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VOL . 111V ANMNG S. C. WEDNESDAYS MARCI > 198. NO. 32. MUCH TALK OF WAR ON THE PART OF SEVERAL UNITED STATES SENATORS. Senator Alen's Amendment to Consular Appropriation Bill Brings out Expre. alons From Both Parties-Regrets for Last Year's Blunder Expressed by Some. While the United States Senate had under consideration the diplomatic and consular appropriation bill Wed nesday a sharp debate on the Cuban resolution was parcipitated by Mr. Allen, who offered as an amendment the resolution passed by the senate a year ago, recogmizing the belligerent tights of the Cuban insurgents. In the course of a reply to the pre liminary statement by Mr. Allen. Mr. Morgan, of Alabama, said this coun try's relations with Spain at the pres ent time were seriously strained and that intervention by the United States, which a year ago would have been in offensive, would now be almost a cause of war. He expressed the opin ion that the Cuban affair would even tually bezubmitted to the arbitrament of the sword between the United States and Spain. but he did not want war precipitat-d by rash acts of legislation. Mr. Foraker, of Oaio, thought the day not far distant when the time for action by this country would arrive, and that the chief magistrate of the nation ought to rejoice that the legis lative branch of the government was prepared to support him in asserting American rights. Mr. Thurston, of Nebraska, counsel led calmness and prudence, for he be lived the country was rapidly drift ing into a war with Spain. "We ought to have patience." said he, "and wait as a great and powerful people, not in fear, but in hope that some sat isfactory conclusion of the present dif ficulty may be reached." Mr. Hoar, of Massachusetts, main tained that the floor of the senate was no proper diace for angry discussions of international affairs, and that no senator ought to utter anything that might not well be uttared by the pres ident of the United States. Mr. Allen thought a statement was due the country. The amendment, he said, is practically a copy of two reso lutions which have already passed the senate. Referring to the unfavorable report presented on the amendment by the foreign relations committee. Mr. Allen said it was a confession and avoidance that meant simply that the committee did not desire to act upon it. Thetruth was, he said, that con grew was merely finding some excuse under which it could continue busi ness and escape censure. His desire was to find whether congress could in anyway be induced, cajoled or kicked into putting the country in a dignifi ed attitude on the Cuban question. Taking up the main issue involved he asseted that he had reliable informa-, tion that no less than thirty three per' cent, of the Cuban population or five hundred thousand people. had perish ed in Cuba within the past three years . as a result of Spanish cruelty. "And yet," said Mr. Allen, "lest we the senate, a body of eighty-nine men, offend the house of representatives, oisting of 375 men, a point of order is to be made against this amendment and it-will go the way of very much valuable legislation." Mr. Allen said that if tha republican party cculd suffer to see the Cubans exterminated starvation in plain violation of its ormn and of the Christian senti m ient of the country, the Republican unnatonmight to be willing to face the question on a yea and nay vote. Mr. Morgan, of Alabama, said the sena had twice pase Cuban belli gerency resolutions substantially as it was now offered, but both times it had been done openly and frankly. "We have no right," said he, "to make a declaration of war against .Spain un der cover and that is iprecisely what thisresolution would mean. If this -amendment were attached to the ap propriation bill, Spain might well re ~ard it asacause for War. As I have before indicated, the conditions and situation in Cuba were entirely dif ferent when this resolution was passed by the senate-" he asserted that be tween~three hundred thousand arnd six hundred thousand neople had been starved to death in Cuiba. -'This awful condition of affairs," said Mr. Morgan, "makes our position on the Cuban matter extremely deli cate. Intervention now of the kind oroposed a year ago means war. It ould mean nothing else. "If, however, any senator believes in adeclaration of war and wildraw up such a declaration with sufficient ad proper grounds upon which to osse it 1 will vote for it." At this point Mr. Allen interrupted Mr. Morgan to disclaim any intention of making a declaration of war against Spain. He expressed the opinion that his amendment could in no way be construed into such a declaration. "Ilf we should put this amendment on the pending appropriation bill," re plied Mr. Morgan, "Spain would be fully justified ini interpreting our meaning to be that we were offen sively interfering in her affairs. Ho w ever, I do not believe that any sena tor has in mind a declaration of war. It would not overtax the ability of any manto prepare such a declaration with proper and sufficient grounds upon which to base it. I will not. nowever, vote for any declaration of war in disguise. The Spanish are a s. great and powerful and proud people and they believe that their course is xight. I da not wish to provoke them to a declaration of war. I have al ,,ways believed and believe now that 'Vthe war in Cuba could not be termin ated without involving the United States in hostilities. ' 'I helieve that the matter will even ually be submitted to the ar bitrament et the sword. Tile whole world re cognizes Spain's inability to conquer 'the Cubans a~d sooner or later we shallbecome, in my opinion, involved in the armed controversy. The pind ing amendment is little else than a declaration of war ir disguise, If we mean to declare war let us do so like men and not endeavor to coniceal cour selves behind sa transparent a cloak Those who are constanitdy seeking tc benefit the sacred cause of . aa liberty, particularly at such times as this, can not accomplish their pur poses by such rash acts of legislatiot as is this amend-ment." Mr. Allen made an extended reply to the arguments advanced agains his position.