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^ I^S^D SEMI-WEEKl^^ L. m. orist's sons, Pubiiihtn. J % <^amiijj llftrspaprr: jfor the promotion of tht political, ?orial, ^gricnUnral, and (lliimintctial |nl<resls of The fjfoplt. {T*8"s1'?0,i.VcotTlM'?ilJi^i"CI' ESTABLISHED 1855. YORK VILLE, S. O.. FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 19Q5. ISTO. 6 f D'rfs By IRVING Author of *' Ebon Holden," M D 1 ? <Oopyri?km?I,l?rUtti CHAPTER XIII. The waiting guards laid hold of us in a twinkling, and others came crowding the doors. They shackled our hands behind us, and covered our eyes again. Dark misgivings of what was to coine filled me, but I bore all in silence. They shoved us roughly out of doors, and there I could tell they were up to no child's play. A loud jeer burst from the mouths of many as we came staggering out. I could hear the voices of a crowd. They hurried us ]mo a carriage. "We demand the prisoners!" a man shouted near me. Then I could her them scuffling with the guards, who, I doubt not, were doing their best to hold them back. In a moment I knew the mob had possession of us and th? soldiers were being hustled away. D'ri sat shoulder to shoulder with me. I could feel his muscles, tighten; I could hear the cracking of his joints and grinding of the shackle-chain. "Judas Pr-r-i-e-st!" be grunted, straining at the iron. Two men leaped into the carriage. There was a crack of the whip, and the horses went off bounding. We could hear horsemen all about us and wagons following. I had a 8tout heart in me those days, but in1 all my life I had never taken a ride so little to my liking. We went over rough roads, up hill and down, for an hour or more. I could see in prospect no better destination than our graves, and, indeed, I was not far wrong. Well, by and by we came to a town somewhere?God knows where. I have never seen it, or known the name of it, or even that of the prison where we were first immured. I could tell It was a town by the rumble of the wheels and each echoing hoof-beat. The cavalcade was all about us, and now and then we could hear the sound of voices far behind. The procession slowed up, horsemen jammed to the left of us, the carriage halted. I could hear footsteps on a stone pavement. "You 're late," said a low voice at the carriage door. "It's near eleven." "Lot o' fooling with the candidates," said one of the horsemen, quietly. "Everything ready?" "Everything ready," was the answer. The carriage door swung open. "We get out here," said one of the men who sat with us. I alighted. On each side of me somebody put his hand on my shoulder. I could see the glow of a lantern-light close to my face. I knew there was a crowd of men around, but I could hear nothing save now and then a whisper. "Wall, Ray," said D'ri, who stood by | my side, "hoi' stiddy 'n' don't be scairt" "Do as they tell ye," a stranger whispered in my ear. "No matter what 't is, do as they tell ye." They led us into a long passage and up a steep flight of wooden stairs. I have learned since then it was a building equipped by a well-known secret society for its initiations. We went on through a narrow hall, and up a winding flight that seemed to me Interminable- Above it, as we stopped, the man who was leading me rapped thrice on a rattling wooden door. It broke the silence with a loud echoing noise. I could hear then the sliding of a panel and a faint whisper 'JlTMPr IT WHISPERED AND THE BARE BONES OF THE DEAD FINGERS STIRRED IMPATIENTLY. ing and the sound of many feet ascending the stairs below. The door swung open presently, and we were led in where I could see no sign of any light. They took me alone across a wide bare floor, where they set me down on some sort of platform and ' left me, as I thought Then I could hear the whispered challenge at the door and one after another entering ana crossing me uum nuur UII upiue. Hundreds were coming in. it seemed to me. Suddenly a deep silence fell in that dark place of evil. The blindfold wont whisking off as if a ghostly hand had taken it. But all around me was the darkness of a pit I could * see and I could hear nothing but a faint whisper, high above me, like that, of pine boughs moving softly in a light breeze. I could feel the air upon my face. I thought I must have moved out of door by magic. It seemed as if vi md | | BAChELLER ' I I arrol of the Blessed Ishs." Eto. I op FakUiMac OunpMkjJ"* ?F 'ik'i i wm sitting under tne trees