North Carolina Newspapers

HAKLOTTE Ik Let The News Find You a Tenant. Lost Anything? Let The News Find It. THE ONLY AFTERNOON ASSOCIATED PRESS NEWSPAPER IN NORTH CAROLINA VOL. XXXII NO. 5C i CHARLOTTE, N. C, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 27, 1 905. PRICE: 3 CENTS. NEWS. 1 Hi, WORST IS OVER BUT IHE STILL i ! f ORLEANS Damages Estimated at 5 Million DoH-irs including: 23 Thousand ga;es of Cotton and Seven Haired Thousand Bushels of While Fire Still Burns unois Central Whose Terminal is Des troyed With a Loss of $2,500, 000, Announces That it Will Rebuild on Larger Scale. THE LOSS. x Orleans. Fell. 27. Con- ncrvai is Hi-dial-.' ostinuiU's figure tne im Uss by the fire at $5,- lIH!Hi(l iKClUlllllg IWU flCVilto-lo, wan-hmi. sheds. 2,500,000; iv-!i'v-i Invo thousand bales of c.'.U'.m. i-' ,-" ; seven hundred ih'msanti bushels of grain $3S5, iM.ii : fij'i, -n Thousand barrels of SUtj.u. j5;!iio.o0i; cotton seed cake, "i'uT loads. S:i7...")00: five hun (';iv,l m'i.cht cars.. $375,000: ship damaged ?5u.00(); private proper ty ;ui"i other damage, 210,000. p,v Associated Press. "Xow Orleans, La., Feb. 27. With a fire that destroyed its immense export terminal.-- still burning, although be yond, power to do any further damage, the Illinois Central railroad announces that as soon as the ruins cool, forces will I"1 put. to work to clear away the debris and the Stuyvesant docks, and the elevators will be promptly rebuilt, on a more elaborate and substantial sr-ale than before. In the meantime The officials of the road are engaged in the formulation of plans that will en able them to handle the traffic. Three thousand and five hundred feet of wharfage was destroyed on the wharf coast.. loss $500,000. Apparently no lives were lost in the fire. The fire engine driver, Charles Richardson, was painfully hurt. The Indian, of the Leland line, had her rails, cabin house, masts, etc., swiped off, and the cycle was burned about the prow sides. Superintendent Dunn said that in his opinion the fire started from spon taneutis combustion. In addition to the railroad property, the fire destroyed the Crescent Ice Company's plant, many small stores, and a largo number of small resi dences. Insurance. It is estimated the insurance of frcight.eac. will aggregate four mil lion dollars. The railroad officials es timate their losses from three to four millions. First Story cf Fire By Associated Press. New Orleans, Feb. 20 Fire involv ing millions of dollars loss in physical property and that strikes a serious, if temporary, blow at the immense export trade of Xew Orleans, swept the river from tonight and wiped out the vast freight terminals of the Illinois Central Railroad, known as the Stuyvesant docks. Nearly a dozen squares of mod ern wharves and freight sheds, two magnificent grain elevators, hundreds of loaded cars and vast ouantities of freight, including 20,000 bales of cotton, were destroyed, together with a large number of small residences. The fire was still raging furiously at midnight, at which time it had almost reached the upper end of the Illinois Central prop- ertv. it has not been determined whrtner there has 1 lPPn nnv IrfcQci rf Tift The o.-ean-going shipping seems to have escaped serious damage. A num ber or firemen and employes ' of the docks were injured. Actual estimates of tne losses are impossible tonight, though they may exceed $5,000,000. Twelve Squares Swept. The Stuyvesant docks extend from ixmisana avenue almost to Napoleon avemifi, a distance of twelve squares, itie wharves between those two points were covered, with miles of trackage, and steel and iron sheds ran the whole fW.ance. The two grain elevators were or tne most modern construction, the upper one having a capacity of a mil- 'on uusnels. Thousands of bushels of corn, .several hundreft thousand pack ?s r K"ar. great quantities of cotton-seed oil and oil cake, lumber and eiy conceivable variety of freight fill tii( nrelioiises and sheds. Practi- thl'm- the exPrt business handled by the Ilhnois Central was put aboard in.' at those dwks- Tne docks and in movements have been under con fcuu, tion tor ten years past, elaborate w'-IlM",ns an(i immense investments naving heen niade. , Beginning of Fire. 7 r,vf , eTwas discovered shortly after fmrv ' Tt was said t0 nave resulted pK.a JTnal that had not been suffi- SS;T!le whole plant was fcqmppe i iUth glgantic water tanks and S,i!,shing aPParatus, but the in? ; - 1 at lhe beginning, almost , -t g01 "eyond control, communi f ar&h. the conveyers to the TW,'lf;Vator and some f the sheds. i spouse of the fire denartment prompt, but that fV, . l'ornpt, but because of the fact tu - leimmais were inaccessible ficn c?