The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, January 13, 1897, Image 4

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THE STATE PR!S'ON . AN NUAL REPORT SHOWS IT TO SE IN FINE CONDITON. it Has a Good Surplus-The Board Cow pUments the Superintendent-Col. Neal's Comprehensive Report. COLUym, S. C., Jan. 6.-The au nual meeting of the board of directors of the State penitentiary was held yesterday. The board prepared its annual report and by afternoon it was in the hands of Governor Evans. As will be seen the institution makes an admirable showing for the year, re flecting much credit upon Superin teadent Neal. It starts off the new year with a handsome surplus after paying for the State farms: To His Excellency, John Gary Evans, Governor of South Carolina. Dear Sir: The board of directors of the South Carolina State penitentiary have the honor to submit herewith for your consideration this annual re port for the fiscal year commencing January 1, 1896, and ending Decem ber 31st, 189 6, accompanied by reports of the superintendent, captain of 'the guards, physician and chaplain. The board of directors commenced tEe year's work with only four mem bers, the vacancy having been made by death previous to the commence ment of the year's work. The board was made complete in i March by the election of Messrs. Blackwell and Tatum in the places of Mr. T. C. Willoughby, a former mem- 2 ber, and Dr. Sprctt, whose vacancy was caused by death. Anpended to this report is a state- < ment embracing the receipts and dis bursements for the fiscal year ending December 31st, 1896. The aggregate receipts and disbursements are as fol lows: Disbursements..-.......$63,570. 83 RJteipts................... 62, 7 Account overdrawa.. .$ 1,445.66 Cash valu,-pof'crops on .--..d.................$52,92546 Amount due for convict hire and other sources........ 5,108.46 Total..............$5,033.92 Account overdrawn....... 1,445.66 Leaving.............$56,57.26 Liabilities, including Reed farm purchase money.... 1S,370.93 Leaving on hand........$3S.207.33 1 We be beg to call your special at tention to the report of the special committee appointed by your excel lency as chairman ex-officio, to take stock of the institution's effects, which we have appended as a part of our re port. Everything has been put at cash value and shows that the institu tion has been managed by careful and competent officers. We also beg to call your attention to the condition of the real estate as well as personal property of the institu tion, which we are sure has been m creased in value by improvements and good management at least 25 per cent. When the nurchase money for the Reed farm is paid, which will be in a few daysthe instiation will have paid for all the property under our direct orship and two of the farms, DeSaus sure and Reed, containing about 4,700 acres, which have been bought and stock'~ n the last six years, are wo in our opinion, with their ules, horses, cattle, hogs and - 'ons on hand and machin together ,..- the improvements in the way ofdaznme ng' , ter racing, clearing, building and - wise improving the lands by a system of rotating crops and fertilizimg, $101, 565.40. In addition to the above mentioned farms the State owns a small farm in Lexington containing 404 acres, in good state of cultivation, well stocked. and ' ied with other plantation W~eethree farms constitute all the real estate owned by the State for farm purposes. We are pleased to say that each department in the State prison shows efficient end. painstak ing, care having been rendered by each officer in charge. In the last few years a considerable sum of mnoney has been spent on a system of sewerage and various other sanmtary imprvements, which has been money elspent, as the report of each of the subordinates will show. The personal property of the insti tution, as shown by the rep:>rt of the, special committee. is in good condi tion and well cared for. This property, including crops on hand, aggregates $86,873.80. Te prisoners show that they are well cared1 for. There are in prison 190 less than 12 months ago. The policy of the board of directors and management is to utilize all of the prisoners on the State property and we are rapidly growing to that end. All contracts for share crops have expired and will not be renew ed. In conclusion, we desire to thank your honor for the assistance and ad vice given us during the year. We are pleased to say that our rela tions with the superintendent and all official and employee has been very plesnt and agreeable. Respectfully, T. 5. CU3NGHseM, chairman, J. W. LYLEs. S. P. J. G.&nmRs, W. 0. TATUM, J. H. BLA.CKwELL, Board of Directors. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The following is the annual report of Superitendent W. A. Neal: CLUMmIA, S. C., Dec. 31, 1S96 To the Honorable Board of Directors. of the South Carolina Penitentiary Gentlemen: I herewith submit: this my fourth annual report as super intendent of the South Carolina peni tenti'rfor the fiscal year endng Decem 31196: CO~vICT STATE3.ENT. We had confined in the penitentia ry, as shown by the last report made -one year ago, 900 prisoners; received from the courts during the year 189G, 276; recaptured, 2$; total, 1249;; lost by expiration of sentence, 355; by death, 44; escaped, 42; pardoned, 32; transferred to jail, 1; lost by order of court, 2; total, 476; leaving in con finemement January 1, 1S97, SIS making 172 prisoners less than we had 12 months ago. For a more complete prison statement you will please ex amine the report of Capt. Westfield. RET.TH AND) SANITARY STATEMENT. You will find lost by death during. the past year 44. being. three less than the previous year. 