University of South Carolina Libraries
WSWSY LETTERS FROM OUR SPE y ' CIAL CORRESPONDENTS. of Interesst From all Parts of Sumter and Adjoining Counties. KOT?CE TO oRJRESPOXDEXTS. Mail your letters so that they will jieach this office not later than Tues? day morning. "When the letters are received Wednesday it is almost an Ingws?bility to have them appear in paper issued that day. DARK CORNER. Dark ' Corner, November IS.-We lad a beautiful day yesterday, after ?orne cold and windy ones. Farm work is nearly all done in those coasts. Some little cotton yet to pick, also a few peas. And some have aoot gathered their corri-slow coaches -ysai know. I was out in Northwest Manchester yesterday and saw Mr. JV. A. Gardner, who stays on Mr. F. Levi's place. He told me he has a good deal of; cotton and about all of his pease to gather yet and does not expect to get done gathering cotton this side of Christmas. I saw that some gen . tiemeri have a steam saw mill at ILevi's water mill and are converting pine logs into lumber in a hurry. I "have not been in Northwest Manches? ter before in twenty-five years: every-' .thing surely loolMid^atrange to me. I "heard a funny tMg while out there. Mr. J. N. Geddmj|pthe man in charge of Levi's mill and gin, had "gone to your city leavingyoung white man 3n"eharge. and a bale of cotton com? ing in to be ginned, Jim, the young .white man, turned' on the water but &e gin would not. move, so Jim ran ont to a Mr. Stre?t, who happened to y** * ce near, and he went to investigate the cause and found vhat a large house ft had got between the ribs and ws of the gin. This is the first time J ever heard of ginning cats. Mr. Geddings must bja^ojng into the sau ? sage business and using his gin for a meat cutter. Two Mormon elders, Messrs. Wells mod Baum, called on me last "Wednes? day evening, but they did not tarry long when I began to talk old time "Baptist religion to them against their great visions that they have and do leceiye from God. Mr. and Mrs. Wash Scott, of Soeven, axe, visiting relatives here. 3?r. A, S. Weeks went to Soven yes? terday. Air. and Mrs. R.' R. Ardis, of Rocky 333uff visited relatives here last Satur? day; Sunday and Monday, returning "home Tuesday. We are always glad to see Rufe and his charming wife. Mrs. S. A. T. -.Lackey and her daughter, Mrs. Bart lette, spent t?bte day last Sunday at W. J. Ardis'. Mr. J. M. Ardis and family visited at W. J. Ardis' last Sunday evening. -Old man Jim McIntosh is some bet? ter. Joe Johnston is laid up with a pain Sea. his side. m "No other sick to report and every? thing in calm and serene in these coasts. TLXDAJJ. Tindal, S. C., November 21.-Mr. S. F. Osteen has commenced >work to rebuild the old water mill which was once run by his father, Mr. J. A. Os? teen, about 30 years ago. Since that time the place so well known in this neighborhood as the "Old Mill," has teen a dam across a large branch, all of the old houses having been taken away years ago and nothing left which would indicate the importance which this place once was. We hope that Mr. Osteen's efforts will be successful and that the old mill will be of im? portance again. Misses Bessie and Hugh Hedge re ' turned to Orangeburg on last Tuesday morriing. Mr. J. M. Tindal spent Friday in Sumter. The members of Providence church are going to give an oyster supper at the school house tonight. A good time is expected. Miss Julia Broadway spent last Fri? day in Sumter. Mr. E. E. Hodge, who has been suffering with an attack of la grippe 3s improving. Miss Belle Aycock> of Bessie, Ga., who has been speofling some time with her sister, Mrs>;B. R. Hodge, of Slver, visited in* the neighborhood taxis week. - W jj i HAGOOD. ; One meets all s|Hs $f people in this old world of piws. I ?stopped at a place some time toa??