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yMANNING, S. C N WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1898. NO. A SQUARE BACK DOWN SUCH F3 MCKINLEY'S ACTION IN THE MAINE AFFAI' The House of Repreatntatives Meets to Bear a RInging Meaage and AOJOurDs In the Deepest Disgust-Tl e People Be trayed by the Presideaut. President McKinley has completely )etrayed the American teople and '-old them out at a very low price to the Spaniards. On Monday, March 28, a patriotic audience densely pack ed the galleries nf the House of Rep resentatives at Washington to hear the President's message concerning the destruction of the Maine read; on the flocr below 355 members of the American Congress; all eyes watch ing eagerly for the noon hour, be cause that meant the coming of the message from the Chief Executive; tense interest shown in every counte nance. That was the picture in the House before noon. This same audi ence twenty minutes later filed out with frowning faces, muttering im precations against the President of the United States, while on the floor the representatives of the people gathered in groups, excitedly denouncing what they considered an unwarranted back down. Two thousand American citizens had struggled, jcstled and pushed their way to aeats of vantage, expecting to hear read an American message from an American President, rife with the feeling of patriotism. Instead, they were given a brief proclamation-one they thought to be in the interest of Spain-one they believed to be a plea from the stock jobber's standpoint-a "peace with dishonor" prcclamation, which fell on indignant ears. Before the House convened the President had the confidence of the people in the galleries and the respect and support of the members on the floor. When the rasping voice of the Speaker announced that the brief ses sion was at an end-that the report of the Naval Board of Inquiry had gone to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, there, perhaps, to gather the dust of inaction and repression-both audi ence and lawmakers believed they knew what it meant. "President McKinley has backed down," they said. "The lives of the 266 gallant men of the battleship Maine, snuffed out by treachery and perfidy in the har bor of Havana, had been placed in the scales against the ld and silver of commercE-the bonds and stocks of Wall Street"-was the thought occur ing to all. Thousands of people tried vainly to get admission to the galleries. Fail ure was marked by disgust and in some instances tears of bitter vexation. As early as 9 o'clock guards were sta tione4 at the doors to prevent their being broken. By 11 o'clock not a vacant seat could be found, and well known members of Congress were fairly besieged by applicants for tick ets which would give them any view point of vantage. From11to12 was an hour of sus pense. For six weeks the American people had waited for this day. They had been weeks of suspense and care, but never of uncertainty. They knew that Spanih treachery destroyed the Maine; they knew 1hat it was the hand of a Spaniard that fired the mine, and they were waiting simply to~have all this confirmed an~i to hear the decree of exact justice meted out to Spain by the President of this na tion. So when the gavel of the Speaker announced the House in session it was a minute of dramatic interest. Ten sion key ed to highest pitch riveted close attentton to the scenes ii the elimax all felt was coming. As the gray-haired chaplain prayed fervent ly for peace, but also asked divine as sistance if war became necessary to uphold the right and to exact justice with honor, a sympathetic response came from the waiting crowd. Then came the messenger from the White House bearing tne message of the President and the report of the Court of Inquiry. A faint murmur of applause traveled, wave-lire, from fioor to roof, but quickly s-ibsided. It was not a time for applause. And when the reading clerk began the message from the President the deep est attention was given to every word. It was thought by this eager crowd that now would come the story of the loss of the ship and her crew, backed with a stern demand for exact justice. As the reading progressed the audi ence grew restless. Men on the floor looked at one another and shook their heads. The message, in their ~udg ment, did not have the proper rlmg. The message deait entirely with the destruction of the Maine, fully en dorsing every word the Board of In quiry had said concerning it, and wound up as follows: "1 have directed that the findings of the Court of Inquiry, and the views of this Government thereupon, be communicated to the Government of her Majesty, the Qzeen Regent, and I do not permit myself to doubt that the sense of justice of the Spanish nas tion will dictate a course of action suggested by honor and the friendly relations of the two Governments. It will be the duty of the Executive to advise the Congress of the result, and in the meantime. deliberate considera tion is invoked." This complete back down on the part of President McKinly fell like a wet blanket on the members as well as the two thousand patriotic Ameri cans in the galleries. On the conclu sion of the reading, Mr. Bailey, floor leader of the Democrats, asked the ~Speaker if the message was to go to the Committee on Foreign Affairs Mr. Reed replie d that it must go there under the rules. "A parliamentary itrquiry, Mr. Speaker," saidi Mr. McMillin, of Ten nessee. "Does the chair think it will be competent to take thi3 matter up Wednesday of this week for discus sion?" "It would not be proper." was the quick response of the Speaker. Immediately the gavel fell ar d the House ad journed. The mulhitudes of disusted people streamed from the galleries, and the destruction of the battleship, together with 266; members of her crew, was temporarily shelved. The Columbia Record says Com missioner Vance has received a letter from E. T. Morris, of Newberrv, re questing shipping permits to return his iiquor to Augusta. S. Zeigler, at Dillon, asks also for permits to ship his liquor back to the party for whom PAIN'S TORPEDO FLOTILLA. Our Naval Officers Alarmed at Its