Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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n&txm gwUllipnm. E. B. MURRAY, Editor. THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL 24, 1879. In Michigan a law has been passed forbidding lawyers to take cases on spec? ulative fees. Such a law would prove very beneficial in every State by putting an end to the practice of taking cases on condition that they are to have a portion of all that is recovered. This is a prac? tice which tends to increase litigation and induce persons with doubtful cases, which have little or no merit in them, to trouble the Courts with their suits. It is one of the causes of so many suits throughout the whole country, and if abolished would at once strike from the Court calendars a large number of causes which now find their way into the Court Houses. The Democrats in the United States Senate have acted judiciously in electing Hon. A. G. Thurman, of Ohio, tempo? rary president of that body. Ho is an able, impartial and experienced presiding officer, and in every way qualified to discharge any duties which may fall to him. The Republicans ran Senator Ferry, the past president pro tern., and the vote stood Thurman 29, Ferry 26. Mr. Thurman was escorted to the chair by Senator Ferry, who said to him as they walked up the aisle to tho desk, "turn about is fair play." The truth of this old adage will impress itself forcibly upon other Republicans than Senator Ferry before another two years roll n round_*^_ Speaker Randall has been very partial in the appointment of his committees in the House of Representatives, and by his course has shown that the objections urged to him by his opponents were more than electioneering dodges. Not that the appointments made are in them? selves bad, but that they have been made through inexcusable partiality and pre? judice. For instance, he has failed to give a single chairmanship to the State of South Carolina, although every pre? cedent would have made Col. Aiken chairman of the Committee on Agricul? ture, a position for which our Represen? tative is eminently qualified. We advo? cated the election of Mr. Randall, and still think it was best for the Democratic party that he was elected, but we must condemn the prejudice which he has evinced in the formation of his commit? tees. He has, to say the least of it, done himself poor honor. The Republicans charge the Demo? crats with election frauds, and by packed juries and false witnesses they have sue ? ceeded in convicting some of the accused parties, but their course is not likely to meet the approval of the American peo? ple, for on no account will they ever consent to have the courts of justice con? verted into engines of oppression or machines for grinding out political cap? ital. If every Democrat in South Caro? lina had cheated in the last election, the consequences of the offence would have been little compared to the evils likely to flow from the perversion of the courts of justice of which the Republicans are guilty. Whatever may be said of the election coses, their force for the Repub? licans will be overshadowed by the reck? less crime of the Republicans in attempt? ing to procure convictions even at the expense of polluting the very fountains of justice. Convictions under the cir? cumstances cannot be looked upon by fair men as any more than an exhibition of the dangerous power which is pos? sessed by the Republican party which controls the Federal Courts, and of the reckless and violent use which that party has made of its control. The Legislature of Illinois is debating the propriety of so amending the Con? stitution of that State as to abolish the Grand Jury system, substituting in stead the plan of proceeding by information. The ground upon which this change is advocated is found in the increasing idea that something new would be better, and that the old Grand Jury procedure is not what its advocates have claimed for it. The State of Michigan now has this new mode of criminal procedure, by which the successive steps on the criminal side of her courts are the affidavit, the war? rant and the right to a preliminary trial, after which the State's attorney has the authority to file an information against the party or not, as he may see proper. There are several objections to the change which, in our opinion, will prevent the States from adopting it. In the first place, it is contrary to the Constitution of the United States. In the next place, it gives the State's attorney too much power, from which a favoritism is likely to arise which will oppress the weak or fail to prosecute the strong. The Grand Jury is an old and time-honored institu? tion, the wisdom of whose creation has been vindicated by centuries of practical operation. It is not perfect, of course, but then it is a great safeguard tu the people, and its abolition would almost inevitably lead to very dangerous results. There'would be no protection from the worst forms of corruption and oppres? sion. Judge Bryan deserves the highest appreciation of every person for the firm, able and independent position he has assumed in regard to the political trials now progressing. Without es? pousing either the prosecution or the defense, he has held the law with that dignity, force and impartiality which is the highest ornament of those who wear the judicial ermine, and the greatest se? curity of a free people. In these trials the venerable Judge has shown a clear conceptiou of the law, and a readiness to enforce it according to his conception. The differences between him and Judge Bond will be certified up to the Supreme Court of the United States, and there finally determined in a mauuer, we have 00 doubt, which will reflect most favora? bly upon the legal lore of the faithful Judge. If the views of Judge Bryan are carried out, the political complexion of the cases will be taken from them, and they will be tried simply as violations of the law, without reference to their political bearing. This is as it should be. It is much to be regretted that these cases are tried under such strong political auspices, and that the contest is not of justice against crime, but of Rad? icalism attempting to