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Scraps aud ^acts. ? Prof. Parkhurst quiets the fears of the timid by telling them that the new comet will not coiue within 50,000,000 miles of the earth. ? The longest drought that ever occurred in America was in the summer of 1762. No rain fell from the 1st of May to the 1st of September. Many of the inhabitants sent to England for hay and grain. ? Henry M. Stanley, the famous African traveler, is dangerously sick in the wilds of that country. He is foreign born, but hails from the United States, and was first sent out by Bennett. ? A workman was packing 70,000 cartridge shells in a box at a Vermont town, when they exploded, some 5,000 of them entering his person to a depth of half an inch. Yet he lived for several hours. ? Advices from London are to the effect k?* *L? ?1, ,U? ko-TTact 5. tliat UUIlIlg Wilt? JJU3L WCCIV, WW*/ UOi fWl ?*. England ha3 been jeopardized by the weather, and there has been an advance in the price of wheat, both in Great Britain and on the continent. ' ? The citizens of Orange, Texas, a town on the Texas and New Orleans Road, grew weary of the acts of desperadoes, and within the past few days have shot six and hanged two of them. The vigilance committee has onlyTialf finished its labors. ? A Georgia editor got a letter from an unknown correspondent, asking how he contrived to flirt without his wife's being able to catch him. He pitied the iguorance of the inquirer and wrote him an explanation of the whole racket. And when he found that the inquirer was really his wife, he had delirium tremens without the fun of getting 'em. That is what a man gets for giving himself away, and it served him right. ? On the Czar's recent railway journey to Moscow, the line was guarded throughout its length by soldiery. At every hundred paces bayonets glistened, and at intervals tents shone white and camp fires gleamed. The Emperor was anxious that the Empress should remain behind with the imperial children at PeterhofF, but she insisted on accompanying her husband, to share his fortunes, whatever they might be. ? An exchange has the following paragraph, which we copy, the hint given being equally applicable to our own section : "Now is the time to plant turnips and oats, and we urge upon our farmers the importance of these two crops, especially since the failure of the corn crop. A good oat and turnip crop will help save what little corn we may make, feed our stock during the winter and spring, and keep the farmer from many a dollar of debt that he would otherwise have to incur. This matter is worthy of serious consideration." ? It is now nearly two months since rain has fallen in Bardstown, Ky. Many farmers are compelled to drive their stock three or four nvles to water. The distillers throughout the county are hesitating and undecided whether or not to go into active operations during the coming season. The advance in corn, the dull market for whisky and the large quantities in bond, are the reasons advanced for their indecision. A few distillers who have made contracts for corn will run on reduced capacities. This coming season's product will not be one half of that of last year. ? Thompson's Bank Note Reporter savs: "Jn our list of banks we find the following named ladies holding positions as bank officers : Mrs. E. C. Williams is president of the State National Bank, Raleigh, N. C.; Miss Jennie Coombs is cashier of Brown & Coombs' bank, at Middleville, Mich.; Miss Sarah F. Dick fills the same office in the First National Back, of Huntington, Ind.; and Miss Annie M. King signs as cashier of the banking house of Springer & Noyes, at White Cloud, Kan.; Mrs. M. H. Cowden carries on a banking business in her own name at Forest Hill, Cal." ? Greasy Creek, in Arkansas, is one of the latest natural wonders which this country can boast of. We have already, in response to those lands which raise bread-fruit and manna, produced a spring whose waters are said to taste like turtle soup; but now the Rev. John R. Yeatts, a Baptist divine, is quoted as authority for a spring near Greasy Creek, flowing forty gallons a minute, colored like apple cider, and tasting like applejack. He saw hundreds "lying" around the spring, in a state of blissful intoxication, laughiDg and trying to slap their hands. The name given to these springs is the Millennium Springs; doubtless as signifying that they bring back the golden age. ? M. Estienne, in his annual crop reports for the different countries of the world, puts the wheat crop of France this year a littlS be low the average ; in Great Britain ten per cent, below the average, and likely to realize only 10,000,000 quarters ; and in Austria and Hungary above the average, though later accounts report injury. In Italy the crops are medium in quality and much below the abundance of 1880 in quantity, although the grain is not so plump and weighty. In Germany the winter wheat is very good and the spring wheat is very poor. The Swiss wheat crop is very poor in quantity owing to drought, but the quality is good. M. Estienne says : "All reports from the United States agree that the yield will be under the average." ? The water famine at Richmond has reached alarming proportions, every household suffering seriously for lack of the indispensa ble fluid, and the unwashed sewers are emitting a horrible stench, which is apparent in all parts of the city. Busy scenes are witnessed at the springs, where policemen are stationed to quell fights among the people in their rush for water. Enterprising negroes are carting water about the city and selling it at five cents per bucket. Water from the country is selling at a dollar per barrel, with rapid upward tendency in price. The apprehensions of fire are very great. The chairman of the fire committee requests all citizens to enroll at the engine-house as volunteer firemen, and the department has been supplied with axes. Many families have fled from the city, and others are preparing to follow. The famine is peculiarly severe on the