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if "s^sr 0hp Dillon ffirralft. ' / ESTABLISHED IN 1895. DILLON, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 28, 1911. Vo1 17 No- 34 TILLMAN IS HANDS OFF "WON'T HELP A D-M SOUL" IN ME FOR THE GOVERNORSHIP TO RUN FOR SENATE IF ALIVE And .May Give Tlieui a t*Vvance t/o Vote For Him if He its Then Head. "I will be a candidate for reelection to the United States Senate if I am alive and not in articulo mortis. Yes, by God, 1 believe if I am dead I'll let 'eni vote for me a little anyhow." In this emphatic language Senator Tillman is quoted by a correspondent to The Augusta Chronicle as disnosiner of rumors to the ef feet that he would be a candidate for re-election. ^ At his farm near Trenton Senator Tillman "talked the matter over" with, a representative ot' The ' Chronicle, and in language more or less Tillmanesque, as the various, phrases demanded, stated that lie believed he would he elected without trouble. It has been said often that I could sit on my back porch and he re-elected,"said he. "1 don't know why they always mention the back porch for the front porch is much more cheerful and I love it the more, but I suppose they mean to imply that 1 need not even show myself in the campaign and that my friends in South Carolina will see that 1 go back, if I want to." Senator Tillman was busy on his ,. farm, but he took time to say this >much. To those who are familiar with the oft repeated statements as to his failing health it may come as a surprise to know that lie sleeps well, eats heartily, gives the whole farm his personal supervision by walking and riding over it every day, in fact many times a day, dictates his private and offic'al letters to his secretary, and that his mind is as clear as a bell, and his old time fire of speech, and manner blazes out at opportune times. The only real reminder of his past afflictions is the cane he carries?a?nd he sometimes forgets that and gets along seemingly as well as with it. Barring death, he will be in the race, and he will make speeches, too, and he says he doesn't care who or how many enter the field. Any one has a right to offer who wishes to. "Senator it has been more than ^ hinted by some that you are encouraging, and will back Gov. Blease for re-election as Governor, next summer. The chronicle wants to know directly from you, if you will give it, how much truth there is in these hints and rumors?" was the direct question asked Senator Tillman by the representative of The Chronicle. t - "I aan not going to help a damn soul in the race. I am going to be strictly hands off and neutral, and further more I have not given any one any authority to say that I was for or against either of the if of the candidates who have announced. I am not Eoing to mix in it or have anything to do with it." MaJlory. Dear Mr. Editor:?As I never see anything in The Herald from our part of the county I thought I would send a few notes. ) Mr. C. P. Hodges, of Brownsville, came very near loosing his dwelling , by fire Saturday night. A negro fired it in the kitchen behind the ! range. They caught him and craried him to Bennettsville yesterday evening. Just a few nights ago he lost his engine shed and grist mill at h's Argyle place over in Dillon I county by fire. Rev. J. I. Spinks preached at ) Bethlehem church Sunday morning. Mr. Bartow Pierce, of Mallory, ? was over here yesterday. Mr. P. L. Brigman, of Georgia, is visiting hie facber, Mr. J. L. f ^Brigman Mr. C. C. Brigman is all smiles k* 4 ^ d Ii l_ _ ? _ 1 r wumy, il fits u uoy ana ne says ne will bet a dollar he will weigh 10 h prunds. The Epworth League, ,of BethieI y hem, is still growing. It has a ' membership now of 50 or 60. ^ The fo-urth quarterly conference f ** of the Brownsville circuit will be held at Bethlehem October 7th and } 8th. Mr. Paul Grice, of Bingham, was Ltf. over here yesterday. Mr. Purman Allen was seen ovk er this way this morning. M?*" Mr. Liston Harper, of Zion, was ^ up here yesterday. pJP Mr. Walter Harper, of Florence, 4 w lb over here yesterday. P'-** Wishing The Herald much success, I am Old Crow. | Tot>lli Stopped Flying llullct. rak ^ Spartanburg, Sept. 11. ? A tooth MPr b Ed Talley's mouth Stopped the R74 ' /jurse of a bullet fired at hint by 0* . V i 11 Sexton. Both are colored. The force of the ball, however, lifted the molar from its moorings and Tally, after recovering from the shock, both the tooth and the wr thirty-eight bullet. The two negrops were quarrelling and Sexton MP took a shot at Talley, who, after ^ spitting out the tooth and lead, Rgp caused - a warrant to be issued for his assailant, charging him with 'Intent to kill. mm ?. .7 7:: 7 * ftp HOOKWORM EXPERT IN l)IliI<UN