The Anderson intelligencer. (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, November 21, 1872, Image 2
ANDERSON C. H.f S. C.
THURSDAY MORNING, NOV. 21, 1872.
flg?? The weather for the past week has been
unusually cold. Last Friday and Saturday
deserve to be remembered as among the coldest
days experienced in this climate during the
moDth of November for many years.
fiST An alarm of fire on Monday evening was
caused by the burning of a small cabin in the
.northern part of town, near the Greenville road.
The cabin was occupied by a negro woman,
whose children set fire to the building in the
absence.of their mother.
jB?T E. J. Hale & Son, New York, have
lindly ftrwarded the fourth and fifth numbers
of De Fontaine's "Cyclopedia of Dickens,"
which we have heretofore noticed at length.
One more number will complete the Cyclope?
dia. Tbe author has performed his task dili?
gently, and every lover of Dickens ought to
secure the entire set.
J?? We are pained to record the death of
Mr. B. C. Suipes, which occurred in this town
on last Monday morning, after an illness of
two or three weeks. Mr. Snipes was a young
man of excellent character and fine intelli?
gence, and enjoyed the respect and confidence
of the entire community.
Our County Tax.
We learn that the levy marJe by the County
Commissioners to meet the expenses for the
ensning year is at the rate of one and a half
mills upon the dollar, which is the lowest rate
of taxation since reconstruction. A conside?
rable surplus in the County Treasury enables
tbe Commissioners to ameliorate the hardship
this year, by levying so small a sum for County
expenses. Probably no other County in the
State can make so good a showing.
"The Anderson Conservator."
'.' This is the title of a new paper to be pub?
lished* at this place, which will probably com?
mence about the 10th of December. The
proprietors are Messrs. W. S. Brown and Win.
H. Haynie, and the paper will be edited by the
first named gentleman. The subscription price
is $1.50 per annum, and we understand that
the! proprietors have already secured a good
list of subscribers. The material has been or?
dered, and the office will be located just oppo?
site the Intelligencer.
Death of Dr. Thomas A. Evins.
This announcement will not come unexpected
to the majority of our readers, who have been
aware of tbe long and serious illness of this
eminent physician and well-known citizen.?
For many months, Dr. Evins has suffered from
disease of the kidneys, and the fatal termina?
tion of this dread malady was expected by all
of his friends, scattered far and near. The icy
hand of the grim monster ended the sufferings
Of our friend and neighbor on last Friday night,
at ten o'clock. Dr. Evins was a native of Spar?
enburg, and while yet a youth, he came to
this place and studied medicine with his uncle
Dr. Alexander Evins, and when he bad gradu?
ated at the schools of medicine, he began the
practice in this town. For more than twenty
five years, Dr. Evins has occupied a close and
sacred intimacy with tbe families of this com?
munity, and has faithfully served a large prac?
tice by unremitting skill and devotion to his
profession. He was a high-toned, honorable
man, upright in his dealings with all, and thor?
oughly imbued with a refined taste and correct
principles. His extraordinary success as a
physician gave him the unbounded confidence
of the multitude, while his professional attain?
ments were recognized and admired throughout
the State. At the breaking out of the war, he
Was- appointed Surgeon to Orr's Rifles, and
served in that capacity until he rose to the po?
sition of Brigade Surgeon, and afterwards was
honored with the appointment of Medical Di?
rector of the Division in which "he served. Re?
turning from the army, Dr.'Evins resumed the
practice of medicine in this town, although
strongly solicited by f riends elsewhere to occupy
a more lucrative field, bnt his strong attach?
ment to Anderson urged him to remain. He
was married in the fall of 1866 to Miss E. E.
Holcombe, of Pickens, and settled permanent?
ly in our midst. Early in the present year, he
was attacked by the first symptoms of the dis?
ease which terminated his existence on earth,
and from day to day grew worse, until he was
forced to abandon tbe active duties of bis pro?
fession. Three or four months ago, he was
confined to his room, aud mortal cannot esti?
mate the physical pain endured for that length
of time. Kind and loving friends gathered
around his bed-side, and endeavored to admin?
ister comfort iu his affliction, but earthly help
was in vain. Yet the consolations of religion
were to him a priceless jewel, and he was
calmly resigned to the will of his Creator, feel?
ing prepared for the mighty change from time
to eternity, and relying upon the merits and
atonement of Christ for salvation in a better
world. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian
Church, with which he had been connected for
several years. He was in the 47th year of his
age, and leaves a wife and three children to
lament the loss of a noble husband and affec?
tionate father. His remains were carried to
Greenville on Saturday afternoon, and from,
thence to the family burying ground at Naza?
reth Chnrch, in Spartanburg County, where
his parents and grandparents arc buried.
