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.

NIOL. X11. MNIN G~. C., WEDI)E DECEMER 0,lSi N. 3 ALGERIAN PIRATES. THEY WARRED ON THE WORLD !N WASHINGTON'S TIME. Aioricans Suffered-Our Arjb mai-or'd Spurred by the npy-The Lc-oon Taught Arnold as a Pirate. '-The Barbary States formany years sent out cruisers, which captured ves sels of all Christian nations and held tbeir crews as slaves until ransomed. The United States, like the European nations, was accustomed to pay an nual tribute to these pirates to secure exemption from these attacks.' That was what we were tauaht when we went to school. The instruction was continued with the information that the Bashaw of o:e of the States. sometimes called Algiers, sometimes called Tripoli, finally became so haughty that the United States had to bombard his city, and a note in small type at the foot v tbe page says that Commodore Decatur distinguished himself. He was cnly a lieutenant at the time: but when a child's history of the United States gets so near to the facts as is indted above, no crit irism should be permitted. This story will not concern itself with the greater matters of history, but will take up some of the details of ihe haughtiness and nautiness of the Barbars States. In1793 Washineton, then President, sent Mr. Nathaniel Cutting of Massa chusetts and Col. Humphreys to the Barbary States to arrange about the yearly ransom, atd square things eenerally- Mr. Cutting joined Col. Tiumphreys in Lisbon, and a journal which he kept gives a clear idea of the way of traveling 100 years ago, and of what is meant by the remark in the history that "the Barbary States * ' * cabtured vessels of ali Christian nations." He sailed from Philadelphia in April, 1793. for Etag land, and on August 18 left Falmouth in the King George packet for Lisbon, where he arrived on the 23th. His first illuminating entry appears on August 31: "Col. H. informs me Mr. Harrison has not been able to do any thing decisive with respect to a neu tral vessel for us to uroceed to our destination." Even ambassadors, it appears, were not safe from the Bar ba-7 pirates, though on their way to the Barbary States. On Sept. 5, however. they pr.,currd a vessel, a Swedish brig, to convey them up the Mediterranean. On th 9th they learned by way of Malaga "that an American vessel and cargo has recently fallen into the hands of the Algerines. By the Cadiz marine list we find it is the schooner Laurel. Capt. John Daniels. from Philadel phia, laden with flour and copper, and was captured by an Algerian Cor sair about the 28th ult., the captain and crew, having abandoned her, had escaped safe on shore in their boats. The letter states those pirates are much more daring than ever, since the Portugeese squadron have ceased po' On the 18th they got off ia their "hired ship" called the Postillion, and on the 21st reached Gibraltar, too late in the evening to land. The next day the "Patrick boat came alongside about sunrise and took our papers out." After a time they landed and visited the governor, (Gen. Sir Robt. Boyd, a venerable veteran, near 30 years old." Col. Humphreys and Mr. -'twCutting stayed at Gibraltar for some time, dining with thre officers of the garrison and enjoyin g themsel r'es, but always on the looitout for a chance to move toward their destination. Mt. Cutting tells this interesting story. Mr. Mattra, the English consul at Tangier, related an anecdote of Gen. Arnold, that despicable traitor to American liberty, which I never be fore met with. It was this: Several years since, as early as 1785, when Mr. Mattra was in England, he be came slightly acquainted with Arnold who knowing bis situation in Morcc co, solicited an opportunity of propos ing to him a scheme of business that could not fail of being lucrative. Mr. Mattra at last gave Arnold a hearing. The plan that he proposed was that Mr. Mattra should by his interest at the court of Morocco procure commis sions for sundry corsairs, which he (Arnold) v ould come and fit out from .Tangier. 'But,' observed Mr. Mattra, 'who would you cruise against? The Emperor of Morocco has no maritime enemy, nor does be wish to provoke a rupture with any of the European powers ' Arnold replied, 'But the Americans have as yet no treaty with Morocco. I would capture their ves sels; I know very well the track to find them; by such an expedition we would soon acquire ample fortunes. Arnold pressed the matter very ser1 ously for some time, but finding that Mr. Mattra rejlected the nefarious scheme and steadily refused to exert the smallest mnfluence toward obtain ing the commissions in question, the arch-renegade solicited that he would at sist him in procuring Algerine com-~ missions. Mr. MAattra, heartily dis gusted with such villainy, assured Arnold that he had no interest and scarcely any acquaintance at or near Algiers, anid therefore explicitly ex cused himself* firom participating in such a diabolical pursuit. It was nol only one, sa d Mr. Mattra, but per hans a dczen times, that Arnold seri cusly addressed him to the foregoing Frmthe spothecary's shop to the control of an Algeriae pilot vessel is something ci a jump, but Arnold could have taken it if any one could. Undousbtedly our sailors missed a good deal of trouble by not-having Arnold on their tratck flying the Algeriar flag. "Oct. 5.-Tho Dutch frigates and a sloop of war lately came down fro:m Malaga and are now at anchor im Gibralta bay, ostensibly waiting the arrival of a squadron tromn Holland, which is to convey a comnmissionel to arrange the articles of peace with the regency of Algiers, or to denounce vengeance against them for the depre dations their corsairs have commnit ted on the Dutch commerce in the Med iterranean sea." On eanday, Octo ber 6, the American comamissionert attended services with the garrison. Mr. Cutting notes that he teet Mr. Mace, British consul at Algiers, wilc had been at Gibraltar eight or nine months waiting for the plague to sa: side in Algiers; Lord Hood. would .not send a frigate to take himn to his post. He continues : "We learn it is true that ' r- Al gerian frigates arnd t so zebecksa an armed brig had last night pase out the straits. * We arranged a express for Cadiz and another to Mal agaand ci.Hmrihrey wrte t t American consuls at both these ports accuainting them with the intelli geree, and requesting them to coin municate it to every American com imander of a vessel that was now or migh, arrive at the ports. Oct. 7.