Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I The Press ami Banner. BY HUGH WILSON. Aititr.vn.B.i:, n. i.\ BURN El) A LI V hi. the fearful death of baggagemaster limes. An A p|ia1lli<K 011 tin* South Round RnllroHil Near Citliimhl* Wcdiif?lHyCaiiHeil l>y :tn Kiijjlnrer >llMiiut?>rHlnii?lIne U in Ordem. COLl'MUIA, S. C., Oct. in.?In quite .1 desolate looking: spot near Swansea within a few yards of the mile post marking the distance of 2.'> miles from ^ Columbia, in the early hours of jes 'erday morning two ponderous mogul l-xiomotives, pulling fast trains, the rne from the north, the other from 1 he south, exercising all their great motive power, made greater by the momentum, like tho maddened buils of Spain, crashed into one another. The sound awakened people residing in the town a half mile away. Imrae iately following the crash came the found of hissing steam mingled with i he cries and moans of the injured, l.'ut worse was to come. Those who ?icaped from the ill-fated trains, groping in the dark, soon saw llames be^ gin to break fortb irom me mass 01 wieckaee, casting a glare over the scene of destruction ana then came the pitiful appeal "for God sake, somebody save me." It was the voice of I'aggagemaster Limes of the Southbound train. He was uninjnred, but -*<vas pinned fast in his burning car. No human etforts were of any avail in saving his life. Tiie horror-stricki :i passengers and trainmen were M.rced to stand to one side and see him burned alive?see his left arm burned iti two, the lower half dropping before death came and he sank down to berome a charied mass. As a net re suit of the horror three men were burned up completely, their remains jilling about a half peck measure and consisting merely of whitened pieces t>f bones, while the Florida Central jmd FeninsuJar system sustains a joss if about $75,000 ou its rolling stock, ihe express and baggage. Of course many others weie more or less irjur?<1, but none seriously. The death of the baggagemaster was > ne o< the most horrible on record in this State. And, strange as it may .sound, the casually was caused by < ne of the most careful conductors undone of the most experienced and ' Xpert engineers in South Carolina mistaking the train order reading "Sweden" for "Swansea." The engi1 eers and firemen of both trains had ?.nly a moment to act when the crisis came. Both trains came out of curve cut directly upon one another. Both fngineers applied the emergency I rakes and reversed their engines; ll.en they and their liremen jumped r.ut into the darkness. They went down, down, down. It was fully 35 fret to the ground at the foot of the high embankment between the two tnirves. Neither of the four men were leriously injured. Their escape was miraculous. The wreck proved to be one of the v orst that ever occurred in this State. P.oth the trains were what are known >s "Flyers", and they never lose a moment's time. The locomotives were f twin Rogers moguls, which were or dered especially for the handling of ti e fast trains, and were exhibited at ihe Atlanta exposition. They had 10 inch cylinders and had G foot driving wheels. All that remains of the wreck at present are these two locomotives. They are still on-the track, but one is buried several feet mto tee other, the boiler of the latter being stretched and spiead like the mouth of a lead pipe. Of course the machinery has been rippi d from both engines. The iron monsters are alone upon the top of the embankment, all else having been either burned up, moved away or has bf en reduced to ashes and twisted iron. I went to the scene of the wreck with Railroad Commissioner Thomas on a Bp: eial, and herewith I give a hasty sketch of the iron combatants as they k stund. Mr. Thomas states that the m wi eck is the outcome of grors careless|i ners and the railroad commissioner n will proceed to investigate and punish I tl e guilty parties to the fullest extent ? of I he law. L?_?- The following were killed and their bodies cremated: l William B. Limes of Jacksonville, I Fht, bapgagemaster. fit. J. E. Ulmer. a native of Michigan, flagman. Jj. A. Thomas of Tennessee, mail af ent. Conductor Perkuson of train 3G, kn<e hurl slightly. Kxpress Messenger Farmer of train 30, leg severely sprained by jumping. Kngiueer Dell of traiu .">0, back wrenched in jumping. Paggagemaster Palmer of train 30, painfully injured about side and face. Kxtra Express Messenger Price of train 30, painful cut about neck and beck wrenched. Kiab Dent of Columbia, fireman of B tram ?jo, leg Daujy sprameu m jump? in jr. E Charles Michael, colored, of ColumS bi:?, fireman train 30, leg sprained in I jumping. g Several others were more or less E shaken up, but no one else was inSb jur<d. K Of the killed but little is known hcie. Mr. Limes had a brother, it is said, living in Georgia, and a mother 9r9| anl two sisters living in Jacksonville. BBSBS Mr. L'lmer has been engaged in railnfll road work in this section for quite a BjfltSja tin e. lie had been in several wrecks BB9ra| beff.ro. Practically nothing is known ffinrai of Mr. Thomas in Columbia. ftggfgi Train 35, which should have left Columbia at 1:57 a.m., for Jackson BSBm| vi)l<? did not get away until 2:1S, as is shown by the register at the dispatch9Ej||| rr's oilice. Train 30 should have Km reached here at 4:55 a. m. It was BBSS about 4:20 that the startling intelli rgence came into the dispatcher's ollice. imn.ediately a special train was made up, a .Southern switch engine being umc. and Dr. Karle was waked up. This relief train got away at 5:50 a. m., and returned al 9 o'clock, bring ing the passengers /or the north? -about a dozen of them, three being .bound for Asheville. Fireman Denl of 35 and Conductor Perkuson of 31 also came along. This train likewise ivroufht back the two Pullman can Uft'l 4/v *"??? T*rV*ii?Vi ccnanPf] IHIU-U iv uaiu iJJ, vviiivu without injury, thanks to the effort5 of those on hand when the wreck oc cuirt-d. Some details of the wreck were brought in these arrivals. 