?
/
YORKVILLE ENQUIRER.
ISSUED SEMI-WEEKLY.
_ \
lTm. gei8t & sons, Publisher.. !" % Tamils fercsgaper: 4or the jgrcmation n| tht political, ?otiaI, ^jricullural, and <^ommet[daI gntyftts of tht geoglt. {""^iNo^coi^FivE'ce^""'
ESTABLISHED 1855. YOEKYILLE. S. C., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31? 1900. ISTO. 87.
Copyrlgut, 1900, by R. P. Penno & Co.
r>
CHAPTER IX.
IN PURSUIT?MR. 8NUYZER CONTINTJE8
. HIS STATEMENT TO MESSRS. SARABAND.
I left Hill street In pretty good
?* f Inn l^O 1??KA1 inO fTQ \'D
UUUiOr, IUI iUiaa r I iua rauuviuiv * v
me a draft on account which might
have won me from your employment if
she wanted my service:}. . Then I went
home, and, having warned Joe Yialls
to be in readiness to accompany me, I
waited for my last orders. I had been
told I was to be associated with a
British officer, a friend of the captain's,
and that be would join me right away,
so we might take the cars at once for
Plymouth. But my gentleman never
appeared till any hour, and when he
did appear he showed up as a highfalutin
Jack-a-dandy whom I thought
no better than a dude. But 1 was
wrong there, and 1 will say at once
that 1 cottoned to him some before
f we parted.
My instructions came In a letter. It
was addressed to me, indorsed "immediate,"
in an envelope marked "On Her
Majesty's Service," which I am not, as
you know, and don't want to be, being
a freeborn loyal subject of Uncle Sam.
1,|"> tnetilu u-Qvl hpnilpll with the
i uc inivi iuoiu\ *tmw ?
royal arms and signed "Charles Colllngbam,
major general." It was to
Inform me that the steam tug Jacob
Sllverton had been secured for a particular
business, and would be found
same night lying at the Plymouth pierhead/with
fires banked, ready to go to
sea at a moment's notice.
The letter went on:
I understand from Lloyds, and it has been calculated
from the admiralty charts as the basis of
ber speed and the progress she has made, that
the yacht Fleur-dc-Lis should be abreast of the
Lizard about dawn or, say, 3:80 to 4 a. m. tomorrow.
If the tug leaves Plymouth before midnight,
she can gain such a position by daybreak
as to meet the Fleur-de-Lis and cross her course.
If you do not sight her at once, you must lie to,
waiting, for she cannot well have passed.
When you have intercepted her, as you surely
will, she will be boarded by an officer of my department,
who will accompany you and who curries
the' necessary authority from the lords of the
admiralty to detain and search her. He is em
powered to use force II necessary, ana a certain
number of police apd coast guardsmen mil be
on board the tug.
Major Swete Thorn hill, R. A., the bearer of
this letter, will travel with you to Plymouth. He
it* a friend of Captain Wood's and brother staff
officer and will be glad to co-operate in the rescue
and render any assistance.
I found a tall, military looking"gentleman
at the door in a hansom.
"Hop In." he cried pleasantly. "Only
Just time to catch the 5 express."
I preferred to travel with Joe. but we
joined forces at Paddington. where
my gentleman had secured a compartment,
and we started to talk over our
business right away.
"Hang that fellow Willie Wood!" began
the major. "Wish be was at the
bottom of the sea. 1 was due thia very
night at a big feed at the Charlatan
club, and I've bad to spend it In the
train. Got me a jawbatlon. too. from
the chief, for we were all out at lunch
when he came In. and as I was the first
back I bad to take the rough edge of
bis tongue and came in for this ugly
Job. Is It all a true bill? Have they
really got Master Willie In a tight
place? Mean to make him walk the
plank and all that, eh?"
I told him the whole story from the
beginning, at parts of which he laughed
and parts looked very grave.
"Always was a garden ass. Willie
Wood, but a good chap?good as they
make 'em. He'd give you the shirt off
* x- -1 - ?11
D18 dhck ana always reauy 10 uu tut
your work If you'd let him. Now, I'll
do my level best to pull him out of tblai
mess If 1 can. What chance have we?
Lefs see how It stands."
With that he pulled a small chart outj
of his pocket and a pair of dividers.
We went over the points one by one,
and be took them all In a clear, quick
way that was beautiful to see. It was
the first time I'd had to work with a
^ British officer, and If they're all like.
this major they're a spry, smart lot,
and don't you forget it.
"It'8 all a question of time," he said
as he marked a cross upon the chart
and, after running out a few more figures.
went on:
"That's where the Fleur-de-Lis ought
to be by daylight, three or four miles
to the westward, steaming at the rate
We know of, not necessarily gaining,
but possibly with better s|*>ed in hand
If she wants it. Now. where shall we
be? That will depend upon how our
hooker steams, and for that we must
wait till we get on board."
