Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, October 01, 1902, Image 2
JJrrajjjs and JaetsL
? Another horrible murder story comes
from New York's Tenderloin district.
On last Saturday, James B. Craft, a
wealthy resident of Glencove, L. I.,
went into what is known as the Empire
restaurant and imprudently displayed
a large sum of money. A waiter
named Thomas Tobin, knocked him
down, and afterward the waiter, assistey
by the barkeeper, cut his head off
with a meat cleaver and undertook to
burn the body in the furnace. The police
were attracted to the scene by the
odor of burning flesh and they discovered
the nude body of the man on
the floor. The head had been burned
beyond recognition. The clothing had
also been destroyed. The body was
identified by the man's son. Tobin and
the barkeeper, Alexander McEnery, began
to accuse each other, and they, together
with several other people of the
place, were arrested.
? A London cable of Saturday, brings
the most significant news of recent
/lavalAnmAnffi in fKo mAriom inict fillPS
tion. The American Tobacco company
of the United States, and the Imperial
Tobacco company of Great Britain,
have consolidated. For the past few
years these two giant trusts have been
engaged in what was considered by the
general public as a death struggle.
The American Tobacco company invaded
the territory of the Imperial Tobacco
company, and by way of retaliation,
the Imperial Tobacco company
began the establishment of branch factories
in the United States. But now
the two great octopuses are one and
the same. Under the agreement reached,
the American Tobacco company is
to have full swing in the United States
and Cuba, and the Imperial Tobacco
company is to have a monopoly in
Great Britain. For the trade of the
balance of the world the allied trusts
will compete under the name and style
of the British-American Tobacco company.
? Ex-Senator William V. Allen says
the outlook for the National Democratic
party is hopeless, and that the time has
come for Hon. William J. Bryan and
his wing of the party to unite with the
Populist party. Senator Allen is now
practicing law and editing a paper
called The Mail at his home, at Madison,
Nebraska. He says, editorially:
"The outlook for the National Demo
cratic party was never mure uupcicao
than it is at the present time. The
action of the conventions of a number
of the Middle Western states and some
of the eastern states in utterly repudiating
the Kansas City platform, its
repudiation by the Iowa Democracy a
few days ago and finally the refusal of
the Democrats of Colorado to fuse with
the Populists of that state, precludes
the possibility of defeating the Republican
party in 1904. A strange political (
blindness seems to have fallen on many
Democratic leaders just at the time
when, by the exercise of ordinary common
sense, it was possible to bring
about a complete coalition of all the
elements that oppose Republican sue- ,
cess. "The repudiation of the Kansas
City platform makes It impossible for
the Brya"n wirrg to remain longer in the
party. As a mark of self-respect, Mr. i
Bryan and his branch of the Democracy
must either herd by themselves of form
an alliance with the Populist party.
That time is at hand. It is impossible
for the gold wing of the Democracy to
hope to dominate."
? Tom Clark, alias Will Gibson, was
burned at the stake in Corinth, Miss.,
last Sunday for criminal assault and
murder. On the 19th day of August
last, Mrs. Carrie Whitfield, the wife of
a prominent citizen, was found dead in
her home with her head almost severed
from her body. There was not the
slightest clue to the perpetrator of the
crime. Corinth and the surrounding
country were scoured without result.
The matter was put in the hands of
twelve prominent citizens to continue
the search, and they employed detectives
from Chicago. The detectives
could get no clue. Last week Clark had
a quarrel with his wife, and the woman
was overheard talking about what she
could tell. She was arrested, and told
enough to warrant the arrest of Clark.
The Negro was taken before the committee
of twelve, and upon examination,
broke down and made a confession.
He also told of his having murdered
two men on an excursion train,
of having outraged a Negro woman,
and of having robbed a physician of
$1,500. He had not been suspected of
any of the crimes, and had covered his
tracks so as to deceive the officers of
the law. He admitted that he ought to
be put to death; but asked for two days
in order that his mother and brother,
who lived in Memphis, might have time
to come to see him. The time was
granted; but the mother and brother
could not be found. Meanwhile the Negro's
arrest became known over the
surrounding country and the incoming
trains brought hundreds of people
into the city to witness the execution.
The crowds became so great that at
midday the main street was ordered
leared and the announcement was
made that it had been decided to burn
Clark at 3.30 o'clock in the afternoon.
This statement caused much excitement
and surging crowds began to gather
about the place selected for the enactment
of the awful tragedy. At 2 o'clock
pine fagots and larger pieces of wood
were carefully laid about an iron rod
which was driven deep into the ground.
Half an hour later it was announced
that all was in readiness. At 3 o'clock
the prisoner, heavily manacled, was
taken from the jail by a posse of armed
men. and followed by a large crowd,
was led to the east gate of the Negro
cemetery, which is situated in the western
part of the city. Fagots and wood
had been piled high around the stake
and the Negro was securely fastened to
the iron rod. Clark was asked if he
cared to make a statement. He again
said that he deserved the fate prepared
for him. and asked that a letter be delivered
to his mother and brother. He
appealed to his brother to raise his children
properly, admonishing them to beware
of evil companions. Finally the
word was given to lire the funeral pile.
