Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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MYM F IV a I i\ ilL/ ? vv'vvvvvi BY ST. QEORC CoPTKiGjjrlSJC; Ec fc CHAPTER ill. [Continued.] "Then I heard n shot just beside me. With a horror I can't explain, I whirled around, to see the black devil of a traitor aiming a revolver, from the muzzle of which smoke still curled. General Gordon had his hand pressed to his heart, and I could see the blood trickling over his lingers. That sight will haunt me all my life! I who have seen many strange and terrible filing iu niv time can never forget what happened on that awi'ul liUib day of January. "I knew the bravo Gordon had received his death-wound at the hands of one wao had even fought at his lide. and the consciousness that the evil hour had come seemed to turn my very blood into molten lava. "Fearful sounds ai'ose all over Khartoom, for the signal had been given that was to indicate Gordon's downfall. The enemy assaulted the walls, a portion of the late defenders Joined them, and Khartoom became the scone of a massacre too terrible for words. "I assure you. my iriends. I did not Jtand idle while all this was going on. No sooner did I see the falling hero at my side. when, quick as the lightning cleaves .the clouds, my sword leaped from its scabbard. Giving a true Yankee yell I sprang at the assassin. ( a The descending blade cleft his miseraWe skull to the ehin. and through all filUO i SJiail lit'Vt'i ll'ilSf iu iviuiu; iii.u It was the arm of an American that a reused Gordon's death. "What happened after that is more like a dream than a reality to me. but I shall give it for what it is worth. I | remember plunging into the thick of the tight. All around me arose the j most fearful sounds of a desperate battle, while through Khartoom rang the shrieks of poor women and the j shouts of exulting demons; for the 1 black horde had swarmed over the walls, and. in their great fury, seemed to spare none. . "More than one wont down before my sword and revolvers, for, expect- ! tng only death. I fought as a madman might. "Iu the midst of the melee, covered with grime and blood, 1 could hardly ^ be distinguished from or. of the trait* ~ or-soldiers who had at last turned j j upon their general. Suddenly my ( body was clasped by a pair of j hands from behind, and I found my-! self hurled to the ground. "Naturally I expected nstant death, when, to .ry surprise, a voice called i . In my ear: " 'KV'ifii rtenrh! I would save the * ' sahib!* "It was my faithful so want Kassec. whom I had brougnt from Bombay. I hardly know why I obeyed him: it must have been because I had so little power to resist for life did ' not seem worth any trouble just then. "He dragged me into '.ne house that overlooked the river and there secreted inc. All through the day I r"heard the shouts of the victorious hordes as they thronged through Khartoom. Something had come into ! my mind, and I found that I had -n ; object to live for, a mission to per- j form. The news o' Gordon's death must be carried to his people, and I had come to . the conclusion that of all jthe faithful within the walls of Khartoom. Joe Miner was the only living soul that remained. "Night came,, and faithful Kassee , made his appearance. He had di>> . guised himself as one of the enemy, and tjius escaped the common fate that ocfell the defenders or tne city. "From him I learned that a clever scheme Lrd Ik*ou arranged whereby ' we could make our eseui>e down the . river. The water was very low. but Gordon had several small, lightdraught steamers l'or use upon the upper waters of the Nile. One of these lay noi more than a stone's throw dowu the river, tied to the bank. "Kassee's bright plan was for us to drop into the river from the hack of , the house, wade down to the boat, climb aboard and. aided by the dark- ; ness, cast her adrift. When some dis- ! tance down the river, we could light a ; fire, start up steam and, as soon as daylight came, make good progress ' north. ' Thiiro wvts liirif f.nsfinnf ine 1 about the adventure. particularly as j It promised To be our only chance. "Acting under the instructions of ! . ytby "faithful Eassee I clambered j f through the slit of a window in the mud wall of the house, lowered myself by means of the convenient rope, and Anally stood kuee-decp in the waters of the Nile below, waiting. "When the ex-sepoy joined mo," continued Mynheer Joe. "we began to creep along down in the direction of the little steamer. It was guarded, but Kassee kuew where the sentry was posted, and he attended to his N case while I got ready to unfasten the ropes. "I heard a single splash., but not a ;ry. 