Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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theWblic printing? ~ AN EFEORT MADE TO LET IT OUT TO THE LOWEST BIDDER. An Interesting Debute on the Subject In the House of Representative*?How the Members Voted on the Mattor?A Close Vote, Columbia, S. C., Feb. 12.?In the Bouse of Representatives yesterday the question of the public printing claimed considerable attention. Un-<ler the present law a Public Printer is fllontftd- At Dresent Mr. Charles Calvo, owner of the Register, tills the position. It is claimed by many that the State would save money by let- , ting the work out to the lowest bid- ; der. A few days ago Mr. Reynolds ( introduced a bill abolishing the office of Public Printer and instead let the work out to the lowest bidder. When ( this bill came up yesterday Mr. Kinard moved to strike out the enacting ( words of the bill. , Mr. Reynolds said that for a great many years South Carolina had been } letting out the public printing under j ^contract. Until 1893 the work had , been given to the lowest bidder. In j 11877 the matter was considered so im- ( portant that the act, practically the same as this bill he presented, was t passed. In 1893 the new act allowing , the general assembly to elect a public < i printer was passed. This bill was simply to let this work to the lowest bidder just as they would any other class of work. The bond protected the State, and, further, the responsibility of the bidder had to be passed upon. There was no reason in the plan now 2 in operation; it had no precedent in ? this State. The practice in regard to t all other work was totally different. c He made clear the point that no high- f er prices could be paid under his bill t than those now paid for the work. If they could offer a chance to get a re- j ductionof from 10 to 20 per cent., ( "why not do it. The Slate had been j paying a fancy price for public print- ( mg, flippantly appropriating $20,000 ( for upwards of 20 years without try- j K/NH/MY) rvHi'/iQc TXTVIIIA i. xuu w ai UC U^bbUUl ^/tivwpf ?? "**v | ^ doing the State an injury. The print- ] ing should not cost over $15,000. He ^ had merely retained the present prices 5 at the maximum figures, and opened ] the doors to competition. This was r founded upon right and reason and i custom. In Georgia, a State having greater population and twice as much j taxable property, only $15,000 was ( paid. For 20 years a great deal of ( useless printing had been going on. t He quoted a good manv figures to j show what could be done by comp9ti- ] tion. He believes that the cost of the ] work could be done for$15,000 instead g of $20,000, without reducing the vol- g ume. The State was not able to pay >] this sum if she could get it cheaper. i The cost of materials had gone down very considerably. He did not argue that the cost of labor was or should Ko nKoonan Thmr Tiray?fl loflficlafinff fnr _ WW VUUW^Vi. a XUVJ nV4V -V- I the future and there was no telling t what considerations might come to ap ; ply in the selection of a public printer, t Mr. Uderton, as one of the minority c of the committee, said nothing had t been presented to the committee to s show that the printing could be done ] cheaper. The prices paid were almost t admitted to be as reasonable as could rj be obtained. This being so, he could j not see any reason whatever why q they should take the power out of 134 t men's hands and put in the hands of a few men. They were investigating j boards now. If any trouble came un- r der this why all of them would be responsible. They could have a voice in the selection of a public printer. Hft thought it was unwise to deviate t from the principle laid down in 1S93. 1 Mr. Stevenson said under this bill t the prices can't be higher than they t are now. f T1 1 1 x 1- .11- _ i ?I t jut. naeriya went on 10 say mat mo present public printer had purchased \ a plant. Suppose by a combination k some people should come and try to * ran him out' of business, his plant would be destroyed. If the combina- * tion said $40,000 must be paid, the combination had the State and they would have to pay it. s ] Mr. Cushman asked if when the ] Kublic printer was elected it was not 1 nown that some parties were willing ? J_ 1_ vu uu mo nvk tk. iur icaa. Mr. Ilderton said that the committee had heard some talk of that, bat no proof had ever been offered that lower prices could be obtained. He wanted to know why the necessity for this bill at this time? That was the question. Qe did not expect to make any big fight on this matter. The bill was before the house. There was no lemand for it. The most defective iart of this bill was the clause delegadng the power to elect a public printMr to a few. Mr. Cushman said the matter of se- 1 lectin? a State printer was a plain s |>ss proposition. He could see son why they should require tent to convince them on this , . He said that it had been and many of the papers