Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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GR? BRIGADE OF SOU IH CAROLINIANS BLOOMY ItECOltliS OF t K DERAILS AND CONFEDERATES. Orr'? First Rettlment of Uitl<s Headed tbo iam on Our Hide?Tho Eighty -Third Pennsylvania Lied the 1 i (Ii l > I Hosts. Charleston Sunday News. Tue bloody records of ttio civil war show some interesting parallels be tween ttio records of regiments on tho e>pp> H;ng -ides, as shown i?> George L,. KllUier, writing lu t'io Now York Sun day Advertiser. Pennsylvania ohamplooed tho North in Hie contest for lirst place on tho roll of honor, und a trifle over 7 per cent of her quota of toldier.- in t ueath on the battittleld. South Carolina led the South? i n States, and sacrificd over 23 pt r ct ut of her military population as it stood in 1861. Hud the combat bueu 1 ft to these two Commonwealths tbo K y.-ione would have annihilated the Palme t'.o, and have come out of the contest with an army large enough to intimidate tho umpire, if no disposed. Sou.li Carolina furnished tho regi on nt ibut .ot the highest number killed in battle during u.o *ar-Urr's South Carolina Rifles?which piled up a death roil of 334. She also furnished one for st eond place on the Southern BtUe?the IstSouth Carolina Voluuteors ?which scorcO 281. The Urst place on the Union side was lane ii by the 5t.li New Hampshire, witn a kCore of '.!'.'?>, aud the secouO place loll loa Pennsylvania regiment, the 83 l, which hud a list of 252. ilere begins anoihor duel between the Keystone and Palmetto. The 83d rolieU up a score of U71 kill? d and wounded *, the deaths, a- before stated, reaching 2?2. Tue 1st South Carolina hue lJ50 Kined aud wounded, tho deaths tcuriiitf 282. The 83d Pennsylvania caino into neing us a reorganization of a regi ment composed ol volunteer and militia compatiii s that responded to President Llnuilu'tf tirst call, and served three nuontbs. The colonel at tho head of both regi on, ni~, John W. McLaue, bad served SB u voiuuteer elllcer in tho Mexican war, aud distinguished himself as a master In organization and drill, Tho 1st South Caroliua had a similar his tory ; lor it was formed out of tho dis banded 1st South Carolina of tbo Pro visional army, called into being by the Convention when the S.atc seceded in L) com Oer, 18?U. Tnat regiment was n.ad ? up of too old m.hint- companies anu volunteers unlisted to bcrvo the State six months. ruia Provisional regime et and the one formed out of it were created aud led by the same colonel, Maxoy Cregg, wiio bad been ? volunteer ollieer in tlie Mexican war, and hael acquiiled him* seif as an able disciplinarian and master of drill. And it happened thai at the very time to a month, aud almost to a day, when Col. Gregji was getting his Pulaietio mon out ol tue old har net? into new and touching them up with his Mexican war reminiscences, Col. MeLane was doing the .-aiuo thing with Ins Keystone boys. Tbo 83d was ready lor eiruers lu the fall of 1801, aud the 1 it South Carolina. Each we nt to its respective stations for Assignment to place in line, and both - began iheir lighting careers on the same day and ou the same tield, within loug-raugo riflo s?ot of each other. Tht] 1'enusyivanians numb, red about 0?0 men, the Caroliniaus but a trille less. They were not directly opposed upon that tield, Caineb's Mill, June 27, 18l>2, nor upon any other, except at Norm Anna, Va., May 21, 18o2, but were engage el for tho wOole three years in the opposing armies of Nortdern Virginia and tho Potomac, often on the same battle ground. No lancllul comparison could heigh ten tho parallel. The regiments started fainy equal, and botn wore in the thickest of too tight, with varying numbers engaged ai.il varying losses In different baities against metal tempered by tho sume heat. They emerged with a net result almost equal, Ou, no, 'twas not a duel ; but 'twas " very like " it. Tho South Carolinas struck hard lines in that first tight at Uaines's Mill. They were brigaded with four othor regiments from the same State, (12tb, 13th, 14th and Orr's it ties, men tioned above,) und Col, uov Gen. Gregg became leader of tho whole column. Tho color guard went down to a man, and the colonel, D. 11. Hamilton, took the flag and called on his mon to stand. Gregg, seeing tho s.aughtur and tho useicesuess of trying to ad vance, ordered the regiment to retire by flung through the intervals of the second lino. Tho lieutenant colonel, (Augustus M. Smith, of Abbeville,) one captain (C. L. Boag) and three lieu tenants (Griuake Huott, Uobert VV. I.hott anu-Ashley) were killed, and live lieutenants wore wounded, and twenty men were killed and 125 wound eu?155 in all. Toe 1st was not engaged again until second Bull Hun, August 2U, (mis take,) faring bettor than its Union double,, which was terribly puuishud at Malvern lliil four days after Gainus's Mill. At second Bull Hun tho Carolina brigade was ordered to dofund the famous railroad cut, wnieh was Stone wall Jackson's key lu that desperate coolest. Tho 1st was sent across the cut as skirmishers to meet an attack ing co.umn. Retiring step by step under ?ru it rt jollied its liuo behind tho cut and iuloed repuiso the Union charge, at times lighting tho oueiuy at ten paces. Excited men often rushed ahead of their rauks aud grappled in deadly combat; olllcers u-od their pistols, And fought man for man. Id the lost hours, or moments, perhaps, of tho hand to b-..ni struggle tho 1st lost Its quota for tue. day and came out minus tw^aty-four silled aud 111) wound' a, a total of 113 out of 283 taken li" , the, tight. Its oommaaolug olliuer (Ltout. Col. Edward McCiaoy) was' among the wounded. CapUt. C. D Barksdalc, John C McLemoro, Lieut. John Muuro were killed ; Capt. M. P. Parkor, Lieut. Thomas MoCrady, Goo. H. Congdoii and Z^oh Smith, adjutant, wore wounded. Tho next afternoon the 83d Pennsylvania charged upon the railroad cut, tuen defended by other troop-, and lost two command ing oflloors, woa.adod la quick suc cession, and atneity-scvon moa out ol 224. In tho Maryland campaign follow ing second Bull Hun tho South Caro linians sharod la tin-, bloodless vlotory at Harper's Perry, and later on the bloody 17tu of September doublo-quloked to Antletam just la time to mtogle their dead wltb the fallen around tho Duuker Church. Tho Ut lost thirty-four men cut of its roiter of less than one hundred ami fifty. At Federlottsburg, in Decembor fol lowing, it again found a warm corner by one ot those acoldents of battle thai to not lessen tue. sting of bullets ever If they Win no victories. Gro, g\ Irigado