'Then Kassee came to me and dejlared everything was working all right We pushed out into the stream ( and began to leave tbe doomed city behind. As yet discovery had not .come. . j'l will not dwell on this part of my IPT> I AT H M I I ) H JL/ IV " Jj W jLo'O jj ?>v'yv?Vv'? ;i pATHBORNE. | SE2T BOSXM'S SOX?. ^ I - , ... . ..... crip, in mi' iiiuriiiii^ v.f i,'oi up mcucj. u:nl began to make good headway. "Until half way to the Second Cnta ract we were not molested. Then a troop of scouting followers of tlu Maluli sighted as. and inline into tin river attempted to take the steamer. "We had prepared for this. There was a small cannon on board, which we kept in readiness for just such ar emergency as this, and when we senl its contents into the midst of the black rascals they scattered to the winds. "Below, we had another flglit, and this time they very nearly took the vessel, but vur fire was a trifle toe warm, and they finally allowed us to go on. "As we drew near the cataract we knew we would have to abandon the little steamer, but we had determined to continue the voyage in her light yawl, which could be carried around the cataract by two stout men. ."Tills was nnany none, iiau wc kt-pi on down the river. Fortune had been kind until now. Wc ran upon some hippopotami, and in a rage one of the monsters crushed our boat. It was in the night. I believe iny poor Kassec j must have fallen a victim to the savi age lieasts, for I saw him no more. ".My own escape was very miracu! Ions. I landed a mile down the stream. At break of day I pushed on. Fate i threw me in with a native, who car: ried me as l'ar as the First Cataract ' in his boat. Here 1 mot au English hunter, a bold fellow who, with r-r::u ; guides, had been up the river shooting | river horses. as he called the hippopotami. 1 "He was horrified at my news, and , gladly gave iuo a place in his comfortable boat, after which we set out lor Cairo, hundreds of miles away. "All went well until we were about two days' run above the city, when a sudden suuall took us unawares: the boat capsized, and I found myself wrecked again in the darkness. "i spent weary hours clinging to the hatch which had somehow come under my hands. Several times boats came near me in the morning, but no one would take me off. They pre 1?1 ?tn/i- Ill f<ir?t I il'UUl'U 11VI IV iltai 1U\ y ?U might as well have been a thousand miles away for all they noticed me. You see, they have a dread of being held as witnesses, nud if part of a boat's crew is lost there must be a legal inquiry, which will compel them to be in town and lose time from their work. "As the day was passing I felt that I must leave tny raft and try to gain the distant shore, where the railroad runs unless soon rescued. Just then this boat came down the river, running close by. l> called to the captain, telling him I was from Khartcom, with news of Gordon; he at once put about and came to my rescue. The rest you already know, my friends." Thus Mynheer Joe finishes his story. It has not taken a great while to tell the facts, but volumes could be filled with the details. He endeavors to control himself when speaking of Gordon's death, but it is evident that event has made a powerful impression on the sturdy explorer, who so often has fought side by side with the Christian hero. Sandy has ceased making his hieroglyphics upon the jiages of his notebook. His face beams with enthusiasm at the thought of being fi'-st with this authentic account of Cordon's death. At the same time, out of respect for the feelings of Mynheer Joe, he endeavors to subdue this mark of journalistic pride and appear sober, but it is really beyond him. As for Mr. Criides, he has observed the narrator with deep interest all the vvliile he Mis of the strange things which happened to him. Whatever is passing in the mind of the silver king i.<> <)../>! ol'nu- it in tu? slinwn i;n. n his face, which is as expressionless as lli.'