Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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yJ. x I VANNING., S. C.. WEDNESDA Y, NOVEMBER 2, 1898. NO. 15. TERMS ACCEPTED. This Country Assumes no Portion of the Cuban Debt. PHILIPPINE ISSUES NEXT. Demands of Protocol as to Puerto Rico and Guam Agreed To. No Trouble Over Other Clauses. The Spanish peace commissioners have accepted the negative view of the United States commission toward the proposed assumption by the United States of the Cuban debt. The Ameriern commissioners have firmly but courteously declined to as sume for the United States the entire or joint responsibility for the Spanish financial conditions. Senor Montero Rios, the president of the Spanish commission and his iol leagues, with faithful insistence, sought another result. But they failed to at tain it and have finally abandoned the effort and have agreed that the Cuban article of the protocol shall. without conditior., have a place in the ultimate treaty of peace. Though. through sev eral sessions the Spanish commission ers have had before them the irrevoca ble presentation of their American col leagues, it was not until Monday that they became absolutely convinced that the Americans had from the outset of their refusal to accept the Cuban debt, meant exactly what they said. In spite of the fact that the Spanish commissioners had, as a background to their efforts, doubts of succeeding. their hope of so doing has been so keen and their contertion has been so vigor ously prosecuted that the final convic tion of their inability to win their point brought to the Spaniards such a shock and depression that, consistently with 'these dispatches at the time. there were grave doubts as to the continuance .of the negotiations. In support of thesestatements is the ,fact that Senor Montero Rios, after Monday's session, and on Tuesday last. -would have resigned the presidency of :the Spanish commission, had he not believed that his doing so may have greviously shaken, even if it had not -unseated, Senor Sagasta's government. From this standpoint, if for no other reason, Senor Montero Rios retained his position, and at Wednesday's ses sion, acting under the conviction ar rived at on Monday, the Spaniards an nounced that they would forego furth er argument on the Cuban debt, and agreed that practically in the terms and absolutely in the spirit of the pro tocol, the article about Cuba should go forward into the final treaty. Thus Spain agrees to relinquish sovereignty and claim to Cuba without either terms or conditions. All differences, if any existed, re garding Puerto Rico and the selection of the island of Guam, were also ar ranged by a mutual understanding, and the commissioners found themselves well nigh touching the Philippine ques tion, which will be taken up next week. It should be said that the adjust ments already accomplished will stand in the final treaty, unless opposing views and positions on the Philippine -question should develop hereafter to bring to naught the efforts of the fu ~ture and at the same time the results :already obtained. The session of the joint commission -ers which bega.n Wednesday at 2 p. in., -ended at 4 p m. THE ONE CONCESSION MADE. The intimation conveyed by the .American commissioners to the Spanish .commissioners at Monday's session of :the peace conference in Paris, that the position of the United States with re -spect to Cuba and the Cuban debt 'ould not be regarded as subject to -change, and that, consequently, the American commissioners were ready to proceed with the consideration of other heads under the protocol, the Paris ad Tices show, had the desired effect. The -one concession as to Cuba that our -commissioners will make will be to ;guarantee for the United States that :life and property shall be secured in -Cuba. This responsibility the United :States will assume on'ly until such time :as a stable government shall be form -ed and operative in Cuba. There will be no perpetual guaiantee on this score. THE PHILIPPINEs. It is expected that the commissioners will now take up the subject of the Philippines. The American commis sioners have given this subject much :attention, but sc far it has never ap peared before the joint commission save in the shape of one spasmodic ef fort made by the Spaniards at the very beginning of the sessions to have the United States to abandon Manila as a precedent to further negotiations on the subject of the Philippines. The American commissioners among other things have been looking into the sub ject of the Philippine debt about which there is much ignorance at this end of the line. It is unlikely that the same rule will be applied to that debt as was insisted upon relative to the Cuban debt. In other words if the United States annexes the Philippines, which seems now to be the logical outcome of the situation, it might be reasonably ' contended that at least so much of the debt as represented moneys expended for the improvement of the island should pass to the United States with the title. The situation is regarded as materially different from that in Cuba. wvhere the United States grai ns nothing substantial, for, with the ahnexation of the Philippines we should acquire a territory almost as large as the British Isles with a teeming population of more than 8.000,000O people. It will be for the American commissioners to ar range the details of the transfer of the Philippines to the United States, as it is expressly stipulated in the p'eace protocol that the disposition of the Philippines shall be arranged by the peace commissioners. so that there is ample warrant unlike the ease of Cubs for a full discussion of all questions of the Philippine debt. municipa n n sular. Married a Duke. In Berne, Switzerland. on Tuesday at Nyon in the Canton of Vaud, hi: serene highness. IDuke de Litta, Vis count Imrez, was married to Miss Jan< Johnston Perry. daughter of the latt A. S. . Perry of Charleston. S. C. