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VOL. XIV. SEVERE HURRICANE1 Millions in Property and Hundreds of Lives Lost. PORTO RICO SUFFERS MOST. J Large Number of Towns Wrecked and American Soldiers Killed. Many Other Islinds Suffer Severely. A dispatch frotn San .Juan, l'orto ltieo, says a luirrieanco broke over the south coast of l'orto ltieo on Tuesday morning and swept northeast. There was no abatement for nine hours, the greatest damage being done between H and 10 o'clock a. m. At San .Juan four natives were drowned in the harbor, eighty houses were demolished and hundreds wore unroofed. The damage to property is estimated at $500,000; commissary stores to the value of $50,000 were destroyed. A dispatch by cable frdfti l'oneo says the town was almost dostroytul. Al most all the frame Imildings are down, the bridge is swept away, and there is no communication between the port and the city proper. The damage to the port is estimated at $250,000. Two natives are known to have been drowned. Tho records and property of the custom houso are ruined, and all the vessels arc ashore. At Albcnito very little remains standing except the cathedral and the barracks. Four natives perished and ^thrco United States soldiers wore badly injured. As the town is without food, government relief lu.s been dispatched thither. Klcaycy was levelled to the ground, 200 houses being demolished. Two United States soldiers wero injured there and many cavalry horses killed. At Catano the entire plant of Ihc Standard Oil company was ruined. The loss on the property is $200,000. At liayamon a majority of the houses wore destroyed and the rest wero Hooded. Two hundred cattle were killed, and the railway seriously damaged. The village of Carolina was literally razed. At Cagas four persons were killed. A courier who has just arrived from llumaco, capital of the province of that name, on the eastern coast of the island, reports awful destruction there. The loss of property is estimated at $500,000, but this is the least item in the disaster. The courier brought an official report from Capt. Eben Swift of Fifth United States cavalry, who says: "llumaco was totally destroyed by the hurricane. Forty-six bodies have boon recovered, and there arc many more in he debrij. Eight privates of Troop C injured; two fatally. Scrgt. King of the Eleventh infantry was injured. North, a discharged private, is missing. At the port of Ilumaoo 18 bodies have been recovered. Eight hundred people arc starving hero." Thrco persons were killed at lias 1 *icdras and five at J unco. Couriers from the other districts are anxiously expected at the palace. The steamer Slocum, Capt. Thomas, en route from Mayaguez to San .Juan, was caught in tho storm, but her passengers and crew were saved through tho heroism of Mr. Single, first officer. The coffee crop is ruined, and the loss will reach millions. Very great injury has been done also to tho orange crop. No definite returns have yet been received from the southern section of the island op rt from Ponce. It is certain, however, that the food supplies in the stricken districts have been destroyed and in these quarters the quantity of government stores on hand is small. Kclicf wagons will bo sent out in various directions. Gen. Ceo. W. Davis, the governor general, has cabled to the war department an appeal for assistance. HELP NEEDED. The secretary of war Thursday received tho following report from Gen. Davis, commanding at Puerto Uico, on th?. >yclone of last Tuesday: San Juan, I'ucrto llico, Aug. 9. Hurricane of extreme violence passed over Puerto Uico yesterday. The principal military loss at San Juan one temporary company barrack wholly destroyed, some quartermaster property damaged. No personal injuries yet reported, but all wires are down. No injury to shipping here save two small local schooners sunk, two sailors drowned. San Juan lights temporarily disabled. Gable reports from Ponce say all shipping is ashoro. Custom house here badly damaged and goods stored theroin. Mcssongcrs from two interior posts tell of barracks unroofed and personal and public property damaged. Tho losses by tho inhabitants is vory great and cxtrome suffering must resui.l The last hurricane as severe as it!- ?