Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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? ? . ' . f/ ^ ^ . * "DO THOU LIBERTY'^UBAT.''^ ?N^I*IKB (HJlt"wUI^A*NtJ *Ul?40^^^^^| ^?SBS^^^IAP^OU OUR l)^IIS.OLMnoUS 'iNTUY^W^^ ,.: - V?Jj.iS?S#?? BENNETTSYILLE, S. C., FRID? JUEY 17, 1903. . W) 36 A FATAL COLLISION. ' \ '- . Conductors Dreadful .Mistake That Cost Many Lives. TWENTY-THREE KILLED. Tho Man WIIORO Oversight Cnusctl Dcnth ami D?st met ion insano Prom Mental AnRiitstt. Further Details. . Twenty-three persons -were killed and nine persons were injured in a head-on collision.on the Virginia Mid land division of the Southern railway at Rock tish, Va., at 12 minutes after 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. Passen ger train No. 35, leaving Washington at 11.1:1 a. m., for Atlanta, Ga., dashed into local freight No. us, standing on thc main line of the road at that point, wrecking both engines and tlie baggage and express car ol' No. 3fi. The baggage cur and the second-class passenger coach immedi ately following lt telescoped. Tlie coach was.occupied mostly hy colored people. The casualties thus far re ported in detail are as follows: Killed: Engineer Davis. Engineer McCormick, who was rid ing asa passenger on No. ns. A colored ti reman on No. cs. Tlie freight train was in charge ol' Conductor Brubeck and lOngincer Hale and at tlie time of tlie accident was on the return rim from Lynchburg to Charlottesville. Iv?ck?i.s?i station ls midway between these two points and the track there is a single one. Engineer had orders to get out of thc way ol' the passenger train but for some reason which has liot yet been explained he overstayed his time and had failed to. take a sid ing so that tlie passenger train could pass. The trains came together with a horrible crash and a fearful scene of panic .ensued when the occupants ol' the cars realized what had occurred. Train' No. ."tr, ran into the freight which left Washington Tuesday morn ing at M. If> was made up ol' an ex press car, a baguage car, two day coaches and two Pullman cars. The two Pullmans formed an early morn ing New York connection aV Wash ington' for Atlanta and the south. Thc train arrived Lhere ut 10.32 a. m., from BUston also connected with No. :tf?. No. 35 was in charge of Enua ncer Davis and Conductor Mays. One ot the passenger cars of thc train was - - a second class day coach and the other a vestibule car. Engineer McCormick, who was a passenger on the freight train, was going to Charlottesville to lalee a train Routh at thc time he met Iiis death. The engineer of thc freight escaped without injury. It is estimated herc that there were in all probability 120 passengers on tlie train, including those from Hoxton and intermediate stations. It was at tlrst reported thal. Hag gagemaster Payne of train No. 35 had met his death in Hie wreck. Later reports, however, show that this is in correct. He was caught under ono .of the coaches and was badly stunned, hut later lie revived and probably will recover. Jt is now said to be almost .certain that 1!) were colored pers-?ns, as tlie second-class coach which was telescoped was occupied almost exclu sively by thein. Later advices from thc scene of thc wreck are that thc freight nain which was on tlie main track had been there for six minutes longer than the orders directed when Hie collision occurred. T.ATKK ACCOUNT. A special from Charlottesville, Va., .says; Southern railway passenger train No. 35, soullibond, ran into au open switch at Kooktish depot, 20 miles south of this city, af :? o'clock Tuesday afternoon, smashing into a siding. The passenger engine and express coach telescoped through the second class passenger car in the rear. Jn Ktbe datier was a parly if immi grants, al) of whom wore killed or In jured. Thc dead number 21 and the injured number Pl. Trafile was sus pended for eight hours. Tho dead, as have been iden!?lied, are: Engineer James McCormick ol' Char lottesville. Engineer Charles Davis of Alex andria. Tliomas Sheppard of Charlottes ville, brakeman on freight twin. Charles T. Cay of Charlottesville, drem an on freight. J. JO. Lowe, colored, of Baltimore. Chas, 'J'. Leitch, colored, dining car water. C. ( ). Owen, Philadelphia, boiler in spector. Adain R. Vicocsavlievieh, A nsf lian boy. Burilan! Gugelmo, Ansi lian wo man. Two unknown Austrian women. Unknown mulatto woman. The injured arc: Engineer f?ale ol' Charlottesville, injuries to spine. II. A. Sharpe of Knoxville, Tenn., head and legs bruise 1 and back hurl:. Turner A. 11 vu ry ol Benton vi Ile, Va., injuries lo legs, bead and shoul ders. Walter .hickson, colored of char lottesville, passenger li rema II j legs broken. Austrians, all painfully bul. not se riously injured. T. (j. Hudson, colored, Chatta nooga;' Tenn , serious wounds on ' hcit??. T. 10. Mercer, colored, Washington, arms and legs cut and probably in jured interna Hy. .1. S. Sterett, colored, Pullman lim ier, ol' New York, bauds, and face cut. .1. W. Payne of Alexandria, bag gagemasler, internal injuries. Thc work of rescuing Hie injured began immediately. Dr. Wm. A. Lambeth ol' the University of Virginia was on Hie train and a Loneeorganized measures of relief. The trainmen un der the doctor's direction cut through Hie panels of the baggage car and express car and lookout 20 of the dead. Probably ? score of injured were removed. W. A. Ward, thc Union News agent of the train, whose homo is in Washington, was in the fatal collision bu", cseaped. ' The shock of thc col iiftion threw him through the window, breaking his left ann. Tho special train which