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The "DO THOU, GREAT LIBERTY, INSPIRE OUR SOULS AND MAKE OUR LIVES IN THY POSSESSION HAPPY OR OUR DEATHS GLORIOUS IN THY CAUSE." VOL. XXX BENN ETTSVIL.LE, S. C., FRIDAY. ^ULY 28, 1905 NO. ?B. 31 MW MM* THE LIQUOR LAW Attacked at a Farmers' Meeting by John L. Mclaurin. SMITH PROTESTED. The President of thc South Carolina Southern Qotton Association Object ed to Politics Being Bruughi in a Farmers Rally. Several Fine Speeches Made. Tuesday of last week was cotton growers' day in Dillon. The 500 sturdy sons of the soil who gathered there to hear the distinguished gen tlemen who had been Invited to make add ressos before the cc un ty conven tion and exchange ideas on thc cul turo of colton and other crops poe.u liar to the South, representing every seotlon of the old Swamp Fox County, but the bulk of the crowd came from the upper end of the county, or what is known In local parlance as "now oounty territory." The gatherh g was unique in that the crowd assom bled at the bl? school auditorium and was composed of mon of every walk in life-bankers, merchants, farmers, manufacturers, and professional men -with here and there a politician. Tho committee on entertainment had selected well and lt soldom falls to the lot of a town as small of Dillon to have such a galaxy of distinguished orators within its borders In a single day. There was Fx Senator Mo Laurln and Col. Knox Livingstone, of Bennettsvllle; the Hon. F. II Hyatt and Col F. H. Weston, of Columbia; the Hon. Richard 1 Manning and the Hon. F. D. Smith, of Sumter; lt, P. Hamer, of Hamer, and Congressman J. E. EUerbe, of Seller's. Each of these gentlemen came with something to tell and they told lt so well that those who listened went away bene iltted. Tue addresses were rcmarka hie for their force and logic and depth and breadth of thought and the audience showed Its appreciation for each Individual effort by frt quent outbursts of applause County chairman Stackhouse presided and tho meeting was opened with a very elo quent and touching prayer cy the Rev. J. D Croul. HAMICH AND MANNING SPEAK, Tho llrot npeaker Introduced was thc Hon. R. P. Hamer, who felt high ly complimented io being asktd by his homo people to sp-ak on such an ' irapottfcut subject. Mr. Hamer said that this ls distinctively a commercial ago ard every class of people was or gaulzed except the farmer and par tioularly the "c -tton tot." He held that thorough organ'/, itlon would enable tho strong to help tho weak and that there should bo a llxe.1 prico at which to sell mum, that is, a price for those with obligations and a prloe for those in urgent need of mon ey. Mr. Hamer strongly advt cited the ware bouse system and pointed out that with the c ?operation of the cotton and oil mills, ware houses could be successfully and economically run, Mr. Hamer is a practical mau and his talk being along practical Unes was well received. Hin remarks were greeted with prolonged applause. The Hon. R I. Manning, wno was next introducid, urged the necessity cf thorough organization among the farmers. Mr. Manning's speech was 8pirlted and at times eloquent. H:s earnestness appealed to thc audience and ho was fri q 1 ntly Interrupted with applause. He believed in the bonded ware bouse and urged thc farmer to bold his cotton and borrow money whenever I he price was so low that lt did nob pay him to soil. Mr. Manning made a good Impression on his audience and at the conclusion of bis remarks was followed by the 11 on John L. MtLiurin. .lust hore a gen uino sonsatlon was sprung, which created a furor In the au Hence. TUB DISPENSARY INTRODUCED. Mr. MoLadrln had been speaking but a few minutes and had paused after an eloquent awl touching de scription of the horrors of thc recon struction period, when a young man walked rapidly across the f rout of the stage and handod him the following note: ''Senator: At our committee meet ing yesierdiy we decided wc were all of ono accord ' n tho cotton question, having read much on tho subject and having mair able speakers who will follow you herc today. For that reason wc di elded that wo would rc mind you that the burning question of the hour with us ls, and will be foi tho immediate future, dispensary oi no dispensary, and If you have m serious objections would like to heai your views on the subject. What d( you think of thc dispensary law as ii ls written on tho statue books of bbl: State, as lt has been, is, and probably will be, as long as lb ls a law executer by thoso In authority.' "Wade Stackhouse, "W. T, Bothoa, "Wm. M. Hamer, "FL Moore, "10. R. Hamer." As Mr. McLaurln read the note ; half amused smile played eyer iii features. Then turning to thc audi euee, with a dramatic wave of bl hand, ho said that his record In th Senato was evidence suth dent that ii had never been afraid to express hi views on any ti I cst lon, and althougl he had como hero prepared to tal about cotton he would at the roqtns of tho committee state his views o; the most corrupt institution that eve cursed a State. This announuemon was greeted with shouts of applause Ml'LAURtN APPLAUDED. Instantly thc doorways and wir dows became crowned and men leant forward in their seats to catch ever word that fell from hi8 lt ps. Althoug a delightful bret /.