Newspaper Page Text
The Jones County News.
VOL- X.
p r\
* A
In Wake of Terrific
Cyclone in North
Alabama.
MODfiDVILLE IS WRECKED
Little Town in Hale County
is Literally Wiped off the
Map—Death List is
Twenty-Eight.
The most disastrous cyclone that
ever swept over northern Alabama
visited Moundville, a town of 300 in¬
habitants, Friday morning at 1 o’clock,
and, as a result, twenty-eight persons
were killed and more than one hun¬
dred killed, and every business house,
dred killed, and every business house,
with the exception of a small drug
store, was completely destroyed.
The cyclone struck the city from
the southwest, dealing death and de¬
struction as it made its path through
the town. The path of tho cyclone
was a quarter of a mile wide"
Where once stood the business por¬
tion of the town, the depot and the
dwellings, there were found scores
of mangled cattle, hogs, horses and
suffering humanity. So horrible was
the scene that it is impossible to de¬
scribe the suffering and destruction.
Persons were blown hundreds of
feet from their beds in the blackness
of night. Through terror, a father,
mother and three children fled trom
their home to seek refuge, and in
their excuement left a 5-year-old boy
in bed. When morning came lie was
pulled from beneath some timoer, and
thus far it is impossible to find any
other member of the family.
Bedding, carpets and wearing appa¬
rel are scattered a distance of ten
miles through what was a forest, hut
which is now as clear as if it had been
cut by the woodman’s ax.
Freight cars were torn to splinters,
the trucks fropi them being hurled
hundreds of feet from the track.
The depot, the hotel, ware houses,
gins, thirty homes, the store houses
occupied by R. L. Griffin, A. W. Wig¬
gins & Son, W. J. Domenick, A. D.
Griffin and W. P. Phifer, together with
their stocks, were completely destroy¬
ed. Where they stood it is impossible
tc find even the pillars upon which
these structures rested.
Bales of cotton, which were stored
in warehouses, were torn to atoms,
the fragments of lint lodging in trees,
making it appear as if that section
had been visited by a snowstorm.
Heavy iron safes were carried by the
storm, the doors of v. hich were torn
from their hinges.
Hundreds of homeless persons, hus¬
bands without wives, wives without
husbands, children without parents,
all without food or raiment, are wring¬
ing their hand in despair.
The following is a list of the white
persons killed; E. P. Seymour, of
Nashville, Tcnn, who accepted his po¬
sition as operator at the railroad sta¬
tion only the evening before; A. H.
Warren, of Birmingham; J. H. Reil-
ond, superintendent of the pumping
tation from Nashville; Robert Pow¬
ers, of Tuscaloosa;" Miss Nettie Far¬
ley.
Tho negro dead are: W. N. Miles,
wife and six children; Albert Holston,
wife and three children; Ike Holston,
wife and three children. Five other
negroes, yet unidentified.
The following is a partial list of the
seriously wounded white people; Mrs.
W. A. Grubbs, R. L. Griffin, Mrs. R.
L. Griffin, Lee Griffin, A. B. Griffin,
Mrs. Farley, Mr. Gailey, Mrs. Galley,
Mrs. F. T. Gailey, Mr. Early, Mrs.
McCaney.
The names of the injured negroes
have not yet been procured.
Surgeons were rushed to Mound¬
ville from Greensboro and Tuscaloosa,
and all possible was done to alleviate
the sufferings of the injured.
Damage Done to Birmingham.
A Birmingham special says; The
storm was the fiercest since the cy¬
clone of three years ago, and came
,
from the same direction. No lives j
lost, but there was considerable 1 I
■were
destruction of property. I
Thirty-six buildings at North Bir¬
mingham were badly wrecked, mostly
small houses occupied by negroes.
WIDOW PLANT AGAIN WEDS.
arried to Millionaire Rob.'rt Graves
With Unostentatious Ceremony.
A New York dispatch says: Robert
Graves and Mrs. Marguerite J. Plant.
■widow of Henry B. Plant, millionaire I
aouthern railroad, steamship and land I
owner, have been married at the plant
residence in Fifth avenue. There wc-i j
only about half a dozc-n witnesses, all j I
relatives of the br ide and groom ._
ATLANTA IS FAVORED
As Location for Founding of Great
Presbyterian College—Special Con¬
ference Acts Upon the Matter.
