University of South Carolina Libraries
" ~ " . f. ^ ^ g ^ - . ; ' ; | ^ - * ; . : ; % VOL. 1I1L WINNSBORO, S. C., WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER o, 1898. ' NO. 9. V / V^gf! A STRONG ADDRESS. K The Cotton Growers Are Urged to Combine. INTERESTING PAPER. for the Farmers to Protecl hemselves is Pointed Out in Detail. The Danget Imminent, ^^^BRwhe Cotton Growers of South Caroj ^ The special committee appointed by the Cotton Growers' union of the State held in Columbia on the 20th inst., desire to say that the exceedingly low prices of cotton at the present, with j.v.x-. pi ? " me indication 01 lower prices sun iu the future, painfully admonish us that ^ we have reached a crisis in the history of the industry. Prices today are not only far lower than they have ever previously been at this season of the year, but lower than they have been for 50 years, and the months of November, December, January and February are selling on the Liverpool market lowei than during the great depression of the forties, and even at these figures Engr lish agents are advising the spinners of Great Britain to withhold their purchases upon assurances that prices will soon be 50 points lower. In view of AAn/^ifiAnc TTO fn PO11 flip VVUVllVJ.\/JUO ?? UVIJ4AV VV Vw?* vuv attention not only of the cotton growers but of every business association in the cotton belt to the portentous fact ' that for the want of organization di^ rected by ordinary tact and foresight. -?we as a people are allowing this great element of wealth to pass beyond ?ui borders for a mere song; that our birthright is going for a mess of pottage, and our exeat natural advantages sacri ficed with the careless indifference of a drunkard, who Sings from, his lap his treasures. Foreign speculators and manufacturers, fully ax are that the staple is passing out of the hands of the"* growers at figures far below the cost of production, nevertheless bold aloof from the market to allow the ma turing obligations of the tanners to force the crop out of their hands for a mere pittance. Defiantly claiming to command the situation they boldly propose to avail themselves of conditions, which could be remedied by a combination of the cotton growers and business element of the cotton belt, to rob the growers not only of the profits of their year's toil but of nearly one-half the value of 10,000,000 bales of cotton, and r thereby impoverish the most favored section of the globe. Blessed with the natural advantages of a climate and I soil which alone can produce this great V ofot\1o in rtnalifxr or?r? nnot?+1tv cnflfiMAnf ovayiv IU uui -k %/j uuu uumuv?VJ for the demands of the world, we should be the most prosperous people on earth. Efficient organization, which would L control the volume of production and regulate its marketing, would make -those advantages a mine of wealth; but p jeit;n every cotton grower separately ana "independently striving to increase his Jweage and nullify his bales, first above flgbthen below the cost of production; yR a vicious financial system that cWses the claims of the local merchant and Ranker to force the entire crop on 1 _ the market in four months, these natural advantages are distorted into a F blight and a curse, and the cotton grower is made to become a prey to the usurer, the speculator and the manufacturer. Never was there a situation . which more peremptorily challenged the wisdom of economic .statesmanship; never was there a more inviting way, a more imperative field for organization; never was there an exigency which would more fully justify it. Yet we are told that the cotton growers are an ignorant class, devoid of leadership and TTTifl>Arif 4-li r\ tvatta* fV\of if vritiivuv cju.^ yvngi w vigaui^g, viiav m is impossible to organize 500,000 cottor ah growers. Why even the lower animals ^ will rally for defense and 3elf protection. Can it be possible that the cotton growers constitute the only element of the animal kingdom which cannot unite? Are they so devoid of manhood, v, intelligence and foresight that the strongest incentives?independence, j-- competency, the welfare of their sec gk tion and the maintenance or their families cannot induce them to unite? If it he true that as a class they are so devoid of spirit, so ignorant, so helpless and supine that the most direct and forceful appeals to sentiments the most calculated to stir the human hear t canCn/^11 +-K/-VV*-* 4-sn /\x/va riirr/% ^/\t? nil*. 11 Vt luuugv tlicui U\J UX50.1116KZ XVI |/U1 ^ poses of mutual protection and self dean, fence, then truly we should hear nc more complaints of the oppression oi trusts and combinations, but as a class we should meekly accept that law oJ nature which decrees that the improvident, the weak and the careless shaL serve the vigilant, the active and the strong; then should we join in the re frain of the other avocations. 'I hold the farmer a simp'e fool ~*orn to labor and not to rule. Ax?d I "wi 1 do unto him that which I 8?e Will bring the most monpy to mine and t< me." Prompt and concerted action on the part of the cotton growers would change present conditions in 90 days. Through the comolete organization which woulc enable them toact as a unit would plac< them in command of the situation it ? three months and change their condi from one of bankruptcy and dis Wess to one of competency and profit. By what means can organization effect these ends? Adopt the recommen dations of the National Cotton Growers nnion, organize promptly, hold all the eotton on hand and firmly bind ourselves to reduce the extent of this year's | acreage 50 per cent, the ensuing year. I No intelligent man of business experience will dispute the soundness of this proposition. As soon as effective measures to these ends have been taker and become a certaintv cotton will im ' mediately advance and more money cac be borrowed on it than it is worth today: because it would then become a security constantly anticipating in value. The visible supply of cotton is not r above 15,000.000 and the invisible supply, or stock on hand at the mills, is estimated at 500,000, making a total ol 2.000.000 bales. To be certain not tc underestimate will put the amount oi this stock which has passed beyond th< control of the growers into the hands oi speculators and manufacturers, say a' 2,400,000. The consumption range; between S00.000 and 1.000,000 bales Der month. If the farmers should with hold their cotton from the market fo fe-'' ; '., V : .