alone. Out of the black rfence an Icy hand fell suddenly upon M7 brow. I flinched, feeling it move slowly downward over my shoulder. I ccidd hear no breathing, no rustle of ferments near me. In the dead sllhow I got a feeling that the hand touching me had no body behind it I waf beyond the reach of feai^--1 was In *rway prepared for anything but the^deep, heart-shaking horror that under the cold, damp touch of tfcoee fingers. They laid hold of mgr elbow firmly, lifting as if t j indicate that I was to rise. I did so, moving forward passively as it drew me oil To my astonishment I was unable to hear my own footfall or th at of my conductor. I thought we were walking upon soft earth. Crossing our pat* in front of me 1 could see, in tilt dgrkness, a gleaming line. We moved riowly, standing still as our toes covwed it Then suddenly a light flashed from before and below us. A. cold svfpat.came out upon me; I staggered back to strong handB that were laid upon my shoulders, forcing me to the line again. By that flash of light I could see that I was standing on the very brink of some black abyss? indeed, my tdea had crossed the edge of it The ljght came again, flickering and then settling into a steady glow. The opening seemed to have a grassy bottom* some 10 feet below. In front of me the soil bristled, on that lower level, with some black and pointed plant; there were at least a score of thequ As I looked I saw they were not ifiants, but a square of bayonets thrust, points up, in the ground. A cui*se cams out of my hot mowth, and then a dozen voices mocked it, going fainter, like dying echo. A tall iigure in a winding-sheet, its face covered, was leaning over me. "To hesitate Is to die," it whispered. "Courage may save you." Then a skeleton hand came out of the winding-sheet, pointing down at the square of bristling bayonets. The figure put im mouth to my ear. "Jumpr'^whispered, and the bare bones of the dead fingers stirred impatiently. Some seconds of brief silence followed. I could Wihr them slowly dripping out of eternity in the tick of a watch near me. I felt the stare of many eyes invisible to me. A broad beam of bright light shot through the gloom, resting full upon my face. I started back upon the strong hands behind me. Then I felt my muscles tighten a^J began to measure tne tail and to won35T"if I could clear the bayoneta. I had no doubt I was to die shortly, and it mattered not to me how, bound as I was, so that it came soon. For a breath of silence my soul went up to the feet of God for help and hope. Then I bent my knees and leapedf I saw much as my body went rushing through the air? an empty grave, its heap of earth beside It, an island of light, walled with candles, in a sea of gloom, faces showing dimly in the edge of the darkness. "Thank God! I shall clear the bayonets," 1 thought, and struck heavily on a soft mat, covered over with green turf, a little beyond that bristling bed. I staggered backward, falling upon It. To my.surprise, It bent beneath me. They were no bayonets, but only shells of painted paper. I got to my feet none the worse for jumping, and as dumfounded as ever a man could be. I stood on a lot of broken turf with which'a wide floor had been overlaid. Boards and timbers were cut away, and the grave dug beneath them. I saw one face among others in the gloom beyond the candle rows?that of his lordship. He was coming up a little flight of stairs to where I stood. He moved the candles, making a small pasrage, and came up to me. "You're a brave man," said he, in that low, careless tone of his. "And you a coward," was my answer, for the sight of him had made me burn with anger. "Dp*- i commit yourself on a point like tlut," said he, quickly, "for, you know, we are not well acquainted. I like,your pluck, and I offer you what Is given to few here?an explanation." He paused, lighting a cigarette. I stood looking at him. The cold politeness of manner with which he had taken my taunt, his perfect self-mastery, ailed me with wonder. He was bo callow youth, that man, whoever he might be. He was boring at the floor with the end of a limber cane as he continued to address me. 