davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11
two VICTORIES
FOR JAPAN
Russian Navy Defeated at Port
Arthur and Chemrlro.
FIVE OF CARS SHIPS LOST

Mikado's Navy Scores First Victories
OF the War and Deals Staggering
Blow to the Enemy in Russia's Own
Waters-Czars Forces lost Ten
Men Killed and Fifty-sK Wounded
at Port Arthur.
ST Petersburg Feb l0.-An official
dispatch received here says that Japa-
nese torpedo boats have attacked The
Russian squadron in the outer roads at
Port Arthur. and that three Russian
ships were damaged
Admiral Alexieffs official report OF
the attack by the japanese Is as fol-
lows
Il most respectfully inform your
majesty that at or about midnight OF
February s to 9. Japanese torpedo boats
made sudden attack by means OF
mines upon the Russian squadron IN
the outer roads OF the fortress Of Port
Arthur. i'm which the baitleships Rctyl'
ian and Cesareyitch and the cruiser
Boyarim were damaged An inspection
is being made to ascertain the char
acter OF the damage. Details are follow
ing for your majesty.
THE Russian battleship Retvizaa
was built by the Cramps at Phiiadel-
phia. She is Of ~. zoo tons displacement,
has $4,000 indicated horsepower and
has a speed of Is knots per hour
\ second telegram has been received
from Viceroy AlcNieh. II is dated Feb
ruary 9. and says
a japanese squadron OF II battle
ships and cruisers today began to bonn
bard Port Arthur The fortress re-
Piled and the squadron weighed anchor
IN order to participate in the battle.
4 third telegram from the yiceroy
SAYS that after bombardment lasting
one hour the Japanese squadron
ceased lis fire and steamed to the
souihward
"Our losses" the ylceroy continues,
"are two naval officers and 81 men
wounded and nine men killed, and on
the coast batteries one man killed and
three wounded.
During the engagement the BATTLE
ship Poltava and the cruisers Diana.
Askold and Noyik were each damaged
on the water line The damage to the
fortress was not important
The following Official bulletin has
Just been ISSUED in the form Of a tele-
gram from Viceroy AleXien's chief VI
stan. dated February ..
BY order of the viceroy | beg 10
report that this day at about II o'clock
in the morning, japanese squadron.
consisting OF about - battleships and
cruisers. approached Port Arthur and
opened fire The enemy was received
with a cannonade from the shore BAT
teries and the guns Of our squadron,
which also participated in the engage
ment
At about midday the Japanese
squadron ceased It's fire and left, pro-
Ceeding south.
Our losses in the fleet were two Off
GERS wounded. nine men killed and 81
men wounded on the shore batteries
one man was killed and three We're
wounded Inc battleship Poltava and
the cruiser Noyike each had a hole
knocked in her side below the water
line. The forts were slightly dam
aged. MAJOR GENERAL FLUG.'
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

1t is given out from Richmond that
the viva voce feature OF the primary
to beagreed upon is to be left out. The
day that the sufiragan could walk
proudly up to the ballot box and cry
his vote for a certain candidate, when
several OF his neighbors and friends
are candidates for the same Office, is
passed. He now prefers to go up
quietly and deposit his ballot pri-
vately and secretly, and many would
not vote il they cannot do it in that
way, and in order to please that lea
ture of the plan is to be omitted.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

The farmers in the Northern Neck
OF Virginia are about to solve the
labor question and declare them
selves independent to those who are
80 fast becoming worthless and I'M
reliable as farm hands. For years
they tried hiring help on the farm, but
this did not prove success, as some
times after the farm was pitched II
they were offered a few cents more
on some public work, would clear
out and leave the farmers to do the
best they could. They then tried
to interest laborers by renting to
them for a part of the crop. This
worked we'll with some for a short
time, but even the best would become
tired, would not hall cultivate what
was planted, and the crop was a fail
ure. The plan talked OF now by
farmers is to plant no more than
what they can cultivate without
hired help and thus become indepen-
dent OF the unreliable help. 1t is
more than probable that this is the
only way to succeed, and it may be
when the idle laborers realize that
they are about to be entirely ignored
by the landowners, and can see no
way OF living but by honest toll, they
will be willing to go to work.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

