Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

? I ? ISSUED SIEMI-WEEKLT. r - - - . , _ l. m orist's sobs. Pubii.her. | % Jfamilp Krrrspaprr: Jfor lh? promotion of the political, SSeeial. Agricultural and tttommtijtial Interests of the feogle. KHTiUtLlSHBD 18SS. YORKVILLE, S. P., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER gT, 1900. NO,76. SOOTH CftROLttt Tl How the Spirit of Liberty Unconqueral By BEV. ROBER1 From the Yorkville Enquirer of 1870. INSTALLMENT XXXIII. Retreat of General Greene. |j We left Earl Corawallls at Ramtour's mill in Lincoln county, N. C., and General Morgan on the east side of the Catawba?nearly opposite the camp of the British chieftain. On the evening, after the battle of Cowpens. Morgan commenced his retreat, and on the morning of the next day at 8 o'clock, Corawallls set out in pursuit. For ten days both armies tolled?with all their energies. The Americans struggled that they might escape; and the British hastened the pursuit that the prisoners captured at Cowpens might be rescued, and their captors captured, or cut to pieces. It was the dead of winter. There were few roads and the country through which the armies passed was hilly?in tome places mountainous? and the weather very bad. The consequence was that the progress of both armies was slow. The distance traversed by each was nearly equal. On the 28th of January. Morgan crossed the Catawba at Island ford. Two ? hours after his rear guard had reach- t tho Matorn hank the van sruard of t the British, under Brigadier General O'Hara, appeared in sight. Morgan and his men were safe. The sun was setting. Dark and ominous clouds covered the face of the sky. The British general concluded to spend the night on the western bank of the river, cross early the next morning, rout the forcvs of Morgan and rescue Tarleton's men who had been taken prisoners. During the night the rain fell in torrents and by daylight the waters of the Catawba had interposed an insurmountable barrier between the pursued and the pursuer. Thus for 48 hours the waters of the river continued to leap over their banks, holding the British earl completely in abeyance. The rains continued to fail and the British were thoroughly drenched. They were forced to fall back and kindle large flres in order to dry their wet baggage and powder. rne neaaquaners ui Cornw&llls was at the house of Jacob t Forney. The story of this man Is too a thrilling to be omitted. C Jacob Forney was a descendant of 0 the French Huguenots. His father af- f ter the revocation of the edict of 1 Nantes, in 1885, fled from his native f country and settled iu Alsace on the E Rhine. WhenTiis son Jacob was about * four years old, the elder Forney died. 0 At the age of fourteen, young Forney, 1 now an orphan left Alsace and went v to Amsterdam. Here he heard glow- a ing accounts of the New World. The d tale which he heard of the sufferings of his <fathers fired his soul with ha- r tred for tyrants, and a love of liberty, f both political and religious. In the a first ship bound for America he took f r passage, and in due time landed on the v shores of the New World and took up v his temporary abode in Pennsylvania. A few years afterwards he returned to Germany in order to get possession of a small legacy which had fallen to him. His business arranged, young Forney set out again for America. The vessel on which he embarked had a number of emigrants from Berne in Switzerland. Amongst these was a beautiful girl by the name of Maria Berger. Between Jacob Forney and Maria Berger an acquaintance was formed. This acquaintance was in due time, matured into love. On arriving in Pennsylvania they were married a and in 1754 came to Lincoln county, c - - d IN. U Jacob Forney was in his day a pil- 1 lar in his community. The Cherokee v Indians feared him and his neighbor- ^ hood depended upon him to defend 1 them in every emergency. So fre- c quently had he been shot at by the c Indians and so often had his clothing r been pierced by bullets without being wounded, that his neighbors really be- 1 lieved that he was bullet proof. On c one occasion, it was reported that at- 1 ter coming out of a fight with the In- ( dians. Nk unbuttoned the bosom of his * coat ana "near a peck of bullets fell 1 out." 1 When Cornwallis was In pursuit of ' Morgan and found that he could not 1 cross the Catawba, on account of its 1 being swollen by the recent rains, he came back to Jacob Forney's. A Tory by the name of Deck Informed the British earl of the condition of Jacob Forney. His house was about two miles from the main road and no doubt was the best one In the whole community at that time. Everything we may suppose was in abundance. The house consisted of two stories and a cellar. Cornwallis made the upper story his headquarters. Here he devised during his three days' stay?his plans for future operations. Forney's hogs, cows, chickens, corn, fodder and everything which either man or horse could eat, was appropriated without stint. This did not satisfy the invading foe. Deck had informed them that Forney had a large sum of money hidden somewhere on the premises. This was true at least in part. He had a sum of money which at that day and in that community was thought to be very large. The legacy which he had received in Germany had been saved. Some of the identical coin which he had brought with him to America, was still in his possession. Diligent search was made for this money. At last. It 1 together with some jewelry was found. Up to this time, Jacob Forney making a virtue of necessity, had remained quiet In the cellar. He was now an old man and being found unarmed, the British did not disturb him, further than to drive him into the cellar. So soon however, as he learned that his money was found and hopelessly In the hands of the enemies of his country, he lost all control of himself and seizing his gun, threatened to kill Cornwallls. This he would have done had it not been for the prudence of his wife. He had actually begun to ascend the stairs leading to the room occupied by Cornwallls. His wife pulled him down and through her persuasion he was induced to desist from his bold