Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VG t??QX. "DO THOU LIBERTY GREAT. INSPIRE OUR SOULS AND MAKE OUR LT.JES IN THY POSSESSION HAPPY. OR OUR DEATHS GLORIOUS IN THY CAUSE.'*' OT BEN^NETTSVILIJE, S. C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1904. * NO. Bf viuiujrxi i< Ult J aro. Panic Seized the Kunian* aa th?y Saw Torpedo Boats - ATTACK THEIR 8HIP3 OF WAR. Aa Russian War Bhlps _I)nahcil from Harbor They Were Shot to Pieces by the Japanese Fleet. A copyrighted special dispatch to the Atlanta ' Journal from London .says Japan has won her ll ret great naval Victory.'" A dispatch from St. Petersburg says that an attack has been made by a Japanese torpedo fleet on tho Russian battleships and cruis ers lying at anchor at the entrance of the harbor of Port Arti ur, and that the.battleships OzarwitcL and Rettl zao and the cruiser Pallada were tor pedoed and Wrecked. Shortly before midnight on Monday . a large Japanese fleet, presumably that which left Sacho early Saturday, was reported off Port Arthur. The Rus sian licet, which had been anchored outside the harbor, bad been warned and had returned within the harbor entrance. The Russians felt that their torpedo system would protect them, but even then took no chances, but kept their searchlights working both from ships and shore batteries, particularly from that portion of the land called Tiger's Tail. The Japanese fleet outside did Borne maneuvering and then apparently went off to the southward, so many thought, to juin the remainder of the Japanese fleet known to be in the neighborhood of Wei Hal Wei. At 1:40 a. m., Sunday, 6S watchers and searchlights were beeuiuiug lag gard and tho alarm at the Hist felt, was . about dying out, a black .-.treak was observed crossing thebaiour mouth by one of the lookouts on the Czare-. .witoh. He gave the alar a, a dozryh searchlights flashed out ard tho sl?'ht paralyzed tho Russians. THE R?J88IAN8 ATTACKED^'' According to dispatche^?nt to St. Peterburg, a half dozen/u, pedo boats were making tbe?j^vv?y coward the fleet. Before anji^i0ve cou d bo made, a torpedo wpjatiaunched f om ono of the Japan^ boata at tuo ;;zarewitch I5Sd^B???fking her, explod d, tearing her apart, at almost tho samo mo ment another torpedo w s tired at her and hit the Rotvizai, tho most modern ?hip in the Russia:* navy and * made a wreck of her. . The deadly missile struck tho Ret ? vlzan Just forward nf her forward tur ret on the port side and Ure a gaping . hole In her aide. Consternaron among the Russians had now incteased to a panic and .hardly any at.empt was made to repel the attack being made. The rallada, a Uno cruiser; was lying insideis*-' both hatti?sl.ips, and to htr the. torpedo boats rext turned their attention. Tho Palladia's crow had got hx,? .rapid tiro "puns to work and wero trying to hit t ie Japanese. The latter then launel ed half a dozon torpedoes at the Rus san cruiser before one took effect. It left tho Russian cruiser a hopeless vreck. By this time several Russia i torpedo boats had got into tho tig it and the Japanese, Anding affairs becoming complicated and more critical . than they cared to meet, withdrew as they eame. , Attempts were made from the shore to fire the mines in the entrance to the harbor. Some did explode, but _not while arty torpedo boats wero " ir, while /itfhers failed utterly to TO the electric spark. By [me the Russians had gotten Meir consternation and got into on to fight, the Japanese had Ifyred. By daylight there were ?cse in sight. ?'MOTHERS JAr VICTORY, pyrighted special dispatch to .lanta Journal from London ^fflolal .Japanese telegram to Hayashl, the Japanese mlnis 'iwere, gives details of the sea bat tle between the Japanese and Russian squadron in which the cruiser Variag and the torpedo gunboat Koreltz were destroyed. The battle took place near the Polynesian Islands In the Yellow Sea. It began oh February 8th In the afternoon. The Busslan warships, after some hours of lighting, taking refuge among the island Tuesday morning, the battle was resumed and continued until the Variag was sunk and Koreltz blown up. According to the official Japanese report the Rus sian losses are said toreaoh hundreds. The survivors from tho Russian warships took refuge on the French orulser Paschal. As the Japanese squa dron was escorting the prisoners from Nagasaki to tho Korean harbor of Chemulpo,near the Polynes ian islands, tho squadron encountered the Variag, one of Russia's most effective fighting Bhlps, and the Koreltz, a particularly .-dangerous adversary bec8.use<.jf two toi?<edo tubes io addition to lier usual ly hiiaiy armf?oien - . .'?.? Of?? ? - RUSSIANS THY TOUPKpOES. The Koreltz wan in ad v.ince of tho Variag; both warships had been lying off Chemulpo. As soon as the Koreltz sight was within effective range of the Japanese squadron sha launched two torpedo tubes. Tb? Japaneso Immediately opened heavj fire on the Koreltz. Tho Variag hu -ried up to . the aid of the torpedo *'g nboat and both warships returned . t >e Japanese fire. The battle lasted fo some time with slight damage to i Ither side, when |the Russian warst) ps retired, perceptibly taking refuge n tho har bor. Early Tuesday morning tho two Russian sea lighters, whlcl had ropalr ?their damages during the night, de a dash out of tho harbor. It was a desperate effort to escape from tho watchful, J ap??ese licet, repombl ing in Its hopelessness and dash Oor vera'B memorablo rush from tho har bor of Santiago. The guns of tho Japanese squadron covered tho on lirance to the harbor where the Rus had taken ref