Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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HON SENATOR'S DEFENSE. End Smoot Betes lie is Not and las Not Seen a Polygamist and is Not Sound fey Alleged Oath: Th? Answer to the Charges Throws Some Light on Afairs of His Church. 1 RIOT IN NORFOLK. Norfolk, Va., Jan. IO.-As the re? nault of a fight between citizens and marines at the Portsmouth Ferry dock today Lawson Caddy and Joseph Flynn mxe in a hospital fatally cut, and "Sobert Dadden, Benjamin Marks, frank Benedick and Joe Donohne, marines, are held by the police pend -iag the result of the men's injuries, llore serions trouble was averted by a large detachment of police charging the ferry house and fighting their way .-though the combatants to stop a squad of marines on an incoming ferry boat .feom landing. The affray occurred in --?be white passenger room on the Nor? folk side of the river. Just what caused the row is not yet known, but it started suddenly, and in an instant ^athere was a general fight, in which about fifty citizens and marines, about equally divided, were engaged. One of the marines, Dadden, the police charge, drew a razor and began slash? ing right and left. Lawson Cuddy's breast is a series of gashes and a wide cat on the back and side of his neck barely missed his jugular vein. Joe ^flynn's right ann is almost severed at the shoulder by a wound, extending ?from bis collar bone down and around to his spine. He has ether dangerous injuries. A riot call for police brought a detail of police, who stopped the ^fighting. . Washington, Jan. 9-The response of Senator Seed Smoot of Utah to the charges made against him was present? ed to the senate committee on privi 3eges and elections today hy Senator Buriows, chairman of the committtee. lt- was agreed that at the regular meet? ing of the committee to be held next Saturday, the attorneys for Mr. Smoot and also for the petitioners should be i ea rd. They will be expected to show precedents and authorities, and after they shall have made their presentation the committee will decide whether to go further into the matter by calling witnesses, or dispose of it on the show? ing which will then have been made. M:r. Smoot submits in answer to charges against him the following : "?his respondent is advised and avers that but two of the charges made against him in said protests, either etly or by implication, are such as, if true, could legally affect his right to hold his* seat in the senate. These two charges are : ~ "JL, That the respondent is a poly? gamy That he is bound by some oath'I or obligation which SB inconsistent! ?with the oath required by the const]tu- ' tion, which was administered to him before he took his seat as a senator. .* 1Both of these charges the respondent denies, ".As to the charge that he is a poly? gamist, the respondent says that he was married on the 17th of September, ?884, to Alpha May Eldridge. She is .still his. wife and the mother of all of children. He has never had any wife, and has never cohabitated any other woman. 1 As to the charge that the respondent is bound by some oath or obligation wc trolling his duty under his oath as a senator, the respondent says that he has never .taken any sucia oath, or in any way assumed any such obligation. He holds himself bound to obey and uphold the constitution and laWs of the United States, including the condition in reference to polygamy upon which the State of Utah was ad? mitted into the union. *1 The respondent denies that he is one of said alleged self-perpetuating body of lo men, or that there is any such body of men, or that the follow? ers or members of the Church of Jesus .Christ of Latter Day Saints, or any of them, accord the right to said alleg? ed body to claim supreme authority, either divinely sanctioned or oner wi se, -to shape the belief or control the con? duct of those under them in all or any matters, civil or temporal, or that said church or such alleged body claims or otherwise exercises any such alleged rights: or that said church, or said * alleged body, or any person . or body exercises any authority or power too inculcate or H&wicourage a belief in the practice of polygamous cohabitation, or that : -either countenances or connives at any violation of the laws of the State of Utah or of the United States, and this v respondent for himself in particular denies that he is one of said alleged '.?J; -self-perpetuating body of 15 men, or that there is any such body, Or that said church, or any part thereof, or K|any person therein, inculcates or ?^encourages a belief in the practice of polygamy or belief in or practice of polygamous cohabitation, and this re? spondent denies that he is guilty of - polygamous cohabitation, or that he is a polygamist, or that he has been a polygamist, or that he ever practiced -polygamous cohabitation. " Mr. Smoot denies that he has ever ' connived at any violation of any law of Utah or the United States, and de? clares that "since the manifesto of President Wilford Woodruff was issued in 1890, neither a belief in, nor a prac? tice of polygamy or polygamous '^cohabitation has either been taught ?or encouraged.'