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BARBAROUS WARFARE. JAPANESE SLAY DEFENCELESS CHIMCCCIIKIMCDriCIII I V I1UUU UMITII.IIS/II W The War no Longer One of Civilization Against Barbarism .Japanese .Seem to Have Relapsed Into Barbarism?BraTe but Ineffectual Defense of Port Arthur. New York. Dec. 39.?Tho World tomorrow will print the following special advices from its correspondent, , James Creeman, who was with the v Japanese army, dated Port Arthur, November 14, via Vancouver, Decern- j 19: 4'The struggle for the emancipation of Corea has been suddenly turned into a headlong, savage war of conquest. It is no longer a conflict between civilization ana barbarism. Japan for the last four days has trampled civilization under the feet of her conquering army. The taking of Port Arthur ana the possession or one of the most powerful strongholds in the world was too great a strain upon the Japanet-e character which relapsed in a few hours back into the brutal state from which it was awakened. Almost the entire population of Port Arthur has been massacred and the work of butchering in the unarmea ana unresisting inhabitants has been continued day after day, until the streets are choked up with mutilated corpses. In spite of the vastness of the battlefield and the strength of the batteries massed in this mighty chain of land and sea forts, the taking of Port Arthur is robbed of its dignity as a battle by the fact that a large and well trained army attacked a mere rabble. There was a great deal of artilleiy thunder and scientific manceuvers of the troops! among the cannon-crowed hills, but the infantry fighting was incidental and the "butchers bill," as the hardened campaigner would call it, was insignificant The Japanese lost about fifty dead and 250 wounded in carrying a fortress that would have cost them 10,000 men had it been occupied by European of American troops. China is now at the mercy ot tne lsiana empire. In a few days the other troops will be readv to leave Japan to join Field Marshal Oyama's army, and then the third and final mqvement toward Pekin will begin. Up to the moment Port Arthur was entered, l ean bear witness that none of Japan's armies now in the field were anything but chivalous and generous to the enemy. There was not a stain on her flag. When we left Kinochow on November 17 and began the march on Port Arthur, the battery of thirty siege runs was still floundering in the rear, but General Hassagawa has arrived with the famious Komanoto troops and the entire army of invasion was assembled, something like 23,000. | The main army moved on the mili-1 tary road skirting the Northern coast I of the Kwang Tung Peninsula and connecting Kinchow with Port Arthur The reconnoitering cavalry was four or five miles in advance of the mixed * * * 1 brigade commanded Dy jrenerai imsiu, which formed the vanguard. Then came the main army with General Yamaji. the "One-eyeDemon." Gent eral Lohia and a mixed brigade followed. Then came Field Marshal Oyama with his staff. General Hassagawa with 8,000 men formed the rear guard. Three battalions of infantry were sent to protect Kinchow, and one battalion was quartered in the seven captured forts of Talienwan, six miles away. In the whole force advancing upon Port Arthur there were seventy-eight guns, including the mountain and field batteries and the delayed siege cannons. News had been received from the Japanese spies regarding Port Arthur Mid a general plan of action was agreed upon. The two battalions of Yamaji's infantry, one mountain battery and a small detachment of cavalry left the the main road, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Masumitsu and made an independent left column along the Southern coast road to attack the most eastely seaports of Port Arthur at the time agreed upon for the general assault. The main force was to move along the Northern road for three days, so that it would reach the valley next to Port Arthur on the night of the 19th. The attack was to be made at daybrake on the 20th. Meanwhile the strongest ships of the standing fleet moved slowly among the coast in order to co-operate by a sea attack upon the Chinese, shoula it be possible, or at least to embarrass the sea forts and prevent them from devoting their entire attention to the land attacks. ~ il_. xne corresponaent men reiaies me details of a skirmish between a small .force of Japanese and a large body of "Chinese. The Japanese lost eight killed, and when the main body of the Japanese cavalry came up they found in the road terribly - mutilated. "I saw the Japanese dead on the road with their hands gone and their bodies mutilated. Several corpses were without hands, two had been carries like sheep, and their hearts and livers torn out" A Japanese horse had been killed and the Chinese out steaks from the haunches in the middle of the fight. As the Japanese reinforcements began a double-quick, the enemy disappeared through the ravines into theSuishiyeh Valley and returned to Port Arthur. The next day, while a council of war was being held, the Chinese advanced out of Port Arthur, intending to' dislodge the Japanese batteries on the hill,commanding the Chinese position. TTien began a tremendous artillery fight. Within a few minutes regiment after regiment could be seen running in clouds of dust oowim thn' of t.hfi Vflllfir intn the ravine, leading to the support of the Japanese artillery position. The air was filled with shells and the Chinese gradually concentrated