Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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LAREDO IIHUIIS; FIRED B! FEDERALS HUERTA SOLDIERS DEVASTATE MEXICAN CITY WITH DYNA MITE AND FLAMES. FIRE ON THE U. S. SOLDIERS American Soldiers Defend Interna tional Bridge Killing Two Mexican Soldiers. Laredo, Texas.?Nuevo Laredo, the Mexican border town opposite here is in ruins, devastated by dynamite and fire set by Mexican Federal sol diers, who began an orgv or destruc tion which did not end until they were forced to flee southward before the guns of the American border patrol. Two Mexicans are known to have been killed by the United States troops and several were seen to fall. Several brisk skirmashes between the Americans and Mexicans were fought in quick succession as the Mexicans, their troop trains ready to pull out of the burning city, began an indis criminate fire across the international boundary, but there is no evidence that their shooting had been effective. Property damage in Nuevo Laredo will reach $500,000. Among the build ings destroyed were the United States Consulate, municipal buildings, post office, theatre, the flour mill, one of the largest in this section of the southwest, the railroad shops of the Mexican National Railway and other smaller structures. The fire burned all night with no prospect that it would be controlled until everything inflammable hatl been destroyed. Kerosene and other combustibles liberally used added to the wreckage, which otherwise would not have been great, owing to the adobe construction of most buildings. There was no property loss in Laredo. Both international bridges are safe though efforts to dynamite them resulted in the death of two men engaged in the undertaking. One Mexican was shot by a sharp shooter from the top of the water tower. The MexicaD was trying to' reach the end of the international foot and wagon bridge. Another was killed when he tried to blow up the Mexican end of the International Railroad bridge. American soldiers are constantly stationed at the Amer can end to prevent such an attempt. At the two bridges across the river the guards were reinforced and it was here that the only known loss of life occurred. Battery A of the Third Field Arlll ' lery was sent to the nower house of the Laredo Electric Company, fearing an attack there, but it was soon seen that there was nothing for them to do. Several Mexicans were seen to fall before the fire from the machine guns, but they were carried away by their comrades. The trains were started and the Federals withdiew firing as long as they could. For some distance the railroad follows the in ternational line. MEXICANS, 321 SHOT; 126 DEAD. In Fighting at Vera Cruz 195 Were Wounded Is Official Report. Washington. ? One hundred and twenty-six Mexicans have been kill ed and 195 wounded in the fighting at Vera Cruz since the American forces landed. The first official onnounce ment of Mexican casualties came in a dispatch from Admiral Fletcher, <made public by the Navy Department ;in this statement. "A dispatch was Teceived by the navy department from Admiral Fletch er at Vera Cruz and showed the list of casualties of the Mexicans as 126 killed, 195 wounded, making a total of casualties to date of 321. "Admiral Fletcher further re ported to Admiral Badger that quiet prevailed throughout in Vera Cruz and that affairs gradually are being straightened out and confidence re stored. The city council, he said had called a meeting in an endeavor to retain present municipal officials in office." Can Guardsmen Be Sent. Washington.?Proceedings were be guui in the supreme court to determine whether the National Guard may be sent to Mexico or other territory out side the United States without first being mustered in as volunteers. The proceedings are in nature of an appeal from the action ofy Judge Day in the federal court in Northern Ohio in dis missing an action of Lieutenant Colo nel Daniel T. Stearn against Adju tant General George II. Wood of the Ohio National Guard. Huerts Negotiation Denied. "Washington. ? Diplomat^ oi*t"ir.?Js here denied reports that Thomas B. HohIer( Charge of trie British Embas sy at Mexico City, had been sent to confer with Admiral Fletcher at Vera Cruz with a view io openim: diplo matic negotiations for a solution of the Mexican difficulty. It was stated on high authority here that Mr. llohler, Charge of the British embas sy at Mexico City, had boon sent to Vera Cruz to look after the interests of British subjects leaving Mexico. Sir Lionel Orden has arrived. Volunteer Bill Is Signed. Washington.?When I'resident Wil son signed the bill to "provide for raising the volunteer forces of the United States in time of actual or threatened war" Secretary Garrison went to work in earnest on the state militia. North Carolina's quota under