Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

i F. 0. 8tacv, J. 0. Wabdlaw. 1’I'OkUltMit. Vic* Pretideut THE HAT10HAL BANK OF GAFFNEY. Capital $50,000.00. Will buy county claims, receive deposit and make I literal Joans on approved paper 1). O, Ross. Cashier. The Ledger SEMI-WEEKLY-PUBLISHED TUESDAY AND FRIDAY. WE GUARANTEE i The Reliability of Every Adver tiser Who Uses the Col umns of This Paper. A Newspaper in all that the Word Implies and Devoted to the Best Interests of the People of Cherokee County. ESTABLISHED FEB. 10, 1894. GAFFNEY CITY, S. C., Fill DAY, MARCH 31. 1899. $1.00 A YEAR. THE NORTH PiCOLET I. S. S. CONVENTION. It Met At Abindon Creek Sun day. DELEGATES SELECTED. Hall NtorniM In tli«' Lower Portion of the County--An liii'iilent of Sam W. Melton— eif'hliorliootl Notes From the Pen of the “Kernal.” (Conespondence of The Ledger.) EttaJank, March 29.—Last Sab bath between 11 and 12 o’clock a terridic ruin, wind and hail storm passed over this section. The ground was considerably washed, houses shaken with wind and the blossoms and leaves were beaten of! by the bail. It lasted but a few minutes but long enough for some people to think over their past lives. The weather continues cold and we t—too much so for farming pur poses, and our people are getting badly behind. However, some gar dening has been done. Scarcely a family in the county can be found that is notutllicted more or less with colds, and some cases border closely on la grippe or pneu- monia. Some chills remain from the last year’s contraction. They seem to bailie all medical skill. The North Pacolet Interdenomi national Sunday School Convention held its meeting at Abingdon creek church last Sabbath according to an nouncement. Notwithstanding the unfavorable weather a goodly num ber assembled by the time for the exercises to begin and the convention was in every way a success. For harmony, unanimity of thought and good behavior it was equal to if not better than any of its predecessors. The ladies prepared an abundant dinner for two su'sh congregations and everybody seemed to enjoy them- eelvea. Among its other acts the convention appointed delegates to represent It and Cherokee county at tho State and International 8. S Conventions to be bolden at Spartan^ burg and Atlanta, Ga., respectively. Delegates to the State convention are Misses llonnie Mcduney and Pearl Wbiaonant and Hon. William Jeffer ies ; to the International Convention : Thomas M. Littlejohn. The many friends and acquaint ances of Ex-Judge Samuel W. Mel ton. in this section and of Western York, will regret to hear of his death which took place in Charleston last Saturday evening. When he expired one of the brighest legal lights in South Carolina went out. Whatever his enemies, personal or political, may bring against him will amount to nothing when it is remembered what he did for the daughter of Gen. Robert E. Lee during bis European tour about twenty years ago. Miss Mildred Lee w’as stopping In one of the hotels in Rome, and by accident u lamp was overturned that set lire to the window curtains in her room, which was, however extinguished be fore any serious harm was done. She proposed to pay the damage, but the hotel man, thinking he had things all his own way, made an ex orbitant demand for damages, to which the young lady couldn’t or wouldn’t agree. Preparations were being made to detain her baggage until the damage was settled. Judge Mellon hearing of the dilemma in which the young lady was placed went to her rescure, and with words more forcible than elegant gave the proprietor a piece of his mind, and having secured a fair estimate of the damage done he and his friends agreed to pay. Put Miss Mildred wouldn't hear to it, and paid it her self. Had it not been for Satn’l. W. Melton the daughier of Gen’l. Lee would no doubt have been subjected to a humiliation that would have been an insult to every admirer of America’s greatest general. Prof. W. F. McArthur visited the schools in this section last week. Mr. W\ T. Osment has been carry ing the mail for Giles M. Hill for a few days—the latter being too unwell for duty. Miss Jessie Strain visited her friend, Miss Altie Kirby lustTuesday and spent the night with her. Another wind and rain storm pass ed over this section yesterday. This morning the weather Is very cold clour and crisp. It will be several days before the ground will plough. It has been intimated that we newspaper correspondents are being criticised for not giving publicity to ail the items cf news in our respec tive neighborhoods and especially that