their fire, untu the dust began to disappear from the Western slope. The Chinese columns marched out of Port Arthur in three columns. One descended from the two dragon forts and the other two came out of the Port Arthur Valley. The group was torn with he lis as they marcned forward, but they never faltered for a moment. Within a quarter of a mile of the Japanese artillery the Chinese line spread * itself out and wheeling to the left, went straight for the hills to carry the batteries by charge. The fire became too hot and they lay down on their faces with their banner poles stuck in the ground, a magnificent tragedy upon which the crack Japanese connoneers immediately trained'their pieces. "Within three minutes two shells struck line exactly and tore great gaps in it. Instantly every flag dropped, and the Chinamen took to their heels, but in a few minutes they reformed and prepared to receive the Japanese infantry hurrying down under the shells and batteries. Just behind the heroic band of Chinamen was another' Chinese line on a knoll with three field guns which checked the Japanese advances and enabled the broken line to make a safe retreat. "At 6:45 the next morning the battle was resumed, the Japanese steadily driving the enemy back. The forts fell one after another, and Issuyama was taken at 8:05. From Shoju there shot out strange sprays of fire. The arsenal in Port Arthur had caught fire and was ripping, roaring and rattling, flomoc ATI d ?rmrtl like a vol-! cano as an acre of massed shells and I cartridges exploded. 'In order to take the town troops had to cross the bridge or wade in the river, but on" the other side of it was a road leading between two small hills and on either side of the road were rifle pits filled with Chinese infantry. On the hill in the right of this road was a battery of three field guns manned by the only good gunners on the Chinese side. Every time the Japanese attempted to move out of the cover of the camp the Chinese riflemen swept tbr* parade grounds with continuous volLvs.f "Stretched in "a line parallel with the coast in front of the harbor were eight or nine Japanese, warships and the peninsula forts were shelling them clumsily and without effect. Torpedo boats were goine through the waves v./} ainlrinrr iimlre lna/lprt with WOmgn Rliu Diumu^ J MUUkj AVVVMVM and children endeavoring to escape. The water was filled with drowning inhabitants. The massacre had begun. At last a part of the troops moved from behind the walls of the camps and under shelter of the Eastern drill Sound, they opened fire upon the linese force guarding the entrance to Port Arthur. A battalion moved out of the drill grounds and knelt in a semi-circle, senaing volley upon volley across the stream against the rifle pit*. Another detachment crawled along through the sheltered road to a wall on the Southern side of the drill grounds. For fifteen minutes three skirmish lines kept up a fire and the plucky Chinese were driven from their position. Finally, a small column, covered by the skirmishers, advanced across the bridge and marched along the road leading to the town. At the same time Marshal Oyama ordered the reserve centre to move down the valIot* flion Vi?nr 1 c nf tViAm cfl.mp nnnrinff along the roads behind the troops afready on their way to the town. '1'Not a shot was fired in reply. The battle was over as far Port Arthur was concerned. Even Ogunsan was silent and deserted. The soldiers had made their escape and the frightened inhabitants were cowing in the streets. As the troops moved on they saw the heads of their slain comrades hanging by cords, with the noses and ears gone. "There was a rude arch in the main street decorated with bloody Japanese heads. A cTeat slaughter followed. The infuriated soldiers killed every one they saw. No attempt to take prisoners was made. Women and children were hunted and shot as they fled to the hills with their protectors. The town was sacked from end to end and the inhabitants were butchered in their own homes. "The van of the second regiment reached Fort Ogunsan andvfouna itden/v^A/1 TKAT* 4-H/vrr A i cr?AT7Dro^ * inrjlr OCl ICU. Xiigu UJJV/J IU0VV>V1VM M in the harbor crowded with fugitives. A. platoon was stretched across the end of a wharf firing into the boat until every man and women and child was killed. The torpedo boats outside had already sunk numerous junks filled with terror stricken people. "I am satisfied that not more than one hundred Chinamen were killed in fair battle at Port Arthur and that at least 2,000 unarmed men were.put to death. a Slander Refated. Columbia, S. C., Dec. 18.?In the debate onjjthe metropolitan police bill in the Senate yesterday, Senator Mayfield, of Barnwell, said that he had been informed that secret instructions had been given to the police of the city of Columbia not to report any violat4-Ua /ItnnAvieniiir lonr iinnn TVinolftr UI O V/l bllC UiO^/CUOCW J 1U. ?T upun ^vuuuvj of immediate dismissal from the force. Mayor Sloan, who was present during the debate, felt that so serious a charge from such a source should be promptly refuted. He therefore Igave instructions to Chief Daly to assemble the entire police force of the city in the city cltrk's office at 7 p. m. At that hour the men all appeared, and upon being formed in line, were briefly informed by the mayor of the charge that had been made oy Senator Mayfield on the floor of the Senate chamber. He then read over them the affidavit which appears below, and asked