Newspapers / The News & Observer … / May 11, 1895, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
The News and Observer. VOL. XXXV 111. NO. 93. TOE LAOBffIEgT ©OEtgIULATOK] ®F AOOT RSdDGBTO ©AMLDKIA [MOO 7 . THE GREAT GATHERING THE BAPTISTS, TIIEIR WIVES AND DAUGHTERS IN CHARGE OF TH E NATION’S CAPITAL. NORTH CAROLINA HONORED. Rev. Dr. Skinner Conducts the First Religious Exercise—Twelve Hundred and Fourteen Delegates and Repre sentatives and Two Thousand Visi tors Present— Proceedings of the Con vention and its Auxiliary Meetings— Prof. Wliitsett Elected President of Southern Baptist Theological Semi nary. Special to the News aud Observer. Three thousand people are here attend ing the Southern Baptist Convention. The pay-as-you go plan has only served to increase the number in attendance. The First Baptist church is altogether too small to accommodate the number present, and every train and steamboat brings in new recruits. The representa tion of each State is determined by amount of money paid for the different objects during the year, all the States have their full number of del egates, and some have more than they were entitled to by the regulation. North Carolina being among the last named. The raising of endowment for the Columbian University was ably discussed last night by Hon. W. L. Wilson and Dr. Whitsitt. J. D. Hufham is slightly indisposed and leaves for home this evening. Dr. T. E. Skinner, of Raleigh, opened the exercises of the convention to day, and I notice that some of the most important committees contain representatives from North Carolina. The reports of all the boards of the convention show a large increase of contributions over those of last year. J. C. Caddeli.. Washington, D. C., May 10. —The first session ot the Southern Baptist Conference was held this morning at 10 o’clock at the First Baptist Church, on 16th street. The church was well filled long before that hour and when, at 10 o’clock, Judge Haralson, the presiding officer, arose and called for order, every 3eat on the floor was taken, and the gal leries were beginning to fill up. The people kept coming, however, long after every available inch was filled, and standing room was soon at a premium. The great heat caused the people to be very uncomfortable. Fans and folded papers and hats were utilized to create a breeze, the morning was close and torrid, and the enthusiasm of the men only kept them in their places throughout the day. The meeting was called to order promptly by President Haralson and the religious exercises that preceded the regular order of the day were conducted by Rev. Dr. T. E. Skinner, of North Carolina. A hymn was first sung, and ;hen Dr. Skinner read from the Scrip tures and offered prayer. He then called for suggestions for a hymn from the people, and a voice was immediately raised to propose “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord.” At once the singing was begun, before the organ could be started and for two stanzas the song was raised without any accompaniment whatever. Then President Haralson said that the meeting would go ahead to organize the convention, and until that was done no one would be regarded as entitled to the floor. He turned the matter of effecting the organization over to the secretaries who, he said, knew more about the details Dr. Burrows, the cfiief secretary, read out the lists, prefacing them with the statement that the maximum number en titled to seats on a financial basis was 313, and the number of representatives of associations elect, 410, making a total of all delegates of 1,214. He then gave the detailed list of each State as they were brought up to the front, footing up as follows: Alabama entitled to 51, of whom 45 were present; Arkansas,entitled to 13, present. 9; West ern Arkansas and Indian Territory, en titled to 2, present, 2; District of Columbia, entitled to 5, present 5; Flori da, entitled to 11, present 11; Georgia, entitled to 119, present 104; Kentucky, entitled to 101, present 101; Louisiana, entitled to 17, present 10; Maryland, en titled to 73, present 72; Mississippi, en titled to 30, present 26: Missouri, entitled to 29, present 29; North Carolina, en titled to 40, present 40, Western North Carolina, entitled to 3, present 3; South Carolina, entitled to 53, present 53; Tennessee, entitled to 39, present 39; Texas, entitled to 21, present 20; Vir ginia, entitled to 132, present 132; Mex ico, entitled to 1, present 1; China, en titled to 1, present 1. This made a total of 813 