THM SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Ainis't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Estabiiehed Jane, 1366
Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. SUMTER. S. C.. WEDNESDAY, MAY 24.1899. New Series-Yoi. XVIII. No. 43
Published Ersry Wednesday,
-BY
Sp"---: '- - . ' - '
KT.- G-. Osteen,
SUMTER, S. C,
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British Olcers
Arrested for Treason.
Were Organizing a Rebellion
Against the Boers.
Pretoria, Transvaal, May 16.-The
arrest at Johannesburg early this
morning of eight alleged former
British Seers, on the charge of
high treason has caused intense
excitement here. The prisoners were
brought to Pretoria by special train.
After they had been lodged in jail
they were visited by the British
, diplomatic agent here..
The arrests were effected by a
detective who joined the movement,
which it is asserted, was for the
parp se of enrolling men in order to
canse an outbreak of rebellion
' Incriminating documents were
found on the prisoners and it is
expected that farther arrests will be
made. ?
The officers arrested are Capt.
Patterson; formerly of the Lancers ;
Col. S. F Nicholls, Lieut E J
Tremlott. C. A Eilis, lately a private
detective at Johannesburg ; Lieut
Jobs Allen, formerly of the horse
artillery ; Quartermaster Mitchell ;
former sergeant, J Pries, and former
sergeant, B. P. Hooper
None of them have been in the
employ of the British South African
Chartered company
It is said that the commissioner of
police who had the affair in hand has
been working up the case for fonr
months. Mr. Beaty, the detective,
who effected the arrests, received his
instructions last week and secured
the necessary warrants yesterday.
The executive council of the
Transvall is sitting in secret session
this evening, considering the arrests
Farther warrants have been
issued
It is asserted that the officers
already arrested were also preparing
to organize a corps in Nata),
the British colony between the
Orange Pee State and the Indian
ocean, to assist the projected move
ment at Johannesburg
The British agent and charge d' af
faires, Mr. Conyngham Greene, had
an interview with President Kruger
this afternoon and expressed regret
that men who had worn the queen's
uniform should be concerned in soch
a movement President Kruger re
plied that he would not believe the
prisoners were British officers until
it had been proved, adding that he
hoped the affair would not interfere
with the proposed meeting between
himself and Sir Alfred Milner, gov
ernor of Cape Colony and British
high commissioner for South Africa.
EXCITEMENT IN COMMONS
London, May 16-Jos Chamber
lain, secretary for the colonies, this
evening said be had heard nothing
officially regarding the arrests in the
Transvaal and did not think that too
serious significance oogbt to be at
tacbed to them.
Now Regarded as an Unfor
tunate Local Incident.
Pretoria, Transvaal, May 17 -The
seven alleged revolutionists, who pre
sented the appearance of ordinary
loafers, were arraigned in court today
charged with the capital offense of high
treason. They were remanded tor a
fortnight.
Sworn affidavits allege that 2,000 men
b&ve been enrolled for military eerviee
and that it was intended to arm them
in Natal, to return them to the Rand,
and at a given signal to seize and hold
the fort of Johannesburg for 24 hours,
pending the arrivai of British troops.
The Press says tbs government
regards the matter as "an unfortunate
looal incident which will not affect the
general political situation "
The government also confirms the 1
report that the arrangements between
President Kruger and the governor of
Cape Colony and high commissioner of
South Africa, Sir Alfred Milrer, for a
meeting at Bloemmonteio, capital of
the Qrar-ge Free State, are nearly
completed. The president's proposed
reforms will be presented to the voiks
raf prior to the meeting.
THE WAR IN
THE PHILIPPINES.
INSURGENTS' CAPITAL IS
CAPTURED AGAIN.
Peeble Resistance Made by
Enemy, Who Fall Back.
Manila, May 17, ll 40 a. m -Gen.
Lawton's advance guard under Col.
