The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, January 17, 1894, Image 1
VOL. IX. M3ANNING, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1894. NO.25.
LMST WEEK IN WAGNER.
A GRAPHIO STORY OF THE BOMBARC
MENT OF THE FORT.
Diary of Lient. Col. J. G. PresileY, Com
manding Tweny-firh Scath Carolina
Volunteers in the Fort Durtcg the Last
Week of the Bombardment.
To the Editor of The News and Cou
rirer: In the acc'unt of the unveiling of
the monument to the Confederate dead,
erected by the ladies of Orangeburg
County, published in The News and
Courier of October 19, 1893, your Co
lumbia correspondent used the following
language in reference to the Edisto Ri
fles and the St. Matthsw's Rifes, two
compamies of the 25th South Cat olina
volunteers, which I bad the honor to
lead in more than one bloody engage
ment in the civil war, in which these
companies covered themselves with
glory and were conspicuous in winning
undying fame for the whole regiment.
You say: "They were in the battle of
Secessionville in June, 1862, and in 1863
served in garrisoning Battery Wagner
the Edisto Rifles being one of the com
panies in the evacuation of Morris Island
in September, 1863."
This language is somewhat obscure,
and from it it is fairly inferable that the
St. Matthew's Rifles were not in Fort
Wagner during the last days of that
greatest of modern millitary works and
during the most terrifid bombardment
known to modern history. To set the
matter beyone question in the future and
to make a record of which the children
of these brave men will be proud as hero
lam stirs the human heart, I propose to
send you a few extracts from my diary.
written very soon after the events to
which reference is made. The 25th re
giment had but one tour of duty in Wag
ner, arxd that was from the 1st to the
7th of September, 1863:
FIRST OF SEPTEMBER, 1863.
Orders received this morning directine
me to proceed with the regiment to Fort
Johnson, tasere to take the steamer to
night for the purpose of being transferred
to Morris Island to constitute a part of
the garrison of Fort Wagner, relievin:
one of the regiments in that fort. These
orders were notth time countermanded;
ar.d the regiment in fle
spirits, marched to Fort Johnson
this afternoon. There we found a row
boat large enough to carry one company.
This boat was turned ever to Company
A, (Washington Light Infantry,) under
the command of Lieut. H. B. Olney.
which embarked upon it and started late
in the afternoon for Cumming's Point.
The rest of the regiment was embarked
upon a steamer about dusk. The changes
of the garrison were always made at
night to prevent the enemy from sinking
our boats, as nearly the whole of the
harbor was under tire of their fleet and
land batteries. It was the custom to
make a detail of boats from our nava'
vessels in the harbor to transfer the
troops from the transport steamers to
Cumming's Point. The steamer on
which the 25th was embarked stopped
near Fort Sumter. The usual detail
from the navy failed to report, and the
steamer was deficient in sailors to man
the few boats which she had on board.
One boat with a few men pushed off, and
the captain of the steamer offered me a
scow large enough to carry about fifty
men if I could find otrsmen. There was
no dificulty in this. A number of men,
mnostly from the Beauregard Light In
fantry and the Wee Nee Volunteers,
declared their ability to row and ex
pressed their desire to go. I soon had
the scow full, and with Dr. W. 0. Ra
venel, our surgeon, Lient. F. J. Lesesne,
acting adjutant, and about fifty
men and officers started to
Cumning's Point. When about halt
way the monitors came up and com
menced to hombard Fort Sumter. The
steamer with the balance of the regiment
on board, being in great darmer, returned
to Fort Johnson. The harbor was
smooth, the mocn s~r'Le b'ightl-. si
spurred on by the exp ts'i- '* 4 0
from the monitors, my ua ii a made
rapid progress. We were Boo.n wadin sont
of the water under the guns of Batter y
Gregg. Our boat drew so much water
that- she could not get near encuith to
enable us to land on "terra firma."
Company A, had reached Cumming's
Point, and with the men brcught with
me my command consisted ot eighty or
ninety, rank and file. There was no
prospect of getting the remainder of the
regiment before the next nieht. This
detachment was marched to Fort Wag
ner, where I reported to Gen. Colquir,
whom I fcand in command. As I had
not men enough to relieve any of the
batalions or regiments he ordered me to
return to the sand hills between Wag
ner and Grega and protect my command
as well aslIcould. Allithat part oftt e
island was under the enemy's fire, and
their shells were continually dropping.
We retired to what the soldiers called
"private bomb proofs." These were
boles in 1.e sand about larse enought to
-hold two men. Here a man was safe ex
cept from shells bursting' immediately
overhead or falling vertically. I did not
find a "hole in the grcund" very- com
fortable, and so Lieut. Lesesne and I
apread our blankets between two sand
hills, and under the shelter of a small
bush passed the balance of a very dis
agreeable night. It became quite cold to
wards morraing. The monitors bombarded
B umter all night. Battery Gregg, on
Morris Island, Fort Moultrie and the
batteries on Sullhvan's [Eland tock part
in the affray and did some excellent tir
ing. The mzonitors would belch Out
.2olumns of flame from their 15 inch guns
intheir turrets. Whben the shot from cur
batteries struck them they would see-ni
to be covered by sheet lightning. Fort
Wagner and the enemy's batteries in
front exchan'aed shots all night.
SECOND OF SEPTEMBER.
This morning the enemie's last paraliel
200 yards from Wagner, was nearly
cmpleted. Both the garrison and the
enemy were working like beavers, she
former repairing damages and the latter
pushing forward their trenches. The
gafrieon kept up a steady fire. My de
tachment was detailed as a working par
ty for Battery Grrgg, at Cumming's
Point, where another gun was to be
mounted. I marched t down andi
turned them over to the engineer and
ordnance officer in eharge. Capt. R.
Press Smith, of the regular infantry, was
mn o.mmand. Lient. Eagerton, of the
same regiment, formerly a sergeant in
Company B, (Washingtorr Li~iht infan
try.) was assistmng him. The enemy
poured their shell into Sumter, Wang
ner and Gregg all day. At dusk, as in.
structed, I reported with my detach
ment at Fort Wagner. and we com
menced our tour of duty. By 10 or 11
o'clock the rest of the regiment arrived.
