SWT SHSGOSSEE
VENEZUELAS SITUATION.
No Desire to Submit the Monroe
Doctrine to the Arbitrament
of Non-Araerican Tribunal.
Washington,. Dec. 23.?The cabinet
spent the entire time of the meeting
today in the discussion of the Vene
zuela situation. Views for and against
the p^esidents, acceptance of the in
vitation to arbitrate were discussed.
Pending the receipt of the invitation
it is stated that the president declines
to commit himself as to his course.
Secretary Hay brought to the" meet
ing practically-nothing new relating
to* the situation. No response had
been received to the president's origi
nal suggestion to tho powers that
they consent to the reference .of the
Venezuelan controversy to the arbitra
tia of The Hague tribunal and no for
mal request had ben received that the
president act as arbitrator of the diffi
culty. That such a request will be
received formally and officially is now
practically assured, it is konwnthat
the president and all of the members
of the cabinet at first preferred that
the whole question should be referred
to The Hague tribunal. It is under-*
stood that the president's plan, if he
determines to arbitrate, contemplates
the appointment of a board of arbitra
tors. It is stated thaS the crucial
point to come before the arbitration
is the famous'4 Calvo doctrine.This
doctrine which was laid down by the
greatest of Latin-American interna
tonal lawyers and for many years has
been regarded as beyond question by
all of die Latin-American republics,
denies the right of any nation to inter
vene diplomatically in behalf of one
ei: its subjects where the courts of the
country are open to his application for
justice! Thus, Venezuela has asser
ted that all of these claimants, Brit
ish, German, Italian, French might
have gone before the Veneuzelan
courts and if their causes had been
just and so decided by the courts the
government would have paid the judg
ments. The objection tc this view is
that no account is taken of miscar
riages of justice and of racial antipa
thies. <?
It is known that now some members
of the cabinet are opposed to referring
the matter to The Hague tribunal for
these reasons; In the first place they
have no desire to submit the Monroe
doctrine to the arbitrament of any
non-American tribunal, not> even ex
cepting the august and eminently fair
tribunal of The Hague. They very
much prefer that if fel^is doctrine is to
be the subject of arbitration, if it is to
be even brought in incidentally, that
American influences shall pass on it.
Another reason that animates the
cabinet officers in this inclination to
ward acceptance is their conviction
that an inordinate length of. time will
be consumed ? if the issue is taken be
fore the Hague tribunal This would
lentghen the period of the block?d
with danger of actual hostilities
TEE VENEZUELAN BLOCKRDE.
~c Caracas, Venezuela, Dec. 2S.?Tht
Bed D line steamer Caracas safely en
tered the harbor of LaGuayra at &
o'clock this morning.
The mail, frieght and passenegrs of
the Caracas were landed at 10 o'clock, j
The captain of the British cruiser.
Tribane notified thecommander of the
Caracas that throughout their stay at
La Guayra she must leave the harbor,
very night. This measure is regard
ed as vexations and causes great ex
pense) to the owners of the steamer.
The decision to admit the Caracas was
not arrived at without some difficulty
due, it is claimed here, to the lack of
unity of [action on the part of the
allies. Tne commander of the Brit
ish cruiser Tribune yesterday notified
Mr. Shuck, the consul of Great Brit
ain, that the Caracas could enter the
port of La Guayra toady. The Tri
bune then sailed from La Guayra leav
ing the Italian cruiser Giovanni Bau
san in charge of the blockade. The
first- act of the commander of the
Bausan wa3 to notify the agents of
the Red D line that the Caracas would
not be allowed to land her passengers,
mails or freight. Mr. Boulton, of
Boulton & Co., agents of the line and
all the foreign merchants entered pro
tests against the Italain commander's
decision as violating the terms of the
decree establishing the blockade. Mean
while Lieut. Commander Diehl, of the
Marietta, after an hour's conference
with the Italian commander, succeeded
in convincing him he was wrong in his
interpretation of the blockade decrees
an^finally the-captain of the Giovanni
Baussan assured Lieut. Commander
Diehl that the Caracas would be allow
ed to 6nter the port of La Guayra
without hindrance.
