?)r fleMii. fuel okb dollar pbb trar. "TRUE TO OURSELVES, OUR COUNTRY AND OUR GOD.1 sikolr oofirs rive crhtr. VOL. 22. SMITHFIELD, N. C., FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1904. NO. 52. PROGRESS OF THE WAR. Outline ot Events of the Week Condensed by the Balti more Sun. The Japanese attack on Port Arthur Wednesday morning seems to have been an attempt to sink several vessels in the channel mouth of the h arbor at I'ort Arthur in order to "bottle up" the Russian lleet in the same manner that Captain Hob son attempted to "bottle up" Admiral Cervera's fleet in the harbor of Santiago, Cuba, in the Spanish-American war. Like Hobson's, Admiral Toga's attempt seems to have failed, but the Russian forts, it is reported, suffered considerably from the Japanese fire, five guus being silenced. The Japanese deny positively that any of their war vessels were injured. There was a rumor in St. Pe tersburg of still another attack on Port Arthur. The belief of au understanding between Russia and Germany in case of international complica tions is growing in St. Petersburg, where the feeling against the United States and Great Britain is bitter.?Friday's Sun. A 40-minute engagement took place at Port Arthur at 1 o'clock yesterday morning without any decisive results. The Japanese Foreign Office wires its ministers that the sink ing of four old ships to block the entrance to the harbor of Port Arthur was a success. Russians declare the ships were filled with oil and explosives. The Korean Government has decided to order its troops to take the field with the armies of Japan. Commander Marshall, of the Yicksburg. declares that at the battles off Chemulpo he offered medical aid and sent boats to rescue the drowning Russians. Charles A. Crane, of Chicago, gave $10,000 to the fund for re lief of Russian soldiers and sail ors.?Saturday's Sun. Several vanguard skirmishes are reported between Japanese and Russian troops. Near l'ing Vang 50 Russian cavalrymen tired on the Japanese camp, but after a lively fusillade were driven off. Another skirmish near the Yalu was reported from Russian sources, in which the Japanese are said to have retreated before the Cossacks. Korean soldiers were dispersed by Cossacks on the frontier. No details are given of the losses in any of the affairs. The Japanese, it is reported, will attempt to save the Russian cruiser Variag, suuk by their ships off Chemulpo. Conflicting stories are told as to the extent of the Japanese loss in the attempt to block the harbor of Port Arthur, one ac count standing that two Japa nese battleships and a dispatch boat are missing. The Russians have abandoned the attempt to lloat the battle ship Retvizan, and ehe will be used as a fort.?Monday's Sun. Three Russian cruisers and four torpedo boats were enticed into a naval battle with the Japanese fleet off Port Arthur, and the cruiser Askold was hit until in a sinking condition, the Novik badly damaged and a topedo boat was sunk. Two Russian torpedo-boat de stroyers are also reported to have been sunk since the attack of Feb. 24. General Stoessel, Russian com mander at I'ort Arthur, calls upon all Russians there to fight for the death, as he says the ?Japanese are determined to take Port Arthur and have surround ed that place. It is believed probable in St. Petersburg that tue Japanese have established a blockade at Vladivostok, as no news has come from there in a week. The Japanese are reported to have landed 120,000 troops so far in Korea, but land opera tions are awaiting Admiral To VICE ADMIRAL TOGO, IN COMMAND OF JAPAN'S YELLOW SEA FLEET. go's operations before Port Ar thur. Russians are said to be cancel ing orders for supplies in Amer ica because of the alleged Ameri can sympathy with Japan.? Tuesday's Sun. Russian cavalrymen were de feated by Japanese near Anju and Ping Yang, according to a special cablegram from Tokio. Admiral Togo reported that 2,000 men volunteered to at tempt to block the channel at Port Arthur, and that applica tions were written in the blood of the volunteers. The Japanese General Staff and \ a Guards regiment sailed for Korea, indicating, it is thought, i hostilities on a large scale shortly. It was rumored in St. Peters burg that a combined land and sea attack was being made on Port Arthur. Japan has issued an official! defense of its action in beginning the war.?Wednesday's Sun. Port Arthur, Vladivostok and the country traversed by the Eastern Chinese railway are de clared by Russia to be in a state of siege. Port Arthur is 'declared to be surrounded, its communications cut. the railway in the hands of the Japanese, and in Washington its capitulation is expected in a few weeks. It is said the wreck of the Retvizan and other boats blocks Port Arthur harbor to all except small vessels. The Russians seized the tele graph offices at Anju and Yong Pvou, north of Ping Yang. Intense cold and diseases, inclu ding smallpox, are said to be working havoc in the ranks of the Russian army. Count Cassini defends the policy of Russia in the present war.? Yesterday's Sun. Rural Carriers to Get an Increase. The postoffice appropriation bill as completed by the House Committee today increased the salary of free rural delivery car riers from $500 to $700 a year, but adds a proviso that they are to have no further pay or allowance and after J ul.y 1,1904, the date on which the increase in salary goes into effect, thev shall uot be allowed to solicit business or receive orders or carry any kind of merchandise for hire. This provision will prevent their longer acting as agents for newspapers and was stubbornly opposed in committee on that; ground by Mr. Cowherd, of Mis souri, but the majority of the committee thought the rural carriers ought to be on the same basis in this respect as city car riers are and the proviso was adopted. Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow rec ommended a salary of $750 a year for carriers, but the com mittee thought .$720 sufficient, as this makes aggregate increase of more than five million dollars for the year in salaries.?Wash ington Dispatch, 20th, to News and Observer. Woodard School Close. The Woodard school in Boon Hill township closed last Friday, February 2Gth, with appropriate exercises. Owing to the very disagreeable weather the exer cises were not had out of doors as had been expected. The programme, comprising about GO choice selections, was well rendered, reflecting credit upon all those who took part. The audience, though too large to be seated, was well entertained. The exercises proved that the teacher, Miss Ophelia Woodard. is a talented young lady and that she had worked faithfully in the preparation of this entertain ment. J. RUSSIAN PROTECTED CRUISER VARIAG, DESTROTED OFF CHEMULPO. i Woodall-Pobertson. The wedding of Miss f^ena Robertson, the daughter of Mr ind Mrs. W. Y. Davis, of Nash ville, Teim , to Mr. Julius Rval Woodall, of Charlotte, N. C., was celebrated at Legibility, thou art a I Jewel! Especially when used by j the newspaper correspondent.? Printer.) March 2. "Yelir" i A disastrous fire broke out in Rockv Mount about mid-night j Tuesday night, which destroyed nearly $100,000 worth of prop- 1 erty. The fire is supposed to be of incendiary origin. The prin cipal losers are the Masonic Or der, $14,000, Post Office and Opera House $6,000, Cuthrell Bros.; $12,000, Bank of Rocky Mount $0,000, W. I). Cochran $19,000, Taylor and Cutrell, $12,000, and several others. Tragedy Averted. "Just in the neck of time our little boy was saved" writes Mrs. W. Watkins of Pleasant City, Ohio. "Pneumonia had played sad havock with him and a terri ble cough set in besides. Doctors treated him, but he grew worse every day. At length we tried Dr. King's New Discovery for Consumption, and our darling was saved. He's now sound, and well." Everybody ought to j know, it's the only sure cure for Coughs, Colds and all Lung diseases. Guaranteed bv Hood Bros., Druggists. Price f>0c and $1.00. Trial bottle free. Cerealite now for sale by The Austin-Stephenson Co. MRS.HELLEN W. POST SENTENCED Mental Science Healer Given One Year And a Day In Penitentiary. Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 29.? In the United States Court to day sentence was passed upon Mrs. Helen Wilmans Post, the mental science mind-cure healer, convicted of using the mails for fraudulent purposes. The senteuce was that she be confined for one year and one day in the penitentiary at Nash ville, Tenn. An appeal was taken and granted and bond fixed atf5,000, which was given. The case now goes to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans. When asked if she had anything to say as to why sentence should not be passed upon her, Mrs. Post said: "You cannot pronounce sen tence of guilt against me. The sentence you are going to pro nounce will be against the igno rance of the age, and this sen- ? tence will not only fail to con demn me, but it will exonerate me from all participation in such ignorance." KENLY NOTES. Mr. J. I. (iodwin, of Asheville, is visiting friends here this week. Mr. Jarvis Edgerton went to Benson Sunday returning Mon day. Mr A. H. Ilardson, of Elm City, moved his family here to day. Mr. J. T. Edgerton made a business trip to Smithfield Thurs day. l)r G. A. Hood, of Benson, re cently spent a few days in town visiting friends. Miss Emma Mathews spent several days in Smithfield last week, visiting friends and rela tives. Miss Ora Hooks who has been visiting friends and relatives in Benson returned home last Wed nesday. Mrs. H. F. Edgerton and chil dren who have been visiting re latives in Smithfield for several days, returned home Tuesday. School having suspended for a few days on account of Small pox, Prof. Smith went home Thursday to spend a few days. School has been suspended for several days, on account of small pox, but all danger being past, the school board announce that school will begin again next Monday. The excitement over Small pox is abated, Mr. IViggs the only one having it is now well, and the doctors have allowed him to ?o where he wishes. No new cases have developed. Mar. 2. "Rex" Rev. J. D. Bowen's appointments. Rev. J. I). Bowen has this week moved from Apex to Four Oaks. He has accepted work in this county and we are asked to an nounce his appointment tor March as follows: First Sunday Oliver's Grove church at 11 o'clock. Four Oaks at 3 o'clock and night. Second Sunday Trinity church at .3 o'clock and Saturday before at 3 o'clock. Third Sunday Sardis church at 11 o'clock,Pine Level at 3 o'clock and night. Fourth Sunday, Four Oaks at 3 o'clock and night. Working Overtime. Eight hour laws are ignored by those tireless, little workers? Dr. King's New Life Pills. Millions are always at work, night and day, curing Indigestion, Bilious ness, Constipation, Sick Heud ache and all Stomach, Liver and Bowel troubles. Easy, pleasant, safe, sure. Only 25c at Hood Bros., drug store. A car of Chattanooga W agons now on hand at The Austin Stephenson Co. For reference see Walter Rand, W. C. Lassiterand Polie Gardner.