The people. (Camden, S.C.) 1904-1911, January 05, 1905, Image 1
VOL.1. NO. 49.
CAMDEN, 8. C., THXfljj|PAY, JANUARY 5, 1905.
S1.UO Per Year.
REPORT IS UPHELD
? ? ? %
GoYemment Officials Cilia Accaracy
Far Cottoa Fifares
KJIUSON SIDES WITI WilEAU
Director North Seta Forth Hit Posi
tion In a Letter to the Texas Mem*
ber of Congress at Whose Instance
the ProvWan Was Ineterted in the
Censue Act Says the Bureau Can
not Compete With the Proposed
Ginners Association and That Spec
ulators' High Estimate Would Again
Prevail ? Mr. Burleson Sxpreeeee
His and Senator Baileye Concur
rence.
Washington, Special. ? Director , of
the Census North, tn a letter to Repre
sentative Burleson, made public, takes
notice of the situation presented by the
cotton statistics given out for publlca
y ilon Thursday and expresses his sur
prise and concern at the recent alleged
movement In the Southern States "ap
parently approved and augmented by
the cotton growers themselves." to de
stroy the census reports by concerted
refusal of the glnners to make returns.
Director North asserts that a continu
ance of the cotton ginning reports is
Impossible without the systematic and
whole-hearted co-operation of the gln
ners of the South. Immediately after
> the receipt of the letter, Mr. Burleson,
a member of the House census commit
tee. and the author of the provision
making appropriation for the gathering
or cotton statistics, gave out an "inter
view in which he upholds the director
In the work now being done by his
bureau. The letter is as follows:
"Washington. Dec. 1904.
"Hon. Albert S. Burleson. House of
Representatives.
"My Dear Sir: It seems proper to
' 'Invite your attention to certain anom
alous conditions which confront the
Census Office In carrying out the pro
visions of section 9 of the act to es
tabllsh a permanent Census Office, di
? reeling the periodical collection of the
statistics of cotton production through
the agency of the glnners. This pro
vision was inserted in the law at your
urgent request and that of other
Southern Representatives on the plea
that it was necessary for the protec
tion of the cotton producers against
the speculators and others Interested
in depressing the price of the staple
for their own profit. It was stated
* that enormous losses resulted from the
untrustworthy estimates put forth
every year by speculators and sgeQts
of the Liverpool market and that early
and trustworthy official Information
regarding the slas of the crop would
protect the grower, disarm the specu
lstor snd msrket manipulator, and per
mit the law of supply and demand to
regulate the price.
ACCURACY UNQUESTIONED.
, "Since the law was passed. Congress
lias appropriated and this office has
disbursed more than $125,000 a year in
the collection and dissemination of
this information. The system has been
gradually perfected until it has be
come more nearly perfect than any
similar plan for obtaining exact
knowledge of the size of any agricul
tural crop during the progress of har
\ vesting.
"No complaint has been made that
the census reports arc not accurate ;
indeed, for a year or two past, we havn
l>een able to trace the crop so closely
that practically every balo has been
* accounted for.
"The statistics Increase in value ev
ery year;^or it becomes possible, bv
comparison of the statistics of one year
with thoap of tho same date in pro
ceeding years, to Judge the size of
successive crops with an accuracy
never before known or approximated.
"The glMlng reports of the Census
Office hav# crowded out tho specula
tive and Interested estimates referred
% to. and the single object which the
Southern Ren resentatives had in view
> In urging ' wis legislation has been
successfully accomplished.
DINNERS' MOVE DEPRECATED
"In vlow of these facts. 1 have been
surprised and conserncd at the pres
ent movement in the Southern Slates. ,
which is apparently approved and aug
mented by the cotton growers them
selves, to destroy the census reports,
by the concerted refusal of the gln
ners to make the returns upon wWh
ft they are based. Thus far the move
ment has not seriously affected our
. work, but if It continues and spreads,
it will necessarily destroy Its value
during the coming year. It appears to
have been suddenly discovered that
these reports, undertaken solely at. the
demand of the cotton grower, are
hlehlv detrimental to his Interests. Mr.
E. F. Webber, president of the Mem
phis cotton exchange, is quoted as de
. 'daring that 'the cotton Interests of
^ the South hnvo evciythlng to lose and
, nothing to gain by their continuance;
they put the manufacturing interests
In possession of information that is
beneficial.'
