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ESTABLISHED 1865. NEWB3ERRY, S. C., TUESI.Y, FEBRUARY 25,192TIEAWP itbAV'1 A Fist Fight in the Senate, NICNATOiCS TiLLMAN ANI) MOILAUItIN COMIU TO ItLOWsi. Menator Tiilmar Charges Sonator McLau rin with liuing Govorned by Impropt-r Miolivoa In Voting for the Itatllication of the Treaty of Paria-Souator McLaurin )eolart,i "that the Mitatonont In a Wilful, Malicious ttnud I)lll+tato Lie." Where. upon Tilituan Jumped at MoLaurin and lilt lim, sand MoLaurin lilt lack, and they had i Hough and Tumblt' Vight. Washington, Feb. 22.-In accordantce with a long-time custom on Washington'a birthday the farewell address of Wash ington was read to the senate today im mediately aiLer the body convened at ii o'clock Senator Burrows, of Michigan, read the inimortal document. At the conclusion of the reading, at I1:5o Senator Lodge presented a memo rial from the Massachusetts legislature in favor of such an amendment to the con stitution, as would place it within the power of coigress to enact laws regulat ing the hours of labor in the various states. When rgutine business had been con cluded Senator Tillman resumed his speech in opposition to the pending Phil lippine tariff bill, which he began yester day. He referred to the reading of Wash ington's farewell address as similar to the reading in our churches of the Se, .ion on the Mount, as,the one evidently has as little effect as the other, as it seemed that we today are prone "to spit upon the principles enunciated by the Father of his Country." Discussing the Philippine tariff bill he declared that no revenues were ne' ded by the insular government in th' Pilippines as it had ample fu-. he sole object of the bill was that the Philippine Archipel ago should be exploited and made to fur nish an opportunity to the few to reap a golden harvest from the islands He declared further along, with respect to Cuba, that the purpose of the adminis tration was to give protection to the Cu ban plantations in order to put millions qf dollars in the pockets of sugar and to 4cco trust Thus it was, too, with the Philippines. It was proposed to give the Oriental Archipelago the satue sort of free trade as Porto Rico had b.een given. That was the "gaie,'' he insisted, and just qs sure as the sun shines it was the pirpose to afford Aunerican capitalists ev iery gpportunity to acciuire possession of the yaltlable properties in the Philip pines. "Vet,' s.ld he, "God save the mark, we preteild to be honest." Senator Tillman maintained that in stead of trying to civilize and elevate the F+ilipiuoes the government might better have spent some of the $4o,ooo,ooo ex pended in the Philippines in eoloniing the negroes in the southern states of this country. NIOW THR FIGIT WAS PROVOKIED. When lie later directed a question at "his friends on the other side of the chain ber," Senator Spooner inquired to whoni he re ferred. "I have many friend.,on the republican side," said Senator Tillan. "Personal ly, you are a nice, clean-hearted set of len, but politically you are the most in famous cowards and hypocrites that ever happened." [Laughter.J In the cotirse of his speech Senator Tillman became involved-in a lively collo quy with Senator Slo mer, of Wisconain, regarding the ratifica,tion of the Paris trea ty. The South Carolina seiator 1 eferred to Senator Spooner's comments in his speech yesterday upon the part taken by William J. Bryan in securing the ratification of the treaty He agreed with the Wiscon sin senator that the influence of Mir. Bry an was potent, but insisted that even his influence was not sufficient to induce the senator to ratify the treaty, for after lie had done all that it was p)ossible for himi to do, Senator Tillmnar. asserted, the re publicans yet lacked votes enough to se ."you kniow," lie shouted, shaking his anger at the repu~blican side, '-howv those yQtes neessary were secured." "How were t1"y seciyred?" dema nded genator Spoon~er. !'I know if the sen4tomr does nmot.'' re p lied Senator Tilinpan. "'I have received inforn,ation In confidence from that side of the chamber. I know froii that that improper influences were used in getting these vote.." "Namie the man," insisted Senator Spooner, "upon whioni those influences iveere b)rought to bear. It is due the seaa Lor aiid due the counitry that lie iiame him. A maul who imipeachien another in confidence is a coward. If the senator knows of any mian who has been improp erly inifluenced he should name him" "I know," asserted Seniator Tillman, "phet the patroiiage, the Federal patron ~ge, of a 4tate has been parcelled out to a se:Jtqr since the ratification of that tre#ty.'" "What st4te?" dlemlanded Senetor Spooner. "South