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% i 4 /gSafr%4 -a mt ?amterg llfrraiii $2.00 Per Year in Advance BAMBERG, S. C., THURSDAY, JANUARY 13,1921. Established in 1891 OIL AND GAS STRUCK^ NEAR CHARLESTON QUESTION OF QUANTITY IS NOT ESTABLISHED. y Depth of 247 Feet Drilling Operations at the Mabeleanor Are To Be Continued.?Want To Make Sure Of It. Charleston, Jan. 8.?Crude petroleum and natural gas have been struck on the eastern outskirts of Summerville. So much is established, but the question of quantity is yetk^o be determined. It is the fact that the petroleum . and gas are coming from the Mabeleanor well, operated by a syndicate headed By Maurice' C. Burton, acting as trustee. This well has been sunk to a depth of 2,047 feet. Mr. Burton told the News and Courier last night that he was called Friday because of a small showing of petroleum on the surface of the water. Saturday, the sfush pit was bailed and less lubricating oil than usual used on the machinery. Every effort wras made to insure against a seepage. Natural Gas Observed. Monday, the showing increased but still those in charge waited before letting announcement escape, desiring to make absolutely sure. Thursday oil came and there were * small ebullitions of natural gas which convinced the operators that crude oil and gas had been encountered. Mr. Burton said that the oil was showing up against a water pressure of about a thousand pounds, which is about ten times as much as^ the pressure in an ordinary steam boiler. /The operators and drillers believe that if the well were baled and the water pressure removed, it would be a producing well now. ? ? " T> J. J J. 1 1 .. However, ?3ir. nunon saiu, tue uax^ way to tell is through proper test. So far, the commercial indications are not known although they are very promising. The showing of oil appears to grow steadily stronger. It is the purpose of the operators to continue the drilling, probably to 2,500 feet if the indications warrant. BYRNES OPPOSES INCREASE. South Carolina Would Gain Congressman by Increasing House. Washington, Jan. 6.?Representatative Byrnes, of South Carolina, declared tonight a disposition to oppose the reapportionment bill reported today by the census committee, which would increase the house membership to 483, despite the fact that under the provisions of the bill, the representation of South Carolina would be increased by one man. Mr. Byrnes is opposed to an increase in the membership of the house. The provision of the bill, calling for the submission of a constitutional amendment making the membership permanent at 500, eliminating danger of a house of the future containing as many as 1,000 men, may temper the opposition of Mr. Byrnes and many others who presently stand with him. The suggestion that the legislature - m A ' ^ 1 Vk A or soutn uarujuiia., suuu tu uc m ocosion, take time by the forelock and redistrict the state to care for the additional congressman, was not thought practicable by Mr. Byrnes. It was his opinion that action would be postponed pending the passage of the bill. If that course is pursued, the legislature may make arrangements for the election of a congressman at large to serve until such time as the estate is redistricted. The bill, it is the opinion of a majority of the members, will be enacted. XOTE IS LEFT BY DR. AIKEN. Suicide Clearly Indicated, Says Sheriff Reid. Laurens, Jan. 6.?The theory of . foul play in the death of Dr. H. R. Aiken, which occurred here yester day afternoon, was dispelled today by the statement from Sheriff Reid, that the doctor's pistol with an empty cartridge was found in the bathroom where his body lay. A note was left in his room clearly indicating suicide. The bureau of war risk insurance has written 4,640.049 war risk term insurance policies to the amount of $40,331,640,000. SEA WALL NEAR COMPLETION. Work on Last Extension of Big Sea Wall Will Be Rushed to Finish. Galveston, Tex. Jan. 8.?Work on the east end extension to Galveston's great sea well, designed to protect this island from gulf storms, will proceed with redoubled vigor this winter, according to Major L. M. Adams, U. S. engineer in charge. But 1,200 feet of the big concrete and steel battlement remain to be constructed. For the completion of this stretch congress has been asked to appropriate $1,500,000. Major Adams hopes to tear away the last form by Aug. 1. With the building of approximately six and one half miles of sea wall, f n-rt nf frini+v r, f flo 1VOC f AT) ' C K, W \J \J L IU^ ll mi i T \j i uui i vuwvai great engineering projects will then have been completed. In 1919, after six