University of South Carolina Libraries
Scraps and .facts. ?The directors of the Dallas, Texas, Commercial club have called a National convention, to be held in Dallas on October 8, to consider the boll weevil situation in the cotton growing districts. The attendance of delegates from all the cotton growing states and of representatives from the national department of agriculture is desired. Since the efforts of the rtate government of Texas, which offered a reward of $50,000 for a remedy, have failed, it is desired that the national government aid the movement by employing scientific knowledge and inventive genius in behalf of the end sought. While the boll weevil ravages in Texas this year are much less than last year, still the feeling prevails that only by constant vigilance and the most extensl%-e and comprehensive efforts can he best be kept from extending into the entire cotton growing section of the United States. ? Under instructions from the state department, says a Washington dispatch, Robert P. Skinner, the American consul general at Marseilles will penetrate the wilds of Abyssinia, guarded by a detachment of American marines from the European squadron. He goes to negotiate with the king of Abyssinia a commercial treaty, which, it is hoped, will give important advantages to American trade. The navy department has informed the state department that either the Machias, now at Port Said, or the San Francisco, which is lying off Beirut, will be available to take Mr. Skinner to Jibuti. From there the consul general will be accompanied by a marine guard of sixteen men and will visit the capital of Abyssinia and Herar. State department officials say Mr. Skinner's mission is of a confidential character and they refuse to make public its details. In the event that the San Francisco is selected to convey Mr. Skinner to Jubuti, she will be replaced by the Machias unless the American ships are ordered from Beirut before his departure. ? Sir William Willcocks, the wellknown British expert on Irrigation and late director general of the irrigation works in Egypt, now proposes to restore Chaldea to its ancient productiveness and glory by means of irrigation. The Tigris river bears much the same relation to Chaldea that the Nile does to Egypt and might be made now as it undoubtedly was in ancient times, the great resource of the country. Bagdad lies about 500 miles up the Tigris, and from it to the Persian gulf spreads a desolate barren country which was one of the most fertile districts in the east. At Opis, on the banks of the Tigris, once the wealthiest mart of the east, are the ruins of the mouth of the great Nahrwan canal, which fertilized an area of 4,600 square miles. The Tieris was gradually di verted from its old bed, the mouth of the canal silted up and the country became a desert. It would require an outlay of $40,000,000 to reclaim about 1,250.000 acres of the best of this land, which would, according to Sir William Willcocks, produce a rental of $19,200,000. ? The state department, says a Washington dispatch, of September 21, has received a long cablegram from Minister Irishman at Constantinople, but nothing was given out regarding it, except the informal statement that it contained no alarming news and was, in part, concerned with routine business. The withdrawal of the American squadron from Beirut, it was said, has not yet been determined on, and no intimation has yet been received from Oyster Bay as to the president's intentions in the matter. Communications have reached the state department urging this government to say or do something that will put a stop to the atrocities in Turkey. It is said that this pressure does not emanate from missionary officials. At the state department, the officials are uncommunicative as to the feeling with which the alleged atrocities in Turkey are viewed by the people of the United States, but they say that reports from Turkey show that the deeds daily perpetrated in sections of that country are of such a character as to shock civilization and necessarily are of deep concern to the United States. ? The London Daily Mail's Sofia correspondent telegraphs that paper as follows: "One of the revolutionary chiefs has informed me that the revolutionists are massing thousands of men at various points on the frontier and their laboratories are working incessantly to replenish their stock of bombs and explosives. They do not count much on war between Turkey and Bulgaria, but on the day they hear that the meeting between the czar and Emneror Francis Joseoh has not had the desired result for Macedonia, the world will witness the beginning of massacres, burning and destruction compared with which the Turkish atrocities will seem child's play. The banner of revolution, my informant says, will be unfurled in all the border districts. Every city and village, whether the inhabitants are friends or foes, will be destroyed, and such a state of anarchy will be caused that the Turks will step out voluntarily and leave the country to the Macedonian survivors. We have selected the frontier districts for these final operations so that Europe may hear the despairing cries of the dying nation which the Turks would stifle." ? Washington dispatch of September 18: A