cruiser were seen to have been disabled
and beached at the entrance Of tho
harbor The cruiser was badly listed
to one side.
Yesterday morning the Russian forts
opened fire on the japanese fleet, whicn
was about three miles distant The
Japanese vessels returned the fire, hit
ting several Of the Russian ships The
Russian cruisers then went out and tla
Japanese vessels disappeared. They
were seen later going In the direction
Of Dalny, apparently unchanged. Al
though the officers OF the Columbia say
that there were II in the attacking
party. only Is We're seen later in the
day by the steamer Foo Chow.
A member OF the crew Of the Column
hia tells this story Of the naval battle
1t Port Arthur
"The Columbia was lying In the
roadstead. surrounded by IA Russian
battleships and cruisers. At lL@O
o'clock Monday night a severe shock
was felt ON board the Columbia. Tn"
Russians Immediately commenced To
operate their searchlights and opened
fire towards the sea The firing lasted
only a short time At o'clock more
shocks were felt. and the Russians
again commenced firing.
The japanese did not return the
fire. At o'clock two Russian battle
ships went in and were beached acros b
the entrance OF the harbor They woro
soon followed by a Russian cruiser
which was also beached. None of he
vessels were damaged above the wafer
line. More shocks from torpedoes were
felt during the early morning, ami
then all was quiet
AT 10 o'clock yesterday morning
three Japanese cruisers passed PORT
Arthur in sight OF the Russian fleet
The whole Russian fleet Immediately
weighed anchor and went after them
but returned in half an hour
The Columbia had narrow escap"
from injury. Her passengers and crew
were very IlWfU fNfiAfN. ~ AAi' -'it'-f
out OF the roads at Port Arthur the
Russian cruiser NOyik got between he
Columbia and the japanese feet Shells
which passed over the Noyik struck
around the Columbia. Her flag was
cut into shreds. and one shell fell ON
her deck The faces OF those who were
on deck we're blackened with powder
smoke. A naval officer who was re-
Gently at Port Arthur says the Rus
SLAMS were not prepared for the a.
tack on their ships, nd had an insult
cient amount Ow steam mp.
IL is probable that the japanese fleet
was conveying 26 troop ships trom
Sasebo to some port OF Korea.
japanese are reported TO be in pos
session OF the southern portion OF the
peninsula.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11
ATTACKED AT MIDNIGHT
After Disabling Three Russian War
shlns Japanese Resume Battle.

ships Japanese Resume Battle.
Che Foo. Feb. 10. - The Japanese
fleet attacked Port Arthur at Midnight
on Monday. Two Russian battleships
and one cruiser were disabled by tor
pedoes.
The battle was continued yesterday
morning at a range Of three miles.
The Russians left one cruiser outside
TO watch for the japanese ships. The
cruiser was fired upon by the japanese.
and the other Russian vessels took up
their anchorage and cruised around
the roadstead. The Japanese fleet
came up within three miles, and bat
tie commenced. The Japanese fired on
the ships and forts. which replied. Two
Russian ships were struck by shells.
but were only slightly damaged. The
Russian fire fell short
The British steamer Columbia has ar
rived from Port Arthur with additional
news of the attack by the Japanese
fleet upon the Russian feet in the roads
outside of the harbor of Port Arthur.
The Columbia was in the roads at the
time and felt the first shock of tor
pedo explosion at IL o'clock on Monday
night. The attack continued all night,
and at daylight two Russian battle
ships and one first class Russian
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

The unprecedented fire in Balti-
more, at the extent OF which the
country stands appalled,, was more
widespread and destructive than can
well be imagined. The report
in another column will show the
territory which was burnt over and
the loss as near as it could be ap-
proximated by those best qualified
to Judge. There are thousands OF
people penniless and homeless from
the destruction and who must suffer
if Immediately relief is not forthcom-
ing. A bill is now pending in Con-
gress to appropriate one million dol
lars, to be made available at once, for
the sufferers and from various points
in the country came offers OF assis-
tance. This is a large opportunity
for the benevolent, who desire to
help suffering humanity, and that
relief is needed at once.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

