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Russia's Gold Offer. ; Question of Acceptance Not Yet Definitely Settled. KOBE DETAILS OF THE AF? FAIR. Washington Post. The exclusive announcement in The Post yesterday morning that Russia had offered to share with tin's country one-half of her enormous stock of gold created, as might have been expected, the most intense interest in financial, political and official circles. The definite detail with which the announcement was made was sufficient evidence of its verity, and consequently the propo? sition was discussed with a full ap? preciation of its existence. Although the offer of Russia was, in fact, the only topic of conversa? tion yesterday, dwarfing even the occurrence of the greatest holiday of the year, tiiere is really little sub? stantial importance to add to the very complete statements which The Post has already made. It was said yesterday that under the stress of a constantly raided gold reserve, and the apparent impossibility of secur? ing from English capitalists anything like a sufficient amount to replete that reserve except at exorbitant terms, this government had applied to Russia for assistance, with the knowledge that Russia has to day the largest store of gold of any "".puntry in the world The appeal Aras responded to at once in the most liberal manner by the offer of at least $400,000,000 gold, to be loan? ed, if necessary, without interest. An inkling of this situation reaching the ears of the Rothschilds, the rep? resentatives of that great financial house came here to offer to the President all the gold that this coun? try might need upon terms more advantageous to us than had ever before been conceded under any cir? cumstances. It was to make this proffer that J. Pierpont Morgan came to Washington on Tuesday, and hav? ing made it, he left for New York to report that he had executed his mis sion, but that be had not been posi? tively advised as to the the position which this country would take As the natural result of the publi? cation in The Post, the members of the cabinet and other officials of the government were yesterday besieged for information regarding Russia's offer. While none of them would discuss the matter, none of them was in 4 position to deny the accu? racy of the circumstantial story. It is learned, however, in addition to what was printed yesterday, that it would have been possible for this country to have availed itself of Russia's gold supply at the time of the last dain upon the gold reserve, for the willingness of that country to come to our financial .assistance was made known to Mr. Cleveland at that time. The offer was then made to Secretary Gresham through Prince Cantacuzene, then Russian minister to Washington. The impression seems to now obtain that this was the last of the affair, because at that time the President saw fit to obtain gold from other sources. This was not the case. It was the knowledge of this former offer, then made with? out solicitation, which led the Presi? dent quite recently io look to Russia for the gold which this country finds it so difficult to secure and hold. It is true, however, that the offer had nothing.even in the most remote way, to do with the critical stage reached by the Venezuelan difficulty. That | stage had not, in fact, been reached when the negotiations for gold were resumed, and it can be said that there is not the slightest intention on the part of either government to enter into a military alliance either now or in the future. The condition is purely a financial one, and has no bearing upon possible disagreement with Great Britain. Russia's inter? ests are, of course, with the United States, and if her gold is taken now it will be accepted in the spirit of friendliness in which it is offered. RUSSIAN GOLD MAY BE ACCEPTED. The situation remains in the same uncertain state in which Mr. Morgan left it on Tuesday evening. Com? munications have passed freely be? tween the capitals of the United States and Russsia, and there is an impression, which is not, however, absolutely confirmed by the word of any one familiar with the negotia? tions, that the gold which this coun? try needs will come from Russia A prominet western senator, who has given considerable attention to finan? cial matters, said to the representa? tive of The Post yesterday that he would predict, without being defi? nitely aquainted with the purposes of the President, such a result. It would, he said, be the most natural elusion at which to arrive for the reason that, pending the Venezuelan trouble, the President would hardly care to publicly announce the fact thot he had entered into an arrange? ment with British capitalists for a large supply of gold. On the other band, if Rnssia took the bond issue, there would be little or no criticism, except from those who are opposed to a bond issue under any circum- ! stances whatever. The attitude of Russia towards the United States has always been of the most friendly j character, and there is a very gene popular sentiment for her in this corj try. With England the case is d ferent, and for