- lTaeks' the engines found dif- an ,,- L s Lm; names, in nair aS- V ,the fire covered two squares corUn' l?r elevator was practically -OUUnie( ti fi cQO, . ' wii the nver. As soon as it became Known tbr.t " " u" the y,, ctiie ui me nre wa me htuyvesant docks. harW t,,P- was A am t0 the wharves, and vessels that were moored there were pulled out into the river. At the same time switch engines were rushed to the wharves and hundreds of box cars loaded with freight were drawn to points above the upper end of the terminals before the fire reach ed them. Many hundreds more, how ever, were consumed. Big Grain Elevator Burns. The wind was blowing down the river and the blaze spread with great speed in that direction. By 9 o'clock the lower elevator and sheds and wharves from Amelia street to Louisiana avenue, a distance of six squares, had fallen in. Fortunately, Louisiana avenue is a very broad thoughfare, and the further spread of the fire beyond that point into a residence section was checked. Be tween those points, however, the flames swept to complete destruction many cottages , of the poorer classes, the oc cupants in a great many instances los ing all they possessed. With the wind in a favorable direction, the river boats, the employes of the road and the fire department concentrated all their energies in an effort to save the upper elevator between Austerlitz and Con stantinople streets and to check the fire at that point. The fire, however, gradu ally worked past the point occupied by the elevator. Heroically, the forces kept at work, but ultimately they were beat en, and the big steel structure, covered with corrugated iron suddenly hurst into flames at 10:30 and in a half hour was a complete wreck. Blaze of Terrific Fury. At midnight more than nine squares of the terminals had been completely destroyed, and it seemed unlikely that the fire would be checked until it reached Najiolecn avenue, which also is a very broad street. During the lire a heavy wind blew, and the blaze was of indescribable fury, carrying brands to great distances, driving back the crowds of sight-seers. Immense pieces of corrugated iron, torn from the sides of the upper elevator were car ried through the air as if they were feathers, and, dropping in every direc tion, constantly endangered the lives of firemen and spectators. The weather was bright and. warm, 50,000 people visited the scene during the progress of the fire. Aside from the tremendous loss involved in the de struction of property, the fire is a ca lamity to New Orleans in the tempor ary abatement ot tne immense export business of the Illinois Central, partly in the matter of grain shipments. KILLING ON MISS. PLANTATION. Big Mississippi Planter and Four Ne groes Quarrel A General Killing. By Associated Press. Yazoo City, Miss., Feb. 27. A quar rel between Edward Stevens, a promi nent planter, and four negroes, nas led to the killing of Stevens and his brother, W. H. Stevens, and the wounding of a negro named Wilder, one of the slayers of the Stevens brothers. The negroes have escaped. The sheriff and posse are in pursuit. EX-GOV, BDUTWELL IS DEAMGED 17 Former Governor of Massachusetts Grant's Secretary of the Treas ury, Member of Both Houses of Congress and President of Anti-Imperialist League, By Associated Press. Greeton, Mass., Feb. 27. Geo. Sewall Boutwell, former Governor of Massachusetts, died today of pneu monia, aged eighty-seven. He was Secretary of the Treasury in President Grant's first term, served three terms in the national House and one term in the United States Senate. He was president of the Anti-Imperialist League. F. J. Reed Postmaster at Biltmore. By Associated Press. Washington, Feb. 27 The President has sent to the Senate the nomination of Francis J. Reed as postmaster at Biltmore, N. C. Other Postmasters North and South Carolina. Washington, Feb. 27. Fourth-class postmasters appointed today for North Carolina: City, Wm. V. Harris; Win fall, Kate B. Jessup; South Carolina: Oakley Depot, Mary S. McCants. NAN PATTERSON IMPATIENT. Justice Gaynor Grants Writ of Certo rari to Bring Her Case to Trial. By Associated Press. New York, Feb. 27. A writ or habeas corpus calling for the appearance of Nan Patterson, the show