, PCBLI8HID At
WILMINGTON, N. C,
At
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Kntared m the Pan Office at ilmtgtoa, N. C,
Second Out Ma er.l
SUBSCRIPTION P iCE.
The iubcripdoo price ol the Ws'Uy Star U u
foil w:
Single Copy 1 year, postage paid. 1 00
' 6 month - " So
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CURRENCY REFORM.
When Mr. Carlisle was Secretary
of the Treasury he was a zealous
advocate of "divorcing the Govern
ment from the banking business,"
and Secretary Qage baa been qnite
as zealous. He is really more of a
currency reformer than Carlisle was
because he is a mere trained finan
cier, knows more about banking,
and has a better conception of the
financial needs of the country than
Secretary Carlisle had. Bat with
all his urgent advocacy of currency
reform and a better banking system
he has cot met with very much
success.
At the last meeting of the Bank
ers' Association of New York in his
address he dwelled with emphasis
on some of the defects of our bank
ing system and remarked that while
'phenomenal progress had been made
in our manufactures, commerce,
railroad management, &c, little or
no progress had been made in otr
banking system, which is not ade
quate to the business demands of
the country at all times nor able to
adaptltself to sudden changes.
As far as supplying currency is
concerned there has been some im
provement since the passage of the
act authorizing the establishment in
small t.wns of banks with a capital
of $25,000, but while this has in
creased the volume of -currency.it
has not improved the system in
other respects.
If wo understand Secretary Gage's
id.-ti he favors a banking system1
possessing the advantages of the
old State banks with the national
feature of the present banking sys
' tern, that is a system under United
States law and supervision but not
bused on government bonds, nor
otherwise connected with the' gov
ernment. In his advocacy of some
thing else than government bonds
as a basis of circulation, something
which would provide a more elastic
and flexible currency, he simply
anticipates the time when this
will become a matter of necessity,
when the decreased volume of
bouds will be insufficient to supply
a basis for a currency that would
amount to anything. This must be
te case as the bonds mature and are
redeemed, or the volume of bonds
must be kept up and made perpetu
al. This was never intended, but
on the contrary the national bank-.
ing system was originally intended
to be only temporary. By the re
funding system, the issuing of new
.bonds for new loans, etc., the life
of the banks has been prolonged
beyond the period originally con
templated. In some respects it is
a good system, in communities
where the requ'rements of the sys
tem can be readily complied with.
The merchant or other business man
in cities where the banks are estab
lished enjoy the benefit of them,
but outside of the large cities they
do not meet the requirements
or furnish the volume of money
the people need, notwithstanding
the fact that the per capita volume
in circulation is now greater than it
it has ever been. The bulk of this
circulation is in the ; large cities
where those banks are located.
Whatever the per capita may be in'
the sections where these money cen
ters are, there are section! of the
country where the per capita in cir
culation doesn't amount to one
fourth of this alleged per capita cir
culation. This is the case in much' of the
South and much of the. West, and
as a result the business men and the
farmers ol those sections, if they se
cure the money they need, have to
pay rates of interest that no ordi
nary legitimate business can stand.
This per capita circulation, of which
there has been so much boasting, is
a delusion. The money may be in
existence, but it is not in circulation,
and a very small portion of it is in
circulation in some sections of the
country, in sections, -too, which
have a good deal of use for it, and
are very much cramped from
, the scarcity of it. There isn't
Fa and has not been
5 mJ year, when th South
on the Eastern bank, and on the
U. S. Treasury for money to help
It
VOL. XXXIII.
move the crops, and sometimes" the
crops have been delayed in their
movement for weeks for want of
this money, resulting in congestion
of freights at freight centers, and
in loss to produoers from clogging
the markets when the crops did be
gin to move.
- There must at some time be a
change in the banking system, a
change that will let each State pro
vide its own paper currency in such
volume as its business may demand
without being dependent upon the
banks of other States, banks which
can utilize . something else than
fluctuating bonds as a basis of circu
lation. There was Buch a" banking
system before the national banking
system was established and it was
destroyed because it was in the way
of the national banks. Speaking
of this the New York Journal of
Commerce and Commercial Bulletin,
a strong advocate of a better and
more flexible currency system, says:
"Ooe of the most pernicious delu
sion in tbe public mind is that the N
tiobs.1 Bank Act was passed to remedy
ihe defects of State bankinr and a' de
posit of Government bonds was re
quired on accouotof the losses through
'wila cat and "red ooe bank notes.
Between 1830 and 1840 there was a
great deal of reckless banking, more
particularly in the West. Most of tbe
States remedied the defects in their
banking systems soon after 1810. and
long before th Civil War this State,
New ttagland, Indiana, L-ouuiana and
many other States bad admirable bank-
log systems. The National Bank Act
was Dassed late in tbe Civil War. when
it was difficult to fljat bonds, and
it was hoped by this means to get a
good share of tbe banking capital of
ibe country Into tbe Treasury. Tbe
hope waa not realized so long as State
banks could issue notes. These notes
were so-readily taken that it was com
plained in Congress that the National
btnksdid not have-a fair chance. The
real trouble was that there was. not
sufficient ioducement for banks to en
ter the National system. It was then
tbat Congress imposed a prohibitory
tax upon bank notes that were not se
cured by a deposit of Government
boadd. The superiority of the National
banks over the State banka was purely
an afterthought.
