Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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i Dgtotcd to Agriculture, Horticulture, Domestic (fconomg, polite literature, politics, and the Current Dteics of the ?ag. VOL. XVII?New Series. UNION C. H., SOUTH CAROLINA.. AUGUST 20, ISSO. NUMBER 33. WKWXN15CENCE8 or riiR MACBETH LIGHT ARTILLERY. itv oxk or Tiir.m. No. 10. On (ho May, 1 tlio Macbeth went into camp just inside of our line of fortification* in the western suburb* of Jackson, Mississippi. Our ciiuip was near the resilience of 15'ishop tirccn, % man of great kindness of heart, ami a true patriot, who permitted us to get drinking water from his cistern. I do not remember that I ever drank better. Its virtues may have been somewhat magnified by the contrast with the surrounding water. I>c that as it may, one thing I know, had it not beeu for the kindness of the llishop we would have suffered for water. When we reached Jackson tho organization of an army for tho relief of Vicksburg was K"nig on. ine aruuory companies wore placed under Major Graves, Gen. Ilreckeuridgo s chief of artillery, for equipping and getting ready for the campaign then hcing inaugurated for the relief of Yicksburg. lie was a man of giant size, an l possessed an energy nnd will equally as great as nis body was large. Our cAiuo lost an excellent soldier when he fell, a few months afterwards, on the blood-washed field of Chicamauga. The weather was dry and hot during r :r encampment at Jackson, but Maj. Graves did not stop for weather. He drilled the artillery companies morning and evening, and for hours at a stretch. It was through himdhat our old guns were exchnnged for a battery of new piecos?six beautiful Napoleon guns?and many of our exhausted horses turned over to the ijuartermartcr and good horses givon to us in the place of them. We weic better equipped f?>r effective work than we had been since tho organization of the company. Tho Macbeth had a liking for Major Graves, and ho evidently had a good opinion of tho Macbeth. It was at Jackson, inspecting the brcsstworka near our camp, that 1 saw Gens. Johnson and lircckenridgc for the fu?t time. The troops iiuu i.nurn mi iovc itmii Johnson before they over saw him. Thcro is a magnetism about the man that inspires confulctico and keeps one's admiration for him forever on the increase. Gen. lircckonridgo was of a different mould. I would speak of him physically as I would of Jolmsou intellectually, from a military standpoint. llreckcnridgc was, by odds, tlio best looking specimen of a soldier I ever saw. I have looked with the greatest admiration on the handsome firm of General Lee, but the superb form of llohort 11. Lee did not compare with th !nc""'.;- rn'-b. J'g.jre of lohn Bre-ken^idg*. We were in camp at Jackson 0:10 month, and j during that time we cat more poor beef an I ( bad bread than wo did all the balance of the t war. Our brca I w is exclusively out of meal made from mu ;y 111 I wcavil-eaten corn, an 1 our beef was of that cohesive quality that gave it the character of an adhesive plaster. It was reported, without contra diction, that the beef cattle were driven over a polo three feet high once each day an I t!t"?c too feeble to get over the dead line, ai it was called, furnished rations for the soldiers that day. After we left Jackson I IIU vwiici T\.I> ;?? nnin 111:111 1111; ucui. Yicksburg was fifty utiles from Jackson, ami wo coil I distinctly hoar the booming of cannon as tlicy wore tire I into the city at regular intervals, so as to annoy ati'l prevent our troops shut up there from resting. Sorneiimos the firing became rapid, indieniing that the enemy had nssjuilte I our works ami tlie booming of cannon was now from our guns. The Federals soon tire I of making assaults, ami coticliulcil that time, if slower, was a surer way of reducing vir works at Yiok-burg. The constant booming of cannon w hich at first prevented n*, who were lily miles away, from sleeping, had a stimulating elleot mi Johnson, causing him to hurry on his preparation for the relief (if our men in Yicksburg. As soon as our new army was organized an 1 drilic I for the campaign, it passed in rc-\ iew before Johnson ; and on the ueit day, the '.