Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CROP C0NDM1IONS The Regular Weekly Weather avid Crop Bulletin. WHAT THE CROPS ARE DOING. What the Observers AuI Over the State Report to Headquart ers. The information Consolidated. The following is the weekly bulletin of the condition of the weather and crops of the State issued last week by Section Director Bauer of the South Carolina bereau of the United States weather and crop service. Another week of even high temper ature, with a mean for the week of 79 degrees, which is 3 degrees per day above the normal. With a few exceptions. the rainfall for the week was excessive over the en tire State. Heavy rains eaused streams in the upper Savannah valley to over flow and seriously damage land crops. while in the lower Savannah and the Salkehatchie valleys, where from six to over thirteen inches of rain fell, large areas were inundated and crops in Barn well, Bamberg, Colleton, Hampton and Beaufort county lowlands were severe ly injured or entirely desiroyed. Over the entire State there was too 'much rainy and cloudy weather. retarding or entirely suspending farming operations, damaging crops, and delaying harvest ing. The average rainfall for the week was 3.66 inches, while the -normal is approximately 1.30 inches. The per centage of possible sunshine was as low as 10 pei cent. at places, and mucii be low the usual amount over the whole State. All crops stand in imperative need of clear, dry weather. Young coin seems to be doing nicely. but old corn is sprouting and rotting in the shuck: it is too wet to house it. Fodder continues to be damaged as it is gathered, or drying and rotting on the stalk. Cotton suffered severely during the week; some boll worms noted in several counties; too wet generally to pick cot ton, and open cotton is sprouting, while ripe bolls are rotting: the plant continues to shed its leaves and fruit. Cotton was blown down and suffered from inundation over the southeastern counties. Rice was materially damaged in Col leton and adjacent districts by high wa ter, but upland rice is doing nicely. Rice harvest is delayed. Sweet potatees, sugar cane -and pea nuts are doing well. Pea vines have a rank growth, but need sunshine for curing. Haying is awaiting clear weather; a large crop of hay will be cut if the weather permits saving it. It is too wet for turnips generally, but fall gardens, pastures and truck are making rapid growth. EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS RE PORTS BY COUNTIES. Abbeville...Link: A week of heavy rains; all crops on water courses have been overflowed and about destroyed; wet weather causing open cotton to sprout, and ripe bolls to rot; everything )ooks gloomy.-R. F. Morris. Aiken-Windsor: It has rained all the week but two days: cotton sprout ing and rotting badly, cannot make a full crop; great deal of fodder has been lost.-B. B. Hightower. Anderson.-Holland: It has been raining now about a week and farmers are having a hard time saving their fod der, hay, peavines, etc.; cotton is still doing well, except that some is rotting in the bolls.-Dr. J. W. Earle. Bamberg.-Bamberg: Rainy and' cloudy weather; cotton sprouting in the boils; open weather and sunshine need ed for harvesting hay crop: other crops doing very well.-W. S. Bamberg. Barnwell.-Blackville: The past week of almost continuous rain has been one of steady, unqualified deterioration, greater degree in some localities than in others, and involving nearly every farm product; corn blown down or sub murged in low places. rotting in the shuck where standing; cotton beaten into the furrow or rotting in the boll, with all young fruit sheded off.-E. S. Hammond. Beaufort.-Bluffton: Great storm on 30--31st; houses blown down, roofs off, and nearly all damaged to some extent; corn is on the ground in mud and wa ter; cotto'n whipt to pieces, not much left except stalk; rice covered with wa ter, hope to save one-fourth of it; great fall of water, 8 inches in 12 hours-Jno M. Warnock. Berkeley.-Annieville: Rain ruined cotton and fodder; scarcely any fodder has been saved; open cotton rotting in the bolls.-G. W. Whaley. Charleston.-Charleston: Another week of excessive precipitation and largely deficient sunshine; farming operations far behind their usual, rou tine; rice harvest much delayed on ac count of frequent rains; sea island cot ton still shedding badly: tops all in bloom with no prospect of a top crop; hay harvest at a standstill awaiting dry ness.-L. N. Jesunofsky.1 Cherokee.-Gaffney: Fodder is being pulled but too much rain to save it: cotton opening but is rotting in the bolls.--B. F. Camp. Chesterfield.-Chesterfield: Another disastrous week for the cotton crop: much complaint of cotton rotting after opening; no blooms to be seen: very little picked yet; more fodder damaged; peas and potatoes seem to be doing well. -George W. Spencer. Clarendon.-Alcolu: It has been rainy and cloudy all the week: cotton shedding all the top crop, and th~e bot tom bolls are rotting; all foder that was pulled is of poor quality; cane and rice doing well. -Elias D. Hodge. Colleton-White Hall: Weather this week has been most disastrous to rice, corn and all crops save potatoes: corn broken down and land saturated: riee inundated by freshet: many breaks in river banks.-W. E. Haskell. Darlington. -arlington: Cotton al ready shows great damage from damp weather, bolls rotting, open bolls sprouting; lots of fodder and forage damaged and some entirely lost: pros pects for good hay crop fine, and with good :.weather a large quantity can be saved.-E. R. Mclver. Edgefield.-Cleora: Rained every day until Friday; nearly all the corn fodder has burned on the ste..lk or was ruined after being pulled; cotton lost all top crop, bottom crop rotting and sproutingr in boll where open; pea vines fine, but few peas on them, and no vines cut owing to the wet weather. --L. R. Brun son. Fairfield-Woodward: We have had rain every day since August 25, caus ing a great deal of rot in large cotton and blight Silate cotton: fodder pull ing about over, and fodder saved in poor condition.-Thomas W. Brice. Florence.-Florence: The cotton is fearfully injured by the excessive rain in many places. the seeds are sprout ing in the bolls: the cotton crop is cut off, and rno top'brop is made: wet wea ex'cessive ma' du:-in theC entire eek; aL ll rk at v ltanitill: pulled IO'tde nearly- al -al damge: op)en cotton! in, bai( cdo nne picked as yet: Vines. weed's Zaid ras have rank growth. WN. M1. Myers. llapton. G~illisoniville: Rainfall iS 1:3.6.) inehes: ground so saturated and sceg it will not hold plants upright corn partly blown down. but not flat as a whole: flood washed away bottoi bolls on cotton, but having been re cently picked, loss was reduced: with a fev clear days plant will partially re cover: as a whole. the . loss from the storm vill not be as great as first thought -,.1am1 P. 6al tus. Kershaw.