Summers of the Oregon troops took
San Isidro, the insurgent capital, at 8
o'clock this morning The expedition
under Maj Kobb of the Third artil
lery, consisting of the Seventeenth
infantry, a battalion of the Ninth and
one battery of the First artillery, left
Ca umpit today, marching Up the
Rio Grande to join Gen Lawton's
division at Arayat. A flotilla of
canoes, loaded with supplies, also
proceeded op the river. Both forces
were convoyed by the gunboats
under Capt. Grant.
Aguinaldo's ex secretary, Escamil
lo, who was arrested on February 23,
is now employed as official interpre
ter by the authorities
6 15 p. m -Col Summers' com
mand, consisting of the Twenty
second infantry on the left, the
Minnesota regiment in the centre
and the Oregon and North Dakota
regiments on the right preceded by
scoots and accompanied by Scott's
battery of artillery, advanced from
Baluarte at daylight. The troops
first encountered the enemy two
miles from San Isidro, the rebels
retiring when our artillery opened
fire. Just outside the town a rebel
force estimated to number 2,000 men
was entrenched. It made a slight
resistence, but evacuated its position
when our troops turned its right
flank.
The enemy's loss was 15 men
killed and 20 wounded Our troops
also captured three prisoners and
many rifles On the American aide,
one soldier of the Oregon regiment
and one of the Minnesota regiment
were slightly wounded.
After capturing the town, Col.
Summers' troops continued their
advance, pursuing the retreating
rebels for several miles
Although the rebels still threaten
San Fernando in considerable force,
large numbers of natives, a majority
of them being families with their
household goods, are returning daily
to the towns inside the American
lines, at A pal i i especially.
Many of the richer Filipinos are
coming to Manila and laborers are
resuming work in the rice fields
The latter show their respect for
American sovereignty by removing
their hats to the passing trains.
Owing to the bad condition of the
wagon roads, the work of repairing
the railroad is being actively pushed.
Ail the broken bridges have been re
paired, and only a few excavations
remained to be filled up. Trams
will undonbtodly be running through
to San Fernando in a few days
The only natives there are some
Filipinos from Macabebe, who are
trading with our soldiers
At daylight today, Lieut Hill,
who with 25 men of the Fonrth in
fantry, was concealed in the trenches
near Pasig, was attacked by a force
of rebels, whu evidently imagined
they could capture one of our out
posts, as only a few shots had been
fired by the American force A few
volleys put the enemy to flight, toe
rebels losing five men killed and a
number of wounded
The army gunboat Napingdan has
returned here from the lake, having
been disabled by a cannon shot from
a rebel position near Santa Cruz,
which broke her rudder post.
THE INSURGENT CHIEF
STRIKING FOR HIMSELF.
Wasbiogtoo, May 18.-Gen. Otis
cables the war department that the
representatives cf Aguinaldo are seek
ing terms of peace and that the forces
of the insurgents are scattering in the
mountains.
Following is Gen. 0 is' cablegram :
Manila, May 18.
Adjutant General, Washington :
RopresentatiTes of the iosurgent
cabinet and Aguinaldo in mountains
twelve milos north San Isidro, which
abandoned 15th inst., will send in
commission tomorrow to seek terms of
peace. Majority of force confronting
MacArthur at San Fernando bas
retired to Tarlao, earing up two miles
railway; this force has decreased to
about twenty five hundred. Scouting
parlies and detachments moving today
io various directions. Kobbc with
column at Canda7a on Rio Grande
Great majority inhabitants of provinces
over which troops have moved anxious
for peace, supported by members insur
gent cabinet. Aspect of affairs at
present favorable. O is.
The dispatoh of Gen. 0 is wasimme j
diatcly sei to the president at Hot
Springs. Secretary Alger said that th j
I situation was most encouraging acd
j that i was apparent that the Filipinos
I realized the strength of tbe Uoited
! States acd saw that resistance would
j mean extermination if they persisted io
defying authority.