The commanles did not al) come together
and they were stationed on the perapet
of Wagner as they came, relieving a
worh a romina reiment which lef t the
island by the same boats which brought L
the remain'er of the 25th S. C. V. The a
28th Georgia, a small regiment, occupied o
a part of the land face. The balance.
>f the land face, all of the sea face, and a
llank wall outside, running from the fort s
to low-water mark, were occupied by 2
.he 25th S. C. V. Major. Glover was as- a
signed to the command of the flank wall 'I
and the sea face. I had command of the a
land face and the general supervision of e
the whole regiment. T .e two regiments 2
mentioned, and several companies of C
the 2d South Carolina artillery (iu all (
about 2,300 flective men) constituted a
the garrison of the tort. The 27th s
Geogia was kept in the sand hills as re- o
serve. Battery Gregg was garrisoned t
by a company of regulars. These were e
dli of the Confederate troops on the n
sland. The fire cf the enemy was not c
very brisk during the night, but there t
was very little chance for any rest on I
the part of our troops. I was directed to s
make the salient angle,'on the land face, e
:egimental headquarters. Major F. F. u
Warley, of the 21 South Carolina artil- e
ery was chiet of artillery and had the s
eneral supervislon of all the b
uns. During the night Col. Lawrence I
bA- Keitt, of the 20.h Sou.h Carolina fi
Volunteers, came down, and relieved t
Gen. Colquitt. who left the island. fi
HIRD OF SEPTEMBER, THURSDAY.
Enemy still approaching. Oae of two
>f our guns and one mcrtar keeping up
a steady fire. The men of tte 25th were n
n high spirits, a great many of them ,
went to work building defences on the b
walls of the fort with sand bags, in b
which they constructed loop holes, s
through which to fire at the enemy a
whose works were provided with similar I
means of offence and defence. Firing v
through these loop holes had become I
very dangerous, yet it was steadily kept I
ap. As soon as light was seen through I
one of these holes the "Federal sharp- I
sooters" fired, and not unfequently c
succeeded in sending their balls through. t
Each side fired at the dashes ot the ri- t
flea of the other. Oar men, alter firing, c
Shoved their hats into the loop holes to s
carken them before they drew out their c
muskets, which when reloaded were put
cautiously back, and the hole covered c
by a man before the bat was withdrawn. s
Private Wallace, of Company C, re- v
ceived a Yankee ball in his piece, which, e
happening to ne of larger calibre than e
the enemy's gun, did not lodge. He t
took it out, put down a charge of c
powder, and sen . the bail back to its for
mer own. Musket firing and the hissing e
of balls were incessant. The enemy did d
not today make much use of his artillery c
but was hard at work in his trenches.
Not a man could be seen, but a line of ,
spades was visible as they were lifted r
up to throw the sand out of the trench a
on the side towards us. There was no t
entire cessation of fire, but only a slack u
enm of the artillery. Our James Is.
land batteries and Fort M 'ultrie briskly ,
cannonaded the enemies trenches all it
day. -Tbe fleet came up, as was the n
custom, every day, and opened tire on c
as throwing eleven and fifteen inch 8
shells. They were otten thro wn with
small charges of powder, ricocheted -
along the water, and striking near the i
top of the covered ways fell nearly ver- b
ucally, searching every part ,f our I
works. Sme of the fifteen inch shells v
were loaded with smaller shells, which, t
when tWe large shells burst, would have. c
their fuses ignitsd and would explode, b
scattering their pieces in every direction c
and doing much damage. During the r
day from one fourth to one third of the a
men were kept on the parapet. The
rest were allowed to remain in the bomb,
proofs. At nighttall they were all,
turned out and kept on the parapet all,
ight. The enemy had gotten so near I
that we could be heard making our dis- j
positions for the night. The fire was
then quickened and shot and shell'came a
literally like iron bail. The garrison
bad a great deal of work to do constant
y repairing damages. It was soon ap- b
parent that this fort was near its last 1
day. The exterior slope of the salient b
was drifting slowly into the ditch under e
the enemy's fire.
FOURTH OF SEPTEMBER, FRIDAY. t
Tbe enemy commenced a lively can
nonade this mornIng. Quite a number
of cur sharpshooters' stands were
knocked down. The firing of the sharpt
shooters was very brisk on both sides,
and continued so all day. The United 1
States flag was put up by the enemy at I
the head of his trench, now only about -
one hundred yards from the salient.
My opinion was that the intention of ~
sen. Gilmore wa' to pass the fort at L
C
low tide and assail us from the rear. e
There was in width at low water aboutt
ffty yards ot bard beach between our
fank wall and low water mark. This
was one of the defects of our work. t
There w as a time when a line of pal- c
sades might have been driven to low g
water mark. The engineers thoughtv
that the salient would be the point 0f 1
assaulf. This would have been in ac- T
cordace with scIentific approach and 1I
assault. I expressed my dissent from -
the eugineers, and urged Col. Keitt to a
allow me to strengthen our force of twod
companies lef t on the outside behimd the
fank wail to meet any effort that t
might be made to pass the tort HeI t
agreed with the engineers and did not
allow me to strengtsen our .torce. un thes
outside.
The batteries on James Island kept
up an unremitting fire aud were doing
some excellent practice, particularly the
one at Shell Point, called "Battery
Simk.ns," in honor of the gallant Lieut.
Col. Simkins, who fell during the assault
on this fort on the 18'-h of July. Major
F. F. Warley was w oundled in the at- C
ternoon by a piece of shell, which made C
painful tiesh wound on one of his lees. t
He was Eoon after started to the city in
Brig. Gen. Ripiey's boat, which came
down to bring dispa'ches. An accu at
of the condition of the for; was given a
Maj. Warley for Gen. Beauregard. On I
th way up to the city one of the enemy ~
boats cemmanded by Lieut. Charles ~
Craven, ,f tne United States navy, fell ~
in witn Maj. Warley, and captured him
and his noat's crew', which was greatly '
cutnumbered by Lient. Craven's party.