had 1 that lower prices could have 1 obtained. It was a fair and ' > deal. We take no risk in pass- 1 is bill. Ilderton said that at present the : r's bills could be scaled by the al assembly, if it saw lit. E. D. Smith said the principle red was just this: What right 1 le State to go back upon the il custom and virtually subsipublic printer and pay prices estly larger. If any company reduce it $10, was it not due that they should have the work, iled with delight any measure arried out the principle of equal to all and special privileges to Let this principle be engrafted | our laws. The question should t open. Touching Mr. Ilderton's f a combine, he said why should is same company now subsido something on the same order. Wyche referred to Mr. Smith's remarkable speech." He was ire wheD the vote for the public ng "steal" was cast. It was not to take up newspaper reports and e motives to former members, ought that the governor's otlice i as well be let to the lowest reible bidder. He had always unod that the printer would comto do the work; it required a sat amount of money to secure ant He denied that any man roted ior the so-called steal did m any improper motives and he iated any aspersions upon the >ers so voting Graham was here when they d a public printer. It had been :ted that the cost of the printing 7 ' would be increa&Jd. He had been h since 1890 and \^fshed to say now tl the cost hati-been cheaper for the pi lie printing. "Don't you think we can get vrnf " ocl?o/l -Inch AshlAV. VU^MMU JVV) uwuvu. v vuu . ""We haven't in the past," answei Mr. Graham. Mr. Kinard wished to have but lil to say. The men of the house kn him and knew that he would not vocate anything extravagant. 1 bill had some objectionable featur It took away from the house the ri| to pass upon this matter. The ho put some of its best men on the cc mittee on printing. He was satisf that the work was being done now cheaply as it could be done. The a on the other side did not think i rates were too high, for they left same rates as the maximum rates. I Reynolds, he said, should have lc ered the scale. Mr. Reynold's said: "I am willi to reduce the scale if you want done." Mr. Ivinard believed that half 1 opposition had been for the purpi of destroying competition. When the previous question v about to be called, Mr. Gage said tl if the house did not strike out the * acting words he would offer t amendment, saying it would meet 1 objections of Dr. Ilderton. Amend section 8, line 31?Strike ( ill the section after the words "f proposals" and add the followin 'And said proposals shall be open jefore the house of representativi ind the contract shall be awarded i vote of the joint assambly to su jerson as it may choose as pub irinter." The house then on a viva voce v< ippeared to refuse to strike out the < icting words. Before the decision he chair could be announced the n sail was demanded. The house i used to strike out the enacting wor >y the following vote: Yeas?Hon. F. B. Gary, spsake Ul, Bailey, Bethuae, Blythe, Carso }aughman, Crum, Davis, C. A )ukes, Efird, Epps, Fox, Garr Joodwin, H. P.; Goodwin, 0. I Jraham, J. S.: Graham, Thos. I ienderson, Hollis, Humphrey, lid on, Kennedy, Kinard, Henry . Cinard, J. D.; Lancaster, Lester, lL fill, Mauldin, McDaniel, McKeow itcLaurin, McWhite, Phillip?, Pri< Uinsford, Russell, Sturkie, Timmi nan, Toole, Westmoreland, Wing fVyche, Yeldell?44. Nays.?Asbill, Ashley, Bacot, Bar 3edon Breeland, Carraway, Oolcoc Bushman. DeLoach, Gadsden, Ga/ Jlenn. Hiott. Johnson, Kibler, Lt on, Limehouse, Livingston, Loft( klehrtens,- Miller, Joel H.; Mishi ^ollock, Prince, Pyatt, Reynolc iobinson, Rogers, Sinkler, Skinm >imkins. Smith, J. R.; Smith, W. ! Jmith, F. D.; Stevenson, Sullivs Fhomas, Jno. P., Jr.; Thomas, W. I Werner. Vincent, Whisonant, Wilsc iVinkler, Williams?46. Josh Ashley had the vote clinch* Mr. Gage's amendment was th >resented. Mr. Reynolds feared tl his would do away with what th vere fighting for. He raised the poi hat the previous question had De Ailed on this. The chair sustain he point and looked as if Mr. Gag< imendment would be excluded. T louse, however, reconsidered its i ion in calling the previous questio [?he amendment was then discusse dr. Simkins thought that this wou lestroy the whole intention of t >ill. So did others. The house by a vote of 45 to 361 ourned at this juncture leaving t natter open till tonight. Died on tne stage. New York, Feb. 10.?Armand C elmary, while singing the role Cristano, in Flotow's Opera of "Mi ha," at the Metropolitan Opera Hoi onight, dropped dead in front of t ootlights and almost in full view >ne of the most brilliant audient hat has filled the theatre this winti 3o quiet was the matter kept, ho iver, that few in the audience km ;hat a tragedy had token place befc ;heir very eyes. Sherifi'd Men Good Shots. Houston, Tex., Feb. 11.?A <3 *of/>v* fwrtm ufanoxwcnilla 4ol1c nf q /i /ubvu xjiviu iiLVUtu ug t uxv v/a ui m aerate encounter