The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, June 29, 1899, Image 1
v
VOL XXII-
BARNWELL, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, )UNE ag, i88q.
NO. 4).
DRAINING OF SWAMP LANDS.
THE STATE FARMS.
The Crept Make a Good Appearance
and the Farms are Well Managed.
The Golumbla correspondent of the
News and Courier writes as follows :
The State of South Carolina has an
immense farm in Kershaw and Sumter
counties. Altogether the Reed and
DeSaussure farms, before they became
known as State farms, contained 1,700
and 2,500 acres respectively. They are
almost ideal farms, rich in soil, open
in area and level «or this section of the
State. Years ago when the State had
a congestion of convicts in the Peni
tentiary, and when the General As
sembly protested against the continu
ance of the use of convicts on railroad
and phosphate contracts, the prison
authorities had to east about to find a
place where the convicts could be used
to advantage. It was in this way that
the State came to buy these flarms.
It was to find out by actual observa
tion how the farms ,.were operated,
what work had been done, and what,
if anything, Was in the various reports
that had come to their attention that
the special Legislative committee,
charged with Investigating the affairs
of the Penitentiary, visited the State
farms. One might suppose coming to
the State farms was something of an
excursion, or Intended to be. To get
up in the morning in time to catch a
6.45 train may be fun for some folks ; it
may be delightful for some to spend
three hours at Kingsville to catch a
train going by the State farm ; it may
be the acme of pleasure to ride from
the station to the farm in open wagons
in the broiling hot sun. and it may be
pleasurable to have no idea as to when
and how a stranger can get away from
here, but snch are the conditions
which thoee wbo came here today en
countered.
It was, however, largely a mattei of
observation. The committee had its
eyev, open, and took In the situation
as it went along the road. Of course
there was no time to go Over the 700
acres of cotton, or the thousand acres
of corn, or the 350 acres of oats or 50 of
wheat, but the members could look to
the right or left, sod see for acres on
all sides flourishing crops, for it is
certain that whatever the records may
show of the past there is a magnificent
farm here, that has been Improved
up to a high degree of perfection, and
which is now uader a high state of
cultivation.
known as the DeSaussure, which is
under Mr. W. K. Gardner, and the
other as the Reed farm, under Mr.
Jesse R. Morris. It Is not a question
for the committee or for this corres
pondent to figure on the money-making
capacity of such an extensive (arm, but
if these farms do not make money they
ought to. The two farms together
are what might be called a 64 horse
(arm, and there are 135 convicts here
who do the work.
This force is supplemented with free
labor, whenever it does not oonfilct
with the local farm Interests. They
«ay over here that it Is questionable
whether convict labor Is cheaper than
free labor. Foreman Magtll says a con •
lagt
vlct can be well fed for 10 or 15 cents a
day, and that seems to he cheap enough,
but they say the cost comes in the
clothing and the guard hire. The con-
Xeotlon is that a free laborer on an
average makes only a living, and with
convicts the additional labor obtained
hardly makes up for the cost of the
guards.
It will be interesting to watch the
developments of Capt. Griffith’s ac
counts for he Is going to keep an exact
debt and credit account. The direc
tors say that last year’s farm operations
were not profitable, as it was a bad
year, but the year before the farms
were quite pi ofitable.
There are seventy odd convicts work
ing on the DeSaussure farm, and the
(■embers of the committee went out to
see them get their dinner. It was a
simple meal, but about as good as the
men were accustomed to, If not better.
These men have to be well fed to keep
up ueder this heat and do the expected
work.
The staff correspondent of The State,
who went with the investigating com
mittee, writes as follows in regard to
ibe impression made by an inspection
at the State farms:
The drive around the farms showed
us how great a plantation the State
of South Carolina is managing. The
gdnqral formation of the two farms is
level, *nd the soil is sandy. However,
as you near the bottoms of the Wa-
teree there Is an occasional ridge of
red clay. Along, the river backs the
hoII is alluvial. A part of this is com
posed of clay mixed with sand and
mica. On such lands most magnificent
crops are raised without much ^rouble.
."But s great part of the bottotn. s la Q (l
Is of a clay which is of a most obs
pte nature. In wet weather it is very
moist, and in dry weather the soil has
the consistency of mortar and the
loughness of brick.
This is a wonderful sight—the bot
toms of the Wateree. The State farm
is here nearly a mile wide and about
two and a half miles long. It is all
one vast, level clearing. There are no
Intervening hillocks or patches of tim
ber growth, but all of this land is under
cultivation.
The ingenuity of man has overcome,
.4o some, degree at least, the flood of
the river, and great dikes or dams
protect the crops. These dikes com
pletely surround the bottom lands,
which are oval <n shape, and the dikes
were built at much labor and expense.
