Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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IMBOSTBY NEAR MIEN. ?.BK M BI? PLANT AND C?T TASES TO BE ?USHED. Hie Pope Clay Products company "w?ich oas been capitalized at $700,000 ii* mine and manufacture aluminum -*nosa its mines covering several hun? dred acres near Aiken, is pushing the ^a?elopment of its property with ^reafc energy, being anxious to begin mining and manufacturing operations early in September. But ic is thought ji?afc the plant can hardly be com? pleted within a year. . ^IS is perhaps the richest aluminum -awsaein the world," said Mr. C. C. ??ilsoc, the supervising architect 3?osterday. "I would really be afraid ?wen to estimate the value of the .Saree mines, as they are as yet entire % undeveloped. There seems to be an ?kssst unlimited quantity of alumi ^sum-bearing: kaolin there. It seems i?credibl? that the clay will pan out ^percent, aluminum, but this state is made on the authority of the .r's French chemist who has an investigation on the ground whose conclusions have been veri? fy three other eminent chemists "it ?rom the north. Wilson met members of the corn? ?t the .mines last week, who I him the general outline of their and went back to New York to the details, which they will him in full at a conference he is have with them at tba mines about .middle of this week. The proposed plant includes the deve? lopment of a water power at an old -salli site nearby and its electric trans? miten to the factory buildings, four artificial-stone factory buildings 80 ?feet by 125 feet for the accomodation of >2en retorts each? the laying of a three mila spur connection with the South? am at Cro?s station oh the Augusta 'Ooinmbia line, the erection of 400 operatives cottages, a hotel, (now in oourse of construction), store houses warehouses, and other buildings] necessary to the completion of a modern mill village of 2,000 people. fhe. residence portion of the village will be built to accomodate 400 families and the employes who will work in <?be factories will be skilled mechanics of the highest class. That about 75 cent, of the employees will be of class is shown in the directions to Irai ld 300 of the houses of the best le and the others for the accomoda? tion of negroes and other miners who will work strictly in the mines. Three rich mines have been opened -30 far but for the presnfr only one washing and drying shed, which is to : 50 by 300 feet, will be erected. : "Work on the other two will follow -closely upon the completion of the tot- The State. TIE SECOND DISTRICT. Hr. Mayfield Withdraws From the Contest - Columbia, April 30.-This morning 4$ was stated in this correspondence that it was my firm opinion that Mr. S. G. Mayfield would withdraw from tile race in the second primary in favor of Mr. Theodore. G. Croft and reserve Jods energies for the contest for the ?Oug tenn. This has come to pass and Mi. Mayfield tonight sent his formal "Setter of withdrawal from the present contest to Gen. Wilie Jones, chairman of the State Democratic executive committ.ee. It reads as follows : Gen. W|lie Jones, Chairman of the ^Democratic Executive Committee, Uolcmbia, S. C. : Sir : I have this day decided to and do hereby withdraw from the race fer Congress in the 2d Congressional district in the second primary. By so doing I save to the people a farther ooutest for the unexpired term at a ?time when they are exceedingly busy, -and I yield to my opponent Mr. ;^Bieodore G. Croft, who has received s&most a majority of all votes cast in the first primary, an open field. Very respectfully, . S. G. Mayfield. This leaves the field entirely to Mr. Croft, and be will, of course, be de? clared the nomisee of the Democratic %arty, for the mexpired term of bis father, and will be elected as the democratic nominee for the remain? ing months of tbe term. Prof Bell's Flying Machine. Washington, April 30. -Prof. ?Alexander Graham Bell today gave at Columbia station, a Virginia suburb af Washington, an exhibition of the tetrahedral kite, which he believes to "fal the secret of aerial navigation. 'Ina demonstration was made to mern Hbers of the National Geographic aociety, of which Prof. Bell was formerly the president. The wind was light and therefore the- trials were not os successful as some which have bees made in private. Three 16 cell "Weites, each said to have a sustaining power of 75 pounds, were sent to ?heights varying from 4 to 1,100 feet, "bni the wind was so uncertain that the tests were not regarded as satis* factory. Prof. Bell ermined the making of t&e kites which are composed of triangles of aluminum tubes or sticks covered with silk joined so as to make -?figure bounded by four triangles. It is asserted that a kite can be made large enough to sustain a man and a SBOtor. Prof. Bell said the motor would eventually take the place"of the kite string and that when this had been accomplished aerial navigation is established. Birmingham, Ala., May 1.