The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, June 08, 1911, Image 4

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'''' ' TOLD ONCE MORE ftev. H. 0. Gagr, Chaplin if as laalian Rifiaeat Dariaf (he War TtUt Bflfc . WHO BURNED COLUMBIA ? lie Kxo no rates the Confederates, Hut Claims that the Conflagration Was Started by a "ihimmer" and Not by a Soldier of the United States Army. Rev. M. D. Gage, of San Jose, Cal., who is now eighty-three years old, has recently paid a visit to Columbia. The State says he finds Columbia one of the most Intensely interesting jM>ints in his 9,000 miles of travel. Forty-six years ago last February he was in the beautiful capital of South Carolina when the entire business and much of the residential portion of the city were destroyed by fire. Tn bis capacity of chaplain of the Twelfth Indiana volunteer infantry he marched with Gen. W. T. Sherman from Savannah to Washington on the 17th February, 18C5, when Jiragg retired from Columbia and Sherman advanced upon the city. Crossing the Saluda and Broad rivers, Mayor Goodwyn met him northwest of town and formally surrendered the city of his authority. As the Army of the Tennessee marched through the city a large quantity of cotton was found burning, as was and still is generally believed by order of Gen. Bragg. Gen. Wade Hampton being the immediate in command. "That fact has been made the basis of r? common belief on the part of Sherman's friends, as well as of himself while still living, that Ger. Hampton was responsible for the disastrous fire which destroyed Columbia on the following evening and during the entire night," says Mr. Gage. "On the contrary it has been almost universally believed by the people of Columbia and of the entire South that Sherman was himself responsible for the terrible disaster. Tt s therefore a matter of the utmost im]>ortanoe that one who knows the farts derived from direct personal testimony of a non-oommission-^d officer of the Twelfth Indiana volunteer infantry should have a hearing. "The facts are as follows: 'While marching through Columbia in the afternoon of that disastrous day Chaplain Gage and Assistant Surgeon A. B. Taylor of the same regiment noticed two ladies who waved white handkerchiefs in token of loyalty to the United States flag. After going into camp southeast of the city Dr. Taylor proposed that the two officers should ride back into the town and interview these twe ladles They called at the residence and saw the elder lady, who gave assurance of their igenuine loyalty, which had been well known and no one had molested . them. The younger woman was then absent at Gen. Sherman's headquar ters for the purpose of securing a guard to protect th-e property. 4 4 4Roon after the two officers returned to camp an alarm of fire was sounded. Col. Reub. Williams, commanding the Twelfth Indiana, was immediately ordered to take his regiment into the city, he being made provost marshal, and the entire command was at once put on duty as provost guard. 44 'It was then that I heard Sergeant Thos. J. Lesaig of Company E. Twelfth Indina, state the fact that while in the northwestern action of the city he saw a man throw the firebrand, which caused the conflagration, into a small unoccupied building. The deed was not committed by one wearing the uniform of a Federal soldier and it was and still is supposed that a "contraband" was the man who set Columbia on fire. However that may be, it was not an act of Gen. Sherman or of one serving under his comand. Indeed, Gen. Sherman never knew who the offender was. I had removed to California when the controversy between Sherman and Hampton arose, and the above facts in the case have never been published, though frequently stated in private circles. "While the conflagration was raging, Sergt W. J. Warren of Company I. Twelfth Indiana, who had been posted with ten men at the residence of Rev. J. M. C. Brecher, D. D., paster rtf First rtantist church in Co lumbia, informed that clergyman that his chaplain was also a Raptisi minister. Dr. Rrecher therefore requested the sergent to bring the chaplain to his home, which he accordingly did. After a few mo ments of general conversation, Dr Brecher said: "Chaplain Gage, dc your men know that the first secea sion convention was held in oui church here in Columbia?" To whict I replied: "I presume they do, as 1 know it." Dr. Brecher then said: "It th< soldiers do not burn the church, t will not be destroyed, as It Is th< only fireproof building in the city And, accordingly, when the next morning dawned the