The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, February 03, 1897, Image 3

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Col. Shame's Statement. MAGNOLIA, S. C , J tn 29 1897 Editor Item : I aro still confined to my room where I have been, a y-ut of the lime decidedly sick, sicce the 19th ins*ant. and I have for several days been putting off every? thing tbat could be deferred. Referring, Mr. Editor, to your reply to that portion ot my article, published on the 18tb instant, rela' mg to incidents which occurred oo tba 7th 1 have to say that my --memory serves roe cor? rectly," as I tbink, and enables me to recall several incidents, among them the following : While the icquest was being conducted by the coroner, at tba Wilson residency several .vehicles arrived with a party of men who were not of Sumter County. Some of these men inquired where a certain mao could be found ; a?d stated distinctly that they bsd come by his bouse, in Magnolia, and could not find bim? In a few minute? after tbit>, one of these tren came directly up to where yon and I were standing and made a distinct proposition to -Myncb" the man referred to, in-response to wh'ich you said "I'll be one to go." You have said that yoe did not understand the proposition was to "lynch," apd I do not say that you knew it was, bet the propo? sition to "lynch" was made, and the re? sponse, as stated. With reference to 8<>me other incidents, 89 you recollect them, I must state that I did not "first suggest the Magnolia negroes" the party cf men referred to having previous? ly visited the bouse of the man in Magnolia whom they wanted. I made no proposition to "handle" anybody. I never referred to any "three other negroes at Magnolia who were just a3 bad as Cooper"-for I have heard of no other negro "murderer and r*v- j isber of female virtue" one-tenth so ?ikea "devil incarnate with a tigerish lust for blood " You ask, Mr. Editor, - If to bang and mutilate (shoot) tb? negro when he was i helpless was.so honorable and praiseworthy, j a3 Col. Rbame's remaiks would lead one to believe, wby do not these wbo participated in it declare themselves and have their names j placed oo record," just as though you had j ever heard of a lynching, or legal neck breaking, conducted in such a way tbat the "victim" was cot rendered first perfectly "helpless," and where the criminal would not have been .shot down, had he tried to fight or escape, and then hanged ny the neck uutil dead-pistol and razor being left out of -the question, i bave yet to learn that there j is anything specially desirable, or particular- j ly honorable, in the duties cf a sheriff when ! it comes to placing the "black cap" over tbe j head and face, and adjusting the rope around tbe neck of a shackled and helpless man doomed to die-possibly for burning a few hundred dollars worth of property Hut it is a duty he owes his ^country, under existing circumstances, wheo be does it-and so it was with those who took thelast breath from tbe champion butcher, and ravisher, of South Carolina. There are other proper reasons, doubtless, which reflect no discredit upon the partici? pants in the killing of Simon the Butcher and Ravisher, which proper reasons need not be repeated to any mao who is not blind. So, I feel sure yo?, Mr. Editor, see them. - Now Mr Editor, the public-"reasonable and thinking men"-surely koow where you stand, and possibly bave some idea where the writer and some few others stand, on the subject of Simon Cooper's crimes, bis last ailment and decease. Therefore, I join you in saying, Mr. Clerk, let the jury have the records. Respectfully, J. A. RHAIIS. {There is no necessity for further discussion of this subject, and for that reason will not criticise the above article. Col. Rbame.bas bis opinion and the editor of this paper en? tertains another. Tbe writer is satisfied tbat the statements be made oo previous occasions are absolutely correct ; Col. Rhame is doubt? less as firmly wedded to bis opinion, and I neither of us is likely to recede. It is pos? sible that both may be partly right and part? ly wrong, but speaking for ourself, we can? not admit that any statement heretofore made by us is inaccurate, for we believe that every statement we made in reference to this matter was the exact truth. We agree with Col. Rbame that enough has been said, especially in reference to extraneous matters that are not even remotely connected with the princi? ple involved io the major snbj?ct.