We found her, the Jacob Silverton,
with her steam up. lying alongside the
wharf in the Millbay docks, and. as
they expected us. we were soon under
way. It was then close on 1 a. m.
Now the major made anxious Inquiries
as to her speed, and we found the best
she could do was about nine knots.
There were no more than three hours
to daylight, and then we should have
covered a bare 30 miles.
"It'll be a near thing." said the major.
"However, let's get 40 winks
while they crack on all .steam and
make her move."
I had not been In bed for a couple or
nights and was sound asleep when the
major woke me.
"The luck's against us. Snuyzer," he
began abruptly. "We've just missed
the Fleur-de-LIs; saw her plainly
enough, and there was no mistaking
her, about three miles to the westward
and bore down on her straight. I suppose
she did not like our looks and
turned on full steam ahead. Doubt If
we shall catch her now."
"Of course we must stick to her.
Has she the heel of us?" I asked anxiously.
Cm GH1IFFITHS.
"A little, I'm afraid. Can't say for
certain. What's worse, she's changed 1
her course southerly."
"Why worse?"
"Steering for the French coast Don't
you see? If she can make a French
port or gain French waters, three miles
from shore, you understand, she will 1
laugh at us. Can't touch her, they'll
I say." |
j I was ready to let out a big oath, but J
turned out and ran up on deck to see '
the situation for myself.
It was a perfectly splendid morning. '
The sun strong, sky clear, water 1
smooth as glass. There was our chase,
leaving a long line of coal black smoke,
exactly reflected in the sea.
"They're giving her all they can get"
I said to the skipper, as I climbed
quickly on to the bridge, where the police
sergeant Joined us. "Is she drawing
away from us?" 1
"Not much, not much. I much doubt (
If she does at all. The next hour will
settle that."
"Has she made us out, think you?" 1
"Must have, when she changed her
course." said the sergeant '
"How is she steering?"
"W. S. W. southerly," answered the 1
skipper. "Bring up on the Brittany *
coast I expect a little short of
Dshant" '
"We're some 90 miles from the near- 1
est land, as we're now steering," said '
the major, who had Joined us on the 1
bridge. "Ought to strike It this after- 1
noon early, anywhere between Lan- '
nlon. Roscoff, or St Pol. If we keep a
straight course at the same speed." 1
"What sort of country might It be?"
1 asked. "Any big cities or seaports <
handy?" (
"Morlalx Is the nearest and Brest,
the great arsenal. Is just round the 1
corner." '
"Will she communicate, think you? '
Hardly suit her, I should say." I
"It will depend. She's not the sort '
to appeal to the French police, gen- 1
* ? J ? "? nrl.Af nn* Ma 1
unriries, uuuuuiert), ui wum uui. aw
doubt she will fight shy of the law udless
we force her." 1
"As how?"
"See here. Mr. Snuyzer; I've got to 1
board that yacht somehow. I mean to '
overhaul her and smirch her from stem '
to steru by force or stratagem, fair 1
means or foul. She's got contraband 1
on board. But they won't want us. 1
and in the last extremity, to avoid our '
Interference, they may seek protection
from the French authorities."
"She'll soon be in French waters. I '
take it."
"That's why I'd like to head her off
and t)oard her in the open sea. But we
haven't the pace, I fear. We must
take our chance and act as opportunity
offers."
We went on deck again to watch and
wait, making out the French coast
about noon, and as we neared It within
a couple of miles we saw the Fleur-deLis
bear up suddenly as if In search of
an opening; some small harbor or haven
where she might slip in to lie snug
and safe from our pursuit
"There she goes," cried the major, as
the yacht disappeared between two
low. rocky headlands. "Take the bearings
of that entrance. We must fix it
and mark it down on the chart."
' The place proved to be a littie hamlet.
St. Guignon. only a few houses
standing under a background of sloping
hills at the far end of a small
landlocked bay. Farther back the
chart showed a road running nearly
parallel to the coast touching St. Pol
first and then other villages and at
last Morlalx.