- * * hum was in mil), owing to loss ol houscB, fruit and provisions thcro was a famine. I would suggest public notice in tho United States to the effect that contributions of food, clothing and monoy for tho destituto will be received with the greatest gratitude and will be applied strictly to relief of destitute. Have appointed a board to suporvisc destitution. Thcro arc many thousands of families who aro entirely homeless and vory great distress must follow. Davis, Commanding. MANY LIVES LOST. The governor of the Leeward islands, Sir Francis Fleming, confirms tho disFatoh from St. Thomas, Danish West ndies, to tho Associated Press announcing tho devastation caused by the hurrioano at tho island of Montserrat, says 74 deaths arc already known. He addr that 21 persons wero killed at the islf d of Nevis. Tho hurrioano was not so severe at Antigua. One death is reported thorc. but many persons have been rcndorca m homeless. Tho other presidencies of the Leeward islands have not reported the damage done. As later advices come in from Montserrat, it is seen that the first reports convoyed only a faint idea of tho sullerings of the people and their deplorable condition. The administration appeals for he1 p. In the Island of St. Croix, the largest of tho Virgin islands, the destruction was appalliug. It was chiefly wrought at tho west end, where the smaller houses are a tangled mass of wreekago. Thirty persons wcro killed and tho in nauitants arc in great distress. WORSE AND WORSE. A dispatch from I'once says: A hurricane struck here at 8 o'clock Tuesday morning \nd lasted until 3 j>. in. The rivers overflowed, flooding the town. It is estimated that 200 persons were drowned. The town and port are total wricks. It is believed the damage done will amount to over $500,000. No news has been received from the interior sineo the storm broke. The island of Montserrat, 1). \V. I., wus completely devastated by a hurricane Monday. All the churches, estates and villages were destroyed and nearly 100 persons were killed. In addition many were injured and rendered homeless, and terrible distress ex'sts among the sufferers. DEVASTATION IN GUAOALOUPE. Villages in Ruins and Valuable Crops Completely Destroyed. A dispatch from Fort dc France, Martonique, says the authorities of the j Island of Guadaloupc arc still without news from the interior owing to the interruption of telegraph communication as a icsult of tho recent hurricane. Hut other advices which have reached La Point-A-l'itro say tho coffee and cocoa crops have been nearly totally destroyed. At La Pointc A-Pitrc seven persons were injured and at Moulc the damage done was considerable and several persons were killed and wounded, At Petit canal and Port Louis several persons were killed and a number injured. Tho villages of Grippen and Lumontin have been entirely destroyed and the light-houses of Monroux and Foscilloz have been overturned. Tho town of St. Louis do Marie Gai iv?i ? i ? > i.niiu iwtrt Muuurcu consiuoraujy. Gov. Morachini arrived at Point-APitrc on the French cruiser Cecilc and soon afterwards lefi for Saintcs. News which lias reached The Associated I'rcss correspondent here from the British Antilllcs says the Island of Monicia has not suffered much from the hurricane; that St. Thomas and St. Croix suffered lightly, that Antigua was seriously hit and that at St. Kitts 200 houses were destroyed. The hurricane passed over Puerto Plata and appears to have ravaged the north of the Dominican republic. All communication between Puerto Plata and the interior, not including Santo Domingo, is interrupted, and it is impossible to obtain a correct account of the damage done, although it is thought to be important. The railroad from I Puerto Plata to San Domingo is no long- I cr working. Fvcntually the hurricane swept over Cape Ilaiticn with less violence and correspondingly light damage. Advices from La Poiot-A-Pitrc, island of Guadaloupc, says the cyclone did enormous damage in the interior of that island, a number of coffee and cocoa estates being devastated. Lc Mourio, a suburb, was half destroyed. There were a number of fatalities. At La Pointo-A-Pitro, Island of Guadaloupc, immense damage was wrought and according to a report not yet confirmed, 102 persons were killed. When Will it Turn Up. A dispatch from Washington under date of August 10 says the West India hurricane, which has been raging since early in the week, has been lost for the time being in the waters to the north of the eastern extremity of Cuba, whero the weather bureau olhcials report it this morning. If it keeps in its present course the storm will reach Nassau, in the Bahamas, tomorrow morning. Its progress Las keen very slow, averaging about five miles an hour, with a diameter approximating probably 000 miles. Warnings have been sent to cities on the South Atlantic coast, on the northern coast of Cuba and the Bahamas advising that all shipping remain in their harbors until the storm has pass