North Carolina Newspapers

I TPMJBHID AT lKHNSTQH, AT N. C. 00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE! . 8S8SS88S888S8S8S5 SSSSSSS3SSSSS33SS sssssssssssssiisi . SS38SS3SS83SSS88S . f-4SS888S8SS8S88888S I 8SS888&S82SS88S3S 83888882S8S888888 5""A " 352555283883 888S3S8S8SSS8SS88 MA I HMMa0iCHieMoagaja - - - 3 - I 2 5 M 3: in; sit 1 1 : i : ; r4 at th Poat Ofic at VUatgtoa, N. C, at Second Clu llatter.l SUBSCRIPTION PRICE. h aubacriptloa prlca of tha Weekly Star li bwf i kit Copy 1 year, postage paid 1 00 f Saauht " " 60 I " (month " ' 4 SO THE THEATRE 07 WAS. Some war correspondent of Le atin, at Paris, who with "great IzardshipB," to have it as hit yarn jes, haa "reached the centre of the juslan military concentration " at arbin, Manchuria." Harbin ia a city or town situated the Mancharlan' Railway, about Jo mile8 from Port Arthur. If it to become the base of opera- bns of the Bats that means iat it is to be made the Richmond the war. It will be strongly for- Sed with a line of defenee toward prt Arthur, and,, if the story is lie, the battlefields of the war will between Port Arthur and Har- The fact that Harbin is to be the a of the Russian military estab- hnient does not carry with it the if erence that Port Arthur has fallen tl t ' j 1 T A xo me nanas 01 tne Japanese, dui is more than likely that the Rns- n military authorities anticipate at Port Arthur will sooner or ,ter become untenable, .hven tould the KuBBians hold that port, e base of operations will be back their defensive operations, mainly r three reasons: 1. There must be a point for the ncetration and distribution of the nssian war supplies and forces.. - 2. There must be a stronghold fight back to, and if the invaders icceed in pushing back back the assian forces, Harbin is to be the g of war. 3. The base must be back of any there or territory in which the fpaneae are likely to operate. If o Japanese throw a force into anchuria, either to the east or oat of Port Arthur, they will onbtless capture that stronghold. At any rate the fall of Port Ar- ur ia a contingency to be antici- ted by Russia, and for this rea- n the ba80 of her operations must back of Port Arthur. If the 88ians find that they cannot hold rt Arthur they will evacuate and I back towards their base of oper ions. This would mean that ery inch of the territory between rt Arthur anil TTarhln will ha tubbornly contested and probably lie decisive struggle will take place i Harbin. I If Harbin should be captured and luaaia determines to continue to Ight, her forces would fall back on another base and so on till the Mas jovites are driven from Manchuria territory by the Japs. In that event he Japanese plan of war would be hold Manchuria and then RusBia would have to be on the aggressive and the Japs on the defensive. I It is more than likely, however, that if the Japanese force the Rus sians out of Manchuria they will carry the war over the border into southern Siberia and capture that part of Russian territory along with the port of Vladivostock. In this event the Japanese will be on the defensive to hold the captured ter ritory and Siberian port for the pur pose of claiming it by conquest, if Russia ia put to the wall in the war. i The Star has heretofore express ed the opinion that the war will be a long and bloody struggle and the i world powers will be" fortunate If they are not involved before it ends. ..Certain it is that in the final settle i m i . ... . -mem oi tne war there will arise questions that will involve interf er : ence by the powers. Among these .powers will be the United States, which has already taken the initla tive in notifying Russia and Japan that it does not make any difference which of the two whips in the fight, neither is to get any 'territory by conquest. The identical note ad dressed to the powers by our Secre tary Hay, and which has been, in a way, concurred in by the powers plainly serves notice to Rnsiia and Japan that the integrity of China must remain and Chinese sov ereignty be maintained over all terri tory that now belongs to the Chinese empire. This territory, of course, Includes Manchuria. , The principle of the Hay note is ' "Ifr'b.at Japan is fighting for. Japan'i "contentions cover practically the grounds upon which the Hay note I is. based, so that la order to get any territory out of the coniict Japan must conquer a part of Siberia. Fin VOL. XXXV. If Rnssia whips the fight and in sists on holding Manchuria by con quest, the Powers would have to coerce her and enforce the terms of the Hay note. If she does not yield to the inevitable, it stands to reason that the Powers would have to throw their allied armies into Man churia to expel the Russians. Sup pose Russia wins the fight with Japan, has Secretary Hay, or rather the Roosevelt administra tion, got any assurance that the Powers agreeing to the Hay note would join the United States in coercing Russia? Great Britain would do so, but Germany, while agreeing to the suggestions