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. Some Interesting Statistics Concern ing its Xembersh The national convention of the Chris tian church, just concluded in Chatta nooga, wai a largely attended, repre sentative and business-like body of men and women from all sections. This body represented a constituency of 1,060,613. of whom there are, whites, 9S9,613; colored, 71,000. The membership by States is as fol lows: Alabama.................. 11,049 Arizona.................. 350 Arkansas..... .........58,000 California................. 18,785 Colorado....... ........4,550 Connecticut.. ............800 Delaware................ 125 Ibistrict of Columbia........ 1,296 Florida................ 1,920 Georgia............... 11,093 Idaho....................795 illinois................... 103,717 diana...............102,000 Indian Territory.......... 2,740 Iowa.. .............. 52,952 Kansas............... 45,750 Kentucky............. 105,000 Louisiana............ ...1.200 Maine.................. 600 Maryland.... ...........2.420 Massachusetts...... ......1,602 Michigan.. ...,356 Minnesota ....076 Missouri..... .154,300 Mississippi.. 6,87 -Nebraska.............. 23000 Nevada................ 100 New Jersey.............. 155 New York............... 6.959 31exico............ ......325 North Carolina........... 15,450 North Dakota.. ........... 450 Ohio................. 69.000 Oklahoma.............. 022 Oregon.................6,416 Pennsylvania........... 18,8) Rhode Island........ South Carolina.. .........2,980 South Dakota........... 2.885 Tennessee .............45,011 Texas..... ...........68,000 U tah.................... 4S0 Vermont.... ........... 300 Virginia............... 29,830 Washington............. 6,000 West Virginia.......... 13,176 Wisconsin. .............1,417 W yoming................ -360 Total.............. 989,613 Colored..... ..........71,000 Total........ .....1,060.613 IN FOREIGN LANDS. There are also in foreign lands 40, 568, as follows: Australia................ 12,000 British America.. .......10.160 Great Britain.. .........12,000 Foreign stations.. ........6,408 Total............ ... 40,568 Total by states... .....1,060,613 Grand total.......... ..1,101,181 This mighty movement began almost within the memory of men yet living. Four preachers. Alexander Campbell, Thomas Campbell, Walter Scott and Barton W. Stone, led in making a plea for the union of all Christians to the end that the world might be evan gelized. They rejected all human creeds and claimed that as the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were the only inspired writing, that they were an all sufficient as a rule of faith and life. THlE CHRISTIAN'S BELIEF. They claimed that baptism was the immersion in water of a penitent be liver into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, that the death of Christ should be com memorated on the first day of every week in the Lord's supper; that the followers of Christ ought not to bear any name other than those found in the New Testament, such as Christian, disciple, etc. PRESIDENT GARFIELD'S STAREMENT. The following is President James A. Garfield's statement of what we believe as a religious people: 1. We call ourselves Christians or Disciples. 2. We believe in God the Father. 3. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. We regard the divinity of Christ as the fundamental truth in the Christian sys tem. 4. We believe in the Holy Spirit. both as to its agency in 'conversion and as an indweller in the hearts of Christ lans. 5. We accept the Old and New Testa ment Scriptures as the inspired word of God. 6. We believe in the future punish ment of the wicked, and the future re ward of the righteous. 7. We believe that Diety -is a pray er-hearing and a prayer-answering God. S. We observe the institution of the Lord's supper on every Lord's day. To this table it is our practice neither to invite nor debar. We say it is the Lord's supper for all the Lord's chil dren. 9. We plead for the union of all God's people on the Bible and the Bi ble alone. 10. The Bible is our only creed. 11. We maintain that all the ordin ar~ccs of the Gospel should be observ ed as they were in the days of the apos tles. Fire in Brooklyn. Fire broke out shortly after 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at pier 39. East river. Brooklyn, and did damage to the Iamount of half a million dollars, At the pier the four masted British ship Andorenha was lying, discharging a cargo composed principally of jute butts and saltpetre. She soon caught fire and will probably be a total loss. The three masted schooner Waccamnaw, loaded with benzine, alcohol and tur pentine, which arrived from George town, S. C., earlier in the day, and was tied up at the foot of Coffee street, caught and was towed out into the stream where the flames were extin guished without any great damage be ing done the vessel. Bryan Ill in Savannah. Col. W. J. Bryan, who is in Sav'an nah. Ga.. with his regiment. the Third INebraska volunteers, as a part of' Lee's corps, is ill at the De Soto hotel. He is suffering with fever, but his condi STONEWALL S W AY. An English Soldier's Life of the Great General. WAS A GREAT STRATEGIST. The Story of Manansas and the Shenandoah Campaign as Seen Through a Foreign ers Eyes. The New York Sun of Sunday fills an entire page with a review of a life of Stonewall Jackson by Lieutenant Colonel G. F. R. Henderson, of the British army. professor of military art and history in the English army staff college. The work is in two large vol umes and deals with Jackson from the standpoint of the strategist and the purely military man. Col. Henderson considers Jackson and his campaigns professionally and after access