cd. Seeking a New Home. The British North Borneo Company has received a request from the Philippines asking the company to lease or sell to Filipinos Banguey Island, just south of Palawan Island. It is only sparsely inhabited by natives. The Filipinos, who are engineering tho deal say that in caso of their defeat Aguinaldo and other leaders, with a larirn section of tho Filipinos, may settle at Bangucy, under British protection and company's rule. Tho board is now con sidering tho question, but it is understood the company is not averse to leasing the island on very favorablo terms being offered. Onr Tobacoo All Right. Tho news that tho Japancso government will continue to buy its tobacco in this country will be especially gratifying to South Carolina growers, for much of tho Amoriean tobacco consumed in Japan is the product of this State. The report was recently current that tho tobacco trust, in ordor to provent Japancso competition, had scoured control of tho firms in that country which had been its competitors in ourmarkot; but not even tho American Tobacco company can buy up the government of Japan, and with that in tho field for South Carolina leaf tho dorircd competition will continuo.?State. ^ <HK ^ IP #0 CONWAY. S. C THE PENITENTIARY. Report of the Investigating Committee in Full. FINANCES BADLY MANAGED. The Treatment of Convicts Almost Beyond Reproach, the Condition and Manage ment of the State Farms Commended. The Penitentiary investigating committee has filed its roport with (iover nor MoSwcency. It is a most interesting public document and summarizes the work of the committee as much as possible. The report brings out in a concise manner the mismanagement in a business ?vay that has been found at this State institution and tlie fatcc of previous examinations, with limited scope of inquiry, perhaps, but which, like tho directors, made no catcful researches, hut took thimrs on faith or inquired only into the charges made. The committee merely summarizes the evidence as taken and published, which was all it was expected to do under the resolution of the General Assembly. The report of the committee to Governor MeSweeney reads as follows: To tho Hon. M. II. MeSwccncy, Governor: The General Assembly of this State at its last session passed a concurrent resolution to appoint a committee of two Senators and three llej resontatives "for the purpose of investigating the affairs of the Penitentiary," with insruotions to report to you. The undersigned were appointed as said \ committee, and organized by electing I W. F. Stevenson chairman. It selected John Taylor as export bookkeeper and >1 ins M. F. Gibbes as stenographer. Meetings were held from time to time, as it was expedient to do so, as is shown by the record herewith submitted. Much testimony was taken bearing on the condition and management of the Penitentiary. The matters examined were embraced under three heads: 1. Tho treatment of the convicts. 2. The condition and management of the farms and the disposition of farm products. J. The general financial affairs of the Penitentiary proper and the use and disposition made of the assets of the Penitentiary proper including accounts due to the same. 1. As to the treatment nf I lie ?.nn victs, wo find that Mr. Ncal has always been an advocate of humanity and that wherever the treatment of convicts caiuo under his personal supervision there is no doubt of their kind and humane treatment. One instance of very Bovero whipping is reported as boing given by one subordinate, Mr. .J. >1. Cooloy, which Mr. Ncal is not responsible. We wish to commend the methods used by Mr. Millei, manager of the Lexington farm, in this particular: His management has reduced the necessity for whipping to a minimum, and yet he gets excellent results. While we know that the convict must bo controlled, wo feel that tho dictates of humanity require that the unfortunate who is without character of legal standing, and without friends or hopo of redress should be treated with all tho consideration which strict discipline will allow. We arc glad to be ablo to report that Mr. Ncal has always shown his desiro to do his full duty by the convicts from a humanitarian standpoint. 