State Will Establish Dispensary Here for Treatment, of Disease. Dr. J. LaBruce Ward, director of j rural sanitation of the State Department of Health, was here Satj i#rday for the purpose of establish| ?ng a dispensary at Dillon for the [treatment of hook worm. Dr. Ward ,will return to Dillon in about three weeks and will remain here until J he is satisfied that every person in ! Dillon county affected with hook worm has been examined and treatled. The treatment is free and ev!ery person in Dillon county afflicted with hook worm will be invited I.to come to Dillon and take the treatment. The treatment is very simple and does not incapicitate one for work. Dr. Ward, who has made a tour of the State, said that he found evidence of hook worm in everv mimtv Tt ? ->?? ?? ?* _ _ ? ...v^ . ? iic (Iioradt" I5> IWJl confined to any particular class or section. It is everywhere. Nearly j everybody is affected with hook worm but the disease is more pronounced in some than in others. I Persons who have chronic cases of long standing are pale and sallow, have abnormal appetites and feel a lack of energy. There are dispensaries in several counties and where the treatment has been givjer. tba people are showing signs of I marked improvement. The Herald j takes pleasure in endorsing the work ot the State board of health, i When the hook worm theory was | first advanced it was taken as a ' joke A close study of the disease, however, has put the world i to thinking, and now systematic i study of its effect upon the hui man family has induced certain perI sons to contribute funds for its | eradication. The disease is more I prevalent in the South than elsewhe-e on account of the open air ' life of the inhabitants and the lack of sanitation in communities where a dozen or more families are living near each other. The Herald hopes that every physician in the county will take an interest in this movement which promises so much for i the health and comfort of the peoIple of the county aiul induce those ! of their patients afflicted with the ! disease to visit the dispensary and take the treatment. The Herald I will have more to say about the ! hook worm in the next week or two as Dr. Ward has promised to contribute some articles dealing comprehensively with the new disease. Kemper. TVr. * m " ' * * i i^iir Mr. rjanor:?will you allow me space in your valuable paper for a few lines from Kemper. The farmers of this section are busy picking cotton and getting I ready for market. Mr. Tommie Rozier returned ; home last Sunday from Laurinburg, N. C., where he spent a few days. Misses Minnie and Hettie Haye6 spent last Sunday with Misses Belle and Vallie Horn, near Piney Grove. Mr. John Bryan was at Pages Mill last Sunday. Messds Leroy ajid Devon Ford, of Nichols, were pleasant visitors in this section last Sunday, a week ago. Mrs. W. P. Rozier, who has been very sick for several months is slowly improving. Mr. R. F. Bryan went to Nichols last Tuesday on business. Mrs. Lizzi? Sneed, of I-aurinburg, spent three weeks near here visiting. The home of Mr. Frank S. Sneed was sadly bereaved when his mother passed away on September 21, at 7 p. m. She died in her eightieth year. She was laid to rest in the Sneed cemetery at Old Hundred, N. C. She will be greatly missed by her friends. Blue Eyes. There are various kinds of fools but the one who neglects hie work ill thA i 11 f procl >-*f tho of low gets the least out of his foolishness.?Atchison Globe A scientist says ttiat people would have more sense if they did not wear hats. Yes the husbands would have more dollars. ? Charleston News and Courier. Petit Jury. List of Petit Jurors for Common Pleas Court for Dillon County, October 9, 1911. T. J. Bennett, Harleesville. W. M. Harrelson, Carmichael. D. G. Muggins, Reaves. Ed. Hill, Hills bo ro. L. A. Turbeville, Carmichael. Walker Floyd, Dillon. D. K. Ford, Hlllsboro. J. V. Bullard, Kirby. J. W. Finklea, Ijatta. D. W. Bethea, Harleesville. R. P. Hamer, Jr., Cermlchael. B. D. Clarke, Manning. Alien P-arfield, Hillsboro. W. M. Fiord, Hillsl)oro. XVigus lvester, Harleesville. W. S. Lupo, Hillsboro. G S. Rogers, Reaves. S. I. Schafer, Harleesville. J. Albert Campbell, Carmichael. | J. S. Hayes, Bethea. A. L. Wallace, Harleesville. T. S. Rlcbbourg, Manning. J. W. McKay, Carmichael. M. M. Monroe, Latta. Jno. D. Hyatt. Carmichael. J. W. King, Dillon W C Blracey, Dillon. J. J. McKenzie, Dillon. I). McLaurln, Dillon. Curtis Rogers, Hillsboro. A. W. Church, Hillsboro. H. N. Cousar, Bethea. W. Q. McKenzie, Carmichael. S. J. Curry, Harleesville. J. M. Gaddv Hillsboro. J. H. Qaddy, Hillsboro. FRENCH BATTLESHIP BLOI ! KILLING 4{ ??? . FORCE OF EXPLOSION BURSTED VESSELS' THE AIR XT A TRE SHIP'S BUGLER THROWN