but dangerous undertaking. ft HI UERfiWWTtOft r Was Kept Alive By an bie People. C LATHANt I). I>. Deck, the Tory who acted as guide and informer for the British earl, was , a near neighbor to Forney. By some means it was found out as soon as the , British left, the part Deck had acted. | He and Forney had been on intimate ( terms, uut runiejr ueierimiieu mai ire should be treated only as an enemy in the future. A messenger was sent by Forney to tell him that If he did not leave the country immediately he R-ould shoot him on first sight. Deck Icnew that Forney meant all that he said. Stilll for some reason he did not see fit to leave the neighborhood at >nce. It was ascertained that he was jonceallng himself in the woods. Forley armed himself and went in pursuit >f his treacherous neighbor. One day e found him lying down fast asleep. He raised his gun and was about to Jre. The thought occurred to him :hat he ought to awake him before (tiling him. This he accordingly did. 3o soon as Deck was aroused from his (lumbers and perceived his perilous :ondition, he began to beg in the most luppliant manner, that his life might le spared, promising at the same time hat he would if spared, leave the counry at once. Forney although greatly ncensed on account of the wrongs vhich he had been caused to suffer by )eck. spared his life and he left, nev>r more to be heard of in the commuilty. Jacob Forney lived to see hp(ountry free, and died, loved and reelected. in 1806, at the advanced age of ighty-five. Immediately after the victory at the row pens, General Morgan sent a couler to General Greene, then encamped tn Hicks' creek, in the present county if Chesterfield, South Carolina. On he 28th of January, Greene accom>anied bv one aid and two or three avalrymen, set out to Join Morgan, rhe array was left In command of Jeneral Huger of South Carolina and Colonel O. H. Williams of Maryland. )n the way he learned that Cornwallls vas in hot pursuit of Morgan. He at mce dispatched to Huger and Williams o break up their camp and march with ill possible speed to join Morgan at Charlotte or Salisbury. On the Slst if January. Greene reached Sherrard's ord on the Catawba. The distance beween Hicks' creek and Sherrard's ord is about one hundred and fifty niles. So soon as Greene arrived at he headquarters of Morgan, the two ifBcers held a conference respecting he future movements of the army. Vhat Morgan's plans were we are unible to say certainly, but they were lifferent from those proposed and put nto execution by Gen. Greene. The esult was, Morgan submitted under >rotest, that in no way would he be ( iccuuuiauie lut uic mmi rcauua ui mr ?lan proposed by his superior. To this 1 Jreene replied that he and not Morgan 3 ras accountable for whatever might >e the .consequences of the future novements of the army. It is very irobable that Morgan never forgot his disagreement which took place etween him and Greene. A short time lefore the battle of Guilford he left he army and never again rejoined it. ireen on the contrary continued to chersh during life the highest regard for iforgan, both as a man and an officer. [*he probability is that Morgan pro>osed to file to the left and lead his roops to the mountain region of North Carolina. Greene on the contrary was inxious to unite his forces so that they ould not be attacked and cut off in letachments. Another object he had r* ifIoh' woet a nrntoot Gnnorluroll'a 1 rnn 11 ? It ?? " WO VV |/? VVVVIi Vi TV Vl? "J > V" vorks, on Troublesome creek. North Carolina. After the destruction of Ull's works on Allison creek In York :ounty, South Carolina, no other works >f the kind of any consequence, renained In the south. If we are correct In this supposition, he superior generalship of Greene >ver that of Morgan Is manifest. In 10 other way than that chosen by Jreene could the American forces have >een made effective. Had Morgan atempted to retreat beyond the moun ains, me prooauuuy is inai ne wuuiu v nave lost all the prisoners he had cap- 1 ured at the Cowpens. This In Itself 1 vould have been bad; but the depress- c ng effect which such an event would 1 lave had upon the minds of the Whigs 1 >oth in North and South Carolina, ' vould have been a great deal worse. 1 SVith great promptness, Greene made irrangements for the future movements of the army. Word was sent to Huger and Williams to lead the forces under their command to Guilford, and not to Salisbury or Charlotte as they Had been previously instructed. The prisoners had been put In charge of General Stevens to be conducted to Charlottesville, Virginia. Here again I ne have an example of the military power of General Greene. The time of the Virginia militia, which Stevens < :ommanded, would soon expire. This i made it eminently wise to select them i us a guard to conduct the prisoners to ( a point at which they would be out of the reach of Cornwallis. The main body of the army under Morgan was ] ordered to advance in the direction of Guilford. The North Carolina militia under the command of General Da vidson were stationed at the fords on the river to Impede the progress of the British in crossing. This done, General Greene set out for Salisbury. Had this noble chieftain never done anything else, the planning of this retreat, in so short a time, would have placed him in the rank of the greatest military heroes of his day. It shows this his mind acted promptly and clearly. Whilst the American general was devising plans by which he might unite his forces and protect his country, the British general was equally busy in devising schemes by which he might advance the interest of his royal master. The rains had ceased and the Catawba which separated the two armies, was falling as rapidly as it had risen a few days before. On the evening of the last day of January, the very day that Greene reached the camp of Morgan, Earl Cornwallis ordered his troops to be ready to march at one o'clock the next morning. It was thought, by the British earl, that General Davidson with the Mecklenburg and Rowan militia was stationed at Beattie's ford. Colonel Webster was ordered to take the thirty-third regiment, the second batallion