Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Sift tPatdjman ano So ntl) con. * * ~~~~~~---- - - TBS SCKTSS WATCHMAN, Estabi sted April, lsso. t43e Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's andiTruth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON. Established june. 1366 Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. New Series-Toi. XVIII. No. 50 published Every Wednesday, IM. cst, Osteen, SUMTER, S. C, TERMS : $1.50 per annum-io advance. 1DTIBTISIXIRT! Ooo Sonare first insertion.$1 00 Every subsequent insertion. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer wil be made at reduced rates. ' All communications which subserve private interests will be charged forjas sc versements. Obituaries and tributes of respects will be ecar ed for. Unparalleled Loss by Floods io Texas. THE SUFFERING AREA AS LARGE AS STA TE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. Tho Property Loss Estimated Any where Between $7,000,000 and $18.000 000. Houston, Tex , July 5- corres pondent bas jost returned from a voyage through the flood districts The half has not been told of the havoc wrought. The disaster is so appalling that description is not possible. After this flood wii come sickness undoubtedly, and what a week ago was the fairest part of Texas, is now almost a God forsaken wilderness. The waters of the Brazos have for six days covered its valley a depth of from 6 to 30 feet ; where a week ago there were on every hand fields of cotton and corn and thousands of acres of water melons and cantelopes, today there is slimy mud all over the vegetation and the carcasses of coirs, mules, pigs, dogs and cats, mayhap haman, for many are missing. Our party left Bryan at sunrise yes terday morning, going to the Nava sota bottoms and to a point about three miles irom Millican. Here we encountered everywhere an overflow from the Navasotc river, which spread out folly two-miles on either side of the Houston and Texas Cen tral track. Everything is nuder water, from 2 io 17 feet It looked on all sides like a great lake, and the water was so high that for a vast area it com pletely submerged the telegraph and telephone poles a osg the line. In troth, portions of the Navasoto bot toms are even now a perfect sea, extending four or Ave miles wide at certain points 1 saw hundreds of houses there totally submerged and as many more were swept from their foundation and destroyed. The planters of the bot toms are still moving their help and whatever is left of their stock, to places where they can be cared for They are all nobly helping each other and taking refuge wherever they can, some of them seeking safety on house tops. All the planters eU ecl that the outside world has no conception of the oo s or losses in curred by the destruction of crop, stock and buildings. Nearly eveiy planter has built boats and sent them through the flooded districts to ren der assistance to the people, and, if possible, save some of their drown ing stock. The flood district bas a length of over 500 miles, a breadth of probably 50 miles, and in all this vast space damage incalculable has been done. | The loss of life will never be fully known perhaps ; the bottoms were thickly settled, mostly with negro tenant farmers ; among these has been the greatest loss of life. To show the damage done the fol lowing estimates have been made by men who are in a position to know : Lives lost from 100 to 300. Loss to farmers, incloding crops as well as live stock, from $5,000,000 to $15,000,000. Damage to railroads and country bridges, $2,000.-000 to $4,000,000. These estimates are taken in the whole area. It is known that more than 60 people have met their death ; that many bodies have been recover ed ; it is not believed that ail of them will ever be recovered 800 LIVES IN JEOPARDY. St. Laois, July 5.-A special to Tibe Poet Dispatch from Dallas, Tex . says : At 1 45 p. m. today Deputy Sheriff Sweariogeo of Asstio county, mide the following statement over the eng distance telephone at Sealy : "Relief has net reached tbe flood victims in this section. Thirteen dead bodies have beeo recovered near the town of Brookshire, ? 13 miles from here. Forty five persons above Sealy are reported missing and gitan up for ead. Seven were drcwoed today in a boit eevec miles below Sealy. "About 400 persons are isolated on a email piece of land io the Brazos bottoms, three miles from Brookshire, several hundred more are surrounded at San Philipe, three miles from Sealy. Unless relief can soon reach these two places the 800 lives will probably be lost. Many will die a9 it is, from banger, expoeure and exhaustion. **The water today is running through the town of Brookshire, something never known before. Tbe 65 lives reported loni were in a radius of 20 miles north and south of Sealy. We are completely isolated at Sealy, but this town is not in danger. We cannot estimate the situation beyond the limits mentioned. The whole faee of the country here is a sea. The channel of rhe Brazos river here has shifted about three miles and the water is 15 miles wide. Logs, houses, lumber and railroad material, merchan dise, live stock and other floating objects make it worth the life of rescuers to go to the relief of the endangered people, mest of whom are negroes The railroads are destroyed for miles. An immense washout occur red on the Santa Fe south of Al Z;aly this morning. This cuts off oar last strand of railroad communication. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas, the Gulf, Colorado and Sante Fe sod the South ern Pacific are all completely stepped. The weather is cloudy this afternoon asd more rain is feared.'7 Boats Patrolling Flooded Texas to Pick Up Drown ing People. t Galveston. Tex , Joly 6 -James Collison, superintendent of ma chioery for the Santa Fe railroad, arrived in Galveston on the last through train the road has been able to ran. The Brazos river at Rosen, burg ie ronniog wild, Mr. Collison says, but with regard to the ultimate damage he is very optimistic He thinks the damsges are greatly over estimated, and that the lose of crops in the bottoms will be counter-bal anced by tbe increased yields on the uplands He left at noon on a special train for the flooded district, carrying provisions for the destitute. At Sunnyside, 12 mile- from Brook shire, the Brazos river is ordinarily 200 yards wide. About parallel with this and two and a bal miles away, is Elm Creek, which is seldom over 30 feet wide, and in midsummer often dry. The two streams are separated by low bottom lands and are now united, making a river between five and six miles wide and from 60 to 70 feet deep. Along the currents 19 people were rescued yesterday in a skiff sent from Houston. The people were demolishing their sheds and out hoa8es and making boxes that they used for boato. Cattle were found resting their heads in the boughs of trees, making a pitiable struggle for existence. At one point two houses were seen coming down the stream in one of them was a man and two women, and on the other & woman and five chil dren were clinging for life and calling for help. One of these was a fine two story affair and the other was a smaller dweling. Toey passed on with the foaming carrent and may have struck an obstruction and been smashed to pieces cr found their way into the golf Twenty five row boats, folly mann ed and provisioned, left here today for the section overflowed, to assist in saving life and property. Gov. Sayers has been asked by Representative. W. A. Ellis to call a special session of the legislature to relieve the distress The Santa Fe main line trains have been abandoned between Galveston and the Brazos river The Southern Pacific and Missouri, Kansas and Texas bridges across the Brazos river are reported to have been swept away this morning Reports from a special correspond ent of The News indicate that, while the property loss in the recent floods bas been enormous, the loss of life hes been greatly exaggerated. Every year the Brazos and Colo rado valleys suffer from inundations. Up to the present flood the greatest destruction from the annual inunda tions was in 1885. This year the high water mark of 1885 has been surpassed io Washington, Austin, Fort Bend, Waller and Brazos county in southern Texs.s . The Brazos is falling rapidly in the central part of the State, the scene of last week's flood. The flood reached the southern part of the State Sunday night and Mon day. The planters had received ample warning, but many negroes remained in the Brazos valley, believ ing the water would uot reach higher than in 1885. From 1,500 to 2,000 colored people were caught in the valley, in Austin, Waller and Fort Bend counties, and were forced to take to the trees and house tops. Gov. Sayers, at the suggestion of Congressman Hawley, appealed to i the war department to send govern ! ment life saving boats from Gaives j ton. Permission was granted, and a ! special train left this afternoon for 1 the flooded district carrying several government and a namber of private boats It is believed that nearly all ibe people lodged in trees and on house tops have been rescued, but the boats sent from Galveston today will patrol the flooded districts and make a thorough search for strag glers. The war department has authorized Gov. Sayers to distribute 10,000 rations among the flood sufferers, the rations to be furnished the governor from San Antonio The rations will be distrib uted at Richmond, Thompson, Wallis, Rosenberg, Duoke, Areola, Fulshear, Chenango, Columbia, Velasco, Nava sota, Calvert, Hearne, Bryan and Breobam. In addition to the war department rations, Houston and (rai veston have sent several carloads of groceries ioto the flood district As to crops, cotton is not lost. It is entirely washed out in some places, but on the whole more good thau harm has beeo done to tbe crops by the floods. Cotton will be replanted in most oases Corn has soured in most localities, but the corn is not an entire toes. There is plenty of time to raise cotton before January, 1900 The next trouble will ba at Valasoo, the mouth of the Brasas, which point the floods reached today. The town may be cut off from communication with the world for a day or two, but no loss of life is anticipated. Terrible Stories Come From Texas St