? R. M. Hughes, a white man, was brutally
murdered by a drunken man, not knowing what
he was doing, in Pickens County, on the 8th
instant. There was no political or personal
quarrel. Hughes was shot dead in his wagon
by the murderer, after the latter had snapped
his revolver at a negro on the road, and his
victim had chidedhim for being careless. The
murderer's name is Julius Durham.
? The President has pardoned Appleton
Qakamith, who was taken to Fort Warren in
1861; it being alleged that, as a ship agent in
New York, he had aided in Utting ont vessels 1
engaged in the slave trade. From the fort he j
was transferred to Boston jail, and while legal I
proceedings were pending he escaped, and ever j
since has been a fugitive. About a year ago a
paper was signed by a large number of gentle-1
men, asking the President to pRrdon him, ac
companied by documents tending to show his
innocence of the charge. i
The Anderson and Abbeville Markets.
A fortnight since we took occasion to copy
from the Abbeville Medium a short communi?
cation, signed "Long Cane," which was lauda?
tory of the Anderson merchants and highly
complimentary to their energetic spirit as cot?
ton buyers. We introduced this communication
with brief remarks, appreciative of the com?
pliment to our fellow-citizens, but which con?
tained no reference to our friends in Abbeville,
directly or indirectly. The mere re-publication
of this communication in our columns seems to
to have unsettled the usually placid temper of
the Abbeville Press and Banner, which failed
to perceive any injustice or unfairness in the
publication through the Medium, and took no
notice of its contents until the article appeared
iu the Intelligencer. It was an Abbeville plant?
er writing in an Abbeville newspaper, and it
would seem that ordinary vigilance ou the part
of the Pres? and Banner might have detected
any fallacious statements before the article was
transferred to our columns. Although our
friend alleges that the editorial remarks, equal?
ly with the communication, did "very great in?
justice to the Abbeville market," we cannot
perceive the application of this charge, since
there is not a single word or sentence in the
editorial that might be tortured into an allusion
to the merchants or market of Abbeville. The
"injustice" has been done by the Press and
Banner, in this instance, und we shall expect
a recantation of this charge, as far as we are
concerned. So much by way of introduction
again, and now we invite attention to the com?
ments of the Press and Banner relative to the
points made by "Long Cane," in contrasting
the Anderson and Abbeville markets, which we
propose to follow with fair and unprejudiced
statements, without seeking to cast odium upon
the Abbeville merchants, or to traduce their
good names and established reputation. Here
are the comments of our cotemporary :
Now we are not disposed to do injustice to
Anderson, or to abate one jot or tittle of her
just claims to favor and patronage, but when
these claims are pressed to the prejudice of Ab?
beville, and upon what we conceive to be a
misconception of the true state of the facts, we
cannot in justice to ourselves be any longer si?
lent. Is it a fact, as alleged, that Anderson
gives mere for cotton, and sells goods cheaper
than Abbeville, being forty miles further from
market?
In the first place we may say this for Abbe?
ville, that the prices she has paid during the
present reason for cotton hare been fully up to
: the prices paid in Columbia, Augusta, Charles
! ton and New York, less the cost of transporta
ition, and in many instances have exceeded
these prices. An agent of a New York house
was here during the season, and finding himself
unable to compete with the prices paid by the
Abbeville buyers, was forced to leave. When
such is tde comparative state .of the Abbeville
and seaboard markets, is it reasonable to sup?
pose thar, Anderson can reallg pay more for cot?
ton, and sell goods at the same time cheaper?
That Anderson nominally pays more for cot?
ton, is true; but an Abbeville planter who re?
sides in fche upper portion of the county, gives
this solution founded on his own experience.
He informs that what is gained by the planter
in the price is lost in the weight of his cotton.
The increase of one cent per pound on a 400
pound bale would give $4 per bale increase;
whilst a loss of 30 lbs. per bale in weight at 15
cents per pound would amount to a loss of
$4.50; at 20 cents per pound to a loss of S6 per
bale. Here is an explanation, simple and sat?
isfactory, if not very creditable to the Anderson
buyer. It is the experience of one planter; we
do not vouch for its general application.
Again, does Anderson sell goods as cheap
as Abbeville? If what is paid in the higher
price of cotton is taken back in the increased
cost of gtxxls, bow is the planter bencfitted? A
bill of goods sold by an Anderson merchant to
an Abbeville farmer may throw some light on
this question. One of the items of the bill,
which is dated the 19th of September, is 120
pounds btcon at 16$ cents per pound, whilst at
the same date bacon was selling in Abbeville
at 13A cents per pound. Other articles of the
bill seem equally high. It will not require
much figuring to show how, with this difference
in the prices of goods, an increased price may
be safely paid for cotton.
