Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CAMDEN, 8. C., FRIDAY, A PHIL k. nm. THE WAR IN THE FAR EAST Fighting in a Small Way Reported In Points NO DECISIVE BATTLES, HOWEVER ? Both 5lde$ Seem to Bo Playing For Time In Whlcli to Collect All Their Forces. Tokio, By Cable. ? Tho advance guard -of tho Japanese army in North western Korea occupied the town of " Sengo Cheng , yesterday afternoon Without opposition. Scngo ?beng 18 011 tho Pejilu road, 18 miles west of Cheng-Ju ami about forty miles south of Wlju. When the Japanese drove the Rus sians out of Choiig-Ju last Monday the Russians withdrew In twoi col umns, one going over the Koak San road and the other over the Peking read. Tho Japauose advance from Cheng-Ju was made very rapidly. It was anticipated that tho Russians would resist this adva^re, but they failed to do so, and not probable thcrq, will bo any further opposition south of tho Yalu rlvor. ?* Cheng-Ju, because of its superior natural surroundings, is tho strongest places between Ping Yang " and Wlju. Besides these natural advantages there is an old Korean fort there which, had it boon defended with spirit, would have been hard to take. The Japanese are gratilied with the comparative ,easo with which they drove the Russians from this fort. Russian patrols are reportod to be In tho country east of the- . Peking road, but it is not probable that there Is any considerable force of Russians in that section. Tho patrols f are withdrawing gradually to the north ward toward Yalu. U Is reported that tho ice on the Vain Is well broken up, and in tho fu ture the river must be crossed either In junk3 or over pontoon bridges. A dispatch from Toklo to 'the Asso ciated Press* dated April 1, said In formation had been received from a private lodging the enemy at Cheng Ju had advanced to the Yong Chun (about 45 miles west of Cheng-Ju), from which place they drove the Rus sians after a brief engagement. It \a possiblo that tho many different spellings given to Korean names In gazoteers and on maps have led to confusion and that Song Cheng In tho abovo message and Yong Chun, reIene<L to In the dleftatch of April 1, should be the" same plae*. The two townB, however, ar^ quite dis tinct, bolng about 26 mile* apar^ ~"3tT Petersburg, By Cable. ? The NoyI Ttrol, of Port Arthur, thus describes Aiu- scene on hISard the .cruiser Bayan Luirlng tho rfecent bombardment- In (which she distinguished herself: \ "Bursting (shells bowled over man af '^f-iiB^'inlil decks were slippery with blood. Amidst this hell the cap tain stood unmoved in the. conning tower calmly telephoning his orders to the gun captains. His wonderful calm ness had n marvelous Influence upon all the officers, . . "The cockyit wl,s soon crowded, 39 m*n being there before the tight end ed but amidst the crash of tho guns, the hiss of flying splinters, an.(l the di rection of the working engines, the ir.rJeoOT labored over the sick as at thohospltal operating tables. Although ?ome of the men suffered Rightful aconleB there were few groans, in spite 3 fact that anaesthetics were ad ministered in only one case. "When the battle ended and the ene mv began to draw off the officers on iii^ lrldRC cheered and the cheering New Trustees. Nashville Special.? Oal. W.? C.'Ta torn end Commissioner of Agriculture Ogtlvle, <?"'??? of th0 ?"lvor"",y Tcune?*ec. BpeaUlng will, .^tcronco to the card of Joshua W. CniawcU. artvocfttc tho featuring of the mochan ,0!ll technical ?nd agricultural do ^imnnts of tho University. Both JJrorcr a Tonneasean and an alumnus fnr president. None But Union rt?n. Washington, 8peclal.--Natlonal Sec retary James Duncan, of the Granite Cutters' National Union, today effec ted a settlement with the Mt, Airy Gfanite Company, oH&t. Airy, N. C., ""tfhlch provides tlia? hereafter none -but unfon granite, cntters shall do their work and that union wages shall' he paid 'or *ho customary eight-hour ?day-aL_the trod?. Tfee settlement closes a contention which has covered * period of nine years, and more or less effected granite cutting jn the building trades la practically , every city along the coast from New "York to Philadelphia. rTB? contention aroae over the company's retyaal to recog. dIzo the union .and union condition*. T R?