The fact is the State banks which
would have continued to supply the
currency needed in sections where
there would be few if any national
banks were legislated out of exist
ence to give the national banks a
monopoly of bank notes, and they
got it. In that same article, speak
ing of a paper published by Mr. L.
Carroll Boot, of Boston, on the New
England 'State banks and what they
did in supplying currency up to
1860, it says:
"Mr. Boot has summarized tbe ex-
P'riencn of the New England 8tates
from 1840 to 1860. The systems of the
several Stales differed in many re
spects, but agreed in allowing notes to
b issued against tbe general assets of
the bil k , The noteholder was not
al waj s preferred to the depositor if the
bank failed. The maximum circula
tion permitted in proportion to capital
waa verv high, so .high that it had
practically no influence; the only, and
the sufficient, regulator of the volume
of notes was redemption under what
is known as the 8aff. Ik Batik system.
All bank notrs had to be at par in Boa
ton or tbey soon-ceased to be ava 1
-ble at home, and with every bank
.trying to keo its own circulation out
and return the circulation of its rivals
there was no danger of i flition.
''The average circulation for the
twenty years was over $3 , 000.000; the
average loss to notebuldt-rs was $42,
000 a vear. Mr. Boot remarks that a
ux o' i of 1 per cent, on circulation
would Dave mkd-t pond all losses. Even
in the panic of 1857, when sixteen
banks faiUd, a guarantee fund of 5
ix-r cent would have paid all tbe ios
sea ai.d 80 per cent. more.
In prop rtiou t- the population and
resources New England was better
supplied with banks for twenty years
before tbe Cavil War than she now,
aud MXt Boot contrasts a summary
statement of the Vermont and New
Hampshire banks in 1885 with what
would have been their statement bad
they been operating under the Na
tion bank law. Their loans and dn
counts were $14,750,000 and their
oonda $350,001). Under the National
bank system, with tbe full amount of
circulation issued to them, their loans
and discounts would bave been $7,700,
000 and their bonds $7,800,000. Tbat
comparison presents 'the whole ques
tion in a nutshell: shall the banks lend
their capital to thn Government or to
the business community!
We had previous to the war a
good banking system in North Caro
lina and other Southern States,
where, while thenar capita currency
in circulation was not as large as the
alleged per capita now, the volume
was elastio and flexible, and supplied
all the money the people needed on
easy terms. Something like this is
what the country needs now, wheth
er the national banks continue in
existence or not.
It is said that eight or ten years
ago John A. Bunting, who lately rode
into New York in his own parlor car,
and can draw his cheok for $1,000,
000, was a brakeman on a California
railroad. ' He happened to have a
little money saved and lent $170 to
a fellow-workman, taking as security
a cheap watch and a "mortgage on
forty acres of poor land in Califor
nia. The debt wasn't paid and the
mortgage was foreclosed. Later oil
was struck, that land was in the oil
belt and J. A. B. was in it. Then
he threw up his job as brakeman.
A New York electrical investor
promises to soon give ns telephone
talk across the Atlantic He says
he has worked out the problem and
got it down to a dead certainty.
Tbat Kentucky man who has been
talking to his neighbors half a mile
away says it is just as easy to talk all
around the etrth.'.l.v-.'.-l
hi pi, . WW
INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS." ;
The New York Journal of Com
.... .
merce, which keeps pretty close
track of the industrial-progress in
the South, recently published some1
statistics, which Congressman Rich
ardson used in a speech in the House
whioh the Dallas,Texa8,iVes quotes
as follows. He said: -
"In SDite of the circumstancer that
bave operated to discourage the invest'
ment of capital in the South, its cotton
mills represented in 1900 a money
value of $150,000,000 against $61,000.-
000 a decade earlier; the coatumot on
of cotton in these mills is 1,597 112,
against 548.894 bales in 1890 Tbe
number of .spindles employed in 1900
was 6 300,000. against 1.713,930 bale in
1890. The railroad mileage in the South
has incressed in the same ten. years
from 43 825 miles to 53000 mi es
The amount of cool which is
mined has increased from 31600
to ' 48.193.063 tons, and . the amount
of ptg iron produced from 1,953,459 to
3.604,671 tons. The same ten years
saw an increase in value of the agri
cultural products of the 8outh from
$666 000.000 to $1,200,01)0,000. and in
tbe value of exports from 8outbru
ports from $315,031,008 to $530 817,
545.' Totbeae flu a res he added some
statistics of later date. Among thin
tnat tbe South consumes la its cotton
mills 45 17 per eent of the cotton baits
used by . the factories of the Uuit d
States. Northern mills in the year
ending last August consumed 1.966,
897 bales; Southern mills used 1 620,
931 The significance of these figures
is understood when it is addi-d tbat
tea years ago the Northern mills took
2.190,760 bales and the Southern only
686,080."
There has been much said and
written about the South eventually
becoming the center of the cotton
manufacturing industry in this
country. The rapid increase of
consumption by Southern mills
compared with the consumption by
Northern mills, should leave very
little room for doubt on that ques
tion. Of course, this will take time,
but it is about as sure to come as
anything is that is still an unac
complished fact.
