The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, January 13, 1897, Image 9
I The Press and Rainier.
| by hug a Wilson .
I AKIIKTIU.G, N. <.
f A NEGRO LYNCHER
k THE MYSTERIOUS HANGING OF LAWf
RENCE BROWN.
He Was Suspected of Hating uet Klre to
llie Barn ol Mr. R. K. Wannamaker. near
Stllton--Arrrnrrd and Discharged?
Hauged and Riddled with liullet* I.^ter. '
Ohakokburo, Jan. G.?The people
of our city wore thunderstruck this |
mornicg when it was made known
that there had been a lynchicgr within
three miles of heie last night. The
/rviirtiwirinr oro fh? fflrts as ascertained:
? 'UJivmug M?V - ? -?
Early this morning the Jifeless body
ofLawrerce Brown, a well-built negro
of about 20 jears, was lound hang
ing from the danger signal at the j
crossing of the o]d stage read and the
South Carolina and Georgia railroad,
one mile from Stilton, and about three
miles from Orangeburg. How it got
there is still a mystery to every one.
Several bullet and gunshot wounds
were found on the body.
The post frcm which the body was
hanging is about 15 feet high and 3
feet from the track. The face of the
corpse was turned towards the post
and his beck to the railroad. Pinned 1
to his back was found a placard with
the following inscription:
' 'Notice to all whom it may concern: <
Judge Lyrch's courtis in session tonight
for the protection of cur proper- i
ty, and by the help of Gcd he will ;
j convict and execute any man, woman
or child that burns or destroys our .
property with fire. We will protect
our homes and property and our j
? r 1 -1?11 Iacc f??Am ?
nejgnDors fciiHii nut aunu iVO? S A XSMJLJk I
the hellish fire bugs. Let this be a i
warning to others." I
Coroner Dukes went to the scene of I
the lynchin/ early this morning and, j
after empaneling a jury, of 12 reliable ]
men, with Capt. GK W. Brunson as j
foreman, commenced the inquest. ]
Isam Brown, brother of the deceased, J
testified that late last night he heard 1
several shots fired in the direction of
the crossing, which is about half a i
mile from his house, and later he saw t
three persons on horseback from that j
direction, but could not tell who they 1
1 '1 y*
were, wnemer nesrues ur nun^,
even if they were men or women. He ]
attached no importance whatever to i
these circumstances until he found 1
that his brother had been lynched. i
Mr. R. E. Wannamaker testified '
that fce also heard several shots fired i
last night about the same hour as
sworn to by the negro, but thought
nothing of it, as it was a very common ;
occurrence. No one knew until today ,
what those shots meant, but now there ,
is no doubt but that those with the <
rope used, were the means of sending j
thn kouI of Lawrence Brown into
eternity. Whether or not justice has j
been done, time alone will prove.
Following are the facts and circumstances
which undoubtedly led to this '
lynching: On last Friday night the 1
barn of Mr- R. E. Wannamaker, who '
lives at Stilton, was burned to the \
ground, proving a very severe loss to
| the owner. Lawrence Brown was '
suspected of the crime and lodged ^
in jail to await a preliminary heariug.
Mr. Wannamaker said he had strong J
proof against Brown, but as there were *
others implicated also, and he wished ]
to catch the whole crowd, he decided J
yesterday to withdraw the charge :
against Brown, turn him loose and in
this way, with the aid of a detective, j
discover who the others were. Accordingly
yesterday (Tuesday) the j
charges against Brown were with- *
drawn and he was sent on his way re- ;
joicing, but his joy was apparently
shortlived. Brown didn't go straight :
to his home, and nothing more was
heard of him until his ghastly corpse *
was found dangling by the side of the 1
railroad. Who did the deed, no one i
knows, and it will very likely always
remain a mystery. There are two 1
theories advanced? one is that Brown's I
accomplices, fearicg expose at his J
hands, committed the deed and placed :
the placard on his back to mislead 1
those interested. Another is that it |(
was done by the iriends and neigh- *
bors of Mr. Wannaiaaker, who sympathized
with him in his great loss of i
property. No one can tell which of i
these is correct. j
This is thesecand time Mr. Wanna- j
maker has been burnt out in about 1
two years. A little over two years (
Vf. TJ P
UgU. at iiJgllL, iSll. xii. xu ii auuauianci .
had his barn and outbuildings burnt, J
and the very next night those of Mr. J
j E. N. Wannamaker, who also lives at '
/ Stilton, were burnt. Several negroes !
/ are now serving terms in the peniten- ^
f tiary for these crimes. Coroner Dukes J
was not satisfied with the result of '
today's inquest, so adjourned the in- 1
quest until tomorrow, when it is hoped 1
that other f8cts will be made known. ^
Some excitement and indignation pre- ,
vails among the negroes, but no trou- ?
ble is feared. The coroner is using !
bis best endeavors towards finding the J
guilty parlies, but whether or not he (
will succeed is yet to be seen. It is J
hoped, however, that success will '
crown hia untiring efforts.?State.
