Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOL." LIL " WXXNSBOKO. S.C.. WEDNESDAY. MARCH 2. 1898. . NO. 30. ' MUCH T/iLK OF WAR ON THE PART Oc SEVERAL UNITED STATES SENATORS. Senator AJien'ii Am?nfiment to Consular Appropriation Bill Brirjj* oat Exprefftions Prom Bo;h i*arr}es?Besret* for I.MC Year's Blacdfer Expressed by Som*. While the United States S?nafe had - x ttn<|er ccnsicerasion th*? diplomatic Aard consular approrria,io~> biJJ Wed^mfsd&y a sharp debate on the Cu*"an ^^PsoJuticn "^-s parcipiteted by Mr Allen, who offered as an jircendm^nt jthe resolution n^ss^d by the senate a year ago, r;co2niz'nsr '"he belligerent rights of the Cuten insurgents In the course of a. rfriv to the rr? Jiminary statement bv ifr A.i'er?. llr. Morgan, of Aia'cama, sa'd 'his coun try's relations vj'b Sr?air- a- th^ pi*es ent time were Feriouslv sf-ain<>d and that intervention b' theTJrifr d Stages, which a year ago would ha^-'neen inoffensive, would rso~ be almost a cause cf w-a?. He exn~^s?ed he opinion th3t the'CcbT vif >ir wouM eventually be submitted to the arbitrament of the sword between the United 8t?t?s and Spain. but he did art wast war precipitated by ra^b ?cU of legislation. Mr. Foraker, o'" O^io, thought the day not far distant when the time 'cr .action by this country wou'd rive, and that the chief m^gistra'.e < f the nation ought to rejoice that the legis i lative branch of the government was prepared to support him in asserting American righis Mr. Thurston, of Nebraska, counsel led calmness an'' prudence, for he be lived the country was rapidly drifting into a war with Spain. "We ought to have patience." said he, "ar.d wait as a great and powerful people, not in fear, but in hope that some satisfactory conclusion of the present difficulty may be reached." Mr. Hoar, cf Massachusetts, main-! tained that the floor of the senate was no proper place fcr angry discussions of international affairs, and that na, senator cu^ht to utter anything that ; might no; w?U be uttered by the pres ident of the Uailed States. Mr. Allen thought a statement was : due the country. The aoiendmt-nt, he I said, is practically a copy of two resolutions which have already passed the senate.. Referring to the unfavorable; report piesented on the amendment \ by the foreign relators committee. Mr. Alien said it was a concession and "avoidance that means simply ;hat the committee did net desire to act upon it The truth was, he said, that congress wss merely finding s-ime excuse under which it ccuJd continue busl ness and escape ctn&ure. Kjs desire \ was to find vhether congress could in! -.anyway be induced, cajole d or kicked into putting the country in a dignifi-j ed attitude on the Cuban question, ; Taking up the main is?ue involved he i asserted thai he had reliable inform*-f tion that no less than thirty three per "cent of the Cuban population or five ! hundred thousand people had perisain Cuba within the past three years as a result of Spanish cruelty, L "And yet," said Mr. Allen, "lest we ^^the senate, a body of eighty-nine men, Hroiend the house of renresen'atives, Bnsisting of 375 men, a point of order .; 1Vw AmA?tr,e?f 4-r> o rv\??n h Hpi LU Uv iiiaUU fgAlt'Ob iiu;o aui.^uui.v.u? , |^pand it will go tne way of very much j valuable legislation.'* Mr. Allen ?aid that if the republican party cculd suffer to see the Cubans exterorioaied by starvation in plain violation or its platform and of the Christian aenti-1 ment of the country, the Republics ; senatorsjought to be willing to face the question on a yea and nay vote. \ Mr. Morgan, of Alabama, said the senate had twice passed Cabin belligerency resolutions substantially as ihwas now offered, but both tim^s it had been done openly and frankly, "We &&.V3 no right," said he, "to make a declaration of war against Spain undercover and that is precisely what this resolution would mean. .If tbis . amendment were attached to me ap-: propriation bill, Spain might well re-. ^ard it as a cause lor war. As I have iKiiurc ixiuii;<4(.tru, wc uuuur.i'ji^ auu situation in Cuba were entirely different when this resolution was passtd toy the senate " He atsert^d that be tween. three hunared thousand a*, a six hundred thousand otopis had beervstarvea to dtata in Cuba. 4 This awful condition of affairs," ' said Mr. Morgan, ''m<ik<rs our position, on the Cuban mutter exirtmeiy celicate. Intervention now of trie ?iud proposed a jear ago me^ns war. it could mean nothing vise. "If, how.ver, an* senator believes in a decimation of war and w:ll dra * f -? up such a declaration with sufficientand proper grounds upon wnicn tof base it 1 wiil vote f<_r ii." At this point Mr Alien interrupted Mr. Morgan to declaim anv ioteution I of making a deciara ion of war agsfus: Spain. He exprtssed the opinion tbat. his arcendccent could'in no w^y ce construed into such a dt-claration. "If we should pat this amendment? on the pending appropriation oili."re-' plied Mr. Marfan, "Spsi.-i wou:u bs > iully justified ii interpreting: our , meaning to be that we were often-j sivfciy interfering la i> r aii'airs. How- j ever, I do ret believe Tbat a~y sena ! ;tor has in mind a declaration cf war. ;j It would not overtax the ability of j any man to prepare such a declaration with proper and suffic.e.-n grounds upon which to base it. I will not. novevtr, vo^e for any declaration of war in disguise. The Spanisa are a i Jfc^^reat and powerful ai>d proud people S jgj H^d they believe ihat ineir course is ? fjpmghi. i a? cot w:sn to proves} iasa ; to a declaration o> wiir. I have ai j ways be-ieved aid believe now itst; the war in Cuoa cujia no; b? re^mia- j *ted without involving tbe Uai.ed ; States in hostilities. ;'I tesitve tha'. the -ratter wiUevenually be submitted to the arbitrament of the sword. The whole world rs cogrizts Spain's inability to corquer the Cubans a.