Major Warley had the pre sence of mind
to tear open the envelope. containing I t
communication for Gen. Beauregard,
and after putting: en oar lock iside b
thre e' it overboard before he surrendered
( met Lieut. Cravcu since tne war and
neard irom him an accojunt of this iuec
den). The ens;. weic inl the habit 01t
sendog btoats at nigtht from the creek
between Jamnes and Morris isiauds
around Cumnming's Point, and between 1
Sumter and Gregig out towards the Bar. C
Capi. Thomas Huguenin. of the 131t
South Carolina iniamtry, wno had with c
bs company reieo'ed Capt. R. Press
Sm~.ith and the carrison of Utery
Grg, weas ordered up from that work
and made chief of artiliery in Warlex 's
place. One of Capt. Hluguenin's l?au- I
tenants was left mn commaud ot Gregg.I
A more etlicieni. successor of Warle nt
could not have been selected. Eugueny i
was wmoutfeor, had been trained at -
ae South Carolina Military Academy,
nd was thoroughly acquainted with all
f the duties of an artillery officer.
Our working parties were hard at
Pork all da3 repairing damages, occa
ioned by the enemy's fire. Corpl.
iewcomer, of Company A. was killed
nd several men wounded this afternoon
here were a number of casu ties in the
ther regiments of the garrisou. The
nemy's fire slackened after nightfall. t
L calcnum light was displayed by Gen.
hlmore but was turned on the creek.
ant. Sellers' and Company F. (St.
latthew's Rilles,) were with me in the
client tonight. They had been with
ie there last night. I had been directed
> remain in the salient when my prea
nce was not needed elsewhere. Both
ien and officers had gotten so they
Duld sleep und -r fice, when permitted
take a tittle rest. The shells from
'ort Moultrie passed directly over the
client, and as they were now timed to
splode just two hundred yards beyond
s, the danger of a slightly premature
spiosi:n was great, as will be under
tood, when it is remembered that
loultrie was nearly two miles away.
esides this danger and the danger
om the enemy's shot and shell, the
enches were now so near that pieces
om our own mortar shells thrown
*om the fort came back into the salient.
FIFTH OF SEPTEMBER, SATURDAY.
The last parallel of the enemy was
ow completed, just 200 yards from our
rorks, and their guns and mortars be
ind it ready for action. In the bom
aidment of today shot and shell from
eventeen seige and Coehorn mortars
nd thirteen 100, 200, and 300 pounder
parrot grns, all in the land batteries,
rere incessantly poured into the forts.
'tiese, with the fire of sixteen 1 inch
)anlgren broadside and 200 pounder
'arrot bow and stern guns of the
ronsides, ave 15 inch Dahlgren guns
a the enemy's monitors, added to the
bunder of Moultrie, Johnson and the
atteries on James and Sullivan's Island
Dade an artillery fight the fury and
randeur of which can hardly be con
eived. It is r eyond my powers of
escription, surpassing the iost highly
olored accounts of bombardments of
rhich I have ever read or heard. No
ords in the English language can
xaggerate it. Tne mortar shells of the
nemy, which could be seen throughout
heir entire flight, fell so fast that they
ould not be counted.
The Parrot guns wers so near that the
xplosion of their shells in the fort
rowned the report of the guns. All of
ur guns in the fort were silenced. It
ras impossible for the artillerists to
ork them under such a fire. When di
eced to any one spot, as it was when
ur artillery opened, it became i npossi
le for anything to live, and the work
ig of our guns was therefore out of the
uestion. Men were beiug killed and
rounded in every direction. It was
noossible to stand even fot'a few min
tes on the part t f terreplein or parade
f the fort without beinz covered with
and thrown up by bursting shells. We
:ept about one.fourth of the iofantry
utside of the bomb proots. The sufacr
,g of the men m the bomb proofs from
eat and want of water Was terrible.
'ne supply brought from the city was
rholley inadequate. That gotten from
be wells on the island, corrupted by
orpses buried in the sand, was horri
le. Extreme thirst alone drove the
en to drinking it, and it was almost as
inch as a man's li'e was worth to visit
well for the purpose of getteng it.
A great many horrible sights, which
ili remain in the minds of those who
ritnessed them as long as life lasts,
ere to be seen. Private Moses A.
tawlinson, of Company G, (Edisto
iflee,).was knocked from the prapet,
rhere he was fearlessly doing his duty
s a sharpshooter, to the middle of the
sarade, a distance of forty or fifty feet,
ong fully twenty feet up in the air in
.is passage. The braye fellov never
at bis rifle go, but fell with it in his
.ands. Two of the litter-bearers start
d to bring him into the bomb proof hos
lital. I stopped them, izecause it seemed
o me to be almost cs rtain death to go
him till the iron hail slacked a little.
e appeared to lie dead. In a few min
tes he was discovered to move. I then
old the litter-bearers that he must be
rought ib. They did their duty fearless.
7, but their tenderness to the poor fel
>w and their bravery were useless. He
ed in a few minutes. Lient IHenry
iontgomery, Jr., of Company C, was
iliad about 10 or 11 o'clock in the
iornig. A piece of shell took off~ tbe
reater portion of his head. A Chris
an gentleman, true-hearted patriot and
rave soldier was lost in him.
The mortar shells, being visible as
bey camie hissing and spluttering into
ur works, could many of them be dod
d. The Parrot guns sent their shells
ithut warning. rhe fort was now be
g so rapidly demolished that it was
ery evideat it could not stan ! a much
>nger continuation c f the bombardment.
'he parapet cf the salient was gone.
nd the ditch at that point filled with the
rft. It seemed that the bomb proofs
ould soon sucenmb to this destructive
re. A portion of our signal corps had
en specially detailed to observe the
ignals ot the enemy. Every dispatch
ignaled between Gen. Gilmore, ot the
~ederal army, and Admiral Dilhlgren,
f th.e navy, was transmitted by our
ignai officers to Gen. Beauregard in
he city, and euch as he desired us to
aow were thetr sent to Col. Kiett for
is information and guidance. One of
bse dispatches, which was read by Col.
eitt to a few cf us who were in his
onidence, detailed the plan of an attack
n Battery Gregg which had been agreed
pon between Guilnore and Dahlgren.
ie arrangemneni was made by wvb~ch
)aiiren was to furnish the boats and
imore the men, and! Battery Gregg.
t Cumminc's Point, was to be su
*risd. But tar this its formnation it seems
ertai that Greg would n ave t allen and
be Confederates on Martis IAI:tmd cut
if from ahi hope of escapt; Tne expr di
tn was to come1 in Ooatr with medied
ars iromn the creek which separat.t.s
ames fro~m Mmrris Island, and whe the
e~s of the b.,ats struck the beach the
2en were to jump out and charge the
attery. Capt. Martiao I S :iers, w an
is coispany, (St Mathle w's R lies,) and
ompauy I, (Beauregard Lunst Infan
e.) under the comimaudi 1Leut A. J.