poorer classes, who are unable to buy water, and physicians apprehend a fearful rate of mortality among those classes unless there be copious rains very soon. ? A dispatch from Lynchburg, Va., says: The agricultural outlook of all this section is beginning to assume alarming aspects, in view of the protracted and unprecedented drought. It has rained in this neighborhood but twice or thrice in as many months, and not at all for a full month. In consequence, the gardens have almost entirely dried up, and the corn crop promises to be an almost complete failure. Advices from Southwest Virginia represent a similar distress in that rich region, though some sections have enjoyed occasional but not sufficient rains. The grass has been utterly destroyed and grazers have already begun to cut off the branches of trees for forage for stock, an expedient heretofore reserved for spring time in severe seasons. The poorer classes of farmers will have to dispose even of their draught stock, and it will be well if corn for the support of the people is raised, and that only can be expected in the case of immediate and copious rains. It is said that no such season has been experienced since 1806. The marketmen allege that they will 6nd it impossible to supply the demand for vegetables and fruits unless the long expected rain comes at ouce and in plenty." ? Guiteau's doom is sealed. There are j several men in the country who are deter- j mined that his life shall be forfeited whether ' the President recovers or not. The Chicago Tribune says there is at least one such man in Chicago. He is a cool, resolute determined fellow. He is not a fanatic, but a man of good sense and sound mind. He has delib-1 erately come to tho conviction that it is his duty rid the world ofGuiteau, whenever the latter shall ba turned loose. He says that he does not feel any responsibility in the case so long as Guiteau shall be in the hands of the law?whether he be in jail, in the penitentiary, or the insane asylum. But the mo j ment Guiteau shall be turned loose, whether j temporarily or permanently, this man propo ses to follow him, hod him, and kill him, if he shall be anywhero within the boundaries of the United States. The avenger swears that Guiteau shall not be safe on the streets, in the cars, in a hotel, or in church, or at home, if he has any, nor in any place where another may reach bira. There is not the slightest doubt that this Cbicagoan is in fearful earnest about the matter?as earnest and determined as Guiteau himself was to assassinate the President. Ike IJflfJtyiUr (Shrpwrr. YORKVILLE. S. C.: THURSDAY MOLNING, SEPT. 1, 1881. THE PRESIDENT'S CONDITION. The distressing news of the latter part of last week from the President, is succeeded by Monday's and Tuesday's with more cheering indications that the illustrious patient will yet recover. The relapse ot Thursday and Friday is regarded as the turning point in the case, and while, with only one exception, the attending surgeons assert that he will get well, the people of Washington receive the announcement with more confidence than has recently been their wont to place upon the official bulletins emanating from the physicians. A dispatch to the News and Courier of Tuesday says: It is still feared that the present improve ment is but temporary. The lesson of the previous ups and downs of the case has not been lost on sensible and conservative ripnnlp Thev know it is not improbable I?I J -- ? that there may be other relapses as danger ous as this from which the President has re cently come through. The President him self appears to be thinking of the same thing when he says with a pathos which will go to every heart: "I vfonder how many stations I have to stop at." But "sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof is the motto at the White House, where no other opinion is tol erated than that which practically places the President out of danger. Just now every thing appears to be going swimmingly. The following is the latest intelligence we have by telegraph: Washington, August 30, 12.30 P. M.? At the morning dressing, another small incision was made in the lower part of the swelling on the right side of the President's face, which was followed by a free discharge of healthy looking pus. There was a similar discharge through the opening. The swelling is perceptibly smaller and looks healthy. The wound remains in an unchanged condition. There has been a little rise of temper ature since morning, but the pulse is more frequent. In other respects the condition is the same. Pulse, 116; temperature, 98.9; respiration, 18. THE CHOPS IN YORK COUNTY. We publish, this week, a comprehensive report of the condition of the crops in York county, the report erab-acing replies from 67 correspondents ; and while these do not cover every neighborhood, we think they give as correct a representation of the general condi A.l I _ 1 A i 1 4? mod oi tDe crops mrougnoui me cuuluv as u is possible, under the circumstances, to obtain. Our correspondents are reliable, intelligent gentlemen, nearly all of them practical farmers, and from the tone of their re plies, we believe they have taken pains to arrive at a correct conclusion regarding each locality reported. We regret that we did not receive more replies from Catawba township ; but in portions of that township, as also Ebenezer and York, lying between Yorkvilleaud Rock Hill, and especially in the vicinity of Rock Hill, we learn from various sources that the prospect is discouraging? probably less encouraging than in aDy other section, when we remember that the sectiou named contains some of the best farming lands, and the most successful farmers in the county. For several miles around Philadelphia Church, and extending west of the church for two or three miles, the prospect is gloomy. The reports from Bethel township are also discouraging. Beginning about four miles north of Yorkvilie and extending five or six miles north and west in the Clark's Fork section, is what has been distinguished this