uer, as the czar'? i. emerged, belching shot INTO riECES. ?hcentrated a ter ships and commission ana tuc gun turrets bat tered, ami within a half hour after the mornlng'B engagement began she sank. The Koreltz fought until a shell exploded In her magazine, which rent her asunder. The crows of the two 6hlpsTBtuggled in the water and the s?rvlvorn were picked up by the Kreuch cruiser Paschal, which wit nessed the terri[flo battle. The Japa nese squadron proceeded on Its way to Chemulpo, where the troops on hoard the transports were landed. ANOTHER BATTLE. A dispatch from St. Petersburg says a second tel? gram'hos been received from Viceroy Alexleff. lt is dated February 9 and says: - "A Japanese squadron of fifteen battleships and cruisers Tuesday be gan to bombard Port Arthur. The fortress replied -and the squadron weighed anchor in order to partici pate in the battle." A third telegram from the viceroy says that after a bombardment last ing one hour the Japanese squadron ceased Its fire and steamed south ward. "Our losses," tho viceroy continues, "are two naval officers and fifty-one men wounded, and nine men killed, and on the coast batteries, one man killed and turee wounded. "During the engagement tho bat tleship Poltava and the cruisers Diana, Askold and Novio were, each damaged on tho water line. The damage to tho fortress was not impor tant." A RUSSIAN VICTORY. A dispatch from St. Petersburg says Russia claims to have gained a victory at Port Arthur according to newspaper extras, printed here in which it is declared that three Japan ese warship? and four torpedo boats were crippled. .Oiie report says that the Japaneses'v^tMeshlp Skilkishima waa sunk... -The same newspapers an nounce' printed dispatches from Vla/??vo8tock reporting the complete Ktfute of the Japanses by the Russians along tho Yalu river, Russian soldiers and marines, these dispatches claim, have occupied Chemulpo, Corea. There is no omciai oonfirmatiuu of any of the reports and they are discredited, as they are uttorly at variance with the official dispatohes which have beon made public. Private telegrams report the com pleta route of the Japaneso hy the Russians on the Yalu river. These advices also claim that Chemulpo, Korea, has been occupied by Russian soldiers and marines. Russia's boss. A summary of the losses sustained by Russia in tho first twenty-four hours of tlio war with Japan show that ten Russian warships were placed out of action in one way or another and that ihe Japanese did not lose a ship. Tlie losses were as follows Battleship Retvizan, torpedoed and beached at Port Arthur. Battleship Czurwilch, torpedoed and beached at Port Arthur.' Battleship Poltava, hole below wa ler lino at Port Arthur. Armoured cruiser Bayarin, disabled by Japanese at Port Arthur. Cruiser Pallada, torpedeed at Port Arthur and beached. Cruiser Novlk, hole below waterline, it Port Arti mr. Cruiser Askold, hole below water ine, at Port Arthur. Cruiser Diana, hole below water line, at Port Arthur. First class armored cruiser Variag, lestroyed at Chemulpho, Corea. Torpedo gun vessel Korletz, destroy ed Chemulpho. Russian Troups in Far East. FirstSlberlao Army CorpB.-South urn Manchuria-21 battlions, 9 squad rons, 34 guns. Viadlvostook and Port Arthur-2 battalions. Frontier guards -20 battalions, 25 squadrons, 28 guns. Pe chi-ll-12 battalions, 5 squad rons, 4 guns. Semlrechensk-8 battalions, 22 squadrons, 28 guns. Uzx-4 squadrons, 4 guns. Second Siberian Army Corps. Tfllt8ikar-12 battalions, 24 squad rons, 22 guns. Klrin-26 battalions, 29 squadrons, 102 guns. Detached posts-21 battalions, 46 guns. Total for both corps-525 officers, 22,030 men, 19.300 horses. Total available men in the Far East, 300,000. To Buy Worship. A dispatch from Atlanta says Collonel Harry Silverman, member of tho governor's staff, has started a movement whereby it Is proposed that the citizens of the United States subscribo $3,000,000 with willoh to purchase a modern battleship and posent lt to plucky Japan. Mr. Silverman is very much enthused over I the project and ls of tho opinion that) thore will be no troublo to raise the amount. Other cities will bo notified and an organized move will bo under taken. A number of prominent citi zens after learning of the Boheme have assured Mr. Silverman their co operation In making the undertaing a sucoess. _ Murder In West Virginia. A special from Bluefleld, W. Va. says: "With a bullet hole through his brain and his body badly cut the remains of an unknown man were found Wednesday, under thc floor of a deserted house near Athens, Mercer County. Harry Taylor, formerly of North Carolina, told his sister several days ago that he committed the mur der, and robbed the dead man of money and valuables. He threatened to] murder his sister if she divulged the secret, but sho notified the sheri fi*. Taylor fled, but it is feared he will re turn and carry out his threat. The house ls being watched by the officers. " The maintenance ol1- 7ay employees of the entire system r/f thc Atlantic Coast Lino, which incudes ail men engaged In tracA* worA,1 bridge build Inn and depart ?aattsav waior supply, numbering so,_ Bk.' five thou sand BIB" at noor?