Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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m n n on con THK SUMTES WATCHMAN, E*taMi&hed April, 1850. "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thon Aims't^at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THK TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jane. 1366 Consolidated Aug. 2,1881 SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2S 1897. New Series-YoL X L So. 43 CJe S3f tjm at f0ui|r0 i PuTslisied Broy Wednesday, -BY JM. <3k Osteen, SUMTER, S. C. TERMS : $1 50 per aaa um-in advance. ADVERTISEMENT: One Square first insertion.$1 00 Every subsequent insertion. 50 Contracts for three months, br longer will be made at reduced rates. Ali coramanicatioos which subserve private interests will be charged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be charged for. (jen. Watts' Statement At Last Made to the Public. After wading for several days Adju ant General Watts yesterday evening gove to the public bis versioo of the affair. It is as follows : I b-d boped that it would not be necessary for me to make a statemen t as to the an forton a te occurrence that took placa on the college grounds last Friday, the 2$th inst., bat as there has been so mach said and written about the affair, 1 deem it my dnty to the militia and myself to give the facts in tba case, and let the public pass its own judgment The following order was isaued May 10. 1897. Special Order No 12. Adjutant and Inspector General's Office, Columbia, 3 C., May 10, 1897. The annual inspection of the follow ing companies is hereby ordered : G-07 eroor's Geards, Capt J. M Bateman, commanding, Colombia, May 26, 1897 ; Richland Volunteers, Capt. J. D. Frost, commanding, May 26, 1896. By order of the commander-in-chief. J. GABY WATTS, A. & I General. Owing to a death in my family, the above order was revoked and Fri day, the 28th, as appointed for the inspection of the above commands. I saw Col. Wilie Jones, whe was the col onel of the Second regiment of infan try, and who would be in command on this occasion, the morning of the 28th at the Carolina bank. He told me that the inspection would be held at the asnal place, the grounds in charge of the col lege, which are used by the students for athletic purposes (the time and place of any inspection is geoer-.iy left to the commanding officer)'. Coi. Jones told me to take my position in front of the stand, which was erected ' for ladies to occupy in order that they couicj witness the games that are usually played on these grounds. The battlioo was formed and the usual line of march was taken. As I reached the college grounds I proceeded to take my position, indicated by Col. Jones, Jones, but was informed by Mr. Ha good, one of the students, that a match game cf ball" was in progress, and hoped that I would not interfere, or words to that effect. I theu rode from the ball grounds and was spoken to by Prof. Sloan. He informed me that the boys had permission to play ball on ihs grounds and that a match game was in progress. I replied to him that 1 had no desire to interfere with the game, but that I had been informed by Col. Jones bat be bad permission from the president to have the iospeetioo on the grounds. I theo cook my position on the left of the ball grounds and did not think that I was io any way interfering with the game of ball, as no opposition was raised as to my position. The review and inspection was then started, and everything was going on very smoothly anti! the battalionw is passing io review, whan a bail was knocked and as one of the players was ran oin g after it be ran io to Capt. Bateman and knocked off his cap, the crowd theo be gan to cheer, the battalion moved on and nothing was thought of this inci dent. The bat.aiioo then proceeded with their field movements, and as they were marching past tbs inspecting offi cer I requested a policeman to move back ooo of the parties who were in tbe line of march, which be did with out any trouble. At this time was stationed to the left of the bali groaods, aod as far as I thought was not in any way conflicting with the game of bali. It has been stated that at this time a bail was knocked over ia that directieo and struck a horse of a member .of my staff. I knew nothing of tbs incident About this time the marshal of the col lege came to me, followed by a crowd of students and ball players, aod stated that the boys bad permission to play on Lue ball groaods. I told bim I bad nothing to say as to that, but only knew thai: Colonel Jones told me that he bad written permission from the president of tbe college to have the inspection on the groaods. I theo re quested the policeman to keep the crowd back, and he tried te do so. The crowd refused to go back and be gan to defy and abase the policeman, who blew his whistle for his colleague who was on another part of the grounds, bat st: ; I the crowd would not move bsek and continued to defy the policeman. I turned round and spoke to th Nfrowd and asked them to move back, bat my request was treated io the same manner ts that of the policemen. saw there was going to be trouble be tween the policemen and the crowd, for by this time they bad become very mach excited, and. seeing; that a con flict was inevitable, I