Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE WAR IN AFRICA. The Greatest Defeat England Has Suffered Since York? town. London, Jan 28 -Gen Baller's dispatch to the war office states that Spion kop was abandoned on account of lack of water, inability to bring artillery there and the heavy Boer fire. Gen Buller gives no Hst of casualties. His whole force with drew south of Tugela river, with the evident intention of reaching Lady? smith by another route Following is the text of Gen Bui ler's dispatch, dated Spearman's camp. Saturday. Jan 27, 6 10 p m : "On Jan 20 Warren drove back the enemy and obtained possession of the southern crests of the hilt and table land extending from the line of Acton Homes to Hongersport to the western Ladysmith hills From then to Jan 25 he remained in close con tract with the enemy. The enemy held a strong position on a range of email kopjes stretching from north west to southeast, across the plateau from Acton Homes, through Spion kop, to the left bank of the Tugela. "The actoal position held was per fectiy tenable, but did not lend itself to an advance, as the southern slopes were so steep that Warren could not get an effective artillery position, and water supply was a difficulty "On Jan 23 I assented to bis attack ing Spion kop, a large hill, (indeed, a mountain), which was evidently the key o? the position, but was far more accessible from the north than ?rom the south "On the night of Jan 23 be attacked Spion kop but found it very difficult to bold, as its perinmeter was too large, and water, which he had been led to believe existed in this extraor? dinary dry season, was found very deficient. "The crests were held ali that day against severe attacks and a heavy shell fire Our men fought with great gallantry I would especially mention the conduct of the Second Cameroonian and the Third King's Rifles, who supported the attack on the mountain from the steepest side, and in each case fought their way to the top ; and the Second Lancashire Fusiliers and Second Middlesex, who magnificently maintained the best traditions of the British army throughout the trying day of Jan 24, and Thornycroft's mounted infantry who fought throughout the day eqaal 3y well alongside of them MGen Woodgate, who was in com? mand at the summit having been wounded the officer who succeeded bim decided on the night of Jan 24 to abandon the position, and did so before dawn, Jan 25 "I reached Warren's camp at o a m. on Jan 25-, and decided that a second attack upon Spion kop was useless and that the enemy's right was too strong to allow me to force it. Accordingly, I decided to with raw the force to the south of the dugela. At 6 a m we commenced withdrawing the train, and by 8 a m , Jan 27 (Saturday), Warren's force was concentrated south of the Tugela without the loss of a mac or a pound of stores "The fact that the force could withdraw from actual touch-in some cases the lines were less than a thousand yards apart-with the ene my in the manner it did is, I think, sufficient evidence of the morale of the troops, and that we were permit ted to withdraw our cumbrous ox and mule transport across the river 85 yards broad, with 20 foot banks and a very swift current-unmolested is, I think, proof that the enemy has been taught to respect our soldiers' fighting powers " During-the morning and the earlier part of the afternoon a placard, bear ing the words, "No news," hung on the iron railing in front of the war office, and the shivering sentries who stood gnard on Pal! Mali in the rain and sleet had the district ail to them selves About 3pm, however, the placard was taken in, and on the j bulletin boards inside, Gen BuMer's j long dispatch was displayed. The Sunday papers issued extras. I but only the faintest interest was j manifest on the streets At the ser j vice clubs the situation, as revea!?d ! by Gen Buller, was considered very j unpleasant His excuses or explana j lions were characterized as very j weak. The absence of water, which j Sir Charles Warren was "led to be Heve*' existed, and the facts that j Spion kop was "indeed a mountain'' ! and that its "perimeter was too large'' are ali matters which even Gen Builer's warmest admirers hold should have been ascertained before the attack. One comforting feature of the situation, however, is the fact that Gen Baller's retirement across the Tugela was accomplished without loss, which puts an end to the un? pleasant rumors that were in circula tion here and on the continent. The splendid gallantry of the men in capturing Spion kop is