Carolina," abouted Senator Tillman. "Then," said Senator Spooner, "I leave yon to fight the matter out with your col leagute." "W.Vell," retorted Senator Trillnman, "'I 1?eyer shirk the responsibility for a state igent I m4ke. I know that lie (Senator McL4amrin. his colleague,) voted for the treaty. I 'know that in;proper influences were brought to lir. J know what I be lieve." "You simply believe," retorted Seiiator Spooner, what you (do not know." AN JNTERL,UDI. This ended the incident for the th:ue, but the feeling en gendered manifested Itself later ini a thirililing and sensational scene. Senator Tillnan continulig his speech, read some letters frotn sol'diers in the Philippines, detailing the alleged cruel ties practiced uponi the natives by the American forces. Hie told of I6o Filipinos of whom the writer stated the water cure had been administered, resulting in the death of all but 26 of thenm. Senator Hoar interrupted to say that he had received many letters maaking charges againist the American forces, but in every instanice the writers had given him the informnationi either ini con fidlence or as incidents of which they merely had heard and of which they professed to know nothing personally. lHe protested agaIinst information of that kind and de clared: "I do not want anybody to tell me in strict confidence of a murder." Senator Burton, of Kansas, interrupted to defend Gen F'unston, upon whom, he said, the comments of Senator Tillhan had reflected, as the soldiers who were cnarged in the letters the South Carolina senator had read with the cruelties were under Gen. Punston's command. Senator Burton read Gen. l"uuston's explicit de nial of the very story which had been re ferred to by Senator Tillman, the denial concluding with the statement: "This statement I wish to brand as an atrocious lie, without the slightest foun dation. Statements of this kind are simply braggadocio and this braggadocio is re peated in the senate of the United States." Senator Burton quoted Gen. Funston as saying that practices of this kind sone tines were resorted to by the Macabebe scouts (natives.) "That's a confession of the truth of the charges," shouted Senator Tillman. IIe disclaimed, however, any reflections upon Gen. Funston. Soon afterwards Senator Tillman con eluded his remarks. Scarcely had he resumed his seat when there was enacted one of the most sensa tional scenes ever witnessed in the his tory of the United States Senate. MCLAURIN ENTRRS TI RING. Pale to the lips and trembling with the emotion which in vaita he endeavored to control, Senator 4olaurin, of South Car olina, rose and addressed the Senate, speaking to a question of personal privi lege. Instantly a hush fell over the Sen ate and over the people in the thronged galleries. The very atmosphere seemed surcharged with excitement. With breathless interest the auditors both on the floor and in the galleries hung upon every word lttered by the South Carolina Senator. Despite the emotion under which lie was laboring Senator McL.au:.n seemed to be the calmest man in the chamber. lie spoke with de liberation and his enunciation was clear and distinct. Rvery word lie uttered seemed to be felt, as well as heard, in the remotest parts of the historic old ha' I. "Mr. President," lie began, "I rise to a question of special privilege." He had voiced less than a dozen words, yet the excitement by this time was in tense. All seeted to realize that a por tentous event was about to happen. Sen ator Scott, of West Virginia, moved rest lessly about in the rear of the chamber and Assistant Sergeant-at-Arims B. W. Iayton rose from his seat as if to listen the better to wliat was aboti to be said. WIA'T' SINATOR MULAURIN SAID, "During my absence," continued Sen ator Mcl,atint, "a few moments ago from the Senate chamber in attendance upon t4le committee on Indian affairs, the Senatqr who has just taken his seat(Sen ator Tillian) daid that improper influen ces had been used in changing the vote of somebody on that treaty, and then went on later and said that it auplied to the Senator from South Carolina, who had been given the patronage in that State. I think I got the sense of the con troversy." Still controlling himselt with an effort, but still speaking very calmly and with a carefully modulated tone, Senator Mc Iauriu said, and his words cut through the Senate chanber like a knife: "I desire to state, Mr. President, I would not use as strong language as I in tend had I not soon aftcr the Senate met replied to these insinuitions and said that they were untrue. 