occupied the second line tc |HHsflMtlHLIiULHHHBl^HLl front of a position charged by Union I troops. Owing to a misplacement ) thoro was a gap in the frontline, and a j Union charging column burst through and struck the Ist's companion regi ment, Orr's South Ourolina R lies, ho suddenly as to throw it into confublon. Tho 1st stood next to tbo Li tics, and its commam'or, (Lieut Col. McCradys, immediately swung it around at rlirht uuglcs with tbo old lino so as to bullet the enemy's udvance. Again tbo fight raged at arm's length, or a few puces at most, and the regiment stood its ground until support reached the spot. The affair cost ono oflioer (Capt. T. 11. Lyles) and fifteen men killed and four ? Ulcers (Cant. T. P. Alston, Lieut. James Armstrong, W. I. Dclph and Thomas McCrady) and Ufty-oight men wounded?eighty-two in all. Cregg was killed in tho gap trying to right things, and ano-her colonel of tho brigade, Samuel Me Cowan, took command, giving his name to tho or ganization. (This is a mistake. Col. 1). 11. Uamiliton, of tho 1st, succeeded to tho commund of tho brigade upon Cen. Gregg's fall, which occurred just before tho brunt of tho buttle fell on the 1st. Col. McGowan's promotion took placo after. (3d. N. anU C.) The 1st would have been wiped out at inedcrioksburg but for the roturn of its wounded to duty, anil tbo shrewd Confederate system of conscripting into old organizations. liy the timo " Stonowall " Jackson, who was Its corps leader while ho lived, was onco moro on tho warpath to douolo up the Union army, tho regi ment had picked up a lighting strength of 300, and started out on Sunuay morning, May 3, to drive old " Stoue wall'o" wedge homo to the heart of Hooker's camp at Chancellor's house. It was not as plain sailing as wus ex pected, for Sicklco's 3rd Union corps was moving in tho same direction just ahead of tho "Johnnies,'' and wouldn't bo hurried even to suit Ljc's "Invinci bles." The 1st regiment passed in splen did lino over a bare knoll, at the base of which Sickle's men lay under cover. The Carolinians stood it so long as man could and then rotired to a lino of breastworks. They made a stand at tho breastworks, and the pursuers took a turn at punishment und then at running uwuy. The 1st lost twolvo killed and eighty-eight wounded, ono hundred in all, with seven i Ulcers among tho fallen. Tho Carolina brigade marched to tbo field of Gettysburg in July with well filled ranks. Gen. A. P. Hill was their corps leader in place of tho dead "Stonewall." With him they assaulted Key nolds's corps, in McPheraon's Woods on July 1. As at Gaiuos's Mill, a battery confronted thoir ad vauce, and rained shell und cannistor. into ranks, chit fly upon the 1st regi ment. The battery was doomed. Ono piece was the pri>9 of tho 1st, and they ' iiashed forwurd without a halt until thoir banner was Heating In the town, ' ihe first Confederate Hag In Gettys burg. One day later, almost to an hour, at the other flank of the same field, the 33J Pennsylvania fought gallantly to ! defend Round Top, with success equal , Lo that of the Carolinians in thoir ' Obarge, The 1st lost one ollicer (Capt. William J. Uat-kHi) and nineteen men killed ; six otllcers (Capta. J. S. Me diation, Josiah Cox, Armstrong as lieutenant, W. M. Murray and J. P. J. Caldwoli) and ninety-four men wounded ? ouo hundred and twenty In ail, which wus more than half its member ship. In tho Wilderness battle, on May 5, 18?4, tho 1st led its brigade and division 1 in an attack on tho Union loft on tho 1 Orango plank road, and at tho same hour its double, the 83d Pennsylvania, had the place of honor in a Union at tack on tin- Confederate left along the Grange turnpike, a couple of miles dis tant. Both regiments Buffered In tho ensuing three days, the 1st with a loss of Ltixteen killed and ono hundred and fourteen wounded, besides six of- 1 floors killed. At Spottsylvania, a week later, the 1st, reduced to a handful, entered the "Bloody Anglo" with its brigade, iu tho forlorn attempt to hold its as sailants at arm's length. Its com mander. (Col. C. W. McCreary, of Barnwcll,) and five others wore wounded, the second in command, [Lieut. Col. W. P. Shooter, of Marlon,) Killed, (also Lieut. L. O. Shooter and 1 Capts. E. D. lirailsford, W. A. Kolly, James Armstrong, Llcuts. A. F. Miller and M. It. Tbarin,) ai d .the ranks lost nineteen killed and tiity-ono wounded. At tho end of another week, after al most two years of this eccontrle, duel ling, the two regiments met fairly at Jericho Ford, North Anna River, on tbo road to Richmond. Tbo 1st eh urged at tho head of McGow.n's bngado, and ran into a battery sup ported by tho Ponnsylvanlans. Too regiments grappled for an instant, the commander of tbo Carolina brigade was captured by ono of the 83d, and tho leuder of the 1st. (Maj >r Thos. Ptnekney Alston,) was killed in the melee. The 1st lost tw6nty-tivo prisoners, tho highest In any battlo of its career. Uloody Cold Harbor next following, both escaped, and through tho siege of Petersburg their llt.es ran separate again, though with proportionato losses. Almost at tho close of the brigades to which each belonged wero supports to companion brigades that fought at White Oak road. March 31, 1805, one week beforo Appomattox. Tho atTalr ended abruptly, and nolgber regiment was severe engaged, hut tho colonel of tho 1st, (Col. C. W. McCreary,) was shot deal by a stray bullet. Tnls was tbo lust death In the rogimoLt, and tho ocore stood 281. The record of wounded closed April 2, when tho major (E. D. Braildfurd) commanding and one captain (James Armstrong) woro shot down, making 1)50 in all. On March 31 also, tho 83d scorod 281 deaths, and on April 1 added ono, making 282, closing its record of wounded nt the Same tlrno. So tho ijueltists stood, at Appomattox, 050 I against 011 casualties on the battle tiold, almost tho maximum war strength of a regiment. (Gregg's "Old First," as It was called, was composed of threo com panies from Charleston?tho Irish Volunteers, tho Carolina Light In fantry and too Richardson Guards? one from Columbia?tho Rtcblund Volunteers?one from Barnwoll, ono from Nowbtr-y, ono from Marlon, ono from Hurry, ono from BdgOfleld, and one partly from Beaufort and partly from Charleston. The original regi ment was tho first regimontnl organiza tion in Virginia, and it may be said that tho whoio Army of Northern Virginia was gathered around its colors, which wero planted in the town of Gettysburg, and whioh are now in tho library In the State House at Columbia. By apeulal orders tne reel - ment was allowed to carry on its battle ' il ig " Fort Bumter," as