-.d sooner or laier ^e shall become, ivi xny opinion, involved j *n the armed ccntrovtrsy. The prnd jag amendment is little else than a 1 declaration of \v/.r in d;sgui>?. If we . mean to ctciaie vrarki; us do so iise men and not endeavor to conceal cur i selves behind sj transparent a clo k.! Those who ars coi stantiy seeking to benefit the sacrtd causs of Cuoani Jik.o?rtT url i . . this^ can not ?c;omp:is>a their pur-j poses by such rasa acis of legislation j as is lh:s amendment. ilr. Ailea made an extended reply to the arguments advanced against his position. lie maintained t::a'. this was the lirst time the belligerency proposition had ocen presented to the senate v?h?n there wss any chance of its bein? effective. The ncus^ would bebrcujht face to face wab it ard it qvouid be brcagnt to a vote in tnat ; body. It cculd net be buried in a; 1 corrimit^e I Mr. Hear, cf Massacbu^eit, dis | eussfd the ?ituai;cn 'rdot ihe stanc-I : poict of an international Jawyer, j | maintaining that the rerivsnition o< I belligerency in ordinary circumstance J "W8S not a cause f r ^a*. It was r-.of;; necessarily sn un'riendJy act. Mr. Hoar maintained, however, that be '^O'e 'skinsrany action of that kind ice United Spates cu^ht to have r e'earr.rd unquestioned statement of thf facts in tre case. He txoresjed " <??????* ?? *V,<~ + t Vii. rtf a bellifert-ncv res^luton at the present j . time wculcl be nrnducii^e of war be j causf of the frfc'icn ihat would be j created by ?r>?in esfrcisics the right: of sesr^a of United States vessels on J | the hi?h seas. Hr. Stewart. cf Nevada, ins da a j speech Id favor of granting: belligerent rights -n >he Cubans at on?\ Sir. Hile made the point cf order j against the srnerdrr-Pitt that it was j gerjeral legislation ?rd had, under the i rules r<o pUce in the oill The vice j prfojdfer.t tustained the pDint, at?d 3dr. | Ali?n took an anneal frr>m Jbe ruling j Mr. Bacon, of Georgia, speaking in J simport of tbe ru-irg of the chinr, j d;"ew from the galleries an enthusi j aJtic roui d of apvhuse v/bich was ; quickly suppressfd by the vice presi d?nt He said <~>ne cf the grealest causes e^r tried b-fore the naticrs of tfcp world wss bow beisg tried, in Havana. 'L't us do nothing." said he. "that j will in tie least way embarrass these { who ar_'conducting that investigation. I The wreck of the ilaine now lies on I the bottom of Ha vat a harbor. The r* f/> tha arft h?' i i Ciam g wks V/A v?Ji.vAJ. ? ? v. , lag sought earnestly and intelligently { by a competent court of inquiry and j we ought to do nothing that wiJl in \ the slightest manner i'?ter.'ers with j the prog-e^s of that work What we desire is to know the facts. If it} should be foucd ihat the exnloc-ion j was due to an accident, we must,' knowjhat. If, however, it sheuld be j disclosed that it was due to treachery j the who!e world will applaud the ac j tion of mis country in holding to | strict account the country in whose j friendly haroor thai awful disaster 5 occurred." Mr Hale lh<*n moved lo lay the ap peal on the table and Mr. Allen de marced 'he .Teas and nays Mr. Ait'cJ motion was csrriec, | those Yodnp against the motion beiog j Messrs. A^len of N-brvsk.-.; Cannon, 1 of U-ah; Hc?tfelde, of Ida no; Mason, o* Llirois ?tud Teller, of Oolo.-ad j. 'The square then. went Into <:seuu.ive j session &ad minutes afterwards j adjourned, A GRAND ALLIANCE RALLY. Prta'dsnz ^libera H*s Appoints th j Day. Wcdne.diy President Wilbora issued -he following, a call to the suba;Pa^ces o? the Siafe to rally cn the 13.h of iTarch for the purpose of discussing tha.wajs and m-ass of making eica farm self-supporting-. The tetor of his letter is that if tbe farmers will rahe their own ''hog and hominy" the qusstion of cotton acre -1 age will rsgul&te itstl While others think differently. Mr.! Wiloorn thinks that the Parser?, one I and all, have decided to reduce the j p.nttrm In several counties \ the? have cb-i^atei to plant oaly so j much to the plow, s^ersgi iz from tea to twelve oalts In addition to ihio :s the very appreciable falling off in ihe sales cf fertilizers. Mr. Wii bom's letter to the alliances ; isasleliows: ; I have pledged the alliance of South , Carolina to ur:ity o* action in the matter of cotton, its production, sale and marketing. Now, therefore, in order i that the who.'e m&tter m?.y be more fuiiy cisicassea and active measures ! ma> ht i. &u-urated looking to relief, j the 13:n day or Ma/ch, 1898, is here- j by selected named and ctcsi^nated as j ( Alliance Riily Day, wnere evtry suo j <, alliance in tna 3i.ate is lequested to j meet at its regular m'-etijg uiaci cn ? that afternoon there to consider the I cotton situation and ali other matters j < t aat may pertain to the good of the j, order. J j The ofScers are uri ed to be on hand j in due Lime arid are directed to iri-j form the n embers of tasir re-p-ctive :, sub alliances of the rally day. This < ( call to apply to ;V -ry alliance thitji hss eve:- Dren in existence in this $ State. The stcrewi-s tire requts^d to. j notify me of their tictiou zu aii mut- ; ters that periam to the good of the or < dtr. i j I vrouid suggest that you make en- j of the leading questions for discussion j, at tris meeting the t if ;rts every South j: Carolina farmer will make to have his j -'arm sdi s-staining, if he does this- j( the matter of cotton acreage ivillset;r tie itself. Bi tot deceivid by the snail sd |( vance ic: the price of coitoa, jastat] ' plintiDg tim<?, with a crop Jiae the , one just marketed you caaaot hope to *et more than hvs c;ats per pjund 4r i WX XV. i AIL alluncs men are earnestly urged I to co operate with ibe Couon Growers | orir tuiziuon ic. tbeir tH'ort-; in ttsis | matter. J. O WiLBORNV Pres. Farmers' Aiii&nccs o: 6. C. Jfor Cclcniz hSod, A special dispatcn from Charleston totiieColum' i; StatesajsMr O'Calla nan, ;heltgjl representative of th? Pm.aieijjhiA syndicate wLicb rtc*ntiy . Durcna>ed the pretty r f me 3uu:g Carolina Land aoo Lumber company is in the cry for the purpose of steering possession of the u.i'S to the property purcb.a.3: d The property consists vi ii :e farojirsr and timoer lauds extending-from Inc-v E inland City >:o Jlou'k's Cjtui r dhd. covers about IS, '000 xcrs The e>mpanT/ also o vnsj the Bsrktley railroad and it :s ar.der I steed that they -will ex rend toe Hue o? { < ?