-ED.] Unlike most proprietary medicines, the formo'ae of Dr. J. C Aver's Sarsaparilla and other preparations are cheerfully sent to any physician who applies for them. Hence the favor accorded the well known standard remedies by the World's Fair com? missioners "Potash in Agriculture" It the title of a pamphlet, published by the German Kali Works, 93 Nassau Street, New York. N. Y. This book is known to many of our reade s from its first edition, publish? ed a few years ago. The second edition contains many valuable improvements. The contents embody a collection of re snits obtained with fertilizers at our Experi? ment Stations. It would appear from these conclusions that many brands of fertilizers BOW OD the maiket do not contain as much potaeb as they should for the production of the best rcults. It would certainly pay everv farmer to write for a copy of this book which we understand is sent free. WEDGEFIELD NEWS. WEDGEFIELD, Feb 2, 1897.-Judging from the large amount cf fertilizsrs being hauled from this point, farmers are putting ia for a large crop of cotton. It is said that there will be very little idle land around here ibis yeac. Rev. J. Hartwell Edwards, of Darlington, bas accepted a unanimous call extended him by the Wedgefield Baptist Church, and will enter upon bis duties as pastor very soon. We congratulate the Baptist people on getting a minister so well recommended. The church has been without a minister for some lime, but the Sunday School has been largely attended every Sunday and bas continued al! the while in a very flourishing conditiou. We are very thankful to be able to chron? icle that the grit pe bas almost entirely left our community and we earnestly trust to stay. The many friends of Mrs. Anna M. Cain and of Mrs Jos. H. Aycock will be glad to know that they are up again and gaining strength very fast. Intelligence bas just reached here that Miss Mamie Moseley, only daughter of Mr. J. M. Moseley died at her home to-day of pneumo? nia, following grippe. We deeply sympa? thize with the bereaved family. Rev. W. J. Dowell, pastor of Wedgefield Circuit, will preach (next) 1st Sunday at Wedgefield at ll a. ra., and at Bsthesada at 4 p. m. On the 2d Sjnday at Jordan, at ll a. m., and Providence at 4 p. m. -mu II mm - Lamp shades when artistically made cf crepe tissue are things of beauty. If ycu want to make shades to beautify your homet, H. G. Osteen & Co. can supply the materials A large stock of crepe t'wsue in ten foot rolls ust received. OBITUARY". ! SARAH CAROLINE BEAT-OX, daughter of Da i vid and Elizit'eih Ke ley Beatson, w>-s b^rn j in Ola:endori C-.-ti- -y, S C., Dec. 13th, ?835. j At thc age of fourteen, she Oc-came M Chrii I ?ian and was baptized into the fellowship of I Calvary B ptist Church bj the R-v. H. W. j Mahoney." ! On February 5'b, 18:6. she wa3 married to j Richard Forman Wells, and became a ciriz?n : of Sumter C ucty and a member of Bethel i Baptist Church j On February 10th 1873, Mr. Wells died, leaving ber with eight children-two sons I and six daughters to support and to traia for ? future usefulness Thst she was to them a j faithful mother, is attested by their respect ! for her while living and by the;r grief for her bei g dead Just eight days before her death, Ruth, her 8'xth child, '-fell on sleep," and the mothrr, worn down by care and already ri?k, could not survive the shock On Jan. 17tb, 1897, j ist a? -wright was fading away into night, ner pure spirit quietly left its tenement of c-ay and went to live with God. Two sons and five daughters survive her to mourn their loss A faithful, loving mother,sbe lived for her children ; an humble, devout Cbristain, she feared not death : a sympathizing fr end, she left many bebiod who will be all fhe poorer for want of h: r kindness. No more shall we see thee on earth, dear i sister; but we hnie to meet thee in heaven. "And I heard a voice from hetiven. saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth ; vea, saith the spirit, that they may rest from their labors; aod their works do follow them." -Rev '14: 13. PASTO?.. ? OBITUARY. Miss MARY R?TH WELLS, daughter of j Richard Furman and Sarah Caroline Wells, i was boro Nov. I9tb, 1:70, and died of pneu? monia at her horne in Sumter County, S. C , on Saturday evening, Jan. 9th, 1897. Wheo about fifteen years old, Miss Ruth gave her heart to Christ and was baut?zsd into the fellowship ot Bethel