The champions of the proposal to
remove Columbia Theological semi¬
nary and the Southwestern Presbyte¬
rian university from their present lo¬
cations and to merge them into one
college to be situated in Atlanta scor¬
ed a distinct victory in the meetings
of the members of the conference in
Atlanta.
The special conference, In which the
synods of seven states were repre¬
sented, by a vote of 15 to 3, has recom¬
mended the founding of the Institu¬
tion at the Georgia capital, and tha
prevailing opinion of the conferees is
that the Presbyterians of the south
will abide by the action of the confer¬
ence.
A committee was appointed to draft
and submit a plan of commnatlon, to
be suggested to th« various state
synods, and by another overwhelming
vote this plan was adopted, the con¬
ference in so doing recommending
that all the synods concerned appoint,
at their next meetings, members ot
a provisional board of trustees for the
new university.
A minority report was offered by
three members of the conference, Dr.
W. McF. Alexander? of New Orleans,
the chairman; D. W. Pipes and A. J.
McKay, who were the only ones vot¬
ing against the recommendations
finally made by the conference.
After extending a vote ot thanks to
the people of Atlanta, the chamber of
commerce and the Agnes Scott insti¬
tute, the conference adjourned sine
die, leaving the ultimate fate of the
university project in the hands of sev¬
en synods. No further action can be
taken until the synods meet next fall,
but -all the advantages are with the
university movement.
If established in Atlanta the univer
sity will be located To the northeast
of the city, between Atlanta and De¬
catur.
The site will be a part of 600 acres
of beautiful wboded hills, now the
property of the Kirkwood Land Com¬
pany, and it Is this company which
will donate the lands for the campus.
FOR GORDON MONUMENT.
Gen. S. D. Lee Issues Circular Letter
Relative to the Matter.
General Stephen D. Lee, commander
In chief of the United Confederate Vet¬
erans, has issued the following unoffl
cial circular relative to tho movement
to erect a monument to the late Gener
a] John B. Gordon:
“1. The great demonstration oi
warm love and confidence shown at
the burial of General John B. Gordon
at Atlanta, Ga., and the abundant evi¬
dence of esteem manifested every¬
where in our beloved southland and
also throughout our great republic,
suggests to the undersigned some con¬
centration of action necessary to a
quick and successful movement ta
erect a monument out of such funds
. may be raised this
as year.
“2. Wlhile, as commander in chiel
of the Confederate Veterans’ organiza¬
tions, I do not think it proper to Is
sue. in general orders, an appeal, still
as the successor of our beloved com¬
mander and his personal friend and
admirer, I issue this call to every con¬
federate organization, to divisions,
brigades and camps of the United Con-<
federate Associations; to the Ladles'
Memorial Association and Daughters,
Sens and Children of the Confederacy,
to take immediate action and organize
to secure subscriptions to to secure a
monument movement.
“3. I also suggest to states, cities
and organizations generally to unite
with us in building a monument .
“4. I also suggest that, a local com
mittee be promptly formed at Atlanta
to receive subscriptions for the monu¬
ment at the home of General Gordon.
“STEPHEN D. LEE.”
FIRE TRAGEDY IN HOTEL.
Proprietor, His Wife and the Cafe
Manager Burned to Death.
At Marion, Ind., three people were
burned to death and ten badly injured
in a tenement house fire.
The cause was a gas explosion fol¬
lowed by flames and the building was
destroyed. The explosion occurred in
the Seitz building al Thirty-eighth
street and Home avenue, which wa3
wrecked.
MORGAN URGES ANNEXATION.
Senator Declares Canal Treaty Con¬
templates that Result.
During the morning hour of the sen¬
ate Thursday, Mr. Morgan spoke In
explanation of his bill for the annexa-
tion of Panama to the United States,
basing his argument on the ground
that the pending canal treaty practi-
cally contemplated that result, and
said, in effect, that if it was to be
done at all it should be done by leg¬
islation and not by treaty.
PEACE PROSPECTS BRIGHT.
Financial Markets and Stocks Bound
Upward in Japanese Capital.
A special from Tokio, Japan, under
date of January 21st, says: The
growing belief that a peaceful settle-
®ent of existing international dim-
culties will eventually he attained has
served to strengthen the financial
markets and stocks are advancing on
the loca! exchange,
GRAY. JONES CO. GA.. THURSDAY. JANUARY 28, 1904.
EDUCATION A CURSE
When Same Is Possessed to
a Degree by Black Man.
