Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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o uti) ron nm SCMTKK WATCHMAN. Established April. 1850. 'Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God'sJand5Truth's.' THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jone I SC ii Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. SUMTER. S. C., WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 17, 1900. New Series-Vol. XX. No. 12 %\t Wzk\mm at? Saii?ljroit Published Every Wednesday, -BY IST. Gr. Osteenj SUMTER, S. C. ICBMS : $1.50 per aaoam-in advance. ADT1BTI31I1IT: Ooe Square first insertion.............$1 00 vKrery subsequent it3ertion..". 50 Contracts for three m ont ha, or longer wil . be coade at red used rates. Ali communications which snbserve private - ia te res ts will be charged foras adrertiemen ts. Obituaries and tributes of respects will be - charged for. ? PLAIN STATEMENT TO THE PEOPLE. Constituatioaal Amendaient That ls to Be Voted On. Fros Tbe State, Oet 10th. p4> Below is the text of the communi? cation adopted at the etty cooooil meet* iag last night whioh is to be sent to each of the newspapers io tue State forthwith with the reqaest that it be published : It is a matter of the great* est importance to the people of Oolam? ela and several other cities in the State : City Cooooil Chamber. I Columbia, 8. G.. Oot9,1900. . To the Editor of Dear Sir : The eoostitational con? vention of 1895 was composed of as representative a body of meo as ever - assembled in the State capitol. Braios, progress aod profound deliberation marked the oounideratioo of each sub? ject as it arose. The debates arising upon the various provisions adopted by that august body will, go down in his? tory replete with wisdom aod fore? thought. To none of the provisions of * the constitution theo adopted can more ? just endorsement be give theo to the proposed ame od me ot of section 7 of Article VIII qualifying the limitation as to municipal bonded indebtedness as contained in section 5 cf Article IV. thereof. To many of the people of the State this proposed amendment is nov el, aod so it is here inserted for the purpose of informing the publie gener erally, and of encouraging (particularly on the .part of the members of the general assembly) a discussion of its merits io the eounty papers throughout South Carolina, to the end that it caa be intelligently voted upon tn the en? suing general eleotioo. The proposed amendmeot is as fol? lows : Add to the eod of Section 7, Article VIII this proviso: ''Provided ' that the limitation imposed by this section and Section 5, Article IV, of .. this constitution shall not apply to bonded indebtedness inourred by the - cities of Columbia, Rook Hill, Charles? ton ?nd Fiorenoe, where tbe proceeds of said bonds are applied solely for the purchase, establishment, maintenance sr increase of water works plants, sewer? age systems, gas and electric light plants (where the entire revenue arising from the operation of such plants or systems shall be devoted solely and exclusively to the maintenance and operation of the same, aod where the question of iocurriog such indebtedness ts submitted to the freeholders and qualified voters of such municipality, as provided io the constitution upon the question 9$ other bounded indebted? ness." This proposed amendment to tho eon etitotioo ts of vital importance to tbe etty of Columbia whose population comes from almost every oounty in the State. Growing with a rapidity that is without ia parellel io the statistics of " this State, her teeming streets and nosy euarra are the wonder and admi? ration of ail. The State at large shares with ber citizens in the pride engeoder ed by the growth and promise of the eapital of South Carolina. There are tut two things vitally essential to the encouragement and fostering of this wonderful growth-a sewerage system and a waterworks plant which together, it is estimated, will cost our municipal? ity a half million of dollars. To raise that sum, so necessary to the weil being of all the people, we mos* apneai tc toe intelligent voters of this entire State to vote solidly for this proporr.d amendment, for the reason that Coinmbia ts already encaaaberect wiih a debt far io excess of the con?ti tctioDal debt-limit Heoce upon fail? ure to carry the proposed amendment at the polls, our only recourse fo pre serve and foster the onagoiScent on? ward march of our cky wiii be to place these