'This record we think is good, considering the fact that we get all maimed, diseased and refused from all the county chain gangs in the State. Under the law, the county supervi sors may take or refuse all prisoners( whose snntence does not exceed two1 years; being given the right, they do< not of course take unsound prisoners. To the health of the prisoners, care1 of the sick, we give careful attention, as well as all the money necessary without stint. In this connection I would state, and beg to call the attention of the board to the fact, that the chemical analysis of the drinking water at the pr.soan shows that hath well aned spring j ire becoming more and wore unsafe Fear by year. The last analysis shows he well to be decidedily unsafe and he spring barely so. We ought. in my jadgmeut, to take some steps to ward getting a pure water supply. With our fine sewerage and other ;anitary improvements, and pure Irinking water furnished. the health )f the penitentiary would be greatly .mproved. For a more minute state nent of the health and sanitary con Htion of the prison, I would refer you , the report of Dr. D. S. Pope. MORAL AND RELICIOUS. The church and Sunday school -oom has been overhauled and put in t ood condition, with a new organ urnihed. We have church services mch Sunday morning, conducted by he chaplain, also Sunday school ser ices in the afternoon superintended )y Messrs. Stanley and Adams with heir lady friends. I will call your attention to the re )ort of the chaplain, Rev. A. Pope sorris. The prisoners seem to be bet er satisfied, which I think is attribu able to the religious exercises, in ?hich many of them take much im erest. I am glad to state that a good upply of religious literature is being urnished at small cost to the State, eing donated by friends and religious ocieties. IMPROVEMENTS AT PENITENTIA RY. New barn for cattle, wagon sheds, I ribs, stables, silos, lot fence, slaugh er Dens, in fact everything entirely c iew in the lot has been built this t -ear, at a cost of about $5,000. 1 The prison building has been ce- s nented inside the cells, new iron bed- I ,teads with springs, for all the prison- s rs; church overhauled, and some i ther minor improvements in the I rard, costing about $1,00. REED FARM IPROVE3MENTS. C New large prison buildings, guards' iuarters, cook shed,c. t acost o~fa ;-1 also150 acres fadc, ~?and ditched. DESAUSSURE FARM IMPROVEMENTS. Two new bridges, prison building< miroved and made more secure. new uards' quarters, large and complete. i ew dining and cook room for the I nanagers and guards, new smoke I ouse, hay sheds, grist mill, engine, s oiler, and saw mill sheds, all at a I ost of about $1,500. Also guano aouse on railway track for Reed and DeSaussure farms, 20' feet wide, 80 eet long, good brick pillars, strong md substantial. at a cost of $600. This uilding will be used for storing muano in bulk, direct from the cars, which can be sacked and bauled to :he fields. CROP STATEMENT. The crops have not been good at my of our farms and especially short tt some of our share farms. DESAUSSURE FARX-30-MULE CROP. 13 bales of cotton at $30 per bale....................." 9,390.00 ,25 bushels of cotton seed at 15c.................... 974.25 ;00 tons of hay and fodder, $10...................... 3,000.00 ,196 gallons molasses, at 20c 639 20 L,944 bushels of oats, at 40c. 1,977.60 00 bushels of sweet potatoes at 25c.............. 260.00 100 bushels of Irish potatoes at 40c.................... 160.00 ,000 pounds of pork, at 5c.. 2. : tO ,000 bushels of corn, at 5 ). 2,500.00 otal value farm products made on DeSaussure farm (1896)..............,.$19,091.05 (which is $635 per mule-) REED FAR3I-30-MIULE CROP. 113 bales of cotton,at $30 per bale..................$ 9,390.00 ,-25 bushels of cotton seed 942 1................. 942 L,800 bushels or corn......2,400.00 ,500 bushels of oats, at 40c. 1,00.0'I 100 bushels of peas, at 60c.. 1S0. 00 125 tons of hay and fodder at $10 per ton........... 2,250.00 ,300 bushels of potatoes, at 25c.................- 325.001 ,674 pounds of pork, at 5c.. 13.3.70 [otal value of farm products$16,652.951 LEXINGTON FARiC1 3ULE CRoP. (or $565 per mule.) 12 bales of cotton, at $30 per bale.................. $,460.00 00 bushels of corn, at 5c. 250.00 L,250 bushels of oats, at 40c 500.00 ~,500 bushels of cotton seed, at 15c................. 375.00 5 bushels of peas, at 6c. 15.00 50 bushels of potatoes, at 25e 62.50 odder...................75.00 rotal value of crop.........$3,737.50 (or $373.75 per mule.) The four share farms were very un -atisactory this year, and I am glad1 o say that the contracts have all ex- I >ired and will not be renewed, henca I r'e will not have any share cror' Lext rear; will only have crops jn l and owned by the State, a-.d under >ur full controL FINANCIAL STATEMENT. We Iully intended to sell the entire otton and oat crop during the month >f December, but the price of cotton ias been so much depressed and each lay expecting the market to react. We have samples in the commissary uilding and will sell the same in the ext few days. I am glad to report he financial condition of the institu ion is better than any time for the ,st four years. We will be able to pay every dollar ;he institution owes, including the 59,000 for the purchase of the Reed arm, bought last year, and pay cash For our next year's guano supply, which has been bought some timneago 1 it a very low price. otal liabilities .........$1,370.93 ASSETS. 34 bales of cotton,at $30 per bale.................$22,20.001 amount due from contract ors and other sources..... 5,108 46 ,500 bushels of oats at 40c.. 1,000 00) $28,128 45 which will leave us af ter paying all :lemands against the institution $9,-1 57.53. We have on hand food sup-i plies, which will not be offered for mle (at low cash value) $24,797. 1 For a further statement of the mon-< sy transactions connected with the institution I would respectfully call your attention to the report of our, bookkeeper, Mr. R. E. Burriss. < Allow me, through you, to thankt he managers of our three State farms or the push and energy which they tave shown during the past year: Kr. S. A. Miller of the Lexington 'arm, Mr. W. T. McGill of the De aussure farm and Mr. J. J. Cooley f the Reed farm. Thanking the board >f directors for help received from hem and courtesy shown during the rear. All of which I beg respectfully 1 a submit. W. A Neal, Supt- t Two Hunters HaIrdered-. CHARLESTON, Jan. 6.-L. F. Brown od Stephen Mazyck were killed at< )trango, about 15 miles from Charles-] <z, today by John Poppenheim. All f the parties are white. Brown and I ~Iazek had been out hunting with a yartyv and were crossing Goose creek .n a boat when Poppeneim came up: Lnd fired. Very meagre particulars lav-e been received here of the shoot- - g, bu~t it is said that it resulted from 1 Mazyck and Brown's attempting to t Follow a deer into Poppe-nheims prop erty. Poppenheim tonight surrender A DEM ON INCA NATE. !MON COOPER Ui'UTALLY BUICH ERS FOUR MORE VICTI S. vithout C.ausc. Thi5 Flerd Iliteti Brn Wilt4o. &n Old White Xar. iS Son ami His Sonu's Wife aud a Negzo. S-r , Jan. 7.