convict Democrats by a perversion of justice. For this uu utfornate state of things Judge Bryan is not responsible, and if his wise ;coun sels had prevailed there would have been none of it. The Republicans of the United States Senate nominated and voted for ex-col? ored Congressman Rainey for Secretary of the Senate, a position to which they knew that they could not elect any per? son, with a view of exhibiting their friendly disposition to give the negro an office. Rainey, however, wa3 not to be satisfied with an empty honor. He has been so accustomed to enjoying the re? ceipt of his living from the public crib, that he does not see how it is possible for him to get along without some public position; aud as the people of South Carolina were too ungrateful, as he views it, to return him to Congress, he has in his extremity turned to the President for an appointment, asking for the position of Third Auditor of the Treasury, which is a very comfortable and desirable posi? tion. But the Radicals have no idea of giving a good place to a colored man; and therefore one of Zach Chandler's friends from Michigan obtained it, and Mr. Sherman, the Secretary of the Treas? ury, offered to give the ex-Congressman a minor clerkship instead. This Rainey refused, and since his new discomfiture it is said that he is very much disgusted with the negro's chance for office at the hands of the Republican party. Mr. Hamliu, the Senator from Maine, gave the President an affront which it seems is not to be forgiven him. At the time of the vote in the Senate over the confirmation of General Mcrritt as Col? lector of Customs at New York, the gen | tleman from Maine was absent, but on the next morning he arose and, without any excuse for doing so, announced that had he been present he would have voted against the President's nominee. This provoked Mr. Hayes, who had nominated a friend of Hamlin's for Collector at Bangor, and he at once withdrew the nomination, and put in one of an nnti Hamlin man. This was not confirmed by the Radical Senate, and the President has just sent in another nomination of an anti-Hamlin man, which he hopes to see confirmed by the Senate. We do not object to seeing Mr. Hamlin slaughtered whenever and wherever the President sees fit to do so, but, in our opinion, the Democrats of the Senate should be slow about confirming the President's nomi? nees unless he approves the appropria? tion bills. There is no reason for build? ing up his administration if he allows himself to become the tool of designing and bad men. The President has all along been supported in his pretenses of reform by the Democrats, who prevented the stalwart Republicans from complete? ly fettering him. If, therefore, he pro? poses to go out of his way to fight the Democrats, it seems to us that they should do him like he is doing Senator Hamlin?teach him that he cannot reck? lessly oppose those who have befriended and supported him without incurring their opposition. If he has to be fought he should be made to feel the attack all along the line. The proceedings of the United States Circuit Court, now in session in Charles? ton, have been such as to shock the st.nse of justice in all men who have intelli? gence and honor. The whole transac? tion has upon it the appearance of a diabolical political plot to convict the Democrats charged of election frauds for the purpose of affording material for the bloody shirt campaigners, who have about exhausted every theme of abuse against the South. The facts are that a jury has been dr?wn consisting partly of good men but principally of those who are Republicans of very bad character at home. Of the good men on the jury the greater part were those who could not take the test oath; and thus, while there was a.semblauce of partial fairness in the drawing, it was known that the better elemeut of the jury would be re? jected, and their places filled with "the very worst hangers-on of the Court House loafers. Such men as N. K. Sul? livan, John Knox, W. A. Evans, Mr. Milam and Mr. Goodwyu were rejected, to be replaced by Purvis and men of that stamp, selected by the United States Marshal because of their well known political prejudice and lack of standing in the community. The manner in which the test oath was applied is also far from creditable to Judge Bond, for he manifestly desired the application of the oath, but did not wish the responsibil? ity of directing it in his discretion. In order to secure its administration with? out committing himself, he decided to allow its application under a section that in the opinion of the best lawyers does not admit it, and which opinion is well sustained in the law itself. For instance, Section 820 of United States Revised Statutes provides that any person who has been engaged in treason, rebellion, &c, shall be ineligible to sit upon a jury, and Section 821 provides that the District Attorney may, in -the discretion of the presiding Judge, apply the test oath. This section of course clearly negatives the idea that the District Attorney can apply the oath of his own accord, for it would be nonsensical to add a sec? tion giving him the right to apply the oath if the Judge consents when he already has the right to do so indepen? dently of the Judge. The Section 820 never intended to confer any such power, but to simply give the District Attorney power to prove by outside testimony that any person had been engaged in treason, rebellion &c, and in that way exclude them from a jury. But then Judge Bond did not care for arguments, nor did he appear to consider law, for his rulings have been uniformly in favor of the prosecution, and he has, without a word of condemnation, seen the unfair and iniquitous manner in which the juries have been composed. In addition to these things the prosecution of the cases has been bitter and vindictive under the lead of E. W. M. Mackey, who sees in this an opportunity, by packed juries and false witnesses, to convict Demo? crats, and thus revenge himself upon the people of this State for his political de? feats. The pieacnt term of court will be a blot upon the judicial history of the Union as long as the dangerous and humiliating facts connected with the