Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOL. LL WINNSBORO, S. C., "WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1897. NO. 41. THE STATE DISPENSARY, j MR. LARRY G' NTT WANTS IT INVES-j TIGATED. i "L?t tho Light Shine and Brand Every One "Who Cannot Stand Its Fullest Glart'' The following: article appeared in *he Headlight as a leading article last we^k : For tbe past ten rajs the air has ? been full of rumors about the mansge raent of the S^ate Dispensary, and we are glad that a fbca of light is bein? turned upon that institution. It is just wh*t should ha^e been done durm :ng the last session of the Legislature. ?nd which !h* ne?diight demanded and insisted on. This investigation started over a trur.k seized by some Charleston c^nst^b'fs. and which was jjutted of thf. ?or.ds it contained. It seems that certain '"trials connected j with the dispersar* used these arti nles, and that Mr. Se'h W. Scru/gs rook some o? the cigars and divided them between, two of the members of j the State Beard, telling them where j they came from. Now. while no in tent was mace to steal those gocas, as it is said to have long been a custom with dispensary officials to thus use articles seized by constables and turned in, it is reprehensible.and demands rphnlrA If. WSS J-i^ht to il\V S ! tigate that truck business, for the expose vrill doubtless have the effect of rheckicg such methods. These offi cers are paid good salaries for their services, and they should be content ^ith their pay and not appropriate other goods. But that trunk matter is a small af'air compared "with other charges gainst the management of the Stare Dispensary, and we shall call attention to a few repcKs that have reached our ears and demand a full inves ligation: It has been frequently charged, and j we believe that a rigid investigation! of-the books will bear out the state ment,.that during the Trasler rsg:me not one dollar was turned in the State Treasury in the way of rebates. The j past year some $41,000 vrere collected ; in rebates, acd the nresent Tear we j ]eam they vrill amount to $50,000 or more. New, we demand to know, and the people also demand to know, why were not those rebates collected, and if collected what has become of the v. TI77 fr"! I iJiVJJCJI * XI VIUV/C1S WilU\.VI.W ^ j dispensary appropriated this large sum to their own use, then they should be i prosecuted and sent to the penitentia- j ry. On the other hand, if the rebates ~ ere not demanded from the liquor f'ealers, then it shows criminal carelessness on the part of those public officers whose duty it was to look a? ter them. In managing the public business s man should bririg to bear the same sagacity and care as if it was ms own airair. .uunng xne penw > > that Commissioner Traxler was in charge of the State Dispensary there! must have beea-ai le>*vt~-?100 t5C0"Jostj to the State and its people in rebates alone. Why were they not collected? *nd if collected what has become of l||fegfc the money ? Who got it ? This matter jlppr of rebates involves more than all the blind tiger liquor and oth?r property seized in our State since the dispensaVT low wont i-ntn fnw and whilf1 hear a great hue and cry raised about a few boxes of cheap cigars and cans of peaches, a death-like stillness prevails touching the matter of re bates. There is no use stopping the spiggot and opening the bag-hole. And a matter equally as serious is the high price paid for cheap liquors hy Traxler?compared with what the same goods are now bought for. We are informed?and an inspection of | the books will show whether or not it I is true?^hat the ores^-nt boird is buy)Dg X. XX and XXX rye whiskey at f rorn $500 to ?1,100 a car load less than Commissioner Trasler paid for the identical class of goods and bought from the same houses. The business of the State Dispensary amounts to about one million of dollars a year. . and frequently ten car load-: or more are bought at'cne time. Now, don't you see -what a i?-ak there is that iias r>een stopped ? There is no ^eiliDg hew ?nuch moDey the State losv- during ihose years of over charges This is another matter that shouid be iuvesti *sted to the bottom, and then let exCommissioner Traxler explain why he felt called upon to pay such a high t>rice. If we are not mistaken, whiskey is not any cheaper now than when Mr. Traxler was paying those enormous prices. It will be easy to arrive at the facts, for every purchase is re coraea ana me price paia given on -.at books. Taking the rebates and that overcharge for whiskey the taxpayers cf South Carolina must have lost some thing like a. quarter of a million dollars during CommI;>aioner Traxier'.administration. Here is something to be investigated,and it should take precedence over these cigars and pf aches And another thins thai should be looked into: Is a well known fact that the corn whiskey sola to the coumrj people by the dispensary?and thev are the principal patrons of the business?is only too often as vile a decoction as ever passed down the threat cf man. And not only this, but two prices are charged for these mean liquors. The consequence is that a man will not buy dispensary corn if he cau find a blind tiger moonshine whiskey. But we can perhaps explain this drench sold to the gullible farmers. A few monihs ago" Mr. Dan Tomp >--? ^ -j? tu. 5 .sins, cecreiary 01 otaie, iu tuc y;va t-nee of several parties, stated to the senior editor of the headlight that once me dispensary ran out of corn whiskey and people began to clamor for it. In order to satisfy tbem, some corn whiskey was manufactured at ibe dispensary and shipped out to the counly dispensers. A short time after wards some Reformer from Lexington county (we think it was from Lexinglon) sent Governor Tillman a bottle of that manufactured whiskey with a Jetter of protest, and the Governor uiaced it on a shelf in -he State House. A few rcoriiiEgs after sort.e man came ia and asked Mr. Tompkins where he cjuld get a drink. He* was given the mottle described, and after swallowing h big dram remarked that it was extra fine stuff. Mr. B B. Evans says that he also heard Mr. Tompkins tell acd recite this shameful confession as a good joke. JNow let us ass, was it treating tae people fairly, and upholding the iion ur ciliu. thus shipped out a spurious whiskey, labelled "cheniically pure," and guar anteed to have been analj zed by the Stat9 chemist? Shipments of corn whiskey should have been withheld, J or if decocted goods vrere sola the fact should have been explained on the label. Mr. Tompkins, -we do not suppose, will deny this, and it would be another field 'or investigation. It is nothing short of robbery on the part of the State to thus impose upon the people, and charge full price for a de ccction tbat never saw the worm of a still. Suppose a man wanted whiskey for a sick wife or child, and he had secured one of those spurious bottles, " ^ * VV*\?