girl accused of the murder of Caesar Young, before Justice Gaynor in the Supreme Court in Brooklyn tomorrow, was issued to the counsel representing Miss Patter son today on application to Justice Gaynor. - At the same time Justice Gaynor granted the application of Miss Patterson's counsel for a writ of certorari to bring her case before his court on the ground that she has been deprived of her constitutional right to a speedy trial. GEN. MILES AND HIS PAY. Senate Agrees to Confirm Report Re lating to Pay of Retired Army Offi cers. By Associated Press. Washington, Feb. 27 The Senate agreed to the conference, report on the army appropriation bill without . de bate. This bill carries the provision relating to retired army officers affect ing the pay of General Miles. 1-e naval appropriation bill was then considered. SWAYNEACOUITTED OF ALL 12 CHARGES By THE SENATE a The Vote on the First Charge, Re lating to Falsifying Expense Ac count is 33 Guilty, 49 Not Guilty and This is About Propo tion of Votes in all Cases. But Upon the Question of Riding in Free Private Cars, 69 Sen ators Acquit Him and Only 13 Call Him Guilty. Vote in De tail on the Charges. By Associated Press. Washington, Feb. 27. The Senate met at 9.50 this morning for the pur pose of making a final disposition of the Swayne impeachment case by vot ing upon the articles of impeachment. The first article, which charged Swayne with certifying a false claim for expenses resulted as follows: guil ty, 33; not guilty, 49. The detailed vote was: Guilty Bacon, Bailey, Bate, Berry Blackburn, Carmack, Clark, (Montana), Clay, Cockrell, Culberson, Daniel, Foster, Gorman, Kittridge, Latimer, McCreary, McCumber, Mc Enry, McLaurin, Mallory, Martin, Money, Morgan, Nelson, Newlands, Overman, Patterson, Pettus, Simmons, Stone, Taliaferro, Teller 33. Not guilty Alger, Allee, Allison, An- keney, Ball, Beveridge, Burnham, Bur rows, Clapp, Clark, (Wyo), Crane, Cul lom, Depew, Dick, Dietrich, Dilling ham, Dolliver, Dryden, Dubois, Elk ins, Fairbanks, Foraker, Foster (Wash ington), Frye, Fulton, Gallinger, Gam ble, Gibson, Hale, Hansbrough, Hey- burn, Hopkins, Kean, Kearns. Lodge, Long, McComas, Millard, Penrose, Perkins, Platte, (Conn.), Piatt, (N. Y.), Proctor, Quarles, Scott, Snioot, Spoon er. Stewart, Warren 49. The vote on the second article, which was a similar charge, resulted, 32 guilty and 50 not guilty. Clark, of Montana, voted not guilty on second article, and this was the only change. The third charge was similar to the other two and the vote resulted: guilty, 32; not guilty, 50. The fourth article related to Swayne's use of a private car of the Jackson ville, Tampa and, Key West Railroad Company. The vote resulted: Guilty, 13; not guilty, 69. The Senators who voted guilty on the fourth article were: Bailey, Barry, Blackburn, Cormack, Cockrell, Culberson, Daniel, McLaurin, Martin, Money, Morgan, Newlands, Pettus. ' The fifth charge was similar to the fourth and the vote was the same as the vote on the fourth. The sixth article charged" Judge Swayne with non-residence in his dis trict. This vote was: Guilty, 31; not guilty, 51. On the sixth article the vote was the same as on the second and third articles except the votes of Du bois and Gibson, which were for con viction for the first time, and Clark (Mont), who voted for conviction and the vote of Kittredge, which was for acquittal. The seventh article was similar to the fifth and the vote was 19 guilty, 63 not guilty. " The eighth related to the contempt case of E. T. Davis. .Guilty, 31; not guilty, 51. On the ninth article the vote was: Guilty, 31; not guilty, 51. Articles 10 and 11 related to the con tempt case of Simeon Belden and the vote on each was: Guilty, 31; not guil ty, 51. The twelfth and last article was the contempt case of Oneal and the vote was: Guilty, 35; not guilty, 47. This acquitted Judge Swayne of all the charges. ONLY 3 HOT SPRINGS VICTIMS. That Number Perished in the Great Conflagration Saturday. By Associated Press. Hot Springs, Ark., Feb. 27. It is now generally accepted that only three persons perished in Saturday's fire. Their identity has been established. E IN CAHALMATTERS For Six Months the Railroad Com pany Has- Been Buying Sup plies Without Advertising for Bids Which is Contrary to Pres. Roosevelt's Letter. By Associated Press. Washington, Feb. 27. In examina tion of Vice President Drake and Al fred Anderson, purchasing agents of the Panama Railroad Company, today it developed