The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, December 28, 1898, Image 1

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m n n sud outl)ron ? MS SUMTER WATCHMAN,, SatabUahod April, 1850. 4'Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jone. 1366 Consolidated Aug. 2. 1881. PBhll?hod 2ST8T7 ^edaesday, SUMTER, S. C. TERMS : $1.50 per annum-io advance. IDTIBTISIKIIT: Ono Square first insertH>n.T.T..c...$l 00 Srery subsequent insertion-,.... 50 Coa tracts for three months, or longer wil b) made at reduced rates. AU communications which subserve private y interests will be charged for as ttdvertiementa. I* Obituaries and tributes of respects will be shagged for. xS0ME FACTS ABODT THE WAR. INTERESTING NAVAL HISTOBF, Washington, Dee. 21 -The official ^reports of aU commanding officers of Ee?fee &*TJ during the wa.- have been **i8gpHed and published by the jizvy ttap8foBa*o.tT~"While treating of events ^that nave already" figured in oficial reporto ?bat bare r eco bed the publie the documents still contains many minor reports, that throw side lights on interesting phases cf the war, Almost ;in the beginning;, in the b:-ief record of *he proceedings of the naval war beard, an un koowa hero is brought to flight in the person of Ensign H. H. Ward, wbo at the beginning of the war was on duty in the navigation, ( burean, alternating with Lient. Whittles? in - the heavy dc ties of assistant to tbe ebief of the bureau. ?Be volunteered for secret service duty and bis exploits, about whidb notbing has been said io the past, ms.y well be placed on record beside those of Lient. ^Eowao in Coba sod Lient. Whitney in Puerto Bieo. Within a week after the the declaration of war Ensign Ward ^'disguised himself and went right ic to '' the heart cf the enemy's country, making bis headquarters at Cadiz, the ^principal Spanish naval station, and informing the naur, department here of tbe actual strength of ?be Spanish naval vessels and their movements Then he weat to the West Indies and reported everything that was going ! ; on there of importance to the American I navy. Next, he went again into the j enemy's eoontry m disguise, this time j to Pnerto Bice, where he was arrested as a suspicions character and a spy. j By adroitness he managed to secure his | release and escaping from San Jnao ! sabled the navy department a foll account of the state of the defenses there and the preparation? making for the r?ception of the Spanish squadron under Cervera. All this time even the ofici?is of the navy department were under the Impression that Mr. Ward ~j?auL engaged io instating a system of coast signals on the New Eogland coast. While Ward was in Puerto Bieo, ^.Ensign Buck, another attache of the navigation bureau, was on the shores of the Mediteranean io disguise walebing every movement of the squad? ron of Admirai Camara, which started for the Philippines, but turned back. Of the strategy board itself it is said p that it was part of its doty to keep informed of all of the movements, resources and plans of the Spanish naval forces through secret agents and it is known that the navy was {.bus informed of ali important movements. At times, however, information was cooSictiog and d?cisions had to be made as to which report was trae. ?4 The reports of the famous naval bat? tie of Cavite ioelndiog ooe from United \ States Consol Williams, a rather on V usual thing in a "report of a strictly ! naval character, but folly justified by - its picturesque aod ootechoioal descrip tioo cf Dewey's great viotory. Fol? lowing it is a report to his government ???on the same engagement by the com mander io-cbief of the ill-fated Spanish fleet, Mootojo. The admiral depicts the bad condition of the Spanish fleet and defenses. He says that tbs cruiser Castiiia was incapable of manoeuvering on account of her bad condition, while the defenses at the entrance of the Su big bay were very backward. With if much disgust he found that tbe guns whiob should have been mounted were delayed a month and a half and be was no less disgusted to find that reliance was bad for the defense of the port upon a fl few torpedoes, not properly pl aced. * bsFindiog Sobig y defenseless tbe Spaoise squadron repaired to the bay of Manila to meet batt'? under less un? favorable conditions. Tbe admiral avoided the city, not wishing to draw " fire upon it, and prepared his fleet for action, painting bis vessels