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Scraps aad ? Men usually fellow their wishes till suffering compels them to follow their judgment. ? The corn crop of Illinois for 1879 amounted to the grand total of 305,913,377 bushels, for which the producers received 897,000,000. These figures are furnished by the Illinois State Board of agriculture, and are claimed to be accurate. ? The nearest election at hand is that of Indiana, which occurs in April, on seven constitutional amendments, one of which changes the time for the general State election from October to November. This amendment, which is the only one of importance, will be beaten, it is said. ? After the ceremony had been performed at a Fall River wedding, a former husband of the bride presented himself. He had been away four years, and she Jiad supposed her?1* J J ET ?T- ? J 1 1 sen a widow, ne uuea*u wj icavc uci iu mc new husband if she would give him her child, and she closed the bargain on that basis. ? By legislative proh ibition there is not a drop of intoxicating liquor sold in Banks county. Georgia. As a consequence, an unheard of reign of peace and order prevails. Court, which used to sit a full week, now dispatches its business and has actually adjourned by dinner on the first day. The temperance crusade is fast sweeping over the State. ? Major Reno, of the Seventh Cavalry, has been court-martialed a second time for conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman. The record in the last court martial has been sent to the judge advocate general. It is not expected that the President will modify the sentence, as he did in the case of the first court-martial of Mai. Reno. ? Some of the planters of the Mississippi lands held a convention at Memphis lately in the interest of cotton seed. They ascertained that the manufacturers of cotton seed oil were realizing great returns from pressing _ cotton seed. Crude oil is now worth 38c. per gallon : refined 48c. per gallon ; oil meal 815 a ton, and oil cake, 822 to 828.50 a ton. They agreed to advance the price of cotton ???'! C ft r? ?\AM AAnl sccu auuui uhj pci ? The gallows record for 1879 is a large one, showing an increase over any previous year. The total number of hangings amount to 101, of whom 64 were hung in the South and 47 in the North. In respect to color, 55 were whites, 37 negroes, 8 Indians and 1 Chinaman. North Carolina and Texas lead off with 12 each, Pennsylvania boasts of 10 and Oregon of 7. Besides these, 74 men were lynched. Colorado leads with 9, Keutucky second with 8, and California third with 6. Of these lynchings, 36 were committed in Northern States and Territories and 38 in the South. ? A curious libel suit is that brought by one Myers, in Indianapolis, against a journal of that city, for calling him a negro. One of the Republican papers suggests that, under the fifteenth amendment, it is no offense or insult to call?a man a negro, and he cannot claim damages therefor; but Myers answers that the negro is hated, persecuted and illtreated in Indiana, and that a man who is supposed to be guilty of having negro blood in his veius in that State, is thereby practically prohibited from ever holding office or being treated civilly. In fine, he claims that life, as a negro in Indiana, is unendurable, and sues the libeling journal for $50,000 damages. ? The press of Mississippi, without exception, chronicle much prosperity throughout that State. The Vicksburg Herald says: "Mississippi appears to be emerging from the gloom of a long depression into the brightness of a permanent prosperity. All the productions are bountiful, prices are good, old scores are being wiped out, and all the people feel that there is "life in the old land yet." A planter showed his books to a newspaper correspondent, in which, out of seventy-five names of tenants, share-workers and hirelings, but one had failed to pay his bills and have money ahead, and the reason he gave for the exception was that he had dabbled in politics last summer and lost his crop through sheer neglect." ? The New York Tribune states that the Rev. Gustav Haferman, pastor of the German Lutheran Church, one of the largest and wealthiest in Brooklyn, is in trouble, and has been asked to resign by the trustees of the church, the charge being that on several occasions he kissed his cook, a young girl named Ida Stiggman. After submitting to the kissing for a while, the girl reported the matter to her mother and then to the pastor's wife. Finally, the matter reached the ears of the trustees of the church, who cited Haferman to appear before them, but he only sent a long letter acknowledging that he had kissed the cook upon several occasions. He declared that he did it out of pure Christian motives; he regarded her as a daughter. This was not satisfactory to the trustees, in view of the fact that Haferman had two daughters already, and hence a request for his resignation. Haferman is quoted as saying that if the congregation wished him to go away be would do sc. ? The New York Times states that another vast road combination, has been completed in that city. It consists in the purchase of the New Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago Railroad, better known as the "old Jackson route," and its branches by the Illinois Central Railroad Company. The purchased company runs from New Orleans, La., via Jackson, Miss., to Cairo, where it joins the Illinois Central line. It has also a branch from Durant, Miss., to Kosciusko, Miss., and another from Grenada, Miss., to Memphis, Tenn., and has a total length of over six hundred and fifty miles. The Illinois Central road runs from Cairo, 111., to Chicago, 111., with branches from Centralia, 111., to Sioux City, Iowa, and from Cedar Falls, Iowa, to Mona, Iowa, and is over 1,100 miles in length. The consolidated road will, consequently, have a' mileage of over 1,700 miles. It traverses Iowa eastwardly across the entire States, and Illinois, (in two branches,) Tennessee and Mississippi southerly, through their centres, passing through portions of Kentucky and Louisiana, and extends from Sioux City and Chicago on the north, to New Orleans on the south, via Dubuque, Cairo, Memphis, Jackson and other important points, forming a strong rival to the new T .Aiiiornllo onrJ AT ooK\rt 11 o