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THE MORNING NEWS. Established 1850. .- - Incorporated 1888 VT T Af'DT?'O -1 rra-i o J. H. EBTILL, President. iAIJiUnhiK, J ihi 1 FIERCE FIGHT FOLLOWS ATTEMPT OF JAPANESE TO BLOCK THE HARBOR -■t - ■ Russians Beat Back the Attacking Force, but They, as Well as the Japanese, Sustain Losses. With Four Merchant Steamers, Convoyed by Torpedo Boats, The Japanese Sought the Entrance to the Port Arthur Inner Roadstead—Plan Was to Sink the Steamers and Bottle Up the Russian Fleet—Activity of One Russian Torpedo Boat Defeated the Enterprise—This Boat Lost a Number of Killed and Wounded. SUMMARY OF THE WAR’S EVENTS The .Japanese again tried and failed to bottle up the fleet of the Rus sians In Port Arthur harbor. It Is believed that the crews of steamers that were sunk In the effort to block the passage failed to escape. One report states that a Russian torpedo boat was sunk, but this may have been the Stint, which Admiral Makaroff reports as having stranded, but which later was floated. Unofficial rrports say that the Japanese lost two torpedo boats dur ing the engagement. Russians are jubilant because Admiral Makaroff sailed forth to meet the Japanese fleet and Admiral Togo declined to join combat. It is believed to be the fixed purpose of the Japanese to land a force in Manchuria to flnnk the Russians who confront them on the Yalu. Marquis Ito and ills suite have departed from Seoul, whither they went on a mission to the Korean Emperor. St. Petersburg, March 27.—Under cover of darkness this morning, Vice Admiral Togo made another desperate attempt to bottle up the Russian fleet in Port Arthur, but he failed again, and when after daylight Vice Admiral Makaroff steamed out to give battle, the Japanese commander refused the challenge, and sailed away. The Japanese practically repeated the tactics of Feb. 24 by sending in four fire ships, preceded by a torpedo boat flotilla, -with the exception that the fire ships this time were armed with Hotchkiss guns for the purpose of keeping off the Russian torpedo boat destroyers. The enemy's attempt was discovered by means of the shore searchlights, and a heavy fire was opened from the batteries and from two gunboats which Were guarding the entrance to the harbor. The Russian torpedo boat destroyer Silni was outside on scout ing duty and to the dash and nerve of her commander, Lieut Krinizki, is chiefly due the complete defeat of the plans of the Japanese. He at once made straight for the on-coming ships under a hail of Are from the Hotch kiss guns and torpedoed the leading ship, which sheered off, followed by the others, three of them being piled upon on the shore under Golden Hill and one under the lighthouse. The Silni then engaged the entire six tor pedo boats of the enemy, coming out from a terrific fight with seven killed and her commander and twelve of her complement wounded, but on the Jap anese side only one boat’s crew was saved. In addition, according to unofficial reports, it is believed that the Japa nese lost two torpedo boats. Jnpnneie Cruisers Drew Off. The Japanese cruisers which sup ported the attack exchanged shots with the batteries and then drew off, after which Vice Admiral Makaroff took a steam launch and examined the fire ships. An hour later the Japanese torpedo flotilla, followed by Vice Admiral To go’s fleet, came up from a southerly direction. Just at daybreak Vice Ad miral Makaroff with H,ls fleet sailed out to engage the enemy, but after the ships and batteries had fired a few long distance shots, Vice Admiral Togo decided to decline the Issue and dis appeared to the southward. The news of the repulse of \ ice Admiral Togo’s second attempt to block Port Arthur created much re joicing in the Russian capital, and among all classes the gallantry of the Silni and her commander are the subject of high praise; but above all, the moral effect of Admiral Makar off’s willingness to engage the en emy, showing that he considered himself strong enough to fight, pro duced a splendid Impression. To Render Fleet Impotent. In high official circles this new effort to bottle up the Russian fleet is looked upon as meaning only one thing, name ly, that'the Japanese, as stated by the Associated Press on March 24, are pre paring for a heavy landing of troops in the Gulf of Liao Tung, either at New Chwang or on the west coast of the Manchurian neutral zone, to effect which in safety the