Newspapers / The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, … / Feb. 27, 1904, edition 1 / Page 1
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. - . - . , x - - . ; - - - - --'- - . UJ VOL. XVII. NO. 50. WILMINGTON N. C. SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 1 904. FI VE CENTS KOREAN TROOPS TO IS IN EFFECT BIO FIRE LOSS ALL THE DEFENDANTS If I .1 V" 8 JOIN By Order of the Soldiers Will REPORT ON THE PORT ARTHUR FIGHT The Korean Standing Army Consists of About 17,000 Men, With Euro pean Methods As a Result of the Iiaet Japanese Attack on Port Ar thur, a Russian Torpedo Boat Was Ie8troyed Cieeroy Alexieff's Re port to the Czar on the Port Arthur Engagement Interesting News of Japan's 3Iilitary Operations Port Dalney Being Evacuated by the Russians and Japanese Being Em barked for That Vicinity Exact Situation at Port Arthur is Not Known. (Seoul, February 26. The Koiean gov ernment has decided to order the Ko rean troops to join the Japanese in the field. The port of Wiju was opened to for eign trade last night. Theiimitations to be placed on trade an i othir inci dental matters will be. passed later. This action necessitates a harbor, so Yongampha has been decided upon. i r The statesman's year book for the year 1903 gives the following details of the Korean army: The standing army now consists of about 17,000 men with European methods. In 1896. it was tak en in hand by a Russian Colonel with three commissioned and ten non-commissioned officers, who retired however, tn 1S98. A royal body guard of 1.00J men was formed and haa ceen well drilled, and periodically a draft of well trained men is transferred from it to other regiments of the standing army Expect Another Attempt at Landing. St. Petersburg, February 26. A dis patch received here from Port Arthur, dated February 2bth says: "At 1 o'clock this morning, several Japanese torpedo boats were sighted from hre with their sails set for tha purpose of disguising their character. The battleship Retvizan and the" shore batteries opened fire on them and con tinued firing until day break, without any visible result. After day breaK, a Japanese squadron, apparently convoy inir trjin snorts, was sierhted. At a quarter past 11 this squadron came Tnearer and an engagement which lasted forty minutes ensued. There was no damage. Few shells fell in Port Ar thur. "It is expected here that the Japanese will attempt a landing soon. "An inspection of the Japanese fire ships, sent into this harbor February S4th. show they were loaded with coal and 'kerosene and that electrical infer nal machines had been placed in the midst of this cargo." Navy Depivrtment Upheld Captain Marshal. Washington, February The Navy Department today received a cablegram from Commander 'Marshall of the Vicksburg at Chemulpo, saying that he was among the first to offer assistance to the Russian , sailors aboard the Va riag and Kortetz. The following bulle tin was posted at the navy department: "A dispatch from Commander M ;r ehall .commanding the U. S. S. Vicks burg. states that he sent medical aid as well' as boats, to the assistance of the Variag." Touching the Russian complaint that Captain Marshall did not join with, the other foreign captains in protest. ng against the Japanese attack upon the Variag and the Korietz in a neutral karbor, it is declared at the Navy De partment that the officer certainly would not be upheld by his department - in meddling in such a matter.. It is the first time that either the navy, or state departments ever has been seriously sked to oblige a foreign power to ob serve neutrality and it is pointedly tated that it was Russia's business to look to Korea for redress if that coun try had not maintained the neutrality of its powers. Japanese Account of Attempt to Block the Harbor Entrance. Tokio, February 26. Vice Admiral Togo's attempt to bottle up the Russian fleet at Port Arthur by sinking a fleet -of stone laden merchant steamers in the mouth of the harbor evidently fail ed though 'the venture caused no loss of life and the vessels lost were not of reat value. Five ships were prepared by ice Ad miral Togo for the attempted blockade. Four are reported to have beenjsunk. but the fate of the fifth is unknown kere It is presumed that it withdrew with the other Japanese vessels. The five vessels were filled with stones, so as to make the obstruction permanent, and were manned by volunteer mer hat crews. It was impossible to.se-; navS T officers and sailors on ac count of their great rivalry to partici pate in the daring venture. P AccomWnied by four battleships