North Carolina Newspapers

fx 9 4 - U- I VOL. XXI. dniva of-tip Erj LrrcIIr. 1 - Pi V l - " Ml. L-Sfell;'1' OKI, CLAYTON w.is tall llllll L'Mllllt with flrvnr in N (iid, blue eyes, arid his I vliite li:iliil4 Kninll iiml nervous-looking, were as ...lit . - wen Kept as tnose or a woman. He was thirty, and a splash of gray on either temple, a strand or two of white in his mustache, made him look older. lie was broad-chested and muscular -by all rules-ho should have been a soldier-he looked an "open air" man, but for the years ho had been writing short stories, novelettes and serials for the weekly press. It was pool, nervous work. His name was becoming known, for he had the happy knack of blending pathos with humor. He had traveled widely, and an Australian bush idyl nt the beginning of the week would be followed by a London society story, to be followed again by a story of rustle life in the dear West Country that he loved so well. lie lived quite alone, worked and Mnoked from morning to night, loved his profession, and had practically dropped all his friends male and fe-tnale-and when a fit of the not Infre quent blues got hlra by the throat, threw his pen Into the grate and or dered up his landlady's children, and pandemonium reigned for an hour. Sometimes he gave them pennies, hut not always small coin of the realm Is not alwavs available to nil- ihors but the romns worn htico. nnfl lie enjoyed them. . 0 J 1 Of course there was a woman at the hottom of the tangle of the man's life, women complicate tnings some timeshe would have said "always.' On one particular evening he was alone and writing, when Jim Courte- ney was 6hown in and Jim was an old and tried friend-about the only friend the lonely, self-absorbed man had, and 60 the incomer sat, down and lighted his pipe, and did not bother the author for quite a quarter of an hour, and then Noel rose and stretched himself. 'What is it this time, Noel?" 'Oh. the usual thine Iova; snd rn- didly, I am getting so sick of writing love stories." "Ah, you feel like that?" Man alive, this is Christmas Eve, and somehow somehow my thoughts went back with a jump, and I remem bered one Christmas Eve when " "Your pipe's out, Noel!" Aye, so it is. Well there wa3 one Christmas Eve when " My dear boy, are you worrying about her still V Shepherds. -.-0, tu . "Yes," and then a long pause- It Is the privilege of chums to sit silent for a spell. "And all this happened four or live years ago. I never heard the rights or wrongs of the story." Noel crossed the room, and digging both hands into his pockets, looked at his chum. "There is nothing to know. After the four happy years of married life, trouble came between us, lies came be tween us; and and here I am and It's Christmas Eve. Of course our baby was only a mite a wee, blue eyed, golden-haired mite; couldn't walk, crawled, you know; but we were awful chums, and when she went and took our mite well," and the man's laugh hurt his own ears. "Well, then I took to writing love stories love, old chap, with a happy ending bishops, bridesmaids, bouquet3 and blessings, and ' his temporary excite ment had left him he added drily: 'And it pays! Now go, old chap. Mere: T tniicf fTfif mv stll ff rlone for the earlv I X. lUUOb -.v, v w - ..a rimtn wont nnt while Noel turned again to his interrupted work I tKftJ la 41 V- Between each line on every page quaint turn of expression, quaint thoughts haunted him, a dead past spoke to him. The girl-wife had been very sweet. very lovable, very beautiful and had marred two lives. There should be a special place oC torment for the person who deliberate ly comes between two people who love each other and smilingly warps two lives. Pearl Clayton was as easily led as a child, a soft, emotional weak little woman, and when Noel returned from a few days' holiday he found the house closed and Pearl and Baby had de parted. Noel drifted for a little bit, tiie 6hock unmanned him terribly, but his pen was his sole source of income, and it had to be plied if body and soul were to be kept together, and In a very few weeks he had, to some extent, regained his mental balance, and his work Improved. The eve of Christmas and the day itself appeals to most hearts, and on this particular eve Noel kept thinking back and thinking back whue he wrote. How well he remembered the extra- sized stocking he induced the nurse to knit, and how bulky it looked and felt on Christmas morning. And then came school, college, and then married life. When the scribbling fit was on him