"My attention has been called t.o the
U so-called 'National Cotton dinners'
Association.' the purpose of which is
stated to be 'to gullier accurate hnd
reliable Informaiion regarding the
amount of cotton produced, In advance
of the government report. 'It also ap
pears that 'this Informullon la to be
vent in code and I ho member* of the
association will be sworn not to di
vulge It.' ? The Information is still
highly" desirable, but possession of it
^ is to be restricted to those who grow
and gin the eotton.
! New Bureau Chief.
Washington. Special. ? President
Roosevelt haa appointed J. Hampton
Moore, of Philadelphia, chief of the
Bureau of Manufacturers of the De
' V partment of Commerce and l>ahor. Mr.
Moore Is president of the National
? League of Republican Clubs and was
formerly cl?y treasurer of Philadelphia,
f He has accepted the appointment and
will enter upon the discharge of hlc du
ties shout the first of the yoar.
IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Many Nmny Items Gathered Fronr
?II Sections.
General Cotton Market.
Middling.
Galveston, steady C%
New Orleans, easy ~.
Mobile, firm %%
Savannah, quiet IH
Charleston, qolet IH
Baltimore, nominal 7.00
New York, quiet 6.86
Boston, quiet 6.86
Philadelphia, quiet 7.10
Charlotte Cotton Market.
These figures represent prices paid to
wagons:
Middling 1%
Tinges 6^4 to 7
8tains 6% to 6 7-16
City School Superintendents.
Columbia, Special.? The second and
lsst session of the Association of the
City School Superintendents was held
(n the parlors of Hotel Jerome Wed
nesday morning and the reading of
papers and their discussions was re
sumed at 9:30.
The first topic considered was "Com
pulsory Education." The discussion
was opened by Mr. T. C. Walton of
Anderson, who made sn earnest plea
for compulsory education.
Interesting discussion followed, the
sentiment being In favor of compul
sory education.
Mr. Nathan Toms of Darlington then
read a thoughtful paper on "High
School and College Coordination."
The discussion thst followed this
paper brought out many valuable sug
gestions with reference to this great
and important question.
"The Necessity of Drill Work in
I^atin." was the next subject on the
programme. The discussion was
opened by Mr. A. R. Banks of Lan
caster. who argued forcibly in favor of
I^atin in the High school and of thor
ough'drlll work in this subject.
"Religious Instructions in Public
Schools." was the next subject on the
program mem and was opened by Mr.
E. S. Dreher in a timely discussion.
A great deal of interest was mani
fested In statistics prepared by Mr.
Drher to show the sad fact that the
children of the secular schools are not
fsmlllar with the Bible. '
Twenty questions were submitted to
one section of the eighth grade of the
Columbia .High school, consisting of 23
girls and 17 boys. The results were
such as make aul(?st the need of a
more definite and comprehensive study
of the Sacred Scriptures. The answers
given in many instances were startling
, and pathetic on account of their ab*
surdity. The answers were all marked
and graded; the average for the class
being but little more than 50 per cent,
out of a possible 100. Following are
the questions which the graded school
children found so difficult:
1. Name the mountain on which the
ark rested.
2. Why wers the Egyptians afflicted
with plagues?
3. Name five of the plagues?
4. What was the Passover?
5. State the circumstances under
which the ten commandments were
given to man.
fi. How was Jericho captured?
7. How did A*bsalom meet his death?
8. What remarkable thing happened
at Heishazza's feast?
9. Who wrote most of the Psalms?
10. Who wrote the Book of Pro
verbs?
11. Who went to heaven without dy
ing?
12. Name the last Book of the Old
Testament?
13. Is the Book of Hebrews in the
Old or the New Testament?
14. Name Ave miracles recorded is
Old Testament?
15. Five In the New Testament.
16. What was Herod's greatest
rrlme?
17. How was Saul of Tarsus con
verted?
18. Who presided at the trial of
Christ?
19. What was the transfiguration?
20. Have you read through the New
Testament?
Elected Bishop.
Tho Rev. William T. Manning, vicar
of St. Anne's Church. Trinity Pariah,
Now York City, has been elccted Blah
op of the new Proteatant Episcopal
Dioceae of Harrlaburg, Pa. Ho la forty
years of age, la a native of England, a
graduate of the Univeraity of the
Mouth, Sewanee, Tenn., and waa form
erly in charge of a Church in Nash
ville.
Tragedy at Cheraw.