NTATE OF klktiINIA
- I'm the Clerks Office Of the C0rpo-
ration Court OF the City Of Freder-
icksburg.
TO Mrs. Catherine Green. alias Mr..
Cato Green, alias Cath. Green, alias
Cato Green:
You are hereby notified that tract
or lot OF land i'm the Lower Ward OF
the City OF Fredericksburg WAS sold
on the t2th day Of August, 1886 for
delinquent taxes, leyies. in terest apd
costs 10 the Commonwealth of Nir-
ginia, and application for the pur-
chase thereof has been filed III this
Office. and it appearing from the
records in this Office that You are in
terested in the said land, you are
further notified to appear in fouI
months from the date Of this notice
and do what may be necessary TO pro
tect your interests. Given under my
hand this list day of February, 1904.
JAMES p. COKBIN,
Clerk Of the Corporation Court OF
Fredericksburg, Virginia.
feb4-w4W
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1904
THE PROPOSED NORMAL SCHOOL.

We publish today the reasons and
inducements for the location OF the
Female Normal School, as set out in
the report OF the Committee appoint
ed by the City Council, and we desire in
addition to add editorially our en-
dorsement of the proposition. The
Legislature could not do more
graceful or gracious act than to con-
fer this favor upon Fredericksburg.
The committees report, though
brief, sets out in concise form the
many advantages fredericksburg at
fords as a location for the proposed
Normal School, many OF which are
peculiar to this city. In no city in
the State could an institution OF this
kind be conducted as economically
as here. We confidently assert that
all the necessaries OF life can be pur-
chased here from 10 to 20 per cent.
cheaper than in any other city or
town in the State. The location is
healthiul and the city is accessible
from any portion OF Eastern and
Northern Virginia. The people are
cultured, refined and hospitable and
afford an environment for such an
institution equal to any in Virginia.
Judicious business sense and senti-
ment both recommend Fredericks'
burg. Virginians everywhere are
proud OF Fredericksburg's history
during that time which tried mems
souls, and yet this city has never
had In substantial form any OF the
benefits which Virginia has had to
bestow. and now when she asks for
tangible recognition OF her pastserv-
ices, and appeals for some benefit
which the State can give, surely
that appeal will not be made in vain.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11
LEGISLATURE.
EXEMPTION FROM TAX.
Relief Proposed for Manufacturers
ofVireinia- Resolutions OF Sympa-
thy for Stricken Baltimore.

Almost the frat business Of both
branches Of the legislature Monday was
the unanimous adoption Of q resolution
extending the sympathy OF the State To
the stricAen city of Baltimore.
OF lar. reaching importance was a bill
offered in the house by W = Parker, *
ampting from taxation all the mangiac.
turing enterprises in the State, and civ
ing those SO engaged the right to sell
their products throughout Virginia
Two bills were offered 10y Mr. Stewart
One provides that persons mallcl0usl,
shooting or throwing stones AZ railroad
trains. electric cars. or water craft shall
ne punishable by confinement in the y n.
tentary from five To ten years II the
4ciion IL not malicious the punishment
-hall he imprisonment not over twelve
months. and fined from 500 10 $500.
MIR Sewart's second bin provides that
any person Obstructing acanal, railroad
r transportation company, or removing
any part thereof shall be punished by
imprisonment for from three To ten years,
aud il the crime result in the death OF
any one. it shall be deemed murder.
Mr. Griffith presented bill providing
that persOns whose elections are con.
tested shall have ten days wherein to
Prepare their papers The contestant
.hall begin TO take dispositions within
twenty days after an election, and com
plete them within ten days. The con
',siees have ten days in which 10 take
DISPOSITIONS
An amendment to the law Of exemp-
lions from distress warrants was offered
~ MIR. Bridgeforth. IL applies 10 farmers
and allows them 10 keep a pair Of oxen
IT other draught animals and certain
farming implements.
hen the Jordan oysters ground bill
came up for engrOesment, its patron
presented an amendment conforming II
20 the report of the courts oiiustice com
mittee, which provides for a report of
the proceedings OF the commission created
" the bill 10 be made to the next legis-
allure After "a somewhat heated debate
he bill was passed by and ordered
printed with the substitute The Oppo.
aents of the measure made vain effort
% have il referred to the committee on
She Ch-sapeske and its tributaries.
In the senate Mr. McIiwaine offered n
iii providing that where any person
.hsll without just cause desert or neglect
co provide for his wife or minor children
ne shall be punished 10y n tioe not eN-
ceeding 500 or imprisonment not OK
ceeding one year, or both The court
however, has discretion TO release the
guilty person for one on probation, dur.
ing which time he shall contribute "a fixed
sum weekly to the support OF his wife
and children
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11
SERVICE PENSIONS.