. Mr. Smoot admits that the first presi? dency of the Mormon church is vested erith supreme authority in all things temporal so far as temporal things pertain to the affairs of the church. Mo denies that the first presidency or 12 apostles are supreme in the exercise ?sf t ie alleged mandates. It is admitted that the Mormon -church made a rule in regard to its -leading officials taking part in politics, .bat denies that this mle is fully or correctly set forth in the protest. Seattle, Wn., Jan. 9.-The steamer -Clallaxn of the Seattle-Victoria fleet went down early this morning midway between Smith Island and Dungenness, ia the straits of Juan de Fe ca. Fifty two persons were drowned. , Imt SEN. JOHN B. GORDON DEAD. The CI036 of an Eventful and Distinguished Career-Com-, mander-in-Chief of the Con? federate Veterans. ; Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 9.-Lieut. Gen. John Brown Gordon died at his winter home near Miami, Fla., at 10.05 to? night. His fatal illness, which over? took him last Wednesday, was conges? tion of the stomach and liver, follow? ing an acute attack of indigestion, to which he was subject. The beginning of the end occnrred this afternoon, serious complications setting in, land by night his pbysi cians had abndoned all hope, as his kidneys refused to secrete, and^ uramic poisoning was very decided. His death was quiet. He fell peacefully to sleep and all was over. Gen. Gordon became ill Wednesday afternoon last with acute indigestion. He had suffered from the same trouble in Mississippi many months ago. At ll o'clock Thursday morning a con? sultation of physicians was held, and it was found that he was seriously and critically ill. His son, Maj. Hugh Gordon, who resided at Biscayne, was with him. A telegram was sent to his daughter, /Mrs. Burton Smith of Atlanta, calling her to his bedside. She was with him when he died. Gen. Gordon grew steadily worse until 'today, when he was unconscious most of the time. Gen. and Mrs. Gordon h?d been in Florida this winter only three weeks before his death. His health had been unusually good prior to his fatal attack, G?n. Gordon's body will be shipped to his home at Kirkwood, near At? lanta, Ga., tomorrow night, leaving here a 8 oclock. The party will reach Atlanta Monday afternoon. Gen. Gordon was born in Upson county. Ga., July 6, 1832, of Scotch ancestry, which had a prominent part in the Revolutonary war. Young Gordon graduated from the Georgia State university, and a few months later was admitted to the practice of law. Early in 1861 he enlisted in the volunteer Confederate service, and was elected captain of his company. He rose rapidly by promo? tion to be lieutenant colonel of the Sixth Alabama infantry, in Dec. 1861. He participated in the struggle on the peninsula, had part in the battle at Malvern Hill and was commissioned brigadier general in Nov., 1862. He was in command: at Chancellorsville and in the peninsula campaign. He was at the battle of Gettysburg, the battle of the Wilderness, at Spottsyl vania Court House. In May, 1864, was promoted to be major g?n?ral, and took part in the important battles which marked the closing scenes of. the Civil war. His bearing was characterized by boldness and a dash which made him the idol of his soldiers Ia an official report of Gen. D. H. Hill, Gen. Gordon was characterized as "the Chevalier Bayard of the Con federcy." When hostilities were ended he called his men about him and advised them to bear the trial of defeat, to go home in peace, obey the laws and rebuild the wasted country. He has taken a prominent part in the c^mcils of his party since 1866. He was a defeated candidate for governor of Georgia in 1868, and in 1873 and 1879 was elected to the United States senate. Resign? ing that position in 1880, he partici? pated actively in building the Georgia Pacific railroad. In 1880 and 1888 he was elected governor of Georgia, and in 1890 entered again the United States senate for the full term. Since his retirement from political activity he bas devoted much of his time to lecturing, presenting to the north as well as the south his lecture upon " The Last Days of the Confederacy." Since the organization of the United Confederate Veterans he has held ?he position of commander in chief, and his frequent reelections to that posi? tion have testified to the warm of affection in which he has been held in the south. The State Out of Debt ! Colubia, Jan. 10.