t l Y v--5: Y sJ v.-- -.IUUHA DECLARES NEUTRALITY 3? to WLzM gtev WILMINGTON, N. C, $1.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE' 8SSSS8SS888S888B3 j.iaoH gl SSSSSSS3S3SSS3SSS 14,00 w 9 SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSJSiS 8S3SSSS8888838S8S M"W S2S58SS3SSSSSi:SS 88338883883333838 ""ww ' -sgagssssssgggggg 828S8SSSSS2888838 888883828888888 82S8SSSS2S33SS838 '" sssassggsaas 888S3833S83333S38 a s I ' i 1 3i 1 i 1 ; t : i i : : : J? Ratered at th Port OAc at WUatgtoa, N. C, Second Clu, Matter.! SUBSCRIPTION PRICE. 1 at inbicriptloa pric of tba Weekly Star It a (oil Smf1 Copy 1 rM, put paid ' 4 6 noiithi ........... I vu ..... BU ' I moatbi 80 THE EOUTH'S GBEAT IHDU8 j TBIAL PAPER. ay The losses ia the appalling con flagration in Baltimore were so stu pendous that many of the serious individual calamities are only begin niogto dawn upon us. ' The Star's dispatches covered the general story of the' great fire, and It was stated that all of Baltimore's newspaper establishment's were de stroyed, but we have just realized that among the publications to meet with misfortune was America's greatest industrial and financial pa per, the Manufacturer? Record. The printing establishment of that journal, to the influence of which we have often attributed the miracu lous industrial growth of the South, went up in ashes, and for that ca lamity the Stab has a special regret. It affords us pleasure, however, to state that the Record will not miss an issue but will appear this week as usual. As soon as the Record's priutiog house was burned, the en terprising publishers at once made arrangements to have this week's issue printed through the co-opera tion of three of the largest printing establishments in Philadelphia. This will be good news throughout the South where the Record covers a wi Jer field in financial, industrial, and business circles than any publi cation in the United. States. It is gratifying for the Stab to state also that the lessons taught by the fire have caused the publishers of the Manufacturer? Record to de cide to erect in Baltimore a build log for its exclusive use. Mean while the Record Publishing House haa closed a contract for two full Hoars at Holliday and Saratoga streets, Baltimore, and is putting in a full equipment of the most mod ern prcsaes, the lateBt type, etc., so that operations will be resumed in Baltimore as soon as possible. COLONIAL BLOOD PUDDLES. The cablegrams yesterday tell us that if China's proclamation of neu trality during the Russo-Jap war is observed "it will, of course, pre vent the use of her (China's) soil by either Rassian or Japanese troops." Yet, Corea, a so called independ ent, sovereign empire, and Man churia, a province of China, must be trampled up and bedaubed with blood by two nations that ought to scatter each other's carcasses on their own ground! The Coreans and the Manchu- rians have to dodge bullets and hide out fromralljknd have their business, industrial and agricultural pursuits paralyzed for an indefinite period, while the fighters are butch ering each other to settle the ques tion as to which, vampire like, Bhall feast and suck the life blood out of Corea and Manchuria. It is not a battle for liberty but for trade and spoils, and probably Corea and Manchuria .are of the opinion that it is "dog eat dog." Thus we see that the "colonial policy" of two so-called civilized na tions leads them to shed the gore of men far away from their homes, and about all the soldiers get out of it is privation, hunger, disease, suffering, festering wounds and bloody graves, We read of the "Dark Ages," but if the ashes of the people of those periods could scramble out of earth at "the witching hour of night, when .churchyards yawn and Hell itself breathes, out contagion to the world," they would hold op their hands and exclaim: " 'Tis the damned spot we leftl but now 'tis hell itself I" in the Philippines, in the land of the Boers and throughout Africa, there are fresh colonial blood pud dies, and in Corea and Manchuria there are others. Russia has a fleet of war vessels bottled np in the Black; Sea. Tur key made an agreement with other powers a number of years ago not to allow the Black Sea fleet to pass -through the Dardanelles and Great Britain would never consent to al low the Russian ships to come through. These ships have no way of skating arross the country, hence the greedy Japanese will never get went for breakfast. VOL. XXXV. WAROff FOBTUHE TELLEBS. Under the lawi in New York for tune tellers, or those who pretend to tell fortunes, are classed as dis orderly persona and are punishable nnder the penal code. ' The New York Globe says there are about 300 fakin of that descrip tion in the city and recently a re porter for that paper has been calK ing on some of them to have his fortune told. He had to cough np the cash, too, but he had lots of fun, and if he goes to the end of the rainbow he will find "sky-scrapers" full of gold, diamonds by the schooner load, and costly gems of every description. Instead of making the fortune tellers hand out unlimited graft to