University of South Carolina Libraries
VOL. XIII. "FLOODS IN TEXAS. The Suffering Area as Large as South Carolina. OVER A HUNDRED LIVES LOST Property Loss Estimated Anywhere Between Seven and Nineteen Million Dollars. Wilderness of Water. I A dispatch from Houston, Tex., says a correspondent has just returned from a voyage through the Hood districts of that State. The half has not been told * of tho havoe wrought. The disaster is so appalling that description is not possible. After this Hood will come sicknoss undoubtedly, and what a week ago was tho fairost part of Texas, is now almost a Ood-forsaken wilderness. The waters of the Brazos have for days covered its valley a depth of from 0 to 30 feet; where a week ago there were on every hand fields of cotton and corn and thousands of acres of watermelons and eantoloupcs, today there is slimy mud all over tho vegetation and the carcasses of cows, mules, pigs, dogs and cats, maybap human, for many are missing. Our party left Bryan at sunrise Wednesday morning, going to the Novelsote bottoms und to a point about three miles from Millioan. Here we encountered everywhere an overflow from the Navassoto river, which spread out fully two miles on either side of the Houston and Texas Central traek. Everything is under water, from two to 17 feet. It looked on all sides like a great lake, and the water was so high that for a vast area it completely submerged tho telegraph and tclcphono poles along the line. In truth, portions of the Navasoto bottoms arc c\ on now a perfect sea, extending four or live miles wide at certain points. 1 saw hundreds of houses there totally submerged and as many moro were awopt from their foundation and destroyed. The planters of tho bottoms are still moving their help and whatever is left of their stock, to nlannn whero they can bo cared for. Tlioy arc all nobly helping each other and taking refuge wherever they cau, some of them seeking safety on house tops. All the planters stated that the outside world lias no conception of the tloods or losses incurred hy tho destruction of crop, stock and buildings. Nearly every planter has built boats and sont them through the flooded districts to render assistance to the people, and, if possible, savo somo of their drowning stock. Tho flood district has a length of over 500 miles, a breadth of probably 50 milos, and in all this vast space damage iucalulable has been done. The loss of life will never be fully known perhaps; the bottoms woro thickly settled, mostly with negro tenant farmers; among these has been the greatest loss of life. To show tho damage done tho following estimates have been made by men who are in a position to know: Lives lost from 100 to '100. Losri to farmers, including crops as well as livo stock, from $5,000,000 to $15,000,000. Damage to railroads and countiy bridges, $2,000,000 to $4,000,000. These estimates are taken in tho whole area. It is known that more than 00 people have met their death; that many bodies have been iccovered; it is not believed that all of them will ever be recovered. RESCUING DROWNING PEOPLE. Two Thousand Negroes on House Tops Floating Away. James Collison superintendent of machinery for the Santa Fo railroad, arrived in Galveston on the last through train the road has been able to run. The Hrazos river at Rosenberg is run ping wild, Mr. tjoiuson says. At Sun viysidc, 12 miles from Brookshire, the Brazos river is ordinarily 200 yards wide. About parallel with this and two and a half miles away, is Klin creek, which is seldom over 30 feet wide, and in midsummer often dry. The two streams are separated by low bottom lands and arc now united, making a river between five and six miles wido and from 60 to 70 feet deep. Along the currents 19 people were rescued Thursday in a skiff sont from Houston. The people were demolishing their sheds and out houses and making boxes that they used for boats. Cattle were found resting their heads in the boughs of trees, making apitiahlo struggle for cxistonce. At one point two houses wore scon coming #\V.wn the stream. In one of them a in and two women, and on the other a woman and five children wero clinging for life and calling for help. One of these was a tine two-story affair and the other was a smaller dwelling. They , passed on with the foaming current and > may have struck an obstruction