etjr >mttj)firli> fteMi.
price one dollar per tear. "TRUE TO OURSELVES, OUR COUNTRY AND OUR GOD. single copies pive cents.
VOL. 25. SMITHFIELD. X. C.. FRIDAY. MARCH Hi. ISHXi. NO. 2.
MINE HORROR |N FRANCE.
Greatest Disaster of Its Kind In
Modern History?More Than
1000 People Lose
Their Lives.
Paris, March 10.?A mining
catastrophe of incalculable hor
ror and magnitude has stricken
the great coal center of northern
France. An explosion of fire
damp at 7 o'clock this morning
carried death and destruction
throughout the network of coal
mines centered at Courrieres and
fire followed the explosion mak
ing rescue difficult and almost
impossible.
The inteuse excitement and
confusion in the vicinity prevent
ed early estimates of the exact
loss of life, but a dispntch receiv
ed here at 4:35 p. m. gave ,1,404
miners entombed and probably
lost. At 8.45 o'clock this even
ing a brief dispatch from Lille
announced the total of 1,193
dead.
All France has been profoundly
shocked by the magnitude of the
disaster, which is said to be the
greatest in the history of Conti
nental mining.
President Fallierts sent his
secretary, accompanied by Min
ister of Public Works Gautier
and Minister of the Interior
ltubief, on a special train to the
scene of the disaster.
The scene of the catastrophe is
the mountainous mining region
near Lens, in the department of
Pas-de-Calais. Here are huddled
small hamlets of the mine work
er?, who operate the most pro
ductive coal mines in France.
The subterranean chambers form
a series of tunnels. Six of the i
outlets are near Lens, and others
are at Courrieres, Verdun and
many other points. The output j
of these mines is particularly j
combustible and is largely used j
in the manufacture of gas and in j
smelting. About 2,000 miners j
work the group of mines, and, [
with their families, make a popu j
lation of from 0,000 to 8,000
souls.
The catastrophe took place
shortly after 1,795 men had de
scended into the mines this morn
ing. There was a deafening ex- j
plosition which was followed by |
the cages and mining apparatus
being hurled from the mouth of
the Courrierres Mine. Men and
horses nearby, outside the mine,
were either stunned or killed.
The roof of the mine office was
torn off.
Immediately following the ex
plosion flames burst from the
mouth of the pit, driving back
those without who sought to
enter, and dooming those within
The work of attempting to
rescue the imprisoned miners was
hastily begun by officials, engi
neers and miners from the sur
rounding mines, who formed par
ties and made heroic efforts to
penetrate the smoke and foul
gases and bring out the im
prisoned men.
i tie families ot tne entombed
miners crowded about the shaff,
threatening in their efforts to
obtain details to force back the
gendarmes who kept them from I
the mouth of the pit.
The populace of the district is j
appalled by the disaster, which
affects every household.
Paris, March 11.?The worst
fears as to the enormity of the
mine disaster in the Courrieres
district of the pas-de-Palais Sat
urday morning have been realiz
ed. The death list numbers
1,100, and the whole of the
region stands appalled at the
terrible tragpd.y, which has
brought sorrow to (5,000 fathers,
mothers, wives and children.
The last great mine disaster in
France occurred in 1885, when
293 persons were killed and 80
injured; but that all others sink j
into insignificance before Cour- I
rieres.
Dr. Manuel Quintana, presi
dent of the Argentine republic,
died Sunday at Buenos Ayres.
He was 71 years of age and for (
many years had been regarded
as one of the ablest lawyers of
his country. He was a promi
nent figure in national politics j
from his early life. 1
STATE: NEWS.
Fire in the< >dell Hard ware Co's.
store at Greensboro Friday caus
ed a loss of $10,000 to $15,000.
I)r. A. J. McKelway's libel suit
against the Charlotte Observer
will probebly be tried in Mecklen
burg court next week.
The Seaboard Cotton Ware
house in Raleigh was destroyed
by fire Monday nieht causing
a loss of 77 bales of cot
ton valued at $4,000.
Oak Ridge has been chosen as
the location for the proposed
Methodist Protestant College.
Profs. M. H. and J. A. Holt,
principals of Oak Ridge Institute,
will be at the head of the new
college.
