Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THK SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April. 1 S50. "Be Just and Fear nor-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THK TKL'E SOUTHRON, Established June, 1S66 SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1895. New Series-Vol. XIV. So. 45. Published Every Wednesday, -BY JV. esk Osteen, SUMTER, S, C. TERMS : Two Dollars per an o urn-in advance. ADVERTISEMENT: One Square first insertion.......?1 00 Every subs?quent insertion. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer will be made at reduced rates. All communications which subserve private interests will becharged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be charged for. The Sign of The Four. In the early dawn I woke wita a start, and was surprised to find him * standing by my bedside clad in a rude sailor's dress, with a peajacket, and a coarse red scarf round his neck. **I am off down the river. Watson," said he. "I have been turning- it o- r in my mind, and I can see only one way out of it. It is worth trying", at all events." "Surely I can come with yon, then," said I. "No: you can be much more useful if you will remain here as my represent? ative. I am loath togo, for it is quite on the cards that some message may come during- thc day. thoug-h Wig-gins was despondent about it last night. I want you to open all notes and tele grams, and to act on your own judg ment if any news should come. Can I | rely upon you?" "Most certainly." "I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me, for I can hardly tell yet where I may find myself. If I am in luck, however, I may not be gone so very long. I shall have news of some sort or other before I get back.** Thad heard nothing of him by break? fast time. On opening the Standard, however, I found that there was a fresh allusion to the business. "With reference to the Upper Norwood trag? edy," it remarked, "we have reason to believe that the matter promises to be even more complex and mysterious than was, originally supposed. Fresh evidence has shown that it is quite im? possible that Mr. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter, lie and the house? keeper. Mrs. Bcrnstone. were both re? leased yesterday evening. It is be? lieved, however, that the police have a clew to the real culprits, and that it is being prosecuted by Mr. Athelney Jones, of Scotland Yard, with all his well-known energy and sagacity. Fur? ther arrests may be expected at any moment." "That is satisfactory so far as it goes,*" thought I. "Friend Sholto is safe at any rate. I wonder what the fresh clew may be: though it seems to be a stereotyped form whenever the police have made a blunder." I tossed the paper down upon the ta? ble, but at that moment my eye caught an advertisement in the agony column. It ran in this way: "LOST. - Whereas Mo? decai Smith, boatman, and his son Jim left Smith's wharf -at or about three o'clock last Tuesday morning in the steam launch Aurora, black with two red stripes, funnel black with a white band, the sum of five pounds will be paid to any? one who can give information to Mrs. Smith, at Smith's wharf, or at 221 b Baker street, as to the whereabouts of the said Mordecai Smith and the launch Aurora.'* This was clearly Holmes* doing. The Baker street address was enough to prove that. It struck me as rather in? genious, because it might be read by the fugitives without their seeing in it more- than the natural anxiety of a wife for her missing husband. It was a long day. Every time that a knock came to the door, or a sharp step passed in the street, I imagined that it was either Holmes returning or an. answejr jto_ his' advertisement. I tried to read, but my thoughts would wander oft* to our strange quest and to the ill-assorted and villainous pair whom we were pursuing. Could there be, I wondered, some radi? cal flaw in my companion's reason? ing? Mig-ht he be suffering from some huge self-deception? Was it not possible that his nimble and specu? lative mind had built up this wild theory upon faulty 'premises? I had never known him to be wrong: and yet the keenest reasoner may occasionally be deceived. He was likely. I thought, to fall into error through the over? refinement of his logie-his preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a plainer and more f com mon place one lay ready to his hand. Yet. on the other hand, I had myself seer the evidence, and I had heard the rea? sons for his deductions. When I looker; back on the long chain of curious cir cumstances. many of them trivial ir themselves, but all tending in the same direction. I could not disguise fr?re myself that even if Holmes* explana? tion were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling. At three o'clock in the afternoon there was a loud peal at the bell, an authoritative voice in the hall, and. tc rry surprise, no less a person than Mr. Athelney Jones was shown up to me. Very different was he. however, from the brusque and masterful professor oi common sense who had taken over the case so confidently at Upper Norwood. i *As expression was uO^Ic?st, and his I "bearing meek and even apologetic.. "Oood day, sir: pood day,'' said he. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes is out, I under? stand." .'Yes. and I cannot be sure when he will be back. But perhaps you would care to wait. Take that chair and try ene of these cigars/' "Thank you; I don't mind if I do,v said he, mopping- his face with a red bandanna handkerchief. "And a whisky-and-soda?" "Weil, half a glass. It is very hot for the time of year; and I have had a good deal to worry and try me. You know my theory about this forwood case?*' "I remember that you expressed one." ."Well, I have been obliged to recon* sider it. I had my net drawn tightly round Mr. Sholto. sir, when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it. Ile was able to prove an alibi which could not be shaken. From the time that he left his brothers room he was never out of sight of some one or other. ?So it could not be he who climbed over roofs and through trap-doors. It's a very dark case, and my professional credit is at stake. I should be very glad of a little assistance." "We all need help sometimes," said I. "Your friend. Mr. Sherlock Holmes, is a wonderful man. sir,*' said he, in a husky and confidential voice. .'He's a man who is not to be beat. I have known that young man go into a good mau? -ases, but I never saw the eas*. yet that he could not throw a light, upon. He is irregular in his methods, and a little quick, perhaps, in jumping at theories, but, on the whole, I think he would have made a most promising officer, arid I don't care who knows it. I have had a wire from him this morn? ing, by which I understand that he has got some clew to this Sholto business. Here is his message."' He took the telegram out of his pocket, and handed it to me. It was dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock. "Go to Baker street at once,*' it said. "If I hare not returned, wait for me. I am close on the track of the Sholto gang. You can come with us to-night if you want to be in at the finish." "This sounds weU. He has evidently picked up the scent again," said I. "Ah. then he has been at fault too," exclaimed Jones, with evident satisfac? tion. "Even the best of us are thrown I off sometimes. Of course this may prove to be a false alarm; but it is my duty as an officer of the law to allow no enanco to slip. Bat there is some one at the door. Perhaps this is he." A heavy step w;is heard ascending the stairs, with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who was sorely put to it for breath. Once or twice he stopped, as though the climb was too much for him, but at last he made his way to our door and entered. His ap? pearance corresponded to the sounds which we had heard. He was an aged ! man, clad in seafaring garb, with an old peajacket buttoned up to his throat. His back was bowed, his knees were shaky, and his breathing was painfully asthmatic. As he leaned ; upon a thick oaken cudgel his shoul? ders heaved in the effort to draw air ! into his lungs. Ile had a colored scarf round his chin, and I could see little of his face save a pair of keen dark eyes, overhung by bushy white brows, and "W?JAT IS IT, MY MAN*?" I ASKED. long gray side-whiskers. Ai toge euer he gave me the impression of a re? spectable master marriner who had fallen into years and poverty. "What is it, my man?" I asked. He looked about him in the slow me? thodical fashion of old age. "ls Mr. Sherlock Holmes here?" said he. "Xo: but I am acting for him. You can tell me any message you have for him." "It was to him himself I was to tell it," said he. "liut I tell you that I am neting for him. Was it about Mordecai Smith's boat?" ''Yes. I knows well where it is. An' I knows where the men he is after are. An' 1 knows where the treasure is. I knows all aboutit.*' "Then tell me, and I shall let him know.*1 "It was to him I was to tell it." he repeated, with thc petulant obstinacy of a very old man. "Well, you must wait f<>r him." "N<>. no; I ain't, goin' to lose a whole day to please no one. If Mr. Holmes : ain't here, then Mr. Holmes must find j it all out for himself. I don't care about the look of either of you, and I j won't tell a word." He shuffled towards the door, but | Athelney .Iones got in front of him. "Wait a bit. my friend." said he. "You have important information, and you must not walk off. We shall keep you. whether yoi: like or not. until our friend returns." Tlie old man made a little nm to? wards the door, but. as Athelney Jones put his broad back up against it. he recognized the uselessness of resistance. "Pretty sort o" treatment