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SEABROOK W2ITES 0F WIRE LESS. How It Was Used on Coast of Brit- I tainy-The Story of the Signal Towers and Torches. (By W. B. Seabrook.) Special to Herald and News. Roz-sur Cuesnon, France.-In the latter part of the sixteenth century, and during the early years of the seventeenth, a well developed system of "wireless felegraphy" connected the coast of Brittainy with the sea surrounded garrison and monastery of Mont Saint Michel, .and with the neighboring coast of Normandy. A wooden ridge of considerable height extends along the sea-front of Brittainy from Pontorson to Cancale, and a similar but more irregular ser ies of promontories follows the Nor man coast, twenty miles opposite, from Avranches to Granville, while between lies the bay of Mont Saint Michel, perhaps the most picturesque historic spot in western Europe. Needless to say, the wireless system here used was not the same as that exploited by Marconi, but it was Just as effective in its limited territory. Crumbling ruins of these primitive telegraph stations still dot the seaside hills of Brittainy, and their bleak, round -towers are intimately connect ed with the sanguinary and romantic -Iistory of the holy- mountain whose medieval ramparts and gothic spires rise from the treacherous tides and sands below. These commanding tow ers were originally erected as wind mills by men who chose the summits of the highest hills' overlooking the ocean, in order that the huge cloth or i' woolen sails might profit by every wind that blew, and in more than one'1 spot traces still exist of tortuous, roughly paved roads, leading from the valleys to the mi"s. In 1574, Mont Saint Michel, which had withstood scores of powerful enemies, sometimes beseiged by the English, sometimes by the Huguenots, was made the objeet of determined as saults by Montgomery, the Huguenot leader, Maitre de L'Avranchin, and it was during this period that fiery mes sages sped by night to and fro be tween the beleaguered mountain -and the hills of Brittainy; from the an cient windmill towers signal torches 'were wav'ed in wheeling arcs and cir eles of flame, while monks and sol diers on the ramparts of the distant garrison spelled out the meaning of the symbols. Sometimes, during this * same epoch, a similar system of sig nals was used with the island of Jer sey, and messages were relayed to points far up the Norman coast. Apropos of thi Huguenot comn *mander Montgomery, a dramatic story *has been reserved, not only on histor e i parehment, but among the fireside legends of the Briton fisherfolk. I *heard it a few weeks ago somewhatI *as follows, from an aged priest at - Roz, but the bare facts, shorn of their glamor, appear in many works treat-. ing of that period. While Montgomery was beseiging the citadel, a small detachment of Oatholie soldiers was captured during a sortie for provisons, and while the B:uguenots were engaged in hanging .their, prisoners, an officer recognized among these latter an old comrade in-arms, whom he begged Montgom ery to spare;. the request was grant ed, but on the condition that the lib erated prisoner turn traitor. He con sented, and t~he plans were laid. Two days afterward, just at mid night, when the traitdr was to take his turn at mounting guard, the Hu 4guenots were to place themselves at the foot: of the ramparts, near the fountain of St. Aubert, just. below the abbey kitchen, where, by the aid of a pulley used to hoist water and provis - ions, the confederate within tthe walls was to draw up one man-at-arms after another until a sufficient number had entered to overpower silently the night watch, open the gates and admit the army. After this treacherous ar rangement, the soldier rejoined his garrison. The appointed day arrives, and hap pens to .be the 29th of September, the ''fete de la Saint Micbel.'' Natur-j ally, the Archangel does not permnit the success of the infamous attempt against his holy mountain, just at the time the monks are chanting his glory; he causes the traitor to repent and confess all to the Abbe. Midnight approaches, dark and stormy. The Huguenots hide themsel ves among the rocks at .the foot of La Merveille. A light shines in a kitch en window, followed by a sea-gull's cry. It is the signal and is answered * from below. The cord descends. A lieutenant seizes it and ties it beneath his armpits. He wishes