The lands which they encircle are
low and naturally moist and crops
planted in the early spring, are, as a
rule, unable to overcome the dampness
which comes up from the river, but
when corn or cotton is planted in May
the yield is wonderfuL
The two farms comprise about 4,000
awes. About 2,500 acres of this is
river bottom land under cultivation.
The DeSaussure farm contains 1,700
acres and the Reed farm 2,600 acres.
\a to whether the management of these
f urms is profitable is for the legislative
investigating committee to say ; as to
whether it is expedient to employ con
vict labor in this way is for the future
to decide.
The present crop year has oppoeed
many obstacles in the waf of feed re-
urae. The yery heavy freshets of the
spring broke the dikes, and the bot
tom lands were flooded until about the
middle of April. . These dikes average
about seven feet in height and 15 feet
in thickness. It was with much labor
that the breaks were repaired.
When the soil was dry enough for
plowing, the alluvial clay brojee up into
sh resistance to
to the growth of grain and cotton, but
clods which offered muc
ff 1 ' ‘
on the higher, sandy ridges the pros
pects are fine. The drought which has
affected Columbia did not extend to
the State farm, for some of the bottom
lands there give evidence of heavy
rains recently, and the crops are
drowned in many spots.
• The ne* managers will as soon as
the crops are laid by ” begin to
strengthen the dikes against the fresh
ets next spring, and hope to have no
exasperating overflows delaying the
planting and the growth of the crops
next year. Despite all disadvantages,
for the new managers did not take
charge until March 15th, and no plant
ing had then been done, they expect a
rich harvest this fall.
AlongThe banks of the river on the
dikes which Intersect the farm along
the water courses will be found sprouts
of apple trees, planted about 30 feet
apkrt. These sprouts are thrifty and
may in a few years be a source of rev
enue to the State.
Twice a year the accumulation of
weeds and driftwood is removed from
the dikes. At such times a number of
rattlesnakes are killed. Across the
river from the farms is a stretch of
swamp and virgin forest. The swamps
abound in game—wild turkey, gray
fox, wild cat, and a few deer. Up the
river a few miles are great game pre
serve* controlled by Northern winter
visitors through the agency of Mr.
Allen Boykin, who entertains with
lavish hospitality, as do all of the good
people of this section of plantations
and game preserves.
While the crops on the State farm
are looking well Indeed, for the com
mon wealth is able to afford the labor
necessary to make grain and cotton
thrive, still the adjoining uplands
show a hardy growth of cotton and
corn, more especially the former.
Such farmers as the Sanders* the Boy
kins and others, sons of a long line of
planters, are by their industry and
pluck making their estates as profit
able, or nearly so, as the great stretch
of farm lands owned by the Slate of
South Carolina.
Mr. Morris, manager of the Heed
farm, is a native and former successful
Their* -are really-two farms;' otnr (•rmer of MmrftWro. Mr. Gardner has
for many years made splendid crops in
Kershaw, near the place of his present
employmert. Between the two (arms
there Is generous rivalry from manager
to " line hand,’' and from this good ef
fects may be expected.
The DeSaussure farm works about 60
convicts and the Reed estates about 50.
Apart from the homes of the managers,
the stockades and the saw mill, there
are no buildings on the farm except a
few weather shads on that vast expanse
of miles and miles of bottom land.
Lime and other disinfectants and puri
fying agencies are used freely. The
stockades glisten with freshly applied
whitewash.
The mammoth threshing machine
was one of the most interesting sights
on the farm. The small grain crop has
been encouraging. This thresher is
said to be the largest in the State, and
has a machine which measures the
numbers of bushels of grain produced.
This will or ought to, eliminate those
troublesome estimates. The farm also
has Its own saw mill and gins. There
are herds of swine and flxks of sheep,
and herds of cattle.
These magnificent plantations—a
composite photograph—are almost in
spiring in their extent, In their devel
opment, In their fertility. Here are
broad acres of stubble land and the
sheaves of grain leaning their heads
confldinlgy ; there the stalwart corn
stretches over the bottoms, wearying
the eye to watch the erratic course of
its roughly defined boundaries; and
there the crop that perplexes the
smallest farmer, that worries the great
est manipulator of stocks and ex
changes—cotton. Cotton, cotton, cot
ton ! Seven' hundred acres of cotton.
Green and tender, well fruited, and
tempting the boll worm and the scald,
as the fleecy staple tempts the robber
barons of Wall street.
A visit to the State farms forces one
thought, prominent above all the rest.
Will the day ever come when the rich
bottom lands of South Carolina will be
saved from the floods of the rivers as
the State farms have been reclaimed
by the dike and dam from the Wateree?