- He maintained that this was the first time the belligerency proposition had been presented to tut senate when there was any chance oi its being effective. The house woulc be brought face to face with it and i wuld be brougnt to a vote in tha1 body. It could not be buried in a corrmittee. Mr. Hoar. of Massachusett, dis = cussed the situation from the stand point of an international lawyer, maintaining that the recognition of belligerency in ordinary ciz cnmstance was not a cause for war. It was not necessarily an unfriendly act. Mr. I Hoar maintained, however. that be fore taking any action of that kird the United States cu tht to have a clear and unquestioned statement of the facts in me case. He exoressed the opinion that the enactment of a belligerency resolut on at the present time would be productive of war be cause of tha friction that would be created by Spain exercising the right of search of United States vessels on the high seas. Mr. Stewart, of Nevada, made a speech in favor of granting belligerent rights to the Cubans at once. Mr. Hale made the point of order against the amendment that it was general legislation atd had, urder the rules, no place in the oill The vice president sustained the point, and Mr. Allen took an appeal from the ruling. Mr. Bacon. of Georgia, speaking in support of the ruling of the chair, drew from the galleries an enthusi astic round of applause which was quickly suppressed by the vice presi dent. He said one of the greatest causes ever trted before the nations of the world was now being tried in Havana. 'Let us do nothing," said he. "that will in the least way embarrass those who are conducting that investigation. The wreck of the Maine now lies on the bottom of Havana harbor. The fact relating to the explosion are be ing sought earnestly and intelligently by a competent court of inquiry and we ought to do nothing that will in the slightest manner interfere with the progress of that work. What we desire is to know the facts. If it should be found that the explosion was due to an accident, we must know that. If, however, it should be disclosed that it was due to treachery 1 the whole world will applaud the ac tion of this country in holding to 1 strict account the country in whose friendly harbor that awful disaster occurred." Mr. Hale then moved to lay the ap peal on the table and Mr. Allen de maxded the yeas and nays. Mr. Halt's motion was carried, those voting against the motion being Messrs. Allen of Nebraska; Cannon, of Utah; Heitfelde, of Idaho; Mason, of Illinois and Teller, of Colorsd i. The senate then, went into execu ive session and tmn minutes afterwards adjurned. A GRAND ALLIANCE RALLY President Wiib'ra Has Appainted th Day. Wedne:diy President Wilborn is suei the following, a call to the sub alliances of the State to rally cn the 13.h of March for the purpose of dis- I cussing the ways and maas of mak ing each farm self-supporting. The I tenor of his letter is that if the farm ers will raise their own "hog and hominy" the question of cotton acre age will regulate itsel'. While others think differently, Mr. 1 Wilborn thinks that the farmers, one anti all, have decided to reduce the I cotton screage. In several counties they have obligatedi to plant only so < much to the plow, averaging from I tea to twelve nales. In addition tot: this is the very appreciable falling off 1 in the sales of fertilizers. Mr. Wilborn's letter to the alliances is as fellows I have pledged the alliance of South Carolina to uuity of action in the mat ter of cotton, its prcduction, sale and1 ~that the whole matter may be morei fully disscussed and active measures may be inaugurated looking to_ relief,I the 13rth day of Marcha, 1898, is here by selected, named and designated as< A lliance Rally Day, where every sun [ alliance in the State is requested to1 meet at its regular meeting place on1 that afternoon there to consider the cotton situation and all other matters~ that may pertain to the good of the order. The officers are urged to be on hand in due time and are directed to in-1 form the niembers of their respective sub alliances of the rally day. This call to apply to zvery alliance thati has ever Deen in existence in this State. The secretaries are reques:ed to notif j me of their action in all mat ters that pertain to the good of the or der. I would -suggest that you make one of the leading questions for discussion at this meeting the el tarts every South Carolhna farmer will make to have his farm self s.staining, if he dcas this, the mat ter of cotton acreage will set tle itself . Be not deceived by the small ad vance in the price of cotton, just at planting time, with a crop liae the one just marketed you cannot hope toI get more than five cents per paand foit All alliance men are earnestly urged to co coperto with the Cotton Growers orgaaization in their efforts mn tbis matter. J3. C WILBoRN, Pres. Farmers' Alliance or S. C. For ocloniz ation. A special dispaten from Charleston to the Colum:i. State says Mr O'Calla han, the legal representative of thet Philadelphia syndicate whbich recently urchased the prope.rty of the Soutn Carolina Land and L amber company is in the city for the pur pose of secour ing possesston of the iies to the pro perty purchased The prope -:y con sists of fi-ne farming and timnb? laads extending fromr New Eaglad City to Monck's Corner and covers anout. 18, 000 acres. The c~mpaniy al -> ovss the Berkeley railcoad and it is -mc stocd that tney will extend tr e hune of road from Caicora, its termiu. to Eutawvitie, a distarnce of 16 miles. Now that the titles to the property have been sicured its new owners wiil begin at once to improve the propertyi and cokonize it wita people from the north and northwest. Air.