University of South Carolina Libraries
o o_o_ TUB8DAY, 8SPTJSKBSB ?. The Sumter Watchman was founded i? 1850 ?sd the Tm* ?wtaro* In 186$. Toe Ifafcftma? ?n? Southron mom hes tb? combine* circulation and influence of both of the old papers, and i? mamfeetfy- toe best advertising saediani in Sumter. Haan i i'i1 'tr n i i i We warmly indorse the movement ?wbKc tweeting rn? afternoon Tm? entJow cf sympathy hom sa? to kia ttStriof brother sake? ail the PsOd kia, and is Messing the receiver, afeo Messes the giver. Weean hate our neighbor, do bim all manner of harm, bat when great esjsm fries overtake him? the divine snack ia the boam heart kindles into * Waa?, which changes ns from a venge fal tot, to something but a little lower than the angela. ? Oh divina gift of eompaasiooate and sympathetic love! May all of us cultivate tod eheriah ita growth;, feeble though it be ; and draw inspiration from the fountain of all love, and enable na to obey the injunc? tion, to love our neighbor as ourself. BATTJBDAY, 8KPTBMB12B 11th. The Primary cornea off on that day, and every Democrat should be present to see that it comes off in a proper man? ner. The stay-at-homes, especially, should be there-the men who attend - strictly to their own business, and be? lieve io letting the officials carry on the government. They are the men who want good officers, and who, if they ?nt? at aH, will vote for such. They think that County officers should be moral, sober, practical men, and they .nra the ones who should be at the boxes seat Saturday to enforce their opinions with their votes That they should do so m their bounden duty, and a neglect of this duty will be a political wrong to their political mother. We do not lay so much stress upon advising people to vote right, because we believe the hon? est God-fearing people will certainly vote right if they vote at all ; bat what we ?areatly orge is that they vote, vite w3I be right if they will east it. TH* EARTHQUAKE. A fea mia otea before ten o'clock, tatt Tnejday sight, oar town was star tied by a peeoKar roaring noise followed . hf a sharp shook- of an earthquake, wkich lasted about two minutes. This was Mowed shortly afterwards by : another mach slighter, and others con : tinned ai longer ia terrais for an hoar, - wrns? they eessed mr ? time. At one e*eJeek and again at fire in the morn were slight shocks ; and through the dey sev-ral were experienced, s The alarm felt and manifested by oar noonie was considerable. The first ; shock lasted so long that many houses were entirely emptied of their inmates before it was over and as succeeding ?ses esme the fright eos tin mee end in? creased, m some eases, to sn unreason? ing terror. The voiee of earnest sup ? plication and prayer was heard in many . directions, and among the colored peo? nas snaciiHy there was evidently s mark? ed determination to repeat, and lead bet tar fives. Baring the next dey, sn un tgnsl serions***) overspread the town and ton? the Coanty political campaign WM lost sight of in diseossiog the events of the previous night. Early io the day it was ascertained that the tele? graphic communication with Charleston was severed, sod the greatest desire was felt for news from that city. Ter? rible rumors of horrible loss of life and property crept around, and . about mid-day a. telegram from Colombia stated that Charleston had suffered severely-many lives hav? ing been lost and an incalculable amouot of property destroyed. A large crowd hong around the telegraph office all day awaiting further news, bat none of consequence arrived uotil late at night when the telegrams found elsewhere, and which were published as an extra by the Watchman and Southron, were received by as. Wednesday night pass ad with ooo or two slight shocks and Thursday morning came with still no sews of details, no daily pipers haring been received from any direction. Thursday morning, the news block? ade was broken and several papers were received, and that afternoon, the trains ran through from Charleston brio ging the mail. The streets were filled with eager news gatherers, aod wheo ooe hundred extra copies of the Newt and Courier were put on .sale at the Post office, the last copy disappeared in less . than ivs min?tes-some copies, we heard, sold as high as 50 cent* each. We publish on cor outside a portion of the graphie description given by the Netes and Courter of the 1st and 3rd, Charleston was the only place excepting Sommerville where any damage of con? sequence remited from the shook. In Sommerville the convulsion wss severe, and the damage done very great. Up to Sunday morning it is supposed that at least one thousand people bad left. Prof. McGee of the ?. S. Geological . service visited Sommerville, Saturday, and his opinion as an expert has had a reassuring influence upon its panic stricken inhabitants, and the exodus has probably eeased. Shock* have been felt again in Sumter, almost every night since, snd oar nervous people are still io a flatter. Wo should be fiilled with humble gratitude to the Giver of all good, that we have been unharmed io life or pro? perty, and while so many lives have been lost and so many happy homes wracked sod destroyed in Charleston we heve been mercifully