Cheraw, Special. ? Cheraw had a fa
tal accident as Its quota of Christmas
casualtfea. Saturday night a number
of persona were in the utore of Mont
gomery & Croxton. A party, waa stand
ing in tho rear of the store discussing
the danger of platol carrying. Mr. L.
II.. Croxton in a spirit of levity. It ia
aaia. to scare the crowd, pointed his
piatol behind him and fired. A negro
man named Ben* Perry, who waa alt
ting on a sack back of the group and
who had not been noticed, began to
complain. On examination it waa
found that he was shot through the
Momach. Every attention waa given
to him, but he died on Sunday morn
ing.
Capt. French's Death Accidental.
Chattanooga, Tenn., Special.? A* In
vestigating board of the seventh env
Slry appointed by Colonel Pearson
concluded the Investigation of the cause
of death of Capt. Howard W. French,
who w'as found dead with a bullet
through his heart on Tuesday. While
the board refused to give out Its flnd
ir.ga until It la sent to the War Depart
ment, It la understood that accidental
killing was the verdict.
STILL HOLDING OUTj
Fart Artfetfr Slaadf firm Afalast the
Assaalt* af tie Japaacse
GENEtAL IOND1ACBIO IS SLAIN
?*
Relisf is Confidently Cxptcttd by
March 1st and ths Russian Jrooyi
Ars Determined to Resist as Long
as Thsrs is Ono Soldier Left.
Toklo, By Cable. ? Trustworthy ad
vicM from Port Arthur confirm the re
port thst General Kondrachko has
been killed, and that General Stoessel
has been Injured by falling from his
horse. General Sntilnoff Is also re
ported wounded.
The advices say that the stern of
the battleship Sevastopol has sunk In
thallow water. Her bow Is damaged
in two places and tho steering room
gear is also damaged.
The garrison Is reported to be con
fident in the belief that relief will
arrive before March 1st. Despite Its
heavy losses November 26 and sub
seueqntly, the garrison is said to be
cheerful and resolved to continue the
ttruggle so long as a single soldier
lomains. The army claims to hav?
Fufflcient provisions to last until Feb
tuary. The i.avy possesses about one
nionth's stores. The price of food In
the beleagured fortress Is high. Beef
Js a rouble and one-half per pound*
horse meat six copecs per pound; dog
meat twenty-five copecs per pound;
turkeys 150 roubles apiece; eggs 160
roubles per hundred. But few Junks
bearing supplies* reached the garrison
the past month.
It is expected that the capture of
the heights of Plgooif Bay will furthei
curtail the landing of supplies. .
Quiet at the Front.
Huan Shan, By Cable. ? Everything
continues quiet along the front of the
hostile armies. There is little expec
tation of a decisive movement till
( pring, when It will be possible for
both sides to throw In strong re-en
forcements and re-coniuience iue cam
paign in earnest. In the meantiire
the chi^f Japanese uneasiness seems
to be with regard to their communica
tions eastward. They have an un
usually full equipment of narrow
guage Held railroads, one of -which
connects General Kuroki*s base at
Shahhedzi with Feng Wang Cheng,
.with a branch to Slamatsa. A supple
mentary line Is being constructed
with a care unusal in field operations.
This elaborate system has been seri
ously threatened by General Renne
kampff's raids southeastward/
There are many evidences that the
Japanese are strengthening and for
tifying their line of communications
toward Korea, which necessarily will
absorb a considerable force.
List of Casualties.
Tokio, By Cable.? The authorities
publish a list of thirty-three officers
killed and fifty-six wounded. No locali
ties are given, but it is presumed that
the casualties occurred at Port Arthur.
The naval authorities also publirh a
list, nine officers and sixty-five men
killed on special duty. The nature of
the duty is not explained, but it is sur
mised that another cruiser has been
sunk, or damaged, and that the offi
cers and men lost their lives in this
manner.
Deleware Republicans.
Wilmington. Delaware, Special. ? As
n result of several serious conferences
concerning ;be political situation in
this -State, ihe Republicans of both
factions have determined to organize
the Legislature without a ripple of
dissension, and Tor the first time in
many years, following out the har
mony agreement* of the reccnt. cam
palgn, tho Republican Legislature of
Delaware will go into a general cau
cus on the subject. All the caucusing
will be done here, which will be tho
c-vo of the assembling of the extra
ordinary session culled by proclama
tion of tho Governor to amend the
defective Judgment Hen law.
Two Killed by Falling Tree.
