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Hi Mmhmi at? ^t?|niK. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 1903. The Sumte?- Watcfirzan wag toundeG io 1850 and the True Southron in 1866. The Watchman and Southron now has the combined circulation and influence of both of the old papers, and is mani? festly the best advertising medium in Sumter. The year 1903 has thus far been not? able for a succession of disasters in the United States. Hundreds of lives have been lost and millions of dollars worth of property have been destroyed by floods, storms and fires. There is not much choice between Christians who butcher Jews for Christ's sake and Moslems who mas? sacre Christians in the name of Ma hommed. The Russians equal the Turks in savage ferocity, the only difference being the objects of their cruel hatred. The dispensary constabulary under the new administration has cost con? siderably more money for maintenance than under the old easy-going regime, but the results in one particular at least have justified the additional ex? penditure-the value Of the contraband liquors seized by the constables has a greater rate of increase than the ex? penses of the force. At the same time the sales of the dispensaries have materially increased. |The Democratic party appears to have fallen into that hopeles state where the would-be leaders spend their time bickering over men to the entire neglect of measures and principles. The party now seems to be without a well defined platform of principles and drifts along helplessly, unable even to put up a half way fight in opposition to the rank corruption and misgovern? ment, of the "Republican freebooters - who have well defined ideas and unity of purpose in concerning the plunder? ing of the government. If the so-call? ed leaders of the Democratic party .could get together on a platform of fcasie'democratic principles, tariff re? form, honest administration of the gov? ernment and the drastic punishment of the robbers and plunderers who now fill the offices, the rank and file of the people might take some interest in the party and rally to its support with -something like the old time enthusiasm : -but so long as this bickering over ?Billy Bryan and Grover Cleveland continues, the Democratic party, or at least what is left of it will con? tinue to drift hopelessly along with never a hope of reaching any port or accomplishing anything. At present the Democratic party stands for scarce? ly anything of larger dignity than an inharmonious aggregation of ouf? who are clamoring to get in, who damn the ^Republicans not so ranch an account .o? their false doctrines and corupt practices as on account of their posses? sion of the offices. If the city should decide to purchase the water works plant we do not ap? prehend that there will be difficulty in floating fy* per cent bonds at or above par to pay for it. If the plant costs $100,000 the income from private con? sumers and the amount now paid annually by the city for water rent will more than pay the interest on the bonds and the running expenses of the plant. If the city owned the water system the number . of fire hydrants could be indefinitly increased without increasing the annual fixed charges a dollar-the only expense involved being the first cost of laying new mains and putting in additional hydrants. The purchase of the. water works looks like a good business investment, to say nothing of the many other advantages to be derived from municipal owner? ship of the system, not the least of which is the simplification of the sewerage problem that now confronts us. Weekly Crop Bulletin. Columbia, June 2.-The week end? ing 8 a. m., Monday, June 1st, had a mean temperature of 76 degrees, which is practically normal. There were no excessively hot days, no ab? normally cool nights. The winds were generally light, although high winds accompanied thunderstorms, in places, that lodged wheat and oats. There was more than the usual amount of cloudiness; the sunshine averaged about 40 per cent, of the possible. Parts of the Stase had copious and beneficial rains on the 26-27-28th, but farts of the western, northern, (except the extreme north eastern ones) and the eastern, east central and southeas? tern counties had insufficient amounts and there crops are suffering, not so muchain the last two divisions, except "truck in Charleston county that needs iain urgently. Parts of the Savannah valley counties are also suffering for rain. Hail damaged crops in parts of Dorchester, Edgefield, Marion and Saluda com Jes. The reports from different sections sis to crop conditions vary greatly. They are favorable from points that had beneficial rains, and unfavorable from