Rapid Approach. President McKinley has conferred with his constitutional advisers with regard to the coming of the Spanish torpedo flotilla. says a Washington dispateb. Grave apprehension is felt concerning this hostile movement of the government at Madrid; and there Is a disposition to promptly interefere with the Drogress of that fleet. The President has been advised to send Commcdore Schley with the fly ing Equadron to meet the Spanish flo tilla, take Dossession of the coal car rier and inform the commander of the flotilla that this country desires, in the interest of peace, that the torpedo boats return to their own waters. This advice has been seriously considered. If followed, the President will want the pord to understand that the un precedented course is taken solely in the interest of peace. and not for the purpose of interfering with Spanish vessels on the high seas Secretary of the Navy Long is ex ceedinely apprehensive of the ap prcach of the torpedo flotilla. He has represented to the President and to the Cabinet that this flAtilla is capable of doing infinite damage to our fthet at Key West if it is permitted to come within striking distance. Secretary Long has been advised by naval offi cers that the torpedo flotilla, acting at night, with typical Spanish methods, selecting some night when there is a foggy atmosphere, might practically wipe out our fleet. 'hat might be done as Spain's first declaration of war. President McKinley, hoping for peace, using every method to main tam peace, is confronted with this menace-a menace which naval offi cers declare cannot be overestimated. They all say that to Termit the torpe do flotilla to come within striking dis tance of our fleet would be almost un pardonable. President McKinley ful ly realizes the gravity of the situation and he also understands that the des struction of our North Atlantic squad ron would leave this country at the mercy of a merciless foe. APPORTIONING CADETSHIPS. Iacrease2 Number of Counties Made Trou ble - Lots haa to ba Drawn. Owing to the creation of new coun ties it has become necessary toreap portion the sixty-eight beneficiary scholarships at the South Carolina Military Academy, and some changes have had to be made. The matter was considered at the meeting of the board of visitors at Charleston Mon day night, and it being found that a question of fractions arose, there not being quite two cadetships to the coun ty, it was decided to draw lots, and the matter was finally settled satisfac torily by drawing from ahat the names of the counties that would receive only one schoolarship. The result was as follows: Charleston 5, Anderson 3, Greenville 3, Orangeburg 3, Spartan burg 3, Beaufort 2. Berkeley 2, Rich land 2, Sumter 2. York 2, Abbeville 2, Aiken 2, Barnwell 1, Chester 2, Clar endon 2, Kershaw 1, Lancaster 1, Lexington 1, Oconee 1, Colleton 2, Darlington 2, Edgefield 1, Fairfield 1, Laurens 1. Florence 2. Marion 2, Marlboro 2. Newberry 2, Williams burg 1, Bamberg 1, Cherokee 1, Ches terfield 1, Greenwood 1, Go tw 1, Hampton 1, Horry 1,Pies1 Total 68. THE MEARING POSTPONED. The Sarvey Had Not Been Oomple te a for Fee Dee County. The Columbia Record says a num ber of nrominent gentlemen met Gov ernor Ellerbe in the executive office Friday morning to confer with him as to the formation of the proposed rnew county of Pee Dee, but they were given only a partial hearing, it having developed that the surveying had not been completed. It is held by the op Donents of the new county sCheme that if Pee Dee is formed according to the lines proposed there will not be left enough dirt in Marion county to meet the constitutional requirement. In view of these circumstances the hearing was postponed until Saturday morning at 11 o'clock. Those who met the governor Friday morning for the new county were Judge J. H. Hudson, Colonel Knox Livingston, Mr. P. B. Sellers, Mr. T. W. Bouchier, Mr. J. H. Manning, Mr. D. W. Mc Laurin and Dr. David. Those pres ent opposed to the scheme were Messrs. 0. A. Woods, J. W. Johnson, W. J. Montgomery, 3. D. Montgomery and JOsenti Brunson, the surveyor. BURNT IN EFFiGY Such Was the Fate of EcKinley and Mark Ilanna. In the western suburbs of Rich mond, Va., Thursday night a crowd headed by William Hattess, a well-to do butcher and well known Demo ratic worker, hanged and burned President McKinley and Senator Mark Hanna in e ffigy. The crowd called themselves the "Pie Hill Brigade," and during the performance Hattess mounted a box and made a funeral ration. He criticised the President and Hanna severely, asserting that they had by their failure to call upon Spain to at once cease hostilities in uba,dishonored this country and the offices they hold. He was loudly heered as he made this statement, and in order, he explained, to emphi size his disgust at the Lmanner in which the Spanish questic a has been dealt with, he jerkei a pistol from his pocket and opened a fusilade upon the figures, fairly riddling them with bullets. This was a signal for the rest of the crowd to do likewise. E 0:eyrforat eNavy. The new navy bill as reported to the house is most hiberal. It provides for three ne w battleships, one of which shall be named the Maine. These are vidently intended to be of the rame general class as the Kersage and Ken ucky. One hundred torpedo boats are prvided for, half of the ordinary type, :isplacement 150 tons, and halt big de stroyers of 350 tons with a speed of 30 knots. There is also to be a lake gun boat. Four big timber dry docks for Portsmouth, Boston, League island and Mare island, and a big steel float ing dock for Algiers are also provided for. The appropriation includes in addition over $1,500,000 for the equip ment of vessels, over $2,000,000 for ordnance, $5,400,000 for armor and ovez $3,000,000 for the construction and repair of ships. The whole A DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST SPAIN PROPOSED IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE. Jolrt Besolut'onS Iteoduced t that Ef feet by leading Senators and Represen t Atives and Rcognizing the Independenc of Cuba-War Fc eling at High Tension. Interest in the Cuban situation