systems io tbe hands ct private parties, aod that courj-e is condemned by every economic authority, based upon the oiosest study of results. if the people of rh^ stare drive us to this alternative, we ccuot accept it even at the rii<k of irs becoming disastrous to ?'our well-being and advancement; for Columbia cannot keep pace with ber growth and the increased density of her population, so as to properly guard her health aod cou. for?, without tbe build? ing and development of these systems at an early day. She fy^^^ed of them every hour Her waste places, eilent reminders that she was made to expiate the alleged sin of seoeseioo, are fast filling np with handsome baildings which are being erected by people from the different sections ot oar State people who are eomiog into onr midst in recognition of the faot that the united patriotism of tbe good people of South Carolina will provide the means for this municipality to work oat io its owo way its aspiration to become the pride, as well as the capital, of the State. That end, eo devoutly to be wished for, can bs accomplished if your paper, and the other papers of the State, will editorially advocate this measure. I Remember that not only does the legis latore meet here annually. bot that the hospital for the insane is here, besides the State penitentiary, as well as other State institutions all of which will be | directly beneficed by these proposed j improvements. We are seoding this circular letter to each of the papers in the State with the earnestly expressed hope that it will be published and commented on by all the advocates and supporters of progress throughout the common? wealth. Very respeutfelly. F. S Earle, Mayor. T. H. Gibbes, Chas C Stanley, Ia a State of Turmoil. Manila, Oct ll -The weet coast of Leyte is in a state of turmoil, the rebel ladrones are actively plunder? ing, the disturbers foltowing worry? ing tactics, raiding and attacking and then returning to the towns while the Americans pursue in tbe mountains. Gen. MojicaTs officers are surren? dering and bis soldiers attempting to escape to Samar in boats, are being captured and his organisation broken up The captured guerrillas and lad rones when questioned stated that on the 5th fnet 30 Americans attacked 45 rebels, rifled their stronghold in the Camarine province and routed them, killing 10 Two Americans were killed and three wounded. Twenty men of the Twenty third regiment, in an engagement on the 12th instant, in Baton province, bad one man killed and fonr wounded. The Philippine commission, of which Judge Taft is the president, today passed eight bills including one for an increase of civil salaries of several of the municipal departments. Gen Wheeler to the Soldiers. I New York. Oct 10 -The new Y M C. A. shelter on Governor's island was dedicated today. Speech? es were made by Gens Brooke and Wheeler. Gen Wheeler in tbe course of bis remarks said : "Our country is DOW one of the world powers A few centuries ago tbe Mediterraneao was the centre of the world's commerce. Vow that the Nicaragua cana) is ao assured fact it seems aa act of Providence, that the American civilization. Chris tianity and liberty ia not be COD!:ned to our own land. "The American soldier under our flag m nat be taught that when be lands on those eastern shores Ameri? can civilization. Oh riet ian i ty and liberty are to be established in that ! far off land according as he bears himself. He is the gange of our civilization to the eastern native Trouble in Matanzas Habana, Oct ll -At Matanzas yes? terday a Coban polioemao interfered with two members of tbe Second Uoi ted States cavalry. The quarrel col mioated in a general fight between the police and soldiers, who arrived upon the scene simultaneously. After tba police had shot Trooper Torry of D troop, one other soldier and one eivi lian, a number of troopers of D troop tried to break into tbe gao room to get their weapons ; but rbe quick actina of i Capt Fred Folfz of D trocp, io f>rm ?T12 troops L and M in skirmish order made it impossible for the exe?ed cav? alrymen to pass Lieut Wiiiard is said to have beeo slightly hurt while endeavoring to quiet the meo. The troopers declare that they will have revenge and Col Henry E Soyes bas ordered all confined to barracks The feeling is strong between tba Cubans and cavalrymen Kruger's Old Hatbox Soid for $125 London Oct (J.