SO DECLARES VARDEMAN
Mississippi's New Governor Makes
Sensational and Extensive Refer¬
ence to Race Problem in His
Inaugural Address.
Governor James K. Vardaman was
inaugurated at Jackson. Miss., Tues¬
day before a vast concourse of people.
The ceremonies were few and simple.
Major Vardaman stated immediately
after the election that it was his de¬
sire to go quietly before the judge of
the supreme court, take the oath of
office, make an addre&s and then get
down to work.
It has been customary heretofore for
the outgoing and incoming governors
to enter the capitol together, but there
was an exception to the rule in this
instance, as Governors Longino and
Vardaman do not. speak because of po¬
litical differences of long standing.
The new governor requested that
Speaker E. N. Thomas, of the house of
representatives introduce him, which
was done. The hall of representa¬
tives was packed when Governor Var¬
daman arose to deliver his inaugural
address before the joint session. In
the address Governor Vardaman de¬
clared that the growing tendency of
the negro to commit criminal assault
on white women is nothing more nor
less than the manifestations of the
racial desire for social equality. In
s-trong terms he declared that educa¬
tion is the curse of the negro race, and
urged an amendment to the state con¬
stitution that will place the distribu¬
tion of the common school fund solely
within the power of the legislature.
Continuing his discussion of the negro
question, Governor Vardaman s>aid:
“As a race he is deteriorating mor¬
ally every day. Time has demonstrat¬
ed that he is still more criminal as a
free man than as a slave, that he is
increasing in criminality with frightful
rapidity, being one-third more criminal
in 1890 than he was in 1880.
“The startling facts revealed by the
census show that these who can read
and write are more criminal than the
illiterate, which is true of no other
element of our pupolataion. I am ad¬
vised that the minimum illiteracy
among the negroes is found in New
England, where It is 21.7 per cent. The
maximum is fouund in the- black belt
—Louisiana, Mississippi and South
Carolina—where it is 65.7 per cent.
And yet the negro in New England is
four and one-half times more criminal,
hundred for hundred, than he is in the
black belt. In the south, Mississippi
particularly, I know he is growing
worse every year. You can scarcely
pick up a newspaper whose pages are
not blackened with the accounts of an
unmentionable crime committed by a
negro brute, and this crime I want to
impress upon you is but the manifes¬
tation of the negro’s aspiration for so¬
cial equality, encouraged largely by
the character of free education in
vogue in the state In levying tribute
upon the white people to maintain.
“The older classes of negroes are
not responsible for this terrible condi¬
tion or for the criminal tendency of
their race. Nor do I wish to be under¬
stood as censuring them for it. I am
not censuring anybody, nor am I in¬
spired by ill-will for the negro, but T
am simply calling attention to a most
unfortunate and undeniable condition
of affairs. What shall be done about
it? Surely something must be done.
My own idea is that the character of
education for the negro ought to bo
changed. If, after years of earnest
effort and the expenditure of fabulous
sums of money to educate his head we
have only succeeded in making a
criminal out of him and imperiling his
usefulness and efficiency as a laborer,
wisdom would suggest that we make
another experiment end see if we can¬
not improve him by education of his
hand and his heart. There must be a
moral sub-stratum upon which to
build, or you cannot make a desirable
citizen.”
STATE PRIMARY IN LOUISIANA.
New Plan for Election of Gubernato¬
rial Candidate Inaugurated.
A general democratic primary to
nominate a state ticket to be voted
for in April next was held in Louisi¬
ana Tuesday. It was the first test
ever made in the state of the primary
There were two candidates for gov¬
ernor, and the indications point to the
nomination of former Senator Blanch¬
ard over his opponent, General Jas>-
tremski, consul to Peru under Mr.
Cleveland, and former commander of
the Louisiana division of the Confed¬
erate Veterans.
Kentucky Democrat* Invite Gorman.
The Kentucky senate, Tuesday, con¬
curred in the house Joint resolution
extending an invitation to Senator Ar¬
thur P. Gorman to address the legis¬
lature.
McLaurin and Money Re-Elected.
United States Senator A. J. Mc¬
Laurin and H. D. Money were elect¬
ed to succeed themselves by the Mis¬
sissippi legislature Tuesday.
:: Cream of News.* !
Brief Summary of Most
Important Event*
of Each Day.
—Under a decision of Judge J. H.