^hat was inno? cent of a comb and brush. Yes, I was in a straight. They were church members but had never seen that scripture (?) that cleanliness is next to Godliness perhaps or else its force was lost upon them. Talking about the Bible one fellow gave me this as scripture "A whistling woman and a crowing hen never come to any go-d end. " Did you ever notice what summary punishment the women visit on a crowing hen? I met a well dressed lady in a fix; her nose was all turned up and would work no other way. You see she had sneered so much at her husband, at her children, at everything and every? body that for convenience sake her took that shape. How much ] pleasanter to meet faces habitually wreathed with smiles. St. Matthews has a model police? man, as clever as can be. Pleasant, companionable is Frank Hill, but when occasion demands, as stern as a judge. He has a habit, a good 3ne, of holding every stranger and finding out his business. But did he not have a close shave when the safe crackers attempted to rob the St. Matthews' bank. The rascals put a lighted lantern at the door of hu house whence he came out and had he heard the explosion and gone out most assuredly he would have been shot down. Orangeburg county is coming to the front fast as an > agricultural section and land is leaping in prices but one can get some bargains there yet. One great drawback to much of it is the miserable roads, but they are im? proving, the people turning out and building them, not waiting on th? chaingang. Mr. Banks, of the firm of Banks & Wimberly, expended several hundred dollars of his own money to build a certain road. Yes, he had prop? erty on it, but so did \>thers. TL ; hope of any country is its people; they may be thrifty enough, but if they are close and selfish develop^ ment, if it comes, will be tardy. Rich? land county. With great difficulties in the way, has, as I suppose, the fin? est roads in the State. The old wide road to Camden for sixteen miles out from Columbia, is a model of excel? lence, and what Richland did the rest of us can do. Kershaw roads, as a rule, are bad and Fairfields, those I saw, are miserable. It has been years since I was in that county till lately and I was surprised to see no im? provement in it whatever. It would help these people immensely if they would come out and see that "the world do move." I am back home nov,*, in old Sum? ter, one of the livest places ajround. from side to side enterprise and' activ? ity, the city setting pace to the coun? try- Stay away from the city a few weeks and be surprised at the im? provements it has made made. Br'or Rabbit says: "If you are going to do a thing, do a thing," which seems to be Sumter's motto. I repeat it, "When prosecution is for persecution it becomes prostitu? tion." Give some fellows an inch of privil? ege and they will take an ell of lib? erty. Proper restraint in office poli? tics, all things hurts no one, but saves much every way* I hope the farmers will not go crazy over cotton. There is plenty 'and tough work for the association. The cry when we began was "too late, too late. Let us start in time. Thanks, Mr. Editor, through you, to all the press for their invaluable, their indis pensible aid, without which I most as? suredly believe the cause would have miscarried. "Hagood." MAXNFNG XEWS NOTES. Died suddenly last Saturday night near New Zion, Mr. J. L. Keels, aged about 50 years. The funeral took j place Sunday at Friendship church in Sumter county. / Dr. James McDowell was taken sud deny ill last Sunday at Midway church just as he was beginning to preach his sermon. Dr. Hagood Woods was in the congregation, and gave Mr. Mc? Dowell immediate attention, after which he was removed to the homo of Mr. W. T. Rose. The last news we have been able to learn is that Mr. McDowell is better, but he is very weak. The news caused much anx? iety here, and it is the sincere hope that this gra:*d old man will be spared. After the regular Presbyterian ser? vite last Sunday morning the pastor requested the young people to remain as he wished to have a talk with them. This "talk with them" came as a sur- j pricevand the "talk with them" struck them with consternation as tile pastor proceeded to make a most beautiful exhortation on the duties of church members and complying with and liv? ing up to the rules o? the church. He urged them to give up dancing, at? tending theatres and card-playing. He also made reference to some informa? tion, which, under promise that he woud not dsclose the source or nature of his information, related there was i a scandalous handling of names of some young ladies who attended the dances. He assured his hearers that i he did not believe the report, but nevertheless it grieved him. The meeting resulted in nearly all tho young folks present signing a pledge not to attend any more dances, thea? tres or card-playing. There were a few who declined to sign the pledge, and these take the position that it is :i matter (deserving more considera? tion, and should not be hastily agreed to.