and } beon smashed to pieces or found their way into tno gun. Twonty-tivc row boats, fully manned and provisioned, left Galveston Thursday for the section overflowed, to assist in saving lifo and property. m Kvcry year the Brazos and Colorado valleys suffer from inundations. Up to the present flood the greatest destruction from the annual inundations was in 188f>. This year the high water mark of 1885 has been surpassed in Washington, Austin, Fort Bend, Waller and Bra/.os county in southern Texas. The Brazos is falling rapidly ^n tho central part of tho State, the 4FBOonc of last week's flood. The flood reaohed the southern part of tfio State Sunday night and Monday. The planters had received ample warning, but a In many Negroes remained in tho Brazos valley, believiug the water would not rcaoh highor than in 1885. From 1,500 to 2,000 colored people wcro caught in tho valley, in Austin, Waller and Fort Bend counties and were forced to take to tho trees and houso tops. Gov. Saycrs, at the suggestion of Congressman llawley, appealed t? the war department to send government lil'o saving boats from Galveston. Permission was granted, and a special train left Thursday afternoon for the Hooded district carrying several government and a number of private boats. It is believed that nearly all tho people lodged in trees and ou houso tops have been rescued, but tho boats sent from Galvcsfion will patrol tho Hooded dis o...J ?i-~ - .i-? i. 1 e? Hivm nuu 111UIVU U lllurUUgll ttuuruil 1UI" j stragglers. The war department has authorized tlov. Sayers to distribute 10,000 rations among the flood sufferers. Deputy Sheriff Swearings at Soaloy, telephoned at noon: "There is no improvement in this section of the Hood district. If anything, the situation is growing worse. No relief boats have yet reached hero from Houston ortlalveston. Scaley and neighboring towns have about exhausted their rcsoureos. Another Negro family was drowned near Scaley Thursday. Several other lives have been lost since Wednesday night, especially among the refugees on the mound near old St. l'hillipe. A number of Negroes have fallen exhausted from treo tops, after hanging there three days and nights, and were drowned. "A rumor is current here of gi>at loss of life near Richmond, Kurt Rend county. As we are eut off from all that section, deliuitc information is unobtainable, but the situation naturally must be as bad as here. " IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY. Eight Huudred People Without Food or Shelter. A special dispatch from Dallas, Tex., says: At 1:45 p. m. today Deputy Sheriff Swcariugcn of Austin county, made the following statement over the long distance telephone at Scaly: "Kolief has not reached the flood victims in this section. Thirteen dead bodies llflVO KnrtH ronAirA?iA/l ~ ?? - * ..u.w 1VWIU1UU IIUUI II1U UMVIl Ul Hrookshiro. 18 miles l'rotn here. Fortylive persons above Scaly are reported missing and given up for dcid. Seven were drowned today in a boat seven miles below Sealy. "About 400 persons arc isolated on a small picee of land i 11 the lirazos bottoms, thicc miles from Urookshirc. Several hundred more aro surrounded at San Phillipc, three miles from Scaly. Unless relief can soon reach these two places the 800 lives will probably be lost. Many will die as it is, from hunger, exposure and exhaustion. "The wator today is running through the town of Itrookshiro, something never known before. The 05 lives reported lost were in a radius of 20 miles north and south of Sealy. We arc completely isolated at Sealy, but this town is not in danger. Wo cannot estimate the situation beyond the limits mentioned. The whole faco of the country hero is a sea. The channel of the lirazos river here has shifted about three miles and the water is 15 miles wide. N Uogs, houses, lumber and railroad material, merchandise, live stock and other floating objects make it worth tlfo life of rescuers to go to the relief of tho endangered people, most of whom arc negroes. Tho railroads are destioyod for miles. An immenso washout occurred on tho Santa Fo south of A1 Zcaly this morning. This cuts off our last strand of railroad communication. