Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

. m mmuiim wm. Oculars Sent Out by Commis? sioner Watson. < -information as to the Best Methods of inducing Immigrants to Settle in South Carolina. A Columbia, April lo.-Commisisoner of Immigration Watson issued today -iwo circular letters of conisderable im? portance to those interested in immi? gration, and which' he desires given tho widest publicity. He has received a number of inquiries from land owners and others, and his letter -which follows explains the method by ?which the settlers can be obtained : CIRCULAR No. L To the Land Owners of South Caro ?iaa: Immediately upon assuming the -duties of commissioner of agriculture, ^commerce- and immigration, realizing ?ally t.b.e necessity for speedy action looking to the highest development ot tire -State'% 8gricuHrual interest -ifcrougb "tbs medium. of S'ntelrigent waite settlers. I made thorough ;iuves -4igat*on in the east of ?be -metbods employed by the different States of tate "Union in securing -'tao best types of immigrants, now entering the "halted States in greater numbers than . ?war before in the country's history. J! have boen fortunate in pursuing irrvestigations and in -making ' "V ^itereby^re-can/secure a*?:sett?ers T&cn very lis esJtBraiStates . harvest ?le?s, %he Ho* 3?e ?di?#BpW'w?sfevT?aces sad increase of taxable property and lacrease of production and wealth. The :office now needs to be\ advised at once of the location of available ~-3ssds and needs further to know xnr asediately the wants of the farmers of -ino State complaining of the lack of 'iatolBgent farm labor. We need to -traow -also of th e I ocat i on and value our undeveloped waterpowers, clay Mraefaf deposits, and have the owners list them upon the register in ^?be office, with prices at which they viii selL Wo need to know likewise of available large tracts suitable for ibo location of successful colonies. . The Act. creating this department '"--requires the commissioner to act without fee as the agent of the citizens of the State; who wish to meet the excess expenses of bringing desirable immigrants'to their farm or other "-=2ands, and directs him to secure those who desire to purchase-homes, become citizens of the State and build up the ^?ricuiiural interests.. The act further ??rovides: "That he i the commission "*?r|' shall also collect from the farmers sad land owners of the state and list ?^aferm?tion as to lands stating the] member of acres, location, the terms ?**3tporu which they may be bought, leas I cr shared to desirable settlers ; that a-land registry shall bo kept, and in connection therewith, from time to ?Sme, publication shall ; be made, de - ?crip?ive. of such listed agricultural. -?iceral, forest-and trucking land and Bg?ctory sites as may be offered to the H| -department for sale or share which ffiMKiblications shall be in attractive *^f?m, setting forth the county, towo ?^.snip, number of acres names and ad ' 'tesses of owners, and such other in -Sermation as may be helpful in plac -iag Inquiring home-seekeis in cominu -^aicstion with land-owners.'* -Jp this end several forms of blanks iaye been prepared and will oe for ??sshed all laud owners and farmers ^BJPO? application to this office. They First, for these wishing desirable -farm Iber. .Second, for those wishing tenant --settlers. Third, for these wishing share set Hers. i Fourth, for those wishing to offer ?fends to purchasing settlers and large tracts for colonization purposes, as -spell as to offer water powers, kaolin beds, mines, etc For tiie information of the land own ess it is stated that the prevailing cus? tom in securing farm laborers and even -porch ase rs from among those who ^?eafioe across the Atlantic to these ? shores, no matter what amount they acing with them, is for these who want ^Sbein to prepay their passage and inci? dental expenses of transfer at New "TCork," the steaa ship lines furnishing -tickets, before departure through to destination. This is considered an earnest of the good faith of the people '-among.whom the settler is to live, and ?ares much trouble at the port of en -try. Of ccc^e, the refund of the ?amount thus advanced is secured. At present exceptionally low rates prevail .tftrer all Trans-Atlantic lines. For ~>H?be movement of settlers from the "^Sast the office