/> rv* r*' ti/?r * t i*ff> C ,?f. f f\ I i J i UUj. V-/JiLO WiUJlUUO tv/ s < EutaTviile, a distaice of 16 miles, j Now the tiiies to the pr p3*ty j [Have been s cured its new cwuers wiil S : besin at or.ce to improve the property \ an i ccicn ze it vc:t'i jeoplo from the i north tea northwest. Air-ady much | iDJO^ey has been spent in improving j thepropertv and tHe work *iii cp 1-? ; tinue until is leichts a sia'.e of high I caiiivtion. j hostcllis?" bb:d. i The posloEce a?. DaUod, Gv, was; eatered Tnursday m*rhr, tae sa'e was j b'.o *n open, and eight hundred dollars ? in money ai*d stamps taken therefrom. 5 Toe tcieves Je:t oeciasi them a big j sledge hammer, a brace aad ioug j screw driver. Biis o' money anc j stamps ?rrere aiso scattered ever the j li -cr. The rc-gisiered letters in the ! ctS^-^ere left uuoaclested. There is j LO clue 10 the perpetrators. .? GRIM STARV ATION. < WHAT THE OFFICERS OFTHEMONTI GOMERY SAW. PerishifcR Xi'ke Files?Cor.dlti^rs Reported ^Hileh Would f-hcck Itoe Heart of a Savage? SpiJs Ab?clct<ly Helpless to Report While the United States cruiser jlcntgo^ery vras at Itfaiitsr zas recent Iy ?. board cf officers was appointed to inquire into the condition of the pecpie of that province. Although the exsci terms of the report are not known it may be said that in substance it sets forth that there are 14 COO people absolutely wiihout food and cloth ias'within the city limits. About 3,COO of these live ia small huts of palm branches These huts form :hree separate villages beyond the built up p rtiocs o' the ci;v The other 11,000 unfortunates live in the streets of tbe city and are absolutely without homes cr shelter. Tnese 14,000 people are of the lab orin?r class *ho have been driven in to the cities from their country homes which have be?c destroyed in the W2r operations. Most of them are women and children acd they are si! emsciat > 3 . j | so, sicfi ana araosi ur^wiu itjki j less they can have the benefit of regu j lar treatment 5:a the hcspita;s As itj is they are dyin? ia ihe streets for' want of feed According to statistics gathered i from the best soirees, the number of deaths in tre pr^viac* of Msnticzasj from starvation is 59.000 and the num- j ber of starving people at pr3s'-ntin (' the province is estimated at. 98 000, J <-ui of a lotal nopula ion of 253 616 in < December, 1897. ana the numtxr of I starving people is rapidly increasing. In the city of Mantarzas aloce th^re have Dsen about 11,000 deaihs during the past year and tne numb r is in- < creasing* daily. The death rate at < present averages 46 per day, as shown 1 by th1 'reports from the cemetery, i Tue increase in the death rate is due < to the fact that the distress is no long i er confined to the laboring class, j' mcst of w?om have already perished. j< 1: has rov extended to those people!* who before the war were in moder j: ately comfortable circumstances.! < Tsose who are now beggitg in the J ] streets were in i.heJar?e part, well to- i do people. In acdinn the ciu'zons < of the city of Macraczas themselves Era begir nin x to suffer for tfce actual I Leceisity of iife, having drained, their < resources in order to supply the heeds < of the laboring class wno have b~en i thrust upon them. < Pee ci'izscs of Mantarzis have an ] crgAniz d system of relief for the : starving peoola, but it is entirely ia- < sdfqua-e and is daily b?c:.mir>a' mere < giarngly so. for the resources of 1 those w;;o were well-to do are rapidly i diminishing, while the demand for < iorJd is constantly increasing ] At- one of the relief s ations the t board of officer:: found 100 starving i people, this b-ing the actus] numoer i of persons for vs horn the citizens had been able to prDvide rations there I a j a room across the court jard of tile I building were 100 tin pans and as t rr>ar>T> smws These ^ans were filled a with a cooked mess of rics and fish 1 sea wire arrangtd in rows ready for I distribution among: the famishing peo pl^ who were in waiting in another part of tie house, but, as already said, the three relief places in the ~iiy of j Mantaczis do not begin to adequately ;i supply food to the 14,000 people who J are starring in the streets, for the f citizsns are only able to issue food t three times a day at each place and then to only about SCO at a time. C-on g seqaep-tly only about 900 of the desti- t tuie restive food once a day. e It should be added that a large num. ber of iha citizens of Mantsnzas have ? fed the starving ia the streets in front of their hoxes, bat the cit;zens them t selves are feeling the pinch of priva $ don, and unless assistance soon comes r to them they will be compelled in g sell1 protection to csase the work of ? sharity in which they are engaged ? add which are seemingly the only , salvation for the starving. ^ The only other relief issued at Matanzis is that given to the poor sick 'c sh'ldren by the management of the L !.! ? J?_ !1 emergency nospuai, which x? uuu?- s the direction of the voiunu -~r fire de r partment at Matanzaas i'here are , tibou: 80 children treated daily and "a sue* furnished with nourishment un j ier tiie dirtc:ion of the city physici -c an3. L Ttesa statements are the conclu i sions, facts and figures arrived at by c [Jared Slates naval officers. When c me U.-iited States navai officers land t ed they were constantly followed by claiaoriag crowds of starving men, women aud children, who importuned them in'the most heartrending ( manner for a little food, for the want T of whic"* thev were slowly dying. a Trie Uaited S:ates consul at Ma- r Utzashas cone everything possible r Ul der the circumstances, v.ut wh^n j the Montgomery left there, m toeja first da\ s of February, the consul had j 1 only enough rations remaining to last t a'uout two weeks, after which the c fur'.ci appropriated 07 congress would 5 have been exhausted, and when tbe r sufferers of il*utaczAs would include j she American citizens at that plac?. t who have itber:C received relief \ taroagh the United States consulate, e At ihat lime tae consul had received j a petition, signed by the American s cr.:z-isof ilAaUnzis, Sitting forth in detail tne nee:i in which ;hey stood of immediate relief from tiae dangers of starvation. i Sj far as the board o: officers of the ; Montgomery couid ascertain, Matan 1 z*s at t?at time needed a supply c" < locd 'cr 14 000 people .r at Jeasi cnt I montn m aCcutiun to supplier or cou : denscd milk for iivalids aud medi < cines oi ail kiads. Tne pcope of 2?a t tanzas are aiso ia urgent need o:' : clowning, most of them oeing in filthy < rags. 1 Spanish authori ies, it may be < saia jc en*elusion, huse rendered a;l ij che assistance ~L- i<-ii u s eius possible j ror them to provide, 0 ; two occa tions 'h-y have jdven $100,000 to ifit:ulu fur\he rt.iief cf lie destitute; but so fir ss the fcss.rd could letm ' mis was all the government was m a < position to con-ricu'.e to the relief of me 14 liOO .tarTitiji", dying teopie in ibs.