01 couire Dr. Earle's services were noi nefdfd. / <>. V\ , ' *\\ l?\.... ' ' . * ' No. 35 left here made up of one mail and express car, two coaches and two Pullman cars, so the register shows. The following order was given to the engineer and iiremen: "No. 3G will wait at Swansea until 3:1:" for 35, and will not wait variation." This order meant that train 35 was to co to Swansea and wail there until 3:15 onlj-, anil not the usual addition~ HP1* a /I iciAof nlion 1 w>y?rx \iroc ai it MllHIUf.l. Xllt viu^uiAyiivi IIVIV ?uu given to understand that both conductor and engineer understood the order. It now appears that either Engineer Petit or both lie and Conductor Taylor misunderstood the order reading "Sweden1' for "Swansea," Sweden being 23 miles further down the road. A telegram from Savannah states that Conductor Taylor understood the order aright and when he found that the engineer had not stopped ior Swansea he jumped to the emergency brake corn and pulled it, but it was too late I hen,the other train being just around the curve and a moment later the crash came. Conductor Perkuson of the up-train had a copy of the same order which he had ectten at Livingstone, just below. 1 lis train would have been at Swansea a little ahead of the hour lixed, for he looked at his watch the moment after the crash and and it showed that the trains went together at exactly 3:0-1. Had No. 35 obeyed orders there would have been no trouble whatever. TI"*" noma (n misiin 11U W JJU^lUVVl X Vblb V?1MV ? derstand the order no one will ever know. He is a man of high character, is regarded as one of the best engineers in ihe South and is considered a most reliable man. He is an Augustan, his brother being the secretary of the Electric Railway company there. It is a strange coincidence that Engineer Bell, who was on the other en pine, is a "double" brother-in-law of Engineer Petit, the two having mar ried each other's sisters. Mr. Bell is a brother of the agent of the Southern railway in Augusta. The engines were Nos. 09 and 70, known as the twin moguls. The explanations given above explain how the wreck came to occur. There is one thiDg that will be looked into and tnat is the provision of the South Carolina law that requires the engineer and conductor to read the order over in the presence of the dispatcher, whose duty it is to see that thev understand it. The State railroad commission, under section 1,034 of the State railroad law, are required to investigate the causes of any accident on a railroad resulting in the loss of life." In accordance with this Commissioner Thomas asked for a special to take him to the scene of the wreck. It was gotten ready and when Cayce's was reached orders- came, evidently from some Florida Central and Peninsular clerlt, to send the train back. Mr. Thomas sent this brief message and there was no further delay: It. A. Williams, Master of trains, Savannah, Ga.: I demand to be taken to wreck under section 1,G3X General Statutes Give orders. II. A. Thomas, Railroad Commissioner. The scene of the wreck was reached in a short time. Some distance away the number of country people along the dirt roads indicated that something very unusual h; d cccurred and their countenances si owed the horror they felt. The wrfc c occurred on a 20-foot embankment between two Hills about 150 yards from one another. The track runs through curve cuts in each of these hills. The working crews had been at work and only the interlocked moguls were to be reen on the embankment. They made a striking picture and illustrated very forcibly the results of such a collision. Neither had left the track. The mail and express car of No. ?J5 was at the foot of lUnrnKunl/mim) nn <Via rinrht hstnrl Slflft tuu^liiuauauivub v/u wuv UMMM ?.?W completely overturned and smashed beyond repair. Just in rear of engine 09 was a mass of smouldering, smoking ruins, the remains of train 35. On every side were pieces of broken and twisted iron. The honest, tender hearted country folk busied themselves searching among the smouldering ruins for pieces of the bones of the cremated men and whatever else that might be saved. Hard as they worked they could only collect about a peck of the parched bones of the three men whose lives had been lost. The heart of one of the men was found. It preserved its original form, but was a hard and charred black mass. Portions of the shoulder andjthe hips of other victims were all else that was recovered. The watches of tbe three cremated men were found within a radius of 10 feet.. The remains 1 hus gathered were placed in a box mado of an old desk rescued from one of the baggage cars and nailed up. It is understood that the people of the vicinity desire to bury the few bones there. Baggagemaster Limes' overalls were securcd in some way. The express safe was burned badly, but it is thought that its contents are safe. A valise and a rilie were the only express packages saved. Only two or three pieces of baggage were saved and the car was unusually full of trunks. Some handkerchiefs and a few