-The reports of the fiscal officers of the State for the past year will be in the nature ol a surprise to the general public, for instead of a deficit a small surplus,, something in the neighborhood of $50, 000, will be shown. It is explained that this surplus is due to the money Senator Tillman obtained from the United States on account of Indian and other claims. That sum will not be available again this year in counting the receipts, but it. is expected that increased valuation of property and increased receipts from other sources will place the State on a cash basia This is probable, even if nothing is done in the way of tax ro'form, and there will be numerous schemes on that line to come before the Legislature. It was the supposed lack of funds that operated against an appropriation for the St. Louis Exposition. The bill in reference to that is still on the Calen? dar and maybe it is not too late yet to do something towards having the State represented at that Exposition. Gen. Reyes Leaves Washington. Washington, Jan. ll. -Gen. Rafael Reyes, the Colombian envoy who has been in Wash i neon in connection with the Panama matter for about a mouth left the city at midnight for New York. preparato?y to his departure for Colombia in a fuw days. The departure of Gen. Reyes does not constitute the breaking of diplo maic relations with the United States, but merely the suspension of the negotiations which have been going on with the state department having in view the rei! ;egrationof Panama as a part of the United States of Colom? bia. Whether they will be resumed hereafter is not known. Dr. Herran, 'the Colombian charge, remains in Washington to attend to legation busiuess other than Panania matters. Advices which have reached here from Colombia show that there is still considerable excitemeut there over the attitude the United States bas taken in the Panama matter. Gen. Reyes made a farewell call on Secretary Hay today. He endeavored j to show Gen. Reyes the. futility of | Colombia's efforts to regain Panama, ! but regards the matter as still open to further efforts toward a peaceful ' adjustment. ' ? GERMANY WILL NOT INTERFERE. Japan and Russia Must Go it Alone if They Insist on Fight? ing. Germany's Neutral Position Insures the Non-interference of Other European Powers in Case of War-Prepa? rations for Hostilities are Still Actively Progress? ing. London, Jan. IO.-It is learned on j the highest authority that it has been decided, in the event of war between Russia and Japan, that Germany will maintain a strict neutrality, and that other members of the Dreiband will observe a similar attitude. The importance of this decision, which will be announced almost im? mediately in some official manner in Berlin,cannot be easily over-estimated. In a measure it will insure that hosti? lities will be confined to the two pow? ers concerned, and it will be certain to give a great stimulus to the efforts France and Great Britian are making in St. Petersburg and Tokio respective? ly in favor bf peace. j RUSSIA BULLDOZES CHINA. London, Jan. H.-The Tien Tsin correspondent of the Daily Mail says that the. Russian Government has sent to the Chinese Government a threat that Russia would immediately occupy Pekin should China join forces with Japan. As a result the grand council has advised the throne to adopt a pol? icy of neutrality. JAPAN PONDERS HER ANSWER. London, Jan. 10.-At the Japanese legation tonight it was said that the far Eastern situation remained un? changed. No news has been received by the legation, and it was believed that some days might elapse before any developments occurred, as Japan was still considering her reply. No news had been received at the legation concerning the reported dispatch of troops to Corea. CHINESE BADLY FRIGHTENED. Pekin, Jan. 10.-Predictions in the native press that a war is inevitable and imminent, and that China will certainly be involved, are causing great uneasiness. Many Chinese fear a repetition of the scenes of pillage a".d murder which made the year 1900 UK arable. ? . mbers of the employees on the ra..road between New Chwang and Span Hai Kwan have deserted their posts, thinking that the country tra? versed by the railroad will surely be the scene of the fighting. Reports from Manchuria are to the effect that there is great military ac? tivity there. The railroads are bring? ing troops from Russia, and the wom? en and children at Port Arthur and New Chwang are preparing to leave. The Russian general at New Chwang has been called to Port Arthur for service. Every steamer for Japan is carrying the Japanese from North China who belong to the reserve. THE NEWS RECEIVED IN LON? DON. London, Jan. ll.