&tree.s of ilantanz s B??cty to rCroopa. 'i. cTspatih. ^rccc Atlanta savsall the < railroad .ieddiLi .? io t ciiai c .t v ui's * u.rnio h ^ ins: the government, on spt-ication, : esiimates of me number cf men and i munitions of v.-a? tnev can move in a ^iven lime. h fighting strength of the Navies of ?p?in artl the Uoited States. While this question is bound to arise in the public mind it is well to note that tbe Maine, although costing the sovemmen* somewhere in the neigh borhocd of $2,500 000. dees not appear in the catainoue of our first-c!a=s battleships Since it' total displacement sggregaied onlr 6.632 tons, its proper designation is that of a second-class h2ttleshiD. Our first class battleship?, with the tonnage in each case, are nine in number, as follows: The Kentucky, j 11,525 tons; the K>arsage, 11,525 tons; tf>e Illinois, 11.525; the Alabama, 11, 525;tbe Wisconsin, 11 525; the Iowa, 11,410; thf? Oregon, 10 238; the In dkra. 10 2S8, and the Massachusetts, 10 268 T summarize the fighting strength of the white squadron, itincluces nine first class battleships, two s?cond class battleships. ?wo armored cruisers, thir tf en protected cruisers, tnree unprctec I ted cruisers, cne armored ram, six double turreted monitors, thirteen single turreted monitors, ten gunboats, six composite gunboat?, three special class gunboats, twenty two steel tor pedo boats, one wooden torpedo, five iron cruising vessp.'s, eleven sailing ressels. six tugs, eight wooden steam vessels and six wooden sailing vessels. I? the aggregate there are 141 differ er.t naval pucesin ih9 white squad ron, only fourteen of which are obsolete and unfit for service in the event of war. So far as the resistive power of our battleships is concerned, it is safe to say that in spite of the disas trcus experience of the Maine, there is no country on the globe wlrch can ooast of superior engines of war. 0' course, such countries as Great Britain ai:d Frirc* are provided with more of them, but they are not of better workmanship. But what of Spain's naval cuifit? This question is certainl-' pertinent ip Lhis connection- Mcstof Spain's naval engines are out of date. She has only ore first class battleship which is worthy of the name?the Peiaya?and sven this falls corsiderably short of Dur smallest oce, its displacement being onl^ 9,900 tons. One apparent ad vantage which Spain's fleet has over ^urs is in the number of armored cruisers. While h?i* fleet contains seven of these cruisers, ours contains ^nly two, viz, the New Yark and the Brooklyn; but this advantage i3 jartialiy overcome by the superior -q'pnieot of our cruisers. The Newfork andjthe Brooklyn carry seventy four monster guns; tbe Spauisn cruis irs carry 208 smaller andinfercrones. 3n good authority, the statement is aaade that Spain has no sea going :oast defense ships, ??hile this country aas six, carrj ing thirty heavy guns ind fifty twc light guns Of non sea piog coast-defenders, Spain has only.wo, while this country is credited with fourteen. Of protection and nonDroteciion cruisers, Spain has only five while the United States hss s'xteen. in the number of gunboats, torpedo joats available for use in the event of lostilities, the United States is also ihead cf-Spain. From this has'y review of the two Guadrorss, it is evident that the "> O. .A ~A-r,n v. jullcu o'fitcs {jjascasca cvcij auvau age over Spain, and that if war comes, , us now seems emminent, it will be tbe atter power which will have everytiog to lose.?Atlanta Constitution. Well iaid, Mr. PresJds. ? , To a senator who called upon him n order to ask some serious questions ts to the policy of the administration, President, McKinley, with the utmost I lankcess, has uttered the following rords: ' I do not pronose to do anything at J1 to precipitate war with Spain. Up o the present I do not think war is ither necessary or inevitable. I < yould be lax in my duty, however, if did not prepare for the future. Tbe iiuatioa is grave and the policy of ; he administration will be determined .imost entirely by tbe course of events : < ! ma to finno TnftW is no Tl'floS. 1 ity of alarming the people, but con- i jress must be ready to assist the ad ] ninisir ?tion without making so ihany cquirzps as to the course of current | vents." j Tnese words of McKic ley were given J >y tta senator in question to the corespondent of the Chicago Tribune < .nd reported in that papsr. There is .< low no doubt of me fact that he government of the United States is ictually preparing for war with Spain. ' t dots nut follow that war will come, I >ut tne activity ia both the war and < iavv departments is too unmistakable < o be concealed. At no time since the 1 lose of the late war has 'the military iranc:. of tbe government been so ac- ; iva as it is now. < Gstciog F. -ady at Charlei^-n. Work oa the new fortifications at i )hRrirston is being rapidly pushed. ?ne big guns are being mounted for ction, but some 01 '.n?se are cor. yei e&dy for servic?. There is little or :o powder on h<ind for firiag the 800 ; >ound projec'iies, but it is said the .mxnuai'iorj is to be shipped at once. ?he Ntw Yo<-k force is ieptbisy put ing the fcUES in shape for war. The . >2icia!s in charge believe the forts vould be able to prottcl the city from lostile ships. Ia Fort Sumter a tor )cdo tubj tvhish commands the enrance to the harbor is prepared for cork. The garrison, consisting of :;gr5ty-five men, on Sullivan's Island, s ready for any orders that may be ;tn: from Washington. Buzz iris Hovor At>oct. Persons who have jost returned 'rum Havana say that tie Maine was (Orrjiying from the evidence tne ^rec'Ca^e bore of ill3 po^er of the exslos on and the carnage wrought Buzzards huog about the wreck, the >!