years' work, the city's grade was raised 12 feet. The third municipal enterprise under way is the repairing of the two-mile concrete causeway connecting the island the Texas mainland. A portior of this, battered to debris by the storm of 1915, still is unfinished. The extension of the sea wall is a replica of that completed in October, 1905, built jointly by the county and federal governments. The wall is 17 feet above mean low tide and roughly 1.5 feet above the high water mark of 1900. With a base of 16 feet, sloping backward from the gulf to a top width of 5 feet, the wall is reinforced at intervals of ten feet throughout its length with steel rods half an inch in diameter and ten feet long. Huge granite boulders form a rip-rap at its foot. In the assaults of the 1915 storm, these big rocks, many of them weighing tons, were picked up by the waves and hurled again and again against the sea wall. In spite of this bombardment the damage to the wall was almost negligible, according to engineers. The second engineering project? by which the city literally lifted itself by its own boot straps?was that of raising the grade an average of 12 feet. Approximately 20,000,000 cubic yards of sand from the Gulf of Mexico was poured into the city by huge dredges, which brought their cargoes through a canal dug across the island for that purpose. Houses, business buildings, street car tracks, telephone and telegraph poles were 'relentlessly wrecked or moved to make way for its waterway. The job of raising Galveston was 'Degun in July, 1904, and completed in July 1910. It cost citizens of the city and county $2,000,000. The third of the trinity of projects, the causeway connecting this island with the mainland, received a setback in the battering administered by the tropical hurricane of five years ago. Originally constructed of solid concrete slabs set longitudinally at both ends, with a series of arches in the center, the causeway prior to the storm was considered impregnable. Each end was filled with sand and earth, over which was constructed railway, interurban and vehicular traffic roadways. The assault of the storm, however, broke through the armor and speedily washed away the sand and earth filling, after which the shell collapsed. In the rebuilding of the causeway, the earth type of construction is being followed out exclusively. Engineers in charge expect to complete the repairs of this structure within twelve months. Sweet Potato Problem. It is well recognized that there are two undeveloped factors in the sweet potato problem*.upon whose solution depends the* prosperity or failure of the industry. One is the establishment of properly operated curing houses and the other is adequate methods and facilities for marketing. The curing house is absolutely indispensable if the potato is brought to its maximum state as an edible food of unsurpassed excellence. The ''cured" potato only needs an introduction in order that it may win its way to the most fastidious table. It only remains then to develop the marketing side of the situation: but that must developed on an extensive scale and in all its important particulars, from grading and crating to salesmanship in the northern markets. If this would seem a large undertaking, let it be remembered that a vast field of opportunity is involved. What organized industry did to lift the Georgia peach and w-atermelon crops it can do for the sweet potato. HARDING FAVORS SMALLER FORCE PEACE TIME ARMY PLANS GAIN INDORSEMENT. Kahn Visits Marion Chairman of House Military Committee Holds Conference With the President-Elect. Marion, Ohio, Jan. 7.?The plan of Republican leaders in congress to limit the peace time strength- of the army to 150,000 was given approval today by President-elect Harding in a conference with Representative Kahn, of California, chairman of the house military committee. * "Senator Harding is in complete accord with our policy," said Mr. Kahr, after a long talk with the pres1/1 f _a1 a/if 4 4 TJ a id a/^rvl tt aar?r>at*n_ lUCilL_ClCV/l.. ilC lO 'UCCpiJ V/WlAV^Ci i-l." ed about reduction of the burden now resting on the shoulders of taxpayers and he believes much can be saved by reducing the army strength to 175,000 as soon as possible and then working it down to 150,000 as a continuing maximum. "I am sure Senator Harding does not believe that the millenium has come, but I do not think he is expecting trouble in the near future." The conference, at which Mr. Harding also indicated his desire for a well organized reserve force, was one of a series he is holding with congressional leaders in charge of military and