nine cruisers and numerous vessels of the torpedo flotilla, the stone laden steam ers reached Port Arthur on Wednesday. THE JAPANESE Government, Korean Go in the Field While the fleet engaged with the shore batteries, the steamers made a dash for the mouth of the harbor, directly under the Russian guns. Details of the attack have not been received, but it is evident that the Russians fire sank the steamers before they reached the points planned for their foundering by the Japanese. It is said that all of the crews of the four vessels escaped in boats and were picked up by the Japanese torpedo bat destroyers. The report that two of the torpedo boat destroyers were sunk by the Russians is denied. The naval department has received a brief dispatch from the commander of one of the torpedo boat destroyers, say ing that no lives and no warships were lost and that no damage was inflicted by the Russians. Pending the receipt of the official report of Vice Amiral Togo, the naval department declines to make any announcement regarding the affair. The Ave merchant vessels which were prepared for sinking- were the Jinzen Maru 2,331 tons; the Tien Tsin Maru 2,943 tons; the Hokoku Maru 2,776 tons; the Buyo 'Maru, 1,609 tons and the Bunshik Maru 1,399 tons. Each carried five men, two steering and three firing and running the engines. Viceroy Alexieff's Report to the Czar. St. Petersburg, February 27 2 a. m. A copy of a telegram from Viceroy Alexieff to the Czar has just been given out. It is dated February 25th. The place whence it is sent is not stat ed, but is supposed to be Mukden. The message is as follows: "A squadron of the enemy's vessels, II U.1I1 UCi 111 aiALCril, X IS J tilV. A. vv 4V tress at about 11 o'clock this morning and opened bombardment on the cruis ers Askold, Bayan and Novik, which were in the outer harbor, and also on the fortress. The firing continued for half an hour. Then our cruisers went into the harbor. The enemy fired for several minutes on one of our batteries and then began to leave. They stop ped within sight of the fort, but out of range of fire. "At this time, four of the enemy's cruisers detached themselves from the squadron and proceeded to Pigeon Bay, where they quickly opened fire on our torpedo boats that were cruising there. They directed also a strong cannonade against the shore. The commandant consequently sent troops to Pigeon By. The firing there lasted for thirty min utes, but no landing was made. The Japanese cruisers then departed. Suit able measures have been taken to op pose a possible effort on the part of the enemy to creep up by sea. "Our losses this date were one man wounded at the battery." sacre. A Russian Torpedo Boat Destroyed. Washington. February 26. The Japa nese legation has received a cablegram from Tokio under today's date giving an account of the ineffectual attempt made by the Japanese to blockade the mouth of the harbor of Port Arthur and also a brief account of the attack by the Japanese on Port Arthur yester day morning. As a result of the attack yesterday, the. cablegram says, one of the Russian torpedo boats was destroy ed. The Japanese-Korean Treaty. Washington. February 26. The Japa nese legation has received from Tokio the text of the treaty negotiated be tween Japan and Korea by the terms o. which the former government "guar antees the independence and the terri torial integrity of the Korean Empire.' The treaty was negotiated February 23rd at Seoul. It provides that Korea shall accept the- advices of Japan in regard to improvements in administra ton; that Japan shall secure the safety of the imperial House of Korea and guarantee the independence and terri torial integrity of Korea; that in case of aggression upon Korea by a third power, Japan shall take such measures as circumstances may require and that Japan may occupy for this purpose such places as may be necessary from a strategic pont of vew. Exact Situation at Port Arthur Xot Known. London. February 27 Official Russian and other dispatches how that there has been a succession of attacks or dem onstrations by the Japanese at Port Arthur, probably undertaken with the intention of covering or preparing for a Japanese landing elsewhere and pos sibly with the hope of inflicting further damage on the Russian warships and increasing the demoralization of the Russian forces. It would seem appar ent that little damage was inflicted on either side, although the dispatches leave the exact situation at Port Ar thur in some obscurity. The reported landing of Japanese at Possiet Bay, near Vladivostock has not yet been