Another thing, is almost as cer
tain and tbat is that the South
(with the main output in North
Carolina) will eventually, and at no
distant day, either, be the center
of the furniture manufacturing in
dustry and will control not only the
domestic trade but the exports of
furniture. From the rapidity with
which furniture making plants are
multiplying, they will be compelled
to seek foreign markets.
A BIO PL AST.
We bave made frequent reference in
these columns to the electric power
plants projected in this State and to
the admirable facilities the State,
with its numerous power-furnishing
streams, offers for the establishment
of these plants. Already two have
been completed, one on the Yadkin,
which transmits power to Winston
and Salem, and another on the
French Broad river, which trans
mits power to A8heville. Work is
also in progress on another colossal
plant at the "Narrows" on the
Yadkin, of which the Salisbury Sun
speaks as follows:
"The Whitney Reduction Company
is developing at the narrows of the
Yadkin river, and within twenty-five
nnls of Salisbury, a water power of
forty-five thousand horse power ca
pacity, which, within two years, will
distribute 1 ctrical horse power to the
cities of Salisbury, Cbsrlotte, Con
cord, Lexington, Thomasville, High
Point and several smaller cities, with
Salisbury as central point of distribu
tion. Toe cost or norse -power wnen
this work is completed will be in tbe
neighborhood of twenty dollars per
annum for twenty -four bour service.
Toe cost of installing this plant will
be in the neighbood of four million
dollars."
- There are many streams besides
the Yadkin capable of furnishing
power that might be transmitted
from twenty to fifty miles. There
are tbe Roanoke, capable of furnish
ing a practically unlimited amount
of power, Haw river, the Dan
river, Smith river, Deep river, and
passing the Yadkin, the Catawba,
the French Broad and others, every
one of which are power-furnishing
streams and some of them of practi
cally unlimited capacity. Many of
them, if not all of them, will in
time be utilized to furnish electric
power to the surrounding country
Salt Lake City is one of the best
watered towns in this country. There
is clear, cool water flowing through
every street, fountains at nearly every
corner, while many yards have little
streams of their own emptying into
the gutters. The water comes from
the adjacent mountains,carried down
by pipes. v .
Miss Constance Cavendish, of
England, the 17 year old daughter
of Lord Chesham, runs a farm and
draws the color line on it. She will
not have anytning but black cattle,
horses, sheep,' goats, dogs, cats;
abbits, &c. Everything must be
black. But she hasn't succeeded in
raising black grass to feed to her
stock.
Wm. J. Bryan refused to bejdssed
by a lot of emotional school ma'ams
in a Pennylvania town He said his
wife reads the papers. He doesn't
propose to have any trouble at home.
Neeley's shortage is only, $131,
413. If he had not been caught up
with m soon ha misrht have done
i better. -'-' '
mm
WILMINGTON, N. C, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7,
NORTH CAROLINA NAVAL HERO.
Capt. Johnston Blskely, Intrepid Sea-
fighter, Spent His Cnlldhoo Here.
; V Cftartoffe Observer, Slst
The last of the North Carolina Bcok-
lett series contains sketches of "A
North Carolina Naval Hero and-Hia
Daughter." by Dr. K-P. Bat tie. The
naval hero was Capt Johnston Blake
ly. a native of Ireland, in hia child.
hood and youth a resident of jwiloaing-
ton, a student of the University of
North Carolina and an officer, of the
oited 8talea navy: As commander
'the WdSp. second ship of that name,
i 1 ft 1 4 hn antiiMH .nii KhviimI U tka
Western nntnnra nt th. Ritih 'Hhaii.
nel the British warshiplfeiiuZeer having
repelled her attempt to boat d his ves
sel and tnen boarding her, after des
perate hand to-hand fighting'. All her
officers were killed or wounded and
the oitptain'a Uerk surrendered the
IirilM Rlakelv ifononli nanln rmri
the Avon and tbe Atlanta and other
wise distinguished bioiself and his
ship. Toe Wasp and her. crew were
i.ever afterwards heard of and their
mvsit-rious fate is still a secret of
the sea. .
A daughter. Maria TJdnny Blakely.
WBI Knrn in IfilK mm tk. m..t. f
her father's disappearance .made the
babe therentrAnf nnivuml nmnath.
The N .rib Carol! o a Legislature, al
ways economical to the point or ptrsi-
State her mother lived in New Eog-
lant-anl nnnll ntlul SftnA fn. k..
education until 1829, when Mrs. Biake-
y married a gentleman ot me .Danish
Island of 8t. Croix Maria Udney
married a Danish nobleman in 1841
and died with her infant son in 1843
Both J EVnimnift Onnmr snH Tnm.
dore Roeseyelt accord the highest
p ae to Capt. Blakely as an intrepid
sea-fighter.. He was only S3 years old
when he met his mysterious fate.
THE CAROLINA NORTHERN RAILROAD.
Mr. Anpistni Melller, tbe President, Says
Extension Soon Contemplated.