Baptist Church by the Rev B ?. Lamp'.ey. A censisteot Christian-a devoted and faithful daughter and eis;er-a tried ?nd true friend - we shall mis.s thee, dear Ruth, most sadly ; .but we "sorrow not even as others which hate co hope," for we are confident that our loss has been thy gain, and we expect to meet thi-e again where sickness and sorrow, pain and death, are felt and feared no more "Safe in the arms of Jesus ; Safe O'- his gentle breast There, br.bis love o'er shaded, Sweetly thy sou! shall rest." \ PASTOR. OBITUARY. Departed this life at Tops?eld, Ma33., on the morning of Jan. J4tb, BENJAMIN HODGES. A northerner by birth, beingof au old Salem family, Mr. Hcdees came South at the close of the war, and engaged in the business of planting, first in Clarendon, afterward for many years io Stateburg, wbere by his unob? trusive habits and kindly ways, be made warm friends A mao of industry, judg? ment and strict business methods, be pros? pered, and wbens he finally returned to bis northern hoae, carrying with him one of the most highly prized of Stateborg's daughters, roaoy were the regrets wbicb foilowed tbem. Stricken in bis vigorous aanhcod by the malady which shadowed his after life, Mr. Hodges was for many years a helpless inva? lid, a trial which he bore with singular sweet? ness and patience, which those who minister? ed to him cannot soon forget. Nor will bis friends forget the bright smile of greeting with which be was wont to welcome tbem and the pathos of the unspoken words, be was powerless to utter. During a receot visit South, untoward s/ccptcms appeared, and be was eager to return to his home and chil? dren. This was permitted, and just one week afier bis arrival there be passed away quietly in the early morning bour. To bis wife and otber relatives, the sympathy of many hearts gees forth. A FRIEND. ONE OF NELGO?V3 CAPTAINS. A New Yorl-rcr Cor.tv.:ar<Io<! a British Ship In the Battle ci' the Nile. The fifth ship was iU Thesens, Cap? tain Ralph Willett Milier. This gentle? man, whom after his prc-tr. ai ure death ! Nelson styled "the only truly virtuous ; man 1-ever knew, " was by birth a New ! Yorker, whose family had been loyalists I during the America:] Revolution. A let I ter from him to his wife gives an ac? count of the fight which is at once among the most vivid and from the professional standpoint the most satis? factory of those which have been trans? mitted to us. Of the Theseus' entrance into the battis he says: "In running along the enemy's line in the wake of the Zealous and Goliath, I observed their shot sweep just over us. And knowing well that at such a mo? ment Frenchmen would not have cool? ness enough, to change their elevation, I closed them suddenly, and, running under the arch of their shot, reserved my fire, every gun being loaded with two and some with three round shot, until I had the Guerrier's masts in a line and her jibboom about six feet clear of our rigging. We then opened with such effect that a second breath could not be drawn before her main and miz? zen masts were also gone. This was pre? cisely at sunset, cr 44 minutes past 8. Then passing between her and the.Zeal? ous and as close as possible round the off side of the Goliath, we anchored by the stern exactly in a line with her and abreast the Spartiate. We had not been many minutes in action with the Spar? tiate when we observed ene of cur ships (and soon afur knew her to bethe Van? guard, place herself so directly opposite I to us on the outside of her that I desist I ed firing on her, that I might not do mischief to our friends, and directed ev? ery gun before the mainmast on thc Aquilon (fourth French) and all abaft it ou the Conqu?rant, giving up my proper bird to the admiral."-"Nelson lu the Battle of the Nile," by Captain Manan, in Century. youthful Interrogator. "Mother," said a thoughtful Boston ? child to bis maternal relative, j "What is it, Waldo?" "Is Philadelphia cider than Boston, j mother?" "Of course not, my son. The first set , tlement was made in Charlestown in ! 