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ISSUED TWICE A. WEEK?WEDNESDAY AKTD FRIDAY. i. m. grist & sons, Publishers, t 3 j'amiln Jletrspapcr: jfor the promotion of the political, Social, Agricultural, and Commercial Interests of the South. 'TKRsJnglk otpy.^hLe cen"NCI!' VOL.41. Y OBKVILLE, B. P., WKDNLSDAY, OC'TOHEH 23, 1895. NO. 7:L FROM WALL STRI VIA THE PR! HY AUSTIN Copyright, 1895, by the Author. CHAPTER X. Captaiu Cnrtin had been detailed to work on the New York end of the case, to look for clows. It seemed a hopeless task. He is a warm friend of mine now, after 20 years, and has long forgiven me for the bullet I lodged in him in 1878. A few years after arresting me in the West Indies he went to San Francisco and started a private inquiry office of his own at 828 Montgomery 6treet When, after 20 years' incarceration, I arrived there one lovely Muy day in 1892, he was waiting for me at the ferry and gave me warm greetings, and as hearty r>r>iurrat.nlatinns. too. as anv man could give another, then introduced me to his friends everywhere, and, in fact, from the hour of my arrival until my departure, three months afterward, was never tired of doing me a service and forwarding my business, so that, by his kind offices I made a great success out of what, by reason of the great financial depression, might otherwise have proved a failure. But as Captain Curtin, after effecting my arrest, having recovered from his wound, was one of the four who took me to Engl -nd, 1 will wait until a later chapter to tell how it was he discovered my name and located me in Cuba. There was not a single cloud on the horizon in Havana, but it was soon to blow a hurricane. My wife had sent out invitations to dinner for Thursday to 20 friends. There was then a 6teamer in the harbor advertised to sail in two days for Mexico, ar.d I had thought of ? going by her. Hac. we, this narrative would never have been written. A? i?^4-0fiAno trora Anf fnr Thnrctlflr ?CXO 1U V 1U4V1UUO noiw VUv 4V4 *UW4WV?M^ I concluded to wait for Saturday's steamer, but determined to sail on that day without faiL On the day of our dinner I was strongly tempted to give some hint to my wife that I was in some way entangled in a web, but as 6he was so happy I could not do it, but resolved to wait until wo were settled in Mexico, and then to tell her a little, but not all the truth. My wife, all unconscious of the frightful calamity impending, entered upon the last half day of happiness she was to know for many long years. The same statement would be true of myself. As the guests were arriving I was in a happy vein, and in the same happy frame of mind sat down to dinner. Twenty happy mortals, but not one divined the termination of that dinner party, least of all the proud and happy Hostess. It was a groat success, ouu at 8 was drawing to a close. The long windows were open, while the warm breeze from the nearby golf was pouring through the room. The dock had just chimed the quarter, when there came a sudden rush of feet over the veranda and through the halL All eyes were fixed on the open door leading to the hall, when an eager, resolute faced man, evidently an American, stepped with a firm pace into the room, followed by a dozen civilians and soldiera With a quick glance over the company his eyes rested on me, and coming direct to my chair, while my guests stared in amazement, he bowed and said in a low voice: "Mr. Bidwell, I am sorry to disturb your dinner party or to annoy you in any way, but I am forced to tell you I have a warrant in my pocket for your arrest upon a charge of forgery upon the Bank of England. The warrant is signed by the captain general of Cuba. Everything is in due form, and you are my prisoner. I am John Curtin of the Pinkerton force." Every man who enters the arena and joins in the struggle of life has more or fewer takedowns in his history. But my wish is that between this hour and my last I may have no more takedowns so near the freezing point as this was. I shall never forget the look on my wife's face. First she gazed at the intruders with indignation, then turned to me with a look of eager expectation, as much as to say, "Wait till my husband raises his arm and you will all go down." But instead of seeing mo rise indignant and angry, driving the intruders out, she saw me lalking quite calmly to Curtin. Then her face grew deadly white. None of the guests heard Captain Curtin's words; but, as will be easily imagined, there was a painful silence, which I broke by standing up and saying tnat mere was some unuappy mistake; that I was arrested npon the charge of furnishing arms to the insurrectionists in the eastern provinces. I requested my friends to withdraw at onco and everything would be explained on the morrow. There were five soldiers present, Mr. Crawford, the English consul general, and Captain Curtin, my