University of South Carolina Libraries
r j i?.***.. S * MASS OF RUIN New York's Nifnificeat Twenty-Serea Million Dollars Capitol WRECKED AND RUINED Beautiful Structure Goes Up in Fire and Smoke While Many People Ix>ok On?The Famous White Granite Structure Notable Example of Fne Architecture. Fire swept, smoke-stained and water drenched, New York state's magnificent $27,000,000 capitol 1 stands at Albany, N. Y., is a partial wreck of flames that started in the assembly library, burned away I the entire west wing and did damage , estimated at $10,000,000 before the fire was declared under control af- ( ter raging more than four hours. It is believed the fire was started by a fused electric push button becoming electrified. It was discovered by a night watchman and the alarm was sounded at 2:46 o'clock Wednesday morning. Before the firemen reached the massive structure, priceless documents, books and records stored in the assembly library had been destroyed, other departments were threatened. The imitation oak ceiling of the assembly chamber, composed of papier mache, was partially destroyed as was also the famous million dollar staircase in the west wing. On the third floor, where the flames gained their start, the departments wholly or partially destroyed by Are or seriously damaged by water were: The state library, containing four hundred thousand volumes, among them the most valuable genealogical works in the United States, together with relics, priceless documents, some of them dating back to 177G and irreplaceable. The assembly and senate libraries, stored with thousands of volumes of law and code books, also a number of documents and manuscripts thai can never be replaced. The finance comnn \ee room iri / " * 1 ?n m.a whicn were siorea aruita ui <m mc appropriation and other bills of the present session. The chamber of the president pro tem of the senate. The lieutenant governor's room, badly damaged .but not wrecked. The senate and assembly chambers are soaked with water that has ruined their rich furnishings and ths papier mache ceiling of the latter is hanging in straggling shreds of half dissolved paper. This ceiling with its handsome adornment is said to have cost a great sum and was one of the show sights of the capitol. On the fourth floor in the west wing the wrecked offices are. Court of claims, in which many important legal documents were on file. The bill drafting department. The bureau of weights and measuree. . The state regent's rooms. The state prison commission. The state educational department, containing many valuable books of scientific and historical interest. On the second floor the damaged rooms are: The attorney general's office. The state excise department. On the first floor the damaged departments include: The offices of the state treasurer and state tax commissioner. The state board of charities and " ofntn nnmrnlofilntior of llltiaPV. 111C OlUIVy V/Vili 111 IUI.1I VII V/ w - , ? . The lower offices of the state educational department. Practically all the offices below the third floor, including the executive chamber, were damaged by smoke and water. An attache of .the assembly library returning for some overlooked papers discovered a tiny blaze near his desk. There had ben a complaint filed during the day that an electric Switch was out of order and this is supposed to have started the fire. Running out into the corridor the clerk summoned a night watchman and with the assistance of two newspaper men, efforts were made to put out the fire, which probably could have been done had a fire extinguisher or a bucket of water been available. Lacking these, the flames spread until the room, with its inflammable furnishings and papers, was ablaze. It was sometime nerore tne nremen arrived and before they could get streams playing the flames were racing toward the state library. The grand western staircase, which was regarded as one of the most beautiful In the world, occupied the center of the western wing and consisted of an immense double stairway of sandstone elaborately carved. It was surmounted by a glazed dome which soon fell. The capitol, a gigantic structure of white granite with red capped towers, stands perched upon the highest of the several hills upon which the city of Albany is built. It is 300 feet north and south by four hundred feet east and west, and covers three acres. The first stone in the foundation | was laid July 7, 1869. It was first THEY TOOK HER CASH MARY LEK'S EXPERIENCE WITH THE LOAN SHARKS. Ma<lo Her Pay Interest at the Rate of Something Like Five Hundred Per Cent. The Augusta Chronicle Is making an active campaign against the loan sharks of that city. Among other transactions of this gentry, The Chronicle chronicles the following: "Mary Lee, 1220 Pine street, a nn(ri'A nfnaViivnman n n/I met ivsis Iltf,! V/ Tl UOII1IUIIIUII 1??