Immobility of Vice Admiral Makaroff’s fleet Is absolutely essential, while the transports are be ing convoyed around the southern end of the peninsula. If the attempt had succeeded it would have required several days at least to blow up the steamers and clear away the wreckage, during which time the Japanese would be assured of non-in terferencs In the carrying out of their purpose. The failure of the Japanese this morning may seriously hamper their pis ns, a* the Ice In the Liao river Is going out, and when the river Is free from lee It# mouth tan be eaeily mined To Make e ■#•* l-oodlog. The conviction continues to grow here lhat the Jepsneee have conclud ed that U Would Ike inadvleehlv to inag* a direct frontal attach on Man- : aim hUasg agiUhal Urn vhuMJ Jiatannalj Jftofratuj Russian army, and that it will be nec essary to land a flanking column in the Gulf of Liao Tung to divide the attention of the Russians and, if pos sible, to seize the railroad and cut off Port Arthur. The ground above New Chwang is perfectly familiar to the Japanese, who occupied it for a year during the Chino-Japanese War. Some experts even go so far as to express the belief that Vice Admiral Togo was covering the movement of transports into the Gulf of Liao Tung this morning, and that therefore he was compelled to exercise great cau tion and to decline the Russian offer of an engagement. Another view of the Japanese ad miral’s purpose, which is less enter tained, is that he believes that bom bardments from Pigeon Bay would be disastrous to the Russian fleet if it were compelled to remain In the har bor, he having ascertained from ob servation that the Russian ships al ways pass out during the high angle bombardments and that a big shell dropped on a battleship could easily pierce the deck and, exploding, might completely destroy it. RUSSIAN LEADERS REPORT TO THE CZAR. St Petersburg, March 27.—An official dispatch from Port Arthur to the Em peror says that at 1 o’clock this morn ing the Russian searchlights disclosed four large merchant steamers making for the entrance to the harbor, sup ported by six torpedo boats. A heavy fire was opened on them by the batteries and some warships. The torpedo boat Stilni, commanded by Lieut. Krinizki, turned the mer chant vesels from their course by blowing up the prow of the first and them boldly attacked the enemy’s tor pedo boats. In the fierce fight which followed Chief Engineer Swyereft of the Stilni and six marines were kill ed, and the commander and twgjve men were wounded. The Japanese plan to block the en trance to Port Arthur was frustrated, however, and the channel Is still clear. Vice Admiral Makaroff, commanding the Russian naval forces at Port Ar thur, has sent the following telegram to the Emperor: Picked Ip By Searchlight, “I beg most humbly to report that at 2 o’clock this morning the enemy made a second attempt to block the entrance to the inner roadstead. For this purpose they dispatched four large merchant steamers, convoyed by six torpedo boats, to the entrance. “The enemy’s ships were promptly discovered by the searchlights and were bombarded by the batteries and by the guardships Bohr and Otvajny. “Fearing the enemy’s ships might break through, Lieut. Kriniskl, com manding the guard torpedo boat Stilni, attacked the enemy and destroyed the bow of the foremost Japanese steamer with a torpedo. This steamer turned to the right and was followed by two others, with the result that the three were stranded to the right of the en trance. One Battled With Six. "A fourth steamer went to the right of the enemy’s ships and likewise sank to the side of the fairway. The Stilni ithen battled with the enemy’s six torpedo boats. Engineer Artificer Bw yereff and six seamen were killed and the commander and twelve seamen were wounded. “At daybreak the enemy's battleship and cruiser squadron appeared, and I proceeded with the fleet under my charge to meet the enemy. “The second attempt of the Japanese to block the entrance to Port Arthur has failed, thank* to the energetic de fence by the sea sod land forces, who acted as they did during the first at tempt. harbor remains uerfactly clear." allal ateeedvrf. Ptealed. A fun her te leg ism to the Emperor from Vlre Admiral Makaroff aay*. “I respectfully report that the n#*ny ZZi****# **#•*• ” ■-w£&- *&'■'" *% '‘V l*n^SL**' ■'''j&.i’*.