statement just presented by the department of commerce and labor, through its bureau of statistics, shows that importations of goatskins into the United States are now running at the rate of $2ii.000.000 per annum, and that a large share of these are brought from India. China, Arabia, and Southeastern Russia. The increasing popularity of certain classes of kid leather for footwear, as well as gloves, has increased very greatly the demand for goatskins in the United States within recent years. In lSS.r> the value of goatskins imported was about $4,000,000: by 1890 it had grown to $! ,000.000, by 1S9X it was $lf?.000.000: in 1900 it was $22,000.000. and in 1903, $2;1.000.000. in round numbers. The farmers of the United States are apparently making no effort to reap any part of this golden harvest for themselves. The census of 1900 showed the total number of goats in the United States to be less than 2.000. 000 in number, and when it is under- er stood that the skins of probably 20,- el 000,000 goats were required to make the G $25,000,000 worth imported last year, it tr would be seen that the supply from the United States could have formed but a small share of the total consumption. Yet the fact that a large share of our g? supply of this important import comes from India, China, France and Mexico sc suggests that there are large areas 0I in the United States which might produce goats successfully and in suffl- b< eiently large numbers to supply the en- cc lire home demand. U1 $Kkvtllr (frnquim. ? influence his oath. fc is Several newspapers are curious to ^ know the source of Chief Justice R Pope's advice to the effect that the Fairfield bar had unanimously agreed to postponement of the regular term of j the court so as to allow Judge Town- r{ send to preside at Lexington. The Enquirer has it second handed: but j nevertheless straight that the repre- ,p sentation came through a single mem- .g ber of the bar, and that member was very much interested. Chief Justice Pope, however, can clear up the mystery if he will, and under the circumstances it seems to be his duty to do so. V 01 The political situation in Great Britain is of more than ordinary interest just now. The policy of Great Britain ju was formerly protection. After a q bitter fight extending over several ^ years, the free trade idea prevailed, and for more than half a century Great m Britain has stood alone with ports open -p to the manufactures and other products jj( of the world. The reason was simple g enough probably. At the time of the fc adoption of free trade Great Britain had the advantage of all other coun- tc tries in most lines of manufactures, and she could very well afford to throw fe open her doors in the hope that other countries would eventually follow suit. n) But as the result of the protection pol- ni icy that has been followed by other manufacturing countries without ex- n( ception, several of them have become t strong competitors with Great Britain. Ji A few of the leading British statesmen, L notably Joseph Chamberlain, have real- m ized for some time past that the free re trade policy of Great Britain is not a p( success?that it gives advantages to hi foreigners at the expense of home peo- T pie. Some few months ago. Mr. Cham- gi berlain suggested the adoption of a it, new tariff policy under which prefer- to en tin 1 treatment would be accorded to at the British colonies, and advantageous th trades would be made with foreigners. Ci The British people, however, are not at yet ready to change a policy that has io been in existence for more than two M generations and they do not take read- fo ily t?? Mr. Chamberlain's suggestions. Because of the unpopularity of his m idea, Mr. Chamberlain has resigned, nc This means that he and his few follow- bl ers intend to tight the question out be- T1 fore the people, and although, it is fo e\ inent mat things are not now very I su icouraging for such a movement, the < lances are that within a year or two i reat Britain will have discarded free , ade and adopted protection. 1 Vagrancy. Many newspapers of the state are en- ( iged in calling especial attention to ' te vagrancy evil, and urging that imething be done to enforce the laws ' 1 the subject. 1 That the vagrant is a leech on the )dy politic goes without saying. He 1 msumes without producing, and he is < tn tho WPlfflfP ftf the >mmunity in which he lives, and in is idleness is constantly hatching ouble for those who cheerfully bear le full responsibilities of life. This is le local stationary vagrant. His rother, the tramp, is of identical deiription except that he is an even ore serious menace to the public well;ing and safety. But we are not looking for a great sal of improvement in the immediate iture. The vagrant has been with us >r a long time, and there seems to be nt little hope of getting rid of him. irtual outcast though he is, he usual has friends of respectability and inuence, and these generally step in to rotect him in his objectionable condlon. Every town of a few hundred inhabants has its vagrants and a majority the inhabitants of these towns ould be glad to see the crime of varancy punished; but up to this time, cperience has not shown that punishient is practicable. Efforts commence equently