Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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'Do Thou Liberty Great. Inspire Our Souls and Make Our Livoa in Thy Possession Happy, or Our Deaths Glorious in Thy Just Dofenoe." VOL. XXVI BENNETTSVILLE, S, C., FRIDAY. JULY 5, 1901, NO 27 WORK OF VANDALS. Raid of Sherman's Army Told oy Ono of Them, A HORDE OF THIEVES., Lotter Written by a L?utenant ?Just Af tor Burning of Co lumbia Corroborativo of Charges Made. To tho Editor of Tho Stftto: Bolow will bo found a oopy of tho original lottor mitton by Ki rat Lieu tenant Thos. Q. Moyer?, of don. Sher man's anny whioh oountormarohod to roaoh tho goal of tho "Secession Stnto," whioh be only did after bombarding tho ospitol from tho hoights. of Lexington oounty, whioh aro in plain viow fro u tho high points of this oity, lying "just aorois tho rivor." Upon theso olay hills woro plantod tho battoricu, tht sholls of whioh soaxred tho oapitol, thoo in ooureopf oonstruotion, andsoundod tho doath knoll, ns it wore, to tho fair oity on tho Uotgaroo. This lottor puta tho pause of tho buriog of Columbia whoro it proporly bolongs, and plaoes tho responsibility upon Gen. Sherman and his sub offioirj, who wero diuguisod as privates," abd did tho looting." In this oonncotion I may say that this ' communication carries out tho idoa, 60 foroeably advanood rooontly, by Prof. Spahr and Ooh J. G. GibboB, who havo translated n..? writton up on tho tu'o Joot. Though tho letter alluded to is from husband to wife, and sont "by Hag of truoo," I trust I boir^y no ooufidonoo, as tho letter was piokod up by an old southern "nigger," and carried to htr "Missus," to know if it wss of valuo. It is by reason of great eouucay that I havo a oopy of thu lotter, ?aved from tho aohos of Jacksonville, ?nd per foroo, is of a privato nature. There wo tnou Banus who havo novor hoard anything upon tho Bubjcot; ao with gracious pov miBBion, I am pormitted to givo thin information whioh ovory truo sympa thivsor of a "JoBt causo" will no doubt, appreciate. Tho information is from . pr?valo journah; eo tho printing, for ealo, of this avtiolo is ?triotly enjoined and all. copyrights roaervod. For ob U?QMU rjjBniiu bomo names aro omitted in tho pape id Bont. llobort S. Sparkman. Juno 22, 1901. February 26, 18G5. My dear Wife: 1 havo no timo for particulars. Wo havo had a glorious . timo in thin Stato. Univorsal liacueo to ..,??rarn and plunder waa tho order of tho day. Tho ohivalry have boon atripped of most of their valuablos. Gold r ft^ohos.iU^ forks, oto., ole, oro as oommoU in oamp na blaok horries? Tho terms of plutidor,aro aa follows: Tho valuablos proourod wo ootimato by companies. Eaoh company is . required to exhibit the result of its operations at any given plaoo. One-fifth ntid first ohoioo falls to the Bharo of the oommandor in ohicf and staff, ono firth to Hold officers of rogimonts, and throe-fifths to tho com pany. Ofiioera aro not allowed to join thoso expeditions without disguising thomsolvos as privates. Ono of our oprpB oommandors borrowed a suit of rough olothca from ono of my mon and was suooossful in this plaoc; ho got a largo'rnmntity of silvor, (among other things} an old timo Bilvor milk pitohor) and a very fino gold wacoh f tom a Mr, DoBausBuro at mis plaoo. DoSausBuro is ono of tho F. F. V.'s of South Caro lina, and was rnado to fork over lib erally. Offioeis over tho ratk of oap tain aro not made to put thoir plunder in tho estimate forgoneral distribution. This is vory unfair, and for that reason in order to protect thombolyop, sub ordinate officers and privates koop baok everything that thoy can oat ry about thoir porson, suoh un ringB, ear-rings, breastpins, etc., of which, if ovor 1 live to got homo, 1 havo about a quart I ard not joking-I havo at loast'a quirt of jowolry for you and all tho girls, and some Nb. 1 diamond rings and pins . amony thom. Gon. Shorinan has silver sud gold enough to Btart n bank. Ilia Bharo in gold watohcB and obaina alono, at Go nimbin, was two hundred and sovonty fivo (275); but I said I could not go into particular?. All tho gonoral offioerB and many privatos had valuablos of ovory doBoription, oven to ladies' embroidered pookot bandetohiofs (L havo my bharo of thom too.) Wo took gold and tilvor onoUgh from tho d-d rob?is to havo rodoomod thoir informai ourronoy twioo ovor. This, (tho ourronoj) whenovcr wo como aoroBb it wo burn in wo OOH alder ituttorly worthless. I wish all tho jowolry this anny has could bo oar riod to tho old Bay Stato, it would deok her out in glorious style, but alaal it will bo fccaitt rod all over tho north and middlosStntes. THO d--d ncgroos as a rulo prefer to Blay at homo, parlicu lally aftor thoy found out that wo only wanted tho able-bodied men, (and to toll you tho truth, tho joungcBt and best looking womer.)' Somolimcs wo tako off wholo families and plantations of negroes by way ot ropayipg tho so oossionifltB; but tho uao?op? part ol tht po wo noon manago to loso-aotu? times in oroflsing rivers--Bornotimos in other Ways. I shall vaito to you aghin from Wilmington, Goldhboro, or como othor plaoo in North Orolina. Tho order to maroh has arrived acid I mu it ojoso hurriedly. Lovo to grandmother and Auut Char lottoi Tako oaro of youisvtf and tho ohildron. 1)? not show tina biter out of tho family. Your affootionato husband, Thos. (4. Meyeus, Lieut., oto ; 1\ B.-1 will Bond this by fiag of truoo to. bo mailed unions 1 huvo a ohanoo of Bending it to Hilton Head. Toll Sadie 1 nm Baving a pearl braoolot and oarringa ' for her; but Lambo rt got tho nooklaoo and breast pin of tho samo S?t. *J. am trying to trado him out of thom. Ihcso woro lakon lrom tho M?naos Jamison, daughtois of tho pro sidont of tho South Oarolica soocssion oonvontion. Wo found thom on our trip through Goprgia. * Tho foregoing ?B aoopv of a lottor .found by Misa Florido ?anloy, of Gam don,, ot tho Y ah kc 0 oamp, noar' th At oity. It is dircotod to Mts. Q, Moyer?, Bonton, Ma??., and oorroboratos what * ''.V, . " : >'.