> was swooping th vast auditorium the Ex Sena'or d vcBted himself of his ollar and th which ho ti iletly laid on thc tab] beside bim. Twice the cbalrma called time on him but tue last tin be was told that his timo was U] Messrs Weston and Hyatt sprang I their feet simultaneously and gener ously offered him live minutes each o? their time, lils arraignment of Till man and the dispensary was severe and occasionally sorao staunoh sup porter of tho institution would arise and quietly walk out of thc hall Mr. McLaurin argued strongly that the peoplo could not hopa to escape from tho dispensary through legisla ti ve aotlou aud that there foro the policy should bo to vote it out by counties. The prot st of tho eleotlon in Pickons oounty, ho declared, was merely a ruse of poiitiolaus to prevent the effect that the prohibition vlotory there would otherwise have in couu tles where eleotlons are pending. Tho El Senator was unsparing in his ar raignment of Senator Tillman's course and at time:-? he showed considerable feeling hi his references to tho chief dispensary champion. Tho B peech has been thc talk of the day in Dillon. Whilo Mr. McLaurin in his speech made no statement of his personal political plans and dio not emmit himself in any way, there aro mauy who believe, that he ex peet ?> to be active and aggressive In thc light against the dispensary and in favor of prohibition by count les. Tliey say that this will iuevltabh place Mr. McLaurin in tho forefront, as representing the sharpost antagon ism to the Tillman dispensary idea and that he will naturally make his light by becoming a candidate for the Uni tea States Senate In 1906. At thc conclusion of his speech Mr. McLaurin was loudly cheeked and sev eral gentlemen sprang upon the rostrum and grasped his hand. It wa? olear that he had the audience with him, although there was a large sprinkling of strong dispensary advo oates in the orowd. THRUMS MO UK SPEECHES. The next speaker was Mr. F. II. Weston, of Columbia, who discussed tho Cotton Growers' Association from the banker's point of view. Mr. Weston is a strong and vigorous speaker and easily held the attention of the audience. Ile advocated the building of bonded ware houses and told tho farmers that they would have no dilllculty in borrowing almost up to tho limit on their cotton if it was properly housed, lie referred clo quently to the period of reconstruc tion and polnto.l out the Independence of the Southerner of today. Ile was frequently interrupted with applause and loudly ohoered at the conclusion of his talk. Mr. F. II. Hyatt caught the audi ence with a series of oiiginal anec dotes. Ile begged pardon fur branch lng (ff on good roads, but Just cou'dri't talk before suoh au audience without telling his hearers of the manifold advantages of good roads. He advised planters to make their farms attrac tive and keep the boys at home and .vound up with a strong argument for ?jilo diversification of crops. Congressman J. E. Ellerbo was in troduced and brierly reviewed the work of the Association thus far. He said he felt that a great deal had been accomplished, but that tho work had only begun. Ho referred to tho re cent rise in the price of cotton as an indication that the South had at last caught Hie oar of Wall street specu lators If so much had been accom plished in such a short time the pos sibilities of RU03e?s could not be exag gerated. Mr. Elk-rbe was received ssl*h prolonged applause. L'UESIDENT SMITH S CONDEMNATION. Several speakers followed McLaurin before Mr L D. Smith, p;osl dent of the South Carolina division of the Sou the ru Cotton association, and the last speaker, was Introduced. Anothe r sensation was at once sprung. Ad vanoing to that part of the stage where Mr. McLaurin was seated, President Smith made fiery d nunola tion and condemnation of thc e flor I to inject politics at the meetings held under the auspices of the Southern Cotton Association. He informed the au Hence and the committee that they were met hero not to discu s politics, though he did not question their right to grant any privileges t hey might care to Indulge. "Cue thing only has exiled us together toda>, the benefit of Southern farmers, and as your president 1 do not intend that this purpose shall be side tracked even for thc miserable, damnable dispen sary." Just hero a curious phase of "meet ings" was evidenced, lt was clear, while Mr. McLuirln was speaking, that tho splondHy representative au dience was entirely in sympathy with bim. Thero was no mistaking the loud, ringing applause that constant ly interrupted him and the great In terest manifested lu all he had to say. It was equally clear and unmistakable as to the d rect purpose of Mr. Smiths remarks and for whom they were in tended, and this simo audience gave him loud and lomr continued cheering , and applause. A (tool) SPICA KER. Col. Norment, who reported the > meeting for The State says Mr. Smith r is a remarkable speaker and he could ) bo. bea d In every community lu South t Carolina with great benefit. Lack ol ?i space prevents anything like even ii i synopsis of this tine speech which wai I listened to with the closest attention for about one hour. Ile gave some Interesting details concerning hli work, of its discouragements and it.1 success es and showed some danger.1 threatening tho association. Ile weill into the depths of his subj'.ot, show l lng tho great principles hiv lived aw s j gave figures showing that tho worl . "had put more monoy into the pock' s nts of Southern farmers" than idh e critics would ever understand. Threi e strong points In closing wore em plia s sized amid the undivided attention o ti tho undiminished audience. Thost k were, first, that cotton was the cur t roney of thc south; second, that thor n was no substitute for this greatos r product of the world and that th t limited area for its growth was con lined to the south, and thirdly thia combin itlon gave us a grea >. monopoly. Mr. Smith made a tellln i "nnnlil, n r. A lin mnul. I?) un Itrtnt* i.rotl fl OUUbUII ?.