"They think we can't touch them; j
that may 1k> so. but I mean to have a '
try. What's your Idea?" i
We talked It out at pretty consider- j
able length and settled: i
First.?That we could do nothing
much till nightfall, unless they came <
out again, which was not to be expect- <
ed. We must, of course, watch for I
that, lying handy under easy steam off <
and on, ready if It so fell out to con- ]
tlnue the pursuit t
Second.?We must reconnolter; some
one must sneak near enough to spy on i
thpm. and without heine seen, trv to i
get at their game. <
Third.?If she held her ground, we i
must cut her out some time in the j
night. It was a bold move. They s
might show fight, and we might get
Into serious trouble with the French y
authorities, for It would be organized t
war in neutral waters, a grave breach I
of International law. But the major y
laughed and said he meant to do it all e
the same. t
"What I am most afraid of is that
they should give us the slip?get ashore I
and run for It." n
"They couldn't take the captain, not 1
by force, in broad daylight, and he t
wouldn't be likely to go of his own ac- i
cord." N 1
"True for you, Snuyzer. I'm in hope
they'll Just stay where they are, think- i
ln/v tA utnufr na rm + Hnu'ovnr tlw?v 4
Ill ? IV U CfliJ UO vut. uviivivt, tuv J |
may stay a little too long. Now, I'm <
for the shore, and I shall take Joe." i
The major was away for a good hour, <
and he came back alone. He had left j
Joe on the watch, with one or two sig- '
nals arranged to keep us up to the time \
of day. If the yacht moved her berth, ^
he was to wave his cap; If she sent a j
boat ashore, his handkerchief, and so
on. i
"They're not very comfortable on i
board," the major said. "Got a man 1
at the masthead ou the lookout, and I t
fancy he can see our smoke. Their 1
fires are banked. Should not be sur- 1
prised If they tried to run for it after I
dark. We must be on the alert, ready <
to give chase, or they may get away
again."
"You'll wait to take the boy off, I
hope?" I was anxious about Joe, not
wishing he should eome to harm.
"That's all right He understands.
If we have to leave In a hurry, he's to
make the best of his way back to England
on his own account I gave him
money and explained. No fear of him."
We got no sign from him the whole
of that afternoon and evening. The
time passed quickly enough, for the
major and I talked all the time of
what we thought to do and how we
Bhould do it The boldest plan pleased
us best and we meant to row straight
for the yacht with all hands, picking
up Joe by the way, board her ana truai
to luck and bounce for the rest
Night came about 8 o'clock, dark
and starless. It was best to get to
work right away, and we were to start
about 9. But a little before that we
heard shots and the noise of a rumpus,
faint but distinct in the distant Something
was up, certain sure, and in the
direction of the bay, for the sounds
came from the yacht
"Better not poke our noses Into any
row, not till we're driven to It," the
major said quietly. "The night's
young yet We've got It all before
a."
So we waited half an hour, and
were on the point of starting out on
an expedition when we heard a sound
of oars approaching.
What could it mean?
Then came a low "Hello! Jacob
Sllverton ahoy!" In Joe's voice, and he
was soon alongside, In a boat that belonged
to the Fleur-de-LIs. He said
so, anyway, and we were bound to believe
him, although it was a confoundedly
queer story.
While he waited among the rocks he
still kept his lookout on the yacht Although
it had fallen dark, be could
make out her bull on the water plainly;
there were lights, too, aboard, with
streaks and reflections strong enough
to show up parts of her.
Suddenly be saw a figure dropping out
[)i uie Hieru iuiu lutr )uiui b uiu^cj,
which seemed to have been put there
on purpose, and which, anyway, was
quickly cast adrift, for It floated slowly
and silently away. The tide was
making into the bay. and she must
have been caught on the current, which
carried her inshore. Half way to the
land the figure, which bad no doubt
been crouching In the bottom, out of
Bight got op on to the thwarts and
began pulling like mad.
Joe soon made up his mind. He
must know more about this boat and
the man in It; so he got up on to the
top of the rocks, where there was a
better surface, and ran all he knew to
1 - * al? *
me ueuu ut lue ua;, iuuuwiuk iuo
sound of the oars and getting a squint
now and again of the black smudge of
the dingey. He came upoh it at last,
high and dry on the shore.
But the man was gone.
Joe was a smart nipper: he knew
what be had to do, and that was to
a
V*S ^
fie sau> a figure dropping out of the stern
Into the yacht's dingey
jass on his news to as. The quickest
way would be to row out In the dingey;
io he ran her back Into the water and
gulled out to the sea. coasting the for
tide and giving the yacht a wide berth.
When almost off it, a fierce row broke
>ut aboard. Six shooters were let off,
jeveral shots, pretty quickly followed
)y yells and curses. Joe saw that the
Ilsturbance was heard on shore; lights
segan to dance about in the village,
ind the alarm was given.
"They'll soon have the gendarmes on
;belr backs. Now's our time. We'll
take the dingey back; it will be an ex;use
for getting on board," said the
major. "Sharp's the word, skipper,
klan the boat, every soul you can
pare, cast loose and give way."
A shore boat was already alongside
when we got to the yacht; it had
)rought the authorities, for when we
lailed the answer came In French to
teep off, that the police were in charge,
ind If we had anything to Bay It must
>e by daylight.