Louis, July 7 -A special to The Post-Dispatch from Austin, Tex , says. Gov. Sayers today received a message from Sealey over the long distance telephone says that 1,000 persons who had taken refuge on a mound three miles below there are slowly perishing for want of food. To add to the horror, the unfortunates are surrounded by poisonous reptiles. Huddled together with the human beings are several hundred of live stock. A number of those on the mound have received bites from the reptiles are in a dying condition. RISLVG AT DUKE. Duke, Tex, July 7-The flood situation is more grave today. The river rose two feet during the night and is still rising The life savers from Galveston started out soon after daylight and are doing splendid work. The Galveston crews brought in 68 refugees last night from the high embankment at the Santa Fe bridge over the brazos where the people bad taken refuge. Refugees are flocking in from ail sides of the river. Four deaths by drowning are reported near here in the last 24 hours. DROWNINGS AND DISASTER. Richmond, Tex., July 7.-Never in the history of Richmond were such scenes witnessed as are depicted today. Business is practically sus pended. Many plantations sro under water. Ali trains, save those on the Southern Pacific west, have been abandoned. Provisions are running low, and unless something is done quickly there will be great suffering here within a few days. It is be lieved there will be at the very least from 3,000 to 5,000 persons to feed from this place within a week. Stories of drowning and disasters are coming in constantly but they cannot be verified, although it is probable that many of them are correct. The water bas reached the river bridge and is dashing between the iron guy rods under it, and for the first time the railroad company has stopped all trafic over it Quintana, Tex , July 7 -Eight bodies floated down the river and lodged on the beach and were buried. Four of them were white, a woman and three children, and four were negroes Peace ia Transvaal. Pretoria, July 5 -The special con ference between President Kruger, the members of the Orange Free State, who was the bearer of com promise suggestions from the Free State in the matter of the dispute between the Transvaal aud Great Britain, and Hofmeyer, the African der leader, has been practically con cluded It is believed that the fran chise proposals have been accepted and may be laid before the volksraad tomorrow, and the peace will be preserved. London, July 5 -The Pall Mall Gazette this afternoon says the eecre tary of war, the Marquis of Lans downe, in conjunction with the mili tary chiefs, has completed arrange mente to dispatch 40,000 to 50,000 troops of ali arms to South Africa in the event of matters taking a turn for the worse It is added that ali the necessary arrangements have been made there for the distribution of troops on their arrival. Tammany Endorses Bryan. Rank and Piie Cheer Bry an, Free Silver and All. New York, Joly 4 -TammaDy Hall celebrated Independence Day, as cus tomary, at the 14th street wigwam. The gathering was remarkable for its unexpected features There was a dearth of prominent men, Ex President Cleveland, Ex-Senator David B. Hill, W J. Bryan and Ex Senator Murphy failing to make an acknowledgment of the invitation to attend. Ex-Governor Hogg, of Tesas, created a sensation by the manner in which he introduced the name of Wm. J. Bryan and the Chicago platform to the meeting, the mention of Mr. Bryan's name aod reference to the Chicago platform being received with tremendous applause, wbioh was long continued. The boom that was launched for Augustus Van Wyck had a very indifferent reception. It had bseo arranged that Ex-Congressman Jas. B. Richardson, of Tennessee, should speak, but he was unable to attend, and Governor Hogg was asked to speak in his place. When Governor Hogg arose he re ceived a hearty welcome, and be indulged io a few remarks that seemed to please the Tammany men immensely. After a few minutes, wbieh he used io outlioiog the well-established principles of Democracy, Governor Hogg began his philippic which set the house in an uproar. The applause began when he asserted that next year the Democratic party would declare in favor of silver at 16 to 1. When the speaker promised a plank io the platform of next year in which imperialism would be denounced the applause broke forth anew. It was very evident that these utterances were not only astounding to the Tammany lead ers, but displeasing, and the displeasure became more apparent when the speaker in bis speech exclaimed : "Io this great contest we want the aid of United Tammany-the greatest political organ ization on earth. We want you to close up ranks, to settle your local differences, if they exist, and to go arm io arm with the stalwart bread-winners of the South and West to victory next year, nuder the leadership of the chivalrous, the dauntless, the matchless great Ameri can, Wm. J. Bryan." As the last words fell from the lips of the speaker the audience was carried away in an outburst of enthusiastic ap plause. Cheer after cheer arose, and what had started out as a TammaDy love