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THE FORT MILL TIM I S . 16TII. YEAR. FORT MILL, S. C., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1907. ~ NO 25 THE SAD ENDING Of a Honeymoon Trip of Two Young New Yorkers. v / DEATH TAKES BRIEVE To Watery Grave and the Young Groom In Disconsolate?The Young Hride Knocked From the l?eek of Friend'** Yateh and Drowned?Her Young Husband Tried to Kcmcuc Her, Hut He Had to Ik' Rescued. Swept off the deck of a yatch while dining with her husband, Mrs. Margerlta Croft, on her honeymoon, Wednesday met death near Greenwich Point, close to Philadelphia, and the life of her husband, John Croft, was saved only through the frantic efforts of friends. Croft is said to be the head of a big advertising agency In New York, but his exact nddress cannot be learn ed, as his nervous state Is such that he will answer no questions concerning himself. A few days ago C. F. N. Rennett, a wealthy advertising ngeut of Philadelphia, inviting Mr. Croft and his twenty-one-year-old bride to take a trip with him to the Jamestown Exposition. The invitation was accepted and the party set forth on the schooner rigged yatch "Bennett" which is equipped with motor |tower. No "accident marked the voyage to Hampton Roads, and the youug couple, piloted by their Philadelphia friends, enjoyed themselves hugely inx the maze of exhibits. After a few days spent wandering aronnd the grounds and visiting the surburbs, the party decided to return to Philadelphia. The bride and groom left the KYiionlUnn gret, but when splendid weather favored the beginning of the voyage they were content. I^ate Wednesday the Bennett using only her sails for purpose? of propulsion. skimmed up the De'nware River to Greenwich Point. Just ns the crew were rounding her into the proper channel a tremendous squall struck the vessel. On the deck at the time, chatting and planning for the future they believed would be happy, were the newly married couple. With their hosts they sat at table and ate and drank amid jesting and criticisms of the big fair. When the great gush of wind struck the vessel, without a single premonttary roar, the sail bellied out, the hooin was swept alamt in an instant, and Mrs. Croft, with her husband looking into her eyes and laughing. was tossed into the water, which had become turbulent under the influence of the violent wind. Everybody but Croft sat. still, stunned and bewildered. The husband sprang to his feet, and. scorning the danger of being struck by the boom as it swung back after its hinges had caused reaction, leaped over the rail at the point where his bride had dissapeared. For many minutes the unfortunate man, crazed by grief, struggled like a maniac. Tho crew put the vessel about and "J V/lUll, **I1U IIMIKIU UKltlUHl the men who tried to pull him to the deck. Rut the crew wns too strong for Croft, and he was dragged aboard, while not n trace of his young wife could he found. The Bennett sailed around the spot many times, the hnscrylng madly for "Margerita" and the crew hallowing constantly. But the search was futile. Mr9. Croft, on the eve of what she l>elieved would he a career of happiness, had died. Thursday night\the Bennett was still cruising about, and two police tugs were called, the hluecoats using hooks and nets vith whwich to dray the bottom on the stream. Croft, stifling his sobs, gritted his teeth and said in desperation. "I am going to stay here until 1 find Margerita if it takes ali year." Doctors were called to attend the New Yorker, but the tremendous nervous strain under which he is laboring has sufficed to keep him up physically, although it is believed when he realizes fully the loss he has suffered his mind may be affected, at least teni|)orarily. The grief of the man has touched the heart of scores, and boatmen who never heard of Croft are out aiding In the searoji for the body. MAIUtlRD THK WRONG TWIN. Woman Who Was Tricked Into Ceremony Now Wants Divorce. Following the filing of her suit for divorce from Calvin Thomaa, Mrs. Ada Thomaa, of Chrlsman. III., aays that ahe was tricked Into contracting a marriage with the defendant, who closely reaembles hla twin brother, Alvln Thomaa. Mrs. Thomas says: that after a courtship of "three months ahe made an aprpolntment to meet Alvln at Paris, 111., and they were to go to Charleston and lie married. Aivln's ardor had cooled, however, so he