1t is stated that not less than forty
members OF Congress have from time
to time introduced bills looking to
pensioning every old United States
soldier who served ninety days or
more, and unfortunately it isnow be-
lieyed that the measure will become
law. There could be no more iniqui'
tous, demoralizing measure enacted
than this service pension" PROPOSE
tion. There is no objection to pen
siouing worthy veterans; indeed 1t
is the bounden duty of the govern
ment To provide means OF liyeil-
hood for those who served her In
time OF need, and on account ofthat
service are incapacitated for sell
maintenance, but that there are mon
strous frauds perpetrated now under
present pension laws, no one Will
deny. This is indispotably proven
by the enormous number of pension
ers now on the rolls, nearly forty
years after the close ofthe civil war;
The people have paid the taxes, d.
rectly or indirectly, necessary to keep
up this enormous pension expense,
up to the present time, uncowplaln-
ingly, but it is time TO call a halt.
"Service pensions mean the crea-
ton OF a class OF lounging idlers, liy-
ing upon the earnings OF heavily
taxed men; it means additional bur-
dens upon the industrious, for the
benefit of the idler; it puts a premium
upon idleness, and places letters up
on the hands OF industry. There
should be a general cry oicondemna-
ton from the people everywhere, in
Guiding worthy pensioners, against
this extravagant and unjust meas
ur1.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

Several days ago, when Speaker
Ryan desired to make a motion from
the floor OF the House, he called upon
Judge E. c. Moncure, OF Caroline
county, to take the chair. Judge
Manicure, while man ripe in years
and experience, is a new member OF
the Legislature, and the action Of
the Speaker is a high compliment to
the ability which the Judge has
already demonstrated as member
OF that body.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

The New York Press says the
Americans are the best shod people
in the world. 1t recites the fact that
ten years ago most OF our foreign
sight-seers wore English boots and
prided themselves upon it. Our
trade with that country then in
boots and shoes was about two
thousand dollars. Now everybody
wears American manufacture, all the
stores in the old country keep Amer
lean boots and shoes and our trade
last year with England in footwear
was over three millions OF dollars.
This is a rapid increase in ten years.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

The abuses OF child labor in Eng
land are to be speedily rectitied, and
children are to be more carefully
looked after. This contest for re-
form has been going on for years
but the Women's Industrial COun-
eli. which has been leading the re-
form, has at last succeeded in getting
a law passed thas will remedy the
evil. and the Council and it's subor-
dinate branches are determined to
see the law rigidly enforced. Great
good is expected to come To the poor
children of that country through
these reforms.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

1t ia rumored that DR.. Macvicar,
President OF the Union University in
Richmond, will probably resign, and
II is reported that in case he does,
DIR. George Cooper, late pastor OF the
First Baptist church, may be selected
as his successor. DR.. Cooper would
make an excellent president.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

Henry Morris, of New Haven, with
out intending to be funny, and with
a pardonable eagerness for informa'
ton. writes to the New York Sun for
assistance in his researches. lie
wants TO know "who Horace Greeley
is? Where he was born? When ht
was born? What did he figure IN
public life, and has he retired from
public life?" The Sun, even without
a smile at the ignorance OF its cor
respondent, proceeds to tell who
Horace Greeley was, but exclaims, III
its head lines, How soon we are Tor
gotten
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

A man in Philadelphia, who had
invented some improved method OF
silvering glass in the manufacture OF
mirrors, died the other day and the
secret died with him. 1t is hoped
that the examination of his papers
may reveal the secret, as it is regard
ed as very valuable.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

Everybody will deeply sympathizt
with Baltimore in the terrible con
fiagation by which she was visited
Sunday night. The destruction is
wide spread apd is right in the heart
of the city. 1t is to be hoped, how
ever, thas the reports are exagger'
ated and that the loss is not as great
as reported.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11
CIVIL WAR ROSTER.
War Department Denies Gcv. Mon
taoue's Request for Proof Sheets.