--Camden: Fari work en tirely suspended on account of the heavy rains: much fodder and opel cot ton damaged: peas doing finely.- -J. B. Mickle. Lexington.- Batesburg: The weer has been one of continuous rain. not on1 inaking nueh storm cottol. but causing it to conmence to rot: all other crops continue to do well: the second en of beans is ready for shipment. E. .i Hite. Newberry.- -Prosperity: Unfavorable week en cotton: rain damaged it consid erably: every farmer has had nearly half his fodder-damaged: potatoes pro mise good: tobacco fired and ruined. J. Perry Cook. Oeonee.-Clemson College: Cotton ol sandy land dying: on red lands put ting on weed. and bolls rotting: fodder burning and drying on stalk: corn on creeks and rivers washed away and rot ting.--Prof. J. F. C. Dupre. Orangeburg. -Orangeburg: Unfavor able weather for farni work and crops: cotton is rusting. bolls rotting on stalk. and all open cotton stained and rotted: sugar cane and pastures good: no hay being harvested. -John S. Rowe. SPartanburg.-Boiling Springs: We are having entirely too much rain for everything: no good fodder has been saved: sorghum making has begun, good yield; sweet potatoes fine stuble corn and peas promise a fair yield; much grass in corn and cotton fields; cotton opening but too wet to gather: in some places it is rotting.-W. B. T. Littlejohn. Sumter.-Ramsay; Continued heavy rains damaging cotton and peas.-3Matt. G. Ramsay. Williamsburg.-A good deal of fod der was saved this week in a damaged condition; cotton is opening very fast on light soils, picking has commenced on some plantations, will be general next week; the ground is too wet to work vet.-J. E. Davis. York.--Leslie: Fodder pulling under way, but no good fodder is being hous ed; corn crop above an average: too much rain for cotton which is rusting some and opening rapidly: picking has begun.-D. T. Leslie. GEN. WHPITHR'S SON DROWNED. He and Lieut. Kirkpatrick of Virginia Meet Death in the Surf. Thomas H. Wheeler, son of Gen. Jo seph Wheeler and Second Lieut. New ton D. Kirkpatrick, First cavalry, were probably drowned while bathing at Camp Wikoff, 3Iontauk Point, Wed nesday afternoon. Young Wheeler was a naval cadet in his second year. He had been acting on~ his father's staff for some time past. He was 17 years of age, was a fine young fellow and had made a host of friends among the older officeers. Together with Lieut. Kirk patrick he went to the beach Wednes day afternoon to enjoy the surf bathing. The surf ran high and the undertow was very strong. Apparently no one saw the young men drowned, and it was not until about 6 o'clock that they were missed. Their clothes were found a short distance from Gen. Wheeler's tent, close to the water, and it is be lieved that the young officers were swept away by the strong seas. While in command at Camp Wikoff Gen. Wheeler's headquarters were located on a high hill near the station, a consider able'distance back from the water. It was only that his headquarters were shifted down to the beach. His tent and the tent of his staff officers are not more than 20 yards ifrom the water's edge. It was this change of location that gave young Wheeler and young Kirkpatrick an opportunity to indulge themselves in the surf. They had of ten spoken of so doing, and everyone here is convinced that they were drowned Wednesday. Of the accident Gen. Wheeler has nothing to say. His three daughters, two of whom arc nurses in the general hospital and the other a nurse in the detention hospital, arc with him, griefstricken. Lieut. Kirkpatrick was from Virginia. He was appointed second lieutenant June 12. 1896. The bodies of Naval Cadet Thomas H. Wheeler. a son of M1ajor General Joseph Wheeler. and of Second Lieu tenant Newton D. Kirkpatrick, First U. S. cavalry, who were drowned while bathing in the sea, came in with the tide and were thrown on the beach Thursday morning about 2 o'clock. The bodies were found lying close to gether just below the life saving sta tion about a quarter of a mile from where the young men had gone in bathing. A detail of sixty men from the Seond cavalry had been patrolling the beacii with lanterns. The life sav ers who knew the coast had predicted that the bodies would drift in where they did. NEGRO PAYMASTER. Georgia Troops Refused to Receive Their Money from Him. R. B. Wright, a colored man who was recently appointed major and pay master by President MceKinley. had an unpleasant experience at Camp John B Gordon. St. Simon's island, last week. Ie was detailed to pay off the troops at Camp Gordon and arrived Thursday morning with a negro clerk. He was nt alloweu to take a first-class passage on the steamer to the island. and rather than gosecond class chartered a private launch. When the purpose of his visit to the camp became known the soldiers, all of whom are white, made loud protests. Wright feared violence and asked Col onel Burgwin for a guard detail, which was furnished to him. The commissioned officers of the Second North Carolina regiment ref used to allow the Negro oficer the use of their tent. and he was forced to occupy abandoned quarters. W\hen Conporal Giddings, of Company G, Third Texas. was called to receive his pay he refused to accept it. and exclaimed: I "My father was an of'neer in the Con federate army, and I have too much good southern blood in my veins to ac cept my army pay from a negro. The Corporal then cursed the nagro major roundly. This precipitated a commotion in camp, and other soldiers followed Giddeings' cxam ple. The pay ments had to be discontinued. IWhite is principal of the State col ordl indiustrial school at savannaih, and gt his military appointment through New England Lcgislated Against Everyboby and Everything. TO PROTECT HER MILLS. But They Cannot Legi-slate God Out of Existence Nor Suspend the Operations of Natures' Beneficent Laws. enator illma vi sited Manchester. N. 1., last week ill conpany with Sen ator William E. Cihander. to inspect the ,reat cotton induztrie- there. In reply to a question as to what he thought of the industrial situation in New En lard. with spccial reference to the cot ton nuustry. said: "I believe the cotton business here in the north has got to go to the wall. We have Lot all the natural advantages in the south. and you haven't not any. You have legislated and legislated and legislated against everybody and