reached a climax in the United States Senate on last Tuesday as on previous days of discussion of the Cuban ques tion, thousands of people ficcked to the capitol, only a few of whom, com paratively, could gain admission to the galleries. Within five minutes after the senate convened Mr. Allen of Nebraska introduced a resolution recognizing the independence of the Cuban republic. This was followed by a resolution proposed by Mr. Raw lins of Utah declaring war against the kingdom of Spain. Mr. Foraker of Ohio then introduced a resolution de claring for such intervention in the Cuban war as would bring about the indenendence of the Cubans. Follow ing this came a resolution by Mr. Frye of Maine demanding that Cuba be made free. The resoluti3ns follow ed one another so rapidly as almost to stan the auditors, both 'Senators and spectators, This was the condition when the Vice Fresident recognized Mr. Mason of Illinois, for bis announced speech on the President's message, transmit ting to congress the findings of the Maine court of inquiry. Mr. Mason read his speech from manuscript, but it was delivered with all the vigor and fire of which he is capable. The in tensity of the feeling of those in the galleries was elicited by his declara tion that he was for war. Vice-Presi dent Hobart had difficulty in suppress ine the demonsrtation. The resolution of Mr. Rawlins is as fol lows Whereas, the war waged by the kingdom of Spain against the people of Cuba has de stroyed the commerce between them and the people of the United States and its revival will be impossible so long as such war may continue, and, Whereas, by the authority of that kingdom, in the course of such war much American property has been destroyed and many American citizens, without just cause, have been imprisoned and some assassinated in their prison cells; and, Whereas, while our ship Maine was at an chor in the harbor of Habana, within the dominion and under control of the kingdom of Spain at a place designated by her autho rity; that ship and most of the men on board in the service of their country, by the ex plosion of a submarine mine were wilfully, wickedly and treacherously mangled and de stroyed; and, Whereas the kingdom of Spain has proven herself incompetent to tranquilize the island of Cuba either by the methods of peace or by means of civilized warfare; and accordingly has proceeded to make desolate the homes of its peaceful inhabitants, driving men, wo men and children into guarded camps, de taining them there without making provis ion to shelter, clothe or feed them, thus wil fully causing their extermination to the number of hundreds of thousands-by the slow and tortuous process of starvation; and Whereas, against these wrongs, against these revolting acts of inhumanity this gov ernment has time and again made peaceful protest to the kingdom of Spain, at the same time endeavoring by a helpful charity to re lieve those whom she has brought to such dire distress, and our repeated protests hay ing been disregarded and our efforts of philanthropy having proved unavailing and Whereas, firmly convinced that farther peaceful protest will prove equally in vain and that the recognition of the independence of the republio of Cuba and armed interven tion in its behalf by this government will alone be effective for the redress for the past and the prevention of future wrongs, and Whereas, while regretting the necessity now imperious-for such action, but mindful of our duty to a neighboring people and to humanity and with a consciousness as to the justness of our cause and that our action wfl meet with the approving judgment of all civilized people, now, therefore; be it Resolved, By the senate and the house of representatives of the United States of Amer ica mn congress assembled, that the indepen dence of the republic of Cuba be, and the same is hereby recognized, and that war against the kingdom of Spain be and the same is hereby declared, and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the land and naval forces of the Unaed States of America to wage such war to suc cess. Mr. Mason first spoke of the condi tion of affairs in Cuba and the picture painted by those who had visited the island. Speaking of the destraction of the Maine, Mr. Mason said: "The battleship Maine, our gallant ship, went down and 268 of our gallant citizen sailors with her. At the time, every citizen of the United States, familla with the Span ish character, felt it was Spanish treachery. Suppose 90 of the sailors who were murdered had been United States senators, suppose the balance had been members of congress or made up of judges and leading professional nd business men, would four weeks have elapsed before war began? And suppose each senator had a son or father there? D)o we tell our children the truth when we say that the life of every American citizen is of equal value before the law? They were not sena tors, they were sailors. Their widows and orphans cry aloud to us, the silent appeal or 268 seamen comes to us again and again, saying, we are flesh of your flesh, bone of your bone and blood of your blood, we loved and died for the flag that shields you. What is to be our answer? Shall we answer with :oney? Mr. President, I speak only for :yself, and I am for war. But gentlemen nay say: 'Don't say you are for war-say that you are for armed intervention, which means war.' I believe in calling things by their right name. If we belive that murder ing our men, sinking our ship and lowering our flag is not cause for war, say so, and re fer it, as they did the Virginius affair, and allow our brothers to be sold like stock for gold. If it is a cause for war; let's assume e responsibility put upon us by the con stitution, and say so, not only to Spain but to e whole world. Let us not say one thing nd mean another. For God's sake let us not Spainize our diplomacies, but rather speak the truth and prove ourselves true :isciples of James G. Blaine. We can hide no longer under the executive wing. l e :an neither declare war nor refuse it. Con gress alone can declare war. I, for one, am ready to vote now. But there are those who saythat the