The husband and brother of Clark's
* victim stepped forward and applied the
torches, and in a moment the flames
leaped upward, enveloping the trembling
Negro in smoke ?nd fire. The
clothing of the doomed was soon
V
\
1
ignited and as the flames grew hotter
his skin began to parch. The Negro
moaned piteously at this juncture and
the agonized look upon his face told of
the torture he was undergoing. Finally
his head fell forward and in a few
moments he was dead. The flames
were fed by the crowd until his body
was burned to a crisp. Then the gathering
dispersed in an orderly manner
and the town soon assumed its normally
quiet condition. The committee of
twelve and many of the representative
citizens of Corinth vigorously opposed
burning the Negro and argued that he
should be hanged. J. H. Henning, ol
-*-?i >. A in nf Mrc
DirilllllgUCllll, A1CU, uiviiivi V4 ? *. ~
Whitfield, refused his consent to this
proposition and insisted that Clark
should be burned. More than 5,000 persons
witnessed the grewsome tragedy,
among whom were many women.
(the ^(ovkrillr (Enquirer.
YORKVILLE, S. C.: , *
WEDNESDAY, OCT'R. 1,1902.
It is about time somebody in New
York should make "security to life and
property," the issue of a political campaign
in that city. There is certainly
room for improvement along this line,
and if the people of the city are really
concerned, such an issue ought to attract
quite a following.
Of course, we are interested in the
question of child labor in factories; but
what we want to know is, what will
become of these children and their
parents when the legislature prohibits
their labor? So far as the factories are
concerned, they will no doubt continue
to manage somehow.
The Newberry Observer calls attention
to the fact that now, since the
election is over, there is no more talk of
punishing those people who were guilty
of ballot box fraud in Charleston. That
is the way it goes. The people who
complained of fraud have the offices,
and that was all they wanted. So long
as they are not individual losers they
care but little about fraud or any other
species of crime.
It is said that since his recent trip
to the south, under the guidance of
Congressman Thompson, of Alabama,
Congressman Crumpacker has about
dropped his Negro hobby. If it be true
that Mr. Crumpacker has really learned
something, he is no doubt entitled
to credit for having been honest and
sincere all the while. Had he been only
a demogogue, he would have returned
from his trip with Mr. Thompson more
determined than ever to coerce the people
of the south into turning the government
of this country over to the
Negroes.
' We reproduced a paragraph from the
Spartanburg Herald last week stating
that the Union dispensary had been
voted out by 200 majority. The paragraph
appeared in the state news columns
of The Herald, and we assumed
that it referred to Union county, S. C.
Of course we were aware that there was
no law for such an election; but supposed
that it was some kind of a test
vote in connection with the recent primary.
Because we were unable to get
information on the subject, we offered
no comment. The Chester Lantern,
however, calls attention to the fact that
it was not Union county, S. C., but Union
county, N. C., that was referred to.
The big Republican papers are printing
stories to the effect that J. P. Morgan
has announced his intention to defeat
President Roosevelt for re-election
with a candidate of the Cleveland
stripe. The alleged reason of Mr. Morgan's
objection to Mr. Roosevelt, is
that the latter is so bitterly opposed to
trusts. In view of the hostility that
was at one time manifested by President
Roosevelt against the trusts, and
his sudden cooling down, especially with
reference to the pushing of some practical
plan to annoy these aggregations
of capital and power, it does not look
as if Mr. Morgan really has reason to
desire the defeat of anybody save it be
Mr. Roosevelt's opponent.
VotiiiK' In the Primary.
This matter of prescribing proper regulations
with reference to the right to
vote in primary elections is of increasing
importance, and if the Democratic
party of South Carolina is more concerned
about the permanent than the
temporary welfare of the state, it will
give the subject more thoughtful attention
than heretofore.
The restrictions thrown around the
franchise privileges by the constitution
of the state, although extremely liberal,
are right and proper. We refer more
particularly to the requirements of two
years residence in the state, one year
in the county, and four months in the
election precinct.
A stranger coming into South Carolina
from another state, could not reasonably
expect to familiarize himself with
our peculiar institutions and public
men within a less period than twc
years, and he ought to have an experience
of at least a year with a people
of the county before he should be permitted
to share the responsibility of
government.
It is well understood that under conditions
as they exist in South Carolina,
the primary election counts for everything.
and the general election for practically
nothing. About the election
which is really important, there are but
few restrictions, while about that which
is not at all important there are numerous
restrictions. The effect of the primary,
as now conducted, is to circumvent
and nullify the constitution.
As maters now stand, a floating population?a
population that may be here
today and elsewhere a month from now,
and at no time familiar with the political
conditions by which it is surround
ed?has just as much say-so in the de
termination of policies and the choice
of men, as has that permanent resident
' population, which is not only familiar
with conditions, but which has to pay
the great bulk of the taxes and bear
t practically all of the responsibilities of
citizenship.