--d June, with three days' cooked rations, we made a tlank movement toward* Vickslnirg. This w s the In-ginning of the shortest mid severest campaign f any with which the Mncbcili was eonii'M iel duri-i^llio war. There had heen 110 tain in Mississippi for a long time ? water was scarce and dint plentiful. The first water we reached was one half of a day's march from Jackson. The farmers in that section of tlie State throw up embankments across ravines and caught a supply of water during winter for their stock during the summer. Water thus preserved liccnme very hot under the burning rays of a mid-summer's sun, and wai usually covered with slimy green film. It was tho home of tlic wigglotail, tlie nursery of the nii>-.[uito, mid (he source of numerous diseases. It was from such places that we got our drinking and cooking wator. At lir?t the soldier that drank the most of the water from the--e stock ponds got the lion's share of wiggletails. The soldiers, however, soon learned the Mis is-ipi'i plan of taking advantage of thc?e ; creatures. A sudden lick on the water fright Ctiod them to the bottom, and before tlicv rc covered from I heir fright and returned to tlio sutl'aee t'ao soldier had gotten his till and lelt. Had tlic campaign for the relief of Viekshttrg been a protracted one and the lighting severe. I am quite confident we wmtM have suffered niotc front disease contracted frun drinking had water than front the enemy's Imllets. We 1 l-ivouacc 1 tlio fir'l night after leaving Jacks tit at a place called Hattle Springs. 'I'ho spring ' ava-' very poor, and offered a meager supply of i water. The energy with which the soldiers contended for It was a striking evidence of the . appropriateness of its name. ?>n the iMd we ' made another day * march towards Vickabnrtr. i i going into camp that night on Mrs. t'assaway's farm, in Madison county, where we rested for one week. <>11 July the 1st. we niovd up to within one mile of I'.ig I'Iftck and camped on Ityrd Sing's farm, near a tolerable good spring for that part of the country. The spring, however, was not as bold, as some soldiers placed around it, as a guard, were partial. Our camp at that place will bo remembered ns abounding in rocks, under which were the dens of rattlesnakes that infested that country. Wo were now getting near Vicksburg and the enemy's guns sounded much louder than they did when wc were at Jackson and made us more nervous. After remaining in thai catnp five days the troops were ordered to cook three days' rations. Wo ail knew I he interpretation of that order, anil began to imagine a tight was at hand. Just aftor the turn of midnight on the 5th July, the army marched out of camp, and on reaching tho road filed to the right and moved toward* liig Black and Vieksburg. The army had scarcely straightened out in the road before it wai halted. 1-Wery one knew that Big Black was not far olf, and just beyond was the Federal aruiy. It was believed that an attempt would be made to cross tho river before day, and with the sun would come bloody work. A deathlike stillness pervaded the army. .There was no whispering. Perhaps each man was busy with thoughts of what the morning's light would bring. Tho night wore on and still the ominous silonce hung with mysterious forebodings about the army. The soldiers not being able to divine its meaning, began to itnagino some evil forebodings. Perhaps the time was being consumed in laying pontoons for the successful crossing of the river. Or it may be that tho ?uemy had gotten wind of our approach and were already at the river to dispute our passage. Thoughts like these doubtless filled the minds with conflicting emotions and the soldiers with a kind of dread of the revelations that day would bring. Just boforo day the mysterious silence was broken. The news ran down the lino that Vieksburg had fallen and that we were already confronted at the river u.. .1.? I.-...I ? 1 v ..j wiv ?cunm m my. r\o one can rorm any conception of the emotions that ran wild through the soldiers' brains nt that hour. The importance of Yicksburg had been greatly magnified. Our troops had been led to believe that our national existence depended upon our ability to hold it ; but it was now in the possession of the enemy. We knew that the eyes of the Confederacy wore watching Johnson's army and that much was oxpccted of it. None, therefore, who were not on the Jlig lllnck that morning can ever realize how Johnson's men staggered under thoblow. Had the garrison held out two days longer, the experiment of relieving Vicksburg would have been made ; and, in all probability, Johnson's army would have been cut to pieces. Yet we cannot but wish the experiment could have been made. Johnson has been severely criticised for not be remembered that nil nrnty cannot be gkuu-red up from the four points of the compass and made available in a few days time. (>ii the "JM of May, lSiid. when I'vans' brigade