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VOL. S WNO8 VOL. XV. 31ANNING, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2l, 1899. HUNDREDS KILLEI. Horrowing Scenes of Desolation Caused by a Cycolne. MANY HOUSES DESTROYED. Little Groups Seen Everywhere Searching the RUins by the Light of Lanterns for the Missing Ones. Indescribably sad are the scenes of desolation wrought by last Monday week's tornado that has practically swept out of existence the prosperous litth city of New Richmond, Wis. Out of 500 houses and store buildings com prising the town fully 300 were wreck ed by the storm. or destroyed by fire. Almost every family has one or more members among the dead, injured or missing, and little groups are seen everywhere searching, by the light of lantern or torch, for loved ones -.ho may be buried in the piles of debris on every hand. With frantic energy the search has been conductcd all day and up to 9 o'oock, 54 bodies had been found, although the number of dead certainly will reach 10 or more. These have, for the most part, been taken to the Catholic and Crongregational churches, which, although in the very storm's path miraculously escaped its fury. In these temporary morgues, the sights are such as to touch the hardest heart, as the grief-stricken living re cognize,the bodies, horribly managled and often dismembered remains of mis sing dead ones. The wounded find temporary asylums in the uninjured dwellings on either side of the path, where doctors and nurses from nearby cities and towns are doing heroic work without sleep or rest. As many as possible whose chances for recovery are considered good, are being sent to the hospitals at St. Paul and Minneapolis where they Nwill have bet ter care. The desolate view of the New Rich mond is not one soon to be forgotten. Along the broken fragments of their homes the peonle wander helplessl) striving somewhat aimlessly and hope lessly to gather together what had been left to them. On the east and west limits of the city many houses were still standing with little or no damage and to these homes the occupants wel comed their less fortunate neighbors and friends, giving them such aid as was possible and the sympathy that is so much to stricken souls. The property loss cannot be estimated at this time and may never be accurately known. It was almost total, for the insurance agents report that no tornado insurance was carried in the town and only a small number of places where fire join ed in the destruction of property, will the business men be at all reimbursed f )r the losses. -CRUMBLED LIKE SHELLS.* QA reporter who went to New Riec. mond says: The storm struck the town full in the centre and in ten minutes awful de struction had been wrought. The larg est brick blocks crumbled lhke eggshell> The lighter frame structures were whisked away like so much straw ano many houses were carried for block s and dashed to the earth. Five hundred buildings, the finest in the town, were demolished and when the storm had passed about the only structures of any note lef t standing were the Catholic and Baptist churches. Not a residence was left untouched end few people escaped without injuries. Lumber yards went up ini the clouds, the huge planks being split into stn-. gles. Large iron bridge over A pple river was blown into fraguments and the parts distributed along the banks a halh mile away. Two Ia-sge iron safes were caught up and carried a distat~ee of a block. Within a space of a few blocks lay dozens of bodies. Legs and arms were missing in many eases and one bod. was found with the head chipped off the trunk as though it had been sever ed with an axe. SAll who sought refuge in ce.llams es caped. Some cases over whom h'ouses collapsed were entombed. To add to the horror of the situation fires were started here and there by overturuing! stoves and many wounded, unable to drag themselves out of the danger, suf fered death by burning. Gallwan Brothers' circus was in New Richmnond Monday and the farmers from the sur rounding country with their families. had gathered to see the show. A few minutes before the storm struek, a large part of those who had just come from the circus, rushed to a brick building close at hand where they took refuge. This building was among those destroyed and it is diflicult to say how many perished there. AN AWFUL PICTURE. r It is the average resident of New Richmond who estimates the loss of iife most seriously. They claim that hundreds are missing who were buried in the ruins, and there incinerated. One such is C. A. Nelson, who owned the Columbian restaurant, located on Main street. His estimate of the loss is four hundred dead. Ie says that when the rain storm, which preceded the cy clone broke, not less than twenty per sons rushed into his place for shelter. He is positive that not more than four besides himself escaped. When he heard the roar, he rushed for the rear door, but could not open it. In an in stant the crash came. The ruins tum bled about his head, and left him just space enough to crawl out. in the shop was Mrs. Broadbank, who was killed. Nelson found only four alive. He could hear scream's area groans. Since then he has seen one of the sur vivors. Rev. Dr. Degnan, of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, thus de scribes the approaching stOrm and the immediate results: "I was standing on the porch of my house, which is some three blocks west of the Omaha station, with my little nephew. Pointing to the threatening clouds, I said to him: 'Those clouds are cyclonic.' That was about 6 30. Ihen I heard a fearful sound. It was like the panting of fifty locomotiveS on ann upgrde. " ail to t;e boy. 