2. We find the farming property in fine condition, well stocked and cultivated; large crops arc made, and valuable improvements in the way of buildings and dykes and ditching and clearing have been made during his administration. Tho superintendent deserves ja-nwjn H l-i! o - .1 * 1 uuuiiiiuiiuuiiun ior uic oncrgcuo an<l skilful management of the affairs and improvements made on tho property, both on the farms and at tho Penitentiary itself. The DcSaussuro and Ucid farms have been paid for under the administration of Mr. Ncal. We are not prepared to say that the farming business, however, is profitable. There has been, for iustnnco, for tho year of 1898 an average of 138 hands used on the Ucid and DcSaussuro farms. The evidence is that they will pay $50 per year per head when hired out, making $6,950 net from their hire. Tho total products from these farms for 1898 as reported by the board was $41,013.05. Tho cash returned from the farm produce, DcSaussuro and Itoid farms, pages 21 and 11, is $12,735.55, and DD bales of cotton on hand .January 1, 18*39; there was possibly on hand at that time under a liberal estimate, $7,000 worth of other produce, making a total of $22,210.55 accounted for, and leaving a balance of $18,803.40, which must have been consumed. Now, this crop cost, therefore, tho hire of convicts, $6,950: accounts paid for the two farms $20,069.39; rent of land, estimating it at ono-fourth of tho crop, $10,253.48, and produce consumed in the making, $18,803.40. The crops cost, therefore, $56,076.27; tho value of tho crop, $41,013.95, leaving a deficit of $15,062.32. From this should be deducted the value of permanent improvements, claimed as being mnrlo ilnrini/ I.Vi/k vnoi? /jaa 1/wKikli A \ ...V.X.N/ V??. .11^ VilU JUIU, I < A I I I ? / I t il,/ $1 ,000, leaving an apparent deficit of $14,062.32. To this should bo added the interest on tho equipment, which is valued by the directors at $25,000, on page 21 of the report of 1807, which at 6 per cent would be $1.500, making a total deficit of $15,562.32, From this, of courso should be deducted tho corn and oats and bacon furnished to t.io Penitentiary itsolf, whioli at a liberal estimate from tho tostimony beforo us, could not exceed $5,000 from the crop of 1808, which would necessarily lcavo I tttt 1 THURSDAY, AU(iUf u loss of $10,562.32 from farming opcr} ations on thoso two farms. 3. As to tho general financial affairs of the 1'cnitcntiary proper and tho uso and disposition made of the assets, ote., wo arc constrained to roport that tho investigation has brought forth a state of affairs which is not creditable, lu the first place it will be found by a close examination of tho testimony taken that tho directors knew too little of the affairs of tho institution, and wero too subservient to the will of tho superintendent. The fact that there were _l i o t i> i_i ? uuuiit ui nagsuaie noics in me bank with the Penitentiary's endorsement representing convict hire for two years on Mr. Ncal's plaeo, while the directors thought the hire had been paid, shows that their knowledge of the affairs of the institution w?s entirely superficial. The fact that they paid him $10 a month stable rent for six years and two months for allowing Penitentiary horses to stand in his stables, where they were kept purely for his convenience, and now profess not to know they were paying it, is another evidcncooftho somnolence of their faculties when approving accounts. They either knew that such was the case, or they did not know it. If they know they were paying it, they were deliberately yielding to Mr. Ncal's desire for money, to which lie was not entitled, and were therefore culpable, or, if they didn't knovr it, they were approving and paying an item monthly for several years which was wrong and never found out. Wither supposition is Bumcictniy nuimnaiuig. wo would note here that wc know of no law authorizing the directors to keep a lot of horses and cairingcs for the use of the superintendent's family, and we regard it as an unwarranted extravagance. The evidence here is that the bookkeeper had to use his horse 011 penitentiary business, for which the Slate fed him in part, while the horses for whose stable rent we were paying handsomely were being used by the superintendent's family. The evidence is that there was stable room for these horses at the penitentiary. The custom of entertaining largely at the penitentiary grew up also under Mr. No&l. Crowds ate there free at the bounty of the State, making the taxpayers their hotel keepers, and cxarcising a thrifty instinct to get all they could at the public credit. I 'nfortunatcly the board of directors set the example by boarding themselves there thus adding to tho pay allowed by-law the further provision of hotel bills. In justice to tho board, however wc will say that after this investigation was begun and that matter was brought out they decided to discontinue that practice and pay their own board. This is as it should bo. The lavish entertainment