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe and tho Southern Pacific aro all completely stopped. Tho weather is cloudy this afternoon and more rain is feared." Death of Goy. Richardson. Shortly before midnight Wcdnosday night a typical South Carolina gentleman of the old school, a man of noble blood and loftiest sentiment, a man who had served his beloved Stato with raro | dovotion, a man who had been honored : time and again by his fellow ci izens, a I 1 . e .. e :i? " - - iiuuiuui ui iiiamuy or governors?John l'etcr Richardson, ex-governor of tho State of South Carolina, breathed his last, death corning quietly and almost without warning. Without uttering a word, Governor Richardson passed away peacefully and to all appearances painlessly, lie died at his suite of rooms at the Hotel .Jerome where for several years ho and his devoted wife have been spending most of their timo, i so as to roccivo medical attention.? Columbia State. Tillman and McLaurin. j 1 I In a conversation at Anderson Wed- ( j ncsday Senator Tillman said it is now 1 tho di^ty of the people to send delegates to conventions- county, State or na- 1 tional?who are pure and simplo reprc- 1 sentatives of those that sent them. 1 To oxplain, tho senator said to the reporter that this was tho best thing for 1 tho people to do in order to keep out "evangel of hope" delegates?as they, in his opinion, did represent the people on tho expansion issue. On the way ' i. it . u> itio train a remark was made as to the MoLaurtn vote for the anuexation of the Philippines. The senior South 1 Carolina sonator thereupon made a comparison of a certain some ono?not named?to a woman who?at tho marriage alter?suddenly decides not to marry. 1 Hanged in Tennessee. i Picas Wynn and Catlett Tipton, the white-cappers, were hanged at Sevier- i villo, Tonn., Wednesday, for the mur- < dor of old man Whaley and his wife < ovor a yoar ago. They both confessed 1 and stated they woro hired to do the < deed by Bob Catlett. Mrs. Tipton, I wife of tho murdorcr, and his five chil- j dren were present at tho scaffold. i > 1M CONWAY. S. C. ALLIANCE REVIVAL Big Meeting and Barbecue on Tuesday at Seneca. SENATOR TILLMAN SPEAKS. An Alliance of Farmers Merchants and Others Contemplated Talbert, Latimer and Wilburn Speak. A dispatch from Soneca to The State says fully two thousand people from Oconee, Pickens and Anderson counties assembled there on July 4 to attend an alliance barbecue. The lion. J. S. Smith, chairman of the meeting, called on the Kcv. J. M. Me Pure to invoke divine blessing upon the meeting. Mr. Smith announced that the lion. W. Jasper Talbert, the congressman of the Second district, would take the place of the Hon. Thoa. 10. Watson who was absent. The Hon. J. U. Make of Abbeville, was introduced as the first speaker. After congratulating tho people of Oconee for the zeal that they had shown in the alliance he enumerated many of tho benefits that the alliance had done. The mighty wall between the north and south had been broken down and brother from tho north grasped the hand of the brother from tho south. What is the condition of our country today? While the manufacturing interest is most flourishing tho agricultural interest is languishing and theory of hard times is heard on every side. Neither over production nor diversity of crops aro the causes of this depression for many thousands are in need today. What hope is ligld out to the cotton grower of tho south when the trusts and Lombard and Wall streets arc exercising their greed for gain? There arc sugar, dairy, soap and tobacco trusts. Lven there is a corset trust. Not satisfied with squeezing tfie men they are squeezing where it is a disgrace to civilization. Tho alliance I culls upon every roan to whatever trade or prof ession lie belongs to help to stay these mighty evils. In conclusion Mr. Hlakc exhorted all to stand together and prdSj :'v would surely bloss us. The next speaker wan J . C. Wilborn, president of the National Alliaffbo ana the State Alliance; subject: "The Accoropliflhroonts of the Affiance " lie said wo were called today to r.gm the battles for humanity as citizens just as our volunteers were in the recent war with Spain and in the Philippine volunteers for the happiness and safety of the home. The first principal is to la bor for tho education of the farmers along the economical lines. We scut farmers to eongress whoso voices have* been heard and heeded?in things es- . sential, unity, and in all things charity. The alliance joined and linked tho farming interest of the south and west. The farmer is too impatient. Ho cannot wait. Farmers can now use parlimcntary rules as well as the United States senate. Let us stand by the alliance. The newspapers and merchants gleefully cry: "It s dead! It's dead!" when they find that a man has not paid his dues. 1 beg jou to attcud your sub-alliances. The jute can and may comeback and demand that you give them 50 cents more per bale than you paid last year. 1 do not want you to get back in your sub-alliances for politics, not to help Tom Perry or Jno. Smith, but for tho good of your own boy and girl. 