of the note, made It plainly understood that her sympathies are with Russia. If Germany's diplomacy is no more to be depended upon than Russia's, the Kaiser, under his conditional concurrence in the Hay note, may decide not to join in any coercive movement bat join hands with the Czar should the United States and Great Britain undertake to enforce the Hay idea. France wonld likely join the Russian-German combina tion, and right here there wonld arise a situation which would mean the biggest war that the world has ever seen. If Japan whips the fight there will be no difficulty about all the powers joining to coerce her. In the face of Japan's contention, it Is, however,-not likely that she will in siston territory, but certainly she will be entitled to something for fighting for what all the powers ex cept Russia stand for. She would reasonably be entitled to Vladivos tock and any Siberian territory that wonld compensate her for the ex pense of the war. If she gets no territory it would be hard to deny Japan paramount influence in China, commercially, at any rate, if not in the governmental affairs of China, which the Japanese states men will want to do and probably will do by intrigue if' not openly. Japan will doubtless insist also npon fortifying Port Arthur and other ports in China and Corea in order to defend the entity of the Yellow Man's territory from all comers. This the powers will also object to. We must go back, however, to the press dispatches which appeared yesterday. The statement that Russia is to make Harbin her base and in twelve days will have 400,000 troops in that territory ia not true, or Russia has attempted to deceive the world in saying that she was not prepared, or perhaps preparing, for war. She certainly could not in twelve days put an army of 400,000 men in the field in Manchuria un less they had been on the way there long before' the first guns in the war roared at Chemulpo and Port Arthur, February 8th-9th. AS TO THE HAT NOTE. A survey of the war situation will show what a momentous docu ment the Hay note is. The thunders of war had not rolled round the earth twenty-four hours, before the Roose velt administration butted in with the Hay note. A few lines that would take an experienced writer but a short time to write, may be of the most momentous purport to all the world. If, however, our trade warrants it, and the Sooth is specially concerned for its cotton goods trade in the East, no one can blame the administration for looking out for American in terests by preserving the ter ritorlal entity of China and taking the short cut to keep the "open door" ajar. Many papers, North and South, however, after sober, second thought, have become alarmed over the possible consequences and are berating the administration for its haste and recklessness in the matter. Some of the leading papers declare that what at first was heralded as "another grand stroke of Hay's diplomacy" 1b, after all, but a piece of stupidity and reckleaanesa. Some papers go so far as to say that the European PowerB, not caring to take tne initiative, nave simply made a cat's paw of the United States through Hay. Whatever may be. said of the Hay note, however, it Is no more un friendly to Russia than it Is to Ja pan. Is is aimed to hold them both in check, and if it serves to do it the Roosevelt-Hay proceedings will be applauded tremendously. In a Presidential campaign we (Demo crats) do not hanker after butting into such pre-eminence as this would give them. 4 Ella Wheeler Wilcox advises young men to marry none but a tact iui girl. We tried it on one once, but she hoisted her jib sail, tacked to winward and left us floundering in the foaming wake. You see she was just a little too tactful for us, so we are keeping close to shore for fear of iqnalls. It looks like the whole bunch of world powers will step into preserve China's territorial entity, but China won't know what that means, corn- lmorclally speaking-, until it all comes. out in the wash-ee. HE In 1894-95 little Japan with 47, 000,000 of people, Hcked giant China with about 400,000,000. If now the Big Bear will let the Japs crawl over him, we will no longer try to wrestle with the knotty pro blem and perplexing puzzle as to how it is that a little woman's "pre dominance" is "paramount" when we men of ponderosity gather at the fireside. The Democrats have only five months for choice to chrystalize on some suitable man to nominate for President. We have never had any idea that Cleveland would stand for it, bat it is to be hoped the party will be looking around for a man with some of the gray matter like unto which the old man has. Senator Tillman, of South Caro lina, a few days ago, tried to get a reconsideration of the bill to give Queen Liloulkalani $250,000 be cause we got the best of her when we took over, absorbed and assimilated Hawaii. The bin was only defeated by a tie vote, and that is really en" couraging for Ben and Li!. The Powers look on Uncle