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SEVERE BATTLE More Ihao One Hundred Soldiers Killed in Tnret Days Fight. v WERE CAUGHT IN TRAP And the Mexican Troop Were Literally Mowed Down by the Insurgents, Who Had Posted Them( selves in tlio ClifTs and Crevices of the Mountains. Advices from Mexico say that more than 100 soldiers were killed in a three clays' battle between the Mex lean federal troops and Insurgents in ithe mountains between Ojinaga ana Cuchollio Parrado. Two hundred soldiers under Col. Dorantes with two 'machine guns went to the rescue nnd these troops also engaged. The government troops were caught in trap and were literally mowed down by the storm of bullets which swept their ranks from throe directions. The insurgents occupied the cliffs and mountains and the soldiers were in the road with only one way of escaping and thai guarded. Of the 200 men who went into the piss only 4 0 escaped, as far as known. They joined the column under Col. Dorantes. The reolutionists' loss was slight, only five men b< ing killed, according to the insurgent reports. The battle was the most severe tough; during the prc3ont trouble and later re* ports indicate that the federal soldiers are retiring slowly to their fortified camp at Ojinaga, pressed on every side by the rebels. The fight- 1 lug started on the 16th when a small band of insurgents was routed at Coyama. A. column of 200 soldiers pursued the fleeing insurgents and walked into the trap set for them. The road winds through a narrow cnnon forming a "cul de sac" into which the government troops marched. When all were in the pass, the Insurgents swept down the mountainside in the road behind them nnd the firing began. It is believed that about 200 Insurgents were engaged. They lay behind rocks and poured a steady fire into the government troops. A detachment of insurgents was seen after the fight ttrlfh > no.?i .?? ! -,rt ...v.. >.n|ii.uii'u niuuser rini'S. The battle lasted all day January 17. On January 18. Col. Dorantes advanced from Ojlna?<a with reln^ forcementa. He circled about, avoiding the deadly pass, and entered the mountains from the west. He discovered the Insurgents and a continuous fight for two days followed. Dorantes has retired into the foothills and is awaiting reinforcements. Dast night another column of 10b soldiers left Ojlnaga for the relief of Dorantes. Several wounded insurgents and a number of wounded soldiers have been taken to San Juan. Tlie insurgents had cared for the wounded soldiers, treating them with the same consideration shown their own men. There are about 800 soldiers and armed citizens of the government forces near Ojinaga and the insurgent? have about the same number in the district. Insurgents who were in the firht last Tuesday declared that 1f?0 soldiers were killed. A federal army officer with the reinforcements reports that 100 federals were killed. No reports have been received regarding the casualties in the fighting ThurcH^.' .....1 I ."-I - UilU 1 I Mlil/. FIVK nil- IX FIKE. A I.n<ly, Ilcr Three Children anil Maid All Perished. At Toronto, Ontario, five persons were burned to death early Sunday morning In a fire which destroyed the residence of Percy C. Hrooks, manager and treasurer of the Canadian Fairbanks Company, and the Morsa Canadian Manufacturing Company. The house was at 135 Indian road, in the western end of the city, a fashionable residence section. Tho dead are: Mrs. Itrooks, her three children, Percy, Jr., 7 years old; George, 4 years, and Wendel, 3 years, and a maid serant whose name is not known. The only other occupant of the building, the second maid, saved her life by jumping, but was seriously burned and will probably die. She was unable to give the police any account of the tragedy. Scotch Captain Drownnl. At Savannah, Ga., Capt. Geo. Irving, master of the British steamship Anglo Australia, now in port, fell from a bridge on the wharves Wednesday and was drowned. His t>ody was recovered. Capt. Irving's honn was in Sea*land, and his wife, now in London, was notified by cable. Turns Tliem lxx>s<>. One hundred and seventy-three pardons were issued by Governor Patterson of Tennessee during the period from Dec. 23, 1910, through Wednesday. Crimes of almost every description were represented in this list. (Don't look for moral health without human happiness. TO BE LOOKED INTO \ THOROUGH INVESTIGATION TO HE MADE AT ONCE. riiree Members of House anil Three of Si'iinte to ln?