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the morning NEWS. I I 'isheci 1850. - Incorporated 18SS >V f "AfUTTr* I'- OOD J. H. ESTILI,. President * ’I .Hhhh li .iSS_. Japan's Naval Hero Is Now Enabled to Withdraw a Portion of His Fleet from Port Arthur. MORE FORTS FELL BEFORE JAPANESE THE RUSSIANS FOUGHT HARD. TO REGAIN POSITIONS FROM WHICH THEY WERE DRIVEN. Rights East of Hoayangshnkon Were Charged and Carried by the Besiegers of Port Arthur—Rus sians Concentrated Their Forces I pou the Captured Positions, Rut Were Driven Hack—Russian Gen erals Reported Killed. Tokio, Dec. 24.—The Japanese forces besieging Port Arthur yesterday storm ed and now hold the hights east of Houyangshukou. A dispatch from the Japanese army before Port Arthur, timed midnight, says: “On Dec. 22 the Russian defense works on the hights of Houyangshu kou, Sungshu mountain, Rihlung mountain and the “H” forts were bom barded by the Japanese with heavy guns, which Inflicted considerable dam age. Asa result pf the bombardment a detachment, of the Japanese right wing at dawn Dec. 23 attacked the enemy on the hights east of Houyang shukou and captured the ridge and hights at 7:40 in the morning. After wards the enemy concentrated his force from several forts at Taiyang kou and Yahutsui upon our newly oc cupied position, following this with a determined counter attack, during which hand grenades, thrown by our force, Anally repulsed the enemy. “Later, as the enemy’s bombard ment abated, we constructed some de fensive works so that our occupation became more assured. Asa result of our heavy gun bombardment during end before the attack the fort west of Taiyangkou was set on fire. One flf feen-centlmetre gun In each of the forts was destroyed. The covers were also considerably damaged. Wan Kondratenka Killed? “According to the statement of pris oners captured at Kekwan mountain Dec. 18 and of Russians who surren dered in the vicinity of Etse moun tain Dec. 22, during the battle of 203 Metre Hill Gen. Kondratenko. com mander of the Seventh East Siberian Hitles division, and Gen. Irman, com mander of the Fourth Artillery brig age, were killed and Gen. Fock, com manding the Fourth East Siberian di vision, was wounded.” PART OF THE FLEET LEAVES PORT ARTHUR. Togo Ha* Some of the Ships Slay to Watch the Hnsslans. Tokio, Dec. 24.—Admiral Togo an nounces the withdrawal of the major ity of the fleet from Port Arthur. Telegraphing under date of Dec. 22, the admiral, after describing the de struction of the Russian fleet, says: "Under the circumstances our com bined fleet has been removed as un- J'nssary from the blockade of Port Arthur, which had been maintained since May 1. I have arranged for a ' lose watch for ships attempting to tun the blockade, • and to watch the remnant of the enemy’s squadron.” kuropatkin reports A RUSSIAN SUCCESS. HI. Petersburg, Dee. 24.—Osn. Kuro- I'Htkln reports having made, Dec. 22. a reconnaissance In (ores In the dl 1' 'lon of the Japanss* positions st i’’‘listspuiss, Tlie Russians forced sn ''‘try into Rentals puts*, occupied '"ns of (ha entrenchments snd re i lined the counter attack* of the two | Hslinns of Japan***. with gresi loss, '**• J 1 psiiese having nine pi nan**is in ’’** hands of 4 tie Russians The Hue ***** loss was three officers and sis *'*<> killed snd three officers and *!*•*- ***** M *a* wounded •I** night of (Me it, Oast, Ku<a i-etsio odd* svaa Jsabatmab Jtotninij ADMIRAL TOGO WHEN JAPS MINED FORT ON KEKWAN. Desperate Hand-to-Hand Fighting Followed Their CliHrge. Headquarters Japanese Third Army Before Port Arthur, Dec. 20, via Yin liow, (delayed in transmission), via Tien Tsin, Dec. 24.—Since the general assault of Nov. 24-27. the Japanese have been engaged in tunneling under the north fort of Kekwan mountain. Two main tunnels ran under the north wall of the fort from the moat for a distance of forty feet, and there were four short branch tunnels. On the morning of Dec. 18, seven dy namite mines were laid, the object of which was to destroy the north wall and so give the Japanese access to the fort. The first mine exploded without warning, and the explosion was not entirely successful, owing to the heavy concrete above the mine. The explo sion of the second mine followed im mediately, and this was succeeded by five smaller