*. Jfe " v" -5. . "* - c. ' : I - v* i . . . / | three months the entire surplus beyond ! their control would be consumed and I the manufacturers would be at their [ mercy for a supply. The entire situation would be changed instead of the speculator and the manufacturer dictating the price the cotton grower could ; x his price and say pay it or shut down j your mill. A reduction in next year's 1 ? /.Anf incnrn I Ui pel tcuii nvuiu xuautv ^ j such a diminution of the supply as to | make cotton scarce and bring about an J active competition among the manufacturers for their stock that would insure | a steady and rapid rise of price. This was made demonstrably clear i during the war between the north and south in the sixties. McHenry in his , "History of the Cotton," page 51, says: , uIn ordinary times there is always two years' supply of cotton in the crude . and manufactured state at the consuming points. At the fall of Fort Sumter there was a sufficiency for three years' l requirements. With the supply larger ' in proportion then than now, as soon as . I the production was curtailed by the ' i war, we note the following extraordinary rise in prices; in 1S60 the average l price was 11 cents, in 1861 at 13 cents, in 1S62 at 32 cents, in 1863 at 67 cents, , in 1S64 at $1.01. But it is argued that ! any heavy curtailment of production in the South to raise the price will stimulate foreign competition. If $1 per - pound in 1864 could not stimulate ingenious foreign competition it is difficult to see how 8 or 10 cents can do it now." Touching this point, Ellison -in his "History of the Cotton Trade," pages 149-142. says: "For some years prior to the outbreak of the civil war it had been foreseen that, sooner or later o corinna lafinr ^iet.11 rhanf-P at t.hp Smith was inevitable, and in view of the ca, lamity which such au event would bring upon Lancashire, every effort was made to discover new - sources of cotton supply. But, although, the powerful association formed for the promotion of this end searched every nook and corner of the cotton zone, and sent seed to every one in the four continents, willing to experiment, they enr tirely failed to accomplish the laudable object they had in view." Mr. Ellison further tells us that while the exceedingly high prices during the war did considerably increase foreign shipments of cotton, that this increase declined almost to its normal bed as soon as the price of cotton fell to 15 cents or 30 cents per pound. If no action is taken and this crop is sacrificed at present or probably lower figures in the next four months it will fall far short of paying for the cost of production. The cotton growers will be impoverished, the country stripped of means and every business interest must suffer. Should there be 110 effective organization to curtail the supply by a uniform reduction of the acreage, and any other plan to reduce the crop, is the merest twaddle. The industry I A vi An f li A ytin uc ullu an n;usi/iauuu vi ou.x?ival of the fittest; those who can raise it cheapest and those who cannot compete must accept the cheerless and hopeless lot of the bankrupt and pauper. J. C. Wilborn, Presidents. C. C. G. U. L. W. Youmans, Vice-President N. C. G. U. A. GEilAT SGHEMEi By Which the Cotton Acreage Can be Decreased. There is a cotton man in Columbia who has a great scheme on foot for the : reduction of the cotton acreage. He ; says he intends to push it to a grand and glorious success and no doubt he i will if he can get the proper co-opera; tion. There is a degree of -uncertainty i about his being able to do that, how: ever. There have been a number of i conventions of cotton planters, in which they all positively pledged themselves ; to reduce the amount of cotton they i would plant. It was a case of resolute and fall back. Then when the fanners got home, each one would wink at himself; assume that everybody else was going to decrease the acreage, and he would take advantage of the opportunity to double his owd acreage in cotton and get the benefit of higher prices. They would all play foxy in the same way and the consequence -would be a crop of unprecedented size. Now this Columbia genius has hit upon a scheme which logically cannot fail. He proposes to call a convention of all the cotton growers of this part of the South. They will each and*all be pledged to increase their cotton acreage for the next year. Every safeguard will be thrown around them so that according to all > the laws of the game the acreage "be : doubled. And then one by one they > win &ev;ici/ij utjccimiuc i/uac as tucic 10 : to be an over production of cotton he will plant a minimum acreage, and let [ the other fellows reap the proceeds of 2 i cent cotton. As a consequence we would - have the smallest crop of cotton planted in fifteen jrears and the fleecy staple will go up to 12 cents.?Record. Cost Him His Arm. > William Roelker, a German iron . iwioLcu a. xivii o uiii aii uaot kjv? j Louis, and ^11 lose his left arm. John 1 F. Hummt^x-ircus and menagerie was [. to give an'&iiibition. The animal [ wagons were lined up, preparatory to ? the parade. Among the animals were I a pair of African lions. The male was lying at the front of the cage with one of his paws and his tail hanging outside the bars. Roelker began stroking the paw with his left hand. The lion watched Roelker's procedure. The ? ironworker grabbed the tail with > his right hand, giving it a sharp twist. [ There was a roar, and one of the lion's , paws caught Roelker by the left shoulder and stripped off the flesh of the arm !. down to the hand, two fingers of which . were torn off. > | * i Beats Walking. 