In conclusion, we may remark that as human
nature is the same everywhere, it is not reason?
able to suppose that our Anderson neighbors
enjoy a monopoly of all the enterprise and
public sj-irit which make up the successful
merchant. Any extravagant pretensions in
this direction is very apt to provoke doubt and
misgiving. One who sets up to be better than
his neighbor is most likely to be worse; true
worth is always modest and retiring. We are
willing to concede that our Anderson friends
have their full share of honesty, enterprise and
public spirit, but not that they enjoy a monop?
oly of these articles.
Answering the interrogatory as to whether
Anderson gives more for cotton, and sells goods
cheaper than Abbeville, we will assert that a
comparison of prices paid for cotton in both
markets demonstrates fully the fact that, as a
general n.lc, Anderson is always one-half cent
higher than Abbeville, and we are willing to
make the proof by an exhibit from the mer?
chants' books for any given period. Wc know
nothing of the prices of goods in Abbeville,
and do net intend to make any reckless state?
ments. But this much we can sustain, and is
easily demonstrated almost every day, if one
will take the trouble. There are Abbeville
farmers constantly upon our streets selling cot?
ton and buying goods from our merchants, and
this trades has largely increased the present
season. Facts are stubborn things, and it is
not reasonable to suppose that so many farmers
in Abbeville are blinded to their true interests
to the extent of trading here from time to
time, unless there was some advantage to be
gained thereby. They are certainly as familiar
with the prices of goods in both places as the
editor of the Press and Banner, and doubtless
are sufficiently versed in arithmetic to count
the probable gain or loss in the sales of cotton
and purchase of goods. When Abbeville farm?
ers quit trading at this place, wc will come to
the conclusion that they can do better else?
where, which is more complimentary to their
judgment and common sense than to attribute
their actions to any lack of information.
But our friend admits that Anderson nomi?
nally pays higher prices for cotton, and renders
a solution of this knotty problem by "relating
I the experience of a single planter, who claims
that his cotton loses in weight. Inferentially,
this planter is made to allege that he lost thirty
! pounds on a single bale! Was that bale of
cotton weighed at Abbeville C. II., or did the
planter guess at its probable weight ? He lives
in the upper portion of Abbeville, and it would
seem that he carried the bale first to Abbeville
C. H. and had it weighed at the regular scales,
and then brought it to Anderson for sale. Ei?
ther this, or the statement proves nothing, for
wc venture to assert that loss of weight has
been charged time and again upon the weigher
at Abbeville C. H., where the producers ob?
tained their figures from imperfect methods of
weighing at gin-houaes or rough guessing by
the ginner. This is the experience at every
other town within our knowledge, and doubt?
less Abbeville is not an exception.
Yet this explanation, which is so "simple and
satisfactory,'' is said not to be "very creditable
to the Anderson buyer." Let us know where?
fore ? The Anderson "buyer" has rio more to
do with the weighing of cotton here than the
editor of the Abbeville Pres? and Banner, and
the latter can as justly be charged with any
remissnes8 in this regard as our cotton mer?
chants. How is that for rank .injustice? We
have a sworn public weigher, who ijs neither
directly or indirectly connected with ; the mer?
cantile interest of this town, and who has held
the position for the last twelve or fifteen years.
His character for uprightness, integrity and
honesty stands unimpeached, and is as firmly
established as the character of any citizen in
Abbeville or Anderson. We reft* taj 0. H. P.
Fant, Esq., who has been the Depot Agent at
this place for a like number of years, and who
is well known thiroughout the State, The ex?
perience (?) of one planter must fall to tbe
j ground against this showing, and it was
thoughtful in our friend not to "vouch for its
general application." Furthermore, as to loss
of weights in cotton, we learn from bur mer?
chants that there is an average loss of from
three to five pounds between this jplace and
seaboard markets. One of our merchants has
recently compared the weights of one hundred
bales bought the present season and sold in
New York, showing a total loss of 855.pounds,
or an average of more than three and a half
pounds per bale. Is this creditable or not to
the New York buyer? ; \l :
As to the price of bacon in September, we
are unable to find the merchant who will ac?
knowledge the figures given by the Press and
Banner. Nearly all of them assure us that the
cash price of Western bacon about'tile 19th of
September last was 12} cents, and we have ex?
amined a number of accounts Where it is
charged at \5 cents on that very day. Perhaps
it was country bacon bought by the Abbe?
ville farmer, as that quality of meat-always
rates higher in our market. Or it might have
been that tbe Abbeville farmer only paid an
account on the 19th of September, which had
been running for a year or two. Whatever
may be the facts of this particular case, we
know that the price given is an erroneous one,
as compared with scores of transactions in bacon
on or about the 19th of September last.