* officia THE LIE PASSED. Exciting Paiffcgei Bstweon Member? in tho Legislature Halla. THE STATS HO USB MATTES. Tension of the Lnot Fe ir Days Oavo Way and Alembor.i In dnlgod In Sensational Personalities. The State sayB there were exioiting scenes In the hall of the house ot re presentatives Thursday night, and members Indulged ia language un pa ri i in on ta ry but quite expressive Of their overwrought feelings. It ls all the outcome of the investigation into the manner in which the State house waa completed. The report of the commission winch examined that work created ' quite a sensation throughout the State, and the mem bers of the commission which had in charge the work of completing the' capitol held an Informal meeting Thursday. It was decided to memoria lize the general assembly for the mem bers of the building commission to be given a hearing in their own defense. . When the memorial was presented in the house thereupon ensued the colloquy which very nearly approach ed a clash upon the floor of the house, for Mr. T. Y. Williams of Lancaster in words which bear but one construc tion attacked the varaclty of Mr. W.' J. Johnson of Fairfield who in turn had stigmatized the report of the in vestigation com misi?n asan Infamous falsehood. Furthermore Mr. Johnson had a sharp passage at arras with Mr. J.. M. Rawlinson of, Richland who has been one of the unobtrusive members of the house, but who was very much angered by a statement from Mr. Johnson that the latter had made a demand to be heard by the joint com mittee. This Mr. Rawlinson dented, and the charge was reaffirmed by Mr. Johnson, who cited incidents to show the reasons for ins. remarks. Mr. Rawlinson declared that there had been no demand, and that the re marks to which Mr. Johnson attached importance were but parts of a casual conversation. The floor and galleries of t he house were packed with visitors, who took a very keen interest In the heated de bate, and at times the sergeant-al arms was close by the gentlemen speaking to prevent personal hostili ties, lt is generally believed that tho contention between the members of the joint investigating committee and the members of the building commis sion will become more acrimo:ious, for evidently the Investigating committee has not shown its hand, and i he build ing commission also has some warm matter in reserve. The. memorial was presentecj in. the. house by Mr. Aull;- and in tue senate by Mr. Talbird. The gentlemen also presented resolutions asking for an other committee to be appointed to hear the testimony of members of tho building commission. Mr. Williams in the house and Mr. Aldrich in the sen ate presented resolutions providing for the same investigating committee to continue its work. The whple matter after acrimonious dlscussiou was re ferred to the committee on railroads, none of whoso members are members of either of tho warring commissions. TKXT OF THU'RESOLUTION. Following is tlie memorial present ed by former Gov. Mcsweeney, Mr. G. Duncan Bollinger, Mr. J. Harvey Wilson, Capt. R. II. Jennings, Mr. R. J. Gantt and Mr. W. J. Jonhson. "Gentlemen of the General Assembly: "From an examination of the re port of the joint committee 'to con sider the several reports of the com mission on the completion of the State house and facts relating thereto/ we, the undersigned members of the com mission, authorized and directed 'to complete the State house' feel that, the report of the committee does us a manifest injustice, as it wittingly or unwittingly, unfairely condemns our acts and the work approved by us without giving us an opportunity to be heard and even refusing to allow us "a hearing. Many of the allegations of error and Incompetency are easily explained. Certain conclusions could and would not have been drawn had available evidence been heard. Above all we feel that an impression that must necessarily result from the tenor and terms of the report would not exist if we were allowed the opportu nity to bo heard. Therefore, believing that the gener al assembly can have no Intention of condemning us without a hearing, as members of a commissslon upon whom you Imposed an involuntary public duty should be allowed to account for that trust and to give their answer and explanation to any allegation or In sinuation, do most respectfully memor ialize your honorable body to make provision for giving us a hearing in order that further and all evidence may be produced that may give light upon tho question before the com mittee and that our evidence and re ply to tho report of the committeo should become a public record of your honorable hotly of the same perman ency and dignity as the report Itself." MK. MILL'S KESOLUTION. Following is tho text of the "con current resolution providing for a joint committee as to the work on the State house" Whereas, Rappers from the report of the joint committee appointed un dor concurrent resolution to consider the several reports of the commission on the completion of the Stnte house and facts relating thereto, that alt of tlie available testimony bearing on the subject was not adduced, that Gov. M. R. Mcsweeney, chairman of the committee for tho completion of the State house, Attorney General G. Duncan Bellinger, Secretary of State M. R. Cooper, Stato Treasurer W. II. Timmorman and R. IL Jennings, I Comptroller General J. P. Derham, chairman of the finance committee, George S. Mower; chairman of the ways and means committee of the house, J. Harvey Wilsr" . members of tho house, R, J. G" 1 ,W. J. to appear before said committee br ba any manner given a hearing. Ile it Resolved, that a special joint committee consisting'of five members 'of the house and two members of the I senate bQ appointed by the speaker and lieutenant governor, respectively, with authority to appoint a ste nographer, take testimony, com mand tlie production of records and papers and report the same to this general assembly before Its adjourn ment. Mr. Williams offered the