Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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? ? '??? ? ? ?' ? .1 i i. ~ ? ? VOL. XI. LAURENS, S. C, TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1896. NO. 49. SWEPT BY STORM AND FLAUE A TKHKIItl.K DIHASTfOft IN ST. LOU IB. sii ii<-h hy a Tornado of Unusual Severity?One Thousand Persons Killed and Wounded?Millions of Properly Destroyed. One of tho phenomenal disasters of tho century took placo at 8t. Louis on the 27th lnst., resulting In tho death of sevoral hundred poople and tho de struction of untold millions of proporty. Tho following Is tho first account of tho ,terrlblo storm, which was sent out from Chicago, us tho wires were down in St. Louis, and tho usual lines of communication were cut off soon after tho tornado struck tho city : -One of tho greatest disastors of re cent years overwhelmed the city of St. Louis on WodnoBday night in tho shape of a cyclone, which began shortly aftor 5 o'clock, and for thirty minutes toro its awful way through the eity, with a volocity of ovor eighty milos an hour. Although roports sent out from therowore vory meagre, owing to tho almost total destruction of tho telegraph wires, it seems certain that tho number of dead, and wounded will amount to full ono thousand, and the damago done to millions of dollars. The city hospital, which fortunately survived tho storm, is filled to over flowing with rnunglod men, women and children, and tbo morguo within two hours after tho end of the storm was so full of corpses that it was neces sary to provide other quurtors for the reception of tho dead. In addition to those who woro killed in their houses and in tbo streots, hundreds of dead lie boneath the waters of tho Missis sippi River. Of all tho steamers on tho loveo when tho storm broke out, but ono is now afloat. All tho others have gone down, In many instances every soul on board bolng lost and in others not over two or throo being able to roach a place of sufoty. Among the boats destroyed is tho excursion steam er Great Ropublio, ono of the largest steamers on tho lower rlvor. Not a man oscaped from hor, and it is said she was crowded with oxcursionists when tho storm came. Tho contre- of tho eity is a wreck. Many buildings liuvo boon demolished and others partially wrecked. Tho streots aro utterly impassable to stroet cars, and in many places progress on foot is a matter of great difficulty. To add to the horrors of tho night, the oleotrlo light plants wero rondorod in capable of service, and tho gas lamps woro also shut off, loaving the city in total darkness. Fire also broko out in several parts of tho city, and tho fire department was unable to make an effective tight, because of the choked up condition of the streots, und tho large number of firemen who woro on gaged in the imperative work of res cuing tho dead and wounded. The only authentic information from the stricken city was sent out by tho agent of tho Associated Press, who managed to reach an outlying tele graph office, and set abrief dispatch as follows ^ "Tornado blowing at the rate of over eighty miles an hour struck St. Louis to-night, and ragod for half an hour with great fury, and as a result hundreds of lives are lost on both sides of the rlvor. Many buildings aro blown down and many river steamers sunk with ull on board. It is impos sible at tho presont tlmo to estimate tho number o( lives lost as tho hospi tals are lillod with tbo injured and the morguo is filled with the slain, with groat numbers of tho dead and maimed lying among tho ruins In all direc tions. A portion of. tho east end of the K.uls bridge is destroyed, the grand stand at the Fair Grounds blown down, the women's portion of tho jail is go no, and the immonse Cupplos block is par tially destroyed. Tho Waters & Pierce oil works are burning and other build ings in various sections of tho city are on fire." Tho reports regarding tho duration of tho storm aro conflicting. About 8 o'clock the 'oporator on tho Wabash road, at a small station near East St. Louis, managed to got tho oporator at Decatur, Ills., longenough tosond him word that the round houso of tho Wabash road waa blown down and that the freight houso of tho Vandalia was wrecked, and thirty-live men wero killed in tho ruins. After ho had told this muoh the wire failed him. Shortly after 5 o'clock the Wabash oporator at Decatur reported to tho main dispatcher's offlco at Forest, III., that a cyclono had just passod through tho country to tho south of Decatur and it was reported to havo done much damage In a few minutes ho sent word that a second storm had passed through tho country almost exactly in tho track of tho first, and ho was un able to got any more information re garding it, but that it was thought to have done great damage in the country lying east of East St. Louis. Tho oporator on tho Alton road was unable to get any information from thoir men In tho neighborhood of St. Louie, but reported that just boforo all their connections with that city were broken off, they had received word that there had boon a severo oyolone at Rush Hill, Mo., which is a small town on tho Alton road not far from Moxlco, Mo. Tho dispatcher's office of the Illinois Contral was unable all night to got any information from any point on their Uno south of Oontralia. It was reported to thorn, ho wovor, that a oy clono had swept through all the coun try south of that point. ? At east St. Louis, tho destruction seems to he greatest. H. 0? Rice, tho Westorn Union manager at tho relay depot, on tho oast side, climbed across the demolished bridge, and mado his way to St. Louis. He reports that the I National Hotel, tho Treraont Houso, I Martello House, UoWolf Cafe, the nlant of the Uoxel Milling Company, Horn's cooper shop and a great num ber of other buildings are blown down. Many dwellings are wreeked and many of their oooupants aro known to be dead. The Vandalia round-house, the Vandalia frolght houso, in whioh thlrty-tlvo men are said to have been killed, tho Haltlmoro and Ohio tound houso, the Standard Oil works, East St. Louis elevators, Crescent elevators and twelve othor frolght houses on the levee aro destroyed. Tho Grand Re public and several more excursion steamers with all on board aro report ed to havo gone down, and there Is but one boat now at the lovee of all which wore there before the storm oarao. It is cifflcult to estimate the number of dead and wounded, hut a rough esti mate would place the number at about I One thousand. One of tho worst features of tho dis aster is thought