*14ence Eurnrd. Ottawa. Ont., Special?The new wing W nsdeau iun, the bfltotal residence of the *ovcrnor genera^yaa destroyed by Are Pun day. Some anflfety was at ftmt frtt for foe B?fety<tfLady Mipto.who ?u lying in one of the apartment* ?r crs au<) even the wounded joining in "The captain signaled for full, speed ahead after the retreating Japanese, but tho Bayan had no^/g^ne Air before the flagship signaled to return." St. Petersburg, By Cable.? Report* received by the mihlstry of the inte rior Indicate that the precautionary measure* taken to prevent antl-jewish disturbance during Kaster week, when tho ignorant are aroused easily to & sorj ?r religioua frenzy against the Jowg by the dissemination of false sto ries regarding "blood atonement" will result in the avoidanco of anions trouble'. In spite of the precautions, however, it is considered powdble there may be attempts at rioting, tyit the authorities will suppress these with a strong hand. Tho following private telegram was received today from Odessa: ^ "Reports of anti-Jewish disturbance* which always are common at Easter time, eaus?s more alarm than usual this year because of tho occurrences last year. The Jews her/! are nervous, but tho authorities have confidence in Governor Kdhardt, who is an energet ic aud humane man, as well as in Baron Kaulbars, commander-in-chief of the troops In Ru.sslu. Under tho cir cumstances, therefore, anything like a serious disturbance is regarded as im possible. "The official newspapers have pub lished strongly- worded warnings and the city Is placarded with notices that all who disturb the pcace will be se verely punished." St. Petersburg, Special.? A corres pondent at Yin Kow says the opinion prevails there that the Japanese will not boi))l$rrt' t:hat place because 99 per cent. of the population is mado up of Chinese who are not at war with the Japanese and because a shell from tho Japanese ships would be ?\jro to strike the residence of the United States con sul, who ia safeguarding the Japanese H Interests. The samo correspondant hu morously describes tho speculation among the British correspondents there as to whether the victorious Jap anese after defeating the Russian army will stop In China or go on the Irkutsk. St. Petersburg, By Oablo. ? As soon hh the Neva Is clear of ice the battle ship Souvaroff and Slava. in couvse of construction at" the Baltic Works, tho battleships Borodino an? Orel, at tho Fra n eo Russian Works, and tho cruiser Meleg and tho transport Kamt chatka, a^, tho new admiralty ^ard, will be sent to Kronstadt for comple tion. The cruisers Seemcliug and Izumrud and the battleship Slssol Vell ky and Imperator Alexander III, are already there and are being prepared for commission. Thqae ships -will form part of the fleet whleh Is destined to re-lnforee Vice Admiral ^akaroft's fleet I next summer. /* -w v Important Decision?. Two decisions have been rondorod by the United Statos Supreme Court, says the Springfield Republican,, with in a few days, both going to establish the rulo that a person traveling on a free railroad pass, or his heirs, can not recover damages In case of acci dent, where such a condition is .speci fied In the terms printed upon the pass. It makes no difference whether the user of the pans understood the conditions or not. It might be sup posed that this would tend to discour age the demand for end use of passes, but such will probably not bo the case. So strong Is the passion In most persons for getting something for nothing that almost any amount of risk would ho ventured for the Bake of riding freo. FortrtHtcnn Messengers. | New York, Special. ? Among the ( passengers who arrived on board the steamer Coamo from Porto Ilico were ~W. F. Wlllonghby, treasurer; ft. Post, auditor, and Manuel &. Domeseeh, member cf the House of Deleg&tOd, who came to counsel the Secretary of the Treasury about placing a loan for general improvements in l'orto Hlco. Maj liOm HfsOfffelal Head. Carthage Special. ? B. McDonald, for a number of years & member of the county court, Is In imminent dan ger of losing hlfj official head. A bill has been filed charging McDonald with speculating In coutoty warrtmts while a member of ^ho county court which Issued thHfn. McDonald at one time represented this county In. the legislature, and has for ^ long time been a prominent figure in the county court. By l|ls opposition to all enterprises reaulrlWE_J.IL?Bproi>rl atlon he JTa4 bson christened "the watchdog of tho lreairrry.