DR. T. A. JEFFORDS, 1
a regular licensed practicing phjsician !
of the county of Orangeburg and State 1
of South Carolina being duly sworn, '
says that at the request of Coroner D. '
E. Dukes and a jury of inquest empanelled
in the case ol South Carolina vs J
Lawrence Brown, deceased, he exam- !
ined the dead bedy of Lawrence 1
Brown in the public stage road about *
three and a half miles from Orange- *
burg, and found the neck of tne de- '
ceased broken, a pistol buliet on the 1
left side under Ihe skin, about four '
inches below a line drawn through 1
the nipples and about five inches from
the meoian line, one pistol bail in the :
lei t groin and about four inches from
the median line; bullet was under the '
i>kin; one pistol ball in right side, i
about eight inches from median line, ]
and about eight inches below the line i
of nipples; this bullet was also under i
the sliin; a few abrasions on the chin 1
and under the chm on the neck. 1
There were no other marks on front <
of the body. On the back of the body
there were evidences of eighteen buck- i
hot, or pistol balls, ranging from the
base of the neck to the buttcck. Also i
there were evidences of three loads of
small shot, one in the left arm at the
elbow, one in the left side, about five
inches frcm the spinal column, and
one in the lelt buttcck, about four
inches from spinal column, all of
which was sufficient to cause death.
ISAAC BROWN,
a venerable looking old colored man,
came up next. He is the father of
Lawrence Brown, who was lynehet
He Jived near Caw Caw Swamf
About two years ago he hired Law
rtnce, his soil, to Albert Benneti
Lawretce would have been 22 year
old in a couple of weeks. lie has no
sten his sou since Christmas. Hesa\
him at his home; sirce then he ha
not seen his ton until the killing. II
was not at the tire. Lawrence weij
home lo spend Christmas, and carrier
presents with him. He was told o
the killing by a little boy, who sv
him while on his way to school. H
i ~.i (ka od'jii. (iiirinir fha mnrn
ueaiuwi bill/ aunii ?v...
ing. lie knew his son was in jail
and he came down to see about hi
boy Monday. It was then put off un
tifThursday.
Mr. Jeffords: "You kcew he wa
discharged ?''
Uncle Isaac: "I kcew notbin/
about the whole lhicg.M
He said he knew absolutely noth
ing of his son's death or how it oc
curred.
GEORGE WHETSTONE,
a bright iooking negro, said he lived
on Mr. R E. Wanna maker's placc
and knew Lawrence Brown, whcst
body was found by the roadside. Ht
was going up the road yesterday t(
look after some stcc's with Williaa
Go van. He saw the boy's body bang
ing on the crcss piece. He did not gf
any closer iu iutj auu i^u<?wv
the bcdv as that of Lawrence Brown
A short* while afterwards nis brothei
recognized him. He then went bact
to his home and reported his fiod,
Tbe last he saw of Brown was the
nigLt of the fire until he saw the deac
body. By his clock the shooting oc
curred at sixteen minutes to 10 o'clock,
When he was roused there were eight
Dr ten shots fired, and he was in a doze
and the firing did not disturb him.
RICHARD "WILSON, COLORED,
lived near the scene of the trouble,
He was at home on the night of the
killing. Yesterday Ishatn Brown
asked him to come to town with him,
and on his way from home to towr
they saw Lawrence Brown's dead
oody. He did not go to the body,
[sham Brown recognized him.
He heard shooting about 10 o'clock.
Hp last saw Lawrence Brown alive
Friday morning. Brown worked foi
Mr. Bennett. He did not go to the
Sre at Mr. Wannamaker's.
ISAAC BROWN,
i brother of Lawrence Brown, was al
:he O cain placs the night of the kill
ng. He knew nothing further about
iie killing.
J. BOX ROBINSON. WHITE,
lives near Jamison. He knew nothing
about the case. He did not hear
the shooting, living about 1^ to lij
miles of Orangeburg. He saw Brown
ruesday afternoon in Mr. Wanna
maker's buggy. ,
M# -T M K\TOTTS.
i young white man from the county,
wno lives about 16 miles from here,
was next examined. He bought the
"railroad place," where Mr. Alfred
Bennet lived. The "place" was owned
t)y the South Carolina and Georgia
Road. He was yesterday moving tc
ihe place. He is Mr. Wannamaker's
brother in-law. Day before y esteri&y,
Tuesday, he heard of the Wsnna
maker fire, lie found the barn burn2d,
and saw Mr. Wannamaker about
sundown Tuesday at his home. They
were all in the store about 10 o'clock,
when they heard shooting. There
were in the store with him: Mr. R.
R. Wannamaker. Clifford Westbury,
Addison Haynes, "Solomon," a coljred
boy, probably, and myself. He
was certain tbat Mr. Westbury, Mr.
Saynes and Mr. Wannamaker were
here with him. They heard shooting
ibout 10 o'clock. The front door was
slosed and they could not locate the
iring. Some said it was up at a ne
p-o house on the place; they all
hought it was firecrackers shooting
)ff. At first there was a gun fire,
K)th barrels were fired. After that
he firing was all from pistols, he
hought. They walked to tbe door,
ind by that time all was over. They
lid not see anyone pass. The next
norning a colored boy told Addison
Tooncc tKiora rood ft rfoarl man un the
S -r
oad hanging: on the railroad crossing
)ost. He and Mr. Wannamaker re
urned about 12 o'clock. They were
ogether all evening. They were talkng
business, as he had just moved
)ver. He knew nothing about the
juilty parties, or of the burning.
Mr. R. E. Wannamaker simply cor
oborated the evidence of Mr. Knotts.
3e saw Lawrence Brown Tuesday.
9Le went on to say that Brown was
leld on suspicion of burning his barn,
ind "in fact, I believe we had enough
ividence to convict him."
After consultation with his attorney,
le had him turned out, and to witbIraw
the indictment temnorarily for
iie purpose of working up other testinony
implicating other parties. Mr.