"Anyway, we'd better bring the tug
nto the bay and lie close handy
igalnst the morning," I suggested, and
he advice was considered good, although
the skipper did not much like
the job of entering a strange place In
the dead of night.
There were more difficulties made
lext day, and It was! quite late before
he major and I set foot on the Fleurle-Lis.
Some more big French touds
lad come off from shore?a magistrate,
)ne or two doctors, and an officer of
jeudarmes?and they had begun a
"verbal process," as It Is called; for
here had been wounding and attemptid
murder, so they said, on board the
pacbt.
The long and the short of it was
that the rogues had fallen out among
themselves; with good reason, too,
from the point of view of some of
them. McQuaho, the colonel from
Klondike, had fallen out with Lawford
for assisting our captain to escape
from the yacht, and loosed off at him
lirectly Wood was missed. He was a
quick shooter and had pretty weft filled
Lawford up with lead, so full that it
might go bard with him.
But, at bis own request, they let
Major Thornhill have some talk with
him, in which a little light was thrown
, on recent proceedings. William Wood
has been brought thus far in the Fleurde-Lis,
a close prisoner, but by Lawford's
help had broken out and got to
shore In the dingey. He, of course,
, was the man Joe bad seen.
Questioned as to the confidential
papers, and whether they were on
board, Lawford shook his head.
'The dulre has stuck to them.
There's money in them, a big pile, and
he's crossing the pond by tomorrow's
mail to sell them to Uncle Sam. Guess
you won't overtake him, and If you try
to stop him on landing he'll have the
, American government on bis side.
They're hungering for those papers,
you bet."
"You are positive they are not
here?" Insisted Thornhill. .
"Don't I tell you? I'm likely to get
; nothing more from this crowd except
my death, and It's to my advantage to
serve the other side. If you want those
papers, yon must look for them on the
i Chattahoochee, and she leaves Southampton
tomorrow (Sunday) morning."
It was now only the afternoon of
Saturday, ana we mignt nave done it
well starting back full steam ahead at
once. But French police and French
lawyers are a sight slower and more
interfering than the British, and they
, wanted all of us to sign a new "verbal j
, process" all about ourselves. The formalities
were not completed by Sun- j
day morning, and by the time we were
ready to start for England the Chattabochee
must have already left the
Solent.
, We made, therefore, for Weymouth,
the nearest point, and landed late that
night Thence the major and I took
the cars for London, neither of us remarkably
happy, for the whole blooming
business was more or less of a
fizzle.
TO BE CONTINUED.
pisittHanmw Reading.
THE CROP AND THE TRADE.
' Interesting: Review of a Re
* 1-1 ^ /l - XJ 17^..
marxauie tunuu ieur.
BY LATHAM, ALEXANDER & CO.
How the Price Climbed From September,
1890, to the Present?Small Crops Worth
* More Than a Large One?Outlook For
the Immediate Pal are?Important Incidents
of the Year's Trade.
Latham, Alexander & Co., of New
York, are among the most reliable and
intelligent cotton authorities in the
world. The following review of the
operations of the past year is taken
I from the twenty-seventh annual edition
of their "Cotton Movements and Fluctuations,"
just issued:
1 The cotton year of 1899-1900 was one
long to be remembered. The volume
of trade was large, speculation was
from time to time broad, and fluctuations
were unusually wide. The season
opened under conflicting conditions,
and opinions among those presumably
best informed were at radical variance.
The visible supply was superabundant,
the acreage of the growing crop
was conceded to be ample, and manufacturers
were said to be well-stocked.
Oiulnop tn nrovolont rhonnneag nt fnt.
ton for sometime, traders had become
accustomed to a low level of prices and
almost the only hope of those who believed
in a materially higher range of
values was based on faith in a smaller
crop, and a broadening improvement in
general trade of the country and consequent
increased business in manufactured
cotton goods.
Thus may be epitomized general conditions
and the prevailing outlook of
September 1, 1899.
In the first week of the new season
ending September 8, the market was
nominal, and, so to speak, featureless,
January contracts opening on September
1 at 6.04 and closing September 8
at 6.13.
By this time discussion of the growing
crop began to interest everybody,
and opinions differed so widely that the
market became sensitive to shifting reports,
and fluctuated acordingly. The
government report issued September
11 was very unfavorable, and naturally
influenced the Southern markets for
spot cotton, and likewise the New York
market for future deliveries. Accordingly,
for the week ending September
22, January contracts closed at 6.44,
showing a gain of Just 44 points from
the opening of the season.
By the end of the month the market
had made a still further advance
through a widening faith in shortness
of the current crop, so that prices for
future delivery were practically threequarters
of a cent higher at the end
than at the opening of the first month
of the season, January deliveries closing
on the last day of week ending
September 29 at 6.84, having sold during
the week at 6.95.
