well-known business man of Whiteville, and a brother of Messrs. K. i 1. and W. H. Mills, of this city, died I at the James Walker Memorial Hos- 1 pitai here Tuesday morning and the re- I mains were sent to his former home < for interment. Mr. Mills was brought to the hospital Saturday for a t operation for an abscess upon his lower in- j tostinos. The operation was performed ' > Sunday afternoon but the sick man ! never rallied and his death i-enw several horns of unconsciousness. His ( wife was in Wilmington when he died, j | having accompanied him from Whileville Saturday. ANcwriethod 5tfRKested. Manila. By Cable.?Capt. I)c Witt, j with a detachment of ccinsta.hulary and ( Lieut. Pitney, with a detachment, of j j scouts, have jus; encountered Mat Ario . , Sakay, the so-called president, of the ; , Filipino republic. Sakay. with l."? of j . his followers, wore killed and the re- ; maiuder of tlio? hand was captured. ( Tlierc were no casualties on the part of | the Americans. ! j An Expedient. Washington, Spacial.?A member of ( the House committee on the judiciary i , has prepared a bill looking to a con- j , solidatlon of the Northern and South- > ern judicial districts of Florida. This , expedient is proposed to legislate Judge , Charles Swayne out of office and avoid the necessity for impeaching him. I < There is serious objections to this plan , among many members of the House, j It is stated in opposition to the plan that oven if the district should he 1 abolished Judge Swayne would still be ' entitled to his salary as Judge and < that it would simply work a hard- ( ship on the people of the district and , on the judge for the Southern district , of the State. THE HARBOR IS Another Attempt On Port Arthur Failed Signally JAPANESE MADE BOLD ATTACK ' The Russian (inns Repelled the War Vessels I:roni the I'orls and the Harbor Remains Open. St. Fetersburg.Hy Cable? An official ilispatch from Fort Arthur to the Kmperor says thai at I o'clock Monday j morning tin- Russian searchlights disclosed four large merchant steamers making for he entrance to the harbor, supported by six torpedo boats. A heavy tire was opened on them by the batteries and some warships. The torpedo boat Stilni. commanded by Licutonunt Krinizki. turned the merchant vessels from their course by blowng up the prow of the tirst and then boldly attacked the enemy's tor-j pedo boats. In the tierce light which followed Chief Engineer Swyereff. of the Stilni, and six marines were killed and the commander and twelve men ; were wounded. I The Japanese plan to block the en- j trance to Fort Arthur was fruitrated. however, and th?> channel is still ( teatVice Admiral MakarofT. command ilig the Russian naval forces at Fort Arthur, has sent the following tele- ; i gram to the Emperor: "I beg most humbly to report that at - o'clock this morning the enemy [ made a second attempt to block the ! entrance to the inner roadstead. For ! Ihis purpose they dispatched fouri, large merchant steamers, convoyed 1>> i six torpedo bunts to the entrance. The enemy's ships were promptly discovered ,by the searchlights and were bombarded by the batteries and b> the guardships. Fearing the enemy's I ships might break through l.kut.J Krinizki. commanding the guard tor pedo boat Stilni, attacked the etiemj ind destroyed the bow of the foremost j lapanese steamer with a torpedo. This I ! steamer turned to the right and was ! 1 followed by two others, with the result j that the three were stranded to the right of the entrance. A fourth steamer went to the right of the enemy's! ships ami likewise sank to the side 3f the fairway. The Stilni then bat- I tied with the enemy's six torpedo boats. Engineer Artillcer Sweycreff md six seamen were killed and the commander and twelve seamen were wounded. At daybreak the enemy's batteship and cruiser squadrons appeared .and I proceeded with the fleet under my charge to meet the enemy. The second attempt of the .lapanese to block the entrance to Port Arthur lias failed, thanks to the energetic do t un- mi- r<fii mm iuiki rorces. wno | acted as they did during the tlrst at - j tempt. The harbor remains perfectly : *lcar." The follow inn oflicial dispatch has 1 icon received from ('.en. Smirnott'. "Port Arthur, March 27.?Lust night. after moon-rise, the Japanese ! attempted to block the entrance to the harbor. Four fire ships were sent to- ! ward the port convoyed bv a torpe ':> flotilla. Toward 2:1a a. in. the ap proacti of the enemy's ships wore per- j eiveil by the guardahips and batteries which simultaneously opened upon 1 iiifin nL'nui.v. i in1 tire snips wi re ; preceded by torpedo boats, followed at | 1 considerable distance by larger i ships. which opened on the forts supporting the action of the fire ships and the torpedo boats. Owing to the i ieaviness of our artillery fire and the j Mildness of our torpedo boats, the lire ships did not reach the entrance 0 the harbor. Two of them grounded n a reef under (aolden Hill, another sank behind the first turn of land, struck I y a torpedo from one of our mats, ami the fourth sank, its hows j touching a Japanese steamer sunk in the previous attempt off Majatehnaja florda. The entrance to the harbor r< mains clear. "A Hotchkiss one-inch calibre quickfirer was found aboard one of the , mnken steamers from which a fire lad been kept on our torpedo boats. \ boat left each of the sunken