'I now say," continued Senator Mc Laurin with distinct emphasis upon every word and half turailg toyards his col league (Senator Tillnan) tho sat in the same row, only three seats away, "that the statement is a wilful, malicious and deliberato lie." Senator Mcl,aurin got no further with his statement. TILI1AN sTRIKrCs IRSr BLOW. Senator Tillman, who was occupying his repular seat on the main aisle, sprang with tiger-like ferocity at his colleague. Senator Teller, of Colorado, who was sit ting at his desk bet ween the two South Caro!ina Senators, was swept aside with out ceremony. Indeed, the infuriated Tillmtan climbed over him in his effort to reach Senator McLaurin. Without the slightest hesitation Senator McL4aurina sprang to mieet the attack half way. Sent ator Tillmnan aimed a wild blow at his col league with his right fist. It landed upon Senator I4cLai;rin's fo'rehead, just-above the left eye, 4lthouhgh its Iorge was par tially spent upon Senator McLautrin's arm, whic~h he raised in an effort to parry the blow. MCLEAURIN ITS BACK, Instantly Senator McL4aurint's right arm shot out, the blow landing upon Senator Tillmtan's face, apparently upon the nose. Again Senator TillIman struck out franti cally, this time with his left hand. The blow did not land upon Senator McLau run. Then followed a wild scrimmage, both Senators clutching at each other tuadly. Senators Warren and Scott, both of whom are powerful men, rushed toward the combatants to separate them. As sistant Sergeant-at-Armis Layton sprang over desks an his effort to reeh the bel ligerent Senatora lust as lie seized Senator M~cIamnti Senator Tillman aimed a left-handed blow at his colleague, which struck Mr. Layton in the face. Fortunately the blow was glancing and did iio special harm, THE~ COMBATANTS SFCPARATED. Mr Laytoii tore them ap)art. Both Sen ators still were stiking at each other, aomieof the blows landing upon Mr. L.,.y toil. An Instant later the angry Seihators were pinioned in the ams of Senators Scott and Warren. They were dragged further apart, although they still made Ineffectual eff'orts to reach each other. Finally they were forced into their seats. Senator McL4aurin, though very pale, seemed to be the calmer of the two. Sen ator Tilhuan was as white as a sheet. As lie sat In lis seat lie drew his handker chief front his pocket and wipta bh >d fromi his face, that seemtingly was flowing slightly front his no<e. Unitil that time itl7had not been supposedl that blood had been drawn in the encounter. During the fight Senators all over the chamber were on their feet. Not a word, however, was spoken. The Sentate never in its hitory had received such a shock. AVTER,TJII F'IGIIT. The President pro temn (Senator Frye) was the first to regahin composure. In calmi and impassioned tones lhe directed that the Senate be In order. lie rapped sharply two or three timies with lisa gavel anud in a few uminutes a semblance of or dear wna obtnined, although Senators, hay ing by this time partially recovered fronl the shock, moved hurriedly about the chanber. Senator Gallinger was first to address the Chair. "Mr. President, I a: that the doors be closed." Again the President pro tetn requested the Senate to be in or der and that Senators resume their seats. It was reserved for Senator 'ritclhartl, of North Carolina, in a neasure to relieve the strain under which all were laboring. IIe desired to address the Senate on the pending Philippines bill and, calling for the attention of the Chair, he said: "If the Senator from South Carolina (Senator McLaurin) has concluded" le was interrupted by Senator Mcl,au rin, who said very cahnly: "I will now proceed with my rentarks, which were unceremoniously interrupted.'" "I call the Senator from South Carolina to order," interrupted Senator Teller. "Which one of the Senators?" inquired Senator Mcl,aurin with some asperity. "This one," said Senator Teller, indicat tiug Senator McLaurin. "And the other one, too, for that matter." "Mr. President," interjected Senator Foraker, "I join in that " ''Surely," he conltinued, with great feeling, his face yet pale with excitement, ''there is soie way to protect the dignity of this body." "Certainly," said Senator Burrows, who had been endeavoring vainly to get the eye of the Chair. "And the Senate can not let this thing pass, Mr. President." "Mr. President," again said Senator Gallinger, "I asked that the doors be closed." "Mr. President,'' said Senator Foraker, who had moved into the main aisle, "I move that the Senate go into executive session." Without comment, every Senator labor ing yet under the emotion which all en deavored to conceal, the motion was agreed to and at 2:52 the doors were closed. DoTH SF,NATORS IN CONT1(M'T. The proceedings after the doors were closed covered almost two hours of time and resulted in the adoption of a resolu tion in the form of an order as follows: 