spared. Io Bo? wey eeo; our gratitude be more practical? ly shewn than by helping the helpless ? that stfiehea city. Let our pockets as well ss our hearts be. opec to relieve their distresses. A ware of- sympathy from the entire country, Norths South, East and West, is flowing into Charles te?. Let net Sumter be behind tn this geed week. The news from Charleston io to-day's Neues and Courter, continues te be of a reassuring tendency. The Govem ment experts believe the danger is over, and Charleston n resuming her normal condition of business activity. The expressions of sympathy come from all parts, even Queen Victoria sending a message of condolence. Tho Governor has issued a proclamation ad? vising and earnestly requesting all the people of ibis State to contribute as promptly sud as generously ss their means will permit to the relief of our afflicted fellow eitisens in Ch ar les tr D md Summerville. The bill of mortality containing the return of deaths within the city of Charleston for the week endiog Sep? tember 4, 1886, is a frightful record, [t shows the death of 25 whites and 68 colored. The annual derib rate per 1,000 white for the past ?ck is 46. 50, and the annual death-rate per 1,000 white for year 1885 is 17.64. The earthquake was the indirect cause sf many deaths attributed to disease. Only three births have been recorded it the office of the health department since Tuesday last, one white child and ;wo colored cbildreo. It is probable, bowever, that more children have been born, as comparatively few persons take iie trouble to report births to the public )fficials. FTVS MILLION DOLLARS Di MAG E. The etty appraiser, who has gone )ver the whole city sod ia fsmiliar with he value of property, estimates that it sill mks at feast $5,000,000 to put Charleston in as good a position as that shich it occupied only a week ago. Buildings which were considered entire y safe are now discovered to be dange ?ous, and persons who thought they had escaped without injury Sod themselves confronted by damages which are en irely beyond their means to repair. SPOUTING WELLS. One of the most singular features of ;be terrible shaking-op was observed a many parte of the city-the spout sells. In Beaufain street the covers sere torn from the wells and sent fly? ng in the air. Then came a huge alumn of water aod mud, which was lent up to a height of 15 or 20 feet. Host of the wells were emptied of heir contents, but were speedily refill id. After the shook the eurfaee of the itreete in the vicinity of these wells ras covered invariably by a yellowish , Jay deposit, which may have come from he bottom of ?the wells or from a lower j itratum of the earth. The water was , n these eases forced upward, it ts sup- : K>sed, by the subterranean agencies at j rork below and sent Hying up into thc , ?r. After the collapse the theory is that ( he welk were again filled from the j raterbearing strata which uoderlie Charleston In some eases, an instance ?curring in Gibbes street in the yard t f Mr. Hasel Hayward's house, huge - olumes of water were ejected, it is ' opposed, from s dry well in the lot. The well was used for sanitary purposes j od had no water it as far as was ko o wo. The entrance was covered by a heavy j ;raoite slab. This was thrown op aod ( he entire lot inundated by the vast , ets of water and fine yellow sand that j res ejected. It is difficult to say where ( be water came from. In other portions of the city vast jets if water were thrown up from crevices ormed by the force of the earth's move- , sent. > After the shock most of these ( lesed, soon afterwards leaving exposed , kind of mound of earth of an entirely 1 iiffereat character from the surroood og soil. SHOWER8 Or PEBBLES. , The sensation, to-day Saturday, is the I ailing of showers of pebbles io the < ower part of the city. The first fall ras at 7.30 o'clock this morning aod he second at about ll o'clock. They ? ppeared to fall in a slanting direction, rom South to North. There are oorsels of flint among them and all are dainty abraided aod woro by the dion of water. Some few have ! harp fractures, and have evidently i >een recently broken. The fact of the i all is vouched for by several trust- ; rortby persons. The bulk of tbe pebbles fall io and around the Ne tc s < md Courter office. OPINIONS OP CANDIDATES. We give below a brief synopsis of he speeches made at Wedgefield by the Legislative Candidates. They cover, o the main, the same grouod as the ?eport published by us of the Bishop rille meetiog, but the opinion of the Legislative Candidates is of sufficient importance to justify this partial repe ;itioo. W. D. Scarborough, after dis cussing the general political features of the campaign re-affirmed the positions j ile bas occupied during the canvas. Be paid a high tribute to the S. C. Col? lege, believing it to be the equal if not superior of any iostitution of learning tn the South, but bo was opposed to free tuition ; and his opposition was based mainly upon the fact that it worked in? jury to the denominational institutions, shich had been fustaioed at the cost of io much sacrifice during the time the State was without other colleges. Ile thought the appropriation for the Col? lege aod Citadel should