'Now, look here," he went on, with a Uttle gesture of his left hand, between the fingers of which a cigarette was burning. "You are now in the teaple of a patriotic society acting with bo letters patent, but in the good cause of his Most Excellent Majesty King Ge<*ge in., to whom be health and hajpiness." As he spoke the name he raised his hst, and a cheer came from all sides of us. "It is gathered this night," he continued, "to avenge the death of Lord Ronley, a friend of his Majesty, and of m*ny here present, and an honored Bianber of this order. For his death and you alone, are responsible, BBd, we suspect, under circumstances -- ?? - ownrH Manv of U1 no creau 10 jvu? otff people have been cut oft from tbilr comrades and slain by cowardly 8f*alth, have been led into ambush and ""(telly cut to pieces by overwhelming number, have been shut in prison and dune to aeath by starvation or by fifcitbs of a iknife there in your country. I ; Not content with the weapons or a soldier, you have even resorted to the barbarity of the poison-wasp. Pardon me, but you Yankees do not seem to have any mercy or fairness for a foe. We shall give you better treatment You shall not be killed like a rat in a trap. You shall have a chance for your life. Had you halted, had you been a coward, you would not have been worthy to fight in this arena. You would not have come where you are standing, and possibly even now your grave would have been filled. If you survive the ordeal that is to come, I hope it will prove an example to you of the honor that is due to bravery, of the fairness due a foe." Many voices spoke the word "Amen" as he stopped, turning to beckon into the gloom about us. I was now quite over my confusion. I began to look about me and get my bearingB. I could hear a stir in the crowd beyond the lights, and a murmur of voices. Re fleeting lanterns from many pillars near by shot their rays upon me. I stood on a platform, some 30 feet square, in the middle of a large room. Its floor was on a level with the faces of the many who stood pressing to the row of lights. Here, I took it, I was to light for my life. I was looking at the yawning grave In the corner of this arena, when four men ascended with swords and pistols. One of them removed the shackles, letting my hands free. I thanked him as he tossed them aside. I was thinking of D'rl, and, shading my eyes, looked off in the gloom to see if I could discover him. I called his name, but heard no answer. His lordship came over to me, bringing a new sword. He held the glittering blade before me, its hilt in his right hand, its point resting on the Angers of his left "It 's good," said he. quietly; "try it." It was a beautiful weapon, its guard and pommel and qulllons sparkling with wrought-sllver, its grip of yellow leather laced with blue silk. The glow and the feel of it filled me with a joy I had not known since my father gave me the sword of my childhood. It drove the despair out of me, and I was a new man. I tried the blade, its point upon my toe. It was good metal and the grip fitted me. "Well, how do you find it?" said he, impatiently. "I am satisfied," was my reply. He helped me take off my blouse and waistcoat, and then I rolled my sleeves to the elbow. The hum of voices had grown louder. I could hear men offering to bet and others bantering for odds. "We '11 know soon," said a voice near me, "whether InT"could have kilted Ronley in a fair fight" I turned to look at those few in the arena. There were half a dozen of them now, surrounding my adversary, a man. taller than the rest, with a heavy neck and brawny arms and shoulders. He had come out of the crowd unobserved by me. He also was stripped to the shirt, and had rolled up his sleeves, and was trying the steel. He had a red, bristling mustache and overhanging brows and a vulgar face?not that of a man who RPttlea his auarrel with the sword. I Judged a club or a dagger would have been better suited to his genius. But, among fighters, It is easy to be fooled by a face. In a moment the others had gone save his lordship and that portly bald-beaded man I had heard him rebuke as "Sir Charles." My adversary met me at the center of the arena, where we shook hands. I could see, or thought I could, that he was entering upon a business new to him, for th#re was in his manner an indication of unsteady nerves. "Gentlemen, are you ready?" said his lordship. But there are reasons why the story of what came after should be none of my telling. I leave it to other and better eyes that were not looking between flashes of steel, as mine were. And then one has never a fair view of his fights. CHAPTER XIV. This is the story of Corporal Darius Olin, touching his adventure in the Temple of the Avengers, at some unknown