Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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

VOL. X. MAfANNING, S. C., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 7 THE NEW SOUTLERN OPENINGOF A GIGANTIC SOUTHERN RAllROAi ENTERPRISE. The metw Souhern Haliw*y Comi)p4y and the Many RUilroadn 1bt Eater Into Its Composition-R-dnced F1rd Charges and a Good Buwlaces Oatlook. NEW YOx, Sept. 6.-Oa Saturday, the 1st instant, the reorganization of the Richmond Terminal system was definitely and formally completed, and the last of the many properties which under the plan of reorganization have lost their unhappy and unfortunate identities and become merged in a new and propitious enterprise, passed into the possession ot the Southern Railway Company. Last Saturday, therefore, marks, tor all practical purposes, the completion of the reorganization; and a consideration of the situation is, therefore, opportune, particularly when it is borne in mind that the event is the most notable that has taken place in the history of American railroads, and that its bearing upon every South - ern business interest is of vital import ance. The Southern Railway Company op erates 4,500 miles of railroad and about 150 miles of water line. With the ex ception of 491 miles all the system is owned by the company, and the here tofore complicated ana expensive plan of control by majorities, wholly im practicable and unfortunate in its op eration and sure to make enemies among the minorities, is done away with. The old Richmond Terminal Company did not own any railroad at all, and the much vaunted (but intrin sically worthless) Richmond and Dan ville owned only 145 miles. The rest of the Richmond and Danville system was made up of some thirty separate companies, ranging in length frum six to552 miles. Efficiency and economy were impossible on this basis, which also afforded good opportunity for ob jectionable methods of accounting. The organization of the East Tennes see was more compact, but it, too, left much to be desired. As a result of the reorganization over thirty corporations, whose affairs and securities were interlocked in every conceivable way, and in almost hope less confusion, are united in one com pany. Thirty Boards of Directors and thirty sets of separate accounts disap pear simultaneously. The original plan was dated May 1, 1893: it was issued on May 29, 1893, and the response of se cunrity holders was prompt, and by the middle of June, 1893, success was as sured so far as their corporation was concerned. The summer and autumn of 1893 par alyzed the South, in common with the rest of the country, and railroad earn ings shrunk greatly. New conditions and new complications were presented, and the problem became one of dealing with bankrupt receivers as well as bankrupt corporations. By strenuous efforts everything was held together, and as soon as pcssible some amend ments to the original plan were pro mulgated, mainly to solve the financial problems of the receiverships, and also to cut down the interest charges of the reorganized company pending a return to normal conditions. These amendments were made public on March 1, 1894. and they were so rea sonable in character that they were quickly accepted by the security hold ers, and the reorganization was at once pushed forward with such rapidity that within four months the new company was formed, and now, within two months more, the last of the property comes into its possession-4,500 miles of railroad which, exactly six months ago, had almost dropped to pieces, and which but for the strong hands that held the properties together during all the financial troubles, would have drop ped to pieces, are now brought into one ecmpact and efficient company. The new company is organized under a charter granted by the Legislature of Virginia, supplemented by its conform ity to the laws of all the other States in which it owns property. The reorganization has involved t wo trustees' sales, viz.: Richmond and West P'oint Terminal Railway and Warehouse Company. Trustlee's sale under 0 per cent col lateral mortgage. 'Trustee's sale under 5 per cent. col lateral mortgage One receiver's sale, vtz Richmond and WVest Point Terminal Railway and Warehouse Company. Ten foreclosure sales, viz., covering Richmond and Danville and its leasea lines. East Tennessee, Virginia and Geor gia (under two mortgages) Charlotte Columbia and Augnsta. Columbia and Greenville. Louisville Southern. Georgia Pacific. Western North Carolina. Northwestern North Carolina. Oxford and Clarksville. Clarksville and North Carolina. F Six conveyances without foreclosure viz.: Atlantic, Tennessee and Ohio. Richmond, York River and Chesa peake. Washington, Ohio and Western. Piedmont. Statesville and Western. SOxford and Henderson. And we understand that some half dcaen minor sales and as many more conveyances of other kinds are now in progress in order to perfect the work. Prior to the reerganization, the proper ties now merged into the Southern Railway Company were covered by about seventy separate mortgages. About orty of these mortgages have been eliminated in one way or another. Described brielly, and ignoring many small branch lines, the Southern Rail way Company extends from Washing ton, or, more properly, from Alexan dria, VTa., and from West Point and Richmond, Va., via Salisbury, N. C,, to Augusta and Atlants, Ga.; and thence to the Mississippi River at Greenville. At Salisbury another main line crosses the State of North Carolina by way of Asheville; thence over to Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tenn , and trom there to Rome, Ga., where it divides, one line going to Brunswick and the other to Meridian, Miss. Another line runs from Louisville to Lexington and iBur gin, Ky., there connecting with the Cin .cinnati Southern. The Cincinnati Southern and Mem phis and Charleston were included in the plan of reorganization as originally promulgated, but were dropped from the amended plan, as the security hold ers failed to accept the terms offered. They have not bettered their condition by their refusal, and the general im pression Is that, sooner or later, these lines will be acquired. The Southern Company is also expected to control the Georgia Central when reorganizsd. Among the most important cities reached Dy the Southern Railway are Washington, D. C, Alexandria, Va., Charlottesville, Va., Richmond, Va, Lynchburg, Va., Danville, Va., Ra leigh, N. C., Durham, N. C., Greensbo ro, N. C., Statesville, N. C.. Asheville, N. C., Salem-Winston, N. (., Charlotte N.C., Columbia, S. C., Spartanburg, S. C., Greenvgille, S. C., Augusta, Ga., At lanta, na, Man, Ga., Brnnswick.Ga.. ton, Ky.. Knoxvilne, Tenin.. Chattaroo y, Tenn, itome. 