-ady mnc money has been spent in improv itg the property and the work will ca tinue until it reaches a state of high caitvtion. Fostd iceo Robbed. The v3Osics at Dalton, Ga., was entertd Taursday ma,~t, the sa'e was blo wn ope., and eij hL a andred dollars mnmony adstauJs tetherefion. Tue tfii-.vs z : eria: then abi sedge haae:, a tr&ae a-d long~ screw-driver. its . money-x ala stamps were also sc:~ ee over Lt-e fbeir. The registereu i.:-tern m na ofcle wer thef uun..lested. There i GRM STARY ATION NHAT THE OFFICERS CF THE MONT-I GOMERY SAW. Perishing Like F!nes-Conditions Reported Which Would Shc.2O he Heart of a SaT age-hpain Absolutely Helpless to Re-. port. While the United States cruiser Montgomery was at Mantan zas recent- i Ly a board of dfliers was appointed to squire into the conlition of the peo ple of that province. Although the exact terms of the report are not nown it may be said that in substance it sets forth that there are 14 00) peo pie absolutely without food and cloth ing within the city limits. About 3,000 of these live in small huts of palm branches These huts form three eparate villages beyond the built up p rtions of the city. The other 11,000 unfortunates live in the streets of the aity and are absolutely without homes )r shelter. These 14,000 people are of the lab fring class who have been driven in to the cities from their country homes which have been destroyed in the wsar ,perations. Most of them are women and children and they are all emaciat d, sick an"dA almocst beyond relief un less they .an have the benefit of regu ar treatment in the hospitals As it is they are dying in the streets for want of food. According to statistics gathered From the best sources, the number of eatbs in the pr-viace of Mantanzas from starvation is 59,000 and the num er of starving people at rra ent in le province is estimated at 98 000, ut of a total nopulation of 253 616 in December, 1897. and the numb& r of tarving people is rapidly increasing. In the city of Mantarzas alone there ave oeen about 11,000 deaths during he past year and the number is in :reasing daily. The death rate at ?resent averages 46 per day, as shown ,y thi reports from the cemetery. lne increase in the death rate is due ;o the fact that the distress is no long ;r confined to the laboring class, nest of whom have already perished. [t has now extended to those people who before the war were in moder %tely comfortable circumstances. Chose who are now begging in the treets were in the large part, well to I people. In addition the citizons >f the city of Mantanzas themselves .re beginning to suffer for the actual ecessity of life, having drained their -esources in order to supply the needs f the laboring class who have been hrust upon them. The citizens of Mantanzis have an )rganiz d system of relief for the tarvibg people, but it is entirely in tdequate and is daily becoming more ;largly so, for the resources of hose who were well-to do are rapidly iminishing, while the demand for ood is constantly increasing At one of the relief s ations the >oard of officers found 100 starving )eople, this being the actual number )f persons for whom the citizens had >een able to provide rations there. In room across the court yard of the uilding were 100 tin pans and as nany spoons. These pans were filled with a cooked mess of rice and fish Ld were arrange d in rows ready for istribution among the famishing peo le who were in waiting in another iart of the house, but, as already said, he three relief places in the city of dantanzas do not begin to adequately upply food to the 14,000 people who tre starving in the streets, for the :itizens are only able to issue food ree times a day at each place and hen to only about 300 at a time. Con e quetly only about 900 of the desti ute receive 'oad once a day. It should be added that a large num er of the citizens of Mantanzas have ed the starving in the streets in front >f their homes, but the citizens them elves are feeling the pinch of priva ion, and unless assistance soon conmes o them they will be compelled in self protection to cease the work of ~harity in which they are engaged and which are seemingly the only salvation for the starving. The only other relief issuied at Ma umzas is that given to the poor sick hildren by the management of the merency hospital, which is under ;he direction of the volunteer fire de artment at Miatanznas. There are ibout 80 children treated daily and re furnished with no'urishment un er the direction of the city physici Tnese statements are the conclu dons, facts and figures arrived at by Cii~ed States naval officers. When Lkle Uuited States naval officers land ed they were constantly follo w'ed by :lamoing crowds of starving men, women and children, who importun ed them in the most heart rending manner for a little food, for the wanL f wnien, thev were slowly dying. Te UnitEd States consul at Ma tezas has cone everytoing possible under the .circumstances, cut whnn te Montgomery left there, in tw first da'.s of February, the consul hadI only enoughi rations remaining to last aout two weeks, after which the fu d appropriated by congress would have been abhsusted. and when the sufferers of MaaLtarIzas woaid include the Amrican citizens at that place. who have h-itherto received relief tlrouga1 the United States consulate. At that time tne consul had received a ptitioc, signed by the American cii-ns of Maatanz is, setmin forth in detail tne needi in which they stood of iomediate relief from the dangers of Sa far as th~e iard of officers of the Koitgomery could ascertain, Matan zis at that ime needed a supply of food for 14,000 people ter at least one month in addttion to supplies of cou densed mile for invaids an~d me-di cinies of all klads. Ine peope of Ma tazas are also is urgent need u cioning, most of them oeing in tiltuhy .e Spanish authori~ies, it may bt a in c a.clusioni, na-.e rendered wi the sil-ance we iL. r-ens ps~i for theni to proviude. OI m to occa sion the have given $100,000 