has made gratifying ar '^mgements. At present like arrange "^meuts are being made for the move sent of settlers from the Northwest aad other portiocs of the country. The proper method in this matter is fer t^e land owners wishing sQch set? ters, of whom many are already listed Se file, the formal application on the - ^proper black in this offiice authorize ?fee commissioner, to draw upon them ^*4pr the amount of prepaid tickets, ?Sfeavethe tickets supplied iu New York, -?ad the agreement made wi tb the set? iler for the refuadment, thus arrang? ing all details without extra cost to the land owner. It is very important that the infor? mation as to lands be famished this -?-?fice at the earliest possible moment, so that duplicates can be made for temporary use . both here and in New -^York.' intelligent labor may in this nay-.-be obtained -in ample time to -work the crops this season6. The ex? perience of the western States is that ose laborer on the farm employing methods utilized in Europe is worth .mach to the farmer for whom he is corking, or even to the community -watching bim work his own little place nj the ooject lesson he gives those ?round him less skilled in intensified and diversified agricultural methods. In the establishment of colonies the uni versai custom in other States *&ich have been successful is to use r^t-?gage tracts or tracts of . 5,000 acres -closely adjoining each other. These tracts are broken up into 50-acre 4xsma and these farms are then sold ft to the settler on easy terms, enabling man with but very little capital to ja?ceme a land owner and permanent .satizen in a few years. I would earnestly warn all land own ecu of the danger of naming excessive prices for lands Inducements must be offered to secure the most desirable settlers, and this is r^rticnlarly true in the case of the initial movement to turn the tide of desirable settlers to a territory heretofore unknown to them. One successful plan of combining investments and interested labor that is being used in some of the north? western States may be well employed here. If a farmer, for instance, has 2, OOO acres of land and is able under pres? ent conditions to cultivate only a por? tion of it, he cuts his tract in half, retaining the half he prefers. The other he divides into 50-acre tracts at the end of a term of years, the settler paying for it with so many days' labor each month on the land owner's ad? joining plantation. In this way the settler of small means but great energy is given an incentive to secure best results, and in a short time the Iii-id owner's 1,000 acres is producing for him more than the 2,000 tract did. In the end the whole 2,000-acre tard; is made to blossom and a community of thrifty citizens is established, in? creasing taxable values and benefiting the State at large. A large area in South Carolina might be brought into productiveness by the adoption cf this plan. E. J. Watson, Commissioner. Circular Letter No. 2 follows : To the Mayors, Chambers of Com? merce, Boards of Trade and Real Es? tate Agents of the Cities, Towns and Visages of the State, and County Ara tfa^???&fofl&e Several iCbjinties: m there- ?fe^ny:: printed i??tter tn exist? ence- ?r?boot to be fexecT dealing in any'way wi th" the resources ait? indirs tnm ! a^rict?tnral or^en?'Eal o>v$c(p mr?it of ryt?iT community Or se?tion of the-^?ate this office wo?l? thaiak you to ' collect and forward as much of it as you can secure. Such litera? ture is needed for immediate use and until such time as tbisdepartment can issue its; own hand boofc of the re? sources of the State. It is needed also for reference in the preparation of such hand book. E. J. Watson, Commissioner. A Riot in Pensacola. Pensacola, Fla., April 16.-In a riot here tonight between police and blue? jackets from the war ships and a few artillerymen from Fort Barrancas, one man named Private Banks, of the 7l;b company of artillery, was instantly killed, and four bluejackets wounded, though not seriously. The riot start? ed over the arrest of a bluejacket. Three police officres were at the patrol call box when a petty officer from one of the ships blew a whistle signal in use on the ships for the men to assem? ble. Fully three hundred -gathered and rushed on the policemen, separat? ing them. Two of the police officers backed away from the crowd firing as fast as possible at the advancing blue? jackets, who were hurling stones, bot? tles and other missies at them. It j was during this shooting that the a r? tilleryman was killed. Reinforcements frm the police sta? tion arrived at this juncture and part? ly disbanded the bluejackets. Lateir, owing to many threats of tho men from the war ships to kill the police? men, Admiral Barker ordered . marine guards from two of. the ships ashore, and they quelled the riot and prevent? ed further trouble. A PRESS BICENTENNIAL Boston, April 17.