Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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A RASCAL IREE.1 Leakage in the Cotton Report Is Officially Confirmed. HOW IT WAS WORKED The Secret Service Men Show How Gov ernment Employee and New York Brokers Were In Collusion. Holmes, the Rascally Em loyee, Dismissed. A dispatch from Washington says as the result of the investigation by secret service agents into the charges made by Richard Cheatham, secretary of the Southern Cotton association, that irformation bad Deen given to cotton brokers in N w York by s->me person or perscrs in the bureau of statistics of the depattment of agricul ture, Secretary Wilson Saturday made public an offhicial report in which he states that Ed v,ins, Holmes, the asf o ciate statistician, has been guilty of "jugglicg" the official report. The re port says it has been found that Mr. Holmes communicated advance Anfor mation to L C. Van Riper, a New Ycrk broker, and M. Haas of New York, who Mr. Van Ri'per said, acted as a go-between in conveying inferma tion from Holmes to other New York brokers, including Theodure Price. Steps have been taken by Secretary Wilson to prevent any further leakage of the department tigures and an entire reorganiztion of the burena of statis tics and manner of preparing monthly crop reports has been out-lined by him. The papers in ecnnection with the investigation were referred to the United States attorney for the Dis trict of Coluinbia and he has reported that in his opinion a criminal prosecu tion will not lie against Holmes. Holmes has been dismissed from the service of the department. According to the reort, Wilson Judd of New York, fo(rmerly in the employ of L. C. Van Riper, induce' the latter to tell of his connections with Holmes and then communicated the information to Mr. Cheatham. Van Riper became the principal wit ness in the investigation conducted by the secret service ani said he was in duced to communicate the fact that advance information was being given out by Holmes because he had heard that Holmes and his associates had intended to try to manipulate the June cotton rep.rt. Using this information as a foundation the secret service agents interviewed numerous persons who bad been mentioned by Judd and Van Riper, as well as gathering a mass of correspondence including many let ters witten by Holmes to Van Riper and others. The report made to Secretary Wil son and the secretary's comments to gether with the details of the new plan of conducting the bureau of statistics makes more than 4,000 words. It re views the entire investigation begin ning with ti e charg s th t were laid before Secretary Wilson by Mr. Cheat ham several weeks ago. CHARGEs BY CHEATHA3I. The charges of Mr. Cheatham were backed up with evidence that certain information had been given to cotton brokers in New York by some person or persons employed in the bureau of statistics, relative to the acreage and condition of the ctten crop of the United States prior to the offiial pub lication of the information, and that the crop figures had been tampered with in the department, in the inter estsof certain cotton speculators. Src retary Wilson determined at once upon a thorough investigation and furnished the cifcers of the United States se cret service all of the-evidence which had been given to the department. The agents then were put in touch with Mr. Cheatham and directed to use every possible effort to ascertain whether there had been a leak in the department and if so to furnish the secretary with the name t. f the per son o'r persons responsible. Holmes is the only employe of the government who has been found to have had any connection with supplying information to brokers prior to the publication of the offcial report. After reviewing the charges Se c:e tary Wilson gives a summary of the testimony adduced before secret ser vice agents. Mr. Van Riper, the New York broker, under examination, said he became ac quainted with Holmes in New York in August, 1904, through a "mutual friend." According to this testimony Holmes told Van Riper he could get information concerning the government 'oroo report, principall) through the report of the general agent and the reports of the State agents. Van R~per said Holmes fur nished him with information from time to time, for several months, in advance of the publication of the omf cial figures, and that the information furnished by Holmes corresponded ex-: actly 'with the figures afterwards pub lished as the otticial crop reports. Van Riper stated that a Mr. Haas of New York acted as a go between for Holmcs and himself and he was given to understand that Haas was securing information for Theodore Price, a cot ton broker of New York. Tue wit ness said he met Haas at the Hotel Waldorf and was told by him that-the report for June 1905 would be 75 per cent. on condition, and 12b or 13 per cent. on acreage, which was as bear ish as they could make it; and that he was going to see Price, with whom he would have an interview and wanted to see Van Riper after he saw Price; that in about an hour Haas called on him and said that at the request of Price he 'was going to Washington to see if they cou'd not get the percent age a little higher and the acreage a little smaller to make the report more bearish. Van Riper testified that the ctlicial repart was more bearish than tte figures previously given him and that he took this to mean that the effort to influence the report had succeeded. WRITTENO BY HOLMEs. The letters prcducedi by Van Riper, which he alleged were written by Holmes, were all signed with the ini tial "H." Most of these letters were for the purpose of making appoint ments with Van Riper but the follow-! ing note dated August 20, 1904, shows the relationship between Holmes and Van Riper: "If you have bought any of that stuff sell it out at once and sell as much as you can in addition. We are; going