feast became a howling silver demon stration The other speeches were io keeping with the Tammany principles. Jos J. Willett, of Alabama, and State Senator Thos. Grady made two of the best speeches, the latter making an attack upon the civil service which aroused his hearers to great enthusiasm. The following eable dispatch from Richard Coker, who is io London, was read : "Congratulations on the glorious Fourth, the day we celebrate. My heart is with you always. Let us rejoioe over the coming triumph of Democracy aod the people's rights." Joseph J Willst,, president of the Alabama Bar, delivered one of the principal speeches. Jost before the close of bis speech, Mr. Willet diverged from the speech as given out and said : "I see that man Alger is mouing for Senator from Michigan on an anti trust platform. Isn't that rich? Alger, the friend of Mark Haona, of Armour, of Eagao, running oo an anti trust platform." Willet 'then told of a story of a Southern negro who was fooled into selling his masters farm for $1.40, and and added, ''Won't the people of Michigan be fooled if they elect Alger. He was followed by Ex-Congress man Asher G. Carutb, of Kentucky, who opposed imperialism and trusts. Gen. Joseph Wheeler regretted his absence, io the following letter : "I regret very much that I oaonot be present at the anniversary of your society, whose existence is co equal with that of our government. When your ancient society was formed we were a young, struggling, and, as regarded by the world, weak nation. Wo now stand among the first of the Powers of the world, and we can truly say tbat this young nation whose existence com menced little more than a century ago. has exercised an influence in the cause of civilization and humanity such as has not been done by any other nation since the beginning of the history of man. Senater Thomas F. Grady made a 6tormy attack upon the civil service commission and upon the examination questions set by it. Congressman William Daly, of New Jersey, and Amos J. Cummings were amoog the speakers. Berlin July 4 -A dispatch from ; Odessa announces that a dynamite! cartridge exploded near there tods}' while the excavation of a coal mine was in progress and thal 40 persons were kii ed and 20 wounded. Prediction of War. The Japs Said to b9 Spoiling for a Fight. San Francisco, Joly 4.-"The American people have but a faint con ception of Japanese character,'0 said Mr. Theodore L Haas, a resident of Tokio for the past twenty-five years. "They have not been blindly following European ways in Japan. Their apparent eagerness te adopt the civilization of the West is prompted by for different motives than those with whiob they are usually credited. As a matter of fast the Japanese i re thinking of a time when they may engage in conflict with some of the big powers. It would oot surprise me if war should break out between Russia and Japan, though trouble between Japan and the United States is extremely probable. A friend of mine who has good sources of information remarked before I left Tokio that he regarded war with the Uoited States within the next two years as inevitable. "The Japs do ncc at heart, whatever they may say >e the Yankees. I have known of many cases of out rageous treatment of your citizens. The new treaties, which go into effect next month, will,instead of relieving the situation, make it worse, because when the extra territorial system is abolished and everything ie left to native jurisdiction, outrages will be multiplied and the foreigners will have no redress. No benefits will accrue to other countries through these treaties, for the so-called opeoiog up of the empire to the com merce cf the outside world is a delusion. Tbe courts of Japan oaonot be depended on to give a white mau justice, for the courts are not, as in this country rind in England, independ ent ; they merely register the wish of the government. "I am not an alarmist, but I have been among these people many yean; and know them well. They think since their victory over China that they are a. match for acy power. I am tb is they are mistaken, of course, burit is - true that they can give the Uoited States a lot of trouble " ---WM* -- -- The Engrossing Department. Columbia, July 6.-In the pa6t month Attorney General Bellinger bas received no end of applications for positions in the engrossing de partment of the general assembly. He requests the statement made that all applicants are merely wasting paper, ink and stamps in writing to him, for he is now preparing to change the entire plan of appointing these clerks. Ali applications will have to be made to the solicitors of the respective circuits. The appoint ments are to be left to the solicitors, but requirements will be put in that will result in obtaining clerks who write good hands and who can spell correctly. This has been found to be an absolute necessity and some kind of examination is likely io be provided before an appointment will be confirmed. The Hague, Juiy 5 -The American delegates scored a great success today io obtaining from the peace conference a unanimous vote io favor of havicg the question of primate property at sea in time of war dealt with at a special conference to be summoned hereafter. Much diplomatic managemect wss necessary and many obstacles bad to be surmounted before the result was reached. Greenwood, July 5.