Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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^ ISSUED SEMI-WEEKL^ t. m. grist s sons, Publishers, j % jJ'amilcf :3FIcirspaper: J'or the promotion jf the political, Social, Agricultural, and Commeqcial Jntcrestsjjf the jgeople. | terms-^oo^a jtg^Bjn^ancb. ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE, 8. C., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1903. NO. 64. By WILL N. Copyright, 1902, by Harper Bros. All 1 CHAPTER XII. T51T1 AA/ti\mrvnn(<u1 A Ion fA I W MP liiiiiAn itVLUUipnuicu uiuu W | Jlfl J the door. Old Trabue stood in front of his office In his iiwBKv skirt sleeves, bis battered silk hat on the back part of his head. He was fanning himself with a palm leaf fan and freely using his handkerculef ' on his brow. He bowed cordially to Alan and came toward him. "I want to ask you," he began, "has Pole Baker any way of raisin' money?" "Not that I know of," laughed Alan. "I don't know whether he's got a clear title to the shirt on his back. He owes everybody out our way. My father is supplying him on time now." "That was my Impression," said Trabue. "He wanted me to defend him the other day, but he eouldu't satisfy me about the fee, an' I let him go. He first said fie could give me a lien 011 a mule, but be finally admitted tbat it wasn't his." "He's not in trouble. Is he?" exclaimed Alan, suddenly recalling Mrs. Baker's uneasiness. Trabue looked at Miller, who stood leaning in the doorway, and laughed. "Well, I reckon he might call it that. That chap owned the town two days ago. He got blind, stavin' drunk an' wanted to whip us from one end o' the place to the other. The marshals are afraid of Mm. for they know he'll shoot at the drop of a hat, an' the butt of it was 8tickln' out o' his hip pocket in plain sight. Was you thar, Rayburn? Well, it was better 'n a circus. Day before yesterday thar was a sort o' street temperance lecturer In front o' lilt; JUUUBIWII nuusc, opcaaiu uu a ui J goods box. He had a lot o' gaudy pictures illustratin' the appearance of a drlnkin' man's stomach an' liver compared to one in a healthy condition. He was a sort of a snide faker out fer what he could git dropped in a bat, an' Pole was sober enough to git on to his game. Pole stood thar with the rest. Jest about able to stan', an' that was all. Finally, when the feller got warmed up an' got to screechin', Pole begun to deny what he was sayln'. As fast as he'd make a statement Pole would flatly give it the lie. The feller on the box didn't know what a tough customer he had to handle or he'd 'a' gone slow. As it was, he p'lnted a finger o' scorn at Pole an' helt Mm up fer a example. "Pole wasn't sober by a long shot, but you'd 'a' thought he was, fer he was as steady as a post He kept grinnin', as cool as a cucumber, an' sayln: 'Now you know yo're a-lyin, strangeiv-Jest a-lyln' to get a few dimes drapped in yore hat You know nobody's stomach don't look like that durn chromo. You never seed Inside of a drinkin' man, an* yo're the biggest liar that ever walked the earth.' This made the crowd laugh at the little, dried up feller, an' he got as mad as old Nick. He begun to tell Pole his liver was swelled from too much whisky an' that he'd bet he wa9 Jest the sort to beat his wife. Most ot us thought that 'd make Pole jump op Mm, but he seemed to enjoy naggin4 the feller too much to sp'ile it by a fight. A nigger boy had been carryin' round a bell au* a sign advertisin' Webb's auction sale, an' stopped to see the fun. Pole heerd the tinkle of the bell an' tuck it an' begun to ring it in the lecturer's face. The harder the feller spoke the harder Pole rang. It was the biggest racket ever heerd on a public square. Part of the crowd?the good, church folks?began to say it was a disgrace to the town to allow a stranger to be treated that a-way, sence thar was no law agin public speakin' in the streets. They was in fer callin' a halt, but all the rest?the drinkin' men (an* I frankly state I was one)?secretly hoped Pole would ring 'im down. When the pore devil finally won, I felt like yellln' hooray, fer I glory in the pluck even of a daredevil, if he's a uorth Georgian an' white. The lecturer had to stop without his collection, an' went off to the council chamber swearin' agin the town fer allowin' him to be treated that a-way. Thar wasn't anything fer the mayor to do but order Pole's arrest, but it took four men?two regulars an* two deputies?to accomplish it. "The trial was the richest thing 1 ever attended. Pole had sobered up Jest enough to he witty, an' he had no more respect fer Bill Barrett's court than he had fer the lecturer's platform. Him an* Barrett used to tish an' hunt together when they was boys, an' Pole kept callin' him Bill. It was Bill this an* Bill that, an' as Barrett had only been In office a month he hardly knowed how to rise to his proper dignity. especially when he saw the crowd was laughin' at his predicament. When I declined to defend Mm. Pole attempt ed to read the law on the case to Bar* rett an' show whar be was right. Barrett let 'im talk because he didn't know how to stop 'im, an* Pole made the best defense 1 ever heerd from a unlettered man. It kept the crowd in a roar. For awhile I swear it looked like Pole was goin' to cleer hisse'f, but Barrett had to do his duty, an' so he fined Pole thirty dollars, or in default Iii-ohL' r/n-1.