Since we have never made any^extfaivagant
pretensions" of enjoying a monopoly of enter?
prise and public spirit, we will allow the con?
cluding paragraph of the Press and. Banner to
pass unnoticed, further than to say that when
citizens from adjoining Counties are so mnch
impressed with the energy and activity of the
Anderson market as to write about our mer?
chants aud business men in other newspapers
we shall feel an irresistible impulse to transfer
the same to our columns, even though the
Press and Banner may not like it, and its
jealousy become excited to tbe extent of making
unsustaincd charges against our town and its
merchants.
President Grant and the South.
i With the re-election of President Grarft, it is
natural for the Southern people to scan closely
every expression concerning the anticipated
policy of his administration towards this sec?
tion. Hitherto, we have had just ground?
for complaint in this particular, as we honestly
believe, and exercising the. rights of freemen,
the white people of the South refused jo sus?
tain Gen. Grant in the recent election. His
opponent represented a policy which seemed
to promise a more permanent peace and perfect
tranquility. During the past four years, the
Federal administration has seen proper to up?
hold the unrighteous horde of oppressors in
the South, and at least taciitly sustain the in?
famies of our local governments. But with the
new lease of power so generally accorded:, to.
President Grant by the people of the United
States, the impression has gained ground all
over the country that a different policy was to
be pursued hereafter, which might turn the
tide of woe and calamity, and freshly arouse
the energies and hopes of a stricken popula?
tion. Hence, the outgivings of President Grant
are looked upon with unusual interest, and we
have collated from different sources such of the
expressions as tend to throw light upon the
darkened future. The Washington correspon?
dent of the Savannah Advertiser writes as fol?
lows upon this subject:
"The President this morning, in conversa?
tion with your correspondent, expressed a de?
sire for peace throughout the country, and said
he would labor for that object; that be was
a friend of the South, and was anxious that
the people of that section should look upon
him as such. Now that the excitement of the
politcal contest was over, and all vexed ques?
tions were settled for the next four years, he
hoped the people of the South would devote
themselves to the developing of the vast re?
sources of their section and kind relations be?
tween the two races, etc., in aid of which they
would fine no more kind friend than himself."
Under caption of "The New Southern Poli?
cy," the Washington correspondent of the New
York Herald states that "the President? in his
next message to Congress, will review the op?
eration and cfTect of the Ku Klux legislation,
and ask for a repeal of such parts as are nota?
bly oppressive. There seems no room to doubt
that a generous and conciliatory policy will be
pursued by the Administration toward the
South during the next Presidential term, and
it is highly probable that a representative of
that section will be" placed in the new Cabi?
net."
The New York Times, which is the recog?
nized organ of Gen. Grant, summarizes the ex?
pression of feeling in the South, since the
election, and declares "that the conclusion is
almost universal that the result of the election
secures an opportunity for the South to quietly
but energetically devote itself to its material
interests, and imposes the duty of doing so,
undisturbed by any plans or hopes connected
with national politics." It further asserts
"that every honest effort to make the State
governments pure and efficient will be helped,
as far as possible, at Washington," and "on the
whole, it may bo reasonably concluded that the
election has removed many obstacles to, and
created many inducements for, the thorough
tranquility and steady progress of the South.''
? The Governor has re-appointed. Robert
Lebby, M. D., as Health Officer of the port of
Charleston.
The Levy and Collection of Taxes.
Comptroller General Neaglehas issued a cir?
cular to the Auditors of the respective Coun?
ties, requiring them to levy a tax as follows:
To meet appropriations for the fiscal year com?
mencing November 1, 1872, six mills on a
dollar; for the support of public schools, two
mills, and for payment of interest on the public
debt, four mills.
The total indebtedness of the State is set
down at $9,8G5,908.08, to which is to be added
such other bonds as have been issued under the
Conversion Act of March 23,1869.
Although the printed circular levies the .tax
for the year commencing November 1, 1872, it
has been altered to November 1, 1871, and the
Auditors are instructed to collect for the last
named year. This alteration has caused an in?
vestigation of the several Acts of the Legisla?
ture, and it appears that the joint resolution
passed March 7,1871, authorized a levy to meet
appropriations for the year commencing No
! vember 1,1871. The joint resolution passed
March 13, 1872, under which the recent levy
has been made, authorized a second levy of
taxes for the year commencing November 1,
1871. It is justly claimed that this last levy is
illegal and void, as the taxes have already been
i collected for the period named.