This week's issue of the Manufac
turers' Record ty a:
"Tbe Carolina Northern railroad.
recently completed between Lumber
ton, N. O , and Marion, 8. C, a dis
tance of 41 miles, it is reported, will
be considerably extended during tbe
present year.- In a letter to the Manu-
factu era Record Mr. Augustus Mel-
lier, prts deut of the company, wrote
that an extension will terminate at
OnsrletOD, while another line-will be
built between Lumber ton and Fayette-
ville, N. C, formiDg a new route be
tween Charleston and FayettevilJe,
and connecting with the Carolina Cen
tral division of the Seaboard Air Line
at LnmberUm. It has been reported
that the Carolina Northern railroad
was closely associated with tbe Sea
board Air Line, and the Charleston
eztens:on, if built,, would give tbe
latter another outlet at tidewater. The
total length of the road, If thus com
pleted, will be 175 miles."
NORTH CAROLINA STRAWBERRIES.
Orowiof More Popular Escta Yesr The
Points of Shipment
This week's issue of the Carolina
Fruit and Truck Growers' Journal
publishes an interesting statement of
the points to which North Carolina
strawberries were consigned the past
season. The Journal says:
"A comparison of tbe points with
the points of destination one and
two years ago shows a most gratifying
iocrease in tbe territory covered by
shipments. This increase is going on
all the while and the approaching sea
son bids fair to show a far greater ex
pansion of territory covered .by ship
ments than any previous year in the
history of the business. This is due'
in part to the heavy increase in acre
age of strawberries this year over last
and the further fact tbat the flavor
and quality of North Carolina straw
berries never fail to make new friends
wherever they are introduced. Furih
er comparison of the figures show
that while some of the Eastern points
fell off last year other points in the
West and Middle West gained."
Smallpox in Sampson.
Raleigh News and Observer: "The
State Board of Health has received
notice of 22 cases of smallpox in
Sampson county. Four deaths have
been reported up to date. One of the
fatalities was in the case of an infant.
Another was a young lady, who died
of confluent smallpox. The third was
a gentleman, confluent smallpox being
given in this case also as the cause ol
death. The fourth was a gentleman
who died within forty hours after the
first symptoms. His was genuine
hemorrhagic smallpox, which is the
most malignant form of all. Four
deaths out of 22 cases is a serious per
centage. It looks as if Wilson had a
companion in misfortune."
The Ptsont Sitnstion In Hslitax.
- Roanoke News : "Halifax county
grows the Spanish peanut almost ex
clusively and the crop last year was
just about one-half of what was ex
pected. Tbe State farms lost nearly
their entire crop by freshets and f aim
ers generally report that the crop was
very short. The same conditions ap
pear to bave existed in other peanut
sections. Some of the Halifax county
farmers who bave heretofore planted
peanuts say they will not plant them
at all this year, while others may be
come encouraged by the prospects of
higher prices in tbe future and plant
increased acreage."
FIRE AT COLDSBORO.
Pritcbsrd & Wlostesd's Tobscco Stem-
tnery Destroyed Loss Over $40,000.
By Telegraph to tbe Xornlna star.
Goldsboeo. N. C, Feb. 1 A great
fire with a loss of from $40,000 to $50,
000, with insurance of about thirty
thousand dollars, took place here to
night between 7 and 8 o'clock.
Pritchard & Winstead's big tobacco
stemmery, haying in it alargequan
tity of leaf tobacco, wss totally destroy
ed. The Goldsboro Buggy Company's
large factory was in great danger, but
heroic work and the . drizzling rain
saved it. The loss of the tobacco
stemmery throws one hundred and
fifty hands out of work.
V
HARBOR MASTER'S REPORT.
Vessels of 90 Tons- aid Over Tbat Ar-
' rlvel Dnrlnf jsoniry.
The monthly report of Capt. Edgar
D, Williams, harbor master, for Jan
uary shows arrivals of vessels of 90
tons and over at the port of Wilming
ton as follows: . !
American Ten steamships, 13,448
tonsil-barge, 1,600 tons; 11 schooners,
3,507 .Jons. Total vessels, ' ; total
tonnage, 18 555. t ' v'-"
' Foreign Two steaiahips,3,716' tons;
5 barques, 3,543 tons; 1 schooner, 191
tons. Total vessels, 8; total tonnage,
0,449. - -
T.. 4At.1 MA...V.
was 80, with a combined tonnage of
25,004. The report compares very
favorably with that of January, 1901,
aud shows an ' increase of about 8.000
tons. I . :
COTTON AND NWAL STORES.
locresse io Receipts of Ooe Product, Bat
Sharp Oecresse In Others.
"The monthly statement of receipts
of cotton and naval stores at the
port of Wilmington is published in the
commercial columns of the Stab to
day.
From the statement it is noticeable
tbat there ts an increase in tbe receipts
of cotton from January of last year
amounting to about 9,000 bales. Tbe
yearly receipts are also corresponding
ly larger this season than last. There
is a shortage in the receipts of naval
stores for the month, the greatest
about 50 per cent being in spirits
turpentine. Crude and tar have, how
ever, about held their own ' as com
pared with Jan. 190L The prices for
the most part during the past month
have been quite satisfactory. '
Negro Accidentally Shot
Eli Davis, colored, aged 23 years',
and an employe of the Powers &
Oibbs factory across the river, was
accidentally shot yesterday afternoon
hile gunning with an associate
near tbe fertilizer works and was
removed to the Hospital here for treat
ment. A load of duck shot took effect
in the negro's right thigh and just
above bis abdomen. He may be
fatally wounded-but it will require
several days to determine it Par
ticulars of the accident could not be
learned. The pegro was brought
across the river to tbe Clarendon
Water Works station and taken out to
the hospital in. the police patrol
wsgon.
