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ISSUED MEXX-WIBBKL^ l jc. grists sons. Pubiiihen. [ ? Tamils 3Hftrsjjaffr: <jfor the |romotion of the political, foetal. Jgrituliura! and Communal Interests of the fieople. [ 81NOLE COPT, PITS CENT*. ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE, S. C., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1906. TSTO. 75. ' " ' - * -- ? ? I I CAIftl ATIY/C I IMC.IID The Gande A Savage Sport of the J Obso From Georgia Scenes, Published by Hi In the year 1798 I resided in the city of Augusta, and, upon visiting the market-house one morning in that year, my attention was called to the following notice, stuck upon one of the pillars of the building: "advurtysement. "Thos woo wish To be Inform heareof, is heareof notyflde that edwd. Prator will giv a gander-pullln. jist this side of harisburg, on Satterday ofthes pressents munth to All woo mount wish to partak tharof. "e Prator, thos wlshin to purtak will cum yearly, as the pullin will begin soon e. p." If I am asked why "Jls this side of harisburg" was selected for the promised feat instead of the city of Augusta, I answer from conjecture, but with some confidence, because the ground chosen was near the central point between four rival towns, the citizens of all which "mout wish to partake tharof"; namely. Augusta, Springfield. Harrlsburg and Campbellton. Not that each was the rival of all the others, but that the first and the last were competitors and each of the others hacked the pretensions of its nearest neighbor. Harrisburg sided with Campbelllton, not because she had any interest in seeing the business of the two states centre upon the bank of the river, nearly opposite to her, but because, like the "Union Democratic Republican Party of Georgia," she thought, after the adoption of the Federal Constitution, that the several towns of the confederacy should no longer be "separated" by the distinction of local party;; but that, laying down all former prejudices and Jealousies as a sacrifice on the altar of their country, they should become united in a single body, for the maintenance of those principles which they deemed essential to the public welfare. Springfield, on the other hand, espoused the State Rights creed. She admitted that, under the Federal compact, she ought to love the sister states very much; but that, under the Social Compact, she ought to love her own 4 4 - -? -V. stale a nine mure; tiuu sue muugiu mc two compacts perfectly reconcilable to each other. Instead of the towns of the several states getting into single bodies to preserve the public welfare, her doctrine was, that they should be kept in separate bodies to preserve the private welfare. She admitted frankly that, living, as she always had lived, right amid gullies, vapors, fogs, creeks, and lagoons, she was wholly Incapable of comprehending that expansive kind of benevolence which taught her to i love people whom she knew nothing about ss much as her next-door neighbors and friends. Until, therefore she should learn It from the practical AnnwaHAn f\t IHa PaHapo J PnmnArt ahe would stick to the old-fashioned Scotch love, which she understood perfectly, and "go in" for Augusta, live or die, hit or miss, right or wrong. As In the days of Mr. Jefferson the Springfield doctrines prevailed, Campbellton was literally nullified, Insomuch that ten years ago there was not a house left to mark the spot where once flourished this active, busy little village. Those who are curious to know where Springfield stood at the time of which I am speaking have only to take their position at the Intersection of Broad and Marbury streets, in the city of Augusta, and they will be In the very heart of old Springfield. Sixty steps west and as many east of this position will measure the whole length of the Jeffersonlan Republican village, which never boasted of more than four dwelling-houses; and Broad street measures its width, if we exclude kitchens and stables. And, while upon this subject, since it has been predicted by a man for whose opinions I entertain the profoundest respect* (especially since the prediction) that my writings will be read with Increased Interest a hundred years to come, and as I can see no good reason, if this be true, why they should not be read a thousand years hence with more interest, I will take the liberty of dropping a word here to the curious reader of the year 1933. He will certainly wish to know the site of Harrisburg (seeing it is doomed, at no distant period, to share the fate of Springfield) and of Campbellton. Supposing, then, that if the great ? * 1.1 A *1 v?41 nre in ausubih uu mc au m .-v^i... 1829, did not destroy that city nothing: will, I select this as a permanent object. In 1798. Campbell street was the western verge of Augusta, a limit to which it had advanced but a few years before, from Jackson street. Thence to Springfield led a large road, now built up on either side, and forming a continuation of Broad street. This road was cut across obliquely by a deep gully, the bed of which was an almost Impassible bog, which entered the road about one hundred yards below Collock street on the south, and left it about thirty yards below Collock street on the north side of now Broad street. It was called Campbell's Gully, from the name of the gentleman through whose possessions and near whose dwelling it wound its way to the river. Following the direction of Broad street from Springfield westward, 1347 yards will bring you to Harrisburg, which had nothing to boast of over Springfield but a ware house for the storage of tobacco, then the staple of Georgia. Continue the same direction 700 yards, then face to your right hand, and follow your nose directly across Savannah river, and, upon ascending the opposite bank, you will be In the busiest part of Campbellton In 1798. Between Harrisburg and Springfield, and 1143 yards from the latter, there runs a stream which may be perpetual. At the time Just mentioned It flowed between banks twelve or fourteen feet high, and was then called, as It still Is, "Hawk's Gully."5 The