to all official records. In a preface he says: "It was not on the battlefield alone tlat Jackson's capacity for war was stri cingly brought out. His time and thoughts were more occupied by strat egy-that is by combinations made out of the enemy's sight-than by tactics. that is. by manoeuvres executed in the enemy's presence. Unfortunately for the fate of armies, strategy. even among soldiers, is an unpopular science. requiring, both in exposition and in practice, a constant and careful study of the map, the closest computation of time and space, a grasp of many factors and unwavering attention to the vari ous steps in the problems it presents. If it were generally understood that in regular warfare success depends on something more than the ability to handle troops in battle. niany far reaching mistakes might be avoided. The campaigns of our civil war show how much may be achieved, even with relatively feeble means, by men who have studied strategy and possess the character needful for its successful practice; they also show, not a whit less forcibly, what awful sacrifices may be exacted from a nation ignorant that such a science exists." After following Jackson's early life, West Point and Mexican war experi ence. his work in the Virginia Military Institute and the organization of his brigade, Colonel Henderson narrates his part in the first battle of Manassas. He evidently thinks that the Confeder ates were beaten at noon, when the Federals were ready to move upon the position which Jackson, like Bee and Bartow. had been ordered to defend. Hearing the heavy fire to his left in creasing in intensity, Jackson had turn ed the head of his column toward the most pressing danger, and had sent a messenger to Bee to announce his com ing. As .he pushed rapidly forward, part of the troops he intended to sup port swept by in disorder to the rear. Imboden's battery came dashing back, and that officer, meeting Jackson, ex pressed with a profanity which was evidently displeasing to the general h.is disuust at being left without support. "'lsupport your battery," was the brief answer. "Unlimber right here." At this moment appeared General Bee. approaching at full gallop, and Bee and Jackson met face to face. The latter was cool and composed; Bee was cover ed with dust and sweat, his sword in his hand and his horse foaming. "General," cried Bee, "they are beat ing us back!" "Then, sir," was the reply, "we will give them the bayonet." The thin lips closed like a vise, and Jackson's brigade, pressing up the slope, formed into line on the eastern edge of the Henry Hill. Jackson's determined bearing inspired Lee with renewed confidence. He turned bridle and galloped back to the ravine, where his officers were attempting to reform their broken companies. Riding into the midst of the throng he pointed with his sword to the Virginia regiments deployea1 in well-ordered array on the height above. "Look!" he shouted' "there is Jackson standing like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians!" The men took up the cry, and the hap py augury of the expression applied at a time when hearts were failing and defeat seemed imminent, was remem bered when the danger had passed away. Colonel Henderson says the position chosen by Jackson was the strongest he could possibly have choven and that his keeping his brigade lying down and having it to rise, fire and charge to meet the advancing Federal centre il lustrates his faculty of doing exactly the right thing at the right time. I~e expresses the belief that had Jackson been in command the Confederate army would have been in Washington the day after the fight and quotes General McClellan and Secretary Stanton to prove that the capture would have been easy and Jackson himself to prove that he 'would have undertaken it if lie hiad been authorized to do so. The valley campaign of the winter of 1G1-62 is thus reviewed: On Nov. 4th, 1S86L .Jackson was as signed to the command of the Shenan doah Valley, embracing the northern part of the area between die Allegha nies and the Blue Ridge. More than 20.(00 Federals were prepared to in vade Virrinia. McClellan. before Me Dowell wras held back, reckoned on placing 3->,(I00 men at West Point. Fremont in West Vir-inia commanded 30,000, including the force in thme Kanawaha Valley, and Banks had crossed the Potomac with over :30,00rU. Less than 60,000 Confederate soldiers were available in Virginia at the date named to oppose this enormous host, and the North posssessed a vast pre ponderance in respect of inmatrial re sources. Yet within three months of the day when McClellan started for the peninsula the original odds against the South had been much reduced. The Confederates, it is true, had won no startling victories. F-xcept in the val ley, where only relatively detachments were engaged, the fighting had been in decisive. The North had no reason to believe that its soldiers werc any wayv inferior to their adversaries, except in respect of cavalry. On June 26. how ever. "where were the big battalions?" To be sure 105,000 men were intrench ed within sight of the spires of Rich mond: but where wecrc the rest? Where were the 70,000 that should have aided McClellan, have encircled the rebel capital on every side, cut the commu How caine it that Freemont and Banks were no further south than they were in Mareb, that the Shenandoah Valley still poured its produce into Richmond, and that McDowell had not yet crossed the Ra ppahannock? What mysterious power had compelled Lincoln to retain a force larger than the whole Confeder ate army -to protect the national capi tal from danger and insult?" Colonel Henderson answers that in the four in tervening months the brains of two great leaders had done more for the Confederacy than 200.000 soldiers had done for the Union. Without quitting his desk and leaving the execution