North Carolina Newspapers

'mm ,1 4 SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIANS. f f rUBLTSHIOAT "-3 W I L M I N G T (1 11, N. C, $1.00 k YEAR IN ADVANCE. W 3EKJLY TAR V as H 0 8888888S88888888S VOL. XXXIV. 388SSS883S8888SSS WILMINGTON, N. 0., FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 1903. NO. 32 8888SS888888SS88S O(D50P00WNHlO0lD 88888S88888S88888 828888S8S8S88S8SS 888888SS828S8SS8S 828Sg882S88SS8888 88833838888888S8S u a. is s i Entered t the Fott OSc at Umtgtoa, Second CUm Matter.! SUBSCRIPTION PRICE. Th tubtcrlptlon prlc of tb WscUj Star It m i follow : , Bintl Copy 1 rear, postage paJd.;...,...,..,,.,Sl M ft month M I month 80 A SOUTHERN BISHOP ON IT. It is remarkable that the so-called race problem seems to attract more attention and is discussed more in the North than in the South, and that the Northern negroes, who are comparatively unaffected by it, take more interest in it than the South em negroes do. Of all the Southern negroes who have given public ex pression to their sentiments on this question lawyer Hayes, of Richmond, is the only 'one who has indulged in rabid talk, and he says he was incorrectly reported. But he has subsided and has not orated for some time. - The Episcopal Council (oolored) of tlie Diocese of Southern Virginia met in Roanoke Wednesday last. Bishop Randolph presided. In the course of his address he touched upon the solution of the race prob lem, and stated that it was "a ques tion to be settled in the South and by the Southern people." As quoted in the dispatch which reported his address He declared that the greatest need . was more enlightenment and educa tion among the negroes, and with this the question would gradually settle Itself, and to this end be called upon the diocese to take the matter up and do their part in the educational work that would finally become the great factor in settling the strife between the two races. - This man takes a rational, sensi ble view of a question to which he has doubtless given more thought than nine out of ten of the negroes who rend the air clamoring about negro rights." Speaking as a minister ho doubtless means, when he speaks of enlightenment and education, the education of which the inculcation of morality and virtue is a part, and a basic part, to make the negro not only brighter from an educational standpoint, but better from a moral standpoint. If this were carried out generally it would be a long stride in the direc tion of bringing the races into more harmonious relation, because with more enlightenment the negroes wonld be more inclined to listen to white men and to black men who advise them for their good, and would be less easily influenced and led by selfish men, white or black, who pose as their champions and impose upon their credulity. Every person who believes as Bishop Randolph does, that en lightenment and education is the great need of the negro, and that these will be the potent factors in the settlement of the race problem, ing been eliminated, makes it un necessary to checkmate and counter act the schemesiof men who took ad vantage of and used the Ignorant mob for their own purposes. That as all that qualified suffrage has done; it has eliminated the venal and ignorant mob and protected us from their venal and unscrupulous leaders. But that has been a long stride in the direction of the solution of the race problem, because it has lessen ed the friction and ' brought the white men and the intelligent, well disposed negroes closer together. The intelligent negroes of the South know this and hence they are having no voice in the clamor raised in the North over restricted suffrage in the South, and hence they like Bishop Randolph, look upon the race prob lem as one to be settled in the South and by the Southern people. ' They believe with him, too, that In time with enlightenment and education of the negro it will settle itself and that the sooner outsiders quit med dling with it and leave it to the Southern people the sooner and the more effectually it will be settled, in the interest of the white man and if the black man. Ex-Secretary of the Navy, John D. Long, said at a banquet the other night, that he was glad he wasn't "a richjman" and that he wouldn't change his freedom, home life and content of heart for the wealth of a Morgan or a Carnegie." Sen sible view to take of it; but we sus pect that Mr. Long is pretty well fixed, and doesn't have to scuffle hard. IN HAYWOOD'S FAVOR TO IMPROVE THE STATE HOUSE. APPALLING SCENES SPIRITS TURPENTfNE. Habeas Corpus Proceedings Raleigh's Murder Case Are Nearlag an End. in TESTIMONY FOR THE STATE. , A Massachusetts man, now living in San Francisco, wants a divorce because his wife persists in keeping cats after he had killed a hundred or more of them. The more he killed the more the cats came back, and more of them. The cats were of all sizes, ages, breeds and condi tions, a regular cat nursery. To get rid of the cats he gave his wife money enough to go home, and now he wants a divorce. There VIII Be No Arjnment