\ : ? was boliovod at tho timo, tbat oflioera woro oitizans' and privatos' droBS, io Oidtr to rob without comprising thoir shoulder strapB. Tho following is a lotter from M?BS Florido Oantoy, now tho wlfo of tho Hov. Mr. Johnson, rootor of St. Philip's ohuroh, Charleston, S. C., writton to hor son, Mr Joo Johnson, whoonquircd of hoi' conoorning tho authenticity of tho aforoBaid loitor. All thoso aro in tho poB80?H?o? of, and form part of tho journal, of Mies Grace .101 moro, whioh sho kopt during thoBO troublous timos. Charleston, March 29th, 1899. My Dear Bon: Tho lottoryou wroto of was writon by ono of Shorman's soldiois, ard piokod up noar our old homo (llobkhk Hill.) Tho lottor wac slightly damp from lying on tho ground whon brought to mo by a nogro woman who had piokod it up. Thia wo ama had always boon oonBidorod a quiet, good woman, nob remarkably bright, and could not read a word. Sho lound it jina after a part of Sherman's army had raided Camdon and tho surround ing country, aud brought it to mo to know if I oould toll hor whoso lottor it was. Sho did not havo an idea if it was lost by Boldior or oiviliau, or to whom addrosBod. Aftorwardu, 1 loarnod that tho silver pitohor namod, oorroB pondod with ono takou from Maj. Jno. M. DOSAUO?UI'U'S home: it was the only picoo taken, Naa it wai loft out by mistako when iho rost of tho family silver was oonooalod. Tho lotter was prinlod in tho Camion uowspapor, but it ha? novor bcon roturnod to my pos session. I would bo glad lo havo it DOW, or at loast a oopy of it. This nogro women had boon a ?lave of your Rrandmolhcr'fl, and aotod thon and af. torwards, oa if ?ho still boro allogianoo to her, and you, 1 think, remomborhor as bho nursed your sister, yoursoif and littlo John. Sho was n*mod Cinda, and wanted to go with us to Charleston, but her mother was old and fotblo aud wanted her to stay in Camden. In my own mind and that of my family thoro iu not a doubt of tho lottor hoing au thentio. 1 enjoyed your lotter, and will writo poon. My lovo to my cousins in tho houso, V our affootionnlo Mother. WREOKED IN A FOG Ship Sank and PassonRors Became Paulo Stricken Tho Oriont Slunin Navigation Com pany's Btoamor Laaitania, Captain Mo Nay, from L ivorpool, Juao 18, oi? Montroal, having BOO passoagors on board, was wrooked Wodnosday night off Capo Bollard. No loas of life oo ourrod. All tho pa?songors woro ros ouod. ' Tho Luaitauia was bound round Capo .UflOd for Montreal, with n largo cargo iud a Khip load of. passengers. Sho oiisfook hortoo?r??b^ Wont a3ho'r?,f "boar lt j nows, twenty i milevs- north of Capo ltaoo, boforo day broak. Tho ship ran over a roof and hangs against a oliif. Tho passengers, who aro mostly emigrants, woro panio striokon. They stampeded and fought for tho boats, aud they woro ovoroomo by tho o?f?oors and crew, who Boourod control af tor groat troublo and a pro longed strugglo with tho roughor ele ment among tho passengers, who uaod knivos. THO women and children wero first landed and tho mon followed. Tho crow stood by tho ship. Tho passongorB of tho Lusitania had a terrible exporionoo. Tho first knowl odgo whioh thoy had of tho disastor was when, owing to tho ship rasping ovor tho rooka, thoy wero all hurlod from thoir borths. Many of thom woro bruised and thoy all hurriod on dook in their hight cloths. A noone of groat oxoitomont onsuod. Fivo hundrod por Bons wero oluiuoring tu osoapo whilo tho oiow triod to pacify thom and l&uuoh tho boats. Tho malo passongors, iu thoir attompt to seize tho boats, trampled tho women undor foot ana fought tho orow with knivos. Somo of tie moro cool-headed of tho paesongors assisted tho orow in thoir efforts to got out tho boats. Tho women and children rosouod woro almoBt uakod. Dfcnohcd with spray, thoy wero pilled up tho cliffs by tho ooast peoplo. Some of tho boats wero do mol urned in tho surf whilo at tempting toland and their half drowned oooupantu held on to rooks shivoring with tho oold until rt souod. This morning tho unhappy passen gers, aftor shivoring for hours on tho Hill top, trainpod ovor weary miles in thoir endeavor to renell thojiouso ot tho fi&horuion, whoro thoy aro fyow shelter ed. Provious to roaching tho oliffe, tho passcngors paasod two hours of terrible anxiety on tho wrook. Tho Btoamor Gl?mme, biioging tho Lusitania's pas fcODgoru, waa duo hero Wednesday night. Tho moufiODgor v/ho brought tho nows of tho wreck to St. Johns lays tho passen gers on boaid tho Lusitania drow thoir ii niven to out . tho boat lashings and threatened tho orow of the, stoamor whoo they thought tho latter attempted to iatoifero with thom in to doing. Tho hst moflsngo to tho ?gout? of tho Lusitania hero says tho vossol is hard and firm aground on tho roof and a hopo less wrook. PostofTicoB Washed Away. Oftioial advioes to tho pOBtoflioo do par inion t show that tho break on tho Virginia and Ohio division of tho Nor folk and Western raiiroad, oausod by tho flood extends for a distanco of f)0 milos, from Williamson to l?nnis, txoept tn spots tho In an.J h lino running Iratn Goodwill to BranwoH is priotioally on tiroly wshod away. Chief Clerks I Goodlofrom Waohington, ano Sales from Lynchburg, of tho railroad mail hoivico, have gone to tho flood district to mako a report on tho situation and noed in a pontal way. Tho postmaster at Cedar Bili ff, Va., wirod Woduoedty that tho monoy ordor funda, forms, blanks and stamps, together With transit mall from Paint Ltok, Va-, woro swoptaway by tho flood. Cedar Bluff is on tho Clinch Val loy division of tho Norfolk and Wcnttrn railroad, in Tazowoll oounty. Tho post master at Konis, Va... also reports his ornoo swept away. Tho