The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, October 21, 1896, Image 1

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VOL. XII. MANMNING. S. C, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBR2118.- 1. BURNED ALIVE. THE FEARFUL DEATH OF BAGGAGE MASTER LIMES. An Appalling Disaster on the South Round Rairoad Near Columbia Weduesday Caused by an Engineer Munderstaud ing His Orders. CoLuIBIA, S. C., Oct. 15.-In quite a desolate looking spot near Swansea within a few yards of the mile post marking the distance of 23 miles from Columbia, in the early hours of yes terday moraing two ponderous mogul locomotives, pulling fast trains, the ore from the north, the other from the south, exercising all their great motive power, made greater by the momentum, like the maddened bulls < f Spain, crashed into one another. The sound awakened people residing in the town a half mile away. Imme diately following the crash came the sound of hissing steam mingled with the cries and moans of the injured. But worse was to come. Those who escaped from the ill-fated trains, grop ing in the dark, soon saw flames be g in to break forth from the mass of wieckage, casting a glare over the scene of destruction and then came the pitiful appeal "for God sake, some hody save me." It was the voice of Baggagemaster Limes of the South bound train. He was uninjured, but was pinned fast in his burning car. No human efforts were of any avail in saving his life. The horror-strick e n passengers and trainmen were Icrced to stand to one side and see him hurned alive-see his left arm burned in two, the lower half dropping before death came and he sank down to be come a charred mass. As a net re .-ult of the horror three men were b urned up completeiy, their remains ii ling about a half peck measure and c.)nsisting merely of whitened pieces of bones, while the Florida Central and Peninsular system sustains a loss 4,f about $75,000 on its rolling stock, fise express and baggage. Of course ay.any others were more or less injur .d, but none seriously. . The death of the bagoagemaster was one of the most - horrible on record in this State. And, strange as it may sound, the casualty was caused by one of the most careful conductors and one of the most experienced and expert engineers in South Carolina mistaking the train ordtr reading "Sweden" for "Swansea." The engi neers and.firemen of both trains had only a moment to act when the crisis came. Both trains came out of curve cut directly upon one another. Both engineers applied the emergency brakes and reversed their engines; then they and their firemen jumped out into the darkness. They went down, down, down, It was fully 35 feet to the ground at the foot of the high enbankment between the -two -curves. Neither of the four men were seriously injured. -Their escape was miraculous. -Theoweck proved to be one of the 'worst that ever occurred in this State. , oth the trains were what are known as "Flyers", and they never lose a moment's time. The locomotives were twin Bogers moguls, which were or <ared especially for the handling of the fast trains, and were exhibited at the Atlanta exposition. They had 19 inch cylinders and had 6-foot driving wheels. All that remains of the wreck at present are these two locomotives. They are still en the track, but one is buried several feet into the other, the boiler of the latter being stretched and sread like the mouth of a lead pipe. - f course the machinery has been rip ped from both engines. The iron mon sters are alone upon the top of the -embankment, all else having been -either burned up, moved away or has been reduced to ashes and twisted iron. I went to the scene of the wreck with Railroad Commissioner Thomas on a scial, and herewith-I give a hasty setch of the iron combatants as they :stand. - Mr. Thomas states that the wreck is the outcome of gross careless ness and the railroad commissioner will proceed to investigate and punish the guilty parties to the fullest extent of thelaw. The following were killed and their bodies cremated: William B. Limes of Jacksonville, Fla., batgagemaster. * J. E. Lmer, a native of Michigan, flagman. 1L. A. Thomas of Tennessee, mail :agent. Conductor Perkuson of train 36, knee hurt slightly. - Express Messenger Farmer of train .36, leg severely sprained by jumping. Engineer- Bell of train 36, back wrenched in jumping. agaemaster Palmer of train 36, painfuly injured about side and face. Extra Express Messenger Price of train 36, painful cut about neck and - c wrenched. Klhefof Columbia, fireman of train 36, leg badly prained in jump ing. Charles Michael, colored, of Colum -bia, fireman train 36, leg sprained in pumpag. Several others were more or less ha ken up, but no ene else was in jured. Of 'the killed but little is known here. Mr. Limes had a brother, it is saio, li 'ing in Georgia, and a mother and two siisters living in Jacksonville. Mr. Ulmer has been engaged in rail road work in this section for quite a time. He had been in several wrecks before. Practically nothing is known of Mr. Thomas in Columbia. Train 35, which should have left Columbia at 1:57 a. in., for Jackson ville did not get away until 2 :18, as is shown by the register at the dispatch er's office. Train 36 should have reached here at 4:55 a. m. It was about 4:20 that the startling intelli gence came into the dispatcher's office. Immediately a special train was made up, a Southern switch engine being used, and Dr. Earle was waked up. This relief train got away at 5:50 a. -im., and returned at 9 o'clock, bring ing the passengers for the ncrth about a dczen of them, three being bound for Asheville. Fireman Dent of 35 and Conductor Perkuson of 303 also came along. This train likewise brought back the two Pullman cars attached to train 35, which escaped without injury, thanks to the efforts of those on hand when the wreck oc curred. Some details of the wreck were brought in these arrivals. Of course Dr. Earle's services were not needed. No. 35 left here made up of one mail and express car, two coaches and two Pullman cars, so the register shows. The following order was given to the erngineer and firemen: "No. 303 will wait at Swansea until 3:15 for :35, i 'is order meant that train "5 