went from here, to the scene of tlic wreck returned to th? city aboufa 8 o'clock bringing some ol' the dead and most of the wounded. Thir teen of thc injured were taken to tlic University hospital where their wounds were dressed. Most of thc immigrants were Austrians and were bound for points as far distant as California. H. A. Sharpe of Knoxville; Tenn., narrowly escaped death. He and Mrs. Sharpe were return lng from their bridal trip, having spent their honey moon in Washington. Mr. Sharpe was in the smoker engaged in conver sation with (J. O. Owen when the collision occurred. Owen was killled instantly, lils hotly falling on Sharpe. W. it, lirucbcok of this**city, con ductor of tlic local freight, is reported in a critical condition. After wit nessing the awful sight he is said to have become suddenly insane and when found was live miles from the wreck. .AI AN AT I AULT NOW INSANK. The tracks are now clear and trains are running on schedule time. The Cause of the disaster has been olllclal ly reported as inattention to orders, the freight conductor, W. Ii. H ni beck, reading lils orders to mean that the passenger was one hour and twenty minutes late when it should have been 20 inimites. Ile allowed thc switch to remain open, limbeck is insane limn men til anguish. About fen small children escaped in jury, who, being foreigners, cannot tell anything ahouf their parents, who were killed in thc wreck. The lilil?, n*it>" .?.-> !?!?ln,' ..??'.<> !'?... I.ir I lin ? ??nie niuo im. ..j ?...?. people of the. city. FAVORABLE TO CROP *>. l*nHt Week lient ol' Hie Hcnao?? Thus Var for Growth. According to the report of Section Director Hauer, the past week was very favorable for crop growth and development. There was about thc usual amount of sunshine and thc winds were light and generally southerly. The relative humidity averaged above the normal. Af thc beginning of thc week the ground was thoroughly soaked by tho rains at tho close of thc previous week, and there I were light scattering showers on the 2nd, and again on the last day, hut the ground was generally dry enough lo permit cultivation after the 1st of July, with the exception of very low lying lands, and where the rains nu the 2nd were heaviest. A few locali ties need rain, but generally the soil ls well supplied, wi th moisture. Hail that damaged tobacco fell in Dorry county. With Hie exception of isolate 1 and limited localities where tlic ground is still ton wet to work, Hie week was the most favorable of f e season on all crops, and alVorded opportunity to clean Holds of grass and weeds, and give them much needed cultivation, alt hough complaints of grassy Holds continue to be received from all parts of the State. The warm, humid weather, and thc moist condition of the soil were conditions conducive to growth, and all crops responded, ex cept on light soils that have been leached by the excessive ra i ns of June., and of crops that have not been prop erly cultivated. Thc hot weather, following the heavy rainfall, scalded corn and cotton in Hampton cornily, (lld corn has ahouf laid hy, and is earing well. Young corn has a good color generally. On replanted bottom lands corn is coining up to good st ands. Cotton continues small, and on light soils is yellow, but generally it hus a better color than heretofore, and is growing rapidly. Lice have about disappeared. Some fields are blooming fr? ely, in thc eastern part of the Slate hut in other parts bloom ing is not yet general, and many lields have not put on any squares, ('lean lields are the exception. Tobacco'.''iring is in progress in all sections. Thc crops has improved re cently, except where previous heavy rains caused irreparable damage. Hice is not doing well generally. Peaches and grapes are rotting extensively, and tile fruit crop is less promising flian heretofore. Melons are small and late. Minor crops, pastures and gardens are excellent. Thc hay crop promises to be heavy. I'eeuliur Accident Sunday afternoon at thc hollie of Mr. W. .1. Kider, near Hider, Oconcc county, Ga.', Mrs. lintier, who had been visiting there for a few days, met with a tragic death; Mrs. lintier had gone out to the well to tlraw a bucket ol' wafer, anti was in the act of thawing up the bucket when thc ac cident occured that caused her deat h. There were two buckets at tim well anti as om; came up Hut ot ter went down. Just as thc buckets were, half way up Ult; rope broke anti Mrs. lintier was jerked forward into the wclL lier head was jammed Into tine ol' the buckets as far as lier shoulders and lld" body shot downward through a space ol' forty feet lo the bottom ol tin; well. The alarm was given ami in a lew minutes the budy of Mrs lint ier was drawn up feet foremost. She was dead when her body was taken out. Mrs. Huller's renal ns were car ried to Window, near which place she lived, and were Interred. She leaves a husband and a baby fen months old. Died IYOIII I'Vigtil. Overe?me with grief over th death ol her daughter, Mrs. Kate Donnelly, of Jeanette, l'a., in Sunday's disaster af Oak wa rd, Mrs. Mael?arvin, of Grecnsb?rg, dropped dead Wednesday morning. The remains of her daugh ter were brought to (Jreenshurg for interment and thc mother, who was sitting hy thc window, where she Could see thc approach of thc funeral procession. When lt came in sight slie fell over dead. The mother and daughter were hurled at thc same time Thursday afternoon. ANOTHER HOMICIDE. Mr. John Wham Kills Mr. Fat< Ramage Near Laurens. BOTH PROMINENT FARMERS. Grunt Incitement Over tho AITuli AHHIHL' t li tr Friends ol' Hoi!) Parties. Wham Is Still nt lillico. A