to show a very slight decline and as this is totally unexpected it will send things down like fury. Other sell on Thursday. Where is 'P- Tear this up. It may go up a little before Friday but probably not." This letter was signed with the ini tial "H." Van Riper testilled that all of the letters surrendered were from Holmes and that their contents had reference to the state of the cot ton report. A large number of letters and telegrams signed with the initial "F" were sent from New York to Van Riper. Nearly all of these con tained information concerning the cotton report, together with instrue tions te sell or buy on the market, ac cording to the information furnished and all of them closed with the ad monition to destroy the letter. The secret service agents learned that "P" referred to in Holmes' let ter was F. A. Peckham, of New York and that the letters signed the initial "F" were F. A. Peckham. "TRYING TO MAKE MONEY." Peckham was interviewed in New York city and stated that the only explanation he had to give concerning the letters was that he was trying to make some motey in the catton mar ket, declining to say anything of his relations with Holmes, Haas or Van Riper. Shortly after he was inter viewed it was learned that Peckham came to Washington and held a con ;versation with Holmes over the tele phone in which he inquired whether Holmes intended to resign his position or whether he expected to be dismiss ed from the government service. Peck ham was seen again by government agents but wculd not discuss his rela tions with Holmes. Homes was interviewed by secret service agents and considerable spaze in the report is given to his explana tions. Tne first questions asked hlm were as to his relations with Peckham and Van Riper. Homles said that they all had been on very intimate terms socially and that when he had occassion to visit New York, which was frequently, his hotel bill had been paid by Van Riper or Peckham. Holmes admitted that Peckham, Haas and himFent were at onetime associated in a business ven ture in which Holmes was to have an interest equal to the sun of $6.000, which he was to receive as a gift from the other members of the firm. Sub s. quently Haas transferred his interest in this firm to L. C. Van Riper and Van Riper stated that the company was organized for the purpose of han d lina cotton. H(limes testified that this was true, but that he was not aware of the nature of the organiza tion At the time he got an intercst ir it. and that when he learned the obj ect of the company was to handle cotton, he withdrew from it. SOLD HIS MINING PROERTY. Under further examinhtion Holmes stated that he had sold to Van Riper, about Feb. 19, 1905, a three-fourths interest in some mining property in Idaho for $73,000, this amount hav ing been paid to him by Van Riper in two installments in currency. In this connection Van Riper stated that a contract had been made, between Holmes and himself whereby Van Riper was supposed to have acquired a seven eighths interest in some min ing property, but that he had never seen the ir perty nor had any Idea as to its value or as to its exact location. Van Riper said that Holmes wished to have a contract signed which would show that Van Riper had paid to Holmes a large sum of money for the mining property, in order tnat Holmes might be able to account for the pos. session of s> much money. Van Riper says he knows that Holmes received a very large amount prior to the sign ing of the contract and he believes it was not for mining or other property. Secretary Wilson says there seems to be every reason to believe from the report of secret service agents tnat Holmes cauld have given approxi mately cerect information anywhere from one to three days in advance of the publication of the offcial report. During nearly the entire cotton re porting season of 1903 Holmes was in charge of the hureau of statistics in the absence of Chief Statistician Hyde, who was in Europe. Since that time he has had access to the reports of field agents who furnish the data upon which the cotton reports are based. 'The most important of these reports come from Field Agent B. 0. White and from the several State agents, to all of which Holmes had access. It was found that alterations had been made in the figures of Mr. White's report, for October 3, 1903, and that these alterations appeared to be in Holmes' handwriting. DEAILs oNLY WITH FACTs. Secretary Wilson says a large num ber of persons made statements of a general character, founded on rumor and incapable of verification, and for this reason they were not made a part of his report, whicn is intended to deal with facts only. According to the new plan outlined by Secretary Wilson to govern the preparation of monthly reports of the bureau of statistics, the general spec ial field agents and State agents will report on speculative crops directly to the secretary or acting secretary of agriculture. These reports will re main sealed in the custody of these offcers until the day the offcial re port is to be made, when the agents' reports will be opened and the offcial report compiled under strict precau tons. There never will be at any time, in the possession of the bureau of statistics or in any one offce of the department, except while the compil ation of the oflcial report is being made, complete information from the correspondents in all of the cotton States. Texas and Georgia, two of the largest cotton producing States, will be separated from the group of reports from townships and counties. Hereafter toere will be three special field agents, instead of one, assigned to the work of collecting statistics for the cotton crop reports. These agents will have no c-mmunication with each other and will report on differ ent groups of States. Secretary Wil son's report oloses as follows: "There will be no more opportunity for advance information on reports of speculative