sum raer as the "rain belt," that portion of the county having copious rains in July, and until the drought of Augustset in, giving promise of the best crops raised there for several years. The crops, however, were cut short, yet the prospect for corn is better than the average of the county. Comparatively good reports come from the Bullock's Creek section. While they, to some extent, conflict, as must be expected, yet in the main, for the entire length of Bullock's Creek, the corn crop on that stream is nearly equal to an average crop. In reading these reports, it will be observed that with but one or two exceptions, all up land corn is put down as a failure. It will also be noticed that in almost every instance cotton planted on red land is a failure. The bulk of the cottOD crop will be raised on gray land. Of course the very unpropitious season, amounting almost to a calamitous drought, has had much influence on the upland corn and red-land cotton. Another peculiarity noted in this year's crop, and one which has not occurred since the memorable dry summer of 1845, is that bottom lands, which in ordinary seasons are too moist, are this year producing finely, the dry weather of the summer having admirably suited this class of lands. We would that our report could present the crops in a better condition than it does ; ! and yet we are inclined to believe that after | an average of the reports is made, it does give a better showing than many would expect. While, of course, the estimates are only approximative, yet as trustworthy as such estimates can be, we find on taking 100 for a maximum and striking an average of all the reports we have received, the result is 46.50 for cotton, and 61.12 for corn. This brings | cotton to near half a crop throughout the , county, and com on bottom lands to not quite , two-thirds. One gratifying fact in connection with ! nearly all the reports is, that the farmers are impressed with the importanceof sowing plen- j tifully of small grain this fall. In his report, | "W. W. T." pleads earnestly and eloquently 1 for red rust-proof oats, and "J. L. W.," in ' one sentence, ironically makes a strong argu- < ment to the same purport, when he suggests that some of bis neighbors speak of sending < to Virginia for hay! We hope they will not be driven to this expedient. i SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Three hundred and twenty-nine teachers were in attendance on the sessions of the Normal Institute, recently held in Greenville. ? It is asserted that twenty-five acres, on many plantations in Kershaw county, will not make more than one bale of cotton. ? At the recent elections in Pleasant Hill, Flat Creek, Buford and Gill's Creek townships, in Lancaster county, the stock law was 1 # i 1 cieieaiea. ? There are confined in the Chester county jail sixteen prisoners, thirteen of whom are awaiting triul at the next term of the Circuit Court. This is the largest number of prisoners in jail at Chester lit any one time for the last two years. Since the first of August there have been thirty-seven commitments. ? The Lancaster Review says: "It is a somewhat remarkable fact that the Waxhaw country has escaped the chills and fever this year?the fir3t time in a quarter of a century. It is attributed to the long drought, and the fact that there is much less decayed vegetable matter in that section than in previous years." ? The phosphate business of this State has become a very important one. In 1867 the shipment of crude rock amounted to only six tous, in 1881 to three hundred thousand. In addition to this there are in Charleston thirteen factories for preparing the crude rock for fertilizing purposes, which ship annually ninety thousand tons. ? B. W. Hicks, the wife murderer, who is sentenced to be hung on the 30th of September, and is now confined in Spartanburg jail, had entered into a plot with some of his outside friends for a rescue by them. The plot has been discovered by Sheriff Blassingame and every precaution taken, Hicks being more securely guarded, and the outsiders being known, will be promptly attended to. ? The Washington Republican says that a colored postmaster in South Carolina recently sent a long petition to the department, praying to he relieved from Sunday work. He recited that his objections did not arise from laziness or aversion to the work itself, but that his religious scruples forbade any kind of labor on the Sabbuth. He was informed by the department that his only remedy lay in resignation of his office, aud since then nothing more has been heard from him. ? Messrs. E. J. Earle, E. H. Watkins, A. M. Holland "and many others," of Anderson, publish the following call: "The farmers of the 'dry streak' in Savannah and contiguous townships, are requested to meet at A. E. Scudday's on Saturday next, 27th of August, at 10 A. M. ; and the merchants, guano deal era, and all others interested in the prosperity of the country, are invited to meet with them and discuss the difficulties of the situation face to face, that proper arrangements may be made for their mutual benefit and protection." ? A reporter of the Greenville New has interviewed farmers from many sections of that county, and from them the most discouraging reports come with regard to the present indications for harvest time. While here and there a farmer is found whose crop has not suffered so extremely from drought, there is a very general complaint from almost every quarter. The estimates on the crop, based on the assumption that good seasons will accompany crops on the last stretch, range from one-third to two-thirds of an average crop. ? The Abbeville Press and Banner says : "It is only necessary for one to ride into the country to become convinced of thealarmiDg ly Bhort crops of this year. In our opinion, we are on the eve of a panic, the like of which we have never seen. Hundreds of farmers cannot begin to pay for the advances which' they have received on the crop, and the greatest number of them have mortgaged their mules, wagons