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Scraps and |acts. ? The London Daily Mail has an article in which it shows that the Boers have sufficient ammunition to last them for 10 years even at the present rate of expenditure. Some of the ammunition was bought in Germany, some in France, and some in England. Not only this, there is a big cartridge factory near Pretoria, eapa ble of turniug out cartridges almost as rapidly as they are now being used. ? A Columbus, Ohio, dispatch of Saturday says: Joseph L. Myers, the senator-elect from Coshocton, arose at G o'clock this morning, after having u-ulb-orl utl the m'uv from hiu hmne 100 uiiles, the two days previous. Senator Myers is a farmer aud is not a friend of the railroads. His object in walking into town was to save expense and to show his contempt for the railroad. Myers is for Bryau and favors the free Coignage of silver at the 1C to 1 ratio. ? According to an Associated Press dispatch of Saturday from Washington, the negotiations recently opened by Secretary Hay with the great powers of Europe and Japau with reference to the opeu door in China, have met with the most, gratifying results. Great Britain, Russia, Germany and France have made favorable respouses, and the only power that has not agreed to the arrangement is Italy. It is not expected that she will give any special trouble. Japan has all 'along beeu in accord with the United States ou the subject. The state department is not willing to give out the details of the agreement or discuss its far reaching effect; but if the result is as intimated, what has for some time been considered as a very serious problem is iu a fair way of amicable adjustment. ? A Chicago dispatch says that Representative Noomau, of Illinois, will offer a resolution in the house as soon as congress reconvenes, calling for an investigation of the action of the secretary of the treasury in making the National City bank of New York the government's depository for the internal revenue receipts. These receipts amount to about $300,000,000 a year, and are very valuable to the bank, as it gets them without the payment of interest. What it will be able to make out of them no one can predict with any degree of accuracy. The privilege of loaning them, however, will not he the only advantage to the bank. With such an immense amount of government money under its coutrol, in addition to its regular deposits, which now amount to more than $100,000,000, the bank will be in a position to exert a powerful influence on the mouey market, perhaps to control it. ? The will of the late Daniel Sharp Ford, publisher of The Youth's Companion, filed for probate in the Middlesex county, Mass., probate court on December 29th, disposes of an estate of about $2,500,000. The will gives $77,000 direct to public, charitable aud religious institutions, mostly in Massachusetts, and provides annuities for others. The will also bequeaths $350,000 to the Baptist Social Union, subject to couditions, among them, that it shall become a corporation within two years after the testator's death. This sum is to be used for the erection of a building for the use of the union. The entire Youth's Companion plant, with certain real estate, is left to the executors to be administered lor the benefit of the Baptist Social Union. Of the residue one sixth goes to the American Baptist Home Mission Union, anu oue-iuum cm.u m other New England charities. ? A Washington dispatch of Thursday gives the treasury situation as follows : The accumulation of money in the treasury has heen going on at a remarkable rate during December. All the efforts of the department, to put money back into the market by the purchase of bonds, the anticipation of interest and the transfer of funds to the banks have not prevented a surplus of nearly $7,000,000 iu ordinary receipts during the month, and an accumulation of net cash about $13,000,000 larger than at the beginning of the month. The nominal cash balauce today stood at $297,500,368. The nominal surplus for December stood yesterday at $6,968,791 ; but the amount wOuld have been nearly $11,000,000 if interest due in January had heen paid this mouth. The surplus for the past six months would stand at nearly $25,000,000 if the January iuterest has beeu anticipated, and from present appearances the treasury otKcials believe the surplus for the fiscal year will be at least $60,000,000. ? The United States cruiser Montgomery, now at Buenos Ayers, has been ordered to the west coast of Africa, and the fact is creating more or less newspaper talk. Senator Mason, of Uhnois, started the gossip. He stated that he had learned that the! Montgomery was (Joing ponce uuiy for Great Britain on the coast of Africa, and that it was his intention to introduce in the senate a resolution calling upon the secretary of the navy for information. At first the secretary of the