r
VOL. XVII., NO. 5215.
AVTXMINOTON, N. C, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1904.
FIVE CENTS
V
D
LYNCHING OF NEGROES
NARROWLY AVERTED.
Assaulters and Murder
ers ot Mrs. Packer
Now in Jail.
EVIDENCE IS
CONCLUSIVE
Thrilling Story of the Fiendish Double
Crime Committed at Clarkton Satur
day Morning Two Negroes Arrest
ed, tlie Principal and Ills Confed
erate, that Would Have Fared Badly
at the Hands of an Indignant People
Had They Not Been Spirited Away
from the Scene of Their Deeds and
Taken to Elizabethtown for Safe.
keepiug Evidence Against Sellars
as the Assaulter and Murderer of.
Mrs. Packer is Complete, and Only
prompt Action and Cool Heads Pre
Aented Summary Punishment It is
Reported that the Negroes AVill
Arrive in Wilmington Today, on the
j
City of Fayette vi He and Will be :
,.. T. ... . '
.rvirjJi iicic Linn nit; Aunt; ui
Trial.
At 4:30 o'clock this morning, the two
iaileged criminals, connected with the1
assault and murder of Mrs. Packer, '
i
were taken from the Steamer Tar '-.
- i
Heel's wharf to the jail. They were
i
bound with ropes and were in charge ';
of three men. It was assarted that '
they had been in the city on The Tar
Heel since about 1 o'clock and were
kept there till early morning to avoid
being seen.
At the jail, Jailer Capps was aroused.
In reply to the request of the officers to
take the negroes in, Mr. Capps said:
"I'll do ft but I will not be responsible
for their safety." He explained to the
officers that the jail was crowded now,
but he will put them in as safe a place
as possible.
Quite a crowd accompanied the pris
oners along the streets, the effort to
keep their arrival secret not being suc
cessful. There were mutterings of con
tempt and horror at the deed done, j
but no sign of any summary action.
The negroes were brought here from
Elizabethtown. where they had been
aken for safe keeping. But there was
ntense feeling at Elizabethtown and
the officers decided to run no risks.
Is it safer here than at Elizabeth
town? OStaff Correspondence.)
Clarkton, N. C, September 5.
Caged as the brute he is Xeill Sellars.
negro rapist and murderer is tonight
in the jail at Elizabethtown. Behind
the bars with him is Dave Brown, an
other negro, who is in every way his
equal in brutish nature and who is as
guilty in thought, though he may not
be in action. This is the present cul
mination of the awful tragedy which
Clarkton witnessed Saturday. One of
these negroes is the rapist and murder
er who so horribly dragged Mrs. George
'Packer down to shame and to death;
the other is his accomplice.
(Both Sellars and Brown are of the
same negro class that coldly and re
morselessly perpetrate crime in its most
horrible form; that desecrate the South
erner's altar of virtue; that spares not
the wife, nor the mother; that destroys
the home of happiness and robs the
fireside of its great blessing; that
ruthlessly applies the torch or knife;
and that forces thoughts of carnage to
the living to avenge the dead. "As ye
sow; so shall ye reap." Oh, the horror
of it all. v
PLACE OF DlSM'ALiNESS.
From early morn today until tonight
Clarkton has been wrapped in rain,
which but lends dismalness to that so
fresh in memory. It is true that the
(fiend is safe in jail, but that doesn't
move the horror from what has trans
pired and the hope that rages within
the breasts of those of this community.
Only he who knows can judge.
The Messenger 'Sunday gave an ac
count of the harrowing outrage and
told of the arrest of the two neerroes.
(Brown and Sellars. on susnirlon of ha v-
insr been the inhuman rTTKtm
J V j A O v X.
the double capital crime. Subsequent
happenings have conclusively fixed the
latter with the commission of the deed.
Thirst, silent witnesses point unmistak
ably to his guilt, and then Brown, un
"""ider oath, pointed to Sellars as the
guilty one. -
The finding of the dead and mutilat
ed body of young- Mrs. Packer, within
a stone's throw, of her home, which is
on the outskirts of Clarkton, will be
recalled vividly. From the moment the
ghastly discovery was made by" the
dead woman's father-in-law, a small
boy cousin and several others, the town
of Clarkton was thrown into a fever
of excitement. The lawyer left his
office, the merchant his. store and the
.farmer his plow. The sturdy citizen of
this thriving-, white man's community
cast aside both labor and pleasure and
went forth as one to seek the brute or
brutes who had committed the foul;
deed.
