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THE MORNING NEWS " * ”
Established 1850 . Incorporated 1888 t Vl'AI 1)111) „ 0 .
H - ESTILL, President. i ' * -’1 HK I? 1 t .524.
THOUGHT FISHING VESSELS JAP TORPEDO BOATS
ADMIRAL ROJESTVENSKY SAYS
IT WAS PURELY ACCIDENTAL
Two Boats Seemed to
Discharge Torpedoes
Then Russians
Began to Fire
Vigo, Spain, Oct. 26.—The Asso
ciated Press has succeeded in obtain
ing an interview with Admiral Rojest
vensky, who expressed great regret
over the Xorth sea incident.
The admiral stated that the unfor
tunate occurrence was purely acci
dental. The weather on the night in
question was rather hazy. About la.
m. two torpedo boats, which the Rus
sians supposed were Japanese craft,
suddenly appeared between the two
divisions of tile squadron and seemed
to discharge torpedoes.
The Russians immediately opened
fire. They saw no fishermen and were
not aware that any damage had been
done. Evidently, the admiral said, the
fishermen had shown no lights.
The admiral repeated that he great
ly regretted that any Injury hud been
done fishermen, and added that he had
no doubt the Russian government
would make ample compensation.
RUSSIANS DIDN’T KNOW
IF THEY WOUNDED ANY.
Madrid, Oct. 26. —A telegram from
Vigo to the Correspondence says:
“Officers of the Russian squadron
give the following explanation of the
North sea incident:
“While steaming by night they saw
two torpedo boats within the lines of
the squadron. Supposing a Japanese
attack was impending they opened
fire. They say they did not see any
sailors looking like fishermen aboard
the two boats fired at.
“The officers say they do not know
if any members of the clews were
wounded. They express regret at the
error.”
FEVERISH ENERGY OF
THE BRITISH NAVY.
Prepared to Meet the RnsKlnnn
Should It Prove Necessary.
London, Oct. 26.—The tension in
creases as time passes without a defin
ite settlement of the situation creat
ed by the Russfan blunder in the North
sea. Ambassador Benkendorff’s tenta
tive communication to Foreign Minister
Landsdowne to-day and the fact that
this was regarded as unsatisfactory on
ly served to inflame the public mind;
and while official circles are giving out
intimations that it is their confident
belief the whole matter wdll be satis
factorily arranged, it is now quite evi
dent that only a short lime will be al
lowed Russia in which to give final
and complete assurances of her inten
tion to comply wdth any ‘and all de
mands Great Britain may make within
reason.
The arrival of Admiral Rojestvensky
at Vigo and the certainty that he is in
direct communication with his govern
ment removes at once the possibility
of any delay on account of the inability
of Russia to get his side of the occur
rences of the night of Oct. 21.
■With this official version before the
Russian government, together with
the official statement of the members
of the Pshing fleet, it is unlikely that
the British public or the British gov
ernment will allow another twenty
four hours to pass quietly without re
ceiving a satisfactory reply to the note,
which demanded a quick answer.
Meanwhile the admiralty is not Idle.
Reports from all naval stations show
that a tremendous state of activity ex
ists. This is especially true of Gibral
tar. from which place it is announced
that some of the best of Great Britain's
war vessels are under orders to pro
ceed in the direction of the Russian
Baltic squadron, and that all the ships
of the British channel fleet are ready to
go to sea at a moment's notice.
Hitherto there has been no Indica
tion that a time limit had been set
by Great Britain for Russia's reply to
her demands. But the fart that three
battleships and three cruisers are un
der orders for the morning of Oct. 28
Is construed in some quarters to mean
that Great Britain will not wait longer
than that date before unleashing her
sea dogs, while It is also evident that
the Russian cruisers and smaller boats
of the Baltic squadron may find dif
ficulty In passing the gateway to the
East unless the crisis Is completely
over by tbe time they reach the en
trance to the Mediterranean.