explosions. The sight was wonderful in the ex treme. Huge clouds of brown earth and debris of all kinds were thrown two hundred feet In the air, and it looked as if the whole fort had been sent heavenward. When the clouds of earth had settled down the snow for some 500 yards around the fort was covered with brown earth, pieces of timber and blocks of concrete. The explosions made two large 'breaches in the north wall of the fort, through which the Japanese in the moat swarmed. They charged so quickly that fifty of them were either killed or wounded by the falling de bris. The Japanese succeeded in gaining the ramparts and charged the inte rior of the fort, but they were repulsed by a portion of the garrison from be hind a wall at the rear of the fort, which had not been touched by the force of the explosion. Behind this wall there were four field guns and three machine guns. In the meantime the Russians had rushed reinforce ments of some 300 to the fort through the covered wall at the rear.. The second battalion of attackers was unabte to advance immediately, as the sapping trenches from the parallel to the moat were filled with debris. When this debris had been excavated the battalion gained the moat and reached the ramparts through the breaches that had been made by the explosions. The first charge made against the wall of sand bugs proved unsuccess ful, but charge followed charge, until midnight, when the last corner of the Russian defenses was captured. The fighting was desperate in the ex treme, with bayonets and hand gre nades, and the entire garrison was kill ed, with the exception of a party of twenty who escaped through the cov ered wall, which they destroyed behind them by exploding four mines and thus prevented the Japanese from pursuing them. DEFENSE 0F RUSSIA. What it Will Answer in the North Sea Adair. Paris, Dec. 24.—The Russian defense before the international commission, which is to inquire Into the North sea . Incident is practically completed. The main features are: First. That the firing by the Russian squadron was Justified as a defense against attack. This entails proving the presence of Japanese torpedo boats. The Russian delegates inform the As sociated Press that they possess this proof In the most positive nd over whelming form. Second. That, even if the Russians were not attacked they believed they were attacked, and. therefore, the de fensive measures taken were in abso lute good faith. Third. At most. It was an accident at sea. where the dangers and rlska are extreme and analogous to the Brit ish battleship Camperdown ramming and sinking the British battleship Vic toria and ihe recent firing by a British warship upon a coeating veaael during target practice. JAPANESE GUNS NOW FIND THE SEVASTOPOL Tokio. D*. *4 —The advanced Jap smmm batteries at Port Arthur have sw< t eeded In reaching the Kueeisn hat. 11.-ship gevastopoi, Due aurceasfu! hit Is reported j< is eape< led (hat <he Utileahip will awn he uMupletaljr deelrvyed. The Russian Night Assault on Japanese Sappers Before Pan-Lung and Kee Kwan Forts Oct. 2. PAXLt NG SHAJi OR WATCH TOWER FORTS C HIXESE WALE STAR SHELL L """ * " 1 . II , - THE SEARCH LIGHT OX THE LEFT IS OS KEF; KWAN HILL. HOME CHRISTMAS IS NOT FOR NAN HER BAIL IS NOT REDUCED. JEROME REFUSED TO AGREE TO ANY REDUCTION. Desire of tile Show Girl Accnsed ol the Murder of Caesar Young to Spend Christmas at Her Home, Will Not Be Gratified—There Will Bea New Trial for Her—Her Coun sel Wants it Held ns Soon as Pos sible. New York, Dec. 24. —Nan Patterson's last hope of spending Christmas with her parents at their home in Wash ington vanished to-day when District Attorney Jerome announced that he would not agree to a reduction of her bail. This was taken to mean that the show girl will again be tried on the charge of murder of Caesar Young. Her bail had been previously fixed at $20,000. When the district attorney made his announcement Daniel O’Reilly, of coun sel for Nan Patterson, said: “This surely means that there will be anew trial. We are anxious that it will be called soon and will make every effort to have it called as soon as possible." Afterward he said that counsel had decided not to attempt to get any ball unless the district attorney does not promise a speedy retrial. Counsel, he said, believed the