place in upper Canada, on the night of August 12, 1813, and particuuarly the ordeals of the sword, the slide, and the bayonet to which Capt Ramon Bell was subjected that night, as told to Adjutant Asarius Church, at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y.: "Soon es I see whut wus up, I gin a powerful lift on thet air shackle-chain. I felt 'er give 'n' bust A couple o' men clim' int* the seat front uv us, 'n' the hosses started hell bent I sot up with my hands 'hind uv me 'n the wagin. I kep' 'em there tight 'n' stiff, es ef the iron wus holding' uv 'em. Could n't git no cnance r Bay nuthln' t' Ray. Hustled us upstairs, 'n' when we come in t' thet air big room they tuk him one way an' me 'nother. "I did n't hev no idee where I wus. Felt 'em run a chain through my arms, careful, efter they sot me down. I sot still fer mebbe Ave minutes. Seemed so ev'rybody 'd gone out o' the place. Could n't hear nuthin' nowhere. I le" down the chain jest es ca-areful es I could, 'n' tuk off the blindfold. 'T was all dark; could n't see my hand afore me. Crep* 'long the floor. See 't was covered with sawdust. Tuk off m' boots, 'n' got up on m' feet, 'n' walked careful. Did n' dast holler t' Ray. Cal'lated when the squabble come I'd be ready t' dew business. All t' once I felt a slant 'n the floor. 'T was kind o' slip'ry, 'n' I begun 't slide. Feet went out from under me 'n' sot me down quick. Tried t' ketch holt o' suthin*. Could n't hang on; kep' goin' faster. Fust I knew I'd slid int' some kind uv a box. Let me down quicker 'n scat over thet air grease a little ways. I out with my tew hands 'n' bore ag'in' the sides o' th' box pow' erful 'n' stopped myself. Then I ud with these here feet o' mine. See the top o' the box wa'n't much more 'n a foot above me. Tried t' crawl up agMn. Could n't mek it Dum thing slanted luk Tup's hill. Hung on awhile, clpherln' es hard es I knew how. Hearn suthln' go kerslap. Seem so the hull place trembled. Raised up my head, 'n' peeked over my stumick down the box. A bar o' light stuck lu away down. Let myself go careful till I c'u'd see my nose in it Then I got over on my shoulder 'n' braced on the sides o' the box, back 'g*in' one side 'n' knees 'g'in' t'other. See 't was a knot-hole where the light cum In, 'bout es big es a man's wrist. Peeked through, 'n' see a lot o' lights 'n' folks, hearn 'em talkin*. Ray he stud on a platform facln' a big, powerful-look in' cuss. Hed their coats 'n' veits off, 'n' sleeves rolled up, 'n' swords ready. See there wus goin't' be a flght. Hed t' snicker ?wa'n' no way I c'u'd help It, fer, Judas Priest! I knew dum well they wa'n't a single one of them air Britishers c'u'd stan' 'fore *lm. Thet air mis'able splndlin' devil I toP ye 'bout? feller et hed the women?he stud back o' Ray. Hed his hand up luk thet) 'Fight!' he says, 'n' they got 't work, 'n' the crowd begun t* Jam up 'n' holler. The big feller he oome et Ray es ef he wus goin' t' cut htm In tew. Ray he tuk It easy 'n' rassled the sword of the big chap round 'n' round es ef It wus tied t' hisn. Fust I knew he med a quick lunge 'n' pricked 'im 'n the arm. Big chap was a leetle shy then. Did n't come up t' the scratch es smart 'n' sassy es he'd orter. Ray went efter 'im hammer 'n' tongs. Thet air long slim waist o' hisn swayed 'n' bent luk a stalk o' barley. He did luk joemightyful han'some?wish 't ye c'u'd 'a' seen 'im thet air night Hair wus Jest es shiny es gold 'n the light & them candles. He'd feint, an't' other 'd dodge. Judas Priest! seemed so he put the p'lnt o' the 'Bword all over thet air big cuss. C'u'd 'a' killed 'im a dozen times, but I fcee he did n't want t' dew it Kep' prickin' 'im ev'ry lunge 'n' druv 'im off the boards?tumbled 'im head over IJeels int' the crowd. Them air devils threw up their hats 'n' stomped 'n' hollered powerful, es ef 't were mighty fun V see a man cut t' pieces. Wall, they tuk up another man, quicker 'n the fust, but he wa'n' nowhere near s' big 'n' cordy. Wa'n't only one crack o' the sworda in thet air fight Could n't hardly Bay Jack Robinson 'fore tiie cuss^hedjdl^ Kay I ' WFNT OUT O' THET AIR THING LL-K ABULLET EGGZACXY. many to lick, 'n' bed n't bettcr *aat. no power a-foolln'. All t once thet air low-lived, spindlin', mis'able devil he come t' the edge o* the platform belt up his hand. Soon's they stopped yellln' he says: 'Gentlemen,' he says sorry t' tell ye thet the man fer ihe next bout hes got away. We left him securely fastened up 'n the fust c her. Have hed the building search?