Lumpkin, in the superior court at At¬
lanta, a laborer cannot waive exemp¬
tion from garnishment in Georgia.
This decision, it is believed, will tend
to limit the practice of money sharks.
—The Georgia state text-book com¬
mission through Governor Terrell is¬
sues statement in answer to charges
reflecting on the commission’s method
cf letting contracts for school books.
—Dougherty county, Ga., commis-
sionem have ordered compulsory vac¬
cination.
—The loss by fire at Marietta.
Ga., on Wednesday morning, is esti
mated at $112,000.
—The Florida republicans held their
state convention in St. Augustine
Wednesday. Candidates for congress
and delegates to the national conven¬
tion were selected, but no state tick¬
et was named. The national delegates
go uninstructed.
—General Stephen D. Lee, com¬
mander United Confederate Veterans,
issues a circular relative to the move-
men to erect a monument to the late
General John B. Gordon.
—A lawless gang of men are causing
terror among the negroes of Washing¬
ton county, Ala. Some of them were
served with notice to leave the coun¬
ty at once.
—After a conference between repub¬
lican senators and Secretary Hay it
has been decided to vote down all
amendments to the Panama treaty.
Secretary Hay warned the senators
that further delay might induce Pan¬
ama to try a hold-up game on the
United States.
—In the trial of Machen and others
for alleged grafting Wednesday, the
government was hampered by the
court refusing to admit certain letters
and testimony bearing on the case.
—Seven thousand acres of land have
been purchased on the line of the
Southern railway in Washington coun¬
ty, Alabama, on which 1,000 settlers
will be established.
—Panama was debated in the sena f e
Wednesday, Mr. Patterson bitterly as¬
sailing the course of the president.
Mr. Platt, of Connecticut, replied to
Mr. Patterson.
—Secretary of State Hay has left
Washington for Thomasville, Ga.,
where he will recuperate. The secre¬
tary denies that he will leave the cab¬
inet
—Fire in the Grand Palace hotel,
Chicago, came near resulting in tho
cremation of many chorus girls.
—The house passed tho Hepburn
pure food bill by a vote of 201 to 63.
—Dispatches indicate that the out¬
look in the Far East is more peaceful.
Everything seems to indicate that Rua-
■ia is seeking a way in which to back
down and concede the demands of Ja¬
pan.
—It is rumored that President
Charles A. Wlckersham of the Atlanta
and West Poipt and the Western of
Alabama, has been offered the place
of general manager of the Central of
Georgia, succeeding the late Theodore
D. Kline.
—John M. Barnes, United States
marshal for the southern district of
Georgia, says he is willing to give up
his job and become chairman of
the republican state central commit¬
tee to keep the party from going to
the dogs.
—O. A. and 0. F. Knighton, ot Ran¬
dolph county, Ga., have been bound
over to the United States court at
Columbus under bonds of $1,000 each
on charges of peonage.
—The committee of citizens of Bris¬
tol, Va., has cleared the city council
of an irregularity in the sale of bonds
to the Dominion National bank, of
which one of the counctlmen Is presi¬
dent.
—The big Chicago packing houses
have bought a million acres in south¬
ern Alabama and northern Florida for
the purpose of establishing a great
feeding ground in the southeast.
—Louisville grain dealers are seek¬
ing to have the railroads remove tile
1 cent terminal charge, which they
claim works a hardship against them
on business to southern and gulf
points.
—The Mississippi house has voted
the same appropriation, $1,500,000, lor
public schools, in addition to which
the poll taxes will be retained in many
counties.
—Daniel Sully, at a meeting of busi¬
ness people in New Orleans, says nat-
ural conditions, not manipulation, caus¬
ed cotton to advance; that the world
Is using more and that a crop of 12,-
000,000 bales of American cotton would
bring good prices.
—The Western Union Telegraph
Company has gone into the federal
courts to prevent the license tax of
twenty-five cents per mile ot wire laid
by North Carolina.
—Senator Hanna, in an interview at
Pittsburg, says he haB sent out 2,000
personal letters denying that he is a
candidate for the presidency and that
he does not want to be considered as
such; that he will Issue the call for
the republican national convention in
a few days.
ROBBERS’ BIC HAUL
I rain of the Southern Pacific
Looted in Sum of $80,000
THREW OFF EXPRESS SAFE
Work Was Done During Temporary
Absence of Messenger—Express
Company Denies that Such
Large Amount 19 Lost,
A special from San Luis Obispo,
Cal., states that traiu No. 9, which
left that town at 10:40 Wednesday
night for San Francisco, was robbed
of the express safe on Questa grade,
about six miles to the northeast.