confirmed. Thi3 movement, however, is considered not improbable. The Shanghai correspondent of the Daily Telegram has sent in interesting news of Japans military operations. He asserts that Port Dalny is being evacuated by the Russians, who boast that they have mined the breakwa ter, wharves and railroad sidings there in order to prevent the Japanese from making use of these facilities. This (Continued on Fourtb Page.) President Signs Procla mation on Canal Treaty PURELY FORMAL Ratifications Were Exchanged Be tween Secretary Hay and Minister Buneau-Varilla Several Legal Questions Remain to be Settled and Until They are Disposed of, It is Likely That No Money Will Pass. Personnel of the Commission. Washington. February 26. Secretary Hay and Minister Buneau-Varilla at 10:0 o clock tms forenoon exenangea ratincations or tne Manama canai treaty at the state department. At ii:jo o clock tne it-resident signea iuCpiiA..amiWu Junius WtCwC.tj " enect. as soon as tne proclamation was signed it was returned. to the state department. The cab inet was in session when the proclamation reached the White House. from the state department. Secretary Loeb took the document to the Presi dent and he signed it immediately. The proclamation is a purely formal docu ment. There was no attempted ceremony at the state department. There were present in the diplomatic room, only Secretary Hay, M. Bunau-Varilla. Sid ney Smith, chief of the diplomatic bu reau and Eddie Savoy, the veteran messenger of the secretary. The proto cols of exchange signed yesterday by the President were countersigned to day by Secretary Hay. Several legal ouestions remain to be settled, among them the effect upon canal payments of the pending litiga tion in France began by the Colombian government to prevent the sale of the canal property to the United States. But the state department has a con viction, based on unofficial assurances that the French court will reject the Colombia suit. - . Another legal question is whether under the terms of the Spooner Act the $10,000,000 which was to be paid to Colombia can be paid to Panama and it is for the attorney general to decide whether additional enabling legislation will be required. It will be some time before these questions can be settled and meanwhile no money is likely to pass. The President may not send to the Senate his appointments on the Isth mian canal Commission, before the first of next week. He has been informed by telegraph that Benjamin M. Har rod. of New Orleans, has. mailed to him a statement regarding the charges pre ferred against Mr Harrod. Until he has receive3 this statement and given it consideration, the probability is that the official announcement of the person nel of the, commission will be with held. Even in the absence of the statement, however, President Roose velt is fairly assured that the charges made against Mr. Harrod are not of sufficient weight to warrant him in withdrawing the tender made to hln of a position on the commission. 1 believed confidently that Mr. Harrod will be the seventh member of the body. THE LIBERALS WILL WIN. Preparing for Government Election. a Speedy Fall of the and Then a General London, February 26. The Associat ed Press is in a position to declare that there will -be a dissolution of parlia ment within six weeks, and if. as it is expected, the liberals are returned to power, King Edward will summon Lord Spencer (liberal leader in the house of Lords) to form a cabinet. His majesty and all prominent poli ticians are preparing for a speedy fall of the government and a consequent general election. Tbe government's majorities have been dwindling gradually ever since the commencement of the present ses sion or parliament. A majority of fifty, out of a nominal 120. or there abouts, was all the government cou'd muster after a debate- of one week on such an important plank of its policy as the fiscal question. A similar small majority saved the government from defeat on the army question, while last night it could only show a beggarly majority of fourteen against an opposition amendment re ducing the important supplementary navy vote. Several such Incidents make the government's position un tenable. The decision of the government against the Irish university bill corri- pleted the alienation of the national- ! isljj. aiiii juuu iicuiiiuiiQ s ioiiower decided at a meeting yesterday to vote with the liberals to turn out the gov ernment at the first opportunity: Those who are best informed on po litical matters anticipate that the lib erals will not only win easily at the ronncoming general election, but est'- i mate that their majority may be as high as 150. A An Italian Steamer Ashorp . oiuner .asnore. Aiiami, la., Feb. 26. The Kalian steamer Mongibello, Genoa to New 6he would agree to .live separate from ' b.