navy was not inclined to give out information further than a denial of the story that the Montgomery has been doing police duty for Great Britain. Afterward the navigation department was ordered to answer all questions that the newspaper men might ask about the cruise of the Montgomery. But little was developed further than that the vessel had visited Liberia. A correspondent of the Associated Tress says that he has an intimation that the United States is considering the advisability of going with (treat Britain in a demand on France to definitely state her claim with reference to the Liberian boundary line. France has, for a long time, been claiming territory which lies within the limits of the Liberian boundary line, and the settlement of the dispute may or may not involve trouble. ? There is an interesting dispatch fioin Austin, Texas; but whether the information incorporated iu it is only a joke, we are unable to say : "Kx(iovemor J. J?. Hogg is determined to give Colonel Bryan a good time and as much notoriety as possible during his stay in Austin. Hogg purchased two ostriches at the San Autonio Ostrich Farm three years ago, and brought the birds to this city. They have been J kept captive in a vacant lot adjoining Hogg's home, and have flourished so well that they are now probably the champion ostriches of this country in size. They have been broken to ride and also to drive double to the facuily cnrriage. Bryan has taken a deep interest in the birds, and he and Hogg have had much fun riding them around the vacant lot during the past few weeks. In order to determine which of the birds is the fleetest on foot, arrangements have been made to give an exhibition race between the birds on Congress avenue on next Saturday. Bryan will ride one of the birds and Hogg the other. Although no public announcement of the proposed race has been made, the report that it is to take place has been circulated widely and it is expected that a hig crowd of visitors will be here to see it." Another dispatch of Saturday says that Mr. Brvan had been suddenly called home '* ' ?- J .u- ? I .......1,1 to juincoin aim me usincu mec mmiu have to he postponed until his return. (The ^orkvilte (inquirer. YORKVILLE, S. C.: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1900. ? "The Saturday Evening Post. An Illustrated Weekly Magazine, Founded A. D. 1728 by Benjamin Franklin." This is the title of the livest literary publication in America. It is published by the Curtis Publishing Company, of Philadelphia, and is the twin broth r?T>L- T -.1:?J II T?. er ui 1 ue uituics nuuic uuui uai, nni\,u is doing for ihe ladies what The Post is intended to do for the men. The price of the Saturday Evening Post is $2.50 the year, and if Benjamin Franklin were living today, he would not ouly be a subscriber; but would probably be at the publishing house on press days of each week to get one of the earliest copies printed. ? General Lawton, it is noted, onee spoke of the war in the Philippines as "this damnable war." He appears to have changed his opinion of its character, however, after he got into it, as he wrote a letter, justifying it not long before his death.?News and Courier. We fail to understand exactly what , our contemporary means. We do not remember of General Lawton having referred to the war in the Philippines as "this damnable war;" but if he did so refer to it, the letter to which The News and Courier refers certainly does oot indicate any cbaDge of opinion. When he said that if he fell by a Fili 1 pino Outlet ne wouia consiuer mui ne 1 had been killed by bis own countrymen, lie evidently felt that the war . was "still damnable," for be believed i that had it not been for his own countrymen it would have never been necessary. We are unable to see the least inconsistency iu Generul Lawtou's record. Eveu if he had been opposed to the.war at the beginning, without full knowledge of the facts, uothing is more natural than that he should have changed his mind in the light of further information. Indeed, it seems that the situation has progressed far enough now to warrant even The News and Courier in recognizing the facts and changing its mind.. ? The Spartanburg Free Lance is wrestling with the taxation problem. It claims that not only does invisible property escape taxation to a very large extent; but that borrowers have to pay taxes on amounts equal to two or three times the actual value of their holdings, while lenders escape almost entirely. For instance, A owns a lot valued at $500, and when he builds a house on it for $1,000 borrowed from B, and secured by a mortgage on the house and lot, his actual holdings are no greater than before. Still he has to return both house and lot for taxation, and pay taxes not only on his own interest, but upon B's interest also. B may or may not return his mortgage for taxation. If he does return it, then a