- <m flip streets fer ten days. You ort to 'a' hoerd Pole snort. 'Look.v lieer, Hill.' Le said, 'you know as well us yo're a-settin' cocked up thar, Luukin' folks say "yore honor" ever' breath they draw, that 1 ain't a-goin' to break no rock in that br'ilin' un fer ten days Vu'se 1 beat that skunk at his own game" "'You'll have to do It if you don't pay out,' Barrett told Mm. "'We|l, Jest_wou't pay put, an' I i IP TD17 M Author of " Westerfelt." ights reserved. won't break"rook nuther,' Pole said. | You've heerd about the feller that could lead a hoss to water, but couldn't I make 'iin drink, hain't you? Well, I'm the boss.' "Yesterday was Pole's fust day on the street. They put a ball an' chain to one of his ankles an' sent '1m out with the nigger gang, but all day yesterday an' today he hain't worked a lick. He's as stubborn as a mule. J Thar's been a crowd around Mm all the time. You kin see Mm standin* up as straight as a post in the middle of the street from one end of it to the other. I'm sorter sorry fer Mm; he looks like he's ashamed at bottom, but don't want to give in. The funniest thing about the whole thing is that Pole seems to know more about the law than the mayor. lie says unless they force hiui to work In the specified ten days they can't hold him any longer, an' that if they attempt to flog Mm he'll kill the first man that lays hands on him. I think Bill Barrett likes him IS- ~ n "Look hcer. Bishop," he snld. too well to have Mm whipped, an' the whole town Is guyin' him an' axin' Mm why he don't make Pole set in." Alan went down the street to see Pole. He found him seated on a large stone, a long handled rock hammer at his feet. He looked up from under his broad brimmed hat, and a crestfallen look came into his big brown eyes. "I'm sorry to see this, Pole," said Alan. Pole stood up at his full height, the chain clanking as be rose. "They hain't treated me right about this matter, Alan Bishop," he said, half resentfully, half as if he recognized his own error. "Bill knows he hain't done the fair thing. I know I was full, but I jest wanted to have iny fun. That don't justify him in puttin* me out heer with these niggers fer folks to gap' at, an' he knows it. He ain't a friend right. Me an' him has slep' together on the same pile o' leaves, an' I've let 'im pull down on a squirrel when I could 'a' knocket it from its perch, an' I've lent 'im my pointer an' gun many an' many a time. But he's showed what he is! He's got the wrong sow by the yeer, though, fer ef he keeps me heer till Christmas I'll never crack a rock unless I do it by accidentally steppin' on it. Mark my words, Alan Bishop, thar'll be trouble out o' this." "Don't talk that way, Pole," said Alan. "You've broken the law, and they had to punish you for it. If they hadn't, they would have made them selves ridiculous. Why didn't you send me word you were in trouble, Pole?" The fellow hung his head and then blurted out: "Beca'se I knowed you would make a fool o' yorese'f an' try to pay me out. Durn it, Alan Bishop, this ain't no business o' yore'n!" "I'll make it my business," said Alan. "How much is your fine? You ought to have sent me word." "Sent you nothin', Alan Bishop," growled the prisoner. "When I send you word to lie'p me out of a scrape that whisky got me into, I'll do it after I've decently cut my throat! I saywhen you've plead with me like you have to quit the durn stuff!" At this point of the conversation Jeff Dukes, a man of medium size, dressed in dark blue uniform, with a nickel plated badge shaped like a shield and bearing the words "Marshal No. 2," came directly toward them from a stonecutter's shop near by. "Look heer, Bishop," he said dictatorially, "wliar'd you git the right to talk to that man ?" Alau looked surprised. "Am I breaking the law too?" "You are ef you hain't got a permit from the mayor In yore pocket." "Well, I have no permit," replied Alan with a good natured smile. "Have you got another ball und chain handy V The officer frowned off his Inclination to treat the matter as a jest. "You on to have more sense than that." he said mistily, "role's put out heer to work his time out, an' ef everybody in town is allowed to laugh an' joke with hiui he'd crack about as many rocks us you or me." "You are a durn liar, Jeff Dukea," said l'ole ungril.v. "You are a-makiu' that up to