editor of the Hickory Nut. S It took its name from an old man by the name of Hawk, who lived in a log hut on a small knoll on the eastern side of the gully and about a hundred yards south of the Harrisburg road. Now Mr. Prator, like the most sue ;r Pulling. Long Ago Which Is Now lete. irper A Brothers. eussful politician of the present day, was on all sides in a doubtful contest; and, accordingly, he laid off his gander-pulling ground on the nearest suit- I able unappropriated spot to the cen-1 tre point between Springfield and Harris burg. This was between Harrisburg i and Hawk's Gully, to the south of the road, and embraced part of the road, but within 100 yards of Harrisburg. When "Satterday of thes pressents i munth" rolled round, I determined to go to the gander-pulling. When I ] reached the spot, a considerable number of persons, of different ages, sexes, sizes, and complexions, had collected i from the rival towns and the country i around. But few females were there, however, and those few were from the i lowest walks of life. A circular path of about forty yards j diameter had already been laid out; i over which, from two posts about ten < feet apart, stretched a rope, the middle i of which was directly over the path. < The rope hung loosely, so as to allow i it, with the weight of a gander at- i tached to It, to vibrate in an arc of i four or Ave feet span, and so as to < bring the breast of the gander within | barely easy reach of a man of middle I stature upon a horse of common size. ] A hat was now handed to such as i wished to enter the list; and they j threw into It twenty-flve cents each, i This sum was the victor's prize. The devoted gander was now pro- ; duced; and Mr. Prator, having first < tied his feet together with a strong l cord, proceeded to the neck-greasing, i Abhorrent as it may be to all who res- | pect the tender relations of life, Mrs. j Pratnr had actually Dreoared a gourd i of goose-grease for this very purpose. I For myself, when I saw Ned dip his i hands Into the grease, and commence ' stroking down the feathers from breast i to head, my thoughts took a melan- t choly turn. They dwelt in sadness < upon the many conjugal felicities < which had probably been shared be- I tween the greasess and the greasee. I < could see him as he stood by her side, < through many a chilly day and cheer- < less night, when she was warming I Into life the offspring of their mutual i loves, and repelled, with chivalrous j spirit, every invasion of the consecra- 1 ted spot which she had selected for I her incubation. I could see him mov- 1 lng with patriarchal dignity by the i side of his loved one, at the head of 1 a smiling, prattling group?the rich ? reward of their mutual care?to the i luxuries of the meadow or to the rec- 1 reatlons of the pool. And now, alas! < an extract from the smoking sacrifice i of his bosom friend was desecrated to c MAlrtni* V?Io nnnlr c ine uruioiv puipiwc ut uiaaius u?> ?? "a fit object" for cruelty to reach "her quick, unerring fingers at." Ye friends of the sacred tie! Judge what were my feelings when, in the midst of these reflections, the voice of James Prator thundered on mine ear, "Darn his old dodging soul! Brother Ned, grease his neck till a fly can't light on it!" Ned, having fulfilled his brother Jim's request as well as he could, attached the victim of his cruelty to the rope, directly over the path. On each side of the gander was stationed a man, whose office it was to lash forward any horse which might linger there for a moment; for, by the rules of the ring, all pulling was to be dene at a brisk canter. The word was now given for the competitors to mount and take their places in the ring. Eight appeared; tall Zubley Zln, mounted upon Sally Spitfire; Arch Odum, mounted on Bun < and Ingons (onions); Nathan Perdew, I on Hellcat; James Dickson, on Nigger; : David Williams, on Gridiron; fat John < Fulger, on Slouch; Gorham Bostwlck, : on Gimlet; and Turner Hammond, on i 'Possum. I "Come, gentlemen," said Comman- I dant Prator. "fall in. All of you git i behind one another, sort o' In a row." i All came Into the track very kindly I but Sally Spitfire and Gridiron. The i former, as soon as she saw a general i movement of horses, took It for grant ed there was mischief brewing, and, I because she could not tell where It lay, i she concluded It lay everywhere, and therefore took fright at everything. Gridiron was a grave horse; but a suspicious eye which he cast to the right and left, wherever he moved, showed that "he was wide awake," and that "nobody better not go fooling with him," as his owner sometimes used to say. He took a sober but rather intense view of things; insomuch that, In his contemplations, he passed over the track three times before he could be prevailed upon to stop In It. He stopped at last, however; and when he was made to understand that this was all that was required of him for the present, he surrendered his suspicions at once, with a countenance which seemed plainly to say, <-?n, u this Is all you want, I've no objection to it!" It was long before Miss Spitfire could be prevailed upon to do the like. "Get another horse, Zube," said one; "Sal will never do for a gander-pullln'." "I won't," said Zube. "If she won't do, I'll make her do. I want a nag that goes off with a spring; so that, when I get a hold, she'll cut the neck in two like a steel-trap." At length Sally was rather flung than coaxed Into the track, directly ahead of Gridiron. "Now, gentlemen," said the master of the ceremonies, "no man's to make a grab till all's been once round; and when the first man are got round, then the whole twist and tucking of you grab away as you come under?(Look here, Jim Fulger! you better not stand too close to that gander, I tell you!)