entitled to votes, w T ith a total of 705 present. When the preliminaries had been com pleted, President Haralson called for the election of officers, and Dr, Ellis at once placed Judge Haralson’s name in nomi nation. The nominations were closed immediately, and Judge Haralson was unanimously re-chosen President of the Convention, which office he has filled since 1889. He made a brief speech, thanking the convention for the honor and expressing his belief that the con vention would be a complete success if every delegate w r ould lend his co opera tion to the officers. He hoped that the delegates would not make very long speeches, and not try to entrap him iu any parliamentary tangles. In conclusion he said he hoped for no higher honor iu this life than that which had been conferred upon him so frequently. Judge Haralson announced the com mittee on order of business, as follows: H. H. Harris, Virginia; I. T. Tichner, Georgia; B. B. Willingham, Virginia; T. B. Bell, Tennessee; and W. IL Whit sitt, Kentucky; and the committee with drew to consult : The nomination were then made for the vice presidents four in number, as follws: J. Taylor Ellyson, of Virginia: W. J. Northen, of Goorgia; Rev. J. H. Kilpatrick, Georgia; L B. Ely, Mo.; J • P. Eagle, Ark.; Joshua Lovering, Mary- H. Carroll, Texas; J. T. b. Parks Texas. On a viva voce vote the Texas veteran Dr. Parks, was unanimously elected first vice-president. The convention unanimously re-elect ed Drs. Lansing Burrows and O. F. Gregory as secretaries. President Haralson then introduced Commissioner Ross, who made a brief address of welcome. Rev. Dr. C. C. Meader, Moderator of the District Conference, spoke in wel come on the lehalf the Washington churches. He was followed by Rev. Dr. J. R. Sampey, of Kentucky, of the Southern Seminary, who made a ringing address in response to the hearty welcome ex tended to the delegates. He made a happy reference to the late war, and de clared that the Southern people have the very warmest feelings for those of the North. The following committees tvas ap pointed to arrange for a memo rial service to be held next Sun day in memory of Dr. Broad dus: Henry McDonald, of Georgia; C. S. Gardner, “of Bouth Carolina; F. H. Keerfot, of Kentucky; Franklin Wilson, of North Carolina, and George Cooper, of Virginia. Rev. Dr. H. L. Morehouse, Corres ponding Secretary of the American Bap tist Home Missionary Society, was in vited to the platform, and made an ex tended address on the subject of work to be done among the colored people in the South. There is little more original pioneer missionary work to be done among them now, he said, as that has been practically all done. The colored people in the South are most enthusiastic and most in tensely BapMst. They have organized and are in good standing but their con ventions have fallen into such condi tions that they have great need of aid in rehabilitating their conferences. They are addicted to debate, and they accom plish little or nothing when they assem ble. The board of home missions there fore wants to take hold of the colored conventions and help them out. The speaker went on to speak of the work to be done in antagonizing the proseleyting effect of the Catholic Church among the colored people, and gave an eloquent sketch of the history of the religious movement in the South. Reports were then eallod for. T. P, Bell, corresponding secretary and treas urer of the Sabbath School Board pre sented his report. It showed that the receipts have been $63,034, as against $48,539 last year. The work of the foreign mission board was presented by R. T. Willingham, cor responding secretary, and referred to committees on papal fields, pagan fields, and financial policy. The total amount given for the cause iu the past year was over $129,000, but expenses for collecting it in the States re duced the receipts of the board to $125,417. This was more by $20,000 than the receipts of the previous year and $15,000 more than any previous year in the history of tbe convention, except, of course, the centennial year. Os all the funds received by the board 92 cents on the dollar was used for expenses aud this includes all the cost of the Women’s Missionary Union in Baltimore. The Women’s* Missionary Union raised $5,397 toward liquidating the debt of the foreign board and the State societies contributed to the general funds $25,000. The debt of the board has been reduced from $30,000 to less than $20,000. At the close of the year there were in the foreign mission