I Under these circumstances, the Attorney
General has brought the facts before Judge
Melton, and made the County Auditors and
County Treasurers parties to the suit, asking
for an injunction to restrain the officers named
from making the levy and collecting the taxes
under said joint resolution of March 13, 1872.
Judge Melton promptly granted the injunction,
and has required the Auditors and Treasurers
to. show cause, on the 23rd of November in?
stant, why they should not be enjoined and
restrained from levying and collecting the
taxes, or any part thereof.
The facts recited above show clearly the in?
tention to make the people pay two taxes for
one year. The tax collected last winter was for
the fiscal year of 1871, and there can be no
doubt as to the purpose in levying a tax of
twelve mills for the same fiscal year. We shall
await the final decision of Judge Melton with
anxiety. The Legislature will meet next Mon?
day, and it is probable that this entire subject
will claim their attention at an early day. Un?
less the rights of the people are protected by
that body, there is no alternative left save to
resolutely refuse to comply with such outra?
geous demands upon the tax-payers.
Boston and Chicago.
In comparing the recent fire in Boston with
the great conflagration in Chicago last year, we
find the estimated loss and area of burnt dis?
trict in each city to favor the pre-eminence of
Chicago in the list of melancholy catastrophes
of modern times. The earliest information
from Boston was considerably exaggerated, and
it is now ascertained that the total loss will not
exceed $150,000,000, while some persons con?
tend that $100,000,000 will cover the entire
amount of property destroyed. The burnt dis?
trict in Boston is not two-thirds of a mile
square, the number of houses destroyed is nine
hundred and thirty, and about three hundred
families were rendered homeless by the fire.
The fire in Chicago destroyed 17,450 buildings,
the homes of sixty-eight thousand persons, and
property to the value of $200,000,000, which
includes buildings, merchandize and household
goods. The area swept by the fire in Chicago
embraced nearly four miles in length and an
average of one mile in width. In both in?
stances, the loss of life was much smaller than
at first conjectured. Taking the extent of ter?
ritory covered by the two fires, and the number
of buildings destroyed in each city, it will be
readily perceived that the concentration of
wealth in Boston was vastly greater than in
Chicago, as might be expected from the rela?
tive positions of the two cities. The loss in
Chicago fell upon rich and poor alike, and the
generosity of the world caused $2,000,000 to be
disbursed as charity to the destitute sufferers.
The Boston disaster is borne chiefly by wealthy
capitalists and corporations, and there is not
the necessity for pecuniary aid as in the case of
Chicago. -Yet, that touch of human nature
which makes the world akin, and which was
signally exemplified towards the people of Chi.
cago last year, is not repressed by the facts con?
cerning Boston's ability to meet this heavy pe?
cuniary loss, for active sympathies and kindly
expressions towards the sufTerers were gener?
ously bestowed from every portion of the coun?
try with commendable promptness.
The Tax Levy.?We managed to get hold
yesterday of a copy of the official order issued
from the office of the Comptroller General to
the Auditors of the various counties, instruct?
ing them to levy the taxes to be collected be?
tween the 20th instant and the 15th of January
next.
We find that the public debt is put at $9,865,
908.98, the amount acknowledged by the Tax
Payers' Convention to be legal, and that the
tax to pay the interest is four mills, instead of
six, as nas been reported.
The total tax, therefore, except in counties
like ours, where the county tax has been in?
creased, is fifteen mills. In Bichland it will
be sixteen and a half mills.
The amount of the public debt is all right.
We are willing to take it, and we presume the
people generally are willing to take it at $9,
800,000, and to pay the interest upon it. But
it strikes us that there is some authority higher
than that of the mere dictum of the Comptrol?
ler General necessary to say what shall and
what shall not be considered the valid debt of
the State. The Legislature must determine
that important question, and in default of their
action the courts must properly be called upon
to mako a decision in the premises.
There is another point in this order of the
Comptroller General which strikes us particu?
larly worthy of comment. This is, that the
words "to meet appropriations for the fiscal
year commencing November 1, 1872," which
were printed in the. circular, have been changed,
and, by a stroke of the pen, 1872 becomes 1871.
It is thus made plain that our suspicions, ex?
pressed yesterday and the day before, that there
was an infamous design to make the people pay
two taxes for one year, proves to be correct.
We hope our cotemporarics of the Press will
take this matter up, and assist us in bringing
the question fairly before the people.
By examination of the acts of Assembly of
1870-71, it will be seen that the tax collected
last winter of seven mills for State, and three
for county, was to meet appropriations for the
fiscal year 1871.
The purpose is now to make us pay another
tax of fifteen mills for the same fiscal year.?