crops. "In the report of the secret service operatives, Edwin S. Holmes, former associate statisticians, is the only de partmental employe Implicated and I have dismissed him from the service of the department.. Twelve Hundred Years Old. The Town of Sherb wne England has just passed its 1200 anniversary but although it is 1200 years old, it has only 800 inhabitants. The c vant was celebrated by the produttion of twelve tab'eavx each typifying the leading historical event happening In the 100 years it represents. Six Thousand Killed. News from Odessa says: Estimates of the number killed during the fires and rioting of last week run as high as ;,000, the greater number were shot down, but many of the bodies were IN A NUTSHELL. History of the War Between the Japs and the Russians. EACH MAKING WAR. The Result oi Seventeen Months' Fight. ing and the Reputations that lave been Won and Lost as Battle Followed Battle. Map of East Revised. THE CAUSE. (1.) Russia's policy of playing fast and loose with her promises as to the evacuation of Manchuria, whereby China's sovereignty over that land was practically annulled, and the equal cqmmercial rights herein of the rest of the world seriously threatened. (2 ) Russia's refusal to recognize Japan's paramount interests in Korea, and her own "diplomatic" moves In that peninsula, lookingtowards treaty rights, under which she might gain control of the port of Fusan, the more northern harbors of Vladivostok and Port Arthur having proved less ser viceable than had been anticipated. (3.) Japan's seven-year-old grudge 8 gainst Russia for outcasting her from Port Arthur at the close of her con test with Chiha, and (alsc) Russia's fatal ignorance of Japan's prepared ness and her over-confidence in her own strength. DURATION. From February 5th, 1904 to June 11th, 1905-493 days. THE RESULT. (1 ) Japan has reacquired control of Korea, establishing a protectorate, and appointing an American, Durham White Stevens, as adyiser to the em peror, Yi Heui. (2 ) Japan has regained possession of Port Arthur and the Liaotung Pen insula, and of such of Manchura as will warrant its return to China, with "cpan doors" to the trade of the world. (3 ) Iu'ernational law has gained a clearer knowledge than has before been bad of what constitutes "contraband of war," and to what lengths a naval officer may properly go in the "right of search." Both of these advances have been made largely through the prompt diplomacy of Secretary of State Hay. (4 ) Russia certainly will not get on the Paclfic coast, the "ice-free port" for which she has so long been look ing. CHRoxoLoQY, 1903. July 28.-Opening .f diplomatic cor respondence between Japan anld Rus sia, relative to the Manchuria situa tion. THE YEAR 1904. February 5.-Diplomatic relations broken t ff. February *.-Japanese troops oc cupy M sampho, Korea. February 8.-Gun boat ' Korietz" fires first shot of the war, off Ohe mulpo. Togo attacks the Port Ar thur fleet. February 9.-"Variag" and "Kori et z" sunk Japanese trcops 1mLd Che mulpo. February 10.-The Czar declares war. Japanese occupy Seoul. February 11.--The Mikado declares war. United States announces neu trality. A Japanese merchantman sunk by Vladivostok fleet. February 12.-Russian mine-trans port "Yenessei" sunk at Port Artbur. February 28.-Skirmish at Ping Yang; first land action of the war. March 6.-Kamimunra bombards Vladivostok. March 8.-Makaroff takes com mand at Port Arthur. March 27 .-Kuropatkin reaches Mukden. April 4.-Kuroki occupies Wiju, on the Yalu. April 13.-Makaroff goes down with the "Petropavlovsk," during a sortie from Port Arthur. April 26.-Vladivostok Squadron sinks the transport "~Kinshu Maru." May 1.-Battle of the Yalu. May 5.-Oku lands at Pitsewo. May 11.-Russians destroy and evacuate Dalny. May 14.-Port Arshur isolated. May 15 -Japanese battleship "Hat sue' sink by a mine, and the cruiser "Yoshino' in collision. May 22 26.-Taking of Nan Shan Hill. :The first of Port Arthur's de fences. May 30.-Japanese occupy Dalny. June 14 15.-Battle of Vafangow. June 15.-Vladivostok squadron bombards Wonsan, Korea, and sinks the transports Sado and Hitchachi. June 27.-Kuroki and Nodzu cap ture the Fenshin, Ta and Motien passes. June 30.31 of Haicheng. July 13- 17.-Russian volunteer crui sers, St. Peterburg and Smolensk seize the British steamer Malacca and the German steamer Prince Heinrich In the Red Sea. July 20 24.-Third raid of Vladi vostok squadron. July 25.-Torpeda boat attack on Prt Arthur fleet. July 26.30-Capture of Wolf Hill, Port Arthur. July 31.-Japanese begin to ad vance upon Liao Lang. Battle of Yantze Pass. Count Keller killed. August 8.-Oku seizes New Cnang and Haicheng. August 10.-Withoifft killed during sortie from Port Arthur; the fleet dis persed and damaged.. August 14.-Kamimura defeats Vladivostok squadron; Rurik sunk. August 19 24,- First General as sault upon Port Arthur. August 26-September 4.-Battle of Lo Yang. September 19 21.-Fort Kuropatkin taken; commanding Port Arthur's outer defences. October 11-21.-Battle of Shake River. October :15.- R',jestvensky sails from Libau with Baltic squadron. October 20.-Armies go into winter quarters before Mukden. October 22.-"The Dogger Bank Outrage." (Later settled by arbitra tion.) October 25.-Kuropatkin replaces Alexieff in supreme command. October 26.-Japanese attack East Kekwan forts and occupy Ehlungshan. Novemoer 16.-Rlusslan destroyer Rostospny escapes to Chetoo with dis patches, and Is blown up to avoid cap November 30.-Storming of 203. Metre Hill. December 6-10.-First Japanese fire destroys Port Arthur fleet. December 18.-First premanent breach made in Port Arthur main de fences. December 28 31.-Nogi takes Kek wan positions. THE YEAR 1905. January 1-Stoessel offers to surren der. January 2.-Surrender of Port Ar thor. January 3.-%tjestvensky arrives off Madagascar. January 10-11.-Cossack raid in Japanese rear penetrates to New Chang. January 25-29.