?one after another. Now blaze away!" (the command for an onset of every kind with people of this order). Off they went, Miss Sally delighted; for she now thought the whole parade would end In nothing more nor less than her favorite amusement, a race. But Gridiron's visage pronounced this the most nonsensical business that ever a horse of sense was engaged In since the world began. For the first three rounds Zubley was wholly occupied In restraining Sally to her place; but he lost nothing by this, for the gander had escaped unhurt. On completing this third round, Zube reached forth his long arm, grabbed 'the gander by the neck with a firmness which seemed likely to defy goose-grease, and at the same Instant he Involuntarily gave Sally a sudden check. She raised her head, which before had been kept nearly touching her leader's hocks, and for the first time saw the gander in the act of descending upon her; at the same moment she received two pealing lashes from the whlppers. The way Bhe now broke for Springfield "Is nothing to nobody." As Zube dashed down the road, the whole circus raised a whoop after him. This started about twenty UO?i}, uuuuus, fura, auu puuiici d?iu full chase of him (for no one moved without his doer in those days). The dogs alarmed some belled cattle, which were grazing on Zube's path, just as he reached them; these joined him, with tails up and a tremendous rattling. Just beyond these went three tobacco-rollers, at distances of fifty Euid a hundred yards apart, each of whom gave Zube a terrific whoop, scream, or yell as he passed. He went in and out of Hawk's Gully like a trap-ball, and was in Springfield "in less than no time." Here he i was encouraged onward by a new recruit of dogs; but they gave up the chase as hopeless before they cleared the village. Just beyond Springfield, what should Sally encounter but a flock of geese?the tribe to which she , i\ved all her misfortunes. She stop- , ped suddenly, and Zube went over her lead with the last acquired velocity. ; He was up in a moment, and the activity with which he pursued Sally < satisfied every spectator that he was , jnhurt. , Gridiron, who had witnessed Miss i Sally's treatment with astonishment ind Indignation, resolved not to pass ( Detween the posts until the whole ] natter should be explained to his sat- , sfactlon. He therefore stopped short, < ind, by very Intelligible looks, de- i nanded of the whippers whether, If ' le passed between them, he was to be :reated as Miss Spitfire had been? < rhe whippers gave him no satlsfac Jon, and his rider signified, by relter- | ited thumps of the heel, that he should \ jo through whether he would or not. , 3f these, however, Gridiron seemed to | enow nothing. In the midst of the ( inference, Gridiron's eye lit upon the | )sclllatlng gander, and every moment's < survey of It begot In him a growing | nterest, as his slowly rising head, suppressed breath, and projected ears ] On Iwltr nirlnno^ A ffar a flhnrt ATfim. nation, he heaved a sigh, and looked pehlnd him to see if the way was clear. It was plain that his mind was now nade up; but, to satisfy the world that ie would do nothing rashly, he took mother view, and then wheeled and vent to Harrlsburg as if he had set In 'or a year's running. Nobody whooped at Gridiron, for all saw that his -unnlng was purely the result of phll>sophic deduction. The reader will not tuppose all this consumed half the time vhlch has been consumed in telling it, hough it might have been so without nterrupting the amusement; for Miss 3pitflre's flight had completely suspended it for a time. The remaining competitors now went m with the sport. A few rounds showid plainly that Odum or Bostwlck vould be the victor; but which, no one ;ould tell. Whenever either of them -?o mo paim/1 tKn o*q nHor'a nonlr wflQ jure of a severe wrench. Many a i lalf-pint of Jamaica was staked upon :hem, beside other thmgs. The poor gander withstood many a strong pull jefore his wailings ceased. At length, lowever, they were hushed by Odum. rhen came Bostwick, and broke the leek. The next grasp of Odum, it was :hought, would bear away the head; t>ut it did not. Then Bostwick was sure of it; but he missed it. Now 3dum must surely have it. All is interest and animation; but horses | sweep round with redoubled speed; ?very eye is upon Odum, his backers smiling, Bostwlck's trembling. To the rope he comes, lifts his hand, when, i lo! fat John Fulger had borne it away the second before. All were astonished, ill disappointed, and some were vexed i little; for it was now clear that "if It hadn't 'a* been for his great, fat. greasy paw,' 10 use meir own language, "Odum would have gained the victory." Others cursed "that longlegged Zube Zln, who was so high he didn't know when his feet were cold, for bringing such a nag as Sal Spitfire to a gander-pullen! for If he'd 'a' been In his place it would 'a' flung Bostwick right where that gourd o' hog's lard (Fulger) was." Fulger's conduct was little calculated to reconcile them to their disappointment. "Come here Neddy Prator," said he, with a triumphant smile; "let your uncle Johnny put his potato-stealer [hand] into that hat and tickle the chins of them are shiners a little! Oh, you little shining sons o' b s! walk Into your Mas' Johnny's pocket, and jingie so as aicii uuum auu uuiy Bostwick may hear you! You hear 'em, Gory? Boys, don't pull with men any more. I've Jlst got my hand In; I wish I had a pondful o' ganders here now, jlst to show how I could make their heads fly. Bet all I've won, you may hang three upon that rope and I'll set Slouch at full speed, and take off the heads of all three the first grab? two with my hands and one with my teeth." . Thus he went on, but really there was no boasting In all this; It was all fun; for John knew, and all were convinced that he knew, that his success was entirely the result of accident. John was really "a good-natured fellow," and his cavorting had an effect directly opposite to that which the reader would suppose it had; It reconciled all to their disappointment save one. I except little Billy Mlxen, of Spirit Creek, who had staked the net proceeds of six quarts of huckleberries upon Odum, which he had been long keeping for a safe bet. He could not be reconciled until he fretted himself Into a pretty little plny-woods fight, in which he got whipped, and then he went home perfectly satisfied. Fulger spent