'There is the cy e IU the southwest was a great -hizki. black cloud, cone-Jha ped, I 1ie apex in the earth, the funn;cl in the sky. Already far ahead (f the centre. the air was full of tlying splinters, boards, feathers, bedding, and every thine. I told them to run and warn the people in the houses between us and the track. Froin all sides the peo ple were running, cry ing for assistance. I took them and some people fron the parish school house and hurried them into the cellar of ny house. They begged for absolution and I knelt down and gave it to them. Even as I prayed the great black cloud of destruction was upon the village. Out of tie gen - eral and terrific war I could hear the crashing and hissing sound as house af'er house colapsed. I went out and was stru k twice by pieces of flying plank. "Then the storm was gone. It struck and destroyed all the residences lying between it and the Omaha tracks. The depot was right i:i its path. As it crossed the track there it %iwent right up the main street of the town. destroy ing every building in the business cen tre. I immediately began the work of rescue. "It was aiful. God keep we from seeing the like again. Faerywhere moans, shrieks and calls for help were beard. The wounded cried out for prayers. I gave them absolution while assisting in the work of rescue, Catholies and Protestants pray ed for thC:." ANUOHER TORNADO Wipes Out the Town of Herman Nebraska. A tornado struck the towu of Her man, in Washington county, Tuesday esening and v.iped the place out of existence. Herman is a place of about 300 inhabitants, in the extreme north ern part of Washington county. It is on the Chicago, St. Paul, 31inneapolin and Omaha railway. The tornado wrought fearful destruc tion. A conductor on the evening train from Sioux City passed through the place aot long after the stoim and he says not a building is left standing in town. He counted twelve dead bodies lying in the streets. The fatilities will undoubtedly run up to a hundred if not higher.! A special train has left Blair, the county seat, ten miles distant, for the scene of the disaster, carrying surgeons and all needed supplies. Wires are all down north of Herman and it is not known how much further north the storm went, but reports are coming in to the effect that a large portion of country north of Herman is laid waste. The entire eastern portion of Nebraska was swept by a terrific wind and elec. tric storm Tuesday night. The streets of Omaha are flooded and the play of lightning is fearful. Additional details are dribbling in concerning the tornado at Herman. Advice received by the Bee up to 11 o'clock Tuesday night state that every dwelling house in town is destroyed, except the public school and a dwell ing, both of which are on the outskirts. The force of the wind was terrific, as scarcely one piece of many structures destroied was left intact. The scene in the streets of the once thriving and beautiful little town is one of destruc tion. Wrecked buildings and broken furniture are strewn all around, while dead bodies lie in many places, the corpses badly disfigured and some of them hardly recognizable. The moans ot' the injured mingle with the calls of rescuers as they pursue their humani tarian task in the darkness by the flick ering gleams of lanterns. Thec relief train from Blair arrived about one hour after the storm and the work of picking up the wounded was tegun. Willing hands did what they could to h:elp the injured, and in the course of auo four tihe train pu!!ed out fur lair with 95 injured on board. P iey w- re taken to Biair, as there is absolutely no place left at Herman at which t rtatme~nt can be adminiatered. All the citizens of Blair have thrown open their heuses to the wounded dN the unf o:unates are being cared for by competent surgeons. 31any of the in jured will die, but some of them re eived but slight injuries. It is im possible at this hour, owing to the con t-i.lon, to ascertati. tle uuber of dead, but twelve are known to have been killed and the list will ru'i very much higher. Supcrintendent Jayne. of the (.naha road, was at Tekamiah when he heard of thle disaster and left at once for Hecr men on a handcar, taking two physi ians along with him to assist in sue coring the injured. An Erroneous Idea. An old fadioned idea prevails in many families that a very light supper, such as a glass of milk and a slice of br-ad. is necessary to prevent night mare. Bat later experience has proven that most growing children requite a plentiful repast before retiring of light nourishing food. Hunger, at whatever hour, of the day or night it comes, is the demand of nature for sustenance, and should be gratified. No sleep is the result of a too empty stomach in many children, and for all such aa ample meal is necessary at supper time. We have known restless children, who were in the habit of disturbing the househoid during the night, restored to quiet and peaceful slumber with a crack er and a dri-ik of milk given them on awaken ing in the night. And the rule of "'nothing to eat between meals" laid down absolutely for all members of her household by some mothers is a mistake when applied to the growing school children who come in from school "al mosn starved to death." Their hunger shoulid be satisfied in spite of theories. Discussing the Dispensary. The tem ocrance society of the First Congregational church, Washington, D. C.. lheldi a symnposiumi one night this week upon the ''dispensary system of treating the liquor problenm.' The Post reports that "among the good points o'f the dispensary system were '"entioned the overthrow of the politi cal influence of the saloon, the cessa tion of treating, the separation fr'om the places where liquor is sold from lunches and games, the publicity obtained through requiring every purchaser to sign his