The generator house of the
Salisbury and Spencer Gas and
Electric Company in Salisbury
was destroyed by fire Saturday
afternoon, entailing a loss to
building and machinery of about
$(>,000.
Senator Hansbrough has re
ported favorably from the com
mittee on library, a bill provid
ing for the erection of a statute
of General Nathaniel Green, on
the battlefield of Guilford Court
House, North Carolina.
The North Carolina Farmers'
Protective Association, an or
ganization formed to fight the
Tobacco Trust, was in session at
Durham last week and it was de
cided to establish manufactur
intr tn f?rrht- tlio frnaf
4 11 ^ | ' 1 1111 to W 11^ >1 U 1UC 1>1 UOUi
Insurance Commissioner Young
Wednesday approved thj charter
of the Pixie Fire Insurance Corn
pan", of Greensboro, N. C., the
authorized capital stock is $500,
000, with a surplus of $250,000.
Hon. Ashley Home, of Clayton,
is one of the incorporators.
A conference of delegates from
all the branches of the Presby-1
terian and reformed churches in
America, in an effort to bring
about closer relations began in
Charlotte, Wednesday. Rev.
John Preston Sarles. of New
Brunswick. N. J., will preside,
over the sessions, which will be
held in the First Presbyterian
church.
Late Monday afternoon a child
of William Hall, living in East
Durham, was missed, and the
father while searching heard her
cries and she was then found in a
well, which was fifteen feet deep
to the water. The father jumped
into the well in time to save the
child, a 5 year-cld daughter
She was almost .drowned and
chilled, but otherwise unhurt.
John Corn, aged 22 years, was
killed near Campbell, Stokes
county, a few days ago, while
trying to adjust a loose belt at
T. W. Ilylton's grist mill. He
was caught in the folds of the
strong band of leather and
wound round the shaft many
times before the engine could be
stopped. The unfortunate young
man's body was frightfullv
mangled, one leg being torn off
while his skull was crushed.
J de htatesville Landmark
savs: The dead body of dim Mc
(iee, colored, who lived near Elm
wood, was found early Saturday
morning lying beside the tracks
of the Southern railway, two
miles west of Elmwood. It is
supposed that he was run over
by a passing train. Jim was an
inoffensive, hard-working negro
but often let whiskey get the bet
ter of him and it is thought that
he had gone to sleep on the
track in a drunken condition
when he was struck by a train.
In Surry county a few days
ago Jack Joyce joined with his
neighbor, J. N. Hollingsworth,
who makes and sells brandy, in a
drunk at Hollingsworth's house.
Hollingsworth got disabled and
went to bed and Joyce went
away. Later he returned and
asked for more brandy, which
Mrs. Hollingsworth refused him.
Then the drunken brute broke
the door down, beat the woman
into insensibility and threw the
body into the yard, her husband
being too drunk to defend her.
The woman was in a delicate
condition but she may recover.
Joyce is in jail. He really de
serves killing and should have at
least 10 or 15 years in the peni
tentiary.?Statesville Landmark.
TRAGIC DEATH AT DEPOT.
Thomas H. Sasser Killed by Coast
Line Train Last Friday.
Friday, March 9th, Mr. Thorn
as H. Sasser was killed by e
northbound freight train about
one hundred yards from the de
pot, at Smithtield. He had beer
here attending court and it was
late Thursday before the cast
with which he was connected was
decided and so he did not start
for home until next morning
IIits home is betweeu Pine Leve
and Princeton and it seems hi
had decided to walk home. Leav
ing the Goldsboro road at thi
crossing he took the railroad
and started toward Selraa. It is
thought he heard the train but
supposed it would keep the mair
track so he took the side track
and was walking on the ends ol
the cross ties fartherest from ths
main track. The train instead
of keeping the main track turned
in on the siding to get out of tht
way of another train which was
about due. The train running
in on the side track overtook Mr
Sasser, knocking him down and
tearing his clothes badly and
bruising him in several places
sufficient to cause death. H<
lived thirty or forty minutes bul
seemed unconscious all the time
At one time he called for some
body to help him.
