North Carolina Newspapers

I: 12 V . PAGES TH1 First . PAGES 1 TO 8. VOL. XXIX-NO. 4591 CHARLOTTE, N. C.. SATURDAY EVENING. DECEMBER 19, 1903. PRICE: 3 CENTS NEWS, Pa r t mmmm SUPREME COURT FILES OPIHiOHS; IMPORTANT CASE Professor Graham Delights a Rale'gh Audience on His tory Studied From its SourcesFormer Sheriff Pined $1,200 for Fraud. The Osteopaths Win in the Declaration That the Ac Passed Against Them is Unconstitutional --Municipal Ownership. iSpet ial to The News.) Raleigh. X. C. Det 19 The Supreme Court adjourned for the term at eleven this morning leaving fifteen cases un decided. The opinions handed down this morning were: Keo Fawcett vs. lit. Airy. Surry county, reversed. State vs. Bopgan. Anson, no error. StaLe vs. Castle-Burke, new trial. Stats vs. Par ker. Durham, new trial. Leigh vs. Manufacturing Co. Northampton per Curiam, petition dismissed. In the case of FaweeU vs. Mt. Airy, the court makes the important ruling that electric lights and water works are "necessary expenses of a . muni cipality." The decision overrules, for mer decision of the court t'.iat elections by legislative authorities must be held before bowls for stir-h purposes can be issued. A charter was issued to Thoc. White Co., Durham to Oo general' ln-'lling business, capital $125,000. Also to Hhie Ridge Clothing Co., North Wilkesboro, capital $10,000. The State Auditor announces that he is issuing today pension warrants for veterans of the sixty-seventh and sixty-eighth regiments who were first ruled out of participating in the pen sion fund because they were not regu- laxly in the Confederate army. Raleigh, X. C, Dec. 19, Among a list of opinions' handed down by the Supreme Court this evening was that in case of Andrew C. Biggs who us indicted in Greensboro for prac ticing medicine and surgery without license in violation of the act protect ing the North Carolina Medical Asso ciation. He claimed to use a system of drugless healing but was not an Os ttopath. The appeal to the Supreme Court called in question tse constitu- uonamy ot chap. G79,acts of 1903 which defines what the practice of medicine 1 sball mean and the court in passing on the case holds that the act is unconsti tutional in its attempt to provide that the practice of medicine and surgery shall be construed to mean "The man agement for fee or a reward of any se of diseases, physical or mental, rtal or imaginary with or without drugs." In the noted suit of F. W. Eubanks n State Board Dental Examiners to compel the board to issue him license ot examination which board pro nounced a failure the Supreme Court iolas that there was no error in the wurt below and sustains the State Board. In the case of Jabel and H. B. Regis w: under sentence respectively to ?nging tnd to life imprisonment for Je murder cf Jim Stacy and Jerry oies m Columbus county the court Ends no error in the court below. So tI "lister will be carried to Co "niuus .to pay the death sentence and register will enter on his life wntence. J"e is the full list of opinions: v- Collins, from Swain, new wi Featherstn3 v. Carr, from Bun combe, error; Asbeville v. Webb, from buncombe leversed; Edward v. Tur Wm Herulerf'On. action dismissed; S n ,V- 5renn' from McDowell, trial; Morrow v. Railroad, from ru lfon.UO eiTr:, St3te V- Bi3g3' fr0m from Si ersed: State v- Agister, lIoLn lUmbus no error- State v jorgan from Wilson, affirmed; State Griffin 'Jrora Edgecombe, error; t?M. t ?ailroad' frora Halifax, new fmntnn rton v- Vann- "m North Bunch v a?lrmed ln bth appeals; SSn ; Lu?ber Co- fro Chowan, Sin, t0f rehear dismissed; Moody v. W rom Iacon- per curiam, af- flora r; 8l Rankln v- Htel Co., c IJ rbe' m curia, affirmed C n8hTty of Baxt" v. Baxter, 77 N. lr cn'riSm V Holly from Macon C a? .affirmed on authority of State v n "8 N. C. 712; fr failure ton-?"1 Nash' hissed Wv v-K,plnt records and briefs; curiam V- from Haywood, per PorSr "nam' affirmed. ountvSherm i3- S" Powell, of John- 33 "torekeJip edf al Court today fr Irtunity Trr ,?d Sauger giving op bv defraudmS the govern fine. ' moving spirits. He paid the tioTehof?pplaHnRailway Co- files no" oase of 3n S supreme Court in the Soiithe n R"0 and 0031 Co Tefsal of thp c avyCo involving the ofcf)alonthASouthern to place cars 8i(UnS becaul and Coal Co'8 rite fefUSed tG de e Sleigh Liquor Dealer's Associ- LJl ,lnnonf3 .that on Christmas night they will