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j&Mjjw and |a(ti5. ? The postage stamp will be fifty-two years old in May of next year. Its inventor was a printer, James Chalmers, of Dundee, Scotland, who died in 1858. England, fifty-two years ago, introduced the new system of prepaying letter postage, and according to a decree of December 21, 1889, issued the first stamps which were to be put before the public on May 6 of the following year, as noted above. A year later they were introduced in the United States and Switzerland ; and, within three years had become common in Bavaria, Belgium and France. ?An Associate Press dispatch of last Friday says that the Texas State Alliance, assembled at Corsicana, has appointed twentyfive delegates to represent Texas in the convention to be held at Memphis, Tenn., during the present month. It also says that letters were received from Governor Northen, of Georgia, and other prominent members of the Alliance, endorsing the Memphis convention and pledging their support. A resolution condemning the action of the Supreme Council, at Indianapolis, and propos ing to sever all connection witn tne -ae fee to National Alliance, and providing for a separate organization with entirely new officers," was adopted. ? The will of the late General W. A. Johnson has just been admitted to probate at Sheffield, Ala. The estate foots up to within a few dollars of $1,000,000. General Johnson was with General Bedford Forrest. In seeking some points of history, General Johnson was asked for some facts of his career. He said: "I went on the steamer as a decksweep and left the river as commodore of the fleet. I went into the army a private and came out a brigadier general. When I got home I had a wife, a pair of crutches and a baby. Now we have ten babies, and we can give them $100,000 each." General Johnson left his entire estate to his wife, saying she did more to make him succeed than he did himself. ? An incident of peculiar interest is reported from the village of Fairfax, Va., the county seat of Fairfex county, in which Mount Vernon is situated. One day last week, a gentleman brought to the court house an old book, which, upon examination, proved to be one of the most valuable historical relics in this country. The book contains a record of all the criminal proceedings taken in the county before the Bevolutionary era, and considerable interest is found in the entries charging George Washington with various civil misdemeanors, and his indictment in the name of his msgesty, King George, for the non-payment of taxes. It is also shown that the Father of his Country had several narrow escapes from being sent to jail for contempt of court. ^ ? ?1?--- >? * TftflpA??oAr> ? JUT. J. J. Viay, a WUUUJrnnu yji county, Ga., was robbed at the Augusta Exposition last Friday afternoon. He got roped in by a trio of fakirs, who were working a shell game on the sly, in the stables on the race grounds. Gay was going through the stables, looking at the race horses, when the sharpers ran against him. They tried to get Gay to bet against their little game, but he was too shrewd for that. To see if the countryman had any money, the gang offered to bet him $5 he did not have $10. Gay foolishly pulled out his roll of money, amounting to $800, which he drew from the bank that morning. The fakirs, to attract his attention, asked him to guess under what shell a ball was. Gay turned around to pick up one of the shells, and as he did so one of the three men grabbed his money out of his hand and they all ran out and escaped. Detectives are working on the case, but there is little hope of recovering the money. ? The latest news from China, coming under date of last Monday, is to the effect that the bloody work of the murderous rebels continues without cessation. The government itself is being threatened, and the authorities at Pekin are represented as being seriously alarmed. In one district, in which the town of Takon is situated, it is represented that over 300 foreigners and native Christians were recently murdered, and not a single Christian was left alive in the entire dis * * j -Ai tnct. roe missionaries auu utuex iuici^ucio . in districts through which the rebels are expected to pass, have left their stations and sought refuge in flight to safer parts of the country. The government is represented as making every effort in its power to put down the bloody uprising, but it appears doubtful as to whether it is equal to the undertaking. The exact meaning of the uprising has not yet been satisfactorily explained in the reports that have been sent to this country. Some say the rebellious movement is directed against the reigning dynasty, and others represent that its sole object is to get rid of missionaries and other foreigners. The active interference of foreign governments is daily expected. ? Stephen A Ryan, the ex-merchant prince of Atlanta, who failed last spring for a quarter of a million dollars, is in a somewhat embarrassing position just now. It will be remembered that when he failed, his creditors at once carried their claims to court. Judge Gober demanded that Ryan give an account of his losses. The judge was satisfied as to his replies, except as to $121,000, and demanded that he turn it over or make a better showing of it. The opinion of the judge was that Ryan still held that amount, or had it covered among members of his family. Ryan failed to respond to the demand and was sent to jail for contempt. An appeal was taken to the supreme court, and pending a decision, the defendant was bailed out in a sum equal to the amount that it was held that he still retained. The supreme court last week sustained the ruling of the conrt below, and Ryan was again confronted with the alternative of paying over the money or going to jail. He says he has no money to pay with, and could no more get it up than he could jump over the Kimball house. He protests that the order of the judge means imprisonment for debt, but he reckons he will have to stand it. The case will be appealed to the supreme court of the United States, but as to whether Ryan will be allowed to give bond pending its settlement, has not yet developed. ? The particulars of a strange duel have just reached here from the Cimarron country, near the western border of the Territory, says a recent dispatch from Guthrie, Oklahoma territory. A gambler named Bassett had a quarrel with a ranchman named Weaver over a game of poker, in which the latter accused the former of cheating. Both men drew pistols, but bystanders stopped them before they had a chance to use them. The men were both game and both dead shots. It was decided that a duel was the only thing that would settle the trouble, for it would be sure to be renewed wnenever they met. The ordinary dueling code did not satisfy them, and they entered into a peculiar agreement. By its terms they were to withdraw from the room and their friends were to load one revolver. A blanket was placed over the table and two revolvers placed under the blanket, one empty and the other loaded. The men then came into the room and tossed a dollar for choice of pistols. Weaver won the choice. The terms were that both men should draw the revolvers from under the blanket, aim and fire at the same time. One would be sure to fall dead, while the other would be unharmed. The positions were taken and the revolvers drawn. Bassett fired first, or at least he was quick to snap his gun, which failed to respond, showing that he had received the unloaded pistol. Without flinching he placed his revolver on the table and folded his arms, calmly looking Weaver in the face. Weaver took his time and deliberately aimed at the centre of Bassett's forehead. After what must have seemed an eternity to the latter, Weaver slowly raised the pistol and fired the ball through the ceiling, saying that Bassett was too brave a man to die, and he did not believe he had cheated. The men became fast friends and all danger of trouble is past as far as they are concerned. ? A cablegram dated Valparaiso, November 30, gives the following as the present status in Chili of the difference between that country and the United States: "The United