io dark /gray sad having the fires spread and springs on the cables. He eaya that the force of Dewey's vessels, leaving ont j transports, amounted to 21.410 tons, j 49,290 horse power, 163 guns (many | rapid fire), 1.750 men and an average "%af velocity of 17 miles. Against this j power of bis only five effective shipe was 10,111 tons, 11,200 horse power, 79'guns (very short of rapid fire), 1,875 meo, sod ? maximum speed of 12 miles. The admiral describee very vivid language the terrible e of the American onglaoght on Spanish vessels. He says: ** Americans fired mott rapidly. Tl came upon ns camerons projectiles, the three cruisers at the end of line devoted themselves almost en ti to fighting the Christiana, my flags ? short time after the aotioo commet: one shell exploded in the forecastle pot oat of action all of those ?bo ser the four rapid fire oaooon * * Meantime another shell exploded io orlop, setting fire to the crew's b * * * At 7 30 ooe shell destro completely tbs steeriog gear * * another destroyed the mizzen, bring dowo my Sag. aod ensign * * another shell exploded on tbe poop i pot ont of aotioo nine meo. A fr shell exploded io the officer's cat covering the hospital with blood, sfcroying tbe woooded who were be treated there. Another exploded the ammunition room .* * * bad to flood the magasines when cartridges begao to explode * * one large shell penetrated the fire ro potting out of action master gani and twelve men serving tie gans. i other rendered useless the starboi bow goo, and while tbe fire increai astern another fire started forward fri another shell. Tbe broadcide gt con tinned firing until there was only c gao and one seaman remaining aohi for serving tliera * * * Tbe si being oat of control, tbs ball; emol pipe and mast riddled With shot, h of the crew oat of aotioo, among wh< were seven officers, I gave the order sink and abandon tbe ship before t magazines should explode " Tbe story of the loss of the Cast was substantially the story of the loss all the other Spanish ships aod Admii Mon tejo sams op his aotioo with tl statemen t : ''The inefficiency of the vessels whi composed my little squadron, the lack all classes of the personnel, especial master gunners and seamen gunner the inaptitude of some pf the provision machinists, the scarcity of rapid-fi oaooon, tbe strong crew of the enera abd tbe ooperfeoted character of ti greater part of oar vessels all conti bated to make m ooh more decided t! sacrifice which we made for oar count and to prevent tbe possibility of tl horrors of a bombardment of the city Manila, with the ccu vic: i oe that wi the scarcity of oar force against the s peror eoemy, we were going to certa death and could expeot a loss of all ot ships Oar casualties, including tho of the arsenal amounted to 381 mc killed and wounded."" Apparently the first suggestion of tl flying squadron, which was to dive Admiral C omar t's squadron from i voyage to Manila, came from Dewe; for io a dispatch of Jooe 27, he says "Io my judgment, if the coast of Spai was threatened the squadron of the em my wiil have to return/' And tbat was exactly what happen e< A mooth later the admiral pays big compliment to the British consul at Mi nila, Mr. Rawson Walker, who f< three months had been discharging tl duties o? Uoited States consul io Manil and rendering the admiral great assii tance. The admiral's estimate of the import ance cf tbe Philippine islands is set oe in the following telegram sent io ac swer to an inquiry on the subject froi the government : Manila, Aug. 20, 1898. Secretary of the Navy, Washington Referring to the department's te egram of Angust 13, importan islands are : Colon, Luzon, Panay Cebu, Negros, Ley te. Others, owinj to the nature of the inhabitants hav a small amount of civilization, wan of cultivation. They may be neg lected, especially isles of souther! group. Luzon is in nil respects tb< most desirable to retain. Contaim most important commercial ports Manila is farthest north. Produce? all of the good tobacco. Friendlj natives. Civilization somewhat ad vanced. Not yet developed Pos sibly rich minerals Population 825,000. Subig bay best harbor foi coaling purposes and military Water deep ; landlocked ; easily de? fended Strategically, command ol bay and city of Manila, with arse? nal at Cavite, most ?alaable Panay, Cebu, Negros thickly populated ; most civilized and well cultivated I ii lio second