The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, August 07, 1901, Image 1

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Tax SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, 1SS0? "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON. Established Jane 11 6 Cosolidated Aug. 2,1881. SUMTER. S. C.. WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 7.1901. New Series-Vol. XXI. .Yo. 1 ?|jt SSairta a? .Sonfljroit PuUis3aed Erery "S'sis.ssiay, ,-Br IST. G-. Osteen, SUMTER, S. C. T'?&KS : $1.50 per ancam-ia advance ?DTIS?16SHIST: Ono Square first insertion.$1 00 Bvery subsequent insertion. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer wil be made at reduced rates. All communications which subserve private interests will be charged fora3 ad versements. Obituaries and tributes of respects will be charged for. SGHLEY'S EXCEPTION is to His disobeying Orders. Washington, Aug. 1.-The navy department has refused to accede to Admiral Schley's suggestion that the language in the fifth specification of the precept to the court of inquiry be modified. The Admiral in his letter challenges that specification of the precept which states as a fact that he had disobeyed orders, and suggested that it be modi? fied. The department in its reply de? clines to make the suggested modifica? tion on the ground that according to the official records Admiral Schley himself acknowledged that he had dis? obeyed orders. The disobedience of orders was an established fact whether unwillingly or willingly. The following are the letters that have passed between Admiral Schley and the navy department respecting the precept : Great Neck, N. Y., July 27, 1901. Sir: I have the honor to acknowl? edge receipt of the department's com? munication of July 26th inst., enclos? ing copy of an order "convening, pur? suant to the request contained in (my) communication of the 22nd a court of inquiry." Inasmuch as the court is directed to "investigate" and after such in? vestigation, report "full and detailed statement of all the pertinent facts which it may deem to be established, together with its opinion and recom? mendation in the premises, " I would respectfully suggest to the department that paragraph 5 of the department's precept, which is as follows, viz: "5. j The ci rcumstance attending and the reasons for the disobedience by Com? modore Schley of the orders of the de? partment contained in its disoatch, dated May 25,1898* and the propriety of his conduct in the premises," be mod? ified to omit the department's expres? sion of opinion and thus leave the court free to express its own opinion in that matter. Very respectfully, W. S. Schley, Rear Admiral. Hon. John D. Long, Secretary of the Navy. Navy Department, Washington, Aug. 1, 1901. Sir: The department has received your letter of the 27th ultimo, in which you acknowledge the receipt of a copy of the order convening at your request, a court of inquiry to investir gate your conduct during the war with Spain, and suggest that paragraph 5 of said order, directing the court to inquire into the "circumstances at? tending and the reasons for the diso? bedience by Commodore Schley of the orders of the department," etc., "be so modified as to omit the depart? ment's expression of opinion, and thus leave the court free to express its own opinion in that matter." .. In reply you are advised that the precept calls for an inquiry by the court and the ascertainment of perti? nent facts. For the purpose of setting on foot this inquiry, the precept treats certain matters as established, such for instance, as the arrival of the "fly? ing squE.dron" off Cienfuegos and off Santiago, the retrogade movement westward ; the turn of the Brooklyn on July 3, 1898, and the fact that you disobeyed orders as reported by you in your telegram dated Kingston, May 28, 1898, in which you say: "Much to be regretted, cannot obey orders of the department." Inasmuch, however, as it is the de? partment's purpose that the court shall be absolutely free to report, if such shall be found to be the case, that you did not wilfully disobey the orders, or that you were justified in disobeying them, and that this may be clearly un? derstood your letter of the 27th"ulti mo, with copy of this reply will be duly forwarded to the court. Very respectfully, F. W. Hackett, Acting Secretary Navy. Rear Admiral Winfield S. Schley,* U. S. N., Great Neck, N. V. ?TRANSMITTED TO DEWEY. Washintgon, Aug. 1.