*%...O Mm.v p,*.**" v Oed at thc reception given him. h In the afternoon tho speakers wer |C carried to tho handsome rooms of th i Commercial club where "things" wer j, done up In style. Champagne, fin le cigars and camaraderie made plcai H ant moments go rapidly hy and gav ic finishing touches to a hospital)! p. welcome to a lino town and to a fir Lo people. A HOT TIME. Thousands 81ept in the Parks of New York Last Weok. Tho Heat Wan Ho IotcnBO That tho Poonta Had to Dcsort Thoir Homos to Got Air. While lt was pretty hot through out South Carolina last week wo did not suitor hore as tho people did lu New York and other largo cities of the North. There were hundreds of deaths from tho heat lu all of tho larger cities, aud there would have been more had uot the people deserted their homes aud took to thc public parks. Hero ls a Now York picture: "C jiuc aud sleep on tho garss in tho parks," was the invitation Manhat tan sent out Wednesday night, and tho people respoi did by thousands, says The New York Sun of Wcdncs day. From thc little triangle south of Cooper Union to thc slopes of River side park and in all the down-town small parks tho grass, tho benches and the band stands were populous. Thc "Keep off the grass" signs were called in. "They won't be put out again this summer, cither, If I can help it," said Park Commissioner Pallas. Ile sent a lotter to Police Commissioner Mc Adnu In the afternoon offering the parki within his Jurisdiction in the boroughs of Manhattan, and Rich mond to the weary and overheated, and this ord jr from Com missioner MoAdoo was road In ail the station houses Wednesday night. "Hy direction of Park Commissioner Pallas you will permit the public to walk, fdoep and lounge on the grass or benches lu all tho parks within your precincts, day and night during tho hot spell, if they s:o desire." lt did not take long for the news to got about. By ? o'clock p. m., Mul berry Bend park, In the Italian quar ter, looked like the beach at Coney Island on a hot day. There were over two thousand women and chil dren there, with a fair percentage of men. Tho sleepers took to the grass until there wa na'tan available spot. Then they Ulled up thc band stand. Everybody In the park wore as lit tie clothing as the law allowod. A shirt and a pair of trousers ; ti diced for the men, while most of the c tildreu slept under the stars In their birthday dress. There were ov?r 6.OOO who sought relief at tho William H, Sew ard park, at Eist Broadway, and Jef on ?on street. S Oaiy the bonohes wt? Battery park were overcrowded. Few sought comfort on the grass. The permission appealed mightily to dwellers along the North river. lu Da Witt Clinton park early in the evening were at least 4,000 persons, most of them women and Children. A largo numb ir of them had made arrangements to snood thc night cul of doois and had brought pillows and blankets. Coverings were unanimous ?y votod to h ) unnecessary On the bank sloping down to the river from Riverside drive space was ata premium in the eirly evening. There was a breeze off the river and weather Conditions were quits con fortable, lt was not observable tba. many intended to spend the u gh lhere, the bank being too sleep in most places to Insure trat qull rest. Nevertheless, In tho late evening tho bank was quite as orowded as earlier, Those who went into Cutral pari: to keep cool were .surprised wh MI tho police failed to turn them nut at mid night. They hadc\'t yet hoard of tho new order. Many of the m, upon learn lug that they might stay there all nig it If they chose, weit home and go? pillows. Through tho side streets hading to tho park entrances o mid bo .-.een many Bohemians and Italians from tho East Sido making for the paik with pillows tucked under their arms. In some spots whole families were stretched out on the grass si le by side. Thc favorite spots seemed to bc places where there was au Incline ot embankment. Many who are nigotly homeless and gonerally sleep In aron and on doorsteps wotto Into the par! when the police found them In theil usual haunts and told them of thc new order. Morningside and Mount Morrl: parks, In Harlem, wore both crowded At Jefferson park, I Pi oh street ane IC Wt river, Harlem, Italians wore cele orating the feb'.of Our Lady of Moon Carmel and hundreds of them slept ii tho park after thc celebration wa over. In the throe Tenderloin parks tin men deserted the benches for th grass, but the few women sleeper stuck to the benches. In Madlsoi square, where there were more womel tuan both tho others, the men kop to the west side of the park, glvioi up tho oast sido to the women and no disturbing them In the least. In the big parks in tho Bronx, CH peclally Pelham bay and Bronx parks hundreds of people have boen sleopln under the trees nightly, tn Pelhan bay park la-?b night a large part c the Italian population of Williams bridge, learning ol' tho. now ordei took bed clothing, pillo AH and, 1 some cases, cots, and slept boneat tho trees. There was a similar cond tlon In Bronx park. Tho only lntei forchce from the police carno whon th slcepcrscampod tooc'.oe tj the botai ical gardens or the zoo. Seaside park, Coney Island, was large dormitory. Thousands of poop came from tho city with tho intcntio of sleeping on tho beach. Between liv thousand and ten thousand of thou according toan estimate of Capt. Doi ley, did so. Hundreds of others, learning tin Hw. ?..vir rf VIS an .?.An nvnllnhl/t 4i - 1-> u..?