places that had insufficient .amounts. The favorable ones include by far the larger area. The general condition of corn im? proved as to color and growth, bnt stands continue irregular, and are still being injured on bottom lands by ?worms. Upland corn has good stands. Some corn has received its last work: ing, and has been laid by, though this is exceptional, as all corn is small for tlie season. The condition of cotton as to stand, color and growth has improved gen? erally, chopping is well advanced and has been finished in places, while in other places cotton is just coming up. In Colleton county, fields have been plowed up and planted to corn owing to the poor stands, and their grassy condition^ but generally fields are free from grass and are well cultivated. Sea-island cotton is thriving. Tobacco is not making satisfactory growth. It is buttoning low, and lacks a healthy color. Localities that had copious rainfall report an improve? ment in these conditions. Bice is do? ing well. Oats harvest is general, and the crop is better than expected, though not a full crop. Spring sown oats are failures. Wheat is ripening and its condition remains, very poor. Melon i vines are rusting in Charleston Coun? ty, and are small for the season else? where. Peaches are ripening about two weeks earlier than last year; their quality is about average. Some re? ports indicate excessive rotting of early varieties. Gardens need more rain. The general condition of minor crops is very promising. Local Weather Report For 24 hours ending 7 p. m., June 2, 1903: Temperature: Maximum, 80; Mini? mum, 61; Mean, 71. Precipitation, 1.44. Character of day-Partly cloudy. Direction of wind-Southeast. Sun rises, 4.53; sun sets, 7.02. Forecast for 36 hours ending 8 p. m., Thursday, issued from Washing? ton, D. C. : For Sumter and vicinity-Partly cloudy tonight and Thursday. Sta? tionary temperature. WEATHER CONDITIONS. Heavy rains are reported from wes? tern and central South Carolina, northern Georgia and eastern Mis? souri, and light showers from the Carolinas Georgia, Tennessee and the lower Missouri Valley. The depres? sion noted yseterday in the Rocky Mountain region remains nearly sta? tionary. Unseasonably low tempera? ture continues over the Great Plains ind western parts of the cotton belt. The following heavy rainfalls are reported: Columbia 3.12, Greenwood 2.68, Atlanta, 1.52, St. Louis?, 2.14, nmter 1.44. The highest temperature was 90 at Spokane, the lowest 40 at Bismark. F. Prescott-Bullock, Local Observer, U. S. Weather Bureau. The heaviest rain within the me? mory of the oldest inhabitant fell at Wedgefield last night. Farm land was seriously damaged, whole fields being washed down to hard pan, the grow? ing crops being totally destroyed and the land left valueless for planting this year. Mr. Brand Much Better. The Augusta Chronicle says: '"'Mr. R. A. Brand, at Pinehurst sanitarium in North Augusta, was reported to be better yesterday than on any day since the operation was performed. It will be some weeks, however, before Mr. Brand is seen on the streets again as the operation was quite serious. His vacation extends until August 1st." WEATHER IND GR?PS. Weekly Report of the Agricultu? ral Bureau in Washington. Washington, June 2.-The weekly srop bulletin of the weather bureau says: The States of the lower Missouri Valley and portions of the Mississippi Valley, have suffered much from heavy rains, especially Iowa, the eas? tern portions of Kansas and Nebraska, and Western Missouri. Drought con? tinues in New England, the northern portion of the Middle Atlanttic States, and in Florida, and rains are needed in portions of the Central Gulf States and in Southern Texas. In the eastern portion of Kansas and Nebraska, and in Iowa corn fields have been badly washed out and mucli replanting will be necessary. In Iowa the acreage will be materially reduced. In the Southern States corn has ex? perienced a very favorable week and is largely laid by. Winter wheat on low lands in the eastern portions of Kanass and Nebraska and Northwestern Missouri has sustained injury from floods, but on the whole the crop has made satis? factory advancement. Harvesting is general in Texas and has begun in Arkansas and North Carolina. Further improvement in the condi- j tion cf cotton is generally indicated, j but the crop, as a rule, is from two to three weeks late. Better stands are reported from the Carolinas, Tennes? see, Alabama and portions of Missis- ! sippi Louisiana and Texas. In Ar- ' kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri the Crop is grassy. Cut worms are causing damage in Central and Southern Tex? as, and the boll weevil is reported this week from a number of addition? al counties in that State. The week has been very favorable for transplanting tobacco, and this work has made rapid progress in the Ohio Valley and Middle Atlantic States, where the bulk of the crop will be set during the present plant? ing season. HAGOOD NEWS NOTES. Hagood, June 2.