Information has reached the Associ
ated Press from an authoritative
source that puts a brighter light upon
the situation. It is understood that
practically everything has been decid
ed upon to the satisfaction of Count
I.amsdorff, the Russian Foreign Minis
ter, except the question of the punish
ment of the offending officers of the
Baltic squadron. It Is further under
stood that Great Britain is not de
manding final and formal written un
dertakings before announcing that she
Is satisfied, but that an undertaking
In general terms on the pan of Rus
sia will be .accepted as sufficient guar
antee for an official announcement that
<b crisis bus imftaed.
jsabannab Jfofniwa ffatogL
DOGGER BANK AFFAIR.
There is an accentuation of Reel
ing in Great Britain over the de
lay of the Russian government in
procuring from the commander of
the Baltic squadron his version of
the attack on the Hull fishing fieet.
Admiral Rojestvensky. who is at
Vigo, Spain, has, so far as the pub
lic is informed, made no official
explanation of the events of the
night of Oct. 21, but in an inter
view with the Associated Press he
has put forward the statement that
two torpedo boats, presumably
Japanese craft, appeared among his
ships off Dogger Bank and failing
to comply with a demand to retire
or state their nationality, were fir
ed upon.
Six of the best ships of the British
channel fleet are under orders to
sail to-morrow morning presumably
to shadow the further movements of
Russian warships sailing for the
Cape of Good Hope, and all other
vessels of the channel fleet are
ready to put to sea at a moment’s
notice.
Besides the five Russian ships at
Vigo, there are others reported at
Villag*arcia and Arosa bay. They
have been notified that they will
not be permitted to coal in Spanish
ports.
Five German colliers are at Vigo.
Admiral Rojestvensky has In
formed the Spanish authorities that
his ships at Vigo have sustained
such damage that they will not be
able to leave port within the twenty
four hours allowed warships of a
combatant in a neutral port.
The tone of the London press is
notably more bellicose to-day than
it has been at any period of the
existing crisis.
FULL REPARATION IS
PROMISED BY RUSSIA.
London, Oct. 26, 1:18 p. m.—The Rus
sian reply to Great Britain's note on
the subject of the North Sea tragedy
has been received by the British gov
ernment. It expresses deep regret at
the occurrence and promises full repa
ration as soon as an official report is
received from Vice Admiral Rojestven
sky.
The reply was received by Ambas
sador Benkendorff during the night and
was forwarded to Foreign Secretary
Lansdowne in the shape of a formal
letter, in w'hich the ambassador, acting
on cabled instructions from St. Peters
burg. gave the above assurances, add
ing that while the Russian govern
ment at the time of cabling was still
without official knowledge from its own
sources of the occurrence in the North
Sea, it feels so certain it was an er
ror that it wishes at once to express
its regret and assures the British gov
ernment that full compensation will be
made as soon as the details are re
ceived.
IT IS SAID THAT THE CZAR
HAS ADMIRAL’S REPORT.
St. Petersburg, Oct. 26.—1 tis as
serted on high authority that Emperor
Nicholas this afternoon received Ad
miral Rojentsvensky’s report.
Vice Admiral Avelan, chief of the
admiralty, has gone to Tsarskoe Selo
and will not return until late this
evening.
Ambassador Hardinge has sent an
other note to Foreign Minister Lams
dorff, expressing the opinion that the
measures reported to have beeq taken
by the Russian admiralty to communi
cate with Admiral Rojentsvensky were
entirely adequate.
At the Foreign Office the fullest con
fidence is expressed in amicable set
tlement of the incident.
BRITISH BATTLESHIPS
TO SHADOW RUSSIANS.
Gibraltar, Oct. 28.—The battleships
Victorious. Illustrious and M'ajestlc
(flagship of Vice Admiral Beresford)
and the cruisers Lancaster. Theseus
and Endymion. are under orders to
sail on the morning of Oct. 28. It Is
reported that the purpose Is to shadow
the Russian Baltic squadron, which is
expected to go by way of the tape
of Good Hope.
The Russian Baltic sqrfadron s cruis
ers and torpedo boats are expected to
pass through the strait of Gibraltar on
the way to Sue*. The whole of the
Gibraltar torpedo flotilla has been com
missioned.
BRITISH WAR SHIPS
ARE READY FOR SEA.