<i; but ain't able t' find him. He must hev gone down the slide. I am sony to say we hev no more Yankees. I this man fights any more it will hev t' be a Britisher thet goes ag in im. Is there a volunteer?' , Ray he runs up 'n' says authin right 'n his ear. Could n't hear whut t wus.. Did n' set well. T* other feller he flew mad, 'n' Ray he fetched Im cuff, luk thet, with the back uv his hand. Ye see. he did n' know he hed been a-flghtin' Yankees, *n' he did n like the idee. 'Gentlemen, says he 'I '11 fight anybody, but ef this chap ain't a coward, he '11 fight me himself.' T' other feller he off with nw coat 'n' vest es quick es a flash n picked up a sword. 'Fight, then, y cub!' says he; an' they flew at each other hell bent fer 'lection. He wa n no fool with a sword, nuther I can ye, thet air spindlin' cuss. I see Ray hed his ban's full. But he wus jes es cool es a green cowcumber, eggzac y. Kep* a-cuffln' t' other sword, n let 'im hit 'n' lunge 'n' feint es much ea he pleased. See he wus Jest a-gettin his measure, 'n' I knew suthin coin' t' happen purty quick. Fust i Sew he ketched Ray by the ahlrtaleeve with the p'nt us 'is sword 'n ripped1 it t' the collar. Scairt me so I bit my tongue watchln' uv cut. They cot locked, 'n' both swords came up t the hilts t'gether with a swish 'n' a bang luk thet The blades clung, n they backed off. Then Ray he begun t' feint 'n' lunge 'n' hustle 'im. Quicker 'n scat he gin 'im an awful prick 'n the shoulder. I c'u'd see the blood come, but they kep' a-goin' back 'n' forth 'n' up 'n' down desperit. The red streak on thet air feller's shirt kep' a-growln'. Purty quick one side uv 'im wus red an' t' other white. See he wus gettin' weaker 'n' weaker. Ray c'u'd 'a' split 'im t' the navel ef he'd only hed a min' tew. All t' once he med a Jab at*Ray, 'n' threw up 'is han's, 'n' went back a step er tew, luk a hoes with th' blln' staggers, 'n' tumbled bead over heels in tbet air open grave. There wus hell t' pay fer a minute. Lot on 'em cllm* over the row o* lights, yellln' luk wildcats, 'n' hauled thet air mls'able cuss out o' the grave 'n' stud 'lm up, 'n' gin 'lm a drink o' liquor. In half a minute he up with his han'kerchlef 'n' waved it over 'is head t' mek 'em keep still. Soon 's they wus quiet he up 'n' he says: 'Gentlemen,' says he, 'this 'ere chap hes stood the test o' the sword. Are ye satisfied?' 'We are,' says they? ev'ry British son uv a gun they wus there nn 'n* hollered. "Then ' nave he. 'glv' 'lm th' slide.' "Ray he pat down Ms sword 'n' picked up Ms coat 'n* vest Then they grabbed th' lights, 'n' thet 'a th' last 1 see on' 'em there. Purty quick't wus all dark. Hearn 'em comln' upstairs 'n goin' 'cross th' floor over my head. 'Gun t' think o' myself a leetle bit then. Knowed I was in thet air slide, an' hed t' le' go purty quick. Hed n't no idee where it went tew, but I cal'lated I wus middlln' sure t' know 'fore long. Knowed when I le' go I wus goin' t' dew some tall sllppln' qger thet air greased bottom. See a light come down th' box 'n a minute. Hearn somebody speakln' there et the upper end. " 'This 'ere 's th' las' test o' yer courage,' says a man, says he; 'few comes here alive 'n' sound es you be. Ye wus a doomed man. Ye'd hev been shot at daylight, but we gin ye a chance fer yer life. So fur ye 're proved yerself wuthy. Ef ye hold yer courage, ye may yit live. Ef ye flinch, ye '11 land in Heaven. Ef yer life is spared, remember how we honor courage.' "Then they gin Mm a shove, 'n' I hearn Mm a-comin'. I flopped over 'n' le' go. Shot away luk a strea o' lightnin'. Dum thing grew steeper 'n' steeper. Jes' hel' up my han's 'n' let 'er go lickitty split Jerushy Jane Pepper! jes' luk comln' down a greased pole. (Dome near tekin' my breath away?did sart'n. Went out o' thet air thing luk a bullet eggzac'ly. Shot int' the air feet foremost Purty fair slidin' up in the air 'most-anywheres, ye know A1 wus corns down bv the nlsrh est way. T was darker 'n pitch; could n't see a thing, nut a thing. Hearn Ray come out o' the box 'boye me. Then I come down k'slap in th' water 'n' sunk. Thought I'd never stop goin' down. 