The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, October 15, 1903, Image 3
I lira nisi
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* Tlnor Events of the Week In s ?
i,- Brief Form. #
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fc K 5.5: JTSS* SHHft 53 ?355 3*7;* SCSk
Sumtt-rs's Phone Factory.
Sumter, Special.?The publication,
The Telephone, for October contains
the following articles: "The Sumter
Telephone Manufacturing company
of Sumter has recently added another
building to its already large establishment.
The floor space of the new
building adds about 20.000 square reet
of floor space, nearly double the area
of the former plant, and will be occupied
exclusively as an assembling
department and stock rooms of raw
and manufactured material. The experimental
laboratory and draftsman
quarters will also be loeated in tnis
budding "In addition to the present
liute of telephone exchange instruments
and switchboards several new
types will soon be put on the market.
The principal need of the new building.
however, is to increase the present
output, placing the company in
better shape to meet the constantly
increasing demand for its products,
now so favorably known throughout
-a large area of the United States.
Canada and Mexico. "The large plant
f.ud successful business of the Sumter
Telephone Manufacturing company
is a striking evidence of the ability of
its officers, Messrs. C. T. Mason F. C.
Manning and C. G. Rowland, each of
whom has proven himself well qualified
in his respective department,
where they are ably assisted by a
faithful corps of employes, the entire
force now fast approaching the 200
mark. It thus affords employment to
a large and constantly increasing
number of people, and as a great number
of them are skilled workmen, the
amount of money distributed in wages
is very large. The factor}' Is an institution
of great valUb to Sumter.
With the addition completed it will
ilo a larger business than ever."
Intcrast in the Fair.
Tbo interest in the State Fair is
v.aking up and the variety of competing
articles bids fair to be without precedent
in the history of the associa
tion. The premium list this year has
been greatly adde.l to, in fact the list |
is so lengthy that it is a good-sized
book. The amount cf money to be
given in premiums this year is $10."ito.
When you come to think of it
this is a large stmt of money to be
given away as prizes It should certainly
bring forward many competitors
who have heretofore held back
for certain private reasons The race
purses should make racing interest
nig. will be given as prizes. Already
favorable reports are in regarding
this part of thf gieat fair One of
the most interesting: oners aiaac ni ;
the Ion? list of premiums is number j
Ibl-l. This is $100 in two prizes. h\r |
the "best exhibit from ar.y school or j
college $70.00; second best exhibit i
from any school cr college $30.00.|
To Be Tried.
llaricn. Special.?Mr. Lanneaii 1
"Steckuouse of this place is to be tr.eii j
for bis life in Conway tins week, un- ;
loss something unforeseen occurs, i
Last May while Mr Stackhouse was j
rLirlng in Conway he became engaged ;
in a dispute with Mr. Wade II. Abrams !
when a personal difficulty ensued and !
Mr. Stackhouse shot Mr. Abrams eev- j
oral times through the body, the ;
wounded man eying son tours later.
The affair was of course cctply de-j
1 lorod, and the prcrnineu. * A the par 1
ties to the tragedy but a?'du1 to the ;
"bitterness of the anguish felt at the ,
occurence. Mr. Siackhoure is a son
of State Sena*->r James Stackhouse. a
grandson of the late congressman
irom this district, and is jl -son-in-law
<f Clerk ci the Court LV f Miles. ror i
jj-rscnai nasons which are obvious to
ail, Solicitor J. Monroe Johnson red
the attorney general to prosecute
the esse. Mr. W H. Townsend.
assistant attorney general, passed
through b're his v.ay to Cor way
yesterday, and v/lH handle the ease for
the Scare. Many of the defendant's
friends accompanied him to Conway
to he are: eat during the trial?per- ;
haps to t? ttify to the good character
of ihe joung man. Congressman
"Hobert P. Scarborough is the defen
cant's fccd'ng counsel.
Miners Fearful.