* V? MVt*?**wv? whose monthly earnings, according to her story, told the representative of The Chronicle, average about $12 per month when she is well, but now, that she is suffering from rheumatism and not able to get to the tubs, she earns fibout $8 from her sewing. She has had much experience with the money-lenders for the last seven years in trying to meet expenses by borrowing from them. " 'Seven years ago, or about that long she stated, she borrowed $4 from J. B. Chapman, who runs a money lending shop. She had plenty of furniture then, and was living in a large house which her mother had helped her to furnish. She gave a mortgage?or some paper?on part of that furniture and agreed to pay Chapman $1.60 per month for the use of the money she had borrowed. These payments of $1.60, she said, she has made on the first of every month since the original date, until the first, of February, when she got sick and couldn't pay it. In the sev -1- I ,1 I. ~ ~ en years, sue sum, sue u?? paiu Chapman $134.40 for the uso of $4 for that length of time. "Throe years ago, according to her story, the same woman, Mary Lee, she borrowed $5 from the Central Loan company, agreeing to pay, for the use of the $5, $1.80 per month, and giving a mortgage on a bureau, bedstead, four chairs, a rocking chair and a center table, which furniture she had purchased from the Holmes Furniture company, paying them for the same $85. She had paid for tlie furniture. "Getting sick in February, she states that she left her home and went to the home of her sister in South Carolina, where she remained several weeks. Upon her return she found from another sister, who lived with her in this city, that a constable from Magistrate Rouse's court had come with papers in her absence, entered the back door of her home and seized and took away a new dresser and a washstand, purchased from the Rhodes Furniture company, which she did not own at the time of the giving of the mortgage and which has never been included in a mortgage to the Central Loan company, the pieces being parts of a handsome suit on which she had paid $88 on the cost price to her of $105. This furniture has been sold by Magistrate Rouse, and not a cent of money has been paid to her, she said, as difference between her debt to the loan company and the court costs, ana the amount received from the sale of the furniture. "Mary Lee's last experience with a loan company was begun on the new year of 1910, when she borrowed $1 from the Washington Loan company, agreeing to pay them $1.60 per month for the use of that amount. Taking sick after 11 months' payments had been made, she said the company foreclosed on her and took a bureau, washstand, four chairs, a rocker and a center table, which her sister had purcfci M from the Culpepper Bros., paynig $60 therefor, and which belonged to her sister instead of to her, and were not included in the mortgage the Washington Loan company held on her, and sold the same to satisfy the debt of $5.60 and court expenses. "Mary Leo's three experiences in the financial manipulations of the money lenders of Augusta stands as follows for net results: For seven years she had the use of $4 and paid for the same $134.40 to the Chapman concern; for three years she had the use of $5 and paid for same $64.80 to the Central Loan company; for 11 months use of $4 she paid the Washington Loan company $17.60, making a total of $216.80 'paid these three in the past seven years for $13." limlif In ItoAlk Wnl I in/llj III IV ^/?a? The body of R. Copeland, mtssing from 'Morrison, Fla., for months, has been found in a thirty-foot well. All indications point to murder, as the skull of the victim was crushed In, and the body covered by debris to shield the crime. It is known that Copeland had considerable money before he disappeared so suddenly. ltroken by Death. At Brockton, Mass., an engagement of 5:1 years between Miss Emily Fanny Richmond and Rev. Charles Lord has been broken by the death of the former, at the age of 74 years. occupied by the legislature on January 7, 1879. Writers upon architecture say that the white building with its towers reminds them of the famous Taj Mahal, in India. Others call it a superb reflection of French architecture. \ WHO DID DO H? Rcpreseatatife Smith Says Gtfenor Bkase Changed the Namis. MATTER IS IN A MUDDLE ? The Members of the Greenville Delegation Reopens the Question of Appointing County Assessors, and Endeavor to Straighten Out the Matter If They Can Do So. A dispatch from Greenville in speaking of the recent discussions that arose over