crlve a avanA nv,.inn tree festival in Metropolitan Hall to the poor white children of the city. It will be a sort of "grand farewell fete" for the association as they go out of business January 1st. The minsters have been asked to make announce meent of the affair from their respec tive pulpits 6n Sunday. It remains to be seen whether they will do it or not. Superintendent Alexander Graham of the Charlotte Graded Schools lectured last night before the students of Peace Institute and a large number of people of Raleigh on "History Studied from Its Sources." It was in the speaker's own inimitable way. He conclusively argued the validity of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and the facts he educed showed a deal of pains taking work. FIREMAN GIVES LIFE. After Bravely Rescuing Inmates of a Brooklyn Tenement, John Freelaw, Was Fatally Injured by a Fall. (By Associated Press.) New York. Dec. 19. In the fire which destroyed a Brooklyn tenement J nouse eariy toaay, Lieutenant John Freelaw of the fire department, was fatally injured by falling three stories from a fire escape. With his comrades he had just carried 25 women and children from the building. Many of them undoubtedly would have been suffocated but for the bravery of the rescuers. ADMIRAL COTTON. He Takes Consul Davies to Alex andretta on a United States Cruiser. , (By Associated Press.) Constantinople, Dec. 19. Rear-Admiral Cotton left Beirut, yesterday, on the cruiser San Francisco, taking Consul Davies to Alexandretta which place Mr. Davies left December 8, be cause he had been insulted and as saulted by the local police while ac companying to the departing steamer Attarian, a naturalized American who had been liberated from prison through the intervention of the Con sul. Minister Leishman informally discussed the Alexandretta incident with Tewfik Pasha, Foreign Minister, but has not yet presented a formal de mand for reparation. The officials show a desire ror the settlement of the affair. Panama Consul. (By Associated Pmr.l Mobile: Dec -19. Franiiekco Arias uonsuiar agent for the republic of ! Panama has arrived and assumed hi3 duties. THE FEDERAL COURT TODS? I j o j a n JUUge DOYQ Again UenOUnC&S ,i ri . - 1 ine OlOreKeeperS and baU- - r n i gerS Who tnter a UOmpaCt i nx Jxur ! 10 UetraUO the UOVernrnent I 4 o i IMeXt oeSSIOn in JUne - , J The work of the present session of rj,- ,a, . . . ... , Federal court has been completed and court was adjourned this afternoon. The next meeting of this tribunal will be about the middle of next June, In the matter of J. C. Somers and others charged with illicit distilling, retailing and removing, the prayer for continuance was granted until the June term of court. ADJOURNED In the case of W. A. Hoge of Cleve- ratified at once and said that the State land, the prayer' for judgment was con- Department considered immediate ac tinued until the June term of court, tion as essential. He declared that the Hoge was an officer of the government ratification probably would have a and it is charged that he sought to de- bearing on the settlement of the far fraud the government by means of the eastern question. There was no dl position he occupied. , vision on the motion to ratify. '-; In passing on the prayer for con- tinuance Judge Boyd took accasion to ' BANK MONEY ORDERS.,, give the storekeepers and gaugers some very plain talk. Addressing himself to American Association Adopts Plans Hoge he said: f0r a Money Order Department. JcconL?l J! iHiE (Br Associated Press.) laumy lam w si aw. wi y.ajrci for continuance. But I want to ' say right here that this court neither has uat iuio cuuii. uiu respect nor merciful consideration for . any man who enters Into a collusion to lllUSlOn tO psnfidallv ' defraud the government, when that one is drawing a salary from the government for the faithful per formance of his duties. t i. t r-aan0M tnr' such aidl wt to svin tt all Ration.' The scheme will come into such need not expect merciful consid- direct competition with the moneyr eVation at the hands of this court. Such der system of the postofflce depart- men are not entitled to the respect of ment. any living man. I 1 - IT- I 7TTT ZT . "If every department of the govern.! . Cotton Goes to 12.95 Today, menfs service was in the . hands of The loca cotton market took an such men as these the government other