Baptist churct of Columbia stood unscathed by tfr* Are which had destroyed every othei building in the burned district. "Never in my life did I witness t a PROBE TRUST MAGNATE CRIMINAL ACTIONS PLANNED, i SAVS WTCKKRSHAM. Attorney General Questioned by the House Committee on Expenditures. Says Juries Loath to Convict. Tho recent decisions of the Supreme Court in the Standard OH and American Tobacco Company cases will result in a sweeping attempt to secure criminal oonvction of violators of the antitrust law, according to Attorney General Wickersham, who appeared recently before th?e house committee on expenditures. Mr. Wickersham was asked why the government, thus far failed to lodge any "trust magnates" in prison? "We have done the best we oould," he said, "but there has been an unwillingness on the part of juries and courts to sentence men to prison under the anti-trust law. Until the Supreme Court laid down its explanation of the law, in the cases just decided, this reluctance was well understood, and the law has always been open to question. "Juries are becoming more willing now, however, to convict and judges who have been reluctant to impose prison penalties now have these decisions to sustain them." Criminal prosecution pending against the meat packers, he added, and the milk dealers, the naval stores and window glass combinations and other aiiegeu violators of the antitrust law, he said, would be followed by other prosecutions. He stated that the government had definite plans. When asked why there had been no prosecutions against the heads of the Standard Oil and tobacco companies, he replied that "it has ,been practically Impossible to convict them. Now, however, we have an interpretation of the Anti-Trust Act upon which we can proceed/' The atorney general was closely questioned by Mr. Hall as to the cotton cases in New York, but he refused to disclose the government's brought against those seeking to elevate the prices of raw cotton rather than against the spinners and tne "bears" who w.ere trying to depress future acts. Asked why actions were it, Mr. Wickersham said the government had believed it much easier to reach the seven men controlling the raw cotton pool, against whom it had information. "The Staute of Limitations has not rim against the others," he added. "If the government is sustained in this first cotton case, the other combinations will be attacked. "Has there ev?er been an investigation of the attempt of 'bears' to depress cotton prices in New York or New Orleans?" Chairman Ball asked. "Not that I have heard of," he replied. sadder scene than was presented on the next morning when large numbers of men, women and children got amidst a few hastily gathered articles from their ruined homes, left of their all in one brief and terrible night. "The high wind which had beer from the northwest rendered uselesj all efforts to stay the progress of c raging conflagration. Only hand en gines were to be had, and the streamf of water fell short of the highei buildings, while many fragments of roofs and walls were scattered before the path of an angry storm. "During the night I sought the res idence of these two ladies whose signals of loyalty had attracted at tention. By making a long circuit o the burning, buildings I reached the place, finding the roof in flames an< no one in sight. Entering the flnel: furnished rooms I ran to the piano many fine paintings on the walls luxuriant furniture, caprtes, etc., al about to be consumed. The onl; evidence of deliberate purpose on th< part of some irresponsible miserean 1 which was discovered was a bonflr on the rear porch of the doomed res idence. It could have neen exun guished, but as the roof had caugh 1 fire from the opposite side of th< street and no help was available, th home and all its valuable content were loft to their fate. Chaplain Gage has retraced, as fa i as possible, the line of Sherman' > advance from the Rroad river bridg into and through Columbia. Hut th . new city of nearly 50,000 populatior i more than five-fold its inhabitant : at the time of its great disaster, pre . sents no residence of its former aj: > pearance. It was then exceedingl . beautiful, and the memory of its d< structlon has been indelibly made o . the chaplain's mind for more than 4 > years. He makes no attempt to softe . the sorrow and biterness which tha r unfortunate and cruel dlsastc i brought to so many happy home* T "No man could have felt a deep-? sympathy than was mine when, wit > tears, mingled with those of devote t fathers, mothers and children. I le! j