Victoria, B. C.. Special.?Miners in
"B?ar Creek district. Portland canal,
on the northern border of British Columbia.
and now considered in United
States territory, are locating their
properties in the British Columbia
mining recorder's office, rearing the
territory will be awarded to Canada at
the elose of Alaskan boundary commission
now in session in London.
Due West Shocked.
Due West, Special.?No one except
-a citizen of Due West or one who has
lived here can imagine the surprise
felt and manifested by our people
Thursday morning when State Constable
Newell with five associates
passed through town with a still and
10 or 15 gallons of contraband liquor
captured two miles west of this place.
The guilty parties made their escape
and so far are unknown. It seems they
i.ad been doing business six or eight
miles from this place for some time
but in the last few days had moved
nearer and were located by State authorities
before cur people knew what
was going on.
Tjfcr-.-phic Brlffs.
D. Le.sy Dresser, president of the*
'"rust Company of the Republic, testifying
in a Now York suit against the
United States Shipbuilding Company,
told of the underw: iti.ngs of the company.
The annual meeting of the stockholders
of the Louisville and Nasnvilie
Railroad was held at Ixtuisville.
K>\. at which the old directors were
re-elected and the road's net income
stated as 50,211,047.
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION.
Three Cars of Dynamite Explode on
Track at Greensboro.
Greensboro, N. C., Special.?Three
terrific explosions at 1 o'clock Friday
night, threw the city into alarm for
buildings everywhere rocked as if the
power of an earthquake was directing
the blow. The fire alarm located the
source of disturbance on the fifteentrack
shifting yards of the Southern
Railway, in the heart of town, near
the passenger station. In shifting box
cars loaded with all kinds of merchandise
a box of dynamite in one car
was exploded by the concussion, followed
by a second explosion in a car
three lengths ahead and a third explosion
in a car two lengths removed
from the second. The three cars
were shattered like glass, the other
merchandise taking fire. Innumerable
cars on the various tracks caught fire,
but, at the peril of their lives from
other possible explosions of oil tank.?,
powder, cartridges or more dynamite,
the firemen rushed in, the railroad
force separated the ears a? fast as
possible and prevented a general ccnfiatrraticn
of the large freight offices
and wholesale buildings. Five cars
loaded with all kinds of merchandise
were totally consumed, seven cars
and contents badly damaged and the
trucks burned in many places. By 11
o'clock the fire was under control,
there being no personal casualty. It 13
Impossible to estimate the damage.
The Havwood Trial.
Raleigh, Special.?The first day of
argument in the trial of Ernest
Haywood for the murder of Ludlow
Skinner, was consumed in three
speeches. James H. Pcu spoke for three
hours for the defense. He denounced
I no COI1UUCI CI llic case u) we Claw
as venomous and filthy. His plea for
Haywood was seif-def?nse. alleging
that Skinner met Haywood, was armed,
struck hira, jumped away, tried to
get out his pistol which caught in his
opeket, and was shot by Haywood,
who got out his pistol first. Senator
John E. Woodward, of Wilson, for the
prosecution, asked a verdict of murder
in the second degree, saying that even
if there was a blow Skinner walked
away, and then Haywcod shot him
without any need. Replying to Mr.
Pou. he aid that Mr. Pou's denunciation
of the prosecution was no more
than we expected, as his method was
insinuate and theatrical. He spoke for
three and a half hours. Col. J. C. L.
Harris, of Raleigh, began bi= argument
for the defense, but hcl not concluded
when court adjourned.
Raleigh, Special.?In the Haywood
trial Thursday the first witness tther
defence) was T. B Matthews, of Norfolk
Was bocruing with Mrs. Roberts
last Febiuary. Heard part of converge
tier. between Simpson and others.
Simpson said he was standing in front
of the Yarboro. and when he beard the
first shot he turned around Simpson
said he had his back towards the
court house before the shots.