1 j When a man walks a mile he takes, ' I on an average, 2,268 steps, lifting the 1 { weight of his body with each step. | When he ride? a bicycle of the average 1 j gear he covers a mile with the equiv" ! alent of only 627 steps, requires little ' I force, bears no burden, and covers the ; same distance in less than one-third of ? i the time." j > | Another Hold "Up. t j A special from Elyria. Ohio, says: 5 ! Another hold-up occurred on the Lake P | Shore road west of here. One gang of t : tramps held up the officials on a freight > | train and took everything in sight. 5 I Many shots were fired. The trainmen - | were not molested. A movement is on r I foot to break up the gang. "CLIMATE AND CROPS. South Carolina Has Some Crop Growing the Year Round. ! INSPECTOR BAUER'S REPORT i Much Valuable Information Bur nished as to the Conditions in This State During Each Month. The following is the climate and crop review for the season of 1898 issued from the South Carolina section of the United States weather and crop service Thursday There is no month of the year but what, in portions of the State, some crop is either growing ?r coming to maturity. During January. February and ?enerallv the creator portion of March the active growth of crops is confined to the immediate coast from Charleston to the mouth of the Savannah river, j where winter vegetables, planted in I the previous autumn, receive cultivation and make more or less growth. The earliest are marketed in the latter portion of January, and throughout February and March. The list of vegI pfcaMps ?ncrpain varietv as the sea son advances and the area of production extends farther into the interior, although confined to the easternmost counties until after March. The winter season of 189S was mild and dry. The average temperature for January was 49 degrees, which was an a"erage of 3 degrees per day in excess of . he normal. Along the coast the tern ierature fell below freezing (32) ou two lays only, while the average minimum v\is above the active growing tern >erature. The rainfall, however, in tiie trucking districts, amounted to a f raction of an inch only, and the defici sncy seriously affected the growing tm ;k crops. Frost did no'injury. The avf rage rainfall for the State was 1.S0 inch, which was 2.60 below the norrr?o) February was a cool month throughout the State, with an average temperature of 44 degrees which was 6 degrees per day below the normal. The minimum fell to, or below, freezing on an average of 16 days for the State, and 5 days in the truck raising districts, where also, the average minimum was below the active growing temperature with frequent light frosts. The rainfall titqo Qflroin T'Tio avprncp was only 0.81 inch, which was 2.80 below the normal. Less than one-fourth of an inch fell in the truck region. These conditions of temperature and rainfall, while generally favorable for farming interests, were iMr aging to the trucking interests and resulted in the latest and smallest yield in many years, causing a general loss to the truck growers. The cool weather throughout the State retarded the growth of winter wheat cmoll inc a n r} CfeUVL VtttCj UUU V/UUW 01XAC414 wuvt checked the budding of fruit trees and aided materially in making the grain crops the finest in many years, and an unusually large peach crop. The dry condition of the ground permitted more than the usual amount-of ploughing and preparation of fields for the usual spring planting. In the extreme south eastern counties some corn was planted during the latter portion of the month. March was a warm, dry month. The mean temperature was 59 degrees, which was 5 degrees per day above the normal. The extremes recorded were a maximum of 92 and a minimum of 22 degrees, the latter on the first of the month. Heavy killing frosts were reported from the 1st to the 7th, after . rrrWk AT tiu uu naiux except over the extreme western counties, where the average night temperatures were below the active growing points until the latter portion of the month. The rainfall averaged 2.99 inches, which was 1.47 below the normal, but was unevenly distributed, having been heavy in the upper Savannah valley and at a few other points, and very denAoaf f Vj A ut:^uu viiv ?i UVAV VMV drought conditions were intensified, to the further injury of the truck crops which were slowly coming to maturity, and shipments of strawberries, peas, beans and Irish potatoes were begun. The prevailing high temperature caused a rapid growth of vegetation. Ttte freedom of the soil from excessive moisture enabled early and thorough nronn ration nf lands for thfi usual f,* w w- ? spring crops. Fruit trees of all varieties blossomed during the month. Wheat, oats and barley grew luxuriantly. Lands were prepared for corn, and much was planted. Some cotton and rice were planted. Farm work made rapid progress. , April was cooler than usual, with a mean temperature of 58 degrees, which was 5 degrees per day below the natural. The extremes of temperature were a maximum of 92 degrees and a minimum of 25 degrees. Frequent light frosts occurred up to the 28th, none of which, although heavy in appearance, did any damage except t? retard tue growth of youDg corn and cotton.* The rainfall averaged ii.05 inches, which was 1.91 inches in excess of the normal, and was evenly distributed, with an average of eight days without rain. The rainfall was beneficial it supplying, to a large extent, ^he previous deficiency, thus putting the ground into excellent condition for planting, although germination and growth of the staple crops were slow owing to the prevailing low temperature. Corn planting made considerable progress during the month, and the bulk of the cotton crop was also planted, there remaining but little of either crop to plant by the end of the month, except over the western counties, where the farm work was delaved. and | was frequently interrupted by heavy | rains. Minor crops were largely all planted and in the main did well. Many peaches, plums, cherries and apricots were killed in the western counties by the frost of the 7th, but elsewhere throughout the State the prospects for a large fruit crop were unimpaired, cxcept for apples and pears. The weather was favorable on wheat. o y-? rrAnAr?