ONJECI CKKATKST BLOW EV Kit SlSTA ABOAKO REACHES MA(;A/J IXSASTKH OKEATEIt THAN ! Toulon, France, Sept. 25. ?Be-|j tween 350 and 4UO officers and men 1 , i were killed to-day, when the hat- ,, lhtmh|i i^iuerit* \> as lurii apart uuu totally destroyed by an explosion of . her magazines. Hie battleship Republique wasi , badly damaged and the battleships! Democratic and Verite also suffered i severely from the masses of twisted iron and armor plate that were j hurled upon tlieir decks. This is the greatest disaster that h,.s ever fallen upon the French navy and in magnitude is almost witlioot precedent in tlie annals of the world's fighting ships. The grief which prostrates the fleet and tiuiior is made more intense by the r_ emery of the recent review! here, a notable display of France's : aval greatness, in which tlie doomed ship was one of tlie finest | , figures. ij Result of Fire. The explosion which wiped out one c* France's newest and most j , powerful battleships, occurred at ( 5.53 o'clock in the morning. It was preceded by and was the result of ; , an outbreak of fire. The flames i spread rapidly and in spite of all | ( efforts to master them and reached . the magazines before there was time to flood them. The magaI zines exploded with tremendons ( | violence, sowing death and deI struction in every direction. While the naval authorities es I uuirtiv lilt? Mlltru ill UVfl OUV l*. | | is feared that the figure will bej . exceeded. It will be necessary to I go through the ship's muster rolls, a task of some days, before a full list of the victims can be prepared. A number of men have already been extricated alive from the j fantastically torn and twisted mass of wreckage, which once was the { Liberte, and the hope is strong i | that there are others within the i broken hull which cannot be reach- | ( ed. Cause Not Known. Exactly from what cause or when the fire broke out has not been established, but it is believed that it had smouldered for several hours. Of the vessel's full complement, 742, ('apt Jaures, brother of the Socialist leader, and th? second ofcer in command were both iishore on i leave,' as well as 140 oflfcere and men. The command of the ship developed on the senior lieutenant,, ] who perished. The fire was first discovered at 4 a. m and the bugles immediately sounded the alarm. The crew < rushed to quarters and fought des- I peratel*i_ the spreading flames, but 1 it soon was evident that the fire 1 had obtained a firm hold. Signals 1 of distress were flashed to the oth- ] er ships and these dispatched stean pinnacles and launches at full ' speed to assist in the work of ex- i tiuguishing the flames and rescu- 1 ing the men, but their services 1 were of little avail. Kneli For Himself. The position of the fire made it ( impossible to flood the magazines; nevertheless, efforts to do so were made, and finally the commanding t officer, realizing that the ship was ( doomed ordered the buglers to | sound the "Sauve Qui l'eut, < Let . him save himself who can) and to the men to jump for their lives. ( Then came the final terrific detonation, which shattered the windows of the entire city and was heard for a radius of many miles. The Liberie was torn asunder, her bow was thrown high in the air and then slowly settled down and in nineteen minutes nothing was visible but the top works. I Those still on deck were hurled skyward amid a shower of iron and steel. The boats of the rescurI ers were sunk and serious damage was done to the Republique, which lay at anchor close by. Two of her ! docks were stove in and one of the Liberte's armor plates was hurled | against her port side and demolished the cabin of an absent ensign. Horrible ?i>ectaele. For a few minutes after the final explosion an intense black i cloud of smoke hovered over the [ harbor. When it shifted, a horrible spectacle met the eyes of the people of Tuton, who, awakened by the j first explosions, had hurried to c shore. The twisted upper works of j the battleship were protruding from v a mass of formless wreckage, among j which struggled the seamen from = rushing bouts that had been sunk J by <Jie flying debris or sucked down , 'in the inaelstorin. ] | Late to-night the naval autbori- . [ ties declared that the number <>1 i victims is greater than at first up ( I peared. The official estimate is j | now given as between 350 and 400 } dead or missing. \ The work of rescue was quick b j begun. An ambulance station was 5 installed in the arsenal and Ad- j mlrable Marin-Darbel, maritime perfect, went out to the wreck and j superintended the work of extricat- { j ing those imprisoned under the , . shattered steel. The first body recovered was that of an officer, . | which was hauled from under an NS UP iJ^AND INJURING OTHERS SIDES AND HURLED BODIES THROUGH 1ENDOUS RATE mANOTHER SHIP STILLLIVES INKD IIY FKKM'H N'AVV. TIKI'. NKS. SHII' SINKS I.IKK A SHOT. ilNKIXO OF THK MA INK. nwnlng w'th i boat hook. Tliia evening forty bodies had been taken out and ninety-four injured have been transferred to hospitals. (Virs of tJie Dying. KUmI Hp sIliMirt t.. ...it ? I. ........ I. Lilt? plates of the Liberte, and a powerful floating crane, to lift the masses of steel were used in con-j nection with a crew of divers who' were at work exploring the interior of the hull. This afternoon the Liberie appeared as if her how bad doubled over the stern. Men burled in that part of the wreckage above the water could be heard groaning and streaming for help, which often the rescurers were tillable to give. The lower deek was nit infernal sight. One man had his foot held under a mass of steel weighing tons. After three vain efforts to lift the tnass of surgeon amputated the foot. Through a hole in the armor portions of bodies. contorted and piled together, fouId he perceived, all of thein j charred by the flames. One of the survivors, a warrant * officer, who came out of the hurri-j fane of fire with only a slight cut on the forehead, telling of the disaster to-night said: <>raphical Kecitnl. "The fire broke out in the gen-1 eral store among cans of oil, tur-j pontine, lint and other inflamahles. ! in spite of every effort the flames! reached the coal bunkers and after! that it was difficult to prevent them from gajnin g the powder | magazines.- It was 5.30 o'clock and dawn was breaking before the dan-j ger seemed to lip rpjiii7?.?i Ac?t??-I ance was then being sent to us and 1 from the port an? three other warships lying in the harbor. '"Just when the whole ship's crew seemed to have reached the boats I in safety there was a terrific ex-! plosion. The Liberte was hurled 1 over on her side and the forepart, | where the full force of the explosion was felt, lurched forward heav-j lly with an appalling crash. Cries; resounded on all sides. The greater part of the ship's boats with the rescurers and the men from the Liberte instantly sank. Told of Disaster. "How 1 escaped from this fright-! ful calamity, 1 do not know. From that moment all I was conscious of was being carried aboard the Re-' piiblique, where 1 was taken care of When I had somewhat recovered my senses they told me what ban I happened. After the explosion ! enormous fragments detached from the boats of the Liberte and other que, smashing the bridge and pieces of iron fell on the Republi-I que, smashing the bridge and plunging between the decks. The bugler of the LJberte was hurled through the air from our Ill-fated ship to the deck of the Repub-: lique, where he was picked up badly hurt. In his hands he still i held the bugle with wliicli he was sounding the alarm." An eye witness of the disaster lays: "While walking with my family this morning about 5.30 o'clock, 1 saw little flames darting out from the sides of the Liberte. Having heard a rumor that the vessel was vfire, 1 said to my wife: " ' It will be better to go home, there is sure to be an explosion.' "Hardly had 1 spoken the words, when the most appalling report 1 ?ver heard in my life almost threw us to the ground. A great sheet of flames suddenly Humiliating the entire roadsted. Phen, looking up at the sky I distinguished black specks whirling | through the air and falling back in0 the sea. It seemed only a moment, so rapidly did the ghastly icenes pass, and the Liberte had vanished, leaving in the place of he great battleship a shapeless, mass on the water." A newspaper reporter who wasj >11 the ciliary immediately after the lisaster occurred, said the smoke ibscured the entire harbor and the sun shone red through the veil i )n the way out to the wreck he met 1 sloop from the Patrie which hail teen moored close to tlie Liberte. ltoats Vanished. "The work of rescue was in ull swing," said sailors of the iloon "when ell llnnionc. ,,...,1. w. imoke arose slowly and the flames ' spread fast. Suddenly a tongue of Ire shot up, there was a deafenng roar and all kinds of debris ained down upon our heads. All he boats which surrounded the | L.iberte were engulfed in the whirl-! ?ool caused by the sinking ship. 1 rhen vanished amid the despairing :rles of the crew. We could see lothtng of the Liberie; it dis- . ipeared iji the dense smoke and he boiling waters." Petty Officer Leon, one of the lurvivors, who was taken aboard * ho Reptiblique said: "I was in my hammock, and hear- j ug shouts, got up in terror. I >aw smoke and flames all around ine, and 1 knew nothing more." Commander De Keraudren. of the (Continued on page 8 ? TKiKKS HAVINti !1AK1> TIM