|uire Into Dispensary Matters. The special message of Governor Hloase to the general assembly was listened to attentively on Tuesday. It \v,ns received as information, and on motion of Mr. Brice of Chester, brother of J. Steel Brice, one of the members of the winding-up commission, was spread on the journal. That night in the house Mr. Kibler of Newberry offered a concurrent resolution that a joint committee of the two bodies be appointed to inquire into the matters mentioned in the message of the governor's office. W. F. Stevenson, attorney for the commission, declared that the commission seeks nothing more pleasing than to give to the people of the State all the information asked for. Attorney General Lyon stated that he WQuld not talk of the matter in advance of a formal statement from the members of the commission, but that he wishes for every act of his as attorney general to be known to the people of the State. "A concurrent resolution to provide for a committee of the house and senate to investigate the matters referred to in the icovernor's message in relation to the winding up the affairs of the State dispensary and for other purposes. "Bo it resolved by the house of representatives, the senate concurring. That the speaker of the house of representatives appoint three members of the house and the president of the senate appoint three members of the senate to inquire into all of the matters and things referred to in the governor's message of the 24th inst., relating to the Investigation of the dispensary by the legislative committees appointed in the years 1907, 190f> and 1907. and as to the arts and doings of the State dispensary commission and also why the attorney general lias not made certain prosecutions. "Section 2. That the said committee shall have power to summon witnesses and to require the production of hooks, pages and documents. "Section 3. That the committee herein provided for he permitted to sit during the sessions of the house and senate and shall report before the adjournment of the present session." PROFITS IN Ald<'A 1.1 A. Southern Railway <>utlicrs Statistics Proving It. The opportunities for profit; which the raising of alfalfa offers the farmers of the Southeast is indicated by letters received by the land and industrial department of the Southern Railway, showing increased interest in the production of alfalfa and highly profitable results in widely separated districts. Fort an 1 Stone, of Dunleith. Washington county, 'Mississippi, owners of a plantation in the Delta, reported that on 28 acres seeded in the fall of 1909 168.8 tons were produced at a cost of $593.05. They figured this hay to he worth $15 per ton in the barn, though hay was selling $20 to $23 per ton. At this low rating they received a profit of $ 1.!>40 on the 2S acres, the hay costing them only $.1.47 per ton. Reports from the Delta show that about ">< farmers are now growing alfalfa with success, all having seeded their fields in the last three or four years. J. \V. Fisher, of Newport, in the Fast Tennessee, writes that he is greatly pleased with results having averaged five tons per acre and finding a ready sale at $22 per ton, hut he has found the hay so good that he prefers feeding it to his own stock to selling it. He has grown alfalfa on the upland, red, ealearious' clay, general throughout East Tennessee. Success in growing alfalfa is also reported by growers in Southern Virginia, North Carolina and Alabama, and the acreage devoted Lo alfalfa in all the Southeastern States is growing steadily. Took ller Own Life. At llpttiesburg. Miss., Miss Matin TTivson, a pretty 18-vear-old girl, despondent because of ill health and the thought of being separated from her sweetheart, telephoned the latter, George Hony, Saturday night, and 1 in mediately drank an ounce of carbolic acid. She died Sunday at noon. Tramp Was Killed. An unknown negro tramp was fatally Injured, three trainmen were slightly hurt and six freight cars were heaped along the track as the result of a collision between an extra freight train. No. 526, and local freight No. 63, at Klllians, 15 miles north of Columbia. Tuesday Robert 1?. Gunter Named. Robert L. Gunter. an attorney ot Aiken, has been appointed as solicitor of the Second circuit by Gov. Rlease. Mr. Gunter will fill out the unexpired term of James F. Byrnes, who was elected to congress last summer. The appointment is to take effect on February 1. i \ PASSES THE HOUSE INHERITANCE