>1Ixr c?a Aotc fiAA f A. a.liu. ov ivi vttWj * *vv k\j bacco. May was slightly warmer than usual, with a mean temperature of 74 degrees, which was 3 degrees per day above the normal. The extremes of tenaperature were a maximum of 1% degrees and a minimum of 39. The weather during X .. - . . . . - : . the first week vras cool, with light frosts on the 7th and 8th over a large portion of the State, but the frost did no injury other than to retard the growth of young corn and eotton. Cut worms were unusually numerous and destructive during the prevalence of the cool weather. The temperature on j the 30th was higher at many stations j than ever before recorded in May. The average rainfall for the month was only 1.35 inches, with an average of 8 days with rain. The rainfall was 84 per cent, of the normal, and droughty conditions prevailed by the end of the month, beiDg most severe over the southeastern counties, where there was a large seasonal deficiency in rainfall. The harvesting of wheat and oats was elegant and nearly finished during the month. The wheat crop was the finest raised for many years; the oats 1 V x P ; crop was aiso neavy, except, ior spring sown, which was injured by the dry weather. Truck crops suffered severely. Cotton developed slowly, being small but vigorous and healthy. * Corn remained green, but made slow growth, and in places suffered severely for the want of rain. Tobacco did well, and an almost entire absence of destructive insects was noted. avriflc JL aoiuiuo lanuu x&yixxt \ ^ muiiiw ****** truck yields were reduced by the drought. Streams reached very low stages, and wells began to fail by the end of the month. Rice grew well, but on account of the low stages of the rivers, was threatened by salt water. Gardens dried up, and vegetables became scarce in places. Farm work was well advanced, and crops were kept free from weeds and grass, and were well cultivated. The dust was distressing in the cities and along the highways. June was a month of transition from the unfavorable conditions that prevailed generally during May on account of drought in that month. The mean temperature was 80, which was 2 degrees above the normal. The extremes of temperature were a maximum of 105 and a minimum of 55. The temperature rose to or above, 90 degrees on an average of 20 days. The average rainfall for the month was 4.15 inches, which was 0.47 of an inch below the normal. There was an average of 8 days with rain. The drought of the previous month became intensified, and continued until about the 15th, after which date copious aud well distributed showers occurred over the entire State, and prevented the threatened serious injury to growing orAnc nyppnt, t,n truck, cardens. SDrine "* "X""? w 7 / -*rsown oats and early corn. The latter was too nearly matured in the eastern counties to be much benefitted.' The absence ef rain during the first half of the month was favorable for finishing wheat and oats harvest and securing the grain in fine condition, but delayed planting of corn and peas on stubble lands; and transplanting sweet potato slips. Cotton plants developed satisfactorily; they fruited heavily, and in the more easterly portions of the State put on bolls freely. Lice damaged cotton in many places; otherwise cotton was in a healthy condition, although small for the season, except on sandy soils, where it attained nor moal growth. Tobacco developed into a very fine crop, and was unusally free from worms, fleas and grasshoppers, and. sustained no damage by hail. Some early tobacco was cut and cured. Rice did not do well until near the close of the month, when it began to improve rapidly. Large quantities of peaches and plums came on the market but other fruits and berries were scarce or of inferior quality. Melons were smaller and later than usual. The month as a whole favored farm work, with a result that field crops were gen' ? 11 erally well cultivated ana unusually free from grass and weeds. July was a cloudy and rainy month with even high temperature. The mean temperature was 80, which was one degree per day above the normal. The extremes were a maximum of 102 and a minimum of 54 degrees. The cool spell was of short duration, and did no harm. The average rainfall for the State was 7.81 inches, which was 1.71 above * * 1 *! j__ the normal, ana was eveniy distributed. with an average of 14 days with rain. There was more than the usual amount of cloudiness. Few severe windstorms occurred, and th^re was ? 1 ?- ? ?X -rv-P rtcfwi A+.1TTA clLI ililliUSL tJUWii; ttUSGiitc Ui uvui ? v hail. Crop developed satisfactorily, especially corn, which attained a very promising condition although the prospects did not indicate a full crop in all sections of the State. Cotton grew too much to stalk, and. owing to the continuous wet condition of the soil, did not receive its usual July cultivation, and fields became grassy. The plant lacked sunshine. Cotton fruited heavily, with very little shedding except in a few localities where excessive shedding occurred. Tobacco cutting and curing continued througout the month, and, the bulk of this crop was saved without any material injury from any source. Fresh water for flooding rice fields became available early in the month, and the crop improved rapidly. Forage and food crops grew fast. Fall root crops were planted. The month as a whole was favorab!e.for all agricultural interests Peaclies and melons were plentiful, but other fruits were generally scarce. The damp cloudy weather caused much r\^ninrr rryo r\??c August was a month of normal temperature and excessive rainfall. The mean temperature for the month was 79 degrees, which is also the normal. The extremes of temperature recorded were a maximum of 99, and a minimum of 57 degrees. There was an unusually small range in the night temperatures. -The average rainfall for the month was 9.81 inches, which was 3.68 inches in excess of the normal. There