keep from being exposed In a bright, clean newspaper, the reportor parted with his coin of the realm and gave the fortune tellers a free' write-up. It was an entertaining and clevsr ex posure of a set of unprincipled swindlers and freebooters, and the purpose of the Globe was to do a valuable public service in getting the law after the vampires. The result of the Globe's expose of the methods of the witches and oracles who have been imposing upon and fleecing the public is that a war is to be made on the breed. A list of the names of the fakirs, male and female, has been handed to Police Commissioner McAdoo and he will assign two plain clothes men to the work of driv ing them out of their present abodes. The Globe ascertained that there were several degrees of imposition practiced on people and that the classes of fortnne tellers ran all the way from pestilence breeders to those who hold forth in luxury. They are to be found in evory pre cinct of the city and they find it not only easy to gather the hard-earned cash of the working classes but to fleece people high up in society. . Police Commissioner McAdoo, in taking hold of the complaints against the fakers, said many poor people who are hardly able to buy bread, rake up money to have their their fortunes told, and as for so ciety people, many of them believe implicitly everything the seers tell them and pay them fabulous sums for their tommyrot. It is oad enough for the poor and ignorant to be fooled by the villain ous seers, but it is astonishing that people of wealth and social stand ing are so feather-headed as to fall into their traps. If the Globe is the means of driving the impostors out, not merely causing them to simply change their locations, that splen did newspaper will deserve a bless ing. At any rate, the exposure will open the eyes of the public to the enormity of the swindling opera tions, and it will probably enlighten many who would otherwise be duped. During a recent gun practice by the United States cruiser Missouri, off the Chesapeake capes, a shell fired from a 12 inch gun fell into the ocean within a few hundred feet of vessel fifteen miles distant. It probably covered the 15 miles in forty seconds, and its velocity was so swift that no glass could trace its course. The Missouri could lay off Wrightsville and land shells in the city of Wilmington. The House naval committee is generally ' commended in accepting Admiral Dewey's advice as to the kinds of new war ships to build for our navy, lhe appropriation this year will be 14,000,000, to be used in the construction of one battleship, two armored cruisers and two cv' liers. There is also a propoaitio. to expend an, additional $82,000,000 for new war ships. It is reported that Admiral Stark, commanding the Enssian fleet at Port Arthur, has been called home because of the disastrous attack by the Japanese February 8th-9th. If the Czar can induce the Mikado to call the Jap navy home it will be better than to break it off in poor Stark. , As this is election year and every North Carolinian will want to vote for President, members of Congress and State officers, all who have not done so already should pay their poll tax before May 1st. All who do not pay their poll tax cannot vote,. A word to the wise is sufficient. A cablegram states that "Lloyd has raised rates of insurance against risk of war between Great Britain and France from 20 to 30 per cent." Gee whiz! we didn't know that France would risk a war with Great Britain. Perhaps the Russians have a to boggan slide for the Japanese rmy when it goes over into frozen MaX churia. The Bnssian air ship Skyhigh seems to be abont the only one that has so far escaped a Japanese torpedo. BEE THE VICE CRUSADE. Compromise Reached in Law and Order League Cases in Su perior Court Yesterday. ILLICIT TRAFFIC TO STOP. Eight Dcfeadsats Will Pay lost, Vacate Hooses asd Walk Circumspectly ia Fatare-is to Reitlsf of Prop erty for Illegal Purposes. Upon terms which are regarded as constituting doubtful victory for either side, a wholesale compromise was reached yesterday in the thirty odd cues being; prosecuted by the Law and Order League of Wilming ton, against eight or more keepers of alleged disorderly asd lllfamed houses in different 'sections of the city. The history of the crusade against vice Inaugurated systematically several months ago by certain citizens, backed by a vigorous municipal administra tion, is well known to readers of the city papers. Two'convictlons and two acquittals, with a compromise In an other, bad bsen secured after days of closely contested trials and the Supe rior Court had opened with the trial of another yesterday morning, when the strong array of legal counsel on both aides withdrew for a conference. The conference lasted an hour or more, when the attorneys came Into court again and Solicitor Daffy announced that an agreement had been reached, which he thought would meet the ends of justice without the farther tedious process of dealing with each cue sep arately. Those terms were afterwards found tq meet with Judge Ferguson's appro val and judgment