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r IHUH1" 1' ) H * f*i ? * I N. VOL.11. NO. 26. * CAMDEN, S. C., THURSDAY, JULY 27, IflOS. Sl.SO Per Year LUKE HAMMOND, THE MISER* By Prof. Win. Henry Pock* OoppW 1M? hf Bosm Boimi Boa*. (ifl rt*U? CHAPTER XIL Continued. ? ?^Boless." Mid Nancy, shaking her head. "I have already examined Dan iel. He says when you employed him, more than a year ago, you directed him to procure just such a thing as she la old. strong, of weak mind, and avari cious. Fan was an old apple woman, whose miserable stand was near the Bowery Theatre. Her home was a den under ground In the Five Points. Daq? lei thought she would suit you, and sc 'engaged her. He knows no more ?bout her." Hammond folded Ills arms and knitted lils heavy brows In bitter thought, but at length he struck his fist upou the table saj'ing: "I do not know who she Is?I do not Wish to know. Nancy Harkcr, It is bet ter for us not to know." "So be It," said Nancy, aa sho rose. "Henceforth and forever, let her be who she may to us. she Is " "Old Fan! Nothing more!" ex claimed Hammond. "Now, how art our prisoners?" "Doing well," replied Nancy. "Dan lei paces the hull." i "And Stephen?" asked Luke. ' "Sleeps. It is his turn." ' A bell tinkled below as Ntincy spoke, and alio continued: . "The front door bell! Who can It b< .10 o'clock, too!" ? "Why do you tremble so. Nancy?' asked Hammond, surprised nt her tor ror. "Two days ago. nay. yesterday nu evil spirit might have waked you ir the dead of night, and you would not have quailed. Now the slightest noi.v. makes you start and shiver us if a mor tal sickness seized you." "I know it, Luke. I know it toe Well." said Nancy, "and it warns mc that I am near my death.'" "Bah!" laughed Luke. "You art thinking of Harriet Foss." . "I thought my nerves were Iron." said Nancy. "I thought I was as strong of lienrt as you, Luke, but I de ceived myself. While Harriet Foss lives I am near my death." "Why more than I?" "1 am not." "Then ho assured that you will live to share tlie riches of Henry Elgin with nie," said Hammond. "Bo bold and brave again. Nancy, r want no cow ards around inc. Listen. The bell Tings again. Stephen sleeps; Fan will not budge a step uulcss commanded; go answer the hell." "I dare not," said Nancy. "I dread to open the door, lest a tierce and terri ble woman Khali dart in upou me and stab 1110 to I ho heart, crying: "'.Murderess of n^* sister! I've found v??u at last!' " "You are a fool, Nancy!" exclaimed Luke. "Turned coward after being brave for years. 1 will go. Is the hail lighted?" "Yes -l<e careful, Luke; if you should perish, what becomes oY me?" "Perish! I! Woman, you will make a coward of me yet. Men have struck at tiiis breast and failed. Do you think 1 fear a woman? Bali!" And unlocking the door he passed out. Just as tho bell clattered again. lie strode on uutil his hand rested upon tbo doorknob at the vestfbule. Then he paused for a moment, uud whin he opened the door his right lMnd grasped a cocked pistol behind hhu as he muttered: "A cunning man or woman must he or slw lie to surprise Luke Hammond." The form in the vestibule stepped iu at a stride. ? ".tohn Marks!" eclaimed Luke. "Close the door! Holt, bar It strong. Out with that light!" cried Marks. "I am watched! Harriet Foss knows you are iu New York!" Ills advice was hurriedly followed, and Luke led the way to his library with trembling limbs. After ail ills bluster he feared, ae Nancy Darker feared, though lit showed it Ion*. "Here Is some one whom you know, John Marks," said Luke, as Nancy lose to meet thciu. Man and wife, long separated, mutu ally hating, gazed upon each other long uud steadily. "Yes, it is, or was. my wife," said John .Marks. "Crown older than year* could make her. I bring you brave news-what Is your name now. Woman ?" "One I have a right to bear." replied Nam .v. "1 married aftei- divorce freed me from you. and my husband's name w.i.* Ilarket." "W.isV" pm ered Marks. "Then he is dead?'* ' Ye*, lie Is (load. That is nothing to John Murks," said Nancy. "What news Is this you bring?" "I'll *ell it utter my own fashion." replied Marks. "But first, can this light Ijo se;>n from the street?" "No. Why do you ask?" said Nancy, growing white as she glanced toward the window "Some people." snld Marks, silting down, "are very bold In seeking for of hers, that's all. If a house Is dark and shut up such people might rather pass it than disturb Its Inmates with ? 