were 18 days with rain, and some rain fell within the State on evfrv riav nf thfi month. Two stations had monthly measurements of over 24 inches, and 13 others had over 10 inches. The rainfall at many stations was largely in excess of any previous monthly records. There was a harmful deficiency in sunshine. Abundant moisture and even, high temperature caused ail vegetation to grow rapidly, nnr? fnrn?i ytpII as rrrnfc ftrons did exceedingly -well; but maturing crops, such as cotton, corn and rice, de-. teriorated. The frequent rains prevented haying, delayed rice h? vest and ruined the greater portion of corn / fodder that was stripped from the stalk. Some corn was blown to the ground and considerable sprouted in the husk. The humid, rainy weather caused many ripe cotton- bolls to rot, and the seed of open cottoa sprouted before it could be picked. Much of the open cotton mildewed and became weather-stained. The exeessive rains caused rust to develop, and shedding of squares and young bolls. Peavines attained good growth Dut couia not be Harvested. Urass that was cut for hay was generally mined before it could be properly cured and housed. Exceedingly heavy rains caused inundations over the southeastern counties, doing extensive damage to cotton, corn, rice and hay. On the wl nie, the month was unfavorable for the staple crops, but was quite favorable for minor crops, pastures and gardens. Whatever deterioration crops suffered was due to an excess of moisture and deficiency in sunshine. The first bale of cotton for the season of 1898 was ginned on the 9th of Augu3t, or 12 days later than in 1897. September began with a continuation of the rainy, clammy and warm weather that prevailed during August, but about the 10th of this month there was a change to cooler, clear weather at first, and then to clear, very warm weather. The temperature averaged | about 3 degrees per day above the jormal. The rainfall was slightly deficient in the central and eastern counfine hnf. r\\7&-r TTTOQ^m AAnnfioa VAlsOj k/UO VT VI l/UV II UJbVl LI V/VUL1 HVkJ there was considerable excess, but neither the deficiency nor the excess just noted were great enough to be harmful. : After the 10th of September, ideal weather prevailed for harvesting and maturing crops. Rust, shedding and rotting ceased on cotton, and pickingmade rapid progress, which as it advanced seemed to indicate a shortage in the crop over the eastern and cen tral counties, but also indicated a full average crop in the western counties, where in many places cotton continued to grow, bloom and fruit throughout the month. Considerable corn was housed, and much found to be damaged from sprouting iu the husk. Local overflows of rivers and creeks also damaged some corn, but on the whole the early corn made a good average yield, with many exceptions, owing to local adverse con? t -i.,. ?i.?a uibiuua. jjdic piautuu ui oiuuuifiauu com varied greatly throughout the State. Rice harvest continued throughout the month, and except where damaged by floods, yielded heavily. Upland rice was particularly fine in most localities. A heavy crop of peavine and other hay was saved in good condition. The hay crop was the heaviest ever known in many localities, and was far above the average over the entire State. The season as a whole, for sweet poi.-*-? .-L-r.- i.? a uitues, uuuias, peanuts, sugai auu auigum cane, turnips, and for garden tiuck, after the middle of June, was very favorable and the yields larg-j. A short resume of the season would show that the winter was dry with nearly normal temperature: the spring cool, with frequent light irosts, and a deficiency in rainfall amounting to a drought of more or less severity, and entailing considerable loss in some localities. The summer was uniformly warm anJ excessively wet. The au tumn warm, dry and favorable tor Harvesting and abundant crops that the season and the labor of the husbandman produced. J. W. Bauer, Section Director. DESTRUCTIVE PRAIRIE FIRES. Five Thousand Head of Cattle Doomed US jucatii* tjcuuuo A prairie fire, probably started by a spark from a locomotive, has burned over thousands of acres of grassy lands between Kiowi and Bijou creeks in Morgan county, Col., and destroyed thousands *>f tons of hay. Ranchman W. C. Miller and his wife and child had a narrow escape from being burned to death. The woman and the child were badly burned. Had it not been for the prompt work of the J railroad men and others at Corona, the town would have been entirely destroyed. Going toward the approaching fire for a mile back fires were started and in this manner the danger averted. Thousands of head of cattle are threatened with destruction by the forest fires. In Eagle county, where the flames seem to be spreading more rapidly than in other sections of the State, ranch property has been burned and the farmers with their stock have been trying to get out of the path of the fires for a week past. One large bunch of about 5,000 head of cattle is now entirely surrounded by fire and there is no chance for them to escape. The report came from Deputy Game Warden Slaughter, who directed his letter two days ago. It is probable that the cat-.1 - i i J-..