TAX MEASURE SEEMS TO BE POPULAR. Under It an Estate of $100,00 Inherited by Widow and Two Children Pays $1,000. Substantially unchanged. Representative Rembert's inheritance tax bill was passed Thurdsay by the house. There was a snappy debate. The temper of the house was indicated before the final test by the vote on a motion to continue, 4 4 to 4 7 against continuance, and the vote, 3 4 to 71, by which the house refused to strike out the enacting words. Messrs. Reiser. Williams, Davis, Ashley and Scott opposed the measure, mainly as being "strange and undemocratic doctrine." Mr. Rembert took the floor several times in advocacy of his bill. He was reinforced by Messrs. D. L. Smith. Ilrice, Drowning and Hines. If a man had an estate of $100.000 and l^ft a widow and two children. the inheritance tax. payable at the winding up of the estate, would j be $1,000. The widow is entitled to an exemption of $10,000, the children to exemption of $3,000 each. Representative Ashley made a characterlstic speech. "1 had hoped." he said, "that Richland had commenced sending here men who would noi give us trouble. The fool-killer must he dead in Richland. This is j the most unjust bill I ever heard j of." Air. Rembert said he had drawn his bill after months of study and comparison of inheritance tax measures in force in other States and abroad and had also consulted able lawyers here. He said the bill was heartily approved by Prof.' Nelson Frierson, who practiced for six years under the similar law of New York State 1111(1 is HOW fl ninnilinr nf tl.n law faculty at the University of South Carolina. He read authorities in support of the bill. ACTED AS TEACH MAKEIl. Judge Gage Makes an Attempt to Settle Old Feud. Judge Cage, while presiding at the Greenville Court Wednesday adopted an unusaul method in an attempt to settle a feud between two mountain families. Two young men. Roper and Trotter, were being tried for assault and battery, and during the course of the t'ial Judge Cage left the bench and conducted the fathers of the young men into a jury room and sought to have these two men, , close neighbors, bury the enmity ex-j isting between the families. When the judge returned to thei bench he announced that he had j used his utmost endeavor hut had I failed to reconcile the fathers of the combatments and that if the present feeling continues it will result in a I K/v.?.!r.l 1 I ? - 1 " ii vr hi hi in* iinti iii ?i i run 01 somenoay for murder, and that in the sight of (Jed those fathers would be responsible for it. The judge further stated that he attached more blame to the fathers for the present situation than to tlie sons, though the sons had technically violated the laws of tlie State. After tlie young men?hoth mountaineers of tlie most stalwart type? had been convicted, the judge sentenced them to chaingang terms without the alternative of fines, the sentences being suspended during their good behavior. This action of Judge Gage has provoked the most favorable oomnxtat. CAUGHT FlltH AT SKA. Steamed Into San Francisco With Fire Ituriiing. The steamer Queen, on which a' ( fire broke out Thursday night while she was at sea off Point Reyes, returned to 5-an Francisco shortly before J o'clock with the fire still , burning. Iler passengers, 02 in number. were immediately taken off by launches which met lier in the stream. Tlie steamer will lie sunk if the flames cannot lie extinguished. Tlie Queen, which belongs to the Pacific coast line, left here yesterday 1 ifte-noon for Pu ;ot Sound ports. Wli 11 the firm alarm was given tne wireless operator sent out an "S. 0. S." message which brought many re-! spouses from land and sea. Five steamers and tugs went to her as- | sistance. I tomb I'.xplosion in Chicago. At Chicago a bomb explosion Monday wrecked a drug store owned by s Artzto Stinano and Guiseppl Kami- , ana at 1001 Larrlbe street. The druggists had previously received letters demanding money. No one was injured. Killed doing to Fire. At St. Louis while responding to a fire alarm Charles Offenstein, a*ted | 42, a horse iruck driver in the local; department, was thrown from his wagon and instantly killed. The lire damage amounted to $3.00. True charity will seek to purify the well and not rest content with painting the pump. SPIES CAUGHT Blue Prints Made of Many Pacific Coast Defenses By Tbem. FORTS ARE SKETCHED Secret Service .Men Captured nnd Foreign Kxports Have Heen Caught Working in Many Disguises, Hut