-At the annual meeting of the trustees of the Connie Maxwell orphanage held here yester day, Rev. J. L. Vass tendered bis resignation as superintendent cf the institution. The trustees refused to accept the resignation, and Mr. Vass will cootinue to serve as superintendent at least until the expiration of his term, io July, 1900. --^ -.?? -i The Peaoe Conference at The Hague is drawing to a close, and it is now olear to ail who have followed the re ports of it deliberations that the results will fall far short of what as boped for. There will be no decrease io the armaments of the great powers, and a gradual disarmament bas not beeo se riously considered. There is but little hope that a plan for a permanent tribu nal of arbitration will be sgreed upon, and, all things considered, the confer ence is decidedly disappointing. Stand ing armies and navies will be increased in strength year after year, and the expenditures will grow larger and larger until the nations will sink under the weight of taxation. AssoiOTEiy) Makes the food more de fiCVAL 6AKINO POW! I EX-GOVERNOR I RICHARDSON DEAD, Expired Suddenly at Mid night on July 5. Columbia, July 6.-Ex-Gov. John Peter Richardeon, died suddenly at midnight last night at the Jerome hotel where be has been living for several months. Until a few months ago he eajoyed very good health, and the health of his devoted wife gave bim most con cern. Several months ago he was attacked with bleedings from the noee, which became serious, but after a while, under Dr. Taylor's treatment, he grew better and was able to be up. Up to a few days ago he was able to be up and about, but three or four days ago the disease attacked his heart. Miss Ransome, a trained nurse, was called in and everything possible was done. Tonight just about midnight the norse ran to tele phone for Dr. Taylor. It was known at once what was the matter. There were three deep gasps and ail was over. There was no pain, no suffer ing. Dr. Taylor reached the hotel just QB life bad left the distinguished patient, his fear expressed just before he eft former Governor Richardson had been realized. The funeral arrangements could not be made tonight, because Mrs. Richardson was so prostrated and affected that she could not be con sulted. Governor Richardson, some i me befor bis death, made all his arrangements for Ibis burial. He wished to be buried in his family burial ground in Camden, and made arrangements to that effect. The de tails of the funeral will not be arrang ed until tomorrow, when Mrs Rica ardeen will be consulted. The funeral services will be con ducted at Trinity Church in Colum bia, of which he was for so many years s member. The body will bo taken to Camden on the afternoon train Friday, and the interment will take place upon the arrival of the train.-Cor News and Courier. Gov. Richardson's Career. John Peter Richardson wa3 born j in Clarendon County, S C , in the j year 1831 He was a GOL of Gov. John P. Richardson and a great j grandson of Gen Richard Richard son, who was prominent in this I section of county both before aud dur ! ing the Revolutionary War, and four of whose descendants have been gov I ernors of South Carolina Gov. Richardson was graduated from the South Carolina College in 1849 with distinction He then engaged in planting in Clarendon county. He was chosen a member of the Legislature in 1856 and served until 1862, when he joined the army, serving upon the 6taff of Gen Cantey in the West until the war ended Since the war he represented Clarendon County faith fully through all the dark and troublous days of reconstruction. He was returned to the legislature in 1878, and in 1880 was elected State Treasurer. In 1882 Col Richardson was again elected State Treasurer, and 1884 he was again honored by by re election to the same important office His management of the financial department of the State Government has been able, and has given entire satisfaction to the people of the State. In the Democratic State conven tion of 1886 he was presented as a candidate for the governorship. On the fir6t ballot be received forty four votes more than his most prominent competitor, and continued to gain until, on the third ballot, he received a large majority of the votes cast and was nominated by acclimation. His election was without opposition . After a canvass of the State by the instructions of the Democratic exe cutive committee Gov. Richardson was a candidate for renomination before the convention which met in September, 1888 Without his con sent Attorney General Earle was aleo placed in nomination. The result; of the first ballet was the renomina* tion of Gov. Richardson for another term of faithful service to his beloved South Carolina, and he was again elected He was the last of the old school governors, being succeeded by Gov. Tillman, and since the expi ration of his term as governor he has lived in dignified retirement. licious and wholesome CO., KEW YORK.