-Tii st q zel to the -iot ardl murder aT L'ncnburg ou ranuary 1 was Enac:ed this morning ast after daylight, and it proved to )e the most bloody and horrible mur ter ever perpCtrated in this section of he State. Simon Cooper, the negr3 zho killed another negro at an Eaian ipation celebration on Jan uarv 1, and Jter wounding live otheis terrorizEd he whole tn for several houns, tas added to bis list of victims tvo Thite men, a white woman and a ne ;ro man, who' he butchered t.is nornog %,it': tie most fiendish crud v. sinc? tte Emancipation Da aurder and riot he has be-n running round the country ar.md to the eeth and thleatening to put to death ,nvone who would attempt to arrest im. He has been seen at Mayesville ,nd in other neighborhoods in this ounty, but no attempt has been made o arrest him. A BLOODY DAY'S WORK. Yesterday morning Cooper went to 1lorence, it is said, and purchased a Vinchester rifle and one hundred artridges. Whether he purchased he rifle and cartridges in Florence or ot he certainly had them in his po - ession when he reappeared in Lynch >urg list night. He came back, he aid, to get a mulato girl whom be vanted to marry and carry off with dim. Going to the house of the girl's >arents he ordered her to get her lothes and come with.-. vas terrtifd, but pretending to cry vent into the shed room of the house Lnd then ran for her life. He forced mother mulato girl at the point of his istol to accompany him when he eftthe town, going in the direction >f Shiloh. The white people of the place had n the meantime become aroused and earing that Cooper would attempt to ut into execution his threats to kill everalof the white ci izens and to >urn the place they armed themselves tnd squads were posted on several -oads where it was thought Cooper night pass. Cooper encountered one :quad later in the night, and several hots were exchanged without effect, tnd he then took to the woods. Just bout daylight Cooper went to the iouse of a respectable negro named oyle and, drawing his pistol, made ii bring out his horse. Cooper nounted the horse and took Boyle's on, a boy 16 years old, behind him for he purpose of bringing the horse back hen he got home. He then rode on n the direction of Mayesville. Coop r told Boyle that he proposed to kill very person, white or black, who rossed his road, an. that to-night he ntended to return to Lynchburg and ill several men, whom he named, and >urn the town. From Boyle's he vent to the house of Mr. S. Wesley Nilson, a short distance down the -oad, where he killed S. Wesley Wil on, shooting him three times, Mr. B. . Wilson, the aged and feeble father >f S. W. Wilson, whom he shot three imes through the chest, either wound 1aving been sufficient to cause death. Kr. Wilson's young wife he forced to o to the lot in her night clothes and >arefooted, get her dead husband's uggy from the barn and hitch it to e horse he had forcibly borrowed 'rom Thos. Boyle. He took her back nto the house and titen murdered her >y shooting her in the back of the tead, just at the base of the brain. 3ming out into the yard, which is ery near the road, he met Preston mith, a negro, who happened to be assing along the road, and immedi tely attacked him. He inflicted two orrible wounds on his neck, one on ither side, with a Bowie knife, and hen .beat him with a heavy stick. Cot satisfied with this he went to the ood pile for an axe, which he btzried o the nilt in Smith's head as he lay utstretched on the ground, his head dready almost severed from his body y the Bowie knife slashes. He then ired several times with his rifle at a white man named J. W. Baker, who vas in his front yard about four or ie hundred yards distant, and had itnessed the killing of Smith, and tad seen Mrs. Wilson while Cooper orced her to hitch the horse to the uggy. Sam Lowry, a negro living tear by, also witnessed the murder of mith and heard the pistol shots in the ouse while Cooper was butchering he t wo men and the woman. Cooper ook the Boyle boy in the buggy and ent in the direction of Mayesville. THE CoUNTY ALaR3IED. Lo -vry sent his son to Lynchburg, Mut three miles distant. and the onru nim- was immediately arouns d. \ htes and negroes armed them elves ar. set out in pursuit. The 'oads w-:re scoured in every direction or mi~ s on .corseback, in buggies and n fo>t. The theriti of Sumter was otif ed, and p sses dispatched from hat place. E .-ery crossroad in this ection of the county has been guard :d all day by determined bands of nen. A large posse from Timmons till has joined in the pursuit, but so ar as can now be ascertained Cooper s still at large. PURSUIT OF THE DESPERADO. Your c:>rrespondent left Sumter this norning at 11 o'clock on the special rain secured by Sheriff Pierson to ,ransport his posse to Lynchburg. it Mayesville the train was met by dr. Joe Clark, one of the posse from Lynck burg. He had followed Coop r t within eight miles of Sumter, wo lniles beyond Lynchburg, and 1ad ten been forced to turn back by iis horse giving out. A part of the yosse was put otf, and obtaining horses et out in pursuit of Cooper. CO~ber nessengers were sent to St. Charles ,.d Oswego to call out the people to ye on the lookout for Cooper. Sher if Pierson and the remainder of his >osse returned on the special to Sum er for the purpose of sending out >ther osses to surround Cooper if >ossibe. Your correspondent. in company vith Coroner A. D. Moses and his onstable, W. H. Commander, went en miles across the country -to he scene of the tragedy. THE SCENE iF THE TIRAGINY. Arriving there a more grewsome ad bloody spectacle was never be ield. In the road immediately in ront of the house lay Preston Smith, :olored,covered with blood, an axe still ticking ini the back of his head, just as if it hqd been a olock of wood. En ering the house, which was a small wo-rom frame cottage, with a hall vay between, a more horrible specta le was disclosed. Lying on the loor, weltering in blood, was the half 'lad form of a venerable old man. is face was bloody from a gash Lcross one temple and eye, and his ong, grey beard was clotted with ore, as was his entire shirt front. hi was Mr. B. E. Wilson. aged 76 ears. On the floor of the left hand oom was the bloody form of Mr. S. Yeslev