to th< fund for ine relief of toe uestitum; but so far as taec bsard could learn this was'ail the government was in a position to contrioute to the relief of te 14000 Ataryme, dying i.eople the stree..s of Mahntar z's. Benuy to Mov.' Cop A dstth from Atlanta says all the rairoaa. :eading to that city are futrnih ig tle government, on appne!iatwnt, e nuats of ine numtber of men ana munitions of war they can mnore mn a FC.o:TING STRENGTH of the Navies of spin anui the *UnitEd St.:es. While this question is bound to arise in the public mind it is well to note that the Maine, although costing the government somewhere in the neigh borhood of $2 500 000. does not appear in the catalogue of cur first-class bat tieships Since it= total displacement aggregated only 6,682 tons, its proper designation is that of a second class battleshio. Our first class battleships, with the tonnage in each case, are nine ir number, as follows: The Kentucky, 11,525 tons; the Kaarsage, 11,525 tons; t e Illinois. 11.525; tre Alabarwa, 11, 525; the Wisconsin. 11 525: the Iowa; 11,410; the Oregon, 10 2S; the In diana, 10.28S, and the Massachusetts, 10 288 T > summarize the fighting strength of the white squadron, it inclu es nine first class battleships. two second class battleships. two armored cruisers, thir teenh protected cruisers, three unprotec ted cruisers, one armored ram, six double turreted monitors, thirteen sin gle turreted monitors, ten gunboats, six composite gunboats, three special class gunboats, twent; two steel tor pedo boats, one wooden torp-do, five iron cruising vessels, eleven sailing ressels. six tugs, eight wooden steam vessels and six wooden sailing vessels. In the segregate there aro 141 differ ent naval pieces in the white squad ron, only fourteen of which are ob so!ete and unfit for service in the event of war. So far as the resistive power of our battleships is concerned, it is safe to say that in spite of the disas trous experience of the Maine, there is no country on the globe which can boast of superior engines of war. 0 curse, such countries as Great Britain and FraLce are provided with more of them, but they are not of better workmanship. But what of Spain's naval outfit? This question is certainl- pertinent in this connection. Mcstof Spain's naval engines are out of date. She has only one first class battleship which is wor thy of the name-the Pelaya-and even this falls considerably short of our small- st one, its - displacement be ing only 9,900 tons. One apparent ad vantage which Spain's fleet has over ours is in the number of armored cruisers. While her fleet contains seven of these cruisers, ours contains only two, viz , the New York and the Brookli n; but this advantage is partially overcome by the superior qpment of our cruisers. The New York andithe Brooklyn carry seventy four mouster guns; the Spanish cruis ers carry 208 smaller and inferor ones. On good authority, the statement is made that Spain has no sea going coast defense ships, while this country has six, carrying thirty heavy guns and fitty two light guns. Of non sea g irg coast-defenders, Spain has only wo, while this country is credited with fourteen. Of protection and non protection cruisers, Spain has only five while the United States has sixteen. In the number of gunboats, torpedo boats available for use in the event of hostilities, the United States is also ahead of Spain. From this hasty review of the two squadrons, it is evident that the United States possesses every advan tage over Spain, and that if war comes, as now seems emminent, it will be the latter power which will have every thic-g to lose.-Atlanta Constitution. Well said, u1r. President. To a senator who called upon him in order to ask some serious qu-stions as to the policy of the administration, President, McKinley, with the utmost fankness, has uttered the folio ting words: "I do not propose to do anything at all to preciptste war with Spain. Up to the present I do not think war is either necessary or inevitable. _I would 'be lax in my duty, however. if I did not prepare for the future. Tne situation is grave and the policy of the administration will be determined almost entirely by the course of events from ti:ne to time. Teere is no neces sity of alarming the people, but con gress must be ready to assist the ad ministrtion without making so many inquiries as to the course of current events." Tnese wordisof McKinley were given by tbe senator in question to the car respondent of the Chicago Tribune and reported in that paper. There is now no doubt of tne fact that the government of the United States is actualiy preparing for war with Spain. it does not follow that war will come, but tne activity in both the war and navy departments is too unmistakable to be concealed. At no time since the close of the late war has the military brnch of the government been so ac tive as it is now. Getting B sady at oharleston. Work on the new fortifications at Chareston is being rapidly pushed The big guns are being miounted for action, but some of these are not yet ready for service. There is li'.tle or no powder on hand for firiug the 800 ound projectiles, but it is said the ammumtioc is to be shippei at once. The New York force is aept bisy pat ting the guns in shape for war. The officials in charge beliere the forts would be able to protect the city from hostile ships. in .Fort Sarnter a tar ~do tub-: which commands the en rane to the liarbor is prepared f or w'ork. Tne garrison, cons-sting of eig ty-five men, on Sullivaa Island, is ready for any orders that may oe sent from Was 2mgton. Bazzards Hovar Aboat. Persons who have j ist returned fom Harana say that tue Maine was orry ying from the evidence toe wrckge bore of the power of the ex po-on and the carnage wrcught izzards huug sbcut the wreek, the Sa:sh et~cers making no e ff;rt to drve them -away, tnoIga their pres 4- was sickeningly oiiensive. Soanaids who row. d acout la boats dd not enceal their sauisfaction at te