was to EO to Swansea and wait there until 3:15 only, and not the usual addition al ) minutes. The dispatcher here was given to understand that both cnduc tor and engineer understood the or der. It now appears that either Enei neer Petit or both he and Conductor Taylor misunderstood the order read ing "Sweden" for "Swansea." Sweden beina 23 miles further down the road. A telegram from Savannah states that Conductor Taylor understocd the or der aright and when he found that the engineer had not stopped for Swansea he jumped to the emergency brake cara and pulled it, but it was too late then.the other train being just around the curve and a moment later the crash came. Conductor Perkuson of '.he up-4rain had a copy of the same order which he had actten at Living stone, just below. His train would have been at Swansea a little ahead of the hour fixed, for he looked at his watch the moment after the crash and and it showed that the trains went to aether at exactly 3:04. Had No. 35 obeyed~ orders there woul: have been no trouble whatever. How Engineer Petit came to misur derstand the order no one will ever know. He is a man of high charseter, is regarded as one of the best engineers in the South and is considered a most reliable man. He is an Augustan, his brother being the secretary of the Electric Railway compiny there. It is a strange coincidence that En gineer Bell, who was on the other en zine, is a "double" brother-in law of Engineer Petit, the two having mar ried each other's sisters. Mr. Dell is a brother of the agent of the Southern railway in Augusta. The engines were Nos. 09 and 70, known as ime twin moguls. The explanations given auove ex plain how the wreck came to occur. There is one thing that will be looked into and that is the provision of the South Carolina law that requires the engineer and conductor to read the order over in the presence of the dis patcher, whose duty it is to see that they understand it. The State railroad Commission. un der section 1,634 of the State railroad law, are required to investigate the causes of any accident on a railroad resulting in the loss of life." In ac cordance with this Commissioner Thomas asked for a special to take him to the scene of the wreck. It was gotten ready and when Cayce's was reached orders came, evidently from some Florida Central and Peninsular clerk, to send the train back. Mr. Thomas sent tbiq brief message and there was no further delay: H. A. Williams, Master of trains, Sa vannah, Ga.: I demand to be taken to wreck un der section 1,631 General Statutes Give ordors. H. A. Thomas, Railroad Commissioner. The scene of the wreck was reached in a short time. Some distance away the number of country people along the dirt roads indicated that something very unusual had cccurred and their countenances showed the horror they felt. The wreck cccurred on a 20-foot embankment between two hills about 150 yards from one another. Tne track runs through curve cuts in each of these hills. The working crews had been a' work And only the interlocked moguls were to be een on the em bankment. They made a striking picture and illustrated very forcibly the results of such a collision. Neith er had left the track. The mail and express car of No. 35 was at the foot of the embankment on the right hand-ie completely overturned and smashed beyond repair. Just in rear of engine 09 was a mass of smouldering, sm-k ing ruins, the remains of train 35. On every side were pieces of broken and twisted iron. The honest, tender hearted country folk busied themselves searching among the smouldering ruins for pieces of the bones of the cremated men and whatever else that might be sav ed. Hard as they worked they could only collect about a peck of the parch ed bones of the three men whose lives had been lost. The heart of one of the men was found. It preserved its original form, but was a hard and charred black mass. Portions of the snoulder and~the hips of other victims were all else that was recovered. The watches of the three cremated men were found within a radius of 10 feet. The remains Ihus aathered were placed in a box made of an old desk rescued from one of the baggage cars and nailed up. It is understood that the people of the vicinity desire to bury the few bones there. Baggagemaster Limes' overalls were secure d in some way. The express safe was burned badly, but it is thought that its con tents are safe. A valise and a rifle were the only express packages saved. Only two or three pieces of bagage were saved and the car was unusually full of trunks. Some handkerchiefs and a few partially burned articles which had been in the trunks were found. The telegraph wire was tapped near the wreck and an iustrument put in, an open air office being established, t he cpera ,sing one of the water cool ers sa .d :or a chair. The authorities did splendid work in clearing and relaying the tracks and by last night everything was in readi ness for the runrning of trains as usual. By transfers there was no interruption whatever to trave!. The engineers and Conductor Taylor, together with all the others not referred to above went on to Savannah on a special. The wreck took place about t wo miks south of Swansea, and many of Swansea's people hastened to the scene to give assistance. The peonle were first awakened by the crash. Soon afterwards Conductor Perkuson arri v ed on foot and told the story. He hastened to Mr. W. B. Rast's residence and sent Dr. Langford to the scene. then he reported the wreck otlicially and hastene d back. Conductor Perk uson did not seem to mind his sprain ed knee while thus engaged. About the scene of the wreck wan dered many chickens, which had been ira ccops in the express cars. Of course a great many of them were cre mated The engirnes are badly damaged. They are worth probably about %000u each. The rear and front portions of each are practically ruined, the cabs and apparatus around the tireboxes being entirely torn away. T he front portions of each are badly torn up. The driving wheels are sound. There is no vestiege of the pilots left; the wrecked headlights rest on the stack of No. 7). No. 139s guide wheel truck has be-en driven under No. 70. Her cylinders are smashed. The southbound train had just climb e d a good grade and was going down another. No. 30 was also coming down a grma at Lull speed. No. :m. was at full sneed. No. :16 was ran ning at about 35 miles an hour. The rost graphic story of the wreck was told by Charles Michael, the col ored fireman of engine No. 70, who gave me his experience as he watched me make the hasty sketch of his favor ite engine. which is so well engraved by the artist, Mr. A. W. Hainiter. Michael says that as they came out of the curve, they saw the headlight of No 69 ilashed forth from the opposite cut.