-This morning an Algerian corsair stood into Gibraltar bay from The eastward. Soon afterward pro ceeded 1hrcugh the straits. * * We finally eigaged a small Spanish ves sel toc ruise oif the straits, alias Gut of Gihraltqr, with the mate of an -%American r--ssel on board, in order to speak to any Arerican vessel that might possiblv have so far escaped the barbarians without knowing the hazzurd they run." Arnold seems not to have been the only person, not Algerine originally, who wished to do a little piracy under the Algeritre fla:. Mr. Cutting tlls of an alleged American, callling him self Chapman, who passed through Gibraltar in July, 1792, and got to Oran. Liter. calling himst "' an Englishman, he reached Algiers in the Gibraltar boat, but the British consul would not let him land. The man sent to the consul a letter for the Dev of Algiers, which he said he had brcught from America. Chapman was not allowed to land, and learned I only that the consul was displeased at the contents of the late:-. Chapman was then taken to Gibraltar, and Mr. Cutting writes: "From all the cir cumstances there is room to saspect that the purport of the packet which Mr. Chapman has conveyed to Alaiers was to obtain Aklgerin-e commissions, and thus give Mr. -,- his employ er in Virginia, a pretence for captur ing the vessels of such nations as have not a treaty of peace with the regency of Algiers. Perhaps the American Indiamen were his object-perhaps Athe richly freighted Brazil ships. Toe whole commerce of America is at a risk:' On O-t. 11 this suspicious person called on Col. Humphreys to explain matters. He reported that there were only 10 American prisoners at Algiers, as the plague there had killed two He was an Englishman originally but had lived long in America, and was in Gibraltar on a business attempt to get Algerine commissioners. Then the vessel that the commissioners had hired to warn American vessels of the Algerine fleet put back, and her mas ter absclutely, refused to g - out again. "He reports that there is an Algerine zeback constantly cruising in the straits, in the day time he keeps on the Barbary shore and at evening back of the Rcck, where he lays with the view of intercepting any Ameri can vessel that may attempt running out of the Mediterranean. ''Ot. 14.-A schooner arrived this morning, after a narrow escape from the zeback back of the rock. The vesel belonesto Ebenizer Parsons of Bos ton, N. E , and the captain's name is Gooch. In consequence of the dan gers of seizure of our papers, and on account of the wexther, we have con cluded to send our chartered brig, now under Sweedish colors, as a neu tral nation, to Alicant, in Spain, the. to await until cur arriv. by land." ....an _-mbasadoris -aigeir; wtre not safe from the Algerines. S. Col. Humphreys and Mr. Cuttings started overland,101 leagues,or about 300 miles to Alicant. They went through Mala ga, reaching there in the evening of Ot. 17, and left on the 19th; thence to Granada, where they examined " tbhe ancient Mocrish fortifications and the palace of the grand sultan of that people, built 700 years ago." Granada left behind on Ocst. 26, they reac -ed Murcia on Nov. 1 ("in this city there are 26 hives filled, with thcse droces called friars'') and Ali cant the next day. There the com missioners conferred with Mr. Mont gomery, the American con sul, and tinally it was docided that Col. Hum phreys should write a memorial to the dey and regency, which he should for ward by a Spanish vessel to Mat tnias Skjoldebrand, Esq, Sweedisa consul in Algiers, asking permission to call on them, and esoecially for a safe conduct badk again.' On Nov. 16 an Aigerine frigate of 42 guns came in having taken seven American and two Genoese ships. This frigate had been built at Algiers by a construc tor sent out from Spain, who was at vessel. Piracy, it appears, was situ ply a matter of business. O'1 the 19th Col. Humphrey's des patch boat came back from Algiers with letters from some of the Ameri can captives and a flat refusal from the dey give to a passport to Col. Hum phreys. "Just now the Algerines are elated with their great success over the Americans, and have three other treaties of neace on the tapis which are all very precarious. That with the Dutch is very far from being agreed on. That with Portugal it is thought will scarcely be ratified by the court at Lisbon; a rupture with the Danes is also threatened. H-ow humiliating it is, that through the narrow policy of the great maratime powers of Europe general comnmerce should suffer such interruption and distress from a petty band of pirates and robbers. I hope America will one day be able to free the world of them. "We have a list of four ships, four Irigs and two schiocners, with 105 men, who have been taken in the month of Oeto her. The Algerine gov enent have a marine force- four frigates, one polacre, one brig, four zebecks; each corsair carries at the rate of 12 men for each gun, andj the whole marine mounts 24u guns. Tunis has 23 corsairs, with 24 to 4 guns. This is a formidable fleet ot sea robbers, and they have become the masters of the western ocean. I think the American govern~ment will never effect a treaty wit-i the Alger ines; until it aives them a severe thrashing. This will cost $75:J,U0 per annum, but it wi'l be nullion to the advate e of A merica by forming a marine whin may render her 11ag respected in all quarters of the globe." While they waited for permission CoL Humphreys and Mr. Cutting went Madrid and thence to Lisbon, at which latter place, on Jan. 31, 17'.14, Mr. Cutting