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How Star-Di * By Prof. Harold Jacob is the length of tl W measurement with a house to the end of ?? I answered easily with people ever think of of an inaccessible ob iS, when we cannot r this is a problem of a very diffej measurement is one of those lumii the profound depths of space; wh< cessible. but also remote to a deg grasp?in such a case the problem tive difficulty; it is one that stirs Bessel was the first to solve thi simple enough. We have seen tha in a star's position diminishes wit have but to measure the amount o estimate of the star's distance. So Bessel selected his star on by the older star-catalogues. His destined for conspicuous success, y \ stars were selected near the one 1 serving ni~ht Bessel measured the tween each small star and the par these two insignificant objects mu If such was the case, they must be lactic changes; and these must mal the year between the two auxiliar Bessel did not depend upon *was provided with a more accurt been used before his time. This ally adapted for the most precise d ?such distances as those separatii ones. With it he was able to del his star's position; and he proved mathematical conditions that govei The Latest About Su By Park Benjam SUBMARINE is simp A and moored under wai tected. Between two mm cotton is enough to 1 jKKSfljfl? even at a distance of the bottom or it is a: distance below the "buoyant mines," and differ amon; they are fired. The simplest and and foe. is the contact mine, wh strikes its projecting firing pin. Tb Civil War, and also by the Spani friendly barnacles fortunately mac rangement depends upon the clos colliding either with the mine itse tablishing a circuit through which I or at the will of a controlling op< wires are l&d to a shore station or arrangements are such that each n the operator, usually by lighting which closes the firing circuit and and entirely safe from hostile fire, actually to see the devoted vessel ? destruction. Grouid mines, which rest on 1 are especially employed when tfc buoyant mines from their anchorag is not much rise and fall of tide, to form a so-called "mine field" of the barber or other place to be pro them; and a great deal of ingenu ances whereby one mine of a gr< or any n.imber of groups, may be "Battleships. Mines and Torpedoes,' f ^ Pai?amaV ? B r Col. William C SHE attempt to rfeO the ' 30 that they could no on any large scale. H side alone in small c< shall have to use it at The Panama strip is cal country. The des York, but this would be the cast twenty people per thousand in Ne thousand at Panama. The general I suffer as the French did, and thai at the rare of twenty per thouaan* curred to the French and others al per thousand a year. Other men been at Panama for some time, m ceedingly simple and easy, and thi be as good as that of most parts of ; to me, are extreme, and the truth health officer, with experience in d< will know how exceedingly diffieuli thousand people infected with ms which the cases can be individual proach the problem with hope. an< the same success that rewarded sii ties in Cuba. But it is no simple i disappointments and discouragemei many modifications of our plans an the Health Problem at Panama," i * Thibet: A C Saha By W. C. Jameso ^^ " hibet Is the least kno T- teeming with feature gist, and the studen many years this gre ary fascination for insurmountable phys of the Thibetans ha and persevering explorers. Forming a high table and aln tinent, thousands of feet above l mountain ranges among the high its whole extent with appalling d covered plains; Thibet is not a search of beauties of landscape, wilds the impression left on mem and Anarctic ice-plain. Never a l for a few months in the year. M and industry might be made prod growth of coarse grasses, furnishii scrawny cattle. More favored reg asses, ant .-lopes, and yak, affoTdi population The sterility of the landscape impossible to imagine a people mc of civilization has yet made itself The yoingest Vice-President i John C. Breckinridge, who was thi six when he was inaugurated. - - V* stances I Are Measured. ?v, of Columbia University his room? Any one can make this simple two-foot rule. How far is it from this the street? This question also can be a surveyor's tape-measure. But how many the possibility of measuring the distance ject? To discover how far away a thi:ng each it in order to measure the distance? ent kind. And when the distant goal of ious stars from which we are sundered by ;n that object is not only supremely inacree as nearly infinite as human mind can i of distance is not merely one of attracthe imagination strongly, is