Ls, with a detaicment ul tinty meai
om the 28:.a Georgie, uzde. c ,mmuaud
Capt ilayne, wete deauied as reDo
re meats for B.tery Gree. Ti e
miole detachment was put under t:
omand of Capt. Schecrs. (fIain':
as killed before he re ported watn his
,marid to S iers. VTe same shell1
mich killed ha ni kd Lieu:. I. A.
hlu.)
The assriihcg force sent to caipture
attery Gieg~ came according to gro
ramme, but they were the parities tu
rbed. As soon as their boats struck
he beach they were greeted with a volley
ICONTINUED ON PAGE FouR.J
THE GOVERNOR DEFIED.
THE DUVAL CLUB WILL FIGHT TO A
FINISH.
Statement to the Public Gaarantaelog the
Match as Advertised-To Test the Law
With a Negro Siugging Match.
JACKSONVILLE. FLA., Jan. 9.-The
managers of the Duval Athletic Club
set a snare for its enemy, Governor
Mitchell. today into which they hope
he will fall and thereby give them an
opportunity to test the Florida law in
relation to prize fights.
The snare in question is the arrang
ing of a contest between two negro
sluggers to take place at the opera
house in a few days. The principals to
the atf-air are Perry Watkins, negro
champion middle weight of Florida
and Green Harris, negro champion
middle weight of Tennessee. The men
are to fight for a purse of $500 and
have signed'articles of agreement iden
tical with those signed by Corbett and
Mitchell.
The purpose of the club is to test the
sincerity of Governor Mitchell's oppo
sition to the Corbett-Mitchell mill and
also to get a decision from the courts
as to the-law in relation to prize-fights
in this State. If the Governor and au
thorities of Duval county allow the ne
groes to meet and slug one another, the
club people will say that the Execu
tive's opposition to the proposed Cor
bett-Mitchell fight is insincere and is
dictated by other reasons than a de
sire to preserve the "peace and dignity
of the State.'" If the authorities of the
county acting under instructions from
the Governor, prevent the fght and ar
rest the negroes, the club managers
say that they will very likely be able to
secure a decision from the courts as to
whether prize-fights are violative of
the State law. In either event the
club hopes to be a winner and down the
Governor.
When questioned in regard to the
mill between the negroes the club man
agers deny that they are promoting
the affair, but in sporting.circles. it is
said that this denial is only made for a
blind and that Manager Bowden and
others have arranged for the bout be
tween the negroes.
The following correspondence be
tween the Governor and Sheriff Perry
of St. John's county, where rumor has'
it the club has decided to attempt to
ring about the fight, shows how vigi
lant the Governor is and how deter
mined he is to checkmate the club.
The Governor's letter to Sheriff Perry
is as follows:
Executive Department,
Tallahassee, Fla., Jan. 5, 1894.
C. J. Perry, Esq., Sheriff of St. John's
County, Florida, St. Augustine:
Dear Sir: I see by the papers that
James J. Corbett and Charles Mitchell,
who propose to disgrace Florida by
one of their brutal prize fights, have so
amended their agreement that said
fight might take place in either Duval
or St John's county, and you, are in
structed to prevent said contest in'St.
John's county whether it is known or
called a prize fight, glove contest, or is
known or called by any other name.
You understand the situation in your
county, and if, in- your opinion, you
will not be able to prevent said contest
with the means at your command, you
are instructed to call upon the Execu
tive of the State for such assistance as
you may deem necessary.
I have confidence in your int'lli
gence, and you are expected to carry
out these instructions to the letter by
preventing the proposed contest be
tween s iid parties in your county.
Very respectfully,
IH. L. MITCHELL, Governor.
To this Sheriff Perry. after consult
ing Judge W. A. Mac Willhams, his at
torney. mailed on the evening of the
8th the follo'vng reply:
Sheriff's Office, St. John's County,
St. Augaistine, Fla., Jan. 8th.
Hon. Henry L~. Mitchell, Governor of
Florida, Tallahassee, Fla.:
Dear Sir: Your communication of
January 5th, 1894, received and the
contents duly noted, and in reply there
to would say, It is now, and always has
been my intention to uphold the law
in accordance with my oath of office.
If it becomes necessary to call upon
you for assistance to that end, I will
not hesitate to do so. Very respectful
ly, C. J. PERRY,
Sheriff St, John's County.
Win. A. Brady, who is managing
Corbett, today came up from Mayport,
where the champion is training. Ques
tionad by the Soutnern Associated
Press correspondent in regard to the
outlook for the fight, Brady .said:
"I am strongly of the opinion that
the club people will be entirely success
ful in their efforts to bring the contest
to a successful issue, and you may be
sre that our ena of the affair will
give them all the support in our pow
Brady was also asked about the at
tempt made by some unknown person
to enter Corbett's sleeping room, re
ported in these dispatches last night,
but he refused to give any opinion as
to the purpose of the intruder.
The Athletic Club late tonight fur
nished to the Southern Associated
Press corresponnent a statement to
the public, which, after reciting the
history of the leg'al battle for the past
two weeks, already familiar to the pub
lic, and describing Gevernor Mitchell's
action, continues as follows:
This club, through its manager, coin
:"n'ricated with Governor Mitchell and
asked him to submit the case, with the
contracts with Corbett and blitchell,
to the Supreme Court in a fair and im
partial manner, and that that body be
allowed to pass upon the same. This
the Governor refused to do. There is
no fair-minned person who will not
agree with us that we have done ev
erything in our power to have an ad
judication by the courts of this case,
and that there is no other conclusion o
e arrived at except tilat Governor
Mitchell is afraid to submit the case to
the courts, and we hereby, in this pub
lic manner, throw the gauntlet at his
feet, and not only invite, but dare him
to ak the Supreme Court for a decisa
ion in tmis csise. His whole attitude
has been that of a bulidozer, aLd wili
be until this contest has ended. Right
here we wish to say to the putblic in
most positivre terms that, barring acci
ents of a providential nature, and it
Corbett and Mitchell appear at thp
rmgside January 25, 18914, as they have
ct racted to do, just so sure will this
cintet take place. We assure the pub
hc at large that the sentiment of the
peo.l of the city of Jacksonville, and
the State of Florida, is in favor of this
coitet, and being legally assured triat
tnere exists ua law in this State against
c~tessof1 this kind, we now assure all
inteding pa~rons ot the event, and
tce publuc in general, that tney can
come to Jacksonville secure in the
kowledge that they will1see two of
t;'e greatest boxers in the world in a
contest, that will do nothing more than
demostrate which is the more scien
We have added to the membership of
this club some of the most iniluential
and wealthy citizans of Jacksonville
and Florida, and we know that we
have the means and ability to see this
thing through. Further we wish to
say that no one knows who will be fi
nancially and socially hurt if an at
tempt is made to stop this affair until
it is attempted. This statement is
signed by the Duval Athletic Club.