partially burned articles which had been in the trunks were found. The telegraph wire W9S tapped near the wreck and an instrument put in, au open air oilicebeing established, the operator using one of the water cooli ers saved for a chair. The authorities did splendid work in clearing and relaying the tracks and by last night everything was in readi; ness for the running of trains as usual. By transfers there was no interruption whatever to travel. The engineers and Conductor Taylor, together with . all the others not referred to above > went on to Savannah on a special. The wreck took place about twc miles south of Swansea, and many ol Swansea's people hastened to the scene to give assistance. The people were i lirsl awakened by the crash. Sooe afterwards Conductor Perkuson arriv i ed on foot and told the story, lie i hastened to Mr. W. 13. llast's residence and sent Dr. Langford to the scene, then he reported the wreck olliciallj ! and hastened back. Conductor l'erk nsnn ilifl nnf sppm <o mind his snrain ed knee while thus engaged. About the scene of the wreck wan dered many chickens, which had beer - in coops in the express cars. 01 ; course a great many of them were ere t mated. ! The engines are badly damaged. > They are worth probably about $8,00( > each. The rear and front portions ol I each are practically ruined, the cab: i and apparatus around the fireboxes being entirely torn away. The from : portions of each are badly torn up f The driving wheels are sound. Then L is no vestiege of the pilots left; tlx wrecked headlights rest on the stacl of No. 70. No. G9's guide wheel Irucl has been driven under No. 70. He cylinders are smashed. The southbound train had justclimb ed a good grade and was going dowi another. No. 30 was also cominf down a grade at full speed. No. 3! was at full speed. No. .'{0 was run ning at about 3i? miles an hour. The most graphic story of the wrecl was told by Charles Michael, the col ored fireman of engine No. 70, wh( gave me his experience as he watchei me make the hasty sketch of his favor ite engine, which is so well engravec by the artist, Mr. A. W. Hamiter Michael says that as they came outo the curve, they saw the headlight oi No 09 Hashed forth from the opposih cut. Engineer Bell merely had tim< to reverse his engine and grasp th< danger cord as he exclaimed: "Tha: is 3ii." Then he jumped from on< side while Michael jumped from th< other. Michael glanced at the but ton on his coat which bore the inscrip tion, "I am insured in The Travelers,' as he remarked, "I thought it was al over with me." But he has been in the business for many years and has been in several bad wrecks. lie says as ho struck the ground there was s fearful crash. When he landed one foot went in a hole and he was pitch ed head first a long distance, hishoulders finally striking a stump, He felt himself to see that no bones were broken and then tried to ?et back up the embankment to find Mr. Bell, The train blocked his way. Then h( went forward where voices were call ing for help. He said the crash had ** ' tt 11 ??t?mi. been dreadtui. neiniuKsiur. muiuju was instantly killed. He did not know anything of Mr. Ulmer, but under stocd he was between the ex press car and the first coach wher the crash came. He saw nothing ol these two. He only remembers seeing a man's leg protruding from beneath the wreck. He met Engineer Petit and found that he was all right. Then they heard Mr. Limes hollering. Conductor Taylor rushed up ant asked where Limes was. They weni near the car, which was badly tele scoped and smashed and found the flames beginning to break out. Mr. Limes was inside the car pinned dowr by the mass of trunks. He said h< had not been hurt, but could not extri cate himself. He and some other 1r.iir bands got axes and tried to cut theii way in the side of the car, afler he had tried to get in through the roof Meanwhile the flames broke out anc the fire spread with dreadful rapidity. They worked all the harder, Mr Limes begging them most piteously U. save him from being burned to death, Finally when the fire had gotten sc hot they could scarcely stand it and the side of the car was in flames, thej got a hole large enough to enter, They pulled out two pieces of baggage lie then crawled in and managed U get hold of Mr. Limes' hand. The heat was intense; he strained everj muscle to extricate the unfortunate man, but could not move him. The whole car was aGre by this time anc he had to llee for his own lfe. lie left Mr. Limes in a standing position his left arm resting up on a trunk. As the llames drew nearer to hirr terror entered his eyes now bloodsho' from the intense heat. His lips con tinued to repeat the piteous appeal "My God, save me; my God, sav< me." Then came the horrible scene the scene that made the blood of tin spectators run cold. The flame; swept around the doomed victim, anc all had to stand powerless and se( him burned alive. His lips continuei to move as if in prayer to the very last Before he lost cousciousness one-half of his arm was seen to burn oil' anc drop and the skull bone could lx seen. Finally he sank down in th( debris and was seen no more. Many had to turn their backs. " r -11 As stated tlie car was iuu oj baggage and Mr. Limes was at hi: desk iu the forward corner of the cai when the wreck occurred and tm baggage was piled against him. Express Messenger T. 0. Farmer or .