Wilson. A pool of blood ex ended from beneath his head across he room. The back of his head was plit open, as with an axe, and there were two bullet holes in the side of he head and one ihrmno-h his right hand. One cheek was burned and powder marked. Just in front of the flrenlac2, in the other room, in a scant white nightgown lay the body of Mrs. Wesley Wilson, a handsome young woman of _1 or :21 Ycars. Her face wasipillowed on one arm, which rest Ed in a pool of blood that still oozed from her mouth and the wound in the bacik of her head. Her luxuriant brown hair was saturated with her ulood. Her bare feet were soiled from contact with the frosty ground, where she had gone in the lot to hitch up the borse for her fiendish murderer. The house was turned topsy turvey, and on the i oor were seen a numiiber of empty riilc and pistol cartridges, showing that Cooper had taken the precaution to relcad after completiaz his murderors work. TUE t9UEST. The coroner empanelled a jury and exani Led J. W. Baker, white, Sam L->wry, and one other negro, who was in th- vicinity when the "our murders rert committed. Dr. E. :. Darby made an examination of the bodies and submitted a written statement, that simply described the nature of the wounds, and decleared that the dead came to their death from said wounds. The verdict i a each case was that the deceased came to their death from woun ds inflicted by Simon Cooper with murderous intent. This is the story of the most fiendish murder in the history of Sumter County. The murder is one of the most brutal and bloodthirsty on record, and the people of the State should use every effort untried to bring him to justice. THE MURDERER DESCRIBED. Simon Cooper is a ginger-cake col ored negro, about 5 feet 9 or 10 inches in height, 25 to 30 years old, broad shoul jes. J small mustache, two I inas in front teeth, toes of one foot were burned off when a child; when last seen wore light grey sack suit; his movements are (uick and nervous; has a wound on back of neck and head, received in the riot on Emancipation Day; may have other wounds on his person. LAST HEARD OF COOPER. Isaac Boyle, the boy who was with Cooper when the killing was done, and drove him toward Sumter, was captured near Mayesville this after noon. He says that Cooper came within three miles of this place, left the buggy, gave him five dollars and told him to go home. The boy says also that Cooper boasted of ravishing Mrs. Wilson before blowing her brains out. Cooper is said to have been seen in Mayesville after 6 o'clock to night, and went in the direction of Lynch burg.-News and Courier. THE FIEND LYNCHED. MAYESVILLE, S. C., Jan. S.-Simon Cooper, the notorious negro outlaw, the murderer, has gone to join the devils in hell and there is rejoicing from one end of Sumter County to the other. He has been lynched: This report comes from parties who have just returned from the scene of the lynching. This morning at an early hour, a regro by the name of Bob Wilson came to Mayesville and report ed that he had been forced at the point of a revolver to accompany Simon Cooper yesterday after he had committed the terrible murders, and that he had left Cooper in Turkey Creek swamp near Sumter, asleep. After making this statement, Wilson went on through town to his home near Mayesviile. Soon a posse or ganized and went after the ne gro Wilson. They captured him and brought him bacE to town where beeing closely questioned, he confessed that Cooper was in a house about five miles from Sum ter. where be hadt spent the night with him, and that Cooper had gven him five dollars and ordered him to go to Sumter and purchase a frer~h supply of cartridges, and that be took the train and came on to Mayesville. This ne ws was immediately telegraph ea to the sheriff at Sumter. Soon a posse left Sumter and went out to the huse where Cooper was re ported to be. The house was surrounded by the posse and soon a lively skirmish en sued between Cooper in the house and the posse which surrounded it. A cannon was sent for andt placed in po sition to bombard the house. At this juncture, Simon Cooper yelled out that he would surrender if they would protect him. The posse ordered him to come out of the house, which he did. When he landed on the ground, some one put a bullet through his jaw. Cooper then began cursing and abusing those who composed the posse. Report savs that the crowd then ovrpowered the sheritf and took the negro to Green Swamp. niot far distant, where he was lyn.~ned. It is reported that he was literally filled with bullets frce the crown of his head to the soles of his feet. Thus ended the career of the most notorious and bloodthirsty demon that has ever disgraced tlie State of South Carolina. It is reported that a guard wvill be placed around the Sumter jail to-night to proact Boyle and Wilson, as there are threats of taking them out and sending them on to assist Cooper in sho-elling coal down below. Cubans Enthusiastic. NEY WEsT, FLA., Jan. 5.-2ubans in this city are enthusiastic over the reported landing of a large expedition consisting of 1,04S Mauser rifles, one 1-pound field price with 200 shells, 400,000 rounds of ammunition, 200 pounds of dynamite and 40 men on the east coast of Cuba last Sunday night. Early this morning Col. Nunez, J. E. Car taya and three others came into town. It is supposed they were landed from the Dauntless and it soon became known that the Cubans had received good news. Several times last week strange Cubans were seen in the city. but they almost immediately disap peared. About the same time it was rumored that the Three Friends had failed in her endeavor to land on the Cuban coast and had landed the men and ammunition on No Name Key. where some other vessel would take them and make another attempt to land them in Cuba. The Cubans are very close mouthed as to the locality of thbe landing, claiming that they ex pect to try another in the same place at an early date and it would only be placing the Spanish on their guard. A ConvenIent Invention. An Orangeburg farmer comes to the front with a new invention in the shane of a Lubricator for oiling ve hie wheels without taking them off the axle. It is inserted in the hub between two of the spokes. When y ou want to grease your wheel all you have to do is to withdraw a plunger, which operates with a spring, and put as much