fields 85 churches, 114 out-stations, 91 mis sionaries, 30 ordained natives, 59 unor dained native workers, membership 3,493, Sabbath-school pupils 1,503, 22 houses of worship 15 day schools with 707 pupils. The natives contributed $0,459. I. E. Tiehenor reported for the Home Mission Board as follows: Missionaries, 425; increase 44, and more than in any year of.the boards his tory. Baptised 5,921; increase 1,451, and 572 more than have been bapized in any one year since the organization of the convention. Cash receipts $88,040, be ing $15,400 larger than last year, and greater than any previous year except the centennial. The board began this year with a debt of $0,763. May Ist it had been reduced to $ll,OO. The general statistics of tbe conven tion were given in a compilation made by Secretary Burrows. It showed the following totals: District associations, 702; ordained ministers, 9,907; churches, 17,803; mem bership, white, 1,431,041; colored churches, 12,838; membership, 1,317,- 130; aggregate membership, 2,748,171. After the reading of these reports the convention adjourned. For God and Home and Every Land. The seventh annual meeting of the Women’s Missionary Union, whose motto Is “For God and Home and Every RALEIGH. N. C., SATURDAY. MAY 11. 1895. Land,” and which is auxiliary to the Southeru Baptist Convention, opened to day. An address of wel come was made by Mrs. btakely, wife of tbe pastor of the First Baptist Church of this city. The response was eloquently made by Mrs. J. O. Porter of Florida. The address by the President, Mrs. A. M. Gwathmey followed. The rest of the session was occupied by routine proceedings, appointments of commit tees and reading of reports. Miss Arm strong read her report. It. includes in teresting reminiscences of the infancy of the society, which came into existence in 1888 and was composed of ten States banded together, followed in three years by three other States. In 1887, $17,000 covered all contributions reported to home and foreign boards. To-day the treasurer announced a total of $48,449. Educational Society Trustees. The American Baptist Educational Society has elected the following officers for the ensuing year : President, Andrew McLeish, Illinois; Vice Presidents, J. P. Greene, D. I>., Missouri, aud Hon. J. N. Dolpb, Ore gon; Recording Secretary, Rev. K M. Poteat, Connecticut; Corresponding Sec retary, H. L. Morehouse, D. D., New York; Treasurer, Joshua Lovering, Mary land; Auditor, M. M. Isaacs, New York; Members of the Board of Trustees, John Humpstone, D. D., Brooklyn; Rev. J. M. Taylor, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; Rev. A. M. Butrick, Albany, N. Y ; Prof. W. R. Harper, Chicago; Hon. C. W. Kings ley, Boston; H. C. Woods, D. D . Colo rado Springs, Colorado; Hon. J. L. Howard, Hartford, Conn.; Prof. A. S. Bickmore, New York City; L A. Cran dall, D. D., Chicago; F. M. Ellis, D D., Baltimore; J. A. Smith, I). D., Chicago; A. G. Lawson, Camden, N. J. The trustees have elected Prof. W. H. Whitsitt, President of the Southern Bap tist Theological Seminary. He now oc cupies the chair of Church History, and is probably one of the most scholarly men in the Baptist denomination. He is the author* of many ecclesiastical works. They Storm the White House. The delegates to the conference of the Southern Baptist Church, now in session in Washington, with their wives, daugh ters and friends, 3,000 strong, were re ceived by the President at four o’clock this afternoon in the East room of the White House. They composed the largest body of people received by Mr. Cleveland in the White House since his inauguration in 1893, and despite the fact that the day was very warm, he stood the ordeal without any apparent fatigue. Dr. Stakely, of Wash ington, made the introductions, and as the delegates and those accompanying them passed the President they filed into the private rooms on the lower floor of the mansion which had been thrown open for their inspection. The reception last ed one hour and a half. BUSINESS STILL IMPROVING, And in the Improvement the South is Still Leading. New York, May 10.