and Mattel Will Go to Justices on Its Merit, nay be Decided by Monday at Noon-Hesriof Yesterday. A SERMON Iff BRIEF. Hon. John D. Long, ex-Secretary of the Navy, was a guest and one of the speakers at the banquet of the Rockland, Maine, Commercial Club a few nights ago. In the course of his remarks' he said : "I am glad I am not a rich man. I wonld not ex change my freedom, home life and content of heart for the wealth of a Morgan or a Carnegie." Here is a philosopher. Then referring to a socialist, re cently deceased, who had served in the Legislature, whom he admired for his virtues and devotion to the principles he advocated, althongh Mr. Long differed from him, he paid him high tribute and then said : "We are living in an age of social ism, as I understand socialism. I fear no theories, no fanatics and no mil lionaires, but I do believe in and trust in the judgment of the good, every day people of this country to work out these problems. Wealth is all right, but it Is not to be considered for a mo ment with a clear mind, good health and a clear conscience." We live in an age of socialism, which carried to extremes leads to anarchism. As proof of the socialis tic tendency what better conld be asked then the many and increasing labor strikes, efforts of the toilers to lift themselves up and lessen the distance between them and the men of wealth? There is particular pertinence in the concluding sentence, in this day of the rush to accumulate wealth in the 'get-rich-quick" way, so often risking everything to do it. Leaving out the wild speculation where a few gain at the cost of many victims, the numerous embezzle ments which ruin men and families, we have an object lesson in the Post Office Department, where bribery has been prevalent for several years, and where the deeper they probe the more corruption they find. The temptation to get rich quick was put in the way of the trusted and they fell. There are others who have amassed millions who owe it to disreputable methods, but of a dif ferent kind, not criminal in the eyes of the law, but equally criminal in the eye of justice and morality. The man who by virtue of oppor tunities monopoly gives him extorts should be an ardent supporter of I from his victims is morally as much There is a Frenchman in New York who says he has discovered a process for make a substitute for kerosene from water, at a cost of one cent a gallon which gives five times as mnch light and heat as kerosene. That is the fellow we have been looking for for some time. John Rockefeller has been putting on too many airs since he has be come a multi-millionaire. Mr. Machen, the superintendent of the rural mail delivery depart ment, now on the ragged edge, looks, judging from his picture, as if he had swallowed something which didn't agree with him. He is an Ohio man. Mn Bristow, who has met with some success in prospecting for "pay dirt," is a Kansas man. He wears a Bhoe brush moustache. A train on the Lake Shore rail road made a record-breaking run last Monday from Toledo to Elkhart, 133 miles, in 114 minutes. At times it ran a speed of 90 miles an hour, which ought to satisfy the get-there-quick fellow. The town of Battle Creek, Mich., looms up as the great "health food" manipulator. There are no less than sixty-two health foods and breakfast cereals mannfactured there, and they are constantly invent ing new ones. The Washington Post doesn't think Senator Hanna's change of position on the endorsement of Roosevelt's nomination by the Ohio convention "a back down." Well it wasn't a buck up by a long shot? Two hundred thousand men idle, with a loss of $700,000 a day in wages, and $600,000,000 of capital tied up, is the result of the strike in the building trades in New York, so far. Under the advice of his physicians Senator Hanna is going abroad to "take a rest." A man who has been doing the double back somersault act as Hanna has been lately needs a rest. qualified suffrage for the negro, based upon educational qualifica tion, for that gives a stimulus to the desire. for education which did not exist before. It has been so in this State and doubtless also in other States where qualified suffrage has been adopted. To read the ravings of these rattlft-hrain declaimers against ro of a thief as the man who steals purse or accepts a bribe. A TRUTHFUL APPLICANT, v. The Pension Office at Washington has recently received an application for a pension from a veteran of the - mm fl t A. 1- war between tne siaies, wno cou- Chicago holds the record as the great divorce city of this country, the number of divorces almost equalling the marriages. But Kan sas City, Mo., is chasing it pretty hard. The New York financier who has just been relieved by a New Jersey bankrupt court of $1,023,953.65 of indebtedness, may soon he ready to begin to accumulate some more. Special Star Telegram. RALKI0H, N. G, May 80. The State closed its case at 4 o'clock this after noon in the habeas corpus proceedings of Ernest Haywood, charged with the shooting of Ludlow Skinner. Counsel for' the