and cattle to secure the payment of the lien. In some instances the merchant may be able to wait, but it is fair to I predict that many plough anira\ls will be sold off the various farms of delinquent | debtors." ? The Union Times says : The reports that come to us from different parts of the county, as to the condition of the crops, are 'so conflicting and confusing that we are at a loss what to think, much less say, about them. One thing, however, is very evident to us; there cannot be more than a half crop of cotton made in the county. The last three weeks' drought has done more injury to cotton than the eight weeks' drought of May and June. A very intelligent and reliable gentleman living in Draytonville township, told us yes terday, that he did not honestly think there would be more than one third of a crop of cotton and coru made in that township, and throughout the whole section north of Paco let not more than half a crop would be made. ? The Augusta Chronicle and Constitutionalist gives the following particulars of a rencontre which recently occurred in Edgefield county, between members of the Buzzard and Timraerman families : "It appears that there had been a difficulty between the two men, who were neighbors, in reference to a line fence, which caused very bitter feeling. Last Wednesday, Timraerman, who was mounted on a mule, met Buzzard and his son in the road, about nine miles from Johnston and ten from Edgefield. The Buzzards, who were going squirrel hunting, had their guns; Timmerman was unarmed. After some words Timraerman told the Buzzards that if they would wait he would go home and prepare himself. They assented. Timraerman rode off to his house, two miles distant, loaded his double barrel gun with buckshot and returned. He found the Buzzards waiting where he left them. Young Buzzard advanced and fired tv j:? ui J. uuuieriuuu, wuuuuiug ijiui onguujr , mumerman returned the fire, shooting young Buzzard in the leg, which, we understand, will have to be amputated. J. W. Buzzard then advanced, when Timmerraan fired upon him, killing him instantly." ? In the United States Court at Greenville, on Thursday last, Lewis R. Redmond, the notorious "moonshiner" was brought up for trial. There were ten cases against him. Eight of these were by information, as follows : "For carrying on the business of a retail liquor dealer without paying special i license, on April 30, 1877; unlawful removal and concealment of distilled spirits i on the same day ; being a retail liquor dealer I without paying special tax, on April 30, i 1878; fraudulent removal and concealment < on the same date; distilling with intent to \ defraud on the same date; the same offence' ] on April 30, 1877 ; distilling without giving < bond, neglecting to register a distillery and I distilling without giving notice, on April 30, 1 1877; same offence, on April 30, 1878. The 1 three indictments against hira were: Conspir- ' ing against E. H. Barton to injure and I molest him because of the discharge of his 1 duties as an officer of the United States, in 1 January, 1877; conspiring to impede the i said Barton in the discharge of his duties; . conspiring to injure and molest Wm. F. Gary l in consequence of his discharge of his duties." Redmond made no defence and verdicts were i rendered against him in all the cases. He i was subsequently sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in the Albany penitentiary and 1 pay a fine of twenty six hundred dollars. I NORTH CAROLINA NEWS. ( ? There are some cotton fields in the south- , em part of Cleveland county that have 6ad ( no blooms this year. ? The farmers of Cabarrus are going to j meet next Saturday to try to effect some kind of a compromise with the fertilizer men. ( ? Judge Seymour, of the North Carolina , bench, is a native of New York, and a cousin of ex-Governor Seymour of that State. ( ? Alexander Moore, aged 99, died in Iredell county last week. He was a soldier in , the war of 1812. ? The citizens of Lincoln county will hold a public meeting in Lincolnton next Saturday for the purpose of making arrangements to secure immigration to that county. ? The Gaston cotton crop is estimated by th& Gazette at about one-fourth ; upland corn one sixth, and bottom land corn about a full average. ? The Winston Sentinel says a large number of brandy distilleries are now in operation in that internal revenue district. Owing tn the nrnhahle ncarcit.v nf enrn. there will ? I J ? 1 not be so much whisky made as heretofore. ? Capt. J. 0. Moore succeeds Col. Yates as chief engineer of the North Carolina Midland Railway. The Salem Press says he is an accomplished gentleman, has had much experience in railroading, and is well qualified for the position. ? The Monroe (Union county) Enquirer of the 25th ultimo, reports another murder in that county, occurring on Saturday night the 20th, in which McKee Secrest shot and instantly killed Washington Helms. It appears that Secrest acted in self-defence. He made no attempt to escape, but surrendered himself to the authorities without awaiting arrest. ? The vote cast in the last State election on the question of prohibition was counted last Thursday, by the State board of canvassers, and ihe result, as announced by proclamation of the Governor, is 116,072 majority for anti-prohibition. Owing to some irregularity, the returns from Ashe county were thrown out, which will reduce the majority about 1,000 votes. ? The Grand Lodge Knights of Honor of North Carolina, was in session in Raleigh last;week. The report of the Grand Dictator represents the order in that State to be in a flourishing condition, with a fine prospect for the future. The most important act of the Grand Lodge was to amend the constitution so as to provide for biennial instead of annual sessions. The per capita tax for subordinate lodges Was fifed at SI per annum. The next meeting of the Grand Lodge will be held at Greensboro, on the second Tuesday of August, 1883. ? The commissioners of the Western North Carolina Railroad have reported