The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, April 06, 1898, Image 1
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