Sam as the policeman on the American con tinent, but China is rejoiced to think he is extending his beat- over into ABia, too. He has summoned a posse commitatus of the nations to see that neither Russia or Japan may not re sist an officer in the discharge of his duty. Tho Hay note seems to pass cur rent now, but when the day of re demption comes, can its parity with sound diplomacy bo maintained "without waiting for the action of any other nation?" Horatio, my fine fellow, me thinks it will take only a matter of time, long or short, to decide whether the Hay note is of the "grand stroke" or "wild cat" brand. The Hay note has hurt Russia's fellings. If she doesn't intend to take any of China's territory, why is the Bear dropping tears about the Bize of horse apples? CURRENT COMMENT. Say, Bud, 13 cents cotton is more than twice better than G cents cotton. What are you squealing about? Macon Telegraph. Already comes the news of the advance of pork and beef owing to the war demands sn the .East. It is surprising how quickly food trusts secure their war news. Boston Traveler. The Japs score a great point in being the first nation to success fully use wireless telegraphy in war. And they are not altogether a wire less people, either. Macon Tele qrapli Whatever comes, we hope Baltimore will be original enough not to "rise phoenix like from her ashes." We should let the Phoenix bird go into oblivion and join the dodo and other extinct fowls. Ar kansas Gazette. Dsmige Salt Afalnst A. 6. k. Tnrough Attorneys Herbert Mc- Clatnmy and R. Q. Grady, a suit for $20,000 damages agalnat the Atlantic Coast Line was brought In the Supe rior Court here Wednesday by 8. P. Peterson, foreman of a lumber mill, near Atkinson. N. C. Peterson al leges that while climbing Into the ca boose of a freight train to deliver some orders to the conductor relative to the p'aciug of some cars, he was thrown under the car by a violent jerk of the engine and one of his feet was par tially cut off. Development of Green Swamp. A correspondent of the Southport Standard writes that Mr. J. J. Wolf enden, of Newborn, who Is at the head of the syndicate which recently bought the famous Green Swamp lands In Brunswick and Columbus countler, haa a force of men diagraming the country with a view to running a rail road from Southport to Bolton or Ohadbourn. If the company does that, thev expect to put up saw mills to cut the timber ready for the market. Mr. Wolfenden says that it Is likely that the company will expend one million dollars or more in that county. Engineers Not Concerned. The Florence Times yesterday afternoon states that it is assured by a representative of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers that there is positively no truth in the report that they will take any part with the strikers and notify the railroad com pany that they will not run over the read unless it is kept up as it was be- tore the strike of roadway employes. Movement of Track Carolina Fruit and Truck Growers" Journal-. "Strawberry and vegetable shipments are expected to begin mov- tnv ontnf this territory on or about the middle or latter part or April. That means that we ahall be ahlpplng irwWrii and vegetables within about 60 days." The tourist travel to the South is heavier now than It has been since the season opened. Atlantic Coast T.lna trttn. No. 25 and No. 37 that flavannah Friday each carried two extra coaehes required to carry the heavy passenger iravej. Weekly Btar WILMINGTON, N. 0., FRIDAY; FEBRUARY 26, SMALLPOX SITUATION Two New Cases Developed at Dr. Anders' Residence Yes terday Morning. THE BELLIGERENT SMITH. He Weal to Pest Hsose WIMntly Under Persons! Qnard Prlsoa Femlgsted and Incidentally Other Offices. A f aae at Wallace. The wife and little son of Mr. James Dodd, who wis sent out to the pest house from the residence of Dr. W. K. Anders, on Third street, last week, on yesterday developed smallpox and were separated from the other inmates of the house. They will not be re moved from their present location un less further complications arise. Mr. Dodd, who la at the pest house, has one of the moat pronounced csaea of smallpox, the health aatboritiea say. they have ever seen. Mrs. Dodd and little son, the latter six or seven years of see, were doing very well yester day. A little daughter of the family has not yet contracted the disease; neither have any other of the inmates shown any symptoms as yet. Yesterday, W. B. Smith, the govern ment weighing clerk who gave the officers ao much trouble by repeatedly breaking out of the quarantine, was sent out to the pest house and placed in personal charge of ex-policeman Ben Turlington with Instructions from Chief Quarantine Officer Green to follow him at any cost should he make another attempt to secure his liberty. Smith didn't protest yester day and seemed perfectly willing to abide the consequences of his haaty action Friday. The apartment in the station house where he had been con fined waa