The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, June 16, 1898, Image 7
null ill
Chairman Haselden's Report to the
State Board.
THE DISPENSARY A SUCCESS.
liiiportau! ( ban^i's Art- Recommended Breakage
roo Large Among the
County !>ispensers.
Chairman Haselden submitted the
following report to the State Hoard of
Coutrol:
I will first give 3-011 a statement of
our financial standing:
Cash on hand ?44,119.01
Totul indebtedness 1&,017.03
Cash balance on hand $10,501.90
We can safely rely upon the cash
receipts amounting to Siid.uOU.uo per
week.
B3* referring to the report of the commissioner
you will see that we have a
large stock of liquor on hand.
With this statemeut of our finances I
would recommend that the commissioner
be instructed to pa>* ?10,000.00
to the school fund.
I would suggest thattnere be buiit at
some convenient point near Commissioner
Vance's office a tire proof vault
to hold the present steel safe, books
and papers. The vault can be about
10x10 and about three feet high inside,
with hollow space for air between a
steel lire-proof door. The cost of such
vault, properly built, would not exceed
S7U0.00.
I would suggest that you employ au
expert to examine carefully the whiskey
tanks now in use. 1 am of the
opinion that it will be shown that it
will be better to purchase new tanks;
if so, then I would recommend that you
buy three tanks of oU barrels capacity
each and one tank of 25 barrels capacity.
Two of the iarge tanks to be used
exclusively for corn whiskey and the
other for rye whiskey. The barrel
tank being used only for dumping the
higher grades of rve whiskey.
i r u u T
jl/id^cusci *J. m . xxcu: v, uuuicud,
who was summoned here at the last
meeting of the board, was checked up
soon after our adjournment and 'was
found in arrears &>' &. &>. I suspended
him at once, and visited Laurens the
following week aud collected from hiui
the above amount, and turned the same
over to the clerk of the State board of
control.
I have just received information from
Inspector Edwards as to a shortage of
$30f.yi against Dispenser J. K. McMillan
at Totldsville, S. C.
Mr. Edwards writes me that this dispenser
acknowledges that he ha9 been
short for three years, yet his reports at
this office have been made to conform
wiiu aiwuuto uvic a^uiuob uiui, auu
the same being approved by the county
board of control.
Since the last meeting of our board I
have made inquiry into the looting of
the dispensaries at Timmonsville and
Florence during the Darlington not,
and tind that two cases was placed in
' the hands of the circuit solicitor for
suit covering the amounts of $2*5.75
and 3913.51, respectively.
These cases were removed from Florence
county to Georgetown county aud
suit brought and successfully maintained
in one case to the amount of
75.
The other case, amounting to 3915.51,
has never been tried.
The judgment obtained in Georgetown,
a transcript of which should have
been tiled with the clerk .of court of
Florflnp.fl conntv. has nev(>r hppn ?n
V *
tered up. I call this matter to your attention
so you can take such action as
may be deemed best.
I desire to call your attention to
breakage sustained in the shipments of
whiskey to the sub-dispensaries. I
submit a report on eight dispensares,
which is a fair index to the others, as I
have taken four of those who report the
largest amount of breakage and the
four who report the lowest.
Mr. W.J. Motte,of Charleston, heads
the list with the highest amount. He
started in business in September, 1897,
and purchased 3302.28, and reports
breakage 30.05, 2 per cent. In April
his purchases were $197.70 and breakage
$12.97, 0 per cent., which is 3 per
cent, srreater in April. 1898. than in
September, 1897, when he assumed
charge of the sub-dispensary.
I next call your attention to the Mt.
Pleasant dispensary, which is near
Charleston, and to which the goods are
snipped oy way 01 ^narieston ana over
the same railroad, and in addition to
this, these goods have to be unloaded
upon the steamship wharfs and reloaded
upon steamboats and unloaded upon
the wharfs in Mt. Pleasant again,
which requires one more handling than
Mr. Motte's goods does in the city.