Pearl used to draw ner low wicuer chair close to his writing-table, knit- tine, or daintly fingering white mate- rial, soft and downy and fluffy for the prospective wearer, ana tne iew re- marks she made seemea to emme w and identify themselves witn wnat ne was writing; but, of course, all this happened five years ago. One odd little trick v ean naa, ana Noel remembered it this evening and missed It When his pen was working extra busily she used to lay the tips of her fin crers UDon his right hand just where hand meets wrist, sne am not iu commode him in the least. He declared her touch inspired him; they were sucn pink-tipped fingers, and so small, and he had often written witn me tuij touch on his wrist almost unconscious lyonly peeping up from time to time at a sweet oval face, into deep violet eyes love lit. But, of course, this was five years t.go. So be wrote on, feeling a little bit RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, DECEMBER orry that Chum had not stayed, for! after all he only bad another half hour's work before him. and then they could sit and chat, and perhaps drown the sound of the bells that he knew would ring out In a few hours. He was Just in the frame of mind to summon his landlady' children, but except for himself, the house was empty. There was a Christmas Eve party going on. and Mrs. Marsh and her progeny were attending It. He had been writing for half an hour since! Chum had left him, and felt the oldrfarnillar touch on his wrist. It was imagination of course, he did not even turn his head, and then he was looking into blue eyes. In the round golden-curled framed face of a boy of four, who laughed up at him and presented a rosebud to be kissed. "Goodness, child where on earth do you come from? and who who brought you. What is your name?" "Erie," and the child began : . make preparations for climbing a lofty knee. "Who brought you here. Baby Eric? How did you come?" Noel felt like an Irish member of Parliament, for "no answer was given," but a wee form, full of hugs and kisses, got fast hold upon him, and said grave ly, and yet with a sweet air of com mand: "Just come'd and now if you're not too busy, mister Father " "Yes, my son." "P'raps I'd better go to bed." "But, my child my little son who brought you here? Where is your mother?" and the tall man paced up and down. Of course, Chum had left the door open, and someone had told the child to walk straight in and the child had straight in. The author his tiny son was on the floor now, saying things to the cat, and it deserved every word, being a cat that licks stamps off letters, and loves bacon and boiled eggs thrust his hands deep into his pockets and looked down, sad eyed, at little Sunny face." "Yes, perhaps you had better come to bed." If Chum would only come, if some thing would only happen to break the silence, a silence only cleft by the sigh of a child. The church was only at the end of the street. He could hear the bell-ringers shuffling along the frosty pavement, in a few minutes and he bent to his work. Half asleep, half awake, he was con scious of the old, almost forgotten touch upon his wrist a dream doubt lessbut he could not shake it off, and then he looked down. Kneeling as of yore beside him, blue eyes tear-dimmed, was Pearl. "I have returned, Noel." It was a quavering little voice, but it thrilled him. How like she was to their child. Christmas Chimes r By Arthur Stringer I. From town a.nd tower, with lilt and tune. A gust of chime teilces flight Where thea dim golden boa.t the moon. Drift elowly down the night. II. Like startled bird, it swings end climbs. Alone. eJoud, &.fart A thousand-pinioned flock of chimes That float from star to star. III. They tire.' and fail, and turn, and cease. Joy's homing birds. and then For one glad Christmas Day of pace . jeeUnihehcarte of nacni. And then the bells clashed forth their message, "Peace on Earth, Good will Towards Men," and to two hearts they carried a sweeter, deeper message still. No word was spoken. A small figure, in a smoking jacket that reached to his heels, stood at the dividing door, an eager face turned to either. And husband and wife kissed silent ly. New York News. As to Santa Clans. With our modern fangled notions Fairy tales no longer do; 'Stead of coming down the chimney, He has now gone up the flue. IV tiling Willie, or Just Before Christmas. From the Cleveland Leader. . -5i if '.'it f i r s. .x r ' jaBABYTOVKFj It - 1 ft J 1 L I if -m- The PisctrfL An Importer t, Mtmbtr of Um Italic Qu-istAas