K Clio Authorities mi tJie Alert ? Condition of fli<- Crops. Clio, September 2U. ? Special: The blind timers "n this town and surrounding country have been playing in bad luck since a week ago. The detectives have been hot on their trail and have been exceedingly successful, as the record will show nine cases before the town authorities, which netted the snug sum of $400 In cash, while several cases go up to the Circuit v umt I\#I 11 UII. ns a fcvviu uianj u? them have been up before, they stand a good chance of working the roads, its the second offence for selling liquor in this county usually winds up this way. Very little cotton and seed are coining on the market now, as a result of the farmers" meeting on last Sunday. The weather is extremely hot, but as there is quite a lot of young cotton in this county, planted after the sand storm, the seasons now are ideal. If there is a late fall this young cotton will probably make three-fourths of a crop. The crop is not being gathered as fast as it usually is on ..account of poor labor. The report that the crop would lie normal that appeared some linu ago in the papers, certainly does not fit this vicinity, for it will fall a good deal short of a normal crop. This information is gathered from some of the best farmers in the county and is without doubt reliable. The corn crop is very good, but not up to usual conditions. LAID TO NO OXK. Mystery of Myrtle Hawkins' Death t'nsolved. A sji? rial dispatch to The State from Hendersonville says the testimony of fifty witnesses lias not solved the mystery of the death of Myrtle Hawkins, whose body was found in Osceola lake thirteen days ago, but who was not drowned. The coroner's iurv Wednesday found "from the testimony introduced that she came to her death at thi hands of some unknown person or persons in a manner and by means unknown." This differs from the verdict in the first inquest l-y making the case one of murder Immediately after the verdict was rendered it was annaunced that the Hawkins family offered a reward of $500 for the arrest and conviction of Miss Hawkins' slayers. Added to 'lie other rewurds offered or promised, this makes a total of 72,500. Dr. W. R. Kirk, coroner, said the investigation would be continued, and if any additional evidence is discovered a special grand jury will be empaneled to consider it. There remains three possibilities of new evidence. Torn fragments of paper bearing an unfamiliar handwriting were found in. Miss Hawkins' room and have been sent to Washington to he put together. On tlie shore of Osceola lake, near where the body was found, there has been discovered a piece of Manila paper, blood-stained and hearing finger prints. The finger prints may be identified as those of somebody concerned in the crime. It is expected that Mrs Bescie Clark Giuice will be arrested as she is thought to know something about Miss Hawkins' death. A warrant has been issued for Mrs .Guice in allot ner county, accusing her of having performed the same kind of criminal operation, as it is said was attempted on Miss Hawkins. One of the principle efforts of the inquest was directed toward finding who was responsible for Miss Hawkins' condition. '' estimouy that she was seen with George Bradley, a recently married nriii, mier sne aisappealew 111 i:i home was contradicted, as was the testimony concerning other suspicious circumstances. BAILEY T<? I'ltACriCK LAW. Texas Senator Will Not Beside in New Ynfc-k, as K?*iMu*te<l. Gainesville, Texas., Sept 22.?It was stated 011 good authority here j that Senator Bailey will not change! his residence to New York City, af-' ter the expiration of his term, but that he will practice law in one of the larger Texas cities. This statement was the outcome of a confer-1 ence here between the senator and several prominent Texas Democrats. TWO KILLED ON* SOl'THEKN. Engineer anil Eireman Meet Death in Collision. Atlanta, Ga. Sept. 22. ? Two en-! ginemen were killed and several! passengers slightly injured when Southern Railway passenger train. No. 11, struck a switch engine, on the Peachtree Creek bridge, on outskirts of Atlanta, to-night. The switch engine was knocked off the bridge to the Seaboard Air Line tracks. blocking traffic several hours. The dead: J. A. Farris. engineer, crushed under engine; N. M. Robinson, fireman, caught under engine and scalded. Among the injured, most of whom received only bruises, was Mrs. W. M. Felton, of Cartersville, Ga., well known in literary circles throughrxn C/x..?L ? * * i/ui iin- tiuuui. i ne vauae OT mi' wreck has not been fully ascertain-j ?d, but it is stated that the engine was trying to cross the trestle thend of the passenger train,! when the latter crashed into it ; toppling