Messenger Sullivan, in charge of the
express car. had occasion to leave tho
car west of Tunnel No. 6, and return¬
ing later found the door burst open
and the safe gone. The safe is said
to have contained about $80,000.
As soon as notified officers went to
the scene in search of the robbers.
At the office of the Wells-Fargo Ex¬
press Company no information regard¬
ing the robbery could ho obtained. It
was admitted that the safe of Messen¬
ger Sullivan had been taken during
his temporary absence from the car,
but regarding tho details ot the affair
the officials were reticent. The report
that tho amount taken aggregated
about $80,000, was denied and the
statement is made that the contents
of the purloined safe were of little
value. No definite figures were given.
The engineer, so the report says,
pulled up at tho sight of a red light
displayed as a danger signal when the
trainmen were overpowered and the
robbers forced an entrance into the
express and mail cars.
At the office of the Southern Pa¬
cific, in San Francisco, the only infor¬
mation received was to the effect that
the train known as section No. 2 of
the Sunset Limited, had been robbed
by bandits who had taken the safe
from the express car weighing 200
pounds and thrown it off the car.
The express messenger, T. Sullivan,
had two cars to look after, and short¬
ly after the train left San Luis Obispo
and while it was nearing San Mar-
querote, he discovered the loss of the
safe. He had been working in
forward express car and as soon as
he went to the roar he made th'e as¬
tounding discovery that the safe had
been wrenched trom the corner of the
car, where, it had been secured by
heavy steel bars, and carried away.
The messenger immediately gave the
warning. The train was stopped and
word was wired along lha line to
look out for the robbers.
Tho safe was found Thursday In the
rough lands along the track. It had
bee.n rifled of everything except a val¬
uable diamond and some valuable pa¬
pers. Notwithstanding the express
people's statements Chat there wns lit¬
tle of value In the safe, It Is stated
that, one package gent from Kanta Bar¬
bara was worth about $1,500.
The Wells-Fargo officers say there
were two safes In tho train, ono of
which Is a depository for local valua¬
bles, which Is locked at New Orleans,
the other being they assert, seldom
contains more than $1,500. It. was the
latter safe that was stolen.
PURE FOOD BILL PASSED.
Measure Goes Through After Ineffect¬
ual Attempts to Amend,
A Washington special says: The
house has passed the Hepburn pure
food bill in a rising vote of 201 to 68.
A roll call on the bill could not be ob¬
tained. The amendment Inserting the
word “willful” referring to persons
who sell adulterated or misbranded
goods, and which would have compell¬
ed the government to prove intent to
violate tho law by the vendorB was
stricken out on a yea and' nay vote
In the house. Several attempts were
made to amend tho bill, hut no ma¬
terial changes were made.
The bill fixes the standard of foods
and drugs as to their purity, strength
and character, and defines what shaff
be considered adulterations or mis¬
branding of foods and drugs. It also
prohibits inter-state commerce, impor¬
tation and exportation of such mis¬
branded or adulterated articles. It is
proposed to enlarge the scope of the
bureau of chemistry to include the
bureau of foods and impost upon it
the duty of performing all chemical
work for the other executive depart¬
ments. This bureau will be charged
with the duty of inspecting food and
drug products which belong to inter¬
state or foreign commerce. The sec¬
retary of agriculture is given author¬
ity to employ such chemfsts, inspect¬
ors, clerks and laborers as may be
necessary for the enforcement of the
act.
COTTON SEED FOR TEXA 8 .
Georgia Product Being Shippel to Vic¬
tims of Destructive Boll Weevil.
On last Thursday six car loads of
seed for the cotton section of Texas
that was devastated by The boil wee¬
vil last year were shipped from Ath¬
ens, Ga. The shipments will continue
to he made until enough seed from
Georgia and a few other states in this
latitude are shipped to give the farm¬
ers enough to plant their next crop,
GARNISHMENT ILLEGAL
Atlanta Judge Renders Decision of
Far-Reaching Import—Laborer Can-
not Waive Homestead Rights.
At Atlanta, Wednesday morning,
fuudge J. H. Lumpkin, of the Fulton
.'ounty superior court handed down an
jpiniou that is regarded in legal cir-
:les as a stiff blow to money lenders
in whom tho county grand jury has
been waging a crusade for several
months past.