-t of the Sphinx. The .messenger from Khartoom sit? there lor a brief interval, with that look of sadness on his face, as though the thoughts surging through his uihnl have been too much for him. "Come, rouse yourself, my boy! You are among friends at last, thank heaven, and will be the lion of Cairo when it is publicly known that you were with gallant Gordon when he fell," says Sandy, but the other holds un his hand, and says quietly: "That is a distinction I do not crave. Somehow I feel guilty in not leaving my nody beside Gordon. At best, I see nothing to boast of in having escaped his fate." "The brave are over modest," says Sandy. "At least, you will make a report to the proper officials to-morrow and verify my dispatches':" "Yes, a very brief one. That is only just. I would, for certain reasons of my own which j-ou cannot understand, keep it as quiet as possible." "Just so!" remarks the rllver king, in such a peculiar way that Mynheer Joe glances at him, and then finds his attention caught by a photograph on the wall, which he sce6 for the first time. "That face again! Whose picture havte we here':" he demands, with an alarming interest. CH A PTE It IV. KNOW HIM AS MYNHEER JOE." Saudv turns his head and sees what V lms attracted the explorer's attention. I lie smiles, too. for the words of Myn- | I lieer Joo would Indicate that this is ; not the first time his eyes have rested on the picture or its original. I ; "That is the daughter ot the gentleman who hires the dahabcah upon which we are just now," returns the war correspondent. oc-lrc Tnf. (IU1C . WW. "Demosthenes Tanner." "Can it be possible"' "That is her father, of course. The I Sirl " "Stupid! It was her name I asked ! for." "Ah. I see. She is called Molly." re. lilies Sandy, with a wink in the illi rection of Mr. Grimes, who is, how, ever, too deeply icterested in watching | Mynheer Joe's face to notice aught I else. lie seems to be not a little fasci( nated by something in connection with ' tlie other. { "Molly? A pretty name. Somehow . it just seems to lit those features. Molly Tanuer is it? Good! I will remember. What a strange freak j of fate that I should be pielted up by her father's lrat of all on ihe river! Mvnhcer Joe is muttering to h:m?clt, I thoiisli iiululcina in some rem I 1 nlsceace of the prist: a slight smile has appeared upon his rather worn and haggard tliouph always striking face. Evidently the thoughts that slip into his mind are pleasant ones. It is not in the nature of Sandy Ear' low to let a comrade enjoy a secret alone. Not that he has any desire to be meddlesome, but lie wishes to share the joy as well as the sorrows of those in whose company he travels life's highway. Hence he nods Ills wise little head sagely, and, cooking it on one side in a manner peculiar to himself. he remarks: "I say, Joe, this isn't the first time ! that face lias flashed before your enI chanted vision? Own up, now. like i a man. We're all in love with the j divine Molly; every single man in I Cairo at this hour yearns for her smiles, and you will he only one of ; scores. Speak up. man: Where did | you ever meet her? I've never heard 1 her mention your name, to my knowl- < j edge, and, by Jove, she thought yon were a Dutchman, when she sent me down here! Leave it to Grimes' if it I ain't so." Mynheer Joe smile?. "For once, friend Sandy, yon have j hit the bull's eye. 1 have met una ! !rdv before." "And still f.he doer- not reeognirre yen:* name?that ly which the v.kdo vtor'-l of scicntitic geographers I.e.:; learned to call yon? Vt'hrii she spoke of Mynheer Joe she showed no emotion. and. as 1 said before, to'.d u& to do all for the poor unfortunate (icrman we could. She even wanted to come herself to hear of (?ordon. lie's her liero. you know, as he is of many thousands. Yes, and we had 1 even to promise to bring you back with uS. So, what do you 'say to j : that?" "I suppose I shall ?have to go. A j woman's will is law. generally, cspe; , cially one whose face Is as charming i as that photo betrays." 1 "But, your former meeting?" ham- < mors the man of pencil and note-book. 1 who does not deviate from a course he may have marked out, and, as a consequence, generally gets there with both feet. , 1 "Ah, you will have it, Sandy," j laughs the other. < "Why not? There is something cc- ' centric about it. I'll be bound. You 1 didn't meet Molly in the ordinary cr- 1 thodox way. or you'd know her nam?, j while she could never forget yours." ( "Well, you see it's o poor place to j ask for a name when salt water, is | j running into mouth and eyes," returns Mynheer Joe. The correspondent appears to have received a tremendous shock, for, suddenly springing to Ills feet, he clutches the explorer by the arm to whirl him around so that he may look in his face. "Confusion! Were