oil as is needed on the axle. Upon being released the spring closes up the oil hole until it is opened for oiling up again. It is a very ingeni ous and elever device, and is bound to be used generally. With these lubri cators a vehicle can be oiled up any where along the road in less than one minute. The patent for this valuable invention is owned by the National Lubricator Company of Orange burg. S. C. Mr. Jas. L. Sims, Editor and Prorietor of the Orangeburg Times and'Democrat, is the manager of the company, which is a guarantee that it is all right. The company wants an agent in this county to sell the Lubri cators. See advertisement in another cohzmnn IN A VERY B~ADI) THE CONOiON OF THE STAT&S P-HOSPHATE INDUSTRY. The Annual Showing Made by the Tnspec tor to the State Board at the 'Annual Meeting Held Yesterday. The State phosphate commihsion held its annual meeting yesterday in the governor's oflice at the State capi- J tol. There was a full attendance of A the members. State phosphate In- S spector Jones Fuomitted his annual report, which will be found below. The report revealed such a deplorable condition ol the industry in South Carolina, that it appears to be a neces sity to reduce the royalty to 25 cents a ton. This has been caused by the strong competition which has steadily driven the price of the rcck down. The board discussed S the situation at great length, but fin ally decided simply to transmit the inspector's report to the general as sembly aad leave it to that body to take such action as it sees St. T Here is the renort of Inspector Jones: To His Excellency John Gary Evans, s Governor and Chairman Board P Phosphate Commissioners. Sir: I have the honor to submit this, t] my annual report as State phosphate inspector, for the year ending Aug. 31, 1896. I also append report.of the C operations from Nov. 1, 1895, to Dec. t 31,1896. V COMPANIES MINING. During the year the followine,nam ed companies and individuals have e been engaged in mining and shipping C phosphate rock, viz: Coosaw company, Farmers' Mining company. Beaufort Phosphate company, W. Y. Fripp, r James Reid and the Carolina Mining e company, and John C. Nelson, who t had ceased mining, shipping the rock t on hand at time of cessation. James O'Hear suspended Aug. 27, 1S93, hsv ing on hand 623 tons of rock. OPERATIONS FOR THE PAST YEAR. Total tons of rock mined during the year ending Aug. 31, 1S96, estimated, 123,708 tons, as against the year end ing Aug. 31, 1895, 196,777 tons; a de crease as compared with August, 1s95, a of 7:3,069 tons, and as compared with n the year 1893, a decrease of 96,767 1 tons. The total number of tons of rock shipped during the year ending Auo. 31, 1896, was 121,602 50-100 tons; as against that of the year 1895 of 174-400 25-100 tons; as against the year 1893 3 of 249,338 2-100 tons; as against the 1 year 1890 of 237,149 6-100 tons; being t a decrease from that of the year 1895 of 52,797 50 000 tons ; being a decrease from that of the year 1893 of 127,735 1 50-100 tons; being a decrease from i that of the year of 1890 of 115,546 t a 56-100 tons. Total amount of rock on hand Aug. 31, 1895, 35,557 tons; total 1 amount of rock on hand Aug. 31, b 1896, 37,963 tons. ROYALTY. c Amount of State's royalty for year v ending August 31, 1896, $60,853.76; n amount of State's royalty for 1895, t $S7,200.13; decrease from last phos- t phate year, $26,346.37. c Of the rock shipped or sent to mar- t ket there have been shipped: To foreign ports, 93,627 tons; coastwise, t outside of State, 11,257 tons; taken at 3 Charleston, 5,017 i tons; taken at i Beaufort or Port Royal, 11,801 tons; a total shipment, 121.602 ) tons. r The detailed shipments are as fol- t lows: Coosaw Company-Foreign 32,040 'J Vons; coastwise 833 tons; Charleston, t 4,548 tons; total 37,421 tons. c Farmers' Mining Company-Foreign c 43,013 tons; coast wise 1,039 tons; total s 44.052 tons. Beaufort Phosphate Company- r Foreign 11,9.44 tons; coastwise 6,597 i tons; Beaufort 11,500 tons; total 30, 042 tons. t Carolina Mining Company-Foreign c 6,530 tons; Beaufort 307 tons; total r 6,831 tons. W. Y. Fripp-Coast wise 274 tons. 5 James Reid-Coast wise 2,514 tons. John Nelson-Charleston 469 itons. Total Shipments-Foreign 93,527 i tons; coastwise 11,257 tons; Beaufort I 11,801 tons; Charleston 5,017 i tons; 1 total 121,602 i tons. Detailed statement of royalty due g the State by the several mining com- i panies, as based on the actual ship- 1 ments: I Name of Tons State's i Company shipped. Royalty. t Coosaw Co...37,4-21 $18,710.50 r Farmers' Mining Co. 44,052 22,026.00i Beaufort Phos. Co.. 30,041 15,020.50 Carolina Mining Co. 6,726 3,363.00 E WV. Y. Fripp......274 137.00 1 James Reid........2,514 1,257.00 I John C. Nelson..469 50 100 234.75 ] Add Carolina Mining Co. at '$t per ton.. 105 103.00, Total.... .121,60250 100 $653.7; From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been a very great fall: ing off both as regards the amount of rock mined and the amount of the royalty paid the.StLate during the year as compared with the previous years. And it appears that the amount of rock shipped equals very nearly that of the amount mined during the past ~ year, the profits, if any, to the~ com panies, have not been equal to .:e year before for the reason that the price has not averaged quite so much, while E freights have to some extent advanced. His excellency, the governor, in his r last annual message, in speaking of ~ the output of the mines for the year t commencing the 1st of January, 1896, I makes it appear that there were ship- ~ pea during that year 219,240 tons, as e against 152,2S6 and 40-100 tons for the ~ year ending October :31st, 1892. I am1 at a loss to discover the data upon which the governor based his tigures as to the shipments by the several T companies for 1895, as from the fol- ~ lowing detailed statement of the C operations of the different companies 5S it will be seen that for that year the total shipments were only 164,479 75-100 tons, besides it was not a fair comparison to take the year 1S92, as this was the year of the Coosaw litiga tion and that company did not resume fl shipping until June of that year. THE DIb FERENT Co31P.1NIEs. The detailed statement of shipments i by the different companies from Jan- v uary 1st, 1895 to January 1st, 18%6, is: 1 Coosaw Co.............Ton3s. Farmers