was entered accord ingly. Solicitor Duffy, in stating the terms to the court, said that the con ference of counsel had resulted in a proposition on the part of Ltura Kee tor. Kale Jenkins, Lola Harris, Mattle Allen, Gusaie Grier, Mamie Sheridan, EEBe May and Trlxle Johnson to plead guilty to the charges of keeping a bawdy house and of retailing with out license and on 8unday, making a submission In three cues each, except as to Gussle Grier. only charged with retailing; Mattle Allen, selling liquor on Sunday and without license, and Laura Keetor, who only pleaded guilty to keeping a bawdy house, cases against her for retailing without license and selling on Sunday having been nol prossed. There would then be a prayer for judgment and the prayer would ba continued, the defendants to pay costs in each of the cases at this term of court It would be understood that such a disposition of the cases would be upon condition that the conduct of the houses and Illicit traffic Is stopped at once, the prosecution being at liberty at any time, when complaint Is made, either before the next term of court In April or after that time, to pray the judgment of the court. It was also stated further that the houses occupied by the defendants would not be allowed to be rented for the pur poses of prostitution. It was stated hat the grand jury had recommended that the city authorities should Issue no further license except to keepers of bona-flde boarding houses and that the Superior Court would adopt, the recommendation. It wu also stated in concluding the settlement that It wu recognized as the desire of the prosecution to put all persons on notice that If these or other houses are rented for illicit purposes, such action would be called to the attention of future grand juries and the matter vigorously prosecuted. The announcement to that effect was to put all people upon their v guard and in order that no one might feel that un due advantage had been taken. The compromise outlined by Mr. Duffy was accepted and the defendants were Instructed to pay the costs, which range from f 10 to $85 In each of three cases against each defendant. MR. P. ft. K1N0 HiS SMALLPOX. Well Develeped Case Upon Popular Yooof Business MaiQsarsatised. ( Mr. Frank B. King, the popular young junior member of the firm of Roger Moore's Sons & Co., yesterday developed a cue of smallpox at his home. No. 711 Grace street. Mr. King had been ill several days and Friday an eruption was noticed on his face by the physician in attendance. Dr. W. D. McMillan, county superin tendent of health, was called in and the disease was pronounced smallpox. Gapt Robert Ureen established a quarantine at the residence and the patient will remain there. He Is for tunate in having for a nurse his father, who bad the disease several years ago. Young Mr. King was rest log very well lut night. A night and a day policeman have been detail ed to do quarantine duty. Hasglog VIII Be Public The gallows for the hanging of Ja- bel Register, at Whltevllle Thursday week, has been constructed In the jail yard there within the put few days. Contrrry to the exp ctatton of many, it la said that the execution will be public a fact which many of the clti sens of Columbus deplore, Irrespective of their sympathy for or against the condemned man. Claude Leslie, a. young white man well known In the city, was sent to jail yesterday for a term of SO days on the county roads In default of pay ment of a fine of $5 and costs in the police court, where he was charged with bains drunk and down. He owed back costs aggregating in all $35.80, 3EKLY - WILMINGTON, N. C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, TS EXCEPTIONS OVERRULED. Corporation Commission Says A. 8. L. Mast Make Selma Connection A. ft H. 6. Lease Teachers' Assembly. Special Star Telegram.'i Raleigh, N. Q, Feb. IS. The Cor poration Commission issued an order to-day, overruling the exceptions of the Atlantic Coast Line to the order of the Commission for schedule con nection of trains of the Cout Line and Southern Railway at Selma. The or der overruling the exceptions declares that facilities given heretofore by the A.G.L. should not be lessened ; that the connection furnishes pusengers by means of the Wuhington branch, Norfolk and Carolina branch. Ply mouth branch and Nuhvllle branch, with train No.185 : that connection with the Southern at Selma for nearly ten years should be restored; that, if this cannot ba done by Gout Line's train No. S3 arfovmetiy, lhenotheT facul ties should be furnished by the Coast Line ;'that this connection has been the principal outlet for passengers from Eastern Carolina to Selma and other Southern Railways points for the last ten years. Instead of being abandon ed It should be made prominent; that this result be accomplished by extend ing the run of either the Bprlng Hope- Bock r Mount or Fly mouth-Rocky Mount train from Rocky Mount to Selma to connect with the Southern, or else run an extra train from Rocky Mount to Beima for this connection. The terms of proposal to lease the Atlantle and North Carolina Railroad as submitted by Captain McBee to Governor Aycock are for a 99-year eue 2i per cent, ten years. 