every thing in order to protect your cotton mills, but you can't legislate God out of existence nor suspend the operations of nature's beneficent laws. Why, you ain t satisfied with a pro tective tariff that shuts out foreign goods from this market. but you have actually had the nerve to introduce a bill into congress to protect one part of the country against another. This Lovering bill asking for a constitutional amendment regulating the hours of la bor is a direct blow at the constitutiou al rights of the states to legislate for themselves. and we will fight you on that all sunner and winter and forever until we beat you. You can't stuff leislation of that kind down our throats. We won't have it. -Now, as far as our natural advan tages are concerned. the only thing we hae ever lacked in my state is capital. and we are now getting that in abund ance. We have doubled our spindles in the last four years, and quadrupled them in the last 12. Can you show me another section of the country that has done so well? "It has been said. and said truly. that we have cotton in the back yards, and coal in the front yards. and a mill in between. We don't have to pay the excessive freights that you people have to pay in New Hampshire. We have all our raw material right on the ground. our help will work more cheaply and is more contented than yours. and we can turn out 'just as good goods as you can at a good deal less money. "We can make just as fine grade of goods in South Carolina as they can anywhere. Why, just look at it! There are only four months of the year that we have to have our windows closed in a southern cotton mill. In the north er mills there are only four months that they can be kept open. The result is that our operatives for eight months in the year breathe the pure air of heaven, while yours for an equal period are subsisting on an atmosphere that is artificially heated and is close, unnat ural and enervating. "Why shouldn't we have a superior workman, and if a superior workman why not superior work? Our machin ery., too, is modern and up-to-date, while yours is obsolete. Our cotton mills are mostly segregated in the coun try, while yours are grouped in the cities. Our operatives own their own homes and are generally surrounded by a little garden patch cultivated by some member of the family, while yours are corraled in tenement houses and pack ed into stuffy and ill-ventilated attics. Can there be any comparison between laborers thus situated? Another thing: The purchasing power of your dollar is growing less, while ours is growing greater- We have not been treated to so many luxuries as you have here in the north, and we do not feel the depri vation of them as you do. Our labor ers are satisfied; yours are dissatisfied. Ours are growing rich, while yours are growing poor. Referring to the war Senator Tillman siid: "South Carolina furnished two regi ments for the war. One of them was at Chickamauga for some time and was ordered to Jacksonville and was part of the army of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. The other regiment never left its mustering place in the state. There has been very little sickness among the South Caro lina troops and as far as I am able to learn there has been no camp as free from disease and death as that occu pied by the army under Gen. Lee. This war is worth all it has cost, be cause it has completely wiped out all sectional feeling in this country and there is now no east, no west, no north, no south. 'This is my first visit to New Hamp shire and I am on my way to the White mountains, and from there I go to MIontreal and Quebec. and thence to Niagara Falls. Since I have been in New England I have been most lav'ish ly entertained and royally received everywhere. I did not expect such an ovation anywhere. HEARTRENDING ACCIDENT. One Little Boy Shoots His Brother With a Gun. No terrible accident in the annals of the town of Newberry has been sadder or rmore deplorable than one that oe curred about S o'clock p. m.,- on Satur day last at the home of 31rs. S. L. Gog gans. James Gioggans. 12 years old. had been out hunting on Saturday. lie neglected to unload the gun that after noon when he returned home. In the evening lie was playing with his broth ers, John C., who is 14 years old, and Wn. D)., w~ho was that day celebrating his 7th birthday. T1hec boys were play' ing brightly and cheerfully together and little Williams had been happy all day with his birthday toys. It is a favorite with boys to play bear. and it was while this game was being played that the dreadful accident occurred. -John C.,- thinking Jamnes had unloaded the gun. it being their custom to uin load the gun before taking it into the house when returning from hun ti ng, pickedi it up- and playu~fully pointed it at his little brother WXilliam, pulling the trinier, in imitaition of a hunter shoot inn at a bear. The whole load took ef fet in William's left shoulder, and the little sutierer, cut down in his boyish happiness, died within a half hour after beiiig shot. The burial was5 at Rose mont Sunday afternoon at 5 o'clock. Rev. Geco. A. Wigiht conducting t he cereony. The heart of the entire community beats in deepest sympathy for the bereaved mother and her grief stricken children.--Newberry Observer. No Goats Wanted. The Danish steamecr Tyr' reached New Orleans Firiday from Havana with 1 t20 goats. They werec shipped froni Galt veston to H avana in the belicf that the people of that city would be so hungr'y that they would like goat mleat. but Gen. Blanco placed so he::vy a tax on goats that it did not pay to land them,. and they werec bi'oughit back to this country. RE30UM AT LAST. The Story of Herr Karl Neufeld Resen ed in the Stdan. liierr Ka ri Necachi .';:Im w referred to in a recent oi>1atch irom 'airo as rescued uinhl:amd from1 the dervishies. fell into the hands ,f the .\ aliki's fol lowers. ill the neighebor.uod o li nola in the late spring.. or varly Mimaner of ST. lie was the last European male captivXC of i1portalnce remlailn1ing in the Sover of the der\ihes. Various ac o arle g1vcD \ en f hi-; carly C; areer. .