of his plans to Jackson, Lee had relieved liichmond from the pressure of 70.000 Federals. and had placed the remainder in the position wherein he most wished to see them. The author of these vol umes is far from averring that mere natural ability had triumphed. iHe ex presscs the opinion that in this respect Lee was not more highly gifted than Lincoln or Jackson than McClellan. Whether by accident ,r design, how ever, Jefferson Davis had selected for the command of the Confederate army, and for retention in the Valley, two consummate adepts in the art of strate gy. If it was accident. he was singu larly favored by fortune. He might have selected many soldiers of high rank and long service who would have been as innocent of strategical skill as Lincoln himself. As a fact. it was not accident that led to Jackson's retention in the valley. although his oirginal designation to that field may have been owing to chance. It was due to Joseph E. Johnston that Jackson was kept in the valley when McClellan moved to the peninsulh: his, too, was the fundamen tal idea of the campaign, that the Fed erals in the valley were to be prevented from reinforcing the army which threa tened Richmond. To Lee is conceded credit for a still larger share in Jack son's success. From the moment that Lee assumed command, the Confederate operations were directed on a definite and well considered plan, comprising a defensive attitude around Richmond, .1 vip:)rous ofiensive in the valley, lead ing to the dispersion of the enemy, and to the ultimate concentration of the Confederates on the Chickahominy. From Lee came the suggestion that a blow should be struck at Banks, that he should be driven back to the Poto mac and that the North should be threatenend with invasion. From him. too, when the Federal lines could be actually seen from Richmond, came to Jackson the reinforcement of 7,000 men under Whiting and Lawton, the news of whose arrival in the Valley spread consternation -among the Fed erals. On the other hand, it is to be remembered that Lee made no sugges tion whatever as to the manner in which his ideas were to be worked out. In respect of execution everything was left to Jackson. The swift manouvres which surprised his various opponents in succession emanated from Jackson alone. It was his brain that eonceived the march by Meehum's Station to Nc Dowell, the march that surprised Fre mont and bewildered Banks. It was his brain that conceived the rapid trans fer of the valley army from one side of the Massanuttons to the other, the march that surprised Kenly drove Banks in panic to the Potomac. It was his brain that conceived the double victory of Cross Keys and the Port Re public; and. if Lee's comprehensive strategy was brilliant, that displayed by Jackson on the minor theatre of war was no less admirable. The instruc tions he received, for example, at the end of April, before he moved against Milroy, were simply to the effect that a successful blow at Banks might have the happiest results. Such a blow was not easily delivered. Banks was strong ly posted and numerically superior to Jackson, while Fremont, in equal strength, was threatening Staunton. Taking instant advantage of the separa: tion of the hostile columns, Jackson struck at Milroy, and, having checked Fremont, re turned to the Valley to find Banks retreating. At this moment he received orders from Lee to threaten Washington. Without an instant's hesitation he marched northward. By May 23rd, had the Federals received warning of his advance, they might have concentrated 30,000 men at Stras burg and Front Royal; or, while Banks was reinforced, McDowell might have moved on Gordonsville, cutting Jack son's line of retreat on Richmond. Jack son, however, took as little account of numbers as did Cromwell. Conceal ing his march with his habitual skill, he dashed with his 16,000 men into the midst of his enemies. Driving Banks before him, and well aware that Fre mont and McDowell were converging in his rear, he advanced boldly on Harper's Ferry, routed Saxton's out posts, and remained for two days on theC Potomac with 16,000 Federals within a few days's march. Then re treating rapidly up the valley, he tur".ed fiercely at bay beneath the southern peaks of the Massanuttons; and the pursuing colums. mustering to iether nearly twice his numbers, were thrust back with heavy loss at the very moment they were combining to crush him. It was this operation which, in the judgement of Lord W'olseley, stampecd JTackson "s a military genius of the highest order. A week later, Jackson had vanished, and, when he suddenly appeared with fell results on the Chieckhominy, Banks. Fremont and McDowell were still guarding the roads to Washington. while McClellan, within the sight of Richmond, was waiting for McDowell's aid. Thus were 175,000t men paralyzed by 10;,000. It is when regarded in connection with the operations of the main army that .Jackson's Valley campaign stands out in its true colors; at the time, same as an isolated performance, it is edify ing in a high degree. It has been coam pared with Bonaparte's Italian cam paign of 1796i, but the author of these volumes is disposed to deem it more meritoriouas. I ndoubtdely the odds agairst the Confederates were far great er tiian those against the French. Then, again, .Jackson had to act against a homogeneous enemy, with generals anxiouss to render each other loyal support,. and not against the mutually jealous contingents of different powers. His imarches were far longer than Na poleo is. the theatre of war was not less difficult, his troops were not veterans, but. in great part. the very rawest of recruits. The enemy's officers and sol diers were not inferior to his own; their commanders are pronounced at least equal in capacity to Colli, Beaulieu, and Alvinzi. while assuredly the states men who