-Battle of the Hun River. (Sandepas.) February 15.-Third Pacific squad ron sails from Libau, under Nebga toff. February 24-March 12.-Battle of Mukden. March 16.-Rojestvensky sails east from Madagascar. April 8.-Rojestvensky arrives off Singapore. May 2-5.-Vladivostok torpedo toits raid Japan's north coast. May 8.-Nebogatoff's squadron joins Rrjesvensky. May 28 27.- -Battle of Sea of Ja pan. May 28.-Cruiser Grombol seriously damaged by a mine near Vladivostok. June 3 -Enquis with three cruisers reachs Manilla; vessels entered. June 9.-President Roosevelt opens diplomatic correspondence with the fighting powers, looking for peace. June. 11.-Russia and Japan pledge themselves to peace parley. MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS. Part Arthur and Chemulpo attacks. -(February 8 9) Togo and Uriu commanding the Japanese and Alex eff the Russians. Russia lost 2 ves sels and 7 disabled; the Japanese 2 torpedo boats sunk. The victories gave Japan the command of the far East waters. Yalu River-(May 1 ) The Japan ese under Kuroki defeated the Rus sians under Zusselitch, thus opening the way to the invasion of Manchuria. 71,500 men engaged, the casualties being: 3,196 Russians, to 2,039 Jap anese. Nanshan Hill and Kinchow.-(May 22-26 ) This victory of the Japanese, under Oku, cut Part Arthur off from the north. 140,000 men were engaged, the casualties amounting to 1,704 Russians and 2,300 Japanese. Fafangow.-(May 14-15 ) Stackel berg's attempt to re-enfoi ce the Fort Arthur garrison was defeated by Oku, the former losing 4,633 men and the latter 1,120. 120,000 men were en gaged. Lion Yang.-(August 26-Sept. 4) The general conflict between the two entire armies, Kuropatkin and Oyama commanding in person. Of the 420, 000 men engaged, the Russian casual ties are given at 22,056 and the Jap anesie at 17,539. The victory lay with Japan. Kurcpatkin's retreat to Muk den was masterly. Shake River.-(Oatober 11 21.) A second contest between the same com manders and forces as at Liao Yang, resulted in a virtual draw, though the Russians were compelled to con tinue their retreat. Total casualties: 82,747; 67,868 Russians and 15,879 Japanese. 203-Metre Hill.-(November 3) The bloodiest of the conflicts waged about Port Arthur, the Japanese victory leading directly to the later surrender of the town. The Russians lost in killed and wounded about 3,000 men; the Japanese fully five timee as many. Port Arthur.-Isolated on May 14, 1904; surrender, January 2, 1905-a siege of 232 days. The garrison (43, 632 men with 778 guns,) was com manded by Stoessel; the attacking force (87,902 men with 608 guns,) by Nogi. From the 19th of August 31 distinct attacks were made and 3 sor ties; the fighting was practically con tinuous. Total casualties have been given as: Russian 32,745; Japanese. 97480. Russia surrendered 24,369 men, 546 guns, 82,670 shells, 127 tons of powder, 35 252 rifles, 2,266,800 cartridges and 1.920 horses.. The vic tory had cost Japan about 8100,000, 000, while the Russian financial loss, including the value of the destroyed flees, was not less than half again as much "Considered as a demonstra tion of the pitch to which human for titude and valor may be carried, the siege of Port Arthur reflects the high est credit on both the defenders and assailants, and is destined to rank in history among the most memorable feats of arms." Hun River, (Sandepas)-(January 25-29.) Grippenberg's brave, but fruit less attempt to turn the wing of Oyama's army cost him 12,000 men, with a loss to his enemy of but 5,000. 150,000 were engaged. Mukden.--(Fe bruary 24 March 12.) The greatest of the land actions of the war, Oyama and Kuropatkin again facing each other, with forces of from 700,000 to 800,000, engaged .long a front extending from 60 to 100 miles. Japan's casualties amount ed to 41,222; those of Russia to nearly 90,000. Oyama's "spoils" included 60 guns, 200,000 shells, 60,000 rifles, 25,000,000 rifle cartridges, 2,000 horses, 350,000 bushels of grain and fodder, and 1,000,000 bread rations. ~In the numbers engtaged, in extent of the field, in the duration of the struggle, and in the magnitude of the losses Mukden so far overshadows all previous battles of which we have definite information, from Marath'n to Sedan, as to stand in a class by it self. It gives Oyama rank as a strat egist of the first order. It confirms the impression that Kuropatkin, with his habit of preparing for retreat be fore going~ into battle Is not a great commander; above all it proves the superiority of the Japanese soldier." The Sea of Japan.-(May 27 28.) The annihilation of the combined fleets under Rojestvensky. (36 ves sels of all classes, mounting 372 guns,) by the Japaanese, all classes, with an unknown number of torpedo boats, the whole mounting 330 guns, at a cost to Russia of 873,500,000, and the gain to Japan of absolute command of the situation in the Far East. 6 bat tleships, 5 cruisers, 1 coast defence vessel, 2 special service boats, and 3 destroyers of the Russian fleet were sunk; and 2 battleships, 2 coast de fence vessels and 1 destroyer were captured, along with 3,000 prisoners, including Admiral Rjesvensky and Nebagatoff, 8,550 Russians were killed or drowned, including Admiral Voel kersham. Japan accomplished this at a cost to herself of but 3 torpedo boats, sunk. 113 men killed and 444 woundEd. Kinled by Peaches. At Ashburne, G3,., Kathleen, the three-yearold child of Mr. G. W. Per kins, is dead of congestion. She was the picture of health, but ate a peach about 12 o'clock and died at 3. She was PLANT ALFALFA. i Novcment to Stimulate the Culti vation of Hay Crop. Souch Carolina Agricultural Society Offars Premiums for BestYield On Two and Five Acres. Bulleton No. 103, issued by Clemson Dollega, gives a report of the success ful cnltivation of alfalfa during the past four years, at its Experiment Sta bion, near Charleston, and shows that Dn the bed four years old, the result Df last year's six cuttings in equivalent per acre were as follows: Green. Dry. April 19, first cutting ..15,129 4,524 Kay 24, second cutting ..14,548 3,535 June 27, third cutting ...10,746 2686 July 25, fourth cutting.. 