special to thc State from Laurens says: A homicide which lias startled Laurens county as no other homicide has done since Joe Crews was ki lice probably saved from lynching thomar who shot thc other Thursday. In thc yard of Hie slayer, L. W. Ramage wat killed hy John G. Wham. I loth* mci: were prominent and for a time most serious trouble was feared, but it is not likely now. Thc case is a most interesting one and there is the usual woman in it. Tlie scene of the altair is Simpson's Cross Hoad, six miles from Laurent and three from Clinton, on tlie Co lumbia, Newberry and Laurens rail road. John Wham's home: is on thc right of thc road coining up. Across the road lives Thomas Simpson, a Con federate veteran, wini has a large fam ily. lt.seems that on Tuesday Miss Mattie Simpson, about Hi years old, received a note purporting to be from Miss Coleman, a sister-in-law of Wham, asking Miss Simpson lo come over to Wham's where Miss Coleman was visiting and stating that all the tithers had gone away. Mrs. Simpson got hold of the note anil her suspicions were aroused. She went with hoi daughter to Wham's house, wileri Wham was found alone. Asking UH meaning of the note Wham replied that he found it addressed lt) Mist Simpson alter his wife and Mis; Coleman had gone to Clinton and hat simply sent it over. Tbis did not satisfy the Simpsons and they finally elicited from Wham the I n forma tier that he. had sent the note witt) im proper purposes in view. However, he declared this was nothing new ?UK asserted that he had on four occasion.1 within thc last year made attempts tc ! have relations with Miss Simpsot ' with her consent. This statement, it is said, was made to Mr. Simpson thc I ri s father, when he went t< Wham s house to demand satisfaction Wham, it is said, refused to come out and meet old man Simpson, who de clared that nothing but Wham's block: would satisfy lil ni. VICTIM A 1 ? K A fJ IC M A K li ll. News of this reached Clinton Thurs day ami there was milch indignation there against Wham. Thursday night, it is now reported, a crowd surround ed Wham's house and it was known that some serious results must come. Either Thursday afternoon or earl) Friday morning Mrs. Wham got in her buggy and drove to the home ol Mr. L. W. Ramage, several miles from her home. Her object was to get Ramage to act as peacemaker, but she says she did not ask him to come to sec Wham. Thursday morning ?about 8 o'clock Ramage got in his buggy and started for Simpson's cross ing. Un the way he picked up Ried Hlakely, a friend. Tho two drove on to Wham's house and Wham came out to meet them. There was a shot gun in the buggy and Wham had a pistol in eaeli coat pocket, but Wham and the two visitors shook hands in a friendly manner. According to tho testimony ol Hlakely at the inquest, Ramage open ed the conversation by saying. "John, this is a bad allah you are in." Wham replied, "Ves, and I aili willing tu make any acknowledgments that arc proper." Ramage then suggested that they all go over to Simpson's bul Wham said lie wanted to wait until his preacher came, that he had sent for him. Wham then started to the house, the other two following. Hlakely suggested to Ramage that if Wham got into the house lie might getaway anti they better make him give lipids weapons. Ramage called tin Wham to stop, but Wham went on in the honst; and upstairs. From thc front wi lido w ho called to Hlakely to "Hot out of my yard," and Hlakely got. Ramage ha i gone around thc right side of thc house and on to the rear. A COM) ?SI.OO]>Kp MUKDKHi Hlakely says he stood at the gate and look through the hall which runs nearly through the house and that he could ear Mrs. Wham and Ramage talking, but could not distinguish what they saith ile saw Wham up stairs pick lip something and then saw him come down stairs with a gun in his right band. As he left thc staircase, he passed out of Hlakelv's sight and the shot was tired almost instantly. Ramage called lo Hlakely and Hlakely heard him fall, and says he knew Iiis friend was dead but did not go to him. With the shot gun in his hand lie went to the corner of the fence where he could set; Ramage lying hack ol' thc house. SIM.KNIMI.' ACTINA. When Mrs. Wham ran out, lo the front piazza screaming Hlakely asked il it were sate for him to go to Ram age's hotly and she replied it was not safe. Here was enacted as wonderful a bit of acting as ever a woman did on or ol? tho stage. The wile to whom Wham had been untrue, either in in tent or act, for nearly three hours played an artistic role in tinier to give him time to escape. She knew that if Wham was taken hy thc friends pf tho other woman Iiis lift; would be the for feit, and so not: only to Hlakely, hut to the dozens ol' others who gathered there this nervy woman pretended that, her husband was upstairs and that it would mean mon; bloodshed and instant death to any man or any set of men who might attempt to en ter that yard or that house. With prayers and pleadings ol' this sort slit; kept the crowd at bay while the tlead man lay right at her back door and her husband was making his way to safety. For it must have been as soon us thc shot was lirctl that John Wham rushed past his victim across Die cotton field and into thc woods 201) yards in the rear of his house. ' De has not since been seen in these parts and at this writing his where- ' abouts are unknown. When it was found that Mrs. Wham had been play ing a part and that he** husband was gone thc crowd made bold to approach the* ma? who had been lying there dead thtfse two hours and more. Hut . this was not until word had