thoroughly fumigated yes terday afternoon. Owing to the lm- possiblity to make the prison reason ably air-light the upper offices in the City Hall building got a good fumiga tion also and a number of the officials were driven from their deaka by the penetrating fumes. Should serious results accrue from Smith's eacapade Friday he may be charged with wilful violation of the quarantine regula tions when he comes in from the house of detention. WHERE WAS THIS CONTRACTED ? Parties In the city yesterday told of the development of a auspicloua case a mile and a half from Wallace in the family of a Mrs. Rogers, who visited at the residence of Dr. Anders a short time ago. Particulars of the case could not, however, be learned. PRESENTED VANCE PORTRAIT. Interesting Exercises Observed at Qreei villa Soond Public School Friday. The formal presentation of a hand some portrait of the lamented Senator Vance, given by Prof. E. O. Herring, of Obapel HID, to his former school on Greenville Sound, took place there with interesting exercises Friday after noon at 3 o'clock. AJarge number of pupils and patrons were in attendance; also Mist Pattie D. Home and mem bers of the school from Wrighlavllie, Superintendent Callett and Mr. W. M. Cu naming, of Wilmington, and Prof. J. 8. Leonard, vocal inatructor in the school, who directed the sing ing, which was a pleasant feature of the ceremonies. Tne formal presen tation of the picture was by Mr. Gum ming In a graceful speech In which he paid a beautiful tribute to the great commoner whoso likeness waa ao well portrayed in tbe handsome present given. In connection with the exercises in cident to tbe presentation of the por trait, North Carolina Day was most appropriately observed according to the printed programme. Prof. Catlett made the school an interesting talk at the conclusion of which-a subitantial aum was raised toward the Vance monument fund. A resolution was adopted thanking Prof. Herring for his thoughtful consideration and kind ness. Chronic Bicycle Thief. Ellis MacBae, the negro sent over from the mayor's court a few days ago for the larceny of a bicycle from Mr. W. O. Armstrong, was taken from jail yesterday and given preliminary trial before Justice Fowler upon a charge of having stolen another wheel from Edward Thompson, cblored. He was sent back to jail in default of an ad- I dltional bond of $50 and will have to anawer the double charge at the next term of Superior Court. A young white man, who bought the last bicycle from MacBae, was placed in jail be cause he could not give the name of the negro who sold it to him and he would have been tried for the larceny of Ur, but as soon s he set eyes on the neuo in jail for the larceny of the Armstrong bicycle he was relieved by the knowledge tbat MacBae was the same negro who sold him the bicycle. Jodge RhsbcII Seriously III, Washington dispatch: "Ex-Gover- nor Kusaeu nas gone 10 Baltimore, where he will again enter the Johns Hopkins Hospital. It was staled that Judge Russell is now. and has for some time been, suffering from a serious malady, which Is causing his friends some concern. One of these friends to-day expressed an intention to go to Baltimore to-morrow to remain with Judge Russell for a few days. From the same source the Information waa .given that the mother of ex-Senator Butler was critically ill and Mr. Butler I left to-day for the State, where he will remain until there Is some change In bis mother's condition. ' NEWS FRO STATE CAPITOL. Lnmbtrloo Corporation Enlarge B. P.U. Printer Kinei by Train. Special Star Telegram.) Raleigh, N. a, Feb. 18. -The Lumbfcrton Cotton Oil and G inning Company, of Lumberton, ia chartered with 1100,000 capital authorized and $12,000 subscribed r;iby OVO. Norment, Berry Godwin, Geo. B. McLeod, Stephen Mclntyre and others. The directors of the Baptiat Fe male University passed an order to day for the erection at once of another dormitory building to cost not exceed ing $30,000. The capacity of the build ing will be for 98 girls. Governor Aycock has handed to parties bidding for the lease of the At lantic and North Carolina Railroad a memorandum to the effect that he will not cocaider any offer for a lease of lea years and 6 per cent, for next twenty years or fifty year lease, leseua to assume $48,000 of the float ing debt, and to build fifty miles of rotd from either Goldaboro or New bern. John Clifloo, a Well known printer, waa run over and killed to-night at Jobnaon street station. An extra car being backed for attachment to pas aeuger train No. 37 of the Seaboard Air Line from Richmond to Atlanta, atruck him while walking on the track. RtlLROAD AFFAIRS IN RiLEIQH. Tobicco Men Appeal to Corporation Com missionAnother A. & N. C. Lesse. Special Star Telegram. Ualeigh, N. C, Feb. 20. Oapt. E. V. McBse submitted another proposi tion to tne governor to-day for a leie of the Atlantic and North Caro lina Railroad, bat declines as yet to give out the terms except to say It is at least