- Engineer Bell merely had time to reverse his engine and grasp the danger cord as he exclaimed: "That is :5." Then he jumped from one side while Michael jumped from the other. Michael glanced at the but I ton on his coat which bore the inscrip tion, "I am insured in The Travelers," as he remarked, "I thought it was all over with me." But he has been in the business for many years and has been in several bad wrecks. He says as he struck the ground there was a fearful crash. When he landed one foot went in a hole and he was pitch ed head first a long distance, . hi: shoulders finally striking a stump. lIe felt himself *to see that no bones were broken and then tried to _-et back up the embankment to find Mr. Bell. Tue train blocked his way. Then he went forward where voices were call ing for help. He slid the crash had been dreadful. He thinks Mr. Thomas was instantly killed. He did notknow anything of Mr. Ulmer, but under stocd lie was between tie ex press car and the first coach when the crash came. He saw nothing of these two. He only remembers seeing a man's leg protruding from beneath the wreck. Ile met Engineer Petit and found that he was all right. Then they heard Mr. Limes hollering. Conductor Taylor rushed up and asked where Limes was. They went near the car, which was bidly tele scaped and smashed and found the flames beginning to break out. Mr. Limes was inside the car pinned down by the mass of trunks. He said be had not been hurt, but could not extri cate himself. le and some other Irain hands got axes and tried to cut their way in the side of the car, after he bad tried to get in through the roof. Meanwhile the flames broke out and the fire spread with dreadful rapidity. They worked all the harder, Mr. Limes begging them most piteously to save him from being burned to death. Finally when the fire had gotten so hot they could scarcely stand it and the side of the car was in flAmes, they got a hole large enough to enter. They pulled out two pieces of baggage. He then crawled in and managed to get hold of Mr. Limes' hand. The heat was intense; he strained every muscle to extricate the unfortunate man, but could not move him. The whole car was afire by this time and he had to flee for his own lfe. He left Mr. Limes in a standing position, his left arm resting up on a trunk As the flames drew nearer to him terror entered his eyes now bloodshot from the intense heat. His lips con tinued to repeat the piteous appeal, "My God, save me; my God, save me." Then came the horrible scene, the scene that made the blood of the spectators run cold. The flames swept around the doomed victim, and all ha, to stand powerless and see him burned alive. His lips continued to moveas if in prayer to the very last. Before he lost cousciousness one-half of his arm was seen to burn off and drop and the skull bone could be seen. Finally he sank down in the debris and was seen no more. Many had to turn their backs. As stated the car was full of baggage and Mr. Limes was at his desk in the forward carner of the car when the wreck occurred and the baggage was piled against him. Express Messenger T. C. Farmer on 36 happened to have his car door open when the emergency cord was pulled. He knew what it meant and he jump ed, following Michael down the e.ta ban kment and stopping e->lliding with a telegraph pole. Extra Messenger F. WV. Price remained in the car which telescoped and mounted the engine, taking the cab away, but was not in jured, being extricated from the bag gage piled on him without difficulty. Baggagemaster Palmer of 3G was considerably shaken up, but not in jure d. Mail Clerk James, a colored man, also escaped any serious in juries. There was no other warning to any of the people aboard the trains than the application of the emergency brakes. After it was seen that the Ilames could not be stopped the train cre ws, assisted by the passengers, uncoupled the Pullman cars and one by one they were pushed back to a place of safety and Thus saved. They were taken back to this city and Savannah respec tively. Tne mails and practically everything aboard train 35 were de stroyed. It is quite rimarkable that not a single passer.ger was injured in the wrecks. The railroad authorities of this line, which,by the way,has never before had a wreck that was at all seri ous, the worst being that near Savan nah last spring, did everything they could for the couvenience of the pas sengers, and were quick to get to work to (-lear the wreckage. Mr. Limes spent his last nighit on etrth at the Grand Central hotel in this city. Mr. Uhner has a family living in Michigan. The fire was started by the overturn ing of the stoves. Train 85 had come through from Charlotte and tLhere was a coal fire in each stove. Had train 36 not come from the south, it would likely have had fires in its stoves also, and no doubt would have been burned. Other wise this train was broken up as badly perhaps as the other. The authorities of the Southern road at this end of the line did all in their power to render assistance and several of their men went to the scene of the wreck in charge of the specials. Considering all the features fo the wreck, the lives lost, the mnanner in which they were lost, the destruction of the two finest locomotives of the system, and the other property de stroyed, it may be said to be the worst occuning in this State in many years. Ra~ilroad Commissioner Tnomnas made a careful survey of the scene of the wreck, questioned the leading witnesses and examined what papers he could lcc-ite fully. While return ing to the city last evening he said to me: "You may say I consider this wreck the result of carelessness and that the railroad commissioners will thoroughly investigate the matter and punish the guilty parties to the extent of the law.Y--State. Blessed is the man who has the gift of making friends, for it is one of God's best gifts. It involves many things, but above all the powier of going out of one's self, and seeing and ap preciating whatever is noble and lov ing in aothean. THE HORRORS OF WAR, MEDIEVAL BARBARISM OF WEYLER AND THE SPANIARDS. Gon. Lee has Sent his Report of the Status in Cuba. but the Department of State Withholds it from the Public. NEw YoRK, Oct. 15.