its first en > gagoruont. every company of which It i was oompns-id on it* reorganization In i jU^y^KOl, having joern present at the bombardment of thut fort on tbo 12th and 13th of April, 1801. Tho rcgi meat thus went from Port Sumter to Aopomattox, whore it surrendered under tho command of Lieut. Col. A. P. Butler.?Ed. The Sunduy News. A TOUCHING) APPEAL. The Author of ,,l)i\io" : tl l u-..".!ii!", W ill. Poverty in His Old Apo. There are songs that never die. Called forth by some groat event in a nation's history, thoy aro ever en twined with tho cuuso that gave it lifo. It may bo tbo writer of tbo song has passed from the memory of man, but its inspiration lives on through tno pussing years. Where is the Southern heart that cot a not glow at tho familiar sound of "Dixie. The memories of the South and all that per tains to tho trying times of the puatis presorved with tender care. Monu ments have been reared to the heroes passed away. The survivors have been cared for, as far as woman's love and man's sympathy could aid them, but there yet remain opportunities for the tender ministrations of little acts of bonevolenco ano appreciation that would bring forth blossoms more beautiful in living hearts thun in cold white hands. Miss Virginia Clay, in tho Huntsvlllo (Ala.) Democrat, makes a touching appeal in behalf ol the composer of " Dixie," that ir spirs tion of the Southerner : The sad news has reached the South that ttiu author and composer ol "Dixie," Daniel Decatur Emuiett, is ill in Mt. Vermon, < > , und dragging out his 83 years of life in poverty ami want. Tins should never bo uliosveU, as long as thoro aro any veterans of tho Confederacy, or sons or daughter of those who loved tho saored cause for which their fathers fought in exis tence. "Uncle Dan," as ho was famil iarly .culled, has appealed to the South for aid, and his appeals made through tho columns of tho "Confederate Vet eran," musi not bo in vuiu, in Ala bama. Jimmet wrote tho song in 1850 that gave him an immortal name unu fame in tho South, wnen ho was a member Of Bryant's minstrels in New York. Ho was asked by Jere Bryant one bat urday night to wrlto a new " turn around" for tho boys. He did so be fore ho retired, and tho result wus, "I wish 1 was In Dixio Land"?tho original name. With the r .mbiingsuf war growing lounder and nearer each day, and tho loyalty of true Southern ers was growing warmer, the Hong took like wildUre iu the South, ami ( was received with great enthusiasm. It was playi d, suntr and whistled every where. " Uncle Dan" had struck tho right keynote, and had found u ro- \ bponsive chord in the hearts of South- . erners, " Wish I Was in Dixie ' was aoon Southern property and will con- j tinue to be oura, eohocd and re-echoed down tho corridors of time. Emmet was tho only person allow .d to sing " Dixie" in tiio North during . tho war, and ho sang it in a New Yora , theatre from 1851) to 18ob Though nearly forty years have passed since its birth, the first bar still inspires a So .thern audience with renewed pa* Iriotism and love for 1 "Do lan' ob corn, an' do lau o' cotton, 1 Cinnamon seed un's sandy bottom." ' Franco baa her " Marseillaise," ' Wales her "Men of Harlech," England ' her "God Save the Qreeu," Germany ' her " Wacht am Hhcin," tho Cordon 1 Highlanders their "Coclt-o'-the-North,1 ' all of them martial uirs connected 1 with the various periods of storms and stress of the land of their birth or J adoption, and are songs that have made 1 heroes; whilo "tbo land of cott n, ' palmetto and pine" has hot " Dixie." I which inspired our heroes of tho Con- ' fedoraey, for they wero heroes by in herltanoe from thoir fathers and ' nursed it in their mothers' milk. 1 Though Daniel ?. Emmet was burn ; in Mt., Vernon, Obto, his parents wero j uf Southern birth, and inspired him with Southern patriotism. We suggest that tho various chap- J tera of tho Daughters of tho Confeder acy have entertainment ? for tho beno- ' tit of Mr. Emmet, of Southern aongs and tableaux. Aid him now, and do 1 not wait to erect to him a memorial monument. 1 ?Women aro nowhere BO free and | on such an acknowledged (quality ', with men as thoy aro in this country , and Burmah. Tho Burmese women j manago affairs, aro successful in bual- , noas, as housokeepers und aro domi nant in courtship and marriage. In Bpite of thoir reaemtdnnco to Amorl- ( can wotnon, thoy differ in ono parti cular?they know the Becrot of making marriage invariably happy, for joined , to thoir clovor shrewdness, thoy have tho velvet-veiled wiedom of tho East? , they are Oriental. They never shriek for their rights?thoy insist softly, firmly, and always get what thoy want. Thoy aro charming to look at and charming to livo witb. Thoy never talk too much, thoy novor dream of calling meetings to ubk fo>- their rights ?rights which they have always bad which noon.: would dream oi taking from thorn, instead of attending club meetings, they dress their hair a new way and manufacture a now arrange ment of flowers. The Burmeso woman is always on view ; sho keeps tho shop, drives tho bargains, and what is un precedented In tho Orient, sho plays at the tboatro. "THKKK Mill tOUIiOUS SOLDIKHS" No young author has boon moro talked about recently than Stephen Crane. His stories have all made hits. You will like his now one, entitled, "Throe Miraculous Soldiers," which will bo published in our columns sonn Watch for it! ?Attorney Genoral Birbor, at tho instancoof tho railroad commission has instituted proceedings aginst tho At lantic Coast Line, the South Carolina and Georgia and the Eloriua Central and Peninsular Hallway for not com plying wltth tho order of tho b >ard that a union station bo eroctod at Dun- j mark, which is a junctlonal point for theso threo important lines. The teacher of a city school ro oolved tho following noto oxplainlng the absence of one of her pupils the day before. "Please oxcoc zo Henny for absents yeesterday. Hlrn an rac <?ot a ohanco at a ride to a funeral In a char rigo, an I let him stay to homo, as ho bad never rodo in a cnarrlge. So ploso excooze." ?The amount of money that a single toad might savo to a farmer In ono sea son by tho dostruotion of cut-worms has been estimated at noarly $20.l This calculation is based on tho damage that tbo number of out-worms a toad could eat in a season would be a jle to effdot among growing crops. -The proposition is made la New Jersey to tax bachelors $2 aplec a per annum. \ V A NKUHO POS I MAS I K It KlLiLiHD. Mob Violenceai Lake City, William? burg Ooumy?