It is a fact that at many of the pre'
cincts in this congressional district for
instance, there are large numbers of
' people, who by the simple matter of
having their names put on the club
1 rolls, and without a single other qualis
fication, are enabled to cast their votes
' in accordance with the suggestions of
. new acquaintances, and by going one
i way in a lump, often exercise the bal:
ance of power as between differing ele
ments of the local population. It is fre.
quently the case that these people not
only help to name the candidates for of?
flee, but actually name them.
This condition of affairs is wrong ana
should be corrected. The only way we
know of correcting it, is to prescribe a
rule requiring that no man who is not
entitled to vote in the general election,
can be enrolled on the Democratic club
rolls. Let the registration lists be used
as the club rolls for the primary elections
at the various precincts, and require
those presenting themselves as
voters, to make oath that they will
support the nominees, etc. There is absolutely
no reasonable objection to such
a regulation, and the leaders of the
Democratic party owe it to the substantial
white citizenship of the state
to see that such requirements are made
of practical force and effect without
' further delay.
The cities of Spartanburg and Greenville
are showing evidences of having
learned something about the value of
street fairs. They have tried street
fairs a time or two and a large element
in both cities wants to try them again;
but the opposition is growing. The
' street fair consists of a collection of side
: shows doing business on the streets,
I and its ostensible object is to bring large
' numbers of people to town to trade,
i The show people come for the privilege
' of the street and sometimes pay a 11>
cense. When street fairs were new it
was customary to charge green town
authorities for their services. Then
, they came without charge and now they
, are willing to pay a little something.
People who are capable of learning
. by experience are beginning to realize
that the street fairs are an expensive
i nuisance at any price. The shows bring
visitors to town and make things live
ly it is true; but most of the money
goes to showmen and gamblers.
The demoralizing effect is tremendous,
and as a matter of fact there is not a
single redeeming feature about this
form of amusement.
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
Clieck From Roosevelt,
i "Our Monthly," the Thornwell Orphanage's
publication, has received a
check for $2 from President Roosevelt
for a year's subscription to the paper.
The president took the paper for two
of his boys. The check has been framed
and hung in the library of the orphanage.
It is probably the first check of
a president ever received in Clinton.
Klinki For tin* Militia.
Columbia special to The News and
Courier: The general movement to,
wards uniforming the United States
*? tVn'o efofo It I
iroups IS Ilivciy IU I CdLll line eiuiv. ..
is stated that experience has shown
that the blue that has been in use for
a generation is too good a target for
sharpshooters, and that the uniform
placed the men in the field at too great
i a disadvantage. The government has
therefore decided to get up a uniform
; as nearly the color of the ground as
possible and in that way minimize the
: chances of the man being shot. The
new khaki that has been adopted is not
as bright or light in color as that which
was used in the campaign of 1898, but
is much darker. The government has
adopted two weights?one for summer
and the other for winter wear. The
winter goods are made of wool.
Son of nn Ex-Governor.
Columbia State, Sunday: In the recorder's
court yesterday morning the
case made by Chief Constable Bateman
against Mr. Ben Perry, formerly of
t Greenville, charged with the violation
i of the dispensary law and transporting
. liquor illegally, was called. Doubt being
raised as to the right of the record.
er to try the case, it was transferred to
i Magistrate Moorman's court. It was
at first proposed to have the prelimii
nary hearing on Tuesday next at noon,
: at which time Assistant Attorney Geni
eral Gunter would appear for the state.
Dater Mr. Perry, through his attorney.
Colonel P. H. Nelson, waived a preliminary
and. secured bond for appearance
at the October term of court in the
sum of $200. As soon as the bond was
o.5\-an a*? Porrv was released from cus
I 61.VI. ..... . V..J .
, tody. The constables say they caught
. Mr. Perry In the act of delivering the
, keg of liquor in person on Friday even,
ing from a surrey, which he was using
[ to transport it to the place of delivery,
. near the union depot. They arrested
Mr. Perry and the driver, seized the
j liquor and confiscated the team. On
l the court house door yesterday there
appeared a notice signed by Chief Bate>
man that a keg of liquor, moderately
, old, a horse, and surrey, seized while
. transporting illicit liquor, would be put
, up for sale on October 27.
Tlie County Court QueMtlon.
August Kohn in News and Courier:
There is considerable agitation again
l in the interest of county courts or ex!
tending the jurisdiction of the magis>
trates' courts. In some of the counties
complaint is made that the dispensary
t has brought about such a flood of prosecution
that it is necessary to get this
! class of cases out of the court of general
sessions so that the court can hear
other cases. The suggestion is made
, that the magistrates might be able to
handle sucn cases auu, u uiey l-uuuui
do so, county courts ought to be estabi
lished to handle these and other minor
; cases, and that such courts can have
i juries as well as the higher courts, and
in that way free the general court of
trivial cases. This is no new argument
and the proposition has been repeated
with each session of the general assembly.