Gibraltar, Oct. 26.—The ships of the
channel fleet have filled their bunkers
with coal and replenished their am
munition and other stores, and will be
rendy for sea at a moment's notice.
The battleship Hannibal and the cruis
er Doris are watching the straits close
ly There Is great activity at the do< k
yard, where men are working night
and day. The admiralty la making In
quiries concerning the coul available
bar*.
SPAIN FORCED TO
BEG AND THREATEN
TO KEEP THE RUSSIANS
FROM VIOLATING THE SPANISH
NEUTRALITY.
All 111 iral Hojeat vensky Showed I'p
at the Port of Vigo With Four
Warships—German Colliers Were
Ready to Coal Them, and at First
Itiissinns Seemed About to Disre
gard the Warnings of Spain.
Rojestvensky Finally Yielded.
Vigo, Spain, Oct. 26.—The arrival of
the Russian battleships Emperor
Alexander 111, Borodino, Orel and
Kniazzouvaroff and the transport
Anatol, which have anchored in this
port, has caused considerable excite
ment.
The commander of the port Imme
diately boarded the Russian flagship
and informed Admiral Rojestvensky
that the Spanish government could not
permit the warships to coal within the
port. Admiral Rojestvensky replied
that his vessels needed repairs, and
that for that reason he had separated
from the remainder of his squadron.
The commander of the port prom
ised to inform the Spanish govern
ment of the admiral’s statement and
communicate the government's reply
as soon as it was received.
In spite of this, five German colliers
anchored in port alongside the battle
ships, whereupon the commander of
the port sent an aide-de-camp to beg
Admiral Rojestvensky not to violate
Spanish neutrality, and he also order
ed the commanding officer of the
Spanish cruiser Estramadamura to
notify the colliers that they must obey
the port authorities.
Eventually He Promised.
Eventually Admiral Rojestvensky
promised that he would not coal in
Spanish waters, at the same time beg
ging the commander of the port to ob
tain the government's permission for
each warship to take on four hundred
tons of coal with which to reach Tan
gier. Shortly afterwards three colliers
sailed for Tangier, but two regained
alongside the Russian warships.
During the afternoon Admiral Ro
jestvensky, accompanied by the com
manders of his battleships, visited the
military Governor, the French consul,
and the commander of the port, receiv
ing the usual honors.
As far as can be seen the crews of
the battleships are very uneasy. Sen
tinels are continually watching every
movement within the harbor. All four
of the warships seem to be cleared for
action.
Wanted to Hurry Their Guest*.
It is rumored that the object of the
Spanish government in requesting the
Russians to remain the shortest pos
sible time at Vigo is to prevent the
possibility of attack by Japanese
agents, whose presence in the province
of Galicia is suspected.
It is learned that three other Rus
sian warships have anchored In
Arosa bay. The government has re
fused them permission to coal in
Spanish waters.
The Spanish warships Marques De
La Victoria and Vasco Nunez De
Balboa are keeping watch along the
coast.
The authorities have ordered that
all fishing boats shall fly the national
flag in order to avoid a repetition of
the Dogger Bank Incident.
Prince Keretelll, an officer of the
battleship Emperor Alexander 111, has
been interviewed and gives the follow
ing explanation of the attack by the
Baltic squadron upon the British
trawlers off Dogger Bank:
“The transport Anatol, which was
steaming ahead of the squadron, was
suddenly surrounded by eight torpedo
boats and requested assistance, where
upon the battleship division advanced
and signalled to the unknown vessels
to leave or disclose their nationality.
The vessels refused to obey and ad
vanced among the Russian battleships.
Suddenly a cannon shot was heard
from an unknown vessel. Then the
admiral formed in battle line and re
plied to the fire, afterwards continu
ing his voyage.”
Prince Keretelll added that the Rus
sians feared the strange torpedo boats
were Japanese, as the admiral was
aware that the Japanese had purchas
ed such 'boats In England.
WILL NOT AUTHORIZE
RUSSIANS TO COAL
Madrid, Oct. 26.—The Minister of
Marine confirms the report of the ar
rival of a Russian cruiser at Vllla
garcla. The minister has received a
telegram from the authorities at Vigo
to the effect that two of the Russian
battleships now there have sustained
damages which will render It Impos
sible for them to leave port within
the prescribed twenty-four hours.