Prominent Anson Citizen Dead.
News reached the city y -sterday of
the death at his home near Wades-
boro, N. 0., of Mr. John J. Dunlap, a
prominent real estate owner and busi
ness man of Anson county. Mr. Dun
lap bad finished his dinner as usual
and as he was about to leave the table
he became violently ill and died with
in an bour. Mr. Dunlap was inter
ested in several of the most important
enterprises of the county and was uni
versally esteemed by all who knew
him.
ADMIRAL SCHLEY AND WIFE.
Will Leave Knoxvllle for Washington Fri
day Via Asheville, N. C.
By Telegraph to tbe Konnns star.
Knoxvuae, Tens , Feb. L The
official programme for the entertain
ment of Admiral and Mrs. Schley dur
ing their stay in Knoxville, from
Tuesday night to Friday morning
next week, was given out to day. A
reception will be held at the Southern
Railway station on their arrival here
at 8 o'clock by the general reception
committee. Admiral and Mrs. 8chley
will then be driven to the Imperial
hotel. Wednesday morning a grand
parade will be led and reviewed by
Admiral and Mrs. Schley. At noon
the address of welcome will be deliv
ered by W. Blockett, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, after which a
formal public reception will be held.
Friday morning at 8:30 o'clock Ad
miral and Mrs. Schley will leave for
Washington over the Southern, by
way of Asheville and Salisbury, N. C.
A WAITING REQUISITION.
Man Wanted In Dorbam, N. C , and Under
Indictment at Various Pisces.
bv Teiecraob to tne Morning star.
CnrcnmrATi, Feb. L The case of U.
Grant Baumgardner, under arrest
here on several charges, wss con
tinued to-day until February 5th,
awaiting requisition papers. Among
the complainants is Mrs. J.; H. Free
land, whose affidavits charge that he
took $400 from her while boarding at
her house in Durham, N. C, and
$3,300 from her trunk while she was
with him in Richmond, Va., having
previously caused her separation from
her husband. The police say he is
wanted also at Lynchburg and Alex
andria, Va., and other places, on simi
lar charges. Baumgardnes is under
Indictment at Durham, N. U., and
Richmond, Va.. and a reward has been
standing for weeks for his arrest
JEPPR1ES-F1TZSIHM0NS.
Arraarements for a Fif nt for the Chsm-
plonship of the World.
Or Telegraph to the Morning Star.
New York, Feb L James J. Ken
nedy met Robert Fitxsimmons hereto
day and offered him terms for a fight
with James J. Jeffries for the cham
pionship of the world.' These terms
suit the Cornishman and it is assumed
that Jeffries also will ree to them,
inasmuch as William 1 Delaney.
Jeffries' manager, has been sounded
by Kennedy as to what bis conditions
would be should the matter be defin
itely broached to Fitztimmons. Ken
nedy's object is to bave the men fight
before a club in 8an Francisco in
which he is interested. Jeffries will
arriye in this -city to-morrow from
New England.'
1902.
SPIRITS TURPENTINE.
Greensboro Telegram: By ac
tual count High Point now has 45 fac
tories, including the two in the course
of erection. :-
Smithfield Herald: A few days
ago one lot of 1,225 pounds of tobacco
was sold, for over $400, averaging
about 34 cents per pound.
Monroe Enquirer; Mr. Thos.
D. Helms died at nis home in Marsh
ille township on Sunday, January
26th, 1903, after being aick about two
weeks,.
Maxton Scotti&hsChiefi Jjaet
week two barns were burned over the
line in Scotland county. Both entailed
heavy and almost irreparable losses
this hard Winter. Both point strongly
to incendiary origin.
- Durham Herald: News reached
the city Thursday afternoon of the
death of Mr. James H. Webb, of Grau
ville county -H died Tbursday at bis
home near Tally ho. The deceased wss
one of Granville county's best known
citiz-ns..
Fayetteville Oiserver : John
Henry Alexander, who on Monday
night shot and fatally wounded Vina
Freeman, on Mumford street was cap
tured at Cameron Thursday, and is now
in jail at that place,
Littleton Reporter: The shut
tle block factory opens a purse io
those who own dogwood and persim
mon, which will enable them to gather
in during the-next few months ready
ready cash to assist in passing ov-r
the difficulties brought about by tbe
unfavorable seasons of last year.
Sanford Express: Mormon
Elders were, until aoouttwo years ago
very active in this section, but we
have beard nothing from them of late.
A few years ago they organized a
church near Cameroa with some
twenty five or thirty members, also
one near Jones' Chapel, but it seems
tbat these organizations have disband
ed and renounced Mormonism.
Wadesboro Messenger-Intelligencer:
After a lingering illness, Mr.
Frank Crowder died at bis home in
Moryen Sunday, aged about 76 years
Mr John Brown, who lived be
low McFarlan, just across the line in
Chesterfield county, 8. C, died very
suddenly Sunday afternoon He was
sitting in a ohair when he fell forward,
and died at once.