Macon, Ga., Special.? A special to
The Telegraph from Bill jay. Qa., says
that William Cantrell and Joe Chastlne
were killed and a brother of Chastlne's
seriously injured near Burnt Mountain
by a falling tree. The tree was blown
by a high wind across a small framo
houso'ln which the men were sitting at
the time.
Archaeologists in 8esslo*.
Boston, Special. ? The Archaeologi
cal Institute of America opened Its
sixth annual convention hero nnd will
continue until Friday next. Several
papvrs and addresses have been pre
pared. which are Intended to appeal
Mrongly to i* 11 persons Interested In
tho archaeological side of art. Prof
Charles Elliott Norton, founder and
ex-prenident of tho Institute; ex-May
or Seth Low, of New York; Prof.
Wheeler, of the School in Rome, and
distinguished visitors from \thens
Jerusalem and other foreign art cen
tres, are attending the convention.
Big Steamer Stranded.
Norfolk. Special ?Battered by heavy
teas that have been lanhed to fury by
the 40 mile gale, nn unknowt> steamer
lie** helplesr on the inner Diamond
Shoals, eight mlle-j off Cape Hatteras,
end faint lights Hen now and then
carry a message to the life saving
corps on the shore that there arco hu
man liven aboard the w rocked craft
tbat. cannot he itvod until wind and
sta havo calmed sufficiently to allow
the surf boats to be launched.
SOUTIEKN
Recorded
??T UNEASY
rtcee Brtlk HMMffly M tfe? Indica
tion of the Cimm Bureau's Raport
That the Crif WttfM Ik? 4 ths
OovtrnmMtfi IMjaute ? TM Fig*
ur?? the Lowest M Three YuA.
New York, Spdftai .-?The cotton
market broke 30 to #6 points on the
Ccusaa Bureau'* gtipere* report tadl
eating a crop in elewi of the govern*
ment's estimate. There was very
heavy trading on the decline. The
beara contended thpi the ginners* re
port probably torehasted a crop eC
nearly 18.000.0M htffe* ?
Following the refljSh prices, which
had abown weaknMT alace the open
ing, broke aharpty.
Ing around 6.M,
6.96. or a net d
and a break of
In two week's
January seH
?81 and May
22 to 25 points,
ly $6.00 a bale
be market was
very active during the afternoon wltt^ I
big short Interests covering, while
there was also heavy liquidation and
on every little bulge the bears seem
ed disposed to withdraw their buying
orders and sell more cotton.
The low figures reaehed in the slump
are the lowest that cotton has reach
ed in nearly three jNtars.
The Burnett Figures.
Washington, Specfcl- ? The Census
Bureau Wednesday issued a report
giving the quantity cotton ginned
in 137 counties np to December 13th
last, to haVe been 11,986.614 running
bales, which la the equivalent of 11,
848.118 commercial hales. The com
mercial balea reported to the same
period for 1903 amounted to 8,747.669.
In arriving at the number of com
mercial bales, round bales are counted
as half bales.
The report to the same date last
year covered 812 counties, as against
737 this year. The rdport for the pres
ent year covera thd ^Output of 29,657
ginneries, while -
In the report for
of the different
In running bales,
13th, is as "
Alabama.
186; "
797;
tucky,
issippl,
Carolina.
South Carol
271,235;
9S0.
were included
The product
for this year,
ed to December
Arkansas, 769,
Georgia, 1.795,
, 433,755; Ken
. 870,518; Miss
Missouri, 36,444; N.
Oklahoma, 294.041;
; Tennessee,
52,819? Virginia 14.
turning Their Cotton.
Macon. Ga.. Special. ? A special to
The Telegraph from Fort Gaines, Ga..
says the farmers and merchants of
Clay county met Wednesday at Fort
Gaines and decided to burn their share
of two million bales of surplus cotton.
A starter was made when a bod Are
was made of cotton on the streets of
Fort Gaines. It Is not yet determined
where it will stop. They have decided
to set the pace and are moving deter
mineuiy. A large crowd paraded with
wild whoops and yells and much spec
tacular ceremony. The object is to
show that the farmWs are ready to
sacrifice a few bales for the benefit
of the masses. The Are Is still burn
ing and excitement is increasing.
Cotton Buyer 8ulcides.
Barnesvllle, Ga., Special. ? J. B. Har
rison, a prominent cotton buyer anl
brother of J. M. Harrison, of Forsythe.
fatally shot himself at 4 o'clock this
afternoon in his room at the Magnolia
Inn, the ball entering just above the
right ear and lodging in the brain.