'Ordered, that the two senators from the State of South Carolina be declarel in contempt of the senate oin account of the altercation and personal encounter between thenu this day, in open session, and that the iatter be referred to the committee on privileges and elections, with instructions to report what action shall be taken by the senate ill regard thcretQ. The discussion which occurred in the secret session was based largely upon the above resolution, the first suggestion of which was made by Senator Foraker In presenting the resolution innediately after the doors of the chamber were closed, Senator toraker took occasion to remark that the occurrence had been an outrage upon the dignity of the senate, of which the senate should take cogni zallce. Senator lloar endorsed the resolution of Senator Foraker, but said lie thought the action of the Senate should be more explicit than contemplated by the reso lution. He therefore moved to amteud it by ordering the two Senators from South Carolina be declared in contenpt by the Senate for disorderly conduct and speech in its presence, and that both should be taken into ctstody. In sup port of this anendient he salid that any Court or a>y other parliamentary body yould commit nlen for so grave at offence against its dignity to await its judgnent. Tile reference of the matter to a committee would be, he said, on a line with q Court's reference to an artdi tor or a referee, and the offenders should be restrained during the investigation. 110TII WII,ING TO A'LOIGIl. Senator Blackburn and other Senators then s ated that the two South Carolina Senators were willing to apologize, and thus purge themselves of the contempt, and in view of this statement Senator Hobar withdrew the portion of his acnendl inent providiing for their contiitment. Senanor Foraker then accep)tedl the amendunent of Senator Hoar and it was enilbodied in the resolution. Before the vote was taken a nutuber- of Senators spoke, amid while there wvere many kind uitt rances regarnding both Senators there was tio exception in the opini Fons expressed as to the gravity and seriousness of the offence. Ajnong the Senators tyl;o thIns dlelivered thienlselve9 were iessrs Teller, Uairbainks, Ilancia, Blackburn andK Spooner. Senator I-anna suggested that, serious as had beein the encoutster in the Senmte, it was not so grave as the charge of :nis conduct nmade against Senator Mciau rin, and( lie thought that can investigation und(eI taken should extec.d to that mnatter. Senator Teller, while uniting with other Senators in deprecat ing the occur rence, saidl that it was niot unplreceden I edl, chat there had beeni other sitnilar af fairs on the floor of the Senate, and in stanced atnong others the encounter be tween Senators Bentoin and Foote lie also suggested that Senator Spooner was not entirely blameless for to-day's occmhr anice, because by his interrogatories lie had provoked Senator Tillhnan to tuake explici'tly tihe charges which had' been vaguely mnade before his inter ference in the debate. Replying to this statenment, Seniator Spooner saidl that lie had been of the opinion that Senator Ti1hnan should either make his changes or move for an in quiry by the Senate if lhe believed them to be well founded. There wyas mnuch discussion as to whether the vote on the f'oraker anmendmlent should he taken iii openi or in secret session. A tuotion uianmqde by Senator Teller looking to the~ opening of the doors. Th'lis was votedl down--I8 to 42. The Republicani Sena-ors generally ex pressed t.hemselvc a as willing to hear thme apologies p)romiised, but generally insis tedl that there should be first action on the resolutioni. On the sugge--tioni of Semnator Bacon there was a division of the two branches of the question. The first vote was ta ken on the declaration that the two Sen. ators were in contemplt, and it prevailed by a unaninmous vote of 61 to o oni a roll call I lie remcainder of the resolution, referrinig to thme matter to the connnitte< on p)rivileges and( ehectionis, was adoptet without a roll-call. Both the South Carolina Senators re imainced ini their seats during the entI r< secret session. Trhey conferred occas sionally with their ftiends, but imeitie: miadle aii attemipt to address the Senate IN OPEiN SESSION AGAIN. After the secret sessioni the Senate a c.15 resumed business in open session hvidence was abundant that the secret session had been more or less exciting. Nearly every Senator in the chamber was on his feet. Groups of Senators were gathered here and there about the chai ber, all discussing the portentious event which halt thrown the dignified body into a fervent. As soon as order could be restored Sell ator Blackburn said that as the