big jump skyward today and would go to pieces at the. hands of reached 12.95, which is 30 points thieves and robbers. ; above Friday's quotations. "The man who takes the oath of a Two hundred and fifty bales were storekeeper and gauger and then vio- sold here today at the above figure, lates it as some, have done should y against 255 at 8.20 last year, held up as examples to those who may It was reported that some farmers think nf doine the same act of crime." had gotten 13 cents today, but up to Cotton Market Today. , (By Associated Press.) Liverpool Dec. 19. The cotton mar ket today opened eight -to twelve ! points higher and advanced on .rer ports of shorts covering uewwuvi, ' eoine to 709. Trading was exciting i during the entire session anaai , close of the market there was a strong advance at twenty to twenty- three points over yesterday's close. ' BOOIIE POTTER ESCAPES FROM JAIL Lenoir is Thrown Into Excite ment by the Escape of the Desperado and Murderer Details of Mis Escape Negligence-Charged. (Special to The News.) Lenoir, N. C, Dec. 19. The whole town of Lenoir was thrown Into ex citement this morning when about day light it was learned that Boone Potter, the murderer who was caught in Wy oming several months ago and brought here and placed in jail had made his escape. In some manner Potter broke the combination lock on the big iron cage and then walked around to the back window and with a piece of iron and a piece of tin dug a hole about 14 inches square through the brick and then tied about eight or ten of the can vas bunks together, thus making a rope ln which to descend to the ground. A negro who was up in the jail with Potter says it was about four o'clock when he and Potter made their escape. The negro boy stayed with Potter for about an hour when they separated and the negro came back and gave himself up, telling of Potter's escape. Potter is the man who killed his father and a deputy sheriff in Watauga county last year and Immediately left for the West where he was caught several months ago and brought back here and placed in the Lenoir jail to await trial. Lenoir has one of the finest jails in the State and it was thought to be a mat ter of impossibility for a man to escape from it and to us it looks like a piece of negligence on the part of some one. MRS. ROOSEVELT'S DONATION. She Sends a Copy of Popular Book to Statesvilic Library. (Special to The News.) Statesville, Dec. 19. Mrs. Theo dore Roosevelt, wife of the President, has donated a volume to the States ville Public ' Library. It is "The Simple Life' by Charles Wagner. In side the cover of the book was found Mrs. Roosevelt's card., on which she had. written "good wishes."1 -r M rsrr BeivarA..- -LoekwTXttl and-other women of prominence, have made do nations to the library through Mrs.' D. M. Ausley wha has taken a great interest in collecting books. North Carolina Day was general ly observed throughout the county yesterday. . TREATY RATIFIED. The Treaty With China Ratified and Russia Must Come -to Time." (By Associated Press.) v aaniiiKiwii. una. it). ine senate in executive session yesterday ratified the trtiity "tor the extension of the com- mercial relations" Between United States and China and then removed the injunction of secrecy. No opposition was manifested by any Senator to the treaty, though Mr. Nelson (Republican, Minn., made a long speech in which he criticised the convention as making in- sufficient provision for the trade of the United States. He said it indicated that the hand of Russia had been shown against this country, making it impos. sfble for the United states to receive the concessions needed in the way of open ports. He blamed Russia for this condition of affairs and warned the Senate that we may yet have trouble with that country over the Man- churian question. Mr. Lodge, of Massachusetts, urged the importance of having the treaty , - ia After a three day's session here the bank money or- ii rw x f the AmoHojm Rank- n;t7 pvn Cl nODUV,llU , L- y a thousand banks, agreed upon a plan sums not above a hundred dollars i can be sent by mail, and orders cash- I - 11 1 X A. 1L . A ea. ty any nana Belonging io me a- 3:30 o'clock this afternoon, such had not been reported at the cotton plat form. (By Associated Press.) ' Paris, Dec. 19. Russia has made another move toward avoiding a rup- ture with Japan, and