With this additional handling the Mt
Pleasant dispensary breakage is not as
great as Mr. Motte's. The ligures are:
May purchases, 1897, $933.40; breakage
S3.44;^per cent, April purchases,
1898, S414.00; breakage, S-'j. 2(i; 1^ per
cent., which is ? per cent, greater in
April, 1898, than in May, 1897, when
present dispenser assumed charge. But
his breakage is increasing instead of
decreasing as it should with experience
ana proper management.
InJvly, 1896, the Chester dispenser
purchased 162.20; breakage, $16.15,
if per cent. His April, 1898, purchases
were $829.18; breakage, $30.09; 3A per
cent., which is 2J per cent, greater in
April, 1898, than in July 1896, when he
assumed cnarge. xsreaKages growing
and he|has bad nearly two years experience,
and his breakage should, under
ordinary circumstances, have been kept
down to J per cant., if not reduced.
The next and last one of the high oneB
is Kingstree. In September 1897, purchases,
$1,291.77; breakage, $7.93; f
percent. April, 1898; purchases,$933,07;
breakage, $13,30; H per cent., which is
? per cent, greater in April, 1898, than
in September, 1897, when he assumed
- charge.
Now for the foui lowest ones in their
' breakage accounts. There are three of
them which ruu about even in the
breakage. Marion in April, 199G, purchased
$729; breakuge, $0.58; very near
one per ccut. Tu April, 1898, the purchases
were $1,072.90; breakage, $9.38,
which is tho same?very near one per
cent. This amount of nearly one per
cent of breakage is true of Lancaster
dispensary, also of J. S. Hill, of
Jireenvil'e. Aihcn is the model in the
line of breakage of the entire Stave, i
April, 18%, bis breakage is one-ha
per cent., which is one-quarter p<
I cent, less in April 18%, than in Apri
18%.
Xow, I ask that you give this subje<
of breakage your attention and see
we cannot devise some plan to reduc
these amounts veiy material]}*.
A very serious matter requires or
I attention in the management of the vi
I rious dispensaries throughout the Stat
i as regards the duties of the count
I boards. 31any of them irive such iitt]
attention to tneir duties as to be at
solutely worthless, and in many it
stances are a hindrance instead of
lieli> in the dispensary inanagemenl
Mauy of them keep no account of tl
' stock of goods charged against the die
petisers at consumers' prices, and d
not know whether the county dispense
make9 a correct showing or not. I
nearly every instance u hero we ha\
found dispensers short to us at our 11
voice prices, tne county boards hat
been and are unable to find the atnoui
of the dispensers shortage to th
county. This shows that the}' keep u
account against the dispensers at coi
sumers' prices, as they should do in o
dcr to determine the dispensers' shorl
age to the county, and to proper)
know at auv time just how he stanc
in regard to the city and county
profits.
When the State finds them shoi
they can pay up shortage to the Stat
at our invoice prices, the county board
having nothing charged against the:
at consumers' prices; they profit at tb
expense of the county and city. Thi
gives the business entirely to the dii
penser, and not the county; we mm
try to find a rouiody to check this der<
liction of duty, und get the count
boards to keep their dispenser
straight, and thus save the county an
cities their profits.
1 suggest that we require our book
keeper to charge each dispenser, in ad
dition to our invoice price to dispensers
the dispensers' prices to consumers, s
when we send our inspectors to chec
up a dispenser we arm him with th
/lAnrumnru* O T\ 11 1 1 U nKanlfO Vl
I ^l^nu LiiLl |J I't UU\? UU VU VVUd kU
dispenser and holds him accountabl
for every cent received and disburse*
to county, city and State.
One of the great hindrances to th
|| successful management of the dispen
sary system is t lie incompetency of som
of the county dispensers who are elect
ed by the county boards of control
\Vbiie it is true lie cannot be confirme*
until this board approves the action o
the county board, yet we fail toinquir
into his qualitication or competency,
i uggest that before a dispenser is al
lowed to take charge of a dispensary h
be required to report at this office to b
examined as to his qualification am
competency.
