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% ** -? r ' t ? ^ ?br Hambrrg Iforalb fc / ^^sssM""sss One Dollar and a Half a Year. BAMBERG, S. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20,1917. Established 1891. i ~ ? COUNTRY NEWS LETTERS SOME INTERESTING HAPPENINGS IN VARIOUS SECTIONS. ?* News Items Gathered All Around the County and Elsewhere, w Clear Pond Cuttings. Clear .Pond, Dec. 18.?Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Morris have returned from a visit to Augusta. The friends of Mrs. Johnny Folk will be glad to hear of her improvement. She has been in a hospital in Charleston. Miss Daisy Murph spent several days in Columbia with her friend, Mrs. M. E. Rentz, recently. Mrs. P.'K. Hughes and Miss Meta Hughes spent Friday in Ehrhardt. Mrs. Avis Steedly, who is employed at the navy yard in Charleston, is at home. There will be a Christmas tree and entertainment at the school house on Monday evening, December 24, beginning at 7:30 o'clock. The public is invited. Sehofield Sketches. Schofield, Dec. 18.?The brand of weather that we have been having for the past two weeks reminds one of the desperate struggle that the \ boys in the trenches will have to endure in France. * Mr. H. T. Kearse spent yesterday , ' in Bamberg. Miss Verna French, who has been teaching in the music department of Columbia college, is at home for the holidays. Mrs. ugreta jseara nas reiurneu to her home in the Colston section, after a visit of several days with relatives here. Th? angel of death visited the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Roberts this morning and took from their ? midst their son Harry, who was just 14 years of age. His death came as a great shock as he was sick for onlyv a few days. We extend our sympathy to the bereaved parents and brothers. . The remains were carried to Burnside, Ky., for interment, accompanied by the entire family. Messrs. D. L. Shiplett and G. W. Mcintosh will leave this week for their homes in Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively, where they will spend the holidays with their , families. DRAEBLR. i Buford Bridge Budget. Buford Bridge, Dec. 18.?Among It the boys and girls who are expected to be home for the Christmas holidays are: Mr. Fletcher Kirkland and Misses Elizabeth Kirkland and Cleo Kearse, of Carlisle school; Mr. Edward Neeley, of Clemson; Miss Myrtle Everette, Columbia college, and Miss Maggie Milhous, Lander. Mr. Toney Kirkland has already come home for the holidays. Mr.- John Rush has purchased a car and is expecting a great time v \ Christmas. i The school here will close Friday, Dec. 21, for the holidays. A Christmas tree and exercises will he held at the schoolhouse Friday night. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, from Australia, will be with us that night for the occasion. Mr. G. V. Kearse has returned from Michigan. It is interesting to hear him tell of his experiences. BOAGUS. Honor Roll Buford Bridge SchooL The following is the honor roll of Buford Bridge school for the month beginning Nov. 19, ending Dec. 14: First grade?Sarah Kirkland, Marion Brabham, Gladys Johns, Myra Johns. ( i Third grade?Frank Kirkland, lone Kirkland, Asbury Kirkland, Walter Brabham, Dalma Johns. Fifth grade?Nic Kirkland, Blanch Brabham, Julia Brabham. RAVAnth crrade?Euerene Brabham. Inez Kirkland, Will Kirkland. The following deserve honorable mention for being present every day since the beginning of the school term: Eugene Brabham, Walter ( Brabham, Marion Brabham, Inez > Kirkland, Nic Kirkland, Sarah Kirkland. Halifax Dead 1,126. Halifax, Dec. 12.?The toll of death resulting from the explosion of the munitions ship Mont Blanc in Halifax harbor was officially fixed tonight at 1,126, including identified and unidentified bodies and the missing. 1 If / HELD FOR FEDERAL TRIAL. Young Man Charged With Disloyal Utterances. Columbia, Dec. 12.?For alleged disrespectful remarks about the President, disloyal criticism of the government and an epithet applied to the flag, Rufus Hart, a young salesman, of Columbia, was bound over to the federal counr for trial by A. Beverley Sloan, United States commis sioner, this afternoon after a preliminary hearing. Hart was released on $3,000 bond pending his trial. Mrs. V. B. Hayes, who runs the boarding house at which Hart took his meals, testified that after the declaration of a state of war with Germany, Hart, at the supper table, said "he wouldn't fight; that the Germans had done nothing to him." It was brought out in the hearing that Hart had been drafted and that his chief theme of conversation at the dining table was the'war. Miss Morsie Hayes testified that Hart in his conversation at the table used these expressions: "If it hadn't been for Big Mouthed Wilson we would not be in war," and "damn the country and to hell with the flag." C. F. Collins testified that he was present at the conversations in question and he substantiated the testimony of the two women. G. A. Pitts, the remaining witness, said that he also was present at the time of the alleged conversations but he could not swear that Hart made the remarks alleged against him. Hart pleaded "not guilty" to the charges. FIRED FIRST SHOT. Representative Tinkham Sent Shell Across the Lower Piave. Italian Army Headquarters in Northern Italy, Dec. 11.?The first American shot against Austria was fired by Representative Tinkham, of Boston, on the lower Piave, when Mr. Tinkham pulled a string firing a large 149-milimetre gun, sending a shell hurtling across the Piave to the Austrian positions at Gonfo. A huge cloud of black smoke marked the place where the shell burst. The Italian battery men gathered around the gun and raised a cheer as the American Congressman fired. Representative Tinkham fired the shot by invitation of the colonel in command near Dona di Piave. The shell was sent on its journey during a heavy artillery fire along the Piave and the northern front. The bombardment was especially concentrated back of Mount Grappa, between the Piave and Brenta rivers. This may be an indication of another drive on the Italian lines from that direction. Catching Before Hanging. Washington, Dec. 12.?Congressman Tinkham, by firing an Italian gun at the Austrian / position, has taken on the status of a non-combatant ^attacking troops, and according to the rules of warfare, laid himself liable to execution by the Austrians should he by any chance fall into their hands. Under the laws of war, i civilian may never engage in hostilities. The fact that war has been declared does not altar the situation and any American found engaged in hostilities regardless of his position in civil life is regarded as "franctireur." r WAR WITH AUSTRIA DECLARED. State of War Existed Prom 5:03 O'clock P. M. Dec. 7, 1917. Washington, Dec. 7.?War between the United States and Austria Hungary was formally declared today. Congress, with one dissenting vote in the house, adopted and President Wilson approved, a resolution declaring existence of a state of war between the "Imperial and Royal Austro-Hun^arian Government and the Government and people of the United States," authorizing the president to employ the nation's armed forces and pledging its resources to achieve victory. After only one hour's debate the resolution was unanimously adopted by the senate with an affirmative vote of 74. It was approved by the house 363 to 1, Representative LonHr?n th? \tpw York socialist, casting the only dissenting vote. A few minutes later, Vice President Marshall and Speaker Clark had signed the document and sent it to the white house where President Wilson attached his signature with Secretary Tumulty and Assistant Secretary Forester as the only witnesses. Watermans Ideal Fountain Pens at Herald Book Store. IN THE PALMETTO STATE : 1 SOME OCCURRENCES OF VARIOUS KINDS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. State News Boiled Down for Quick Reading.?Paragraphs About j Men and Happenings. 1 George W. Browning, of Charles ton, is under arrest in that city on 1 1 the charge of evading the draft. Up to last Thursday there were r said to be forty cases of spinal meningitis at Camp Jackson, Columbia. In order to aid the fuel administraton, the Greenville city schools have suspended for a month beginning Dec. 14. John H. Dukes, former sheriff of Orangeburg county and a well known citizen of thaft county, died Thursday afternoon, aged 83. M. W. Oxner, of Kinards, Newberry county, vhas entered suit against the Seabord Air Line railway for $10,000 alleging that the railroad company has enticed his farm hands to leave him and go to work for the railroad. S. E. Hendrix, of Columbia, has 1 /j been named by the food administraQ tion as State merchant representative for South Carolina. He will co-operate with the South Carolina food ad- * ministration in enlisting retailers r throughout the State in the campaign r for food conservation. * e Three military policemen of the Twenty-Seventh army division at Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, were convicted in Spartanburg police court this week of violating the city traffic ordinance. The specific charge was ^ that they left an automobile on the streets with the engine running. Demanding possession of the property and appurtenances of the Colum- ^ bia Canal and rentals and income ac- * cruing from it since August 20, this a year, a complaint against the Colum- ^ bia Railway, Gas & Electric company, c the present holders of the waterway, 0 has been, filed by Attorney General * Thomas H. Peeples. r As the result of a long period of f ill