Popular talk was then to the effect
that 7.00 would be high water mark
for January contracts.
Despite that current view, and also
the exceptional financial stringency in
Wall street, which carried call money
as mgTl as per mil. eariy in utiu- i
ber, cotton continued to advance and
January contracts, during the week
ending October 7, sold at 7.25.
The government report issued October
19 was again unfavorable, showing
a loss of six points in condition of crop
during the month of September; but
traders insisted that this gloomy report
had been anticipated, and that
the late advance in the market had fully
discounted it. Accordingly, speculators
cooled in their ardor, and bullish
sentiment slacked. As a result, the
market hesitated and prices receded;
in consequence of which, for the week
ending October 20, January contracts
ranged from 7.22 down to 6.92, but rallied
on the last day of the week and
closed at 7.14.
About this time the market took on
new strength and became buoyant,
January contracts, for the week ending
November 11. selling as high as 7.65, the
advance having been encouraged by
unusually large buying in the South
of spot cotton by both European and
home spinners.
The following month there was great
depression in the stock market, and
Wall street interests in cotton were
forced to liquidation, which gave the
cotton market quite a set-back, carrying
January contracts as low at 6.90
during the week ending November 23.
The following week, however, owing to
improvement in Wall street finances,
and consequent upward turn in the
stock market, cotton strengthened
In sympathy, and for the week end- 1
ing December 30, January contracts .
ranged from 7.10 to 7.43 and closed at i
7.30. |
At the opening of the new calendar
year, cotton had advanced about one ;
and a half cents a pound, and there
was the rapidly growing conviction
that the crop would prove much smaller
than had been generally estimated earlier
in the season.
For the week ending January 6, May
contracts closed at 7.40, and the range
of fluctuations during the week for that
option had been from 7.34 to 7.61.
Just at this time a prominent cotton
house, which had for several
months been aggressively bullish on
the market, shifted their position suddenly,
insisting that the advance had
gone far enough, and that 71 cents for
cotton was sufficiently high, no matter
how small the crop might prove. The
sudden change of front by this flrtn
made some impression on'the market;
but it was very short-lived. The Southern
markets continued Arm, European
advices grew steadily more favorable
and the crop movement continued
small, all of which influences combined
to sustain prices at or about the
late level.
The only thing that tended to check
further advance was uneasiness over
the situation in South Africa; but, in
spite of that hindrance, by February
1 May contracts had made a new record,
selling as they did at 7.86.
For the first half of February speculation
was active and prices of contracts
for future delivery showed still
further sharp advances. The spot 1
markets throughout the South were
very firm, the demand coming largely
from abroad. The sentiment of both
Liverpool and the Continent became
decidedly bullish. The crop movement
was now fairly heavy, but there was
not much importance attached to the
increased receipts, the general belief
being that they would fall off materially
in the very near future.
For the week ending February 16,
May contracts closed at 8.60, thus
showing an advance of over threequarters
of a cent wfthin two weeks;
naturally, in the course of such an advance,
fluctuations were very violent.
One of the strongest features of the
situation was that spot cotton advanced
even more than contracts for
future delivery. This gave the bulls
great confidence, and they pressed
their advantage for all it was worth.
During the latter part of February
the market was less active, speculation
contracted, and even the best friends
that cotton had were obliged to admit
that the enormous advance which had
occurred since the opening of the season
made sharp reaction at any moment
highly probable.
This apprehension, however, failed to
develop any aggressive bearish sentiment,
but only held the market at a
standstill, as it were, giving it a brief
breathing spell. Thirty days later
prices had advanced another cent a
pound, carrying May contracts as high
as 9.64 during the week ending March
17. This phenomenal rise checked speculation
again, and likewise lessened
the urgent demand for spot cotton
that had- been In evidence wherever
there was any for sale. The cotton
goods trade was manifestly halting and
European markets hesitated.
These conditions became emphasized
throughout the month of March, so
that by the end of the month prices
had receded nearly half a cent a pound,
May contracts closing in the week ending
March 31 at 9.27, the range for the
week having been from 9.19-9.47. There
was a radical change from this range
of values before the middle of May,
the trade conditions throughout this
country and abroad having come to
show less activity, and undue accumulation
of cotton goods in first hands
began to be generally reported.
The backwardness of the crop, conflicting
reports as to acreage, Ellison's
aaHmafao f\1 tVltt nmhohlo ftVflllflhlP 1
supply at the end of the current season
and the statistical strength of cotton
were the Influences that tended to
check decline, but were not sufficient to
revive very broad speculation. The
liquidation of outstanding May contracts
was the feature of trading as
{notice day approached.