Heavy losses on cotton contracts led
to the act.
His losses are estimated at about
$25,000. He has boon despondent for
the past few days and this afternoon
bought a pistol from a hardware store.
Immediately thereafter, seeing the
figures giving the close of the market
for Wednesday he went to his room
and shot himself. He was 45 years
old and stood well among the people
here. Besides the losses sustained he
had conrtderable property and money
left, amounting to $12,000 or $15,000.
8outhern Educators Gather.
Jacksonville, Fla., Special. ? The ad
vance guard fov the Sou|)iern Educa
tional Association came In, the first
party arriving from Texas, others from
Southern Carolina and Georgia. Ex
ercises will begin tomorrow evening In
tho board of trade auditorium. The
hotels will be filled to the limit, reser
vations already being made for several
hundred.
Eff:!nent Scholars In Chicago.
Chicago, 111., Special. ? Some of the
j-.ost eminent hlstorlr.ns, political
scientists and economists in the Uni
ted States are In. attendance at the
convention of the American Histori
cal, tho American Economic and the
American Political Science Assocln
llona which opened here at the Uni
versity of Chicago. The programmer
lr.cludo several Joint sessions of the
threo associations. Among the speak
ers are President Harper, of Chicago
University; Prof. F. J. Goognow, oi
the Political Science Association; A!
i" 'd T. Mnhan, th > nn''>l author/ ;y and
others.
New Orleans Excited.
Now Orleans, Special. ? With the
reading of the glnncrs' report on the
cotton exchange W'cdnoc.lay cotton
slumped 47 to 55 points. Extraordi
nary excitement attended the break.
The market was hammered with great
energy.
After the first excitement the mar
ket grew quieter, though the decline
was not arrested. January cotton went
to 6.40, which in a decline of about 4
cents during the last three months.
WOM AKLU) Of LAWftAKtKS
Soma Measures That Will Eaflaga tha
Attention of the Lawmakers.
The moat important problems the
new Legislature, which convenes on'
Tueeday of this week, will have to
solve will be compulsory education and
the matter of raisins more revenue by
taxes, though of course the dispensary
situation will bob up In aa entirely
new light and about lta head already
the clouda are gathering for a line old
storm. There sre many other matters or
minor Importance, but concerning
which there Is more or leaa feeling, and
altogether the session promises to be
an unaaually interesting and entertain
ing one. Two-thlrdb of ttafs Legislature
Is entirely new blood, and la therefore
largely very fresh from the people. The
unexpected then Is to be expected, and
tbe end of the session may see some
?ery Important and far-reaching chan
ges In the ststute law of the State,
This Is not what Is known sa an elec
tion session, but this Legislature will
nevertheless hare several important
positions to All by ballot. A new
Speaker is to be chosen, but so- fa^ ss
la known Mr. M. L. Smith, of Csmden,
has no opposition for re-election to tihis
position. T. C. Hsmer will atoo be re
elected clerk" of the House without ap
position. it Is thought. Mr R. R.
Hemphill will be opposed for clerk of
the Senate by Dr. T. T. Sturkle. of
Orangeburg. A new superintendent of
the penitentiary is to be elected. D. J.
Griffin will likely be re-elected" without
' opposition, though It has beeu suggest
ed that he will be opposed by Dr. Ew>
gene Jarnigan, of Marlon. Two new
Judges are to be elected by this legis
lature, the terms of Judge D. A. Town
send. of the seventh circuit, and Judge
Earnst Gary of the fifth circuit, expfr
lng this year. Both will be candidates
for re-election. Judge Townaend win
have rivals in the persons of Senater D.
E. Hydrick, at Spartanburg, and Sena
tor F. P. McOowan, of Laurens. Judge
Gary's opponents win be Senator Hay.
of Kershaw, and J. W. Vera, of Edge
field. Several college trustees and mem
bers of tho penitentiary board are to
be elected.
COMPULSORY EDUCATION".
A strong sentiment in favor of com
pulsory education ss a complement to
the child labor law has been rapidly
crystallcing throughout the State the
past several months. The Slate press
generally has expressed Itself in favor
of such a law, and that those who are
the closest to the school problem want
it is shown by the resolution recently
adopted here by the joint association
of county and city school superintend
ents. Governor Heyward, who has zeal
ously interested himself in the educa
tional problems of the State, favors a
compulsory education law.
