Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Only Four of Them Are Known to Have Been Minted. COINS OF THE CONFEDERACY Three of This Rare Quartet Have Dis appeared, and Only One Is Now Known to Exist?Confederate Cents Wore Also Planned, but Not Coined. Thai i lie < 'onfederate govcrnmcnt'eon. temulated the issue of a metallic mr roney Is certain, (hough coins distinct, ly associated with tin- Confederacy never appeared in general circulation. Designs for n half dollar and a cent were made, dies cut and a few colas of each denomination struck in various metals. These ?'eins now rank high with American collectors. It was some lime alter the war? seven I >on or eighteen years - ih.it the first evidence .., (he existence of a Confederate half dollar enmo to light. In January, is;:.. Ii. r. Taylor. M. 1).. secretary and treasurer of the l.onlsl ana state hour*I uf health, wr.it.. hi l:. Masou, Jr., a well knu>vn Philadelphia uuiaisuiatist, and hiforined him that ho bad a Confederate coin in his posses sion. A tfood deal of doubt was at first fell about tue coin's genuineness, but Investigation revealed the fact that hi least four silver flfly cent pieces were struck by the Confederate authorities al the New Orleans mint In 1801. 11 seems thai when the Confederate* seized the United States mint at New Orleans they conceived the Idea of an Issue of Confederate coins, it is fairly certain, however, that aftwr I he mint fell into their hands all available bul lion was used for regular United States half dollars. The former otlloors of the mint wer.? retained when the state of Louisiana turned the establishment over to ihe Confederate states, and in April, 1801, Secretary Menuulnger of the Confed erate treasury ordered that designs for n half dollar should bo submitted t'< him. Several designs were offered for Ills approval, it is said, although tho accepted one is the only design on rec ord. This here an obverse identical with Ihe regular Untied States half dollar of 1'HI. iho well Known sealed lltrure of the bless of l.'i.erty surrounded 1>.\ thirteen stars, with Ihe date 1801 The reverse design, on the contrary, was of an entirely original character. ?i> the center of ihe Held? was a shield which Lore seven stars, one for e.'.-h seceding state. A!m>vc Ihe shield was a Liberty cap, while surrounding the c."iilral design was a wreath coin |i eel of sugar cane and cotton. A rot ml Ihe border III the t..|. was the hiMcrlptlon, "Confederate states of Amorlcn." and underneath was the de in miaul Ion, "I ialf dol." 'l iiere dies wore Olli t>> nn engraver named A. 11 M. Peterson, and the coins were struck by Colonel Schmidt, foreman of ihe coining room. When the dies came to the coiner they wore found to he unsuitable for ihe regular pie:;, s.. four pieces were struck on Ihn old fashioned screw press. In- I'jiylor was the chief coiner at ihe mini in 1801, and in his letters to Mr. Mason he staled lhal one of the four pieces was sent lo Ihe Confeder :?< ? government, Ihe second t>> Pro. ;e- Kiddle of Hie University of T.ou ? [Juni, (be third (?? Dr. K. Ames of New Orleans, while the fourth was. liepl by himself. The four pieces were all lhal wer? coined from Iho dies, for owing to the scarcity of silver bullion the mint was ?dull down on April ?0, 1801, Only one of these original pieces can* now l>e loon led. and lids when last offered for sah? brought <ST" Some time In the seventies the re veive die fell Info ihe possession of a firm of coin dealers in New York, who ire credited Willi having struck III .t ;,on regular United States half dollaf.i of is,;i f'"111 Confederate roverse die alter having removed tho original United states reverse. The rest ruck coins were similar to (hose struck by Ihe Confederate jfOV .nillicat. only the elososl scrutiny de veloplng Iho difference, and this fact has Had it lendoncy lo lessen the In I .., i in the genuine and original Con federate half dollar. Bui even the ri>strnok Confederate half dollars com mand n premium of from .