onm kinofinn fn jji/uioviug auu xi acu vutv wuiuiuabivu iui through Southern business. ? The Philadelphia Record says an important movement is on foot looking to the convening of an Ecumenical Council or Conference of Methodists from all parts of the world, to be held in the United States some time next year. The idea was first mooted at the. Methodist Episcopal Conference held in Baltimore in May, 1876, when a committee was appointed by the board of bishops to take it into consideration. This body, of which Right Rev. Bishop Simpson is chairman, has been in correspondence with representatives of the American Wesleyan Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church,?outh, the Methodist Episcopal Church, North, the Methodist Protestant Church, the Evangelical Association, the Methodist aDd Methodist Episcopal Churches of Canada, the Wesleyan Methodists of England, and other bodies in every quarter of the world. Favorable replies having been received from one and all of these bodies, Bishop Simpson has issued a request for a meeting of the committee, to be held in Cincinnati on May 6, to prepare a call for the council. Every recognized organization of Methodists will be invited to send its representatives, n is expected mat the conference will represent 20,000,000 Methodists in all parts of Christendom, as well as Asia and Africa. Its formal object will be to discuss "topics relating to the position, work and responsibility of Methodism for the evangelization." The discussion will not be limited to a mere interchange of views on general subjects, but will embrace proposed changes in church rules and modes of government reform in missionary work, and the adoption of a common psalmody among all the Methodist churches, as well as of a uniform order of service. This latter feature, however, does not mean the adoption of a prayer book, after the Protestant Episcopal form, but the introduction of a regular and stated order of service, the tendency at the present time being in the direction of an increased formality in the modes of worship. She fjarMle (frwjttiw. YORKVILLE. S. c!7~ THURSDAY MORNING. JAN. 29, 18S0. THE TAX ACT. On Monday last, the Supreme Court rendered its decision in the case of mandamus against the Comptroller-General, to compel him to levy a State tax under the Tax Act approved by the Governor at the late session of the Legislature. The judgment of the Court dismisses the petition for mandamus, and refuses to order the Comptroller-General to levy any tax under that Act. Chief Justiee Willard and Associate Justice Mclver concurred. Associate Justice McGowan dissented. Governor Simpson has issued his proclamation convening the General Assembly in extra session on Tuesday, the 10th of February next. PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. In the Senate on the 20th, Mr. Logan, by request, presented a petition of soldiers, for the passage of the Weaver bill for the payment to soldiers of the difference between greenbacks aud gold when they were paid. Mr. Logan said that in presenting the petition he desired simply to say that he thought the bill referred to was one of the greatest pieces of demagoguism ever invented in Con gress, ana ne regrettea mat me soiuiers were deceived into signing a petition in its favor. Mr. Jones, of Florida, submitted a resolution calling on the Secretary of the Navy to inform the Senate whether the interests of the country required a restoration of the Pensacola Navy Yard to a state of efficiency, and the probable cost of such restoration. Adopted. The morning hour having expired, the Senate resumed the consideration of the special order, viz..: The bill relative to the transportation of animals. After an extended debate, in which Messrs. Thurman, Eaton, McPherson and Davis, of West Virginia, took part, the bill was recommitted to the committee on commerce. Adjourned. .In the House, among the bills referred, was one introduced by Mr. Culbertson, of Texas, for the discontinuance of the National banking system. The following bills were also introduced and referred under call of the States: By Mr. Cravens, of Arkansas: A bill for the settlement of titles in the town of Hot Springs, Arkansas. By Mr. Loring, of Massachusetts : To amend the Constitution so as to extend the franchise to all citizens, without distinction of sex. By Mr. Warner, of Ohio: To provide for paying bonds of the United States maturing in 1880 and 1881. By Mr. Ellis, of Louisiana: Appropriating five hundred thousand dollars for the relief of the destitute people of Ireland. The House then took up the bill requiring National Banks to keep half their reserve in coin, and Mr. Chitteuden, of New York, made a long argument in its favor and against legal tender Treasury notes. He thought the Government should deprive greenbacks of their legal tender quality, stop minting silver dollars, and as soon as practicable convert all silver bullion now on hand into gold, and with that gold pay an equivalent amount of greenbacks. He thought also that the Government should pay off greenbacks with the surplus revenue, instead of buying bonds not yet due. Mr. Townsbery, of New York, followed with an argument in favor of withdrawing the legal tender quality of greenbacks. The morning hour having expired, the bill went over withoyt action. In the Senate on the 21st, Mr. Beck, of Kentucky, made a speech of considerable length in opposition to Bayard's resolution for the withdrawal of the legal tender quality of United States notes. At the conclusion of Mr. Beck's speech, the Senate went into executive session, and when the doors were reopened, adjourned. In the House, Mr. McMahon, of Ohio, from the appropriation committee, reported a hill makintr aDDronriation* for the Davment 0 rr 4 * * of fees of Marshals and Deputy Marshals for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880. The bill relative to the National bank reserves was discussed until adjournment. In the Senate on the 22nd, Mr. Teller of fered a resolution calling on the Secretary of the Interior to inform the Senate whether any member of the board of Indian commissioners had became interested in Indian contracts. Adopted. Mr. Coke made a lengthy speech against the Bayard resolution, after which the Senate adjourned until Monday. After transacting