of the seventy-first regiment, Hamilton's corps of loyalists and Yagers, the six pounders and ail the wagons belonging to the army, and march directly to Beat- 1 tie's ford. He was oraerea to nre nis cannon and do everything In his power to draw the attention of the Americans to him. At one In the morning, Cornwallls with the main body of his forces set out for Cowan's or McCowan's ford, six miles below Beattie's. This was a private ford, and Cornwallis supposed that the American officers would overlook It. The night was dark and the roads narrow and muddy. One of the three pounders overset In a swamp, rhis produced In the darkness no small confusion. The line of march was broken, the men became scattered, and the gunners in assisting to readjust the three pounder that had overset, jot separated from their own guns. Just as day began to break the British reached the river. Everything was In i state of confusion. The three poundsrs were of no use, from the fact that the artillerymen were some at one place and others at another. From the camp flres on the opposite side of the river, Cornwallis discovered :hat he had erred In supposing that the Americans would neglect to place a juard at McCowan's ford. Determined :o cross, Cornwallis ordered General D'Hara to form his guards Into a collmn and march into the river. The * Catawba was considerably swollen and it this ford more than a quarter of a nlle wide. The bottom of the river ( vas rocky and the ford angling across t. The guards under O'Hara were orv lered not to fire until they reached the >pposlte bank. In the brave guards ilunged. In quick succession they vene followed by their fellow soldiers. e rhe cold water reached to their w lists. 1 nfantry and cavalry moved along 1 (lowly but steadily Davidson and hit? v t nen were on the opposite side of the 'ord. So soon as the American seninel discovered the approach of the British, he fired his gun. This aroused J he camp of Davidson, which was disant some half a mile. The men In ? Davidson's command were concealed imong the brushwood of the forest, op>oslte the ford. Captain, afterwards General Joseph Graham - commanded 1 l company in General Davidson's corps a >f militia. These were the first to each the bank of the river and open 0 ire upon the enemy. The moment ' Captain Graham's men commenced fir- 9 ng upon the advancing British, the d ruide who was a Tory, fled. This was 1 ittended with no little confusion, both r o the British and Americans. The h Jfltlsh guards, under O'Hara at this ^ noment were near the middle of the B itream. The ford instead of passing * lirectly across the river, turned at the * >oint at which the British had arrived, * ;onslderably down the river. Colonel ' iall, who was leading the British van, y lot knowing this and deserted by his t rory guide led the troops straight v Lcross. This frustrated the plans of a he Americans. They were forced to * nake a quick movement to the right c ind form in the new. The change was * nade as quickly as possible; but the * roops under Davidson being militia, e t was not effected until the van of the C 3ritish under Colonel Hall had nearly f eaclied the bank. In the crossing of * he river, the British marched in pla- 0 oons, that they might support each r >ther against the current of the swol- r en waters. 1 Although the British were not pre- J ented from crossing, still It cost them 1 rery considerably. Colonel Hall was ** tilled Just as he ascended the bank. 1 rhe horse on which Cornwallls rode 1 vas shot while In the river and fell, <dunging his rider in the stream and (~ lied as soon as he had carried his c naster across the river. Three pri- 9 ates were killed and thirty-six * vounded. The American loss was tri- ' * ling in numbers but severe, from the A act that the brave and promising 1 General Davidson was killed. He was 1 ihot by a Tory while changing the po- 8 lition of his troops. So soon as the 1 nain body of the British succeeded in ' :rossing the river, the North Carolina 8 Tiilitla, in obedience to the command c )f the officers, fled to the woods. The 1 >ody of General Davidson was forni ^ ifter the enemy had passed on, by 1 ?apt. Wilson. It was stripped of every 1 garment. Captain Wilson took It up * >efore him on his horse and buriod it c n Hopewell graveyard. The congress 1 >f the United States voted a monu- ' nent to this noble man; but no monu- ' nent has been erected. His memory, p towever, is perpetuated by the college n Mecklenburg county, North Caroliio, which bears his name. A county n the "Old North" state has also been 1 lonored with his name. And more than all this, his name will be cher- * shed until men forget to love liberty. TO BE CONTINUED. 3 WILD BEASTS IN CALIFORNIA. Dynamiters Drive Them From Moun- < tains to Settlements In Valleys. Wild beasts?California lions, wildcats, lynx, etc.?are very numerous in i the vicinity of French creek and in , fact, all along the ridge, says the Sa- ] cramento Bee. These animals are sup- ] posed to have been driven out of their , nearly inaccessible canons, where they ( have been practically undisturbed for , years past, by the Invasion of the , thousands of railroad men and the noise of the continued explosion of hundreds of tons of dynamite. They . have sought shelter nearer the con fines of civilization. I So bold have the animals become , that residents are very much alarmed. Half-grown calves and other domes- 1 tic animals are carried off with im- ' punity. i Recently a laborer started for a sur- . veyors* camp about a mile from French creek with a sack of fresh beef. Before going far he found he was being I followed by a lion, which kept barely a hundred yards behind him. When he , would stop the lion would stop. He dared not run although tempted to do so, 1 for he felt sure he would then be at- ; tacked. He thought of throwing the ( meat away, but he reasoned if he did so the animal would devour it almost instantly and, emboldened by the taste i of fresh blood, would surely attack him ] and he would be utterly helpless, as , he was unarmed. Nearly dead with fright he man- 1 aged to reach camp, and In the dusk 1 the glaring eyes of the lion