enough by the enactment of ,ws that appear to cover the case; but lese efforts seldom extend to the en rcement of such laws. If we examine the whole question anestly and dispassionately, we will enerally find ourselves arriving at the >nclusion that although the vagrant a nuisance and a menace, we are .eking in sufficient manhood to weed Im out. MERE-MENTION. Walter Ackerman, postmaster of artersville, Ga., who struck Sam Jones ist week, was fined $10 by the mayor ist Saturday. Jones was dismissed ithout a fine Burglars made an nsuccessful attempt last Friday night ) blow up two safes in the postoffice t Clinton, N. C Deputy United tates Marshal W. P. Gamble, of San rancisco, committed suicide on Saturay because he was detected in an ef>rt to defraud the government in the ibstitution of young Chinamen for Id ones, in violation of the Chinese cclusion law The Associated Press jports that under no circumstances ill the powers of Europe allow Turey to occupy Bulgarian territory and >r this reason it is believed that there not a great deal of danger of war.... aymaster B. C. Sherman, of the Ameran Wool and Cotton company, was eld up by highwaymen near Woon)cket, R. I., last Saturday and robbed ' $3,000 Charlotte capitalists are rranging for the development of 3,500 orse power on Catawba river between aston and Mecklenburg counties. heir plan is to build a dam and translit the power in the forrti of electricy There was a light frost in sev-al localities of the Texas cotton belt st Friday night; but it did no appreable damage The Negroes of the orth are wearing a Republican camaign button representing President oosevelt and Booker Washington at inner together. The word "equality" printed underneath A woman ither was drowned at Ocean City, N. , last Friday. The sea was still rough ? the result of the storm a few days sfore and the under tow of a big ave carried her out beyond her depth. TRIAL OF JAMES H. TILLMAN. Is Expected to Commence During This Week. Lexington, September 20.?Special: verything now appears to be ready >r the trial of James H. Tillman, who charged with the murder of N. G. onzales. At the last term of court, for ichland county, upon motion of counil for the defence, the case was transirred to Lexington county. It is now ght months since the tragedy occur>d, and in that time two continuances ave been granted. Lexington is not ^customed to such trials as that of illman promises to be, and the village already quite crowded with those invested in the case. There are two leading hotels here nd all their accommodations are al>ady engaged. All of the counsels for illman are here, as follows: George T. Croft of Aiken; Patrick H. Nelson J r'AliivviUio riaA??oro TrtVinof Ana I uinuja , ucwi uuiuioiviit V/J. ewberry; Osmund W. Buchanan of 'innsboro; George R. Rembert of Coimbia; Efird & Dreher of Lexington; eorge Tillman Graham of Lexington; r. H. Sharpe of Lexington. Solicitor Thurmond is here and toorrow his associates will arrive, he counsel for the prosecution are SoL-itor T. Wm. Thurman, G. Duncan ellinger of Columbia; Andrew Crawird of Columbia; William Elliott, Jr., ! Columbia; E. L. Asbill of Lexing>n. Mr. Miller of Lexington, was enrged for the prosecution, but died a fw days ago. Judge Gary came here on the afteraon train and is quartered at the Kaiier hotel. There will be a great number of jwspaper men here to handle the trial, he advance guard consists of Mr. E. jstice of the New York World; Mr. oomis, artist for the World; Mr. Paul . Brice of the Record, and this cor(Spondent. A host of other corres>ndents from all parts of the country lve engaged quarters for the trial, he Westion Union and Postal Tele aph companies have caught the spir, and have both constructed lines in- < i the town close to the court house, 1 id have detailed expert men to handle ie reports. Assistant Superintendent II vert and Messrs. Webb and Rosson i e nere to iook alter tne western unit business, and Manager Powell and i essrs. Hughes and Carson are here r the Postal Telegraph company. Tonight the programme is for Tillan to be arraigned tomorrow after- 1 ton. He may waive the arraignment, ' it whether he does or not Solicitor i hurniond will ask that a tfay be set 1 r the trial of the case, and he will i iggest a day after conference with his 1 YORKVILLE, S. C.: v ]y TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22,1903. fl __ pi The good roads question seems to have bogged in a mud hole. jt O) There is no further active opposi- w tion to rural delivery, and there is no g] probability that congress will try to e: undo anything it has done along this rr line. Rural delivery is strong with the fr people. la tl The article on another page in oppo- fc sition to the dispensary law will be of interest to many of our readers, not h< only because of the generally sound g< views expressed: but also because they c< will remember the writer as a former is strong believer in this law. la According to Secretary Hester, the total cotton brought into sight during the first eighteen days of September was only 216,668 bales against 596,592 C bales during the same period of last la year. Considering the high price pre- la vailing this indicates a decidedly back- w ward crop. u: The New England Cotton