'Fore I come up I hearn Ray rip int' th' water nigh me. I come up 'n' shook my head, 'n' waited. Judas Priest! thought he wus drownded, sart'n. Seemed so I 'd bust out 'n' cry there 'n th' water waitln' ter that air boy. Soon es I hearn a flop I hed my han's on 'lm. " 'Who be you?' says he. " 'D'ri,' says I. " 'Tired out,' saye he; 'can't swim a stroke. Guess I '11 hev t' go t' th' bottom.'" to br oontinttrd. SOME INTERESTING FACTS. What Gaffney Has Accomplished by Voting Out the Dispensary. It may Interest some of our exchanges, especially those who have been tabooing the Idea of prohibition, to know that within the entire two weeks following Christmas the shipments of liquor into this county have not been so much as they were Just preceding the holidays by one-fourth. It may Interest them further to know that a "gentleman?" who came to Gaffney to take orders for whisky was arrested and made to put up a cash bond of $25 for his appearance before the mayor, and rather than appear forfeited the bond. It may still further interest them to know that drunkenness has decreased 200 per cent, or over, in this county. It may yet be still more interesting to know that our city and county taxes will be about 2 mills higher and that the people will cheerfully pay the extra tax. We say that all this may interest them, but the pro-dispensary papers will be slow to admit the truth of the statements here made (except the last one), and will refrain from making any favorable comment on the same. Prohibition does not prohibit entirely. but it's a long step toward a higher ideal of citizenship, especially where the sentiment of the people is for it and the officers of the law are as vigilant as are the officers of Gaffney City and Cherokee county. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Dispensary Advocate?Cherokee News. Courage of Wild Boar.?The wild boar never loses his head?or his aiwr fmimire i have never be held In any four footed creature. He ha? all the cunning commonly accredited to the devil, and In his rage Is a lemon that will charge anything of any size. I have seen a small boar work his way through a pack of dogs, and his smaller brother, the peccary. In Brazil, send a man up a tree and keep him there. The boar looks ungainly, but the Indian species is as fleet as a horse for about three-quarters of a mile. He begins with flight, shifts to cunning and finally stands to the fight with magnificent courage, facing any odds. As. riding upon him, you are about to plant your spear he will dart?"Jink" as they call It in India?to one side, repeating the performance several times, until he finds he cannot shake you, when, turning suddenly, with ears cocked and eyes glittering, he will charge furiously. If not squarely met with a well aimed and firmly held spear he will upset both horse and rider. Hurling himself again and again against the surrounding spears, he will keep up his charge until killed, when he dies without a groan.?Outing. Miscellaneous heading. INCENDIARISM IN THIS 8TATE. Comptroller General Jonas Reports the Rssults of His Investigation. Comptroller General Jones on Monday gave out his section of the report on incendiary fires as follows: Under the act approved February 24, "An act to provide for the Investigation of Incendiary fires," the duties of the enforcement were devolved on the comptroller general. Expenses necessary for the enforcing of Its provisions were to be defrayed by the fire insurance companies doing business in the state, and a tax of onetenth of one per cent on the gross receipts of all Are insurance companies was authorized to be levied for that purpose, and a separate account required. to be kept by the comptroller general of such receipts and disbursements. The law has been In operation for about eight months. We have done our best to put It Into practical effect. It Is with some regTet that I undertake to present for your consideration a report which Is necessarily incomplete in statistics and deficient in detail. Necessary blanks were immediately furnished chiefs of fire departments, chiefs of police in cities and towns tiaving no fire departments, and sheriffs, with a copy of the law and with ample instructions to report all fires occurring. The act does not make it compulsory upon the officers to investigate and report fires, but they are simply "Authorized to investigate the cause and origin and circumstances of any fire occurring, etc." The record of this office shows that there were reported from the first of March, 1904 to the first of December, 1904, 274 fires, the value of the property Involved amounting to $418,806.20. The record shows the cause or origin of the fires to be as follows: Nine were