—Bradstreet's to morrow will say: The present week brings distinct and, in some instances even more pronounced evidences of improvement in business, notwithstanding the increase of the wave of industrial discontent and strikes for higher wages always the accompaniment of an upward tendency of prices. Some little gain in demand for either dry goods, plantation supplies, or in collections (which is most significant,) is announced by two-thirds of all cities re porting. Savannah expects next week’s carnival to stimulate demand, and Au gusta States that factories are asking for less money than a year ago. Merchants j at Memphis, Charleston, Chattanooga, and Atlanta have experienced a better demand, but at Birmingham. New Or leans and Galveston, businets remains quiet or unchanged. Cotton goods are not moving very ac tively at the advances; buyers have sup plied themselves at lower figures. Pop ular lines of prints are relatively active. First orders for dress woolens for fall delivery have been taken, but demaud is moderate. Woolen machinery is fairly j employed. Wool is quiet. Prices at the | interior being above views of manufac- I turers, and stocks at eastern markets being in light supply. The clip is late. COTTON ACREAGE. Low Prices Seem to liave Little Effect ou the Crop Planted this Year. Washington, D. C., May If. —The cotton report as consolidated by the statistician of the Department of Agricul ture for the month of May relates to pro gress of cotton planting and contem plated acreages. The amount of the proposed breadth planted prior to the first of May was 78 5 [>er cent, against 81.6 last year, 85.5 year before, which is ten points lower than the acreage usually planted at that date. The returned estimates of area planted by States are as follows: North Carolina 55; South Carolina 75; Georgia 79; Flo rida 95; Alabama 87; Mississippi 84; Louisiana 86; Texas 75; Arkansas 79; Tennessee 79. The delay was caused principally by the backward spring, while in some sec tions was the result of dry weather. The indications at present {joint to about the usual acreages in tbe States of North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama aud Arkansas, and a reduction in the States of Mississippi, Texas and Tennes see. Final statement of the crop of 1894 will be given to morrow. GEN. W. H. C. WHITING * A SYNOPSIS OF CAPT. DENSON’S MEMORIAL ADDRESS YES TERDAY. THE FALL OF FORT FISHER. A Review of tin- Lite and Career of Gcu. Whiting-»Though an Adopted Son ot North Carolina he was one ot Her Bravest Soldier* and Ablest Gen erals— His Eminent Services to Gen. Jos. E. Johnston—llls Gallant De fence of Fort Fisher and his Death, “Character is the foundation of human greatness. In ifs perfection it repre sents in the individual the sum of the activities of life. In a national sense it is the developement in history of the ruling spirit of a people leading to the ttowei of achievement to the utmost limit of the moral, physical and intel lectual effort, in the discharge of duty. The element of character most God-like is self-sacrifice.” 11 is according to t his standard, the speak ed continued, that to-day t hirt y years after the deep mouthed cannon have hushed their voices, their living comrades have assembled to honor the memory of the most peerless heroes in the annals of the world the Confederate dead. He spoke of the devotion of the South ern people to the L’nion and enumerated the great, sacrifices of blood aud money they had made for constitutional liberty. Southern men had lighted the torch of liberty, drafted the constitution, fought and conquered iu the Revolutionary war and Southern genius in the early days of the Republic had dominated the country and led it step by step to the pinnacle of fame.. He told what astupeudous price North Carolina had paid in her defense of the constitutional rights of the States. He spoke in eloquent terms of the services of her statesmen and soldiers and declar ed that they were right and that North Carolina would have been recreant to her duty had she done otherwise than she did. Tried by the standard of devotion ! to duty and sublime self-sacrifice, the I men we delight to honor are worthy of j the highest niche in the temple of rnili- I tary fame. Capt. Denson reviewed the brave s deeds of the North Carolina troops in I the great battles of the war. He pointed j to the magnificent spectacle of the un dying courage displayed by tbe Fifth North Carolina Regiment at Williams burg, the Fourth N. C. at Seven Fines; tho Third N. C. at Spottsyvania; the Twen tieth at Frazier’s Farm; the Twenty-sixth at Gettysburg, whose loss was the greatest recorded in history, and the Thirty-sixth at F i *rt Fisher. “These have given to ’ our history a halo of imperishable fame.” j The tribute here paid to “the boys”— i the privates fighting in the ranks was , eloquent and touching, i But it was his privilege, the speaker : said, to recite