some miscellaneous business, the House resumed consideration of the Bank Reserve bill, the pending question being on seconding the demand for the previous question, and it was seconded by a vote of one hundred to forty eight. The main question was then ordered and the House debate commenced on the bill and pending amendments. Speeches were made against the pending bill?Buckner's Bank Reserve bill?by Messrs. Gillette, of Iowa, and Weaver, of Iowa; Whitthorne, of Tennessee, and Keifer, of Ohio. The House then, by a vote of 158 to 78, refused to order a third reading and j engrossing of the bill, thus virtually killing it. After the usual debate upon the revision of the rules?in the course of which Cox, of New York, made a humorous speech?the Senate amendments to the House bill, providing for the United States Circuit and District Courts i at Macon. Ga.. were concurred in, and the I J House adjourned. In the House on the 23rd, Mr. Upson, of ! Texas, introduced a bill authorizing the sec| retary of the treasury to ascertain and report (the amount of money expended and indebted; ness assumed by Texas in repelling the Indian and Mexican raids. Referred. McKeneey, of Kentucky, from the committee on pub| lie buildings and grounds, reported a bill au-1 | thorizing the erection at Danville, Va., of a I public building at a cost not exceeding $60,- [ 000. Passed. After the passage of some un-1 important private bills, and the presentation of several memorials, the House adjourned nntil Monday. In the Senate on the 26th, on motion of; Ferry, Wednesday of this week was set apart, : for the delivery of eulogies upon the life and j character of the late Senator Chandler. After the presentation and reference of a number of petitions and memorials, the Vice President laid before the Senate a communi cation from the Secretary of the Navy in answer to Senate resolution, stating that in his judgment the interests of the country and naval service do require that the Pensacola navy yard be put in a state of efficiency, and transmitting an estimate of $676,901 as cost of such repairs, $86,709 of that amount being necessary for the rebuilding of the Marine barracks destroyed during the war. Bills were introduced and referred as follows: By Mr. Coke, authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to pay taxes accrued and to accrue on lands belonging to the eastern band of the North Carolina Cherokees, from the fund belonging to such band remaining to its credit on the books of the Indian Department. By Mr. Gordon, to repay to the State of Georgia $27,175 advanced by said State for the defense of her frontier against Indians from 1795 to 1818. Bv Mr. Butler, to authorize the Secretary of War to adjust and settle accounts between the State of South Carolina and the United States Government. Mr. Teller called up the bill for the relief of Gibbs & Co., Charleston, and it was passed. It authorizes the payment to them of $4,577, being the balance due them on account of money deposited by them with the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Carpenter called up the bill to provide for punishing persons who steal horses, mules or other property from Indians. After considerable discussion it was recommitted to the judiciary committee, and the Senate adjourned. In the House, Clark, of Missouri, presented the credentials of J. P. Phillips, as representative elect from the 7th Congressional district of Missouri, and he qualified by taking the ironclad oath. Bills were then introdu ced and referred as follows : By Mr. Manning, of Mississippi, to re-organize the United States Supreme Court. It provides for an increase in the number of justices to twentyone, who shall be divided into three divisions, to be presided over by the chief justice and two assistant chief justices, to be appointed by the President from among the associated iustices. By Warner, of Ohio, to relieve the Supreme Court, to establish a Superior Court, and to abolish the Court of Claims. By Richardson, of South Carolina, for the settlement of the account for arms between the State of South Carolina and the United States. The House then proceeded to finish the vote interrupted last Monday upon Kelly's motion to suspend the rules and adopt the resolution declaring the negotiation, by the President, of a commercial treaty fixing a rate of duties, as an infraction of the constitution and an invasion of the highest prerogative of the house. The motion was carried and the resolution adopted by 175 to 62. Adjourned. THE EXODUS INVESTIGATION. The Senate committee on the colored exodus investigation, have commenced their labors in Washington. A number of witnesses have been examined, but as yet nothing has been elicited attaching political significance to the movement. J. E. O'Hara, colored, a West Indian by birth, and a claimant to the seat occupied in Congress by Mr. Kitchen, from the 2nd Congressional district of North Carolina, is one of the witnesses examined. He gave a very favorable account of the condition and treatment of the colored people in North Carolina. In his county?Halifax?they owned at least 20,000 acres of valuable unencumbered land, and enjoyed equal prosperity with the white people of the same pecuniary means, and were treated by the wealthier classes equally well. He testified that although there was at one time some 'bulldozing' in the counties borderiug on South Carolina, there never has been any political persecutions in the counties affected bv the Dresent exodus, and that there 4 - r f is none now in any part of the State. White mechanics had no prejudice against working with colored mechanics, and there was no discrimination against the colored people in the courts or on juries. The witness thought that the exodus was the work of agitators who went about the country stirring up and deceiving, by false representations, the less industrious part of the colored population. On Saturday, J. P. Dukehart, of Baltimore, Southern agent of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, was before the committee. His testimony, which shows the movement to be a mere speculating scheme so far as the railroads are concerned, is reported as follows: He testified that he made several visits to North Carolina in the interest of this company, to secure as large