L.ide was the attorney I consulted. Afer
getting the disccharge he went to
tie jail ana naaurown reieasea. ne
wanted to ask some questions of Brown
wd wanted a witness present to hear
what he had to say, and asked Mr.
SToah Wertz to go up with him. The
jailer was not present when he went
here, and a young lady allowed
Brown to be removed after getting the
jrder of dismissal. Brown came out
with Mr. Wertz and Mr. Wannamaier.
He asked him if he was going
home, and he replied, yes. He asked
ne if he could get a seat in my buggy
indlat first told him yes, but know;ng
and believing he was the party
who burned my barn, I told him he
had better walk home. He walked to
wards the postoffice, and I did not see
Brown again until he was hung up on
.he post. When we turned him out
it wat understood that it was not because
we believed him innocent, but
simply to implicate others. He said he
bad gotten Mr. Hampton Dukes to arrange
to employ a detective to work
up the case, and he was to or bad writ
ten about the matter.
MAGISTRATE C. P. BRNNSON
swore that be wrote the discharge foi
Lawrence Brown on theStb, Tuesday.
The discharge was directed to the sher
iff. It was given at the request of the
prosecuting witness, who came to him
and told him he would like more time
ind said he wanted more time, and il
he got more evidence he would renev*
Lhe charge, as he could work upth(
case better with Brown at large.
He did not consider the dismissa
temporary. He judged that the case
was to be pushed, nut that the distnis
sal was final so far as he w&s concerned
The charge could be renewed at anj
time. There was no preliminary hear
ing. There was no evidence offered
The warrant was issued on informa
tion and belief. He understood Browi
was to be used as a decoy. If he hat
gotten hold of any evidence he woulc
never have discharged him.
He asked for the nature of the evi
dence, but none was presented. Mi
I. Wannamaker believed Brown was the
>. guilty party, and expected to get proof
r- to show it conclusively.
C. illK fl. W. WUKT&
s went to the jail with Mr. Wanna t
maker a little after 4 o'clock. He whs
v asked whether the discharge was till
s right, and said it wa<*. He pot in the
e buggy with Mr. Wannamaker. Brown
t told Mr. Wannamaker he knew noth
d ing about the burning of his barn,
f Mr. Wannamaker told Brown that he
7 did not have much evidence against
e him althoi/|h he believed be was guil
I ty, and if he promised to behave him,
stlf he would have him released.
s addisost 1iaynes, colored,
corroborated the testimony of Mr.
Knotts as to bsing in his store about
s 10 o'clock, i. e., he was in the store
with Mr. Wannamaker and Mr. Knotts
? when the firing was heard outsidemr.
wannamaker,
- buing recalled, 6aid that Brown was in
- his buggy only for a few minutes, ar.d
he told Brown to get out, as he had
i - r> j:j
| Ulcer uusiuots. JDruwu uiu uut imc
I! out with him.
5 I MR ALBERT BENNETT
5 swore that he lived near Stilton's. He
) was at home Tuesday, and in the after)
noon took a load of oats to his new
1 place. Returned home about 8 o'clock
and went to spend the night with his
) father, who lived about a mile away.
I lie heard of the lynching next morn.
ing. He saw Brown Friday night at
r his house. Rrown lived on his place.
i He did not see Brown Tuesday night.
Yesterday Isham Brown, a brother
s of the deceased, testified that he saw
I three men ride by his house after he
heard firiug.
This ended the testimony io the
; case. The jury, of which Capt. George
! W. Brunson Vas foreman, went into
f UA /tnaA An/) won.
a uunaiucittuuu kji clio i^aoo, mum x^xxdered
the following verdict:
"That Lawrence Brown came to his
) death by violent means, inflicted by
i party or parties unknown to the jury."
, The jury was dismissed, and this
i ended the second chapter in the tra
I gedy.
As was stated this morning, it was
suggested that the confederates of
, Brown were suspicious of him and
) fearing treachery on his part, killed
him. This is a theory.
i Then there is another, which is much
more likely. The community, hearing
of Brown's release, not knowing
i of Mr. Wannamaker's plan to use
Brown in making other arrests, but
; feeling that Brown was the guilty party
and would not suffer just punishment,
immediately organized and dispatched
the supposed "fire bug." This
frame of mind was assisted by the
\ fact that there had been three such
l fires in the immediate neighborhood
within a short period, and that a
brother of Brown was now serving a
ten-year sentence, having been convicted
of setting fire to Mr. Elliott N.
Wannamaker's barn.
( There has not been any talk about
i the relatives of Brown bringing an
1 action under the provisions of the new
L Constitution for the ''violent''killing
( of the lad, and it is not known that
( any such proceedings will be undertaken.
HE WAS NOT A MARRIED MAN.
It is said that Brown and his family
lived on a piece of property that went
! into the hands of Mr. Wannamaker,
or his family, and that when the
.Browns had to leave tbe place .Lawrence
said: "It will never do him
any good." This is alleged to have
been a threat that pointed to Brown's
guilt. 1
The last lynching in Orangeburg
County was that of Jack Prater, who
was stung up in the eighties, after a
jury had failed to render a verdict in i
response to public sentiment.?News
and Courier.
A Chicago Yarn.