Bald-Headed Soldiers.—" When
the Tenth regiment comes home from
the Philippines the people of western
Pennsylvania must be prepared to wel
come an aggregation of bald-headed
heroes.” e *
These were the wdrds of Corporal
John J. McKnight, wno arrived in
Pittsburg the other morning after a
y-day trip from Manila, where he
secubafl a discharged from Colonel
Hawkins’ regiment while on the firing
line. 'The soldier is going to his home
at Greensburg^and while taking off
his hat to some old friends who greeted
him at the Rush house made the above
remark about the bald-headed heroes.
His own hair was disappearing, and he
hastened to assure his visitors that he
was not alone in his affliction.
ge* r . . . w
cupled by our troops between Manilaij^'g^
and Maloloe is intense enough to liter
ally singe your hair. Of course, we
kept our hats on. Death by sunstroke
was the fate of those who went bare
headed, and we suffered continually
during the day. Much complaint was
made against our heavy campaign
hats, but. we received no reissue and
made the best of it. I am not exagger
ating the conditions when I say that
more than 60 per cent, of the American
soldiers in the Philippines are destiued
to become bald. When the boys come
back you will thlak that they have,
been recruited from the front rows of
the theater” -Pittsburg Chronicle-
Telegraph. '
—Electricity has supplanted steam
on the railroad from Milan to Monsa,
the oldest railroad la Italv, opened for
traffic in 1840. Storage batteries are
used, the electricity being obtained
from the turbines on the Adda at Pad-
srno.
▲ TALLER DOG 18 VALUABLE.
TAXED AS PERSONAL PROPERTY
The Supreme Court Holds that
Owners of Doge Are Entitled to
Have Them Protected from Thieves.
The State supreme court in the case
of The State vs. George Laugford has
In the last few days rendered a deci
sion that is of most general interest
and is certainly unique of character.
The position of the lower court is re
versed in the case, and the court de
termines that a dog Is a subject of lar-
AAnu T liQtirtxx T wo R JOQCB* •• Atari a K1 a
oeny. Justice Ira B. Jones’ readable
opinion on the subject is as follows?'*"
In this case the State appeals from
an order quashing an indictment con
taining two counts, one charging burg
lary of a dog house within 200 yards of
and appurtenant to the dwelling of
Mary Nichols, with Intent to sieal,
etc., the goods and chattels of Mary
Nichols in the said dog house, the
count charging larceny of a dog of the
value of 110, of the proper goods and
chattels of Mary Nichols then and
there being found in the said dog
house. Id sustaining the demurrer to
the indictment the circuit oourt held,
first, ibat larceny cannot be committed
of a dog; second, that the intent to
•teal goods and chattels, charged in
the first count, necessarily Implies the
stealing of a dog, because from a dog
bouse, and that the offense of burglary
is therefore not charged; third, that
It is not compound larceny to steal
from a dog house, as alleged in the
second count. ^
The first and principal question pre J
seated is whether a dog is the subject
of larceny.
By the old common law larceny
could not be committed of a dog. The
reasons assigned for this were - the
baseness of the nature of such a crea
ture ; that it was kept for mere whim
and pleasure; that, being unfit for
food, it was of no. intrinsic value; that
the penalty for the felony of larceny
was too severe to apply for the steal
log of so contemptible a creature. By
the statute of 10, George III., chapter
.18, (George III. was fond of stag bunt
ing) toe taking and carrying away of
a dog was made punishable, but not ps
larceny. Under the reasoning satis
factory at that day It was larceny to
•teal a tame hawk but not larceny to
steal a tame dog, although it was lar
ceny to steal the bide of a dead dog.
Yet by the common law dogs were held
to be such property as would sustain
■ ao action of power fortfaBtr recovery.
Civil remedies were permitted for in
jury to or lags •of dogs, and they would
goto the executors and administrators
a* property. The- reasna-for the out
lawry of dogs.jo favor of thieves can
hardly be regarded as persuasive at
this day and here, and such crude ap
plication of the principles of the com
mon law must yield to common sense.
The fitness of an animal for food is
not the fullestol its value to mankind ;
Its capacity for useful service in other
ways Is often the real test of value
Nor Is the fact that an animal is kept
for the whim and pleasure of its owner
any sort of reason for excluding it from
the law of larceny as a thing of no
value, for amusement has its valuable
uses for men. Neither la it just to say
of the dog that its nature Is so base as
to render it unworthy of protection as
absolute property, for as Baron Cuvier
•ays the dog Is the “ completes!, the
most singular and the most useful con
quest ever made by man.”