been sent to Clinton . and Laurens and Sherill1 Duckett' had arrived with a posse. Even then Mrs. Wham begged the shcriir not to turn over her husband to thc mob, and acting on her fears the sheri!? addiesscd the crowd, cau tioned them against violence, and by ? this time Wham was putting miles between himself and thc cold body of Ramage there in thc back yard. 1 Whether he went on foot or had a I horse ks not known, but since bc had i known for two days that bc mint get . away or sillier it ls probable lie had prepared means of escape. It is said ; by conservative men that if Wham 1 had been taken Thursday morning either before or after the shooting lie i would have been lynched, as there were a number of men congregated at the Simpsons with all kinds of guns and feeling was hot against Wham both on account or the girl and Of the death of Damage, but thc testimony . af Hie inquest caused this feeling to partially subside. SHOT HIS WAY TO SAKICI*V. lt is known from the guarded state ments pf Mrs. Wham that Damage ; asked Wham to c ?no out and go to the Simpsons and that Wnani re fused, telling .Damage that he could ', not protect him from that crowd and that if would mean death for him (Wham) to go Lhere. 11 is supposed H?mago commanded Wham to come out and Wham deckled to shoot his way to safety without inore delay. His judgment seems lo have been good as was Iiis alni, for under Damage's body was found a loaded Smith & . Wesson selfaoting revolver wi die Hie wound under the dead mao's arni in dicts that his left arm was raised and the Hilgens were twisted as if in the . act of grasping tlie trlgget. Wham shot with a licmingtun ;i2-calibrc rim j lire target rille and the hall entered just above. Damage's left nipple. ? passed through the large artery above . thc heart, penetrated the body, en tered tlie right arni acid lodged in the muscle. Death was don bless almost I instantaneous. Itamagc was left . handed and was standing with his j left side next the house hardly ten I feet from t lie back door from which Wham shot as he ran down thc stairs ' from the second story. I! image ' was a magni (icent man physically, six feet high, stout and handsome, lie was a huuhelor and a half brother of ; Miss Simpson's mother, who was thc I nephew and heir of tlie late Capt. J. A. Hell, ami was himself a prosperous (armer and dairyman, standing well in the. community. Wham moved here several years ago i .from near thc ureenvide line where , the family of that name is numerous and prominent. Ile brought the old i Simpson homestead, the Simpsons ? moving into a smaller house across the road. The old place is a typical i Carolina country home with big oaks in Hie yard and a general appearance i of homeliness, a most placid scene for i a man to work the wreck of a wo - man's life and to slay her kinsman. Nearer Clinton Wham had bough) other property and there has in process of erection an unusually stylish house almost completed into which he in tended soon to move. He is a prosper ous fellow aboufe .'.."> years old and hus four children. Last year he was a candidate tor county treasurer and was flic second highest out ol' font aspirants. His reputation has always been good. Miss Mattie Simpson, tho woman ii the case, is a well developed, gone looking girl of about Ht summers, and if any one knew aught against liei character it was not common know), edge until Lliese sad developments ol the Inst three days. Now as usual there is till sorts of gossip, it is re ported to Sherill' Duckett that Whan was seen Thursday going towards flu Greenville line. Thc .sherill thinks In will surrender probably to Sheri IT (!ii roath of Greenville or SherilT Yerina ol' Spartanhurg, as Wham's lathe lives at Woodruff. There ls no ncc< for Wham lo run. At tho Inquest Iii interests were looked after hy La wye C. C. Featherstone who was summon cd from Laurens. Deputy Sherill' Cathcart came ii| from Columbia with thc bloodhounds arriving at I o'clock at Simpson' crossing, where the train was stoppet directly in front of thc house. Th dogs were at once pilton the trail an were worked for several hours, but i was impossible to catch thc scent an the attempt was abandoned. No on is after the fugitive now. Another l?y h elli lift. Cato Garrett the negro who st abbe Harry Stout's to death last Sunda morning, Vicksburk; Miss., was hun hy a mob near the scene of his erl IT this afternoon. Garrett was taken t Natchez Saturday evening, Sheri Hrcnnah fearing an assoit on the ja here. This morning a special gran jury IV MI ucl a true bill against Darrel [and Sherill' Itreiman not) lied til Adams country sherill' to bring th negro to the city. Deputy Sheri IT Pan with thc negrt). took passage on fl train tine here af ?1 o'clock this alte noon. At Stout's crossing, a ll;1 station six miles south, the train wi hehl up hy ra) masked and heavi aruitltl men who took and hangi him. ?_ Petition rtol'tiHcil. Tlie Slate, board of control Wed ne dav refused the petition ol' Mr. J. t Cooper, a North Carolinian, who wis ed to establish a distillery in elev hind township in ti reen ville, count Mr. Cooper's petition was signed by large number of the township, bi tim board refused if because owing a recent law passed in North Carolii , an Influx of distillers from that Sta would probably result. Tlie law I (Healed, stipulates thal no distille can he operated within the boondari of North Carolina which is not situ; ed in an incorporated town. Natt ally many of the distillers would mo to Smith Carolina. Tlie board fear were tiley to grant one petition ; would have to lie granted. \ PIIESS^SSOOTATION ' ff;;;" ; Held RegulW|seBsion at White Stone ?