-The reassuring news that the Russian war ships which recently left Vladivostock have returned there is confirmed irr a Vla? divostock dispatch received at St. Petersburg. The dispatch asserts, however, that only the armored cruiser Gromovol went to sea for a couple of days' prac? tice, th6 other ships of the fleets hav? ing remained at Vladivostock through? out. Special dispatches from Tokio, printed in this mc ming's newspapers are ver? warlike, but add little or j nothing to the knowledge of the situa- j tion. j They reiterate that Japan has no j idea of sending an ultimatum to Rus? sia. Anxiety is apparently felt in To^io j for the safety of the cruisers Niasin and Kasaga, which left Genoa on Sat? urday and in connection with the de? parture of which the Genoa corres? pondent of the Daily Mail this morn? ing gives a curious story to the effect that an iron bar was found inside the ammunition hold of the Niasin, placed in such a position that it short-cir? cuited the electrical apparatus, with, it is suggested, the object of destroy? ing the vessel, although there, is no evidence to show that its being there was not accidental. No serious dam? age was done. Seoul dispatches report the arrival of additional Russian and Italian ma? rines there. The Daily Mail's Tokio correspond? ent asserts that the negotiations be? tween Russia and Japan have passed beyond diplomacy, and states that some Corean officials have appealed to the American legation at Seoul for protection, hut that Minister Allen up? braided them for thinking of their personal safety at such a juncture. RUSSIAN VIEW OF OUR CLAIMS. St. Petersburg, Jan. 10 -Referring to the interest of the United States in the situation the No voe Vremya says : "Undoubtedly the United States, above all other Powers, can confident? ly expect that its trade will not suffer by Russian possession of Manchuria, and it would be tactless on America's j part to demand now what she could ! gain peacefullywhen everything quiets down." NO FIGHTING FOR A MONTH. i St. Petersburg, Jan 10.-The most reliable news recieved here is that t.be mass of Russian troops in the far East is concentrated at Vladivostock or on the northern frontier of Corea. A traveller, who h?*.s returned late? ly from the far East, estimates thar between 100,000 and '200.0( 0 soldiers j were in the vicinity of Vladivostock. j He surmises that the Russians will occupy Northern Corea, but that the i possible collision was not imminent for a month or more, taking into con- ; sideration distances and the difficul? ties of marching. Paris. Jan. 11.- A sttroog current; of official sentiment was set in motion today favorable to strengthening the j hand of Russia in her claims to exer- J eise paramount influence in Man- ! cliuria. lt is pointed out that Russia, j baving conceded Japan's paramount \ influence in Corea, Japan appears to I be unwilling to make a reciprocal COD- ? cession by recognizing Russia's para ? mount influence in Manchuria. There j is reason to believe that the late ? Russian note makes clear Kassia's atti? tude and intentions concerning Man? churia and how far she is disposed to recognize Japanese ambitions in Man? churia. The general purport of the Russian position is that Japanese merchants and individuals shall have the right of free access to Manchuria for purposes of travel and commerce, but that Kas? sia does not wish this to be extended to the colonization of Japanese in large communities .in Manchuria. Strong sympathy is expressed here in behalf of the Russian view as it is said that the general admission of Japanese colonization in Manchuria would create questions of political and racial domination. It is asserted to be in the interest of the commerce of Europe and America that Russia should replace China's authority in Manchuria. It is maintained in governmental quarters that it is to the general interests of Europe and America to give moral support to a settlement of the pending conflict on the basis of Japan's authority in Corea and Russia's authority in Man? churia. Those who are in the best position to know Russia's intentions say her determination to exercise her sphere of influence in Manchuria is irrevocable. Owing to Russia's latest attitude in Manchuria it is the view of official circleg here that the main issue of the negotiations now centers cn Manchu? ria, instead of Corea. RUSSIA'S MANCHURIAN POSI? TION. Berlin, Jan. H.-The Russian gov I eminent has informed the power that it will respect fully the rights any nation has in Manchuria under treaty with China. This declaration is made without'reservation. Russia gives formal exxpression to this policy now in consequence of the controversy with Japan, one cf whose persistent contentions has been for a definition of Russia's policy in Man? churia and an acknowledgment of Japan's trade privileges. Russia's reply has been, in substance, as follows : "We cannot discuss Manchuria with you any more than we could Australia or the Philippines. Manchuria be? longs neither to us nor to you. It does not lie within the jurisdiction of either of us to dispose of the future of Manchuria." ' Russia, however, is willing to ob? serve the treaty rights ox the powers in Manchuria and now engages to do so. Russia, it is added, thus removes from the negotiations one of the moral ' supports of other powers and whereon she especially had the sympathy of the United States and Great Britain. CHINESE MINISTERS' ADVICES. London, Jan. 12.