Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, February 25, 1899, Image 2
Scraps and Jacts. |
? While the guns on t he city walls and i
those on board the ships of Dewey's i
fleet in the bay fired a salute iu honor I
of Washington's birthday, says a Ma- i
nila dispatch, four commissioners from I
the island of Negros hud an interview |
with General Otis and informed him |
that the American flag had beeu raised '
over that island aud that its inhabi- i
tants were ready to accept any propo- i
sition the Americans might offer. The <
insurgents have been driven from the j
island entirely. ~ 1
? In reaching a decisiou to recom- '
mend a long term of imprisonment in 1
the case of a private iD an Alabama
regiment who bad killed a mau in an
aflray, Judge Advocate General Lieber
has completed a remarkable record,
disposing of the last of the capital
cases that had come before his
department for review without in any
single case imposing the death penalty.
Thus the war has passed without
the execution of a single soldier on account
of military crimes. This is be- j
lieved to be without parallel iu history.
There were crimes committed ;
but they lacked malice or premeditation,
aud there were no desertions because
of cowardice or treachery.
? Nicaragua has again offended the <
United States and is to be called to .
accouut for her impolite action, says a
Washington dispatch of Wednesday.
Apparently, at the instance of the *
Nicaraguan government, such strict <
censorship has been applied to all cable
and telegraph lines controlled by Pres:J
?' rr ?? lino Kaon oK<nllltft. I
lueut ZiCiajtt, lunt m u?o uwu |
ly impossible for either state or any
departments to communicate with 1
their ageuts. Protests made to Senor '
Corea, the Nicaraguan minister here,
are of no avail. Protests to the cable
companies have produced no result. ,
The administration has dually deter
mined to take the matter iu its own ,
hands and has ordered a naval investi
gation p/eparatory to such action as
may seem proper.
? In r&i-.ing the battered hulks of
Montojo's sunken fleet, Admiral Dew- '
ey has surrounded himself with an 1
auxiliary fleet w hich is better tbau the I
names on the prows, says the St. Louis |
Republic. There are nine reclaimed
Spanish vessels now flying the Stars (
and Stripes, manned by American officers
and men, and plying the bay of I
Manila in the service of the United 5
States. They need only American
names to complete their transformation.
The Asiatic fleet looks like a (
regular Spanish armada with ships j
called the Culgoa, Barcello, Calloa,
Don Juan de Austria, Isla de Luzon,
Isla de Cuba, Leyte, Manila, Mindanao '
and one or two "low, rakish crafts," i
which have no names at all, but look <
suspiciously like the ancient "terrors ,
of the Spanish main." Then, for good (
measure, there are two Chinese names
i;at th? Niinshan and the
lu l/cncj o novj vuv ??
Zafiro. 1
? Mr. Lentz, of Ohio, introduced in 1
the housejast Wednesday a bill reviving
the raok of admiral and vice admiral,
and naming Rear Admiral |
Dewey and Rear Admiral Schley as ,
the persons to fill the respective positions.
Mr. Leulz's bill is as follows: *
"That to provide prompt and adequate 1
reward to Rear Admiral Geerge Dewey '
and Rear Admiral Wintield Scott ]
Schley, the grades and ranks of admiral |
and vice admiral in the United States
navy be, and the same are hereby,
revived, with the same duties aud pay 1
and privileges appurtenant thereto that
were by law given to the former ap- i
pointees of said fauks, the grades to <
exist respectively only during the lifetime
of said otiicers; but should George
Dewey die or retire before said Winfield
Scott Schley, then said Winfield Scott
Schley shall be advanced to the rank
of admiral."
? Hartford, Conn., dispatch 20th
Charles F.Jlobertsou, who was thought
to be dyiug of pneumouia, is now much |
better owiug to radical treatment ad- ,
ministered by his physician. When |
the crisis came he lost consciousness,
his temperature rose to 107 degrees, '
aud various tests failed to show sigus ]
of life. The physician put a rubber |
blanket under the pulieul, a bed of |
suow was made, and theu Robertson j
was stripped and laid iu the snow.
More suow was brought to cover his
eutire body, except his face, and it was
packed about him. Robertsou lay in- s
cased iu snow for 45 minutes with no I
signs of returning life, and bis family |
believed him dead. At the end of that :
time the suow was removed, and it was
noticed that one eyelid quivered a moment
and there was also flickering 1
pulse. The doctor struck him a blowin
the face. Robertson's eyes opened, I
and in reply to the doctor's question, |
"Who am I ?" he exclaimed : " .Hello,
doctor." Robertson is still a very sick
man, but he is on the road to recovery, '
it is hoped. !