health, Mr. O. E. Grist, one of the ^ publishers of the Yorkville Enquirer, took his life Thursday morning short- * ly after 11 o'clock, by shooting himself in the left temple with an auto- * matic pistol. Death was instantan- a eous. There was no one else in the * home at the time of the tragedy. * The several hundred South Carolinians who recently received commissions as officers in the national ^ army following their stay of three months at the second reserve officers' training camp at Fort Oglethorpe, . Ga., and who have since been vis- , iting^ their homes, reported for duty last week at the various cantonments p and camps throughout the country. c Lieut. Maximilian W. Doublet^, of t the French army, one of the foreign f officers sent to Camp Sevier, to assist c in the training of the 30th division, j is at the base hospital of that camp suffering from an old grenade wound \ in the chest which had necessitated c a number of operations before the j, officer left France. Lieut. Doublett ^ aP -wim r* f/\r tro1/\l? OT1 T wears j.ne wuas ui nai w. } the field. i The fireman and baggageman ^of a F Southern express train were fatally s injured and several passengers were t more or less seriously injured in a c collision at Calhoun, S. C., Friday morning between a local train and the express. The accident is attributed to the negligence of the tele- lc graph operator at Seneca, in failing ^ to deliver orders to the engineer of Q. the local. _ L BARS CRITICISM OF DRAFT. R ? ti Judge Silences Attorney Who Says ri People Never Sanctioned War. a Washington, Dec. 13.?A scathing 0 ->V..1.. Kv TliaMf*A tt I CUURO auiuiuioiotcu uj uuivi w uuxvw White to one of the lawyers attacking P1 the law enlivened argument before L the Supreme Court today in cases k testing the constitutionality of the n army draft act. r( J. Gordon Jones, representing Albert Jones, convicted in Georgia of failing to register, declared the law was unconstitutional because it required men to take part in a war which had never received the peoc< pie's approval. His remark was cut short. * "I do not think your statement has anything to do with the legal argu- a ments," said the Chief Justice sharp- s f ly, "and should not have been said in this court. It is a very unpatriotic ? statement to make." The attorney apologized and continued his argument. H EXEMPTION BOARD OUT. Hilton County Men Summarily I>ismissed.?Too Many Discharges. Atlanta, Dec. 15.?The entire nembership of the Fulton county exemption board has been summarily iismissed by the provost marshal general by orders from President Wilson on charges involving "unwarranted exemptions and discharges," according to a statement made mblic here tonight by Maj. J. B. Malete, in charge of the operation of he selective service law in Georgia. Fhe order was made public with mother order appointing successors o Judge R. F. Thompson, chairman; 5. J. Mitchell and Dr. C. M. Curtis, he dismissed members. According to statistics made public, >ut of 818 white men called in the :ounty on the first draft 526 were exsmpted. Of the total number of vhite men called before the board, he announcement said, 44 per cent, ^ere exempted on physical grounds, t is also alleged that 202 negroes vere summoned before the board and hat out of this number only six vere exempted. It was pointed out that inasmuch it the county's quota under the first Iraft had already been sent to camp, md in view of the fact that the new [raft regulations are now operative, he provost marshal general had diected that it will be unnecessary to eexamine any of the registrants exmpted or discharged. The case of the board, it was anlounced, had been turned over to h department of justice. MEANS AtyUlTTEU. forth Carolinian Was Accused of Killing Wealthy Mrs. King. Concord, Dec. 16.?Gaston B. leans was acquitted here today for he murder of Mrs. Maude A. King, k wealthy widow of New York, whose >usiness affairs he had handled. The ase went to the jury last night at 7 'clock, and as Presiding Judge Cline lad ruled that a verdict might be endered on Sunday, the jurors sent or him today and returned the verlict shortly after 10 o'clock. After the foreman of the jury'had romally pronounced the verdict of not guilty," counsel for Means asked he court if it had any other charges gainst Means. Judge Cline replied here was none, and' Means was given lis freedom for the first time since ast September, when he was arrested n a warrant charged with having hot the woman who met death here n August. Means always asserted he shot herself accidentally. Reports had been current here that f Means were acquitted of the murler charges that New York officials rho took an active part in aiding the >rosecution, would seek his arrest on ther charges, alleged misappropriaion in New York