to have taken plsoo at . the race track at Kast at. Louis, where . iraces wore in hilt swing. The grand ,j?tand was crowded with people. av Aexyed at tl Kind at a fo the operator sending the report of the raoes stopped his work long enough to remark: " There goon the grand btand," and then his wire collapsed and nothing more was heard from him. In a few seconds, the same messuge was reported from Lexington, Ky., with the additional information that fully 160 people were killed. This in formation was subsequently corroborat ed by the operator at Decatur, who said that in his second message re ceived from East* St. Louis it was de clared that tho grand stand at the races was down and that fully 150 people were burled In the ruins. A few mlnutos after 5 o'olook, tho oporator of tho Associated Press at St. Louis, who was In the aot of taking the usual report, sent word that it was growing very dark, and asked for a minute's delay that ho might provide himself with a light. In a second more tho wiro snapped and it was impossible to get any further informa tion from him or out of tho town. Tho local weather offices in Chicago wore unable to give any information regarding the storm, as they wore in formed early in the evening by tho Western Union that it would not be able to send tho usual weather bulle tins from St. Louis. It is said, how ever, that tho condition has been all day favorable for severe storms all through Missouri and Southern Illi nois. It is thought that the storm swept over St. Louis from tho north west to southeast, as It Is considered probablo that the storm which was re ported In tho afternoon at Rush Hill, Mo., would require several hours to reach St. Louis and tho storm ac two points is reported as having boon long enough apart to enablo tho storm to cover tho distance botweon Rush Hill and St. Louis. The storm whloh toro through the country south of Centruliu is said to have occurred at about 0 o'clock, or an hour aftor St. Louis was devastated. Thesoithrou.points are in direct lino from tho northwest to the southeast, and the weather officials are inclined to believe that the storm was one and tho same. The Eads bridge whloh Is reported as having beon badly damagod by the storm was bullt In 1873, and was con sidered one of the strongest arch bridges in the world. It was built without a draw bridge, and rose to an elevation in the centro and sloped down to tho shore, on each side. There was upon It a double railroad' track, a double passageway for wagons, and a double pathway for pedestrains. From tho reports received It Is not thought that It is so .seriously damaged as to dolay tho train service of tho roads which cross It to any largo extent. FROM ST. IiOUlS DIRKOT. Tho Details of the Tornado are Given to Some Extent. Death and destruction reigns su preme in St. Louis and vicinity as a result of the most terrible storm that evor visited this section of the coun try. So widespread Is the destruction in both St. Louis and East St. Louis that it is impossible to even estimate tho amount of damage and loss of lifo. Buildings of every description are In ruins and as a rosult hundreds of peo ple are reported dead end injured, but until daylight comes and order is re stored, ft will be impossible to make a definite statement. A report" is in circulation that seven atoamers lying at wharf boats on the East St. Louis side of the river havo been sunk with alt on board. The city is nearly In darkness as the electric lights and trolley wires are down. With one or two exceptions, all tho stroet car lines In the city aro at a standstill and thou sands of people aro compelled to re main down town or walk home. The storm broke about 5 o'clock in tho afternoon, after a most oppressive ly hot day, and tho rain began.to fall. It soon developed Into a tiorce thun dorstorm, with the wind from the east. A little Inter tho wind had gained a velocity of eighty miles an hour, driv ing the rain beforo it and tearing looso signs, cornices, chimneys and overythlng in its way. Many build ings of every kind were demolished and others set on fire by lightning and crossed wires. Tho fire department responded to fourteen alarms. The streets were full of people going home from work and a panic ensued as soon as the storm broke ; men wore picked up and hurled against tho buildings ; horses and carriages wore sent llylng horo and thoro, and falling wires full of tho deadly fluid added to tho horror of tho scene. Suddenly tho wind veered around to tho west and completed tho destruc tion. It Is asserted by some of thoso who have tavorsod the downtown part of tho city that thoro aro but fow buildings in St. Louis that havo not sulTored in some way from the storm. To-night tho streets are in complete darkness and travel In every direction Is dangerous because of fallen live wires and dobris lying everywhere. Tho wagon way of the Eads bridge on tho East St. I .ouis side, Is a crumbling mass of mortar and stone, and parts of the tower andipior No. 1 were also torn away. Thousands of dollars will not cover tho wreckage A trolley car loaded with passengers bound for the west side is said to havo fallen through t .e railroad track be low, but with ' nat result is not known. The roof of tho Republican hall waB blown off and a 20-foot section of tho wostorn half of tho city Jail clear down, oxposlng the Interior. It was during exorclso hours, and two hun dred prlsonors exercising In tho build ing were panic sjbrlckon. Temporary hospitals abound in overy part of tho city. Tho armory at Seventeenth and Pino streets has neen oponed for tho care of tho wounded and many Injured have been taken Into private houses. Tho city authorities at midnight wore sending mounted policemen through the olty to ascer tain if possible what loss of life and the number Injured really is. So far I as absolute facts aro concerned, noth ing definite oan bo learned before to-morrow. To add to tho dismal situation, the rain which fell shortly after the torna do passed, began again about 7:30 o'olook and is now coming down in torrents. It is impossible to get re ports from the police stations, where many oi the dead and injured have boon taken, and consequently all ?tute - monts In regard to tho dead and wounded up to the present time are the merest conjectures, but thore is no doubt that the loss of life is greater than anything tno country has known since the disaster at Johnstown, Pa. Three fire alarms were sent in to night from a poor houso which had 1,200 inmates. Tho roof of that struc ture was blown off and it is foared that tho number of fatalities there is great. The loss of life on the rlvor was great. It is reported that tho magnifi cent steamer Grand Republic was sunk with all on board. The steamer I). II. Pike,, with thirty passengers on board, bound up tho river for Pooria, was blown hottomsldo up. Tho s' ' er Conger was blown nearly aor river und sank at a point op Cu -ondolot, ton miles below. and a orew of 0 men, was blown against the middle pier of tho Eads bridge and broken in two. The steamer Llbbie Congor of the Diamond .lo.iJ.iu?, with Captain Za man, his wife and the orew of six men, was Bunk in the middle of the river. THE REUNION AT RICHMOND. General Gordon Anxious fbr a Ijarge Attendance of Votcrans?The Work to be Done. Hdqrs United Confederate Veterans, New Orleans, La., May l, 1800. Genoral Orders No. 104. 