/ (*.?..? f.ii.o.i .Vito (.VwimUiU HM I/oil profcrrcd lt. A largo numbor of tl Sleepers wore women, and nearly a brought shawls, quilts or cipes t which to rest their heads. Capt. Do ley had extra men patroling tho boat and park as a protection against p c pockets. At midnight trains from tl olty wero stitt coming in packed to tl doors and the numbor of sleepers w constantly inoreaslng. UNSAFE BOILER On thc American Gunboat Ben nington Exploded Friday. THIRTY-NINE DEAD. Capt. Lucien Young, in Command, Was Ashore at the Time. The Vessel Is Almost a Complete Loss, and lt Was Necessary to Reach tier. Thirty-niuo members of the crow of the United States gunboat Monning ton wero killed and nearly 100 Sillors were Injured, some fatally, at io o'clock Ki blay forenoon by a holier explosion thai disabled the vessel, in San Diego harbor, Cal. Fif cen sailors arc miss ing. There were mi ro than 260 mon aboard tho war ship when tho acci dent occured and many mon wore hurled or forced to lump into the sea by the terrille explosion, which lifted part of thc deck and compelled the belching of the ship. Tiie Dennington at the time of the accident was lying In the stream, Just off the Commercial wharf, at H street. Thc war ship had reeelvod orders from tho navy department at Washington to sail Friday morning for Port Hart ford to meet thc monitor Wyoming and convey the monitor to Mare ls land navy yard, San Francisco. Steam .was up and everything was in readi ness for thc departure of the Bur nlngton, when the starboard forward boiler exploded with a deafening roar. The explosion was terrible People standing on shore saw a hugo cloud of steam rise above tho Bonnington. Columns of water wore forced high into the air. A dozen or fifteen men were blown overboard by the force of the torrlllc explosion. Capt. Wentworth, who was looking at thc Bennington when the disaster occurred, says he saw hu man bodies hurle J overahundred feet upward! Tho air v/as clouded with smoke, which enveloped the ship. When tho haza cleared away only a few men ct u'd bc seen on the decks, while a number were floundering in the water. A boat was lowered from bbc vosiel's side and m ist of the men In the water were picked up and taken aboard. OJ board the Bennington were pre sented terrible sceucs. The force of the f xploslou bad torn a great bole In the starboard side of tho ship and tho vessel i-vas already oommcuolugto ll-t. section of the upper t'eek was oar ried away from stem to storm Blood and wreckage were distributer! over tb" entire ship the after cabin and tba? part of tho ship adjacent to the ex ploded bider resembling a charnel hou e. The shook of the explosion p?n?tr?t tl every section of tho ship, blood and shi :. being f un I as far as the stern f the captain's cabin. Groat damage was no..? in all parts of tho vessel. The boiler wh'c i ex pl de 1 it ls stated, was cgardo I as ute aro, CommaudorY ung tatt 1 that during a recent return from H mululu the steam pressure was Cpl ra !uo o In Miat particular oort. At th1 tl ne of the aooldent Cm mander Irrlen Young and Surgeon F K Peek w ?re ti i shore. The two of ticers, as soon a i they loa i ed of the lisastor, hurried to tho wat.r front. Comma dor Young, a-t soon as he ached tho ship, g wo orders teat thc r tight o m part, men tn he ol osod to prevent the I string ship from -.inking ind that the mag /.ino; be ll Kided to avert flirt er explosions. Ile then o amod thc ship at high i l 'e. Tho ferryboat Romona, whlo'a was ros ng the bay at the time of tho accident, changed Its course :>nd lim ned t.? the aid of thc s ricken war ship, 'riv Govern noni, btu ich Gen. Do Ru-stey, and a large number of o. her launches anti water cr vf;, which wore abo'it ali the limo, also rushed to the tsslstanco of tho Baunlngton. By tho time the Ki. nona reached tho Bennington many or urn sailors . tho Benni iglo *, who h td j coped In. i the biy to e.-cu) ; the to tiding steam, had boen rescued hy small craft. The removal of tba wounded from the ship was conducted lc perfect order. Thc crews of tho De Hissey and tho other boats aided in picklcg up tin wounded sailors and transferring them to shore. Thc bodies of many of thc men taken from thc wrecked interioi of the ship were, mutilated almost be yond rcognltlon. The faces of many wero covered with blood and ashes Some of the boches may never bo klee blued. Temporary qu ir tors ashore were ar ranged for the wounded and sixty cltt'/cns volunteered and hurried h launches to tho relief of those on tilt ship. Some of tho volunteers wort unable to stand the slekening sigh which met their g ./.o on tho Benning ton, As fast as tho wounded c u!