At pretty nearly every session the
! county court idea is pressed and those
, who oppose such a plan divide as to
how best to relieve the work of the
courts. One of the plans that has been
suggested is to elect one or more additional
circuit judges and, with more
judges, hold more frequent terms of the
criminal and civil courts. The argument
has been repeatedly made that
the fault is not so much with the present
facilities as it is with the delays
of the lawyers, and oftentimes the delays
and postponements are encouraged
by the judges.
Sniil to lie 12ft Yenri 01(1.
Laurens special to Columbia State:
Sunday, 21st instant, there died in this
city an old Negress, Hannah Milner,
whose claim to longevity is beyond
doubt unparalleled in this section. According
to her reckoning she was three
years old when that immortal paper,
the Declaration of Independence, was
promulgated, a "gal" of 16 when George
Washington became president, or, in
other words, she was born the last of
October, 1773, therefor?, had she survived
six weeks longer she would have attained
the great age of 129. Of course
In the absence of any record there is
more or less doubt as to her claim, but
there is abundant evidence of her very
advanced age. First of all she was
born in Virginia, which accounts for
the fact that she distinctly remembered
Washington as a general during the
Revolutionary war and then as president,
incidents which she related to
those around her all through life clear
to the end, a circumstance which would
have occurred considerably over a hundred
times if she had told it only once
a year. She was probably brought to
South Carolina by the Milner family,
as she was first known by the oldest
people now living in this section as the
property of Thos. Milner. a slave owner
who lived near The Knob, this county,
many years ago. "Granny" Hannah,
as she was generally known, was the
wife of Henry Milner, a slave, ar.d they
had thirteen children. Henry died long
before the civil war, an old man. Four
of the youngest children survive, a son
and three daughters. The youngest of
these is a great grandmother hers^ifralmost
an octogenarian. It is said her
oldest son died at the county home a
few years ago at the age of 98. She
lived to see four generations of her
own family and to this day they are
African blood, pure and simple, old
fashioned, polite and hard working.
Martin Burnsides,'aged 60, is one of
the numerous grandchildren who live
in the county and he is a thrifty and
respectable Negro. "Old" Granny belonged
to the African Methodist church
and her faith never deserted her. Her
health was all that could have been
expected up to within a week or so before
the dissolution. She was hearty,
could walk around some, and all her
faculties?mind, 'voice, hearing and
sight?continued good to the last. Most
remarkable indeed, but this is the brief
story of Hannah: Milner's long, very
long life.
^ MERE-MENTION.
D. M. Ferry has-retired from the senatorial
field in Michigan and left it to
Russell A. Alger, who will get the nomination..
.. ."/>> It was necessary to perform
a second operation on President
Roosevelt Sunday, to secure better
drainage of the abscess on his leg.
The operation was of but little import
ance, however...JC.George Ward, vice
president of the Commercial Cable company.
says there .will be a direct cable
between San Francisco and Manila by
July 4 next Eighteen hundred employes
of the New Orleans street railway
system went te a strike last Sunday
for shorter hours and more wages.
The Sweedish explorer, Sverdups,
has returned to Christiana, Norway,
with the Fram. after an absence of four
years. It is claimed that the expedition
has been more important in its results
than has any other since the famous
Franklin expedition As the result
of the amalgamation of the American
and Imperial Tobacco companies, there
has been a decided drop in the price of
American leaf Roumania intimates
that she will prohibit the emigration of
Jews, but will do nothing to ameliorate
their condition Tammany Hall has
sent John G. Carlisle to the New York
state convention..,-...The gates of the
Mecklenburg county. N. C.. fair were
opened vesterdav and will be kept open
until and including Thursday Terrible
storms havevb'een sweeping over
the island of Sicily during the past few
days. The death -lists foots up more
than 1.000..YThe annual report of Pension
Commissioner Eugene F. Ware
shows the total number of names on the
pension list to be 999.446. a gain of 5.732
since last year Edward P. McKissick.
proprietor of the Battery Park
hotel at Asheville, died suddenly on
Sunday of appoplexy The threatened
strike by the flour mill operatives
of the Minneapolis. Minn., mill district,
has been adjusted by the establishment
of an eight hour work day. with pay in
proportion to the old schedule of ten
hour days Secretary Shaw is offering
to buy government bonds at 105 in
order to relieve the currency stringency
and the New York brokers are offering
105* The British steel manufacturers
have succeeded in forming a combine
similar to that of the United States
Steel company.
Floods In Trxas.?During the past
twelve hours there has been a terrible
rainfall over the whole of south and a
portion of east Texas, which has done
great damage to the open cotton, wash ed
away innumerable small and many
big bridges, drowned cattle and caused
other damage.
The small streams are reported out
of their banks in every direction and
the railroads have suffered heavy damage
to their tracks and bridges.
At Kennedy it is estimated that fifteen
inches of water fell. Many peo
pie were compenea 10 remove uum
their homes.
At Rancho. a 62-foot steel bridge was
wrecked by the flood and carried half a
mile down the stream. Several houses
were washed away but their inhabitants
grot out safely.