The minister declares that he will
not authorize the coaling of Russian
warships In Spanish ports.
ENGLAND IMPATIENT
FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
London, Oet. 27.—At 3 o'clock this
morning there Is no sign ns to when
Admiral Rojestvensky's report will be
made public; but If unofficial reports
should turn out to reflect the admiral's
Official report, It Is evident the Russian
officers made an extraordinary blunder
In mistaking trawlers for torpedo boats
and firing on their phantom foes.
This astonishing explanation la re
garded here us not fitting 111 with the
state of panic suggested as having pi-
Continned on Fifth Page.
SAVANNAH. GA., THURSDAY. OCTOBER 27. 11)04.
GRAND JURY THOUGHT IT
WAS A PUT-UP JOB.
Didn't Believe Clinac** Story of Bob
ber* Locking Him in the Vnult.
Pomeroy, 0., Oct. 26.—After investi
gating for a month, a grand Jury to
day Indicted County Treasurer Thomas
J. Chase, charging the embezzlement of
$14,500 from the Meiggs county treas
ury on Sept. 9. when, he said, the
treasury was looted in daylight by two
masked robbers, who locked him in a
vault.
Chase’s bond was fixed at SIO,OOO. He
was unable to furnish bail and was
sent to Jail.
The arrest of Chase caused no sur
prise In Meiggs county, but there is
much excitement to-night over the in
dictments that are expected to-morrow
against other persons. The name of
one of these other persons is on the
lips of all, as this person has been
suspected as much as Chase himself
for a month.
Chase was found locked up on Sept.
9 by his daughter, who rushed to a
bank and thence to the fair grounds
for someone who could open the vault.
It was shown to the grand Jury that
at least half a dozen men were sitting
in front of the Court House all fore
noon on Sept. 9, and that none of
these men saw the robbery. The semi
annual examination of the treasurer's
books was proceeding when the robbery
was alleged to have taken place.
As soon as the indictment against
Chase was reported the grand Jury re
sumed its investigation on the theory
that, if Chase were guilty, there was
at least one, probably two, confed
erates, one to turn the combination on
the vault door on the outside, and pos
sibly another keeping watch outside
of the building.
Chase comes of a good family. Is 50
years old. has a wife, two sons and one
daughter, the younger son, Guy, being
deputy treasurer. Chase is a member
of the Methodist Church, and was
never before suspected of wrong-doing.
LAMB HELD IN BOND.
Charged With Being Accessory to
the Murder o( t'liiiniherlain.
Gainesville, Fla., Oct. 26.—At the
preliminary hearing to-day of A. G.
Lamb, charged as accessory to the mur
der of Garrett V. Ctfamberlain at Ta
coma, Lamb was held In SI,OOO bond,
which he promptly gave.
About twenty witnesses testified, the
principal among them being Fletcher
Watson, the confessed murderer, who
said Lamb gave him a rifle and told
him to kill Chamberlain. Many rela
tives of the dead nfan testified, a* did
also the relatives of Lamb.
Lamb's friends are loyal and believe
him Innocent. The widow of Chamber
lain was in court as was also Lamb's
wife.
I.nuibor Fire nt Mriuphl*.
Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 26.—Fire to
night In North Memphis destroyed the
plant of the Dickson I.urnl.cr Company,
lessees of the Murphy, Die bold Hon*
Company of Pittsburg, consumed 1,-
500.900 feet of lumber In the yards and
spreading to lh< yards of the Hard
wood Specialty Company, destroyed 1,-
000,000 feet of hard wood lumber there.
Total !<>**, $60,000. The total Instinuico
la 150,700.
New Tori* Herald. 1
WHICH SHALL IT BE?
PARKER WILL
TAKE THE STUMP
COMMITTEE SO ANNOUNCES.
TO BE HEARD IN NEW YORK. NEW
JERSEY AND CONNECTICUT.