--The following private letter has been received in this city from a reliable correspondent in Cuba: Havan-, Oct. 7, 189.-DearSir: In its issue )f September 28 the Phildel phis Press, under the heading, "Ameeicans Bleeding in Cuba," prints an alleged interview with an Ameri can citizen said to have arrived recent ly from this country, and who, after graphically describing the horrors of the Cuban war, and how the lives and property of the American citizens are endangered by this state of things, makes scathing remarks and severely criticises the weak policy of the United States Government for not taking a hand in stopping all these outrages, which are being daily committed at its very doors. In all this he is absolute ly correct for nothing can surpass the iniquities, the untold crimes and out rages which are constantly being per petrated by the bloodthirsty and fero cious Spanish trcops all around the country, as testified to by truthful cor respondents, who have been constant ly reporting all these horrors. But where Mr. Mannix (for I believe it is that gentleman who has writen the article) has made a sure misstatement is in his comments regarding Consul General Lee, when lie says: "When Gen. Lee was sent to Cula Spanish of Scials seemed to think that American rights there must be respected, and such respect must be enforced. It was thouZht that he would make a report to this Government of the facts that he could discover and that he would be backed by this Government in his demands for protection. Time went on and no report seems to have been made that gave any idea of the real situation of atfairs. Gen. Lee wasex pec'ed to maintain the dignity of this Government in Caba, and he has re ported within a short time that the relations bztween this country and Spain, as far as affairs in Cuba went, weie of the most pleasant character. He and Weyler are known to be on terms of friendliness. When a com plaint is made Gen. Lee is said to go to Gen. Weyler and ask concerning the abuse that is complained of." Now all this is unfair and does a 1 great injustice to Consul General Lee. In the first place Gen. Lee sent his re port to the Government concerning the state of affairs in Cuba two months after his arrival here. I cannot oive you the text nor the natura of the re port, but, as you may prersume, it is a diplomatic secret, but I can say this much, that it contained ample and suf ficient information on the conditions of things in the island to guide the Go-ernment in its future course in its relaions with the Spanish Govern ment. In the second place he has maintained the dignity of the Ameri can Government and people, for in all his dealings with the Spanish authorities he has always impressed them with the force of his character, placing'the American interests above all considerations, and wrenever he has any communications to deliver to the authorities-which are always ouched in the most severe and vigor ous terms -he always hands them per onally in order to show them the in erest ~he takes in having the affair romptly and satisfactorily arranged, and to argue whatever ditficulties hould arise. In the third place, it is absolutely false that when a complaint is madea o him he first goes to Gen. Weyler to ;et information about it, because this would seem to simply that he subordi Lates all his actions to the Spanish ile of the questions, and is influenced by the reports that Weyler may give im of the facts, when it is just the :ontrary. Take the Govir case as an nstance. Long before the facts were nown in the States he was already 1 aking his investigations on certain nformation furnisued him, which reatly assisted him in the work of finding out the truth. When, in this articular case, Consul Lee never for amoment consulted with the Spanishs uthorities until he obtained the facts from reliable outside sources, and then resented the claim to Weyler just a ay before he received instructions from Washington to investigate the matter. Lastly, regarding his being on terms f friendliness with G-en. Weyler, it s but i. atural that in a diplomatic way( e should appear to be so, but in the natural sense of the word Gien. Lee annot be on terms of friendship with en. Weyler, "Un General D'Abat-i oir," as Riochefort styles him. In making the above statement I am solely guided by a sense of .iustice owards Consul Lee, whose f irmness of 1 haracter, integrity and stanch Amer ~canism have -.von for~ him the es-t eem of his fellow citizens here who 1 now they have a firm supporter of 1 heir rights and a trusted friend int ase of need. I am in position to aflirm the above fact, and having beeni honor-ed with is conidence for some time I can estify that his conduct in the defence f the American interests has always been firm, energetic and digniledj and that he is "the right man in the right place." It is no fault of his if;t e is not properly backed by his Gov ~rment and is left alone to fight his s ,n battles here, for I am convinced hat if he were sufliciently supported 1 he American people would see the I tand he would take would be for ,. hem, and there would not be any nore disparaging remarks about him-. Rieferring to the story of the shoot- 1 ig of 54 prisoners in the Cabana for- 1 ress. I think you can now affirm that t did happen, because for some time 1 here have been no public executions, t hich attracted considerable attention nd were severely and justly criticised n all foreign nationr, especially the merican. Weyler, following instruc ions from DeLome, or the home G-o rement, has adopted the old inquisi oial proceedings of doing away with he prisoners in the shadow of the ight, without inquisitive gazes and' ympathetic comments thus