When we are told that the Greeks
and Romans employed dogs in war,
armed with spiked collars, and that
Corinth was saved by war dogs, which
attacked and checked the enemy until
the sleeping garrslon were aroused, we
better understand Shakespeare’s An
tony when he said, “ Cry havoc and
let slip the dogs of war. We should
not let contempt for sheep-killing dogR
and our dread of hvdrophobla do in
justice to the noble Newfoundland that
braves the water and rescues the
drowning child; to the Esquimaux
dog, the burden bearer of the Arctic
regions; to the sheep dog that guards
the shepherds’ flocks ana makes sheep
raising possible in some countries ; to
the St. Bernard dog trained to rescue
travelers lost or burled to the snows of
the Alps; to the swift' and docile
greyhound; to the package-carrying
spaniel; to the sagacious setters and
pointers, through whose eager aid
tables are supplied with the game of
the season; to the fleet fox hound,
*hose music when opening on the
fleeing fox is sweet to many ears ; to
the faithful watch dog, whose honest
bark, as Byron says, “bays deep-
mouthed welcome as we draw near
home;” to the rat-exterminating
terrier ; to the wakeful fioe,-which the
burglar dreads more than he does the
sleeping master; to even the pug,
whose ugliness inspires the adoration
of the mistress; to the brag ’possum
dog and ebon dog, for which the owner
will fight if imposed upon; and lastly
to the pet dog and playmat^of the
American boy, to say nothing of the
“ yaller dog ” that defies legislatures.
Of all animals the dog is most do
mestic. Its Intelligence, docility and
devotion make it the servant, the com-
S anion and the faithful friend of man.
he raising and training of dogs is
now pursued by many as a business;
large sums of money are invested in
them, and they are bought and sold as
other proparty. In this State, by
statute, dogs are and have long* been
77v n v —iJ . : , , . v uuk» uuu u»ye mug ueen
Ye ?j ,. he said, replacing his bead- ^xed aa personal property, according
^e heat in the country .00- to>value, and for revenue. As stated
vs. R. R.,54 S.LM84, “What
the law taxes as personal property it
will protect as such.” This legisla
tion is potent in two ways : first, if the
common law rule, notwithstanding the
fallacy of the reasoning upon which it
is based as applied to present condi
tions, should be held of force in this
State ia the absence of modifications
by statute, then Is the statute taxiag
dogs as personal property ad valorem
add for revenue a modification of the
common law rule; second, it brings
dogs, as personal property and things
of value, within the meaning of “chat
tels” in our statute as to simple lar
ceny, (See 160 criminal code) the term
“ chattel” Including all kinds of pro
perty, except freehold, or things par
cel thereof.
In the case of Ward vs. State, 48
Ala., 161, 17 Am. R^p. 31, holding that
there is no such property in dogs as
makes them the subject of larceny,
the oourt was influenoed by the an-
of any statute modifying the
common law and the fact that dogs
were not taxed as other -property in
that State.
Likewise in the case of State vs.
Doe 79Ind.-9, 41 Am. Rep. 599, the
court, while holding dogs not the sub
ject of larceny, said : “ If dogs were
taxed in this State as other property
it would be a strong circumstance to
show aa Intent on the part of the legis
lature to abrogate the common law
rule and make them the subjects of
larceny like other personal pro
perty.” In the case of Mullaby vs.
People, 86 N. Y., 365, a strong case in
support of the view of this oourt, the
oourt aaid-^--‘-f It can scarcely be sup
posed that the legislature meant to re
gard dogs as property for the purpose
of taxation and yet leave them without
protectibn from thieves.” Sustaining
our conclusion, among others are the
following cases ; State vs. Brown, 68
Tenn., 53, 40 Am. Rep. 81. Hornsby
vs. Sampson (Iowa) 40 L. R A. 508, and
a very able, exhaustive note on pro
perty rights in dogs, beginning at
page 503.
The circuit court also erred in hold
ing “that the intent to steal goods
and chattels charged in the first count
necessarily implies the stealing of a
dog, because from a dog house.”
The first count did not charge intent
to steal a dog, but intent to steal the
goods and chattels of the prosecutrix
in said dog house. It is not necessary
Inference that no chattel other than a
dog could be in a dbg bouse, as there
might have been other chattels there,
such, as for example, collar and chain,
block and chain, vessel for food and
water, etc., or, indeed, any*other chat
tel vhe proprietor might ses fit to
place therein. The first count could,
therefore, be sustained as a count for
burglary without reference to the
question whether a dog is the subject
of larceny. In Indictments for burg
lary with Intent to commit larceny it
Is not necessary to specify the particu
lar goods and chattels the defendant
intended to steal. 3 Eoc. Pe. and Pr.
776. It Is urged against this that such
want of speclhcatloa would prevent
the plea of former acquittal or convic
tion, but not so, for such plea is avail
able if the same burglarious breaking
and entering is the essential ingredient
In both charges.
In reference to the second count, we
think the circuit court correctly held
that It failed to charge a compound
larceny. In alleging a larceny from
“said dog housed’ this count did not
allege that the dog bouse was appur
tenant to and within 200 yards of the
dwelling bouse. This was alleged in
the first count, but the rule is that the
sufficiency of each count must be deter
mined by its own allegations witbout
aid from another count. State ve.