-Three -large four-story office buildings with ow smaller brick structure occupied Taj produce and wh oleas Ie grocery dealers, were completely destroyed by ire early today, entailing a loss of 5110,000. The insurance is between ?25,000 and $80,000. <5onstantinople, April 30.- Accord? ing: to official advices there has been serious fighting in the^assun district of Asia $linci between the troops and -fcfce Armenian insurgents numbering ?000. The troops lost 20 killed and S3 wounded. Twelve villages in the Halon district ?ave been destroyed, oat whether by insurgents or Kurds it is not kaown. There are IQ, 000 >ps in the disturbed area. . - j TBE CHURGi IND THE DISPENSARY. ls it Inconsistent for a Church Member to Serve as Barkeeper ? * Here is a problem that. recurs occa? sionally and surely demands settle? ment. Mr. John Bell Towili having been elected one of the board of con? trol of South Carolina's great moral institution, resigned his membership in a Baptist Church because some of his fellow members thought the two positions inconsistent, but later transferred it to another congregation from which there was no objection. Now comes Mr. J. M. Norwood, assistant manager of the great moral institution of Raleigh, and gives pub? lic notice in the Baptist tabernacle, to which he belongs, of his resigna? tion of his job upon the ground that "he did not feel that he could be a ohurch member and sell liquor at the same time." How is this, anyhow? Is there or is there* not anything an? omalous about a man handling sowpaw over the counter six days in the week and handing around the sacramental elements on the seventh? On this point we have appealed in vain to Plummer Batchelor and the Church of the Good Shepherd. Neither chirps. Mr. Norwood appears to have a notion that it is wrong for him, as a Christian mah to sell liquor, whether he is employed to do it by the city of Raleigh or by Nick Den? ton.-Charlotte Observer. BLUE GRASS. lt is a Native .ef the Wabash Val? ley in Indiana. . 'A great many people contend that blue grass was first foe nd in Ken? tucky," said an eminent Indiana geologist, ''but this is not so. Blue grass, is a native of the Wabash val? ley, in Indiana. It was found by William Henry Harrison's troops dur? ing that solemn march to Tippecanoe in 1811. Harrison gathered a small army at Ohio Falls and started north. At Vincennes the gallant heroes real? ized that they could not go 200 miles up the Wabash without feed for their horses. General Harrison had two cribs of corn at Terre Haute and persuaded the men to go on. As they came on with hungry horses and scant feed they found the ground covered with blue grass. "Six miles west of Newport, on the Collett farm, was found a bountiful supply of blue grass. Some places in the bottom it was growing three feet j high, and such feed had never been heard of by the Kentucky soldier. At State Line City more blue grass was found, and from there to Tippe? canoe the whole line of march was covered with blue grass. "The seed was carried back to Ken? tucky and sown there, but they could not make it thrive alone in the warm soil, and it had to be sown with oats and rye. Mr. Sandusky told me in an early day that no blue grass grew in Kentucky until after it was im? ported from Indiana. Tom Downing, of Terre Haute was an ardent admirer of Henry Clay and once went to visit him at bis home near Ashland, Ky. After seeing the fine farm well set in bine grass Downing suggested that Mr. Clay let him have some of .the ! seed to take back to Indiana. " 'Tom, don't make a fool of your? self,' said Clay. *The grandsire of > Kentucky blue grass is growing around : your boase and in the fence comers of your fields. We got the seed from Terre Haute and the middle Wabash and after a hard struggle got it to grow here in its present luxurious? ness.' "-Indianapolis Journal. - i i - - Telegraph Strike has Ended. Roanoke, Va., April 30.-The strike inaugurated' against the Southern Express company by the telegraph operator-express agents along the lines of the Norfolk and Western rail? way two months ago when several hundred express offices were closed because the express people would not grant a 10 per cent, increase in com? missions paid the telegraphers on ex? press business, was called off today after conference between T. W. Leary, vice president and general manager of the Southern Express company and a committee from the Order of Railway Telegraphers, who represent the strikers. L. E. Johnson, president of the Norfolk and Western railway, acted as arbitrator. Slight concessions were made on both sides, but the tele? graphers got practically everything asked and the settlement is declared to be satisfactory to ail concerned. The Order of Railway Telegraphers has been recognized by the express people. Greenwood, April 30.