mills are still pursuing a hand to mouth policy S in the purchase of cotton, evidently F believing that prices will soon be lower, di We are not prepared to say that these mills are not correct in their anticipa- si tions; but at the same time we shall not be sorry if they get caught in the e: same predicament that befell Euro- r< pean spinners last year on account of w pursuing the same policy. to ? . f< Colonel M. V. Richards, land and is industrial agent of the Southern railway, is trying to work out a plan to 'c raise $35,000 with which to pay the ex- hl pense of a South Carolina exhibit at s< the World's Fair. He suggests that 01 the banks of the state undertake the ai work, and apportions the amount to be raised by the banks of each town on a ? basis of population. Fort Mill is as- T sessed at $300; Yorkville at $400 and n: Rock Hill at $1,000. Unfortunately, however, there appears to be but little e" interest in the proposition in this sec- 'a lion. c' n< Spartanrtrg juries have the repu- ^ tation of being made up of pretty good stuff: but we are of opinion that the jury in the Pitts case allowed its sympathies to get the better of its judg- j ment. We do not think there was any ai malice in the killing that was done by b Pitts: but in carrying the concealed pistol, the real cause of the killing, he knowingly and wilfully violated the law, and he should have been convicted of manslaughter to say the least of it. Sympathy is all right in its place: but there is something wrong about the iuror who will allow his svmDathies to associates. Counsel will then discuss the best time to begin the case, and Judge Gary will set the day for the trial to begin; that .is, if there should be no hitch or fight. Both sides announce that they are ready for trial and are anxious to get into the trial, but there seems to be an indefinable feeling that the case will not go to trial here at this term of court. No one can exactly say why there Is this cloubt as to the case going to trial after the counsel and many of the witnesses are already here, but such seems to be the case. The accused, James H. Tillman, is in jail, where he is taking things easy. He nas declined to nave anytning to say about his case at this time, but is consulting with the counsel. Mrs. Jas. H. Tillman is here, and will remain during the trial. She visited her husband today. The chances are that the jail cases will first be taken up and disposed of, These can be concluded in two or three days, and the request will be made that the Tillman case be set for Wednesday or Thursday of this week. Senator Tillman went to Columbia, but is expected to return here tomorrow tc watch the progress of the case. The juries for the first and second week have been drawn and announced, and are said to be very good types oi a Lexington jury. The panel has beer closely scrutinized and studied by counsel. The impression is that should the case be started it will take fully a week or ten days, and probably twice that time to conclude the hearing. The effort to have a special trair run from here to Columbia every day after court adjourns has not yel been successful.?August Kqhn. Postponed Until Next Monday. Lexington, September 21.?The trla; of James H. Tillman for the murdei of N. G. Gonzales, will not take place before next Monday. As to whether it will be commenced then remains to be seen. Solicitor Thurmond tried to have the case set for Thursday; but counsel foi defense urged that since this case was not properly Lexington business, it snouiu nut ue auowea tu time preuedence. There w?s a recommendatlor from the grand jury to the effect thai the Tillman case should not be taker up until after the regular sessions docket had been disposed of for the reason that a contrary arrangement would necessitate the keeping over ol witnesses for a week or ten days longer than otherwise, entailing great expense on the county. Solicitor Thurmond argued that the objections urged by the grand jury, county officers and attorneys for the defense were of but little weight, because to discharge witnesses until the Monday following oi any other day would be a simple matter. In deciding the matter, Judge Garj said: "There is nothing in the posltior that outside lawyers or an outside case are 'persona non grata' here. They arc properly and legally here and have the same rights as other litigants. Wher a case is reached for trial it should be tried, in its proper place. However, ] cannot ignore those' considerations brought to my attention solemnly in s special presentment of the grand jurj and in the request of the county's fiscal officers, and I feel it my duty tc carry out their suggestions. Besides I cannot see that harm can be involved in this course." Judge Croft, for the defense, announced that it would be agreeable tc him to commence the trial on nexl Monday, and this arrangement was assented to by the prosecution. Senator Tillman, Colonel Jasper Talbert and Mr. O. W. Buchanan are here Mr. Buchanan was not announced as of counsel for defense. The hotels are not crowded yet; but ihey are quite full today,- and it is expected that they will be taxed to accommodate the visitors who will be here during next week. Penalty Fits the Crime.?Twelve months In jail and a