court does not fix the responsi bility. It was not necessary, the 'peace at ny price' man cannot escape so. The law fixes the responsibility. The explosive was owned, located and exploded by Spain, and Spain must answer. "I shall oppose any plan to assist Spain to place any kind of au tomony on Cuba. Spain cannot be trusted to keep her promise, and we cannot under take to compel her. Let us awake: shake off he Chinese narcotic that locks us in drowsy indolence, murmuring 'peace at any prfee:' awake as our forefathers did at Concord and Bunker Hill: awake to glorious war against a nation that burns homes and murders wo men and children, awake to glorious war that seeks to gain for us in treasure or ter ritory, but a war t o drive the oppressor from th mmiisnt, o set the Cuban 11g in thej sky forever, and a war that will help us for generations to come. by giving notce that the honor of our tiag and the lives of our citizens must be respected among the nations of the world." IN THE HOrSE. Tuesday the House quietty proceed ed with the crder of the day-the con sideration of nrivate bills. No oppor tiinity was a iforded under the rules of debating the all absording topic, but members stood about the cloak rooms and lobbies all day long discussing the situation. The most intense feel ing was manifested. After the trans action of some minor matters Repre sentative Marsh, of Illinois, chairman of the house committee on the militia, introduced a joint resolution declaring war between the government of Spain and its dependencies and the United States and her territories, and that the President of the United States is here by authorized to use the whole land and naval force of the United States including the mi.itia and the naval militia thereof to carry the same into effect." THE LATE SENATOR EARLE. The United States Senate Pays Tribu e to His Character. After the diqnosi'.ion of the Cuban matter in the United States Senate on Tuesday Senator Tillman in accor dance with previous notice, presented resolutions concerning the death of the late Josepa H. Earle. a senator from South Carolina. Eulogies upon Senator Earle were delivered by Mr. McLaurin, Mr. Chandler, Mr. Clay, Mr. Spencer, Mr. Chilton, Mr. Can non, Mr. Kenney, Mr. McEnery and Mr. Tillman. One of the most re markable eulogies probably ever de livered i the senate was that pro nounced by Mr. Tillman. In paying a brilliant tribute to the la.e senator. iMr. Tillman said he. felt that if he failed to pay it the history of the fame and virtues of General Earle would lack the important testimony which he atone could give. Mr. Till man then reviewed what he said was one of the most remarkable political campaigns ever waged-that for the gubernatorial nomination in the Pal metto State in 1890, in which - he and General Earle were rival candidates. In that campaign the reform move ment, headed by Mr. Tillman, was successful, General Earle carrying only four of the 35 counties of the State. During that campaign General Earle won the admiration of alt by the intrepidity and distinguished abili ty with which he conducted himself and paved the way to his subsequent election to the senate. In conclusion, Mr. Tiilman said that while his might not be the highest tribute that could be paid to General Earle, none certain ly could be more sincere and heartfelt. As a further mark of respect the sen ate then, at 4:25 p. m., adjourned. ARRESTED FOR BIGAMY. A Obarleston Mtn Marries Young Girl Under an Assumed Name. A dispatch from Charleston to The State says Hunter E. Sharp, a well known man about town, was arrested there Thursday at the instance of Dr. J. L. Miller of Fitzgerald. The charge against Sharp is bigamy. Dr. Miller's only daughter, Bessie, came to Char leston some months ago to be treated for some trouble with ber eyes. Sharp, under the name of W. C. Wilson, paid her marked attention, subsequently following her to Fitzgerald, wnere he married her on February 3. He re mained at her father's house with her for some weeks, but then without her father's knowledge, took her to Macon and then brought her here, arriving Thursday night. The girl was sent to a boarding house, while Sharp went to the St. Chartes hotel. At the board ing house the girl was told that Sharp was already married, hayving a wife and two children living in Charleston. She taxed him with it at once, and then hearing that her father was in town, looking for her, she went to him. The authorities were notified at once, and Sharp was arrested and locked up. Dr. Miller is a well-known physician in Fitzgerald and his daugh ter is a pretty girl of about 18 years of age. __________ Be Yo w arn e t in Time. A letter from Mr. John S. Storrs, of Cincinnati, 0., to the News and Cou rer should be of interest to our farm er just at this time. Mr. Storrs be lieves he has informatien, from inside sources, whicn brings him to the con clusion that war wiul certainly come, and that it will be a long bloody and desperate one, and advises, or asks the News and Courier to do so, the Southern planters to put in more corn and decrease their cotton acreage, on the thecry that all cereals will com mand good values, while cotton will decline, in case war is declared. The Dorchester Democrat thinks this is very good advice, whether war is de car.d or not, as an abundant grain crop, aad a limited cotton crop would be beneficial and encouraging, and the price of the cotton proauced would likely realize about as much cash as would a large crop at low prices, and the grain crop could be utilized, if prices aid not warrant its sale, in re inforcing home suppiies in various was. Inink of it, planters. Sick of the Sigt.. The 0. P. men are getting sick of the fight against the distiensary. The competiton is too much for them, and they are gradually going ouit of the business. The Ccaunmbia Record says Mr. Guigenheimner, a prominent waishey man of Savannah. wno has sixteen agencies in this state, called on Commissioner Vance this morning and asked to be allowed to withdraw all his liquor from the state. He didn't want any more agencies "in his'n." This he said he wanted to do whether tie Vandercook decision