-Formai action in the matter of the Schley court of inquiry was today confined "to the dis? patch of a letter to Admiral Dewey stating that "the department here? with transmits copies of letters, dated July 27 and Aug. 1, respecting the precept under which the court of in? quiry in the case of Rear Admiral Schley is to be convened. ' ' The court, through Admiral Dewey, had already been supplied with a neatly printed copy of the precept itself. The corres? pondence referred to is Admiral Schley's letter suggesting the omission of the navy department's expression of opinion touching his alleged diso? bedience of orders and the reply from Acting Secretary Hackett declining to make this modification. Acting Secretary Hackett's letter to Admiral Dewey is as follows: Navy Department. Washington, Aug. 1, 1901. Sir: I transmit herewith, for the information of the court cf inquiry, of which you are presider:, a letter, dated the 27th ultimo, from Rear Ad? miral Winfield fScott Schely, asking that modification be made in paragraph five of the precept convening the court, together with a copy of the depart ? ment's reply. Verv respectfullv, F- W. Hackett, Acting Secretary. Admiral George Dewey, TJ. S. N., Washington, D. C. It is ven* rarely that a precept con? vening a court of inquiry ts amended. The department's action, it is stated, while techniclly declining Admiral Schley's suggestion, does, however, in fact, amount to an amendment on the lines pointed out by him. As in? dicated in the letter to Admiral Dew? ey, this correspondence will form part of the record, and in fact, is a sup? plement to the precept, and of as much force as the original document. The vacancy of the court caused by Rear Admirai Kimberly's application to be relived has not yet been filled. It is believed that the department is com? municating by wire and letter with some of the retired rear admirals who are regarded as eligible. It has no de? sire to make public any declinations, and it is understood that the name of the person chosen will not be publish? ed until he has finally accepted the as? st ngment. It was suggested at the navy department today that Admiral Kimerly's action is not yet final. Secretary Long, at his home in Hingham, is within an hour or two's run of Admiral Kimberly's home, at West Newton, and the secretary may take advantage of that fact to visit the admiral personally and endeavor to have him reconsider his decision. Capt Parker, counsel for Admiral Schley, 'continued his work, at the navy department today in scanning the "log books and other records bear? ing upon the operation of the West Indian fleet. He hopes to finish this week. He is maintaining a close silence of his discoveries, if he has made any, and is evidently an object of great interest to the naval officers in the department, who watch him very closely and use every precaution to prevent the newspaper men from coming in touch with him. The log books are ponderous volumes, and are watched with the most jealous care at all times. In the present instance a keen-eyed young lieutenant watches the turning of every page of the volumes to make sure there shall be no alterations or excisions. Washington, Aug. 1.-Rear Admiral Kimberly will not be a member of the Schley court of inquiry. His request to be" relieved on the ground of ill health has been granted by the navy department and the department is now considering the question of his suc? cessor. It is, quite likely, that a selection has alredy been made but the official announcement will be with? held until the officer selected has been heard from. It is explained in connec? tion with the acceptance of Admiral Kimberly's request to be relieved that this is the first time in 39 years that this officer has requested the depart? ment to relieve him of duty to which he has been assigned. Death of Dr. Henry B. Korlbeck. Dr. Henry B. Horlbeck, health officer of the City of Charleston, died at his residence, corner of Coming and Wentworth streets, at' 12.30 o'clock last night. While attending to his duties as executive officer of the board of health about two months ago Dr. Horlbeck received a stroke of paralysis. Although every device known to science was appealed to and his life was perhaps prolonged for a space, it was scarcely more than exis? tence, and all knew that the end was not far away. For weeks Dr. Horl? beck has been merely alive and with? in the few days his death was almost momentarily expected. Dr. Horlbeck was one of the best known scientists in this country. He was a man of wonderful knowledge and ability and he occupied the front rank among the scientific men of his age. He was an authority on yel? low fever and sanitary affairs, and at the annual meetings of the American Public Health Association, of which he was a former president, his ad? dresses and papers were always receiv? ed with profound interest by the lead? ing scientists gathered from all parts of the country. Dr. Horlbeck's prom? inent stand in this association, which is composed of representative health authorities from all sections, made him^ a distinguished and moving spirit and his earnest labors were re? warded at the Buffalo meeting in 1896, when he was unanimously elected president. Following the custom of the association he served for one year. His annual address, delivered at the meeting in 1$97, was printed through? out the country, and was recognized as a remarkable effort, of a man eminently qualified to deal with ques? tions of importance to all mankind. News and Courier, Aug. 2. Wild Scenes in Tennessee Court. Smith ville, Tejpv^^i-iug. 2.