-A s?k ha'box pur? chased io London ancor ten years ago by Paul Kruger, wa9 sold at auction today. There was keen competition for possession of the hatbox, which f?a al ly realized ?25. A pipe at one time used by Mr. Kroger bought ?8, 10s. NEWS FROM CHINA. Will Hardly Be Complied With Washington, Oot 9 -The Chinese minister said today that if the powers regarded it as essential tbat the emperor and empress dowager should return to Pekin, be was quite confident this eonld be brought about, first by giving posi? tive assurances fot J^epersonal safety of their majesties, aod theo, as plain evidence of this assurance, direotiog that the balk of the allied foroes oow at Pekin be withdrawn to Tien Tsio, Yangstan, er some other point, leaving only a few hundred troops at Pekin aa a guard THE DOWAGER EMPRESS ILL. Pekin, Sunday, Oet 7. via Tien Tsin, Oot 8, and Shanghai, Oot 9 - Trustworthy Chinese reports say that the dowager empress is seriously ill at Tai ?uan Pa (province of Shan Si) and the free hand of the emperor in affairs of state of late is regarded as confirmatory of these reports A response to the German demand has been transmitted to Li Hoog Chang. This says that Yiog Nien, president of the eensorate, Yang Li, assistant grand seeretary and president of the oivil board, and Csao Shu Chiao, president of the board of punishment, will be decapitated, that Prince Cbwaog, Dake Tsai Lan and Priooe Yih will be sentenced to life imprison? ment and that Priooe Tuan wilt be ban? ished to the imperial military post roads on the Siberian frontier, as a further punishment for aiding the Boxers. THE CONTROL OF THE ROADS. Berlio, Oot 9.-The Post says an agreement exists between Germany and Russia by whioh Germany is to control the railroad from Pekin to Yangtsuo sod Russia is to control the road from ?togtsuo to Toogka. The Post also denies that Germany will send an expedition to Sian Fa. EXPEDITION WAITING ON THE GERMANS. Pekio, Oct 4. Thursday.-The Pao Ting Fa expedition is waiting for the Germans, who are not ready to start. It is reported that there are 12,000 Chinese imperial troops at Pao Ting Fa. Gen Charlee has returned here. EMPEROR SA?S WILL RETURN TO PEKIN Pekio, Oct G.-Prince Ching kas received an edict from the emperor, dated Oot 1, in reply to a note sent at tbe request of the legations, saying be will return to Pekin as soon as the negotiations take a favorable tarn. Murdered Missionaries. New York, Oct 9 -A complete list of protestant missionaries known to have been killed from the begin? ning of the Boxer movement to Sept 5, bas been received by tbe American Bible society from Rev John R Hykes, D B , its agent in Shanghai.' Tbe list contains the names of 178 people, very few if any of wbooa will escape Of these 66 are meo, 73 women (41 married and 32 single), and 39 children. In the above total there are the following Americans: Twenty five j men, 24 women (16 married and 8 single) and 20 children ; total, 69 Americans. Total killed about whose death there cannot be any question : Elev? en men, 6 married women, 13 single women, 13 children ; total, 43 ?JOf those kitted the following were j Americans : Three men, 1 married ! woman, 6 single women, 3 children ; total 13 Of those in Tai Yuen Fu who were unquestionably massacred Joly 9, JO ! men, 9 married women, 4 single wo I men, 7 children ; total 30, all British. There are still some missionaries ? in the provinces of Kan6uh and ; i Kwaichow who have Dot been heard ' ; frons for some titoe, but there are j ! good reason to hope that they will j j get to places of safety. A moo g rh? concessions offered by . the operators to the .striking miners is I tue reduction of ?he pries of blasting- ? j powder froro ?'2 75 to ?1 o'* per keg ! a reduction of nearly firry per cenr. it ; j is by such revelations as this thit thc ? . public i* brought tu sympathize with the miners. ; Plague m India. j - i j London, OCA IG -"Bubooic pbizue," | ! f.ays a dispatch to the Daily Mai! from . Bombay, **is becoming epidemic in | j many districts of the Bombay prest-1 : doney. Alarming increases are report- i ' ed from P^ona and Belgaum, while the j j coa?r posts are infected. I The cotton crops have withered io J Abmednagar Bijapur districts in con j sequeooe of the droagth. A Hunting Trouble in China. Useless and Unwise Mili? tary Operations Against Chinese Cities Wasbiogtoo, Oat 15.