-The present week marks the two hundredth anniversary of the American Press, and the bicen? tennial will be commented upon gene? rally by tomorrow's papers, the [first American newspaper having been pub lhhedfin this city. " The first newspaper to establish itself in the colonies was the Bostoii News Letter, which issued its first number in. the week of April 17- 24, 1704. It consisted of a sheet 7 by IO1 ?> inches, printed on both sides, two col? umns to the pase. Its-editor was John Campbell, postmaster of Boston For fifteen years#the News Letter was the only newspaper in the colonies of Great Britain in America. Philadel? phia was the second American civv to establish a newspaper in 1719, and New York third, in 1725. At the present time there are more than 2l,0o0 news? papers in the United States. - iTT.V ? ? ? ? - CW - DAILY MARKET REPORT. Special by Ware & Leland's Private Wire. NEW YORK COTTON. Open High Low Close. April 13 67 13 68 33 65 13 72 May 13 80 13 85 13 68 13 78 June 13 93 13 98 13 92 13 96 Julv 14 01 14 09 13 90 14 03 August 13 49 13 57 13 45 13 52 Sept. 12 18 12 21 12 13 12 18 October ll 65 11 68 11 60 ll 64 Nov. ll 53 ll 53 ll 53 ll 54 Dec. ll 48 ll 54 ll 47 ll 51 Jan. ll 46 ll 52 ll 46 ll 52 CHICAGO MARKETS. Opening. Closing. WHEAT May. 92 91 4 Julv, 86 6- 8? 6 Sept., 82 4- 81 6 CORN May, 52 49 6 July, ' 50 1- 49 2 Sept., 49 3- 48 7 OATS May, 37 7- 37 6 July, 37 5- 37 2 Sept, 31 6- 315 PORK May, 11.95 12.00 July, 12.15 12.22 LARD May, 6.47 6.50 July, 6.62 6 67 Sept. 6.77 6.80 RIBS May, 6.25 6.32 July, 6.42 6.47 Sept., 6.60 - ?!? 11 - -? 111 - -- Newberry, April 14.-According to the report of Inspector W. J. McCar tha, who made a tb >rough examina? tion today of the affairs of the dispen? sary at Prosperity, in this county, there is a shortage in that dispensary of $1,075.41, less 8110.25. which, the inspector says, he understands is in Hawkins' Brothers' safe. The dis? penser, Mr. A. Lester Bedenbau^h, is confined to bis bed with illmss. A warrant has been sworn out by Mr. Jacob Senn, chairman of the conon board, for bis arrast. EMPIRE STATE DEMOCRACY. A Contest in the Convention at Albany Predicted. Albany, N. Y., April 17.-If the policy adopted by the friends of Judge Alton B. Parker, ac whose head stands former United States Senator David B. Hill, is carried out at the sessions of the Democratic State Convention, there is likely to be precipitated upon the floor of the Convention a battle royal, which has not baa a parallel in State " political conventions for many years. Since the Saratoga convention of 1900, when Gen. Chas. N. Bulger, of Oswego, representing Senator Hill, putting his finger almost under the nose of Richard Croker, denounced Tammany Hall and its politics, Tam? many has waited as an organization to present its compliments to Mr. Hill, and, although it is perfectly apparent toniebt tbat the interests dominated by Mr. Hill control a large majority of the Convention's vote, it is a foregone conclusion that such orators as Bourke Cockran, Thomas F. Grady, Charles A. Towne and Victor Dowling, on the floor of the convention, personally will accuse Mr. Hill of attempting to wreck the p?rty. These are not statements of mere snppoBitione, for although Leader Charles P. Murphy, of Tammany Hall, will not say a word .tonight, and, al? though, former Senator Hill is equally reticent, those wbo an=i extremely close to them tonight are making definitely these assertions : . First, On behalf of Mr. Hill, that, unless Tammany withdraws wo at he calls a useless opposition to the in? struction of the State i delegation for Judge Parker, Tammany will be prac? tically run out of the convention, dele? gations in its favor outside of Manhat? tan refused a seat in the Convention, and Tammany as a body not