giving im an opportunity to "clean Out" thel ells of the prisons in order to mnake'i oom for other unhappy victims. K ood God, that such things should l( happen at the end of the enlightened ieteenth century in a Chiristian and :ivilize d country and at the very doors( f a great and generous nation: I do not believe that President Cleveland will leave power with the reproach that he has been indi:Terent to the wails am1 laments of the unhanne : Cubans, and has quietly allowed all these crimes to be committed without having at least protested against them. And as a proof that they are still being committed all over the coun try here is a case taken from the many that are daily heard of. A letter from Santa clara, dated September 10, written by a lady who hides her name under the nome de plume of Vegas De Saugua, surely on account of the shame she experienced when writing it, says that on the Sth :>f the same month in the tobacco set tlements of vegetas, Neuvas and Ber aia, the local guerillas, styled Guias Del General Pando, commanded by a certain Magin-a renegade negro, escaped from jail for life imprison ment for murders and pardoned-and ::avalry forces of Lopez Amors's col umn, now under command of Col. Bruch, assaulted and outraged seven respectable women, four single ladies and three married ladies, one of them Dnly tw.elve days after childbirth. Comments are unnecessary. M'KINLEY'S CERTAINTIES. Elow the Republicans Feel Al)out f ihe Sit uation in DoubLtulstatest. Gen. Grosvenor, of Ohio, sent out a ew day s ago an estimate of what he ,alled "certainties" in the line of elec -oral votes for McKinley. He figured )ut 278 for the Canton candidate. It was a mere blind. The truth is that he Republican p>ll had just been flin shed and it showed such an alarming >udook for McKinley that the Gros enor "est'mate" was wired over the .ountry. Mr. Bryan is gaining now every day tnd the Republicin managers know it. The Pittsburg Leader, a Republican aper, has just printed elaborate re >orts of a canvass made of several of hese Grosvenor States "by a great Pittsburg firri," wno sought informa ,ion from business and insurance men tnd attorneys, of course, all McKin eyites. They rather discount Gros enor's certainties: California Business Man -"I predict maj->rity of 10,000 for Bryan." Illinois Attorney-"I consider Illi iois as a very doubtful State, and hould not be at all surprised to s~e 3ryan and Altgeld prevail, although I iope not." Maryland Business Man-"I think t more than likely that Maryland vill give a majority for Bryan " Michigan Correspondent-"My own ipinion is the vote of this State will be )retty close, with the chances in favor >f Bryan." Minnesota Clergyman-"It is im >ossible to tell how this State will go. .he free silver candidate will be elect d from this district to Congress. I iave been in Arkansas, Tennessee, Il inois, Ohio, New York and Minneso ;i during the last two months and find he silyeideaspreading." Colorado flusiness Man-"Colorado vill give Mr. Bryan 100,000 majority. Attorney' says McKinley will receive tot more than 20,000 votes in Colorado Ind the poll will exceed 180,000 otes." Montana Banker "The St ate will go or Bryan beyond question. The mint ng States will not support McKin ey." South Dakota Sc'aool Superinten lent-"The Democrats, or Bryan men, tave increased wonderfully in num >ers and are still on the increase. The state will go for Bryan." Wisconsin Business Man-"No one eels sure of the result. A maiority >f the farmers will vote for Bryan." Thirty days ago every Democrat in ndiana was remarking. "Bryan ould carry the State now by 50,000 if he election were held today." Democrats are asking for a continu .nce of the case. The campiign of ducation is progressing. A fierce battle is now "on" against he gigantic trusts, corporations and :ombinations that have been influenc ng legislation, corrupting our law nakers and nominating McKinley for he Presidency. The people are read ng, reflecting and deciding that the Inly way out of the horrible mess is o elect Mr. Bryan. The more time we have now the 7eater will be the victory. A Dreadful Experlence. PH ILADELPIII, Oct. 13.-The British teamer Evelyn arrived here tonight vith the crew of the Nor wegian bard ~oriz aboard. The Loviz was aban loned~while on a voyage from Mobile or Rosario, Argentine Republic, and ~fter nine days of suffering in an open oat, her crew were picked up by the svelyn. . The Loviz left Mobile on Lug. U with a cargo of pitch pine. )n Sept. 7 a heavy gale of wind was mcountered bef ore which the bark cudded for t wo days. On the 9th a l ismantied ship was sighted laboring a the sea. The Loviz bore down to ier and F'irst Mate Edward Callaksen Lind two men put oil' in a small boat o the laboring ship. The trip was at he risk of the men's lives as a heavy ea was still running. Nevertheless, hey reached the sinking bark, which >roved to be the H1. E. Marshall of )igby, N. S , &cmt Savannah for Sani os, Brazil, wvithi a cargo of pitch pine. In four trips, the men of the Marshall vere put aboard the Loviz The Loviz hen made sail and landed the Mar hall's crew at the Bermnudas. A fter eaving the Bermudas the L'viz had >leas-ant weather until Sept. 23. when tgale sprung up and the bark soon prang a leak. The men worked at he pumps, but the bark made water apidly and by Sept. 25, there was 13 eet of water in the hold. The bark vas then in long. 50I, lat 3. Unable o keep the bark afloat the crew took o two boats, there being in all nine nen in the crew. The boats were well >rovisioncd and well watered, but in .be heavy sea running swept half of lie water overboard. Finally, the wo boats were lashed together and a ea anchor put out, and in this way hey rode cut the gale. For nine days he men drifted along under the tropi :sun with but one drink of water a lay, suffered great agony ana anxiety. Vhen they had nearly abandoned iope they were picked up by the stea ner Erelvn. The Loviz was a bark If 1,053 tons and hailed from Chris iana, Norway. where she is owned by d. Laangard & Co. A Fishy Cotton Story. ATLANTA, GA., Oct. 1:.