humiliate me furder. You j know no law like that never was enforced. Ef I ever git you out In Pea Vine destrict, I'll knock a dent in that egg shaped head o' yor'n an' make them eyes look two ways fer Sunday. You know a gentleman like Alan Bishop wouldn't notice you under ordinary circumstances, an' so you trump up that excuse to git bis attention." The twd men glared at each other, but Pole seemed to get the best of that sort of combat, for the officer only growled. "You can insult a man when you are under arrest," he said, "beca'se you know I am under bond to keep the peace. But I'm uot afeerd of you." "They tell me you are afeerd o' sperIts, though," retorted the prisoner. "They tell me a little nigger boy that was shot when a passle o' skunks went to whip bis daddy fer vagrancy stands at the foot o' yore bed ever' night. Oh, I know what I'm talkin' about!" "Yes, you know a lots," said the man sullenly as his eyes fell. To avoid encouraging the disputants further Alan walked suddenly away. The marshal took willing advantage of the opportunity and followed him. "1 could make a case agin you." he said, catching up, "but I know you didn't mean to violate the ordinance." "No, of course I didn't," said Alan, "but I want to kuow If that fellow could be released if 1 paid bis fine." "You are not fool enough to do it, are you?" "That's what I am." "Have you got the money in yore pocket?" The officer was laughing, as ir at a goou joae. "1 have." "Well"?the marshal laughed again as be swung his short club round by a string that fastened It to his wrist? "well, you come with me. an' I'll show you a man that wants $30 wuss than any man I know of. I don't believe Bill Burrett has slept a wink sence this thing happened. He'll be tickled to death to git off so easy. The town has deviled the life out of him. He don't go by whar Pole's at work?I mean, wliar he ain't at work?fer Pole yells at Mm whenever he sees Mm." That night when Alan reached home be seut a servant over to tell Mrs. Baker that Pole was all right and that he'd be home soon. He bad eaten hie supper aud had gone upstairs to go to bed when be heard bis name called outside. Going to a window and looking out. he recognized Pole Baker standing at the gate In the clear moonlight "Alan." he said softly, "come down heer a minute. I want to see you." Alan went down and Joined him. For a mnmont Pnie stood leaning against tbe fence. Lie eyes bidden by bis broad brimmed slouch bat "Did you want-to see me, Pole?" Alan asked. "Yes. 1 did." the fellow swallowed. He made a motion as If to reach out bis band, but refrained. Then be looked straight Into Alau's face. "I couldn't go to sleep till I'd said some'n' to you," he began, with another gulp. "1 laid down an' made a try at It, but It wasn't no go. I've got to say It I'm beer to swear that et God or some'n' else don't show me a way to pay you back fer what yon done today I'll never draw a satisfied breath. Alan Bishop, yo're a man?a man from yore outside skin to the marrow o' yore bones, an' ef I dont find some way to prove what I think about you I'll jest burn up! I got into that trouble as thoughtless as I'd play a prank with my baby, an' then they all come down on me an' begun to try to drive me like a hog out'n a field with rocks an' sticks, an' the very old Harry riz in me an' defied 'em. I reckon tbar wasn't anything Bill could do but curry out the law, an' I knowed it, but 1 wasn't ready to admit it Then you come along an' rendered a verdict In my favor when you needed the money you did it with. Alan, ef I dou't show my appreciation It '11 be beca'se 1 don't live long enough. You never axed me but one thing, an' that was to quit drinkin' whisky. I'm goin' to make a try at it, not beca'se I think that 'U pay you back, but beca'se with a sober bead I kin be a better friend to you ef the chance ever comes my way." "I'm glad to hear you say that Pole." replied Alan, greatly moved by the fellow's earnestness. "I believe you can do it. Then your wife bl 1 children"? "Hung my wife an' children!" snorted Pole. "It's you I'm goln' to work fer?you. I say!" He suddenly turned through the open gate and strode homeward across the fields. Alan stood looking after him till his tall form was lost In the hazy moonlight, and then he went up to his bed. Pole entered the open door of his cabin and began to undress as he sat on the side of his crude bedstead, made of unbarked poles fastened to the bare logs In one corner of the room. His wife and children slept on two beds on the other side of the room. "Did you see Mm, Pole?" piped up Mrs. Baker from the darkness. "Yes. I seed Mm. Sally, say, whar's that bottle o' whisky I bad the last time I was at home?" M'here was an ominous silence. Out of it rose the soft breathing of the chll dreu. Then the woman sighed. "Pole, shorely you ain't a-goln' to begin > agin?" "No; I want to