'Tis tho farmer and tho farmer's sons that have always defended and will always defend tho liberties of our country. Wo do not want to fight tho merchants and lawyers. Mr. Wilborn road the Ocala demands and made pertinont remarks uponthom Many have been placed in tho Democratic platform and roiiio of them in tho Republican. The State allianco will meet in July at Columbia, and tho constitution has been so ordered that every sub alliance can send a delegate. ?..u ~ll 1 -l?i t ? Miwiy ouu-animii'u wiiuuiu ue represented. It in time to awake and go to tlio battle with renewed interest, Perhaps we have drawn the walls too close. Others, perhaps, should be admitted to our order. Tho chairman introduced Congressman A. C. Latimer as "one of our own boys," who spoke upon "What has tho allianco accomplished in tho way of legislation." Ho said: I ask you to look at South Carolina since 181)0 tosco what the alliance has done. Do tho common men and women need aid? If not, disband. You cannot point out a singlo man who was elected to offico that injured the allianco. Politicians did not rido tho allianco to death. The credit system is responsible for the alliance's death. Kvory merchant, lawyer and farmer is in tho same boat; tho great corporations aro fleecing all of them. He gave some things that h? had helped do while in congress. "Wo passed the income tax, one of tho Ocala demands, and was putin the Democrat-, ic platform of 18%; the election of United States senator by popular voto and tho anti-option bill. Should the allianco be organized?" lie quoted Mr. Morton, ex-sccrctary of agriculture, who said that thcro was room for but one great trunk line all other lines should bo feeders. Colleges afo turning out teachers who favor tho gold itandard, and th<f metropolitan press is flooding the country with monopolis tio literature. The great toiling masses could not bo benefitted, because they did not have th<v ready oash. Ho. %d171 ami Ilia nnntiln kr\ astro arv/V ? *wv.v? I'vvpiv w own auu |/l(lrUU gr?OB* i 28 all ovor the wasto places, raise cattle and sheep/ Sow Horiymda and other grasses. It will bring tomporary rollef. [f we will not stay organized, if wo will 1 . THURSDAY, JULY * \r ^ . .. . . . S % v not bo a man, let us try to live, anyway, at hoiuc. ' lion. W. Jasper Talbert was introduced as a' visiting ulliancoman. The Chioago platform contains the alliunee demands in toto. Ho told sovcral good jokes quite well. The war with Spain has brought new fields and battles on the Chicago platform with all fours. ()nnr?nrwl In ?L? ..f !,? v ~ ~ ~ ~ vv ?>u J/VUVJ VI IUU I 1 11 1 ! > * pines, but honor the bravery of American soldiers, ho would stand by tho faith of our forefathers. His address was applauded' soveral times. Senator B. 11. Tillman was introduced as the grand mogul of tho occasion. Ho was the last speaker. While those who proceeded him had had good attention, and all of them some applause, when the senator bogan to speak the crowd showed the keenest interest, and timo and again ho was chcerod. The sonator took for his subject ' '1 ho conditions of tho country nud tho tondoncy thcroof." Among his first sentences was this: "1 swear that wearo no longer free." A Voice?"Who put us that way?" lie answered: "Fools who vote to put seoundrols in oilieo- ' He said that tho masses wero mislead by newspapers coatrolled by capitalists, and so far as he could see tho country was going to the devil as fast as it could. He said that the great troublo at the north was that tho people voto their party ticket regardless of the character of their man. A representative represented bosses iustoad of the masses. We voted for Cleveland holding our noses and telling them that there was