Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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MB srjMTSR WATCHMAN, JEstttbiiaited April, issc. "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." TEE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established june, 136 Consolidated Aug. 2, ISSI. ' SUMTER, S. C.. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1897. New Series-Toi. XVI. Xo. 47 v ?TL&isiras& STsry Wednesday, JD?". CSr. Osteel!? SUMTER, S. C. TSRMS : $1 50 per annual-io advance. ADVERTISEMENT:. One Square fjrst insertion.SI GO Sverv subsequent insertion. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer will be made ut reduced rates. All cocamo nicatioos which subserve private interests will be charged foras advertiement3. Obituaries and tributes-of respects will be charged for. Watts to Blame, Finding of the Court Of In? quiry. After a session of six days, during which time 54 witnesses were examin? ed, the court of inquiry yesterday re? ported its finding and recommenda? tions to the governor. , Ia the noding, G?nerai Wants' ordering the 'battalion l:orw3rd for the purpose cf clearing the Said is characterized as "an assump? tion of authority that was unwise, uo accessary and unwarranted The court "then respectfully recom? mended that hts excellency "lay the whole matter before the generad assem? bly for such action, under Article V. of the Constitution of 1895, as that body may deem proper It is further recommended that the "governor and commander-io-ehief publish a general order reprimanding Gen. J. Gary Watts for serious lack of judgment im? disregarded of the rights of ?others . The court also recommended that Private Fishburne of the Richland Volunteers ba dismissed from the ser? vice, and that Private Dunning cf che same company be reprimanded. The officiaf Soding of the court is as follows: Columbia, S. C , June 24th, 1897. To His Excellency, W. H. Ellerbe, Governor and Commander-in-Chief Sir: In obedience to your special order dated June 7th, 1897, a court of inquiry appointed by you 44to exaca? ine into the conduct of all officers and men connected with the disturbance which occurred on the grounds in charge of the South Carolina college at Columbia, Friday, May ?897,', the said court convened at the State House at Columbia at 12 m. on the day named. "A thorough investigation of the affair and its canses'" was instituted for three days, during which 40 wit cesses were examined The testimony of these witnesses was taken down by a competent stenographic and cover? ed, wheo transcribed. 184 pagas. This testimony is herewith forwarded for the information of your exee?leocy, togeth? er with the exhibits accompanying the same On June 12th the court took a recess until Tuesday, Jone 22d. at 12 m. . Reconvening on Wednesday, June 23d. Gu these two days 14 wit nesses were examined ; their testimony, covering 65 pages, is also forwarded herewith, together with an itemized statement of expenses. of the court. A consideration of the duties devolving upon us by your ex? cellency's: special order and of the law governing courts of this character in? duces us to cite the following from "Winthrop's Military Law and Pre? cedents," volume 1 : **The court of inquiry, so called, ?9 really not a court at all. No criminal issue is formed before it ; it arraigns no prisoner, receives no plea, makes no finding of guilt or innocence, awards no punishment. Its proceed iog* are not a trial, nor is its opinion (wheo it expresses one) a judgment. lt does not administer justice, and is sot sworn to do so but simply to ex amine and ioqnire, it is thus not a court but, rather a .board-a board of investigation-with the incidental authority (wheo express? ly conferred upon it) of pronouncing a conclusion upon the facts, but, as it is a sworn body, and as the witnesses before it are sworn aod examined and cross examined as before courts mar? tial, is is a board of a higher sort io the nature of a court, and has thus come to be termed a court in the law of mili? tary.''' Page 797. 