a call for 250,000 would be between 5,000 and 6,000. The various state authorities have been requested to in vestigate anl see just what they could do in case a call for militia is marlc. The new bill, adopted by the senate, provides for sending the state forces. U. S. TROOPS HELP NAVY AT VERA GRUZ EMBARGO ON ARMS iS FORMALLY RESTORED WHILE SOLDiSRS MARCH TO BORDER. BRAZIL CALLED FOR CONSUL South American Consulates Chosen to Look After American Interests in Mexico. Washington.?United States troorf moved to reenforce the Americar Navy at Vera Cruz, the embargo or arms into Mexico was formally re stored, and troops were ordered tc the Mexican border primarily to re lieve uneasiness among border resi dents, but also as a precaution againsl hostile military operations along the international line. Secretary Garri son anounced that a brigade cf in fantry and some artillery under Brig Gen. Frederick Funston had been or dered to embark on the four Armj transports at Galveston for Vera Crua to support the expeditionary forces of marines and bluejackets there The chance that General Maas, the Federal general, might make a retun attack on Vera Cruz with reinforce ments and the possible necessity of ? forward movement toward Mexicc City to protect fleeing Americans anc the Vera Cruz Railroad were the un derlying reasons for the militarj movement. The restoration of the embargo or arms was officially announced aftei the pronouncement of General Car ranza, the Constitutionalist cheif, thai he regarded the seizure of Vera Crus as a violation of Mexican soverignty had been considered by the Adminis tration. While Mexican Constitution alists here protested that Carranza't real attitude was friendly, the Ameri can Government decided to take nc chances and abruptly stopped the shipment of all arms into Mexico. President Wilson earlier in the daj issued a 9<atement warning General Carranza, the Constitutionalist chief that the United States was dealing now and would continue to deal witt those whom Huerta commands "anc those who come to his support." j Both Nelson O'Shaughnessy, th( American Charge d'Affairs, and Senoi Algara, the Charge d'Affairs of the Mexican Embassy, have been givei their passports. This is not regard -A J 1 A-U ~ o < tJU uy lilt! VVclSmiJgHJU UUfdUUIClll. ai presaging war, but a declaration o war by Huerta would not be unex pected. -- The United States has chosei Brazil to look after its interests ii Mex'co. Where there -are no Brazi lian Consuls, French Consuls "will ac for the United States." VILLA WILL NOT FIGHT U. S. Tells Special Agent Carothers "N< One Can Drag Him Into War." El Paso, Texas.?Gen, Francisc< Villa, head of the rebel military fox ces, informed George C. Carothers special agent of the State Departmen that he will decline to be draggei into a war with the United States b; anybody. , "Why," lie smiled, as he threw ai arm about the bjpoad saoulders of th? Government representative, "all Eu rope would laugh at us if we went t war with you. They would say tha 'little drunkard Huerta has draw] them into a tangle at last,'" The rebel leader told Carothers who reported the interview to th State Department, that one of th chief reasons he came to Juarez wa to show the American people that hi attitude was friendly and that he di' jt fear to trust himself on the boi der without a military escort behin him. Three Regiments to Border. Washington.?Three regiments c infantry at San Francisco and the ai tiliery at Fort Riley, Kan., were oi dered to report to Brig. Gen. Bliss fo service along the Mexican border, j brigade of infantry and some artiller will be dispatched from Galveston t Vera Cruz to co-operate with th navy mere. Wilson Says, "Not War With Mexico. Washington.?President Wilson tol the Washington correspondents tha so far as his authority was concerne the United States was not in a stat i of war with Mexico. The presiden j said that while Charge O'Shaugness had been given his passports an Charge Algara had been granted hi I in return, such a step, while alway j preceding war, did not always rcsu! iln war. Mr. Wilson explained the j the American government was take somewhat by surprise when M; : O'Shaughessy was given passports. j Nuevo Laredo Evacuated by Federal! Laredo. Texas.?Xuevo Laredo wa j evaciialod by the Federal irregular | and voulnteers and the Mexican tow j across the river from here was the j rapid'y abandoned by women, chi | dren and civilians' who followed i | the wake of the soldiers. The regula Federal garrison departed southwar presumably to join other Feden forces at Saltillo. Much excitemer attended the fight as the refugees ha: tily departed on foot, laden with bui dies of clothing and food, or weighe down with some household possessioi Army Appropriation Bill Passed. Washing*on.Quick action oa the ai nual army