first notion of tho po&toffioo dopartmont in furnishing emergonoy mail sotvioo into tho flood di?tnut waa taken Wodnoaday whon Assistant. Postmaator Gonoral Shallon borgor au',horlzod tho ostablishmont of a epooial sorvloo to Duhring, via Bran wo ll and Prooman, * IN WAKE OF FLOOD. Tho Wreck of Railroad? and Bridges Woro Complete. GREAT LOS8 TO MINES? No Coko Can be Hindlid. for Woe ks Whlakoy Courage Caused Loss of Sev eral* L?vos. Tho (Iamago in tho coal fiolds hogina at Colo Dato, which ia 15 miloo west of Bluofiold. At that plaoo groat embankments supporting tho railroad traok havo hoon waahod out. Al Mayborry, from tho train oan bo Boon fivo houeos upsot and partially demoli? li od. Tho branch road leading from this point to tho Norfolk and Doha oolliorios haa Bustainod heavy damage; tho traok io washod out in somo pl?008 and oovorcd ovor in others, and thoBo lott of tho long row of valu ablo ooinpany housos havo an unsightly appoaranoo on account of material washod in thoir yards. Tho loss boro and at Li ok Brr.noh ia $15,000. At Lick Branch tho wntor was very high, and at this plaoo damago to j tho main linc of railroad begins, and doatruotion of ooal company property incrcasos. At. M >.ntfl nun ho SOC" tho vom?i??S of a valuablo houso, and on d inn bolow, lumbor from many building* is ool loo ed high against bridge abutments and othor unmovablo slruoturos. At this plaoo tho cast bound ti'Aok begins to entirely disappear and at Homo dis ta&oo further tho roadbod is entirely gouo from both traoks. Tho iron bridgo Btruoluros still ro main but tho aiproaohoB to either ond in most all casos havo boon entirely washod away, by reaiion of lumber from domoliahod housos and othor matonal hoing wodgod against tho abutment* causing tho water to How arnuud. All woodon budges aro gone. Tho Turkey Cap coller ios'loss is $29,000, tho tip plo is slightly damaged and tho ooko traoks gone. Tho delivery and coko ovon traoks of tho Crosser and Houston operations aro moni entirely gone. Bndgoa and ali oars aro turned ovor ompty and partially loaded, and somo aro deinolishod. Tho Crozer boiler houso is wa*hod out and tho damago sustained is $25,000. Tho damage at Houston io $15,000. At tho Upland company tho boitor houso and tipplo is partially washod away. Along hero tho camp housoo havo boon moved and destroyed. - Bo twoeu this operation and Kyle, all traoks aro badly damaged, nearly ovory .ihing having ?x?haheod^p?>.H?oi?' -filth* tho termer orook bod. . Tho groat Alla whioh tho railroad company havo been ni&king and riprapping cvor sinoo tho high water of 1897, havo boon levelled-. All operations havo had heavy loss and weoks will havo passod boforo they oan work aguie to advantago. Heavy damago wa3 dono at Ljmoh burg operations, mostly to tho tracks. Up north Fork bran oh a ruiuod houso oan bo soon, besides a lot Of building material whioh was lodged against North Folk bridgo. Tho wator han ohangod its oourso at this bridgo by removing tho embankment at tho oast approach. Tho North Fork operations all Bustainod oonsidorablo damago. Algoma lost houses and traoks and no reasonable estimato oan yot bo made. ]?lkridgo lout a number of houses, ooko ovons and I rostios. Tho powor house and thoir traoks woro washod out. Tho tippleid also damaged; loss. $20,000. Ureonbrior lost a numbor of housos and thoir traoks woro damagod. At Hollo tho tipplo and trostlo wcro I damaged. At lloanoko tho damago to housoB, trestles and traoks will amount to $7, 500. At Arlington bridgoa'aro gono abovo and bolow tho tipplo and tho loss is estimated at $10,000. At MoDowoll tho traoks aro washod out and houses destroyed. Gillioma loss is heavy in small houaos. Indian Ridge lost a numbor of housoo and thoir storohousos waa damaged. Dr. Workman's houso and ornoo woro washed away, los? $12.000. Ashlands loBt botweon eight and ton thousand. Bottom orcok lout $25,000. Tidowator lost hoavily. At Koystono tho Btroots aro washod irrogular and dobris is ovorywhoro; floors of tho building standing aro oov orcd with mud and water has boon all ovor tho town to a oonsidorablo depth. Had it not b?on for tho jamming of tinco or four buildings at tho upper ond, noar tho susponBion bridgo, no doubt tho outiro proporty of tho town v/ould havo boon n total loss. Just opposito Calhoun's buildings on tho othor Bido of tho orook, all housos woro cntiroly swept away, inducing tho most o? Bolioher town. Property is undermined and badly damaged at Burke Tho wholo fill, on whioh tho two traoks pass through Koystono, is cntiroly geno, track* and ail, Tho wagon bridgo and tho ooal ooinpany housos on tho company's sido aro alua gono, and Bank's building known as ''Ibo First Chango Saloon," is domol iohod. Many per mus had narrow os* oapoi with th?ii' lives andmon, women, and o li i Ul r n suuocodcd is escaping through waior waist doop, while ethers w"ro oarriod away. A Mr. Abbott sue* oecdtd in roBOuing a man mimed Look wood on Main stroot by fa>toniug him Bolf to post by moans of a ropo anet mak ing n dive in tho swift water just us Lookwook was sinking from viow. Many similar rosouos wcro made. Fight hue ien have been found bctwCOU i Jin Ko and kkiknun. Thcro is no doubt that many lost thoir liven through mero pro jool-! and from hoing intoxioatod. Ono white man got on a section of sido walk aud loft town with hi? aims folded roinarking that ho was going down bo low to find out how ovorything was. His body was recovered afterwards. . Tho lon? at Poorlcsj is ostima,tcd at $30,000 and at Shawnoo at $30,000. "How to Koop Cool" rooipoa aro tho order of tho day, and liko a oortain othor long Bought roinody, havo novor yot provod offioaoious. Candidly-if a bull bo pormittod-tho only way to koop oool is not to try. THE CROP OUTLOOK Tho Weather Conditions Laat Wo ok Were Unfavorable. Bolow is givon tho wookly