North Carolina Newspapers

The Weather To-Day: FAIR; COLDER. The News and Observer. VOL. XLVII. NO. Bs. LEADS ALL NORTH GAROUNA HUES 1 lEIS 111 CIRCULATION. LAWTON FULLS IN FRQNTOF HIS MEN The Gallant Officer Fights His Last Battle. MET DEATH AT SAN MATEO SHOT IX THE BREAST, HE DIES INSTANTLY. BRIEF SKETCH OF HIS BRILLIANT CAREER He Served With Distinction in the Union Army in the Civil War, in the War With Spain and Lastly in the Philippines. Manila, Dec. 19. —Major General Henry W. Lawton, has been shot and killed at San Mateo. He was standing in front of his troops, was shot in the breast and died immediately. Orderlies rushed across the field for surgeons Who dashed up immediately, but, their efforts were useless. The body was taken to a clump of bushes and laid upon a stretcher, the familiar white helmet covering the face of the dead general. Almost at this moment, the cheers of the American, troops rushing into San Mateo were mangling with the Title vol leys. After tin* fight six stalwart caval rymen forded the river to the town car rying the litter on their shou.ders, the staff preceding with the colors. <and a cavalry escort following. The troops fil ed 'bareheaded through the building where the body was laid, and many a tear fell from the eyes of men who had long followed the Intrepid Lawton. The entire command was stricken with grief, as though each man had suffered a per sonal loss. Owing to the condition of the country which is impassable so far as vehicles are concerned the remains could pot Ik? brought to Manila today. Mrs. Lawton and the children are living in a govern ment residence formerly occupied by a Spanish general. Sam Mateo lb-s between a high mountain behind and a broad, shallow stream in front, with wide sand bars which the insurgent trenches and the buildings command. The Ameri cans were compelled to ford the river un der fire. It was while they were lying in the rice fields and volleying across preparatory to passing the stream that General Lawton was shot. All except the officers were behind cover. Staff officer was wounded about the same time, and ore other officer and seven men Were wounded. After three hours* shooting the Eili pinos were dispersed into the mountains. Colonel Ixickett took command when General Lawton fell. STORY OF THE BATTLE. Manila, D«*c. 39.—(11 p. m.) —General Lawton left home Monday night, having returned from his northern operations Saturday to lead an expedition through Mariquina Valley, which has been am insurgent stronghold throughout the war. The valley has several times been invad ed, but never held by the Americans. General Geroniimo was supposed to have there the largest organized force north of Manila and General Otis wished to garrison Mariquina. The night was one of the worst of the season. A terrific rain had begun and is still continuing. Accompanied by his staff and Troop 1. Fourth Cavalry, General Lawton st t out at 9 o'clock in advance of the main force consisting of the Eleventh Cavalry and one battalion each of the Twentieth mid Twenty-seventh infantry, which started from La Luna at midnight. With a small escort, he led the way through ari almost pathless country, a distance of 15 miles over hills an l through canebrake and deep mud. the horses climbing the rocks and sliding down the bills. Before daybreak the <*oimn««d had reached the head of the valley. San Mateo was attacked at eight o’clock and a three hours’ fight ensued. This resulted in but few casualties on flic American side, apart from the death of General La wit on, hut the attack was difficult because of the natural defenses cif the town. Ge neral Lawton was walk ing along the firing line wtihfin three hundred yards of a small sharpshooters’ trench, conspicuous in the big white hel met lie were, and a light yellow rau coat. He was also easily distinguishable because of bis commanding statue. The sharpshooters directed several elose shot which dipt* d the grass near. His staff officer* called General Lawton’s attention to the danger he was in, but he only laughed With his usual contempt for bullets* Suddenly he exclaimed: iam shot,” clenched iiis hands in a «h .-operate effort to statu! erect, atul fell into the arm id a staff officer, CONFIRMED BY OTIS. Washington, Dec. 19. —The War Do part men t tonight received the following official confirmation of the killing of General Lawton, near San Mateo, Lu zon: “Manila, Dec. 19. —General Lawton engaged in driving insurgents from San Mateo section of country northeast of Manila killed instantly at 9:30 yester day morning. A great loss to us and bis country. (Signed) “OTIS.” GENERAL LAWTON’S CAREER. General Lawton was known ns a good fighter and soldier of experience and ability. He served in the Union army throughout the Civil War, having en tered the service as Sergeant of Com pany E. Ninth. Indiana volunteer infan try in April, 1861. In March, 1860, he was brevetted Colonel for gallant and meritorious service during the war. He entered the regular establishment in July, 1866, as Second Lieutenant of the Forty-first infantry (colored), and re mained with that branch of the army until January, 1871. when he was trans ferred to the Fourth cavalry, with which he remained until September. 