bu'st It into smithereens. I don't want it about; I don't want to know thar's a drap In the house. I've swore off, an' this time she sticks. Gl' me that bottle." Another silence. Suddenly the woman spoke: "Pole, you've swore off as many times as a dog has fleas. Often when I feel bad an' sick when you are off, a drap o' whisky makes me feel better. I don't want you to destroy the last bit in the house jest beca'se you've tuck this turn, that may wear off before daylight. The last time you emptied that keg on the ground an* swore off you got on a spree an' helt the baby over the well an' threatened to drap 'er in ef I didn't find a bottle; an' you'd 'a' done it too." Pole laughed softly. "I reckon yo're right, ole gal," he said. "Besides, ef I can't?ef I ain't man enough to let up with a bottle in the house I won't do it without. But the sight or smell of it is hell itse'f to a lover of the truck. Ef I was to tell you what a little thing started me on this last spree, you'd laugh. I went to git a shave in a barber shop, an' when the barber finished he soaked my face in bay rum, an' It got in my mustache. I kept smellin* jtt all mornin' an' tried to wipe it off, but she wouldn't wipe. All the time I\ kept walkin' up an' down In front o' Luke Sellmore's bar. Finally I said to myself, 'Well, ef you have to have a barroom stuck under yore nose all day like a wet sponge, old man, you mought as well have one whar it '11 taste better, an' I slid up to the counter." The woman sighed audibly, but she made no reply. "Is Billy awake?" Pole suddenly asked. "No; you know he ain't," said Mrs. Baker. "Well, I want to take 'im in my bed." Pole stood out on the floor in the sheet of moonlight that fell through the open door. "I wouldn't, Pole," said the woman. "The pore little feller's been toddlln' about after the others, draggin' bresh to the heaD tell he's tired. He drapped to sleep at the; table with a piece o' bread In his mouth." "1 won't wake 'lm, God bless his little heart." answered Pole, and he reached down ^nd took the limp child In his arms and pressed him against the side of his face. He carried him tenderly across the room and lay down with him. His wife beard him uttering endearing things to the unconscious child until she fell asleep. TO BH CONTINUED. THE ENGLISH DRUNKARD. Severe Penalties of the Recently Enacted Law. Drunkards are not lost to a knowllge of things. (Nay, many long enjoy ed the full exercises of their talents; some, naturalljj lovable men, remain lovable. And against these, as against 'he majority of indifferent Intelligence a new act of parliament is levelled. They now stand In altered relation to the law. Henceforth for them there will be more of menace and peril In the aspect of a policeman. Heretofore a necessary condition to getting into trouble was that a man should be both Irunk and Incapable. Now it will be enough that he be drunk. Persons seen drunk in a public place can now be* summarily dealt with. Any person found In that condition while in charge of a young child becomes liable to a i xi'lt Vi hard In rnoiuii h impiinuiiiiiciii, >< <. > _ ? bor. A record is to be made of the names of habitual drunkards, and this record will be supplied to license holders, who must not thenceforward serve any one so pilloried on pain of being fined $10 and upward. Moreover, any one "treating" a convicted habitual drunkard will be liable to be fined forty shillings or sent to jail at hard labor for a month. As for the convicted habitual drunkard himself, if within three years of his conviction he merely applies to be served with drink, he can be fined ?1. On this subject Alderman G. A. Smith, writing in the National Temperance League's Annual, says: "Thus, provided that where an order of detention could be made under the Inebriate Act. even if it is not thought desirable, or if it is found Impracticable to send the drunkard to an Inebriate reformatory, the court will be able to take steps to prevent him from obtaining liquor on licensed premises or at a registered club. Similar orders will, no doubt, be made in most cases where detention in a reformatory is ordered, and with the active co-operation of the police should prove an effective means of preventing the relapse into drunkenness of persons whose discharge f- om reformatories on license is notifies to the police." The public, the alderman thinks, will act wisely in leaving to the police, for the present, at all events, the duty of putting the law into force. In his opinion the manner in which this is done will largely depend upon the encouragement they receive from the magistrates in dealing with offending publications. The home secretary's "instructions" contain a suggestion to the police that they relieve the publican and his potman of responsibility "to expel from licensed premises any ?