During the month of May there was
wide fluctuations, the prime cause of
which being the suspension of a prominent
Arm which had been conspicuously
Identified with the last rise. Im- '
mediately prior to and upon the announcement
of this firm's suspension,
there was a sensational break of over
a cent a pound, May contracts having
sold, during the week ending May 19,
at 9.68, and selling during the week
ending May 26, as low at 8.48.
For some time after this violent decline.
the market seemed to have lost
snap. It had certainly lost many believers
In higher prices. There was no
encouragement forthcoming from the
advices of the cotton goods people elthei
htre or abroad, crop news became '
generally favorable, and spot cotton <
* * 1
mrougnuui IIIC OUUlll WU.D umucui; I
easier.
For the week ending June 2, August
contracts closed at 8.12, and the range
for the week had been from 8.03 to 8.62.
It was not natural to suppose that the
market would revive promptly after
so severe a shock, and yet, by the mldjdle
of July all the May and June loss
had been recovered, and August contracts
were selling at the record price,
reaching, as they did, on Monday, July
9, the top figure for the season, namely
9.87. This remarkable advance occurred,
too, In spite of the development of
the Chinese complications, continued
reports of stagnation In the cotton
goods markets, and a decided lessening
In the demand for spot cotton.
The volume of business on the cotton
exchange from this time forward
| was conducted on very much more
conservative lines, and while fluctuations
were wide enough for speculative
purposes, they were never again so abnormal
as they had been.
By the last of July, August contracts
had broken below 9 cents, selling on
the first day of August at 8.86, and on
the last day of the week ending August
3, at 8.51. This decline, however,
was for the most part by easy stages,
but had been forced by the continued
dullness In the demand for spot cotton,
more unsatisfactory condition of
the cotton goods trade both here and
abroad, and a material improvement in
the crop outlook during the month of
July.
In reviewing the season, we are led to
these brief conclusions: The South is
financially more Independent that she
has been since the war. Her cotton
crop of 9,436,416 bales this year brought 5
381,011,822 more than the crop of 11,275,000
bales last year.
She has an inexhaustible mine of
gold In her monopoly of cotton produc- ,
i~o- ionHa that thp civilized world de
pends upon, and the present monetary *
system Is greatly to her advantage,
because nearly two-thirds of her crop
must be sold to gold countries and paid 1
for in that metal. i
Now, these indisputable facts make r
plain three things for the South's prof- j
itable guidance: Y
First. Watch the world's consump- 1
tive demand and produce no surplus 1
cotton. t
Second. Lean more to the diversifl- r
cation of crops and thereby insure g
greater independence.
Third. The gold standard should 1
certainly be entirely satisfactory to a *
people who are in no way interested in f
silver, and whose chief product is nec- t
essary to the civilized world and com- t
mands its market value in gold where- ^
ever trade and commerce are known. J
At the opening of the current sea- r
son, anything like a reliable forecast of
the market's future course was difficult.
Among- the influences serving to hold
any further advance in cneck were the
prolongation of the South African war,
the serious disturbances in China, reports
from all centers of large stocks
of manufactured goods in first and second
hands, and the hope of improved
weather conditions throughout the cotton
belt, which might materially increase
the current crop above earlier
estimates.
What tended, however, to counteract,
these adverse influences and made
any material decline improbable was ,
the general belief that the South African
war could not last much longer,
that the Chinese complications would
somehow be settled without involving <
the great powers in general war, and ;
the current crop being admittedly sev- ]
eral weeks late, would be seriously cut
off in the event of early frost.
Over and above these problematical
differences of opinion were the following
recognized facts in the case, which ,
?ave substantial encouragement to ,
those who believed in the higher price
of cotton:
First. The visible supply of the '
world was, on September 1, 1900, smallsr
than it had been on the correspond- ,
Ing date for many years.
Second. European spinners were
known to have smaller stocks on hand 1
than for a long time, they having 1
bought little more than hand-to-mouth <
supply during the latter part of the ,
irop year, believing firmly in an abundant
yield from this crop.
Third. Liverpool speculators were 1
r,?l J i/s ^ ? s *
ttiiu iu ut- ncuviiy snuri uk uuiiun lur .
future delivery, both at home and in <
Dur New York market. ,
Fourth. The spot markets thrdughsut
the South were exceptionally low in
stocks, and cotton was being flrmly 1
held at higher prices relatively than i
ruled in New York.
Thus it was that at the' opening of ,
this season those who studied all the ,
conditions closely and weighed the
pros and cons dispassionately, found
no temptation to bear cotton; but were j
?aslly converted to a faith in material- ]
ly higher prices.