< be removed thoy were hurried loam bulanecs, carriages, wagons and anti y mobiles to hospitals. Fora long tim \ oho hot steam prevented access to th f space between dooks where most o thc dead oodles lay, anti it was no until late In tho afternoon that th ?asl were removed from tue hone rooms. Several bodies were 80 tlghtl; wedgod In by a bulkhead that th woodwork had to bc hewed away t free thom. When tho explosion occurred, th engineer was inspecting tho bollero Ile was not seriously Injured. Ollloor and man who woro able to assist ii tho rescue acted In a brave and col looted manner. Bumps were manne? to keep tho water from tho uppo compartments! the magazine wa Hooded and men fought their wa through the steam Into the darkeuo Hold. Many slightly Injured ?alloi remained lathe ship and assisted 1 rescuing the more severely Injured. Mortised lo Allx. Fifteen white girls sewing matres: os in Pittsburg went on strike bi cause a negro girl was brought In I Mu? ofll io of the faotory to work at stenographer and typewriter. The resontett tho Idea of tho light wei j bolng dono in dark color. n h I r* ie i a le ri re i, ti lt St 10 ill m o ?h t io tic as HYDljjUSSIttNS. He Declares'll mt a Powerful Organ! z&tion i?? gain?t Him. Ao Assorts th*',Every Time lils Ac ouraoy linn 1 toen Questioned It Has Bo tn BUM tatnell. sk Tho resignation of John Hyde, statistician and chief of tho bureau of statistic of tho department of agrloul turo, was bandee! to Secretary WIISMI Tueaday of lasfcweek and promptly accepted. Wllfwt N. Hays, the as sistant seoretafy of agriculture, bas been placed in Charge of tho bureau temporally and;will continue to act pending tho investigation of the cot ton scandal and until a comp?tent statistician ls found. jivr>fj's LKTTKK. Toe following is tho text of Mr. Hj d J'S letter oj! resignation and Sec retary Wilson's reply thereto: Washington,!!). C., July 18, 1905. Dear Mr. Secretary: During the last four years, of^aluco I succeeded in making tho crop reports of tho do partment reasonably aoourate and cor respondingly valuable to the agricul tural and oomrjjerolal Interests of the country, my administration of the of lice 1 have tim. tenor to hold has been constantly under lire from ono sido of tho markot or Vito other. Five time it j has been Investigated and on every oc casion I have bc?n vindicated. In Jan uary, 1903, I was awarded $2,r>00 dam ages in a libol suit against a promi nent firm of colton brokers by a jury of their own friends and fellow citl ?cns. These results have been vory gratifying to me, but 1 have the highest medical authority for the statement that tho oontlnued fight upon mo has already considerably shortened my lh'o. At the present time lt ls an accepted fact that a powerful organization bont upon bringing about my retirement, by one m. ans or another. Nujw, I do not think thc position I bolet?n worth tho light nec essary to Its retention, and tho or ganization In education ls welcome to wbatover satisfaction lt can derive from my withdrawal from tho unequal .struggle. If any of my friends think that I ought not to retire under lire. I would have thom remember that there is nevor a time when I am not under lire. I'havo the honor there fore to tendor you herewith my res ignation of my appointment as statis ticiau and oliiefiof tho bureau of stat isttcs of this department. With muoh appreciation of the un iform courtesy and kindness you have shown me and ?;f the many tokens of eontidence I tit' *e received from you, 1 am, Mf* * *-.yours, j olin Hyde. MU, WILSON'S KKPLY. Mr. John Hyde1, Statistician, Department of Agricul ture. Dear Slr: 1 am in receipt of your resignation as statistician of this de partment. In accepting it, 1 cheerfully testify to tho ability with willoh you have discharged the hravy and cliill cdt duties of the ellleo since you were tlrst appointed. The aeouraoy of your reports bas boen recognized by th< public generally, and 1 am glad to be vble tc testify, with regard to the charges made against tho Integrity of ?he bureau of statistics that no facts have been brought to my attention lm placating you In any way. I am fa millar with your devotion to your vork and with the tl ltlrlng efforts ,'. u have made to render the bureau of btio highest service to the growers, maru factures and consumers of farm produots in our c. u il ry, and I regret that falling health should compel you t.o bring your work to an end. Very truly, your*, J AM KI WILSON, Secretary. Mr. Hyde said that he felt ho had east 11? an Immense burden from biri shoulders, ile had fully Intended to resign some time during tho com ing autumn, he said, and therefore he had only advanced his resignation by a few weeks. Mr. Hyde spoke of how cor g an i al the work had b.en to him, nowithstaudlng Its laborious charac ter, and expr?s .ed regret at having tc part "from the etllolent clerical force In the bureau of statistics." "Their loyalty and their personal regard foi myself," he said "of w&lch 1 bad ovl dence today, is extremely touching, i shall have very few recollections ol my eight years work that will not be highly gratifying to mo as long as 1 live. Too secretary has always heel extremely kind to me as I stated ir my letter of resignation." As regards tho investigation now being conducted by the district at tor ney, Mr. Hyde said that he had cal ciliated to assist in every possible way in getting to tho bottom of the caso and that CVQU now he was out of ollie be would, if called upon, bo only to? happy to contribute in any way hi aid in tho Investigation. After Sixty Y em u. T. M. Fields, sixty-two years old of Iiloomburg, l'a., has just discover od that bis brother Abraham, who T M [fields bad believed died before hi was born, Is alivo and well at For Dodge, Kansas, at tho ago of olgbty ono years. Thc knowledge oame in ; lotter from Abraham Fields to th postmaster asking if there wore an Fieldos besides himself alive. He rai away from homo In 1811 to go west bbs family nevor heard of him again it was supposed ho had hcen killed b; Indians. Two years later T. M Kleids was horn. Tlie old man li his declining years decided to writ and see