Country Has Xo Law Whereby They Can lie Punished. Astounding revelations of the extent of the military spy system as practiced against the United States government are made in a report presented to Congress recently by the House committee on Judiciary. More than a score of instances in which spies are known to have heen engaged in collecting the military secrets of the United States are cited. Plans of insular fortifications have apparently been spread about as freely as hand hills. Ollicers of foreign nations, disguised as waiters in restaurants, have been caught in the act of delving into the secrets of our national defenses. A package of blue prints containing the schemes of def< uses for Corrector island, in the Philippines, was picked up in the streets of Calcutta. Spies have swarmed in Pacific coast ports and without molestation. for there was no law Governing the case, have mapped and charted every hay and inlet, fort and fortification along the Pacific coast. Members of the House read the report with amazement. Inasmuch as the facts in the report were gleaned from secret records of the Government and confidential police reports from various large cities, no names were mentioned, nor were the nationalities of the spies who have been detected disclosed. The report came in connection with a favorable recommendation for the passage of the Hobson hill, providing for the arrest and imprisonment of all persons caught in the act of spying. The ltill carries a penally of a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or hoth, for any unauthorized person who makes maps, sketches or photographs of anything connected with the national defenses. The report in part says: "A gentleman in the city of Calcutta picked up on the streets of that city a small package of blue prints containing information with reference to the defenses of Corregidor island. Recognizing their character lie delivered them to the American consul at Calcutta, who forwarded thorn through the State department, in Washington. Significance is nttnched to the fact that those wore blue prints. The whereabouts of the original tracings is still unknown. These hlue prints contained a complete set of drawings of the defense of Corregidor island, which is the main stronghold of the United States in the Phiiipnines. "In 1007 and 100S a number of reports were received, to the effect that foreigners were very active in mapping the Pacific roast and the harbors in the vicinity of Paget sound and the mouth of the Columbia river, making sketches of the fortifications and seeking in the most open manner to secure and record military information bearing upon the defenses of that locality. "In one instance, report was to the effect that a certain officer, a lieutenant in the engineer corps of a foreign service, was serving in the capacity of a waiter at the Commercial hotel at Seattle. "in January, 1007, tin pole e department of Cos Angeles, Cai., reported that a foreigner was rcth'ely engaged in copying reerods fr'-m tlie land office >n the city. "In 1007 also the American ambassador at a foreign capital notified the State department that a certain captain belonging to the army of the country, to wnich our ambassador had boon accredited, had boon dotailod to soorotly visit the American countries and spend throe years there ascertaining strength of their troops, arms, fortifications, etc. "In January, 1f?08, the police department of the city of New York reported that military maps and information of a military character had been found in a trunk belonging to an American whom th<\\ had reas. on to believe was in the employ of a foreign government. "In Manila in April, IPIrt. an enlisted man of the i'nited St at a Kngineerin corps was approached by two officers of a foreign nation, which it is unnecessary to name. Me was sounded thoroughly, and then a flat offer of $2.",tl00 was made to liini for complete detailed drawings and photographs of the defenses on Corregidor Island. The prize was too big to resists and an agreement was reached. "As the official photographer for the department, the engineer had no trouble in getting his material. No one suspected him as he went along taking photographs of the interior works at Corregidor. When he had everj'thing he met the foreigners in an office building. He spread out his deeuments and with eyes asparkle they pronounced the results splendid. They had a gen PAPERS SUV ED OX WILIK JONKS ANI) W. A. ( I-AHK