1888. when he was appointed Inspector General with the rank of Major. Later he was promoted to the rank of Lieuten ant Colonel and held the tank until the opening of the war with Spain, when President McKinley appointed him Brigadier of volunteers and assigned him to the command of a division of the Fifth army corps, commanded by Gener al Shatter. He served with distinction in the operations before Santiago. On General Lawton’s arrival in Ma nila in February last, he relieved Gen eral Anderson, in command of the regular troops, lie captured Santa Cruz, at the extreme end of the lake near Manila. April 10th. This place, which was a Filipino stronghold, fell into the hands of General Lawton’s expedition after some sharp fighting, which formed one of the most interest ing battles of the war. The General’s next hard fighting took place in his attack on San Rafael. After the capture of San Isidro by General Lawton, President McKinley sent him a dispatch of congratulation. It was announced June Ist that Gen eral Lawton had been placed in com mand of the defense of Manila and the troops forming the line around the city. Early in October General Liwton was engaged in dispersing the insurgents and cutting off the communication main tained by them between Bacoor and I unis, by means of the road be tween those places. He was success ful in clearing the country of the Fili pinos. General Lawton and General Young arrived at Arayat, October 19th, with a force of about 3,000 men. lie next made his headquarters at Uabanatuan. About the middle of November the whereabouts of Generals Lawton and Young, on aeount of the rapidity of their movements, became almost as myste rious as that of Aguinaldo. The General was at Tayaug, on De cember Ist, his troops having captured large quantities of insurgent supplies. Later he returned to Manila and started December 18th to capture San Mateo, where he was shot and killed. LAWTONS INDIAN CAMPAIGN. Washington, Dec. 19.—General Law ton’s death was a great shock to the officers of the War Department, to near ly all of whom he was known person ally. Hitherto his luck in battle had been marvelous. He had been in hun dreds of skirmishes and midnight attacks, j He was regarded as a man of action and of splendid courage, but was not considered reckless. lie never exposed his men without due consideration of the risks and the stake. liis men knew this and would unhesitatingly follow his lead under what seemed to lie the most desperate conditions. The Indians came to know him as the most active, vigilant, wary and determined of foes, and Bx 3 | pursuit and capture of (Jeronimo, the famous Apache chieftain, lias gone down to history as one of the most remarkable campaigns ever undertaken with the small force in hand. General Miles picked out Lawton to lead tin* chase after the IrSdinn chief, and for three months, day and night, without a pause, through all sorts of vicissitudes of weather and personal .suffering Liw ton hung on the trail like a bloodhound until the game wasrun to earth, anil for the first time in a quarter of a cen tury, Southeastern Arizona was pacified. Secretary Root au l the President each tonight expressed their profound grief at the confirmation of the report of the death of the gallant general. LIEUT. BRUMBY’S FUNERAL. It Will Take Place in Atlanta Today. Body Leaves Washington. Atlanta, Go., Dec. 19. —The funeral of Flag Lieutenant Brumby will take place tomorrow afternoon. Immediately upon its arrived tomorrow morning the body will be escorted to the State capitol where it will lie in state under military guard from 10 a. m. until 2 p. tn. The honorary escort which will accom pany the funeral cortege from the State House to the cemetery will be composed of Governor Candler, United States Senators Bacon and (’lay, Mayor Wood ward, Lieutenant Caldwell, U. S. N.; the Supreme Court Justice and State and city officials. The funeral services will be conducted at St. Philips’ Ca thedral, Bishop Nelson officiating. THE REMAINS BN ROUTE. Washington, Dec. 19. —The remains of the late Lieutenant Brumby were es corted to the railway station this morn ing with full naval honors and dis patched on the 11:15 train over the Southern Railway for Atlanta, where they will he interred. The body was enclosed in a handsome casket wrapped in the American flag. The escort was made up of a detachment of marines from the barracks here, headed by the full marine band, all under command of Lieutenant Commander Met Tea, U. S. N. There were many floral tributes from Admiral Dewey and friends and relatives of the