-A man liv ng just outside of Atlanta has three ~cress of leafless cotton which is from even to fourteen feet high. It grows ive times as much cotton as other >lants. A c->mmittee from South 1eorgia called on the owner today and >if ered him $18,00(I for all the seed and he cotton. In order to destroy them. Ie has offered lorty bushels of the eed to the Ne w Orleans E'xchange for THE SUMTER SHORTA(E.I TREASURER KEELS MAKES ANSWER IN OPEN COURT. He Aki that a Further Examination of His itooks be Made and Asserts That aU Wil be Foatd Right-Coro'er Com mauders Statement. SUMTFR, S. C., Oct. 15 -At iihit noon today ox-Treasurer D. E. Keels and Coroner Comrnander appeared before Judge Benet in open court to answer the rule to show cause why they should not be indicted for malfea sance of which were in their hands as county officials. The cases against these two officials are too well known in all their details to make a recapitulation of the facts necessary to a clear understanding of the answers put in by each of them. Mr. Commander was first called on to make his return to the rule which had been duly served on him. He was represented by H. L. B. Wells, Esq., who read the answer which recited briefly that Mr. Commander became acting sheriff on the death of Sheriff Marion Sanders and continued in charge of the oflice until a successor to Sheriff Sanders was appointed. Du ring the time he was acting sherill he collected certain moneys and made correct records of all transactions as required by law. That when Mr. George P. McKaeen was appointed sherill' he (W. H. Commander) oIff-red to make a settlement of all matters which had come into his hands while acting sherill, but that the sheri!i re fused to accept a settlement unless al I the open accounts, including those coming over from the administration of Sherill Sanders, deceased, siould be made. This he was not in a posi tion to do, nor was it incumbent In him to do so, having no knowledge of them, and he therefore refused to do so. lie had been and is still anxious to settle for all funds coming into the office while it was in his bands and therefore prayed that the rule be dis missed and a time appointed for a set tlement. He reported $77.87 on hand. Judge Benet ordered that the rule be dismissed and that Mr. Commander be required to make a settlement within a reasonable time. Capt. Keels represented himself and read his answer which is given in full herewith. Judge Benet reserved his decision. State of South Carolina, Sumter County-In re D. E. Keels -Rule to show cause-Return. To His Honor W. C. Benet, Presiding Judge: In ansiwer to the rule to show cause why I should not-be indicted upon the presentment of the grand jury to your honorable court made out by A. W. Suder, expert bookkeper of the grand jury,I hereby submit to your honor able court the following reasons why I should not be indicted, to wit: 1. That I deny each and every alle gaition in A. W. Suder's, bookkeeper, report to the grand jury exceit suc.h-as are .hereinafter admitted to b'true, and I further deny that i }tave been guilty of any malfeasaice or misfeas ance in 6tiice. 2. Under the head of "Dispensary Account" in the aforesaid report I d eny the amount of $249.08 being due or any part thereof other than that charged to me in the last annual set tlement on balance sheet $173.65, that would have been paid, had settlement been completed and bad I not been advised by those who were connect d with making settlement and by A. W. Suder, not to pay until after settle ment was completed, which amount I have always been and am now ready to pay.. ~3. That under the head "Court Ex penses" in the aforesaid report, March and June terms, 1895, error of $100. 000, I know nothing whatever of. I post ed my court vouchers with number and to whom made payable. The clerk of the board of County Commis sioners checked the account by the vouchers and balanced the acccounts as the books will show. IHaving im plicit con fidence in his integrity and honesty, I have never veritled the acount, and if there is an error I am not aware of it. If upon investiga tion I find error I am ready to pay the amount. 4. That under the head "Plublic Schools", the sum of $1,201.02 with a credit by Treasurer II. L. Scarbor ough's receipt of $1,200, is admitted. The $1,2G1.02 is charged to me on bal ance sheet in last annual settlement and known to the county ollicials connected with the Treasurer's otlice and many others. This amount I did not pay because there was at the time a dispute as to Dispensary fund and the balance sheet was not fully made out and I was advised by .some connected with the settlement not to pay anything mom until the settle ment was completed. Mr. Suder also advised me to this course. About the June term of court. 1890, Mr. Suder asked me to pay $1l,200) on this amount, which I did. Shortly after this Mr. Suder represented to me that thegrand jury had authierized him to collect money f rom mec to carry on the inves tigation. Upon this representation I 1)aid him the sumi of $G1.02 balance dile on school fund, and hereto ap pend copy of his reccipt. Received of 1). E. Keels, ex-County Treasurer, $6t.02, being balance of amount due on szhool funds. A. WV. ScUDs, 6.02. Expert Grand Jury. I fully believed he had at the time the authority to collect the same and submit that I should not be indicted. 5. That under the head "County 'Tax~ Fund' that the amount of S1>2.13 is admited to be corrEct and the amount is charged up to mie on balance sheet in last annual settle mtent, which amount would have been paid had settlement been completed and had I not been advisEd by Mr. A. W. Suder and others connected with :making the settlement not to payv the amount until settlement was cc wpleted -which amount I have alwayt' been ready to pay. G. That under the head "Real Es tate and Personal Property" in the aforesaid report that whatever A. WV. Suder expert bookkeeper, and N. WV. Brooker found in the Sheriffs ollice I know nothing of. The Auditor makes up the delinquent tax and abstracts of the amount, Treasurer issues execu tions, turns them over to the Shieriff, takes his receipts for the executions and his returns for each execution and it is the duty of the Auditor to take the returns of the Sheriff for the nulla bona tax to make annual settlements and the Auditor who makes the an nual settlements gives the