arrive 1 at Jackson, l'cmherton wa* already hermetically sealed in Yicksburg. an 1 Johnson on the outside w ith a command of six thousand troops, as a neitolus for the formation of an army for the purpose of saving Yicksburg. Johnson ? army grew in number daily and soon swelled to thirty thousand men. The troops that composed this artny came from Charleston, IJcauregard, Uragg, and a part of Peinberton's defeated army at Ivlward's Depot, but being cut oil' was not shut up in Yicksburg. The medley of troops suddenly brought together had to be organized into divisions and corps and then drilled together before they could have that mutual confidence in each other so essential to success on the battlefield. It is only when olllcers and men have mutual confidence in each other?a confidence that is born of asso cihikmi uii i courage cxuumou in inr trying nour of danger?thai the best results can he safely counted on. Johnson's army composed ol'oflicers and men hastily thrown together, and without any practical knowledge of each other's courage, could not hopo t ? meet successfully an enemy superior in number and training, and. at the same time, Hushed with victory. It is true that Johnson made no record as a fighter, lie thought the preservation of his army was worth more to the Confederacy than towns and cities; that troops should not bo sacrificed and osposed where there is 110 advantage to be gained. The wisdom of his policy was verified in two notable instances. Mis tir>t order to l'embcrtmi, after taking command in Mississippi, was not 1 > shut himself up in Vickshurg, and lo-c both men and place. TI10 order was set aside, and both place and army were 1<W to the Confederacy. Johnson did not believe tint the sacrifice of his army in an unequal contract on the battlefield would save Atlanta, and if it did, the place was not worth the price paid for it. lie was removed and the gallant llooil was put in command of our western army. No troops fought better. Atlanta was lo?t, and in throe fights Johnson's old army, under Hood, bad an existence only in history. Had Johnson remained in command of our western army, Sherman would never have reached the <ea in command of a conquering army, or had the pleasure of sticking his licmlish lorch to the city of Columbia. '1 lie noble I.ee. umlcr I lie pressure of public sentiment, proved tin- impracticability of invasinn. Twice lie made the experiment ami twice lie relume I to Virginia with :v sli.ittere-l army, .lohnaoti s plan \vai the only one that had in it the clement of success. l'nt the enemy to the necessity of limiting supplies over a long line, forcing him to garrison every town ami station in his rear, ami fighting him on'y umlcr a lvan'ageous circumstances. Wc foolishly trie 1 to hobl too much territory, anil was nvor w liclfiip I !?i rvorv n.?tiu ai?.1 l?ft<*lnt? *?? -l*> - - - V I ' ' M III '?V nil. 1i w is nlioiit ?n 11 ri-1*' < n ilie morning of llie ill July, two days titter l!ie fall of Vicksburx, t1i:ii we bejran to fill bark towards Jackson. I remember pas-dug tlen. CIi-*t"m brigade on the i <iilc of i lie roail, anil saw a number of South i Carolina men whom I had known In (Jrconville. I Several ot them were afterwards hilled in Hood's fight to save Atlanta. I have felt hot ] weather, but I remember the f>th day of July, 18G3, a* the hottest I ever experienced. The dust, too, was awful beyond description. Frequently the men were forced out of the line to get their breath. The road we fell back to Jackson on was not the same one that we traveled when we wcro going towards Vicksburg. The road along which we retreated was almost without any water. F.ven the bad pond water was scarce. It did seem as if life depended on our drinking water from the mire to which the sow that was washed had returnod. It was so bad that we could feel the solution of dust lining our throat as we drank it, and it tnstcd just as the hog wallow smells. We camped that night near Clinton and used water from one of il-.i l--> l *? .. .. ...?av ] mm.'iuu u. en bo surrcu up mat ttsli and frogs came to the surface to get their breath. On the morning of the 7th, just as wo were about to resume our march, Johnson had some of his poorest beeTcs (1 wonder if any one can imagine how poor they were?) driven into the pond, shot and cut open, to retard tho progress of Grant's army that was pursuing us. When we reached Jackson that evening men overcome with heat, had dropped out of line in such numbers that brigades were smnller than regiments and regiments less than companies, and companies no larger than a