- mAmwM 4 U A i4 Z\e?i A/) /"V T' aiiu it. uu'. me uwncu iMivt tAppcud effect, the patient had died. Why. cur State would have been morally guiJiy of murder, and murder. too, for gain. We can unders'ar.d ho77 a private barkeeper might ndliterate his liquor for the sake of profit, but it is a sname and an outrage for a sovereign State to go into any bust cess, after weeding out competition, and then swindling: its osn people. The Manning Times of last week published an insinuation'chat two of .be 8}a?e B:'ard of Control were -?i?h a liquor drummer, ana sp^n; iho nighl witn him at his hot^-l a^d a* that drummer's guests. This report h-*s a'so reached our ears. Now, it is vary wrong, and looks bad, ii dted, for a State officer to accept courtesies from one with whom he must have nubile transactions. Report a)so says hat those members have ever after advocated the purchase of that drummer's liquors, and he gets the lion's share of the business. Now, we know nothing whatever of this report per sonaJJy; but the facts can be easily secured by reference to the registers of the Columbia hotels and see if these parties did accept hospitalities at the ? J/H A/ ~ A*v> fV?aTT TVl>tC>+ iJaUUS UA a LLL2LLL VVJia nuuii. L?J. M.OL transact important business for the State. A pubJ-'c official should be like usito Caesar's *ife; and 110 man cac act -with impartiality in making liquor purchases while under personal obligations to the one of the parties with whom he must deal As doubtless every County Dispenser will testify, in sending orders to the State Dispensary for liquors, it is the hardest kind of work to have the orders properly filled. Different brands and Kinds of liquors are shipped than those ordered. Now, we do assert inai me uouniv jui^pensers oeuer allow what their customers require and want than the shipping clerk in Columbia, nna he has no right tc foist upon ana charge up against them other kinds of liquors than those wanted and or d^red. It would befell, while that investigation is going on, to examine why this neglect of orders is practiced. Of ccurss each dealer wants to sell as much of his brand as possible, and if tolerated this cnanging of orders in Columbia presents a wide field for speculation. There are other reports connected with the Dispensary management that have reached our ears, but they are of minor importance compared with those we have enumerated above. Let those * -i _? we nave made oe mvesugaiea, ana it Trill not be necessary to summons a single witness, for tfce evidence can be had right at hand. It was published, and never denied, ^r. thp timp r>f py ("V>TriT?ii;^iapAr Tr&x... ler's appointment, thai being a strict church member, he prayed to the Lord for guidance and direction as to whether or not he should accept the place, and it was revealed to him that he should take the $3,000 job. Now, we do not believe that the Lord bas aught to do with the sale of liquor in any guise or manner?either tnrough barrooms, blind tigers, Raines hotels, or the Dispensary system. If the repor's that have re3ched our ears, and as given above are true, then - ? . _i. _ 1 _ i _ T\ * "l_ _ _ "L ~ vfle waoie otate dispensary iiai uccu reeking with corruption; and the thing should either be' thoroughly overhauled, from top to bottom, and purified, or torn up root and branch. The great miss of onr people are honest aiid incorruptible and will not brook or countenance aught that smacks of venality. They demand that the Scale Dispenpsary be investigated frcrr mud sills to rafters, and every word of testimony secured be published to -^ 1-3 A li:a 4.;*, 'Lie wuiuu. aoi.y puvim iuiMLuuuu r.hat cannot stand the X rays turned \hereon, should be swepi from the face of the earth. And when this investigation is made let not any white-washing committees bs appointed. Not a mac. in acy manner whar,p,vp)* r?nnnefited with the State ioverniaenr, or who is even a probable candidate forcfflce, should be alio wed to serve upon or become connected in any manner with the investigation Ii would be better to have a msprity of that committee made up of m-'n who are opposed to the Dispenser f, for there would be no danger of their covering up anything the people oVu-vn lrJ lr r* n txr Anrl fV?c.r> lofc fhA altnv* uey who represents the Stale be chcseu from the outside. Give the facts and the testimony to the people, and they w:li then make up a fair verdict, it matters not what be the report of tbe committee. The Reform party is cot responsible, and should not be held responsible for ;ce transgressions of public officers. But now that certain reports have been brought forward, if tae administration and the ruling faction fails to nave a luii ana iree investigation, .hen the Reform movement will be held responsible, and should bear the onus. The Headlight demands that the fullest glare be turned upon the State Dispensary, and every fact brought out. Don't make a scape-goat of a few subordinates, and try and blind the people to suspected wholesale corrup don by raising a great rumpus over a tew cigars and peaches and a secondhand trunk. We denounce as wrong lis thing of Dispensary officials ap propriatiag to their own use goods s^-.zed oy CDnstables, and while Mr Scruggs is our personal friend, w;<2 do assert that it was exceedingly w"rong in him to have taken tnnse articles. even were they of small matter; bat 77hen two members of the State Board accept from Mr. Scruggs aad then smoked the cigars after he had told ihem where they came from, those parties were even mory culpable taan their subordinate. In the eyes or the iawthe receiver of stolen goods, and knowing at the time they were &toier>, is equally guiliy with the principal. We do not believe that any of the pariies who took those cigars and peaches thought at. f-.e time that they were do irg wrocg, but they simply followed a Tyrvfiftdi?nt_ "But it is a hid Drecsdent and should be stopped instanter. The writer has no personal grievance against any man connected with the Siate Dispensary. Every member of the board ana each employe has treated us with marked courtesy. Bui they have