9,191 2,262 Aug. 23, tifth cutting ... 7 282 1,979. Oct. 10, sixth cutting ... 3,535 1,414 Total........... 59,341 16,400 Or in dry hay, a little over 8 tons per acre. This plant, introduced some years since through California, Is now being largely grown through all the Middle Western States, and in 1903 Texas is reported to have planted 250, 000 acres. It is regarded as of so much Impor tance in that State that an associa tion has been formed called "the Tex as State Alfalfa Growers' Association," R. E. Smith, of Sherman, is the resident, and E. H. Peters, of Cal vert, is the secreltarv. Mr. Smith is the largest grower of alfalfa in Texas, having this year 1,200 acres under cul tivation, as shown in the report pub lished in The News and Courier on 20th instant. It has been proved by the crops grown at the Experiment Station that it can be grown in the State to ad vantage, as crops of the last three years are now growing, as well as that of 1900. The official returns show that in 1903 the importation in and through Charleston for the first seven months of Eastern and Western hay averaged in value over $10,000 psr month, much of which will not com pare with alfalfa hay for stock of all kinds. The Agricultural Society of South Carolina has decided to offer a priza of one hundred ($100) dollars for the best outturn of sound, dry, alfalfa hay on five acres, and fifty dollars for the best on one acre,,cut and cured during the year 1906. As the early fall is the best season for planting alfalfa in the South (about the last of September, and as the land requires thorough preparation before planting, as well as highk ferti liztion, the best means to accomplish this is to sow the land with cow peas with heavy application of fertilizers, which should be done at this time. All persons who desire to enter this competition should send their names and addresses to Mr. J. Backman Cbisolm, 21 Broad street, Charleston, S. C., secretary of the South Carolina Agricultural Society, who will furnish the address of the seedmen from whom this Society has obtained seed, and also with "Farmers' Bulletin No. 31," of the United States department of agriculcure, which gives full direc tion for the cultivation and saving of alfalfa. It should be noted that though alfalfa Is delicate, and needs care during the first year, that once established on the land, It will con-. tinue to live heavy crops for many years without replanting. The secretary of the Agricultural Society will be pleased to furnish all details In connection with these pre miums and the awarding of same. Those who desire to compete must give their address, stating if they de sire to enter for the five or one acre competition. The premiums are of fered only for new crops to be planted in the fall of 1905. W. G. Hinson, Thomas Pinckney, Samuel G. Stoney, Jas. S. Murdoch, Jno. S. Holback, Theodore G Birker, agricultural committee of the Agricul tural Society of South Carolina. STILL AT L&EGR. The Mutimous Battleship is Still Master ot the Black Sea. A dispatch from Odessa under date of July 7 says the Knlaz Potemkin, the mutinous Russian battleship, still occupies the centre of the stage here. The authorities are well Informed about her movements and her opera tions at the various Black sea ports form the topic of continuous specula tion and comment in business and oficial circles. But as the opinion prevails here that she will not return to menace Odessa the Odessians view her doings interestedly, but not coupled with any particular alarm. The fact that the Knlaz Potemnkin is still at large, cruising in the Black sea, threatening ports and holding up steamers and other craft Is beginning to bring criticism upon the naval au thorities, owing to their apparent slowness and lack of energy In pursu ing and terminating her piratical career.. The torpedo boats which it is reported are trailing the Kniaz Po temkin have done nothing, although the whereabouts of the battleship has never been a secret. The Black sea is so small that she has never been out f reach of the fleet which left Odessa Wednesday and which is popularly suppcsed to be following the renegale for the purpose of Effecting her surren er or sinking her. If the fleet is in earnest it can easi ly meet the Knlaz Potemkin within a :omaratively few hours. The belief S general, however, and there is gen aral confirmation of it, that the main lificulty confronting the fleet regard ng the Kniaz Potemkin lies in the fact that the crews of the ships are strongly disinclined to engage the utinous battleship. It Is reported m good authority that their crews 2aave actually refused to attack her. n the meantime commerce on the Black sea is being slowly resumed and oastwisa nd other steamers are clear ng from Odessa on their former sche Was It An Attraction? The Johnson News says: "A beau ful lady riding horseback astride was one of the attractions in Johnston ast Friday morning. As she dashed p and down Main street on her snow white charger, with head erect and er feet firmly planted in the stir ups, all business ceased for awhile. 