WILL STOP THE FIGHT.
JACKSoNVILLE, Jan. 11"-The Gov
ernor of Florida has got his back up.
The numerous defiances and manifestos
of the Duval Athletic Club has clinched
his determination to stop the Coi bett
Mitchell fight at all hazards. The club
has thrown down the g;auntlet and he
has accepted the challenge. His Adju
tant General, Patrick Houston, is in
the city under orders of the chief execu
tive, who is also commander in chief of
the State troops, to investiga'e the sit
uation and report. The Adjutant
General and Sheriff Broward were clos
eted in a room of the Everett Hotel for
over an hour this morning and the situ
ation was tnlly discussed.
The Southern Associated press corre
spondent met the Adjutant General
tonight and asked him it he was here to
stop the fight. He said: "No," adding
that he was here simply in obedience to
the orders of the Governor instructin
him to investigate as to the situation
and report. He could not say what the
intentions of the Governor were. Gen.
Houston was also asked how long he
would be in the city, in fPct if he was
going to remain here until alter the 25th
of January. He repiied that he did not
know ho A long be would remain. He
would be here until he had crunphed
with the instructions of the Governor.
It is said that the Governor purpos.s to
keep the Adjutant General right on the
scene with full power to mass the
troops shculr the emergency require
that the sheriff be supported by more
force than he can muster in deputies.
It is the general opinion hece that
Governor Mitchell proposes to stop the
fight if he has to mass the entire militia
of the State in Jacksonville. No one
who understood the real situation has
ever believed that the contest would be
permitted in Jacksonville, and in spite
of the repeated declarations of the Atb -
letic Club to the contrary, these dis
patches have so stated. If the promot
era of the fight bring Mitchell and Cor
bett tgether in Florida, they will have
to do it secretly in the woods, so secret
ly that the Governor can gain no ink
ling of where the meeting is to occur.
It is reported that the club's attorneys
do not believe that the fiaht can be
pulled'oft publicly in the tacs of the
Governor's opposition.
A prominent newspaper corespon
dent, whose name cannot be divulged,
called on one of the leading attorneys
for the club recently, and asked him
about the prospects -for the fight. Tne
attorney refased to talk for publication,
but as he was on intimate terms with
the correspondent, practically admitted
that the Governor had the club in a
hole and that nothing could be done if
the executive persisted in his attitude.
Up to date it looks as if the club people
have been playing a "bluff" game, and
so far the Governor has called them
down every time.
The promoters of the contest between
the negroes, Berry and Watkins, have
filed an sppllcation with the city record
er f:r a license authorizinn the men 60
meet at the opera house Monday nigit,
but no action bas been taken on the ap
plical gn. The application was
under the rccsnt ordinance per
mitting glove coptests, which
was passed over Mayor Flet
cher's veto. Major Buwden gave
out a long letter today, which be sent
the Governor on January 1. The let
ter was almost in the nature of a plea
for the Governor t- "let up." It is
understood that several letters of a aim
ilar character have been sent to the ex
ecutive by members of the elab, -but
Governor Mitchell doei not seem to be
in the "letting up" business so far as
prizs fights are concerned.
The Worid'd FAsr Fire.
CHIICAGO, Jan. 9-Last night's ire
in the World's Fatr grounds produced
greater changes in the appearance of
Chicago's famous pleasure park than it
was expected would be made by six
month's removing of buildings. The
Casino, where thousands spent delight
ful hours watching gay scenes upon
and about the grand basin, was wholly
destroyed. The Peristyle, once illumi
nated with thousands of incandescent
lights and Greek fire, furnished Greek
fire, and nothing remains. Its arches
are burned away and its stately col
umns. half burned and charred' lie in a
confused mass on the - promenade
which surrounds it. Colossal figures
which'-surmounted it, toppled to the
ground when their supports burned
away and are broken in pieces. Co
lumbus and his heralds with their war
horses and Ohariot, are an unrecogniza
ble mass. of ruins. The Music Hall
likewise is a melancholy heap ot ashes
save here and there where twisted iron
girders protrude. Not a portion of it
was saved from the flames. All about
the walks are strewn with debris.
charred tsands which the wind blew
fronthe burning buildings and little
piles of white :tshes where some of the
brands were consumed after failing.
The Manufacturers' building, both
within and without, presents a sight
not desired either by artist or exhibitor.
The lattice work between the top and
the roof, and curved work covering
tne central aisles on tne east side were
burned away from a point above the
southern end of the United States sec
tion south to one above the Russian
section. Upon the tin and glass. arched
root lie half burned boards, which
formed part of the httiee an-I which,
when loosened by the lire, slid down
ward. Inside the building appearan
ces are worse than on the roof. With
in the region burned. over and for some
distance on either side, the 11 Aor is cov
ered with water. Stauding in water,
which at some plases is two inecies in
depth, are innumerable boxes contain
ing precious wares. bailed -and uound
for reshipment as soon as they could
be released from bond. Upon anJ
about them lay and now destroyed dec
orations of pavillions. the Frencn,
Belgian and Eriglish sections, suff -red
most and in spalces occupied by thei is
to be seen the most disastrous results.
The scene inside the great Manufac
turers' building was or absoroing in
terest. Here and there were s:-en
boxes with their tops half burnied
through, but their coatertssate, except
for water that lea intl the n-.
C vl Sarwic + Ex'antuation.