name, the prohibition of drinking on the premises, and the fact the dispensaries are closed on Sundays, hidys, and at nigh'.t' TILLMANS REPLY To the Penitentiary Investigating Committee. I LATIMER ALSO MAKES REPLY A New Light Thrown on Some of the Things Brought Out Before the Com mittee. The investigation ofthe manaement of the atfairs of the State penitentiary by former Superintendent W. A. Neal was resunred in Columbia on Tuesday of last wet k. There were only three members cf the committee on hand Chairman Stevenson and Senators Liv ngston and Hay. Mr. Patton was ex peeted in the afternioon. The other members was kept away by sickness. The committee went to work at a lively r'ace and some facts about $200 worth of cotton seed meal and the hosiery mill cotiracts were developed. The wituesses examnned were ex-Capt. of the Guard Westfield and ex- Bookkeeper Burriss. The feature of the day was the introduction of letters written by the chairman to prominent men whose names had been connected with the in vestigation, aud the replies thereto sent by Senator Tillwan. It was also de veloped that Representatixe John Ash ley of Anderson had stabled his horse at the penitentiary during the 1S98 session of the leislature free of charge. Col. Neal was not pre sent, but his attorneys, Col. P. I1. Neison and Julius E. Boggs, Esq., wtre there to look out after his interests. Penitentiary Di rectors Canningham, Tatum and Sand ers were i,!esent also. The conmittee got to work in the supreme court room, it being more spacious and cooler than the com mittee room upstairs heretofore used. After a preliminary conference in pri vate the body was publicly called to or der by Chairman Stevenson at about 12:30 o'clock. Capt. Westfield was sworn as the first wifness and asked by Mr. Stevenson if he knew whether one of the members of the legislature during the sessioa of 189S had not had his horse stabled at the penitentiai. le said Joshua Ashley of Anderson had brought his horse there and kept it there. He would say, in justice to Mr. Ashley, that that gentleman had frequently fur nished the penitentiary with teams to and from the convict camp in his coun ty, and had saved the State prison much more than the cost of the feed and care of his horse. SENATOR TILLMAN S REPLY. Mr. Stevenson here explained that he had written letters to the several prominent men whose names had been connected with penitentiary transac tions. He read this letter to Senator Tillman. Cheraw, May 20, 1899. Hon. B. R. Tillman. Dear Sir:-In the investigation of the penitentiary management there ap pears on the brick book one carload of brick charged to you an~ton the corn missary book certain grocery accounts for 1S94, and it is charged by the offi cers that you ran a farm while governor with convicts, and the penitentiary got no benefit from it, and also that certain furniture was presented to you by the management. The committee's experi ence in the past in finding receipts for accounts, etc., which appear to be un p'aid and are not so entered, requires that we give every party against whomI such charges and insinuations are made an opportunity to be heard, and I write to say that we will meet at the State house in Columbia June 13, 1899, at 12 o'clock. in., and will be glad to have your statements as to these matters if 3ou desire to be heard. Very truly yours, WV. F. Stevenson, Chairman Investigating Corn. The reply of the senior memiber was read as follows: Treo tor, S. C., May 26, 1899. lHon. W. F. Stcvcnson, Cheraw, S. C. Deair Sir:-I have your letter of May 20th. I hardly think it worth my while to appear before your committee to an swer the trivial matters brought out in the Neal investigation. I do not see in what way Col. Neal's dereliction or misconduct, or his transactions in re gard to the bricks and bookcase, etc., effect mc. I am in the dark as to the exact nature of one of these matters, to wit: 'The account on the commissary book," and would be glad to know the nature of that account, items and dates. I will state for your information that I. have no recollection whatever of ever having obtained any groceries or any thing else that could be charged on a book of that kind from the peniten tiary, except an occasional mess of vegetables, which were sent to me by Col. Neal as a compliment, I suppose, and I am sure I paid for anything else I got. In regard to my running a farm with convicts, I will state that I never ran a farm while in Columbia at all, in the eommon sense of the term. I rented five or six acres of land which I sowed in oats in the fall with my carriage horses and then sowed in peas after the oats were cut for pea hay. There was a little patch at the executive mansion which was similarly treated, and the convicts who kept the yard and grounds clean helped to gather in this hay as well as that out on the rented land the last year I was at the mansion. and Col. Neal would never take any pay. The labor of curing and hauling five acres of oats and pea hay one year you can esti mate so as to see about the extent of the account, if it is still open. The matter was so trivial I attached no im portance to it then or now. You may consider it in a different light. In regard to the brick, 1 will say that Col. Neal, at his own suggestion. once while at Rock Hill, offered to ship me a carload et briek if 1 would pay the freight, saying that they would cost him very little, and he would make me a present of them. I accepted the offer, and when Col. Lipscomb sent in a bill 1 sent it to Col. Neal with a letter in cuiring wnether Ipscomb had any richts in the matter. Hie replied no, that it was a mistake, and there the matter dropped. Neal also presented me with a plain pine bookcase with glass doors, worth about $5. I will say tat sotly afe T entered the execu tive office I let Col. Neal have a cane mill and ecpper evaporator which cost $700. leaving it to him to determine the price. le only paid me $100, and I, therefore, did not feel that in accepting the small gifts that I did that it was an imposition on him. I never dreamed that the articles were not charged to his account and settled for. Since I have discoverd that the State is the loser I, of course, am willing to pay for each and all of these things. There is one other item of which no mention has yet been made that I have seen, though I have not followed the testimony closely. He shipped me a small lot of oats one time from some where and would never send me any bill, although I wrote for it twice. 