there is reason io ueuB..n wm w lunuweu -ujr- mc submission of a second proposition, tending to ameliorate the , present strained situation. SANTA CLAUS FUND. It Is Growing Day by Day Two Little Letters. The News' subscription list for the Santa Claus fund is increasing daily. The splendid donation of $110.00 by one Charlotte gentleman yesterday will be a great help in providing pres ents for the little ones. Today, The News acknowledges $6.00 from twelve little children whose' names appear in the list below. All of these little ones are not in the least afraid that Old Santa will miss them but they do fear that some children may not be remembered on Christ mas morning. So they have banded themselves together and sent in quite a handsome little purse to be used for those who probably would know noth ing of the happy Christmastlde had they not been so liberal. As The News stated yesterday, no more letters will be received by The News for Santa Claus this year. The children have responded to The New3 call most liberally and old Santa has all the little requests safely stored away, in his great, big mail pouch. He will endeavor to please all the little ones this Christmas. , The following letters were received this afternoon: Mr. W. C. Dowd: I send you 50 cents to be turned over to Santa Claus to buy a Christ mas present for some little one. I am 10 years old. LOUISE LINEBERGER, - 602 North Poplar St. Charlotte, N. C. Mr. W. C. Dowd: I send you 50 cents from my savings bank for Santa Claus to use as he thinks best. WILL. MURRAY LINEBERGER. Age 7 years. The. subscription list follows: Charlotte Newc...... $10.00 Cash.... .....105.00 C. N. ,G. Butt. ...10.00 C. A. Moseley. 2.00 R. O. Colt 1.00 R. H. Jordan 50 Cash.... .... 5.00 E. V. Finlayson.. ....1.00 Mrs. Frank Moeteller .50 Emma Lizzie Algood .... .25 William David Hyland .... ,. . .25 E. Lewis Hyland .... .25 Jno. Scott Cansler .50 Heriot Clarkson, Jr. . . .50 Mary Lloyd Clarkson. ... .... .50 Francis Osborne Clarkson . . '. . .50 Edwin Osborne Clarkson . ( .50 Thomas Simons Clarkson . . . . . . '.50 Willie Tillett.. .. .50 Neal Yates Pharr . . . . . i .50 Sa rah Rey npldr H arris .:050 Isabel! McCaTT 177. '.m I ,50 Jas. A. Bell, Jr. . . ............ .50 C. H. Duls, Jr. .. .. ., .. ...... .50 AT THE CENTRAL E. M. Noller of Chadbourne Came Near Forfeiting his Life Last Night Prompt Action of the Bell Boy Probably Saved his Life. There, was a' narrow escape from death by asphyxiation at the Central hotel last night, and had it not been that a bell boy discovered the danger, the inmate of the room would most likely have been a dead man in ten minutes. Last night E. M.' Noller came to the hotel about 11 o'clock and asked to be shown to a room. He was as signed to room No. 34, and retired. This morning at six o'clock a bell boy on passing discovered that room No. 34 was full of gas. An entrance was effected into the room and the sleeping man, who was by this time nearly asphyxiated, was aroused and medical aid summoned. The attending physician gave it as his opinion that ten minutes more would have finished the deadly work of the escaping gas. However, re storatives were given and after con siderable difficulty the man was aroused. He did not appear to. feel the effects of the ga3 very much after his recovery and he took his departure this morning. While Noller made no statement in regard to the affair, it is believed that he deliberately blew out without having Instituted any meas thereby brought himself close to death's door. Noller stated that he was from Chadbourne, N. C. and., was return ing from ; Morganton, where he had been to visit a sick child. Noller alleged this morning that he had been robbed of about twen ty dollars sometime during his stay in the city. ; He took his departure, however," without ' . instituting meas ures for the recovery of his lost cash. 