-Manning Times. WEDGEFIELD. Wedgefield, November 20.-A good many of <?ur folks went over to the opening sah- of the New York Sal? vage Company last week, som.- got bargains and some did not It is thc unanimous hope of our citizens that if another firm should bc so unfortunate as to have the New York Salvage Company to sell their stock that members of said firm will iot drive their automobiles this way n celebrating the event. A fine of ^10 each for reckless driving- is not deemed justice for the demolishing of a buggy and ruining of a horse. We are law abiding citizens, but no such recklessness will be permitted in these parts. Mr. J. A. Harvin is spending a few days in town. Mr. J. G. Troutman is at home for a short stay. Mr. W. T. Aycock, of Columbia, spent several days at home the past week. Mrs. Elise Lathrop, of New York, is visiting Mrs. Carrie Brohun. STATEBURG. Stateburg, November 20.-Mrs. A. P. Manning and Mrs. H. S. Gaillard spent several days last week with Mrs. J. S. Pincknej-. Miss Annie M. Barnwell, of Flor? ence, spent Sunday at home. Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Richardson, Mr. Henry Richardson and Miss Su? san Richardson, of Pinewood, were the guests of Mrs. W. R. Flud yester da\- and today. Miss Mayo Rees spent Sunday at home. Mr. J. Singleton Moore spent Sat? urday and Sunday at "The Ruins." Mrs. M. S. Burgess, of Sumter, re? turned home this afternoon after a short visit to Mrs. Screven Moore. Mrs. F. H. McLeod will return to her home in Florence tomorrow after a vejy pleasant visit to her mother, Mrs. S. E. Nelson. Mr. F. P. Burgess spent Sunday at her home. Mrs. R. M. Can tey and Miss A. N. Burgess are visiting Mrs. J. J. John? son in Charleston. Bishop Ellison Capers was the guest of Rev. and Mi's. W. H. Barn? well on Sunday. Bishop Capers preached to a large and appreciative congregation at the Church of the Holy Cross on Sunday. There was one candidate for baptism and two for confirmation. We were very glad to have our dear bishop with us once more and to be able to hear another of his excellent sermons. MAX. Max, November 20.-Messrs. D. ! McKenize and W. E. Lea, of Tim monsville were in Beaulah one day last week on business. A large congregation listened at? tentively to a splendid sermon by the pastor at Bethel Sunday afternoon. Mr. J. A. Carraway enjoyed a visit in Clarendon last week with his old friends Capt.- Wm. Burgess and Mr. James P. Langston.. He reports a warm we&ome, peace and pleaty. Rev. B. K. Truluck will attend the Baptist Convention which meets in Columbia Dec. 1. privateer, Nov. 21.-Mr. John N. Ingram was buried at Bethel Church on the 15th inst. Mr. W. E. Kolb is still very ML Dr. R. B. Forman is adding another story to his already commodious dwelling. Mrs. S. J. Bradford is visiting in Bisbopville. Miss Daisy Lide and Miss Katy Susong spent last week in Orangeburg;. Miss Elma Geddings spent Saturday and Sunday at her home in Paxville. Mr. J. M. Griffin, of Silver visited in the neighborhood Sunday. Mr. Matthew Aderson,* of Sumter, spent Sunday at Mr. G. A. Nettles'. Mr. and Mrs. Alva Mellette of Wedgefield visited in' the ne'ghbor hood Saturday. Mr. L E. Mims spent Sundav night ! at Mr. E. W. Rivers'. I Miss Inez Wells is spending sorne i time in Wedgefield. Bishopville News Notes. Mrs. Amanda McCaskill died yester? day (\Yed2iesday) morning about 5 o'clock and will be buried at the Bisbopville Presbyterian church this mornioti at ll o'clock. Mr. I. W. Weaherly's saw mill near DuBcse's bridge was burned last Sunday night at an hour that nothing was saved but the belting to che fly wheel. No insurance and the loss is heavy. At a meeting of the stockholders of the Lee County Grange Co., the capi? tol stock was increased to S25,000 and the following Board cf|? directors was elected: N. Barnett, G. F. Parrott, J. P. Kilgore, W. A. James, L. A. Moore, J. A. He a ron and J. B. Lane. Mr. D. Ed. Durant has sold bis store and lot to Mr. Geo. M. Stuckey and his house and lot to Mr. H. W. Woodward and has bought a valuable farm near Yorkville.