if
VOL. XVXE., NO. a32.
WLLMIKGTOK, . C, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1904.
FIVE CENTS
54 PERSONS KILLED AND
NEARLY 125 IE1URED
Two Southern Passen
ger Trains in Fright
ful Collision
c FAILURE TO
OBEY ORDERS
Is Given as the Caue of the Terrible
Accident The Collision Occurred
Near Hodges Station, Tenn., About
- 18 Miles from Knoxville, the Collid
ing Trains Being the Eastbound
Through Passenger, Xo. 12, from
Chattanooga to Salisbury, and the
Westbound Local Passenger No. 15,
from Bristol to Knoxville Both
Trains AVere Running on Time, and
Instead of the Westbound Taking
the Siding at Hodges, it Proceeded
on Toward Knoxville and the Colll
sion Occurred The Iocomotivfcs
Were Demolished and Both Engin
Crews' Killedrllxcepting the Pul
man Sleepers, the Major Portionof
lioth Trains Was ' Comufletely
" Wrecked. Making a GhastlyPile, in
Which the 'Suffering of t&c Injured
uid Dying Was Terrible in the
Kxtreme Special Trains xWere jSent
Out From Knoxville ami the Dead
nd Injured Were Tnkefn to That
ity Statements by Ytfce PresT-
dents Andrews aiitl Filulcy Full
List iff tlu Known Iread and
Injured.
Knoxville, Tenn., SeptenJer 24.
Running on a road bed in asupposed
ly . high-condition of maintenance, and
having' , about thorn everyv safeguard
known to modern railroa Jking, two
trains on the Southern RajLirway, carry
ing heavy lists ot passen gers, came
together in a f rightfulhead-eiid colli
sion near Hodges, Tearin.; today, send
ing o people to O.eJith'and injuring
IL'O, several of v,hon will probably
die. This appalliJng- loss of life and
maiming of the Lifving resulted appar
ently from th clisregarding of orders
given to thtwo trains to meet at a
station, jrtii-ch has for a long time been
they regular meeting point. The
c laim of failure to see either the sta
tion or signals could not be set up by
the engineer of the wesabound train
were be alive to enter a plea of -defense,
as the accident happened in
broad daylight, and. according to the
best information obtainable he had
the orders in a little frame in front
of him as his monster of iron and
steel rushed by New Market and soon
after came urion eastbound passen
ger train, making for New Market, ill
compliance with instructions to meet
the westbound train, which carried
the sleexiers from the east for Knox
ville, Chattanooga and other south
ern cities.
Orders Were Not Obeyed.
The possibility exists that the ill
fated engineer may have been asleep.,
or that death had suddenly taken the
sight from his eyes before New Mar
ket was reached. But nothing is
known, save that the orders were not
obeyed. The trains were on time, and
not making over thirty-five miles an
hour, yet the impact as they rounded
a curve and came suddenly upon each
other v. as frightful. Both engines
and the major portions of both trains
were demolished and ;why the orders
were disregarded or ! misinterpreted
probably will never be known as the
engineers of the ' two trains were
crushed, their bodies remaining for
hours under the wreckage of the mon
ster locomotives, which but a short
time before had leaped forward at the
touch of their strong hands upon the
throttle. .
Some of the bodies have not been
recovered, and many remain unidenti
fied. The Dead and Bruised Taken to
Knoxville.
The greatest loss of life occurred in
the eastbound train,' while in the
westbound train only the engine'erew
was killed. Both trains were dispatch
ed from Knoxville within an hour, and
all iphysicians in the vicinity of the
wreck were doing what they could
when thd local corps arrived. The
first' train arrived here from the scene
of the wreck at 4:2.0 o'clock, bringing
about seventy of the injured. Six of
the injured abor.vd had. hd while
enroute.to the city, and after their
bodies Were taken off, the train pro
ceeded to a point near the general
hospital, where vehicles were In wait
ing and a large force of physicians
were ready to i receive the wounded.
The next train' from the wreck arriv
ed shortly after 8 clock. It brought
the bodies of 43 de.d.
The six others vho died en route
brings the list up to 49, and there are
at least six more at the scene of the
wreck, none of the bodied of the train
men having been yet recovered.
Screams and Groans of the Injured.