thero, though, was such as should not be tolerated again. Politicians, contractors, Stato constables, and personal friends all found a welcome and good cheer there. The result has been that the institution came to be considered as a placo where any accomodation desired could be had, and as a result we find manv thinvs to report as wrong. We iind that he has given away many articles produced by the penitentiary to prominent men, such as a bookcase to Congressmen Latimer, furniture to I). II. Tompkins, secretary of State, and T. J. Cunningham and S. 1*. J. Garris, directors, and Senator Tillman, who also got a carload of brick, which lie says Neal gave him, but which Neal says he sold him. Most of these articles Neal now professes to be ready to pay for, although he had never charged himself with them up to the institution of this investigation. Mr. Garris also got a carload of brickbats and some pigs and turnips, for which Mr. Neal docs not think ho should pay. Mr. (Jarris had been anxious to settle the pig bill, but could not got it made out, and the other items were presents and they contend were worthless. Wo do not think it wise, though, for directors to bo accepting even valueless presents from the .mnitentiary. If Mr. Neal 1121 fl li'iifl fttr t liouo tliinirj u/linn lin rrnun ....? V VVUV " e" " """ M,yj B""' them away it is a questionable practice for an officer to bo making presents to public men, but when he fails to pay lor them and takes the State's property and gives it to public men he does two wrongs, he misappropriates public property and attempts, apparently, to control the influence of public men by the use of it. Further than that, he has allowed the governors of the State during his administration all to get such things as they desired from the penitentiary, and has neither presented the bills for them nor placed them in the assets and on the regular books. A list of their accounts which ho should have prcsontcd and oollectcd or published in the list of accounts duo is hereto attached. Ho has himself, also, taken supplies to a large amount at a very low prico and has never paid for them, an account of thorn being also set forth in this roport. Wo find also that thcro has boon a rule that tho superintendent shall be furnished with wood and coal frco. This is not warranted by law, and is morcly another dovico to increase the salary of tho su perintendent contrary to law. Again, the governors have bocn allowed tho uso ?f convicts, tools and stock to cultivate land near tho city, and this has not been charged to them. This is ex cuscd by Mr. Ncal on the plea that tho governor is ex offioio chairman of tho hoard of directors and has in consequence always gotton what ho asked lor If that is correct, it is time that the governor should bo taken oft the board. We do notrcfor in speaking of tho cultivating of land to the patch around tho governor's mansion, which is public property and proporly cultivated by convicts, but to independent farms outside. Again, the board had a steam laundry established in tho ponitentiory and operated by tho oonvicts. Mr. Neal and Govornor Kllcrbo havo both had their family washing done thoro ever sinco froe, until tho termination of Mr. Noal's term of office. Retail ST 17, 1899. Now, whilo it is disagrcoablo to refer to theso mattors, wo deem it our duty to eall thom to tho attention of the general assembly. If tho governor's salary is too small it should bo increased by the general assembly, not supplemented by the penitentiary. If not too small tho governor should Do satisfied thorcwith. The same remarks apply to tho other officers mentioned. It should bo a plcasuro to those gontlomcn who havo received theso things from the Stato to make reparation, and the lesson should be learned oneo for all that a public officer, because ho is a public officer, has no more right to tho property of the State than the humblest citizen, and when he attempts to give it away to prominent men tho inference properly deduciblc is that ho is bartering it for their influence, and they should ho above suspicion and keep themselves f.o by declining such presents. Any other course breeds distrust in tho people in their rulers, ami when that thor oughly permeates the masses respect for law and order perishes and it become a question of who can get tho most out of the government, and high oflieo is sought not from motives of patriotism, bv.t ol plunder. We think the penitentiary authorities should proceed at onco to ascertain the value of the a sets thus given away and pre scnts hills for them to the parties who received thorn, many