6a., Birmingham, Ala., Anniston, Ala,. Columbus. Miss., atnd Selma, Ala. The lms of the company, located as they are, reach and s rvi all of the di verailled interests of the South. In the way of mineral, they penetrate its two great coal lields, viz, the Kentucky and Tennessee coal 11las on the north and the Alabama coal fields on the South, and from these are able to supply all the States traversed by them. They also reach th- great iron industlies of the South at Knoxville. Cleveland. )nat tanooga, Anniston, Birmingham, and intermiediats points. Irou is made cheapor in the Uni:ed States, or. for that matter, in the world. Oa the wes tern division of the system there are over thirty iron furnaces. Through in numerable small brancl'es the com pany goes into the very heart of the lumber territory in the States through which it runs. It is able. of course, to draw cotton from every directioD, not t only on its own lines, but f rom its con- ( nections, and it penetrates the sctions I of North and South Carolina and I Georgia which are occupied by cotton i mills. The growth of cotton mills along the line Is, perhaps. one of its most remarkable features. Right i through the hard times new mills have i been going up, especially in North Car. I olina. Its lines in Kentucky enable it i to control its full share of the tobacco i business at Louisville, and, in addition to this, it penetrates in every direction the country In which tobbacco is grown, especially in the neighborhood I of Oxford and Durham, in North Caro lina, and along almost the entire length t of the former Western North Carolina I iailroad, which is now a part of its t system. By way of Augusta and its t connections to Fiorida it does a very large share of the garden truck busi ness in the Southeastern States. It is < most direct passenger line from Wash- i ington to Atlanta and all the intermed- I iate points, and also as short as any t line to Florida. The old Piedmont Air i Line, which is a part of the system, r has long been famous. The properties embraced in the reor ganization had bonded and floating debts of about $135,000,000. This Dow Z reduced to a bonded debt of $94,000,000, I including sufficient bonds (which are E reserved) to take up all underlying t bonds and stocks of the 491 miles of i leased railroad. The company will also issue about $6,000,000 more bonds dur- I ing the next two years, to purchase ad ditional equipment and improve the I properties, which will make the total x bonded dept of all kinds S1,00,000.000. i The plan of reorganization wisely pro- t vides that $20,000,000 of bonds addition- i al (to be strung out through a series I of years) may be issued hereafter only I for the further 'development of the 1 property. C The mterest charges before the re organization were about $7,500,000, per annum, and sinking funds were about $600,000, to 8700,000 per annum I additional. The new company's charges are $4.100,000 for 1894, 700,000 for 18 95, and $5,400,000 for 1896. The old company was always in such dire financial straits and had such large fixed charges that it could not afford to spend a cent 'on the property where such expenditures could possibly be avoided, and in this way it really lost business. Furthermore, its financial t necessities led it to litigate all ciaims of shippers for lost or damazed goods, such litigation in nine cases oat of ten having for its object simply to procras- 8 tinate and delay payment. The new company, organized as it now is, can, of course, follow a different policy, and by fair treatment of shippers is sure to t enlarge its business. Another interesting feature is that, notwithstanding the nominal control of the former East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia and Richmond and Dan vile systems by the no w defunct Ter minal Company, there was no actual control, and the two companies did not cooperate even in the ordinary inter change of business. The jealousy be tween the two was so great that they preferred to turn business over to some outside connection rather than give it o each other.1 Another feature is the consolidation of the business organizations and the 1 reduction of expenses at j uuctL n points were the Danville and E ast Ten nessee have each maintained seperate organizations heretofore. In several of the Southern St'ates, legislation has been bitteily hostile, and it must be admitted that the way these companies were conducted pro. oked such legislatior,. As a result of the reorganizastion there is already a much better feeling in this respect, and it is certain to grow as the comn munity is better served. The 'ernllste J'abiiant. WasursmoT, Sept. 5.-P'opulists bere are claiming that great results will I follow in the Western States from Sen atr Jones' riefection from the Republi can party. They claim that Idaho will go for the Populists, but Senator Du. bois, who leaves for the West tonight, denies this and also asserts that neither himself nor any otber Western Senator I will follow Mr. .1 onc3' ex imple, The other States which will elect Senatorsa his fall and which, it is claimed, will be more or less affected by the action of Snator Jones, are Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. .It is within the ran~e ot possibilities that all of these States1 may have legislatures controlled by P'opuists ins'.ead of sendin4 back R i publicans, will elect Populist Senators Colorado has already been carried byt the Populists. The members of the House (ct Representatives from Colorado t belong to that party. In Wyoming, the Lyislature chosen I two yeais ago, failed to elect a successor to Senator Warren, because the P'opu lists held the balance of power and a combination could not ba formed be tween either of the p Irties, none bayvn a mejority of the Legislature. The - same was true of Montana, where a suc essor to Senator Sanders could not be-t chosen. It is asserted by Re-a pubicn Senators that when Ccn- t gress reassembles a motion will 1 be carried in the Republican caucus to remove Jon's from th~e linance com mittee and to replace him by a Republi can silverfree coinage advocate. Whea Jones' colleague. Stewart, some tme ago, announced his withdrawal Irom the1 Republican party lhe held a p'ace on the committee cn appropriations. He was removed and Teller p'it on in his place.4 The Populists claim that with the elec tion of Tillman from auth Carolina and-I uch accessiens to their ranks 'is seem to them now absolutely certain, they will hold the balance of power in thet Senate in the future.t Judge Pressly Dead. CUARLESTON, S. C., Sept. 5.