commercial port ; cen? tre of sugar trade ; a good harbor strategically ; in view of the situa? tion, good for defense. Cebu third commercial port ; a good harbor, very desirable. No coal of good quality can be piocured in Philippine islands. Some has been mined on Cebn, English company. I trust it may not be necessary to order me to Washington Should regret very much to leave here while matters remain in present critical condition. Dewey. Very naturally the report of the operations of the North Atlantic fleet comprises the larger part of the printed body. Most of the facts have already appeared, but in the very beginning thers is a most interesting exchange of letters between Secre ! tary Long and Admiral Sampson, I showing that even before the out? break of the war the admiral had worked ont a complete plan for the immediate reduction of Habana, with his own squadron, unsupported, and was only prevented from carrying out that pian by orders from the de? partment which wished to protect the big ironclads. An unpublished report up to this time is one by Admiral Sch ley dated Jone 1st giving an account of the bombardment by his fleet of the for? tifications of Santiago, the day before Sampson arrived on the scene. The admiral says in part: "None of our vessels were strnck, although the shots fell over and around them. I have learned from insurgent forces that the Reina Mercedes was strnck by a shell and eight men were killed; also that a number of shots struck the Morro. The reconnoisaance de? ve loped the fact the Spanish vessels are in the harbor and that the fortifi? cations are well provided with long range gins of large calibre.' That Secret Dossi er. Paris, Deo. 20-The Coarriere da Soir sayB this evening : "The Dreyfus secret dossier was banded to the court of cassation this evening, nuder tbe pledge that ic should not be ccmmmuni oated to the counsel for tbe defence or to any one outside the court." The chamber of deputies ic dolled in another Dreyfus debate to-day. Joseph Fourniere, Socialist deputy for Aisoe, moved a resolution conferring franchise upon soldiers, and demanded urgency for it He then proceeded to expound his views, which provoked a great up oa r. The premier, M. Dopey, replied : "I should have thought that tbe Dreyfus affair bad already done the country enough barm. M. Fourniere's new proposal would be most pernicious. Tbe country wants and bas a devoted army to safeguard her independence, and we do not wish to give its officers the means of descending to '?be forom. We most rally around the army.7' Tbe motion for urgency was then defeated by 477 votes against; 26. Io the senate a stormy discussion took place over a bill increasing the penalties for espionage ard treason. There were frequent references to Dreyfus. Eventually the bill which prescribes death for state officials who are guilty of treason in time of peace j was adopted. Pension Ex-Confederates. Washington, Deo. 20.-Senator But? ler, of North Carolina, today gave no? tice of an amendment he will iotrodace to the pension appropriation bill pen? sioning ex-Confederate soldiers. The ameodmect follows: "That from and after the passage of this bill every pension law DOW OD the statute books shall apply to every in? valid soldier, widow, minor child, de? pendent relative, the army nurses aod all other pensioners who may be able to prove their claim under the present pension laws without regard to whether said soldier was eolisted in the Federal or Confederate service of the Civil War of 1861 65, provided that those en? listed in the Confederate fi er vice shall not draw aoy back pensions prior to the passage of this bili, bat their claim under existing laws shall begin aod become operative with the passage of this bill." Grandson of Brigham Young. New York, Deo. 20.