bullotin of tho condition of tho weather and oropa in tho Stato issuod last week by Uirootor Bauor of tho South Carolina sootiou of tbo oliniato and orop nov vioooftho U ai tod State B won thor bu reau. It is of special interest in view of tho gloomy viows of tho farmers: Tho week onding Monday, Juno 24th, had nom-Jy normal tomporaturo, and olosed with oxtromoly hot woathor, with maximum tomporaturos hetwoon 95 sud 100. A minimum of Ol was ob sotved at Spartanburg on tho 18 oh. Thoro was loss than tho usual amount of suuBhino ovor a largo portion of tho Stato, but gouorally it was about nor mal. Thoro was a sovoro hail and wind Btorm in Lexington oouuty on tho 22d. Tho rains of tho wot k woro looal in obaraotor, but woro tho hoavioBt of tho season at a fow points. TI19 hcnveSt rains ooourrod gonorally in tho North Carolina bordor ocuottos, v/horo bot tom lands wcro flooded for tho fifth timo this yoar. Cultivation made good progross in tho oonual and southeast cm oountios, but ovon thero lowlands aro Btill too wot to plow, while olao where plowing was praotioablo on only from ot; o to throo days, and fiolds con tinuo (0 bo foul with grass and woods, in plaoos, to such an extont that both ocrn and cotton have boen abaudonodj and lowland oats have boon out ano. cured for hay on account of tho gras?. Colton improved shghty whoro it could bo worked, but tho plants oon tii'.UG to M? U?pC??uii?uly numil, ana much of it io yollow. Somo cotton is soaldod and lioo aro still in ovidonoo, although lofiR nurnerouB than last week. ; Chopping is hot fi dished. Many iioldi arc still grassy and much cotton ?B being destroyed ia oloauing it of gias? and woedr. foomo fiolds have been abandoned on aooouat of their foul oondition aud .looroity of laborers.' Sot island made a decided improve ment. Upland oom looks woll whoro it was worked, hut muoh looks yellow and is very proal)j while lowland oom is ir retrievably injurod by OXOOSB of mois turo and luok of proper cultivation. Bntoin* hsvj not all been planted or replanted. Corn ia tasseling low and is unpromising gonorally. Tooaoco is toing cut and ourod in Plorouoo county; it is small and poor in all sootions, hut has improved daring ttio wook. Rioo is excellent in tho Charleston and Williamsburg districts, somo was damagod by ovorflows and stagnant wator in tho Colioton dis I ti iot, whilo in tho Goorg?town dis trioto froshcts injurod it. and only about one-fourth tho usual amount ol Juno rico could bo planted. Wh|$? harvest is noarly finished, and hie wheat was poor owing to rust and. gialnfl atc sprouting in tho shook \?o nomo extent. Throshing has boguh with gonorally good yiolds. ?woot potato slips aro still hoing set out. Some peas have boen plantod. lu placos melons uro blighting, but a goo oral improvement is notou. Poaohos aro rottoning oxtonsivoly as thoy ripen. Apples continue to drop. Wild plums'and bordos aro plentiful. A continuation of dry woathor is needed to improvo orop prospeots whioh aro still very unfavorablo. A Little Boy Killed. Tho Columbia Stato says a deplorable aooidont ooourrod at tho hipworth or phanage during Ibo storm of Wednes day afternoon. AA old cow shod was blown to tho ground, killing ono little follow outright and wounding two othors. Tho boys-niuo io numbor -w?ro ia tho orchard gathoring plums. Overtaken by tho rain j thoy wont undor a nearby cowshed together with two negro mon, a half dozen oows and two horses. Tho old shod was unable to withstand tho in creasing foroo of tho wind and soon af tor foll with a crash. As soon as tho ne groes could disent anglo themselves tho wrookago was removed. Charlie Staok was found lying on his loft sido pinnod to tho ground by a hoavy sill whioh had orushe? his skull. Thoro wero sovoral bruises on his body and his log was btokon. J>JO White had a long gash down tho forehead and faoo to his lip, it hoing out to tho bono, and John H. Park or had his right olbow dislooatod. Tho agos pf tho injuret* boys woro 9, 6 and 12 years rospootivoly, Tho littlo follow wno was killed, Charlio S?aok, caine to thcorphanago about throo and a half yoars ago. His former homo was in Florones whoro ho aud his oidor brother livod up to tho timo of thoir father's death. Killed With an Axe. - Hov. Patrick Chambors, ono of tho most prominent oitizons of tho Holly Springs sootion, Goonoo County, had diod tro ti tho eflcota of a blow ro ooivod at tho hands of his son-in-law, Han Hoaoh, sovoral days ago, with an axo. All this trouble, it is said was o;>u:.od by Keach not providing for his own family. Ho lives at tho homo of Mr. Chainbors who told him ho ought to got to work and muko a living for his family. KoaohbeoAino furiouu, so oirod hi? r.xo, and dealt n deadly blow with tho siuo of it baok of tho loft oar. Mr. Chamber* is a leader of his sootiou, honefat and rosptotod. Hoaeh has boon in trouOlo bo fora, his father in law al ways coming to his rosene, trying to in&ko tumo-.liing ou/o him. Ki Hod by Lightning. A groat many moro persons eonm? to bo kilted now by lightning than fm mor ly. Whilo stacking wheat on his farm, six miloii liouth of Piodmcuot, Ala., on \Yodnesday. Hebert Coo- aud his Sou wore idruck by lightning ?ind instantly killed. Whilo wurkiug in a held in Lincoln couaty, Noi\h Carolina, Wed nesday afternoon,. William Huss and ono son woro instantly killed, and another son probably fatally iojurod by lightning. A Long Sontonco. One of tho longest and diroot son tonooB ovor pronouoood upon a oriml nal is probably oonlainod in tho doois ion ol'a Judge in Naples, who in Hided reooutly upon an Italian advonturor, who ploadod guilty to and WAS oonviot-. od of sixty four soparlo forgeries. Tho judgo figurod up tho ponaltiosand .. omi dally Bcotonoed tho prisonor to .1,088 years of solitary oonfinomont. ?TARVING IN CHINA. Tho 8nd Condition of That Un? S