* J v.. tie nave ueeu uestxujuu \jy tuia ciuic. Dispatches form various points in the forest fire district indicate that the fires are spreading, ahd that unless something is done to check their further progress the loss will be almost beyond estimation. Some mining camps are threatened with destruction and many ranches are doomed. At Redcliff the fires are within 10 miles of the town and citizens are organizing to fight their advance. A dispatch states that it is feared that the little mining settlement at Holy Cross near Red Cliff has been destroyed. Communication is cut off the mail carrier being unable to get through. Diseases of Cattle. Veterinary , Surgeon Neeson, of Clemson college, has written a long * . . . /t "nil i n letter to ixovernor J&neroe m reierence to diseases of cattle in the state. He aays that it will be necessary to have an assistant if the business is to be properly attended to. These letters have been sent to Washington with the governor's recommendation that the additional surgeon be allowed. This department of Clemson- college has done much good work heretofore and the state authorities hope the government will send the additional surgeon. Prisoners Released. The official Gazette at Havana published a decree Thursday signed by Capt. Gen. Blanco and bearing date of September 27, granting pardon to and ordering the release of all political prisoners now undergoing confinement in the island. % BATTLE OF MANILA." A Retired French Naval Officer's Observation About It. THE SPANIARDS NO GOOD. They are Dreamers and Dwell In the Past. The Marksmanship of the Americans Excellent. The Courier des Etats-Unis is publishing a series of letters from Manila, one of which gives an account of the battle of Cavite by a retired French naval officer who lived for a long time 1U tlic X UlliptJiliC ijitiuua. auu n uvjt country house was situated between Cavite and Manila. The views of the Frenchman are interesting, especially because they seem utterly devoid of all prejudice. :'Now. monsieur.asked the corres pendent; "since your house was so near the scene of the battle, be good enough to tell us what the affair looked like." "Well, I will tell you the thing simply and just as it occurred. At 5 o'clock that morning I was in bed. I heard a long, dull sound. I thought that it ? was a signal announcing the arrival of a French or an English vessel. My wife awoke and asked, :What is that?' 'It is simply a signal,' said I. Two , minutes afterward there was another cannon shot. 'Hello! What's this?" said I. 'Is it something serious? That , certainly can't be a signal.' I jumped up and looked out of the window. I could see nothing but a little curtain of fog and a little smoke. Then, to frighten my wife with what I believed was a little practical joke, I shouted. 'The American fleet!' I looked out again. The fog was gone, and, sure enough, I counted seven American ships in line. They were advancing very slowly. I came back to my wife and said: 'Well, now, let me tell you that what I said to you a moment ago by way of a joke was really a fact. Here the Americans are!' She almost lost her head with fear. 'None of that,' said L 'Cover your head in the bedclothes and put cotton in your ears if you want to, but keep quiet.' "I watched the fleet. It was advancing upon Cavite, where all the Spanish boats were heaped together like . _ . .. mr A __ mice in a irap. j.ne Americans were soon upon them and opened a terrible fire. They manoeuvred for a while and finally placed themselves two by two, the two largest in the rear, and the others in front, two at the right, two at the left, all facing the Spaniards. At 7:30 there was not a single Spanish vessel afloat; all were either sunk or burned. The fire of the Americans was excellent, indeed, wonderful. Each shot hit the mark. I could see the smoke and the cloud of dust when a Tvmiofit.ilp f<?11 ATI cVinrA Tt. xcoc t> mncr nificent piece of firing practice." "But didn't the batteries fire?" "Ob, yes, the battery at Cavite fired a few shots, but it was quickly demolished by the shells of the Americans. It was absolutely reduced to cinders. 1 admired greatly the accuracy of the American shooting. As I said, every shot seemed to hit the mark." "Now, tell us about the protestations that were made by the consular corps, and especially by the German consul, in regard to some broken promises." "There were no protestations. The Spaniards came to the French consul and protested to him on the day of the battje. I was there at the time. They were excited and shouted out: 'Senor consul! Senor consul! They fired at us with shells that burst!' It was I who replied to them: :Ah! shells that burst!" I exclaimed. "Did you Spaniards protest in 1870 when Strasburg. Belfort and Paris were bombarded with shells that buitt? And even two mouths ago, when you massacred a lot of insurgents, it was also with shells KnrofI" "Rnf. fliof. ic xtott ol UUttV X/UU liliMV Ik) VUV II UJ UA ways with these Spaniards. They are proud, valiant and stubborn, but they live in 1550 or ?ay 1610. They have not changed one bit since then. Chas. V., Cortez and Legazpi are the only heroes they speak of. They do not seem to know that a great many Dew things have been introduced since that time, among others, shells, new powders, machines, electricity, etc." "Now, monsieur, do you believe that with the wise administration of a farseeing and cultivated nation the Philippines would be a valuable colony?" "Marvelous, perfectly marvelous! In the Philippines there are untold riches and their situation is perfectly unique. Among other things there are sugar, hemp, rice and an incalculable quantity of precious woods. And to all these mustjbe added coffee, tobacco and the mines. ~Tin fact, the subsoil is wort!, gold, but it has never been exploited." "Have the natives really suffered much from the Spaniards?" "Oh, yes, very much; that is incontestable. The Spaniards never did anything fur them. Just fancy that at Mariveles, at the entrance to the bay, there are still canuibals. Yes. sir. can nibals! Just think of that! They are very gentle and they do not cause much trouble, I will admit, but they have a taste for human flesh all the same, and that propensity has never been checked by the Spaniards. They go to church once in a while, and that is all that is demanded of them." "How comes it that the Spaniards did nothing? Why did not the governor risk a coup de main to recapture n.