-There were about 200 persons present at the meet? ing of the Woman's Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church, in this city today. Toe object of the meetiog was to inaugurate an aggres? sive campaign to prevent the seating of Bingham H. Roberts, an avowed polygamist, as representative from Utah io the Fifty-sixth congress. Eageoe Young, a graodson of Brig? ham Youog, spoke. He said among other things: "There seems to be a disposition io the east, particularly among the politicians, but even among the churches to treat the revival of the Mormon issue as a minor matter. There is ao inclination to view the election to ooogre88ofB. H. Roberts-three or four ply polygamist, still living io polygamy as ao unavoidable outcome of that oooditioo io Utah aod a mere question of persona; morality. Some day they will see, as those who know Mormoo ambitions see DOW, that Mr. Roberts is a mere instrument, the rep? resentative of mighty forces. Tney will learn that through his eleetioo a people three hundred thousand strong have turned from American liberty and American morality and have taken the initial step toward the establishment of a hierarchy, foreign to our institutions and oar social Ians, in the midst of our republic. If in draggiog polygamy into the bouse of representatives, Mr. Roberts is representing the defiant sentiment of the whole Mormon peopie; then the people most not rust until con? gress has cast bim out as a warning to all covenant breakers aod polygamists." GLANCE AT COUN? TRY'S FUTURE. Senator M'Laurin's Charles? ton Speech-McKinley's Tri? bute to the Confederate Dead. Special to The State. Charleston, Deo. 22 -Senators Geo F. Hoar and John L. MoLanrin, who arrived here last night to participate io the banqnet of the New England society to-eight, were shown a great deal of attention to-day, and loder the chaperonage of Messrs. A. H. Mowry and James M. Seignioos, the special oommittee en reception, were driven about the city \and to Magnolia cemetery. Senator Hoar has a round, beamingly, benevolent, boyishly fresh countenance, occasionally met with io weil preserved old meo, even the pinkish tints of the flesh, and irresisti? bly reminds one, at the first glanoe, of tbe pictures of Dickens' immortal character, Mr. Piokwiok. In reply to the question whether the seoate would ratify the Paris treaty, Senator Hoar said : "The whole thing will be beaten if the Democrats stick, bat if the fight is postponed for three years, success would be doubtful.'7 The bar association will tender Senators Hoar aod McLaurin ao excur? sion around the bar and to Fort Sumter to morrow. The constables created consternation this morning by seizing a shipment of wine consigned to the stewards of the New England society and intended for ose at the banquet to-nighc. During the day Gov. Ellerbe was wired for orders granting the release of the j wioe. Messrs. W. A. Neal, superintendent of the State penitentiary, and Francis '< Yv eston, of Columbia, arrived in the city last night and were registered at \ tbe Charleston hotel to-day. They were on Broad street this morning in conversation with the Charleston delegation. Messrs. Neal and Weston's visit was the subject of some comment. It is opined that Col. Neal is looking after his political fences. The Saratoga sailed for Coba this afternoon with tbe third and last de? tachment of the Tenth regular infantry. Companies A, H, I and L, 439 men and five officers, under the commacd of Capt. W. T. Duggan arrived this morn? ing from Huntsville, Ala , and were promptly transferred with their bag? gage aod provisions to the Saratoga bv Maj. Edward Willis, qoartermaste. today. Ooly one mao was sick, Lieut. Tibbett, who was left at the City hos? pital. Promptly at 7 o'clock this eveoieg the New England society and their in? vited guests sat down to an elegant banquet in honor of Forefathers Day, at the Charleston hotel. It is a some? what curious faot that the New Eng? landers (many of them by courtesy so called) compose the best endowed so? ciety of the kind in the city and are best able to give banquets on a national soale, as it were. That is to invite and entertain distinguished visitors of national reputation at their banqueting board. It has been their custom for years past to have one or more distin? guished speakers from abroad, and on this occasion. Senator Hoar was the pieoe de resistance provided. The set speeches this evening were "Forefather's Day," responded to by Senator Hoar; "Our Country," re? sponded to by Senator John L Mo? Lanrin; "The Mayflower," by Hon. Joseph B. Cummings, of Augusta; "Education," Principal Tait, of the Memioger High school. The auditors were charmed with Senator Hoar, and in fact with eaoh of the speakers in turn, but perhaps the speech which at? tracted most attention was that of Sena tor MoLaurin, who said io part: The war between the States is over, that tragic chapter io our country's history is forever closed. The memory of its pain and sorrow yet lingers with ns. But standing tonight upon