this!" he cried, stamping his stick. "I come here to see a gentleman, and you two. who I never saw in my life, seize me and treat me in this fashion'" "You will be none the "vjrse." I said. "We shall recompense you for the loss of your time. Sit over here on the sofa, and you will net have long to wait." lie came across sullenly enough, and seated himself with his face resting on his hands. Jones and I resumed our cigars and our talk. Suddenly7, how? ever. Holmes" voice broke in upon us. "I think that you might offer me a cigar, too," he said. We both started in our chairs. There was Holmes s-t.ting close to us with an air of quiet amusement. "Holmes!" I exclaimed. "You here! But where is the old man?" "Here is the old man," said he, hold? ing out a heap of white hair. "Here he is-wig, whiskers, eyebrows, and all. I thought my disguise was pretty good, but I hardly expected that it would stand that test." "Ah, you rogue!" cried Jones, highly delighted. "You would have made an actor, and a rare one. You had the proper workhouse cough, and those weak legs of yours are worth ten pound a week. I thought I knew the glint of your eye. though. You didn't get away from us so easily, you see." "I have been working in that get-up ! all day," said he. lighting his cigar. "You see, a good many of the criminal classes begin to know me-especially since our friend here took to publish? ing some of my cases: so I can only go DU the warpath under some simple dis? guise like this. You got my wire?" "Yes: that was what brought me here." "How has your case prosperec?" **It has all come to nothing. I have had to r ;lease two of my prisoners, and there is no evidence against the other two." "Never mind. We shall give you two others in the place of them. But you must put yourself under my orders. You are welcome to all the official credit, but you must act on the lines that I point out. Is that agreed?" "Entirely, if you will help me to the men." "Well, then, in the first place I shall want a fastpolice-boat-a steam launch -to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock." "That is easily managed. There is always one about there: but I can step across the road and telephone to make sure." "Then I shall want two stanch men, in case of resistance." "There will be two or three in the boat. What else?" "When we secure the men we shall get thc treasure. I think that it would be a pleasure to my friend here to take the box round to the young lady to whom half of it rightfully belongs. Let her be the first to open it. Eh, Watson?" "It would be a ffreat pleasure to me."' "Rather an irregular proceeding." said Jones, shaking his head. "How? ever, the whole thing is irregular, and I suppose we must wink at it. The treasure must afterwards be handed over to the authorities until after the official investigation." "Certainly. That is easily managed. One other point. I should like much to have a few details about this matter from the lips of Jonathan Small him? self. You know I like to work the de? tail of my cases out. There is no ob? jection to my having an unofficial in? terview with him either here in my rooms or elsewhere, as long as he is ef? ficiently guarded?" "Well, you are ma . - o* he situa? tion. I have had no ^fs yet of the existence of Jonathan Small. How? ever, if you can catch him. I don't see how I can refuse you an interview with him." "That is understood, then?" "Perfectly. Is there anything else?*' "Only that 1 insist upon your dining with us. It will be ready in half an hour. I have oysters and a brace of grouse, with something a little fhoice in white wine. Watson, you have never yet recognized my merits as a house? keeper " CHAPTER X. TTO END OF TUE ISLANDER. Our meal was a merry one. Holmes eould talk exceedingly well when he chose, and that night he did choose. He appeared-to be in a state of nerv? ous exaltation I have never known him so brilliant. He spoke on a quick succession of subjects,-on miracle plays, on medieval pottery, on Stradi? varius violins, on the Buddhism of Cey? lon, and on the warships of the fu? ture-handling each as though he had made a special study of it. His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of the preceding days. Athelney Jones proved to Ix4 a sociable soul in his hours of relaxation, and faced his dinner with the air of a bon vivant. For myself, I felt elated at the thought that wc were nearing the , end of oar task, and I caught some? thing of Holmes' gaycty. None of u> alluded during dinner t^? the cause 1 which had brought us together. , When the cloth was cleared Holmes glanced at hi*; watch and filled up ; , three glasses with port. "One I . bumper." said hr. "to the success of j our little expedition. And now it is i : high time we were off. ?lave you a j , pistol. Watson?" i ] "I have my old service revolver in my desk." "You had l>est take it. then. It is j , well to be prepared. I see the cab is I ] st th? co?r. T ordered ii for half-past six.'