Party. One of the important members of the Mexican Christmas party U the plnata, which tusy be the figure of a clown, a ballet dancer or a bull fighter, but !s always dressed In a pair of bloom ers stuffed with good things. One of the children, blindfolded and armed with a long pole, attempts to break these bloomers. It attempts, but falls ingloriously, says the Ledger Monthly, for there seems to be a sort f centrifugal force about the pinata. And the pole strikes far wide of its mark, not even coming PINATA. within a few feet of its enemy. Then the combatant is unblindfolded and some other child is given a chance to strike the pinata, who seems to wax wroth at these futile attempts of on slaught and say, "Hit me If you dare." Again an attempt is made, centripetal force begins to assert itself, and a gay sandal comes plunging madly down upon the head of some unfortunate vic tim. This provokes a laugh from the crowd, even the person ctruck joining in, though, on account of his sud denly aching head, his laugh may be a faint, assumed one. So, one by one, the children are given a chance to rend asunder, if net to dislodge, the pinata, and should they all fail, one by one the adults arm themselves with the hitherto futile weapon. Wildly they strike purposely in mid-air, to evoke laughter from the gleeful children un til finally the bloomers and blouse are ripped asunder. Then a deluge of sweets, the contents of the olla which 15TMAS tne blouse hid and the pole struck, come raining down and imnartiallv uv7u.uo ui lilt; juol auu the unjust, and for which there is a aoia f 4hA litn4 The Famllv Dav. rhtistmns stnc ir, Ho tho hn. day that remains exclusively a family day. Football has wrested Thanksiriv- inc riflV f mm its soplncinn fa ell i-n Vise a -v,..-.., turned New Year's into a day of so- cial functions, but neither fun nor fashion has been able to tear down the traditional ennstmas stocking, or to lure individuals y from the enjoy- mpnt rf nrlvn to nlon snro TV ho cni-o Santa Claus himself hasbeen brought before stern ethical judges and the .i.-.-x JS v . t-urisima8 uuiuer nas ueen cnucisea by hygienic ones. The Christmas tree has been called a firebrand and "ye olden time yule log" has been sup planted by the gas grate. But in spite of these changes and criticisms the day remains what it has always been, a day when family feeling runs high and when the flower of fraternity is at Its fairest. Business and politics are for gotten for once; it is not how the mar ket goes, but how his new muffler be comes him that interests man on that day, and it is the fate of puddings rather than of politicians that he watches with eagerness. It is a mat ter for congratulation that, aside from its religious significance, Christmas still retains its rights as a day set aside for domestic observances. Chi cago Tribune. Another ETent. "Well, unnstmas comes but once a year." "Shucks! So does me birthday f New York Journal. TOE ATLANTA IETUINED American War Veasel Leave Colom bian Watrr. Colon. By Cable. The United State cxntser Atlanta. Commander William !L Turner returned Friday nlht from the Gulf of Darirn. She dicov ered December IS a detachment of Co lombian troops, numbering apparently about 500 men. but, according to their statements, totalling 1.S00 or 2.000 men at Titumatl. on the western side of the gulf, just north of the mouth of the Atrato river. The commander of the Atlanta sent ashore an omccr, ho conversed with the Colombian com mander. The latter protested energet ically againt the presence of Ame ricaa warships In Colombian waters, in-so-much as war between Colombia and the United States had not been declared, and politely requested the Atlanta to leave the gulf because It belonged to Colombia. Commander Turner ignored the request, and the Atlanta returned to Colon to report to Rear Admiral Coghlan. The Colombians are clearly bufr with protective and strengthening measures. Although they treated the Americans "ourteously, they decidedly resented the presence of the Atlanta's landing party. The Colombian force was com posed partly of the men landed recent ly at the Atrato river by the Colom bian cruisers Cartagena and General Pinzon. Early in tho morning of December 15, the Atlanta sighted a Email schoon er in the centre of the Gulf of Darien, and followed her to the western shore. where the schooner attempted to hide behind an islet Lieut. Harlan P. Per rill was ordered to hoard her, and thereupon a whale-boat was lowered and pulled towards the schooner. Through