- p. Bell were fatally "burned, by 'a Orleansis ashore near Alligator light;, him and to refuse to permit him to seel gasoline explosion at their hone in house. She is laden with a miscella- the child and by "malicious and wrong- isle of ; Wight county Both died neous cargo, principally lemons. Her ful representations" have Induced his shortly after the accident, vhlcll OC conditlon ts reported critical. wife to refuse to see or return to him. curred last evening. - Retail Dry Goods Dis- trict of Rochester Wiped Out Si3,000,000 FIRE Of the Entire Loss, $750,000 Repre sents the Damage to Buildings and the Remainder the Loss on Stocks of Goods and Occupants of Offices- There Were no Casualties It is Es- ; . miuiLtu xnat 2,500 People Are Thrown Out of Work. Rochester, N. Y., Feb. 26. The sun set tonight with ten engines pouring streams of water on the ruins of what was practically the retail dry goods district of this city, for three out of the five department stores were con i sumed in today's disastrous fire, one i of which, the bibley, Lindsay and Curr Company, was by far the largest establishment of this kind in the city, afta the oldest. Insurance men place the loss at $3,000,000. Of th is n mount $f 50,000 represents the loss on build ings, and the remainder the loss on stocks of goods and to occupants of offices. It is estimated that 2,500 peo ple are thrown out of work, tempor arily, at least, because of the fire. The district lies on the north side of Main street, between St. Paul street and Clinton avenue, north, run ning from St. Paul street almost the entire length of the block. The fire started in the store, of the Rochester Drygoods Company, and worked west, taking but one store east of this establishment, that of the Walkover Shoe Company, before its progress was checked in that direc tion. Next west was the store of ttie Beadle, Sherburne Company, which was destroyed, then the marble block, occupied by the Sibley, Lindsay and Curr Company, also destroyed, and finally the thirteen story granite build ing, the lower part of which also was occupied by the Sibley, Lindsay and Curr Company, - and the upper part by offices. Only the front wall of the marble building is standing to night. The shell of the granite build ing is intact 'and the floors are in place, but the building is gutted. Sibley, Lindsay and Curr Company's six story Wholesale building, together with the stables in the rear, was de stroyed with all its valuable contents, this loss being placed at $1,450,000. There was a livery stable and somu frame dwellings on Division street, a narrow thoroughfare in the rear of the burned! stores and these were damaged by water and falling walls. There were no casualties and no one was injured except Assistant Chiel Frank A. Jaynes, who was struck by a flying nozzle and received some bruises. The power on the trolley line run ning along Main street was cut off tt avoid danger from electricity, and no cars have run through the block where the fire occurred all day. All other traffic has also been stopped and it probably wrill not be resumed until Monday. Following is a table of the losses: Granite building, S300.000. Marble building, $75,000. Buell estate, $20,000. Cornwell building, $60,000. Kirley building, $35,000. Walkover Shoe Company, $10,000. Sibley, Lindsay & Curr Company, $250,000. The loss on stock, was as follows: Slblev. Lindsay & Curr Company, retail, $350,000, wholesale, $1,250, 000: tenants in Granite building. $200,000; Beadle & Sherburne Com pany, $350,000; Rochester Company, $150,000. The smaller losses foot up $80,000. The fire was discovered by the night watchman in the employ of the Ro chester Drygoods Company. It was first seen at 4:50 o'clock and the watchman says it started from a fuse which blew out in the electric ele vator connection. Almost simulta neously an exrlosion occurred in the basement o? Beadle & Sherburne's, next door. Smoke and flames poured through the elevator grating in the sidewalk and in an incredibly short time the building were a mass of flames. SEPARATED MAX AXD WIFE. Canto in Brooms Enters Suit of $250. 000 for the Alienation of His Wife's Affections. Washington, February 26. Captain George Cochran Broome, now stationed in Porto Rico, today filed In the dis trict supreme court a suit for $250. CO) damages against James F. Barbour and his wife Annie D. Barbour, of this city . i for alleged alienation of the affection3 of Caotain Broome's wife. The Bar- bours are prominent socially here. Captain Broome belongs to an XT., xr si i : : F n :d ' A w t i irK t y-i r 1 1 1 1 v nr i rt i !