44But the court of inquiry, though only a quasi judicial body, is an in etramentality of no ?ttle scope and im? portance ; its investigations are fre? quently much more extended and its conclusions more comprehensive than would be those of a court martial in a similar case ; and io individual instan? ces, its results may be scarcely less final than if it bad the power to convict and sentence." Page 798. "The opinion required of a court of inquiry is, in general, as already in? dicated, an opioion whether, apon the facts as developed by the investigation, a particular officer or soldier, or any officer or soldier, should properly be brought to trial by court martial; or whether any other, end if toy, what action is called for by the interests of thc service or is otherwise deeirabh to be taken/' Page 808. As will be seen, therefore, fron your excellency's order to report th< fae's together with car opinions and re ? commendation*, this court of inquiry ii :a board of investigation wit! I ?he incidents! authority whiel 7C? have expressly conferrec ! upon ir, of pronouncing a concSnsiot ; upon the facts. ?'fter a most thorough ! investigation of the disturbance wh?3? j occurred upon the grounds i: charge of the Sou'h Caro lina college at Colombia, Friday j May 28th, 1897. and it cause?, we bec leave to report the following fiodiogi of facts together with our opinions anc recommendations thereon : The review, inspection and dril I having been completed, the purpose: ?or which the troops had assembl?e j were accomplished. In the battalion dress parade whicl ! wa^ra^out to be h dd the adjutant anc inspector general did not have any in ! herent right and could nofi take any of ficial part as no position or participatior. in this ceremony is,prescibed for suet ! an officer, and he could be present onlj by courtesy of the colonel comroandiog and was therefore, without authority tc command the troops. In raking and retaining a position amidst a crowd of turbulent students al or near third base, thereby encroaching upon thc lawful territory of the base? ball players and uselessly interfering with their game, when ample and suitable grounds were available near by. General Wa*ts showed serious lack ol judgment and disregard fer the rights of ochers. His ordering the battalion forward for the purpose of clearing the field was an assumption of authority that was un? wise, unnecessary and unwarranted. Section 414 of the Revised Statutes of 1893 reads : "All commissioned officers of the militia may be removed from office by the commander-in-chief * * * * Removal may also be made by decisions of a court martial, or retiriog or examining board, pursuant to law ; and for misconduct any officer may be suspended by the commander-in-chief j The term **any officer" as herein used can not in our opinion, in chide the ad? jutant and iospectcr general, who is an executive officer, and ?bo oould be sus? pended or removed only under article XV of the constitution of 1895 It appears farther by the authority above qaoted (Winthrop vol. 1, page 808.) that the opinoo required of us is as to whether the officers under in? vestigation "should properly be brought to trial by court martial ; or whether any ether, and if acy, what action is called for by the interests of the ser? vice, or is otherwise desirable to be taken." Since therefore, from the circum? stances of the case a trial by co irt mar? tial could result in nothing more than a recommendation to your excellency that the matter be brought to the at? tention of the general assembly ; and, since we are not restricted to recom? mending a court martial, but may say j what other "actioa is called for by the j interests of the service, or is otherwise ! desirable to be taken," we respec?fully recommend that your excellency lay the whole matter before the general as? sembly for such action (at its next ses sioo)?ander Article XV of the Consti? tution of 1895, as that body may deem proper We further recommend that the gov? ernor and commander-io-chief publish a general order reprimanding Gen? eral J. Gary Watts for serious lack of judgment and disregard of the rights of others oo the occasion of tbe disturb? ance on the athletic grounds of the Sou*h Carolina college at Columbia oo May 28th, A. D 1897. Of course, it is to be rrgretted that I Col Jones failed to mention the fact to I General Watts that the written permis ? sion given for the use of these grouuds was for the 26th of May, and not the 28th ; and the further fact that in said 1 written permission the military were requested to confine themselves as much as possible to the eastern portion of the grounds. Furthermore the colonel of the regi? ment, or its adjutant, in accordance w*?th seotion 668 of the infantry drill regulations, United