single piece of property pays taxes twice, and if he does not return it he escapes altogether. The Free Lance points out that this is a very unsatisfactory and unjust situation, and suggests that it would be well to change the law so as to require A to mention B's mortgage at the time A makes his return, iu order that the equalization board might deduct the amount of the mortgage from A's return, and charge the same up to B, who really ought to pay his share. The problem that is disturbing The Free Lance has long been a vexed one, and something ought to be done to solve it fairly and equitably. Senator Tillman, of South Carolina, proposes to keep up his tight against the armor plate people even though he is told that under the provisions which he had inserted in the appropriations hill in the last congress, the work of building the proposed new ships forthe navy has been sadly handicapped. He professes to be- ' lieve that this is due to the work of what lie terms the Armor l'late Trust, and that the only thing for the congress to do is to light the devil with tire. He is strongly in favor of the government owning its 1 own armor plate factory. "The government," he says, "has been robbed of more than enough money to build such a factory by the excessive high prices charged by the Armor Plate Trust. I do 1 not see why the government should he i made to pay such prices when it is amply < able to have a factory of its own, audit would be good business for it to have one."?Washington .Correspondence of the News and Courier, , I That it is desirable to hold the ship- I builders down to reasonable profits there is no question. Experience has proved that when big corporations get a chance at the government they generally charge all they cun. But still the armor plate manufacturers are entitled to be paid for their work the same as anybody else. They may or may not be abusing their privileges, and they may or may not be receiving more profit than they are entitled to receive. However, after all, it is quite likely that government ownership and operation of warship building plants may be the best solution of the problem. The question, however, is one that is exceedingly difficult of correct settlement. ? llim/ it Uilllipillgu ^uui 111 Luis ainvu. The candidates in York for county offices will be as plentiful as Junebugs in roasting ear time. Up to date, however, we have heard of only one patriot in Catawba township who has an ambition to otfer himself as a sacriliceon the altar of his suffering country. We also hear of one in Ebenezer and four in Fort Mill. It is rumored that the western section may also furnish a few, and that others will come like blackbirds from thecourthouse town. Blessed is he that seeketh not an office, for he shall not live to learn of the deception of his friends and the ungratefulness of his neighbors who might forget he was living on the day of election. Our platform shall be, the best man for each office, regardless of section, religion or previous affiliation or position as to county division or any other question that is dead and ought to be buried.?Hock Hill Herald. We reproduce the first paragraph as information, and the last because we heartily subscribe to it. While we do not propose to try to designate the best man for each office, we will, in making out our own ballot, endeavor to give those gentlemen the benefit of it. We certainly will not vote for any man who deliberately seeks to raise the demoninational issue or to provoke strife among the churches. We can but regard such people as firebrands of the worst and most dangerous type, and a meuace to the peace and happiness of the community. It is our sincere hope that no man in tbe county will try to raise the sectioual issue again. This, as The Herald says, is dead and ought to be buried. Its revival now, when there is not the slightest excuse for it, can ouly operate to prevent the attainment of one thing most to be desired, the selection of the best and most fit man for each office. But there is another thing not sectioual that must be looked into. Some of t hese politicians, when not closely watched, sometimes enter into corrupt trades that breed corruption. We have it sliaight that a certain corruption breeding trade was entered into during the last campaign between certain candidates and a certain clique of spoils hunting pol iticians, and that the county is now suffering from the carrying out of the provisions of this trade. Not only this, there is danger of a furt her spread of the incipient rottenness. We reeoguize that a detuiled statement of facts would he more satisfactory than this general assertion ; but, unfortunately, we are not now in a position to give these facts as they should be given, and as we hope to be able to g've them later ou. Until we find it necessary and desirable for the best interest of the county to furnish