War Department Denies Gcv. Mon
taeue's Request for Proof Sheets.
The War Department has sent Gov
Montague letter, denying his request,
aud that OF the representatives Of other
Southern States, for proof sheets OF the
muster rolls of the Confederate army,
now being compiled by the department,
along with those of the Union army
The letter says that the law does not
permit such modification Of the roll.
ior the reason that this course would re.
quire much additional clerical work and
thus delay the completion OF the rolls
The letter urges that every Confederate
roll found anywhere be sent at once to
the department The Secretary in con.
Guiding his letter states that he will ad-
here TO his original rule as to both the
Confederate and Federal rolls and not
allow anything to go in which is not an
official record OF the civil war period.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

1t is said the possibility OF the pas
sage of the Brownlow good roads
bill increases daily. 1t will be good
thing for this country if this bill be-
comes a law. In that event our
roads will be looked after as they
have never been before, and as soon
as the people see what good roads
will do for them they will not be
content until they are put and kept
in good condition.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

London. Feb lO.-In a dispatch from
Tien Tsin. dated February 3, a cor
respondent of the Daily Mail says u
is reported there that the Russian
cruisers Variag and Korietz haulec
down their flags without firing a shot
and that 5000 japanese Immediately
landed at Chemuipo and the march e
Seoul commenced.
Japanese troops also landed at al
the chief points of Southern and West.
ern Korea. Another division of thc
Japanese guards holds Fusan and Che
mulpo. and altogether three divisions
of the japanese guards. each Of l2,OOt
men. have been modified.
II appears, the correspondent con
tinnes. that the Russian warships al
VIadivostOck are icebOund.
Another correspondent of the Daily
Mail telegraphs from Port Arthur un'
der date of February that the Rus
sian advance has commenced. Genera
Krastalinsky will leave Lao Yank to-
morrow for the Yalu river, at the head
Of the Third brigade of artillery, con
sistins Of "a guns, and three regiments
of infantry. The Third, Fourth ant
Fifth infantry brigades are entrenchet
along the railroad at a distance OF u
miles from Hal Chang, and three bat
teries of the Fifth brigade are at Kin
Chou.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

1t is now generally agreed that a
war between Japan and Russia is
inevitable. England has declined to
interfere and it seems that Russia
has planted herself where Japan is
bound to resist her or lose her self
respect. ii not some OF her territory.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

The board Of trade OF Lynchburg tele-
grsphed Mayor McLane. Of baltimore,
that resolutions Of sympathy bad been
passed by the board and that the board
would honor the draft OF the mayor for
$500 for the sufferers OF the fire in Balti-
more.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11
HIS LAST REQUEST.
Capt. SuIIivan's Clutches Crossed
Over Door Of House.

In compliance with the last request Of
the late Capt. A. o Sullivan, door-seeper
OF the House OF Delegates in Richmond
and resolution adopted by the House
after his death, the crutches Of the faith.
full old veteran and public servant have
been crossed over the door on the inside
OF the chamber. Under the crutches is a
mourning card containing the folio wing
inscription: ARTHUR o. Sullivan. door.
keeper, 1869 1904
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11

Richmond is very much disturb
ed about the Bible in the public
schools, and the question is being
very much discussed. OF course
there will be no agreement reached
unless it is for it's exclusion.
The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11
BATTLE AT cHEMULPo
One Russian Warship Reported Sunk
and Another Disabled.

Toxic. Feb. lot is reported here
that the Japanese feet engaged and
defeated two Russian warships. whose
names have not yet been learned. al
Chemulpo today. 1t is said the engage
ment began at II a. M, and continued
until 3 p. m. The smaller Russian yes
sci IS reported to have been sunk, and
the larger one fred and hopelessly dis
abled. A part Of the crew is said to
have escaped to the shore and to have
been captured. Official confirmation III
the report Is unobtainable. II was fe-
ported yesterday that the Russian
cruisers Korietz and Variag were lying
at Chemulpo. and it is possible thar
they were the vessels reported to have
been engaged