servant Nunn being in custody of the latter. It was a strange and unhappy scene, and every one felt extremely awkward and ill at ease, especially the writer. In the rear of the dining room was a large sitting room, where I kept my valuables in trunks and did my writing. I turned to Curtin and said, "Will you come in the other room?" "Certainly," he replied without the slightest hesitation. The room was brilliantly lighted. Motioning him to a seat, I said: "Will you have a glass of wine?" "Yes, but I never drink anything but Cliquot," replied the captain pleasantly. A sen-ant brought in a bottle and glasses, and I turned the conversation upon the subject of money. The captain, being a stranger to me, guided by former experiences with Irving & Co., I fancied migut be bribed. Sometimes the police are susceptible to this form of temptation, and I was at bay and desperato. I intended to offer him a fortune for a bribe. If he refused to take it, I resolved to shoot him and dash out of the window, for at my elbow was an open drawer with a loaded revolver ready at my hand SET TO NEWGATE." [MROSE WAY. BIDWELL. I said, "You know the power and value of money?" "Yes, and I need and want plenty of it." Pointing to a trunk, I said: "I have a fortune there. Sit where you are ten minutes, give no alarm, and I will give you $50,000." Then a scene ensued that if put upon the stage would be deemed farfetched if not incredible. When I said this, the captain never moved a muscle, but looked at me seriously, earnestly, then dropped his eyes to the bottle. As he did so I placed my band on the revolver. He took the bottle up, filled his glass, and looking steadily at me drank it off, and replacing the glass on the stand coolly remarked. "Why, sir, that is $5,000 a minute!" "Yes, and good pay, too," I said. "Br.t I won't have itl" ho interjected and sprang to his foot as he saw me make a movement, but I was too quick for him. I fired point blank, and down he went as if by lightning. I rushed to the window, when the Venetians were torn violently down, and William Pii;kerton, revolver in hand, sprang from the outer darkness through the wiudow into the room, and the oth/ fired point blank. i ers came with the soldiers. My wife, too, white faced, rnshed in from the 1 dining room. A lively straggle followed, in which Cartin, having risen from the floor, joined. The straggle was soon over, leaving me a prisoner under close guard. J My bullet had struck the captain, breaking a rib and glancing off, but he | was game, and when we shortly after deoarted for the city he rode with me ' in the same carriaga I tried to soothe my wife's fears, but it was attempting 1 the impossible, so we drove away for the city in three carriages, Pinkerton assuring my wife that I should sleep at the hoteL 1 By the time we arrived the news had spread among the American colony, and 1 as the hotel was a sort of American club delegations of my acquaintances speedily arrived. All were loud in de- 1 nunciation of the outrage. Of course 1 they saw things on the surface only. 1 Soon our Consul General Torbert arrived 1 and assured me he would see that I should be treated with every consideration until such time as the unfortunate 1 mistake was corrected. That night I slept at the hotel with Curtin, who took his wound and close call very good naturedly and said he did ' not blame me at all, but felt taken 1 ' ** ? I- T Ua J 4-1> /\ /3 /\n a own IU III 111h. x uau gui luo uiup vu him. Early the next morning my friend, the chief of police, Colonel Moreno de Vascos, called on me, indignant and 1 angry that I should suffer such dieconrtesy. Ho was particularly indignant over the insult to himself in not being cousulted, so that he could have sent me a note to call on him and explain. Then he turned to Captain Curtin and told him to liberate me, as he would be responsible for me whenever wanted. But the captain knew what he was about and knew his business too well ! and the backing ho had to pay any at| tentiou to Colonel Vascos. I claimed I the protection of our consul, but Torbert j regretfully told me that on account of orders from the state department at Washington ho was forced to consent to my detention, but he would not permit mo to bo kept in the ordinary prison. So about 12 o'clock next day I was transferred to the police barracks and put into tho lieutenant of police's room and a gun-1 of soldiers placed over me. So at la justice had laid hold of me, but I thought it a very shaky hold, so much so that I was confident I could break away from her, so that she should never weigh mo in her balance. My wife spent many hours with me daily. All my meals were brought from tho hotel. Nuun was kept a prisoner for two days, then liberated. I took him into my confidence, telling him I was going to escape and directing him to make all outside arrangements for that