of whom have professed willingness and desiro to pay for them, and if possible save all such items. This should hy no means prevent their holding the bond of the superintendent liable for such things as arc not settled for. Ho has misappropriated the assets and should account for them. There is another uiattci which deserves attention in our general remarks. The managements, it seems, has been receiving favors and granting them in return. It should pay for all assistance it gets and then charge, for all matters rendered. The caso of Hon .1. \V. Ashley is in point, lie furnished transportation for the officials, making no charge; in return his horse was boarded at the penitentiary during the session of 1H08 of the legislature. While this may he very convenient, it is not business. If Mr. Ashley's favors were worth receiving they should be worth paying for, and likewise the hoard of the horse is worth paying for. This free and easy method of balancing one against the other will render it impossible to ascertain at any given time the liabilities of the penitentiary. No one will bo able to ascertain what the unroturned favors received at the hands of the friends of the superintendent are worth, nor wacn the institution will be called upon to board man or horse in return. It amounts to a reciprocity treaty between the superintendent and his friends, which mav in volvo the institution in endless liabili ty and expense. It should be stopped. Another unbusinesslike feature of the management is the contract of the institution with the knitting mill company in the penitentiary. They give the mill a 25 horse power motor and pay the electrical company for 25 horse powoi and are to eharge the mill only what power it uses. They have not settled in five years and haven't even put in a meter to bo able to tell how much power has been used. Now, the mill company wants to settle at 10 horse power. The directors don't know what was used and have paid for 25 horse power. This is unbusinesslike and negligent, in our opinion. Now, as to Mr. Neal's financial transactions and his moral obliquity in the matter. In the first plaoo, in the face of the plain spirit of the law ho arranged as soon a* ho became superintendent to have lib kinsman and creditor, J. Helton Wat son, take charge of his plantation in Anderson county and procured for him convicts to work it and agreed that the net proceeds, after paying for the convict labor and the farm expenses, should be applied to his debt to Watson, and he was thus to get advantago of all profits made by the convict labor, indirectly hiring them to himself. The law enjoivs upon him the dutv of watching those who hire convicts preventing oppression and enforcing the rulo that they shall bo humanely treated, carefully attended by physicians and not required to labor more than ten hours a day, nor on Sundays and holidays. Sections 5(>t> and 5t?l), Vol. 2, Kev. Stats, of 18JK1. The plain intent of the law is that he shall hire them to himself, directly or indiroctly, or be personally interested in the amount of work done. The I not ?\rn/i/?A/lu Knin/# 1,1.. ~ .1 ? I IIUV |/iwuuun UUIII^ 111.1, IIK; irnuL'iiijy would ho to givo Watson the host lahor, work it over time and report as much lost time as possible. Having run under this contract for the years IHH.'i, IH'.M, 18!)f>, ho had his dcht reduced as a result from $17,000 to $11,000 (See exhibit II). Then ho took a contract from Watson (Kx. II) whereby exclusive oontrol was returned to him, but the oonviots were hired to Mr. Watson (See Kx. (J), and no bond was taken from Watson. This was plainly done to mislead tho board of directors as he frankly admits that they would not have hired them to him. Thus ho bocamo the master, the contractor in fact, with Watson as a stalking horse. All ; 1 i.:~ 1 ? vuv> i'iuii vn IIIUICU l<; ma UUIICUU in* stead of paying tho State for the convict hiro for 181X5 he took a worthless note of his foreman, one Kagsdale, and ondorsed it as superintendent of tho penitentiary, borrowod money on it and returned it as cash reooived. The noto has never been paid and the bank threatens tho ponitentiary with suit for it. Tho samo thiug occurred in 1807 with another Kagsdale note and in 1808 no pretcnco of payment has boon made. Tho net proceeds of the farming operations for 181H5 and 1807 were paid to Mr. Watson on Mr. Noal's debt to him, oxccpt $1,1(55 85, for which Mr. Ncal gavo Watson a receipt as superintendent, and which was not turned into tho treasury, but which is covered [Continued on Fourth Pago. 1 A. THE SOUTHERN EXPOSITIONS. A Chance for South