*50 happened to have his car door open when the emergency cord was pulled, IIo knew what it meant and he jump ed, following Michael down the em bankment and stopping colliding witl a telegraph pole. Extra Messenger F W. Price remained in the car whicl telescoped and mounted the engine taking the cab away, but was not in jured, beini,' extricated from the bag gage piled on him without difliculty Baggagemaster Palmer of 30 wai considerably shaken up, but not in i jurcd. Mail Clerk James, a coloret man, also escaped any serious injuries There was no other warning to any o the people aboard the trains than tin application of the emergency brakes After it was seen that the llame i could not be stopped the train crews assisted by the passengers, uncouple< the Pullman cars and one by one thej i were pushed back to a place of safet] and thus saved. They were iakei back to this city and Savannah respec i tively. The mails and practically everything aboard train 35 were de i stroyed. It is quite remarkable that not i i single passenger was injured in th< ; wrecks. The railroad authorities o t this line, which,by the way,has neve before had a wreck that was at all seri ' ous, the worst being that near Savan nah last spring, did everything the: ! could for the convenience of the pa? sengers, and were quick to get to worl to clear the wreckage. Mr. Limes spent his last night or I earth at the Grand Central hotel ii this city. Mr. Ulmer lias a famil; living in Michigan. i The fire was started by the overturn i ing of the stoves. Train 35 had com i through from Charlotte and there wa s a coal tire in each stove. Had train 3 not come from the south, it wouh > likely have had fires in its stoves also f and no doubt would have been burned s Otherwise this train was broken up a 5 badly perhaps as the other. t The authorities of the Southern roai at this end of the line did all in thei i power to render assistance and severa i of their men went to the scene of th , wreck in charge of the specials. ' Considering all the features fo th - wreck, the lives lost, the manner ii which they were lost, the dcstructioj of the two finest locomotives of th - system, and the other property de i stroyed, it may be said to be the wors f occunns in this State in many years Kailroad Commissioner Thoma made a careful survey of the scene c the wreck, questioned the leadinj I witnpscpc nrul py?minpil what, naner f he could locate fully. While return 5 ing to the city last evening he said I i me: 4"You may say I consider thi t wreck the result of carelessness am . that the railroad commissioners wil ) thoroughly investigate the matter am ) punish the guilty parlies to the exlen r of the law."?Slate. I VOTER'S DIRECTORY. r A IJnt of Candidates far nil Olllee# In the State. 1 For the information of the voters of : the State of all creeds and factions, 1 the lists of the several nominees in the liold for the several ollices lo be lilled are given as follows: : THE KLKCTORAL TICKETS. Regular Democratic (free silver)? } At Large?M. R. Cooper, T. L. Gantt. ' First district, Charles T. Pritchard, of Blullton; second, 11. B. Wat3on. of 1 Saluda; third, Cole L. Blease of New berry; fourth, J. J. McMahan, ofRich| land; fifth, W. D. Trantham, of Ker' shaw; sixth, James Stackhouse, of 5 Marion; seventh, T. W. Standland, of i Summerville. * Webster Republican?At Largely W. D. Crum, of Cnarleston. First | district, F. Scheper, of Beaufort, sec5 ond, .James Powell, of Aiken; third, J. R Tolbert, of Abbeville; fourth, E. j W. Screven, of Richland; fifth. Joseph . Clark, of Jjancaster; sixth, Dr. John Lunney, of Darlington; seventh, J. J M. Tindall. of Sumter. J Palmer-Buckner?At Large?F. W. 5 McMaster, of Columbia; George W. 1 Dargan. of Darlington. First district, 5 Frank O'Neill,, of Charleston;second, " Georee B. Lake, of Edgefield; fourth, ! in in _ e a i?_i fi u ' I1 railK PjVaus, U1 opurtauuurg ; li i in, A.C. Springs, of York; sixth, A. T. 5 Harllee, of Marion; seventh, JamesD. : Blanding of Sumter. Melton Republicans?At Large?B. 5 0. Duncan, S. E. Smith. First dis. trict, J. A. Noland; second, D. E. 1 Yates; third, M. II. Bryce; fourth, ! Prof. J. W. Morris; fifth, H. L. Shews' bury; sixth, Paul Whipple; seventh, ' P. M. Prickett. THE STATE TICKETS \ Democratic?Governor, W. H. Elc lerbe, of Marion; lieutenant governor, ' M*. B. McSweeney, of Hampton; secre1 tary of state, D. H Tompkins, of Ab' beville; treasurer, W. H. Timmerman, 1 of Edgefield; comptroller general, James Norton, of Marion; attorney | general, William A. Barber, of Chest ter; superintendent of education, W. D. Mavfield, of Greenville; adjutant 5 and inspector general, J. G-, Watts, of Laurens. 1 Melton Republicans ? Governor, i Sampson Pope, of Newberry; lieuten" ant governor, W. W. Russell; secre1 tary of state, B. R. King; comptrollr er general L. D. Melton; treasurer, D. J J. Knotts; attorney general, A. T. : Jennings; superintendent of educi1 tion, M, A, Dawson. Webster Republicans?Governor, R. ' M. Wallace, of Sumter; lieutenant ) governor, C. J. Pride, of York; secre tary of state, B. O. Duncan, of New> berry; treasurer, George Cunning1 ham, of Charleston; comptroller gen' prnl. F. F Cochran, af Anderson; at* torney general, L. D. Melton, of llich land; adjutant general, E. Brooks } Sligh, of Chester; superintendent of 3 of education, E. B. Burroughs, of r Chesterfield. CANDIDATES FOIt CONGRESS. I First District?William Elliott,dem[ ocrat (gold); W. Cecil Cohen, white, 5 Webster republican; George Wash? ington Murray, colored, Melton republican . | Second District W. Jasper Talbert, ^ democrat; GK T. Chatfield, white, Webater republican^ P. W. Anness, ? white, Melton