that for six months, be ginning early in May last, the rail road company has acted as a purchas ing agent for the Isthmian Canal com mission and that a total of $215,000 worth of supplies hal been purchased in this manner without public adver tisement for bids. This is regarded as a violation of .President Roosevelt's letter of instructions to the commis STAR GHAMB R WORK AN INTERESTING MESSAGE. Delivered by Dr. Morris, the Home " Mission Secretary. Rev. Dr. Morris, the General Assem bly's secretary of Home Missions, de livered to many Presbyterians at the Second Presbyterian church yesterday morning, an interesting sermon, or message rather, based on the great command of Jesus. "Go ye unto all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." "That," said the speaker, "means North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, as well as Africa. Christ made no distinction between foreign missions and home missions. The distinction man made. I shall speak of three great departments of missions. "1. Foreign Missions. "2. Home Missions. "3. The General Assembly's Missions. "I represent the latter.'" The speak er spoke of the aggressive work of the Presbyterian church in foreign lands. "We have 200 missionaries," said he in the foreign field. We need 900 more. I stand here to plead with you today for aggressive work in the great plains of the west, and will give you these reasons for that appeal: "1st. Because God's blessing rests upon it. "2nd. Because we have the choice of field; the opportunity. "3rd. Because it is the grandest op portunity for Presbyterianism. 4th. For your own sakes you must organize that great west or it will paganize you." Dr. Morris' work has been especially amongst the Mexicans in Texas; and in Okhahoma. The Presbyterians have established fourteen church amongst the Mexicans in Texas, Dr. Howerton, of this city, being present when the first Presby terian church was organized in one of the mission points. Several years ago there were twenty four Presbyterian churches in Indian Territory. Now there the forty-seven and eighteen ministers. Twelve new churches were built last year. Okla homa and the Indian Territory in gen eral present the greatest field of op portunity for the Presbyterian churches. THE KAISERS MECCA DEDICATED Many Representatives of t Evangelical Churches From All Countries Pers ent at the Imposing Ceremonies. By Associated Press. Berlin, Feb. 27. Emperor William's Mecca for the Protestants, the Evan gelical Cathedral here., was consecrat ed today in the presence of a most brilliant assemblage, among whom were delegates from all the Protestant nations. The service was simple, en riched with wonderful music. Recorder's Court. The following cases. will be tried( be fore the Recorder this afternoon: L. Simpson, drunk and disorderly; Soph ie Lee, colored, disorderly conduct; Wallace Kearns, disorderly conduct; Charles Kirkpatrick, colored, viola tion; Mamie Richardson, rock throw ing; Robert Bennick and Steve Wil liams, drunk; Walter Scales, colored, violation, and Napoleon Richardson, colored, violation. iPPENINGS ABOUT SOUTH MROLINA Horrible Accident at Batesburgj. Fires at Aiken and McBee do Great Damage. Two Men Convicted in Harry County for Manslaughter. Special to The News. Columbia, S. C.3 Feb. 27. A most peculiar and horrible accident occur red at Batesburg Saturday afternoon, when the four-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Wright lost her life by falling head first into a hole filled with vater. Several little girls were engaged at the Wright home in the game cf hide and seek, and getting tired of the game quit, and then for the first time noticed the absence of little Annie. Search was made im mediately, and after some little time she was found, fallen head foremost into an- empty post hole half full of water. The small of the hole prevent ed her from extricating herself, or making any outcry. When found her body was wedged tightly into the hole, so much so that some difficulty was experienced in getting her out. She was strangled to death almost im mediately. At Aiken yesterday fire destroyed property to the extent of $10,000, with about ? 