The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, January 21, 1904, Image 1
Tkt Work of Legislation Fat Soon
Started in Good Form.
THE SENATE AID THE HOUSE.
The Wheel* of Leglalatlrn
Gi^rn a Start on Tueedajr of
l<a*t Wetk. W ha Waa
Done bjr Thrm.
Were
The general assembly of South Caro
lina was called to order at high noon
Tuesday, Jan. 12, in accordance with
the terms of the constitution. As
this is the middle-of a term, the work
of organization required little time,
and before adjournment the wheels of
legislation had been set in motion to
the extent that in each branch of the
law-making body new measures had
beeh introduced.
The State of Wednesday gives the
following account of the opening ses
sion of the two houses;
Earl; in the day it developed that
an effort would be made to pull off the
elections at the earliest possible date,
and in each house resolutions looking
to that end were presented. In the
senate side the tenor of the resolutions
_was to have the joint committees on
privilege and elections report what
^vacancies are to be filled. In the
house the resolution called for the ap
pointment of a specific date—Friday
qf this wee.k—but as the~ resolution
waa obv joggly dufartivo that, funeral of .Gan
failed to fix a time for the election of
Certain college trustees, the resolution
was referred to the house committee
on privileges and elections.
There were two-score candidates in
the lobbies and around the outer rail,
and the life of the average legislator
will be devoted to listening to “hard
luck stories” for the time interven
ing between this and the day-of Sec
tion. The most importunate are the
candidates for places on the board of
directors of the State penitentiary and
on the directorate of the State dispen
sary. Each of these places pays 14 a
day for the time actually spent in the
service of the State, and in the case of
the dispensary board the per diem is
limited to 100 days. But while the
candidates for the several places at
the dispensary and the penitentiary
vigorously
hands of the appropriate committees.
Several appointments were announc
ed by the speaker. J. E. Watson hav
ing resigned as doorkeeper J. J. Wat-,
son of Greenwood was given the posi
tion. Bill Clerk Butler is unable on
account of illness -.to attend this ses-
session of the general assembly and
Mr. A. D. McFaddin of this city was
appointed in his stead. There were
several minor appointments.
Mr. Mayfield introduced a concur
rent resolution providing that all
county supervisors be directed to at
tend the good roads convention In this
city on the 19th inst., their mileage
to be paid by the legislature. This
bill was placed on the calendar.
The large oil portrait of the late
Gen. John B. Gordon which hangs on
the horth^ wall of the senate was
drapped|injerepe in honor to the distin
guished dead.
Aft#* the reading of the governor's
special message on the death of Gen.
Gordon, Senator Aldrich introduced a
concurrent resolution as follows: ^
^‘Whereas it has pleased the Al
mighty to end the brilliant earthly
career of that brilliant soldier and
statesman, Gen. John B. Gordon of
Georgia, and ' j
“Whereas at a trying and critical
period of this State he came to our
aid and rendered voluntary services of
such value and devotion as entitles
him forever to be known as a friend
of the people of South Carolina; now,
therefore be it w
“Resolved by the senate and house
of representatives of South Carolina
that a committee be raised to attend
Gordon andtopay
the State's...tribute of respect to his
memory.
“Said committee to be composed of
his exceellency the governor or such
member of the executive department
as he may designate, the chief justice
of the supreme court or such member
of the judicial department as tie'may
designate, three senators to be ap
pointed by the president of the senate
and five members of the house of rep
resentatives to be appointed by the
speaker of the house.
Resolved that the sergeants at
arms of the two houses take the neces
sary steps to carry these resolutions
i nto effect. ’ ’ 1 . ^ .
This was sentlo (be house of repre
sentatives and the senate adjourned
at 1.30 p. m. to meet again Wednes
dayat noon. -
arr vigorously pressing their'severaT
campaignlets, ttie applicants for the
position of State librarian are no less
insistent. By placing this matter in
the hands of the legislature and mak
ing it an elec^ve office, the way is
thrown open for the fairer sex to ex
hibit what of politics they know, and
the campaign for this position is an
evidence of the fact that the men do
not know it all.