republican. i Third Dislricl A. C. Latimer, dem. > ocrat;W. II. Merrick, white, Web 5 ster republican; (no Melton republi I can yoi? Jiaiucu.y [ Fourth District Stanyarne Wilson, r democrat; P. L. Suber, colored, Web' ster republican; (no Mtl'on repub; lican jet named.) j Fifth District T. J. Strait, demo1 crat; J. F. Jones, white, republics 5 fusion. ; Sixth District?J. L. McLaurin, democrat; Joshua Wilson, colored, . Webster republican, T. H. McGee, ' white, Melton republican. I Seventh District?J. W. Stokes, * democrat; T. B. Johnson, white, Web5 ster republican; D. J. Knotts, independent republican, (Melton republi1 can to be named on tho 19th ins*.) ? L The State. Tell* a Strange Story. [ IIaiiira, Ga., Oct. 12.?Lucion Mley turned up at his father's home, six miies above ilahira, in an awful pre' dicament. He was gagged and his liands were tied behind him. lie was \ almost daft from excitement and told " a story that rivals a fairy tale in mystery. He stated that he remem* bered nothing that has happen* ed since Tuesday night, nor does j he know where he has been, what he has been doing or how he | was gagged and tied, lie was the n agent of the Georgia Southern road at " Lake Park, also agent of the express * company at the same place. Last Tuesdav nicrht he left on the ? night train for Hahira to visit his parents. People from this city saw him ' aboard the train, but saw nothing of ' him afterwards. When the train reached Hahira the conductor stated ' that he did not get oil' there, and when his unexplained absence from his du1 ties became known the railroad and express ollicials began an investiga' tion, which found his affairs all right, f lie is a married man and the son of James B. Miley, a prominent farmer and millman in the Hahira district. Ileart-reuding Tragody. f Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 15 ?A special lo '< the Constitution from Villa ica, says: < Thomas Hensler, the young man who was shot by his father Saturday night i while climbing through the window i to his room, died last night at 9 o'clock. Y Some one had attempted to enter Mr. Hensler's house the night before, Mr. llensler was aroused late Saturday e night by his son opening the window, s Thinking his son was a burgl?r, he 6 shot him. Mr. Hensler is nearly heart 1 broken and fears are entertained that ') the terrible accident will dethrone his reason and he will do himself bodily s harm. , It Whm Opium or I)entli. r OssiiDUG, Miss., Oct. 14.?E. A. j Strickland is a man of his word. Last e Tuesday evening he dropped a note out of the window of the Jasper coune ty jail, wheie he was confined on a n charge of forgery, 6ay in * that if opium a was not brought to him forthwith he e would burn the jail. Saturday night he kept his promise. He was burned ,t to death, and Mollie Daniels, a crazy | negro woman, with him. S S>\ More Storm VlctlmH. ?f Jacksonville, Fla., Oct. JO.?The g death list of the recent storm is being s increased. It is reported today that six l- corpses have been discovered on the 0 coast between Tampa and Cedar Keys, s The corpses were those of Mrs. Paul 1 Hewitt, her daughter, brolher, sister, I uncle and the latter's son. 'me party II left Tampa for Cedar Keys in a boat, t but were caught in the hurricane and lost their Jives. - ' Y ' ' - THE" SUMTER SHORTAGE. TREASURER KEELS MAKES ANSWER IN OPEN COURT. Ho Aflkft that a Further ICxainlnatlon of His RookH he Made nn<l AnnertH That all Will ho Found Right?Coropcr Coinmander's Statement. Sumter, S. 0., Oct. 15.?At high noon today ax-Treasurer D. K Keels and Coroner Commander appeared hofnrp .Tii<]<r'Rftnfit in oDen court to answer the rule to show cause why they should not be indicted for malfeasance of which were in their hands as county officials. The cases against these two officials are too well known in all their details to make a recapitulation of the facts necessary to a clear understanding of the answers put in by each of them. Mr. Commander was first called on to make his return to the rule which had been duly served on him. lie was represented by II. L. B. Wells, Esq., who read tne answer which recited briefly that Mr. Commander became acting sheriff on the death of Sheriff -- - ~ * ?j 11? Marion aanaers anu cuutmucu m charge of the office until a successor to Sheriff Sandeis was appointed. During the time he was acting sheriff he collected certain moneys and made correct records of all transactions as required by law. That when Mr. George P. McKagen was appointed sheriff he (W. H. Commander) offered to make a settlement of all matters which had come into his hands while acting sheriff, but that the sheriff refused to accept a settlement unless all ibe open accounts, including those coming over from the administration of Sheriff Sanders, deceased, should be made. This he was not in a position to do, nor was it incumbent on him to do so, having no knowledge of them, and he therefore refused to do so. He had been and is still anxious to settle for all funds coming into the office while it was in his hands and therefore prayed that the rule be dismissed and a time appointed for a settlement . He reported $77.87 on hand. Judge Benet ordered that the rule be dismissed and that Mr. Commander be required to make a settlement within a reasonable time. Capt. Keels represented himself and read his answer which is given in full herewith. Jud^e Benet reserved his decision. State of South Carolina, Sumter County?In re D. E. Keels?Rule to show cause?Return. To His Honor W. C. Benet, Presiding