briefly some of the many I leaves of history which cluster, like : chaplets of laurel, around an illustrious j soldier who, though not born upon North j Carolina soil, loved with his tvhole heart | the State and her people aud gave his life for them William Henry Chase ; Whiting. Gen. Whiting's early life in Mississip pi, his boyhood days in Bostou and at Georgetown College, I). C., and at West Point were rapidly sketched by the speaker. He told of the brilliance of the young student in his studies, always leading his class, and at the age twenty one graduating at the head of his class at West Point. Captain Denson read a let ter from Gen. Fitz John Porter describ ing Cadet Whiting's career as most ex- j emplary and declaring that he possessed 1 those “qualities that caused him to be ! loved by his companions aud respected j by his subordinates, and honored and | trusted by his superiors.” I pon graduating Whiting's position ; entitled him to the honor of an appoint- | rneut to the Engineer Corps, the elite of j the army. His services in this capacity j and his rapid promotion were enumerated ! by the speaker. When the State of : Georgia seceded it made him Major of Engineers, and soon after he received the J same rank in the Confederate army. “Then began the long line of services j in many capacities and at many points j to the Southern cause, much of which was devoted to North Carolina, and the closing years of his career wholly so ” He was first sent to Charleston to in spect the works being constructed against Sumter, and was highly complimented by Gen. Beauregard for laying out the Channel Batteries on Mare’s Island. From Charleston he came to North Carolina to advise with Gov. Ellis con cerning the defences of the Cape Fear. Thence he went to Harper’s Ferry, and Gen. Jos. E. Johnston, who was in com mand there, says Major Whiting, “an engineer of great ability.” convinced him that that place could not be held against equal numbers. In the first great conflict at Bull Run, Whiting was with the troops whose opportune arrival saved the day, in cluding the gallant Sixth North Carolina, whose Colonel, Fisher, gave up his life on the field. In his official report of the battle, Gen. Jos. E. Johnston men tions Whiting first of all of his staff, and declares: “Maj. W. H. O. Whiting, Chief Engineer, was invaluable to me for his signal ability in his profession, and for his indefatigable activity before and in the battle.” For his brilliant service iu the field President Davis wrote with his own hand an order assigning Major Whiting to duty with “volunteers,” with the tempo rary rank of Brigadier. Gen. Whiting next rendered signal service to General Johnston when he decided to evacuate Norfolk and Yorktown and retire upon Richmond by routing, with two brigades, the whole ot Franklin’s superb division which had landed at West Point and en trenched themselves in a thick wood. Again at Seven Pines Whiting pre vented Sumner from reaching Keyes (a matter of supreme importance) and de prived Keyes of two brigades and a bat tery of bis own troops. Here the speaker read an unpublished letter from Gen. Pettigrew to Whiting fraught with the pure patriotism and exquisite self-sacrifice characteristic of both heroes, who sleep the sleep of death together for the cause they loved. Gaines Mills was a critical moment for the Confederacy. Men like leaves were falling before the Federal fire, the artil lery was tearing great, gaps in the Con federate ranks and the battle was all but last when Gen. Whiting’s division crossed the woods and marshy ground below the mill, arrived in the rear of that portion of the line held by the remnant of A. P. Hill’s division and ordered his troops to charge at double quick time, with trailed arms and without firing. His orders were strictly obeyed and the as sault was a success. When Whiting’s division had burst through, the Federal lines gave way in both directions. On the 28th of February, 1863, Briga dier Gen. Whiting was promoted to Ma jor General, and was in November as signed to the defence of Cape Fear river. Proceeding to his post of duty General Whiting at once realized the importance of Wilmington, as the only port practi cable for use by the Confederates. Writ ing to his Commanding General he de clared that it was “the mouth of the Confederate States” and that to lose it would be a fatal blow aud endanger the life of Lee’s army. It was in fact the second capital of the Confederacy and it is strange that the vast importance of