A great number of horses were
caught in the bottoms at various
points and were drowned.
Gonzales county, especially, suffered
heavily in this respect. The loss to cotton
cannot even be estimated, because
of the large area affected. Picking has
been in progress for some days, but
nil that had not been removed from
the bolls is a total loss, being beaten
into the ground. The rain has thoroughly
relieved the long existing
drought in the cattle country along the
lower coast.?Houston dispatch of Saturday.
? Reports issued recently from the
census- office at Washington indicate
that the proportion of deaths from accidents
in the United States is increasing.
During the census year (twelve
months ending May 31, 1900,) 57,513 accidental
deaths were reported, of which
43,414 were males and 14,099 of females.
The proportion of deaths from accidental
causes, in 1,000 deaths from all
known causes, was 57.6. In 1890 the corresponding
proportion was 53.7. The
records kept by the accident insurance
companies indicates that about 30,000
non-fatal accidents occur every day
from ordinary causes?that is, there are
not far from 11,000,000 non-fatal accidents
every year, 15.000 to every 100,000
of population. It appears that nearly 6
pei cent, of all the deaths in the United
States are due to accidental injuries,
** * 4 A l/?n I'M
Out It IS even mure hkiuuimiuib < " irai <
that the probability that a person will
meet with some disabling injury within
a year is about 11 times greater than
the ehance of his'death from any and
all causes during the same period.
LOCAL AFFAIHSNEW
ADVERTISEMENTS.
C. E. Spencer, Atty. at Law?Has money
to loan on improved York county
farms. Sums of $1,000 and over may
be had at 7 per cent, interest; under
$1,000 at 8 per cent, interest.
York Drug Store?Has Landreth's new
onion sets for fall planting. Three
choice varieties.
C. P. Lowrance & Co.?Say that for the
next three days they will sell the
well-known brand of Blue Jacket
sockeye salmon, at 15 cents a can.
They also offer 20 pounds of standard ,
light brown sugar at $1.
J. M. Heath & Co.?Invite their lady
friends of the town and community to
come and see their large array of
pattern hats, ribbons, feathers, etc.
Glenn & Allison?Want you to know
that they have a superb display of
buggies, surreys, wagons and harness.
They tell you further that quality is
the first consideration with them, and
that low prices is a close second.
Riddle & Carroll?Say again for you
to sow Texas red rust proof oats.
They have the seed at the right price.
They also have loaded gun shells, and
want yon to see them about that second
hand grain drill and disc harrow.
Jas. M. Starr & Co.?Tell you that they
will give away a cake of soap with
each 2f. cents purchase, and a box of
talcum powder with each 10 cents
purchase. They want you to pay
them what you owe. They have onion
sets.
WITHIN THE TOWN.
? The Loan and Savings bank takes
no risk with regard to burglars. In
addition to the protection of a good
vault and expensive safe, it carries
burglar insurance in an amount sufficient
to secure the cash.
? The sweet potato crop is represented
as being unusually good and quite
large this year. Potatoes have been retailing
on this market at 50 cents a
bushel. But a small portion of the crop
has been dug up to this time. When
digging becomes more general prices
will decline unless the potatoes are put
up for winter instead of being offered
or/ the market.
? Although the hay crop was not as
good this year as last, the local market
has been as good as usual, the livery
stables alone taking over $2,000 worth.
Messrs. Glenn & Allison have been the
largest purchasers, they preferring the
local hay to the western product. The
price paid has ranged from 20 to 40
cents a hundred, being regulated by
quality. From the best information obtainable,
Yorkville has taken more hay
than any of the surrounding towns.
OUT PEOPLE.
Dr. Paul T. Gordon returned from
Texas on Sunday night.
^Mr. B. Frank Scoggins, of Hickory,
was in Yorkville yesterday.
Mr. R. A. Burris. of Wlnnshoro. was
in Yorkvjlle, Monday; on business.
^Mr. Ross Clinton, of Bethel, is again
at work at the store of J. M. Heath &
Co. "
^Miss Emma Kennedy left on Saturday
last for Hardeeville, where she has
reopened her school.
^X^adet Paul Neely Moore, of Yorkville,
rias been appointed senior captain of the
Bingham cadet corps.
^Dr. John B. Bowen was among the
Yorkville visitors to the Mecklenburg
fair at Charlotte this week.
^-Mrs. W. B. Aiken, of Tucson, Aria.,
is in Yorkville, the guest of Mrs. E.
E. Williams, on Main street.
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Mackorell, of Lancaster,
visited the family of Mr. J. C.
Elliott, in Yorkville, this week.
Miss Laura Parish has returned to
her home in Yorkville, after a visit of
several weeks to friends in Alabama.
td"Mrs. R. C. Moore and Mrs. Clem
Gordon and children, are visiting rela
tives and friends in Bethesda township.
Mr. C. Eldred Dobson left-on last
Saturday for Pensacola, Pla., where he
has a position in the United States
navy yard.
^ Miss Florence Cody left on Monday
evening for Tampa, Fla., where she
will visit the Misses Hobbs. She will
be absent for a month.