of the woman's ortune and allegations of Means's onnection with German interests, laving been aired at the trial. Assistant District Attorney Dool ng, of New'York, and a number of ?ther officials firom that State, left lere last night, taking with them locuments seized in Means's New fork apartments, which were used n the trial, and Solicitor Clement, trosecuting attorney for the State, aid, in reply to questions late today, hat he did not anticipate any prose:ution of Means in New York. "Bomb" Cause of Excitement. Orangeburg, Dec. 17.?A curious>oking object, thought to resemble a omb of some kind, was discovered n the track of the' Atlantic Coast ine at the crossing of the Southern ailway yesterday. The "bomb" was irned over to the police and it was imored over the city that an atsmpt had been made to blow up a train on the Atlantic Coast Line, n investigation, however, a witness jstified that the object found was a art from a Pullmdn car. Chief imehouse now has the "bomb" in is office and it is said that some are ot yet convinced that it is not a jal German "bomb." Gem. IT. R. Brooks Dead. Columbia, Dec. 16.?Gen. U. R. trooks, aged 71, clerk of the South larolina Supreme Court since Deember 6, 1894, died at his residence t Shandon, a suburb of Columbia, his morning at 8.45 o'clock, after n illness of several months. He was urrounded by the members of his amily, with the exception of his ldest son, who is sick in a local ospital. Watermans Ideal Fountain Pens at [?raid Book Store. PROHIBITION TRIUMPHANT PASSED IN THE HOUSE BY VOTE OP 282 TO 128. I Not Until Last Few Names on the I Roll Were Called Did Wets i Concede Their Defeat. TrBoKInwAnn FTpf4 17. NatiOIl i n aoaiii^iL/n, wide prohibition won in the House today, and only the adjustment of a slight difference in the resolution between the House and Senate now stands in the way of submitting to State Legislatures an amendment to the federal Constitution forbidding the manufacture, sale or importation of intoxicating liquor for beverage purposes in the United States or its territorities. The vote in the House, taken after a day of debate before crowded galleries, was 282 to 128, with the parties dividing almost evenly. The margin for prohibition was just eight votes more than the necessary twothirds of the membership of the House required for adoption, and twenty-six more than two-thirds of those voting. Close Vote. Both wets and drys had been predicting victory all day, and it was not until the last few names had been called . that the anti-prohibition forces conceded their defeat. After Speaker Clark announced the result the victors were joined in the galleries in such a demonstration as is rarely permitted in the House. Former Secretary Br^an, an interested spectator nearly every day, ap~ Deared on the floor and joined in receiving congratulations with Representative Webb, of North Carolina, who had led the fight. Identical Resolutions. The resolution passed by the House is identical with that passed by the Senate last August, except that it gives the States seven years instead of six in which to ratify the amendment. Senator Sheppard, author of the resolution, predicted tonight that the Senate would Accept the amendment tomorrow. He said he had assurances that the seven years period would -be approved, and he did not believe a roll cail necessary. The President's approval is not required, and the State Legislatures may act as soon as they please after the signatures of the Vice President and Speaker Clark have been attached to the resolution. Qhristmas Present. "It will be submitted tomorrow as a Christmas present to the American people," said Senator Sheppard, "and I believe it "will be ratified within three years." Every attempt today to put on amendments to expept light wines and beer were beaten, and 147 Democrats stood aligned with 137 Republicans and four Independents to win the final victory for the Prohibitionist forces. Hands and Good Health. N Now that we have become so alert on the subject of germs, we cannot afford to neglect our hands. Improperly cared for finger nails, chapped, roughened surfaces, and hands not thoroughly cleansed several times a day, especially before every meal, offer an excellent carrier for disease germs. It is much better to protect the hands in public conveyances with wash gloves than to go bare handed. To grasp the rail on the car or to put one's bare hands on the seat or window sill is to come in contact with a good deal of misplaced matter, and it is not unusual to find these surfaces sticky and very much soiled. In a few moments one may unconsciously place the fingers in the mouth or rub the eye or wipe the fingers on the handkerchief, leaving germs where they will be brushed to the face a little later. The wonder is not