'if* 11- questioning." , Nunc/ llarker glanced from him to ?Hammond. The latter nodded and said: "Harriet Fosa knows I am In New York!" "Great heavens!" cried Nancy, clasp ing her hands. "Does she know that I am here?" "Not that yon are here," said Marks, lighting a cigar, "but that you are in this city." "She will find us? Oh, we are to fall by her hand at last!" cried Nancy. Hammond pulled a bell cord violent ly. Marks smoked on in silence uutil Stephen appeared, rubbing bis eyes and growling. "Better be turnkey in the Tombs than here; for there they had regHar hours to wake a cove." v "Stephen," said Hammond, "patrol the front and rear yards carefully; tben turn loose the dogs." "Daniel told me you were expecting your son to-night, sir," said Stephen. "Right," said Hammond, "but the gate will be locked and he can ring the gate bell. Then examine all the fastenings of the windows all around? doors and all." "Somethln' uncommon gay sprung n leak," ruminated the obedient Stephen as he departed. "The gov'ner saeius ex cited?but that's none of my business." "You seem very much afraid of a woman," said Marks, when Stephen had gone. "A woman!" exclaimed Nancy. **A devil, John Marks. Now toll us how she found out we were in New York." "First tell me why you two fear her so much," said Marks. "If I am to be your frk'Ud in this matter I must know what kind of ground 1 stand on." "Is it not enough for you to be paid for your services?" asked Hammond. "No," replied Marks, tossing bis cigai aside and assuming a determined look that sat well on his dark ieatures. "For uie to be paid for my services by strangers is all an honest man like me cau auk. But with a woman who has been my wife, nud my former brother in-law, pay is not enough, my friends. Last night, Luke Hammond, you took me by surprise. I did not expect to meet you here .and your pistol was my first hint of who you were. To-night I am prepared for war or peace." Ho laid a pair of pistols upon the table, and continued: "You two are carrying on some dev iltry in this house. I know it. I have made inquiries about Luke Hammond. I want to see Luke Hammond's niece* Don't scowl! I am not afraid of eithei of you. More than twenty-four years have paased since we met, and I want that time tilled up to my mitid. If you want to know how my time has slipped along, go to England, and you will learn that John Marks was convicted of burglary he never committed, sen tended to transportation to Australia for twenty years?served his seutence. and lias picked up a scanty living evei since, here and there." "You shall know why we fear liar riet Foss," miid Hammond. "But at regards all my life, 1 shall take time tc consider before I tell you. You have you say, been making inquiries about Luke Hammond. Does any one doubt that I am he?" "Not a soul, and I am eager to learn how you managed the deception," said Marks. "As regards that, you shall learr when we have so bound you to us that we shall not fear your treachery," sale Hammond. "Treachery!" exclaimed John, wltl bitter emphasis. "John Marks wa? never treacherous In all his life to you Can you say tho same of your conduct toward him?" "I told you," snld Luke, gravely, "when you were here last night to cal again. I need you. But first let. Nanc> say that to you which shall make yoi) one of us." "John Marks," said Nancy, "you wer< once my husbaud. I thought I lovet you " "That was a mistake?go on." "And you said you loved me." "I lied, I admit It. 1 never eared n straw for you. I wanted money, and you had It." Nancy Ilarker's eyes flashed, but slu went on: "The name I .bore, the name try brother there bore before I became your wife we have sunk forever. That Is of no consequence " "You simply disgraced It?that's all." said Marks. "If you interrupt in this manner tlir conversation ends here, and since you come prepared for pei/ce or war. It shall be war to the hilt!" exclaimed Ham inond. "Remember you are in ojy house, and behave accordingly." "Very well, go on." s?id Marks, who seemed fierce and bitter In .the presence of Nancy. She resumed. "You and ray brother