seal of secrecy had been removed from the se cret session just held, he was at liberty to say that during that session he had tuade a statenent to the Senate of what the Senator of South Carolina (Tillman) was prepared and pleased to say to the Senate. le explained that both Sen ators from South Carolina had been de clared by the Senate to )e in contempt. What he desires now to know, and he wanted the Chair to rule upon the point, was whether any statetent could be made to the Senate in open session by either of the Senators while they were in contempt of the Senate. Senator horaker interrupted to suggest that unanimous consent be given to the Senators to make their statenient. A QUESTION OR ORIR. Senator Blackburn declined to hear for a moment any suggestion that unan inous consent to be given then to ad dress the Senate. That they were in contempt all Senators--all the world -now knew. What lie wanted to know was whether Senators in contempt could address the Senate, not as a matter of courtesy, but as a matter of right? On that point lie demandd. a ruling by the chair. The discursion on this question was quite long, and was participated in by Senator Blackburn, Senator Patterson, Senator Foraker and Senatot Teller. TII SPIAKI(R'S DECISION. Other senators showed a disposition to discuss the subject further, but President Pro Teni Frye announced that lie was ready to rule, and said: "While these two senators are declared to be in contempt the chair could not recognize either if lie should rise and ad dress the chair, but on motion made by any senator that they be heard the chair would recognize the senator making the motion and would hold that t he motion was in order. In the ordinary transgres sion of the rules or violation of order the senator violating it nust take his chair and he cannot be recognized by the pre siding officer again until the senate has relievkd him of that by motion. Of course the senators from South Carolina can b relieved from the condition in which they arelnow so far as recognition by the chair is concerned by a motion and 1 by a majority vote. What will hap pen after the two senators have purged themselves so far as it is possible of the contempt the chair will be prepared to rule whenever that question is raised." At the conclusion of the ruling of President Frye Senator Blackburn said: "I move that the senior senator front South Carolina be given the floor.'' "Why one senator from South Caroli na?" interjected Senator Spooner. "I move that the two senators from South Carolina---" began Senator Black. burn. "That's right.," said Senator Spooner. "--be given the floor," continued Sena tor Blackhtlrn, "to make any statement in their own way to the senate to purge themselves of the contempt." The motion was carried. It a breathless silence Senator Tilhnan rose to address the senate. He was calm and collected and gave to indication by his manner of the treniendous scene in which he had been oie of the principal actors but a short time before Ile spoke deliberately and either one of the hun. dreds of the auditors leaned forward eagerly to catch his words. Said lie: SRNATOR TIIL.IMAN'S AI'O,OGY. "Mr. President: I have always es teemed it an htomnor and privilege to be a nmember of this body. I had never htad any legislative experience w~hent I camme lhere aind mty previous service as governior of Sotuth Carolina for four years had unt fitted mue in a nmeasure to enter this atu gust assembly with that digntity andti re gard, proper regard, I will say, for its traditions anid habits and rules that is desirable. "I hlave becta here seveni years. I have it tliat tintie hearlied to jud(ge uten with a little nmore cathiolicity of spirit thani I did when I cattio here. I have found a great muany p)eople here in whose personial ini tegrity and honor andl regardl for their obligations as gentlemien I have implicit cotnfidentce; bttt I have seen so mntch of partisanship, I have seetn so nmuch of wvhat, I consider slavish submtissioni to party domtination, that I confess I have felt somtewhiat at a loss htow to jtudge men who in onme aspect appearedl to be so high and cheani and honorable and ini another appeared mnore or less despicable. I say thits becatuse of the faict that one of the senators has seen fit to allude to some matters that occtirred ini the dlebate this afterntoon. I now want to say that so far as any action of utmie has cauised atny seniator here, or thme senate as a body, or th 1eol of the Untited States to feel tht gave been dlerelict, and that I have not shownt that courtesy and proper 01) servance of the rtules of this body, that I regret it; I apologize for it I was ready to (10 that, two minutes after I ha'I acted, bitt uder