deceased. Six sailors from the navy yard served as the pall bearers. Admiral Dewey with the Geor gia Congressional delegation, Mrs. Hey ward. sister of the deceased, dml Mr. and Mrs. A. Du harry, aeompanied the cortege from the hospital to the rail way station. UVon reaching Atlanta the remains will be placed in the Heyward vault at Oakland cemetery. William Hunter, for ten years chief engineer of the Central of Georgia Railway System, died at Savannah yes -1 terday of pneumonia. RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 20, 1899. GROW DEFENDS THE ADMINISTRAIiON In Its Policy of Retaining the Philippines. McKINLEY’S PROSPERITY BELL (POINTS TO PRICKING OF IN I)l ’STRIAL BUBBLES. LINNEY FINDS PROSPERITY WITH A BIG P. He Reads a Letter From a Horny Handed Son of Toil on Whom Fortune is Smiling, and Thereby Creates Much Merriment. Washington, Dec. 19.—The House was in session two hours today. A large num ber of perfunctory resolutions for print ing for committees, leave to sit during the sessions ,eto., necessary to get the committees under way, were adopted and the several portions of the President’s message were distributed in accordance with the usual custom. The resolution for the distribution of the message was made the occasion of a speech by Mr. Grow, the venerable ex-speaker of the House, in defense of the Administration's course in the Philippines and by Mr. Call, a Colorado Populist, criticising the President’s utterances upon tin 1 prosper ity of the country. Scores of the mem bers loft for their homes this afternoon to spend the holidays. Mr. Grow read a carefully prepared speech in defense of the policy of re taining possession of the Philippines as a logical result of the war with Spain and Dewey’s victory in Manila Bay. Ho said the people of the District of Columbia would have just as much right to rebttl against the authority of the United States as the people of the Phil ippines. The “copperheads” of 1861-’6O wore succeeded by the “anti-imperial ists” of today. Both sought to embar rass the Government. Mr. Bell. (Colo.), submitted some re marks in criticism of the statements in the President’s message about the pros perous condition of the country. He charged that a large proportion of the alleged prosperity was fictitious and in stanced the ease of the numerous indus trial trusts which he said had been in flated with wind and floated. Many of theso bubbles had been pricked within the last few days and today the news papers were filled with the stories of dis aster on Wall street. During Mr. Bell’s speech, Mr. Linney, (N. (’.), interrupted him. “I want to read to you a sentence from a letter from a resident of North Caro lina. which I was just reading,” said he. Mr. Linney read as follows: “I sometimes think how can it he? Am 1 mistaken? Is the Republican par ty right on the money and all other pule lie questions and we ‘honest, horny hand l'd sons of toil’ always wrong? Really it looks that way now. God grant that prosperity is come to stay whether brought about by your party or uot. We needed help, we have it, and L am thank ful.” The reading of this extract caused much merriment. DISCUSSION IN THE SENATE. Os the Financial Bill Will Begin on January 4th. Washington. Deo. 19. —Discussion in the Senate of the financial measures drafted by the Republican majority ot the Committee on Finance will begin on Tuesday, January 4th, the day after the holiday recess. This aumonneement was made in the Senate today by Mr. Aid rich, (It .1.), Chairman of the Finance 'Committee in connection with his report of the Senate substitute of the Financial Bill passed yesterday by the House. Mr. Aldrich, who will have charge of the measure, declared his purpose to press the measure to passage as soon a#* possi ble. Mr. Vest, (Mo.), desired it to be under stood that the bill reported by the Fi nance Committee, did not represent the views of the minority of the committee. Hon. W. V. Allen, appointed by Gov ernor Poynter, as Senator from Nebras ka, today took the oath of office. After an executive session the Setmate adjourned as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Representative Bland.’ PENNSYLVANIA MOB’S WORK. A Negro Murderer Pursued and Rid dled With Bullets. Dunbar, I’a., Dee. 19. —Sanford White. 'Superintendent of Construction of the \V. J. Rainey Coke Compart', was shot and killed today l>y David 1 eree, a col ons! employe. Pierce then tied to the mountains, fol lowed by an angry mob. He was dis cerned in hiding and riddled with bul lets, Death was instantaneous. There is great excitement. Prominent Banking Firm Fails. Boston, Mass., Dec. 19.