1. The genoral commanding an nounces that the eixth annual mooting and reunion of tho United Confederate Voterans will bo held as stated in Gen eral Orders No. 154, current series, from these headquarters, In tho oity of Richmond, Va., on Tuesday, Wednes day and Thursday, June 30 and July 1 and 2, 1890. All Confederate organiza tions and Confederate soldiers and sail ors of 'all arms, grades and depart ments, are cordially Invited to attend this sixth general reunion of tholr comrades. 2. With pride and pleasure he also | announces that eight hundred and fif teen oamps are already enrolled In the U. C. V. organization, with applica tions in for over one hundrod more. Ex-Confederate soldiers and sailors ovorywhore are urged to form them selves into local associations, whore this has not already beeu done, and all associations, bivouacs, encampments and otbor bodies not members of the U. C. V. Association aro earnestly re quested tosend In applications to chose hendquartors without dolay, in time to partioipate in this great reunion, and thus unito with their comrades in carrying out tho laudable and philan thropic objeots of the Unitod Confeder ate Votoran organization. 3. Business of the greatest impor tance will demand careful considera tion during the sixth annual convention ?such as tho best methods of securing impartial history and to onliet eaoh State in the compilation and preserva tion of the history of her citizen sol diery ; the benevolont care through State aid or otherwise of disabled, destitute or aged veterans and tho widows and orphans of our fallen brotbor8-ln-arms; tho care of tho graves of our known and unknown dead burled at Gettysburg, Fort War ren, Camps Morton, Chaso, Douglas, Oakland Cemetery at Chicago, John son's Island, Cairo, and at all other points to see that they are annually decorated, the healstones preserved and protected, and complete lists of the names of our dead heroes, with the location of thoir last resting places, furnished to their friends and relatives through the medium of our camps, thus rescuing their names from obliv ion and handing them down to history; to participate in laying the corner stone of the Jefferson Davis monument at Richmond, Va.: the consideration of the different movements, plans and means to complete the monument to tho memory of Jofferson Davia, Presi dent of the Confederate States of Amer ica, and to aid in building monuments to other great loaders, soldiers and sailors of tho South, and as there is no relief or aid for our veterans and their families, outside of ourselves and our own resources, to perfect a plan for a mutual aid and benevolent association; to make such changes in the Constitu tion and by-laws as experience may suggest, and other mattors of general interest. 4. Eaoh camp now admitted into tbo United Confederate Veteran organiza tion and those admitted before the reunion aro urged to at once olect ac credited delegates and alternates to attond tho rounton, as only accredited delegates will participate In tho busi ness part of the reunion. Tho repre sentation of delegates at the rouuion will be as fixed in Section 1, Article 5, of tho constitution, one delegate for every twenty active members in good standing, and one additional ono for a fraction of ten mombors, pro vided ovory camp in good standing shall be entitled to at least two dele gates. Eaoh camp can olect tho same number of alternates as delegates, who will servo in case of any fail ure on tue part of the delegates to at tond. 5. Attention of camps is called to Section 5, Article 5, of the constitution: "Camps will not bo allowed represen tation unless their per capita shall have been paid to tho adjutant gen oral on or before tho 1st day of April noxt preceding the annual meeting. 6. A programmo to be observed at the rounion and all tho details will bo furnished to tho camps and to all vot erans by the committee of arrange ments In due time, and any furthor Information can be obtained by apply ing to Gen. Poyton Wise, chairman U. C. V. Rounion Committee, Richmond, Va. 7. The genoral commanding respect fully requosts the press, both daily and weekly, of tho whole country to aid the patriotic and benevolont objects of the Unitod Confederate Voterans by publication, of these orders with editorial notices of the organization. 8. Tho general commanding respect fully requests and trusts that railroad officials will also aid the old votorans by giving such reduced rates of trans portation as will enable them to at tond. 0. Officers of tho gonoral staff aro dlrcctod to assist dopartmont, division commanders and others to organizo '< their respective States, and generally | to assist in tho complete federation ot all Confederate survivors In one organ ization under the constitution of the United Confederate Veterans. By order of J. B. Gordon, General Commanding. Gao. Moorman, Adjutant Genoral and Chiof of Staff. Hoadquartors S.C.Dlvlslon, U.C.V., Charleston, S. C, May 26, 1896. Respectfully and earnestly referred to the oamps of this Division. The press of the State is urged to aid tho cause. By ordor of C. Irvine Walker, Major Gonoral Commanding. Official: .1 Auw G. Hoi.mkb, Adjutant General, Chief of Staff. ?A man by the name of E. H. Ken nedy, who lived in Philadelphia, died a few days a&o, leaving an estate whloh was valued at $100,000. Accord ing to the terms of the will the prop erty Is to be held in trust for the benefit of tho woman's branoh of the Pennsyl vania Sooloty for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The trustee is to nay to tho society the entire inoome from this large sum, unless tho sooloty Bhall disband, or oease to do tho work which it Is now doing, to protect ani mals from cruelty. In the latter