considered the best solution of the difficulty would be to have the battalion marched forward, press back the crowd to the street, thereby renderiog any further conflict possible between the students and the policemen. At this Eime there was no game of ball going on. I then gave Colonel Jofies the order to move his command forward, which he did. The men advanced "at right shoulder arm9." and there was no order to '.eharge," as has beeD stated. The troops advanced very steadily, and the majority of the crowd moved back, but three or four students broke through the line, near where tbe colors were, and the policemen attempted to inter fere Tbe battalion moved on to tbe front, leaving the policemen and those students tn the rear Theo a general encounter took place between the stu dents and tbe policemen These are the plaio. untarnished facts io the ease, notwithstanding the repeated rumors that bave been circu lated, many of which have been absurd in the extreme. J GARY WATTS, Adjutant aod Inspector General. A FILIBUSTER CAUGHT. Key West. Fia ,'Jone l.-The United States crui er Marblehead, which left here under sealed orders Sunday morning, returned at noon to day with the tug Dauntless in tow. charged with filibustering. A lieuten ant of the Marblehead bad been placed aboard the Dauntless. Upon arrival the tug was turned over to the customs officers. About 25 Cubans were found on the Dauntless, iocluding Charles Silva, Col Nunez and J. E. Cartaya. No co m m an "ICE ti on with the boat is al lowed . Very little ammunition was found aboard to Dauntless, and only two rifles, and report bas it that the erew threw the ramaicder of the cargo overboard. The tag gave the cruiser a lively chase down the east coast of Florida, bat it was overhauled. Spanish Consul Fernandez bad his face slapped by J. M. Go vin and a crowd of Cubans attempted to brow bim overboard from the wharf, but they were not successful. Take JOHNSON'S CHILL & FEVER TONIC, ^ -zs^&r Two Men Killed. New York, Jane 3.-Five enormous tanks, each containing 13,000 gallons of water, fell five stories through the new building of David S. Brown & Co., soap manufacturers, at Twelfth avenue, 51st and 52nd streets this morning, burying two and perhaps three men under thousands of tens of debris. The body of Wm. Frazer, 40 years old. a surveyor io the employ of the Otis Elevator Company, was taken from the ruins this afternoon. Jacob Jacobson, a carpenter, and Andrew Quinn, a laborer, are missitag Quins is said to have been seen after the tank fell The place was nearly ready for oc cupancy. The tanks were to have con tained soap fat. They were put in by the Cotesville Iron Works, of Cotes ville. Pa. Alexander Brown, the brick contract or. Henry F Kilburn, the architect, aod Arobie Hamilton, inspector for the iron work contractors, were arrested, charged with homicide. The five tanks shot through the five floors like a stone dropping throng*, so much space There were 15 men in the building at the time of the acci dent. Tbey were scattered around the faotory. There was not a second's warning of the fall of the tanks They bad been filled with water for testing aod were nearly full. In the course of an address at tbe unveiling of a Confederate monument at Dallas, Texas, Judge Reagan took occasion to defend Jefferson Davis from he charge of- beiog self-willed, imper ious and stubborn. "More than four years of constant contact with him as a member of his cabinet,7 he said, "en tibies me to say that this was a great mistake. His habit was. when he took up a public question on which be had to act, to exhaust all available sources of information on it before coming to a conclusion, always consulting freely with the members of his cabinet, ar.d with others who might be able to give information. After doing this and reaching his conclusion, the matter was settled with bim, unies* the presen tation of new facts required further con sideration. Excellent commercial note paper 15 cents a poand at H. G. Oateeo & Co's-two pounds for 25 cents. ASYLUM ON FIRE. i Heroic Work of the Fire men-"S20,000 Loss. Itwasjuet before 1 o'clock that Superintendent Babcock, Mr. May hew and some others were sitting under a tree watching the progress of the work on the-foundations of the new negro building out at the hos pital, when Dr. Babcock happening to glance ap at the southern able of the handsome brick structu.b used for the steam laundry, the engine and boiler rooms and the electric light plant, thought he detected a little smoke carling out from under the woodwork. Calling the attention of his companions to it he went around the wall to investigater Mr Mayhew was ahead of him The thirty or more negro female patients who work in the laundry had just come oat about 15 minutes before Mr Mayhew rushed into the building to see the ceiling beginning, to crack and the fumes barst forth. From another room Mrs. Douglas came forth saying that flames were roaring above Dr. Babcock summoned all the atten dants within call and the hand engine was gotten out. Before the .jose coo'd be gotten on the fire well flames burst from every portion of the roof It seemed that in some way the fire had caught in the roof and had been burning some time before it was dis covered Dr Babcock seeing that the fire was