reported as incendiary. Eleven suspected incendiary. Nine from lamps exploding. Twenty-one carelessness. Twelve rats and matches. Thirty-five defective flues. Three defective electric wires. Three from lightning. Five accidental. Two from gas Jets. Ten,, sparks from engine. One hundred and fifty-four unknown. Fourteen fires were Investigated Dy this office; six arrests were made, of which four are out on bond, one nol prossed. one released, evidence Insufficient. * The following letter relative to the Cheraw fires explains itself and the laws should be amended as suggested by Solicitor Johnson: Marion, September 23, 1904. The Hon A. W. Jones, Comptroller General, Columbia, S. C.,?Dear Sir: Your letter of September 21, enclosing report of the Investigation of a fire that occurred at Cheraw on July 11. 1904, received, and I have examined same carefully. I think the case a strong one against , but to burn one's house Is not arson In this state. See State vs. Sarvis, as follows: "A person cannot be convicted of arson for burning his own dwelling house, either at common law or under criminal statutes, 1903, Section 140, even when burning is done for purpose of defrauding an insurance company." State vs. Sarvis, 45 S. C. 688. You may, however, investigate further, and find put if any other house was burned, or even charred, in which case an indictment will lie. Please refer to the above named case, or refer to the attorney general. The legislature should have passed an act making the burning of one's own house arson, and then just such cases as you report would have easily been reached. I herewith return the report and all papers sent me. Yours very truly, J. M, Johnson. Receipts and disbursements on account of enforcing this law were as follows: Receipts to Dec. 1. 1904, were..$852 29 Disbursements for same period 592 32 Cash balance In bank, Dec. 1, 1904 259 97 Itemized statement will be found on page ?. An examination of this itemized statement will show that this fund has been used exclusively for printing blanks, postage, Investigations and expenses incident to such investigation of suspicious fire reported. Nothing was paid for extra work entailed upon this department although the auditing clerk's time is now entirely taken up with this work and that of the Insurance department proper. He has rendered heretofore great assistance In helping with the clerical work of the tax department. I would probably have been justified in paying for extra help out of this fund to supple ment the work heretofore done Dy me auditing clerk, but my convictions are deeply grounded upon the principle that the state should enforce its laws through Its regular channels, and should discover and punish the perpetrators of the crime of incendiarism In the same way that It sees its duty to prosecute murder, stealing, swindling and other crimes. Is it wise to allow corporations to practically usurp the power of the government, when the duties of sheriff, magistrates and other officers charged with the execution of the criminal and civil law are transferred to other officers to be compensated or paid by the corporation? Where is this tendency to end? Is not this concentration of indirect corporate Influence dangerous, to the people, especially when a large number of public employees and officers of the state are paid by the corporation? In my opinion, it Is far better for the state to pay by direct appropriation for the enforcement of its laws, for after all, the people pay the tax whether it Is directly or Indirectly imposed. CAPE HATTERAS. Most Dangerous Spot on the At/antio ?Soon# of Many Wrocks. The wreck of the steamer Northeastern off Cape Hatteras adds another to the long list of ships that hav?? lost their bones on the treacherous Diamond Shoals, the graveyard of the Atlantic ocean. No place touched by the water* of , the Atlantic ocean is the scene of so many disasters as Cape Hatteras. Ask a mariner for the name or number of ships that have given up their careers on the treacherous projection of the North Carolina coast, and ho will shrug his shoulders. The deeio-sea sailor loses recollection of the constant mishaps oft Hatters*. Disasters are too frequent to stand out clearly in the memory. The greatest loss of life occurred when a French steamer, trading between New York and the West Iiidles, struck a derelict vessel at night during a gale and went down, with nearly 200 souls aboard. The British and Norwegian