The German warship which passed
La Guayra Sunday towing two large
schooners was the Panther. She cap
tured the vessels near Baracaibo.
The German cruiser Gazelle arrived
at La Guayra yesterday morning and
sailed again at noon.
The Bausan and the Tribune captured
the following prizes yesterdy:
The schooner Castor, loaded with
salt from Araya.
The schooner Maria Louisa, with car
go of cocoa on board, from Caronero.
The sloop Josefita Carmih de Verge
loaded with a general cargo, from
Caronero.
The sloop Cornelia, from Guanta.
Negro Shot in Camden.
Camden, Dec. 25.?The pleasure of
Christmas was somewhat marred by
the disorder on the streets. A number
of arrests were made by the police.
The most serious difficulty, however,
was tne unprovoked shooting of Wesley
Williams by James Vaughan, a young
white man, who has recently been em
ployed in the dispensary. Between 10
and 11 last night Vaughan was shoot
ing off bis pistol promiscuously on the
streets and when Williams came along
he shot him, apparently without ex
cuse. William managed to walk as
far as Market street and fell. He was
shot iv the abdomen and bis chances
for recovery are exceedingly slim.
Vaughan has been lodged in jail.
Hot Springs, Ark.. Dec. 24.?By
an explosion of gas or gasoline this af
ternoon in the cellar of the Tnrf Ex-1
change, a club house and pool room
operated by Chambers & Walker, the
building was badly damaged and
thirty persons were injured, sixteen of
them being in a serious condition.
THE VENEZUELAN PROBLEM.
Will the President Try to Solve
It or Not?
Washington, Dec. 24.?The proposals
of Great Britain and Germany that
President Roosevelt arbitrate the
Venezuelan dispute have reached
Washington. They are in such form
that the president can accept or reject
the proposition outright. So far, the
messages having been received while
the president was absent from the
White House, he has had no oppor
tunity to consider them., and until he
does so his decision cannot be known.
For the same reason nothing can be
gathered here as to the details of the
proposals, and although great interest
is felt as to the extent of the limita
tions which the allies will ask to be
placed on the arbitration curiosity on
that point must remain unsatisfied
until the president has finally made up
his mind what he shall do. It is
known that he is disposed to act
with all speed in this matter, for he
realizes that the conditions on the
blockade line are such that almost any
moment an unpleasant incident may
occur through the obstinacy of some
skipper or from a general misunder
standing as to the terms of the block
ade that may diminish the chances of
a peaceful settlement of the Venezuelan
trouble.
THE PROPOSALS DISCUSSED.
Later-: The president and Secretary
Hay were m conference for some
time this afternoon over the proposals
from Great Britain and Germany that
the president arbitrate the issues in
volved in the Venezuelan claims con
troversy. They went over the commu
nications very thoroughly, considering
the subject from every view point.
The acceptance or declination of the
proposals by the president is believed
to hinge on the nature of the restric
tions the allies have imposed on the
arbitration. If any conclusion was
reached at the conference bewteen the
president and his secretary of state to
day the fact was not made public.
HE IS STILL HESITATING.
Washington, Dec. 25.?It was said
at the State department today that the
president had reached no dceision in
regard to the invitations of the powers
that he arbitrate the Venezuelan mat
ter. It is possible that his decision
will not be forthcoming for several
days. Correspondence is exchanged
'daily between* the State department
and the foreign ofiices with reference
to the invitation.
Secretay Hay was at the White
House early today and held a brief
conference with the president on the
Venezuelan situation.
ROOSEVELT; AS A CATSPAW.
Berlin, Dec. 25.?The Lokal Anzei
ger publishes today the following state
ment, which was evidently inspired
by the foreign office:
"The German government has ex
cluded from the scope of arbitration
of the Venezeulan difficulty a claim cf
1,700,000 bolivars, which must be
paid immediately in cash before arbi
tration is begun."