drawn our name into this business, and now we demand that tne iuilest rays be turned upon the Stat*; Dispensary, and each and every otE. cial. from the lowest to the nig best, who is now, or ever has been, connect- j i ed with the Disperisiry in any manner j whatever, be put th rough a thorough ; investigation. We demanded when the Legislature was in session last j January that this be done; but it is : not too late yet. L9t the light shiQe, ? r\ ^ orravtr r\rict txtVia n Tl At | auu u; auu. cvgxj u uv , : stand its fullest glare. The people | don't want any sham investigation, ; but let it bs full and complete Tae J members of the State Board should dei mand it, and Governor EUerbe should ] order it. Tbe Headlight will ring in i to the ears of the people those ciiargI es until we are heeded. The cost will j be but nominal, for it will not be neclessary to summon a single witness, j All the evidence needed is at hand. ! Bat even did that investigation con 1 surne the entire profits cf tne Dispeajsary for a year, it should be Bad. Tne | State SoutJi Carolina car.not afj afford to condone eoirupdon or ! corer up rascality. Investigate! I;?I ves'igate! Iuvestii?ate' i Zizcz cur editorial h*s bs'jii ? ; put xu type, we se? at" asuagvu. iroin . Messrs. Wil jiams and Douthit, stating I that while Mr. Scrubs did give them | cigars he did net say that they came from amorg the confiscated goods. So j this simply narrows down to a question I of veracity between three men. When | the Dispensary investigation has been I completed, and all the ficts and evidence has been laid before the people, i they will quickly mate up tneir minas j I&-3 to which affidavit to believe, j Erery member of t'ae State Board has j treated us with marked courtesy, and j I this paper has no fediags iu the mat-1 j ter save a desire to have a full aou j free investigation and the light turn t | ed on. We also see it is suggested j that the Dispensary agkatioa hsd best j be dropped, as it has gone far enough. | No sir ee. Since the waters hare been j muddied, we must cot Jet them setI tie until thoroughly filtered, and if j there is corruption let it be made pub} lie and the whoie thing be purified. B3ADHAM HITS B\CK. | tie Makes Hi? Last Reply to Cou^fssTaan Stokes. Manning, S. C., May 13, 1897. I Hon. J. W. Stokes, Washington,D C.: l Dpar Sir?Wftrft it not for the char?e that I took undue advantage of you I i in publishing your letter, I would not j reply to yours of recent date at all, as your effort is a complete reply ttf your speech and first letter to me. J You have been compelled to forsake | that high moral plane where you posI ed in your speech. You have com I pletely abandoned your position, and ! m spite of your sneering allusion to j my* ill temper," I have 110 wish to \ press you to the wall. For this reason 11 will content mj self by calling at| tention to the fact that your first posi| tion was that it was wrong for us to {accept a duty upon cotton, because j we were opposed to the principle of i protection, and this irrespective of | whether it would benefit us or not j Of course, you had to abandon sucn j | an untenable position. You now oppose the. d.uty? j Firsi?:Becausb n won't do us any. I srood. Second?Because it will only help I the long: staple cotton, and you repre I sent no one except the growers of j short staple. j This is selfishnass personified. In | effect, you say, I represent no long staple cotton; the people of Orangeburg will not be benefitted, hence I will oppose the people of Beaufort, Charleston, Georgetown or Horry receiving any benefit.. If tbis "dog in the manger" policy is your ideal of statesmanship, I have nothing further | to say. ] Now, then, to business: j Ycu, say, in reference to the publi cation of our letter: "N:)t having as | certained my willingness beforehand will cot lake away from tue transaction the suggestion of bad faith, nor lift th8 flivor of sharp practice. Fu~ ther on you plainly intimate that y >u consider me an aspirant for congress. Takuog all together, I cannot but construct this into an insinuation that 11 published you letter with a view of I promoting my political interests. I i can best refute this slander by stating ! frankly what my reasons were for J oubiisbdag your letter- I regret the j necessity, but there is no alternative,! for I do not propose for you to adop' i 1 he tactics now being employed in certain quarters of deceiving the pub ? iic by cr>itf?, "Step tnief." Mr. McL^urin had made what I con j sidered one of the greatest speeches | I for the south in many yars. You | were one of Mr. McLaurin's colleagues, and I happen to know that he considered you a strong personal and politi cal friend. The place for you to have replied to McLaurin was in the Con igressional Record, where he would hove had an opportunity to answer. I suspected what your motives we:;e, and i the insinuation in your last ietter | abcut my going to congress confirms I my suspicion and completely gives |you away. You thought the "con |gressional bee' was buzzing in my bonnet. Here is the way your mind ' an: Bradham wants to go to congress; McLaurin is getting too prominent nere; if I can't beat him, I'll stir uo s)me trouble for him and give him something to do at home, and then he won't have tixe to be making speeches here and throwing me in tha shade. I'm give Brad ham the cue of how to fight him, and let him understand that I "will assist him, Of course, Bradham can't bsat McLaurin, but I'il ? 1 - ~ C y -fft, i* a r* " LUcAKC lb UUUU:UAVi xxji. M Ain't that about it? Hence that mean sneer about Republicanism. Now my dear doctor, you underrate me mentally and morally. Your insult to my intelligence gave me the liberty to resent it iu whatever method I chose. In this connection, let me disabuse jour mind. I have never had congressional aspirations, and jus: as long ot? \fr>T.aurin nnps in hn> nas lor six years. I will continue to support him with tongue and pen. I would say more, but have no desire to continue a controversy that has as sumed such a personal tone that it cio be productive of no ^ood to the Scare. I will, therefore, doctor, bid you farewell, only suggesting that in trie futureselection of "decoy ducxs and siooi oiffeons"vou will be more careful as | tcTmal3rid. It will be unfortunate j 5 for you to run up against another j '"brad awl." Yours respectfully, Dan'l. H. Bradham. Seven Sea Killed. Friday afternoon the triple at tne Finkney, Tenn., ore mines fell, killing | seven men and badly wounding sev j eral others. Communication with ! PtnL-norr ic- rtnf r\on/i f:ill r?QY?ri/vi la??R j cannot be had. Pnvsicians have left j ihere for the scene of "the disaster. j A FLOATING FURNACE. ; . MALLORY LINE S~EAMSHiP LEONA; ABLAZE. j i i. l.ont?Sf.