~H? says ? thai he wilt be a hie to exonerate him-, ielf. ? " 1 ?' ' . fyy ' ? j TelUmd^f Colo., Special. ? Charles H. Moycr, president of the Wwtern Wderatlon of Minejra. wno ras be** hold In Sail here etqce Saturday en e charge of desec rating tho Hag. was re leased by County tadc* WeMlew, on furnishing a bend for f?00, hut waa {maaMSStetj reeareatw* -hjr a eqerfLet tsoldters, acting nadar . orders of M* hataat General Sherman. T be nature tM 4*** ?~~-X3Lrlv.. - SOUTH CAROLINA PHOSPHATE i 6ome Fact* Regarding the Develop L mtnt of This Industry. The fact that the phosphate Indus try In South Carolina 1b declining ho I deplorably is a question of moro than ' ordinary moment. Not a decado ago the State derived a revenue of somo ?200,000 from the tax on this com modity, and today a hare 1^5,000 Is obtained. The visible supply of rock la almost gone, the price of operation has Increased, the rock found In Klor Ida, Algeria, and Tennessee Is much easier and cheaper to mine, and so South Carolina suffers. Previous to 1893 the tax per ton was from |1.03 to IJ.05, but during that year the great, storm which swept the coast damaged so many plants and placed them in such terri ble condition that the tax was re duced to fifty cents to ai<j( financial recuperation. Competition ' operated bo unfavorably in later years that the tax was again reduced, this *1 mo to 25 cents ? that Is on the sliding scale. If tho price of the commodity was over $3 per ton f. o. b? tno tax re mained 25 cents, but If a higher price was obtained the extra profit was di vided between tho company and tho State. Somo additional revenue was derived from this for a few years, but In the last three years tho price of phosphate has been so low that It has been an Impossibility for any chance pf money coming Into the State treas ury from this source. The prize of rock per ton seldom rises above ^ ? .7f>, usually fluctuating from 25 cents to $1.75. The freights on tho phosphate vary largely ? that is from 25 cents J*} ?1.75 cents per ton, and many "fmes the profit is swallowed up lit "this alone. *? Tho board gf phosphate commis sioners have the right under the gen eral law to reduce the' royalty, but cannot raise If. without six month's notice. Recently Mr. W. 11. Hughes, of Charleston, an attorney represent ing the Central Phosphate Company, of Charleston, and one of the largost, If not tho largest. Individual plant In tho State, appeared before, tho board with a proposition to reduce tho tax from 25 conts, its presei\t status. The Central Company, which s!fc~owned by Parisian capital, has been operating at a dead loss for somo time," nnd -It was on this ground tlrnt Mr. Hughes asked the reduction. After consider ation the board, declined to make tho change. A second proposition made by Mr. Hughes was an Interesting one, and hiay help the industry materially. The Central Company asked the ex clusive right to mine 3,000 acrea oL marsh land owned by the State, anflr containing .^phosphate rock. This marsh Is covered with water at high tide, but the mining may be done on tho ebb. The board granted this privilege with the proviso that tho work must be conducted under tho supervision of State Geologist Earle Sloan. The tax paid will bo 5 cents per top for the first year, 15 cents for the second year, and 25 cents for tho third year, the g'fant being for three years. Tho Experiment has never been^ tried be fore, . and will therefore be watched with considerable Interest. ? The~mexabenL_fif the commission are: Gov. Hoy ward, 'Attorney tJcneral Gunter, Comptroller General Jones, and Messrs. D. H. Tompkins, of Nine* ty six/ and J. H. Manning, of Dillon, the las^ ttwo being elected Jay the legislature, the others being members ex-offlclo. For Methodist High School. Anderson, SpeeiaL? -A Joint meeting of the city eotfiw^lt the chamber of commerco and the Civic Improvement League "was held at tho city hall Sat urday afternoon. As a result of the meeting an effort will? be made to preserve to the city the historic old Confederate treasury building, known fts the Patrick Institute, which Is to be Hold under mortgage at public outcry tyonday. tf'the plans n<w under consideration are matured the fcrbperty will be given to the