Some effort may be made to carry out
State Superintendent of Education Mar
tin's recommendation to bring the
Citldel here and combine It with the
South Carolina College as a baa Is of a
State university, but it Is not thought
that this scheme has much chance of
success. Though the South Carolina
College will likely be started out on a
university career, by the Legislature
granting the trustees' recent request for
an additional appropriation of $10,000
for that purpose.
AS TO TAXES.
The State Is face to face with a se
rious probblem with regard to taxea.
Nearly a million and a quarter Is re
quired to meet the present needs of the
State government, but though there is
now about 1204,000,000 worth of prop
erty on the books, a Ave mills levy does
not seem to be sufficient. The State is
running behind, the great bulk of the
taxes not being collectible until the
spring. The State has so far borrowed
$500,000, and there will have to be
greatef revenue by about $200,000 If the
State is to have any hope m getting
back to cash basis. The quadrennici
assessment of real estate will be made
next yoar, and If this class of prop
erty can be gotten on a more equitable
basis there Is some hope of getting all
the additional revenue from this
source. In this connection an effort
will be made to get a law passed re
quiring market value returns Instead of
returns on a 60 per cent, basis. By the
present valuation thore is in round
numbers $100, 000,000 worth of this
class of property In the State. Of course
it is argued that a market value return
of this property would be unjust be
cause of the ease with which personal
property dodges the tax collector, and
the fact that the constitution fixes 3
mills as a levy fo'r school purposes Is
also used against the advocates of a
greater valuation of real estate. But
it Is pointed out that the greater valua
tion will provide enough additional
school money to allow the doing away
with the special school levies, which
prevail in almost every school district
and that after all the real estate owners
will pay out no more than they are now
paying to maintain the schools.
THE DISPENSARY.
What will be done with the dispensa
ry is altogether problematical. The feel
ing Is growing steadily stronger that
the system In Its present condition is
n menace to good and honest govern
ment and has a corrupting Influence
on politics In nil departments of tho
State government, but not only does
the constitution forbid a return to the
old bar system, but there Is no general
desire to go back to this, the prohibi
tion sentiment having steadily gained
ground. In case the present dispensary
system Is wiped out It Is difficult to
predict whether local option? each
county controlling Its own whiskey
traffic under dispensary regulations
or high license, with dispensary regu
lations. would take Its place. Another
change that is possible Is the passage
of the original Brlee bill, which allows
n county to vote out Its dispensary
without tax to maintain prohibition
and without forefeitlng Its share in tho
g<neral dispensary school fund. When
Cherokee county voted out Its dispen
saries by such a decisive majority there
was trembling among the dispensary
coherts. but the predictions that other
counties would be quick to follow suit
seem to havo come from false prophets
Tho State board has Indicated a wil
lingness to allow a community to do
away with Its dispensary, but this mat
ter Is tied i*p In an Injunction and the
decision week after next may deny the
State board's authority to do such a
thing. The suggestion from Senator
Tillman Is that the saletif whiskey be
farmed out to some responsible con
cern. but this Is not likely to prove
popular.
HAS ALMOST FALLEN
I Port Artbar las Reached the Poiit ?(
SHrreadcr
raoposiTioK is made t? nogi
Japanese Commander Receives * Let
ter From General 8?mel Relating
t* the Surrender of the Meged
City and Fortreaa # Original Carri
ed* of 4QJDOO Men Now Reduced to
|15i000 ? Capture of 20&-Metre Mill
Wae the Beginning of the End..
Toklo. By Cable. ? Great M?gl reports
that he has re-reived a letter from Un
?*al Stoessel relating to- the- surrendxr
ot Port A'rthur.
The nerws that tho Russian forces at
Port Arthur have been reduced to such
a strait that at last the heroic com
mander has been forroj to propose j
surrender <ollows upon a montih. of re
verses. The siege began almost with
the firing et the first gun in thci war,
now nearly 1-1 months ago< and when
perhaps the greatest stronghold, in the
world was garrisoned by 40.000 Russian
soldiers, supported by a formidable
squadron of modern battleships,, cruis
ers and torpedo, boats. These war
ship* have been destroyed or dispersed
until but a few torpedo boats remain
in the harbon. The garrison at latest
accounts, had b*en reducccd to> about
15.000 men. On. December 4,.Higl* (?203
Metre) Hill. va? captured by tile Jap
anew. On December 19. the ' Kast
Keekwan fort was taken by Chens and
the Rlhlung fert fell on December 29.
