Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-05-31

Japanese cruiser Chitose, while tnat
vessel was at anchor here recently
became known through correspond
ence between American naval othcers'
who have undertaken to find the miss
ing decorations, If possible. One DAY
during the cruisers stay in this port
Jieutenant Morris service blouse, on
which were pinned the medals, hung
behind a door leading to the ofncers
quarters on the Chitose. While 1t was
there some one cut away the cloth on
either side of the front Of the blouse
and carried off the medals. Among
the decorations were the Order OF the
Rising Sun, given to Lieutenant Mor1
by the emperor for exceptional cour-
age during the attack on Fort Arthur'
medals for participation in the yellow
Sea fight against the Russians and In
the battle Of the Yalu against the
Chinese. and one of gold, presented TO
him for jumping overheard during
storm and saving a shipmate.
Chicago, May 2S: William Smith
Mason, who got $6,OOO,OO0 out Of Jas.
Henry Smiths estate, has received
more than a thousand letters from
persons who announce that they would
be pleased to help him spend all or
part Of his inheritance. Many OF those
who address him are willing to do
more for him than he can do for tnem'
They promise to make him an Andrew
Carnegie, a Peter Cooper, another
Alexander the Great or a st. Francis
de Assist, the last named being the
gentlemen Of an older time who gave
his clothes away. Mr.. Mason's prl-
yate secretary is spending most of his
time sitting out the grain or two OF
merit from the pile Of chaff. Some OF
the things Mr.. Mason's correspondents
have asked him to invest in are autos,
gas fixtures, sewing machines, chairs
self-rising real estate, insurance, belt
lines and canals, city blocks, village
farms, account books, irrigation
bonds, hunting equipment and about
everything else that is for sale for
money. An Ohio minister who other
wise will have to forsake the profess
sion to which he was called asks for
modest loan. He hates to think OF
leaving the pulpit, but really believes
it will be necessary unless Mr.. Mason
can send several hundred by return
mail.
Father Kaspar Vartanian, an
Armenian priest was murdered In
New York last week, robbed Of money
and a valuable jewel, and his body
placed in a trunk, where it was found
last Monday by the police Of that CITY,
The priest had come to the United
States some months ago to collect
funds for his people in Armenia. He
had no regular parish in this country,
but travelled about from one city to
another where there were colonies or
Armenians. In New York he had his
headquarters at an Armenian restau-
rant where he went for his meals and
to talk with his countrymen. He was
last seen alive on Wednesday Of last
week, when he visited the room OF two
Armenian dodgers. Leaving there he
is supposed to have gone to the lodg-
ing of Sarkis Ermoyian, a fellow
countryman, who it Is supposed gave
the old man knockout drops" and
then packed his unconscious body In
a trunk, which he sent to another part
of the city, where it was later discov-
cred to contain the priests remains,
and reported to the police. Hard
luck which followed Ermoyian and the
knowledge that Father Vartanian car
ried the priced jewel are alleged as
the motive of the crime. The jewel
which is represented as being of great
value, Is set in q cross or crescent, and
has passed along from generation to
generation among the Armenian
priests.
The Chicago Journal Of Finance,
a few days ago convassed the leading
bankers of the cotton growing states
by telegraph in regard to the condition
of the cotton crop. The replies that 1t
has received indicate that the cold,
backward spring has caused the out
look for cotton to be worse now than
for the corresponding time any year
within the remembrance Of the pres
ent generation of planters. in the
western part of the cotton belt the
crop now promises little more than
half Of the yield of last year, while in
the eastern part the outlook is at least
Is per cent less favorable than last
year. The south last year raised TO-
765.000 bales of cotton. The crop this
year, unless it is a very decided i'm
provement from now on, will probably
not be more than G.000.000 bales. Con-
ditions are probably worse than in
1895, when 7,157,000 bales were raised,
than in 1892. when the production was
6.717,000 bales. or than in 1886 when
only 6.513,00O bales were raised. 1t is
to be remembered, however, that few
plants show better recuperative powers
than the cotton plant under improving
conditions. If the clouds which now
overhang the southern skies will give
way to good warm sunshine from
now on, great Improvement would be
possible in the condition of cotton,
The big damage so far has been due
almost entirely to the cold, damp
weather which has made the plant
look grassy and choked it with weeds
In Texas and Louisiana boil weevils
are present in enormous numbers and
will do much damage to the crop OF
those two states as soon as the plant
has developed sufficiently to afford
good diet for the insect.
The interstate commerce commits
sion report on its long and sensational
investigation Of the Hartman railroad
combination has been completed. The
document OF twenty-five printed
pages, is far the most sensational ever
put out by the commission. 1t finds:
That the railroad competition has been
absolutely ended in an area equal to
one third of the United States, where
Hartman is absolute master. That
Harriman's contracts with the ROCK
Island, the Southern Pacific, the San
Ia Fe, the Illinois Central and the San
Pedro roads are in violation OF the
antitrust act, and recommends that
the attorney general proceed against
.l,.1 l,