States army, under the head of "General Rules of Re? views" should have designated speci? fically by a flag some place on the grounds as "the post line," which said post could then have answered as a con? venient point from which the adjutant general could have witnessed the dress parade. We regret that, owing to the great mass of testimony io volved, covering ss it does, 249 pages of legal cap, it would be impossible for us, without prolonging our session and delaying our j report for several days, to make there? from any abstract which would furn? ish your excellency with the specific grounds on which our conclusions are based. We would, however, call your attention specifically to the testimony of the following witnesses : H W Brooker, page 13 ; Beoj Sloan, nage 21 ; A D Webster, page 33 ; H N Edmunds, page 40 ; J K Alston, page 52 ; MC Dyches, page 77 ; V E- Do Pass, page 73 ; F H Coloock, page 100 ; R Means Davis, page 113 ; J G Watts, page 143 ; J D Frost, pa?e 164 ; Wilie Jones, page 170, B B Evans, page 217 ; N W Broker, Jr, pi?.: 45; Lee Hagood, page 108: J M Bateman. p?<_e 182 : M FI Bren? nen, page 1S5 : B W Tavlor, pane :244. " ; WP further recommend that Private i Fishurne of the Richland Volunteer i Ri?e company'ibe discharged from the i military service of the State, and in j support of said recommendation we j would cali the attention of the gover ? nor and commander-in-chief to tbe j testimony of said Fishbarne, together with that of Capt. Frost, the command? ing officer of said company, when re? called to the stand, i We further recommend that the cap? tain of the Richland Volunteer Rifle company be directed to publish an order reprimanding Private Dunning of said company for leaving the ranks without permission. We have the honor to be veiy re? spectfully, your obedient servants, Jos. S. STOPPELBKIX, j Brigadier General 1st Brigade and ? President of the Court. J. G WABDLAW, Colonel ord Regiment Infantry. HENRY T. THOMPSON, Captain Co. "A," Fourth Regiment. Governor E'lerbe paid, after reading over the recommendation-; of the court, that he would hy the matter before the general assembly, as recommended. That, however, he would consider the other recommendations untii to-day. when he would make known his inten? tions. FEVER AT CLEMSON. State Board of Health Will Examine Into Causes. ________ % ? To find out the real causes, what? ever they may be, pf the fever at Clemson college, the State board of health bas been asked by the authori? ties to make a thorough investiga? tion. There are several theories. One, scooted by doctors, is that the plowing np of some bottom lands at some distance from the college is re? sponsible for the malaria ; while still another theory attributes it to the water. The latter seems to be dis posed of by the fact that though the professors get their water from a different source than the students yet fever prevails in their families. The thought of escaping sewer gas for a time had everybody going about try? ing to detect its presence, bul the fresh mountain air dispelled this theory Lastly the fever has been attributed to the milk used. Wheth? er or not this is correct has not yet been learned. When the State board of health finish the real cause may have been detected. If it is sewer gas some of the keen scented scienti? fic smelling gentlemen will be sure to .trace it to its source.-The State, June 25. Six Thousand Men Slaugh? tered. Brussels, June 24.-The Reforme says it learns from a good source that the entire Dhanis expedition to the headquarters of the Nile, including Baron Dhanis himself, has been mas sacred. Baron Laanis last year enlisted 6,000 men in the Congo Free State to take part in a secret expedition., The British government allowed a number of its hussar troops to join the expedition, but it was officially denied that an Anglo Belgian move? ment had been concerted against the Mahdists. The general impression however, was that this force was in? tended to act in conjunction with the Anglo-Egyptian expedition up the Nile and take the Mahdists between fires, and eventually complete the re? conquest of the Soudan. The Joke on Gladstone. From The Youth's Companion. lt is said that shortly before Father Henley's death be met Mr. Gladstone at a dinner in London. T?e ex-premier, in rather an argumentative mood, in? sisted upon bringing up theological points of difference, ic spite of tbe rather