all his winnings with Prator in treats to the company, made most of them drunk, and thereby produced four Georgia rotations; after which all parted good friends. iW It isn't necessary for women to be voters in order to be rulers. SOUTH CMOLM T How the Spirit of Libert; Unconqnera By REV. HOB KK' From the TorkvlJle Enquirer of 1871. INSTALLMENT XXXII. Morgan's rieireai. The most celebrated retreat on record is that of the ten thousand Greeks who had espoused the cause of Cyrus, the younger, in his expedition against his brother Artaxerxes. After the death of Cyrus, these ten thousand Greeks cut their way through an enemy's country and returned to their native land. So wonderful was this retreat that it is historically designated as the "Retreat of the ten thousand." Great as was the bravery and skill exhibited by the Greeks, the retreat of General Morgan from the Cowpens and the subsequent retreat of General Greene through North Carolina and over the Dan, into Virginia is no less, remarkable. Since "it is distance that lends enchantment to the view," we have no doubt but some day, in the future history of the world, the Morgan and Greene's retreat will eclipse that of Xenophon. The battle of Cowpens was fought, as already stated, on the 17th of January, 1781. The conflict began about 9 o'clock In the morning. That same evening, Earl Cornwallls was Informed of Tarleton's defeat. On the day after the battle of the Cowpens, General Leslie formed a Junction with Earl Cornwallls In York county, on the plantation of John Hlllhouse, now owned in part by Samuel C. Youngblood. The British camp was in front of the residence of Mr. Youngblood. Colonel Tarleton encamped on Broad river near Hamilton's ford. Tradition says that several of his soldiers who had been wounded at the Cowpens died at Hamilton's ford and were buried on land now belonging to Junius W. Thompson. Not many years since, it is related that those cultivating these lands , exhumed human bones, which in all probability were the remains of some soldiers who died from wounds inflicted by Morgan's men. Long after the war was over and prosperity has effaced the devastation caused by the British army in its progress through the country, a pair of silver sleeve buttons, upon which were engraved the Initials of a British officer's name, were found near Samuel C. Youngblood's. These relics of the Limes that "tried men's souls" are in the possession of some one in Chester. To the mind that is fond of revelling In the past, these things possess an interest, which can be better felt the n described. A strange and indescr.bable feeling pervades the soul when we stand upon the ground where once :amped a British army. Every move-, ment made either by the army of the patriots or by their enemies is full of Interest. On the afternoon of the memorable Jay on which Morgan defeated Tarleton at the Cowpens, Morgan set out to cross Broad river. A small detachment was left under the command of Colonel Pickens to bury the dead of both armies and make provisions for the comfort of the wounded. On the svenlng after the battle, Morgan crossed Broad river above the South Carolina line, and by forced marches, on a route leading him over the spot where King's Mountain station, on the Air Line Railroad Is now located, he passed through the lower edge of Cleveland and Gaston counties and crossed the Clatawba at the Island ford. Here through couriers, an arrangement had been made between General Greene and General Morgan for a conference. Morgan crossed the Catawba on the 29th of January. His march had been slow, on account of the number of prisoners and baggage captured from the British at the Cowpens. So soon as Earl Cornwallis heard of Tarleton's defeat, with a heavy heart he began to make arrangements for his advance into North Carolina. During his stay at Wlnnsboro and on his march from Wlnnsboro to Turkey creek, he had collected a large number of horses. These were gathered up by the Tories, who were generally experts In horse stealing. An organized band of these depredators Infested the country. Their headquarters was on the western side of Broad river, In the present county of Newberry. On the night after the battle of the Cowpens, General Leslie encamped on Sandy river, In Chester county. The next day Leslie marched his forces In the camp of Comwallls. It had already been determined by Cornwallls to push forward and If possible prevent Morgan from crossing the Catawba. Arrangements were made to mount the soldiers and convert the whole British forces under his command Into light Infantry. It was the dead of winter and the roads where there were any, were In a wretched condition. The country over which they had to pass was broken and roads had to be cut. The country was sparsely fctMed and consequently provisions scarce. Cornwallis whilst encamped at Ilillhouse's (now Youngblood's) begcn to grow disheartened and when ho heaid of Tarleton's defeat at the Cowpcns his hopes of subduing the country almost failed. He met with few friends amongst the inhabitants and the Whigs would prowl around his camp, rhoot his sentinels and like Arabs df-sh into the very midst of his camp and plunder his quarters The house in which Corn wallls had his headquarters stood east of the road, opposite the residence of Samuel C. Youngblood. On nm occasion a courier rode into the camp and tied his horse to the cheek of the aoor, in which were Cornwallis and his aids. The redoubtable Jack McLaln seizing the opportunity, rushed up, untied the horse and mounting him rode out of the British camp unhurt. The 18th of January, 1781, was a busy day In the British camp on Turkey creek. The united forces were as we may say re-organized and arranged for the capture, first of Morgan. then of Greene and finally the complete subjugation of all North Carolina. It was the dream of a sick AW W! REVOLUTION y Was Kept Alive By an Jble Peoplle. r latHin, i>. d. i man. It was hope against hope. Generics like private soldiers often suffer their hopes and fears to control their Judgment. The following Is the order In which the