happy Country. ILLION? DYINQ FOR BREAD. li Vfi are of Drought the Causa. / Death by the Thousands. Children Sold for Bread to Eat. b Twonty millions of mon, womon and 'ohildron starving ; a universal huogor that oausos thousands of doatho daily; yarohod ilolds and a drought of throo years' duration; wholo villages abandon ed to tho doad, and tho population sub sisting on roots and herbs; mothers polling thoir ohildron for broad, and tho horrors of oannibilism. j Suoh is tho awful pio'.uro that has ? veoontly boon brought to tho attontion !of tho world from boyond tho niouu 'tains whioh onoloso tho -prov?noos of Shonai and Shonsi, ia China. Tho first break in tho silonoo of do pair, tho ii cst signal of distroos from tho millions of statving in thoir iso ?".j.tion oamo in tho form of a cablogram to Amorioa from Li Hung Chang, tabina's '?Grand Old Mau,"-tho Bis Wrok of Asia. i Tho oaMogram ia ilsolf was a strango thing d^or tho licit timo in that long ?history whioh began in tho dawn of timo, China was appoaliug for aid to \ih<? no wer world boyond tho Groat Wall Knd tho.grcat sea Njver boforo had tho like ocourrod. Calamities and wars /and pcstilunoos thoro havo been ia ^Ohina ^ during tho long, monotonous |dyna'jtios, but nouo that shoo^naidorcd jiUmpoasiblo of roliof from roeouroos Mithin lier own bordors. Ail tho tradi tions of her past, all prcoodenfand ro (ligion, woro opposed to a pica for aid '{ft?ox a foroigu powor. Sid, indood, Wet bo tho plight of tho 20,000,001), (.lion Li Hung Chang says tu Christian .America: "Help, or wo por lob I" ) ''Very soriouj famiuo," Earl Li oa hjod; ''sproads ovor wholo provinoo of \Shanai. Over 11,000,000 population a?ooiud. Urgont rohof noooesary. Con dition warrant immodiato appeal." m Wu Ting Fang, Chmoso minister to .tho Utiitod States, supplomontod tho wiooroy's words with an urgont inos ?jiago of his own, and forwarded a translation of tho following louohing $ppoal from, tho govornor and nativo ? cl?of ootnmittoo of Shansi: I 'To 0ur O ?n Pooplo aud-Foreigner*: "Thia timo. tho famine is moro pori ?8m't.\iai\ ovor,.heo\ufjo in tho nov^h ard I vUf^rV; (vows? ?:^".iti>'<M?o. HO?H)UW,??I haVQi Boyer al plaaos in rebellion. China is very poor now, and tho peoplo aro in suoh a Blraightonod position that no vory ,big iassistanoo oan bo oxpootod from thom. Sinoo moro than sovoral months now, tho famiuo has boon beginning in plaoos in this provinoo. In somo vil lagos thoy aro eating human flesh. "All our brothers in tho world should bo very sorry for^.us, and should know how unfortunato wo aro. Wo wish all our pooplo to sharo somo of your monoy whioh you spond amusing yoursolvos. and for travoiing, and for drossing ana for all kinds of comforts, to rosouo thoso poor pooplo. It is much bottor to eavo tho starving and dying mon, womon and ohildron horo, than to build a pagoda or tomplo, or ovon a o h uro h booauao from ton to twolvc million poo plo aro Buffering to doath." Tho two provinoos of Shansi and Shonsi aro sido by sido in tho northoru part of tho Chinoso empire, 600 mile? from tho soa ooasc, thoir oombinod aroa of 157,000 squaro milos, about that of tho Now England Statoa with Now York and Pennsylvania; yet, orowdod into this small torritory aro 20,000,000 human boings, moro than ono-quarter tho ontiro population of tho Uni tod States. Shapsi and Shonsi woro onoo beauti ful and fruitful. Thoy aro mountain ous and.furrowod by pioturo&quo val loys. In faot, a literal translation of Shansi would moan "Mountains bf tho East." For oonturios buforo wostorn history began, tho denso population oultivatod noe on tho terraces on tho hillsidos. Shansi is old over for China. Its principal oily, Tai-y lien, was tho capitol of tho ompiro wlion Fokin was now. Its pooplo woro simple, oontontod and poaooablo. Daring tho last dooadoEuropean and Amorioan oivilizationhasdrivou an on toring wodgo into tho proj adi?os and suporaititionB of tho mountain pro vinoos. Eapooinlly was this tiuo of Shansi, tho noaror of tho two to tho soa obast. Until rooontly it was tho scone of tho labors i f moro than iyo mission* arios. Agonts of foreign firms in Hong Kong and Shanghai havo orossod tho mountain passos, and havo made a bo ginning in what will somo day bo un doubtedly a largo import tr.ado with tho farmers of tho terraced valloys. Thoro aro ooinparativoiy low ntroama in tho two proviuocs, and wator for tho rico Hold j is supplied by irrigating ditohesand wolla. TUoio dry up whoa rain fails, and tho nsult is a faiiuro of crops and famino. Suoh is tho condi tion now. For two yoars eoarojly any rain h/o f Allon in Shansi and Shonsi. Boforo tho last of tho missionarioa loft Shansi, tho black shadow of hun gor hung HO low over tho land as to mako oven tho famiuo horrors of India small by oumparison. And tho shadow has continued to doopon. No ono will probably over know tho exact number of vioiiins, but rooont accounts givo somo idea of tho doath harvost that is hoing gloanod in tho parohed fields. Rico, tho ono important staple of food, is worth its woight in gold. As a sub stituto tho people, in sheor despair, oat grass and tho loavos of tioos. Deaths aro too numorous to mako funorals any longer possiblo. Outoido of ovory vilbgo a doop pit is dug, and every morning aro laid tho bodios of thoso who havo diod during tho night, oovorod only, by a thin layor of oarth. Lator in tho day anofchor ghastly layor j 1B plaood upon thom and tho process octntinuod until tho pity is ll Hod, whioh seldom takes longer than a fow days. Largo towhft aro dbpopulatod. Tho in habitant! waldor Uko tylld boaato ?through tho fiolds ?oarohing vainly for food. Loathorn strapB and saoks aro boiled and eaton to satisfy tho oravings of hunger. Somo idoa of tho horror of lt all oan bo gathered from the follow* ing lottor roooivod in this oity from a Chinaman in