-! } .ish nfficers matririP" no fffjrt to ir:ve them away, thoiJ?a thpir pres ;nc; was sickenintlj oil nsive. rp^niaids who row-daoout ii boats Jit; no: cmciai their satisfaction at Lhe American warship's fate, and 5ometicr.es were stea shaking: their Gists at :h1 fifg tha, haag at half mast .-.cove tie Bulk. Government tJaylug Coal. The United Slates government is buying ;arge quantities cf coal. One Df the iargcit c ;ai dealers at Petlsburg ca.. has clostd a contract with the navy department for the delivery at *" r-r-r _ . ri _ _ jj tr T\ .... fck.rj Vv &y, caz:a Jtvsji-", ury iur.ugas, i Savannah. Charleston. aid Fortress ilcnroe of 250,000 tins o! Pocahontas coa!. The stipulations of the contracts just plactu are that the csai so ordered j shall be delivered at the designated coding stations as soon as it :s possi- j bis to do so. and that tin utmost! secrcev be observed about the matter. j IT WAS NO ACCIDENT. THE MAINE BLOWN UP BY A SPANISH MINE Tli?re i? Little Hope of Proving the Maize Disaster the Eesnlt c! ai> Accident? Spscifh A?mv Offiear* Contln-n* Th?lr Antl-Am*Tlc&n Espr*?8lons. Fepppr, ihe Havana correspondent of the Washington star cabled his paper as fellows on Wednesday: "Inquiry into the Maine disaster progresses slong definite lines. The results so far may ba summed up in the statement tnat the probabilities that it was an accident seem to decrease with the progress of the investigation. The most intense anxiety is shown by the Spanish officials here, who are in constant communication with Madrid. Thev realize that the relations with the United States were never so much ic danger of ruDture as now. This is the gereral feeling. "The commercial classes here are j hope'ul of American intervention on I peaceful lines, but what they base jtheir hopes upon is unknown. The insurgents continue to win miner i military successes. The autonomists ! art. restless, and some of the leaders ! ; seem to be on the point of breaking ja^ayfrom the government Army ; officers continue to show an antiAmerican sentiment. Thty are ap- 1 patently the only class that does not i look for an early crisis. The outlook in Cuba dees not grow more promising. The exact statement is that the government cScials were " never so much disturbed as toe ay. Lrcal developmer t? justify the seri ' cus view General Bianco and his as ; scciates are ssid to take of the probability of fresh complications. 1 The statement ihat the diver3 have 1 penetrated the forward part of the W on nn oy*/1 /mi v?/3 i v> f Vi a maam. fliiU lOUUU ILL .JLLC LUCkf^" * Ez^ces there to indicate an explosion seems to be verified. Attention is i also given to testimony regarding vibration under water Wore the Maine wait to pieces. Ev'dj.Ece as to this 1 fact is emphatic. How far ii justifies the belief that the explosion came 1 from underneath the ship, experts ! may be left to determine. The point has not been reached 1 where a definite opinion can be formed regarding submarine mines. Out- 1 side evidence has been brought for- 1 ward regarding the ccnssructioa of such a system, bat it hss n^t been t sifted Spsia's officials were surprised s at the. firmness wish which the Wash ington administration declined to ad- I xi .L. l A.1 1 oiib IUVIU bU snare in Lue mvesueaiioa. J "At tiiis writing: divers are developing important results. From exami- ? nation of the interior wreckage, they have secured evidence which seems t conclusive that the explosion came from underneath the ship. r " iome of the smaller magazines naav have exploded The main 10 f inch magazine did not explode. Tae t condition of the interior of the ship ( shows -further probability of the wric'i having been due to outside ( for Co, t "The further the invalidation progresses the more untenable bscomes J the theory which the Spanish government adduced to show accidental J causes. It is evident the Spanish case will be based on the claim thit a fir2 I preceded the explosion. "(Japt Sa.mpson and ills colleagues l * the naval board may have outside t evidence offered regarding a torpsdo float p ,*oducing the explo jion. a "Said one diver who had been engaged in the work of getting bodies 0 out frem under the hatch: "God may I be merciful to th.9 men who blew those poor fellows to eternity, the C Unit d States should not." b This was long before Long's order prohibiting officers from talking. This I live? evidently thought the explosion J was not an accideat. Ha had an ex- J pert's capacity and opportunity for judging. The Havana public is not v psrmitted to communicate the intensity of public sentimsLts intheUni- I Ltd Spates. Only meagre details are C permitted to be kaowa of what happens in Washington Coagress is ? watched with excessive anxiety by palace officials, but the populace E Irnows nnttalne' of what is liable to happen. Evidenc9 of ill feeling to A ward American people aad exalting C jver the Maine disaster does not lessen. a NO LONGER ANY DOUBT. A dispatch from Havana to the a New York Herald says: There is no longer any reason to doubt that the ?xplosion which wrecked the Maine jama from underneath the yesssi and ^ that her magazines had nothing to do n with the initial explosion and played ^ a much smaller part in the general ci disaster than was at first supposed. The evidence that has served to con- p vine? the board was obtained by Ei j sign PowelsoQ, an officer attached to a Lhe Fern. j Mr. Powelson was formerly in the q construction corps and took a two ^ ve&rs sr?2eial course in tas Glasgow 1 school of ca7al architecture. He is g iherefore a competent witness. What j ne discovered was that the forward ^ part of tke keel cf the Jlaine, with its e ribs and plates was stove upward so j far :hat parts of the shattered double a bottom show out of water and in ^ places sections of the green painted s outer hull are visible. Corroborative of evidence given bv s Easign Po nelson and of eq ialsignifi.