could be ( plainly seen peering from the under- . brush. The lion is naturally cowardly, but will readily attack a man when 1 hungry. I JftiscelUufous 2Ua?lra<|. IN COUNTIES ADJOINING. News and Comment Clipped From Neighboring Exchanges. CHESTER. Lantern, September 18: Miss Mary Edwards went to Yorkvllle yesterday morning Mrs. R. B. Blgham and son John White of R. F. D. No. 1, went to Yorkvllle Friday afternoon to visit her sister, Mrs. John J. Jones, and other relatives near there. Mr. W. S. Dunbar and family left in the morning by private conveyance for the same place to spend two lays.......The following young pe>oole leave todtv for college: Misses Jennie Oates, Janie Ford, Etta Mcrullough, and Willie Waters, to Win:hrop; Miss Luclle Crosby to Limestone; Miss Heath Johnston to Agnes Scott, Decatur, Ga.; Messrs. Carter Hardin of Capers Chapel, Porter AnJerson of Rlchburg, Julian Leckie ind James Glenn of this city, to Wof'ord Mrs. Ada Thomasson and Ittle daughter, Harriet of Yorkville, :ame down yesterday to visit her jrother, Mr. P. A. Jackson, on Culp street Mrs. Lottie Culp, who has ieen teaching the summer school at Heath, S. C., closed her school Thurslay and passed through Saturday nornlng on her way to her home at Rock Hill Saturday afternoon Ur. John W. JefTares of Feastervllle, lad started out home and when about he Stoke's place, three miles from own, his mule became frightened ind threw him. He remounted, lowever, and went on to Mr. S. P. iVrlght'8, about four miles, when he >ecame dizzy and sick. This partial y passed off but returned. Dr. S. P. ?ryor, who happened to be In the leighborhood, was called in and saw hat he was in a serious condition, hough his friends were not prepar!d to hear of his death, which came he next morning. Mr. Jeffares gradtated at Clemson a few years ago and vas about thirty years old. He had aught for several years and was to pen school at Halsellvllle yesterday, ve believe. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. E. D. Wells at the ate home of the deceased yesterday ifternoon, and the remains were uried in the Coleman graveyard. GA8TON. Gastonia Gazette, September 18: At he ripe old age of seventy-five years ind six months, Mrs. Edward Jentins passed peacefully away about 1 'clock last Tuesday afternoon. She eaves her aged husband and four ons and daughters to mourn her leath. Her daughters are Mrs. Willam Smith, and Mrs. Charley Hoffnan; the sons are Messrs. W. E. Jen:1ns of Gastonia, and Nathan Jentins of Begonia. Before marriage, drs. Jenkins was jfturiet Elizabeth 'ramer. sne was Dorn me ?m or ifarch, 1831. She joined Long Creek laptlst church in 18C8, after being iaptized by Rev. R. B. Jones. She ras a good woman, of many nelghtorly qualities, and was greatly depoted to her home and her church, md will be sorely missed by all who inew and loved her. At Long Creek hurch at noon last Wednesday her tody was consigned to the tomb, afer solemn funeral services conduetd by Rev. J. A. Hoyle.". Dr. J. !. Galloway, who has Just reurned rom Due West, says the colleges here are having one of the finest ipenlngs In all their history, and it is ir? mrv matter tn flnH tha nar><??<inrv oom. Among Gaston county's conributlons to the student body are, ilisses Maggie and Mary Whltesides, Cssie Wilson, Ellen Moore Reid, Mary iuery, Kathleen Boyce, and Messrs. lope Falls and John Pearson, the later being a seminary student.... Miss ?ora Clark has accepted a position at Charlotte in the millinery department if the Llttle-L.ong company, where he went on duty yesterday morning. The dry kiln of Messrs. Pursey and Ferguson on R. F. D. route tfo. 1, about three miles west of Bowing Green, was destroyed by flre Just lefore daylight Sunday morning. On iccount of the wind the fire was exInguished Saturday evening, and as ate as midnight no flre was seen ibout the kiln. It contained three ?r four thousand feet of lumber beonging to neighborhood buyers iVlll Weaver, wanted for assault on Hr. J. R. Fayssoux and his son at the nerry-go-rouna, ana me iasi one ui he three assailants still at large, was :aught Sunday afternoon by Sheriff J. Cltne at Llncolnton. Weaver was n hiding In a shuck pen on the premses of a man by the name of Couch, tlx miles west of Llncolnton, and ibout half a mile from the home of leaver's mother. Sheriff Cline >rought him from Llncolnton to Gasonla yesterday morning. He was ried yesterday afternoon; in default )f $500 bond he was placed in jail at Dallas. Mr. Fayssoux's condition Is somewhat Improved, though he Is not ret out of danger. A MAN OF DISTINCTION. iavere Test to Prove Efficiency of Mail Service. When Is a man distinguished? tVhat is the test? The question was inder discussion not long ago at the Players' Club, New York, and Prof. Grander Matthews ventured that It ivas when a stamped envelope with inly a man's name on It and no further address would be delivered to svherever he happened to be. "That seems a pretty severe test," *ald Francis Wilson, the actor. "Now, 1 should call Mark Twain a dlstlnmicheri man hut he's traveling some ahere in Europe, and although I'm a good friend of his, I do not know how to address him. I don't believe such a letter would reach him. It would go to the dead letter office." "Well, you don't know him any better than I do," replied Professor Matthews, "and I don't know where he is, either; but I believe that a letter addressed to 'Mark Twain, None Knows Where,' would reach Clemens, and bring an answer." The comedian was delighted at the notion, and going to a writing-table, he addressed an envelope in accordance with Professor Matthews' suggestion. A five cents stamp was affixed, so that the message would be carried anywhere within the limits of the postal union, and then between them they composed a letter explaining the nature of It, and mailed it J1 ???? In three weeks they received a reply from Clemens, who had received his letter while traveling In Austria. I The New York postofflce authorities had proved to be sufficiently familiar with literary matters to know who \ were Clemens American publishers, I and had put the letter In their box. It < was known by these men that