were bosom friends. You wero both wild and dissi pated, and the money supplied to yon by Indulgent parents was not enough to suit you. Neither of you could wait until nature should leave you the heirs of your father's wealth, for orr fathers were rich. Neither of you were had enough to take the life of a father So. unable to wait, unwilling to slay, you j robbed your fathers." "By my hand, madam, you helped urn," aald Marks. "I do not deny It," said Nancy coldly. **I was aa bad as yon. Ton and my brother had* no trouble to persuade mo to aid yon In the robbery, and fhen to fly with you. put that you feared my brother's vengeance you -would not have made me your wedded Wife." "I admit that had some Influence with me. But aa you appear to be going to make a long story of the affair I'll smoke through It." He produced a cigar and lighted It, nodding blandly, and saying, "Go on." Nancy continued: i "We did not think when we planned the robbery It wonld be laid to us. My flight, we thought, would be considered an elopement, for my father had re fused to listen to your suit?I was too | young, be said, and you too wicked. We robbed?you your father, we ours, i But lest the deed should be traced to us we did not fly then, but wslted to dl-' vert suspicion toward others. At the end of a week we feared that the truth was rspldly approaching to ruin as. Then we fled. Then you married me, j and then we wrote to my father thst : we had committed the deed only as a I step to become united; that we loved ' madly, and knew no other way to effect a unlou. We begged forgiveness?we hoped for It; for my father hsd no daughter save me, and uo son but my brother, and we were much loved chll dren. We thought the affair, In our folly, a rare and pleasant way to bring the old man to his senses." Here Nancy paused, for her voice grew so husky that she could hsrdly speak. The Image of her dead and dlsr honored father was rising In her soul, | but by nature bad and cruel, she soon overcame the emotion and proceeded: "When my father read that letter he gave one sharp cry, sprang from hfs chair, and fell dead." "Why speak of that?" demanded Luke, fiercely. "Marks knows It. Tell him what be does not know!" "Let her tske her own way," said Marks. "If you check a woman's story she will have to go back and begin again. Go on, Mme. Harker!" "The cruel tidings killed him on the spot," said Nancy. "What happened then. John Marks?" "Ho! you want me to tell?" "Yes, I do. I wish to see how true your memory is, that I may know how to tell me something .that you do not know." "Good. Well, your father died as ybu said. His death and your conduct made your mother a lunatic?made her as mad as crazy can be. You and your brother returned to your home. The robbery had never been traced to you, for your father's dying act was to tear your confession to atoms. You and your brother placed your mother lu a madhouse?I must say It was the only thing you could do. for she was savage, raving, dangerously mad! No one found fault with that. Doctors said she wonld never recover ? that was all right. Then you and your brother sold the property, turned it to gold and went to l^ondon. I mot you there, then, though 1 was hiding from my father, who was a vindictive old gentleinau, ar.d had other sons besides me to love. If he had caught me I think he Avould have anticipated the punishment of the law and given nv? a more severe one thnn imprisonment. The knowledge of my guilt didn't kill hint. He lived ten years nficr I lint. Well, you ond I lived very well togelher until our share of the money whs gone. Then we quar re'ed ? you got jealous: I think we fought a few battles with something harder than words. We separated and your brother obtained a divorce for us. We had one child, and the law gave him to you. because lie whs on Infant." "What became of the child?" asked Nancy, sternly. "The child," gnid Marks. "He died less tnau one year old. I went to his funeral. Don't you remember? thnt was tlie last time you and I met till to-night. 