-11on. B. C.P1ressley, ex-Judge of the Coart of General Sessions, First District, died at his residence in Summerville today. aged 80 years. J udge P'ressley was as.t sistant United States Treasurer here: before the war and at the close of thei war was Immediately reappointed without his solicitation. H~e was the author of 1Pressley's "Law of Magis trates," a well known text book in the1 courtsa of this State. A DARLING EXPLOFf. -OW MO&.BY CAPTURED A UNION GENERAL AT FAIRFAX. L Trn, Tole of the Confedirate War That R ,ads Ltko F.ctioa-S ,m Confederates E-iter the Unlan Camp and Capture a Numnbar of Men and Hlorsem. RICerMOND, Va., Sept. G.-To those vho know nothing of the hardships of var, there ever hangs over a battlefield L mist of romance, shrouding its most iideous details in the poetry of liction. %.nd even those who have felt the hock of charging men, and heard the :annon's roar that seemed to shake the rery foundation of earth, in after years ook back with a certain tenderness ipon those "days that are no more" ven though those days were passed in ,he cramped bed of a dirty prison hos Atal, or on the long, hot marches of nidsumnmer. But bravery commands ur admiration, and the deeds of the nen who fought in the Civii war often -ival the dauntless courage of Charle nange and are as exciting as the ex loits of Richard on the sunny plains f Palestine. Perhaps one of the most mnique adventures of the war was the apture of General Stoughton by Mosby md the affair reads more like the raids >f Robin Hood than an event in the rosaic times of the present. In the spring of 1863 General Stough on was encamped at Fairfax Court ouse with a large number of men, and he doughty warrior had determined o put a stop to the depredations of dosby, who kept the Feaeral troops in ,orthern Virginia in a constant state >f terror by his numerous and sudden 'aids. All this part of Virginia was own as "Mosby's Confederacy." Here he ranger chief gave the enemy some tpleasant surprises in the shape of aids en sleeping encampments, the apture of their wagons and the de truction of their railroads, used in sup )lving them with men and food. toughton had grown weary of the ruitless efforts of others to capture the wift-moving rebel, and he was decided hat he would bag Mosby or lose every nan he had in the attempt. One night, early in March, Stoughton lad a little supper at his headquarters -a neat little supper that sent the gal ant general to bed in an excellent hu nor, and made him quickly forget that war's ularms were ever likely to disturb he slumbers of a votary of the laugh ng, vine crowned god. It was a cold light, and the rain that had set in ear y in the day continued to come down n a ceaseless pour that made the world e dreary, watery waste. The Union nen never dreamed that any one would renture out after setting tbe tisual sea inels to plod through the mud at their >osts about town. By 11 o'clock the little village was ilent and the Federal camp wrapped n slumber, but down the road near the amrous field of Chintilly a party of nen on horseback were stealing brough the woods. No one spoke a word, and the only sound in the dark less was the splashing of the horses' toofs in the pelting rain through the ossing trees. And as they stole along n the night, wrapped In heavy cloaks. nd with their hats pulled low over heir brows, they looked like ome band of conspirators creeping on heir way to assassinate some sleeping oe. On nearing the town one of them cut he wire that ran to the station near by sad thus the Union troops were sev red from all communication with their riends at a distance. It was midnight hen the cavalcade entered the village, nd as they tramped down the muddy 'oad no one saw them or heard a sound rom the foes thus daring to ride into he very face of the slumbering enemy. here was no light in the town streets. Lnd only now and then a faint gleam ronm a half shut window would tremble or a moment on the smoking sides of he rangers' horses, or be reilected ack from the pistols in their belts. Ga reaching the center of the village dosby halted his men, and dividing hem into two detachments, sent one ~uietly to secure the horses, while with ix men he took his way to the head uarters of the Commanding General. L'he house was old-fashioned Southern nansion, about 100 yards from the road Ld set back in a pretty grove of trees. rhe rangers quietly opened the gate, ad troting up to the house, dismount d and ran up on the porch. With a erce jerk Mosby rang the bell. A window in a room above dew up ad a slecpy voice demanded who was selow. "A courier with dispatches for Gen nal Stoughton," replied Mosby, as he notioned to the men not to move. The window fell, the oflicer ran down ad in a moment the door stood open. "You are my prisoner," whispered iosby to the astonished Federal, who, eing unarmed, dared not make any esistance. Then, leaving one man to ~uard the captive, the ranger dashed ipstairs and strode into the room vhere the General lay sleeping. With rough shake Mosby aroused him. " What in the devil is the matter ?" quired Stoughton as he sprang up in "Stuart's cavalry is in possession of he town," Mosby quietly replied. "Stuar': in town," Stoughton ex lamed ini astonishment, still mistak ng the men about his bed for his own roops. "Why, I thought you had cap ired Mosby." "Oh, no; you have not captured Mos y," coolly remarised the Chief, "but dosby has captured you; you had best et up quietiy and come with me." Finding himself a prisoner in the ands of the very man to whose cap ure he was sworn, and believiur that ;tuart's troops had the town the Union eneral made no attempt to resist, but ressed quietly. In a few minutes he md Mosby descended the steps, and, nounting horses that stood outside, .hey soon joined the rest of' the rangers who were awaiting Mosby's arrival at he meeting place in the center of the own. Iere it was found that the night's york had secured 58 herses and 32 pris mers-and all this had bean accomn >llshed without a blow being struck, a hot fired or any alarm being given to e rest of the camp. in fact, the 'angers pushed noiselessly out of town vith their prisoners ana their horses, lot a soul dreamed that the guerrilla :hief was stealing away with their omrades from beneath their very oses. B5y daybreak the troop was niles away. In passing the enemy's last outpost hey mounted a bluff that overlooked he road and gazed anxiously in the di 'ectionof Faitfax. Baut not a foe was n sight-there was nothing in sight, xcept the ,water soaked hills and the ray light creeping down in the brown ialleys below. And with a sigh of re ief the troop again took up its march :0 the South. No pursuit was made, md by noon the next day the men and torses were turned over to General Fitzhughi Lee, who was then stationed it Brandy Station. And so closed one f the most amusing incidents and dar .ng exploits of' the Civil war.