event the not annual inoome of the trust estate is to be paid annually to the commissioners of Falrmount park, for tho purohase annually of one painting, whloh shall bo placed In the art gal lory of Falrmount park. Mr. Kennedy, who died at Hahnemann boa Altai on May 12th. bad long been a .devoted lend to the society which Ae made Veto of the River and Harbor Bill, EIGHTY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS APPROPRIATED. Tho President Reads a Lecture on PaternallHin?lie Stands for Rigid Economy. The following vote message was sent last week to the House of Representa tives, and has oreated a eonsation among tho frionds of tho measure : To tho House of Representatives: I return horowith without approval your bill numbered 7977 entitled II An aot making appropriations for tho construction, repair and pre servation of certain public works on rivers and harbors and for other pur poses." Thoro aro 417 items of appropriation contalnod in this bill and every part of the country is represented in the distribution of its favors. It dlreotly appropriates or provides for the immediate expenditure of nearly $14,000,000 for river and harbor work. This sum is in addition to ap propriations contained in another bill for similar purposes, amounting to a little more than ?3,000,000, which have already been favorably considered at the present session of Congress. The result is that tho contemplated immediate expenditures for the objects mentionod amounts to about $17,000, 000. A moro startling feature of this bill is its authorization of contracts for ri^er and harbor work amounting to moro than $02,000,000. Though the payment of those contracts aro in most cases so distributed that they are to bo mot by futuro appropriations, moro than $3,000,000 on their account aro inoluded in the direct appropriations above mentioned. Of tho remaindor nearly $20,000,000 will fall duo during tho fiscal yoar onding Juno 30, 1808, and amounts somewhat less in the years immediately succeeding. A few con tracts of a liko charaotor, authorized under previous statutes, aro still out standing ; and to meet payments on these more than $4,000,000 must be ap propriated in tho immediate futuro. If, therefore, this bill becomes a law, tho obligations which be iraposod on the government together with the ap propriations mado for immodiato ex Eendlturos on account of -rivers and arbors will amount to about $80,000, 000. Now is this all. The bill directs numerous surveys and examinations which contemplate now work and further contracts and which portend largely increased expenditures and obligations. There is no ground to hope that in tho face of persistont and growing demands the aggregato of appropria tions for the smaller schemes not covotod by contracts will bo reduced or even remain stationary. For the calendar year onding June 30, 1898, such appropriations together with the installments on contracts which will fall due in that year oan hardly be loss than $30,000,000 and it may roasonably bo apprehended that the prevalent tendency towards increased expendi tures of this sort and tho concealmont which postponed payments ailord for extravagance will lnoroaso the burdens chargeable to this act in succeeding years. In view of tho obligation imposed upon me by tho constitution it seomu to me quite clear that I only discharge a duty to our pooplo whon I interpose my disapproval of tho legislation pro posed. Many of tho objects for which it appropriates public money are not re lated to tho public wolfare, and many of them are palpably for tho benefit of limited localities or In aid of indivi dual interests. On the face of tho bill it appears that not a few of theso alleged im provements havo beon so iraprovident ly planned and prosecuted that after an unwise expenditure of millions of dollars, now experiments for their ac complishment havo been entered upon. While those, entrustod with the management of public funds in tho in terest of all the peopio, can hardly justify questionable expenditures for public work by pleading tho opinions of engineers or others as to tho practi cability of such work, It appears that some of tho projects for which appro priations aro proposed in this bill havo been entered upon without tho approval or against the objections of tho ex amining onginooro. I learn from official sources that thoro aro appropriations contained In tho bill to pay for work which privato partlos bave actually agreed with the government to do, in consideration of their occupancy of public property. Whatevor items of doubtful pro priety may havo escaped observation or may have beon tolerated In previous executive approvals of similar bills, I am convinced that tho bill now under oonsidoration opens the way to in slduous and increasing abuses, and is in ltdolf so extravagant as to bo espe cially unsuitable to those times of de pressed business and resulting disap pointment in government revenue. This consideration is emphasized by the prospect that tho public treasury will be confronted with other appro priations mado at tho present session of Gongross amounting to moro than $500, 000,000. Individual economy and caroful ex Eiencl i in res are sterling virtuos which ead to thrift and comfort. Economy and tho exaction of cloar justification for tho appropriation of public moneys by tho. servants of tho people aro not only virtues but solemn obligations. To tho ox ton i, that the appropria tions contained in this bill aro instigat ed by privato lnterosts and to promote local or Individual projects their allowance cannot fail to stimulate a vicious paternalism and oncourago a sentiment among our peoplo, alroady too provalont, that their attachment to our government' may proporly rest upon the hope and expectation of direct and especial favoro, and that the extent to which they are realized may furnish an estimato of tho value of governmental cares. I believo no greater danger confronts us as a nation than tho unhappy doca dence among our people of genuine and trustworthy love and affoction for our government as tho ombodiment of the highest and best aspirations of humanity and not as the giver of gifts, and because its mission is the enforce ment of exact justice and equality and not tho allowance! of unfair favortism. I hope I may bo permitted to sug gest, at a time when tho issue of gov ernment bonds to maintain tho credit and financial standing of the country is a subject of oritlolsm, that tho con tracts provided for In this bill would oreate obligations of tho United States amounting to $02,000,000, no