Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Spread of Smallpox. i - Chairman Taber of tbe Stat Board of Health Deals Wit! the Situation. Colombia, Jan 7.-That geBen vaccination is necessary now as moo as ever appears from the annooooemeo that tbe dread disease of smallpox ba made its appearance on the ooast, an that the patient bas been io Ciaflin col leg? at Orangebarg, leaving tbat insti tatton opon getting sink. The obaii mao of the State board of health ba been quite sick and ba? bae ? enable here tofore to give the smallpox sitoatioi the attention he desired. Last evenioj Hg?. ? ? ? ) Tbe State received the following froo Mm : To the Editor of The State : I am constrained to send yoo the of ficial announcement from Dr. H M Staart of Beaufort, S. C., through Dr T. Grange Sim?os of Charleston. S C., A member of the State board o health, of another outbreak of Small pox withio the borders of tbe State IQ my bambie judgment the people o the State have been led willing captive: by their hopes and are criminally negli geot io surrounding themselves witt every possible safeguard against the atteBROQ and; ravages of ibis loathe some disease. Permit me to orge yoo to continue ano* redouble your efforts ki behalf of t misgerded people with whom speedj acuco is so imperative necessity io the presence of a possible epidemic' As chairman of the State board o health/permit me to ?haok you foi yoor earnest, timely advociwy of what? ever might promove the health of out . people. " I have the honer to be Very respeotfaHy, Charles E Taber, M. B., V Chairman State Board of Health. The letter of Dr. Simons reads as follows ; Charleston, Jan 5. Br. Chiles Taber, Chairman Sute Board of Health: Dear Sir : Dr. Stuart has sent me the enclosed letters. I refer them to yoo for actioo as yoo may deem best. .1 wrote yoo important letters December ??7, 1897 , so far ? have had co reply. Yours respectfolly, T Grange Simons, M. D The first endosore waa as follows : Beaufort, SC, January 4. 1898 Dr. T Grange Sim?os, Charleston, S C.: . Dear Doctor : Mr Martie from To motley has reported to me that be heard . yesterday that there was a case of small? pox on his pleace near Tomotley depot I will go on the train to-day and see if it is So. The patient is his foreman's soo just from C?a?in university, twill wire you to-night if the report ie true. Yoo most theo advise me what to do We have no money to guard and isolate, etc. You will hear from me. Year? truly, H M. Stoart. The second enclosure reads as fal? lows : SHELDON, S. C , Jae. 4,1889. Dr. T Graoge Simons, Charleston, S. C. A .Dear Doctor : I am waiting for tlie train to carry me back to Beau? fort and I am of ilizing the time by writing to yoo a description of the cuse of smallpox that I have jost seen lt is unmistakably a case of smallpox. I think it will be confio eat. The boy, or yoong mao, Jobo Mitchell, has recently retorced from Claflin. He has been here jost long enough for the disease to develop to tie stage it is now in ; he was in Beaufort last Wednesday ; complain? ed of headache, etc ; applied to a physician for medicine Dr. Kitties mw bim yesterday ; pronounced it a cate of smallpox I got Prioleao to come over with me today, sod we confirmed tbis diagnosis There cao ba no possible doubt of it. Mitchell says bis roommate had the same thing before he left If this is so. is I it right that the authorities at Claflin should "have kept it quiet ? The ife neighborhood is crowded with ne? groes ; a great many have of course seen this case, and althoogb I have given all instruction to tbe contrary, I have no doubt many more will see him before be gets well or goes on dsr. The white planters in the neighborhood are very anxions and request that steps be taken to have a general vaccination i Dst itu ted. This will cost some money, bot it could be done at not mach cost. If the vims is famished 1 think it could be done at about 25 cents per head. Yoo . most remember this is in the country and the State is the only scarce from which the pay can come I intend to try and institute compul? sory vaccination in the town of Beau? fort, bot out here, of coarse, I Coo do nothing Some of the gentlemen soggested that they make application to the governor, bot I told them to walt ontfl'I communicated with yoo - The times are so dull that the pby sicians about here will be williog to work for very little terrsuaeration. Let me hear from yoo as soon as pos? sible. My life will not be worth living until I start something in the way of prevention. I have ordered every