it off the bridge. Pride goeth before destruction ind a ' aughty spirit before a fall. I ?Proverbs 16:18. I WATSON TOSERVE TERM MR. NORTON NOT SLATED FOR JOB. SAYS GOVERNOR BLEASE NO CHANGEJJFFICE NOW Kvcculivi' Intimates that Present < Viciimissi?MM'r May Be lU'taiixil in Officr. Columbia, S. ('.. Sept. 22. ? Special: "There will certainly be no change in the office until the expiration of Mr. Watson's term, tutd i doubt very much it there will be I then," said Gov. lllease to-day when asked about the rumor that lias been afloat in official circles during the last few days that Mr James Norton, of Mullins, would be appointed commissioner of agriculture, commerce and industries, to succeed Col. K. J. Watson, who has held the office since March. 1 Mo 1. "1 do not even know that Mr. Norton is an applicant for the position." said Gov. lllease. "He wsis in my office a few days ago, but merely shook hands with me, and * he office was not mentioned at that time. I really know nothing whatever of the newspaper accounts which have been sent about the apiKiinttnent ot Mr. Norton to the office. Mr. Watson has been doing very good work in his present position. and 1 do not know that there will be any change at all, so far as I can tell at present, when Mr. Watson's term expires." Had Kieluirds in Mind. (Jovernor ltlease said also that lie had thought of offering this position to Mr. John CS. Richards. Jr., but that the hitter had been appointed railroad commissioner, and lie haul not done so. Mr. Norton has been in Columbia for the past few days and his presence appears to have awakened rumors which were afloat some months ago, that he would he appointed by Governor ltlease to succeed Col. Watson when the bitter's term expires in the early part of next year. Mr. Norton is a former member of Congress and was for seven years Comptroller General of South Carolina. He is at present editor of the Messenger, published {at Mullins. When asked concerning the rumors Mr. Norton said he ! thou glut it best for him not to say anything for publication at this time, and that the rumors which were in circulation did not originate from him. liidn't "IVimiise the State." Referring to a paragraph which has been going the rounds of the Northern press, and which has been copied in this State, that he had had a conference with a party i of supporters of Governor Harmon for the Presidency, while attending I the lied Men's Council in Cleveland, and that he "was ready to promise that South Carolina. wiL) !support the Ohio Governor." Gov. I Bleese said characteristically that (this was "one of the biggest lies" J he had ever seen in a newspaper, j He wished it to be stated that he I said that he had no conference I whatever with supporters of Har! mon in Cincinnati, and, of course, 'that he did not promise South Car* jolina for Harmon. "I am supporting Harmon lor the | Presidency, however," said (iovexn* | or Blease, "and will do all in my I power to carry the State for him, even if it should hurt me in my race here." RKhTSKB $10,000 CHKCK. Offered Methodist IVeaclu'i* to Tie Astor-Force Nuptial Knot. Antigo. Wis., Sept. 22. ? That a Methodist minister of a little church near Newport, It. 1., refused a check of $10,000 to perform the marriage ceremony of Col. John Jacob Astor and Miss Madeline Talniage Force, was the announcement of Hisliop \\\ Hamilton, of New York, before the Methodist conferejtce here to-day. The information was contained in a letter which the Bishop read, but refused to divulge the name of the clergyman who rejected the proposition. The minister's selfdenial was great, the Bishop said, because of the fact that he was burdened with debts. When the story leaked out. according to the Bishop's information, a wealthy layman of the Methodist Church offered the clergyman of the humble parish an equal sum to recompense him for the loss, but this tender also was refused, the clergyman saying he had done only his duty. The Minister located. Newport, R. I., Sept. 22. ? The Rev. Frederick I... Brooks, of the Methodist clrurch at Kittle Compton, is the only clergyman in this vicinity known to have been asked to perform the Astor ceremony. It ie understood here he was not offered anv snpcifif Knt ~ vfsited liim assured him money did rot enter into the ease. "Do you mean that Col. Astor would pay as much as $10,000?" the minister is said to have asked. He received an affirmative answer, but still declined to perform the ciremony, Mr. Brooks refused to discuss the statement of Bishop Hamilton to-night, l/ut he mentioned an article In the church paper which said he had been been offered a "fabulous sum." He said the article was correct, though he would not indicate Just what the sum was.