This is clearly unconstitutional, and the law
cannot be enforced if the people will stand up
courageously for their rights. We repeat our
injunction to all our people?'"Keep your
money in your pocket until you know what
! you arc paying for."?Columbia South Caroli?
nian.
Destructive Fire in Abbeville?Loss Fifty
Thousand Dollars.
We sincerely regret to hear of another seri?
ous fire in our neighboring town of Abbeville,
which is the second conflagration of importance
occurring in that place during the present
year. The fire broke out on Sunday morning
before day, and swept a goodly portion of the
business houses before the flames were subdued.
We are indebted to an attentive correspondent
for the particulars herewith appended, and
likewise make extracts from an extra issued
from the office of the Abbeville Medium, viz:
Abbeville, Nov. 17,1872.
Mr. Editor: At one o'clock on Sunday morn?
ing the usual quiet of the town of Abbeville
was broken by the hideous shouts of fire ! fire!
and directly all the bells in town began ringing
at a fearful rate. The fire originated, it is sup?
posed, in Mr. Andrew Hill's kitchen, which is
located in Granite Range, the western part of
the square, and is three doors below the upper
corner. Earn well & Co.'s store was the first to
catch, and was totally destroyed before any?
thing could be recovered, not even the books
or safe were gotten out. The next store that
caught was A. M. Hill & Co.; a good deal of
their stock was saved. Then the fire caught
J. D. Chalmers' furniture store, but most of
his property was carried out. The next and
last was the drug store of Lee & Parker, and
most of their drugs and medicines were saved
There was a good insurance on all the stocks
of goods in the stores, but two of the buildings
were entirely uninsured. The most disastrous
part of the fire, to'the County generally, was the
entire destruction of all the books, papers, ac?
counts, bouds, &c., in both the Sheriff's and
Clerk's offices. At the fire before, in which the
Court House was destroyed, although these
offices were burned, all their papers were saved.
A great deal of trouble is anticipated on ac?
count of their destruction.
The fire was stopped at the new Lawson
building, at about five o'clock, by the very en?
ergetic and untiring efforts of the people. But
the firemen?"Oh, where were they." They
couldn't be had or found, but their ladders and
buckets were found and proved a great benefit
in extinguishing the fire. Abbeville seems
doomed, as this is the second very destructive
fire which has occurred in the past year, and
has, I think, been one of the causes of her
apparent tardiness in the market.
OCCASIONAL.
From the Abbeville Medium?Extra.
It is supposed that the fire originated in the
kitchen of Mr. A. M. Hill, but it was far be?
yond control before it was discovered. Mr. Hill
was awakened by his wife at about one o'clock,
and, on opening his chamber door to ascertain
what was the matter, was met by a cloud of
smoke and heat. Mrs. Hill?sick in bed?was,
with the greatest difficulty, 9aved. One of his
children, pursued by the fierce flames, leaped
from the second story of the building and
sought safety in flight. Mr. Hill's losses are
very great and severe. He lost about four
huudred dollars in money and succeeded in
saving nothing whatever?clothing, furniture,
bedding and everything was destroyed, and
nothing was covered by insurance.
Barnwell & Co. had their store burned and
succeeded in saving nothing. Their books and
about four hundred dollars in money were lost.
The losses of this firm are partially covered by
insurance?they were insured for ?6,000.
Tbe store of A. M. Hill & Co. was gutted by
the devouring element. A part of their stock
was saved and they were insured for $2,500, in
the Continental. Their warehouse was fire?
proof, and the groceries, cotton, &c, which
were stored in it suffered no injury.
The furniture store of J. D. Chalmers & Co.
next fell a prey to the flames. A part of their
stock was saved, and thev were insured for
*1,G00?$800 in the London, Liverpool & Globe
and $800 in the Georgia Home.
The Clerk's, Sheriffs and County Commission?
ers' offices were totally consumed with all their
books, papers and records. The loss of these
papers to the county cannot be estimated.?
These offices met with heavy losses at onr fire
in January hist and now nothing is left. The
destruction of the books, papers and records in
these offices will cause great embarrassment in
our financial and business circles. It seems
that Abbeville, between robbery, wrong and
fire, is destined to be destroyed.
The drug store of Lee & Parker ended the
progress of the fire in a southerly direction.
This store was filled with drugs which added
fuel to the flames. A part of tbe stock was
saved and insurance to the amount of $2,000
held in the London, Liverpool & Globe.
It was thought at one time that the whole of
the western side of our public square would be
burned, but tbe fire-proof wall of Lawson's
Hall and the almost superhuman efforts of a
portion of our citizens stopped its further pro?
gress. On the wall of Lawson's Hall a few
men gallantly fought the flames. Colored men
and white men stood breast to breast, cheered
each other and worked like heroes.