Speaking of tbe part taken by the
volunteers io the Philippines oampaigo,
the secretary says that instead of wish
ing to be home they would not have
missed it as it was an eveDt in their
lives, especially as the hard lighting
has been crowned with success.
The secretary believes that the com
mission which Aguinaldo is sending to
Gen. Otis will accept any terms
proposed by the Uoited States.
It is not likely that Otis will permit
himself to be deceived by the over
tures of the insurgents, or that he will
give consideration to any propositions
which the present commission may
submit that are not sincere and final
beyond qnestioo. It is not clear to the
cSciais here what concussions Agui
naldo expects to receive icasmuoh as
Gee. Otis, with tho full approval of the
president and bis cabinet, bas repeated
ly declared that he will consider noth
iog but the unconditional surrender of
the insurgents as a necessary prelimi
nary to any negotiations for a cessation
of hostilities. It is possible that the
wily insurgent leader believed that he
may make terms for the special benefit
of himself and his cabinet, and it is
even pessible that he has an idea that
tbe United States may be willing to
reimburse him liberally for the surren
der of bis army. It ia suggested that
Aguinaldo is merely lookiDg out for hts
own interests in this matter, now that
the Filipino cause is lost, and will
demand safe conduct out of the Philip
pine islands for himself and a few of
his chosen friends, together with
sufficient money to enable them to live
io exile for a reasonable period.
War department officials are
oonvioced that the end of the insurreo*
tioo in the Philippines is at hand and
that the representatives of the insur
gent cabinet of Aguinaldo, who are to
meet Gen. Otis tomorrow, will succumb
to the inevitable and surrender. Their
forces are evidently so utterly demoral
ized by the persistent advance of the
Americans that they are ready to accept
peace on the best terms they oan
obtain.
Driven northward to the foothills of
the mountains as they have been, their
fleeing and scattered forces, disinte
grated and disheartened, can no longer
be made to face our victorious advance.
Less than a week ago Gen. Luna was
reported just north of San Fernando
where Gen. MacArthur's troops are
concentrated and in the neighborhood
of Bacolar with about 9.000 rebels.
Today Gen. Otis reports that the
remnant of this force, about 2,500 men,
bas withdrawn to Tar lie, over twenty
miles north of San Fernando.
It is possible that the remainder of
thia foree moved east and joined the
main body of the insurgents which
abandoned San Isidro yesterday and
fled northward to the point from which
Aguinaldo is now sending his commis
sioners to sue for peaee.
If this is a ruse to gain time, whiob
none of the officials at the war
department believe, it will avail nothing
ae the Americans will utiliza the period
during the negotiations in reconnoiter
ing the country ahead of them prepara*
tory to the resumption of operations
the minute the negotiations fail.
The dispatch of two battalions of the
Twenty-third infantry yesterday to Jolo,
the principal town in the Sula archi
pelago is tho fourth military expedition
detached from the main body of our
troops at Manila. The Sulu archipelago
is a group of 150 small islands extend
ing io the form of a crescent like the
Aleutian islands, scuth of the Philip
pines. There are DO insurgents, as
far as kaowo, io the Sala groap. The
population of the islands consists of
500 aborigines, 612 traders and 16,000
negroes.
AGUINALDO WEEPS.
Manila, May 18, 4 50 p. m.-Two
Spanish prisoners who have just
arrived bete from Nueva Ecika, say
! Aguinaldo has lost prestige with the
j rebel army, which is described as
j being completely demoralized, short
of food, suffering from diseases,
afraid of the Americans, and rapidly
[ dissolving into armed bands of pil
I lagers
j The prisoners add that Gens Pilar
and Luna are the only influential
Filipinos who are contmuig nresist
ance to the Americans
Aguinaldo's personal retinue was
j recently relieved of its baggage and
j money, while on the way from San
I Isidro to Cebanalon, by marauders.