- Bishopville Vindicator. SUMTER MOTOR CIA B. The automobilsts of the city met last week in the armory of the Sum? ter Light Infantry and perfected the organization of the Sumter Motor Club. The officers elected were: Dr. J. A. j Mood, President: Dr. Walter Cheyne, ? Vice President, and Mr. H. Harby, Secretary and Treasurer. The prime objects of the club are I to dissipate, as far as possible"? the j hostile public opinion against auto- j mobiles, to force its meuihres'to have due regard for thc rights of the pub- j li.-, and besides, this, the social fea j tures of the club were considered and j were made an important parr of the . organization. The club v will commence modestly at first, and when it grows to sullici- ! ently large proportions, a club house ! will be built at some nearby place, i where tno members of the club may j resort for a pleasant evening. With the great number of cars al- i ready in the city, and the prospects of thc arrival of many more in thc ! sprinsr. the success of the cicb should ; be insured beyond all doubt. STATE HIGH SCHOOLS. Agitation for the Establishemcnt of Them. The idea . f establishing a number of I state high schools will be advocated j very strongly by the state su perin ten I dent of education in his annual re j port Mr. Martin bas written the vari ; ous"statfi superintendents of education ! for an idea on this Une and from the ! replies received it is evident that in j the West there are a kr ge nn rober of . state nish schools that help the at I tendance at the colWes a great deal. [Omitting the letters MT. Martin will have the following in re?'?'rd rn it: The absence of high schools marks a weak place in the edcational system of South Carolina. The time has come when this -.vant should be sup? plied. One of the pjo r phenomenal growth, in any educational li:ie is the great growth of state universities in the middle and far West This growth is largely accounted for by the pro? vision on the part rf the legislatures of those states for high schools. As a rule, these state oniv?rittes enroll more than three thousand students. This occurs in states whese population does not emceed that of this state. Suiih university growth is impossible without goori preparatory and high school facilities. It is pour educa? tional policy for a state to spend ap proximately a quarter of s million dollars on four colleges and then make absolutely no prf vision for hich schools to be feeders to those col? leges. The statistics from mc above referred to show . <>;<! rh- ht>h school not only nervis <:s r, ft>(>d?v ?cr the university, but that t&cusa-'-f?? nf boys and gi rh are proparo . '-or !irp's duties in these high schools. l>.< r*ct, it is customary to offer two eooises, one for students who expect to go tn college or to the university, and one for those who do not. Some of tae states provide only owe high school to the county. Some, pro? vide for as many as seven in one coun? ty : and some provide for the organi? zation of. a high school in any terri? tory larger than a township. Of ccur=e, I should not favor state aid to any high school unless the community, township or county should De willing to aid itself, and also be williger-to admit boys and girls free nf tuitim ?rom any rart of the county in which the school is located. In order to en? courage local effort and initiative, I think the law should provide state aid to any territory as great or greater than the township which would make a special levy for high school pur roses. This levy need not be large. In some counties which would gladly take advantage of a law of this kind, a half mill would be amply sufficieni, and I do not belive that any county would need more than one mill for this purpose. A majority of the high schools would have a three years course of study. Under that law, they get 6300 aid. South Carolina gives nearly tw'ice as much to feed, clothe and educate sixty-eight boys witii scholar? ship in a state college, as North Dakota does to encourage a system of hi??h schools, which prepared several thousand boys and girls for college, lt seems to me to be rank folly for the state to give 81,000 to feed and clothe one boy and give him a college education, when that tboosand dollars might be used to encourage the estab? lishment of a high school which would prepare a hundred boys for col? lege in the same length of tin e;. If you will give a bey such preparatory advantages as will get him ready for college, in nine cases out of ten be will work to feed and clothe himself while in college: nor should v\e for? get the vast amount of work along scientific, commercial and industrial lines, which .can be done in these . high schools to prepare boys who don't get to college, for life. 1 know of no possible legislation that would be more far-reaching with its good in? fluence upon our educatiorai system tban the enactment of a good hiyh school law.