mild efforts of the other guests to avoid them. At 'last he said : "Mr. Healey, ? have recently come from Rome, where I saw the offer of a plenary indulgence for fifty francs. Now, what authority has your church to forgive my sins for fifty francs ?" ?'That is too large a subject for us to take up with the dessert," the Irish? man replied, gently. "But," his eyes twinkling, "I think that any church which will forgive your sins, Mr. Gladstone," for fifty francs is letting you off very cheaply." Mr. Gladstone joined in the shout of laughter that followed, and the dinner ended in peace. - . ? ?. -^m The great boat race between Har? vard, Yale and Cornell on the Hudson yesterday was won by Cornell ; time 20 minutes and 34 seconds. Harvard and Yale used the English stroke aod bad been trained by English coaches i but Cornell was trained by an Amer-1 Riddled by Hail. TOPEKA VISITED BY A TERRIBLE STORM. Topeka. Kas,, June 24-The worst hail storm known in the history of Kansas struck this city shortly af? ter 6 o'clock to-night. Hail stones weighing 12 to 16 ouces stripped the trees of their foilage, smashed win? dow panes on every hand, including the finest plate glass store fronts, cut down telegraph and telephone wires, riddled awnings and inflicted unpre? cedented damage throughout the city. Dogs were struck in the streets and instantly killed Horses were knocked to their knees Runa? ways occurred throughout the city. When the fury of the storm had pass? ed, dead birds were found every? where A heavy wind and te^rriSc lightning accompanied the storm. Topeka to-night looks like a city that has withstood a siege of war guns There are not a dozen build? ings in the town that are not almost windowless, and many roofs were caved in. The roofs of,street cars also were pierced. The damage wrought can better be imagined when it is known that the hailstones ranged in size from that of a hen's egg to an ostrich egg, and 30 min? utes after the storm one hailstone was picked up which measured 14 inches in circumference. Surgeons are busy dressing the wonds of per? sons injured in the storm, and reports of injuries continue to be received. Many were hurt ia runaways on the streets Street car traffic is stopped and electric lights are out, owing to the demoralization of the electric system. Bradstreet's Report. New York, June 25 -Bradstreet's to-raorrow will say : The persistent misrepresentation of the actual state of trade throughout the country dar? ing the past month, in an apparent endeavor to make the prospective improvement an business appear, lo be in it3 present condition, demands an examination as to facts, and Brad? street's, presents condensed results of interviews with representative manufacturers and merchants at more than fifty iraportaut commercial and industrial centres east of the Rocky Mountains. The demand, except in a fewiines, is less pronounced than it was two months ago There is no material increase in the volume dis? tributed, compared with a year ago, and prices for many staples are lower. But there ha3 been an improvement compared with the situation prior to the Presidential election of 1396 and as contrasted with iast January. Many of tfoe larger merchants and manufacturers characterize the busi? ness record for the first half of 1897 as a disappointment, in contrast with anticipations in December, 1S96 On the other hand, confidence is wide? spread in a revival of demand this fall. Of the great manufacturing in? dustries, iron and steel, cottons and woolens: The first shows relatively most improvement, and woolens next, although tariff [delays have taken the edge off demand in that line and permitted dealers to stock up with nearly two years' supplies Cotton goods still suffer from cut prices, ex? cessive competition and heavy pro? duction. There is a better demand for silks, millinery and confectionery, which, aside from the prosperity of the bi? cycle industry, constitute excep? tions. Higher prices for leading cereals, for meats and Havana tobac? co are noteworthy, and reflect, re? spectively, unusually small supplies of wheat, the strength of the control of the market supply and existing conditions in Cuba Exports of wheat (flour inclded as wheat) from both coasts of the United States and Montreal this week amount to 2,156,246 bushels, compared with 2,547,000 bushels last week. 2,837,000 bushels in the week one year ago, 1,946,000 two years ago, 