them sitting in the ashes wrere s . recently they had enjoyed all th t com fort.8 and luxuries of social an i domestic ife jn the heart of th) > beautiful Southland," he said. "] r was the most heart-rending scene < our great cruel war, the bloody ba i tleflelds alone excepted." SAYS GOOD-BYE Af ti and Broken Ex-Raler Diaz Emhakt far Spaii. PATHETIC SCENES Last Words Before Leaving Country he Ruled so Long a Warning that His Methods Must Continue to Assure Peace in Republic.?Farewell ' to Officers and Soldiers. General Diaz said his farewell to Mexicon Wednesday at Vera Cruz, With his wife and other members of the Diaz family, he boarded the steamer Ypiranga, bound for Spain. G?en. Diaz said from this port Wed nesday on the steamer Ypiranga for Kaxre, France. The steamer goes by way of Havana and Gen. Diaz ultimate destination i8 Spain. His ship was only a little ways out when the searchlight of the fortress guarding the port was turned 011 it. With glasses in hand, among a small party in the stern, Diaz was standing somewhat apart, close to the rail. Ho was plainly discernible. The last words o.f the Ex-President sooken to (hose left on shore were, "I shall die in Mexico." This was uttered in a tone of prophecy and with a look of inspired conviction. It was 5 o'clock when Gen. Diaz and ills party went aboard. The journey from the house where he had been quratered was made in carriages. Crowds jammed the way. Gen. Diaz, accompanied by the military commander of the port, Gen. Joaquain Mass, and followed by Senora Diaz and the other members of the party, received an ovation on the walk to the ship rarely accorded to any one in Vera Cruz and never before to Gen. Diaz. With his arms filled with flowers, and bowing right and left, the for mer president started up the companionway. On board, the ship's band began the Mexican national hymn. Every hat was off and Diaz nalted at the head of the companionway. The guns of Fort Santiago began for the last time to fire a presidential salute an honor of Diaz. The crowd cheered itself hoarse and the general lifted his hat. "I will never forget this reception, fellow citizens," he said. "It comes at a time when the country is against me. Not even a President can be the recipient of a greater ovation than this." Once raone cheers arose and Diaz moved Into the ship. On board the ship were scores of friends .ind visitors to the General. The ship captain took the old fighter to the bridge, where the General gazed out upon Mexico. Darkness came over the harbor, 'ights appeared and people held their positions waiting for the ship to sail. Senora Diaz, as well as her husband appeared on the bridge. She bade farewell to the old family ser" vants who did not accompany the ' party, and was visibly affected by the parting. Many telegrams and letters had 1 been received by Gen. Ddaz. To each an answer was sent. 1 To h?is country, Gen. Diaz delivered a warning. Speaking to the little group of soldiers who had served as f a guard, the old man who governed "Mexico for more than thirty years by * miltary strength, deolarel that the present Government must resort to " his methods iif peace is to be restored. 3 The soldiers were the same men who had defended the life of the Kxf President and his family, when rebels 5 attacked the special train coming to * Vera Cruz, Four of the number were V killed In the affair. '? When Gen. Diaz stepped forward '? on the veranda of the house, there 1 was a buzz of comment, but no apV plauae. Diaz was brief. In the name e of the army, Gen. Huerta addressed t him, telling his old chief that he ? could always count on these men, - "notwithstanding what every one ' said." t Gen. Huerta's vo?ice .broke as he ? added, with perhaps more frankness ? than tact: 8 "It is the only portion of the country that did not go against you." r He declared that he and his men 8 and the army in general were sorry ? A rvlon Innvn \fflvlr>r\ hllf V 1. U DW IIX7II JL/O 1VU MAVAIVVf w>av ? that there was alro reason for grat. U itude, inasmuch as the peoule would a be given an opportunity to know >- what hie has done for Mexico >- Bravely Gen. Diaz began hie reply, y but before many minutes he was >- having great difficulty in mastering n his emotion. 