There has been only one death in
either branch of the assembly, and
only one resignat ion. Few were de
tained by sickness or on account of
business and the attendance yesterday
was very full. Tiie feature of the
da; in the house w^JiqeakerJimiLh’s
remarks upon declaring the house
ready for business. His was not an
address in the usual acceptation of the
term,, but remarks made extempo^l^^"™^-- £/rn£t
IK THE HOUSE.
As the hands- of the clock on the
gallery pointed the hour of 12, the
sergeant at arms swung the mall of
State into place, Col. Tom C. Hamer,
the clerk of the house, raised the
speaker’s gavel and rapped the noisy
members into silenge. “Pursuant to
the provisions of the" constitution the
house will now come to order,” he de
clared ahd thereupon began the call of
the roll by counties. When it was as
certained officially tliat a quorum of
the house were present, Speaker Smith
ascended the dais on which is the
upon the mem
bers the fact that they were elected
to perform a high and honorable duty
gnd urging them- to keep that purpose
ever before them. His remarks were
brief and made a deep impreSsionT"'
In the senate the matter which was
most impressive was the fact that the
splendid portrait ofthe gallant Gordon
of Georgia was shrouded in crepe and
from its elevated position the likeness
of the chivalrous southerner looked
down in benediction upon the delibera
tive body of a State tie loved as dearly
as his own. Gordon, Hampton, Ker
shaw, all these are represent^ in that
galaxy of portraiture, and all are gone.
Butler, the intrepid, alone remains of
the quartet of Confederate chieftains
whose portraits adorn the senate
chamber of South Carolina. ~
IN THE SENATE.
The senate passed, an uneventful
call stiowed that 34 members were
present, as follows: Lieut. Gov. Sloan,
Senators Aldrich, Blake; Brown, Dav
is, Dean, Douglass, Forrest, Gaines,
Goodwin, Hardwin, Hay, Herndon,
Holiday, Hough, Hydrick, Johnson,
ManhJng, Marshall, Mayfield, McLeod,
Mower, Peurifoy, Ragsdale, G. W.,
Ragsdale, J. W., Raysor, Sharpe,
Stackhouse, Stanland, Tal-
Kolnitz Walker, Warren,
Sheppard,
bird, Von
Williams.
Messrs.
K«»
Brice, Butler, Carpenter,
Dennis, Hood, McCall and Mclver did
not respond to their names. Senator
J. A. McDermott of Horry having re
signed to accept the office of county
treasurer, his successor, Mr. G. J. Hoi
liday was sworn in and on piotlon*was
appointed to places held on various
committees by his predecsssor. After
an opening pravei; by Rev. W. I. Her
bert, of Lieut. Gpv. Sloan addressed
the senate.
It was moved that a committee of
three be appointed to inform the gov
ernor that the senate was ready for
business. On this committee were
Messrs. Sharpe, Stackhouse and Wil
liams. On motion of Mr. Dean the
house was notified that the senate
having been duly organized was ready
for business.
Dean introduced a concur
rent resolution directing the commit
tees on privileges and elections of both
houses to inquire into what vacancies
existed in the offices to be filled by the
legislature. _
The governor’s message having been
presented by bin ptivate secretary,
ms road in the usual manner,
after the reading of the n
Mr. Mayfield introduced an
resolution dividing the sever-
of ‘the mesmge into the
ceived and read. . As it is quite a
lengthy document the members had
hardly had time in which to read It
carefully Wednesday and no expres
sion as to its recommendations were
gathered. The several' parts of the
message were referred to the proper
committees.
The senate resolutions in regard to
Gen. J. B. Gordon were adopted unani
mously and the speaker appointed as
members of the delegation five gal
lant ex-Confederates who are members
of the house, Hon. Messrs. M. P.
Tribble of Anderson, W. E. James of
Darlington, J. H. Brooks of Green
wood, Jeremiah Smith of Horry, and
J. W. Kihg of Florence.
After the introduction of newbijls
the house adjourned. There were only
three' new bllfs, one by Mr. Cooper
and one by Mr.Magill relating to mat
ters in their respective counties, and
one by Mr. W. P. Johnson relating to
a new tax on incorporations; requir
ing them to make annual statements
to the secretary of state. ^
HUHG ST A MOB
The Horribly Mutilated Body Found
Lashed to a Tree.
At a late hour Friday night The
State’s otrrespondent at Georges tele
phoned an account of a lynching near
Reevesville in -Dorchester pouhty.