-The first lynching in t^e history of Dekalb county was recorded today when Char? ley Davis, the man who"was charged with assaulting Miss Kate Hues last Sunday evening was taken from the court house by a mob of about 2f> peo? ple and hanged about a quarter of a mile from town. The assault on Miss Hues was committed last Sunday even? ing and Davis' trial was being held today. When the witness began to give his testimony the friends and re? latives of the girl arose to make for the prisoner. For a time there was wild scenes and the people were much excited. The prisoner made an effort to escape by jumping from the second story win? dow of the court room. Several pis? tol shots were fired in the confusion, but Davis was capturedjbefore he could jump. The sheriff, one of his deputies and a constable who were trying to prevent the lynching, together with the father of the defendant, were severely injur? ed in a clash with the mob. The wounded officers are Sheriff J. D. Odum. Deputy Bob Odum and Con? stable Maney Pass. i WASHINGTON GOSSIP. j Will McLaurin Have a Place in the Democratic Caucus. - I Washington, July 31.-At an inform j al conference of several Democratic "Senators held in this city recently, it was decided to ask the Democratic caucus of next winter to refuse to make committee provision for Senator McLaurin. on the ground that he had left the Democratic party. A certain representation on committees is allow? ed the minority party, the assignment of senators to the several places being made by the party caucus. "If a rea assignmnt is made at the first session of the Fifty-seventh Congress, as ex? pected, the Democratic caucus will have to determine whether McLaurin is to be regarded as a Democrat. In this way a national body of Democrats will have an opportunity to pass upon the South Carolina Senator's Demo? cracy. The action of the Democratic State Committee of South Carolina in reading him out of the party will not, however, furnish the only grounds for a refusal of the Senate caucus to recognize him. In addition to this, and perhaps more to be considered, is the fact that he refused to partici? pate in the Democratic caucus last winter, and the admitted fact that he agrees with the Republicans in regard to practically every question in dis? pute between the two great parties. Senator Benjamin R. Tillman^ of South Carolina, who is in Washing? ton for a few days before going on a lecture tour in the West, says he does not know whether the action of the commmittee representing the demo? cratic organization of the state will be construed as putting McLaurin out of the party for good and all or whether it will be regarded as an expression officially of the committee's opionion, which may be indorsed or overruled by the Democrats of the State at an election. He assumes that McLaurin may appeal from the committee to the people by resigning from the senate and making a canvass for reelection as a Democrat, if he wants to do so. It is expected that Senator McLaurin will take notice of the action of the state committee and will make a reply declining to accede to the suggestion that he should resign, setting forth again his views and appealing to the anti-populist element of the Demo? cracy to stand by him. A notable democratic rally is to be held in the town of Union, early in August, one of those midsummer political gatherings customary in South Carolina, and the politicians are looking for some inter? esting developments then. An interesting story, which certainly appears to be authentic, is going the rounds here on the authority of an army officer stationed at the War Department in this city. He says that after the shooting of Wilkes Booth near Frederick, Maryland, the body was put into a boat under the imme? diate supervision of Captain Brown, now Rear Admiral Brown, retired, liv? ing at Indianapolis, Ind., and carried to the Washington navy yard, where, still rolled in a blanket, the body was placed in a yawl and carried to a landing at the arsenal. As the little boat came in shore a young girl and two smaller ones stood on the wharf, and as the body was being lifted out the