which rcHects seriously on the character and good name of certain individuals. So far us we are con cerned the matter doesn’t disturb us in the least. We are not fiddling scandals and don’t Intend to begin at this late day. Scandals wii) fly fast enough without our help. To preju dice the public mind for or against a case which the courts are fully com petent to dispose of is not the work of this paper, and if we can't say some- nhiug helpful we will say nothing hurtful. We are greatly indebted to the editor for bis remarks along this line in lust week's issue. He has scored a point seldom readied in jour nalism and one calculated to make the newspaper an educator in the proper aonse of the word. The tlim^and money both having been taken up our free school will close this week. We learn that other schools will soon close too if they have not already done oo. John found a knife and sold it for 50 cents; what per cent, profit did he make? The storms have overflowed the low lands so often this winter that but little cleaning up has been done. Joseph W. Smarr has been appoint ed postmaster for Hopewell,vice Mrs. M. E. Smarr, resigned. The storm last Sabbath night twist ed off the top of a large pine in Sam Lee’.* new ground and carried it same distance. J. L. 8. A LONG FIGHT EXPECTED. Foreign Attnclies Show Interest In the War In the Philippines. Washington, March 80.—Among the foreign attaches stationed at Washing ton the fighting above Manila ia being followed with critical interest. They speak of it in rather serious terms, the prevailing view being that the insur gents can keep op a long and harr&ssing running tight. One of the foreign representatives who has seen long service in the far sasl said that casualties of 21 a day may seem small, but when long con tinued they reach dlsoonraging propor tions. Since the fighting with the Insurgents began some of the foreign goverments have arranged to send their military at taches to Manila to observe the develop ments. The Italian military expert has left already on that mission. * Historic Uuce Truck Doomed. Lexington, Ky., March 30.—The his toric race track of the Een tacky asso ciation in this city is doomed and it is not likely that any further effort will be made to prevent it being cut up into buildhig lots and sold as snob. Charles Green, of St. Louis, the owner, today sold at anctiou all the movable property. The sale of the land will follow. The track is known to horsemen all over the country as the soene of many inter esting racemeets. Algor Uots to Cienfugos. Havana, March 80.—The secretary qf war, General R. A. Alger, left Ma- tanzas this morning Lr Cienfuegos. The secretary yesterday visited the su gar plantation of Aguacate. He was met by Major General Wilsou, military governor of the department of Mat4n- zas. He wae cheered by the people aud spent the day in the oily aud in visiting camps. Coal aud Gass In the Piedmont. Rev. Mr. Elam, who sometime ago claimed to have discovered coal in tho Kings Mountain range, now says he has discovered ||naturul gas is suing from the ground which he thinks is another strong indication of the presence of coal iu the moun tain. Mr. Elam is a Baptist clergyman of high character and well-known In Cherokee, which goes far to give credence to any statement that he makes. Scientific men are not in ac cord with Mr. Elam about the coal aud gas, but having faith in his honesty and persistence. The Led ger still has a hope that Mr. Elam’s convictions will prove to be Qorrect and that to the many advantages of this Piedmont country coal will soon be added. County ComuilrtHluner* Meet. The Board of County Commission- met Tuesday in the Court House. The full board was present and after conveining with Supervisor Lip scomb in the chair, took up the bus iness of equalizing the tax absess- ments, which consumed the time of the board till yesterday morning. The board continued its session through yesterday ane dispatched much routine business and will be in session to-duy. A Uni Haywood. Alba Heywood aud his excellent company appeared before a small but very appreciative audience at Limestone college last night. Mr. Heywood is a character impersona tor of ability and his work was above tho average last evening. The sup porting company is very good in deed. A. R. Do Fluent, editor of the Jour nal, Doylestown, Ohio, suffered for a number of years from rheumatism in his right shoulder and side. He says: “My right arm at times wi a entirely useless. I tried Chamber lain’s Pain Balm, and was supriftd to receive relief almost immediately. The