to the Governor of that State that Messrs. Clyde, Logan and Buford, who claim to be the assignees of Mr. W. J. Best, are not prosecuting the work on that road according to the contract made between the State and Mr. Beat, specifying the particulars in which they have failed. Among other things the commissioners report injurious discriminations against North ^Carolina cities and towns. The Governor has forwarded to the assignees a copy of the report, with notification that unless all cause of complaint be immediately removed, the whole power of the administration would be exerted to rectify the evil. MERE-MENTION. To add to the general unpleasantness, a short oyster crop is predicted. The planting of cats, rye, barley and turnips is advised. These crops will, it is said, help out farmers who have been caught by drought. Rev. F. R. Goulding, of Georgia, author of "The Marooners"and other popular juvenile works, died at Roswell in that State on Tuesday uight of last week. He was an old and highly esteemed Presbyterian minister. Alexander H. Stephens is busy writing a reply to the recently published book of Jefferson Davis."*: Mormon emissaries are quietly but actively at work in north Ala. Coalburning locomotives are now being introduced on the Richmond and Danville Railroad. Gen. Leslie Combs died at his residence, in Lexington, Ky., on Tuesday of last week. The St. Louis Republican insists that the falling off in graiu this year will be about 50 per cent, as compared with last year. - "Dr.. Taylor, of New York, on being asked what punishment he would devise for the assassin Guiteau, replied : "I would take him into the streets of Washington, shoot him in the same place the President was shot, and then turn him over to the President's physicians." Water was so scarce last week in Richmond, Va., that the mayor ordered it to be turned off from the factories, and 2,000 hands were thrown out of employment. The white voters of Virginia number* 180,000, and the colored about 112,000. Telegraphic messages of twenty words, exclusive of address, can be 1 sent from one part of England to another, for twenty-five cents. The colored Bishops, Dickerson, of South Carolina and Georgia; Shorer of Ohio, and Payne, of the Baltimore, Virginia and North Carolina district, have 1 arrived in London to attend the Methodist Ecumenical Conference. The price of ' corn in the West is steadily advancing. A 1 fire broke out in Chicago on Saturday night last by which four million pounds of bacon, ] 15,COO barrels of pork, and other raiscella- ' neous stock were destroyed, involving a loss ' of a million dollars. Laurinburg, N. C., 1 boasts of a female child, fifteen months old, 1 which weighs 173 pounds. A Cincinnati, I bride has been sued for $35 which the plaintiff ' claims she obtained from him by fraud. She .( promised to marry him, and he gave her the ( money to buy a wedding dress ; and she did 1 buy one, but wore it at her marriage with 1 another man. Reports from the tobacco growiug districts in Ohio and Kentucky j show a general increased acreage, but the c plants are suffering terribly from drought, \ ind the prospects are that there will hardly be half the average yield. The United States ship Ticonderoga has sailed around the world, as Commander Cromwell reports, 'without loss of life, accident or damage to to saHs, spars or machinery." And now the report is that Lapham has gone back on the Half-Breeds who elected him Senator, and will help Conkling to get control of the Republican party of the Empire State. On the same day, in the same house, recently, in Memphis, Tenu., a bouncing bady was born, an aged lady died, aud a young couple were married. The President's physicians are reported to be in a cheerful frame of mind. The country, however, cares less about the condition of the physicians than it does about the conditicu i the President. Lieut. Flipper, x colored graduate of W.est Point, is in the guard house at Fort Davis, charged with defrauding the government of 81,000 while acting as commissary of subsistence. Senator Joseph E. Brown, of Georgia, has resigned the Presidency of the Atlanta International Cotton Exposition, and Governor Colquitt has been elected in bis stead. Every day increases the certainty that the exhibition will be an immense success. Only seven States have annual sessions of the Legislature. Under the rulings of the Postoffice Department, letters received at the post office addressed to places that are not designated as postal stations in the postal guide, no matter how evident the intention of the sender, will be considered misdirected, and unless the address is corrected, will be sent to the dead letter office. Persons sending letters, especially important ones, cannot be too par ticular about the address, giving the correct name of the postoffice, State and county when necessary. A dispatch from Portland, Oregon, says that the surplus wheat of that State for export, this year is estimated at 300,000 tons. The negroes in one of the eastern counties of Georgia, have been trying, by the prayers of one of their, number, to raise an old negro from the dead, who has been buried for more than a year. Bishop Watterson, of Ohio, has issued a pastoral letter to the Catholic clergy of his diocese, directing them to offer special prayers for the suffering President. George W. Riggs, the well known Washington banker, died on Wednesday of last week, in the 69th year of his age. The Health Officer at Key West, Fla., has been dismissed because he refused to give a clean bill health, knowing that there was yellow fever in the town. EDITORIAL INKLINGS. The Cotton Prospect. Bradstreet's report of the cotton crop is not encouraging. The drought has had marked results. Norfolk advices say that the prospects are good for a fair average yield, but that in the interior regions the crop has been damaged by drought. Wilmington announces some local rains in North Carolina during the past week, but which will not fully offset the ill-effects of the dry weather in