read with great pride and satisfaction lt is taken as an assurance of the ultimate success of tbe British arms The war office does noe ?ive aoy idea of tbe casualties io taking and holding Spion kop, but a report from She Boer headquarters rear Ladysmith, ?ia Loureczo Marques, says that 1,500 British dead were left on the bat?Ufic:id This number is thought; to include the ?rounded. I The report also S?d tbat Gen Buller ' had been down with fever but had j recovered. If ?jer reports aro to bc accepted, '.the abandonment of Spion kop was due to the inability cf the British to ^resist tbs Boer attack, the Boers carry iog the first trenches and taking 150 j prisoners " The following dispatch bas been received in Loodoo from Pretoria dated Jan 25, via Loureczo Marquee, Jan 28 : "The government is advised that, after heavy fighting near Spion kop, some British on the kop being stormed hoisted a white flag. One hundred and fifty prisoners God be thanked, although we also had to give brave and I valu-ib'c lives.'7 FIFTEEN HUNDRED DEAD LEFT ON THE FIELD. Boer Headquarters, Modder Spruit, Upper Togela, Wednesday, Jan 24. (midnight) via Loureozo Marques. Thursday, Jao 25 -Some Vrybeid burghers, outposts OD the highest bills of the Spion kop group, rushed into the laager saying that the kop was lost aod that the Eoglish bad taken it Reeoforoements were ordered up, but nothing could b? done for some time, the hill beiog enveloped io tbiok mist At dawu the Heidelberg aod Caro lina contingents, supplemented from other commandoes, begao the asceot of the bili The spurs, precipitous pro? jections, faced the Boer poaitioos. Up these the advance was made. The horses were left under tbe first terrace of rocks Scaling tbe steep bill the Boers fouod tbat the Eoglish bad improved the opportunity aod entrench ed heavily Between the Hoes of treoobes was ao opeo veldt, which bad to be rushed uoder a heavy fire, Dot only from rifles bat of lyddite sod shrapnel from field goos Three forces ascended tbe three spars coordinately under cover of tbe fire from the Free State Kruppe., a Creusot aod a big Maxim The Eoglish tried to rash the Boers with the bayonet but their infantry went dowu before the B er rifle fire as before a scythe The Boer iovbstiog party advaoced step by step until 2 in the afteroooo, wheo a white flag went up aod 150 meo iq the front trenches surreodered, being J sent as prisoners to tbe head laager. The Boer advaoce continued oo tbe two kopjes east of Spion kop Maoy Boers were shot, but so namer ous were the burghers toat the gaps fitted automatically. Toward twilight they reached tbe summit of the second kopje, but; did not get further. The British Maxims belched flame, but 9 wall of fire from tbe Mausers beld the Eoglish baok Their centre, uoder pressure, gradaally gave way aod broke, abandoning the position N The prisoners speak highly of the bravery of the burghers, who, despis? ing cover, stood against the skyline edges of tbe summit to shoot the Dublio Fasileers, sheltered io the treoches. Firing cootioued for some time, aod then the Fasiieers and tbe Light Horse serving as infantry threw up tbeir arms aud rushed out of the trenches. The effect of the abandonment of Spion kop by the English can hardly be guaged as yet, but it must prove to be immense An unusually high proportion cf lyd? dite shells did oot explode. Boer Head Laager, Ladysmith, Jan 25, 6 p m -The British dead left, on the battlefield yesterday numbered 1.500 An Invasion of The Free State May Begin, in Two Weeks. Loodon, Jao 30-4 15 am - History pauses for a time in South Africa. It is one of these uosatis factory pauses that are nearly so trying to British nerves as a sequence of reverses and apparently will ter? minate only when Lord Roberts gives the word for the forward movement into the Free State, which, according to the most cheerful view, he will be ! unable to do for a fortnight Whether he will permit Gen Buller to make another attempt to relieve i Ladysmith is quite outside the knowl edge even of those closely connected with tue war office With the troops due to arrive next month, he may tbiok himself strong enough io try two iarge operations Combiniog the forces under Gen Methuen, French and Gatacre, and adding to them the arriving troops, Lord Rob berts would have TU,000 for the invasion of the Free State with 40, 000 to 50,000 guarding communie? lions, a;?d 40.000 trying to rescue Ladysmith The public burns with impatience that something should be done, but there is nothing to do but to wait on the preparations Oceans