allowed to name a national delegate afc large. Second, on behalf Of Mr. Murphy, representing Tammany Hail, that New York has met defeat in national con? ventions only when it has instructed its delegation ; that because of the fact that the party platform and policy are as yet vaguely defined, it is unwise to send an instructed delegaion ; that Tammany, casting the greatest propor? tion of the Democratic vote in the State, is enitled to name a delegate at large ; that a-Democratic State com? mittee should not be elected at this Convention, but the matter should wait until State issues are dominant. JOSEE SIMONTOti VERY ILL. He is in a Sanitarium in Phila? delphia-Condition Serious. Charleston, April 18.-United States Circuit Judge Charles H, Si mon ton is very ill at a sanitarium in Phila? delphia and it is feared that be will not recover. His nephew, Mr. Gooree H. Moffett and his daughter, Mrs. B. F. Alston, and her son, Charles F. Alston, have been called to Philadel? phia. Jndge Simonton hasbeen in the sanitarium for about a month, having gone there dircet from Raleigh, N. C., where he heard Iiis last case, that of the A. & N. C. railway, involving the recievership of Col.'V. E. McBee. Judge Simonton became quite ill about two years ago, but he recovered, taking the treatment at the same in? stitute where he is now. For several months he has been in poor health. Judge Simonton's illness is attributed to a general breakdown of his system. CHINESE PRINCE ARRIVES. San Francisco, April 17.-Prince Pn Lun, nephew of the emperor of China, arrived here tonight'on the steamer Gaeltic. The prince, who is to rep? resent the Chinese governmentt at the St. Louis fair, is accompanied by a large retinue. Great preparations have been made by the Chinese colony to entertain the prince during his stay and the Chinese city has been gaily decorated with yellow bunting and Chinese and American flags and the prince's visit is being made a holiday. Excursion Rates via the Atlantic Coast Line. Buffalo. N. V.-- International Convention. Y. M. C. A.. May 11th to 15th? 1904. Kates, one first class fare plus 30c. for thc round trip. Tickets on sale May 8th to 10th inclusive. Good to return leaving Buffalo not later than M av 23rd, 1904. Chicago. 111.-General Conference A. M. E. Church. May 2nd to 31st, ISM. Rates, one first class fare plus 50c for the round trip. Tickets on sale April 29th, 30th. May 1st and 2d. with final limit May 10th. 1904. An extension of the final limit to June 10th, 1904. can be obtained by depositing tickets with E. E. McLeod or F. C. Donald May 2d to 10th. inclusive, and upon payment of 50c. at time of deposit. Nashville. Tenn.-Southern Baptist Con? vention. May 12th to ISth, 1904. Bates one first class fare plus 25c. for the round trip. Tickets will be sold May 10th to 12th inclusive, limited to ten days from date of sale, hut final limit until June ?th. 1904, can be obtain? ed by depositing tickets with Joseph Biehard son. Special agent, not earlier than May loth or later than ten days after tickets are pur? chased and upon payment of 50 cents fee at time of deposit. Nashville, Tenn.-United Confederate Veterans Reunion, June Mth-lfi. I9e4. Rates one cent per mile distance traveled, plus 25c. Tickets will be sold June 10th to 15th. inclu? sive, with final limit to leave Nashville re turning June is, 1904. Tickets must be offici? ally stamped by Joseph Richardson. Special Agent. Jacksonville. Kia. International Sugarcane Growers Association. May 4thtotith. 1904. li?tes om? first class fare plus 2">c for the round trip. Tickets viii be sold from points In Georgia and Florida on May 3rd and 4th and from ail other points. May 2nd and 3rd with final limit May 8th. St. Louis. Mo.-Louisiana Purchase Exposi? tion, May 1st to November.30th. 1904. Season Tickets on sale daily, beginning April 25th and continuing during the period of the Exposition, with final limit to lea~e St. Louis.December 15th. 1904. Rate, so per cent of the double one way first class fares, plus 25c. Sixty day tickets to be sold dally, beginning April 25th and continuing during the period of the exposition with final date to leave St. Louis, returning sixty days in addition to date of sale, in no case to exceed Decemlier 15th. 1904 Rate, one and one-third fans, plus 25c. f?