^erjiirn I'ufinfenffera Barced Like Cage Kara?A Passenger's I Gr*>p'C Story of the Fire. } I. The Millnry ]iue steam er_ ]>ona,; which left, her pier in New lorkoaj, Saturday bound for GalvestorM took j Sre at sea. put back, ara arrived in nort Snnrtav mVht with IS COrD=?S oa i. board. The dead wtre 13 steerage! passengers una three members of t^e ; crew, who succumbed to a terrible j 5re at an earl.- hour this tnomicjr. ' Tbose who are d;ad were psntied up!' bslo w decks, a^d although frantic ef j forts: were made by the officers of tbe |; *ts<el to save tham, tbe fire hau^ iTaiusd such terrific headway before j K darker was discovered ih*t ail e>- i' - vr^.s cu off. The steamer carried , id uer cargo oihuy uaies ??i 10; is not certafa ho-v the fire originated, bat when it w^s discovered, it burst forth with sach fury 1 bat it was im- \ possible to ^eoch the sieersge. Even;' the steerage passeneers app.^rnitly ' were unmindful of the daoser, elsethe smoke a?d flames had not reached j ] thtm. Among the passengers wasj S V. Vviuslow of Rutherford, N J. ij Oa his return to the city Mr. Winslcwp told the following graphic story of the ; 5re:"We left the pier at 3 o'clock jes- i ie-day afternoon with clear skies and ; beautiful weather. We were making ' excellent time, the chief engineer coa g;atulating himself that all was well ] and even making the remark to onej* of his assistants that he did not believe j* so good luck could continue, for the ' *.rip had started under such favorable ji auspices. Sindy hock was passed r th?> lioVi?-a r>f .Tprspce shrjr.-i we>re. still visible when we went to bed. By) ' the time we passed Barnegat light at jj 10 o'clock the passengers were in bed j' The passengers in the sie^-ra^e had i also retired to their bucks. The watch i; going off at 12 o'clock reported every- j thing well. The sea was very smooth ! j and the moon was shining brightly. |] "First Maxe Wallace was pacing the?, bridge about 2 a. m., when i s thought |1 he swelled smoke coming from thej* forecastle. He went forward to the ' companion way and opened tke door |J to the steerage. The moment he did j * so there was a burst of flame which *J burned his face Wallace turned and ]1 ran on deck aud carried the alarm of i* Sre to the forward wa'.ch telling hiai {} to wake the steward and have all the j ' passengers aroused as quickly as pes sible without creating any excitement j \ The steward did this in a quiet man-1 " ner, going to each stateroom and wak-j( ing tiie occupants. He said in cairn ji tones that there was a slight fire in y the forward part of the ship and ir j* might be advisable for the passengers j' to gel their things together. I; might;; be possible, he added, tJiat the sbipj; would eventually have to be abau-j; dcned. There was 110 excitement j among the saloon rv \ Ihetn packed thiir luggage a an cdf-j; ried it from their staterooms into the j; main saloon. They gathered in the]! main stateroom and remained there,]! and after the officers had assared them j _ that there was no immediate danger, I: they took the matter quietly. The j' st-ocrranH mario frpnnAnt. Trin<5 forward'* arid cime back wjth reports of the 1 progress of the flames He said tha? the fire was connned below decks aud j. as tne flames did not risa very hig.n,, ' the p&sssngers did not fully realize. ' the extent of their peril. "Captain. Wilder rushed ou deck at J the firs alarm clad only in an under j ' shirt and trousers He assumed com- ! mand at once, ordered the ere w to res cue the steerage passengers. Oathejj' same deck with toe steerage on the.' port side of the ship, a large quantify ]' of craon bagging was stored, s^parat \ fd from the steerage passenger:; by aj board partition. The main de.-^k was! almost completely fiiled .vith freight, j cutting of?alie::it from tiae stetra^l to the after part of the ship The only j! way out from the stesragc was up th? j] forward companion ^ay. The crew8 oq tiie capiam s ora-rs, rusaea lor tae j companionway acd attempted to de-j; scr:od. They were driven bask by j! dense volumes of smoke, and flam.sjj quickly followed Tie srn.;ko au?? |! flames also came up through the vt-r | -.lUtors acd it +?&s apparent to all whr> r were on deck that bslo rr d'icka was a] roaring- furnace. Then it davued o? J; i hs* nffip.^rs fl-.d r?rftw thai t.h^ U.'jfor S; uastes in th? steerage we^ p-'ob -blj | burning to d;-ath. Oapt. Wilder si>v < his crewdrivea back from the com-j' panion way and the realization of int \' horror below raa^e his desperate. "He rushed to tue stairs aud boldly j attempted to go below. He did notl: get down more than half a dozen step; jI when the increasing clouds of smoke J. and the flames shbotiug up around] him drove him back on deck. H-'1 stepped oacK 10 lilts saeuer o; tuc j lot house. His face was scorched. j His eyebrows were burced away. H& i: stood there dazed and overcome for a j1 moment. Then he exclaimed: *My|' Grod, no man can go through th-at and |1 come out alive.' When the ste vara 1 aroused me I jumped up hastily and] dressed. I rati forvard to see howj extensive the fire was. The captain) was just coming out of the compan j, ion way after his fruitless effort to gro J' below I stood by and tried, to look down the hole, but the heat andj' smoke were so great there I was driv j, en back. When I looked down in that horrible hole, the thought came j. over me like that over the captain and 5 the crew, that there were helpless peo ! pie dowa below who were probably ( burning to death. j. '"I tried to peer through th9 smoke j, to see if the steerage passengers were t running around belo.7, and I hoped s that we would be able to reach them j in some way. I iist-ned for sounds ; but could hear nothing, save the roar . of the flames as tuey ?rew in volume) and rolled round and round in tae j narrow quarters. There was not a ] j scream, not a shriek, nor signs of life j below. Only a slight breezj wasl oiowisG: from the south ward, that j carried the volumes of smoker afl over j j ihe fall length of the ship and eavel j ^ oped her in a shroud of choking 11 black, until the captain gave orders to 11 change the course completely, so ihas|( the smoke would be bio^n ov-jriheii oow The speed of the ship was firstji slackened; then the order given toji keep up bare steerage .way. | J "I siood in tii lei o? tne pilot house 1 watching the otScsrs and ere >v mak i ing efforts to res.cn the steerage. Tae | i horror of the situation was at tir-tjv paralyzing. It seemed as though tb<- j < meo and women whom I nad s>e;u g.