appropriation bill followe when Chairman Hay explained the on accouat of the Mexican situatio the hous? conferees had agreed to a senate amendments. The house i once coiicurrd in the amendments an the measure went to the president. ] carries a total of approximately 00 000, $0,000,000 having been added b the senate. It was signed by the pres dent and passed upon without futfhe amendments. Rear Admiral Frank F. Fletchei Atlantic Fleet, was in charge when Florida is a flagship and carries 34 j U. S. SAILORS POSSESS CUSTOM HOUSE THEN THE FIRING BEGINS. MEXICANS LOOSE OVER 200 Admired Fletcher Orders Mexicans to Stop Shooting or Big Guns Will Be Put Intc Action. List of Killed and Wounded. Washington.?This corrected list of the Americans killed and wounded in the first fight ing at Vera Cruz was cabled by Admiral Fletcher: Dead: Private Daniel Alloy slus Haggerty, Private Samu el Martin, Seaman George Poinsett, Coxswain John F, ; _ I i scnumacner. j ' 4 Wounded: Private George ? I 1 Drain, Private E. P. Peterson, ! , ? Seaman Clarence R. Harshbar- ? ! ger, Seaman J. L. Kwapich, I t ? Mate H. N. Nicherson, Electri- ? I I cian Edward Gisburne, Private I T G. M. Davidson, Private John ? ) McMillan, Private Richar Sha- J r ? her, Private H. J. Reed, Sea- T i man W. H. Mangels, Seaman j i J Frederich Nanse, Seaman Nath- j - an Schwarz, Seaman J. H'. Cope- ? 3 > land. 1 t J Washington. ? Marines and blue x jackets of the 'American navy took x the customs house and a large section . of Vera Cruz with a loss of four killed t and 20 wounded. The loss of the Mex ican garrison was not officially known but was estimated at 200 killed. This was the first step in the program of reprisal by the United States against the Huerta government for the arrest J of American bluejackets at Tampico and other offenses "against tjhe rights 3 and dignity of the United States." It was the first clash between ' forces of the United States and Mex j ico since the revolution broke out in 1910 and gave the Washington gov ^ ernment a Mexican problem. Rear Admiral Fletcher had warn ed the Federal commander that he would use the* big guns of the Ameri can fleet if his men did not stop fir ing. The American forces had orders to fire only to defend themselves. The United States intends to take no of fensive steps for the present. ' The salute to the flag which Huerta re fused will not be satisfactory repara tion. It is understood a declaration of apology as well as a' salute and guarantee that the rights and dignity ; of the United States would be respect ed can alone cause a withdrawal of the American forces. While American marines and blue jackets were fighting, the senate de bated the whole Mexican situation be fore crowded galleries. The joint resolution that passed the house sup porting the president's proposal to use the army and navy to obtain repara tion was being debated in the senate at midnight with prospect of an all night session. Many Republicans sen ators wanted the resolution broaden ed to authorize steps to, obtain repara tion for all offenses committed against Americans in Mexico. President Wilson Goes Ahead. The president went ahead on the authority of the executive, in accord wjth precedent, because lie believed ah emergency existed. He gave Rear Admiral Fltcher authority to seize the Vera Cruz customs house to pre 11 ; VfllL me J(iiiu:u^ mtiw ?*.? tfc uvimiuj il, merchant vessel of a big consignment c of arms and ammunition for the r ' Knerta government. Huerta Has 4C,0C0 Armed Men. s , Washington.?Estimates at the War .i Department put the armed forces o! s the Huerta Government in Mexico at r , 40,000. scattered throughout the cinm r. try. According to the Department's 1 | figures there are 6,000 troops in Mexi i i co City; 6.000 around S::lfillo, south ii | of Torreon: 2,500 in -the Stnte of So il nora; 2,000 in SinalOa: 800 in Topic; ij I 6,000 in Jalisco; 1.100 in Colima; 4,500 ii I in Zaratecas; 1.250 in Guerrero and s | scattering bands in other Southern i I provinces. On the east coast there c are 10,000 men. 1 I Capt. Berry Looses License. Washington.?Captain Oswyn Ber i ry of the Merchants and Miners' c packet Nantucket which rammed and sunk the Old Dominion liner Monroe E with a loss of 41 lives off the Vir i; ginia capes in January, has been tl found guHty of negligence and his c license has been revoked. A' board [1 of steamship inspectors at Philadel i phia divided responsibility for the disaster between Captain Berry and i Captain Johnson of the Monroe. On appeal Captain Berry has been held alone guilty. r commanding the First Division of the Vera Cruz was taken. The battleship ;uns and 995 men. ADMIRAL FLETCHER SEIZES A WEPT VERA CRUZ LARGE SHIPMENT OF MUNI # ' TIONS OF, WAR. ORDERS FROM PRESIDENT Wilson Tired of Waiting on Senate Took Cnarge ot Affairs