this last harbor of access was not realized till the die had been cast and all was over. “Ably seconded by the brave and in genious efforts of Col. Wm. Lamb, com mander of the 36 N. C. regiment of heavy artillery a line of defences was constructed on the land side at Fort Fisher, and Forts Caswell, Holmes, Campbell, Anderson and others were greatly strengthened, enlarged and furnished with better artillery where practicable; military roads and bridges were made extending up the sounds, complete topographical maps prepared, torpedoes made and filled, the channel obstructed except at points commanded by a chain of batteries on the river; a pontoon bridge constructed; batteries thrown up commanding the approach at North East river, from Goldsboro or Newbern; re-doubts built near the city, mines dug and telegraphs placed in po sition. But there were two vital needs he couldn't control—the number of t roops to support the works and the amount of ammunition to carry on the contest. ” Gen. Whiting’s letter books show, in his requests to the.Seeretary of War, how literally his prophecy was fulfilled. He declared that to allow the enemy to get a foot-hold near either Caswell or Fisher was to jeopardize all the work pre viously done. Gen. Whiting gave his heart to the work of defending North Caro lina. He had before the war been en gaged in the work of improving the nav igation of the Cape Fear, and his bride was one of the most exalted women of all that section, Miss Kate Walker, daughter of Maj. John Walker, of Smith ville and Wilmington. His work went on day after day, but he never ceased to w r arn Richmond that fortifications alone could not accomplish the task of holding the port—there must be a supporting force of troops to meet i at once the troops disembarked by the j enemy. Meanwhile events were rapidly pro gressing elsewhere, and the sad story of | Confederate losses was growing fa miliar. Here the speaker read a letter from Gen. Johnston to Gen. Whiting, in which he says “If you were with me I should feel confident'’—“this,” continued the orator, “is a sentence which should be the immortal epitaph of the hero whose life we attempt to review to-day. ” After describing in detail the de- j fences of Forts Fisher and Caswell, and ; their lack of guns and ammunition, Capt. Denson said: “Rumors came thick and fast of the great expedition in preparation, and in the midst of active movements the troops were thunder struck at the news that Gen. Braxton Bragg had assumed command at Wil mington, superseding but not removing Gen. Whiting, who remained second in command. Though Gen. Bragg’s career in Mexico had been brilliant, his record through out the late war had been one of failure, and the troops were greatly disappointed. But the patriotic Whiting showed no feeling at being superseded. He only went to work with redoubled energy to prepare for the impending attack. Half the garrison had already been sent to Georgia under Maj. Stevenson against Sherman. It was Saturday, Christmas eve, that the beginning of the end came. With the rising of the morniug sun came into view on the horizon three men of w7ar— the Minnesota, Colorado and Wabash. For five hours they poured a murderous hail of shot and shell into the works. Gen. W’hiting had been assigned to no duty by Gen. Bragg, although it was his right to have commanded the supporting troops. But he determined to share its fate fighting as a volunteer. On the second day the murderous fire was continued. The Federal troops landed out of range of the guns of the fort and as evening approached a column of attack was formed. The garrison was rallied to the palisade and had not PRICE FIVE CENTS. the advancing column stopped before reaching the fort, hardly a man of them would have been left, alive to tell the tale. The Federal troops re embarked and the first battle of Fort Fisher was over, len thousand shots had been tired but tlie damage to the fort was compara tively small. The great Armada steamed North ward to take fresh troops and refit. Gen. Whiting asked for more arms and am munition, as there was left only a dangerously small supply. But in vain. The great battle was renewed on Jan uary 13, I t and 15. The fleet arrived the night of the 12th, and next day be gan the rain of projectiles, increasing in tiring at times to 160 per minute. All night long the fiery globes rolled along the parapet; the palisades were cut to pieces, and the wires to the mines were ploughed up iu the deep sands. An English officer who had