THE UOiNE HUT.
Within two hundred yards of the
Packer home is situated a hovel of a
building and there it was known that
a number of negro hands of the Cape
Fear Lumber Company, of Wilmington,
which operates lumber camps in this vi
cinty lived. It -was also known that two
of these negroes Sellars and Brown
had remained at the hut Saturday
morning while their companions went
to work. It was apparent that the
outcries of the poor, outraged woman
must surely have reached their ears,
but no assistance had they rendered,
no alarm had they given. Then, too,
young Sam Russ, the boy cousin men
tioned, had observed Dave Brown in
the vicinity of the Packer house, wash
ing clothes. ,
It was for -these twoi negroes that the
search at once commenced and Clark
ton's leading citizens, including Messrs.
O. L. Clark, J. W. Clark, J. M. McLeod
and Bruce Burney, took hold of the
'helm and with courage and energy
ferreted out the mystery. Brown was
found about 2 o'clock in the afternoon
working with a gang pulling up old iron
from a spur track about one mile and
a half from the scene of the tragedy.
at f ?Je" lUJ?Z
frpm the off-set his excited, scared de-
meanor. strengthened ' the suspicion
against him. On the way to Clarkton
he admitted that Sellars was absent
! from the hut about an hour and a half
in the morning. Shortly afterwards he
amended this statement by reducing
! the absent time to thirty minutes and
i also stalled that Sellars had left Clark -
ton for Councils at 10 o'clock in the
morning.
AFTER SELLARS.
Upon seeing that Brown was
safely confined the search was con
tinued. Four other suspicious negroes
were arrested Mack McCole, Sam Mc
Cole, Hugh Garner and Cleve Kelley
and a wire was sent to Councils to ar
rest Sellars. who was supposed to be
at his home near there. This supposi
tion was correct and at his home he
was captured. 'Messrs. O. 'L. Clark and
lAugus Kelly went after the brute and
at 5 o'clock brought hrm safe to Clark
ton. IBy this time the town was thick
with people and mutterings of a storm
were plainly evident. However, cool
heads prevailed and the mutterings
gave place to a calm, though there
was a dreaded oppressiveness about it
and only time alone could tell what was
in the minds of those fully fiye hun
dred people.
"I DID NOT DO IT."
Sellars denied most positively 'his
guilt and gave Mr. Clark a detailed ac
count of his movements. He told-him
of leaving the hut and going to the
Clarkton depot; of stopping at the post
oflice and waiting room before leaving
and also of going to a nearby store and
procuring a watermelon. All this seem
ed trivial at the time, though of a na
ture intended to help Sellars escape the
responsibility of the awful deed, but
later it acted as a deadly boomerang
and developed into important evidence.
iBUOOiDHO UNf DS ON THE SCENE.
While Sellar was being sought near
Council's bloodhounds were sent for
and when Messrs. Clark and Kelly re
turned .with their prisoner four of the
intelligent animals, owned by Mr. L. C
Smith, of Maxton. were on the ground.
TRACKED BY SCENT.
The man-hunters weS taken to the
scene of the tragedy and placed upon
the scent. After sniffing around for
several seconds they took up the trail
and started off, with a posse also in
their wake. The animals followed the
trail to the side of a pond, where they
lost it. Upon being carried to the op
posite bank, they found it again and
followed it to the railroad track and
stood. To the logical mind it was plain
stood. To the logical mind it was plan
ly apparent that the man had jumped
into the caboose, but whether or not
he had remained there was the ques
tion. To the other side of the car the
dogs were carried and they immediate
ly regained the track, showing con
clusively that the man had jumped into
one car door and out the other. Then
the animals followed the route as de
scribed by ' Sellars They visited both
the postoffiee and watermelon store
and finally rested at the depot waiting
room.
UP TO SELJLiARS.