a.'t? Acied. Washington.?President Wilson or dered Admiral Fletcher to seize the Vera Cruz customs house and prevent Huerta froji getting severil million rounds of ammunition and two hun dred field guns. The orderj went out from Washing ton when n became apparent that delay in congress was ac cuing to Huerta's advantage. The orders, officials said, lelt to the admiral's discretion when and how ;o a?. t As there is no blockade the American forces couH not inter fere with the German steamer. The orders were to seize ttia guns and shells after they had landed or to PrtiwA . f a nrnvnnf H1U tUOlUXIIO JUUUOV It their landing and thus keep then: from going to Mexico City. Officials declared thai President Wilson had ample authority foi his action without the approval of con gress. The orders went out to Admiral Fletcher daybreak after President Wilson and cabinet officials had been in conference since 4 a. m. niof-tly over the telephone. The -orders to the admiral, it was said, conferred the broadest authority upon him ,and directing that if neces sary he take the city of Vera Cruz as well as the customs house to prevent the landing of the munitions. HUERTA REFUSES TO SALUTE. Provisional President Flatly Refuses To Accede Demands of the United States. Negotiations with Huerta over the demand for a salute in reparation for Washington?Gen. Victoriano Huer to, Provisional President of Mexico, flatly refused to accede to the uncon ditional demands of the United States that he salute the American flag, the arrest of American bluejackets at Tampico' on April 10 has come to a close, the last chance . given by President Wilson for a favorable re sponse from the Mexican dictator. The final word of Huerta to Charge O'Shaugnessy' was a refusal to com ply, unless the .United States would guarantee in writing that his salute would be returned. The crisis thus reached does not mean that there will be a formal dec laration of war, because the United t States could not declare war against a government which it does not recog i nize. President Wilson will seek au thority, however, to send armed forces . into Mexico to seize first the ports of Tampico and Vera Cruz and the rail . road trestle leading from Vera Cruz ; toward Mexico City. Munitions Are Returned. Washington. ? Disposition of the 1 guns and ammunition on the German j i vessel Ypilianga, held up at Vera ' [ Cruz when Admiral Fletcher took the I port was aranged between Secretary Bryan and the German ambassador. ! The captain of the vessel being un- j able 'to secure clearance papers at i Vera Cruz will return the cargo to I ; its former owners in Germany, al-1 i tnough Heurta had paid in advance ! ' for the munitions. Governor Colquitt Advises. ! Washington.?Governor Colquitt of i ; Teras sent to Representative Garner,! : i who immediately submitted it to . Jlh?? President, a telegram declaring if i ! it was the purpose of President Wil-; .' son to. invade Mexico, it was imp era-! . I tive that the towns of Matanioras, ! Nuevo Laredo and Cludad Porfirio ! i iiin./ .in/1 T?mpo? lui iinniPflinfft-I xuu ~ | i | ly. Governor Colquitt explained that | there are on the Mexican border 25. . i 000 to 30,000 Mexican refugees who i threaten to become a menace to the United States. Colorado Strikers Battle. Trinidad, Col.?Thirteen persons were believed to be dead but the number of wounded was unknown when day dawned on the Ludlow bat tlefield where 100 militiamen and deputy sheriffs fought a battle with strikers. Renewal of the conflict was expected momentarily. The militia men are being reinforced. The Lud low colony presented a scene of death and desolution. Soldiers declared quantises of ammunition were ex ploded by the blaze that swept the color" / : ' ' . i MM SENDS II NOTE TO PRESIDENT CONSTITUTIONALIST GENERAL'S ATTITUDE CAUSES ,A HUR RIED CONFERENCE. ASKS U. S. TO WITHDRAW Wants Americans to Get Out of Vera Cruz and Leavo Whole Situation to Him. Washington. ? General Carranza's note to President Wilson, declaring the seizure of Vera Cruz by American forces a violation of the National sov ereignty of Mexico, inviting the Unit ed States to suspend hostile opera tions and withdraw its forces and suggesting that the Constitutional Government should receive demands for reparation of offenses committed by Huerta, stirred the Mexican situ ation to a new and acute crisis. Opposition to the American Gov ernment's action, coming from an unexpected quarter, after the Wash ington Administration had hoped for an attitude of neutrality from the Constitutionalists, brought the Gov ernment face to face with possible hostility from the great body of Mexican forces lying in proximity to the Southern border of the United States. Rumor of a possible restoration of the embargo on arms, current during the day, were revived and it was the subject of the War