that we contract so many diseases, but rather that we do not have 1 i * more. : Some think it a matter for mirth that their rrienas spena time manicuring and do not hesitate to purchase such supplies as may be needed. Perhaps those people who scorn to take care of their own hands are the ones who before long will be called upon to pay medical, hospital and nursing bills as a result of serious illness from infection or contagion which might have been avoided by scrupulous care of the hands and finger nails. Think about it and you will see the importance of this part of one's personal grooming.?Health Notes. i * , BUILDING 4,000 VESSELS. Stevens Predicts 6,000,000 Ton? ^ Available Next Year. New York, Dec. 14.?Contracts have been let by the federal shipping board for 4,000 ships, with net dead weight carrying scapacity of 8,000,- \ 000 tons, Raymond B. Stevens, vice chairman of the hoard, told the members of the Academy of Political Science at the opening of their thirty seventh annual meeting here today. He thought that at least 6,000,000 tons would be available next year. Because the navy program had tied up 65 per cent of all the available steel yards, he said, it had been necessary to build ship yards. The great need is for man power, and if the plants were in full opera- . tion, Mr. Stevens declared, 400,000 additional skilled men would be at ' \ t work today in ship yards. . f Referring to the fact that 65 per cent of the crews of ships flying the American flag today is of alien citizenship, Mr. Stevens said, the board was working diligently to make it certain that when the new ships take cargoes the bridges and decks will be manned by Americans only. Francis Lee Stuart, chairman of the terminal facilities of the war board, declared that the freight congestion which had become acute as early as - ) .J the spring of 1913, was because railroad facilities had not kept abreast of the increased traffic. GERMANS HAVE 150 DIVISIONS. On Western Front Now, Declares Military Writer. London, Dec. 14.?The military correspondent of the Times, in a gen- v ' eral review of the military situation, estimates that there are now abont 150 German divisions on the western front and 79 on the eastern front, but . ^ that apparently all men between nineteen and thirty-five years of age are being withdrawn from the latter point for service id the west. The writer concurs in the opinion that the Germans probably will try \ to settle matters in the west before Russia recovers, and America is ready \ hoping to deliver a decisive blow this \ winter or in the spring. y The central powers, he declares, i are seriously beset by want and the \ exhaustion of their reserves, so that ?\ it may be necessary (or them to strike very quickly. At any rate, In his view, a half \ million fresh fighting men must, be \ expected on the enemy side in the \ west with a corresponding increase * \ in guns and aircraft. r. vjfe The correspondent does not think this will be sufficient to insure a victory for the central powers, but he \ argues that it must compel great efforts and speedy ones by the allies. ^ .vj He points out that Great Britain can extend her conscription to Ireland \ and raise the age limit for service to \ ^ fifty years, comb the industries and > send youths of 18 to the front. By the vigorous application of all these means, in his view, the allies can "carry on" until the Americans arrive in force. He recognizes, however, that "contentious legislation"' must be faced to enable such an appli- , rtfjfi cation of effort. The combined strength of the allies \ on the western front, the writer con- * tends, is inadequate to promise a vie- \ ,->J| tory in an ambitious offensive,* and > ./$ he urges the reconsideration of ideas \ upon distant operations, instancing Saloniki, where he says there are \ enough men to turn the scales in France. vP "What is the use," says the writer, "to occupy Jerusalem or Bagdad if we are unsuccessful in the main theatre?" \ Officer Kills Young Girl. Orangeburg, Dec. 17.?Hannah Stewart Salley, a young colored girl, was accidentally and fatally shot by an officer of the local police force yesterday. The officer was looking for a negro charged with larceny. A negro ran from a house near which he officer was standing and in shoots Ing at Mm tne ounet giancea irom a nearby tree and went into the stomich of the child. Everything possible . , > ' vas done. The child was sent to a hospital in Columbia, but died shortly afterward. An inquest was held )ver the remains this morning and a rerdict exonerating the officer entirely was "returned. Dr. James A. Hayne, secretary of the State board of health will ask the next general assembly for a generous appropriation to be used in combating spinal meningitis. 4 - _ > : ' ' U. : V. - ' -rm