sent his twin brother. Mrs. Thomaa did not realize the deception until some time later when the aaw the twins together. After living with the wrong twin tvro years tjfoe sited for djvorce. RATHER BE WHIPPED Than Stand Trial for Insulting a Lancaster Lady. A Rook'Agent Admits Making Improper Proposals to a Lady and Is Beaten. A special dispatch from Lancaster to the News and Courier says <1 young white man named \V. C. Gardner, said to be fron Adamsvllle, Ga., was arrested in Gaffney and carried to Lancaster by Constable James T. Hunter, of Lancaster, to answer to the charge of making .improper proposals to and placing his hands on a young marrled^lady of that place, | Mrss. E. A. Thomnson. Tho nifonun ic I said to have occurred at Mr. Thompson's home, he being absent at the 1 time. Gardner, who is a book-agent, went to the home to try to sell some 1>ooUs. Upon Mr. Thompson's return a day or two later his wife told him of Gardner's conduct, and the indignant husband forthwith set out to find Gardner, who in the meantime had left town. Learning that he had gone to Rock Hill Mr. Thompson went to Rock Ilill Monday in Bearch of him. Gardner had just left town, however, going orl the train toward Yorkville. Resuming his jourpey Mr. Thompson found out that Gardenr was on the same train as himself nnd Just before reaching Newport he discovered him in the baggage car. He attacked Gardner, knocking him down with his fist; his pistol and knife having been taken from him shortly before by parties, who knew that trouble was brewing. He tried to take Gardner off the train, getting him as far as the car door, when Gardner's coat, giving way, caused both men to fall, Thompson fallng off the train, his face striking a crosstie, making several ugly cuts and bruises on his forehead, nose and cheeks. Gardner fell inside the door, and thus remaining on the train, made his escape. He was caught, however, as stated, at Gaffney. After being in jail sometime Gardner confessed that he made improper proposals to Mrs. Thompson and ^ that he placed his hands on her. He i offered to strip and allow Mr. Thomp- t son, the husband, to administer one 1 hundred lashes on his bare back, provided he be given his liberty. But the 1 proposition was not accepted. i Mr. Thompson tried to kill Gardner 1 when the latter was taken off the r train at Lancaster Wednesday. He r presented his revolver at Gardner's t breast and pulled the trigger, but t Constable Hunter, who had charge of i the prisoner, quickly seized the weapon, the falling hammer striking his i finger and that preventing an explo- i sion. I NKIIVKI) HIM RIGHT. t Knrle's Neighbors Pelt Him With i I Very Stale Kggs. ( The New York American says Ferdinand Pinney Karle, who discarded ' his wife because he wished to marry ' his "affinity," Miss Julia Kutner, 5 left Monroe, N. Y.. Wednesday night amid a shower of rotten eggs. Three ' of these landed on him as he reached the railroad station, and the townspeople who had gathered to see him off cheered lustily as each missile found its mark. Earle says that he left Monroe to 1 transact some business in New York, ' where he will be for the next few days at his mother's apartments up- 1 town. The townsiKH>ple, however, declare that he left because he had 1 heard of a meeting they were to 1 hold to plan to run him out of town. 1 A number of posters had already iieen printed, warning him to leave town within twenty-four hourfe, and 1 i woman had made fifty white caps for a committee which whs to visit him. 1 Earle denies any knowledge of 1 these doings. i Earle made no demonstration until 1 he was safely aboard his train. Then he turned, and shaking his fist at the 1 mob ctirsed them under his breath. "They are a lot of cowards," he said as the train pulled out. "and not one of them would dare to insult me alone." WKECK NKAH THYON. Passenger Train Derailed and Twelve People Injured. The Southern railway has received a renort iuinrinnrine that a local uas scnger train was derailed near Tryon, N. C., Wednesday night, and twelve persons were slightly injured. The tender of the engine, mail ea'r and haggage and express car were turned over, and three coaches left the track. The cause is not known. F'ollowing are the injured: O. M. Drage, of Spartanburg, foot hurt; Je:-se R. Ihby, of Aaheville, knee I hurt; M. O. Nance, of Packolet, ankle ; hurt; P. O. Hunter, of Abbeville, side ihurt; Isaac Young, a negro, of Annison. Ala., hurt internally: W. J. i Croker, of Pacolet, hip hurt; Preston | Smith, a negro, of Union, slightly .hurt, about the head; Ben Jenkins, a negro, knee skinned; H. G. Dalton, of Spartanburg, hand brulred; Henry Simpson, a negro, of Columbia; hurt Internally; E. D. Cook, of Packolet, arm bruised; Lula Kennedy, a negro, of Ashevtlle, leg bruised. 