near that place 1 ,ween outlaws and a sheriff's pos J. C. Johnson, alias E. J. Smith, a Fiin Crane were killed by the pos iuother man named Underwood v shot through the thigh and backbo ind will die. The fourth outla ;hough wounded, managed to mou i horse rnd escaped. Policeman Found Dead. Pittsburg, Pam Feb. 9.?Police o ;er John Harrison was found dead 5:25 this morning standing in t patrol box at the corner of Nit ,a * J T :i 4? i? r>~i: nreei auu juiucrty avcuuu, uy jl ui. Lieutenant Crossin. The cause of 1 leath has not yet been ascertain* but it was due probably to an elect shock or from heart failure. An Inconsiderate Urate. Tarpin Springs, Fla., Feb. 10 While in bed by the side of his w and baby W. J. Philips blew out 1 braine. He was suffering from shronic allliction and doctors said operotion was necessary. Rather tb undergo the operation he killed hi self. A Convenient Invention. An Orangeburg farmer comes to 1 faont with a new invention in 1 shape of a Lubricator for oiling hicle wheels without taking them the axle. It is inserted in the h between two of the spokes. Wh you want to grease your wheel all y have to do is to withdraw a plung which operates with a spring, and i as much oil as is needed on the ax Upon being released the spring cloi up the oil hole until it is opened 1 oiling up again. It is a very inge ous and clever device, and is bound be used generally. With these lut cators a vehicle can be oiled up ai where along the road in less than c minute. The patent for this valual invention is owned by the Natioi Lubricator Company of Orangebui S. C. Mr. Jas. L. Sims, Editor a Proprietor of the Orangeburg Tin and Democrat, is the manager of t company, which is a guarantee tha is all right. The company wants agent in this covnty to sell the Lut cators. See advertisement in anotl column. It la Haiti That of all the diseases that ail mankind, diseases of the kidneys j the most dangerous and fatal. If t be so, how important it is that kidneys be kept in a healthy con tion. The use of Hilton's Life for Liver and Kidneys will do this. I| +he "ounce of prevention" in t: troubles, ? ' HANGING OF THE FISHERS. ab THEY KEPT AN INN NEAR I MtUIIY li OF CHARLESTON. Travellers Who Put Up at their House ttle Were Robbed and Murdered?An Intereating Account of the Trial and Convlcad :be tlon* Emil Gaboriau's is a name synonymou? in Parisian literature for that use which is the most startling and sensational in the depiction of crime. His power is such that even minor points as are produced with thrilling effects, len What would he not have given for the the material offered by the tragedies at the Six-mile House! That terrible story, ^r* the chapters of which were enacted )W" more than three-quarter? of a century ago, is known in its entirety to but n2 few men living. For the most part, it and to the many, it exists otily in a fragment here and there. Last year the some one inquired about it through 3se The News and Courier, but no one replied, doubtless because none of those ras wh0 sav7 it could. By searching iat closely the files of those old papers, >n- the Court records and other documents, his and by drawing ui.on the memory of -he an older member of the family, who had much of it from an eye witness, >ut the writer is enabled to give what is or believed to be the only full and true g: account of the Six-mile tragedies ever ed published. es, Before the days of the "Best Friend" by all the land traveling in South Caroch Una, or in any othor State for that lie matter, was done on horseback, Dy means of gigs, carriages or the stage 3te coach?generally it was - the stage Jn- coach. Two main lines of travel Jed of to Charleston, the one bringing the oil Eastern passengers and mail, and the e- other the Southern and Western. The ds great thoroughfare was by the Five and Six-mile Houses, both of_them inns for sr; public accommodation. These nouses, n, though they have long since passed I.; out of existence, have not out of histois, ry, nor will one of them ever pass out frofm under the ahadow cf terrible L; crime. er- A MURDEROUS YOUNG COUPLE. T.; At the beginning of the year 1819, fa- the host and hostess of the Six-mile n, House were John and Lavinia Fisher. 