Cross-examination: Simpson said
he was standing in front of the Yarc"!
1 to'" mon in tho strcpt
IK-'I u. kja?u uc OMif U?UM it* ?ww ~v. ?
Conversation was at table. Don't remember
whether Capt. Ramsey was
present or not.
C. N. Freeman: Heard, conversation
of Simpson at Mrs. Roberts'
boarding house shortly after the
tragedy.
Pending objection to further testimony,
witness was retired from the
stand temporarily.
T. P. Sale, Raleigh: On the afternoon
of the trouble was standing on
Berwangtr's corner. Heard pistol shot
and turned. Heard the second. Went
down to the opstoifice and the crowd
had'begun to gather. Mr. Skinner was
lying on the car track. He was practically
dead. He gasped about once. I
sent a carriage around to Jno.
Brown's. Driver was New Earncs. His
carriage was standing a little north
cf the south steps of the postoffice, is
my judgment. I star*?", bark. Dr. Mc
Gee was examining i asseu mm iu
see if he hail a weapon. The doctor
examined and said he had a weapon.
I then examined and took pistoJ from
left hind pocket. I gave pistol to Dr.
Jordan, the coroner, who came up.
Friends took Mr. Skinner's body to
Johnson's drug store. Pistol was loose
In pocket. Saw nothing of difficulty.
A mass of other evidence was taken
during the day. The State asked for
a verdict of murder in secend degree.
Storm Swept.
Paterson. N. J.. Special.?For nearly
4S hours Paterson has been at the
mercy of the Passaic river. The waters
have maintained a height sufficient to
cut the western half of the city from
the eastern, and almost all means of
communication by bridges have been
destroyed. Two bridges above the falls
remain, but aproach to them is impossible.
Three bridges below the Valley
of the Rocks still stand, but it is
impossible to live In reaching them.
Seven other bridges in the city have
been carried away, and their loss alone
is half a million dollars. The inunfiat'nn
rvf the low-lvine districts of the
city has resulted In inconceivable damage
to property. The flood, however, is
beginning to recede. A number of
buildings fell Sunday, and many others
have been undermined. If they do
not fall they, at least, will be untenj
able. Spruce street hill is falling
way. pice-meal and only a little more
than two feet of dirt and stones separate
the falls basin from the big black
race through which millions of gallons
of water are rushing every hour.
The gate house is in a very weakened
condition, and is liable to go if Spruce
! street hill breaks much further.
Mayor Hinchcliffe, who has betn at
| this point all night and Sunday, superintending
the work of strengthening
the dikes and water gates, regards
the situation as most critical.
One hopeful sign at this place is that
the water has falieu several inches
j since morning.
Mayor Hinchcliffe. wha hos been at
j work rescuing people from the flooded
districts. The suffering in the first and ,
second wards has been intense, as ii
was almost Impossible to reach the j
residents there. Several hundred per- j
sons were removed from houses sur- |
\
rounded by the flood and ready to collapse
at any moment. A dozen more of
these houses later did collapse and
floated down stream. The damage to
mil! property is chiefly from the submo:
sion of portions of the plants and
great quantities of products. Thusands
of men, women and children will be
cut of employment for a long time,
and it seems altogether probable that
this f.ocd will cause to the city of Paterson
a greater direct loss of money
and property than the fire nearly two
years ago. The gross loss was $S,000.000.
with an insurance of $4,000.000.
The loss today is estimated at considerably
more than $2,000,000, with no
insurance.
SOUTH CAROLINA CROPS.
- ? I _ - A
Conditions hor Past neen-uiii
Bulletin Of Season.
The week ending 8 a. m.. Monday,
October 5th had a mean temperature
c? 69 degrees which is practically normal.
The sunshine was greatly above
normal, with but little cloudiness. The
winds were generally light easterly.