Through this widening friendliness
to the bull side prices hardened imme- '
iiately after September 1st, and dur- <
ing tne first week of the new season an ]
advance of over half a cent a pound
for contracts for future delivery was j
scored. In the course of this advance
Liverpool became thoroughly alarmed, 1
and outstripped New York and even
the Southern market in the upward
movement.
The advance was so rapid that on
September 7th a considerable number 1
of Masachusetts spinners held a meeting
to consider the seriousness of the <
situation and to devise ways and means
for their belief. They resolved to buy I
no more American cotton for immediate
delivery, even though this with- :
drawal from the market should neces- <
Bltate shutting down their mills. This j
radical action was expected to paralyze
the American markets and make a
precipitous decline in cotton and thereby
enable Europe to supply her pressing
needs at great advantage. This
action failed of its purpose. Futures ,
on the New York cotton exchange suffered
a spasmodic decline, but recovered
the loss before the day was over, i
and the spot market throughout the
South was not budged by the British
resolve.
At this stubborn resistance in our
home markets, Europe took fresh fright,
giving the Liverpool market a greater
boost on Saturday, September 9th,
than on any previous day during the
current advance. New York responded
enthusiastically to Liverpool's remarkable
advance and closed Saturlay,
September 9th, with all the acth
options well above 9 centb, and showing
a gain for the first nine days of the
new season of from a half to threeluarters
of a cent a pound.
Following this sensational 10 days'
record came the indescribable storm of
Saturday night and Sunday, sweeping
>ver a great part of the state of Texts,
causing terrible loss of life and destroying
millions of dollars' worth of
property. The first accounts of the
amentable disaster filled the New
fork papers Monday morning and were
jabled to Liverpool before the opening
)r me margeis mere, ine resuu was
:remendous* The Liverpool market
>pened In the wildest possible excitement,
carrying prices In a whirl to the
lighest level reached for years. The
idvance at the opening there over Satlrday's
close was nearly a cent a pound
for spot cotton and from a half to
:hree-quarters of a cent a pound for
futures.
The "New York market opened In full
esponse to Liverpool's wild advance
for futures, contracts for September
ind October delivery* selling on the
>penlng call at 10 cents, being from 50
:o 60 points above Saturday night's
jlose. Later In the day September sold
it 10.50, being a full cent a pound over
Saturday's price, and spot cotton was
luoted at 10B cents, being the highest
price reached In ten years.
During the whole day the cotton
ixchange continued in a state of in:ense
excitement, bordering sometimes
>n demoralization and panic. The vol- ,
jme of trading was enormous, and yet
under the strain of this unexpected
condition there were but two small 1
failures announced. 1
The government report for August
was issued at 12 o'clock, and while it .
made a very unfavorable showing for
:he growing crop, which would under 1
ordinary circumstances have been suf- 1
Iclent to create enthulasm among the ]
bulls, it was so unimportant, as comsared
with the disaster in Texas, that .
ittle attention was paid .to it.
It is too early in the season to make
inything like a reliable estimate of <
:he current crop; but from all Infor- j
nation we have, covering the entire
:otton belt, we do not think that it will ,
je any greater than last year's, if that '
much. It is a "spotted crop," and that,
n itseii, makes any prediction of the c
:otal yield unreliable.
Besides that, the extent of the damige
done by the Texas disaster must
pe an unknown quantity for sometime
:o come, and this makes another elenent
of uncertainty in estimating the
:rop. However, we believe In a prosperous
year for the cotton trade
;hroughout the world, and while flucuations
will most likely be frequent
ind violent, we do not see any reason
'or believing in much, if any, lower
prices than at present prevail. On the
pther hand, a very much higher level
nay be reached if consumption proves
is great as is expected, and the supply
turns out to be as short as now
leems probable. !
HERO OF MAFEKING.
TruinnA in* CuarHpH thn \
f Town. j
Two Generals Snymans were consplc- c'
ious during the famous siege of Mafe- r
cing. One was a wily Boer com- *
nander and the other was an Intel- ^
lgent ape. The job of the flesh and
flood General Snyman was to force
he gallant Baden-Powel to surrender g
he town and his sorely-harassed gar- <3
ison; that of his mlssing-llnk namelake
was to keep the town advised of j.
he beginning of the dally bombardnent.
The original General Snyman e
ailed to accomplish his task; the coun- '
erfeit did. For this reason "General
Inyman," the ape, or, as some have (
ocularly dubbed him, "General Sny- ,
nan II," is now a British hero. j
Every day for over three months 1
General Snyman, the Boer, trained his
guns on the little town of Mafeking.
Sometimes the bombardment began at
daybrea'k, sometimes the opening shot
was held back until after breakfast.