Wilson Times: Thetobbacocrop
this year will be somewhat increased
over last year, but not so much as last
year was an increase over 1900, sim
ply because there is not sufficient labm
in the country to handle it - Whilu
nearly every farmer feels that tobacco
will be high in price next Fall and
would like to increase, yet experience
has taught him that it is simply throw
ing away money to plant more than
he has labor to handle.
Morebead Coaster: Sunday
night while Mr. and Mrs. Martin
Royal, of Marshallberg, were sitting
in the dining room of their residence,
the girls being at church, some one
entered one of the front rooms and
stole a purse containing $500. Tbey
heard some one in the front part of the
house, and went to see about it, but as
tbe wind was blowing hard they con
cluded it was only the wind Next
morning, needing some cash, Mrs
Royal went to get it, when ahe found
the purse gone, and no trace of other
things being molested.
Greensboro Record: A man who
purchased some of it last evening took
a sample of shipstuff to police head
quarters to be examined. In appear
ance it looks like finely ground saw
dust A match was applied to it and
it smelled exactly like corn cobs when
burning. It is the opinion of those who
made only an examination with the
naked eye that it is composed of corn
stalks, cobs and saw dust ground to
getber, with perhaps a few. grains of
oats to the busheL It wss purchased
fromagroceryman in Greensboro, and
will be chemically analyzed. Not lobg
ago G, Will Arm field bad a horse to
die after eating stuff like this, and he
is satisfied this is what killed him.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Resolution Introduced Coeceroloc the
Itinerary In Ibis Country of Prince
Henry of Prossls.
By Telegraph to the Horning Btar.
Washington, Feb.. 1. The House
after tbe transaction of some minor
business which included the passage
of the Senate bill to prohibit the sale
of firearms ODlum and intoxicating
liquors in the New Hebrides, devoted
tbe day to eulogies on the life and
public services of the late Representa-.
U ve Brosius, or Pennsylvania.
Representative Otey, of Virginia.
introduced a resolution providing that
the itinerary of Prince Henry of Prus
sia shall extend through Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Geor
gia and Tennessee. This proposed
route, includes tbe great Appalachian
chain' and the Chickamauga park.
The resolution provides that President
Roosevelt shall duty-consider this pro
posed trip, which is represented cur
tail about twelve miles of the already
arranged itinerary.
FATAL SH00TINQ AFFRAY.
Daniel Harmon Killed by Dr. E. J. Daniels
at Keystone, W. Va.
tfj Telegraph to tbe Morning Btar.
Roanoke, Va., Feb. L Details
were received here today of a fatal
shooting affray at the little mining
town of Keystone, W. Va., last night,
in which Daniel Harmon and Dr. E.
J. Daniels were the participants. The
two men were engaged in a game of
earda. when a disnute arose and the
shooting quickly followed. After the
smoke had cleared away it was found
tbat Harmon "had been shot and in
stantly killed. Both men were popu
lar. Harmon, who leaves a widow
and two children, recently sold' some
coal lands by which deal he is said to
have cleared up $150,000.
ALABAMA'S ELECTION LAW.
Twenty Per Cent of the White Voters
Disfranchised Themselves.
By Telegraph to the Morning Btar.
; Birmingham. Ala., Feb. L Under
the new constitution to-day was the
last day in which voters could enfran
chise themselves by paying poll tax.
All who do not hold receipts cannot
vote in any election in Alabama during
the next year. From reports from va
rious parts of the 8tate it Is estimated
that at least 20 per cent of the white
people have disfranchised themselves
by failure to pay this tax.
. v.. ... r. :,
. :
rilf
NO. 15
MURDERERS DIED
OF THEIR WODNDS
The Biddle Brothers Who Escaped
From Pittsburg Jail and
Were Recaptured.
MRS. SOFFEl IS SJILL AtlVE.
:- x . '
Has a Chssce for Life, Although Symp
toms ol Pneumonia Have Developed.
Ststemeot Prom Jack Biddle
Love Letter. .
By TetegraDb to the Mornina eiar . ,
Butubb, Pa., Feb. 1 At the olose or
a day of intense excitement and many
conflicting stories concerning the
changes for life of the wounded Bid
die brothers and Mrs. Kate Soffel, the
unexpected bas happened, John Bidr
die, who until late this afternoon was
thought the more likely to escape
present death, died at 7:35. P. M.. His
brother, Ed , who has been uncon
scious practically all day and who was
considered a dying man last night,
survived until 11 o'clock when be,
too. went over the great divide. Both
men died without any apparent
suffering at the close. ..Mrs 8offel
developed symptoms of pneumonia
this afternoon, after having come
safely through an . operation this
morning for the extraction of the
bullet
The death or Jack Biddle was caused
by the bullet wounds in his abdomen
and bladder. Early in the day the
physicians thought peritonitis was the
principal danger in his case, but to
night internal hemorrhages aet in and
tbe man bled to death in a short while.
As long as he was able Jack was ex
tremely talkative and was at times
boastfuL But as soon as the shadow
of death began to fall upon bim and
he recognized it. he became repentant.
. John Biddle's Mstement.