-John W. Brown, of Kogersville,
Tenn., a newspaper editor, -vvas in the
rear coach of ibe westbound train.
When the fearful jolt came, be said,
all the seats in the car were- lovn loose
aiid people and seats were hiirled to
the front end of the car. Wnen he
recovered from the shock he heard the
screams and groans of the injured
and dying in every direction.
A Horrible Sight.
T left the car,1' said Mr. Brown,
"as soon as I could and walked to the
main part of the wreck. It was "th&.
most, horrible sight I ever vitnessed.
I saw a woman pinioned by a piece-d
split timber, whie -4vad o-TnV com
pletely through' her body. A little
child," quivering in death's agony, lay
beneath the woman. I saw the child
die, and withSui a few feet of her lay
a woman's had, Avhile the decapitat
ed body waseveral feet away. Anoth
er little giirl, whose body was fearfully
mangle! .was calling for her mother.
I have since learned that she was
LuciYie Connor, of Knoxville, and that
L-th her parents Were killed. I heard
ofie woman, terribly mangled, praying
-earnestly to, be spared for her chil
dren but death relieved her sufferings
in a few minutes. .
"Both engines and allf the coaches
of No. 15 -were iiterally demolished,
the smoker and baggage car com
pletely so. The sleepers remained on
the track undamaged. Both engines
lay to the north of the track, jammed
together into one mass of indescriba
ble ruins. The cars which were de
molished were piled on the wrecked
engines."
Congressman Gibson's Experience.
Congressman Henry R. Gibson,
from the Second Congressional district
of Tennesee, was a passenger in the
day. coach of the eastbound train. He
and one other man, whose name is
not known, were the only persons to
escape alive from their demolished
car.
Congressman Gibson 1 was. en route
to Russellville, Tenn., to deliver a po
litical address and was reading his
address when the collision occurred.
When he realized what had happened,
he found his legs pinned fast, but
managed to extricate himself. " One
glance at the car showed it to be a
mass of human beings, backs of car
seats, grips, baskets and wearing ap
parel of all sorts. There was not a
sign of life except that near bis side,
a young- man who had escaped death
and was struggling to-get out
Another Account.
Knoxville, Tenn.i September 24. The
most disastrous railroad wreck known
in this section occurred this morning at
10: IS o'clock on the. 'Southern Railway,
about one and one-half miles west of
Hodges station, and eighteen and a
half miles east of Knoxville. The result
of the collision of two passenger trains
is that about fifty people are dead and
over one hundred and twenty-five are
injured.
Wreck Due to a Failure to Obey
Orders.
The colliding trains were eastbound
through passenger train No. 12 from
Chattanooga to Salisbury, N. C. leav
ing Knoxville at 9:35 a. m., and west
bound local passenger train No 15, from
Bristol to Knoxville due to arrive here
at 11 a. m. According to the best in
formation, the wreck was due to a fail
ure of the crew of the westbound train
to carry out its orders to meet the east
bound passenger at Hodges station.
Instead of taking the siding at Hodges
it proceeded toward Knoxville, with the,
result that a frightful collision occur&d.
Both trains were running on time and
at a speed of about thirty miles an
hour. The locomotives were demolish
ed and the major portions of both
trains were , completely wrecked, with
the exception of the Pullman sleepers,
none, of whidh left the track. The pile
of wreckage was ghastly and the suffer
ing terrible in the extreme. The wreck
ed coaches were filled with dead and
injured and the rescue work was a.c
complished with great difficulty.
A, wrecking and special relief train
left this city as soon as possible after
the news of the disaster had been re
ceived here.
t The Work of Rescue.
The removal of the wreckage and the
rescuing of the dead and, wounded: com-,
menced immediately iupon the arrival
of this train. Hundreds of people had
been attracted from Hodges station.
'New Market and the many farm houses
in the vicinity of the wreck. The peo
ple thereabouts rendered every possible
assistance, and nearby homes were
thrown open to the dead and suffering.
The corps of physicians on the special
administered, to the wounded, who, with
the dead were placed on the special
train and brought to Knoxville, arriving
here about 7 o'clock. About five of the
injured, died while en route to this city.