3 per cent, second ten, A per cent, for third ten. o per cent, for the next twenty years and 7 per cent for the last forty years. The road to be extended from Newborn-to Washington; thence to Plymouth and connect by steamer on Albemarle sound with Edenton. This s believed to mean that the Vander- bllts are after the road as a connection for the Norfolk and Southern from Norfolk. It Is also proposed to extend the A. & N.O. from Goldsboro to San ford, connecting there with the Sea board Air Lrine. Southern, and Atlan tic Coast Line. The Executive Committee of the North Carolina Teachers' Assembly decided to day to hold the next ses sion of the assembly June 8lb. at a place to be selected at a later meeting of the committee within the next few weeks. Prof. J. B. Carlyle, of Wake Forest, is president of the Assembly. The uommittee on Uecil Rhodes Scholarship, in session here to-day, decided to postpone the examination of applicants until iiarch9tb, and that all applications must be in by March 1st. North Carolina is entitled to only one scholarship. THE NEWS IN RALEIGH. North Carolioa Ice Association Baptist Ualfcrslty Mortf sge CasceUcd. Special Star Correspondeiice. Ralegh, N. C, Feb. 11. The North Carolina Ice Association held ts annual meeting in this city lut night and elected E. R. Conger, of Edenton, president; W. E. Thompson, of Greensboro, vice president, and William Dunn, of Newborn, secre tary and treasurer. Rocky Mount was selected as the next place of meeting. W. E. Worth, of Wilming ton, is a member and ex-president of the Association. The case of Btate vs. Patterson. from Durham, Involving the question of the application of the "anti-jag" aw to all prohibition and dispensary territory in the 8tate, wu argued be fore the Supreme Court to-day. Attor ney General Gilmer, H. A. Forshee and R. E. Boon appearing for the SUte and ex-Judge R. W. Winston and H. E. Bryan, of Durham, for the defendant. A mortgage of $31,000 against the Baptist Female University here was cancelled yesterday.tbe entire am ount having been paid off, so that the lnsu tutlon is now entirely out of debt. Universal 011 & FertlKxei Co. Mr. W. E. Worth, general manager of the Universal Oil & Fertilizer Co., has been granted a permit by the dty to construct the buildings of the plant of his oompany on the blocx bounded by Hall, Moore, Dickinson and Ander son streets, which is near the tobacco warehouse site. The bulldingrIll be a three-story frame, metal-roof struc ture, 67x47 feet In size, with brick and metal roof engine and boiler room at tached, an eight-Inch brick wall being between. The oil is to be extracted by theEdson naptha process and tanks containing the naptha are to be placed underground, 100 feet from any build ing. Cargo ol Perarlsi Qnsno. The Charleston News and Courier notes the arrival in that city of the steamer "Borade" with a cargo of 5,000 tons of genuine Peruvian guano for interior shipment The steamer "Ouzco" arrived there some time ago with a similar cargo. Within a few days a guano steamer from Peru will arrive at Wilmlnrton for the Smith Davis Oompany, of mis city, which Is the pioneer in reviving the Peruvian guano trade in this section. The conc- nanv already has a large number of orders for interior shipment and ex pects to build upablg trade in that favorite fertilizing material. Raleigh Playhouse Lesse. J. Bherwood Upcburcb bu succeed ed E. H. Baker as Icsiee of the Metro politan Opera House in Raleigh, the last named going to St Louis as prl vate secretary to Prof. J. A. Holmes, In charge of the N. a Exhibit at the Exposition. It was stated that Mr. a A. Bcbloss, of Wilmington, wu be hind the deal but Mr. Unchurch said that was Incorrect The house rents for $850 per year. The neero Randall Pittman, who, on Saturday, Feb. 6th, killed his sweetheart and then shot her sister because the first-named re fused to marry him, was arrested near Scotland Neck a few davs ago bv Stephen Purvis, white, and Bud Hanson, a negro, at whose house Pittman had stopped. A reward of $100 had been offered for Pittman arrest. A. C. L. TRAINS CRASH Frightful Collision of Extra and Local Freights Near Pee Dee, S. C , Saturday. ENGINEER TAYLOR KILLED. Six, Others Here or Less isiared asl Trick Plied With Wreckage, Block . lag Traffic Maiy Bears Dead - Mai fron WOalaitea. Two Atlantic Coast Line freight trains, One of them an extra from Wilmington, bound south, and the other a local, going north from Flor ence to Fayetteville, were in head-on collision at 3 o'clock Saturday after noon, two miles south, of Pee Dee jcMc&m and only a short distance beyond the south end of the long trestle over Pee Dee river at that point Engineer Bruce Taylor, 88 years old, of Wilmington, ia charge of the extra, bound south, was almost Instantly killed bis; fireman, John Hay, white, of Florence, B. C, wu bad ly injured, and five others were more or leu seriously hurt. Both engines and five cars were almost completely demolished while a number of others suffered to some extent The track