if they were all willing to swear to it. Each man promptly responded "yes," and they were accordingly sworn by NotaryPubllc C. M. Douglas The affidavit is as follows: We, the undersigned officers and members of tne police iorce 01 me city of, Columbia S. C., do solemnly swear that we have never neither individually nor as police officers, received orders from the mayor, the city authorities or from other sources, to the effect that we chould not report violators of the dispensary law. We, and each of us, further swear that we have never at any time stated to senator Mayfield or any one else that such orders had been issued. We, and each of us, further swear that we have never been threatened with discharge or anv other punishment for making1 such report. Sworn to before me this 18th December, A. D. 1894. C. M. Dogulas. (L. 8.) Notary Public, S. C. Owen Daly, chi?f of police; W. D. Hamilton, sergant; J. E. Moorhead, sergeant; John Self, R. J. Bolton, D. B. Sloan, J. W. Daniels. R. 0. Thackham, J. W. Waters, Benj. T. Sutcliffe, Martin Sheppard, Frank Hennies, W. L. Dunning,_W. F. Kraft, E. J. Jones, A. S. Steel, T. U. McHiacnern, ?. n. Boyer, Geo. E, Boland, M. Daw kins. Tried to Rescue Seized Beer. Senega, Dec. 15.?F. M. Butler, J. J. Dobbins, J. L. Snips and R. L.. Arnold of Andersbn were convicted here today in a trial before J. W. Todd, Trial Justice, and a jury, of attempting to rescue two barrels of larger beer from the custody of R. M. Wright, State constable, on September 11. The beer had been seized by Constable Wright while in transit to Anderson on September 8, consigned to F. & Co. The attempt to rescue was made soon after the arrival of the train from Anderson in the evening. The State was represented at the trial by R. T. Jaynes, of the Walhalla Bar. and the defendants by G. E. Prince or Anderson. The defendants were sentenced to pay a fine of $100 each or be imprisoned an the county jail of Oconee for thirty days.?Register.} A* THROUGH THE SENATE, THE METRIPOLITAN POLICE BILL PASSES THE UPPER HOUSE. Senator* \Tat*on, >*orrl? and Flnley, Three True Reformer*, and Senator Knlst, Barnwell and Sloan, Three Liberal Connerratlves, Advise Against It. Columbia, B. C., Dec. 18.?There were a number of strong and stirring speeches made in the Senate Chamber yesterday, called forth by the metripolitan police bill. That measure was amended so as to slightly modify its centralizing tendencies, but a majority ? 'V n? 1 J 01 iae oenztiurs suuwca mat iuo; layor passage of the measure, and at once. The first amendment to the bill was made upon motion of Senator Finley. In its original shape the bill gave police boards power to appoint "as many policemen as mar be deemed necessary by the board, not exceeding one for every 500 inhabitants." Mr. Finley secured its amendment so that it reads that the police boards shall have power to appoint "as many policemen as may oe deemed necessary by the boardj not exceeding one for every 1,000 inhabitants, and who shall have been residents for at least six months prior to their appointment." Mr. Kirklana followed with an amendment which requires that the police commissioners appointed by the Governor "shall have been qualified electors and freeholders" of the city for which they are appointed at least a year prior to that appointment. The time originally specified was one year. * i-rrtt 1? J XT. - LM1 J ^ Mr. w lison naa tue um aujeuueu su as to rive the Governor power over the poliee of any city of more than 1,000 inhabitants, but Mr. Efird later had inserted in lieu of that limit a clause giving the Governor power over the police of any incorporated city or town now under police regulations. Mr. Finlev had added to Section 2 a provision that no city or town.shall be liable in damages for any of the acts of any of the marshals or policemen or officials appointed under the provisions of this act." , Then Mr. Wilson secured incorporation in the bill of a seetion providing that wherever the word city is used in it, it shall be construed to mean city or town. So far things had gone on without a ruffle, but Mr. Kirkland now started a breeze by moving to amend the bill by stricking out of Section 1 the words "whenever the Governor shall deem it abvisable or necessary for the better and more perfect government of any city or incorporated town under police regulations in this State he, the Governor, shall appoint a board of police commissioners, to consist of three memE bers, for such city^" and insert in lieu thereof the following: "For the better and more perfect government of the cities and towns in this State, the Governor is authorized and empowered in times of emergency, or upon upon the written petition of oneseventh of the freehold voters of any town in this State, setting fourth that the municipal authorities thereof are not making proper efforts for the enforcemement of the law therein, and asking for the application of the provisions of this Act thereto, to appoint a board of police commissioners, to consist of three membeas, for such city or town." In a few words Mr. Kirkland showed the value of his proposed amendment, whose object was not to leave it entirely to the Govenor to say when UC OUUU1U IMlttV VUWigV V4 Wl*v V* a city, but to require some motion from the city itself. Mr. Wilson said that Mr. Kirkland's amendment was just another way of moving' to strike out the enacting words of the bill. The amendment would take out of the Govornor's hands the power of determining