corporal's guard. I saw more suffering among our troops that day than 1 did on any other march during the war. Most of the men revived as soon as the shades of night came on and reported to their commands before day. Tho Macbeth crossed to the east side of 1'earl River and camped that night near a spring a few hundred yards above the bridge ; but we were ordered back to the breastworks on the west side of the river before day the next moruing. Notwithstanding the scarcity of wntcr on the road, and our effort to render it unfit for use, the Federal army had followed us so cnergeti cany inai we nn?i not moro thou taken our position in line of battle before their advance came in sight. They began at ouco to intrench and extern! their line north-east and south-east till they reached the riser above and below Jackson. Then, day by day they inched their way towards our line of fortifications. During the nights they would advance their line and intrench. Our ammunition was scarce, and our orders were to savo it, but the temptation to fire into the bold Federals was sometimes greater than we could resist ; and when one gun violated the order it was a kind of signal for a general bellowing all along the line. We remember that a Federal battery opened on us one morning from some works that had been thrown up during the night, in was splendid! The first shot tired at my section passed through the embrasure of one of eur guns and the next lodged between tlie dirt ana a bale of cotton on top of the breastworks. The other sections had a like experience. We concentrated our fire on that battery and soon silenced it. Just after thi* artillery duel ended, for some purpose, I never knew what, ati armistice was had and many of the soldiers of the two opposing armies met on half-way ground and had a plea?ant interview, exchanging jokos and criticising each others shooting. The enptain of the battery just mentioned said our practice was excellent, and that we had killed and wounded a number of his men. Our last shot, lie said, killed one of his men and took ofT the leg of another. What a strange tiling our war was. One moment the opposing soldiers were laughing and joking with each other and iho next were trying to take each other s lifo. What a power there was in a little whito handkerchief. As long as ii was uplifted all was peace, and it would have hcen death to the soldier of either army who would have dared to ignore it. Its removal was the signal for drawing blood. Water was so scarco that it was believed that th# Federal soldiers would be hurled against our works without much delay. The Federals, however, showed bjr their works that an assault was not comtemplutcd. llattcries were being placed in position and reinforcements were daily arriving, and Johnson's army was in no condition to stand n siego, neither was he strong enough to go out and attack the Federals. Johnson decided to givo up .lackson as soon os he was satisfied that the enemy would not iiflsault our works. During the six days that the troops were in the trenches they were supplied with water hauled in barrels at night, from Pearl lliver. Two nights previous to the one during which we left Jackson, Johnson kept wagons running all night, for the purpose of |uieting any suspicion the rumbling of our wagon* might awaken when we began retreat. And the wagons did sound unusually loud those two nights. They must have been old wagons, gotten up for the purpose an I run without oiling. The night the army left, we nviv cu iv> iniiiiM- uiii guu* mill run iiirm from (lie breastworks by hand. We made mucb less noise that night than any of the nights (luring the siege. The oncmj <li<l not suspect us. ami it was late (lie next day before llioy knew we had gone. When Vicksbnrg fell and tirani turned on Johnson, it was reported that an old citi7.cn on llig black told him 'bat Johnson was a red fox that would not be easily run down, or so easily caught in a trap as l*embcrton had been. He pursued Johnson to Ilrandon and then abandone I the cbaso. Vim. ? Sain .Tones pay* : 'There is something wrong when a preacher gets S 100 and a pitcher So,000,' The llostou Transm'jit explains : 'Jlut Sain should remember that the S."