Carolina to Display Her Resources. The Southern Exposition will he hold in New York at the Orand Central Palaco from the Hist of October to the 25th of November. The object of tho exposition is to advertise tho South and show to the country at lar^o what wonderful progress has been in ado during the past quarter of a con tury in agriculture, mining and manufacturing and in educational science. The advisory committee consists of men prominent in all the walks of life from Texas to New York. Tho members of the committee from South Car olina are: Gov. MeSwoenoy, Mayor Smyth, of Charleston, lion. A. C. I.ntiiner, of Helton, lion. .lames Norton, of Mullins, and Capt. W. A. Courtcnay, No wry, S. C. Col. John J. Harnett is the director of the exhibition. Among others on tho auvisory eommittce are: Hen. Wheeler, Hov. Candler, of Georgia, Gov. Hradley, of Kentucky, Mayor Watkins, of Chattanooga, linger A. I'ryor, Assistant District Attorney James H. Gordon and Collis I*. Huntington. Tho exposition will havo departments of line arts, history, eoinincrco ami manufactures, agticullurc, horticulturo ami farm implements, machinery, geology, minerals and mining, fori entry and forest products, women's, educational and Negro departments, fortho forestry exhibit it is inton' dod that eaeh species of tree shall he represented by several specimens of all the commercials forms into which it is > maufaetured, and every shipping grade of each species and variety will he represented by two or three specimens. Kvcry effort will ho made to arrange a ooinploto line of samples, so > as to present an intelligent idea at a i glance to the export as well as to tho i casual observer. It will ho the purpose of tho Negro department to show tho progress of i the Negro race in America from the , old plantation day to the present. Kx| hibits of work done by Negroes in aii i walks of life will he found in this dei part incut, while in tho educational ex hibit the advancement of tlie Negro . race in education will be shown, i The promoters of the exposition expect to have every industry in all the i Southern States represented. The enterprise has the support of the Mayors in the leading Southern cities i and is endorsed by the (jovornors of all the Southern States. PERISHED IN ALASKA. Thirty Half Dead Survivors of Edmonton Expedition Reach Wrangle. A dispatch from Wrangle, Alaska, 1 says: The Stickocn river steamer Strathcona arrived here Thursday with ' 30 survivors of the I'ldmonton trail. They are weston men. except about 10. 1 All these came in with the pack train | sent out from Telegraph Crook and Lakcton by the various trading coin1 panics last spring. The unfortunates toll heartrending 1 stories of hardships endured and com rados lost and abandonod, and strongly 1 denounce the trading and transportation companies as well as the Canadian 1 ollieials and newspapers that so profusely advertised this route as a fcas1 iblo one to the Klondike gold fields. To outward appearances these men eortainly give ovidcnco of the awful suffering undorgono since leaving hid monton IS months ago. Most of them 1 are sickly looking, with unkept beards and greasy cloths?pictures of physical ; and financial wrecks. Several have grown gray and hear marks of scurvy. A few have just enough money to reach Seattle or Victoria, but the majority arc without funds. Thcfdiizcns of Wrangle have applied to the United States government at Washington, hut up to this time no aid had been received. It is admitted that there arc more than 100 men scat' tered along the trail between Laird I'ost and the I'clly hanks and relief parties have been sent out by the Hudson Lay company. The last reports brought to Laird I'ost are that many were dying of scurvy and hunger. It is estimated there are 30 of 10 sufferers at Telegraph creek awaiting the next trip of the boat. The sick that had to ho carried on stretchers had not yet reached (Jlcnora whon the Strathcona snilcd. Several starvation cases are reported. About 30 miles above Devil's Portage, two unknown men were found frozen to death last winter. A man named Johnson from New York was found .1 1 * i " uoau in a tent near trie source ol tlie Mudd river last fall. A Wet Place.' Cherapunji, in Assam, northeast of Calcutta, has tho reputation of being the wettost place on tho earth, tho average annual rainfall being 41)3.lf> inches, while it has tho rocord of one month in which 117.17 inches fell. This year it seems bound to beat all provious records, 2(17.81 inches of rain having fallen between January 1 and tho middle of .June, live months and a half, while 7I1.7U