less bind ing than its bonds for that sum. (Signed) Grover Cleveland. Exeoutlve Mansion May. 29, 1890. ?A deacon will pass around the Elate an<l>got more buttons than dimes ut a highwayman oan hold out a giro, and oolleofV ovorythlng a man has got. This goes UVshow that a man will glvo more to tavelble body thin to save bis out. atab. ELECTRICITY BY THE CAN. Peddled on the Streets of New York? The Electric Man Will Soon llival tho Milk Peddler. "Do you want any eleotrloity today, ma'am?" This is a question put to many New Yorkers nowadays; aud when the reply is in tho affirmative, the amount askod for is at once deliv ered from wagons, much as milk Is delivered. Not that it is dipped out of large forty-quart cans with a measure, nor does it como in quart bottles labeled " no adulteration," but it is put up in battorios of assorted sizes, from somo as small as eigarotte boxes to others as largo as soda water fountain cylin ders. The trado in canned olectrioity is booming, the vendors say, and tho electricity wagons will soon be as com mon a sight as tho milk wagons. Un like milk, though, it cannot bo water od, much to the satisfaction of the consumers ;o who, novertholoss, still manage to And enough to kick about. The business of peddling olectrlclty has thriven so rapidly that already hundrods of businoss houses and pri vate residences arefurnished dally with sufficient motive powor to meet their various requirements. The needs of electricity are mani fold. The proprietors of many hotels, t heat ers and even tho superintendents of public buildings, find it much cheap er, though perhaps a little moro both orsome, to use this canned lightning rat her than to maintain an extensive elootric plant. For tho samo reasons, owners of privato residences purchase tho needful supply from tho itinerant vender ; and so great has tho business grown that tho shrewd dealer who first thought of peddling power in this manner now hasoightoen routes which he supplies from as many wagons. Each morning tho eighteen wagons aro loadod with their stores, and start out on tholr various ways. At each placo of delivery tho driver grasps a can containing tho amount required and deposits it on tho stoop or in tho area way, where he finds an empty jar, the contents of which were used tho day before ; this ho throws into tho wagon and drives on to the next cus tomer. Like the butoher, the baker and can dlestick maker, tho electric man is subjected to all kinds of lectures for his romissne8H in delivery of goods, a remlssness which is nearly always imaginary on tho part of his patrons. Somo women who buy each day about a ono-sixtoenth horso-power can full of tho electric fluid with which to work thoir sowing machines or rock their babies to sleep, frequently complain that yostorday's supply was not as much as that of tho day before, forgot ting that they sowed longer yesterday, or that their darling was moro than usually cross and wakeful, and requir ed more rocking accordingly. Women do not seem to realize that electricity, like everything else, has a limit, and thoy cannot mako four hours' worth of olectrlclty do for olght hours. The smaller batteries aro gonorally purchased by those In charge of Insti tutions ; others require a battery that Is easily transportable. Order for sizes that can be carried in the vest pookot are frequoctly received, and are often used by vaudeville perform ers on the stago of variety Shooters, to enhance a spectacular effect. Profes- ' eional mon also find various uses for thorn In their offices, and thero aro six wagons catering exclusively to law yors, doctors, dentists and tho like. Dentists connect these portablo bat teries with small motors which furnish the motive power for machines used in cleaning and for drilling holes In tho molars of tholr patrons. They are also used by dentists for generating tho small lights used In, examining teeth. Surgeons use small batteries which they carry about in their cases of surgical instruments to aid them in performing dolicato surgical opera tions. But no class of persons uso this de vice more, or aro moro dependent upon It, than bicyclists. Many a ridor has been saved from a posslblo night's so tourn In a station house when his light ias suddenly gone out by coming across a bicycle store whoro battorlos for wheels aro kept in stock. Those bicycle battorios aro generally charged with olectrlclty sufficient to generato a bright light for a period of twelve hours, and noarly ovory bicycle store now koops a largo supply of small bat torlts In stock. Tho writer recently accepted an In vitation of ono of tho olectrie venders to go over the route with him. Tho first stop was at a prominent, dontist's establishment up town. Taking a can of oloetriclty about tho sizo of a pint pall from a rack in tho wagon, tho ?rlvor ontored tho office. Tho pro prietor at onco commoncod a vigorous " kick " becauso ho had been neglected In tho previous day's supply. Tho driver said nothing until he had re turned to his seat, when ho said : ?'That man wouldn't tumblo if a house fell on him. If ho doesn't settle up protty soon ho'll bo neglected ovory day." The next customer happened to be In a private house. A raothorly look ing old lady came to tho door in an swer to tho driver's ring, and said : "What has boon the matter with my 'lectrlclty those last fow days ? It doesn't soem to bo up to tho quality of that you loft when I first bogan to trado" with you. Why, I ean't do any sewing on my machine If it doesn't get better Boon I shall havo to get it of somo ono olse." When the drivor had resumed his soat ho chuckled and said : "That's tho way with all of 'em. Thoy growl on principles. Sho can't take It from anybody olso, becauso thero Isn't any .ono elso to tako It from." And so it was all along tho routo. At somo places tho oloctrlc fluid dis ponsor was troated courteously, but In the majority ho was accorded the samo treatment as that usually givon to tho milkman and other long-suffering ven ders. The electric storage battery is now used in so many ways that Is no easy task to enumerate them, Thoy made the scintillations on tho floats used at tho Arion ball. They furnished tho fiower that lightod tho lamps placed n the foliago at the Qould wedding at St. Thomas church. They mako the phonograph talk, the Christmas tree sparkle and tho automatic pianos Elay. Thoy save cyolist from taking eadors, and at a recont parado of the firemen at Troy a battery plaoeJ in the engine, with wires running along the ropes by which it was nulled, lighted lamps that sparkled