--Dis patch. IN FOR A FIGHT. The Ind-ptndent Democrats Issne an Ad dress to the Voters. COLUMBIA. S. C., Sept. 9.-Last night tho conterence committee, which was appointed by the late conference held in this city, met here again, and, as a result, the following addrebs which speaks for itself was promulgated and Issued: To the Democrats of South Carolina: The following preamble and resola tions having been adopted by a repre sentative body of Democrats coming from a large majority of the counties of the State, and having since been ap proved by many Democrats in all of the counties of the State, it becomes my duty as chairman of the Demo cratic conference committee of South Carolina to publish them to the State and to earnestly urge all true Damo crats to take active part in the mass meetings proposed to be held, and to send representative delegations to the Democratic State convention therein recommended. TuoMi as W. CARWILE, Chairman Democratic Conference Com mittee To the Democrats of South Carolina: Whereas, under the guidance of those so-:alled Democrats, or a major ilty of them, who have control of the pariy machinery in this State, the lead ers of the rank and file of the party have attempted to commit them to the Third party and to Populist doctrines have alienated us 'from our fellow Democrats of the Union, and have brought the party in South Carolina into reproach as to its alignment with the national Democracy, adopted false and undemocratic principles and pro. mulgated them in the name and under the banner of Democracy; and Whereas, the Democratic masses of the State have been grossly betrayed by men charged with the party man agement, who have usurped the rights and used the machinery of the party for sellish ends, a majority of the so called State Democratic executive com - mitte actually permitting another self constituted committee (only claim ing to represent a faction of a faction) to assume control of the party man agement, and in the most flagrant and offensive manner to disfranchise tbou sands of true Democrats; and Whereas, A Ring has been organized and is exercising most arbitrary and tyrannical power, to the utter subver sion of the will of the people, and thereby depriving them of their politi cal rights; now therefore be it Resolved, That we as true, loyal and uncompromising Democrats, repudiate the Third party platform repeatedly (and at the recent August State con vention of the faction now in power) forced upon our party, and hereby pledge our continued allegiance to true Democratic principles as enunciated at the last national Democratic conven tion. We feel the absolute necessity of the complete reorganization of the the party in this State and invite all true Democrats to assist us in its re babilitation and in the organization of Democracy in South Carolina squarely in line with sound Democratic doctrine; be it Further resolved, That we hereby invite the Democrats of the State of South Carolina to assemble at the court houses of their respective counties on Saturday, 15th day of September, 1894, or at such other place and manner as they may determine, for the purpose of selecting delegates (two for every representative for the lower house and the Senate, to which the county is enti tied) to meet In Columbia as a conven tion to be held on the 17th of Septem ber at 8 p. m. for the purpose of recorg anizing the Democratic party in South Carolina, considering the political situation of the State and taking such action as their collective wisdom may suggest for the public welfare. THE SOUTH's PROSPERITY. Eacor.iging Rep-arts fram this a&cLion to The Manufatures Record. BALT IMORE, S apt. G.-T be Manufac urers' Recrd of this week says: The ncouraging condition of basiness, and the extent of its revival in the South are shown by the bank clearinas of several Southern cities, notably Birmingham, Inusvale, Memphis and Jacksonville. At the three lash cities, the imcrease for the week ending Augnst 25, was 202, 189 and 90 per cent., respectively, ver the corresponding week of 1893, while at Birmingham, the clearings mn reased ov~gr 400 per cent., indicating to what an extent manufacturing induistries are being affected. Special reports received by the Man ufacturers' Record duing the past week, include the construction of forty miles of new railroad in Alabama and twelve miles in Tennessee, the openlng of three more coal mines in Alabama and the formation of a line of twenty-five barges for the Mississippi river trade; two steamsip line, one coatwise, and one to the West Indies; a number of sales f land, in small tracts to settlers, and the sale of 30,000 tons of Tennessee ore by a single corporations. Troughout the entIre Suth there Is a better'feeling in business circles than has been seen for the last two or three years and relp rts from all over -the cuntry show that the increasing pros perity of the South is attracting wide attention fcom capitalists, manutac turers and farmers. The rehabiliation of S )uthern railroads is making grood progress andl with earnings steadily in resmg there is a tendency towards large expenditures for the improvement of roadbeds, an increase i-i rolling stock and for the building of new lines and es pecially s'iort feeders and branch roads. Among the leading industrial enter prises reported for the week are a $100, 000 phosphate company, organized in Ihltimore to operate in Florida; a $30, 000 phosphate company, * 10,000 ma chine works, water woiks and a flour mill in Georgia; a packing house, shoe factory, brick works, electric light plants and quarrying company in Alabama; a $100,000 manufacturing company and 0,000 boat building company in Lou isiana; a barrel fictory, knitting mill and and 1i>ur mill in North Carolins; a $350, 000 cotton mill addition to one of the most p:osperous mill in the State, a quarrying company, sewerage plant, electric light plant and gold mne in So~uth Carolina; water works, pe:er rmill arnd wood working plant in Tennes.see, and a large number of micellan'ous enterprises in all the different Sates. Au Increase in building interests is reported andl a number of large build ings are to be constructed in various parts of the South, inclu 1ing a $150,000 jail and three hotels in Georgia. Drowned. Lo0NLos, Sept. 4.