something doad up tho crock. Further, they found somethimg rotten iu the White House. It is elaimed that Hod, duty and destiny demand that we clean up tho Filipinos, who are fighting, as our forefathers did, for liberty. Capitalists of the north wero responsible for this in I* ... iamous, outrageous, damnable war. The tyrant's plea has always been no oessity. The royalists tried that pica with Washington. lie is out and out against the Philippine war, and Mark Ilanna aud his crowd would buy up all the franchises ami reap the benefit of all the acquired territory, lie characterized the north as a mongrel set who had lost the seed corn of liborty?a set who had long forgotton that there was a Declaration of Independence. Citizen Josh Ashley, M. L. Donaldsou and othor prominent men were present. At the banquet aftor the speaking, W. D. -Evans, K. K. Cain, M. L. Donaldson, Souator B. 11. Tillman, Col. .). 11. lloyt and others spoke. The crowd was largo, strictly sober, aud, of course, quiet and orderly. THE GALLANT SPANISH Who Defended Baler Come in Our Lines Under Filipino Escort. The Spanish commissioners who went to Tarlao for a conference with Aguinaldo regarding the surrondcr of the Spanish prisoners in the hands of the Filipinos roturned to Manila Thursday night. Chairman Del Kio. of the commission, said the release ot all the prisoners had been practically arranged for, but it would be necessary to consult the Spanish government beforo tho agreement could be ratified. He declined to give tho terms of the arrangement, or to say whether theso comtcmplated a ransom. Ho asserted, howov or, that Aguinaldo had already issued a decree for the release of the civilian oflieials and tho sic'; soldiers. The commissioners, with tho remnant of the Spanish garrison of Baler, on tho cast coast of Luzon, and a number of civilian prisoners, were escorted by Filipino soldiers from Tarlac, to tho American outposts at San Fernando, and came to Manila by tho night train. TllA Vl nrnnu nf fKn Innrf /lofAnaA aC Ua - ..W ..Vtuv? Wi VUV iUll^ uuiuunu Ul JlttIcr, where the Spaniards resisted an insurgent sicgo for more than a year, formed a picturesque band. Lieut. Martin, the only surviving officer, inarched thom through tho streets. Theio are only twenty two and most of them are mere boys, in faded blue cotton uniforms and rod shirts. They aro barefooted. A crowd of Spanish men and women embraced thom, weoping and shouting their praisos. They toll a remarkablo story. It apqars that tho captain several times proposed to surrender but the soldiers refused. Finally somo months ago ho tried to raiso a white flag. Thoreupon Lieut. Martin killed him with his own sword. Thoir food Anpply gave out entirely a week ago, and they surrendered to tho Filipinos with all tho honors of war. They wero allowed to keep their arms, and they say they marched from Lalcr, with a Filipino escort, and carrying guns, through several insurgent camps, everywhere being ehcerdd and feted. Officefa in the Army. Senator MoLaurin, of South Carolina, was at tho White House Wednesday irl tho interest of some applicants for commissions in the new military organization#. lie was givon to undorstand that tho proKid^nt, would apportion tho .ojhoera among tho sovoral States in the proportion of a captain and a firstlioutonant for eaoh State irrespective of politios. The higher officers, as has already been intimated, aro to bo taken largely from tho regular os vaininniiiuiiv. . iv in uuuerstooa l"ai ft strong effort !will bo ihade to reserve the second. licntp,nant for tho ,non-comruisftioncd officer's *who have made good records in aetivo sorvico, both with tho regulars and volunteers. Disaster Near Odessa A! dispatch from Odessa announces that a dyuamito cartridge exploded near thore Wednesday whilo tho excavation of a coal mine was in progress and that 41) persons were killed and 20 wounded. % ifvalri 13, 1899. TEA0HER8 ASSOCIATION. The Program of the Twenty-Eighth Annual Meeting. The State Teachers' Association of South Carolina will meet this year at Harris Springs on roxt Friday. The following is the program: FRIDAY, JULY 14. 9.00 p. m.?President's addross. Organization. SATURDAY, JULY 15. 9.30 a. m.?"Placo of Classical Studies in Sooondary Sohoola." Prof. Charles \V. Bain, South Carolina College. Discussion.?Prof. II. N. Snyder, WotFord College. 