be limited to $12,000, the amount necessary to lecure National aid of the same imount. He did not object to the Farmers' College, perse, but would most jeartily oppose soy increase of taxes io ts behalf. Uoder the recent roi i ogs of be Supreme Court he saw no advantage 0 repealing the lieu law. It had been 1 curse to the people io the past, aod he :ould not talk about it with equaoim ty, but it was so hedged around DOW IS to be comparatively harmless D. E. Keels said he had wheo , n the Legislature, voted against the ipprop nations to the College aod Ci ta? le), and if elected he would continue to toso. They cost $40,000 annually, 1 laimiog to be poor men's schools, '< rheo they were not. The principle of t Ibe thing was wtjjt?gv and be would never send a foy .tomb?t College while free tuition wa* a?towed. If these in? stitutions of learning were al) that was claimed for them, surely they could stand without the support of the State. [The Hen law was ? curse to the people. Rich and poor altke?bad suffered from its vicious iufiuence'whtcb was bringing financial paralysis upon the State, and it shotfro? be repealed. The Columbia Canal, at its inception was to cost j $20.000 and be completed in two years. lt has been in coarse of construction fear years at a cost of $40.000, and was one third done. Nothing more should be gi venait.-;<He favored the Agricul? tural College, but was opposed to any additional tax. His plan would be to bave biennial instead of annual sessions of the Legislature, and bnild tbe Col? lege with the money saved in that way He endorsed the farmers1 movement Marion Moise, who has been called the baby candidate, commenced bis speech with, "You'd scarce expect one of my age, To speak io public OD tbe stage," ?fcc He gave an outline of oar condition and insisted that oar poverty was the direct result of thoughtless shiftlessness by oar people.. The farmers are con sumers instead of producers, and as a mass they do not follow their pursuits with the energetic industry they should. They must change in this respect before prosperity will visit ns. Hence he welcomed the farmers* movement and the Agricultural College. He believed the latter was needed, and the small addi tion to our taxes, in its support would not be felt. He endorsed free tuition in the S. C. College, ?nd commended it for its good work. The Citadel should be sustained. The lien law should stand, because under the pres? ent condition of the County, it was an imperative necessity. He favored the Canal, believed it was a wise business enterprise and that it should be com? pleted. Joseph E. Wilson gave a brief out? line of his early struggles for a liveli? hood. He opposed farther appropria? tions to the S. C. College and Citadel, and favored tbe transfer of the latter to the Agricultural College. He knew nothing about the Canal bot would in? form himself and vote accordingly, if elected. Altamont Moses did not believe in promises but preferred being judged by bis performance. He denied the ex? istence of any political ring in Sumter. He was a friend tb education, and would oppose any act that would lessen the power and influence of the College or Citadel, bot opposed free tuition. He would favor an Agricultural Col? lege if the farmers wanted it, bat not at the expense of the Citadel. He favored a plan for giving free scholar? ship-both board and tuition-to two boys from each County, in the S. C. College. He opposed, with bis pres? ent information further appropriations to the Canal, also opposed the calling of a Constitutional Convention. The lien law was almost dead but he doubt? ed the utility of any further legisla? tion on that subject. W. O. Cain said he was in the house of his friends, and need not amplify his opinions which were well known. He endorsed oar educational institutions, bat favored a minimum tuition fee. The lien law should be repealed. Was uncertain about the j i janal-preferiog to investigate before forming an opinion. A. K. Sanders sympathized with his indience under the infliction of speech making, and therefore would be brief. Favored the repeal of the lien law, op posed free tuition, bat endorsed the good work of the College, insisting that those able to pay should do so. Op? posed further appropriations for the janal, bat thought the work could be completed with convict labor. He isked'tbe suffrages of the voters because >f the fact that the section he represent? ed bad been ignored in the choice of scanty officers for many years. E. M. Cooper discussed with consid? erable amplitude the prominent ques? tions before the people of the State. He defended the Legislature for its appro? priation for the completion of the State House. It was an absolute necessity, ind would pat the house in such condi? tion that its final completion could await more prosperous times. He gave the facts and figures as to the expense of the janal, and insisted upon its completion. The merits of the Agricultural College were pointed out, and its value to our farmer boys sbowo. He was ready and willing to help perform the funeral ser? vices over the lien law, which bad out? lived, its usefulness, if it ever had any. He pointed with pride to the S. C. Col? lege, endorsed its good