tr&nqp steamers that have missed their way in rounding th- promontory may be counted by the icore. The Baltimore bark Priscllla went to pieces near Hatteras, when Ciptain Springsteen lost his wife, a son ind a passenger. Cape Hatteras Is the easternmost projection of the Atlantic coaal: into the sea. 8hoals of shifting sands run 15 miles out to sea, where is ant lored the Diamond Shoals lightship, vhlch has several times been swept away from her' moorings and once driven ashore. If there is a gale from almost any direction it kicks up big seas on the shoals that sprawl out to sea. The Qulf Stream, which sweeps around the projection of land, adds to the confusion of the seas. It is a region of fogs, and there are landmarks on the coast which somewhat rssem- , ble Cape Henry, often luring ships in on the beach when their sklppets believe they are heading for the Chesapeake. No lighthouse has ever stood the fury of the seas off Hatteras. Between 1875 and 1902 the records of the lifesaving service show that there were 97 wrecks at this point, with total losses of $3,000,000 and $2 Uvea The latest attempt to build a lighthouse at this Important point was in 1889, when a contract was given to Ahderson & Barr, of Pittsburg. An enormous caisson was constructed, and nrarvnrations were made for DUttlng it In place and filling in the masomy and concrete In the short eat possible time. In a period of calm weather an effort was made to do this, but a nud0en storm carried the work away. As in the famous case of the Minora Ledge and Eddystone lights, it has been seriously doubted if a permanent lighthouse can ever be built at the dangerous spots off Cape Hatteras. Ever since the twenties, however, a lightship has been maintained tliere. This lightship, though held in place by mushroom anchors weighing' S.OM pounds, has repeatedly been driven away from her moorings In storms. On one occasion in 1900 the lifhtship was adrift for three days, while on April 5 of the same year, she was dragged two miles from her proper station. As the light is locate-l only Ave and three-fourths miles from the . nearest shoal, such a displacement is a very serious matter. The two light - e_ -*? ?A Okla ships which relieve eacn outer <u u<? statlon are numbered 71 and 78, reapectlvely.?Baltimore American. , WHAT RUIN8 CHILDREN. Suggaativ# Figure* Compiled From Juvenile Court Reeorda. Parental neglect aa a result of Intemperance is blamed for the crime* of children by>the annual report of the juvenile court of Chicago. The report was prepared by J. J. MoMnnahan, chief probation officer, and tells of the work done' by the court In 1104, In the last eleven month* 1,4?| "bad" boys and 328 wayward girls have been tried In the court. In the same time Judges Mack and Tuthlll, of that olty, have been asked to decide the future for 786 homeless boys and 641 neglected girls. Records of the court declare that drunkenness, laziness and the resultant poverty of parents caused the children's plight. In only sixteen cases had the parents of the children been divorced. Causes of dependency In children, according to the records kept by the court, are as follows Lack of parental care... 166 148 310 Drunkenness of father .. 86 75 160 Drunkenness of mother. 40 62 92 Drunkenness of both .. 31 32 63 Desertion by mother ..16 14 29 Desertion by father .... 51 96 147 Desertion by both 10 15 26 Separation by parents 9 7 16 Neglect by father 8 6 13 Death of father 30 53 89 Death of mother 41 32 73 Death of both parents .. 24 41 66 Insanity of parents 13 19 32 Poverty of parents .... 3 22 25 Sickness of parents .... 39 41 80 Incorrigibility 6 32 37 "Non-preventable" causes 396 Larceny was the charge against boys In 374 of 860 cases heard within the year, while In the others Incorrigibility accounted for 206 offences. Quickly Changed His Mind.?A tramp, dirty and ragged to the last degree, called at a house on the door of which was a doctor's sign. A large, rather masculine looking woman opened the door. " 'Scuse me. lady," said the tramp, "but I jlst called to ask if the doctor had any old clothes he'd let me have. You see, I'm kind o' bad oft fer all kind o' clothes, an' I'd be much obleeged fer anything the doctor could ' ' ?ln't nAPtil>kl?P SLR lei me liave, an a cvin v Fv. ? to the fit." The woman smiled and made reply: "I am the doctor!" "Sufferin* Moses!" ejaculated the tramp, as he made a bee line for the grate.?Llpplncott's M&raxine. ?r *