- w ic n : -r was Miss Keyworth Barbour, a step daugh- ter of Barbour. Captain Broome a!- , leges that for over six months the de- fendants have been harboring his wife; and have refused to allow or permit 1 him to see her or his child. Captain uroome aneges m nis aeciarauon mat t denriv him of hi wife's society, tbe Barbours oromised her $150 a month iff IN P. 0. r The Jurys Verdict Office Conspiracy Trial THEY WILL BE SENTENCED TODAY MONEY FOR THE NAVY APPROPRIATION BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE Party Contests on a Number of Prop ositions The Use of American Ships Considered in the Senate. Washington, Feb. 26. The Senate today considered at some length the bill requiring the use of American i ships in carrying government supplies, but adjourned for want of a quorum, without reaching action upon it. The bill was criticised by Democratic Sen ators as being in the nature of a sub sidy, but Mr. Hale, who was in charge of the measure, defended it against this attack and championed it in the interest of American shipping. Sena tors Daniel, Bacon, Carmack and oth ers took part in the discussion. Mr. Daniel suggested a provision to tbe effect that charges by American vessels shall not exceed more than 10 per cent, the minimum bids of for eign vessels for carrying tne same freight. No action was taken on the; suggestion. The Senate adjourned till tomor row. THE HOUSE Washington, Feb. 26. Tne House passed the naval appropriation bill to day after having it under considera tion for a week. There was a party contest on a number of propositions during the day, especially on an effort of different minority members to se cure an amendment to fix the. price of armor plate at the figure bid by the Midvale Steel Company. Several amendments were ruled out on points of order, and the Republican leaders, bv skilful parliamentary tactics, left the matter of armor plate in the dis cretion of the secretary of the navy. An ineffectual attempt was made to have the eight hour law applied to all ship construction. The contest over submarine boats was uite exciting and an amendment final 'y was adopt ed which leaves ihe tiuestion to the type of boat open, but increases the amount of the appropriation for such boats. The minority under Mr. Mey ers' leadership failed to secure a rec ord vote on the proposition to recom mit with instructions, the proposed instructions being declared out of or der. Mr. Roberts, of Massachusetts, ad vocated an increase in the number of torpedo boats from 2 to 5, quoting Admiral Dewey in favor of his pro posal, and urging trial of boats of a certain type. W. W. Kitchin, of North Carolina, snoke for the Roberts amendment, which was finally voted down. Air. rvixey, oi v nBnn, yiiu amendment authorizing the secretary of the navy to contract for armor at a price not to exceed $398 a ton. and being unable to. contract at that price to construct an armor plate factory on ground owned by the government. $4,000,000 being appropriated for the purpose. Mr. Dalzell raised a point of orde against this amendment, a-.d the point of order was sus:tined. Mr. Rixey proposed another amend ment fixing the maximum to be paid for armor $398, and in support of this he cited the award for armor where the Midvale Company was given a contract for 6,000 tons at that price, and the Carnegie and Bethle hem Compay's 5,000 tons each at $453 a ton. W. W. Kitchen, of North Carolina, citing the recent award of armor con tracts to Carnegie and Bethlehem companies at an advance of $55 per ton over the bid of the Midvale com pany, said the secretary of the navy had exercised his discretion unwisely in not giving the contract for all the armor to the Midvale company. He said the secretary was incapable of meeting the question. Mr. Dalzell offered a substitute amendment providing that the sec retary be authorized to procure con tracts for armor at a price which in his judgment is just and reasonable. By a party division of 133 to 101, the substitute amendment tras iuu I displacing thp amendment onereu uy MIC, LA- - armor i Mr. Hitchcock, oi evaua, tucu Pecure an amendment prohibiting tne r - v - Tr.nt of moner for armor piatc to anv trust or trade conspiracy, but ni3 amendment was defeatea Dy prac- , cy a party vote. ! Te House, after passing tne oiu, i adjourned until tomorrow. J Fatal Gasoline Explosion. -Jmfniir