1G30. while William Penn did not ar j rive on the site of Philadelphia until 52 ! years later. " "That was always my impression, j mother, but how is it that Philadelphia ! is mentioned in the Bible, while Bostou is not?" - Pittsburg Chronicle-Tele? graph._ - -m ? * -? Gold and SilverJPapers for sale by H. u Osteen & Co. The Blockade of Charleston. ! (Fr m Th* Sunday Newa. January 31.) Tn? culminating importance of the naval manoeuvres, which have beeu conducted by the North Atlantic squad? ron for the past year, will be reached earlv next month when an experiment? al blockade of Charleston, S. C , will be attempted. The exercises which bave been per? formed io the pa>t have all beea with a view to securing uniformity of action by the vessels under the eoomaud of Rear Admiral F M. Bunce should they be called to meet an opposing force in battle. Ail of these manoeu? vres have been carried out with a "pos? sible emergency'7 as their impulse Thc play to blockade Charleston iain line with tbe "emergency" idea, and its adoption ?as with tbe object-it can safely be stated-of giviog practice to officers and oceo of the squadron should be necessity arise of blockading fla Vii >r the port of any other country wita which the United States might be at war. Officials of the navy department give the credit for the DOtion of at? tempting a blockade to Admirai Bunce. It is true that this officer, with the assistance of others subord?nate to him, worked cut the details of the plan of manouvres, but such action was taken in accordance with specific in? structions issued by the Secretary o? the Navy. Mr. Herbert desired to place ves? sels, officers and crews io tbe highest possible s*Ate of efficiency, and be bas been successful io obtaining tbe realiza? tion of his wish. Where two years ago thc North At? lanta squadron consisted of a few ves sels hardly able to keep out of one another's way if neces>i;y demnndeu their concerted action, it is now com? posed of nineteen, tborou?jiy efficient men-of-war, si?gly formidable, com? bined terrible. It is with about fifteen of the nine? teen vessels under bis command that Admiral Bunce proposes blockading Charleston, and they may be expected to start at an early day from New York, Philadelphia and Hampton Roads for thc .?cene of their tactical operation. Rear Admiral Bunce came to Wash? ington a few weeks ago to talk over the details of the manoeuvres with Secretary Herbert and some days later supplemented his conversation by a re? port giving many of the features of the scheme under which be intends to ope* rate He is now at Hampton Roads, pre? paring to sail shortly after the 1st of February for the South Carolina coast These are tho vessels expected to take part io the exercise : New York, flag ships, Amphitrite, Vesuvius, Indiana, Texas, Maine, Brooklyn, Paritan, Columbia, Raleigh, ?Terror. Newark, Montgomery, Marble head, Katahdio, Fern, Ericsson, Cusb ing. Upon the last, the Vesuvius, tho eyes of the whole suuadron-the search lights of tbe^ships-will be centered It is the intention that this little craft shall be the blockade runner The Ves uviu8 is well known because of her dynamite guns, but io this mimic war her speed and ber battery of small rapid fire guns will constitute . her sole weapons of effeoce and protection. Her battery now eonsUts of 3 and 6 pouoder guns, and with these quick firing pieces she will make an effective torpedo boat destroyer. The highest speed she bas attained bas been in the neighbor bad of twenty* one and a half knots, a speed that can be excelled only by the Columbia or the torpedo boat Ericsson, in likely weather, The Ericsson is our only commissioned strictly modern torpedo boat, and ber performance in ooojao tion with the fleet will be watched with great interest. In New York the admiral has a fleet and formidable flag ship, and in action io thc line of battle, while her speed and protection would commend her for the discharge of service com? bing dash, power and adroit handling She is to the navy what the cavalry is to the army ; and giory awaits ber commander in tbe performance of some quick aad ba2;ardous commission. In the Indiana and the Massachu? setts we have fine examples of the first class battle ships-ship9 that carry the largest guns and the thickest armor for the protection of these weapons and tbe I vitals of the craft. i Each has a main battery coosistiog j of four 13-inch rifles, forty feet long, j eight 8 inch rifles, twenty-five feet long, j and four 6-inch rifles, about nineteen I feet long. The 13 inch and 8-inch j gjrjs are mounted in pairs in six heavi i ly armed barbctt turrets, the 13-inch j going on the forward aod after main . deck, while the 8-ineh guns are located ; at thc four corners of the superstruc j tare, and all of them have a very wide ! arc of fire. The 6 inch guos are in I