trial of these cases is remembered. WHAT IS THE COUNTRY COMING TO? A United Stales Circuit Judge has decided that participation in treason, re? bellion and insurrection arc not disgrace? ful before the law. Is the Republican party preparing for a new rebellion, and at present engaged in manufacturing a public sentiment in its favor? These offences have always been held disgrace? ful before the law, but Judge Bond re? verses the doctrine. Would it not be well for the Democrats to quote this decision in reply to the hackneyed abuse of the South by the Radicals. The South has found a new vindicator in Judge Bond, but lroin such vindication the country at large should desire to be delivered. It will hardly become famous as the enunciation of a great principle in the law of nations. It is, however, remarkable as the first decision that we have met from the judiciary of any country holding that participation in treason, rebellion and insurrection is not disgraceful. THE POLLUTION OF JUSTICE. As an evidence of the manner in which the political trials now progressing in Charleston are conducted and gotten up, we quote below a little episode in the testimony of Fred H. Nix, colored, of Barnwell, one of the witnesses upon whose affidavit citizens of Barnwell have been arrested and placed on trial upon the charge of interfering with elections: Mr. Robt. Aldrich, the counsel for the defence, asked the witness if he had not sworn he had seen Osceola Gantt aim a pistol at Smalls to shoot him. The wit? ness replied that he conld not remember all that he had sworn to. He had made a general affidavit, but could not say what he had sworn to. The counsel then read the affidavit made by Nix be? fore the United States Commissioner, in which he had sworn that he had seen Gantt level a pistol at Gen. Smalls, and would have shot him if a Republican had not knocked his hand down and caused the load to be discharged into the ground. The witness then made the very extraordinary statement in explana? tion of this affidavit that he had furnish? ed the Commissioner with the names of the persons to be arrested, and hud signed the affidavit in blank to be filled out by the Commissioner. The District Attorney here interposed with the announcement that there was nothing strange in this, as the affidavit had been made out in precisely the same way as thousands of others. Mr. Aldrich: I have no doubt that it was the practice of the Commissioners to manufacture their affidavits in this way. The witness, he said, had admitted that he had signed an affidavit in blank and was prepared to swear to anything that the Commissioner chose to put down. The witness went on to say that he had not even heard the affidavit read over by the Commissioner after it had been drawn out. He had seen Gantt, White, Bennett, Williams and Walker there, the other defendants he did not know whether they were there or not. He had sworn iu his affidavit that all the defen? dants were present. When he had said that he would not have dared to call a meeting he meant a mass-meeting. He had called private meetings subsequent to the meeting on the 11th of October. The Republican ticket was made up of Democrats with Smalls, (Rep.) for Con? gress. The Republicans did this as a blind, however, as they did not intend to vote for the Democrats. A meeting of the executive committee of the Republi? can party was held subsequent to the convention and a full Republican ticket was put in the field. The witness was asked if he had been assaulted subsequent to the meeting on the 11th of October, and began to tell how Mr. Luther Williams had come down to his house on the night after the meetiug, and had a pistol in his hand and was going to shoot and kill and mur? der, &c, &c, but the Court cut the nar? rative short by asking the witness a few pointed questions, in which he admitted that Williams had not shot him, not shot at him, not fired his pistol at all, and had not even threatened to shoot trim. By the Court: Well, what did he do? Witness: He came there for water. [Laughter.] The facts elicited iu this case carry their own comment. When affidavits are signed in blauk and filled out to suit the wishes of those who a*e engineering the cases, no iai.guage is necessary to portray the iniquity of the proceeding. When witnesses are reckless enough to swear in blank, and officers are unprin? cipled enough to fill out affidavits thus made and to arrest citizens upon them, it is high time to have a change. Justice under such management is but a name for the blackest of villanies. The people of the United States can well see that a conviction of men tried by a packed jury on the testimony of witnesses who, in their anxiety to procure conviction are willing to swear to anything, even mak? ing out their affidavits in blank that whatever is necessary may be put in, is no true test of guilt or innocence. The great shame, however, is that the Repub? lican party should keep men in positions connected with the admiuistration of jus? tice who are unprincipled enough to do such things. If this of itself does not condemn the Republican party, then it may as well be admitted that justice sleeps in America, and that the death of liberty itself is near at hand. THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL. The discussion in the Uuited States Senate on the Army Appropriation Bill still contiuues. The Republican party iu Congress is a unit iu opposition to the repeal of the obnoxious provisions of the Revised Statutes of the United States, which practically place the juries of the Federal Courts in the South and the bal? lot-boxes of the whole country under the control of the Federal government; thus giving to the party in power the oppor? tunity of controlling the elections and making the Federal Courts huge politi? cal machines for party success and op? pression. In South Carolina we know what it is to have our people murdered, and the murderers wrested from the State authorities and set at liberty without trial, and we know what the use of troops, marshals, deputy marshals and supervisor- mean at the polls on the day of election. The discussion of these questions iu Congress will produce a rev? olution in public