The paper adds that it is understood
that President Roosevelt's undertak
ing to arbitrate involves an indirect
guarantee for the payment of the sum
to be awarded. Confidence has grown
in govenment circles during the past
twenty-four hours that President
Roosevelt will accept the task of arbi
tration.
A Chicago Romance,
Toledo, Ohio, Dec 24.? The Bee
today will say:
Warren J. Baker, secretary of the
Northwestern Ohio Masonic Relief
Association, makes public today for
the first time the secret history of the
looting of Catholic cathedrals during
the Mexican war, tells how it was
done and of the burial of the treasure.
His tongue was loosened .by a newspa
per dispatch from Mexico City telling
of the discovery of a chest of diamonds,
sapphires, rubies, pearls and golden
images beneath the flagstone in the
Chapel of Las Vozcainas College, in
Mexico City.
Mr. Baker's story rivals the
mythical tales of' Capt. Kidd, and
moreover bears the unmistakable
stamp of truth. He says that his
father marched from, Vera Cruz to
Mexico City with Gen. Scott's army
during the Mexican war. He and a
tent mate, after plotting for weeks,
dug their way into some of the' richest
cathedrals and pillaged them of fab
ulous wealth of all sorts of valuable
stones and huge golden images. For
hours they looted, carrying their bur
dens of precious stones to a hiding
place beneath the flagstones in a cath
edral yard. Shortly afterward Baker's
companion died. Baker returned to
his home in New York and then went
to Hillsdale, Mich. Fifteen years af
ter plundering the cathedrals he con
fided his story to an intimate friend.
The friend wrote to the Mexican Gov
ernment, asking: "If there would be
any chance of a 'divy' of the spoils if
he should tell.the government where
they could find the sacred and valu
able altar decorations that^bad been
stolen."
In a letter bearing the official seal
the Hillsdale man received warning
that if he knew of any one who had a
hand in the notorious pillaging, or if
he himself participated in it, he
would do well to forget all he knew
about it and "keep mum," lest his
iife be sacrificed in revenge for the de
secreation of the cathedrals. Baker
took the advice, but still intended to
secure the treasare he had buried.
Shyfocks in Columbia.
Columbia, Dec. 24.?Columbia is
infested with a number of money
lenders, who prey upon ignorant color
ed people. Once in their clutches they
never get away, being ba!ld< zed and
threatened nntil they are afraid to ap
peal to the magistrr ie. One. however,
mustered up the courage to rriuse pay
ment and in the trial of the case it de
veloped that for a loan of 87 he was
charged 82.40 interest per month end
be had paid that much for a year and
the principal was still unpaid. The
lender attempted to take away bis
furniture and he took the case to a
magistrate.
The magistrate awarded him $53.9$,
double the amount' of the usurious
interest. This is a tvnical case and
hundreds of others like it could be
cited.
REFERRED TO THE HAGUE.
President Roosevelt Will Not Be
the Arbitrator.
Washington, December 26.?Presi
dent Roosevelt will not be the arbitra
tor of the Venezuelan controversy.
The whole vexatious subject will be
referred to The Hague Tribunal for
adjudication.
Epitomized, this was the situation
as it had resolved itself at the con
clusion of the Cabinet meeting today.
The, meeting was not so long as the
sessions of the Cabinet usually are.
All the members except Secretary Root
were present. The Venezuelan ques
tion was the principal and practically
the only topic of general concern under
consideration. Secretary Hay present
ed the net results of his cable cor
respondence with the Governments at
London, Berlin, Rome and Caracas.
In accordance with the suggestion
made several days ago by President
Roosevelt, through Secretary Hay,
President Castro, of Venezuela, was
reported to have agreed to submit the
differences between his Government
and the European Powers to the arbi
tration of the Tribunal at The Hague.
The European Powers not only con
sented to submit the controversy to
arbitration, but, while they had ex
pressed a preference for an arbitration
to be conducted by President Roose
velt, they had assented to his sugges
tion that the matter be referred to
The Hague.