10..'50 a. in.- -"The Aims and llcsults of tho Schools of To day compared with tho Aims and Results of the Schools prior to I860." Dr. W. M. Crier, Prcsideut Frskine College. 12.30 p. m.?"Tho Country School Problom." lion. John .1, MoMahan, State Superirtcmlont Fduoation. 9.30 p. in.?Address, lion. John P. Thomas, Jr., Columbia. SUNDAY, JULY 10. 11.00 a. m.?Sermon. Kev. C. S. Gardner, Grccnvillo. 0.00 p. m.?Sermon. Rev. Joliu Korsbaw, Charleston. MONDAY, JUI.Y 17. 0.30 a. ih.?"la ->ortanco of tho Proservrtion of Forests.'' Dr. A. P. Anderson, Clcmson College. 10.30 a. in.?"H.rroncous Notions Concerning School Discipline. ' Supt. K. D. Hughes, Greenville. Discussion.?Supt. K. S. Drelier, Columbia. 12.00 in.?"What is Pcgagogy now Doing to Help tho Teacher?" Mr. W. K. Tate, Momtningor High School, Charleston. Discussion.?Mr. C. K. Johnson, High School, Columbia. 9.00 p. in.?Address. "The RlFccts of School Life on the Kycsight of School Children." Dr. Hal ward F. Parker, Charleston. TUKSDAY, JULY 17. 9.30 a. m.?"Tho Best Age for Admission into the Public Schools of tho Stato." Supt. J. D. Mann, Florence. Discussion.?Miss Mary F. WicklifTe, Wikthrop Collcgo. 10.30 a. m.?"Tho Best Age for Admission to College (Male)." Rev. It. P. 1 ft . 1 I It \ '? * t en, rrcsnyierian uouegc lor women. "The Heat Ago for Admission to Collogo (Fomalo)." (To be supplied.) 12.00 m.?"What shall tho County Institute Ho?" County Supt. W. II. ^arton, Green /illc. ** Disoussion.?Former County Supt. T. W. Kcitt, Nowbcrry. 0.00 p. m.?Address. President Geo. H. Croaier, Ncwborry Collogo. I) KPARTM ENT M EKTI N< IS. Tho afternoons are reserved for tho mootings of tho dilforcnt departments of the Association. It EM AUK 8. All white Teachers, County Superintendents, Trustees, and friends of edution are cordially invited to attend tho sessions, and to becomo members of the Association. Tho membership fees uro one dollar for men and fifty cents for women, payab'c to the Treasurer at tho annual meeting. Representatives of the press will be heartily welcomed, and furnished with every facility for reporting the proceedings. Mr. Harris, the proprietor of tho Springs, has offered board to tho members of tho Association for $1.00 per day, and those who care to remain at this health resort aftor the Association adjourns can stay at tho samo rato. Transportation from dopot to Spriags and return 25 cts. This offer is mado only to mcmbors and guests of the Association and tho husband and wives of the members; so, all attending this mooting should onroll promptly and obtain certificates of membership from tho Secretary, clso they will bo oxpooted to pay regular rates of board. Thoso who cxpeot to attend should notify Mr. It. L. Fox, Harris Springs, S. C., several days in advance, so that all arrangements for transportation, etc., can bs made before hand. RAILROAD RATES. The following special rates for the round trip havo been granted by the railroads: 10 10 Waterloo. Cross Hill. Abbovillc $105 $ 95 Anderson 1 95 Augusta, Ga 2 90 2 85 Hlacksburg 2 75 Carlisle 1 10 Charleston 0 85 0 95 Choraw 6 15 5 80 Chostcr 1 95 Clinton 80 45 Columbia 3 05 2 70 Darlington 5 80 5 45 Don in ark 4 25 4 85 Fairfax 4 95 4 90 Greenvillo 1 75 Greonwood 55 45 Laurens 45 80 Newberry 1 55 1 20 Orangeburg 4 70 4 35 Prosperity 1 80 1 45 Spartanburg 1 80 Sumter 4 45 4 10 It would bo well for those who contemplate buying those special tickets to see that the local agent has his instructions and tickets in ti no, as mistakes have frequently oceurred in thn na?t owing to fuiluro of station agents to get requisite order* concerning salo of theso tickets. Blown Overja Fence. A cyolone struck New York Htato near Glens Kalis Wednesday'afternoon. Large trees wcro up-rooted and othor damage was done. Jamos Nosbitt, a farmer living cast of Lako George was driving, was blown, with his horso and buggy from the road over a fonce and into a field, lie was injured so , severely that he died. THE CROPS AND WEATHER. What the Department of Apiculture ?. Says About Them. The following is the weekly bulletin of the South Carolina seetion of tho olimato and crop servieo of tho I'nited States weather bureau issued last week by Director Itauer: Columbia, S. .July I, 181VJ. Tho woek ending .July Jd averaged slightly cooler than usual, especially over the western portion of