? The house committee on judiciary, '
on Tuesday, adopted the report upon
the Bailey resolution regarding the
title of members who entered the army j
in the war with Spain to their seats. |
The committee recommends the adop- |
tion of a resolution declaring that
Representative Joseph Wheeler, of 1
Alabama; Edward E. Robhins, of 1
Pennsylvania; David G. Colson, of I
Kentucky, aud James R. Campbell, of i
Illinois, by acceptiug commissions in ,
the army of the United States, thereby
vacated their seats and ceased to be
members of the Fifty-fifth congress.
The report was presented to the house
by Chairman Henderson. Mr. Jenkins, i
of Wisconsin, dissents from the find- j
ings of the committee. Mr. Parker, of |
New Jersey,approves its coucl usions except
as regards Mr. Robbins. The latter '
having resigned his commission. Mr. I
Parker thinks he ought to be permit- I
ted to take his seat. As to the mem- i
bers of the house who have been ap- ,
pointed on various commissions, the
committee reports that noue of them
is an officer under the United States !
within the meauing of the consitiution.
? The following statement has been '
issued by the Filipino junta at Manila. 1
"I u formation, which has leaked 1
through the Piukertous sent by Pres- i
ideal McKinley to investigate tbe shipment
of arms to the Filipiuos, shows
that the first shipineuis to Aguiualdo
were made by order of the American
government through Cousul Wildmau,
hence the shipment per the VViug Foo.
The Americau government subsequent
y telegraphed to cease this, coincident
A'ith the change of policy of aunexa:ion.
Mr. Wildman and Rear Admirtl
Dewey promised to pay, but have
lot yet paid, for a subsequent expedi;ion
by the Abbey, authorized by AdQoeral
Dewey, who afterward seized
:be steamer and she is still held. Papers
respecting this are now in the
possession of the secretary of the navy.
The protestation of Admiral Dewey
ind other Americans that they made
J _! T~ ..U...
o promises are riuicuiuus. iu view
sf these facts let the American people
judge how the nation's word of honor
was pledged to the Filipinos and conBded
in by them, and violated by the
treachery of General Otis."
?hc ^orlu'iltc (Snquirrr.
YORKVILLE, S. C.:
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1899.
? The general assembly adjourned
sine die at about 3.30 o'clock Wednesday
morning.
? The Archer bill failed to get
through the house, and for the present
the dispensary law remaius practically
unchanged.
? The next question is, when will
the Stokes-Tillman bill go into effect,
if at all ? The Enquirer has not at
band the desired information ; but has
written to Dr. Stokes about the matter.
? The auarrel between Sampson and
Schley as to which did it, continues
to progress merrily. We believe Schley
hud more to do with it than Sampson ;
hut that is only a matter of opinion.
The Augusta Herald aptly suggest
that Cervera can best decide the dispute.
Then, by all means, let Cervera
speak.
? The Greenville News says it is one
the few Democratic newspaper left
n the south. It, of course, means,
however, that the word "Democratic"
s to be given its literary rather than
ts political significance. It surely
cannot claim to be a supporter of the
Dhicago platform. That is the political
test. There are, it should not be
forgetton, lots of Republican papers
:bat come up to the dictionary staodird.
? The Enquirer is really glad of
the resolution to investigate the South
Carolina penitentiary, and it is glad to
see also that there are on the committee
some gentlemen whose opposition
to Colonel Neal amounts to animosity,
[t is desirable that the investigation
be an investigation and not a whitewashing
affair. We do not know a
great deal about Colonel Neal; but
what we do know is not to his discredit.
It is possible that many of the
charges that have been made against
him are true. We hope that such will
not prove to be the case ; but still it is
possible, and if the charges are really
true, it is to be sincerely hoped that
the facts will be published to the
world. We will be sorry for Colonel
Neal; but we will be glad to see him
E^et whatever punishment he might deserve.
There is another side to this
thing, however. Whether or not Colnnel
Neal has been careless with the
property of the state in unlawfully appropriating
it to his own use, it is a
fact that among those who have been
hounding him, are iuauy who are utterly
without charucter or conscience,
whose activity has been prompted by
spite, malice and revenge rather tbau
r>y a disinterested desire to secure justice.
Of course if what they have said
is true, the public is not concerned as
to their motives; but at the same time
they will not be deserving of credit,
rhe reason of their blabbing will be
too apparent. It is too patent also
that so long as there was any hope of
getting anything out of Neal, they had
nothing to say against him, notwithstanding
the fact that they must have
known of his "wickedness" all the
while. So, let the investigation go on.