* %tt% ' ll i JAPANESE TORPEDO ATTACK ON RUSSIAN WAR SHIPS. LYNCHING BEE WAS NOT OYER TWO MORE NEGROES KILLED Ilf WILD WORK OF THE ARKANSAS MOB. List of Those Lynched Within a Week Numbers Thirteen—Two Brothers the Last Victims They Were the Cause of Ali the Trouble, Having Mode the Assault Upon the Searcy Brother*—Oue of the Sear cys Will Probably Not Survive. Little Rock, Ark., March 27.—A special to the Gazette from DeVViti savs: Two more negroes have been killed in the clash between whites and blacks at St. Charles, fifteen miles from here, in Arkansas county. Tills brings the total of dead negroes up to thirteen, all of them being killed within the past week. The last two negroes killed were the Griffin brothers, Henry and Walk er, who were the cause of the trou ble. The negroes were reported to have escaped, but It is known that they are dead, and It is believed that they were killed yesterday. Owing to the remoteness of St. Charles, and to the fact that news of the result of the riot is not given out freely, it is difficult to obtain de tails, but there is no doubt of the authenticity of the death of the Grif- fins. In the St. Charles neighborhood the negroes largely outnumber the whites, and trouble has been brewing for a long time, and it is said the negroes for the past two years have been get ting insolent, and belligerent. Yesterday was election day and us ually on such a day St. Charles is crowded with negroes, but during the entire day only two negroes were seen in the town, and these two appear ed in the morning, and stayed in the village, but a short time. Near St. Charles the negroes are quiet, and are attending strictly to their work. The trouble originated last Mon day when the two Griffins met two white men, brothers, named Searcy. The Searcys, who are fishermen, and the Griffins had an altercation a few days before, and when they met, the trouble was renewed. One of the ■ negroes armed himself with the leg of a chair, and with his brother as saulted the white men, beating them so severely that one is now on the verge of death, and the other is in a critical condition. MRS. JEFFERSON DAVIS ILL. Had Acute Indigestion. but Rallied from the Attack. Atlantic City. N. J.. March 27.—Mrs. Jefferson Davis, widow of the pres ident of the Southern Confederacy, who came here from New York after an illness, was last night stricken at her hotel with an attack of acute indiges tion. Through her remarkable vital ity she milled to-day. and no appre hension is now expressed for her rapid recovery. CUBANSfCHARGED WITH FALSIFYING RECORDS. Havana. March 27.—’Telegram* from Hanltago de Cuba report that all the members of ttys provincial electoral board of scrutiny have been arrested on the charge of falsifying the tre suits of the elections for congressmen. am HONOR FOR I I H/.ON. He i* Ie le.rd Warden f the Ufa- Parts. Jyutdon. March IT- It Is officially an nouru etf that Heron Curgon of Kedle- Stott, Vtoeroy of India, has been ap pointed lord warden of the Cinque Wrut to saves*k*tt W u*s Ist* Mftle mtt/f pc iuii#kuf*, 4. SAVANNAH. GA.. MONDAY. MARCH 28. 1904. GREAT DAMAGE DONE BY THE HIGH WATERS. Grand River in Michigan Surpassed Former Records. Grand Rapids, Mich., March 27. Conditions in this city and nearby towns along the Grand river are very grave to-night, as a result of the un precedented flood. At 9 o'clock to night the river gauge here showed a depth of 19.3 feet. This is three feet above the previous high water record in 1844. The water is failing slightly to-night, the drop in temperature having check ed the small streams and surface drainage. The inhabitants of flooded houses are suffering greatly from cold and lack of food. There has been no loss of life thus far. There is grave danger of an epidemic of typhoid fever following the flood. Inter-urban cars are running only over portions of the roads out of Grand Rapids. Steam railway traffic is de moralized. The city lighting station is entirely out of commission. Many of the west side churches are surround ed by water and were unable to hold services to-day. All schools on the west side will be closed until further notice. It is conservatively estimated that the loss to property and business on account of the flood will exceed 32,- 000,000. Fifteen thousand men will be unable to work to-morrow, owing to factories being dosed by the high water. Two thousand homes are flood ed on the west side. The flooded conditions at lonia, Lowell, Portland and other points along the Grand river are reported to