53, They were young married people, not sr- yet in the thirties, of pleasing appear;o, ance, ready address, and knew how to give the weary traveler such a weltks come as made him feel the inn was k, more like a home than a public resort. ?e, Added to this there was excellent fare ly- for man and beast. )n, Some months prior to this, that is in 3e, the fall and winter of 1818, there had is, been numerous robberies along the Br. two stacre lines. Not only had the 3.; mail been robbed, but the passengers, in, In one or two instances life had been I.; taken. The Charleston papers of those >n, dates were full of these robberies and murders. Many private travellers 2d. were also attacked. In some instances en they vanished away as though the lat earth had swallowed them. They ey would start to a place, but never reach int there, nor would they ever be heard en of again. Private detectives and ed squads of armed men were sent from j's Charleston and from other points. L - mL- O j Qfo+ao at) XUO uruvoruw nuu ma umtou uww ic- Government both offered rewards, n. But all in vain, the robberies still went d. on, and people continued to disappear. Id Beyond catching a suspicious cnarache ter here and there no real headway was made in locating the principal id- criminals. From points gathered by he the detectives there seemed to be a band of robbers, working one with the other. Finally, they were located in the neighborhood of the Five and as" Six-mile Houses, then traced to the ?* houses themselves. ir* Earlv one moraine. while matters ise were jn tbis shape, those who were witnesses of the scene were startled ?' by the appearance of a young man, ;es hatless, coatless and on horseback, 5r rusning through the streets of Charlesw" ton. He was seeking the sheriff, and to him when found he told a thrilling )re story of successful * robbery and of attempted assassination; and those who had set upon him, he declared, were lis- no less persons than the man and woes man who kept the Six-mile House, be- The sheriff was astounded, then in? on/1 T QTrinio TTicVlOT* SB. K'V.UUIUIXO. UVUUOUUli?,m.-ii?uv.) nd could not believe it. But the young se. man told a straightforward story. He ras had put up at the Six-mile House. He ne had been awakened in the night by W) the murmur of voices. He had looked [nt through a crack into the adjoining room. There he had seen the Fishers emptying his wallet and counting its coin. He had heard the woman say m" that he must die, that it would not do J*' to let him escape. But the man plead for him. Finally, she said she be. lieved he had other valuables, that his l?e horse, too, was a fine one, and really she must attend to him at breakfast. .' He knew what this meant, poison in nc his cup! That was an easier way to eret rid of him than by pistol or knife. Either of the latter would leave traces of blood. At daylight he managed to ife escape, and mounting his horse, sped ^is toward the city. The name of this a young man was John Peebles, and the ail supposition is that he was a traveller an from Georgia. m_ CAPTURE OF THE CRIMINALS. The sheriff acted quickly; he gathered an armed squad, and placed his ,, deputy, Col. Cleary, at the head. So .. well did Cleary manage, that he not " _ only adroitly surrounded the House ^ and had the Fishers in custody ere i their suspicions were aroused, but he also captured with them six characters all but two of whom turned out to be members of the band of robbers. The I others were strongly suspected, but , were released because of the want of direct evidence.. f These arrests were made on Satur day, February 13, 1819. The deputy x" found in the house eight or ten mus kets, some pistols, knives and a large " keg and cannisterof powder. By this >ne t*me a crow^ bad gathered. In an old ii out house was discovered a quantity i of fresh meat and naer-by, rolled up in a bundle, as though it were ready to be carted off?doubtless for destruc, tion?the hide of a cow, the blood not yet dried upon it. A bystander was t it amaze(lrecognize in it the hide of a * cow he had recently lost. Thus the petty thefts going on in the neighborhood were accounted for, as well as the larger robberies. The house was not thoroughly searched that morning. Col. Cleary ect intending to return later for that purare pose. The Fishers were allowed to rehis move what they claimed as their perthe sonal etfects. Not knowing just what idi- to do with the house, and certainly the not apprehending any danger in broad t is daylight the deputy put a Mr. Ross in hes charge of the premises until he could return, Col. Cleary was not more than ' ? * 1..'. ?half way back to Charleston, wk< Mr. Ross was set upon by a portion the robber band yet at large, violent beaten and almost murdered. I barely escaped to the woods with t life. That night the house and t outbuildings were burned to t ground, doubtless the work of the rc bers. About this same time the Five-mi House was raided by the sheriff or i deputy, and some arrests made of pa ties suspected of being members of tl band of robbers and murderers, j no evidence could be collected again the proprietor of the House, as beii an accessory, he was allowed to i free, on this promise to destroy t house, which was done. The Fishers and those arrested wi them were carried to Charleston, ai InHrrdfl in nail ThflrftthfiV Were visit by young Peeples, who identify Fisher and his wife to the satisfacti< of all, save, of course, the crimina themselves. Indeed, the woman < pecially was considerably upset < this occasion. THE FISHERS BROUGHT TO BAY. The Fishers and others were broug to trial on March 23, 1819, bafo Judge Bay. Two were admitted < bail, Hey ward and