fine of $1,00C was the sentence passed by the court of general sessions In Spartanburg or a man who plead guilty of operating s slot machine. The penalty might seerr unusually severe, but. It is claimed that there was no way by which the prisoner could escape it under the state law. Without going into the merits of the Spartanburg offense, the law must be commended, when we remember that the slot machine is the most pernicious form of gambling. II is a device which cannot be beaten by any player. It is robbery of the worst kind. It is within constant reach ol children, who often steal to play it, and there is no possible chance by which they can recover even a part of the losses. A few months ago the municipal authorities of Philadelphia decided that the scheme had to go, and after a raid by the police machines valued at $25,000 were burned at a public bon inc. winci tints nave aaupicu tnc same methods as they saw the necessity of it when the evil was spreading so rapidly.?Greenville News. ? Sabbath observation in Belgium is optional, especially in regard to the delivery of letters. Postage stamps have a tiny coupon at the bottom, on which is the legend, engraved both in French and Flemish, "Not to be delivered 011 Sunday." If the sender of the letter is a person of strong religious views, who believes in observing the Sabbath in every form, he permits the coupon to remain attached to the stamp, and the letter, which might be delivered on Sunday, does not go out of the receiving office until the following day. If, on the other hand, the sender of the letter has no scruples, he tears off the coupon, and the letter is delivered on Sunday, the same as any other day. A fine is imposed on the carrier for violating the instructions of the coupon. Coroner Holds the Office of Sheriff. When the coroner of Saluda county arrested the sheriff for murder recently. he took charge of the sheriff's office himself as the law in such cases provides. The sheriff was afterward released on bond but the coroner refused to give up the office. He claims that the sheriff must wait until his case has been passed on by a jury. The attorney general is now looking up the law with reference to the matter. LOCAL AFFAIXla. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. J. Q. Wray, Consul Commander?Requests a full attention of Woodmen of the World on Friday night, because of Important business being on hand. First National Bank?Asks you to place your account, either large or small, with It?and says It will be absolutely safe. They ask you to visit them when in town or write at any time. J. Q. Wray?Talks about hats for men nnH hftva n nrl qhvq ho ha a hata that are up to the limit in quality, style and variety. He has men's hats up to $5; boy's hats up to $1.50. J. M. Heath & Co.?Say that their Mr. J. L. Williams is back from the markets where he bought an unusually heavy stock of fall and winter goods. The goods are arriving daily and are being placed on exhibition as rapidly as possible. York Drug Store?Talks about the winter winds that will soon be blow, ing, and says that the best Insurance against chapped faces is its talcum powders?15c a box. s Sam M. Grist, Special Agent?Wants you to know that only healthy men with good personal and family records can get insurance in the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co. of Newark, N. J. , Strauss-Smith Co.?Says it bought Its goods to suit its friends and lays especial stress on Its large stock of lal dies' dress goods which is now arriving. They also say something in , regard to the purchase of staples before prices went up. 1 Jas. M. Starr & Co.?Tell you to get ' yourself right to stand the changes [ in the weather. To do this they recommend the use of Starr's liver reg1 ulator?a vegetable preparation, that they say is the best liver medicine. Heath-Elliott Mule Co.?Say that you L cannot fail to be impressed by the style and finish of the Summers buggies, which they say are the best ; on the market. They also sell other buggies, cheaper in price, but all of them guaranteed. Foushee Cash Store?Has received a I full line of toilet articles of all kinds and quotes some interesting prices on k what it has to offer. ' T. W. Speck, Jeweler?Has decided to t close out his line of chinaware and i Is offering some especial values in white and blue decorated ware and in Haviland and Carlsbad china. 1 C. P. Low ranee & Co.?Have a brand * of coffee that they sell for 15 cents a 3 pound that Is better than other coft fee sold on this market at the price. i WITHIN THE TOWN. t ? Mr. F. P. McCain now occupies the 1 north rooms in the Wilson building op? posite the court house. - ? Mr. D. E. Boney has removed his t insurance office to the rooms over the r Loan and Savings Bank. ?Mr. W. B. Moore is constructing a photograph gallery on the roof of the Health-Elliott livery building. ' ? The ruling price of cotton seed ' just now is 21 cents a bushel. The oil t mill people say this is about equal to 25 cents a bushel a month from now. ? The collecting business is starting out nicely. A number of business men report partial payments on notes that are not due until October and November. ? Quite an interesting meeting is in progress in Trinity church. Services are