—Dillawny and Starr, hankers and brokers of this city, assigned today. The firm is one of the most promi nent of its kind in the city and is com posed of Charles F. W. Dillawny, Geo. 11. Flint and A. W. Lawrence. WITNESSES FROM UTAH ARE HEARD Roberts Objects to Testimony Prior to 1899- RGBERTS’ THREE WIVES A TALK WITH DOCTOR MAGGiri SHIPP ROBERTS. EVIDENCE AGAINST ROBERTS CLOSED He Has no Witnesses But Will Present Some Documen’ary Evidence. The Committee Will Hear Argument on the Case on January the Fourth. Washington, Dec. 19. —A number of witnesses from Utah, -appeared today before the committee of the House of Representatives, which is investigating the ease of Mr. Roberts, of Utah. They included Mrs. Dr. Luella Mile*, praetic inf physician of Salt Lake City; Mrs. McDougall, Mr. E. L. McDaniel and Rev. E. 'S. Wishard, all of Salt Lake. Mr. Roberts was present, unaccom panied. and sat alongside the witnesses, conducting the cross examination. Mrs. Dr. Miles was the first witness. She gave the details of a call she made at the house of Mrs. I>r. Maggie Shipp- Itoherts out April 12th, 1897. relative to some medical society affairs. Sin* ad dressed Mrs. Shipix-Roberts as “Dr. Shipp,” whereupon the witness said, she was interrupted with the request: “Doctor, you can call me Mrs. Roberts.” ■frxrs. Robert* went on to explain, the witness said, th at she had been married to Mr. Robert* for seven years. She asked that the medical society mail sent her in the future be addressed as "I>r. Roberts." not "I>r. Shipp.” Subse quently the witness called at the house, ami after a visit, Mr. Roberts came in and wtas introduced. When Mr. Roberts cross examined the witness she repeated the story. “Was the introduction as husband?” lie asked. The witness could not remeiulier. -x After the witness had stopped a sole Mr. Roberts submitted an objection to the effect that this testimony related to 1897. whereas the committee had no jurisdiction over him prior to his becom ing a member of Congress. “Then you contend," saad Chairman Tayier. “that the testimony should be confined to polygamous practices sul«se qmmt to March 4th. 1899?” "I do,” answere d Mr. Roberts.” ”Tho objection will be noted,” re sponded the chairman. Rev. 8. E. Wishard was the next witness. He was in clerical garb and gave his business as that of superintend ent of the home missionary Work of the Presbyterian Synod, embracing Utah. He knew both Mr. Robert* and Mrs. I)r. Roberts, and related his first; meet ing with tin* latter in Septem’oer, 1897. This occurred, he said, on the train at Maui, Utah. He was in the car with Roberts and spoke with him. A lady sat beside him and lie beckoned to her and then introduced, her, saying: "Mrs. Roberts, Mr. Wishard.” Whether Roberts said “my wife” in making the introduction, or simply said "Mrs. Roberts.” the witness was not sure. But he was positive the introduc tion was as wife. Subsequently Mr. Wishard said he calk'd on Mrs. Roberts at her home, to make sure he had made no mistake. The sign iu the front of the house read: “Dr. Margaret C. Roberts.” Iu the parlor he saw on the wall a large portrait of Roberts, and on a table a small picture of him, lie saw Mrs. Roberts. and recalled to her the in troduction on the train and she -aid she remembered i't. Mrs. Maria McDougall testified to an incident occuring July 22nd, 1898, when sin* was on the train from Butte Mont., to Salt Lake City. Mr. Roberts and Mrs. Dr. Roberts traveled on the same car as far as Pocatello. “Once 1 hoard Mr. Roberts introduce his companion as *nry wife,’ ” testified Mrs. McDougall. and “repeatedly as ‘Mrs. Roberts.* ” Edwin McDaniels, former man iger of the Salt Lake Herald, was examined at considerable length, mainly on the poli tics and convention affairs pertaining to Roberts’ nomination for Congress. In 1896 while managing the Herald he had a conversation with Roberts in the course of which Roberts told him lie had three families. At the afternoon session. T. J. Bran don and Ray Brandon, bis son, was heard. Mr. T. J. Brandon testified to being a resident of Centerville, Utah, where he had been postmaster and pro bate judge. He bail known B. H. Rob erts for years, also Louisa Smith Rob erts and Celia Dibble Robert's. lie knew th(‘ children of Louisa Smith Roberts, five or six in number. Celia; Ilibble Roberts also lias six children, if he remembered correctly. He knew that on the morning of August 11th. 1897, it was currently reported about Centerville, that B. 11. Roberts bid twins borne to him by Celia Roberts. He bad seen them frequently since then. The chil dren occasionally called for mail B. 11. Roberts. Ray Brandon gave evidence tending to support substantially the same allega tions as to those made by Ills father. Subsequently Mr. Brandon. Sr., testified that the general repute was that Louisa Roberts is Roberts’ first wife, Celia Dib ble Roberts his second wife and Mar garet Shipp Roberts his third. Mr. So brooder stated that this closed the evidence on hand and would lie all unless the committee wished further tes timony. There wire two other gentle men who could testify, and if the com mittee desired more direct testimony it could lie hud only by summoning the women reputed to lie wives of Roberts. Chairman Tayier asked Mr. Roberts what line he desired to follow. He said he had no witnesses, but he had some documentary evidence he wished to pre sent and hoped it would arrive tomorrow. “Do you expect to place yourself on the stand as ai witness?” asked Mr. Miers. a member of the committee. “I do not,” replied Mr. Roberts. At 4 o’clock tin* committee went into executive session and decided to hear arguments on January 4th. THE BACON RESOLUTIONS. Basis of Opposition in Debates on the Question. Washington, Dec. 19.