Some were taken to the Knoxville gen
eral hospital, and others to their homes
or homes of friends. A local undertak
er had received orders to have 150 cots
in readiness .and these were at the
Munson street crossing, where the dead
an(J injured were removed from the
train. Fully 2,000. people had gathered
alxjut the Southern passenger station,
expecting the train to unload at that
place. One of. the passengers states
that the wreck occurred without th
least warning and that, the trains were
telescoped.
Statement from Vice President
Andrews.
Raleigh, N. C, September 24 Colo
nel A. B. Andrews, vice president of
the Southern Railway was seen here
tonight and gave out the , following
statement:
"I am advised that at 10:18 this morn
ing a railroad accident occurred on the
East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia
railway at New Market, Tnn.. owing
to the fact that the crew of the west
bound train No. 15 overlooked orders,
or .disregarded orders as to meeting
.piace with eastbound train No. 12, re
sulting in collision. The track and the
equipment were in first class condition,
and the crew, through whose negligence
the accident occurred were old . and
tf ustly employees, having been in the
service -of the company some 20 years.
The killed and injured occupied the
coaches. There were four sleepers on
the eastbound train,' none of which, left
the rails, and tfheir passengers were
uninjured. Surgeons and nurses were
promptly conveyed to the scene and
every possible attention is being given
to the injured. Have not received defi
nite report as to the number of killed
and injured, but the indications arc
that there are a good many.' '
Vice President Finley's Statement.
Washington, September 24. Vice
President 'Finley, of the Southern, has
made the following statement regarding
the accident near New Market, Tenn.;
"The accident was one wrhich no fore
sight on the part of the management
could anticipate nor prevent. It occur
red upon a railroad track which has no
superior in America. , It is laid with
heavy new rails, well ballasted with
stone, and ties are standard in every
respect, the equipment was up to the
highest requirements and the crews of
.the colliding trains were old, trusted
employees, having been in service or
that track for something like twenty,
years. The two trains were accustom
ed to passing, each other in that vicin
ity for many years and were about on
time.
'"Careful orders were issued to th
westbound train to meet the eastbound
train at New Market, a few miles east
of the scene of the accident. This or
der, in some unaccountable way was
overlooked or ignored by the westbound
train, and no ' power under the circum
stances could have prevented the col
lision. So far as the management is
concerned, every possible precaution
was taken for safety, , notwithstanding
all of which, the collision occured. The
killed and injured were the passengers
occupying the day coadhes; those occu
pying the four sleepers on the east
bound train were uninjured, the sleep
ers not even having been derailed."
Fifty-four Lives Lost.
At 9 o'clock tonight it is known that
fifty-four lives have been lost and 120
persons injured, about 20 of whom
will die, according to reports at the
Knoxville hospital, to which institu
tion all the seriously injured were tak
en. Workers at the scene of the
wreck had at. that hour recovered all
the bodies except those of the engine
men and the, passengers whose lives
were crushed' out in the smoxer of the
eastboimd train. Many bodies c"l the
dead cannot be identified, and it will
be some tinie Sunday before the list
is .completed.
The known dead at 9 o'clock are:
Ralph Mountjcastle, of Knoxville,
Tenn.
W. A. Gailbrairh, of Knoxville.
Mrs. W. A. Gailbraith, of Knoxville.
Monroe Ashmore, aged 19. of Knox
ville. John Black, White Pine, Tenn.
James King, of Knoxville.
Two children of James King, Knox
ville. William Kane, of Knoxville, engi
neer of the westbound train.
Richard Parrott, of Knoxville, engi
neer of the eastbound train.
James Mills, colored, of New Mar
ket, Tenn.
Roscoe King, of New -Market, Tenn.
El. G. Rarnest, of Johnson City,
Tenn.
G. W. Brown,
R. B. Godwin.
Tenn.
of Dandridge, Tenn.
of Jefferson City,
J. B. Bird, of
Jefferson City, Tenn.
M. Jones, son
of James Jones, of
South Knoxville.
Mrs. R. B. West, of Grainger coun
ty, Tonn.
J. B. Gass, of Dandridge, Tenn.
Mrs. J. B. Gass. of Dandridge, Tenn.
Miss Gass, daughter of J. B. Gass.
Eight Italian immigrants, names
unknown.
John T. Connor, of Knoxville, night
foreman at Lonsdale Roundliouse.
Mrs. John P. Connor, Knoxville.