- Wofford's representative, Mr. E. K. Hardin, Jr., was the winner of first prize in tne sixth annual contest of the South Carolina Inter-collegiate Oratorical association here last night. The sec? ond prize was awarded to Mr. J. M. Daniel, Furman'srepresentative. Mr. Daniel is a brother of Furmau's re? presentative here four years ago, who won first prize. Edgefield, May 2.-Hon. Leon J. Williams was in the convention as a delegate and stated to his friends, not to the convention, that he would be a candidate for congress in the regular race this summer. Letter to John J. Britton, Jr. Sumter, S. C. Dear Sir: We manage to get some fun out of paint. J H Kohlmeyer, Grove City, Pa, put in De voe. Along came a salesman of somebody else's paint before ours had got there. Salesman said ours was short-meas- i ure. Kohlmeyer weakened bong-fire and flopped; stopped ours and took his. It was our turn nov?. We emptied our can into his and his into ours. The short-measure was his, not onrs; and we kept our man. And, ever since then, that paint manufacturer gives full-measnre : his paint is not pure, but his gallon: con? tains four quarts. Go by the name ; and the name to go by ia Devoe iead-and-zinc. Yours trujy 27 F V? Devoe & Co P. S.-L. B. DuranOells our paint. JAPS DRIVE RUSSIANS BEFORE THEM. Gross the Yalu in Force, Seize Rus? sian Position snd Capture 36 Buns. THE RUSSIAN LOSS ESTIMATED AT 800, JAPS' AT 700. The News of First Real Battle on Land 6iven Out Promptly at Tokio, From Which Plac? Rumors Have Here? tofore Been Scarce. Tokio, May 1, 7 p. m.-After five days of fighting, largely with artillery, the first Japanese army under Gen. Kur oki, has fe reed a crossing cf the Yalu river and today with a gallant infantry charge covering a frontage of four miles, it drove the Russians from Ghin Tien Cheng and the heights on the right bank of the Ibo or Aida river, which enters the Yan from the north almost opposite Wi ju. The Japa? nese turned tte left flank of the Rus? sian position* and in the battle of to? day they swept away the new front interposed by the Russians to check their onward movement. The present position of the Japanese is a dominating One, and they may force the abandonment of the defences erected by the Russians at Antung and other points lower down the river. Gen. Kuroki began the movement on Tuesday by ordering a detachment of the Imperial Guards division to seize the isl md of Kurito, which is in the Yalu above Wiju, and a detach? ment of the second division to seize the island of Kinteito, which is situ? ated below Wiju. The detachment of the Imperial Guards met some reasistance but it succeeded in clearing the enemy out and occupied Kurito island. The Rus? sians abandened the island of Kinteito when attacked by the detachment of the seond di vision. The actual losses sustained by the detachment of the Imperial Gnards is not known ?is there is an error in that part of the message received here re? ferring to the number of killed, but nine of the detachment were severely and 16 sightly wounded. The de? tachment o'? the second division which took the ii land of Kinteito sustained no losses. RUSSIANS OPEN FIRE. During these, movements on the island the Russians opened fire on the Japanese with eight 9% cemtre guns from a hill behind Chin Tien Cheong and two Eotchkiss guns which were mounted cm the bank of the river at Kosan, where the Russians seemed to have established their headquarters. One batter? of Japanese artillery which had taken a position on a bill to the east of Wiju fired three volleys at Kosan anet at noon of Tuesday the Russian batteries behind Chi" Tien Cheng shelled Wiju, wounding one Japanese ? oldier with sharpneL On Wednesday the Russians resumed the bombardment of Wiju, firing at intervals throughout the day. The Japanese artillery did not respond to this fire. Gae. Kuroki has received reports te the effect that the Russians are fortifying the heights on the right bank of the Ihb river. The new de? fences are declared to extend from Chu Tien Cheng throngh the village of. Makao tc Koshoki, a distance of three and a quarter miles. The Russians resumecKheir bombard? ment on Thursday but it was generally ineffective. Subsequently Gen. Kuroki ! ordered two confpanles of thevlmperial I Guards to cross the Yalu and make a ; reconno?3sance along the ?left bank of the Ibo :!orthe purpose of .discovering the character