The name of- the victim is General
Lee, a negro of bad reputation, who
had a foot of the same measurement
IN THE HOUSE.
What Has Been Dons in that Bod
ths Past Week.
REGULATING THE RAILROADS.
Several Bills or Importance Are
4 Passed Without Mueh Discus
sion and Goes to the
Senate.
The Bret bill taken up.io the bmwe
was that of Mr. Cbggeshall as tff pre
venting delays In the transportation
of freight. This iff the bill that was
favored by the Charleston Freight
Bureau last year. The bill bad a fa
vorable report with a minority op
posed to it, but when It was called up
this morning there was not a word
said one way or another. The requir
ed formal announce.mmitfi were "ade.
The bill went on through, ordered to
Its third reading without a word of
discussion, inquiry or an> thing else.
As ordered to Its third reading.the
bill, ^hich was asked for last year,
was passed as follows:
A bill to prevent delays in (he trans
portation of freight by railroad com
panies in this Stater —■ (
Be it t nacted by the General Assom-
bly of the State of South Carolina:
1st day of May, 1904, all railroad com
panies in this State shall transport
to their destination all freight receiv
of a track found in the yaiAdfLMra. J«d for transportation between points tl<*n and declared hisopposition to the
bill, as be wants Clemson to have the
means to give scholarships to
speaker’s chair and annonced: “The
deliberations of the day will be opened
with pttyer-UjC tfie chaplain:” * The
prayer was given close attention by
ttie members, fqr the last year’s ses
sion taught them that-in his morning
seeks
the
to throw into the deliberation of
day some uplifting thought.
Speaker Smith’s remarks upon open
ing the session to business were well
put and the tenor of the whole was
“work.” He referred with feeling to
the fact that there is one vacant chair
—that of the brilliant JohruMcMasber.
and declared that it is a matter of
thankfulness that there is but one.
A\ the conclusion of his address Mr.
W. T. Aycock - of Columbia was es
corted to the bar of the house by Hon.
Messrs. Jno. P. Thomas; Jr., and
Lewis W. Haskell and upon his cre
dentials being shown he was sworn in
to succeed the late Hon. John MeMas^
ter of Richland;
Mr. Moses moved that a committee
of Lhree bewn
governor and inform him tiiat the
house was ready for business. This
was done accordingly. On Mr.
A 1^. Wimberly.
Mrs. Wimberly Is a widow living
alone with several small children In
a little house with a store In the front
at Reevesville. Between 7 and 8
o’clock Tuesday nlgtit,Tn response to
repeated loud knocking end other
noises she opened the side door and
saw some one running away, apparent
ly a negro. A pair qf brass knucks
was found on the po^ch.
Wednesday a delegation from
Reevesville went to Georges, five
miles away, and swore out a warrant
before Magistrate T. H. Abbott for
General Lee, a negro about 30 years
old, who bad been living several years
at ^Reevesville. The magistrate's
constable, R. E. Mims, who is also
chief of police of Georges, left for
Reevesville at, « o’clock Wednesday
night and put I>e under arrest.
Constable Mims started with his
prisoner for Georges at midnight. He
says that when he had gone about a
mile from Reevesville a mob of’fully
50 men surrounded bis buggy and over
powered him and took the prisoner.
The last he saw of the mob It had left
the road and was making for some
woods nearby.
Thursday a search was made in the
woods by citizens of both Georges and
Reevesville, but no ‘trace of the negro
could be found. Friday Lee's muti
lated body was found lashed to a tree
about TH0 yards from the point in the
road where Constable Mi mi says be
was overpowered. _ .
- *It waOSpofteiTU) the correspon
dent that the condition of the body
indicated that the mob, after tying
the victim, retreated some distance
before firing, thus-sprinkling the body
with small shot; the mob, It appears,
then advanced to within a few feet
and discharged their shotguns Into
the dying man\ face and body.
The usual inquest was hi Id last
night, and the usual verdict rendered
—that General Lee came to his death
from gunshot w mods inflicted by per
sons unknown.‘ Mrs. Wimberly not
„ only did not see the man who was ar
rested, but never intimated fiat she
thought the man she saw running out
of her yard was Lee. She knew Lee
session on its opening day. The wHl motion Hie cforK of the house was sent
. An Klnvator AecUlent.