Nor was this all. When carried into
the room where Sellars and Brown were
confined the dogs went direct to- Sel
lars and stood by him. sniffing all the
time. Brown they would not notice.
FEELING RAN HIGH.
All this evidence only inflamed the
fleeling against the negroes, but wise
counsel predominated again and Brown
and Sellars were permitted to remain
unharmed but under strong guard all
night in Mr. Clark's store, while the
other negroes were locked up in th
guard house.
INQUEST AND BURIAL.
Sunday afternoon the inquest was
held and about the same hour the re-
mains oi me outraged woman were
Ia.id tenderly to
rest at Sandy Grove.
THE VERDICT.
The jury impanelled by ex-Sheriff S.
G. ,Wooten, acting coroner, was com
posed of Messrs. Bruce Burney, G. H.
ICromartie, - Alexander Cromartier H. R.
Cromartie, T. R. Thompson and J. B.
Thompson. In the face of the evidence
and in the face of a confession which
Brown made the' jury ould return but
one verdict and that was that Sellars j
committed the diabolical deed.
CCCsiPBSSTON BY STRATEGY.
Brown's confession was obtained by
strategy. He was separated from Sel
lars and made to think that he (Sellars)
had been hanged. Then he became
badly frightened and told how Sellars
had wanted him to accompany him to
outrage Mrs. Packer and how Sellars
had left the house Saturday morning
to return a little later, shirtless and
excited, and stated to him that he had
accomplished his purpose, though he
had to kill, the woman.
IX THE SHADOW.
The news of the verdict and confes
sion frenzied the populace and both
the. negroes would probably have been
lynched, but for the fact that Sheriff
C. W. Lyon spirited them away to
Elizabethtown jail.
IT WAS FIENDISH.
No more fiendish ' or cold blooded
crime was ever committed than the
outraging and slaying of Mrs. Packer.
She was but a bride of a year and she
and her husband, George Packer, who
up to a short while ago clerked at the
store of Mr. O. L. Clark and who now
works for the Cape Fear Lumber Com
pany, at a camp six miles from here,
lived in a cozy little home on the out
skirts of Clarkton. On account of his
business Mr. Packer only spent every
other night home, but while away he
had a young first cousin of his wife,
'Sam Russ, aged about twelve years, to
stay at the house. Friday night he was
absent and early Saturday morning
two negroes (supposed to be Sellars and
Brown) went to the house and asked
for matches, which was a pretext then,
it is thought, to perpetrate the deeds.
If such was so they were thwarted, for
little Sam refused to open the door,
simply nokiftg the match out to them
through a window. .From 9 to 10:30
o'clock Saturday morning the little
fellow was absent from the house on an
errand in Clarkton. 'During that time
the deed occurred.
AS BLACK AS HADES.
.Just how it was. done and the inde
scribable agony of it all is plainly told
by signs.
The young woman was evidently just
in the act of taking out a pan of pies
from the oven when the negro brute
entered stealthily and seized her. She
cried aloud for mercy, but the fiend
knew it not. He dragged her from the
house and in the" struggle her skirt was
torn from he.r. Towards a dense thicket
he pushed her until finally she broke
away from him and started in the direc
tion of the railroad track. The brute
overtook her and another desperate
struggle ensued during which she was
stripoed of part of her sack. Beating
and choking her he dragged her to the
thicket, where he knocked her down
and accomplished his fiendish purpose.
Then he stabbed his victim twice in the
nkck with a knife and as she turned
over in her agony and probably death
struggle he broke her skull with a rail.
LYING FACE DOWNWARD.
She was found lying face downward,
her head resting on her left arm and
in a stump hole, and her right arm
crooked as if warding off a blow.
A KNIFE AND A RAIL.
An old iron case knife, though not
bloody, was found near the corpse. The
rail, about a yard long and gore stain
ed, was also found near by.
THE DISCOVERY.
It was after the deed was committed
that young Sam Russ returned and
missed his cousin. He went outside the
house to look for her and not far away,
probably 250 yards and south of the
house, he saw Dave Brown washing
some clothing. 'He inquired of him if
he had seen Mrs.. Packer and received
a negative reply. He then went to Mr.
Packer's father's house, also nearby,
and as she was not there the search
commenced. In the meantime Mr. A.