thing done that can be in the way of isolation, etc I remain yours very truly, H. M Stoart. It is not yet known what steps the State board of health will take to prevent the spread of the disease on the coast and a possible spread of it at Orangeborg. Geenville5 Jan 7 -There are now about 20 cases of smallpox in the pest house. One negro man was taken out to day and a woman yes terday. Five or six of the patients are almost weil The origin of all tbe cases is pretty clearly traced to con? tact with the Stenhouse family in which the disease started. Spartanborg. Jan. 7 -A smallpox patient escaped from the Greenville peet house and came here last night, stopping at the borne of another negro Thoa Bomar. a respectable brick ma? son. The case was discovered and pronounced smallpox by Dr. L J. Blake, chairman of the board of health, early this morning. The house was immediately quarantined and a police officer stationed on the outside. The authorities will build a pest house and hope to prevent the spread of the disease. No great alarm ?B felt in the city, as the patient is on the outskirts, far removed from both colleges. At a meeting of the city council this afternoon it was decided to ma*ke vaccination compulsory. Oar Suffrage Limitations. Not often do we find Northern news? papers crediting the South with blazing tbe way of progress io politcial reforms and the folio wi o ? which we clip from the New York Post is notable : The Sooth Car olio a suffrage qua li fi cation, that the applicant be able to read br that he possess a certain amooct of property, strikes the Poughkeepsie Eagle (Bap) "as io all respects the most eminently wise aud fair proposi? tion for the limitation of the franchise that wc have yet seen," and it adds: "It dors tot become tis republicans nor anybody else to find fault Kith it. lt would be a good thing if the South Carolina requirement should be made universal throughout the country. Tbe Poughkeepsie Eagle is an inde? pendent newspaper of the best olass. Its recognitionjof the value of the work of the Sooth Carolina constitutional convention is not merely a compliment to the State but is well calculated to brush away the idea that prevails to some degree in the North that all South suffrage innovations have no other object than the prevalent sup? pression of the Negro vote. Even if tbe latter was a chief object of our suf? frage limitations, tbe law is good and salutary in itself-not because it deci? mates the Negro vete but because it multiplies tbe strength of tbe intelli? gent elements of society. While the administration of the suf? frage laws of South Carolina have uot been altogether fair even since the adoption of the new constitution, it is certain that year by year in future the unfairness will decrease. We do not believe that any number of Negroes bave been unfairly disfranchised. Some laxness tn the application of the test to illiterate white mee bas probably been shown but this can eut no figure hereafter. Henceforward io South Carolina elections will be confined to those who will at least know what they do wheo they vote aod this great step io advance by tba State The Eagle dis? cerns. The Eagle's expression is farther significant in that it is a sign that the reputable people of the North sympa? thise with Southern people in their difficulties with the "Negro problem" and that they are ready to endorse ef? forts towards its solution that are nei? ther corrupt oor violeot The time may coome wheo this moral backing from the North will be of great service, for it is not to be supposed that the suf? frage limitations forever dispose of ?be Negro io Southern politics. Greenville News. \ ^VINOJL UBA3d 5> THUD SJVOSMHOr iwim^ 'Wa-"1 A comparatively new industry, that Df making valuable products from dry Qorost&lks, promises to do a great deal io eoohanciog' the value of the oom stalk cellulose and corn pith cellulose ire manufactured are now io operation, aod it is raid that plans for eight more bavd beeo completed. The Kansas City Star says that "the men who have given most attention to the subject de olajs that the disoovey of the uses that can be made of corn pith is one of the greatest scientific achievements of the ??ge,, aod such large things are expect? ed cf it that the oompacy controlling the processes for making oom pith cel? lulose is capitalized for {50,000,000. Quinine and other fe* ver medicines take from S to IO days to cure fever. Johnson's Chili and Fever Tonic cures in ONE DAY. The comptroller general has receiv ed the report of the insurance com panies doing business in the state The reports include the business for the first nine months of 1897 only as there was not time to obtain the re? ports for the full year The life, fire and accident companies received in Dine months, $1,212 620.44 in pre? miaros and paid $6,062 94 in taxes to state. Corbett bas offered Fitzsimmons $35,000 to fight bim to a fioisb. THEODORE DURRANT HANGED. Cool and Collected to the Last -A Speech From the Gal? lows, HE PROTESTS HIS INNO? CENCE. Sm Quentin, Cal , Jan. 7.