IN KKMINOIjK CASE. They Were Arretted Hut Cave liond in the Sum of One Thousand Dol1...... I.' l Iiai 9 l im n. The Columbia Record says (Jen. j Wilie .lones, president of the Pal metto National bank, and Mr. Washington A. Clark, president of the Carolina National bank, were served with papers Thursday by SherifT Coleman, who acted on authority of a warrant issued by Magistrate J. H. Jordan of Kershaw. The warrant alleged that Messrs. Jones and Clark, together with Mr. John Y. Garlington. as officers in the iSeminole Securities company, obtained from L. L. Clvburn a note to the amount of $1,500 for stock in the Seminole Securities company. Mr. Clvhurn alleged that there was uiisrep-esentation in the deal oa the part of the persons named. The warrant was seived on Messrs. Jones and Clark at their respective offices, at noon. SherifT Coleman, accompanied by Magistrate James II. Fowles, Jr.. went to the bank buildings and found Messrs. Clark and Jones seated at their desks. They wi -e not taken by surprise, as the news that the warrant had been issued in Kershaw was known in Columbia Wednesday afternoon. Magistrate Jordan had authorized bond in the sum of $1,000, which Messrs. Jones and Clark promptly made, the officials of the banks Jigning the bonds. The defendants have the right of a preliminary hearing, but the date has not been a-recti on. Ill-: \V.\XTKI> TO <;<>. Wealthy (irorKin Planter Takes His Life At Hist. After being defeated in his effort to commit suicide with a razor, James Maddox, aged 60. a wealthy planter, of Itutts .county, cut his throat with a pocket knife, and then finding death coming too slowly. ho rammed a pair of long scissors down his throat. Death resulted in a few minutes. Maddox's attempt to use the razor was frustrated by his three sisters, who overpowered him after a hard struggle. Just as the women turned to leave him, however, he drew a long-bladed knife front his pocket and cut his throat from ear to ear. As his sisters again rushed to his side. Maddox snatched up a pair of scissors and i shoved them into his mouth, splitting the windpipe. Maddox had been 11 for a long time. I look worm Spreading. Five million Americans have hookworm. This is the fact of primary importance disclosed through the investigation of the origin and progress of the disease hy the corps of experts of the Rockefeller com mission. Hookworm is spreading. Tlie commission has discovered evidences of the development of this parasite in Arizona. California and other Western States. Ignorance is the principal difficulty the physicians are meeting in the South. The only way to atop the spread of the disease is hy teaching the poorer people to keep themselves clean and introduce sanitation into their homes and schools and factories. That the hookworm germs are being carried almost every day into new territories has heen established hy tin* commission. The fund of $1,000,000 donated hy John 1>. Rockefeller for the eradication of the disease was given to extend over a period of five years. Members of the commission say it will take at least 20 years to begin to stamp out the disease. So far the Democratic legislators elected last fall have acted wisely in choosing United States senators. It is encouraging. Lost in the Sea. The steamer Seattle Maru brings news that Japanese fishing vessels were lost in a heavy storm which prevailed near Owarl hay January 8. Twenty vessels w. re wrecked and 120 men drowned. I on't overlook the sanctity of sarrilico and service. oral knowledge of the works and di I not hesitate to show it. " 'Yon have brought just what we want.' the spokesman said in broken , Knglish. 'hut we did not bring the ; $2"?,ouo here. Tonight at 0 o'clock I you will meet nr. ?thor agent of the j government and a place on the < ;t skirts of the town was named, where you deliver to him the photographs and plans and lie will pay over the money.' "These words had scarcely been tittered when the door of the room llew open and four soldiers rushed , in and arrested all three. Two ' weeks before the engineer had rej pented and told the plot to his superiors. The attorney general of the Philippines undertook a prosecution, but habeas corpus proceedings were (brought and the foreigners went scott-free because there was no law under which tliey could be prosecuted." * RACE CONFERENCE NEGROES HOED MOST INTERESTING MEETING IN THIS CITY. Speeches Mnde by rrominent White nn?I Colored S|>enkers From This