'Tis a pity the hoy died. When he should have grown a few years older the low would have given him to me. nnd with him to rear?well, perhaps John Marks were now a better man?that's nil." "Now," said Nancy, rising. "I will tell you what shall .I0J11 you to us. I knew that when ouc child should have grown older the low would take him from me, his mother, ond give him to you. his father. I swore to slay my child ere yob should have him to rear to lovp you and to hate me. The child did not die. John Marks. The funeral to which you were summoned was that of the child of uiy servant. Our child still lives!" "Ha! traitress!" crlcd Marks, grasp ing for his pistols. But a quicker hand than Ills had se cured them, for while he was talking Hammond had stolen behind him. and us Nancy Harker sold, "Our child still lives!" snatched away the weapons, and now stood behind him with the cold muzzles touching the right nnd loft ear of Marks. "Stir a lliub and you die!" said*Luke, as the locks clicked loudly And so Imprisoned Marks was forced to quiet by the wily, daring r.ian who needed him nr. an able tool. "You are no man?you are Satan!" I *ni<! Marks, not daring to turn his head j a hair's breadth. To be continued. Rongl* on th? Convict. Aecordiug to an old document Just | discovered in Australia, says the Gold, en Penny, gold was tlrst found by a convict near rnrrnmatta in 1780. The unfortunate fellow was nt onco charged with having stolen a watch and "boiled It down." and. being con victed by the rude cfturt of those early days, was given 150 Inches for Ills pains. In later years the record of this Incident was closely examined by an undoubtedly competent authority, who was cuite convinced of the genu ineness of the convict's story. Frightful Loss of Life Results From Bursting of a Defective Boiler on Board, NEAIIY 100 HURT, MANY FATALLY There Were More Than 250 Men Aboard the Veeeel at the Time, and of Theae 15 ?Sailors A*e Missing? The Accident Occurred in the San Diego, Cal., Harbor Juat Before the Veaaei Was Scheduled to Leave. 8an Diego, Cal., Special.?Twenty eight members of the crew of the United States gunboat Benning ton were killed and four-score sailors were injured, 24 seriously, at 10 o'clock Thursday forenoon by a boiler explosion that disabled the ves sel in San Diego harbor. Fifteen sail ors are missing. There were more than 250 men aboard the warship when the accident occurred, and many men were hurled or forced to jump in to the sea by the terlfflc explosion, which lifted part of the deck and com pelled the beaching of the ship. The Bennington, at the time of the acci dent, was lying in the stream just off the commercial wharf st H street. The warship hnd received orders from the Navy Department at Washington to sail this morning for Port Hartford to meet the monitor Wyoming and convey the monitor to Mare Island navy yard, San Francisco. EXPL08I0N TERRIFIC. Steam was up and everything was In readiness for the departure of the Bennington when the starboard for ward boiler exploded with a terrific roar. The explosion was terrific*. People standing on shore saw a huge cloud of steam rise above the Ben nington. Columns of water were forced high into the air. A dozen or fifteen men were blown overboard by the force of the terrific explosion. Capt. Wentworth, who was looking at the Bennington when the disaster oc curred, says he saw human bodies hurled over a hundred feet upward. The air was clouded with smoke which enveloped the ship. When the haze cleared away, only a few could be seen on the decks, while a number were floundering in - the water. A boat was lowered from the vessel's sidQ and most of the men in the water were picked up and taken on board. On board the Bennington were pre sented terrible scenes. The force of the explosion had torn a great hole in the starboard side of the ship, and the vessel was already commencing to list. A section of the upper ? deck was carried away from stem to stern. Blood and wreckage was distributed over the entire space, the after cabin and that part of the ship adjacent to the exploded boiler resembling a charnel house. The shock of the ex plosion penetrated every section of the ship, blood and ashes being found as far as the stern of the captain's cabin. Great damage was done in all parts of the vessel. The boiler which exploded, it is said, was regarded as unsafe. 