^'Springs. LARGE N^'-^R IN ATTENDANCE ffp President; .'s Annual Ail tl ress in V:"-i: , * - Which He i'ays Tribute to l)c ..<>v-: V ' luirtcd/MeinbcrH---Every ". hotly Dell?litctl. Special . ?$iu% eorrosp. ndenfc of thc State, "writing from White Stone Springs fliyst Tlic 2lJth annual meet ing of the State Press association was attended ,?y a large number of the host. newjsp&pcr workers of the State. The prlateil minutes of thc associa tion^ mCCyfngs from 1877 to 1888 rc" oill the rrjets thal for thc (hst tour years of the existence of thc associa tion, l8L>-to 1 ?Ttl, Col. .las. A. Hoyt, then cdii?or of the Columbi? Dally Register, was thc presiding olllccr. [Jul. Hoyt'/is here today, nearly ?is vigorous as he was a generation ago. Lin thc"other hand there area number nf very, ybnng newspaper men here, men wli^se work gives promise that? the future of thc press of South Car unna will he as honorable as thc past, ind that-i the weekly papers continue lo be great educating inthienoes. After rmiking his annual address in which he pictured tjho future of the press ijijglowing terms, Mr. 10. II. Anil of the Newberry News and Herald ; Wednesday made his annual ropoiL TUK l'K KS I PUNT'S KBI'hllT. .NJr. Aull in his animal report calls iLLcRtion to'tho fact that he was elected at thc meeting In I8?I4, at which" time there were but 12 mein iiers present. At Sumter, thc year following, tiicre' were .'tl' present, and thc ?iverage attendance since that Limo has been not less than r,0. IL is gratifying to note the increased and xinU?ued interest i*i the annual nicot ines. Ile trusts that Um Lime will lever come when there will be indif ference on tlic parL ol' the edi Loi s and publishers in these annual gather i iigs. riley ave helpful and pleasant and nu.sL .be bcnclicai. lie feels that those editors who have never identi fied themselves with the association lo nut realize the benelits they WWII ld re?ci vc/ *l ^ LOSSES HY ni?ATIl. ..<5oi)Wnuing-, Mr. Aull says: 'Millr ing the past year, or rather since our last animal meching, our ranks have been ! humed by the death of two edi tors., and ono died just at the Unie of mr asl session.- 1 refer to Mr. Trios. J. ms, for many years connected wit.- ,c yMffOtlejd Advertiser.' Whetiib dr; hoi'ne wan ever identified witl?the- association I have been un ible to lind from the record, but he ivas a veteran journalist and success ful lioyond thc measure of most of us. tn view of his long and faithful ser vice In the profession 1 feel il would ie proper for you to lake note of his loath. "Another veteran who has passed iway during tlic past year-one who ?vas eminently successful-was L. M. 1 list of thc Yorkville ifinqulrer. He was possibly the oldest member of the profession in t.he State at Um time of lis death, in point of continuous ser vices, as well as in years. So far as 1 lave been able to ascertain, he was not at, any time a member of this as sociation, hut in view ol' his long and faithful service as editor aiid publisher ?f one of thc cleanest and best print id country papers in this state, it would ba hut proper intake recogni tion ol' lins service by a suitable tribute, nm LATH wurroit OK "THU STATE." "We have also lost one nf nur own neinbers, who was an ornament to ,hc profession in Ulis Slate. A man ,vho stood at Hie licad of tho profes sion, and who loved it for thc good he iould do. Ills sudden faking oil' and .he manner of it was not only a shock :.o thc members of our association and LO Um profession iii this State, but to iihe whole conn try, fur he had ilt ja! ned a national reputation. N. C. Gonzales was for many years an ac tive member of this association and wc all remember thu interest he took nour annual meetings. Ile was a duce rc and an honest journalist, one. whose motives were pure and high. Ile loved his profession and served his State faithfully as lie saw her inter ests Ile was a patriot in thc high est and truest sense ol'the word and would let nothing come between him ind the highest and best interests of Hie com indi wea I th j as he saw them. Ile was a partisan. All true patriots ire partisans. I believe he was hou L>st and sincere and regarded Hie in terests of thc Stale, above his own. Many times wo dil?ercd and at times I have thought him unjust and un fair in his criticisms, bul 1 always be lieved him honest from his view point. If I should oller a criticism it would be that he shut himself up in bis sanc tum loo closely and did not mingle chough with thc people. His dentil was distinct, loss of journalism in this State. His personality more than :iiiy thy j ni; else hui IL un a great, news paper at Um capital of the Slate. Few men wrote as vigorous, as clean, as strong and as pure ICiiglish as he did. His editorials were always gems of lOnglish composition and the tendency to read them was irresistible, even when one did not, agree willi him. As lo Um manner ol' Iiis taking oil', it would he improper tor nm in this con nection lo speak.. It is eminently proper, however, that we should as an association pay proper tribute to tlic memory ol' one who adorned t he pro fession as lie did and who rose by force of his own merit ami ability from Hie ranks of an bumble reporter to the editor of one of the leading dailies in Hie sou Hi and one thai was made such by his own personality." Mr. Aull tll?n recites the fact that in accordance with instructions from Hie association he has gathered from the liles of Tlie News and Comrier re ports of the meetings from 1S77 tri 18S8, inclusive. These reports baye been hound in pamphlet form and constitute tlic otlicial records ot thc V I - association for the period covered. Thc News and Courier's reports for tl lat time were written by F. *VV." Dawson, N. G^~Gonzules, J no. A. Moroso,~all or whom have laid aside tiie pen forever, and by .J*. C. Ilcmp hill, Jno. T.. Weber and other well known writers. Thc following very important para graph is also a part.