From the hour of the fall or Kast Keek
wan events seem to be hastcaing to
ward the culmination for on December
31. Sungshu Mountain fell into the
haads of the besiegers and ooiy a few
hours later the "H" fort, another
strong position was captured.
The report that the nou -combatants
of Port Arthur had been accorded asy
lum behind Llao Tie Mountain may
have been an indication that the Jap
anese commander foresaw that the sur
render of the Russians within a very
brief time was assured.
Think Fortress* Fait Near.
Toklo. By Cable. ? Following the
dramatic capture of Sungshu Moun
tain Saturday morning, the Japancso
Sunday captured "H" fort and a recent
ly constructed fort, on Pan Lung Moun
tain. which gives them possession of
the entire lline between Riblung Moun
tain and "H" fort by way of Pan Lung
Mountain. Simpultancously. tho ex
treme Japanese right, pressing south
along Pigeon Bay. captured the heights
south of Housanyentao.
A telegram received late Sunday
from the beselglng army says: "Part
of the center, dislodging the enemy
occupied 'H' fort at 7 o'cloek this
morning and also captured a new fort
on Pan Lung Mountain. Thus the lino
between Rlhlung Mountain and 'II'
fort via Pan Lung Mountain fell firm
ly into our hands.
"Part of our right, which commenced
a bombardment at 8 o'clock this morn
ing and dislodged the enemy, who re
sisted stubbornly, firmly occupied a
height south of Housauycntuo nt 2
o'clock."
News of the continuance of Japa
nese successes at Port Arthur is ro
ceivod with elation in Toklo. It Is
known that tho Japanese losses were
comparatively light. It is believed here
that the Russian garrison is finally
reaching its limits of strength, endur
ance and numbers.
The Emperor and Emperess held a
brilliant New Years ceremony at the
palace Sunday. From early in the
morning they received In audience
Japanese statesmen and peers and
naval and military officers, who of
fered their homages in order ??f pre
cedence. The more prominent officials
received the diplomatic corps at 2
o'clock, p. ni.
Shot Out Boy's Eyes.
Newport News, Special.? Fred West
inghousc, tho small boy who was shot
yesterday at Orlana by tho premature
explosion of a gun which was being
loaded by a negro, will lose his eye
sight as a result of tin* accident. The
shot struck him full in tho fu:e, de
stroying both eyes.
Police Officer Shot.
Charlotte, Special.? Rural Officer S.
E. Cole, of Belmont Park, wns killed
Sunday afternoon at half-past 3 o'clock
by a negro. Will Springs. The homicide
wns committed nt the railroad crossing
near Sugar Creek church and within
200 yards of Zion negro church. Mr. (
Cole s-Hon-ln-lnw, Mr. II. B. Nabors, a
machinist at Liddcll's, was there and
wns shot also. How seriously he was
wounded does not yet appear; It seems
though, that he Is not much hurt. Mr
Cole was attempting the arrest or a
negro for the larceny of a bicycle be
longing to another negro.
Dr. Chadwick Not Arrested.
New York, Special.? Dr. Lcroy S.
Chadwick. husband of Cassle L. Chad
wlek, arrived In this country Satur
day on the steamship Pretoria, ran the
gauntlet of big crowds which had wait
ed for hours to see nlm, was haled to
Hoboken police headquarters and to
the recorder's court, and finally left
for Cleveland, not as a prisoner, but as
the guest of Sheriff Harry, who had
come from Ohio with a warrant for
the doctor's arrest which ho did not
htvc.
WEST STORM SWEPT
flcavy Saows aid Ufb Wtofe Caase
Lass cf Life aitf Property
?ALF TIE CONTINENT INYMfEP
Most Widespread Afmdvpherlo W*
tiirbMc* 1r? 15 Year* Extend* Pmm
Winnipeg, Canada, to New Orleans,
and From tha Rocky Mountains t or
New Yerk ? Gale and Snow in ther
Northweat, Electric Stbrma in- the
9*uth an# Fog in the Eaet*.
C14cago. Special. ? One of the moat
?ever* storm* of recsat years has been
ragln* throus* the Grrrltory lying be
tween the Reeky Mountains and tho
Great Lakes slace earlljr Tuesday wont
ing anti has caused much trouble to
| street "ar companies, railroads and tel
?graphltt companies.