Johnson, 45 S. C., 483. But, neverthe
less, it was error to quash the secocd
count, because It was good as a count
for simple larceny, and the court of
S eneral sessions has concurrent jurls-
Iction in all cases of larceny triable
by magistrate. See constitution, Art.
5, Sec. 18, applied in reference to lar
ceny of live stock In the case of State
vs. Crosby, 57 S. C. 249.
The judgment of the circuit court is
reversed and the case remanded for
further proceedings.
Dewey's Refusal op the Home —
A telegram from Washington sa/s
that a private cablegram from Ad
miral Dewey to a friend in that city
expresses bis fmwllflngness to accept
the donation of a home, but adds thaV.
he would be glad to have any money
collected for his benefit used In the
establishment of a soldiers’ and sailors’
borne. It is added that the committee
having charge of the fund will con
tinue their collection*, and when the
sum originally intended to be raised
has been secured, a decision will be
made as to its disposition. This is
equlvaleut to an abandonment of the
undertaking. The sums contributed
dally had fallen so low that the pro
ject had almost pSMsed out of the pub
lic mind. In order to give it a fresh
start a plan was proposed of asking
the national banks of the country to
pledge themselves for the moderate
sum of 125 each. Such a call, backed
by a high official of the Treasury De
partment, it was thought, would pro
duce the amount required. Most
probably the movement will now col
lapse, for, however worthy may be the
alternative charity proposed, such a
project dooe not meet the intentions of
the original donors. The- whole
scheme was nonsensical, and, to use a
much-abused word, un-American.
Buying houses for military and naval
heroes is not wholly witbout precedent
in our country, hut such donations
have been extremely rare and have
never been bestowed upon th&jvlnner
of only one fight, however meritorloUB
he may have proved himself to be. Ad
miral Dewey has shown all the quali
ties of naval greatness that his limi
ted sphere of action permitted, but
that sphere was not sufficiently y wide
to call for public subscription. 'Even
if it had been wider, Admiral Dewey
is not the man to accept gratul tie* on
account of it.—New York Eveplng^
Post.
WILLS OF THE PRESIDENTS.
Remarkable Docnmenta on Record
in the District of Columbia.
Several members of the local bar in
Washington have been engaged re
cently In v systematic investigation of
the records of the register of wills for
the District of Columbia. The re
search has brought to light a number
of very remarkable documents and
mapy testaments written by prominent
government officials.
In the register’s office are the origi
nal or copies of wills executed by six
of the Presidents—Washington, Madi
son, Monroe, John Quincy Adams,
Andrew Jackson and Franklin Pierce.
That of Monroe is the only original of
the half dosen; was made in New York,
and would” have been probated there
except that the testator’s only pro
perty was a grant from Congress. This
claim was the single credit account
mentioned in the will with which the
President’s son-ln-Uw, S&mnel L.
Gouverneur, was to pay the dead man’s
debts.
Poverty is also indicated in the will
of “Old Hickory,” “Andrew Jackson,
Senior,” as he styles himself. The
hero of New Orleans was ruined, ac
cording to bis will, by the debts of his
“ well beloved nephew and adopted
son,” Andrew Jackson, Jr. Madison
left his house In Washington and other
holdings of realtv to Dolly Madison
and her heirs. With the exception of
Washington, Adams was the wealthiest
of the six. Charles Francis Adams
was biswxecutor and, by the terms of
his father's will, held in trust for Mary
Louisa Adams, a granddaughter of the
testator, several houses on F street, a
•tore and a house on Pennsylvania
avenue, and estate kaown as “Columbia
mills ” and a whole block in the north
ern part of the city.
Only one chief justice filed letters
testamentary in the district—Salmon
P. Chase. Justice Chase's will is
chiefly noteworthy for the fact that,
although he intended to devise ail hU
real estate, the paper is witnessed by
only two persons, Instead of three, as
the law requires.
Caleb Swan, first paymaster general
of the army, made-hls will in 1807 and
ns a sort of preamble outlined his
whole military history. Toward the
close be asks that his childrea “ may
be taken care|of by Phil, B. Key, Fran
cis S. Key‘or Dr. John Weems and ef
fectually protected all-aad
every sort of injustice and oppreesion
attempted or contemplated to be prac
ticed upon or toward them by wicked
and designing men or women, or any
Individual or either of the sexes.” H
Thomas Ritchie was sm editor and
publisher of much distinction in the
first half of the century and an inti
mate f 1 lend of W. W. Corcoran and
Dr. John C. Hall, both of whom wit
nessed his will. When Mr. Ritchie’s
will was examined (it was dated June
11, 1854, and was probated only a few
months later) it was found to contain
tfce following, obnervatioos on expao-
■len:
“ We are already the greatest power
among ihe nations. We are destined
to be greater still; but let ue not be too
ambitious of inordinate acquisitions or
too rapid in our advances. Let us not
be too anxious to set our foot from the
ms Inland to the Islands; unless, indeed,
as in the case of Cuba, are are threat
ened by the barber Izatlon of that
beautiful Islands and its conversion
Info a black and hostile neighbor
hood.”