4 BURGLAR KILLS The Wife of a Naval Officer at Her Home. WENT THERE TO ROB And Was Fired On by the Lady? The Shots Went Wild and the IturKlar Overpowered the Lady, Took Her Pistol From Her and Sliot Her Through the Heart, Killing Her Instantly. Mrs. Mary Lawless Rorschach, wife of Lieut. Frank Rorscharch, U. S. N., and sister of Joseph T. Lawless, former secretary of the commonwealth of Virginia, was murdered in her home. No. 832 Park avenue, Park View, Portsmouth, Va., by an unknown burglar about three o'clock on Tuesday morning of last week. Mrs. Rorscharch was shot through the heart with her own pistol, takeu rrom her by the burglar after she had llred twice upon him through an open ioor leading into the kitchen, where he was cornered. The murderer escaped, dropping the pistol as he fled through the wood house door in the rear of the kitchen Bloodhounds carried to the house Trom the Portsmouth jail shortly after the alarm was sounded, secured a scent and ran from the house. The scent was soon lost, however, and the hounds were unable to pick up the 'rail. Mrs. Rorschach was living with her .wo children, the elder seven and the rounger five years old. Her husjand recently was promoted and .ransferred from the battleship Kenucky to the cruiser Tennessee and is vith Admiral Evans* fleet off Provncetown. Mass. The two shots fired by Mrs. Rors;hach wakened her elder boy, Frank. ( Fr. She cried to him that somebody lad taken her pistol and shot her. She told him to go for help. The boy rushed for assistance but vhen he returned with nei^i?n? K nother was dead. An effort was made 0 inform Lieut Rorschach by wireess telegraph of the tragedy. The Rorschach home is immediatey in the rear of the naval hospital voods in Portsmouth and near a umber mill to which negroes freluently pass. A newsboy who lives learby saw a negro shortly after the ragedy running rapidly by his home owards a small foot bridge. The negro was taking off his coat. While Mrs. Rorschach had a lamp n her hand the burglar evidently was n the kitchen in the dark. Roth Millets fired by the woman was round in the wali of the kitchen. Mrs. Rorschach, with her money led in a roll and hanging around her neck, had run down stairs by the i?ack steps. She was standing in an jntryway Just at the foot of the steps when she fired. The lamp which she tiad held was found at her feet unbroken, though the lamp shade was ihattered. The pistol had been placed close to Vtrs. Rorschach left bpeast over her night dress and discharged. it was 1 five-shooter and only three chambers were emnfv These were the wo fired by Mrs. Rorschach and the me fired by the burglar upon her. Her money and Jewelry were un:ouched. The victim's youngest child. Lawless, slept through the excitement. Mrs. Rorschach was very handsome. She was about 36 years old and one of the most accomplished musicians in Virginia. Lieut. Rorschach was formerly of Kansas, but was appointed to the navy from Virginia. Thomas Archer, a mulatto, claiming to be in the employ of the Merchants' and Miners' Transportation company, was arrested in Portsmouth as a suspect. The negro denied any knowledge of the crime. Policeman Llllott, at 4 o'clock Tuesday morning. 4 3 minutes after the murder, saw a negro enter the house of Archer at 1028 Glasgow street, Portsmouth. Archer when arrested was in bed. His hats l>ore spots that looked like blood stains and his shoes were wet, in condition such as might have been caused by walking in wet grass in the rear of the Rorschach residence. Archer says he got wet in the severe rain that night. Gov. Swanson offered* a reward of $200 for the capture of the murderer of Mrs. Rorschach, Col. Lawless, brother of the victim. Is a member of Gov. Swanson's staff. Coroner Holiday found the fatal bullet that penetrated Mrs. Rorschach's heart. WORKMKN OVKRCOMK While Repairing Acid Vat an I One of Them Killed. A dispatch from Buffalo, N. Y.. says in repairing a wrecked acid vat at the plant of the General Chemical company