such proofs as we now have, we will leave it to those who have faith in the reliability and integrity of Tiie Enquirer, to decide whether or not we are talking buncombe. In the meantime, we are for the fittest men, re gardless of section, whether they are new aspirantsor have served one term or ten, and regardless also of denominational connection. But we are against spoilsmen, as candidates or as officers, and not only are we against spoilsmen ; hut we are against candidates and officials who affiliate with spoilsmen, whether the office involved be coroner or congress. SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIKE. . Because it has been impracticable to print them sooner, we have withheld the remarks of Mr. YV. A. Clark on the shooting of a lleeing Negro, in the back, by a Columbia constable, until now. But these remarks are still timely, and we cannot think of a subject that is more appropriate for a New Year's editorial. Several times within the past few years, has The Enquirkr called especial attention to this very subject, and the sentiments expressed have been almost identical with those expressed by Mr. Clark ; but still there is need for education along this line, and unfortunately there is little danger of saying too much. This is one of the subjects to which we have long given especial study. In connection with it we have studied (be Bible, the letter and spirit of the constitution, existing social and political conditions, and we have talked it over with nearly every circuit judge who has presided in this country within the past 15 years. Especially we will name Judges Kershaw, Hudson, Witherspoon, Eraser, James Aldrich, Watts, Beunet and Tnwnsend. And while we cannot of fer a satisfactory remedy, we feel that we can discuss the evil with the greatest confidence. A few years ago it was quite a common idea among arresting officers that not only was it their right hut their duty to kill any prisoner under certain circumstances. There was a belief, amounting to a certainty, that a bench warrant meant that a prisoner should be brought dead or alive, and that if he should be disposed to resist, even to the extent of lying down and refus ing to go, he should be killed and hauled to court in a wagon. Where such absurd ideas could have originated we are unable to explain. It is true that improper ideas on the part of arrestiug officers, on this subject, have never caused much bloodshed in this see.lion : hut that was due more to the lack of occasion than to any other cause. Now, however, there is not so much danger. Arresting officers generally realize that in dealing with prisoners they have practically no authority beyond the common laws of self defense, and that if they kill an escaping prisoner, who has not previously placed their lives in jeopardy, they are liable to punishment for murder. It seems to be generally understood that the proper way to transfer prisouers from .the place of arrest is not by the intimidation of a revolver; but with the help of a good stout rope about the hands aud arms, and feet also, if necessary. But in our view, the former ideas of arresting officers was only a phase of mistaken notio9S which too largely pervade the body politic. The form of an indictmehr^presented by a grand jury which reads the "State against William Rowdy," ought to be sufficient to teach the object of a prosecution at law. From this every individual iu the land should realize that he personally is at once the prosecutor and judge against William Rowdy. II William Rowdy has committed an offense at all, and that is the first fact to be determined, then that offense is against every citizen of South Carolina, and the object of punishing him is to prevent him from repeating that offense. If the state of South Caroliua, i. e., individual citizens, fail to coucern themselves on the question as to whether William Rowdy is guilty or innocent, or if for any reasons except cold blooded principles of justice the citizens of South Carolina allow William Rowdy to go unpunished, tbeu there is just that much encouragement for William Rowdy to repeat against some other individual the offense for which he was not properly called to account. Not long ago, in the lower part ol this state, a desperado of influence and positiou killed a fellow man in cold blood. The man was brought to trial; but through the influence of friends on some of the jurors, they failed to agree. He was released on bond, and the result of the second trial was the same. During Christmas, while waiting on his third trial, and probably acquittal, the fellow was murdered by a relative ol the man he bad killed. Comment on these facts is unnecessary. There will naturally be a feeling that if the first murderer was really guilty, he got justice at the hands ol the relative. ' Maybe so; hut that does not settle the matter. The rela tive had no legal or