navy legislation. Soon he is to see Chairman Butler of the house naval committee to urge retrechment in that arm of the service and to shape a continuing policy for naval armament. Although the army occupied the president-elect's major attention today, many other questions were talked over by him in the course of a busy .string of conferences. One visitor who attracted particular attention was Andrew W. Melton, of Pittsburgh. Dubliclv indorsed by Senator Penrose, of Pennsylvania, for secretary of the treasury. He had a long conference with Senator Harding at which he said general conditions were discussed. The qualifications x>f Sherman P. Houston, of Missouri, for secretary of agriculture, were urged upon the president-elect by a delegation from that state. They brought a formidable array of indorsements by Republican leaders, farm organizations and livestock men of Missouri. Among other callers were: E. Finley Johnson, a member of the supreme court of the Philippines; Clarence B. Miller, secretary of the Republican national committee; Joseph R. Goundy, president of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers association; Andrew Squires, of Cleveland, who discussed the Panama canal, and E. W. Hulster, of Cleveland, a worker for the near east relief. Again tonight Mr. Harding "Walked the burning sands" of the Masonic order, receiving initiation into the Mystic Shrine at Columbus, where on Wednesday he was made a 32nd degree Mason. Leaves Note Behind. Gaffney, Jan. 9.?The Jones-Poole Mule company, of Gaffney, had an unusual experience Friday night when a valuable mare "was stolen from its barn together with a bridle and saddle. The unusual feature was that a note was left by the thief telling of the fact that he had taken the horse, saddle and bridle, and that when he arrived at his destination he would return the saddle and bridle, - - - * 1 and would send pay ior me ammai as soon as lie could dispose of her. The note was signed with the name of Fred Wolff. Wolff is a young fellow about 17 years of age and it is said he has been living in Gaffney for more than a year, and that he has worked more or less for the JonesPoole Mule company. Wolff has told people since he has been in Gaffney that his home is in Charleston'. , There was a lock on the stall from j which the horse was taken. Breaking it Gently. "You waste too much paper," said the editor. "But how can I economize?" "By writing on both sides." "But you won't accept stories written on both sides of the sheet!" "I know. But you'd save paper just the same."?Boston Transcript. i HOMICIDE RECORD OFFICIALLY TOLD SOLICITORS' REPORTS SHOW MANY CASES. Not total for State ; This List Includes Only Those Cases on Which There Has Been Some Court Action. Columbia, Jan. 10.?During the year just closed 178 men and women were officially charged with murder by the courts of the state, according to figures compiled from the 14 solicitors' reports and embodied in the i annual report to the general assembly ! of Attorney General Wolfe. In addi! tion of these figures 65 men and women were officially charged with manslaughter by the courts, making a total of 243 homicide cases. These figures convey in a manner the number of homicides committed in the state during the year, but an exact number cannot be determined from the records as some of the men and women have not come before the courts and then again some of those charged with murder were perhaps convicted of manslaughter. There are also deaths which remain mysteries. The records obtainable are only where cases were actually tried or brought officially before the courts. The total number of those charged with murder and manslaughter during the year was 243. An extremely interesting fact is gleaned from the report of Mr. Wolfe in the number of acquittals of those charged with murder and the contrast with the number of convictions. Of the cases before -the courts 93 were found "not guilty" of murder and 73 were found guilty. Eleven cases were reported with no bills and discontinued while one mistrial was reported for the entire state. The figures for manslaughter show an opposite turn with the juries with 59 convictions and five acquittals. One mistrial was recorded. The statistics on murder follow" by circuits: No Not Mis- GuilBill Guilty trial ty 1st circuit .. ..4 9 0 5 2nd circuit .. ..1 12 1 2 3rd circuit .. ..0 4 0 3 4th circuit .. ..0 4 0 19 5th circuit .. ..2 4 0 5 6th circuit .. ..0 11 0 5 7th circuit .. ..0 2 0 6 8th circuit .. ..1 11 0 1 9th circuit .. ..0 3 0 10 10th circuit ..17 0 2 11th. circuit ..1 4 0 1 12th circuit ..16 0 5 13th circuit ..0 6 0 3 14th circuit ..0 10 0 3 Totals 11 93 1 73 In the number of manslaughters the records by circuits show the following: Guil- Not Mis ty Guilty trial 1st circut 7 0 0 2nd circuit 20 2 1 3rd circuit 3 0 0 4th circuit O 0 0 5th circuit 1 2 0 6th circuit 0 0 0 7th circuit 10 0 0 8 tli circuit 9 1 0 9th circuit 0 1 0 10th circuit 3 0 0 11th circuit 4 0 0 12th circuit 1 0 0 13th circuit 0 0 0 14th circuit 1 0 .0 Totals 59 6 1 There were no cases in the fourth, sixth and thirteenth circuits. FOUR ESCAPE FROM JAIL. Fred Lawson Saws Way to Liberty. Burglary Charged. Florence, Jan. 9.?After sawing his way through two sets of bars Fred Lawson, recently arrested in Charleston and brought here for trial, made his escape from the county jail tonight about 9 o'clock. Three negro prisoners, S)ne charged with murder and the others with burglary, made their getaway at the same time. Lawson was arrested in Charleston recently on a charge of breaking into several stores at Poston, this county, He was in the act of marketing stolen property at the time of his arrest. The manner employed by the fugitive in securing the saw which gained him liberty is a mystery to the authorities'. He sawed his way through the bars of the cell and gained entrance to the hallway from which he made his way to the open by cutting away the window bars. Local authorities are scouring the city tonight in an effort to find the escaped man. ROB WALTERBORO POSTOFFICE. Yegg-men Blow Open Safe and Gather Valuables. Walterboro, Jan. 9.?Yeggmen blew open the safe of the Walterboro postoffice at an early hour this morning, and secured considerable booty in the shape of money, stamps and registered mail. It is not known just the amount secured, but it will reach into several hundred dollars. Fortunately they did not enter the strong box of the safe where most of the valuables of the office is kept. Entrance was had into the postoffice through the front door, the back door was also wide open. The yeggmen were evidently professionals. The safe door was completely wrecked. A cake of soap, some wrenches and files were left scattered about. Some residents of the neighborhood heard the explosion about 2 o'clock, but thought nothing of it, as there has been so much shooting of fireworks during and since the holidays. It seems that there were two explosions, and that they were about ten or fifteen minutes apart. H. Zaliri, whose residence is over his store, next door to the postoffice, states that he was awakened by Mrs. Zalin early in the morning and that there was an automobile standing in front of the postoffice with the engine running at the time they heard the explosion, but that in a minute or two following the explosion he looked out and there was no one or no car in sight. Postmaster C. D. C. Adams has notified the authorities and is awaiting the arrival of an inspector. No trace of the yeggmen was left behind. Among the registered packages taken were two for the First National Bank from the Federal Reserve Bank, con taining $250 of Liberty bonds. This is the second time that the Walterboro postoffice has been robbed, the first time being in January 1900> when B. Levy was postmaster. At that time the robbers secured more i than in last night's haul. Mr. Adams had deposited the money of the ofiice just before the closing of the bank yesterday, and this accounts for the fact that there was not a much richer haul for the robbers. CHAIN BETRAYS YOUTH. Officers Capture Young Man Who Had Left Chaingang. Rock Hill, Jan. 9.?Betrayed by the rattling of the chain, which he^ failed to remove, William Brooks, a young white man who escaped from the Mecklenburg chaingang, was last night taken to Charlotte by Deputy Sheriff R. E. Hunter and will serve the remainder of his sentence. He did not aDDear disturbed over his ar rest and seemed willing enough to return and finish his month of servitude in the Tarheel county. Brooks rolled into town Thursday morning and the attention of officers was attracted by the tinkling of the links in the chain about his leg. Brooks made no effort to escape and frankly told the officers that he had taken French leave. He had removed the chain from his left leg, but still wore his right anklet and the chain was passed up his trouser leg to the belt. Had he taken the trouble to remove this chain he would probably have not been suspected. The prisoner stated he was given a six months sentence for being implicated in some thefts in Charlotte, but protested his innocence. He served faithfully and was counting on the month off for good behavior. His time would have expired February 2 and