Judge: In answer to the rule to show cause why ] should not be indicted upon the presentment of the grand jury to your honorable court made out by A. W. Suder, expert bookkeper of the grand jury,I hereby submit to your honorable court the following reasons why 1 should not be muicteu, 10 wu: 1. That I deny each and every allegation in A. W. Suder's, bookkeeper, report to the grand jury except such as are hereinafter admitted to be true, and I further deny that I have been guilty of any malfeasance or misfeasance in office, 2. Under the head of "Dispensary Account" in the a foresaid report I deny the amount of 1249.08 being due or any part thereof other than that charged to me in the last annual settlement on balance sheet $173.65, that would have been paid, had settlement been completed and had 1 not been advised by those who were connected with making settlement and by A. W. Suder, not to pay until after settlement was completed, which amount I have always been and am now ready to pay. 3. That under the head "Court Expenses" in the aforesaid report, March aqd June terms,1895, error of ?100.000, I Know nothing whatever of. I post 1 A ? U wu ?v? Kam ea my court vouuuers wim uumuci and to whom made payable. Tha clerk of the board of County Commissioners checked the account by the vouchers and balanced the acccounts as the bcoks will show. Having implicit confidence in his integrity and honesty, I have never verified the acount, and if there is an error I am not aware of it. If upon investigation I find error I am ready to pay the amount. 4. That under the head "Public Schools", the sum of $1,2(11.02 with a credit by Treasurer H. L. Scarborough's receipt of $1,200, is admitted. The $1,201.02 is charged to me on balance sheet in last annual settlement and known to the county officials connected with the Treasurer's office and many others. This amount I did not pay because there was at the time adisputeasto Dispensary fuud and the balance sheet was not fully made out and I was advised by some connected with the settlement not to pay anything more until the settle merit was completed. Mr. tmaer aiso advised me to this course. About the June term of court, 1890, Mr. Suder asked me to pay $1,200 on this amount, which I did. Shortly after this Mr. Suder represented to me that the grand jury had autherized him to collect money from me to carry on the investigation. Upon this representation I paid him the sum of $61.02 balance due on school fund, and hereto append copy of his reccipt. Received of D. E. Keels, ex-County Treasurer, $01.02, being balance of amount due on school funds. A. W. Suder, $01.02. Expert Grand Jury. I fully believed he had at the time the authority to collect the same and submit that I should not be indicted. 5. That under the head "County Tax Fund' that the amount of $452.13 is admited to be correct and the amount is charged upio me on balance sheet in last annual settlement, which Qrmniiiit wrtnM linm hppn hflfl settlement been completed and had I not been advised by Mr. A. W. Suder and others connected with making the settlement not to pay the amount until settlement was completed -which amount I have always been ready to pay. 0. That under the head "Real Estate and Personal Property" in the aforesaid report that whatever A. W. Suder expert bookkeeper, and N. W. Brooker found in the Sheriff's oilice I know nothing of. The Auditor makes up the delinquent tax and abstracts of the amount, Treasurer issues executions, turns them over to the Sheriff, takes liis receipts for the executions and his returns for each execution and it is the duty of the Auditor to take the returns of the Sheriff for the nulla bona tax to make annual settlements and the Auditor who makes the annual settlements gives the Treasurer ? Jii f ? A.VtA.ltll rtf n 11 1 1 a KaIIO Icrcuiliur iiir umuuijb tax turned over to him by the Sheritl on balance sheet in each annual settlement. If the Treasurer has been credited by the Auditor with $4,733.72 nulla bona tax on balance sheet more than Treasurer was entitled to, then the Treasurer would have had to have been in collusion with theSherifF and Auditor both, which I deny, and reserve the amount of #1,733.72, otherwise the balance sheet made up by the Auditor would necessarily show the amount of $4,733.72 to the creditof the Treasurer on balance sheet. Now if there is any confusion or irregularity in the Sheriff's or Auditor's ollice as to nulla bona tax I am not aware of it and in no way responsible and deny being due the sum of $1,733.72 under this head. VII. That under the head of "Poll Tax Investigation" in the aforesaid report shows a balance dua $1,5G8.90, all poll t&x that went into the hands of the sheriff has been settled upon his return and accounted for in my annual settlement. I have issued about 7,000 poll tax warrants and placed them in hands of the Trial Justice in 1COQ T muiccafl nn Trial .Tliat.ip.AS for their returns upon the warrants. They went before the grand jury during the year 1893, and asked for more time to collet the warrants. The gran d jury granted them further time and consequently I have never been able to get their returns on the warrants. If I had their returns on that I could close up the books I am rather of the opinion there would be a balance due me from the fact that I have money in the hands of some of the Magistrates, also Treasurer Scarborough, for my credit on school funds. Therefore I deny that the amount of $1,568.90 is due by me under this head. VIII. That under the head of total