of ink are poured out in advice. Orators are at work iu the provinces telling the people that England has "set her teeth in grim determination to see it through " Thc goveruraeDt's declarations ia parliament, the counter suggestions of those outside the government, and consequent discussion in the press and on the platform will immediately enthrall public interest The thing on which everybody seems agreed is that more men must go Twenty thousand two hundred and I twenty two men and 155 guns are at ! sea Eleven thousand infantry and j nine thousand cavalry,including 5,000 yeomen, are practically ready to i embark Therefore the government without doing more, can place at the | disposal o?Npord Roberts ll?,000 ad l \ i ditional mcu and 155 guns The j j further purposee of the war office are j supposed to embrace somewhere in I the neighborhood of 50,000 more ? men, as the indication ie that candi ! dates wouid be rather scarce, the i . war office will iseue'orders for those I reservists who were found unfit at j the previous mobilization examina tion to report for further examina tion Applications for cavalry service are still freely offering as yeomanry THE DUTCH TRAP ON SPIO.N KOP London. Jau 30.-A special from Frere Camp dated Friday, Jan 26tb, 9 lu p m , says : "I have just ridden in here, having left Gen Buller's forces in the new position sooth of the Tugela, to which they retired in consequence of the reverse at Spion kop "The fighting, both before and after the occupation of the mountain, was of a desperate character Spion kop is a precipitous mountain over topping the whole line of kopjes along the Upper Tugela On the eastern side of the mountain faces Mount Alice and Potgieters drift, standing at right angle* to the Boer central position and Littleton's ad vance position The southern point descends in abrupt steps to the lower line of kopjes On the western side, opposite the right outposts of vVar ren'e force, it is inaccessibly steep, ! until the point where the nek joins the kop, the main range Then there is a gentle slope which allows easy access to the summit "The nek was strongly held by the Boers, who also occupied a heavy spur parallel with the kop. where the enemy was concealed in no fewer than 35 rifle pits, and was thus enabled to bring to bear upon our men a damaging cross fire, the only j possible point for a British attack being the southern side, with vir? tually sheer precipices on the left and right "A narrow footpath admitting men in single file only to the summit, opens into a perfectly flat table land, probably of 300 (?) square yards, upon which the Boers had hastily commenced to make a transverse trench Our men were able to occu py the further end of this t?bie land, where the ridge descended to an other flat, which was again succeeded by a rouDd, stony eminence held by the Boers in great strength "Tbe ridge held by our men was faced by a number of strong little kopjes at all angles, whence the Boers sent a concentrated fire from j their rifles, supported by a Maxim Nordenfeldt and a big long range gun What, with the rifles, the ma? chine gun and the big gun, the summit was converted into a perfect hell. The shells exploded continually in our ranks ; and the rifle fire, from an absolutely unseen enemy, was perfectly appalling "Reinforcements were hurried up by Gen Warren but they had to cross a stretch of fiat ground, which was literally torn by the flying lead of the enemy The unfinished trench on the summit gave very questiona ble shelter, as the enemy's machine guns were so accurately trained upon the piace that often 16 shells fell in the trench in a single minute "Mortal men could not permanent ly hold such a position Our gallant fellows held it tenaciously for 24 hours and then, taking advantage of the dark night, abandoned it to the euemy." wmm .??? -iiT Not Seeking Peace. B riin, Jan 23 -The Deutsch Tap Zeitung publishes an interview tcday with Dr. Leyds, which represents bim as having said : '.The war will certaioly last a very long time. The Transvaal wili decid eily not be the first LO seek peace, aod will refuse any proposals uu the basis I of the status quo." A LION IN BERLIN Loodon, Jan 28 -The Berlio cor? respondent of The Daily Mail pays : "Dr Leyds is a popular ?ion here rle is be'tot; welcomed with an eotbusi a*m ordinarily (xteuded only to mus? favored envoys I have ascertained from unimpeachable evidense that, he is trying to induce Germany to mediate.' - mim ..?.