As Indicated by the records, the his
tory of the office of register of wills is
full of interest. The office uame into
existence with the creation of tne dis
trict. In 1870 It was enacted that one of
the judges of the District Supreme
Oourt should hold
He Saved Monroe's Life —Gov
ernor Tyler, of Virginia, has received a
letter cuotaning an apparently true
story regarding President James Mon
roe, which is new and interesting.
The writer was Miss Lilly Sydebotham,
of Gladstone, Mo., wbo desires to es
tablish the truth oif the famly tradition
that her grandfather, John Syde
botham, who was a soldier of the Revo
lution, once saved President Monroe
from being captured by carrying him
off the field of battle on his back^ The
then future president bad been severely
wounded, and his comrade carried him
during the retreat. The letter states
that Sydebotham was a native of
Prince Edward and served under a
tain Briscoe and a Colonel Mar
shaft*. The governor had the matter
investigated and found .shat a John
Sydebotham was granted 100 acres of
land in V)rglniain 1823 as a Revolution
ary veteran. He pould learn nothing
of the Monroe inclde*
—When the Princess of wales was
in Rome in April she passed incognito
as “Mrs. Smith.” Under this e
lent disguise she and her daughtei
dined at a restaurant, taking their
tarns at being served and having a
good time generally.
special term for
probate business, and that enactment
brought to a close the existence of one
of the queerest courts in the country.
It was the only oourt in the nation
which Issued writs in the name of the
United States. All other Federal tri
bunals speak for the President of the
United States.
On one occasion the impersonal form
peculiar to this bench was found very
appropriate. Gen. Graqt, then Presi
dent, came into the court in 1869 to
take out letters testamentary as execu
tor of the will of Gen. John A. Raw-
lias. Then, instead of having “ the
President of the United States” issue
a writ to himself, “ the United States”
directed “ President Ulysses S. Grant”
to properly and faithfully execute the
wlgi, which was at the time being ad
mitted to record. It is said that his
personal observation of the methods in
use prompted President Grant to ap
prove the act passed in the following
year which did away with the court
altogether.
New Cur* for appendicitis.—
Physicians are interested in a new
treatment for appendicita which has
ust been successfully tried by Dr.
leorge J. Helmer of New York. Here
tofore a surgical operation has at
tended the treatment of such cases.
Dr. Helmer does not employ the sur
geon’s knife.
The patient on whom the treatment
was tried is a young woman living In
Harlem. Her attending physicians fa
vored the usual operation. Dr. Hel
mer first tried his plan. This is simply
forcing out the matter which clogs the
appendix by. superficial treatment.
The largest muscle of the human body,
the psoas magnus, which is just back
of the appendix, is manipulated with
the hand in such a way that a spasmo
dic contraction causes it to snap back
against the vermiform appendix, forc
ing out of the organ any foreign sub
stance it may contain. In the case of
the young woman she was relieved in
eight minutes.
— Alexander Dewitt, who has lived
in Poughkeepsie, N. V., for the past
forty years, practically on the bounty of
his friends, is now dead and it is found
he has left a fortune of 640,600. Of this
be has bequeathed 639,000 to a nephew,
who once sent him $15, and who is the
only relative who ever manifested any
Interest in his welfare.
—Gen. David B. Henderson, who Is
Ukeiy to be the Speaker of the next
House, is a singer of no mean talent,
having a voice of great volume. He is
Und of patriotic songs and rollicking
es, and always starts and leads
{•r singing is Indulged In by
memberaof the House.
GEN. GORDON’S HOME BURNT.
A Historic Building Consumed by
the Flames—Herolo Work Saves
Valuable Reltoa.
Atlanta Journal, June t2d.
• The historic and palatial country
home of General John B. Gordon, “The
Sutherland,” was totally destroyed by
fire last night. The loss is inestimable,
for the magnificent home every ropm
furnished in the most gorgeous fashion
with relics of three oF four genera
tions, cannot be replaced.
"The Sutherland” was the home of
General and Mrs. Gordon for thirty
years. It was located in Kirkwood,
four miles from the city, and is one of
the most charming and delightful re
treats about Atlanta. For years the
hospitality of tbeiierms place was pro
verbial, and it was there that many
house parties, many receptions and
notable gatherings were held.
The fire originated in the cellar.
The flames were first discovered by the
faithful old cook, who was the only
person in the house at the time. Mrs.
Gordon and Miss Caroline had walked
from,the house arooss the spacious lawn
to the front gate when they heard the
cook screaming that the house was on
fire.