1 make these statements for your in formation and satiafaction and leave it to yur own discretion as to what use you will make of them, I am Yours respectfully B. R. Tillman. Mr. Stevenson then wrote Senator Tillman as follows: Jheraw, S. C., May 30th, 1899. Hon. B. R. Tillman. Dear Sii:-Your letter to hand. We have not attempted or desire to give undue prominence to circumstances re lative to prominent men in the State in this matter, but as there has been con siderable newspaper comment, the opiuion of the committee was that be fore we closed up we should give every man against whom any immutation was made a channe to be heard. Hence I wrote to all of those in that situation, deeming it but fair to them. If you mean by saying that I can make such use of your letter as I see fit; that the committee can use it as your statement of the matter in which your name is nitioned, I will sy for myself that it will be just as eatisfactory as a sworn statemeut, provided Col. Neal does not object, and surely he cannot do so. The commissary account with you ran all through your administration, but the account is balanced up to the last year. The book shows charged to you in groceries, etc., largely horse feed, I think, a balance of about $57 for the last year you were governor. This was never published as an asset of the peni tentiary. Neither was Gov. Evans' ac count, which is about $175, still open. I will get you an itemized statement if you desire it when we meet. Most truly, W. F. Stevenson. Senator Tillman's final letter reads thus: Trenton, May 31, 1899. Hon. W. F. Stevenson, Cheraw. Dear Sir:-I have your letter of May 30th. Whatever may have been the committee's intention or purpose, several newspapers have criticized it because of the apparent "undue promi nence" given in the investigation to small matters involving prominent men. Of course I can understand that the committee is not responsible for the action of the newspaper reporters, who seize on these insignificant matters for exploitation. The committee's report when made up and published will dis close its attitude and show whether there is anything political in the inves tigation. You are at perfect liberty to use my statement written to you in any way you please. I hardly think it would require the sanction of an oath to give any additional weight. I repeat what I said about getting hings from the penitentiary, and I think you will find you are mistaken, because I am sure I got nothing while ol. Talbert was superintendent what ever, and very little while Col. Neal was in charge. I would be glad to have n itemized copy of the account. Yours truly, B. R. Tillman. EX-GOV. EVANS IS SILENT. Mr. Stevenson also placed in evi dence the following letter to which he said he had received no reply: Cheraw, May 20, 1899. Hon. John G. Evans. D)ear Sir:-'-In investigating Col. Neal's management of the penitentiary the officers of that institution charge that you got groceries from them while governor for which you did not pay, and ran a farm with convict labor which you paid nothing for. Our experience with the affairs of the penitentiary is such as to cause us to desire to hear from the apparent debtor before decid ing that anything there was not paid for, and if you have any statement to make regarding these matters we would be glad to hear from you or any one in your behalf in Columbia on June 13th, 199. We meet at the State house at 12 o'clock m. on that day. There was an interview with a "near relative" of yours published relative to the matter, but you will understand that for the committee to take notice of the matter it will have to come before them as evi dence. Hoping to see you at the meet ing, I am Most truly, WV. F. Stevenson, Chairman of Committee. Mr. Stevenson said he would put these letters in evidence. If the coun sel wished Senator Tillman summoned as a witness for examination the comn mittee would issue a subpoena for his appearance, and so with other cases. Capt. Westfield, when asked, said be could prepare the itemized account of the Tillmnan matter and would furnish the book if needed. He said the book would show the whole account, it was not a question of memory. TIIE LATIMER CAME. This letter to Congressman Latimer was likewise read: Cheraw, May 20, 1899. lon. A. C. Latimer. Dear Sir:-In the investigation of the penitentiary it has been stated that you got certain furniture from the institu tion, and from your card in the ipapers I suppose you desire to set yourself right in the matter. Of course the committee cannot base a report on a card in the newspapers, so that I write to say we will be glad to have our state ment made to the committee and be come part of its records, and will af ford you that opportunty on June 13, 1899, i1 Columbia, where we will meet at 12 ('clock m. at the State house. Ioping to see you there, I am Most truly yours, WX. F. Stevenson, Chairman Penitentiary Investigating Committee. Mr. Latimer's reply was also submit ted as folbws: Belton, May 22, 