was blocked until 8 o'clock 8unday morning and trains to and from the north were run by Darlington, Ben netisvllle, Maxton and Parkton over the old a 8. & N. and O. F. & Y. V. roads, until the line wu cleared. The wreck occurred on the fill at the foot of Winona bill on Pee Dee trestle. Eoglneer Taylor's train wu extra No. 347 and left Wilmington early Satur day morning, being drawn by one of the big Baldwin engines, recently pur chased by the Coast Line. The local reicht wu No. 10, in charge of Engi neer Mclaughlin, and was going north. The extra had no orders over the local and should have looked out for it, registering for orders or waiting at Pee Dee. The mistake wu fatal and both trains came together at full speed, the extra meeting the lo cal at the curve iust beyond the river. Eoglneer McLaughlin, of the ocal, saw the extra approaching and jumped la time to escape with only a few bruises. Engineer Taylor could not see ahead of him the dis tance of more than five telegraph poles and met death in his cab. The other Injured, most of whom are colored and from Florence, are: Joshua Nichols, train band on extra, right leg and shoulder bruised. Arthur Branch, left band bruised and right ankle sprained. Daa Poe, slight bruises on right shoolderr John Hay, firemen on extra, slight scalp wound; arm bruised and back strained. Alonzo Moravan, trainman on local, back and legs Injured from jumping. The little engine, drawing the local freight wu totally wrecked while the big Baldwin escaped with less damage. Two cars on the local were splintered; three on the extra were badly damaged while several others suffered by having the bumpers jerked out Wreck trains from both Wilmington and Florence were Immediately dispatched to the scene. On the latter a corps of physi cians were sent and everything pos sible was done for the injured men. The Florence train arrived at the wreck at 8:30 o'clock and a large force of hands were engaged Saturday night removing the debris and clearing the track. It was expected that all trains on the W., O. &A. between Wilmington and Pee Dee would have to be annulled. The main line trains were also de layed several .hours as the rails are very light on the old 0. 8. & N. road and small engines will have to be sub stituted for the large ones in bringing the coaches around. The local freight from Florence wu six hours late and that Is assigned u the reason the extra train conductor and engineer overlooked the wait at Pee Dee. Eoglneer Taylor is well and favorably known In Wilmington. His home is on Castle, between Second and Third streets, and he leaves a wife and two little daughters, aged two and five years, respectively. His father, Mr. Henry Taylor, has been an em ploye of the A. C L machine shops in this city for many years. The young engineer was formerly employed on the Beacoast railroad, but had lately been In the A. C L. shops here and running as an extra engineer. He wu a member, of Wilmington Lodge of Odd Fellows and the Muonlc fra ternity. Sister Lucas and Betsie Mills, colored women of bad repute, were committed to J all for the roads by Jus tioe Bornemann yesterday. Onewu found guilty of simple assault and the other couldn't pay the costs in a frlvo lous prosecution she brought against John Williams, colored. Winston's Weekly: We no long er make pilgrimages to the holy land in search of a Saviours tomb. We build ironclad cruisers to do our searching. We no longer allow miracles to stop the sun of progress. We no longer repeat fairy tales to our children. We instruct them in the value of dividends. There is no place At our firesides for the wan dering minstrel. We feed Lazarus, only after he sawed the wood. Sui cide has become the only refuge of the weak. Like King Richard, we are born with teeth. We not only economize our resources, but our very language and thoughts. Con crete "slang" has taken the place of ornate expression. Wo are even considering the proposition to make religion dividend p) mg. QT AR 1904. RIVENB1RK TO THE HOSPITAL. Usfortssale Mai Removed from Jail for Treatment li Plessssl Qsarters. Growing weaker, both physically and mentally, according to the physi cians In attendance, A. W. Rlvenbark was yesterday transferred from his unpleasant surroundings in the county ail to the James Walker Memorial Hospital. The history of Mr. Riven bark's sad case is known to readers of this paper. Upon the court's denial of writ of habeu corpus about a week ago, he wu placed under the care of Dr. W. D. McMillan, countv superin tendent of health,' and yesterday Dr. McMillan thought best to transfer him to some place where he would more readily respond to medical treatment He Is said to be affected with cirrhosis of the liver and to have vomited blood recently. The unfortunate man has many friends In Wilmington who hope for his recovery under the changed conditions that will necessarily follow- bis transfer to the hospital. SPIRITS TURPENTINE. Chief Dickens, of Wilson, has brousrht back from Rnffnllr. Lnnin Cattle, alias Henry James, a negro wanted tor the murder of an aged citizen of this State. Durham