too much for his force, ordered the city lire alarm turned in. Meanwhile he sent runners to all the gates and orders were quickly passed I around to guard the patients care fully Quicsly those who were io the yards w* re forced into line by the excited attendants and hurried into the wards, where they were placed under lock and key. The work was done very quickly and quietly. There were many white male patiente in the yard adjoining These there was some difiiculty in getting into the building and the firemen, after catting out a high sec tion of the board fence in order to get to the hydrant with their engine, got in before the unfortunates had all been gotten into the building KNEW WHAT IT MEANT The fire department realized the possibilities of an alarm from the State Hospital for the Insane and the machines were driven with un usual speed. Every fireman in the city likewise bastened to the hospital, as did the mayor, the chief cf police and every policeman within reach The Palmetto engine got a good hy drant inside tbe yard after a winding I drive and spread her hose. The In dependents had to cut out a section of the high bo ird fence and get their ! engiue through it as told above, but not a moment was lost The Colum bia engine managed to come through an archway recently constructed under the main building and got a very good locality. The firemen quickly had thc bose laid and in a short time three heavy streams of water were getting in their work upon the fire which had by this time obtained great headway ; in fact, the whole building was a mass of fi mes. The engineer had^thoughtfully opened the steamcocks on the boilers in the building the moment the fire was dis covered and a stream of cold water was left running through them dur ing the progress of the fire He likewise cut off the electric current from the city plant wires in the yard. Employes brought out most of the clothes in the laundry. BIT THE CHIEF. When the fire was discovered, Dr Babcock summoned all the hands en gaged upon the new buildings to the aid of the attendants Among these were Will M&ckay and Abram Moore, the latter being well known over the city as a former colored fire man and a powerful man. He had directed them to do what they could about the building and then start several freight Cfcrs standing on the track by the burning structure down the incline, * ont of reach of the flames Chief May soon arrived and en deavored to get into the building. Moore blocked bia way aud said he could not enter, disputing the right of the chief to take charge, it ap pears Three tines the chief toid him to stand aside. He refused to do so and Chief May, knowing that he waa a powerful negro, stooped, picked up a brick and knocked him down. As he did so the ot'ier negro, \Jackay, let drive at the chief with a half brick lt struck him a glancing blow on thc elbow and landed on the left side of his face, cutting an ugly gash and causing- quite a flow of blood, besides knocking him down. Several fireman rushed in and Officer Do wie grabbed Mackay, slipping the nippers upon him Then there was much excitement and Moore grew dangerous and abusive. Some one ran to Superintendent Babcock and told him two of the negroes were arrested. Meantime things looked squally and one officer drew his pistol to quiet Moore. Just then : Dr Babcock, who had seen nothing ! of all this, came round' the corner, j followed by Chief Daly. He was very much excited anyway. He or-; dered the release of the negro, say ing he, aa superintendent, was in charge within the grounds. The chief was at hand and the release was made The firemen were very nat urally intensely angered ; they con sidered it an act on the part of Dr Babcock to protect an insolent negrc who had attacked their chief and at once the cry was raised to leave the grounds and let the thing burn down. It was an exciting moment. The negroes hastened away to release the cars and did so In the meantime Dr. Babcock was informed of what the negro had done by a friend. He expressed the greatest surprise. When he ordered his release, he said, he thought he was merely being held to keep him from interfering with the work, ne expressed great regret and hastened to apologize to the chief and inform the police that the negroes should be turned over to them as soon as the fire was out. This poured oil on the troubled wa ters, but it was not until after the fire was extinguished that the anger of the firemen subsided, and many of them did not wish to leave the grounds until they knew the negroes were in the hands of the police P0 GHT LIKE HEROES. Volunteer firemen never fought harder or did more effective work than they did yesterday: The wind was blowing the flames towards the main building and the men stood the intense beat without a murmer. Many of them had their clothing torn and all were scorched more or less Of course it was unless to try to save the building, which was like a fur hace, and the best that could be done was to 88ve the surrounding build ings Many of the men got severe bums and some had their arms blis tered by the intense heat. Mean while the ladies of the families of the authorities of the institution be gan to serve iced lemonade in large buckets and every few moments the buckets were passed among the fire men