-j J: into the steerage the day before wer^i: oting cremated beneath my fe=t. Tue 5; deck was getting blistering hot, the I < flames began crowding higher and higher, through cverv outlet beneath the deck. The pouring of water down the companion way and through the ventilators, had no effect save to send up the smoke in great puffs and cause aJU? IJ S^Ul'ld VI li IC IV Uttil LLiCiictUlLi^' iy into the faces of the crew. "When the news of the fire reached the lower depths of the ship, where the stokers were feed'mg the boilers, they deserted their posts, and rushed to the d:ck, eighteen of them in all. Th>y clambered into the second boat on the T>ort side, cuttiac it a way. First Officer vValjfi.ce and Chief Eitiaeer Taylor were after th^m in amotion!;. 'Get cat or thai boat.1' thundered vValkce. The stokers refused to 3bey aid went on cutting: away the lashings of the boat. '"Come out of chat boat," replied Taylor, reacbicg bis ha-'sd /or his revolrer. 'Til snoot r Ho "to n \irh^ o txiov f r? o hnor " The Suar.urd? iook-d at the cniy? :DsiTict:r acd then sullenly obeyed "D - --ug the ^xci'.enieat of the iirst half).-,i?r we did no1; know (but a.-.y r>te-pousn out of the steerage alive, .}at lat^r we found in the cabin that t-ght of then had minas^ed to get ouc. Taeir bunks had been near :-st lo the enmnaninn war and rhev had been awakened by the part of the cre w rasning oat of the forecastle. Bain;: so n-ar the stairs they iiad climbcd Dut even before the first officer had rushed on the first swell above decks. A.moo? thoss saved was an old man ind his wife and two sons, a young Englishman and two other young men sound for Los Angeles. "In the extreme ddw of the ship was ;Se forecastle, where two watcaes of i'oaut twenty or thirtv men were sleeping. They hsiag light sleepers ,hev were aroused at the first alarm md waited for nothing. They ran through the narrow passageway to the ?;air? already filled with smoke, and iaioed thy deck just in time. Most of rhem had scarcely any clothing on iod none bad saved a mess kit. Two waiters and. a coos who were slow to rush vixt, lost their lives. When they tried to follow their companions the passageway was cuaa vfuniife, ana it Vy&;v too late. ' f^.the bUirs and the forecastle was ;he steerage, on ;he port side rolls of iotton bagging stored in the uncoupled ranks. la this bagging the fire started T002' spontaneous combustion, so the laptain thought. It burned so quickly nnd so fiercely it was like ;he Hash of s tinder box. The steerage passengers, few of who21 mderstood Eagiish, did not compre iena the cry of tire, ana so lost tne >pportimity of escaping at the same ;ime with the crew. For the first half lour ihe ciptaia, first and second otfi lers and crew devoted their energy md attention to subduing the flames, lopiog that perhaps they might be xols to get down to the imprisoned people. We were well out to sea by mo timft Thp mp5? ?r?int?d xte&dilv. Fuey bsgan to work aft thr.iugn iie cargo oa the main deck, rjie.a there was a fresh burst of laj^es. acid the_ jailors were lrfr~h.- -i>ic ?c?^Oui where iiicy were loidiug Jines of nose. Tae tire crepi ap through cracks about the pilot louse and then in'io the house itself, rhe quartermaster stuck to the whesl irtfil al mocr *?rs tr.<-lr?rw>H him A UkUJk* W4-*,*- iXAl-JJ. SJ -'A-?r??^~ ?? - WW. Daptain Wilder ordered tiguai lights ) distress burned. Alon^ th? rail o' :he oort side men were stationed to si^n-ils. ' Tiao flitnes forward had broken :rirou?h. i,ae d^ck. mdtna^ a greater igiit ttw.n the colored signals, but they iia not tell tiie s^cae story of distress [a a very few minutes, there flashed jpiu the darkness far to tne nortii. an ins veriag signal In a little wail^ ive could see the vessel's side iigtits ir;d then the day 'Deg^n to bre*k and voenthesuu was just rising this wel;ome saviour hove to by us aod we ;a.v that sue wvs the City of Augusta, )f the Savannah iiae. Jus', as soon as 'Ua ,, )cr f..P A id *? ice nA Kaon . o.w, v>'t uiou wo w vu>. vim, > .vi-Tcd 2.11 th'3 cwv were sent back to :hcir p ists to fi^hx the Srs that was ;aium? steadily all the time, working ts way further arid further aft. The passengers were all cransf erred ;o ihe City of iugu&taia iu safety and -ne .vork of fighting the nre was coo ,iau;d. -Vooul 9 o'clock ia the tmrn.iis tiie ?b.xes were uEder contrc-i a ad :htj scarier out of riar>ger. The e.j^.-rs were sent bacfc; to the L;ou;? lttu th. (Ji'.v of Augusta cj^naujru oil >er ^ay to Savannah. Tne Le%--a pu: it-out *nd recurn-.d to poi-t unct:r c>vn ji.-a-r:. Tae d^ck for ward of the pilot bouss .vis burned * vay leaving the ir(r: 3rc;ss beams bare a ad r*d hot. The ieavy anchors dropped do-vu belo *\ ;he:c fastening twisted and broken. riie iron platings of the snip's glide flowed red hot. At the Mailory line pier tonight, bat little information was ^iven oui in regard to the disaster. Finally at a late hour Mr. Mailory nade a brief statement in which he 5did sixteen people were dead, i'ne Djdies were all a.board the stearustiip itjd watch man had bsen placed there to guard them. At a still iat.-r hour i coroner had gone to the scene to make an investigation. Turkish Barbarities. Ths Athens' correspondent of the London Daily Chronicle says: M. Ralii, premier, sho-ved me dispatches lad reports from Colonel Manos and carious civil authorities in Epirus stating that 14 vilages batveen Todiour and Kastroskyia have been buraid by the Turks after all the women itid children had been massacred ex3eat a few who hid in the fastness of Mount Zilongos, famous during tie war of indspeudeace, and a few more loacealecl themselves ia the marshes *loag the shore and finally managed ;o gee aboard the Greek ships, half iead with hunger and fear. Not a ;t.one of the village of Kamurina is left staudiog. Tae men fought like ions in defense of the women, who sought refuse in the woods and caves )f Mount Z bongos and when chased 37 the Turks, jumped from precipices ;o avoid capture and dishonor. Ic Was All a The Cj;u-abia Ewnin<r Rscord has i story explaining ihi allegation that Mr. Tooipkias knew all abjut, the cjrc whiskey that did not co^?up 10 representation. Tne story makes iig&t )f the