following: Whereas, certain'members of the for mer commission to complete the State house have memoralized tbe general assembly to make provision for giving them a hearing in reply to tho report of the joint committee to consider the several reports of the commission of the completion of the State hou& and facts relating thereto. Be it Resolved, by the general as sembly of the State of South Carolina vs? wt/ was jr* CViviCIlCC ."'vnl-.ti'it-lnn nr other statements in writing that the said memoral 1st? may have to submit will be received and considered by the general assembly whenever presented. MK. rATTEnSON'8 STATEMENT. When the memorial bad been read, Mr. J. O. Patterson of Barnwell, a member of tbe investigating commit tee, declared that lt ls a duty to him self and to South Carolina for him to make a statement. Tho general as sembly is conversant with the mat ters wblch led up to the appointment of tbo investigating commission-the members of which realized the gravity of the trust placed upon them. They bad done their duty honestly, fear lessly and conscientiously. The mem bers of the State house building com mission bad all been friends of his aud it bad been an unpleasant duty. Tbe investigating commission bad not Harm rv"?.r"?'l with t?iik ?rtf.v nf i?rhr?11, l/VUJ* ijlUllg^U T. ? v.. VJ . . w u v. v/j XJ? .".VVJVJ.. lng or blaming the members of the building commission. He referred to the cards in The State of Wednesday in which Mr. Bellinger and Mr. Gantt complained that they had nut been treated with proper consideration. The complaint is tbat the State hov.se commission had not been invited be fore the building commission. Why should . the members of the latter commission be summoned when tbey themselves could not agree? In reforence to the statement of Mr. Bellinger that he bad been denied tbe privilege of coming before the commission, Mr. Patterson declared tbat lt was a caca of a misunderstand ing, which he regretted, as he and Mr. Bellinger had been political personal friends for many years. On tbe night of January 7th Mr. Bellinger, while Mr. Patterson's guest at thc Colum bia hotel, had threatened that in case tbe joint commission Bhould attaok the building commission he would take the matter to the legislature. Mr. Patterson declared that he regrets very" much that a casual conversation ebbold have been misunderstood. Ile had told Mr. Bellinger' that ffloTOT tbe report be in the nature of an at tack he (Mr. Patterson) would insist upon the members ol the biulding com mlsinon being given a bearing. There was no formal demand and the state men : be made to Mr. Bellinger was conditional. The Joint committee had thought it a waste of time and money to bring here tho members of the build ing commission. The Investigating commission had employed a govern ment architect and In person had in spected tbe building carefully. He regretted that the building commis sion bad felt aggrieved. They are honorable men and if their confidence in tltose whom they employed is mis placed it ls a misfortune to the State of South Carolina. Mn. WILLIAM'S DISCLAIMER. Mr. Williams made a straight for ward statement that the terms of the memorial do not contain a true state ment of facts. The Joint committee had never refused to give audience to any member of the building commis sion. The architect brought here to inspect the work had been given no suggestions. The investigating com mission had. not. reflected upon the building commission. It bad simply stated the facts as they had been found. "No member of that committee has ever Intimated to me In any way whatever that they derslred to be beard before that committee," said Mr. Williams, "and I challenge each and every one of them to show that they have ever at any time mentioned the matter to me. Yet it is stated In this memorial that we refused to hear them. I go further, gentlemen, and say that no member of tbe state house commission has ever asked the joint commission, as a committee, to allow them, or any one of them, to be beard, and yet they come here and state In this memorial that we have refused to hear them. I make this statement because that ls a reflection upon the committee and I could not sit hero and allow tho state house com mission, or any other sot of men, to reflect upon mo or the gentlomen with whom . 1 havo been associated upon this committee." Mr.' Itoblnson declared that lt had not been the purpose of tho commis sion to reflect upon the building com mission. The members of the latter bad not asked toc?me before the joint committee. Tho architect and <x>n t ruo tor had been asked to appear and bad not done so. Mr. Aull debared that tho building committee had been very severely criticised and as an act of justice they should be heard. Ho Introduced a concurrent resolution to that effeot. Mr. D. D.McCall, Jr., of Mailboro, declared that nover in his life iiad ho been given more pleasure than ho has In endorsing the aotlonof the Investi gating committee. Ho thought its work should stand. Its members are honorable men, MATTELS-ArritOAcn A CRISIS Mr. W. J,' Johnson, a member of the statehouse building committed, made an impassioned speech, In which be declared ltf had not been his Inten tion to spcaV^upon this question, for the languageVh?ch he would like to apply to;the rjpoort would not bo par liamentary. '. S ??' Mr. WllllainB''ana Mr. Rawlinson piled Mr. Johnson with questions to r*Und out jti*"? latter had be.cn denied , ul^?kuL??