'Admiral Glass. (By Associated Press.) Washington, Dec. 19. The avy Department has received a cablegram from Rear-Admiral Glass, of Panama, that according to a report that - has just reached him, the small force of Colombian troops which had been dis covered at" the mouth of the Atrato River, has sailed to the Northward in a Colombian gunboat. . Admiral Glass is unable yet to verify report. Lima, Peru, Dec. 19. By decree dated yesterday the Peruvian govern ment recognized . the ; Republic of Panama j ;-'w BLWOU TTHE S .HOLIDAY SHOPPERS ARE III EVIDENCE Charlotte Streets Have Been Crowded Today With Busy Shoppers and Merchants Have Been Decidedly Busy and Trade is Very Good- The Christmas air and holiday spir it which are characteristic of each succeeding Yuletide season, have taken full possession of the city to day, and although Old Sol has hidden himself behind the clouds, and the weather has been gloomy, every body today lias appeared on the streets and in the stores with glad faces and general cheerfulness. The city took on today more of the holiday season than has yet been evinced, and by tho first of next week the Christmas festivities will have been thoroughly ushered in. Numbers of wagons were seen on the streets today vending mistletoe and holly to the Christmas shoppers, and there will be very few homes in arlotte that are not decorated with these holiday plants ' and shrubs when the- 25th day of December ar rives. The stores where holiday goods are sold have been thronged all day by hundreds of busy, happy ' shoppers, men, women and children, making their Yuletide purchases of presents and good things to make the holi days mere enjoyable. The Charlotte merchants have ex perienced a better trade so far this season than on any year preceding. Everybody, it would seem, has laid aside something for the Christmas tide and presents by the thousands are being . purchased and hidden away until the eventful day comes. Charlotte also will not forget 'the needy ones, especially tho children this year, and if there is a child in all the city on Christmas day who is entirely forgotten, it will be through no fault of the charitably dis posed. ' RECEPTION TO PASTOR. Large Number Meets New PVstor of 1. .. Trinity Church--,.- Last evening from 8 to 10:30 sev eral hundred members of Trinity church and others attended the recep tion given In honor of the new pas tor, Rev. J. A. B. Fry and Mrs. Fry. Tho programme included the fol lowing musical numbers. Oragn solo Prof. Kee3ler. Flute solo Mr. Harry Asbury. Duet By Mrs. C. E. Mason and Mr. Harvey. Ocercarsh. Vocal solo Miss Hallie Hall. Anthem Zion Awake, by the choir. The pastor made an interesting ad dress at the conclusion of th-3 musical program -in which he expressed his pleasure at being appointed pastor of Trinity church by the Conference and expressing the wish that all relations between people and pastor might be most cordial. Dr. Jno. R. Brooks followed with a short address of historic nature, tell ing of the founding of the church and its growth up to the present time. . -After the formal exercises the new pastor and his wife were introduced to those among the audience to whom they were as strangers. Light refreshnunts were also served and the evening proved a most delightful one. The reception was given by the Baraca class, of the church. SAW MILL BURNED. Was the Property of Mr. Fred Oliver, of Norfolk. Mr. V. M. Beattie, who lives on the Oliver farm, near I.-.. Holly, informed The News this morning that the saw mill and corn mill on the Oliver place were totally destroyed by fire at 4 o'clock this morning. Mr. Beat tie telephones ' The News this after noon that he Is convinced the fire was of Incendiary" origin. The saw mill was running yesterday, but the men were careful not to leave any fire around. The planing machinery and boilers were saved by the prompt work of the bystanders. The loss is estimat ed at $400, with no insurance. The outfit was owned by Mr. Fred. Oliver, of Norfolk, and Mr. W. M. Beattie was in charge of the proper ty. , ? Reported Ultimatum. (By Associated Press.) London, Dec. 19. A special dispatch fromTientsIn says it is reported that Japan has sent an ultimatum to Russia, , The report is not. confirmed -from any source up to six o'clock this evening, i It is regarded as improbable that such news should come first from Tientsin. Action already taken gives assur ances that the first proposition which the Czar approved is not in any sense an ultimatum but a preliminary to ward a pacific adjustment. The de claration is considered by officials here as removing a most dangerous aspect of the situation, it had been asserted that Russia's proposition was practically an ultimatum which, . be ing rejected by Japan, made a rupture 1 certain. Torpedo Flotilla. Charleston, Dec. 19. The torpedp boat Flotilla sailed - today for Key Wpst where it will join the squadron for winter maneuveres FIRE IN NEGRO COLLEGE. Cetral Tennessee College Catches Fire With Disastrous Results One White Teacher Fatally Injured. Four Dead. (By the Associated Press.) Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 19. Seven dead and seventeen injured as tho result of a fire that broke out last night in the woman's dormintory of Walden University. President Hamil ton heard the screams of the women, and rushing to a window across the stree from the dormitory, saw the flames bursting from the eastern end of tho building. He hastened to force an entrance Into the building, but be fore ho reached the door, the fright ened inmates began to hurl them selves from windovs. Several were killed in jumping or crushed to death by those who followed. The dormi tory was a four story brick building, and the only means of exit was by a stairway, which was soon cut off and the inmates rushed panic-stricken through the smoke, seeking to escape. Most cf the women had retired, and had time only to escape in their night garments. Among the dead are, Adele Christian, Greensboro, Ala.; Sally Dade, Hattiesburg, Miss.; Mat tie Dee Moore, Huntsviile, Ala.; Lula A. Terry, McMiinnvile, Tenn.; Nan nie Johnson, Hattiesourg, Miss.; Cora Bryant, Cleveland, Miss., was sick on the fourth iloor, and it is sup posed she perished, as she cannot be found. Mi3s Eleanor Moore, of Chica go, preceptress, will die. Bertha Moor ford, Chicago, suffered a fracture of the back and will die; Victoria Mil ler, of Anchorage, Ky., had internal injuries, probably fatal. The Injured were carried to neigh boring houses and the residence of President Hamilton converted into a hospital. Miss Eleanor Moore, pre ceptress, the only white person injured, jumped from the upper window. The building was not destroyed but dam aged lo the extent of twenty thousand dollars, with insurance of fifteen thou sand. (Correspondence to The News.) Huntersville, N. C, Dec. 18. A pret ty home wedding in Huntersville. Mr. Rush McKay and Miss Eulala Euart were married Wednesday evening at half past seven o'clock at the home of the bride's mother, Mrs. D. P. Euart. Rev. J. M. Grier, her pastor, officiated. Miss Anna Euart, sister of the bride, and Miss Ellie Sample, who acted as flower girls, were the only attendants. There were quite a number of relatives and friends present . . ; . A', breakfast was tendered At ' the brides home .Thursday morning.: Also a dinner at the home of the groom, Mr. TmTTMrs.'Mt'KaT havgrbe6n"-tthe ve oiplents of quite a number of useful presents. . ; - '. ; V ' .- BABKROPTCY OF CHARLOTTE FIRM ; Petitions Filed in the Federal Court Today Asking Judge Boyd to Adjudge J. C. & J P. Long as Bankrupts-The Total Indebtedness. In. the Federal Court this morning a petition was filed by the Patapsco Guano Company, of Baltimore, J. A. Glenn & Bro and Mrs. Mary Grace Adams, of Charlotte, asking that the firm of J. C. and J. P. Long, of this city, be adjudged bankrupts. Judge Boyd - granted the petition and cited the members' of the firm to appear before him in Greensboro tho first Monday in January to fhow cause why they should not bo ad judged bankrupts. The creditors who signed the peti tion were represented by Messrs. Clarkson & Duls and Mr. Thpmas C. Guthrie. The Messrs. Longs are rep resented by Mr. Plummer Stewart. The total Indebtedness cf the firm is placed at ?12,000, and the Individ ual indebtedness will amount to about the samc.making tho total in debtedness about $25,000. The members of the firm claim they will be able to pay out, dollar fdr dollar. ' '' The firm of J. C. & J. P. Long have been In the wholesale grocery busl nes in this city for a number 4 of years. They were reckoned as one of the solid firms of Charlotte and their financial difficulties will be learned of with surprise. - It is understood that the firm owe3 tho Baltimore Company, a considerable amount for guano. Mrs. Mary Grace Adams, whose name appears among the petitioners, has a claim against the firm for the rent of the building now occupied by J. C. & J. P. Long. It is understood that the firm will not resist the petition as'nled to day. C A RTH AG E D EST RO Y E D. The Texas 'Town of That" Name' Al most Wiped Out by Fire. (By Associated Press.) ; 1 Houston, Texas, Dec. 19. The busi ness portion of the town