TT ? I_ 1 A. _ I _ A A1
xi is uouy was taxeu to tne ue
pot where it was viewed by many
people who were in attendanct
at court and others. The family
was notified of his death and the
body was taken away Friday
afternoon for burial. He wat
well known in the eastern part
of the county. He was, we sup
pose, about sixty years old.
Two /Vien Crushed to Death Neai
Raleigh.
W.J Weir and John Whitelaw
members of the Wake Granite
Co and prominent and esteemed
citizens of Haleigh, were crushed
to death Saturday afternoon by
being caught under a huge boiler
which they were having placed in
position at the rock quarry ol
the Wake Granite Co., two miles
east of Kaleigh They were Lav
ing the boiler delivered at the
quarry. It was on a big wagon
tor moving boilers and was be
ing driven down a steep incline
to the quarry when the wheels
on the right struck a boulder
that protruded in the road six
inches or more. A big iron cuff
about the rear ax'e snapped in
two, the wagon lurched to the
left with such force as to over
turn wagon and boiler. Both
Mr. Weir and Mr. Whitelaw were
walking on the left side of the
boiler and were caught under it
in such a way that Mr. Weir's
chest was crushed in and the side
of Mr. Whitelaw's head crushed
in. It was necessary for the
boiler to be jacked up and con
siderable digging to be done be
fore the fwo men could be extri
cated.
Both men were well known con
tractors and both leave large
families?Exchange.
IK Remarkable February.
lu the year 18(><j the month of
February was, in one respect,
the most remarkable in the
world's history. It had no full
moon. January and March of
that year had two full moons.
This had not occurred since the
creation of the world, nor will it
occur again, according to as
tronomers, for 2,500,000 years.
?Exchange.
Torture by Savages.
"Speaking of the torture to
which some of the savage tribes
in the Philippines subject their
captives, reminds me of the in
tense suffering I endured for
three months from inflammation
of the Kidneys." says W. M.
Sherman, of Cushing, Me.,
"Nothing helped me until I tried
Electric Bitters, three bottles of
which completely cured me."
Cures Liver Complaint, Dyspep
sia, Blood disorders and Malaria;
and restores the weak and ner
vous to robust health. Guaran
teed by Hood Bros., druggists.
Price 50c.
GENERAL NEWS.
' Albert T. Patrick, the con
demned murderer, has again been
respited by the Governor of New
? York till Slay 18th.
1 The Virginia University has re
ceived a contribution of $50,000
from Charles Steele, of New York,
( and $10,000 from Miss Helen
, Gould.
> In the north of France Mon
; day 17 men lost their lives while j
. searching for bodies in the coal j
1 mine in which over 1,000 were
? killed on Saturday.
In Augusta. Ga., Thursday,
I [ M. L Cohen, who had been mar
| ried but six weeks, shot and kill
*1 ed his wife and then killed him
self. No cause assigued.
Mrs. Standifer, who on Friday
[ kil'ed her sister in Atlanta has
. j been admitted to bail in $5,000
[ for the reason that she is a con
[ sumptive and her confinement
. will endanger the life of herchild.
' In answer to criticisms of the
wanton slaughter of Moros in
? the recent battle, General Wood
[ explains that the women killeu
' wore trousers and the children
' were used as shields by the fight
5 ers.
The French Chamber of I)epu
j ties on Monday unanimously
voted $100,000 for the relief of
j the victims of the Courriere's dis- j
. aster. The Miners Association i
,' has voted $40,000 for the same
II purpose.
. rrn? u., I
i uc t uii/uv* utai/co oajJlCllie i
' Court haw filed a decision re-'
? manding the case of Caleb Cow
ers to the Kentucky courts; he is
j under sentence of 20 years for
participation in the association
of Governor Goebel.
Andrew Carnegie, who arrived
in Richmond Tuesday en route
for Hot Springs, Ya., gave $10,
> 000 to the Rai'road Y. M. C. in
) Richmond and increased his
library offer to the citv bv $100,.
000, making it $200,000.
L. Ktuckey, editor of the Peo-|
pie's Demands, was shot and kill
ed at Colfax, La., Thursday, by J
A. M. Goodwin, editor of theCol
fax Chronicle. The cause of the
tragedy was the publication of
an article by Stuckey which, it
is alleged, was a reflection on the,
Character of Goodwin.