Herald: We lived in theeut in the days when the Re publicans were supposed to play dirty politics, but they did not have tne gang nere sunned a little bit. The Sallshnrv Xun. Rtftfna fliof. - - -www wnvww VMM V the Bowan Distilling Comnanvbas been chartered with a capital of $25,000. The nomnAnv will nnonta a rectifying and wholesale whiskey nouse ac sausDury. A former Saliabnrian hn la now living in Charlotte, raked off. $18,000 on cotton a short while since. He went in when the rise first started and sold onfc at the highest price before the drop. Durham Herald: If the State received dollar for dollar for those bonds in railroad stock, and the stock is now worth something like $1.70, it appears to its that we are ahead of the game anway it turns. Raleitrh 7J"nma nnit. ffltaamar. Hog and Eominv will nav. At the big sale of Berkshire pigs at Bilt more there was a brisk demand, the Sigs bringing from $75 to $100. 'hink of one hog sale in North Carolina brinsrinsr In $12,000. Geonre is doing a good work in improving the sort of hogs grown in North Carolina. A dispatch from Cartharge says that Louis McNeill, arrested on a capias from Harnett county, for carrying concealed weapons, is thought to be the negro who as saulted Mrs. Duncan Cole, of Wil lanow, on December 21st. The ne gro is held pending developments. Washington Gazette-Messenqer: Mr. Samuel C. Williams. Transter's creek section, is the champion hog raiser. On Monday of last week he killed a hog which weighed 526 pounds. He was six feet and six Inches girth and seven feet eight inches long and would have been three years old in March. There is no loneeranvdoubt that black lead being found in Alexander. Mr. It li. Matheaon has discovered a vein on his property south of town, and brought in a fine specimen last week weighing ten and one-half pounds. If this mineral is properly worked it will become one of the many valuable resources of our country Taylor sville Scout. Judge Frank I. Osborne, of Charlotte, who was in Washington a few days ago, was a college mate of John Sharp Williams, the leader of the minority in the House, at the University of Virginia. The two had a pleasant chat, reviewing boy hood days. Mr. Williams recalled that Judge Osborne voted to give him the debater's medal-in the Jef ferson Society. "And you won it," was the comment of the Tar Heel judge. Major Wallace, formerly worked in arrested at Newbcrn a negro who hunston, was and taken to Kinston. He is charged with burn ing the Carolina warehouse and other property in the tobacco see tion of the city of Kinston. The fires were believed to be incendiary at the time, and the insurance com panies offered liberal rewards for the apprehension of the guilty par ties. The clored detective who had the arrest made had been quietly working up the case for some time. Greensboro Telegram : "The prospects for a large movement of fertilizers this Spring are very bright," said Commissioner of Agri culture S. L. Patterson last night, who was here on his way from Ra leigh to Winston-Salem. The ex ceptional movement of fertilizers is believed to be a sign that there will be much cotton planted in North Carolina this year. The price of that staple is so attractive that many people are tempted to become cotton growers. Greensboro Telegram: When the attorneys for the Greensboro Ice and Coal Company appealed to the Corporation Commission to get relief from an embargo laid by the southern they said they were open ing up a far reaching question. And so they were, for what do we find now but the Southern's lawyers actually claiming that the Corpora tion Commission' is an unconstitu tional body. Wonder why the Southern has been so long finding this out! Salisbury Sun, Feb. 12: Mr, L. L. Cranford is still striking it rich on his' farm near Salisbury. It will be recalled that several weeks ago he found gold in considerable quantity on his farm and Bince that time several propositions have been made him by parties who desire to sink shafts on the place. He has not yet made any deal. Yesterday Mr. Cranford found some more very valuable ore, specimens of which he brought to Salisbury last night. NO. 17 TDE ACADEMY LEASE. Messrs. Cowan Brothers Pro prietors of Wilmimgton Play house Five More Years. BIOS OPENED YESTERDAY. Decision to Make Improveaeits Results lif' Almost Denbliof Reatal Three Proposals of More Thai $1,200. award Recomaeided. Messrs. Cowan Brothers, the present managers, were the successful bidders for the five-year lease of the Academy of Music upon the opening of sealed proposals by the Public Building Com mittee of the Board of Aldermen yes terday at noon. There were only two other bidders, vis: Messrs. 