There were very light, scattered
j showers on Friday, in the central
counties. Otherwise the week was
without rain. Rain would be of great
benefit to peas, potatoes, gardens, pastures,
truck, and for preparing lands
for fall seeding. This work is practically
suspended owing to the dryness of
the soil.
Early corn is about all gathered; late
corn is fully ripe. The latte/ is a poor
j crop.
Cotton opened freely generally, with
reports of premature opening in the
western counties, particularly in fields
affected by rust. The weather was so
J favorable, that picking kept up with
; the opening. In the eastern counties
j three-fourths or more of the crop has
been gathered, while in the western
ones less than one-fourth has been
picked, making the average for the
Sta'.e about half the crop. Without exi
ception, correspondents report the crop
i a short one and that the prospective
fyields will be less than last year, but
. the lint is being saved in excellent con
! dition. There will be no top crop on
, upland cotton, but a small top crop is
' indicated on sea-island. A few corres|
pendents state that rain would benefit
late cotton by checking premature
j opening of half-grown bolls, but the
; majority state that subsequent weather
j conditions will not affect the quantity
of the crcp. An early killing frost
would reduce the indicated yield in the
central and western counties owing to
the lateness of the crop in those scci
tions.
i About all early rice has been har!
vested, in fine condition, and late rice
! is ripe. The rivers and tides are more
1 favorable in Colleton county, and no
j longer interfere with rice harvest.
' Much hay was cured in the best con!
dition possible. Sweet potatoes are
I promising. Truck, gardens and minor
j crops are suffering from drought. Peas
are not fruiting well.
???
Dynamite on Track.
Butte. Mont., Special.-f-A Helena
special to The Miner says the Northern
Pacific suffered again Tuesday
night from the work of the dynamiters.
At 1:30 p. in., when an extra
west-bound freight was three miles
west cf Bird's Eye, a station eight
! miles west of Helena, the explosion occurred.
As a result of it a portion of
the tracks were destroyed, as were the
pilot of the engine and the headlight.
The engineer stopped the train quickly,
and thus prevented it being ditch!
rd. No one was hurt, but the roadbed
j was torn up and freight trains were
! tied up until repairs could be made.
News of the outrage was received in
Helena by the railroad detectives
shortly after midnight, and at 12:30 a
special train, with detectives, left for
the scene. Six blooa-nounas were
tai.cn.
Figures of Postal Sarvice.
Washington. Special.?Henry A.
Castle, auditor for the Postofllce Department.
has completed the trial balance
for the fourth quarter of the year,
which allows a Unal anouncement of
the iucome and outgo of the entire
postal service for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1903. The following are
the figures: Expenditures, $138.7S4,487:
receipts, $134,224,443; deficit. $4.560.044."
The total financial transactions
of the postal service for the year,
including the money order system, are
$1,026,731,408, thus for the first time
passing the billion dollar mark. During
the six years of the auditor's incumbency,
the aggregate financial
transactions which have been audited
and settled in the bureau amount to
five thousand million dollais.
Odds and Ends
A task to make the boldest quail has
laiu lmon Major Gen. Sir Fred
erick Maurice, K. C. B.. says a Lon
don paper. He has boon appointed official
historian of the late war in South
Africa, and the war office circulates
the announcement that "officers who
may be willing to do so are authorized
by the commander-in-chief to furnish
Gen. Maprice with any information
they may possess."
Killed in Explosion.
Mobile, Special.?By the explosion
of a boiler Monday morning in the
saw mill of Thomas Metcalf, seven
miles south of Mobile, three men lost
their lives and two other persons
were injured. The dead are: Thomas
Metcalf, proprietor; Charles Crockett,
negro employe: Tim David, negro
employe. The injured are : Ben Norwood
and a boy named Davis.