De]jprtment con ference Precautions against upris ings on the border as a possible result of Carranza's opposition to the Amer ican Government's course flso were believed to be under consideration. The joint Army and Navy Board it recommended ,the restoration of the embargo. While Mexican Constitutionalist representatives here professed to see a tone of friendliness in Carranza's note, its blunt request for the with drawal of the American forces from Vera Cruz and its virtual demand for recognition of .the rebels are repre senting the constitutional government of Mexico injected phases which made Administration officials manifestly uneasy. Plans thus far made by the Army and Navy Board to obtain reprisals from Huerta had contemplated no move along the American border. Should hostility develop among the Constitutionalists, plans of the Army will be changed immediately. The knowledge that Carranza, while refusing to make common cause with Huerta, might be disposed of his own init'ative to resent the acts of the American Government, made the .problem admittedly more grave than it ever has been. General Witherspoon positively de clined to discuss the subject'of the embargo on arms. He said no orders for the movement of troops had been i?sued yet, but that the border forces might be strengthened at certain points, particularly along the Imper ial Valley. In this valley is located a great Government irrigation project. Replying to a telegram from Setfre tary Bryan at Washington General Carranza telegraphed that the Unit ed States is not justified in occupying Mexican territory. "The invasion," says the letter, "will drag us imexico; mw ctu un equal war with dignity, but which until today we desired to avoid." Hungarians Want to Enlist. South Bend, Ind.?Hungarian resi dents of South Bend began applying for naturalization papers so they can enlist in the army. They had pre viously been refused when they ap plied to the recruiting station to be enlisted. Many of them have served in the Hungarian army. Warned to Leave Vera Cruz. Vera Cruz.?All American and oth er foreign women have been asked by Consul Canada to take refuge on ves sels now in the harbor, preferably on board the Mexico of the Ward line and the Espehanza which has been chartered by the United States navy. "Bagley of Mexican Trbuble." Washington.?Seamon George Poin sett of Philadelphia, killed at Vera Cruz was eulogized in the house as "the Worth Bagley of the Mexican trouLle." Representative Moore of Pennsylvania, declared that "whether we have entered upon this war wisely or unwisely, we have at least demon strated our wisdom as a nation in be ing prepared for war." He added: "A father who vielded to his boy's de side to servo has been bereft of a j son, but tho nation has added the j name of that boy to its roll of heroes." I Calt Volunteers If Needed. Washington.-?The organization of ;ho "reserve of trained and disciplin ed men," to respond to any call for volunteers for Mexican service war. ordered by Gen. H. Oden Lake, na tional commander of (he army and navy union. A general order to offi cers of the organization of honorably | discharged soldiers, sailors and ma- j rines, commanded officers to call a | meeting of all the honorably dis charged soldiers, sailors and marines and enroll such as are willing to r?> spond. O'Shaugnessy Gets Passports. Washington?Nelson O'Shaugnessy, the American charge at Mexico City, has been handed his passports by General Huerta and is preparing to leave Mexico City. Heurta's handing of passports to Charge O'Shaugnessy was regarded as a most sensational development in the situation as it was believed to forecast a declaration of war on the part ifi 2-.Tuerta. The giv ing of passports to a minister or charge d'affaires in most,cases, though hot invariably, has preceded a decla ration of war. MEXICAN MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT i, PRESIDENT PERSONALLY AP PEARS BEFORE A JOINT SES SION OF CONGRESS. CLAIMS NO GOVERNMENT Tells of Affronts and Indignities Put on United States by the Huerta Regime. Washington.?President Wilson . an swered Huerta's defiance by asking congress assembled in joint session, for approval to "use the armed forces of the United States' in such ways and to such extents as may he necessary to obtain from General Huerta and his adherents the fullest recognition of the rights and dignity of the United States." The president did not ask for any appropriation of money at this time, nor for authority to call out the Na tional Guard. The president spoke as follows: "Gentlemen of the Congress: "It is my duty to call your attenticrf to a situation which has arisen in our dealings with General Vitcoriano Huerta at Mexico City, which calls for action, and to ask your advice and co-operation in (acting upon it On the 9th of April a paymaster