8. A. EcMosf, manager of the houses in Greensboro, Charlotte and other cities In the Slate, and Mr. Thcs, H. Wright formerly treasurer of the theatre here when Mr. Schloss was the lessee. Messrs. Cowan Bros, bid $1,401.54; Mr. Schloss, f 1,801, and Mr. Wright $1,205. Chairman Z, K. Murrell and Aldermen Walter 1 Yopp and J. A. Karr, of the committee. wiri present for the opening of the bids and at once agreed unanimously upon an award to the Messrs. Cowan. There were no protests by the other bidders u all the proposals were in strict accordance with the specifica tions as outlined in the official adver tisement The decision of the com mittee to make the award to Cowan Bros, will meet with general favor by the public They are young men of energy, perseverance and wide expe rience in the theatrical profession. Their present lease expires June 1st The theatre is at present leased for something like $850 and the increase Is by reason of the fact that the city has agreed to expend $4,000, or so much thereof as 1 needed, in decided improvements to the house. Including the Installation of a modern heating plant before next season. Among the otter Improvements will be ceiling the house and changing the prosce nium, boxes etc. All the work will be completed not later than Sept 15th. 1904. MADE A FULL CONFESSION. Metre Who assaulted Mrs. Shields asd Her Child irrested asd Pot la Virf lals State Prison for Safe Keeplsg. By Telegraph to the Morning1 Star. Boasoke, Va., Feb. 18. Henry Williams, colored, who wu arrested at North Fork, W. Va., Tuesday, on suspicion of having committed a mur derous assault and outrage on Mrs. George L. Shields and her three-year old daughter, in her home here on the 80th of January, made a full confes sion of the crime to William G. Bald win, president of the railway special agents' association of the United States and Canada, In the BInefield, West Va., jail, to-day. Williams gave up two watches and some clothing stolen from the Shields home. He was placed on a special train and rushed through to Richmond under a heavy guard. The train passed Roanoke at S o'clock this afternoon, travelling at a speed of forty miles an hour, and Williams will be placed In the State peniten tiary for safe-keeping, the intense feeling being such that the au thorities are satisfied it would be unwise to bring him here at this time. Williams entered the Shields residence In the heart of the city at noon and brutally assaulted Mrs. Shields and her daughter with a razor and hatchet leaving both for dead. Mrs. Bhields was found tucked in a closet with ber throat cut from ear to ear and her skull fractured in several places. Re wards aggregating $3,000 were offered for the capture of the negro. The local military coooptnies were kept under arms for more than a week after the crime was committed. Beveral ne groes who have expressed themselves In Incendiary language concerning the case have been driven out of Roanoke. COMMITTED SUU1DE. Vni. J. Leap, Aged Millionaire Brewer ol St. Lonls, Mo. By Tdegrapn to ine nomine Star. St. Lotus, February 18. Wm. J. Lemp, president of the Lsmp Brew ing Company, committed suicide to day at his residence, S3S3 South 13th street, by - shooting . himself In the right temple with a revolver. He died an hour after firing the fatal shot Growing depression over the death of his favorite son, Fred Lemp, three years ago, and the loss of Frederick Pabst of Milwaukee, a life long friend, Is believed to have been the cause or the rash act Mr. Lemp. who wu 68 years old. and a native of Germany.lhu lived In St Louis for forty-eight years. He stood high in business and social circles and was reputed to be a million aire. TWO MEN KILLED. Jodie S. T. Morgai asd His Brother Shot Down ii Klnislaad, Atk. ' , By Telegraph to the Homing Btar. - Camden, Ark., Feb. 13. J. D. Knight, a livery man of Kingsland, hu been lodged In jail here on a charge of killing Judge S. T. Morgan. of Cleveland county, and Henry Mor gan, bis brother, at Ktntslaod. to day. During a difficulty between Knight and a competitor named Knicker bocker, the latter, it Is alleged, drew a knife and cut at Knight. Knight fled, and on turning a corner almost ran Into the . Morgan brothers on whom he opened fire with a revolver. killing both. Knight claims he thought the Morgans Intended inter ceptinehlm Public sentimrnt ia much inflamed at Kingsland and Knight was brought nere for safe-keeping. .. ; The State Bank of Pittsbnrg, Pa., a small institution, capitalized : at $50,000, was closed yesterday by or-, der of the State banking depart ment. Albert L. Taber, of Phila delphia, State bank examiner,ls tem porarily in charge. Preclasuttoi Issued ty the Esisofatv Every Precsotlsi Will be Takei lot Protection el Psrelrseis. ' By Cable to the Xomlnx Star. ' " Washington, Feb. 1$. Sir Chan- lung Liang Cheng, the Chinese min ister here, called at the State Depart- ment to-day and formally notified Secretary Hay that the Emperor of China had Issued a proclamation of neutrality. The minister's cablegram contain? .