a share as possible of the exodus travel, and effected arragements with the local promoters of the movement by which the Baltimore and Ohio Road obtained the transportation of all the colored people who have gone from North Carolina to Indiana, at a reduced rate. In all the arrangements the company agreed to pay Z. Taylor Evans, of Goldsboro (a colored man who worked up the emigration), a drawback of one dollar per head for each full fare passenger, and fifty cents each for all half tickets sold. This was a well known standing inducement held out by himself and the agents of competing roads to get men like Evans, Perry and Williams to get up as large an emigration as possible. Evans told witness he commenced working up the exodus system months ago, by means of mass meetings, secret societies, &c.; that while in North Carolina he had seen a good many circulars, asserting that the colored people would find plenty of work in Indiana at wages from one dollar to one dollar and fifty cents per day. Perry and Williams also circulated reports that the emigrants, on reaching Washington, would rvmoirlort u/itH now olnt.hos and transnor uv- V - 1 tation to Indiana or Kansas. The circulars included what purported to be certificates from the North Carolina colored people who had gone to Indiana that they had found work, and advised their friends to follow. Witness thought the exodus would continue as long as the negroes could raise money to pay their fare, or until checked by unfavorable reports from their friends at the other end of the line. In this event, he would go to Indiana, and try to secure them as passengers back over the Baltimore and Ohio lines. MERE-MENTION. It is predicted that our coldest weather will come about the middle of February, and our warmest fires will be needed for the first days of spring. Senator Lamar is doing well and rapidly improving, though not yet able to walk. "Atlanta has 86 bar rooms and beer saloons. The work of sewering Memphis has been commenced, and it is expected to be completed by the middle of May. Quinine is again on a rapid rise. It is now quoted at 83 per ounce by the case iu Philadelphia. Within the last three years, in one province of Southern Russia, about seven thousand persons have died of diphtheria. Rev. Dr. Deems, of the "Church of the Strangers," of New York, has arrived in London, en route for the Holy Land. The commissioners to erect a court house for Grant county, Indiaua, report that seven out of fifteen bidders for the contract offered bribes. February 11 is the beginning of Leut, and Easter Day falls on the 28th of March. Washington's birthday and the Fourth of July, this year, berth come on Sunday. Two men were fined 8150 each at Atlanta, Saturday, for enticing colored laborers to Mississippi contrary to < State laws. Public meetings are held at Oberlin, Ohio, for the purpose of driving to- i bacco dealers out of town. Liquor sellers and j billiard saloon keepera have already been ex- 1 pelled. Frederick Hassaurek, the leading German editor of Ohio, says of Grant's nomination : "The German Republicans will vote solidly against him. That vote would lose him Ohio and defeat him." A dispatch from Topeka, Kansas, says there have been a number of deaths lately among < the colored refugees lit the barracks near that city. Bodies have been left at the burying ground three or four days before being interred. An importing druggist makes the startling report that this country eats onethird of the Turkish opium crop. Charles H. Voorhes, a member of Congress from New Jersev. has been indicted by the grand jury of Bergen county, for the crimes of embezzlement, conspiracy and forgery. The Legislature of New Jersey has asked him to resign. SOUTH (DAKOLINA NEWS. ? Measles are prevailing in portions of Spartanburg and Darlington counties. ? On Wednesday of last week, five chests of strawberries were shipped from Charleston for New York. ? Wm. M. Law ton, for many years one "of the leading citizens of Charleston, died in that city on Wednesday of last week, in the 74th year of his age, . ? Rev. Donald McQueen, D. D., pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Sumter for the last forty three years, died in that town on Friday last. ? There is but one tract of land to be sold in Anderson county by the auditor this year as delinquent for taxes, and that tract would not be sJd if its titles were in the proper shape. ? Mr. Charles S. Dwight, the Chief Engineer of the Chester and Lenoir Railroad, is now engaged in surveying a route for a tramway from Georgetown to Cade's,on the North Eastern Railroad. ? In the United 8tates Court at Charleston, on Thursday last, in a suit on the official bond of John Lee, former poat master at Chester, a verdict was rendered for $379.79, with interest from March 31.1877. ? The Beaufort Crescent mentions that exCongressman Smalls has recently delivered several political addresses in that county. In one iustance, over two thousand colored persons were present. ? The Supervisors of the census, recently appointed, are authorized to appoint a censustaker for every three' thousand inhabitants according to the census of 1870. This will give York county yght or nine "census ta kers." ? One day last week, a vessel containing 6,005 bales of upland cotton, was cleared from the port of Charleston. The cargo goes to Russia, and is the largest number of bales of cotton that ever left Charleston in one vessel. ? Preston D. Mood, editor of the Clarendon Press, and a son of Rev. Henry M. Mood, of the South Carolina Conference, committed suicide at Manning, where he resided, on Wednesday night of last week, by shooting himself in the head. It is rumored that the refusal of a fair daughter of Israel to reciprocate his attachment, caused the rash act. ? A Columbia dispatch of Saturday, to the News and Courier, says an agent of parties in Kansas has been in that city for a day or two endeavoriug to induce the State authorities to procure the arrest of C. P. Lesslie, the notorious land commissioner, who is now re siding near Topeka, Kansas. Application for a requisition was made to the Governor, but was refused, on the ground that no indict ment is at present existing against Lesslie in the State Courts. ? A fire occurred in the yard of the South Carolina Railroad in