>r the round trip. Fifteen day tickets, to IH.' sold daily com? mencing April 25th and continuing during thc period of the Exposition, with final limit to leave St. Louis, fifteen nays in addition to date of sale. Kate, one f:i re plus r'l.'S*. Coach excursions, (ticketsnot good in I'ar lor or Sleeping cars), to ht operated from points on this line in the States of North and South Carolina. May 9th and 23rd. Limit of coach excursions to he ten days, including date of sale. Rate one cent per mile distance VraveJed. plus 25c. Validation of tickets. Return coupons re? fluir? validation byjoinl agent at st. Louis, at Cnion Station. World's Fair Grounds, Transportation Building: World s Fair Ma? tt >n opposite Main Entrance: No. 429 Oliver . ireef,: No. 13 North ?th street. For ra-es and other information apply to ney ticket agent of the Atlant ic Coast bine. H.M Finn elson Traffic Man Wi'mlngton, N C W .1. Craig, General Passenger Agent. THE EMPIRE STATE SOLID FOR PARKER. Result of the New York Democratic Convention. Delegates Elected to the Demo? cratic National Convention to be Held at St. Louis. Albany, N. Y., April IS.-The Democratic State Convention, for the election of delegates to the Nation? al Convention, selected the following delegates at large : David B. Hill of Albany; Edward Murphy, Jr., of Troy; George Ehret, of New York city, and James W. Ridgeway, of Brooklyn. As alter? nates it selected C. N. Bulger, of Oswego ; W. Caryl Ely. of Buffalo : C. H. Ackerman, of Brooklyn, and Francis Burton Harrison, of New York. The delegates were instructed, by a vote of 301 to 149, for Alton B. Parker, as the State's candidate for President. Tammany*was not treated as badly as bad been predicted, being allowed to name a-delegate ac large, Mr. Ehret, and -fin slterntae, and one of tho two electors at large, Harry Payne Whit? ney, the other being John T. Wood? ford. : Tte platform adopted is brief, and in addition to instructing for Parker, compels the delegation to vote as a' unit. Among the district Presidential electors are: Isador Straus, Robert B. Roosevelt, Hugh J Grant, Herman Rid ger and John D. Crimmins., The list of district delegates to the Naiional Convention includes the following: Perry Belmont, P. H. McCarren, George H. Lindsay, Mar? tin W. Littleton, Controller Edward M. Grout, Andrew Sullivan, formerly postmaster of Brooklyn ; James Shev HD, Congressman T. D. Sullivan, Congressman Sulzer, John Fox, Lewis Nion, M. Worley Pal?tzek, Bird S. Coler, Mm. McAdoo. W. Bourke Cockran, l?obert A. Van Wyck, Charles F. Murphy, Franklin Bart? lett, Charles A. Towne, Thomas F. Grady, Harry Payne Whitney, Jeffer? son M. Levy, Former Postmaster Charles W. Dayton, Asa Bird Gardi? ner, Wm. Temple Emmett, John N. Carlisle, Elloitt F. Danfortb, George Raines and John B. Stanchfield. The platform adopted is as follows : The Democrats of New York in re? newing their pledges of fidelity to the essential principles of Jeffersonian Democracy, as repeatedly enunciated in our national and State platforms, make these further declarations upon the national issues of the hour*, re? serving an expression upon State issues until the fall Convention, when State candidates are to be nominated : L This is a Government of laws, not of men ; one law for Presidents, Cabinets and people ; no usurpation; no executive encroachment upon the legislative or judicial department. 2. ' We must keep inviolate the pledges of our treaties ; we must renew and reinvigorate within ourselves that respect for law and that love of liberty and of peace which the spirit of mili? tary denomination tends inevitably to weaken and destroy. 3. Unsteady national policies and a restless spirit of adventure engender alarms that check our commercial growth ; let us have peace, to the end that business confidence may be re? stored and that our people may again in tranquility enjoy the gains of their toil. 4. Corporations chartered by the State must be subject to just regula? tion by the State in the interest of the people : taxation for public pur? poses only: no government partnership with protected monopolies. 5. Opposition to trusts and combi? nations that oppress the people and stifle healthy industrial competition. 