\Ccording to the -0-iu Wiener Taa blatt.' Neufeld. ShOUtV after t!le con eiuion of his cole 'ourSe at Leipsie. where Le studied meicine. severelyV woullded an1 opponent in a duel and w'.as Obli-zed to, -o abrolvi. HeI settled as a physician at A-ss-uan. l'per Eypt where he practised his profession 1 79 to ISS . WLen the rising of Mohamed Amcned took place in the latter year. lerr Neufeld was obliged to give up his rc-sidence at Assouan. While at the university he had ,iven many proofs of his hardihood of charae ter and love of adventure. and he joined the English troops during the operation in the Soudan as an interpreter of the Arabic language. in which position his knowledge of the people and of their political relations, together with his shrewdness and courage, caused him to be highly appreciated. In ISSS he saved a whole detachment of English soldiers by putting the enemy on a wrong sceut. For this service he was appointed surveyor to the British troops. in which capacity he set up business a: Assouan. and established branches in other parts of the coun trv. In April. 1897, he set out on a jour ney. ostensibly for the purposes of trade. with a caravan of over 40 re tniners. Various accounts were given of the object of his expedition, one be ing that it was undertaken with a view of rescuing slatin Pacha, then a pris oner of the Mahd i. while other accounts represented that he was merely trying to ascertain the position of the cuemv. Evidently recognizing the danger he was about to run. Neufeld. before leav ing Assouan. deposited his money in an English bank and sent his wife and only child to his relatives at Leipsic. IHis apprehension proved to be onlo too well founded. Through the treachery of an Arab, lie and his whole caravan were taken by the dervishes. He nearly lost his life when the MIahdi was informed that lie was an English or Egyptian spy sent to ascer tain whether Mudir Mustapha Pacha was favorable to the English. The Mahdi declared that he regretted not having hanged Neufeld. and had him loaded with chains and cast into prison, where he remained four years. Ultimately a scarcity of powder arose in the Soudan. and Neufeld's knowledge of chemistry was brought into requisi tion for its manufacture. It appears that he collected saltpetre and made the explosive. but the same narratives that gave this information described him as still in fetters and carrying iron rings upon both feet. His next clever exploit was subse ouent to the death of the 3abdi, and uinder the rule of the Khalifa. 'Neu feld decorated the tomb of the 3Iahdi. whose dome the British gunboat have just partially demolished, and did the work so effectively that. according tc Father Rossignoli, who escaped from Khartoum in 1594, the widows of the prophet, were "quite touchied.' After that he became a mechanic Iand-still according to Father Rossig nali-" tried all sorts of inventions and took thc grertest trouble to construct a machine for making coins." Mean while he appears to have 'acted as editor" of the Khiaiifa's proclamtations. in addition to writing books and il lustrating them himself. for a limuited circulation among the dervishes. At the time of the release of Slan Pacha it was feared that his life would again be in danger. But this did not prove te be the ease. Spain Flies a Protest. The MIadrid correspondent of The Standard says: The gov'ernment re~ent' ly forwarded to MI. Cambon, the French anmbassador at Washington. a long and strongly argued statemaent respeetiu2 the Philippines which he will commnuni cate verbally to the Washington govern ment. Spain protests against the capi tulation of MIanila, because it-was made two days after the protocol was signed. It says that the revenue from the 3Ma nila customs may continue devoted to the service of the Philippine loan of 1897; and finally. it insists upon the U cited States compelling Aguinaldo to liberate a thousand Spaniards now in his custody, most of whom were placed there, the note asserts, by Admiral Dewey. Weather Predicting. The New York Times says that 'the art of weather prediction is not half s) difficult and abstruse as some people believe, and one man who knows the accepited formulae can work them about as well as another. 1By the way, when will the bureau chiefs reveal to the public the fact that thunderstorms do not cool the air. but that cool air pro duces thunderstorms? That cart has been in front of that horse about long enough." Tillman in the Northeast. United States Senator Blenjamin 11. Tillman, of South Carolina. accom panied by Senator William E. Chan dler. visited Portsmouth, N. [I.. last week and was shown over the city by MIayor John S. Tilton and lion. Frank Johnes. 'Ilie party visited the navy yard and were received by Commodore lemey. A binguet was tendered Sena tor Tilhaan at I lotel W~entwoirth by 3Ir. .Jones. Arrived at New York. Tihe steamer Old1 D)ominion arrived at New York Thursda~y evening from Norfolk. ha ving 4on board Lieut. Sc rera and four other ofilers of Admni rali Cervera's siuadron and .2 seamen w ho hav~e been in the naval hospital at Norfolk. They are enroute to Santan der. Spain. and will sail on the City of Iome. for that port with the remainder of Admiral Cervera's crew. A Preacher to Hang. The Delaiware supreme court has suts ta*ined~ the~ decision If tile lower court. wichk imposed sentence of death of Rev.\William II. F'isher, colored, of I el. eharzed with breaking into the house of MIrs. 31aria Ihunt, of that city at it. for the purpose of commiiitting~ ai felonlious :aalt. Fisher has been sentenicd to he hlanged on October 7. Impure Water. D. (Cyrus EdXson states that the so ealled maldarial cases at MIontauk Pioint originated there from1 imputre water. lir. Niclholas undcae tha tyhoi feer illpresently r-age ther-- Dr. Edson says ''it would be les e ruel to line up men and shoot at temi than to make themi drink Camp W\ikoft waiter. Senator Connowr Rep!ies to Sen ator Norris' Card. FER2LIZER TAG QUESTION. Recounts Some of the History of the Course of His Bill in the Senate. Some Figures. n reply to :ol. N rri' "mplif-inc" C.1")ufli, a ot: M .oi:- i-st' of the 18tI iw I. 'lieu 1L it ' . * IX [0ro'l of e hol e t i ter. I t h ri:!'zer tax tag il, prmit tie t s): Cu ! Norris stat omne cf e, leave t otitrs tiot i-tarted. and e-vet ceGlcnesaxof Lis own statemzents, z.amel): -:tter the hili hkd been rejected I -Seit :i-Ytili to him Pllld -:tid ;( he would s.:::I N w,.ul undertake to get the! Cerm ..