In reporting these matters for cor
federation I do not mean to be undei
stood as having reference to all count
beards and county dispensers, br
there are too many to give them singlj
and while my iauguage may seei
harsh, mv interest in the welfare an
success of the dispensary demands the
I.speak plainly, and make an effort t
eradicate existing evils that lie in th
path of the successful management c
the dispensary.
In conclusion, permit me to say tha
under the splendid busiuess manage
meat of Commsssioner Vance, assiste
by efficient and willing clerks and sup
erintendents.each and every one know
ing his duty, and doing it, and workim
in perfect barmouy, the success of tn
dispensary is an assured fact.
Flour Mill F.rcctcrl.
Lewiedale, a prosperous small tow
about twelve miles south of LexingtoE
on the Southern Railway, will shortl
have in operation a complete roller flou
I mill. This mill is surrounded by
whsat producing community, audasth
I ~C iU 4.
crop ui iut) jieacut uuivcai i? uah
good, it is very likely to be profitable
Children Incinerated.
A negro family on the Nelson plants
tion in the eastern part of the county
left home on Sunday night to attem
night meeting, locked the door an
left two small children in bed. Who
' they returned at midnight the lions
was in tlames and children incinerated
Situation Improving.
I)r. A. C. Dick, the physician ii
rharge of smallpox hospital at Sumter
Mpects to discharge the four iast pa
uents shortly. As day after da,
rolls by and ho new casos develop, th
tiopes of the board of health gro^
itronger that smallpox will soon be i
.hing of the past in Sumter. Thi
lealth department and the official:
lave made a hard, determined am
lucceseful fight agaiust an apparen
spidemic and have won.
Illinois auuuuou oocieiy nas mam
ar on the trapping of song birds fo
i icago millinery bouses.
A Strangely Lost Race.
The great mystery about Indo-Chini
and one which must ever be insolubl
is the story of the lost rate and th
country. The mighty walls of Angkoi
Wat, rising in the midst of sparsel
vanished civilization of that Strang
populated jungles, remain as the m<
morial of a great empire which h?
utterly disappeared and is altogeth*
lost to history. No one will ever kno
who planned this gigantic temple, c
what tyrant liounde on his myriads (
people to build up these immens
blocks of stone and cover them wit
the most elaborate of sculptures. Ang
kor-Wat is one of the most astonisr
ing monuments in the world and thi
forgotten temple was built so as t
endure as long as the earth itself, wei
"it not for the irresistibly destructiv
effect of plant life on the stronger
walls that man can raise. Only
highly civilized and wealthy peopl
could have erected Angkor-Wat
very different race to the Annamite c
modern days. The whole nation ha
disappeared as utterly as tne ousy myi
iads who once populated the waste
and solitudes of Memphis.?Singapo:
Free Press.
"These shoes you sold me last wool
squeak so that they keep lue awak
nights," said the customer, enterin
(he shoe store. "My dear sir," replies
the shoe dealer, reassuringly, "yo
shouldn't sleep in them."?Yonker
Statesman.
.flfffi flllli M
:t To an Inspiring Strain From the
o Band the
ir ?
o STARS AND STRIPES PRESENTED
y|
e
)- A Gallant Band of Veterans--Pardon
j for a I)asertcr--3UgIit Ilave Been
t, j ^rio?t>.
0 j l'he parade camp ground on Sulli>r
| van's Island was the scene of a very
o prettj- ceremony the afternoon of
0 the 4th Charleston's Heavy Ilattcry
.0 was the recipient of a large and beauit
tiful flag, the '".Stars and Stripes."
ie The banner was a gift from patriotic
10 citizens of Charleston, and was prer.
sented with all due ceremony before a
t- great concourse of people.