you the hero of that little episode at Malta a year ago?" ho demands. "I don't know about being a hero, but 1 did have the extreme pleasure of jumping from my sailboat and saving. from a watery grave, a young girl who had fallen overboard from a boat that nearly upset in a squall." returns the man from Khartooiu. modestly. Mr. Crimes puckers up hi? lips as j if m whistle, and his whole manner says: "So, that's the way the wind blows, is it, coming events cast a shadow before." As for Sandy, he shrugs his shoulders and pretends to lcok dreadfully disappointed, though there is a twinkle 111 his eye that tells of a sly humor, | You canuot always take Sandy as he . AnnAAt.n TTn lmo a f fon Inmnrl nnf Ia !it I'JIL'iU "*# HC lliio VllVU IU1UVU VUb W be a sly rogue. , ... "And then you soiled away, without even leaving your name, nor lias the young lady ever been able to learn who it was so gallantly jumped overboard after her. One iliing is settled ?you've got a clear road there. Joe. Xot another man will have a chance when once Molly recognizes you as her preserver." Instead of looking flattered the party addressed has something of a bored appearance. A man who has devoted his life to science and exploration has no business to fall in love. H.ls heart is supposed to be wrapped up in bis work. "Don't mention It, Sandy, I beg. I tvas bound upon a very curious errand at the time and didn't mean to be rude, but time was money. I could spend five minutes raving a girl's life but deliver me fiom an hour of thanks from her relatives. When I got hack to Malta they had gone." [To be Continued.] The number of consumpflves In German^ Is estimated at over 225,000. < LEE COUNTY GOES ON THE MAP Supreme Court Dismisses the Restraining Order. Columbia State, ICtb. A week ago the State Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on the petition for injunction in the matter of the formation of the new county of Lee. the return to the petition having been filed and the return having been read and the case argued somewhat at length by the council on both sides. It was gratifying to the counsel who had upheld the constitutionality of the act creating the new county and the regularity of all the proceedings incident thereto, when upon the opening of the court yesterday morning the acting chief justice announced a decision in favor of the new county and the following opinion was read from the bench by Associate Justice Jones: The State of South Carolina in the Supreme Court. November term. 1?02: William W. Fraser and others, petitioners, vs. W. A. James and others as commissioners of Lee county, respondents. Opinion by Jones, A. J. By this proceeding in the original jurisdiction of this court petitioners seek to enjoin the respondents as commissioners of Lee county, from performing any duty imposed upon them by the act of the general asfn r>et<ihl?eh I.pa rnnntv an proved 25th February, 1902. Stat. 1194, upon the grounds, set forth in the petition herewith reported, which assails the constitutionality of said act "for the reasons that the said Les county did not certainly receive the favorable vote of two-thirds of the qualided cljctors in each section of said proposed new county, did not certainly have the necessary population and assessed value of property, nor leave the necessary population and assessed value of property in the three oid counties from which It was carved; has not the boundaries in the act that were designated in the petition and should have been controlled by the election; and has cut the county of Sumter within eight miles of its court house building." Respondents make return denying the material allegations of the petition. and petitioners gave notice of ! a motion for a reference to take tes- : timony upon the issues of fact raised, j Upon the call of the case, howver, respondents made a motion to dismiss thq petition, being in effect a dc-murrer thereto, upon the several grounds set forth in their demurrer or motion. After carefully considering the matter the court is of opinion that the petition should be dismissed upon the ground tnat it ia:is 10 siaie a iuuibc of action or facts warranting the injunction praypil. The case now presented in Segars vs. Parrott, 54 S. C. I., wherein the former act creating i/ee county 2S Stat. 90S, was declared unconstitutional and the commissioners thereunder * were enjoined from performing any duties imposed upon them by raid former act. In that case the petition