as to the necessity of metropolitan police for any town or city and put in the hands of that town or city. It was ridiculous to expect one-seventh of the men in any city or town to take upon themselves the odium of asking for metropolitan polices. He moved to table Mr. Zirklands amendment, which was done by a vote of 20 to 15, as follows. Yeas?Barton, Brice, Brown, Byrd, Dennis, Derham, Douglass, DuBose, Efird, Fuller, Jordan, Mauldin, Mayfield, McCalla, McDaniel, O'Dell, Sanders, Stribling, Williams and Wilson. Nays?Barnwell, Buist," Finley, Harrison, Kirkland, Miller, Moses, Norris, Ragin, Sloan, Stackhouse, Turner, Verdier, Walker and Watson. Mr. Efird moved to amend the bill by giving the power of appointing police board composed of the Govern? o 1rv, ur, tllC DW1UUH V VI Uiaic, auu ?uc vv/xiiptroller General, instead of leaving' it in the Governor's hands. Mr. Finley moved as a substitute an amendment making the beard consist of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Attorney General and the State Treasurer and restricting their rower of appointing police boards to cases of willful neglect to enforce the laws on the part of the municipal authorities^ any incorporated city or town." Mr. Finley then spoke briefly in advocacy of his proposed subititute. The Senators ought to look to the future. He had included in his board such officials as to render it hardly probable that those four gentlemen would ever agree to any wrong. The law should be freed from all charge of that centralizatfon which is so foreign to our doctrines of the past. He favored the enforcement of all laws. While the TYi?nPTi*flrT7- ln.w to bis lik ing he ha<J always obeyed it and advised obedience to ft. In his own county he had done much to secure compliance with the law. The policy of the bill should be to give the power to appoint police only wnere the municipal authorities refused or nelected to enforce the law. Mr. Wilson said the friends of the bill favored any amendments which would improve it, but not such as would cripple it. He placed Senator Finlcy's amendment in the latter class. Beside, he preferred the officials specified in Senator Efird's amendment. Mr. Finley stated he had favored putting the Secretary of State on the board until he was informed that that official and the Governor are very nearly related. Ho could not conceive of the law being forced on any city or town whose officers were honestly trying to do their duty.' The board should not have power at its mero caprice to take charge of the municipal government of any town or city. Other States have metropolitan police Acts, but they are special Acts for special cities, and not general laws like this. Mr. Finley's substitute was tabled by a vote of 24 to 11 as follows: Yeas?Barton, Brice, Brown, Byrd, Derham, Dennis, Douglass, DuBose, Efird, Fuller, Jordan. Mauldin, Mayfield, McCalla, McDaniel, Norns, O'Dell, Radn, Sanders, Stackhouse, Stribling, Watson, Williams and Wilson. Nays?Barnwell, Buist, Finley, Harrison, Kirkland, Miller, Moses, Sloan, Turner, Verdier and Walker. ' J i- ? Mr. W aiSOIl movcu MJ mano iiao board c6nsist of the Governor, Secretary of State and State Treasurer. His amendment was tabled by a vote of 18 to 14, and Senator Eflrd's amendment then adopted. Mr. Finley tnen moved to amend by requiring each marshal and policeman appointed under the bill to give bond in the sum of $2,000, with sureties approved by the police board of his city. Mr. Wilson said that was entirelv unusual; no politician ever gave bond. Mr. Finley rejoined that it was not unusual. In one town in his own county the policeman was required to give bond. As police appointed under this Act will only be responsible to the Governor, ana will not be responsfble to the local authorities, they ought to be made to give bond. Mr. Wilson urged that the same process of reasoning would require the givincr of bonds by Trial Justices. Mr. Finley's amendment was then tabled. Eloquent speeches against the bill were made by Senator Norris, Watson, Finley, Barnwell, Buist, Sloan and others, while Senators Wilson, Mayfield, Efird, Jordan and others advocated the passage of the bill. At the conclusion of the speaking a motion to strike the enacting words was lost by a vote of 13 to 21, as follows: Yeas?Barnwell, Buist, Finley, Harrison, Kirkland, Miller, Moses, Mower, Norris, Ragin, Sloan, Turner and Verdier. Nays?Barton, Brice, Brown, Byrd, Dennis, Derham, Douglass, DuBose, Efird, Fuller, Jordan, Mayfield, McCaDa, McDaniel, O'Dell, Sanders, Stackhouse, Stribling, Walker, Williams and Wilson. Mr. Watson announced that ho was paired with Mr. Mauldin and would nave voted against the bill had the latter been present. Senator Butler Speaks. Washington, Dec. 19.?Speaking of the South Carolina election laws and of his course in appealing to the courts to test their validity, Senator Butler, of South Carolina, said this morning: "The story, for a beginning, goes back to a period twelve years ago, when shrewd lawyers constmcted and caused to be enacted a system of registration and election laws calculated solely for the purpose of preventing even the remotest possibility of negro domination, of which at that time the people of the South were very much afraid, under existing Federal election laws. "It put all elections in the State practically under the control of the State machine, and things, went just the way the machine said. Of course we all acquiessed in these laws for many years, for no