inches, over six feet of water, foil iii a week. !lV., .... Iroya I ^ Asseunmt1 Makes the food more del NO. 5. QUARANTINE RAISED Yellow Fovcr Epidemic Practically Stamped Out. NORFOLK DENOUNCED. Her Merchants Will Tiansfer i noir business to Richmond. Fever Record to Date. A dispatch from Newport News says: Tin yellow fever epidemic is practically at an end. The quarantine established hv this city against Hamilton and \ icinity was raised Thursday, fol lowing a conference between the health boards of Newport News, Richmond, Norfolk and Hampton, with the State board of health and repicsontativcs of the Marine Hospital service. The local quarantine against Norfolk remains in force, but will bo raised Saturday eveninir. The rcconl of the scourge to this date shows a total of III eases, of which 11 resulted fatally. Twclvo eases were discharged as cured and 'JO con vales cents remain in hospital at the Soldiers' Home. An interesting episodo of the dread malady was the uprising of of the husinoss men of the city against Norfolk, because of the quarantine of that city against Newport Sows, which was regarded as premature and unnecessary. Tho action of tho Norfolk health authorities was denounced at a public meeting, and tho majority of the business men pledged themselves to transfer their patronage to Richmond, providing tho Chosapcako and Ohio Railway would grant satisfactory rates. Killed by a Live Wire. Four firemen lost their lives Wednesday night in a hlazo on an upper lloor of the Mercer Chemical company's building at Klevcnth and Harney streets, Omaha, Neb. The lire in itself was insignificant, the fatalities resulting from contact with a live wire. Tho dead liremen are: .Jos. Adams, lieutenant; Otto Ooiscko, tillcrman; Ceo. Ilonson, pipctnan Charles Hopper, relief driver. Fireman Ceo. Farmer and Albert Livingston of the Chemical company also suilorcd severely from the shock. When tho lire had been brought under control, the liremen set to work to lower the big extension truck upon which they had been working. Suddenly there was a sputtering and succession <>i Hashes. The men who wore working at the crank lowering the ladder, writhed in agony a moment and then fell to the pavement limp and apparently lifeless. In lowering the ladder it had come in contact with a livo wire carrying a current of 2,000 volts. The injured men were at once carried into an adjoining building and doctors who were present used every means known to revive them. Hopper revived in a few minutes, and saying he was all right started to walk away. He had only gone about 50 feet when ho dropped dead, (leiseko showed signs of reviving, but when only partially rallied sank back and expired. The other two never at any time showed any signs of animation, and were doubtless dead when picked up. Unlit For Command. A special dispatch from Victoria, B. (J., says: ('apt. St. .John, of the British cruiser Peacock, who arrived here from Manila declares that (Inn. (hi* is niinr. ly ignorant of the necessities or responsibilities of a campaign in the tropics. II(i has 5,000 dead to his account, the I British olliccr declares, and his hesitation has already phown his forces that ho has no grasp on the situation. Otis' held transport service is declared to bo wretchedly insufficient and his hospital corps a farce; and his plan of campaign calculated to advance the enemy's interest as no other could. A sorious breach in declared to exist botween the United States army and navy at the front, and Commander St. .John says tho "first thing the I'nitod States government should do is to recall this man. It is really pitiful to sec tho sacritico of the splendid men of his army." Incidentally Commander St. .John says that the press censorship is carried to theextreruo in Manila to save Otis from boing swept down in a flood of popular indignation. Our Terrible Army. The report of Commissioner of Pensions Kvans for the fiscal year ending Juno 30. last, shows a total disbursement of $138,2511,023, leaving a balance of $1,857,188 in tho treasury out of the $110,000.000 appropriated. Tho total number of pensioners on the roll Juno 30 was 001,511), a decrease of 2,105. There wore 10,001 naiucs addod to the roll and 43,18(5 dropped. Tho report shows tho pension roll is dcercaing. Of those dropjwd 3-4,315 wero because of death and 8,811 becauso of remarriage, minors attaining their uiar-:i -i I juiij tuiiuru it) ui;um pension anil ' other cauaos. The war with Spain brought a total of 16,1)80 claims, of which number but 21)5 havo boen al! lowed. 'T' . i . . " '? ! t.yyg; L Baking Powder IIRE icious and wholesome A