Roberts. TJ Fishers, with the remaining one were sent back to jaiil. The eviden against them, particularly against 11 Fishers, was very damaging. A fe days later Roberts was re-a rrested on new charge, and once more impriso erl TT? wnrlrftrt his wav out of the and endeavored to escape on hors back, but broke the neck of his hor while attempting to make the anim leap across an excavation in the strec and was thus recaptured. Shortly after the Fishers were sei back to jail, i ntense excitement w aroused by ths discovery in the vicii ty of the Six-mile House ef a suspi< ous looking grave. Search had be< going on from time to time in tl neighborhood for something of tl kind, but unsuccessfully until th grave was stu mbled upon by a me accident it seemed. The sheriff w notified. He sent Mr. Henry Steven the coroner, to investigate. Mr. Ste ens opened the grave and found t? bodies side by side. Physicians pr nounced them the bodies of a man ar woman. One body was in a box mat of rough slabs, the other was uncofl in< and covered with brush. The san physician stated that they _ hi been dead about two years. the was no clue whatever to their identit They were doubtless private traveller from a long distance probably, wl had met the tragic fate of other unfo tunates in that House of Horror. I dignation. against the Fishers now ri high, and violence would doubtle have been attempted but for the ca tion of older trnd cooler heads. CELUlR full of human bones. At the Junuterm of the Court Fis er and his wii'e were found, sruilty, b petitioned for a new trial. While tl petition was pending, homble disco eries were made at the Six-mile Hons After the house was burned, the ruii were not disturbed, doubtless owii to the feeling that there was nothi c there for which to disturb them. Bi one day, some months afterward, ? individual with a turn of mind rath more investigating than that of ti others, white poking about among tl charred pieces of beiams and the mini ture hillocks of ashes, almost lost h life by coming within a fraction < falling down into that gaping moul of an excavation. He raised the alarc a crowd gathered, the charred bean were clefired away, and the entire o ening of a cellar exposed t<5 vie\ They brought a ladder, one of tl number made the descent, and disco ered?bones, plenty of them, and h man bones at that! This was sure' enough to ruin the Fishers, but th( denied all knowledge of it, declarii vehemently that if the bones we there, they had been there before th< took the house. But there we those who connected this ghastly fie w:ith the story young Peoples ht told. The cellar was about where tl dininnr nvrni Viari atnnd. How CO venient to have it beneath the tabl with a trap door hiding it from vie? Behold the preparation and then tl deied: A solitary traveller sitting table, valuables on his person, fir doubtless more valuables in the ba gage in his room. He eats his brea fast, drinks without suspicion tl tempting cu d of coffee offered hie doubtless cha tting gayly with his he tess as he does so. Then a sick, next drowsy feeling seizes him. his bet whirls, sinks upon his breast; 1 clutehcH spasmodically once or twi< at the air. gi^es a gasp or two, an 1 gone 1 Pockats are quickly rifled, tl spring is touched, the trap is sprun, and with a sickening thut^ there fal into tha horrible depths the body < one never heard of more. There one wife somewhere in the world wl will never see her husband's face ?igai little children who are latneriess: c perhaps an aged mother, a gentle, lo mg sister, waiting for the son ac brother who never comes. TIIK FISHERS BREAK JAIL. On Monday, Saptember 13, pen din the hearing of the petition for a ne trial, John Fisher and Joseph Rober escaped from the jail. This they d by forcing a hole through the wa under one of the windows, descerdir therefrom by means of a rope mat from strips of their blankets. Mr Fisher also intended to escape, but d tided to be the last one to make tl attempt;. Roberts went down firs then Fisher. When Fisher was aboi twenty feet from the ground the ro] broke and he fell, bruising himse considerably. This, of course, dete red Mrs. Fisher from attempting tl descent, and she decided to wait unl she could make the rope longer. Fis] er and Roberts escaped, but not b fore they had conveyed to Mrs. Fis er their intention to return and assi her in getting from the jail. There was considerable excitemei and great indignation over the escai of Fisher and Roberts. They h? been allowed too much freedom aboi the jail, many declared. Instead i being confined in their cells they hi been permitted to walk about the co ridors and visit the other prisoners i their apartments. These charges tl jailer and his assistants bitterly d nied, declaring it a movement to i jure them politically. The Governo John Geddes, at once issued a procl mation offering a reward of $500 f< the capture of Fisher and Roberts. I this proclamation a description ? Fisher was