-The Times' Pekin correspondent, cabling under yester? day's date, says that the Chinese min? ister at Tokio, at the request of the Japanese foreign office, telegraphed the following communication to Prince Ching : "The second Russian reply to the Japanese proposals has been received at Tokio, but it is unfavoraDle and cannot be accepted by Japan, who will, unless Russia recedes, be com? pelled to promptly resort to arms. "In view of such an eventuality Japan urges and expects China tomin tain the strictest neutrality, to pre? serve order throughout the empire, to guard foreigners resident in the inte? rior and to take special care to pre? serve order in the provinces of Shan Tung and Yunnan, lest foreign powers might seize the pretext of disorder and make aggressive movements there? in." The correspondent says that the dis? patch has deeply impressed the Chinese who now believe war to be inevitable. I He adds that notes looking to the ratification of the treaty between . China and Japan were exchanged yesterday afternoon. NOTHTNIG NEW. London, Jan. ll.-It is learned by the Associated Press that the terms enunciated in the forecast of the Rus? sian communication to the powers cabled from Berlin today are practi? cally identical with Russia's former reply of which Japan asked a recon? sideration. It is stated that Russia's last reply, which Japan is now considering, dif? fers in not essential from Russia's previous proposals, the only difference being in the wording, together with some minor concessions concerning Corea, which it is stated Japan con aiders immaterial. PREPARING HER FINAL PRO? POSALS. Tokio, Jan. ll.-The cabinet and elder statesmen met for a joint con? ference at the official residence of Premier Katsura this afternoon. The premier, who is ill, was not present. They discussed the political'and strate? gical situation and will report to the throne tomorrow. The note delivered by Foreign Min ister Honiara on Saturday to Baron de I Rosen, the Russian minister, was merely preliminary to Japan's formal response which has not yet been de? livered. The questions at issue were discussed I at today's conference of the cabinet and elder statesmen and a final deci- ! sion is expected tomorrow. When this has been reached, the conference will appear before the throne and submit the answer agreed upon. After this has been done the final proposals of Japan will be handed to Baron de j Rosen. Pardons of a Year. The Governor hes completed his re? port as to pardons ra ii ted during 1003. Of offenses grave enough to put thc convicts in the Pentientiary only fifteen were granted, which is quite a fjilli PS" of from previous yeirs. For chain gang offenses the pardons ; and commutations were anout the same. The matter of pardons is ;ne i which requires a great deal of atten- ? tion from the Governor. Petitions J are almost daily received, and it is no ' uncommon thing for delegations to call in behalf of some pricier. It is impossible for the Governor to review ail the papers presented to him, and actiun is almost invariably taken on the recommendation of the solicitor an?l Judge. In many cases the jurors who convicted the criminal recom? mends pardon or a commutation. It seems a very easy mater for a great many convicts to get all of these en? dorsements for pardon, and whatever the number granted hy the present or former Governors, it is insignificant in comparison with the number of petitions presented, which are endors? ed by citizens, solicitors and Judges. GEN. JOHN B. GORDON VERY ILL. His Physicians Entertain Serious Fears That He Wi!! Die. Miami, Fla., Jpn. 7.-Geu. John B. Gordon is dangerously ill at his home, Biscayne, seven miles north of the city. The attack is similar to one that he suffered from some time ago on a railroad train in Mississippi. It is inaflmmation of the stomach, caus? ed by an acute attack of indigestion, to which he is subject. The following bulletin has just been issued by the attening physicians of Gen. John B. Gordon: "Gen. John B. Gordon's condition remains the same as at noon. He grew much weaker at 5 this afternoon, bnt responded to stimulants and has rallied somewhat; is now resting more quiet? ly. Temperature 104 ; pulse -16. "His wife and two sons are with him. His daughters, Mrs. Burton Smith and Mrs. Orton Bishop Brown, have been notified. "Gen. Gordon's condition is very critical. His advanced age (72) and general depleted strength from pre? vious impaired health, causes his physicians to entertain serious fears of the outcome. "Gramling and Jackson, "Attending Phsicians." ELEVEN O'CLOCK BULLETIN. The following bulletin, issued by Drs. Gramling and Jackson, the at? tending physicians to Gen. John B. Gordon, was given out at ll o'cock tonight: Temperature 102 3-5 ; pulse 10$. Resting little more quiet. FOR BACK TAX ON ROLLING STOOL Effort Being Made by Mr. Gantt, as the Agent of the Sinking Fund Commission. Hon. Jesse T. Gantt, agent of the sinking fund commission, recently in? stituted proceedings to secure back taxes with penalties from a number of large shipping concerns which operate their own cars in South Carolina. This action was hacked up by an opinion of the attorney general, who decided that taxes could be collected from firms of the character of the Pullman