At St. Louis, Mo., on Wednesday a
crowd of employes pressing against
t’.'.e 'elevator gate »qn the sixth
tnwalt upon the floor uf °lhe Brown Shoe Company
building at Sevi.nth street and Wash
ington avenue, caused the gate to _ __
way and tcnTJereons wereirtungedl burn; Speaker's clerk, J. M. Sharpe;
Section J. That from and after the can testify, for they are made to pay
in the State of South Garottna within
the following times after same shall
have been received^ to wit: Within Itxrys, and he had lntfoduced^a
than I loo nor less than 150 or 30 days
imprisonment with or without labor.
This is a good law. -
There were four third readiog
bills, and each was passed and sent
to tbeMfeoate, including Mr. Wade’s
bill to ..outlaw slot machines. The
four th+rd reading bills were: - Mr.
Beamguard's to provide for the
immediate delivery of freight; Mr.
Coggeshall’s to provide lor the
Immediate shipment and delivery of
freight, and Mr. Dorroh’s to regulate
the size of caU used by railroads.
After the conclusion of the work of
the “mon lng hour” debte was
smned on Mr. Haskell’s bill to requ’re
the recording of deaths, births and
marriages. After some discussion
the bill wat killed. * -
Mr. Doniald’s bill to reduce the fate
of tag tax on fertillizers was Mun
taken up. He declared that Ciemson’s
revenue Is S85.000 this year and t le
cost pf Ins; ection is but 110.000. He
argued tbi t the burden of-this rev
enue Is ori the) farmer, not on the
manufacturer. _
Mr. D. O. Herbert argued that the
cost of fertilizer would not be reduced
if the privilege tax should be taken
off.
Mr. Donnald suggested that if such
is the case why not double the amount
of the tax.
Mr. Stackhouse declared that tbe
privilege tax does make a difference
In cost as farmers on the State line
A dispatch from RocR Hill to The
State says the community was shock
ed over the dastardly attempted
Of a negro named Will Walker to
take the life of Mr. W. J. Ingram.
Mr. Ingram lives in Rock Hill, but
recently purchased a place about six
miles away on the Chester and Rock
Hill road. Tuesday momUig while
Mr. Ingram was working In hlafield
at this place Will Walker came alorfyr-
the road near by, hallowing and yell
ing In a disgraceful manner. Mr. In
gram went to where he was passing
and asked what be meant by such con
duct, whereupon the negro became
angry, and reached In the direction of
his hip pocket as if to draw a pistol.
Anticipating his action Mr. Ingram
more than the farmers in North Caro
lina.
Mr. Herbert maintained his post
forty-eight hours, between points not
more than one hundred miles distant;
within seventy-two hours, betweep
points ex6eeding one hundred and not
more than two hundred miles distant;
within ninety-six hours, between
points exceeding two hundred miles
distant.
Section ,2. That any railroad com
pany failing to comply with tbe pro
visions of Section 1 of this Act for
any cause, except the Act of God or
public enemy, shall forfeit the freight
chargeable upon such goods as it shall
(pil to transport within the time
hereinbefore required; and in addition
shall pay to tbe consignee 1 per cent
of the market value of such goods for
each and every day’s detention over
and above the time herein before pre
scribed, to be recovered by the con
signee in any Court of competent juris
diction, together with the freight so
forfeited, if the same shall have been
prepaid.
Section 3. That nothing in this Act
contained shall be construed to limit
or affect any other rigbtr-or remedy
now or hereafter existing againstauch
railroad company for or on account of
such delay in transportation.
Section 4. That all Acta and parts
of Acts inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed.
Later on Mr. Beamguard’s bill to
provide a oenaltyTor the unreasonable
delay in tbe shipment and delivery of
any goods, wares and merchandise by
any railroad or other oemmon carrier
for hire came up, and after some dis
cussion was passed as follows:
Be It enacted by tbe General Assem
bly of the State of South Carolina:
Section 4r That any railroad com
pany or other common carrier for hire
in this Slate, who shall delay for an
unreasonable time tbe shipment and
delivery of any goods, wares and mer
chandise delivered them for transpor
tation. shall, in addition to any dam
ages they may now be liable for, forj
felt and pay to the party or parties
whose goods, wares or merchandise
are received, stripped and delayed, ten
dollars for eve ry fifty the same is so
tieiajefi, to be recovered In iny Court
of competent jurisdiction.