Press correspondent was informed to-1 day, on the authority of an official holding a high place in Santiago, that the Chilian government had no intention whatever of offering an apology or indemnity, such as the American president requested, and had no intention of recalling or modifying the reply given to the American request, and that any expectation that President Montt would in this respect modify the policy adopted by the Junta, was misleading. The president himself, it is said, was the most earnest advocate in the Junta of a defiant retort to the United States, and virtually dictated the answer sent to Minister Egan. Montt has not changed his views since he exchauged the office of chief of the Junta for that of pres ident, and Chili is now silent because there is nothing to be said. Meantime, although President Montt has recommended a cutting down of the army and navy, no steps have have been taken to carry out the recommendation, and even the volunteers sent back to their homes in the north are told to retain their arms." ??rMlc (Jhwpuw. _ __ YORKVILLE, S. cT WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1891. ? The News and Courier of last Sunday contains an estimate of the cotton crop of 1891-92 by Mr. Alfred B. Shepperson, the well known New York statistician. Mr. Shepperson arrives at his conclusions as follows: "Assuming the yield in the Carolinas to be 30 per cent, less than last season; in Georgia and Florida to be 20 per cent less ; in Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas to be 10 per cent.- less; in Louisiana and Tennessee to be 15 per cent less, and in Texas to be the same df last season, would make the general yield about 1,086,UW bales less than that season. Deducting this from my estimate of last year's yield of 8,900,000 bales, would make the yield this season 7,814,000 bales. If to this is added 226,000 bales for cotton remaining in the interior towns and upon plantations from the last crop, it would make the commercial crop of 1891-92 about 8,040,000 bales.1' The cotton men of Charleston seem to think that although Mr. Shepperson's estimate is rather too large, it is not far out of the way, and if he is in the neighborhood of the right figures, there is not much probability of any great increase in price. However, it must be admitted that guessing at the size of a cotton crop is very similar to predicting the result of a general election. Even the best laid calculations'are genererally badly shattered when all the returns come in. IN RE. CIRCULATION, ETC. For some time past the Columbia morning dailies?The State and The Register?have been engaged in a renewal of their old contention on the circulation question, and last week the contention led to two disgraceful street fights. There is a statute requiring that the clerks of the two legislative bodies insert an advertisement for proposals to do the State printing, in a Coumbia daily having the largest circulation. Not long ago Dr. Sampson Pope, clerk of the senate, and General J. Walter Gray, clerk of the house, appointed W. M. Rogers, assistant clerk of the house, to examine the books of The Register and The State, and report as to their respective circulation. Mr. Rogers made the examination and re ported that The Kegister naa tne largest circulation.. On this representation, The Register was awarded the advertisement. Next morning, The State contained a severe editorial calling the award an "infamous swindle," and the report "a flagrant and wilful lie." The editorial said that Rogers, "in making the report, had lied deliberately and maliciously with intent to injure The State, which he hates, and benefit The Register which he supports." The editorial went on to lay the severest strictures on Gray and Pope, charging them with fraud, perjury and conspiracy to injure the State. That night, Mr. A. E. Gonzales, general agent of The State, met General Gray in the lobby of the Grand Central hotel, and denounced him as a liar, designating the kind of a liar with a number of adjectives that are not suitable for publication. General Gray drew a pistol and stated that any man who said he was a fraud was several kinds of a liar. About this time, Dr. Pope came up and reiterated Gray's remarks as expressing his own sentiments. Mr. N. G. Gonzales was present and asked Dr. Pope for a repetition of the declaration. Dr. Pope repeated, and Mr. Gonzales struck him in the face. The two men clinched aud went to the floor, Gonzales pounding Pope and Pope gouging Gonzale's eyes. Gonzales called out to Pope to stop gouging him, and according to one report, Pope said: "I suppose that means enough," and got up. According to another report, Gonzales was on top, and was pulled off by Pope's friends. Next day, The News and Courier contained a report to the effect that when General Gray drew his pistol, A. E. Gonzales threw up his hands and said that he was unarmed. Early in the afternoon, Mr. A. E. Gonzales approached Mr. M. F. Tighe, the correspondent of the News and Courier, at the entrance of the capitol, and asked him if he was responsible for that statement. Mr. Tighe replied that he was. Gonzales called Tighe an elaborately qualified liar, and Tighe struck Gonzales in the face. The two clinched, and falling to the ground, pummeled each other for a short while and were finally separated by the legislators who rushed to the scene. These little occurrences, characterized by The News and Courier as "Georgia Scenes," have created more interest in Columbia up to date than the work of the lawmakers, and from the present attitude of the beligerents all around, it seems quite possible that there will be several more "scrapes" before everybody has enough. N. G. Gonzales and Dr. Pope have been before the mayor and were discharged. No proceedings have been taken against A. E. Gonzales or Tighe. General Gray was before the mayor's court on Saturday, and was finod *or? fnr rarrvintr a concealed nistol. Takes the Governor to Task.?ExState Treasurer E. 3v. Mclver has taken Governor Tillman to task on his "comparative statement between 1890 and 1891 as to cash on hand." In a communication to The News and Courier of last Saturday, he says: 1 "I have carefully examined the State treasurer's report for the year ending October 31, 1891, and I have been unable to find any entry to show that he paid overdrafts amounting to $22,800. I am therefore correct in asserting that no debt contracted by the previous administration was paid out of the receipts of the treasury during the fiscal year ending October 31, 1891. Deducting the $22,800 mentioned from the difference in favor of 1891, which is $87,523.08, we find the result is $64,723.08. "Now, it is well known that the South Carolina railway did not pay any part of its taxes that were due from the 15th of October, 1889, to February 1,1890, but that said taxes were paid after the session of the legislature in December, 1890, under a joint resolution authorizing the several county treasurers to receive the same with interest added. These taxes amounted to $17,719.59, without interest, and should rightfully be deducted from the balance as above?