Santee came up and said shortly before
he had heard outcries in that vicinity.
The auest resulted in the finding of the
body of the young woman in all its
ghastliness and soul thrilling horror.
TEN YEARS AGO.
A queer coincidence is the fact that
a nesro attempted to assault Mrs. pack
er when she was but a mere child and
living with her parents, who then re
sided at Abbottsburg.
She was sent on an errand to a neigh
bor's house and while returning along
a lonely road a negro man tried to en
tice, her into a growth of bushes by the
road side. Failing in this he was about
to use force when a white man came in
sight on the road and the negro made
off. He escaped.
THE DEAD WOMAN.
The dead woman was well liked and
thought of by all and her death is
deeply deplored. She was a daughter
of Mr. Frank Russ, or i!.iizatn
town. She was about 24 years of age.
TE3LL TALE SHIRTS.
Two shirts common ones it is true-
are figuring in the investigation. The
most important of these was found at
the negroes shanty, or hut. It had
been washed by Brown and is claimed
by him as his own, but it is thought it
was the one worn by Seliars while he
was committing the crime and then
given to Brown to wash. ..In spite of
violent scrubbing it bears a number
of marks that msbe rust but which
bear every sign of blood. This shirt
was f&und by Mr. O. L. Clark and is
still in his ryossession.
The other shirt is the one worn by
iSellars when arrested. He says he had
it on for a week, when its clean condi
tion shows plainly to the contrary.
SPEEDY TRIAL.
The next term of Bladen county Su
perior court does not convene until
October, but the negroes, if tried, will
probably be brought into court before
that time.
'Solicitor C. C. Lyon, of this district,
was in Clarkton Saturday and it is said
he has requested the Governor, to call
a special term.
HOW THEY APPEAR.
. The negro Sellars is of a ginger cake
: hue. about 24 years of age and weighs
about 150 pounds.
(Brown is about the same size, but
black and prabably three years young
er.
LOYAL ACTION APPRECIATED.
(When the news of the outrage spread
out the staunch citizens of grand old
Columbus and Robeson counties came
nobly to the aid of the citizens of this
community and faithfully aided in the
search. -The people, of Clarkton and
vicinity greatly appreciate this loyal
support and assistance. . r
ARMIES' RAGE
Japanese and Russians
Pushing on in Haste
to Mukden.
RESULT IN DOUBT
Repeated Attacks Made on tlie Russian
Hear and One Report Says That
Kuropatkin's Rear Guard Has Been
Almost Annihilated and That the
Main Russian Army is in Danger of
Being Surrounded Reports-of the
Evacuation of Mukden, if True,
Show That the Russians Intend tlie
Abandonment of the Whole of
Southern Manchuria and the Wind
ing Up of the Present Campaign
Stakelberg's Forces Were Xot Cut
Off, as Was First Reported, but They
Arc --With the Main Army.
The forces of Kuropatkin. and
Oyama are racing for Mukden. This
much stands out in the news of Mon
day, and is indicated in a report for
warded by Kuropatkin, who says that
his retreat is being conducted in per
fect order, though the Japanese on
Sunday repeatedly attacked his rear
and continued the attack until Mon
day. The result of the race is in doubt.
The united Russian forces are now
north of Yentai, a station on the rail
way about ten miles northeast of .Liaa
Yang. They are pushing on to Muk
den, to which the bulk of the Japanese
forces is marching direct, after having
crossed the Taitse river.
With this race in progress, there
comes a brief dispatch from Mukden,
sayingfthat portions of the evacuation
of that place are progressing. This re
port', if well founded, as is pointed out
in The Associated Press St. Petersburg
dispatches, would mean the abandon
ment of the whole of southern Man
churia, and the winding up of the
present campaign.
It was reported in St. Petersburg at
a late hour Monday night' that Kuro--paikin's
rear guard had been almost
annihilated and that the main Russian
army was in danger of being surround
ed. Kuropatkin in his report makes no
mention" of the abandonment of two
hundred guns at Liao Yang, a rumor
to which effect is in circulation.
Advices from Port Arthur by way of
Che Foo bring the fighting there up to
September 2, and say the Japanese
losses were very heavy.
Russian Army in Danger.