work, and hear? tily favored its continuation as well as that of the Citadel. Both were needed and should be cherished and maintained. If economy demands a redaction of expenses, make that reduction elsewhere than in education, trim down any thing else, but let our Colleges alone. H. F. Wilson, said he was opposed to the canal, because the sites along the canal were owned by private parties and this would be a serious hindrance to suc? cessful financial arrangements by the State. He would, however, make a thorough investigation and if satisfied that it was a prudent business enter? prise, would then favor its completion by the assistance of convict labor, lie was in favor of a Constitutional Con? vention. The present Constitution was forced upon us by aliens, and he thought the expenses could be paid for out of thc savings by a more economical administration, nuder a revised consti? tution. He made a strong plea for our State Colleges as at present supported, and insisted that any blow at their pros? perity would be a blow at the most vital interests of the State. The Cita? del has graduated 240 students since her organization, and the inSueuce for good upon our State was past computa? tion. Favored an agricultural College, but itu growth must be gradual. It could not be completed in a day. J. A. l?bame gave a humorous account of his first efforts at speech-making. He opposed further appropriations to the Canal, opposes free tuition in the S. C. College, endoses the Citadel Academy uuder its present manage ment, is notcnthuastic for the Agricultu? ral College-needs more light on that subject. The lien law has been much abused, but he does not favor its re peal. That it is nearly dead is no reason it should be repealed. We need the law, as it has been io the past and is now a needed factor in our business transactions. Judge Bryan has resigned from the bench of the District Federal Court, md Mr. C. H. Simonton, of Charlcs ,on has been appointed in his st ?ad. ! t Written for the Watchman and Southron. RecoiJectivfiS of Petter's Raid. NUMBER IX. We have seen that the cavalry force after meeting the three pursuers of C. H. Jones and learning from them the fruitlessness of further pursuit, re? turned to Manning. Thc first house they came to as they turned into Brooks street from the Pocotaligo road was Mrs. E. J. Stuart's. Her hus? band had been killed in one of the Virginia battles. She was there with her two little boys and her widow? ed sister Mrs. Caldwell and her chil? dren. This house was a little above mine, across the street. At their door the entire force dis? mounted and as we watched them closely from our window, they looked woe-begone and tired. They were clamorous for food. Talked boister? ously, defiantly. Began at once to denounce the place. They asked many questions as to who were in the town. Who it was that had shot their companion ? If he lived in the place ? The longer they talked the more infuriated they became. They raved and swore that not a house should he left standing. That it was the basest treachery to sur? render and then to shoot down the one be had surrendered to. They positively asserted that the had surrendered. But they'd be re? venged. But they demanded tobef?d. She gave them the best and even all she bad. She had just churned and she offered them the milk. Before they touched it they asked if she had poisoned it ? The black regiments were now marching in, and preparing to camp in that part of the town. They, many of thom, took possession of the vacant space next above my house and across the Pocataligo road towards the Academy, a large, nicely constructed building not quite finished. This was at once occupied by them. Then the space between my house and the Presbyterian Church, and all along where Mr. John Kelly's residence, in fact eves* available space seem? ed to be crowded. No one can form the slightest idea of the terror and alarm that the sight of these black troops iuspired. It was par? ticularly so with these two sisters alone, and with the positive assur? ances from these white soldiers, that the town was to be given up to otter destruction. They determined however to help ? themselves and a message was con? trived to the General. He had rid? den into the town and made his head? quarters at Dr. H. H. Huggins, just below them on the same side of the i street. He was asked to protect them 1 with a guard, that they were two ' sisters with their children and they were afraid of the black troops. Satisfying himself as to the truth of their statements he promised a guard. Ile was not long in coming. He was the , surgeon. His name may . aave been Briggs, anyway he was i the surgeon of the 9th Michigan | Regiment. He said on entering the i house that if permitted, he'd remain , there through the night ; then they'd i need no further protection. To this , the ladies readily agreed. It was ; what they wanted. His first inqui- < ries wore if they knew what their < army had been doing on the march ? j They replied only what they had j beard-viz : burning all the cotton, ( ?estroying all ;he corn and laying j waste the newly planted fields ; yes, t and even more than that, we have i billed every thing in our march from ( z cow