Mr. W. O. Rawls was laid up during
last week because of a severely injured
foot. A stick of wood fell on his foot
on Monday of last week.
Mr. J. C. Elliott went over to Charlotte
Monday to exhibit a handsome
bunch of horses at the Mecklenburg
fair. He will return tomorrow.
*Dr. George Walker, of Baltimore, arrived
in 7orkvHle Sunday afternoon on
a short visit to his relatives and friends
here. He is Just back from a summer
in Europe.
^ Mrs. Fred Nims, and son, Master
Douglas, of Fort Mill, are in Yorkville
on a visit to Mrs. Nims's mother, Mrs.
Douglas Harrison and other relatives
and friends. r
FORT MILL BANK ROBBED.
Burglars entered the Savings Bank of
Fort Mill, sometime during yesterday
morning, blew open the vault and safe
with nitroglycerine or dynamite, and
carried off between $2,500 and $3,000 in
cash. The news was received here by
telephone a few hours after the discovery
of the robbery.
From such information as can be had,
it appears that at an early hour, a
passer-by noticed that one of the bank
windows had been shattered to splinters.
He looked inside and beheld a
scene of confusion. The vault door,
twisted and bent, was standing wide
open and the floor was littered with
papers.
Cashier Meacham was informed of
the situation without delay, and upon
investigation he found that the doors
of both the vault and the safe had been
blown open. In the safe he had left the
night before about $1,200 in silver and
a considerable sum in currency. The
silver was gone and so was the currency,
all but a lot of fragments, which
had been left by the explosion.
Tne nrst report was mat mc
got in the neighborhood of $5,000; but a
later story, which seems to be more authentic,
is that the loss does not exceed
$3,000. The burglars did not attempt
to carry away anything but cash,
and so far as has been reported, no valuable
papers were destroyed by the explosion.
There was no burglar insurance.
The Enquirer's informant had no
intimation of any clue to the identity
of the burglars; but supposed that
there must have been more than one ;
to carry away the silver, which weighs
seventy-five pounds. The bank officials i
are taking every step that suggests itself
looking to the capture of the burglars
and recovery of the money; but ,
are working without a great deal of encouragement,
as success depends more
than anything else on good luck.
It will take several days to repair
the furniture and restore order in the
wrecked bank room; but the bank officials
hope to be able to resume business
this, Wednesday, morning, or at
least tomorrow.
HEARD, THOUGHT AND SEEN.
Although there are some exceptions
to the rule, the pea crop seems, to be
pretty generally a failure again this
year. The trouble is probably due to
lack of rain more than to any other 1
one cause. j
Congressman Finley raised 125
bushels of One onions on his plantation <
near Rock Hill this year and has sold ;
quite a quantity of them at $1 a bushel.
Xfr Discussing the recently published
story of Brit Bolin, the "giant deerslayer,"
an old citizen who has passed (
seventy years, reverted in his conver- ]
sation to the shooting matches which (
used to have a general vogue in this.vlcinity
over fifty years ago. In those (
days they used to shoot for beeves with
the rifle. A party of crack shots would j
make up a purse at so much a shot, and ,
the prizes, five in number, would go to (
the shooters who came nearest the (
mark. The target consisted of a char- ]
red board with a diamond of white pa- (
per in the centre. On the paper was a :
cross, and the quality of the shooting ,
was estimated by the distance of the
shots from the centre of the cross. The ;
object of charring the board was to en- i
sure a larger "tear-out" by the bullet, :
thus throwing the outer edge of the hole
nearer to the cross mark. The usual
regulations were 50 yards "off-hand,"
and 100 yards with a rest. The 100
yards shot was usually taken lying ,
down, with a rest over a log. Some ;
shooters preferred the off-hand shot at j
50 yards; but a majority of them were J
inclined to 100-yards shot. The first '
two choices were the hind quarters; the
second two the fore-quarters and the
fifth, the "hide, horns and tallow."
"One of the best shots in the country," ,
said the gentleman referred to, "was .
Jas. F. Carson, who was a coachmaker ]
by trade. I remember, when a boy, of '
going to a shooting match at the 'Joiner
Place,' about six miles east of York- i
ville, where the Chester road inter- '
sects with the Yorkville and Rock Hill <
road. There was a grog shop there, and 1
shooting matches were frequent. On 1
this occasion, Mr. Carson was one of 1
the participants. His rivals feared him J
and tried to fill him with liquor. They i
did get him to take several drinks, and i
the party that was with him began to
remonstrate. 'Never you mind,' he
said 'all I want. Is somebody, to wipe out
and load my rifle, and I'll show you how
to shoot.' The shooting commenced, and
after some 15 or 20 shots It was found
that Mr. Carson had won all five
choices. He and his friends drove the
beef home on foot. This feat of Mr.