deficiency in the aforesaid report that I positively deny that I am deficient in Treaurer office the sum $7,164 95 or any part thereof other than the amount shown by balan ce sheet last annual settlement, unles3 it be some insignificant amount that may be had occurred from clerical errors on the part of myself or some other officials directly connected with the business of the office in making annual settlements. Reference is here made to a letter of Comtroller General Norton to A. B. Stuckey, Auditor, a copy of which is hereto attached. IX. My books are plainly kept, my accounts correct and there is not a fraudulent entry made' on my books. Now without the intention of casting reflections on any one, yet taking all the circumstances into consideration, and in view of the fact that there are a number of country officials directly connected with the Treasurers office in making the annual settlement and that the annual settlements are made by the Auditor from my books, the Sheriff's books and the aneriirs retui'n on execution, 1 mosi respectfully ask your honor to allow time for the Comptroller General, who is clothed with the authority under the law, or any other person that may be appointed to investigate the whole matter thoroughly. All of which is respectfully submitted to your honor's consideration, and having fully answered the rule the respondent prays that the same may be discharged. D. E. Keels Personally appeared before me D. E. Keels, who being duly sworn, sajs that the above return is true to his own knowledge. D. E. Keels. O nrAwn 4/% Kftf nvo win 4Vna IFSfVi /I a \7 nf kJTVUI U iw UV(l/IV> Ul\> bitiu v?wj w. October, 1896. Tiios. G. McLkod, Notary Public for S. C. Two Dexperadoea. Columbus, Ga., Oct. 14.?About 2:30 o'clock this afternoon J. A. White, a shoemaker, and Henry White, bis son, foully murdered two policemen on thirteenth street, this city and fatally wounded another on Sixteenth street shortly afterward. There was no cause for the commission of the crime other than the fact that both men had been summoned to appear before the recorder tomorrow for some trivial offense. Richard Adams was the officer who summoned the two men to court. Immediately after he summoned them with the subpoena both men armed themselves and returned to Rumsey's bar on Thirteenth street, near where Adams was standing. The elder White deliberately levelled the Winchester with which he was armed and shot Adams itiot nKatto Kaaxf lrillirirv V?im Q1. jujii ftwuvo iitu iiuai V| aiijtu^ uiHA Mk most instantly. Oflicer William Jackson, who was patrolling the adjoining beat, heard the shot and ran to the scene. lie was met by both the Whites, who began firing on him as he turned the corner from First avenue. lie was shot four times, but lived until 7 o'clock tonight. After the commission of the second murder the two men walked leisurely up First avenue to their home on Sixteenth street, where Oflicer Charles Kaberts went to arrest them. In answer to his knock upon the door, Roberts received a bullet from White's Winchester througli the stomach. He staggered to the street mortally wounded, and at this hour, though alive, no hope is entertained for his recovery. By the time the third policeman had fallen a crowd of over 500 armed men had reached the scene and the murderers' house was surrounded. Tom Jackson, marshal of Girad, and Zeno Pickett, an extra policeman of this city, volunteered to run White out of his house. Four other brave men otFered to follow them, and the crowd charged on the linnco firinor hundreds r?f bullets into the windows and doors. When the fusilade ceased Jackson and Picket, ' forced open the door, whereupon White began firing upon them. The two men rushed in upon him, and after shooting him a half dozen times dragged him into the streets. Immediately after delivering White's body to the sidewalk from the e Meets of what is believed to be a mortal wound, lie was taken to a near-by house, where he is still quartered, and though in a critical condition, there is a faint hope for his recovery. The young White escaped from tho house and crossed the river near by into Alabama, where he was capturcd tonight at 10:.')0 o'clock by Officers Osborne and Threllkeld of this city. He was brought to this city and placed iu jail. It is believed that he will be lynched, though the town is quiet at midnight. Will I,et C'iiIim Go. Cadiz, Spain, Oct. J.r>.?It is an open secret that if Spain has not put down the insurrection in Cuba by the Grst of next March it is the iutention of the 1 government to give up the struggle and let the island go. Jt is said that the policy is being adopted of exaggerating the magnitude of the trouble in the l'hillipines with a view of pre paring the people for the ultimate desion of letting Cuba go. ' '. I-.--. v . , : . _ . \ 5vjkctsj4*.