Let it be with inexorable vigor and
justice, and with the understanding
lhat no matter how it turns out, somebody
has got to hurt?Neal if he is
guilty, and Neal's persecutors if Neal
is not guilty. The state ueeds some
good wholesome lessons along this Hue,
and now is as good a time as there has
ever been for a beginning.
TUE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The total number of aets and joint
resolutions passed by the recent general
assembly was about 150, of which probably
as many as one-third are of general
iuterest. The balance either apply
to special localities, or are of very
little importance. The proportion of
new laws that are of general importance,
as compared with those that are
jf limited importance, is said to be
somewhat larger than usual.
Notwithstanding all the talk on the
iispensary questiou, the law was not
materially changed. Even the Archer
aill, which was based on the recommendation
of Governor Ellerbe, and
vhich is generally recognized as fair
and just, so far as itgoes, failed of passtge.
The changes that were made in
he law are for the better, especially
ihat which revokes the hotel privileges
and that which provides that certain
dispensary officials must give bo'uds.
The effort to secure the apportionment
of school funds so that only
those couulies which maintain dispensaries
shall received any part of the
dispensary profits failed, as should
have been the case. The proposition
looks fair enough on its face ; but it
involves constitutional questions and
questions of equity that far outweigh
all considerations of expediency. The
senate realized this fact clearly, and
for that reason clung to the plan of
apportioning school funds according
to enrollment.
The law enabling telegraph and telephone
companies to condemn right3
of way along railroads fills a long felt
want. Heretofore the Western Union
Telegraph company, by virtue of contracts
with the railroads has enjoyed
exclusive privileges in this state. The
new law will open the way to competition.
A gratifying characteristic of the ses
sion just closed has been a most noticeable
absence of partisan feeling.
There is reason to believe that the old
days, in which prejudice stole away
men's brains, are gone. Upon the
whole the general assembly is conservative.
There have as yet developed
no leaders of striking ability ; but
taken all in all the situation generally
is better than it has been for a number
of years.
NEAL IS NOT WORRIED.
He Says He Desires a Thorough and Complete
Investigation.
The State, Thursday.
Colonel W. A. Neal, superintendent
of the stale penitentiary, returned to
Columbia late Tuesday night, after
spending some time in Andersou ou
* - i_; a
personal ana state ousiness commneu.
On account of the snow storm, Colonel
Neal was kept indoors for five
days at his sister's home and this delayed
his return to this city. When
seen in regard to matters in which bis
official rectitude has been recently
questioned, Colonel Neal talked freely
in a general way.
He began by saying the reports that
he was short in his accounts were all
rot and totally untrue. He said that
when the office is turned over to bis
successors everything will be found
to be correct and in perfect condition
so far as the accounts and management
are concerned. He invited a full investigation
and was glad that a legislative
committee has beeu appoiuted
fur that purpose and he would aid
them in any way possible. He stated
that he had nothing whatever to
fear from an investigation. The committee,
he said, has only one mad on
it who voted for him, but the members
are all fair, square men and would
do what was right.
Colonel Neal said he had had a pleasant
talk yesterday morning with his
successor, Captain Griffith, and it had
beeu arranged that Colonel Neal should
give up the office right after the next
directors meeting, which takes place
March 8.
Colonel Neal says he would take
great pleasure in giviug Captain Griffith
all possible information about the
institution and its workings aud intended
to go with Captain Griffith to the
state farms and explain everything.
He said that the only thing which was
not in perfect order was one or two
dams on the DeSaussure and Reed
farms, which had been injured by the
recent high water in the Wateree.
The outstanding contracts, he said,
were all excellent, and Captain Grif
fith's administration ought to be very
successful. Colonel Neal expressed his
friendly feelings towards Captaiu Griffith
several times.
Colonel Neal remarked that he bad
held the office for six years, which was
about as long as any man ever held it,
?M ^ mao r?Af of oil ianrrn n f at.
auu uo nao uvv av uu u..v.v?.
his defeat nor has he any feelings of
resentmeut towards those who opposed
him. He expects to go back to
his farm uear Easley, retire from politics
and endeavor to regaiD his health.
His family will leave for their home,
near Easley, on Saturday. Colonel
Neal will go with them and return in
a few days.