Pain Balm has been a constant companion of mine ever since and it never fails." For sale by Cherokee Drug Company. Some women are always talking about the lost art of conversation. Ladies desiring a contented and happy old age should use Simmons Squaw Vine Wine or Tablets, com mencing at 40 years old and continue during “Change of Life." A cynical bachelor says a st“Ong minded woman is in reality a weak- minded one. Shorten the time of Confinement, Strengthen Mother and Supply Breast Milk for Child by using Simmons Squaw Vine Wine or Tablets. When a man is satisfied with his lot be always slants a keep-olf-the- grass sign on it. J>r. ItuU’H CoiikIi Syrup In a great luedlcliiu of intrisic worth. It removes a cough or cold quickly aud cures severe throat and lung affections in an as tonishingly short time. Sold by all the druggibts for only 25cts. One should learn the lessons of experience so as to render subsequent reviewing t/nnecessary. Nervtous weakness or pHlpILillou of tho heart Imlh'iilCN disorder In the Ktoiiiuch juni dlKCNtton. I’kicki.v Ash Hitts us In a wonderful remedy In such eases. It eleau- ses, s|reiiKlhens and rexulates the stomach, id Im>w FLAW PICKER AND MR. “THEY SAY.” He Has Heard of Him Many Years. WISHES HE WAS DEAD. liver mu I liowuls, removes the cause of tits heart symptoms and vigorous body. 8old _j|nt_ — heart symptoms and builds uu a strong and by Oherolcee l>rug Vo. A Calculation as to the Value of the Poultry liuslness of the State for Twele Months and What It Would Knable the Owners to Buy. To take everything up one side an’ down tother, an’ a layin’ of all jokes adde, an’ a givin’ of the devil his dues all around, you most inginerally always find ole Flaw a iniddlein-jist kind of a good feller. He never does or wishes anybody any harm to speak of, whilst, you understand, he aint got no big rep in doin’ of em any good to speak of, but there’s one man of prominence I wish was dead, durn’im. I’ve beam tell of him ever- sinco I was born an’ I guess, from what I can hear an’ pick up around that he is a whole lots older than I am. 1 never have bin able to git in behind this man jist as I’d like to, in fact I’ve never bin able to meet him face to face in my life. He’s alius a telliu’ of bare-faced lies an’ a gittin’ of somebody in trouble an’ when ho manages to tell the truth hits about somethin that nobody wants told. Whilst I was about my daily toils an, cares, as it were, a feller come to me an’ says, says he, “Flaw, They Say you're a gain’ to git outa publica- tioument in the interest of the game fowl. How about it.?" “Dang tlygt sun of a gun," said I. He’s alFtw a meddlin’ in somebody else's business an’ I wish he was dead." I don’t care whiit you do or say ole Mr. They Say will have hiS nose in it before you are through, an’ when he tells it he alius makes it worse that bit raley is—nobody only They Say knows anything about it an’ he never knows jist exactly how it it. Ole Flaw, ain’t bin a livin in this ole world for lo these many years for jist to write foolish Picker pieces— jist to be clown for you good friends an’fellow citizens to laugh at. Now there’s one thing I want to call your careful an’ undervided attention to an’ it is this: 1’vo bin a studyin’ of tho domestic fowl—chicken—an* I have larned various an’ sundry things about ’em—hold on, nothin’ to laff at now—an’ ef you have any sick chickens, or anything wrong with ’em in any way an’ will write to the Picker colum of The Ledger for Tuesday's publication, an’ tell me as near as you cun how the fowl is worked or acts, I will give you the benefit of my hard studyin, an’ tell you in Friday’s Ledger, so all may be benefitted, the name of the disease an’ the best remedy for to cure it. I’ve bin a studyin’ right rale hard along this line so’s I could have it to say when I lay me down to eternal rest that old Flaw wern’t a fool (.11 of his life no how. My fellow friends an’ knights of the Coalin’ ground: You most inginerally think that chickens is more of a nuisance than anything else, only to be tolerated to satisfy the whites of the “women folks," an’ you don’t try to find out the rale worth of the ole rooster an’ hens. To one who sets right at home all the time wouldn’t believe it, but there are about 200,000 farms in the state. Now lets guess at it an’ say that there are on an averagement of a dozen ole hens an’ roosters to the farm. That would make, if I mistake not in my flgerment, somewheres in the naberhood of 2,400,000 chickens In the state, inclcdin the roosters an’ all. Now, lets make another rough guess an’ say that 2,000,000 of ’em are hens an’ the rest roosters, an’ each hen would lay only sixty eggs in ajyear. My! that would make 120.