V There was a notable majority of la's
dies, and these fair enthusiasts wore
8 national colors in various attractive
ways; belts, neckties, sashes and hat
rt bands were noted in the tricolor, and
;e some wore army belt buckles and army
Is buttons and studs. A few even woro
a miniature Has?. Tko afternoon was
e charming, and the sail across the bay
s was invigorating and delightful,
i- Arriving at the Island the people
t proceeded at once to the parade ground
) and amused themselves by inspecting
v the tents of the soldiers' village and
s listening to the music by the splendid
d First Artillery Band. Time passed
pleasantly enough, and when the hour
- arrived for the Hag presentation all
I- hands gathered on the west and south
i, sides of the open ground, just south of
o the tents.
k Anderson's heavy battery was called
e to order a few minutes before (i o'clock
e and marched to a position faciug south,
e the lino extending nearly across the pail
rade ground. The corps of cadets of the
3. C. M. A. was drawn up at "attene
lion" facing the west, the right resting
? * < * " ? -? t I -ii mi.J
Oil tne ieit 01 tne ueavy uauery. xui?
e formed two sides of a square.
At 0 o'clock precisely, to an inspiring
. strain from the baud, a small party adj
vanced to meet Capt. Edward Anderson,
il who stood in his position about ten
e yards in advauce of the batter)-. The
I party consisted ;>f Capt J. Elmore
Martin, chairman of the committee on
e presentation; the Rev. D. M. Ramsey,
e 1>. I)., Miss Taylor, sponsor, bearing
J the flag; Miss Rickens, maid of hontr;
Mr. Frank E. Taylor, Mr. W. Gibbes
l- Whaley and members of the general
r- committee. When a few paces from
y Capt Anderson the delegation paused
it and Dr. Ramsey said in part:
r, Capt. Anderson, Soldiers of the
n Heavy Battery, Ladies and Gentled
men: Wo cannot be oblivious of tne
it fact that today we are standing on sao
cred soil, in full view of the scenes of
e far-reaching and epoch-making events,
>f and by the shores of one of the knightliest
of the races of the earth. It is my
it privilege to present you this banner in
). behalf of our citizens of every name
d and grade.
I- Miss Taylor stepped forward and
presenting the flag said: Captain Ang
derson, Officers and Soldiers: This
a flag is the emblem of our country's
honor and our country 's glory, our own
America. Bee to it that, in your hands,
it euffers no dishonor, but rather adds
lustre to its world renowned fame.
*
y A Gallant Band of Veterans,
r An event in the history of Charleston
a that will be remembered was the visil
e of Camp 1,094, United Confederate Veta
erans,sfrom Augusta, with their parade
from the depot to the German Artillery
Hall in full war rig of gray confederate
jeans uniforn s, rifles, blankets and
canteens, in honor of the memory of
'< Jefferson Davis. In many respects it
^ was the most remarkable sight ever
d witnessed in the city. Not a man ol
u the fifty-two was under 55 years of
8 age, and the majority of them exceeded
three-score. All had seen hard service
in the cause of the dead Confederacy,
and ihe majority bore honorable
a wounds received in its defence.
Pardon for a Deserter.
0 Private Shehan, of the Union comf
pany, who deserted from his command
a a day or two after he was mustered intc
g the service; will very probably be par3
doned. Governor Ellerbe said that he
j would sign an application for the young
t man's pardon, and the regimental of
ticors will probably do the same. Shehan
did not appear to appreciate the
3 gravity of the offence he hail committed,
r and he has been sweltering in the jaii
for a month, land that is thought to be
sufficient punishment for the tirat offence
of the kind. Shehan was taken tc
the regimental camp under a military
i, escort, and he will be kept in the regie.
mental guard house for some time. It
L? is expected that the necessary papers
will be forwarded in a few days, and
that Shehan will be pardoned without
delay.
Might Have Been Serious.