* coming before tha ' ^moment was estjM proach toward Mr. Johnson, but the speaker rapped the members to order. Mr/Johnson declared this report of a commission which sat behind closed eloora tv. have been a damnable Insult to the State or South Carolina. In reply .t<> Mr. Patterson :io said that there ^nad been no division la the building commission except for one ?issenllng member, who had been per mitted \to be with the investigating commis: ion. Why not tho other eight? ! They ai o honorable gentlemen, all of them, and any statement to the con trary isan Infamous lie. Mr. Williams-Do you mean to ap ply that to the mombarc ot the com mittee?! Mr.,Johnson-You have heard what I I have said. Mr. Williams-Do you mean to ap- ? ply that to me; lt ls very easy for you to say. Mr. Johnson-if the cap fits wear| it; Just wear lt. Mr. Williams-All right, sir. Mr. Gaston made the point of order I that the discussion ls all out of order. Mr. .Mauldln, in the chair, ruled that the memorial ls a matter for dis ci IRS lon. Mr. Johnson, continuing, said that I tho joint committee was no more flt to pass upon the government archi tect's work than the building commis sion wag to pass upon the work on tue ' State house. Mr. Johnson continued that tbie damnable suggestions in th report were absolute falsehoods. UNPAKLtMENETAUY LANGUAGE Mr. Williams, very calmly raising in his seat as Mr. Johnson concluded, and pqinting his linger at Mr. John Bon, said with deliberation: "There ls absolutely nothing in the report which even intimates that any member of the State house commission has been In collusion with anybody to ! rob the State, and anybody who 8 .ys so is a Har." Mr. Johnson-Do you At this point several members sprang up, expecting to seo trouble, and the sergeant-at-arms took up a place between the two members of the house, who stood glaring at eaoh othnr. Mr. Aull at this point passed his concurrent resolution to have a com mittee appointed to take tho testi mony of the members of the building commission. Mr. Williams called at tention to his resolution to have testi mony taken by the same committee. Mr. Gaston thought it unwise to act upon these resolutions Thursday night, when the house was in excite ment. Ile wanted the memorial and resolutions referred to ono of the standing committees of tho house. This motion was adopted by the house j and tho matter was disposed of. A.ftT careful deliberation, Speaker! Saj}^selected the railroad committee | aa iriyt ODO before whom this bill should I go, . none of tho memU iof that com?nitee are members o either of] thc Cimmi&ilonB. S-;h Hmontly Mr. Willi ims apologl zed to/ui e house, "but not to an Indi- ? vidual" ?or the language he had used, aid later Mr. Johnson did the same tiling, "he house then proceded with tile cons deratlcn of the appropriation bil. ._ Hearst's Houthorn Kin. A di8iatoh from Greenville to Tho State atys: "Mr. Wm. II. Whitmlie of this city has received Information of tho death of his cousin. Mrs. iTusllla Whltmiro Apperson, the grandmother of Congressman William Randoipn Hearst of New York, who died recently at her home- In Berkley, Cal. Mrs. Appearson wa; the daugh ter of Henry and Ruth Hill Whltmlre, aid was born in Newberry county, S. C., Sept. 24th, 1816. Mr. W. H. Wbltmlre's father was William Whitmlie, a twin brother of Henry, and tiny married sisters, BO that thero is a double relation between the Whitmires and Mrs. Apperson, who was taken when a child to Missouri. On June 28, 1840, Mrs. Apperson was married to Randolph Welker Apper son of Virginia, and thty moved to California in tho early 60s, making their home near San Jose. Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst, tho mother of the congressman and prospective candi date for president, and Elbert C. Apperson aro tho surviving children of the deceased." Fato ora Thier. Tho Spartanburg Herald says a few nights ago Bill Hunter, colored, decid ed he wished a morsel of chicken and having observed that Berry Epps of Union had a fat chanticleer, he sought him on his roost. Just us he grasped his coveted bird, he was discovered and there began a race for life. For getful of the lay of the land Bill ran on, when suddenly he plunged down an embankment into a deep railroad cut. The fall broke Bill's thigh, and also the unoffending rooster's neck. Tho man's wild cries for Tnelp wero hoard far and near, and ho was Boon found and given medical attention. His con di* lon ls still serious. Insurance Estimates. Reports coming In from all sides in dicate that rebuilding of tho destroy ed part of tho city of Baltimore will soon begin. Insurance men have gone over tho ground and held con ferences and now estimate the IOBB at | $12.r?,000,000. The Insurance ls placed at $00,000,000. It is considered very fortunate that valuable rapers, stockB and bonds In vaults in banks wero not injured. Tbls reduces oho loss a great deal. It ls feared that after ten days' graco tho banks will bo un able lo satisfy thc demands for money withdrawals. Principal Ships In Far EMI. Japan. Battleships, 12-inch gunB.24 Battleships, 0-lnch guns.68 Cruisers, 8-inch guns.24 Cruiser, 6 inch guns.80 Russia. Battleships, 12-inch guns.201 Battleships, C inch guns.84 Cruisers, 8-inoh guns. 14 Cruisers, 6-inch guns.56 Don't Forgot tho Oom. Tho Southern Cultivator says in planting your crop for 1904 be sure to plant tte largest corn crop you ever raised. You will need it beforo the year is past. Wara an 1 rumors of v'ars may come and gh; and tho price bf cottou no man can foreknow... u?. n/anc^ meat and ft" ' LOCAL OPTION BILL Fasted by tho Senat? and 8o t to tho House, AFTER A LONG AND HOT DEBATE. Under Its Provluiono