1S99. Mr. WV. F. Stevenson, Cheraw. Dear Sir:-Your letter to hand offer ing me an opportunity to testify before your committee on the 13th day of June. I have no statement to mahe except that already made and it seems to me rather expensive and a waste of time to make that trip simply to restate what I have already published over my signature. This statement has not been denied nor in my opinicn it will not be denied. I restate it to you on a separate slip that you may use it and if it is contradicted in the least I w:ll then appear before your committee and make oath to the same Yours very respectfully, A. C. Latimer. The statement reads as follows: Mrs. Latimer and I were on a visit to Col. Neal. The colonel had a book case; my wife inquired where he got it. He (Col. Neal) stated it was made at the penitentiary. Mrs. Latimer said she wanted one just like it and asked Col. Neal if he would not have one made for her just like his. I said wait; I want to know what it will cost first; after figuring Col. Neal said thirteen dollars, that his cost twelve and a half. I said, "All right, make it then." Some two months after that the case was shipped to Mrs. Latimer; the freight was seven dollars. When I re turned home Mrs. Latimer hal the case in my sitting room with books in it and invited me to see it. I asked if Mr. Neal sent the bill. Mrs. Latimer said "no." I wrote the next day to Col. Neal for the bill. He did not reply to this letter. Some time after this I was in Columbia. I asked Col. Neal how much I owed him for the book case. He replied, "not one cent;" that he had made a present of the case to Mrs. Lati mer, and I said no more. I thought of course he had paid for it. I did not know until I saw Mr. Westfield's state ment before your committee that the case was not settled for. The above facts I swear to be true. Very respectfully, A. C. Latimer. Mr. Stevenson stated that he had re ceived no reply to the letter sent ex Gov. Evans. McKINLEY WORRIED. The Philippine Situation Causes the President Grave Concern. Events of the past week in the Philp pines have caused the administration more uneasiness than they care to ad mit. The President and his advisers, in reading over the dispatch of Gen. Otis that the Filipinos were threaten ing to attack Manila, forcing him to make the first movement, made no at tempt to conceal from each other the conviction that affairs had reached the critical stage. Scanning between the lines of thi's brief cable of Gen. Otis it is impossible to avoid the conviction that the "advance" of Wednesday would not have been made except from the necessity of meeting promptly the advance of the Filipinos, who have changed places with our forces, and are now the attacking party. It has come out that several of the cities and towns lying around Manila have been occupi ed at least four times by our forces and abandoned. It is this which disarms the natives of fear at our approach and emboldens even the non-combattants to fire from doors and windows at our sol diers in their succesaive retreats from "advances." A further very important point is the doubt whether the Filipinos will permit a cessation of hostilities during the rainy season. Heretofore this has been supposed to be purely a matter for us to determine. But the natives have be come so bold, aggressive, defiant and confident that they are looked for now to take this into their own hands The heat and the storm have no terrors for them, and it will be no more than pastime for them to keep our wornout men on the stretch during the three months' appalling period which lies before them. Appreciation in some degree of the circumstances cenfronting the adminis tration is exhibited in the order to throw heavy reinforcements into the Philippines with the least possible de lay. There is still, however, the hesi tation to bow to the inevitable and call for additional enlistments. The regu lar army as at present constituted is t> be subject to a heavy drain, so heavy. indeed, it has been deemed incumbent to issue an official explanation tha.t our Western and Northwestern frontiers will be left sufficiently guarded against possible Indian or other disturbances. It is not belived this explanation will be altogether satisfactory to those con cerned. It is the part of wisdom to send two negro regiments of the regular army in in the first batch of reinforcements. They have already had the benefit and the experience of tropical service, they have proved themselves efficient and adventurous soldiers, and the dangers to them of the climate are minimized. According to the present official out givings the army of Gen. Otis is to be increased to 35,000 men. This will not be nearly enough and it would be much the best for the administration to admit it frankly, and at once. The desperate fighting of Wednesday, the overwhelming force of the enemy and the possession of field pieces show abundant resources in men, arms and ammunition. It is significant also that the army had all it could do to main tain itself with the assistance of the shells of the monitors and gunboats. Aguinalde probably has as many men under hia command as Otis. It is felt that at this moment Aguinaldo appears to be stronger and more dominant with his people than ever. His voice from frst to last has been for war, and the only alternative, independence. The occurrences of the past and the condi tions of the present indicate strength, enthusiasm and determination behind him. ______ EFour Drowned. News has just been received that the town of iBrackett, about 120 miles west of San Antonio, Tex., is under 10 feet of water. Four persons are missing and are supposed to have been drowned. A water spout over that place has in undated the country for miles around. The