6. A check upon extravagance in public expenditures: that the bur? den of the people's taxes may be light? ened. 7. Reasonable revision of the tariff ; weedless duties upon imported raw materials weigh heavily upon the manufacturer, are a menance to the American wage-earner and, by in? creasing the cost of production, shut out our products from the foreign markets. 8. The maintenance of State rights and home rule; no centralization. 9. Honesty in the public service ; vigilance in the prevention of fraud: firmness in the punishment of guilt when detected. 10. The impartial maintenance of the rights of labor and of capital : no unequal discrimination ; no abuse of the powers of law for favoritism or oppression. The Democracy of New York favor the nomination for President of that distinguished democrat and eminent jurist of our own State-Alton Brooks Parker; and the delegates selected by this Convention are hereby in? structed to present and support such nomination at the approaching Nation? al Convention. That the said delegates are hereby further instructed to act and vote as a unit in all matters pertaining to said Convention, in accordance with the will of the majority of the said delegates: and the said delegates arc further authorized to fill any vacan? cies which may arise from any cause in said delegation, in case of the ab? sence of both the delegate and alter? nate. Hi? Rebate. "Why do you always occupy tw?? scats?" "To even things up." replied the street car hog. "Half the time I don't get any scat at all."-Town Topics. One hundred dollars' worth of UutUv hears off from the soil less of its val un ble elements than 5 cents' worth o' hay. Tile Better I'lan. Ethel-He has promised to give ino every dollar he earns! Papa-Better make him promise to ?ive you every dollar bc gets. Ile has a political job. you know!-ruck. A man of stroug will can make any woman do anything that she wants to do. NEWS FROM THE SEAT Of WAR Serious Rssolis of Russian Losses at Fort Arthur. Japs are Freo to Pass Through the Straits of Pi Chi Li, and Under the Guns of Their War Ships, Attempt to Land at the Head of the Gulf of Liao Tung. St. Petersburg, April 18.-St. Pe? tersburg is flooded with rumors from all directions regarding the plans of the Japanese now that the Russian fleet at Port Arthur is unable longer to menace their troop transports. The Associated Press, in a dispatch from Port Arthur on Sunday last, gave twenty as the number of Japa? nese transports reported as having been sighted steaming in the direc? tion of Yin Kow, the seaport of New Cb wang. Officials of the general staff, while haying no information in this respect,- would not be surprised if the number should turn out to be correct, or even that a larger number is steaming here. They anticipated this movement at the time oj the breaking out of the war, but the ac? tivity of Vice Admiral Makaroff's fleet and the large army in the vicini? ty of New Ch wang imposed caution, and, it is believed, made-therJapanese abandon or, at least, postpone it, and caused them to continue their advance towards Manchuria through Corea, and consider disembarkation and a flank movement at Tukshn. Vice Admiral Togo's immense supe? riority enables him to hold the Rus sian squadron in Port Arthur, and Japanese transports, therefore, can safely pass through the Straits of Pe Chi Li, and attempt to land at the head of the Gulf of Liao Tung, under the guns of the war ships, as did Gen. Shafter's army at Daiquiri, Cuba. If this should succeed, the Japanese will be in an excellent position to execute a flank movement on Liao Yang or cut off Port Arthur. Gen. Kuropatkin recently inspected New Chwang. Ee is familiar with the strategic position there and dis? posed a strons force to contest a Japa? nese move at that point, and if such a move is made, it is believed he will be able to check it. Prince Hilkoff, minister of railroads, left St. Peters? burg tonight for Irkutsk, where he will supervise the completion of the railroad around Lake Baikal and ex? pedite the dispatch of troops and sup? plies to Manchuria. NEW SUBMARINE BOATS. St. Petersburg, April 18.-The first of five new submarine boats, building at St. Petersbu-g, and forty wagons loads of ammunition, were dispatched today to the ?theatre of war. The sub? marine boat, which was sent off in sections, is elliptical in shape and fitted with an improved electrical ap? paratus for firing torpedoes, which, it is claimed, experiments have shown, enormously increases the of? fensive power of torpedoes. In all there are fourteen submarine boats planned, or in course of con? struction at the Neva Works here, and it is expected that a?l will be ready for dispatch to tbe far East about the middle of July. Tokio, April 17, 5 p. m.