The presentation of the case met
the hearty approval of the members of
the Cabinet. No fear is expressed by
the Administration that the Monroe
doctrine will be brought into the con
troversy in any manner that might re
sult in any embarrassing situation for
the United States. Secretary Hay is
preparing a note to the Powers, in
which the gratification of this Govern
ment is expressed for the course agreed
upon by them in settlement of the
pending difficulties.
No intimation is given of the condi
tions which may have been imposed
by the European Powers or by Presi
dent Catsro precedent to the arbitra
tion. It is known that Great Britain
was willing to submit the subject to
the arbitration of President Roosevelt
practically without conditions, but the
suggestion is made that one, and per
haps two, of the other Powers involved
proposed some conditions which might
have proved embarrassing if. the other
had undertaken the responsibility of
determining the question.
It is undersood that some money
must pass, but it also is known that
the amount of cash to be required of
Venezuela before arbitration is not
nearly so large as has been stated. It is
not possible to learn either whether
the allies insist upon apologies from
Castro and, while it is assumed that
the blockade will be SDeedily raised,
no arrangement to that end has yet
been made. The energies of the ne
gotiators are now being devoted to the
framing of what will be known as
a condition protocol, and it is hoped
that, while this class of document
does not undertake to closely define is
sues to be presented, it will still con
tain a provision for the 'removal of
the blockade.
Trinidad, Colo, December 26.?A
coal miner from north of Trinidad,
who was taken out of tho debris of the
Colorado and Southern freight wreck
north of Trinidad last night and died
a short time later, said just before
he expired that there were fourteen
coal miners beside himself in the car
in which he was riding and which
was smashed to splinters. The ruins
of this ear still remain under tons of
wreckage. The men in it must have
perished.. It is estimated now that
the number of dead will reach from
twenty-five to thirty. All of the men
in the wrecked car were going to
Trinidad to spend Christmas. They
all came from coal mines north of
this city.
Georgetown, December 26.?The
store of Mr. T. A. Blakeiy, at Green
Hill, on the Georgetown and Western
Railroad was broken into some time
during Christmas Eve night and two
safes blown open and robbed of about
S800 cash. The theft was undoubted
ly the work of professional robbers and
efforts should be made to run them
down at any cost.
New York, December 26.?In a fire
which shot through five factories in the
river front district this morning three
firemen were killed, two were badly
injured and more than $400,000 dam
age was done.
Kodol Dyspepsia Cure
Digests all classes of food, tones.and
strengthens the stomach and digestive
organs. Cares dyspepsia, indigestion,
stomach troubles, and makes rich red
blood, health and strength. Kodol lebuilds
wornout tissues, purifies, strengthens and
sweetens the stomach. Gov. G. W. Atkin
kinson, of W. Va., says : I have used a
number of bottles of Kodol and have
foand it to be a very effective and. indeed,
a powerful remedy for stomach ailments.
I recommend it .to my friends. J. S.
Hugkson & Co
Greenville, December 26.?It was
learned here today that Art Craig, a
substantial farmer of Pickens County,
was found dead near the Keowee Riv
er, in Pickens County, several nights
ago. Upon examination the attending
physicians said the deceased was
frozen to death.
If you fesi ill and need a pill
Why not purchase the best?
DeWitt's Early Risers
Are little snrprisers,
Take one?they do the rest.
W. H. HcweP, Houston, Tex., writes : I
have used Little Early Riser Pills in my
family for con.-ti nation, sick headache,
etc. To th?ir use I am indebted for the
health of my family. J S Jfughson & Co.
The latest in fine stationery just re
ceived and placed on sale at H. G.
Osteen & Co's book store.
It T- ABBOTT,
Eeal Estate Agent.
No. 13 Main Street. '
Real Estate bought, *o'd and
exchanged.
d?c 17?1m*
A Losing Game.
b _
Venezuela's yearly imports are only
a little over $8,000,000. Duties on
these would be insufficient to pay the
interest, to saying nothing of the
principal, of her European debts.