defence stated that they have two or three witnesses they wish to introduce in rebuttal. Then a recess was taken until Monday. It has since been agreed by counsel that there will be no argument, so the question of bail will be with the Jus tices before noon on Monday, when the few remaining rebuttal witnesses mi m a. a I a. TT are examined, ne iaci mat wood's counsel do not desire argu ment illustrates their confidence in the case for ball. People generally ex press surprise at tne unimportant char acter of the State's evidence. It is generally conceded that bail will be forthcoming, and in view of the evident failure of the State to dis prove the evidence by the defence of Skinner's assault on Haywood before he shot, the opinion is general that a case of justifiable homicide was really proven. ' Nineteen witnesses were put on the stand by the prosecution today. Neither creditable witness saw the first shot. One Geo. Williams, of Apex, last Introduced, swore he saw Skinner walk out of the, postoffice across the sidewalk into the street; saw Haywood some distance away draw a revolver and fire twice. This was so complete ly at variance with all the other testi mony. It is not seriously considered. vr. Thos. 8. 8kinner, father of Lud low Skinner, went on the stand and told of a conversation be had with Simms, Simms telling him be could only appear in the case as a witness. He said;L,udlow went to ine posiomce just before the shot to mail a letter for him to Dr. J. D. Huffman. This ven erable man's presence on the stand was the only sensation of the day. Willis Briggt, a newspaper man, was the first important witness. The only notable feature of this -was a statement that R. N. Simms had evaded the question as to what he saw. He and Bimms were together when the shooting occurred, Briggs with his back to the place or difficulty and Simms facing. W. M. Thomp son, of Onslow, J. 8. Wiggs, L. D. Stevenson, R. E. Warren and others testified that Skinner started after the second shot in such a way as to show that the spot was farther on. Dr. Knox, who examined and performed the autopsy, said the shot ranged down and toward the back. Did not think Skinner could have got as near as he did had the first shot inflicted tho Kound. - (By Associated Press.) Raleigh. N. C. May SO. In the Hay wood-Skinner habeas corpus case the third day's hearing brought little new evidence. The State rested after a short afternoon session. The de fendant's counsel were granted an ad journment till Monday, and no argu ment will be made. Not one word has been brought out showing any cause leading up to the encounter between H av wood and Skinner, though sensa tional domestic matters are understood to have been the real cause. The line taken shows clearly that Haywood will not be put on the stand. The case will probably end Monday and both sides express confidence. Twenty witnesses were examined for the State to-day. Willie Brlggsr the newspaper man, who was with Simms. the defence's star witness, said he asked Simms what he saw, and Bimms said that he was not noticing. An expert physician declared that a man shot as Skinner had been, could not have gone the distance he did after the first shot. None of the wit nesses introduced testified to any al tercation before the shooting, the first pistol shot attracting their attention. The last witness for the State, a ne gro, when cross-examined, provoked much laughter, Haywood smiling broadly. The negro testified that Haywood was standing waiting with a pistol and shot at uxinner. Legislative Committee Is Arranging for PIsas for Ealarg lag Baitdlof. Special Star Telegram. Raleigh, N. U., May 29. Got. Aycock, Chief Justice Walter Clark, W. A. Graham, of Oxford, and Jno. C. Drewry, of Raleigh, the committee appointed by the Legislature the pro cure plana for remodeling to present State House, to-day selected Frank P. Milburn, of Atlanta to prepare plans tone submitted at the next Legisla ture. The Idea la as far as possible to keep the present building intact and make changes In. keeping with Its Dane style. Room is to be made for the Supreme Court, Supreme Court library, 8tate library, Corporation Commission and Superintendent of Public Instruction. Larger quarters are to be provided for those State of flcars now in the CapltoL The Legis lative halls are to be enlarged and Improved with elevators; ventilating and heating plants to be Installed. T T All - IN CITY OF TflPEKA. I factories are now running on full ail in vi a. vi avians I x: . .Linni.. ; viLuu cauls, ctaw oiaiiu unusiuioa v& goods. Asheboro Courier: Mr. Elijah Moffitt recently returned from Bal timore where he purchased a canning outfit for the new cannery. Monroe Enquirer: Dr. P. T. Beaman, of Peachland, Anson conn- THIRTY KNOWN TO BE DEAD, ty, died last Saturday. He was 69 years oia ana was a wen itnown Fire Follows the Disastrous Flood, Causing the Loss of Many Lives. People Drowalag and Others Boralof to Death-Burning Houses Are Floating Throngh the Streets and Spread log the Flames. AN ESTIMATE OP COTTON