Methodists of Greenville district for the high school which they pro pose to establish. The town of Wll Uamston has been making an effort to secure the school by raising a fund to buy and donate the old Wllliamston Female College property when that col lege is moved to Greenwood. It is thought that Anderson can easily se cure the school If tho plan now being puf "into effect can.be -carried Jth rough. A committee consisting of Messrs. J. J. Fretwell. W. R. Osborne, J. A. Brock. R. S. Hill, R. I& Llgon and Dr. J. C. Harris Is at work this morning trying to ascertain if 20 or 25 men will Join in and lruy the property or take an option oil It. Then If the dis trict school can be carried through the people of the city will raise by sub scription enough to buy tho property from this committee an4 turn it over to the Methodists or Greenville district for their school. Blockade Still Cut Up. Pickens, Special.? Saturday Chief Corfstable' CTTT^ureton, accompanied by Constables P. fP. McDanlel and EX P. MeCkavy, captured a 50-gallon still up on the TCustatoe.. On thie little river likely there, are mote attempts made to manufacture moonshine than in any other locality In the Stat*. It is be cause of tho precipitous banks along tli a fit, ream that flows through the mbrtntaThfl. and it offers secure hiding places to the distiller. The still was captured near the home of Irwin Dadgeon, and judging by the rapid flight Mr. Dodgeon made into North Carolina on the approach of the offl cera^lt la. Quite probable the be longed to that gentleman^ A few gal lon# of wfewtey- were -captured and about 600 gallons of beer destroyed. :r~ Ntw? of the Diy. The House passed the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill. The House Committee on Insular Affairs anthorised a favorable rei&rt on Hie bill intended to encourage lm proYements In. the Philippine*. Mm Perry BeUaont states that Pero ocnta generally seta to be waiting garowg FdlMtttUi t*sslw(fi' M ... . The Sabtaet devoted considerable *** p*a*T >vvf* . EXPRESS ' HELD IP Daring Deed Committed By Raad of Train Robbers THEY SHOOT THE MESSENGER DEAD The ttaiidlts 'I lieu Rubbed the Cur ol Tli? Express Company and H?<?pid In the Oarkue&s. Hacrauiento, Cftl? Spot-labf-Three masked men bold up tbu Oregon ex press, Southbound, on tho Southern Pacific Hallway at Copley, noar Ken wick, killed W. J. O'Neill, tlie express wesson gor^nd carried off the con tents of the express box. The train is known as No. 15, nnd stopped at Copley, a small station, for water. As the train came to a standstill, three men Jumped on and cut (hn train in two, taking the englno and express car down the track a short distance. They stopped tho engine and deliberately killed O'Neill by shooting him through tho. head. The rdlts then robbed the express car Its. contents, but It is not known how much thoy obtained. After robbing- the car the men cut It loose, and getting on the engine compelled IJngineeryJoeslnk to^ go ahead. When nun,* Keswick the men jumped off Uio engine and dis (U)peared with their plunder. They have not been captured. Six People Killed. Scranton, Pa., Special. ? Six persona are known to have been killed, and five fatally injured, by an oxploslon in the factory of the Dixon Squib Company, at Prlceburg, near hero, Thursday. The dead are: Lizzie Hr?y, Lillian Mahan, Prlceburg; lireckie Lewis, North Scranton; Lizzie Matthews, Olyphant; George Callahan, Teresa Callahan, Prlcojjurg. ~ "Those fatally injured .are: Mamie Gilallon, Martha Haybrown, Cassie Fouitz, Mettle Hevfon, Osrrar' Ayser. Twenty girls ate employed in tho factory. What caused the explosion Is not known, but It is said that ono of the girls threw a squib Into a stove, and that the force of tho ex plosion was so great that. It wrecked tho building and set It on fire. The squibs are used in coal mining. Tho Dickson Squib Company occu pied only. the first floor of the struc' ture, tho GallabanV family having rooms on the second floor. It was here that the two Callahan children lost tlicir lives. Thomas Callahan, the father, was at work, and Mrs, Callahan had just left the room when the explosion occurred, The 6hil? dren, aged ,y>roc years apd six months, respectively, wero playing on the floor. Both wero Instantly killed, The building caught flro, and the flames coxnunicated to the