6 "I am grateful to the army," said n the Ex-President, "that* I could it count on it to the last moment of >r leaving; Mexico. It is the only real s- defence the country has and to re-es>r tabllsh tit will have to he used In this h crisis." d Tears were rolling down the old ft man's face now, and his voice was o broken. But he continued, assuring e his hearers that should his country at d any-time become Involved in trouble, Is he would be willing to return. It Pointing to the colors of Mexico, >f the General added: b "I would then place myself at the head of the country's loyal forces, FOR DUTY ON WOOL HOUSE DEMOCRATS AGAIN PULL TOGETHER IN CAUCUS. Party Declare for Duty of 20 Per Cent, for Revenue Purposes, Fifty Per Cent Reduction. A Washington dispatch says ths sum and substance of the action of the Democratic House caucus Thursday night is that the Democrats in that body are keeping up their record of achieving at the extra session the best politics the party has played for two decades. Republican hopes of a serous Democratic split are again blasted by the magnificent Democratic leadership In the House, the proposed Democratic revision of the wool tariff and the underwood Din, Deing unanimously approved by the Democratic causcus at midnight, twelve hours after it had been made public by the ways and means committee. Through a resoluion, which leaves the Democratic party open in the future to renew its advocacy of free trade in raw wool, but which commits all Democrats to the support of the present bill as a revenue measure, that measure was put through the caucus Thursday. The final vote on the approval of the Underwood bill was made unanimous, but the following members were excused from a pledge to support the caucus action: Representatives Rucker, of Colorado: Ash-| brooke and Francis, of Ohio; and Gray, of Indiana. The resolution agrees on a free raw wool tariff, but was finally voted down and the revenue deriving bill was adopted. The need for a duty, the resolution stated, was due to Republican extravagance, which made necessary large revenue. Speaker Clark took the floor and supported the resolution, which had been framed in the conference. Must Fulfill Condition. The will of Richard H. Clark, a wealthy lawyer and writer on Roman Catholic subjects, who died at New York last week, leaves the large income -on his residuary estate to his daughter, Mary Ada Clarke, "so long as she shall remain in the world and not become a member of any monastic or religious sisterhood, or other institution or community." Killed in Runaway. At La Grange, Ga., Miss Lidda Daniel, of that place, was instantly killed and her sister, Miss Lola Daniel and Miss Mary Morgan 'of Union, Ga., were severely injured Monday evening in a runaway. The horse they were driving became frightened and overturned the buggy, throwing the girls against a tree. Weevils Worry Farmers. Great anxiety has been caused the cott-on planters of Clark county, Alabama, by the appearance of the boll w.eevil which has lately been found in that section in large numbers. The pests have been pronounced genuine weevils by government experts and speciments have been sent to the - +* state school at AuDurn. Hottest Day in :*G Years. Saturday was the hottest day in Montgomery, Ala., that has .been reported in thirty-six years, the temperature reaching 90 degrees at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Cotton is growing rapidly under the tremendous heat that has been registered for the past two weeks and the cool nights. * Need More School Room. By a vote of 14 5 to 24 Greenwood school district, including the town of Greenwood, v-oted Monday $25,000 for additional school buildings and an extra levy of two mllkl for school purposes. The present large building on Magnolia street is greatly overcrowded. Bank Divided. The distribution of check disclosed an increase of the dividend ol the bank of Toronto to 11 per cent, per annum. and under the shadow of that flag, I would know how to conquer as In times past." Gen. Huerta grasped his hand and then the old fighters embraced. One by one the minor officers moved forward, and each was embraced bj Gen. Diaz and told good-bye. It waf over. Th?e troops stoad at attention for an hour in the .broiling heat, but none appeared weary. Gen. Dias turned to enter the house and the officers gave the command to march Th?e troops went directly to the care of a special train, on which they be gan their journey to the Capital. Gen. Diaz, took luncheon, boarded the Tuluna, a Government tug, whicl carried him to the Yptranga. Witt the Ex-President w?ere Senora 'Diaz the wife of the General; SenoraTere sa, the sister of Senora Diaz, and hei son, Jose; Col. Porflrio Diaz, Jr. his wMie and five children; Lieut and Mrs. Lorenzo Eliza 2; a and theii young son; Gen. Amenuel Gonzaloi and Col. Gonzales. Lieut. Elizaga ii a brother-in-law of Gen. Diaz, make it better. FELPER ACCUSED New Ditrutarf Ceaaissiaa Swears Oil Warns! Fsr Hia. CORRUPHON CHARGED ? Action Follows Resolution Passed in Session at Columbia?Requisition Papers Filed and Hearing Will be Held in June. A warrant charging T. B. Felder of Atlanta with "offering and ata/vmntlnnr Krlha Q Qt?