- 000,000 for ’em all—ton millions of dozens of eggs in a year—to say nothin' of the roosters. Now, sup- posen you had that many eggs—my ! an’ supposen agin that you would sell all of ’em ter ten cents a dozen, you would git a round million of dollars— to say nothin’ .of the roosters. Cer tainly, my friends an’ fellow citizens, ef your women folks wants chickens let 'em have all they can tend to handy an’ ef they are the right sort of women folks an’ got the right sort of chickens they will buy your coffee an' the sugar to sweeten it with, an* ef you tend to 'em right an' make 'em good roostin’ places they will buy your tobacker too, an' ef you’ve got the game stock you can have some fun out’n the roosters iudurin’ tho winter months. One time last fall I only had four ole hens w'hiist you understand every ole box an' coop about the house was full of game roosters an’ Granny Picker come out an’ says, says she, “Flaw, what on earth are you agoin’ to do with all of them thar olejroost- ers,?" wheriu I says, “Granny, I’m a goin' to raise me a full crop of roosters fer next year, you under stand." Anything you want to know about the feathery tribe ax ole Flaw through The Ledger an’ he’ll tell you all about it. There’s more money in curin’ of diseases amongst your chickens an’ a preventin' of diseases than there is in a workin’ of the “kernels" puzzles. Truly yours, Flaw Picker. To restore the Clear Skin, the Bright Eye, the Alert Quit and Sound Health, use Dr. M. A. Simmons Liver Medi cine. PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS. People You Know and People You Don’t Know. Col. T. B. Butler went to Spartan burg Tuesday on professional busi ness. W. C. 8. Wood, a progressive fanner of Grassy Pond, spent a short time in the city Wednesday after noon. Judge Dick |Lee paid The Ledger a visit yesterday. John Hurt, Esq., a prominentjyoung- attorney of the Yorkville bar, bus been visiiing relatives in the city this week. Mr. Hart is a son and law part ner of Muj. J. F.Hart, which, aside from his own worth, would make him many friends in Cherokee. J. P. Booker, of the Cherokee In vestigator made a business trip to the Capital uf Cherokee Tuesday after- uoon. Gad Wright, of Abingdon, one of The Ledger’s first subscribers, called on us yesterday and renewed bis subscription. E. P. Richards, of Macedonia, met his brother County Coinmisdoners in tho city this week. W. bum Lipscomb, of Asbury, vis ited the city Tuesday afternoon. Bud Wilson, of Draytonville, paid The Ledger a visit Wednesday while in the city. W. D. Williams, of Ezells, was among his friends in tho city yester day. Our old friend Sando Northey was in to see The Ledger Wednesday. He, like all farmers, is behind with his work, but when harvest time comes Sando is always with the fore most of the gang, and he knows ex actly how to run an old fashioned corn shucking. Andrew Jackson, of Heywood county N. C., spent some days in the city this week with relatives. Mr. aud Mrs. John Spake, of Goucher, were in the city yesterday. B. F. Bonner, of Goucher, spent Tuesday night in the city with rela tives. J. F. Hart, Jr., is in the city visit ing his grandfather, Mr. John Jones. Mr. Hart is just from Cuba, where he has been serving in the 2nd Lousianu Volunteer which was mustered out a few days ago. M. M. Tate, a prominent Cherokee farmer, was in the city yesterday. Miss Belle Jolly, a charming young lady of Grassy Pond, was in the city shopping Wednesday afternoon. H. K. Osbone Esq., returned to the city Tuesday afternoon from a pro- fessionel trip to Hendersonville, N. C. County Commissioner R. E. Porter, of Buffalo, was among his friends the first of the week. J. C. Jefferies, Esq., made a pro fessional visit to Spartanburg Wed nesday. G. W. McKown, of Mercer, made a business trip to the city Tuesday. Rev. W. E. Crooker, of Shelby N.C., was among his friends in the city Tuesday. Mr. Crooker was once a school boy in Gaffey, has been a mis sionary in China and always receives a hearty greeting in Gaffney. Miss Hattie Turner, one of Chero- kees fair daughters of Center View, was in the city shopping Wednesday. I. G. Surratt Esq., visited his daughters, Mrs. Hippy and Mrs. Moore, uear Grover, Tuesday. R. G. Thompson spent Wednesday in Spartanburg. Rev. C. E. Robertson was in Spar tanburg yesterday. Mr. and Mrs H. E. Wood, of Ezell, were in the city yesterday on business and pleasure combined. They paid the Ledger a pleasant visit while here. E. K. Beiue, a prominent business man of Blacksburg, made a business trip to the city Tuesday. J. H. Littlejohn made a business trip to the city Tuesday. Allen Jefferies, of Star Farm, came to the city yesterday, T. M. Littlejohn, of Star Farm, spent some time in the city this week. J. D. Jefferies, Jr, of Asbury was in the city Tuesday. W. II. Carroll, of the Antioch neighborhood, paid the Ledger a pleas ant visit Tuesday. Mr. Carroll is a most venerable and highly respected citizen and we are always pleased to have him call. B. M. Poole, of Pine Grove, paid the Lodger a visit yesterday. Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup In Nttlt In the lead. The people seem to like this old re liable cough medicine, and we don’t blame them; it is the best remedy for a deep-seated cough or cold, and will effect a cure in one day. An Important Settlement. J. D. Church, General Agent New York Life Insurance Company: Dear Sir: 1 hereby express my ap preciation of tbe prompt settlement of tbe insurance of $20,000, of my late husband, Capt. H. S. Chadwick, deceased, In your company. The proofs were not complete until the 20lh Inst., and the company’s check is dated on the 23d inst.-r-threo days later. Yours respectfully, Blanche D. Chadwick. Charlotte, N. 0., March 25. 1899. It will be remembered that Capt. H. S. Chadwick commited suicide some lime ago. Most company’s would have resisted the claim hut the N. Y. L. Ins. Co's., policies us now wrote are incontestiblu from date of issue E. K. Beiue is tbe agent for tins territory —Picture frames made to order on short notice; all the lutist styles in moulding just received; promptness is my motto. M. G, Montgomery. If a man has talent he can make use of another’s genius. Thickly Ahii DiTTKHseureNdlNi'UNOsof the khlnfyx, L'leunsoM Hiui NtroiiKlheiiN Kim liver. Ntouiueh and bowel*. For sale by Cherokee Drug Co. VILLAGES OF SAMOA ATTACHED BY KAUTZ American and British Ships Fire on Coast Towns. EIGHT DAY BOMBARDMENT A'uwib:'rof Sailors mid Marines Killed Iu tin; Fights Which Wus Precipi tated by the R^lusul of 3I*tauf* , ( Followers to Disperse. Auckland, Now Zealand, March 30.— Advices just received from Apia say that the troubles growiug out of tho election of a kiug of Samoa have taken a more serious turn aud resulted in the bombardment of native villages along the shore by ihi Uuited States cruiser Philadelphia, Admiral Kautz command ing, and the British cruisers Porpoise and Royalist. The bombardment has continued in termittently for eight days. Several villages have been burned and there have been a number of casualties among the American and British sailors and marines. As yet it is impossible to esti mate tho number of natives killed or injured. As Mataafa and his chiefs, consti tuting th« provisional government, con tinued to defy the treaty after the ar rival of the Philadelphia, Admiral Kautz summoned the various consuls ami the senior naval officers to a confer ence on board the Philadelphia, when the whole situation was carefully can vassed. Tbe upshot was a resolution to dis miss tho provisional government, and Admiral Kautz issued u proclamation calling upon Mateafa and his chiuts to return to their homes. Mataafa evacuated Mnlinuu, the town he bad made his headquarters, aud went Into the Interior, (Jeruiaus Nuppwrt UobjLs. Herr Rose, the German consul at Apia, issued a proclamation supplement- lug the one he had issued several weeks before, upholding the provisional gov ernment As a result of this the Mataafaus as sembled iu large force aud hemmed in the tewu. The British oraiser Royalist brought the Moketoa pneoaers ftom the iplauds to which they had been trans ferred hr the provisional government The Aiuericitue then fenified Mull- nuu, where 22,1^0 Malietcpus took ref- ugi* The rebels—the adherents of Ma taafa—barricaded the roads within the municipality and seized the British houses. An nltimatum was then sent to them ordering them to evacuate and threat ening them in the event of refusal with a bombardment to commence at 1 o’clock on the afternoon of March 16. This was Ignored aud the rebels com menced an attack in the direction of the United States aud British consulates about half an hour before the time fixed for the bombardment. The Philadelphia, Porpoise and Royal ist opened fire upon the distant villages. There was great difficulty in locating the enemy owing to the dense forest, but several shors villages were soon in flames. Marines Barely Ftcap*. A defective shell from the Philadel phia exploded near the American con sulate and the marines