to a cat. j The noise and confusion as we , 3onld hear it was terrible. The ( 3rowds of white and black soldiers i ?rho were in crowds around and on , mr premises confused us. They all i seemed to speak in their loudest tones < )f voice and the the cutting down of | trees and the echoes of the many axes ] is they fixed their sleeping quarters f ?vere distracting. Soon Mrs. Caldwell came over from, i 1er home. I wondered at her ventur- . ing on the street. It was her concern j ind interest for us, which induced < ;his risk. - i She showed great anxiety. She . :old us that the yoting man who had j rilled the soldier down the street, < ?hough hotly pursued, had escaped. < That they had all returned and were j mad with rage, that he had gone away. - They say the young man surrendered, i ind then treacherously shot the sol- < lier who had him in charge. They j say that every house in the town i 8 to burned and they were now ; m ly waiting orders from the Gen er- j il to apply the torch. I have come < )ver to beg ycu to dress yourself j md to prepare for the worst, for , hey say their companion was killed i in front of a white house and it was ? [here, pointing over to mine. She i tvas about reluming home, when j me said, "I'd advise the shutting 3 in of the window blinds." j This was done at once, but I did 1 riot dress myself. I hardly felt able 1 :o do this 1 Her visit and advice was timely, j She was not long gone, before a ' nost furious fusilade of brickbats . md billets of wood was made upon 1 :he side of our house. I could not < imagine at first what it possibly < 2ould be. I was very much 1 ilanncd, my wife, who up to this 1 lime had been singularly composed j low nearly lost her equilibrium, lt 1 seemed to me that the weather ! boarding would certainly bc broken 1 iown and I looked every minute to ? see the missiles crash through the , blinds and sash and do us serious 1 injury. ? 1 feared to keep my bed, and with 5 ny wife and babe we got into the j middle of the room and there remain? ed. lt ceased and then began with ?1 intense fury, accompanied with oaths j1 ind threats. It was a crew of daring I creatures who committed this outrage { upon us, among them those who had been in pursuit of C. II. Jones. They seemed to be filled willi wrath, and were disposed to veut it forth in this ( way. ] We now heard the creaking of thc 1 jate, which led from this front gar- 1 len to our yard and then footsteps j1 into our back rooms. Every step * je made told us unmistakably where ' ie belonged. Hie rattling spurs 1 made me surmise if he might not be ? Dne of C. II. Jones1 late pursuers. I certainly expected to hear his eoice in denunciation and abuse. In this I was mistaken. Ile made his search of those buck rooms in perfect silence. The only noise as be tramp? ed around and he was busy, came from his clanking spurs. They were as massive as those of our "Confeder? ate" boy8, which I have reason to always remember. lie soon got through his search and appeared at the door of my bed room. I expect? ed him to speak. He didn't, nor didi. Ile was light complected : pale. He wore a light felt hat rather slouch? ed upon the side of his head. He hadn't a bad countenance. I wanted him to speak, but there he stood be? fore me with his sixteen shooter on his left shoulder, with a bayonet at? tached. His face was much begrimed with dust and sweat. It looked as if he had been tearing cartridges with his teeth. As he stood before the mirror he wiped the smut away with his left sleeve and readjusted Iiis hat upon the side of his head. As he turned away I expected the mirror to be smashed with* the end of his bayonet. He appropriated a box of matches from the mantel piece, put? ting them in his pocket. He was by no means bashful. I would have taken him to be about thirty years old. I wish to day I knew him, and could tell him of my (error as in silence he surveyed my wife and babe. He then forced himself between the bedstead and the wall, and with the inseparable bayoneted gun, upon his shoulder, he leaned -over the bed, and putting his smutty face near to mine he took a good survey. He certainly made a close inspection of my face. I kept my eyes in his. Somehow I did not flinch from ?the intense gaze. The purpose of his gaze I'll never know. He then walk? ed back into the sitting roora. He stood before Col. Davis* picture and looked at it. I could see from my bed, all his movements. He then turned to the mantel piece and saw the clock. It was a valuable instru? ment of black Italian marble. He spake, turning his bead, he called me, "what o'clock is it ?" I now so well remember my thoughts then, though years have passed. "Watchman what of the night?'1 I replied to his inquiry-"There's the clock." "It has stopped ; where's your watch?'' said I, "The two watches belonging to this house have been hid in youder swamp by a friend (E. R. Plowden) and they are always lost to us, if that friend ?bould never again return home. He only knows where they are hid." It would have been a relief if he had spoken, but he did not, and the clank? ing of his spurs as he retired down the back steps told us he was gone. > We asked ourselves and one another, why he looked so narrowly into ray ? face ? The servant girl about 12 years old came in and told us that black soldiers were in the kitchen and 1 would not go cut. Rail Road Letter. , September 1. 