?,000 pitcher has a much better de livery than the $100 preacher.' A student of human nature say* anything can be sharpened. J'ut a lcad-poucil in a womaos s hand, and see. MEXICO 8 POSITION STATED. Mouday afkernoou the New York JLrall correspondent in the City of Mexico interviewed the IIou. Ignacis Mariscal, Scorctary of Foreign Affairs, regarding the Catting case. Ho laid that Catting had been tried and c mdemued in accordance with the Mexican laws. His coun sci appealed to the Supreme Court of Chihuahua, and the Federal government were nwaitiog tho rosult of the appeal. Ifc further said that from the commencement the Federal government had urged the Chihuahua authorities to strict compliance with the law. When Mr. Bayard's demand for Cutting's release was made, on tho ground nf-i!h>gal imprisonment, Senor Mariscal did not understand how such imprisonment ywuld be illegal, ltut ho has since leafoed that Mr. Bayard referred to the jurisdiction of the Court. This question of jurisdiction, Senor Mariscal stated, is a conllict between the common and the civil law. Laws similar to that under which Cutting was tried exist in nearly all countries where the civil law is operative. The common law is considered general, and tho crirniual jurisdiction is strictly territorial or local. Sonor Marhreal is satisfied of the sincerity of Secretary Bayard's friendship for Mexico and his spirit of justico. llo thinks that the whole trouble has grown out of Consul Brigham's ignorance of Mexican and of all law other than that of the United States. Senor Mariscal called attention to tho fact tho law applied to Cutting was almost identical with tho Texas libel law. stating that Cutting received less thau half the maximum punishment provided by th^Yexjeaa law. lie qualified the rumor (by/lbc Chihuahuatis wcro likely to invade Texas as perfectly absurd, and asserted that if the Federal fnrernment i-ir.tnr^.t n few troops to Paso del Norte it wns for the purpose of preventing a couflict between the lawless classes ou the two frontiers. Fleteoprocted tho idea of the Texas papers tB^rthcrc was a want of harmony between tht* Fedcrnl and Chihuahuan governinont6, eh'uniug that the two governments are iu ifck ) ? . J ITisorcs ease at Kaglc Pass, ?scil(fr ^iSTisCnt said that details had not been received, but if wrong bad been committed by the Mexican authorities it would be as far as possible redressed by the prompt punishment of tho guilty parties. Ci'ttino in Jam,.?A correspondent of the New Vork World who saw Kditor Cutting in tho Mexican jail at ICI l'aso del Norte on Sunday says : Tho prisioner was found in the open mrt of the prison in Irs,shirt sleeves, enjoying the cool evening preparatory to spending a hot. uncomfortable night in his cell. The only visible change in his looks siuce his incarceration is a slight tinge of gray in his hair. Ho is enjoying good health, aud sinew the extra nlbwanco for his support has been made be manages to live very fairly. He takes his present prcdicameut calmly, and has the utmost con idcrice that something will turn up to tuccor him. His theory is that diplomatic relations will cease on Monday, and, in that case, Mexico will back down. Sooucr than go to war it will grant him a pardon he thinks. < tutsider;; do not take such a sanguine view of affairs. They say that Cutting is a doomed man. Should the lotted States take a fiual step and declare war. Cutting undoubtedly will be the lirst man to be put to the bayonet. On the other hand, if the government does not intcrfero and the prisoner is compelled to serve out thu 501110110.' imposed on him. he will never live to see its expiration, as no American can do the work that will be imposed on Cutting. 011 the allowance for food of five cents a day. That he will be pardoned is gcnorally disbelieved, as the Mexicans have got their hacks up. In passing sentcuco upon Cutting, the Mexican I'istrict Judge at I'aso del Xorte used the following language: "It is the decree of this court that the defendant A. Is. Cutting, he comlcmcd 'o serve tin Stale of Chihuahua at hard labor on public works for the period of one year and iu addition pay the treasurer of the tl.? o... ..I' ?r.lia ?...! in ll<? nvnnl 111 > r> ia m ?,'i "T ?i i i?a an vn*. V/*v?ia? of failure to pay thi> line, that the said A. K. Cutlintr be held ;<> serve out ar additional 100 days at hard labor on public works of the .State. It is futther more j decreed that the said A. K. Cutting b< I held responsible to a civil suit lor damage* to Kmigdio Medina, lite party injured b* the illegal publication by (lie dclcudant should the said Medina desire to institut | such a suit. In regard to the applicatioi j of the prosecuting attorney, asking tha j this court recommend that the I'nitei i .States Consul at this point be withdrawn I on account of offensive ofliciotisnoss. tli court holds that it is a matter of such importance as to ho entirely beyond its scope, and