troop were to march up Broad river. In front, marched the Yagers. These were a corps of Infantry mounted on horses and armed with rifles. Their office was to scour the country in front of the main army and drive away the Whigs from the line of march. The Yagers were followed by a corps of road cutters. The duty of opening up a road for the wagons belonging to the army was assigned to these. By this corps the road leading from Wlnnsboro to Little Broad river, In ^Cleveland county, N. C.K was opens. In som^ places It has teen abandoned, but in the main It continues ?he same that it was ninetyfive years] ago. For a long time after the war It was called the King's road; at a later period it was known as the Charleston road. Both these appellations are at present nearly forgotten. The corps of road cutters were followed by two three pounders. The next In order was the brigade guards; then the regiment of Bose; then followed the North Carolina Tories. As If to protect there loyal subjects of the king, but unpatriotic citizens, two six pounders were ordered to follow In their rear. The two six pounders were followed by Lieutenant Colonel Webster's brigade of cavalry. Next followed the wagons, which bore the baggage or Earl Cornwallis. Then the wagons in which wei? placed the baggage belonging to the held officers. In the rear of these were the ammunition wagons, hospital wagons and wagons belonging to the different regiments. Then followed the provision train and loose hones. One hundred men selected from Colonel Webster's brigade of cavalry, under the command of one captain and two subalterns, formed the rear guards. At eight o'clock on the night of the 18th of January, 1781, Earl Cornwallis Issued orders for the whole army to be ready to move off in the order already stated at eight o'clock on the next morning. We can only imagine the strand and Imposing spectacle which the army of Cornwallis presented as it moved slowly along through the wilderness. No doubt John Hlllhouse was glad when Cornwallis vacated his house and no doubt he and his few neighbors were in a deplorable condition. The British troops had been quartered on them for several days. A considerable field lying in the direction of Turkey creek from Samuel C. Youngbjood's residence, was cleared by the British soldiers In securing fire wood. The first day, the army made its way OC fa n a a Wnlfa craelr On thft twpn - tleth, the Yagers were detached and sent to Tarleton, who was still at Hamilton's ford. On the same day, Tarleton In obedience to the orders of Cornwallls, crossed Broad river, for the purpose of gaining Intelligence of the movements of Morgan and also rendering aid to his troops who had been scattered In the recent battle. It would seem from this move that the British were ignorant of Morgan's movements. Tarleton having learned that Morgan was not on the west side of Broad river, recrossed the river at Smith's ford. On the night of the twentieth, Cornwallls camped on Buffalo. Here lfe was Joined by Tarleton and the resolu tlon was formed to pursue Morgan. Up to this time the intention was to cut Morgan off. On the night of the twenty-third, following the trial of Morgan, the British reached Old Tryon court house In the western corner of the present county of Gaston, about twenty miles from Llncolnton. The next day, hungry and footsore, they reached Ramsour's mill, in the vicinity of Liricolnton. Cornwallis had heard of Ramsour's mill before. The mention of the name awakened unpleasant recollections. There on the twentieth of June, 1780, the loyal North Carolinians, under the ill starred Colonel Moore, met with a sad and ruinous defeat. At Ramsour's mill they remained three days, collecting provisions and making arrangements for continuing the pursuit of Morgan. The weather Ti-oo nMooJInirlv ha/1 a n rt thp nmfiTTPSS through the country very slow. Cornwallls had learned since he left Turkey creek that It was impossible to effect anything, encumbered as he was with baggage. Determined to do everything and make any sacrifice that he might succeed in his undertaking, Cornwallls Issued an order on the twenty-fifth for all superfluous baggage to be destroyed. All the wagons belonging to the army, except those loaded with salt, hospital stores, ammunition and four empty wagons for the sick were committed to the flames. Officers as well as men were ordered to reduce their private baggage. That this order might be obeyed cheerfully by ill the officers, Earl Cornwallls promptly reduced the quantity of his owr baggage. It Is diffcult to say whfther this was a wise or foolish act. It seems to have been the act of a man whose motto was success or ruin. TO BE CONTINUED. "Extras" In Bueno3 Ayres.?La Pre nsa, the famous newspaper of Bi ?nos Ayres, has a 5000-horsepower steam siren. When there Is big news, an appalling disaster, whoop! goes the siren "A deuce of a row," writes a correspondent, "up and down the scale, a defiant shriek, gurgling groan, for a varying period, according to the importance of the event, the horrid din resounds throughout th? city. All of this causes the most extraordinary sensation. It is, of course, only on great occasions that this takes place. I heard the siren go for the first time when the news came through from San Francisco. Within a few minutes the neighborhood of the Prensa office was packed With an excited crowd, awaiting the circulation of the news. The evening papers followed suit, in feeble style, by letting off bombs, and for the rest of the afternoon the town was a perfect pandemonium." iHisfftlaneous grading. ; COTTON buying syndicate. What the Executive Committee Did at Hot 8pringe Recently. Columbia State. Saturday. Mr. E. D. Smith of the Southern Cotton association has reumed from the meeting of the executive committee recently held at Hot Springs. As a result of the investigations made by the committtee and his personal observations, Mr. Smith is very enthu- , siastlc over the outlook for the farm- ] era mis year ana oenevcn mm mo prices will remain firm. True the farmers of this state have suffered greatly, but