* - med to i-piint m cotutittet ".w the fact ii. the- hill was r,-jected by : . n."e the 25th !,f Janua y, 1.8, as thejournl w 1 1hox: ,et he Says the Comk mio e e asp -il-tv ed 1a-ch 10th, 1897, nerl' one N ear ht'ore the bill was rejected. Tae hil- referred to -as introduced in the : a*e in the (arly part of the sts-ion of ; B lear in miil tiat thi' tix tag bui ness ha been in operatioa since 187'), with ru: one word of satutory law to punish, or even prevent vile from using the ags over iis loin a, they hist. or for making them, : T the clia-s of rags ihnA have been in use any third rate priuter in the , tale can produce without violating one word of the statutory law.) Ibe bill carried five p:cp si'ians instead of thret: tirst--To prevent iritating or counter feiting the tags. S:eco d--'o reduce the tan tax from 25 cents per t-n to 10 cents per tin Ttir:-T' provide a more rigil anld ,om plete inspec-ion of fertilizers. Fou in- lo ba a saar-iard for fe :ilizers. F:fth-t'o provide for the cavc,:llation C.; the tax tags. Knoiting full weli from previous experi erce wilh what'. suspicio-i some of the Ciem -on people lookeii on a'y bill in refe ence ito the tag :a. especia ly oue carrying a pro;.ositi u to reduce the tax. and ther eby eace the burden froi the consuimer. I eu deavored to gather all relible data possible in reference to the subject and to prove be yond all possiole dou t the utter worthl-ss uess of the present tag tas, and thatthecan sum.wer pad the tax. I made a contract with a man-ifac:urer to sed =ue dissolved bones at a certain price per ton, sacked and tagged. I then sent -52.50 to the State t-eas urer for 100 tax tags, and received the fol lowing document, notice. certificate, receipt. enistle, or whatever it is: ,o. "(29. Clemson College. S. C., October 28, 1896. To L. S. Connor, Orangeburg, S. C. Dear Sir: Upon the State treasurer's cer tificate that you have drposited with hid of fice two and 50-100 doilars, $2 50. I have ordered privileges tax tags shipped as per your otder of Oct. 24, 18116, 1W0 priv, tax -ag3 for fertilizers. Respectfully. J. P. Smith, for R. W. Simpeon, Pres. Trustees C. A. C. Some time P'ter this I received the 100 tags from a printer in Charleston. Now, if I have obtained tax tags in an ille itimate way, the State treasurer, J. P. Smith, R. W. himpson and the Charleston printer are particeps criminis parties to the tLeft, unless it is illegitimate t> obtain them attached to fertilizers, as these are the only two ways that I have ever obtained them. On receipt of the tags I sent my order for 100 sacks of disselved bones, but kept the 100 naw tags and sent one hundred old ones with :he order, for wheh I received credit, thus proving that the consumer pays the tax, and that neither the manufacturer, nor aty one elhe, could istinguieh old tags from new ones, neither could any one ques tion the va idity of the tags, for though they had be'n used once, they were to alt, appear unce as gcood as any. Neither the matiufac iter n- r I had violat~ed any statutory or moral law, as i paid for 100 tags, and only and 100 tags, the 100) ne w tags oeing still in my possession, having never been need When the bill was before the Senate I en deavored to make all this plain by exhibit ing the new tags, my contract and inv ice, and tried t.o convince the committee and Senate that with the cancellation feature and with the other provisions of the bill rigiy entorce 1, the tax cout be reduced and even then sufficient tevenue be raised from tie t-tx. The bill was reported on fa verably by the co-uitt e except with regard o the reduct on featute, and so placed on the Calendar. For days after I was ap proached by Col. Norris and others, making suggestions as to the reduction feature of the jill. Col. Norris offered to compromi-e with me and assured me if the reduction feature were stricken out he w uld help to pass the bill. But he tays, 'nothing et-uld influence him (myself) to do so, and there was no alternatti--e hut tn vote against it " tle does not say why I could not be influ enced to ac.:ept this compromise; oh: no, but lhaves the public to infer that it wa egotism or stubbo'rnness on my part. I told nim and orhers that I cou'd not. honorably ac-pt euceh a comprooi.e and gave them, as I thought, full and sutficie t reasons. 1 asure.l him that rather th n have the bill defeated I would compromise on a r ed uction of .5 cents per ton, but cnuld not honor...ly abandon the entire reduction feaure. lie replied that he would not at-k me to do any thint I thought dishonorable. I was urged every day to recommit the bill under the plea to perfect all the details in the com mince. As I had never claimed that the bill was perfect, and ha-d time and again asted for suggestions and aid, I agre d to a recommittal for the above alleged reasons. But was there atny real effort to perfe t the hi i? 1 yay nor, tn my knowledge. The bmil came back with an uinf.vorable report. I'be position was thea taken that it was a manncr of too great importance to set hastily uon, and that it was better to postpone and let the bo-trd of trustees appoint a com mittee to cooperate with me in perfecting the bill. 'Therefore the bill was corntinued to the session of 1898. Cot. Norris says the committee was ap pointed, yet to this diy, not one member of that commnittee h-as ever mentioned the sub j ct to me. Cot. Norris saw fit last session to upratid mne for not cooperating with the committee, yet he says in his article the ommittee was to invite Senator Connor to coperate with it. During the session of 1898, the same tactics were brought into use. Since Coi. Norris seems offended at the expression, '*boldly in the Senate chamber to defeat a bill providiing for the cancella tion of the tax t -gs," let me explaiin here On the 25th of last Jantary, while the bill was up fer discussion, and after the only propn sition in the bill which Col Norris s:3ys was of ectionable to him hal been stricken out, and 1 was try ing to amend and correct s me errors in the bill, my attention was called to the fact that (Col. Norris had left his sea'. and was sitting on the out.side of the bar, earnestly consulting with a hevy of ferti i zer manufacturers I was asked if this was the same Col. Norris who wai a few years ago championing the cause of the poor, over burdened farater, pleading for egaal rights for all and specia'. privileges for none, and trying to carry the sub-treasury to Washing ton (congress) on the Ocala wagon for the Ispecial benetit of the "poor farmers." Now, for one who had been identilied with the farmers' movement and alliance from the beginning to hive such questions 'asked hin under the circumintances, was it not enough to mt-ike him feel humili'ated? A: er the bi!1 had been shorn of the reduxc tion feature which was so' obnoxious to Col Norris, the Senate having stricken it out, he sas "there was no alternative left but to Ivote against it." Was not this the time for Col. Norris to try Iand do what he says he had hoped to d -, Iamend the cancellariti c'ause? Did he try? On the motion to indefinitely postpone the bill after it ha-I been rid of the redtuction clause Col. Norris voted for the nmotien, and also voted it beycnd resurrection for the ses sion. Did not this show a willingness or desire to leave this gate wide open: thus invitiuts fraeud: Yet he says "The utmost good faith was kept with Senator Connor, and his approved two features carefully guarded" A to the rtinction feature he says 4-4 II.