While in the conduct of a number of our
people there was much to commend, we have
nothing of praise or commendation to give to
the greater class?that class which stood aside,
unmoved by the losses which their neighbors
were suffering, and grimly smiled. Many
would not move an inch to assist in checking
the flames until they were promised a reward.
The Hook & Ladder Company were not out in
full force. The progress of the fire in a north?
erly direction was checked by the fire-proof
wall of Wardlaw & Edward's store.
Many losses of minor importance to those
enumerated above were occasioned by the fire
and the calamity which has befallen us is most
grievous. The business interests of our town
have been paralized ; a portion of onr best and
most beautiful range of buildings destroyed;
the legal documents of our county are in ashes.
It will be years before the injuries occasioned
by the fire will be overcome.
? Ou Wednesday last, with imposing cere
monies, the corner-stone of a memorial monu?
ment of the great fire in Chicago, one year ago,
was laid in Central Park, about four miles west
of tbe city, with most imposing ceremonies,
conducted by the Grand Lodge of Free Masons
of Illinois. The monument is to be composed
of the iron safes and other relics of the city,
an idea which will be appreciated long after its
builders are dead and all traces of the calamity
it commemorates have forever passed away.
? Under the new internal revenue law, the
force of assessors and collectors of the office,
now numbering two hundred^ and thirty 'of
each class, is to be reduced to eighty by the 1st
of January next, and Commissioner Douglas
will soon commence the work of consolidating
districts in order to make the reduction. In
some States there will be but one or two collec?
tors assigned, but in the larger States and
j densely populated cities there will be a suffi
' cient force to du the work without inconven?
ience to the business interests.
? A commendable anxiety is manifested by
a portion of the Southern press and people to
attract to their vicinity the emigration from
I Alsace and Loraine. The credentials of these
I people are devotion to principle and loyalty to
! the instincts of patriotism. They would Snd
j among the Huguenots of Virginia and South
I Carolina descendants of compatriots who were
I distinguished by the same characteristics, and
who are now among the first citizens of the
' South. They arc an acquisition to be coveted
by tbe South, particularly at the beginning of
! the new era, in developing her manufacturing
? interests and resources.
ITEMS-EDITORIAL AND OTHERWISE.
? It is stated that Boutwcll is to succeed
Summer in the Senate.
? Col. Robert Cowan, a prominent citizen
of Wilmington, N. C, died last week.
? Timothy Hurley, of Charleston, and S. J.
Lee, (clored,) of Aiken, are candidates for
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
? The military organizations in Charleston
are preparing to have an old-fashioned celebra?
tion of Washington's birthday next February.
? Mr. Joseph Thornton, of Virginia, is said
to have succeeded in establishing his claim to
property in England worth over a million ster?
ling.
? Hon. E. B. Washburno, now United State?
Minister to France, is to be a candidate for
United States Senator from Illinois, in place of
Senator Trumbull.
? Judge Graham, of Charleston, has ordered
the Solicitor of that Circuit to prepare indict?
ments against the County Commissioners of
Charleston for neglect of duty. .
' ? Judge Bryan has dismissed the petition of
certain residents of New York for a decree of
involuntary bankruptcy against the Greenville
and Columbia Railroad Company.
?: The bar of Yorkville has passed compli?
mentary resolutions to Judge T. J. Mackey,
testifying to his ability, courtesy and patience
in the discharge of his duties on the bench.
? The Governor has pardoned Lee Brown,
who was convicted of bigamy at the July term
of the court in Fairfield County, Judge Rut?
land presiding. Both the jury and citizens re?
commended the pardon.
? The stables of Mrs. Williams, of Green?
ville, were destroyed Friday morning, about 5
o'clock, by an incindiary fire. Her horses had
been fortunately removed from the stable the
day previous. Loss about SSOO.
? Dr. Edward Smith, Demonstrator of
Anatomy in the South Carolina University, has
tendered his resignation. His successor is Dr.
John Watson, of Yorkville, a recent graduate
of the Baltimore Medical College.
? Incendiarism seems to be the order of the
day in Greenville, as that city has suffered fre?
quently of late from the incendiary's torch,
last week's Mountaineer recorded two instan?
ces, but the fires were fortunately discovered in
time to prevent much damage.
? The Signal Office at Washington has just
made an important meteorological discovery by
tracing out the course of an atmospheric wave
through which the approach of winter can be
known, and showing the origin of our winter
storms in the Rocky Mountains.