-Yes, you know all about the terrible hail storm, more than the writer, just the edge of it struck us. The hail storm moved to tbe South of us ; we could hear its roar and see the almost continuous flash of the lightning. I have not heard what is the extent of the damage but it must be considerable. As it moved toward the east it seemed to grow more severe. Crops are looking well. Most peo? ple have cut their oats which were quite fair, everything considered. There is some sickness in our com? munity, but none of a serious char? acter. The eldest daughter of Wesley Wil? son of New Hope community died last Friday of typhoid fever. The school exercises of New Hope came off as announced in your most excellent paper. It was a most splen? did occasion from start to finish, everyone, visitors, parents, and chil? dren were delighted Dr. Brown was there with an address well suited, a most happy selection for the occasion and people. Yes, my expectations were satisfied. The school had a good programme which was carried out fully but we will not weary your readers with it. ONE HONORED KILLED BY TORNADO. Terrible. Destruction in Gaines? ville, Georgia. Wreck of the Gainesville Cotton Mills 500 People at Work in Mills When Tornado Struck Building-Prop? erty Loss $300,000. Gainesville, Ga, June 1.-A tornado of terrific force struck Gainesville this afternoon out of a clear sky, causing a fearful loss of life in this city and New Holland and White Sul? phur. As near as can be calculated at this hour the figures are eighty-five men, women and children dead and perhaps forty more fatally wounded, with a property loss of something like 8300,000. The death-dealing storm appeared suddenly a little before 1 o'clock, and within two minutes it had killed nearly a hundred persons, torn two stories from the five-floor brick factory of the Gainesville Cotton Mills, de? molished almost two hundred cottages, razed two brick stores to the ground and blown down innumerable outbuild? ings. By what appears to be a miracle the tornado's fury was confined to the outskirts of the city, the main busi? ness and residence portion not being touched. Torrents of rain accompani? ed the wind, but within five minutes after its first onslaught the sun was shining upon a scene of fearful de? struction. The list of the dead is confined mainly to operatives of the Gaines? ville Cotton Mills and the Pacolet Cot? ton Mills, and two-thirds of them were women and children. WORSE TH?N~ FIRST REPORTS. Gainesville, Ga, June 2.-The six thousand inhabitants of this city have just begun to realize the extent of the appalling disaster of yesterday. It now seems certain that the death list will not be much short of one hundred ; perhaps somewhat over a hundred, considering the number of dangerous? ly wounded, whose chances for re? covery cannot now be calculated. But through all the gloom and desolation that surround the town like a pall of darkness there radiates a beam of hope 1 and encouragement-hope that the . death list may not be so numerous as reported ; and encouragement to those ; who are so bravely and devotedly assist- 1 ing in the work of relief. The story of the storm's work of desolation has already been told. All : that remains is the compilation of an [ accurate list of the dead and the 1 chronicling of the burial of the vic? tims. Figuring from all available ? sources and g'iving credence only to 1 those reports which are believed to be ; trustworthy, the following is a sum? mary of the effects of the tornado in : Gainesville and its environs: One hundred killed. One hundred and fifty injured ; of ? whom probably twenty will die. Eight hundred homeless, their resi? dences having been wiped out of ex? istence. Property loss of about half a million dollars, none of which was covered by storm insurance. A concise and accurate statement of the casualties cannot be rendered for several days, but the physicians in at? tendance believe that it will not go very far above? one hundred, although twenty-five or thirty are desperaely in? jured and may die within the next two or three days. The death list so far compiled in? cludes 2 at the Pacolet Cotton Mills, at New Holland, all of whom were killed in the demolition of the com? pany's cottages: and 36 at the Gaines? ville Cotton Mills near the Southern ! Railway station, where the tornado [ first struck. FATAL TRAIN WRECK. EXCURSION TRAIN GOES HEAD? LONG INTO