- r cance and importance is the result of j ine close examination made by the s divers. What they found indicated j that the explosion came from a point beneatn the keel. A plumb iiae drop \ oed from a point just forward of the 2 conning tower would have laid the s lead exactly on the spot where the rx.jlcsion occurred that drove keel, , piates and ribs almost to the surface. ^ Tae main force of the explosion t seems to have been exceedingly slight % on the port side of tne vessel. This is ( />nneiffti.nt TO-itli <V>e. -fanfc hifllA'tn 8S- , certained. Collectively, these now indicate that the contents of the reserve -six inch magazine were exploded by the initial blast and there was no explosion in either of the other two. In the reserve magazine was slowed 2,500 pounds of powdtr in copper tanks, each of which contained 2C0 pounds. Seven of the tacks have been found by the divers, ail in crushed and snapeJess masses. It is important to j note tnat in tie six-inch and ten-inch ] tanks recovered the excelsior used for j packing tne cnargcs amws no mj ary irora flame or gases. : Tfie powder stowed in the six-in ah 1 reservoir magsz ne was fo: saluiiBg i purposes only. Tne rsa2azine itself i appears to have been utterly destroyed, < only a few traces being leit to snow i the point vrhere it was onc8 located. ] ?> BEYOND REPARATION. Tbe United States board of enquiry seat to Havana to enquire into the wrecking: of the Maine have about concluded their work there and have returned to this country. The court has decided agairst any attempt to raise tbe ruint d battleship. The members aie convinced thai it would be useless as she could never be kept afloat, and the Spanish authorities bera will be informed that if they wish the wreck removed from the harnnv f ror mo i-? c-4- o f A 4-*\. >! ?<* vvsa. v j uiuj? otbiguu ;u ljllc i^xjxck, tberosfcl v< s. This decision gives a bet ter idea cf the terrible havoc wrought in the Maine than columns o? description could do. A FEW PLUMS GIVEN OUTGovernor Ellerbe Names Supervisors of Registration. Gov. Ellerbe made the following appointments of supervisors on Thursday: Dorchester?H. A. Jamison, Sum merville, and J. R Patrick, St. George's. Horry?J. C'. Blum, Little Eiver, and Malcolm J. Granger, Wannama ker. Eigetield?J. Trapp McManus, Edgefield,- and Luther R. Brunson, Cleora. Marion?Henry Berry, Marion, and A. R Oliver, Centenary. Marlboro?A. C Pearson, Bennetts 7ille, and T.R. Easterlin?. Bennetts 7iJle.' B?rkele>? E. S. Wilson, Honey Hill, and D. L. Shuler, Monck's Coraer. Georgetown?H. L. Carter, Georgetown, and 3. S. Dusenberry, Georgetown. Greenville?W. A. Nesbitt, Bat son, rad C. 0. Goodwin, Lima. Beaufort?W. E H. Dopson, Beaufort, and S. E. Blount, Bsaufort. Darlington?W. C. Gandy, Dovesrille, and P. R. Mclntosb, Darling ton Newberry?"William Eibler, New aerry, and W. D. Halfacre, New berry. Abbeville?J. D. Carwile, Abbeville, and W. A. Lanier, Abbaville. Barnwell?Ashley StanselJ, Elko; 3. J. Hammett, Blackville, and John ? Suellings, Barnwell. Orangeburg?Thos. F. Stokes, Rowis vilie, and James H. Fanning Or meeburg. _ aaiuaa?waiter a- Sheaiy. .bates >urg, and F. H. Hsmpson, Huggin's ?erry. Pickens?J. H Hennemur, Pickens md J. Aloczo Bro^n, Cateechee, Lexington?W. H Meetze, Lsxing- ; on, and George W. Pound, Gaston. Bamberg?R. W. D. Rowell, Den- : nark, and Isaac Carter, Ebrhardt. Chesterfield?W. C Baker, Chester ield, courthouse; C. W. Teal, Ches < erfield courthouse, and W. C. Mcfreight, Chesterfield courthouse. I Charleston?Joseph G Martin, < Charleston, and Lee Royal, Charles < on. ' York?D. C. Clark, Yorkville, auu 3 fames E Baumeruard, Clover, Laurens?R D. Boyd, Austin, and ' r. D. Sullivan, Laurens. * A ike a?G. C. iloseley, Aiken, and 1 I. M Sawyer, Monetta. i Colleton?Thomas S. Ackerm^n, < yOttageville; Jorsph A Roger, Wal J erboro, and C. T. Worsham. Clarendon?C. D Hodge, Manning, ,nd Edward B. Gamble, Manning. Williamsburg?Charles Lestisne, 3-reeleyviile, and W. G-. Cantley, Jrown's. Richland?M. A. Bridges, P. B. Mc}oy and Joab J. Roach, all of C^lum>ia. Lancaster?J. Mont. Cassey and lobert J. Flynn. both of Lancaster. Union?J. D. Epps, Maybinton and P. Thomas, Jr., Carlisle. Fairfield?Thomas W. Sl'gh, Ridge 7av, and John H. Neal Winnsboro Caesfer?Josephs Hardin, Chester; L W. Love, Chester, and John Rose, Cornwall. Greenwood?W. A. Sanders,Ninety Six, and l,. Siieppei-d, Greenwood. Oconee?H. L. Vandiver, and W. L Barron, both of Walhalla. Anderson?Walter L. Anderson, Lnderson, and Charles M. Barrett, Jorinne, Kershaw?Ma^nes Rabon, Camden, 1 nd Alexander Browa, Camden. s Symter?Jno. M. Knight, Sumter, nd Thomas B. DuBoss. Bossard. 1 Oar War Ships. President McKinley could in a few . .iys concentrate a powerful fleet to 3 aeet the Spanish war ships in Cuban raters should the occasion, arise to ( emand them. Of the torpedo floLlla the Ericson and the Cushing are ( ngaged in dispatch work between [97 West and Havana, and the Dorter * nd Dupcnt are at Mobile, and the Poote and Winslow are at No ."folk. , 'he Texas and Nashville are at Gal -eston, the Marble'nead at New Or * eans, the Detroit en route for Mobile, k .nd tiie Vesuvious at Brunswick G-a. 4 n the Caribean Sea are the Brooklyn, Wilmington, Newport and Montgom ( :ry. In reserve are the Puritan and ( terror at Norfolk, and the Columbia ' tsd Minneapolis at League Island, ' vhile the triinin? shiD3 are as widelv catered, the Essex aad Amphitrite * >eing at Port Royal, S. C.; the Alii- ' iuce at Portsmouth, N. H.; the An* ( lapclis at St. Thomas and the Vicksrnrg at St. Kitts. The Cincinnati md Castine are steaming fast for Bahia. The Bancroft, San Francisso t.nd Helena are at Lisbon. This disjosition of the fhet shows the mobili :ation of the vessels, save those in reierve and abroad, would oea question )f only a few days, while all the other ?essels could be assembled in less ;han two weeks. The table shows ;hat twenty-eight vessels are available, md that at least six torpedo boats jculd be by the same date prepared ror work. At the present moment Spain's ships ia the West ladies are nostly unimportant vesssels of the gunboat type or very small gun vesils of no importance, intended for as -> ia the creeks of Cuba. It would probably be not less than a month oefor^ Soain could gather her best vessels off the coast of Cuba. Vultures Ea: tlie Dead. A dispatch from Havana says: Thus far the sharks have give a no trouble, but the vultures have left scarcely anything but the skeletons of those who were entangled in debris very ear the surfacs of the water. The bodies were not noticed by any one until