5,000 insurance. The burned buildings include the Chatfield build ing, in which was located the post office, the Gift shop, owned by E. S. Campbell, the Eagle News and Cigar store, owned by H. S. Jordan, the residence of Mrs. E. S. Chatfield, and the store of the Aiken Electrical Con struction Company, owned by W. Rothcock. Early Saturday evening the dry kiln of the Carolina Lumber and Manu facturing plant, located at McBee, on the Seaboard Ari Line., was entirely destroyed by fire. The kiln was filled with lumber. The loss is heavy, but cannot yet be estimated. William T. Bell and George Bell, white men of Horry county, charged with the murder of Mrs. Millie Bell (wife of George Bell and aunt of Wil liam T. Bell) have just been convicted of manslaughter in the Horry county sessions court, and sentenced to elev en and five years, respectively, in the penitentiary. The two young brothers of William T. Bell, and one Van Bullock, indicted as accessories to the crime, were ac- jfluitted. GOVERNOR GLENN Mi TO LEGISLATURE Only Six Days Remain in Which to Complete Work. Important Bills Still Incomplete, Still on the Calendar for Final Consid eration. Urges Establishment of Immigra tion Bureau Without Further Delay, the Enactment of Other Legislation of Utmost Import ance to People. Special to The News. Raleigh, N. C... Feb. 27. Governor Glenn has sent to the Legislature a message in which he reminds them that there are yet remaining only six days to complete the work with the revenue bill, appropriation bill, code and other matters of vital importance yet de manding attention. He urges that action be taken with out further delay to establish a bureau of immigration, enact a far-reaching' vagrant law; change the jury; lessen the number of capital cases; repeal all divorce laws since 1883; increase the appropriation for confederate pensions to $300,000; appropriate a suitable amount for the erection of a monument in the capitol square to Matt W. Ran som; and that a State purchasing agent be provided for; that an appropriation be made for a hall of records and the vote by hich the Senate has voted down that bill 'be reconsidered. In conclusion, the Governor wishes for each Legislator a happy return home and future services and useful ness. Governor Glenn sent a final message to the legislature urging the the pass age of the following bills, before ad journment: Immigration bureau, va grancy law, reform of jury system, stricter divorce laws, increase of con federate pensions, monument to Matt Ransom, erection of Hall of Records and creation of State purchasing agent. The Senate passed the House act re pealing the present anti-jug law, then passed the new anti-jug law exempting such counties as desired. Nearly 50 were excluded. The Sinclair bill prohibiting the ship ment of liquor to persons under fic titious names in prohibition territory passed the Senate. The Senate reconsidered its action on the bill issuing $100,000 bonds for the State Hall of Records and it passed its second reading; aes 24, noes 16. The Hutchinson freight bill regulating the settlement of claims against rail roads passed the Senate, also a bill appropriating $1,200 for the State Labo ratory of Hygienne. The Senate bill for the election of the tax collector in Salisbury by the people passed the Senate. The House defeated the Laughing house bill to compel railroads to pub lish the salaries of officers, and passed the bill requiring Merchants to give creditors ten days' notice before sell ing stock. Mitchell introduced a bill to allow county commissioners to fix hotel rates when there is only one hotel or a monopoly in a town or city. Opinions of the North Sea Decision. By Associated Press. Paris, Feb. 26. Rear Admiral Davis, the American member of the interna tional commission on the Hull affair, says that he is unable to see the slight est grounds for the view expressed that the commissioner's findings establish a precedent which menaces neutral commerce. Railway Under Martial Law. St. Petersburg, Feb. 27 All the Russian railways except the Central Asian have been placed under mar tial law. Telegraph Officials Threaten. Moscow, Feb. 27. Postal, telegraph officials are threatening to strike unless their demands for improvement of their condition ore granted. COTTON OIL TRUST GETS ITINTHE NECK Supreme Court of U. S. Sustains Texas Court in Decision Against National Cotton Oil Company, Convicted of Violation of Texas Anti-Trust Laws. By Associated Press. Washington, . D. C, Feb. 27. The Supreme Court of the United States today decided the case of the National Cotton Oil Company versus the State of Texas, involving the State Anti Trust law. The court found the com pany guilty under that law and held that it had forfeited its right