to mount and see for hanself that :ll is well with i'n; aLtarward his comnrades mayi fol low. The lieutenant, gradually rising alono- the slippery surface of the ebte. di-po inH t! Uhek mnti of the conduit above; a broadsword b whistles through the darkness and his v head rolls silently on the floor. Soon 'I afterward. a soldier, clothed in the dead lieutenant's garments, and wear- e ing his plumed hat, leans from the p window and motions the waiting Hu- e guenots to ascend. One by one they s are lifted by the pulley, one by one u they disappear in the conduit, and n one by one their headless bodies are dragged aside. Like a monstrous ghoul, the conduit has already devoured thirty Hugue- 1 nots, when Montgomery himself halt ed the proceedings. He knew his men. He was astonished at the obstinate silence within the walls, and growing impatient called to ask why the gates o: were still fast locked. g "Surely thirty men ought to over- I Dower a dozen sentries." s A low voice answered from above, ti 'All goes well; the monks in this v part of the abbey have all been put to ii the sword.'' r "Throw one down," replied the c Eugenot commander. A quarter of an hour after the order a was obeyed, and the body of a monk 2 ama hurling through the air. (The * lefenders of the citadel had taken a a ?risoner from 'his cell and promised 1 iim his liberty if he kept silent n while they shaved his head and robed 1 iim in monkish vestments. Then, with ] i dagger. tLy made good their prom se.) b Examining the figure of the cor- 2. ?se, Montgomery was struck by the eontrast between the parts newly ;h.aven, which were white, and the -est of the head, which was swarthy. Ee grew even more suspicious, and, 1 )rave leader that he was, decided to nount the 'nlley and see for himself; q )ut as he seized the swinging rope he t, was gently pushed aside, and it was ' is devoted page who made the as- c, ,ent. In his haste, the boy had not tj Fastened the rope around his body, f< but clung to its simply with his [iands. Reaching the conduit, he let g Yo the cord, and balanced himself onI. bhe edge of the sill while he peered within. A blood-smeared hand is sued from the darkness to seize him by the hair, and with one agonizing 5 scream he let himself fall backward, to be dasbed upon the rocks below. 1Thereupon, the beseiged, who had no longer any reason for guarding sil ence, rushed .to the ramparts to show er stones and arrows on the Hugue nots, who fled across the sands. That 2 night the torches in Catholic signal towers wrote ''Victory'' in letters of flame upon the stormswept sky. Does It Pan? It Has .Pai< A nd It Will TO TRA: 0O K L ET WHE] Honesty Rules Ev . Special Reduction ii Article in Every If You Want to BUY YOUR CHRISTM WE SELL THE B If you compare qi with the prices char chants you will see we offer you. For are entitledto your 0. K LE1l The Fair and S :The Firet Cough * venz tho~ugh not severe, has a ti *tive mzembranes of the throat: Coughs then come easy all wint * slightest cold.Cretefstc # set up an Iifamation in the delic * lungs. The best remedy is *SYRUP. It at once gets right moves the cause. It is free fror a child as for an adult. 25 cents : MAYES' DRI / .Iri t comer' rem:'i ued nollolilier efore the body of the fallen boy. Hi 7arriors returned and led him awa: 'he page was his son. Note :-The story of the signal tow rs and torches has never been i rint. The old towers herein descril d are mentioned in the gnide-book imply and solely as "ancient wini iils'' and are known to touriesi ierelv as such. CENSUS ESTIMATE ISSUED. 1,892,115 Bales Ginned to Decembe 13-South Carolina's Report Is 1,130,882. Washington, December 21.-A tota F 11,892,115 running bales of cotto inned from the growth of 1908 t ecember 13, agai;i 9,284,070 at th ime date of last year and 27,269 a< ve ginneries, against 27,156 in 190 ere announced by the census burea i its report today. The figures coun )und bales as half bales. and ex lude linters. The bales ginned to, December 1 ggregate 11,112,789 in 1906, and 9 D7.819 in 1905. The total 1907 cro as 11,057,822, of which 84 per cen 'as ginned to December 13, crop o 906, 12,983,201, of which 85.65 gir ed to December 13, and crop o 905, 10,495,105, or 88.6 per cent b ecember 13. The report includes 510,209 roun ales for 1908, 167,204 for 1907, an 13,096 for 1906. Sea island bak ieluded aggregate 80,187 by State 3 follows: Florida 31,072: Georgia 37,956 outh Carolina 11,159. The corrected statistics of th antity of cotton ginned this seaso December 1. are 11,008,661 bale. he report of cotton ginned to Dc mber 13 last, and the number of a< ve ginneries res~pectively by State )llow: Alabama 1,263,700 bales, and 3,44 inneries. Arkansas 846,701, and 2,102. 