The alarm was heard by neighbors
and friends who rushed to the fire with
all posssble haste. Countrymen, driv
ing along the road from the day’s visit
to the city, sprang from their teams
and went to.the rescue. Hundreds
worked with strength almost super
human, but the grand old building
crumbled under the eating flames and
fell In one hour after the fire was first
discovered.
The women of Kirkwood played a
heroic part in the conflagration. They
worked from the moment they reached
the home until it became necessary for
men to bold them away from the tot
tering and careening roof and walls.
Miss Caroline Gordon, daughter of
General Gordon, carried out a trunk
packed with valuables which she could
not possibly lift this morning. In the
excitement and frensy of the situation
women ran down stegaLjKith heavy
pieces of furniture and brio-a-brae
weighing more than 100 pounds. -
And while this hereto work saved
thousands of dollars of furniture, there
was much more lost than was saved.
The old-fashioned canopied bed'of
roee-wood, that for generations has
been jealously guarded by the Gordon
family, was saved in tact, not a scratch
being received to mar its beauty. The
bed weighs several tons and is massive
beyond imaglnatloa, but it was brought
out of the oulldlof by a dosen men,
who tore away a portion of the wall
and brought the piece in safety to the
lawn.
A mirror that covered one entire
side of the parlor was brought through
flame and smoke without a jar.
The magnlfloent piece of statuary,
“Rebecca,” more than life site, was
brought from the parlor by four men.
“Every cloud has a silvery lining,”
•ays Mrs. Gordon, “ for we saved all
our sliver. Uhe superb set given Gen
eral Gordon by South Carolina wa
saved without the loss of a piece. We
thought at first the waiter had been
lost, but this was brought to us this
morning by one of the neighbors who
carried it out of the burn tag building
last night.
“ Many famous pieces of bricabrac
and valuable paintings were saved
work that I consider superhuman,
never before in my life saw such
efforU put forth to save property. Men
and women rushed into the bailding
and brought out carpets, rugs, trunks
and heavy pieces of furnltui* which
they could not poesibly have lifted
under ordinary circumstance#.”
The valuable library of Genaral Gor
don was saved with the loss of but a
few volume#. The books were brought
out by the women end children, and
they show little of the rough handling
they were given.
In the rush and excitement the nsanu
script of General Gordon’s new book
wes not overlooked, and every sheet
was saved. _
The Prohibitionists.—The Colum
bia Record says that a quiet confer
ence of Prohibitionists was held in that
city Thursday night. Among those
present wes Mr. C. 0, Featherstone,
late candidate for Governor. .
It is a little early to t*)k State poli
tics now, but the fact that a confer
ence was being held by tha representa
tives of voters who came so near nom
inating their candidate last year lent
credence to the belief that prepara
tions were being made for tne next
campaign.
Mr. Thomas J. LaMotte stated this
morning that it was simply a confer
ence of certain gentlemen Interested
in the cause and that the meeting had
no official significance. He said that
as the Prohibitionists distinctly were
not a party, the committee they had
during the last campaign ceased to
exist when the contest ended. How
ever, the Prohibitionists propose to
make another fight next year and they
will be thoroughly organized for the
contest, probably better than before.
Is was for this purpose that the con
ference wae held last qlghh-to look
over the field had see whai steps are
necessary to keep Intact la each county
former organizations aad to provide
for more recruits to the ranks. ^
The committee charged with thU
duty is composed of Messrs. L. D.
Childs, T, J. LaMotte and Jno. L. Berg,
all of Columbia.
U ^ 1 *
—A law was recently passed in Nor
way prohibiting the tale of tobacco to
aay boy under 16 years of age without a
signed order from an adult, relative or
employer. Even tourists who offer
cigarettes to boys render themselves
liable to prosecution. The police are
instructed to confiscate the pipes,
cigars and cigarettes of lads who
smoke In the public streets. A fine
for the offenoe is also imposed, which
may be anywhere between 50 cents
and $25.
—Inhabitants of the coast towns of
England are alarmed over the en
croachments of the sea. The pretty
little village of Dunwloh was formerly
a large to»n, end held no small plaoe
among tl* commercial cities ef the
Kingdom. All its churches aad
naetic Institutions have
away by the sea, and a large forest has
followed the balldiags.
SOUTHERN COTTON MILL*.
Progress of the Great Revival la Use'-
Erection of Oottoa MllU.
Atlanta Constitution. ,
The New York Journal of Commeree,
In a carefully prepared article, draws
attention to the gregt revival ia the
erection of cotton milts in the Sooth.