the action of Gov. Biease in revoking the commissions of C. G. Drake and J. L. Campbell as members of the county board of assessors, and the subsequent alleged statements of the governor's stenographer that the names of Bearden Jennings and Mr. Acker had been erased by Representative C. D. Smith, a member of the Greenville county delegation, says 'Mr. Smith went before B. M. Shuman, an attorney, and made affidavit, the substantial statements of which are given in the following extracts: "Senator Mauldin stated that the stenographer in the governor's office told him that I had erased the name of Mr. Acker and substituted that of Mr. Campbell on the board of assessors of Dunklin township and also had erased the name of Bearden ? * ? j ix _ i _ i ai. n .Jennings ana suDsuuuea inai ol G. Drake In Cleveland township. "I erased no names, nor were they erased under my directions, but these changes were made under the direction of the governor. "Being the only member of the Greenville delegation that was especially friendly to the governor, the governor stated to me on several occasions wjiile In Columbia during the session of the general assembly that he would make appointments on ray recommendation. "He told me to make my fight In the Greenville delegation and if I was downed to come to him and he woind take care of me. "In the delegation meetings tile delegation appeared to be controlled by Senator Mauldin, and all the men recommended by me were promptly voted down by the members. In Dunklin township, which was my home township, I especially requested the delegation to recommend the nmriA nf .T. T,. Camnbell in the place of J. D. Wood. The delegation, however, recommended the names of Traynham, Cothran and Acker, my recommendation being Cothran and Traynham. In Cleveland township there was no delegation meeting. 1 was informed that the majority of the delegation recommended Morgan, Ilagood and Jennings. The minority, which were Mr. Earle and myself, recommended Hagood, Morgan and Drake. I carried the papers to the governor, who had told me he would appoint my appointees, and thereupon Gov. niease told his secretary to make any changes that I desired. "The appointments made were oy the governor's own orders and the governor knew that he was appointing on my recommendation and not on that of a majority of the Greenville delegation." Smith is one of the leaders of the Cotton Farmers' union and lias been organizing the union. He has also organized the farmers in the legislature so that they may legislate Intelligently on matters pertaining to farms. What Gov. Blease Says. Gov. 131ease said Thursday that he did not rememoer ine aeiaus in connection with the appointment of the Greenville county board of assessors. He said that the matter had been handled by a stenographer employed by him for several weeks and that she would make a statement Friday "I will stand by whatever statement she makes," said Gov. Blease. ? * GIVES HEAVY VERDICT. Mail Given Fifty Thousand Dollars for Injuries. After deliberating about one hour, the jury in the case of A. G. Menefee vs. the Southern Railway Company returned a verdict for the plaintiff at Barnwell Friday afternoon in the amount of $50,000, the amount asked for In the complaint having been $75,000. Tho accident thai brought about the suit, and that made Mr. Menefee a cripple for life, occurred a few years ago at Dent, a little station above Columbia, two trains, a regular South-bound passenger train and a special, on which Menefee was engineer, colliding headon. A motion has been made for a new trial, and will probably be hoard next week. This verdict is said to be the next largest ever rendered by a South Carolina jury, there being one on record for $55,000. Here's tlio King. Confessing to numerous thefts, Steen Ellingson told tho notice of Hoquiam, Wash., last week, that he had stolen more than 3,000 chickens from hen roosts in that town during tho past three years. The lad, together with two companions, was arrested for burglarizing a stores BIBLE STUDENTS MARCH ? GREAT RELIGIOUS PAGEANTRY IN SPARTAN CITY, Led by Former Governor M. F. Ansel, Fifteen Hundred Members of Bible Classes, Parade. Spartanburg had a most remarKable parade on last Wednesday. With the streets lined with thousands of spectators, a procession of fifteen 1% *? ,? #1 m/\/1 I) I 1\1 a O t II /I I fi r*i n maIi a/1 11 it nil i wt iJiuic t oiuuciuo niai viuu from the Court House, on Magnolia street, to Converse College and back this afternoon. It was perhaps the most Impressive religious sight ever witnessed in the South, and certainly the most impressive ever known in South Carolina. A marked feature of this long parade of Bible students was the