there are shortages In other states. In reference to the endorsement of Richard Cheatham, the Alanta official who was charged with speculating with the Information at his command, Mr. Smith admitted that he went to the meeting prejudiced against Cheatham. All of the others, however, were fully satisfied with the evidence as It was brought out and as a result the committee decided to endorse the man. It has not satisfied all the members, however. Mr. Smith gave out a very Important statement concerning the meeting and the organization of a syndl- ' cate with a capital of $60,000,000, to buy up all the cotton offered for less than the fixed price. Mention was made of this some time ago In The State and it was Mr. Smith's own plan which the committee adopted. Mr. Smith urges cooperation as the only way to win the fight and his statement Is worth careful consideration. He says: Mr. 8mith's Statement. I have just returned from the meet- , Ing of the executive committee at , Hot Springs, Ark., which convened , September 6, and adjourned on the the evening of September 9. , Matters of great importance came , up for consideration before this meet- , ing and were considered deliberately j and entirely with reference to the , good that might be done to those in- , terested in cotton growing in the , south and in the prosperity that has , resulted from the two years of the remunerative return for cotton. The Price Fixed. , All the states were represented, and , in spite of the fact that some serious < blunders had been made, every man ( was enthusiastic as to the principles , of the organization and its ultimate { power to win the fight for southern ( independence in the domination of , foreign speculators and foreign capi- ( tal. The committee, after due delib- , eration, decided to fix the dead-line, { the line below which no cotton, weak , or strong, should be sold In the south j at ten cents per pound. This was | done because of the sentiment 3 throughout the south that this was ( the lowest possible price under exist- , ing conditions as to labor, and the , increased prices of other commodities ( necessary for the growing and mak- , ing of the crop, that would enable ( the grower to meet his obligations. ( It had no reference whatever to the , present crop or any other condition, j We did not say. nor do we mean to , say. that cotton is not or will not be ( worth more than this per pound, based upon the law of supply and demand. There were consumed this year, from September 1 to September 1, 12,200,000 bales which brought an average of 11.7 cents per pound; 860,000 bales of this amount were taken from the crop of 1904, which was brought over from that year into the cotton year of 1905-06. According to the consumption, as reported from the mills, and the new spindles that are added, the prospective demand from the spinning world will be 12,600,000 bales for the 1906 and 1907, of the present cotton year. The Yield This Year. As to the outlook for the yield of the present year, we had an aggregate of several thousand reports from different states, taken from observations made since September 1. These reports from the several states were read In open committee and com merited upon by the members of the , executive committee and the state , presidents from several states. From North Carolina, J. P. Allison of Concord and C. C. Moore from Charlotte, | corroborated the returns from that | state which indicated from ten to flf- . teen per cent less than last year. ] They stated that unless the price of ] cotton exceeded ten cents per pound, ^ the cotton growers of their state , would suffer. From Alabama, W. H. Seymour of Montgomery and W. F. ( Vandlver of Montgomery spoke on . the returns from their state, declaring that the conditions there did not warrant an estimate as good as last , year of from ten to fifteen per cent. , They also contended that unless the price equalled that of last year Alabama would also suffer in view of the fact of the increased cost of produc- | tlon and the enhanced value of all articles necessary for home consumption on the farm. From Arkansas ' unnnll if I Ha Tl f T TT I. YY. Willie III AU9SCIIVIIIC, M-r a. u. m. | Love of Dardenelle and H. B. Burnette of Chlckalah, declared that the ( conditions In Arkansas had deterlo- , rated, at the lowest calculation, twen- ] ty-flve per cent In the last fifteen , days prior to our meeting. They put the maximum yield from Arkansas at } about 750,000 bales. From Loulsl- ( ana, Paul M. Potts of Nachltoches | and F. L. Maxwell of Mound, corrob- ( I orated the reports from the different counties that boll weevil In the Red ( river valley, excessive rains, rust and , blight made the condition In their , state but slightly increased over last year. It must be taken Into account ( in reference to this state, that they ( made practically a total failure last year. From Mississippi, Walter Clark , of Clarksdale and Dr. William Woods ( of Jackson declared that the condl- . tlons In their state were such that the yield would be trom fifteen to twenty , per cent less than was estimated fifteen j days previous to our meeting. From Georgia, Harvle Jordan confirmed the statement tnat me ouwook in ucuigio j was for a ten or fifteen per cent de- } crease under last year. From Texas, ^ R. T. Mllner of Henderson, J. C. Hlckey of Henderson and Dr. J. H. Pope of Marshall confirmed the reports that never before In the history of the state 1 have the ravages of boll weevil and boll j worm been so great as they are in the present year. This, coupled with the rapid deterioration of the condition of couon, maae in? pruapeci iui a. ;i?u In Texas very slightly over that of last rear. From Oklahoma and Indian I Territory, L. B. Irwin of Stillwater. Okla., confirmed the report that for the ( first time In the history of cotton growing the boll weevil had invaded , their territory, and though the pros- < pects up to two weeks ago were very flattering, yet he confirmed the report ( that the outlook at the time of our meeting was such as to warrant no appreciable increase over last