-i'he Negro aud Hi? liaby Killed aud Cremated? His Wuo ami Daughters Horlously Wounded. The negro postmaster, Crazier B. Baker, ol Lake City, s. c, about whom so nnieli bus been written und printed, wus brutuily murdered on the night of Feb. 21st, bis homo set ou lire, Ids wiio and children Bhot, und utter do Btruotion visited upon his household. Tho KingBtree correspondent of the News unU Courier gives tho following aooount of the affair : The news of the killing of Buker spread rapld'y, but no one dreamed of the uwfulncss ol the crime until later in tbCyday, when wo got full particulars revealing the fact ibat Lake City was tho bceuo of one of the most awful crams over committed in tt.e State. Prezier Baker was u coal-black negro about 10 years ohl, and was appointed and took charge of the Lake City pi st utnoo about six months ago, Bo was a native ol Florence County aud hud aever lived at Luke City until he went there to tuk ) charge of the postotlice. Tho people of Luke City were justly indignant ut the appointment of this negro as their postmaster. The authorities at Washington hud been notified of their mistake und error in appointing this man, they kuow of his incomp' tency. And the people of iho whole United States ought to be made acquainted with the fact tbut the postoHlce authorities In Washington are largely responsible for the death of Prazier B Baker. About 12 or 1 o'clock lust night a mob of Hut) or luu people gathered around the Lake City poetotllce, which was also the dwelling ol Baker's family. Baker's house bad b sen lired into be lore and even the post? (lice tied been burnt not more than u month ago, but the mob was determined to do their work effectually this time, and they sin rounded tho little shanty, and at once set tire to it. Baker's whole family was in tho house. It consisted of Prezier Baker, his wife, o son. two daughters und a babe of 1*2 months, liuker was kilted outright and his body left in the burning building As the mother attempted to leave tho build ing with her children, surrounding her, wild with fear and excitement, and her innocent babe in her arms, they were all lired upon and tho bubo was killed in the mother's arras, and it dropped by the side of the dying father in the burning house. Bach of the others was shot, and while they are all itill alive yet it is said that they are uli seriously wounded. Tho woman was shot dow n by tho side of tho burning building, und would have been burned to dcutb hud she not been tuken up und carried away by other negroes liv ing nearby. The two daughters uro. nbout grown und it is said they uro both -orioiisly Wounded, and even if they recover each will lose a limb. Tho boy is about 12 years old, and Is shot through tho abdomen mid cannot liv. . The father and youngest child were burnt to a crisp and xoine parts of their bodies were found among tho ehurred remains of the cabin. It is hard to conceive of a more horribl ? ending to the Luke City postollLe muddle, und ill I right thinking people uro hound to condemn it. Coroner Burrows empan elled a jury of inquest, who after view ing the Biene adjourned to meet attain jn Saturday. There is no excite ment whatever in Like City. Every thing seems to be going on in tho even tenor uf its v ay. Stores ail open, ami business going on just as if nothing had happened, oxo< pi that all arc now perplexed, as to how they will get their mail. The general Impression is that the Luke City mail will go to ?oranton, three miles distant, until a new post-i 111 jo cau bo established at Lake City. Luke City is on the North jastorn Railroad, about twenty miles below Florence. Tho people are noted for their sobriety, and it is considered me of the most moral towns in Eastern South Carolina. Very few people seem to think that any of the citizens of Lako City haJ anything to do with this unfortunate affair or that they were In tho mob at all. Lako City has ilways boon known us u white man's town, not over u dozen negroes living in the place, and not one owning a foot of land in the corporate limits of tho town, and this makes it all tho more strange that a negro should have been appointed postmaster ut Luke Uity. Ills said that one. Edmund Boas, of Darlington, wrote Baker a letter a low iluys before bisdouth, und commended him for his bravery, advising him to hold on to tho office, and tolling him that Kis name would go down tie. cor ridors of time as one of tho bravest aud most patriotic men of bis race. It is but just to add thet tho wounded ne groes uro receiving every attention in tho way ot eatables, us well us medical attention, from tho white, people of tho town, most of whom seem to bo shocked that so horrible a dood could have oc curred in their usually quiet little town. THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE. Some tlmo ago whilo the Lake City postollljo trouble was supposed to bo at its height- Tho News and Courier Interviewed Nlr. Marlon Clurk, editor of tho Luko City Times, hs to the cause of tbo trouble, and obtained from him tho following information : " Tho people of Lake City arc long suffering, but they huvoutlust made a strong appeal to the Government for roliof from their present post muster. In September lost Mr. C. M. Kolloy, a gentleman who had held tho otllco of postmaster for seven years and con ducted Its utTuirs to the entire sutlfue tion of all, was removed, and in his stead a negro was appointed. This negro had never boon a resident even of tho county, buying come from Flor ence, after making application for the Lako City pnstoffloe. lie. bud Actually ouon a resident of L*iko City about one week when appointed postmaster. "Tho situation now Is." said Mr. Clark, " that wo havo llttlo courtesy shown ub and tho service Is as poor as oan be. Tho nogro Ib uncivil, ignorant and lazy. We havo four mail trains a day that stop at tho depot, and before this negro was appointed wo hud three dally mails. Now we have one. There havo been no ehanges of solicit ule, but 1 presume ho found It took too much of histlmo to attend to throe malls. "Tho posti 111 50 was burned in Janu ary and every tning was lost. Of course, thore was no way of tolling liow the tiro ooeurrod, but one roeint was tho destruction uf whatever mail matter was In tho building. For ub out a week after tho fire Postmaster Baker mado no attempt to recolvo or dcllvor mal'.. Wo had no mail, that was the slzo of it. Small wonder, don't you think, that tho people of Lako City aro pro testing V " The potltlon sent to tho fourth as si taut. Postmaster General was signed by about two hundnd of tho best poo olo of Lake City and ><bould certainly bave some weight. Tho ohurges oan be