* ttl/vlnn^ rinnrrnl. person wno i? uiuun, .iv.ci, some or disorderly." All clubs where Intoxicating drinks were sold must, under the new law, be registered. It has been made an offence to supply or keep Intoxicating liquor in an unregistered club. A court of supreme jurisdiction may make an order directing a club to be struck off the register on certain grounds, and a justice may grant a search warrant to a constable when there is ground for supposing that a registered club is mismanaged, or that intoxicants are being supplied at an unregistered club. New applications for grocers' licenses can be refused by the Justices. The renewal of any license hereafter granted for the first time can be subsequently refused, in the exercise of the "free and unqualified djscretion" of the bench. Grocers' licenses in force on June 25, 1902, cannot be refused except on snecial grounds, so long as they are held by the persons who then held j them. The new act also introduces modifications into the law with respect to the annual licensing meetings, alteration to licensed premises, procedure on transfers, the confirmation of licenses, the costs of justices and applications for occasional licenses. t-rr Fortune awaits a poker players palmist who can accurately read his opponents hand. ? tti' When two women talk the subject of their conversation is conspicuously absent. fovfe's Ortagcnarians. SAMUEL M. ROACH. For the second time since the publication of these sketches was commenced, we are enabled to go out of the list of octogenarians, and give the portrait of a nonegenarian. The first In the list of those who had passed the ninety year mark was Mr. Thomas McGlll of King's Creek, and today's If Dnn/ik iirVtn OUUJCtL 19 1UI. oailiuci ATX* XVUU.V I k, T*?*w lives near Rock Hill and who, so far as we have positive Information, Is the oldest male citizen of York county. He Is ninety-two years of age. Mr. Roach's father came to this country from Ireland and served through the war of 1812 as a major in the American army. He built the house in which the son, Mr. Samuel Roach, Is now living, in the year 1811. the year of Mr. Samuel Roach's birth. mHB^HnBBH SAMUEL M The house Is rather an unusual one. It is walled Inside with brick, plastered over, and every nail used in Its construction was forged by hand on the premises. The building cost about $2,000 and Is still In a fairly good state of preservation, notwithstanding Its ninety-two years of service. Mr. Roach was raised a farmer. Although endowed by nature with fine intellect, and thoroughly Instructed In all that went to make a man of sterling character, he never sought political or soCial prominence. He was content all of his long life to devote himself strictly to attending to his own business, and after his marriage especially gave his entire attention to the requirements of his growing family. His wife was Miss Morv Wnrkmnn who died In SeDtem ber. 1895, aged eighty-two years. As the result of the marriage there are seven children living as follows: John M. and Wm. T. Roach, in Texas; Mrs. William Edwards in Tennessee: T. J. and R. W. Roach at Rock Hill; Sam M. Roach, Jr., at Ogden, and Mrs. W. T. Sturgls, who also lives near Rock Hill. Mr. Roach has been a member of Ebenezer church for nearly half a century, and since boyhood has enjoyed a reputation for upright character and correct living. He has probably never had a dollar except what he made | himself on his own farm, and he has the reputation of never having bought a pound of meat or a bushel of corn in his life. The neighborhood of which Mr. Roach's home Is the centre, for a radius of two miles at least, is entitled to especial distinction for the longevity of its inhabitants. A Mrs. Sturgis, near there, died at one hundred and two: John Campbell died at eightytwo, and his wife died at seventy-two; James Jones died at seventy-seven, and his wife, Rhoda Jones, died at eighty-four: Mrs. Mary Allen died at eighty-four and her daughter, Miss Mary Allen, died at eighty-two; Mrs. Jincy Henry died at eighty-two: A. T. Black at seventy-two, and his wife died at seventy-three; Samuel Sturgis is living at eighty-five, and his wife, who died some years ago. was seventy-six. Mr. Roach, although feeble on account of his advanced age, is still able u-nlk- nhniit and durine most of the time his mind continues clear. Halifax.?The evil repute of Halifax implied in the adage "Go to Halifax!" came to it by Inheritance from Halifax In Yorkshire, England. Halifax law. as may be gathered from a letter of Lord Leicester quoted by Motley, was that criminals should be "condemned first and Inquired upon afterward." Halifax lay within the forest of Hardiwlck, where the law was that if - 1 --* ' u'Uh t Vi \ ppn nnrl cl IflUil M an iaat11 ?? t v?i w?... M..