But for this many of them per haps would have been overcome by the heat The ladies' thoughtfulness was much appreciated by the men, and they fought all the harder Time and again sections of bose would burst, but the men lost no time in putting in new sections every time one would give way. OVERCOME BY HEAT Dr. B. W. Taylor, the obairmao of the board of regents, was soon ar. he institution, and it was fortunate that be was. When the firemen were begin niog to get the fire checked somewhat, Mr. George Geiger of Columbia No 3, fell to the ground overcome by heat. He was promptly laken into one of the wards aod Drs. Babcock and Taylor gave him every attention. He was to all appearance dead when the ice bath was given him. Slowly he revived in the course of the afternoon. Soon afterwards Police Ofiicer Kramer, who is also a firemen, and was acting in that capacity, being off duty as an officer, likewise collapsed. He was cared for in the same way. About 6.30 o'clock last evening both men were sufficiently recovered to be re moved to their homes. In a day or two they will be able to resume their duties The firemen upon returning from the grounds left sufficient hose to be used in case of any further outbreak. Dr. Babcock at once had a census taken of each ward o see that every patient was accounted for. There was not a single one missing. One white man jumped the wall and got out, but a little giri eaw him, and in a few moments sev eral attendants had bim in custody again. THE NEGROES ARRESTED. Jost before the fire was extinguished one of the negroes about the place tried to enter a door Ofiicer Fickling was guarding. When he insisted upon entering, the officer poshed bim over and cautioned him to remember that he was fooling with the wrong man. After the firemen had left, Dr. Bab cock sent a message to thc two oegroes who bad caused the trouble at the open* ing of the fire. They came up and he turned them over to Chief Daly. There was no demonstration whatever. Dr. Babcock also sent for the hospital carriage and Chief Daly put the men in charge of Officers Fickling and Sheppard. They were then driven without a word to the city jail, where they were locked up. Dr. Bibcock rt quests the statement made that, he did not know when he or dered* thc men released, assuring he j chief that he would bo resp msible for them, whar. they had done Ir. was after it was over that he heard of their j behavior for the first, time. Some one i had said in thc crowd that ho moved that the firo conipanies witndraw, and Officer Dowie had said that bc second ed the motion, when he had the men released, and he did not understand it. He promptly assured the chief that the meo would be turned over to him upon discoveriog the facts. He also sought tbe chief of the fire department aod apologized to him. Dr. Babsock says be had no desire whatever to interfere with tbe police or tho fire department. The building, which was a handsome brick structure, is a total loss, save for the walls. In it was an electric dyna mo plant, which originally cost 6,000. Besides all the valuable laundry ma chinery was destroyed. Some clothing was lost, but oot much. Au engine was ruined, and three fine boilers were io the building-two of 25 horse power .each and one of 20-horse power. In running over the losses last nig;ht. Dr. Babcock placed the figures at 20,000. The building was insured for 3, 200, and the contents for the same makiug $6,400. This insurance was divided among nearly all the old line companies represented in Columbia. Mr. White, the vice president of the board, is an insurance man. He has been wired for aod will arrive here to day. It is likely that the losses will be adjusted by oext Tuesday. The build ing will be rebuilt immediately. The hospital will feel the loss of the laundry, but will be able to make some temporary arra.igemeot The only other incoo ven will be she loss of the steam for cook ing purposes, but this is not serious, as the institution bas other taking ar* raogemeot8.-The State, June 8. JOHNSON'S CHILL AND FEVER TONIC Cures Fever In One Day. An Impeached Accuser. Senator Tillman, of South Carolina, has. with much sound and fury, de manded that the Senate investigate itself as to the charges that some of its members have profited through se cret knowledge of the work of the Finance Committee on the tariff by speculation in sugar stock. Without discussing at all the question as to whether another sugar investigation is needed, or whether it woald not prove as futile as the one of three years ago, it can be pointed out that Mr Tillman is the very last member of the Senate who can properly de nounce his associates and assume the role of righteous inquisitor. For Mr Tillman is himself accused of vio lation of the law of his own State, and has in effect pleaded guilty. The Dispensary law of South Caro lina, with the enactment and admin istration of which Mr. Tillman, as Governor, had much to do, has given birth to a cloud of charges of cor ruption, in which Tillman is directly accused of sharing. This law de clares lo be "nuisances'' all places where intoxicants are given away, and prescribes a penalty for those who keep such nuisances of a fine of not less than 200 and imprisonment of not less than six months in the county jail