of the Russian fortifica? tions along the heights on the right bank ol: the river. The Japanese force advanced near Kosan and then dispatched a small detachment to the village where a party of Russians was encountered. In the engagement which followed five Russians were killed. The Russians shelled the reconnoitering party from an emplace? ment in the hills in the southeast part of Yost.oko. This fire was without effect. The Russian artillery on the hill be? hind Chin Tien Cheng firing at a high angle, opened on Wiju, where some Japanese batteries' had taken position. This firing continued into Thursday night ?,nd Gen. Kuroki reports that while it was ineffective it disturbed his preparations for an attack. The Russians resumed the shelling of Wi ju on Friday but the Japanese guns did not reply. The Twelfth division of the Japa? nese az my was chosen to make the first crossing of the Yalu. It began its preparations on Friday by driving the Rcssians from their position on the ba:ik of the river opposite Suiko chin, which is eight miles above Wiju and the point selected for the crossing. This division constructed a pontoon bridge over the river and at 3 o'clock Saturday morning it began crossing. The entire division passed over the river during the day and by 6 o'clock Saturday evening it was in the posi? tion assigned to it for the battle of Sunday. The movement of the Twelfth Japa nese division was covered by the Second regiment of field artillery and another artillery regiment of heavy guns. At 11.20 o'clock Saturday morning the Russian artillery posted to the north and to the seat of Chin Tien Chen ? began shelling the patrols of Japanese infantry which had been dis? patched from Kinteito to Chukodai, another island north of Kinteito and under Chin Tien Cheng. The Japa? nese batteries replied tc this shelling and silenced the Russian fire. Later eight Russian guns posted on a bill east of the village on Makao opened upon the Imperial Guards. To this shelling the Japanese artillery to the east of Wiju responded and the Rus? sians ceased firing. Then both the Chin Tien Cheng and the Makao batteries reopened and this fire broegbt a vigorous response from the chain of Japanese batteries on the Corean side of the river. The Russian guns fired for tv?o hours before they were silenced. In this report Gen. Kuroki expresses the belief that his shelling was very effective against the Russians. Tiie Japanese losses in the bor/Wd mer.ts of Saturday were two m'' i kill? ed ?ind five officers and 22 men wound? ed. A flotilla of gunboats from the squadron of Admiral Hosoya partici? pated in the fighting of Saturday. It encountered a mixed force of Ros? ean infantry, cavalry and artillery on the Manchurian bank of the Yalu be? low Antnng and after a sharp fight scattered them to the hills. A bridge across the main stream of the Yalu just above Wi ju was complet? ed at 8 o'clock Saturday night and the Second Japanese division and the Im? perial Guards immediately began crossing. They advanced and occupied the hills back of Kosan, facing the Russian position on the. right bank of the river. All through Saturday night regiment after regiment of Japanese soldiers poured across the bridge and at late hour Saturday night Gen. Kuroki telegraphed to the general staff of the army : "I will attack the enemy on May 1 at dawn." True to his promise Gen. Kuroki at daylight today centered all his artillery on the Russian position between Chiu Tien Cheng and Yoshoko. To this fire the Russians made reply with all their batteries. S^HB^I At 7 o'clock in the morning the Rus? sian battery at Yoshoko was silenced and half an hour latter Gen. Kuroki ordered his line, stretching for four miles to attack. The Japanese in? fantry, on the word of command charged across the Ibo, wading that stream buast deep and began storming the heights at 8.15. At 9 o'clock they had s wept the Rus? sian line back across the plateau. It is believed that the Japanese losses were heavy, particularly during the infantry charge. RUSSIAN REPORT OF THE BATTLE. St..Petersburg, May 2, 3.58 a. m. The first Japanese army under Gen. Kuroki, consisting, of the guards and the Second and Twelfth divisions, according to official and private ad? vices from the front crossed the Yalu yesterday about 30 miles above the mouth of the river near Kiulien-Tse where the river bends abruptly to the eastward. - *For three days less than 5,00?TRassi?ns under Gens. Sassulitch, MistchenkO'^and Kashtalinsky have been strung alcng the Manchurian side of the river and have been harassing and impeding the crossing of the Japanese very successfully despite their hopeless inferiority in men and guns. - The fact that the Russians have re? treated to positions back of Turenchen where there is more fighting shows that they have built entrenchments which the Japanesee are under the necessity of taking before they can push on. Consequently continuous fighting and skirmishing will occur, the plan of the Russians being to hang on the flanks of the enemy and annoy and. worry them to the uttermost. Nothing really decisive however is ex? pected until the Japanese advance shall encounter the Russian position in the mountain passes of Feng Huan ? Cheng. I It is even con h ide red possible that the Japanese may be able to turn the Russian position there but all tbis is provided for in Gen. Kuropatkin's plans. LOSSES ABOUT EQUAL. Tokio, May 2, 7 a. m.