one seemed to think there was any harm in them. To tell you the truth, I never read them or knew what was in them until veryrecently. "The people generally were very well satisfied with this arrangement of affairs, and for years things ran along very smoothly?until the Tillmanites, so called, got hold of the machine. Now it is charged that although acting strictly under the law they have iofn< >Viico/3 iifl ftfln wViifft xrnhftrs and elected Tillman to the Senate. "My term expires on the 4th of March next, ana I shall never be a candidate again for any political office. But I am interested in the peace and good order of the State, and I say to you, just so sure as these laws remain unchanged shotguns will nlaya prominent part in future political campaigns and voters will walk through blood to the ballot boxes. That is why I am interested in the matter at the present time. Nobody knew how bad these laws were until the workings of the last campaign caused the people to study them. They are so clearly unconstitutional that there can be no doubt whatever as to the result. I believe the Supreme Court of the State will so decide. "I presume Tillman will come here to take his seat on the 1st of next|December, and the question of constitutionality may then have not been decided by the highest tribunal of the land. In that case it is my belief that the Senate itself would have the right to decide as to whether the Legislature that had chosen the Senator was a constitutional body or not." Bntler's Seat. Washington. Dec. 19.?Senator Butler, of South Carolina, has outwitted his successor, Governor Tillman, and Senator Allen, the Populist from Nebraska, who were applicants for the desk of the senior Senator fjjpm South Carolina, in the front row on the Democratic side of the chamber. As soon as it became probable that Senator Butler would be defeated for re-election to the Senate by his hated rival, Governor Tillman, there was a livtly scramble for the very desirable seat, which is located immediately in front of the Vice-President's chair between Senators Morgan and Cockrell. Senator Allen and /^i nrvn _ ^ 4-1*,* Urovernor xiiimun uutii wamcu tuo desk, and there aro other Senators who now have rear seats, who cast longing eyes in the direction of the desk which Senator Butler has occupied for so many years. Within the past week Senator Jones, of Arkansas, has been occupying the seat of the South Carolina Senator, while the latter has moved his personal effects to the desk formerly used by the Arkansas Senator in the front row, but away around to the extreme right of the presiding officer. It appears that, in order to prevent a Populist or a Tillmanito from getting the muchcoveted seat, Senator Butler and Sonator Jones exchanged seats. As the time drM?rs near for Senator Butler to relinquish his membership in the Senate it becomes more difficult for him to conceal his mortification that Tillman is to succeed him. It is probable that Senator Butler will loave "Washington for the holidays and he may not return to Washington again while the present session of Congress lasts. His wife is in poor health, and he may decide to pass the winter at his home in Edgefield. ? J THE JIM CROW DON'T GO. THE SENATE WRECKS THE SEPARATE COACH BILL. The General Appropriation BUI Pa*se? With Changes Favorable to College* and Citadel. Columbia, S. C., Dec. 20.?There was quiet in the Senate yesterday, but a considerable amount of routine work was done, and besides with little or no friction the general appropriation bill was passed, witH sunarv amendments to the House bill, and tne "Jim Crow" car bill jumped the legislative track and was wreclced beyond repair, at least for a year. The House bill requiring railroads in this State to provide separate firstclass coaches for white and colered passengers,jnore briefly described as the "Jim urow" car Dili, was maae short work of. It had been unfavorably reported, and upon being reached on the calendar Col. Sloan moved the adoption of the report. Mr. Fin ley asked that the bill be passed over until today, but there were several voices raised against this, and Mr. Finley moved to lav 011 the table Col. Sloan's motion. This was lost by a vote of 15 to 9. Mr. Wilson desired action delayed; the bill could lie over on the calendar today and tomorrow, and could not get through anyhow. Col. Sloan saw no use in a postponement of action or inflicting a lingering death. Mr. Norris hoped no Senator would try the patience of this body so far as to attempt to debate this bill; it had been defeated year after year, and the Senate could not spare the time to this bill. Mr. Wilson moved to continue the bill till next session. Mr. Moses moved to lay the bill on the table. Carried by a large majority. The appropriation bill was taken up at the night session. The most important committee amendments adopted were those increasing the appropriation for the South Carolina Collegeof $21,000 as fixed by the House, to $25,000; ?* s-*-. ? 1 * i A1 f t\c\r\ x_ tne uitaaex Acaaemv irom ?