The Chinese are being victimized
j everywhere by both rebels and loot
i ers.
j Buencamino, a promiment Filipino
'leader (who was friendly to Spain
! and joined in thc compromise ar
rangement whereby the Spaniards
hoped to conciliate the rebels with
! out sacrificing too much,) is reported
as saying Aguinaldo sits in doors
crying, blames himself for the mis
erable condition of the country and
ie afraid to surrender.
WANTS PEACE.
Renews Application for Ar
mistice Already Refused
Manila, May 20 -10.45 a. m.
Two military and two civil Filipino
commissioners, appointed to co-oper
ate with three citizens of Manila in
negotiating terms of peace, arrived
here at 8 15 a m. today.
Maj. Gen. Otis has refused to
entertain the pvoposal.
Manila, May, 16.-5 80 p. m.
Gen. Luna is reported to be making
desperate efforts to restain to educat
Filipinos, within the limits of his
self appionted judisdiction, from com
municating with the Americans, even
arresting Encamino and Herrera, two
of the most influential officials, while
on their way to Malolos to join those
who are coming via San Isidro to
day
This, and the removal of the seat
of government to Tarlac, 30 miles
north of San Fernando, may lead to
complications and delay in the
pacifications but it is generally con
ceded that further opposition to
American sovereignty is useless and
ridiculous. Neither Gen. Luna nor
Gen. Pio Del Pilar have sufficient
force to resist or compel submission.
Gen Wheaton has been relieved
of the command of the Second divi
sion for a special assigned to bis
brigade.
A board, consisting of Col. French
of the Twenty eecond infantry, and
Maj Cabell aud Capt Randolph, of
the Third artillery, has been appoint
ed to proceed to Batavaia for the
purpose of investigating the Euro
pean methods of providing for the
health of the troops and to report on
the subject for the benefit of the
Americans here.
Harmony at the Hague.
The Hague, May 19.-There was a
meeting of the heads of the delegates
to the peaee eonferenee at which
Andrew D White, head of the United
States delegation, and Sir Julian Paun
cefote, head of the British delegation,
were present. It resulted in an agree
ment to appoint three committees to
deal with tba respective groups of
questions proposed for discussion,
namely, disarmament, laws of warfare
and mediation and arbitration.
With a view cf facilitating the
appointment of the committees it was
agreed that each chief delegate should
nominate those of his own delegation
whom it might be desired to appoint to
the respective committees, so that each
nation should be represented upon all.
Probably the committees will meet
nest Tuesday or Wednesday to organize
and to arraoge their procedure.
The opinion of a majority of the
delegates seems to be that the general
scheme to be presented to the conference
was conceived in a broad and liberal
spirit, aod the resuit of this morning's
meeting of delegation chiefs is regarded
as demonstrating the good will and
conoiliatorioess of all the delegates as
well as a common desire to facilitate
the labors of the conference. Perfect
harmony has prevailed thus far
regarded all questions brought forward.
THE BLIND MARKSMAN,
Charleston is in possession of a
marksman who would have proven a
a jewel in the campaign before San
tugo when the Spanish sharpshooters
were killing off so many of the
American soldiers and the "shoot
istsv could not be located for the fact
that they used smokeless powder.
The Charleston expert with the gun
is a negro, stone blind, by the name
of A. C Chamberlain. He could
have knocked Spaniards out of the
trees in which they were hiding if
his aim proved as effectual as it did
night before last in protecting him
self from the attack of a man be took
for a burglar.
Chamberlain lives at 13 E street,
and night before last he heard what
he thought was a robber in bis room,
he jumped from his bed, grabbed a
pistol and fired in the direction from
which the sound came. David Small
another negro answered the shot with
a cry of pain, for the bullet had
gone straight to the mark, although
the man behind the gun did not see
the target at which he fired Small
was so dangerously wounded that he
had to be taken io the Hospital.
Chamberlain was arrested and
brought to police headquarters and
the case was referred to Magistrate
Disher.-News and Courier.
Capetown May 16.-According to
advices from Pretoria the charge
against the prisoners is that, whiie
staying in the Rand privately, they
were really engaged in enlisting men
for tho purpose of rebellion when
they were ready to give the signal.