the application is therefore rospcctfully referred to the Supromc Court of Chihuahua for action." As soon as the verdict became known on the American side the excitomcnt became intense, every one seeming to understand that a crisis was rapidly npproaching. Places were opened for the enrollment of minuteuicn, nearly every able-bodied man in tho community volunteering. On tho Mexican side the excitomcnt is equally intense. Arbitration Possible.?A Washington special of the 9th iust., to the Now York Herald sajs : It is understood hero to-night that Mexico has assumed in the diplomatic con vereauon now going on in regard to the Cutting caso that tho position of Mr. Dayard goes beyond the judicial acts of this country and attacks the theory of the Mexican systom of jurisprudence. The Mexican laws are founded ou the code of several European nations, and as a last rercsort in the iulcrcst of peace it will he proposed that tho entire question be referred to international arbitration as to whether the Mexican codo as administered in the Cutting case is in accord with international law. , Mr. Bayard, it is said, has retraced the position taken by him in the correspondence sent to Congress, and is resolved to enforce acquiescence in his peremptory demand for Cutting's release. On tho other hand. Mexico insists that it is not just for one government to ask another to ignoro its only internal safe-guard?the regular administration ot the law?nud requires tho surrender of a prisonor held for violations of its laws ; that if such a slop wero possible on the part of Mexico it would invito additional dilTcrcncoa from powerful nations, equivalent, in fact, to asking its own destruction by foreign or internccino wars; that, as the Mexican code docs not staud alone, submission to such a declaration would, according to the law of nations, be discourteous to countries h iving similar ' codes and with which tlie United States aud Mexico are this day at peace. Finally, nr?tioMrr*Vi?uJV.U! at,- a ?rcat intcrwhat at present is only a theoretical question between the two nations, and refers to the principles laid down in the treaty of Washington, under which a similar controversy was finally settled between (Ireat .Britain and the United States. ? TllK PliATKoiiM.?The democratic party of South Carolina in the State Convention assembled, rcaflirniing their nllogianco and devotion to the principles of the Democratic party, declare the following to be the prin ?:..i i ..?i:... .. r 11 ? ?:? .??- : ?l II14 JP'.MM j VI III vJ J 'L ilHM. I <11 |V> |P'IUJ 111 State and Fcdaral affairs : First. Wise and just legislation ; the impartial administration of equal laws ; i-fli cicncy with economy in every department of the State tiovcrmuent. Second. Popular education is tlic bulwark of free institutions. Liberal support fur the public schools for the whole people. Third. The present protective tariff taxes the many for the benefit of tho favored few. The duties on imports should be decreased. An early repeal of tho duty on cotton ties, on the machinery used in tho manufacture of cotton and wool, and on tools and agricultural implimcntf, will stimulate manufactures and he a measuro of relief to the farmers of the country. Fourth. The public credit, National and Stale, must be maintained. Fifth. In the conduct of affairs in this i State the J democracy have been actuated by tho desire to promote the greatest good to the State. I>cmocratic unity is public safety and private security. Sixth. In the State, justice nnd equality i for all, to insure harmony and good will i between the races. In the union no see tionalism in policy or feeling ; an indissoi luble Union of indestructible States ; ono i flag, one country, ono destiny. i Seventh. Civil service reform. Appoint, ment* to minor offices under tests that will i indicate the fjuahfic itions of the npplieant, i promotion by merit, ? fixed tenure of office i and no removals except for cause. ;j The committee on Kesoliitions to whom ; j were referred various res lotions amend ing I | the Constitution as to the mode of selecting i the candidates, respectfully submits the following report. The following amendment, they recommend, shall be adopted as asub) stitute for all the proposed amendments so ? referred to them. t Amend Article XIII hy adding thereto , the following. e ' Mach Congressional I'i-trict a judicial :i circuit in this State shall he at liberty to t adopt the method <>f primary election itiil stead ol the convention plan for nominating a candidates for Congress or Solicitor, pro e vided such method