The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, December 26, 1894, Image 3
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.
^