the interior counties. From Charleston, word comes that fine weather has prevailed generally in South Carolina during the past week, which has dispelled in a large degree the gloomy anticipations recently indulged in. From Georgia the reports are not so encouraging in a number of counties. Warm and dry weather, calculated to hurry the cotton crop too rapidly to maturity, is reported from New Orleans, and in Arkansas the crop is still largely suiferiug from the drought. In many places the plant is small and slender, though opening freely, while there are complaints in bottom lands of worms. From Galveston, and at centrarpoints in Tennessee, there is no material change to note. Drought very generally prevails in the cotton belt. What They Say of Arthur. A Boston dispatch of the 24th, says that Gen. Hancock, on being asked on the train that day, his opinion of Arthur, with much warmth replied that he is "an able, patriotic, high minded gentleman, and in the event of his being called to the Chief Magistracy, would discharge the duties with but one purpose?that of benefitting the entire country, and that the people might rely on his judgment with absolute confidence." A dispatch from Bayfield, Wis., gives an interview with Senator Beck, of Kentucky, with reference to the course that the Democrats should take in the case of the death of President Garfield. Senator Beck said : "It would be a time when the love of country should rise above all party questions. As to my own course, I would be in favor of some conservative Republican?say Henry B. An thony, of Khode Island?tor tne position 01 President pro lem. of the Senate and thus avoid any inducement for any insane person or political fanatic to desire the death of Mr. Arthur. In such a contingency, this would be a graceful recognition of the fact that under the great calamity which had befallen the Nation the intensity of party spirit and the eagerness for spoils were for the time forgotten." The Assassin in His Cell. A Washington letter says that Guiteau, since his recent encounter with the guard, McGill, has been more quiet than before, and the jail officers have little occasion to speak to him. He seems to have an idea that he is in danger, and has recently expressed a desire to be better protected. From both the gate and the back window of his cell he can be seen from the outside, and he appears fearful that an attack may come by way of the window. There has been a close examination made, and it is found that from no quarter can he be reached from outside unless he puts himself in the way. With the idea of protection, he has asked for iron shields or shutters for his cell. A day or two ago he asked for a rope to stretch across his cell to hang his blanket on so that it would answer the purpose of a screen. He described the rope wanted as about 15 feet long and 1 or * inch thick, and stated emphatically that he did Dot want it to aid him in committing suicide, * " - i-i-J A til U but solely lor tne purpose siaieu. nnuuuyu perfectly composed now, it is pretty evident that if he sees any danger approaching him, be would anticipate it if he had an opportunity. The guard in and about the jail remains about the same as it has for a week past. The military occupy the same posts in :he building and one or two pickets are post?d outside. There is no truth in the report )f Guiteau's removal from the jail to a Uni- ; ,ed States war vessel. f Hie Weather Prophet. < Prof. H. G. Vennor, the weather 1 irophet, is a citizen of Canada. He is now , >n a visit to New York aud has been inter- ( dewed. He explains his system, and the I theory of his weather predictions as being based upon the results of observation, and the comparison of cause with cause, effect with effect, season with season. He says : "What I do aud have done is the result of persistent study and directing others' labors. I discovered one fact, aud proving it to be a fact beyond questiou or dispute, I have builded upon it, aud built safely, I think. What was that discovery ?. Just this * that seasons and years recur in couplets and triads. Rules applicable to the 6rst season or year of a couplet are equally applicable to the second season or year of that couplet, and precisely so in the triads. Such is the main superstructure of my work. But I soon found that the system was not bound down to a mere generality, embracing only a season or year in its ?r??:?-. ?tln> euureiy. ijipcriuiciit eviucuucu mat ti? same calculations could be made for a month, and that, too, with an exactness that at first appeared to be surprising. And I pursued my work still further, until now I do not hesitate to bring my calculations within a week. Yes, I have been able to designate particular days. That is usually my rule in the text of my predictions. But the public should understand that, except in special cases, I never risk every thing upon any single twenty-four hours. I have not yet reached that point in my system, although thpre is no telling what will be accomplished in the near future. My experience long ago impressed roe with the force of the recurrence of periods of similar weather, and to my personal experience I have added the authentic records of threequarters of a century. Those records cover Canada and the United States. They are practically complete, and they uphold my theories. Upon them, in fact, to no small extent, do I depend for everything. Sometimes I am bothered by my inability to decide whether I have entered a couplet or triad of seasons, and until that matter is settled I am all at sea, and quite as likely to be wrong as right. Now, au instance of that was the winter of 1880, when, you will remember, I declined to say anything positively. I was in doubt upon many phases of the then recurring weather, and was unwilling to make any forecast. You will bear in mind the circumstances. There was the strangest of weather. But the instances in which I have been obliged to forego my predictions are wonderfully few. Such a miss is not possible once in a thousand