ACREAGE. Messrs. Latham, Alexander ft Co , of New York, Have Issued a Statement. Messrs. Latham, Alexander & Co., the well known bankers and cotton commission merchants of New York, hsve just issued a very comprehensive estimate of the cotton acreage of the United States for the present year. Tbe estimate is based upon 3,030 re plies to 4,000 letters to banks, bank ers, cotton commission merchants and responsible planters, embracing every cotton-growing county in the Soutb, and, therefore, the figures carry weight. The total estimated Increase of cotton acreage in the United States Is given as 2.73 per cent., or 737,878 acres more than last year, and' the average planting of the crop is about 15 days later than normal. The acreage in 1902 was 27,114,103, while that of 1903 U estimated at 27, 851,981. The season is 14.7 average days later than usual. The increase in acreage in North and South Caro lina and Virginia is estimated at 4 per cent. That in Texas and other States ranges from It to 2J per cent. Tennessee is given at 5 per cent. End ot an Ugly Case. TThe two Watson women mother and grown daughter were bound over to the Superior Court yesterday by Justice Jno. J. Furlong to answer the charge of keeping a house of ill repute. The women had been tried the after noon previous on evidence developed in the case against Juo. Wilklns, charged with an attempt at felonious assault upon one of them, but Justice Furlong reserved bis decision until the following day. In view of tbe fact that the mother has a number of young children In the house and was unable to give band, the defendants were recogniced for their appearance. There was no other course to pursue, as no home could be found for the children. clnded he would save money by writ- stricted suffrage one might be led to I ing the application himself without believe that it was some awful op- I the assistance 01 a pension attorney. Gov.- Pennypacker, of Pennsyl vania, says he doesn't read the news papers. We thought as much. But we venture the assertion that he squints at the cartoons. pression, that the negroes were wailing over their unhappy fate in being deprived of the privilege of chucking a ballot into the box, when as a matter of fact eight out ten of them don't care a conti nental about it, and are going along in the usual way and as happy as if the suffrage question had never been touched. They never think of it unless some mouthy meddler, or some fel low who has some selfish scheme to work upon them tries to persuade them that they have been robbed of a valuable right, which is as much theirs as it is the white man's; arid that the object in depriving them of it is to oppress them and keep them under the heel of the white man. That's what the agi tators in the North say, and yet if any one were to ask them what good the ballot had ever done them or the mass of negroes in, the South, they couldn't tell. To' all intents and purposes, as far as the rule of the white man is concerned, that was accomplished quite as effectually before cnalified suffrage was adopt ed as it nas been since, the differ ence simply being that it is done more directly and with less trouble, for the ignorant mass of negroes hav- When he was asked by the Pension Bureau to state the circumstances under which he incurred his dis ability, he candidly responded as follows: The-way I got my war Ingery was a VAtnhin of a hoc. The hoe was a sow hog and ur captain wanted her for forege. We was chasin' the sow, and she crawled threw a hoal in a rale fence. It was a big hoal, andl thotl was about the sis of the hog and tried to crawl threw, butlstuk, and trin' in. ;a mit I throde the rales off and one hit me on my hed and nocked me senseless. I do not think the sow pig had nothing to do with my line of duty, for I did not keen the hog. Wich she never was caut. Of course if he had employed a pension attorney his case would have been stated differently ana the hog would not have appeared exactly in the roles she does, nor the man either. The failure to employ an attorney who understands these things will doubtless result in tnat man's application being turned down, and yet he is entitled to credit and even some reward for his honest candor. If Commissioner Ware cannot allow him a pension he might at least find some job for him somewhere. nnr irrfifttaat glorv Is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. t Booker Washington lectures his students on the art of raising poul try. That is an art that lota of the colored boys find easy and are ex perts in. ' LOCAL DOTS. License was issued during the past month for the marriage of 8 white and 18 colored couples. Messrs. Will Leltgen and Jor dan Branch had fine piscatorial sport at the Orton plantation yesterday. They caught 225 fine perch. License was issued yesterday for the marriage of Miss Llnnie Blan ton, daughter of Mr. and MrsHansley Blanton, and Mr. Frank f etei, son oi Mr. and Mrl. Owen Petel, all of Har nett township. Mr. Reston Stevenson, of this city, who graduated last June and took a post