the provocatioti which was known to all of you I cotuld not have acted otherwise thtan i did, amnd while I apologize to the settate anid a'n sorry that it has occurred. I have nothing niore to say." SICNA'TOR M'L,AUR[N'S AP'OLOGV. Senator McLaturin rose at the conclu sioni of Senator Trilbnian's address HIe, too,.wts calmt, but it was evident that lie was sup pressinmg his eniotioni by an effotu. Hie spoke with greater feeling tIhan had beent manifested b)y his colleague, particut larly whent lie told the senate how sorely lie had beeni tried b)y the accusatins which had been made againist himu front time to tinme. IIis statement follows: "'Mr. Presidenit: I (didtnt realize that I was ini contempt of the sentate nor (10 I thinik ntow if my words are readl ini the Record that I was in contenmpt of the senate, but at the samue time, as thme sen ate has ruledl that I ant in contempt of this honorable body, I beg leave to apologize. "I desire to say, Mr. President, that I have been very sorely and severely triedl. I was In PttentdanuCe on the COmimittee on Inidiant affairs whent I received a messamge fronm a frienid in the senate that my pres "Th hitor ofthevote ont the Spant Ishitrety I knwn t al of otl 'I'tor have been statenments made in news papers and insinlitaons that I had been tull,aencel by im:lproper mnotives an coni nection with my vote on that treaty. Knowing in liiy soul and knowing that God in heaven also knows that it was false, when I was told that it was cell tred down to inc I was so outraged by what I considered a tmost brutal assault upon iy honor as a nati, and especially iu view of the fact that in the begizning of the session, afler the action of tiy party associates, 1 made a tmost careful and deliberate statenment, explaining all those matters, I did not feel, as a luan, that I could ever hold up my head again if I did not resent it in the place where it was declared, in the strongest and imost forceful terms, that I could employ. "With that, Mr. President, I am done, except I have this to say: If there is aniy more talk of that kind or aniy more" - As Senator Mcl,aurin uttered the last sentences of his address, intinatinig that if there was any further effort to press ipoinl luim the accusations which had been made against himi there might be trouble, there was an evident stir it the senate. Several senators rose to their feet, as if half expecting a renewed outbreak of trouble. Senator Bacon, of Georgia, and Henator Patterson, of Colorado, both of whom were sitting near Senator Mc Laurin, urged him to stop where lie was, Senator Patterson saying: "I beg the senator to refrain " "1 will refrain then, Mr. President," said Se'iator Mcl,aurin. As lie resumed his seat lie made an effort to comipose himself as if to dispel any fear on the pai t of,those about hu11nm that it iuiglht have been his intention to precipitate further disturbances by any violent, coniinents. STATUS Of OUR SItNATORS. The status of Senators Tillman and Mcl,aurin is that they are still in con tenpt of the senate, and only by a vote of the senate can either be recognized either to speak or to vote on any question what ever. The senate is operating under a clause of Section 5, Article i, of the Coii stitution, which recites: "I ach house may deterinine the rules of its proceedings, punish members for disorderly behavior, and with the con currence of two-thirds expel a member. " The senate adopted a resolution de claring both Tilhnan and Mcl,aurin in contempt. By a vote both were allowed to make statenents in which both apolo gized for their actions. But the senate took no further action, and the resolution referring the matter to the connittee on privileges and elections is still inl opera tion, and until the committee is dis charged or the senate relieves South Caro lina senators of the contempt, they must remain silent in the senna'e. This is the judgment of all senators who have con sidered the question and the presiding officer, it is said, will refuse to recognize their right to participate in the proceed ings until the orderof cc 'enipt is vacated. Til-m: CAtJS1' taCTI,v. Way down und<' it is be lieved that the fri' 'enatnr TilInan and Sena- .t is due to the fight they are gaged in over the pending appoin.ments of Mr. Koes ter, as clerk of ir.ternal revenue, and Post masters Richardson, Chaffee and Purcell, at Greenville, Aiken and Newberry, re spectively. All of the appointments were made at the instance of Senator Mc Laurin, and are being held up in commit tee, it is said, indirectly, by Senator Till man. l(OOHEV I.T'M ICULIN(i. Preyitdnt Antnoun(es 111 Conclusioun li Sciley (ane. Washington, Feb. 20. -'T'he Pres ident has given his decision in the matter of the