-The Jap? anese are elated over the successes they have won at Port Arthur. They are also proud of the achievements of Vice Admiral Togo, particularly of his newest strategy of countermining the enemy?s harbor and decoying him across this field of mines to an equally dangerous flank attack. The success of the system of placing deadly countermines is due largely to a series of careful observations made by the Japanese during their previous attacks on Port Arthur. The Japan? ese saw the Russian licet leave the harbor and return to it several times, and they discovered that the Russian war ships followed an identical course every time they came out or went in, evidently for the purpose of avoiding their own mines. The Japanese placed the countermines along this course. The laying of these countermines was exceedingly perilous because if any Japanese boat with mines aboard had been struck by a lucky Russian shot she would bave been annihilated. The weather of the night of April 12-13 favored the work. There was a heavy rain, the night was dark and cloudy, and the Russian search lights playing over the channel failed to re? veal the presence of the Japanese de? stroyers. Rear Admiral Dewa was in command of the Japanese squadron which de? coyed the Russian ships over the field of mines. His squadron consisted of the cruisers Chit?se, Yoshino, Kasagi and Taka^ago, all unarmored vessels, which presented a tempting bait for the heavier Russian ships. Vice Admiral Togo directed the flank attack. He had the battle ships Hat suse, Mikasa, Asahi, Shikishima, Yashima and Fuji. He warted thirty miles out at sea until Rear Admiral Dewa signalled him by wireless tele? graphy to come in. His vessels then dashed at full speed toward the en? trance of the harbor. All the battle ships under Vice Admiral Togo are capable of a speed of IS knots, and they quickly covered the distance. _ It is not clear what warned the Russians that they had been trapped, but they probably' discerned the battleship squadron on the horizon and retreated precipitately to the harbor. Vice Ad? miral Togo did not succeed in pre? venting the Russians from entering, but did force them to a disastrous retreat, which ended in the destruc? tion of the Petropavlovsk and the dis? abling ot the Pobieda. After these occurrences the cruisers Nisbin and Kasuga were used to bom? bard Port Arthur. Th? y possess the; highest angled guns in the Meet, capable of throwing sin 11s to the ele? vated Kussian land works, which are beyond attack made by the average rn*val weapon. Laurens, April 18.--Wesley W. Mad? den was shot twice and badly beaten by Hurt li. Hill at 2 o'clock this alter n?on in the restaurant ot* Brown Franklin, colored, where the men, with several frie.jds, were getting dinner. SOUTH CAROLINA COURT UPHELD, Supreme Court of the United States Sustains the Decision of the Supreme Court of this State, Requiring Inter? state Railroads to use Automatic Brakes. i Washintgon, April 18.-The Supremo Court of the United States toady, in an opinion by Chief Justice Fuller, upheld the judgement cf the Supreme Court of South Carolina in the case of James L. Carson, of Greenville county, against the Southern Eailway Company. Carson, a brakeman, whose right arm was crashed in August, 1902, while coupling cars at Converse, S. C., brough, t suit in the Common Pleas Court, at Greenville, making the Southern Railway Company, the conductor of the train and the engineer joint defendants. The verdict and the judgment, which were in Carson's favor, for $7,500, were against the railroad company alone. The judg? ment was affirmed by the Supreme Court of the State, but the railroad company sued out a writ of terror against the Supreme Court of the State and brought the judgement here for review, claiming that Carson^ br suing it jointly with two citizens of the State, had deprived it (a foreign corporation) of the right to remove the case for trial into the Uaited States Court ; that the-State Court had erred in construing the Act of Congress which