$."> to $d v. hen well preserved. That the Confederate government Und planned the issue of a cent piece enmo to light accidentally. Some time hot ween Is1''.". and 1870 a nickel coin vi Mil.milled to a ? ein dealer in Phil adelphia for examination. Ii was of afoul the same size as a lulled Slates rent and showed a voiilllful bean of I.il.erty on the oh verse, WO?I'lng n Liberty cap. around the herder being Inscribed "Confeder? nlC states of America." ReloW was Hid due "1801." On the reverse were ihe words "One Cent" In the center of i ? wreath emblematic of the products nf Ilic southern Mates and composed of .I ears of corn and wheat and tiny hogsheads, With miniature .cotton fmle In tbo middle of the wreath. in tracing tho origin of the piece tbo fad was developed that tho dies wore ? ,,; hy ti Philadelphia engraver of tho | uamo'of Lovett. who upon being ap I roaclied In ls7:> concerning the mat ieP admitted, With considerable reluc-| ,., thai ho had engraved the dies for coin upon a commission from the *' iifei'iCruto authorities. ; - i.u t that tho whole work had K n conducted with secrecy owing to : ? probnblo ttuploasant consequences (.. I mself Should tho matter come to - Heuti >n of the Federal authorities. i^lr.td Struck twelve pieces In nickel feLtlu. diet, two of which had been , ti?t, Ulltl tllesO |< i lo ?:. . ..... v 0f iho contemplated Issue. , ? ? ? ? \\ero ?eilt .1 nvi, gouth, and? it I ought ' that I he) Were, , ., ; 1:. ,j jj, ...f Vo." if forward Ii . dl< s wo. in. ? <? 1*1 !? in. i.n.l .-, ijr,, V '" ? ' dealers . ii ? .| possession of -:: 1 ????""?', ?? .als to stri.f.. a Ihnite I number . i pi ||, alfVoi'ont metals. Th ?> |.la;i .. d i.;? sejVo? j? gold, twelve la silver mid -Vn In cop l?er, lilt in striking i(1 (jl0 ; List nitm. il mot til ii,,.nm. of Ul0 ,jlt,3 hUrst upon maUiii- tin- lift.v-iiTtIi im pression, and the work was abandoned. , Tho lotai ii-i nhot* of Coil odornto retiis now Unown i<> |i{? j;: ip>heu i: revolt in gold ii ,i in nickel* iho olfier two 6f tho oil; :i . i twelve having dls- ' 1 appeared; twelve i.i silver and llfly-flvy i ; in copper. Tiio gold specimens are val ued at -sn.acli. ih< :e In silver and nickel at about S2? and (he copper cents ut from $10 upward. The dies wia'e defilci l i (id later were ' bought by a weil kimw!; ?"hie.-i-., ,-0l- ? loci.a-, Judsoll lll'dilicr, who til ?? had a specimen of each .-..in in (ho four 1 different metals.- St. Louis Itopuhlie. A WEST POINT PRANK. When Fitzhc.gh Lee Startled Pompous Gcnoral Scctt. Writing ? a " We i p.dnl Iteforo Ihe War" in tin- Motrop lllaii Magazine, Cviier.tl S. W. !'. -:?.:-?.n lolls how l-'ilz bligh Lee hive ! t" piny pranks; l'liz was always most |iopular, full of fun and read) for any devilment. Once during (he eucampmont wo wore : both i.ndor iiriei l for some caper, and. ns wn i customary, we had lo march t<> the mess hiill with the guard Instead >>i' wilh the battalion. At thfl time Scott's tactics wero used, and wo were always formed in two inks. The squad, under command of Corporal Montague, ..a-; marching the mess hall and had almost reached the chapel when Ueiieral Scott himself appeared and crossed our path in front of us. The corporal mi seeing tho great gen eral straightened himself Itko a nini rod, called out i'i his most martial tones. "Close up there!" and stepped >ie. (Oes pointed and eyes rigidly to he frntir. I*'ltz tind I were in ihe rear ..I' llih column. To my amic.emeiit and eastern:;!Ion Pint .lumped one side, picked up a round iitono and sent it howling along Ihe flagstones close by the ge.ie, .1 and was hack in his place as rlgl i as a; j olio in n second. The old g(>iterii| ntopped, looked up, (ben around. There i?ns ikothhig hi sight hut the sqtiad of the guard, lie could nai Imagine lhal the stone came from mich a source and n limed his wAfK. We had not golib nioie than ." lew ?..eps when Pitz repeated ihe perform ance, saying oh each oceaslon as he ghack in his pin "IIa. ..hl big general, you can't ciitcli me!" My this lime we iiad i fissed Iho front of ihe chapel, and (bo general was out of sight. Tee lasl gllliq 10 I had of him he was looking a rot i nd for the source whence came Ihe rocks, I have often wondered wh?t would have boon (he tl oughts of the corporal had he known What was going on, nnd 1 have won dered, I"", what report ho would have made. I was badly scared, I must con less, hut it was nevertheless very fun ny. One must have known tho pom pous old general lo he al lo lo realize how Indignant ho looked nl the care lessness of any one allowing a rock lo he thrown so near him, the commander in chief of Iho army. A shorl time aft er at (he grand l.all always given be fore striking camp for barracks Pits walked up lo tho genera!. Introduced himself ami had qtiHo till animated conversation with him. Oriental Hie;-. ??The greatest period for line rugs." said an aillhorlly, "was known ns the lime of 'Sullman Ihe Magnificent' Or 'Sulimnn Ihe Croat,' ahmt I Ihe reign of iiiii'i'ii P.lizalieih, when Iho duo arts lloiirished all over lilurope, 1 think from Mils comes the statement that "such and sn. h a rug dates from the time of Solomon,' giving an erroneous Impression as lo Iho antiquity of tho article, although 1 suppose Iho names are Ihe same " A famous piece of rilg, for w Inch a fahu'ons snai wdfi paid by (he Paris museum, has been user I hod to Iho "lime of King Solomon." II is a small quarter of a silk rug picked up on a Nile boat by a woman who w is nl Iraeled by its beauty and peculiarity. She sold il in Nee. York for .SI". The dealer later disposed of it for $150. The last owner thought it worth w hile to send pari of il lo CoitSlnutlUople to lie appraise,I. and there It sold for 91,500 to a person front whom iho Paris lutlSCUUI bought i! at many times this price, it is.easy lo loll handmade oriental rugs. Their patterns t.how upon Iho back In Iho knots, which is not the case in rugs made by machin ery, and they mv Self fringed and have a grayer surface - New York World. Racing In Ancient Rome. AUClelll Rome hr.d hs racing and i(s popular and Well paid Jocke) K. Let ling ran high, and Iho excitement of tho people over the ra. es and their favor ite color frequently led lo bloodshed. Caligula* he who made a consul of Iiis horse passed most of his time rioting with the charioteers. The circus was iho place for the rein'. Tho largest of them, the ('inns MtlXlmus, about 21.000 feel long, could accommodate 480,000 spectators, Seven UntPS was It necessary to MC0 round the tptnn, a low stone wall run;ill lloi It Uta cell? tor of the circus. The ,|0i keys drove In ft light chariot USUi II) four in each race and wore close tl ting tunics and leather caps distinguishing colors. Thai the professh n was a ? ay lug one We learn from ancient writers, money prizes and Wages bi paid. The jockoy Cresceus a tho i 0e of twenty two hud oranesod u fortune, and Dio des, the king of Jockey?, lsfl to his son more thun |1,000,000. II SEH PICTURE CRITIC He Knew All About Ships and the Wild Ocean. ART COMMENTS OF A SAILOR The "Death of Nelson" Reminded Him of How 'Arkness Come Off the Main Yard?The