--A party of 27 pleasure seekers from Iiurnley were overturned into the water of More cambe bay by the capsizing of a boat thiey had hired. Of this number- only seven were saved. Four bodies have een reovred.r TIIEY 1)0 NOT AGREE. COLONEL YOUMANS AND GENERAL EARLE ON INDEPENDDNTISM. The Former le in Favor rit Op posii g Till man, Evans and all Other Candidates ot the Reformers While the Litter Opposes Such Action. COLUM ETA, S. C, Sept. G.-The fol lowing car.is appeared in the Register of today: Editor Register: Your communica tion of the first inst. received this af ternoon and in accordance with your rEquest I reply immediately, In this communication addressed to me you say: "Knowing you to be a staunch and uncompromising foe of aught that tends to disturb white unity and white supremacy, and that your words carry weight and influence, I ask that you write the Register a letter giving your views upon the new Independent movement about to be started and out lining the duty of the hour. Hoping for an early reply, I am," &c. As to the "white unity," that was disturbed four years ago, when Gover - nor Tillman, conceiving himself to be the only man with the nerve and the brains and the ability to array the common people against the aristocracy, for the accomplishment of his own sel fish purposes, spread discord and divis ion among the white people by inau gurating what he chose to term a fam ily quarrel in the State. As to "white supremacy," it should be remembered that whilst negro dom ination in the reconstructed States has been one of the most marked features of the policy of the Republican party that the Northern Democracy, through all of the political vicissitudes of the last quarter of a century, has been the unfaltering friend of the South. It was due to its persistent demands that white supremacy was restored in'76 and in '77 to South Carolina and Lousi ana and Its aid was freely given to de feat the force bill and to repeal the election laws. On the other hand all of these new political organizations which have sprung up like Jonah's gourd, and will wilt as soon, have gen erally acted with the Republican party aginst the interest of the South. The Greenbackers, many of whom were elected in pArt by denouncing Demo crats, whom they were trying to defeat as not sufficiently Democratic, when elected were found voting with the Republicans in the interest of all meas ures, dragooning the South in favor of negro domination. The Populist and third partyttes are no exception to this rale; they went over bag and baggage into the camp of our enemies during the consideration of the House bill to reduce the tax burdens of the tariff and placed them selves under the leadership of the gen tleman from Maine, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Boutelle to prevent the Democrats from even considering a bill designed tu lift the burden of tariff taxation from the farmers of the South. They joined the Republicans in a body and voted almost solidly against the repeal of the 10 per cent. tax on State banks, a measure which if it had been enacted into law would have given great finan cial relief to the South. These new de partures, whenever they have taken place In the South, have nearly always resulted in an appeal to the negro and a termination within the Republican ranks. Witness Mahone, McL ane, Tom Watson and R. F. Kolb. The orlginator and autocrat of your political faction, for he dictated to it not only as to measures but men, has admitted that he was half Populist in the canvass of '92; that .he is now like McLane a Greenbacker, and has served notice on the voters of the State of his early expectation to desert the Damo cratic party. I think this "new Inde pendent movement about to be start ed" by Governor Tillman and those pledged to support him should be met by an immediate reorganization of the Democratic party in the State and that the "duty of the hour is for every Democrat who has any manhood or political principle or owns any proper ty that binds him to the State or inter ests him in its welfare to aid this ref or mation with all of his might. As to placing a Democratic ticket in the field at this late day I stand con frmed in my opposition to it, were it not for thre bloody lawlessness of the present administration and the promise of its continuance by the legatee-a policy of outrage and bloodshed which if persisted in seems to me inevitably bound to precipitate the State into all the horrors of cival war. It cannot be reasonably presumed that freemen will forever tamely submit to having their private premises ransacked and their private packages torn open and scatter ed by the pimps, underthugs and plug uglies of any set of nondescript petty tyrants, or even allow B. R. Tillman to blow open their iron safes and break down their doors. However, upon this aestion I am willing to be governed by the combined wisdom of th-se with whom I have been politically associa ted. L. W. YOUMANs. Fairfax, S. C., Sept. 3, 189;1. Editor Register: The butler confer ence3, as reported, are supposed to in dicate that having been defeated at the recent prImary elections, the General will now organize an Independent movement, in order that he may have another chaince to be returned to the Senate. Such a movement would be "conceived In sin and brought forth in iniquity." Surely there must be some mistake in the published reports for it is hard to believe that Senator Butler and bis iriends, many of whom have proved their manhood, courage and pa triotism, in war and in peace, would enter upon a venture so fraught with evil to the State. Senator flampton in 1878 declared that "an Independent was worse than a Radical" lhe con ditions which inspired this forcible ex pression remain unchanged, so let the word be again passed down the line, "an Independent is worse than a Radi cal." An independent movement against the organized Democracy could succeed only by forminrg a coalition with the black Repuiblicans, and this would eventually resuit in their restoration to power. Shall white men be ruled by negroes? Shall the State be again dom inated by ignorance and vicel' Shall we have negro judges presiding over our courts? Shall South Carolinians be againl subjectel to the insults, suf fering and humiliation experienced by them in the dark days of Radical ism? If not, then rise up In your might and put down a movement which to gain a temporary advantage would open Pandora's box and flood the State with evils which will be fast ened not only upon you, but also upon your children. The duty of the hour compels every Democrat, whether Tillmanite