Southern Pacific tracks for a num ber of miles west of Cline station are washed away and several bridges are wrecked. Many cattle have perished in the water. Rations are being issued to the people from Fort Clark. IIs it the best? Taste and see. Best in taste, best in results. No nauseat ing dose, but so pleasant and natural in effects that you forget you have taken medicine-Life for the Liver and Kid A SEVERE BATTLE. The Fighting Raged from Day light Until Dark. ARTILLERY ON BOTH SIDES. American Under Great Disadvan tages but Fought Splendid ly. L'ss Estimated at Sixty Men on Our Side. A dispatch from Manila says Gen. Lawton unexpectedly stirred up one of the liveliest engagements of the war south of Las Pinas Tuesday morning upon which occasion American field guns were engaged in the first artillery duel against a Filipino battery con cealed in the jungle. Companies F and I of the Twenty first infantry were nearly surrounded by a large body of insurgents, but the Americans cut their way out with heavy loss. The United States turret ship Mo nadnock and the gunboats Helena and Zeafiro trained their batteries on Ba koor and the rebel trenches near Las Pinas all the morning. Bakoor was once on fire and the natives stopped the spread of the flames. During the night an insurgent cannon was fired three times at the Americans on the outskirts of Las Pinas. Gen. Lawton took a battalion of the Fourteenth regiment and two compan ies of the Twenty-first regiment to lo cate the rebel battery and then two guns of the Sixth artillery and four mountain guns were planted against i. at 600 yards distance. The rebels had a large gun from which they were firing homemade canister loaded with nails; and two smallvi guns. Their shooting was most accurate. The first lot of canisters burst directly in front of Scott's guns and another shattered the legs of a private of the Fourteenth in fantry. Several shots struck the edge of the town. The country traversed was as bad as it is possible to imagine, being mainly lagoons, mud and water fringed with bamboos. As soon as the fighting opened the Americans were attacked by hidden riflemen on all sides, even the amigos, or "friendly" natives in the houses of the town shooting into their rear. The companies of the Twenty-first regiment, skirmishing along the beach with amigo guides, found, apparently, a handful of rebels, who retreated. The men of the Twenty-first followed and suddenly the rebels opened a terrific fire on the troops from the sides and rear. The soldiers withdrew to the water's edge, finding what shelter they could and were picked off rapidly. After their ammunition was nearly exhausted the companies of the Twenty-first retreated but Gen. Lawton dashed down and rallied the men. Gen. Lawton ceased fighting until reenforcements could be brought up. Two battalions of the Fourth regiment and one battalion of the Ninth regi ment were hurried to the front and in the afternoon the battle was resumed. The Monadnock anchored elose to the shore and her heavy guns pounded the rebels continuously, while the smaller warships, steaming along the shre, poured bullets from the rapid fire guns at the enemy. The Filipino force engaged appears to have been the largest and best organized body of men which has met our troops. WVnen the battle was resumed at 1 o'clock with the reenforcemenlts, our battery having silencedt the enemy's guns, the Americans wadiog waist icep in the mud of the salt fiats, slow ly and pouring steady volleys of mus ketry at the rebels, drove their oprpou nts oeyond the river. When the two armies lay facing each other across the deep stream, the enemy, practically out of sight while the men in blue and khaki lay in the mud and bushes, many of them without shelter, for three hours without a mionjent's cessation in the firing. poured bullets at the enemy as fast as they could load. The thous nd rifles blended into a contiuu roar was vastly different f rom the in termittent skirmishlike rattle of most of the engagements. One battalion after another Gen. Lawton summoned the reserves from Las Pinas until only enough troops were left in the town to prevent the Filipinos from attacking the Ameri cans in the rear, whichi was feared, as they were creeping around our left through the woods, delivering a flank ing fire, which put a great strain upon the endurance of the Americans who were floundering in the mud across the river, while on the right the Filipino sharpshooters hidden in the trees, were peppering ou; men. But. thanks to th~ poor markmanship of the rebels, the loss was not as great as if the Fili pinos had shot straight. The fighting continued hotly all day long. Gen. Lawton called out the whole force of 3,000 men and at 5 o'clock he was only able to push the insurgents back 500 yards to the Zapote river, where they are entrenched. The insurgents resisted desperately and aggressively. They attempted to turn the left flank of the American troops. T1he American loss is conservatively estimated at sixty. The Americans lost fifty men killed and wounded. The F'illipino loss is put at four hundred killed and wou::ded. On Wednesday the Filipinos retreat ed several miles South to the strongly fortified town of linus, where the next battle is likely to be fought. Several hundred women and children came into the American lines for refuge; the road from Bacoor was covered all day long with processions of them, on foot and in arts, driving animals and carrying goods on their heads. Gen. Lvatun, with his staff and a troop of the Fourth cavalry, started to ascertain the nature of the insurgents position. ie rode five miles along the coast to Bacoor without discovering the enemy. He found the town full. of white flags. But there were no solaiers ther. The