Clem- < eps was somewhere In Europe, and < tpey forwarded the letter In care of i his English publishers, who obtained i his address from his bankers. "Mark i Twain, None Knows Where," received 1 the letter in twelve days from the date I of mailing, and the answer which he i o? ?.oo nn1? r\r\ I 1 " mic ai uiivu, noo win; iuiic ua/o vu < the return trip, Clemens having refrained from trying a similar test to his correspondents.?Woman's Home Companion. CIVIC PRIDE. Soma Timely Suggestions That Are Worthy of Local Consideration. To Editor Yorkville Enquirer: In the hope of awakening some interest along the lines as Indicated by the above caption, you are respectfully requested to give this publication in The Enquirer: There should be?and this statement will hardly be discredited?In the makeup of every good citizen and taxpayer, a certain amount of civic pride and interest In the welfare, socially and commercially, of his own home town. A city or town is Just what its citizens make it?no more, no less?and Is consequently a true 1 reflection of the characteristics of Its r people. Just In proportion to the 1 amount of civic pride exhibited and ' practiced by a city or town, In that same proportion does It receive the commendation or disapproval of its neighbors and the outside world generally. This is especially the case when it comes to the matter of outside appearances?the physical makeup and condition of streets, pavements and other municipal works. Appearances count for a good dial, and to the visitor or "passer-by" the sight of clean, well-kept streets and pavements, and neat and attractive private premises, is one of the best references as to the progressiveness and wide-awake spirit of the citizens of that particular town. On the contrary, streets littered with old papers and store sweepings, empty tin cans ' and other trash, its gutters and ^ drains stopped up with rubbish and ^ rotting leaves, unsightly bill boards r with flaring patent medicine adver- f tisements, and vile and odorous back v lots, leave anything out a ravoraDie Impression on the "stranger within our gates," and Is often a "vexation" and "a stench in the nostrils" of the respectable citizen. For the purpose of improvement, cleansing and beautifying, numbers of towns now have "Civic Improvement Societies," generally organized and carried on by the good women. The good results of such organizations are only limited by the amount of earnestness and determination of the members. Yorkvllle now has a Civic Improvement society, an organization long needed, and one worthy of the hearty support of every citizen?man, woman and child. It is a deplorable.?yet a very evident fact? that Yorkvllle Is far from being a model for clean streets and pavements, sanitary drains and back lots. Her main street is the dumping ground of all sorts of rubbish, dirty papers and store sweepings, an occasional woodpile, building refuse, etc., "I ?nia nrl?h ?ho arlriitlnn nf rottlnflT " leaves and trash so clogs the gutters and drains that they are unable to carry off the water when It rains; this floods the streets, and with the accumulated dirt of the ages in the roadway, produces at times an odorous exhalation that has no resemblance whatever to "Hoyt's Dime Cologne," besides making the streets well-nigh "uncrossable" to pedestrians. Vacant spaces are adorned with unsightly bill boards, on which "he or she who walks may read" of the marvelous virtues of numerous patent medicines and other articles. Back lots and premises have to stand the burden of the refuse that happens not to be permissible to plain view on the streets, and with their pools of stagnant water, are admirable germinating grounds for the frisky "Aluskeeter," as well as malaria and typhoid. I will leave It with the observant ( reader to determine if the above de- ? scrlption of conditions is overdrawn or exaggerated. These conditions should be remedied and the sooner the better. To get satisfactory results will require some attention by constituted authority, some work and some money. It Is nothing short of foolishness to assert that Yorkvllle is unable, from a financial standpoint, to keep her streets clean. One man regularly employed, with the assistance every few days of a horse and cart, could work wonders In the cleanliness of our thoroughfares. Yorkvllle may not be able at this time to put in a sewerage system or to lay her streets In asphalt, but she can, with some little effort, keep what she has clean and sightly. It is to be hoped that the Yorkvllle Civic Improvement society will prove a live and permanent organization, and that it will receive, as it deserves, the hearty co-operation of every citizen in its efforts to make what Nature, by her gifts to Yorkvllle, made possible and practicable, a beautiful and healthy little city. The responsibility, however, rests with each individual citizen; he must do his part; he must "sweep before his own door." This article is not written for the purpose of charging anyone In particular with neglect of duty, nor ln"a spirit of criticism and a desire to "rile"' somebody, but In the hope 1 that it may assist in a way in bringing about a much needed reform in Yorkville?Clean streets and more civic pride. Yorkviluan. ? A Token of Gratitude.?A rare example of discerning gratitude is given by the late Marchioness Isabella Luclnl of Pavia, who has left a legacy of $3,000 to a local comic paper to which she had been a lifelong subscriber. Her will also directed that $300 in addition should be spent on a sumptuous banquet to which the staff of the paper should be entertained "in recognition" so the will textually reads, "of che many pleasant hours spent In perusing its humorous columns." MARTIN F. ANSEL. Sketch of 8outh Carolina's Qovarnor Elect. Martin F. Ansel, who will be inaugurated next January as governor of South Carolina, was born in the city of Charleston, the date being the 12th of December, 1850. He Is of German descent. His father was John L. Ante! and belonged to a good and prosperous family In Wurtenburg, Germany. Before coming to this country he Pad received a thorough course of training in one of the celebrated