Spealcer Smith made the following
appointment for the present session of
House: Laborers, Robert Caldwell,
Robert Chisolm, L. Smith; pages
Henry Smith, W. A. Mattison, J. M.
Banks, Malcolm Johnson, J. A. Cly
to poor
n>ms
tnat effect.
Debate was adjourned until next
Wednesday on ipotlon of Mr. Kibler,
who suggested that It would be wise
to wail until the report of Clemson
college is recei ved.
ONE DAT IN JAIL
And Promptly Paid a Fine of^Pen
Thousand Dollars.
Ex-Congressman Edmund Driggs, of
Brooklyn, last Tuesday was sentenced
to imprisonment of one day in Ray
mond street jail and to a fine of 110,*
000. Driggs was convicted of accept:
ng money, while a congressman-elect,
or securing a government contract
for the purchase of automatic cashiers
from the .Brandt-Dent company for
the post-office department. There
will be no appeal.
Driggs’ fine was immediately paid
after sentence was pronounced. Mr.
Driggs and his attoneys sayfng that
they endorsed the statement by the
court that an honorable mao woulc
have no desire to retain moneys secur
ed under such circumstances. Driggs
was not taken to the jail directly. He
does not lose his citizenship by the
conviction, but cannot hold office
again in the Federal government.
In pronouncing < sentence Judge
Thomas said: “A man of honorable
feeling, although he has erred, would
abhor the retention of what came to
him IRegftlly and 1 believe that such
will be yoar attUude.
“you-wnyfu4$lMit .tp make sure of
rectitude in your past life, your
friends will join it with the private
and civic virtue that you may achieve
and maintain in the future, and that
in the end you will be Judged by your
hole career and not alone by this
intervening fault and failure?’’
- Driggs later was taken to the Ray
mond street Jail and placed in a cell.
Sheriff Hesterberg, after consultation
to the senate to inform that body that
the house had organized and was ready
for business. At almostthe same mo
ment Gen. R. R. Hemphill, clerk of
the senate, appeared with a similar
announcement from the “upper
house.”
Organization having been perfected,
the first thing in the way of new busi
ness was the presentation by Mr. Aull
of a resolution fixing Friday as the
e for the holding of the election of
an Associate justice to succeed Mr.
Just ice WQods; for a State librarian,
for twu direchocqof the State peniten
tiary, to succee^M^ 873 - Love and
Mann; for a chairmair-of the board
and two directors of the StAte^dlspen-
sary and for a liquor oommissio
Mr. Magill moved to refer thtatd
the contmlttee on privileges and elec
tions. This was voted down by those
who wanted the elections held speedi
ly and the resolution was adopted.
Subsequently Mr. Beamguard moved
to strike but the words “liquor com
missioner” wherever they occurred
and insert in lieu thereof the words
“dispensary commissioner." The vote
b; which the resolution had been
adopted was reconsidered in order to
admit of this correction, and when
the resolution again came before the
house Messrs. Williams, Rainsford
and Magill succeeded In getting the
house to reconsider the vote by which
it had declined to commit the raeolu-
tJoa* and by a oonsiderable majority
it was decided to send the resolution
to the committee on privileges .and
elections in order that the matter
• might be whipped into proper shape.
a 8*. WM The senate concurrent resolution
along the same line came over and was
to ths same committee,
governor’s mesnge was re-
down the shaft Six were taiem out
dead and the ot ier fout? serk usly in
jured. Two of the Injured died soon
after reaching the hospital and with
out regaining consciousness. Tbe
employes had assembled at the close
of .the work in the corridors on the
different floors waiting for thi eleva
tor to take them down. The elevator
was at the seventh floor receiv ng pas
sengers when^rbse on the sixth floor,
eager to get near .the door and be first
into the cage b^gan to pu^b toward
the gate. Suddenly the gate gave
way, - Just as ihe elevator started
to descend and ten of the employes
plunged head first down the shaft.
James Johnson, the elevator operator,
was taken into custody by ^he police
pending an investigation. Johnson
id the elevator gate did not break,
hul^th^t It had been raised by em
ployes ^rhUewalting for the car to de
scend to tbeftbeijind suddenly the em
ployes in the reaf^ecrowd began
pushing, precipitating tnem^down tbe-;
shafts Factory Superlntendeftt4£r&y,
corroborated Jobnson’astory.