St. Petersburg, September 5. It u
reported at a late hour that General
Kuropatkin's rear guard has been al
mnst anihilafpd. and that the main
Russian army is in imminent danger
of being- surrounaea.
1
Mukden to be Evacuated.
Mukden, September 5. Prepara
tions for the evacuation of Mukden are
proceeding. The Japanese advance
is within thirty miles.
Kuropatkin's Retreat Cut Off.
Lonndon, September 5. The Daily
Mail this morning prints a dispatch
from Sinmintin, dated September 5th,
giving a report that Kuropatkin's re
treat has been cut off.
The dispatch goes on to say that the
Russian tToops had advanced In strong
force to the southeast of Mukden, as
far as Japing Hill, to oppose, any pos
sible attack in the direction of their
advance. A Chinese official who ar
rived from Mukden Sunday says that
the Russian troops are leaving for the
north, that there are eighteen thous
and men ten miles to the east.
Stake Iberg Makes His Escape.
St. Petersburg, September 4. 7:40
p. m. General Stakelberg's First Si
berian corps, which was reported yes
terday by General Kuropatkin as hav
ing been cut off to the westward of
Liao Yang, has been safely extricated.
General Kuropatkin telegraphed at 7
o'clock Saturday evening that the
greater portion of his army was then
south of - Yantai. a.bout 10 . miles
northeast of Liao Yang, and that the
other portion of -.it "'was crossing the
Taitse river and taking up a position
on the righc bank. The troops left at
Liao Yang and surrounding fortifica
tions to cover the retreat crossed the
Taitse river Saturday and occupied
the right bank of the river.
This message, -which was received
by the Etnperor early this morning,
threw a more hopeful light on the po
sition of the Russian army, and the
authorities gave sighs of relief. There
Is no attempt, however, to conceal the
gravity of the situation, in view of the
absence of news regarding what is
happening today. It Is not clear from
the latest' telegram whether the Rus
sians are continuing their retreat or
j if they, have been compelled to face
their toe. :-k-.:-.
The gloomy report telegraphed by
the Russian general in the early fight
ing of Saturday, and his bitter re
proaches against General Stakelberg,
are attributed to his chagrin over the
failure of his offensive plans. General
Kuropatkin now telegraphs that his
only serious losses are confined to
Major General Orloff 's detachment,
which -was guarding the left flank at
Yentai. This detachment' consisted of
mixed European detachments and was
suddenly attacked by Japanese infan
try and artillery, concealed in the tall
Chinese corn and grrass. The Russians
seem to have lost their heads and to
have retreated precipitately. The
Japanese inflicted great slaughter,
one of General Orloff 's regiments los
ing 1,500 men, half its strength. No
details are given of the escape of Gen
eral Stakelberg's corps from the
clutcnes of the enemy, but it Is believ
ed it owes its safety to the neglect or
inability of the Japanese to follow up
their advantage. General Stakelberg-
was allowed to cross the river and
came up with the main army in time
to enable the shattered remnants of
General Orloff's detachment to re
treat. This exploit is likely to con
done General Stakelberg's disobedi
ence, but unless the Emperor forgives
him, he will have to appear before a
court-martial, and probably will lose
his command.
The m war office is able to make the
reassuring statement that the Russian
retreat from Liao Yang did not in
volve the loss of guns, and it also de
clares that the abandoned stores at
Liao Yang were set on fire before the
Russians crossed the Taitse river.
The following is the full text of Gen
eral Kuropatkin's report announcing
the escape of- General Stakelberg's
army:
"Today (September 3) the greater
part of the Russian army, including
the First Siberian corps, is occupying
positions south of the branch railway
from Yentai station to the Yentai
mines. The Japanese, although they
were in the immediate vicinity of our
tToops, today confined themselves prin
cipally to sniping from the cornfields.
Our troops which were posted at Liao
Yang, are crossing to the right hank
of the Taitse river. The area of oper
ations and almost entirely by growing
Chinese corn, which greatly impedes
the movements of the troops. The re.
treat of Major General Orloff's detach
ment yesterday afternoon (Friday)
was largely due to the fire with which
the force was assailed among the mil
let fields."
Official Reports Received in Tokio.