company, Nelson Morris, Armour, Plankington, the Standard Oil company and other enterprises which operate freight cars in the State. Mr. Gantt communicat? ed with these firms to the extent in? dicated and the advance guard of the answers have begun to arrive. Nelson Morris & Co., the well known packers, write that they have submitted- the matter to their counsel. A" new phase is disclosed in the let? er to Mr. Gantt from Mr. Thos. M. Towl of New York city, the manager of the real estate and tax department of the Standard Oil company. He writes : "Your letter directed to the Stand? ard Oil company has been forwarded to me as/ agent of the Union Tank Line compny, the Standard Qil com? pany not owning any cars which enter the State of South Carolina. "The Union Tank Line company, a corporation organized and doing busin* JS under the laws of the State of New Jersey, owns a large number of tank cars that are used by the different railroads in the country for transporting liquid freight. These cars.are not operated by the Union Tank Line company but are leased to the different railroads who use them as they would their own cars, billing and collecting for the freight. The only consideration which the Union Tank Line company receives for the use of these cars is a mileage which is paid to them by the different rail? roads over which the cars run, which rate is the same as one railroad would pay another for the use of ears belong? ing to them which might come upon their road. "The Union Tank Line company has no agent and never has had an agent and does no business in the State of South Carolina. Therefore I cannot see how said cmpany would be liable to taxation in said State. "On receipt of this letter I would like to have you send me a copy of che latest edition of your statues with the session laws from the date of the last edition of your statutes to date, and write and tell me under what; provi? sion of your law you claim that the Union Tank Line company is liable to taxation in your State. "On receipt of these laws I will in? vestigate the matter and write to you or, if necessary, come and see you with regard to it. "We do not wish to avoid taxation but are not so generous that we care to pay taxes unless there is some law compelling us to do so." The movement which Mr. Gantt is pushing has been forestalled by the State of Mississippi, which expects to get hundreds of thousands of dollars of back tax from these companies. The State. The State's Money. The State has now on hand to run the government until next November, or until taxes come in, $467,143.74, and if the State was run strictly on a cash basis this would be all that could be appropriated, but such will not be the case. The total claims against the State, including notes and other matters of this kind, amounts to $516, 776.90, and the cash balance amounts to 820(3,983. OS. There is outstnding, however, including the $S9,000 secured by Senator Tillmn, which the general assembly may place to the general fund, 8776,937.61. This makes a total of 8983,920.69, and with the $516.776.95 subtracted from his there will be a balance of $467,143.74.-Columbia K?cord. London, Jan. IL-Short time, 40 hours weekly, instead of 56, was start? ed today in a number of mills using American cotton in the Ashton-Under Lino district, in accordance with the recommendation of the Cotton Spin? ners' association in its effort to abol? ish cotton speculation. Washington, Jan. H.-The senate in executive .-ession today laid on tho table the .motion to reconsider the confirmation of tho nomination of W. [. Buchanan to 'oe minister tc Panama. Thc vote was 38 to 16, divided on partv lines with the exception of Sena or >leCreary (Dem.) of Kentucky, who voted with tho R?publians. Gordon and Longstreet. Mrs. Longstreet gives out for publi? cation a statement to the effect that, when the General was stricken with his last illness, she was engaged in completing a reply to the recent criti? cism of General John B. Gordon, on her husband's conduct at the basile of Gettysburg. We suppose Mrs. Longstreet's article will be published in due time, and that it will be taken as the last utter? ance of her husband cn the subject of Gettysburg : for, while the composition is hers, we suppose the views presented are in the main his. Mrs. Longstreet is represented as saying that General Longstreet's operations at Gettysbrg were "above suspicion of reproach, nntii. he came under the political ban of the South." Inasmuch as Mrs. Longstreet has referred to this question at this time,, it may not be amiss to quote what. General Gordon did say. Gordon in. his memoirs conceded that Longstreet was undoubtedly among the great American soldiers who have attained distinction in our Civil War, and he added. But it is now certain thar impartial military critics, after thor? ough investigation, will consider the following as established : "L That General Lee ordered Long? street to attack early the morning cf. the second day, and if he had done so,, two of