Daughter of John P. Connjor.
Clayton M. Heiskell, of Cincinnati.
Mrs. Mary Phelps, residence un-
known.
J. H. Stevens, of Dandridge, Tenn.
One man was found with an envel
ope in his pocket bearing the name of
J. V". Daly, Greei:sburg. Ind.
Miss Nannie Murray, of Newport.
Tern.
Mrs. W. O. Haddin, of- Knoxville,
and a daughter of Mrs. Gass.
W. M. Brewer, of Knoxville.
Mary Ethel Shipp.
J. M. Adkins. Jellico. Tenr..
John Molyneux. Glen Mary. Tenn.
Rev'. Isaac Emory, Knoxville.
J. P. King, Newport, Tnn.
Dr. D. A. Fox. Nashville. Tenn.
Mrs. Kinsell, Knoxville.
Mrs. McEwen. KnoxvilIe.
John Black. White Pine, Tenn.
Julia W. Madiiox, Dandridge, Tenn.
Mrs. Haylow, Knoxville. Tenn.
Those That Are Mi-:siig.
Missing, supposed dead:
J. P.J King, of Newport, Tenn.
Miss Nannie Murray, of Newport.
Tenn. ' ' 1
Tlie Injured. ' I ,
Those known to be injured are:
Congressman Henry R .Gibson, ot
Knoxville. bruised about legs and shoul
ders and back was wrenched.
Mrs. Jerome Gass, of Dandridge-.
Tenn.. fatally injured.
Mrs. Nichols, of Dandridg, fatally
injured. , 1
B. N. Smith, of Knoxville; express
Messenger.
J. T. Saurrer, of 'Morristown, Tenn..
slightly bruised.
J. A. Jones, of Knoxville, face bruised,
not serious.
J. S. 'Helms, of Knoxville.
J. Hare, of- New Market,
Tenn. ,
C.
C
, irs. j. jones, or union, t.
J. & Arthur, of Union,
J. . White, and wife,
Plains, Tenn.
of Strawberry
Oscar Dalton, of Knoxville.
Miss Lucy Gray, of Knoxville.
G. M. Livingston, of 'Louisville, Ky.
S,
E.
G.
B.
S, Park. Columbia, S. C.
W. Robinson, of Columbians. C.
TI." Graves, of Asheville, "N. C.
C. Trent, of Chattanooga, Tenn.
(Continued on Fifth Page.)
FOR THE PEACE OF THE WORLD.
A SECOND OOXGRESS WILL BE
CALLED AT THE HAGUE.
President Roosevelt' -Will Invite the
Nations of the World to Join in
Another Conference for the Promo-
. tion of Arbitration. !
Washington, Sept. "24. President
Roosevelt announced this afternoon
that at ah early date, he would ask
the nations of the world to join in a
second congress at The Hague, for the
promotion of arbitration.
The occasion of- the announcement
was the reception by the President of
the delegates of the Inter-Parliamentary
Union which recently held a session
at St. Louis. At that session a res
olution was adopted requesting the
President to call such a conference.
The President's acceptance of the
terms of the resolution and the an
nouncement of- his purpose to Promote
the peace of the world by inviting all
nations to participate in a second peace
conference whose work should be sup
plemental to that of The Hague cori
ferehce was received by those present
with enthusiastic applause. '
The delegates to the Inter-Parliamentary
Union assembled in the east
room, in a semi-circle, facing the en
trance, from the main corridor.
Representative Bartholdi introduce!
the assemblage to the President and
statedr in brief, the objectxf the meet
ing1. Mr. Bartholdi then introduced to
President Roosevelt, Dr. Albert Gobat.
of Switzerland, general secretary of
the Inter-Parliamentary Union, who
presented formally to President Roose
velt the resolution o fthe Union re
questing him to call a second confer
ence. Dr. Gobat expressed hope that the
President woulld comply with th?
wishes of the Inter-Parliamentary Un
ion and that success would crown his
initiative.