event, ana ne was greauy rejoicea wneu I told him ho should accompany me in my flight. Piukerton was awake to the danger of If sing his man and had lodged a written protest with the English and American consuls against my being confined in the police barracks. The only result was that Colonel Vascos issued an order to keep him and his men out of the barracks. Men like William A. Piukerton, who had now arrived, and his lieutenant were not going to make fools of themselves by arresting a man they could not hold. I was confident that my surrender was only a question of time, and I resolved not to wait for it, but to be off. At my request Colonel Vascos had sent a guard of soldiers to my house and brought to the barracks two of my trunks. I had sp80,000 in cash and bonds, besides many valuables as well, in them. I gave my wife $20,000 and my servant $1,000 in gold and $5,00u in Spanish bank notes. Pinkerton had in vain tried to seize my luggage, but the Spanish law stood in his way. Once among the rebels all Dursuit of me was at an end, as army after army had been sent from Spain to crush the rebellion, and each had in turn melted away before tho valor of the rebels or the deadly climate. Nnnn volunteered to accompany mo and I gave him $2,000 to send his wife in Paris that his mind might be easy on that score." No one knew my real destination save Nnnn and my wife. It was hard to obtain her consent, but at last it was given. I arranged with her that she was to leave Havana as soon as she knew I was off, cross to Key West, wait one month there, and if she then heard nothing of me she was to telegraph my sister to meet her in New York, take the steamer to that city and live with her until I rejoined her. Among other things Nnnn, by my orders, procured good maps of the country. A Spanish gentleman, a warm friend, but whose name I will not mention, was my counselor in the plot He advised me to go to the isle of Pines, as Senor Andrez had promised to keep me safely from all pursuit I let my friends think that was my destination. I purposed, us when on my visit, to embark from Cajio, but to take a westward corrse along tho coast, and when well off Pinar del Rio and night fell to put about and steer to shore under cover of the darkness, once ashore to get as far inland as possible before dawn, then to keep a lookout fur any body of rebels and join them as a volunteer in the cause of "free Cuba " We were sure of a welcome, particularly as we would come well armed. I had given the sentinels in the police barracks a bottle of brandy every day and a box of cigars every second day during my stay besides what were to them valuab'o presents, so I was highly popular in the barracks. We had fixed on the night of March 20 for the venture. My room was in the second story of the barracks, but I was allowed to go freely through all the rooms on that floor, followed more or less by a guard. There was a room leading to an open window, but the door was kept locked. It was arranged to have it unlocked with tho key on the inside.at 10 o'clock that night. I was to walk about as usual, and when the hour came suddenly step through the door, lock it behind me and then bolt through tho window into the street Nunu and my friend were to await me outside of the window with orders to shoot any man, not a native, who attempted to stop me, as I feared Pinkerton or his men might be on guard in the street, and once in the street I did not propose to go back again alive. The guns and two extra revolvers had been made into a bundle and left at the stati on. At a n ear by room were d i sgu ises for Nunu and myself, consisting simply of cloaks and whiskers. We intended to board the 10:30 train going south, and once well out of the station would dis *? " * * *- ^ i.L. et J-L pense witn an aisguise Dm me opamsn cloak each of us wore. CHAPTER XL The day for the venture came. I had previously instructed my wife to send word she was indisposed and to remain at the hoteL She had very bravely offered to be on hand and with me up to the moment I disappeared through the door, but fearing that in the excitement some of tho soldiers might say or do something insulting I forbade her being on the scene. I had had an unusually large number of visitors during the day I felt but little anxiety over the result, save only on the side of Captain Curtin. I had a sort of suspicion or presentiment that, once fairly outside of the barracks, I would run against him. The day passed rapidly away, and 6 o'clock came, and all the civil officials, with V?V-?a nf on lotlV. IUU UU1 UU VI UlUigWO VU| UV|/UA WVI| *v?t ing the usual evening solitude in the barracks. Soon Nunn came with my Bupper and cautiously produced a revolver and belt I strapped the belt around me under my vest and braces, placing the revolver under a pile of clothing. Nunn reported everything all