The joint legislative investigating
committee met yesterday morning at
the penitentiary. The members are
Senators Livingstone and Hay and
Representatives Stevenson, Patton and
McDow. Mr. Stevenson is chairman
by the vote of the committee. The
committee heard a statemeut from Mr.
T. J. Cuuningham, chairman of the
board of directors, and elected Mr.
John Taylor, formerly of the state
treasurer's office, as their expert to examine
the books of the peniteutiary.
Mr. Taylor was authorized to begin
at once aud will investigate everything
from the beginning to the end of Colonel
Neal's administration as superintendent.
The committee will meet next on
March 8, at 12 o'clock, when the expert
is expected to make at least a partial
report upou the condition of affairs.
The meetings will be open and the representatives
of the press and all others
are at liberty to be present during the
sessions. It is possible that the work
of taking testimouy will begin at this
time.
Mr. Stevenson, the chairman, stated
that the committee bad merely started
mi/vmL tinolnrrlutf o nrl tin QPtinfl U'HQ
HJT ft JCOVV1UHJ uwvt uw
taken nor was any thing broughtbefore
th/em except the statement of Mr.
Cuuuiugham, which it is uot deemed
prudent to make public at this lime.
PENITENTIARY INVESTIGATION.
Mr. Thomas F. McDow, of York, on the
Committee.
Columbia Record. Wednesday.
The legislative investigating committee
on penitentiary affairs met today
at 10 o'clock and proceeded to the
penteutiary.
The committee consists of Senators
Hay and Livingston and Representatives
Steveuson, Patton aud McDow.
At a meeting several days ago, Mr.
Steveuson was elected chairman.
The committee has chosen Mr. Taylor
as expert book-keeper to examine
the books and he will begin his work
at once. The committee was at the
penitentiary only an hour or two, the
object of their visit being to formally
take charge and pave the way for the
expert's examination of the books.
The committee has taken a recess
until March 8tb, when the taking of
testimony will hegin. They have not
yet selected a stenographer. It is
thought that by the 8th of March the
accountant will pretty well have his
work in hand, so that the committee
cau proceed with its examination systematically.
The session will be open to newspapers
and to anybody else who may
want to bear the testimony ; but it is
uot expected that anybody except
those interested will be present.
Colonel Neal has not returned from
Anderson; but even when he does
come he will hardly have anything to
say except what testimony he will give
before the committee.
FILIPINOS BURN MANILA.
Fearful Conditions In the Philippine
Capital.
Manila dispatch of February 23.
Last night was one of terror to thousands
of the inhabitants of Manila,
the rebels making good their oft-repeated
threats to the extent of burning
acres of buildings, wounding an
officer and three meu by firing througb
windows during the excitement. At
8 o'clock an incendiary fire occurred
in a block of brick buildings occupied
by Chinese, on the Calle Lacoste, in
the Santa Cruz district.
A stiff breeze was blowing and the
inflammability of the structures caused
the blaze to spread with alarming rapidity.
The city fire department was
hopelessly incompetent and the English
volunteer brigade from Santa Mesa
was summoned, and with a modern
engine pumping adequate streams from
the canal, succeeded, after four hours
of work, in getting the blaze under
control. Meantime the entire block
and the greater part of the others
across the street were completely
gutted.
A regular fusilade of rifle and revolver
shots were fired from the windows
and roofs of the buildings.
Hundreds of inhabitants were rendered
homeless. The Chinese and natives
lined the adjacent streets, while
hundreds more, fearing a general conflagration,
removed their furniture and
other portable goods in every direction,
within a radius of a quarter of a
mile when the fire alarm was first
given. General Hughes personally superintended
the police arrangements.
The whole city was thoroughly patrolled
and the guards were doubled.
Every available man was dispatched
to the regiou of the fire. Impediments
were placed in the way of the firemen,
and the hose was cut five times. This
resulted in all the natives being driven
from the streets, those in the immediate
vicinity of the blaze being corralled
in vacant lots and guarded until
the excitement was over. In many instances
the natives were insolent and
paid no regard to the orders given
them, and the soldiers were compelled
to use harsh measures. The butts of
their rifles and their bayouets were
I freely applied. -
The danger from live electric light
wires necessitated the closing of the
circuit in the burning region, and the
only lights in certain parts of the city
was that furnished by the blaze. Shortly
after midnight another big fire was
started in the Tondo district, where
the uative are thickest, and when the
firemen and soldiers attempted to
work they were fired on from the
houses. The firemen, escorted by soldiers,
proceeded to clean out the
houses, while the fire was unheeded.