In its ffitent Phe storia was the most
widespread of awy during the last fif
teen yean*. Counting the- fog as a com
ponent pi?rt of t!te storn?. it stretched
clear from the Rocky Mountains to
New York and fr?wn Winnipeg to New
Orleans. Tile fatalities reputed here as
doe to the storm, ure three-men killed.
They were:
Alexander Stelnor. a teamster, killed
while unloading co?l. A coal chute was
blown from its fastenings and struck
him on the head, killing hint instantly.
Thomas Walsh, a laborer, was struck
by a heavy hoard while quartering a
new building. Tho board cut his head
nearly off.
Prank Kavanaugh was killed at Mun
clo. Ind., by an oil derrick falling on.
him.
At 10 oVitx-k Tuesday night the
storm was reported as subsiding at
Kansas City and at other points on a
north and South line from that city. In
Chicago and cast of here tin* storm was
still raging with great vilocity. antl was
expected to cootinuo through the night,
the center of ihe storm being between
Chicago and Cleveland.
Reports from Kansas City were that
th* storm extended from Missouri, as
fa\ south as Indian Territory and was
accompanied throughout its entire
length by high winds and snow.
In the Northwest the storm was even
more violent. In St. Paul! tho snow
commenced to falL early Monday night
and grew heavier all through the night,
while the wind increased until' it was
blowing fifty miles an hour. The heavy
snow and tne gate worked havoc with'
the wires, and soma passenger. trains
from the Pacific coast were reported
as tweuty-four hours over due. The
storm reached westward from St. Paul
until it covered almost the entire
Northwest.
In the South, conditions were some
wfiai better, the snow in many places
being changed to a heavy rainfall,
which was preceded by thunder and
lightning and followed by high winds.
Nashville, Louisville, New Orleans.
Montgomery and Memphis ad reported
exceedingly heavy rains. . a rapidly
falling thermometer and terrific winds.
In the Ohio river valley the first
heavy rain in five months commenced
falling early in the day and continued
throughout the night. The storm was
appreciated by the boatmen along tho
Ohio and Its tributaries, for the stag"
of water in these streams has of iv.u
been very low.
The storm struck Chicago shortly af
ter noon and increased with great,
rapidity until it had assumed hurri
cane violence at 5:1.0 o'clock, when th?
wind tore throueh the downtown
streets at the rate of 72 miles an hour.
It fell away after that and by 7
o'clock had dropped to f.0 miles ati
hour, where It remained throughout
the night. In the evening the mercury
dropped from '.54 to 11. The late reports
from Wisconsin are that the storm was
the most severe experienced in that
section of the country. Damage in the
city of Madison is estimated at $100.
000. In Indiana the damage done by tho
storm was especially heavy in the oil
fields, when; fully five hundred derricks
were blown down and all operations
suspended. Loss on derricks alone in
the neighborhood of M unt ie, is placed
at $200,000, and at $50,000 around Port
laud.
Company Ask* Position.
Washington, Spe< ial? (Jeneral Wil
son, chairman of the inaugural com
mlttee, received a request from Lieut.
C. B. Mallard, In (omniuud of Company
K., Hlrminghar, Ala., Uilles. for a place
In the inaugural parade. His totnpnnv
desires to attend the ceremonies a;-, the
representative of the Third Kegiir.ent
of the Alabama National Guard.
Peculiar Pistol Accident.
Atlanta, Special ?Max Silverman,
traveling salesman for a New York
house, is In the Grady Hospital hero
In a serious condition with the pnper
wadding from a blank pistol cartridge
In his right lung, as a result of having
been accidentally shot bv Sol Grood
zlnsky. The accident Is one of tho
most peculiar the ospital authorities
liavo had to deal with for some time.
The pistol was fired at a close range,
and so great was the force of the shot
that, the wadding from tho shell went
entirely through Silverman's thick
clothing tore through the body and
penetrated the right lung. Physicians
are not yet able to tell whether thu
wound will prove fatal.
"Tom Watson's Magaiine."
Albany, N. Y . Special. ? Thomns R.
Watson, of Thompson. Ga.. the candi
date of the People's party fnr Presi
dent at the last election. Incorporate!
with tho Secretary of State a stock
company called Tom Watson's Maga
zine. for the purpose of publishing and
circulating a monthly literary periodi
cal of that name. The corporation H
| capitalized at $125,000, divided Into
1 l'.'.f.OO share#.