equivalent to the minimum the Governor Las stipulated he will consider at all. The Corporation Commission has received petitions from tobacco ware houses la various tobacco towns of the State, aaking that freight classifi cations on empty hogsheads be lower ed. They, are now shipped double first class charges. The Commission named next Tuesday as the date for tb hearing. W. B. Clifford is appointed receiver for the bank of Dunn closed by the Commission a few days ago. The ap pointment waa made by Judge Allen. Clifford taxes charge at once. MESSRS. QRaDV, HERRINQ & WARD. Style of Strong Legal Firm Formed Yes terdsy Malotsln Poor Offices. The legal firm of Grady, Herring & Ward was- formed yesterday with of fices in Wilmington, Burgaw, Wal lace and Eenanavilie. Tbe members of the new firm are R G. Grady, the well known attorney of this city, with offices In the Murchison National Bank building; Mr. Robert W. Her ring, of Sampson county, and Mr. George R. Ward, of Diiplio, the two last named being graduates of the Uni versity of North Carolina Law School, 'ho passed highly creditable exami nations before the Supreme Court this year. Daring his college course Mr. Herring represented his society in the inter collegiate debate with Georgia last year and was also president of the law class. Mr. Ward also had a dis tinguished college career and Is a young man of very bright promise. Mr. Urady la loo well known as an attorney to need an introduction to the public in this section of the State. He will remain la charge of tbe Wilming ton office of the firm ; Mr. Herring will divide his time between Burgaw and Warsaw and Mr. Ward will be in charge of the Kenanaville office. A new and well equipped law library will be maintained at each office and a general practice will be carried on in all the courts in this section. AN EX-ALDERMAN FISED. Mr, E. P. Bailey Thanked the Mayor for Penalty and Reprimand for conduct Ex-Alderman is. 1'. uniey was fined $10, including the costs, in the Mayor's court yeaterday, the charge being driving on tbe sidewalk on Market street, between Second and Third, where the paving is going on. Mr. Bailey made no protest and promptly handed over his check for the amount named, thanking the Mayor for his action. In imposing the fine Mayor Springer reprimanded the defendant, for which Mr. Bailey also thanked the Mavor. To the Roads they Went. Carrie Stewart, Mary Jones and Emeline Brown, three colored wo men who made the afternoon hideous In the alley opposite Front street mar ket house Friday, were sent to the roads for 30 days each by the Mayor yesterday. They went immediately to tbe rock pile and will bo used as domestics about the camp. Wm. Salisbury, white, forfeit ed a justified bond of $50 in Justice Fowler'a court yesterday and it is learned that be has left for parts un known. He wa charged with an as sault and battery and carrying a'. con cealed weapon. A capias for him has been Issued JEWELRY AND CASH Hotel Apartments of Postmsster General Payne Robbed. By Telegrapn to the Horning Star. Washington, Feb. 20. About $L- 600 worth of jewelry and $150 in cash have been stolen from the hotel apart ments of Postmaster General Payne, and tbe oetectlves working on the case are seeking to locate a nurae formerly employed in the family. Her description has been telegraphed to the police or a number of clues. 11 is thought tbat ahe baa gone to New York city. The jewelry taken con sists of rings sod pins and was in a trunk which had ke?.u opened. 1904. SPIRITS TURPENTINE. ABheville is to be extensively advertised at the St. Louis world's fair, says the Asheville Citizen. Mr. J. M. Moore, " -of Lone Shoals, contemplates establishing a duck mill in Shelby as soon as the Lily Mill Power Co. completes its development and conveys the elec tric power to Shelby. T At a meeting of the directors of the Baptist Female University, at Raleigh on Thursday, an order wa3 passed for the erection of an other handsome dormitory building, cost not to exceed $30,000. Clarkton Express : The solici tor's warning in regard to-shipping liquor into Bladen and Colambus hasn't stopped the jags from com ing, bat it has put the shippers to the trouble of boxing them up before sending them down this way. Speakine of grown men eoing to Bchool, it seems that Watauga county has the champion in this class. From the Boone Dew Droo we learn that "Mr. Eli Garner, who is near 50 years, and weighs 300 pounds, attends regularly" the school at Deerfield. Laurlnbnrg Exchanac. In ac- enrdance with instructions of tho board, County Commissioner Alex. Jones has purchased the road ma chinery for Scotland county. The machinery is up-to-date . in every particular. It will require six mules to operate the entire outfit. Mr. Geo. Thomasson, near Morganton, will undergo an opera tion for necrosis of the lower iaw bone. Several years ago a tooth in the lower jaw began to decay at the top. It continued to decay until the roots disappeared. The flesh