Chicago, January 6.?A Superior, ,
Wis., special says: Bloodshed may
be the result of a misunderstanding
between two prominent men. The
parties are Col. C. D. Loud, who is !
here from Savannah, Ga., and W. J. ;
Holden, a local shipbuilder and poli- '
tician. Col. Loud was engaged in en- i
couraging immigration to the J'ruit !
growing sections of Georgia. Holden j
was sent with Col. Loud a uhort time J
ago to Georgia by a party of ship yard I
men to look over the country. While _
TT 11 | _ M 1
away noiaen conceiveu uie iaeu ui
going into business himself and start- (
ed a rival business about three railes (
from Col. Loud's lands, near Macon. '
The Colonel demanded an explana- J
tion and got Holden out in the South
one night to cowhide him, but the latter
escaped in the darkness. Both i
men were armed, so said the Colonel, |
although shooting on his part was to i
be the last resort. The q uarrel has <
been carried to this city and Loud <
threatened either to cowhide Holden 1
or kill him because he had done him j
a dirty trick. . Both men are talking 3
loud and threateningly and a duel has I
been hinted at. Col. Loud is a typical I
Southerner, who has the reputation of i
having protected his honor on ground j
where blood has been spilled. Holden i
stubbornly holds off and friends are
keeping them apart and say that a
duel may yet end the misunderstand- i
ing. i
Death of a Noted Yankee.
New York, Jan. 6.?Big Pete Aubrey,
a war veteran, died at his home
in Florence, Mass., today of blood
poisoning resulting from an old wound
He was famous as the giant chief of 1
police at Andersonville prison and
1 other Southern prisons in the latter
part of the war. Aubrey was born at 1
' Ruse's Point, N. Y, in 1833. When
the civil war came he enlisted in Com- 1
pany B. 9th New York regiment, and
was in the Peninsula campaign. At
- Yorktown he was wounded in the
> head by a bullet, which was never
removed. On April 30, he was cap'
tured and sent to Andersonville where
he was elected chief of police. Later
he was removed to the prison at Florence.
S. C., and again to the Cnarles
ton Race Course, and at both he acted
as the head of the police. He had a
. number of thrilling adventures in try5
ing to escape.
, Sunk Near Fort Carroll.
f Baltimore, Jan. 6.?Two lives
' were lost as the result of a collision in
i the Chesapeake Bay. near Fort Carroll,
this morning. The Merchants'
I and Miners' steamer Howard, from
i Boston and Norfolk, crashed into the
tug Job T. Wilson, of the Virginia
. Dredging Company, and sunk her.
r The engineer, J ames Chilrus, 54 years
old, and Charles C Chappell, a jed 17,
. son of the captain of the tug, were
- drowned. The captain and the other
l four members of the crew clung to the
t mud scows which were in tow of the
I tug until rescued, Chilrus luaves a
widow and four children at Norfolk,
,- Chappell's home was in Ricamond,
\[Va.
THE FARMERS' COLLEGE.
NUMBER OF STUDENTS A LITTLE
LESS THAN LAST YEAR,
i
The Itoard of Trusteed Argun for a Contin
uanc* of the Appropriation of the Privilege
Tax?President Craighead's Re
port of Operations.
Clemson College is one of the institutions
of the State in which the farmers
especially are interested and it
i will be gratifying to them as well as
all of the people of tho State to know
that the institution is nourishing and
from the reports of tho officers seems
to be accomplishing much good.
President Craighead, iia the course
of his report, gives th?i following' figures
to show the number of students
by classes, which is sligh tly less thari
last year:
Seniors, mechanical.., 2<!
Seniors, agricultural. 15
Junior?, mechanical............... lfi
Juniors, agricultural 15
Sophomores, mechanical.? ... 20
sophomores, agricultural. Z4
Freshmen 63
Fitting school ..... .. .16!)
Special students !>
Summary by countieu: Abbeville,25;
Aiken, 5; Anderson, 35!; Barnwell, 18;
Berkeley, 2; Beaufort, 1; Charleston,
23; Chester, 5; Chesterfield, 4; Clarendon,
4; Colleton, 7; Darlineton, 9;
Edgefield, 15; Fairfield., 7; Florence,
5; Greenville, 13; Ham pton, 1; Kershaw,
6; Lancaster, 1; Laurena, 13;
Lexington, 11; Marion, 3; Marlboro,
12; Newberry, 7; Oconee. 16; Orangeburg,
18; Pickens, 21; Richland, 6;
Saluda, 8; Spartanburg. 16; Sumter,
5; Williamsburg, 4; 'York, 5; - total
345.
By States: Washington, D. C.. 1;
Transylvania, N. C , 2; Fulton, Ga.,
1; Steuben, N. Y., 1; Colquitt, Ga.,
1; Fajette, Mo., 1; Rome, Italy, 1;
total, not counting student twice 350.
TnrtWTXTA annAAT
riixiii\j ovavv/iii
About half of our students, as will
be seen, are in the fitting school. Experience
shows that, of the boys who
come to us, an average of only about
one in twenty is prepared for colleger
It is true that our entrance require)
ments, owing to the excellent wort:
done in the fitting school, have been
somewhat raised. I need not stresa
tne importance of thorough elementary
instruction, and, until the district
schools fit boys for college, preparatory
classes here will remain a necessity.
Six years is rather a long time foir
a boy to remain at college, and it is to
De regretted that boys cannot obtain
at home good preparatory education.
If this cannot be done, each county
n* cooVt r>nrinrrA3Qinnal riistrifth nil nil lrI
have at least one school where boj 3
and girls could be fitted for college at
a cost not exceeding that at Clemson.