substantiated and all wo want is an In vestigation. If a gover/mcot Inspector can but examine into ibe work uf this negro he mut>t see that lie id unlit in every way for tho position. "The business people of Lake City are r;ow forced to acid tneir Important mall to Scranton, tl reo inilod distant, to be forwarded. Mtny also have been obliged to change their addresses to Scruntou, ad it was necessary for thorn to bo sure of getting their mull before it was days or weeks old." MOW LAWS OF THE STATE. Tho General Assembly I'asaetl Over Two liuiKicii acih antl lteeolu t Ions. The following I. a list of tbo more important acts of general and local in terest, passed at tho recent session of tho Legislature : An act to require tho county super visors and tho county boards of com missioners to furnish a duplicate, copy of ull approved claims to thoir repre sentatives when n tjuired to do so. An act to repent section 221) of tho revised tatutes, as to special returns by merchants lor taxation. A joint resolution to extend tho time for the payment of tho commutation road tax uutu .10th April, 181)8. An act to regulate the rate of In terest upon any contract arising in this St:ito for tho hiring, lending or uso of money or other commodity. An act to require tho free public schools of this State to observe the third Friday in November of each year as arbor day. Au uct to empower the clerk of cir cuit courts to appoint guardians ad lltem. An uct to regulate tho fees for filing, indexing and certifying chattel morlg ages where the amount docured is not more than $I<>0. An act to riquire tho county super intendents to make monthly apportion- 1 incuts of ail moneys collected by coun ty treasurers for tho preceding month, and to inquire the county treasurer to i pay out tue same. An aet7)ioviding for a lion on rail- 1 roads for labor and material furnished I in their construction. < An act to amend section 2310 of the i revised statutes of this btate, the s same bding a part of tho Lord Camp bell act. I At act, to amend sections land 2 ot | an act entitled " An act to require any i nsuruncecompany or association to ho possessed of $100 000 surplus of capital I on deposit with some State for the 1 benefit of all policy holders, or in lieu I thereof to deposit with tho treasurer I of this State valid State securities to be subject to any judgments against | said companies! and such judgments shall operate as u lien on such secure f ties, ami providing a penalty for the viol ition of the provisions of this act.'' An net empowering the town council I of Gaffney City, of tho State of South Carolina, to convey by deed of gift, or I otherwise, Certain public property in < the town of GalTney C'ty, as said town < council deem best and proper for any purpose whatsoever. < An ac. to authorize universities and i colleges of this State to provide a I course of siiuly and confer tho degree < of licentiate of instruction, which shall authorize their graduates to teach in i the free public schools of the State I without examination. I A joint resolution to require the i treasurer of Cherokee county to pay tho per diem and mileage to commis sioners appointed by tbo governor < under an act entitled an act to establish I Cherokee county. An act to maai the embezzlement of 1 public funds a felony, and to lix the * punishment thereof. i An act to amend section 2??4 of the i revlsod statutes of 1803, beirg section 2410 of tho general statutes, relating i to notaries public. < An act to amend section 170 of the ' revised statutes of 181)3, interpreting I what shall constitute notico. i An act tu provide for tbo taxation of tele raph, telephone, palace car, i sleeping car, drawing room car, dining car, express and fast freight joint stock . associations, companies, copartnerships and corporations transacting business in tho State of South Carolina, and to repeal acts in cot.lliut. 1 An act to amend an act entitled "An act to amend section 2 ot an act en titled 'An act granting charters of in corporation to the Indianola Manu facturing and Water l'owor company,' approved February, A. D., 181)0, so as to further restrict and limit the powers and privileges of said cn-npany," ap proved 9th of March, 1890, extending the said charter. An act to prohibit unreasonable dis crimination by telephone compunies do ing business in this Statu in tho rates at which they furnish telephones and telephone service to their patrons in dilibront localities. An act to require tho county treasur ers of York, Union and Spartanhurg counties to turn over to tbo troasuror of Cherokee county certain school und other funds. A j )int resolution to empower, tho county board of commissioners of Cherokee county to parchuse a situ and build houses for tho maintenance, of the poor of said county. An act to amend an act entitled "an uct to amend section 27 of an actenti 1 cd 'an act to provide a system of county government for the several counties of tills State, so far a it relates to the working and maintaining of the rouils and highways in this stale,' " ap proved 2nd March, 18U7 An act to require tho magistrates to bold preliminary investigations in criminal c.ises beyond thoir jurisdic tion unless waived in writing. An act to empower magistrates to order services by publication upon ab sent defendants. A joint resolution to procuro informa tion with a view to ttio establishment i of a reformatory for youthful criminals. An net to protect boarding bouses and innkeepers. An act to amend an act approved 17th February, 1897, entitled "An act to provide for punilH attending the free public schools, with school text books at actual cost." An act to regulate express and tele graph companies and to extend the powers of tho railroad commissioners, so as to givo them powor and authority to regulate Charges by express com punies for transportation, to regulate tho charges of telegraph companies for tho transmission of messages by tele graph, or charges by persons engaged tu the several businesses heroin numed, to uuply tho powers given to said com missioners by law, over railroad com panies to all companies or porsonB own ing, controlling, or oporattng a lino or I1 in--,of, xpress and telegraph,and make thop'naltios proscribed against rail ro ids for violating commissioner's rules upp y to tbo compuntos and persons heroin namod, whoso lino or lines is or aro wholly or In part in thts State. An act to nm -.mi an aot ontltlod "An aot to declare tho law in relation to II' n.-i on real 08tato," approved Deo. 21, 1879. An act to construe mortgages of real i estate within this State. An aot to amend section 1692 of the general Statutes of South Carolina, be ing section 520 of tho revised statutes, of 1893, vol. 2. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to nciuiroail persons or corpora tions builUtng or using a barbel wire fence within 50 foot ofapubuo high way, when ?ho same runs parallel with and within 50 feet of a railroud truck, to place a plank on or near tho top of said fence," approved December 81st, 1894, so as to make the tcrn-s thereof more explicit. An act to amend section 2 of an act entitled "An act to apportion the road fund derived from the special county levy," approved 17th Kooruary, A. D., 1807, as to length of bridges to bo re paired or huilt. An act toumend section 7 aud 8 of an ucl entitled "an act to establish Chero kee county," upproved Feb. 25, A. D., 181)7. An act relating to tho collection of axes iu towns and cities. An act to provide for tho payment of certain pensions. A joint resolution to authorize the treasuiorof York county to pay out certain surplus funds of Broad River township on warrants for repairs to public] roads and bridges In said town ship. An act to amend section HUM of the general statutes of 1892, appearing as section ?4112 of tho revised statutes of of 1803, volume 2, so as to prohibit tbo destroying of the nest of certain birds. An act relating to tho records iu the ollieo of couuty auditor. An act to declare tho law as to foes of clorks of courts and registers of mesno conveyance for certifying to the recording certain written Instruments An act to amend the act entitled "An act to amend tho act entitled 'An act to regulate the tl'bUlo in seed cot ton in the counties of AbDeville, Aiken, Sumter, York, Edge Held, Berkeley, Kershaw, liichiand, Orangeburg, Charleston, Chester and Union,''' up proved 10th December, 1889. A j lint resolution to nulhoriz : and direct tho comptroller general to draw warrants on the Slate treasures in favor of tho countp treasurers for the amount due oueh county in the apportionment of tbo supplementary school fund de rived from tho net income from tho sale of spirituous liquors. An act to author.zj and cmpow r the Bounty boards of commissioners of the several counties of this State to estab lish aud maintain freo ferries. An act to provide for carrying out the Undings of tho commission appointed to adjust the indebtedness between the Several counties of Union, York, Spa '? lauburg and Cherokee. An act to make the drawing of jurors public An act to authorize sheriffs and deputy iherlffi of the State to arrest criminals Wittum! warrant in certain cases. An act act to establish and decluro the luw as to distress for rent. An act to exempt students of col leges from road duty or tho payment of comminution tux in tbo towns uud eities of this Slate. An uct to provide for tbo inspection of foods, drugs, spirituous, fermented uul malt liquors, und to provide for [.ho punishment for adulteration there of. An act providing for the erection tnd maintaining ol gates across public highways at certain points and for the punishment of persons failing lo close lamu. An act to amend the. act entitled "An act to provide for tho formation of certain corporations anu lo di Hoc tho powers thereof," approved Uth March, 181)1), so far as tho sumo relatei to the notioe to bo given in order to obtain a new charter, und in-order to mortgage a corporation's properly to secure too payment of its obligations. An act to require all railroads and railroael companies operating trains mid doing business In this state to pro vide and operate separate coaches or leparatd apartments In coaches for the accommodation and transportation of white and colored passengers in the stato. An act to amend un uct entitled "An act to amend sectioi. 15 of an act en tilled 'An act to provide for tho olee tion of the State Board of Control and to furthe r legulate the sale, use und consumption, transportation, disposi tion of intoxicating anil alcoholic liquors, etc.,'" approved the 15th March, 181)7, to prevent tho manufac turing aud distilling of such liquors witiiin two miles of any church or pub lie school. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to provide a system of county government for tho several counties of this Statu so far as it relates to the working of the roads and highways in this state,'" ap proved 23J March, 1896, excepting Sumter county. An act to amend sections 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 anil 13 of an act entitled "An act to provide for the registration of all eloo tors in this State qualified to vote lo State, county, municipal, congression al and presidential elections." An act to provide for tho winding up of tho business of corporations Whose ohartora havo been forfeited. An act to authorize town authorities to exchange labor of town convicts with county authorities. An act to provide for the county gov ernment of tho various counties of this Statu. An act to amend section 12SS of volume 1 e>f tho revised statutes, relat ing to the general slock law. An aot to amend title 4, section 146 of the code of civil procedure of 1?82, being known as section 110 of tho cone of civil procedure of 1693, relating to the place of trial of civil uction. An act to amend an act ontitled ' An uct to prohibit trusts und combi nations and to provide penalties," up proved 25th of February, 1S07. An act to n qui/o all magistrates to sunmtt their dockets to the county board of commissioners quarterly, and said buurtl to report on same to court. An uct to anlend section 10 of an act entitled "An act to establish Cherokee sounty," providing for tho transfer of suits and record* to said county. An act to fix tho salaries of the county superintendents of education of the soveirul counties of this Stuto. An act to muke railroud corporations liablo to a penalty for failure to post tho schedule of ratos as providetl in section 1050 of the revised statutes of 1803. An aot to confer on tho councils of tho einen and towns of this State power to make and estubllsh certain rules, bylaws and ordinances, lneluding gen oral police power. An act to amend an aot entitled "An acttorequlro certain oHloers to keep an itomized account of their income by virtue of their otllco, and to require them to mako an annual roport ol the nine, to tho county supervisor," ap proved March 2d, 1897. ?It Is understood that Mr. Matthew F. Tlghe, who for u long tlmo was con a< e. ed with Tbo News and Courier, has been employed by tho Now York Journal to go to Havana to represent that paper. Mr. Tlghe has for a number of years been engaged fn newspapor work In Washington. ^^^^ THE UNITtD STATES AND SPANISH NAVIES. A OOMIMIilSON Ol-' s i i; i \(; in. Wo Have ?in- Advantage in Heavier Fight lug; siiips and Greater Average Speed. If the situation in Cuba shouid re quire tliat war ships bo sent to Hava na, says tho New York Herald, the president could in a few days concen trate a powerful fie et to meet the Spanish war ships in Cuban waters. Of the ships of the North Atlantic tquadron which a month ago j lined the rondi zvoua < IT the Dry Tortugas but three. ? the Indiana, the Iowa and tho Massachusetts- aro a: anchor off Fort Ji tTerson. The others, lateiy sent to tbo contiguous ports, are now re port'! to bo hurrying to join the admi ral off this port. The sinking of tho Maine upset every calculation, and nothing remains of the original program so carefully devis.