various classes of men and boys which composed the long line. Headed by members of the Spartanburg police force, who are also members of various Bible classes, and followed by Ex-Governor Martin F. Ansel and other notable guests, the line was composed of professional men, college professors, those persons living in the mill districts, who firfl members of their Bible classes. and also there were many from the country churches near Spartanburg. Each Bible class marched under Its own banner and some had their bands along, while the orchestra from the Bible class of Bethel Methodist Church, of Spartanburg, occupied seats on a huge wagon. Mounted on this wagon there was also a piano, and while fche line was traversing the most crowded business parts of the city, hymns were sung, making it a most impressive procession and one that will ever linger in the minds of those who witnessed or participated in it. The stores and business concerns of the city were closed in order that the employees could march in this line, openly professing their faith and their religion. The ministers of Spartanburg acted as marshals. The second day of the annual Con ventlon or tne sunuay-scnooi woriters now in session will mark an epocn in the history *of the Association. Three of the greatest and most enthusiastic meetings were held, besides the Bible class parade. WILKINSON SUCCEEDS MILLED. ? Trustees Choose President of State Colored College. Recently Professor Robert Shaw Wilkinson, of Charleston, the only member of the original faculty remaining in the employ of the institution was elected president of the State Normal and Industrial College at Orangeburg, suceeding Thomas E. Miller, who resigned under pressure from Governor Blease. According to Governor Blease, in whose office the meeting was held at noon, no nominations were made. "It was moved." said the Governor, "that (he board enter on the election of a president. On the first ballot Wilkinson received four out of seven votes, and on my motion his election was made unanimous." The Rev. N. C. Nix, formerly vice president of the College, whose connection with the institution ceased in 1910, following a fight with President (Miller, was elected to a full professorship. Nix owns a fine plantation in Orangeburg County, inherited from his farther. He was educated at Clafiin. At present he is pastor of Mount Pisgah Baptist church in Orangeburg. He had been mentioned for the presidency. President Wilkinson is from Charleston. He has been a teacher in the college since its foundation. Among the other candidates who were strongly endorsed were Prof. \T. J. Frederick, for some years principal of the Howard public school in Columbia; the Rev. J. J. Durham, of Aiken, president of the colored State Baptist Convention, and Prof. W. W. UooK, or wasmngion, Minora aouin-law. ^ DIVINING HOI) MKX JAILKI). StaufTers Sontonoed to Pay Fines and Sent to Prison. Fines and prison sentences were imposed by Judge Orr, sitting specialy in Federal Court in Scranton, Pa. last week. Abraham G. Stauffer, his son, Oscar A. Stauffer; his namesake, A. S. Stauffer, and William S. Ream, residents of Palmyra, Pa., who pleaded guilty at the Williamsport session of making fraudulent use of the mails. They conducted a mail order .business by which they sold "divining rods" that were represented to l>e able to locate different metals by the use of different, needles. They also pleaded guilty to selling lascivious pictures through the malls, and will be fined and imprisoned for that. ? ? Died From a Fall. Hurled by a giant wave with terrific force down the companionway and instantly killed was the fate of Captain Christen Peterson, master of the Danish steamer, Dronning Olga, arriving at Newport Nows, Va., Wednesday with the flag at half mast and showing evidence of a hard battle at sea. BANK OF Conwa1 Has largest capital and surplus of ai than the combined capital and surpli CAPITAL. STOCK.. .. . SURPLUS LIABILITIES OF STOCK! SECURITY OF DEPOSITC DIREC Robert B. Scarborough, B. L. Buck, Gteorfire J. Holiday, We offer our customers every accc will justify, and we s robert b. scarborough, D, President. ^ We continue to pay 5 per If FIRST NATIC ^ OONWA"! r CAPITAL STOCK > SURPLUS PROFITS y TOTAL ASSESTS Q DIRE CI J. A. (McDermott, John C /jjk B. G. Codlins, H. L. Bi M. Burroughs, C. P. Qua Successor to the Bank of 3K Horry County, and a pioneer VS ly allied with the recent deve /k\ Republic. Backed by the G ite United States Bonds, we are pr W tomerB any reasonable accomm As H. A. SPIVEY, $ Cashier. PROFESSIONAL CARDS. 11 ????? ?????