1886. 1 Mr. Editor: As there ?3 some objection to Township taxation for railroads, I must trou? ble jon with a second letter. Spring Hill 'armers haul their freights from Boykin's and Camden, a distance of from ten to fifteen ' niles, and if the railroad is built, they will 1 laul from one to five miles; and it is an old idage that "labor saved is money earned." They would realize some return of the tax ; iveryyear; and it would enhance the value \ )f the land contiguous to the roads from ten ? :o fifi v per cent. And then tbere would be 1 he convenience of travel and tbe building up )f the country, and we ought to be willing to pay something for that. This is a progressive ige and we cannot afford backward move- : neat. Suppose the roads were blotted out of ?xistence to-morrow, it would bankrupt balf ? Ibe planters in the State. (The River crops 1 with 6ve freshets in one year need not be ' counted.) And none could plant cotton bot :hose who reside near the navigable streams, ind they are "few and far between." Less ( ;han fifty years ago cotton was hauled on tragons to Charleston, aud some got rich at it, 1 out it was worth 25 to 30 cents a pound. 1 Bat what distance could we baal it at 8 cents \ pound with free labor? Our great staple I would be almost a dead industry. And when Lbe farmers go down everybody else will go with them, the merchant, the machinist, the lawyer, the doctor, the evangelist and the ?ditor too. See what changes the Wilming? ton road road has wrought for our County. To begin at Lynchburg and Magnolia, there ire two flourishing villages, with six or , ??ght stores in each, and churches and ; schools ; and go'eigbt miles further and there is Mayesville, where all is life and activity, with steam mills, fine flour mill, neat residences and churches, and about twenty Hores. And ten miles further you strike the town of Sumter, which is fast approaching ' the dimensions of a city. But the end is not ret. Go ten miles on, and there is Wedge? field, another flourishing village, with a half iozen stores, three churches and its cozy buildings; and this place bas sprung up like i mushroom in a night, and in the future may be a town If this road has wrought such wonders for our County, what will not the , Charleston and Chicago road accomplish for > Lancaster, Camden, Sumter and Manning? It will build them up in the same way com? paratively, as certainly as cause follows ef feet. And while our freight and travel will benefit the road, it will help us manifold nore because it will draw its main support 'rom beyond our borders, from Chicago, Tennessee, North Carolina and elsewhere, 1 ind when we found a city, dig a canal, or auild a rail road we must look to its resour :es Rail roads are a power in the-lacd. Jay . Sould, of the Pacific roads, testified before ibe committee during the great strike, that be lad ten thousand employees. What a gigan- , ic enterprise! And he sits in bis palace in S*ew York and dictates to thousands, and ives in more magnificence than President Cleveland. Wm. H. Vanderbilt was richer han the great Jewish bankers, the Roth :hilds, and he endowed a nniverfityj. and ?nade other munificent bequests, and gave .mployment to thousands of workmen and hereby fed many needy families. Now, how Jid these two great financiers make their Tioney ? I answer, mostly by rail roads. So t seems that cotton is uo longer king, but itcam in the locomotive. Any one opposing a railroad at this era is lilting agni'is: progress, civilization and the -iiiblic welfare. Very truly, WM. J. REYNOLDS. A CARD WEDGEFIELD, S. C., Aug. 30, 1S80. Mr. Editor : I have been considering wbeth ;r I should reply to an extraordinary comrau lication of Mr. E. W. Dabbs in your issue of ?-eek before last. After mature deliberation [ have concluded that no profit can come of Allowing up a controversy with one who de? scends to so low a level for his grounds of de ?nce. I therefore leave his communication to the contempt it deserves. H. R. THOMAS. FOR SALE. AGOOD ST?EFF PIANO, in fine con? dition, for $175. Inqufriat tbie office. Sept. 7. [For tbe Watchman. And Soubon .J Free Schools Criticised. Mr. Editor ; What benefit da the farmers, the back bone and sinew of tbe South Caro* lina, reap from the free school fond as it is spent under the present system? A free school is established in many localities ; the teacher is appointed bj three trustees who bare no personal interest in tbe majority of the schools. The teacher not being responsi? ble to tbe patrons, and not overlooked by the trustees, condacts the school to please tbe scholars or himself. Discipline becomes lax. No authority is respected. At the end of three, four or five months the school closes and the future ruler of the State either works or spends the remaining portion of the year in idleness. On the other band if the State would not attempt to do what is entirely out? side of its jurisdiction, but would leave the whole system of controlling and organizing the schools to the parents, throwing the whole responsibility of primary education into the bands