WASHOUT. Conductor J. J. Clements and Four Negro Passengers Killed - Thirty-Three Injured. ENGINEER'S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. Accident Caused by Heavy Rains Ac? cumulating Flood of Water Against Fifteen-Foot Embankment. The most disastrous wreck the Atlantic Coast Line has had in years occurred at 9.50 this morning between Cain Savannah flag station and Wedge? field, two miles from the latter place. The wreck was oaased by a washout of a fifteen foot embankment for a space of forty feet in width. The train wrecked was an excursion running from Nichols, Marion'county, and was load? ed with negroes. The engine, No. 66, in charge of Engineer George Wilson plunged into the washout and the bag? gage car and two coaches piled in on top of the engine. The engine is a complete wreck, the cab being smash? ed to pieces and the cars were broken into kindling wood. The scene is one of complete wreck and ruin. The es? cape of Engineer Wilson and his fire? men Mack Douglas with their lives was a miracle. Both were injured, but not fatally, Engineer Wilson's worst injury being a scalded arm. All told there are five dead and thirty three injured-seven seriously. The dead are : Conductor J. J. Cle? ments, of Florence; Frank Ross and his wife Minnie Ross, colored of Lat? ta; Joe Davis, colored, t>f Marion, and Ned Weston, colored, of Marion. The first four were taken from the mass of wreckage dead, while Weston died on the relief train while being brought to this city. THE JAIL DEPOPULATED. All Lee County Prisoners Taken to Court in Bishopville. The jail is now almost depopulated there being but two prisoners now in? carcerated there and these are negroes who are held for minor offenses. The deserted state into which our prison has fallen is due to the removal this morning of all the Lee county prisoners who were taken to Bish? opville to be present at the opening of court today. The Lee county prisoners who have for some time made up the majority of the jail population are all held for serious offenses and if they are brought to trial at this term of court in Bish? opville, matters will of necessity have to be rushed if all of them are tried this week. The prisoners who were taken to Bishopville on Monday were as fol? lows: Belton Stokes, murder: Nagarah Jackson, arson; James McDonald, malicious mischief; Spain Kelley, murder; Edward Jones, murder; Alice Rodgers, accessory before murder. It is not thought probable that Spain Kelley will be tried this week, al? though the unexpected may happen. It has been intimated that he may not be tried in Lee county at all, that there may be a move made for a change of venue to this county and that the trial will be held in Sumter. It is to be hoped for the sake of the taxpayers that this report will prove unfounded for if the change of venue be granted Sumter county will have to pay the entire expense of the trial, al? though it is a Lee county case. The Charity Association. A meeting of the Executive Com? mittee was held on Monday evening of last week. Re? ports of the Secretary and the Treas? urer showed funds in hand amounting to about one hundred and fifty dollars. The unusually small demands for charitable assistance have enabled the Society to continue its work, though its field of operations has been narrowed by scarcity of funds. The amount on hand, with uncollected subscriptions, will possibly meet de? mands of regular beneficiaries for the next four months, although the list has been somewhat increased. Should much sickness arise this summer as was the case last year the Society will be seriously handicapped by scarcity of funds. The Committee is anxious to awaken in the community a more general interest in their work. There should be three times the present number of subscribers. If the sub? scriptions be small a little from a lavge membership will aggregate a sum sufficient for the needs of the society. Mr. H. Harby resigned his office as vice president on account of inability to attend to the duties. Mr. Geo. D. Shore was elected to fill the vacancy thus created. Although there has not been that hearty support which was expected the Society will faithfully endeavor to continue its b?n?ficient work. There is sad need for organized, systematic work in Sumter, as in all cities, large and small. It will not be? come less necessary. In fact, it is more likely to increase with the growth of the town. Spasmodic charity can? not meet demands. It is incumbent upon all who are blessed with a rea sonable degree of prosperity that thoy give a small part of their substance to alleviate the want and suffering of their less fortnate fellowmen. Although Sumter escaped the storm Monday night other