Charleston, on Thursday last, which destroyed twelve passenger cars, two baggage cars, fifteen box cars, ten fiat cars, and the shed where the passenger and baggage cars were housed. The total loss to the Company will be about $25,000. The origin of the fire is unknown. It is supposed, however, that a fire had been left burning in the stove of one of the coaches, or else that some one had entered the coach and kindled a fire with the intention of sleeping there. ? The Greenville News says that Edward Kane, a contractor in tlnion, has "skipped" the latter town and carried with him $4,000. He owns property in Chester, but was engaged on two contracts in Union, building residences for E. R. Wallace and W. A. Nicholson. The terras of the contracts with Kane were that he was to receive a partial payment when the work had reached a certain point. This point being attained, a payment of $4,000 was made to him, which amount Kane took and left for parts unknown. ? Five criminals, imprisoned in the county jail at Spartanburg, escaped about 4 o'clock last Saturday morning, by cutting their way through thesolid stone walls of their cell and letting themselves down to the ground, a distance of twenty-five feet, by a rope made of their bed clothing. The names of those who escaped were Bill Moore and Bill Coleman, convicted of rape, Alexander Rodgers, for highway robbery, and Anthony Westfield and Harvey Moore, for assault with intent to kill, all colored. The sheriff discovered the escape about daylight, and gave prompt pursuit. Westfield and Harvey Moore gave themselves up, and have been replaced in jail. The others have not been heard from. ? Col. Butler, the commissioner of agriculture, has just had twelve thousand California onlmnn nlftned in the streams along the Air Line Railroad as follows: Saluda river, 2,000; Euoree river, 4,000 ; Little river and Mossy creek, 2,000; Martin's creek, three miles from Seneca City, 2,000. The above fish were obtained from spawn ordered by the commissioner in October last. The spawn were shipped from McCloud River, California, and were hatched at Magnolia, North Carolina. In the transfer and distribution, not more than fifty deaths occurred out of the 12,000. These fish will return in three years to these same streams to spawn. The commissioner has also ordered a shipment of the ! spawn of the landlocked salmon, to be hatch- i ed at Morganton by Mrs. S. G. Worth, and i they will be ready for distribution at an early , day, provided the weather turns colder. WASHINGTON NOTES. ? The House select committee on the York-< town celebration, have appointed a sub-committee and instructed them to draft a bill making an appropriation of $100,000 for the erection of a suitable monument at York-1 town, Va. 1 ? Congressman Joseph E. Johnston, of Vir-; ginia, and Gen. Sherman can occasionably be seen riding out together airing themselves. A . Washington correspondent say : They seem : . to have a great admiration for each other, and j they compliment each other, on the masterly dodging each did in the Georgia campaigns. ? A Washington Associated Press dispatch of the 21st says: "It is understood that a delegation of South Carolina Republicans have been in the city for the purpose of securing the removal of Colonel R. M. Wallace, the United States Marshal of the State. Persons familiar with the public men of South Carolina are agreed in stating that two of the most upright and conscientious Republicans in fViaf fifafo ova Hnn A fl Wnllaoa on/1 Vila ill burn niv iiuu. ixi i<j? f? niim/v wuu uio boo, Colonel R. M. Wallace, the official above referred to. They have held prominent positions in that State for a number of years, and the breath of suspicion has never yet been directed against them. Marshal Wallace has rendered good service to the Government in the capacity of marshal, and his reappointment to the position would prove alike gratifying to the better class of South Carolina Republicans, as well as advantageous to the Government." NORTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? The Catholic school, recently opened at Hickory, will have a handsome school building of its own by the first of September. ? Mr. Miles 8ecrest, living near Monroe, has lost six children within the lust eight weeks from typhoid fever, and the only two remaining are confined with the same malady. ? The Charlotte Oburvcr says almost every farmer who comes to the city reports that his wheat crop is being badly injured by the fly. ? beveral companies, composing tne "state Guard," have disbanded, recently, and the North Carolina militia system is not in a healthy condition. ? The proprietors of Woodlawu cotton mills, are receiving new machinery to tuke the place of some of that in the old mill, which was worn out, and also to enlarge its capacity. ? The main portion of Roxboro', Person county, was destroyed by fire on Sunday night of last week. Every store in the place, and many other houses, were burnt down. The fire was caused by the explosiou of a lamp in a locked up building. ? Raleigh Observer : There are at present 267 convicts in the penitentiary. Of these 80 are white. Only 3 white women are held, and 28 colored. Of the convicts, 20 are in for life, for various offences?arson, burglary and murder. ? The result of the election ou the fence law in Cleveland, Lincoln, Gaston and Ca tawba counties is as follows: In Clevelaud it was defeated by a vote of 1,369 to 571. In Lincoln, two townships voted for it and three against it. In Gaston, the vote in South Point township was for the law. In Dallas township the law was defeated by only six votes, and in Crowder's Mountain by four votes. River Bend aod Cherryville townships voted against the law. Two townships in Catawba voted in favor of the law. The act authorizing the election provides that any township voting for the law can have it enforced, by erecting a proper boundary fence. ? The Republican 8tate executive committee is to meet in Raleigh to morrow. The object of the meeting at this time is for the purpose of perfecting a plan of reorganization, elect ing a chairman of the committee to succeed T. B. Keogh, now secretary of Xhe national committee, and choosing two delegates from the State at large to attend the presidential nominating convention. The meeting will be an