State. The colored rnro conference fhnf I j has been in session in this city dur! Ing the past week adjourned Thursi day night. after a most enjoyable and successful session. The conference was largely attended and the expenses of the conference were all easily raised during the session. Richard Carroll, of Columbia, presided over the conference and Was presented with a gold-headed walking stick by the conference in appreciation of his service's in working for the betterment of the negro vace. The sessions were held at Trinity Methodist church. Mount Pisgah Baptist chvrrli and at Clafiin University. No f -es were charged for admission. only collections being taken. Addresses were delivered during the conference by lion. McCowan Sinipkins. a member cf the i uislature; Col. .1. A. Banks, Or. \?'. li. Moses, I?r. It. P. Wvch. II. S Murphy. Dr. W. I>. Chappell, \V. T. Andrews. I?r. M. M. Mouzon and a returned woman missionary from Africa. Among the white speakers who were absent were Gov. Cole L. llleaso ai d Prof. Ira W. Williams. Booker T. Washin ion's wife was to have addressed the conference but was unable to attend. Tuesday night, Hon. M Cowan Sinipkins. of Rdgeflold, delivered an excellent iddress before the conference at Trinity Methodist church. The speaker was introduce ' by Dr. A. D. White and Mr. Sinipkins took as his subject. "Good Citizenship an l the Formation of Character." Although lie spoke for more than u:i hour, still Ills speech was well received and was loudly applauded throughout. Rev. D. A. Christie made a motion | at the clns" of the address that a risking vote of thanks be extended Mr. Sinipkins by the conference. This motion was seconded by a ringing speecli by Or. W. II. Moses. The audience arose and gave the Ck'u' l-llllllio B.llllto Tl.n " . ..... ..V. . II* ".l> llli. Ill I "I ! or r.oo handkerchiefs presented an interesting scene. The speech Thursday night by I Col. J. A. Banks, of St. Matine1 s, | president of the South Carolina Statu Fair Association, was ;i good one and Col. Ranks won his audience. The conference adjourned Thursd ?y ni at after a banquet at Claflin Fniversitv. Music was furnished by tlie Ciatlin band and orchestra. On Tuesday morning of the conference a very important meeting of the stockholders of tli Colored Fair Association was held at Trinity Methodist church. This meeting was well attended and was called to order l?y ll'chard Carroll. In the beginning President Carroll, of tlio State Fair Association, read bis ta signation and made a few re.narks thereupon. Carroll then left the chair and during the election of officers, I>r. W. D. Chapped :>r- -i.led. The election of officers \. s entered into and the following we.? nominate. 1 for the preside! < : Dr. : VV. I). Chnppell, of Columhl : Dr. ' M. 1). Dee. of liock Hill; 10. ,1. .-'twj yer, of l! nncttsville; I'?r. I. II. Goodwin. I)r. \V. D. Chapnell and 'Dr. J. II. Goodwill wlthdr w their names and the election or the presidency resulted as f dlo ; -awj yer, 49; M. 1). Dee. 19. The voting | was partaken of only by shareholders. The election of Sawyer \v s made | unanimous. Dr. \\\ D: Chappe'.l was I elected vice president: T. A. Williams, treasurer, and I >r. .1. II. Goodwin. superintendent. The following board of d'rectors was elected: J. W. Easicy, E. I). White. M. I.. Patterson. Dr. M. D. Lee, (I. T. Williams, X. J. Frederick. J. E. Blenton. Wednesday morning another meeting of the stockholders of the Fair Association was held at Ml. Pisgch 'Baptist church on Green street. The J following additional tnenihers were j elected to the executive committee: Kev. C. R. Brown, W. M. Kin:. Rev. I E. D. White, G. C. Williams, L. \V. ! Hook, Rev. M. I). Le -, C. <?. G tri rett. The following committees w-co appointed: Legislative appropriation- 11 i > ' ard Cam 11, .1. II. Goodwin, I. E. ' Lowery. E. .1. Sawyer. Fair Cround? M. D. Leo, C. G. Darren, .1. II. Coolwin, L. \. fln.vkin . W. M. Kin ,' and K. J. Saw; , r. The Time* and Demo rat. Will lainti Hi.11. ; Congressman Lever has rwiia 1 the solid endorsement of the Smelt , Carolina delegation in Con r? for chairman of the lions.- committee on agriculture. This will no douht land him at the head of this important commit tee. Killed in Wreck. TTerman Irons, hrakeman, was killed and Engineer Wilkinson and Fireman Rowlette, Conductor .hum Gleen and another trainman wore injured in a wreck of an extra freight train of the Southern railway, near Meherrin, Va.