or anti Tilmanite, to light now on common ground to sustain white supremacy. .oim I. E ARLE. RA PINE AND MURDER. The Charge Against a White Man of Fort Lawn. CHESTE1R, Sept. 4 -The short dispatch containing the news of a rape and a murder, which appeared in The State of September 1st, has caused a great deal more excitement in the county than was at first anticipated. There was no special attention paid to it by any of your readers until later in the day, Saturday, when a young white man named Lawrence Rives. appeared at the doors of the jail and asked the sheriff for protection. News soon reached this city that lie was suspected of the crime and had been advised by his father and friends to give himself up to the sheriff as there was strong threats from the negroes of lynching him. The facts in the case, gathered by your correspondent today at Fort Lawn, where Trial Justice Minors was holding a coroner's inquest, are as fol lows: Mattie Heath, the young wife of Andy Heath. a negro laborer, living on the farm of Col. Cade Rives. near Fort Lawn, went to the house of a neighbor, Amelia Marshall, on the morning of 31st ult, and, having remained there a short while, started on her re turn home, but never reached her des tination. Her husband had been work ing on the public roads that day and in the evening, on his return home pass ed through the yard of Col. Rives, who told him that Mattie had not been home since morning. After learning from his children that his wife had gone to the house of the Marshall woman, Andy started along the path leading to that place. About 200 yards down the path he found the body of his dead wife lying across the path in a terrible condition. Her throat was cut from ear to ear, her head mashed in and her clothes burnt from her body. Trial Justice Minors was summoned and a jury empanelled. Suspicion at once pointed to two men, and old negro, Jack Ferguson, and the young son of Col. Rives. Ctrcumstances cleared Ferguson but young Rives was not so lucky. The justice adjourned the inquest then until the 11th, giving time to get up more evidence, but the disappearance of young Rives Friday night caused him to convene his jury again Saturday. It was found during Friday night Rives had esossed the Catawba River and taken the Georgia Carolina and Northern train at a way, station Saturday morning for Chester. They then adjourned again until today, when evidence taking was resumed and the prisoners wired tor. Justice Min ors, fearing that serious trouble would result from the maddened and threat ening crowds of negroes gathering around Fort Lawn, wired the Governor for a special force to help keep the peace, in answer to' which Atterney General Bnchanan authorized him to swear in as many extra constables as was necessary. Sheriff Hood also got orders from the same source to order out the Lee Light Infantry to conduct the prisoner in safety to Fort Lawn. About 12:30 a special train left for Fort Lawn bearing half a dozen citi zens. the Lee Light Inantry, twenty four strong, the Sheriff and prisoner and two newspaper correspondents. On reaching Fort Lawn trouble seemed imminent. About 500 infuriat ed negroes had gathered near the depot and were surrounding an old store house, where the inquest was being conducted. Forty or Lifty special con stables, armed with all manner of arms, were lined up to each side of the track. The speoial coach containing the pris oner was guarded about forty minutes, when Justice Minors ordered the prisoner to be brought before the jury. This was done by the military without any trouble and by the time his testi mony iwas taken the train was ready for Chester and the prisoner and Lse Light Infanitry de parted, leaving Fort Lawn and the negroes in the hands of the special con stables. The negroes were aroused by the fact that the suspected white man, whom they claimed had ravished and murder ed one of their daughters, had not been arrested. The whites checked their ashness in a great measure by raising a purse and obtaining the service of Attorney John Green, of Lancaster, o represent the prosecution at the in qest. J. K. Henry, of this bar, was mployed by the defense. It will be mpossible to get the verdict until to orrow morning, as news has just eached here, at 9 o'clock p. m. that he jury has not agreed as yet. The vidence is strong against young ives and all the circumstances tend to make it further than suspicion with im. During his examation he con radicted himself several times and his father's testimony also. It is clearly a ase of rape and murder and the young white man will likely be held in safe eeping in the Chester jail until the igher court meets.-State. Needa Hanging. JACKSONVILL E, Fla., Sept. 5.-Will am F. Hayes, a young white man, wenty years of age, a fisherman by (ac upaton, murdered his sixteen-year-old wife and dangerously wounded his other-in-law, Mrs. Susan Nason, last ight in East Jacksonville. Hayes' wife had left him on account of cruelty several months ago and had gone to ive with her mother. Last night Eayes appeared and was admitted. Without provocation he began shoot ng, first wounding Mrs. Nason twice n th head and once in the side. isl wife ran behind the bed and he fol owed her, shooting her through the back, the ball passing through her heart and out of her left breast and through er left hand. Hayes then calmly re oaded his pistol and walked out. his is the statement of Mrs. Nason. A watchman, who rooms in the house, iscovered the dead and wounded pair this morning at 5 o'clock. Searching parties are now after the murderer. Hasyes, the husband of the murdeted woman, was capture . late this after noon in the outskirts of the city. He enied doing the shooting and said he ould prove an alibi. Hayes was car ied before his mother-in-law, who is apidly sinking, and she identified him sthe man who did the shooting. Desperate Plot. FRiANKFOR~T, Ky., Sept. .5.-News of threatened outbreak at the penitenti ry has just been learned. The Hat fied-McCoy gang, of Pike county, and James F. Little, of Breadoes and life men, were concerned in the plot, which was made kno wn to Warden George on Sunday by a prisoner who chanced o overhear the men talking. It was heir purpose to make an attempt this week as the guards and prisoners were going to supper. With four large knives made from illes ground to a keen edge ad point, they intended to kill the guards and take their weapons, 1:ill the guard on the wall between the male ad female wards, and make their es ape by passing o9'er the wall. The warden placed the plotters is irons and in separated cells. All soon confessed ach saymng that the others were the traitors, except Wick Tallant, who eld, out for thirty hours before he re ealed the hiding place of the knives. Besides Little and Tallant, George West, Hockingheiler, McCoy, Cook and a dozen others are known to have been in the plot. THE DEATH ROLL SWELLS. the Work of Burying the Doael and Car ig for the Living. PINE CITY, Minn., Sept. 5.