the birthplace and very cradle of secession with siocere hearts, we can all thank God that out of its supreme agony has come a union, one and indivisible. I thank God for a president, whose great soul aod Christian spirit has done so mnoh to reunite this nation In the name of the sooth, I thank him for the laurel wreath laid opon the graves of our dead. The time will come when the great heart of this nation will care for the living as well as for the dead. Wheo the poverty-stricken aod feeble old Confederate veteran wili not have to die in order to wio a place io the na? tional regard. "The race and suffrage question by I reason of the sudden exigency forcp? upon the sooth, has secured a partial solution as evidenced by the constitu? tions sod election laws of the various States. Some of those who have crit? icised us, may find the justification of our methods io providing a scheme for the government of these colonial pos? sessions. "I will never vote to'give the ignor? ant, degraded and servile of the for eigo lands a voice ic the affairs of oar country They are not fit to have much voice in their own. Universal suf? frage has been tried in the south, aod it bas proved a uoiversal failure and dis? appointment. It is still a question whether the inferior aod Latin races are anywhere oapable of self-govern? ment. ? Schiey Gets a Sword. Philadelphia, Dec. 22.-Rear Admi? ral Schiey waa to night the recipient of a handsome and costly sword, scabbard and belt, presented to bim in behalf of the people of this city and other oities in Pennsylvania.. New Jersey and Delaware, who contribnted to a fund established for the purpose. The cere? mony took place in the Temple Baptist church, and Col. A. K. McClure presided. The formal presentation was made by Miss Rena Maoneall. the 15-year-old sister of Private Harry Maoneall of the marine corps, who distinguished himself during the battle of Santiago by climbing out on one of the muzzles of the cruiser Brooklyn's big guns daring a heavy fire and removing a loaded shell, which bad become fastened in the breech. The admiral, in aocepting the gift, thanked the people, and said : "Let me hope with jou that in God's providence it may never be drawn without reason, bat if it ever should be so willed that it mast be, it will never be sheathed except in yon- greatest honor." The sword, scabbard aod belt represent a cost of $4,200. The blade is of fine Damascus steel, appropriately engraved, and the hilt is elaborately decorated with diamonds and other preoious stones. An Unfettered Hand. London, Dec. 22.-The Habana correspondent of the Times, in the coarse of a letter published this morning, says : "President McKin? ley will have an unfettered hand here , A majority of the Cabana are prepared to accept unreservedly any regime treating them justly and en? suring the tranquility of the island. "The Spanish residents also are I contented to accept the inevitable believing that their interests will be protected with themselves fairly treated. Therefore, the way is clear to establish any system of govern? ment the Washington authorities may see fit to impose.,? _ - II ii *_ Come and see u3 before baying or trading. Wa cao please yon with a White-Randie. Old Sewing Machines made new at Randie's. Negroes Go to Mississippi They Are Emigrating From Greenwood County. Special to The State. Greenwood, Dec. 20 -The negroes of this oona ty show a decided disposi? tion to emigrate. Several hundred are likely to leave within a few weeks. The exodus commenced a week ago, when two oars filled with negro families left for lower Mississippi. Another car left Sunday night. The 100 negroes that have gone went from the Saluda eeotion and several farms there are practically tenantless. More are going from the same place. One A. W. Williams is the sgent who is taking off so many of the colored population. He has taken a contract. to place several hundred negro families j with the planters in Southern Missis- j sippi. For several reasoos he se?ectsd ! Greenwood County as a good field for his business There is no denying the fact that the ? negroes in the populous sections of this county are badiy demoralized. They i are in some places still panic stricken on acoouot of the Phoenix trouble. They have not been molested but have the unreasoning fear of their real friends so common to ignorance. The negroes of Saluda, Ninety-Six and Phoenix will hardly make contracts for another year. The financial depression has borne heavily on the negroes, making them more disheartened. The merchants have enforced collections to the destitu? tion of many families. Under the circumstances this exodus is expected to thin out the over? abundant negro population of this county considerably. It is the colored renters who are getting off. As a cons?quence some of the best land in the county will be occupied by white renters hereafter. I Makes the food more del ROYAL BAKING POWD CALLS HITCHCOCK TO THE CABINET. Great Grandson of toe Green Mountain Boy's Leader. / ..Washington, Dec. 21.