technical institutions of that country and Pad won the degree of skilled master mechanic. When he came to this coun try. he was still a young man, and unmarried. Soon afterwards, however, tie won as his bride Miss Frederika Bowers, a native German like himself, ind a woman of extraordinary refinement and force of character. The marriage of the parents of the lewly elected governor was consummated in Philadelphia. They did not arry there, however. From Philadelphia they came to Charleston, and lere the future governor was born. Later the young couple removed with i party of friends and countrymen to Walhalla. ( The home which they there 'ounded, and where the boyhood days >f young Martin were passed, is still >ccUpled by members of the family. The close of the great struggle vhlch resulted In the overthrow of ilavery found Martin F. Ansel a lad of !fteen. He had no opportunity to enloy the benefits of a collegiate edu-atlon. He was, it is true, for a time i member of the literary society of dewberry college, but the education vhlch he received was the education ifforded by the public school at Wallalla. He is today the firm friend of he common school, and throughout he campaign which has Just resulted n his sweeping victory at the polls te has exajted above everything else hose Institutions of learning to which 10 large a proportion of the youth of touth Carolina must look for their >reparatlon for life. Don't mlaunderitand. He Is firmly the friend of ilgher education, of the colleges of the itate, and he ardently desires their ncreased prosperity, but It Is only latural that he should have a particilarly tender place in his heart for hat class of schools which did so much or him. Mr.- Ansel studied law under Major rames H. Whltner. He had not yet ittained his majority when he was adnitted to the practice of his chosen >rofesslon. For nearly four years he raa located at Franklin, N. C., and hen he came to Greenville, In this itate. In January, 1870. He was arayed with the forces led by the peeress Hampton In the memorable campaign of that eventful year. His nolitlcal career mav. however. >e said to have begt|n in 1882, with lis election to the legislature from awnvtile county. He was then thiry-two years of age. He was re-elect>d to the bouse of representatives In .884 and again In 1886. In each of hese years he headed the ticket in the irimary election. In 1888 he was Jected solicitor of the old Eighth Jullcial circuit. He discharged the dules of this highly responsible office vith marked fidelity, and the esteem if the people who know him best, who vatched him narrowly, as all prose:utlng attorneys are watched, while for welve long years he went In and out tmong them, Is evidenced by the manler In which they cast their ballots n both the .primaries this year as well is In the primary four years ago when Ifr. Ansel was first an aspirant for gubernatorial honors. They showed inmistakably that they had full conIdence in him, and of this tribute Mr. tnsel Is Justly proud. Mr. Ansel first ran for governor In 902. In the primary that year ne acked but few votes of being In the lecond primary with Capt. D. Clinch ieyward. The dispensary was not an ssue In that campaign, but Mr. Ansel wo years ago committed himself as avoring the Idea of local county opion in a letter to a prominent Meth>dist minister. A year ago he Issued in address to the Democratic voters >f the state In which he made public his portion of his platform. Mr. Ansel's Platform. Mr. Ansel's platform, upon which he lought the suffrages of South Carollm, was as follows: In the first place I stand for the education of the youth of our beloved state. I would not take one cent from iny of our Institutions of higher eduction In this state, but blc^them Godipeed In the great work that they are loing in preparing the young men and vomen of our commonwealth to fit hemselves for tneir lire worn, biiii [ stand for the advancement of the :ommon schools of the state. It Is in :hese schools that 90 per cent of the joys and girls of the state will receive all the schooling that they will ;ver get, and as most of the burdens >f life will fall on this ninety per cent, et us prepare them, as best we can tor the battle of life. Let us see to t that the common schools are provided with the best teachers, the best school houses and equipments and the ongest terms possible. In the second place, I advocate the making of better roads in our state, the highways that so many of our people are obliged to use to go to market, to church, to school and other places. I maintain that the general government should appropriate large sums of money for this purpose; with this and our convict labor, before many years, most of our roads could be macadamized, and when this Is done, the high tax that the farmer now pays In the wear and tear of his stock, his vehicles and himself. In traveling over the pres ent bad roads would be very mucn lessened. I am glad to know that some of the counties are doing good work along this line, but much remains yet to be done, and I believe that the general government should help In this great work. In the third place, I am opposed to the system of the state dispensary. I am in favor of local county option, between county prohibition and county dispensaries. Let each county say for Itself whether-it desires that liquor should be sold in that county, or that it shall not be sold therein. This system has been, and is now, the law in several of the states around and near us, and it is regarded with satisfaction, so far as I have been able to learn. You know what you had rather have In your county, and 'you should, therefore, I have a right to say so, and not let other counties vote upon what your , county should have. Tou manage your own county affairs in everything else, why not in this matter? I favor each county voting upon that question for themselves. If the vote is for liquor to be sold, then let a county dispensary be operated in that county under the restrictions now thrown around the sale of liquor with such other regulations as the legislature may deem . best. Let the county board of control be so appointed, have