Treasurer credit for the amount of nulla bona on balance sheet in esch annual set tlement. If the Treasurer has been credited by the Auditor with $4,733 72 nulla bona tax on balance sheet more than Trcasurer was entitled to, then the Treasurer would have had to have been in collusion with the Sheriff and Auditor both, which I deny, and re serve the amount of $1,733.72, other wise the balance sheet made up by the Auditor would necessarily show the amount of $4,7;33.72 tc the creditof the Treasurer on balance sheet. Now if there is any confusion or irregular ity in the Sheriff's or Auditor's ollice as to nulla bona tax I am not aware of it and in no way responsible and deny being due the sum of $4,733.72 under this head. VII. That under the head of "Poll Tax Investigation" in the aforesaid re port shows a balance dua $1,566.9u, all poll tax that went into the hands of the sheriff has been settled upon his return and accounted for in my an nual settlement. I have issued ~about 7,000 poll tax warrants and placed them in hands of the Trial Justice in 1893. I pressed on the Trial Justices for their returns upon the warrants. They went before the grand jury dur ing the year 1S93, and asked for more time to collet the warrants. The grand jury granted tbem further time and >onsequently I have never been able to get their returns on the warrants. Lf I had tlinir returns on that I could :lose uo the books I am rather of the jpi n, i-Ii there would be a balance due mel from tie fact that I have money u the hands of some of the Magis r's, also Treasurer Scarborough, ojr m y credit on school funds. There rore I deny that the amount of $1, Ws 90 is due by me under this head. Vli. That under the head of total lefcency in the aforesaid report that [p)sitively deny that I am deficient i Treaurer ollice the sum $7,164 95 or iny part thereof other than the imount shown by balarce sheet last innuai settlement, unless it be some nsignificant amount that may be had >ccurred from clerical errors on the part of myself or some other ollicials lirectl connected with the business >f the ollce in making annual settle ren1ts. Reference is here made to a letter >f Comtroller General Norton to A. B. Stuckey, Auditor, a copy of which s hereto attached. IX. My books are plainly kept, my iccounts correct arnd there is not a raudalent entry made on my books. Now without the intention of cast ng reflections on any one, yet taking il the circumstances into considera don, and in view of the fact that there ire a number of country officials di rectly connected with the Treasurer's >flice in making the annual settle ment and that the annual settlements ire made by the Auditor from my >ooks. the Sheriffs books and the henff's return on execution, I most respectfully ask your honor to allow .ine for the Comptroller General, wvho is clothed with the authority un ler the law, or any other person that aal be-appointed to investigate tWe whole matter thoroughly. All of which is respectfully submitted to your honor's consideration, and hav ng fully answered the rfle the res 3ondent prays that the same may be Iischarged. D. E. KEELS. Personally appeared before me D. E. Keels, who being duly sworn, says ;hat the above return is true to his >wn knowledge. D. E. KEELS. Sworn to before me this 15th day of 3ctober, 1896. Tiros G. McLEoD, Notary Public f or S. C. Two Desperadoes. Cotuomus, Ga., Oct. 14. -A bout :30 o'clock this afternoon J. A. White, a shoemaker, and Henry White, his son, foully murdered two olicemen on thirteenth street, this :ity and fatally wounded another on sixteenth street shortly afterward. ['here was no cause for the commis ;ion of the crime other than the fact hat both men had been summoned to ippear before the recorder tomorrow ~or some trivial offense. Richard ~dams was the officer who ummoned he two men to court. Immediately ifter he summoned thenm with the sub ~oena both men armed themselves nd returned to Rumsey's bar on Thir .eentb street, near where Adams was danding. The elder- White deliber mely levelled the Winchester with ~hichi he was armne d and shot Adams just above the heart, killing him al ncst instantly. Oflicer William Jack ion, who was patrolling the adjoinina >eat, heard the shot and ran to the cene. He was met by both the Whites, who began firing on him as ie turned the corner from First aye aue. H~e was shot four tinces, but ived until 7 o'clock tonight. After he coramission of the second murder he two men walkedleisurely up First venue to their home on Sixteenth ;treet, where Oilicer Charles l'uberts vent to arrest them. In answer to his ~nock upon the door. Roberts received mbullet from Whiite's Winchester .hrough the stomac-h. lie staggered .o the street mortally wounded, and tt this hour, though alive, no hope is ntertained for his recovery. By the ime the third policeman had fallen a r-owd of over 500 armed men had -eached the scene and the murderers' iouse was surrounded. Tom Jackson, narshal of Girad, and Zeno P'ickett, mn extra policeman of this city, volun .eered to run White out of his house. ?our other brave meu offered to follow hem, and the crowd charged on the souse, firing hundreds of bullets into he windows and doors. When the usilade ceased Jackson and Picket orcedl open the door, whereupon White began Gring upon them. The wo men rushed in upon him, and af er shooting him a half dozen times l raged him into the streets. Imme liateiy after delivering White's body .o the sidewalk from the e~ects of :hat is believ-ed to be a mortal wound. Ie was taken to a near-by house, vhere he is still quartered, and though n a critical condition, there is a faint iope for his recovery. The young White escaped from the house and :rossed the river near by into Alaba na. where he was captura tonight at. LO:30) o'clcek by ( ticers Osborne and ['hrellkeld of this city. lHe was >rought to this city and placed in jail. [t is believed that he will be lynched, hough the town is quiet at midnight. will Let cuba Go. C uz. Spain, Uat. 15.