blanket fell away from the dead man's face. The older one recognized it as that of President Lincoln's assassin. Captain Brown asked if she had seen the face and if she knew it, to which she responded that she did. He asked her to say nothing, as it would give her great trouble should it be known that they had Booth's body in charge. Later, Commandant Benton, com? mandant in charge of the arsenal re? peated the warning not to tell. The body then was carried to the old jail, to a room in which ammunition was stored. Then all the ammunition was removed and under the direct supervi? sion of Captain Brown and Command? ant Benton, a grave was dug. At mid? night and by a feeble light, with Brown, Benton, Stanton, and two or three other members of the Cabi? net present the body of J. Wilkes Booth was lowered into a deep grave. The ammunition was replaced care? fully above the new filled grave, the door locked, and the key put into the hands of Secretary Stanton. There the body of the assassin rested until removed-no one knows where or when-by the Booth family. The young girl religiously kept her trust, and not until several years after, when she married the army officer who vouches for this story, did it pass her lips. The discussion of the trial of Mrs. Surratt now going on awakened the story, and it is told for the first time. Huge Cost of the War. London, August 1.-In the house of commons today Lord Stanley, the financial secretary of the war office, replying to a question, said the cost of the war in South Africa from April 1 to July 31 was 35,750,000 pounds, par? tially chargeable against the deficit of last vear. The actual cost in July was 1,250",000 pounds weekly. The state? ment was greeted with ironical Irish cheers. The chancellor of the exchequer. Sir Michael Hicks Beach, said if the war continued at the same cost for the next three months it would necessitate spending the whole of the reserve he had provided for financing the third quarter, but he had reason to hope that this would not be necessary. Memphis, Tenn.. July 28.- -In a duel with Winchester rifles tonight n*-ar Forest Hill cemetery, Kdward Blalock, son of M. F. B??lock. was killed, tlie elder Kinlock was painful? ly injured and George Wright was shot in the leg. Wright's son, who also Took part in the affray escaped unhurt. A deputy coroner wt-nT to the scene of the trouble to investigate the j affair. Details are lacking as to the j cause of the tragedy. STRIKE NOT SETTLED. ! Representatives of Both Sides Confer for Nine Hours. Pittsburg, Pa, July 30.-Disappoint? ment and apprehension pervades the air of Pittsburg tonight because of the failure of the executive board of the Amalgamated association of iron, steel and tin workers to ratify the peace proposals arranged at the confer? ence in New York last Saturday be? tween the national officers of the Amalgamated association and Messrs. Morgan, Schwab and : Gary, repre? senting the United Steel corporation. When the conference opened this morn? ing it was confidently expected that the agreement would be reached in a short time, but after a session lasting from 9.30 a. m. until 6.30 p. m. the meeting adjourned without arriving at any conclusion so far as known, to meet again tomorrow morning. The protracted session indicates that the board is not satisfied with the provisions of the compromise meas? ures, and unless some modifications are made its ratifiction is doubtful. The opening of union mills to non? union workmen is a point on which it is believed the board hesitates to ac? cept, and the long distance telephone bhtween New York and Pittsburg was worked frequently today to get a modi? fication of this clause. The work? men hold that this would give the mill owners fuH opportunity of crushing the union without strike by finding excuses to discharge union men and then fill their places with non-union ists. Another rock of dissension is said to be the retention in their pres? ent jobs of the men who worked as "strike breakers" at the various mills during the strike. It is said that these men have been promised the protec? tion of the manufacturers in case of a settlement and that they will not con? cede their dismissal at the request of the organization. The workers, it is said, are willing to declare the mills now working non-union open mills , but strenuously object to hav? ing all the mills of the combine classi? fied as open mills All is, however, conjecture and it is impossible to get any defiinite statement from any of the parties interested concerning the day's conference. When the board dispersed at 6.30 every member was waylaid by persistent newspaper men, seeking information, but every ques? tion was answered by the phrase: "We can say nothing. There is absolutely nothing to give to the public at this time." Today the Strike May End. Either Peace or War Will Follow the Meeting Today. Pittsburg, Pa., Aug. 2.