Major Edgeworth Blythe,who,since
February, 1894, has done faithful and
eilicient work in the fitting school,
will sever his connection with the college
at the close of the year and begin
the practice of law. Major Blythe car
ries with him the resp ct and esteem
of both faculty and students.
There are men in our senior classi
able to do his work well, and I, therefore,
recommend that one of our owu
graduates be appointed to fill the vacancy.
Prof. Morrison, the head ma?iter
of the school has been from time to
time assisted by the professors in the
college department.
I deem it unnecessary to make* more
than a brief summary ot the work of
the various departments during the
year. Th*> reports of the professors
heretofore attached will give a correct
idea of the work done, the text books
used, the money expended, and such
other information as the board may j
care to know.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
The agricultural department has
sustained a great losa in the deiath of
Prof. W. L. McGee, who, on October
22, while instructing the senior class
AnllftMit Un?n flfC.e in Allfi
All LLID UOX Uf Tf CiO VAU^uu iu v??4
2orn shredding machine and fatally
injured, dying after an illness of four
hours. His untimely death cast a
jloom over the whole" college.
At your last meeting it was decided
to elect at this time a botanist and an
jtyimologist. Out of a large number
3.f applicants for these positions I ha ve
selected two whom I feel justified in
recommending to you,
CHEMICAL DEPARTMNET.
The work of the chemical department,
which from year to year has
sjro wn in importance^ is fully set forth
in Prof. Hardin's report. The number
Df analyses of waters, made at the request
of parties living in nearly every
part of the State, shows that our people
are at last realizing the necessity
for cood Dure drinking water. No
State, perhaps, is doing more than
3outh Carolina to protect the farmers,
not; only against fraudulent fertilizers
ami other impositions,but also against
impure water, the fruitful source of
many ills, both to man and beast.
Prof. Hardin recommends that the
salary of Mr. McDonnell, a graduate
of the Maryland Agricultural College,
who has been employed in the fertilizer
department since July 2, be raised
to $600. Mr. McDonnell's excellent
work fully entitles him to this amount.
The mechanical department is at
last fairly well equipped. With the
excellent instruction given here and
the creditable equipment already had
I see no reason why students seeking
courses in electrical engineering and
mechanical engineering should go to
other States for instruction. The exhibit
recently made by this department
at our State Fair was pronouutfcd by
many to be most creditable, and gave
to the people of the State s jme knowledge
of the work attempted here. All
the instructors seem to be earnest and
faithful, determined to keep up with
the raoid progress being mads in the
mechanic arts. Several of the instructors,
including the superintendent,
Prof. Tompkius, wish to spend their
vacations at Cornell, the Drexel Institute,
and other great polytechnic
schools.
THE ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT.
The mathematical department, under
the direction of Prof. Clinkscales,
who, at the beginning of the year,
was promoted to a full professorship,
is, I think, meeting the need especially
of mechanical students for thorough
mathematical training. If, as
was once contemplated by the board,
students desiring it are to have instruction
in civil engineering, I recommend
that this work be assigned
to Assistant Professor Brodie.
The report of the surgeon shows
that the health of students has been
fairly good, but not so good as our
excellent sanitary conditions seem to
warrant. The surgeon, however, has
been remarkably successful in the
treatment of a number of critical
cases. We have lost by death one
student during the year?W. H. Marl
tin of Orangeburg, who died of meas
]es, complicated with pneumonia. It
is gratifying to report that the matron
of the hospital, Mrs. Porcher, is
also a most excellent nurse. Mr. Gor.
don is also a reliable and conscientious
nurse. The management of the hospital
is entirely satisfactory.
The laundry cannot be made selfsustaining
unless the number of garments
which students are now permitted
put out be cut down or the
' price raised.
LIBRARY.
The library now contains 2 105 vol;
umes, 700 of which have been added
daring the year, and many pamphlets
and government reports. Nine hundred
and ninety eight dollars have
been apent for books and cases during
the year.
I earnestly recommend that not less
, than $2,000 be approriated for library,
and I also call vour attention to the
following resolution of the faculty,
which I heartily endorse: "On motion
of Mr. Morrison (seconded by
Mr. Lucas), it was
"Resolved, That the faculty petition
the board of trustees, through
the president of the college, to pro- ]
vide for a trained librarian."
LITERARY SOCIETIES.
The three literary societies?the
Calhoun, the Palmetto, and the Co- ]
lumbian?meet every Friday night in j
their handsomely furnished halls for j
exercises in oratory, declamation and
debate. I recommend that every student
join one of these societies, but
those who prefer not to do so are required
to declaim before the faculty.
In connection with the library is a
reading room, supplied with the leading
papers and periodicals, half the
expense of maintaining which is defrayed
by the faculty.
The Young Men's Christian Association
is a strong influence for good
among the cadets. Six members of
the association, whose expenses were
partly defrayed by the faculty and
students, attended the Knoxville
Summer School.
farmers' institutes.
Seven Farmers' Institutes have been
held at the folio wing places: Orangeburg,
Walhalla, Laurens, Fairview,
Anderson, Manning, and Darlington.
Dr. Wyman and I attended all the institute?,
and Profs. Hardin, McGee,
DuPre and Hart three or more. Nearly
all the institutes were well attended.
and I think both the farmers and
the professors attending were benefit- 1
ted. In many States appropriations
by the Legislatures of from five to
fifteen thousand dollars are made for c
this v?ork. Our experience this year c
will enable ua to do better work next 8
year, should the board see fit to appro- J
priate money for this purpose.