safest place for Nan Patterson was in the Tombs, as she had been there so long. , The urgency for anew trial on the part of the defense was due, Mr. O’Reilly said, to the fact that the de fense ha found some new. and what they consider important, evidence. Part of this, he said, was the finding of some thirty-two caliber bullets in Young's trunk. Mr. O’Reilly said that Prosecutor Rand admitted the finding of the bullets, but contended that they belonged to Mrs. Young. The news that she could not be ad mitted to bail was broken to Nan Pat terson as gently a possible, but she broke down completely, after making a brave show of cheerfulness all day. Even though she knew she would have to remain in the Tombs over Christ mas, she had hoped she might be re leased on bail next week. District Attorney Jerome announced late to-day that proceedings for anew trial will be hurried as fast as possi ble. PULASKI FARMERS WILL HOLD COTTON. They Also Determine to Rednee the Aerenge. Hawkinsville, Oa., Dec. 24.—1n re sponse to a call from Hon. Pope Brown, president of the Pulaski Agri cultural Club, a large number of farm ers and business men from this and neighboring counties met at the Court House to-day to discuss cotton. Speeches were made by a number of leading citizens, and Piesident Brown Introduced resolutions to tne effect that the cotton acreage be reduced next year, and that more attention be paid to raising foodstuffs at home. It was the sense of the meeting that all cotton In this section be held until prices advanced. Another meeting will be held Jan. 16 to take further action and appoint del egates to Shreveport. TO ABOLISHPASSPORTS. Decided lleform I# t Be Grunted hy Hnsslnn Government. fit. Petersburg. Dec. 24—The Associ ated Press can announce that Russia Is on the eve of abolishing the passport system. The matter has already been decided In principle by the commission which Is Investigating th* passport question. Anew law will be promul gated bv the Mena*a within in# next six week* as one f ihe solid reforms resulting from the administration of Interior Minister Uvlatopolk-Mlrsky. ( brief mss •• fbe tsi Iran. itorii*, Lata*, $4 -The cardinals were rwredved to-day by th* Pope and of fered tb-tr ' brUtnise growl logs Th* Pontiff thanked the prelate* and con vnerd familiarly with them for half w hour, *>e*dtoig any affuMow tv putt* SAVANNAH. GA.. SUNDAY. DECEMBER 25. 1904. SEVEN PROMINENT MEN INVOLVED BY DODGE. Jerome Gives Him Hi* Liberty for Telling NVl)at He Knows. New York, Dec. 24.—Brought to this city last night from Texas through the persistent effort of District Attorney Jerome to face a charge of perjury in connection with the Morse-Dodge di vorce tangle, Charles F. Dodge, former husband of the present wife of Charles W. Morse, received his liberty to-day upon the recommendation of ‘the dis trict attorney, who personally appear ed before Judge Cowing in the Court of General Sessions, and asked that Dodge be discharged on his own re cognizance. This turn in the case follows up an all-night conference a,t police head quarters, where Dodge was taken im mediately on his arrival here, and dur ing which it is said he made a con fession that will lead to the making of serious charges in connection with the Morse-Dodge case against seven men of prominence in this city. It Is said that Dodge will go before the grand jury, which at Mr. Jerome's request was continued in session through Christinas week, and that he will be the chief witness of the state in the prosecution of the men said to 'be im plicated by his confession. Ex-Assistant District Attorney James W. Osborne, the new counsel for Dodge, who was present throughout last night's conference, had previous ly advised Dodge to tell all he knows. Mr. Osborne says he feels that Dodge will never see the inside of a prison. When Dodge was taken before Judge Cowing District Attorney Jerome, aft er relating the incidents connected with the prisoner's arrest and extradition from Texas, asked that the transfer of the prisoner from federal to state Ju risdiction be made. “When this was done,” he said, “for reasons of a public nature which cannot now be stated in public, because they would be detri mental to the cause of Justice, the defendant should be discharged upon his own recognizance upon the Indict