moral right to commit murder ; and instead of settling the account he only placed himself in the murdered man's shoes. If the jury in the first place had done its duty to itself, its state and its God. it would have returned a verdict ol guilty of murder or manslaughter as the case might have been, aud that would have settled the whole matter, so far as the State of South Carolina is concerned, forever. The Haseldeu-Sellers affair is a matter that is still fresh in the public mind. The Haselden's made a murderous attack against the Sellers, and the two parties shot it out among themselyes. A great crime was then aud there committed against the state of South Carolina and Marion county. So far as we have heard, not one thing has been done to punish the guilty. How does this affect the view of our own people as to the sacredness of human life in their midst? How do they know when they might be the victim of some lawless thug, who in the carrying out of his bloodthirsty design, fears but little restraint beyond his own brutal inclinations. We who feel that we ought to have the protection of law, how do we know when, unarmed aud defenseless as we have to be if we keep within the law, may have to yield up our lives to armed desperadoes? A number of years ago, in this county, a Negro was charged with a horrible murder. As the result of the deep and patriotic iuterestof a whole neighborhood, he was convicted beyond a shadow of a doubt. Owing to the complexity of the case aud the large number of witnesses required to establish the different links in the long chain of testimony, there wus reason to believe that if a new trial could be secured the case could not be made out again. There was a possibility of a new trial on the strength of some technical errors. The attorney took advantage of his right of uppeal, notwithstanding the absolute certainty of the prisoner's guilt, and the people interested waited until the day that had been fixed by the circuit judge for the execution, and hanged the prisoner, notwithstanding the fact that the uppeal was still pending in the supreme court. This cuse was one in ten thousand where lynching seemed to be justifiable, not ou account of any derelic tioii of a jury; hut on account of the act of a lawyer making an improper use of a safeguard that is only intended to further rather than obstruct justice. Some weeks ago, a Negro committed the crime of rape in this county. There was no attempt at lynching at the time. The case was tried and the jury found a verdict of guilty with a recommendation to mercy. This meant a life sentence in the pcnitcn liary. People in the neighborhood were dissatisfied and talked so strongly of lvuchiDg that the sheriff considered it prudent to transfer the prisoner to another county for sufety. As to jlist how much real danger there was of a lynching in this case we have never been able to definitely ascertain ; but had the lynching taken place, after the trial, conviction and sentence, under the circumstances, the guilty people would have only brought down upon themselves well-merited reproach as lawless savages. These incidents all illustrate different phases of the same situation. The *:?~r u i: *:ii : saiicnty ui iiurnuu me is suit tin important question with us. There is no question of greater importance in the promotion of the enjoyment of liberty and happiness. And as we see it, this society is to be further secured only by greater individual interest in the welfare of the community in which one lives. Let those citizens who are uot prominent and who led in thought give the right kind of example to those who follow in their steps. Let every man demand that the most exact jus, lice be dispensed to all ?high and low, rich and poor, in the magistrate courts. , Let unfair, partial and corrupt rangis trates be summarily ousted from office. Let every citizen realize and appreci ate the tremendous responsibility that F devolves upon him as a grand or petit juror, and let him scorn to recognize i any juror he knows to be recreant to > his duty. Let all demand the highest . integrity in judges, and let there be no hesitation in denouncing disreputable practices among lawyers. This course upon the part of the individual will secure the sanctity of human life and will ensure the safety of property and personal liberty. THE WAR IN SOUTH AFRICA. Probability That Further Fighting Will Take Place Within a Few Days. Though there have been columns and columns of telegrams from South Africa since the disastrous defeat of General Buller at Tugela river; there has been but little news of additional fighting, and not a great deal to indicate clearly the general situation. According to all published reports, General Methuen is still in camp on the Modder river, some 15 miles south of Kimberly, and iu heliographic communication with that town ; but with the Boer army that recently repulsed