And with blockaded ports there will
be practically no imports on which to
collect duties.
But even if such duties could be col
lected, the European creditors are
likely to lose more than they will gain
by their bullying policy. Vene
zuela's imports are mainly European,
most of them being from Great Britain.
The action of the British and German
naval forces against Venezuela has so
inflamed the Venezuelans that it will
be a long time before they will con
sent to buy goods again from either
England or Germany, and even if
those countries could collect from
Venezuela the full amount of their
claims, which they will be unable to do
forcibly, they would lose much more
in the trade which the Venezuelans
would withhold from them.
It is going to be a losing game for
the Europeans, whether or not they
collect their claims against the hot
blooded Venezuelans.?Courier-Jour
nal.
Greenville, Dec. 24.?Ben and Free
man Epps, sons of Landrum Epps,
were seriously shot last night, four
miles north of Marietta, in this coun
ty, while serenading Mr. 'and Mrs.
Arthur Bishop, who were married on
the previous afternoon. Henry Pace,
father of the bride, entertained the
newly married couple at his home. Last
night, about 9 o'clock, a party of
young men in the community, who
were not included among the invited
guests, visited Mr. Pace's residence
and began a serenade. Shortly af
terwards an inmate of the house walk
ed to the piazza and emptied two loads
of shot in the Epps brothers. The
? wounds have proven very painful, but
the prospects are that the young men
will recover.
The farmers of this country not only
feed the people of this country, but
produce 70 per cent, of our exports,
and yet the manufactory which turns
out a few millions of dollars' worth
of things, is regarded as of much more
importance by the tariff protectionists.
A newspaper clipping before us de
signates the meanest woman on earth
as one who "shops"?looks, and buys
nothing?during the holiday rush.
CASTOR IA
For Infants and Children.
The Kind You Haw Always Bought
Bears the ? /^TT
Signature of i^ies^/^^Zi^i^
TAX BETURMS FOR 1903.
OFFICE OF
COUNTY AUDITOR, SUMTES COONTY.
Sumtes, S. C, Dec. 5, 1902.
Notice is hereby given that I will attend,
in person or by deputy, at the following
places on the days indicated respectively,
for the purpose of receiving returns of
personal property and poll taxes for the
fiscal year commencing January 1st, 1903.
At office. Samter, S. C, at all other times
up to Feb. 20th, 1903, inclusive.
Tindall's store. Monday, Jan. 5th.
Privateer* Jenkins' store, Tuesday, Jan.
6th.
Manchester, Geo. T. Geddings, "Wednes
day, Jan. 7th.
Wedgefield, Thursday, Jan. 8th.
Stateburg, Friday, Jan. 9th.
Hagood, Saturday, Jan. 10th.
Rembert, Monday, Jan. 12th.
Dalzell, Tuesday, Jan. 13th.
Gordon's mill, Wednesday, Jan. 14th.
Mayesville, Thursday, Jan. 15th.
Shiloh, Friday, Jan. 16th.
Norwood's X Roads, Saturday, Jan. 17th.
Oswego, Monday, Jan. 19th.
The law requires that all persons owning
property or in anywise having charge of
such property, either as agent, husband,
guardian, trustee, executor, administrator,
etc., return the same under oath to the Audi
tor, who requests all persons to be prompt
in making their returns and save the 50
per cent, penalty which will be added to
the property valuation of all persons who
fail to make returns within the time pre-'
scribed by law.
Taxpayers return what ihey own on the
first day of January, 1903.
Assessors and taxpayers will enter the
first given name of the taxpayer in full,
also make a separate return for ench town
ship where the propertj is located and
also in each and every case the Number of
the school district must be given.
Every male citizen between the age of
twenty-one and sixty years cn the firstday
of January, 1903, except those incapable
of earning a support from being maimed
or from other causes, are deemed taxable
polls, and except Confederate soldiers 50
years of age, on January 1st, 1903.