'Commanuer Young stated that during a recent return from Hon olulu the steam pressure was kept re duced in that particular one. List of the Dead. San Diego, Cal., Special.?Saturday night's summary of casualties aboard the gunboat Bennington, In San Diego Day. gives a total of 60 dead and 50 in jured, six probably fatally. A number of men are still missing, some of these may be dead, and probably a dozen of the injured will die of their wounds. Following Is an official list of known dead, with ages, occupation and place of birth or enlistment: Ensign Newton K. Perry, 26, Colum bia, S. C. Wesley M. Taylor, 28, seaman, At lanta, Qa. Bert A. Hughes, 19, seaman, ClarkB ville, Ark. . Andrew Kamerer, 25, fireman, Lon donvllle. O. Joseph Newcomb, 27, seaman, Bos ton. Harry Mosber, 25, fireman, Newark, N. J. Wilbur W. Wright, 32, steward, home unknown. Michael 0. Qulnn, 31, fireman, Kil kenny. Ireland. Clyde Haggbloom. 25. Leadvllle, Col. Klrley F. Morris, 24, fireman, Owens boro, Ky. Warren Paris. 36, coal passer, Lan sing. Mich. Wm. C. Wilson, 19, seaman, German* town, Cal. Stephen W. Pollock, 24, coal passer^ Honesdale, Pa. Emll Dresch, 24. seaman, Newark. N. J. Wm. Staub, 21, fireman, Bridgewatcr, S. D. John L. Burns, 20, seaman, Chi cago. Glen Brownlee, 24, seaman, Galves ton, Texas. Wm. I. Cherry, 24. blacksmith. Salert*, Mont. Walter G. Grant, 23, coal passer, Chi cago. John Goika, 18, seaman, Milwau kee. John McKone, 23. fireman, Leadvllle, Col. Edwin B. Robinson, 23, seaman, San Francisco. Charles O McKeen, 25. coal passer. Pueblo. Col. Charles J. Kuntz, 20, seaman, St. Louis. Harry F. Saunders, 19 seaman, Springfield, Mo. Jodie \V. Kempton, 18. seaman. Loveland, Col. Robert B. Carr, 18, seaman, Den ver. Harry F. Smith. 23, seaman, Harri sonville. Mo. Preston Carpeuter. 20. seaman, Ara pahoe, Neb. Robert L Savage, 23, seaman. Waco, Texas. Leroy B. Archer, 20, seaman. Fowler, Col. Don C. Archer, 19, seaman. San Francisco. Richard T. House, 21. seaman, Colo rado Springs, Col. Albert H. Sihoregge. 21. seaman. New lUm. Minn. John C. Barchus, 22, seaman, Clarin da. Iowa. L. J. Guthries, 25, seaman, New York. Matthew G. Chambers. 23, seaman. Lewiston. Idaho. Frederick M. Brown, 20. machlist, San Francisco. Josiah Ezell, 27, seaman, Waco, Texas. Frederick J. Geiss. 29. coal passer, Cincinnati. Claude H. Stevenson, 23, seasan, San Francisco. Emile C. Hoffman, 25, blacksmith, San Antonio. Texas. Joseph Hilscher, 24, fireman, Seattle, Wash. Edward B. Ferguson, 3<I, chief ma chinist. San Francisco. Elmer IT. Brunson, 20, seaman, Chi cago. Four unidentified men of the new draft, who Joined the Bennington at San Diego. Seven men. nnmes uncertain, known to be in flooded compartments of the vessel. Thomas Burke, machinist. Joseph Hunt, oiler. George L. Clarke, chief machinist. C. VV. Brockman, gunner. Unidentified number of men still missing. San Diego. Cal., Special.?Forty-sev en of the gunboat Bennington's dead were burled Sunday In a common grave in the little military cemetery on the crest of the promotory of Loma, high above the waters of San Diego Bay on tho one side, and within sound of the t>oomlng surf of the Pacific on the oth er. Without the crash of drum or sound of brass, without pomp or pa rade. yet with simple impresslveness. all honor was paid to the nation'* dead. May Hinder Peace Progress. Paris, By Cable.?Emperor Nicholas' cruise In the (Julf of Finland to meet Kmperor Wllllani is the subject of much momment In tho press. Certain newBpapera express the fear that the Herman Emperor will Influence the Russian Emperor over Far Eastern matters and will hinder the carrying out of the peace programme, while others arc of the opinion that Kmperor William will seek to estrange Russia from France. Mine Superintendent Shot by Drunken Man. Bristol, Va.. Special.?A special from Big Stone Gap, Va., says: "This after noon at Iron dale, about Ave miles cost of this place. Jasper Abshlre shot and fatally wounded A. M. Hall, sup erintendent of Kelly and Irvlnes mines Mr. Hall 1* still living, but tho phyei clan says he cannot llvo but a short while. Abshlre was drunk and rowdy and was asked to leave. He refused and Hall lead him to the com mlsiry door and let him go, whereup on he shot Superintendent Hall three times In the breast. Abshlre was dis armed. but not arrested. A posse went from thin plaep thlH evening to ap prehend Abshlre." Frank L. Kelley Missing* Richmond, Special.?The