ment found on June 26, 1904, and I ask that he be discharged.” Dodge was discharged and went to a hotel accompanied by a detective of Mr. Jerome’s staff. After these developments Mr. Os borne said: “Mr. Dodge will remain at his hotel in my care until he is wanted as a witness for the countv.” At the request of Mr. Jerome, Dodge and his counsel will appear at criminal courts building on Monday, it Is said, to carefully review the testimony to be presented to the grand Jury. The grand Jury will meet Wednesday and Dodge will appear either on the open ing day or the day following. PLAN TO GET CHADWICK Sherllt Telegraphed to Have Extra dition Arranged. Cleveland, 0., Dee. 24.—Sheriff Barry to-day telegraphed Gov. Odell of New York asking that the extradition pa pers for Dr. Leroy S. Chadwick, Joint ly indicted with his wife, Cassie L. Chadwick, on a charge of forgery, be granted on the sheriff's arrival In Al bany Monday. Sheriff Barry feared there might be no one at the New York executive-of fice on Monday to honor the requisi tion from Gov. Herrick and decided to take this precaution to prevent any delay in securing the extradition pa pers. Mrs. Chadwick's attorney has given Sheriff Barry a letter to hand to Dr. Chadwick when the steamer on which the latter Is a passenger arrives In New York Wednesday, telling him of his Indictment and advising him to re turn to Cleveland as soon as possible. Mrs. Chadwick fears her husband will be murh affected by the news of the action of the county grand Jury here, as she states he never had any inti mation that he might be Implicated In any criminal proceedings. OIL MILL 'DESTROYED. Fire Got In its Work This Time nt Moultrie. Moultrie, Oa., Dec, 24.—The Moul trie CHI Mill burned 10-nlght. The mill wa* owned by K. fi. Nsce, and hi# loss Is *IO,OOO or $12,000. The mill w* in sured for SO,OOO in Ihe Phoenix of Brooklyn, and Ih# Insurance Company of North America, The mill was destroyed last year by a cyclone. It will probably be rebuilt soon, and for th* third time. Battleship laws Itamape*. Newport News, V*., Dec, 24 -The United fftata# battleship low#, while being docked at th# shipyard pier bare to -Asy, cam- t a violent >#•<*'< with Ik* structural work of Dm pts*. Th* set# srtiMt* and award rails were <sr flag SWAP AM* the Ship other *to* dam ■#•4 HEAVY LOSS FALLS TO WRIGHTSVILLE PROPERTY WORTH SIOO,OOO is licked up at night by de vouring FLAMES. it Is Relieved Tlmt An Incendiary's Torch Started the Blaise Thai Wip ed Out Two Ranks, Five Stores and Two Olllees—How the Los* Is Divided—Tompkins and Johnson tile Heaviest Losers— Hneket Hrl irade Fought the Fire Nobly. Wrlghtsvllle, Ga., Dec. 24.—Last night Wrightsville suffered from the greatest fire In its history. Two banks, five stores and two offices burned out and the entire stock of goods was de stroyed. The total loss is about SIOO,- 000 with probably $75,000 insurance on the property destroyed. The origin of the fire is unknown, but It Is thought to have been Incendiary. Following are some of the severest losses: Tompkins & Johnson, general stores, $65,000, stock Insured for $25,000; Johnson Banking Company, building and fixtures, $4,000: W. H. H. Stewart, furniture, $1,000; J. T. Chambers, groceries, $300; Dr. S. M. Johnson, physician, $100; J. L. Kent, attorney, S4OO. The insurance companies which will lose by reason of the fire are the Liverpool, London and Globe, FiremanCs Fund, Royal Insurance Company, British and American, Home of New York, and Hartford Fire. Will Rebuild nt Once. The Bank of Wrightsville will re build at once and the Johnson Bank ing Company, has temporarily opened up in the building lately occupied by the Citizens Bank. Testerday was a busy one In Wrightsville. The rush Incident to Christmas shopping had reached Us hight. A leading merchant said to his chief clerk at the hour of closing: “To day has been a great day; our sales almost double those of yesterday, as large as yesterday's trade was. Have the force on hand early to-morrow morning, for it will be a greater day than even to-day.” Christmas Eve morning, to which that merchant and every other citizen of Wrightsville, looked forward with such hope and pleasure, dawned, but to exhibit In all its completeness the results of the disastrous fire: and to displace the natural