right. He had seen Curtin that day as usual around the hotel and apparently unsuspicious of anything unusual going on. The window I was to jump out of opened on the public 6treet, and the street would bo jammed full of people at the hour I was going. Of course there were a good many chances of failure, chiefly so because all the police from top to bottom knew me by sight, and if one of them happened to be one of the half hundred witnesses of my jump he might have wit enough to seize me. Nunn and my friend were to be under the window ready to act according to circumstances, above all to be ready to seize hold of any one who manifested any intention to detain me. Nunn wat full of courage and hope. At 7 o'clock he went away, not to see me until we met outside the barracks. I called the guard and three or four idle soldiers into my room and served them out liberal doses of brandy. Unluckily enough, however, tho ouo on duty would drink but lightly. Soon after 8 Consul General Torbert came in to smoke a cigar and have a chat He remainod until nearly 10 aud then departed. Then I felt the hour had indeed come. I thrust the revolver inside my shirt and rolled up a cap and put it in the same place; i then, calling the sentry, I gave him a drink and a cigar, and stepping out into the hall I began niy usual march around thrnmrli Hi a minor rnrvms of the bar from under, and I dropped easily to the * ground, bareheaded, of courso. Nunu ( was there and instantly clapped a large straw hat on my head. The strange in ( cident did not seem to attract the least 1 notico, for in ?< moment wo were lost in i the crowd. I had my hand 011 my revolv- ^ or and had so strong a belief I should { every second be confronted by Cnrtiu i that I was strangely surprised when 1 < saw no sign of the gentleman. In less time than it takes to tell it I was down into an open hallway and then into a room. I and Nunn, who were smooth faced, were given bushy whiskers and a cloak. In the meantime I paid an agent in waiting $10,000 in French and Span ish notes. Then wo hurried out of the rear into a cab and were driven to the 6tation, arriving just in time to catch the 10:30 train. The cab ride and train rido that night were happy rides. I had been a captive and now was free. The sights and sounds all around me took on a deeper purpose and a more significant meaning than they had ever borne before. I struck the road leading to the beach and marched westward, but it was an un known land, and I was in constant fear of running against some military past or patrol, being thus constantly delayed by long halts to watch some suspicious object or by making long detours to avoid them. Once I had a fright Two mon rvn hnrcfthonlr rirJinfr nn t.hA flntiHu road were almost on me before 1 saw or heard them, and I only had time to sink into the shadow as they passed almost within reach of my hand. Both were smoking the everlasting cigarette and were engaged in earnest talk. Daylight came and found me not more than eight or ten miles farther on my journey, but 1 I was very well content as I pitched my ' camp for tho day. I had a royal feast, 1 then, after a cigar, lay down to sleep in ] another fairy bower and slept until noon and awoke to find myself wondering ^ how matters were going with Captaiu 1 Curtin in Havana, rather amused over 1 the state of chagrin I knew he must be 1 in. I thought of a possible future meet ing some years ahead when, all danger 1 over, I would see and chaff him over 1 the bottle of Cliqnot and tho #50,000 he ] wouldn't have, and how I went all the 1 same and saved the money. 1 realized I must be frugal or my pro- [ visions would never hold out, so after a light lunch I began to make my way 1 slowly to tho beach through the tangled 1 mazo of trees and vines. Coming in 1 sight of the blue waters, I lay down to ' sleep again and awoke when tho stars \ were out. The moon would not go down till late, but as there was a deep, broad 1 shadow cast I walked in it. Good food and the long day of rest ' restored my strength. All my confidence 1 returned, and I made good progress. At last the moon went down, and then ' I pressed rapidly forward, always with 1 revolver in hand ready for instant ac- ' tion. I think I made fully 25 miles this night, but as the coast was indented my 1 progress in a straight direction was not more than half that distance. Just as it : began to grow gray in the east I came 1 out on a wide inlet It ran deep into the ! land. I recognized it from my map as Puerto del Gato, and then I knew I was in the province of Pinar del Rio and almost out of danger. 1 went into the bush again and pitched camp, waiting for daylight to come and reveal my surronndinga Pitching camp consisted in scraping a few leaves together and lying down, but this morning I was too excited to sleepi I felt that I was near my goal after having safely gone through many dangers Once across the Puerto del Gato two nights of travel would place me outside ^ of the farthest Spanish pickets and bring J~ ? 