writes: 'We learn by an American vessel, recently arrived at Vigo, in Spaini, that the Federal leg islature of the Unitedi States had de termined on building 13 frigates im m rediagelv; if this be true, we shal trtiliy rejoice at it." Tne commis sioners could not obtain a safe con dyect from the dey and had finally to ve up hope of getting one, and to sart.Col. Huimphreys, bafore teetogntlemea parted, set aside tt,00 o imnroediate relief of the su eing risoersfor one year. in tecoreof whieu tiem e United States could make such atrrangements as '1 as necessary. "I firmly believe no;- that no logic or elcquence would a' preailed on the diey to hav agreed on a peace with the United States or any of the conditions prescri. bed by our legislature; the pecuniary consideration was not enough-no, not by some hundreds of thousands of doiJars. I am informed that Swe den, when she lately effected her treaty with these pirates, submitted to pay $300,000, including presents, etc , and an anual tribute of $:30,OUO more. Denwark :s now threatened by the dey and wi'l probably be obliged to V- high for an accommodation. Hcllaa' ; ntgotiating; she has paid large sums here 2fore for a disgrace ful peace with h-se marauders. "As nothing i., -re is to be effected in this unforturate mission, I shall now soon shape my co-ursetoward Ha vre. in Franca." Lived in Bugs and Barries. PLANTERSVILLE, Deccmber 22.-The negro boy, John Hughes reported icst in Carvers bay by my di.ipatch of Dec. 15, is alive but not as "sa'e and sound" as some of the various other reports make out. The State printed, exclu sively, the story of the loss of the boy a d his probable fate and your corres pon dent is now in positon to narrate, from personal interviews, the story of his fortnight's soj:urn upon roots and tussocks and his advent from a rery dismal clime. How the boy weath ered the blizz ard is inexplicable unless it is by :-easc,Yi cf his hardy rearing, for he was i: clad, and, as he says, when night come on I jus' bank up ghin er tree en sorter pull mi coat ober mi head, en ketch what res'I kin." He blew and blew his horn until his mouth was sore and finally when hun ger overcome him he ate such berries as he could find and declares that one of the most delicious morsels he has ever tasted was the head and bones of a sparrox that he came across, the re fuse from an owl's meal. that be ate, feathers and all. He had but two macthes in his pocket,but as they were wet was unable t0 kindle a fire with the aid of dried twigs and branches. As time went on he became benumbed by the cold and water, in which he was from ankle to knee deep most of the time, and sometimes waist den), and nature mad, voracious demands that were not easily satisfied, but he r elates that he came across a very large burg (supposed to be a beetle) with wings, which he chopped up fine and ate, after which he became perfectly deaf for several days. As he wandered toward the east he found more holly berries than usual and feasted on them. The boy eventually heard a calling for hogs and cows by which he made his way, crawling and half naked, with his limbs frost bitten and swollen, to the house of a Mrs. Moore who has re scued him from imminent death by her kind treatment and care, feeding him upon stimulants and gruels and giving him covering. The negroes, including his own parents, show no desire to do anything for the unfor tunate wretch, so his present welfare must be attributed:to good Mrs. Moore. This is a very remarkable story of a boy being lost in a swamp for two weeks, including the last freezing for the f3ct that every statement is verified.-State. Interesting Statistics. The report of the executive board sub-nitted to the Baptist Convention in C darleston last week gave an inter esting account of the mission work in the State. Under the head of "Mis sionaries and Colporteurs" the follo w ing interesting statistics were given: Number of missionaries and colpor teurs, 69; stations occupied. 107; miles travelled, 34,.670; days in actual service, 6,490; sermons and addresses, 4,043; prayer meetine-. 1,247; religious visits made, 16 123; conversions 566; baptisms 508; received by letter, 437; restored to fellow ship 45, total addition to mis sion churches 10,040; total member bership in churches at station, 3,734; churches organized, 4; built, 4; ex pended on church buildings, $1,783, 49; Sunday schools organized, 30; to tal number of mission Sunday schools, 114; teachers and papils, 3,116: con tributions of Sunday schools, $5i5,49; collected for State mission, $S78.75; home missions, $137.74; foreign mis sions, $34.34; for ministerial educa tion, $38 84; x or the Orphange, $147. 31; for aged and infirm ministers, $72.03; families found destitute of the Bible, 85. According to the report of the corres ponding secretary and treasurer, Dr. Bailey, the total receipts from all scurces were shown to have been $9,924.47, expen ditures $11,147. 53, the difference be ing made up by a loan from the col porteurs' fund of $1,223.06. The re port of the central committee of the Woman's Missionary Union, which held its aunual meeting in connection with the State Convention, showed that the total amount received for all purposes during the year had been $1,876.15, which had been expended as follows: For foreign mission $3, 399.15, home missson $S27.87, State missions $579 63, expenses of the comn mittee $GS .45. Teachers' Journ:. To the Editor of The State: Mr. H. Louis Schaife opened his ar ticle yesterday as fcllo ws: "As South Carolina is one of the few States which does not support an educational journal, it would be well," etc. F"or tear that the impression that South Carolina has no educational journal will be widely circulated, I write to say that she cannot now claim such an un enviable distinction. The Sheridan brothers of Barn well, well known educators of the State, are publishing monthly an educational journal called Carolina Teachers' Journal. I have received three copies of this journal, and if the teacbers of the State will give it the patronage it deserves, its publication will fill a long felt want in the educational circles of the State. Possibly, Mr. Schalfe has not seen a copy of this journal. I know that he and all persons iaterested in educa tiona~l matters will be glad to know that our State has an educational pa per worthy of support. Will the teach ers support it: E. S. Dne~uER, Columbia, Dec-ber 2:3, 1896. Two Were Asphyxiated. Bos-rOs, Dec. 22.