If any of the family survived and his brother will now go west am soe him. Hartl to IMny tin. Tho experiences of tloorgo li. Coi telyou, chairman of the rep?blica national committee, during the recen campaign were many and varice With keen relish ho tells of one tba came under lils notlco. A COU ntl club about to glvo a parado was dobal lng as to tho numbor of transparenoh s- to be had In lino, lb was abot e- sottled that twelve would be the propt jo numbor, when an old fellow with bl trousers tueked In his boots arose an ii' I sal l, "I gufcs two will be about rlgh klTdn'tatall likely moro'i two wi lr low how to phy on 'er NOT WANTED Members of Spartanburg Cotton Association Snub McLaurin. NO CANDIDATE ASKED To Speak at thc Association Meeting, and thc President Says If McLaurin, Who Had Been Invited by Out siders; Appeared, Meeting Would bc Called off. A special dispatch to Tho Greenville News says tho Spartanburg county cotton growers recently inado appoint ments for several special meetings In tho county. The dato atnOherokce Springs ls July 29. These meetings were intended to Increase tho mein borshlpof tho association and bo arouse a more general intoriSJ In tho move ment. It was expected that they would be farmers meetings with no strings to them. President E. L. Archer of the Cotton Growers' Assoc! ation was notified Friday that some of tho olti/.ons of Cherokee desired Col. John L. McLaurin to make tho address on tho 29th Inst. It is said that recently McLaurin upon learning of the meetlcg of the farmers, at Cherokee Springs wrote to a friend in that section informing him of his willingness to address tho farm ers on that day. The curly-headed or ator did not Indicate that his speech was to hoof a politic.1 nature bu. when President Archer of the county assjoiation was informed of thc for mor Senator's offer he promptly told the recipient of tho letter that owing to a previous action of the committee on Invitation he could not allow Mr. McLrurln to spaak at the meeting which was called by order of the as sociation. Mr. Archer feels that In declining the ex Senator's proposition be is but carrying out the agreement entered into by the otllJers and mern hers of the association when lt was or ganlzed, Ile therefore declined to tx tend an invitation to Mr. McLaurin. It appears that some t'mo ago when arrangements were being ni.ido for tho Cherokee meeting several namoN of available speakers were suggested by members of the Invitation commit tee and all were duly considered. It ls said that both Senator Tillman ano1 ex-Senator McLaurin were among the prominent ones mentioned and were rejected because not only was politic^ to be avowed lu ? oven thc scmblanct of lt. President Archer made the follow lng statemeut Saturday: "Tlicsv meetings were appointed for farmers tf the people at C ?erokee desire Col. McLaurin to address them on any sub jeot they bave a right to invite him liut i? he ls to be there on the 29 .b inst, the farmers' meeting will be oall ed off. When the committee met tc consider the appointments, the names of Ooh McLaurin and S -nator Tillman were mentioned. It was decided that they would not be invited, as no real or probable candidates were desired at these meetings, which are te bi helo hy farmers for farmers, and nu tl 3ft h hereby served on candidates fur office, and vote seekers, that they arc not expected to speak at these meetings I have no objection to politicians hav lng their own meetings and airing their grievances or boasting of theil great achievements, but they will nol be Invited to speak at the farmers meetings." BROWN RfitfNTID IT. Ho Ailie.?li (? ? Koocnt 10.litoria! U tho Itarnwull Sentinel. The State says news has come t< Columbia, via Camp Fuller, to the tf feet that Mr. Clarence L. brown ant Mr. O. Marshall Moore engaged lu ai altercation In Barnwell Monday. Th aforosld altercation was a bloodies affair, and lt ls hoped that lt will em with tlic mocting Monday. Mr. Brown is the dispensary inspec tor who suffered tho misfortune t lose $2,000 recently. Mr. Moore 1 the superintendent of the schools a Barnwell and is also editor of tb Barnwell Sentinel, the paper whlc! was owned by Mr. Drown before li sold it to Mr. Moore, lit tho edite rial columns of this paper there ap peareel a paragraph commenting up J Mr. Brown's misfortune In a wa which was distasteful to the inspei tor, and he demanded a rctraeth r Tlic affair happened In thc prinolpt business part of town. Mr. Browr pointing to the objectionable pan graph, expressed his opinion in ri gard thereto with a great deal of fort SO lt is related. The witness who reports the alf i says that Brown, after making a stat ment to tho effect that Moore had h hand In his pocket, drew his revolv? with an Invitation to Mooro to do tl same thing. A Mr. Moody ran n about this time and separated thou Brown put up a cash bond for ?in nu forfeited his revolver to thc town i Barnwell. The Barnwell Sentinel ls tl weekly papor which attracted some a tentkm a few months ago by attackh H. II. IO vans, chairman of the dispel sary board, and the editor in turn wi threatened with a libel suit. It ls sal that on account of Mr. Moore's pos tivo stand on pu olio questions he having trouble tu tie reelected superli toi.tient of the schools. Tuero has bet a deadlock lu the board for 30 days. HtroiiKer Than l'iver, Oonoral Batjanoff, commander the Third Husein Manchurian ara recently declared that the Japan*' were unablo to advance, both on a count of tho strengthening of Hu