-The general executive committee in charge of the relief work in this section, has made a report of the dead bodies re covered thus far as follows: Hirckley 271, Sandstone 77, Miller (often called Sandstone Junction) 15, between Skunk Lake and Miller 12, Pokegama 25, on the timber camps 50, Total 450. Ghouls are at work in the vicinity of Sandstone. Today a party from Da lath under James Bailey came down to help bury the dead and while searching around at noon, came upon a gang who had broken open and rifled some safes and when Bailey and party met them they bad just found a cistern from which they had hauled fifteen dead bodies and had robbed them of jewelry, rings trinkets, etc., and were throw ing the bodies back into the well. Bailey and party were unarmed, and the ghouls took to their beels and escaped. A frame powder magazine at Sand stone, a portion of which was left standing and which was empty was torn down for material for coffins. The fire was seen by the Sandstone people four hours before it struck the town and everything was packed up in readiness to move to Kettle River, east of the village. Before anyone was aware of the real danger the lire came upon the town from the north, east and west and firing the whole town in side of five minutes. Many were un able to reach the river and died in the streets. A blacksmith burned to a crisp in his shop, where he was shoe ing a horse. So sadden was the fire not a hing was saved and in thirty minutes the whola town was swept off the earth. Those who reached the river remain ed most of the night. The survivors are entirely destitute and have not even clothing to their backs, except such as is provided by the relief com mittees. Whole families are wiped out. President Sam Hill of the eastern Minnesota branch of the Northern Pa cific came up from Hinckley this morning and took a ri-thern train over the St. Paul and Daluth road. Mr. Hill took the Duluth Road to within nine miles of Sandstone and walked over. The ble eastern Minne sota bridge over the Kettle river has a steel arch in the middle 180 feet long and is still intact, though wooden ap proaches are burned. "The scene of death and ruin along the road Is a terrible one," says Mr. Hill, "not a sign of life is anywhere to be seen, all is blackened, charred mass of ruins. Dead animals and hu man beings are everywhere and they are buried where ever found. In one old well was found twenty-five snakes and forty or fifty field mice all together alive. There were many peculiar fea tures of the fire. In one place, where all else was burned and blackoned all around, we found a wagon with the hay in the box intact, while the horses were dead. There is yet to be closed up on Minnesota, a gap of twelve miles between Hinckley and Duluth, eight miles, of which are between Hinckley and Sandstone. There are four miles in St. Cloud direction, which will'ba closed up by tomorrow. I noticed in one place some freight car wheels were melted, while not three hundaed feet away was another car untouched. Judge Nethaway, of Still Water, has been one of the most active in relief worK, and has been all over the sur rounding country. He found the fam ily of Jack Robinson, man, wife and seven children all dead and hardly re cogrnizable and also fonnd J. 0. Row ley, agent of the Minnesota and Winnipeg. Several mIles northwest of Hinckley today he came to a spot where a farm house had stood. In front was a well and over to the left could be seen five human bodies and bodies of several animals. Judge Nethaway went at once to the well to see if anyone was there, and found down in the bottom, a little 12-year-old boy In eight inzhes of water, who had lived there since Saturday with noth ing to eat. The little fellow was pull ed up and said he had been put down there when the fire was seen, and an 'awful bad smoke had passed over him and it was awful hot." He asked the judge if he knew where his father and mother were, and his dog. Judge Niethaway took him on his baclr to where he could be fed, while other par ties went back after the five bodies. Dr. Popo's Maut esto. COLUMBIA, S. C., Sept. 9.-Dr. Pope arrived in the city last evening and when seen he gave the following docu ment for publication, after consulting one or two friends: To the Democratic Voters of South Carolina. I understand that one of the Ring said to a gentleman a few days ago, speaking of me: "lie shall never hold office again." Chagrined at ray exposure of Ring methods now practiced, and at my checkmating him by refusing to go into his trap at the first and second pri mary, he thus vents his spleen. I be-' lieve that the offices belong to the peo ple and not to any individual or set o f individuals. I shall therefore be a can didate for Governor at the general elec tion. The last killing at BLlackville has convinced me that we can never have peace in this State so long as the dispensary law Is upon the statute books. I shall, therefore, run as an arnti-dispensary candidate and In favor of true Democracy. Let the people de cide at tis election whether or not a few men shall dictate who shall hold the oflices, and let them decide for the na selves whether or not laws shall be passed In the interest of peace and har mony and good goverment. At thi eletion a ballot can be cast directly for the man of the people's choice. Let the people rise up as one man and see to it that there shall be a fair cunt. Respectfully, E.A~irSON POPE. N ewberry, S. C., Sept. 5, 189L. A Horror of the Salads, WIrLTAMrsTON, S. C., Sept. 4.-While R. V. Acker, trial justice, was fishing two miles below lPelzer today he dis covered the body of a man Iloating in the water and caught on an overhang ing limb. Without further inves tigating the matter ne came to Wil liamuston, summoned a jury of inquest and returned to the scene. Frank L an :er, together with three other mnen, procured a boat, went out to where the body was ficating, tied a rope around it and towed it to the bank. Careful Investigation and expert testimony ould ascertain nothing with certainty as to the race or color of the man, the body being in such a state of decompo sition, but it is believed that he was a white man. He was barefooted, had on black pants, a very old coat, a leather belt and overalls. It is thoughlt that the man was murdered though no marks of violence could be detected. There is a camp of hands very near where the body was found who probably know more than they will tell. The man was evidently put in the river below Pelzer mill as his body co'~ld not have passed over the dam. The airy will render their verdict tomorrow.