The faculty recommends to you for
the degree of B. S. the following ca- 1
dets, each of whom has successfully ?
completed the agricultural course: J.
M. Blain, Gk P. Boulware, J. F. Brea- ,
zeale, J. F. Folk, C. M. Furman, Jr., 11
P. H. Gooding. R. G. Hamilton, J. ?
H. Moore, B. F. Robertson, Br~ F.~.?
Sloan, B. R. Tillman, Jr., F. G. ?
Tompkins, B. R. Turnipseed, and L.
A. Werts; and the following, who
have successfully completed the mechanical
course: B. M. Aull, J. T. ?
Bowen, J. T. Bradley, F. L. Bryant, ?
P. N. Calhoun, W. H. Carpenter, A. ?
M. Chreitzberg, T. W. Cothran, D. ?
Dowling, E. P. Earle. P. G. Lang ley, c
R. E. Lee, I. M. Mauldin, 0. M. Pe- c
5ues, L. A Sease, J. G. Simpson, A
. Tindal, T. H. Tuten, and W. W. ?
Wardlaw.
The faculty is composed of able,
energetic, conscientious gentlemen, ?
nearly every one of whom is an ex. f
pert in some line of work. The kind
liest feeling exists among the mem- c
bers and all the faculty, and all the 0
employes of the college are, I believe, ?
enthusiastically devoted to its inter- 1
ests. They are mostly young men, 0
ambitious to win for themselves dis- f
tinction in their several specialities, f
and if left undisturbed by political ?
combinations, threatening frequent ?
changes in the affairs of the institu- }
tion, will make Ulemson a college of *
which the State may be proud. The Y
deportment of students has been ex- f
cellent, and their devotion to the col- c
lege most commendable. In conclu- 8
sion, I desire to thank the board for ?
their support and for the interest ?
which they have always taken in the 8
success of the college. Respectfully J
submitted, E. B. Cr&ighead. 1
The Board of Trustees in the course c
of tneir report, in speaking of the 0
privilege tax says:
By reference to the report of J. P. 0
Smith, secretary of the fertilizer de- 8
partment, the total amount received ?
from the privilege tax this year is J:
$49,872.37. The expenses charged 1
against this depaitment is $4,533.82, 0
leaving for the college from net pro- ?
ceeds of the privilege tax, $45,340.55. ^
(The salary of professor of chemistry a
and his assistant, the cost of bulletins s
and the analysis of waters are not included
in the expenses charged
against the fertililer department.)
The income of the college for the C
year consists of: '
The net proceeds of privilege |
tax $45,340 55 *
Interest from land script
fund 5,754 00 {
Interest from Clemson bequest
3,512 36 c
From incidentals 554 95 ?
$55,161 86 '
Should the privilege tax realiz.9 as c
much next year as this there will be a G
sufficient amount to meet the expenses a
of the college, and complete the de- r
velepment of the agricultural depart- ?
ment of the college, which is very ^
much needed. We therefore earnest- 1
ly request that the college be left in c
undisturbed possession of the privilege 0
tax. The advocates of Clemson Col- ?
lege always contended that this privi- ?
lege tax, if properly expended, would
pay the expenses of a college which
would be of a great benefit to the peo- ?
pie of the State. This claim has been 1
fulfilled, and to day Clemson college 0
for the year 1896, graduating a class of
thirty-seven young men, and that too
without a dollar of appropriation
from the State Treasury. The appli- 1
cation of the privilege tax to Clem- 1
son College wiio'decided by the peo- ^
pie in the campaign of 1890, and we 1
trust that this fund will not now ba
taken from the college when it is just f
getting upon its feet, and just getting i
ready for efficient work. i
There were in attendance upon the t
college at the close of the collegiate c
year about 300 students. From the s
best information we have this number I
will be largely increased at the reop- i
ening of the college in February, c
next. The curriculum of the college s
has been thoroughly revised at t
present meeting of theB jard and Cle
son College is in reality and truth
* ii . i J li.-t l A-ll..
Agricultural anu meuuamuai ^unet
and is the largest institution of t
kind in the Southern States. It b
no catch courses, the only two cour!
in the college are the agricultural a
mechanical courses, and every boy
required to take one of these caursi
In concluding, the Board says:
This Board earnestly entreats ea
and every member of the Genei
Assambly to remember the difficult]
and backsets which have been
countered in bringing the college i
to what it is to day, and to lend to t
Board their help and assistance. Fi
thermore, we urgently request,
nntisihlfv ftvsrv mftmbflp of vn
bodies to visit Clemson College durii
this session; and if you desire to s
cept this invitation an intimation
that effect will be sufficient, and sod
members of the Board will make t
necessary arrangements, and lot
after the comfort of the visitors.
R. W. Simpson,
President Board of Trustees Clems<
Agricultural College.
ARMOR PLATE FRAUDS.
Herbert Tells How Uncle Sam H
Been Victimized.
Washington, Jan. 5.?Secreia
Herbert today transmitted to Co
sjress his reply to a provision in tl
fast naval appropriation bill, dire<
ing him to examine into the actu
:ost of armor plate and report
rVmtrrpso hofnrA .Torino rir t 1S97 m
to make no contract for armor pla
for the vessels authorized by that A
until after the report was made
oongress.