graduate course in geology and chemistry at the University this year, has received an appointment as assist ant chemist at Cornell University and .in ..piimn his new duties next Fall. Mr. J. Norment Powell, of Norfolk, Va., epent a portion of last week here looking over some Jarge tracts of timber in Brunswick county, presumably with a Tlew to their pur chase. Nothing as to his plans, how ever, was given out by him for publication. Atlantalsns Coming to Besch. The 8eaboard Air Line has begun Its campaign of advertising in Atlanta for Wrightsville Beach this season. Yesterday's Constitution contained a half page announcement of the open ing of the Seashore Hotel, supple mented with the information that be ginning next Saturday and continuing until Aug. 29th, a week-end rate of $7.80 will be effective from that city, good for return until Tuesday. Sea son tickets, June 1st to Sept. 30th, $18.55. This year a double daily Pull man service will be operated, leaving Atlanta Saturday noon and arriving at Wrightsville 7:30 .A. M., or leave Atlanta 8:10 P. M. and arrive at Wrightsville 1 P. M. Parlor, care and chair car service from Hamlet' to Wil mington on the train leaving Atlanta at 8:10 P. M. " Skipping Statistics. The report of Capt. Edgar D. Wil liams, harbor master of the port of Wilmington, shows that during the month just ended 21 vessels of 90 tons and oyer arrived, of which numner two were foreign and 19 were Ameri can. The foreign vessels- were one steamer, 1,174 tons; one schooner, 251 tons: total tonnage, 1,425. The Ameri can vessels were 10 steamers, 15,998 tons, and 9 schooners, 3,821 tons; total tonnage, 19,809. The grand total tonnage was 21,234, making a yery favorable comparison with the month of May last year. The membership of the Y. M. O. A. has grown since last September, from 224 to 333, a gain of 109. The membership committee hopes to make the number 400 before the Bummer is over. E. D. rjatkrle, Esq., In Extremis. Friends will regret to know that Eugene D. Guthrie, Esq., of South port, is very ill and is not expected to live. He Is suffering with brain trouble. Young Mr. Guthrie is a son of Mr. M. C. Guthrie, of Southport, and Is a brilliant young lawyer. He delivered a remarkably fine address to the Woodmen of the World upon the occasion of the unveiling of a monu ment at Southport a few weeks ago and bacame ill very soon thereafter. His hundreds of friends In Wilming ton hope that there may yet come a a turn for the better. i Col. Woodward Back. Col. W. J. Woodward, returned Saturday from New Orleans, where he was one of the most popular mem bers of Geo. Gordon's staff at the Veterans' reunion, having teen in charge of the social features of that great occasion. Returning to Wil mington, Col. Woodward spent a day with Gen. Gordon at his handsome country home, "Klrkwood," five miles from Atlanta. Col. Woodward says that Gen. Gordon expects to have his new book from the presses In the early Fall. MB. AARON M. COLVIN DEAD. Venersble Citizen of Pender Died Near Point Caswell Fnnersl Services. PoitfT Cabwell, N. C, May 30. Died at his home near Point Caswell, Pender county, on Monday, May 22nd, Mr. Aaron M. Colvin. Mr. Colvln was a communicant of the Presbyterian church and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. Truly a good citizen has passed to bis eternal reward. A few months more and he would have reached the 74tn year oi his age. He leaves to mourn his loss a sainted wife, a son, daughter and granddaughter and many relatives. He was funeralfaed by bis life-long friend and pastor, Rey. Colin Shaw, who has reached the venerable age of 92 years. Although feeble, his re marks were touching and at times sublime. SIXTEEN DROWNED. Negro Plantation Hands Attempting to Cross tbe Mississippi River. By TBieerann to the atornins star. . Memphis, Tenn., May 80. Sixteen negroes two families of cotton plan tation handr-were drowned In 'the river near Pecan Point, forty miles north of this city. They left theplan tatlon after dark in two skiffs. Waves from a passing ressei capnzea wo iraii boats and all hands save one went down. A lad. Will Bell, escaped by clinging to an oar. He was washed ashore and reported the tragedy to Dr. B. F. Chiles, wno brougni tne news w Memphis. Seven or the bodies have been recovered. u Taiesrapb to tne Horning star. Topeka,Kans ,May 30. People wno did not leave North Topeka last night when they had a chance, are now in the greatest danger of( losing their lives. As far as can be estimated at this time, over five hundred people are beyond the reach of rescue. The Kan sas river is rising at the rate of three inches an hour. Thirty are known to be dead and the list will be larger. Hundreds are missing. .People are drowning and others are burning to death. If any portion of North Topeka shall escape destruction by the flood it seems to-night as though fire would finish the work. The large lumber yards of Jon athan Thomas caught fire and two whole blocks of houses were burned. Burning houses are floating through the streets and setting