$64,723.08 less $17,719.59=$47,003.49, which is all the difference that can justly be claimed in favor of the fiscal year ending October 31,1891. "On page 24 of the treasurer's report for the year ending October 31, 1891, he enters $21,427.84 as received for back taxes, which, I suppose, covers the amount received from the South Carolina railway for past due taxes, with interest added. "Then there is a discrepancy of about $40,000 between the statement of the document mentioned above and the official report of the State treasurer, which I will not attempt to explain, nor will I make any comment thereon, but leave your readers to form their own conclusions. "It is said that comparisons are odious, I but I fear neither comparisons nor investi- j gations honestly conducted of my management of the office of the State treasurer, feel-' ing sure that the administration with which I <JWv\V.VA\ WC5SWOT WvWWuWWW I had the honor to be associated will not suffer thereby." THE GOVERNOR OWNS UP. To the Columbia correspondent of The News and Courier, who interviewed him in reference to the comments of Mr. Mclver, the governor said he would frankly admit that the "comparative statement" was incorrect. That portion of his message, he said, was prepared through inadvertence, and, for convenience, from a newspaper clipping which he assumed to be correct, and agreeing with an official statement, both of which was before him. His information now is that that the newspaper statement was incorrect, and that it was furnished to some of the newspapers by a clerk in the comptroller general's office. MERE-MENTION. Lord Lytton, British minister to France, and well known poet under the noxn de plume of Owen Meredith, died in Paris, on Tuesday of last week. A special train over the Pennsylvania railroad, made the trip from New York to Washington, 228 miles, in 240 minutes, last Saturday. This is said to be the quickest time ever made between the two cities. St. Louis has been selected as the place for holding the National convention of labor and farmer organizations, to assemble on February 22. Bill Nye, the well known humorous writer and lecturer, met with a serious accident at Jackson, Miss., last Saturday. He fell out of the back door of the opera house, a distance of fifteen feet, on a pile of lumber, and was very seriously, though not fatally, hurt. Reports from South Dakota are to the effect that the Sioux Indians are becoming very restless again, and it is thought that another outbreak is auite Drobable. Hon. John crafts, and few are they who will even see this church and suspect how little actual cash was expended on it. From the raw materials as each member could supply them, the congregation has, with its own hands, wrought a work that will surely prove acceptable to Him to whom it is to be dedicated. The church, which is three miles north of Blacksburg, is 30 feet wide and 54 feet long, and is neatly painted inside and out. The inside walls are plastered and the overhead is ceiled and finished in hard oil. The building is intended to comfortably accommodate 400 worshippers. The outside presents a very handsome appearance, and according to the estimates of those who are informed on such matters, the building could not be duplicated for a great deal less than $1,800. LETTER FROM ROCK HILL. Death of Mr. D. A. Button?Personal Notes? Off for the Conference?Mr. John Ratterree Seriously 111?Physicians Operate on Wilson's Skull. Correspondence of the Yorkvllle Enquirer. Rock Hill, November 30.?Last Thursday morning, at 1 o'clock, Mr. D. A. Button, one of the oldest citizens of this place, breathed his last. He had been sick only a few days. His only surviving brother, Mr. Joseph Button, now a resident of Shelby, N. C., but who was a citizen of Rock Hill more than twenty years ago, is now here, having come to attend the funeral. Louis Freidheim is back from Louisville, Ky., where he has been taking a course in veterinary surgery. Frank Wardlaw, formerly employed in W. J. Roddey's insurance office, but now a student at Davidson college, spent Saturday and Sunday here. He says that Rock Hill's representatives at the college are doing well. Miss Julia Richardson, who has in charge ' * - * 1 -1 ?~ e/?hnnl me musil'Ui uejmnmcin ui mc giuuvu here, speut Thanksgiving and the day following at Davidson college, where she has many friends. Rev. A. L. Stougk, from Lancaster, preached at the Baptist church Sunday morning and evening last. This church is without a pastor at present. Rev. E. 0. Watson, pastor of the M. E. church at Rock Hill station; Rev. J. L. ; Harley, of Rock Hill circuit; and Rev. Creitzberg, presiding elder of the Chester district, all of whom live here, leave for the annual conference at Darlington, S.;C., today. Rev. E. 0. Watson preached his farewell sermon last night, but it is generally believed that he will be sent back here, as there is a strong desire among the congregation ' and among the citizens generally for his return. The other two will be removed, owing to the division of Mr. Harley's circuit, and the four years' limit having been reached by the presiding elder in this district. Mr. John Ratterree, who has been dangerously ill for some days, is very much better today. His son Pride, now living in Georgia, has returned home, owing to his father's sickness. Drs. Strait, Hunter and Crawford, performed a surgical operation last week on the head of the man Wilson, who was so badly beaten up several weeks ago in a fight with some darkies. They relieved the brain from the pressure of portions of the skull, and at last accounts he was doing very well. Mrs. May and Miss Hattie May, will move from their present residence on Main street. Dr. Strait will occupy the place they leave. Considerable snow fell here Sunday morning, and a little that night, but it melted about as fast as it fell. The thermometer stood at 20? early this morning. Mrs. Blake and Colonel Waters will attend the Baptist convention at Spartanburg, this week. e. LETTER FROM FORT MILL. .Success of the Intensive System?Acquisition to the Citizenship?Other Matters. Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. Fort Mill, November 30.?Just now, while everybody is crying "hard times," and 1 with good reason too, I presume the readers ? of The Enquirer will be glad to hear of ] somebody who is able to stand the pressure, 1 and who has not been very badly hurt by . the low price of cotton. I had a talk with , Mr. J. H. Coltharp the other day, and he is | the farmer to whom I refer. It will be remembered that last summer I mentioned the fact of his making 48 bushels of wheat of!'of ( two acres. Ordinarily, of course, this v.as j not extraordinary, but the present has not been an ordinary year, and compared with the rest of the country, the crop was an un- i usual one. Well, the continuation of the story does not detract from the achieve- , ment. After cutting the wheat, Mr. Col- ( | tharp sowed peas, and let the two acres grow up in peavincs and crab grass. When . these two crops were ripe, he gave one-third I to have them cut, and got for his own share \ thirteen two horse loads?plenty of rough- ( ncss to feed his stock all winter. Now, in addition to the above, Mr. Coltharp made 230 bushels of good rust proof i oats. Of these he sowed 30 bushels, and last 1 week sold 100 bushels for $75, cash?had i < nothing to do hut measure up the oats and 1 receive the money. ( Mr. Coltharp comes out ahead on cotton, i G. Carlisle, a former speaker of the house of representatives, is out in a strong letter endorsing Roger Q. Mills for that office. * Congressman Bynum has formally withdrawn from the speakership race, and announced his intention to vote for Mills. G. Cassard & Co., big provision and pork dealers, of Baltimore, failed last week for about $100,000. Three miners were arrested at Shenandoah, Pa., a few days ago, for passing Confederate bills on ignorant Germans. A locomotive boiler exploded at Akron, O., last Friday. The body of the engineer, John Byron, was found 600 yards south of the track. The body of the fireman was found 200 feet to the north. A two year old son of David F. Beals, of Kansas City, Mo., was stolen from his home by kidnappers last Thursday, and on Friday, the father paid the kidnappers $5,000 for the boy's release. The county board of canvassers of New York completed the work of canvassing the election returns in that State last Friday, and report the result as follows : Flower, 582,894; Fassett, 533,955. Flower's majority is 47,934. The firm of Field, Lindley & Co., of New York, the senior member of which was a son of Cyrus W. Field, failed last Friday. The liabilities are estimated all the way from $100,000 to $1,500,000. Keitt on Irby.?The Greenville News of the 17th ultimo contained an interview with Senator Irby, in which the senator spoke rather slightingly of Ellison S. Keitt, a prominent Allianceman, of Newberry county, and a former candidate for the office to which Irby was elected. Keitt comes back at Irby with a sharp stick and with blood in his eye. Under date of November 21, he writes to the Greenville News as follows: "How few of us realize to the full our duty to God and our country and the magnitude of the responsibility that rests upon each