1en rushed to the doors and out on he street to catch a glimpse of the ~airy-like object. The men gazed In ecstacy and soliloquized: " How beau lful and lovely ! Why can't our ladies ide horseback that wa:. ?"' The ladles .ooked askance at the performance and nuttered: "The contemptable thing o ride a horse man-fashion and ressed in skirts, too! She ought to >e ashamed of herself!" But the lady alloped off and disappeared as if she] WXATE AND CROPS. Rain Very General, in Some Places Too Heavy. The following Is a report of crop conditions as compiled by Section Di rector Bauer: The week ending Monday, July 3d, had a nearly normal mean tempera ture, it having been very high at the beginning of the week with a maxi. mum of 99 degrees at Blackville on June 27th, and was comparatively cool during the middle of the week with a minimum of 61 degrees at Allendale on June 29th. There was more than an average amount of cloudiness. The winds were mostly easterly and dry ing. Copious rains fell in the Savannah valley counties and along the southern coast; excessive rains in the extreme western and northwestern counties. The co operative observer at Walhalla reported over thirteen inches for the week. Scattered showers, generally light, occurred in the central, eastern and northeastern counties where the drought has been only partially reliev ed. Lands were washed and bottom lands flooded in Oconee, Pickens and parts of Anderson, Greenville and Barnwell counties; in all other sec tions the rainfall was wholly benefi cial. Cotton improved in general appear ance and growth, although it has not attained normal size except in . few scattered localities. The cotton crop is uneven and irregular in size, growth and fruitage, though it is blooming normally over practically the whole state. There are fewer co-plaints of deterioration, lice and shedding than last week. In the dry sctiuns some plants are blooming to the top. Sea i0land cotton continues small, though generally healthy. There is little if any, improvement in early planted corn which continues unpromising; later plantings have Im proved in color and growth, but are still being seriously injured by worms and recently by chinch bugs in places. Wheat thrashing is under way and the yields are very poor. Rice is do ing well. Tobacco is being cured; the crop is poor and shows the bad effects of drought. Peas are being sown ex tensively. Pastures and gardens are parched except where recent rains have partially revived them. Water melons are being marketed. .Sweet potato slips are being set out since the rains, and where set out earlier are doing well. The general crop out look is more promising than hereto fore, tut Is still poor where moisture is deficient, which includes about half the state. CRIMINALS OF DEEPEST DYE. Such Were the Parties Lynched by Mob at Watkinsvine. Mr. S. W. Bailey, of Athens, Ga., tells a thrilling story that throws light on the character of some of the parties that went to their death a few days since at the hands of the Wat knsville mob. The story as told by Mr, Bailey indicates that these parties must have at the time of its occur rence been planning just such a mur der as in the case of Mr. and Mrs. Hobrooks. Mr. Bailey kept a store on the Scull Shoals road, a few miles from Wat kinville, and near the scene of the Holbrook tragedy. He moved from there to Athens last January. One night about four years ago Mr. Bailey says that four negroes came to his store about ten o'clock and In the number were Rich and Lewis Robin son, two of the negroes who killed the Holbrooks couple. His wife was In the store, and they attempted In many ways to find out where she kept her money, by asking her to change a twenty-dollar bill. She suspected danger and called to her husband. The negroes went out. Mr. Bailey got his pistol and sat down in the rear of the store. They came back again, and saw him there and then left. Last December, just before Christ mas, a negro named Wiley Durham came to the store about midnight and wanted Mr. Bailey to get up and go into the store to sell him some arti cles. He was told thaD It was too late to open the store and that he could'nt get what he wanted. He was accom panied by another man, and when Mr. Bailey went to the window and looked out he recognized that man as Lon J. Aycock, the white man who was shot to death by the mob a few nights since in Watkinsvlle. Mr. Bailey had just sold his farm and was was getting ready to go to Athens, and at that time he had the money realized from the sale of his farm in his house. The negr ywho was with Aycock at that time was one of the negroes at one time suspected of the Holbrook murder, but later on released. Mr. Bailey is satisfied that he wculd have had trouble had he opened his store at that time. Young Man Suicides. The Columbia Record says "News has been received here of the suicide of John A. Hendrix at New Castle, Ky., Hendrix was a well known and popular young CJolumbian and up to a few months ago was correct in ils habits. He was formerly employed by W. D. Lever and from there went with the Bell Telephone company. A few weeks ago he ran away with a small amount of money belonging to the company and was not heard of un til a special agent of the bonding com pany here Wednesday stated that Hendrix had killed himself by throw ing himself under a moving train. Hendrix is well connected here and the neiw of his death will be received with universal regret." Slavery in Philippines. In a bulletin issued by the bureau of labor in a report on labor in the Phillippines It is stated that peonage and serfdom are still quite general in the slands. It says: "Over forty-one per cent of the employment is in ag riculture and in these industries peon age and serfdom and slavery still ex 1st and wage system is not really es ablished. Where wages are nominal y paid they are often but another method of continuing the relationship af peonage. Suicided in Jail. At Washington, Edward Green, a egro, an inmate of the United States District Jail, committed suicide by anging himself to the window bars in is cell by means of an handkerchief ad a twel. The authorities at the jil are of the belief that the man mded his life because he was despon ent, brought on~ by his continement md because of the knowledge that a ong sentence was awaiting him when ae wold be tried. HELP IT ALONG. Unique Plan of Raising Funds ftr Fouthern Cotton Association. Mr. Smith Talks ot Scheme to Give Southern Planter Complete Con trol