disappeared from the 'Jbone, and the operation is to remove about two Inches of the bono. - At Raleigh on Thursday a charter was issued to the Lumber ton Cotton Oil and Ginning Com pany, of Lumberton, with a total authorized capital stock of 1100, 000, of which $12,500 is subscribed by O. C. Norment, P. Godwin, G. B. McLeod, K. D. Caldwell, L. H. Caldwell, W. J. Prevatt, Frank Gough, K. M. Biggs, Stephen Mc lntyre, K. E. Lee, J. P. McNeill, C. B. Townsend and A. H. Mc Leod, all of Lumberton. Gastonia Gazette: "There ought to be more cattle raised here at home," remarked Mr. T. W. Wil son yesterday, "there's ready mar ket right now for hundreds. If our people would feed their farm stufE to cattle and thus turn it into meat for the market and manure for their fields, they would have more meat, more money, and better improved farms." And we are not able to see anything wrong with that advice, even if cotton were bringing fifteen cents. At Winston-Salem, on Tues day, Sidney Moore, colored, was convicted of attempting to commit a criminal assault last Jane upon Miss Claude Pegram, a young lady of ForByth county. Judge Allen gave the defendant the limit for this offence 15 years in the peniten tiary. In -passing sentence his honor stated that the community in which the crimewas committed was to be commended for not taking the law in their own hands and lynch lng Moore. The prisoner persist ently denied the charge against him, but Miss Pegram assured the jury and court that he was the right man The Bepublican congressional executive committee for the Tenth district met at Asheville Thursday aiternoon xor tne purpose oi select mi mm ' ing the time and place for holding the nominating convention. The supporters of Thomas Settle, who is after the nomination, favored the holding of the convention in June, while the friends of rrof. J. J. Britt, also an aspirant for the nomi nation, favored an earlier conven tlon and a long campaign. A com promise was finally effected and the date of the convention was fixed for Wednesday, April 20, and Hender sonville as the place of meeting. A Greensboro special nnder date or Feb. 18th, says: Last Sum mer, a year ago, a man namea Woodv, was convicted of a criminal assault on a girl and sent to the penitentiary, but was pardoned by Governor Aycock.. Yesterday he was again committed to jail. This time he had fallen back on an old scheme, but worked only one man, so far as known. Me was working among Ignorant darkeys selling them a membership in a detective agency for $1, which entitled them to a badge and a card, the card, said Woody, compelling the railway au thorities to give them a free pass over the roads, while, after the badge had been delivered, he was to employ all memUers at a salary of $25 a month. He Ihad one badge, and this he Bold to Alf Slade, but Alf caught on and had Woody np before 'Squire Collins, who sent him to jail in default of ball. Charlotte News, Feb. 16: Mr. J. C. McClure, of Mallard Creek township, was In the city to-day and was exhibiting the skua of a man, the skeleton of which his boys found in the old Henderson mine, located on his place. Yesterday while the boys were examining the Bhaft of the mine, the? were attract oi to a spot where a large pile of bones lay. On going to the spot the children were horrified to see that the bones werfof a human bo ine. Thev returned to the house and Informed their father of what they had seen. Mr. McClure went to the mine and there in the 8-foot tunnel leading from tho main shaft was the skeleton of a man. Mr. McClure says that he has owned the place on which the Henderson mine is located for the past 13 years and during that time, so far as he can recall, there has been no mysterious disappearance in that section. Tho skeleton bore evidence that the body had been in the mine several years. There was no flesh on the bones, they being ai dry as a powder horn. NO. 18 WALKER BOUND OYER Colored Ex-Alderman and Major of Volunteers Held for tbe Superior Court. PRELIMINARY TRIAL HELD. Charged With Embezzling Ralber Large Amount from Odd Fellows Lodge, of Which He Was Treasurer Bond of $250 Oivea. Was the reported robbery of ex- Alderman Andrew J. Walker last New Yetr'a night a fake for tbe purpose of deferring settlement with or defraud ine the colored lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he was treasurer f Justice Fowler, after an extended hearing in the Superior Court room yeverday afternoon, held that there la probable cause that such was the pur pose of Walker, and that the robbery might not have occurred at all. Walk er was held in a justified bond of $250 to appear at the next term of New Hauover Superior Court, beginning April 4tb, to answer the charge of embezzlement. Walker secured Hen ry Green, colored, by mortgage on real estate, and Green became his surety in the amount named. The preliminary trial attracted a large number of spectators and wit nesses, many of whom were members of the lodge from which