The report is a very important ar
in many respects a sensational doc
coent. The present cost of armor
?583 per ton. Mr. Herbert's concl
>ion is that the cost of material ai
labor is $198.70 and allowing for tl
lost of maintaining the plant and tl
nickel now furnished by the gover
nent and 50 per cent." profit to tl
iompanies the next cost to the gover
nent would be in round numbers $4'
Der ton. The Carnegie and Beth!
lem Companies have both expressed
lesire to sell out their plants to tl
government.
Secretary Herbert says that bo'
he Carneeie and Bethlehem Cjq
paines declined last spring to give tl
nformation on the ground that the
vere not obliged to give to the publ
he secrets of their business.
The Bethlehem Company final!
lubmitted a statement placing the co
>f armor plate at $494 per ton. A
ompanying it was a letter whic
tated that in view of the government
>roposal to operate a plant of its owi
he company desires to withdra w4'fro
his troublesome business by sellin
o the government below cost 01
ntire armor plate plant, which we b
ieve to be the best in the world,"
The Cargenie Company also sent
Btter about this time declining to gi\
. full statement of cost, but giving tl
lements entering into the cost, excli
ivref-tfc6~shop cost, making it $224
(5.
The Cargenie Company then als
.nimad verted on the fact that the wor
if making armor had been undertake
,t the request of the government an
aid it would, if the government d
ired to manufacture its own armo:
e ''only too happy to sell its plant i
ost."
Mr. Herbert says the governmei
xperts do not sustain the estimaU
i the Cargenie Company. Mr. He
ert calls attention to the fact that tb
ompanies made no statements unt
le had returned from Europe whei
le had procured two estimates of tl
ost of armor plate. "An inspectio
if the prices paid by the America
ompanies," Mr, Herbert says, "wi
ndicate that they agreed with eac
ither as to prices. They divided th
ontracts of this government betwee
hemselves, each Didding lower on or
lalf of the armor required by th
;oviernment."
Secretary Herbert concludes thf
290 may be taken as a fair cost of
on of armor. The Secretary says thf
t is essential that these or other plant
e kept in operation. Mr. Herbei
ays it is not desirable that the goveri
aent should manufacture armor an
or these reasons very liberal profil
hould be offered to the present cor
ractors to induce tbem to continu
heir plants in operation and ne r<
ommends as a fair profit 50 per cen
in thft cnHh nf mnnufflp.tiirp whic.
rould be $375 per ton. It will pro\
ifficult to obtain armor for the battl<
hips already under contract if tb
ompanies refuse to bid within tb
imit Congress may fix. To eliminal
bis difficulty Mr. Herbert recon
deads that upon fixing a price f(
rmor. Congress also authorizes tt
iecretary to erect or buy or lease a
rmor plant or a gun plant if nece:
ary.
A Political Freight Train.
Silver Springs, N. Y., Jan. 6.)ne
hundred and sixty cars loade
vith 5,450,000 pounds of salt left hei
oday consigned to New Englan
irms. The train was the Worceste
alt special, bearing a consignment c
rders to New England, which ha
>een given contingent upon Pres
lent McKin ley's election. The vai
hipment made up the finest freigt
rain ever put together. The cai
rere handsomely decorated with var
olored banners. This train will g
ver the Erie Railroad to Jersey Cit
,nd thence by the Consolidated Rai
oad to Boston. A large crowd wf
;athered about the train, and as
tarted there was a great cheering
?he first section has attached a prival
ar for representatives of the press an
fiicials of the Worcester Salt Con
any. The shipment contains 14,22
iarreJs packed with salt in bags an
>ulk, and 10,774 sacks not in barrel
f the barrels in the train were place
landing one on the top of the oth<
he most elevated barrel would t
iver six miies high.
Are Populists Honest?
Raleigh, Jan. 6?The Democrat
egislative caucus adopted unanimou
y the following resolution whic
yas passed in the hands of the Popi
ist caucus:
"Confiding iu the People's part
>rofessions favoring free silver, v
nvite cooperation with the Populi
nembers of the legislature in the ele
ion of an advocate of free silver, a
ipponent of trusts and combines, an
in advocate of an income tax, to tl
Jnited States senate. If the People
>arty accept this proposition we pledj
mrselves to abide by and perform ti
Lgreements entered into.
THE COMMODORE LOST.
nian
'
?e, was ON HER WAY TO CUBA WITH
h8 WAR MATERIALS.
tas
res ~ '
Th9 Famous Filibustering Steamer Be13
llfcved to Have Been Scuttled by Some
5S.
Traitor?Fall Details of the Wreck.
cIJ Jacksonville, Fla., Jan. 2.?The
filibustering steamer Commodore sunk
!n_ twenty miles off the Florida coast,
up fifteen miles north of Juniper Inlet,
h? at 3 o'clock this morning. Twelve of
lFj tha twenty-eight men on board have
ur arrived in this city, and the other sixa?
teen were landed at Oramond, twentyl(T.
five miles north of where the boat
went down.
Q6 Franco Blanco, the old Cuban pilot,
be tells the following story of the loss of
the steamer:
"The Commodore was overloaded
with coal when she left Jacksonville,
,Q and her first disaster was striking on
a sand bar in the St. John's River.
We were pulled off by. the revenue
cutter Boutwell and crossed fie St
John's bar. At 2 o'clock Friday afternoon
the boat almost capsizea in the
48 heavy sea, but we got away all right
and started to the southward.
"It was discovered at 2 o'clock this
rv morning that the vessel was fast fillQ.
ing witn water. Great excitement
Q0 prevailed among the men, but Captain
;t- Edward Murphy put every one at
al work.