directed them from Washing ton were not more purblind than the Aulic Council. Moreover, Jacsson was merely the commander of a de tached force which might at any mo ment be required at Richmond. The risks which Napoleon freely accepted he could not afford. He dared not de liver a battle unless he was certain of success, and his one preoccupation was to lose as few men as possible. Be this as it may, Colonel Henderson maintains that, in the secrecy of the Confederate movements, the rapidity of the marches and the skillful use of topographical features the valley campaign bears strong traces of the Napoleonic methods. Seldom has the value of these methods been more forcibly exemplified. Three time was McDowell to have marched to join McClellan; first at the beginning of April, when he was held back by Kernstown; second, on May 26th. when he held back by Front Royal and Win chester; third, on June 25th, when he was held back by Jackson's mysterious disappearance after Port Ilepublic. The material results of the Valley campaign were by no means inconsid erable. Thirty-five hundred prisoners were either paroled or sent to Rich mond; 3,500 Federals were killed or wounded. An immense quantity of stores was captured and probably as much destroyed. Fine guns were taken and over 10,000 rifles. On the other hand, the loss of the Confederates was no more than 2,500 killed and wounded, 600 prisoners and 3 guns. It may be added that the constant surprises, to gether with the fact that Jackson, in spite of the relatively small force at his disposal, ordinarily had the larger num ber of men upon the field of -battle pro duced the worst effect on the morals of the Federal soldiers. The troops commanded by Frement, Shields, Banks, Saxon and Early, were all in fected with misgiving. Officers re signed and men deserted. On the least alarm there was observed a de cided tendency to stampede. The generals thought only of retreat. Fre mont, after Cross Keys did not think that his mnci would stand, and many of his soldiers de ared that it was 'only nmurder' to fight wi hout reinforcements. When to sneh immediate tangible re sults is added the niltimate strategical effect of the campaign, it can hardly be denied that the success he achieved was out of all proportion to Jackson's strength. Few general l'ave done so much with means so small. FIRE IN SPART ANBURG. The Biggest Blaze the Town has Ever Witnessed. The third fire has come. It was the largest blaze that our town has ever had. It started in the Carrier livery stable, a large two-story wooden build ing, with a shingle roof. John Hart. a contractor, had a lumber yard and of flee on the corner of Main and South Liberty streets. Next to him came the Carrier stable, occupied in part by the Rev. G. F. Mills, a colored Bap tist preacher. Then came Morgan's livery stable and harnesp shop. Then there was one one-story block contain ing two or three small shops. They were all on Main street. On Liberty there was another livery stable build ing. There were four or five .shops along the street. All these were burned. On the east side of Liberty there was a one-story brick cottage be longing to and occupied by Harry Thompson and family. That was burned, but the furniture was saved. John Hart lost everything. His loss is estimated at $1,200 and no insurance. He says this is the ninth time he has been burned out, and he never had car. ried any insurance. On the Carrier livery stable there was $1,000 insurance Carrier lost seven horses, several wag ons and buggies and the harness be longing to them. Mills lost all the horses he had there were ten or twelv< of them. R. L. Taylor, of Rutherford. ton, N. C., had just arrived Wedne. day afternoon, with five horses, a wagon and buggy, all of which were put in Morgan's stable. These wer e all lost. Morgan saved his harness and all o~ his horses except a very fine stallion which cost $500. He had $500 insur ance on his stable. The Bell Telephone Company lost $300 to $500 by having all connections on East Main streel destroyed. The total loss is $12,000 tc $15,000, and the insurance is hardly one-fourth the loss. It is said thal twenty-eight horses were burned. Th< fire started about 2.45 Thursday morn ing, and was discovered by Ben Hen derson, a white man, who had a room ir Morgan's livery stable, next to Carr er's. When he was aroused the whol< of the roof was blazing. Somethinf more than an acre of ground was burned over. The Morgan Iron Works on the south, and the Cotton Row. on the West, were in danger, hnt they wae saved. The wind was blowing at the rate of about fifteen miles to the hou1 diretly from the north. The tempera ture was 36 degrees, the coldest night of the season. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it was no doubt acciden tal. The reason that the insurance was not greater was because the rate was very high in consequence of the wooden stable and .muchs combustible materia, about the plasce. The water pressure was rather low Wednesday night fo1 some reason and some blame was at tached to the water-works company. Gin Accident. Mr. Hugh Scott. of Wisacky, Sumter county. had his left arma cut in the gin at Mr. W. W. Deschnamps' ginnery on Saturday afternoon, and it had to be amputated near the shoulder. The injury was very serious, and he lost a great deal of blood before hc could be extricated from the gin, and it is fear ed that he may not recover, although at last accounts he was doing as well as could be expected. He was attending to the gin, and in attempting to remove the motes from beneath the gin his sleeve was caught by the saws and his arm frightfully mangled. The front of the gin had to be removed before his arm could be extricated, as it was wound completely around the saws. The Death of Mrs. Atkinson Avenged. On Tuesday. after a coroner's in quest, during which Jim Mackie and Luther Sullivan implicated each other in the murder of Mrs. J. 0. Atkinson at Republic church, Edgefield county, both men were shot to death by the en raged people of the neighborhood in which the murdere woman lived. OUR STATE FAIR. Every Indication ofa Large Atten. dance and a Great Success. PAIN'S "FALL OF MANILA." Arrangements Completed for the Presentation of this Striking Spectacle. The Fair Itself Promises to Draw a Great Crowd. Columbia, S. C., Oct. 29.