the courtesy of the naval of ficers the correspondent of the Asso ciated Press accompanied the party. It was found that the schooner had on board 100 armed Colombian soldiers. commanded by General Rafael Novo, who said General Daniel Ortiz, commander-in-chief of the Colombian forces of the Atlantic and Pacific, had a large camp a mile away, on the main land. General Novo requested Laeuu Perrill to land and confer with Gen eral Ortiz. Great execitement prevailed among the Colombians on the whale-boat's ap proach. There were repeated cries or Viva Colombia." and there was a sua- den concentration of about 150 Colom bian soldiers on the beach. For some momentR the situation appeared dan gerous, and had the appearance of an ambuscade. General Ortiz appeared on w!rh ti-hpn T.'put. Perrill went naiinrp th' whale-boat, in the mean time, lvinsr close by. General Ortiz in ccf that t.w Perrill should fly the Colombian flag at the bow of tne whale-boat or lower the American nag at her stern because she was in Colom- bian waters. Lieut. Perrill replied that he did not have a Colombian flag and i-afnooH trt lower the stars and stripes. General Ortiz did not insist upon ms so doing but he pretested in writing against the presence of the Americans i pninmhtn waters. Lieut. Perrill ac- cepted the protest and conveyed It to Commander Turner, wno uwiucu v . Rear Admiral Coghlan on his arlval here. $2.soo,ooo for Seeboird. Richmond, Special.-The Seaboard Air Line Railway Company nieu a staement with the Virginia Corporation I - Commission of an issue of no.es, not aeeured by a deposit of stocks ana E4tn TrrttVl tVlO bonds and Otner ebcu""" I M ni.A MAtAfl i fo Morton Trust Uompanj. iue redeemable in full on 10 days notice, the Seaboard having the privilege of I l -1-: V.Am oil lin nn that notice. The IU Uiciu monev is loaned at 6 per cent, inter- Mf wu, iu er cent for commission. Af th banking house of Messrs. John T - was said this af- - transaction is only I Kfuwu 1101. Part of the regular proceeding In the matter of the recent financing or tne co.hnard for Ur floating debt and mr- Seaboard for its floating niHiLd ui i -- - . mingham extension. Liner Struck By Lightning. New York, Special. The White Star liner Teutonic, which arrivea rnaay v f from Liverpool, after a rought pas sage, was struck by lightning Sunday when 200 miles east of the New Foundland banks. The electrical r t rT"TTi which occurred during a gale D r, hoft-tr-o- snow storm, was declared fuu -we- j bv Captain McKinsley to be an un usual one. One of the bolts struck the foretop mast, splitting it and vnrin th Tireine rattling to the Several other halts struck the deck ship and .caused some alarm to the passengers. Shot From Ambuah. Shreveport, La,, Special. The body of George Manuel, the negro wha was thought to have killed his employer, t t vrotiMns c.t Bavou Pierre. In n a -RIvpt narlsh was found about 300 . cDQ f vtninc. ST i u;v,7w in,nit7hot ftv gis heZi?J9 e?w both the nar It now develops that both the planter Jft .IJKLS tive was robbery. News Notes. The Czar of Russia has appointed a commission to investigate the cause of the death of little Princes Elizabeth, who was reported to have been pois oned. J. W. Davidson, United States Consul at Tamsul, Formosa, reported that Russia had 200,000 troops in Manchu ria.' '." - Japanese marines landed at Mokto, Korea, and suppressed a riot. 24, 1903. WOII OF CONGttSS A Lot of Diacuaaloa a4 Little Prac tical Baal a es a. The Senate spent ore than firf hours Saturday dlcuicg tie Cuba a reciprocity bill and daring- that time er. cf Los i ilana. led the Uccuks and occupied the greater part of tfce day with an argument la oppoiltloa to the measure, lie declared that Its po&sare would greatly Injure the s ag ar Industry of the Unttol States. Sen ator Depew, on the fputllcaa aide. and Senator Clay. or. the Democratic side. upt.ortcd the bill aa a meas ure In uit interest of bota countrlea. Snator Clay said that he accepted It as a provision for the reduction oi oihi on mo part or bota coun tries. Mr. Foster declared that ther Is no moral obligation on the part of this government to enter Into the proposed arrangement with Cuba. II said we are standing at the opa aoor oi me ur Kast saying me can compete with Kngland and other for eign countries If given equality of rights, while we are entering Into a contrary arrangement In our own hemisphere. Speaking of tho claim contrary arrangement in our own hemisphere. Speaking cf the claim from the standpoint of buslnean, he contended that even without the proposed recip rocal arrangement the manufacturers of the LnitHl States could get the Cuban trade if they would ask for It. He also declared that the reduction Df our revenues which would rctult from tho enactment of the proposed law In the five years that the law wan lo continue In force would be fSS.OO'.