-Judging by indications that are practically facts, peace or war in the steel troubles will be announced from New York city tomorrow. When the Amal? gamated association executive board adjourned this evening President Shaf? fer announced that another meeting would be held tomorow. There will probably be a meeting here tomorrow of a portion of the board, but the national officers will be in New York. They left for that city tonight on the Pennsylvania limited at 10 o'clock. The circumstances leading up to this unexpected trip, while not officially known, are evident enough to sub? stantiate the story which follows : "During the day many telegrams were received at the Association con? ference rooms, the last one coming just before adjournment, and it was an? swered promptly. This answer was in all probability the announcement to the New York people that the trip would be made by the officials tonight carrying out an arrangement entered into at Very Preston's rooms in the Hotel Henry, a short, time before. At about 4.15 p. m. Messrs. Shaffer, Williams and Chappelle went to Mr. Preston's rooms and were closeted with him for about thirty minutes. The undestanding is that at this meet? ing Mr. Preston made known the com? bine's only concession in the matter of reopening the wage conference where it left off three weeks ago. This con? cession was in the shape of a demand that if a new conference] is granted it must be specifically stated before? hand what is expected to be accom? plished, what ground is to be covered and what companies are to partici? pate, ' ' This brings the matter up to the Amalgamated Association and the mission of its high officials to New York is doubtless to convince the steel people here that a new conference is essential to peace and an amicable settlement of the strike troubles. The conference today was a repeti? tion of yesterday, the strictest kind of secrecy being maintained as to the happenings inside the room and the progress being made had to be guess? ed at. UNIFORMS FOR MILITIA. At the State armory several consign? ments of the quartremaster's supplies issued to this State for its militia by the federal governmnte, have arrived. New uniforms, caps leggings, etc., are in the lot. It is expected that all of the supplies will be here in a few days. The adjutant and inspector general was yesterday going carefully over last year's inspection reports pre? paratory to issuing the new stuff ?to the companies as rapidly as the work can be done. In a few days the ship ! ments to the various companies who I will get new uniforms this year wil ? be going out.- The State. St. Louis, August 2. -News has just reached here that Clarksville, Mo., I is burning lip. Ten business blocks have been wiped out and the fire is still spreading. Clarksville is 12 miles from St. Louis on the Chicago, Bur j lington and Quincy railroad. M. C. Galluchat Cuts F. S. Ervin's Throat. Planning, July 29.-A serious cut? ting affray occurred on the streets here this morning which came near result? ing in the death of Mr. E. S. Ervin a prominent citizen. Mr. M. C. Galluchat, a local lawyer and a member of the house of repr?? sentatives, did the cutting. The diffi? culty grew out of a contention for the possession of a town lot between Gal? luchat and the widow of his late brother. Joseph Galluchat. F. P. and E. S. Ervin are brothers of Mrs. Galluchat and are her agents in look? ing after matters involving her money and property. Some weeks ago Mr. Galluchat and the Ervin brothers had some difficulty about the same property and the Ervins tore down and threw in the street an old house which Mr. Galluchat was attempting to move on the property. Galluchat indicted the Ervins criminally for en? try upon property after notice and the case was carried before a country mag istrate upon his affidavit of request, but a jury acquitted the Ervins. The lot was supposed to be in possession of the Ervins, as agents, when this morning E. S. Ervin learned that Galluchat was having some lumber placed upon it, and went over, and or? dered the servant off. Galluchat's office is on the lot adjoining the prop? erty, and he came out and a difficulty ensued in which he cut a gash across Ervin's throat from four to six inches long and about a half inch deep, which required immediate medical at? tention, and Mr. Ervin was sent home in a buggy. Perhaps all that saved Mr. Ervin's jugular vein was the fact that he is a stout man and quite fat about the neck. The wound is not considered necessarily fatal, but was a very bad one. Ervin had gone