armored ?pousons, two on each side, amidships. Io r* broadside action these ships, each, will be able to gre-.'t. an enemy within a minute's time with a saivo of ton of these cues; discharging almost a ton and a quarter of powder, and a mass of forged steel-armor piercing projectiles weighing over 45,000 pounds. In addition to thc main battery of heavy guns there is a secondary force composed principally of twenty G poundcr rapid fire guns. These guns fire a loaded shell weighing stx pounds, capable of piercing four inches of wrought iron without breaking in the passage, and with the power of burst? ing into many fragments after penetra lion. The particular ofibe of these small pieces io action will be to furui a de etructive fire against- unarmored parts of a vessel, to rake exposed positions, to drive the crews from partly protected gao stations, and to resist the attack ol light craft aod especially torpedo boat9. Besides these means of offence there are six torpedo tubes for the discharge of the deadliest engine of modern warfare, and woe to the craft that is struck by that burden of 120 pounds of gua cottoo Pether io the Hoe of battle or io the di?taot bombardment of a city these vessels would prove monster masses of destructive might. The Texas aod the Maine, r<ecood class battle ships, arc most effective vessels, and, while not so powerful as either the Iodiaoa, her sister ship, the Massachusetts, could be counted upoo for able and effective service io support of Old Glory. In the Amphitrite, Puritan and Ter? ror we have the ideal fighting craft. Gf low freeboard and limited exposure of hull, with ponderous guns weli pro? tected by turrets of toughened steel, and secoodary batteries, of rapid fire suns of considerable calibre, these ship2? would, in a moderate sea, prove unpleasant antagonists for the most' formidable battle ship afloat, and would b" maoy times harder to bit than the massive enemy. The moderate draft, from 14 to 18 feet, makes them acc?s sipte to many bases of supply otherwise denied the heavier laden battle ships, while their unquestioned seaworthiness grants them a very wide radius of ac? tion At a distance of eight or ten miles they would prove far too elusive targets for the best of shore gunnery, while their own guns would still be within effective bombarding rao^e They will form the reserve er loner line of battle and io be the nbjeet of their gun fire is net a comfortable pros? pect for the heavies!, armored craft. Ic the Katahdin we have a vessel de? signed purely for ramming, and every? thing has been strained to that end The battery she carries is composed of our 8 pounder rapid fire guns, and their mission will be the repulse of torpedo boa's, for while her thick sides of hardened steel may deflect a ponder? ous shot they are still vulnerable to the discharge ot these tiny craft. At a speed of 16 koots, she will rush her body of 2,155 tons at an enemy, and oothing yet fabricated by naval archi? tects can withstand that awful blow. The purpose of the Katahdin would be the guardianship of harbors and narrow passes, and the delivering of a blow in the confusion of battle. The Columbia is principally valua? ble because of her speed, but still car? ries a battery which would permit her to put up a good fight against a ship of her class, auxiliary cruisers, of the un? armored craft of an opposing force. As a lookout, a dispach boat, or a rapid means of communication between bases, she would serve most usefully, but as an ambulance ship for the transfer of wounded and the supply of fresh forces, she would be particularly admirable. , In the Newark, Montgomery and Marblehead we have effective com? merce-destroyers and blockade patrols, while io their batteries and range of action they would prove helpful fight? ing ships against everything but ar? mored craft. In the coming manou? vres these vessels will, in all probabil? ity, be the most active, while the mod? erate draft of the Raleigh, Marblehead and Montgomery will make them par? ticularly useful tor inshore work. The mission of the torpedo boats Cushiog and Ericsson is sufficiently macifest, and besides picket service some very hazardous duty will fall to (heir lot The gross disphesment of the vessels comprising tbe blockading fleet will be well-nigh 100,000 tons, and against the concerted activity and might of this force the Vesuvius, a mass cf only 929 tons must struggle Epilepsy 20 Years. Cured by Dr. Mes' Nervine. A few years ago, Mr. L. W. Gallaher, was an extensive, successful expert manu? facturer of lumber products. Attacked with epilepsy, he was obliged to givc up his busi? ness. The attacks came upon him most in? opportunely. One time failing from a carri? age, at another down stairs, and often in the street. Once he fell down a shaft in the mill, his injuries nearly proving fatal. Mr. Gallaher writ?s from Milwaukee, Feb. 1G, '95. ? Mi $ %wr^ 'gy p ? ."