- f" '' . ers mmke the demia-d. L)oe, t-ot lt cont-itti-1. hoth t se Ftrar su I ait..wtuich you l:ive a:o aupport, t:ae th;- deramd: Does not civilization I:ike the demaudi Does not every Uemiocratic tdlatut'om ti'.t has erer heen :a rvtd tt'th t:ati-:tri aud St'e. nik the demw. t.e. not ereiy opponent of the McKiny ;adDn-y : ir i ac-? tuadke tie deao? Ites not eb:tgity. the grratto-t of the th-,te sirtuet. u.ak tbe d ieuand' Let u:. -e,- if reaso does not iake tie le r:.and See Stare Countitution, artic'e 1, Eec tin1s 6 ami 7: article 3 i-e-tion .'; article 8, section 6. lattr c'aist-: als iarice i), :4ection 3. See U. S ;1m'uVtiti->n, artcie , s,-crien 10. Possl'y never before b-ts any State or tolitic:al parry Lo utterly dr.er.d and r-pudiate'i the reaching and d-,etrize- of her frmer illu-t i)us 4tatesmen. Let us see how tbis tax operates. The average two horre farme-, W'U pays taxes <.n $510 worth of pro: erry and uses three tons of tertilizer per plow, pays to tne sup port of the State int'titutions of cigher learn i-.; about a:: fo:Aows: S C. C. Clem l'arteer who prys on $5- 0. pays to ........ ...........1 : i 50 -Lerchant who pays ou 45 . pays to....... ................... , Mechanic wh-> pays o% $500, pa)s to ......... .............. 3 Lawyer who .ays on $500, pays to.......... ..... .......... ;ctor who pays on $500, pa 8 t) -........................... 31 Banker who pays on t500, \!anuracturer who payS ou $501, pays to.................. All professions except farm e s.. . ..................... Is not this reason suflicierti Is this equal rights to all and special privileges to none? A'ait:. doe4 this di!crimuation str.tp hert.? . N. it ut-eS furthier ani ilsocutinates even anong- tue firni rs, Ftrtuer A pays $7 00 per :un for acid, and pays 25 cects tax b.:reon. not. on property. but tor the privil eg. This is equal to 3.5 mills, or .3., per cent.. on the purbase price Farmer B pays $45 for a ton of nitrate. He pays 25 ceata tax, or le53 than 5 mills on the pur chase. While farmers pny their full share of all other taxes they are in addition bur dened indirec:ly with this most iniquitous of all taxes, If tlie State proposes to go in to the indirect tax butitness to raise revenue, why, in the name of all de cency, should she t'ingle out fertilizers? Why nut tax minerl waters, che -ing gum, luxuries of a 1 kinds, railroad -upplies, manufacturera' supplies, and the upplies of every other iudustry? 'A. hy single out a necessity of the farm and place such a discriminating tax upon it? Wby require the consumers of fertilizers alone to support one college in such a lavish way and pay their full share to all oth--r in stitutions? Is it right? Is it just? Is it statesmanshii.? Is it becoming a civilized people? Echo answers. no, a thousand times, no' I his system is becoming that of a heathen or uncivilized despot; one who would tax small towns for the benefit of large cities, or a government distrustful of its own people, seeking to take from the peo p'e's pocket, indinectly and behind their backs, that which they are af aid to ask for. It is becom'ng a cowardly government Col. Norris says there was no demand from the people for the reduction of the tax. was there any demand from the peop-e, that the consumers of fertilizers should build and maintain a textile school ia con nection with Clemson college? Pear in mind I am not opposed to a textile school, and believe that great good will accrue to the State from such a school properly man age-1. (And, by the way, one of the profes sors toid tne on my last visit to Clemson hat the oat crop was so prodigious that it was nece-sary to rernt land t> shock it on.) I believe the textiie school is intended to teach the boys to spin yarn. lint, if it is right to tax the consumers of fcitilizers to build and support an agricultural and mechanical college, why is it not right to tax mill people (or yarn spinners) to build and support a textile school? No, sir; it. is all wrong This should be an institution of toe whols people, and all should be taxed alike for ite support. But possibly I have "amplified" too muchI. However let me say that I have not spoken or written one worn for the fun of it or fo'r any notoriety, as it is a great burden for me to write, and I anhor neivspaper notoriety; neither have I written for the purpose of doing any one harm, or for the purpose of e'evating any one, but from a conscientious feeling of duty that I feel I owe to our State and the people at large. and especially to the -onsumer of fertilizers, atnd also, as 1 con scientiously believe, for the benetit of Clem son college and all other institutions of the State. I have always stood by all the State ,:ul'eges and fell a detep ald sp~ecial iutere:.t in Clemson. I long to see the day when ali of theuc will be taken out of the political umarkdt, thereby itca ing their efficiency and usefulness. And, notwithstasnding I .ma constitutionally opposed to bond i- sues. I believe it would be economy and to the best interests of the State and colleges to en .tow them with bond issues. It is to be regretted tha' the Citadel ha, rure.ved what is considered by many two very serious blows during the present ye ar, namely, the riot and the ignoring of the graduates in the army appointments. I have tried t> be fair to all in what I have had to say, and regret that I thought it necessary to use what might be termed strong words at ti-nes. I tried not to put any one in the penitentiary. or accuse him of fraud or theft. If any one has been placed in an awkward positian it is his misforune, not my fault, and he has my symnpathy. I be lieve the Clemson board to be muade up of bonorable, conscientious men, who are try ing to do the best they cau. I shall not at tempt to criticize their action here, except to say that I believe in their desperate effort to hold on to and perpetuate the present in come to Clemson, i. e., this unequal and un just special tax on fertil-zers, th at they will eventuslly impair (by prejudicing certain classes) Clemson's great future prospects for usefulness. Let Clemeon come to the go-. al public crib for her sustenance. 1 have such faith in the people of the State that I believe Clemison would be given every dollar needed unhesitatingly. I hope the public will pardon me for intruding on their pa tience. .My earnest desire to see justice done to all prompts me to be lengthy. 