outside narrowly escaped. A fragment traversed to the German consulate, smashing the crockery. The Germans then went on board the Ger man cruiser Falke. During the night the rebels made a hot attack on the towu, killing three British sailors. A British marine was shot in ths leg by a sentry of his own party; another was shot iu the faot and an American sentry wae killed at his post The bombardment continuing, the inhabitants of the towu took refuge on board the Royalist, greatly crowding the vessel. Many people are leaving Samoa, the captain of the Royalist urging them to go, so as not to interfere with (he mili tary operations. The Porpoise has shelled the villages east and west of Apia and captured many boats. The Americans and British are fight ing spleudidlv aud there is a bitter feel ing against the Germans. Two men, a British and a German subject, have beeu arrested as spies. The bombardment of the jungle was for a time very hot. KAUTZ TO BE~SUSTAINED. Bombardment of Sutiioan Towns Die. cussed 1m Washington. Washinoton, March 80 —The state department has not received official ad vices relating to the occurrences in Sa moa. The demonstration is regretted, but the opinion le expressed that Ad miral Kants acted on what was his best judgment and information. The state department acknowledges that no per manent agieemeut can be reached under the treaty in which all three Dowers do not agree, and the hope is that some settlement of the difficulty may be brought about, when it becomes ap parent tlttt the present conditions can not exist indefinitely. Admiral Kautz acted within his in structions. It is believed that be con cluded, after consultation with Oaptaiu Bturdee of the Porpoise, the senior na val officer, and the United States and British consuls, that a state of anarchy existed which called for action. The fact that the edicts of the chief justice we.re disregarded and were ignored, al though sustained by the representatives of two of the governments, made such a course imperative. There is no doubt with the facts now at hand that Admiral K&utz will be sustained by the Uuited States government. No word has beeu received from Rear Admiral Kautz, although a cable is mo mentarily expected. The regulations of the navy de|>ai tment require the imme diate report any occurrence out of the ordinary and Assistant Secretary Al’en, who is acting secretary iu the absence of Secretary Long, entertains no doubt that Rear Admiral Kautz’s report is on the way. Direct Issue liaised. While the press reports agree that there is a direct issue between the Aniorican and British authorities on one baud und Germany upon the other, raised by the aoron of the German con sul, Herr Rose. In supporting by procla mation the contention of Matlafu aud his rebel followers, hope is yet ex pressed lhat it will develop that repre sentatives of the three powers signatory to the Berlin treaty were acting in uni son against ibe pretensions of tho rebel chief. The officials at the navy department hard y believe a contingency could arise which would result in an actual clash between the naval forces. Tho great preponderance of strength on the one lido as represented by the American cruiser Philadelphia and tin British cruiser Porpoise Mild Royalist over the tingle German warship iu the harbor Would render tho issue of a collision so certain that no ouu is rash enough to imagine that an actual combat could occur. Assistant Secretary Allen has issued tho following statement: “Tbe latest dispatch from Admiral Eautz is as follow s: “ ‘Situation is improving since tele gram of eighteenth via Sydney, New South Wales. ’ ” This is the only dispatch received from Admiral Kautz at tho navy de partment, Assistant Secretary Allen says As will be observed, it contains no details concerning the reported trouble as Apia. Even tho date on which it was dispatched from Apia is not given, but it is presumed that it left Samoa on tho twenty third, tho date upon which the steamer which conveyed the press dispatches from Apia lo Auckland sailed. Oible Note fupprrtsrrt. Tho dispatch of the eighteenth .to which Admiral Kutz refers was not given out at the time of its receipt hero, and even Secretary Allen d-oines to make it public. It is known, nowever. that it reported the admiral's arrival, and gave a brief resume of the thm ex isting situation, which must have ap peared somc.what grave at that time, as the admiral reports that it bad improved during tho interim. The dispatch of the eighteenth re ferred to by tho admiral wmn iu reality dated Sydney, the sixteenth, but