of us! The manhood of the State will have to be up and doing if our Christian civilization and homes are redeemed and saved from the barbarism of the vile. All right thinking men should unite in the good work. "The Greenville News, of the 17th instant, has just reached me. From it I learn that the notorious Irby, who for nearly one year has been at histoid trade, hiding out, has crawled out of his hole and prates. He is represented to have used the following language : " 'The Farmer's Alliancemen of the State are Democrats and they may be relied upon to vote for the Democratic nominee if it is the devil. There may be a few like Keitt who will not vote for him, but they will not amount to much." Because Alliancemen, in the chaos and confusion that reigned supreme last year were deceived and in some instances voted for the servants of the devil, these vile creatures now think they can deceive them again and influence them to vote for their *god, the devil himself, with his horns, gridiron and pitchforks and so declare. That Irby belongs, soul, mind, and body to the devil and has served him faithfully all his days, is well known. "It was a waste of words for him to declare that he worships at the shrine of the devil and gives him his full support. If this creature has any shame, if he has as much virtue in him as Judas Iscariot had, he will go and hang himself and save the State from further disgrace. "The writer is sure he is without an element of virtue. When he goes to Washington he will be shunned by the virtuous and upright as a leper. People of integrity can have nothing to do with such a character. His published interviews show that he would have the world believe Alliancemen in South Carolina are as low as he is?worshippers of the devil. Official position cannot elevate an unworthy man, but a scurvy fellow drags the position down to his low level. South Carolina is in total eclispse. Let the curtain drop. Respectfully, Ellison S. Keitt." Reorganization of the Three C's.? The Columbia State of last Saturday prints what it characterizes as a well authenticated rumor that the Three C's will soon be taken out of the hands of the receiver. The story seems to be a further development of that printed in The Enquirer a few* weeks ago, and is as follows: "The information was received from a gentleman deeply interested in the road in a financial way, and who is just from headquarters in Boston, and has come here on this very matter to remain a month. "He says that all the contending parties have come together, and the originally company has been reformed of Boston, Philadelphia and New York capitalists. They intend to take the road out of the hands of the receiver and rush it through as originally proposed, to the Ohio river. They expect to bring it into Columbia, too. "The intention is to begin the work from Camden early in March, and push it as fast as money and hard work can do it. "The State's informant thinks that Receiver Chamberlain will be retained and made general manager of the company. Ex-General Manager R. A. Johnson, he says, is now traveling south with a party, all having left fiurntlior " UVOKVU fUf,v...v. . "By the present arrangement, all previous difficulties are obliterated and it is the united purpose of the capitalists to complete the road as originally proposed, and without delay. "The charter has already been obtained from the legislature, and the company will ask that body but for one more thing. That, of course, is kept a profound secret. The bill will go in, in a few days however." To be Married in December.?The engagement of Miss Bettie Henry, daughter of the late distinguished Prof. Henry, of the Smithsonian Institute, to Representative John J. Hemphill, of South Carolina, has been made public, and the marriage is set for Christmas week, December 23, at St. John's Episcopal church in Washington. For a congressman, Mr. Hemphill is exceediugly good looking and quite popular, inasmuch as he represents the New South, toward which, however, the old regime of the haughty Palmetto State will ever maintain an "armed neutrality." His name has been connected in a matrimonial way with the daughter of a chief justice of the supreme court of the United States, and with that of a daughter of a representative of one of the Western States.?New York Town Topics. ? Captain William Wallace Butler, second son of Senator M. C. Butler, died in Augusta, Ga., hist Sunday, after an illness of twenty-four hours. He was attacked on the day before with congestion of the brain, while standing in the hotel office, and on being taken to Ills room expired witnoui once regaining consciousness. Captain Butler was a resident of Edgefield court house, and although only thirty years of age, is said to have been the leading lawyer at the Edgefield bar. General Butler thinks that the death of his son was the result of overwork. ? Dacus <fc Jordan, one of the largest mercantile firms of Greenville, made an assignment best Thursd night for the benefit of its creditors. The liabilities are estimated at $31,000, and the assets are thought to be ! about the same. MOUNT PARAN CHURCH. 1 Dedication Postponed Until Next August? j Sermon by Rev. Mr. Curtis?History of , the Church aud Description of the New ' Building?A Labor of Love. , Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. Mount Paran, November 30.?Though 1 yesterday was a day to which the members i of Mount Paran church have long been look- i ing forward to with pleasant anticipations, it brought with it not a little disappointment. 1 The zealous workers who have just com- ; pleted the erection of the new church , building, had selected yesterday as the day 1 upon which it should be solemnly dedicated i to the worship of God. The morning dawn, i however, preceded by copious showers of ' rain, brought with it a heavy fall of snow, and by 9 o'clock it became apparent to i those who live in the immediate vicinity, ' that only a small per cent, of the widely scattered congregation would be able to i make its way over the rough and muddy < roads to the dedication. Futher develop- i ments justified these rather gloomy antici- i pations, and when the hour for the service 1 arrived, there was less than 100 people pres- i ent. Under the circumstances, and especially in view of the peculiar interest that ex- 1 ists in the work?so many people having had i a Iinnrl in ita ?it WHS d<>- 1 cided to postpone the dedication until a day ; when all could be present. To this end, by a vote of the representatives assembled, tbe third Sunday in August, 1892, was selected. Rev. F. 0. S. Curtis, the able pastor of Flint Hill church, who had been invited to preach the dedicatory sermon, was present, and after the little congregation had resolved on the postponement stated above, he ; delivered to them a most able sermom from 1 Philemon i, 8, 9, on the subject of conse- .' crated old age and Christian fellowship. i1 Mount Paran Baptist church was one of ' the first organized in this community. It ' dates its birth away back in May, 1853, j when the country was much more thinly . populated than it is to-day. The organizers were Peter Sapoch, Preston Harmon, A. W. Holt, Able Earl, and Thomas Martin, Sr., 1 and the first pastor was Rev. J. J. Jones. A. \V. Holt, Peter Sapoch and Preston Harmon were selected to serve the new organition as deacons. Mr. Holt is still a deacon, but the other two have crossed over the river. For many years the little band was confront- ! ed with almost insurmountable difficulties in the way of its growth and expansion. But its earnest zeal never flagged. At length a rude church was built?rude in appearance, but nevertheless a credit to the financial condition of its builders?and slowly and steadily an era of progress commenced. One. after another of the citizens of the surrounding country came into the fold, and today the membership of Mount Paran numbers 123. About two years ago it was decided that the congregation should have a new church, and after mature deliberation a committee, composed of W. J. Goforth, chairman ; James Martin, E. R. Sapoch, Albert Bettis, G;. H. Martin and Thomas Martin, was appointed to prosecute the work. Though there