sentiment, which in 18S0 will whirl from power the party which advocates such measures of tyranny and oppression. In the debate in the Senate on the provisions of the Army Appropriation Iii 11 which repeals these obnoxious Statutes, Mr. Randolph, of New Jersey, tells what he knows of the use of United States troops in sus? taining fraudulent State governments as follows: Mr. President, I have been irilmxs (o the use of the troops of the United States protecting so-called officials <!" a Stale government as they trod upon the !il er ties of citizens and the rights of the Stute. I have seen the military powers of this government put forth within three years ?the Senator from Maine will observe? within three years, and successfully put forth, and unlawfully put forth, and by the President of the United States, to keep one so-called State Legislature in power and another from its rights, and of that Legislature thus unlawfully and forcibly kept in, scarce one of them to-day is not an inmate of a penitentiary, under indictment for some mean crime or a fugitive from justice. This was the class of "citizens" that the army of the United States was compelled to "protect and defend" against the people's choice. Can ours be an idle warning to free peo? ple that have seen and felt the usurping power? Will it be said, sir, that no President of a Republic will dare to mis? use this power? TROOPS IX SOUTH CAROLINA. I know to the contrary. I had the honor to bear a message in 1876 from Governor (now Senator) Hampton to the then President of the United States, re? questing him to withdraw his troops from the State House of South Carolina, in deference to a decision of the Supreme and highest court of that State. I urged the importance of it with all the furee of language at my command. I told the President that, in the judgment of emi? nent lawyers, the Governor?then out of office by expiration of his term?had not lawfully invoked the assistance of fede? ral power, inasmuch as he had made no effort to convene his Legislature, though easily done, and obtain their action on a matter so vital that the newly elected Governor desired the attendance of the representatives of the peoole in their State House, from which federal bayo? nets, as I myself knew, kept them ; and finally, that the contest being one of purely State concern, regarding only the claims of State officers, and these having been definitely settled by the highest legal tribunal that could ever take cog? nizance of the case?that is, the Supreme Court of South Carolina?I urged that the federal forces should be promptly withdrawn from the State Capitol. WHAT GRANT SAID. You may imagine, sir, my astonish? ment and indignation when in angry tone and uncivil manner the President replied: "I won't withdraw the troops ; I don't regard the decision of the Supreme Court, and if I had any message to send to Hampton it would be that his message to me is au impertinence." "An impertinence," sir, for the Gover? nor of a State to communicate his wishes, not demand his rights as he might prop? erly have done to the President of the United States; an impertinence, indeed ! "Upon what meat doth this our Cresar feed that he is grown so great?" No, Mr. President, we cannot make too much haste to guard the liberties of free men everywhere in this broad land from the chance of blotting the pages of our his? tory with a repetition of the usurping act of a President less than three years ago. I may say, sir, in conclusion, in the earnest, forcible and stirring lan? guage of the patriot Jennings, Speaker of the New Jersey Assembly, in his ad? dress to the British Queen more than a century and a half ago : "Liberty is too valuable a thing to be easily parted with, and where such mean inducements procure such violent en? deavors to tear it from us they have not either heads, hearts nor souls that are not moved with the miseries of the country and arc not forward with their utmost power lawfully tp^redress them." SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. Gleaning* from our State Exchange*. Chester Bulletin: A meeting of the Northern born residents of Chester is called for the 18th instant. Mr. N. Du montj of Charlotte, will address the meet? ing. Spartanburg Herald: Mr. John Garri? son, near Tyron, had his crib and eight hundred bushels of corn, lot of tobacco, three wagons, two oxen and one cow de? stroyed by fire, the work of an incen? diary, last Friday night, the 4th inst. Loss about two thousand dollare.The fine old mansion at Cherokee Ford Iron Works, occupied by Capt. F. G. Latham, agent, was accidentally destoyed by fire on Friday, the 11th inst. The flames spread so rapidly that Capt. Latham only succeeded in saving some of his clothing and a few articles of furniture. The fire is supposed to have originated from a coal dropping from the cook stove. Los3 of building and furniture, &c, estimated at about ?2,000. Spartanburg Spartan : Two car loads of large walnut logs came down the Asheville Road Monday. They are to be shipped to the North, there sawed up and made into furniture aud then shipped back to us.From various parts of the couuty we have gathered the information that farmers are quite for? ward with their work. Cotton planting is now commencing in earnest. Peaches have been killed in low and exposed places. On the high ridges an abun? dance has been left. Abbeville Medium: Our announce? ment that Mr. Burt would, at no distant day, retire from the bar, was unauthor? ized and premature. Our exchanges that copied our statement will please publish this correction.The gold fever in the lower part of the county has not abated yet. The prospects hold out as well as when the first vein was struck, and the more sanguine arc hopeful of early fortunes. Barn well People: The rice crop in this section was slightly damaged by the re? cent freeze.Some planters say that the late freeze has seriously injured for? ward wheat. Chester Reporter: On Saturday, 5th instant, the county commissioners retired five thousand dollars of the Chester and Lenoir Railroad bonds at 791; they were retired hist year at 72.Since the 1st of January, 1879, there have been filed in trrb office of the clerk of the court