important one, as indicating by the se lection of chairman whether what is known as the Greensboro ring, heretofore headed by Keogh, or the other ring of the party, shall have control of affairs, and, by the choice oi delegates to the national convention, whom the leaders of the party will support as the presidential candidate. Correspondence of tbe Yorkville Enquirer. LETTER FROM CHESTER. Chester, 8, C., January 27.?Yesterday a north east rain set in, and we hope it may turn to a snow or a freeze, so as to destroy the insects which are ravaging the fields of small grain, of which much complaint comes from all parts of the county. Notwithstanding the devastating fly, and the unfavorable weather during the winter for the small grain crops, I notice some very fine fields of oats in tbe vicinity of town. Mr. D. Macaulay has a field near the depot, and Mr. Israel Hood one on the Newberry road, both of which are hard to beat. The first quarterly meeting for this year, of the M. E. Church at this place, was held last week, Rev. A. M. Chrietzberg, presiding elder, officiating, during which time he preached several able sermons. : .omfl Hanoi mmmn. i/linug bllC oaiug miuv) vnu mwum* nion meeting was held at the Presbyterian church, the pastor, Rev. G. A. Trenholin, being assisted by Rev. J. Spratt White. Rev. J. E. White, county school commissioner, has recently issued certificates to 73 teachers of free public schools. Of these teachers, 50 are white and 23 colored. Mr. Francis T. Morgan, who has recently completed a course of the study of law, has been admitted to practice. On the 21st instant, Mr. W. W. Hicklin and Miss Rosa J. Walker, both of Lewisville, were united in the holy bonds of wedlock. Mr. I. N. Cross and bride returned last week from an extended wedding tour, and have settled down to house-keeping in their residence near the Baptist church. The Louise Pomeroy troupe performed in Coleman's Hall three nights last week. The entertainments given by this company are very good. Miss Pomeroy is certainly an actress of merit, and is supported by a fine company. They met large and appreciative audiences while here. A difficulty occurred last Thursday between Henry Carter and Charley Carter, colored, on Maj. Wilkes' place. Charley received some severe stabs with a knife, one of which severed two arteries iu the head. Dr. J. M. McCollum rendered medical services, and trial justice A. D. Darby took legal proceedings in hand, and caused the parties, who are half brothers, to be arrested. The Stonewall Fire Engine CompanyTiad their annual supper at the Cotton Hotel last Saturday night. The occasion was one of enjoyment to all who were present Senator Walker, Representative Hemphill and other gentlemen, were called and made short speeches. President Hardin, of the Cheraw and Chesinfnrmo mo that the mortcracre W34 vruvip ? ? 0 Q bonds of his road find ready sale at 93 and 94, at which figures they are considered a good investment. A meeting of a number of the corporators of the Chester Cottou Manufacturing Company, was held here last Monday. After some discussion it was agreed to draw up a paper, to be signed by a majority of the corporators, the same embodying the appointment of canvassers in different parts of the county, who shall solicit and receive subscriptions to the capital stock of the company. Canvassers were accordingly appointed for each township in the county. The charter of the company fixes the minimum capital stock at $25,000, and the maximum at $200,000, and provides that $10,000 shall be paid in before operations shall begin. Chester. / ? / LOCAL AFFAIRS. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. I Dr. J. F. Lindsay, Administrator?Application ] for Discbarge. ; James F. Hart, Administrator?Application for , Discbarge. T. S. Jefforys-A Large supply of Guanos and 1 Phosphates. 1 Hunter A Oates?Dealers in Dry Goods, Notions, Boots, Shoes, Millinery Goods, Hardware, ' Ac., dec. M. Strauss?Special Attention. T. M. Dobson?Dobson's Cash House. Mrs. Fannie L. Dobson?Fashionable Millinery. Kennedy Bros. A Barron?Notice?Thirty Dollars?Found?We are in the Market?Re- ( member. Latta Brothers?Guano and Phosphate?FlourHardware?Buckwheat Flour?Crockery and Glassware?Spring Oats?Grooeries? Cigars, Tobacco and Snuff. Dobson A Parish?Greensboro Tropic Cooking c*L n 1 rnAn/wwx owvo?uttfuou ooeu?vucnu iuiwwu> S. R. Moore-With H. F. Adlckea, Jr. H. H. Beard A Co.?Axes?Tin and StonewareShovels, Forks and Hoes?Granulated Sugar?Miscellaneous. .Latimer A Hemphill?John Merriman A Co's Dissolved Bones. W. J. Jones?Machine Repairing. Jos. F. Wallace?Administrator's Sale. Miss SueG. Edwards?School Notice. Amzi Oar, McConnellsville, S. C.?$10 Reward. RATTLESNAKES IN JANUARY. We learn by a note from King's Mountain, that a few days ago a dog was bitten by a rattlesnake near that place. The serpent crept away and took refuge under a fodder stack. SKETCH OF KING'8 MOUNTAIN. We have just issued, in pamphlet form, a sketch of the Battle of King's Mountain, by Rev. Robert Lathan, and will fill orders for the same at the following rates: Single copy, 15 cents; per dozen, $1.50; per hundred, $9.00. Orders by mail will be promptly filled at the above prices. THE YORK COUNTY BONDS. The case of the State ex rel. F. H. Brown and others vs. the Chester and Lenoir N. G. Railroad Company, was re-argued in the Supreme Court on Wednesday of last week. The case was argued by Messrs. LeConte and Patterson, for the appellants, and by Messrs. Hemphill, Simonton, Hart, Rion and Spencer, for the residents. CUURCHE8 NEXT 8UNDAY. Services will be held in the churches next Sunday as follows: Aletnoaisc ispiscopai?nev. inos. crimen,, Pastor. The pastor will conduct the regular services at Philadelphia in the morning. Services at Yorkville at 7 o'clock, P. M. Associate Reformed Presbyterian?Rev. R. Lathan, Pastor. Services at the usual hours morning and afternoon. Sunday-school at 3 o'clock, p. nl. Episcopal?Church of the Good ShepherdRev. R. P. Johnson, Rector. The rector will officiate in the Church of Our Saviour at Rock Hill on Sunday next. Presbyterian?Services at 7 P. M., by Rev. J. Lowrie Wilson. a woman"shingle-maker. A gentleman informs us that while riding on the Adair's Ferry road the other day, about ten miles from town, he saw a woman engaged in