Blot Machines Most Go.
The house of representatives Wed*
nesday passed to third reading, a J)ill
which prohibits the operation of Siot
machines within the State. The bill
makes no discrimination, but makes
all machines unlawful. The bill
declares “that it shall be unlawful for
any person to operate within this
State any slot machine of whate/er
name or kind. “Sec. 2. Any person
whomsoever who shall violate the first
section of this act shall be subject to
a fine of not more than 1100, or im
prisonment upon the public works of
the county wherein the offense Is com-
mltted, tor a period of not more than
30 days."
M. Gasque; G. R. Cle-
itoof; postnaster, R
doorkeepers, J,
ments, W. A.
C. Anderson.
Governor Heyward submitted the
report ot the special tax commission.
Mr. Moses, of the commission, moved
that the report be printed in tbe
Journal and referrei to the ways and
means committee. This was done
without tibe reading qf. tbe report.
In supx>|t;.t of his bill against slot
machines Mr. Wade said that there
were 1,300 slot machines in use in this
State, and he thought that it was
high time for them- to be removed.
His bill was passed to its third read
ing without further argument.~It
ptovtdea: ' ~r-
Section 1. That from and after tbe
passage and approval of tbls Act it
shall be unlawful for any person to
operate within this State any slot ma
chine of whatever name or kind.
Section 2. Any person whomsoever
section of
this Act-shall be subject to a fine of
not more than one hundred dollars,
riSonment upon tbe public works
of Hw^ounty wherein tbe ojence Is
committed tor a period of hot more
than thirty da
.The third bill rela^Htoto railroads,
which was ordered to Hstbird read
ing, was that qf Mr. Dorrol
Greenville, which proposes to abol
tbe bob-tail or single truck cabs in
this State.
THUftSDAT'S PROCEEDINGS.
The house on Thursday passed
bill which provides that it Shall be
unlawful hereafter tor any
sell, barter or give away-or treat
another to' any malt or intoxicating
liquor within three miles of any vot
ing precinct during any primary or
other election day, under a penalty it.
upon oonvictioo therefor of not more
ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.
A Negro Fires Upon a Rock Hill Man
from Ambush.
ENF0BCE THE LAW.
That la What the Temperaaee Law
and Order
ance Law and Order League of South
Carolina respectfully represents to
drew hispistol, and covered the negro,-Teur honorable body that it Is an or-
who. ^hereupon disavowed any Inten
tion of being dlsrepspectfui. This
happened about 8 or 9 o’clock In the
morning, and was thought to be the
end of the matter; but about 2 in the
aftornoon, as Mr. Ingram was driving
towards Rock Hill in a buggy, at a
point near where the first difficulty
occurred, without the slightest warn
ing, some one fired upon him. The
shot came from a thick woods on the
side of the road, and the aim was so
accurate that part of the load took
effect In the brim of Mr. Ingram’s
hat. As soon as the shot was fired
Mr. Ingram looked back and saw Will
Walker coming out into tbe road with
a gun in his hands, and apparently
further danger Mr. Ingram then
then drove on at a fast speed. He af
terwards went to the office of Magis
trate Beckham, and had a warrant is
sued and after a short preliminary ex
amtnation this morning Will Walker
was committed for assault with intent
to kill.
WRECK NEAR CHARLESTON.
REGARDING DISPENSARY LAW.
The Memorial That Was Prssaaf d
to the Genera! AasemMy
on Wednesday by tba
_ . LS**—. .
The Temperance Law and Order
Leaguejyjll present a memorial to the
Genertrt Assembly Wednesday. The
text, as prepared by the executive
committee, Is as fol
Memorial—To the <
bly of South Carolina: The
ganization of citizens, rtpreuntlng
the sentiments of a large class of the"
voters of the State, having for tie
object:
1. To render all* moral encourage
ment and support to the constituted
authorities In the enforcement .of.
existing laws, both State and munici
pal, relating to the peaoe and good
order of the community.
2. -To render such individual service
as may be practicable and lawful in
securing and furnishing to the proper
law officers facte and information of
violations of law
proceed against the violator. -
3. By all lawful means to hold the
The I tegular Freight Train Crashes
Into a Phosphate Special.