'S A young lady from Augnsta had s
r narrow escape from what might haye
* been a serious street car accident in
>r Broad street at Charleston. She was
)< riding down toward the old pottoffice |
>e and had just reached the corner oi
k Church street, when an East Bay car
turned in for the Battery. The young
' lady evidently thought that the car
would run on out to Meeting street, for
IS as it made the tnrn she ran on the
0 fender with her wheel. The motorman
e put on brakes and the car came to a
e sudden stop. The wheel was pitched to
;t one side and the rider made a quick
crroh fi-ir iViA nlntfnrm railinr* It was fl
g close call. The car was Btopped and
^ the lady got her wheel and rode away.
lS An Incendiary Caught.
Gus Dawson, colored, was arrested
s at Charleston, charged with setting fire
e to the house occupied by his wife, Ella
Dawson.
?
Gen. Watts Complimented.
Ij Before the regiment left Columbia
for Chickamauga, resolutions were
passed endorsing his re-election.
"
"What do you call the cat?"
"Boomerang. We've fired her r. .
* dozen times, but she always couk.*
back." 1
/ ?
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
LUMBER PLANTS ENLARGED.
I'wo Big Firms In Georgetown Extend
Tlielr Business.
The planing mill recently erected by
the Gardner Lacy J.umber Company
ls now in operation, and is a big addi
oiiepueru. u. l/uvib, ui huwju
township, and George K. Reaves,
of Reaves township. The personnel of
the ticket is excellent.
The Convention was a harmonious one
upon practically all the questions wflioli
came before it, though upon one or two
questions of expediency there was considerable
difference of opinion expressed.
?
Recruiting Still Goes On.
Recruiting men for the volunteer
army in Charleston is now a task. The
eight or nine companies started are still
holding the men signed on their rolls,
and the men are still saying that they
will not go to war unless they can go
with their own officers and under the
company name, and so the matter
stands. Some of the commands have
gotten quite a number of names on their
rolls, but not one, so far, has signed
enough to warrant a try for the vacant
place in the ranks of Col. Thompson's
battalion a; uoiumoia.
An Attempted Assault.
Jacob Metzo, a Russian, was arrested
at Charleston, charged with an attempted
assault upon a white girl, ten
years of age, He was drunk, and when
a policeman was attracted by the
screams of the child was easily caught.
When taken to the station bonse Metzo
would say nothing, and was apparently
in a mauldling condition. He has not
been here long, and the police could
give no information as to his occupation.
Three Brutal Negro Boys.
Thioe negro boys assaulted a little
three-year-old girl, the daughter of
James Grandy, at Darlington. They
put the little girl in a baby carriage
and carried her ott to the woods. A
negro man heard the cries of the child
+ IA hor oaaiotonna onH coVAil
her. The boys are now in jail at this
I>lace. The oldest boy is 15 years, the
others 10 and 12.
Smallpox in Saluda County.
rIhe smallpox situation in Saluda
county seems to bo assuming an unsatisfactory
aspect. A mass meeting
was called to devise some plan by
which energetic measures could be used
to check, if possible, the spread of the
malady, and to furnish medical and
other needed assistance to the altiicted
ones. Sever, new cases are reported.
To Keorganize.
In accordance with the arrangements
made by the State executive committee,
fnd after a call for that purpose, the
county executive committee of Darlintgon
met in the court house and
made arrangements to have another
county convention on June 27th. The
election ior max couveuuuu wui uo
held by the different clubs on June
2oth.
The Lee County Kacket.
The fight over Lee county seems to
be getting in that condition which
means much litigation and a lengthy
bat :ie before the whole affair is settled,
It is not improbable, so it is thought,
that the case before it is finished may
be i-eferred to a special master to take
testimony. In that event the end is a
loiig way off.
Reward for Convicts.
Col. Neal, superintendent of the penitc
itiary, has issued the following notion:
We will pay a reward of $50 each
for the capture and delivery at this offieo
of Harvey Lackey and Bill Yearfuu,
who escaped from W. Holmes
lardin, Jr., camp in Chester county
June 4tb, 1898.