of this county seven hundred and sixty liens, mostly for small amounts. Kershaw Gazette: There has been a considerable difference made in freight over the South Carolina Railroad during the past eight or ten days. Some of our merchants complain that the advance on former rates is altogether unbearable. Orangeburg Democrat: A quantity of lumber is passing down the river on its way to Charleston or Beaufort market. This is a source of considerable income to many of our citizens, and doubtless yields larger profits than cotton at the present prices. Colleton and a portion of Hampton are also large dealers in ranging and sawn lumber. Pickcns Sentinel: For the last two years the town council have not had a disorderly person to deal with, nor have the citizens paid a cent of town tax. ? A special dispatch to the News and Courier from Spartanburg, dated April 19, says: Revenue officials Landlord, Byron and Johnson were out raiding yes? terday afternoon and found a still in full blast eleven miles from this place, and while demolishing the same two white men, one armed with a shot gun, made their appearance on the hill near by and threatened their lives if they did not de? sist. The officials, thinking the threat was only made to frighten them off, kept on destroying the still and fixtures, and the attacking party became very violent, and swore they would kill some of the force if they didn't stop. About this time the man with the shot gun, who had sneaked up behind a building near by, fired. The gun was loaded with buckshot, three of which struck Byron in the left shoulder, thigh and hand, in? dicting severe but not dangerous flesh wounds. The revenues tried to capture ihe offenders, but their legs were not long enough. THE WRECK OF WALTERBORO'. Tlic Loss of Life Not So Great as lit First Iteportert?Only Three AVhlto l'ersons mill Three Negroes Killed Outright? Two Whito I'erooiM Severely unit Two NegrtieH Mortally \V??uniln?l. Special Ditjmlcli Xeim und Courier. WALTERBORO, Friday, April IS. The effects of the cyclone which visit? ed this town on Wednesday evening arc worse than I anticipated. The appear? ance of the eastern portion of the town is simply indescribable, trees and ruined houses being massed together in every direction, aud all the streets and land? marks totally obliterated. The following is a full list of the casualties in the town and vicinity: KILLED. Mrs. Dr. Geo. M. Rivers, Philemon Sanders aud Benj. Reynolds, white, a boy aged fourteen named Scott, the wife of Jackson Grant, and Lydia Ford, col? ored. Total, six. wounded. Miss Eliza Youngblood, arm broken ; Miss Annie Rivers, severely ; Mr. Chas. Farmer; the wife of Geo. Washington, colored, mortally ; Julia Perry, colored, mortally. A number of others are cut and bruised, more cr less, severely, Four colored men on a turpentine plantation in the track of the storm are missing, and it is reported that the bodies of two colored children are lying at a camp ground eight miles above here. The houses of Dr. George M. Rivers, State Senator Robert Fishburnc, Charles B. Fanner, Esq., John W. Burbidge, Esq., Dr. Postell Fishbcrne, Lucretia Campbell, Miss Eliza Youngblood, Dr. Charles Witsell, Rev. Mr. Dunwoodic, Mrs. Daniel Kutson, Jackson Grant, Mrs. James Wood. James W. Eraser, Esq., Israel Banks, John Scott, James Brown, Daniel Robertson and C. B. Brock arc totally destroyed and are mere masses of ruins. The residences of Miss G. Youngblood, Carnot Bellinger, James Glover, Clarence Lucas, Rev. E. K. I5el linger, J. D. Richardson, J. J. Kline and Mrs. M. W. Webb are so injured as to be untenable, and it will bo almost im? possible to restore any one of them. This is only a partial list, many other houses being either destroyed completely or rendered uninhabitable. The seven churches of the town, Epis? copal, Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, and Baptist and Methodist, colored, are heaps of rubbish, and the Academy is in the same condition. No stores were destroyed. The court bouse aud jail are uninjured. The people arc crowded in the few re? maining dwelling-houses and provisions arc short. Much distress is inevitable and assistance is greatly needed. A. B. W. MB. J. W. BURBIDGE'a ACCOUNT. Mr. J. W. Burbidge, ail old resident of Walterboro', thoroughly acquainted with every man, woman and child, nook and corner in Walterboro', sends the fol? lowing graphic description of the hurri? cane to his friend Mr. John B. Steele, of this city, with permission to publish in the News and Courier: Yesterday afternoon, about 4 o'clock, our village was struck by a tornado from the south southeast, which swept across the centre of the town, completely de? molishing many dwellings aud every church in the town. My" house is un? roofed, and the additions and every building on the lot flat. I was at the store and heard the storm coming for about three minutes. Where we were it was a dead calm, until the storm came. I stood by the office door and saw it all. I am uncertain whether I breathed or thought, until Clarence Lucas came to carry me in ; then I discovered the force of the storm was spent. They were two dreadful minutes. When I said to him the damage is all done, he started with? out hat or cover for his head to look after his family. I went into the office, put on my oil cloth coat, and started across lots to look after my family. Imagine my horror, when I got near enough, to sec my home in ruins, and standing upon the debris were my two grandchildren screaming for grandma. When I got where they were I found our waiting boy Jimmy working to move some pieces, and my daughter Mary crawling out. Immediately alter came the cook. My wife had left home an hour before the storm to pay a visit in the country. I have heard they stopped at a school house on the road and are safe. She was with Mrs. J. D. Edwards. In front of my house was the Academy building. It is gone. Further south was Dr. Rivers' house, aud it is gone and Mrs. Rivers killed, also Philemon San? ders, who had come to consult the doctor about his bride. They were only a week married. * * * I do not know how many are killed. The old store stood the shock, but the big oak is down, and all the trees around