. The Charleston Poet says: With a
fearful crash freight train No. 70.- of
the Southern railway ran Into a phos
phate train at Dlsher’s curve about
2 o’clock Wednesday morning killing
Fireman John Smith, colored, who
was on the helping engineer attached
to the phosphate train, and seriously
injuring Fireman J. R. Robinson pf
tbe regular frleght train. A number
of freight cars were derailed and the
engines were badly smashed up. The
track was torn up for a considerable
distance, but passenger traffic was
not delayed owing to tbe fact tbat tbe
Southern has double tracks out of
Charleston, as far as Seven Mile, and
the open track is being used until
the other can be cleared.
Tbe wreck was reported immediate
ly to Superitibendent Meet tier's office,
and a wrecking train and crew were
sent out to clear tbe wreck. The body
of Fireman Smith was brought to the
city and turned over to Coroner
O’jponnell, Who will hold an inquest.
^ C injured fireman, J. R. Robinson,
who-was an No. 70 was seut to the St.
Francis Xavier Infirmary. He is not
thought to be fatally Injured, and is
reported to be doing as well as could
be expected under tbe circumstances.
Wednesday morning a phosphate
train consisting of fifteen cars were
being brought into tbe city yards of
tbe.Southern to be made up and sent
with couns*!, decided that the term? over ^ Two engines were nec-
of the senyehce would be compiled
with by detailing the pris< ner only
until midnight.
They Will Bite. *
An old- n< gro woman has created ex
citement In Syracuse, N. Y., by ap
pearing there claiming to have walk* d
all the way from a plantatlor in Gecr-
gla, where :the was held as a slaw
She reporte 1 leaving 200 Slav» on the
same plant? tion. The people of Syn-
cuse barbo* very great inclgnatkn
against t he south and the old worn: n
Is living on the fat of the lane. Which
all goes to show that even an old wo
man can gold-brick the shrewd Yan
kees. They all will bite; It just de
pends on tl e bait, says the Columbia
State.
Another Wreck.
One man was killed two locomo
tives demol shed, and five freight cars
smashed to splinters as the result of a
collision tx tween freights No. 72
and 63 near Gaffney Tuesday night
Tbe crews of tbe "two trains saved
their lives ay jumping, through En
gineer Martin and his flremln, of No.
63, were painfully injured. The wreck
was caused bv tbe confusion of tbe
two sections of No. 72, the through
freight which was running North in
two sections.
; I. .11 ■■■,! ■ .
Claimed to Be a Witch.
The most eccentric woman in North
Carolina, Mrs. M. E. Edwards, was
I'lnd dead by the roadside In Catawba
county Wednesday. For forty years
she bad lived alone, her bouse bclrfg
far f roof any other. She always car
ried a revolver and en<}eavored to make
peoplq,think she was a witch. On her
body were found money and notes and
also rabbit feet, and tbe walls of her
were decorated with pictures of
variotB^persons, each with a nail
driven through the heart. *
Crimmlnal Cttrcjessnea
At Savannah, Ga;, Dai
person tof t Central railway engineer.
Injuries received while cleaning oui
tbe fire box qf bis engine at an earl
hour Tuesday morning. While under
bis engine a push engine ran against
Both his legs were cut off. Dean
leaves a widow, a ion and a daughter.
C ry
th
an<rTailTifuTdlscharge of their
obligations to the public, and by pro
ceeding against them for wilful neglect
or failure on their part.
4. Especially to secure a full
satisfactory enforcement of the
pensary law, both against those
gaged in prohibited traffic in intoai-
canto and those who violate the pro
vision of law while acting aa
officers of the dispensary.
6. By endeavoring to secure
lation in the future as will ultimately
prohibit the traffic in intoxteanta tor
beverage purposes in South Chroilna.
In pursuance of these objects it
would respectfully urge upon the
General Assembly to make such an
Amendment to the law commonly
known as “the dispensary law" as
will afford the citizens of any com
munity in which a dispensary may ha
established under the provisions of
the law the opportunity to express by
ballot their wishes for its removal.
We make this appeal for the rea
sons toBowingt—~ -
1. Because as the dispensary law
makes every citizen a stockholder,
sharing the profits and liabllltise re
sulting from the business, as an set
of simple justice they should be ac
corded the right to end their connec
tion with it if they so deidre.