But the hour mattered not to the faithful
ape, who had been trained to protect
the garrison and the handful of
Inhabitants. He was ever on the
alert. The Instant smoke was seen to
rise from the Boer batteries the ape,
from an elevated scaffolding or tower,
saw and knew that the huge shells
were about to pour into the town. And
sometimes before the report of the
cannon was" heard the alarm was
sounded. This consisted of a schoolhouse
bell, removed from its accustomer
place, and erected close by the ape's
lookout.
The/, townspeople and the garrison
alike Vere eV?r,on the qui vive for the
sound o? the hell. They placed-their fate *
elitirely lp ^the hands of this sagiclous
animal, j ypefore. the tinkling sounds
were^heaird, Mafeking looked much the
ony other town surrounded
^earthworks. Its shops were open.
Its people were strolling about as quietly
and unconcernedly as if on a holijay.
The ringing of the bell changed
all this. Beneath the town, under the
streets and houses, were subterranean
tunnels of all shapes and sizes. In
Kansas they would be termed "cyclone
cellars." They were quickly prepared
places of refuge. The bell was
the signal for everyone to seek one of
these covers. The ape gave the alarm ,
and everyone scampered.
Many lives were undoubtedly saved
through the watchfulness of this hoary
"General Snyman," and when the siege
was raised he was the recipient of a
great many honors. Later he was taken
to London where he was shown
to admiring crowds from the windows
of a N?w Oxford street animal dealer.
This life was not agreeable to him,
however, and he was bought by E. H.
tsosxocK ior *zuu ax umsgow. mw*
he now holds daily receptions and he
seems to appreciate his honors as keenly
as a human being.
The statements of "General 0 Snyman's"
exploits were doubted in some
quarters at first, but later all skepticism
was removed by the statements
of several residents of Mafeklng during
the seige and by assurances, from
South Africa travelers that apes are
frequently trained in that country to
do all sorts of manual labor. One case'
Is cited where an ape operates the signals
on a railroad.
V. PENPOINTS^
Some Short and Pithy Sayings by Rev. J. M.
Staadnan.
Southern Christian Advocate. ,
He who goes through a form of consecration
and says his all is on the altar
and yet uses his poverty for self
has only fought a sham battle.
Many of the pillars of the church become
sleepers. The pockets of Sunday
pants never did have much change
risked in them.
If talking was the power which runs
the church one man or woman could
be found in every congregation to do
the work.
Many throw away one of heaven's
richest gifts?opportunities.
The strongest believers In a community
of goods have the least to put in
the common treasury.
God will not accept the napkins of excuses
as the equivalent of the interest
which should have bedn accrued
in the burled talent.
He who has never had God to wipe
away his tears by an open grave has
ulssed religion's sweetest consolation.
God has enough promising notes
[vows) to bankrupt Him If He was
lependent on men.
Some church members are better able
to stay away from a collection than
they are from places'of sin.
Some parents seems to think that the
best way to train up their children is.
not to train them at all.
He who fears God fully fears no one
ilse.
All of Uncle Sam's Idiotic children
ire not In the asylum. The man who
has made a reputation has made a
troublesome thing. If he has to look
ifter much else.
The "Jack-with-the-lantern" Christian
is dangerous to follow.
If some people's heavenly citizenship
is like their earthly they will not be
yery useful citizens.
The white cotton blooms of today
ivill be the reds ones of tomorrow. The
svhlte lies of childhood become the
alack ones of manhood and womannood.
God never puts tags on His children
:o announce that they are Christians.
To feed your soul on the Inconsistencies
of other Christians Is to give it ,
ioor food indeed.
Those who argue most about the
Scriptures do not always live best.
He who ceases to watch will soon
:ease to pray.
A position which is above a man's
:apacity only develops the weakness of
lis character.
A dead man always advocates dead
ssues.
"Vanity Fair" Is always running and
s always patronized.
The man who would enjoy his religon
alone has nothing but selfishness to
mjoy.
We have no right to say that we enoy
our religion unless others can say
hey enjoy it.
The narrow way is wide enough for
is to walk two abreast into the kinglom.
The hypocrite is the devil's acknowl;dgement
of the genuineness and
vorth of the Christian religion.
The Christian who when away from
lome goes to places and does what he
loes not frequent and do at home deiles
in practice the omnipresence of
3rOd, and is more concerned about the
pinion of men than he is for the fa'or
of God.
The Sultan.?"What," asked the
lultan, casually, "is the meaning of
lun?"
"Done," replied the Imperial Tutor
n English, quite misunderstanding his
najesty, "is a principal part of do."
"Ah; I begin to understand!" muttqrtd
the monarch, starting violently.
'The powers imagine if they dun me
mough they will eventually do me!"
Then the royal brow darkened and
:he order went forth that the sultan
vould personally review his troops in
i sham massacre later in the day.??
Detroit Journal.