observational problem. His method was t the actual quantity of parallactic change :h the star's distance. Consequently, we f this change in order to have at once an . account of its large motion, as indicated method of observation, like every method vas perfectly simple. Two small auxiliary ander observation for parallax. Every obexact distance on the face of the sky be; allax star. He judged quite correctly that st really be almost infinitely far from us. ? perfectly free from any appreciable paralce it appear to swing back and forth during y stars. the ordinary astronomical telescope. He ite measuring contrivance than had ever instrument called a hellometer, is especiletermination of short distances on the sky ig his parallax star from the two auxiliary lermine exactly the parallactic changes in that these changes satisfied perfectly the rn motions of this kind. Word bm&rine Mines. tin. ly a charge of explosive inclosed in a case ter in the river harbor, or channel to be prohundred and three hundred pounds of gunalow a hole in the bottom of most vessels 20 feet. The mine either rests directly on nchored by a cable so as to float a certain surface. Floating mines are also called g themselves mainly in the way in which oldest form, equally dangerous to friend ich explodes only when a vessel actually lis was used by the Confederates during the ards at Guantanamo, where adhesive and le them harmless. A Bafer and better aring of an electrical contact by the vessel If or with a buoy connected to it, thus esthe charge can be fired either automatically erator. This is the usual expedient. The a ship. When not automatic, the electrical nine, as soon as struck, signals that fact to an electric lamp. He then presses a key explodes the charge. He may be far inland and. of course, it is not necessary for him which thus sends in a signal for its own the bottom, are fired in the same way, and ere are swift currents which would tear es. or where the water is shallow and there All mines are usually laid in groups, so as ' sufficient area to prevent vessels reaching tected without encountering or passing over lity has been expended in devising contri)up or any number of them, or one group controlled as occasion may require.?From " in the Review of Reviews. V III leaitn. Gorgaa. whole population from the malarial Infection >t infect the mosquito, has never been tried Loch, in Africa, reports some success on this immunities. But on the scale on which we Panama we have no precedent to guide us. now about as healthy as the ordinary tropiith-rate is a great deal higher than in New ; almost anywhere in the tropics. About w York die every year, and about fifty per idea about Panama seems to be that we shall t, instead of dying as we do in New York, (1 per year, we shall die. as sometimes oc: Panama, at the rate of five or six hundred of experience in the tropics, and who have aintain that the matter of sanitation is exat the health of the Panama strip ought to the United States. Both opinions, it seems will fall somewhere between the two. Any ?aling with a practical question of this kind, t it will be. in a population of about fifteen ilaria. to devise and apply any system by ly recorded and treated. Personally, I api the expectation of having, approximately, nilar efforts applied by our military authorinatter. We shall, no doubt, meet with many nts. and shall succeed in the end only after d after many local failures.?From "Solving n the Review of Reviews. <!sS? toss Between ra and Siberia/ n Reid. wn region on the habitable globe, though s of interest for the scientist, the ethnolot of aboriginal mankind in general. For at "closed land" has possessed extraordintravelers and explorers, but the well-nigh ical barriers and the b&rbarous hostility ve often frustrated the most indomitable lost in the very centre of the Asiatic conhe sea level, surrounded on all sides by est in the world, and covered throughout eserts, vast salt-swamps, and immense iceland which would attract the traveler in When one has traveled through its arid lory is that of a combined Saharan desert tree is seen, and scarcely a flower, except ountains covered with soil which by thrift uctive. are left in their wild state for the ig scanty pasturage for the small herds of ;ions are inhabited by small herds of wild ng subsistence to a sinister and uncouth t is reflected in the natives. It would be >re unenlightened and barbarous. No spark felt?Booklovers' Magazine. vas' Two crops of strawberries have rty-: been made possible in Texas by irrii gation. * POST ARTHUR CLOSELY PRESSED Reports Reach Chefoo to the Effect That the Japanese are Hotly