"I know," said he, "that my time
here is short, and you can cay for me
that I am a Christian and will die a
sincere believer in God and Lope I
bave strength to ssy so at the last. I
know I have taken part in many
wrong deeds, but I have never killed
any man and was never implicated
with any one who did. I wish I could
see Mrs Kahney. I would tell her
the truth about the killing of her
husband. This life has been pretty
tough to me and the end cannot come
too quick and I don't care how soon."
A sister of the Biddies arrived in town
this evening and was admitted to the
jail, but Edward was unable to recog
nize her.
The principal subject of conversation
on the streets to-day has been whether
the Butler countv authorities would
permit the removal of the Biddies to
Allegheny county in the event of either
or both of them surviving their inju
ries. The contention was raised that
since the Biddies were under arrest
here for felonious shooting, they could
not be removed. District Attorney
John R. Henninger dispelled any
doubts on that point this evening by
stating that it was the" intention to
turn the men over to the Allegheny
authorities as soon as tbey were io a
condition to be moved, and tbe same
action would be taken in reference to
Mrs. Soffel. ,
Case of Mrs. Soffel.
After a consultation at the hospital
in tbe case of Mrs. Stffel.tbis evening,
District Attorney Haymaker decided to
allow the woman to remain here.as her
condition is such tbat the trip to Pitts
burg to-night might be attended with
fatal results. Mrs. Soffel is suffering
considerably from her wound and the
attending physicians fear that her re
moval now would cause gangrene Jo
set in. Attorney Haymaker said there
would be no distribution mad of the
prize money until tbe claims or tbe
Butler people had been heard, and the
latter will take ateps to notify tbe com
missioners of Allegheny county of
their claims.
Tne excitement was unabated to-day
and a dense crowd of people hung
about the jail doors all day, trying to
get in to see the two criminals. The
most persistent of the crowd were
women, many of whom expressed the
deepest concern and sympathy for Ed.
Biddle and declared their btlief in bis
innocence. This belief seemed to
deepen when it became known that
Ed. Biddle made a death-bed confes
sion to Rev. Father Walsh, of this
place, last night, .declaring his inno
cence of the crime of shooting grocery
man Kahney and Detective Fitzgerald.
One of the sensational develop
ments which the authorities bave de
cided to keep secret, was the finding on
the person of Mrs. Soffel, when she
arrived at the hospital, a long letter
from Ed. Biddle, setting forth in detail
tbe plan for tbe escape of the brothers
from the jail.
A Love Letter.
A 'love letter from Biddle to his
prison sweetheart. Mrs. Kate Soffel,
found in the snow near tbe bloody
scene of their capture, reyeals the
long and careful plot for their escape
from the Allegheny county jail. The
letter clearly shows tbe hazardous un
dertakings of the infatuated woman
to secure the escape of the Biddies.
8ince December 2nd, 1901, tbey had
been making preparations to escape.
The discovered epistle tells how Mrs.
Soffel carried the saws to the cells of
the Biddies. It clearly shows the won
derful influence Ed. Biddle had over
Mrs. Soffel. v .
Tbe latter in part follows:.
"When X first started writing to you
I did not love you. Now I hare
learned to love you better than my
very life. But what I want to say is
this: , J . .
41 We were searched pretty close to
day and these fellows would swear on
a stack of Bibles ten feet high that we
could not have had this stuff on us
since Saturday. So that you nearly
clear yourself of all suspicion, with
out the fellow wnere you bought the
saws would come to the surface. They
never could convict you, but some
people might suspect you, That would
cut no figure. They never could
nrove it to save their lives.
"It would be, of course, darling; but
for you to stay at home until 1 could
come and get you. Of course, it would
be risking my freedom and life again
to do so. but I would risk more than
that for you. if possible. You must
not think I don't love you. If you
have any reason, as 1 know you have,
you must not fail to see that I have
risked all that you have given me
right back for you, to screen and pro
tect you. Yes. darling, if I did not
love you as dear as life, I would have
left this place last Friday night.
It would be much easier for us to
get away if you stayed at home, on ac
count of the warden, you know. In
i . . . 1. 1
case you shall not want to go, go to the
postomce at Homestead about aiarcn
18th and call for mail under the name
of Mrs. Charles McDonald. You will
get a letter telling you where I am and
how I am to get you. I want vou to
suit yourself in. thia matter, my own -
Darting, ouri wouio ratner you would .
gO to morrow just as I have directed.- -
."watch the papers close, and If you-,
see tbey hsve traced ns any part of the .
way. leave Toronto oo the quiet and go
to Montreal. Leave letter in the To- .
ronto office for me and as soon as you '
get the letter in Montreal write me a ;
letter to the postofflce there, all in '
signs, where you are. Montreal is
about 2?0 miles further; north. Keep
low until I reach you. , " j,
"On! My darling, if I rould only ,
hold you la my arms, once press you
to my heart, kiss your, dear eve.
think you are mine forever, or until
death claims you or me. But If death
taxes you nrst, it claims both together,
but if you go and say to yourself. 'I
want Ed. or none on this earth.' Hide
your morphine in the lining of Tour
dress somewhere, so if you' are'
searched none. jsould find it and in
case the worst comes to the. worst.
wait until you are alone, because if
any one knew you took it the doctors
would pump it out with a stomach
pump. " - .
- "Now pet, if you go Monday.let me
know as early as you caov Come
close to the window and say 'I will .
go' ror i can't see hair you say ir Its .
very light outside. If you go to-morrow
Twill then go to morrow night.