given, as follows: "Aboi six feet high, slim made, knock-knee fair-complexioaed.dark hair and dai eyes, and about 30 years of age." THE MURDERERS RECAPTURED. On the night of the 14th of Sep;er ber, at about 11 o'clock, as Mr. BuJ a, grocer on South Bay, was preparir to close his store for the night, he hi f ? en a call from two men who expressed of the desire to purchase a small supply It of eatables, as they had been out all d 4.1?1 1- l ? ,, io uajr iu lucii ujat, ouu ncio vcij uuu u Lis gry. Mr. Bu.ll would have thought v he nothing strange of this request nor of h he their coming at that late hour, as fi ib- such things were of frequent occur- n rence, but thure was something in the f< le actions of the" two men that aroused p lis his suspicions. They were nervous e ir- and excited, and seemed in a great v tie hurry. They could not wait for Mr. ^ ks Bull to wrap up the articles. No soon- s st er were they goae than it flisbed up- E ig on him who they were. He had read n ?o the descriptic n of Fisher in the Gov- 1< he ernors proclamation, and it tallied v with one of the men exactly. Hastily s! tli closing his store he set out to stealth- v id ily fellow them. The pursuit led him e ed to what was then known as William's p ed wharf. There he saw the men con- t< )n ceal themselves under a boat. Mr. b lis Bull quickly withdrew and hastened h *< to notify the city guard. In less than ji ):a a half hour Fisher and Roberts were e again under arrest. It was afterwards si disclosed that they were waiting for ii ht midnight so as the better to make the ii oOomnf oeoictin? Mm TPiaVlAT* t( >n to escape. They had been over to one be of the neighboring islands, but had returned for this very purpose, and 1/ ce for no other. As soon as Mrs. Fisher U was free, th ey had intended to leave vi iw in a schooncr bound for Matanzaa. A a 'a number of gold pieces and several h n- watches were found on their persons, g til Both criminals were completely un- h >e- nerved by their recapture. But no f< se one took it harder than did Mrs. y Fisher hersolf; All hope of escape t( >t, seemed now utterly cut off, for the jailer, Annoyed by the accusations o at that had been made, redoubled his a3 vigilance; they were also more closely p confined. II ji- sentenced to be hanged. e m On Janus.rv 18, 1820, the Fishers ?. were again brought to trial. The 11 . charges were so grave and the evi- j* lls dence so overwhelming that both ? re were sentenced to be hanged. The ? as Judge?the papers does not state defi- f ? nitely as; to whether it was Judge Col- 11 ^ cock or Judge Bay?fixed the time for P the execution for Friday, February ?j 4. Both, husband and wife were comI? pletely overcome by the termination ^ of the trial. They had almost to be carried back to the jail. Great con ecern wai? now felt for them spiritual- n ^ ly by the different ministers of the j* city and other humane people. They J* were daily visited at the jail by both n men and women, who earnestly C1 ? sought to prepare them for eternity. u Among the latter were Mrs. Matilda e.; Wightman, mother of Bishop Wight- ^ Miwi Mnrt/Jnla?0 PnAmn Mica ^ uiaiij .illi a. luaguaiwuo j-?i w tt ?**?? . . Selina Smith, and a grandmother of jc the writer. It is through this grand- ? mother that much with reference to C( , the last days of the Fishers, especially sl I of Mrs. Fisher, has come down. She was then a happy young bride, and d ~~ the condition of the miserable woman a so great in its contrast, madaanim_* pression never to ba forgotten. ? Fisher seemed penitant from the 11 o first aud deeDlv concerned about his ^ soul, but not so his wife. She was ? reckless and defiant, again and again Jj upbraiding her husband for his ? "chicken heart." She seemed more ? concerned about a petition for pardon " than anything else, although receiv- ^ . ing repeated assurance that any effoit * of this kind would be utterly useless. ^ ,, The fated day drew near ;the wretched ?| beings were so unfitted to meet it that C ' special petition was made the Governor, praying a stay of sentence till P time could t>e given tllfem in which 7: to "make preparation to meet their ^ *1 God." This petition was signed by p numerous clergymen and many citi- ? . zens. Governor Geddes granted a re- a ^ spite till Friday, February 18. When t( that day came he refused to further t] * interfere, despite the frantic appeals ^ of the condemned themselves, and the ^ j*, sheriff began preparations for the ex- a d ecution of tb.e awful sentence of the j id law* u ie MIMtSTRATIONS OF CLERGYMEN. il n- During their last days the Fishers 8 e, were confined in the dungeon of the P r! Jail. Here the ministers and other 0 le good men and women continued to * J 1 " - 1 - 1 t. at visit inem u p 10 me very mat nuur. - id One of the niost faithful was the Rev. ? g- Dr. Furman, pastor of the First Bap- ' k- tist Church. I saw his grave the 10 other dtiy, just under the shadow of Q, that historic building. He