- ?II?? ?PI "There are none mere miserable than epi? leptics. For-20 years I suffered with epilep? tic fits, having ;:s high as live in ono night. I tried any number of physicians, paying to one alone, a fee of 8300.00 and have done little for y cars but search for somethingto help me, .and have taken all the leading remedies, but received no benefit. A yearago my sen, Chas.S. Gallaher, druggist at 101 Reed Sc, Milwaukee, gave n;e I>r. Miles' Restorative Nervine, and I tried it with gratifying results. Have had but two fits since I began taking it. 1 am better now in every way than 1 have been in 20 years." Dr. Miles'Remedies aro sold by druggists on a posit ive guarantee that the first bottle will benefit or price refunded. Book on the Heart and Nerves, free. Address, Dr. .Miles Medical Co., Elkhart, Ind, Dr. Miles' Remedies Restore Health. LIVE QUESTIONS. A. Series of Articles Contributed by Advanced Thinkers. WESTERN LAND SPECULATION AND THE RECENT CRISIS. Tbe intelligent student of economics ;aunot escapo tbe conclusion that one great fundamental or primary causo must bring the periodical financial de? pression with such unvarying regulari? ty, and to ?nd it should be his highest ambition. The writer starred in as a student ripon thc great troubled sea of political sconomy early in life, and his opinions rvere wafted from side to side by the theories set forth in the various works he chanced to read, like a ship without a rudder upon the trackless ocean in the midst of a storm, until he read that great philosophic work, "Progress and Poverty," when he located, as it were, the north star of political economy that is, that monopolization of and speculation in natural opportunities or land is the bane of human progress and the direct cause cf the periodical crises which have so often swept over the country like some awful destructive plague, leaving widespread ruin, pain and starvation ki its track. Starting with this theory as a correct one the writer wishes to show that the recent crisis was greatly magnified by a species of land speculation, peculiar to the west, which was hitherto unknown. Since civiiizarion began its march across this trackless and unexplored continent, "to go west and grow up with the coun? try" has been the universal ambition cf the enterprising young men cf cur coun? try; for just beyond the borders of set? tlement tho opportunity fer getting cheap land was open to all, which, ex? perience had taught, was as sure tc in? crease in value as cid age follows youth. This grand wave of humanity moved westward with all the certainty and regularity of the rising of the tides, and so sure was it that land weald grew in price as population increased that the value cf a given tract might be figured with almost mathematical certainty any number of years in the future. This was mere apparent in thc prairie .than in the states covered with a heavy growth of timber. So as emigration emerged from this forest and thc won? derful richness of the western prairies was discovered from every state and country came a tremendous tide of hu? manity, and with it came the laud spec? ulator and boomer. Speculation was car? ried on in two ways. One was buying and selling land far in excess of its real value and relying upon the growth of population for its increase. This was most conspicuous in town site booming, where whole townships were platted and sent east and sold at high prices, when, in fact, the land was valueless. Thc other was loaning money to settlers and taking seenrity on these new lauds, and was more productive of evil than the former. Companies wei-"1 organized which loaned mone-y direct to the bor? rower at various rates of interest, rang? ing ail the way from 10 to IS per cent. The face of the loans was made to draw 6 or 7 per cent and sent east and sold as a farm mortgage, the companies guaran? teeing its payment. The extra inter? est above (3 cr 7 per cent was fer tho full time deducted from the