-Wben Theo. Dorrant died on the gallows this morning for the morder of Blanche Li? mon he gave such an exhibition of coolness and nerve as bas seldom been seen nnder similar circumstances. Hopeful almost to the very last that somethiog or some one would intervene to save him, he walk ec to the scaffold and made his speech, protesting his in? nocence as calmly and with as distinct enunciation as if he bsd* been address? ing an assemblage of friends upon some topic of tbe day. Hit; face was pale, his ey es were red, but his voice was firm and he stood as solidly as a rock wheo he proclaimed bin innocence and professed forgiveness of those who, be said, had hounded him to death. * There was not a hitch in the plans of Warden Hale in carryicg out the sen? tence of the law The noose was ad? justed, the trap was sprung, the stout rope held and Dcirrant's dead body dangled at tbe end. The neck was bro kan by the fall of five feet and 15 mic u-es later the murderer's body was out down and placed io the cc SQ. In spite of the ezoiting events of last night when Dorrant was besieged by D3wspaper reporters an 1 talked to his parents until 11:30 p. m., he rested susily during the night and shortly after 6 o'clock be awose aod bid his g jards good morning. Consistent to the las -, Dorrant died professing religion Hi accepted at the last moment the comforts of the Cath? olic church instead of (bose of tbe Bap? tist faith, in which he was reared. Rev. Bader, a Protestant minister, bad ar? ranged to ascend tbe scaffold with Durraot, but the minister would not say he thought Darrant innocent and the condemned man declined to accept his services noiess the reverend gentle? man professed belief ia his innocence Then it was that the once ardent Bap? tist turned to the J&oman Catholic ob arch for consolation and call? ed apon Father Lagmn, priest who had frequently visited him in prison, to attend him. Father Lagan responded promptly and performed the last solemn rites of tba church ' Darrant seemed in close consultation with the priest aod seemed to be deeply interested io the cere? mony As the hour of the execution arriv? ed the prisoner became somewhat restless His father and mother were admitted to bid him a last farewell. The elder Durrant g rasped his son by the hand and he young man then turned to comfort his mother, who cried hysterically. Dorrant em braced her tenderly, saying : "The hour has come for mi to part," and put her gently away The grief stricken mother was led to a private room where she remained until after the execution. The lather, however, went to the execution room, and, supported by two friends, saw bis son meet his death. Warden Hale did not attempt to hurry matters, but allowed the su? preme court to take some action. Finally when word flashed across the continent that the sop reme coort had declined to interfere, .he warden or? dered the programme of the day to be carried oot ] At 10 34 o'clock, Dorrant, accom? panied by Father Lag in, appeared at the door of the execut ion room. He was followed by his lather, a friend, Warden Hale and the guards. His father and friends walked around the gallows to the front, while Durrant and his keepers climbed to the gal gallows platform. Instantly on ar? riving at the gallowu his legs and arms were pinioned and the rope was placed aboot bis neck The bang man was about to adjust the black cap when Durrant announced his de sirs to speak. Permission was given and the doomed murderer spoke as follows : "I desire to say that although I am an innocent man, innocent of every crime that has been charged against me, I bear nc animosity to? wards those who have persecuted me. not even the presis of San Fran? cisco, which hounded me to the grave. If any man chinks I am going to spring a sensation, I nm not, except it is a sensation that lam an innocent mau, brought to the grave by my persecutors Bot 1 forgive them all. They will get justice from the great God. who is master of us all, and there I also expect to get justice, that is the justice of an innocent