The Thirteenth. Minnesota was re-enforced
by detachments from the Third
Infantry, the Second Oregon, the Third
Artillery and the Tenth Pennsylvania.
Bullets fiew in every direction in almost
every street in the Tondo and
Binondo districts, causing the most
intense excitement.
Captain Robinson, of company C,
Thirteenth Minnesota, and three men
were wounded.
Many timid persons, imagining that
the rebels had effected an entrance
through the American lines and were
advancing into the city, hurried from
their hotels and houses, only to be
stopped at the first corner by a guard.
The sounding of a native bugle call
immediately preceding the fire, lent
color to the story. Thousands of Chinese
crossed the bridges and plazas
under fire, hurrying with their bundles
to the Chinese consulate. All night
long the fire spread through the Tondo
district, sweeping away rows of houses
and devastating acres of territory.
The damage is inestimable. With daylight
measures were decided upon, and
the Americans, though tired after their
sleepless night's work, soon cleared the
district of every native, after a slight
resistance.
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
Condition of the Governor.
During the past few days Governor
Ellerbe has been improving somewhat.
He has signed a great many bills in
bed. His physicians advise that so <
soon as he is able to leave his room be
had better go away for a change.
Mnrrlaee In GaOiiey.
Spartanburg Herald, Thursday : Mr.
Will Brown and Miss Beona Wood
were married in Gaflney last night.
The contracting parties were wellknowu
and had many friends in this
city, who wish for them all happiness
and success in life. Mrs. J. N. Cudd,
Mrs. R. E. Cudd and Mr. Perry Cudd
left the city for Gaffuey yesterday afternoon
to be present at the marriage.
Kurtluns on the Rampage.
Greenwood special of the 22d to The
News and Courier : About 100 armed
and more or less infuriated citizens
from the Phoenix section came to town
last night in search of Joe Tolbert,
who has not beeu here since last
Thursday, which fact, it is said, was :
known to the would-be-lynchers; but i
they thought to terrorize the town by j
their presence, their grievance being 1
that Tolbert had put up at one of our ,
hotels und some of the leading citizens
had expressed the wish that the Tolberts
be allowed to wind up their business
here. Except for the unnecessary
abuse and intimidation of our chief of 1
police, for which there is likely to be j
some prosecutions, the crowd was or- (
dt rly while in town. Quite a number
of very prominent citizens were in the 1
crowd?to prevent lawlessness, it is
claimed by their apologists. 1
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
INDEX TO NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
W. B. Moore & Co.?Can furnisb you
with seed Irish potatoes of Virginia
growth, red rust proof and white seed
oats, clay peas at 85 cents a bushel, and
sorghum molasses. If as much as 10
tons of guano are wanted, they claim
that they can save you money.
W. H. McCorkle, Probate Judge?Gives
notice that George W. Williams has
made application for letters of administration
on the estate of W. T. Barron,
deceased, and that John I. Barron has
made a similar application with regard
to the estate of Mrs. Mary L. Barron,
deceased.
Miss Laura J. Latimer, Adm'x.?On the
6th of March, on the W. C. Latimer lot,
will sell at auction the personal property
of Mrs. E. L. Latimer, deceased.
L. George Grist?Demonstrates to you
the low price at which fire insurance is
furnished on detached dwelling houses.
The York Drug Store?Talks to you about
drugs, proprietary medicines, guano,
garden seeds, paint and paint brushes,
cigars and tobacco and bicycles.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Beyond the items already iudicated,
but little busiuess was transacted at
the meeting of the county board of
commissioners last Tuesday.
Mr. J. S. Brice was re elected clerk
of tbe board at a salary of $100 a
year, and attorney at a salary of $50 a
year.
It was agreed that the regular meetings
of the board will be held on Wednesday
after the first Monday in each
month.
There is but little money in the
treasury at the present time, and only
a few accounts were approved for payment.
It will be necessary for the
board to borrow the sum of $10,000"
with which to run its business during
the present year on a cash basis, and
it is a fact that tbe various items for
which much of this sum is to go are
already in sight.
ABOUT PEOPLE.
Mrs. J. J. Kellar has been quite
sick for several days.
Miss Grace Kittrell has returned
home from a visit to Chester.
Rev. G. H. Waddell, of the Epworth
Orphanage, Columbia, was in Yorkville,
on Wednesday.
Mr. T. M. Whitaker will leave on
next Tuesday for Augusta, where be
expects to remain for several mouths.
Miss Maggie McFadden has returned
home after a two weeks' visit to
relatives and friends at Smith's Turnout.