it is alleged that Walker embezzled the money, amounting to $376.84. The defendant was present with his counsel, non. John D. Bellamy, while the lodge was represented by Messrs. Martden Bel Iamyland Marsden Bellamy, Jr. The hearing began at 3:30 o'clock and it was after 6 o'clock before all the testimony had been heard and counsel had addressed the court in behalf of their respective clients. Walker went on the stand first and told the story of the robbery, saying that he kept all the funds of the lodge in an iron safe at his house; that on tbe night in question, be wrapped up the amount of money to the credit of the lodge in a piece of paper and started to Ruth Hall with it to settle with tbe finance committee and to turn the balance over to a banking committee which had been chosen to succeed the treaaurer in custody of the funds of the lodge. He then told the story of the robbery, substantially as printed in the newspapers the day after the occurrence. He said that when tho men, who robbed him, ran off in opposite directions they had nothing in their bands that he saw. Policeman H. W. Howell, who was visiting in the neighborhood, heard the cries of Walker and went to his rescue, was the next witness and told of the finding of the man seated on some curbstones. He saw no one fleeing and the prosecution attempted to bring out that if the men had fled as Walker said, it would have been possible for him to have seen them. Although Walker said in his testimony that the men who ran off had nothing in their hands, Officer Howell said that aa soon as be arrived on the scene. Walker told him that one of the men bad dropped something and directed him where to And it. The officer aaid he went to the point Indicated and picked up the end of a whip, which was loaded In one end with lead. The instrument was produced in court by Officer Howell. WHO WROTE TIHS LETTER? The eensation of the Iri&l occurred when Hon. J no. D Bellamy offered in evidence the following letter which was addressed to "Constable Tuck Savage, Wilmington," and mailed at 11 A. M. Jan. 25tb, the spelling being literal: "WlLMIMaTON, N. O. 'Mr. 8avagk: I am the man who struck Andrew Walker on the night of Jan. lit. I did It at the solicitation of Ellgha Green, who was to pay me part of the money for the job. I struck the blow tbat felled walker to tne ground and tbe other fellow that wm with me took Walker's money. Green told us where to meet the man Wal ker and we met him just as he got off the car. I did not want to do Walker any bodily injury. I only wanted to atrike him hard enough to put him out of bizness for a few mlnlla. Tne other fellow stood by and got the money. He said he was goln to take tho money to Green and be Green was to give me my share and a job as a header in cotton. He failed to give me the amount that he promised me. I only got a few dollars. Green said the money was bis or I would not have bad nulhln to with It. I am leaving the town to-day but Green and the friend of his that was with me haa got the money, cause he robbed me out of my share of It. I am goen and I thought I would let it be known that Ellgha Green la the low scamp tbat had Walker fixed. Good-by. "A Citizen." By questioning Walker, Mr. Jno. D. Bellamy showed tbat Elijah Green belonged to an opposing faction in the lodge t Walker. He ia a stevedore by trade and occupied with other offi cers a seat with couusel for the prose cution. Upon cross examination, Mr. Maraden Bellamy put Walker on his guard and asked him if he did not have an educated daughter who was nearly grown and If that was not her handwriting. Walker denied that It was his daughter's baud writing and Mr. Marsden Bellamy asked that the court preserve'that letter. FURTHER EVIDENCE INTRODUCED. Messrs. O. R. Davis, W. T. Mercer and others testified aa to having come up to Walker where he was reported robbed. For tbe prosecution Drt. T. R. and J. H. Mask, colored, testi fied that Walker's Injury waa only trivial and that lit their opinion the blood on hla noao was not fresh blood. Tbe elder Dr. Mask said as a frlecd oi Walker, he went to him next day and told him that he (Dr. Mask) was being aared questions about w sjxiejuror Abe Injuries' and he iwaixer) hadybetter settle tha mitt up la siome sray. The cross examina tion end4a to prove that Walker might TCfcva been sand-bagged and very little Injury would appear externally. Officer Howell had testified that there waa a knot on Walker's head about the alze of a guinea egg. A number of lodge officers testified tbat Walker was dilatory about paying sick benefit and had told several that he would get the money out of the bank. At tbe trial yesterday Walker aald he kept tho money In his house and the bank cashiers summoned to prove tint Walker had no deposits with the . i were discharged. The cate will next be heard now in the Superior Court. RUSSIA'S MILITARY ACTIVITY. The Entire Army la Readiness for Mobil Izatlon Messages of Sympathy to Czar from European