-d and so unfortunately interrupt ed. Of the torpedo Ii ?Ulla the lirlcs son and the Cushing uro. engaged in dispatch work betwuen Key West and Havana, and the Porter and Dupont are at Mobile, ami tin- Foote and Win -low are 41t Norfolk. 'J he Tl xas and Nashville are a' Galveston, the Marble head at New Orleans, tie Detroit ou route for Mobile, and the Vesuvius at Brunswick, Ga. in the Carnban Si a are the Brooklyn,Wilmington, Newport and Montgomery, in reserve are the Puritan and Terror at Norfolk, and the Columbia and Minneapolis at League Island, while the training 1-hips are as widely scattered, the lOisex and Amphltrite being at 'Port K ?yal, s C; the Alliance- at Ports mouth, N. 11., tie- Annapolis at St. Thomas and the Vicksburg at St. Kitts. The Cincinnati ami Castinu are -learning fast for Bahia. The i'an uroft, San Francisco and Helena are at Lisbon. Tills disposition of the Ii et shows that the mobilization of the vessels, save those in reserve and abroau, would be a question of only a few days, wnde all the other Vt-;.s is COUlU be assembled in less than two weeks. The table Bbows that twenty-eight vi ss is are available, and that at least six tor pid.? boats couhi be by the same date prepared for work. At the present moment, Spain's ships in the West Indies are mostly unim portant Vi ssc s of the gunboat type or very small gun y.-sseis of no import ance, intend il for Usu in the creeks of Juba. It would probably be not less man a month before Spain could gath er her best ve.-ti Is off the coast of Juba. liven then it would bo impossible for her to meet our 11 jet on ? q lal terms, is is shown by the following compari son of her navy with that til the L'uitcd States : Of battleships Spain possesses but me, the Pelayo, of 10,000 tons, built in L'Yanc" about ten years ago. This year the Pelayo has had her boilers generally repaired and rutubed, and i now ready for service. The condition if the vis id is excellent, the only de fects being due to faulty design in cor tain parttculai viz: luaulllotont pro jection to her ? inch raold lice gun-, lack of subdlv ?ion of the sp.,e-j over the armored horizontal deck and the small coal supply, only 000 tons. In the United States navy there arc three battleships in commission cor responding in general features with the Pelayo. Thoy are the Indiana, the Massachusetts, and the Oregon. Since there are in the United Slates navy three battleships to one in Spain's, our navy, supposing Spain's battleship to be equal to one of ours, is three times as strong as hers. Wheth er the Pelayo is a lair match for the Indiana is a matter for experts to dis cuss and a stand up light to determine Spaniards think their ship would win. Americans disagree. However, with the odds three to ono in our favor, theo is nothing problematicttl con cerning the result. Spain has another excellent ship i . bor armored cruiser L-nperador Carlos V., of 0,100 tons Our new armored cruiser the Brooklyn is something like her, and to a less degree, so is the Now York. The cardinal differences obsorvable between these three ships aro in the armaments and the armor, and these are perhaps irreconcilable. The battery power of the Spaniard OUght to enable her t > stand up to her werk better tban tho Carlos V. This is also true of the New York, though the Brooklyn is in ovi iy way tue better ship, for the thicker armor of tl e New York is not better than the thinner but more modern armor of the Brook lyn. Whether two 11-inch guns which properly belong' tea battleship are the all around equal of eight 8 inch guns is a matter not to be discussed here. Tho only correct answer would he found in lighting the one ship against the other. Spain has still another chis* of ar mored cruisers ?vessels of 7,000 tons, well bn It. well armed and well pro tected. There is no corn .-ponding class in our navy. Tue m an st approach Is tobe, found in the second class battle sh i p Texas, Tho superiority of the Spanish class ? n tho way of coal supply is the most marked advantage possessed by the Maria Teresa class. In oile r respects tho ships seem to ho pretty evenly matched. Spain has four of these M 1 rla Teresas ready for active service. As an oll'-et to this powerful armored squadron we have the Texas of 0,100 tons, with her two 12 inch guns. This close the aooount of the ar mored Il lot that Spain could bring into action at tin- pr< sent time, hut It docs not oleso the account of the United States' armored Heet, for we have five modern monitors that can be rolled on for splendid service in defence of a coast. We have also that uniq 10 craft, the ram K.ttahdin, an unknown factor of presumable great possibilities. The available armored force of the two countries to-day may be summa rized as foi'ows: Tie-, total displacement of tbo six ar mored ships of Spain ready for sea, -17, 000 tons. total displacement of tho twelve ar morcd Bhtps of the United States ready for sea, 82 800 tons. If all the guns of the Spanish ar mored II iet wero fired at once the weight of the metal thrown would he about scv.n tons. The average weight of each shot por gun would be 207 pound ?