-^ Austin Tex Jan 28 -All south j and central Texas was today visited by a very severe blizzard, which in creases in severety as the night grows, and from present indications it will bf the worst blizzard of the winter The temperature has fallen 30 degrees since noon. It is said that a printing effice ir. western Michigan is opened wirh prayer. "This is a rare excennon to the rule," hays an eastern Michigan new-paper, "zs from tim . immemorial it han be<M? the cu^om for \h>f i ffioe to be opeoed by the devil aod closed by the sheriff " mm - * ? ? mm - Having a Gre-it Ruo on < bamber lain's Cough Remedy. MuDH^er Martin, of ihe Piereou flrujr j store, informs us tb?t be is hiving H ?re?r. j ruo on Charo*lerlain'e Cough Remedy. HP j ?elis five bottles of that med^cine to one of j any other kind, aud it gives tfreat BaMsfac- j * -I lion. In toese rtnys ol la grippe then- t? j nothiog 11kt- Chnnitierhun's ('oiitih Remedy ? to 3t<>:> theciiu^h, heul up tbe sore throat ni;d j lutijj* H'HI irivp relief withi'? ? vt-rv Short i time Toe s*!e8 are growing Hod ail svh? try it are pleaser! with ha prempi actroti - South Chicago Daily Calumet For sa e hy ? Dr. A. J. Cbioa. ! Senator Tillman Speaks Washington. Jan 29.- In accordance : with prcv.ous announcement, Mr Till man. Sou'n Carolina, delivered an address upon the Pbilippioc question His discussion of thc subject was gen? eral Mr Tillman deprecated the idea that, j a man is disloyal to rhe flag if be ? declares his belier that prosecution of the war in the Philippines is disloyalty to the declaration of indepeodeooe, and said he was "ready to locate the responsioili'y for the blood that has beeo spilled. "I impugo no mao's motives," hs said, "bot whether the president be most to blame or whether the crime rests oo his dopes and subservient party depeodeots i say, with ali the emphasis of my nature, that I aod oone of those who voted against the treaty are responsible for the spilling of one drop of this ioeoceot blood that has been shed, aod I will not endure patiently aod without resentment aoy such accusation.7' Mr Tillman then discussed at length the race qrjestioo as it relates to the Philippines, io the oourse of which be expressed strong dissent from the statemeot made recently by Senator Morgan, that the civil war was pre? cipitated by designing politicians who desired to thrust tbe negro with social aod political equality upon the whites of the 6ou:b. Sooutiog the obarge tbs Filipinos were oot capable of self government, be said : *'If the Filipino leaders aod their followers, those meo, of affairs, men so strong io the faith of the right of meo to govero themselves after our great example, that, although illy armed and without artillery, it has required sixty thousaod American troops over a year to drive them from the field and even yet they have not surrendered, but have adopted a guerrilla warfare-if these are not fit for self government under our kindly tutelage, let me ask of those republioaos here wbo io part are responsible for if, aod who were aod are DOW in absolute sympathy with it. how dared they give the cootrol of southern States ioto the bands of negroes as beiog fit not only to govero themselves, but also to govero white meo ? If the Filipinos are cbildreo, what were and are the ex slaves of the s )Q:h ? Hew dared republioaos appeal to tbe northern masses to compel the south to grant the negroes a free vote aod a fair count when it involved negro role pure and simple ? Were the fraits of the war mere Sodom apples to be turned to ashes io such a brief span ? Are the 13th, 14th aod 15th ameod meots to be nullified io their very esseoce because they failed of their purpose io the south ? Are they for home use only ? Is the flag to become again a flaunting lie' and float over a military despotism, first io the Philippines and later at home ? Was the memorable conflict between slavery and freedom oseless ? Have we gained ootbiog 7 Is the com? mercial greed wbiob domioates is our councils aod coerces the president to do bis bloody aod dirty work to make of tbe constitution a oew 'league with death aod a convenant with hell' in (he interest of oppression akio to slavery ? Io order to do all these things, must we 'camp outside tbe constitution' aod give the old interpretation of the south ero slave holders to the deolararioo of iodepeodecce aod nullify all precedents aod decisions of our supreme court ? Did (bis Dation offer up of its best aod bravest upon tbe altar of liberty the blood of several thousand meo aod speod aod destroy five billions of treasure that we might have a 'govern meot of the people, by the