TRIALOF ERNEST HAYWOOD
State Rests Its Case After Four Days
Proceed I ngs,
Raleigh, Special?After having examined
about fifty witnesses the State
Saturday rested its case in the trial of
Ernest Haywood, for the murder of
Ludlow Skinner, in February last. The
defense has here over 200 witntsses,
and says it will take four or five days
to examine these. It can be positively
stated that Haywood will not testify
in his own behalf. A new witness was
Jones Fuller, of Durham, a member of
the last, Legislature. Mr. Fuller's testimony
made a sensation. He stated
that at the time of the shooting he
was on the third story of the Yarbor
ough House, near the window over the
main entrance and that a young lady
was seated in the window. He saw the
first shot and Skinner, who was retreating,
was off the sidewalk with his
back to Haywood. As he reached the
middle of the street he turned and fell
at Haywood's next shot. On the crossexamination
Fuller testified that his
attention was attracted by the young
lady, Miss Mattie Pace, exclaiming that
twt) men were about to fight, and that
after the shooting she said that Mr.
Haywood and Mr. Skinner appeared to
be in a heated argument and that Haywood
was gesticulating as if to impress
something on Mr. Skinner, who
struck him, at which she exclaimed:
"He is going to shoot," meaning Mr.
Haywood, and turned from the window.
W. P. Rose, of Raleieh, an architect,
was the first witness e^*oiined for the
State. He gave -arious measurements
relative to the sidewalk of the postoffice
building, etc.
A person standing in Gwaltney's
drug store, looking through the north
window, could not see a man standing
on the parapet near the south steps of
the postoffice. A person looking from
the front window of C. E. Johnson &
Co's office could see the entrance of
the Tucker building. Can see a portion
of drug store (Tucker Buiiding PharI
rnonv \
UliH-J.;
Re-direct examination.
Person in Mr. Haywood's office could
see a person on Martin street coming
from Wilmington street.
Dr. A. W. Knox, of Raleigh, performed
special autopsy in this case.
Name of deceased J. Ludlow Skinner.
Know him for a long time. Think he
was about 32 years of age. His weight
approximately was 130 to 135. Autopsy
was made at his home on the evening
or killing. Dr. Graham actually assisted.
Dr. Battle and Dr. Hines were
present. (Mr. Leigh Skinner was used
as a subject and the manner of autopsy
was illustrated.) Bullet entered left
side between sixth and seventh ribs,
passed through the lower left lungs
and the aorta, shattered and lodged in
the seventh Tibs on the right side. The
result of the wounds was death. Functions
of the aorta described. Aorta
was punctured about seven inches from
heart. Was about 10-12 of an inch in
diameter where punctured. There was
about three-quarts of blood found in
the pleural cavity of the body which
came mostly from the wounds in the
aorta. Blood traversed the body completely
every 53 beats. (This was given
on authority of taxt-books and not of
personal knowiidge.) Defendant's
counsel objected. Objection overruled.
Exception taken by defendant's counsel.
After the examination of Dr. Kncx
1 il.A nroann h
lite OIJ-IC 1 COLCU 1V1 IUV piVdVUi.
The Defense.
The defense opened on Monday
morning, the first witness being R. N.
Simms, an attorney of Raleigh. He
said in part:
Think it was a little after 4 o'clock
I went to office to mail a letter. I met
Mr. W. G. Brigg3 coming out of postoffice.
Saw two men at south steps
seemed to be struggling. Outer man
seemed to have struck the inner man.
Skinner was back towards sidewalk.
Skinner was the man who struck the
man. Mr. Haywood was man struck.
He knocked Haywood partly over. Mr.
Skinner was near the curb when first
shot was fired. Mr. Skinner paused
about an instant near the curb and
then passed off into the street. Passed
behind a carriage in street, then see
ond shot was fired.
A number of prominent citizens testified
to the good character of Simms.