bo determined upon by a convention rv^ horoinbeforo speoifiod, lor wiw yq.i aom among others. If such method bo adopted, the convention adopting tho sauie shall Gx tho time when, and proscribe tho rules under which such cleotion shall bo hold, provided that such primary election shall bo held in each County composing such district or circuit. Provided, further, that no oleclion either for delegates toaconvcn(iaii nr itn<)?r ' -'?'1 1 ..?? w. uuum mo |iiiuinijf jmhii mail DC hereafter held prior to the first day of September in ovory year.' I'lliiy ov tit b Forest Fires.?Chicago, August 9 ?Late advicos from the section of Wisconsin devastated by l'orc9t Grcs yesterday place the loss by tho burning of tho village of Spencer at nearly ?400,000, instead of ?200.000, as at first reported. There was a large fire in Marshnll, 150,000 feet of chair stock at Webster's factory boin?; destroyed. The town was saved by hard work. A dispatch from Ncilsvillo says : (Jrcat foars arc expressed in this city on account of the extensive forest fires which are within four miles of the city aud coming nearer. The mayor and council have ordered tho fire companies to be in readiness at any moment. Ilewittvillc seven miles west of here, was lurned to tho ground yesterday. Tho loss has not been estimated yet, but will bo very great. Dill's Dam, six miles south of hero, is also in imminent danger. If rain docs dot fall insido of 24 hours it is feared this city will also suffer greatly. Milwaukee, August 9.?A late dispatch from Marquette, Mich., to the Kvminij HVscongm says : The citv iH in dancer of * 0-- *" destruction by forest fires which inako (he air densely smoky. PendeUs slaughterhouse, in the city limits, has boon destroyed and the nitro-glyccrinc works of the L-iko Superior Powder Company are surrounded by fire. The men are fighting the lire with desperation. An opportune change of wind saved the new city park at l'resquo Isle yesterday. The day is oppressively hot and the lire fighters are suffering greatly. At Applcton a firo at midnight destroyed the paper mill of .Richmond Bros., causing a loss of $110,01)0 ; insurance $35,000. At fowittsvillo. ten inilcifromNeilsville, building connected thcrewitn ? .... farm houses in the neighborhood were burned and many families wcro compelled to move into tho fields with their household goods. Fires are still raging southwest ami north of Ncilsvillo. destroying grsin and farm buildings, Particulars arc difficult to get. For an almost uninterrupted distanco of nearly one hundred miles north of Steven's Point, along the line of the Wisconsin Central road, forest fires are raging and hundreds of men arc fighting tho flames seeking to save ine iowiis ana villages nemmeu in by them. Telegraphic communication in greatly interfered with and details are meagre. The complete destruction of the town of Spencer is fully confirmed and the loss is now placed at 8! >00,000. Several hundred pcopls arc destitute ami homeless. At Colby, a few miles distant, fire is raging on two sides. The wl ole population turned out to save the town. Several times the fire was almost to the houses, but was driven back. A heavy gale was blowing. To-night the gale has toned down, but the people aru tired out, and if the gale resumes the village is doomed. To-night the village of J'rcntice, in Mar athon County, is surrounded by llnuics, and it is feared that it will be swept out of existence unless the wind dies down. Near Chippewa I'alls the fires arc confined to the prairies and no buildings were destroyed. A Chy roit IIkkao.?Austin, Texas, Aug. 11.?(Jovernor Ireland to-day issued the following proclamation for the relief of the drought sufferers : "Whereas it has been made known Co me that on account of the unprecedented drought which has prevailed in the ('nun ties of IJrown, Coleman, Callaghau, Mastland, Stephens and others contiguous, many familios are suffering for want of food Now, therefore, I, John Ireland. 1 ("Jovernor, confidently call upon the peoplo of other sections to contributo to the relief of their distressed fellow citizens, by forwarding, without delay, funds to County .Judges of the several Counties asking aid."' few people realizo how rapidly the govJ urnmcnt's land is disappearing. Tho pubI lie land in all tho States and territories is . overrun with buyers and the best is bciug picked up with an energy that bid* fair to leave I'nclc Sain without an acre of good land at the end of the next decade. Is it not uhoul time a limit was put upon the amount of hind that any one pcrsou or company can own '!