the admiral iiad no means of knowing the exact date upon which it would be for warded from Sydney, but his calcula tion was that it would bo dated upon the eighteenth. This dispatch probably left Apia, according to the calculation of the officials at the navy department, on the teuth and described iho situation at that time. This was before the actual trouble, which, according to the press dispatches, had been in progress eight days when they left Apia on the twenty- third. There is considerable mystery sur rounding the statement given out today and the explanation offered, as it seems almost inconceivable that tho admiral should hsve made no detailed report uf the stirring events which were occur ring during th» eight days prior to the departure of the dispatch from Apia. Berlin li-nrs of the Kisbt. Berlin, March 80.— A brief official dispatch from Apia, Samoa, dated March 30, says: The bombardment continues. In pursuance of military orders the white# have evacuated thgfr houses. The chief# of the Tanus party, who were exiled toother islands, have been brought back from Upolu. Th* fire arms and ammunition taken from Ta nas on Jan. 2 have been returned. STRANGE PRIZE FOR SALE. Steam-r Fc'p'o, P died Up During the War, to Be Auction**! Oil - . New Yoke, March 80.—The Times says the steamer Scipio, a craft from Nowhere, bound to Nowhere, flying no flag, ownerless and crewless, is to be sold to the highest bidder at the Brook lyn uavyyard by the Uuited States gov ernment. Soon after tho beginning of hostilities with Spain a steamboat in perfect trim from stem to stern, with furnace fires burning, steam up, bat without a soul on board, was found adrift off the coast of New Foundland by a Uuited States ship. Tho crewless ship was the Scipio. She flow no flag, and there was not so much as a scrap of paper to be found aboard her to indicate where she sailed from, where she was sailing to, or who owned her. Here, then, was a mystery of the deep. The Scipio carried a cargo of coal, but never did such strange things come ont of a cargo of coal as oatue from the lengths of the anthracite piled in the hold. There were guns, fine, modern affairs of English maxes, Maxims, Ho:chki«s cannon, field pieces, and other ordnance, together with nmnmni- tion. Just how the Scipio came to be found adrift with such an oppouune cargo by a United States ship has never been told—officially. Tbe Scipio baa been at tho Brooklyn navy yard since she was picked up adrift on the high seas. A Plot Agnlust the Czvr? Paris, March 80 —The Echo de Paris today publishes a eonsationnl dispatch from Copenhagen, saying a plot against the czar, in which bis mother and M. Pobyedonotzeff, the head of the holy synod, are implicated has been discov ered, the object of the conspirators be ing to take advantage of the state of tho czar’s health to remove him from power and confide tho government to his uncle, who is classed as a notorious re actionary. French II <rk Lott nt See. London, March 30.—Tho nameboard of the new French bn k Marschal La- nnes, of 1,711 tons, Captain Le Petit, which sailed from Swam-ea day before yesterday for Sun Francisco, together with large quantities of wreckage, in cluding hatches und a tkvliglu. has been washed ashore in Broad sound nt tho western extremirv of Wales nuu near the entrance to Bristol channel. Tho fate of tke crew is not know u. HorK'- U’tolng SrtiS'llI Open*. Little Rock, March 30.—The racing season op« tied at Little Ro^k this after noon under favorable conditions and on* of ihe must Nuccessful meetings in ths history uf the Arkansas Jockey club is expocied. A number of well knuwn stiibios are in attendance. Tim weuiher this morning was cloudy mid threaten ing. I ut at noon the sun burst forth and today V rw tng was decided over a good track. STEiMEO WGECKEDi FOUR PEOPLE DROWN The Howena Leo Goes Down Near Tyler, Mo. CAPTAIN AND MATE SAFE Terrific Explosion on Board the Vri se I Cuts Her In Twain und She Sinks IinmedlAtel}*, Carrying Part of the Iluiniin Cargo. Memphis, March 30.