>io,uuu n> $18,000; Clemson College from $15,000 to $35,000, and the Winthrop Normal College from $55,000 to $65,000. Mr. Buist succeeded in getting the restoration of the salary of the Charleston quarantine officer to $1,800 from $1,400. Mr. Walker did the same service for that office at Georgetown, from $300 to $500, and Mr. verdier persuaded the Senate to restore the salaries of the officers at St. Helena and Port Royal to the figures prior to the slash in tne House, viz: $800 each. Mr. Mayfield urged that the salaries of the two lately elected circuit judges, provided for bv an appropriation of $3,000 each in this bill, be increased to $3,500. He contended that all the judges should be on the same footing and should receive equal compensation The Constitution provided they could not reduce a judge's salary during his term of office, but there was notning preventing them raising it. The law did not effect the salary of the last elected Associate Justice, because he TT-oo aloof or? -inC!+ Viofnrp t.Tl A TMlKSfl.CrA nf the salary reduction bill and dicf not come unaer its provisions. He moved to appropriate $3,500 for their salaries. Mr. Harrison moved to lay the motion on the table. Mr. Norris did not wish to make a speech, he simply wished to say the proposition of the gentleman from Barnwell was a most monstrous one. i Had the gentleman forgotten that they were elected to this Legislature on a salary reduction platform. It might as well be said that the Legislature had no power to reduce a judge's salary. If those arguments prevailed there would be no salary reduction. Mr. Buist was not in favor of reducing salaries, but he heartily agreed with the gentleman from Anderson in regard to the proposition of the gentleman from Barnwell. This bill was -carrying out a law on the statute books, and not to carrv out its provisions was to slight the law. Mr. Mayfield restated His case ana said his position was that fish should fiot be made of one and fowl of the other. His motion was laid on the table by an overwhelming vote. Mr. Jordan made an earnest plea for solicitors elected in 1892. He claimed the State was in honor bound to give them what the office was worth at the time of their election. To reduce their salaries was bad faith and they were already the poorest paid of the State officers for the value of their services. Mr. Finley, in charge of the bill, said he believed in sticking to the law as it was and which they were sworn to obev. Mr. Jordan's motion prevailed and the appropriation for solicitors, was raised from $11,600 to $12,500. Mr. Efird offered an amendment that $2,500 be appropriated for the btate Agricultural ana Mechanical Society. Mr. Mayfield moved to lav the amendment on the table, but withdrew it for the purpose of debate. Mr. Efird stated the condition of the society and that the lack of $2,500 might result in its ruin. It was almost a State institution and the State should support it. The last fair had given general satisfaction, but the ard times were felt by the society as well as by others. Col. Sloan spoke of the benefit the annual fairs had been to the agricultural interests of the State; or how it brought the farmers here in competition and improved their methods and their stock, and urged that almost every other State in the Union gives aid to such associations. Mr. Mayfield: "Is it not true that in 1893 liquor was sold on the ground during the fair and when Governor Tillman?" Pnl filnan "Oh. mv friend has srone crazy on the iiquor question. I am not discussing whiskey or whether it was ' sold or not and I will not at this time [ descend to the level of discussing that question; I am talking about a State institution, conducted for the benefit of the State of South Csrolina, and not the whiskey question, and I beg that tho Senator from Barnwell will draw the distinction." Mr. Watson regretted exceedingly the gentlemen from Barnwell had *; brought up that question here. No ap- < propriation of $2,500 made by the State . to CJlemson College ox for any other purpose would bring the results this money would. The time was when tho people of this State were satisfied with any kind of stock; it was not so now, and this fair had wrought the change. It was a valuable object lesson and one which he greatly valued for his sons; they could spend four days nowhere so profitably as at the fair. They ask for this with no selfish Vgfc V / / motive; no one makes money out of it. He appealed to the Senators to give the little asked. jfoMr. Mayfield continued that as it was not a State institution and the State owned none of the grounds or buildings it was an individual fair and the money asked for was to assist a private enterprise. Mr. Watson: "A public enterprise." Mr. Mayfield: "Sois every county . fair in the State and they are of more benefit to the young men of the State, as thev are more easily and cheaply visited. To appropriate funds for private purposes is robbing the people." The amendment was laid on the table by the following vote: Yeas?Brice, Brown, Dennis, Derham, Douglass, Dubose, Fuller. Har- , rison, Jordan, Mayfield, McCalla, McDaniel, O'Dell, Ragin, Sanders, Stackhouse, Williams?17. Nays?Barnwell, Buist, Efird, Kirk- 1 land. Miller,- Moses. Mower, Norris, Sloan, Verdier, Walker, Watson, Wil- , son?13. The bill then passed to a third reading. TEN-CENT COTTON. The Question of the Hour for the People of the Soath. To the Editor of the News and Courier : I am a cotton man. My welfare, like that of on.r whole people, depends upon the price of cotton. How to raise that price so as to make it pay the farmers is a problem that, just now, for the South at least, dwarfs in importance all other public questions. The schemers that have been suggested to control the market by the creation of a big trust or by the throttling of speculation are, as every clearheaded business man knows, visionary and unsound. Neither is practicable, and