1 could write more, but enough for the pres ent: but, remember, the half has not beett told. Respectfully, L. S. Cornor. Orangeburg, S. C., July 23, 1898. W\ATERM l.UN SYR*P. -The Mottt gonmery Advertiser recommends the making of watermelcon syrup. It says: "Thie watermielon juice contains a lar ger pereentage of water than does the juice of the cane, but we are informed that enei gallon of syrttp can be tmade fromt 12 or 14 gallons of juice. and atre of the opinion that an acre of lantd would produce more syrup if planted in melons thtan if planted int cane. Th1ey are an easy crop to raise. are very pro ductive. easy to handle. and no mua chinery would b~e required to express thte juice, as is the case with suga~r cane. The1 watermelon makes a beau tifutl syrup. mild and pleasatnt. and if the effort was made in a scientific way there is little doubt that it would prove a suess. Itis certainly worth try in. Town Swept Away. The town of .Jeromte. Ariz~ona. was completely wiped out Sunday night by fire, entail inge a loss of over 8'1.000.0004 itt property. levein bod"e h' so far beeni recovered while a core or tore arc said to be itt the rin 'p or missitng. Thei fire origintated in a aitt and' spread so rapidly andl fiercel tht it was timpossible to save even the cloth iti. The fire wats cotinited exclusivelyv ttebtsnem portion of the town. IN tOLD BLOOD. The Empress of Austria the Vic. tim of an Assassin. STABBED HER FROM BEHIND. An Anarchist Plunges His Stilleto into Her Heart on the Streets of Geneva, Switzerland. Th.e Eipress of Austria was assassi nated while walking on the streets of Geneva. Sv itzerland. Saturday after noon by an anarchist. who was arrested. He stabbed her majesty with a stiletto. It appears that her majesty was walk ing from her hotel to the landing place of the steamer at about 1 o'clock. when an Italian anarchist named Lucchoni. who was born in Paris of Italian par ents. suddenly approached and stabbL : her to the heart. The empress fell, got up again and was carried to the steamer unconscious. The boat started: but. sceing the empress had not recovered consciousness. the captain returned and the empress was carried to the hotel Beaurivage, where she expired. The stretcher upon which the empress was carried to the hotel was hastily im provised with oars and sail cloth. Doc tors and priests were immediately sum moned. and a telegram was sent to Em peror Francis Joseph. All efforts to revive her majesty were unavailing and she expired at 3 o'clock. The medical examination showed that the assassin must have used a small trangular file. After striking the blow lie ran along the Rue des Alpes. with the evident intention of entering the Square des Alpes. but before reaching it he was seized by two cabmen who had witness ed the crime. They handed him over to a boatman and a gendarme, who con veyed him to the police station. The prisoner made no resistance. He even sang as he walked along, saying: - did it. - and "she must be dead." At the police station he declared that lie was a "starving anarchist, with no hatred for the poor, but only for the rich." Later. when taken to the court house and interrogated by a magistrate in the presence of three members of the local government and the police officials, he pretended not to'know French and re fused to answer questions. The police on searching him found a document showing his name to be Luigi Lacehini, born in Paris in 1S73. and an Italian soldier. A great crowd quickly assembled around the Hotel Beaurivage. where the officials proceeded after interrogat ing the prisoner. The police searched the scene of the crime for the weapon and the accomplices of the assassin. It appears that a boatman noticed three persons closely following the em press, who was making purchases in the shops. The local government, im mediately on receeving the news of her majesty's death, half-masted the flag on the Hotel de Ville (the municipal offi ces) and proceeded in a body to the Hotel Beaurivage as a token of respect. The excitement is increasing and many of the shops on the Kursaal are closed. The assassin told the magis that lie came to Geneva in order to as sassinate "another important person. but had been unable to execute the pro ject. The reason of his failure he did not give, but he declared that it was only by accident lie had learned of the presence of the Austrian empress in Geneva. The wound was just over the left breast. There was hardly any bleeding. A priest was secured in time to admin ister extreme unction. All Switzerland is profound with sorrow and indigna tion. The papers of all cities have printed extra editions expressing hcorror of the crime. Lucchoni. the anarchist assassin, lived at Parma, Italy. The empress of Russia was born De cember 24. 1837. She was a daughter of Duke Mlaxmilian of Bavaria, and was married to Francis Joseph, emper or of Austria and king of Hungary, April 24. 1854. They had three child ren, the Archduchess Gisola. who is married to Prince Luitpold of Bavaria. the Archkuke Rudolph, who married Princess Stephanie of Belgium, and who was (seemingly) assassinated in 1889. and the Archduchess MIaria Vale ria, wvho married the Archduke Franz Salvator of Austria-Tuscany. The late empress was an enthusiastic horse woman. Paris. Sept. 10.-President Felix Faure sent a telegram of condolence to Emperor Francis Joseph immediate ly upon receipt of news of the assassi nation, and he has since countermand ed the arrangements for the shooting party fixed for tomorrow at the 31arly preserves. The police here believe the murder the result of a plot of Italian anar chists. and that the assassin is identi cal with one Luccessi, who is wanted by the Bologena police as a dangerous anarchist. The man known as Luccesi was implicated in the recent truobles at M1ilan. after which lie fied to Zurich. While at Zurich Luccessi was present at a meeting of Italian anarchists. when seven were selected, including Luccessi to assassinate the principal European sovereigns. inceluding the king of Italy. A F'rench deteetive who was present at the meeting in disguise, warned the Fench forcign officee which commiuni cated its information to the Ital ian gov ernmient. As a result King iHumbert was carefully guarded, as was also M. Faure. About a week ago another mectingr of' the same band of anarchists was held at Zurich. and those who hal been selected at the previous meLeting were actised of cowardice. Thereupon Luacesi said: "1 will show that I am no coward. T will kill sonec one. The following~ da'y he left Zurich and went to Bale. procec-inig thence to (Geneva. Washington. Sept. 10. -The state de partmient late this afternoon received a -confirmation of the rep;r:"d assas sination of the empress of Austria. The following dispatch was reeiv'ed from the United States consul at Ge neva: --Generfl. Sept. 10). 