? The Columbia Phoenix learns that a peti?
tion has been prepared and numerously signed,
to which Gov. Scott and F. J. Moses, jr., will
append their signatures, requesting President
Grant to pardon the Ku Klux prisoners now
confined in the Albany Penitentiary.
? The United States Circuit Court will meet
in Columbia on next Monday. Forty-five or
fifty citizens of Laurens, besides a number from
other counties, are bailed to appear at that time
for trial, on charges of conspiracy and murder,
under the several Acts of Congress known as
the Ku Klux law. ,
? The Welsh Neck Baptist Association,
which was in session at Darlington at the time
of the Boston conflagration, received the tid?
ings of the great calamity with the warmest
expression of sorrow and sympathy. A hand?
some collection was immediately taken up, and
the proceeds sent to the stricken city.
? Judge Melton has issued an injunction
restraining Treasurer Parker and County Treas?
urers from paying any other claims out of the
proceeds of the new taxes except the regular
appropriations made at the last session of the
Legislature. The effect of this movement will
be to delay the collection of taxes until the
new administration.
? The horse malady has prevailed in but a
mild degree in this State, but few deaths have
occurred, and the inconvenience arising from
it has been comparatively small, when we think
of the ravages it made in those cities further
North. It continues its course Southward, the
principal cities of Georgia arc complaining of
the disease, and we may reasonably expect all
the States to be visited.
? Judge Malier, who was elected Judge of
the First Judicial Circuit last winter, has deci?
ded that a witness can claim only one'dollar
and a half per day while detained at Court,
no matter how many cases he may be subpoe?
naed in. This ruling also.decreases the fees of
the Clerk, Sheriff and Solicitor, and has already
effected a saving in the Court expenses of Beau?
fort County alone of two thousand dollars.
? Twelve iron enterprises are in operation
or projected in Rome, Ga. Five of these are
in operation yielding forty tons per day. All
of them will be in operation within six months,
and the probable yield will be one hundred and
twenty tons per day, or over two millions of
dollars per annum, in the value of their pro?
ducts, and giving employment to over one thou?
sand men. At the present rate the net profits
from these twelve furnaces will not be less than
one million dollars per annum.
? The Washington Star says: "The' first
offer of sympathy and aid to Boston in her.
great calamity came from the South; let that
fact be remembered as evidence that, however
much the different sections of our common
country may differ politically, the .mystic cord
of brotherhood still exists, and only requires
some peculiar emergency to exhibit itself in
generous words and deeds. Raleigh, North
Carolina, was the first city in the Union to ap?
preciate necessities of suffering Boston."
The Thobn'well Orphanage.?The trus?
tees of this institution about to be founded in
Clinton, Laurens Co., S. C, make an earnest
appeal to every man, womau and child ia the
State for aid. They wish to raise $5,000 for the
erection of a good building, on a farm near
Clinton, for the purpose of providing a home
for the destitute Orphans. This Orphanage
professes to carry out the home relation in the
rearing of the children committed to its charge.
Its inmates will not only be provided with an
education, but will be taught to work and will
be trained for the business of life. We ask for
only $5,000, a sum which can assurdly be raised
among the Christian people of this State. A
mite from every one will do the work. Wo
appeal to the liberal-hearted of our people and
we do not believe that we will appeal in vain.
The Orphanage is under the control of Pres?
byterians. Its titles are held by Messrs. G. P.
Copeland, R. S. Phiuney and Win. B. Bell. Its
superintendent is Rev. Wm. P. Jacobs, a Pres?
byterian minister of this State. But though
under Presbyterian control, orphans will be
admitted to it without respect to the faith or
no faith of the parents. We appeal therefore
to all for help and we feel assured that we will
not appeal in vain.
Those who desire to give, are assured that
their gifts will not be wasted in contingent ex?
penses. These have already been provided for.
Every cent given will go for the purpose speci?
fied.
Dear friends, remember, those who give to
this cause are really giving to the God of the
fatherless, and that the blessings of the God of
the fatherless will be upon them. Inasmuch,
says Jesus, as ye have done it unto the least
of my brethren, ye have done it unto me. h
Please enclose your gift, be it large or small,
in an envelope, with your name and send it to
Wm. B. Bell, Clinton, S. C. lie is the treasur?
er of the Orphanage.
Wm. P. Jacobs,
Samuel L. West,
Jon J. Boozer,
Corresponding Secretaries,
THE MARKETS.
Anpkrsox, Nov. 20, 1872.
The cotton market has boon quite brisk for
the past few days?sales 1SI bales. Quotations
to-day 161 to 17.
Corn 1.00; Flour Sil to $12; Bacon 121 to 15 ;
Peas $1.00.