*+A Affl^Ar AIlH WUU1 |/t|Ug tv VI ? W U> ?k/VMVV w*? wwa ??..w with conspiracy to defraud the State of South Carolina was sworn our Wednesday at New,berry by B. F. Kelly, secretary of the new dispensary commission. The warrant was sworn out before J. C. Sample and was placed in the hands of Sheriff Buford of that county. A dispatch from Atlanta says Sheriff Buford Thursday afternoon consulted Governor Brown and filed requisition for T. B. Felder. The hearing will take (place before the governor on June 20. Col. Felder remains apparently indifferent to the entire proceedings and only reiterates j that the governor of South Carolina is trying to cover up his own sins by directing a fight on him. The warrant against Mr. Felder was sworn out following the adoption of the new dispensary commission: "Whereas, certain information having come into our possession, which we are advised is sufficient upon which to secure a conviction. "Be it resolved, that the secretary of this commission is hereby instructed to immediately swear out a warrant for the arrest of one Thomas B. Felder for offering and attempting to bribe a State officer of the State -of South Carolina and for conspiracy to defraud the said State." The commission has given no official otntompni' ns tn the State official Mr. Felder is charged with attempting to bribe. The swearing out of the warrant follows sensational counter charges on the part of Mr. Felder and the governor of South Carolina. The governor recently made pu.blic a letter purporting to have been written to H. H. Evans, former chairman of the State dispensary board of control, by T. B. Felder, offering t-o "frame-up" a deal for $50,000. The letter in question was signed "T. B." This letter was secured from H. H. Evans by the governor. Just what kind of information the commission has against 'Mr. Felder is not known. The commission met at Columbia Wednesday. Several weeks ago an order was issued requiring Mr. Felder, a member of the firm of Anderson, Felder, Wilson & Roundtree of Atlanta, to come to Columbia on May 28 and tell what he knew of the acts - * ? A ~ or ine governor a? private State senator, and chief executive in connection with the dispensary situation. Mr. Felder did not come to Columbia Wednesday. The commission accordingly adopted the resolution directing that a warrant he sworn out against him. Mr. Felder sent a letter to the commission in which he explained his position. The letter of Mr. Felder follows: May 26, 1911. "Mr. James Stackhouse, Chairman, and Mr. B. Franlf Kelly, Secretary State Dispensary Commission of South Carolina, Columbia, 5. C. "Gentlemen: "Receipt of your valued favor of hA i<uh in?tant is herebv acknowl edged. I have been absent from the city for the past week or 10 days, conducting some investigations on my own eccount anent the matter referred to in the second paragraph of the series of resolutions adopted by your commission at a meeting held in the city of Columbia on the 19th instant, a copy of which you caused to I be transmitted to me here. "After mature consideration, 1 have reached the deliberate conclusion that if 'your governor' could with propriety create a commission who are 'all friends of mine and per. sonal supporters' to investigate tl. ? members of the old commission, the attorney general of 1he State of South Carolina and the agents, at, torneys and employes of the old com* mission, and to make 'a rigid lnves| tigatlon of all of my (Bleas's) acts as State sentor, private citizen and [ governor of the State,' I could with > equal propriety resolve myself into . a committee of one to make invest!amm n AO f/I PlAOfiC Vl I CI r ^AllUlftO '**J ll/ oa vt 1/ ivwov , mc i allies and affiliates. I think it will i .be conceded that my Jurisdiction ie t equally as broad as yours; that I have i the same authority to subpoena wit) nesses, compel their attendance, and . to give evidence touching the premi ises, as you possess, and I feel that 1 - may say, without undue arrogance, that my 'findings of both law and I fact* will be Just as binding and carry i with them the same degree of weight i and respectability as yours. , that my investigations have been - quite extensive, thorough, exhaustive p and most satisfactory to me, ano , when made public will, in