stood by is- the miserable pair through every thing, ; a went with them in the carriage to id their execution, and received Fisher's le dying messages and his last requests. ? ;e Another faithful one was the Rev. p is Mr. Guliuchat, of the Methodist K le Church. He was particularly con- 5 g, cerned with referenca to Mrs. Fischer, Is he and Mother Wightman, as she was 3f afterwards called, working and pray10 inr* ArraM kfiv to iViz* loot m iuj; \j> n ui xjiVi bv uuw iuuui j 10 Fisher expressed thorough repenin tance for his sins, but declared his in- | >r nocence of the awful crimes laid to i v- his charge. He admitted that he had id led a wicked life, bat declared he was not a criminal. His peace having been made with God, he implored his ig wife to do the same. She would not. w To not one word of religious instructs tion would she listen. She expected id to live, she declared, then why should 11 she prepare for death? MRS.. FISHER SHRIEKED, le When the hour for the execution _ s. arrived and they went to conduct the e- criminals from their cells, Mr3. Fis ie her shrieked and raved like one init, sane, and fought with the strength of nt desperation. It was some time ere ?e they could remove her. Her husband cl !lf sought to soothe her. He took her in r- his arms, his agony was'pitiful to see. 1 ie He entreated, implored her to be calm V ,il and to employ what little time remain- V h- ed in making preparation for the end. e- He endeavored to show her that it L h- must be, and that all her efforts st could not prevent it. She returned his embrace, but made no answer, at The executioner again approached, pe and again her frantic shrieks burst id forth. She had to be forcibly pinjt ioned ere she could be removed, of Fisher and his wife were clothed id in white garments provided at their r- own expense. The carriage started in from the Jail at 12.45. The prisoners ie were guarded by the sheriff, his assise tants, and also by a detachment of a- cavalry. All along the route an imr, mense concourse had gathered, for it a- was an unusual sight to see a woman jr led to execution. The procession n moved out Meeting street to a spot of just beyond the city limits. As Fisnt ner beheld the gallows on which d, they were to d. 5 h.9 turned deathly rk white, and seemed to faint. Not so his wife. She looked at it stolidly, her mood having changed since she n- left the prison. When they attempt11, ed to make her go up, she positively ig refused. Neither persuasions nor id] threats could avail. ' ? }ff m1VLW WJ'.Ji-'.!-- " m ***? DRAGGED TO THE GALLGW0. T She could not believe she was to 1 ie. 8he had literally to be dragged p the gallows step3. From an eye witness, Mr. John Blake White, we ave this vivid p*n picture of that aw- t ul moment: "She called upon the \ multitude to rescue her, and stretched orth her trembling arms, imploring ity. At one moment she would rant nH hlftcnliPimn anH R+flmn anH ravft. ?ith iucoherent wildness; and now, / nth execraticm the most shocking, t he vould imprecate perdition on the Executive who would consign a wolau to an end so ignominious. Sijnce like that of death hung over the t ast assembly, broken only by the J hrieks fcruly demoniacal) of this ery maniac on the very verge of ternity. Nothing could be more apailing. She was totally unprepared d die. It was pitiable, it was pitia- X le, it was truly heart-rending to be- JC old the unhappy husband, himself jst about to perish, and needing very moment for his own soul's r| ike bending with interest the most _| itense toward his frantic wife, and, 1 the tenderest accents conjuring her ) make her peace with Heaven. A MESSAGE TO HELL I J A minister approached, the Rev. toi [r. Galluchat; he sought to calm her, > attract her attention, to offer her ?" rords of spiritual hope. She stopped, de, nd fixing her blazinc eyes upon im, said in accents clearly distin- bui uishable by many: "Cease! I will ave none of it. Save your words >r others that want them. But if the ou have a message you want to send _ ) h?1 give it to me; I'll carry it!" The minister drew back, shocktd, vercome with horror. . . i i /? i i_ ^ na AC tnat momeni tne snerin iook a aper from his poc'iet to examine it. j i caught Mrs, Fisher's eye. Her very thought centered upon the hope f pardon, she naturally connected . lis with the expected paper. She lade a frantic effort to leap toward le sheriff and to tear the paper from is grasp. Only the cords that bound ? er prevented. The sheriff recogniz1 g her mistake, quickly folded the ? aper, assuring her in the most t>olmn voice that all hope was groundsss,and that she must die! "The rords," says Mr. White, "were elec- } ic. She seemed to pierce With her ^ pes into his very soul I. For a mo lent she was mute." ^ SHE CRIES TO HEAVEN. ita Her execrations were husned, and bls ow, with frantic gesticulations, she illed upon Heaven to have mercy ^ pon her and save her soul, crief tee xclamations, hurried ejaculations ^ ona half uttered, but glowing rords, flowed from her lips 'with rap- lx)' lity quicker than thought. All was it srror, hurry, dismay. Tremendous ^ inflict! The time was brief; she felt 16 had delayed too long to make her 001 xount with heaven, and now the gu readful messenger of death tugged ^ t her despairing hsart." it was wnue siie was in tnxs conai- ? on that the cap was adjusted. Her of usband called to her again and again ^ adearingly. He sought to comfort er, to assure, to sustain her. At a ^ ttle past 2 o'clock the drop fell, and le close of the awful chapter of trageies at Six-mile house had been written 1 explanation. Their bodies were cut __ own and interred in the Potters' 'ield. Afterwards I have heard they I ere disinterred, and that their skel- g tons now hang in the Museum of the B harleston Medical College. I A. M. Barnes. i Piano* by the Mile. Q See Ludden and Bates' new adver- | sment of one thousand Mathushek ianos. Suppose them all loaded on > wagons in one grand procession, llow 15 feet for each wagon ana jam and the line would be nearly iree miles long. That is just the rholesale way this great southern ouse does business. Having acquired n interest in the noted Mathushek 'iano factory, they are now supply * ig purchasers direct and saving all itermediate profits. This means a vying of from $50 to $100 on each iano, and the securing of one of the ldeat and most reliable instruments at remarkably low figure. Better write aem at Savannah, Ga,, or at 93 Fifth Lve., New York City. The trustworthy cure for the Whiskey, I 'plum, Morphine and Tobaoco Habits. ' or further Information address The H .'eeley Institute, or Drawer 27, Columbia, ^ . O. I Machinery i AND aj : Supplies Ingines, Boilers; Saw Mills, Corn Mills, Wheat Mills, Planers, Brick Machines, fa Moulders, Gang Edgers. < And a'l kinds of Wool Working Ma hinery. No ona In the South can offer du higher grade goods, or at lower prices, 'albott, Llddell and Watertown Englaes. 7e are only a few hours ride from ycu. /"rite for prices. ight, Variable Feed Plantation Saw Mills a Specialty. Y. G. Badham, * General Agent, COLUMBIA, S. C. C 8 AG-JSNTS WANTED $ ( $ In each county in South Carolina w w to introduce a LUli.UOVTOR for ?oiling vehicle wheels without re- $ ^ moving the wheel from tho axle. It w is a reccnt South Carolina nven- w w ? tion, and will sell rapidly, :ii it. is <5 Jt a very convenient device, .fcxtlu- ^ ^5 sive territory given to the right v <5 man. For particulars address, 2j S NATIONAL LUBRICATOR COMPANY, S U Lock Box No. 44, ,* "D g ORANGEBURG, S. C. g c as as ? s?a aa CSS^vse* WE ' % ?ANT !l partner / . n * 5yery :own. Postmasters, Railroad Agents, Genera re Keepers, Clerks, Ministers, or any 1 ler person, lady or gentleman) who can rote a little or all of their time to oar slQess. We do not want any money in ranee, and pay large commissions to ?e who work for as. We have the bes; mlly Medicines on earth, and can prace lots of testimonials from oar home ople. tend for blank appltatlon and circular. A.ddreee ' BRAZILIAN MEDICINE CO., ? 844 Broadway, An? eta. tta advice to Mothers. Ve take pleasure la calling your attorn a to a remedy so long needed In carry! children safely through the critical ge of teething. It la an incalculable eaing to mother and child. If yon are turbed at night with a sick, fretful, ithing child, use Pitts' Carminative, M U give instant relief, and regulate On we la, and make teething safe and e?syr will core Dysentery and Dlarrhosar , tts Carminative is an Instant -elief for lc of infants. It will proino'^j digestion ? re tone and energy to the stomach and', we la. The sick, puny, suffering cAlld. 11 soon become the fat and frolicking Joy the household. It is very plensant to i taste and only ooat 25 cents per bottle,, id by druggists and by THE MURRAY DRUG QO , . Columbia, 8. 0. 1 "MATHUSHEK"?ThePiano for a Llfetimt.' IOOO PIANOS LUDDEN &. BATES, Interested In this Factory, now offer this great stock at 850 to 3100 less than former prices. No strictly High Grade Piano erer void so low. ONE PROFIT from Factory to tamer. Greater Inducements than ever In slightly used Pianos and Organs?many as good as new?sold under guarantee. | Latest Styles. Elegant Cases. Also ; New STEINWAY Pianos, Mason & Hamlin Organs.1 < Write for Factory Prices and Bargain Lists. LUGDEN & BATES, SAVANNAH, 61 All Sheet Muslo One-Half Price. M " IERE. IS YOUR LIVER ALL RIGHT? ! e your Kidneys In a healthy condition V [f so, Hilton's Life for the Liver and Kidnavfl will keen them so. If not, Hilton's Life for the L'ver and Kidneys will make them so. A 25c bottle will convince yon ef this fact. ken regularly after meals it is an atd to llgestlon, cures habitual constipation, and thus refreshes and clears both body and mind. SOLD WHOLESALE BY h? Murray Drug Go, COLUMBIA, 8. O. AND Dr. H. BAER, Charleston, 8. 0 SNGrlNES, BOILERS. AW MILLS, GRIST MILLS, AT ACTORY PRICES. 1 W. SCREVEN, COLUMBIA, S. C.J