four broth ers of Frank I/. Kelley, who has been missing since Sunday, are endeavoring, by the aid of hi* dog, to And some trace of the mnn, whom they fear has taken IiLh own life. Soon after his departure his wife found a bundle on the knob of the back door containing her husband's watch and purse, as well as a note, which bade farewell to her and their Infant child, and said: "1 am erazy; sometimes I don't know wh?r? I am." Telegraphic Briefs. Having boon acquainted with the recklessness of certain chaffaurs. an owner of a residence at the corner of two rttreetH In England has panted upon the outside of bis hottuc this placard: "Motor car drlvera arc re quested to leave tliin house where It Is." President. Roosevelt has ordered a fell Investigation of the affairs of the entire Department ef Agriculture. Flreman'ft Story of tlic Acc'.denf. Fireman E. (J. Hopp makes the first statement as to the rause of the acci dent. lie says thnt shortly before the ! explosion one of the boilers was found [ to be leaking badly, and the lK>ller mnker was sent for to repair the dam age. Before the latter eaine the explo sion occurred. Hopp saw men all about him killed outright, and he hlm | self was stunned for a moment. The i dead were given a military burial Hun day afternoon at the military reserva tion at Point lyoma. Services were held at 2 o'clock on the point, and launches will convey across the bay the living officers and men able to at : tend. C hange of Management. Raleigh, Special.?R. 1. Cheatham, j assistant general freight agent of the ! Seaboard Air Line Railway, with : headquarter** In Atlanta, will leave ' that road shortly to take charge of the ; Capo Fear and Northern Railway, to ! extend from Durham to Dunn, N. C., ' with headquarters In Durham. The I Cape Fear end Northern Is owned by ! the Dukes, of the American Tobacco ' Company. J. A. Pride, of Columbia, | S. C.t commercial agent of the Sea 1 board, will uucceed Mr. Cheatham. 10 BUILD UP SCUmiNONO TRADE An Effort Will B? Made to Cvate a New Market For Theee Grape,. Columbia" Cor. Charlotte Observer: Commissioner Watson's efforts to And a market for South Carolina acup pernonga as initial step toward devel oping the scuppernong industry on a large scale, this State growing the fin est type of these grapes in the world, from the mountains to the seaboard, has Just resulted in an order for the first car load from a big champagne and wine-making concern at Hermann, Mo. "Of course, on the success of the marketing of this first car load." said Commissioner Watson to The Observer correspondent, "largely depends the fu ture of the industry, and it is of the highest Importance to get the fruit to Its destination in good shape. But I have no fear of the results. The finest ? liwritnn. prinrn In the world are grown right here in South Carolina, and the crop can be produced in great abundance Prywhere in either th* coast, middle or Piedmont scctlrtnH. If the fruit ca:> be gotten to market In good condition splendid prices can be obtained, I have every reason to be lieve." This first car is to be made up from two well known South Carolfha vine yards. and If the experiment proves successful Commissioner Watson ex pects to see a general revival and ex tension of the industry. Scuppernong growing has never been an extensive Industry in this State, though the fruit grows luxuriantly almost anywhere in the State. Since the dispensary law went Into effect, forbidding the manu facture and sale of wine, the few pav ing vineyards that existed then have been allowed to run down to a great extent. The Missouri people intend to use the South Carolina Rcuppcrnong as a basic grape In the manufacture of champagne, and if the hopes of the manufactnres are realized to even any reasonable extent a market will be promptly opened for all that South Carolina can grow, and it is expected that the success of the experiment in this State will promptly result in an extension of the grape industry into North Carolina and Georgia, particu larly fine scuppernongs being growing in North Carolina, where. It Is said, there |? one vineyard whose ramifica tions covers nearly ten acres. One of the largest and most prolific scuppernong vineyards in the State is that near Columbia, now the property