charge, and sajs it originated a ihe repitition of a joke. That G07-.raor Til lman tried a. small lot of cu o^ne spirits, which is pure spirits, and .ooks like corn Ifquor, to sre ho# it ;vouici late. A ooaie was r-iurnea v, iim wiid a coaiplaict, aud two thirslawyers wnea ia. the G^-ei-nor's jtfies being told trie liquor was good, Jraak it, and smacked their mouths 'or more, asa saul it was good. Tm story has bsen often told to saow thit :he titbei is no: always aa indication of: the liquor, and mat judges differ. TINVESTIGATE OR HUSH. I | SENATOR B. R. TILLMAN'S PL^IN TALK TO THE SENATE. | If Senators Speculated la Sugar Stock, aa ! j is Charged, it Should b9 Proven and the j Guilty Oues Punished?Havem*yer VFant| ed Instead of Chapman. j After a long period of calm, the i United States Senate was conside.aj bly agitated to day, first in the discusj sicn of the sugar Senate investigation ! and then bv a preliminary skirmish j | on the tariff bill. Trie Allen resolu ! tion, to bring Elverton S. Chapman j before the bar of tne Senate, was de| bated in somewhat monotonous style j uctil W[r. Tillman of South Carolina J <rave a present interest to the subject, ! referring to reports that Senators nad { | vfiihio ihe last week speculated in su- j I iar stock. ! The r< s. Ju::o? rflative tp. bringing. 1 Mr. Chapman to the bar of the Senate j was taken up as soon as the routine j busiues? was cut of the vay. Mr. j Allen said he desired to present some j ! additional facts bearing on the sub! ject. He said the Senate should, in justice to itself, take this raatier in | nand and oeal with it promptly. Ee j could understand, he said, the anxiety i of Chapman to shield those around him from the consequences of the sentence. "But, as the representatives ol j seventj million people, proceeded Mr. i A 1 1 o ^ ? rr- sirs y\ o -Pfv*r/3 ' 'f Y\0 vm 11 j-ra.ut.ja, Yvauauu wv | | Mr. Chapman, the representative of ! a powerful organization, which, itbas jbsea charged, exercises great intiu[ ence over this body, to go unwhipped." j The discussion assumed a legal and [technical phase, Messrs. Fa.ulker of 5 West Virginia, White of California and Spooner of Wisconsin arguing on the Jaw applying to Chapman. iir. Hoar moved to refer the resolution to the committee on privileges J onr? clo/>Mr?nc Mr. Daniel (Dem. Va) proposed a 1 modification of the resolution, that j reference to executive clemency be j struck out, leaviog the r<s)lution to require Chapman to sppear before the i Senate and purge himself of contempt Mr. Pettus (Dtm. Aia.) urged that :the investigation be opened afresh, | requiring witnesses to appear and tesi tify, instead of punishing them for past misdeeds. Mr. Chandler of New Hampshire asked why, if a petition was being j circulated in the Senate for the par-j don of Cnaprnan and Senators were) beii2? importuned to sign it, it was j | not proper to consider a resoluion on jihe subject. Was it necessary, he asked, that a petition in remonstrance he prepared? Wnen Mr. Tillman (Dem. S. C.) endeavored to question Mr. Chandler, the latter suggested, that the South Carolina Senator observe the rule of $itti."z down during the reply. ' When you play ball vcualwaysj stand up." said Mr. Tillman, amidj I laughter. j Mr. Chandler weui 02. to say thai; i? j 'there were auv Senators who would ] engage iu the speculation of sugar j ! stock??vhicri God forbid is the case? J then four years have ooliterated theev-1 j idence. The oJd investigation had fail-1 ed; the t^ee had fallen, and it ought i to lie It would be a preposterous | preposition, he s-.id, after the tribula- j ! tioos of the committee, of the counts j jaudoftfce newspaper prtss, tbatthej witness Chapman should be pardoned- t j Mr. Chaadier said he ccuid oot on. ' ceive tiiiit anj Executive saould grant j suc?l a pardon. ] Mr. Tiii naa was then recognized i t o7/n'n n /> 3ii ^oH a H i-cf "i nO.X. t j sensation on the floor and in. the galj leries. j '*It seems to me," said Mr Tillman, {"that *e are not after Chapman; \ the original iaves:igation was not in ! tended to punish Chapman, but to dis-j |cover whether any Senator on this! ] floor h-.d been guilty of usinz his effi* i ! rial position to mais money by sp^-! jculation in stocks which wore iufla-j J e: ced by his action as a Senator or the j j committee which reported the tariff j I u; 1 I T r vi/\+ *TTAv?f h -rrrli i f TT7 +f\ ] 1 'Jill. JLb lo uyi r'ymu i ] cover up this matter with badinage J-daci Hippsacy. The Senator from ? Eira^?liire .Till txose me. I do, cot iriter.(? that as aaj jcfltcrion uaon j his language, but it does appear 10 ms j that h? tr^ed U rather Siooaotly * Tbs.re ai>- L-ciav ia . - Sj>ap"r>j ;.-f this ccurjiry charge* fl..^ ing arv>ut and b^ic^ ssat broadcast, signed by correspoudertts in the gallery, to the tffect that last we^-k, \vhiv? the new j tarif- bill was reported \7ii.h a change j ia the sugar schedule, three Senators j I had speeu^ted in sugar stock. We ' WAV? ffov* r?V\ f\m Auv ViQTi/^c 1 j i?<&v?;c-ij. s^aj. u^uwc, and instead of it being a differential j in favcr of the trust of a third of a J >;ent, as that was, it is now two thirds J in favor of the trust. ? ''There are two correspondents who have, ever their own signatures, charged that Senators have speculated within the last week and made money. Now, if you want to investigate, you have a new reasoa to investigate. It you u-teod to get at the true inwardness of the matter, to get at the true hand, to punish those who are guilty, say so and do so, or else nusft- That is the whole sum ana substance of it. We do not want Chapman. Wewact Havemeyer. We want the man who bought your man, if they were bought. That is what we ara here for; and now * 1 - ? ^ /V UaiS >-V? + S\ MA I J.ei IUW CCH&lUi" VYiiu uas rnvvcu l\j ic* fer the matter, and who loves the dignity of the Senate as much as any other man, take the resolution to his committee and bring back a measure here that will mean something. We can now make those men who have charged that Senators have speculated say where th*-y got the information, or we can punish th*m for contempt. We can call on Havemyerand the sugar trust grandees and make them answer or out them in jail for conrt-mnt F.iiht-r i r:\7VstiVare so as tn Sod the truth and punish the criminal or hush." As Mr. Tillman closed th^re was no applause. For a moment there was a stir in the galleries which promised something of a demonstration. The debate promptly proceeded, however, a^ain branching into legal