fire to others. It is reported that the Union Pacific depot and hotel have been burned. The loss of life will be appalling, the property loss in the millions. Nobody can tell just what has been destroyed. The water extends around Shorey and other suburbs. Every foot of North Topeka, inhab ited by ten thousand people, is under water. The current is so swift that no boat ca:. live in it. Seven thousand people have escaped to the south side and are being cared for as well as pos sible. The remaining hundreds have not yet been accounted for. They have been forced to the top floors or the roofs of buildings and are waiting for the waters to subside or carry them down stream. Below the town scores of men are in tree tops, yelling for assistance. Thou sands of revolver shots and screams have been heard on the north side. signals for aid. Women and children in the west part of North Topeka are standing on the highest points in reach and yet in water up to their necks. The Silo atlonLast Night. Burning houses are floating about, setting fire to others. The lower story of the burning buildings contain ten feet of water. The current is te strong that no boat can approach any of the burning buildings. People are gather ed on the tops of house and will meet death either by fire or drowning. The cries for help can be distinctly heard a mile away. The whole city is wildly excited because no aid can bejextend ed to the suffere-s. The river at North Topeka Is five miles wide. No possi ble estimatelof the financial loss is ob tainable, but can be stated that it will reach into millions. North Topeka was the manufactur ing district of the city. Three large flour mills, three woollen mills and other manufacturing enterprises are entirely destroyed. The water supply of the whole city has been cut off. The water from the river extends nearly a mile on the south side. The Rock Island depot has been aban doned, and more than 500 people on this side of the r.ver are also nome less, but no loss of life has resulted in South Topeka. The Kansas avenue bridge is the only one across the river for miles, and the approaches to that bridge are flooded by thirty feet of water. A pontoon bridge is being erected in an effort to reach the suf ferers. From the State House dome as many as eighty fires can be counted in different parts of North Topeka. The entire central portion of the city had burned out at 10 o'clock to-night, and it is safe to say that by morning not a house in the main part or north Topeka will be left standing. When it Is stated that North Topeka has 10, 000 inhabitants, the extent of the dis aster can be realized. People are sticking to the roofs of houses and many are giving up in despair and dropping into the water below to be carried away by the swift current. It is death by fire or drowning to 400 persons, unless means can be found for their rescue. Great efforts are be ing made to construct a steam launch to go to the aid or the sufferers, and whatever Is done must be done promptly or the loss of life will be ap palling. , . . . A. P. Baldwin, who at great risk of his Jlfe crossed in a boat to tne norm side.returned late to-night and reports that nothing can possibly be done to save the city from burning. Miss John Troutman, sister of former Lieutenant Governor Troutman, was rescued with her aged father, late to night. The two people had spent the entire day on the roof of their house and were just about to drop into the water when aid came. Chief of Police Doff, Thomas Page andA. O. Holman, all of prominent families of the north side, are among the victims. Mayor Bergundthall was rescued by Dr. L. L. Powell in a boat after remaining in a boat all nigbt. Reports received to-day say there are small prospects of the water falling within the next twenty-four hours. 150 Persons Dead. Topeka, Kas., May 30. Four hund red houses have been burned in North Topeka and that whole section of the city will be burned. As far as can be learned 150 persons are dead. Most of these were burned to death. Kansas City, Mo., May 30. All telegraph wires into Topeka were lost after 6 o'clock this evening and the only means of communication Is a slow working telephone wire, secured at 9:45 o'clock to-night. physician. Sanford Express: The first shipment of peaches was made from Southern Pines May 20th, nine days earlier than ever before. The Sanford Sash and Blind Factory made shipments of building mate rial to Columbia, S. C, and to Jack sonville, Fla., this week. Concord Tribune: "Wheat is good in places," said a farmer, "and there will be more raised in Cabar rus this year than last. The wheat onTedlandis pretty good, but on sandy land it is not muoh." This farmer declares that his wheat is no good at all, that the flies damaged it. Durham Herald: Mr. C. C. Taylor, has a poney which undoubt edly has hydrophobia. The animal was in bad shape yesterday atcernoon and will probably be killed this morning. Some thirty or more days ago the pony was bitten by a dog that was afterwards decided to have the hydrophobia. Statesville Mascot: Mr. K. W. Orr, who is one of the best wheat farmers of this section, says that his wheat crop has improved very much in the last two weeks, and that with favorable seasons from now on he looks for a good yield. Other farmers report wheat as 1m- proying. 