It is said that the enlistment roster
included 2,000 men and that a num
ber of Lcriminaiing documents were
found at the time the arrests were
made,
THE MANIFESTO
ISSUED BY GOMEZ
Does Not Throw Additional
Light on the Tangle.
Habana, May 18 -The expected
manifesto of Gen. Maximo Gomez
was issued this evening. It reviews
his part in the negotiations with
Gov. Gen Brooke and speaks of his
love for Caba and his sufferings on
her behalf in the past. Gen. Gomez
says : "The hour has now arrived
for me to raise my voice in justifica
tion of my position and to deecribe
the arduous work I have done since
my first visit to Gen. Brooke. I
protested to him against the sum
offered by the United States as insuf
ficient to accomplish the good intend
ed. While waiting an answer to my
protest I sought a solution of the
question. Gen Brooke, representing
the chief magistrate of the United
States, anneunced his inability to
add to the sum already settled upon
"Speculators then attempted to
intervene, offering suggestions which
were refused by me. They presented
a proposition to the military aesem
bly, but the scheme was frustrated
by President McKinley's refusal to
recognize that body. I deemed the
formation of militia a practical solu
tion, and Gen. Brooke, who approved
the idea, asked me for a summary of
my views on toe subject. To this I
replied that 10,000 men were all it
would be possible to get from the
former Cuban army without distinc
tion as to race. My answer was
sent to President McKinley, together
with a personal letter giving explicit
reasons why such a corps was neces
sary
"I had many conferences with
Gen. Brooke, in my endeavors to
discover such a plan of payment as
would not exclude the men who had
never carried arms. Gen. Brooke
insisted upon the surrender of arms
before the receipt of money, and I
also desired that such arms as had
already been surrendered and such
as should be surrendered hereafter
might be delivered to warehouses, in
the care of Cuban armorers, to be
paid out of the Cuban treasury. I
do not think it a disgrace that the
Cuban soldiers should receive, from
a government which is able to pay,
sums that will relieve their immedi
ate needs Special certificates will
be given for all, redeemable by the
Cuban republic so soon as it is estab
lished.
"I am convinced that it is com
patible with obtaining peace to have
an army, with arms reserved to de
fend Cuba against her enemies, and
in the meantime to be guarded as the
relics of a glorious struggle. In my
judgment whether the arms were
disposed of to the municipalities or
to armorers, it will be all the same
under the intervening government.
The Cuban commissioners, however,
refused to agree with Gen Brooke
and the Americans, and declined to
fix dates and places where the Coban
soldiers could deliver up arms and
receive payment from the American
paymasters after identification by
their respective chiefs.'1
Must Pay Poll Tax.
Some of the boya who volunteered
last year think h a hardship on them
to pay poll tax, but the law makes no
provision for exempting veterans of the
..latest" war.
One of the Second Regiment msn
wrote Gov. Ellerbe yesterday: "Will
yon please be so kind as to inform me
by return mail if the boys who went to
Coba under tbe Stars and Stripes ia
the late war with Sprio are now subject
to pay a poli tax when they have no
other property to pay cn."-Tbe State,
May 20.
Mexico, May 19.-Organs of the
Spaoish colony predict that the United
States ere long will be engaged io a
costly war ia Cuba as well as the Phil
ippines, basing the predictions on sup
posed inside information from Cuba.
Tbe Correo de E-tpana says somebody
wiii bc found to supply Cubans with
arms.
London, May 19.-It is announced
in a special dispatch from Aliaban
that a serious epidemic of cholera has
foiiowed in tbe wake of the plague at
Kurrache, the principal seaport. Tbere
wore sixty-four deaths yesterday from
cholera
Grand Lodge Officers.
LAST DAY OF TEE GRAND
LODGE--THE OFFICERS
ELECTED.
Fiorenoe, May 17.-The grand lodge
Knights of Pythias, closed its meeting
tonight.