the largest corps of Meade's army would not have been in the fight :. but Longstreet delayed the attack un? til 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and thus lost his opportunity of occupying Little Round Top, the key to the position, which he might have done in the morning without firing a shot or losing: a man. '12. That General Lee ordered Long steet to attack at daybreak on the morning of the third day, and that he did not attack until 2 or 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the artillery opening at once. "3. That General Lee, according to the testimony of Colonel Walter H. Taylor, Colonel C. S. Venable and General A. L. Long, who were present when the order was given, ordered Longstreet to make the attack on the last day, with the three divisions of his corps, and two divisions of A. P. Hill's corps, and that instead of doing so he sent fourteen thousand men tc-, assail Meade's army, in bis stroug: position and heavily entrenched. "4. That the great mistake of the halt on the first day would have been repaired on the second, and even on-' the third day, if Lee's orders had been vigorously executed, and that General. Lee died believing (the testimony on this point is overwhelming) that he lost Gettysburg at last by Longstreets" disobedience of orders. "It has remained," said Mrs. Lone street, "for Major-General John B. Gordon, once of the Army of Northern Virginia, to revive this controversy, etc." It will be seen that she refers to General Gordon not as a lieutenant general, but as a major-general. Th? fact is, we believe that General Gor? don, though but a major-general, com? manded a corps towards the close of hostilities, but it had been promised that a commission as lieutenant general should be forwarded to him from Richmond. Whether the com? mission was actually made out and signed or not, we do not now remem? ber, but we do recall the fact that General Gordon once published a card claiming that the circum? stances were such that he was entitled to be called a lieuten? ant-general. It may be, indeed, that the commission actually had been mailed him. In this connection we may say that if it is not a fact, as stated in some newspapers, that the last of the com? missioned lieutenant-generals of the Confederate army died with General Longstreet. That is an error. Gen? eral A. P. Stewart and General Simon P. Buckner, both of whom were lieut? enant-generals, are living. So, toe, are Stephen D. Lee and General Whether, but whether they had actually received the commission intended for them before the surrender, we cannot say.-Richmond Times-Dispatch. Safety of London Theatres. Since 1858, upon authority of Sir Algernon West, but one life has been lost by fire in any properly licensed London theatre. The one life lost was that of a fireman who perished in the performance of his duty at the Alham? bra in 1882: This splendid showing is not due to the superiority of London theatres, considered from a structural sta nd poi it, but rather to the precau? tions enjoined and absolntely enforc? ed. In London theatres the asbestos curtain must be lowered once during every performance, to demonstrate that it is in working order, doors must" open outward, passages and stairways must be kept clear and many other precautions must absolutely be observ? ed. During a performance such exit doors as are closed must be secured by automatic bolts, such as are approved by the council and a most important matter, the public must be permitted to use any and all of the various exits when leaving the building, thus fami? liarizing it with the different means of escaping in the event of fire. An independent system of lighting, to be used in the event of the extin? guishment of the principal system, must be provided and kept in perfect working order. These must be kept lighted while the public occupies the premises. The use of mineral oil in the lamps of this second lighting sys? tem is prohibited. All hanging cur? tains and draperies must be so treated painted on canvas that has been treated as to be noniraflamablo. Scenery ::s with a solution to render it nonimfiam able, while the paints used by tte ! scenic artists, contain no oils. Heie i are some practicable suggestons for tte I regulation of our American theatre?, j They would amount to nothing, how ! ever, without enforcement, a thing ! that is strictly looked after in London, I where they have a system of inspection I that inspects, a system of regulation J that regulates. Mexico, Jan. 8.-At the Los Laurels ! mines, west of Guadalajara, a large I number of boxes of dynamite stored ir. j a powder house, exploded yesterday, S killing twenty men and injuring forty j others. The detonations were heard many miles away and an American ! mine owner, working in his mine. I three miles away, was killed by a I falling rock that had been jarred by ! the concussion. Details are lackiug I but it is reported that the disaster ! was caused by the exploson of a dynamite cap in the powder house.