Anerican warsnip's fate, and sometimes were sten shaking their issat '1h' fieg tha: hung at naif mast ove tae auim. Governmient S:Enyig Goal. The United States government is uing ;arg-e cytitiues o-f coal. One at the largest coal dealers at Pettsburg a has closed a conmract witht tae n4vy depar'tment for the delivery at y West, Satd Kays, Dry Tortuozs. Svannah, Charlestcn a:.d Fortress M nr oe of 25000 t as .A P'ocanouti -oal. The stipdlations cf the contrraet jut place d are that the coat so order':d -ah ce delivered at the designat.:d coing stations as soon as it :s possi be to do so. and that ia utmost ercy be obher-e stout the matter. IT WAS {O ACCIDENT. THE MAINE BLOWN UP BY A SPANISH MI NE There is Little Hope of Proving the ]Maine Dlaaeter the Resuit of at Accident SpanlEh Army Onicers Continua Their Auti-ame Ican Expetsions. Peprwr. ihe Havana corresnondent of the Washinztor. star cabled his pa per ;s follows on Wednesday: "Inqoiry into the Maine disaster progre es along detinite lines. The results so far my be summed u;, in the statement teat the probabilities that it Was an accident srem to de crease with the progr ss of the inves tigation. The most intence anxiety is shown by the Spanish cfficials here, who are in constant communication with Madrid. They realize that the relations with the United States were never so much in danger of rupture as now. This is the general feeling. "The commercial classes here are hopeful of American intervention on peaceful lines, but what they base their hopes upon is unknown. The insurgents continue to win minor military successes. The autonomists are restless, and some of the leaders seem to be on the point of breaking away from the government Army cificers continue to show an anti American sentiment. They are ap parently the only class that does not look for an early crisis. The outlook in Cuba does not grow more promising. The exact statement is that the government officials were never so much disturbed as today. L:cal developmert, justify the seri ous view General Blanco and his as scciates are said to take of the proba bility of fresh co-nplications. The statement that the divers have penetrated the forward part of the Maine and found nothing in the mag azines there to indicate an explosion seems to be verified. Attention is also given to testimony regarding vi bration under water hofore the Maine went to pieces. Evid:r.ce as to this fact is emphatic. How far it justifies the belief that the explosion came from underneath the ship, experts may be left to determine. The point has not been reached where a definite opinion can be form ed regarding submarine mines. Out side evidence has been brought for ward regarding the construction of such a system, but it has nit been sifted Spain's officials were surprised at the firmnness with which the Wash ington administration declined to ad mit them to share in the investigation. "At this writing divers are develop ing important results. From exami nation of the interior wreckage, they have secured evidence which seems conclusive that the explosion came from underneath the ship. "Some of the smaller magazines may have exploded The main 10 inch magazine did not explode. Tae condition of the interior of the ship shows further probability o' the wreck having been due to outride force. "The further the investigation pro gresses the more untenable becomes the theory whicb the Spanish govern ment adduced to show accidental causes. Ii is evident the Spanish case will be based on the claim that a fir! preceded the explosion. "Capt. Sampson and his colleagues of the naval board may have outside evidence offered re g zrding a torpedo fiat producing the explosion. "Said one diver who had been en gaged in the work of getting bodies out frc m under the hatcn: "God may be merciful to the men who blew those poor fellows to eternity, the Unit d States should not." This was long before Long's order prohibiting cificers from talking. This diver evid.:ntly thought the explosion was nct an accide at. He had an ex pert's capacity and opportunity .for judging. The Havana public is not permitted to communicate the inten sity of public sentimerat; in the Uni ted States. Only meagre details are ernitted to be known of what hap pens in Washington. Congress is watched with excessiva anxiety by palace officials, but the populace knows nothing of what is liable to hapen. Evidenes of ill feeling to ward American people and exulting over the Maine disaster does not les sen. NO LONGER ANY DOUBT. A dispatch from Havana to the New York Herald says: There is no longer any reason to doubt that the explosion which wrecked the Maine camne from underneath the vessel and that her magazies had nothing toa do with the initial explosion and played a much smnaller part in the general disaster thai? was at first supposed. The evidence that has served to con virce the board was obtained by E a. sign Powelson, an officer attached to the Fern. Mr. Powelson was formerly in the construction corps and took a two years special course in tne Giasgow scheo! of naval architecture. He is therefore a competent wi'ness. What ie discovered was that the forward part of thie keel c f the Maine, with its ribs and plates was store upward so far that omrs of the shattered double ottom 'show out of water and in places sections of the green painted outer hull are visible. Corroborative of eridence given by E sign Po welson and of e q-.ai signifi cance and importance is the result of .h close examnination made by the divers. What they found indicated that the explosion came from a point beneatn the keel. A plumb line drop oed from a point jus: forward of the coning tower would have laid the ead exacdly on the spot where the :xlosion oceurred that arove keel, ptes and ribs almnost to the surface. 