of Lieut. Clov. John T. Sloan. Up to 1891 this was operated with great suc cess hy Mr. E. M. Stevber. but with the coming of the dispensary he had to abandon the business. The Sealioard now splits the plantation in twain. ? In I)arlington county there are a number of large and productive vines, as there are elsewhere throughout the State, but there are few vineyards now. The scuppernong grape was Introduced into Aiken county over fifty years ago by Dr. .1. C. W. McDonald, who plant ed several large vineyards, but his busi ness was practically wiped out by the Civil War. There are many handsome single vines at dwellings In that coun ty. however, the largest In the State being that tU Mr. A. .1. Selgler's place, eight miles from Aiken court house, near Croft station. Commissioner Watson has a grati fying report from his Belgium and Holland special representative. Mr. C. J. C. van Wyngaarten. who went over the first of the summer with stereopti con and literature to give lectures, lie writes from The Hague that he has suc ceeded in arousing a lively interest and is coming to America In a few weeks to prepare for the coming of the Immi grants. Commissioner Watson has ap pointed a special representative at The Hague In the person of Oscar P. Schil ler. and Mr. F. W. Grauert. will sail in a very few days on the Ilamhurg American l.lne for extensive work in (Jcrniany. For Better 'Phone Rates. Columbia, Special.?At a recent meet ing of the railroad commission. MaJ. John If. Barle Introduced a resolution inviting the representatives of all In dependent telephone lines In the State, as well as the representatives of the Hell company, to appear before the commission on the 1st day of August to give their views on certain matters. The principal reason for Issuing this summons is to get the charge of $2.!>0 per annum per 'phone whenever they make connection with the Bell com pany's long distance line. Fifteen Injured in Collision. Portsmouth. N. II.. Special.?Fifteen persons weie Injured, eleven of them seriously, and three of them probably fatally. In a collision between two elec tric cars on the line of the Portsmouth electric Railway, near this city, early Sunday evening. The cars crashed to gether on a steep grade and while ronnding a curve, neither motorman seeing the other car In time to pre vent a collision. Spartanburg Postoffic*. Spartanburg, Special. ? There Is much Interest being taken by local contractors In the Federal building which will be erected In this city and which will cost. $80,000. The sealed bids will 1)2 opened by the government architect. James Knox Taylor, on July 26th. and the contract awardeJ. So for there have been Itf bids submitted and these come from all over the country, this city included. One bid Ix from New York, another from Wash ington. still another from Richmond, one from Greensboro, on efrom Green ville. and so on. The plans and speci fications call for a modern postoffice building, one story, with basement Death of Mr. Thompson. Rock Hill. Special.?Mr. Jack Thomp son. son of Prof. J. W. Thompson, died at the family home here Saturday nlpht of fever, after a brief Illness. The news of his death brought a shock to the friends of the family. The remain:? will be taken to Abbeville for Inter ment. It was known that the youth was suffering from fever and it was thought that he was recovering. Just before his death, however, there was a sudden change for the worse and, despite every effort, he succumbed. ORDER CLEAN SWEEP Statistical Department Will Ucdergo Thorough Reorganization IAYS TAKES CHARGE OF BUREAU Aaaiatant Secretary of Agriculture Given a Free Hand to Cleanos the Bureau of Statistics of the Stigma Left by the Cotton Leak Scandal. Washington. Special.? Assistant Sec retary of Agriculture Willet !S*. Hays has taken hold of the aftnira of tho Bureau of Statistics, with instruction* from Secretary Wilson, approved by President Roosevelt, tr. cleanse tlic bu reau of the rtlgnia left by the cotton leak scandal. Mis authority is unlim ited. lie has been told that h<? rny have whatever clerical for." In* m-eda and if there nre any employes v:5.