* It was a little past seven before vre reached the Westminster wharf and found our launch awaiting- us. Holmes eyed it critically. "Is there anything- to mark it as a police boat?"' "Yes-that green lamp at the side." "Then take it off." The small change was made, we stepped on board, and the ropes were JONES, HOLMES AND I SAT ON THE DECK. east off. Jones, Holmes and I sat in. the stern. There was one man at the rudder, one to tend the engines, and two burly police inspectors forward. "Where to?*' asked Jones. "To the tower. Tell them to stop opposite to Jacobson's yard. " Our craft was evidently a very fast one. We shot past the long lines of loaded barges as though they were sta? tionary. Holmes smiled with satisfac? tion as we overhauled a river steam? er and left her behind us. "We ought to be able to catch any? thing on the river," he said. "Well, hardly that. But there are not many launches to beat us." "We shall have to catch the Aurora, and she has a name for being a clipper. I will tell you how the land lies, Wat? son. You recollect how annoyed I was at being balked bv so small a thing?" "Yes." "Well, I ?-ave my mind a thorough rest cy plunging into a chemical analysis. One of our greatest states? men has said that a change of work is the best rest. So it is. When I had succeeded in dissolving the hydrocar? bon which I was at work at. I cam?? back to our problem of the Sholtos. and thought the whole matter out again. My boys had been up the river and down the river without result. The launch was not at any landing stage or wharf, nor had it returned. Yet it could hardly have been scuttled to hide their traces though that always remained as a pos? sible hypothesis if all else failed. I knew that this man Small had a cer? tain degree of low cunning, but I did not think him capable of anything in the nature of delicate finesse. That is usually a product of higher education. I then reflected that since he had cer? tainly been in London some time-as we had evidence that he maintained a continual watch over Pondicherry lodge-he could hardly leave at a mo? ment's notice, but would need some little time, if it were only a day, to arrange his affairs. That was the bal? ance of probability, at any rate." "It seems to me to be a little weak," said I. "It is more probable that he had arranged his affairs before ever he set out upon his expedition.'" "No. I hardly think so. This lair of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he could do without it. Hut a second consideration struck me: Jonathan Small must have felt that the peculiar appearance of his companion, however much he maj* have top-coated him. would trivc ris<> td gossip, and possibly bc associated with ..is Norwood tragedy. Ile was quite sharp enough to see that. They had started from their headquarters under cover of darkness, and he j would wish to get back before it was broad light. Now, it was past three o'clock, according to Mrs. Smith, when they got the boat. It would be quite bright, and people would be about in an hour or eo. Therefore, I argued, they did not go very far. They paid Smith well to hold his tongue, reserved his launch for the final escape, and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure-box. In a couple of nights, when they had time to see what view the papers took, and whether there was any suspicion, they would make their way under cover of darkness to some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs, where no doubt they had al? ready arranged for passages to America or the colonies." ?'But the launch? They could not have taken that to their lodgings." "Ouite so. I argued that the launch must be no great way off. in spite of its invisibility. I then put myself in thc place of Small, and looked at it as a man of his capacit\- would. He would probably consider that to send back the launch or to keep it ata vvharf would make pursuit easy if the police did happen to [rot on his track. How. then, could he conceal thc launch and yet have her at hand when wanted? I wondered what I should ?lo myself if I were in his shoes. I could only think J of one way of doing it. I might hand j the launch over to some boatbuilder ur repairer, with directions i<> make a j trilling cha nge in her. She would then j bc removed to his shed o: yard, and so be effectually concealed, while at thc same time I could have her at a few hours' notice." "That seems simple enough." "It is inst these very simple tirings cvhich are extremely liable to be over- j looked. However. I determined to act I on the idea. I started at once in this harmless seaman's rig and inquired at ail the yards down the river. I drew blank at fifteen, but at the sixteenth Jacobsen's-? learned that the Aurora had been handed over to them two days ago by a wooden-legged man, with some trivial directions as to her rudder. 