-The employ ecsI of the Hamuton Hfouse detected a strong smell of gas in the corridor early this morning and on investiga tion foand that it came from a room~ which had been assigned a couple who registered as Donald D,>novn and wife. Entrance to the room was gained by the tire escape and the mau and woman were found lying in bed, the woman dead and the man uncon scious. Gas was escaping from an open burner. The man s case was PRISONERS ESCAPED. :IVE ASSAULT JAILER COLEMAN AND BREAK OUT. rhree Vet at Large-Jailer Blinded With Ashes and a Rush is 7rade to Get Aw.ay. Pistol Fails to Fire. CoLU-qmA, S. C, D;c. 24.-Five aegro prisoners confined in the coun ;y jail escaped yesterday after aoon soon after 5 o'clock by over aowering Jailer Cileman as he en ;ered the door nrmning into the main :orridor, the pivilege of which is giv ma the prison ers during the day. Jailer Col'eman has been in charge )f the Richland county jail for a long ime, but hc has never had such an experience as befell him yesterday. He is always rather wary in dealing with the prisoners in his charge, but somehow yesterday they managed to get the best of him. About 5 o'clock he started up to lock the prisoners in their calls for the night, IS '.n all. At the top of the teps is the big iron grated door lead ing into the main corridor, where the prisoners charged with petty offenses are allowed to run at will during the lay instead of being contined to their :ells. Immediately to the left of the door is another long corridor leading from the main one. and along one ide of it are cells. It was just inside of this second passage that one of the prisoners, George Wright, stationed himselt where he would be unnoticed by the j iiler. It was a well laid plan he and four others had entered upon. In his hand he had a pan filled with ashes, and just as Jailer Coleman en tered he dashed the entire contents in his face and eyes. Blinded for a mo ment by this sudden shower of ashes, Mr. Coleman was helpless, but never theless he attempted to close the door. Wright bounded through and went bounding down the steps. The jailer a uickly cleared his eyes of the ashes, drew his pistol, aimed and pulled the trigger, but the cartridge did not ex plcde. Again he al tempted to shoot and again his pistol failed to fire. At the sight of the weapon in Jailer Coleman's hand the other four pris oners in the plot huddled together and were afraid to attempt to pass out. On seeing that it was harmless they rushed on the jailer, threw him to the fLoor and ran out of the door. Jailer Coleman was up in an instant, had the door locked before the other pris oners who were not in the plot had fully realized what was the matter, rushed down stairs, seized his gun and was in hot pursuit. Four ran toward the canal, and the afth, Melvin Trezvant, came at full speed to the police headquarters. He met officer Sloan in rear of the city hall, and shouted to him: "Run, Mr. Sloan, run; the prisoners are murder in' Mr. Coleman down at the jail. Ran, Mr. Sloan, run; I am a prisoner, too, but I came to let you know. Run, Mr. Sloan, run." This naturally excited the doughty he stood, he dashed into neadquarters, told the chief, and tozether they were oon spinning along in the patrol wa. zon toward the jail at a rapid rate. rrezvant took the oflicer's abrupt de parture to signify that his presence was not wanted, and he, too, moved )n, whither, no one knows. Sheriff Cathcart was in his office at the court house, and, as nis telephone was not in working order, he did not get the ne ws until a special messenger brought it. He jumped in a hack and made in the direction the fugitives aad gone. At the penitentiary he borro wed a pistol and gun and contin aed in hot pursuit. Jailer Coleman, in the ardo- of the :hase, had pushed ahead of the,)ther, who were coming to his aid~ Near the Jewish cemetery he o took one af the prisoners, Waltr. mith, who was hiding in a patch of pines. Alone and single handed, he arrested him. By this time the chiet had co-ne up mnd not far behind was Sheriff Cath :art in a "hack carriage" :ope. When the offirers of the law had held a short :onsultation they decided to return to :he jail with their captured prisoner and reorganin. the chase. The pris >ner was bundled into the patrol wa gon and off the procession moved at a rood round trot. A reporter for The State reached the jail as the party drove up. The pris 2ner was hustled out of the patrol wagon and taken into the jail. The loor was again- opened and the party mtered. To make sure of the number that escaped Jailer Coleman ordered ;he prisoners to line up against the wall. There they stood, 13 ragged aegroes, grinning from ear to air, as Jailer Coleman scanned the face of each to spot the missing ones. Smith was at the head of the line, hatless, breathless and more ragged than the rest, but looking wonderfully pleased, nevertheless. This inspection of the ragged bri eade showed that the four still at targe were George Wright, Melvin I'rezvant, Billy Bowlegs and Charles Williams. Sheriff Cathicart was an interested looker on at the inspection. He looked ready for almost anything that might turn up as he leaned on a iouble-barrelled shotgun, while from his overcoat pocket protrude d an enor snous pistol. Jsiler Coleman was asked for a statement. "All I can say," he an swered, "is that one of prisoners threw some ashes ii my eyes and the others threw me down. I tried to shoot but my pistol wouldn't work. If it haid only fired I would have kiled the nerst negro that ran out and ttuen the others would