in tho hats of the participants. Every sum mor shows an inorease in tho number of pleasure launches that are propell ed by moans of elootrlolty, and many carriage makers now placo one In every vehielo whloh they make. The batteries aro rented at prices low enough to make them within tho reach of noarly all olassos. A sensa tion was caused a few yoars ago by tho dine tl an arrangomont In a coachman's high hat at tho Shoopshoad j Bay race track, by moans of man and a hand?oino, dashing young woman, were enabled day after day to aend news of the races outside the 1 grounds at a time when the track management was doing all in its power to keep the result of the race from being made known in tho cltjupool room8. It was this discovery whioh opened the eyes of at least one man to the possible uses to which electricity may be put, and now ho Is reaping a harvest of money by peddling the re sult of his Idea in tbo form of canned eloetrioity. HIl.VKK MEN W llili CONiltOL. Tho Gold Men Will Ccrtntuly Bolt A Gold Standard Ortfuu Gives It Up. Tho Philadelphia Times, which is ono of tho strongest gold standard organs in tho East, gives up tho tight against froo silver, it prints a tanlo showing 420 delegates for gold and 400 for silver, and thinks porbaps it gives the gold men too much strength in Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio and Virginia, and bolievos Kentucky likoly to go into tho freo silver column. It acknowledges that the silver mon will control the Domocratio national convention?in fact, proves by its own figures that all tho efforts of tho admi nistration and other gold standard in fluences to prevent this must neces sarily fall. Tho acknowledgment The Timos makes has created much constorua tion among tho advocates of the gold standard, who bavo all the wnilo pinned thoir faith to the prophecies of this and other gold papers wbich have boon declaring that gold would surely win at Chicugo. But now the inevit able is presented to them in most con vincing shape, and that, too, by au thority which they cannot question. The Times clearly sots it forth as tho intention of tho gold democrats to bolt tho convention. Thoro is no minc ing of words in this declaration, and it is all tbe moro significant because tbo paper is supposed to reflect the senti ments of the administration Demo crats of Pennsylvania and, indeed, of tho East. Tho languago is plain. After pro eentlng its table, The Times points out that the only possible way by which tbo gold Democrats can hope to con trol will bo through concessions mado by Bilver Domocrata, in tbe hope of keeping the gold men in tho conven tion. " Tho certainty of u bolt of tho sound money men In tho event of tho adop tion of a free silver platform at Chica go may influence enough of those who incline to free silver but who would not follow It to tho disruption of tho party to givo the sound money men a majority of tbo body." " Wo have made tho foregoing liat as liberal to the gold standard as tho facts seem to warrant at this time. It is doubtful whothor Georgia shall have 8 sound money Democrats out of tho 28, but it la possible, and wo count that number, and It Is very doubtful whether one-half of the Indiana dele gation will bo in favor of tho gold standard. Wo rank Kentucky with tho sound raouoy men because the iast Domocratlc convention so declared, but It is admitted that tho battle in that State is not entirely free from doubt, and tho 26 votes placed in the gold column may bo transferred to tho otfte-F-. shla^VVe rogard it as.a very liberal estimate to.divide tho Louislna delegation ovenly. Tii?PQ ia no like lihood that more than half thedele gation will ba for sound money, and ft is possible, that less than half the delegation will bo for sound money, and it is posslblo that less than that number will be faithful in the end. "Thoro la a contesting delegation from Nebraska that is in favor of aound money, but it is tho creation of a bolt ing convention, and there-is littlo like hood that it can be recognized. Ohio is quit? uncertain on tho money issuo, and tho chances are more than even that two-thirds of the delegation from that State will be for free silver. The Virginia delegation will not have moro than 4 votes for sound money, with 20 against it, and West Virginia may have more than G of the 12 votes east on the side of free silver. Thoro la a shade of doubt as to Wisconsin, but tho chancea aro much in favor of a solid dologation against the freo silver craze." TiliLman's Triumph.?Mr. Jamos R. Randall writes as follows in his correspondence from Washington to the Augusta Chronicle: "I aoo that Senator Tillman, at tho South *J4ir0? lina convontion, made good his boast, In a recent debato with Senator Hill, that he could do what the New Yorker would fail In accomplishing, control tho commonwealth ho represented. 1 suppose that it might have beon just aa well to omit tho denunciation of Cleveland, us tho Iowa Democrats did, but Tillman and his followers are at least frank, bold mon and prefer the Ftl toll fork system. In that South Jaro Ina platform or committee report thore wore some strong, timely and ringing declarations that bring back tbo spirit of Thomas Jefferson in a way I heartily approvo and which will moot with tho cordial assent of pa triots everywhere. Tho ailvor cauao Is marching on and It will control tbo Chicago convention so that, if any bolting is to bo done, the gold mon must inaugurate it. There Is a Brook lyn Spacer already counselling such action in advance; hut Senator Hill will never countenance it. If Senator Teller, as is likoly, depart from tho St. LouIb convention and virtually abandon the Republicans, it is not impossible that ho and Senator Wal t lnil 1. of Mississippi, may bo nominated at Chicago ns a winning ticket for tho West and South. Tho probabilities, however, favor Stevenson and some Eastern n.an, like Black, of Penn sylvania or St. John, New York. At present, however, the platform is tho firimal consideration and, whon that s settled, mon to fit' It will not bo dif ficult of obtalnmont." The Campaign appointmknts.? Thoro is a proposition bofore the Stato executive committee to do away with so many political mOotinga as have beon hold heretofore. 