Mining Co..... 48,O98 a Beaufort Phosphate Co.. 2G,987 Carolina Mining Co..54,667 W. Y. Fripp........... SSS 75 100 Total..............164,479 75 100 n For 20) rears immediately preceding b the y ear 1890 our Szuth Carolina river n mines, particularly, supplied the Eu- n ropean market with the bulk of its c imports of phosphate rock and the net , prices to the miners ranged from $6 b to s f. o. b. in 1SS0, to $6 to$7 f. o. b. g in 1890, at which time the Florida J phosphates secured recognition, since hi which the price has continued to de cline until now the same fluctuates between 82 to $3 25 per ton I. o. b., p on a basis of 57 per cent. tri basic bone e phosphate c f lime, as showing the ex- ii tent to wh ich the South Carolina ti phosphates bave been supplanted in b if other mines. I give below a corn arative statement of ptiosphatc rock mported into Europe frorn this State, 'lorida and Alecria, resppctivelv. for di- mjonths, beginningz .1 nuar- 1, 8'. and endin otober Ist, 1.: S.C. AIaei ia. Ficrida. Rock. Total 1.16 Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. anuary..15 845 6.642 3,67C 26.057 ebruary. 14 .340 27,62S 10.061 52,020 larch.... 9.250 13.789 5,127 28,166 Lpril...16.,347 14,2S6 11.412 41,045 lay......13,440 31.303 2.'62 77.:32S une...11,180 37.661 5,777 54,51S uly...15.07 3o,626 9.197 55.030 Lugust.. ..13,238 43,204 12,340 CS,782 ept...... 1.049 30,4S1 4.9:32 44,462 Total.. 118.296 265,023 65,058 448.417 EUROPEAN IMPORTS. 1S93. 1894. 1895. 1896. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. lorida to Dec. 31..331,41S 441,818 425.510 :350.000 leeria to Dec. 31... 6,150 53 223 136.5*5,0 outh Carolina year ending Aug. 3 1.... 182,122 63.494 125,385 * 93,527 'otals. 512,600 578,533 6S7,483 593,527 *Estimated. From this it will be seen that in ead of furnishing the bulk of the hosphate rock imported to Earopean >anufacturers of fertilizers, as was 2e case a few years ago, the mines of Jgeria and Florida alone supply icre than that furnished by the South arolina mines, to say nothing of 2at furnished by other mines in the rorld. If the question be asked why ais falling oil in the European de ijad fur the South Carolina river ck, I would say that for a long time outn Carolina river rock enjoyed mparatively a monopoly for export, ut since the discovery of phosphate eposits in Florida, Tennessee, Alge ia and other countries, she no longer njoys such a monopoly, and besides 2e deposits of most of the above men oned mines, while of a much higher rade than ours, can be mined and repared for market at a cost aporox nating ours. ET PRICES REALTZED UY THE MINING COMPANIES. From the certified statement made y the Farmers' Mining company for djustment of royalty on shipments 2ade from June 1, 1896, to Sept. 1, 596; also of the Carolina Mining Co. rom May 13 to Nov. 13, 1896, which made a part o' this report, will be seen that the net rice realized by the companies per ton r rock, after paying the royalty, as in the case of the Farmers' Min g company from $1.40 to $2.72 per )n, f. o. b., and in the case of the arolina Mining company from $1.62 0 $2.92 per ton, f. o. b. Out of this to be paid the cost of keeping plant a repair, cost of miiing, washing, )wing, drying, etc., and placi.ng longside of the vessel ready for ship ent. In my last report I called attention 0 the fact of the suspension of work n the part of the Carolina Mining ompany, one of the most extensive orks engazed in the phosphate busi ess in this State. This suspension, as en stated, was caused by the fact at with the utmost economy the ompany could not mine because of be low prices. It was with the hope of inducing his company to resume operations, as rell as to prevent others from s top ing work, that led me to recommend temporary reduction of the State's oyalty to 25 cents per ton until such ime as the market should improve nd a higher royalty could be paid. ~his recommendation not being acted pon and prices getting no better this ompany has permanently gone out f business, the works have been tripped of all machinery and sold, s well as the dredge, and the site is ow offered for sale. In order that may be seen what a loss the phos hate industry in this State has sus ined by reason of the discontinuance f operations by this company, I sub it the following account of the or aization and operations of said com CAROLINA MINING COMPANY. This company was organized in 1885 y F. Brotherhood, a man of fine usiness qualifications and peculiar 7 fitted for managing such an enter rise, who induced a number of En lish capitalists to invest their money a the business. They had built the ~rgest phosphate dredge in the world, t a cost of $150,000 and their entire avestment in the business amounted > at least $350,000. Their works anking the famous Coosaw company a completeness. Statement showing royalty paid the tate on shipments made by the Caro na Mining~ company, from Aug. 1, 895, to May 1, 1896: rom Aug. 1, 1895. to April~ 1, 1896, as Rose & Pitch er..................$ 18,791 50 y4. 1 to Dec. :31, 1886..... 28.117 95 ani. 1 to Dec. 31L, 1887..... 27.054 21. an. 1 to Dec. 31, 1888... 33.916 35 an. 1 to Aug. 31, 1888..... 35,517 00 ept. 1, 1889, to Aug. 31'90 36,615 00 ept. 1, 1890, to Aug. 31 '01 31,992 25 ept. 1, 1891 to Aug. 31, '92 40,54S 50 et. 1, 1892, to Aug. 31, '93 63,521 60 ept. 1,1893, to Aug. 31, '94 2,502 50 ept.1I, 1894, to Aug. 31, '95 16.713 00 ept. 1, 1895, to May 1, '96 3,468 00 $:338,756 85 All of which has been paid into the tate treasury. 9 Having in my last annual report ecommended a reduction of the tat's royalty to 25 cents per ton, ~mporarily, for the reason that I be eve it was for the best interest of the tate to do so and as subsequent vents have fully sustained the cor ectness of that opinion, I again feel :my duty to report to y our honora le board the actual condition of this adustry, as viewed from my stand oint, in order that having all the facts efore you, you may make such rec mmendation to the legislature as in our wisdom you may think proper. A. W. JONES, State Phosphate Inspesctor. Caught in the Flood. ST. Louis. January 0.-Early this iorning the steamboat B. Hi. Pike, nded here 60 wood choppers that ad been picked up from treetops and ouse roofs in the lowlands north of .ouisiana yesterday. T wo hundred ood choppers employed by local mber concerns were at work on the rarie lands bordering on the Missis ppi lying directly north of Louisiana nd they had narrow escapes from the oods. Perished in the Flames. PCKENs, via. Easley, Jan. 6.