Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, September 22, 1903, Image 2
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,