the State, during tho latter half of tho week, with minima temperatures goucrully bolow sixty degrees. Thee were numerous showers from June 27th to tho !ll)th, heavy and well distributed over the eastern half of the State, and light over the north central and northwestern portions, where the rainfall was poorly distributed, and whero more rain is needed, except over very limited areas. Over the areas of deficient rainfall, crops are not making satisfactory growth, but over the oastern portion of tho State generally, they aro up to, or above, their average condition on July 1st, and are generally very promising. Worms continue to destroy corn; but worms to injure tobacco; and caterpillars to devastate rice; while lice on cotton have appeared at various points. Cotton continues to make seasonable growth and is blooming and fruiting freely, with no reports of shedding. The plants aro generally undersized, but vigorous and healthy. The nights have boon too cool latterly for the best development of son island cotton. Corn, is in a few sections, very promising, but on the whole it is below its seasonable average condition. Wire worms are destroying old corn at many points. Corn is being laid by. Tobacco varies greatly in condition, with many reports of injury by bud worms. In places tho uocd of rain is urgent. Cutting and curing is as yet making slow progress, although some inferior grades havo boon sold in upon market. Lato reports on wheat confirm earlier estimates of small yields. Thosamiis true of spring sown oats. Tho bulk of the rieo crop is very promising, but caterpillars continue to devastate late plantings, and fresh water for Hooding is not available in places. Melons are ripening but do not promiso a largo crop. Many Hwoet potato slips have been sot out during the weok. Sugar oano, sorghum and gardens show Homo improvement. I'eas are being extensively planted, and coming up to good stands. Haying is in progress on the coast meadows. Marriage in tho Philippines Tho Negritos have a curious marriage custom, says Soil* CtiUuro. When a young man makes known his preference, the young woman Hoch from him, whilo he gives chase and oatehes her in his arms. She struggles and frees herself. whereupon tho chase is renewed, and so on until ho has caught her tho third time, when sho yields, and ho proudly loads her hack to her father's* dwelling. Tho father and mother of tho bride-elect then meet with the contracting pirties. tho latter kneeling side by side. The father then takes somo water in a eoeanut shell and throws it over them. Continuing tho ceremony, ho takes each by tho neck and bumps their heads together sovoral times, and they are then adjudged to be duly married. A wedding tour of five days' sojourn alone in tho mountains follows, after which they tako up their ahodo as staid citizens among their friends. Killed by a Woman. A tcrriblo tragedy was enacted on Monday last 011 tho shore of Grand Lake, immediately in tho rear of tho village of Charenton, La., in which Thomas W. Webb was shot and instantly killed by Mrs. W. F. Smith. It appears that Smith and Webb were engaged as partners in gathering and pre paring moss tor market, anil in the division of tlio moss Webb used very insulting language to Mrs. Smith, who was present, whereupon she seized a dobulo-barreied shotgun loaded with buckshot near at hand and discharged the contents of one barrel into the breast of Webb, killing him instantly. Deputy Sheriff Dccot buried the remains of Webb and arrested Smith and his wifo and they aro now in jail at Charenton, l<a. Ate Poisoned Candy. Mrs. Mlsio Schcib, 610 I'lllis Street, San l'raneisco, ato of somo candy received by mail on Friday and since has been seriously ill with symtomsof arsenical poisoning. On tho day mention cd a box of candy and a letter wcro received at Mrs. Schoib's house. They had not boon sent to hor, but wero addressed to her friends, who frequently visited her. The box was opened and .