was in te State's favor or not. Tuere was no money in the 0. P, business even if that dreiston was against the state. Mr. Guigeniheimer has an agency here and one in Charleston. is other agences are distributed through the state. Commissioner Vance also re received a letter this mornirng from E. G. Fant, who is agent at Laurens for the Po:ts Thompson Ifquor com pany, of Atlanta, asking for permis sion to ship his iiquor back to Georgia. Buying Mules. Seor Julian Az::ue, an agent of the Spanish government from Havana, and Antonio Massti-a, of St. Louis, are in the Kansas Ct'vyrmarket, buymne mules for the Spa. isa eray. They nave practically cleacett the market of medium sized maets, having bought 600, to be delivered at a wharf in New Orleans by Aptil 5. Four carloads of mules were ought here l.ast wee byaother Spanish contrac MCKINLEY TUMBLESa WAR MUST CEASE! CUBA MUST BE FREE. This is the Ul timatum that Our Z>'dbug President Has tent to Spain Under Pr! sure fremr Cong'--A Grard Victo:y for the Pecp rhe action of Congress in virtually declaring war on Spain had a wonder ful effect on President McKinley and he took decisive action in the Cuban matter Thursday. The proposition submitted by him to Spain contemplate a complete and immediate cessation of hostilities in Cuba, the return of the reconcentrados to their usual avoca tions, and the independence in Cuba, this last feature to be secured probably on an indemnity basis by which the island would pay a substantial sum for its freedom from Spanish rule. These pr-positions take a wide scope and there are many details in the alternative propositions, the pur pose being to present every possible plan promising a solution of the Cu ban problem so lone as an end of the Cuban war and Cuban indepedence were embodied in the ultimate result. It has been made perfectly clear to Spain that nothing less than the close of the war and the independence of the island will suffice as an adequate settlement. President McKinley and leading senators of both parties had a confer ence Thursday morning at which the senators plainly told him that con greess cannot be held in check much longer. They informed him that un less-he immediately proposed a defi nite and decisive pian of action, con gress would not wait on him, but would deal with the situation ac.ord ing to its own judgment. The President freely admitted to the senators that the negotiations with Spain were rapidly approaching a crisis and said that ne felt quite confi dent a conclusion would be reached by Friday night at the latest. He asked that ia view of the fact no ac tion be taken by either house until after that time or until the present ne goiations could be brought to a clo3e. HE WILL FIGHT. A Louisiana Congressman Resigns to Raisec a Regiment. Representative Robert F. Broussard, of Louisiana, has tendered his resig nation to the governor of his Stta- to take effect immediately upon a decla ration of war with Spain, says the Wasnington correspondent of the Herald. Mr. Broussard left for his home in Louisiana where he expects to fo.rrt a regiment which he will com rcand ir. the event of war, which he says is sure to come. "I have been in receipt of hundreds of letters from citizens in my district," said he, "of fering their services in case'of hostih ties, and I have decided to organize a regiment of my own. I have apoken and voted, and will speak and will speak and vote for war, and I am willing and anxious to back up my vote and words with a sword or mus ket." Mr. Broussard is not the only representative who has announced his intention of giving up a seat in the house for a sword and blue uniform. Representative Suizer, of New York, was the first to announce that he would raise a regiment in his district, and Representatives Colson and Berry both. of Kentucky, have expressed their de termination to go to the front The. latter was a colonel in the Confeder ate army. ______ THE Pk-OSPi-ATE INDUSTRY. Inspsetor Jore, says its Condition Has1 Greatly Improved. While on a recent visit to Columbia Phosphate Inspector Jones was asked aout the status of affairs in the phos phate territory and gave a most en ccuraging report. He stated that all the companies are now hard at work again. The Ccsaw company, which left the territory on account of the action of the board, has been at work again for some time. Inspector Jones says that this company now has two dredges at work. The Central Phos phate company, which came in and took the place of the late Farmers' Mining company, is mining right along, and doing well, according to the inspector. He says that the com panies are at present taking out from 10,000 to 12,000 tons of rock a month. When asked about the market he said that it had improved, but there was not a very great demana for the rock. The Centraa company and Mr. Reed, however, have virtually already dis posed of all that they can mine in the course of the present year. Going t ) Elans wheat. Georgia farmers are making exten sive preparations to decrease the acre age of the cotton crop. The effect of overproduction has fallen heavily upon their shoulders, as it has lowered the price of the product upon which the masses depend for a livelihood. It is just the seasoa now that the seed must go into tne g'-ound, and it is estimated that but little more than half the usual crop will. be plante d. It has been clearly proved that cotton can nct be raised for less than 7 cents per pound. Hence at 5 and 6 cents, the price it has been bringing for the last few years, it is unprofitable. Many of the farmers will not raise a stalk of cotto:1 this year. Gen. Lee inreatened. A dispatch from Havana says Con sul General Lee continues as cheerful as sunlight, despite the fact that he was warned last Sunday and Monday of five distinct plots against his life. Of course he dces not give credence to such stories, and he is carefully guarded by the government, but con unued warnings of this kind are not a pleasant mental diet. The last story was that he would be poisoned cy a brite-1 employe of his hotel. To this Gen. Lee repiled by asking the news p iper correspondents who sit near him at meal times, in