-j. j i.i. lAftvirc auu me araeuai; "With what? They could do nothing. They would have been under the fire of the American fleet." "But they had field pieces and it would not require very heavy projec tiles to pierce the American ships?" "Oh, yes. they had field pieces, but . they were worthless. In {'act, they had ; nothing to speak of. Disorder was ] everywhere; the insurgents surrounded ; the town on all sides and only watched ' their chance to capture it. The Spaniards found themselves threatened by everybody, both in the town f.nd outside of it. Now that the Spaniards are beaten they are busy with a problem ] which, with tkeir temperament, it will ! be difficult for them to solve. They : want to find out the cause of their de- < feat and they seek for it everywhere i except in themsekes. And yet that is i just where it is." 1 FLEEING FOE THEffi LIVES. A Mighty Sea of Fire Sweeps Everything Before it. 1 A dispatch from Idaho Springs, Colorado, say fearful forest fires are raging on the west side of the divide. They are beyond control and the people are fleeing for their lives. How many, if any. have perished cannot be known as * there is no way of getting direct infor mation. lagm; Dreezes gives tne mignty sea of fire new impetus and onward it goes, burning ever}'thing before it, with no chance for life, stock or property. Cattle are known to be perishing and bears, deer and ether wild animals are rushing to the east side of the. ] divide. The damage will be tremend- I ous. The timber losses amount to more fVian anv mnnAV rvmsidpraHnn. Thpse J forests cover the head waters of the mountain streams where the snow re- 1 main for many months. From such < source streams have' been kept carrying < volumes of water sufficient to irrigate 1 most of the lands of the State west of t the divide. With the disappearance of ? the timber the flow of the streams will t be materially lessened. There seems t to be a settled opinion among the ranchers that these fires were started 1 by the Indians with a malicious intent, i They say the forcible ejection of the < Indians and there return to the reser- ^ vation more than a year ago because of i their slaughter of game has made them bitter against the whites. * The forest fires which have been i burning in various places throughout 5 western Wisconsin for the past few ( days were fanned into furious storms of ] flame by winds and did great damage in i Chippewa, Dunn, St. Croix and- .Polk i counties. A general destruction of t telegraph wires make the,.reports very i incomplete, but it seems that the vil- i lasres of Clavfcon. Alamena and Poskin v hav^ been wholly or partly destroyed, ] that Cumberland has suffered heavy j losses and that Glenwood, Barron, Prentice, Phillips and Turtle Lake were saved only by great efforts. Re-" ports of loss of life are coming in, but have not been verified except in one instance. A railroad bridge and trestle over 700 feet long on the Soo Line, west of Barron, was burned last night and trains are running by another route. Fires have been checked in places by rains and the subsidence of the" winds. A rough estimate places the aggregate Wo to AAA AAA AAA AAA i AU33 au iiULU ^jU'A/JVW CV ?PUJVW,V/VV. * Reports from the western portion of 1 Colorado continue to tell of the ravages < of the forest fires, which bid fair to devastate the greater part of the forests ' if the State. A special from Glenwood < Springs, the centre of the binning dis- ' trict, says: "The fires in the moun- 1 tains near here have taken fresh life i today owing to high winds. . The snn < has been nearly obscured, all day the ( atmosphere was heavy with smoke. '< The fire east of Glenwood Springs is fortunately in an unsettled part .of the 1 country and aside from the immense i loss by the burning of timber, no loss has occurred up to the present time. "The stock on the ranges, .as far as i heard from, has #>sr>aTv?<l thn firp " ' A special to the News from Kokomo, Colo., says: ''Forest fires are raging on every hand here. Sheep mountain, on the north side, is a mass of flames, which are within a quarter of a mile of this camp. Great apprehension is felt here for the safety of the town." EECONCENTRADOS ALL DEAD. So Spoke the Secretary General of f!nKa in Uottt VatV vui/w * * * *ivn AVAAI Among the passengers who arrived "Wednesday at New York on the steamer Washington from Havana was Dr. Jose Congosto Secretary-General of Cuba Dr. Congosto said the problem of the future of the island is a difficult one and I have studied it without prejudice, and as a result of this study of years I believe that it is a social problem and not a political one. Of course, politics will enter into the solution, bufr the question is how to bring the most prosperity and the greatest happiness to the people of Cuba." Dr. Congosto was asked as to the condition of the reconcentrados. "There are no reconcentrados now" he answered with a smile. "What has become of them?" was the question. "They are gone." "Where?" "ijroa Knows," was tne reply. "Do you mean to say they are all dead?" "That explains it better than I can. It is a subject which I prefer not to discuss." "When asked as to the establishment of a new navy for Spain. Dr. CongoatQ said: "Spain is still a great country, and she ought to have a great navy?and Drobablv will." Discussing the fall of Santiago and the surrender of Gen. Toral Dr. Congosto said: ''There were brave soldiers at Santiago, and if their leader lacked courage he deserves to be punished. Santiago should not have fallen as it did, and if Toral had never entered into negotiations with the enemy it is likely that there would have been a different story to tell today. It is not true that the Spanish army there lacked sup_i; j I?._ at T_ _ 3 pnes auu aminuoiuou, xor mey naa plenty of both which, they turned o\er to the Americans. If Toral had pushed forward instead of retreating toward the city, he certainly would have caused a repulse. These are things which he will have to explain." A Perilous Trip. The United States transport Massachusetts. Captain Robinson, which sailed from Santiago September 23, ar- 1 rived at New York Wednesday and proceeded to anchorage off Liberty, island. While at Santiago the coal in the Massachusetts' bunkers took fire. \ and it was necessary to jettison 100 1 tons. A portion of this coal was taken ( on board again. On going to sea the fire again broke out in the fire bunkers and smoldered for three, days. It was , finally extinguished by the use of steam, ind the steamer reached port without * further incident. A Georgia Tragedy. A special from "Wayeross, Ga., says: CJpritt Lanier, son of S. K.