channels, Messrs. Hoar, Cnaudler and Alleo caking part. Mr. Gray, chairman of tbe sugar in Yfcstigating committee, said he agreed with the Senator from South Carolina (Tillman) tnat ivbat the Senate was concerned in *vas not the contempt of Chapman, but the ascertainment of facts relative to speculation in sugrar slocks, ilr. Gray revi* .red the cours?oi the committee and the inquiries put to individual Smators. Tqe Morgan Cuban resolution camo iupat 2 o'clock, but went, over until i Monday, at the request of Mr. M jr^an - who stated that the request was made for reasons of public duty and under circuinstances which he was not at liberty to state fully. At the request of Mr. Allen, Mr. Hoar changed his motion so as to have the resolution referred to the committee on judiciary instead of the com miuee on privileges aim elections, j The motion as amended was agreed to. Mr. Gallinger introduced a resolujtion for the appropriation or $50,000 for the reJief of suffering Americans in Cuba. The resolution went to the committee on foreign relations. Latex in the dav. Mr. Aldrich, in .v, * ? J; c? u:n ?,a cii<*rgc u< Liit; ia.riu uui, aiiuuuii ucu that he woaid rot call up the tariff bill next Tuesday, as contemplated, bat on the following Thursday, when a statement would be made, the regular debate to begin not later than I Monday, May 24. This was the signal for a tariff discussion of over an hour?Messrs. Jones of Arkansas, Chandler and G-iliinger of New Hampshire, Ho^r of Massa-^hu^tss, White of C<-i:fi>rnii, Aid rich of Rhode Island axid Lir.-dsay of K-ntucky particioat ing. h was a free and easy discussion, wilh considerable pleasantry and some personality. Mr. Lindsay spoke at some length, criticising the wool feature of the bill. The Senate adjourned to Monday. SPICY CORRESPONDENCE Eetween Senator Tillman and a Charleston Firm of Grocer?. The following spicy correspondence appeared in the Columbia Record one day last week- The first letter in the correspondence was in the shape of a circular letter addressed to Senator Tillman, and reads as follows: Chn.rlest.nr>- S. C. Anril 20_ 1SQ7_ Dear Sir?We write to ask your careful' attention to the fish schedule in the tariff bill now before the Senate. We believe the unwarranted increase in the duty on mackerel, herring aud other fish would be against our best interests; that it will create a monopoly in the fish trade and the consumei of fish will suffer thereby. The American cod and mackeral fishermen are a thing of the past, and a large percentacre of the fish Droduct3 distributed from the seaboard cities are the product of other countries. In our opinion it is not wise to increase the price of Ssh at the dictation of a few vessel owners of the east, who would, under the contemplated law, have a monopoly of the ffsh trade at the expense of the people of the interior, who consume flsn proauct?. Vv e respectfully appeal to you to enter a vigorous protest against the proposed increase of duty, which is both inexpedient and. uncalled for, and ask that you aid us as far as in your power in keeping the rates as at present at least. Yours truly, Bernard O'Neill & Sons. SeDator Tillman replied as follows: Washington, D. C.. April 23, 1897. Messrs. Bernard O'Neill & Sons, Charleston, S. C. Gentlemen?Your letter of April 20 received. You seemed surprised that the Dingley bill was not framed in the interest of the J people, whereas the purpose of the framers ! was to foster sectional interest and for the benefit of corporations and classes. I am ' disposed to load th.3 bill down, rather than I lighten it, as the best means of bringing the [ people to their senses. B. R Tillman. To this le:ter O'Neill & Sons wrote I t^e folio win?: Hon. B. R. Tillman, Washington, B. C. Dear Sir?Your favor of the 23d received. We regret that you are not disposed to lighten the burden of the people; at the same time we are free to confess that as between the class legislation of the Dingley bill and the appalling disasters that would be the resuit of a debased currency, we prefer the former. Yours truly. t> c, c .uernaru vj i>eui cc ogus. This *plea?ant little interchange of ideas :s ^ound up by Senator Tillcnan in the following; Washington, D C-, April 29. 1S97. Messrs. Bernard O'Neill & Sons, Charleston, S C. Gentlemen?Your letter of April 2Gth received. Ae I said nothing about debased currency or ihe gold standard being +he cause of our evils, [ do not see why you should lug it in your answer. I am glad; however, that I have uncovered one of Charleston's "so-called Democrats" who voted for JIcKinley and bid you joy in your new alliance. Respectfully, J3. R. Tillman. The Cost of a Boy. It would be a good thing for all ! boys-and girls, too. to eet some ides?in j jre*l figures?<v" what t-"rir parents do i for ihem P B. Fisk giv-;s a lecture | cn the cost 01 a boy. He computes j tba1 at tr"? age fi'teen a good boy. I recti^iug the advantages of city lite i acUI Cijss, churning compound interest on the sum invested, not less than five thousand collars. At twenty-one he j will not cost more unless he goes to | college, when he will cost nearly ! twice as much. A bad boy costs I about ten thousand dollars at twenty I one, if he does not go to college. If ne does go, he costs as mucn more. And when a man has put ten or twenty thousand dollars into a boy. -what has he aright to expect of him? What is fair.? Is it fair for that boy to work himself to death, to run, jump, play ball, or do anything in such a way as would disable him or break him down? Is it fair for him to despise his father and neglect his mother? Is is fair for him to ruin himself with drink, defile himself with tobacco, or stain himself with sin? Some of us have put about all our property into boys and | girls; and if we lose them, we shall be poor indeed; while if they do well, we shall be repaid a hundredfold. Boys, what do you think about the matter. Winter in the Lap of Spring. Heavy snowfalls and severe frosts continue in all parts of Austria and Hungary. There have been avallanches in the Austria Tyrol and the Saozkammergut. In some parts of Styria acd in Silessia andTescnen, the people are sledging. Great damage hoc Hnnfl In rrnns vines and fruits. The branches are breaking with the weight of the snow, which is three fee: dee], on the mountains oi Carinthia. Telegraphic and telephoned coaamuication is interrupted. Sheep and game are perishing; and th^re have been earthquake shocks near Graz,Fiume and eisewberej i large quantity