Sohley appeal, which is, to say the least, diplomatic, lie seems to have been trying to mnolify both sidos and steer hetweon the two, anmd has most probably enided b)y offendling both. All matters before the battle of Santiago are considered as out of the sphere of inquiry, as, if Schley was guilty of misconduct, his of fences had been condonedl by tihe silence of his superiors. In the bat tIe it.ur,lf the President thinks that there was no actual camnmand(ers-iln chief; that it was a captains' battle. lie thinks Schley's loop was tile Only blIunder of the battle; butL thlat afterwards Sohley did all ho could have dono. lie says that Sampson was technically commander ill-chief, and as snoh was entitled to his pro. motion ahead of Shobey. MB . LEVCER'8 C'ONrITET. Hlearing nefrore thne Eitoti Coininititee of thne H10u1e Tomlay, Washington, Feb. 20.-Commit. tee No. 2 on contested elections hold a hearing today on the case of Dantz ler vs. Stokes, in which the right ol Mr. Lever, elected to succeed Mr. Stokes, to a seat in congress is in volved. Mr. Moss, of Orangeburg appears for Mr. Lever. Dantzler ii represented by counsel but is no' present himisel f. Several member of the South Carolina delegatior were present at the hearing, includ ing Elliott, Talbert, Johnson an< Scarborough. Mr. A. GI. Flowers, who was th< other day appointed to a clerkshij in the government printing oflice has airriVed in Washington fromn hi home at Sumter, S. C It is state< that his appointment was made uin der the civil service rules. Mi Flowers is well known to the Sout Carolina deleantion in congesns. BURSTING WHEEL KILLS THREE MEN. A1'I'AI,.IN(i Di)ItMICIE AT 1*()VHit 11oU)lsIl IN H1'AI(T''ANiU(lO. A " ilrlilg W'hen. i(lerhtlt--A 10g lily im' nu i t he Itiillway 1C11g1 a1o illaa Awav 11,11 i'iw to 1'it IVi With )4III K M.oi.0rl or lI. fr--CatuM, in 1Unc1 rail. I Spartanlhurg Journal, 20th.] ''he nIost fatal accident. that ever ocourre(d in Spartanb urg happened lHt night at 111 o'clock at the power house of the Eloctrio 1Railway and Light Co., when one of the fly whools of an engine running a dynamto that furliHhed power for the car culrrent burstod and killed Assistant 1.ngin uor 1. Lawrence WVilson, Gas Maker Thoinas Pike and Firotman Robert Samplo, colored. Theso moln in the twinkling of an oyo were cut down like grass before it c) t.ho by a soc tion of tbo fly whool weighing about 250 pounds, their bodies torn and Iunanglo(d and thoir lini shia"t"redl and alipltited. Stule lived about liftoon minutos after tho physi - cil reachod hili. Ir. Wilion Iivo(i for several hours anld retained conHCioiHnesH an(d gave atn intelligenit account of the accidoent, and Mr. Pike was still living tis morning, though i111cotisciolus anid with no chance of recovery. l1 died at, 1 p). i. Thes) 1nn1 were alone at the )ower houseo at the tiom of the accident and as t here wais nobody to t ,lophone or givo notice of what had occurred, it was Homeo tilo before an13 body reached the terrible 1cono. The electric lights w01t out. up town at once and the elect ric light, pop1)I' tried to telephone the p1ower houa8 to learn what waH t he matter, but, of counrue' could got no res1)ois. A firelunai from Boaumnlont Al il Iwas tIe first, to reach ithe power statt ion, closely fol lowed by Eigiii4r F. 11. Knox a J Su)erinltn(lent J. (. Norcross and othora. The place was onvelo)o( in darknes andl(] wasH as Ht ill a (li i dloat h it contailll. Vhen finally lighted the scene that, niet. t lhe OVs of 10s0 who hand coo boggars (doscriptioi. 1oII ES OF VICTIMS 1 SCAT'E 1RE. ''ho bodies of the victims wore scattered over two roolns of the power houio and out in the yard, a big engine wais wrecked, the (lotric generator Hrmastihod into at t-anigld 1mai8s and the roof and floor of the building woro torn up by t.he huge piees of the wvhoel t hiat haid boon01 throwvn through theau. Big steel rods and1( p)ieco of iron wore twisted like wires and1( the steam11 chest of the enigine wasI broken open1 and1 through the aIportuir atll thoeam011 in the boil - era rushed. Tihis wasH the cIase of th10 shuttinIg do)wn of the l ighting dynamro, whbich wals 8om1 dlistanIco from t.he p)lace of t,he atccideont and1 itself unianjured, as5 waIs thle enginle which furnished it power. By a cuiriousM fatality all thiiroe of the menOf were atppatrently stanrding att tile time the b)ig fly wheel b)urstod right iln line with it and inl (lhe very place wvhere its flying pieces camie with most force and dlestrucotion. TLhrooe feet to either sido of where the unfortnunatt en tood0( niothing was touch' and1( they could have stood1 iln safet.y, but inl the path of the flying missilos from (he sharttered and1( swiftly flymng wheel everything was ruined