In response to Dr. Gobat's j speech,
President Roosevelt said:
"In response to your resolution, I
shall at an' early date ask the other,
nations to join in a second congress
at The Hague. (Applause) , I feel, as
I am sure you do that our effort
should take the shape of Pushing for
ward toward the' completion of thj
work already begun at The Hague, and
that whatever is now done should ap
pear, nfot as something divergent there
from, put as a continuance thereof. At
the first conference at The Hague, sev
eral .quest ions were left unsettled, and
!it was expressly provided that there
should be a second conference. A rea
sonable time has elapsed and I feel that
your bpdy has shown sound judgment
in concluding that a second conference
should; now be called to carry some
steps further toward completing the
work of the first. It would to(? vision
al lo expect too immediate success I
for the erreat cause vou are rhamDinn. I
ing, but very substantial progress can
be made if w-e strive with resolution
and good sense toward the goal of se
curing, anions the nations of the earth
as among the individuals . ofeach na
tion, a just sense of responsibility in
each toward others, and a just recog
nition in each of the rights of others.
The right and the responsibility must
go hand in hand. Our effort must be
unceasing, both to secure in each na
tion full acknowledgement of th
rights of others, and to bring about in
each nation an ever growing sense of
its own reponsibilities.
At an early date I shall issue the
call for the conference you request.
(Applause.)
' mtm i
ORDER. BV JUDGE PUR NELL.
On Argument as to Right of the Court
to Make Allowance for Counsel
Fees, Etc., in -she Cuyler and Finch
Suit Against the A. and N. C. R. R.
. (Special to The Messenger.).
Raleigh, N. C, Sept 24. After an
elaborate argument continuing from
noon until 5 o'clock on "the question of
the right of the court to make allow
ance for counsel, fees, etc., to the de
fendants, Judge Pprnell. of the federal
court, issued an order in the case of
Cuyler and Finch vs. the Atlantic and
North Carolina Railroad Ccmpany' to
the effect that the appeal having been
withdrawn from the count of appeals
at Richmond and notice thereof fi'ed
and compalinants, saying that the pur
pose of their bill, the effecting of the
lease, having been ' accomplished they
do not desire to amend the bill, it i
dismissed, the receivers to be paid 'ac
tual expeneses, $150 to Thomas D.
Meares and $100 to V. EJ. MCBee, to be
taxed as costs, and that the petition oi
the complainants and counsel for al
lowance only is retained, as to which
an order will be entered hereafter, oth
erwise this is a final decree.
Arguments were made by James H.
Pou, C. M. Busbee and ex-Governor
Jarvis for defendant, and Col. T. M.
Argo and F. I. Osborne for Cuyler and
Finch. '
Counsel for Cuyler and Finch filed a
petition in connection with their argu
ment to the effect that their conten
tion is for allowance, "reasonable, and
equitable for themselves and complai
nants," for counsel fees, for services
anjd expenses in the case, to -be . paid
put of the funds and property of the
Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad,
which they contended was by the ap
pointments of receivers, to all intent
and purposes in the hands of the court
for distribution of such allowances.
Counsel for the Atlantic: and North
Carolina on the other hand contended
that Cuyler and Finch had lost every
issue in their litigation, and had no
standing in court for a demand for
allowances. ''
Results of the Pender Primary.
(Special to The Messenger.)
, Burlaw, N. C, September 24.
The tabulated returns or the primary
election, made here today is as fol
lows, the follwing candidates having
received a majority of all votes cast.
Senate, Jas. F. Moore; house, E. A.
Hawes; register of deeds, F. T. Croom;
commissioners (bid board), K. F. Pow
ers, F. P. Flynn, T. O. J. Moore; sher
iff. W. W. Alderman.
This is . considered a strong ticket.
STAMPS ON IMPORTED CIGARS.
TOBACCO INTERESTS HEARD ON
THE PROPOSED CHANGES.
Independent Interests Contend for
Removal of the Stamp or: Placing
of Smaller and Less Conspicuous
Ones on the Bottom of Bex This
is Opposed by the American Tobac
co Company Decision Will Soon Be
Made.
Washington. Sept. 24.4-H. A. Taylor,
acting secretary of the treasury, today
gave a hearing to the representatives
of the leading tobacco interests on the
question of the proposed changes in
the customs stamp now required to
be used on boxes of imported cigars.
The so-called independent tobacco in
terests contend for teh romival of the
stamp altogether, or the placing of a
smaller and less conspicuous stamp da
the bottom of the hox. This position
is opposed by the American Tobacco
Company.