Christmas pleas ure of the people with gloom because of the great loss to the city and its people. lire'll a Heavy Explosion. The cltv clock tolled the hour of midnight, and almost simultaneously was heard the sound of a heavy ex plosion. People rushed to the street and to windows, heard the fall of a large part of the front wall of the large and newly completed two-story build ing of Tompkins & Johnson, saw the flames almost Instantly mount upward, and thus began, from a universally thought Incendiary origin, the four hours’ conflagration which destroyed SIOO,OOO worth of property, including banks, stores and offices, with Immense stocks of merchandise. It was only by the most heroic ef forts that the loss was prevented from being twice as great, and including the largest block of new buildings In town, with cotton and warehouse. Full ing walls crushed through adjacent roofs and buildings, endangering Mves and property, but the bucket brigade ventured anywhere and everywhere, and with the assistance of a favora ble wind, prevented the spread of the fire over a wider area. •torlii Ssßeretl by Transfer. Many others suffered severely by transferring their stocks of merchan dise during Ih* progress of the cor. • fiagrstlon, or hy removing to th* street. Among those suffering lose In fht* wise srs: The Four Reasons de partment store; J. F Renfro*, gro esriea, J. A Wilson, dry goods and grorwrtea, and C, J, Watts, barber The falling of wall* oeuaad consider able dams** to th* cotton warehouse ><wn#4 by J. K Under, and to tbs nsw stor* past ns*ring completion, which i ruff** A Hander* lm ended to wuntpy Jan. I ll will probably be two or thras SAMEJIMA SHIOEO Hero of the Hour in Japan, Who Carried the Keekwan Position at Port Arthur. days before the walls will cbol off suf ficiently for the Johnson Banking Com pany's vault to >be opened at their old stand, and the same is true of the Bank of Wrightsville. Others who were burned out are looking around for temporary quarters, and it is an evidence of the progressive spirit of the people that before the embers die down In their late business stands they are securing new tempo rary quarters for the continuation of their business, Just as if nothing had happened. CORBIN REPORTS UPON FIGHTING IN PHILIPPINES. Two Bodies of Scout* Were Attack ed by the I’nlujanas. Washington, Dec. 24.—The War De partment was officially advised to-day by Gen. Corbin, commanding the De partment of the Philippines, of the uprising in Samar, in which one lieu tenant and a number of enlisted men of the Philippine scouts were killed. The cablegram is as follows; “The Pulajanas arc on the warpath In Samar In considerable numbers, as may be Judge from the following: “On Nov. 10 about 400 Pulajanas and several hundred volunteers Joined in an attack on a detachment of twen ty Philippine scouts at Oras, gamar, Killed: One hospital corps man; wounded, twelve Philippine scouts; missing, five said to have been boloed while in the river. All bodies badly mutilated. “And again on Dec. 16, Second Lieutenant Stephen K. Hayt and thir ty-seven enlisted men, thirty-eighth company Philippine scouts, killed by Pulajanas at Dolores, Samar. “First Lieuteant George F. Ab bott requests help from military au thorities. Town threatened by a thousand Pulajanas. Situation crit ical In both Instances. “I offered the Philippine government all the assistance desired. As yet none has been accepted.” Second Lieutenant Stephen K. Hayt was born In New Mexico In 1880. Prior to his appointment as second lieuten ant of the Philippine scouts in Au gust. 1903, he was a sergeant lrt Com pany A, Ninth Infantry. QUESTIONS AUTHORITY. p Tli inks Stale Court Has No Juris diction Over Elections. Denver, Col., Dec. 24.—Attorney Samuel Belford has drawn up a brief to be presented to the United States Supreme Court in the application for a writ of habeas corpus for Michael Dowd, one of the thirty election offi cials who have been sentenced to Jail by the Colorado Supreme Court on charges of contempt based on their ac tions at the polls. The brief questions the authority of the Colorado Supreme Court to take Jurisdiction of an election. It de clares that the remedy sought by the petitioners in this original case was purely political, and that the state constitution expressely prohibits the courts from Interfering with such cases. Courts are expressly prohibit ed from at any time or In any manner. Interfering with the conduct of elec tions or the right of suffrage. The brief continues: “Wherein lies the difference between the arbitrary and despotic decrees of the Supreme Court and Imperial ukase which the Czar of Russia might is sue.” MUST STAND TRIAL Far th- Death of Passengers Aboard the Mesnirr Slornin. New York, Dec. 24.