of Carthage, Paneola county, Texas, was almost de stroyed Jjy fire this morning, loss sixty thousand dollars. Insurance -fifteen thousand. . - THE LITTLE TOWII OF BEIISOII, II, C, NEARLY DESTROYED A Tremendous Conflagration Sweeps the Little Johnston County Town r- Loss is Said to be About $100 000. Only Six Months Ago, Ben son was Half Burned out, This has Just Been - Rebuilt -Fire Started Last Night at 8:30 O'clock- (Special, to The News.) - Wilmington,. N..C, Dec. 19. Fire last night wiped out one-half of the business portion of; Benson,' N. C. Tha loss was great, probably over. $100,000 with about three-fourths insurance. The fire which was of unknown ori gin waa discovered at 8:30 o'clock in the rear of A. H. Phillip's general mer chandise store. An entire block was swept by the flames. The buildings burned were ten or twelve including the Atlantic Coast Line depot and cotton platform. The Boykln hotel, Cavanaugh and Benson Drug Co., M; & J. Wood; gen eral merchandise; J. W. Whittentons jewelry store, a livery stable, a" harness store and the telephone exchange, were burned. Six months ago the fire destroyed half of the business section of the town. That part has been rebuilt The flames last night burned the old district which is acrcs3"the railroad from the new half.-... :;At : CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. The Louisiana , Centennial Proceeds ' ? ; With Great Ceremony - . (By Associated Press!) j New Orleans, Dec' i9. With public , business suspended the second, day's programme of the centennial of ' the transfer of La is in full swing. The day's programme opened with a reception by Mayor Capdevielle at the City Hall. Governor Heard, and. the ex ecutive officers of the;tty 'a assisted in receiving ".n distinguished guests who included representatives France and Spain, naval - officers, su preme justice Tashereau of the Su premo Court, Judge Routhier of , Ex- chequer Court of . Canada; President ! -: Francis of St. Louis Exposftipn ; and others. ' ' . . ' -.V'vv.-?': .When the reception; was5 ;"tnciaaed? the governor, mayor and guests of the State entered carriages and escorted by the first troop of cavalry, proceeded to the old palace of the Archbishops of New Orleans which was standing at the time-of the transfer and which , haa . been converted into a colonial museum,., many rare relics, costumes, - official documents, v paintings, T photographs: badges, autographs of eighteenth and: nineteenth .centuries have been -collected in the museum. When the guests assembled in the musty old apartments of the palace President Fortier .of Louisiana historical society formally opened the museum. After address by Gov. Heard he and other officials, inx spcotcd the museum. At the conclusion . of the visit to .the museuum the cortege proceeded to Jackson square,, the scene' of many Interesting events connecting the early hlstor-y of Louisiana and. of Act ol transfer where the formal exer cises of the day deem red, . Presbyterian Colelge Notes. Miss Altra Hick3, ti Wilmington, Misses Anna Morse and Ethel Smith, cf Atlanta, Ga.; Miss Mary Owen, cf -South Boston, Va.,' and Miss Linda Hendrix, of Greensboro, left for' t heir -: homes this morning ' to remain until after the holidays. ''" . ' r . '.-; ' ' There will be e general exddas' of teachers and; students on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. V. The ' holidays will last until January 4th. ' A number of new students WQ' ex pected at the opening cf the' new 'term. Students from Alabama, Georgia. ; South ' Carolina - and Virginia will spend the holidays at home but those from Arkansas, Florida, Iowa and New York will remain. ' ;V : NO RUSSIAN LOAN y . - ( By Associated Press. )' ' . London, Dec. 19. Tho Rothschilds have heard nothing of. any suggestion . that Russia wlir attempt to ralso a loan of a hundred and, twenty-five mlllicn dollars or any other amount in Great Britiah, and declare the re port probably ..unfounded, Russia, they; say could "not raise a loan hero , and Judging' from latest advices from Paris, it would probably be, equally difficult for Russia to raise . more money in France. ; ' . ; . , - i. ' ' House Adjourns. Washington, Dec. 19. Soon after convening today the' House adjourn ed until Monday, January 4th. ,1 9 II It m it .; i It ! K i.i ."Iv .... t ;0 ,N4i '.3 -i. ...li I : a i i ',4 ' : ':i