been at Sebastopal declared it was but child’s play to this terrific shaking of earth and sea by a fleet whose broadside could throw 44,000 pounds of iron at a single discharge. The men fought on in the depth ot winter without a blanket for rest, with corn meal coffee and uncooked rations, for three days. On the evening of 13th some 8,500 troops landed four miles north and began an approach upon the fort. Gen. Bragg's troops had been or dered 10 miles away far an idle review, and when they did arrive he refused to order them to the attack though repeat edly urged to do so. The fire suddenly increased on the af ternoon of the 15th and about 1,600 picked sailors aud 400 marines were seen approaching. Whiting and Lamb ral lied their gallant band and the struggle was terrible, but with 21 officers killed and wounded that column was broken to pieces and only by flight did they escape capture. But the victory was short-lived. Half a mile distant at the left of the land force Ames’ division had assembled through the palisades and just as the naval attack was beaten back the Federal flags were planted on the traverses. Gen. Whiting called to his men to fol low him, and a hand to hand conflict, with clubbed muskets, began. One tra verse was retaken and just as he was climbing the other and had his hand upon the Federal flag to tear it down, Gen. Whiting fell, receiving two wounds, one very severe, through the thigh. Col. Lamb fell soon after with a desperate wound through the hip. Yet the troops fought hour after hour at this traverse. “It was the struggle of North Carolina patriots.” But the enemy had too strongly entrenched themselves ever to be dis lodged. The garrison retired to Battery Bucha nan, taking its wounded officers and two heavy guns. “To capture fort Fisher,” said the speaker, “the enemy lost, by their own statement, 1,445 killed, wounded and missing. Nineteen hundred Confeder ates with 44 guns, contending against 10,000 men on shore (8,500 of the army and 3,000 of the navy) and 600 heavy guns afloat, killing and wounding almost as many of the enemy as there were sol diers in the fort, and not surrendering until the last shot was expended. “When I recall this magnificent strug gle, unsurpassed iu ancient or modern warfare, I feel proud to know that I have North Carolina blood coursing through my veins, and I confidently be lieve that the time will come with the Old North State, when her people will regard her defense of Fort Fisher as the grandest event in her historic past.” While in prison Gen. Whiting was in separate quarters trom other prisoners and there was every indication that he would recover. His death was a great surprise and shock. “He w 7 as the soul of honor; none braver, none more gentle. North Caro lina may well feel proud of her adopted son.” Capt. Denson closed his address with a beautiful story of a delicate young stripling, named Murphy, from Duplin county, who had been called upon a number of times to carry orders to Battery Buchanan. The bombard ment was terrific and the young boy had just returned from an errand very much exhausted when he was called to return ion another. Gen. Whiting noted the boy’s fatigue and fear of the shot and shell falling in his path, and taking him by the hand he said, “Come on my boy, I’ll go with you,” and accompanied him safely to his destination amid the flying lead and bursting bombs. The speaker paid a beautiful tribute to the noble self-sacrificing women of North Carolina who had just completed a monument to the Confederate dead aud declared that it would be an inspira tion and a guide, ever speaking to the youth of the land Gen. Whiting glorious words: “Corre my boy: have uo fear la the path of duty; “I, the Spirit of the 1 lead, will go with you.” The address of Capt. Denson was both able and eloquent, and was well received by his hearers. It contains many facts of great historical importance, and will form a valuable contribution to our war literature. No synopsis can begin to do the address justice, and the ladies have already arranged to print it in full in the Memorial edition of the Ne\t-< and Observer. Nicaragua to Pay the Entire Amount. London, May 9. —lt is announced, upon the authority of the Exchange Telegraph Company, that the Nicara guan government will pay the entire amount of the indemnity demanded by Great Britain at the London office iu a few days.
The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
May 11, 1895, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75