'The main force of the explosion seem's to have been exce tdiagly slight on ihe port side of tue vessel. Tnis is cosistent with the farts hithecto as certained. Collectively, these now indicate that the contents ot the reserve six mn mue)zine were explcded by the initia. uiait and there was no explcs:oa 1.0 either of the oth r two. In the reserve magzine was sto sed 2.500 pounds et oowd..r in copper tanks, eachi of wnicn :ontaned 200 pounds See of tue tans have been found by the divers, all in crushed and san Ss ma2sses . Iti imortanlt tc "cte t-al in ti e s' inchi and ten-incL anks ree iveren the ecesior usd. fo: oaegin' the charg-es -lws no inp ry rmn tlame or gases. Tuie 1.o ,der stowed~ int the s:. ix-m1 prposes ciy. The.. m?aeaztme 2tsel sparstoLave been utterly destroyed, ~ony a few traces bemng left to snow. the point where it was once located. B3EYOND) REFARATIQY. The United States board of enquiry seat to Havana to enquire into the wrecking of the Maine have about concluded their work there and have returned to this country. The couri has decided apairst any attempt te raise the ruin, d battleship. The mem te-s are convinced that it would be useless as !he could never be kepi afbat, and the Sranish authorities here will be informed that i they wish the wreck removed from the har bor t:v must attend to the wcr hem'i L s. This decision gives a bet ter idea of the terrible havcc wroughl in the Maine than columns o descrip ticn could do. A FEW PLUMS GIVEN OUT. Governor Enierbs Namen Suparvisors of Reglatratirn. Gov. Ellerba made the following appointments of supervisors on Thurs day: Dorchester-H. A. Jamison, Sum merville, and J. R Patrick, St. George's. Horry-J. C. Blum, Little River, and Malcolm J. Granger, Wannama ker. ElgeEeld-J. Trapp McManus, E~e deld, and Luther R. Brunson, Cleora. Marion--Henry Berry, Marion, and A. R Oliver, Centenary. Marlboro-A. C Pearson, Bennetls Ville, and T. R. Easterling, Bennetts Ville. B-rkeleo-E. S. Wilson, Honey Hill, and D. L. Shuler, Monck's Cor ner. Georgetown-H. L. Carter, George town, and S. S. Dusenberry, George town. Greenville-W. A. Nesbitt, Balson, and C. 0. Goodwin. Lima. Beaufort-W. E H. Dopson, Beau fort, and S. E. Blount, Beaufort. Darlington-W. C. Gandy, Doves Ville, and P. R. McIntosh, Darling ton Newberry-Williai Kibler, New berry, and W. D. Halfacre, New berry. Abbeville-J. D. Carwile, Abbe ville, and W. A. Lanier, Abbeville. Barnwell-Ashley Stansell, Elko; B. J. Hammett, Blackville, and John K Suellings, Barnwell. Orangeburg-Thos. F. Stokes, Row esville, and James H. Fanning Or angebarg. Saluda-Walter H. Shealy. Bates burg, and F. H. Hempson, Huggin's Ferry. Pickens-J. H Hennemur, Pickens and J. Alonzo Brown, Cateechee, Lexington-W. H Meetze, Lexing ton, and George W. Pound, Gaston. Bamberg-R. W. D. Rowell. Den mark, and Isaac Carter, Enrhardt. Chesterfield-W. C Baker, Chester Seld, courthouse; C. W. Teal, Che; terfield courthouse, and W. C. Mr Creight, Chesterfield courthouse. Charleston-Joseph G Martin, Charleston. and Lea Royal, Charles ton. York-D. C. Clark, Yorkville, ana James E Baumeuard, Clover. Laurens-R D Boyd, Austin, and J. D. Sullivan, Laurens. Aikea-G. C. Moseley, Aiken. and H. M Sawyer, Monetta. Colleton-Thomas S. Ackerman, Cottageville; Joseph A Roger, Wal terboro, and 0. T. Worsham. Clarendon-C. D. Hodge, Manning, and Etward B. Gamble, dranning. Williamsburg-Charles Lesesne, Greeleyville, and W. G. Cantley, Brawn's. Richland-M. A. Bridges, P. B. Mc Coy and Joab J. Roach, all of Colurn bia. Lancaster-J. Mont. Caskey and R >bert J. Flynn. both of Lancaster. Union-J. D. Epps, May'ointon and 3. P. Thomas, Jr., Carlisle. Fairfiel -Thomas W. Sligh, RidgE way, and John H. Neal Wins boro Caester -Jose phS5 HardiM, Chester; A. W. Love, Onester, and John Rose, Cornwall. Greenwood-W. A. Sanders,Ninety Six, and in. Saepperd, Greenwood. C::onee-H. L. Vaadiver, and W. H. Barron, both of Wathalla. Anderson-Walter L. Anderson. Anderson, and Cuarles M. Barrett, Corinne, Kershaw-Mannes R abon, Camden, and Alexander Brown, Camden. Sumter-Jno. M. Knight, Samter, and Tnomnas B. DuB ass, Bossard. Our War ships. President McKinley could in a fa w days concentrate a powerful fleet tc meet the Spanish war ships in Caban waters shculd the occasion arise to demand them. Of tae torpedo fio tilia the E-icson and the Cushing are .ngaged in disoatch wort between Ksv West and Havana, and the norter and Dunont are at Monile, and th Foocte and Winslow are at No -folk. Vhe Texas and Nashville are at Gal veston, the Marblehead at New Or leans, tha Detroit en route for Mobile. and tne Vesuvious at Branswick G& la the Caribean Sea are the Brooklyn, Wilmington, Ne wport and Montgomn ery. In reserve are the Puritan and Cerror at Norfolk, and the Columbia atud Minneapolis at League Island, while the ;iining ships are as widely scat:eredi. tne Essex aad Amphitrite osing at Port Royal, S. C.; the Alli ance at Portsmouth, N. H.; thF An .sapolis at St. Trhomas and the Vicks ourg at St. Kitts. Tue Cincinnati ad Castine are steaming fast for Ba'nia. The Bancroft, San Francism aud Helena are at Lisbon. Tnis dis position of the tieet snows the mobili zition of the vessels, s2.ve those in re arve and abroad, would oe a question of only a fe w days, while all tne other ;essels could be assembled in lesr than two weeks. The table shos thlat twerty-eigat vasseis are available. could be by the same date preparec for ywo'k. .At tae present momeni Spain's ships la the West Indies an mostly unimportant vesssels of the gunbaat type or very small gun yes iof no importankce, intended foi us: iu the creeks of Cuba. It woult I robably be not less than a month be fars doain could gather her best ves sels off the coast of Cuba. A disprtch from Havana says: Thu. r the sharks have give2 no trouble out the vuitures have lefi. scarcela any thiag 'cut the suMetons of thust wh~o were enttanglied in debris vern' near th~e surface of the water. Tau bodies were not noticed by any cn' tni te foul birds had completec mei gaa.Iy work. From the hanU( ;f ore. Usytain Chaawick remova four identideation, a deeply chased gol( A HORRIBLE CRIME. ITHE NEGRO POSTMASTER AT LAKE CITY. S. C . KILLED. His Infant Child Shot Dead in Its Mother's Arms, and the Same Bullet Maimed the Woman-The Housa and Bodies Burned. One of the most horrible and brutal crimes cccurred at Lake City in Wil liamsburg county on Tuesday night of last week. The rearo postmaster and his infant daughter were killed and their bodies burned, and his wife and three other children. two of the latter grown, were horribly shot. The affair is undoubtedly one of the most horrible that ever was prepetrated in South Carolina. Frazier B. Baker, a black negro, was appointed postmaster at Lake City by President McKinley last Au gust He was at that time a resident of Florence county, but moved to Lake City to take charge of the office. Shortly afterwards he was shot and shhtly wounded. Some time later his assistant was shot but not serious ly hurt. In January the postoffice with its contents was burned. A few weeks ago the negro re established the office in a rude hut about a mile from town. One night week before last a mob attacked the building and several shots were fired into it, but Baker held on to his job and the next day spoke in a braggadecia manner about not being scared, and said that he would have to be killed to get him out of the postoffice. The tragedy Tuesday night is the sequel. Baker lived with his family, consisting of a wife, three daughters and one son, in the rear of the rude hut ued also as the post office. The coroner's inquest brought out the following facts: Baker's wife was aroused about 1 o'clock this morning by some unaccountable sounds. Upon arising she discovered that the house was on fire and immediately awak ened her husband. Just as she did so, there was a volley of rifle shots fired upon the building and the bullets came clear through the walls and made things hot for the occupants. By this time the entire household was aroused and efforts were made to check the flames. All this time the firing outside was kept up, when the man saw that there was no chance to check the fire. He told his family to follow him and he rushed to the front door of the house. Just as he opened the door he was shot down. Instantly the woman, the three girls and the boy were shot.. A ball passed through the baby who was in the mothers arms and struck the woman's arm, break ing it. The little fellow was dead and the mother's fractured limb could no longer support it. so it fell. The dead father fell upon the dead body of the child. Those of the household who were still able to walk ran from the ourning building right into the faces of the assassins. Tne mob quickly dispersed. The next morning the charred re mains of the postmaster and the baby were found and examinations by phy sicians showed that the woman was shot in the let arm and in the right thigh. The oldest girl was shot through the groin and her right hand is shot off. The other girl was shot through the left elbow and may lose her arm. The boy was shot through the abdo men and through the right arm. He and the oldest daughter may die. None of the family recognized any one in the mob. It is said that several hundred shots were fired into the burning building. The wounded ne groes are receiving the best- of treat ment at the hands of the white people of the town. Food, raiment and med ical attention are being given them gratis. The coroner's jury was adjourned for a few days and they will make every effort to get some clue to the assassins. The people of Lake City seemed to be awed by the dreadful oc currence. At first it was thought that the body of the baby was entirely consumed by the flames but further search de veloped the fact that the remains of the child were directly underneath the charred remains of its father. The surviving members of Baker's family are: Luvenia, his wife, gun shot wound in left arm and leg. Roselle, eldest daughter, gunshot wound in left arm and leg. Cora, next eldest daughter, gunshot wound in right hand. Linkum, eldest son, gunshot wound in left arm and abdomen. They are all doing as well as can be exoected. Sarah and Willie, still younger, es caped unhurt. The white as well as the colored citizens of the town are contributing !ioerally to the necessities of the su.r. giving members of the Baker family. Toe citizans of Lake City are now, sending and receiving their mail from Scranton, S. C., which is three miles a way. Wednesday the negroes made threats of burning, etc., but up to this time everything has remained quiet and QOW there seems to be no further trouble anticipated. The parties who committed this atrocious crime, so far as your corres oondent can learn, are yet unsuspect ed. UNCLE SAM TAKES ACTION. A dispatch from Washington says the postodfice department will send an inector to the scene of the tragedy at once to investigate and make a full report of the case to the department Wnen this is obtained the department of'justize will be asked to prosecute he persons engaged in the crime Biker, who is said to have been a re spectable colored man and who had p~ eviously taught school, was appoint. led to the oilize in.July last. It is said .hst he was a man of quiet, unobstra sive haobis and had filled the position a short while only before threats of personal danger were made against uim. Tnere was no place in the city tbe had for keeping the pcotfie wn itws remnoved to the sch~oolhcuse in t e suurbs. Tne citizms boycot Le tL he odi with some degree of suc Icss No seious complaint bd been rec ived cornc:rning tue condition of thirs very recently, an it was Ia' nd toat the prej acice agamnst the poosmaster ha~d die do T'he post unser e aal as ~f reda reward im ta mn wao burned the post &ue ary has issued a order to dicnee the 3.ice at Lake Citry "-rom ibis tme. Mail iatended for Lake Cliv will hereafter be sent to $cranaton, the nearest postotligewhere tan b a lled for by the neople of the former place. Attorney General Griggs has telegraphed United States Attorney Lathrop instructing him to co operate with the State authorities, and