- of the report: "Ali several annual meetings we have discussed the question of handling foreign advertisements. I desire to call to your attention the advisability of forming a State syndicate for this purpose, thc plan Tor which, if you desire, 1 will more fully outline a part from my report. I believe lt is prac tl bable." While there are quite a number of members herc, the committee on pro urammc reported that lhere was only one present to whom had been as signed, the duty of reading a paper. In consequence the morning - session was passed in a rather informal way. Mr. Anil told of thc arrangements for flic trip to Denver, and Col. Hoyt urged thc editora to take thc trip. 1 le told of many things to bc seen in tim great and somewhat unique State of Colorado, (?nite a number announced that tiley had decided to go, Senator P. K. llydrick made the ad dress of welcome on beilulf of Mr. .las. T. Harris, proprietor of thc springs. Mr. Hydrick spoke with pride of thr growth of the county, and declared that Mr. Harris is one or tiie new citizens who have helped to make it great. Attention was called to the faut that this county was once So poor that it asked thc legislature to pay its taxes. Now it is third in 1 wealth; Ile paid a line tribute tu the newspaper man, declaring that in his opinion the successful editor is the best informed most widely road man in thc world of business. Senator Uagsdale replied very pleasantly to Mr. llydrick's remarks nod declared that he, for one, is ready to come hore every year. Thc association received a letter from Cid. T. S tobo Farrow in which lie says that he is gett ing up a history nf reconstruction from 1808 to 18TC? and he is anxious for the editors of the State to give him all information they can. A committee was appointed to con sider tiie advisability of forming a master printers' association, which will? have for its object thc perfection of a system of making rates un job worlt. Tin: Slate Press association is not allowed to consider such matters execp't in a general way. Messrs, : Strickland, Wolfe and Waddell were appointed; Instance were cited show- I ing how the prices on job printing are ? being cut below living prices. : Among the members ol' the associa- < tl on here are: Mr. A. .1. Clark of the ! Lancaster Enterprise, Mr. J. N. | Strickland of tho Cheraw Chronicle, ; Mr. .1. T. Higliam of the Chester Lan- < fern, Hon. .Ino. l?ell Towill of thc < HatL-sburg Advocate, Hon. .?. C. Mace ; or the Marion Star, Senator .1. W. i Krigsdale of the Florence Reform Adv?cate, Capt. II. H. Watkins of thc linnea Bath Chronicle, Rev. Wal ton Il. Cleever, correspondent of The ; Southern Lutheran, Mr. C. W. Birch more of thc Watcrec Messenger, Mrs. < Virginia I). Young, editor and prof pricier of the Fairfax Enterprise; .1. : L. lt. Warren, Press and Standard, i Waltcrboro; N. Christensen, dr., Beaufort Gazette; tiki li. DcCamp, : Cadney Ledger: Col. .1. A. Hoyt., ; Greenville Mountaineer; Kev. and Mrs. .1. Ferdinand Jacobs. Southern ?< Presbyterian, Clinton; .1. C. Carling ton, Carolina Spartan, Spartanhurg; C. C. Langston, Anderson Intelligen cer:.!. ll< Peden, Carol I na Odd Folio w? Greenville; A. H. Cargilc, Saluda (Standard; L. Wlgfall Chcatham, ridgefield Chronicle; Kev. A. A. .lames, l'acolct; Mrs. Chits. H. Henry, Spar tanburg .loumal: Kev. W. It. Richard son, Southern Christian Advocate: Col. .Ino. M. Knight, Sumter Herald: C. W. Wolfe, Kingstree Kecord; Miss Theodosia Jones, Marion Star: E. .1. Browne, Manning Farmers; Kev. C. H. Waddell, Spartunbarg Herald.' Among other visitors to the meet ing ol' tiie Tress association are: Miss Uagsdale or Florence, Mrs. Wm. Toncy, Johnston; Mrs. O. B. Bristow and Miss Marie Bristow, Darlington; Misses Mary and Kachel Bigliatn, Chester; Miss Joyce Clark, Lancaster; Mrs. I!. E. Moore, Uonea Bath; Miss Clara Duckett and Mr. Thomas Jacobs, Clinton; Mrs. L. B. Gilliam, Mrs. li. J. Blake, Mrs. C. II. Henry, Miss Agnes Petty and Miss May Cul vert, Spartanhurg, and Mrs. C. W. Birchmore, Camden: Mrs. J. A. Hoyt. Greenville. Mot lier's Dreadful Deed. A terrible tragedy occurred Thurs day night in the village of Leroy, N. V., when Mrs. William Baxter hanged herself and two children, Goodson, aged .S years, and Gladys, aged :i. ' When her husband returned to the house at (J o'clock he could not get in. He waited for some time, then broke in a window and searched thc house. In an unfinished attic over thc kitch en, reached by a ladder, he saw hang ing, side, by side, from the rafters Ids wife and two children. From indica tions flic woman must, have carried the ehildVon up thc ladder one at a time. Thc room was so low that thc I loy's feet nearly touched the Moor. NcKi'b Hilled on Soul horn. Lee, a negro, was struck by tin; last freight No. 7 on the Southern rail road, about, three, miles this side of Hopkins, and instantly killed on Mon day morning about. <? o'clock. The in quest was held liv Coroner Green with thc usual verdict. Curiously enough the man was nut struck at all by the engine, but his head was hit hy. Mic steps of one of the freight cars. En gineer Chandler, who was driving thc engine, says that he does not remem ber seeing thc man at all. Pulled Overboard