amount the borrowers received, cr a second mort? gage given to secure the same, and was held hythe company. This became such profitable business that companies were to be found in almost every town on or near the border and their agents swarm? ed like bees in every community from the British possessions to Mexico, and the competition Cor loans was so sharp that they were everywhere made far above the value of the land. As long as these excessive investments were made in good soil only periodical stagnations resulted, and the investor would realize sooner cr later, as popula? tion increased. But just wheu the specu )iw.irerr?i-:..f^v-.as.rit. it&^euitb., when this migi?tywaveof t??iigra tica Began spread? ing out upon that great plain which lies between the ninety-fifth meridian and the Rockies, a hitherto and unknown! difficulty was encountered-thc arid and semiarid regions were entered. Old Dame Nature had called a halt. Year after year the tiller cf the soil saw his crops wither and grow brown under the! burning sans and scorching winds of I the plains until, unable tc longer pay j his interest and provide for his family, ! he abandoned Lis land and (he awful retreat began-a silent retreat in a time of peace extending all along the frontier, j which for widespread ruin, pain, misery j and starvation has no equal in the his-' tory of the world. Cities were redue:ed to villages, towns deserted, and one may now travel for days across these prairies, where once were families cn erery quarter section, and see nothing left indicating civiliza? tion-except along the streams-but de? serted houses, tumble down fences, while the coycte is found in his ole haunts and the prairie dog yips anti frisks about as if rejoicing at the deso? lation that hangs like a pall over the! deserted plains. When the borrower ceased to pay in-j terest, the loan companies advanced itt until forced to assign. Then the eastern) holder found he was the possessor of? worthless paper, which embarrassed^ him and no more menry came west.5 Business '?7eci:?:e?, il?e mc-?chantscould not pay their bills, jobbers and manu? facturers ceased to sell goods cn account of bad collections, railroads built into 1 this new territory soon failed to pay? operating expenses and went into the j receivers'hands, leaving their worthless! security in the hands of investors. Bad' paper rilled the banking houses the country over. Failing to realize cn their j security, the banks went down beneath1 the general wave of desolation. Who will deny that this great stream of capital that ?oweri westward and was wasted in dead enterprises and never .returned ..^rea/Jy magjii;fied.,?he lafe'cr?sTS?-' "n^ir^r-or'?De nTi!T7?x73"Tli?5 went into worthless town lots, were lean? ed on raw, arid land, invested in railroad and other nonproductive enterprises! The eftect was equivalent '.o the east supplying the wost with previsions on which to live until thc supply was ex? hausted. Reader, all of this could have been prevented by destroying land specula? tion and without checking the produc? tion of wealth. LEVI MCGEE. Rapid City, S. D. The Granting of Patents. In the case of a person who believes himself to be the original inventor of an article or device on which he desires a patent the right will not be refused, even if thc same article or device has been known or patented in some foreign country-that is, provided the invention had not been described in any printed' publication. In 1889 occurred the "great fire" at Seattle, in Washington, in which prop? erty to the value of $20,000,000 was destroyed._ The Egyptiansi Chaldeans, Persians, Syrians, Phoenicians and Carthaginians began the year in the autumn. And Ile Dropped Them a Line. "Are you talking to yourself or to the fish?7' inquired the man on horseback, rein? ing up. "To the fish," answered the sunburned man on the log, intently watching his cork. "I am trying to draw them out. "-Chicago Tribune. All Hope Gone. "Can nothing be done for the prisoner, Mr. Brief!-' "I fear not, sir." ' "The legal expedients are all exhausted, are they!'" "No. But the prisoners money is."--Tit Bits. _ A Dangerous " Well, Uncle Rasbury, how did you like the sermon?" "Pow'fui fine sermon, Marse John." "Where did the preacher take his ?ext?" "From dat potion ob de Scripture whar de Postol Paul pints his pistol to ieFesions."-Washington Times. Valentines ! Valentines ! Valentines ! PKICES CUT NO ICE. Liberty; Street.