-Tbe Colnbmia Record. SUSPECT THE RAB?ES. Son of J. F. Stackley Bitten by a Dog Thought to Be Mad. J. F. Stackley left last night for Baltimore with his son Bory to have him treated by specialists for a mad dog bite. The child was bitten by Dr. Wm. ilderton's fine bird dog last Wednesday, but it was net known then that the dog was mad, but later the animal acted very strangely, try? ing to bite everything it came in con? tact with, so Mr. Stackley thought it bfst not to run any risk. Dr. Ildertou says the dog bit the house cat, and tried to bite Mr*. Ildertou and Miss Mabel but disap? peared before he could get a chance to kill it. He had his cat killed after he fe und out that the dog was proba? bly maa.-Florence Times. A WOMAN SUICIDES. Orangeburg, Nov. 20.-The entire city was shocked about 12 o'clock to? day when it was known tint Mrs. Hattie Bronson had shot herself with suicidal intent and that her death was but a matter of a few hours. Mrs. Branson was the wife of Henry H. Brunson, who died a year and a half ago. His death wa9 a blow from which Mrs. Brunson never recovered and she was frequently very despond? ent sud bas often spoken of her desire for death. Mrs. Brunson had a large family connection here who were devoted to lier, lavishing care on her a::d tiying to reconcile her to life, and OT late | she had bien more cheerio! It is i said that one of the carnival fortuno tellers, whom Mrs. Brunson consulted last week, told her that she was on the, verge of a groat trouble, and this had intensified her despondency. This is being generally repeated on the j streets, but those who know Mrs. j Brunson bes:- do nut think this re- j sponsible for the act. 1 Since her husband's death Mr9. j Brunson has made her home with ! Dr. J. il. Perryciear and it was here ! that the deed was done. Mrs. .Brunsen was in her own room ! and used a Smith & Wesson pistol that ; had been hrr husband's. When found she was in iront of the mirror, show? ing she had acted very deliberately. The bullet entered the ri.yht temple and passed through the head, cornirg i out of the lift temple. ? ANNUAL PENSION REPORT. J Showing Amounts Expended in Each of the Counties and For Each Class of Pensioners. Columniia, November 18.-The annual report of the State pension department has been published by the State printer. The report is particu? larly valuable in that it gives the names of every pensioner and the amount received by him or by her. The total number cf pensioners in the respective classes is as follows : Class A, SS6 each, 75 ; class B, $72, 192 : class C, No. 1, 848, 585 : class C, No. 2, 15.50, 4,068; cJ ass C. No. 3, 848, 750; class C, No. 4, 8815.00, 3. 129. Total number of censioners 8, S04. The total amount paid to pension? ers was 6l9o,450.50, divided among the counties as fellow's: Abbeville. S3.5S2: Aiken, 80 WO: Andersun, $1,120;; Bamberg, 81.7i2. 75 Barnwell, 83,332; Beaufort. ?580. 50: Berkelev, 82,403: Charleston, 83.089.50; Cherokee, 85,163-; Chester, 83,696; Chesterfield, 85,696.50; Clar? endon. 83,338; Colleton. 86,984: Dar? lington, ?4,989.50: Dorchester, 81,754: Edgefield, 82,NS4.S5; Fairfield, 82,864 25: Fairfield, $3.357; Florence, 83,885.50; Georgetown, 81,027; Greenville, 8U,014,9u; Green? wood, 83,324.50; Hampton, 84,1815 Hcrry, 84,437: Kershaw, 83.387.75: Lancaster,85.880: Laurens, SK, 705.75,; Lee S2 94G.50: Lexi o eton, ?5,771.27: Marion, 85,460 : Marlboro, 83.610.50; Oconee, 80.905; Orange ? burg 85,375; Pic-kens. $5.330.28: Sich land,85,S74.50: Saluda. 83,755: Spar tanburg. $17,810 50; Sumter, ?3,070; ?n i on, 85.'. 34.50 : Williamsburg, 83, 9SS: York, 87.59S; total. 8199.2S7.80. PROHIBITIONISTS WILL REJOICE Eight Hundred and Ten Thousand Gallons o?" Whiskey Burned. Ccnnellsville, Pa., Nev. Y 19.