The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, August 17, 1899, Image 1
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