was but little money in the congregation, there were many willing hands, and it was'upon these that the committee relied for the completion of its task. Some gave money, some lumber, some brick, and all their labor. Working in season and out of season, sometimes leaving their crops, after two years the church was completed, including neat and comfortable slat seats, and though "home made," out and out, the building is indeed a most creditable one. Among the congregation there was a good architect, and good carpenters. These exercised their respective too. Of course, he has suffered, like everybody else, but he has averaged 1,000 pounds to the acre. He had one acre to yield 1,800 pounds, and three more to yield 1,000 each. ] Those who sa w these four acres last summer, said that they thought each of them would ] yield 3,000 pounds. The crop wa3cut short, but Mr. Coltharp does not grumble. Running, as he does, on the intensive system, he i is still as solid as a wedge. Mr. J. Harper McMurray, of Chester county, is coming to Fort Mill to live next j year. I understand that I)r. Meacham and family, of Gaflfney City, also expect to locate J here in a few days. The town now has about 1,000 inhabitants, and with a doctor to every 250, it looks as if the sick will be ] well provided for. j The town is still building slowly. Two more new houses are now going up in Spratt- ] ville. ' Since the change of schedule on the Richmond and Danville railroad, it takes two days to get a letter from here to Yorkville, and two days more to get an answer. Ver- ' ily it seems that the railroads are running 1 their trains only to suit their own conven- 1 ience. i Mr. J. P. Crowder, who lives two miles ( below Fort Mill, and who had twenty-one acres in cotton, is one of the few farmers who has made ten-bales to the horse this year. c. LETTER PROM ED8MOOR. ( ~ - -- * * ITIllnrra Notes 01 more or XjeHN llicrcm .ill iug >in?6v j and Vicinity. Correspondence of the Yorkvllle Enquirer. < Edgmoor, November 30.?The flight of j another 24 hours will place the old year . in the icy arms of bleak December, while dreary Navember, with h er "naked woods ' and meadows brown and sere," will be con- i signed to die tomb of the dead past. How 1 consoling, could the cares, worries and disappointed hopes of life be buried with her, but since they cannot be, let us endeavor to bear them with Christian resignation. With the short crops and low price of 1 cotton, both farmers and merchants are wearing lugubrious countenances, and along with ( them methought the Edgmoor school marm was wearing this same look till approached 5 on yesterday by a good old father of Israel and Sur,day-school teacher who said "I am glad to see you wearing such a contented, j happy look," and this set me to thinking of ( the many things for which I should be thankful, and I believe I can truly exclaim with the Psalmist "the lines have fallen to me in ' pleasant places." 1 At the expiration of a fortnight, my school i life of three years at this place will close, which, taken all and all, has been a pleasant one, and it is with feelings of sadness that I shall bid farewell to the dear pupils and ' kind patrons of Edgmoor. Eight applica- i tions for the school have been received by < the patrons and trustees, and there will be a \ meeting at the close of our present term, 1 (December 11) to consider the matter. The communion services at this place were observed on yesterday, Rev. W. A. M. 1 Plaxico officiating. Owing to the extreme ' inclemency of the weather, the meeting was meage::ly attended, but not withstanding ( ** * RRnn/1_ Mr. i'Jaxico was preucmng iu a met c aauu- j full," lis sermons were of an excellent order and there was one accession to the church membership. Kev. Plaxico and family leave 1 for Lexington, Va., on Thursday. Rev. Dr. Gibson, of the United Presbyterian church, Philadelphia, who preached for j us two weeks ago, has since been lying at , the residence of Mr. J. C. Dickey, quite ill. : Hjs sou, J. W. Gibson, M. D., of Asheville, was summoned to his bedside on Friday. It is thought that the old Doctor's symptoms are more encouraging this morning. Rev. J. S. Moffat';, of Chester, called to see ( Dr. Gibson on Friday night. Miss Lettie Barber, of West Chester, is ' visiting Miss Ammie Whiteside. Miss Cora Rodger's smiles are missed at the social gatherings, she having been j absent from home for some days visiting friends in Yorkville. Some of the young men of this community spent Thanksgiving in Chester, and from the gay humor in which a part of them returned, one would naturally suppose it was an appropriate place at which to spend Thanksgiving. Mr. James Glass, who has lately been railroading in Maryland and Virginia, is now in our midst. Although glass at the present i day is a cheap article, yet it is as pretty as when dearer, hence the very name Glass, naturally calls up a smile to the feminine physiognomy. Mrs. Vaughn, daughter of our chairman 1 of the board of trustees, Col. C. R. Sibley, leaves today for Virginia to join her hus- : band. BLACKS3URG BUDGET. The Weather?Fairly Comfortable Condition of the Farmers?Other Notes of Interest. Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. Blacksburg, December 1.?Old winter, with his hoary head, seems to have come in downright earnestness, and for the past several days overcoats and wraps have been found comfortable. The farmers are bringing in their surplus cotton, and the gins in our town are kept very busy, getting the staple ready for market. As far as I can ascertain, the fertilizer debts have nearly all been paid. A majority of our farmers have made enough corn to do them, and a good many of them have raised nearly meat enough for their own use. Others are investing their surplus cot ton money in Tennessee hogs, of which there are two droves in town, selling at 5* cents a pound. The river and creek lands have yielded bountifully this year, and one of our most successful corn raisers told me that he didn't remember when he had made such a good crop. So I am inclined to believe that the general financial condition of our people is fairly good, ar.d the outlook is more encouraging than it appeared a month ago, especially considering the low price of cotton. An old farmer said to me this morning, "If cotton was just 0 cents we would be all right." The dedication of the new church at Mount Paran did not take place on Sunday last owing to the disagreeable weather. The church will be dedicated in August next. The new trustees of the graded school are Dr. J. G. Black, Dr. I). S. Ramscur, and 1). 1 L. Brown. Our popular young physician, Dr. J. T. ; Darwin, returned home on the 26th instant with his young and accomplished bride, of Rome, Ga., known to her numerous friends in Blacksburg as Miss Mary Fleetwood. She will meet with a warm welcome from them all. -A reception was given them at his i home ou Pir.e street. A missionary society was organized at the Presbyterian church yesterday afternoon. The opening at Cherokee Inn tonight promises to be a brilliant affair. w. A. LETTER FKIDTCHKSTKH. ltesidence of T. ). Cunningham Hurned? Thanksgiving Services?Masonic?Monument to Fort Mill's Soldiers. Uorresi>ondt'ncc of the Yorkville Enquirer. Chester, November 30.?The residence of T. J. Cunningham, who lives nine miles < from Chester, was destroyed by fire one night last week. The building cost about S7,000, and was insured in the .Etna of - 1 1! 1 Hartford, for $2,500. There wasaiso a policy of $800 on the furniture. Thanksgiving service was held in the Presbyterian church lost Thursday. The sermon i was preached by Rev. J. S. MofTatt, of the , A. R. Presbyterian church, and those who , heard him were amply repaid. The service was opened by an anthem (the 24th Psalm) sung by a combination of all the church ' choirs. It was very beautifully rendered. ] The lesson was read by Rev. Mr. Summey, i and Rev. Mr. Heard and Rev. Mr. Sanders! oifered prayer. The collection taken up on ! ( the occasion was turned over to the Woman's I Benevolent society. Some of Rock Hill's high Masons were down here last Tuesday night to assist in do- ] ing work in the (J. R. A. degree. (Jrand j High Priest Witherow, of Winnsboro, was j with us one night. His numerous friends in i. Chester are always glad to see him. Mr. J. M. Spratt, of Fort Mill, a member!1 of the Soldier's Monument committee, was ' down last Thursday to see how Mr. C'hilds i! was getting along with the monument. He h says lie is very much pleased with the! work, and says he can guarantee the contributors that they will have a monument of which they will be proud. 