Thursday night, five men were overcome by fumes. One of the men is dead and three otherr are dying. The dead man is Arthur J. Sweeny. Those who are not exxpected to live are William E. Sweeney, son of the dead man, who made a brave, but futile, attempt to rescue his father; William Callahan and John Kley. \ \ JAILED FOR ASSAULT. _______ A White Man is Charged With a Revolting Crime. David M. J eftcoat, of Orangeburg County, Gets in Serious Trouble Over In Aiken. A special dispatch from Aiken to The State says David M. Jeff coat, the white man charged with the rape of an eight-year-old negro girl in May last, was arrested Thursday and was carried to Aiken and placed in jail. Jeffcoat is a resident of Orangeburg, just over the line, but the crime which he is charged with was committed, it is alleged, in Aiken county. He was arrested by Deputies Busbee and Cate and Sheriff Reborn. When he was arrested JefTcoat submitted quietly, though It was reported he would resist arrest, and it was rumored that he said he would kill any man who attempted his capture. David M. JefTcoat is a cousin of the desperado Jeffcoat, who created so much trouble in this country some years ago and killed several men before he was himself killed. David Jeffcoat, is a powerful man. about 47 years of age, and has a wife and five sons, two married daughters and several grandchildren. ;He does not seem to think that his is a very Berious predicament, but says he will be out and back home soon. aH he has a crop to gather and a turpentine crop to look a,'*5r. He owns some property on the Edisto River, but he spends most of his time hunting and fishing. The crime that has been laid to his blame is one of the most heinous in the history of the county. It is charged that he went to the house of a respectable man while he was at work in a nearby field and assaulted the colored man's little eight-year-old daughter, seriously injuring her. It i D q1Ia(TO/1 V* /> w??> ?? ~ 41 ? ? P,VM lie nan nurn III LtttS act by the girl's small brother, who reported the matter to his father. The man then went to the house and accosted Jeffcoat and attempted to rescue the girl from his clutches, but was threatened with his life. Afterward it is said that Jeffcoat went around to the field where the man was working and waited at the end of the row where he was ploughing, and then shot him with a shotgun, seriously wounding him. He was arrested and carried before a magistrate, but the charge of assault was not brought against him, so it is said, and he was released on ball. His bondsman finally said he would not stand for him any longer, but the magistrate did not rearrest him. When Jeffcoat learned that a charge of assault was going to be brought against him he was rej>oi ted to have made the threats which are said to have caused some fear among the people in the section of country around where he lived. JAPS MOHBEI) HAILOIIK It Is Said They Attacked the Japanese Without Cause. A Tokio dispatch to the New York Herald reports that while the American cruiser Chattanooga was at Nakodate recently four of her men narrowly escaped injury at the hands of a mob. Two of the men had to swim for it, while the other two were rescued by the police. Investigation by the ship's officers showed that one of the sailors had made an unprovoked attack upon a Japanese storekeeper and the Japanese storekeeper and the Japanese were exonerated. The dispatch also states that the Chattanooga'H visit to Yokohama had been marked by the usual exchange of calls from Jaimnese officials. Shore leave had been granted to the cruiser's men. and there have been no untoward occurrences. .C'RVKAI>K ON CIGAltKTTKS. Harriman Asked to l*se His Influence on Hoys. Lucy Paige Gaston, of Chicago, President of the National Anti-Cigarette League, has come to New York to organize a local branch of the league and the first movement in her campaign will be to call on E. H. Harriman in an attempt to Induce him to suppress smoking in his boys' clubWhile the first efforts of the AntiCignrette League in New York will be directed toward street bands and boys in the public schools. Miss Gaston and her colleagues will later take up the work among girls. Cigarette smoking is prevalent among high school girls and many girls in fashionable boarding schools are addicted to the habit, Miss Gaston asserted. TORTURED RY ROBBERS. An Illinois Farmer and His Wife Brutally Treated. At Lincoln. 