him, still iu his front. Generals Gotacre and Freucb are at a standstill on the border of the Orauge Free Stale, and General Buller is still on the wrong side of the Tugela river with the main force of Boers between him and the relief of General White in Ladysmith. General Methuen is reported to have been engaged since his battle in eu, trenching his position so us to muke it impregnable agaiust attack, and in-1 stead of attempting to attack him the Boers have merely been terracing the hills and arraugiug barbed wire entanglements against his further advance. Generals French and Golacreare rath! er more at liberty than is General Methuen, in that the armies which oppose r them are not so strong in proportion ; but still they are unable to advance because of the hills which the Boers can make so hot a little further on. Ladysmith, Kimberly and Mafeking are all holding out stubbornly, the beleaguered forces making occasional sorties more or less successful to their immediate objects. For instance, one sortie might be made to capture or dismount a gun that is doing especial damage and another to check the extension of outposts that are becoming uncomfortably close. Eucb of these movements is attended by a greater or i 1 ?r icnacr uuuiuci ui tasuaiuco vu uuiu sides; but comparatively speakiog they are not of especial interest. The next important move, it is thought, will be made by General Buller. There is a feeling that not only this commander but his men also, are chafing severely under the check they received, and the general is anxious to do something to retrieve his reputation. As to whether he has been strongly re-enforced since the battle is uot known ; but there is every reason to believe that the Boers have not only been putting iu the time strengthening their fortifications; hut have been doing everything possible to perfect their plans for meeting the next attack. The chances of success for the Boers ought to be greater in the next battle than in the last. At any rate the British, to win, will have to do considerably more stubborn fighting than they bave ever done up to this time. The feeling a few weeks ago was quite general that the British must inevitably win in the long run. This feeling is based on the knowledge of the British resources in men and money and their historic reputation for stubborn courage and perseverance. The most general opinion as to the ultimate result is unchanged ; but quite a number are beginning to believe that the outcome is not so certain even iu the long ruu. The nutural strength of ; the Boer positions is something unusual, and the Boers seem to be as stub- ( born as the British. To many the ' task of driving the Boers from their 1 fortresses is beginning to look like an i impossibility, and even the British are unable to accomplish impossibilities. The followiug Associated Press dispatch of yesterday morning from London summarizes the situation as it was understood in that city at that time: The success of General French iu driving the Boers from Colesburg has shot a welcome ray of light through the gloom of the campnigu in South Africa. Kverywhere it is commented upon as an example of sound tactics and as au illustration of what may be done when the right methods are employed with the Boers. The government is urged to take the lesson to heart and to see that no stone is left unturned in the eudeavor to get the largest possible forces of cavalry and mounted infantry to the front. Now that General French has the Boers on the run the hope is expressed r thiit he will give them no rest; hut will hnrruss them limit they have found their way across the Orange river, which is 12 miles di-tant. The 1 old wagon route to the Free Slate traverses Cidesberg and crossed the river hy a fine bridge 1,340 feet long. Il is believed that the Boers retreated ( toward Nervals Pont, further east, and the question is whether General ' French will he aide to secure those twd bridges before the Boers destroy lliem. One important effect of the success of General French is that il will probably have a deterrent influence upon . Dutch disaffection. There is some disposition here to exaggerate the irapor tance of small skirmishes and engagements. It should be borne in mind ' that General French has only 2,000 men, and so far us the important points of campaigu are concerned the situaI .: ? n u 1 linn is virtually uiicuangru. At Modeler river the Boers appear to lie modifying somewhat their line of defense. General Buller's scouts have discovered a Buer camp established in the vicinity of Springfield, southwest of Colenso, hy a Free Stale commando. A similar movement has been made at Modder river. A lurge force of B ?ers, it is reported, has formed a new laager about 15 miles dowu the stream at' Kameelhoek. Heliograph from Ladysmith show all was well on December 31. The bombardment. was being continued; hut