alleged, among other things that the result of election for the proposed county of Lee in that 1 portion of Darlington county sought 1 to be embra-ced within the area of 1 said new county of Lee v/as as re- 1 turned by the managers of election 1 and as declared by tue commissioners ; of election unfavorable tc the crea- * tion of said new county, in that, as so ! reported and declared it railed to odtain two-thirds of the qualified elec- 1 :ors in the Darlington section iu 1 favor of the new county. In this * case it is alleged "that the man- 1 agers and county election commissioners declared as a result of said "lection that two-thirds of the ballot 'ast separately in each of the coun;ies of Kershaw. Darlington and Sum- | :er had voted 'Yes* on the creation of he county and in favor of 'Lee* as its ( lame and 'Bishopville' as its county seat." "That the result of said last nentioned election was certified in le- ( ;al form by the commissioners of elec- 1 ion for said three old counties to the ;ecretary of state and by him was sub- ^ ni:ted to the general assembly at its 1 ;ext session. All which proceedings vere conformable to law." In the case \ >f Scgars vs. Parrott the former act | creating Lee county was declared unconstitutional b<cause it appeared by . he result of the election as certified by , he commissioners of election to the ;eneral assembly that two-thirds of hose voting in the Darlington section ' vere net in favor of the proposed new 1 :ounty the majority of the court hold- 1 ng the view that the result of the 'lection & declared and certified by ] he commissioners of election to the j j reneral assembly, in the absence of \ i iny judicial action setting it aside, vas final and conclusive as to such remit and could not be disregarded Dy he legislature. The constitution reluirod an election of the proposed new rounty leaving it to the legislature o provide the mode of aseertainng and declaring the result, which vas done by the act of March 9, 1896, !2 Suit. 64. making it the duty of :he commissioners of election to canvass the returns of the managers of election and certify the result to the secretary Df state, to be by him transmitted in tabulated statement to the general assembly. The result of the election havng been determined pursuant to the institution and act of the general assembly by the designated tribunal having power so to do, was conclusive of the fact and binding upon the legislature as well as all others. It follows in this case, in so far as the allegations relate to election for the proposed ] new county of Lee, that Segars vs. Parrott, is authority for dismissal cf the petition. In reference to the allegation in the second paragraph of the petition that the petition to the governor for the creation of the new county was net signed by one-third of the qualified electors of each township, school dis- 1 trict or other territorial division then existing within the limits of said proposed new county, we may say that , such allegation states no grcund for injunction for the reason among others that th.e words "each section" in Art. \ * 7. Sec. 1 of the constitution providing that the "general assembly may establish new counties in the following manner: Whenever one-third of the qualified electors within the area of each section of an old county proposed to be cut off to form a new county chall petition the governor, etc." does not rpfei* to such division of a countv as township, school district and the.like, but means that portion of the territory of an old county which it is proposed to embrace within the new county without regard to townships or school district lines. * It is ordered that the new county be organized and the restraining order be dismissed. Found Oil Well. Monterey. Special.?Mr. Levi Jark, a reliable citizen of Shaw's Fork, found a few days ago on the property of Mr. J. R. Crummett, what he claims to be an oil well. The place of discovery is right at the base of Shaws ridge and a few miles west of the Shennadoah mountain. Its surroundings have many indications that would lead one to believe it may be a large stream of petroleum. Of course. It will not be fully known until further investigation is made. If it should turn out to be a paying stream it will be in easy reach of the C. W. railroad. American Ships Exempted. Berlin, By Ct.ble? Secretary Hay'i note excepting American ships from certain restrictions o? the Venexaefcui blockade is favorably received