Potentates , By Catle to the Morning Star . St. Petersburg, Feb. 80. Ths Czar, according to those who hav accets to his -presence, feela keenly the outbreak of hostilities and sorrow. at the burdens the war entails. Since the receipt of tbe news of the bom bardment of Port Arthur his msjestj has been much occupied with con ferences and has only appeared in public on one or two occasions. Id review the departing troops or to ahov--himself at a window of tbe Winter Palace to acknowledge patriotic de monstrations. Persons who have seen his majesty aay he Is looking sad.anri careworn and that his well known kindness of heart causes him to feel acutely the loss or his brave men. His majesty Is grieved over what he con siders to be (he treacherous conduct of the Japanese. It Is kuown that the Czsr has re-, celved at least three personal lettera from European sovereigns expressing tbe heartiest sympathy. The poten tates are Emperor William of Ger many, King Christian of Denmark, and King Oscar of Sweden and Nor way. The letter from Emperor Wil liam was brought by Colonel Von Bchenck, commander of the Alexan der third regiment of the Prussian Grenadiers, of which the Czar la hon orary colonel, f and : concluded with tbe significant words: "God Is with us." Military activity is proceeding on an ever-increasing scale and Is In readi ness for the mobilization of the entire Russian army ahould that become necessary. In a fortnight 100,000 ad ditional troops will be in Manchuria. Three army corps of Siberian rifles have already been organized, and a fourth soon will be completed. There is also a brigade of Cossack artillery, armed with excellent mountain guns. Although the Japanese seem to be making Port Arthur one of their main objectives, military men here do not believe that they will be able to effect and hold a landing there. The entire country Is strongly held by a division of Cossacks, which was quietly moved out to the Far East from the Caucasus some time ago. POWDER MILL EXPLOSION. Plant of tbe Lallin & Rand Co. Blown Up. Three Men Killed and Many lojsred. Tbe Damsge $50,000. By Telegraph to tho Morning Btar. Paterbon, N. J., Feb. 20. An ex plosion at the Ltflln and Rand powder mills at Wayne, seven miles from here to-day, caused the death of three meo. Three mills were wrecked. Al. Jackson and James Weir were killed Instantly, their bodies being blown to Eleces. Frederick Weimer died an our later. Thirty-five other em ployes were injured, several seriously. The causa of tbe explosion is unknown. It force was felt here, In Newark and In other near by cities. The town of Little Fall, five miles from the mill, was badly shaken and many windows were broken and several large brick chimneys collapsed. In Wayne, a tire resulting from the explo.ion caused excitement. Tht whole glass front of Youngelson' store was blown out and the concussion set fire to several crates of matches in the store. The blaze was toon extinguish ed by a bucket brigade. The damage to the powder plant is estimated at $50,000. PANAMA CANAL TRE4TV. Senator Bacon's Amendment Providing for an Award to Colombia. Uy Telegraph to the Morning BUr. Washington, Feb. 20. Senator Bacon's amendment to the Panama canal treaty, providing for tbe award to Colombia of financial satisfaction for the secession of Panama, was to-day In executive session in the Senate ordered made public. The amendment la op posed by the Republicans and the ban of secrecy is removed only for the purpose (of more effective debie in theitwo days which remain before the treaty is to be voted upon. It has been said that if Colombia's wrath could bo appeased, and the fear eliminated tbat this government may be subjected to constant imbroglios with the Colom bians, all but four Democratic mem bers of the Senate would join in the vote for ratification, ANOTHER BATTLE. Albanians Defeated by Turkish Troops. . Both Lost Heavily By Cable to tho Morning Star. Salonica, Macedonia, Feb. 20. Another battle occurred between the Insurgent Albanians in North Albania and the Turkish troop, February 18th. The Albanlaos were beaten, losing BOO I men killed and wounded. The Turks also lost heavily. Shemsi Pasba, who was ra command Of the Turka l Diakov, has been superseded, owibg to the Hullan's dis pleasure at bis unduly severe treat ment of the Albanians. DYNlttlfE EXPLOSION. Tweoly-llve Persons Killed and Hlieca Others Isjared, several Family. By Telegraph to the Morning Btar. Oodew, Utah, Feb. 20 Twenty five persons were killed, fifteen others injured, several It it teli5vd f tally, and a great am uul of r-ilroad prop erty destroyed by iha ' riploslon of a car load of dynamite at Jackson, a telegraph atatlou on tha Weaton end of tne great UEOf n-juicin cut-off on the Southern Pacific rail road. Tbe explosion was caused by a I collision between to freight trains. due It is said to the failure or ine air brake apparatus to operate. - Dr. ,T. M. Sikes, of Bladen ! county, was a Btar visitor yealwUay.