year. The 4 condition in our state is known to the j readers of this article, as to my own i reservations, I visited the states of ( Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi. North Carolina and In none of these states are there conditions to warrant ei yield approximately above that of last year. As to Texas, Mr. Hyatt has given a true report of conditions In reference to the boll wdevll and the general outlook. I was present with him and confirm the statement in his Interview. Those Bear Reports. It Is absolutely suicidal for those who make the cotton, to be frightened by the bear reports that are being sent ">ut, and market their cotton for less than 10 cents per pound at their respective stations. The trade realizes that this is the debt paying period and that they will force the price down now, take advantage of the poverty md dire necessity of the cotton proiucer, and load up the mills with this :heap cotton In order to get htm in a position where they may dictate the price for the entire crop. Let every man who has his own and his country's Interest at heart, see to It that the cotton shall not be sacrificed simply because we failed In obtaining the 15 cents, for which so many of us /v# ?vlo. UUUU. DTtttUBC VI UIC UIIOVCIIIUIA ffiwlom of this move, Is no reason why we should not stand as a unit now that we are all agreed as to the price below which cotton shall not go. I have given the names of the executive committee from every state, to that any one wishing to inquire vho they are and as to their standng in their several states and as to :he conditions that obtain in their itates, may communicate with them to confirm the statements that I have nade. A Syndicate Organized. The executive committee decided in /lew of the fact that in our present status we were not much more than an idvisory board and had no power to snforce our demands, unless , there should be a strict observance of our idvice, to organize a corporation for :he purpose of buying, selling-and warehousing cotton and to raise, if possible, at' least $60,000,000 for the rnrpose of buying and retiring from he market the weak cotton which each rear during September, October and November Is forced on the market to he injury of all those who can hold uid who would be willing to hold unler other circumstances. The shares ire to be $5 each. If every cotton grower In the south would put into :hls syndicate $5 a bale on the cotton frown, it would give the capital of approximately $60,000,000. This money :ou!d be distributed in each state, according to the number of bales raised ji that state and be used for the pnr ,KJ3C Ul put CliaOlllQ auu ?Wi> I..Q slTered below the minimum price. 3ay, a planter raises ten bales of cot- J on, he is offered 8 cents per pound, he | :akes 85 worth of stock per bale, or 1 160 In this concern; the market ad- J ranees, In consequence, one cent per ( sound. He has made back on his ten i sales of cotton the entire amount in- < rested, besides still owning his stock in j :he company. It is a very simple plan; j rery easy of execution, if the planters, i nerchants and bankers will Just take J sufficient stock to realize the amount ( isked for. As it is, we stand to lose ( (10 on the bale any year on any size ?rop we grow. Therefore, It stands to -eason that If we will take one cent a 1 * 41 ?? ! ? ami t h ^ iouna on me cunun givwu m uk >>??? , :oncentrate it In the hands of practical business men to buy and retire cotton In the market to be held by them for the minimum price flxed by us, this will guarantee a remunerative price each year. We spend no money in protecting our cotton, while the Jpuying .vorld spends millions of dollars and makes millions of dollars robbing us if our profits. Mr. Wltherspoon of Meridian, Miss., Is looking after the charter; J. P. Allison of Concord, N. C., J. C. Hlckey if Marshall, Tex., F. L. Maxwell of Mound, La., Mr. S. A. Wltherspoon of Meridian, Miss., and myself are appointed a committee to draft and present the detailed plan to the public it large. This, in our opinion, if properly appreciated by the people of the eouth, will solve the problem of fixing md maintaining a price. Let no man think that we are at all ilscouraged. We have Just begun to fight. E. D. Smith. THE MACHINIST. ? His Work Ranges From a Needle to a 1 Battleship. "There is, perhaps, no other trade and very few professions," writes William Haddow in the Technical World Magazine, "that require the ^tigh order of intelligence, the study, the application, the real hard headed common sense, the surgeon's delicacy of touch, for Instance, in fitting of fine work, that the machinist's trade demands to give the excellent work and the Interchangeability of parts found In the modern rifle or sewing machine. The range of his work is from a needle to a battleship; from automatic machinery that 'would i talk French had It one more move- ( ment' to measuring machines guar- ( anteed not to vary more than the ( fifty-thousandth part of an inch from J the absolute. This precision will per- J haps be better appreciated when it Is f remembered that 150 times this limit ' of variation is only equal to the diameter of the average human hair. Standard plug and ring gauges, to t take a specific example, are so accu- j rately fitted to each other that the expansion due to the warmth of the hand, if the plug be held in it for a Tew moments, will make it impossible to insert the plug in the ting, while If the ring be expanded in the same way the plug will drop clear through It. "When the machinist has become skillful enough to fulfill the above requirements he may receive from $2.60 per day up to whatever he can make himself worth and prove it." tar An otherwise truthful man sometimes talks about himself. House Against Dispensary, Senate Tendng That Way. Sreenville News. Columbia, Sept ,13.?Senator Tinman, In his Interview given out in Columbia.yesterday, said: "In the senate we have a majority )f ten or twelve easy." Again he said: "I can't count more that fifty antlJlspensary members out of the touse." Senator Tillman must have