ships, tarrying their crews. One of these is believed to have been picked up. Toward 4 oe'loek a. in. the enemy's torpedo boats retired and the bombardPreached on Mars 11111. Athens, By Cable.?Rev. John Potts. ! i. Toronto, Ontario. preached on the Pill of Mars Sun lay to the delegates to i 1 he world's Sunday school convention. I'he ministers and delegates repeated ' st. Paul's address to the Athenians. All the members of the party from the I'nited States are well and will proceed to Jerusalem, whet the .licetng of the convention will he held. M... I mm* T V i'??y i i- i WU I CJirA* Paris. Special.?The Matin's Harbin correspondent says a rumor is being circulated there to the effect that the war will last two yea;t and that it will not really bet?in before September, the nina making July and August unfavor- : ?ble for military operations. Despite rbir.a's prot? stions of neutrality, the I correspondent eontinties, "Oeneral Ma is advancing to. Manchuria. If this movement Is combined ./ith the Japanese operations the Russians will be obliged to act against Oeneral Ma. who : ontlnues to move northward, although > iho Pekin government, it is under- j itood, ha* ordered him ,o --utr*" ; STILL CLEAR I tuent ceased. Vice Admiral Makaroff at once proceeded in u steam launch to inspect the enemy's sunken steamers. The enemy's torpedo boats reappeared at ? o'clock this morning. They were sighted south of Port Arthur. and the batteries re-opened on them. Toward o'clock the enemy's squadron appeared on tin- horizon, and ours steamed out to meet it. At <?:30 the batteries opened tire. The ship's batteries soon ceased, the Japanese drawing off to the southeast, evidently declining an engagement. At 10 o'clock they disappeared below the horizon." A further telegram to the litnperor front Vice Admiral Makaroff says: "1 respectfully report that the one .?i > iui ? III^ ? i> i!u i ?i >N 11 i M'lunu'd iu the harbor with the fleet. "The torpedo bout destroyer Stiini, which stranded on the reef in consequence of damage caused to iter engines by one of the enemy's shells, was floated during the course of the night and entered the harbor, thanks to the energies of her crew. Her commander. I.lent. Krinizki. who was slightly wounded in the arm. "lid not quit his post. "On the flreships were infernal machines. the wires connecting with which were cut by l.ieut. KedrofT and Knsimi I'ilsoudsky of the irregulars whom 1 dispatched on the tack. They hoarded one of the steamers as soon us it stopped, cut the electric wire and extinguished the fire which would cave in up tin' entrance or the harbor to tho enemy in the roadstead. "In the morning a floating mine was found hearing an infernal inaeliine, tint the latter was successfully removed. "Tho inspection made showed that the steamers utilized as lire ships were not old. They were each of about '2.00b tons and they were armed with light calibre guns." The Japanese practically repeated the tactics of February 24. by sending in four fire ships, preceded by a torpedo boat flotilla, with the exception that tlit* tire ships this time were armed with llotchkiss guns for tin* purpose of keeping off the Russian torpedo boat destroyers. The enemy's attempt was discovered by means of tin* short* searchlights and a heavy fire was opened from tho batteries and from two gunboats which were guarding the entrance to the habor. The Russian torpedo boat destroyer Stilni was outside on scouting duty, ami to the dash and nerve of her commander. Lieut. Krinizki. is chiefly due the complete defeat of the plans of the Japanese, lie at once made straight for the oncoming ships under a hail of fire from the Hotchkiss guns, and torpedoed the leading ship, which sheered off. followed by the others, three of them being piled up on the shore tinder (Jolden Il'.il and one under the light house. Stilni then engaged the entire six torpedoa boats of the enemy, coming out from a terrific tight, with seven killed and her commander and twelve of her complement wounded. hut I ?Yl thi? Irlliutwico villi. ??nlu boat's crew wore saved. Iti addition. I according to unofficial reports, it. Is ' believed that the Japanese lost nco I torpedo boats. The Japanese cruisers which supported the attack exchanged shots with the batteries and then drew off. after which Vice Admiral MakarotY | took a steam launch and examined I the fire ships. An hour later the Jap- j aneso torpedo flotilla, followed by j Vice Admiral Togo's fleet, sailed otn | to en gage 'he enemy, but after the! ships and batteries hail fired a few | long-distance shots. Vice Admiral To- j go decided to decline the issue, and disappeared to the southward. The conviction continues to grow here that the Japanese may have concluded that it would he inadvisable | in make a direct frontal attack on Manchuria from Korea against the| whole Russian army, and that it will be no-.esary to land a flanking column in the Gulf of 1 Jao Tung to divide the attention of the Russians, and if possible to seize the railroad and cut off Port Arthur. The ground above New Chwang is perfectly familiar to the Japanese, who occupied it for a year during the Chi no-Japanese war Hrs. Davis III. Atlantic City. N. J.. Special. Mrs. J< fferson Davis, widow of the Prcsi I dent of lite Southern Confederacy, who | came here from New York after an Hint as. wan last night stricken at her hotel