111., Warren Murdy, an aged farmer, and his wife, were tortured for five hours Wednesday night by three masked robbers. The men burned the soles of Mnrdy's feet with matches in an effort to force him to disclose the hiding place of money supposed to be hidden in the house. BREAKS RECORD. A Giant Steamer Completes Maiden Voyage Successfully. A M MADE QUICKEST TIME % ' On Record, Crossing the Atlantic Ocean in Five Days and Fifty-Four Minutes?The largest Steamer Ever Built Proves Herself to Be the Fastest and Best Steamship Afloat Today. A few days ago there was a local ceieorauon or the hundredth anniversary of that proud occasion when Robert Fulton's 13 0-foot steamer Clermont went putting up the Hudson River at five miles an hour. Thursday New Yorkers turned out to welcome a steam craft the passengers of which breakfasted in Queenstown. Ireland, Sunday, and lunched in New York Thursday. Roth experiments, equally successful, were epoch making in the way of propulsive power,?the Clermont with her side paddles and the Cunarder with her quadruple turbines. The voyage of the Lusitania, so happily completed, was most important in that it was a test of the most modern propulsive power. This is the view taken by her owners, who are satisfied that the practicability of the turbine for fast vessels has been demonstrated and that this new departure in Knglish shipbuilding has been justified. '' The fact that the Lusitania was able to cross the Atlantic in five days and fifty-four minutes and was aide, on her maiden trip, nearly to equal 1 the best Trans-Atlantic record, is 1 held to be of secondary importance. ' Officials of the line said that the Lus- 1 ltania had dane all that was expected ' of her without being pushed to make 1 a record, and they were confident 1 that she would be able, when called 1 upon, to add to her achievments the ' fastest voyage across the Atlantic. Heretofore, it was pointed out, tur- I bines have been constructed foe mod ' erate speed, but on the Lusitania and ' her 6lster ship, the Mauretanlu, built ' with the greatests subsidy ever paid, was staked the British hope that ' lurmne driven vessels would prove not only the most comfortable but the swiftest liners afloat. From the time that the Lusitanla sailed from Queenstown at noon Sunday, until she came through the new Ambrose channel and reached her pier at the foot of West Thirteenth street, North River, New York, at noon Thursday, the steamer behaved excellently, and according to the agents, showed no defects. The proudest man aboard, of course, was the man on the bridge, Capt. J. D. Watt, who said: "She is the fastest ship yet built. We did not try to press her on this trip because her machinery is new and it might endanger her. We passed through enough rough weather to prove that she is a good sea lioat. She did well?better than we expected." The Lusitania is the largest liner ever built. The Lucania, also of the Cunard Line and the previous record holder, which was started to pace the Lusitania with fifteen minutes advauce at Queenstown, reached Sandy Hook bar at 9 o'clock that night, 13 hours behind the new ship. SWAM TO KHOKF. Portuguese Risked Life so as to Stay on American Soil. A Portuguese stowaway aboard the steamer Glenenn Just arrived at New York from Huelva, was put to work at the beginning of the trip, and was told that at the end he would be sent back to Europe. When theJXghts of the New Jersey coast were in sight on Saturday night the Portguesse decided that he would swim the rest of the way to America. He was not missed from the ship until she dropped anchor off Sar.dy Hook. A rope was seen dangling over the stern and a life bouy had been cut away. Capt. Gillings inferred that the stowaway had taken the bouy with him to assist in his efforts to reach the Jersey shore. WHAT IT COST. Statement Just Published Lists the Expenditures in Panama. The Panama Canal cost the I'nited States Government >84.449,000 up to | December 31, 1906, according to a . statement of the audited expenditures just published. The largest item was , the >50,000,000 paid to the French . company and the Panama Govern- ( ment for canal property, right of j way and franchises. For material and supplies, >3,449,000 was paid; | for general administration, >1,124,226; for government and sanitation. ( >4,381,089, and for construction and