WAshINGTON, Jan. 11.-The Civil
Service Couwmission has completed ihe
schedule of examinatiocs thast will be
held during toe first six mmtis of the
present year To till positions in the
railw'ay mail and Indiati services The
chronological orde-r of the S.>uthern
route is as follows: Rie:~und, Vi,
Tuesday, Janury 30; Lynenbourg, Vt,
Thursday, February 1; Charlotte. A -
C., Saturday. February 3; Wilmingtou,
N. C', Tuesday, Feoruary t; Columbii,
. C, Thurday, February 8; Charlesiton,
S. C., Saturday, February 10; Savan
Lah, Ga., Tuesday, February 13; Jack
snville Fla. Saurday, Fnruary 17.
CLEMSON COLLEGE.
THE EXAMINATION OF AP.'LICANTS
SOON TO BE HELD.
Instruction?; to tha Examining iBoards
The Number of Vacancies at the Next
Season-T. 'ha Propertioned Among the
Counties--Coat to Cadais.
The second session of Clemson Col
lege will begin on thursday February
15, 1894. There are about one thousand
boys in the State who want to become
students in the college, but only 600 of
them can get places. In fact it is not
likely that more than from 200 to 300
new applicants can enter, There is room
for 600 boys, that number having been
present at the last session, but the
Board of Trustees estimate that a great
many of them will not return. They
will leave vacancies for a numb er
which is yet unanown.
The Board of Trustees decided at the
last meeting that future applicants
must undergo examination, As many
boys as desire may enter these examina
ations. So soon as the authorities of
the college known the number-of vacant
cies existing in the respective counties
they will notify a suficient'number of
those who stood the highest to fill the
vacancies. The following announce
ment to. intending applicants has been
sent out:
"An examination, begining at 10
o'clock in the morning of January 18th
1895, will be held at the county seat of
your county, under the direction of
your County School Commissioner, to
determine who of the applicants are
entitled to enter the college at the open
ing of the session of 1895, on the third
Thursday of February.
"Students under fifteen years of age
are not to be admitted except were two
brothers apply, one being' over fitteen
and the other not under fourteen.
"For those desiring to enter the
Freshman class a thorough proficiency.
in arithmetic, elementary algebra
English grammer, geography and his
tory of the United States is required.
Applicants not prepared to enter the
college classes will be admitted to the
preparatory department."
The following resolutions regarding
the adimission of students were adopt
ed by the Board of Trustees:
"Resolved, That the admission of
students other than those already in
attendance at the college be upon the
following conditions:
"1. Students must undergo :a medical
examination and no person will- be ad
mitted who is not healthy and free from
contagious diseases, including con
sumption.
"2. Students will be appointed among
tue counties in proportion to represen-.
tatives .in the House of . Representa
tives, under the following regulations:
"Boys. prepared to enter college
classe> proper will have preference
over those who can only enter prepar
atory classes.
"As between boys of eq,ual prepara
tion, the oldest will have the prefer
ence.
"Applicants already entered will be
examined at their respective county
seats after due notice, and permits to
enter to be issued 'by the examining
board.
"Other things being equal, the..irat
applicants will receive permits.
"Where i county has not sent its
quota, the place thus left shall be divid
ed among the other counties by lot.
'-3. Boys not availing themselves of
the opportunity of entering within ten
days of the opening of :he session
will have their rights in the place given
to applibants next on the roll."
Accompanying the foregoing facts is
a circular of information.
The text-books recommended to those
preparing to enter the Freshman class
are Wentwortb.'s Grammar Shcool
Arithmetle, Venable's Easy Algebra,
(used in the preparatory course), or
Robinson's Elementary Algebra, Whit
ney-Lock wood's English Grammar, Ap
pleton's Higher Georgrapby, Eggles
ton's History of the United States and
Its People.
There are two courses in the Fresh
man class-that in chemistry and agri
culture and that in mechanics and en
gineering..
Besides the studies in the first course
is the.- following: Practical work in
agriculture, eight hours per week; prac
tical work in mechanics, two hours per
week: free-hand drawing, four hours
per week; military drill, live hours per
week..
In the second course, beside the stud
ies, is the fcllowing. Practical work
in mechanics, eighcthours per week;
physical laboratory work, four hours
per week; drawing, four hours per
weeks, military drill and tactics, live
hours per week.
In addition to the uniform students
may provide themselves with .work
clothes as they desire.
Each student will be required to
bring with him four sheets, two blank
ets, a comfort-, sixr towels, one pillow
and two pillow cases. -
The expenses for one season of ten
month are as follows:
Board................. ..... 70 00
Washing--................. 00
MedialiFee.............-- 5- 00
Two Uniforms............... 23 73
Incidental Fee............... 00)
S108 75
.Tuition, $40 a session, is charged to
students whose parents are worth
$5,000 above all indebtedness. Before
entering the college. astudent must pay
for uniforms, $23 75; for one month's
board and washing, $7.50; for medical
fee, $2. 50; for incidental fee, $2 50--ia
all $36.25. No deviation, whatever,
from tims rule will be made. The
amount that must be paid for each
month following the first will depend
upon the quality and quantity of labor
performed by' the student.
Agricultural students are paid8S cents
per hour for productive lab~r- two
hours per day.
Mechanical students are required to
work two hours daily, and are paid ac
cording to the value of work--never
over 8 cents per hour.
Hi-ace, a student may make by labor
about si a month, and thus redwee
board and washing to $3.50 per month.
In short, a poor boy maty pa.ss one ss
sion of ten months at Clemson Courtge
b r aboul S-allo wing sl) for iioo s
and stationery, which are~ so'd to the
students at actual cost.
No reductian in ooard wiul be made
for students who come ira after the
operdiog, nor f..r those wtIo are absent
during the session for a period of less
than one mouth.
WASm N'.'oN. Jau. 10.-Tucker of
a~g : n sea canvassing the situ
~iion in the ilouse with :t vie w to de
~er ainig the chances of the incomue
tax pro'position Wneu it comels to a
vote. Tue conclusion is that the vote
-ullii be very close. He tigures thit 100
Democrats, nine P'opulists and :,ixR
publicansgwill support the propositio.
hiwilgve the' advocates of anl in
come ta-x about 173 votes. Tucker is
of the opinion :hat the Rtepuibhian and
Democratic opponents of the iaiconcu
tax, if tney cannot secore a votmng nia
jrity, will insist urion a quorumn of the
advocates of the proposition and here
he thinksa the chief rennrer lies
QUICK JUSTICE FOR VAILLANT.