us, save the two oaks at the. north door, and their tops are twisted off. The wind drove in one of our north windows, and did some damage to goods, not much. A corner of our storehouse next to the market was knocked olT ami about fifty bushels of corn run out on the ground. The storm came from the south, blew straight for about one minute, then shifted to northwest, and came back with new fury, striking and bounding here and there. The lives are piled with their tops both ways. One tree i:i front of the store has its bark peeled clean. Several are snapped short oil", aud as far as I have seen not a pine is standing any? where iu the track of the storm. The streets are blocked with trees, and the roads to the east almost impassable. The destruction commenced about a mile south of tho village, near Henry Neyle's farm, and came straight for us. One hundred trains of steam cars running over bridges at full speed could not have created a more terrible noisj. I believe I was dazed by the approaching horror, of which somehow I gathered an idea. I said to a young man standing near me, something terrible is coming; Walter? boro' has never yet experienced what we shall see to-day. I saw it, I heard it, and was powerless. What could I do but wait the result. To add to the horrors last night, a thunder storm hung over the village and the most terrible thunder continued the whole night. To-day we have a deluge of rain, and can do nothing much. Thunder all around us. It will be a good time for the charitable people of Charleston and elsewhere to give relief. God help the poor and destitute. We have plenty of them here. We have heard of eight killed. The number of injured cannot bo ascertained. The damage to turpentine farms has been heavy, and we hear of some farms desolated to the east of us. I have written this full description be cause I know there are several of our citizens now in the city who will be anxious to know the facts. oak ley TURNED OUT OF DOORS. Oakley, N. E. R. R., April 17. I have seen the tracks of tornadoes through our pine forests, but I have nev? er been in the centre of one until yester? day alicmoon, and hope I may nev? er be in a like situation again. The people in this vicinity bad been praying for rain for some time, but now they arc praying for boats. We had a slight shower on yesterday morning, when the clouds began to break and signs of a clear day were visible. A bruit '1 o'clock the clouds began to gather again, and by 4 the whole heavens were obscured by dark ominous looking clouds, with occa? sional (lashes of lightning and low dis? tinct thunder. At 5 o'clock the gale ljurst upon us with all its furv. It seems to have originated and termi? nated in the open field adjoining the de? pot. The rain fell in torrents accompa? nied by bright Hashes of lightning and loud peals of thunder. Almost immcdi itely with the rain came the wind, which in a few seconds increased to sticli vio? lence that I was fearful llie depot and the adjacent buildings would be blown down. They were shaken to their foun? dations, and I threw my combined weight and strength against the door to assist tho locks in holding it shut. T" ere was an incessant roaring sound, similar to that made by a long train of cars run? ning at full speed, with an occasional re? port like that of a pistol. When the wind abated I opened the door on the opposite side of the house, when a terrible scene was presented. There were four colored families living near the depot. Every house was gone and the people were running for the de? pot, the only house left to give them shelter. All the dwelling houses and barns were blown into a thousand pieces and scattered for a mile around. Strange to relate only one person was killed; six others were wounded, some seriously. The unfortunate people have lost nearly every thing they had?all their furniture, crockery aud cooking utensils being bro? ken, and a portion of their clothing and bedding entirely lost. One man found one mattress on a fence about one hun? dred yards off, and another mattress hits not yet been found. Some of the things have been seen in a swamp nearly a miic from the place. A cart that was stand? ing at one of the houses was carried a distance of a hundred yards and broken tojpieces against a tree, a tire from one of the wheels being taken three hundred yards and deposited in a neighbor's yard. A plough mould was taken from the same cart and carried about one hundred yards. Boxes, tin pans, tin buckets, &C., arc to be seen in every direction. Trees, gardens and fences are all blown down, and roads completely blockaded. A gentleman this morning had to leave his buggy near a quarter of a mile off and wade the balance of the way. One man w;is taken up and carried about seventy live yards, when he came in contact with a stump that brought him to a stand-still. The half has not been told, but enough. Oakley. this storm at obaxgebubg. "Quclquefois," writing from Orange burg, says: About 3 o'clock on Wednesday after? noon a violent rain and wind storm set in from the northwest, attended with lightning and thunder. Leaks were abundant and old fencs went down. During the night the wind shifted to the southeast, i>nd a deluge of rain has been been coming down since. The farmers had just put their lands in planting con? dition, and it is feared that a great deal of work will have to be done over. The wash to the fields is unusual. It is gen? erally admitted that the fruit is all des? troyed by late frosts. from summervii/le to charleston. There are but few indications of the late storm along the South Carolina Railroad from Summcrville to the city. At Ladson's eight or more telegraph poles were struck by lightning, com? mencing at the station successively to? wards the city. Some of the posts are shattered to splinters, while others are split spirally towards the ground. At Summcrville there was no incident, save perhaps that a party of pleasure seekers who had indiscreetly ventured too far from the town during the day got a good wetting. the relief movement in charles? ton. As soon as the news of the distress pre? vailing in Walterboro' reached the city, the Mayor issued an order for the immediate purchase