On Sunday night 150 miles off
Sable Island, the steamer British
King foundered and 27 men
went down with her; two steam
ers stood by and at great peril
IB men were saved by one and 1
11 by the other; rescue work had 1
to cease on account of rough sea
and darkness and during the
night the ill-fated vessel plunged
to the bottom the rest on board, 1
John Mitchell, president of the
United Mine Workers of Amen- ;
ca, returned to Indianapolis
Monday to preside at the Nation
al Convention of Miners on
Thursday. When asked con
cerning the refusal of the anthra
cite operaters to grant the de
mand to the miners, he said it
looked as though the operators
"are looking for a strike." Presi
dent Roosevelt is not taking any
furtner action for the present.
rrilrt Dl, K mi* WJ. ?. * *-!.
X Lie t- Li L/-1 .* fill 11J I l?TCX' U1 l/Lltf
House Committee on Naval Af
fairs to investigate hazing at
Annapolis, madnits report Tues
day. The officers of the Acade
my are censured for permitting
hazing and graduated punish
ment for hazing is recommended,
as the committee thinks the pres
ent system of expelling midship
men of hazing is vicious and too
sweeping. It was found that 281
members of the three upper
classes have been guilty of hazing
and could have been expelled, in
cluding the class recently gradu
ated.
A Scientific Wonder.
The cures that stand to its
credit make Bucklen's Arnica
Salve a scientific wonder. It
cured E. R. MuPord, lecturer 1
for the Patrons of Husbandry.
Waynesboro. Pa , of a distress '
ing case of Piles. It heals the :
worst Burns, Sores, Boils, Ul
cers, Cuts, Wounds, Chilblains i
and Salt Rheum. Only 25c. at <
Hood Bros, drug store.
600 MOROS SLAIN.
Fierce Battle In Philippines?Ameri
can Losses 18 Killed and
52 Wounded.
Clambering up the side of a
mountain covered with lava
ridges and a thick growth of tim
ber, a force o? American soldiers
and bluejackets, assisted by a
detachment of native constabu
lary, stormed a hostile Moro
fortress in the crater of Mount
Dajo, on the island of .Jolo, and
completely routed the enemy,
killing more than (500 Mortis.
l'he American losses were tit'
teen killed and thirty-nine wound
ed, the Philippine constabulary
losing three men and having
thirteen wounded, making a to
tal American loss of eighteen
killed and lift}-two wounded.
Hostilities began on the after
noon of March <>tb and ended on
the morning of March 8th. The
mountain is 2,100 feet high, and
is covered with ridges of lava
and dense timberland. The last
500 feet has an angle of fifty de
crees, and the dispatch states
that the artillery was hoisted by
means of a block and tackle by
the American soldiers under a
fierce fire by the enemy.
Reaching the crater, a disper
ate encounter took place, as the
Moros felt it was their last stand.
Finally, they were forced to lay
down their arms, after (500 of
their dead lay on the lava beds
uniumi nielli.
The top of the mountain was
defended by rude fortifications
and was the one stronghold in
the Philippines that had never
been taken by the American
forces in battle. Once, by means
of strategy, the United States
troops occupied the fort. Those
who know the steep ascent of the
mountain and the strength of
the fort say the feat is the great
est achievement yet accomplish
ed by the American army in the
Philippines.? Washington Post.
/Viet Shocking Death.
We have learned that Mr.
Whitfield Wood, one of the most
prosperous young farmers of the
Hlackman's X lioads section,
met a most shocking death last
Saturday. While felling some
trees he cut one that lodged
against an other. To dislodge
this tree he cut another against
it which also lodged. While go
ing forward to make a survey of
the situation the last tree cut
suddenly gave way aud fell,
catching Mr. Wood under it,
killing him instantly.
The deceased was a highly re
spected young man and his sad
death has cast a gloom over the
entire community He leaves a
young widow and three small
children to mourn his untimely
death.
Tongue Twisters.
Some elocutionist has made a
collection of more than two hun
dred ''tongue twisters."
"A growing gleam glowing
green."
"'me black breeze blighted the
bright broom blossoms,"
"Flesh of freshly dried flying
fish."