case he is sud denly taken ill, first to shoot his waiter and then run for a stomach pump. who Owns it: During the investigatian by Attor ney Grneral Monette, of Oaio, and the taxation committees of the senate and house of representatives at Gleveland the fact was brought out that there was no ownership to more than $3, 000,000O of iron ore on the docks in that city. This led the attorney gen eral to make the statement that the state would contiscate it. The inves tigation has made some astounding discoveries so far in the way of big cnens aoiding taxntion. FAMOUS ANONYMOUS LETTER. Recaied by Geteral Lee-Says Tools Who Stt Mine Woire Killed. An interesting feature of the pub lished report of the Maine testimony, issued from the government printing office, was the famous anonymous letter mentioned in the evidence of Hen-y Drain, the clerk of the Ameri can consulate at Habana. The letter was received by General Lee a few days after the Maine disaster. It is dated February 18th, 1898, and signed "Admir.r." Itis in Spanish, written apparently by a fairly well educated person. The certificate translation is as follows: "It should be remembered that at dawn of the day of the terrible catas trophe an individual was killed in a small boat, tcgether with another who was found wounded and a pris oner. They were going about the cruisers Maine and Alfonso XII and as the said individuals are of the worst antecedents as harbor thieves, I have interested myself in investigat ing what connection this occurrence could have had with the explo sion of the Maine and I have discov ered that those two men, together with another, who is called Pepe Taco, had bcugh, in a hardware store in Mercaderes street, called la Marina, a hcse such as is used by divers, and that the three left Regla in a small bcat which they placed under the wharves of Santa Catalina, and they were loitering about more than an hour and a half, while Pepe Taco, who is a corker and a diver, probably the best in these parts, did the work to bring about the explosion of the Maine. With the data I went to Re gla and discovered that the family of the dead man who lived in the utmost misery in a house in Rodriguez Ba tista street, had moved to a wel fur nished one on Gilbert Street. There I learned that they had agreed with some merchants of Muralla street for the work of blowing up the ship for the sum of $6,000-$2,000 in advance and the other $4,000 after seeing the result. But they did not come out of the adventure very well, having been attacked when they were retiring, the result of which was the death of one, who left his teeth in the boat, and an other one wounded, the third one has not presented himself to collect the rest of the money, and it would be probably secretly done that, by paying him the rest that the others will not now pay him, he would declare the truth of all this. The one whom I called the third is the diver Pepe Taco. who is unwounded, who is no doubt afraid to present himself to collect the rest. In Muralla street, they tell me was the place where the business was arranged with Messrs. Garcia Corujedo, Villususo, Maribona and one whom I do not remember. The man who is arrested is being ad ministered inorphi ie constantly to see if he will die and not give evi dence, so as not as they express it, to spoil the affair after it has come off so much to their taste." A BANK CASHIER'S FATE. He Commits Suicide Because of a Remark Abnut a Slight Er or in his Books. Cashier Louis Fleming, of the Brunswick, Ga., Savings and Trust Company, was drowned Thursday. Indications point to suicide, but seve - ral theories are advanced. Bank of ficials announce to night that his cash and book accounts are straight except for an error in addition of $100 on his discount book. Bank examiner Speer reached Brunswick to day. He check ed up Mr. Fleming's cash and it prov ed correct. He then checked his books and found the small error of $100. Fleming's attention was called to the error. He put on his hat and said he would be back shortly. Two hours afterwards his body was found floating in the river. A run com menced on the bank. All demands were promptly met and the bank re mained open fifteen minutes alter banking hours to pay depositors. It is believed that Thursday when Ex aminer Speer spoke of the small error that Mr. Fleming became temporarily unbalanced. He had been working unusually hard, day and night, for months, and his high-strung, sensitive nature is believed to have given way. He is believed to have misunderstood the examiner and taken the remark as a reflection on his honor. EARTHQUAKE IN CALIFORNIA. Great Dranage Done at the Mare Island Navy Yard. San Francisco arnd a portion of the State of California were shaken at half past eleven o'clock Thursday night by the most severe earthquake experienced here since 1868, when several persons were killed.- Tt is time, however, no fatalities have been reported, although there were several narrow escapes. Vallejo and Mare Island suffered much damage. The naval hospital was wrecked and the overnment saw mill blown down. Work has been shut down in the navy yard temporarily and the 1,700 em plojes are idle. Only two of the ouilding escaped damage. After tnle board ot survey had made a partial examination of the state of affairs at the Mare Island navy yard today, it was announced that the damage sus taed by last night's tremble had been somewhat exaggerated. While the survey has not yet been completed the board is of the opinion that the damage will not exceed $150,000 Work has, however, been discontinued and in all probability will not be re sumed for several days. Tachkelthe wrong Messenge -. An attempt was made to b'old up the west-bound Santa Fe passenger train near Grant, Ne w Mexico, early Wednesday- The train was flegged some distance from the lonely station. Robbers opened fire and wounded the fireman. Five masked men approach ed. Express Messenger Fowler open ed fire with a brace of pistols. The robbers were unprepared for this and tied. 0Oce of them was wounded, but is comrades got him away. Fowler joined New Mexican officers, wno are now folowing the trail. A