the United States go still further into debt to that coi try would arouse a widespread pi judice. Had there been no publicit the senator said, another bond iss might have been negotiated with t Rothschilds without any more th the usual amount of criticism, b nowjthat the people knew that Ru sia had tendered us her gold, it won be suicidal for the administration enter into any agreement except wi that country. A PROBABLE MESSAGE TO CONGRESS There is a probability that Co gres8 will have to deal, at least inc rectly, with this all important que tion. The President, as soon as determination is reached in the ss < ter, will probably advise Congre-t n what has been done, just as he a nounced the placing of the last loi under a special contract in a messa? to Congress last February. Dilige inquiry was made yesterday by tl reporter of The Post for some info raation as to the time of the appea ance of this message, and while it c< be said that upon this point no deci ion has been reached, the likelihot is that it will not be sent to Congre immediately. In the first place, tl negotiations have not yet been cor plete?, and in the second place, tl President will probably await furth< developments in the direction of e: ports of gold. When the last bon call was issued, the reserve was do^ to a little over $41,000,000 It now $66,000,000, and it will probi bly be allowed to shrink to ?50,000 000 before the new deal is close? Just what effect the negotiatior with developments in the direction < exports is doubtful The knowledg that Russia 6tands ready to plac any amount of specie at our dispos and that a bond issue, if made, cai not be handled through Wall stree may serve as a check upon the prei ent speculations in the metal. Thei is, however, a possibility that havin been thwarted in the effort to fore another bond issup, the exporte) may decide to embarrass thiscountr as much as possible and ship gold i order to drain the reserve to its low est point. Whichever course S taken the administration is now in position to be indifferent It hi pointed out to Congress the dan?( which Hes in the presence of tl] greenbacks, but as that danger wi not be removed, and as gold is ol j tainable, the President will procee to secure it at the best possible term from a friendly nation. RUSSIAN STOCK OF THE METAL. Figures obtained yesterday at th treasury department show that th stock of gold held by Russia, so fa as any public record is made of tba holding, is $422,000,000, or onl; $22,000,000 in addition to the sur which she is 6aid to have offered ti the United States Those familia with the financial condition of Rus sia say, however, that she has withii immediate call, if not in her secre coffers, an aggregate of nearly $1, 000,000,000 in gold For severa years Russia has been systematically gathering all the available gold of th? world Her action has been influ enced by many reasons, notably a de sire to maintain her immense stoct of silver at a parity with gold, anc also to furnish the capital for the railroad and commercial developmen; of her enormous Siberian territory but more especially for the purpose of controlling Europe through the most powerful factor, money. A dis tinguished member of her financial office, when in Washington some time ago, stated in a conversation with a prominent senator, that hie government believed that if it held the purse strings of Europe it would secure more immunity from war than it could expect even from the main? tenance of its large army. It was said to the representative of The Post yesterday that the great panic caused by the failure of the Barings two years or more ago was due to the sudden call made by Russia foi some outstanding goid, and the ef? fect of that manoeuver convinced Rus sia that she had but to hint of similar purposes in the future to be 'absolute master of any situation SENATOR CHANDLER'S VIEW OF THE OF* ER. Senator Chandler offers a very in? genious theory as to Russia's motive in at this time offerng gold to the United States. "To me," he said, "her purpose is very plain. To start with Russia is reported to have recently hoarded considerable gold. Why has 6he done this? Because this is the only kind of money of material use in time of war Russia may not antici? pate trouble with England immedi? ately, but she looks far ahead, and is always prepared for emergencies. Now, assuming that the Russian government has ,$800,000,000 in gold stored away in its vaults, how can this money be handled in war times. Is it not dangerous to have such a large sum all at one place ''. Is it net a good strategic move to have a por? tion of it so distributed that it may be at the most convenient place for the purchase of war supplies't "Great naval powers have their supply depots and coaling stations in various parts of the world. Russia : is shrewd, and believes it should have a station, so to speak, for its gold supply. The United States above all ether countries is the one place where it would like to store its gold It is upon this country that Russia will depend largely for provisions, munitions of war, etc , in case of! war with Great Britain. It would be a- much simpler matter to draw bills of exchange upon United States bonds, secured as a result of gold deposit in this country, than to at tempt to ship gold direct fnm Rus? sia in payment of such supp'les In war times paper currency would be used by Russia for purchases in her own territory, but for everything ob? tained from other countries gold is necessary, and it is certainly much more convenient to have it rear the point of payment than to have it stored in the government vaults, and subject to the danger of shipment." BLADON SHOT DE AD. He Meets His Pate in ?i Per? sonal Difficulty. Specisl to the State. JOHNSTON, Dec. 26.