-The iost appalling calamity that has ever efallen any one in this county hap ened to the Rev. M. L. Jones last ight. His residence, five miles north Pickens, with tbe entire contents as destroyed by tire. His son, El Irt, and daughter, Mary, both about rown, perished in the llames. Mr. ones was absent. An inquest was eld today. Verdict, accident. N!AnI Winston, N. C., a farmer archased a small tract of land and 'hile digging a well discovered g300 gold. He announces that he is in e well digging business for good, and CRIMES [N CA1ROLJNA., ATTORNEY GENERAL ANALYZ-3 THE YEAR'S RECORD Comp ,t i-oa, 1 tdCorcealed wean Law A Dead 1etter-How Cases H ave 1,rt d. COUMD.,, S. C , Jan. 6 -That por tion of the annua; report of the attor ney gencral dealing with the criminal statistics of the courts during the year beginning November 1, 1895, and end ing December 31, 1S96, was completed yesterday and turned over to the State printer. The report is brimful of in teresting information and the most essential point is that it shows that the constables have not presented strong cases to the courts for violation of the dispensary law or else the law is not receiving the moral support of the people C I the State. Here is what the attorney general savs: "From the general consolidated statements it will be seen that 3 0)2 criminal cases were disposed of in the State during the last 14 months cor ered by this report. Of this number, there were 1,175 convictions, 4S3 ac quittals and 1,344 nol prosequis and no bills. Besides these cases disposed of in the court of general sessions, probably hundreds of misdemeanors have been tried by the magistrates in the different counties, no account of which reaches this otfice, for the rea son that such cases are not required to be reported. 'It further appears fromi the consol idated statements and former reports of solicitors to this ollize that the fol lowing number of criminal cases have been disposed of from 1SS7 up to and including 1896, to wit: Seventeen hun dred and thirty-eight cases in ISS7: 2,119 cases in 1SSS;2,093 cases in 1889; 2,096 cases in 1890, without the num ber in the Fifth circuit: 2,148 cases in 1891; 1,670 cases in 1892, without the number in the Third, Fifth and Sixth circuits; 1,650 cases in 1893, without the number in the Fifth and Sixth cir cuits; 2,080 cases in 1894, without the number in the Third circuit; 2.35U cases in 1895 and 3,002 cases in 189)6. During the last decade there seems to have been a remarkable uniformity in the number of criminal cases disposed of each year in the State, which indi cates that there has been no markEd increase in crime during this period. "The crime of assault with intent to kill and aggravated assault and bat tery seem to have been predominant. there being 674 cases-about 20 per cent. of all the criminal cases disposed of in the State. There was only one case of the kindred crime of carrying concealed weapons in this State, and this was ignored by the grand jury, which shows that this law is not en forced. "The next most important crime seems to have been the violations of the dispensary law, there being 627 cases. The crime of burglary foots up 278 cases, and larceny 193 cases. Homicide cases have also been large, the number of oeing 207 cases. The per cent. of convictions in cases dis posed of during the last 14 months is about 39; no bills and discontinuances about 46 per cent. The per cent. of convictions in homicide cases is 25; in burglary about 59: in larceny 50; in assault and battery 37, and in dis pensary cases about 25. "Of the convictions for the last 14 months there were tive sentences to death and 29 in the penitentiary for life; 611 to terms in the penitentiary and 447 to jail and chain gangs. "By way of comparison, it is found that in 1891. 2,303 cases were disposed of in the State. Of these 835 were discontinued and no bills; there were 982 convictions and 486 acquittals. In 1895, 2,037 cases were disposed of. Of these, 774 cases were no bills and dis continuances, and in 897 cases there were convictions, and in 365 cases ac quittals. It will thus be seen that the proportion of convictions has been maintained and there has been somie increase. '"From the consolidated statements, it will be seen that during the last 14 months there was the very large num ber 01 1,:344 no bills and discontinu ances in the criminal cases in the State which was about 40 per cent. This should be remedied in some way, f or the expense uselessly entailed on the courts is very large. Something should be done in the way of legisla tion to prevent this evil. "It appears further that during the period czvered by this repclt thirs were 207 homicide cases in tne State. Of these, in 52 cases there convictions, in 110 acquittals and in 43 no bills and discontinuances. In 1889 there were 111 cases of homicide disp~osed of in the State. In 27 cases there were c onvictions, in 65 acquittals and in 8 mistrials and 11 discontinuances and n o bills. The per cent, of conviections was 24. "in 1895 there were 205 hcmizide casee dist,osed of. In 26 eises there were no bills and discontinuances, in 66 cases convictions and 11:3 acquittals, The per cent. of cnvictions was 3?. "By comparing 1890 witn these years it will be seen that there is no increase of the cases of homicide or decrease in the number of convictions. "During the last 1t months there were only 14 cases of rape disposed of in the courts. Of this number there were five convictions and three acquit tals and six no bills. There has been a commendable decrease in the num ber of cases of burglary and larceny during the last ten years. There were 41 cases of highway robbe-y, :30 of forgery, 21 of perjury and 30 of ob-I taning goods under false pretensesI which shows a enjiisiderable ir-rease in these crimnes "It will be observed that in the con solidated statement it does not appea that in the fourth circuit any rnerscon convicted was sentenced to j - !. I presume all those convicted w- - -s tenced to the chain gangs as th - 3s itor has not ir-eluded in his 1er: such sentences. "From information re'- i; d f'-~n all the circuits law aut.he r-,'.; j adg s to senter-c to the county chain