spauish Oatrag e The American schooner Hester of Pensacola, Fla, loaded with lumber, arrived at Kingston, Ja, Wednesay evening, and her captain reports that while on the voyage he was bcarded by a Spanish gunboat, which to wed the sconer into Casildea and detain ed there for three days. The captain of the Hester has reported the matter t the TUnited Stae cnsnl here. NEED NOT FEAR FROST. Director Bauer Reassures the Doubtful to That Effect. The Columbia Record says that ow ing to the sharp and decided drop in the temperature Wednesday night and the frosty feeling of the atmos phere Thursday morning some fear was entertained for the fate of the fruit and early vegetable crops. And there were those who were uneasy as to what Friday night might bring forth. At 1 o'clock Thursday after noon, however, Director Bauer assured a Record reporter that there was no danger and that nobcdy need be alarming himself about the matter. .The temperature, he said, would fall still lower but there would be no frost in this section. There would be no general frost in any part of the State, though some portions of the upper part of the state might see a little of Jack. But this would injure nothing. The southeastern states is the only section of the Union that has escaped the feeze. Mont ina and the north west have been treated to 10 and 20 degrees below zero and northern Texas has just had killing frost, but this con dition has been relieved to some extent during the last day or so. The frost has extended as far east as central Mississippi valley. But in no instan ces has any serious inj zry to crops re sulted, because in those sections where the freeze occurred the crops were not far enough advanced to be hurt. WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF. Ger. Lee Will Protect the Newspaper Men in Havana. A special dispatch from Washing ton to the News and Couri.r says in case war is declared Consul General Lee and the correspondents of Ameri can newspapers now in Havana wil] be taken aboard the Government ves sels now in that harbor. Senator Plati of New York had an interview Thurs day morning with Assistant Secretary Day in behalf of the war correspond ents in Havana, and Mr. Day assured him that there will be no objection to the newspaper men being furnished with transportation on United States ships if hostilities are declared. Mr. Day says there are now two G3vern ment vessels in Havana harbor,which would be placed at the disposal of Censul General Lee in case of an emergency. He has also been notified that he may have additional vessels there if he wants them. Mr. Day in formed Senator Platt that the Span iards are particularly unfriendly to the American newspaper men assigned to duty in Havana, because of the re ports they have been called upon to send to their respective papers, but he assured Senator Platt that Gen. Lee has full authority to take care of all American citizens in Cuba, and he can be depended upon to take good care of his journalistic friends, who have stood close by his side during all the trying times in Havana. PREPARED FOR ACTION. Woodwork Bemoved f tom Warships and Entrance to Harbor Patroned. Every preparation for action has been taken by the United States war ships at Key West. All wood work was stripped off exposed spots and sent ashore. The wood pilot houses on the cruisers were taken down. Tc a certain extent interior woodworki was also removed and sent ashore. Even the sailors' wooden boxes were removed from some of the ships. These precautions have been adopted to prevent, so far as possible, the dan ger of flying splinters in case of action. The officers sent their personal valua bles and belongings to be stored on shore. The Castine and two torpedo boats left their anchorage after dark and steamed southward, where they will patrol during the night. Capt. Sampson is particularly anxious to watch closely the Havana entrance to this hasbor, and also to afford addi tional safety for the Towa, Indiana and New York, which lie unprotected six miles out. The naval station offi cials have received orders to overhaul their marine engineering stock, so that it could be used instantly in case of emergency. The establishment of a patrol is considered, by the few who know of it, as most significant. The entire fleet is now in readiness to move in 15 minutes. THE SAME OLD YARN That Has Been sent from onba for a Nugm ber of Years. The Spanish Minister at Washing ton late Thursday night received a cablegram from the governor general of Cuba, saying that the captain gen eral reported tne pacifiestion of the eastern provinces so far advanced that it had been decided to rescind the re concentrado order in these provinces and allow all subjects of this decree to ret arn to their homes in the coun try. To aid in the reestablishing of the reconcentrados upon their farms, the catblegram states the government will grant them protection of the Sanish military forces augmented by loa relief 2.~mittees to look after their immedate needs. Economic itchens, it is said, are to be establish ed to support the reconcentrados while waiting for their first crops to mature, and they are to be furnished farming implements and seeds by the govern ment. To supply them ready money, such of them as are able, will be given employment upon publhc works, and it is asserted by the authorities that these measures will result in the spee dy rehabitation of the rural commu nities in the eastern provinces. The G arman Way. Germany has commenced diplomat ic representations to Spain relative to the Cannamaba case, and the German cruiser. Geier on her way to Bahia, was ordered to get ready to go 'Cuba, if sat isfaction is not quickly forthcoming. The German version of the Cannama a case is that some Caban insurgents, during the night of March 18, attack ed a German refinery at Cannamaba, belonging to the firm of Fisher & Schmidt, of Trinidad, province of San ta Clara. The insurgents are said to have rifled the safes, burned the build ings, killed four prisoners and wound ed 10 occupants of the refinery. Spanish war ships Arrive. The Spanish torpedo flotilla has ar rived at Porto Rico. Dispatches from