Murderer Caught.
West Jennings, the negro whjjCharles
Williams said was his acccmplrtw in the
murder of Mr. J. W. Leo, at Humter,
end who is now serving a life sentence
)u the penitentiary, has at last been
caught and committed to jail to await
trial,
A Fire at Mount Pleasant,
The Ferry house, at the wharf of the
Snllivan's Island and Mount Pleasant
Ferry Co., at Mount Pleasant, was
oonsumed by fire and considerable of
the wharf and the bridge which connects
the wharf proper with the shore
was damaged.
-? ?
New Factory at McColl.
The aew cotton factor\r at McColl is
ro^ressing rapidly. The business men
i McColl are enterprising and united,
uud their little town now numbers
something more than one thoUMnu inhabitants.
tion to their already largo plant. Their
logging plant, consisting of cue of the
latest improved "pull boats," with a
house boat for the accommodation of
the operators, left for the Pee Dee
River, where they will begin at once to
got logs from the swami s, not being
dependent any longer upon the freshets
totioattho logs out. This large mill
plant has been shut down for more
than two months, owing to lack of
logs.
.Messrs. Doyle, Theilier A' Doyle,
who Lave been operating a saw mill
plant ut Olivet, on the black Rivor,
have purchased the property known as
the Palmetto Cypress Company site,
and will at once begin to build a large,
first-class saw mill pianr, both circular
and baud, the machinery for which has
already been purchased and will be
here very soon. This site is one of the
finest in the South, being located on
the river front on this side and on the
Winyah Bay on the other. It is the
intention of this firm to saw cypress
and pine lumber of all grades and dimensions.
They will incorporate the
business under the name of the Win3'ah
Lumber Company.
Marlon Hot for Prohibition.
The Frohibitionists of Marion county
met in the Court House and selected
three candidates, whom they propose to
place before the Democratic voters at
the approaching primary, as suitable
persons to be voted for as members of
the House of Representatives. The
gentlemen selected are Messrs. R. P.
Hamer, Jr., of Carmichael township;
01 , j rt n..:.
S. C. CROP BULLETIN.
Rainfall Light. Crops Not Generally
Satisfactory.
Columbia, S. C., June 7, 1898.
The rainfall for the week was generally
iight and came in the form of
rcuttered showers; although not contined
to any section of the State, the
showers were most numerous aud
lion vioct im f 1> A o a c f /inn t ro 1 arvufli
eastern, and northeastern counties.
Six i laces reported measurements of
0. "; ) inch, or more, with a maximum
fall of 1.01 inches at Gillisonvillc; 28
places reported amounts less than
0.50 inch; the average of all reports
was 0.24 iucIi and tiio normal for the
same period is approximately 1.12
inches.
The contiuued absence of a troncral,
heavy rain will soon entail suffering.
Small streams are dried up in 1'arnwell,
and all streams are getting very
low; wells aro failing and in many
instances have been sunk from 10 to 15
feet deeper to get water. The drought
has in places existed for from 30 to 40
days with a high temperature prevailing,
and generally bright sunshine and
dessicating winds.
Since January 1st, 1893, only about
50 per cent of the normal amount of
rain has fallen in the State while in
places the percentage is much less.
'Iherewasan abundance of bright
sunshine estimated at 88 per cent, of
the possible.
Thero was a wind-storm in Greenville,
and one in Orangeburg during
the week, doing slight damage to fruit
trees in each instance.
Hail-storms occurred in Hampton on
May 31st and in Georgetown June 2d,
doing some damage over their respective
paths of progress.
The crop situation is but little
changed since last report, except that
the need of rain is greater. Farm work
made rapid advance except where the
ground is too hard and dry to plow.
Fields are easily kept from grass, and
are exceptionally well cultivated, with
the cropB and ground in the best condition
to be benefited by the rain when it
comes.