hy u Kish. Wednesday night a number of boys i werere gathered on I'crido wharf Pensacola, Fla., fishing for shark, one , of them, Carl Johnson, tied his line about Iiis waist and threw the hook in the water. In a few moments a big Hali took the bait and duding it I self caught lunged for the bottom, : dragged the little fellow from the warf. He disappeared beneath tho ? surface and was never seen again. TAKING PROPEB ACTION. Wild Cut Iwmiruiico Companies tu be Prosecuted. ItcccntTy**it is alleged tiiat several wild eat insurance companies have been operating in .South Carolina and Comptroller General Jones has boen besieged with letters from persons all over the State asking about these companies and notifying him that many of them are operating without a license. .. . pt course this is directly in viola tion of the law and will be treated ac cordingly. Mr. JoncsThursday morn ing issued a . circular letter which ho mailed -to all persons asking as to the right of these'companles" .to carry on business without first paying license. Tile letter reads: 'Answering-your request as to thc -:-company, i beg to say that tiley arc not autliorizcd and have no license to dei busincsss in this State. If any one is soliciting business for them, you can swear out a warrant against him before a magistrate of this State, charging him witli acting, as agent for a foreign insurance com pany without license, under section COT of the criminal code, winch reads as follows: i 'Section (i07. Any person who shall transact any business or insur ance in tins State for any eompanyof the United States or foreign state not ; incorporated by thc laws of this State without haying tirst obtained license by law required, or after his license has been withdrawn, or shall lu any way violate thc forcigoing provisions in relation to license of insurance companies or agents thereof, shall up on conviction in any court of compe tent jurisdiction, bc lined for every such offense not more than; $100; pro vided, that nothing contained in this section shall release snob company or companies upon any policy issued or ' delivered by it or them.' ' "Upon your making tim affidavit 1 before the magistrate, it is his duty ' to issue Ids warrant for the arrest of 1 thc party and bring him to trial be- < fore him. Fach time the person ' solicits insurance and issues a policy, < constitutes a separate violation of } this law, and tiley can he prosecuted c for each seperate violation. 1 "This is thc only law for the punish- li incut of thc.Individual soliciting in- { iii ra nco. "In addition to Lliis proceeding in ? tlie criminal courts, the company it- , <cir may bc lined a sum not exceeding 1 ?1,000 nor less tlian $500, tobe re- .' covered In a civil action hy any party ( ming therefor in the eon rt of common picas. Til is suit is to be brought igainst the company issuing the policy tt insurance, and the amount recover- < 2d is to be retained by the party suing for same. The State gets ho part of this penalty. "Section 1703 of the civil code, Vol. I, code of laws 190."!, rends ns follows:? ' V 'Section 17t);i. Should any Insnr- j ince company or association violate thc provisions of this chapter such 1 company shill) be lined in a sum not ! Lo exceed $1,000 and not less than ! 8500, to bc recovered in any court of competent jurisdiction in this State, . Lo he recovered by any citizen of this | State having a policy bf insurance in , said company; provided, that nothing ] in eli is chapter shall release any such i company, companies or association j violating the provisions hereof upon any policy issued by ib or them.' " ? Thc inquires have como from Green ville, Charleston and other cities of , tlie State. HAS A DYING MANIA. Wes? Virginia Mun Pronounced Dead hut Still Lives. Clayton Westfall, of Parkersburg, W. Va., is a victim of thc dying habit, lie lies, apparently, fools all thc per sons who see him and then fouls the undertaker who calls to prepare Illili for burial by waking up from a semi conscious state and protesting against being made to witneess his own fune ral from thc inside of a collin. West fail died last week for thc seventh time, hut re rf ved again in time Lo pre vent'the funeral, although-thc grave liad been dug and Mic collin - rdcrcd. Ile ls a worker in the oH Heids near .lake's run and according to hiv own story has frequent attacks of uncon sciousness. Ile hud one of his attacks Friday, and thc family made the usu al tests and he was pronoi?nced dead. The grave was prepared and the undertaker sent for. Ile arrived at night and was almost frightened to death when thc supposed corpse arose in bed and asked thc undertaker what he was going to do. Westfall found out in a short time that lt was pro posed to bury him and entered a vigor ous objection. Westfall says he has several times been in tills condition and has nar rowly escaped being buried alive on more than mic occasion. He has sometimes laid in a trance for two or three days ata time. During this period he lias always thc most remark able dreams. Nearly always he dreams lie is in heaven but can give no ac curate description of what the place is like. At other times he dreams bc has gone in the opposite direction, and when Lliis happens he is always glad to he awakened, even by the under taker. Ile is In 'excellent health, and Iiis experience never hurts him. Narrow ICscnpe. Doughisvillo Ga., was visited by a severe thunderstorm Tuesday. Tile lightning struck several places in town and among thc numbor was the residence of ll. M. Wilson, clerk of the superior court wf that county. Mr. Wilson and