alan positions and beoauso they ha not fully rocovered from their ov loss at tho battlo of Mukon. "Nev during thc whole war" ho sahl "n tho Russian army boen so strong ovry respeot as at present. Tho Ja aneso know this and therefore th wish for pcaoe. POISONED FLOU? fi hipp ad To (liina ind Koaults Inj Number Of Deaths Will Not Only Hurt Trado In Th*t| Commodity But In Otliorfl --Tho Story, The Washington correspondent of the Columbia Record says a report Just rccolved In tho United States shows that American flour shipping interests lu China arc likely to receive a heavy blow soon, unless something is done to correct a report that Amerloan flour men are sending poisoned flour there. Tho business of shipping Hour to some sections of China, especially to Amoy and Ohaugohau, ls enormous. Last year lt amouutcd to $363,602, and the year previous to $285,294. Not long sirca a oertaln shipment of flour was sent from Hong Kong, and out of that shipment somewhere between thirty and forty people bava died as a result of having eaten a poisonous mixturo. All sorts of rumors have been spread broadcast, and anti-foreign agitation has received a great impetus. This shipment, which was sent from Hong Kong to Amoy, was oonslgned to native importers and was distribut ed in the ordinary course of business, and to all appearances was not d.dor ent from many shipments which had been made before. Tho first trouble came at a Chinese restaurant where a man who was eating a meal became suddenly 111 and In a few moments died. The keeper of tho restaurant, being accusad of having adulterated thc Hour with poison, agreed to eat some of the bread in order to show that thoro was uothlng tho matter with it. In the course of a few hours he also was dead. His wife and daughten also died from eating broad from the same Hour. The story spread rapidly, and wher ?ver tho Hour had been shipped the Chinese died Uko so many dogs. In Changchau, a city of 1,000,000 inhab itants, the result has boon to almos: stop the rec?ipis of foreign flour frort any port. Hundreds of small store keepers and bakers have small stock? ?f goods on hand which they are ul able to sell on aoaount of the fact t hai die people are afraid to buy im portee bread and flour. The loss to these tittle merchants, while considerable, imouuts, as a matter of faot, to noth lug in comparison to the enormou: loss of p roll ts willoh will accrue fron oss of business which has taken many years to build up. Unless the preseni trouble can be done away with, then will be a permanent loss, for Chines consumers will again become accjs t imed tc purely native food, and the /round gained there by Americans af er many years of cu nt and labor will oe entirely lost. There is no explanation of thc trouble, but lt ls probable that Chin ??e merchants made an edort to smug gle In morphia In sacks of flour and that thc packages of poison wert broken, aud the Hour was thus affdOt d. The duty on morphia ls very high, .vhile that on Hour ls only 5 per cent, td valorem. Whatever thc truth about chis matter my be, there is no doun of the fact, as stated, that Amerlcat interests in the fleur shipping bust ness will ba materially affected utilcBh relieved soon Foll Throe T/ioiiBfuid Koot. Daniel Maloney, who made numer >us successful ascensions with Prof. Montgomery's aeroplane, Tuesday feb 3,000 feet to lils death at Sinta Clara Col. Maloney made an ascension from the grounds of the Santa Clara Col lege. About 2 000 persons watched with Interest the maehiue as it shot upward from the collego garden, at tached to a huge balloon. At a height of 4,000 foot Maloney cut loose froix the balloon and began maneuvering the aeroplane. He sailed gracefullj about, then essayed a deep dip. Sud douly thc machine swerved, hesitated, and then turned over. It righted lt 0elf, sank down a considerable distance and turned over again. Maloney wa* clinging desperately to his seat, ant was cvlder.tly endeavoring to regah control of tho aeroplane, but all hit efforts were In vain, Again the aerop lane turned In the air, the wings cami together, and the man and tho maohlni plunged straight downward, while tin horrl?ed spootators gazed helplessly. Kilted hy I,i ve Wiro. s Samuel James, a white carpenter t 40 years of age, unmarried, was killel e Wednesday by coming in con tao fi with a live wiro at the Charlestoi e navy yard. James was employed b; >. the Now York Continental Jewel Filtration company on tho elry dook n Ile wau ou a scadoldlng when he cam > lu contact with tho wiro. Tim wir burnt him around the neck, causln i. death Instantly. The Inquest wa tl held Thursday James was a natlv >, of Baltimore. Ho has been resldln i In Charleston and working at the nav yard for some time._ Burned ii? Hotel. . At Wabash, Minn., six persons wer 11 burned to death in a Uro which d< f stroyod tho Depot Uotol Wedneeda \* morning. The dead are: Mrs.A Hoffman and baby, Robert Johnsen expressman; Gertrudo Stctsher, Re l** becca Horman, Jamas Hunt. Ther may be other bodies In the mint inc fire v/as caused by thc exploslo of a gas tank used for ilhimlnatin? Mrs. Hoffman was owner of the Hole Sue and her baby and tho other vl( tims were burned to death In thol rooms. Of ly KO c is vc m er an in P uv Throe llAiiKtd. At Memphis Tenn., Toots Taylor M. Miles and Major Mills, three ?ugr murderers were hanged Friday. Tay tc and Mills asconded the scaffold togetl er and wiion their bodies had been u moved Millos was executed. Tayh murdered Rob Gaines in August, 190' wifo murder