Cleveland, Too. I* Embraced In the
Plan (nr the Dlssemlnat lon of
Democratic Doctrine Tlirouich the
Eloquence of l.eudcr* ilokc
Smith, Too, I* to He Prominent In
the Scheme—Tlie Committee's Alt
nouncement of the* Programme.
New York, Oct. 26.—Judge Parker's
programme and speaking itinerary un
til election day have been completed.
He will speak in three states. New
York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and
In addition, there have been arranged
receptions in his honor In this city
and Brooklyn. The schedule calls for
a change In the candidate’s plans here
tofore announced, in that he has been
dissuaded from his determination not
to make speeches elsewhere than at
his home at Esopus.
Judge Alton B. Parker, the
Democratic candidate for Presi
dent. will make three speeches in
three states, according to an announce
ment issued by the Democratic Na
tional Committee. The first will be
made at Madison Square Garden, New
York, Momfay night; the second at
Newark, N. J., Tuesday night, arid
the third at Hartford or New Haven,
Conn., Thursday night. In its official
announcement the Democratic commit
tee says:
“This series of meetings Involves the
appearance upon the platform for at
least five nights of next week of Judge
Parker, or Mr. Cleveland, or both, and
three stales are included in the scheme.
I’urkrr and Hoke Smith.
“The first meeting of the series will
be held In Madison Bquare Garden on
Monday night, under the auspices of
the Parker and Davis Business Men’s
Association, which supervised the meet
ing held in Carnegie Hall a few days
ago. The chairman of this meeting
will be Isldor Straus, and the speak
ers, so far as arranged, will be Judgj
Parker and Hoke Smith, former sec
retary of the Interior. The names of
other speakers will be announced later.
“On Tuesday a great meeting will
be held In Newark under the auspices
of New Yorkers resident In New Jer
sey. It will be presided over by Rich
ard V. Llndabury, and Judge Parker
will be the principal speaker. Ar
rangements are under way for the ap
pearance of a former cabinet official.
“The meeting on Nov. 2 In Cooper
Union will be under the auspices of the
Germans of New York. The chairman
of this meeting will be Carl Schurz
and Mr. Cleveland will be the princi
pal speaker. Several prominent Ger
mans will also take part ‘and all (he
speaking will be In that language with
the exception of the speech to be de
livered by Mr. Cleveland.
Will Spenk at Nev Haven.
"On Thursday a meeting will be held
In either Hartford or New Haven,
Conn., at which Judge Parker will be
the principal speaker.
“On Friday a second meeting will be
held In Newsrk, over which Mr. Cleve
land will preside, nnd at tvhleh the
pine lpn.l si*ak* r will be James H.
I out timed fin Fifth Pave.
OPTION TO UNION PACIFIC
Alleged to Have Been Given on the
Great Western.
St. Paul, Minn., Oct. 26.—The Dis
patch to-day, commenting on the al
leged option given the Union Pacific
by President Stlekney of the Great
Western Railway, says:
"For several days Judge Cornish,
vice president of the Union Pacific, and
formerly of St. Paul, has been In the
city, ostensibly on a brief visit without
special business significance. He left
for the East on Monday evening. It
Is now believed that his presence sig
nified the acquisition of the Great
Western, and the rapid completion of
the details of a transfer.
"The fact that an option has been
given la declared to be settled. Tho
Union Pacific has been given the priv
ilege of a purchase within a specified
time, and Is now at liberty to take
over the property If subsequent inves
tigation and consideration prove that
the action is desirable.
"These facts are now believed to have
behind them the rapid advance of
Great Western common, which has
sold ns low ns $6 a share, and which
has Just touched 24% on Monday with
out apparent reason beyond the knowl
edge that a deal for the property has
been In progress.”
Henleil by llnrrlman.
New York. Oct. 26.—A report that
the Union Pacific Railroad had se
cured an option on the Chicago Great
Western road was denied to-day by
President Harriman of the Union Pa
cific system.
TO CHANGE ITS COURSE.
Government Work nt Petersburg.
Vo., linn Comnieneeil.
Petersburg, Va., Oct. 26.—With tho
occasion marked by a celebration in
which the people of Petersburg and
surrounding country and other cities
participated, the work on the govern
ment project diverting the navigable
Appomattox river from Its regular
channel and carrying it two and a half
miles around this city was begun to
day. Senator Martin of Virginia,
Capt. E. E. Winslow, U. 8. A., and
leading citizens of Petersburg made
addresses at the celebration.