ofsnow_bas fallen, in lllc l'viiiai: fjji v vji uuiug. Senator ?c.rle Better. Advices from Greenville brings the sood news that the condition of Senator Eirle seems to have taken a steady turn for the better. Tnere was a change again in his favor yesterday and symptoms were decidedly better fhyn thev C5ti*6 nn TnViriiiv And if. is I now confidently hoped that he is on road to permanent recovery. Tht drowsiness that has been manifesting itseJf recently was less veserday, his headaches less severe and his nervousness Jess marked, ile is no^in much irss pain th^r; he has been daring thlast four or fl& davs, and bis mind is citar. He is aLso sleeping better THE GROWING CROPS. THE WEEKLY BULLETIN ASTO THEIR CONDITION. Issued by Observer Laat Week, Alao Deal* lDg With the Past Week's Weather Conditions-^merest to Farmers. The following is the weekly biilletin of the condition of the weather and crops in this State issued last week by State Observer Bauer: A 'I I: MV The week averaged 5 degrees per day cooler than usual. The average of 51 reports gives a weekly mean temperature of 64. The normal is approximately 69. The nights were unusually cold up to the 7th. The d ay s were mod erately i warm. Two places reported a minimum of 38, two of 40, one of 41, three of 43, these occurred from the 2d to the 5 th, and over the western and nor; hern cour ties. The maximum na.s 93 on the 8th at Gillisonville. FROST. Light frost was reported from various points in York, Newberry, Green ville, Spartanburg, Laurens, Union, Chester, and from one place in Orangeburg on the 21, 3d, 4th or 5th. Generally these frosts were too light to nip vegetation but young cotton was somewhat damaged. RAINFALL. There was no rainduringthe week except light showers in Horry and Marion on the 5th. Twenty eight additional measurements were received with this week's reports, of she rainfall of May 1, making the corrected average for last week L40 instead of ine rains 01 me previous weeK did not prove as beneficial as expected owing to the cold, high northerly winds which prevailed during the early portions of the week, and which dried and crusted the ground. A warm, soaking rain would prove highly beneficial to all crops. Rainfall deficiency for the week 0.78. SUNSHINE. The average of 67 estimated reports of sunshine was 80 per cent, of the possible. The normal during the same period is approximately 62 per cent CEOPS. Correspondents reports nearly all refer to the past week as an unfavoraklo n-na /vn cfcmlc frnrv; n-wirier tn thfi want of moisture, cool nights, and the prevelance of destructive insects, especially worms, chinch bugs, Colorado beetles and grass hoppers, the latter least destructive. Crows also damaged corn. The condition of corn is not satisfactory in regard to stand or color. The late planting not coming up well, and much of that that is up is~of poor color and small size, ascribed to the prevailing cool nights. A great deal of com yet to plant, and to replar.c, made necessary by the ravages of the worms which are reported unusually destructive over the entire State, es pecially on bottom lands. Corn is in better condition in the eastern counties where it has received its first work ing generally, than in the western portions where much of that planted is net yet up. * The condition of cotton has improved but little in the meat favored sections, and in many places has deteriorated. The cool weather caused the plant to look sickly and on certain lands to die out. Much of that planted before the rains of the previous week will, in ths western counties, " ha^e to be replanted which is now belinwHnnp Turret nlantim* nraetieallv finished. Chopping to stands confined to eastern and central counties. Stands irregular, but on the whole not satisfactory. Sea Island cotton all planted; stands fair, though damaged some by cut worms. 0 | Tobacco transplanting is nearly all ! finished. The plants are doing well j in most districts but would be benefited ! by greater warmth and more mois jture. All early rice is planted and doing well in the Georgetown districts, but less favorable reports are received from other districts; yet on the whole its condition is up to a seasonal average. Wheat heading short but continues promising. Oata improved since the j ra ns but need more moisture as they are now "in the milk." Spring-sown oats are poor everywhere. j Melons are backward and much of lfa.8 seed nave not gerimnatea. oorghum-cane growing well generally. Peaches are reported dropping badly over in the Southern, counties, but doii'g well elsewhere. Trees, as a rule, not overloaded, but with a fair "set/' Apples and pears still regarded promising. Gardens growing well in some localities and failing in others. More moisture would nrove beneficial. Truck products doing 'well except Irish potatoes, of which, there is prospect of a short crop. Sweet Dotato draws coming up slowly ancL not much setting out has yet been done. Pastures becoming scant in many places, necessitating feeding of stock with dry forage. From the national bulletin of May 3. "Cotton has been unfavorably affected by cool weather over the central and eastern portions of the cotton belt, and has also suffered considerably from insects, and much replanting will D8 necessary. In Texas the greater part of the week was too cool for germination and growth, but the stand is poorer than heretofore supposed." Russia Takes a Hand. The Athens correspondent ol tne London Daily Telegraph says: By the Czar's express command, Count Mauri vie if, the Russian foreign minister, has instructed 31 de Nelidoff, the Russian ambassador at Constantinople, to insist peremptorily upon a cessation of hostilities by Turkey. It is also learned that Count Muravieff has decided to nave an assembly elected in Crete in order to ascertain the true Cretan opinion. If the Cretans reject autonomy thft fm+irva rmoctinn will Ka ta considered. This item is full o? hope for Crete and Greece. Two Fiends Lynched. Recently, on two occasions, the Kelly family, living in Madison County Alabama, have been poisoned. On the first occasion one death followed and the last time eleven persons suffered, but there were no deaths. Yesterday two negro girls, Mollie Smith and Maudy W bite, were arrested and confessed to the poisoning. Between midnight and daylight last nigh: a number of neighbors took the two girls in charge and this morning * i - - - e j : __ j__ _ taeir Doaies were icun?* swinging to a himb. More developments are expected.