women and children whio had fed to the woods during the bom bardment were camping in the ruins of their homes. The shells had almost knocked the town to pieces. The big charch was wrecked and many build ings were ruined. Even the trees anid shrubbery were torn as by a hailstorm. n. Oti cabld a follows: Sue cess Lawton's troops Cavite province greater than reported Wednesday. Enemy numbering over 4,000 lost in killed, wounded and captured more than one-third; remainder much scat tered. have retreated south to Imus. their arsenal; of five pieces of artillery three captured. Navy aided greatly on shore bay, landing forces occasionally. Inhabitants in that country rejoice at deliverance and welcome with enthusi astic demonstrations arrival of our troops. Otis. PENSION ABUSES. The Iatter to'be Considered by the Veterans. The following ordergias been issued from the headquartersof the South Carolina division. U. C. V., at Cbar leston, in regard to the pension abuses, attention to which was drawn by the action of Camp Hampton of this city: General Order No. 43. At a meeting of Camp Hampton No. 389, U. C. V., held June 2nd, the fol lowing resolutions were adopted: Resolved. That Comrade W. D. Starling be appointed a committee of one to confer with a similar committee from other camps of the State, at the annual reunion in July, the 2Gth, with the object of amending the pension laws, so as to prevent the gross imposi tion now practiced, and make the law what it should be, a provision for only deserving Confederate soldiers and their widows. "That the adjutant of this camp be instructed to communicate with Gen. C. Irvine Walker, commanding South Carolina division. United Confederate Veterans, requesting him to call upon every camp of Confederate veterans in this State to appoint one delegate to meet in convention, at Chester, on July 26th next, to consider the injus tice complained of in the admiaistra tion of the pension laws, and the dis tribution of the State appropriation so that such legislation may be sug gested as will correct the alleged evil." The division commander is not in formed of the abuses complained of nor of the remedies proposed. The matter of pensions to the suffer ers of the Confederacy is one of deepest interest to all comrades of this division It is, therefore, commended to the at tention of the division, and the division commander cheerfully calls upon each camp to appoint one delegate, to con fer with the delegate from Camp Hamp ton, and suggest any action it may be deemed wise for the division at its convention to take to better the admin istration of the laws, and to benefit our worthy comrades who are deserving pen sioners of the State. The time and place of meeting will be announced during the convention.. The camp will appoint this delegate as soon as possible, and each is request ed to study the operation of the law in his neighborhood, and the whole sub ject of pensioning as it exists in the State, and be prepared to suggest any improvements which may be found ne essary. There is ne higher dut;y de volving upon the Confederate veter ans than the care of these true and no ble sufferers. By order C. Irvine Walker, Commander. James G. Homes, Adjt. Gen. Chief Staff. Indians Starving. Owving to the big rush to the Yukon gold field, wild animals that have not been killed by the prospectors, have led to higher groand. and in conse uence the Indians, deprived cf their atural food, are starving, and in many instances ready to massacre the whites. Today a dednite story reached civilize tion. Caesar Francesca, Salt Lake Uity; Robert Hitcheock, Detroit. and a French Canadian guide, who arrived by the Cottage City, say that while camp iog on the upper branch of Stewart Rier, they came into a camp of 150 ludians and were told in trade language by their interpreter that 30 of them had died of starvation during the win ter owing to the whites driving deer from the jow lands. The men supplied the Indians with food and camped a short distance off. The first steamer with news direct from Glenora and the all Canadian route, reports that suffer ing on the trails has been terrible. The ludson Bay Trading company has saved hundreds of Americans from death and starvation. Uncle Sam Buncoed. Congressman Lester, of Savannah, in n interview in the Morning News, is uoted as saying: "Spain usdoubtedly sold us a gold brick," he said. "We paid .20,00.,000 for the privilege of licking the Filipinos, and now that we lave taken the job we find that it i not so much to our liking as we thought it would be. The Filipinos are spoken f as 'rebels' now. That is the greatest joke of the age, but a very ghastly one. The poor devils are being killed off like flies, but it is like killing flies, for every one you kill a dozen will come to take his place. Of course our mission is to civilize and Christianize them and we are doing it nicely." Artful Dodgers. The princes of artful dodgers are Re publican leaders. The Ohio convention ae a striking difference between pre ept and practice at its recent session. It professed to be zealous against trusts ad enthusiastically approved the abor tive anti- tr.ust law of the Ohio legisla ture, and at the same time refused to re nominate Attorney General Monett for fear of offending the Standard Oil com pany and losing the usual princely con tribution of that monopoly to the re publican campaign fund. It will bere mebered that this company, with pious Brother Rockefeller at its head, recently attempted to bribe Mr. Monett with a half iilion dollarM. Tried to Escape. Carroll M. Rice, wife murderer, was hanged at Alton, Mo.. Thursday. Just before the black cap was adjusted and while his legs were being pinioned, the condemued man broke away from the sheriff and