the "novel occupation, for one of her sex, of riving boards for shingles. He describes her as young and comely, and says she handles the frowwith dexterity?her average day's work being 1500 boards, from 200 to 500 more than the average work of a man. To the many questions propounded to her by ourinformant, she made the most laconic replies, being apparently devoid of the female characteristic of volubility; but he learned from her that her name is Margaret Earles, and that the making of shingles is her regular occupation. DEATH OF AN AGED MAN. Mr. Daniel Seahorn died at his residence, near Hickory Grove, in this county, on Sunday, the 18th instant, at the advanced age of 97 years and 3 days, having been born on Silver Creek, within four miles of his late residence, on the 15th of January, 1783. Mr. Seahorn was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a quiet, unobtrusive citizen, and retained his mental faculties in a wonderful degree for one of his age. In the memorable campaign of 1876, he took a lively interest in the success of the Hampton Reform party, and on one occasion walked to Hickory Grove, a distance of four miles, to attend a political meeting in i the interest of the Democratic party. finding the way. A minister in one of the lower counties of this State, wishing to find the residence of one Major Burgiss, made enquiry of an aged freedman and received the following directions, which certainly pointed out a more devious path than the straight ana narrow way Dy which the preacher himself is wont to direct others. Said the venerable darkey: "Go round dat fence to de corner, den when you strike dat lane don't follow it, but took i to de right; den when you come to brudder Bill's house, you jes cross ober dat oder road and den go straight on until you come to de fork, but don't took de fork, but turn to de i left hand, and when you cross one little branch you see two little roads comin in, but don't took neither of them, but you jes keep right ' on till you come to Uncle Bill's little corn field ; den follow de fence around, and when you come to a little old field keep right on, and neber mind de road what cross till you come to two lanes; den keep right on, and you soon come to Capt. Burgiss." MAKING READY FOR THE 218T. The huge flag which is to be thrown to the breeze, on the highest pinnacle of King's Mountain, on the 21st of February, has been completed and is now in Atlanta in charge of the Air-Line road, which proposes to donate it to the centennial association. It cost about $200. The Air-Line, in addition to this, has agreed to erect a liberty pole, from the top of which it is to float. The flag will be hoisted with appropriate ceremonies on Washington's birth day, and Col. Hardeman, of Macon, will deliver the address. This is a preliminary step to the grand centennial celebration which is to be had on the 7th of October, commemprative of the battle of King's Mountain. The Air-Line company will offer eyery inducement in the way of cheap trasportation to make this occasion a success and give the celebration a start An extra train will be run over the Chester and Lenoir Railroad on the occasion, giving all along the line of that road an opi>ortumty to attend. WARM WINTER 8TORIE8. The warm weather which has distinguished this winter and rendered it in many respects similar to the notable winter of 1827, has called forth many stories by the older people of remarkable occurrences that famous year. One of the "oldest inhabitants," somewhat noted for big yarns and the easy, nonchalant manner by which he extricates himself from apparent inconsistencies, was at a neighbor's house during the pleasant weather a few days ago, and espying a bee-hive in the yard, remarked that those bees would swarm in a fe\f, days, sure. lie said in the winter of 1827, he had a hive of bees to swarm, unexpectedly to him, which he afterwards ascertained to have been caused on account of the immense quantity of honey in the hive ; it was so completely filled, that there just were'nt room in the hive for the bees, and they were obliged to swarm. Having no gum convenient, said the narrator, "I jes knocked the head out of a five-gallon whiskey keg, which happened to be in the smoke-house, and hived my bees in it. I noticed that they kept working and seemed industrious like, and so one day my wife says to me, says she, 'Rile, the fus thing you know tliem bees will swarm agin.' I thought that couldn't be possible, bein' there was not a great many flowers and blooms for 'em to feed ; on, though it was a mighty warm winter; but ' one day, sure enough, I heerd a terrible buzzin in the yard, and on goin' out, I found the same | bees swarmin agin. And what do you think ? ; I emptied the honey out'n the keg and strained it off nicely for market, and it panned out jes even ten gallons of clear, strained honey." ; "What, ten gallons of honey out of a five-gallon keg ?" asked one of his incredulous listeners. "Yes," replied uncle Rile, not the least disturbed by his interlocutor, "you have no idee I hoxc bees can pack.11 CLUBS FOR THE ENQUIRER. For the convenience of persons desiring to subscribe for the Enquirer at club rates, we publish the following list of persons who have notified us of their intention to make up clubs. They will receive names at $2.00 per annum, the subscription to commence at any time, optional with the subscriber. The names of other club-makers, as reported to us, will be added to the list: Jasper N. Roberts, Herndon's Mill. Mrs. J. D. Gwinn, Clover, 8. C, Joseph Black Black's Station, S. C. H. K. Roberts Wbitaker, 8. C. Capt, E. R. Mills, Rock Hill, S. C. R. A. Rhea, ....King's Mountain, N. C. Col. W. W. Gatfuey, Gatfney City, 8. C. T. Gi .. Culp, Fort Mill, 8.C. Sam. M. Grist, Yorkville.S. C. Geo. T. 8chorb Chester, & C. W. T. M. Beard Hopewell, 8. C. 8. G. Brown Hickory Grove, 8. C. A. J. Matthews, Clover, 8. C. A. F. Lindsay, McConnellsville, 8. C. A. W. Ingold, Yorkville.S. C. Mrs. M. K. Strain, Etta Jane, 8. C. John L. Miller, Blairsville, 8. C. I. M. Faria -.Fort Mill, 8. C. Claiborne M. Smith,...! .. Rock Hill, 8. C. W. W. White, Coates' Tavern, 8. C. H. Parks Allison, King's Mountain, N. C. Mrs. M. C. Grier, Kernel, o. u. Maj. Myles Smith, Clover, S. C. William Dobson,? ....Yorkvillo, 8. C. William