not have dared to move." Jailer Coleman was unhurt bodily, but his mind was sore vexed that his pistol Jailed him at the critical mo ment. Sheriff Cathcart and he started out agaln on the hunt with several others, and continued it until latc last nigh t. but to no purpose. J]OE wRlIGHT CAUGHT. Aiter 10 o'clock last night Ch ief Da y wais telephoned to from Zobers store, above the Jewish cemetery. that one of the prisoners was over there wounded. He, with officer Sloan, acore over ini a hack, and found Joe Wright, the ashes thrower lHe was shot in the back a little above the wa;i-t, which makes 'jite an ugly though not daugE rous vwound. They arr-ied him to the i l and a doctor was sent for to dress the wound. He did not. think it woult prove fatal by any iaeans. .Jaiier Coleman. after-he ran out. of of the juit behind the fleeing prison rs, firedi at ore of them. It seems that his aim was better than he thought for. He wounded Wright, thounh he did not know it at the time. An anai*iing prrt of the escape in connection with Wright is that if he had waited 10 or 15 minutes longer he 1 would hieve been released. His father had secured bond for him and was near the jail with a release order when the escape was made. None of the prisoners are charged a with very serious offenses. Most of e them were awaiting trial for petty lar- 0 ceny. The chase will be renewed with B more vigor, and before the sun sets f, Sheriff Cathcart and Jailer Colemnan r, expect to have all safely back under b lock and key. . n Offi1er Sloan is now straining his i eyesight to find Melvin TrEzvant, who r notified him of the jail delivery.-- f State. V A Safe Blown Open. KINCSTREE, Dec. 23.-The express office, which is situated in the north- 1 eastern railro:d depot at this place d was broken into last night and the door of the safe bloxn open with dy namite. The work v'as done by ex pert burglars,but-. .Lunately the rob bers were fi J d away just about the timr. ceeded in getting the t safe doai- It seems that two C men who w"- returning to Georgia. C drove up to the depot, thinking that 9 the fast nail train that passes here 1 between midnight and daylight, stop f ped, and that they might be able to e board the same. Upon going up to the I office they found the door open and a quantity of smoke coming from with. t in; seeing no one, and looking in they saw the (ors of the safe lying upon the floor. They at oncev became frightened and proceed v ed up town to the hole), where they stayed in the oflice until daylight, and then returned to the depot, where t they found Agent Graham. and they f male kno wn their rambling of the c night before, and upon investigating, it was found that not a single thing had been removed from the depot or a express office, which can only be ac- s counted for by the fact that these t vo Georgians arrived at the depot just about the time the burglars accom- E plished their work and seeing them t they were frightened away. It can E scarcely be said that any clue av yet exists to the robbery, though railroad detectives were immediately set to work to hunt down the robbers. t Sad Story of Shipwreck. SAN DIE9O, CAl., Dec. 23 -A terrific storm occurred in the Gulf o, Cam peche, on the 11th and 12;h of this month, and among other casualties reporied is the wreck of the bark Ja- t maica, with twelve passengers and t most of the crew lost. She encoun tered a norther the night of the 11th, but got through till the afternoon of the next day. all the time working westward to Vera Cruz. With almost all the sails blown away, the Jamaica C returned and attempted to get back to Campache, but without success. c The rudder became disabled, throw ing the vessel at t'ia mercy of the t storm. The passengers took to the 1 boats, which were rep eatedly swamped Most of the crew sin ply put on life The cntain was one of these. He strappei 100 Mexican dollars upon C him, and. clinging to a barrel, tried to reach shore. The survivors saw him sink, o wing to the weight of the t metal. The crew was all drowned, r and only three men and a boy escaped c of the passengers. The vessel sank after she was abandoned. t Convicted of stealing.C COLUMMIA, Dec. 2.-An Associated Preas dispatch sent out from Wash. I ing ton last night relates the following story concerning a young man who is well known in C Atumbia and else where throughout the State: "E. Brooks Sligh, said to be a member of one of the best known families of South Carolina, a lawyer, a delegate t> the recent National Republican convention at St. Louis, a candidate for Adjutant General in his native State and later an employe of the N'a tionial Raoublican committee in this city, was placed on trial before a jury ~ in the police court, charged with the larceny of $:34 from Mr. Richard R. Black, a clerk in the Treasury Depart ment and a student at the law depart ment of the Georgetown University. It was charged that on Friday last Sligh took a pocketbook containing . $34 from Mr. Black's room while Black was asleep. In his defense, ' Sligh admitted that he went to Black's room, but denied taking the money. He was found guilty and committed to jail." _________ An Editor Assassinated. Naw YORK, December l'I.