-Jack Bladon was killed night before last by Mr. John Buzzard near Triinity church, on the Chappell^ Ferry road. lt seems that the two had a political difficulty last summer, but all thought it had been made up They met in the road, and from information gath? ered they were both in liquor. A few words passed, and then came the shoot? ing. All the evidence says Bladon shot first with a pistol and Buzzard followed with a double-barrelled shot? gun. One shot was all that was Deeded, taking effect in the heart, and killing Bladon almost instantly. He never spoke after he was shot. Bladon was the man who killed the negro ir Spar tanburg (when he was a spy) while the negro was running to get away. Bladon was tried, convioted and sen? tenced to be hung, but Governor Till? man pardoned bim. Bladon came very near getting into a row with some one else before he was killed. Big Blaze in Baltimore. BALTIMORE, Dec. 27-The ccost ex? citing fire that has occured in this city recently began a minute or to two past 12 o'clock this morning at the corner of Charles arjd Baltimore streets and fefore the flarne8 were extinguished $350,000 had gone up in smoke. The fire was discovered in the four story iron building occupied by Oehm & Co , one of the largest clothing estab? lishments in the city. The flames ex? tended to the upper storiss of the mam? moth millinery and that of Armstrong, Cator & Co , on Baltimore streei;, and their million dollar stack was threatened with a heavy fire and water loss. The fire, however, was coD?oed to the top of the building. The fire also communicated to other establisbmeots on South Charles street, causing many losses The losses arc estimated as follows: Oehm & Co., $200,000 on stock : the Abell estate, Canfield estate and Murdoch estate, owners of the buildings occupied by Oehm & Co., ?125,000; Armstrong, Cator & Co., and other small losers, ?25,000. The losses are all covered by insurance. Oehm & Co., has the contract with the United States government for the manufacture of ali letter carriers' and other uniforms purchased by the govern? ment, and many cadet uniforms. The firm employed 200 men. Flying sparks set fire to the ware? house of Wm. J, Dickey & Sons at 16 Light street, entailing a loss of ?10, 000. Other buildings in the neigh? borhood also suffered to some extent. POUR MEN KILLED. Fatal Consequences of a Col? lision of Freight Trains. ATLANTA, Dec. 26.-W. O. Shell and D. Wood, firemen on the Georgia Pacific, anda brakeman named Doyle, all negroes were killed in a collision this morniug and CDgineer Wood, white, was mortally wounded. The two freight traios met near Peyton, Ga. Both engines were badly torn up. The fireman and the brakeman, Doyle, wero instantly killed. Engineer Wood was injured and died after be was brought to Atlanta. Five tramps who were stealing rides, were injured and are at. the Grady hospital. One of them is seriously hurt, but the others will recover. The eastbound train was running ex tra. The westbound was ordered to wait at Peyton for the eastbound to pass but Engineer Wood said before he died that the operator did not deliver any order to him. Thc injured tramps arc Thos. Keerje, Thoa. Gleason, J. Tierny, John W. Gibbons, Patterson. N. J., and Otto Bcrnida, Germany. These were all in a box car nest to the tender on thc eastbound train They got ia it at Bir? mingham at:d were coming to the expo? sition. Trains were delayed five hours by thc wreck. Engineer Roberts of the extra train was not hurt much. Blairs pen and :>tncii tablets,stationery of all kinds, ink, pens, pencils, blank boo1'.;, typewriter supplies, etc., at H. G. Osteen ? GV.?., Liberty Streei, next to Watchman and Southron oiHce. Thc novel, entitled "The Hand of Fdic,' by Miss Kate Lilly Blue, cf Marion, S. C., is \ or sale by H. G. Osteen & Co. ] EXECUTORS' SALE. THE EXECUTORS OF DR. S. C. C. Richardson, denser), will offer nt pub? lic sn'e, at Sumter Court House, on nest Snlesday, the firs? .Monday in Januarv, 1S96, the plantation known HS th;- J. J Knox or W. i). Blandina place, about 7 miles above the City of Sumter, on th- road to Provi? dence ; to he sold in two parcels. One on which is the reridence, containing 763 and 7-10H'*res. represented on a plat made hy J. R. Ainsworth, surveyor. T^e other, on the other side of said road, containing aoout 100 *cre3 Terra?