With an appropriation of $200,000
made by the last Congress, a dam will
be built across the river at the head
of the harbor, where tidewater is
reached, and the new channel will
lead from a point above the dam and
return to the old course below the
city, where the depth is five fathoms
and where the volume of water Is
sufficient to carry off the sand and the
gravel washed down by the freshets,
which until now have built up bars
nnd Islands In the harbor here. The
new channel will be 300 feet wide and
probably twenty feet deep.
LOCKEdTn EMBRACeT
LAY DOWN TO DIE.
Ttvo Young Men Were Han Over hr
a Train.
Knoxville, Tenn., Oct. 26.—Two young
men, about 21 and 22, locked In each
other's embrace, laid dotvn on the
tracks of the Jelllco Hallway, about
four miles front Athens, Tenn., to-day
and let the train run over them.
At this time It is not known who the
young men are. There Is nothing on
their persons to indicate their Identity.
The bodies were taken to Athens,
where an Inquest was begun, but ad
journed until to-morrow before a ver
dict was reached.
Every Iml Scat lon 1* that they were
'mother* and desired to commit suicide.
6 CENTS A COPY
DAILY. 18 A YEAR.
WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEK *1 A TEAR
WANTS TO MAKE
RATES EFFECTIVE
THE COURT IS PETITIONED
BY ATI.ANTA MEN AND THE RAIL
ROAD COMMISSION.
Anvlon* to Have the Circular* That
Would Prove Hnlnoa* to Savan
nah nnd Other t itle* and Advnn
tHgeoii* to Atlanta Pat Into
Operation Before the Matter of the
Permanent Injunction Shall llavo
Been Determined.
Atlanta, Oct. 26.—Attorneys repre
senting the state and the Atlanta
Freight Bureau filed a motion In the
United States court to-(fay to dissolve
the temporary restraining order In the
Injunction sußs against the commission
which prevents the commission from
putting Into effect the reductions In
rates made In circulars 301 and 302.
The motion Is signed by J. Pope
Brown, H. Warner Hill and Joseph M.
Brown. The petition claims that the
United States court has no Jurisdic
tion In the matter, as the question as
to whether or not the commission (fan
reduce rates Is a state question.
The motion also sets up that until
the rates have gone Into effect and
until the railroads can show they are
not earning a fair return on their In
vestments there Is no cause for ac
tion.
The motion will probably be hrttrd by
Judge Newman to-morrow, when the
regular Injunction cases are taken up.
The object of the motion ie to do away
with the temporary restraining orders
which have been Issued by Judge New
man, so that the circulars can go into
effect while the hearing for a perma
nent Injunction Is being determined.
FIR ES C N PLA NTAtTo NS.
Incendiary Torelte* Are Applied
Near Ainorlru*.
Amerlcus, Oa., Oct. 26.—Incendiary
fires In *he country here are becoming
more numerous. The gin house on the
Hawkins plantation, west of Amerlcus,
was destroyed this morning, with
twelve hales of cotton and a large
quantity of cotton seed belonging to
J. P. Read, the lessee of the planta
tion. The loss was probably $2,000.
In South Amerlcus the barn of Depu
ty Sheriff Gatewood, on his Jordan
plantation, was burned, with all Its
contents. A valuable mule perished
in this blaze, while others were se
verely burned in escaping from the
barn. .
Arrived at Bermuda.
New York. Oct. 26. -Cable advices
from Bermuda report the arrival there
to-day of the three-masted schooner
J. S. Hoskins of Baltimore. The ves
sel left Jscksonvllle forty-there days
ago with a cargo of lumber for Ber
muda. nnd should have arrived at her
destination in a week.
Keeninmrnda Storehu*ea,
Washington, Oct. 26.- Paymaster
General Harris, In his annual report,
recommends the construction of gen
eral storehouse* at the Washington
and Norfolk navy yards, and a lumber
Shed and steel storehouse at Charles
ton. B. C.