engineering. >9,729,554. Other ex- , penses include >12,138,852 under the head, of "plant," which includes rolling stock, machinery, second main track on Isthmus, building and water works. L . . THE COTTON CROP. Dr. W. W. Ray, Who Has Been Out South West Says It Is Much Shorter Than It Was I<ast Season and That It Should Sell Well. Dr. W. W. Ray, of Richland County, member from South Carolina, of the Cotton Association's executive committee, has returned from .lack sou und gave out the following for publication: In responce to a call for a meeting of the executive committee of the Southern Cotton Assosciation. I left Columbia on Tuesday morning, the 3rd at 7.25. I examined, as well as I could from the cars, the cotton and corn crops from Columbia to Atlanta. These crops I found to be exceedingly peor, burnt up by the sun and rust, showed considerable until I reached Spartanburg. there 1 saw a few crops, which were good, but the balance of the way to Atlanta the crops were away below the average, in consequence of great drought. I saw nothing of the crop from Atlanta to Birmingham in consequence of darkness. But early next morning I began to inspect the crop us we left Birmingham: and as far as I could see from the train, the cotton and corn crops throughout Alabama and Mississippi were exceedingly poor as a result of the same causes which affected the crops of South Carolina and Georgia. I reached Jackson, Miss., on Wednesday afternoon. The next morning the executive committee of the Southern Cotton Association held a session in the Knights of Pythias ball, in Jackson. We had a good attendance. I was very much impressed with the personnel of the committee, men of high character, conservatives in thnir vlnwo w.%# ?uu * .fin n mi no uesire to make false statements of the condition of the crop. They evinced, to my mind, the greatest care and painstaking in coming to their conclusions; they seemsd to havfc gone over the ground in their several states very carefully. \fter comparing notes, the committee, by a large majority, decided that the coming crop would not he over twelve million bales?twelve million five hundred, at the outside. South Carolina reported conditions ibout 10 to 15-per cent, better than ast year; Georgia reported about the lame condition as South Carolina; Vorth Carolina reported about the mine conditions as last year; Alabama reported conditions about 25 to 30 per cent, less than last year; Mississippi reported the crop materiilly less than last year, as a result of mperfect stands, having to plant over is many as four times, and in a great nany instances lots of the fields had :o be abandoned, as the cotton failed :o come up; the same conditions prevailed in Ixmisiana; Texas reported .hat they will be at least one million jales or more shorter than last year, >n account of the ravages of the boll veevll; also a lot of the cotton did lot copie up. The area in cotton was much less han that of last year, In consequence if the cotton not coming up; in xraansas they reported cotton in the ?ottom lands as being In good condiion; cotton on the hill lands was joor, having suffered very much from vant of rain and in consequence of ust; Tennessee reported a reduction 'rom last year. The Indian Territory ind Oklahoma were not represented. The committee, by a decisive vote, stood for fifteen cents as the mininum price of cotton. They think that he conditions warrant them in this lemand. The editor of the Cotton Fournal wrote an article In the Jourtal, saying that fifteen cents should !>e the price under existing circumstances. And an article appeared in he Manufacturers' Record commenting upon the article aforesaid, susaining the position taken by the Cotton Journal. The committee also stood for twenty dollars per ton, as the minimum price for cotton seed. A member of the committee, who was a practical Ml mill man and an oil mill owner, said that this price was not exhorbitant, but in fact, was a just and fair I am satisfied that this committee is an excellent hodv of men. acting with the proper spirit, with no desire lo unnecessarily advance the marketand it. Is their firm convention and belief that the cotton will not exceed the estimate made, and under existing circumstances fifteen cents is not a large price for our cotton. In view of the fact that all other commodities have advanced in price we must have a good price for