The opinion is based on a ease ap¬
pealed from an Atlanta justice court,
jnd in it Judge Lumpkin holds that a
laborer has no legal right to waive his
exemption from the garnishment laws
af the state of Georgia. The state law
provides that all day laborers shall he
exempt, from garnishment, and under
a decision of Judgo Lumpkin, no la¬
borer has the authority to sign an
agreement waiving this exemption in
favor of a money lender or any one
else.
Tho effect of the decision, lawyers
decare, will he far reaching. It means
the taking from money lenders the
power of subjecting tho wages of a la¬
borer to garnishment. It is under¬
stood that the practice is In vogue in
Atlanta of having laborers who borrow
money to sign an agreement, assigning
their salary to the money lender, and
also waiving their exemption from gar¬
nishment, and the opinion of Judge
Lumpkin is a direct knock-out blow
to this method of procedure.
The case on which tho opinion is
founded was brought by one Charles
Colyer, a money lender, against. Peter
Mills, in the court of Justice of the
Peace Bloodworth. Mills was an em¬
ployee of the Southern Railway Com¬
pany and In 1900 borrowed the sum
of $12 from Colyer, assigning his sal¬
ary .to Colyer and signing an agree¬
ment waiving his exemption from gar¬
nishment on his salary for the months
of the years 1901 and 1902,
Mills, for some reason, failed to
make payment on the note, and a suit
was instituted and summons of gar¬
nishment taken out. Mills claimed that
his wages were exempt from the gar¬
nishment as he wasi a day laborer,
and that his agreement to waive such
exemption was invalid. Colyer, on the
other hand, contended that, the waiv¬
er was perfectly legal and of force.
The case was tried before a jury
in Judge Bloodworth’s court and a
verdict rendered in favor of Colyer,
the waiver being sustained. The case
was then appealed, by certiorari, to
the superior court and was heard be¬
fore Judge Lumpkin. After carefully
deliberating on the questions involved,
Judge Lumpkin, on Wednesday, hand¬
ed down his opinion, reversing the
verdict of the justice court. It is ex¬
pected that the case will be appealed
to the supreme court, and if it should
he, the decision of that tribunal will
be watched with much interest.
Judge Lumpkin held that the main
question at, issue in the case is wheth¬
er a day laborer has the right to
waive his exemption from garnish¬
ment. He held that such an exemp¬
tion Is contrary to the law of the
state, and that it Is against the mor¬
als and public policy of the state. Ho
cited numbers of authorities, both from
the decisions of the Georgia supreme
court and from the supreme courts ofj
other states, to sustain his position
and to demonstrate that tho waiving
cf an exemption from garnishment Is a
matter that affects the public policy
of the state.
The opinion deals fully with the
questions raised by the case and
forms a lengthy typewritten document.
COLONY OF ITALIAN 8 ETTLERS
Locating in Alabama County on Lands!
Bought by the Southern.
Seven thousand acres of land sIH
uated In Washington county, Alabama;
35 miles from Mobile, on tho main
line of the Southern railway, has been
purchased for colonization, purposes.
Tho tract will bo sub-divided into
small farms and sold to Italian farm J
ers. Tho heads of twenty-flve families!
have already reached tho property and
commenced tho erection of buildings.
Farms will be opened up at once. The!
settlers will engage in general farm¬
ing, the growing of fruits and vegotar
hies.
HOLLAND SOCIETY BANQUET.
Large Attendance at Annual Dinnci
of Members in New York.
Over 400 members and guests of the
Holland Society of New York attended
the annual dinner at the Waldorf-As¬
toria Thursday night. The list of
toasts Included "Peace,” Wt J. Bry-
ani "Holland, Our Ally in the Revo¬
lution,” Rev. George Lortmer; "The
Friendly Relations of the Dufch with
Other Nations," Sir Cheu-Tung Liang
Cheng; “Our Hero Ancestors,” James
\t. Bock.
A letter from President Roosevelt
was read expressing regret at ills ina¬
bility to attend.
MYSTERY IN ROVELLE CASE.
Reputed Heiress to $8,000,000 Estate
Held In Mobile, Ala.