Shansi: "A man Just oamo from a villago out?ido of this oliy, and doBoribod tho oondition of tho starving pooplo, whioh mado mo fool as though I waa among thom. Thirty dollars was tho prieo of a bag of rico. Thc poor have no ?ico; they killed ovory thing in ai glu, if eat able, and cooked evon loather boxos or bags, and Btowod troo-bark and grass. Somo of thom woro BO famished that thoy woro oven oating oarth. "Ca tho first day, ho saw a numbor of poer pooplo Bolling their ohildron for rioo. Cn tho ?coond ho Baw tho Bamo party lying starving on tho road, and on tho third day about half of them woro dead, and thoir misorablo bodioB woro lying at tho morey of hungry dogs and wolves. "Nearly ovory oity, town or villago ho passed through was doaortod or tho houses oooupicd by tho doad. It is said that in ono town tho people havo oponed a human Ooah msrkot. "Anothor friond told mo of a fair *'v of nino. Tho mother oould not boar to hoar tho ory of tho famishod ohildron and fiaally oommitted suioido." Tho Christian Herald oaught up Li Hung Chang's appoal and sproad it broadcast throughout tho United Statos. Tho roBponao has boon moro quick and gonorom than to any provi ent! callo on tho gonorosity of Ameri can!). Ono of tho lind contributions was from President MoKinloy, who, from his special oar on bia journey aoroBB tho ooottinont, telographod hia ?on?fiuutio? along wiih thnt of Mr. John II ty, norn olary of stato. AI rood $20,000 havo boon oablod to tho Italie! committee of fi90 mi t.. si o n arios in Tionlsin. Tho obstaeloawhioh lcd nomo portions in this oountry to fear that tho distribution of i'?imino re lio! in China would bo a di Hie ult ta? k havo melted away. Shanta's now governor is a Y o ry pro grossivo Chinaman. Ho is a friend ol tho foroginors, and ho recently sont au official escort to Pekin to oonduot thc missionaries back to Tni-Yon-Fu. Shtnai, too. has boon found to bo quite aa aoooBBiblo for roliof operations af any other part of tho empira. Tiloso aro tho dsya whon olootrioitj and H to a m aro knitting tho world to got Kor. $20,000 oan now bo sont fron: Now York to China almost as emily ai Philkd?lnhl^ Whilo you aro reading thin a flo! il lr of small janka and river boats is prob ably well on its way up tho Yang-tat rivor. Tho flotilla is laden with toni of rico. It will follow its winuings to ward tho southern bordors of tho twt provinoos, and thon continue up tin rivor Han to a point whore its oarg< will be loaded on wagon trains am oarriod far into tho interior. v Thou uanda of livos will bo tmvotl, and, a Wu Ting Ifang rooontly -?ttfei^^Ss ?O?toiV'tl ?o ? long "- wayr?i>w'aid h'?.p ing tho Chinese to roalizo thc foroigu ors aVo not their o no mies." YOB. $20,000 will go a long way ii Shansi and Shonsi, but aftor all. it i only a beginning. A great doal mor is needed boforo tho shadow oan b iiftod from over tho dosort valley.') A fund is now boing rained whioh it I hopod may rival tho huadrods of thou: ands contributed for India. Oruahod, hoartbrokon China toda looks to America as her best friont Thoro is something pathotio in 1 Hung Chang's soleotion of this ooui try for his appoal. Li Hung Chang waa tho friond < Gen. drant. By his instructions, th Chinoso minister ovory memorial da j lays a wroath on tho tomb on Hive sido Drivo. Li Hung Chang mado i us tho firat admission of his oountry suffering* Shall his appofl bo in vain? Wi tho countrymen of U. S. Grant gi' no hood? No, as Dr. Louis Klops? says, in a littlo pamphlet juit iasiiod I tho roliof fund: '* 'Lot tho dead past bury its deat Thoso pooplo, though thoir skin bo yt low* though thoir oustoms bo strang though thoy livo in a different elim though thoy havo orrod, and gric cu sly errod, yot aro they our brothrc and wo will not dosort thom in tl hour of torriblo affllotion and d trosa. "Thoy shall not dio if wo can prove it. Their ohildron shall not bo st for food, for to thom thoy aro as d< as our own prattling babos aro to 1 thoy shall not starve, Booing that G has givon us enough and to spare. I of our abundanoo will wo assist tho and, God helping us, wo will do thom as wo would, under similar 0 ditions, havo thom do to us, and tl reducing tho Goldon ltulo to praoti wo will givo thom bread to tho full tont of our individual ability." Saving lives in North China is not ozponaivo proooss. Ton Amoriean eonts will pay tho ponncs of a small family for a < and twonty oonts will savo a lifo fo woek, A dollar is all that is nom to maintain a family of fivo for a w< and $100 will keep alivo a good si villago. All contributions towards t dcaotving cause should bo addros to tho China Kami no Roliof fund, 0 Tho Christian Horald, Biblo Hoi Now York._ A Fatal Collision. A collision occurred on ono of streets of Montgomery, Al*., Wodi day afternoon between a trolley oar 1 hmso oart oausod tho death of ono 1 and four woro injured, '.?be fire; woro responding to an alarm of firo woro crossing tho railroad track w tho'hoso oarriago was struok by tho Tho Btreot had recently been graded that point and tho out waa of suoh a turo that neither party oould seo other until too lato to stop. Tho 1 oarriago wai totally domoiishod and front ond of tho oar badly brokon. ' oonduotor and motormen woro arres A (Jaroloss ISnginoor. A froight of tho Seaboard Air 1 ran into a freight of tho Plant sys at tho or Dieting at Bladon. Ga., Wed day morning? It 1B tho law in Goo that all trains shall stop at oro?sl From tho ovidonoo lt acorns that li Bradford, onginoor of tho Seaboard t failed to Slop his train. A crash wat result. Bradford was seriously inj and Ids Aroman, Robert Simms, instantly killed. Nobody on tho I systom train was hurt, Sovoral woro smashod and tho Seaboard 011 THE OROP OUTLOOK. On the Whole the General Condition ie Bettor Tho growing cotton orop mado fair pr ogre tm tho last wo ok and