"The steam pump and hand pumps
1C1 were manned and worked to their full
capacity, but the water continued to
ct gain. A bucket brigade was formed
and we bailed for our lives. At 3
o'clock the fires were extinguished by
1(j the rising water, and it was then deu.
cided to take to the boats. Captain
is Murphy took command of the largest
u. boat, with fifteen men, and Paul Rojo,
the agent of the owners of the Com- t
modore was in command of the other
he boat. I was with Rojo, and as soon
a. as we entered the boat we began to
ie pull for the shore.
_ UT|- txtqo /lonlr onrl ma lnof f!in.
H? ?? MO uui A, UUU TTU AVOW MUU
00 tain's boat, and the steamer soon dia[e.
appeared, but I did not see it sink,
a We pulled for the shore, but did not
16 reach land until 10 o'clock this morning.
We were all nearly exhausted,
th but reached the light-house at 10:30.
a. We went to New Smyrna, and there
ie took the train to this city."
jy The officers and crew of the Commoic
dore, as shown by the articles of agreement
filed in the Custom Hous9, were
[ y as follows: Edward Murphy, canst
tain; James Redigan, of New York,
c. chief engineer; Ed B. Bitter, of Florist
da, assistant engineer; Frank P.
's Grain, of New York, first officer, and
aj Felix Da Las Bias, of Spain, second
m officer.
t, LATER NEWS OF THE DISASTER.
b T A rfTTOAWTTTr T W Tnti O All
If ua^aoviiTiLiLiiii, u au, u. nu ui ?uu
e. crew of the Commodore were not
* saved, as reported last night. Twelve
a are in Jacksonville. Three alive and
re one dead are at Daytoma. Four are
ie reported to have arri ved near Ormond,
j. but the report is not confirmed, and
eight are at sea on a life raft.
Captain Murphy, Stephen Crane,
,0 the novelist; C. B. Montgomery, the
k cook; and William Higgins, a stoker,
,n landed at Daytoma this morning. Their
d boat was turned over in the surf and
e- Higgins received a wound, which
t caused his death soon after getting
it ashora. The party on the raft are all
Cubans. They left the boat before
it Captain Murphy's party and Inothing
;s more has been heard of them. J. M.
r- Barrs requested the collector of caste
torns to secure permission for ^the
il Three Friends to go to the rescue of
e the Commodore immediately upon
ie receipt of the news of the wreck batin
urday afternoon. The collector tele,n
graphed to Secretary Carlisle at once,
11 but no reply was received until this
h afternoon. Permission was granted
e and the Three Friends left tonight,
m The beach is being patrolled from St.
ie Augustine to New Smyrna.
ie It is reported that tnere was treachery
aboard the Commodore, but no
it details can be learned. The party
1 j i -x rv i il:.
a lanaea. ai uzjloma cannui gei hj iuu
it "uty until tomorrow, as there are no
ts Sunday trains on the East Coast railrt-Uo^A
The party that landed last
x- mgLu and reached here are: Major
d Ricardo A. Deigado, Paul Rojo, rats
quito Bencamo, Franco Blanco, Migui
ei Condisbury, Ramon Hernandez,
:e Gabriel Martinez, Santiago Diaz, Emi5.
lio Marquez, Jose Hernandez and
t. Buenaveuturo Livonues.
h The following was received from
e Day ton a at 11 o'clock tonight:
3. ''About 10 o'clock Friday night a
te suspicious leak was discovered in the
Le fire room and Captain Murphy immete
diately started the pumps which nn1
doubtedly had been tampered with,
>r as they were in working order when
ie Captain Murphy and Chief Engineer
a Redigan left watch at 8 o'clock. The
3- fire3 were extinguished and the boat
came to a standstill about 16 miles
from Mosquito light. Captain Murphy
took full charge of the handling
_ of the ship while the first mate super,
mteded the launching of the boats.
. The Cubans took possession of the big
boat and loaded it with baggage so
that only 12 men left the tug in it.
rf They reached shore at 4 o'clock Saturj
day and left for Jacksonville. The
second boat was occupied by six GUI'
bans and was the empty boat washed
3t ashore at Port Orange last night. The
) third boat to leave the craft's side was
filled with Americans, leaving a
1_ 10-foot dingy for Captain Murphy's ,
0 use, who refused to quit the ship until
J all were saved.
' 4lC. B. Montgomery, the steward,
! Stephen Crane and Wm. Higgins re)
maired with the captain and with him
?' launched the dingy and stood by the
"f tug until 7 oclock, when she sank.
The mate's boat, containing nine
* Americans, was smashed, and the
'I mate, two engineers, six firemen and
sailors were lashed to a raft, which
Captain Murphy attempted to tow
ashore, 20 miles away, but the terrible
' sea and the northeast gale swept them
away. The dingy, occupied by the
captain and companions, was 27 hours
at sea, Montgomery and Crane holding
Captain Murphy's overcoat as a
ic sail, until the beach was sighted,
s- High seas were breaking a half mile
h from shore. Montgomery, Crane and
j- Murphy were washed to the beach,
where citizens provided them with
y medical attendance. Higgins was _
re killed at the overturning of the boat,
st which made 10 Americans and six
c- Cubans lost.
n. There is no doubt that a traitor did
id the work of scuttling and then tample
ered with the pumps, as they were
?'s working perfectly at 8 o'clock. The
?e suspected man was saved and a thorle
ough investigation will ba made tomorrow."
I
I