-Special: The usual interest aroused among the people of South Carolina by the ap proach of the annual fair of the State Agricultural and Mechanical Society is apparent all over the State this year. The county papers unite in urging their thousands of readers to gather in Co lumbia during fair week. The officers of the society several weeks ago com menced their preparations. The grounds have been cleaned off, and the build ings have been put in excellent trim. The railroads have given especially low rates, and the accommodations here promise to be better than ever. The hotels will stretch their dimensions and numbers of private families will accom modate visitors. An intelligence office will be opened, so that visitors may promptly find agreeable quarters at moderate rates. Everything possible is being done to make things easy and comfortahle. The local Fair Associa tion will look well after the amusement and entertainment of the visitors. This year, too, there will be psesented a spectacle that has been admired in many cities of the United States. "TLHE BATTLE OF MANILA." A leading feature of Fair week in Columbia will be the presentation of Pain's great production, the Battle of Manila. Some idea of this feature may be gathered from what the News and Courier said of its presentation in Charleston: "The large audience was at first almost dazzled by the long row of elec tric lights which hung across the cen tre of the grounds from east to west. Then, as the eyes became acoustomed to the white light, all saw stretched out for apparently many miles before them the calm waters of Manila Bay. At the extreme west was discerned the bat terier of Cavite and near the centre war Morro Castle. Over to the east Corrigor Island was plainly seen a small mountainous point upon which appear ed a battery of heavy guns. Close un der the guns of Cavite were found the Maria Christiana and several other Spanish vessels lying quietly at anchor, but with wicked looking guns at every port hole. The scene was perfect in detail and perspective, and it seemed indeed real. In front of the Cavite forts and near Morro Spanish soldiers lay on their arms, apparently little thinking that the American ships were so near. For a while the vaudeville entertainers held the attention of the garrison as well as the audience, and then a sentry is seen to rush to the commander of the Spanish forces. His message is not audible to the onlQokers but is nevertheless of great import. Activity prevails and the garrison make ready to resist a land attack. Just be hind Corrigor Island the prow of Admi ral Dewey's flag ship, Olympia, is seen ploughing through the waters towards the Spanish batteries and fleet. The battle opens and for half an hour rages furiously. The Spanish forces retreat from one battery to another, pursued by marines and soldiers bearing the Stars and Stripes. Two field pieces are landed by the Americans and are driven up close to the Cavite forts, firing steadily. The Olympia sweeps on towards the Maria Christina and behind it comes the Baltimore, Boston, McCullough and other vessels of Dew ey's squadron. each one belching fire and smoke with incessant din and clouds of battle smoke. The ti-e is directed towards the~ Spanish ships and forts, and, alkhough these return the fire for a time, the Spanish flag ship is blown up, followed by land batteries an ar senal, with terrific noise. The Span ish ships take fire and sink, the batteries crumble before the fearful cannonading and the Spanish troops are taken pris oners by the men of the American army and navy. During the battle the land fight was realistic to a degree, even the work of the hospital corps, under the flag of the Red Cross, being carried out by men with stretchers. The artillery was brought up at a rapid pace by hormes which had been trained for the purpose. As the last sbip flying the red and yellow stripes burned and sank below the waters of the bay and the ar senal at Cavite was blown up with a terrible sound, the Spanish commander surrendered his troops. The band, which had been playing patriotic airs to encourage the fighters, now swept into the "Star Spangled Banner" and the troops passed in review of the graml stand. The Stars and Stripes were floating gaily in this parade of five hun dred men, but the Spanish solders marched with arms reversed and the red and yellow banner dragging in the it was~ a flne spectacle, this mimic war, and so carefu~y had each detail been planned that the spectators seem ed looking on while t wo grecat nations settled their differences at the sword's point. The arrangonient of scenery to represent Man illa B~ay left nothing to be desired. and the stately movement of Deweys ships. correctly drawn and perfectly appointed, drew storms of' applause. It was altogcthe-r a magniii cent productiou. quite the best that has Iever been presented by the pyrotechnic kingr, Pain. When the smoke of battle had cleared away and while the wrecks of the Span ish ships lay, broken and helpless, half under water, the Americans celebrated their victory with a grand pyrotechnic display. Flights of rockets were sent to pierce the canopy of night and pale the stars with their dazzling colored lights. Hundreds of bombs hastened upwards a thousand feet, then burst to release a hundred gold and purple and red and yellow stars. Fiery snakes hissed as they leaped from