is doing woU cxoopt in tho AUantio Statos, whore oxoossivo moisturo and laok of cultivation hay o kept its condition low, hut in those sootiops, tho orop lc'kg well. In tho oontral and wootorr-. dis triots squares aro forming and blooms havo boon noted rot far north as Mis souri, whilo in southwostbru Tox?s pioklng has begun. Wo at of tho Mississippi droughty conditions prevail that will soon injuro tho prospootB unloss roliovod by rain. Lioo aro oausing nomo approhonaion in tho Atlantic Statoa, and tho boll woovil in Texas has caused damage locally. On tho who to, tho orop is in a fairly 1 promising condition. j In North Carolina frcquont showers with oloudy, oool woatnor provailod during tho wook Just pasaoi. Bains eoe ur rod at soino plaoo or other in the ??talo on every day of tho wook, and woro quito hoavy on tho 21st and night of tho 24 th, oausiag fren h o tn ia tho smallor stroams; but gonerally tho rains woro looal in olnvraotor, and ovor many oountios thoro woro favorablo opportunities for farm work. Cotton is making vory slow growth, but looks woU in cultivated Molds; grass oontiu uos to bo troublesome; in somo ooun tios lioo havo appoarod on cotton. Soma early plantod cotton ia beginning to lorm tquaros. In Mouth Carolina ootton improvod slightly whoro it could bo worked, but the pl s nt s continue to bc uaroaiO?ubly small, and much of it is yoUow. Somo ootton is sodded, aad lioo aro still in ovidonoo, although loss numorous than last week. Chopping is not finished. Manv fi J ld -J aro still grassy, and much OOtton 18 being destroyed in cleaning it of grass and woods. 8omo fiolds have boon abandoned on aoaouut of their foul oondition and soaroity of la borers. ??A island mado a dooidod '.im provement. In Georgia hoavy rains foll in tho oasioru oountics carly in tho week; otherwise generally fair weather has provailod with high tomporaturo. Ali orops havo boon gtvon muoh needod cultivation, but tho supply of labor is not equal to demanda. A slight im provement in tho orop situation is noted in many oountios, whilo in otil ?te tho dotrimontal effoots of tho past heavy rains aro still apparent. Cotton is still in poor condition in many lo calities, but oom iarooovoriug rapidly. | In Alabama hot, dry woathor pro? vailed, tho day temperatures averaging well up in tho ni notion, and, on a fow days during tho latter part of tho wook, reaching 101 dogrooa at ?orno stations in middle and o ns torn oountioe; practically no rain oeourrod, except Boattorod show or? ia oxtremo castora oouutios Sahdav afternoon, onda general rain would now Ih^vbonntloiM .to, alt orops. Tho dry ; woathor- was favorablo tor work, and ootton has been mostly worked out, and is now olean, and, whilo it is small, it is gonerally healthy and ia improving Btoadily ; squares aro forming vory gonor ally, and somo is ready to bloom. In Mississippi ovor tho oontral and northern portions of tho State tho work was vory favorable for tho cultivation and growth of orops; which aro gen erally in good oondtion, but nooding rain. Ia tho southern oountios tho continued dry woathor oommonood to show its ill offoots on orops, especially oom aad gard on a. Ovor tho most of tho Stato ootton is olean aad is mak ing a satisfactory growth, although gonerally from two or throo weoks late. lt is beginning to bloom ia somo of tho Eouthora and oontral oouutios. la Louisiana tho week has boon pvao . tioally vainicas, and for tho second time during tho prosont growing season drouth of damaging intensively pre vails in all parts of tho Stato Cottonis reportod in fine oondition ia a low looalitios, rough and kinky or turning rod and ia other ways show ing tho bad effoots of tho dry, hot woathor ia other plaooa, but gonerally, although from ono to thrco week lato aad growing slowly, it is looking heal thy and tho first planted is blooming. Ia TonucsBoo eottoa is still small, but I tho high tomporaturo of tho wook was j favorablo to ic, and tho outlook is moro onoounging now than at almost any prc rous timo this soaason. v;,*:>. Texas vory light rain was roport od from a few looalitios ia tho north eastern aud over tho oktromo north* wostorn portion of tho Stato, and show ors occurred boro and thoro along tho Brazos aud Trinity rivera on tho 17th and 18th, but ia no oaso was tho raia? fall euffioioat to reliovo tho nooda of orops. All portions of tho Stato need rain and in a groat many sections, not ably in tho oontral, southorn and oaa.t orn, a sorious drouth is prevailing. Cotton, oo unidor i n g tho dry woathor, has dono woU; tho orop is gonerally in bloom. Tho crop needs rain, but thoro aro only a fow iostaaoos notod whoro tho piantis aotually Buff criag for mois turo. Tho boll woovil continuos to damage otton, but thoir depredations aro oonlined to limited areas in tho southorn portion of tho Stato; r o por tn indioato that they aro hoing rapidly thia nod out by tho var iou y mot bods unod to oxtorminato thom. Karly oot ton ia tho cxtromo south ia opooiog and is hoing piokod. In Arkansas tho woathor continuos hot and dry. No rain of* oonsoquonoo oooutred during tho wook, oxoopt in the northwest sootion, whoro soattorod showors ooourrod on tho 18th inst. All orops aro bogioning to need rain badly. Corn and cotton havo mado rapid growth. In Oklahoma and Indian Toirltory oloar, hot woathor, with high southerly winds provailod during tho wook; looal showors ooourrcd on tho 17th, 18ih, 19th and 2lat. Cotton ohoppping ls about oomplotod, and tho plant is squating and oommonoing to bloom; it made a good growth and is in good condition, In Missouri ootton, in tho southeast ern oountios, ls making oxoollont pro groas and is beginning to bloom. In Virginia thoro was too muoh rain for ootton. I ? I 'ill His Family Lopt. I Lowell I). Hoamor, tho formor dis burser of. the publlo.workB department ot Vor to ltlco, died Juno 17. His wifo and family havo boon. unsuooeis:?ully. sought for. At ono time they *cxo bo liovodtobo at JAoksonvillo. h'ia.i or Memphis, Tenn. Amoiioans a> San Juan took nhargo of tho funeral < rsa WRECK OF A TRAIN. Cars Pillid One on thelOther In an Incx'rloable Mass. SIXTEEN PERSONS KILLED* The Accident Occurred in a Lon?