to do business in the State. The verdict of ,the court below was sustained. PATROLLING WARSAW. Every Policeman Attended by a Sol dier Fearing Outbreak. By Associated Press. Warshaw. Feb. 27. Everv nolieeman on duty here yesterday was aopomna- nied by a soldier. The authorities, fear ing a strike by the police, adopted this precaution, so in the event of an offi cer leaving his nost it will not he un protected. The police demand $12.50 ner month the same scale is paid in St. Peters burg. The present nav here is Sfi ner month. The private coachman and liverv- stable men here struck today. The strike of street railway employes con tinues. Some 15,000 strikers from the hie iron mills will return to work tomor row, all their demands having been grantea. rnese include a nine-hour day instead ot ten and one half hours and an increase in wages of from five to 25 per cent. It is announced that all the railways will be nlaced under martial law in order to prevent the extension of the striKers. The employes of the Warsaw-St. Pe tersburg railway have formulated de mands for presentation to the manage ment. This action is regarded as a prelude to the beginning of the strike. The Vistula railwav strike continues The St. Petersburg road is the only direct line still open, and passengers tor Moscow and Odessa are compelled to travel by circuitous routes. STOESSEL IN MOSCOW. Will Go To St. Petersburg Tomorrow. Bouquets Given Mrs. Stoessel. By Associated Press. Moscow, Feb. 27. Gen. Stoessel, late commander of the Russian forts at Port Arthur, and his party arrived here yes terday. Gen. Stoessel was met by the governor, nobility, numerous officers and civil officials. Col. Dimanksy made a eulogistic address of welcome, de claring' that "your splendid defense of Port Arthur amazed the world and cre ated immortal glory for Russia." Numerous bouquets were presented to Madame Stoessel. The general after wards held a reception. He will go to St. Petersburg on Wednesday, but sub sequently he will return here for a prolongued stay. At Kursk station, where the crowd which had assembled was disappointed by the non-stoppage of Gen. Stoessel's train, some "students made a hostile demonstration against Col. Gen. Reis, late -chief of staff at Port Ar thur, who traveled direct to St. Pe tersburg. The incident incensed the crowd, and in a scuffle that ensued three students were beaten by police men. GREAT BATTLE IS Jap s are Shelling With IT Inch Guns and Much Damage is Re ported; General - Engagement ail up and Down Line, fturoki Sweeping far North. By Associated Press. New Chwang, Feb. 27. According to persons who have just returned from the front, the Japanese are shelling Mukden with eleven inch mortars. The bombardment which was recently com menced is further reported to have caused great damage far behind the Russian lines. Advices from Chicago sources say a general engagement is in progress all along the line. The heavi est fighting is reported to be occurring on the Japanese right and General Ku roki is said to be sweeping far North and threatening to crumple the Rus sians back on the railroad. A special force is reported to be mov ing from the South and East with the intention of cutting off the Russians railroad comthunication with Vladivos tok. Kuropatkin's Report. St. Petersburg, Feb. 27. Dispatchea from ' General Kuropatkin, .dated Feb ruary 26, says: "The enemy is continuing offensive against front of our Tsinkhetchen de tachment and has turned both its flanks. "The Japanese have also advanced against Kantie Pass, turning our left flank, but all his attacks on the Angu i and Beydaling have been repulsed. His offensive movement against JBoraa pudz has also been repulsed." REACTIONARIES COUNSEL CZAR. They Urge Him Against Calling the Zemsky Sbbor. By Associated Press. St. Petersburg Feb. 27. The question of convoking the Zemsky Sobor is ap parently not yet settled. Some of the Emperor's advisers are urging the idea that to summon the Land Parliament at this time would be fatal to the au tocracy, but that as a preliminary step towards a representative assembly it might be well to invite representatives of the people to sit in the council of the empire, a purely consultative as sembly, with existing conservative ele ments as a balance wheel. Belgian Strike Causes Suffering. Rv Associated Press. Washington, Feb. 27. The great 1 strike among the glass workers of Bel gium is causing great suffering at Brussels, acording to