Pressing the Russian Centre and Have Penetrated to General Stoessel's Residence. Chefoo, By Cable.?According to advices brought here from Port Arthur by a junk, the Japanese were hotly pressing the Russian centre along the railway and the Russian right in the vicinity of Golden Hill, between the city and the forts on the Russian right wing. The Japanese occupied Taipangtze and penetrated along the railway to General Stoessel's residence on August 21. As this report would indicate that Port Arthur had all but fallen, the Japanese expert attached to the local consulate received the information with great reserve. The Information is accepted, however, as confirmation of previous reports that the Russian* have been driven from Itzcshan and that the Japanere are very close to the southern forts and the eastern defenses. Mrs. Maybrick Returns. New York, Special.?On board the Rod Star steamer Vederland, which arrived Tuesday from Antwerp, was Mrs. Florence Chanler Maybrick, recently released from prison in England. Mrs. Maybrick was entered on the passenger list as Mrs. Rose Ingraham, a name which she took from her great grand-parents. This precaution was not designed to evade official Inquiry, but merely to avoid I annoying observation on the part of fellow passengers. While she made no secret of her presence on board and appeared frequently about the decks and saloon, very few were aware of her identity. She is accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel V. Havden. Mr. Hayden is her attorney. Mrs. Maybrick refused to be interviewed, but gave out the following statement: "I regret that the state of my health as well as business reasons prevent my talking to my friends of the American press at this time, as I should like. To them and my fellow countrymen and women, I am deeply indebted for their effort in my behalf, and I take this means of expressing my everlasting gratitude as well as words can and also to thank them for my congratulations on my release, which I regret I have not been j able, personally, to acknowledge. As ! my mother was unable to accompany j me, I came over under the protection i of Mr. Hayden, my attorney, and his wife. I am assured by my E.-.glish physician and by Dr. Wilmer, of Washington, D. C., who prescribed for me during the voyage, that quiet and mental rest will in time restore health. It is on the advice of my counsel and my physician that I have traveled incognito. I cannot express the feeling of deep joy and thankfulness with which I return to my native land. At the earlist oppor | runny 1 wui visii my Diruipiace, xuu| bile, and also Norfolk, Va., my home I during my married life. I now believe 28 I have always that God will in his own time right the great wrong that I have suffered." Seaboard to be Independent New York, Special.?The Seaboard Air Line is to be operated independently of the other Southern railway systems, according to a statement made Tuesday by Thomas F. Ryan, who, with Blair & Co., and T. Jefferson Coolidge, Jr., purchased the 140,000 shares of Seaboard Air Line stock held I by Messrs. Williams and Middendorf. Mr. Ryan said: "The Seaboard Air Line will be operated independently of the other railway systems in the South. The suggestion that has been variously expressed that the Atlantic Coast Line or tha? Southern or any other railroad interest is directly or Indirectly Interested in the purchase of the Seaboard, or that the managers or owners of such properties will in any way influence the management of the Seaboard ia without the slightest foundation." Schooner Burned at Sea. Brunswick, Special.?Capt. C. M. McMeekin, his two sons, and a crew of six of the schooner Adele Thackara, bound from New York to Savannah, arrived early Tuesday night aboard the schooner James B. Jordan. New York to Brunswick. Capt. McMeelcin's vessel caught fire and was totally destroyed Sunday morning after being out from New York 31 days. Ceath of Col. H. C. Jones. Wilmington, N. C., Special.?Col. Hamilton C. Jones, of Charlotte, one of the foremost lawyers in the State, a gentlemau of rare culture and refinement, died here Tuesday afternoon as ne was uuing iuh.cn up stairs uu the elevator at the James Walker Memorial Hospital, on his way back from Southport, where he had been for rest and recuperation after his arduous work as counsel for the defendant in the recent Breese trial at his home. Col. Jones was easily among the foremost lawyers of the South and was a prominent figure at the bar of his State for many years past. He was 63 ype of age. Takes a Fresh Start. Albany, N. Y., Special.?W. E. Woodend & Co., of New York city, was incorporated with a