-one-third cash, the balance on a I credit of one and two years, in ?qia! instal? ments-, hearing intered at 8 per cei.t , paya? ble annually until the whole be p*id ; 'o be secured by bo.id and mortgage. The pur? chasers to pay for papers and recording. The taid Executors also offer, at private sale, on similar terms, if desired, other tracts belonging to the estate of said deceased 1. The Isham Moore tract, 91 acres. 2. The James Sinkier Moore trac", 89 acres. 3. The Wm. B. Moore tract, 94 acres. 4 The Scriven Moore tracts, one of 250 acres, and the other of 100 acres. 5. The McLaurin tract, which was sold by O.M. Fur man to D. B. McLaurin, 600 acres, less 150 acres sold off Said land lies in Providence Township, adjoining or near lands of Mr. R J. Brownfield. 6. Tie Jos F. Rhame Tract, 390 acres, more or less, adjoining land? of C. J. Ives, Mr3. Margaret Pollard and others. Applv to VV. F. B. HAYNSWORTH, One of tbe Executors, Sumter, ?S. C. Dec, 25.-2t. Are without a rival for Tone, Touch end Durability. The Highen Standard of Ex? cellence maintained for fifty years. PRIZE MEDALS: Centennial, 1876 ; Paris, 1878 ; Atlanta, 1881 ; New Orleans, 1884-5; Chicago, 1893. Liberal Terms Send for catalogue. CHAS. Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Sept. 18. f M. STIEFP. 9 N. Liberty Street. 1204 North 5th Street. 417 11th Street, N. W. 178 Wabash Avenue. BUY NONE BUT THE GENUINE. 8,000 Merchants sell Hawkes' Spectacles successfully. Half of them handle, other Spectacles without success, Showing the Great Popularity of HAW? KES' GLASSES over all others." These Famous Glasses are fitted to the eye at A. J. China's Drug Store, Sumter, S. C. Dec. ll-o NOTICE. IWAST every man and woman in the United States interested in the Opinm and "Whisky habits to have one of my books on these dis? eases. Address B. M. Woolley, Atlanta, Ga? Box 382xand one will be Gent yon free. The Leading Merchants,, We have the largest and most complete stock of all kinds o goods we have ever carried and they must be sold. Do You Want a Snit of Clothes? We have got it. Do Yon Wantha Dress, Hat, Pair of Shoes, Trunk, Valise, Under? wear, Shirt, Collar. Cuffs, Necktie ? We have got it ? -t?? We Have Anything You Want -IK?il From the cheapest Homespun or Calico to the finest Silk 'or Satin. Our stock is so large and varied ll- -- $| mm WE CAN PLEASE ALL tt$ttg ?11 TASTES and PURSES, il?! m. - -ii If you want Groceries-We have got all kinds and qualities, If you can only eat corn bread and Bacon we have got it, or if vou are fastidious, we have all the delicacies of the season. Here are a few articles we have fresh for Christmas : Apples, Oranges. Raisins, Malaga Grapes, Currants, Citron, Almonds, English ^Walnuts. Mince Meat, Preserves, Pecans, Brazil Nuts. Jams, Jellies, Loose Olives, Loose Pickles. Saur Kraut, Buckwheat, Maple Syrup. Have you tried our Fancy Creamery Butter? It is the most delicious ever sold in Sumter. G-ive us a trial. Pucker & Bultnian, Main Street, Sumter, S. C~ Job Lots in Hats, Overcoats and Ladies' Capes. O^3 The demand for carpets has not beeii up to our expectations, and if price is any inducement, we are determined to move them, and quote the following reductions. ingrains-former price 30c. now 17 l-2c ingrains-former price 40c. now 27 l-2c. Ingrains-former price 50c. now 37 l-2c, ingrains-former price 65c. now 47 l-2c. HEAP CHRISTMAS FOOTWEAR Again we find ourselves overstocked on the E. P. Reed k Co's celebrated brand of Xj?t,c3_?eiS Pine S?ioes in order to realize have decided to sell for the next ?g X?ayS eft $1.95 Per Pair- T,je6e goods we been selling at $2.50, ?3 00 and %Z 50 pr pair and based on the present value of 6tock cannot be replaced to sell at that price. And have Our success uas far exceeded our expectations. Our stock in this line has been replenished weekly. Our prices have been the talk of the town and country. In addition to a large and varied stock already on hand, we have eeeivecf About 5? Garments And they are such excellent values for the price, we cannot avoid making special mention of them: Xo. 801-A very neat double cape, trimmed with braid, well worth $2.50, at $1.35 No. S26-Beautifully trimmed in braid and two rows of fur, good value fer ?3.00, only ?1.85 No. SI6-A black beaver cloth, handsomely trimmed in braid and jet-a $5 garment our price, S2.10 We have a few of those Silk Velvet Capes left, that we will close cut at $3.50-former price $5.00. liave been the wonder of every one who has seen them. Only one verdict-What excellent values. They are so superior to the goods of Northern manufacture, that we cannot sell tho latter except at a sacrifice, which we have decided to make as follows: 66 84 50 Grade at $3 50 3 50 " at 2 75 Tile 82 25 Grade at S? 50 ?iie 84 00 Grade at 83 00 2 50 66 at 175 We have no special days for tho sale ot' these good?. Our friend* ave welcome to them as long as they last, but we would orge carly SL-k-ctious as they will oct stay loni: at prices quoted. While we make (his special RiiDouncemcr.t of Carpets, Blankets and Capes, r.ur friends must not forget the fact that our stock is complete in every department, and a large and competent force of salesmen ready to serve them. NOT 27, !?, S. C.