A Bold Front Maeintained by Iim Dur
ing the Short Trial.
PAnIs, Jan. 10.-Auguste Vaillant
the anarchist who threw the bomb in
the Chamber of Deputies on December
9 last, was tried before President Judge
Case and a-jury in the Assize Court to
day, convicted and sentenced to death.
Policemen, in couples and threes, were
stationed every ten yards around the
immense block occupied by the Palace
of Justice in which the court sits.
Every door in the palace was shut and
guarded by sentinels with fixed bayo
nets.' Nobody was admitted unless
they had a special card of identity.
The cynosure of all eyes was the pris
oner who stood in the dock with an of
licer on each side of him. He was,
like itavachol. entirely self-possessed
and gazed about the court room as
though he gloried in the interest he
was creating.- Throughout the day,
he never lost his attitude of dellince
and self-justification.
Baron Rothschild was not a member
of the jury, contrary to puixic expecta
tion.- In reviewing the details of the
bomb-throwing Judge Case said the
people who had been hurt the most
were not tne members of the Chamber
of Deputies, but spectators of the pro
ceedings. "That was -not my fault,"
retorted Vaillant. "The deputies are
in the highest degree responsible for
the social misery prevailing. It was
they I meant should feel the responsi
bility." When questioned as to his es
cape during the confusion following
the explosion, Vaillant denied the
story that a sentinel had stopped him
at the door by threatening to pierce
him with nis bayonet if he advanced a
step. The prisoner declared energeti
cally thit he dai not wish to flee and
even if l had i. would have been ut
terly imputs:)le i hnim to have done
so, because he wa:. o m led in the leg.
He gave the lie to ; i :esses :gainst
him and held steadily to his pase of
martyr in the cause of humanity. The
only regret he bad was that he had
been obliged to injure irresponsible
persons in the crusade.
Describing the manufacture of the
bomb, Vaillant declared that owing to
the dimensions of his apparatus, he
had the alternative of putting in a
large number of projectiles, which
would wound many persons slightly,
or a small number than would do more
effective work. Le chose the former
plan, so that the projectiles would kill=
a few people outright. Vailiant ad
mitted tha he had been condemned
five times for petty- thefts, but he -ad
ded, mendicancy and theft were the
necessary results of the present so:ial
condition of the poor.
The prisoner asked permission to ad
dress the court on his mode of life.
This being granted, he said that he
had endeavored to lead an honest exis
tence. Employers had profited by hi
poverty to pay him starvation wages.
Finally, without money or work, he
determined instead of famishing sub
missi vely to voice the feeling of revolt
that was fomenting discontent every
where among - the popr. He read a
written anarchist speecn that he had
held in nis hand ever since the opening
of the court. In this speech, he ex
pressed the grievances of the poor
against society, buZ.nade no reference
He was fluent and declau.atory, and
read his speech in a clear ?ad pleasant
voice as he leaned over the rail if the
dock. Vaillant was emphatic ,n his
denial of the statement tha ne had
taken Marchand's property as well as
his wife, evidently considering the
former charge to be a dishonorable
one. He said he desired to clear him
self of this reproach.
Judge Case read extracts from the
prisoner's .declarations to the effect
that he had become convinced by stu
dying philosophical works, including
those of Herbert Spencer, that anarch
ism was the logical outcome of the op.
pression of the poor by modern society.
In regard to the outrage, the prisoner
explained that he had chosen the
Chamber of Deputies as the pli.ce to
throw the bomb in order not to hurt
innocent persons. Unfortunately he
did not succeed.
Two short recessrs were taken, one
at the conclusion of the hearing of wit
nesses and another at the conclusion ot~
the address of the public prosecutor,
Bertrand. The latter closed by de
manding the capital penalty. Vail
lant's advocate, Laidori, made no de
fense of anarchist theories. Vaillant,
he said, had given him absolute liberty
as to the line of defense to be followed.
His iirst pomnt was that the bomb had
killed nobody. Vaillant, he declared,
was not a monster of criminal vanity.
He simply wanted to remind the depa-1
ties of the miserable poor whose claims
the legislature eternally shelves. He
could not forget that crime, which is
closely, allied to the universal social
movement, is increasing daily.
IHe appealed to the sympathies of the
jury in behalf of Vaillant, who was an
illegitimate child, abandoned -in infan
cy by his motner and grew up to be
come a mendicant and a vagabond, not
from vicious inclinations, Dut trom
force of circumstances. When he
heard the sentence Vaillant shouted
"Welcome death."
ntuna wounds.
RhcirMOND, VA., January 9.--Special:
The Senatorial contest in this ttate,
which resulted in the defeat of ' Gen.
Fitz Lee by Mr. Thomas S. Martin,. has
left heart-burninigs which are sure to
manifest themselves in the Congress
ional contest this year. Somne of Gen.
Lee's friends do not hesitate to say that
they will even up with the Martin men
in the coming struggle. Th'e Lee men,
it is. asserted, will show their bands ia
nominating conventions this fall. The
plan seems to be for the friends of the
General to strike at the heads of those
wh;, were conspicuous in compassing
his defeat shoula they bou up in these
conventions. In Gieu. Lee's dis:riet,
the 10'.h. tne Ion. itied;lph Tuwrer is
to be op'posed by Sta~te 5ena;tor l'lood,a
strong Martin man A special tonight
irojm Gen. Lee's ho ne~ says: "If United
Stat s Sen sor .John W. Daniel lives to
complete his term and asks for a re
rirer ou he will find that he will be
snowed unidtr in defea:t." M dj >r Dan
iel w'as one of Mr. Martin's strongest
friends in the Senatorial light-News
anid Courier.
Fr. e ra 7Iriu ea.
RIICuMOND, Jan.10.-An .interesting
and spirited mght wi take place in the1
Legklature here to-mrorrow cver a bill
to require railroads to furnish membe rs
of tne General Assembly with free nas
res. The members have been receiving
passes on railroad foI r years, but at the
tast S J -sc of um L Mgislture a law
was passed prohib. ing the r,:' roadsf
from zurnish ig th-em. Thle memnbers
of the Legislature, howeve, hlv
f~on it very iconvient to 0 loc
ed to takie money out o: -ag p...kets
wanuever thiey wish to" tr ! over tUe
idi~re'nt roads----e--ate, he~ne the
in ninduced tul i ssin, whica is
onfly to legie c c-tomu which the
Ler ila ure has io ud it almost im
r. cticale to break up. One of the
inost nromIien miembers of the Leg
islature tonigh't denounces the bill as
a simple sys em of demanding the rail
road corporations to stand and deliver
fre trannnoration to the isotrs.