capital of $-100,000 to deal in stock, bonds, securities and other commodities. The directors are: Noah Spingarm and Wm. E. Woodend, of New York city, and Francis J. Waters, of Brooklyn. W. E. Woodend was the senior partner of the firm of W. E. Woodend & Co., of New York, which I suspended several months ago. HOT FIGHTING Japanese Closing in on Every 6EN. SAKABROFF'S LOSS HEAVY | . After an All-Day Engagement Along Their Whole Front, the Russians Retired Slowly Toward Anshan-! than?A Series of Fanatical At- j tacks by the Japanese, the Russians Retiring With Various Losses Except on the Right Flank. St. Petersburg, By Cable.?The general staff has received the following telegram from General Sakharoff, dated August 27: " 1 J?? ? ? * . - j " n " J A/ltfAnnA trAMno I AUVttllt'C gl!?Lius anu autauvc uuwj/a or the southern front Saturday retired slowly towards the fortified positition at Anshanshan. Rifle fire was general along the whole front. The Japanese artillery cannonaded our positions at different points. Our guns poured a heavy fire into the columns of the Japanese as they advanced, and into their works and entrenchments and eventually compelled them to move their vast camp from Famiana to the village of Biassiaza. "At 6 o'clock in the evening there was a lull in the firing. The hottest fighting occurred on our left flank on the south front, where the losses amounted to 200. During the night our advance guards retired to the principal position. Five divisions of the enemy took the offensive against our south front. "Our troops repelled towards the southeast all attacks of the Japanese directed against their front, while our troops on the right flank, taking the offensive towards evening, drove the Japanese back on Tounsinpu. Our losses on the southeast front were about 400. "Our detachment on the east yesterday had a desperate fight against considerable forces of the enemy. "On the right flank, our infantry, though unsupported by artillery, and though the Japanese were at all points superior numerically, firmly and courageously repulsed the attacks begun during the night by the enemy on the advanced positions of Tsegow and Anping. This affair culminated in sharp bayonet fighting and some of our regimental officers received sword, bayonet and revolver wounds. After desperate fighting on the advanced positions in Tsegow and Anping, our troops retired on the main positions supported by artillery. "The Tamboff Regiment, on the left flank at Tsegow, defended an advanced position from 1 o'clock in the morning until 4 o'clock in. the afternoon, repelling all the enemy's attacks at the point of the bayonet. There were four counter attacks. The commander of the regiment. Colonel Klembosky, was wounded. "A turning movement by the enemy against the left flank of the Tsegow position and the enfilading fire of their batteries on Kharouiou heights forced the Tambouff Regiment to retire, and the retreat was effected in good order. Six guns were abandoned, but they were broken and rendered useless. The Japanese attacked like fanatics, and their losses must have been very great. "A wounded Japanese officer, who was taken prisoner, escaped observation after his wound had been dressed, and killed himself by dashing his head against the stones. "Uur troops captured a consiaeraDie i number of rifles, caps and other ar-1 Four Killed by Tonado. Poisoning Case at Augusta, Ga. Augusta. Ga.. Special.?Mary Belle Devin is dead, and Joseph Manseo is seriously ill, as the result of eating bread which had been poisoned with rough on rats mixed in the flour. Neal Williams, who is on bond under the charge of larceny, is wanted by the police in connection with the crime. Manseo probably will recover. Jefferies Wins Fight. 9an Francisco, Special.?Like the veriest amateur in the prize ring. Jack Munroe, of Butte, Mont., went down and out before Champion James Jeffries Friday night in the second round, manking an extremely sorry showing, in Mechanics' Pavilion, and was roundly hooted by the large crowd gathered. The two giants had not been in the ring two minutes when it was foreseen that the aspiiations of Munroe would be quickly dispersed. The raner was scared and awkward, and Jeffries, in the first round, had him twice on the cavas, taking the count. Must Disarm at Shanghai. Washington. Special.?Japan has ed| dressed a note to the powers informing them that unless Russia forthwith dis| arms her warships in Shanghai, Japan I will be forced to take whatever steps J she deems necessary to protect her inI terests. Mr. Takhira, the Japanese minister, called at the State Department and left with Mr. Adee, the Acting Secretary