The two principal witnesses Tuesday
for the defense in the trial of
Ernest Haywood for the murder of
Ludlow Skinner, were C. B. Hocutt,
a clerk here, and Mack Fuller, a negro
hack driver. These testified to
having seen Skinner strike Haywood
and back away about ten feet. Skinner
with his hand under his coat as
it trying to get out a pistol, and to
Haywood's shooting then. Hocutt had
testified on habeas corpus hearing
that Skinner had advanced on Haywood
after the first shot. Tuesday
he changed this and said it was before
the first shot, just after he sprang
back. Fuller, the negro, testified there
was no gesticulation between the two
mpn hut that Skinner struck after a
few words. Walter Thompson, a coun- I
try boy of 12 years, testified that
Skinner put his hand under his coat
after striking Haywood. George Burst,
colored, swears the men talked for
ten minutes;were standing on the
pavement and Skinner had his back
to Haywood when the first shot was
fired.
The following testimony was given
by Mack Fuller, of Kale'gh: Lived in
Raleigh 19 years. Hack eriver. On the
fternoon of the difficulty was just
i little below the middle steps of the
postofflce, about two or three feot. My
carriage was at upper corner of the
postoffice. Carriage drove up to main
entrance at came time, just below;
hi"M wheels were about opposite
'.outh steps. Ned Barnes was driver,
law Mr. Haywood and Skinner below
outh steps, two or three fret. They
.ere standing near the parapet. Hayrood
was on the parapet. Saw them
vhen they met. Haywood wa3 coming
rem the court house. Skinner* was
oming down. He passed me. They
ret and had n few words about a
:crerd before the difficulty. Skinner
jtruck at once, olruck him in the face.
#
l?nocked Haywood partly down. Skinner
then stepped back. Put his left
land behind him under hi* coat. Mr.
laywood then fired on him. Mr. Skinier
then stepped off the curb and his
sat fell off. When second shot was
ired Mr. Skinner was going towards
iohnson's drug store. Skinner had
lis back partly twards Mr. Haywood.
\t second shot turned towards right,
umed towards Denton's and circled
ind fell. Placed his hand on his hip.laywood
had done nothing before he
?vas struck. Had talk with Barnes
about it two or three minutea later.
[ spoke about it to Col. Argo Sualay.
Told him exactly what I tell
:o\v.
TIRED OF DISPENSARY.
K South Carolina Town That Wants
to Get Rid of Rum Shops.
A special from Saluda to The News
and Courier reports that town a6 being
tired of the dispensary and gives the
further information that a petition,
numerously signed, is being gotten up
toto get rid of it. The petition is as
follows:
"To the Honorable Members of the
Board of Directors of the State Dispenrary?Gentlemen:
The undersigned residents
and citizens, of the tow and
county of Saluda by this petition would
show:
"First. We know of no law making
provision for the removal of a county
/Hononcor-n of a.* (bo rUT.P ha* heen 2S
tablishcd, and for this reason this petition
is addressed to your honorable
body on the presumption that your
body can act in the premises.
"Second. The undersigned have not,
for the most part, ever opposed the
dispensary law, but, on the other hand
have always and still consider it the
lesser of two evils. This statement is
raad^ in order that an erroneous impression
may not obtain in connection
with this petition.
Third. The undersigned have no
word of complaint to make, either
against the present county board of
control of this county or against the
present dispensary at this place, for,
as far as we know, both the board and
the dispensary have been and are yet
complying with the provisions of the
dispensary law.
"Fourth. The dispensary was established
here several years ago, to-wit,
about or just, after the town was located,
to the best of our recollection
some time in April or May 0^897, and
your peti'ioners have reached the conclusions
hereinafter expressed, not in
a hasty manner, but after several years
of close watching of results on our little
town and the surrounding country.
"Fifth. That before the establishment
cf the dispensary here there was
r.o legalized place for the sale of whiskey
in this whole co nty?not even
within the present bounds of the county?and
while we do not mean to say
there was no whiskey drinking on the
part of our people, yet we do say that
since the 'etablishment of the dispensary
here the drinking has wonderfully
and dangerously increased among our
ytvpic.