bj tht German government The Foreign Office treats the matter as ntft raising any essential difficulty and as being within precedent, since Germany mad? a nlmHftr PMPrvatlnn In blockade. The precise statue of American vessels under the blockade will b? defined in an official notification. Salaries For Canal Officers. Washington, Special.?Senator Morgan introduced a bill fixing the compensation of members of the isthmian canal commission at $5,000 per annum each. The salary of the chief engineer is placed at $10,000; that of the paymaster in chief $5,000, and that of the chief surgeon at $6,000. Fire Sunday night in the Hathaway building, Boston, at Noa. 208-218 Summer street, did damage to the extent of $150,000. Appointed Railroad Manager. Philadelphia, Special.?Charles Otcy Gwatkin. formerly general Eastern agent of the Wisconsin Railroad, has been apointed general manager of the Guatemalan Northern Railroad, with headquarters at Guatemala City. Mr. Gwatkin will leave New York for his new post on next Sunday. Mr. Gwatkin is a native of Lynchburg. Va. He entered the railway service in 1880 as agent of the Great Western Dispatch Fart Freight Line, at Binghampton, N. Y. Since that time he has held positions of ^responsibility with various i all roads. Mrs. Grant Laid to Rest. New York, Special.?In the mausoleum on Riverside Drive, brief and simple services were conducted Sunday over the remains of Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant. In addition to the members of the Grant family there were present among the 500 persons to whom invitations had been sent, Governor Odell. Secretary Root, Admiral Barker and staff. General Dodge, General Horatio King, General Chas. F. Roe, N. Y. S. G., and staff; Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Carnegie, and many Federal and municipal officials and officers of the army ind navy stationed in the city. NEWSY GLEANINGS. Cholera has practically disappeared toui Egypt. Glasgow is borrowing $."000,000 to 'omplete the city sewerage system. The Prince of Monaco has decided to tbolish the small army of the principal \y The present Indications are that Italy cvill not officially participate iu the St. Louis Exposition. Japan has ordered X-ray machines 'or use in detecting thefts of gold coins jy mint employes. Insurance rates 0:1 property In Brooklyn. N. Y., have been increased from wenty to thirty per cent. Efforts are being made in Paris to "orni a society for securing promptness ind politeness from telephone attendmts. A French school will be opened next March at Nantehang. China, under the luspices of the French Consul at Shanghai. Carpenters in Atlanta. On., are discussing the eight-hour day proposition ind devising plans for its introduction In that city. The Danish Folkething has passed i bill abolishing oaths in legal procedure and substituting declarations "on faith and honor.*' The turn over of 2000 co-operative societies in Europe during 1001 was ? 100,000,000. In lSDo it amounted to >nly $250,000,000. The -General Federation of Trade Unions of Great Britain has seventy?ight affiliated unions with a total payins membership of 421,772. A special course of instruction in the ?cienee of deep-sen exploration is to be affered by live experts at Bergen. Norway, in the first three months of the aew year. For two years the slaughter of cows, heifers and calves fcr sale as meat is prohibited in the Transvaal, under penalty of a ?50 fine or six months' imprisonment. Proof of Filial Affection. When a Carthage father became so badly jagged a few nights ago that he could not walk, his muscular son threw him over his shoulder and "toted" him home much as he would have carried a sack of flour?an exhibition which tends to disprove the theory that filial affection is decreasing.?Kansas City Journal. i. . SOUTHERN INDUSTRIAL Large Mills for Texas. For several years past there has been considerable activity in cotton mill building in Texas. A number of plants have been completed in th? State, and are now operating successfully. According to interviews appearing in the Houston press, three moro large cotton factories have been contracted for. It is stated that Judge A. i Unnotnn TVras haa ill. ITiaLLUCl Ui iiuu^vww, - , arranged with "Eastern capitalists for financing these enterprises and for the sale of the product after the mills are in operation. Referring to one of the mills, Judge Hatcher is quoted as saying it will have 15,000 spindles and 244 