times." , Me thinks that the United states signal officers have been ungenerous in recent strictures of his system, and on this point says: "Early in July I saw indications of the now heralded storm for this section of the Atlantic. The dates fixed upon by me for the probable arrival of this disturbance were August 26 and 27, and to-day I observe the sigual offices are giving warning of the same, but in a very indefinite and wavering dispatch. ' My opiuion is that the storm will reach this vicinity ou the afternoon of Saturday, the 27th, or Sunday morning, the 28th, or not at all, -and will usher in a change to very much cooler (along the coast to colder,) weather." ' The Average Production of Cotton.? The average production of cotton to the acre, in pounds, last year, accordiug to the census office report, was as follows : Seed Cotton States, Cotton. Lint. Seed. Mississippi, 651 217 434 Georgia, 444 148 296 Texas, 528 176 352 Alabama, 429 143 286 Arkansas, 831 277 554 South Carolina, 546 182 364 Louisiana, 837 279 558 North Carolina, 621 207 414 Tennessee, 651 217 434 Florida, 318 106 212 Missouri. * 861 287 574 Indian Territory, 693 231 462 Virginia, 654 218 436 Kentucky, 729 243 486 THE CROPS IN YORK COUNTY. In addition to the crop reports printed on the first page of this issue, we also publish the following, which were received after the first form of the paper went to press: H. K. R., Whitaker's, Cherokee township, reports cotton in his section at not more than 33 per cent, of last year's crop. The corn on bottom lands will be from 50 to 75 per cent, of last year's crop, and uplands from 10 to 20 per cent. Dr. J. P. H., writes from Clark's Fork, as follows: I have seen most of the crops on Clark's Fork and King's Creek, and also many of the crops on Bullock's Creek and Broad River, and so far as my observation extends, some crops of corn and cotton will probably make t^o-thirds, while others will not make more than one third. So that on an average, I do not think the present crops will make more than one-half as much as last year. As to providing provender for stock, the people generally have taken care of their oats and wheat straw, and are making greater efforts this year than ever before, to save hay while the sun shines, which, to my knowledge, is the only additional arrangement for providing food for stock. E. N. C., MeCounellsville, Bethesda township, writes under date of August 27th, modifying his report as published on the first page of this issue. He says : For the week since that report was written, the weather has been so unfavorable that I now think cotton will not make more than two-thirds of an average crop, owing to the shedding of the forms, and rust. I think there will be very little August cotton. Late-planted corn will be very much cut off, owing to the continued dry weather. Much of the corn iu this vicinity was planted late, and will consequently fall short of an average crop, and will probably not reach more than three-fourths of an average. The turnip crop is suffering very much from dry weather, as also the sweet potato crop. J. S. B., writes from "Forest Hall," Bethesda township: The corn planted in March, on the ridge land, has proven to be almost an entire failure, from the long drought and excessive hot weather. That which was planted on low bottoms, in May and June, equaled that of last year; but the area was not as large. So the average yield, as compared with last year, will not be more than one-fourth of a crop. The cotton crop, which we consider the most important production, will not, from its low stand point, so late in the season, and continued drought, with premature openiug, which is from two to three weeks earlier than common, yield more than one half, compared with last year's crop. For supplying the deficiency in provender for stock, we are preparing to sow grasses and a large area of rust-proof oats, which is theouly remedy left us. T. M. C., Catawba township, reporting from the "India Hook" section, lying on Catawba river below Thome's Ferry and above the mouth of Dutchman creek, says the cotton crop will average about 65 per cent, of last year's crop, and the corn about 50 per cent. The early planted upland corn is a failure, but late-planted low grounds will make half a crop. To supply the deficiency in provender, the people are depending on the uext oat crop. Some planted peas and corn for forage, after the July raiu, but owing to the subsequent dry weather they do not promise much as yet. Oat stubble land is also being turned over, to secure germination of the shattered grain, and besides this, oats will be sown. S. S. S., Zeno, amends his report by estimating the cotton crop in his section at one-fourth instead of one-third, as printed on the first page. S. L. D., Bullock's Creek township, writes under date of the 30th ultimo: There will be in this section about a two-thirds crop of cotton. Upland corn is very poor. Bottom corn is good, except cloddy bottoms. I think there will be about two-thirds of a crop of corn made, and if we could have raiu within the next day or so, perhaps three-fourths of a crop might be made. Altogether, I think the crop nearly equal to last year. ft LOCAL AFFAIRS. /NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Latimer A Hemphill?Gone to New York. Mrs. Mary L. Alexander?School Notice. G. W. S. Hart, Clerk?Town Tax. Jos. F. Wallace, Administrator, c. t. a.?Estate, Mrs. Catherine Blair, deceased. Withers Adickes?Just Received, eto. Sam M. Grist?The News and Courier. A. R. Banks and T. H. DeGratfenreid?Fort Mill Academy. T. M, Dobson?News Column for the New York House?More News at the Emporium of Fashion. Herndon Brothers?Wagons, Wagons-HamsFresh Cheese. Latta Brothers?Cotton Steelyards. SEND US THE NEWS. We respectfully request our friends in every section of the county, to send us a statement of any local news that may transpire in their respective localities, such as accidents, tires, marriages, deaths, and also the condition of the crops, the state of the weather, Ac. Such communications should be restricted to giving an outline of the facts, and will be written out in the office for publication. Such articles should always be ac ?x ?J ? 