Any County Can Vote Oat the Dispensary bot Sn*h County Maut Knforco Prohibition. Senator Brice's bill to amend the dispensary law by granting counties the right to Vote out an established dispensary was brougt up as a special order on Monday night of last week. Senator Drice made a vigorous attack I on the dispensary law, alluding to j many of its best known and, to some, its most obnoxious features. Senator ! Sharpe, an' advocate of the law, de fended lt, and opposed the bill. Senator Mciver made a clear, thought ful speech for tho bill and Senators Hardin and Peurlfoy suggested amendments. Debate was adjourned. I at 10 o'clock, until Tuesday morning] lat ll. The suggested amendments| I will be printed in the journal, j "When the bill was brought up Sen ator Sharpe moved to strike out the enacting words. Senator Brice io | response said that though he had once I voted for the dispensary he now thought it Iniquitous. Instead of be ing the "best solution of the liquor question" lt 1B the "worst ever con-1 coi ved by man." Under the barroom I system a lower element sold liquor but under the dispensary system it is | the Palmetto State. Ile did rot thing that communities! who'would voto out the dlspensay would sauQtiuD blind t?gcrs= Ynric- ? ville has given the dispensary a fair I trial and has enforced the iaw. He j believed that all the senators would vote conscientiously on the hill and asked them to point to bim a part of the bill doing wrong to anyone. If the bill passes York!ville will abso lutely do away with the dispensary. He would be willing for a purely local bill but he knew that other communi ties wanted their dispensaries remov ed. Senator Sharpe, who spoke next, was ono of the committee who report ed the bill unfavorably. He announc ed at the outset that bo was in favor1 of dispensary law. The reason why tho dispensary law has apparently never reduced the tares is that! large expenses nave been Incurred each year. Ile alluded to the expendi ture for Winthrcp in Senator Brice's own county. He had always been a Democrat but this ls a State proposi tion. Senator Sharpe denied that the cou/ts in his section of the State had' been corrupted by the dispensary or any other Influence. Ile said that he had been asked by come one In York cpr-ity to fight against Senator.Brlce'a bill. He knew from personal observa tlo that t ic dispensary was run well. He did not believe that the news pa] ;rs had boon bought up by the dis;ensary. There were some In Co lumbia wi.ich still preserve the free and. untravelled right to fight it. He wanted tho bill defeated. Senator Mciver said the bill was j an attack jn the dispensary system. Tlu.t ls too fixed for anyone to expect I an attack upon it. The bill offered by Senator Brice ls a good one, and bo hoped t hat it would bo adopted. Thc people should have the right to | vote out a dispensary should they wish. If a community that voted for1 the system, thinking it a good one, wished to rid itself lt should beso allowed. The bill is essentially Democratic. The agrument that some of tho larger towns, by voting out the dispensary, deprive the State of revenue, should not be used as lt Is not Dem. mratlc. Practically speak ing, few oJ the larger towns which derive considerable revenue from the dispensary, would vote it out. Still all should have the privilege. The advocates of the system seem to fear that any bill upon the dispensary is a direct attack at the whole system. Senator Peurifoy wished to amend I the bill by allowing a town to vote out the dispensary without submitting tho question to the entire County. He thought the bill admirable but] that this amendment should be In Herted. O.ten town and county pre judice ls divided. He also thought] the dispensary law is here to stay, but the privilege should be granted. It is not right that this Democratic measure Bhould be refused in this boasted seat of principle. Senator nardin asked Senator Sharpe to withdraw his motion to kill the bill so that an amendment might bo read. Thia was assented to for tho timo being. Senator Hardin's motion wan that in counties or com munities where there are no dispen saries and whore tho officials will not enforce the laws as to illicit sale of liquors, tho government shall enforce the law at the expenses of that com munity or county. Senator nardin I offering this amendment said that ? though ho had been one of the com mittee who reported the bill unfavor ably, he would feel that ho must vote for it if it was not so amended. Senator Sharpe's motion to kill the bill was then put to a vote, resulting as follows: Aye, Senator Aldrich, lil.ike, Dean, Gaines, Herndon, Hydrlck, Sharp, Williams, 8. Nay, Senators Brice, Biown, But ter, Carpenter, Douglass, Hardin, Holliday, Johnson, Marshall, McCall, Mcivor, MoLeod, Peurlfty,v G. W. Ragsdalo, Raynor, Sheppard, Stack house, Standard, Talbird, vonKolnltz, 20. Those not present when the vote] was taken were: Senators Davis, Dennis, Forrest, Goodwin, Hay, Hood, Hough, Manning. Mayfield, Mower, J. W. Ragndalo, Walker, Warren, 14. On motion of Senator Raysor fur ther debata on tho bill was postponed, and t : bill was taken up Wednesday nlghtojnd passed to a third reading. When the bill came upon Thursday for a third reading Senator Raysor of fered an amendment as follows: "Provided, a tax of one-half mill is hereby levied upon every dollar of the value of all taxable property In all vf61?V4?