our cotton in order that we can obtain labor and compete with prices offered for unskilled labor in other enterprises. We were advised that the demands >f the Farmers' Union were similar to those of our committee. We urge all cotton growers to stand by us in this fight, and we will assure them that victory will be ours. DR. W. W. RAY, Member of the Executive Committee from South Carolina. I WAR IN ORIENT. Japanese and Chinese May Clash at Aims Soon. DISPUTE OVER ISLAND Subjects of the Mikado Seize hand Near the ritillippincs and Officials Are Nervous?The Action May Ilring Into Plag American Diplo* macy?Chinese Troops Are on the Move. The Far East may again, within a short time, be plunged into a sea of 1 uiuuu. i no probability of a serious clash between the Chinoso and Japanese troops Is involved in the action of Hui, the viceroy of Manchuria, in dispatching a force of Chinese soldiers to K wan to, or Middle Island, where, in the name of the Korean government, the Japanese have assumed control. The territory named is the only rich region between the Yalu river and Manchuria on the northern side of the Shangpi range of mountains. It has long been the subject of dispute between China and Corea. The population is estimated at 600,000 Coreans and 4 00,000 Chinese. Before the Russian war both governments sent officials with military forces for the protection of their respective nationalities. At the outbreak of the war Corea withdrew her officials. Several months ago Marquis I to sent Lieut. Col. Saito with a small force of troops to assume the administration. This face seems just to have become known to the Chinese authorities who now enter a protest, claiming sovereignty. The dispatch of Chinese troops to the territory is the latest move. The announcement that several Japanese explorers from Formosa have raised their national flag over a small island Immediately adjoining the Philippines has attracted much attention in official circles in Japan. The Japanese insist that the island does not belong to the Philippines, because it is north of the twentieth parallel. The island, which was designated Protus or Pratas, by the old geographers, is uninhabited. Whether it is of possible value for naval purposes is not disclosed. NOW IX WAXT. Ill Health Reduces Physician to Poverty. A dispatch from New York says Dr. Alexander Fruser, who had a lucrative practice in Providence, It. I., only two years ago, has been found seriously ill and in want on the Hrooklkyn water front. The physician, who is 3 0 years of age, was graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania, and soon built up a fine practice in Providence and Riversdale, It. I. Two years ago his wife became ill and had to be taken to a private sanitarium. After that the health of the physician also began to fail and he was gradually forced to give up his practice. Recently he went to Brooklyn and secured employment with a fuel company as a clerk, but his poor health was a handicap that could not he overcome. (jives up thk fk;ht. The Only Colored .Member of the ( eorgia Assembly Quits. An Atlanta dispatch says Representative W. II Rogers, of Mcintosh, the only colored member of the Oeorgia general assembly, has tendered his resignation to (Jovernor Smith. It was accepted and an election for his successor will be ordered. Rogers gave no reasons for his resignation, and as he had another year to serve, it is not understood. It was thought that Rogers' action was due in some measure to the action of the legislature in passing the disfranchisement hill. v<)i \<; (ot i-i.t; i?11<>\\N?;i>. Bodies of I'nknown Rescued From the Mississippi River. A d4spatch from Muscatine, Iowa, says: "Clasped in each others' arms, the bodies of a young man and a girl were found in the Mississippi river Thursday. There is nothing on the bodies to establish their identity. The police are undecided whether tho pair grasped each other in drowning accidentally or whether they entered Into a suicide compact and leaped into the river in a last embrace. ' lost both u;<;s. Was fiiven Right Thousand hollars Damage l>y Jury* At Campbell court house, Virginia, I in the circuit court, a jury has returned a verdict against the Southern railway, giving Willis J. Winson, colored, $8,000 damages, he having had both legs broken last Thanksgiving Day on the passenger train, on which President Spencer was killed. / 'r