The fact that within the past five
months 617,006,000 of new capital has
been Invested in cotton mills, aad
1,160,000 new spindles will be adetedto
the plant# of Southern cotton spinning,
•bows better than anything else bow
strong the movement is, and as to what
U in the future. Comprised la ■
new work are fifty new mills now la
process of construction, or the capital
for which has beea raised, aad which
will involve an Investment of 611,500,- ,
000. These new mills will contain
about 700,000 spindles, aad thirty nine
mills, which are bow adding 66,000,-
000 to their capital, will call for 400,-
000 new spindles. It le based upon
these facts that The Journal of Com
merce says:
“ From 1890 to 1898 the Increase ia'
the number of spindles in Southern
mills was leas than two million. The
res test Increase in one year was 578,-
00 spindles in twelve months, ending
August, 1899. It is evident, therefore,
that even If etiangee of plans or other
circumstances should materially curtail
the present apparent isoreeee since
the first of January, the Increase la
the namber of spindles la tha past five
months will still be far greater thaa
ia any preceding year and will equal
a large percentage of the Increase of
eight yean.
“Tbeee mills represent the prod no
tion of floe is well as coarse goods, aad '
some of them are particularly designed
^reduce for export. If the profits
outhern oottoa mills are not what
they were at first, when perhaps the
dividends included moneys that shooed
have beea set apart for depreciation
and renewal, aad if the mills around
Greenville, 8. C., whoso profile we re
ferred to recently, are more prosperous
than many others, it remains evident
that the proflu of Southern oottoa min#
are tempting to capital, aad that the
advantages of splBolag the cotton near
tne field where It was picked have net
been exhausted. Most of these exten
sions of the cotton Industry are la the
two Carolina#.”
The opening np of new markets ia
Cuba, Porto Rloo and tha Philippines
has had an effect la bringing about
tbeee new results, but even if such out
side Invitation had not existed, there
Is no donbt that the fores of commer
cial circumstances would still have
compelled the removal of the oottoa
mill to the cotton field. As has beea
shown by Mr. Hugh T. Inman, whaa
the low price of cotton, which seemdto
have become established, makes the
freight Item so Important a part of the'
cost, there Is outLiogjleft to do bat re- .
move that Item and transfer It Into
rofit by puttlag the mill la the field,
'he Journal of Commerce Is
enough to say that ” the 9oath le no- -
qul ring capital. It boaeu that U owas
most of lU cotton mills. It Is acquiring
railroads aad furnaces and manufao-t
lures,” and It goes on to show that the <
South Is eogsgiDf luown porte an well *
m a large share of the bpla— of
Northern ports. This, we lake It, to
be the greatest compliment of all, that
our enterprises should be handled by
our owe people. The building up of
manufactures, with the dividends reg
ularly going out of the country, would f
present but small ground for oougrelu-
latlon, but when we nee the factory
olanding by the riverside, with the
home uf Its on ner upon a hilltop near v
by, and the bank which guards its
dividends In a neighboring town, we
can feel then that we are maklag sub
stantial progress, aad that our people
are reaping the whale benefit of it. t .
The Situation in Philiptin**.—
Dr. C4A. McQueeten, who was on the
staff of Gen. E. 8. Otis, and who was
health officer at Manila, has returned
home Invalided oy the climate.
Capt. McQueeten made a dose study
of the conditions of thu Philippine sit
uation. He Is of the opinion that It
will take from 100,000 to 160,000 sol
diers to propbrly subdue aad hold the
islands. He also says that tha peace
commission was an absolute failure
and that its work from the start
without effect.- He strongly su[
the military government of the 1
except that he thinks more
be necessary than has been estimated.
Dr. Sohurman knows that the commie- •
•Ion Is a failure aad is coming home la
July, added Capt. McQueeten.
“ Unless trooni, thousands of than,
are sent to the slid of our men there they
will be driven back into Manila la the-
oourse of the next few months, during
the rainy season. Our men simply;
cannot stand the climate. Fifty per
cenv pf them will be Incapacitated by,
sickness and the territory overran wiU
bate to be abandoned and Manila will
be In a state of siege again;* v
“Our officers end soldiers have ad
eem pi Ished wonders and have proved
themselves the best soldiers In the
world. But nothing decisive has come
of It because our men were not In great*
enough foroe.” ,
E. 1
T
supports
is islands.
—Governor McSwseney has received
a number of letters relative to plaoef ^
on the constabulary foroe and requests’
for appointments on the foroe. He
says that the foroe is to be rednoed to
the number Indicated, and he meaos
what he says. There Is absolutely *o
use to write to him lor planes. Thq.
men who were suspended were aoF
dropped from the foroe ■ because they
were not regarded as oom|
•imply because they
to permit the reduction
If the men were to be retained or new
ones gotten those already In the employ
of the State would have beea retained*.
The idea Is to cut the foroe, and thorn
Is absolutely so use to write for pinnae.
If Governor McSweeney has
to add to the foroe he has 1
terlal from whlohjjp 1
ue ■wcausc kuej
1 competent, but.
had to give way*'
Jon of the foroe.
Its tros that then ue
meats; then Is only
moos. Its the beii
ing liniment known
a posttive curs for all
to please