of Cotton Market. At a meeting of the executive com mittee of the Southern Cotton associ ation held in Memphis June 29.h it was decided to recommend to every as sociation, State, county and township, to erect warehouses at once wherever necessary. They further recommend that this be done by local capital if it be possible. This plan of erecting warehouses will be taken up by every State in the cotton belt so that there may be a sufficient number of ware houses ready for cotton by fall to guarantee organizing a mutual insur ace company. The play of this in surance is as follows: E Lch warehouse isto become through the mutual insurance plan security for every other warehouse belonging to or under the control of the South ern Cotton assjciation. In this way the insurance will be reduced to a nominal sum; and will guarantee ab solute fire protection without being forced to subscribe to all of the plans and specifications of the Southeastern Tariff association. Tne State says Mr. E. D. Smith, president of the State association and a member of the exteutive committee of the southern association, isof course enthusiastic over the plan Mr. Smith was in the city Wednesday, having come down from Greenville. He talk ed freely about the plan. "Bankers, mere'lants and business men of all vocations are solicited to take stock in these warehruses," said Mr. Smith. "This will solve the prob lem of cheap storage and cheap insur ance and will save to the farmers and business men of the south, themselves, all the money tliat is now paid to for eign corporations for insurance. "It will be impossible for me to reach each county in person, but I hope every county paper will copy this letter, and every organization build ing warehouses will notify this office as soon as it is assured. "The Planters' Holding and Com mission company is now ready for bus iness, and we hope that all farmers and business men in the south will take stock in this company, so that in cojunction with our warehouses we may have a fund from which money can be gotten at a low rate of interest to take up the surplus and distressed cotton if there be any such on the market. To sum the whole matter up, our plan is this: "The cotton farmers and southern people will build their own warehous es, organizing each State, and get a charter for doing a commission basi ness, and then every warehouse in the entire cotton belt carries its pro rata share of the risk of every other one, so that if no cotton is burned our in surance will cost nothing; and taking a ten year average. if we can get enough warehouses built and enough cotton stored, the estimate is that it will not exceed 5 cents per bale for in surance. The farmers themselves, hav ing taken stock in the warehouses, will have their storage charges reduced to a minimum, in that their stock will, if managed correctly, very nearly pay for their storage; and if sufficient funds are pooled by the southern cot ton grower and the southern people. and it is managed correctly, there will be a loan fund sufficient to carry the weak and distressed c:,tton at a low rate of interest, thereby giving the south and the southern planter abso lute control of the marketing of his cotton. ' Tais plan appeared the most feas ible, and I think will appeal to the business judgment of everyone, and we hope that the warehouse feature will be pushed vigorously. "The Southern Cotton association also decided to ask every man, wo man and child i the south, who today feel that they are under obligation to the Southern Cotton association for the present_ rise in cotton, we ask them to contribute one nickle apiece. All South Carolinians who feel so dis posed and think they can afiord this much for this great southern cause, can fox ward their nickle to Mr. F. H. Hyatt., tieasurer of the Southern Cot ton association, South Carolina divis ion, Columbia, S. C. The associat ion is in debt, and thinksq that this is a just and equitable way of appealing to the people for aid. "At Greenville Tuesday when this appeal was made there was a prcmpt and generous response. We hope that there will be a generous response from the people at large. "I want once more to congratulate the people of my State and nne south in general upon the magnificent achievement of the Southern Cotton association. For once in the history of the south we seem to be in the sad die; and my advice to the people at large is to sit steady and ride easy." DXFEKDMD HIS HOME. A. Negro Shot Dead by a Young Man at Cordele. At Cordele, Ga., a negro whose name is unknown, was killed recently by Gus Singletary, a white boy of 15 years, who lives four miles -southwest of Cordele. The circumstances were rather unusual. The negro came to the home of the Singletarys. The family consists of two boys, one young lady and a mother. He asked for matches. The man looked suspi cous and one of the boys told him to go to a negro house, about one mile distant, and get what he wanted. He left, but returned in about one hour, which was 1 o'clock Tuesday morn ing, and said that he could not get the matches. The boy told him to leave the prem ises and not return. This the intruder refused to do and stated that he was going to enter the house. In the mean time the older boy of the two had started out to get the negro, to whom the unknown man was referred, in order that he might get the man away. The negro saw him leave and it is supposed he thought the ladles un protected. He walked deliberately up to the front door carrying a heavy stick. When he was about ten feet away the younger boy threw the door open and ired, one load of No. 7 snot from a stotgun going almost through the heart of the man. The older boy hear ing the shot, ran to the scene with a drawn pistol and finding the negro writhing in the death agony fired t wo bullets throuigh his abdomen. Coroner Graham came Tuesday afternoon in response to information furnished by J. 