- 000 of $40,000,000. This money munt ?o either to the Cuban sugar planters ?r to the sugar trust. In either event 1L . ine policy was one contrary to our own best Interest. Tno sneaker nro- Dounced the treaty not only a political ind economic blunder, but declared ft falls llttlo short cf a legislative crime. The fundamental error of the measure, he said, Is the taking of the fruits and vegetables of Florida and the far West, the tobacco and sugar products of tho country and placing them in competition with the Cuban products in which the tariff Is reduc- ?d of 20 per cent. He predicted that the preferential provision of the trea ty will bring on a tariff war with .orelgn countries, because anything omlng from forefgn rountrieg will be discriminated against. Reciprocity. lo said, was called by somo Republl- ans the hand-maid of protection and by sdme Democrats the haid maid of free tr?de, but In this age cf com mercialism. If he miht so t'-rm It, he leclared reciprocity to be the hand- mam or special Interests. Senator Foetwr doolurod that t.-Mr.l ihe treaty are every power and influence Df the sugar trust, giving as his rea sons that the building up of the beet sugar Industry of the West means Uio down-pulling of the sugar trust uurai free delivery, reciprocity with t-anaaa ana me new republic of Pana ma were toplc3 of discussion In the House Tuesday. The subject of rural free delivery was introduced by Mr. Maddox. Democrat, who claimed that ceriain disks naa Deen iavorea in me establishment of routes, which reiulted In a lively discussion. Mr. Hepburn. Re- publican, of Iowa, and Mr. Hemenway, Republican, of Indiana, were among the i uu urkuum.a cur. Mr. Crumpacker, Democrat, of Indi ana, defended the course pursued by the administration In dealing with the Central American situation and repllej to crlticlpms which have ben made on the opposite side of the chamber. Washington. Special. Uy the de cisive vote cf 37 to 18 the Senate passed the bill carrying Into efTect toh reciprocity treaty with Cuba. The Snal vote was taken at the close of a lay that was marked by a debate which, while at times animated, wa never acnmonluo3. The princlpial Bpeeches of the day were made by Mr. Spooner for the bill and by Mr. Bailey against it. Both Senators were subjected to frequent Interruptions. In his remarks Mr. Bailey referred to the recent agreement of the Demo cratic caucus to stand solidly on par- ty question, and warned the Reput- they i , not depend on straggling Democratic votes in support of Republican meas ures, regardless of wnetner they were 3r were not in accord with Democrat ic doctrine. The vote In detail wis as follows: Yeas Aldrich, Alger. Alice. Alllwn, Ankeny, Bacon, Ball. Beverldj?e. Blackburn, Burnham. Burrows, Bur ton, Clapp, Clark, Wyoming; C!ay, Cockerell, Cullom. Depew. Dilling ham. Dollver, Dryden. Elklns. Fair banks, Foraker, Fostr-,. Washington, Frye, Fulton. Gallinger. Gorman, Hale. Hanna, Hansbrough, I ley burn. Hoar. Hopkins. Kean. Lodge. Lone. McComas, McCreary, McCumber, Mitchell, Nelson, Overman, Penrose, Perkins, Piatt. Connecticut; Piatt. New York; Proctor, Quarlez, Scott. Simmons, Smoot. Spoon or. Stewart, Stone. Wetmore 57. ! f-. macK, ututfrscm, Lfaniei, iudiub, ros ter, Louisiana; McEnery, McLaurin. Malory, Martin, Newlands. Pettos. Taliaferro, Teller, Tillman 18. The bill passed carried into execu tion the treaty between the United States and Cuba, which was ratified last March. The treaty provides for a reduction of 20 per cent- of the rates of duty under the Dingley law n a Cuban articles imported . Into the UcIted states and a varying re- ducUon of from 20 to 40 per ?enL established Cuban duty on "ti-les imported Into cfta to? tS i United States. .tand Arainst Cuttli. Tokio. by Cable. In consequence of Russia's reply, a special conference of the elder statesmen of Ja'pan. In cluding the Marquis Ito. and the cabi net ministers. Is proceeding here. It is understood that the statesmen arc considering the .adoption cf a firm stand' against Russia. General Kod ama, the War Minister, was present for the first time at the conference. There is renewed activity at the ad miralty. In view of a possible naval demonstration. NO. 51. MR. DAVIS RETURNS The TcrkUh Cuentsect Etpecfed fi Mile fepmika. TEE CONSUL Will DAVE WAIS21P Th9 State Dc pertraeat Tale a llrwi S!a4 la the Matter of Itu Aaaaatt on the foiled Mate Coasvl at Ale aandrctt. Wajhlnxtoa. FpfUl. As a reaU cf Mlal'trr LeUhBMa'a advirrt inject ing the Alraandrrtta aSair. tte mate rvpartmr&t hat reqtrate4 tk Katy iv-trtment to i1are a arai.!n at hm d.poal cf Consul lUls. t IWlmt oi-n at.i.h ralsM rrtatnto Alnan- drrtta. at r.'