'Florida 64,131, and 255. Georgia 1,869,346, and 4,449. Kansas, Kentucky and Mexico 1 00, and 5. Louisiana 434,741, and 1,681. Mississippi 1,440,012, and. 3,454. Missouri 50,386, and 77.. North Carolina 615,191, and 2,72 Oklahoma 495,252, and 979. -South Carolina 1,130,882, and 3 07. -Tennessee 302,577, and 639. Texas, 3,365,989, and 4,133. Virg4nia 11,767, and 117. 'Whg Noil :i Others, Pay You DE AT ['N E R'S R~E ery Transaction. 1 Price on Every De partment. Save Money S GOODS FROM US EST FOR LESS. ality and prices ged by other mer the great saving these reasons we trade. : : : : ETNER quare Dealer. of the Season, endency to irritate the sensi and delicate bronchial tu~bes. er, every time yon iiake mie ugh before it has a chance to 4 ate capillary air tubes of the ~ QUICK RELIEF COUGH9 t the seat of tr. uble anid re a Morpine and is as stafelfor & JO STORE Mrs. Alice Robertson TEACHER OF Voice, Piano and Harmony Studio Over Mower's Store. Open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thurn s days and Fridays. Phone 263. Buying a Piano or an Organ is not hard I when you come or write to us. o Our Pianos and Organs are guarantee and up-to-date, and at a reasonable pric< The cases are beautiful, the inside made by the best and most experience 7 men in their line, so it is no wonder ou Pianos and Organs hold their sweet toa a lifetime. Write us at once for catalog and speci prices and terms, stating preferenc Piano or Organ. 3 Malone's Music House, Columbia, S. ( - PIANOS AND ORGANS. t o CDe f P t~ sAW. 0. Housea, Mn. D~ ffice HoursC- 3 to 4 m. L. A. Riser, .M. D. eOffice urith Dr. Housea1. e . .f 8to 9a.im. a Office Hours - 2 to 3p. m. .,6.30 to 7.30 P. N -Boozer Bros. CITY MARKET, 1311 Main Street Fresh Meat. t.Quick Service. Phone 34 FANCY GROCERIES, The best the market: . . afford. p We sk a Trial Order. 'BOOZER BROS Beginning December 5th an lasting for 15 days, we wi rmake a sacrifice sale by givin 25 PER CENT. DISCOUN on all Clothing, Shoes an Hats, and special low price aon all Dry Goods, Notion and Underwear. This sa1 is made for the purpose of clos ing up the business of th S. S. BIRGE CO. as a corporation. The good must be sold. Don't wait, bu come ear.y. A-styp-to-dyn. Made from.-the long leaf pine. Th greatest remedy to present tixnr. Fc sale at Mayes' Drug Store. 12-11-08-taw-tf. Holiday Excursion Rates Seaboar Air Line Railway. The Seaboard Air Line R,ailwa will sell excursion tickets account o Christmas and New Year holiday from and to all stations on its lines aso from coupon stations to point on connection lines in the Southeast on Dee. i8. 19. 2.3. 24, 25. 30, 31 ent Jan. 1st. good to~ return until Jan 6th, 1909. Get full information fron narest Sabohard ticket agent. CALL FOR Chrislinas Ci Nuts, I We can Sul TABLE D that will ple CRANBERRIE5 for your C New Year's If you want to Eat" call ToyslTC . We are sel remnant of 4 at your own Fire Works! S. B. JO ,Y OU R E THlE NEWSERRY ICapital $50,000 - No Matter How Small, "The Newberra - ill give it careful a 1 pplies to the men anc s JAS. McINTOSH. s President. SOME OFO01 To be conservative. it To pay four per cent. To calculate interest se To bond every employe To be progressive and: To lend our money to< To treat our patrons cc To be liberal and pronm To secure busmness f rot TO BE THE VTERY E TO DO BUSINES rOur institution is under the examined by the State Bank ] The Bank ol DR. PO.P osper DR G O.Y.HUNTER, President. J. F. BRmyNE UNLIS YOU&i Indies, Fruits, itc., etc. >ply you .with ILICACIES ase you. i AND CELERY hristmas and Dinner. : : things "Good on us. : ::, yS! Toys ling ,out the - Dur Toy stock price. . . Fire Works.H Crocari, IES, Prop. EANKING! SAVINGS DANK, -- -Surplus $80,000) i'te Matter. How Large, 7' Savings Bank ttention. This message I the women alike, Jv. E~ NORWOOD, JR POLICIFS: mi-annually, e. iccomm.odating. >ur customers. urteously. pt. 2 all classes. EST BANK FOR YOU S WITH. supervision of and regularly sxammner. ProsperitU, -ity, S. C. DR. J. S. WHEELER, V. President. J. A. COUNTS, Asasistant Cashier.