Blood Red Sky Without a Cloud That Foretells a Storm. Crude perhaps and curious, the out COinc <?i a life apart, snilormon have yet an appreciation of the arts, writes David W. Hone in. the Manchester t It.ardhtu. ?nco in the Walter gallery I was looking at "The Death of Nelson." There was a man with the look of a seaman standing near. He had a slight smell <>f drink and was chewing tobac co. He. too, was interested in the pie tine, and. recogldidng me US seaman like, he said something, and we got to talking about Nelson and his limes, it houl ships and pictures. "B'gnd, male, (hem fellers" (the painters he meant) "knowed what they was :: doin*. Look at that 'ore glim" flan mim. "Looks as its trliumiu' was for go! w'on they brought tb' admiral down. * * * An' tlietn eyes," point ing to :i wounded seaman in the near foreground, "them's th' eyes o' poor 'Arkness wot come off th' main yard las' voyage an' struck th' fife rail full on!" He told me of the accident, how it happened, and by his oyov and rude, simple speech I saw il all. As plain be fore me as the figure of the strieken seaman I saw 'Arkness (nine off the main yard, clutching wildly at the sheets and lifts as he loll. 1 heard him strike the rail with a sickening thud and lio stretched. I BOW the running figures on the deck, and "'e never hirst cd th' night. We burled Mm out there. Tallal it was," said my speaker, involuntarily twisting a shoulder to an imaginary southwest. There was a sea picture, a ship com ing Up to the Isle Of Wight?ClCOH curving sails, a good sense of move ment and a fine, breezy atmosphere, '".lest wot it Is." said my friend, ' 'omcwurd hound. Let 'or go, hoys!" a burst of enthusiasm thai made some visitor glance around, a hi r met!. "'Ome wnrd bound it i<!" Tle ie were other line pictures, but we did not feel that wo had a light to do more than look at them and admire. With sea pictures It was different. They were out world, and who had the right lo criticise the way a sea was moving off the sky if we had not? Too often hod we watch ed, anxious eyed, for a break in the clouds not to know the way of wind ?ui the water, the scud of a cloud breaking free in a welcome shift. Well ?V ? knew the curve of n standing sail and the relation it bore to the sense of movement. 1 or a city of the sea Liverpool has no great representation of her fore most Industry on her chamber walls. "Sen pictures have apparently no at traction for her chief es I citizens. There was little call for sea critics down stairs, so we went to mi exhibition of modern art in the u|ipcr galleries, lb-re we found ourselves properly con fronted. "Setting Sail Aftern Blow" it was. a lar?e canvas, n ship pitching heavily in the swell of a recent gale and Hie crew putting the canvas on her. It bold a great message* for my mate (black smoke and an over throb bing screw had not yet dulled his sea fancy). Ho was highly pleased. "Them seas wot ye gets off th' Plato!" He wanted to show some word of cheer, to swing his right hand to tin? left shoul der in SClimnnllko admiration, hut the cold gray eye of a tail hatted official Was upon us? "Hub, sailors:"?nnd there was a group of young ladies near by worshiping at the shrine of a corporation purchase, so he contented himself by nudging mo furiously. "That's wot I calls :i picture," he said. a sunset over wutier claimed our at tention. A blood rotl sky with no clouds, only a slight density near the horizon. I said It was remarkable, perhaps unreal. "Thai's where \o ain't in It, mister! Look a' here! If yo WOS f take all th' colors in th' lock er so's ye 'ad lots o' rod mi' .voller in, yo'd find a sky t' match il. Ain't ye never 'card o' what them dagos calls blood o' Chris'?? thcin dagos wot loads yo ballest in th' Plate?" I had not heard. "Well, it's a sky like that, an' it comes afore one of them 'jKunporos.' "Min" I wos lyln' in Monte Video oncot, an' we 'ad a sky all blood red an' never a cloud, an' tb* fishln' bouts WOS all com in' In; not rowin' shipshape, same 's me an' yon 'ml do; thetil shovin' th' oars 's If they WOS pushin' a barrer." He ' pat into a dark corner and said something more about dagos, then continued! "Nox* day we 'ad a gale. 