The condition of the corn crop is not
perfectly satisfactory; stands are not
perfect and on bottom lands still being
damaged by worms. Corn has a good
color but is small. The heat causes it
to wilt during the day. On many bottoms
the stand is poor as there is not
enough moisture to germinate all the
soeu. Laying by of corn has begun in
the eastern counties although corn has
made slow growth generally. It is
now in that stage, in the eastern countios.
where it must have rain to make
proper gfowth.
There was a slight improvement in
the condition of cotton over the entire
State, during the week. Where thestand
havo heretofore been defective,
no improvement in that respect is to be
noted, but cotton made some growth
and is in a healthy condition generally,
the exception being that lice are apparently
damaging the plant in Barnwell,
Aiken, Orangeburg, and to a less
extent in a few other counties. In
Greenwood it is deteriorating for want
of rain. It is below average growth.
Some patching being done to better
stands which averago considerably below
perfect.
uotton nas generally receiyea us
second plowing and is chopped to
stands, except in the extreme western
counties. In many localties cotton is
in tine condition. Fields are clean and
well cultivated. Cotton is putting on
squares in the southeastern counties.
On the same date in 1MU7, squares were
general over the eastern half^of the
State.
Sea Island cotton is not doing well
for lack of moisture.
i'he weather has been all that could
be desired for harvesting oats. Nearly
all early oats have been cut and housed
in excellent conditioq. Yields were
generally above an average, but in a
few places were poor on account of
drought. Spring sown oats are very
poor ij. most' places will be complete
failures.
The weather favored wheat harvesting,
which made rapid progress, and
will be generally complete during the
current week. In most places the
yield is above an average, in some the
best yield for years, while in portions
of Oconee and Spartanburg the yield
falls below last year's.
Melons are improving and are now
doing finely. In portions of Florence,
musk melons are a failure.
Tobacco is in good condition generally.
but needs rain badly except where
showers fell during the week. Worms
less numerous than last week.
Rice doinc fineiv and irrowincr well.
Planters on the Cooper river are annoyed
by salty water owing to low stage
of water in the river.
Too dry for setting out sweet potato
slips; few have as yet been transplanted.
Some being set and watered by
hand. Sets drying up in beds.
Irish potatoes are very poor, and in
most places a failure, the drought having
ruiued them.
Apples are dropping badly; there will
be none at all in portions of Florence.
Peaches late in ripening and are small
in Edgefield; they are ripening in the
southeastern counties. Grapes doing
well. Pear trees dying from blight in
Sumter.
Blackberries plentiful and promising
_? l:i! -1 i it., u :
iu places, wuue eit>evniere mo ucrneo
are drying on the vines. Plums plentiful.
Peas are being extensively planted on
stubble lands and in corn "fields. The
acreage of peas will apparently be
larger than usual. Too dry to plant
peas over large areas.
Sugar cane is generally doing well,
but, like all other minor crops, stands
in need of rain to enable it to make
proper growth. Gardens are parched
and in places entiroly dried up; failing
everywhere, except upper Darlington
where vegetables of best quality are
abundant.
Pastures ase fast failing or are entirely
parched, especially in the upper
counties, except on moist bottom lands.
The heat and scant pastures are hard on
farm animals.
Chinch-bugs are numerous in York.
A comprehensive summary of weather
and crop conditions, would indicate
tLat they were favorable over about
Oia Ktnto and unfavorable
dlsewhere.
' I understand you have Joined the
literary brotherhood." "Yes," replied
Lovelace, "I am now writing for a living."
And lie dashtd oft' another bogging
letter to his falier.?Strand Magazine.
THE SOLACE A SUCCESS.
Surgeon-General Van Keypen Please*
With the Xew Naval Hospital Ship.
Washington, D. C. (Special). Surgeon
General Van Keypen, of the Navy, Is bacl
from a trip to New York, where he in>
epected the naval ambulance ship, th?