either plan, if it could be carried out, would surely aggravate the very trouble it was meant to cure. What then shall be done ? The sim-ple, sensible and only Treal remedy is to cut down production. But, we are tol'd, this is impossible. The enlightened selfishness which impels the farmer to tell all his neighbors that by planting only half as much cotton they will get for their crop more than as much monev does not ero far enough to lead him to practice on his own farm what he preaches to the rest of the county. Of course, no matter how expedient and how necessary for the public good a reduction of acreage may be, even a Legislature ot farmers is powerless to enforce it by law, and the perversity, inconsistency and grasping tendency of that human nature that is as strong among cotton growers as among other people bars the way to a reduction of the crop by voluntary and individual choice. Yet we must somehow apply the remedy, and apply it quickly, or the South will be ruined. The vague apprehension of a substantial decrease of production next season is at this moment, as every cotton'merchant understands, the chief, if not only support to even the beggarly prices which now prevail. If the world could only be certain that the South next spring would plant for another monster crop, cotton would now be selling much nearer three cents a pound than five. Consumers care nothing whatever about the cost of production. With them it is a cold question of demand onnnl tr nf ill A r?fl TF mnfAT*! CbliU. J^i Uk/aUlU Vi VUV AMITI *uv?Uw? A al. How then can the indispensable restriction of production be brought about? The only way, I fear, is by the pressure?terrorism, if you will? of local public sentiment. Our farmers know perfectly well that a crop of six million bales will bring more money to the producers than a crop of ten million bales. Let them form at once a "Ten-cent Cotton League" in every county of the South. Let every member bind himself in writing to Slant only one-half the acreage that e planted last spring. Let each farmer not only act as a vigilance committee of one to see that his neighbors carry out their pledges, but invite their inspection of his own fields so they may be satisfied that he has done like-wise. Let everv farmer who refuses to bind himself with the rest or who, having done so, breaks his pledge, be vigorously "boycotted" as a traitor to the community. This may be called terrorism; but we of South Carolina know that a little wholesome terrorism has sometimes done great public service. Let the movement be once fairly started and it will spread like t -i r, mi a:?? -U? wua-nre xnertj is uu umc wj uc iuot. The emergency is fas pressing as it is grave. The remedy, however "rough" is not illegal, And desperate cases require desperate remedies. Let Manchester and Fall River only hear that the formation of a Ten-cent Cotton Legue is begun in earnest, and there would be an end to 5-cent cotton. The receipts would cease to frighten anybody. Neither spinners nor speculators would wait for the pledge of the league to be carried out. Everybody would want to buy cotton. The price would leap upward, and I believe that in less than a month every pound of cotton remaining in the South would be worth at least 2 cents a pound more than it will bring now. But, I repeat, if this plan is to be tried, there is no time to be lost. Fairfax. Destitution in Nebraska. Omaha, Neb., Dec. 16.?A staff correspondent of the World-Herald sent into the western part of the State to investigate the reports of destitution among the fanners, sends from North Platte a most distressing story. Most of the renters have left the country and few of the owners of land are in J a prosperous condition. There have ! been two successive crop failures. The 1 animals are also suffering, and unless food is sent for them they will not bo fit for work next spring. Some of the farmers are really in want and others 1 starving. Some supplies are coming . in from the East, but much more are needed. Somo of the farmers are liv- ' ing on wild fruits. j A Japanese matrimonial advertise- j ment reads: "A young lady wishes to j be married. She is very pretty, lias i a rosy face framed in dark, curly hair, j eyebrows of the shape of half moons J and a small and beautiful mouth. < What other inducement does she of- 1 for? "She is rich enough to admire, j by the side of a life companion, the i liowers by day and the stars by ] night." All that she requires in turn < is that the youth must be a youth, i handsome and accomplished, and he 1 must be willing to share the grave of 1 his bride?that is, when it is eminent- i ly proper that he should; she shows < no indecent haste in the matter. j SWEPT BY FIRE. GREAT DESTRUCTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY BY AN EARTHQAUKE. The Scenes Described Are Simply Awftil? Islands Swept by Fire?One Village and Its Inhabitants Dumped Into the Sea. Loss of Life Great. Victoria, Dec. 13.?The Australian steamer Warimoo, which arrived yesterday, brings the startling news that a majority of the islands of the New Hebrides group are passing through a baptism of fire, earthquakes and volcanic disturbances, threatetning the very existence of several of the largest and best islands, including Ambirim, celebrated for the. excellence of its cof-""-? fee. On the latter, an entire village ?-?ii?