the fcul birds had completed their ghastly work. From the hand 3f one, Captain Chadwick removed for identification, a deeply chased gold ring. A HORRIBLE CRIME. THE NEGRO POSTMASTER AT LAKE CITY, S.C, KILLED. *7u His Infant Child Shot Dead in its Mother's Arms, and the Same Ballet Maimed the Woman?The House and Bodies Burned. One of the most horiible and brutal crimes occurred at Lake City in Williamsburg county on Tuesday night of last week. The regro postmaster and his infant daughter were killed and their bodies burned, and his wife and three other children, two of the latter grown, were horribly shot. The aifair is undoubtedly one of the most) horrible that ever was prepetrated in South Carolina. Frazier B. Baker, a black negro, was appointed postmaster at Lake City by President McKinley last August. He was at that time a resident \J 1 X' JiKJJi guuc IsUULLbjr, UUt XXJLUVCU. IAJ Lake City to take charge of the office. Shortly afterwards he was shot and slightly wounded. Some time later his assistant was shot but not seriously hurt. In January the postoffice with its contents was burned. A few weeks ago the negro re established the office in a rude hut about a mile from town. One night week before last a mob attacked the building and several shots were fired into it, but Baker held on to his job and the next day spoke ip a braggadocia manner about not L _ * - J * 1 ^ i i " "? oemg scarea, ana saia tna; ne wouia have to be killed to get hirn oat of the postoffice. The tragedy Tuesday night is the sequel. Baker lived with his family, consisting of a wife, three daughters and one son, in the rear of the rude hut used also as the postoibcb. The coroner's inquest broughtfout the following facts: Baker's wife was aroused about 1 o'clock this morning by some unaccountable sounds. Upon arising she discovered that the house was on fire and immediately awaker.ed her husband. Just as she did so, there was a volley of rifie shots fired upon the building and the bullets came clear through the walls and m;?de things hot for the occupants. By this time the entire household was aroused and efforts were mado to check the flame3. All this time the firine outside was keDt ud. when the man saw tiip.t there was no chance to check the fire. He told his family to follow him and he rushed to the front door of the hou3e. Just as he opened the door he was shot down. Instantly the woman, the three girls and the boy were shot. A ball passed through the baby who was in the mothers arms and struck the woman's arm, breaking it The little fellow was dead and the mother's fractured limb could no longer support it. so it fell. The dead father fell upon the dead body of the uhiljcL Those of the household who were still able to walk ran from the burning building right into the faces of,the assassins. Tne' mob quickly ii&pjbrsed. The next yarning ihe charred .remains of the nostmaster and the baov were found and examinations toy physicians showed that the woman, was shot in the le.t arm and in the right ;high. The oldest girl was rfhot through ;he groin and her right hand is shot ; )ff. The other girl was shot through 1 ;he left elbow and may lose her arm. Che boy was shot through the abdo- ' nea and through the right arm. He ' iud the oldest daughter may die. Sone of the family recognized any . )ne in the mob. It is said that several lundred shots were fired into the burning building. The wounded ne- 1 jroes are receiving the best af treat* nent at the hands of the white people ' )f the town. Food, raiment and med- ! cal attention are being given them ( gratis. o.ne coroners jury was adjourned :or a few days and they will make ! 5very effort to get some clue to the ' issassins. The people of Lake City ' Kerned to ba awed by the dreadful cc:urrence. At first it was thought that the body ( >f the bab7 was entirely consumed 1 ay the flames but further search developed the fact that the remains of ;he child were directly underneath Jie charred remains of its father. ; The surviving members of Baker's , 'amily are: Luvenia, his wife, gunshot wound in left arm and leg. Koselle, eldest daughter, gunshot : wound in left arm and leg. Cora, next eldest daughter, gunshot : tVk/J f U Avt/^ r> uuuu in ngub uaiiu. Linkutn, eldest son, gunshot wound n left arm and abdomen. They are all doing as well as can be ;x oected. Sarah, and Willie, still younger, es- : japed unhurt. The white as well as the colored 1 jitizsns of the town are contributing 1 .iberally to the necessities of the striving members of the Baker family. The citizaii3 of Lake City are now ! sending and receiving their mail from ; 3crantcn, S. C., which is threa miles ; i way. Wednesday the negroes made threats )f burning, etc., but up to thi3 time everything has remained quiet and ; iow there seems to be no further iroubie anticipated. The parties who committed this atrocious crime, so far as your corresxmdent can learn; ara yet unsuspected. uncle sam takes action. A disDatch from Washington savs ;he postoffics department will send an nspector to the scene of the tragedy it oace to investigate and make a full report of the case to the department. Whan this is obtained the department 3f justice will be asked to. prosecute he persons engaged in tlie crime. Baker, who is said to have been a respectable colored man and who had previously taught school,was appointed to the ofiise in July last. It is said that he was a man of quiet, unob3trusiva habits and had filled the position a short while only before threats of personal danger were made against Him. There was no place in the city fn h=* "hart fni? k'ppniner flip nnclnffifA and it was removed to the schoolhouse in the suburbs. The citizens boycotted the office with some degree of sue cess. No serious complaint had keen received'concerning the "condition of affairs very recently, and it was hoped that the prejudice against the postmaster had died down. The post master geieral has offered a reward of $300 for the arrest and conviction of the persons who burned the postoffice. Generel Gary has issued an prder to discontinue the office at Lake City from this time. Mail intended for Lake City will hereafter b9 sent to Scranton, the nearest postoffice, where it can be called