Tillman himself bas made the following authorized ad mission : Samples (of liquor) were sent in great quantities when I was connect ed with the dispensary * * * They were freely distributed among the visitors to the institution. I carried some to my house and used them, as did Gov Evans, and I pre sume the present State Board of Con trot have done likewise, and 1 have no apology to make for it This defiant confession moves the Charleston News and Courier to pro nounce Mr. Tillman guilty of the fol lowing violations of the law : First, in maintaining a common nuisance, that is, a place where in toxicating liquors are given away. Second, by keeping in his house, alcoholic liquors, without certificate that they had been tested by the State chemist and found to be pure. Third, keeping in his house alcoholic liquors without the certificate going to show that they were purchased from a State officer authorized to sell tbe same. Upon each of these counts, if con victed, Mr. Tillman would be com pelled to pay a fine and to go to jail. There is a demand in South Carolina that the Senator come home and face these charges ; but he discreetly re mains in Washington and rants in the Capitol. His oratory has about it a flavor f violence that could be fitly eliminated by the discipline of a turnkey. The Senate can take care of if own honor What is the Senator from South Carolina going todo about his ? Ile who arraigns his fellow men should be sure that tho skirts cf his own toga are clear. The blustering Tillman should look alter the beam in his own eye.-X. Y Mail and Ex press. Take JOHNSON'S CHILL & FEVER FROM THE WIRES. Habana, June 3-The Lse-Gongosto commission was entertained at supper last night by Senor Congosto, and at breakfast this morning by Consul Gen eral Lee. This afternoon Mr. Calhoun left for the United States by the steamer Sara toga. He went on board accompanied by the correspondents of the New York Herald, The Journal and Advertiser. Philadelphia, Jane 3-The interna tional commerce Conference held its session this morning io the Philadelphia Commercial Museum ball. A number of addresses were de livered by foreign delegates, all of which related to the commercial bank ing and industrial conditions prevailing in the respective countries represented by the speakers, and in all of which suggestions were embodied looking to the increase of trade with the United States. New York, June 3.-One of the most extensive counterfeiting plots ever discovered by the secret service bureau of the posteffice department was brought to light to-day wheo Richard D. Requesent and his wife, Eugenia, were arraigned before Commissioner Shields charged with issuing counter feit bonds of the Costa Rican govern ment of the denominations of 100 pesos. Atlanta. June 3.-The oourt's rec ord for swift justice was broken to-day. Tom Kirus shot Annie Johnson, both colored, three days ago and she died this morning. The corner held ao in quest and the verdict said death was the rpsult of gunshot wound. The grand jury found a true bill and the prisoner was arranged in criminal court this afternoon tor murder and wanted to plead guilty. He was given coun sel and will b? tried Monday. The So. Ca. Editors. Special to the State. Atlanta, June 3 -The visit to Jack son's Belle Meade farm yesterday was one of the most enjoyable events of the trip of the South Carolina editors. His praises of their State and its great men made them feel a new pride in their birthplace. The reception given the great horses Iriquois, Longfellow and others was the feature of the trip. Leaving Nashville at ll o'clock, the party reached Atlanta at 9 this morn ing and scattered to meet friends. Despite the heat, the day was relished. There was fraternization between the Carolinians and the Atlanta newspaper men, and Editor Clark Howell of The Constitution entertained a numder of the party at the Capitol City club. The main body leave at 7 :40 by the Seaboard Air Line for Clinton, thence to scatter to their s everal homes, after the most delightful of all the excursions of tbe association. N. G. G. Buse ball goode at the Book Store.-H. G. 33teeo & Co. Cinco, the 5 cent straight navam Cigar or sale by H. G. Osteen & Co. Cinco Cigars are made by a firm with 47 years' experience and a reputation for first class goods only. Sold io Sumter exclusive ly by H. G. Usteen & Co. mm I I - i Something to Depend on. Mr. James Jon*?, of the drug finn of Jones & Son, Cowden, 111., in speak-ig of Dr. King's New Discovery, says tbat last hinter his wife was attacked with La Grippe, and her case grew so serious that physician? at Cowden and Pana could do nothing for her. lt ^seemed to develop into hasty consumption. Having Dr. King's New Discovery in store, and selling lots of it, he took a bottle home, and lo the sur prise of all she began to g.t helter from the first dose, and half dozen dollar bottles cured her sound and well. Dr. King's New Discov erv for Consumption, Coughs and Colds is guaranteed to do this good work. Try it Free trials bottles at Dr- J. F. W. DeLorme's Drug Store. 5 POWDER Absolutely. Pure. Celebrated for its great leavening strength and healthfulness. Assure? the food against alum and all forms of adulteration con moo td the cheap brands. Royal Bakiog Powder Co-, New York.