1 ? (Jeorge S. I tucker, the young man who . nttempted to commit suicide in a Columbia | hotel on Monday of last week, died in , Charleston last Thursday. Before his death, lie repented of his rash act and expressed a 1 desire to recover, and, as far as possible, to 1 make amends. 1 LOCAL AFFAIRS. INDEX TO NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. LiOuih Roth?Friday and Saturday. Next. IV. W, Auten, Pineville, N. C.?Administrator's Notice. Finley A Brice, Defendants' Attorneys?Four Separate Tracts. < iV. B. Williams, Auditor of York County?Tax Returns for 1891?'92. W. Beatty Smith?Administrator's Notice. IV. B. Wilson, Sr., W. B. Wilson, Jr., Thos. F. McDow?Notice of Dissolution. Carolina Buggy Co.?Our Work at tho Fair. Frew Bros. A Keesler, Rock Hill?Slaughter of Men's and Youths' Clothing. Riddle A Carroll?We are Gratified. T. M. Dobson, Manager?Dobson's Racket the Cheapest Christmas Goods Hustler in Yorkville. Beard A Inman?How to Keep Warm. VI. A H. C. Strauss?It is to Your Interest. W. C. Latimer?Down She Goes, Gents. (V. Y. Cartwright A Co.?Dissolution. Lowry A Starr?.Some Have, and Some Haven't. T. W. Clawson A Son?More Lamps. THE FORT MILL MONUMENT. We acknowledged the receipt of an invitation to be present on the occasion of the unveiling of the "Confederate monument" in Fort Mill, on December 22, at 12 m. The nonument executive committee is composed )f the following: Samuel E. White, chairnan ; J. M. Spratt, J. H. Thornwell, L. N. Dulp, J. C. Jones and S. H. Epps. TAX COLLECTIONS. Inquiry at the office of Treasurer Neely, levelops the fact that tax collections are still progressing very slowly. Up to yesterday norning, the total collections amounted to ^21,472.99, leaving $97,168.58 still to collect. 3o far only 2,680 of the 9,000 receipts on the jooks have been issued. Resolutions have ieen introduced in both the house and senate x> extend the time for the payment of taxes x> February 1st, 1892. CHURCH NOTICES. T7n!qftnnol ? Siindnv-cipbnnl n.t 10.30 a. m. ? ?j Trinity Methodist Episcopal?Rev. G. H. Waddell, pastor. Sunday-school at 3 p. m. Associate Reformed Presbyterian?Rev. J. [J. Galloway, pastor. Yorkville?Sundayjchool at 3.30 o'clock p. m. Baptist?Rev. Robert G. Patrick, pastor, tforkville?Prayer-meeting tomorrow evening at 7 o'clock. Sunday-school at 10 a'clock a. m. Presbyterian?Rev. T. R. English, D. D., pastor. Prayer-meeting tomorrow afternoon it 4 o'clock. Services next Sunday at 11 i m. and 7 p. m. Sunday-school at 3 p. m. FOUR SEPARATE TRACTS. . Under the above heading, Messrs. Finley fc Brice, defendant's attorneys, make an announcement in our advertising columns that will be of interest to those who propose to bid on the R. M. Steele "Fishing Creek" land next Monday. The land has been divided into four separate tracts, plats of which are to be seen at the clerk's office, and will be offered for sale in that shape. It is provided, however, that if, in the aggregate, the amount bid on these tracts is not sufficient to lift the mortgage, the sale will be off, and the entire tract will be put up again to be resold in a body. TO MANUFACTURE ACID. The secretary of State, on last Saturday, issued a commission to the "Carolina Sulphuric Acid Manufacturing company," of Rinrlrahnrir The comorators are Thomas p. 4 B. Gautier, of Morristown, N. J.; T. H. B. Hause, of Wheeling, W. Va.; and John F. Jones, of Blacksburg. The purpose of the company is to purchase mining properties and manufacture pyrites and sulphuric acid, etc. The capital stock is $300,000, with the privilege of increasing to $1,000,000, and it is divided into shares at $5 each. Twenty per cent, is to be paid in cash, and the first increase of $25,000 is to be preferred stock, bearing interest at 8 per cent. FOR STEALING $5. Lucius Blackwelder, a fourteen year old negro, was committed to jail last Sunday for petit larceny. The theft was committed in Fort Mill last Friday and the circumstances are about as follows : The depot agent had left his office for a few minutes to meet a train, and when ho returned, he missed a five dollar bill from the money drawer. Suspicion fell on Blackwelder, who is a notorious vagabond, and at the instance of the agent, the negro was arrested by Town Marshal McElhaney. The bill was found on the negro's person, and at a preliminary hearing before Trial Justice Withers, he owned up to having taken it from the drawer. The boy left thirty or forty dollars in the drawer untouched, and the agent only happened to discover the theft of the five dollars from the fact that he had just laid it on top of a pile of bills a short while before. THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL CONVENTION. A very pleasant and profitable session of the Ynrk Bantist Sunday-school convention was held at Mount Paran church last week, commencing on Friday and closing on Sunday. The annual election of officers took place and resulted as follows : H. E. Johnson, president; Rev. J. A. White, vice-president ; F. H. Dover, secretary; Rev. F. 0. S. Curtis, treasurer. While the delegations of lay members from the Sunday-schools composing the body were unusally small, there was an unusually large number of ministers present, including Rev. R. L. Limrick, the pastor of Mount Paran, Revs. F. C. Hickson, F. O. S. Curtis, J. E. McManaway, J. A. White and R. G. Patrick. The next session will be held with the Yorkville Baptist church at a date to be hereafter announced. LOCAL LACONICS. ? In the supreme court, last Friday, the petition for a re-hearing in the case of Agnes B. Harris vs. Harriet J. Bratton et al., was dismissed. ? The first snow of the season fell last Sunday morning, after several hours of rain. The snow melted, however, almost as fast as it fell, and by noon it had entirely disappeared. ? Walter Edmunds, colored, convicted in the United States court iu Columbia last Friday of selling liquor without license, was sentenced to one month in the York county jail. Spencer Mobley was sentenced to six months for the same officiiee. ? Thanksgiving (lay, last Thursday, was appropriately observed by union services in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church, but owing to the disagreeable weather which prevailed throughout the morning, the attendance was rather small. RIG FAILURE AT TIRZAH. Mr. Henry Massey, dealer in general merchandise and plantation supplies at Tir/.ah, has failed. He has not yet made an assignment, but is waiting the result of propositions he has made to his creditors looking to a compromise. According to Mr. Massey's statement, on the 17th of November, he transferred his stock of goods, storeroom, and adjoining lot, to Mr. F. II. Brown, his father-in-law, to whom lie was in debt directly, and as his endorser, to the amount of $15,000. This property was transferred to Mr. Brown as representing the sum of $7,000. After taking out his homestead exemptions, $1,500, Mr. Massey finds that his remaining assets arc not more than $4,000, while his liabilities, including the $15,000 he owes Mr. Brown, amounts to $25,000. In his proposition to his creditors, Mr. Massey offers to pay thirty per cent, of all his indebtedness, as follows : 10 percent, on the 1st of March, 1892; 10 per cent. May 1st, 1S92; and 10 per cent. October 1st, 1892. In addition to this, on his guano notes, he proposes to pay 10 percent, on December 1, 1892, and 10 per cent, on February 1, 1893. To secure the payment of the dividends, is proposed, he offers to make a mortgage of ill his property to two trustees, one his own attorney, and the other a local attorney to be selected by a majority of the creditors. This mortgage is also to include the property already sold to Mr. Brown, as aforesaid, with a direction by Mr. Brown to said trustees, endorsed on the mortgage, to defer pay-1 ment of his dividends to him until all others of Massey's creditors shall first receive their dividends in full. As to whether Mr. Massey's proposition will be accepted by his creditors, has not yet developed. ABOUT PEOPLE. Mr. Albert Owen, of Chester, visited relatives in Yorkville last week. Mr. Chas. P. Ford is spending a few days with relatives near South Point, N. C. Miss Gertrude Curtis, of Clinton, is visiting the family of Mr. R. J. Withers. Miss Cora Clark returned home last week from a visit to relatives in Georgia. Mrs. R. E. Montgomery returned home last Sunday afternoon, after a short visit to relatives in Rock Hill. Mr. D. W. Hicks, of Henrietta, N. C., spent last Sunday and Monday with relatives in Yorkville. Rev. R. G. Patrick and Mrs. John G. Ferguson, are attending the State Baptist convention at Spartanburg. Mr. L. H. Caldwell's family have returned to Hickory, N. C., where they expect to make their home for the present. Mr. Caldwell will remain with the Carolina Buggy company. "**- TT ^ kno Kaon omnlnv. 