and every human being slautghlteredl. T1he sple( lndid machm ery was dlemolished1 like a toy and the substLantiat l building bat.ttered and bruised. THRE CAUSE OF TilE ACoR1)ENT. The cause of thle horrible accident, as is frequen3ftly the Case with sud aden loss of life aned destruction of property, will p)robaIbly never b)o dof initely known. Engineer WVilson bo fore his dealttld ( his brother, Ohiof Engineer Wilson, of the circum stances p)rocoding the accident.. He had noticed a1 short time before the bu)lrstmng of the wheel that the Sgovernor was not work ing p)rop)erly and was giving out a knocking sournd 8' and did not seem to be rogulating~ the speed of the big engine as it shiould. Hie telephoned this fact tc his b)rothier, t.he chief engineer, ani iwas inntrncted to shift t.he load ovni to the reserve engime, known as No. 3, the one that was giving trouble being called No. 1. Mr. Wilson thereoon started up the No. 3 on gino and going to the switchboard changed the load boforo stopping No. 1, the engine that wan giving t.roublo. It is supposed that as soon as the engine wiai released of its load the governor, which had just shown itself to be out of order, failed to cutt down the steamti accordingly and the engine "ran away," as the t,nyiig is. This onoriioilsly increased the cel trifugal force always present. ill re volving wheels and the whool flow to piocos. t lowover, it did not do o until Mr. Vilsont had tiru" to walk from the switchboard back to the throttle valve, which is just behind the swiftly whirling wheel. He told his brother that 1he remuombored putting 11i8 hand on the valve to turn off the Htoam, but rolne1nmborod nothing furthor. It. is blieved that Mr. Piko, who was the gas 11111n and had no datios in the engine room, was attracted thither by the unusual noise of the engine running too fiat and cane to see what was the matter. '[ho colored fireman, whose work was in the boiler room adjoining, probably came to aid the elgineer inl shutting off the steam as it was necessary to close a valve under the floor also and this the ne gro usudlly aft t-mdod to. Anyhow, all three of the men woro standing close to oach other when the acci dent occurrol and wero injured in very ilmuch the sane mannor. NATiaE OF TnE INJUaIEH. Mr. \its'ii and the negro both had their logs cut off Hmooth by the flying section of the wheel rim. Mr. Wilson'H sovered limb was carried into the boiler room, and Sample's log was thrown through the boiler room anl( out, of i window into the roadway outsi<l( the buil<l1Ig an1d the 8lloe torn from it. When found it wis 75 feet frot whero the man stood at the tim he was struck. lie was the worst niaigl(ed of the t,hree and diol first. l r. \VilHon as stlted, lived for several hours and rotainied poosei11si of his facultion and was able to narrate to his brother the circullstainces of the tragedy. Bo HideH the108 O of his log he had his hip cruslied ill ald comlplained be fore he died of i soreness or pain in his abdomen. Mr. l'ike'H most Ho riou wound w'is the fracture of his skull on both sides. 1is logH woro shatterol, biut not overed. Io is a naltive oIf this county and leaven a1 wife and1( a cihld. Mr. Wilson had1( for a1 number of years residled in K(annasind 1118 n111iot b)oon 1in Spar taniburg but ai fewv mioths-. IHo laves a1 wVi fe. T1he electric light peopl)o sum11 monod0( physicians aid tld e verything possible for the wounided muon, buit they woero beyond hope of aid or re lief. TPhe accidlent in greaItly regret ted b)y themi and( is dlistreHsinIg to the pubihlic generally asn well as8 tihe frienids of the (101ad men0. Th'le rai!lway coml pany has alIways taken every pos5si ble precaution to guard the liven anid safety of its empllloyeeos and the pub lie, but this was n alccidlent, which, it 80eems, could niot have boon pre FUNERAL~ OAF & uli( MIAN. Burled In thei n.argent. 001an Tnast Was ECver New York, 14eb. 20.-Dennis La.. hey, a Laurel Hill florist, who was buried in Calvary cemetery, weighed 089 p)ound(s, arnd was regarded as the heaviest man in the State. lie was 30 yearn old and was the son of Dr. Salvator P. Lahey, a Manhattan physician. From his imfancy he was corpulent, andl he tried various meth ods withouit succoss to reduce his weight. lHe contracted pneumonia on Tuesday of last week and wvent to bed in hin room in McG-arry's hotel. Two doctors were summoned. but he died. The coffin was the largest ever made by a coffin company in Wil limsb)urg. Its length was seven feet, width thirty-two inches and depth thirty aud one halt inches. Three- inch screws kept it braced to gethber on the inside to prevent the bottom from falling out. The com.. bined weight of the coffin and body was almost 1L000 ponds.