1 3 ' me umuug umuuo, mr ue^uuu ulioj-h-o w, pursuit, and I also knew that the mere knowledge of my presence in the rebel j camp would cause all thought of pursuit . to be dropped. When daylight came, I stood and looked around. Across the inlet, 20 miles away, I could see only dark masses of green with no sign of lifa To the north the land was hilly, with houses here and there in the distance and signs of animal life. I cautiously searched the , shore for a mile in the hope of finding a boat to cross to the other shore of the ' inlet, but none was in sight. About 9 o'clock I saw smoke off at . sea, and soon I made out a small Span ish gunboat coming rapidly up. Drop ping anchor about a mile up the inlet, she sent a boat ashore. I was feeling sleepy, and going into the woods again , I took a light lunch, and emptying one , bottle of water lay down to sleep, re- j solved to make my plans when I awoke , I did not like the appearance of this , gunboat. It seemed to promise the presence of the enemy in force around me, , besides being a visible manifestation of the power of that enemy. i When I awoke from my nap, I started , on a cautious spying out of the laud, making my way toward the head of the inlet, but keeping always under the protection of the woods. While going cautiously along I was startled by the notes | of a bugle ringing out some military ( call not far away, and a moment later the gunboat replied with a gun, then steamed out to sea. Continuing my progress through the woods, I came to the road, and hiding securely in a thicket where I could see unseen 1 watched. Soon I heard the sound of voices, and then a detail of armed men passed, going loisurely east, escorting an empty wagon drawn by four males It meant much, these armed escorts, i showing they were in the face of the enemy. Several others passed during tho hour of my watch; then, with many ; cautious glances up and down tho road, I slipped quietly across and crept for i two hours through tho jungle. Making my way to the side of the bay, I saw I i had left the military post behind me. There were white barracks and a wharf with peoplo walking on it, and here the road and beach were one. This much discovered, I went a safe distance into the jungle and lay down to have a good sleep, feeling I would need all my i energy and strength for the coming night, as it promised to bo a critical one, especially aS I could not afford to wait for the moon to go down and yrould not have'tho shelter of darkness, i i i ; j ! i racks. I was to go out of the window at | precisely 10. It wanted ten minutes of ! that time. It was a long ten minutes to me, but I marched arouud puffing my cigar unconcernedly, with my eye on the door I was to slip through. At the hour I had my watch in my hand and was in the room farthest from the dooi of exit iuto the room opening on the street. I walked swiftly through the two intervening rooms, and so was for a brief four or five seconds out of sight of the slow following sentinel. 1 reached the door, opened it, stepped through and instantly locked it. In a moment 1 was through the open window into the littlo iron balcony outsido. One swift glance showed me the street thronged with people, but hesitation meant fail are and death. I climbed lightly over the railing und hung suspended for an instant from the bottom. The orowd below made a circle 'or the moonlight was so powerful that mo conl.d easily read print by it. I slept until dark and awoko refreshid, then lunelied and nearly finished my last bottle of water. I had only sufficient loud for two more light meals. After lunch I smoked for an hour, star gazing ind philosophizing. At 9 o'clock, emerging into the road. I started cautiously nut, walking in tho s.iadow of tho jun I climhcd liijhtly over the ratling. ?le as much as passible. I thought the head of the inlet was about ten miles away and expected to find a military post or at least a picket stationed there. Daylight once more. But it found me happy and content, for the difficulties of the passage of the wide inlet which had confronted me the night before had all been surmounted. I was now in a densely wooded point on the western side of the bay. Between me and San Diego lay --1J >? Kf\ Thaf .4 Willi 11U liiuii a xauu kjm. uv tujnuu< amuv meant only two nights more of peril and uncertainty, and it was all straight going. So far as the coast lino was concerned, I was outside of tho Spanish lines. Tired out and vory well contented, just as the sun rose fiery red above tho horizon I lay down and was at once in dreamland. At noon, hungry and with only a few ounces of food to satisfy my hunger, I woke. Finishing my last bit of ham and bread, I lit a oigar and set about