-The Japanese losses on the Yalu Sunday were about 700 killed and wounded. The Russians lost over 800 men. The Japanese captured 28 quick firing guns, 20 officers and many men. The Russians made two stands. A supplemental report from Gen. Kuroki says: "The enemy's strength included all of the third division, two regiments of the sixth division, one cavalry brigade, about 40 quick firing guns and eight machine guns. We have taken 28 quick firing guns, many rifles, much ammunition, more than 20 officers and many noncommissioned officers and men as prisoners. I am informed that Maj. Kashtalinsky, commander of the Third East Siberian Rifles briagde, and Lieut, den. Zassalitch, command? er of the Second Siberian army corps, were wounded. Our casualties num? ber about 700 and the Rcssian loss is more than 800 men." FOGS GAVE PROTECTION. Tokio, May 1, 9 p. m.-The latest Japanese naval movemut against Vladivostock failed of success because of dense fogs which prevailed in the vicinity of that port. TO LAND ON LIAO TUNG. Chefoo, May 1, 3 p. m.-It is ex? pected here that the Japanese will land on the Liao Tung peninsula, near Taku Shan, if they have not already done so. TOWN CAPTURED. Tokio, May 1, 3 p. m.-The Japa? nese today captured Chin Tien Cheng, ten miles north of Antnng, which is regarded as the key to 1 the Rossian position on the right bank of the Yalu river. It is expected that the Russians will retreat to Feng Huan Cheng, which is on the road to Liao Yang. ANT?NG ABANDONED. Tokio, May 2, ll a. m.-The Rus? sians were forced to abandon Antnng yesterday. They burned the town and retreated to Feng Huan Cheng. The Japanese now control the estaury of the Yalu. London, May 2.-Baron Hayashi, the Japanese minister here, who has been the recipient of numerous telegrams of congratulation on the Japanese suc? cesses on the Yalu and especially on the result of the first serious laud fighting, said to the Associated Press today : "The immediate result of Gen. Kuroki's success will probably be a movement on Feng Huan Cheng, whicb the Chinese had fortified with their usual brick structures. $ "Since the commencement of the war the Russians doubtless have added earthworks but their loss of guns yesterday must seriously diminish their defensive strength. "I understand, t,b0Qs:h I cannot vouch for the absolute accuracy of th<* statement, that Rm si a N had only 100 guns in Manchuria. If that is the case, her artillery strength has been diminished almost one-third. \ "They fight well, those . Russians, and Feng Huan Cheng will not be taken without a hard struggle unless Gen. Kuropatkin again changes his plan of campaign. The announcement that the Russians would not contest the crossing of the Yalu has proved, as we thought, to be misleading. Ku ropatkin evidently meant to make a determined re?istance, but he either underestimated our strength or dis? posed his forces in the belief that we would not venture a frontal attack. "I take it. from the dispatches re? ceived that we have now practically secured control cf both banks of th3 Yalu. In consequence, our base will probably be moved to Antnng. " Reviewing the whole future of the struggle that has just commenced ia such deadly earnest 'on land, Baron Hayashi said: "The duration of the war must lie rather with Russia than with Japan. For the moment the military advan? tage is with ns for Kuropatkin has extended his front and we can strike where and when we will. Our ag? gressive movement may be carried on to Mukden, perhaps to Harbin, and perhaps even further, but before long there must come a stage of the cam? paign where Russia will assume the role of the invading power and where we must act solely on the defensive. From the beginning it has been so and our aggression is and has been but a means towards the eventual repulsion of an invading army " "As regards Port Arthur and Vladi? vostok, the situation is somewhat in the future. I cannot say anything about the movement of oar armies that have been mobilized but there is no doubt chat the Liao-Tung penin? sula will be cut off from supplies if any success attends our land forces. Neither Port Arthur nor Vladivosock can be taken from, the sea front, but I think you will find Port Arthur either taken by our land forces or starved out by September. VICTORY CONFIRMED. London, May 3.