* ly County at Midnight Hours Bftfore Wounded Ware Treated. Sixteen poraons woro ? killed and about . 50 woro soriously injurod in a wrook o? train No. 3, tho wost bound Wabash limited, nino milos wont of Poroa, Ind., ot 12.30 a. m., Wodnofl day. Tho doad aro al?'?isl'an Emigrants1 on routo to Colorado, whoao'narabs aro unknown. Two sortions of train No. 3, ono oo min g {from Detroit and tho othor from Tolodo. woro oonsoHdatod in this oity into a train of olovon oars, making ap tho flyor for its Jourooy to St. Louis. It oonsistod of tv combina tion baggage and oxpro??, combination baggago and smokor, day ooaoh, emi grant ooaoh, throo ohair oars, throo , Bloopers and tho privato oar of Gonoral Suporintondont Jottor of tho Iron Mountain railway. Having loft this oity ono hour late thc train was speed ing westward at a high nato whon at a point nino milos wost tho ongino plunged through a trostlo which had y boon undermined by tho. raonnt ho*vy 'Vj rains? Tho ombankmont on both sides of ?ho littlo stream droppod at a sharp dogroo a dint nuco of forty foot. Owing to tho momentum of tho train tho on- i gino appaarod to leap nearly aoroas tho ombankmont, plunged into tho soft earth on tho opposito sido and foll hjok to tho bottom. Eoginoor Bailor and Firouian Adams wore thrown from tho oab but not aoriouuly hurt. Tho ox pross oar and tho first ohair oar wore, tolosoopod. /Tho emigrant oar folio wod by two ohair oars wont down on tho left side of tho track and tho first sloopor pito ?tod forward upon tho mass of dobris. Its windows and truoks woro broken, but nono of tho ooou-* pants wore injured. Tho romainiug oars also loft thoir truoks, but wore not badly damaged, lt was in tho emi grant and day ooaohoa that most of tho u??iuH and injuries ooourrod. There was absolutotly no moans by whioh tho ongino orow could nco tho impending dangor; in faot, tho ongmo ran out upon tho trostlo b of oro tho . struoturo gavo way. Tho night was intonaoly dark. For a fow minutes af tor tho fatal plunern and dreadful roar of orashine Umuprs, a-deathly, stillhosa' provailod) whioh was.ndv brokon by tho orioa of tho in jurro. iVainmpn oaught up thoir lan* torand rush od to tho uoighboriug ? farm housos for assistance. ' Tho farin* ors, with their wives and ohildron, ? bearing torohoa, hastonod to tho soono, AU elforts woro bout to giving first . aid to tho injurod. Tolophono mo? o ago fi woro dispatohod to this oity and ovory physioian was hurriedly takon toa spooial train wbioh oarriod thorn to tho sopne. Tho injured Woro plaood about on opts and ovory thing poosiblo dono to ameliorate th?ir oondition, For a time aftor tho roBourors reach ed tho soono of tho wrook littlo could bo dono in tho way of moving tho doad. Hundrod of tons of twisted Iron and brokon timbers rested upon tho . oar vt boro tho unfortunato omigranta wore orushod. By moans of wro oking. dorrioks tho mass was gradually oponod and by daylight noarly ali tho doad had boon romovod to tho oity. The Deadly Lightning. Tho storm whioh struok Bitsburg and vioinity Wodnosday afternoon waa short in duration, but torrifip in-power and disastrous in off uot, Tho lightning and thundor was practically continuous for about thirty inmuto?, tho wind at taining a volooity of thirty milos an hour and 40 inohes pf rain foll, Tho tomporaturo foll 2<1 dogroos within au hour. Ono woman was killod instantly by lightning and sdvOral othor persons may dio from tho samo oauso, numbor loss houses and ohurohoa woro struok by lightning and sevoral pionio patties woro paniostriokon. At South Avonuo park, a-pionio party, oomposod of 1,200 persons, 700 of wnom woro ohildron, gathorod in tho danoing pavilion, for sholtor from tho storm. Lightning struok a troo within oight foot of tho pavilion and sot fire to tho struoturo. Tho pioniokors woro- panioatriokon, womon fainted, ohildrons oronmodn and ovontho mon in tho party gavo way to thoir fright. Fprtuatoly tho hoavy rain oxtinguishod tho Hamps and although a largo numbor of tho party woro moro or loss hurt, in tho panic, nono woro seriously injurod. A similar panio ousuod at St. Joaoph'B paroohial sohool, on Mount Olivor, whoro oommonoomont oxorolsos v/oro hoing hold. Tho hall was fillod with ohil drou and thoir paronts whon lightning struok tho building, toaring a portion, of tho roof away. No fatalities result* ed. Jumps from Steamship. Tho captain of tho Anobor Lino stoamor Furnossia, from Now \ ork, June 15, whioh arrived at Glasgow, Wodnosday, roports that lllphard Waiko, a lawyor of Virginia, jumped overboard from tho stoamor Juno 20 and was drownod, A dipatoh says Riobard Waiko was a roaident of Norfolk and ono of tho moat distinguished law? yera of the Stato of Virginia. Hp loaves a wifo aud four daughtors. Tho widow of Oominodorc Truoxton ia his stator. Ho was aooompanicd on tho trip to Europe by bia wifo and a g?ntloman friona. His doath is tho result of his third attompt to ond his lifo in rooont year*, and ho is tho third of bia family to dio by thoir. own hands within tho past three yoara. In 1899 Honry Waiko, % his brother, shot him?olf ia Brooklyn ?bilo on a visit to that oity, Littleton , Waiko, son of Biohard Waiko, stabbed hirnsolf t? doRth in his room at tho University of Virginia roopntly. A Goorgito odltor gays if any farmer Hots tho weeda grow while it rains, and doon not work fast and ooutimiowly whilo tho sun shinos hp is going to find (Arming a failure noxfc autumn. This is a good timo of tho yo** to uso wbitowaoH on fonoos.