of those who are entitled to it, we might reasonably expect in a few years to reap some benefit from the school tax, and to bare voters who being raised under tbe wholesome system of parental discipline, would respect authority and make good, God? fearing citizens. I would suggest that the Legislature could give the parents control by abolishing the office of School Commissioner, and let the money appropriated be drawn from the Treasurer by trustees of each school, organized by the parents, and that all teach? ers be examined by a County Board of Exam ioers appointed by the State Superintendent of Education, and the number of schools, white and colored, in each county, be regu? lated by the State Superintendent of Educa? tion, and that each county hare tbe privilege to increase the school tax if they wish to do ao. PARENT. [ADVERTISEMENT.] Rev. E. A. Edwards as School Commissioner. Mr. Editor : It occurs to me that it would be a handsome thing for the people of Sumter County to elect Mr. Edwards to the office of School Commissioner. Intellectual, be is fully qualified, while his social and moral standing will give tone and strength to bis work. In preaching the Gospel be bas de? voted tbe best rears of bis life to the highest interests of his fellow-men, asking for no re? ward and receiving none. Now that his years have multiplied, and physical weakness forbids active ministerial labor, it would only indicate the presence of grateful hearts among bis countrymen if they should place bim where be can get something towards aiding bim in securing the necessaries of life. That he will be faithful and conscientious bas been proven by bis past record ; and that he, like all the rest, is seeking the position because of tbe salary, need not be questioned, although be alone bas bad tbe candor to confess it. In other and better years, when Mr. Edwards bad abundance, bis munificent hand was open to all, and numbers will recall bis deeds of benevolence. The simplest and cosamonest laws of life would lead towards the making of some return. It too often happens that when ministers grow old, they are "turned ont to graze," and to live upon a scanty and fortuitous stubble called charity. No?* that an opportunity of afford? ing genuine help to one who deserves it pre? sents itself, it would be magnanimous in our citizens to bear bim np in the arms of grate? ful remembrance, and seat bim in the bumble place be is asking for. A SUPPORTER, A Captain's Fortunate Discovery. Capt. Coleman, sehr. Weyro?nth, playing between Atlantic City and N. Y., had been troubled with a cough so fhnt be was unable to Bleep, und was induced to try Dr. King's New Discovery for C nsninption. It not only gave him instant relief, but Allayed the extreme sore ness in his breast. His children were similarly affected and n single dose hnd the same happy 2ffect. Dr King's New Discovery is now the standard remedy in thc Coleman household and JD board the schooner; Free Trial Bottles of this standard Rcmody at Dr. J. F. W. De Lorme's Drug Store. 4 Without beautiful hair no woman is beauti? ful. I3 yours falling off or faded ? The loss is vital. Parker's Hair Balsam will preserve your hair and give back its gloss and youth? ful color. Clean, elegant perfect. Prevents dandruff. m LUMBER FOR SALE. 3?A AAA FEET LUMBER FOR DU.UUU Sale at A. S. and W. A. Brown's' Mill, situated on the road leading from Bossard's P. 0. to Pine Ville. Will be at the Mill Tuesdays and Fridays to serve those wishing Lumber. ? Charleston, Cicmati & CM m RaiM Company. NOTICE. ASPECIAL meeting of tbe Stockholders of The Charleston, Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad Company will be held at the Grand Central Hotel, Columbia, S. C., on Tnesday, September 14, A. D. 1886, at ll o'clock A. M., to transact the following business : To take action upon the question of consol? idation with "The Rutherford Railway Con? struction Company" and the "Rutherfordton, Marion and Tennessee Railway Company" of N. C., and upon the ratification of the acts of the Directors of this Company in relation thereto, made at a Directors' meeting held in New York, September 10th, A. D. 1886. J. D. BLANDING, Sept. 4 Prest. C. C. k C. R. R. Co. E. P. RIGKER & CO. Bave the Largest and Finest Stock of Foreign and Domestic Liquors EVER BROUGHT TO SUMTER. We keep everything from CIDER TO CHAMPAGNE. We would call particular attention to our LAUREL VALLEY N. C. Corn Whiskey. Something very superior. We feel satisfied that our facilities enable us to SUIT ANY CUSTOMER, Both in Quality and Price. Give os a call. MAIN ST., SUMTER, 8. C., Opposite the Town Pump. We also keep a full line of TOBACCO AND CIGARS. Sept V _ FOR SALE. Clean and Sound R R. P. Seed Oats. Southern Rye Seed. Cotton Sheets and Bags for Picking. One Two-horse and two One tiorse Wagons in First Class Drder. 