planning. Pulling out my little map, I began to scan it for the thousandth time. About six miles to the north was the little town of San Miguel. Between me and San Diego lay 50 miles of wild country, swept by fire and sword, without an inhabitant and without food. Hungry as I already was, I felt it would not do to undertake a two days' journey through that wilderness without eating. Of course I made a mistake. I was dear of the toils, and I Dught to have taken every and any chance rather than enter the enemy's lines again. TO RE CONTINUED. A Woman's Revenge. A man of the world was wont to call not infrequently upon a* young widow. Duo day tho pretty maid at the door anaounced that her mistress was out of lown. On some pretext, however, the man entered. He also talked to the maid. Some days later, knowing that the lady had returned, he called again. Ho was a bit surprised when a strange maid met him at the door and showed him to tho little reception room. While she carried his card up the stairs he reflected that she was not so dainty as her predecessor, and she was not so pretty, though her uniform was similar, and her cap was as stiff and her apron as spotless. He was realizing how much more tho woman is to the dress than the flrcss is to tho woman when tho maid rofnrnnd mid announced Dromntlv: "Mrs. is not receiving." The man cf the world bit his lip?it was the first timo lio had over been denied admittance?and moved toward the door. The maid held it open for him, and as ho passed through it she blurted out, "And die says, if you please, sir, the maids receive in tho kitchen, sir."?Illustrated American. Tho Samp, bnt Different. Two letters were once addressed to a certain corps commander of tho Army of tho Potomac on tho eve of a forward movement, one of them written by General Halleck, chief of tho staff, and tho other by President Lincoln. General Halleck's letter contained a warning couched in this fashion: "In undertaking to place your command on tho opposite shore of the Rappahannock you will exercise extreme caution in affording full protection to advance, rear and flanks, in order that tho enemy may not bo encouraged to make an attack while your forces are separated in tho act of crossing." This was good advice. Lincoln gave it to the samo commander in tho note which he wroto to him, but this was the form in which ho expressed it: "Look out, when you cross tho river, that you don't hang yourself up in tho middlo like a steer on a fenco, neither able to hook with your horns nor kick with your hoofs." Itrltlsh Cart Horse-*. Tho British cart horse's descent can be traced from the great horse originally imported from Flanders and Lombardy, but much improved siuco those days by judicious crossing and careful selection of parents. The Stuarts first introduced quality, but size was wanting, for when "T kl.? ?U.uw,a ?r,a William ill aaucmnju iuu niiuuu uuu | sought to drain the Lincolnshire fens ho found that the British cart horse of this dato was not strong enough for tho tasks imposed upon him. Consequently ho imported large Dutch horses, the old Lincolnshire Blacks. Tho Dukes of Ancaster also brought ovor to this country similar breeds from Holland. This was tho first step of any noto which gave an impetus for the improvement of our coarser equine stock and formed tho main root from which our cart horses have proceeded. iUisccUancmts Reading. ; RODDEY ON COTTON. i I HOW THE FA 1(MEIIS SHOULD IM- ' I PROVE THE I It A DVA NT AGE. , ( DON'T INCREASE THE ACREAGE. , i Tho Next Crop Miiy l>e Sohl in Advance at | 9 or 10 Cent* a Pound?A Pretty Plan ] Hut Somewhat Kinky. j For the Yorkville Enquirer. | To the Southern Farmer?The I cotton situation at present is, to say . the least, disturbing the rest of many I professional "hears" who make it a i business of selling the South's princi- t pal product short, and forcing many ; Southern planters to sell their crop, regardless of price either through ignor- i ance or poverty. It is very gratifying i to know that the farmers are becom- < ing educated to the condition of affairs | and are raising their necessities, and i the professionals, who sell cotton 1 short, are having to pay, and dearly i too, on account simply of the more < independent condition of Southern farmers from a financial standpoint, i and their knowledge of the system < by which they have been systematic- > ally fobbed for so many years of the I profits on a product in which they i have a practical monopoly. 