its intensity had relaxed. CAPTURE OF COLESBURG. The capture of Colesburg, referred to above, occurred on December 31. A dispatch of January 1, to the London Daily Mail tells the story as follows : "Yesterday afternoon a big force of cavalry and infantry with 10 guns, under the personal command of Geu eral French, moving by a detour, oc copied some bills three miles from Colesburg, where the Boers were in strength, confident in the natural aid afforded them by the hills arouud. "'"i- ?.l i lie enemy ? ^josuiuii caiciimcu oia miles around the entire village. At daybreak our artillery opened the bailie. The Boers were, lakeu by surprise; but replied vigorously. An artillery duel was maintained fur two hours. Then a Boer Hotchkiss collapsed and was abandoned. We cap lured it. A Boer big guu was silenced, but this and the olher Boer guns were withdrawn lo the northward, whither we are harassing the Boer retreat by a damaging shell tire. "Colesburg is in our hands, and the few remaining Loyalists are jubilant. We have captured many wagous aud a considerable quantity of stores. "Our losses were quite slight but the B >ers must have suffered heavily. They may stop at Achterlang or cross the river altogether at Norvalspont, where the bridge is still intact." MERE-MKNTION. Admiral Dewey has subscribed $50 to the Brumby monument fund. A British warship captured a German steamer a few days ago with several German ollicers and a number of sol iliui-a on liiiu Pit Kolliwt I'm- I tlii 'I'rxiiu. vaul. Portuguese Republicans say tliat if King Charles yields Didagou bay lo Great Britain, they will over throw the mouarchy. Chairman Taylor, of the Roberts investigating committee, says his report cannot reach the house until January 15. An eclipse of the sun will occur on May 28. It can best be observed in northern Africa. The trausporl Thomas, having on board the body of General Lawton, left Manila last Saturday. The American Wire and Nail company has put up the price of nails a quarter of a cent a pound. The director of the mint reports that within the past three months the value of silver has decreased one hundred and eighteen onethousandths of a cent an ouuee. The Florida orauge crop for the present season is estimated at 500,000 boxes. It is reported thut a uuui her of insurance companies doing business in Texas bave determined to withdraw on account of the anti-trust laws of that state. Andrew Carnegie has given away more than $5,- i 000,000 during the past year to hos- < pitals, colleges and libraries. The Duke of Couuaught hus been made commander-in-chief of the British forces in Ireland. Count Tolstoi, the Russian author, is critically ill. 1 There are a large number of Ameri- I cans in the British army in South Af i ? T_ A ?< AXn ,i^a. x.. uuc Wm.uaUU u. , are 75 Americans. A London dispatch says that the United States gov ernment is about to purchase the Danish West Indies for $4,000,000. There was a heavy fall of snow in Charleston and Savannah 1 on Sunduy. Irish all over the * country are still engaged iu anti- ' British agitations. Last Monday j was celebrated throughout German} j as the beginning of the Twentieth century. The recently published statement, under this heading, to the.effecl that Generals Wheeler and Lee had < been confirmed as brigadier generals t was lakeu from the St. Louis Globe | Democrat. It was, however, some- a what premature, as the appointments ; have not yet been confirmed. J 9 ii /I VUIUI Cli vntan jiiinin Jumes Huffman, u Yorkville Negro, i! formerly of Company C, Ninlli United t Slates cavalry, is here on a visit to his i old home. He wus in the buttle of s Santiago, aud is able to talk interest- b ingly of the lighting around El Cauej q mid op San Juan Hill iu July, 1898. a It will he remembered thut the Ninth a uid Tenth cavalry, both Negro regi- u ments, lighting dismounted, did somt fi >f the best work that was done in the h Spanish war. Company C, of the w Ninth cavalry, lost 27 men in killed g< uid wounded during the four days luttle, and of these 13 were killed tl niiright. Huttman says he had the oi rown knocked out of his campaign bl lat by a piece of a shell or some other vi nissile, he is not cerlaiu u hut; hut olh- sc tv\i?e lie wus uot hurl in the least, pi from his conversation one would judge It hat he is quite proud of the record of of lis regiment iu the war. He is well ih ileused with army life, too, and iu- or ends to re-enlist after a few months tb uore of liberty. tb LOCAL AFFAIRS. INDKX TO NKW ADVKKTISKHKVTS. Glenn A Allison?Say that all are pleased with the stock sold by them and say that they can please you with a horse or mule. They sell buggies, harness and wagons. Grist Cousins?Have just rectived new goods, and otter fresh candy at 10 cents a pound. T. W. Speck, the Jeweler and OpticianTells you to take care of your eyes, and says he can lit you with spectacles and