of State, the communica[ tion of the Tokio government. JS REPORTED Russian Stronghold on Side tides of equipment from the Japanese. Our losses on this front have not been definitely ascertained, but they exceed 1,500 killed or wounded. "Notwithstanding the long and desperate fighting and the consequent fatigue, the spirit of our troops was as alert as ever, and in the darkness of night, with rain falling heavily and transforming the ground into liquid mud, they executed the necessary movements, headed by their bands, in perfect order. "On August 27 the enemy had not assumed any definite offensive movement at any point along the whole* front and our troops retired gradually to new positions. At about 2 o'clock in the afternoon it was discovered that the Japanese were moving on Taempine by way of Youdioukau." Getting Near Port Arthur. Chefoo, By Cable. ? Information which to a very great extent confirms previous reports of the condition at Port Arthur was received here by junks which left there on August 24 and August 26. The most important statement agreed to by passengers on these junks who were interviewed by the correspondent of the Associated Press confirms the reports that the Russians have been driven from the fort immediately east of the Dragoon Hills, along the summits of which the eastern defenses of Port Arthur are built. When the Russian forces retired from Fort Etseshan they entered Fort Number 15, to the north of Chacochanko. During the nights of August 18 and 19, while it was raining, the Japanese attempted to storm Fort Antszshan, which is a n/\ai*ir\r\ * ? A 4/-\f nlflnr CVoOflhon OIIUU5 yUOlblVu aujv/iuiug uvwvuuwu vw ward the city, but they were repulsed with heavy losses. During the night of August 22 a heroic band of 500 Japanese attempted to capture Fort Number 5 In the midst of a storm. Almost the entire detachment was killed. The Chinese declare, however, that the Russians have evacuated Fort Number 5, but whether by reason of this assault or the Japanese artillery fire cannot be learned. The Japanese are unable to occupy Number 5. The fighting from August 17 to August 21 was severe, but since the latter date it has been comparatively light On August 26 the fort on Liaoti Mountain was fired on from six Japanese torpedo boats, but the result of the action has not been known. The Russian marines have left the ships in the harbor and are working at the land batteries. Shells from the Japanese fire continue to fall in Port Arthur and the dock yards, and the warships have scattered about the harbor in attempts to protect themselves from the enemy's projectiles. * ?1 ? - ?1/>*ta/1 nn + VtO A L;ninese wnu woo cujpiujcu v/u ....v. docks at Port Arthur says that the battleships Retvizan, Poltava and Sevastopol are badly damaged. The first mentioned ship rests low in the water by the stern. The battleship Pobleda is in fighting condition. There are four gunboats and several torpedo boat destroyers in the harbor. Suicide at St. Louis. St. Louis. Special.?A man supposed from papers found in a coat left lying on the bridge, to be Frank McCormick, of Winter Haven. Fla., committed suicide by leaping from the Eads bridge into the Mississippi river. A watchman saw the man climb to the railing, but not in time to prevent him jumping. Japanese Batteries Silenced. St. Petersburg, By Cable.?A dispatch from Chefoo, dated August 22, says that according to Chinese reports the Japanese bombarded Port Arthur from 6 o'clock in the morning to 1 o'clock in the afternoon, pouring in a heavy fire, but that the Russians succeeded in silencing the Japanese batteries. The Japanese fleet was not engaged, having put further out to sea. Briefs of a General Nature. Congressman Frank C. Wachther was a visitor at Republican headquarters in New York. Congressman Littauer, of "glove" fame, was a guest of President Roosevelt. Eddie Fay, alleged to be the most expert postoffice robber in the country, broke jail at Janesville, Wis. John C. Cutler, supported by Senator Srcoot, was nominated by Republicans for Governor of Utah. Secretary W. H. Taft defended the administration in a speech at Montpelier, Vermont. Four persons were killed by a tornado at Stockton, N. Y. Prof. C. WT. Shields, one of the leading scientific teachers at Princeton, is dead. In a short time the Weather Bureau by means of wireless telegraph, will gather data for forecasts 300 miles at sea. The shipment of currency West and South to move crops has begun vigorously. A section of an armored cruiser will be erected at Sandy Hook as a target for the army ordnance department. TRIAL OF LYNCHERS Examioatioi Into the Statesboro Case- Begun