1 There has been no overproduction j in cotton, and the demand today is ' enormous. There never was any bank, I corporation or individual, who con- I trolled S2 per cent, of any stock that I had nothing to say about the price, ? except the Southern farmer. You ; raise 82 per cent, of all the cotton that ! enters into the manufacture of cotton ; goods. Many wealthy men who have ' probably never seen a cotton field I have sold short, and when, by the < time the crop is gathered, you have i sent it into the market with no sys- | tern, regardless of cost, and uncon- < isciously made enormous profits for < them with which to continue their ' operations; but I am very thankful 1 to see the Southern farmers thinking < more, studying the condition of affairs, ' diversifying their crops and being altogether in a more independent po- ' sition. - ' Many professionals say, "Why you ' can raise cotton for 5 or 6 cents." I Well, what if you can. Will you ' always sell your products for cost of ' production? Suppose a Southern mer- * chaut should come on to New York, or < anywhere else, to buy his goods, he i should price from a dealer, hats at $18 ' per dozen. If he should say those I hats did not cost over $9 to make them, ] and I will give you that, he would re- I ceive a reply that it was none of his i business what they cost; you take t them at that price or leave them, i Would that you were in such a condi- I tion to say, "You can have my cotton - ~ _ -- _ 1 ti -If 1 A tit 1U cents or leave ii> y aim yet )uu have more of a monopoly than any other people aud make less use of it. When a farmer writes that he can make cotton for 5 to 6 cents, he is a hindrance to progress. Why? Because the professional bears will see ( that such a statement is copied by every newspaper in the whole country, j and while his vanity is gratified, still ( he does irreparable injury to poor j farmers' sons, who cannot be expected to get an education when they receive | no more for their product than it costs \ to produce it. Of course some farmers j have the advantage over others? credit, quality of land, etc.?and while | they might manage to live fairly well } at one nrice. others could no more < thau exist. . ( There is no question but that the j demand for futures establishes the ( price of spots, and that all spot buyers | in the South huy and sell according to ) the rise and fall of the future market ; | but a seller of futures will be careful < about selling short if he sees you are | in an independent coudition, and will i not let him have your cotton for any price he may say. If you have no or- , ganization, no system, and decide to i sell it as soon as gathered, of course you ] can only expect what they will pay. j Suppose the stockholders of a railroad | or any other corporation would try to | sell the entire stock within six or eight months and the public knew of < it; do you not know that they would , realize less than if marketed by degrees ( and with some system? Why does a , professional operator take the bear ] side? In the first place, there are , from 7,000,000 to 10,000,000 bales spot , cotton to be marketed, and many spot | purchases will he hedged by selliug on ] the exchanges, which will help profes- < sionals depress prices, and then the knowledge of your marketing your cot- < ton at a certain time, regardless of cost. | A well posted man knows how much 1 will have to he delivered by a certain | length of time for purchases of fertili- | zers. He also knows and studies your j financial conditions. If a certain num- | her of liens are recorded and due a < certain time, he can easily ascertain ( l.? l.ol..c nf if will tnL-k 1 to pay oil' these accounts, which are due at a certain time, and nearly all before January 1st of each year; and knows you will bring your cotton and must market it regardless of cost by the time your paper is due. In othei words, the worse your financial conditions are, the better condition he is in to squeeze you. llut the principal advantage of the bear is in the carryiug charges. If an operator sells short, if he has the money to margin, he need never lose a cent; though he might have to stand by it for several years. For instance, an operator sells January cotton short today at 9.38 cents. The differences between the month's average?G points, or 72 points per year, or 432 points for six years. It is equal to his having January cotton short six years from today at 13jj cents. It is reported that some operators stay short by the year for carrying charges, which are about $3.50 per bale per year, or 72 points. The fact alone that cotton has sold it 4i cents is greatly against the future price of cotton. Why? Because many an outside operator that is willing to take a chance on either side, is told that the cotton has been very much lower, and if the market is at iiny reasonable price, will also be told that it is above the average and will sell. The simple fact that every speculator has an idea that cotton is dear at 10 cents, causes everybody to be willing to sell it short at that price, and while for years 10 cents in the South was considered a fair price, now it is considered much above the average; but it should not be. A.nd if you can organize and pull