with an attack of acute indigestion. Through her remarkable vitality she rallied and no apprehension is now expressed for her rapid recovery. Somebody Yelled l-ire. New Haven. Conn., Special. A panic occurred at the morning service in St. Michael's Italian church Sunday, in which almost a score of persons were Injured. Four of the most seriously iujuiod, two women and two children, were taken to the llaven Hospital. Some one in the congregation shouted "Fire," during a prayer, and immediately the worshipers arose and rushed for the door at the rear of the church, the only exit. The police and members of the church have made an investigation. but no reason far anyone, giving an alarm of firo bas been discovered. TO LEVY WAR TAXES Japanese Will Arrange to Finance a Lung War If Necessary. Tokio. Special. -The government has not fully disclosed the proposal concern: fig the war taxes to be submitted to the special diet, hut it now appears as though it will not propose any change in the tariff in sugar, but will instead recommend a domestic tax on ? the basis previously stated. It now seems probable that the only change elici ted in the customs tariff will be an increased duty on kerosene and us. ,\u discrimination will be mado a i inst Russian kerosene, because that tiade is rhiefty in the hands of the lJritish merchants. It is anticipated that there will be a serious contention in the diet over the taxes on sugar and silk and dealers in the former commodity are strongly agitating for a reduction in the rate. Party committees are meeting daily discussing the tax proposals and the belief is expressed that the government will be forced to modify several features of their plans. If the tobacco monopoly if. enacted It is estimated that it will be ten years lv fore it is finally completed, although the government counts upon earnings from it in 11HH amounting to twentyfour million yen. gradually ncreasing until i'.ll-t, when it is estimated they will amount to fort> million yen. It is estimated that it will cost the government elnrht million vnn ?.* mi chase tli*' plains and stock required to i onsummntc the combine and fully T ine million yen to compensate the o\\ ners. Jap Tobacco Monopoly. St Petersburg. Special.?The representations of United States minister to Japan. Mr. Clrlsc.om, concerning American Interests by the creation of a Japanese tobacco monopoly, will. The Novoe Vremya says, sharpen American-Japanese relations. It considers the tobacco monopoly absolutely necessary tor Japan in the present condition of her finances, hut says the compensation claimed l?y the Americans would more than eat up the income from the monopoly in the lirst years, hut creating for Japan a situation, the "full meaning of which it is probable I* quiie appreciated at Washington." Stock Breeders fleet. Jacksonville. Fla.. Special.?Th? stock breeders of Georgia and Florida met here Tuesday in convention and ti morrow will organize an association to bo known as the Southeastern Stock Breeders' Association. The convention organized by electing State Senator C. A. Carson, of Florida, as chairman and Ralph Edwards, of this city, as secretary. The feature of the occasion was the address of Secretary Wilson. lie .icvoted much of his address to the adaptability of Georgia and Florida to cattle raising. School Boy n Murderer. Columbus, Ga.. Special.?A special trom Chipley says that a fight, occuried at Whitesvllie between two 16v ar-old school boys, which resulted in the death of one, Tom Haralson, son of T. \V. Haralson. Robert Maddox, son of Hon T. J. Maddox. was the other participant. Voting Maddox struck young Haralson with a large stick, fracturing the skull in two places, from the effects of which Haralson died a short time afterward. The cause of tlio fight is not known. The two hoys were intimate friends. Severe Penalties for Pillaging The army organ publishes an order of the day issued l.y Viceroy Alexleff. threatening the most severe penalties against soldiers injuring private prop , ... v ji\ t aim uiah ill*- n.lUI*". The Ameer Poisoned. Si. Petersburg. Hy Cable. If is reported here on good authority that the Ameer of Afhhanistnn lias ben poisoned. Habibullah Khan, the Ameer of Afghanistan, was horn in 1S72. and succeeded to the throne on the death of his father. Abdurrahman Khan, October 1. J !?01. R, <i. Mills I>ead. Wilmington. Special.? Mr. F. O. Mills, a well-known business man of Whiteville. and a lirother of Messrs. K. 1. and W. ii. Mills, of this eity, died ai the James Walker Memorial Hospital here Tuesday morning and the remains were sent to his former home for interment. .Mr. Mills was brought f' the hospital Saturday for an operat'on for an abscess upon bin lower tntc-tines. The o]>eratlon was performed Sunday afternoon hut the sick man ncvor III 11 it'll mi/1 hlo rlontli /.????** * - ill" **ii# l.BIIll am i' several hours of unconsciousness. His wife was in Wilmington when he died, having accompanied him from Whiteville Saturday. fort Arthur Bombarded T?ondon. By (!iblc.? A dispatch to Rentier's Telegram Company from St. Petersburg says: "Japanese torpedo boats appeared off Port Arthur at midnight of the night, of March 21-23 and the shore batteries and guardships shelled them for twenty minutes The Japanese retreated but reappeared four hours later, when they met with the name reception, when they retired i