the ground and darted here and there in the at mosphere. Then there were several very handsome set pieces, notably a golden six-pointed star about twenty feet in diameter, with colored centres and fountains of fire from each point. The pictures of Dewey and Joe Wheel er, outlined in fire, about thirty feet, were receive with cheer and the audi ence stayed in their seats until the 1I st Roman candle or rocket was touebed off. CHURCH PROPERTY BURNED. The Marion Street Methodist Church of Columbia Destroyed. The Marion Street Methodist church, Sunday school and library, two-story parsonage and a cottage adjoining, were all destroyed by fire Tuesday evening between 7 and 8 o'clock. The destruc tion of the most of the property was due almost entirely to the inability of the fire department to secure water. Why there was none to be had from one hydrant, no one was heard to ex plain. The only stream obtainable was confined to the saving of the residence next to the Sunday school room, on Lumber street. Had-a stiff wind been blowing, the loss of property in the vi cinity would have been very much greater. The arlarm came in a few minutes after 7 o'clock. By that time the large wooden church was a roaring mass of flames. It burned like tinder. and so did the adjoining property, all being constructed of wood. Practically noth ing could be saved from the church or Sunday school room, but most of the contents of the parsonage were removed in time. The fire was an exceedingly fierce one. The Rev. Mr. Kirton, the pastor, who greatly deplores the loss of the property, was seen after the fire was nearly over. He said he supposed the fire was due to a lamp left burning in his study, in the rear of the church building. He had been in his study, and at supper time he went to the parsonage, leaving the lamp lighted. After eatinghis supper he came back to find smoke pouring from the windows of the room. An alarm was promptly given, but the flames had gained such headway that nothing could stop them. The fire de partment was quickly on the ground, but as stated above, only one engine was available for service, owing to the lack of water. The church organ, pews, pulpit far niture. Sunday school library and other property were burned. The chuch building was worth per haps $3,600; the parsonage about $2, 000, and the Sunday school chapel $800 or $1,000. The church, one of the stewards said, he thought was insured for $2,000 and the parsonage for $1,800, but he was not sure;. neither could he recall the agency holding the policies. The one-story cottage adjoining the parsonage was occupied by two families. All their effects were saved. The building was probably worth about $1, 000. It was owned by Mrs. I. M. Burns of North Carolina. It could not be ascertained whether there was any insurance.-State. SPIDERS INVADE A HOME. Millions of Pests in Mrs. Pierce's Resi dence at Southport. Mrs. Julia Pierce and daughter Em ma, of Southport, Me., have been driv en out of their house by an unaceount able visitation of spiders, which to the number of millions swarm in every crack and cranny between the partitions in the floors, fences, outbuildings, win dows, doors and on the walls every where outside and in. They called in a physician about two weeks ago to ascertain what it was that was causing them so much dis comfort, they being bitten or stung by something they could not tell what. The bites were very painful, but yield ed readily to treatment. Every effort that could be thought of to get rid of the pests has been made, and several hundred dollars worth of furniture has been destroyed, but in vain. Finally they appealed to the Board of Health, which after investigation ordered the house vacated. Health officers are now considering the advisability of destroy ing the buildings, in which case they will probably be paid for by the town or State. The spiders are said to have been brought , in some clothing from the South, and it is thought they may be a species of tarantula. A live specimen has been sent to Professor Robinson, of Bowdoin College. Engineer Dead In His Cab. When the night express train No. 12, eastbound, arrived at Susquehanna, Pa., at midnight Wednesday the en gineer, Henry Kingsley of Susquehanna was found dead in the cab, with his head crushed. After the train left Binghaniton, 23 miles west of there, trainmen and others noticed that the engineer failed to give the usual sig nals at crossings and at small stations, and that the train was runnidg at an unusual speed. Fireman Cowgill no ticed that the whistle was not blown for this station, and going forward into the cab found the dead engineer. The train had run at a terrific speed 20 miles without an engineer. There were over 200 passengers on board. It is supposed that the engineer was hit by a water crane at a point just east of Binghamton. Wrecked On Cuban Shores. The schooner Cora Dunn went ashore Sunday morning on the shoals known as the Cabezas de Cayo Romere, close to Diana key. Cardenas, and has proved to be a total loss. Her cargo consisted of 3,500 tons of coal. The schooner Kate, which left Key West October 19, with a cargo of stores and medical supplies for the Cuban forces under General Jose Miguel Gomez at Sancti Spiritus, with Frank Bolio and Fernando Lera in charge of the expe dition. was overtaken by a storm during the afternoon of October 21 and total ly wrecked. The crew was rescued. The Kate belonged to Key West. Manuel Sanguilly, delegate to the Cuban asseinbly representing the Second, Third and Fifth Cuban army corps. left Habana Wednesday morning Santa Cruz del Sur via Batabano. A Sad Tragedy near Rock Hill. News af a sad tragedy comes from Edgemore. near Rock Hill. Mr. P. M. Blanks. a respectable farmer of that section, purchased Tuesday afternoon a bottle of chill cure from Mr. Sidney Robinson's store. taking