CAPT- HITCH TRIES TO EXPLAIN First Evidence in the Investigation at Savannah of the Failure of the Military at Statesboro. Savannah. Ga., Special.?The first evidence was Introduced today before the court of inquiry appointed by Governor Terrell to investigate the conduct of the two companies of Georgia State troops at Stateeboro a few . days ago, when two negroes were burned. The Governor's correspondence wae read, showing him to have dispatched a company from 8avannah, under Captain Robert M. Hitch to Statesboro to join the Statesboro Guards in the protection of the prisoners. Col. Grayson considered that Captain Hitch had the Judgment and bravery that would enable him to cope with the delicate situation. Captain Hitch then took the stand, giving evidence for seveial hours. He maintained that the plans of the mob had been so caicfully laid that not even a regiment of soldiers could V have successfully resisted them. These plans even contemplated the destruction of the railroad leading to Statesboro in order to prevent the arrival of re-enforcements should they have been ordered to the scene. His own experience as a military man, reaching over 14 years and acquired in all grades up to that of captain, was recited by Captain Hitch, who told of having before participated in riot duty and of having observed the moral efTect upon a crowd that the command "Load" carries. This command he had intended , , giving at the proper time, but juatbefore that time, in his opinion, was reached, he was seized by a muscular deputy sheriff, who threw bim down stairs to the mob below, which promptly disarmed him. It was to this seizure that Captain Hitch attributed his failure to make a more desperate effrot for the defense of the prisoners. One statement made by Captain Hitch was thought strange, in that it showed lack of information that few interested were without. He said he had had no intimation of the purpose of the mob to seize and lynch the negroes as soon as they should be convicted. Even in Savannah, 60 miles from Statesboro, it was authentically reported that the mob contemplated seizing and burning the * negroes just as soon as possible after their conviction. Members of the court sought to learn why Captain Hitch had not ordered up his reserves of 40 or 50 men from the jail. He was asked if he did not recognize the need for them, to which he answered that he did, and that he was praying for them to come. "Then why did you not send for them?" asked a member of the court. "Because I could not think of everything at once," said Qaptain Hitch, who had, however, according to his testimony, dispatched Lieut. A. A. Morrison to the telegraph office to request that more troops be seat from Savannah. ________ ** Skirmishing in Manchuria. St. Petersburg, By Cable.?Emperor Nicholas has received the following dispatch, under date of August 25, from General Kuropatkin: "On August 24 a Japanese battalion delivered and attack in the valley of Sundahkaya, from Tantziaputzy. The Japanese advance was checked at 3 p. m. at Laodintau by a Russian company, five men of which were wounded. "The same day two Russian companies successfully resisted the advance of the enemy in superior force at Sunoyinapu, where the Japanese suspended operations when cur re-enforcements arrived. The Russian losses were one ofTicer, wounded and 53 men killed or wounded. First Export of New Cotton. Galveston, Texas, Special.?Friday the first cotton of the new crop to be cleared for foreign ports left on the steamer Torrehead, of the Head Line. The cotton Is consigned to three different ports, all In Russia. Reval, Russia, will get 300 bales; Riga, Russia. 100 bales, and 100 bales are for St. Petersburg. Consignments will go via Belfast. Cane Growers' Convention. Savannah, Ga., Special.?Capt. D. G. Purse, president of the Inter-State Sugar Cane Growers' Association, has named the 25th, 2Gth and 27th of January, 1905, as dates for convening the third apnual convention, at Montgomery, Ala., after consulting with Maj. W. W. Screws, editor of The Advertiser, of that city, to avoid conflict of dates with the National Editorial Association, many of whose members in the South desire to attend the convention in Montgomery, and of which body Major Screws is president. -V Excited Market in Liverpool. Liverpool, By Cable?A large business was done In cotton futures Tuesday. The strength of the New York market sent prices up sharply amid much excitement January and February were especially strong, touching 8.59, or 16 points over the 12:15 p. m. value. August and September touched 6.00, but reacted a little under realizing The close was very exciting.