150 Packages New Mackerel, Cheap at DUCKER & B?LTMAN. Aug 31 THE EARTHQUAKE -HAS Shaken Up Things in a Fearful Manner, but JOHN REID'S Popular Dry Goods House Stands Intact, RESTING SECURELY ON THE BED-ROCK OF BOTTOM PRICES. A Foll Line of tbe Newest Styles in Dress Fabrics, Ladies' and Misses9 Wraps, Fancy Goads and Satins for the Fall and Winter Season of 1886, now on exhi-. bition at prices that cannot fail to please. Staple Goods Low Down, as Usual. jt^~ Requests for samples promptly attended to. Sept 7_; GET THE BEST, BOT TI TEH! GET THE BEST, ??t THE lil GET THE BEST, Bli TI Til GET THE BEST, ' BDI TBE TlT FOR SALE BY Sept 6, 1886. SUMTER, S. CV DRESSED LUMBER. A full supply of Seasoned Dressed Lamber on hand, consisting of FLOORING, WEATHERBOARDING, CEILING, CASINGS, STYLING, Aa, -ALSO The Various Kiuds of Moalding, STANDARD CUT LATHS. A full assortment of ROUGH LUMBER? We will endeavor to keep up a full supply of Dressed Lum? ber, making it a specialty. H. KARBY & CO. Aug 31 NOTICE OF CO-PARTNERSHIP. SUMTER, S. C., Acc. 16, 1886. ACO-PARTNERSHIP for the practice of Law has thia day been formed between the undersigned, under tbc firm name and 3tyle of EARLE & PURDY. Careful attention wi!) be giren to all bnsi ness entrusted to oar care, either in the State Courts or in tbe United Mates Courts. Col? lections promptly made. JOSEPH H. EARLE, ROBERT 0. PURDY. Aug. 10-1 m_ THIS SPACE is reserved for ALTAMONT MOSES' NEW ADVERTISEMENT of his FALL ST OLK? Aug 31 Mew Advertisements. NATUREf8 A NUABLE REMEDY CURE FOR ? ?5^5?W*' " CONSTIPAT^ W*?* df?^t?h Tarraot'8 Efferre?cent gBagal k Tt is certain in its ef ^?jj|S_*3fl-k action. Unpalatable "SjSffin to tbe ^t^' it can be SM^flHy relied aP?D to ear?, and ^ " . . it cures bj ass? ti og, not Sick-Headache^ ABD g&iWes yourselves, or nVCDCDCIl allow your children to U I urti O I A?rake them, always UM this elegant pharmaceutical preparation, which bas been for more than forty years a public favorite. Sold by druggists every where. Aug 31 Ul Wi H The TAYLOR & COX STEAM FIRE EX? TINGUISHER for Cotton Gina ts ibe best protection against loss by fire. Beats i uta ranee. Cheap, instantaneous, effectu?t and reliable. Send for circulars and fall particu? lars. A gents wan ted." Good* pay giren. J. N. SUTHERLAND, Belton, S. C; SIN SAW FIUN8 MACHINE. The TAYLOR GIN SAW FILER is one of the best rr ade. Anybody can file Gin Saws with it. Requires no practice. Does its work as it should be done aod ten times faster than by hand Every machine warranted. Price Si2. Pays for itself every season.. Order from J N. SUTHERLAND, Belton, S- C. IF YOU WANT TO BUY an Engine, Boiler, Wood-Working Machinery of any kind ; Saw Mill, Machine Tools or Machinery of any kind for wood or iron working, do cot fail to consult the undersigned, who bas for sale all kinds of Engines and Boilers and Wood ann Irori Working Machinery, both new and secondhand, at prices that simply defy competition. Let roe know your wants and prices will be named. If you want to sell Eugine, Boiler or Machinery of acy kind, de? scribe it and address Ang 3 J. N. SUTHERLAND, Belton, 8. C. 5 TON WAGON SCALES. Ira. L?Ten. 8twt B*?rf.?*. li Tm Sw? *cd Bot-rt 8.1, .nd JOXKS bt part th? fr*if*t-io.- 1m frit? LUt mantto* th<? ? ?jun ?FI GIN INSURANCE. AWHITE & SOX are prepared to # take Insurance Risks on Gina and Gio Houses, in first class English Companies. Aug 31_ NOTICE Opening Books of Subscrip? tions ? -TO TH? Manchester & Augusta RaUratf* STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. NOTICE is hereby given that the under? signed, being three of the Commission? ers named in the Act of the General Assembly of the State of Sooth Carolina approved Feb? ruary 26tb, 1870, entitled an Act "To Char* ter the Manchester and Augusta Railroad Company," inasmuch as a majority of tho Commissioners appointed under said act, have failed to fix the time and place for receiving subscriptions, have decided to opeo books for subscription to the Capital Stock of said Com? pany at Sumter C. H., S. C., at Florence, Darlington County, So. Ca., and at Marton C. H., on the 6th day of October, 1886, and that Books for Subscription to Capital Stock of the Manchester and Augusta Railroad Company will be then and there opened and stand open for thirty days from and after tba said 6th day of October, 1886, for receiving subscriptions in shares 'of $100 each to said stock, to the extent of five millions of dollars, and that on each share of stock subscribed, the subscriber will be required to pay two dollars per share. The direction of said road as required by the Charter is "from some point oo (tho then) Wilmington and Manchester Railroad to the Town of Hamburg, S. C., or near that place.' ' W. W. HARLLEE, ) THOS. D. MCDOWELL, VCom'n, J. S. RICHARDSON. J August 31, 1886._______ Estate of William Keels, 84%, Deceaseds ALL PERSONS HOLDING CLAIMS against said Estate will present tho same, duly attested, and all persons io any way indebted to said Estate, will make pay* ment without delay to WM. J. KEELS, Aug 24, 1886. Qualified Executor. FOB SALE The following Second-hand Machiaery, is good repair : ONE SIX-HORSE ENGINE, (New York Safetv Steam Power Co.) ON? FORTY-SAW WINSHIP GIN, with Feeder and Condenser. ONE HAND-POWER COTTON PRESS. For particulars address. _W. J. JENNINGS, Sumter, S. C._ J. B, KILLOUGH, Manager of Lodden* Bates' Southern Hou? . has opened au office in Sumter. Leave your orders for Musical Instrumenta and Mustcal Merchandise. __. You will find in stock Domestic, White and New Home Machines, Oil and Nwdtot tor all Machines. J. CHESTNUT August 3 Manager,