sections of the county suffered quite severely. Glenn Springs Mineral Water is na? tures specific remedy for Liver trou-1 bles. Glenn Springs Ginger Ale contains ; the Mineral Ingredients of Glenn Springs Mineral Water. ?HIRT WAISTS, 1-3 OFF. This is the opportunity you have been waiting for, and this is the time you need them. We have just effected a settlement with THE SOUTHERN RAILWAY CO. For a case of waists that were due to arrive the early part of February, and which, for some unaccountable reason, known only to the railroad people, were sixty days in transit, and for this reason we declined to accept them, unless at A DISCOUNT OF 33 1=3 PERCENT. Which they- finally agreed to accept, and wishing to dispose of them as promptly as possible, we have decided to Give all This Discount to Our Customers Which means that you get them at least Ten Per Cent. Less Than the Actual Cost. The case contains quite an assortment, some FINE MADRAS AND PIQUE That were intended for early spring trade, but are just the proper thing for those who contemplate a trip to the moun? tains or seashore. There is also a limited quantity of pongees BOUGHT TO SELL AT $5.00. The greater portion of the case, fortunately, consists of flEDIUn AND FINE LAWNS Bought to sell from $1.00 to $3.00. The offer practically means tbe selling of $1.00 Waist at - - 67 Cents. 1.50 " " - $1.00. 2.00 " - - 1.33. 3.00 " . - - - 2.00. 5.00 " - - 3.33. They will be shown on our centre counters tomorrow, and at these prices a large percentage of them ought to be found nest day in the hosme of ladies who are seeking The Best Values Ever Offered in Waists. O'DONNELL & GO. White Stone Lithia Springs. The best Lithia Water in America, the largest and most modern brick hotel in the Carolinas or Georgia, the coolest resort in the State. All modern improvements, electric car line from Southern Ry. to Hotel. Well shaded, pleasant grounds, scenery equal to the moun? tains, and all amusements found at first class watering places. Come to White Stone Lithia Springs for health or pleasure. Read what the noted Dr. L C. Stephens, who stands at the head of the profession in South Carolina, and who was presi? dent of the State Medical Association, also president of the Medical Board of Examiners of South Carolina, until he re? signed to move to Greenville, says : Greenville, S C , October 10, 1902. After a service of one season at White Stone Lithia Springs, as resident physician, I do not hesitate to say that the effect of the water upon those who drink it for any length of time, has been perfectly marvelous Invariably an increase both in flesh and appetite was perceptible in one week, proving it to be a mineral water of undoubted powerful tonic property. Its pe? culiar adaptability to diseases originating from disorders of the kidneys, bladder and liver, such as dropsy, Bright's disease, diabetes and uric acid calculi, and all forms of dyspepsia, rheu? matism and gout, is to be expected from the splendid analysis. It has been noted frequently that visitors before coming here had to follow every meal with some form of corrective, or con? fine themselves entirely to predigested foods ; soon discarded these entirely, being delighted to find that the water alone nature's own remedy-sufficed. Of the many who drank this water this season for ten days consecutively, not one but experienced decided benefit and a perceptible gain in weight, varying from two to five pounds. L C. STEPHENS, M. D. Columbi?, S. C., October 1, 1902. Mr. J. T Harris, White Stone Springs, S. C. Dear Sir : Your favor of the 8th ult. was duly received. In reply thereto I would say that it affords me much pleasure to add our words of commendation to your springs and all its surroundings. Our visit there last August was highly enjoyed and greatly appreciated by us all. We derived much benefit from the use of the water, and we can say without hesitation, that we have never used any mineral water with greater bene? fits. The actionn of this water on both kidneys and liver was very marked and beneficial. We are also pleased to add our commendation to your hotel, and all of its surroundings We found the building all that could be expected, and fully up to your representation. The ( table was well kept and afforded us entire satisfaction. We would without hesitation commend it most favorably to any one seek? ing a mineral water of this character ; and we trust that you will enjoy a future of great prosperity for this enterprise so well started ; and which deserves the patronage of our people. Yours very truly, W. A. CLARK, President Carolina X. Bank. For rates and particulars, adddress WHITE STONE LITHIA WATER CO., May 13 White Stone Springs, S. C.