being held twice a day, at 3.30 and 7.45 p. m. Rev. W. I. Herbert is doing the preaching and his sermons are wonderfully interesting and impressive. SOUTHERN'S REPLY. The Southern railroad has replied to the recent recommendations of the ' grand Jury with reference to Bullock's creek trestle, etc. The reply comes from Superintendent J. A. Heether, through A. S. Clark, agent at Yorkvllle, to Mr. J. O. Walker, foreman. It is dated at Charleston, September 15, and reads as follows: "I have recommendation of the grand jury, which reached me through your ' office, reply to which has been delayed ' on account of my being absent from the city. "You can say to these gentlemen that we will have additional examination made of all tracks and bridges, : and will make an especial effort to prevent accidents on this division. As to the Bullock's creek trestle, you can ! say to them that this bridge was un' dergoing repairs at the time of the ac' cident at Fishing creek. 1 "It has been this company's inten1 tion to better the old S. C. & G. E. as 1 far as possible, and I think that the 1 public will admit that the track, bridges * and buildings, are in far better con! dition than prior to tha Southern hav! ing taken charge about fourteen ! months ago." ; HUCK'S DEFEAT. Mention was made recently of the preparation of the members of the King's ; Mountain Chapter D. A. R. to unveil a monument to the heroes of the "Battle ' of Brattonsville" on October 1. This 1 battle was fought July 12, 1780, and al though the people of this section generally are familiar with the circum' stances, the reproduction of the following brief account of it from Los^ sing's Field Book of the Revolution is 1 not out of place at this time: ! "About this time, Bill Cunningham and his 'Bloody Scouts' was spreading ' terror in Union and Spartanburg district, and also south of the Enoree. Against this monster, John McClure 1 was dispatched. He chased him across ! Union district, and almost thirty miles 1 further toward Ninety-Six. Four of 1 the scouts were captured, and carried 1 in triumph to Sumter's camp on the Waxhaw; their leader barely escaped. "Sumter was now gathering his little 1 army, and Huck proceeded to execute 1 his commission [to 'push the rebels as ' far as might be deemed convenient'] : as speedily as possible, before the new ly made brigadier (Sumter) should approach. He encamped upon the plantation of James Williamson* (now Brattonsville), and there passed the i night of the eleventh of July. At a little past midnight, Col. Nell, and the companies of Captains Bratton and McClure came down from Sumter's camp in Mecklenburg and cautiously approached the sleeping enemy in his encampment, which was in the middle of a lane. At dawn they entered each end of the lane, and fell upon Huck's party with fury. The surprise was complete, and for an hour a fierce battle ensued, when Huck, with Colonel Ferguson, of the Tory militia, was killed and the party dispersed. The whole patriot force was only one hundred and thirty-three men. McClure and his party, well mounted, pursued the fugitives almost to Rocky Mount, and within four hours the army of Huck [400 men] was as completely dissolved 1 as If they had never seen each other. Colonel Nell lost only one of his com- ( mand. a "The defeat of Huck had an important bearing upon the future condition r of the state. It encouraged the Whigs t and many joined the standard of Sumter; while the Tories, abashed were l fearful and silent." t The house of Colonel Bratton was ^ half a mile distant from Williamson's. There Huck had first halted, and rude- c ly demanded of Col. Bratton's wife c where her husband was. "In Sumter's army." was her prompt reply. Huck tried to win her to the royal cause, or A force her, by menaces, to disclose the 1 place of her husband's retreat. She j firmly refused all compliance, even when a sharp reaping-hook was at her throat in the hands of a brutal soldier. < This courageous act of Mrs. Bratton is ] still remembered with reverence in that , section; and as late as 1839 a toast, complimentary of the "fortitude of Martha Bratton," was given at the an- 1 niversary of Huck's defeat.?Mrs. El- i let's Women of the Revolution, vol. 1, . page 237. 1 ESCAPED FROM THE PEN. ? Isaac Sims, a York county Negro * who was sentenced to the state penl- i tentiary for life, for murder, at the 1 November 1898 term of the court of ' general sessions, made good his escape from the state farm near Hagood ! station, In Sumter county last Friday, ' and is still at large. i Sims was known as a particularly 1 desperate Negro, and for several years < has been the chum of another life convict, from Charleston county, named Grant McNeel. The two men hatched a plot two years ago as the result of < which they succeeded In escaping; but 1 they were both recaptured, and after I that, they were kept under particularly ' close guard. i During Friday a detail was engaged I in cutting wood In a swamp. Guard 1 Hunt was in charge of It, and when he took the men to camp, he ordered them I to line up as usual In order that they might be counted. While the counting I was in process, Sims and McNeel made a break for liberty, and although the i guard fired on both of them until his magazine was