-A spe- 3 cial dispatch to the Tribune from Bir- 5 mingham, Ala., says: "John J. Thornton, assi:-tant editor of the Clay County Advance, published at Ash land, was nssassinated at his home iny that town Tuesday night. He was S surrounded by his family. his mother C being among the number. It was E just after supper, and he took up his 8 mandolin and was playing, when a I load of buckshot came crashing through the window and penetrated 3 the back of his nead. Death was al- ( mos: instan~taneous. Thornton had only recenly moved to the town, andI had no personal enemies, but his con nection with the Advane was signal ized by its initiation of a series of ar tiles denouncing certain lawless gangs, and it is thought his assassina tion was by order cf one of these gangs. the murderer to be selectel by Ic lot. No arrests have been made. Co'rroN is the mystery of mysteries in the business world. One man's opinion about it is as good as another's. I He who can tell how the price is going 4s to rule from one scason, monta or week to another, could foretell when the millennium is comin:; could tell what a woman or a jury would do in c a certain case; could tell what the IS trick male in the circus would do I next, could tell where lightning will jt strike next; could look at a horse's teeth and tell how old he is. The a shortecrop of a few~ weeks ago is turn ing out to be a very long crop. The . "ten-cent cotton" prophesied for '4 Christmas is getting perilously near to fivecent cotton. The receipts are r enormous and the end is not yet. The 1 calculations of the wisest have been ,t all at fault and indeed developments this year, as in former years, have proved that there are no wise men iD cot on.- - D~rownled by a SkItr. 1.'ceau, Ky., Dec. 23.-Alienv Greer, agedl 35 years: Mrs. Rud 1 0,vsens aged 3u, and her daughter, 1: Mary, aged 12, v~ere drowned last night n in Ciark's river, six miles from here. ai They attempted to cross the river in a1C skiff, which overturned. The bodiesb were not recovered. Gireer made a r heroic attempt to sam he women, hui lot his lif i n the efor. I A TOWN ALARMED. [ayfeld, Kentucky, Threteued by a Ne Or gro Mob. ST Louis. Dec. 23.-A soccial from, [ay field, Ky.. says at 3 o'clock this icroing every man of that town and very boy who can carry a weapon is n guard there, for an attack by an rmy of negroes is expEcted at any ioment. The whites are being rein >rced hourly by citiz ens from sur- th ounding to.vns. It is thought that ar efore daybreak there will be corn- Ba ienced the ifercest race war ever cu nown in the South. For 4S hours r ews had been received at Mayfield do rom different points that the negroes th rere organizing in large bodies for he purpose of visiting the town and na 7reaking vengeance upon those who of vnched Jim Stone, the rapist, Mon ay morning and followed this by th whitecaping some of the colored fam- 0t lies who live on the outskirts. th At 9 o'clock last night telegrams da ron Water Valley said that the ne -oes had massed there 250 in num- nc er- and that every one had some sort of f weapon. A half hour later news eli a similar nature came from Win o. These reoorts, in addition to er aany of a similar nature received ca rom surrounding towns during the to vening, caused the greatest conster Lation, and preparations were at once Cu aade for a ba.tle. Men fiest saw to it cfe hat their homes were barricaded, as rell as that could be. and then they| roceeded to the hardware stores, Iap there every one who could use a Dj reapon was handed one until the en- m ire stock was distributed. th A dispatch was sent from Mayfield th o Fulton as soon as the alarmia re- de orts came in asking aid of the white th itizens at that place. A reply came bi t once, stating that a special train th vould be chartered and a body of bt rmed men would reach May field as a oon as possible. At 10 o'clock last to ight, the reports had become so t larming that the fire bell was sound- ga d and all the citizens assembled in ce be public square, where they remain- a d expecting the attack at any hour. T L message from Paducah received at .1 o'clock, stated that a body of ne s roes was being organized there, but di hat they would probably not march ! pon Mayfield before daylight. At is .2:30 o'clock this morning a body of B: itizens from Fulton reached town. hey report meeting a mob of 200 ne. c roes. every one armed with a rifle, >n the outskirts of the town. No at- ce empt was made by the negrops to in- b erfere with the Fulton people, and it tu vas evident that the former are wait- tk ng for reinforcement. Guns have been ordered from Pa- 0i lucah and are expected at any mo. h nent on a special train. At 2:30 t 'clock this morning seve~ral shots ere fired at negroes who were seen m >n the outskirts of May field. There ed 7as no response and the negroes re- Se reated, evidently toward the larger pf )ody. I Will Suet, a negro aged 18 years, 7as shot and killed early this morn ng near tne railway >er of guards were oming train f hree-negroes alil lered to halt, the he deputies opene 'iddled with bullets uet has aroused the ess and they swear tu own tonight. This mor? ouncil held an emergent .ll women and children o remain off the streets a.. onight. Hundreds of farme o May field this fore icon and ng armed to assist in saving the/town a] f ostilities commence. fu At 3 o'clock this af ternoon the citi- d< ens held a mass meeting and organ- t red into companies for mutual pro- pi ection aainst the negroes. e This Year's Taxes. CoramaBI, Dec. 24.-Chief Clerk ic )urham of the comptroller general's w fIhe, gave out a statement yesterday w f the taxable nroperty in the State in d the taxes no w being collected for gJ S98, which is of more than passing es oterest to taxpayers. The total value bL f taxable property is shown to he pr 170,755,474 while the taxes now being ollected on this amount, county, lar chool and State, is $2,150,065.8 ba ~he statement is as follows: Ice otal acres of land.... 1S,073,970 w; -lB: ~otal value of real es-| tate..............'100, 976,705.00 otal value of personal lla property........... 45,38,607.00) in ~otal value of railroads 23,940,162.00 af ~otal value of all taxa- IT. ble property....70,755,474.00lels The taxes levied on this amount of IN roperty is as follows: o tate tax 4 12 mill levy...78,425.15I )rdinary county tax...501,919 70 af pecial county tax.......171,102 25Ipe pecial road tax......... 353.06 qti nal county tax......... 25,55.7u t w ~otal county taxes......794,000 24 t lonstitutional :3 mill ed uca- I tional tax...........5,122,2.4 I ccal and special school ce tax................... 84,290.C7' ssssed polls......... 158,824 00 cc ~otal school fund, State, |it county and special...755,298 09 |z The aggregate of all taxes, State Io outy and school, .92,159.%6548.