1 Dir. D. XI* . X1U11/J ?UU UOO MVVU ed on the brick work of the several buildings 1 recently erected in Yorkville during the < past six months, returned to his home iu , Rock Hill last Saturday. ( Rev. T. M. Lowry, formerly of Yorkville, now pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of Augusta, Ga., has accepted an ap- 1 pointment as synodical secretary of foreign 1 missions for Georgia, made by the Georgia synod. His territory will be the entire State, and he will probably continue to make his i headquarters in Augusta. THE R. R. DEPOT INJUNCTION. Judge Fraser has filed his decision in the case of W. C. Latimer and others, plaintiffs, against the Richmond and Danville Railroad company, defendants, with the clerk of the court. It will be remembered that on July 29, 1891, the plaintiffs sued out a temporary injunction restraining the defendants from removing the Narrow Gauge depot, at this place, from its present site to a site on East Liberty street, nearly opposite Trinity church. Soon after, the defendants gave notice of a motion to dissolve the injunction. The motion was to have been argued at Winnsboro on September 30, but was finally heard at Chester, during the October term of the court. On account of his "inability to sooner give the matter the attention its importance deserves," Judge Fraser did not file his decision until last Saturday. It is as follows: "After a careful consideration of the alleged facts, as contained in the affidavits and complaint, I do not think that I ought to interfere with the present status until the final hearing on its merits. "The Richmond and Danville Railroad company has, under its lease, only a temporary interest in the railroad, with its depots and other appurtenances. It is waste to move away even the burnt bricks and stone in the old depot, which has been burnt, and to use them and the insurance on the burnt depot, for the erection of a new depot at a considerable distance from the old site, and, as now appears, on a lot of land, the title to which (perhaps by inadvertence) has been placed in the Richmond and Danville Railroad company, the lessee, instead of the Chester and Lenoir Railroad company, the lessor. " 'It must be borne in mind that a complaint may be entitled to a preliminary injunction, although the right to the relief prayed for may ultimately fail.' As the only matter before me to consider in this matter is the right of the plaintiff to have the status of the property preserved until there can be a hearing on the merits, it is not necessary, and perhaps improper, for me to say more on the merits. "It is, therefore, ordered and adjudged, that the motion be dismissed with ten ($10) dollars cost of motion, to be paid by the defendant making the motion. T. B. Fraser, Presiding Judge." CHIEF JUSTICE McIVER. Attorney General Pope tne prooaoic ate Justice. Special Dispatch to the Yorkville Enquirer. Columbia, December 1.?In joint assembly of the two houses today, Associate Justice Mclver was elected chief justice for both unfinished and full terms, without opposition. Messrs. M. J. Tyler, of Aiken, and E. C. Allen, of Spartanburg, were elected penitentiary directors, defeating T. W. Traylor, of Fairfield, and F. 0. Sanders, of Sumter. Judge Mclver's elevation to the chief justiceship leaves a vacancy on the supreme bench, which will be filled at this session, at some time not yet agreed upon. The two most prominent candidates are Judge Wallace and Attorney General Pope, and there has been a lot of caucusing and electioneering among their friends. The unanimous manner in which Judge Mclver was elected, is taken to mean that some agreement has been arrived at by the dominant element as to who will get the place. Bet two to one on Pope. the 8tate. LEGISLATIVE 'PROCEEDINGS. The general assembly of South Carolina convened on Tuesday morning of last week, the senate being called to order by Lieutenant-Governor Gary, and the house by Speaker Jones. In the house, after prayer, the first business attended to was that of swearing in new members as follows: Barnwell, Messrs. H. H. Crum and Isaac L. Attaway ; Edgefield, Mr. H. H. Towns; Union, Mr. J. W. Gregory; Laurens, R. C. Watts. The house then devoted its attention to the bills on the calendar continued over from last year. There were about forty in number, and most of them were either passed over or killed. But few are of general importance. A bill to provide a per diem for coroner's jurors Was killed. A bill to provide for marriage licenses in this State, provoked a lively discussion, and finally passed to a third reading. The same bill reached this stage two years ago, and was killed in the senate. It may meet the same fate again. Here are its provisions : 1. Hereafter persons qualified, who shall undertake to perforin a marriage cjrcmony, shall first require the parties to deliver to them a license to bo issued by the probate judge, (fee 50 cents.) 2. The license must bo filled out with the name, color, place of residence, etc., of the contracting parties, and is to be handed to the clergymen or other person who is to join them together. 3. The party performing tho ceremony must certify the marriage to the probate judge, giving names, date of wedding, names of witnesses, etc. 4. Tho probate judge thereupon issues a certificate and enters a record in tho book to be furnished by the secretary of State. 5. This return and record is made prima facie evidence of the marriage therein certified. (J. A penalty of $100 is prescribed for any probate judge who shall violate the provisions of the act, and for any person who shall perform a marriage eeremony without tho permit or license, or who shall neglect to make return to the probate judge of such wedding. 7. The refusal or failure to make application for or to obtain and deliver the marriage license or to mako tho returns or records thereof, shall not in any way affect the validity of any marriage otherwise legal. In the Senate on Tuesday, the credentials of Senator Timmcrman, of Edgefield, and Senator Bamberg, of Bamberg, Barnwell county, were presented and ^hose gentlemen were sworn in as members. A large number of bills were introduced, but as yet none of them have developed any special importance. Before adjournment, the senate went into executive session and sustained the action of Governor Tillman in removing Supervisors of Registration Cantwell and McElroy. On Wednesday, Senator Wilson introduced a bill authorizing the town of Bock Ilill to issue bonds for street improvement, and to provide for interest on the same. Both houses adjourned over Thursday for | Thanksgiving day, and a small delegation of; senators and representatives attended "Carolina Day," at the Augusta exposition. Gov- j crtior Tillman intended to go to the cxposi-1 tion, but the train on which he was to go | was two hours late, and he decided to remain in Columbia. Among the bills that passed to a third eading in the house on Friday, was one to ^provide a water supply for the town of Sforkville," and another to punish persons aonvicted of selling liquor, by "fine and imnrisonment," instead of by "fine or imprisjnment." On