all human . probability, disqualify for service p some of those now seeking t* pasi 9 official Judgment upon the acts of b my associates and myself. To some of you this statement may prove en"In conclusion, permit me to say BETTER CROP REPORTED . FOUR PER CENT MORE LAND j f, . WAS PLANTED. Condition of Grotving Crop Wm 87.8 Per Cent, of Normal Score?Bear* 4 ish Report on Cotton iMned. A Washington diapatch says the area planted to cotton this year in the United States is estimated by , the crop reporting .board of the department of agriculture, in the first crop report of the season, as about 104.7 per cent of the area planted last year, -or 35,004,000 acres Including that already planted and exrkop.tfld to be olanted. This is an increase of 4.7 per cent or 1,586,000 acres, as compared with 33,418,000 acres, the revised estimate of last year's planted area. The condition of the growing crop on May 25 was 87.8 per cent of a normal condition as compared with 80.2 per cent, that day last year, and 80.9, the ten-year 'average on that date. Details by the state of area planted in 1911, percent of 1910, area and condition on May 25, follow: CondiState Acres. Per ct. tion Virginia .. .. 37,000 109 93 N. C 1,587,000 105 93 S. C 2,705,000 103 80 Georgia .. 5,199,000 103 92 s Florida .. 284,000 106 95 Alabama .. .. 3,815,000 105 91 Mississippi. . 3,454,000 101 96 Louisiana .. . 1,118,000 104 91 Texas 10,868,000 105 88 Arkansas. . . 2,446,000 103 87 Tennessee .. . 882,000 105 83 Missouri .. .. 1 15,000 112 86 Oklahoma . ..2,622,000 1 16 87 California. . .. 12000 123 95 TO PENITENTIARY TO-DAY. W. T. Jones to llegiii Serving l?lf? Sentence for murder. The Penitentiary authorities wero informed that W. T. Jones, the Union County man given a life sentence for unoxicide, would reach Columbia Friday from the Union V County Jail. Jones has been in the jail since July, 1908, | when he was arrested charged with the poisoning of his wife. He will be placed in the State Pententiary tenceshrdlu cmfwy vbg cfwyaxflqak to commence the serving of his life term. Jones is not an old man, being less than 45 years of age. He. has, therefore, barring future executive clemency, probably many V years to serve in the State prison. To-day was exactly two weeks since he Supreme Court decision was hand* ed down. The remittitur went to Union Monday, seven days after the decision, Jones has lost 011 appeals to the Supreme Court and recently Governor Please refuse to extend exraecutive clemency. ?. ^ Family Foully Slain. At Pawnee City, Neb., J. A. <McVittle, his wife and two children were robbed, killed and a third child dangerously wounded In their beds early Monday by Jim Filder, a farm hand, who had been working for McVittle. Filder later shot himself after shooting Sheriff Fuller mree limes ana seriously wcunuing him. i Drowned in Mississippi. At St. Louis Sunday four men were drowned and three rescued from a similar fate at noon, when a gasoline launch capsized in the Mississippi river. lgmatical, while to others it will be most clear. "It does not suit the convenience of my committee to meet with yours at the time and place indicated, but if we can mutually -aigree upon a different time and place, for an Interchange of views, information and con- t fidences, I feel quite safe In saying ' a m a it. a lit a ? I mm me rosim win oe iiiobi pieasing and profitable to the people of the State of South Carolina, if not to you and 'yours.' "While making no unconditional promise to do so (for I must In these N. matters consult ?and largely yield to> the wishes of others more vitally Interested In the outcome of this controversy than I can possibly be, and I may add, whose views have deterred me from doing so heretofore), still if unrestrained, it will my pleasure > to deliver in the not distant future <* veritable 'broadside' i "With assurances of my most dlsI tlngulshed consideration, I have the i honor to be i "Yours very truly, "T. B. Felder. 1 "Chairman of the Antl-Blease Investigating Committee.'' Several matters were discussed at , the meeting of the dispensary com- ^ I mission. The secretary announced Jg ' that it has been decided to employ ' ^ ; Holm an A Holman of Charleston as attorneys for the commission. The i claim of S. W. Scruggs of SpaTtan> bung, for about $4,000 will be coni sldered. Mr. Scruggs claims the j i above amount for delivering e^rirlt) ness to the old commission and Ati torney General Lyon in connection P with the graft prosecutions. It 4s > also probable that the Carolina Glass company case will come before the f commission.