- sa tate. ____ed______ Epworth O)rphar:ag'-. Editor Rlegister: A brother pro oses to give -deu to the org aneage if 500 more is raised at once in cash, t or the purpose of buildioy; another ouse. At the recent session of our' nual ecnfereace we succeedled inj btaining in cash and good cash sub criptons all of tuis amiount excep.. 15. We m.ust have this - 65 atonceI a assure the success of the pla. a The same brother otiers togve --1 0 iself for every dollar the ch' ren t nd others give by the 13- d It will give the orphunage a total ofj 7,000. j a Do, brethe-ro, come to ouri he-lp right! m ow, and let us work while every doi b r we give or collect will be worth S G. H. 'W->DLELL, Supt. 01 A s::rious Shooting Airai-. cc M~AmFILw, Mo., Inc. 23.-Owen es ~ooth, a constable, is dead, Tom A p: a an dying and a half dozen others u b ere wounded as a result of a shoot- !! g affray near the Douglass county Ias ne, seven miles south of here, this h orning.- Constable Eooth'*s posse El tempted to sesgrei the house of a i~ -erman, named Goosey, who had es -en accused of burglary. Corsypl arreed otgun a;th the above ef- 00 A BI PAILURE. 'E OF THE LARGEST BANKS :N THE WEST FA!LS. veral O:.hor Bank- and Other Proninent usiness Hou-,ei In Chicagn an.1 Other Uties Gns Down in the Crash. EmIIoA'o, Dec. 2L-At 10 o'clock s morning a large crowd gathered )unad the doors of the National .ak of Illinois and creditors dis ssed tie probability of realizing >m their deposits. Oa the large or leading to the coutating room e following notico was posted: "bThis bank is in the hands of the tional ban.c examiners. By order the comptrcller of the currencv." Pst7d over the doors and walls in e corridors were notices from vari s depositors of the bank stating at checks given on the bank Satur y v-ould be paid by the signers. Shortly after 10 o'clock the an uncement was made of the faliare E S. Dreyer & Co., an old estab bed banaing institution. Wasmandorrf & Heinemaun, bank 5 at 145 147 Randolph street, were rried down by the tnancial crash Jay and closed their doors. Judg Freeman appointed the Se rity Title and Trust company re iver for E. S. Dreyer & C,. and asmansdorff & Heinemann. The receiver for Dreyer & Co. was pointed on a bill filed by E S. eyer in the superior court this rning asking for a dissolution of e partaership and a distribution of e assets. R obert Berger was made endant. The court was told -that e assets were $1,500,000 and the lia ilties $,250,000. The bill says that e partae-ship agreed to close up the siness b.. have been unable to ree as to the manner in which it is b done. The bill also says that e assets consist of real estate, mort ges, stocks, notes and accounts re ivable, while the liabilities are open counts and certificates of deposits. ere has been great depression in the .ue of real estate recently, the bill ys, and unless the assests are han ed in a conser rative manner great ss will result. Therefore a receiver asked for to close out the business. a conservative handling of the es te, the complaint says, the assets n be made to realize $150.000 more an the liabilities. None of the offi rs of E. S. Dreyer & Co were at the nk today and creditors of the insti tion could get no information as to e failure. The firm of E. S. Dreyer & Co. is te of the oldest banks in Chicago and Ld always been considered one of e firmest. The receiver of the firm of Was ansdorff & Heinemann was appoint at the request of T. Wasmansdorff, nior member of the firm. He ap ared in the sapericr court and med his partner, Wm. Heinemann, defendant. The assets are eisen al 50,000, with liabilitses of $115,000. 4 s o pro Eued ~- erlly known ositors that the institu ered through the failed Nation Bank of Illinois. The line of fear. I depositors was not long. The ors were closed at 3 o'clock and only ose depositors who were inside were id. T'he crowd outside was large tough to require the servies of sev* al policemen to keep them moving. At the Trust and Savings and Amer an Trust and Savings banks there ere small lines of men and women, ho were anxious to get their money hand, and the bank officers were ad to pay them, as they would inter t morney due January 1. Both these nks are regarded as financially im egnable. The fact that E. S. Dreyer & Co., id Wasmansdorff & Heinemanin, the nking firms now in the hands of re ivers, were connected in a family av with the officers of the National ink o f Illinois had considerable to dc ith the failure. Reassuring action was taken at a rgely attended meeting of the clear g house association, which was held ter banking hours this afternoon. ie following resolution, offered by :-Comtroller of the Currency E. S. cey, president of the Bankers ational bank, was unanimously ited: That the clearing house committee, ter calling to their aid such other ersns as they may desire, be re es:ed to formulate a plan which ill enable creditors of the National nk of Illinois to avail themselves of e olier of the associated banks to ake advances by way of loans to idt creditors to the extent of 73 per nt.'upon properly proven claims. The chairman of the clearing house mittee, stated that the readiness of e banks to do so was so evident that was not prohable any formal organi tion to accomplish the object set rth in the resolution would be neces r, althocugh thle committee apoint .would give prompt attt.ntion to the iyi-osed pn hm Viiism F. Dimmer, president ol e asscciatbon, and vic president of e Northestr Nationel bank, read e folo.ing, whichuh had receiveci ':n omptroller of the Currency kels, daatd Wa shinon:.? "ha've apnmiut Bank" ~ Eamnuer ce~n tcnm~>r irv receive: of the Na )ral Bsk~ oc 'liicis, and I in aUct L im to pulsh notice tocredi eto prove c. ims. He informs me at the clearin house committee I advance 75 ner cent. on evidence clams. Notice will be publishs' once, and if claims are proven edately, I sall withia thrt able to pay a very consideraJ, den I apprec~ai-' the a t'n ot arn: house in claring to ada such certieates. The deci ion of the cliearing hous? mmiv~tee to refuse