of the United States ship Dolphin landed at the Nturbide bridge at Tampico, with a whaleboat and boat's crew to take off certain supplies needed by his ship, and while engaged in loading the boat was arrested by an officer and squad of the men of the army of General Huerta. Neither the paymaster or anyone of the boat's creta was armed. Two of the men were- in the boat when tyhe arrest took place, and were oblig ed to leave it and submit to be taken into custody, notwithstanding the fact that the boat carried, both at her bow and at her stern, the flag of the United Etates. The officer who made the arrest was proceeding up ? & *1*/% +V? r\ fnnrn Tirlfl* UlifcJ U1 111B BklCCU) UL uic w?u rt K,.11 his prisoners when met by an officer of higher authority, who ordered him to return to the landing and await, orders* and within an hour and a half from the time of the arrest orders were received from the commander of the Huerta forces at Tampico for the release of the paymaster and-his men. The release < was followed by apologies from the commander, and later by an expression of regret by General Huerta himself. "General Huerta urged that martial law obtained at the time at Tampico; that orders had been issued that no one should be allowed to land at the Itur bide bridge and that our sailors had no right to land there. Our naval com manders at the port had not been noti fied of any such prohibition and, even if they had been, the only justifiable course open to the local authorities ] would have been to request the pay- | master and his crew to withdraw and to lodge a protest with the command ing officer of the fleet. Admiral Mayo regarded the arrest as so serious an affront He was not satisfied with the apologies offered, but demanded that the flag of the United States be saluted with special ceremony by the military commander of the port. "The incident cannot be regarded as a trivial one, especially as two of the men arrested were taken from the boat itself?that is to say, from the terri tory of the United States; but had it stood by itself, it might have been at tributed to the ignorance or arrogance of a single officer. Unfortunately it was not an isolated case; A series of incidents have recently occurred which cannot but create the impression that the representatives of General Huerta show disregard for the dignity and rights of this government and felt per fectly safe in doing what they pleased, making free to show in many ways their irritation and contempt^ "A few days after the incident at Tampico an orderly from the United States ship Minnesota was arrested at Vera Cruz while ashore in uniform to obtain the ship's mail and was for a time thrown into jail. An official dis patch from this government to the em bassy at Mexico City was withheld by the authorities of the telegraphic serv ice until peremptorily demanded by our charge d'affaires in person. "The manifest danger of such a situation was that such offenses might grow from bad to worse until some thing happens of so gross and intolre able a sort as to lead directly and in evitably to armed conflict. It was ! necessary that the apologies of General ; Huertti and his representatices should I go much further; that they should be * a_ i. ? 4.1. 4.:^.. a. i, ^ SllCIl as IU clllIilUL IUC auwnnua ul utv j whole population to their significance | and such as to impress upon General Huerta himself the necessity of sei'ins I to it that 110 further occasion lor ex- j planations and professed regrets j should arise. "Such a salute General Huerta has refused, and 1 haxe come to ask your approval and support in the course I now purpose to prusue. "Only part of tlie country is under his control. If armed conflict should unhappily come as a result of his at titude of personal resentment towards this government we should be flght ~ t " I ins only uenerai riuei ui <uiu muac m.u adhere to him and Rive him their sup-. port, and our object would be only to res-tore to the people of the distracted ! reptibiic the opportunity to set up again their own laws and their own government. "But I earnestly hope that war is not now in question. I believe that j I speak for the American people when I say that we do not desire to control j in any degree the affairs of our sister j republic. Our feeling for the people ! of Mexico is one of deep and genuine : friendship and everything that we have ! so far done or refrained from doing \ has proceeded from our desire to help j them, not to hinder or embarrass them. | We would not wish even to exercise > the good offices of friendship without | their welcome and consent. The peo-1 pic of Mexico are entitled to settle ! Mieir own domestic affairs. WARDLAW WINNER OF FIRST PUCE IS NAMED CHAMPION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL ORATORIAL . : CONTEST. ; k t r v . \ , K . . 