-??fivln? n0 dispensary, and In QTativ,V>ting; to remove or close of the enforcement of the dispensary law In said county under and by direc tion of the governor, said tax to be collected as other county taxes and forwarded to the State treasurer to be expended, or so much thereof as may be necessary, as now provided by law for such purposes. Any balance remaining unexpended at the end of the year to be returned by the State treasurer to the county treasurer of such county for general county pur poses, and that the value of all confis cations of contraband goods seized in such county, as determined by the State board of directors, shall be paid to the State treasurer to be credited to the fund raised by said levy for the enforcement of the law as above pro vided. And any amount expended in said county for the enforcement of the dispensary law shall be refunded to the St??c treasury upon the collec tion of the tax above levied." Senator Brice opposed this and later asked Senator Raysor where it origi nated. The Senator liom York said he had Information that it came from the State board of control. Senator Raysor said that the amendment origi nated in tho house dispensary commit tee. Mr. W. O. Tatum had Informed him that the board of control had ab solutely nothing to do with it. In replying to an Inquiry from Sen ator Brice as to why a tax was neces sary to enforce the dispensary law rather than any other law, Senator Raysor gave his views. His presenta tion was clear and vigorous and. was along the line that the amendment was absolutely neccessary to enforce the law. Senators Brice, Hardin and Mciver considered that tho amendment would be a punishment to a community which wanted no dispensary. Marlboro has no dispensary but the laws are most rigidly enforced In that county, as Senator McCall stated later. Senator Blake spoke, saying If the bill passed lt would be a political fac tor In every campaig.fi. Every county would be of a different mind. Senator Mciver said that If the amendment was passed tho bill would hs killed. Senator Mayfield recalled a time when the senate was investi gating the alleged corrupt ibu in the dispensary and said that at that time Senator Brice was willing that coun ties, wet or dry, should share alike in the dispensary profits. York received $8,870 for ita schools. Senator Mayfield made a speech of some length and much strength. Though a prohibitionist by principle and opposed to liquor, lie was against the bill because lt was an attack, on the dispensary, the institution that liad come to stay and which was the' best solution of the problem. Senator Herndon and Gaines spoke practically with Senator Mayfield and Senator Brice In reply. A vote was taken on Senaaor Sharpe's motion to indefinitely postpone the bill, result ing as follows: ., . Yeas-Senators Aldrich, Blake, Da \ls, iPep.n Gaines, Goodwin, Hay, Herndon, Hydrlck, Mayfield, Sharpe, Warren, Williams-?3. Nays-Senators Brice, Brown, But ler, Carpenter, Douglass, Hardin, Hol linay. Johnson, Manning, Marshall, McCall, Mciver, McLeod, Peurifoy, G. W. Rogsdale, J. W. Ragsdale, Ray sor, Sheppard, Stanland, Talblrd, Von Kolnltz, Walker-22. A parlimentary combat began in which motions Hew about the. senate chamber like grapeshot on a battle field. Senator Hardin moved to sub stitute for Senator Raysor's amend ment another to the effect that in a county where there was no dispensary and the Illicit liquor laws were not en forced, that the governor should be provided with a lund for that purpose, to be raised by taxation on said'coun ty. Senator Brice spoke for this amendment, Senator J. W. Ragsdale against it. It was tabled. Senator Brice moved to table Sena tor Raysor's amendment but the mo tion was defeated. Tile amendment was adopted by a viva voce vote. Senator Raysor had the words "in all counties having no dispensary" stricken out, as this would hurt Marlboro and Greenwood coun ties where .there are today no dispensaries and which have always been law abiding in respect to the sale of illicit liquor. Another amendment adopted was that of Senator Dean which fixed ,the voting so that there would be no re newal of the olo conflict between town and county prejudice. It was just as the senate was preparing to adjourn that the Blake amendment was passed. The bill was then sent to the house. Just before the bill was brought up the senate received a petition from Dorchester county asking that lt be made a law. Senator Stanland spoke for the bill when it was brought up some days ag.). Balls for Japan. A dispatch from Oxford, Ga., says after a stay of seven years in Ameri ca, during which time he graduated from Emory college, Bun Kislil, of Tokio, Japan, has sailed for his native land. He left San Francisco this week. He is a zealous patriot, and is hasten ing his return to Japan in order to serve his people in the war with Rus sia. Bun Kishi had been a student at Emory for six years and was graduat ed last commencement with the de gree of bachelor of arts. Ho was pre paring himself to teach and preach. Just before leaving San Francisco, he wrote a letter to Professor Frederick Duncan, of Emory College, bidding him farewell and expressing hts good will toward all Americans, and In the letter stated that his seven years spent In this country had been most happy, but that he would not return to America again, but would meet his friends In tho world to come. Mr. Kishi took great interest here in the Young Men's Christian Association, and League work, and also took an especial Interest In literary work, be ing a member of Phi Gamma Literary Society. He took a good stand In. his class and had many friends among the student body and faculty. Bank Their Own Hhlp. A dispatch frBm St. Petersburg says a report has been received from Vice roy Alexleff sayln, that the Russians torpedo transport/ Yenisei has been blown up as the result of accidentally striding a mln^ at Port Arthur. The H?