—The joint reso lutions upon the Philippines Introduced in the Senate yesterday by Senator Ba con, of Georgia, were shown to a number of Democratic Senators ‘before being pre sent! d to the Senate and tin* Impression gathered is that they will be the basis of opposition in debates upon the ques tion. The text of the resolutions, which were carefully prepared by Senator Ba con is as follows: "First. That the Government and peo ple of the United States have not waged the recent war with Spain for conquest and for the acquisition of foreign, terri tory. but solely for the purposes set forth in the resolution of Congress making the declaration of war. the acquisition of sudh small tracts of land and harbors as may be necessary for Governmental pur lH)ses being not deemed inconsistent with the same. "Second. That in demanding and re ceiving the cession of the Philippine Is lands it is not tin* purpose of the Gov ernment of the United States to secure* and maintain permanent dominion over the same as a part of the territory of the United States or to permanently i *orpir ate the inhabitants thereof as ci\ ens of the United States or to bold said Inhabi tants as vassals or subjects of this Gov ernment; and the United States hereby disclaim any disposition or intention to exercise iK*rmanont sovereignty, jurisdic tion or control over said islands. "Third. That the United States hav ing accepted the cession of the Philippine Island's from Spain, and 'having by force of arms overthrown all organized au thority and opposition to the authority of the United States therein, the duty and obligation rest upon the United States to restore peace and maintain or -1 der throughout the same; to j trot cot in said islands the enjoyment of life and property and the pursuit of lawful avo cations: and to continue such protection until the power and duty to maintain said protection shall have been transfer red ami Entrusted by the United States to a government of the j>eople of said islands deemed capable and worthy to exercise said power and discharge said duty. "Fourth. That when armed resistance to the authority of the United States ! shall have erased within said islands and ’ peace and order shall have been restored ! therein, it is the purpose and intention 1 of the United States, as soon thereafter, j as the same can lx* practically and safe ! ly accomplished, to provide the oppor ! turtity and preserilx* the method for the i formation of a government by and of the : people of the Philippine Islands, to be thereafter independently exercised and controlled by themselves, it being the de sign of the United States to accord to the people of said islands the same meas ure of liberty and independence which have liecu pledged by the Congress of the | United States to the people of Cuba. “Fifth. That when a stable govern ment. shall, by the method aforesaid, have been duly formed and erected in said islands, competent and worthy in tin* judgment of the United States to ex orcise the powers of an 'independent gov ernment and to preserve peace and main tain order within its jurisdiction, it is the purpose and intention of the I nited States reserving to themselves only such harbors and tracts of laud as may Ik* needed for coaling stations, or other gov ernmental purposes, to transfer to said government,, upon terms which shall Is* reasonable and just, all rights and terri tory secured in said islands, under tin* treaty with Spain and to thereupon leave the dominion and control of the islands to their people. "Sixth. That, when said government has been thus formed and set up in the Philippine Islands and approved by the United States, it is the design and inten tion of the United States, through treaties with the leading nations of the world, to secure the guaranty of the con tinued independence of the same.” NOTICES OF CONTESTS. Will be Served Today in Behalf of Goebel and Beacham. Frankfort. Ivy., Dec. 19.—1 n accord ance with the decree of the Democratic State Central, Executive mid Campaign Committee, at their joint meeting last. Thursday, notices of contests against Governor Taylor and Lieutenant Gover nor Marshall will be served tomorrow by the") sheriff in behalf of Goebel and Beacham. The grounds set forth are the same as those advocated by the* attor neys for the Democratic candidates be for the State board of elections, includ ing the presence of troops in Jefferson ami the use of tissue ballots and other irregularities in other counties. Fuller’s Nomination Confirmed. Washington, Dec. 19.