Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-04-19
Scraps and 9aets.

"
eraI large plantations have been ruined.
The body of VIM. Hoar, the diver
who was fastened in an intake pipe In
the big reservoir at Boonton, N. j.
was released last Friday after 1t had
been imprisoned for four days. The
man was dead of course; but there
were no bruises on his person. The
release Of the body was accomplished
by a diver named Rice, who accom-
plished the work after eight hours OF
effort at a depth Of 60 feet under the
water.
Admiral Skrydloff has been ap-
pointed to take command OF the Rus
sian Port Arthur fleet vice Admiral
Makaroff, who went down last week.
Skrydloff Is said to be of the same
type as Makaroff, rough fighter VINO
will not be deferred from attempting
his best even on account Of overwhelm-
ing odds. He was very much disap-
pointed that he was not appointed
originally instead Of Makaroff. He Is
now on his way to Port Arthur from
Sebastopol.
The United States battleship Texas
now holds the worlds record for fast
and accurate work with big guns.
This Is the result Of the target practice
that has been going on off Pensacola,
Fla, during the past week or two.
The Texas hit the target 80 times out
Of 100 shots, and in one string OF shots
made II bulrs-eyes with 12-inch gun
in II minutes. UP to the time OF this
remarkable performance by the Texas
the battleship Wisconsin held the rec
ord Of the navy; but the work OF the
Texas stands far ahead Of anything
that has ever been done by modern
warship.
A story comes from st. Petersburg
with the details Of the suicide OF Cen
eral Altvater, who has been acting as
commander int chief Of artillery. 1t
appears that some months ago the
service needed additional light field
pieces, and a number Of batteries We're
secured from Russia. Altvater was or
dered to send these field pieces to Man
churia; but believing that there was
no real danger in that quarter, he sent
them instead to Poland. week or
two ago, General Kuropatkin advised
the czar Of his disappointment in not
finding certain field pieces upon which
he had been relying. The czar sent for
General Altvater who confessed that he
had disobeyed orders. That afternoon,
Altvater was dead, having blown his
brains out.
The naval authorities at Washing
ton are said to be getting somewhat
resentful at the attitude of the Japs
with reference to allowing American
naval observers the privileges Of Ad-
miral Togos fleet. 1t is said that the
Americans have always been especial
ly considerate Of the Japanese, afford
ing them every facility to get all the
information they might desire about
building, arming and sailing American
vessels. Notwithstanding all this the
Japs are persistent in their refusal to
allow Americans the privileges Of their
fighting ships, and the authorities at
Washington are beginning to construe
this attitude as one Of suspicion and
distrust. AS the result Of it all, it Is
quite probable that the Japanese may
be deprived Of some of the privileges
they have heretofore enjoyed with ref
erence to American naval operations.
Andrew Carnegie has decided to
set aside the sum of $5,000,OOO to be
known as a Hero fund.-" with view
to providing for permanent recogni-
ton of heroic actions of individuals on
land or water. The plan contemplates
the support Of the widows and chill
dren Of those who lose their lives In
efforts to save the lives of their Fellow
men. Where hero is injured in such
an attempt he will be taken care Or
and young men or young women Will
be educated or otherwise provided for.
The fund will be in charge Of trus-
tees who will be guided by the cir
cumstances surrounding each case. 1t
will be provided, however, that even In
the case of pension awarded for he
roic service Of any kind the recipient
must continue to live a moral, sober,
respectable life, otherwise the pen
sion will be stopped. The committee
will provide medals for distribution TO
deserving persons, each case to be de-
cided upon it's own particular merits.
Plans have been completed for
putting the battleships Of the American
N endurance test
as no war vessels of any nation ever
have been subjected to. Within few
days the battleship squadron of the
North Atlantic fleet, with several cruis-
ers, will be rushed across the Atlantic
and into the Mediterranean. They will
visit Trieste, Villa Franche and Lisbon,
again racing across the ocean. This is
a part Of the comprehensive scheme
for the improvement Of the navy work.
ed out by the general board, Of which
Admiral Dewey is president 1t is in
tended further to impress the world
with the serviceability of American
naval ships and develop any weakness
es that less severe tests have failed
to reveal. On his way to Europe 1t
is probable Admiral Barker, command
ing the squadron. will meet the Brit
ish North Atlantic fleet, which is to
be sent racing across the ocean in a
similar test of speed and endurance.
In a riot at Pensacola, Fla, last
Saturday. between police and bluejack-
cts from the warships and artillerymen