1,717,000 bushels three years ago, and as contrasted with 3,971, 000 bushels in the like week of 1893 Exports of Indian corn atoount to 2,281,861 bushels this week, com? pared with 1.924,000 bushels last week, 1,736,000 bushels in the week a year ago, 884.000 bushels two years ago, 526.000 bushels three years ago, and as contrasted with 1,093,000 bushels in the like week of 1893. There are 215 business failures re? ported throughout the United States this week, compared with 226 last week, 218 in the week a year ago. 215 two years ago, and as contrasted with 189 in the third week of June, 1894. Only 17 business failures are reported from the Canadian Dominion this week, against 34 last week, 19 in the week a year ago and 28 two years ago. --^mm> ???-.?- mm The Dehueator and Bon Too for July re? ceived hy H. G. 08tecn & Co. Cyclone and Hail Aiken Visited by a Fearful Storm. Special to The State. Aikeo, June 25.-Aiken was visited this afternoon by one of the mos!: ter? rific hail storms that has ever been ex? perienced in this part of the State. The cloud -came from the wes!; and reached the city at about 15 minutes to 5 o'clock. The heavy wind that ac? companied it was on the order of a cyclone and did immense damage to property in the city. The storm prevailed about 35 min? utes and during that time the face of the earth was covered with hail, Tarr? ing from the size of a pea to that of a history nut. Daring the storm great fear among our people prevailed. It I was densely dark and the falling of the ! trees and tearing off of the roofs of residences was fearful. Among the damaged so far heard f'om is Mr. John Williams' house, which is crushed in by a chimney. The Stafford house was completely blown down. Mr. Charles Burckbaker hada small house unroofed, as did Mr. Sum merell. Powell Bros.' store, E H. Busch's store, tbs Highland Park hotel, Mr C. Klatte's store and ?well? ing, Mr. Johnson's store and dwelling, Mr. Gr. K. Chafee's house, the old Henry house. Dr. C F. MeGahen's stables all had parr of their roofs takea off. The damage to window glass ?3 un? known, as all windows on the wise side of all buildings suffered from the hail. Io macy places saddle boards and shin? gles were ripped from the roofs of woodeo building and the fences and shade trees are all damaged. The Schofield school bad part of its roof taken off Much damage otherwise. The crops, all that have been report? ed thus far, have been seriously dam? aged by the hail and wind. The old? est citizens of our city claim tba : they never saw the like before. The dam ago to property cannot be estimated at this writing, let alone the crops io the field. It is claimed that the damage would have been greater had not the thick hills and pine forests on the west of Aiken broken the force of the storm. Yerge of a Race War. Negroes Threaten to Burn Key West. Key West, Fla , June 25.-For 48 hours this city has been on the verge of a race war. Mrs Maggie Atwell, white, was ravished on Wednesday afternoon by Sylvanus Johnson, col? ored, who was promptly identified and jailed Two unsuccessful at? tempts were made by white men yes terdy to get at him to lynch him, and this greatly eneraged the blacks As a measure of precaution against an outbreak on either side the Island City Guards, the local militia comp? any, slept at their armory last night. Late in the evening the negroes, openly threatening to burn the city and kill the white inhabitants, sur? rounded the county jail and the armory and began to discharge firearms pro miscuously. Wm Gardner, an inof fensive and highly respected white citizen, was killed by a bullet. James Sawyer, another white man, was beaten senseless by the blacks. No further outbreaks have occurred to? day. The militia took their guns from the armory this morning, and to-night are at tue city ball, while 200 citizens, sworn in as deputy sheriffs, and the soldiers at the United States barracks are ready to assist the militia. A German's fine Point. Anent the return of prosperity, two farmers were recently discussing the cheapoess of horses all over the country. One insisted that horses- were cheap because of the general use of electrici? ty on street cars The other o)ao did not agree with bim. "No," said he, "horses are cheap be? cause everybody is taking to bicycle riding. A young fellow buys a bicycle instead of a horse, nowadays, because it don't cos& him anything for thc