Miss Ethel Rovelle, the reputed heir¬
ess to an $8,000,000 estate, left her In
Denver, Colo., by Mr». Minerva Bin-
ford, was found in Mobile, Ala., Wed¬
nesday by Detective Vanhand, of Me¬
ridian, Miss., and is being held accord¬
ing to instructions.
Meridian relatives of the girl were
notified of her discovery.
NO. 10.
CLOUDSARE LIFTING
More Optimistic Feeling Re¬
garding War Situation,
PEACE ADVOCATES ON TOP
Latest Phase of Situation Indicates
that 1 Russia is About Ready to
Accede Japanese Demands,
Averting a Conflict.
A Washington special says: For
the first time in weeks Secretary Hay
has become hopeful that peace will be
the outcome of negotiations between
Russia and Japan. He bases his
hopes upon the indications that the
peace party is In the ascendant at. St.
Petersburg, and he sees hope that
Russia will practically come to Japan’s
terms. He places his hopes principal¬
ly upon Witte, whom he regards not
only the best posted, but the safest of
the czar's advisers, and who is strong¬
ly for peace.
This more hopeful view on the part
of the secretary of elate is regarded
highly significant in Washington as up
to the present time he has believed
there was no peace In sight, even af¬
ter the peace talk of the czar himself.
It Is assumed that his latest advices
from St. Petersbuurg have led him
to put greater faith In the promises of
poace, showing that the Witte-Lams-
dorff Influence Is in the ascendant.
That ho should feel able to leave
Washington at this time is taken as
evidence of his belief that there is no
crisis Immediately in sight, and that
the trend Is toward poace.
In the absence of further advices
from Seoul, the state department offi¬
cials believe conditions are growing
better at the Korean capital.
FLORIDA REPUBLICANS
Hold State and Congressional District
Convention In St. Augustine.
The republicans of Florida held
their state convention and the con¬
vention for each congressional di&triet
tn St. Augustine Wednesday.
Joseph E. Lee, collector of internal
revenue, presided over the state con¬
vention. This convention left the
question of putting out a state ticket
to the executive committee. D. N.
Combs, Joseph E. Lee, Henry S. Chub
and M. S. White were selected as dele¬
gatee to the national republican con¬
vention.
The first district convention nomi¬
nated E. R. Gunby for congress and
selected G. W. Alien and H. W. Chan¬
dler as delegates to the national repub¬
lican convention.
In the second district J. N. Cheny
was nominated for congress by accla¬
mation, and G. W. Robinson and F. 8.
Harris were chosen to represent the
district in the national convention.
L. M. Whre, the lone republican In
the legislature, was nominated for
congress in the third district, and W.
H. Northrop apd C, F. Buffam were
elected as delegates to the national
convention.
The state and congressional dele¬
gates to the national republican con¬
vention were divided equally between
the race*.
SERMON CAUSED LYNCHING.
Rev. Elwood to Be Tried for Inciting
Mob at Wilmington, Delaware.
The New Castle Presbytery at Do¬
ver, Delaware, has decided to try Rev.
R. A. Elwood, of Wilmington, on
charges in connection with the preach¬
ing of a sermon by him last Juno, en¬
titled “Should the murderer of Helon
Bishop he lynched?” The trial will
take place in the Presbyterian church
at New Castle on February 2.
The complaint against Mr. Elwood is
that he delivered a sermon at Wil¬
mington, which it is alleged so worked
up the people that the next night a
mob gathered, stormed the work-
house, took out George White, the col¬
ored man who confessed to assaultin/
and murdering Hden Bishop, i/M
burned him at the stake.
DISCUSS UNIVERSITY PROJECT.
Conference of Presbyterian Delegates
Held at Georgia Capital.
The desires and hopes of Atlanta,
Ga., for the proposed great Presbyte¬
rian university, focused in the $250,-
000 of subscriptions made to this end
some months ago, were Tuesday night
laid before the conference of Presby¬
terian assembled in the city to dis¬
cuss the university project.
The fate of tho proposed university
to a great extent hangs in the bal¬
ance, dependent on the decision of the
twenty-one men representing the syn¬
ods of seven state*
MINE DISASTER IN MEXICO.
Powder House Wrecked by Dynamite
and Twenty Men Killed.
At the Los Laureles mines, near the
little hamlet of La Yesca ,west of
Guadalajara, Mexico, a large number
of boxes of dynamite exploded, killing
twenty men and injuring forty others.
Complete details are lacking, but it
is rumored that the disaster was tne
result of the explosion of a dynamite
cap.