-The latest dis? patches received here confirming the completeness of the Japanese victory on the Yalu could hardly have given greater satisfaction in Tokio than they have done in London. The editorials in the morning papers ring with ad? miration at the success of Gen. Kuroki's strategy in a manner indi? cating that Great Britain had been in considerable doubt of the capacity of her ally's troops when matched against the Russians ; and, despite the lack by Japan of good cavalry to follow up her victory it is beileved that she will speedily drive the Russians out of Feng H nan Cheng also. Few further details have yet been re? ceived but it seems that the Japanese imperial guards fought with con? spicuous bravery and sustained the brunt of the fighting losing heavily. Some accounts speak of bayonet charges. It is evident that the Japanese suc? cess is largely due to the superiority of their artillery, the Russian guns being too light. The Japanese victory has caused complete surprise in tbe European capitals and is expected to lead to difficulty in Russia's efforts to. raise a loan. An unconfirmed report of severe fighting between 3,000 Russians and a similar number of Japanese at Gensan is sent by The Standard's St. Peters? burg correspondent, who says the Japanese were compelled to retire into GeDsan, both sides losing heavily. Two Russian officers are said to have been among the wounded. UWE WILL COSIEST. Interesting Legal Battle in Which Prominent Persons are Engaged. "Washington, May 2.--The suit over the estate of Thomas F. Lane, who died here in October, 1900, was called for trial today before Judge Wright in the district court. That the case will prove rather sensational seems certain from the nature of the evidence that is to be presented, and the ablest lawyers in Washington have been retained on each side. The con? test is over the will left by Mr. Lane iu which he bequeathed property amounting to about $30,000 to his mother, brothers and sister, all resi? dents of Summit, N. J., and provided that bis estate, in excess of that amount, should be divided equally between his wife and his mother. Mr. Lane's wife was a daughter of Senator Blackburn,, of Kentucky, and the letter containing the foregoing disposition of Mr. Lane's property was found in Mr. Lane's effects and taken possession of by his widow after his death. She placed it in a safe de? posit vault, refused to hare it opened or disposed of, and it was not until after her death in July 1902, that the lawyers representing Mr. Lane's broth? er, who had been fighting to secure possession of the letter, or knowledge of its contents, succeeded in having it opened. After her death Senator Blackburn was appointed executor of her estate, and when he visited the safe deposit vaults, accompanied by two representatives of the court, this letter was found among the contents. After a long and hitter fight the effort to have the will admitted to probate was successful, and Senator Black barn's application to be appointed ad? ministrator of Mr. Lane's estate was denied. Senator Blackburn is now contesting the will on behalf of the davgbter of Thomas F. Lane, and is making the contest on the grouud that Mr. Lane was of unsound mind when it was written. The will is very brief, com? prising only about a dozen lines, entirely in Mr. Lane's handwriting, but properly witnessed by Edward Tucker, who was a butler in Mr. Lane's house, and in form and phraseology has been admitted to be legal._ ; Charleston, May 2.-About 200 stone cutters went on a strike today at the navy yard and the stone and marble works about tiie city. They wanted $;? .IO per day, 50 cents more than the union rates, which they have been re? ceiving. The contractors agreed to give them $3.:i0, which the men ex? pressed their willingness to accept, but the contractors wanted them to agree to the scale for three years, and pending a decision on this joint the men laid down their tools. The mat? ter will probably be settled in a few days. Aiken, May 1.-A. E. Lacey, a journeyman painter, was taken from the lock-up in Wagener on Friday night and whipped almost into a state j of insensibility by a party of men I whom he believes to be young white men. JAPS AGAIN VICTORIOUS. Another Great Battle Fought on the Yalu. Eighty Thousand Japanese Attack Thirty Thousand Russians in Strongly Fortified Position and inflict a Disastrous Defeat. Russian Force Driven Out of intrench ments, Thirty-six Guns and 2000 Prisoners Left in Hands of Japs. Russian Loss Twenty Officers and Six Hundred Men. Rumored Capture of Russian Vladivos? tok Squadron. London, May 3, 3 p. m.