8iaoel800 It has been tho rulo to hold campaign meot ings in each county. It is argued that this is unnocossary for the roaeon that ono mooting is identical with another, and those who do not attend tho ineut ings oan easily get a full understanding of tho situation through the nowspa Eors.' Under tho clroumstances, It has eon suggested that a dozen mootlngs, or say ono in eaoh congressional dis trict, ought to bo sufficient. Senator Tillman is reported to favor the old plan of holding a mooting in eaoh coun ty ; but says that inasmuch as he is not In it this yoar, the boys oan arrange it to euit themselves and he will bo satis fied. The exooutlve committoo meets on Juno 1 for tho purpose of making appointments for tho oampaign, and will give tbe Idea of fewer mooting* firoper consideration. Tho undorstand ng Is that tho Stato campaign will be I Btarted about tho 16th of June, and tho first mooting bo hold somewhore In the GRADUATING K8SAYS. A Welcome Innovation tn ttohool Comiueuceiuut Kxcrcises. Writing of "Girls and Lttorary Calisthenics," in tho Ladies' Uome Journal, Edward W. Bok directs serious attention to the literary features of girls' schools' commence ment exercises, especially the subjects for ossays choson for or by graduating students, whieh he holds, in very many instances, are entirely innappro priate. Mr. Bok writes that " Whon the parents and friends of the gradu ates assemble to see tho honors of tho school year coming to their girl? It is only natural that they should wish to get somo assuranco that tho uionoy devoted and tho Uino givon to thoir education shall not havo beon for naught. But I do not think that thoso parents take the slightost pleasure in seoing their daughters wrestle with tho topics given them for tboir essays ?topics that are nearly always far beyond tho kon or conception of girl hood. I took tho pains last Juno to carefully follow tho reports of com mencement in different parts of our country, and the mistaken topics dis cussed in graduating essays woro some thing remarkable." Among tho topics roferrod to ho cit'os "A History of Civilization," ' Republic voraus Monarchy," "Trades' Uulons and Monopoly for Labor," "Tho Negro I and His Right to Vote," and others quite as inappropriate for girls to write upon. Mr. Bok contends that " there aro plonty of topics to bo fouud in tho realms of history, art, astro nomy, llteraturo or music, which, If commencement essays aro doomed necessary?and, to my mind, thoy are not?can bo far moro wisely or accept ably discussed than thoso referred to. But why havo commoucomont essays at all ? For tho most part they bore tho audience rather than lntorost it? and boro tho girls who road them, too, I fancy. In several of the colleges, whoso commencement programs for last year lie before me, I notice that tho traditional essays aro ommitted, and simply general oxorcises were followed, or an address by a prominent educator was given. The chango Is a welcome one, and tho principals of collogoa throughout tho country will bo wise if they imitate theoxamplcs of these leaders." NO POLITICS IN IT. The Disponsarv Will be Run on Strict Business Principles. Tho State Board of Control has is sued the following circular letter which oxplains itself: Columbia, s, c, May 20, 18??. To County Dispensers : Information has boon received at this cilice that In some of tho counties of this State Dispensers have announc ed themsolvos as candidates for differ ent ollieos to be filled next fall. The State BoardJof'Control has ordered that when.a Dispenser announces himself as a candidate forjoflice he must at once resign as Dispenser. This is to warn and notify all Dispensers who violate this imperative order of the State Board of Control, that upon proper evidence they will bo promptly remov ed by the State Board of Control. In connection with this, we tako oc casion to stato that tho State Board of Control demands that the Dispensers carry out the Dispensary law Btrietly and to the letter and that no violation will be permitted under penalty of in stant removal. It id.the firm intention of tho Board that the* huslueas of the pisponsarj! shall be conducted on strict business prinoiples. and that politics shall havo no part in its management. Chairman State Board of Control. S. W. SORUOGS, Clerk State Board of Control. ?A rich discovery of gold and silver was mado a few days ago at Somer villo, just across tho river from Bos ton. Workmen engaged in blasting for stono unearthed tho vein, from which samples wore at ouco taken to the assayist. After a thorough ex aminatior thoy were pronounced the richest which he had seen this side of Colorado, in speaking of this discov ery, which may turn out to bo a most valuable one, a Boston paper says : "This is not the first time that gold has beon fouud in Sornerville. Some years ago tho great Tuft farm, which included a large part of what is now West Sornerville, was operated by a man named Emerson. Tho story is told by tho older residents of Sorner ville that Farmer Emorson spent many years in digging among tho ledges on the farm for tho precious metal. But he never achieved success as a miner, although he often found traces of gold and silver. The location of the present find is some distance from the places where Mr. Kmerson went to work, it is very near Fosket streot, but the veiu cannot be seen from tho street. Thorc are buildings all about tho acre of land on which the find lias been made." ?Tho United States Senate has what is known as a permanent roll, in cluding only men of experience, ability and technical knowledge of their re spective duties, and who aro kept in otlico without regard to changes of political parties. These retentions are based upon merit und qualifications, and aro determined jointly by Demo crats and Republicans. Several places havo been added to tho list recently, and among tho lucky officers is Mr. James M. Baker, the assistant libra rian, who is from Abbeville County, S. C. Mr. Baker has held this position since the reorganization of tho Senate it 18!