7'.' "B IS STUDENT OF WOFFORD . 'v^ Lehr of Furman Takes Second and v Smith of Marion Captures Third. Columbia.?in one or tne mosi spirited contests of* oratory held in South Carolina, the contestants of the '< second state high .school oratorical and track meet met in the chapel of the University ' of South Carolina a few nights ago and there fought to a flnishe tne battle begun in the after noo, when the contestants had been vfj cut down from 29 to 8. Of these eight three were give^ the distinctions of the meet Medals were awarded tne two leaders and to the third honorable mention was given. The judges, who were Acting President Moore of the university, Alva Lumpkin and the - Rev. R. B. Grinnan, ^elected as the winner of first place A. L. Wardlaw of the Wofford Fitting school, whose subject was, "Napoleon the" Little." * Second honor went, to Raynor Lehr of Furman Fitting school, whose subject was, "The Defense of Hofer." Honof able mention was made of Delette Smith of Marion high school, whose subject was, "Oratory." The decision of the judges was an nounced by Alva Lumpkin, who con gratulated the contestants upon the } showing they had made. The audi ence showed its appreciation of the efforts of every speake'r by loud ap plause. ' The contest was opened by a song v from the university quartette and ^ having answered two encores they fled, after which the invocation was made by the ReV. C. E. Burts, D. D., :'j Harry C. Davis, in a few words of welcome and of commendation for R. v-ft C. Burts, president of the meet, in- ' 1 troduced Mr. Burts to the audience. Mr. Burts, after thanking the univer city as a whole fo rthe entertanment given, read over the lists of the ora- ; j tors of the afternoon and then called the Bpeakejrs to order. ( HORSE SHOW CREDITABLE. Kentucky Judge Deems It Worthy of Blue Grass. ' Columbia?"A very creditable show. It was well worth seeing. All that - was lacking was the attendance." This opinion of the flrst^ .annual - show of the Columbia Horse Show association was expressed by J. Miller (Ward of Paris, Ky., who has judged the entries. The last ribbon was awarded a few days ago and the show closed that night with a ball at the Jefferson hotel. The skies were murky on the last day, but what was lacking in the weather was more than made up by the spirited performances in the. ring. "A fine ring of horses," said the judge of the entries in the combina- ' tion classes, three gaits. "Those horses would make a good show in Kentucky," he said of the champion saddle horses, three gaits. New Town Incorporated. Columbia.?Avnor in Horry county has been commissioned as a muni cipal corporation. The' town is on the Atlantic Coast Line railroad in the eastern section of Horry county. In -its proposed incorporate limits 3^2 people live. The petitioners for a charter for Aynor are: John T. Shel-, ley, G. Edwards, H. B. Johnson, W. A. Benton, S. J. Lewis, E. A. Jordan, T. G Cook, H. C. Dawsey, E. M. Graham, and J. W. Dawsey. Gaffney is Clean. . j Gaffney.?The clean up campaign, which has been waged by the fhealth officer har resulted in much benefit to the town. Places which have been a menace to the health of the com munity have been renovated and made clean and Gaffney from a stani tary point of view is perfect. Freight Rate Hearing. Columbia.?On account of the ab sence of two officials of the Southern railway, the railroad commission post poned its hearing on the freight rate situation in South Carolina for one clay. B. F. McLeod of Charleston, vice president of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce and president of the South Carolina Freight Rate association, were in Columbia' for the hearing, with Charles Kimmick, man ager of the Charleston freight rate bureau and M. D. Warren, clerk of the bureau. B. B. Hare in Columbia. Columbia.?B. B. Hare, secretary of , the filth civil service district, with headquarters in Atlanta, is in Colum. bia in order to look into the general condition of the civil service in the South. Mr. H.irc* assumed his duties February 1. and has devoted much time to the accusation that is gener ally placed against the commission in the south that, southerners are not g'ven their share of the positions off ered. Mr. Rare is a native of Saluda county and was educated at Newberry college. Second Booster Trip. j mi a trreernvouu.? me sctuuu uicchi-vuu booster trip was pulled off most suc cessfully a few days ago. The itiner ary was by way of Hodges and Don alds. to Ware Shoals, across Saluda, river over to Gray Court and down to Laurens and thence down to Clinton, back to Laurens, then to Waterioo, by Harris Springs down and across the river to Ninety-Six and back home. Something over 25 cars were in the party. Everywhere the party was giw-n an enthusiastic welcome. An other trip will be made. ' "T - f s<i_ ,.