Carson's was remembered by the rifle
shots of the county for many years afterward
as altogether unparalleled In
the beef shooting of the day. Mr. Carson
went off to the Mexican war a few
years after this, and died on ship while
returning. He was burled In, the Gulf
of Mexico. Other famous rifle shots of
the day were Finch Branch and Wilson
Garner. Branch was especially noted
as an off-hand 50-yard shot, and it used
to be said of him that he could not
shoot much until he was pretty well |
under the influence of liquor; but how
true that was, I do not know."
TO SAVE SWEET POTATOES.
The problem of saving sweet potatoes
through the winter is one that troubles
many people in this section. There are
many individuals who understand the 1
art thoroughly, and who need no advice ]
on the subject. There are others who 1
seem to be unable to succeed, no mat- ]
ter what method they attempt. We ]
have just run across a novel plan that 1
is recommended in The News and Cour- '
ier by A. W. Brabham, of Bamburg. .
As to its practical value, we are una- j
ble to give an opinion. It is quite sim- Z
pie however, and seems to be well i
worth a trial, at least on a small scale. {
Mr. Brabham writes as follows:
The time is near at hand when the 2
sweet potato crop will be harvested, 2
and as usual, put away to spoil. Per- Z
nnAn 5
naps mere is hu uiuy mat ohwi,w the
farmers' hands equal to the potato 3
crop. It Is safe to say that half of all 3
Jhe potatoes put away for winter and 3
spring use spoil, either by rotting In 3
winter or sprouting and drying out too 3
much in spring. 3
Such heavy losses on this valuable 3
crop put me to thinking and to ex- 3
perimenting. Of course, success did not 3
come the first year, but it did come, 3
and now I do not lose 1 per cent, of my 1
potatoes, and I believe I can keep them
in an absolutely perfect condition till (
August.
It was thus that I came to make my 1
discovery: I noticed that when I put i
away my potatoes that those nearest ?
the bottom of the pit, lying on the damp
earth, in contact with no straw or other
foreign matter, kept better than <
those that were protected(?) by straw c
or other covering, and I reached a con- j
elusion that should I put my tubers
deep' enough into the earth, keep out all
rain and cold, that the problem was
solved. This I have proved beyond any i
doubt.
As soon as the first frost in October
nips and bites my potato vines, I put in 4
ploughs and hand rakes and harvest my i
crop. I dig pits three feet wide, six
feet long and five feet deep, fill in with
potatoes to within two feet of the top. 1
Any kind of clean, dry stuff, such as t
hay fodder, rice, oat or wheat straw t
may be used to fill in the remaining
space up to the surface, then a roof of 1
boards is made to shed off the rain, and
upon this roof is thrown two or three .
inches of earth to keep out the cold.
Pototoes thus put away will not rot, *
or lose one pound per bushel in weight, 1
or sprout till mid-summer. And they j
sweeten and get softer as they age and
mellow in their sepulchral-like repec- 1
tacle. <
Just here I am led to think that this i
method would be an ideal one for keeping
apples, late peaches, pears, grapes;
in fact, al kind of fruits and vegeta- I
bles, perfectly fresh from one season i
to another. ?
Fruits and conserves were exhumed
only a few years ago at Pompeii and 1
other buried cities of the east just as i
fresh as they were when put away in ^
cans and jars nearly 2,000 years ago. s
And from this discovery the great can
ning industry of today sprung. i
In putting away potatoes in pits there f
are simple rules that must be followed: j
Dig or harvest potatoes before hard
frost. Frost-bitten potatoes will not ^
keep, and even could they be kept, they
are not edible. f
Do not dig your pit deep enough for
the water to slpe (seep) into the pit. *
On a high elevation you may dig the i
pit as deep as you wish, but on very f
low lands do not go so deep.
Do not put any straw or any foreign
substance on the bottom of your pit. c
Put the potatoes on the cool, damp
>arth.
Use no "sidings" of anything against
he walls of your pit. Let the tubers be
n contact with the cool, damp, earth.
Do not make your pits too large,
rhree feet wide, six feet long and five
'eet deep will give good results on high
and. On low lands three feet deep will
)e deep enough; All half full of potatoes
vhen the pit is three feet deep.
If the top Ailing of straw is not sound i
ind dry, free from all mould or rot, use fl
10 straw at all.
Be sure that the roof of the pit does M
lot leak. Use boards free from holes ^
>r sun cracks. A leaky roof means rot- 1
en potatoes. |
Keep all cool wind out of the pit by
luttlng earth upon the roof and around
:he gables. Allow no water to get Into
:he pit.
By following these rules you can have
leltcious potatoes on your table the
fear round. The longer the potatoes
itay In the pit the better they get.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. t
County Superintendent of Education
Carroll has just completed his annual
report to the state superintendent of
?ducation, giving a complete statement
jl wie wui k timi was uuiiv in me cuunty
during the year ending June 30, 1902,
3howing the present condition of the
schools in the various districts, and
setting forth in full, the various flnan- -<
:ial transactions with regard to receipts
and expenditures, and the amount of
money still on hand at the date mentioned.