was tho crime wale cost Miles his Ufo. Milln murdere lils father-in-law. A Nt w swindle. Tho Columbia Rjeord says a youn white m AU named Spann was arreste by Policeman Forde Thursday charge with swindling. Tue alleged schon was to place a Mexican dollar wtl four Amerloan dollars and ask that $5 bill bo given for it. It is sa that several victims wore caught. THIRTY YEARS At Hard Labor ia the Peniten tiary for Attempted Assault ON A LITTLE GIRL At New Sumter About Ten Days Ago. It Took the Jury Nine Minutes to De cide the Pate of the Fiend Who Deserves to be Hung for the Crime. A speoial dlBpatoh from Sumter to The State nays thc Jury declared Jesse Nelson guilty of assault with intent to ravish after nine minutes* deliber ation, on Thursday afternoon. Judge R O. Purdy sentouced Nelson to 30 years at hard labor in the South Carolina penitentiary. The sontence to begin at tht expiration of his sen tence to the Clarendon county chain gang, which will be July 0, 1910. The oase wis called Thursday morn ing. The court appointed Mr. L. D. Jennings to defend the prisoner. Maj. Marlon Moise assisted Soliciter Wil son. The State had only a few wit nesses. Very little time was consum ed in examining them. The young lady and her little sister wore very positive in tholr identi?oatlon of the prisoner. They told tho Btory of the orlme In a olear, convincing manuer. There was no hesitation. These were the only eye witnesses. Tue youug lady ls not yet 10 years ot age and her sister but 10. Tue ground rall of tho testimony was the searoh for a negro of Nelson's general appearance-tho olothlng worn, oap, etc, when captured, the izaot description given by the young lady Immediately after the assault. Supervisor Owens told of his escape from tho Clarendon oounty chaingang ast Thursday. Nelson was tho first witness for tho defense. Ile retold the story that lie lever left the railroad between there and Mayes vii le, except to get water at tho Retts mill. Ho denied the attaok m the young lady and said ho had never seen her until curried before her in Monday. Jim Taylor was sent for so that the jury might see the dlfforenoo between oho two. Mr. Jennings certainly did his duty. He reviewed the testimony carefully. He wanted tho right man punished to the limit of the law, but ask the jury o be sure and convict the right one. Ho spoke earnestly aud foroofully. The regro reoelved a high'olass service gratis. Solloltor Wilson laid bare the facts. He spoke of the proud record of old Sumter county. The cltlzsns aro law abiding. He mentioned two or three ?orrlble crimes, aggravating In the extreme, but the majesty of tho law /vas upheld and the outlaws punished. Maj. Marion Moise's speeou was very eloquent. The court house was pack ed when ho began to spoak and olose attention was paid to his argument. Judge Purdy'8 charge to the Jury was short and explicit. Thc jury retired at G 13 and at 0.22 readied a verdlot of guilty. Before passing sentence the judge mid ho knew the b >y's father and mother, and they were good old dark les.,Tho beginning of Nelson's trouble, like all other boys, WHS when ho won dered away from home, getting from under parental Influence. He had no doubt of the prison ar's guilt. If he had he would set aside the verdict as would be his duty, though many people at New Sumter were his warm personal friends. As a judge he must rise above oho opinions and feelings of his fellow man. He held up tho terrible punish ment tho boy must receive and said ohisshould servo as a warning to white and blaok that to do right was the only safe course in life. He had sen tenced to life imprisonment tho other Jay a black man for thc same orlme against ono of his own raoo In the up country.; He then sentenced the boy ,o 30 years in the penitentiary. Nelson ls about 19. Ho was sonteno jd at on July 0, 1904, by Judge Ald rioh to s'x years on the chaingang for assault aud battery on an old colored woman. J I ) I Poisoning Sunpoctod. I 1 Suspe&ting murder, the police aro investigating tho sudden death at his ?tome in Mannlngton, W. Va., of J. N. Payton, no, his wife and a man whoso name has nov* been disolosed, Bj I \re said to have been drinking on Sun lay night, and Mrs. Payton announced ber husband's sudden d?mise Tuesday B J morning, attributing lt to thc drlnk 1 I lng of wood alcohol, to which ho ls un derstood to havo been addicted. The autopsy ls reported to have revealed e tho effoots of other poisons, however, i A chemical analysis of thc stomach of y 'ibo dead man will be made. Three of Payton's near rolatlves by marriage ire said to have met mysterious i leaths from poison. e Tho Widow's Milo. I. . ... ..--?? A woman in ono Ot ono smau Penn sylvania towns recently pub two post' igo stamps In tho contribution box at mr oho ooh, as sho could not afford to "'Ive any money. Tho stamps looked interesting to the minister, so he took -hem to a dealor and sold them for il,OOO. Later, says an exohango, the ?wo stamps w re sold toa Russian no oleman for 85,000. Ho OuK'it. io ?VPOW. Sonator Platt of New York has selebrat?d lils 72 dlrthday and he de clares that as ho looks baok over his milli eil career be is onvinood that t has not boen worth while and If ho tad to do lt over again ho should nodel his career along othor lines, hut ho won't say what ohanges ho would make in tho record. About A Man. Kate Nowoll stabbed and killed Hattie Greer at Starr, Andoraonooun y, on Sunday, night-boin colored. Thoy wore orr their way home from chu roh and quarreled about a man.