Senator Love and Representatives
Epps, Johnson, McDill and McDow
have returned to their respective
homes.
Mr. John I. Barron will not return
to the medical college in Baltimore for
the present; but will be detuiued at
Yorkville on accouot of business matters
until perhaps next fall.
Mrs. F. M. Wilson, of Mauning, a
sister of the late W. T. Barron, who
has been in Yorkville during the past
few weeks on account of the illuess of
Mr. and Mrs. Barron, Misses Mary and
Fannie, will return to her home on
next Tuesday. She will be accompanied
by Miss Bessie Barron, her little
brothers Bennie, Walter and
Archie, and her little baby sister,
Louise ; also by Miss Daisy Williams.
Mr. P. A. Abernathy finds that there
is no place like Yorkville. He removed
to King's Mountain some
months ago; but did not like it so well
up there. He returned with his family
on Thursday night. He has purchased
the "Boyd house" on Lincoln street,
and he will open his tinshop in the
building next to Mr. J; H. Riddle's
store. Yorkville has been missing Mr.
Abernathy about as badly as Mr. Abernathy
has beeti missing Yorkville.
SOME MORE MIXTURE.
The new county government law has
been re-enacted with amendments.
York county comes under the law as
heretofore enacted, and there has also
been incorporated a special amendment
appliable to this county alone,
and which seems to complicate matters
considerably. This amendment is as
follows:
Provided, further, in the county of York
there shall be appointed by the governor,
upon the recommendation of the delegation
in the general assembly, three discreet
persons in each township, one of
whom shall be chairman of the township
board of commissioners, and be shall attend
the meetings of the county board of
commissioners at least quarterly, and
shall receive 015 per annum, payable
quarterly, for such attendance, and such
township board shall be the township assessors
for their respective townships, and
be paid the per diem and mileage herein
provided.
Another amendment provides that
the supervisor of York county shall
receive a salary of $600 instead of $500
as heretofore; but the increase is not
to take effect until after January 1,
1900.
The probable effect of the rather
remarkable amendment providing for
the appointment of township commissioners,
will be a matter for very careful
consideration. The county board
of commissioners, under the act, consists
of the supervisor and two commissioners.
Of that fact there is no
question, and in this county the board
is composed of T. G. Culp, W. S.
Wilkerson and E. A. Crawford. The
question now is what will he the status
of chairmen of the township boards ol
commissioners who will be required
"to attend the meetings of the county
boards of commissioners at least quarterly
?"
If these township chairmen are to
have equal voice in the county government,
with the three already proJ
t Ka /t/Mini it Kao vrJ Koro.
V 1UCU IUI | L1JCU IUC WUUUbjr uvaiu uviv
after will consist of 12 members. There
3eems to be in the act, however, nothing
that suggests such a situation.
The powers and duties of the township
chairmen are not defined further
than that they are required to attend
the meetings of the county boards.
Whatever may have been the intent of
the rather peculiar amendment, under
its wording these additional representatives
can only participate in the meetings
of the county board as spectators.
There was more or less discussion
about the amendment uround the court
house on Wednesday, and no one
could satisfactorily account for it. The
idea that it was probably made as the
result of personal pressure for purely
political purposes was expressed freely.
This may or may not be an injustice
; but an explanation of the situation
from a standpoint of common
sense, justifying the amendment on a
basis of practical utility, would be
quite timely. The Enquirer is unable
to furnish such an explanation.
Possibly it cau be furnished by some
member of the York delegation.
FREE DELIVERY.
The Hailv tinners of Tuesdav reDorl
" -'J 1 r v a
that during the consideration of the
postoffice appropriation bill on Monday,
Senator Tillman secured the
adoption of an amendment, "requiring
the collection of mail from aud the
deposit of mail in boxes located alonp
the route where the mail is carried bj
contractors, the boxes to be erected
and maintained?at the expense of the
persons so served." This is the samt
amendment that was offered in the
house by Congressman Stokes, and the
understanding is that it will now be
come a law.
This amendment means a great dea
for the convenience of the people o
the rural districts of this section
There is nothing new in the idea
People- who have given attention W
such matters have had it in mind foi
years. The Enquirer had corres
pondence with Congressman Hemphil
about it years ago, and then afterware
with Senator Butler. But that corres
poudence was not very encouraging
The postoffice officials either did no
understand what was desired, or wer<
determined not to make the cbangi
that was asked for. The following
o-nt K?? fionoinr "Rnt.lpr in rpnlv tn oni
lO^UV l/J UVUMIV. -
of the last letters that we wrote 01
| the subject will show how the depart
ment looked at the matter, as far bad
as 1894:
Post Office Department,
Office of
The Second Assistant Postmastei
General,
Washington, D. C., 5tb Feb'y, 1S94Hon.