All returns must be made on or before
the 20th day of February, next. I cannot
take returns after that date and all returns
mace after the 20th day of February, are
subject to a penaltv of 50 per cent.
J. DIGGS WILDER,
Auditor Sumter County.
' Dec 10?
CONFEDERATE P??SI NS.
CONFEDERATE Veterans are here
by notified as to applications for Pension
for the next year, that The Pension
Commissioner, P. P. Gaillard, will
attend the Auditor's office every Satur
day in January to prepare papers to
be passed on by the Pension Board,
which will meet the first Saturday in
' February, 1903, after which date no
applications will be received, and ap
plicants for pension are earnestly re
quested to meet the Commissioner in
January.
W. D. SCARBOROUGH,
Chairman Pension Board.
Dec. 17.
BA88E9 PLYMOUTH BOOKS.
A FEW fine Barred Plymouth Rock
Cockerels aro offered for sale at rea
sonable prices. They are from the
best strains and are large well marked
birds.
Eggs for sale in season. The supply
will be limited and orders will be filled
in order of receipt.
H. G. OSTEEN,
Dec. 3?tf. Sumter, S. C.
The tend Yon Have Always Bought: and which lias been
iu Vase for over 30 years, lias borne the signature of
jdtf ?Ii- and lias been made under Ms per
Cv^jLd^T^^^^y sonal supervision since its infancy.
^w^Cyf, /-w^Wi Allow no one to deceive you in this*
All C&unterfeits, Imitations and " Just-as-good " are but
Experiments that trifle with and endanger the health of
Infantl and Children?Experience against Experiment.
What is CASTOR IA
Castoria^is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Pare
goric, Di^ops and Soothing Syrups. It is Pleasant. It
contains Neither Opium, Morphine nor other Karcotie
substance* Its age is its guarantee. It destroys Worms
and allays\ Feverishness. It cures Diarrhoea and Wind
Colic. It relieves Teething Troubles, cures Constipation
and Flatulency. It assimilates the Food, regulates the
Stomach and Bowels, giving healthy and natural sleepo
The Children's Panacea?The Mother's Friend.
GENUINE CASTOR!A ALWAYS
Bears the Signature of
Tie Kind Yoji fee Always Bougbi
In Use For Over 30 Years.
THe CENTAUR loMPAN J, 77 MURRAY STREET. NEW YORK CITY.
Sumter, S. C, Dec. 1,1902.
JITS T JlRUl V*ED
Thirty Hf ad Choice
MULES.
This shipment contains som
mules ever brought to this m
whether you wish to buy or not.
trouble. Respectfully,
ANSIiEY D.
Sept 17
the smoothest and nicest
t. Come and see them,
look- will be worth the
Aft BY.
Cor?; Oats, Hay, Ship
Stuft? Hulls and C. Seed
Jfleal9 Carolina R. P.
Heed Oat? at
HARBY& CO.'S STABLES,
Also full line of standard grade Wag
ons, both one and two horse,
Buggies, Harness, Carriages, \
We also have on hand a full line of building
material, such as Lime, Cement, Plaster P^ris,
Hair, Laths, Fire Brick, Terra Cofct^, Pipe,
Stove Flues, &c \ V1
We want to give you prices when you\ ne?a
any of above, and we will get your patronage.
Yours truly,
HARBY & C
Aug 8
p
Glenn Springs Ginger Ale, made with
Glenn Springs Mineral Water, is the
best on the market.
Because all ingredients used are the purest
and best.
Because it is made from Glenn [ Springs Min
eral Water.
The old reliable, that, in its natural state, has
been alleviating suffering for over one hundred
years is now being made into most delightful
drinks. Try it and we know that you will say,
as all others have said, that it is "the best."
Drinkers of Ginger Ale will be delighted to get this de
lightful and refreshing drink, made with Glenn Springs Min
eral Water. Experts pronounce it the finest on the market.
Try it and you will be convinced. Ask your dealer for it.
GLENN SPMNGsH^a