requires railroad companies lo use antomatic brakes', on cars engaged, in Inter-State traffic .and also that the State Court had erred in charging the jury that they might award punitirve damages if they believed Carson's in? juries to be the result of acts wilfully committed by the servants or agents of the railway company. The court here, which was confronted with two motions, one to dismiss the writ of error to the Supreme Court of South Carolina, the other to affirm the judgment of that Conrt, declares that with hesitation it takes jurisdiction of the case, but does so and disposes of it on the motion to affirm. CHICAGO BANDIT ATTEMPTS SUICIDE Desperate and Horrible Efforts at Self Destruction fay Car Barn Murderer. Chicago, April 18.-Peter Nieder meyer, the leader of the car barn bandits condemned to die on the gal? lows Friday, made two desperate attempts at suicide today. His condi? tion as a result is so precarious tb at it is feared he will not survive. Should he still be alive next Friday he will be carried to the gallows and executed. Niedermeyer planned his attempted suicide carefully. First he masticated and swallowed the heads of 75 or ICO sulphur matches. While the phos? phorus was burning his stomach be sawed at the radial artery of his left wrist with a sharp pointed lead pencils Striking a bone in the wrist he gave up trying to S6ver the artery and turned his weapon to the large veins on the outer side of his left forearm and with a see saw motion he lacerated the flesh and muscles of the arm and tore open the veins, leaving a large jagged wound exposed through which the blood gushed in'streams, dying his bed clothing and running down over the ceil floor in pools. His second attempt came after the wound had been dressed and closed by the county physician. Niedermeyer was lying apparently unconscious in the hospital under a guard's care. His right arm and hand were hidden by tbe bed clothing and with hardly a discernable motion he slipped the bandages off his left arm and with his sharp finger nails tore away the threads in the wound and inserting his fore? finger into the ragged hole, he work? ed again at the veins and sought to reach au artery. He unconsciously uttered a groan and made a convulsive movemeut which attracted the physi? cians, nurses and the guard and on throwing back the coverlets the attend? ants saw with horror that Nieder meyer had torn away the bandages and reopened the wound. Niedermeyer opened bis eyes and with a leering, wan smile exclaimed : "Let rae die, doe. Go away and let me die. You were almost too late the first time. Now why do you try to save my life?" A letter written by Ni ederney er prior to the attempt at snicide was found concealed in his cot. In the letter the writer incidentally expresses repentence for his career, and be regrets leaving the few who have loved him, but chiefly the letter is a mor? bid glorification of the writer's cour? age and his loaylty to his kind in con tTast to Niedenneyer's associate, Gustav Marx. Tho letter says : '4 There are four reasons why I should take my own life. "First, because of the public boast that I cannot commit suicide while I am so closely guarded. "Second, and that I cannot cheat the scaffold. ''Third, that they cannot say they executed me and made me pay for a crime. "Fourth, to have another mystery for the ignorant police to solve." The letter concludes as follows: .'It seems very pleasant to have this everlasting enjoyment of rest. I am an atheist and do not believe in any religion.'' Washington, April 18.- The house today passed a bill providing for the relief of growers of leaf tobacco. It repeals the internal revenue tax of 60 cents a pound on leaf tobacco in the "hand" and all special taxes. Norfolk, Va., April 18.- Those in a position to know say that the pur? chase of the Norfolk and Southern Railroad tracks and properties by the Pittsburg (Pa.) interests controlling the Chesapeake Transit Company's electric line from Norfolk to Cape Henry and Virginia Beach, meansthat the ?orfolk and Southern, heretofore controlled by the Vanderbilt intere.-'. ha? been obtained by George .7. Gould, president of the Wabash sys? tem of railways, civing the Wabash an outlet at Lynn Haven Inlet. The hammock season lias arriver. A large stock to select from at Ostetn\s Book Store.