"Sixth. That while the town's share
of the net profits from our dispensary
annually amount to a handsome sum,
end we are thus practically relieved of
all taxation for town purposes, and
while there Is a debt upon the town,
which will begin to come due after a
while, amounting to something like
$3,500; yet. despite all this, after seeing
the demoralizing effect that the sale
of liquors in our town is having upon
the town and the surrounding country
we prefer to assume the burden of
town taxation for current expenses,
and also to meet the indebtedness referred
to, than to see the ruin which
Is coming on our town and county.
"Sevents. We do not pretend to say
that all the lawlessness and mischief
which has been and is still prevailing
in our county may be laid at the door
of our dispensary, but we do say in all
candor and earnestness that to a great
extent we believe that whiskey drinking
is the cause and that to remove
the cause or one of the causes it is
ncessary that the dispensary here be
closed.
~ '* *V.? Anin_
"Eighth. we are aware ui LUC U|/1U" i
ion formed and entertained throughout
the State in regard to the lawlessness
in this county and the number of homicides
committed within the past fifteen
months, and as men who love their
town and county we deplore the facts
upon which this opinion is based, and,
having come to the conclusion that
the dispensary here is responsible to
some extent at least for the state of
affairs existing and desiring to see the
condition changed, and firmly believing
that the removal of our dispensary
would change these condition, your petitioners
respectfully ar.k your honorable
body to discontinue indefinitely
the dispensary at Saluda, S. C.
"Ninth. In order that your honorable
body may be informed to some
extent of the character of the signers
hereto we have indicated in each instance
the vocation of the signer.
..rr?_ iv. fho '4-iIiirln rfisoen
1U Lilt? CUU IUUI, IUV w
sary may be closed indefinitely, your
petitioners will ever pray," etc.
Telegraphic Briefs.
John W. Snyder, of Baltimore, was
elected first vice-president cf the National
Grain Dealers' Association, in
session at Minneapolis, Minn.
Three persons were killed and heavy
property damage done in Coffey county,
Kansas, by a tornado.
The attendance at the York County
Fair was estimated at 25,000 persons.
Yellow Fever Situation.
Laredo. Texas, Special.?Friday's
developments show aa increase in the
number cf new ease.-: of yellow fever.
The official bulletin is as follows: New
cases. 29?deaths, r> re; toial cases
to date, 172; total deaths to date. 7.
No new eases or deaths have occurred
in Monterey. Since the appearance of
the disease in Monterey there have
been six deaths. There are now only
three eases, most of which are convalescing.
No report has be n received
from Nuevdo Laredo, Victoiia, or Liuarcs,
Mex.
REDUCE DIVIDENDS.
United States Steel Corporatlea Not
Prospering.
ACTION OF BOARD UNANIMOUS.
* ? *
The Quarterly Dividend on Comnoi
Stock Comes Down to One-Half of
j One Per Cent.
New York, Sepecial.?The dividend
on the common stock of the Unite*
States Steel Corporation for the last
quarter wa^ reduced from one per sent,
to one-hair per cent, thus setting at
re3t a matter that has agitated Wall
street and financial circles generally
for many weeks*. To quote a very high
authority in the affairs of the corporation,
"the action of the board waa?
unanimous and was caused by the falling
off of business."
The course of steel common the last
few months clearly indicated that tbs
day's cut has been largely discounted.
In fact, wagers that the dividend
would be reduced were plentiful recently
and there were predictions that
It would be passed completely. Nevertheless
today's action came as a surprise
to many who argued that It
would be impolitic to make any
change at this particular time Tbr
Importance of today's meeting, 'which
was preceded by that of the finance ; ;
committee, was emphasized by the attendance
of 24 directors, including J.
P. Morgan, whose presence at these
meetings, has been very rare. Among
the absentees were John D. Rockfeller
aud his son, John D., Jr., William H.
Moore and Marshall Field, of Chisago.