together, you can have something to say about the price, as every country is more or less dependent upon you for your cotton. In regard to estimates made and advice given you in regard to marketing and holding your crop, in 9 cases sut of 10 the estimator or advice?iver has an interest in the future market, and his own interest and selfishness, in order to make him money, is his principal object, in his estimate jr advice. Now my advice to you is to be con At 1\ li. A J A *i _ 1 I - A ^rvauve. jdoo i iry anu get it an at ince. You have h^d an advance of ibout 50 per cent, in your spot cotton from 41 cents to 9 cents. Don't try to market it all in a few mouths. Market it gradually, and you will get a jood average; and in case the crop is worse than the estimates and the market goes up so as to net you 10 cents, have your merchant or banker sell at ieast a part of your 1897 crop on a 10 Dents basis, or on a basis that will net you a good profit, say an average from ) to 10 cents. If your spot cotton this year goes to 9 or 10 cents, any buyer or Danker should give you an equal price lor next year's crop. Why ? Because fitLure contracts run about 6 points apart, md this would amount to ahout 72 points, or about $3.50 per bale, less the Dost of tansferriug, which wouldn't be jver 20 cents per bale per year. The market might go higher; but you would have your cotton sold at 9 to 10 Dents, which is at least a fair price and more than you have been getting. Why do I advise you to sell your lext crop on a basis of 9 to 10 cents? simply because it is a fair price (might je and has been worse), and I know of your immense corn crop, as well as tnowing the imprudence of many, who, laving made plenty of corn, etc., will jurely plant cotton, not realizing that 3,000,000 or 7,000,000 bales at 10 cents s more profitable than 10,000,000 at 5 cents. If you were so organized that you could control the plantiug, then you could control the price absolutey : but I am afraid the rather attract ii _ J i ^rr ve price win inauce neavy piauuu?, ?? ind before the crop is ready for the narket, the price will likely decline as ;he acreage is increased. Very respectfully, John T. Roddey. New York, October 15, 1895. LETTER FROM BETHEL. 1 Big Crop Without tiuano?Lots of Molasses?A Child Burned to Death. Correspondence of the Yorkvllle Enquirer. Forest Hill, October 21.?The "armers are generally up with their :otton and many of them are now gathering corn. I hear no grumbling. The harvest las been an abundant one, and the Una KoAn mnaf rtPAntfiAno fAr yvcatuci uao uttu uivov |/iv|/ivivuo iu? gathering it. Cotton crops, as a rule, are short; Dut we have heard of several farmers irouud here who will make average ;rops. Mr. Perry Ferguson did not jse a pound of commercial fertilizer, tnd yet be has gathered 12 bales of :otton off of 25 acres of land, and if ;his weather continues three weeks onger he expects to get four bales nore. The frost has not killed his cotton yet, aud there are a number of Dolls that will open if we have no very hard freeze. The cane crop was good and most )f the farmers, white and colored, have inade enough molasses to do them. Dr. Campbell made over 300 gallons. Many persous are still feediug their hogs aud horses on the cane aud will :hereby save a great deal of corn. Mrs. J. M. Barnett presented me with a gourd last week the haudle of which is 3 feet long. The seed were %.c -. rv!.i. *f sent nere oy mr. uick muson, wno was it that time chief of police of Charlotte. An Indian gave him the seed rod he brought them to his mother, who lives near here. Some of the handles do not grow more than a foot long. They make excellent water Jippers. A colored roan living on Mr. J. R. Dook's place had the misfortune to have oue of his children burnt up on Thursday last. The parents were in die field at work, and had left their >wo children?one about 2 years old rod the other an infant?with an old olind colored man in the house. The child's clothing caught on fire and it -an back to a pile of cotton that had jeen stored in the house. The cotton caught, consuming the house. The parents succeeded in getting the old nan and the children out; but the ddest child was so badly burned that tdied in a few hours. The Negro lost jverything he had, including about a lalf bale of cotton. The charitable ire helping him with clothes and lioney. Dr. Bigger was quite sick for a few lays but is now able to attend to his iractice. Dr. Dulin has been very ill with inlammation of the bowels ; but I am iuormed that he is now better. There will be a debate at the school louse on Friday, November 1, at 8 tfgf* ALowell, Mass., business man ^ old his children he would give them hree dollars if they would put a load >f wood in the cellar. They sub-let he job to other children for one dollar ind a half, aud watched the work with ;reat satisfaction. I