^ H. H. WOODWARD Attorney and Councelor At Lav. CONWAY; S. O. J 1 i , ? R. B. 8CARBROUGH CONWAY, s. a Attorney at Law. i H. H. BURROUGHS Physician and Surgeon* CONWAY, 8. C. B. WOFFORD WAIT. Attorney at LaA Bank of Horry Building. CONWAY, S. C. f ' ME WORLDS GREATEST SEWIN6 MACHINE HLIGHT RUNNING^ iggME Myoa want el thera Vibrating Shuttle, Rotatw ibatlte or a Single Thread [Chain ?Aitch\ Sewing Machine write to m ItW NOME CEWINC MACHINE COM?All Orange* Mass* |Caar*ewfn? machines are made to wll tt?irilea<| fniity, but the Mew Home U made to worn Our guaranty never rune out. IrtA CM Hthorlied dealers v toa SALSMT BURROUGHS & COLONS CO? Conway, S. O. I ~ * (iflON to Tokio. I)r. Stanhope Sams, for many years literary editor of the Columbia State, has been made editor of the Tokio Times, one of the leading English newspapers of Japan, and Thursday afternoon commenced, with Mrs. Sams, the long journey to his new field. They go by way of New prleans and the Pacific coast. Queer Death. When a stove exploded in the home of John Teppe, at Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., flying pieces of the stove tore loose the plaster from the walls and it fell on a two-year-old child lying asleep In bed. Hefore the child i was rescued it had been smothered. I HORRY, Y- S, C. iy bank in Horry county. More us of all other banks in the county. |50,000 12,500 HOLDERS .... 50,000 >RS 112,500 TORS D. V. Richardson, A fnliini QAn ) YT , A vuuucrvu) . Will A. Freeman.*1 ti / ~ >mmodation which their accounts olicit your business. , V. Richardson, will a. fbeemah /ice RkEBIDKNT. CaSHIKB cent, on yearly deposits. )NAL BANK* 1 w if, s. c. X . $26,000.00 5E 2,600.00 125,000.00 4| OR8: Is . Spivey, D. T. McNeill, nek, W. R. Lewis, D. A ttlebaum, I). A. Spivey. ar Conway, the oldest Hank In in Eastern Carolina. Closedopment of the Independent overnment and secured by epared to extend to our cutodations. IS. G. COLLINS, A President. || ?> EXTENSION 1M PKOVKMENTS. The Southern Hallway Revising Its Roadbed Near Atlanta. Extensive improvements on the line between Atlanta and Macon, involving the laying of about twenty miles of passing tracks and revision of grades are to be made at once by the Southern Railway according to announcement given out Tuesday by the Assistant to the President. The passing tracks will be of latest design, known as lap-sidings, which greatly facilitate the movement of trains. These tracks will bo placed at intervals of about five miles and each will be long enough to accommodate four trains. This additional trackage will give many of the advantages of double tracks and will greatly increase the capacity of this 1 mnnrtant line over which, in addi tion to the freight and local passenger service, the through passenger trains of the Southern between Florida and the West are handled. During the last few months the Southern has completed the work of strengthening the bridges on this line and is now operating its heaviest locomotives over it. These improvements will add greatly to the facilities for handling both freight and passengers over this line and will prove of benefit not only to the territory immediately served hut to shippers and pas sengeis using it ror tnrougn commerce and travel The expenditures involved are being undertaken by the Southern Railway Company in the desire to give its patrons vhe best of f service and to provide for the great increase of business that is hoped for in the future. ? ? KXPIiOSION OF DYNAMITE. Man in Bout Fired at Box and Ex* plosion Followed. The explosion of 100 pounds of dynamite from the impact of a rifle bullet fired ,by a member of a launch party in llason canal Sunday afternoon near Franklin, La., resulted in the loss of one and the injury of three persons, the wrecking of tho boat and damage to property several miles distant. Miss Kate Miller is dead and T. C. lawless, Ellis Hahn and John David* son, all members of the launch party, were injured, Lawless seriously. Windows were broken in buildings in this town, five miles from the scene. Davidson fired at a box on the shore 150 vards distant A terrific explosion was the answer. The boat was broken in twain and immediately, \ sank, carrying Miss Miller with it. ? fiifo Crushed Out. The Columbia Record says instant death by passenger train No. 42, from Asheville to Columbia, was the fate of Mr. H. O. Smith, a flagman, employed by the Southern railway, at Fornane, four miles from Columbia, at 4 o'clock Tuesday morning. Mr. Smith was 22 years of age and unmarried. Maue a mg Maui. Ten thousand dollars In currency was stolen from a mail pouch in transit between Tampa and Clearwater, Fla? Monday night. The theft was discovered when the mall pouch reached St. Petersburg Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, having been carried by its destination, Clearwater.