-Greenville MSERT THEIR PARTY. LOUISIANA PLANTERS GO OVER TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. A Conveation of Suar Growers Bleet and D anounce the Tarilf as t.- S ogar-In N* tional PAtics They W111 Act With Re pub~loans. NEW ORLEANS, L1., Sept. 6.-The sugar planters convention in this city today was the most remarkable gather ing in many years, and the first serious break in the Democratic party in twen ty years is now actually threatened. The convention declared in favor of an alliance with the Republican party on national Issues and two and possibly three Congressional Districts, compris ing the sugar region, are endangered to the Democrats. There were proba bly three hundred representative men present at the convention and, as near ly all of them are men of wealth with large influence and with power to con trol a considerable following, the ac tion they have taken cannot be under estimated. The meeting was called to order by RIchard McCall, one of the leading planters of the Third District, and Mr. E. N. Pugh of Ascension, a near rela tive of Justice Nicholls, was made chairman. Among those who partici pated in the discussion were Mr. W. E. Howell, a prominent Democrat of L% Fouchere, H. P. Kernochan, who was a naval ofrier under Cleveland, Albert Estopinal, Democratic State Senator, who may be the planter's candidate in the First District, G. P. Anderson. a wealthy planter of Plaquemine, James A. Ware, Democratic Representative in the Legislature from Iberville, Col. J. D. Hill, Capt. 4. Pharr and others. Mr.J ohn Daymond was the only speak er who strenuously opposed secession from the D22mocratic party. Messrs. Howell, Weems, Kernochan ant Wil kinson, brother of Collector Wilkinson, were appointed a committee to propose a plan for the collection of the bounty on this year's crop. The committee re ported and their report was adopted. Tne convention then took up the political questions. McCali, Pagh, Kernochan, Estopinal, Ware and others advised an alliance with the Repabh can party. They said that they had been betrayed by the Democrats, and that the only hope of protection for sugar lay in a joining of hands with the Republicans. They realized the full import of breaking with the Dem ocratic party, but feeling that the ne gro question was no longer an issue and tnat the white race would forever govern the Southern country, they said they had reached the conclusion that self-preservation required an affiliation with a party that would give them the protection necessary for the prosperity of the industry which is the backbone of the State. The fellowing committee was ap pointed on resolutions and it may be said that the gentlemen named are among the wealthiest aqd best known in the State: Messrs. J. A. Ware, H McCall, D. L. MonLJt. Charles Mat thews, Louis Clark, B. A. Oxnard, Charles Godehaux, D. S. Ferris, G. P. Anderson, L. J. Sully, Charles Magin uis~ Wy1eyThmpm)on Dymond, W. H. Chafee, G. Brea Honore Dugas, W. P. Flower, Gen. W. hand, T. Suaila and Capt. J. N. Pharr. The committee reported elaborate resolutions, setting forth that the white people of Louisiana and the planters for many years had been loyal to the Democratic party through victory and defeat, but that the State had been be trayed and a blow struck at its chief industry by that party, and caused Its absolute ruin, and that the nomination of protection candidates and their elec tion had become a necessity. The res olutions iwere adopted by a rising vote. It was decided to meet again on the 17th of Septenmber in this city when the plans of the sugar planters will be per fected. It was also decided to nomi nate a candidate in the three sustar districts and to affliate with the Re publicans. The report of the committee on reso lutions ffhich was adopted at the out set declares: A crisis has arrived in the politics of our State. Very many of us who for many years co-operated with the Democratic party and have loyally supported its candidates have done so with the belief and with the assurance that that party would maintain a fair protecion ton the prod-ucts grown by us. Wie had personal and positive as surance from the Democratic candi ate for the Presidency. Grover Cleve land, during the late Presidential cam paign and we likewise had the personal assurances of the leaders of the Demo cratic party to the same effect. Damocratic Campaltn Book. WAsmxoGToN, Sept. 6.-The Demo cratic Congressional campaign com mittee will issue their campaign book September 12. A list of the contents 15 as follows: 1. Wnat the D~emocratic Congress did. 2. Causes of the panic of 1893. 3. Not caused by fear of tariff legis lation. 4, L'abor day law. 5. Alien contract labor law-Its re peal, ~6. Chinese immigration. 7. Immigration. 8. Tariff schedules and tables show ing schedule rates and articles upon which duties have been reduced 100 per cent or less. 9. Somers statistics on woolen cloths. 10. Income tax provisions. 11. McMillin's report on income tax. 12. Scoti Wike's speech on incomt tax. 13. Tax on luxuries an'd wealth, re pealed by the Republicans. 14. Sugar duties. 15. Trust provisions of tariff laws. 15%. Carlisle's letter to Senate on sugar tax. 16. Mill's speech on tariff. 17. Appropriations-Sayer's speech and tables. 18. Reform In departmants-Dock ery commission, etc. 19. Diplomatic relations. 20. Indian appropriation bill. 21. Democracy and its relations to Union soldiers. 22. Piggott's speech on Populism. 23. Abuse of civil service reform Blynum's and Cooper's speeches.: 21. Democratic platform of 1892. 25. Cleveland's letter of acceptance. 26. Cleveland's letter to Wilson. 27. Cleveland's letter to Catchings. 28 Taxation of greenbacks law. 29. Sher man silver law. 30. Silver statistics, exports and in parts of gold and eily er; production of gold and silver; price of silver dollars in gold: price of silver dollars in bul lion. 31. Currency in tables-character and amonnt outstanding. 32. Commercial statistiies-exports and imports of the United States to and from the United Kingdom. The committee has received advices of the results of the nominating con ventions in 131 districts which are now D)em ocratic. Ninety-seven Represen tative have been renominated and only thirty-four districts have chosen new nDmematic candidates.