unarmed to the scene where the difficulty occurred. F. P. Ervin is north, fortunately perhaps, for had he been home no doubt worse trouble would have "resulted. Mr. Ervin signed a warrant at his residence this afternoon fer Galluchat, who was arrested and gave bond. A Queer Frontier Experience. In narrating the frontier experi? ences of "The First White Baby Born in the Northwest," in The Ladies' Home Journal for August, W. S. Har? wood tells of queer experience that befel the family in the first year after settling on a farm far removed from the settlements. "The winter had been unusually long and severe, and their store of provisions ran low. It was a long distance to the nearest base cf supplies, and communication with the outside world had been cut off. Indians in the neighborhood one night broke into the granary where the wheat was stored and sot?e a quantity. In doing this a large amount of broken glass became mixed with the wheat which the Indians left, so for many days, amidst much merry story? telling and many a joke and laugh, in spite of the serious situation, the family gathered about a large table in their living-room and spent the short winter days picking over the wheat, kernel by kernel, in order to free it from the pieces of glass. For this wheat stood between them and starvation, and none of its precious kernels must be lost. Their stock of flour had long since wasted away, as had most of their food supplies, so they boiled and ate the wheat without grinding. Relief reached them just in time to prevent a sad ending to the experience. ----adi- - Dun's Review of Trade. New York, Aug. 2.-R, G. Dun & Co's, weekly review of trade will say : Continued favorable weather condi? tions have resulted in the saving of much late planted corn, and in the northwest ideal weather for spring wheat harvest has been enjoyed. As this is the point that business in all parts of the country has been most carefully watching, the general feeling is better than a week ago, although the disposition on both sides to settle the steel strike has not yet resulted in any agreement, and the labor situa? tion is thus kept prominent. Official returns of Tpig iron produc? tion in the first half of the year show a record-breaking aggregate of 7,674, 713 tons, exceeding the remarkable output of the previous year by 32,044 tons. The second half of 1901 has opened with a much greater capacity of active furnaces, and the full year promises a considerably larger total than the 13, 769,242 tons" produced in 1900. During the past week leadingarni 11s have plac? ed large contracts for early delivery, and inquiries for all forms of finished steel are abundant. There is less dis? position to pay fancy prices for pro? ducts that were advanced by the strike, which is an evidence of the general belief of an early resumption of work. An unfvorable showing for the first half of the year in both exports and output of copper resulted in the first alteration in nominal prices since the advance to 17 cents, eigh months ago. Violent fluctations have marked the course ofc orn prices. The top point of the previous week was not regained, but traders on the short side cf the market were compelled to cover at a loss. The decrease in marketing is not in proportion to the advance in price. Whatever benefit may have accrued from the high level of prices it certainly has driven foreign buyers out of the market. Dealers in some drought stricken districts have countermanded orders for footwear, and these cancellations are felt mainly by western makers, but as a whole the industry is in a healthy position. Leather is quiet, shoe fac? tories buying lightly owing to large supplies taken recently. Liberal arri? vals of hides tend to depress values. Wool has at last risen slightly above the lowest point in four years. The cot? ton market awaits the government re? port in a dull and weak position. Failures in July were 097 in num? ber against 793 last year, and S7,035, 933 in amount of liabilities, against 39,77e, 775 in 1900. THE ANNUAL STATE FAIR. Reasons Why the Approaching Fair Should be a Great Success. The authorities in charge of the State Fair have issued the annual pre? mium list, which is now being dis? tributed in the State and elsewhere, and the following announcement is also made by the efficient secretary. The 33d annual South Carolina State Fair will be held in Columbia from Monday, October 28th, to Fri? day, November 1st, inclusive., Entries are absolutely free, except where otherwise stated, and all pre? miums regularly awarded will be paid in full. No part' of the premium money is retained by - the society on any account or pretext whatever. The management seeks to encourage the exhibition of only such