0. Mc~inney, on whose place the killing occurred, and will bold an inquest. The negro man was about 50 years old and Is not known n that section. He is of slight stat -r has a gray mustace anrd hblncr I The Bridge. This popular poem was first called "The Bridge Over the Charles," by its author, Henry Wadsworth Long refllow, (born 1807, died 1882 ) The title appears to have become abbrevi ated through his own habit of refer ring to it, for greater convenienc", as "The Bridge." The bridge, which Is the subjict of the poem was the old one, known as West Boston bridge, located at the foot of Cambridge street, ar d now In process of demoli tion, to make way for a modern one. In Longfellow's youth the bridge was probably =ore generally a resort for moonlight ruminators, comparatively speaking, than it has been of late years, for then, the only means of transportation to and from Boston was a coach, and, as the fare was 25 cents, comparatively few people rode. All that is known of the genesis of "The Bridge" Is found In Longfel los's diary, where, under date -of 0.:tober 9, 1845, he records having finished it that forenoon, and again, on October 17, mentions having lnal ly retouched it. I stood on the bridge at midninght, As the clocks were striking the hour, And the moon rose over the city, Behind the dark church tower. I saw ter bright reflection In the waters under me, Like a golden goblet falling And sinking into the sea. And as far as in the hazy distance Of that lovely night in June, The blaze of the flaming furnace Gleamed redder than the moon. Among the long. black rafters The wavering shadows lay And the current that came from the ocean Seemed to lift and bear them away; As, sweeping and eddying through them, Rose the belated tide, And, streaming into the moonlight, The seaweed fl.ted wide. And like those waters rushing, Among the wooden piers, A Ilood of thoughts came o'er me That filled my eyes with tears. How often, 0 how often, In the days that had gone by, I had stood on that bridge at midnight And gazed on that wave and sky. How often, 0 how ofien, I had wished that the ebbing tide Would bear me away on its bosom O'er the ocean wild and wide! For my heart was hot and restless, And my life was full of care, And the burden laid upon me Seemed greater than I could bear. But now it has fallen from me, It is buried in the sea; And only the sorrows of others Throws its shadow over me. Yet whenever I cross the river On its bridge with wooden piers, Like the odor of brine from the ocean, Comes the thought of other years. And I think how many thousands Of care-encumbered men, Each bearing his burden of sorrow, Have crossed tht bridge since then. I see the longprocession Still passing to and fro, The young heart hot and restless And the old subdued and slow! And forever and forever, As long as the river flows, As long as the heart has passions, As long as life has woes; The moon and its broken reflection And it shadows shall appear, As the symbol of love in heaven,- - And its wavering image here. A Memory orf June. Somewhere. alownthe stream of Time, Amid the isles of June, I know, A day is anchored, over which The sweetest winds of. momory blow. The earth was vestgred as a bride, IIn richestidies and brightest bloom; IThe plushing breeze that kissed her cheek IWas slumberous with its rich per fume. - White clouds sailed slowly o'er the deep Of heaven's blue, serenely still, And not a sound of discord broke The harmony of Nature's will. Yet, faint and far, through leafy aisles, Was heard the wood-bird's mellow call The lapping sound of woodland stream, Or rippling laugh of waterfall. 0. friend, who stood with me that day, - Do you recall the matchless morn.. When, from the Leathen tome, for us One white, redi-lettered page was torn Hands clasping hands, heart spoke to heart, In language all unknown 'til then, And from their Undine sleep our souls Awoke to dreams, how mad! How vain! I know not what life holds for you Our ways were parted long ago; And far, o'er pathless seas, our souls Have drifted with the ebb and flow Yours may have reached some shelter ed bay And, anchcred safe In sunny cove, Have long since ceased to think of me Blest by some happy, heartsome love. While I, the sport of idle waves, Toss still in Ocean's stormy strife; Far, far from rest and peace; for me, Love is the saddest thing in life. Tet, anchored in those "isles of bloom," That sweet June heyday lingers yet' And time, nor change, nor lapsing hours Can ever cause its sun to set. -H~rLEN WA~rs McYEY. Bird's Chief Enemy. Professor Clifton F. Hodge, biolog st at Clark University, has come ott urging the extermination of 'all cats by municipalities, declaring they are the worst existing enemy of bird affe. "This has become a matter of nainn. alconsequence," says Proffessor Hodge, "and demands the attention of cities, as well as of people in the country. I have given much attention to this subject, and I am firmly convinced that the cat is the worst enemy the bird has. Not excepting the severities of winter, scourges of disease that might prevail in bird families, and all other enemies of bird life combined, the cat Is the arch fiend of them all, and stands at the head of the list as a destroyer of bird life. We need the German method of cat traps, like those that in one year killed 30,000 cats in Hamburg." The Way of the World. "Print the grandest sermon that ever fell from Inspired lips and not 20 per cent. even of the professedly pious will read it," says the Hampton Mer cury, but print a detailed account of some female bunko game or a sensa tional divorce in high life, and 99 per cent. of the very elect will make a dive for the paper before breakfast swoop down on It like a hungry nig er on a bowl of crab soup, devour every word, then roll their eyes heav nward, like a calf with the colic, be moaning the wickedness of the world.". It the ay onvf the wicede world.