M. C. Butler, United States Sen
ate, Washington, D. C.:
Sir?I have the honor to acknowledg
the receipt of a letter addressed to you 01
the 1st instant by Mr. W. D. Grist, o
Yorkville, S. C., and by you referred U
this office, relative to incorporating feat
ures of the free delivery into star rout
service.
In reply I submit a copy of a letter re
cently written by me in answer to i
similar suggestion. It reads as follows:
?****?>*
"You suggest a scheme which conteui
plates the erection of mail boxes by tlx
| department along the lines of star routes
at intervals of one mile, in which thi
public may deposit their mail, to be col
lected by the mail carrier and delivered t*
the next postoffice on the route; also tha
the public shall place other boxes at vari
ous convenient points along the route it
which the carrier is to deposit mail ad
dressed to them that he has brought froa
the preceding postoffice.
"The department has heretofore hat
under consideration similar plans whici
have been suggested, and while at firs
glance they may seem to have some mer
it, I am of the opinion that it would b<
impracticable to put such an one int<
effect. One of the principal objections t<
it is that it would, to a very great extent
deprive mail matter of the security whict
now surrounds it and which is such at
important essential in mail transportation
The carrier on the star route would haw
access to a large part of the mail passinj
over the route, i. e.: to all mail which h<
took from a postoffice outside of tb<
pouch to place in the boxes, and to al
mail which he collected from the boxe:
and carried outside of the pouch to thi
next office.
"It must be remembered that mail car
riers on star routes are, as a ciass, uiium
the letter carriers in our cities. The latte
are employes of the department selectee
by examination under the civil servic?
commission with reference to the dutie?
of their positions, and must possess i
higher degree of intelligence and educa
tion than is necessary in a star carrier, anc
jare under bond lor the faithful discharg?
of the trust imposed in them,
j "A star carrier is a contractor; or, mori
often, an employe of a contractor wit!
the government for the transportation o
the mail in locked pouches between postoffices.
Thousands of carriers have th<
qualifications necessary for their preseni
positions who are not fitted for the dutie?
of the service suggested by you. If th(
department wore to apply to star carrier?
the same requisites as to qualification?
that are exacted of city letter carriers, ii
would undoubtedly result in a very large
increase in the cost of the star service.
"Again, under your plan, every carriei
on a route must have a key to the government
box, which would give him access
not only to the boxes on his route, but tc
the boxes on any other route unless it
were attempted to have a different set ol
locks and keys for each star route, ol
which there are about 20,000.
"It will also be seen that all the people
or families in any neighborhood would
expect to have keys to the box in which
the carrier was to deposit the mail for thai
neighborhood. Thus each of such residents
would have access to the mail matter
contained in the box addressed to any
of his neighbors.
"Then there is the item of equipment
for such service. A box to be furnished
by the government for every mile of stai
service would mean 250,000 boxes, an
equal number of locks of different patterns
or combinations, besides the keys;
and this does not include the boxes, locks,
and keys that you propose to have the
public furnish.
"I believe that upon reflection you will
agree with me that the plan you suggest
would open the door to au extent of losses
and depredations to mail matter that
would be inconsistent with a proper handling
of the mails, and that private mail
matter would be given a publicity that
would be exceedingly unsatisfactory to
the public."
I believe that the most practicable way
of supplying rural districts for the preseut
is through postoffiees established in
communities where they are needed, the
postoffiees to be provided with such service
as the cost of route, productiveness
of office, and other circumstances may
warrant.
I return herewith Mr. Grist's letter as
requested by you.
Yours respectfully,
J. Lamm Bell,
Second Asst. P. M. General.
The suggestions contained in the
letter of Mr. Grist, referred to above,
were merely to the effect that the
government take under the protection
of the law, such boxes as might be
erected by individuals along star routes
und require star route contractors to
deposit mail in and take it from these
boxes. The suggestion was based
upon the idea that even if the cost
should be somewhat greater thau the
present miserable mail service in the
rural districts, the people of these same
rural districts are as much entitled to
free delivery, at least to the extent
proposed, as are the people of metro- .
politun districts to the elaborate and
expensive service they enjoy.