charge of the whole matter for that county, said board to report to the judge hand that report to the grand court for that county of all its acting and doings, and. then let the judge hand that report to the grand jury for their Inspection and investigation, with such instructions that he may think DroD or. Whatever profit is made will go to the county. Let the dispensers be paid a salary and not a commission on what they sell. If the vote is for prohibition then allow no liquor to be sold In such county, and pass s. stringent law providing for the punishment of all "blind tigers" and other violators of this law, and make it the duty of the county sheriffs, deputies, constables, marshals, policemen and other peace officers to see to it that the law is enforced, and all violators are brought to justice and punishment. I would be glad if no liquor were sold as a beverage, but the conditions are such at this time, that I believe this to be the best way to deal with the question. Furthermore, I favor the enacting of all such laws as will be for the betterment of the people of the state; that will enable them to do better things for themselves and more for their neighbors, and that will advance all the interests of the people of this beloved commonwealth of ours; and ilso liberal appropriations was for soldiers who are needy. They deserve consideration at our hands and should be provided for. Examine this platform and If you think me worthy of your suffrage, I will promise to give to the state and her Interests my best thoughts, talents and time. PLAN OF ORGANIZATION. How 8outhern Cotton Association Will Maintain Prices. The following paper outlining In detail the scheme of the Southern Cotton association for raising the capital for buying weak cotton off the market was given out for publication from the headquarters of the South Carolina division last Tuesday: "At a called meeting of the county presidents of the South Carolina division of the Southern Cotton association, held In Columbia on September 17th, the Conditions and prospects of the association were freely discussed. Each county president was asked to report on conditions and prospects in his county and the average reports made was that the state would produce sixty per cent of last year's crop. The ten-cents minimum as established by the Hot Springs convention was unanimously endorsed. The condition of the association in South Carolina was far from satisfactory but it was the general belief that a campaign pushing the better organization of the state would result in a more thorough organization than we have had In the past. It was believed that South Carolina farmers are willing to stand by the ten-cents minimum and that little cotton will be placed on the market under that price. "The most important matter for consideration presented to the meeting was the organization of a holding company for retiring cotton offered for sale under the minimum price, a3 was recommended by the execu-, tive committee in session at Hot Springs. The undersigned committee was appointed to make this report to the press of the proceedings of the meeting, and was appointed a permanent committee to get up South Carolina's part of the capital A# tK a a Am nn nir iiuv.iv ui me v.uiu^aiijr. "At Hot Springs a committee consisting of E. D. Smith, S. A. Witherspoon, J. P. Allison, J. C. Hickey and P. L. Maxwell was appointed to secure from the state of Mississippi a charter for the formation of a cotton holding company, having a capital stock of $100,000,000, with the privilege of beginning operations when $10,000,000 Is paid in. Steps are being taken to secure this charter, and by-laws for the operation and governing of the company will be pushed. Farmers will be asked to i subscribe stock to this company to (he amount of at least $5 per bale ' on cotton produced by them, and I the general public can lake stock to i any amount at 15 a share. This subscription can be paid In money, ( or at the option of the subscriber, ' in cotton at ten cents per pound. i This money to be used for the pur- , chase of cotton offered for sale below the minimum price. ( "The Idea of local government of I the company will be carried out as | far as possible. For Instance, the money collected in each county should be deposited in. the banks of 1 the county, and as far as possible | used for retiring cotton in that county offered for sale under the mini- ' mum price. The counties are to be ' organized Into a state company and i the different state companies Into a , national company; with a central office for each state company and one 1 central office for the national company. It was the sense of this meet- i ing that, if this company was ready to begin operations at an early date, the price of cotton could readily be carried a cent higher, or up to the I ten-cents minimum asked. If this | conipany should go on the market at present and buy cotton at nine cents per pound and the price should ad- < vance within thirty days to ten cents, | there would be a profit of $5 per bale to the stock holders of said company: giving the stockholders { one hundred per cent dividend on < the money Invested. "No subscription made to the company Is to be made binding until the full $10,000,000- bone fide subscrlptlons shall have been secured. It is the sense of this meeting that the < company shall not begin operation I until the ten million dollars shall ( have been paid in full and deposited In the county banks wnere conectea. Of course, it Is distinctly understood that each and every one of the sub- , scribers for stock who pays In the money or cotton, gets a certificate for the number of shares subscribed 1 for. The liability of each subscriber I to this stock will be limited by the , charter to the amount subscribed. The undersigned committee, after ' fully discussing this plan, heartily < approves and endorses and believes , that such a plan will be necessary to , fix and maintain a staple price for cotton. It unhesitatingly recom- 1 mends It to the people of the state. | believing it to be practical and feas- , ible. "Francis H. Weston, "R. M. Pegues, "Wade Stackhouse, "W. D. Bryan, \ "F. H. Hyatt, "Walter Gregg. "W. J. Moore." i 8LOWE8T RAILROAD ON EARTH. Thirty-8svsn Mil* Journey in Honduras Which Took Eightoon Hour*. The vicissitudes of a trip over the Enter-Oceanic railway are numerous ind harrowing, says a writer In the ' dew Orleans Times-Democrat, dating lis letter from San Pedro Sulu, Honluras, which he reached after a Jourley of thirty-seven miles In eighteen lours. Our leaving time was C o'clock, says the writer, but we didn't pull out ef Puerto Cortes until 10 in the morning, rhe nondescript affair which they call i train down here consisted of a wood iurnlng engine, four flat cars and a passenger coach. Our crew was composed of an engineer, a half dosen Bremen, one brakeman and the conluctor. There was an extra man, but in the whole vocabulary of railroads I And 10 name for him. His position, however, was a commanding one, and, as subsequent events proved, a most Important one. He perched himself on he front of the engine, above where he cowcatcher should be, and upon pccaslon industriously ladled sand from 1 box beside him to the rails in front Our numerous firemen passed the vood from the cars to the engine, and it various points along the road turned into a bucket brigade and supplied water from nearby streams to the engine. The engineer was a Jamaican mbued with an extraordinary pride !or the land of his nativity and given ipon occasion to declaring that he was tot a native of Honduras?be was a British "object." Jerry, I fear, Is something of a gay Lothario, and on ... lis frequent trips over the road has worked sad havoc In the hearts of lusky maidens all along the line. He nvarlably announced our approach to l village by putting the hard pedal on he whistle, and the entire population urned out to greet us. Jerry's* strenuous musical efforts same near causing a catastrophe at one point where we encountered a very leavy grade. Just before we reached he top of the hill Jerry thoughtlessly pulled the whistle cord, and In the icreamlng blast that followed the 1 team gave out and the train began o Blip back. Although the cars were vlthout brakes of any kind, the company had prepared for such emergen-les by providing a mahogany log on he rear platform, to be dropped und?r he rear wheels. Unfortunately the ear brakeman was asleep on a 1st ?r In front, and before he awakened he momentum of the train was so rreat as to render our remedy unavailing. We ran so fast and so far In . he next fifteen minutes that It took us 'our hours to get back. At L&guna a stop of forty minutes a replenish sand and water afforded jpportunlty to take note of our sur-oundlngs and our fellow passengers, rhe latter were mostly natives and lot over clean. They were nice and ^ lociable and fraternised with me with>ut being coaxed. My neighbor on the ight was a senora of unguessable ige, with a complexion of antique oak. She took pity on my tender years and nAvneHenrA and lavished a bunch Of ingo on me ihat drove out of my bead n the first round all my carefully prepared Relit* vocabulary. She was a -egular Waterbury linguist. Spanish falling me in a pinch I esorted to the sign manual and we got ilong fairly well. Somewhere mlditream in the torrent of language which ihe directed at me I detected a familar phrase and gallantly offered her a :lgar. The expansive smile which rreeted my donation proved my Interpretation to ha^e been correct Wandering around the village I was itruck by a neat and attractive little ;ottage which Invited closer inspection, [t was inclosed by a board fence, an lnuBum lemuiT iicic. AD A uion u?w [ discovered that the fence was made >f mahogany boards. With the extreme rood taste which is so characteristic of these natives the owner had carefully vhltewashed It Leaving Laguna the train plunged into a tropical swamp and forest The lollage was indescribably luxuriant and beautiful. Mile after mile we passed through archways of bending palms, gigantic in size, and through groves of :orozo trees. To my mind the latter >s the most perfect representation of the picturesque in tropical vegetation. [ts trunk is clad in the richest attire of parasitic life; Its wonderful feathery leaves, often thirty or forty feet In length, bend in elegant and graceful :urves under the weight of their own luxuriance or the burden of ornamental vines, while beneath all this mass of tropical richness may be seen clusters bf those delicious cahorn nuts hanging like immense cornucopias and- containing two or more bushels. For a distance we passed beside a deep, swift stream, which flows for miles through a wild Jungle, in the eternal shadow of the gigantic celba, cedar and rubber trees, between whose moss and vlneclad trunks grow palm trees of every description. Nature, all giving and bountiful, is here revealed. Precious woods are so common that rosewood is often used for telegraph poles, and the ties are of mahogany. Emerging from the Jungle, we came to the banana plantations, and here I learned that this remarkable railroad transports to the steamers 60 per cent of the bananas which enter New Orleans. Practically all of the bananas consumed west of the Ohio river are carried on the railroad to the seacoast. Russia's Guarded Sbcrets.?One of the secret processes which has for ages openly defied the world of science Is the Iron trade of Russia. The secret of making Russian sheet iron Is owned by the government, and when a workman enters the service, he bids Et last farewell to his family and friends and whether he lives or dies all trace of him is forever lost. There have been several desperate attempts made to steal or betray the secret, but In every Instance it has resulted In the j 4ntAnl/1 _ K/i I*?qUai> Tn AfiS UCttiu ui urc ttuuiu-vc umivi. **? wuv case a letter attached to a kite, which was allowed to escape, was picked up by some peasants, and despite their protestations that they were unable to read, they were at once put to death by the guards to whom they delivered the letter. It was afterward decreed that the guards themselves should pass their lives within the works, and to this day the secret remains as hidden as the philosopher's stone.?Exchange '' ;-4j