empty he failed to hit 1 CllUCti The alarm was given promptly, all of the bad prisoners were locked up, and 1 guards and armed trusties set out after the two fugitives. About an hour I later Grant McNeel showed up at the 1 Reid farm, a mile away from the place where he started to run. Preston Jef- i ferson, a trusty who is also serving a life sentence, was on the ground first. He called upon McNeel to stop. Mcneel paid no attention to him, and Jefferson fired. The bullet broke McNeel's leg and severed an artery. The 1 man bled to death within a few minutes. The search for Sims was continued during the night; but no trace of him was found. It is evident that he got safely out of the country. NOTE AND COMMENT. Winthrop college opened with 450 students. The date of the proposed Investigation of the Fishing creek wreck by the railroad commission, originally fixed for yesterday, has been postponed until next Monday. There Is but little Interest in the matter in this section. Report has it that there are now ten avuwcu Lauuiuaico iui i.ii? vu.v^ w* sheriff of York county, and no less than five for clerk of the court. All of them too are doing more or less canvassing for the respective offices. The recent statement In The Enqui- ' rek to the effect that the rebuilding of the Fishing creek trestle was completed is not strictly correct. The first train went over within three days after the wreck and trains have been passing all right ever since; but the trestle Is i not yet a finished job. A large force j of hands has been at work on it con- ! stantly, and will be employed there for i a week or two more before it will be i finished. A number of people out at the York i Cotton mills are very anxious to have : a postofflce established there. So long , as the company ran a store, the mall ( facilities were fairly good; but now that the store has been discontinued; | but little has been done to make up for , such conveniences as it afforded. It is | not probable, however, that a postofflce can be established so close to Yorkvllle. The rule of the department is | not to allow the establishment of post- 1 offices within less than two miles of j each other. Nor is this quite all. The ( postmaster at Yorkville receives a sal- i ary, while the postmaster at the cot- * ton mill In the event an office should ( be established there, would be paid by , commissions. The income of the cot- 1 ton mill office would be at the expense 1 of the Yorkville office, and the govern- } ment Is not Inclined to put itself in the 1 position of having to pay twice for the I same service?not In this part of the i country. About the only thing the cot- < ton mill people can do is to erect free i rural delivery boxes on the road and j notify the postmaster at Yorkville of \ the fact. These boxes will be served i daily by the rural carriers. It is either j this, or the establishment of a messen- ( ger service between the Yorkville postofflce and the cotton mill at private 1 expense. ABOUT PEOPLE. Dr. W. B. Fewell of Old Point, was ' in Yorkville yesterday. Mr. J. Q. Wray spent Sunday with ! friends in Spartanburg. 1 Mr. W. J. Anderson of Enquirer, was { in Yorkville Saturday. Mr. DeLeon Walker is with Messrs. Latta Bros., for the cotton season. , Mr. John R. Ashe came up from Kershaw on Sunday for a day or two. t Rev. P. B. Ingraham of Hickory < Grove, was in Yorkville, this morning. Route Agent Leary, of the Southern ] Express company, Is in Yorkville on business. Mrs. R. Moultrie Bratton of Brattons- * ville, spent Sunday with Mr. Geo. W. S. Hart's family. ( Miss Gladys Withers of Charleston, l is visiting the family of Mr. R. J. With- t ers in Yorkville. i Miss Eunice McConnell who has been t in Rock Hill for several weeks, has re- r turned to Yorkville. | Mr. J. A. Tate, principal of the Fort Mill Graded school spent Sunday in r Yorkville with friends. Mr. W. Bedford Moore leaves tomor- j row for Charleston "to begin his studies I n the College of Charleston. Miss Annette Dobson left today for JafTney, where she will matriculate as i student In Limestone college. Mrs. C. C. McMurray and children eturned home on Monday after a visit o relatives at Forest City, N. C. Mr. Bert Holland and family of Daias, N. C., are visiting in Yorkville, he guests of Mrs. Robert McClain. Mr. J. A. Watson and Miss Annie JVatson came up from Lowryville Frilay night to spend Saturday and Sunlay. Miss Kate Cody returned to York ille on Saturday night, after spendng the summer in the mountains of forth Carolina. Miss Janie Robinson left Sunday for Charlotte, where she will Join Mrs. W. 3. Powell of Forest City. They will jo from Charlotte to New York. Dro+fAn an/1 arm "P. iUI Oi r. XV. X>i (MtVit UI1U WW.., . ... Bratton, Jr., who have been spending a veek or two at the Parish hotel left ast night for their home in Charleston. Mrs. Jane A. Thomas, who has been spending several days with relatives ind friends in the Bowling Green leighborhood, passed through Yorkyille yesterday on her return to her iome at Sharon. Mr. H. C. Strauss, of the StraussSmith company, returned from the northern markets last Friday. He has made large purchases and will tell his friends and customers about them later. FRANCHISE OR NO FRANCHI8E. The Bell Telephone company