—The manager# of the Lee line of steamers have just announced that only four lives were lost by the sinking of tbe Rowona Lee uear Tyler, Mo., yesterday afternoon. It was formerly reported that 60 had perished. The steamer left Cairo with 16 pas sengers aboard bound for Memphis. At Caruthersville, Mo., she landed and took aboard 15 mere passengers. It is estimated that with passengers and crew she then had aboard abont 00 peo ple. She made the next landing at Ty ler, Mo., and backed into midstream from Tyler to proceed on her journey. The steamer bod just reached the middle of the river when she suddenly stopped and lurched as If a snag hod been struck. The next moment the boat parted iu tbe middle, a volume of steam and debr ■ arose aud tho detona- tiou of an explosion thundered over Um water. Tho river was rnnuing very high and* tbe steamer immediately sank. Ail but three of those on board clung to wreckage and were saved by boats. Most of the crew live in Memphis. The cause of the disaster cannot bo obtained. Tbe dead are: M. T. Kelly, mall clerk, Memphis. Mrs. Chambers, a passenger. Unknown negro woman. A member of the crew, deckhand. Ueiuphts Whs Startled. The startling information was re» seived here last night from Oairu that ths Rowona Lee had fonuderad in the Mississippi river near Tyler, kU., and ail ea heard had pert short save the mm- B ln and an nude* oflee* af ihs leans was estimated that between $0 ana 60 people went down with the tti fated veeeeL The news was spread rapidly through out the oity and relatives and friends pt those known to have been on board the vassal thronged the telegraph and news- paper offices, frantically asxing for de tails of the catastrophe. Robert K. Lee, the general manager of the com pany gave out a statement dnring the night that he h^d received a message anuounoing the lots of the steamer, bnt after repeated efforts, further newi couid not be obtained from the sceu6 oi the disaster. At an early hour this morning tela- phone connection wae secured to Car- ruthersville, Ma, by the officials, and-a few minutes later announcement wag made that the Rnweua Lee had sunk in 80 feet of water off the landing at Ty ler, and three persons were drowned. It is assumed that the remainder of tbs C eueugers and crew are at Tyler or New adria. The steamer Ora Lee has been bar- riedly dispatched to the scene of ths disaster. An Unfortunate Line. The Lee line of Mississippi packets has had a run of bad look during ths last ten years. The now James Lee, one of the fastest steamers ihatevel lied the river runs, followed the oldei antes Lee, iu 161*4, being burned while moored at Hopefield bend, 8 miles above Memphis. The Rowena aud the Rosa LeeTnamed after Oaptaiu Lee’s daughters, were continued ilT local and upper Mississippi river service. The Rosa Lee was sunk less than a year ago and the disaster Is Hie Rowena Lee is a last chapter in the series of river horrors. The Lee Hue of steamers wae estab lished more than half a oeuturv ago by the father of the present Captain James Lee, who bore the same name. Ths cotton paoket and local basin ess was bigkK profitable until the river beoeme paralleled 16 or tO years ago with rati- roads and since then the business hal been gradually going front bod to wares. The Lee line is the last survivor ef the number of large local lines of a quarter of a century ago, and recalls the days when the James Lee and the Kate Adams would race from Helena or Arkansas Oity for the honor of bringing iu the first bale of cotton, aud the aa- rival of a big Anchor line packet loade4 with sugar and molasses was an event of more than passing moment. The scene of the disaster uear Tyler, Mo., is 126 miles south of Cairo, Ilia The ste-mer was blown up, being torn asunder am Id* hips. Both ends went down in a few momenta The boat had lauded at Tyler to pat off some freight and wae backing out from shore when the accident occurred. Crew of Twelve. The crew consisted of George Carroll, captain; J. K. Booker, first clerk; George Mitokull, second clerk; Sana Lewis, third olerk; Sydney Smith, pi lot; Eph Scosby, fimt mate; Patrick Flanuigan, second mate; James, Col der, first engineer; Frank Stull, eeoond engineer; George Todd, steward; M. O. Kelly, mail clerk. The Lee left Cairo Tuesday evening with a light passenger and freight list, bnt picked up considerable below there. Tbe Sunkep steamer was the Smallest boat iu the Lee line. She was 166^ feet long. 38 feet wide and 4^4 feet hold. She was built in 1890 at Jeffersonville, Ind , and was valued at $50,000. The explosion theory is not enter tained here and from the beet informa tion which ouu be obtained the disaster was caused In this way: The river at Tyler is over the banka aud tbe boat in landing rati up almost to the street of the little towu. In back ing to the landing it is thought tbe boat ran on to a stump and broke in two. She floated down the river some dis tance and sank aud will prove a total loss. The steamer hift here Tuesday even ing and Agent Sam Holliday, at tho wharfboat here, states that she had a light passenger list aud a light freight tnp. Ji