with a month off he was due to be released on January 2. He | remained at work through January 5 and although he was not given nis walking papers, he proceeded to walk. When asked what would be done with him for escaping, Brooks opined that he wrould simply have to serve his remaining 30 days. SOUTH CAROLINA FOR COX. Presidential Electors Cast Ballots for Nominees. Columbia, Jan. 10.?The Democratic Presidential electors for South Carolina met here today and cast their nine ballots for James M. Cox, of Ohio, for president, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, of New York, for vice president. MacBeth Young, of Union, was chairman of the meeting and Herman Lightsey, of JBrunson, was secretary. W. S. Hall, of Gaffney, j was chosen as messenger to deliver i the vote to the president of the United States and senate, and he will leave for Washington January 24. GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONVENED TUESDAY SENATE AND HOUSE COMPLETE ORGANIZATION. . v Cothran Speaker Senate Opened by J. T. Liles?J. WiK son Gibbes, Clerk of House, and M. M. Mann, Clerk of Senate. Columbia, Jan. 11.?The house of representatives was organized here today with the reelection of Thomas P. Cothran, of Greenville, as speaker. J. Wilson Gibbes, of Columbia, was reelected clerk; A. E. Hutchinson, of | Rock Hill, reading clerk; James S. Wilson, of Lancaster, sergeant-atarms, and the Rev. R. A. Keaton, pastor of the Greene Street Metho- s dist church, this city, chaplain. No one was opposed. jl lit: must important action taKen by the lower body today was the overwhelming adoption by the members of an amendment to the rules of the house, introduced by R. I. McDavid, of Greenville, taking out of the hands of the speaker the appointment of committee chairmenship and making them elective by the members. The committee members, however, will continue to be named by the presiding officer. Columbia., Jan. 11.?With a short address by James T. Liles, of Orangeburg, lieutenant governor, in which Mr. Liles said he was delighted to be again at the head of the upper branch of the general assembly, the senate was quickly organized shortly after the noon hour, having convened promptly at twelve. Senator Alan Johnstone, of New- I berry, w*as unanimously elected president pro tern, succeeding the late LeGrande Walker, of Georgetown, r? - Mr. Johnstone was unopposed. After his election he thanked the senate for the high honor and said that he would perform the duties of the position to the best of his ability. Mr. Johnstone said his age and health might prevent his serving as president pro tern and also his work on several important committee, but he said he would make the best effort .possible to serve in all capacities ami if after trying for a week or two * and findng that he was unable to perform all duties without impairing his I health he would so inform the sen> ate. Senator Black, of Bamberg, offered the name of Senator Johnstone and the vote was 39, there beng no opI position. Several senators seconded the nomination. \ The senate likewise elected Mar. vin M. Mann, of St. Matthews, as clerk, the Rev. W. S. Stokes, as reading clerk, J. Fred Schumpert as sergeant-at-arms and the Rev. C. A. Freed as chaplain. All these officers were chosen unanimously, no other candidates being in the race. Committees were nominated by* Senator Black and all assignments ^ wer^ j?ie as previously agreed upon. Made Appointments. The following appointments were announced: Secretary to lieutenant governor, Miss N?ll deTreville, of Columbia; pages, Hal W. Richardson/ of Columbia, and Croft Jennings, of Bishopville; doorkeepers, T. A. Scott, I of Wateree, W. M. Eagle, of Graniteville, and T. B. Tallon, of Columbia. Marvin Mann, clerk of the senate, will announce other clerks and attaches today. SEES PRESIDENT WILSON. Dr. Dercum "Immensely Gratified" Over Condition. Wflflhine'tnn. .Tan. 9.?Dr. Francis X. Dercum, the Philadelphia nerologist who was called in for consulta% tion during the early stages of President Wilson's illness, visited the white House today for the first time in two months and spent some time with Rear Admiral Cary T. Grayson, the, president's personal physician. Dr. Grayson said that no significance was attached to Dr. Dercum's visit, it merely being made, he said, in accordance with the arrangement reached several months ago that the Philadelphia specialist should come to Washington occasionally for consulfation. Dr. Dercum was said by Dr. Grayson to have expressed himself as "immensely gratified" over the condition, of the president. i - "- 'vir % * V* - . . .. :jr