two ad joining buildings, one occupied as a JioteT, and "lUd uihor uh a ? butcher shop. Doth wore destroyed. All of the bodies have been taken from the debris. The bodies of the dead emp)i>yes were so badly bunk ed that it was with great difficulty that they could be Vecognlzed. Qeorgla Peon^Knm, Macon, Ga? $pedal. ? A Savannah gjrtcial to The Telegraph says: ' ''Doubting the coriectness of news dis latches from New Orleans to the effect that the United States Circuit Court of Appeals bad sustained tha de cision of tho lower court In the case of S. M. Clyatt. of Irwin county, Charged with peonage, appealed from the northern district of Florida, Judge Emory Speer, of thfc United Statos Court for the southern dlstrh^of Geor gia, wired Judge Shelby, who presided and received an answer, stating that the bench could not agree and that the case had been referred to the United States Supreme Court. The news re ceived by Judge Speer puts a dlffernt phaa upon the question. It remains for the status of the various peonage cases that are pending, in several States in the Bouth thero Is deep Interest in the outcome of the appeal." Quarantine Declared. Austin, Texas, Special. ? Governor Lnnhan issued a proclamation declar ing quarantine In effect on the Gulf coast and along the Rio Grande bor der, effective April 1. This proclama tion resulted from & conference of health officers of the cltlea and coun ties of that territory held here today. It wag stated there had been cases of yellow fever ?t Teredo and Monterey during the winter, one of* them being found in March. Dr. Longanet, of La redo, stated that the patient discovered during March was now convalescent, j Dr. Richardson, representing the Ma rine Hospital Service, stated that the national government wlH at once place physicians at Mexico point* to Issue certificates. Store Burned. Newark* N. J., Special,? 'The Droad street store of the Georke Company waa gutted by fire, entailing a loss of tm 000. The store, which Ik aix stories In Jhelght, has a frontage of 60 feet on Broad street* with a large ell 300 feet wide on Market street front, and was prevented from spreading by the shut ters. The 14-story building of the Pru dential .Life Insurance Company stands wJthtiwlGO teet.of the TJeortce store, and the fire corps of' the building poured vol v Asa of water on the flames from ?bore Win coat?Bt,~fl Little Rock, Ark.. 8per*?l - Returns have been received from 71 out of 75. counties, end then* atmw that Governor Jefferson Davis I* entitled to 802 dele | gates la the State convention. The number neceesaryt? notnlMfe 1? 222. Judge Wood baa conceded' that on the Iwtli apeal to the State convention and feontest the vou m mil mi l? % worn tar M wntftn \ pw ^ W wmm ? yi J RAILWAY LOSfS Bid SUIT A Cn*e Where a l.ady Wa? Insulted on I lie Train, Greenville, Spceial. ? The coukI of < ominon plra.s has bef'ii < tiK'?Kdn for three djrfii hi hearing a most enraor* tiliiurWcnKw, in which the Southern rail way (s u>jkcd to pay fr?G,OiK? damage* to Mia. Husau \j, Franklin of N?wborr> for an alleged insult to her by a pus eer.ger while on a train between (treen viilo and Atlanta aboi\t a year ago The Jury brought Jn a t for $'J5,. 0<K> in the plaint Iff* 8 favor. Mm. Franklin la a comely woman, minimally ?eir- possessed on the witness hW.nd, with read Incus and Intelligence in giving testimony that in surprising anil uncommon, and apprucatlng the tearing of evidence upon the ease in hand. Her testimony revealed the fact that she wa? married when only 10 years old, and has been the mother of three children, one of whom la dead. Her h usbatyl is a policeman in New. b< rry and her occupation i a dress mak ing. Mrs. Franklin gave a connected account of the trip from Newberry to Atlanta, stating that on reachlne Grcenviilo sho and her little child went aboard the afternoon train for Atlanta, fled ihnt there were only two other passengers inthe car, both of whom vtie men. Soon after thg train left here one of these mr*n engaged her in conversation, taking a seat by her nido, making indecent proposals, putting hiH ami around her waist and using famil iarities agaiiiHt her protest, though she endured the upleasant treatment for a quarter of an hour or more. The men were drinking and behaving un seemly but only one of them, made ap proaches to her. On