'Owlin', it was, an' her drivin' into it same 's WO wos off th' Horn, nn" a big German bark 4rlv' down on us an' took Hi' fore to'gal'n'mOSt out. <>' 'er an' th' boom an" started all th' 'Olidgear. Two ships wos driv' ashore, an' that's wot comes out o' them skiet wot (hey calks th' blood o' Chris*." H. was an impressionist picture thnl annoyed my mate?an impression of ft Sectio in dock, with masts and funnel and hulls all mixed up. The coloring was good, bnt the ships might hav< boon ninepins or egg boxes or any thing. At first he was perplexed, tbei amused, then indignant. "Oh, -!" b< said "Wlint'S lids? Ships b'gnil, 01 I'm a Dutchmanl*1 He burst Into a li of rude laughter. "Ships It is, mister an' look at ttietn tawps'l yards! Ship' wi' tawps'l yards below ?.bo main, an a haugmnn's gibbet for th' inlrr.eu gaff Them fellers 's got some check, mute That's wot 1 calls lb?cheek-1' In paintln' things like that. 'Oly sailor Look at them." CKristmas lias j Come s And Gone \ We hove a few pieces oj the ^ choicest Christinas Goods thai > will be soul mne at on \ w h Amazing- \ Sacrifice > Come note ami see these bar (joins. Cost is not considered:] must be sohl. sey ? s Why not a FAMILY GROUP) While the whole family are at home. Wq are especially fitted do group work rain or shine and deliver same prompt ly Sec our line of rioture MOULDING NICHOLS' STUDIO, I EDIBLES I J FOR ANY-TIME s Scodlei.: Kai . 1 irranl ???* jr? Citron, Shrt ddod Ali n tu! S, I*ICR, Spici .;, kx tract etc, ;'? q? for tin.' calci? Clustor tat ?e sins, Cranberry. Sauce, or frosh Cranberries, Crape <. .? Hh Fruit, < trances, Apple; Tj; Banana . I'ineapi ? ?* aca < I rape! . a il I ind: of Nuts, fresh Celery. (!hooolnto; and ol h< r Con- ^', ?|? fcclioneries nlwnj kepi on Jy} hand, See us when you **? w?hl toothsome dainties. I Kennedy I Bros. PK CLITTO .JOXfcN Dentis! Office in Simmons Building Phone: Oflico No. 8(1; Residence 211?. 1 T. C TURNER, JR., , j A TIN ?k\ KY-AlM, \\V. Will practice in all state courts, I , Prompt attention civen lo nil business. Office in KnforprMC1 Hanl? ihnldinp. Specialist of the ?yc IS NOW AT THE LAU RENS DRUG COMPY TREATING EYES AND FITTING GLASSES AND WILL R E - M A I N UNTIL JAN. 6 0nt Wink 0nl)K Special attention given lo children as he makes ns specialty of relieving difficult eye troubles that others fail on. Almost all head aches and neuralgia are caused directly Crom the eyes. OKK.CH HOCKS: ) !! jV ?? JJ '! ?. ?, S? Examination free, [vcmember the dates: I'^rorn W Wednesday the 80th, Lo January 6th. iff ?"-?--V >V ??V '^v .*-.v . . A?-._ > .?? ^ ff- ^ ^ T?5 *^ -"Jr ?' >T >?" >*T- 'S? >?"- ^ Thousands of ladies sh<Y< >? a<.onies every month. If you do, stop and think. Is ii i i ral'J Kinphati cally and positively NO! I n make up your mind to prevent or cure this needless suffering! m wf fn m 1 It Wi! .1 32 ?v7 YOU "I suffered 0 yen . ii< - V. . Sarah J. TTos S|kins, of Gary, Ky. "I ha ',V? nearly cramp i<? deal Ii. |ra nearly kill me with pain 'M relief, but failed, and ??' Now I can do m\ lion ? ' Cardui the praise ror i !i rouble .?Mnl would find ;11? ? \\i*111(I ^ c reryl hiiij!; jo get ii (o take Cardui. ' ise and I give en, joy, iry. AT ALT. y&UQ STORES For Sale by Palmetto Drug Co.