looms, manufacturing print cloths, and represent the investment of $225,000. In this plant electrical power will will he used exclusively. Details as to the other mills are not annoui ced. A $200 000 Addition. Announcement is made that the Union Cotton Mills of Lafayette, Ga., will enlarge its plant. The stockholders in the company met recently and authorized this enlargement, but the decision did not become publicly known until during the past week. Mill architects are now preparing plans and specifications for the improvements. The erection of seventy five operatives' cottages will be a part of the betterments. The company now has 7680 ring spindles and 212 looms, manufacturing sheeting, toweling and drills. This equipment will in- . creased by 10,000 spindles and 288 looms. About $200,000 will be expended on the new building and ma*v chinery. \ Hope Mills Improvements. Work is Droeresslne on the im provements of the Hope 31111s Manufacturing Co. at Hope Mills, N. C., > and will soon be completed. These Improvements have been made according to the plans announced last June. The additional structure is 150x300 feet in size, and will be equipped with 200 looms and a finishing-plant. Messrs. Lockwood, Greene &, Co., the well known mill architects Df Boston, Mass., have been in charge of the betterments. The company's present plant has 12,582 spindles and 751 looms, manufacturing madras, cheviots and dress goods. It is stated that about $100,000 is the expenditure nvolved in the extensions. A $250 000 Addition. Lockhart Mills of Lockhart, S. C., will build an additional mill to cost $250,000. A decision to this effect was made by the stockholders at their annual meeting held during the past week. An increase of capital stock from $650,000 to $1,000,000 has been authorized to supply the funds, and action will be taken at once. Further details regarding this addition win oe announced soon. The company also declared its usual semi annual dividend of 3 per cent, and John & Cary was re-elected president-treasurer. There are 25,000 spindles and 800 looms in the present plant. Piece Goods for India. Valabhdas Runchordas & Co., No. 19 Humum street, Fort Bombay, India, write to the Manufacturers' Record that they are particularly interested in hardware, building material, bicycles, rubber goods, flies. wire nails, screws and piece gooas, and add: "There is a good opening for piece goods in our market The large part of this trade is confined to our cast-brethren, and hence we are In the best position to push this trade. Textile Notes. J. F. Williams' knitting mill at "Shelby, N. C., was destroyed by fire during the week. The loss was about $12,000. New Jersey silk manufacturers contemplate building a mill in the South, and have been investigating the advantages of High Point, N. C., as a location. They have optioned a site in that town from J. Elwood Cox. The stockholders of Pacolet (S. C.) Manufacturing Co. held their annual meeting last week and declared their usual semi-annual dividend of 5 per cent. V. M. Montgomery of Spartanburg was elected president-treasurer, succeeding his father, Capt. John H. Montgomery, recently deceased. Cumberland (N. C.) Cotton Mills Co. contemplates enlarging its plant; now operating 3000 spindles. With tho election of J. Frederick Houston of Philadelphia as president of the company has removed its main, office to 704 Provident Building in that city. Lynchburg (Va.) Cotton Mill Co. has declared a semi-annual dividend of 4 per cent, on its common and preferred stock. It is capitalized at $600,000. The Capital City Mills of Columbia, ! S. C., is changing its equipment of machinery so as to produce a finer {J grade of goods. The company has j heretofore used 400 bales of cotton I each month, and with the changes 1 will reduce this consumption to 100 ' bales. It has 6200 ring spindles and 200 looms. Goldville Manufacturing Co., Goldville, S. C.. and plant of 5000 ring spindles will be offered at public outer} on January 8, in pursuance of an order of court. II Canada were ever troubled with a coal famine djie to a strike, she would haye an easier way out than we have Jk found. Fifty square miles of the coal ^^k lands of the Northwest have been set ' ^^^k aside as Government property. It be-^HH longs to the State, and some day the^^^H State may use it Meanwhile, there must be some reassurance to the Can- ^^^k adian3 to know that in a pinch they could get ccal through Government^^^H agency.