- j au. \JL UXkUl V C3 WOO 1CUC11L1J WU J ICU lllW tUL?3 sea, the loss of life being estimated at sixty to seventy-five men, women and children, while in other groups it is, also, reported that a layer of ashes of two to six inches deep covers the once fertile field. At Ephia, Nov. 2, there was a severe earthquake in the morning, and when the crater on the West side of Ambrim burst forth on the next day, the whole island trembled. Since then it has opened in five or six different places. Even the island of. Ephia, which was much less affected, had, up to the seventh of November, ' felt sixty-three distinct shocks, and for weeks had been covered by clouds of ashes and smoke. Traders and planters living on the island have ned to Port Sandwhich, the nearest port, in many cases abandoning all their possessions. On the 13th of November an earthquake-shock rocked Ambrim from East to West, causing the ground on O+AA/I ft fl?VlA 1 1 ??J 11* WA1XV1J. Diwu <* omaii ULCVLI V C Village IU slump with the houses of the inhabitants into the sea. The special correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald, writing from Ephia early in November, said: This land is in a volcanic eruption. The outbreak commenced on the 16th of October, at an old crater in the centre of the island is a mass of lava. Commander-in-Chief Admiral Bowden Smith gives the press the following report made to him by the commander of the Dart, while she was lying at Dip Point, Ambrim Island. He writes: "An eruption on Mistand took place today. Itpressently became evident that a lava stream, marked by a dense column of smoke, was making its way through the hills to the sea. The snip was stopped some 300 yards off shore, where it was seen the stream would emerge, and soon afterwards mountains of flames were seen among the trees, and presently the whole ap J J 'il. 1 pcaicu. tiicu nut umaa, witu lumps ui slag tossing about on the surface. 4?When it reached the water, a most magnificent sight ensued. A dense pillar of steam rose rapidly in a perpendicular direction to a height of about 4,500 feet. A few seconds later, a violent submarine explosion of steam took place, the water rising in high bubbles some one hundred feet high and bursting in all directions, radiating through the waters mixed with black masses, presumably of lava. A considerable swell was sent out afterwards and as the arc of explosions seemed to be coming rapidly, the ship was moved to a safer distance. "Canoes of natives were leaving the island in all directions. Some of these were taken in tow at Dip Point and were cleared of immediate danger. The ship then proceeded around to the South* side of the island and it was seen that the whole crater of Mount Maryun, in the centre of the island, w$s in violent eruption and that masses of smoke were risincover all the West cm loiaixu. ? "On returning, while round Dip Point, a sudden outburst accompanied by continuous, violent explosions took place. About two miles to the Southwest of Mission station, the cliffs were seen to be falling inland, and flames appeared over the crust of the gap between the mission and the interior. The natives were assembled in terrified croups on the beach, and I, accordingly, sent boats in offering to take off. All the natives of the group were in a state of terror and noise of the eruption was indescribable. Dust and aebris / :? irum tiiu uiuou x^jll wuiauually. Throughout the next day earthquake shocks were severe. "The next morning we proceeded to the Northeast point of the island as far as Dip Point, which was found to be in darkness, objects being scarcely visible over a quater of a mile. We communicated with the shore and found that the natives were reassured and actual fires in the vicinity had ceassed. At 6 o'clock in the evening we proceeded to Port Sandwich, not clearing the shower of dust until more than half way across. Small shocks were experienced on the way, and in all thirty-one distinct shocks were felt in seven hours and thirty minutes. "A great portion of the cliff at Dip Point has fallen into the sea. All along the shore clouds of dust are rising and land slides have resulted. Duswas now falling heavier than ever, but of the lighter, cooler and finer description. Everything on the shore was covered with the deposit, the landscape being of one uniform, dull elate color, and the ship a gray mass. We landed and proceeded over the hill for about two miles, until the stream df lava was reached. Although cooled down, it was still proceeding at some four or five feet an hour in the direction of Banlag on the South coast. Owing, however, to the thickness of the atmosphere, it was impossible to get any news of what was happening. We then returned to Port Sandwich. Small Riot. St. Louis, Dec. ID.?A miniature riot broke out in the court of Criminal Correction at noon today. William Wright, a negro, had just been discharged on a charge of misdemeanor, ind was leaving the court room. Officers attempted to arrest him on mother charge when his friends, believing that he was a victim of police persecution, resisted and attempted to release the prisoner. A furious struggle ensued, during which clubs were freely used and revolvers drawn. The jombattants surged back and forth through the room overturning desks md chairs, and it was necessary to ring for reinforcements from police headquarters before the row was quelled. A prominent attorney narrowly escaped death from a pistol shot oy oificcr Dewar. As a result of the "iot six persons -were badly injured md two detectives have beon suspenn;d from the forco pending an investigation. ^