Tokio, September 5.-8 p. m. A
mass of official reports on the battle
of Liao Yang have been received at
the imperial headquarters, but they
will not be given out until it is possi
ble to put them in order and make
from them a concise and detailed
story. In the meantime, headquarters
is refraining from giving anything to
the public.
It is generally known that General
Kuropatkin succeeds by means of a
desperate guard action and- strong and
well bandied flank movements in with
drawing the great bulk of the Rus
sian army, and that he cut bridges to
hamper the Japanese pursuit. j
Critical interest centers in thee oper
ations of the Japanese right wing
which occurred late Friday night and
early Saturday morning. General Ku
roki then swung to the westward, his
movement being designed x'o flank the
remainder of the Russian left at Liao
Yang itself. 'It is believed here that
General Kuropatkin is bound to lose
many prisoners to the Japanese. It
is possible, however, that the. topo
graphical difficulties and the over
whelming opposition of the Russian
army may creek this movement on the
part of General Kuroki.
Among the Japanese officers report
ed killed in the battle of Liao Yang
are Lieutenant Tearouchi, a son ! of
Lieutenant General Tearouchi, minis
ter of war, and Lieutenants Fukushi
ma and Muratta, both sons of Japa
nese generals.
Official figures of the Japanese losses
and a list of the trophies captured are
expected to reach Tokio tomorrow.
It is believed that General Kuropat
kin's next stand will be made at Muk
den, although there Jg defensible
ground south of there.
Field Marshal Yamagati, chief of
the general staff, and Lieutenant Gen
eral Tearouchi were the hosts at a
banquet given tonight in honor of the
Liao Yang victory. The guest's includ
ed the imperial princess, the members
of the cabinet and the elder states
man, the staff officers of the army and
navy departments and chiefs of bu
reaus. Tokio is illuminated again tonight,
and the principal streets of the city,
where a series of lantern processions
are taking place, are thronged with
people.
Tlie Battles Around Liao Yang.
Yentai, September 4. Delayed in
transmission The Russians evacuated
their positions aroung Liao Yang dur
ing the night of September 3, crossing
the Taitse river and burning the
bridges behind them. In the mean
time a strong force was holding Gen
eral Kuroki back from Yentai.
. During the combined atack on Liao
Yang, which commenced August 30,
by General Oku from the southeast
and General Nodzu from the south
west, the shell fire was terrific, in one
instance fifty-six shells bursting at
the same time.
The Japanese made a fine Infantry
attack. They succeeded in reaching
the Russian trenches, but were repuls
ed with heavy loss. The Japanese
shrapnel, as a rule, burst too high.
On the whole, the day went well for
the Russians. The Japanese were
driven from the villages along the rail
road. On August 3i; the shelling com
menced at daylight from all sides, but
the Russian infantry pressed forward.
Late that afternoon the news came
that Kuroki was threatening the rail,
road at Yentai. and the Russians com
menced to retire, enabling , the Japa
nese to bring up two batteries and
enfilade the v Russian force along the
railroad. During the night the trans-
On September 1, the Russians re
treated from their main positions,
which formed a circle around the city,
while the transport crossed the river.
At 2 o'clock the Japanese succeeded in
placing two guns in position and shell
ed the railroad station, resulting in
many casualties. At the same time,
the '.Japanese infantry attacked the In -
.(Continued on Fifth Page.)
LABOR DAY CELEBBAT10H.
THE HOLIDAY GENERALLY OB
SERVED IX OTHER PLACES.
Everywhere Xearly There Was. the
Parade of Union Men. -Then Speech
making by Some Prominent Citizen.
Kansas City, Mo., September 5. -
Thomas E. Watson, Populist candidate
for President of the United States, was
the principal speaker at a Labor Day
picnic here today. Mr. Watson began
by announcing that he was 4S years
old today. He said, in part:
"Workmen whose toil produces the
vast annual increase in the nation's
wealth ask why it is that men who
produce the most of this wealth should
enjoy the least cf it, while the men
whose toil produces the least of Jt
should, by subtle contrivances of law.
and business, enjoy-the most of it. In
other words, the man who makes it all
thinks that he ought to have a fair
share of that which he makes. "
"The laborer has the right to com
plain that too much of the weight of
taxation falls upon him, the poorer
man, when the greater weight of the
burden, should be borne by the richer
man, who is m6re able to hear It. and
who enjoys to a greater extent the
benefits of government.