"Six thick thistle sticks."
"Two toads tried to trot to
Tedbury."
"Give Grimes Jim's great gilt
gig whip."
"Strict, strong Stephen String
er snared slickly six sickly silky
snakes."
"She stood at the door of Mrs.
Smith's fish sauce shop welcom
ing him in."
The first three are the gems of
the collection. It is said to be
impossible for any one to repeat
them rapidly.?New York Tri
bune.
A Lively , ussle
with that old enemy of the race,
Constipation, often ends in Ap
pendicitis. To avoid ali serious
trouble with Stomach, Giver
and Bowels, take Dr. King's New
Life Pills. They perfectly reg
ulate these organs, without pain
>r discomfort. -5c. at Hood
Bros., druggists.
EXTERMINATION OF MOROS.
General Wood Says Women Wore
Trousers in Battle.
Washington, March 14.?A
cablegram from General Wood
regarding criticisms of the recent
battle of Mt. Dajo on the Island
of .lolo. together with correspon
dence between the President and
Secretary Taft on the subject
were made public today. General
Wood's cablegram was in answer
to one sent to him at the direc
tion of Secretary Taft who called
attention to the criticisms of
?'wanton slaughter of Moros"
and asked him to send all the
particulars. General Wood's re
ply denies that there was any
wanton killing in the Hght be
cause they were actually in the
works when assaulted; that the
Moro women wore trousers and
that children were used as shields.
The reply was sent by Secretary
Taft to the President with a note
in which the Secretary says that
General Wood's answer seems to
have shown to him most clearly
that the unfrotunate loss of life
was wholly unavoidable, to which
the President replied that Gen
Wood's answer "is of course en
tirely satisfactory."
CLAYTON NOTES.
Messrs. George lOllis A Son lost
; a fine mule Sunday.
Messrs. L. W. & J. H. Brannan,
of VVilders, were here on business
Wednesday.
Dr. T. N. Ive.v preached at the
Methodist church Sunday morn
ing and evening.
Mrs. Ashley Home is visiting
hereister, Mrs. George L. Walker,
in Atlanta, (la.
The farmers of this section
are preparing to plant a smaller
cotton crop and manure better.
Mr. aud Mrs. John A. Young
will move to the residence recent
ly vacated by Rev. aud Mrs.
j. W. Smith.
Our town was again beseiged
by drummers Wednesday There
were not less than a half dozen
here at one time.
Rev. and Mrs. J. W. Smith left
Wednesday for Onslow county,
where Rev. Mr. Smith has accept
ed a call to preach.
Miss Craig, Mrs. Etta V. John
sou's very popular milliner, is
away at Northern markets, buy
ing a big supply of Spring and
Summer millinery.
Tue Clayton Oil Mill Co. is put
ting out a quantity of guano
this season, and we hear the far
mers saying it's as good as any
fertilizer they have ever tried.
We are glad to note that Miss
Pauline Gulley is steadily im
proving, after such a severe at
tack of pneumonia. We hope
ere long she will be fully recover
ed.
Mr. Frank L. Jones, the con
tractor, who is moving the old
Methodist parsonage, is going
right along with the work. It
was quite a job to get the thing
started, though.
mere win De a great entertain
ment here Monday night, March
19th. Some of the very best lo
cal talent will be displayed?and
there's something fine in store
for all who are fortunate enough
to take advantage of it.
March 14th. Yelir.
Doctors Are Puzzled.
The remarkable recovery of
Kenneth Mclver, of Vanceboro,
Me., is the subject of much in
terest to the medical fraternity
and a wide circle of friends. He
says of his case: "Owing to se
vere inflammation of the Throat
and congestion of ihe Lungs,
three doctors gave me up to die.
when, as a last resort, I was in
duced ,o try Dr King's New
Discovery and I am happy to
say, it saved my life."' Lures the
worst Coughs and Colds, Bron
chitis, Tonsilitis, Weak Lungs,
Hoarseness and LaGrippe. Guar
anteed at Hood Bros, drugstore.
50c. and $1.00. Trial bottle free.
A special term of 'he Federal
Court has h ? n culled nf (ireens
boro. April 17th, for "h.. rial of
Congres man Blaekou ...