*>;???? services Jie thinks should lie dispensed with, they will be discharged. It is regarded as extremely likely (here will be a complete reorganization of tho force employed I :i the statist leal de partment as well as a thorough re vision of the orders governing tho monthly crop reports, tin* l:?ttcr hav ing already been outlined i*i a divular issued l?y Secretary Wilson. In that regard Secretary Wilson said that hereafter if there are accusations againt-t the integrity of the bureau it must. be directed against himself or Assistant Secretary lla.vs. as he has no intention of allowing ?nv other person access to Information that alight be used tv stock johMng. Mr. Hays probably will be if* chargn of the burc*u until after Congress as sembles. as It h; believed that a compe tcnt man o take the place of Mr. Hyde, who resigned recently as chief statis tician cannot be had for the salary paid by the government. a year. Con gr<ss will be asked to increase the sal si'v an:l it is the intention of Secretary Wilson to place in charge of the ollleo axu*an whose ability has been estab lished. but one who has no connection with statistical bureaus attached io stock brokerage olllccs. Whoever is appointed will llrst be approved by tho President. A rumor has been circulated that when Congress assembles a movement *?111 be started to have the crop gath-' ering bureaus transferred to the De partment of Commerce and Labor in order to instil".- a more complete reor ganization. Senator Dolllver. of Iowa, a warm personal friend of Secretary Wilron. is slated for the chairmanship of the Senate committee <?:? agriculture. Ho has made a study of the methods of crop reporting and it is known that he is opposed unalterably to any change of the cliatacler suggested. Many Deaths From Heat. New York. Special.?While the rec ord of deaths and prostrations greatly exceeded that of Tuesday, there whs a distinct diminution Wednesday in the temperature prevailing throughout the eastern section of the country. Al though the mid-day heat was every where I'Viiflc. it was broken by scat tered thunderstorms, many of a very violent c'u'racteV. and toward.; evening the temperature fell rapidly, until nor mal summer conditions vv< ae reached. In New York the highest temperature recorded was !'?"?. one decree lower than that of Tuesday, when the highest, record of the season was leached. Phil adelphia reported a slightly higher maximum range and in other cities the highest point Tuesday was not touched, while everywhere a sha:p fall was no ticed. beginning early In the afternoon. Following are the maximum tempera tures and the deaths and prostrations from the effects of the heat. City. Max. Tern. Deaths. Pros. New York 05 75 107 Philadelphia .. ..t?r,.S 10 40 Baltimore 02.2 4 0 Washington .. ..02 1 II Boston 04 1 25 Pittsburg K7 !"' ?' Buffalo 70 - ?? The culmlnative effect of the ci'ii tinned tor i Mty of thise d*i>s was pain fully cvi.iei t in the < nor:rous Increase of the number of death!; in New York. While lie dei'lh roll of Tuesday was only 20. that of Wednesday rcu h<d the appalling total of 7">. I eiir^ nearly half of those prostrated. This was almost entirely due to collapse of youii4 chil dren and aged peisons. whose exhaust ed vitality was unequal lo the t train of further suffering. Tragedy at Rome. Georrjir. Rome. <?a.. Hpooh'l. -tjeurgc Wright, city passenger and lieket a-ri!' here for the Scab hern Railway, was shot and killed by Vlnce T. Hanford. San ford refuses to talk and the cause of tho I raged v is not known. Mrs. Wright Is pro ;trated. She was 111 yesterday and the killing of her husband, il Is feare;l. will cause In r Oeath. The grand Jury, which ha* been In ression. returned a into bill charging murder to Hanford. Acting under advice of his attorneys, Hanford continues :-lb<n* The onlv statement he has made is: "lie ha; ruined my home and 1 have killed him. I would d'? the same thing ngai.v" Wm. A. Day Becomcs Comptroller. New York, Spe< 1 a I. ? Chairman Paul Morton. of the Equitable Life Assur* anee Society, summarily icmoved as compt; oiler T. D. Jordan and appolntc I In his riead William A. Day. Assistant Attorney (Sen?ral of ll;e I'nited Sl'tt"s. Chairman Mortfin rave out a statement. In which he sail: "The reason for Mr. Jordan's tcmovnl was his reftn.il t<? fur nish ic.e information regarding import ant transactions of tlie society which I' am investigating."