'Raleigh Post: An accident accused near Salisbury Wednesday in which Albert Bay, a prosperous young farmer, lost his life. Mr. Ray was at the time working about the saw mill on the plantation, when his clothing was caught in the machinery, and his head, arms and shoulders were badly mangled. Alter being taken from the machinery he lived only a few hours. Newton Enterprise: Mr. W. P. Bost, mail carrier on route No. 2, says that cotton and corn, in spite of the dry weather, are grow ing nicely, and wheat is looking better the last week. Mr. D. J. Carpenter informs us that he will move his Valdese Hosiery Mill to Newton and join it to his mill here. This will increase the plant to about 200 machines and make it one of the largest mills in the South. MORE POSTOFFICE ROTTENNESS DISCLOSED. The Qeaeral Assembly Formally Ad loomed Last Night All Unfinished Business Cleared from Docket, SBBBBSBBBSSBBSB r TaieirraDn to tne Mornins But Lexington, Va., May 30. This morning's session of the General As sembly .passed upon much business. Consideration of reports by commit tees developed so much discussion that a five minute rule for speaking was adopted. The report of the committee on the . narrative of the state of religion was submitted and ordered to be inserted as an appendix to the minutes. It was also ordered to be read from the pulpit and inserted In all church papers. The report showed eighty-one out of eighty two presbyteries and submitted narra tives to the committee. The committee on foreign corre spondence reported relative to a com munication from the Synod of the Re formed Presbyterian qhurcb, asking that a committee be appointed to con sider with like committees closer union of reformed churches, that the ap pointment of such a committee be not made, as there was no evidence In stent that justified the assembly In hoping that the object proposed might be gained in this way. It was adopted. A resolution of thanks to Robert Wbyte, elder of Regent Square Pres byterian church, London, England, for services rendered the assembly's African mission, and for kindly aid given missions and missionaries, was passed. The report of the committee on Bab bath schools was adopted by the as sembly. Dr. A. L. Phillips, of RIch- mond, as recommended in this report, wss retained as general superintendent of Sabbath schools and young people's societies. The report on systematic benefi cence was adopted. It showed that every presbytery ou the rolls, includ ing two new ones organized during the past year, or a total of eighty - one, bad sent a report. This report showed that a grand total of $466,753 had been given for spectic causes du ring the year ending March 81, which compared with last report showed a net gain of $18,975. An ad Interim committee was appointed to take up the question of schedule of systematic beneficence and report to the next as sembly. The report of an ad interim com mittee on committees and commissions was put on the docket for considera tion at the next assembly. It was or dered published as an appendix to the minutes. Adjournment is not yet in sight. Many commissioners have gone home. The forty-third General Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian Church formally adjourned to-night, lhe afternoon session was long and all un finished business was cleared from the docket. FEDERAL DECORATION DAY. The Federal Government Paying Enormous Rentsls for Buildings In New York Shown Up by Brooklyn Eagle. ur Telegraph to tbe Morning Btar. NewYoek, May SO. The Brooklyn Eagle says to-day that an Investiga tion made by it shows that $500,000 per annum is paid in New York State in excess of the normal commercial rentals for postoffices. The Eagle adds that as the leases run for ten years the total excess amounts to $5,000,000. The Eagle says: "Confining the investigation to New York 8tate, in which nearly every sec tion has been covered, it Is difficult to find an instance where the Federal government is not paying from 25 to 50 per cent, more than it should for rentals. Indeed, so universal is the gravely excessive rate paid that a be lief would be justified that an organ ized conspiracy to advance and main tain the high figures of these rentals exists or has existed for some time. All the traffic would bear seems to be the rule. "Instances of fifty per cent, above the rentals paid by private interests for like property similarly situated are many. 76 nerlcent. not infrequent. while in some cases 100 and even 200 per cent, have been reached. "Instances have been found where leases have been executed by the Post office Department for the occupation of floors in buildings which were not in existence, but which were yet to be built, and were so built and occu pied at grossly excessive rates. "The most notable