people, for the people,' to Sod that io the brief span of 006 mao's life tbe sacrifice was vain, the civil war a mistake, and thar the colored raoe bas oo rights we are boood to repeot at home or abroad V* Advertiog to Mr Beveridge's quota? tions from tbe Bible, Mr Tillman said : "I bave beard that the devil can quote Scripture for his owo purposes. Why, I cao quote Soripture myseif (laugh? ter) Verily, verily, 1 say unto you, senator from Indiana (pointing bis finger dramatically at Mr Beveridge, wno sat within a few feet of him] 'you cannot gather fig? from thorns, nor grapes from thistles "If we mete cut despotism and bayonet rule to that people, will it Dot be meted back to us ? It need cot be from a foreign souroe rbat tbe govern ment by bayonet will ever oppress the American people Our danger lies in iamiliarizing our oeople with the despotic methods, io abandoning the j American ideals and the principles of j cur fathers "The ourse of bayonet ru e will j come bael: to plague you as sure as there is a God io beaven.'' In conducion, Mr Tiilmao said : "I pretest against the oonriouanoe of j ibis unholy war The president ba* decUred that upon congress rests the responsibility. He shirks the burden of bis mistake and endeavors to shift it tu our shoulders Let us give those people a goverumeot of their owo, toe only seif government, in whatever form rbev mii.ni select, and be tid of the buiden as well as the chame whioo must be ours it w? do not L t us prorcct them again-f. outside interfer? ence and in a ?mail part compensate I Cb em fur the wrongs we tuve done ! the ui "Io the nanie of Washington, Jeff r- i .--or: arni Liocoln, let u?< f*:op 'his w.>r, which was a bidecuM blunder in it- ; beginning It i* uow a war of con? quest, a crime io tbe ?- ? g h t of God aod ; mao. - i The General Assembly. Columbia, Jan 29 -Tbe hou.-e work? ed for twj QOUTM ibis moroiog on Mr. Patton's resolution "looking tc a cos . ^tiru?ional s-meodment bj which cities iike Columbia aud Charleston may issue boGds for waterworks or sewerage The Constitution now prohibits the issuance of bonds in excess of 8 per cent of the assessment of city property, and the proposed constitutional amendment is to do away with that bar for the specific purpose of improviog the waterworks and sewerage systems, provided the debt shall not run over the 15 per cent iimit. There was considerable discus sion about the mcasore and debate was finally adjourned until the night session, so that the matter might be fully digest? ed and the amendments better under? stood Mr. Biease this morning offered a coDoorrent resolution that the two jodi oiary committees report to the house and senate as to whether or not a Uoi ted States Senator, member ef Congress or State or county officer can bold tbe position cf college trustee, except ex cfihio, uoder the Constitution. There was some inquiry about the r?solution and wben it was intended to receive the report. The committee is to report on the question at once. The resolution was adopted without debate. SENATE The senate io its two hours' moroiog session killed the bill providing that the penitentiary shall manufacture acid phosphates It received considerable support and gave some members of the body an opportunity to strike light blows at the so-called Fertilizer Trust. The bill was Senator Connor's and it has been advocated by him in the Leg? islature for several years. It was re? jected by a vote of 20 to 16 The bill provided that a plant capable of turning out 100,000 toes be erected, the pay? ment for it to be made out ol (be penitentiary funds not. otherwise anpro priated. It provided also that the profit shall be 5 per cent over cost price. The joiot resolution for the prepara? tion and completion of the history tc accompany the Confederate rolls came up for a second reading. Senator Archer moved to indefinitely posrpose the bili aod without discussion or opposition the motion was adopted. It was a bouse hill which had success? fully passea that body. As illustration showiog the possibili? ties of a "tittle farm weil tilled," we quote from the Columbus. Ga , Ledger tbe following which we fiod io The Atlanta Constitution: "A man io Brooks County has in the last twenty five or thirty years made $20,000 with a one-horse farm. For several years io succession he cleared $1,000 above bis expenses each ear. He never allows any trash burned on his farm, oeevr aliows his beggar weeds cut or pastured, plows everything ^under, and goes back to the soil. He carries bis corn to the mill on the back of bis