The uniform raDk or Knights of
Pythias, under the command of Capt.
Robert Wright, came down from
Columbia last night and gave an
exhibition drill at 9 o'clock this mom*
lug and another at 6 this afternoon.
The grand lodge convened at 10
o'clock and routine work was morned.
Action on revising the statutes was
postponed until the next meeting. The
following officers were elected for the
new year :
Dr. G. A. Neuffer, of Abbeville,
G. C.
M. B. Woodward, of Aiken, G.
V. C.
Rev. J H. Thornwell, D. D., of
Fort Mill, G. P.
Messrs. Geo. F VonKolniiz, of
Cbarlestac, and H. H. Husbands, of
Florence, were nominated but declined
in favor of Dr Thornwell.
D. J. Auld, Sumter, G. K. of R.
and S
Wilson G. Harvey, Charleston, G.
M. of Ex.
H H. Husbands, Florence, G. M.
at A.
J. Q MeManus, Kershaw, G. I. G.
J. H. Ryan, Seneca, G. O. G
For supreme representative, W. H.
Thomas, of Charleston, and H. Frank
Wilson, of Sumter, were nominated,
but both withdrew in favor of Col. H.
T Thompson, of Darlington, who was
elected by acclamation.
CHARLESTON NEXT.
Chester, Spartanfcurg and Charleston
extended cordial invitation for the
entertainment of the Grand Ledge next
year, and by an overwhelming vote
Charleston was chosen. The next
meeting therefore will be held in
Charleston, May 21 and 22. 1900.
The election of Col. Henry T.
Thompson as supreme representative to
the Supreme Grand Lodge of the Uni
ted States was a complimentary one
and South Carolina's interests will
suffer no detriment st bis bands io
Detroit in August, 1900
William Goldsmith, of Greenville,
was elected a representative to go to
Luca, N Y , July 26, 1900 lo the
unveiling of the monument erected to
the late Juctice G. Rathbone, the
founder of the order.
GOV. FLOWERS5 WILL.
Watertown, N. Y., May 18.-The
will of the late ex Gov. Flower was
filed for probate today. He left be
quests of $40,000 to each of his
brothers and sisters, or their heirs :
$25,000 to Frederick S, Flower ; $10,.
000 to his former cashier Ransom S.
Pattison; $10,000 io trust to St.
Thomas's parish. New York, for tba
benefit of Parish bouse, erected ia
memory cf his soo, who died in 1880 ;
$10.000 to Trinity parish, Wa
tertown, for the benefit of the
poor ; $5.000 to bis namesakes, Ros
well Flower George of this oity and
$5,000 to Roswell Flower Muldy of Chi
cago. The residue is left to his widow
and daughter, share and share alike.
Mrs. Sarah M. Flower is executrix, his
son-in-law, John B. Taylor, and Anson
R Flower, are executors.
Gov. Flower bsd made a practice for
years of giving away at least one tenth
of bis income His gifts, however, al
ways .exceeded his regular tithe. Dar
ing the last year it is learned from the
best authority that he gave away direct
ly or indirectly over one million dollars.
Elijah G. Harvey, colored, of Bos
ton, is a graduate of an educational
institution at Andover, Ma?s. it is
said that he speaks several languages,
dresses faultlessly, reads and admires
Browning and Emerson, occasionally
drops into poetry and is tver ready to
discuss theology, havir.g been eduo&ted
for the ministry. But E-ijah ts in jail
in Nsw Ycrk on the obarge of burglary ;
and when he was arrested bo tried to
slash the policeman with a rsz:>r.
Berlin, Maj 19 -The Cologne Ga
zette today, in a sketch of the Amer
ican delegates to the peace conference,
praises the tact cf Piei-ident McKinley
in avoiding the appointment of political
favorites and says tho delegates are ail
well known and universally respecte^
and are men of great capacity in their
professions, honorable gentlemen ano!
of blameless reputation.
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