-It is an open ;ecret that if Spain has not put down he insurrection in Cuba by the first >f next March it is the intention of the ~overnment to give up the struggle mnd let the island go. It is said that .he poJlicy is being adopted of exso ~erating the magnitude of the troub~e .n the Phillipines with a view of pre 2aring the people for the ultimate de don of leting Cubaho. THE STATE FAIR. PREPARAT:ONS PROGRESSING FINE LY ON ALL HANDS. The State Agricultural Society and the Columbia Fair Association Uniting their Efforts for an Excellent Exhibition. COLUMBUI, Oct. 17.--Special: The nearer the time approaches for the holding of the State Fair the harder the officers responsible for its success get down to work with the determina tion that this fair shall eclipse all others as to variety of exhibits and the crowd that annually gathers here. President L. D. Childs and Secre tary Holloway, who is now here, are down to it in earnest, and are ready to give all information to those seeking light on the coming fair. The Executive Committee of the Fair Association are also hard at work, and to our "country cousins" they promise an entire change in the programme for each day of the fair. They have made the promise, and the merchants and citizens have furnished them the "sinews of war" in a very liberal manner. Everywhere you hear nothing but talk of the coming fair and a desire that it will be a success. Col. Thos. W. Holloway, Secretary of the State Agricultural Society, has formally opened his office in the Ken dall building, on Washington street. This office will remain open until Fri day before the opening of the fair. Mr. Thomas J. LaMotte will assist Secretary Holloway in making the entries. All exhibitors are requested to address their communications to the Secretary at Columbia hereafter until further orders. Secretary Holloway said this morn ing that he hoped that all persons who intended to become exhibitors would apply at once at his office for entry blanks, so that the entries can be made in good time before the fair. It is also desirable that the citizenh of Columbia who intend making ex hibits of their goods will do so at once, so that space can be allotted to them. In this connection the Secretary nopes to have fine exhibits from all the mer chants of the city. It may be stated that applications have already been filed by some of the business men of the city. Dr. W. C. Fisher, chairman of the ground and building committee, is busily engaged in having all necessa ry repairs and improvements made on the premises. Col. Pearce has also opened the in telligence office of the Fair Associa tion in the Kendall building, two loors above Col. Holloway's office. This office will be kept open daily un til after the fair. Col. Pearce savs that several parties who have rooms to rent have already aled their names. He asks that all persons that can give accommodations to visitors coming to the fair will please register their names at once, so Lhat he can answer or refer all inqui ries at once when made,.- 'JA office will prove a boondo the visitors fail-. here they can have their bag gage checked should they only spend a day. and obtain all information re garding sights around the city. Among the attractions assured are a E.remen's tournameu t, a bicycle parade~ and a procession of electric cars prop erly and tastefully decorated. Other features are also to be added-it being the purpose of the Columbia people to make the stay of the visitors pleasant from start to tinish. The prospects for a first class exhi bition c n the grounds were never bet ter. The number and variety of the exhibits already promises well. The people all over the State are takig unusual interest, and they are coming here in crowds. The railroad rates are very low, and the schedules will oe arranged to suit the convenience of people anywhere within a distance of a hundred miles. The generous action of the Legisla ture, in appropriating means to help the premium list assures good prizes for all winners, and already there are signs of sharp competition. The -..re exhibits the more interest. The more interest the more people. All who come to the fair this year may feel sure of a hearty welcome and a good time all round. The fair opens on the 9th of Novem ber, and lasts one week. Every day of that week may be pleasantly and profitably spent by visitors. The Perils of the sea. NEw YORK, Oct. 14.-Capt. W. W. Cheen and six men, the crew of the schooner, Luther M. Reynolds of F~rederica, Del., were picked up at sea from their dismasted and waterlogged vessel by the Morgan liner Elmar and brought to this city. The Reynolds left Brunswick, Ga , on Sept. 30, with a cargo of railroad ties for Elizabeth port, N. J. On Oct. 10, when off Cape Romaine, they met with a north erly gale, but managed to beat up to Winter Quaarters lightship, when the gale increased to a hurricane. On the 11th the vessel heeled over until the topmasts touched water. On the 12th, the crew were rescued. Two of the crew are nearly insane from their suf ferinas. The Reynolds is drifting to wards the Gulf Stream and will pro bably not sink for me5 The El mar had a terrilic tus-de hien.elf with the gale. The steps leading to her pi lot house were washed away Monday morning, the chocks under the life boat were smashed and the port life boat amidships was crushed by com ing into contact with the iron dock. biotse. The Elmar was buffeted by Lhe waves from the time that she was 25 miles north of Jupiter Light off the Florida coast until yesterday after coon, when she was due east of Dela ware caues. Tom watson's Wrath. Tomx..s Ran., October 15.-The Following telegram was delivered to Xbe Steinberger, secretary of the MIiddle of the Road State committee, ~his mcrning: Tro3Isos, Ga., Oct. 14.-Abe Stein Serger, Topeka, Kansas: Ulcerated throat will prevent my keeping ap pointments. I greatly regret this. The Middle of the Road Populists alt ver the Union have my sympathy and admiration. They have been sold >ut and their party made a foot mat for Democratic politicians to wipe their feet on under the hypocritical pretence of patriotism. The fusion ists have abandoned principle and gone into a mad scramble for the piece counter. If Bryan is defeated it will be a fault of the traders in his party and ours, wsho have ignored the St. Louis compromise and tried to force the Populist to -vote for Sewall, the bond holder, national banker cor poration plutocratic and "gold clause"