'There ain't naught amiss with her rudder,* said the foreman. 'There she lies, with the red streaks.' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith, the missing owner? lie was rather the worse for liquor. I should not, of course, have known him, but he bellowed out his name and the name of his launch. -;'I want her to-night at eight o'clock." said he-'at eight o'clock sharp, mind, for I have two gentlemen who won't be kept waiting.' They had evi? dently paid him well, for he was very flush of money, chucking shillings about to the men. I followed him some distance, but he subsided in an ale house: so I went back to the yard, and, happening to pick up one of my boys on the way, I stationed him as a sentry over the launch. He is to stand at the water's edge and wave his handkerchief to us when they start. We shall be lying off in the stream, and it will bea strange thing if we do not take men, treasure and all." "You have planned it all very neatly, whether thev are the right men or i not." said Jones: "but if the affair were in my hands I .hould have had a body of police in Jacobson's yard, and arrested them when they came down." "Which would have been never. This man Small is a pretty- shrewd fellow. He would send a scout on ahead, and if anything made him suspicious he would lie snug for another week." "But you might have stuck to Mordecai Smith, and so been led to their hiding-place," said I. "In that case I should have wasted my day. I think that it is a hundred to one against Smith knowing where they live. As long as he has liquor and good pay, why should he ask ques? tions? They send him messages what to do. No, I thought over every pos- { sible course, and this is the best" While this conversation had been proceeding, we had been shooting the long series of bridges which span the Thames. As we passed the city the last rays of the sun were gilding the cross upon the summit of St. Paul's. It was twilight before we reached the tower. "That is Jacobson's yard," said Holmes, pointing to a bristle of masts and rigging on the Surrey side. I "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters." He I took a pair of night glasses from his j rocket and gazed some time at the shore. "I see my sentry at his post,*' he remarked, "but no sign of a hand kerehk f." "Suppose we go down stream a short way and lie in wait for them," said Jones, eagerly. We were all eager by ! this time, even the policemen and stok? ers, who had a very vague idea of what j was going forward. "We have no right to take any? thing for granted/'' Holmes answered. "It is certainly ten to one that they go down stream, but we cannot be certain. From this point we can see the en? trance to the yard, and they can hardly see us. It will be a clear night and ? plenty of light. We, must stay where we are. See how the folk swarm over yonder in the gaslight." "They are coming from work in the ' yard." "I)irty-lo( king rascals, but I sup? pose every one has some little immortal spark concealed about him. You j would not think it, to look at them. There is no a pr: ri probability about it. A strange enigma is man!" "Some one calls him a soul concealed in an animal." I "suggested. "Winwood Reade is good upon the subject." said Hohnes. "Ile remarks that, while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle, ir. the aggregate he becomes a mathematical certainty. You can. for example, never foretell what any one man will do. but you can say with precision what an average number will be up to. Individuals vary, but percentages remain constant. So says tile statistician. But do I see a handkerchief? Surely there is a white flutter over yonder." "Yes. it is your boy," I cried. "I can see him plainly." "And there is the Aurora." exclaimed ? Holmes, "and going like the devil! j Full speed ahead, engineer. Make aft<T that laur: h with the yellow light. By heaven, I shall never for? give myself if she proves to lia ve the heels of us!" She had slipped unseen through the yard entrance and passed behind two j or three small craft, so that she had I fairly got lier speed up before we saw her. Now she was flying down the i stream, near in to the shore, going at a tremendous rate. Jones looked gravely at lier and shook Iiis head. "She is very fast." he said. "I doubt if we shall catch lier.*' "We must catch her!" cried Holmes, between his teeth. "Heap it on, stokers! Malic her do all she can! If wc burn the boat wc must have them!" Wc were fairly after h?r now. The furnaces roared, and the powerful en? gine.- v. Iii:..'