has reluested the town council of Yorkvllle to grant a franchise for the construction of a telephone system in the town. That is not the plain wording of the application; but it is the plain meaning of it, and the council has the matter under serious consideration. The desire of the Bell people is set forth in the wording of a proposed ordinance that they have submitted to the council for adoption. The ordinance Is very cleverly worded.. It begins by giving the Bell people the right to establish one of more' phones in the town of Yorkvllle. Then it goes on to prescribe how the telephone poles are to. be erected along the streets, the kind of poles and the penalties for which, the company will be liable In case of harm to individuals or damage to prop erty. it sets tortn mat tne company shall be under obligations to put crossarms on the poles to be used In stringing wires for the free use of the police and fire department, etc. The representative of the Bell people has explained to Mayor Willis that it is the purpose of the company to only put In a single long distance phone at present; but later on, if the town seems to require a complete system, it will be duly InBtalled. But all of this Is an old story, and those who are familiar with the methods of the Bell people are not disposed to commit themselves with too much precipitation. That it Is the well defined policy of the Bell Telephone people to monopolize the telephone business as far as possible throughout the whole country, has been apparent - for several years, and their success In carrying out this policy is evidenced in the situation in all the towns where they have been long enough to fully develop their plans. The . usual method in a case like Yorkvllle, where there is already a telephone system In operation. Is to attack the problem gently at first. For instance, as in the case of the proposed charter they have submitted, they ask for permission to put In "one or more phones." This permission secured, they proceed to erect their poles, and with everything in shape they select different patrons of the existing system and put in phones for them for six months or a year free of charge. The arrangement Is always completed with a very generous and agreeable understanding to the effect that if the phone proves unsatisfactory it may be taken out at any time. By the end of the year all the patrons of the existing system are provided with phones of the Bell system, and because the service is 90 satisfactory and so gratuitlous, these patrons neglect to make contracts with the old system for the next year. As the result the old system has to drop out of business, and about that time the Bell people announce a schedule of charges that is well calculated to reimburse them for all former losses and at the same time provide for heavy dividends in the future. This is not all. The story has it that while the Bell people are careful to give the most admirable service during the process of running out competition, just so soon as competition is effectually disposed of, they grow indifferent. They know that their patrons can no longer help themselves, and they are not especially concerned about complaints. Under the circumstances, therefore, the problem with which the town is confronted is a perplexing one. It would hardly be wise to take the position that the Bell system is without certain advantages. Its wires form a network over the whole country and the building of a line to Yorkville will put this town on speaking terms with almost every other town in the Union. There Is no doubt of the ability of this company to give almost perfect service, ind there is hardly less doubt that its interests will compell it to do so; but atlll the people of Yorkville, and the country surrounding, may put it down as a dead certainty that when the Bell people get a monopoly, they will have :o pay three times and maybe Ave times as much as they are now paying. Notwithstanding these things, it would hardly be wise to say that the Bell people shall not come in under iny circumstances whatever. Rather than grant the terms they have submitted to the town council, It would undoubtedly be better to tell them that " they are not needed. But perhaps, it is possible to draw up a contract that will amply protect the people of Yorkville and of the country surrounding, ind it is to be hoped that this will be lone. LOCAL LACONICS. We Will Send the Enquirer From now until January 1, 1904, for >6 cents. sold to the Syndicate. The Chicora Cotton mill, of Rock Bill, has been bought by the Southern rextile company, of New York. The ransfer was made last week. Dame Blind Baggage. Agent W. F. Bray took a chicken off >ne of the trucks of the southbound -? it a xr^_i.u mnl1 ^tiruiuici ttiiu i^ui iu- ucaiciu niau vai ast Saturday afternoon. It is supposed 0 have came down from Lenoir, N. C. 1 flock of chickens was seen about the ;ar as the train left that place, and his one made the ride of eighty-six niles on the truck underneath the car. ncorporated For $500,000. A commission has been issued for a tew building and loan association in lock Hill?namely the Mechanics' building and Loan association. The ncorporators are J. B. Johnson, W. W. rloore, Ira B. Dunlap, Pride Ratterree,