—The demurrer of F. A. Barntvby, president; J. P. At kinson, secretary, and F. G. Dexter, director, of th* Knickerbocker fitoam boat Company, to an Indictment charg ing them with a share of the responsi bility In the burning of Ihe excursion steamer General Riorum was overruled to-day by Judge Thoms* of the United Mates Circuit Court. Th*## company officer* demurred to ih* Indictments on th* ground that they were not own ers of the craft. In his decision Judge Thotnas mu OfiMINM never Intended that pofwilon ehould be permitted Is kill it* pa***ngr at sea and not be pun- He holds that a corporation 'epeble of a wrongful M u* La puntshsd. 6 CENTS A COPT. DAIEY. IS A YEAR. WTFKT.T 2-TfMES- A-WEEK.II A YEAR TWO ARE KILLED AT MONTICELLO NEGRO AND A WHITE MAN FALL IN A FUSIL ADE THAT OC CURS AT A WAGON YARD. Christmas Tragedy Is F.naeled in Jasper County Resides ilie Two Killed, Others Arc Wounded. Fight llegtin Between a Negro and a Willie Man, file Negro Opening Fire and Being Immediately An swered by Olliers’ Weapons. Montlcello, Ga., Dec. 24.—Two killings occurred here to-day. A negro, Sam Reese, and Mr. R. L. Brooks ware killed In a general street fight. Several other persona were more or less In jured. On the street leading to the Metho dist Church there is a negro settle ment. On the left and next to the Benton Supply Company and behind Harvey's hardware store and Furse Company’s drug store is a wagon yard. This yard was full of buggies and wagons and mules and horses and many people were gathered about. At this place a difficulty arose be tween a negro and a white man. and the negro drew his pistol and shot at the white man. A fusllade of shots occurred at this time, and Mr. Brooks was killed. He was In no way connect ed with the difficulty, but was shot through the neck and fell dead. The negro died In a short while. No eye witness is positive as to who did the shooting. Two white men were arrested, as suspicion points to them. It will be a hard matter to prove who did the killing. A Mr. Elliott was wounded, but not seriously. Henry Penn, a negro, Is shot In the leg, but Is not seriously wounded. FIRE LOSS $2,500,000. The Fire at Sloox city Has Not Yet Ceased Horning. Sioux City, la., Dec. 24.—The total loss by last night’s fire In the business section of this city Is $2,500,000, and the Insurance about $1,600,000. Kenowha Brockway, who Jumped from the fourth story of the Massa chusetts building, missed the life net and was Instantly killed. A* far as known there were no other fatalities. The fire Is still burning and several fire companies were on duty late to night, throwing water on the smolder ing ruins. In addition to the large business firms which were burned out. a hoe* of smaller business houses were de stroyed. Several hundred people who lived or had offices in the burned build ings, lost everything. KEPT HIM FHOM VOTING. One Negro Heat Up Another and Is Now Iniler Arrest. New York. Dec. 24.—A charge, the like of which never has been enter tained in a United States court In this district within the memory of the old est court official, was preferred to-day against Henry Jones, a Louisville (Ky.) negro, when he was arraigned before United States Commissioner Shields.- The charge against Jones was Interfering with the rights of a cltlsen In that he beat John Supper to-night, another negro, so severely that he was unable to vote at the last presidential election at Louisville. When arraigned before the commissioner to-day hs waived extradition and will be taken back to Louisville. IlMonr a Total lota. Memphis. Tenn., Dec. 24.—Advice* received here from Cralgheed Point, slaty-five miles north of this city, where the steamer Robert B. Lee wee sunk Thursday, Indicate that the ves sel will be g total leas. The Robert IS. Lee Is owned by the Lee Line of this city, and Is valued st about Ml, - SMI