The absence of the Itockfellers waa
the subject of some comment because
of the rumors industrially circulated'
for weeks past that the Standard OH
faction had arrayed itself against Mr.
Morgan and his friends, ai^d would 5
hold out for reduced dividends. >The
unanimous action of the board on this
point, however, disposed of these rumors.
The ragular dividend of 1% per
cent on the preferred stock was declared.
This dividend is payable November
16. The dividend on the ton- .
mon stock is payable December 3d The
statement for nine months of the
year gives total net earning^ after
monthly deductions for repairs, renew- J
als, maintenance and interest on bonds 'i
and fixed charges of the subsidiary
companies, $94,013,836. Deducting
amounts for sinking funds on bonds of 1 '?
subsidiary companies and depreciation f
and reserve funds brings the net earnings
down to $82,211,692. A further deduction
of interest on the corporation ?
bonds, including the sinking funds,
leaves a balance of $65,978.21T. Dividends
on the preferred and common. ?
shares for the nine months, aggregate*
$36,629,475, leaving a balance of andi- ; ?
vided profits or surplus for that psriod
of $29,348,742. Trading in the steel
slocks was the chief feature of tb? ! a
market. The common stock sold as tear
as 16 7-8, advanced a full point from ;
that figure, and closed at It Ml a
? ?- Tk?
iracuouai nei gam. mn .
stock,^on heavier transactions, soli as H
high as 66, but closed at 64V6, one point j
gain of the day. Dealings in the slaking
fund bonds were in very large volume,
the price ranging from S to
72%.
A little more than three rasathi
ago. just before the last regular dividend
on steel common was declared,
that stock sold around 30. Sinoedben
it has sold as low as 14 7-8.
Tunnel Fire Subdued.
Roanoke, Va., Special.?The ftatfoUc
& Western Railway Company Announce
the re opening of their Oiinch.
Valley division, at noon Monday, after
an interruption of nearly six n?eks.
Craigen tunnel, which caught file on
August 27th, Is restored and full train
service will be performed aa is eontomary
without furthed interruption.
The wooden lining of the tunnel barned
for several weeks and proved a
very stubborn fire to extinguish, 'j
The tunnel, which is 1,000 feel
I r..o? flnallw Bur>/>e<!Rfiillv flooded nnd
Jlao ... J
the walls re-timbered.
.ij]
ilurdered at Distillery.
Reldsville, N. C., Special.?A tele- |
phone message from Yancerilie giwes
particulars of a murder in Caswell
county, Saturday night. E. E. Pierce.,
a white man about 35 years old, was ' found
in an unconscious conditio*,
about 8 o'clock Sunday morning and .J
died that day at noon. Pierce was a $
native of Iredell county and bad bean ft
living ia Caswell county for a number
of years. He was sleeping at Prulft 4k
3id(lles' distillery, located about two
miles from Gatcwood, N. C., near tba- 1
Virginia line. Unicnown parties entered
his room and dealt him a murderous I
blow over the temple with a broke*
chair post, pillaged the premioBS and. J
made good their escape. ^ J
Estate of Fair.
New York, Special.?Justico Barrett j
<n tho finnreme Court granted s mo
tion to examine two physician ant
two undertakers in San Francisco in.
the action brought by Mrs. Hannah EL
Nelson, to recover the estate belonging }
to Charles L. Fjir, who was, with b!&
wife, killed in an automobile accident
at Trouville, France, about a year ago.
'c
?p
Evidences of IJenliiy.
Washington, Special?In view cf jthe
fact that the only bounty-fed can**- ';
sugar imported into the United States. '
is from the Argentine Republic, the
Treasury Department has issued a eir- ;
cular relieving importers from the ne- |
ccssity of furnishing the evidence or.jjii
identity required as to beet sugars, J
Thus all cane sugars except Argentine |
can be brought under the consular ccr- ^\
tificate cf origin heretofore reqnfrei ^