-about tho weight of tho pro jectile that would bo tired from a 7 inch gun. Tho weight of metal thrown by a'l tho guns of the (Jolted States'armored fleet WOUlcl be about 17 tons. The av erage weight of each shot is therefore about itl7 pounds, corresponding to thr weight, of a projectile for a 0-100h gnn Excluding gunboats of less than 60( tons displacement, Spain has thirty -even Uiiarmored seagoing ships as against tho United States' twenty seven. But tbo displacement of thb ? junarmored tonnage Is only 60,000 fot 1 Spain, whorcas It is 81,000 for tho Uoi I ted Slates. Thero Is aiso observabio 1 great superiority in our ships In th< number of guns they curry, tho Span* ish v '8?el8 mounting 131 und the Amor* loan 237. In the important factor of speed tho average for the whole unarmored Am erican i! tel la higher thun thut of tho whole Spanish of Iho unarmored Hoot; but Spain has several small torpedo vessels, from 600 to 800 tons displace* meet, that are oredited with a speed of 20 and 26 knots. Our Minneapolis has done 23, the Columbia 22 and the Olym pia 21. Ina rough sou these big Ships of ours could easily oatoh tho small ex pross boats of tho Spaniard, but they could not do it in smooth wator. Spain leads us in tho possession of torpedo boats. In tho hVst place she has In her service four 1U0 ton boats that have made 28 knots. Wo possess only one of this speed?tho Porter, In tbo second place, sho has a ilotllla of fourteen boats of from IK) to 120 tons displacement and of speed ranging from 10 to 2<> knots. Tho very bf-stour navy can show against those i j a Hot ilia of eight boats. Tue American boats are larger, reaching to 180 tons ; their speed is about tho same. Spain has a large Ii ?et of small gun boats ranging In size from 10 tons to 350 tons dlsp.aoement. There are about a hundred of them, varying In arma ment and speed as much as they do in tdz I. The largest mount a couple of 1-inch guiH, the smallest a single ma chine gun. Some of them can go on a ni.sli 12 knots, but most of t'.iora sro not able to do belter than six or oig1 This H .Ulla wus designed for police service In Cuban waters, whore It does very wi II, but for serious war purposes such craft are not of much ueoount. A resume of tho naval affairs of Spain shows that during the last year great activity was manifested in tho navy yards in lining out vessels for Cuban waters. Olli-ers were sent into Scotland to inspect merchant steamers suitable for convorson into cruisers of this service, but as far as can be learned no vessels were secured. A large, number of merchant steamers I "belonging to the Spanish Transatlantic Steam'hip Company were converted into war transports, and for six of them so employed the company receives a monthly rental of *llf> 800. WItKt ki;i> iiv ruio.vt hkhy. The President Convinced Thal tli? Maine Was Lost Through Spanish Design. Washington, Feb. 21.?To a Sena tor w ho caiicd upon him in order lo ask some serious questions as to tho policy of the administration, President Mo K nicy, w ith the utmost frankness, has uttered the following words: "I do not propose to do anything at all to p reu I pi ate war with Spain. Up to the present 1 do not think war is either necessary or inevitable. I would be lax in my duty, however, if I did not ntepare for the future. The situation is grave and the policy of tho adminis tration will be determined almost en tirely by the course of events from timo to time. There is no necessity of alarming the people, hut Congress must be ready to assist the administration without making too many inquiries as to the course of current events." These words ol McKinley were given by the Senator in question to tho cor respondent of the Chicago Tribune and reported in that paper to-day. There is now no doubt of the fact that the government of the United States is uotuully preparing for war with Spain. It does not follow that war will come, but the activity In both the war and navy departments is too unmistakable to bo concealed. Many ol the public officials unite in the belief still, in spite of alt evidence to the contrary, that tho explosion of the Maine was the result of an unfortu nate accident, but recognize tho fact that the contrary may prove true at al most any hour, a- d that if it is shown, even Inferontlally, that Spain had a hand in the catastrophe, there will be but one thing to do, and that will bo to seize tho island of Cuba by force of arms. At no time since tho war of tho reb dlion has the military branch of of the government been so active as It is to-day. Special to the Atlanta Journol Washington, Feb. 21.?There 19 now not tne slightest doubt that tho President, the Secretusy ol tbo Navy and other members of tho cabinet bo lieve that the Maine was blown up by treachery, if not by actual design and contrivance of junior Spanish e 111 jers. Tho examinations now being conducted may finally reveal circumstances to change, their opinions, but tho fact that they do not think any accident occurred on the Maine is beyond ques tion. Private letters aro coming to ? nioers in the navy department from their fellow < Hi :ers of tho Maine, and these substantiate the theory held hero 1 from the liest that tho Maine was blown j out of the water by Spanish ollloers War preparations oontiuue to bo in active progress here. The exports in the State department no longer at tempt to conceal the fact that tin y uro busily e ngaged in figuring up an in demnity. The. President feels that tho American people cannot bo held in ro stralnt any lo gor than the investiga tion r- quires, and that the government . .ust bo prepared to make instant flo ma.ids on the Spanish government as soon as it is conclusively shown that the Maine was not blown up by acci dent. This ind mnity will ho llxed, I ? earn today, at about *13,?U0,000. This wi.l bo followed up by a demand for instant payment, svhiob demand it is believed w'll bo refusud by Soain. It is in antic;pation of this contingency that this government is keeping paco with the Spanish government In pro paring for war. - ? ? ? ?? ?It would bo Interesting to traco tho rise and fall of a fad. In 1832 Sylvester Graham, a Yankee preaenor of the Presbyterian faith, decided thut the sarest wuy to euro tho pooploof In temperance in drinking was to euro 1 hem of the flesh-eating habit. lie went up and down preaching vegota rlanlsm and became the leador of a great following. Uo not only con demned 1 quors, but tea, oofl ;o, butter and salt, and wrote, a book to prove that the only bread lit to eat was made of unbolted 11 >ur. This resulted in tho Graham II ?ur brand, culled to this day in his honor. "Gruhum boarding houses" wore established ovorywhere, ut which these doctrines wero prac ticed. Horace Greoley found his brido ut a Gruhum boarding house, and for a ' time followed Graham's teachings.. Graham advocated that following his diet would cause ono to live to a HI oil* '? oal age, but he died ut the oarly .>" ! of 60. ) ?The largest dog In tho world is be . I loved t> be Nero, ovned by Way no 1 Bailey, of Rutland, Vi., Bo woige . nearly 300 P ?und? ami mousures ? i und u half feet from tip to tip. F r ors of Q'io Vadis will agree thq^ . appropriately named,for if Mr. trf v wloft-j Is to be bellovod Nor j ra>^ ' \log In bin.day.