the cross examination Mrs. Franklin said that tho conductor wa? in the car the irjfjst of the time when tho man was am^Uifc ajjd Insulting her and marle no efTort to stop his un ruly UiimyJor until she appealed t,o Mm for protection, whcrTThiq condtM" tor told the man he must desist or he would put bini off the train. Tho man claimed that he wan a detective, but the conductor said he must behave Of < Itse he could not rltlo any further on Mo train, which put a (juietua to tho men except that they continued to drink and use indecent, language, but tho conductor had renvtfved her to tho centre of tho ear, where he had been seated for some time. On arriving at Atlanta she was tak+n ill and Oho eamte wna due toHb^-frfght occasion en, b\Kthe conduct of this unknown man, result ing in serious conaequenccs owing to her delicate condition at the time. Conductor Itosphorough, who was In charge of the train when alleged indig nities were heaped upon Mrs. Frank* l.u, stated that be had observed the mau on the seat with Mrs, Fraftklin and holding her little daughter on bis knee, and ha. wai not awar? that woman being annoyed by Ilia "euco as she made no complaint nggtim him, and seemingly the?J*w? engaged in an ordinary conversation. Mr. R oae borough assumed that they wete at least acquaintances and It waB not his duty to interfere; but he denied that he was in the car for any legth of time and did not observe that Mrs. Franklin was at all annoyed ttnjH he went through the train again, when as he entered the cogch he saw that she was ?n the act of leaving the seat. Immedi ately he approached and a?keu {f she desired to change her seat, when her reply waa that the man had been an noyance to her, which caused her to make the change; Tho conductor es corted Mrs. Franklin to the rear of the car and then went back for the child, who was taken to her mother. He told the man not to repeat his conduct and if he spoke to Mrs. Franklin again he would be put off the train and IMt "in the ditch." The man asserted that ha had not done anything wrong, but wp# willing tQ make, an apology. It Mrs. Frap.ldln ^vaa offended and Chen went lnt6 another coach. Mr. Roseborough assisted the mother and child off the train on teaching Atlanta and the In cident on the train was not mentioned again. The testimony of other witnesses had Httle bearing upon the facts relating to the alleged Insults, and much time was occupied in efforts to exclude im proper evidence from tho cas$? Con ductor Roseborough was supported In the main by the flagman, who saw and heard a portion of what took place. The conductor is known as one of the most ciaTdful officials In the service of the Southern and he has been on' the **Air Line" for upwards of 20 years. The argument in the case began on Thursday afternoon. J Slat* Items. * Ben. Williams, a w^ll-to-do Colored iran of Anderson coitttfy, 64 years of ape, died Tuesday unde? distressing circumstances. Ills daughter, aged 24, had. (lied of consupmptlon. On the way to the funeral the father dropped dead of heart disease He was* a good old ?'slavery time" negro. The sheriff of Pasquotank county carried to the penitentiary Wednes day M. F. Stanclll. a young white m*n who Is to serte eighteen months for betrayal under promise of marriage. Rherlflf Roark, of Brunswick, took a, negro to serve five yfcara ^for man slaughter, and Sheriff Locust of Beau fort, a ?*gro to serve twenty years for murder. T:'*?, " Pope B. Havlrd, the young wplte man who was shot by John Yar borough, White, n wwfc ago, Jn Saluda county. Is In n r.erlous gotydttlon. Tlic right arm of die wounded mqn, which received a largeportion of th e shot, was amputated oa 8undsj by Dr. O. B. Mayer, of Newberry. Yarbo rough who had been released from custody -OXLjf&bond, when Jlavlrd'a wounds were not considered ssrTfltt*; lias iit^s lodged la jail agate, toarwaUtWia mtitk* wt?, " riPST CROP BULLETIN Condition* of 1 114 Weather at Open ing of SeaAoit, The week ending 8 a. in., April iibj had nearly normal temperature, hav i iik been cooler than usual during the lit si nnd warmer than uaua.1 during the Kiprjnd half. There werf: jtJvJ'l frosts over the eastern portions on March i#tb. Meriting In severity to killing, wiiit thin i?:o, in tho western parts, but Aside from causing some corn Hint was up t?? yellow alighily, no