be slightly improved to-night, the water having begun to fall. The flood loss at lonia is estimated to night at $lOO,OOO. Niles reports to-night that no trains have been run to-day on Michigan division of the Big Four, as a re sult of the St. Joseph river flood; that the greater part of the north end of the city is flooded and that sand bags are bring placed on the dam across tho river at that place to keep it from going out. Because of the flood that has swept Grand Rapids, the banquet planned by the Democratic Club, which was to have been attended by guests of na tional prominence, has been abandon ed and will not be held Monday even ing. The funds subscribed have been turned over to the city relief commit tee and the use of the auditorium, which had been leased for several days’ occupancy, has been given to the flood sufferers. Already many have been fed there. All speakers have been notified of _jhe action of the club and will be asked to speak later, although no date has been set for the event. Gen. Nelson A. Miles had been expected to speak on "Patriotism,” but had sent a letter of regret owing to the Illness In his family. POWER HOUSES PUT OUT OF COMMISSION. Indianapolis, Ind., March 27.—The City Street Railway arid Inter-urban systems are without power, because of the flooding of the power houses near White river. Communication with North and West Indianapolis is cut off by the flood, which has swept away bridges. Many houses have been carried down White river and shattered against the stone bridges which connect the city proper with the suburbs. Kingan & Cos., the Indiana Furniture Factory, and the Indiana Foundry Company are closed down because of t he flood. THREE LIVES ARE LOST IN INDIANA FLOODS. Marlon, Ind., March 27.—Three kve* have been lost in the flood between Gas City and Jonesboro. Theodore Me- Govern, Robert Howe and William Carter, In efforts to rescue the family of jumes Martin from a dwelling caught in midstream, were drowned or frosen to death In the branches of trsee and In the driftwood. Willis Car- Ur, who wss taken otft of a floating house after more then twelve hours eye ot tu lbs flovd, is if lt vis sa- I loan lift* >, -g. JEFF DAVIS IS AGAIN ELECTED HE WINS IN ARKANSAS. RETURNS NOT COMPLETE. BUT HIS VICTORY INDICATED. In tile Convention lt‘2‘2 Deleirates Will He Necossavy to Nominate. Davis Has IMS and Wood Jilfl on the Retnrne an Made—Of Those Yet to He Made Davis Will Get Enough Delegates to Give Him a Majority—Ollier Contests. Little Rock, Ark., March 27. —Com- plete and partial returns from a ma jority of the counties of Arkansas to night show that Gov. Jefferson Davis has probably carried enough counties to give him the Democratic nomination for a third term. In half a dozen counties the vote is so close that the official count will be necessary In order to decide. The Democratic state convention, which meets in Hot Springs on the second Tuesday In June, will consist of 442 delegatee, and 222 will be neces sary to nominate. On the returns at hand Davis has 188 delegates and Judge Carroll D. Wood 125. Of the remain ing 129 delegates, Davis is sure of at least one-third. It Is probable that the total vote In the state will reach 126,000. Returns from the First congressional district Indicate the renomination of Congressman R. B. Macon over Eu gene Parrish. In the Third district the contest is very close between Congressman Hugh A. Dlnsmore and J. C. Floyd, with chances favorable to Floyd. To-night's returns show that Robert L. Rogers has the lead for Attorney General, and Dr. Avory E. Moore for auditor of the state. The nomination for chief justice of the Supreme Court will probably have to be settled at the state convention, as no one of the four candidates has enough votes to determine the contest now. K. A. McCulloch is leading W. L. Moore for associate justice. WOOD ALSO CONFIDENT. Little Rock, Ark., March 27.—Later 'returns on the governorship to-night were encouraging to the Wood men, and indicate that the contest is by no means settled. There are nine counties In which the official vote is necessary to decide. They have forty-eight delegates in the state convention, and it now appears certain that Wcod has carried enough coun ties to give him 169 delegates, leaving the nine doubtful counties and several remote sections to hear from. Gov. Davis' managers claim they will have 305 delegates. Both side are confi dent. R U S H E D~F ROIvfcHU RCH UPON A CRY OF “FIRE.” A Score ot Persona Were Injured In thr Panic. New Haven, Conn., March 27.