Solace, and saw the sick and wounded
brought up from Admiral Sampson's fleet
fifty-four in all. The wounded includt
thoso who participated in the engage
ments at Cardenas, Cienfuegos and Matanzas.
The men are doing well, and then
HOSPITAL SHIP SOLACE. 4
will bo no fatalities resulting. One of the*
men will lose an arm, as that member was
so blown to pieces by a shell that amputation
above the elbow was necessary. All
the other patients will be more fortunate.
Surgical science has made great advances
since the Civil War, and there will
bo no such loss of limbs and other permanent
disfigurements as occurred thirty years
ago.
The sick men, about forty-four, in number,
have no signs of contagious diseases,
their ailments being chronic, such as consumption.
heart disease, etc. They were
taken from the fighting ships, as the
Northern latitude will aid in their recovery,
and also because sickness on board
snip uas a uepressing inuuence on me
lighting crews. The sufferers, both sick
and wounded, show tbelr delight when
taken aboard the Solace. It is appointed
like a modern hospital, with cheerful
wards and every facility toward -restoring
health. t
Some of the old tars speedily named the
Solace the "ice-cream ship," as the icemaking
machine aboard permitted the
nurses to give the sick and wounded icecream
as one of the delicacies. Whea
chicken was served to some of the patients
they declared that they were now Jiving;
in a hotel. The substantiate are furnished
by the Navy, but many delicacies, such as.
lemons, oranges, jellies, chickens, etc.,
have been furnished by private contribution,
and are looked upon in the care of the
sick as almost essential as solid foods.
As the Solace is a neutral ship, under
the Red Cross, all ports are open to her.
She has returned to the Key West squadron.
A BRAVE ENSICN.
Great Courage Displayed by Joseph W.
Powell While Aiding Hobson. '
Naval Cadet Joseph W. Towell, who ran
Iniin^h nf thrt flfifrahin Vaw Ynrt nn In
linger the guns of Morro Castle, Santiago
de Cuba, and there waited in hope of rescuing
the Merrimac's crew, is a native of
Oswego, N. Y. He is but twenty-one years
; /1
^ ' // A\ .
ENSIGN* JOSEPH W. POWELL.
old, having: boon appointed to the Naval
Academy at Annapolis in 1893 and having
been graduated in 1897. He stood third In
a class of sixty-two at graduation. At the
declaration of hostilities he was taking a
supplemental course in the naval construction
corps, from which he was assigned
to Admiral Sampson's flagship.
The Ensign aDd t%ose with him In the
launch were exposed to the Are of the
shore batteries and showed great courage
and coolness. Oswego is justly enthusiastic
over Its son's exploit.
Feud Brings Lawlessness.
Circuit Judge Brown, of Laurel County,
who has been holding court at Manchester,
Clay County, Kentucky, will call on Governor
Bradley for troops to suppress the
Howurd-Baker feud. The Howards are
now strongly intrenched in town, while
the Bakers are about twelve miles out In
the country. Bitter feeling has existed
since the kiliingofex-Sheriff White byTom
and Ans Baker.
Kentucky's Fine Wheat Crop.
The crop report Issued by Kentucky State
Agricultural Commissioner Moore shows
the State average for wheat to be the best
record In the history of the State. Other
crops are proportionately flourishing.
Suicide Because He Was Left Behind.
Private Rich,of the First Regiment, South
Dakota Volunteers, committed suicide at
Sioux Falls with morphine because lie had
been left behind by the regiment.
Spain's Shocking Misery.
CouDtess Cosa Valencia, wife of the former
Spanish Ambassador to Great Britain
who started a Spanish fund in London,
which realized only 45000, has received
from Madrid a despatch describing the
shocking misery of tte Spanish sick and
wounded.
Japanese Officers to Go to Cuba.
Secretary Alger granted special permission
to Commander Ketsnro Narila, of the
Imperial Japanese Navy, and Lieutenant
Saneyuki Akiyama, to go with the army oL
occupation of Cuba.