Washington say that naval officers are surprised that it should have made the trip across the Atlantic in so short a time. The Spanish cruisers Vizcaya and Oquendo sailed from Havana late Friday evening, and no doubt have gone to Portorico io convey the torpe do flilla1 to Havana. WAR IS INTVTALE. SPAIN REFUSES TO ACCEDE TO MC KINLEY'S TERMS. Warlike Pol cy Decided Upon by the Cab intt-Statement of a Cabiret Offier-The Latest Proposals of Spain-Playing for Time. Advices from Washington Satur day says there is little doubt that the President and the members of his cab inet now regard war with Spain as almost certain. The cabinet meeting Friday morning was unquestionably the most important held in many years. It received Snain's answer to the ultimatum of this government, and finding it unsatisfactory, practi cally decided upon a policy which at this hour seems certainly to 'involve hostilities. The whole record will be laid before congress, and the question is now under earnest consideration what shall be the particular form our policy shall take in bringing to an end the horrors in Cuba and securing the independerce of the island. One member of the cabinet, 5 in speaking of the meeting Friday,'spoke substantially as follows: "In the morning it was apparent to all of us that, having exhausted all diplomatic efforts to bring about a better condi tion of affairs in Cuba, and they hav ing failed, the whole question must be submitted to Congress. At our af ternoon meeting the President reques ted each member of the cabinet to ex press freely his individual opinion as to what stiould be done. The discus sion was entirely on the lines indica ted by the members. Nothing definite was decided upon and no conclusions were reached. The President will now take the views submitted to him un der consideration, preparatory to his message to Congress. There ap pears to b:3 three courses open to the President in dealing furth er with this matter. The first of these is to accept the proposals submitted by Spain in reply to the American representations; the second, to relegate the whole matter to Con gress and let that body do as it sees proper-which Ithink would mean in tervention; and, thirdly, to take a middle stand. But, as I said before, nothing has yet been determined upon by the President, or if he has reached a decision he did not communicate it to the members of the cabinet this af ternoon. "Yes reference was made by Spain to the Maine matter in the re ply she sent through Minister Wood ford. She made no offer to pay for the loss, but suggested that the mat ter be settled by arbitration. So far as I recall, she expressed no regret for the sad occurrence, and the whole thing was regarded as a cold-blooded statement. A special dispatch to the Atlanta Journal from Washington under date of April 1 says Spain's reply to the ultimatum presented by Minister Woodford is wholly unsatisfactory and the request for time will not De given. The administration is advised that Spain positively declines to make any other accessions to the United States, and the members of thecabinet accordingly regarded the situation as extremely critical-all hopes of peace being practically abandoned. IT MEANS WAR. Unless the United States Backs Complete ly Down. The Washington correspondent of the Atlanta Journal says Spain's re fused of the demands of the United States means war. It is a flat refusal to grant independence to Cubas, Ep resentative Grout, member of the ap propriations committee, when shown the official statement of the letter said: "Gentlemen, it means war, and war at once." The administration views the reply of Sagasta as meaning nothing less than a flat refusal to grant the de mands of this country. The president authorized Assistant Secretary of State Day to communicate with the Madrid government to the effect that the re ply of Sagasta was unsatisfactory to this government, Communications have practically ceased between the two governments, the reply-of Sagasta making another ultimatum to Spain out of the ques tion. The president is already draft ing a message to congress, in which the reply of Spain will be given in full. It is thought this message will practically turn the matter over to congress, with a suggestion that the time has come for armed intervention. There is nut one construction put on the answer of Sagasta, that is that Spain's response is war if we interfere with Cuba at the present time. SPAIN'S REPL.Y AN INS tJLT She Evades the Question Directly and Tights for Time. The reply of Spain to the United States is said, in effect, to be: The indepe.ndence of Cuba means the parting or cession of Spanish ter ritory which cannot be done without the consent of the Spanish cortes, which is not in session and will not be in session until A pril 24, and conse quently no definite ans wer can be re returned to the demand of the United States until the cortes asssembles. Then a counter proposition is submit ted that the Cuban matter shall be settled upon a basis equitable among nations. The United States is asked to give Spain time to treat with the insurgents, and ascertain what can be done in the nature of a peaceful set tlement. Senators who know the nature of the reply say it is a very shrewd piece of diploma~cy and made for its effect upon the wori:l at large. The End of the world. "Tbe end of the wor ld may came before the middle of the year 1898." This is the statement of a minister now preaching in Greenwood county. He does not make the statement as a con viction of his own, but as a result of the careful compution of others based on the prophecies of Daniel and Isaiah. o lar the prediction has not excited very great alarm or involved the peo ple in serious fear, But it isannounc ed in ringing tones, is supported by ingnious arguments and falls largely on not unwilling ears. Mice Causeti the Fire. The destruction of the railroad freight station at Ne w Tripoli Pa., by dynamite on Sunday is attributed to mice. It is supposed that the mice ibbled at the dynamite, causing it to explode.- There was a coop of chick ns in the building, and nothing has been discovered of them except a fe w