-Ar the Overholt distillery at Broacfcrd today 810,000 calions of whiskey fur? nished a .Spectacular fire emailing a less of 84,030,00.), cove red by insurance. A steady northeast wind which blew the flames toward tho Yougbicgheuy river saved the town cf Broadford, the buildings of the H. C. Frick Coke C?mpany and the Baltimore and Ohio railroad station from destruction. FIFTEEN-CENT COTTON. Plans to Hold Three Million Bales of the Fleecy Staple. New Orleans, Nov. 15.-Following the arrival of President Harvie Jor? dan, the Southern CuLton association today perfected plans for*" taking off the market 3,000,000 bales of cotton by means of a series of pledges which the farmers will sign themselves, stating their name and address and the amount of cotton they will thus hold. The cottou held will not be sold for less than 15 cents a pound ac? cording to the pledges. A represen? tative of the association is to be sent into every one of the 8i7 cotton pro? ducing counties of the cotton belt at once. When the pledges are signed they will be sent to the central office of the association in Atlanta. ^President Jordan says that half of the crop has already been sold at an average of 10 cents and the spinners must have all the remainder He be? lieves that 15 cents for the remainder is a fair price and it will only aver? age the spinners 123-? cents while they have based all their calculations on 14 cents cotton. \ Lost Boy Restored. Greenville, Nov. 17.-The four-year oid boy who was found by the police roaming the streets yetserday after? noon, apparently lost from his parens, was the child of Capt. and Mrs. E. H. Parry, who reside in east McBee avenue, having recently moved to Greenville from Gainesville, Ga. The parents were very anxious about the disapparance of their child and were grateful to the officers for taking care of bim until bis parents were found. Capt. Parry was iormrtly chief of police of Gainsville Gang of Pickpockets Caught. Valdosta, Ga., Nov. 17.-Seven al? leged pickpockets were arrested here today aud are being held for investi? gation. Tiiey are said to be gang that has been following Ringling Brothers' circus through Georgia and Florida. The names and location given by the prisoners are: John Burton, Montgomery: Ed Cole, Mem? phis; Frank Morgan of Louisville; J. A. Morris and Sam Ackerman of Memphis and James Hickey of Mar? ion, Ind. Circus detectives spotted the men and local police followed and arrested them. Two travelers were robbed here early today, one cf $1,100 and the other of 8100. Fire in Manning. Manning, November 20.-A small baru belonging to Dr. Charles B. Geiger was totally destroyed by fire at 5 o'clock this morning, and along with it was burned an automobile, a boggy and harness, and a small quantity of corn ami hay. Dr. Geiger's two horses were rescued from the burning structure by persons who arrived soon after the fire was discov erad. They also got the automobile outside the building, but the flames spread so rapidly that they had to forsake it to save themselves. It is not known how the fire originated, but it cannot be conjectured how it i could have started accientally. When | the fire was discovered the flames were confined to the hay loft, and the doors were locked. It is difficult to understand how any one could malici- j ously set fire to the building, for j there is not a more inoffensive man in j the county than Dr. Geiger, and it is ; not supposed that he has an enemy in j the world. The total amount of loss I is estimated at about 8750, allowing! for depreciation of value, from use of j: the automobile, and tho amount of j i insurance is onlv 8250. j _.-I Standard Oil Dividends. New York, Nov. 15.-The Standard : Oil Company, lias declared a quarterly j1 dividend o? 810 a share. The pervious < dividend was 80 a share and the divi- ', dend at this time last year was 87 a share. Today's declaration brines the ; tt?ta 1 dividend for tbe year to 840 a \1 share. Last year it was. 8:JG. ! ; COSTLY FIRE IX SUMMERTON. Entire Business Block on Depot Street Swept By the Flames Saturday Morning. Summerton,. November 18.