care. At night when he's through usiDg it, all he's got to do is to ruo it under a shed, and next morning it's ready for him to rsde away on. He don't ever have to curry it " Botb of the parties to the argument stubbornly maiotaioed their side, and there was no agreeing what caused horses to be so cheap Nearby stood a German, who bad beez a listener to the argument, and whom both knew They asked bis opinion. "What do you thick is the cause that horses are so cheap?'' they asked. "I ville dell you vy horses vas so sbeap if you vants to know vot it ie," said the German, emphatically. "It's begause dere in so many tammed shack asses io Vashiogtoo." A Summer Christian. Work and Bible Study Assembly in Wes? tern North Carolina Zrlcnn tains. , The First Summer Southern Assem? bly of The Internationa! Workers As? sociation will be held at Mountain Retreat near Black Mountain, N. C., a short distance from Asheville, for % ten days July '20 29 inclusive.. It is proposed; a3 at present ar? ranged, to make this assembly an an? nual affair. The association held its Interna? tional Convention a few years since at Atlanta. Ga., at which time. Gov? ernor Northern cf Georgia was the Chairman of the Local Committee. This convention has made the associa? tion widely and favorably known throughout the South. The assembly will be under the personal direction of Rev. John C. Collins, the Secretary, and a most interesting and instructive pro? gramme of Bible study and practical Christian work is being prepared. Rev. F. M. Lamb. Pastor of the Bap? tist Church, Kennebunkport, Me., a stirring Gospel singer, author of the book, "Hymns of Faith and Love/7 and Mr. L. W.x Brown who for some time has been the musical director of the United States Church Army, will have charge of the music. A chief feature of the assembly will be the song and praise services, and few more inspiring singers could be found in the United ?tates than Rev. Mr. Lamb and Mr. Brown. All pastors, superintendents of Sunday-schools, Y. M. C. A. secre- ? taries of Epworth Leagues, Christain Endeavorers, and Baptist Young People's Socitie8, W. C. T. Unions, and officers of similar Christain,work agencies are ex officio special dele? gates. All other Christians are gen? eral delegates, and privileged to attend and participate in the proceedings of the assembly, and have all other advantages. The railroads throught the South have granted a rate of one fare to Black Mountain. N. C., which is the railroad station for Mountain Retreat, the name of the assembly grounds. These rates hold good for fifteen days, beginning July 18, and are available for special, general dele? gates and others who wish to attend Tents and camps can be set up on the grounds and meals obtained for a nominal charge. The altitude of the assembly grounds is about 2.900 feet, and it is a delightful place in which ic spend a few days for rest and Bible stud?. Full particulars can be obtained by addressing Rev. Joh? G. Joilius, New Haven, Conn. The whole dispensary business is in bad o? or Thc quicker ive can wipe it off the face of the earth the better.it will be for the honor and reputation of our State. Nearly every body who has been connected with it has either been charged with or suspicioned of rascali? ty.-Newberry Heraid and Newo. What the average South Carolin? ian now wants to have judicially de? cided is what constitutes an "un? broken package,'7 whether it is a barrel with the bung in or a bottle with the cork unpuiled-Wilmington Star. The Russian war ship Gangcot, ooe of the best sod largest io the navy rsa oo a rock Thursday and sank almost ifcmediatciv. The crew is reported saved. JElectric'Bitters. Electric Uirttrs :s a medicine suited for any season, but Derhaps more generally needed, when the languid exhausted feeling prevailsa when the liver ii torpid?'and sluggish and tho need of a tonic and alterative is felt. A prompt uss of this medicine has often averted long and perhaps fatal bilious fevers. No medi? cine will ac: more surely in counteracting and freeing the system from malarial poison. Head she, Indigestion, Constipation. Dizziness yield to Electric Bitters. 50c. and Si.00 per bottla at J. F.Vv*. DeLorme's Dru? Store. 1 POWDER Absolutely. Pure. Celebrated for its great leavening strength and healthfulness. Assures the food against alum and ail forms of .adulteration common to the cheap brands. Royal Baking Powder Co-, New York.