-Recent bap peDiogs io China, and especially io the province of Chile, have so far set back peace negotiations that it may be a matter of weeks or even months before the peaoe commission ers will be able to get to work. Ill considered military operations in Chile and elsewhere are said to be responsible for the check which diplo? macy has met in reaching a settlement. Through the efforts of the state depart? ment, seconded by the more moderate powers, a steady aod symematio pressure bad beeo brought to bear upon tbe Chinese emperor to bring about his return to Pekin. The representations from the great southern viceroys to the emperor setting out the impossibility of supplying the court with money and food if it persisted in retreating to Tsinau Fa, io Shensi, was but one of the means which had been resorted to at the iostanoe of this govern meet to ?eoure the return of the court. All efforts were neutralized, however, by the spasmodic and uonecessary activity of the allied military foroes There was no necessity whatever for tbe Pao Tiog Fu expedition, io the judgment of the officials bere, and that venture was the straw which determined the imperial court to flee to the western mountains. Li Huog Chang and the viceroys of the sooth have pledged themselves to maiotain order and guarantee protection for foreigners and property in their respective provinces. This was made a condition precedent by the United States government to the establishment of relations with them looking to the initiation of negotiations for a final settlement According to all reports that have reached Washington, the viceroys had lived loyally np to their promises, in spite of irritating military expeditions and movements of various kinds set op against their protests ; and therefore it is regarded as particularly unfortunate that the allied foroes should persist now io the expedition against Pao Tiog Fa It is not known here whether or not the Germans are the moving force in this projeot, and a contrary conolasioo is drawn from the fact that the Waldersee is not the i directing head. Each nationality ap? pears to be moving at the will of its ! military commander, and military affairs in China, as viewed in Washing? ton, appear to be in hopeless confusion. In this state of affairs satisfaction is felt in the fact that the American troops are not in any manner involved in the activities of allied foroes, and it is said that the movement looking to their! withdrawal will proceed unioterrnptly. Tbe reply of the United States gov? ernment to the latest note from Frasee offering suggestions as to the settlement of the troubles in China was completed late today and delivered to M. Tfeie baut, charge d'affaires of the Freoeh embassy By him it was forwarded to his government. No official state? ment of the contents of the answer was obtainable. Following its inflexible rule, the state department declined to make public the text of the eoomuoi oation or to make any statement of the nature of its contents, until opportunity had been afforded for its reception by the French foreign office. It is believed, however, to take a favorable view of the suggestions sub? mitted by the French government in a general way, although it does not com? mit this governmeDt to all of them. As to the ?rst of tbe proposed Preach I terms of settlement, the punishment of I the principar! oolprits, this government has already declared itself in unmis? takable terms. As to the eeoond, the maiotenauce of the inhibition against the import of arms, this government will not declare itself to the tsoiot of making ic so ab solute prerequisite to further negotia? tions. As to the third aod fourth prop ositioos provid-iog for equitable indem? nities to States, societies and indivi- j duals, and the formatioo of a perena- j nent guard for tbe legations io Pekin, j a cordial asseoi will be given As to j the fifth, which requires the dismantle cnent of the Taku fortifications, this j government is not disposed fo go quite j to the length of making it au indispon ? G ?. h i o condition as does the French note j Thc sixth of the French conditions \ reads as follows : "Military occupation of two of three i points on the roads from Tien Tsin to J Pekin, which wouid be thus always oprn to tho legations wishing to co to i the sea or forces proct-eoing to Pt-kin ? from tbe &ea " This paragraph would seem to make j ir obligatory upon the powers to maio- . tain garrisons at these points, aod ; while the conditions arc sueh as to make their present occupation necessary for the H a fe r y of ?he members of the legations and others de?iriog to travel