-Lanier, was o killed here early Friday morning by c Scott Beaton. Lanier went to Beaton's a store, and, it is said, threatened and t jursed him. whereupon Beaton got a a revolver and shot Lanier. Beaton sur- 1 endered. The coroner's inquest is m progressing. A RACE RIOT. ;! y/". Whites and Blacks Have a Fight Up in Illinois. a ^ IT TnnK PI ArtP AT PANA The Blacks Driven from the Streets to Their Blockades by the StriMRg Union Miners; ** ' ' Striking union coal miners and imported negroes engaged in a pitched - - v mt-.t.lp in fTm Main nf Pun# Til.. Wednesday night. Several hundred . shots were exchanged. No one was wounded^in the ranks of ;he union men. The negroes were iriven from the-city to their stockades, dairying with them, it is believed, a lumber of wounded comrades. One of -he negroes is reported to have died ;oon after reaching the stockade. Desiltory firing continues at midnight in ;ne vicinity 01 tne stocjcaaes. The trouble, which has been narpwy averted between the striking coal niners of this city and negroes import-" id from the South to work the mine's, yas precipitated at 8:30 o'clock Wedlesday evening. As usual, the negroes from the ides at the Springside and PenWell nines were making demonstrations on second and Locnst streets, the principal streets of the city, by parading leavily armed. The union miners were n session at their hall, where a Chica- # jo labor leader was speaking. One of - * . -'1^ ;he negroes appeared at the foot of the /|jjg niners' hall and engaged in a quarrel yith a union white miner. Officer Samuel Smith immediately'arrested the )lack man and was escorting him to ail when he was closed in by a posse >f negroes, who, pointing their revolv- . .. ? as at Siwth, -threatened to kill' him if ' i le did not release the prisoner. Smith. .' ^ continued on his way to jail with the pan. Union miners and others mean- . while went to Smith's assistance and ;he negroes were driven back. Smith x>ok his prisoner to Operator George A V. Penwell's store, and npon Penwell's .* c ii._ 1 >? T jumuua^ iur me uegru a uue, uc was released. - . Before Smith had released the prisoner, however, the^ negro posse had jeen reinforced and*assumed a threat- * ^ jning attitude toward the white men. David McGavic, leader of the union miners, clubbed one of the blacks over )ver the head with a revolver, it is, ^ said. For half a block McGavic forced *. - . - >llj the negroes to retreat and then a few shots were fired. The negroes retreat ?d double quick to their stockades, se- - .4 M sured rifles, returued to Locust street and challenged the miners to fight. > Ihe opposing forces lined up the street, ;..M the negroes with Winchesters and the miners with shotguns, rifles and re- volvers. Neighboring business houses were immediately closed, lights extin- -v.?? giuaiieu aim citizens gcueraiijf ?uu^ut their homes. At the word of command firing commenced. The first volley, it is said, came from the negroes. The union men responded with a volley and heavy firing continued for five minutes. Much of the shooting was wild and en- ? r tirely harmless to the white men, who V finally drove their enemies in full retreat to the stockades. The negroes are thought to have carried several men with them, and one is reported dead. A second encounter between whites and blacks occurred 20 minutes after the first battle, near the Penwell stockade, but the firing was scattered and it is not believed to have been a serious engagement The miners had full charge of the business streets at midnight. Desultory rifle reports could be heard from the Penwell and Springside stockades, but no person would venture into the streets near the mines, and very few are loitering about the business or residence sections. The union miners sa^ the battle of Wednesday night is only a foretaste of : what may be expected to follow. They blame Operator Penwell for the trouble and say they will tomorrow swear out warrants charring him with inciting Wednesday night's riot Gov. Tanner will "be asked to send militia to protect property, and to remove the negroes. ^ Anjnteresting Case. An interesting case came before a Buffalo court the other day. It was based upon one woman's remark about another. "She uses pads to fill out her figure and make the boys think she's a stunner." the defendant is alleged to have said of the plaintiff. The law x presumes a defendant to be innocent till proven guilty. The onus of the" burden of proof, therefore, was upon -. 'M the plaintiff to show that she did not use pads, and the defendant had slan- ? J j i nnu _ i 1 - u.cicu uci. me juxj^ wjw largely wiu- . % ; posed of unmarried men, whose igno- - ; - \*gr ranee of -feminine make-ups peculiarly " . ' fitted them for rendering impartial judgement. After voluminous testimoay, vigorous cross examinations and . many explanations, the jury returned a sealed verdict Fatal Powder Ezplo&on. An explosion of powder Wednesday - ^ in the rear of the fonr story building . ~ at 410 North Front street, St. Louis, occupied by C. & W. McLean, fishing tackle and sporting goods, set the 3tore , ^ An ^ina .ioncifo nn/1 vu ui^A^vauo^u AVO ucsuuvviuu ?u? Y' ' * resilTted in the death of Pauline Bni- der and the fatal injury of Florence High bee. A number of other people _/ '5? were more w less hurt. The loss will probably amou-atrto $100,000. Partly covered by insurance. ' - xWanted toT5<4d On. A dispatch from Santiago de *Cuba says Senor Sanchez Garcia, .one of the Spanish judges, who was continued in jffice after'the capitulation until order- < - Jijjj id a month ago to cease performing his - Magistrate functions," but who, despite ;he order, has continued to fay cases, - - i T"" las again been ordered to cease under .' >enalty of arrest. A Cuban hasieen - ^ f A OI1/)AAA^ Viiw fe l^U W AX1.AAA* w- ^ A Neat' Swindle. , Michigan pays a bounty for the heads! >f 'dead English sparrows. It has re-W ently paid out over $2,000 to an Indi-J crowd of sharpers who. have tie birds strewing poisons bout ti^Btreets id|