1 :.-a p. mo --The empress of Atustria just a:sassmated here by Italian anairchist. (Signed) -us r Upon receipt of Ccnsul Ridgely-s no t icaetion 4f the death of the empress, President M1Kiniley sent the following message of condolence: -Executive Mansion. "Washington, Sept. 10. -Ti' his Majesty. the Emperor of Aus tri. Vienna: '-1 have heard with profound regret of the assassination of her majesty, the empress of Austria. while at Ge neva. and tender to your majesty the deep sympathy of the government and people of the l-nited States. (Signed) ''William Mr-Kinley" Thc Reyal is tfia bi~jibt u.-O b~l;I! F-i thir fuetbeet 'saO2 gry iutRCI tra&d KId POWDER Absolutely Pure ROYAL BAK:N POWrR CO., NEW YORK. SOUTH CAROLINA REGIm.NTS. One to be Mustered Out and the Other Retained in Service. The Washington correspondent of the News and Courier telegrapht under date of Wednesday as follf s: South Carolina volunteers are striv ingr to be retained in the army. while troops from other states are pleading to be mustered out of service. Unless some unlooked for influence is brought to bearupon the secretary of war the First regiment of South Carolina troops will be mustered out in accordance with a recent order promulgated by Adju tant General Corbin. There seems to be a conflict of evidence as to the de sire of the men of the First regiment. Tuesday, Lieutenant Colonel Tillman called at the war department, and pre sented a petition. purporting to be signed by (100 or 700 men of the regi ment, requesting to be mustered out. Wednesday, Major John Earle. of the same regiment, called upon the Presi dent and the secretary of war, and urged that the First regiment be retain ed in the service. He stated that a majority of the men had signed Colonel Tillman's petition under a misappre hension. and if a vote of the regiment is fairly taken i. will be found that nearly all of the men have anxious to remain in the service. When this statement was made to Adjutant Gen eral Corbin by Major Earle. General Corbin said the policy of the govern ment is to give the troops who entered the service first the first chance Lto get out. He added that he had received numerous letters from members of the First regiment asking to be mustered out. Unless the president directs otherwise, the First regiment will be mustered out in accordance with the expressed desires of a majority of the regiment as set forth in Colonel Till man's petition. Lt is asserted by some of those wh do not desire the First regiment mus tered out. that it is a political move to get the members of that regiment home in time to take an active part in the second primary election for governor. From the same source comes the sug gestion that the Second regiment, but. recently mustered into the service.. should go out and allow the First to re main in. When the Second regiment. was ordered to be mustered in a few weeks ago, it was with the distinct un derstandinig between the president, Secretary Alger, Senator MIeLaurin and Colonel Wilie Jones. that the Secord regiment would be willing to remain in the service and perform garrison duty in Cuba or Porto Rico for the privilege of being mustered in under the circun: stances The First having asked to be mustered out. and the Second express ed a willingness to remain in, the order of the secretary of war seems t> be just. In the event of the First regiment going out, M1ajor Earle may be transferred to General Lee's staff. General Lee and several officers of Lee's corps have re quested the transfer. Cotton Crop Injured. The returns for cotton to the statis tician of the department of agriculture indicate an average condition of 79.8 on Sept. 1, as compared with 91.2 on Aug. 1, a decline of 11 points during. the month. The average condition on Sept. 1, 1S97, was 78.3; on Sept. 1, 1896, 64.2, - and the mean of the Sep tember averages for the last ten years. is 79.4. The decline during August by states was as follows: North Carolina 61 points, South Carolina S. Georgia 11.. Alabama 15. Mississippi 10, Louisiana. 14 Texas 16, Arkansas 4, Tennes see: -, Oklahoma S. In Indian Territory there was slight imp: o ement. Com plaints of excessive rainfall. shedding. and other unfavorable conditions are: eneral east of the M1ississippi river., yhile the boll worm and M1exican wee vil have been very destructive in Texas.. The average condition in the different, states is as follows: Virgrinia 91. Northn Carolina 84. South Carolina S1, Geor ela 80. Florida 73. Alabama S0. 3Iissis sippi 78. Louisiana 76. Texas 75. Ar kansas S89. Tenm ssee 95. 3Missouri 9.. Oklahoma 90. Indian Territory 90. Big Prize Money.. At least $1.000J.000 prize money will be distributed among American sailors as a result of the war with Spain. More than one-half of this sum will be paid in accordance with that section of law providing for the pay ment of a bounty for persons on board vessels of war sunk in action. It is estimated that the aggregate amount of the Asiatic fleet as a result of the destruetion of the Spanish force amounts to $187.5004. which congress will be asked to appropriate during the coming session. One-twentieth of this sum belongs to Rear Admiral Dew ey.as commander-in-chief, and he will. therefore, be $9,375 richer than lie was before the war. Rear Admiral damp son has realized a snug little fortune as a result of the war. As commannnd er-in-chief of the North Atlantic waters: and one-twentieth of the head money allowed for the vessels destroyed off Santia'io and in Curban ports, it is. estimated that he will linally receive sout s.00t as his share of the prize money. _______ A Virginia Tragedy. Last M1onday .J. B. Schnmidt shot and killed Edward Hoffman and son. dJohn T. Hloffmian, lumbermen from Bucking hiai county. operating on Schmidt s place on the James river, in Sarry county. Schmidt went to the Hoff mans mill and deliberately shot Young Hoffman seven times with a Winches ter rifle in the preseuce of his father. killing him instantly, and then turned upon the father. who piteously begged. for his life. and shot him recpeatedly until he was dead. A posse was sent to arrest Schimdt but he refused to sur render and was shot :nar the heart. ie lingered several hours when he dlied of his wounds. cursing at every breath. A New York man. who had been in a state of suspended auimnation for twenty-two months came to 1:e aga in last week. An exchiange says that while he missed all of the war. he has returned in time "t see the fun with~ A lger