-. ? and clanked, like a great metallic heart, lier sharp, steep prow cut through the still river water and Highest cf all in Leavening Pow sent two rolling waves to rii'Tit ?nuTo left of us. With every throb of the en? gines wc sprang and quivered like a living thing. One great yellow lan? tern in our bows threw a long, flicker? ing funnel of li^rht in front of us. Eight ahead a dark blur upon the wa? ter showed where the Aurora lay. and the swirl of white foam behind her spoke of the pace at which she was go? ing. We flashed past barges, steamers, merchant-vessels, in and out, behind this one and round the other. Voices hailed us out of the darkness, but still the Aurora thundered on. and still we followed close upon her track. "Pile it on, men, pile it on!" cried Holmes, looking down into the engine room, while the fierce glow from be? low beat upon his eager, aquiline face. "Get every pound of steam you can." "I think we gain a little."' said Jones, with his eyes on the Aurora. "I am sure of it." said I. "We shall be up with her in a very few min? utes." _ TO BS CONTINUED. SVAERHOLT KLUBBEN. A Wonderful Northern Cliff Containing Three Thousand Gulls' Nests. Within the arctic circle are the great bird colonies. The largest and most remarkable is that of Svaerholt Klub ben, says the Fortnightly Review. Every inch of this wonderful cliff, which rises about one thousand feet from the water's edge and is of consid? erably greater breadth, maj- be said to be used by the birds. The discharge I of a small cannon in the immediate neighborhood will darken the air with millions of birds, but even then a field glass will reveal the innumerable ledges white with other undisturbed millions. These consist almost entirely of the small gull (Rissa tridactyla). and they are a source of considerable income to the owner of the colony-, who lives at ] the little fishing station close by. About the middle of May every year, by means of a long ladder placed against the foot of the cliff, he proceeds to collect the eggs. Of these there are at most three to each nest, and the num? ber taken averages from five thousand to ten thousand annually, or the produce of, say, three thousand pairs of birds. Ropes are not used for this purpose at Svaerholt as they are in the Faroe isles, so that the highest cf the above figures represent only a very small percentage of the yearly pro? duction of the colony, as far the great? er portion of the cliff face, where the nests arc packed as closely as they can be. remains absolutely untouched. The food c* these multitudes of birds during the summer months consists for the most part of fish spawn (more par? ticularly that of the codfish, which is abundant in these northern waters'), and of the small crustacea, which are driven to and fro by the currents along the coast in immense masses. To the latter belong the tiny organisms Calanus Finmarchicus and Euphausia inermis, the favorite food respectively of the whales. Balaenoptera borealis and B. Sibbaldii. when these giants ap? proach the mouths of the great fjords in July and August. Ia winter the famous cliff is completely deserted. By the end of August tho young gulls are able to take care of themselves and all take their departure, to return no more until the following year in the month of March. CROSS-EXAMINING A WOMAN. Sot an Kasy Job When the Lawyer Tries to Trip II is Witness. A dialogue about Heaven took place between a member cf the Baltimore countv bar and a lady eighty-two years old. who was ?ruler examination in an equity ease, says the Baltimore Sun. The lawyer, to test thc lady's faith in the hereafter, asked her if she thought ! thej- would know each other in Heaven. She replied by asking him another question as to where Heaven was. His reply was not satisfactory to the old lady, and she told the lawyer that if he wanted to question her about any place he must locate it. Then she added: "Of course we will know each other in Heaven, for our bodies will bc the same there, except that we will not have any blood in us." The lawyer next asked her if she thought people would have teeth in Heaven. She said she could not answer that definitely but she thought they would. "One thing was certain." she added, "people would have teeth in the place allotted to the wicked, and she could prove it by Scripture." "How can you prove it?" said the lawyer. "Why." she re? plied, "the Scripture says the wicked shall be turned into utter darkness, where there shall be weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, and how could they gnash their teeth if they did not have any?" The attorney did not pro? ceed any further on that Mne of exam? ination. The Fatal Word. "My darling." lu exclaimed, raptar? ously. "How brilliant you are. You fairly-er-bristle with ideas-" The Chicago girl drew herself up to her full height and brushed him haughtily aside a^ she swept out of thc loom. "You seem to forget"-sire turned on her heel at the door aud faced him "tiKit ? carmo: bro?, u any reference tc mr 'a: ii"r s business." -X. Y. World. cr.- Latest U. S. Gov't Report Baking , Powder ELY PURE