for by the people of - the former place. Attorney General Griggs has telegraphed United States Attorney Lathrop instructing him to co operate with the State authorities, and if possible secure the arrest of the parties for destroying the postoflBce building and for other felonious acts in connection with the murders done in violation of the statutes of the United States. THE GOVERNOR OFFERS A REWARD. The Columbia State says in official auu puuuutu circles m vxiiumuu* jcjcai. condemnation of the act of ine Williamsburg county mob was heard upon all sides. It seemed hard to believe that people in South Carolina could be guilty of such an act. Some vigorous expressions were heard. Governor E12erbe,when seen, expressed himself very vigorously about the affair, but declined to say anything for publication. He simply made the announcement that he had promptly offered a re ward of $500 for the apprehension and conviction of the parties unknown who had committed the deed. In addition to this the announcement is made that through the attorney gereraTs office Solicitor Wilson has been instructed to proceed to Lake City and take charge of the case in behalf of the State. DEPLORED IN WASHINGTON. A special dispatch to the Stats from Washington says the outrage has created a good deal of excitement in Congress. An investigation will be made by the postoffise department and an f will Ktt TV* fft /Mkf 4-Ua TMlWlAM I VMVA V " " ' WW JUUOUV/ W bUO p?UUOB into the United States court as the United States mail was destroyed. It is thought in Washington that the outrage will not help the contested congressional seats from this State and tha? both Congressmen Stokes and Elliott will be outs ted in consequence of it. A BOARD OF INQUIRY. Resolution Crusting One Iatrodacftd ~by Senator Allen. In the United States Senate Wednesday Senator Allen introduced the following resolution: "Whereas, it is the established doc* ^ - trine of the United States that the western hemisphere shall be dedicated to republican forms of government recognizing the political equality of human beings, and "Whereas, tne principles of the Monroe doctrine or the doctrine of national self preservation, is as applicable in wresting any portion cf this continent from the grasp of foreign countries as in preventing them obtaining additional territory; and "Wnereas, the island of Cuba, by reason of its location and close proximty to the United States, should by right, be dedicated to republican form of government; and "Whereas, a republican form of government is, and has been for nearly three years maintained in said island by force of arms, and "Whereas, it is alleged that five hundred thousand persons on said island have died of starvation by reason of being - concentrated by the Spanish government at various points; without bni^friil hi affniTted an opportunity to provide food for themselves, and hundreds are daily e ying, and "Whereas, the dictates of humanity require the intervention of the United 3tates in such case, therefore, "Resolved, That a select committee .J .1? ' Ol A * _ * ** - - ji nvd oanators soau 03 appomiea whose duty it shall bo to make a thorough investigation and inqure into aad. rep art oaths following subjects: "JL To what extent the work of con* filtrating the inhabitants of Cuba has been carried on by the Spanish gov* arnment and how many persons on said island have in the last three years iied as a result of starvation, or for lack of sufficient food, and diseases incident thereto, and to what extent concentration is being practiced there by Spanish authorities and the conditions of the people concentrated. 4lf> \Aj am tu a (J* ff HOilACl kU.3 ^ WCU \JUL~ bans have been adequately sheltered, clothed and fed by the Spanish government, or by others, or have been permitted to obtain food and clothing for themselves. "3. What lawful steps, if any, are necessary andean be taken by the United States to bring the war in Cuba toaspaedy termination, on grounds honorable alike to Spain and Cuba, and which will result in the kingdom of Spain relinquishing its hold on the island and iu the establishment of a republican form of government there. *'4. To what extent Spanish barbarity and cruelty have during the war now in progress on the island of * Cuba, been practiced toward the in nabitanta of Cuba and what has been lawfully done by the United States if anything, to ameliorate the condition of the Cubans. "And to these ends and for these purposes said committee may sit at 3uch times and places as they may see proper daring the sessions of congress and in vacation and shall have the right to visit and take testimony in Cuba, if deemed proper to do so. All testimony taken shall be preserved, and the finding of said select committee, together with all testimony shall be reduced to writing and reported to the senate at as early a date as practi cable." A Bloody Tuctdji A bloody tragedy was enacted in a wagon yard on Rock street. Little Rock, Aiv - Tednesday moraine, the principals to the affray being Dr. J. EL Hartsell, a physician of some prominence, and William K. Elliott, proprietor of the yard in which the shooting occurred. The tragedy grew out of family affairs, in which Mra. Hartsell was involved and which, it is alleged, led to that lady's suicide, which occurred about a month ago. Dr. Hartsell fired three shots at Elliott, when only five feet away. Two of the bullets took effect, one in the abdomen and one in the chest Elliott sprang upon Hartsell and wresting the revolver from him, turned, it upon Hartsell and fired two shots, one of them striking Hartsell in the cheek. Physicians pronounce both men mortality wnunflo^ a?H rhai* rlaofh is (4UU UU.VX4. UMIUU M % hourly expected. According to the statement of witnesses Elliott made improper advances to Mrs. Hartsell during the doctor's absence some time ago and a tragedy was narrowly averted at that lime. The Hart sell's nnally separated and later Mrs. Hartsell committed suicide on account of h6r trouble; February has been trying to aware us that ihe backbone of winter has not yet been broken. And we feel assured that such is the fact But we are not complaining; its coolness was tempered with a fair degree of moderation.