five other members of bis Cornily were in the house when the bolt came and their escape is very miraculous. Mrs. Wilson was in tho kitchen washing dishes and a large hole was torn in the door within ten inches of where she was standing. The dishes she held in lier, hand were broken, but she escaped unhurt. -A son, F. M, Wilson, was lying on a lied upstairs and pieces of plank and plastering were thrown all over him. lie was unhurt. Other members of the family bad equally as miraculous escapes. AWFUL HEAT. Thirty Six Deatha Recorded in New York. EIGHTY-THREE PROSTRATIONS! A Storm In tho Kvcning (Javo Some - Ci Keilor to Sweltering Humani ty. A Crazed Negro,Caused \ by Heat. Thity-six death and 83 prostrations in and around New York and Brook lyn tell thc story of Friday's heat. It was thc hottest July 10th in the history of thc local weather bureau, the high est previous record being Ol degrees? recorded July 10, 1880. rflie early threat of a temperature that would break all records, However, was not fulfilled. Thursday's record o? i)4 degrees at 4 o'clock, the high weather mark of the year, was reached Friday at 20 minutes past 1, without signs of relief, Uut by 2 o'clock the temperature had fallen two degrees, where it remained during the next two flours. At 8 o'clock Friday night the temperature had fallen to 83 de crees, (3 degrees lower than at the same hour Thursday. During the two or three boursabout noon, when the heat was the most in tense, the wind averaged about nine miles an hour. About 5 o'clock the watchers at thc weather bureau dis covered that a thunderstorm was Jn' progress in thc southwest. Meanwhile the wind shifted and in creased in velocity to 32 miles an hour at (> o'clock. Thc storm, which, scarcely touched thc city, had given thc desired relier. Between 6 and 7 o'clock, the temperature fell several degrees. Thc city had been swelter ing so long in the hot wave, however, that it was hours before the benefits oegan to reach thc tenements. In ihe streets, where the cooling process vas more immediate, men, women and ?hildren crowded in the doorways and valks to recover from the wearing silents of the day. As on the night icfore many slepton thc park benches, md, where the police would permit it, m felic grass. Wanlo! Lewis, a heat-crazed negro, tttaoked with a club two girls who vere carrying a large piece of ice. A nob quickly gathered and shouted, 'lynch him." Lewis was rescued by . lotcctlvcs and sent to a hospital. ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION. Governor Appoints Commissioners for Exhibit at Worlds luir The State of "Wednesday says: The governor yesterday appointed 14 commissioners who wfll have in charge . die exhibit of South Carolina which s to be placed at thc world's fair in ?t. Louis next year. The governor is very much encour aged with tuc pronppct for the ex iiibifc and will usc every personal CH leaver to Increase the sum now on Hand so that a handsome exhibit worthy of the State may be placed at Lhe exposition. Thc newly appointed commissioners will meet herc on Thursday evening, Inly 10, at S o'clock in the governor's office, and the entire situation will be reveiwed and plans set on foot for the raising of the desired sum. lt is possi ble that about 825,000 is needed to make an exhibit such as would best set forth the resources of the State. Gov. Hey ward himself is very en thusiastic about thc plan and is con fident that South Carolina will bc rep resented by a most creditable display when the gates of the great exposi tion are opened in 1004. Two commissioners have been ap pointed from every congressional dis trict. Tliey arc as follows: First District-ll. Goodwin Rhett, Charleston: Louis Appelt, Clarendon. Second District-Miles B. Mcswee ney, Hampton; Robert Aldrich, Barn well. Third District-R. T. Jaynes, ?cohee; J. M. Sullivan, Anderson. Fourth District-T. C. Duncan, Union; T. J. Moore, Spartaoburg, Fifth District-LcRoy Springs, Lancaster: R. A. Love, Chester. Sixth District-Thos. Wilson, Wil liamsburg; R. P. Hamer, Marlon. Seventh District-Altamont Moses, Sumter; E. B. Clark, Richland. Trusting to thc haw. A spcelal to Thc State from Lan caster says a young negro by thc name of Ernest Blakeney was brought to thc jail by a party of gentlemen from the Tabernacle section of that county Friday for entering the house of a prominent citizen in the night time wi Wi intent to commit an out rage oirtiis daughter. Thc negro had entered thc room through a window before the young lady awoke. She screamed and her brother rushed in thc room, putting the negro to flight. He was subsequently found, lt was proposed to make short work of him, hut thc father of thc young lady ad vised that ho bc brought to jail and tinned over to the sheriff, which was done. Thc negro has confessed that his intentions were to perpetrate an outrage on the young lady, and that he had been put tip to it by other ne groes. The law abiding spirit thus manifested by thc citizens of the county ls In striking contrast ?to the spirit of lawlessness which prevails in other portions of the United States. Negro Was Too ?old'. A negro named "Deb" Flynn, bruis- ; cd and cut, from wounds indicted by an excited crowd Friday, was spirited out of Marietta Ws., Saturday. \ Flynn was walking with a white girl ? and got into a quarrel with some southerners who resented it. A crowd quickly collected, as a street carntyal .was being held and clubs, stones and liam mers wero used on the negro, ile was reicued by a company of militia, which was attci.ding the carnival in a . body. He was kept in hiding ovorj. night.