-S a ar? in er ton was visited at an early hour this morning by the most disastrous fire in its history and there Ofling no available way of checking its pro? gress, it sw?pc the eutire business block rm Depot street. The fire started in the store occupied by W. L. Brunsor, Jr., and quickly spread to the adjoin? ing buiiGin^s. The losses are esti? mated as follows : C. B. Brown & Co., loss 82,000: it's T.?nce 81,COO. C. C. Way, loss 82,300: insurance 81.700. M. D. Wells, loss 81,500; in s a rance ?500. W. L. Brnnson, Jr., loss $1.000; ir,sa-ance 8000, Sam Lawson, loss 8500: insurance S200: Rag:n, Green & Jones, loss .81,200; insurance 8600. A. J. Ri-h burg's office, loss 8500; ins ira co 3300. R. B. MelJette, loss 8L-000; insur? ance 8o;:f?. Bili Doughty, loss 8-500; insurance 830 ?. The town also suffered the loss of its new guard house, which was not injured. This block was built only recently and ccutained only small frame builairgs. It is reported that only brick buildings will be erected on this street hereafter. HOMICIDE AT BATES3URG. One Xegro Shoots Another-He De? clares Gun Went off Accidentally.. Eares^urc, Novebmer 19.-The quite of t?e Sabbath was broken today by the report of a gun in the negro quar? ter of this town. In a few moments the cries of a negro woman rent the air. In a short while it was ascertained that Thomas Watkins had been shot to death by Sam Coleman. All the parties are negroes and it is a hard matter to get at the facts. Coleman claims that the gun fell down and was discharged. Watkins* was shot in the left 'ye and the range was so closa\that his hat was powder burned, aud rik's the opinion of many that the killing was murder or mau slau2hter. There were two negroes on the piazza of the house where the shooting oc? curred, but they do not seem to know anything about the matter. The hole in the dtad man's Lead was a ghastly sight. The Union Cotton Mills. Charlotte ix". C., ^^?*smj3gir 2 9. -A. special" to the Observer from S. C., tonight, says that Mr. J. O. Proctor, of Boston, representing the reorganization , committee of the Union and B?rlalo Cotton Mills, an? nounced that over three-fourths of the claims against the two concerns have been deposited with the holding company, tomorrow being the fest day for such deposit, and that a reorgan? ization of the corporations under thal scheme proposed is now assured. ' The plan is for the holding company to? issue stock in the new corporations in settlement of the claims. It is likely that - the old corporations* may go? throngh bankruptcy proceedings, tbe> holding compauy buying in the prop? erties, J - 1 ADOPTION OF TEXT BOOKS. Will Be Made Xcxt Spring and Supt Martin Wants to Get Best. The contract between the various book concerns and the State expires on July 1, 1906, and State Superin? tendent Martin is sending out circular letters to State superintendents ofT education throughout the country for suggestions as to a book law that wilt give satisfaction. There is the hard? est kind of a fight every time the boole contract comes up and if possibly Mr. Martin wants a law that will be more uniform than the present. It has been suggested that a law be passed making the books a uni? form price in all of the counties with the price stamped on the back of the book by the company getting the con-^ tract. The books would be j sold the dealer so that a profit of 10 per cent, would be made, to which no one would object. A contract would be made with the book company that books would be sold in this State as cheap as they were sold elsewhere and a bond would be required for the carrying out of this part of the con? tract.-The State. Dun's Weekly Trade Review. Xew York. Nov. 17.-R. G. Dun & Co.'s weekly review of trade says: A temporary flurry in the monej^ market had little deleterious effect in commercial channels, most reoorts indicating a further increase in the volume of business. Orders came for? ward freely for distant delivery, and buyers experience much difficulty in making purchases for quick shipment^ Wholesale trade in holiday goods is now well under way and retail distri? bution of seasonable merchandise re? sponds to the generally lower tem? perature. There is still some delay in mercantile collections, especially at the south, where cotton is now being^ marketed freely. Traffic conditions have improved and railway earnings for the first week of November were 4.9 per cent. larger than in the cor responding time last year. Failures this week numbered 240 against 217 last year. i^P* Glasgow, November 19.-Thc most terrible lire that has occurred in C?reat Britain for many years broke mt here today in a cheap lodging ?louse for men in Watson street and resulted in the loss of 39 lives and the? severe injury of many others. W