between Pekin and Tien Tsin. this government is disposed to make the demand es a matter of right, to be exercised by aoy or all of the powers t will. Cotton Again is King ; Expert Says It's Scare A. B Shepperson Retur Prom a Tour m f?urop and Gives Interesting VIEWS OHS THE WORLD'S CC TON SITUATION. The cotton men of Sonth Caroli and the south will be deeply interest in what A. B Shepperson. t faraous cotton statistician has to s in last week's issue of the Manufi tarers' Record about the scarcity cotton. He bas just returned from a ti to Europe where he studied t world's cotton situation. He says "On the 13th instant middli cotton sold in New York at ll cei per pound and 7 J pence in Liverpoi being the highest price here sin August, 18t0. Quotations are nc J cent lower here and 7-16 of penny lower in Liverpool, but il is only a natural reaction after t sharp advance since Sept 1 of ! cents in Nsw York and 1} pence Liverpool. The upward m o ve me in tte pronounced development w started and simply followed in tl wake of the greater market TI advance in Liverpool in so brief time was unprecedented but wh< all tbe circumstances are consider* it cannot be said to have been n warranted The Liverpool mark for 'cotton futures' was largely ove sold, aDd while the actual stock cotton of grades that could be d livered upon 'future contracts' wt ridiculously small, the light stoc) in this country, the lateness of tl new 'crop and tbe interruption j shipments . by the Galveston stor i prevented any relief from Americ I 'Futures' for the near months si vanced at first and most sharp]; Then there esme a good demac from spinners for actual cotton, ac this demand increased when it wi folly realized how very little cottc there was in Liverpool such as spii ners required. "The greatest part of the unso) cotton was of grades lower thc spinners wished te nse, and of vet fancy grades, of which the spinne: buy only small quantities at a timi English spinners held very ema stocks of cotton, and when the tried to buy they found the wan houses of the markets ss bare < desirable cotton as the storehouse of the mills The supply being e: tremely limited and the deman large from speculators and spinnen the advance which occurred was ii evitable. "On Sept 13 the stock of Amer can cotton in Liverpool was onl 110,000 bales. On tbe 20th th insignificant stock was reduced t 105,000, against 700,000 bales i corresponding date last year. Of tb 105,000 bales of American cotto probably not over 40,000 bales < tbe grades desired by spinners coul have been secured and, as the Britis mills now coasume about 65,00 bales of cotton per week, there wa less than a week's supply of Amen can cotton io Liverpool available fo them. It is not straoge that som of the Lancashire mills purpose t suspend work wholly or partial!; until cotton is more plentiful .Inas much as they can't spin yarns ont o 'futures' or crop estimates (even i for 12,000,030 bales), there wa; nothing else to be done. Walli realized this situation wheo in Liver pool and Manchester several weeki ago While the English mills with out cotton will have to suspenc work until they can get it, those having a fair supply will most proba bly continue at work in spite of ali talk to the contrary, as idle m?h ; can't make money The 'pinch' foi j cotton is more acutely felt in Eng? land than elsewhere, as I wrote last December it would be While the visible supply there ie now only one seventh of what it was a year ago, the visible supply of American cot? ton throughout ali Europe and America is about one-third of the quantity at this time last year, being in round figures 700.000, against 2,200,000 bales "After several years of depression, caused by overproduction of cotton, tho consumption of the world has in the season just ended not only over taken the production, but so trench od upon the reserves that the visible supply of :\]\ kinds is now equal to only about four weeks' consumption of tho mills of Europe and America Cotton is again king It heads the list of our exports, and the wealth which it has brought and will con-1 tinuo to bring to the south will also j increase the prosperity of every eec tion or the country. '.In a recently issued circular Mr Henry M Neill of New Orleane, eeti- j mated that the mille of the world bad coneuraed 11,226,000 balee of Ameri? can cotton last season. Perhaps I may not be able to make it that much when I fiuieu investigating the mat 1er, bot, as the tendency of this gentleman's mind ie to estimate as conservatively on the consamptioo of cotton as be estimates liberally on its production, it would probably be safe to assume last season's consumption of American cotton as 11,000,000 to 11,200,000 bales It would:doubtless have been more had there been a larger supply. Daring the season there bas been an addition of about 1,600,000 spindles to tbe European and American mills.. Mr.