forgotten how to count or perhaps he stopped counting when he got up to fifty. Senator Tillman is simply mistaken. r*i font ha 4a ifomr vamv Koiflv vmlatolr. ill inci, lie 10 ICI/I * VI/ Vttui/ Iiiioianm. The house Is against the state iispensary system. Of that there Is 10 more doubt than there Is that Ansel has been named as governor and Lyon has been nominated as attorley general. Senator Tillman may is well question these two results as :hat the house has only fifty antilispensary men. He was careful to say: "I don't ;ount more than fifty." Perhaps he lid not care to count them. Leaving in doubt the status of fourteen members, some of whom last rear were Inclined against the state llspensary system, as were the reflected members of Berkeley, Mr. Courtney of Aiken, the uncertain flection in Lexington and even giving the dispensary forces such a prolounced prohibitionist as Mr. Morrill >f Richland, who is a prohibitionist Irst of all and who may not have deeded as to a second plan, the antllispensary forces have a clean, clear md unmistakable majority in the louse. There may be some newspapers and Senator Tillman, who, in their enthusiasm, claim the house for the dispensary, but it is as much igalnst the state dispensary, and It night to be easy to remember how 'pat" It stood against the Raysor Manning bill last year and how It >e related In the Morgan bill or nothng. Senator Tillman ought to get down :o facta. The bureau today tried to jet down to facts and figures and had i young friend who likes to make ?reful studies of such things make ip an accurate list, going to the rec>rds as far as possible for his facts, lere Is the way the situation shows ip, not mere guess work, but facts 'rom the records and previous votes >f the Identical men. In the house, against the dispensary: Aiken county, Croft, Wade; Anderson county, Rucker, Hall. Cllnk;cales Smith, Cox: Barnwell, Thomas, riarkey; Beaufort, Bailey, Legare. fiver; Charleston, Von Kelnlts, Whaey, Frost, Vanderhorst. Cosgrove, Marshall, Todd: Cherokee. McArthur, 31ay; Chester. Hemphill, Brlce; Clarindon, Scarborough; Darlington, Lawion, Carrigan; Dorchester, Wlmberey; Edgefield, Devore, Nicholson; Florence, Kershaw, Shipp; Greenville, ?othran. Harrison. Beattie, Nesblt, Ireer Hampton. Dowllng Toumans; lorry, Splvy; Laurens, Miller; Madon, Reaves, Sellers; Marlboro, Lane, llbson; Newberry. Johnson, Aull; Ocolee, Mann. Verner. Orangeburg, J. A. Banks; Pickens, Carey, Hlnton; tfchland. Porter, A. McMaster; Sparanburg, Nicholson, Walker, Arnold, fash, Dodd, Gibson; Sumter. Frasler; Villi amsburg, Bryan, Kellahan, laune; York, Says. ~Tor""fHe dispensary^ ~X~' ' " Abbeville, Gary, Carwlle, Still well; Uken, Gyles; Bamberg, Garrls, WIey; Chester, McKeown, Chesterfield. Scruggs, Douglass; Clarendon. Din-, lie, Slxen, Lectner, Brice; Florence, tver. Georgetown, Sawyer, Doar; Ireenwood. Yeldell; Horry, Derham; tershaw, Richards, Bethune; Lan aster, Jones, Robinson; Laurens, Gannon, Boyd; Lee, Tatum, Harris; >xlngton, Eptlng, Sharpe; Marlon, lorton; Marlboro, McColl; Newber y, Wyche; Orangeburg, Brantley, bullet, Hydrlck, Carson; Richland rompklns; Sumter, Dick, Stubb; Unon. Hughes. Little; York, Epps, Glass?ock. Slaughter. Uncertain: Aiken. J. C. Courtney; Barnwell, !>r. A. B. Patterson; Berkeley, Park?r, Balentlne, Davis; Greenwood, KThlte; Lexington, Wingard, Etherdge, (election not declared); Rlchand, Morrell, Herman; Saluda, Danel, or Smith or Dodd. As to the state seeate, the record ihows a close vote on the present itatus. Senator Tillman claims the senate by "ten or twelve easy." If :he final show down gives the dispensary forces by the time the next general assembly meets one majority Jt will be the "easy" majority, -rne 'act Is. the senate now Is 20 to 21 iro-dlspensary, but It may not stand hat way long In the view of the elec;lon of Ansel and Lyon and the growng sentiment In favor of county dispensaries. Most of the pro-dlspenlary, however, were elected before he county dispensary plan took such Irm hold and before their count had he Ansel-Manning test, and some of hese senators may see the end of the vhole dispensary system if they do lot take up the county dispensary, */? oo #a r?At nno In tVila r*lfiaa iUl lu l/c "tti \J UVb W..V ? ? s put down in the column of those jpposed to the Btate dispensary. The lesire has been to be on the safe side ind to be conservative in showing low the house and senate stand. This list will be full worth careful itudy. The line-up in the senate ihows: Against state dispensary?Sullivan, >f Anderson; Bates of Barnwell Uhristensen of Beaufort; Haynes of 3erkeley; Slnkler of Charleston. Otts >f Cherokee; Hardin of Chester; \ppelt of Clarendon; McKeithen of Darlington; Talbert of Edgefiel^l; Vfauldln of Greenville; Brooks of Greenwood; Smith of Hampton; Holiday of Horry; Williams of Lancaser; Crouch of Saluda; Carlisle of Spartanburg; Bass of Williamsburg; Brlce of York; Carpenter or Robinton of Pickens. For state dispensary: Graydon of Abbeville; Johnson of \Iken; Black of Bamberg; L&ney of Ihesterfield; Griffin of Colleton; Bivms of Dorchester; Johnson of Florsnce; Walker of Georgetown; Hough >f Kershaw; McGowan of Laurens; Kelley of Lee; Eflrd of Lexington; Stackhouse of Marion; Hodges of Dconee; Raysor of Orangeburg; Wes:on of Richland; Clifton of Sumter; rownsend of Union. Eels Stat the Machuocrt.?During he late rains the mud in the waters >f the South Fork (of the Chtawba) Knnn uorv ohun/lant Thft lvci nave utvu ?vi j ?el?, as Is well known, travel when the ,vater is muddy, and It Is said they generally slide along the bottom In ^reference to swimming above the x>ttom. One night, not long ago, the vater wheel running the electric light lynamo of the High Uhoals company jecame so clogged with eels twice luring the night that the gates had :o be shut down and the eels chopped >ut in order to keep the machinery gong. The eels would lap over the stalonary buckets and continue to accunulate untU the water could not pass ihrough. For quite a while it was difficult to And out the source of the :rouble.?Charlotte Observer. " ' aw^,