Injury result ed. The w??ak cloned with abnormally eold weather prevailing, and frost threatening tho Interior sections. There wax practical ly no precipita tion during Hie week, un Mutch 2Cth 2?t h lite rainfall wan general over tho State, and was excessive In places greatly delaying farm work. Unbroken landH aro becoming hard in the north ern counties, but generally the soil lb In flue condition for tillage. The preparation of lindw la reported to be somewhat backward In a few vyVfilfcrti counties, but Is generally, nor ^miTfy advanced, and made rapid prog ress during tho, last week, especially the preparation of lands for cotton and the placing of fertilizers in the ground. From one-half in three-quarters of the proposed acreage, to bo planted to be planted to corn bus already been planted In tho eastern sections, the per centage .decreasing toward the north western counties where this work haa only been begun. Corn planted early In March Is. with few exceptions, up to fair stands, and some has received lis (I rut cultivation. A little short staple, .and conshler nble Ken 4?land e?>ttun lias been plann ed, but u?1h work cannot be wsld lo i'>e generally underway, although soil 'and weather permitting, will make rapid progress during the coining week, In all parte of the State. Itiee planting has progressed favor ably in the Georgetown district nnd wart Impeded by heavy rains and' a freshet In the rivers, In the Colleton dlatrlct, where, previous to March 2rtth, a con siderable area had already been sown. tn^^^-<?^-iimaliJp_Lhe betlH, but look he.iUhy and vigorous;" nofflr have as yet been transplanted. Wheat nnd oats continue small, but have improved, except thnt oats have thin Ktands In places. Spring sown outs look well. Peach trees have alx>ut flushed blooming In tbn eastern 'sections, and are now* in full blobm In the wester cr counties. Apple trees nitviat/i In bloom ing. The piojiVectn foi%all kind* of Trul t arc excellent. Cabbage, bceta, 'peas nnd strawberries j^re being ship ped from the coast truck farms. Pas turago is scant and does not afford grazing firtho western counties. There Is widespread complaint of n scarcity of farm laborers. Care of tifc Bnr. Nothing 4s prettier Jhan a well tslmped par correctly placed upon the head, ft 1b an important feature, and Im worthy of more care than it or dinarily receive*. In regard to the OTH-aiitJ thalreatf^-Dr.- Grace Peck-, ham Murray has some excellenTlur-j gestionis in the April ' Delineator, among which are the following: Mothers and nurse are responsible in a great measure for th* i shaping of cbildren> core. ltJtKo ears are found to be .prominent fney should bo pro vlded with llttlo caJy&rWhlch if tied un tler tne cJjln will firmly and with even ap4~sot too severe pressure hold the ejhrH c^osc to the head. If this Is uu an oneratlpn. which is not (lan&prQU*, Is advised, For grown per sons, the e? v cap, a device for binding the earfc to the head Is beneficial; but an.-operation is sometimes necessary to improve the appearance. Tho ears tihnuld be kepjt clean. They should not Ate handled roiighly. Sharp instruments TriT Hea^'ne thr? esrs are not advisable, noa the little sponges which are affixed to an ivory handle. Tne best thing to use Is a little g^yab made by wrapping the end of a toothpick with cotton. A huir pin is not bad when covered with cloth. in regard to deafness, if one H^s a suspicion of it an examination should be mads; If the hearing is really l>ad much will be gained by the use of one of the Instruments that havo been invented t.i aid hearing. Four Drowned Chicago,. Special.? Four men were drowned in Lake Calumet by the cap sizing of their boats While" hunting ducks. Tho dead: Tunis Sllngerland, Abraham Sllngerland, Peter Plersna and John Brandt. The men were In two row boats, two men being In each boat. A very high wind was blowing over the lake today, and the water was very r*?ugh. The men were seen from the shore to rise in their boats and fire at tx floctyof ducks that passed over them. Just as they flred their boats went over and all four men wece thrown into the water. Lo?? toiWiypwutivci. London,' ^uy Cable.?Chartto^W. Mc Ara, president of the Federalist* of Maetdr CottCn Spinners' Associl has issned an exhaustive statement on the situation of the cotton trade, it shows that the Igss to th* wage-earn; ere resulting trpmS^he necessity tor uhftrt time amounts trf^550,000 a week, or 16,^75.000 since the short time was started. This amount', la borne by BOO, 000 people. The total loss to the employers Is $200,000 weakly, making tba toa* to Lancashire $760,000 weekly, ? - ? ' Buy* Af?