'I.- n.nia nf fKa ivvttai* nnt * WmiJJtftlllUU UJT UIC pn/pci namv v. VMV ...nv., ?wr| ^ however, for publication, but asevidence of good faith. If our friends throughout the county ? would give this matter their attention, they would confer upon us a favor, while it would render the Enquirer more interesting to the readers generally throughout the county. NEW COACH. A new second-class coach from the Jackson & Sharpe Company car works, has just been added to the rolling stock of the Chester and Lenoir Railroad. COTTON* SALE8. Some twelve or fifteen bales of new cotton have been sold in this market np to the present time. The cotton generally grades middling, and is nice, though the staple is short. NEW POTATOES. ? On Thursday last, the 25th ultimo, Mr. James Gordon presented us with a mess of fine sweet potatoes, the first we have seen of this year's growth. Mr. Gordon lives 5 miles east of town, and he tells us that notwithstanding the dry season he has a good crop of corn^ A REVOLUTIONARY RELIC. ' . Mrs. Clara Dargan McLean has recently received from a relative in Georgia, a pewter plate which formed part of a service known to be at least 105 years old. Besides the interest to such articles imparted by these centennial times, this plate possesses to her the additional value of having once been the property of the widow Dargan, a Revolutionary ancestor, who, to aid the Continental cause, sold her silver and appropriated the money to her country, substituting for her fine service the pester so much in use at that 11 LUC. CHURCHEO NEXT SUNDAY* Services will be held in the churches next Sunday as follows: Methodist Episcopal?Rev. Marion Dargan, Pastor. Services at King's Mountain Chapel in the forenoon ; in the church at Yorkville, in the evening. Church of the Good Shepherd?EpiscopalRev. R. P. Johnson, Rector. The rector will officiate in the Church of Our 8ariour at Rock Hill, next Sunday. Presbyterian?Rev. T. R. English, Pastor, Services will be conducted in this church, at the usual hours, morning and evening. Associate Reformed Presbyterian?Rev. R. Lathan, Pastor. There will be no services in this church next Sunday. The pastor will be absent in attendance on the meeting of Presbytery, at Shiloh, Lancaster county, S. C. SCARCITY OF WATER. The drought of the past summer has had a serious effect upon some of the wells in town. While several have completely failed and afford no water at all, the water in others is lower than it has been known for years. With commendable spirit, Messrs. Clark Brothers have opened an old well in the corner of the lot adjoining their etore. This well was disused and filled up some twenty-five or thirty years ago, although it is said to have afforded good water. The Messrs. Clark took out the old wall and sunk the well several feet deeper, incurring about as much labor and expense as the digging of a new well. Work on it is now about finished, and the rise of water is some seven or eight feet. PERSONAL MENTION. Mr. Joseph A. McLean, Jr., has accepted the position of music teacher in Franklin Fe- [ c.. male College, located at Holly Springs, Miss. ' The school is under the direction of Mrs. M. 9:~~ B. Clarke, principal, and is, we Jearn, one of ':>v the most flourishing female schools in the South-west. While we are pleased to learn <-' that Mr. McLean has taken a position in a successful and flourishing school, the institution mnv nlnn hn Ann frrfttn luted nn havirvc ?#> cured the services of so exceptional a gentleman. A young man^of the highest moral * character, a close student and devotee to the exacting art in which he has already displayed considerable proficiency, we predict for him a bright and successful career. Mr. McLean leaves to-day for his new field. Mr. John M. Jenkins, a recent graduate of King's Mountain Military School, started to Annapolis last Monday for the purpose of undergoing an examination for the position of midshipman in the U. S. Naval School. Mr. W. C. Latimer, of the firm of Latimer & Hemphill, has gone North to make purchases for the fall trade. STEALING A LOCOMOTIVE. It is not uncommon to read of a railroad having been stolen, as some chroniclers blunt-' ly state it, by a larger and stronger corporation, whose graspiiig hands stretch out for a monopoly of all the lines over which they ? can gain control, which operation, no matter how effected, is usually, before ears polite, termed "gobbling" or "scooping"?just as stealing five dollars is regarded as the mean- * est and most insignificant case of petit larceny ; while the stealing of a hundred thousand, if adroitly done by a government official, is dignified by the more respectable term of embezzlement or appropriation. The offence is mean or respectable just in proportion to its extent. To "gobble up" a whole railroad, employes and all,'is generally regarded as a smart transaction, and when one railroad corporation "scoops-in" another, which terra, however, is generic with "gobbling," and may be used only as a distinction without a difference, the acme of financial * cuteuess is supposed to have been reached, and its cleverness elicits general admiration. But however respectable "gobbling" and "scooping" may seem, when this species of appropriation descends to the stealing of a single locomotive?a narrow-gauge locomotive at that public indignation becomes aroused at once, onH iKa /iffonoo Hmin^lcs Ina notilnrimo rip. W1,u ?"V VUWUVW u uiuwive HV/ U |/V?i? Vt IIUV} VS W manding condign and summary punishment. Hence, as a rule, railroads are only "gobbled" or "scooped but it seems that at Lincoln* w ton, N. C.t on Saturday evening last, a new departure was made from the old and well established principles governing this species of appropriation, by an attempt to steal a single locomotive. After the train on the Chester and Lenoir Railroad had reached that town,