"Labor has a just cause to complain
that the hours of work are too long.
"The laborer has just cause of com
plaint, because children who are x'oo
young for the confinement and toil are
kept at work in unhealthy and ex
hausting employment.
"Labor has a right to demand that
the life of the workman should be
held more sacred than the machine he
works with, and therefore, every
possible safety appliance should be
adopted for his benefit. I should be
glad to see the introduction into this
country of the German system of old
age pensions. f,
"If the earth is only a battlefield, in
which the Creator intended that the
strong battalion should always trample
down the weak, then the present sys
tem is all right: that is just what oc
curs; but if the earth 'was intended by
our common father as the home of his
children, and if it was the divine pur
pose that each of the children should
find food, raiment and shelter In re
turn for labor, then our present system
needs reform."
Non-Union Men Celebrate the Day.
Cripple Creek, Colo., September 5. a
Labor Day was observed here with a
parade of 3,000 independent workmen.
It was the first time in the history of,
the camp that the union men failed
to parade, and probably the first ob
servance ofLabor Day by strictly non- '
union men in America. Banners
reading, "They can't come back,"
"Cripple Creek is Still In America."
and "We Don't' Hire Salaried Agita
tors" were . carried. Army officials,
and fire company and the local militia
participated.
Celebration at Augusta.
Augusta, Ga., September 5. -With a
parade nearly two miles long, organiz
ed labor began the local celebration of
Labor Day here today. Later at a
suburban resort there was an elabor
ate programme of exercises. Congress
man T. W. Hardwick was the principal
speaker, choosing as his subject
"Rights of Labor Organized and Un
organized." No man. he said, had any
right to interfere with another in his
right to work, and this was a point
organized labor should always remem
ber. Other speakers were J. W. Weir,
of Atlanta; John R. Booke, managing
editor of The Chronicle. Barbecue
dinner was served by the, blacksmiths,
and a lengthy programme of athleHfc
exercises for prisfes were carried out.
Prominent Virginians Join in Celebra
tion at Pine Beach. - ,
Newport News', September 5, New
port News and Portsmouth, labor un,
ions combined in a big celebration of
Labor Day at Pine Beach, opposite this
city. .
Olympic games, a world's congress
of boxers and wrestlers, and a brilliant'
programme of oratory were the fea
tures of the day, followed by dancing
at night.
Among the speakers of the occasion
were United States Senator Martin,
Governor A. J. Montague and Con
gressman Claude Swanson, each of
whom reecived a great ovation at the -hands
of the union men. Rain poured
in torrents all day, until near night
fall. .
Governor Hogg at Houston.
Houston, Tex., September 5. Lab'or
Day was observed here with a big pa
rade, 2,500 men being in line. The
feature of the day was Vhe address of
Governor J. S. Hogg, who made an at
tack on corporations and asserted that
strikes could be prevented by legisla
tion. Three Celebrations at Norfolk.
Norfolk, Va., September 5. There
aere three celebrations of Labor Day
here today by reason of splits In the '
several bodies of this section. Bad
weather prevented the athletic con
tests and practically ruined all the
programmes. Governor Montague,
General Fitzhugh Lee, Congressmen.
Swanson and Lamb. John Slocum,
president of International Blacksmiths,
and State Labor Commissioner Doher
to spoke at Pine Beach. At a "meet
ing tonight plans were Inaugurated for
a joint celebration" of Labor Day in
1905-06 and '07 by unions of Virginia,
Carolina, District of Columbia and
Maryland at Pine Beach ,v
William Exnm Captured Near La-
; : ' . Grange. - " . : . "
Haleigh, N. C, September 5. A spe
cial from LetGrange, N. C, says that
William Exum, was captured at the
house of a relative, a few hours after
the slaying of his- step son, young
'Walstin. (He offered resistance, but was
overpowered and put in jail. -
The name of LlaoYang Is being writ
ten on history's tablet in vhide'iule
blood. 'Atlanta Constitution.