# .I * ? some 01 mo canny was ottered to a 11a' t" dozen young women who were emp1' / ed as dressmakers by Mrs. Soh> ^o. They declined to take the candy, but Mm. Schcib ate a small quantity. Soon afterwards she became alarmingly ill, with evory symptom of having been poisoned by arsonio. Antidotes wero administered and sho is recovering. Much mystery surrounds the caso. ROYA ABWUttttl Makes the food more de 4 [51 NO. 52. EVEN IN NEW YORK. The Loaders of Tammanv Greatlv ? Surprised. EX-GQV. HOGG, OF TEXAS, Paralyzes Van Wyck's Plan3 for a Boom by Springing Bryan and Free Silver to Cheering Crowds. On Tuesday of last week Tammany hall celebrated Independence Day as customary at the Fourteenth street wigwam. The gathering was remarkable for its unexpected features. There was a dearth of promincntmcnt, men, ex President Cleveland, exSenator David B. Hill, \V. J. Bryan and ox Senator Murphy failing to mako acknowledgment of the invitation to attend. Kx-Oov. Hogg of Texas created a sensation by the manner in which he introduced the name of VV. J. Bryan and the Chicago platform to the meeting. The mention of Mr. Bryan's name and reference to the Chicago platform being received with tremendous applauso, which was long continued. The boom that was launched for Augustus Van Wyok had a very indifferent reception. It had boon arranged that cx Congressman .lames B. lliehardson, of Tennessee, should speak, but ho was unable to attend and Cov. Hogg was asked to speak in bis place. When Cov. Hogg arose ho recoivcd a hearty welcome and bo indulged in a few remarks that seemed to please the Tammany men immensely. Afinr * J . " fow minutes, which he used in outlining tlie well established principles of Domocraoy, Gov. Hogg began a spocoh phillic which set tho house in an uproar. The applauso began when ho asse"ted that noxt year the Dntnocratic party would declare for tho free and unlimited coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen to one. Men who had appeared to ho half asleep, jumped up with a start and joined in the applause. When the speaker promised a plank iit the platform of noxt year in which imperialism would bo denounced the applauso broko forth anew. It was very evident that theso utterances were not only astounding to tho Tammany leaders, hut displeasing and the displeasure booamo moro apparent when tho speaker in his spocoh exclaimed: "In this great contest we want the aid of united Tammany?the greatest political organization on earth. Wo want you to closo up ranks, to settle your local dillercnces, if they exist, and to go arm in arm with the stalwart bread-winners of the south and west to victory next year, under tho leadership of tho chivalrous, the dauntless, the matchless great American, Wm. J. Bryan." As the hist words fell from tho lips of the[spoakor, tho audienoo was carried away in an outburst of enthusi astic applause. Cheer after cheer arose, and what had started out as a Tammany lovefeast, booamo a howling silver demonstration. The other speeches of the day were in tho keeping with Tammany principles, .Joseph J. Willct, of Alabama, and State Senator Thomas F. Graay, Tammany's star orator, made two of tho best speeches, the latter making am attack upon tho civil service systemwhich aroused his hcarors to great onthusiasin. The following cable dispatch f*oiir Richard (Jroker who is in London wasread: "Congratulations on tho glori Fourth, tho day we celobrate. J4y? heart is with you always. Let us* rejoice over tho coming triumph of democracy and the people's rights. (Signed) Richard Crokcrc'" Mr. Joseph J. Willett, president of the Alabama Rar association, delivered ono of tho principal speeches. Mr. Willott's reference to Judge Augustus Van Wyck and his remarks about trusts were tho occasion of outbursts of cheering by his- aud&sncd. Mention of tho name of W. J. Bryan also brought out a burst of applause. Just before the close of hau spoeoh Mr. Willett diverged and> ?aid: "1 seo that man Alger is rujining for senator from Michigan on. an anti-trust plank. Isn't that rich?' Alger, tho friend of Mark llanntu, of Armour, of Lagan, runn-ng on a?. auti-trast platform!" Willett then tolil' of a story of a southern Negro vaho was fooled into selling'his master s farm for $ and added*. "Won't thopoople of Michigan bo lifted out of everything thoy own if thev let A Igor play the gatno on them." No was followed by ex-Congressman Vshcr (1. Caruth, of Kentucky, who spoke at length. xvuieu oy a rratn. A shifting engine of Pittsburg .) unction railroad, ran down a pleasure party of Negro people in Shenly park about midnight Thursday. Ono inan was killod and two women probably fatally injured. b*mm& ^ PDWK0 , j lUBt Actons and tvfeotesonie K \l j