if possible secure the arrest of the parties for destroying the postoffice building and for other felonious acts in connection with the murders done in violation of the statutes of the Uni ted States. THE GOVERNOR OFFERS A REWARD. The Columbia State says in official and political circles in Columbia great condemnation of the act of the Wil liamsburg county mob was heard up on all sides. It seemed hard to be lieve that people in South Carolina could be guilty of such an act. Some vigorous expressions were heard. Governor Ellerbe,when seen, express. ed himself very vigorously about the affair, but declined to say anything for publication. He simply made the announcement that he had promptly offered a reward of $500 for the appre hension and conviction of the parties unknown who had committed the deed. In addition. to this the an nouncement is made that through the attorney general's office Solicitor Wil son has been instructed to proceed to Lake City and take charge of the case in behalf of-the State. DEPLORED IN WASHINGTON. A special dispatch to the State from Washington says the outrage has cre ated a good deal of excitement in Con gress. An investigation will be made ov the postoffice department and an effort will be made to get the parties into the United States court as the United States mail was destroyed. It is thought in Washington that the outrage will not help the contested congressional seats from this State and that both Congressmen Stokes and Elliott will be outsted in conse quence of it. A BOARD OF INQUIRY. Esolution Cresting One Introduced by Senator Allen. In the United States Senate Wed nesday Senator Allen introduced the following resolution: "Whereas, it is the established doc trine of the United States . that the western hemisphere shall be dedicated to republican forms of government recognizing the political equality of human beings, and "Whereas, tne principles of the Monroe doctrine or the doctrine of na tional self preservation, is as applica ble in wresting any portion of this continent from the grasp of foreign countries as in preventing t, im ob taining additional territory; ana "Wnereas, the island of Cuba,' by reason of its location and close prox imty to the United States, should by right, be dedicated to republican form of government; and "Whereas, a republican form of government is, and has been for nearly three years maintained in said island by force of arms, and "Whereas. it is alleged that five hundred thousand persons on said island have died of starvation by rea son of being concentrated by the Spanish government at various points; without being fed or afforded an op portunity to provide food for them selves, and hundreds are daily dying, and "Whereas, the dictates of humanity require the intervention of the United States in such case, therefore, "Resolved, That a select committee of five Senators shall be appointed whose duty it shall be to make a thorough investigation and inqure in to and report on the following sub jects: -1. To what extent the work of con centrating tue inhabitants of Cuba has been carried on by the Spanish gov ernment and how many persons on said island have in the last three years died as a result of starvation, or for lack of sufficient food, and diseases in cident thereto, and to what extentcon centration is being practiced there by Spanish authorities and the conditions of the people concentrated. '2. Wnether the concentrated Ca bans have been adequately sheltered, clotiaed and fed by thae Spanish gov ernment, or by others, or have been permitted to obtain food a~d clothing for themselves. "3. What lawful steps, ii any, are necessary and can be taken by the United States to bring the warin Cuba to a speedy termination, on grounds honorable alike to Spain and Cuba, and which wilt result in the kingdom of Spain relinquishing its hold on the island and in the establishment of a republican form of government there. "'4. To what extent Spanish bar barity and cruelty have during the war now in progress on the island of Cuba, been practiced toward the in nabitanta of Cuba and what has been lawafully done by the United States if anything, to ameliorate the condition of the Cubans. "And to these ends and for these purposes said committee may sit at such times and places as they may see proper daring the sessions of congress and in vacation and shall have the right to visit and take testimony in Cuba, if deemed proper to do so. All testmony taken shall be preserved, and the finding of said seleet commit tee, together with all testimony shall be reduced to writing and reported to the senate at as early a date as practi cable." A Bloody T zagedy. A bloody tragedy was enacted in a wagon yard on Rock street, Little Rock, Ark., Wednesday mornine-, the principals to the affray being Dr. y. H. Hartsell, a physician of some pro minence, and William K.- Elliott, proprietor of the yard in which the shooting occurred. The tragedy grew out of family affairs, in which Mrs. Hartsell was involved and which, it is alleged, led to that lady's suicide, which occurred about a month ago. Dr-. Hartseii fi-ed three shots at El liott, when only five feet away. T wo of the bullets took effect, one in the abdomen and one in the chest. Elliott sprang upon Hartsell and wresting the revolver from him, turned it upon Eartsell and fired two shots, one of them striking Hartsell in the cheek. Physicians pronounce both men mor .ally wounded and their death is tiourly expected. According to the statement of witnesses Elliott made improper advances to Mrs. Hartsell during the doctor's absence some time ago and a tragedy was narrowly averted at that time. The Hartsell's ninally separated and later Mrs. Hart sell committed suicide on account of her trouble. Febrary has been trying to assure us that the back bone of winter has not yet been broken. And we feel assured that such is the fact. But we are not Icomplaining; its coolness was temper ed with a fair degree of moderation.