a report receiv ed by the state department from Unit . ed States Consul Roosevelt. More jthan 10,000 men are out. , G AT MUKDEN A TERRIFIC MI EXPLOSION KILLS 15 OR MORE MEN It is Impossible to Explore the Mine of U. S. Coal and Coke Co. in West Va. Where the Ex plosion Took Place Yesterday, on Account of Fire Burning. Explosion Shattered Windows a Mile Distant, The Cause May Never be Known as all in the Mine Perished. As Yet no one Knows How Many are Buried. LATEST REPORT. Bluefield, W. Va., Feb. 27. The search of mine No. one, at Wilcoe, where the explosion occurred yes terday was completed at 7 o'clock this morning, and no other bodies other than the fifteen previously taken out were recovered. It is supposed all the men in the mines have now been accounted for. Superintendent O'Tool says he thinks gas is responsible for the ex plosion. By Associated Press. Welch, W. Va,, Feb. 27 Fifteen men are now known to be dead as a result of the explosion in shaft No. 1, of the United States Coal and Coke Co. The number of dead may be even greater but it is impossible now to explore the mine because of fire which is still burn ing. The explosion took place yesterday afternoon. It was of terrific force and shattered windows a mile distant. Im mediately after the shock great num bers of miners, who were off duty, it bers of miners, rushed to the shaft, to find great clouds of smoke and dust gushing from its mouth. Mothers, chil dren and other relatives soon were weeping and pleading for the rescue of those dear to them entombed in the mine. The officials of the mines, includ ing General Manager Reis, were soon on the grounds, and the work of rescu ing miners is now being directed by Mr. Reis. The dead miners thusXar recovered are all Italians and Hunga rians and have not as yet been identi fied. The company usually work in this shaft about 75- miners, but today being Sunday, the men were not all in, and the small loss of life can be attributed only to this fact. The United States Coal and Coke Company, with principal offices in Pittsburg, Pa., is a part of the United States Steel Corporation. The cause of the explosion has not as yet been determined, and since it is hardly probable any of those In the mine will be recovered alive, the cause of the explosion may neyer be known. WHERE LIES JOHN PAUL JONES. Was Supposed to Be in Paris But the Nameplate deciphered Proves Not His. By Associated Press. ' Paris, Feb. 27. A preliminary exam ination which Ambassador Porter 'is making for the body of John Paul Jones, the naval hero of - the Revolu tionary War recently disclosed a lead coffin. The name plate on the coffin was very much corroded, but the in scription has finally been deciphered, showing that it was the coffin of an Englishman buried May 5, 1790, two years before the death of Jones. Con sequently the coffin will not be opened. The examination continues. The finindjng of this lead coffin has the advantage of establishing that those buried in the Protestant Cemetery about the time of Jones' death lie in the vicinity of the present excavations. DEATH OF MR. B. E. WEBSTER. Another Old Soldier Passes Over the River. Mr. B. E. Web3ter, a prominent citi zen of Chatham county, died last Fri day, aged 67. ' Mr. Webster is survived by a wife and four sons, Messrs. C. M., J. W., W. B. and L. N. Webster. The deceased was one of the bravest of the brave men who shouldered their guns to march against the Northern armies. He was a member of Co. D., 61st North Carolina regi ment. He was with the Confederate troops at Petersburg vhen that city fell into the hands cf the enemy. He also fought gallantly at Cold Harbor and the battle of The Wilderness. He was a kind., lovable man, and his friends were very many. ' Sponsor For the South. By Associated Press. y Louisville, Ky., Feb. 27 Gen. Ste phen D. Lee, commander-in-chief of the United Confederate Veterans, has an nounced uie appointment of Miss Car rie Peyton Wheeler, daughter of Gen. Jos. Wheeler4 to be sponsor for the south at the Confederate reunion to be held in Louisville June 14, 15 and 16. Cotton Receipts. The receipts of cotton at the city platform today amounted to 17 bales and the best price was 7 cents. For the same day last year, 6 bales at liy2 cents. . , i Mr. Louis N. Schiff has secured the cigar stand privileges at the Denny Cafe. kS'l '-I IV,: 4 "! . if! i . i 'I M '4 It'; , - t!t : tt h fi t A I 111: , . i w -jfc M v.. I i If! t. V h . i A sion. -1 b - ... i