man. Whether or not the perpetrators of the crime of which I um charged are discovered, it will make no difference to me now, but I say this day will be FI shame to the great State of Cali? fornia I forgive everybody who has persecuted me-an innocent man. whose hands have never been stained with blood-and I go to meet my Gr>d with forgiveness of all men " The words were delivered slowly and distinctly and without emphasis The eager crowd of spectators grouped closer to th ? wooden fame work that they might not lose a word [ of what was being said No a sound could be heard except the even tones of the man aboot to die. The Penitentiary's Excel? lent Showing. Tbe annual reports of the board of directors aod superintendent of the pen? itentiary were yesterday made public and are given beton : Columbia, Dec. 31, 1897. To His Excellency Wm. H Ellerbe, Governor of South Carolina. Dear Sir: The board of directors of the South Carolina State peniten? tiary have the honor herein to submit you their annual report for the fiscal year begioiog Jan. 1 and ending Dec 31, 1897, together with the repart of the superintendent, clerk, captain of the guards, physioian and chaplain. For a detailed 'statement of receipts and disbursements, reference may be had to the repert of the clerk of the prison and secretary of board, but in order to eliminate the necessity of your examination of the many small trans? actions of the institution, and to arrive at the results of the work done, we submit the following condensed report : Receipts $85,859 30 Disbursements : Incidental expenses.$65,112.15 To amona t paid sink? ing fand commis? sion for money ad? vanced to pay for Reed farm and in? terest on same 9,649.72 To amount paid to general fond of State of Son tb Car? olina 10,003.00- 84,761 87 Balance on hand $ 1,097.43 Amount due the institution for convict hire, etc., 11,971.41 Total $13,068.84 Liabilities 4,389 03 Leaving balance of ' $ 8,678 81 We congratulate thc State upon this new souroe of revenue This year for the first time within the memory of this board, the State bas received a cash revenue from this source. A ref erecce to the above statement will show a cash payment to the State's general fund of $10,000, besides the institution cae oe: all of its obligations as they came due. The special committee appointed by your excellency as ex officio chairman of the board to make an inventory o? the property of the institution, both in the prison and on the several farms, completed their work and a statement thereof is included witbio this report. We invite a comparison of this report with the one of last year, and you will note an increase cf value to the amount of $24,446.44, notwithstanding the iow price of cotton. It har been our aim to mn the inp ti tutioo on economic and businesslike principles, and we are proud to note the above increase and a comparative reduction of expenditures We have furnished labor to Clemson college this year amounting to $1,056, valuing the san>e at $5 50 per month and Winthrop Normal and Industrial college $780 io cash, in lieu of the labor granted them on the State farms We think the above an eye-opener to you and thc legislature showing as it docs that this institution is forced to contribute to the support of these in? stitutions by statutory law We do net object to assisting other institutions of the State, but think that proper credit should be given ns by you and the public generally. In other words, we ask that we be put cn a busi? ness basis by requiring ali labor used from this institution to be paid for, and all laws to tbe contrary be repealed Our directorship and the duties fall? ing on us, as st,ch, have been made pleasant and agreeable by tbe effioient and painstaking assistance rendered io each department, by the different offi? cers of the institution. With thanks for the many courtesies shown us. both as officers of your ad? ministration and individuals, we are, respectfully, T J Cunningham, 8. P J. Gams. W. O Tatum, J. H Blackwell, J. H. Wharton, Board of Directors. COL NEAL'S REPORT. Col. Neal's ieport reads as follows : To the Honorable Board of Direc? tors of the South Carolina Peniten? tiary . Gentlemen : As required by law, I herewith submit this my fifth an? nual reprt as superintendent of the South Carolina penitentiary for the year 1897 : CONVICT STATEMENT. We had confined in the peniten? tiary, on farms and camp as shown by our last report 818 prisoners, dis carged by expiration of sentence, 232 ; lost by pardon, 17 ; escaped, 24 ; suicide, 1 ; death, 26 ; received from county courts, 185 ; leaving in confirment Dec. 31, 1897, 723-95 less than one year ago HEALTH AND SANITARY STATEMENT. We have lost by death 26, which is a small death rate, considering the uncomfortable, badly constructed prison building. Our death rate is increased yearly from the disabled and sick prisionera being sent to the instituiiou from the county chain ganga, some of which only live a few days In order to proruoe the health of the prisoners, we spend all the money, time and attention necessary, in a liberal way. The construction and ventilation of the present building, in this day of improvement is without excuse. To make the prisoners comfortable all / has been done without new structures We have put in new iron spring beds, cemented the walls of the cells to prevent vermin, put in first class wa ter closets, etc. The present bnilding should be tom down and a new/mod em one built from the same material, which can be done at a small cost I respectfully recommend that this be done as soon as practicable I called your attention last year to the fact that the present supply of drink? ing water was becoming mere and more unsafe, as. shown " by analysis. I again report the warning and hope some step will be taken along this line of improvement. For a full state? ment as to the health condition of the institution, I respectfully refer you to the report of Dr. D. S. Pope. MORAL AND RELIGIOUS. We have preaching and church services each Sunday morning, con? ducted by our worthy chaplain. Rev. A P. Norris, also Sunday school and singing in the afternoon, conducted by Messrs. Stanley and Adams The prisoners take much interest and en? joy the Sabbath exercises We ap propriate from $40 to $50 annually for the Sunday school literature, which is supplemented by contribu? tions from all over the conntry. IMPROVEMENTS AT PENITEN TIARY. New laundry complete, building improved, by new roof and cemented floors, etc , at a eost of ?800. REED FARM IMPROVEMENTS. New barn for mules, hospital building, lot fencing, 400 acres pas? ture eiclo8ed with wire at a cost of $5,000. Crop statement Reed farm, 32 mule crop. J. J. Cooley, Manager. 7,037 bushels oats at 40c, $ 2,814 80 535 bales of cotton at $22 50, 12.037.40 13,000 bushels cotton seed at ?5c, 1,950.00 340 tons peavine hay, at $15, 5,100.00 170 tons oat straw at $7 50. 1,200.00 40 tons fodder at $10, 400 00 30 ton shucks at $7 50, 225 00 7,000 bushels corn at 50c, 3,500 00 1,250 bushels potatoes at 25c, - 312 50 675 bushels peas at 65c, 4,387.75 13,500 pounds pork at 5c. ' 675 00 Total value farm prod'ts, $28,653 55 An average of 16 2 3 bales of cot? ton weighing 438 pounds per baie, a cash average of $894 48 to the mule DESAUSSURE FARM IMPROVE MENTS. Cotton shed, hay house, 400 acres pasture enclosed with wire at a cost of $500. Crop statement DeSaossure farm, 32 mule crop, W. T. McGill, Man? ager. 5.950 bushels oats at 40c, $ 2,380 00 440 bales of cotton at $22 50. 9,900 00 11,000 bushels cotton seed at 15c 1,650.00 450 bushels peas at ' 65c, 292 50 .000 bu ehe] 8 corn at 650c, 3,000.00 900 bushels potatoes at 25c, 225 00 300 tons peavine hay at $15, 4,500 00 160 tons oat straw at $7 50, 1,200 00 75 tons shucks at $7 50, 562 50 26 tons fodder at $10, 260 00 10,400 pounds pork at 5c, 520 00 Total value farm prod'ts, $24,490.00 An average of 13 3 4 bales of cot? ton, weighiug 434 pounds per bale ; a cash average of $765 31 to the mule. ^ LEXINGTON FARM. Eight mule crop, S. A. Miller, Man? ager 96 bales cotton, all sold, $ 2.360 12 2,400 bushels cotton seed . at 15c. 360.00 1,000 bushels corn at 50c, 500 00 400 bushels potatoes at 25c, 100 00 498 bales peavine hay, 373 50 10.000 bundles fodder at 50c per 100, 100 00 300 bales shucks at 40c. 120.00 20 tons straw at $7 50. 150 00 1,500 bushels oats at 40c, 600 00 Total value farm prod'ts, $4,663 63 An average of 12 bales of cotton, weighing 463 pounds per bale ; a cash average of $582 95 to the mule. Crops of ali kinds thia year have been very satisfactory ; the price, however, for the cotton crop has been very low ; selling the entire crop except 48 bales, which were not ready at the time of sale, for 5.10c I am orlad to report that the finan? cial condition of the institution is better than for any time for the past five years We have paid the entire amount due for the purchase of the farms ; paying this year $9,647.72, which huts the institution out of debt. I am glad to say ; with valuable farming lands bought in the last few years at a cost of $38,424.38, all of which has been equipped