-It is re? ported from St. Petersburg that an? other severe engagement was fought between the Kassian and Japanese forces on the Yalu River this morn? ing. The Russians had 30,000 troops strongly entrenched in the hills on the Manchurian side of the river and the Japanese attacked with 80, - OOO and after a deserate fight the Rus? sian position was carried and the Rus? sians driven ont The Japanese captured thirty-six of the Russian guns with which, the en? trenchments were defended and took 2,000 of the Russian troops prisoners. The Russians report that twenty officers and six hundred men were wounded, but make no report of the killed. The Japanese are believed to have suffered serions loss as the assault was a desperate and hazardous one and the Russian force m-de a fierce and determined defence, resisting until they were fairly overwhelmed by mere brute force of numbers. The report states, however, that the Japanese were completely victorious and that the Russian retreat was hurried to prevent the capture of a greater number. The report has not been officially confirmed, but is believed to be relia? ble. RUMOR OF ANOTHER NAVAL VICTORY BY THE JAPANESE. New York, May 3, 2.48 p. m.-A London unconfirmed rumor reports that the Japanese fleet under Admi? ral Uriu has captured the Russian Vladivostock squadron. COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS. Parker Endorsed in Several Coun? ties-Hearst Not Mentioned. Columbia, May 3.-Parker senti-, ment in many counties and harmony practically in all were the features of the Democratic conventions held yes? terday. Delegates to the State con? vention were elected without instruc? tions. In Edgefield, Ex-Gov. Sheppard and United States Senator Tillman, lead? ers of the two factions in 1892, each spoke declaring for Parker's nomina? tion and both were elected delegates to the State convention. % z. In Greenville and Anderson attacks were made on the State dispensary in the form of resolutions, but they were voted down in Anderson, how? ever, by a small majority. Hearst sentiment was rarely heard from and so far as known he has few if any delegates and has probably not a single delegation. In Laurens resolutions in favor of reaffirming the national platforms of 1896 and 19C0 were adopted and in Florence similar resolutions were voted down. The liveliest conventions were in Marlboro and Aiken. The Demo? crats of Marlboro adopted the plan of allowing each township to name a delegate. In most of the counties strong men were elected and the convention will be one to include more thau the ordi? nary amount of ability. In Charles? ton, for example, the . strongest dele? gation of the last decade was chosen. -The State. Charleston, ^^llpirl 29.-The police department has- made out 100 cases for violation of the dispensary ordi? nance which will be called in the city court on Monday. This is the largest number of cases which has been made up for a single term of the court. Last January has held the record, when 75 cases were called. There is business enough to keep the court busy for a few days. Tokio, April 26.-The leading Jap actor Kawawkami, was robbed of a diamond studded watch, worth a thousand dollars, a present from the czar of Russia, who took a great liking to the Jap when the latter made a tour of the empire several years ago. Kawakami did not mind the loss much, and was more astonished than overjoyed when next day he re? ceived back his watch with a letter signed "pickpocket." "Our guild has ordered me to return this infamcus bauble," wrote the patriotic cutpurse, "we will not smudge ourselves with contraband from the enemy." London, Daily News: With all his generous admission of the fine fighting qualities of the Japanese, the Rassian Admiral Skrydloff was ill advised to 9ay that "of course, they have net the traditions behind them that our soldiers have. " If it comes to com? paring national traditions the Ru> sians, who could scarcely have been called a people at all three centuries ago, do not shine particularly as against the Japanese, whose national civilization is one of the oldest in the world. The military tradition of Japan, moreover, is one of the chief gloiies cf her history. Bravery and skill in fighting were loading virtues in feudal Japan when the Russians were in a state of barbarism. Tho truth is that, to anyone * newing the elementary facts about rhe history of the two countries, Russia's assump? tion of superior civilization is jost a little irritating, whatever we may think of the merits of .the quarrel no?/ leing fought out.