the same day, a bill providing that ;ach county pay the expenses of its lunatics n the asylum, was virtually killed. Representative Fowler introduced bills to abolish attorneys costs in all civil actions; to pay all persons 50 cents a day for work on ;he public roads ; to pay circuit judges $2,000 nstead of $3,500 per annum; to make the 5rst Monday in September and all county, State and national election days, legal holilays; to elect school trustees. Mr. Patterson introduced a bill to prohibit the giving as security and the taking as security any lien or mortgage on an ungathared crop or cr&ps, whereby money, goods, supplies or merchandise are obtained or furnished within this State. On Saturday, Senator Wilson introduced i bill which provides that all the tax receivad from the Three C's railroad in certain townships in Lancaster and York, except the State and school tax, be applied to the pay- 4 ment of the interest on the bonds issued in aid of said road. The house, on motion of Mr. John C. Haskell, passed a resolution providing for the appointment by the speaker of a committee of five to investigate and report to the ? xl mnnncmmnnf Oil86 UpOH Hit! UUliuuui auu iuauug\>uivuv v? the State's phosphate interests during the year, and that the committee have power to send for persons and papers and to take such 3teps as will enable them to make a full inquiry into^the management of the board of phosphate commissioners. The committee was appointed as follows: John C. Haskell, of Richland, chairman; John R. Harrison, of Greenville; James Norton, of Marion j J. L. McLaurin, of Marlboro; J. E. Brazeale, of Anderson. Among the numerous other bills introduced in the senate, was one by Senator Woodward, of Fairfield, to prohibit State officers and members of the legislature from accepting free passes on the railroads. The bill was referred to the committee on railroads. The judiciary committee, to which had been referred the matter in regard to the term of the late Chief Justice Simpson, reported that he was elected for the term beginning July 29, 1886, and died December 25, 1890, and that his term would have expired July 28, 1892. The committee recommended that the election be held for the unexpired term, and at the same time for the full term of six years, beginning July 28, 1892. A concurrent resolution was adopted fixing Tuesday, the 1st instant, at 1 p.m., to hold the election in accordance with the report. The resolution was sent to the house and adopted on Monday. The proceedings of the house began to grow interesting on Monday. Mr. Tupper, of Charleston, offered a resolution providing for the appointment of a committee to investigate the charges of fraud that have been made in reference to the award of the advertisement for the public printing. The resolution provides that the committee shall have power to send for books * - ? fPL* and papers ana examine witnesses, mo resolution provoked considerable discussion, and its consideration was finally postponed until Tuesday. The next question to come up was Governor Tillman's county government scheme, briefly outlined in another column. It was referred to the judiciary committee. The bill is a very lengthy one, containing fortytwo sections, and if it becomes a law, will most effectually revolutionize our present scheme of county government. The. provisions of the bill are to take effect immediately upon its passage, and the governor is to appoint supervisors in the several counties, to exercise the duties of the office until the next general election. Aiter that time, the county supervisors will be elected every two years. Considerable time was taken up in the discusssion of the desirability of printing the names of the petitioners asking for the passage of the Childs' prohibition bill. It was finally decided that the names be printed. A bill was introduced to abolish the office of court stenographer. Mr. Woodward, of Fairfield, was in favor of the bill. He said that the matter of having court stenographers was of recent birth, and was a useless expense. He failed to see that the stenographer was of any use to anybody except lawyers. It was an imposition and an unnecessary expense, and the people in his section were clamoring for its repeal. Mr. Woodward was alone in his opposition. Other members argued that by the use of a stenographer, trials in court progressed twice as rapidly, and instead of the stenographer being an expense, he cut down the cost of the court machinery rrom onethird to one-half. The bill was indefinitely postponed by an overwhelming majority. Senator Strait, of Lancaster county, introduced a bill to carry out one of the recommendations contained in the governor's message. It refers to liquor license, and provides that a license of $500 must be paid to the county treasurer, and that the town, city or municipality shall receive no license money at all. The bill was reported on unfavorably by the senate committee to which it was referred. Senator Wilson introduced a bill to incorporate the town of Whitaker. uuuld'notes. Good Weather for Killing Hogs?Not Enough Wheat for Seed?Personal Mentloni Correspondence of the Yorkvllle Enquirer. Gould, November 30.?We are having some real winter weather now, just the kind for killing hogs and everybody is making use of it for that purpose. Mr. G. W. Good, the miller at Good's mill, has killed two that netted 340 and 352 pounds respectively. Mr. Wm. Robins had one to net 340, and Mr. W. Good gives the weight of his at 318 net. A good many oats were sown about a month ago. They are now just coming up, and should we have many such nights as last night, most of them will be killed. Oats that were sown early in the fall are not making as good a show as they generally do at this time, but there is a fairly good stand and they will probably come out all right. Some of our farmers who "dusted" in their wheat are through sowing, but there was not enough seed in the country to supply the demand, and a great many had to order from abroad. Consequently, there is a good deal to sow yet, and it will take at least another week of good weather to finish up the work. Rev. G. S. Robinson will start for a trip North tomorrow to be gone about two weeks. Rev. W. W. Ratchford and wife, are visiting their son, near Cross Keys, Union county. H. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Ex-Senator George F. Edmonds and ' family, of Vermont, are spending the winter at Aiken. ? Miss Clara McLenna, daughter of the editor of the Johnston Monitor and a compositor on that paper, is said to be one of the most rapid typesetters in the State. ? Governor Tillman has issued a requisition on the governor of Arkansas for Boyce Dunham, colored, convicted at a recent term of the Spartanburg court of selling liquor. ? Prosperity, in Newberry county, experienced an unusually heavy thunder storm on Sunday night of last week. One house is reported to have been struck by lightning. ? Miss Macie Stevenson, of Fairfield, left for Mexico last week under the auspices of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church, as a missionary. She was accorded a grand farewell by New Hope church, of which she was a member, on Saturday the 21st ultimo. An unusually large congregation was present on the occasion and the exercises were very impressive. ? There was a serious accident on the South Carolina railroad, near Summerville, bust Saturday night. The southbound train from Columbia to Charleston, was thrown from the track while running at the rate of about forty miles an hour, and everything but the engine and Pullman sleeper rolled down a steep embankment. There were about 300 people on board the train, and all but a few escaped without injury. Mason Parker, the colored fireman, was killed outright. The baggage master and express agent were seriously injured. Victor LaVergne, a white passenger, was probably fatally injured ; Philip Capers, another white passenger, was seriously hurt, and Annie Kelly,"white, had a leg broken. The coroner's jury found that the run off was caused by the mnlHous removal of a rail by parties unknown. Detectives are now on the track of the miscreant or miscreants who did the fiendish work.