and flagrant in stance of the abuse is shown in Dun kirk, In Chautauqua county. It is a city of 11,616 population by the last census. For a single floor for the ac commodation of the postoffice the government is paying $2,000 annually. In the same block is a street floor which is occupied by a business con cern, which, apart from this post office building, commands the high est rent in the city of Dunkirk. The merchant occupying it pays $500 per annum" The Eagle presents a table of recent Increases of rentals at towns through out the State. More real harm is done to the cause of Christ by his professed follow ers than by all the outsiders put together. S flAmnnnnnrn Pnnnni & II A. Observed In Wsshlngton, D. C, on n More Elaborate Scale Thsn Ever Before Parades, Etc. BT TeiesrraDh to tbe Horning star. Washington, May 30. With sol emn and impressive ceremonies Deco ration day was observed in the na tional capital on a more elaborate scale tban ever before. Business was suspended not only in the departments of tbe government but also through out the city. People of all classes united In perpetuating the memory of the heroio dead whom in countless thousands sleep peacefully in the eight national cemeteries of the District of Columbia. Notwithhslaiiding the absence from the city of the President, who usually is a conspicuous figure in the day's exercises at Arlington, the arrange ments were elaborate and beautiful. They were under the direction of the Department of the Potomao G. A. R. and included, a parade of G. A. R. posts, the Old Guard, other patriotlo organizations, and the militia of the District of Columbia, headed by the Mariae band: decoration of monu ments and graves, and addresses by men prominent in public life. After a short march through the city, the organizations in the parade boarded electric trains IforZArllngton, the most beautiful of national ceme-, teries, overlooking the historic Poto mac, where the principal exercises of the day occurred. Already the 18,000 graves in the cemetery had been strewn with flowers and each marked by a tiny American flag. A touching part of the ceremony a feature typi fying a country thoroughly re-united was the decoration of the graves in that section of the cemetery where He the Confederate dead. At the conclusion of the ceremony of decoration of the graves, a great crowd gathered in the amphitheatre. Hon. Charles Emory Smith, editor of the Philadelphia fYess delivered the oration of the day. PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT Rode a Horse uver tne cisck ma s iraii from Laramie to Cheyenne. Br Telegraph to tbe Horning Star. Labahie, Wyo.. May 30. Presi dent Roosevelt to-day rode a horse over the "Black Hills trail" to Chey enne. He made a short address be-, fore starting on his ride. He thanked the Black Hills LiOdge,: of tbe Brotherhood of Locomo tive Engineers, for the memento which they presented to him. He saia that during the last two months and for the next week he owed and woum owe his safety to the vigilance of the railroad men. It was about 9 o'olock when President Roosevelt mounted his horse and started on his sixty mile ride to Cheynne. He was accompa nied by Burgeon General Rixey, Sena tor Warren and others. WARM WIRELETS. 2 The south bound passenger train on the Seaboard Air Line railway ran into an open switch at Starke, 71a., Friday night and was wrecked. Tne colored fireman was killed and En gineer Weeks seriously Injured. The locomotive was demolished. No pas sengers were hurt. Harry Elkes of Glens Falls, N. Y was fatally hurt, dying In the ambu- lanea on the way to the hospital, and Will Stinson was badly hurt, in a bl- l cycle race on Charles river;Park track, , Boston, Mass., yesterday afternoon. i y 1 1 Money I Are you indebted toTHE JWEEKLY STAR? If S0, S uihon vnn ranaivA a hill TV M W T W M I WW VI W W Wm Km for your subscription send j us the amount you owe. Remember, that a news- paper bill is as much en titled to your considera tion as is a bill for gro- ' M The U. B. grand jury at Montgom ery, Ala., returned thirty-six indict ments against white citizens of Coosa and Tallapoosa counties, charging peonage or holding negroes in servi tude. It is officially announced in Paris that President Loubet will proceed to London between July 18 and July 20, to return the visit of King Edward, and that he will stay there three or four days. Ells health undermined by business worries, and his mind unbalanced, Frank Emmett, a prominent New Orleans cotton broker, who retired from business a few days ago, ended his life Saturday with a pen knife. In the official order designating the districts, provision to made that In time ot wat tho light house inspector In each district shall become second in command. In several of the districts will be established torpedo boat bases, and torpedo boats will be regarded as part of the mobile defence of each district. Means for exchanging In formation between shore UUons and . m. H mMTided. the sys- tern to be known as tbe naval patrol. r - !(! M All .:.-' rr ' .