>:i, and by attention to his duties and uniform courtesy has won tho re cognition of Senators on both sides of tho chamber. ?Rov. Dr. Thomas lIondorn n Pritchard, pastor of tho First Baptii t Church at Charlotte, N. C, who died in Now York recently, was born in Charlotte in l.s:i2. For moro than thirty yeai-B ho was ono of tho foromost Bapist olergymon in the South, and was promlnotly identified with tho educational development of his native Stato. At1 he time of Iiis death ho was a ri stco ofjt 10 North CarolinaStato Uni versity, a tri steo and ex-prcsldont of Wake Forest Col logo, ono of tho largest and best cquippod of tho Baptist col leges in the South, and a trustco of tho Southorn Baptist Theological Semi nary. ?A nowspapor publlshod in an Okla homa town, whore tho womon recently carried tho election, sort tho following older to a supply house: "Please send us ono small out of anon. Women carried the election hero, and I sup poso wo will havo to swing out a hon in?toad of a rooster." ?Senator Voorhoes,' of Indiana, denies tho report that iVo intends to rotlro from publio lifo at Wie ond of his prosont term, and says thik ho will be a candidate to succeed lAnsolf. Mr. yoorheos entered Congrj?ln 1831 and /has boon a aonatortwopj^Bfcurs. jM WlLIE .lONIiS AI.Ii SORTS OF PARAGRAPHS. Culled from Various Sources and Re lating to Numerous Subjects. ?Tho net debt of Now York on May 1 wus $110,587,000. It Is gradually increasing. ?In tho days of Queen Elisabeth, each guest at a dinner party always brought his own kolfo aud spoon. ?Thisyear the Prince of WaleB will havo been Grand Master of tho Kng libh I'Yee Masons for 21 years. ?A large quantity of Georgia mar ble is to bo usod In the construction of the now Stato House of Rhode Island. ?Farmers, diversify your crops and you will bo pleased with tho result. The ono crop ago has evidently "seen Its best days." ?It takes a boy sevon or oight yoars to learn tho multiplication table, but ho can learn to ride a bicycle In an hour and a hulf. ?Iu England tho "rules of tho road" require foot passengers to keep to tho right, and horsemen and vehicles to koop to tho left. ?E. P. Chalmers, a farmer and for mer mombor of tho Legislature, was killed by lightning Tuesday aftornoou at his homo In Jalapa. ?No material except that produced in tho Stato is allowed to ontor Into tho construction of tho new Stato capitol at Olympia, Wash. ?Mrs. Jauo Robortson, who has just died ut St. liyacinthe, Quebec, at the ago of 70 years, was a cousin of Long follow and of Noah Wobstor. ?Ebouezer Nolson, tho senior edi torial writer of tho Boston Transcript, who has just died, was couuoctod with that paper for forty-four yoars. ?A negro named Hugh Cox was killed by lightning a fow days ago near tho Marlboro County lino. Ho was in tho fiold ploughing at tho time. ?Miss Frances Jones, of Philadel phia, has boon chosoa one of tho Presi dential eloctors-at-large, and delegates to the National Prohibition Conven tion. ?"Professor," Baid a graduate, try ing to bo pathetic at parting, "1 am in debted to you for all I know." "Pray do not mention such a trille," was tho reply. ?Somo ono has said that tho man who has an Itching for success must constantly keep scratching. Laziness is tho only suro inoculation ugalnst tho disease. ?It is said that a man who won't buy a paper because ho can borrow ono has Invented a machlno by which ho can Cook his dinner by tho smoko of his neighbor's chimney. ^?Tho extont of tho bicycle crazo in England may bo estimated from tho fact that a company organized to manufacture pneumatic tiros is capi talized at 20,000,000. ?Tho postmistress of Gibraltar Is Miss Margaret Cresswell, who ro colves tho liandsoino salary of $3,500 a year. Sho Is also superintendent of tho various postoMcos on tho North African coast. ?Tho Westminister Guzotto says that 2,300 of Spurgeou's sermons havo boon printed and sold, and that tho sum total of tho sales reaches nearly 10,000,000, an average of ubout 3^89&-~ copies per sermon. ?It is probably truo that, tho lifo of President GartielJ wouhi havo boon saved if the Uoontgen rays had boon known iu 1881. No difficulty now is found iu locating a bullet distinctly in the deepest recesses of Die body. - -oouator oiackburn, of Kentucky, says : " Thero will bo two conventions, two nominations and two platforms at Chicago, and Grovcr Cleveland will bo at the head of one of tho tickets." Ho adds that it will bo impossible Jto elect him. ?A gardener claims that when tivo acres have been brought up to the high eta stato of cultivatiou, when the full extent of Its usefulness is reached, more money can bo made from it than from two hundred acres iu cereals as usually cultivated. ?Henry Holten, who looted tho Treasury of the city of Omaha, Nob., of $105,000, has been sentenced to niuctcen yoars in tho Stato peuitonti ary, and iu addition to pay a line of $210,000; double tho amount he was convicted of embezzling. ?Capt. James D. Johnson, who died in Savannah the other day in Iiis 70th year, was tho ranking officer of the survivors of the Confederate Navy and tho senior survivor of tho United State? Navy of the time before the war. Ilo entered the navy as a midshipman in 1832. ?A new warehouse in Paris bus boon built with a glass lloor. Tho initial cost is considerably over that of tho ordinary floor, but in view of tho faot that toughened glass is to much longer lived than wood, the experiment is likely to prove cheaper in the long run. ?It seems that thero is some uaistak e about the Btatemont that Senator Irby called Senator Til I man a liar iu tho re cent Stato Convention. Only ono or two men claimed to havo heard it, and on being asked about tho matter, Sen ator Irby said that ho used no such expression. ?According to fctho census of 1800, thero aro 59,003 white peoplointho Stato over 10 yoars of ago who are un able to read and wrlto. Tho colored population in the samo lix aggregates 301,202. Tho proportion of illiterate white i l>; out mit of 100 and the nUfAM portion of illiterate blacki isoltJH *H Dr. I). C. Gilman, who has booHH for twenty years the prosidentof Johns^ Hopkins University in Baltimore, is likely to become the superintendent of New York's system of publio instruc tion. Tho offer has not been mado us yet, although Dr. Oilman's uame has been favorably dlscussod. The posi tion is a most important one in view of tho rocent measuro providing for tho consolidation of New York, Brook lyn and Long Island City. ?The rapid growth of cotton manu facturing in South Carolina is not real ized until tho figures are brought bo fore one. In 1890 the Charleston News ano Courier published a cotton mill hand book in which it showed that tho number of spindles in tho Stato was 0f>,?3X, and that there wore 1.033 looms inoporatlon Today there are at work in tho Stato 1,322,020 spindles and 40 089 looms iu mills with an aggrogate oapltalof $17,0*3,000. ?Ex-Governor James K. Campboll, of Ohio, is quoted in a nowspapor in terview as saying that ho would accopt the Democratic nomination for the Presidency at Chicago no matter what the platform might be. He flr?t said ho was In favor of bimetallism and be lieved in tho usoof both gold and silver, provided a proper International agree ment could bo arrived at In regard to tho whlto motr: m\n idea was that a silver wavo was Spreading over tlu^ country, Doing osii>:lally ijilifli^fldfHH ^Ih c?wn com^^r^?j|