. jlracie. Tie Ny W- partn;-nt ac-jiJ.nRiy rwJ ia:iu. tions u AJmiral (M'.uti en larj tt. Cigi.lp Bnkln. at A'.riaclna. r!pt. t r' a ! at th- lipw! of Mr. It Is NSire4 ti. Irvok- j1 to arran&e the t-tni tf tls rrn j- llun. Acting Secretary f Mstr AJt ta takm a firm stani in th- n;ittr t (he afault uia TnitcJ S:at- C'Cul W. H. lhv:s. by Turk'h vtrc:sl an 1 police, at akiandrrifs. Ho bai tat't-I Mlnlt.tr r l lhnau to pnnt th farts to th TurkUL cuvrrr.D'tit aul Inf.n-ra tbtt gmt-rnni' nt th U our s-rn lug to invitr an iirfi a ! rr:rt tni reparation. The S ate iartm ut dot not inJicatr what larasuir t f. paratlcn Is expct-d. hut It Is unicr ftrxi that thwl'urkish gorrniaT.t il by removal or othrmlM punUh the ut ftniliig TurkUh o.Ticia'.s at Alrn dictta an.l mii- r.satr Attrian for lh h,sr an.I inJurl'R h h s.iitaln 4. The Turkit-u gicrnmnt 1 ;il.tg t romitn&aic Atuian and dtK'rt lm- ,l Is unicrfetod that trx- main t fr-vw t the assault up n '.h I nlted .ai r.n. ul. a matter f graity In in;nijT.oui law. Ti-e iu.Vnaatmti that hu. rth l the IX iiartuitnt In lo the c'l. t that Mr. . , a.- I . Davis a ntmiy u:i.n i and pomvrs an J that hll rttl lu pmtf-nln. as m h uht. a ni' allzrd American ciUnn. le u t upon by Ave Turkish po,i-rn u dragged al'ng the grouna. n '' . r&i Incidentally lhat upm r-curtrSr.g his footing the cikisuI promptly soundly thra-hed all nv- of th" poll - men. D.frnda ll-rncral Wood. Wafhlngton, SjHlal. Tho derate rommlttte on military affairs con cluded its investigation of the charges against Ck-neral lnard Wood, rttretary Boot waa the only witness today. He wa cm the stand for two and a half hours at the fore noon iestlon. and occup'.eJ the atten tion o! the committee - Wednesday night from S o'clock unlll 11:23 o'clock. The committee will meet again to prepare Its report. It is un drtood that coaflrmatlon will to r-eommnied by a vote f 8 to 2. A minority report will b ma'Ie ty th opposing memUTs of the omraltt The testimony c-f H-rr-tary Hoot 1 practically the only d'fnc that ha been made of General Wood. The testimony, however. cwven-J the r-n-tlre rang" of vl!-nce producI against General Wood and waa sup ported In many instances with cor respondence and other data takea from record at the War Department covering the ptriod f Genera,! Wcod'a administration a Governor Gneral cf Cuba. Secretary Boot undertrolc to assume the whole responsibility for the orders laaued by General Wool affecting the Judicial system In Cuta and concerning the conceitlon grantei to the Jal Alal Company at Havana. He Justified the aceptance by General Wood cf the present cf a allver act from the Jal Alal Company. Flotilla 5a!!s. Newport News. Special The flotil la of torpedo boats, whkb has ten In Hampton Boads for the pat fed eral weeks, railed for Port Boyal. 8. C the first stop in the long voyare to the Philippines. Th flotilla in cluded the cruiser Baltimore and the 1 destroyers Decatur. Balnbrlnge, Barry and Dale. Calculations made by Lieu tenant dandier, the flotilla com mander, contemplate about 70 4aya o factual running time. Steps will be made at the vtrious points touched, and they will aggregate ato-t &0 days the voyage thus telnaj expected to consume nearly fire months. Destructive Fire. Lawrencevllle. Ga.. 8peciaL Fir early Wednesday conaunud six build ings In the principal portion of this town, entailing a lots cf over J 2. 000, and causing severe and perhaps seri ous injuries to J. R. McKelvey and EU son, Walter McKelvey, prominent citi zens. The buildings deatroyei were in the principal block of he town. The two nljured men were hurt by a falling walL Boston Qocc Omccratlc. Boston. Special. The Democrats won an overwhelming victory In the municipal election. Mayor Patrick Col lins being re-elected ty 27,000 plarallty, the largest ever given a mayoralty can didate in the history of the city. The board of aldermen next year will be solidly Democratic and that party will hare a larre majority in the common council. The city aa usual favored licensed liquor selling by a larre majority. 3