animals and products as are really m?riterions and are of utility and profit to the people of the State. This is the one great object of the Fair, and the so? ciety is imbued with an ambition to add a new zest and a new dignity to agricultural and mechanical pursuits and secure increased influence and greater renumeration to those engaged in them. The premium list has been careful? ly revised, and the society wishes to call attention to the inducements offer? ed that will certainly attra^; the best exhibits that can be shown in every class. The achievements of the State Agri? cultural and Mechanical Society in promoting the development of agricul? ture and its allied industries have never been fullyf appreciated by its best friends ; its possibilities for fu? ture usefulness in suggesting and dis? seminating ideas that will material? ize in improved crops, live-stock and farm practice cannot be overestimated. Not unmindful of the entertainment of its patrons, the management is en? deavoring to secure a number of new and novel attractions that will both instruct and; amuse. These will be announced later. All immoral shows and devices for gambling under any form whatever will be excluded from the grounds of the society ; and any person caught violating any law of the State by practicing any gambling game or device will be immediately arrest? ed. Realizing how large a part of the success of the past exhibitions has been owing to the work of the fair women of the State, the society earn? estly requests exhibits in the several departments. The large attendance at the Fair offers a splendid inducement to manu? facturers to make elaborate displays of their works. On all the leading railroads of the State entering Colum? bia low excursion rates will be given during Fair week, thus extending facilities for visiting the Fair to the people of every quarter of the State. Visitors to Columbia will find much to entertain them besides the Fair, Among the places of interest may be mentioned: The State house, asylum, penitentiary, cemetery, factories, col? leges, graded schools, churches, etc. Every effort is made by the city to entertain their visitors, who are as? sured that they will receive a cordial reception and spend a pleasant time. The Fair is conducted for the bene? fit of the public at large, and their moral support and active co-oppera tion are requested in order to make the 33d annual Fair the grandest in the history of the Agricultural and mechanical society. Thos. W. Holloway, Secretary. ? London, July 30.-The war office has received the following dispatch from Lord Kitchener: "Gen. F. W. Kitch? ener, after a long chase of Ben Vil joen's commando caught up with it. A sharp fight ensued. We captured a pompom and 22 wagons, and took 32 prisoners. The British had five wounded. War in South America. Washington, Aug. 2.-The political situation in the neighboring repub? lics of Venezuela and Colombia, in South America, and the possibility of war between these two States is- at? tracting considerable attention in diplomatic circles. Should war actual? ly result the authorities in each coun? try would not only have to deal with their foreign enemies, but also with their domestic foes, as each of the countries now has what practically amounts to a civil war on its hands. Neither the Venezuelan "nor the Colombian legation here has much direct information which will throw additional light apon the situation in their respective countries, and the cable reports are exceedingly conflict? ing. The officials of the Colombian legation are at a loss to understand the report of President Castro's de? claration of martial law on the ground that his country is being invaded by Colombia. The revolution headed by Dr. Galviras, who crossed the Vene? zuelan border from Colombia, where he had taken refuge, is said to be ilk* no sense an invasion by Colombians? Dr. Galviras belonged to the party of Andrade, who was overthrown; by Castro, and it is stated in diplo? matic circles that he is simply head? ing a rebellion of Venezuelans against the latter's authority. No definite information has been received here re? garding the whereabouts of Gen. Uribe, who in his turn is heading a move? ment against the present government in Colombia, from the Venezuelan side. Washington, Aug. 2.-A cablegram has been received at the state depart? ment from the United States consul at Colon, stating that if the present re? volutionary troubles in that section become more aggravated the traffic across the isthmus will surely become interrupted. The United States gov? ernment is bound by a treaty to keep this traffic open to the world. No re? quest for a warship to be sent to the scene of the trouble has been made, j