D. Simpson, Biackstocks, S. C. D. T. Lessley, Coates' Tavern, 8. C. J. C. Seville, Pinevllle, N# C. W. O. Gay, Bullock's Creek, 8. C. W. H. Crook. Port Mill, 8. C. R. G. Wbitesides...... Hickory Grove, 8. C. Nannie F. E. Robinson....... Blalrsville, 8. C. Mrs. R. N. Wilson, Bowling Green, 8. C. G. L. Saggs, Catawba River, 8. C. P. H. Dover, Wbitaker, 8. C. J. Parks Boyd, Zeno, 8. C. Mrs. Jane E. Moore, Philadelphia, 8, C. James Martin, - Black's Station, 8. C. R. LeRov Crook ,...Rock Hill, 8. C. Edward Hope Yorkville, 8. C. Mrs. M. C. Choat ;... Clay Hill, 8. C. * Miss J. La. Brandon Bethel, 8. C. W. 8. Gregory Cross Keys, 8. C. J. L. McGill ...Bethany, 8. C. Hugh E. Davidson ..piairsvHIe, 8. C. Ellas Ramsay ......Corn Cob, 8. C. J. R Hindman Cedar 8hoals, 8. C. J. C. Patrick Bowling Green, 8.C. Mrs. D. A. Lnmpkin Ebeneser, 8. C. Mrs. LuIaFewefl Rock HID, 8. C. T. M. Graham Chester, 8. C. Mrs. M. A. Jolly, Rock HJ11,8. C. TRANSFERS OF REAL ESTATE. The following transfers of real estate have been recorded in the office of the County Auditor since our last report: * J. L. McElwee to'F. H. Barber. Lot in Bock Hill. Consideration $400. Thomas Spencer to J. H. Abernathy. Tract of 162 acres in Catawba township. Consideration $1,100. Thomas Spencer to John T. Spencer. Tract of 134 acres in Catawba township. Considertion $600. F. H. Barber to J. L. McElwee. Lot in Bock HilL Consideration $2,170.50. G. W. and B. P. Sturgiss to Wm. C. Wherry. Tract of 85 acres in Catawba township. Consideration $350. James E. DeLoach and Lizzie DeLoach to Joseph O. Walker. Tract of 500 acres in York township. ' Consideration $2,000. John J. Smith to J. B. Jacksoh. Tract of 75 acres in Bethel township. Consideration $850. Martha Whisonant to L. C. Weston. Tract of 90 acres in Cherokee township. Consideration $250. L. C. Weston to Mary Weston and others. Tract of 159 acres in Cherokee township. Consideration $300. B. F. Garrison to I. N. Farris. Tract of 51 acres in Fort Mill township. Consideration $357. J. Lewis McElwee to A. Friedheim & Bro. Lot in Bock Hill. Consideration $1,000. J. F. Wallace, Clerk of Court, to John Smith. Tract of 131 acres in Broad Biver township. Consideration $262. J. F. Wallace, Clerk of Court, to John Bamsey. Tract of 169 acres in Broad Biver township. Consideration $316.25. B. H. Glenn, Sheriff, to James E. Plexico. Tract of 81 acres in Bullock's Creek township. Consideration $801.50. James E. Plexico to John E. Plexico. Tract of 105 acres in Bullock's Creek township. Consideration $540. W. L. aud N. A. Plexico to J. P. Hood. Interest in 112 acres in Bullock's Creek town- -< ship. Consideration $400. r. \ . j J. F. Wallace, Clerk of the Court, to John Whisonant. Tract of 32 acres in Broad Biver township. Consideration $224. Isaiah Thomasson and Lembreck Thomasson to B. T. Wheeler. House and lot in Yorkville. Consideration $25. John T. Lowry and M. B. Lowry to F. Christman. Lot of 3? acres- in York township. Consideration $52. J?', cnristman to Mrs. Mary acnuuert;. xiot of 34 acres in York township. Consideration #70. Elizabeth Christman to Mrs. Mary Schubert. Tract of 264 acres in York township. Consideration $330. A. Smith Corry to Mary Manning. Tract of 147 acres in Cherokee township. Division. EDITORIAL INKLINGS. The If 111 of John Blair Deceased; ? The following is the full text of the Act passed at the late session of the Legislature, relinquishing a bequest under the will of the late John Blair, deceased : Whereas, John Blair, of the county of York, in this State, and Mrs. Mary Blair, his wife, did, by their several last wills and testaments, admitted to probate on the 12th November, 1848, and on 2d November, 1860, respectively, bequeath a certain sum of money to the Legislature of South Carolina, upon certain trusts; and whereas by the casualties of war the sums bequeathed is utterly inadequate to support the purposes of said trust; therefore, Be it enacted, Ac., That the General Assembly of South Carolina refuse the said trust and renounce the same. Gathering of the Class. In pursuance to the call of R. B. Elliott, chairman, a number of the merabera of the Republican State executive committee met in Columbia on last Thursday. They held a meeting in the post office building and appointed Wednesday, the 28th of April, as the day for holding the Republican 8tate Convention, to elect delegates from this State to the Republican Rational Convention, to be held at Chicago in June. Barry Noah, of Columbia, was elected Secretary of the State executive committee. Bowen, Taft, E. W. M. Mackey and B. H. Williams are mention* ed as fxjiiig present at the meeting. The cor* respondent of the New and Courier says that chairmen for the several counties were appointed, but the names of the appointees are kept secret for the present A subcommittee, consisting of members of the Republican State executive committee, has been authorized to proceed to Washington for the purpose of soliciting funds to publish a Republican gaper in Columbia during the coming campaign. The 6. W. Williams k Co. Failure. -The New York Herald, of the 24th, says the taking of testimony at the Cotton Exchange, in the twenty-one suits brought by members of the Exchange against Mr. Geo. W. Williams, to recover $290,000, losses in cotton speculations made by Williams, Birnie A Co., has been going on daily since the 1st of October and is still in progress. The testimony in six of the cases has been completed, and the seventh, that of French A n ? ? 11 k<* AM rl aJ *k'(i Tkft oail ha 1 ravers, Wilt iro cuusu buio neck. >uv iiuiw are being conducted under the supervision of a committee of the Exchange, and the expenses are borne by the plaintiffs according to their interest. The questions involved are of great importance to members of the Exchange and to cotton speculators, Mr. Williams's defence being that he is not liable because the transactions were entered into by his partner without his knowledge, and were outside of the ordinary business of the firm ; that the contracts are void, as being gambling contracts, and that the settlements sought to be enforced by. the suits are settlements arising under the regulations and customs of the Cotton Exchange, of which Mr. Williams was not a member, and with which he was not acquainted. Messrs. Lauterbach & Springarn ap; ?4 L