horse, but leads tbs horse aod never rides biiu, which saves th? animal. He bas plenty of substantial food, but does not live extravagantly, and can do without almost aoythiog the merchant sells, if he lise?, and does do it if tbe price does out suit him he is inde? pendent of every trust in the world so far as bis part would go "He works aboot fifty acres with bis mule, and himself and family do all tbeir work, making 400 or 500 bushels of corn, tweive to fifteeo bales of cottoo and pieoty of syrup, meat and potatoes. He lends money over the couoty to good people at 8 per cent. Never sends money off but keeps it at home among the neighbors. He is said to have some $8,000 or $10,000 cash, and ail made from a little one horse farm, which be still cooduots." A Case of Stout Supports. "Do you know what Uocle Grumble said after seeiog you io that new raioy day suit ?" "No. What did the old idiot say ?" ' He said he should never see a square piano without thinking of you -Cleveland Plain Dealer. Washington, Jan 28 -A report or our Asiatic, trade, piepared by Mr Frank H Hitbcock, chief ot the loreign markets section of the agri? cultural department, shows that there has been a great development of our trade with China and Japan during the past decade. Record figures j were easily reached in the fiscal year 1899 when the value of merchandise exchanged with these two countries, including the port of Hong Kong, reached $87 305,688 against only $46,294 167 in 1889 The four years following 1889 witnessed a steady increase that finally culminated in 1893 with a record of ?60,281,386, the highest up to that time Io the year 1896, during which our impor? tations were greatly curtailed as a reen it of the prevailing financial I depression, the trade dropped to j $51,513,149, and thereafter rose j steadily by leaps and bounds. Spartaoborg. Jan 23.-The Spartan ! burg city council bas determined to j make permanece street improvements i in this city io the way of paviog aod I tbs customary uses of granite io front of residences. It has cot yet been decided whether asphalt or brick will be used for tbe streets An issue of ?50,00 bonds will be'recuired to install this much-needed and sadly neglected measure The general assembly will be requested to pass ao act authorizing the issue, aod theo the people of this city wili vote on the question It is safe to survise that a majority of residents waot the improvements STAMM BRED ST?LU0? Modoc Will Stand the Season in Sumter -AT Boyle's Stables. Chestnut Stallion foaled Maj 1892; bred by! Maj. Campbell Brown, Ewell Stock Fannf Tennessee? "MODOC." sired bj McEween. 2.18$; firs i lam Lady Radowa ; registered io Vol. 12 j American Stud Book fie is one of the Soest j bred stallions ia tbe State: bred for size i ixyle, beauty and speed he id cf kind and ? gentle diSDOsition A ?ore foil setter j MEDICAL WORK ' MEN, FREE SCND NO MONEY. My new revised scientific work ueatin>i on every weakness and disease pe? culiar to men ie just from the press. Every m?n, no matter what his occupation or position in life, mil Sud this work unlike Mnythingeverpubliahed. ! It is of vital interest to the married or unmarried; .o the healthy ?nd strong or to the weak and ?roken-down. While the edition lasts I will send ! >. cn--.y securely sealed in a plain wrapper. Pf*** ?ga prepaid, to every man whe writes for it. -uti* /. hoon is limited and those desiring a copy mast write promptly. Address B. M. Ross, ii. D.. PB? ! Sislilng Department O. 175 Clark St.. > E. Cor. v ?n??>e.Chicase,Illinois. State of South Carolina, COUNTY OF SUMTER. By T. V Walsh, Esq., Probate Judge. WHEREAS, J. McFADDIN SPANN, made sait to me to grant bim Letters j ot Administration of the Estate of and effects j of S. ROBERT SPANN, deceased, j These are therefore to cite and admonish j all aod piacular the kindred aod creditors of tbe said S Robert Spaoo, Ute of Said Count? and Sute, deceased, that tbej be aod appear before me, io tbe Court of Probate, to ?ie held at Sumter C H , on Feornary 7 b, 1900, next, after publication thereof, At ll o'clock in the fore? noon, to show cause, if HOV they bare, why the said Administration sbould not be grant? ed. Given under my band this 24tb day of Janu&rv, A. D , 1900 THOS V WALSB, Judge of Probate. Jan 24-2t STILL MOVING. I am handling consid? erable quantities of HORSES AND MULES. Will have in C. Load Mules on 13th and C. Load Horses in the early part of the coming week. H. HARBY. Sumter, S. C., Jan. ll, 1900. FOR SALE. One small 2nd hand Safe. Cabbage Plants grown in the open air