gar has been productive of much good in deterring from toe commission< crime and in improving t-he publit highways. "During the~ las mnths there were is criminal casv- ' < "ugh 'cth suremne court by i) :Ms number 9 were adiraad nam new trials were granted an - - : have not yet been heard" And inspection of the st t -- a port attached shows somne no interest not c~vered in the aba . pcrt. The rcplrt for R 1 a.d -:"2 ases: Mistrials :;. no biUs ::.n di; continued 67, not guilty 13. guiity -grand total 133. Three cavce s were fined and sent to jail, niwent to the State prison for varying t-rms d one went there for life. In Charles ton 631l eases were disposed of, 132~ prisoners being sent to the State peni tentiary for terms and 3 for lie no bills and disecntinuances disposed of 77 of the cases. The largest numbe o cases disposed of in any of the cio cuts was in the first, 786, -The eig ' carme next, followed closelv bv th seventh. This circuit-the ifth shows the smallest number of cases. In the en-ire State there are 627 POWDER Absolutely Pure. A cream of tartar baking powder. Highest of all in leavening strength. --Latest ' nted States Gocernment Foodl Rejort. ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO., New York. law. It is worthy of note that 444 or them resulted in no bills being return ed by the grand juries or discontinu ances on the part of the State. Twen ty-four offenders were acquitted and there were 159 convictions There was only one case for cruelty to animals which resulted in "no bilh' being returned. There were but 12 cases for gaming. Three went out on n, bills, five were convicted and four acquitted. There was only one case resulting in cnvction for selling goods on the SabL',ii day. There v;' e 26 cases for assaults with intent to ra.ish, with 7 convic tions and 6 acquittals. There were but 49 cases of adultery and fcrnication, resulting in 10 con victions and 5 acquittals, 34 cases be ing thrown out. It is worthy of note that there were but 15 cases for bigamy, resulting in 6 convieions and 1 acquittal, the other cases being dropped. THE PREDICTIONS OF A HERMIT. TerrIble Conditlon of A fraIrs of the World Foretold. Over forty years ago an old Ger man hermit published in a Bavarian paper a curious prophecy. In it he foretold the Austrian-Russian and the Franco-Prussian wars, the death of the Turco-Rassian debate-at-arms. He said that Germany would have three emperors in one year before the end of the century, and indicated the death of two United States Presidents by as sassination. All these things have come to pass. In the same article he said that when the twentieth century opens great seis mic disturbances will take place, which will cause the submersion of New York City and the western half of the City of Havana. Cuba is to break in two, while Florida and Lower California are to suffer total extinction. The shcek of these earth quakes will raze buildings to the ground in almost every city in the continent. Millions of lives and bil lions of dollars' worth of property will be lost. There is to be a change in the eco-. nomic condition of almost every civi lized nation. He ioretells the growth of a democratic spirit in England which will result in a revolution that will overthrow the present form ofU ..overnment and make the countrya republic. He says the last ruler of. England will be the best the country ever has had, and the first President of the new nation will be one of the royal family. Q 2een Victoria is by long odds the best ruler England ever had, and in a recent speech the Prmne-: of Wales made some utterances ofia decidedly liberal character. According to the hermit, B' France and Italy will go into with Turkey. This war is to b'e outgrowth of Turkish persecutio. Christian subjects. This triple ance will conquer the doinain of Sultan, and at the expiration of war complications will arise w will plunge Italy and France in war with Russia. The result will that France and Italy will be gobb up by the Northern- Powers, and cease to exist as independent na~ While war is being waged bet them the Pope will move the seat Catholicism from R ome to some tow in Southern Ireland. A rebellion will take place in t land of the Shamrock, in which country will become independent$: E'ngland. Then a conflict will a ' between the ultra Catholics of t south of Ireland and the ultra Prote ants of the northb, in which the Son erners will be victors. A kingdo will be established, and it is predi that the reign of the first potents will be historic for its ty rarnny. The prophet paints a dark pictu for tne United States. He says a ing of unrest u-ill seize the people the close of the century. This feelie will be the outgrowth of unequalso cial and economic conditionzs He predicts that the t wenty -fif th Presi dent will be the last executive head of the United States. During his Ad ministration the d'scontented masses will break into open rebellion, and the established form of government will be overthrown. The United States will be rent asunder and for a year or more Anarchy will prevail. New York Journal, Burned in a Convent RonoRA . Quie., Jan. 6 .-At 6 o'clock this morning tire broke out in the chapel of the convent here caused by a lighted candle near the cradle of the Infant Jesus setting fire to the drap ries and iloral ornamentations, and i' an instant the whole was a mass of lames. The alarm was given~ by a sacristy nun, but the tira spread wnhj such rapidity that nothing could be4 done to save tL'e buildiag. Seven nuns were smothered in the smoke. Teir names are: Mither S:. Fran cois de Paule: Sisters Providence (Em maU La Tourneau of Q aebec); St. Ur ue Corinthe C-arneau of St Foye); t. Anne iLaure Hudca of Herbert ville): St. Antonie de Padorie (Cathe rifle Bcuille of DeschambaulO; St. Domir-au-e i as~ie Louise Girard of Roerval), anud E:. Louis (Ryse Cosse n of St. Jean Chrysostomie). An ):her nun was badly burned'in trying o extinguish the tire. The convenlt nd school are a mass of ruins. The css is $75,000 with only about$2,000 insurance. The school was closed on scount of holidays and most of the pupis had gone home. mloody work in clarerndon MisNNG Janl. 4.-Ralph Des h.mns, s-n of late Smnator Des- - chamr , shot andi killed Tom Rhame at Ra ame' house, near Silve mles from Mannia?,. I hdo---and it is said hot boreDs notm throg ently by