—A panic occurred at the morning service In Bt. Michael’s Italian Church here to day, iu which almost a score of persons were injured. Four of the most se riously injured, two women and two children, were taken to the New Haven Hospital. Home on# In th# congregation shout ed “Fire” during a prayer, and imme diately the worshippers arose and rush ed for the door at the rear of the church, the only esit. Th# police and members of th church have made an investigation, but jta reason (or any one giving an at*tpi *X fits U* h*n fli)ey)H4e/ AMERICANS DINED BY THE GERMAN EMPEROR. Were lit* Guests Aboard the Yacht Holiensollern. Naples, March 27.—0n the invitation of Emperor William, Ambassador Meyer came to Naples from Rome to-day and dined with his majesty on board the German Imperial yacht Hohenzollern. The Ambassador sat at the right of the Emperor, on whose left was Father Boniface Krug, form erly of the Benedictine Abbey at Beaty, Penn., and now abbot of the Abbey of Monte Casslno. The Ambas sador And tup Abbot were the only guests of the Emperor, who Jokingly said that it was an American dinner. At the request of the Emperor, Am bassador Meyer accompanied him and Father Krug to Monte Casslno, where they visited the abbey and admired the work of restoration of the famous mosaics there. Speaking of the condition of the Em peror, Ambassador Meyer said: “Emperor William looks extremely well, Just as hi did wfien I saw him at Kiel last summer. His voice is as strong as ever, and he is in excellent spirits.” Every one who has seen the Emperor here agrees that he has aged consid erably. His voice shows no trace of his recent illness. JURY IS STILLVUT ON CASE OF BURTON. Fate of the United Slntes Senator of Knusas in the Hnlnnce. St. Louis, March 27.—After almost twenty-four hours to deliberate since the closing of the case against Unit ed States Senator Burton of Kansas, the Jury this evening had not reach ed a conclusion. During the afternoon deputies took the twelve Jurymen from the hotel in which they were quartered and es corted them around the streets for a short time to give them some exer cise and fresh air. The United States District _ Court, which was ordered to be considered as having taken an indefinite recess, when the case went to the Jury last evening, was kept open all aay, and court officers remained on duty to summon Judge Adams from his resi dence and have court reconvened at any time the Jury might report. At a late hour it was announced that If the Jury arrived at a conclusion the verdict would not be received by the court until to-morrow. BRYANT CUT HIS THROAT. CltHen of liaclinnan Ended His Earthly Troubles. Buchanan, Ga., March 27. —Imme- diately after telling his 12-year-old daughter to, leave the room, S. J. Bry ant killed himself at the house of S. L. Land here to-day, by cutting his throat from ear to ear with a razor he had Just sharpened for the purpose. Depression over bad health Is the cause assigned for the deed. His daughter is the only child and his wife is dead. BOY WAS* KILLED BY RATTLESNAKE’S BITE. IJberty City, Ga., March 27. News has Just reached here that Lester Middleton, a white boy, 16 years of age, while hunting hogs in the woods near Wal thourville a few days ago, was bitten by a large rattlesnake. Doctors were summoned and did everything possible to save his life, but he died to-day at 10 o'clock. RATHBONE SEEKING . REVIEW OF HIS CASE. Washington, March 27. Senator Platt of Connecticut, chairman of Ut Hr lints Commit lee on Ksi Uions with Cuba, has received from MaJ. E. O. Hsthboiic ali appeal fiat a review of id# case by Congi s. MaJ, Hathbuns baser ills claim for so investigation 6 CENTS A COPT, DAILY, A YEAR. WEEKLY 2-TIMB9-A-WEEK.iI A YEAR SWAYNE CASE IS HELD BACK RIGHT OF WAY IN HOUSE falls to the sundry civil ap propriation BILL, Whole Week May Be Required for the Consideration of the Snndry Civil BUl—While It la Pending the Impeachment of the Florida Judge Will Not He Pressed—No Long Dis cussion of the Swayne Case An ticipated. Washington. March 27.