Monday, night and now. dear, be sure
and don't keep me any longer, pst.
"it you were to let me go ahead and '
then get me caught I would kill every
oopper in the place and Dorman with ' -
i hem. And then myself. I'll tell you
I'm not to be betrayed. I don't say.
my dear, that you would try to do me
wrong, but you re a woman, and so.
as changable as oce and so I thought
1 would remind you, knowing that a
woman don't look very deep into
things. Let a woman know you love
her and the jig is up.
"Xours, "ED."
Mrs. Boffel fell in love with Ed. Bid
dle in November. The burglar soon
realized bis power over her. It was
not long until be started to write love
letters to her. His affection was recip
rocated. Mrs. 8offel fell madly in love
with m. Biddle. and about the early
part of December be proposed a plan to
escape. Bhe consented to lend him her
aid. Between December 14th and 16th
they had completed all arrangements
to escape from the jail. Then they
learned of tbe Governor'a respite. Af
ter this Ed. Biddle almost persuaded
Mrs boffel to fiy with him and hia
brother. The contents of the letter
show it was originally agreed that Mrs.
8offel was to leave the city for Canada
on the eve of tbe boys' escape.
.Tried to Kill Themselves.
From the statement made this
morning by "Jack" Biddle in his cell,
it is evident that the escaped convicts
and their accomplice had arranged to
commit suioide in case their capture
became imminent
Doctors Greer and Bicker, who
have been attending the two Biddies,
made a report to day that apparently
confirms Jack Biddle's story tbat the
fugitives bad tried to kill themselves. -
They bad come to this conclusion af
ter a complete examination and a par
tial probing or tbe wounds or both of
the . men. Ed. Biddle had several
powder marks on his left breast, which
would go to show tbat be attempted to
kill himself.' In Jack's mouth are
three bullet wounds,- which would be
prima facte evidence that he wanted to
rid the world of himself. One of the
bullets, which evidently came from a :
revolver, carried away a portion of his
tonsil, which the doctors say could
only have happened by the holding of
a revolver to his own mouth.
THE MOVEMENT OF COTTON.
New Orleaos Excbsoce Ststemeot Re
ceipt?, Exports and Stocks at ihe
Ports -Mill Tsklogs.
Br Telegraph to the Morning Btar.
New Oelbans, Feb. 1. Secretary
Hester's New Orleans Cotton Ex
change statement, issued yesterday,
covers the monthly movement to Jan
uary 81st.
Compared with last year It shows an
increase for the month in round figures
of 843,000 bales, compared with year
betore Isst an increase of 870,000, and
with 1899 an increase of 154,000.
The total for January was ,1,824.205
bales, against 982,128 last y: 854,
679 year before last andV,x69,983
the same time in 1899,
The smount of the crop brought In to
sight ror the five months from Septem
ber to January, inclusive, is 872.000
bales over fast year; 1.064,000 over year
berore last, and 966,000 under 1899.
The total amount of the cotton crop
brought into sight during the five
months ending January 81st, is 7,929,
148 bales, against 7.567,471 last year;
6,897,117 year before last and 8,895,532
U'esame time in 1899.
Up to January 81st last year 72.78
per cent, of tbe cotton crop had been
marketed and for the same five months
in 1900 the percentage of the crop
brought into sight was 72.83 and for
tbe same time in 1899 the percentage
marketed was 78.90.
The'movement into sight during the
past week bas been 273,719 bales'
against 237.171 for the saven dsys
ending January 81st last year, 249,949
year before lest and 259,510 same time
in 1899.
TROOPS CALLED OUT.
To Prevent Lynchlnc of a Negro Mar
derer at Jsckson, Miss.
Br Telegraph to the Horning Btar.
Jackson, Miss., Feb. 1. Jim Red
mond, a member of the police forcer
was shot through the heart and in-"
stantly killed at.7 o'clock to-night by a'
negro from Canton, Said to be Jim
Frye, whom he was taking ' to jail.
Redman called for assistance and
those who came .to his aid bad a bard
struggle before disarming the negro.
He waa hustled off to jail with a mob
at his heels and but for Sheriff Hard
ing there would have been a lynching ,
in the State's capital. Gov. Longino
at 10 o'clock to-night called out the
Capital Light Guards and they are
now on duty around the jail.
AT THE HAQUE.
Unwonted Activity In Diplomatic Circles.
The Dutch Note to Qreat Britain.
By Cable to the Morning Btar. t
Thb Hague, Jan. 1. There was un
wonted activity in diplomatic circles
here to-day, and ft was generally be
lieved to bave had some connection
with the Dutch note to Great Britain .
regarding peace in South Africa. The
German minister, Count von Pour
lales, had a long interview with the
British minister. Sir Henry Howard;
the first secretary of tbe British lega
tion, A. F. G. Leveron-Gower, unex
Bictedly started for London, and the
utch foreign . minister, Baron von .
Linden, had a conference with Dr.
Kuyper, the premier of the Nether
lands, and subsequently bad an audi
ence of Queen Wilhelmina. -"When
Baron von Linden returned from tbe
palace, 8ir Henry Howard went to
the foreign office and held a lengthy ,
conference with the foreign minister. '