Morris S. "Wise, of New York, repre
senting the Havana Cigar Manufac
turers' Association of the United States,
stated in answer to Secretary Tay
lor's inquiry, that the so-called inde
pendent cigar manufacturers were sat
isfied with the design and general
character of the stamp proposed to be
used by Assistant Secretary Arm
strong. That is, they were to be ma
terially reduced in size; to be printed
on, blue paper- of the same tint as the
internal reyenue stamp now in use;
and to be placed on the bottom, of the
box. - I , ; . '...
Junius Parker, counsed for the Amer
ican Tobacco Company, New! York,
said that in 1902., the Havana Tobacco
'Compariy was organized and begun
marketing its products in the United
States. : t found a situation deplora
ble from! the standpoint of the manu
facturer, the consumer, the honest ie
tail dealer and the government. Many
well known brands were being imitated
so generally that the trade marks had
come to be almost meaningless and
valueless. Dozens of Pennsylvania
manufacturers wTere Putting out ci
(gars bearing the same names as those
manufactured -in Havana, and the oniy
protection the maker and consumer had
Was the conspicuous customs stamp
But there was another trouble, and
that was the refilling of the imported
boxes bearing the customs stamp with
inferior cigars. To reduce the size of
the stamp and place it on . the bottom
of the box and further to print it on
blue paper of the same shrde as tne
revenue would be a clear Violation of
the spirit of the law and an acual and
strong encouragement to fra'ud and de
ception. Asistant secretary Armstrong gave
the reasons why he had ordered the
change in the . stamp. He said the
stamp in present use operated in effect
as a discrimination against the indus
try in the United States.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, and
first vice president of the Cigar .Makers
International Union of America, said
that the cigar makers of the United
States were entitled to a fair ,and
square deal and he did not think that
if. the American workme made as
good a cigar as could be made in Ha
vanna. which was a notorious fact,
they should ,be discriminated against
by the use of the present import stamp.
If Mr. Armstrong's order is permitted
to sro into effect, Mr. Gompers said, the
imported cigar would have to stand
upon its merits as the American made
cigar was compelled to do.
Mr, Pandas; representing the Cigar
Manufacturers' Association, of Tampa,
also protested against the revocation
of Assistant Secretary Armstrong's
order.
A. Bijur, president of the : National
Cigar Leaf Association and National
Association of Retail Cigars, maintain
ed that the cigars manufactured of
clear Havana -tobacco aire in all res
pects equal to the Havana made cigar,
and that the present stamp certified
to a quality they frequently did not
possess.
John Lanstreet, of Richmond, presi-
dent of the Independent Manufactur
ers' Association, said that the members
of this association without exception
were in favor of the proposed change.
'Mr. Wise closed the hearing, declar
ing that the Proposed changes was not,
as he had stated, in the interest of
dishonest dealers, but in the 'interest
of honest American manfacturers an
dealers as against a foreign product
unfairly advertised by the government
In answer to an inquiry by Mr. Wise,
Secretary Taylor said he hoped to bj
able to give his decision without much
delay.
FOR LAW AND ORDER.
Talbot ton Citizeu3 Will Prosecute the
Parties Who Shot Two Xegro Men
Recently.
Macon, Ga., Sept. 24. A special to
The Telegraph from Talbotton says:
"A mass meeting was held at the
court house here today which Was at
tended hy prominent citizens from ev
ery portion of the county to take the
necessary steps to apprehend and pros
ecute the parties who shot the two ne
groes. Resolutions were passed fav
orable to law and order and the gover
nor was requested to offer a reward far
the arrest of the guilti' parties."
The negroes were shot a few days
ago by unknown men after their re
lease in a trial in - which they Were
charged with being members of a "Be
fore Day Club."
Charters by the State.
(Special to The Messenger.)
Raleigh. X. C, Sept. 24. Charters
issued to the Kramer Tobacco Compa
ny, of Wilson, capital $125,000 author
ized, $10,000 subscribed by Samuel
Kramer, F. D. Ware and others. An
other charter is granted, to the Fet- ;
zer Drug company, of Concord, $2.40C ,
capital, subscribed by P. B. Fetzer and '
others.
Football Games.
Raleigh, Septtemi&er 24.- Agricul
tural and Mechanical college, 59;
Guilford college. G. 1 "
Charlottesville, Va.. September 24.,
University of Virginia, 16; Randolph- ,
Macon, o.