-The presi? dent to-day nominated Ethan A. Hitchcock, of Missouri, to be secre? tary of the interior. The nomina. tion was immediately confirmed by the senate Mr. Hitchcock is at present am? bassador.to Kossia He was appoint? ed minister more than a year ago, and when the rank was raised to an embassy he was reappointed. Mr. Hitchcock is a business man of St. Louis and was for some time an extensive plate glass manufac* tarer He is a great grandson of Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame. His ancestors were from Vermont, bot his fathet moved sooth and Mr. Hitchcock was born at Mobile, Ala. He is a brother of Henry Hitchcock, a lawyer of note. Senator Proctor who was in St. Petersburg during the past summer says he is very popular in the diplo? matic corps and among the acquaint? ances he bas made abroad. Mr. Hitchcock is expected here in Feb? ruary. 4 Secretary Bliss in an interview with the Associated . .-ss said : "It bas been understood for some time that it has been my wish to retire from public life on the eonc'asion of the war. Now that the treaty of peace has been signed, my request to be relieved will be granted, but I shalt await the arrival of my success? or before severing my connection with the interior department. I have been in most hearty accord with the president in his policy throughout the trying days in which he sought to avoid war, and while as command? er-in-chief, he was conducting the war that came notwithstanding his effort to prevent it. I believe most thoroughly in the course be is now pursuing for maintaining the honor of the country by securing the just results of a successful war. I shall leave my associates of the cabinet and of the department and my many* friends in Washington *witb great regret, but private and personal reasons make my retirement a nee essity." Negro Soldier Killed. Macon, Dee. 22 -Private Turner of the Sixth Virginia regiment was shot and almost instantly killed by 0. A. Thrower, a street car conductor, this afternoon Torcer boarded Thrower's car very drunk and used the vilest lan? guage imagioable in tbe presence of la? dies. Thrower tftto polled him out of the oar to the rear platform and kept bim there until a lady got off. While Thrower was assisting tbe lady off the negro kicked bim several times and ap? plied more vile epithets A negro on a trailer oar theo called Turner, but after a short talk be returned to Thrower's oar, aod, with a knife in bis band, swore tbat be would cut Thrower's bead off, advanced on bim As he stepped on the platform Thrower fired,' the bul? let striking tbe negro in tbe mouth. He died in l5 minutes A crowd of ne? gro soldier and civliaos soon gathered and swore vsngeaoce on Thrower and all street car conductors. Ooe conduct? or was chased several blocks by ne? groes. Guards have been placed on all cars on the lioe leading to the negro camps and to night the camp is under strong guard to prevent an outbreak on the part of the negro soldiers. Oh alee too, D?e. 22.-The third and last battalion of the Tenth infantry, United Stares army, sailed from this port forpuba on the Ward line Steamer Saratoga this afternoon. The detach? ment of the Tenth was 443 men strong and was commanded by Capt. Duggan, United States army. Go to H. G. Osteeo & Co. for pretty Paper Dolls, ladies, misses and babies. BUCKLEN'S ARNICA S AL VS. The best Salve in the world for Oats Braises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum, Fever, Sore Tetter, Chapped Hands, Chilblains, Co r's and all Skin Eruptions and positively cans Piles or no nay required. It is guaranteed to give perfect satisfaction, or money relunded, price 25 cents per box; For sale by Dr. J. F W. D. Lorme. JL &AKIN6 POWDER URE ?c?ous and wholesome ER CO.. NEW YORK._ Mitti I IlldfUHfrl NM11M1MI1B