-vt\ ; " ' K THE STATE FAIR; PREPARATIONS PROGRESSING FINELY ON ALL HANDS. The 8tate Agricultural Society and th? Columbia Fair Association Uniting their (efforts tor an Excellent Exhibition. Columbia, Oct. 17.?Special: The nearer the time approaches for the holding of the State Fair the harder the officers responsible for its success get down to work with the determination that this fair shall eclipse all others as to variety of exhibits and the crowd that annually gathers here. President L. D. Cnilds and Secretary Holloway, who is now here, are down to it in earnest, and are ready to give all information to those seeking light on the coming fair. The Executive Committee of the Fair Association are also hard at work, and to our "country cousins" thev nn ant.ira r?V?an or a in tViA programme for each day of the fair. They have made the promise, and the merchants and citizens have furnished them the "sinews of war" in a very liberal manner. Everywhere you hear nothing but talk of the coming fair and a desire that it will be a success. Col. Thos. W. Holloway, Secretary of the State Agricultural Society, has formally opened his office in the Ken11 u..:iJ u?!l UUilUilJg, UU Tf aomu^M/U Obi WV. This office will remain open until Friday bet ore the opening of the /air. Mr. Thomas J. LaMotte will assist Secretary Hollo way in making the entries All exhibitors are requested , 1 to address their communications to the I Secretary at Columbia hereafter until ? further orders. - wmjjm Secretary Holloway said this mom- j|P| ing that ne hoped that all pexsoas ,;jj who intended to become exhibitors ' '% would apply at once at his office for entry blanks, so that the entries can be made in good time before the fair It is also desirable that the citizens . I of Columbia who intend making exhibits of their goods will do so at once, tn ?V,of cmm nan V>a tn fham ovs buau opaw unu vv MAtwwv* w vuvm* Iq this connection the Secretary nopes to have fine exhibits from all the merchants of the city. It may be stated that applications have already been filed by some of the business men of the city. Dr. W. C. Fisher, chairman of the ground and building committee, is busily engaged in having all necessary repairs and improvements made on the premises. Col. Pearce has also opened the in* tellicence office of the Fair Association in the Kendall building, two doors above Col. Ilolloway's office. This office will be kept open daily until after the fair. Col. Pearce says that several parties who have rooms to rent have already filed their names. He asks that all persons that can give accommodations to visitors coming to the fair will please register their names at once, so that he can answer or refer all inquiries at once when made. This office will prove a boon to the visitors to the fair." Here they can have their baggage checked should they only spend a day, and obtain all information regarding sights around the city. Among the attractions assured are a firemen's tournament, a bicycle parade and a procession of electric cars properly and tastefully decorated. Other features are also to be added?it being the purpose of the Columbia people to make ttie stay or ine visitors pieasaut from start to finish. The prospects for a first class exhibition on the grounds were never better. The number and variety of the exhibits already promises well. The people all over the State are taking unusual interest, and they are coming here in crowds. The railroad rates are very low, and the schedules will oe arranged to suit the convenience of people anywhere within a distance of a hundred miles. The generous action of the Legislature, in appropriating means to help the premium list assures good prizes for all winners, and already there are signs of sharp competition. The more exhibits the more interest. The more interest the more people. All who come to the fair this year may feel sure of a hearty welcome and a good time all round. The fair opens on the 9th of November, and lasts one week. EvBry day -' 11?L ?watt Ivq nlaoomtlv find LU UlttL VYCCn. iuaj w profitably spent by visitors. The I'erlls of the Sea. New York, Oct. 14Capt. W. W. Cheen and six men, the crew of the schooner, Luther M. Reynolds of Frederica, Del., were picked up at sea from their dismasted and waterlogged vessel by the Morgan liner Elmar and brought to this city. The Reynolds left Brunswick, Ga , on Sept. 30, with a cargo of railroad ties for Elizabethport, N. J. On Oct. 10, when off Cane Romaine, they met with a northerly gale, but managed to beat up to Winter Quarters lightship, when the gale increased to a hurricane. On the 11th the vessel heeled over until the topmasts touched water. On the 12th, the crew were rescued. Two of the ?*? fkoi'n <371 f. crew arc iicariv msauo uvu ... ferines. The Reynolds is driftingtowards the Gulf Stream and will probably not sink for months. The Elmar had a terrific tussle herself with the gale. The steps leading to her pilot house were washed away Monday morning, the chocks under the life boat were smashed and the port life boat amidships was crushed by coming into contact with the iron dockhouse. The Elmar was buffeted by the waves from the time that she was 25 miles north of Jupiter Light off the Florida coast until yesterday afternoon, when she was due east of Delaware capes. Tom Watsou's Wrutli. Topeka, Kan., October 15. The following telegram was delivered to Abe Steinberger, secretary of the Middle of the lioad State committee, this morning: Thomson, Ga., Oct. 14. -Abe Steinberger, Topeka, Kansas: Ulcerated fhrnat will prevent mv keeping ap pointments. I greatly regret this. The Middle of the Road Populists all over the Union have my sympathy and admiration. Thej have been sold out and their party made a foot mat for Democratic politicians to wipe their feet on under the hypocritical pretence of patriotism. The fusionists have abandoned principle and gone into a mad scramble for the T( Hrvan is defeated piCUO WUUULUi. +.%. ?? it will be a fault of the traders in his party and ours, who have ignored the St. Louis compromise and tried to force the Populist to vote for Sewall, the bond holder, national banker corporation plutocratic and "gold clause" millionaire. Thomas E. Watson,