clearing privikeg to the national Bank of Illino a lo to refuse funds bjwhich us c ould have gone into volunt vidaon, was chiefly due tcoA 'ounin'g discovery that the- oan .d Joaned $2,400,000 to the ectic Street Railway cor/pOany on bonds as'oesecurity. .2h1s loan ceedd the bank's capigad u. us. Another account wrhich causeai e bankers to hesitate was near S-3M. 0, the debtor being E. S.,Theyer & , Robert Berg.,i tenC~Y prJe of Mr. Dreyer. is a sonin-law or Georg e Schneider.,resident of the fail ed natioral bank. There were two other big loans which were considered poor collateral. it is reported that the bank has on hand about 45 per cent. of its deposits of -t,00,00, and there is general contidence that depositors will be paid * full in a short time. The officers and stockholders of the bank unite in saying so. The last report of the bank, issued Nov. 3T~h, placedge surplus at $1,000.0(; );udded profis, o 150,000 ani Jref assets, in cludi" ng h<150-'7 992. The at te p-'fie bank to realize on the C1umet Electric securities aroused h suspicions of other banks and the investigation of the bank' conaition by the clearing house company followed. _5he failure wta surprise to the pub lie. There 5 I) suspicion .on the part of the laridmposiaorz 5hat the bank's capital and assets hd ben seriously impaired. The Llc~iest creditor is the municipal corporatiu city treasurer, Adam Wolf, has $650, 00U of city funds on deposite there. The bank was one of five which are depositories for city funds, and each of the banks take tnrns by the month in cashing city checks. It was the failed bank's tura to pay out in Jan uary. Mr. Wolf said he had no seri ous concern about the safety of the money and has received ample assur ance from the other city banks, which hold city money, that the corporation will not be embarrassed. City Comp troller Wetherill, who is also president of the Globe National bank, express ed the utmost confidence in the city's ability to meet all obligations prompt ly. He declared the city was never in better condition financially and the failure would not embarrass it in pay ment of interest money on the first of the year. Toe West Park board, of which Carl Moll, cashier of the failed bank, is a commissioner, has been caught to the extent of $300,000 and a large amount is on deposit with E.. _ Dreyer, who is treasurer qf the board. County Treasurer D. H. 'och:;ber ger has $300,000 of county funds tied up in the National bank, and Fred R. Blount, the newly appointed treasurer of the drainage board, had over $80, 000 of district funds at the ban, whose officers were on his bond. The bank officers were also on the bonds of the city, county and West Park board treasurers. The fact that the bank ofircns were bondsmen of these public officials was a strong reason for the decision of the other banks to force immediate closing of the bank before funds were depleted. Dreyer has been in the banking business here for a score of years and there is no more prominent citizen in Chicago than Mr. Dreyer. During all, that time the bank has cleared through the National Bank of Illinois. -The first intimation which Dreyer & Co. received that the National bank might not resume was yesterday iternoon, and immediate steps were taken to protect their interests. Nopreferences dir'ect or indirect were given to ny lore. After the appointment of n ceiver many generous offers from New York and other cities. Wasmansdorff & Heinemann s in the community as pri e firm was establish o. Germans mansdorff estate nservative and cautio *ng to pay dollar for dollar, Of their liabilities about $200,000 is for savings deposits. Drefer & Co. ha no savings deposits. The misfortun which has overtaken both the bankin firms is the cause of general regre and sympathy. Mr. Dreyer came t Chicago more than 30 years ago fro Germany. Farzon Leach & Co. are the chie owners of the Calumet Electric road, which is a new and extensive enter prise, embracing several towns south east from Sixty-third street. Tne loan of $2,400,000 obtained from the na tional bank was used to build and equip the road, which is now in full operation. The heaviest run on city banks dur ing the day was directed at the Gar den City Banking and Trust comparny They withstood the attack of 200 ani. ious depositors and tonight gave out the statement that they were thorough ly prepared to pay everybody who wanted money tomorrow,thoughth believed the worst was over. Th hank has $2,000,000 on deposits, but the savings department is not lare County Treasurer Kocmerger is a rector and there is a large amount o county money there. The financial uneasiness on the part of the bankers and depositors has been aggravated lately by the numerous failures of building and loan associa tions and the exposure of their finan cial rottenness. Bryan in Atlant a. ATLAN~TA, Ga., Dec. 23.-Hon. William J.- Bryan arrived in Atlanta last night from Chicago. A t an early hour this morning he was called on at the iKimball House by Governor Atkinson and cscorted to the execu tive mansion, where he will remain as the Governor's guest during his stay in Atlanta. A large number of prominent citizens called on him dur ing the morning, and shortly after noon he was tendered a breakfast the Kimball House by the Yco Men's Democratic League. A breakfast Mr. Bryan was w by Governor Atkinson i thie State. by Mayor Kir of the city and Mr. Jac - in behalf of the Leagt dresses Mr. Bryan concluding the peated calls w Secretary H ~ -on ent in res nac from t' pleas know' 1y, whle an ' ., ent bet ween r issue. y anIncendiary. Ala., Dec. 17.-A e Advertiser from Selmna/ 4,v that Allen Colemana ,py farmer, was shot an dn!at 'ed this evening b te The two men ha en ee 'or some time, an .heridgeha 'ied on a cha fo burningth AO house of Cole man. .Both men re on their wgay home fromtn ad as Etheine 9j**se Cowith bfO~ug he fire bCa f buck shot stgun. Th ete 10c2 of the bead td geet nae ad Etheridge Mme Ts na n ~ nd a posse d ppara uerr who is known a ead ,rtem e ftheo