—The Senate today confirmed the nomination of T. C. Fuller, of North Carolina, to be jus tice of the Court of Private Land Claims and the following postmasters in Geor gia: SECTION ONE —Pages I to 8. PRICE FIVE CENTS MORF/jiiPS FOR A’ii TRANSVAAL N? England Will Raise a Mount ed Infantry Force. PORTUGAL THREATENED AID FOR BOERS THROUGH DEL AGOA BAY. A BELATED DESPATCH FROM COLENSO After Allowing the B-i-ish to Shell Them For SE Hours Without Reply, the B:ers Open on the British Artillery Al most Demolishing It. London, Dec. 19. —(Wednesday 4:45 a. m.) —Tlie government lias at last consent ed to mobilize a force which General Duller is credited with having demanded all along as an essential of success in South Africa, namely ten thousand mounted tofamitry. This morning the War Office issued an order to tin* effect that the government hail decided to raise for South Africa a mounted infantry force, to la ll called "Imperial yeomanry,” and to lx* recruited from yeomanry, vol unteers and civiliann possessing Ihe rc q ui<rite q ualificatiens. The same order invites every volunteer regiment that, is linked with a regular battalion serving at the front to supply a full company, which will take the place of the mounted infantry of the regiment. These arrangements are expected to result in a considerable force. Tin* en rolled strength of the yeomanry forces', which originated in the troublous period of the French Revolution, is now 10,- 433. Their services have never lx*en la fore called for in war. Rndyard Kipling addressed a meeting at Rottingean. last evening called for the purpose of forming a volunteer company. The British second class enrser Iris will convey Lord Kitchener from Egypt to the ■Cape. She has been ordered to steam at 16-knots. The Standard hints editorially this morning that if Portugal continues to allow supplies of war matoreal and for eign volunteers to reach »he Transvaal through Deiagoa Bay, England will have . something to say in. the matter. Statements 'are published from Boer sources in Russels and Berlin that Pres ident Kruger is willing to oncir.ue peace | eta the basis of status quo. hut iluit otherwise he will call upon the Boers in Cape vOotkmy to join in pro":aiming the I independence of the Cape toni s nr;*\s of Great Britain. RELIEF COLUMNS’ ADVANCE. Chieveley Camp. Natal. Friday, Dec. 15. —The relief column continued its «d --vatwqe from Chieveley early today intend ing to assail the Boer positions which were known to he very strong to the westward and northwest of Culenso. I Mir ing the two preceding days the B<x*rs hail allowed themselves to be Immbardtd without condescending to reply with a single shot. They further gave half an hour's opening this morning without au exchange, when suddenly they belched out a stream of fire from all their en trenchments, beside opening ft fearful cannonade with all their quick firers. field and siege guns, which were posted from end to cud of their positions. When their presence and actual positions had lx*en determined the British naval brig ade commenced shell : ”g all the r.figes north of the town with marvelous accu racy. At this time the artillery attached to General Hart’s division was busy among the entrenchments on the hill, on the British left under cover of which the Irish infantry brigade marched out in extended order to cross the river ami attack. Undoubtedly aiming at this bat tery. the Boers sent several shells near the ambulance train, which was screed to change its position. While)this was transpiring the field ar tillery. oin the right, were busy shelling the ridges of the Boer left Hank, their excellent practice attracting the atten tion of the Boers, who retaliated with a scathing tire*, almost demolishing all the guns and stampeding the gun carriage and limber horses. HEART OF FLORENCE IN ASHES. Florence Hotel, City Hall, Bank and Opera House Destroyed. 'Columbia, S. 0., Dec. 19. —Florence. S. 0.. sustained a heavy loss by fire* early this morning. The blaze started in the Florence Hotel. This building and the bank of Florence, the opera house, and the ciity 'hall were* totally destroyed. The Florence fire department was aided •by the Darlington firemen. The fire was cheeked at 6 a. in., after the principal business houses in the heart of tin* city were destroyed. Ihe total loss w ill *>o $150,000, partially insured. SENATOR MARTIN RE-ELECTED. Bv Both Houses of Virginia’s Legisla ture Acting Separately. Richmond, Ya., Dec. 19.—United States Senator Thomas S. Martin, was today re-elected for the term beginning March 4tli. 1901. by both Houses or the Assembly acting separately. To morrow the two houses will meet in joint session to canvass the vote and declare the result.