of such provisions as were deemed most wanted. Alderman Bissell, who was entrusted with the purchase and forwarding of the articles, bought 20 barrels of grist, 4 boxes of bacon, 1 cask of beans, 15 bar? rels of flour, 4 barrels of sugar, 3 bags of coffee and several sacks of salt, the whole costing about $600. These goods were at once forwarded to Walterboro' where they will be placed in the hands of a competent relief committee for distribu? tion. A mpeting of City Council was called yesterday to consider the matter, but only eight aldermen were present and no meeting was held. The action of the Mayor will doubtless be confirmed by the Council at the next regular meeting of that body which takes place on Tues? day next. Besides the City's contribution SSG5 were collected from the citizens by Messrs. Steele and Capers, and ?800 were sent on by Express last uight. HAMPTON IN WASHINGTON. A Touching and ImpreMive Scene In the Senate whim tho Great man of South Carolina Took his Scat. Washington, April 17. The arrival of Senator Hampton, of South Carolina, yesterday, was the occa? sion of all manner of expressions of kindness and good will towards him, for he has thousands of friends and ad? mirers in Washington. The welcome ac? corded him is not only that shown an il? lustrious statesman or renowned soldier, but such as is deset ved by a man who adds to sound sense and. "true bravery a patriotism which makes him utterly for? get self in his all-absorbing desire to do good for his country and his fellow men. As I heard a well-known Virginian put it to-day, "Wade Hampton had rather the people would believe, as they do, that he tries to do his whole duty faithfully than to be regarded as the greatest of liv? ing men." Your correspoudent, felt glad that he had at last come, because the South wants practical statesmen in Con? gress who will make the most of things as they are and not as they ought to be, ac? cording to some Bourbonic theory of the past. When he was sworn in the vast crowd in the gallery watched the pro? ceedings with an interest more intense than has been yet exhibited when the oath was administered to any other sen? ator. He was somewhat pale, and showed that he had suffered a great deal during his afllction, and every man and woman in the Senate Chamber looked ready to pray that he might be made strong again for the good of the people, not only of South Carolina, but of the whole land. The South has a right to be proud of her representative statesman, for he is Brave Knight, and true, as ever drew Iiis sword with gallant Roland, Or fell by Sobieski's side For love of martyred Poland; Or stood with Cromwell's Ironsides, Or fought with Great Gustavus, Or on the field of Austcrlitz Poured out his dying aves. The South Carolina delegation met Governor Hampton at the depot and es? corted him to his quarters on Capitol Hill, near the Senate Chamber. He subsequently went to the Senate, and was sworn in. The South Carolina members already seem strengthened by his pres? ence, for during all his illness they seemed more concerned about his re? covery than if he had been allied to them by the strongest ties of blood. They be? lieve, as I do, that a change of climate and scene will benefit him, if he is not tempted into working beyond his strength.?Newt and Corn ier. The Iron Hand in Russia. St. Petersburg, April 19. A ukase has just been issued, ordering the appointment of governors-general for six of the most populous districts in Russia, with perfectly despotic powers. It begins by stating that recent events have shown that there exists in Russia a band of criminals who, though not nu? merous, arc very determined, and aim at undermining the State. After referring to the recent murderous attacks upon higher officials, and the attempted as? sassination of the Emperor, the ukase continues: "These crimes have necessitated the provisional adoption of exceptional meas? ures in order to permit of the exemplary punishment of guilty persons, and to pro? vide government officials with thencccs s:iry powers for maintaining order." The ukase proceeds to announce tiie pro i visional appointment of govennr* gener- \ a! of St. lVtursburg, Charkoff and Odes* | sa, invested with extended and extraordi- I nary powers. Similar powers nre con? ferred upon the jrovcnors-gencral of Mos- ! cow, Kieffand Warsaw. The civil ad- ? ministration of the above mentioned dis- i ?ricts are placed under the control of the I governors-geneari in the same manner as they are subordinate to the commander- j in-chief of the army in time of war in districts where martial law has been pro? claimed. The control of all education establishments is vested in govenortj-gen eral, who are empowered to send before military tribunals all civilians in districts over which they preside. The governors-general are further au- j thorized to summarily remove from their i respective districts all persons whose j continued residence may be considered dangerous; to order the arrest of any persons whatever on their own judgment i and responsibility; to suppress tempora- [ rily or permanently any newspapers or periodicals should they appear to follow subversive tendencies, and generally to adopt such measures as they may consid? er necessary for the preservation of the public peace. Suicide.?The community was shocked yesterday afternoon to hear that Mr. H. L. Habenicht had committed suicide by ! shooting himself through the heart. He [ was proprietor of the establishment re? cently opened on the corner of Main and i Taylor streets, and was formerly a resi- | dent of Charleston. He was about 32 years of age, and left a wile and several small children. His wife had just left j the room wiiere he was about threo or j four minutes, when a pistoi shot was J heard within, and on the wife going to him he was found lying on his side speechless, with his clothes on lire and the pistol on the bed by his side. The ball entered just below the nipple, be? tween the third and fourth ribs, passing through the heart and lodging under the spine between the seventh and eighth ribs. No one was in the room with him when the shot was fired. He lived about ten minutes, and never spoke, though he tried to