*4hcjr Factory. Bristol, Va.. Special.? The Reynolds Tobacco Company, of this plaea, one o 4 thp oldest Independent companies In mm ie SouIb , TSBB-t?cii bouxhf ? Hy ? t*? American ^Tobacco Company and wltl ? * ? ' ?? ? rt;"#Bah ii'Umt. IS SWEPT BY FIRE The Cfcy of Tampa, Florida, In the Grasp of the Flames 15 BUSINESS BLOCKS ARE BURNED l. ob# Will Exceed faoo.ooo^flariy Families of Cigar Mok?r? Are Kow Homeless. ?0!m- * . ' * Tampa, Spfeclal- ? Ah near as can bo ascertained the lire which swept Tam pa Monday afternoon, but which at 6 o'clock was practically uodw cODtre'? a losa which will oxccc/t the $300, <io0 mark. . The only death loas^o far as known Is that of one Cuban baby, which waa burned In one of the cigar factories. > A panic was created In tlia 40 fo?? torloa loeetod In the towii when the iiio began to spread. Hundreds of men, women and children fled from the factories, but none were killed, or as far as known, Injured, The factories of Santa Ella k Com pany and Hani Caro & Company, both of Chicago; J. M. Martinet - and I*. Sanchez. of Tampa, were the heaviest losers. The Santa Ella Company lost $125, 000 worth of tobacco, besides a large number of tine cigars, Flfteon blocks of business houses - and nearly 200 tenements were de Htroyed. ^ . / West Tampa has only a HinWl plant, and as a consequence, the wa ter 8"PP>y gave out. Tho Tampa fire department responded to the eali fft r help and rendered all posHlble assist ance. Hundreds of families of cigar mak ers are hoifteloss. l ire at Spartanburg. Spartanburg, Special.? SVn dA? ntght Bhnrt4y~af4?r .ai-uilclQck fire waa dlscovered-ln the flyo-room cottage of Mr. W. L. BryBon on Evlns street, In the rear of Wofford College. ' The dte partment was prompt to respond but tho flames had gained considerable headway and the cottage of Mr. Leake on the same street, and the dwelling of Mr. James H. Carlisle, Jr., each, located on either side o$ the Bryisoii cottage on the street, caught .fire and all three houses wpre destroyed. By hard, faithful wj^k the residence of Rev-.- W. ..A Kogfors nearby *'as sav ed from destructipn, as wero several ~ dormitorios ofWoftord College, ..these cottagea being eitujted on Cleveland street Just below the thoroughfare on which the Are occurred, a quantity of household ejects were eared from each of the outage* above mentioned. -There waa Inknranco on each of the oottiifi in.. VMti., ?f tffr firn In unknown. Fatal Shooting Affray* McMlnnvlllc Special? In an alter cation which occurred about ten miles from here last week, Alex Earla wan shot and mortally wounded fey Harris Itswby, dyiire within .* very abort time. A warrant has been sw;orn oat against tfewby, ai*d Sheriff has gone to the aeon* were neighbors, but. for several have been at loggerhaeds over the location of a division line. ~ Llbsl Suit. ' ? ^ | Chicago, Special.? Judge T. ?. Fisher, ex-cbancellor of this division, has Instituted a $20,000 libel ?uU agalnst T. P. Bridges, cashier of tb# Smith County Bank. The ?u1t !? bused upon a letter alleged to have been written to the cashier of Mcditnariil ' bank replying to the cashier of Mc Mlnnville bank replying to a tetter of inquiry as to the plaintiffs jwlreney. A ttooi Balance in Treasury* Naahvllle, Special.?* 'The first Quarter of 'lOPf ?;l.ose<l with n rocor<J-br**lii?g balanco iu-the 8 t&Q 1^8sU^?jl&e ? amoutn bring $1, 273.C10.lt. The*?** lectlonn for March aggregated f682, *14. a* and the dlahuja^^e Jt227.- .. 011.44/ The quarterly report of the Secretary of State's offlce shows ool lections of tll,t?2.10, * falUng off of 1120 compared with 1903. Officers fclectodL Houston, Texas, Special.? At the an* r.usl meeting or ilic dtrectora of the.: . Houston A Texas Central Railway Monday, Iftg fullimhtg oftioera wete_2 _ ?**" ? ?tjyfss**; si*"*' . i'r^mggi, tf. ?*? korett, of Vorl< : vte* president, Thorawel! of secretary W. B.-t^leld. The re^JeelRT I^ovett, who is the general tte Ktiftitjin lines, is ,t*Kmv$? caw ~._ qutrfng the CentraHsoff ?1. N.w York. -lira air.