- it.. ...... i ... . . .. . . miHi luiuruiauoa was in imuu this proclamation the Emperor had il the strongest terms enjoined apon the viceroys and the governors of the pro vinces to aaopt every precaution for protection rof foreign life and ores- erty In their respective territories. Tbr mlnlatA fn1a that thM la r.w . danger to be apprehended of attacks . upon foreigners In China, in view of the strong language of the proclama tion and its speedy distribution. The Jananese minister. Mr. Taka hira, also called at the SUte Depart ment. He bore with him a telegram dated to-day and reading u follows: "His Majesty, the Emperor, havlne been greatly affected to learn of the great conflagration which recently oc curred In Baltimore, commands me to convey to the President this expression of deep condolence and sympathy with tne peopie or mat city." Win be Respected by Jipao. Paris. Feb. 13. The Japanese Le gation here to-day gave out the text of a 1fkTltHw attla himmim fm TVtlrln defining Japan's attitude towards th neutrality or China. It savs China should observe strict neutrality and lays down the following principles: jrirst. The belligerents are morally bound to reduce to a minimum the area of war. To this end the war ope rations should be geographically lim ited. Second. The number of belligerent powers should be reduced as much as possible, and the war should be con fined to Japan and Russia, in order to prevent a general conflagration. Third. It Is of the utmost import ance that order be preserved through out the Interior of China and at the treaty ports. Therefore, Japan hu Instructed her minister at Pekln to urge upon Prince Ohlng that China scrupulously observe neutrality, main tain order, and. rerraln from furnish ing supplies to the belligerents. China should also keep sufficient garrisons at Shan-Hai-Kwab, and other strategic points to prevent a breach of neutrali ty and see that all territory except Manchuria is free from war operations. "Under Inn fontn iv nnnditinna Japan will respect China's neutrality." A DIPLOMATIC TRIUMPH. All the Eoropesi Powers Join the Wash loftoo QoTersoent la Urileg Russia asd Jspso to Respect NeotrslHy. By Telegraph to the Horning Star. Washington, Feb. 18. Secretary Hay hu added another to his long list of diplomatic triumphs and the United States is once more enabled by his diplomacy to head the nations in aeon current effort topreserve the integrity of China. - Mr. Hay's note of February 10th to Russia and Japan, urging them to confine hostilities within u small an area u possible and to respect the neu trality ana .administrative entity oi China, will be accepted by Russia u well as by Japan, and all the nations will join the Wuhington government in inviting the combatants to agree to the proposition. M. Jusserand, the French ambassa dor, called upon Secretary Hay at his resldeaoe to day, officially, to Inform him of France's acceptance and Infer ential It la known that Russia's ac qulesence will be communicated very soon. At the Russian embassy to-nlght no Intimation had been received of the government's probable answer to Secretary Hay's note, but Count Oassinl, the Russian am bassador, will inform Secretary Hay as soon as St Petersburg sdvlses him. The London government It Is expected will not be inclined further to inquire as to the details of the proposition. It hu been known for several days that England adhered to the principle. The formal acceptance of the other towers it is expected will follow rap -dly, but the success of the proposition is assured by the decision of Russia and Japan to agree to It DENMARK, PREPARING Army Reserves Ordered la Readiness for Moblllzstlon Wlthlo Twelre Hoars. By Cable to the Horning Star. Copenhagen, Denmark, Feb. 16. The British government has inquired if the Danish government Is prepared to defend Denmark'a neutrality, es pecially the Important sea routes. Den mark replied In effect: "We will de fend ourselves."- The construction placed on thlsia qulry here Is that Great Britain appre ciates the danger of Russia occupy ing Danish fortresses in the ent of complications between Great B.ltaln' and Russia over the Far Eutern ques tion. In consequence of the possibility of such an outcome, the Danish War De partment has ordered the army, re serves to be ready for mobilizing throughout Denmark within twelve hours. All the regimental offices are open day and night SAN 0OMINQO. Americas Property Interests Snlfeclni as a Result ef laiarrectloa. By Telegraph to the Homing Btat. , . Washington, Feb. 13. Minister Powell hu cabled the Btate Depart ment that American property interests as a result of the insurrection. - This Is true of the property near the city of San Domingo and la the lines of the revolution. The patience of the State Department Is being severely- tested by these reports and some action may betaken In the near future. Baleigh Post: In case war, is prolonged we may expect wheat In iniB country to reacn very mgn draw upon Russia very heavily for their wheat. Russia would of oourse hold on to her supply for her own use and this would force the coun tries named to depend entirely upon the United States and Argentina, and the demand then-would be far greater than the supply. Japan also would draw heavily upon us. Wheat is tied up between the dollar posts to stay; consumers in this country will be fortunate if they do not have to pay much more before August. "You can't vot unless you pay yoor m1 tax, utiou " 1 Bes, yu sink Au's gwi'ie pay two dollabs an' a halt foh a vote dot Ah nevuh got mo den a dollar toV-HQu$ton rost.