attempted to escape. He was captured anid quickly hatnged. Be ore dying he addressed the 5.000 peo pe present. saying that he hoped to meet them ia the better world. Lime is very cheap, so there is no ex eue for not using the white wash brush fel. LESS CONSTABLES. Gov. McSweeney Cuts the Force Down to Thirty-Four. BUSINESS PROPOSITION. There Were Fifty-Nine Men Em. ployed. Saving to the State of Twenty Thousand Dol lars a Year. Gov. McSweeney is known as a friend of the dispensary law. He has sup ported it as possibly the best solution of the liquor question. At the same time he has had his own views as to the manner of its enforcement. He has felt that it should be enforced as other laws are enforced. Since he has assumed the duties of governor he has been looking more carefully into the law and the manner of its enforcement. Particularly ha he inquired into the constabulary fest ure of the law. He has endeavored to ascertain the cost of the constabulary and to determine if it were not possible to reduce expenses along this line. After mature deliberation and a thorough and careful canvass of the whole situation from a business stand point he has decided to reduce the coR stabulary force and Wednesday after noon notified 25 of the 59 constables that their services would be dispensed with after the 17th. In taking this step, it was given out from the governor's office Wednesday that there were no charges against the men dropped, nor did the governor mean it to be understood by his action that he considered any of the men inefficient but carrying out his ideas of business he believed the law could and would be enforced just as efficiently with 34 men as it had been with 59, and he would by this reduction save $1,750 a month in this one matter of expense. In this position he has the hearty endorsement of the State board of con trol. The constabulary has been cost ing the State from $50,000 to $60,000 a year. In May the constabulary cost $4,200 in round numbers. This one re duction will save to the State about $20,000 a year, The governor confidently expects and asks that every officer in South Caro lina shall assist in the enforcement of the dispensary law just as every other law, and he hopes that every county officer and every municipal officer, whether he be sheriff or mayor or mag istrate or constable shall lend his aid and influence to the enforcement of the dispensary law. If this is done it may be possible to further reduce the force. Not only so, he says, but he shall ex pect every good and law-abiding citizen to do his part. He hopes there will be no frictioa or trouble in the enforce ment of this law or any other law. State. A Object Lesson. According to The Macon Telegraph Mr. -Robert Stewart is a pretty level headed and prosperous farmer, living near Americus, Ga., and The Telegraph says of Mr. Stewart, that he "claims that it is easy to raise 150 bushels of ground peas to the acre, and that 200 bushels of sweet potatoes is not uncom mon with him on one acre of land. These two crops he raises bountifully and thus a large number of hogs are fattened every, winter by him with slight cost. He say s the western farm er makes money raising meat by feed ing corn that is raised on land that cost $50) per acre, and forty bushels per acre is a big terop, ;hile here in Georgia 150 bushels per acre of chufas, ground peas or potatues can be easily made on land worth only $10 per acre, and these last named crojss are for feeding swine. Mr. Stewart makes wagonloads of bacon every year for this market, and his splendid example has borne fruit, so that a great many farmers here are going into this lucrative business on a much larger scale now since he has demonstrated by an experience of sev eral years that it is the most profitable business that can be carried on in this section." The Pilipino's Cannon. According to Gen. Anderson, com manding the department of the Lakes, the heavy losses of the American troops in the recent engagements with the Fil ipinos at Los Pinas and Bakoor, south of Manila, were caused by the artillery which Admiral Dewey presented to Aguinaldo last winter. The batteries in position, Gen. Anderson says, are being operated by Spanish prisoners who have been released by Aguinaldo with the understanding that they en list in the insurgent army. Gen. An derson took the first detachment of troops to the Philippines last fall and was a prominent figure in the first ne gotiations with the Filipino govern. ment. Luna Assassinated. General Luna, one of the bitterest foes of the Americans in the Philip pines'has been assassinated by orders of Aguinaldo, the Fillipino leader, Luna recently found himself in opposition to the chief's views and not only disobeyed orders, but at one time stopped Agni naldo's peace commissioners on the way to Manila to treat with the Americans. Aguinaldo ordered his death and the orders were carried out by some of his fanatical followers. The report of the assassination has caused great excite ment among the Filipinos at Manila. Drowned inuHis Net. John B. Taylor met a sad and un timely death Thursday afternoon at Pelzer. He and his brother were sein ing in Saluda river above the dam and he became entangled in the sein while in very deep water, causing him to sink from its weight, and before he could ex tricate himself from its fatal meshes, or before help could reach him it was too late. His lifeless body was recovered some time afterwards and carried by friends to his home in Pelzer where a grief-stricken wife and two children dre left to mourn this terrible Lalami ty.-State. Eleven Burned to Death. Eleven workmen were burned to death Thursday in a fire that destreyed a dwellinb house near Rybinsk, in the government of Yaroslav, European Russia.