2. Because there are many com
munities in the State, we believe the
larger proportion, where dispensaries
have been established in oppoeitton to
the known and expressed wish of these
communities, or where, though orig
inally approved, the experience of the
evils resulting from the operation of
dispensaries in their midst has chang
ed to one of disapproval, and who
gladly avail themselves Of thrAnfiane
of removing what they realise to be
an agency which is only evil and a
prolific source of disorder, i
and general demoralization.
3. Because the purpose of
lion should be the repression of law
lessness and crime, the improvement
of the moral condition and the promo
tion of the happiness of the people,
would he greatly
promoted by the removal of dispen
saries from these communities.
: 4. Because the recorded facte aa to
the conduct of the dispensary system
shows a large and constant Incnam in
the sale by the dispensary and con
sumption of liquora by the people of
the State, and a consequent apf
increase of crimes at rlolenoe.
Immorality traceable directly to this
cause. ' ' /
5. Because the proposed amendment,
if made, would largely decrease the
area in which liquors could he legally
sold, render the detection of violation
easier and enable the constituted
to bring in the train, one pull
ng, the other-pushing.-The englne-at-fanA these purposes
tached to the rear of the train is known
as the helping engine and Fireman
Smith was on this when tbe oollision
took place resulting in his death-,
Train No. 70 was a regular freight
train ooming into Charleston. It was
several hours late, from wbat can be
learned, and was running, at a last
rate of speed. Engineer Marion Moor-
er and Fireman J. R. Robinson were
on the engine of No. 70, and just as
the train rounded DisberV curve it
ran into the helping engine of tbe
{phosphate train with a terrible crash.
The noise was like tbat of a great ex
plosion. Smith was horribly crushed
and Fireman Robinson was thrown
from bis seat and badly injured. Tbe
escape of the engineers was miracu
lous.
To Tax Franchises.
Mr. W. J. Johnson of Fairfield has
presented a bill to tax franchises
which will be given considerable atten
tion in the house. The measure pro
vides that every corporation must
make an annual return to the secre
tary of state, giving the names of the
officers, amount of capital, place of
business number of shares and kinds
of stock. Every such coporation is
expected to pay to the secretary of
state one mill on every dollar of
capitalization. The bill Is modeled
after the Ohio law. . The revenue
thus obtained in Ohio is enormous
and the State of New. York gets 112,-
000,000 annually from the franchise
tax. On a corporation of 11;000,000
capitalization the income would be
•1,600; but due^ to the difficulties in
the way of organizing cotton mills in
this State, the bill proposes to let
such industries off upon Uie payment
of 110 annually.
Schooner Wrecked.
A letter from Havana tells of the
wreck on January 5 of tbe schooner
Governor -Blake, Scott, master, and a
on# of seven men, tbat went on a reef
miles from Oar Julias, Florida
escaped -te small attended by W»
boats sav
log. The’
tor Cienfuegoa,
cargo ot pith pine, valued
otbiog but their cloth-
December 31
[obtie, with
822....
il
legal administrators of the law to con
duct the more limited business In a
manner more consonanant with ths
purpose and intenttrf the law.
6. Because the demand tat this
change in the law is made by ths
Christian Church of the Stats, whMi
cannot be silent under the exlsUBf
conditions without sin, and which, in
the name of her communicants, ap
peals to Christian legislators for ths
means of deliverance from the unholy
alliance in which, as a part of ths
State citizenship, they have
forced to participate, Respectfully.
J. Vf Hamil, chairman; Howell
MSrell, secretary; executive commit
tee, State Temperance Law tfhd Or
der League. -
Columbia, S. C., Jan. 12, lOOi.
Could not Fsqe!
William A. Matthews,
manager of the defunct
Loan and Banking company of,
ta, Ga., and under indtetmeat
embezzlement, waa found
hotel there Tudday. A
bottle, half filled with that drag wat
found in the dead man’a pocket.
A Noteworthy TribmCe.
Ool. Butler D. -Pries of
tee nth U. S. infantry,
Fort McPbereoo, bad a
funeral procession oi
and a battalion at ths
O. M. MitobeU
with ftt entire .
l a place
wry