eyeglasses. W. H. Hicklin, (Juthriesville?Has Jersey bred cattle of both sexes. He invites correspondence. Rook Hill Bugity Co., Rock Hill. S. C.? Says the cheapest buggy is not the best; but the best is the cheapest. See their agents, Glenn A Allison. I. N. Plaxico, Sharon, S. C.?Extends to all the compliments.of the season. YVhisonant A* Castles, Hickory Grove, S. C.?Offer bargains in hats and other lines. W. B. Moore & Co.?Extend thanks and Speak of the next year. H. C. Strauss?Makes a few remarks on the subject of business. Riddle & Pegram?Make some very important and interesting announcements. Jas. M. Starr A Co., Leading Druggists? Extend thanks and promise a con-. tinuance of prompt and eflitnenf service. Lowrance, Williams & Co.,?Make their New Year's bow. W. M. Kennedy, Agt.?Extends thanks. TAX TIME EXTENDED. It is just as a good many people thought it would be. The governor and comptroller general have ]ajd their heads together and extended the time" for the payment of tuxes, without penalty, until February 1. Possibly some few people in this section may be benefitted by this extension ; but. they are not many. If they are numerous, it is because many of them anticipated this unbusinesslike custom on the part of the authorities, and refrained from paying within the time prescribed. Of course, such people are not to be blumed. If there are any who held I t. I . f .L I. 12 ! .1. .. 4l iihck uecause oi meir neuei mai ine time would be extended, aud tbey could make use of the money iu the meantime, they only showed better business ability than did the authorities on making the extension. Instead of doiug the state a favor in making this extension, the authorities only work an injustice upon those who have paid their taxes wilhiu the time prescribed. If it is just to impose a penalty for failure to pay within tbe lime set, it is equally just to allow rebates to those who may have paid within the original limit. The official notice of the extension has not yet been sent out; but it will be forthcoming within a few days. ^ SALESDAY. Yesterduy was salesdaj for January, and notwithstanding the innovation of turning a Tuesday into a "First Monday," and the bitter cold weather, there wus a pretty good crowd of people in town, though not so many possibly as there would have been under normal salesday conditions. Most of the people were here on business. They included all tbe regular stock traders who had come on Monday and also quite a number of people from the country, who were principally on tbe lookout for horse and mule flesh. y A large number'of people examined tbe stock of tbe regular traders during the day, and it is unnecessary to say that there was no special enthusiasm over the advance in prices. It was a case of looking hard at the mules and . t_ i i_ i _ r * t s a 4 it.:. luinKing naru 01 me prices. ai uiis writing, 12 m. Tuesday, the reporter has inforraution of only a few outright purchases. The indications, of course, were that there would be sales during the day, and there were also judications that a large portion of the stock business just now is to consist of swapping poorer mules and horses for better oues, by the payment of differences, etc. But still there is no reason tobelisve that the present local supply of mules and horses is anything like sufficient to supply the practically immediate demand, even at the ruling prices. BLIND TIGER BUSINESS. We have said more than ouce that ,he whisky laws are as well observed n this county and in Yorkville as in iny county and town in the state, rhis statement we sincerely believe r; o be true ; but still there is more ilegal whisky sold here than there >ught to be. As a rule, the blind tiger traffic is tonfined to Negroes; but from time to irne more or less prominent whites mve beeu engaged in it, and there ire rumors that such is the case now. 5o fur as The Enquirer is concerned, t, has always beeu bitterly opposed to he whisky business, whether legal or llegul, and it is especially opposed to he illegal business. In lighting tbe llegal business in Yorkville, we bave uttered great loss. We have always elieved that the burning of The Enuirer ottice in 1890 is directly traeehle to our principles along tbis line, nd we know thul we have suffered luch violent antagonism ever since ooi the same cause. Our principles, owever, were uot burued in 1890, and re do not feel that they have underone any change up to this time. While it is a fact, as has been stated, iut there are rumors connecting more r less prominent people with the lind tiger whisky business in Yorkille, and that we are cognizant of ime of those rumors, it is not our ace to state such rumors as facts, must lie remembered that rumors ten originate in pure malice, and at when so originated, they feed upi the suae material. It is possible at mis may be tbe case with some of e rumors now current in Yorkville;