—The sundry civil bill has the right of way in the House this week, and Chairman Hem enway believes that it will require the whole week to dispose of the measure. Should this not be the case, two spe cial orders have been set to follow it— pension bills and the omnibus claim bill. The impeachment of Judge Charles Swayne is now properly before the House, and It is a matter of the high est privilege. Mr. Palmer, in charge of this case, says that he will not press it during consideration of the sundry civil bill, but he will call up the case at the conclusion of that measure. While minority views a~e to be filed In this ease by Representative Glllett of California, It Is expected that the decision of the House can be reached without prolonged discussion. WILL TRY TO STALL HEYBURN’S BILL OFF. Appropriation lllils Will Probably Have Right of Way. Washington. March 27.—Senator Hey burn has given notice that to-morrow hq will move to take up the pur* food bill, but the euemies of that measure will seek to prevent consideration of It by constantly keeping appropriation bills before the Senate. The District of Columbia appropria tion bill is pending and opponents of the pure food bill count on continuing discussion of the district bill until the postofllce appropriation bill can be re ported from committee. If the district bill is passed before the postofllce bill is reported to the Senate, the confer ence report on the army appropriation bill or the bill authorizing anew de partment building in Washington to serve the purpose of holding off the pure food bill. BRYAN AGAINST WARFARE. Does Not Approve the Training of Yon na Men to Arms. New Haven, Conn., March 27.—Wil liam J. Bryan delivered an address this afternoon before the Peoples Church iu the Hyperion Theater on “The Prince of Peace.” Mr. Bryan eventually took up the question of war and Inveighed against the present war between Japan and Russia, saying that he hoped there would be a general demand made to find out the cause of that warfare. Knowing the exact cause the world would then be enabled to form a Judgment as to whlfit side has Justice in its contentions. He deprecated the prevalence in this country of training boys and young men In the arts of warfare. The only warfare that man ought to wage, said he, Is the warfare against evil in all Its forms. “Society Is In danger,” continued Mr. Bryan, “because of the terrible con flict that threatens between the rich and the poor. Shall we say that the outcome will be a warfare between class and class, to .end only In the rule of that class which can take the upper hand and rule because It has the strength? How much better to recog nize that ull are brothers. Recogni tion of that doctrine will not rob life of bravery. It will not make us cow ards, for It takes a brave man to live righteously before men In the stren uous world of to-day; it requires a brave man to stand up against error in his own political party, and to maintain a righteous principle." FRANCE AND ITALY Hnvp Friendly Word* Spoken by Premier Combei. Rome, March 27. —Newspaper* here publish an interview with M. Combes, the French Premier, in which he says that the forthcoming visit of President Loubet to Rome is not only a courtesy from the president of the French republic to King Vic tor Emmanuel, * but that it is a visit "from a friend called France to a friend called Italy,” the relations of which countries are now os close as possible. M. Combes added that President Loubet never dreamed of visiting the Pope. Concerning the speech delivered by the Pontiff in receiving the members of the Sacred College on his name day, March 18, in which he criticised the French government for its treat ment of the clergy and the religious orders and against which speech the French ambassador at the Vatican has entered a protest, the Premier said: "It is the Pope's business and he can do what he thinks best. The Vatican has not observed the concordat, and it would be more frank and more loyal to denounce it as ended. I energetically protest against the speech of Pope Plus X. and Foreign Minister Delcaaae pro tested likewise against the interven tion of the Pope In questions Which were not spiritual and which were not contemplated by the concordat." MORALES MAKING HEADWAY. In Foaaeaslnn of All Naive One of the Dominican Porte. Washington, March 17.—Information received at the Navy Hepartment to day from Admiral Wlae at Guantanamo Indicates that the Morale* government Ie making headway in the revolution ary contest In Ran Domingo the ad miral reporting that it M new In poa session of all the porta of the taland except the on# oC Monte Cruet on u># nof th coast Matters are now quiet In Ran Demin. lotJiaUut al put Do-