vt..T5eh 26. Mr. and Mrs. Mr Rixey fixing the limit of cost or.vnicn action is necessary upon which CASES GUILTY ' in the Famous Post The Verdict Takes in A.,o-f - Machen, George E. Lorenx and Sam- uel A. and Diller B. Groff There Was Astonishment That the Jnry Had Included Samuel A. Croft In the Conviction Counsel of the De fendants Filed Motions for Now. Trial, An Arrest of Judgment and Also for an Appeal Defendants Admitted to Bail In the Sum of $20,0p0 EachThe Jury Was Out Nine Hours, But Reached a Verdict' in Eight Hours and Twenty-flvo Minutes, Taking Five Ballots Before a Unanimous Vote Was Recorded. Washington, February 26. '"Guilty, as indicted." was the verdict an nounced, by Carl Peterson, the fore man of the jury in the now famous postoffice conspiracy trial shortly af ter 8 o'clock tonight, stating at the same time that this was the verdict as to all four defendants, August W. Machen. late general superintendent of the rural free delivery division; George. E Lorenz of Toledo, Ohio, and Samuel A. and Diller B. Groff, of thte city. The jury had been out nine hours, al though the verdict was reached in eight hours and twenty-flvejmlnutea.- In the dimly lighted room sat the four defendants, who, after the case -was given to the jury had been placed in the custody of the United States marshal and confined to the limits of the city hall. With impressive dignity the Jury " a man rose and as the words "guilty, as indicted" fell from his lips, the de fendants and, their counsel seemed appalled. The defendants had given expression to the belief that each hour the jury spent in discussing, the case brought them nearer to an acquittal. There was very general astonishment that the jury had Included in the con- . viction Samuel A. Groff, the Washing- ton policeman and inventor- of the Lrrorr fastener, as to whom Holmes Conrad, special counsel for the gov ernment, yesterday informed the Jury he did not expect a conviction-and; that he personally did not believe in his j guilt. I Five ballots in all were taken. On ; the first ballot the vote stood 7 to 5 tor conviction, on the second 8 to 4, on the third 9 to 3. on the fourth. 10 to 2. and on the fifth the vote was unanimous. Immediately after the verdict was rendered cbarles A. Douglass in behalf of all four defendants, filed motions for a new trial, for an arrest of Judg ment and also for an appeal for the purpose of having the defendants ad mitted to bail. ' tne of jjrenz and the two Groffs' being Increased from $10,000 to tha sum. " Bonds were furnished and thes defendants released from custody. ': Intense interest was taken in the events of today about the court house. The court room was packed when Judge Pritchard Immediately after convening court charged the Jury and about 11 o'clock sent Its members out to deliberate on the evidence. They had been out only about forty-five minutes when they came Into court with a request for certain exhibits and evidence in the case. The exhibits they were allowed, with the consent of counsel to take to the Jury room, but,. Justice Pritchard said that to permits them to go over the transcript of the evidence would amount to a re-trial of the case in the Jury room and their re quest as to this was denied. They did not again communicate to' the court until their verdict was reached. Foreman Peterson, after the Jury had been discharged, consented to make a brief statement. He said that many points were taken up and dis cussed. The now famous $25, 00 not of Lorenz to Machen he said, had been "discounted" by 4the Jury. The fact that they were out so long, he said, was because on the . part of some of the members there were some matters of sentiment, "but," he added, "w overcame that by hard work." The four defendants will appear be fore Justice Pritchard tomorrow morning to receive their sentence. t 1. A " lo Dase a moi,on ror a new trial ani Aiacnen. after the verdict had noth- w nay ana seemea utterly crush- ea. He had been extremely confident ua arqniuai. Attorney Charles A. Douglass complimented Justice Pritch- ara upon nis impartiality. He saldi the case would be appealed and car- ried up to the United States supreme court if necessary. Death of a Virginia Newspaper Man. ! Norfolk, Va.. Feb. 26. Colonel James A. Pugh, a veteran newspaper man and tfie first president of the Vir ginia Press Association, la dead , 1 15 - : J 3 'A i I i v. v.
The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, N.C.)
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Feb. 27, 1904, edition 1
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