at a cost of more than ?25.00u. We have turned over to the State treeaurer ?10,000 adding to the amount paid the sinking fund com? mission and the Reed farm, making a total of ?19,649 72 paid to the State treasurer this year Giving this large amount of money to the State, with 5 cent cotton, will make us hard up financially during the coming year. To stock the farms we have pur? chased 102 head of cattle, 109 head of sheep and 6 mules, at a cost of ?2,626 73 We now have the farms well stocked with cattle, sheep and bogil, and io the near future we hope to be able to supply all the meat used by the entire institution, as well as all kinds food supplies ; to this end we have been working as rapidly as pos? sible daring the three years the State has been is possession of the farms. Thanking the board and all the offi? cers of the institution for the prompt discharge of their duties and kind? ness shown the years we have work? ed together. All of which is res? pectfully submitted. W. A Neal. Superintendent Statistics of Crime and Dis? aster. The Chicago Tribune has gone to the dismal but instructive trouble of collecting the statistics of lynchings, murders, suicides, embezzlements and loss of life by disaster in 1897. The most encouraging fact revealed by its figures, whose accuracy can be accepted as only approximate, is that the number of murders is less than in 1896, while the number of legal executions for that crime is larger than the average for the last five years. Upon the other hand, the number of lynchings and suicides and the amount of money embezzled exceed the record of 1896 Deaths from disaster by land and sea show a decrease, but the destruction of life by epidemic and famine in ali the world is greater than for several years. Of special interest are the statistics of lynchings There has been so much discussion of this subject of late that it will seem a surprise that the total of 166 for 1897, including four women victims of mob violence, is only thirty five more than the total of 1896 The following table shows, a total of 2,174 lynchings in the last thirteen years : Year. Number. Year. Number 1885 184 1892 235 1886 138 1893 200 1887 122 1894 190 1888 142 1895 171 1889 176 1896 131 1890 12r 1897 169 1891 192 For 1897, Texas heads the lisf of States with twenty five lynchings ; Alabama is charged with nineteen, Mississippi with sixteen, Georgia anoV Louisiana with fourteen each, Flori . da with twelve and Arkansas with eleven. From this bloody record, New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware are exempt ; and of the total lynch? ings, there were 146 in the South and twenty in the North. It is sig? nificant that 122 of the victims of mob murder were colored But the moet notable feature of these statistics is that there were just twenty-three men lynched for that crime which the Southern ad? vocates of illegal vengeance claim to be its excuse-violence to women. To th is cause can be attributed only about one-fifth of all the lynchings in the South, and yet this atrocious crime is the basis of the plea of every defender of its atrocious revenge The lynchings of alleged murderers were sixty nine, or three times as many as the illegal reprisals for as? saults upon women. The 6,600 suicides of 1897 in? clude actors, lawyers, editor?, busi? ness men, physicians and ten clergy? men In the classification of causes of suicides, 2,889 are attributed to "despondency" and 356 to "ill heal th'7-a most unsatisfactory sep? aration of motives closely cor? related in nearly all cases. Of me? thods of suicide, poison remains the favorite, with a record of 2,384, shooting ranking second with 2,136, while 870 destroyed their own aves by hanging, 596 by drowning and 357 cut their throats Only about 20 per cent, of the suicides were women. Of murders there were 9, 520 in 1897, against 10,652 in 1896 There were 128 legal executions irr 1897, four more than in 1896, and of these eighty two were in the South. There were thirty-eight more lynch? ings than legal executions The money lost by embezzlement, forgery,, default and bank failures was ?11,. 248,084, a larger record than for 1895" or 1896 The totals of life in the whole world by disaster, epidemic,, famine, war and massacre is estimated as 389,077, again Rt 246 546 in 1896 The most significant lesson of these figures lies in the causes for lynch ing They prove that the Southern, advocates of mob murder are de? prived of their chief plea in extenu-" ation of this crime -N Y Mail andi Express. Take JOHNSON'S CHILL & FEVER TONIC.