It is to be hoped that the Stokesi
Tillman amendment will soon become
a law. If it does, it will immediately
, improve the present mail service in the
> rural districts, and it will entitle
Messrs. Stokes and Tillman to the
sincere gratitude ot a very large proportion
of the people of the United
States.
i
A BAD CITIZEN.
, Citizens of Bullock's Creek township
r were considerably stirred up a few days
, ago about matters, which, for a time,
, looked as if they would develop into
r another murder mystery. The occaI
sion of the trouble was Sam Cbilders,
> a disreputable character in the com.
munity, and two of bis proteges, a
5 white boy uamed Gilbert Cross, and a
, Negro named A1 Feemster. For a
. time it was thought that Cross had
been murdered ; but the story will be
I better understood when given in deC
tail.
Sam Cbilders is a white roan, about
25 or 30 years of age. He has lived
} in the Bullock's Creek country all bis
r life. He has a wife; but no children.
. He is a bad egg, however. That has
I been bis reputation for years. Time
] and again he has been caught stealing,
. and several years ago he received a
thrashing at the hands of wbite-capt,
pers. This was on account of bis well
g known disregard of the laws of ownb
ersbip. For several years after the
thrashing, it is said that be was rather
b more careful about his conduct; but at
3 the same lime be has not since sue.
ceeded in winning, to any considerable
i extent, a reuewal of the coufideuce of
bis neighbors.
Included as a part of Sam's establisment
for a number of years past,
x has been a half-witted Negro named
Al Feemster, and since the first Monday
in December last, a white boy
- named Gilbert Cross. The understaudlog
is tbut tbe Negro is legally bound
l to Childers. As to this, however, there
f is more or less doubt. The reporter
i> learns that there is some question as
" to the regularity of the papers. The
0 white boy was a stray waif, probably
. a runaway. In answer to questions
? by the neighbors during his residence
in the community, be told various
stories. At one time he said his home
9 was in Fort Mill, and at another time
> be said he hailed from Charlotte, N.
. C. Al other times be told still other
> stories, and there was nothing certain
. about him further than that he was
* poor and miserable, and that he was ^
! picked up by Childers in Yorkville on
^ salesday in December; and, further,
] that since that time he has been living
t with Childers, working for his keep
1 and doing whatever Childers would
3 instruct him to do.
1 Not long, Mr. Sam McAllily missed
t a plow stock under circumstances that
] led bim to suspect the Childers estabb
lishment, and as tbe result of an in|
terview with the Cross boy, took steps
b that led to the issuance of warrants
^ for Sam Childers and Al Feemster.
b Cross also said that these two had stolen
a mule collar from Jerry Burris, a
b Negro. It was on Saturday that Cross
[ made his damaging revelations, and
i while the neighbors were deliberating
j as to what was best to be done, CbiK
deis was as busy as possible in the
' work of covering up bis tracks.
Cbilders and Feemster were arrested
' on Monday. It developed that during
f Sunday afternoon Cross had disappear'
ed. He had last been seen in a thicket
t near Childers's bouse, in company with
* Cbilders. After the two had been
i seen together, Cbilders returned alone.
' The disappearance of the boy aroused
) all manner of suspicions, and in anr
swer to angry questions, Feemster
told different stories. At one time
| be said that the boy bad been killed
; and thrown intc a gully. Then be
said that the body bad been thrown in
the creek, and again be claimed that
1 be did not know where Cross wa# or
i what had become of him. Cbilders
maintained that be bad sent tbe boy
away. He denied that be bad used
any violence. As the best way of in;
vestigating tbe truth of this, Dr. J. H.
Saye accompanied Cbilders to tbe
spot in tbe thicket where tbe boy bad
last been seen on Sunday afternoon.
It was easy to follow tbe tracks that
1 the two had made on the day before,
and, sure enough, just beyond tbe
thicket were to he seen tbe tracks that
had been made by Cross after be left
the company of Childers. Childers
, explained to Dr. Saye that be bad advised
tbe boy to make for the North
Carolina line so as to avoid prosecution.
At the trial on Tuesday, A1 Feemster
talked freely of the different thefts
that had been committed by himself,
and Cross at the instance of and sometimes
in company with Childers. He
told suuie things that sounded as if
they might be true, and he told a great
many other things that were obviously
untrue. Upon the whole, his testimony
was of but little value aud not
much real evidence was developed.
There was enough, however, to convince
the jury beyoud reasonable
doubt that CLildersaud Feemster were
guilty of the theft of the plow
stock and the collar. These articles
were in the possession of Cbilders,and
it was only through theft that the possession
could be accounted for. Anyhow
there was a verdict of guilty as