- Neill thinks the consomption of American cotton during the new season will be only 10,000,000 bales, while he esti? mates that the American crop now coming in, will net .exceed 9,750,000 bales or not enough for, the world's requirements: by at least .250,000 balea The consumption of lu,000, 000 bales was reached when the spindles were severs! minions less than now. . ( "It is undoubtedly true? that the troubles in China, if prolopged, will deprive the world of be? markets, which have recently.lakes- the. equi? valent of about ; poe million bales of cotton per annum, lt. is also true that the end ef tbs war in South A fries (now practically .over) will soon open up that territory io com? merce, and the assurance now of fair crops of oe reals andI potion.io India will csuse s greatly. improved de? mand for cotton manpfaetures from that country. Should -the Chinese difficulties be. satisfactorily adjusted, it is probable that tra?la with that country would be largely increased. The continent exports no cotton goods to Chins and is. unaffected by the war there "The eeanon may really prove to be a very active one for cotton manu? facturers, especially when it is re? membered that, as s role, great pros? perity has prevailed the past year throughout Europe and the United States, and that the same, conditions exist now. Wages srs fairly good, aud but few people are unemployed. Home trade is therefore good " Stole Fifty Thousand. New York, Oct 9 -P. H. Gilboly, oounsel for the Elizabetfiport, N J., banking company, announced today that Wm Sobriber, a missing derk of tbe bank, was a defaulter to the amount of $50,000, and that the back directors had made good the amount of the shortage. Among tbe directors is United States Senator John Keane. Schriber, who had been in the employ of the banking company sioce its incorporation about 10 years ago, started from Elisabeth on August 2, aod was supposed to be on his vacatioo. While he was away bis aeooaots were examined and the shortage was dis? covered. Will Cotton Seed Rise. Jackson, Miss, Oct ll -Numer?os conf?rences aro being held by the cot? ton oil manufacturers of Mississippi wi.th a view tooontrolliog prises to be paid for seed. The mills are now pay? ing $10 per ton and as the crop is 50 per cent short, it is the -general belief that the pri?e will adyaoes to at least $18 within tbe next few weeks. The manufacturers say, however, they cannot afford to pay more than the present pri?e and that they are loosing money oo seed products at the prevail? ing figure. Many of the mills are hold their oil io tbe expectation of an advance. It ts thought two thirds of the mills wi I.i be dosed down by Christ? mas on account of the seed shortage. OVER A GOLD MINE. Yorkville, Oat 10 -A negro mao was in town yesterday showing some old English gold coins that be had found cn the premises of Mr R. L. Wallace in the King's creek section, nine miles west of this place. The negro bad ba ?lt a bog pen on his lot, and the hog io "rooting around" un? earthed an old iron pot, and under it was a lot of gold coins which had be2n buried there It is not known how much the mac got, but it is supposed he made a pretty good find. Mr Wal j hce was here with him, bul bad th.2 j man '"coached" in regard to ke-'ping his ! mouth shut The ooias were ali gold and of English make. They rasped in P:23 from a five dollar piece to a $20. Undoubtedly this money was buried during the Revolutionary war. as the dates on them wera of a number of years previous to that war. Ii is thought that perhaps Maj Ferguson buried them whilst oo his way to King's mountain, as this point is on a line with his route to that battle ground. ._ '????TT <Wsw Galveston ie confronted by a ser? ious problem. The city is virtually bankrupt. There is no money on hand to maintain the monier ' gov? ernment, and something mn3t be done if the city is to be saved, and done quickly. The calling of a special A session of the legislature to appro- A priate $100,000 to carry on the city ' government io advocated.