From this report it appears
that the total receipts have been as
follows:
Balance from last year $10,596 84
Prom poll tax 5,658 80
Prom 3 mill tax 17,947 99
Prom dispensary 1,071 54 %
From extra levy 4,850 20
A.11 other sources 138 73
Total .140,262 10
The foregoing amount is accounted
for as follows:
Paid white teachers $21,462 70
Paid colored teachers 6,068 10
Paid for all other purposes.... 2,083 31
Balance on hand June 30, 1902. 10,647 99
Total .$40,262 10 K
The average amount paid to teachers
was as follows:
White men $290 00
White women 164 00
Negro men 84 00
Negro women 6100
The total enrollment in white public
schools inside of incorporated towns, x
was 616 boys and 685 girls; and outside
ot incorporated towns 1,415 boys and
1,335 girls. In all, 4,071 white children
svere enrolled. The total average attendance
was 2,926. The Negro enrollment
included 2,208 boys and 3,010 girls,
i total of 5,218. The average attendince
on the Negro schools was 3,619.
During the year there was paid out *
for other purposes besides the salaries
)f teachers, the following amounts^
School house rent $< 2 50
School house repairs 435 00
School furniture 198 72
31obes, maps, charts -80 98
Books for libraries ......v.. 10 75
New school houses 1,025 57 J
Dther purposes 379 05 ^
The total number of white schools
was 96, and the total number of colored
schools 82. There were 118 white teachers
and 83 Negro teachers, and the average
attendance of the white schools
was 42, while that of the Negro schools
was 63. The white schools ran an average
of 24 weeks-to. the session, and the
Negro schools an average of 18 weeks. ^
Following is a statement of the
imounts expended by the various disricts
with the amounts still on hand on
iune 30. 1902:
fO. NAME. EXPENDED. BAI*.
1. Oak Ridge $ 461 55 $ 280 23
2. Eethany J.096 14 276 28
3. Bethel 766 89 716 67
4. S. Fort Mill.... 279 30 43 09
5. Catawba 2,534 20 . . 1,447 66
6. Bethesda 390 50 45 57
7. Belmont 689 36 218 15
8. York 1,846 81 974 84
9. Hickory Grove.. 1,349 31 ; 433 75
.0. Blairsville 583 65 794 39
11. York Graded ... 2,21100 18.33
[2. Rock Hill 4,995 90 897 94
[3. McConnellsvllle. 1,173 25 43 14
[4. Warren 788 81 266 28
15. Cotton 906 73 307 26
.6. Olive 373 20 134 02
[7. Piedmont 211 46 185 91
8. Smyrna 409 25 13 51
:9. Beersheba 239 25 175 59
10. Sharon 301 75 13 00
!1. Chapel 323 45 130 65
52. Bowling Green.. 411 00 412 54
!3. Point 367 36 299 85
!4. King's Mount*.. 172 95 162 87
55. Clark's Fork ... 289 95 181 33
56. Riverside 436 32 158 83
57. Concord '245 38 2 13
58. Fort Mill 449 51 330 71
!9. Bethesda Gra'd. 311 58 121 94
10. Forest Hill .... 347 00 , 230 63
11. Allison Creek .. 163 45 122 80
12. Ebenezer 368 97 38 67
13. Philadelphia ... 662 95 739 26
14. Turkey Creek .. 312 42 184 50
15. Tirzah 612 34 172 78
16. Newport 417 72 352 08
17. Clover 562 20 16 90
18. Hopewell 373 48 165 24
19. Gold Hill 1,071 16 13 21
incidentals 107 05 125 56
Of course It, will be understood by 9
:hose Interested that the statement of
imounts on hand June 30, does not
lecessarily mean that these amounts
ire on hand now. In the case of some
)f the districts there has been no monsy
paid out since June 30; but In the ^
:ase of the others, their balances have
jeen considerably reduced. j
LOCAL LACONICS. I
tVe Will Send The Enquirer 1
From now until January 1, 1903, for fl
18 cents. ^
The Gold Hill Band. ]
The Gold Hill band boys are now I
nembers of the Fort Mill Light Infan- I
ry. All have been provided with new 1
iniforms.
'oMtofflce* Discontinued.
Hero and Ramah postofflces are to be
liscontinued today. People who have
hnoo nfflpoa will
jeen suppucu num luax;
lereafter be served by R. F. D. carrier
Mo. 1 from Yorkville, and R. F. D. carrier
No. 1 from Clover. This is, of
course, provided, boxes are erected.
?ire at Clover.
A cottage belonging to the Clover
Manufacturing company, was destroyed - *
>y fire on last Thursday morning at
ibout 2 o'clock. The cause of the Are is
inknown, but is supposed to have orignated
by reason of a defective stove
lue. The insurance on the house was
jJOO and its value $400. There was no
nsurance on the contents and our in- 1
ormant was unable to say what part,
f any, was saved.
Work of the Chainaranar.
It is probable that the chaingang will
inish its grading work during the next
ew days and begin the work of crushng
the rock that has been laid down
or macadamizing the road. Superlnendent
Whitener estimates that he can A
rush about all the rock there is in