it home with him. Wednesday morning he adminis tered doses to his wife and four chil dren. The effect was unlooked for. Mrs. Blanks died that morning, the eldest boy, aged six, died a few hours later, and a little girl was expected to dieant ny moment. TILLMAN SPEAKS To a Large Crowd at Richmond, Virginia. HE THRILLS HIS AUDIENCE. Few Speakers Have Been Accord. ed the Applause That Rang Out in Answer to His Speech Last Week. Senator Tillman has made a great impression on the Democracy of Vir ginia where he has been assisting the - people in their congressional strug gles against the Republicans. The following extracts from the Richmond Dispatch will show the reception ac corded him in Richmond, where he spoke last week. In addition to these favorable comments there is a four column report of his speech, which re port is well punctuated with the words "applause" and "great applause." Here are the Richmond Dispatch's comments on Senator Tillman: The high-water mark of the present campaign was reached last night vith the arrival in this city of Senator Ben jamin R. Tillman, of South Carolina, who addressed an immense audience at the Academy of music. Th- sena tor announced at the outset that he was "on his good behavior." but that did not prevent him from acting up to his reputation as a speaker who does not "mince matters," and some of his points were as virile as they were glit tering. He is nothing if he is not original, but behind the ragged speech there is no room to question his sin cerity. From first to last Mr. Tillman sway ed the audience, and at times he car ried his auditors to a high pitch of en thusiasm. While his address was thoroughly characteristic of the man, it dealt in a practical way with the present issues, and met the present situation fairly and squarely. Senator Tillman arrived in the city over the Southern railway at 6:25 o'clock, and was met at the depot by a representa tive committee of the- Old Dominion Democratic Club. The carriage in weich the senator rode to the new Ford's hotel was drawn by white horses, a delicate compli ment to the great Democratic doctrine of which he is such a bold champion. In the lobby of the hotel he was met by Hon. J. Taylor Ellyson, Major J. D. Patton, Judge Witt and Mr. Robert Mcleod. After a brief interval of rest he was entertained at supper by the executive committee of the Old Domin ion club, and sat -at the head of the table with Major Patton on his right and Congressman Lamb on his left. In discussing the outlook in the fifth district, where, he has just been speak ing, Senator Tillman said that present indications points to a very large ma jority for Swanson, "unless there has been some very tall lying done." The reception aecorded the South Carolina senator when he appeared On the platform was vociferous, and dur ing the interval which elapsed before the ball was set rolling, other notables upon the platform came in for the com pliments of the house. Dickerson's band, too, contributed to the enthusi asm with frequent repetitions of Dixie and other national airs. Sgnator Tillman was heartily congrat ulated at the close of his speech, and he was some time in making his way from the stage to the carriage waiting. at the public entrance. Accompanied by several members of the reception committee he was driven to the New Ford's, and for an hour or more held an informal reception, many prominent Democrats crowding into the parlor to shake his'handi. Captain Frank Cunningham was called on for a song, and sang "Mother's Way" with. a great deal of expression, arousing the hearty applause of the 'distinguished guest. To a Dispatch reporter, Mr. Tillman expressed his hearty appreciation of the warm reception accorded him by a Richmond audience. "I couldn't 'help thinking of the appropriateness of the tune the band played before the speeches, he said, "I mean 'A Hot Time in the Old Town To-night." It was a hot time. I wish I could stay here longer. I have to go away at 9 o'clock in the morning to Fayetteville, N. C. I hear there is a great deal of opportunity for missionary work~own there. We'll see what we can do for them. I have a number of appoint ments in that state. But I am coming back to Richmond,' he continued, "maybe in 1900. I wanted to go up in the ninth district this year and meet Walker, but maybe I'll have a chance some other time," and he sighed as though regretting his disappoietment. Mr. Tillman was escorted to the sta tion by a committee from the Old Do minionclub the next morning. Costly Conflaragation. About 2 o'clock Wednesday morning the new asylum barn, just outside the city limits, was destroyed by fire. The building cost about $800. It was filled with hay and other stuff. Eight fine mules and a mare were burnd in the Sbuilding. It is said that the loss is es Jimated at about $3,500, No alarm was sent mn, as the fire department could-have Ken of no service. At 4 o'clock Wednesday morning Dr. Bab cock said thc insurance was $500 on the building. $1,000 on the forage therein, and $700 on the stock burned. He says the watchman there was in the building 15 minutes before the fire was discovered. It started on the upper portion, north sie, and the origin is a mystery. There had been no fire about the barn so far as can be ascertained. -State._________ A Rear end Collision. On Wednesday, in Omaha, Nebraska, a rearend collision on the Union Pacific road1 resulted in the death of three men and the serious injury of one other. The dead are- Samuel Hindman, engi neer; William Ranan, fireman; B. Shannon, brakeman. Seriously injured: John Griffin, fireman. An extra freight train was standing on the side track and the switch being left open, freight No. 27 going at a good rate of speed, crashed into the rear end of the extra. The engine was badly wrecked and four freight cars reduced almost to kyindling wood.