AT THE FRONT
Situation on Hun River
In An Uncertain
Condition
REPORTS DENIED
That There Has Been a General Land
and Sea Attack on Tort Arthur by
the Japanese Major General Orloff,
Whose Precipitancy-' . in Leaving'
Yentai Caused -.the-'Abandonment ot
Liao Yang, Will Be Detached front i
the Manchui'ian Army anVl Either
Given a Command in European
Russia or .Retired- Uncertainty
Prevails. as to Whether Kuropatkin
Will Accept or Refuse Battle With
the Japs -Cholera Said to Hare
Broken Out at Port Arthur.
- '- r -
The various reports regarding 4he
situation at the front in the Far East
received today give no indication of
any new movements. The most inter
esting information from St. Peters-
burg is the statement that Majot
General Orloff, upon whom was plac
ed the blame for the step necesstating,
the abandonment of Liao Yang, will
be detached from the Manchurian
army and given another command in
European Russia, or may be retired.
Japanese Advance is Slolw.
St. Petersburg, September 24,12:28
a. m. The situation on Hun river
remains in an uncertain condition.
One correspondent of The Associated
Press, wires from Mukden, under date
of September 24, that the greatest,
uncertainty prevails there as to wheth
er General Kuropatkin will accept or
refuse battle with the Japanese. An
other Associated Press correspondent.
telegraphing from Harbin on the
same date, says it is rumored that a
Japanese column is moving up the
Liao river and threatening Tie pass.
Meanwhile the advance of the main
Japanese forces continues extremely
slow.
The general staff has not yet receiv
ed a report of the fighting on Septem
ber 20, at Sanlunyu, mentioned in a re
port by Marquis Oyama, the Japanese
commander in chief in Manchuria, in
which he claimed that the Japanese
drove the Russians north. Marquis
Oyama, in the same dispatch, refers to
the. fight at Da Pass, which pass it now
turns out is held by portions of Gener
al :Mistchenko's and General Samson
off's division. He omits to mention,
however, that in the engagement the
Japanese twice made attacks and wera
twice repulsed with! heavy loss. '
The alleged defeat, of the Russians at
Sanlunyu was probably a trifling affair
of outposts, which General Kuropatkin1
did not think deserving of special men
tion. It is interesting, however, to note
the presence of a -Japanese column at
this ! point, which fact confirms the
statement of the Associated Press that
the Japanese were moving a fourth
army from Dziantchan. Sanlunyu Is
situated ten miles west of Dapass, on
a short cut between Dziantchan and
Mukden. !
Xo Engagements Thursday.
St. Petersburg, September .24. A
dispatch from General "Kuropatkin,
dated yesterday, announces that not
any of the Russian detachments were
engaged during Thursday.
General Kuropatkin also reports
that all was quiet along the entire
front yesterday. i
Xo Truth in the Reported Assault on
Port Arthur.
St. Petersburg, September 24.
Ther is no truth in the story published
by the Matin, of Paris, this morning
to the effect that telegrams -were re
ceived by the Emperor at 4 o'clock
this morning announcing that the
Japanese were engaged in a general
assault on Port Arthur, and that the
whole of Admiral Togo's and Vice
Admiral Kamlmura's squadrons were
aiding in the struggle, which it was
further asserted, it was feared here
would be final.
Cholera Said to Have Broken Out at
Port Arthur.
St. Petersburg, September 24.-5:10
p. m. Although no confirmation has
been received at this hour at either
the war office or the admiralty, of the '
report from Tsingtau that cholera had
broken out at Port Arthur, it Is ad
mitted that possibly it is true, owing
to the terribly unsanitary conditions
around the fortress, arising from the
number of decayed corpses there. But
until confirmation is received, the
Tsingtau telgram will not be givenut
to the press, in order to avoid causing
needless alarm among the relatives of
the brave defenders. The announce
ment none the less has caused the
depest concern.
Firing: at Port Arthur Heard. '"
i Che Foo, September24. 6:30 p. m.
The steamer Victoria, which arrived
here this evening from New Chwang,
heard two hours 'heavy firing at Port
Arthur this morning, the firing being ;
on the east side of the city. The
steamer was twice stopped by Japa-
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