~ a half pence worth of stolen goods he should be tried by four flrth burgers from four of the precinct towns and if condemned by them be hanged the next day. After this proceeding had been carried out to the letter the case might be sent to a Jury. Halifax is also credited with being the home of the guillotine, which the regent, Earl Morton, introduced into Scotland, only to have his own head chopped off with it. THE THIRD TERM. Cleveland, Van Buren and Jackson Thrice Nominated for President. Mr. Cleveland's third term seems still to be the stock in discussion of the political situation. It strikes a con temporary wno nas uvea tnrougn three Cleveland campaigns as somewhat amusing, the soberness with which this candidacy is received, the solemnity with which Mr. Cleveland is advised that the Father of his Country never considered a third term; that, indeed, when such Lupercalian honor . ROACH. was offered him for the third time he refused. George Washington Is held up for Grover Cleveland's Imitation. Like entangling alliances, the third term is decided according to the opinion of the first American. Yet Mr. Cleveland has run the campaign gauntlet three times already, and he has such illustrious predecessors as Martin Van Buren and Andrew Jackson, all of them honorable Democrats. And one distinguished Republican? General U. S. Grant?would not have scorned a third nomination if the Garfield dark horse had not proved so swift a steed. Jackson and Cleveland, in fact, have each been elected three times to the presidency of the United States?if, of course, ours was truly a popular and not a representative government. Jackson was elected in 1824 with an electoral vote of 99, against the 84 for John Quincy Adams; but with Clav of Kentucky and Crawford of Georgia, to break the solid south, he failed in getting a majority of the electoral vote and the house seated Adams in the presidential chair. By popular vote he won out by 50,000, increasing that to 138,000 in 1828 and 157,000 in 1832. This gathering of momentum doubtless gives apocryphal color to the story that in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina they are voting "Ginneral Jackson" yet. Cleveland presents a similar case of having increased his popular plurality in three successive elections from 23,005 in 1884, to 99,524 in 1888 and to 380,960 in 1892. The electoral vote of the middle contest did not answer to the popularity of Mr. Cleveland, Harrison getting 233 to Cleveland's 169, whereas in the second struggle be tween tnem Harrison won no electoral votes, while Cleveland carried off 277. It Is evidently then permitted a man to be thrice elected president of the United States, but he must not be three times president. The fates will, without doubt, take care of this, and man may cease his worrying, and, if it seems good to Mr. Cleveland and to the Democratic party?he may be permitted to make the run for the fourth time. His third plurality fell a trifle short of 400,000. McKinley's pluralities over Bryan both ran near the million mark, so that there is a possibility nf niovahind iruikinc a SflO.OOO Dlurali ty ami yet losing the confirmation of the Electoral College. If this be comfort we would make the most of it should 1904 present the phenomenon of a fourth nomination.?St. Paul Dispatch. ? ? His Particular Moon.?"A young friend of mine." said Senator Joseph W. Bailey, "married, not long ago. a woman of fifty years. She was rich and ugly: he was handsome and poor. "The day after their wedding I met the hride and groom on a Pullman train, traveling west. The groom went into the smoking compartment with me, and we lighted up. He smoked gloomily. He was silent a long while. "Well, Jack." I said, "so this is your honeymoon, eh?" "He smiled grimly. 'Don't call it my honevmoon.' he said, 'It's the harvest moon with me.'" ' CHINESE HIGHBINDERS. The Oaths They Take and the Mothods They Employ. Few people, even In San Francisco, have a correct idea of the Chinese highbinder and the cause of the frequent wars in the Chinese quarter. The word highbinder is, perhaps, a localism, and it has no special meaning. It was applied by the police to the societies of Chinese assassins because iney aid noi Know me names 01 me societies. According to the statements of a Christianized Chinese to one of the mission teachers, there are In this city several such societies, with a membership of from fifty to perhaps 200 each. They have names Indicating that they are "bands of brotherhood," but the members are professional assassins and will kill anyone for pay. They are bound by oaths, like the Carbonnaira of Italy, and a traitor meets death at the hands of one of the members, who is selected by lot. The organizations differ in detail, but the main object of all is the same?to rob anl murder. The ohganization of one of the largest highbinder societies in 'he^Chinese quarter is partly described by this Christianized Chinaman, who was certainly a member, but who said hat his "cousin" told him. They are a chief, a second chief, a secretary, an "introducer" and eight swordsmen., I'he candidate for admission unplalts his queue, indicating his abject sub inission to his superior omcers. He is then led into the room by the official introducer, a red robe is thrown over him and he is required to kneel under an arch of eight swords. One of 'hese swordsmen places the blade of a ^ wo id upon the back of the candidate's neck as an indication of his fate if he betrays his associates. The chief, tressed in red. sits on a small platform, which is draped in the same color, and to his right is the book conraining the oaths, passwords and signs of the order. In a raid a few. years ago the police captured one of these books and had it translated. The society then adopted a new manual. There are a number of oaths, the principal one binding the members to obey the orders of the society without question and the rules prescribe penalties for refusal. When the candidate is taking the oath his finger is pierced with a needle and the blood drops into a glass of wine held by the member who stands sponsor for him. They both drink from the glass, signifying that they are of the sanie society and of the same "blood relationship." The grips and passwords are then communicated to him and he is now a full-fledged highbinder?an assassin for pay. When the society receives a commission to kill a man, a good hatchet man is selected to do the bloody work. Or, If It Is a war, the society details a number of its bept shots. The blood money goes into the common fund and Is used for the defence of criminals, care of the wounded and pension If sent to the state's prison. The surplus is divided according to the rank and services rendered. If a highbinder is killed while in the discharge of his bloody work the society gives mm a large funeral, sends his bones to China and pays his family a small pension. A society will not abandon any of Its members in trouble and will fee a lawyer as long as it has a dollar or can get funds by forced loans or threats of assassination. These societies levy tribute upon merchants and if not paid robbery, and perhaps assassination, follows. They terrorize the depraved women and collect from them sums weekly; also from the owners of these women. If the owner refuses to be blackmailed they steal or forcibly take one of his women and hold her for a reward or sell her to some other bagnio keeper. Sometimes the bagnio keeper hires a rival society to protect his dens. Then there is a war between two highbinder societies. When one society Invades the district of another a war Is the result. The rival bands of outlaws have the Chinese quarter divided and it Is a violation of treaty to plunder or murder In each others territory. The gaming houses are a steady source of revenue, paying an agreed sum weekly to be let alone. The highbinder societies are a terror to the merchants, who would gladly see them driven out of the city. Then peace would reign In the Chinese quarter.?San Francisco News Letter. HOW FIRES MAY START. Several Things That Will Cause Spontaneous Combustion. Damp lampblack will ignite from the sun's rays. The same can be said of cotton waste moist with lard or other animal oil. Lampblack and a little oil or water will under certain conditions ignite spontaneously. Nitric acid and charcoal create spontaneous combustion. New printers' ink on paper when in contact with a steam pipe will ignite quickly. Boiled linseed oil and turpentine in equal parts on cotton waste will ignite in a few hours under a mild heat and will in time create enough heat to ignite spontaneously, says Cassier's Magazine. Bituminous coal should not be stored where it will come in contact with wood partitions or columns or against warm boiler settings or steam pipes. This coal should not be very deep if it is to be kept in storage for a long period. If piled in the basement of a building it should be shallow and free from moisture and under good ventilation. That liable to absorb moisture should be burned first If on fire a small quantity of water showered on this kind of coal chokes it and retards any great supply of water reaching the fire, thus necessitating the over hauling of the pipe. Iron chips, filings or turnings should not be stored in a shop in wooden boxes. The only waste wmcn is not lmrequeiuiy uuumi among them adds to the danger of fire from this source. The sweeping from the machine shop, If kept on hand, should never be placed over iron shavings. This mass of disintegrated iron is enough to incite heat and combustion. Iron and steel filings and turnings when mixed with oil will ignite spontaneously after becoming damp. A steam pipe against wood will cause the latter to ignite spontaneously after being carbonized, particularly if superheated steam enters the pipe, thus increasing the temperature.