-tt?^l0^BB?^^' Stepanoff, RUSSIA is WILD And tho War Spirit Bani. High. All Over the Country. THE JAPS MUST BE PERISHED. Shoats Tor Success of frusBian linns Minglo With Carse* Hurled at tho Jap? for ITlietr .Treachery." A dispatch from St. Petersburg says the whole city anxiously waited Tuesday night for official news. Ex traordinary scenes were witnessed in and around the newspaper offices and a crowd of people literally beseiged the ministry of the interior, where the Official Messenger IB published, smart carriages driving up In quick: succession and the highest and lowest of the Inhabitants walting in the ante room or camping in snow covered streets waiting patiently far into the morning for the numbers containing the olllclal bulletins. The text of these communications had leaked out among tho newspaper men, but as the law forbids the pub lication of such documents until they have appeared in the Olllclal Messen ger, the editors had to wait until the government organ printed the news before starting their own presses. THE NEWS EAGERLY BOUGHT. The Associated Press representa tive, calling on a well known editor, 'found him surrounded by a throng of 'officers and prominent citizens implor ing him to read to them the telegrams he had just received. The editor, pale with emotion, re cited the narrative ot the bombard ment of Port Arthur. More people kept coming lu and thu editor was compelled to read it over and over again. The crowds expressed furious impatience at the fact that nothlug was said about injuries Inflicted upon Japanese warships. The intense indignaron with which the news of "the stab In the hack in flicted by Japan" was received here seems to be general throughout the Russias. The whole empire ls fired by the war fever.' The state of feeling here was illus trated at the theatres last night, when people demanded the national anthem. More remarkable was the refusal of the drosky drivers yesterday to accept money from officers ?.hen they drove to the palace. JAF8 BRANDED TRAITORS. The newspapers in general de nounce the action of Japan as treach ery, declaring that lt Is "truly Asi atic," but insisting that the issu 3 of . the conflict will not be decided by the naval'engagements, as the. Japanese .-.-.?i? will have to meet Russia On land, when the score wiltoo wiped out. Tho Novoe Vremye says it is quite possible that the_jwljoIe._of_wKorea liar, teen over-run by Japanese soldiers in'jib guise and that Russia may first have : to assume the defensive, but when her forces in Southern Manchuria and Korea are increased, tho Japaneso - will realize what they have to meet. "GOD ON RUSSIA'S SIDE." "God, right and International law are on our Bide," the Russ says, and continues: "One hundred and thirty million Russian hearts are beating with the de sire to expunge the traitorous sllgh,? on Russian honor. Enough ot deten- . sive tactics! Let us drive out the fuel" The Bourse Gazette says: "Yes terday we longed for peace. Now we think only of war. The world soon will be startled by Russia's he rolo work. Japan has placed herself be yond the pale of civilization. The ui/Sv,a;i, pigmy Japan, would nothave dared to attack the giant Russia without the encouragement of Eng land and America." DID IlRITIsn SAVE JAM? The Russians claim to have author ity for saying that the new Japanese war ships (the Nisshin and Kasuga) were saved from certain capture by the Russian squadron bound for the far east under Admiral Wirenlus by the action of the commander of a British battleship in placing his ves sels across the Suez canal and hoisting a signal of distress, thus delaying the Russians two days. ?The anti-British feeling here Is bitter, lt being asserted that the Jap1 .mese attack on Port Arthur was launched from Wel-Hal-Wel. , . Ambassador McCormick is* busy talking over the affairs of the Japan ese legation. KURINO GUARDED BY POLICE. In spite of the state of public feel ing, there has been no attempt to mo lest M. Kur ino, the retiring Japanese minister, or his staff. The authori ties are according M. Kurino special police protection. Ile has had no communication with the foreign office since thc delivery of the last Japanese note and bas made his farewell calls. Ile left St. Petersburg quietly Tues day night. General Dragomirov arrived in St. Petersburg today. Ile ls one of Rus sia's greatest fighters and may be ap pointed commander in chief, as Gen eral Kurlpatkln, the war minister, probably cannot be spared. Shot Fifteen MtleM. V A dispatch from Hampton Roads says the battleship Missouri, on her trial trip Thursday off the Virginia capes, lost two torpedoes?od a six-lnoh gun was damaged. In other respects the trial was a success. One of the 12 Inch gunB, being elevated seven de grees, let fly a shell which the strong est glass could not follow to tho end of its flight. Later a passing steamer reported that the shot had struck tho sea within 300 yards of her. The steamer was distant from the Missouri just fifteen miles. A Jap Bhlp Hunk. Two small Japanese' merchant ships, Zen-Sbo-Maru and Nakonoura Maru, while on their way to Oetaru (a port or? the woBt*yn ?n?afc of Yezo island) from Sakatc (a port on tho northern coast of tbe main island of Japan) were fired on Feb. ll by four Russian men of war off the coa*t of Aomorfprefcottire and tho latter was sunk while the former had a narrow esoipe.O|