do so several times. The coro? ner immediately caused a jury to be sum? moned. A pod mortem examination was made by Dr. IJ. W. Taylor, aud the jury found a verdict that the deceased came to his deatn by a gun-shot wound fired from a pistol in his own hand.? Colum? bia Register. DOX'T buy your Grain Cradles until yon see ours. They will be in in a few days, and will be sold at extremely low GRAIN CRADLES. prices. April 17,1S79 A. 13. TOWERS &. CO. 40 STATU OF SOUTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF ANDERSON. COUttT OP COMMON PL HAS. J. N. Kr-kinc, Plaintiff, agiiiuft Margaret Erskine, James S. Endelns anil Preston Erskine. Defendants.?Sammmn for Itclief?Oomjitniut Seteed, To the Defendants Margaret Erskine, James S. Erskine and Preston Erskine : ?X7"OU are herein- summoned ami rcqtli JL red to answer the complaint in this action, of which a copy is herewith served upon you, and to serve a Copy of your an? swer to the said complaint on the subscri? bers at their office, Anderson C. IL, S. (J., within twenty days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fall to answer the complaint within the- time aforesaid, the plaintiff in this ac? tion will apply to the Court for the relief demanded in the complaint. Dated January 27th. 1S7D. MOORE it ALLEN, Plaintiff's Attoroert. April 24. 1879 _4L 0 FRESH ARRIVALS. ANOTHER lot Of beautiful Calico, Pique, Long Cloth, Cottonades, Ginghams, Checked Homespuns,Cashniarets, ite. A. B. TOWERS St CO. April 17, 1S7!) 40 VIRGINIA CASSIMERES. JUST RECEIVED, a lot of those excel? lent goods that gave sich perfect satin faction. Call soon and make a selection. A. B. TOWERS & CO. _ April 17.1370_40 _ GROCERIES. OUR line of FAMILY GROCERIES is complete. Fine TEAS, viz.: Gunpow? der, Young Hyson, Oolong and English Breakfast?a Specialty. A. B. TOWERS & CO. April 17, 1879 _40_ FEED CUTTERS. &C. WE have just received another lot of Breitnau & Co.'s superior ma? chines?such as Dexter Feed Cutters and Corn Shellers, Grain Fans, Cider and Sor? ghum Mills. The verv best. A. B. TOWERS A CO April 17,1870 40 GREAT REDUCTION IN prices of CARPETS. We have just marked down our entire stock to aston? ishingly low prices. Anybody can buy now. We have a few pieces of beautifiil patterns suitable for Mats and small Rugs that we will sell low. A. B. TOWERS & CO. April 17, 1379_40 QUICK SALES AND SMALL PROFITS IS our motto, and we can make it to your interest to call and sen us when you arc in need of anything. We will sell you t/outl Goods at low prices. A. B. TOWERS & CO., No. 4 Granite Row. April 17, 1879 40 HURRAH FOR ANDERSON! HAVING employed Mr. HENRY RITZ, iv first-class Baker, I am now prepared to furnish Fresh Bread, Pies, Cakes, &c, Every day. I have alto received a fresh lot of Canned Goods, Confectioneries, Meats, &e. FRUITS of all kinds on hand. I am still offering inducements in CIGARS and TOBACCO* New brands arriving every week. Give me a call, AND DON'T FOR? GET THE PLACE. JAMES ANDERSON, East End of Masonic Hall, or under B. F. Crayton & Sons Store, Anderson, S. C. April 24, 1870 3<J 3m TO HOUSE-KEEPERS ! EVERYBODY SHALL KNOW IT THAT 3T. G-. MASSEY Has on hand the laugest and most complete stock of CROCKERY WARE Ever brought to Anderson, which he will sell at the VERY LOWEST PRICES for the cash. CHINA, STONEWARE, GLASSWARE, and in fact everything usually kept in a first-class Crockeryware Establishment, of the very best quality, can always be found at my Store in the BENSON HOUSE. Give me a call and see my Goods. F. O. MASSET. P. S.?I have also on hand a small lot of SHOES that will be disposed of at cost. April 24,1S79_32_,_ly THE undersigned, having bought out the entire stock of SULLIVAN & CO., will con? tinue the GENERAL MERCANTILE BUSINESS at the same stand formerly oc? cupied by them, under the name and style of J\ IF. STJXjT-jIVA3ST <5g CO. We will keep constantly on hand a large and well-selected stock of? Groceries, Provisions, Plows and Patent Plow Stocks, FLOUR, from $5.50 per barrel up. BACON, very low. N. 0. MOLASSES, new crop, price reduced. COFFEE, seven pounds for one dollar. SUGAR, ten, twelve and fourteen pounds for one dollar. HATS, from 40 cents up. SHOES, men ami ladies, 75c. a pair up. DRY GOODS, a full line. We have just received a new and beautiful lot of SPRING and SUMMER CALI? COES. Our terms are CASH EXCLUSIVELY. Therefore, we are prepared to offer inducements in the way of good bargains, and respectfully solicit the patronage of our friends and the public generally. April 17.1S7!)_40 J. P. SULLIVAN. C. P. JONES. W. A. VANDIVER. hrnirinr rind (1 CLOTHING AT BOTTOM PRICES. WE ANNOUNCE to the people generally that we are now receiving a larger lot of READY-MADE CLOTHING than we have ever bad before. You can bur from us a Snit of Clothes from $3.00 to lO.OO. We arc also receiving a fine as? sortment of SHIRTS, Cheaper than you ran make them. We also carry in our stock Piece Goods, comprising all the late styles of Black Doeskins and Broadcloths, Fancy < assi mores, Black and Fancy Caslunarets, which we will cut and make up at the 'loflOlTDEPART^ Collars, Cravats, Suspenders, Gloves, Linen and Silk Handkerchiefs, Ac, ite. CLTUflMP MAPU WTC ?We have a few Sewing Machines on hand that OLVVillU mHUnlllLO. we will yuarantee, and sell at very low figures. It will pay you to call in and examine our stock. We respectfully ask you to give ta ft trial. J. R. & L. P. SMITH, HcCnlly's Corner, Anderson, S. C March 20, 1ST!) W 3,n LOOK IN FRONT OF THE TIDE. LADIES' ST?RT STILL AHEAD ! MlSS LIZZIE WILLTAMS has just returned from the North, where she super? intended the selection of her Goods in person. Past experience gives promise of future success. We promise our friends if they give us a call to show them 'ALL THE NOVELTIES OF THE SEASON, In great variety. We have the latest in the way of Hats, Grloves, Shoes, Pretty Things for the Neck, Face and Feet, In fact, everything to make the Ladies look neat, sweet and dear to the heart, but CHEAP TO THE POCKET. G ive us a call, examine for yourself, don't take our word. Remember, wo are not to be undersold. Thanking the public for past fa? vors, we solicit a continuance of the sa.no at the LADIES' STORE. March 27,1871? 14