THE DIPENDING BATTLE.
CAPT. SHELL TO LEAD IN THE CAM
PAIGN AGAINST COL. IRBY.
The First Oficial Bale Blast of the Cam
p2igan From the Stronger Faction's Or
gan-March Convention Practically
Called-Til1lnan's Hands Oft.
COLU3MIA, Jan. 11.-When the an
nouncement was made in December
that the campaign this year would
open early in January, a great many
had doubts about it. Few outside the
"charmed circle" then knew that the
political pot within the ranks of the
Reform party was boiling over, and
that there was a fight within the ranks
of the heretofore solid phalanxes of
Reform, imminent. But such was the
case. It has been brewing for a long
time, and now there is a crisis.
There are to be two. factions in the
Reform party in the coming campaign.
That fact is now no longer denied by
the leaders of the more powerful fac
tion. The indications are that Senator
Irby, the present State chairman, will
lead the faction which represents the
minority, and that he will have but
little to do with the real manipulation
of the coming campaign as far as the
Reform element is concerned. He and
several followers some months ago cut
loose almost entirely from the main
wing of the Reformers. and they are
all likely to fall by the wayside, fight
ing as they fall.
Congressman Shell, it is positively
announced, was approached while in
the city a few days ago by the leaders
of thA Alliance or farming element of
the Reform party, and he has consent
ed to be at the head of the committee
that will manage the campaign for this
faction. He was the former president
of the Farmers' Association in. this
State.
The Cotton Plant, which is the offi
cial organ of the Alliance-farming ele
ment of the Reform party, will sup
port the latter faction. Wnen this
week's issue of that paper is issued
this afternoon it will publish the fol
lowing double-leaded editorial, under
the caption, "A March Convention,"
which is equivalent to a call for such a
convention.
"With the very beginning of this
year we are confronted with the fact
that this is a campaign year and that
we are soon to meet our opponents in
a battle for the people's rights and the
development of our State in business
prosperity and the happiness of its
citizens. Such being the case we at"
once realize the great importance of at
once getting our forces together and
coming to an agreement on the policy
to be pursued so that there can be no
misunderstanding, and the success of
our cause assured..
"The politicians mast be made to
take a back seat and let the people
themselves set the pace. To do.that
the people should meet in their neigh
borhood clubs and send delegates to a
State convention, which. will adopt a
platform and nominate a candidate for
Governor to represent our people on
that platform. A Lieutenant Gover
nor should also be puc up, but the re
mainder of the State officers caa 'be
nominatettbythedelegates to the Sep
tember convention.
"The State convention for this pur
pose should be held not later than the
month of March-before the farmers
get too busy in their crops to attend to
it, and before bad blond rises between
the friends of the aspirants for the
Governorship on the Reform side.
"The Alliance cannot take part in
partisan politics, and. therefore has
only the right to point out the necessi
ty of calling the people together and
leaving it to some one else to do the
work. We believe that the last presi
dent and executive committee of the
Farmers' Association of this State are
the proper oifes.to issue such a call,and
we are conrident'that the people would
respond promptly a~n~'aaimously tii
a call issued by them. This ls~a move
ment of the people to reform arid im
prove our government, and not a move
ment to place any man or set of men:
in ofice merely. We must keep on the
high ground of pure patriotism, and
seek out the men for service who will
be t'ie most capable of carrying out our
wishes. -Measures and not men must
be made prominent.
"It will be noticed that we do not
agree With some points in the resolu
tions passed on last Friday by our
Laurens brethren and published else
where in this issue; tut after mature
consideration we feel satisfied that our,
position is the correct one. We hope
that our readers will use our columns
in a discussion of the matter, and in
that way reach the most satisfactory
conclusion. We have briefly outlined -
our vie ws, with reasons therefor, and
we shall -use our best endeavors to
maintain the rights and privileges of
our people and promote harmony in
the work."
Yesterday a representative of the
State had quite a long talk with one or
two oQf the leaders of the Alliance side.
They say that the leaders of the other
side will be ILoy, Stanyarne Wilson,
La-rry Gantt and John Gary Evans.
They seem to think that a combination
was formed nearly a year ago by Irby
and his followers to run things to suit
themselves and make a slate of the of
tiers for the coming term,which would
be prestanted to the voters and would
be s wallowed by them. They say that
the effort to crush oat every leading
Tillman man-the attacks upon T~dsl,
McLaurin and others-was the diret
result of this combination engineered
by Irby. They consider Irby dead as
far as State politics are concerned. In
regard to those Alliarnce resolutions
adopted in Laurens a few days ago,one
of these men yesterdiay said that they
were gottea up under Irby's influence,
and represented nobody's views but
his own. Hie was a good manipulator,
and got the County Alliance to adopt
them. Hie did not think that another
Alliance in the State would have done
so.
The leaders say that inasmuch as
this will not ctiect Governor Tiiman's
ziaht for the Senate, he will be hands
off in the light. They say that Irby
has been spreading the idea that he
and Tillman have been working to
cether. They know that Governor
Till man's views in regard to a conven
tion are not those that were expressed
in the Laurens resolutions. They
think, too, that Governor Tillman
w ants a farmer for Governor.-State.
Used a FIstoI.
NEw onI:LEAs, Jan. 6.-George
Winchesiter saxcided dramatically this
mnorning in front of the residence of
Cap:. T. IP. Leathers, the famous
s -amboat man and Captain of the
Natchiez, one of the boats in the race to
St. Louis manI' years ago. Winches
ter was a son-in-law of Captain Leath
ers, having married Miss Courtney
Leathers, who stool high in social cir
cles and who was once queen of the
Carnival. At an early hour to-day
Winchester walked :ip to the entrance
e f Captain Leather's residence on Car
ondelet street and putting a pistol to
his head, olew out his brains, dying in
stantly. Ile hod been ill, and this is the
nr17 known caus for the deed,