Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CROSSES OF HONOR. Gallant Veterans Decorated by Fair Women. The Opera House was fille d Monday morning at ll o'clock when the meet? ing was held under the auspices of Dick Anderson Chapter, U. D. C., for the purpose of awarding crosses of Hoaor to the Veterans who filed applications a year ago as the rules of che U. ?). C., requires. The members of Dick Anderson Chapter were seated on the stage, and the veterans and school children oc? cupied the orchestra, while the re? mainder ol the house was filled with spectators. The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. H. H. Covington. Maj. Marion Moise, presided over the meet? ing, read the list of veterans who were awarded crosses, and introduced the orator of the occasion, Maj. H. . Frank Wilsen. When the veterans' names were read they ascended the stage and the crosses were pinned on the lapellof their coast by the Daughters of the Confederacy. 1 { Maj. Wilson's address was heard with closest attention by the large audience, and was punctuated with applause. It was a worthy presenta? tion of a theme that is dear to the heart of every Southerner from the oldest veteran of Lee's army, whose head is whitening for the grave to the youngest child that has learned to reverence tie memory of the patriot soldiers of '61 and -65. The children of the graded school sang during the exercises. "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground, " and ' * Mary? land, My Maryland." At the conclusion of the exercises in the Opera House the Veterans were in? vited to tile Graded School building where luncheon was served by the Daughters of the Confederacy. Delegates to Columbia. At a meeting of Cam p James D. Blanding, No. 122, Sons of Confederate Veterans, held Monday evening, the following were-elected delegates to the State meeting of Song; of Veterans, in Columbia this week: Richard L Manning. John M. Knight, W. B Boyle, R. F. Hayns? worth, B. D Mitchll, Jr., Geo. W. Dick, J. S. Richardson, John E. Whil den, Geo. D. Levy, W. S. Graham and E. S. Carson. The annual election of officers and also of delegates to the General Reunion at New Orleans, La., was postponed until the next meeting of the Camp. VETERANS HOVE ON COLUMBIA. f?reat Crowds 6oing io the Annual Re union. The Annual Reunion of the Con? federate Veterans of South Carolina, which is held in Columbia this year, and which opened yesterday will undoubtedly be one of the greatest gatherings of Car? olina veterans ever held, if the veterans from other sections of! the State go in as large delegations as have gone from this vicinity. A ! great crowd of veterans and a few Sons of Veterans left this city on the 9.50 train yesterday morning, and others who could not go then expected to fol? low that night or this morning. One hundred and twenty five reunion tickets were sold by the A. C. L. ticket agent yesterday morning and the earlier train over the Southern Ry., carried a small deleagtion of old sol? diers. But the Sumter crowd was only a part of the delegation from this section. The Bennettsville train came in with five coaches well filled, and the Charleston train jad at least two hundred on board when it arrived. The Charleston . train carried seven full coaches th rough to Columbia and the BennettsviIle train was sent on to Columbia, as a second section of No. 52, with five coaches crowded with re? union visitors. It is estimated that the two trains carried in the neighbor? hood of 650 to 700 passengers, of whom the ?najority were veterana In the rush and crowd at the depot yesterday morning it was impossible to obtain a complete list of the Sumter county veterans, but as there were so many of them it is safe to say. that any old soldier who is missing from his accustomed haunts during the next few days is having a jolly time with his old comrades in Columbia. A POISONER CAPTURED. Ed. Jonas, of Lee County, Arrested in Aiken. Ed Jones, white, a son of old man George W. Jones, was brought to this city Thursday afternoon from Langley, where be had been arrested, and com? mitted to jail to await trial at the next term of court in Lee county. He is charged with poisoning Mrs. Manning Rogers, and thereby causing her death and eloping with a daughter of his victim. He bad a wife sad family, but deserted them, it is ofaarged, to run away with the Rogers girl. He went to Aiken county and it was reported that he and the* Rogers girl have been living there as man and wife. Johe3 li ved in Spring Hill township not far from Bradford Springs, and Mrs. Rogers was of the same neigh? borhood ?nd Jones was hired to work for her this year. Her death occurred about two months ago. Jones left his home about two weeks ago. lt is said that he w.*s known at Langley where he was arrested, by the name of DuRant, which is his middle name. Jones denies all the charges, and wept bitterly when he wa.c committed to jail last night, claiming that he went away to hunt work, being out of employment after th? death of Mrs. Rogers. A small tenant house on Ricker's Lane caught fire last Wednesday and the hose wagons were called out by a telephone message. The roof of the house was partially burnsd oft7 before the wagons arrived but the fire was speedily extinguished. ' The damage was not great. Mr. W. F. Creech who was killed near Bishopville last week was well known throughout Sumter, Lee and Kershaw counties, having traveled this territory trading and selling horses and mules for six or seven years. He ran a stable in Mayesville for a year before locating in Bishopville. Tea Seed For Distribution. Aiken, S. C., Mav 8. Mr. Hubert G. Osteen, Sumter, S. C, Dear Osteen : I send you a package of tea seed gathered from one of the beautiful^parks of this city. It is quite a common ever-green in the gardens here and makes a pretty hedge, 3 or 4 feet high. This soil and climate seem to snit it and that of Sumter will suit as well. In fact, there is a large bash in Miss Anna Loring's garden. Dis? tribute them as you think best among our citizens, who can plant now and in a few years will have vigorous bushes. The General Government, now experimenting largely in planting, cultivating, gathering and curing, will soon give full instruction on these points. Those in charge of the work report that the gathering can be done by little negroes and the curing in an ordinary cooking stove, with little trouble, and that 6 or 8 bushes will supply a large family for many years with different grades of tea and of bet? ter quality than that generally import? ed, as the sea-voyage greatly injures that imported. The seed should be planted about 3 feet apart, on the east side of a fence or of trees, so that the shade will pro? tect the plants from the summer after? noon suns. Very truly yours, J. D. Blanding. [The seed will be given to those who apply for them, and as the supply is limited. Only those who call at once can be promised a package.-Ed. ] The chain gang is still at work on the Manning road. Tue work is pro? gressing rather slowly but one of the heaviest sand beds in the county is being converted into a hard, smooth clay and sand turnpike. The city should do something toward improving the public roads within the city limits The north end of Main street from the Presbyterian Church to the Mile Branch could scarcely be heavier; while western Liberty street, and south Main near the city limits are scarcely better. These roads are the thoroughfares leading into the country and are travelled by thon sands of heavily loaded wagons in the course of a year, and the benefit that the town would derive from the improvement of these roads is plain to all. "Aquila," writing in the Herald from St. Charles, under date of May 5, says: The whole community is grieved over the sudden and serious illness of little David, only child of Rev. and Mrs. V. R. Gaston. Also the illness of Mr. W. H. Bryan, at the home of his sister, Mrs. R. M. Jen? kins. Mrs. Bryan came over from Sumter Sunday night to be at his bed? side. Mr. Bryan has many friends here who sympathize with him in his sickness and wish for his speedy re? covery. Sumter has had a primary every year for the past eight years, not to mention the municipal primary and election every second year. J. Kttenberg & Sons have an "inter? esting" advertisement today. Grovern or Hey ward has been advised that 'there was no occasion to offer a reward for Kelley and that he has not gone away. Read D. J. Chandler's advertisement if you are interested in boys' clothing. lt is the Sumter Telephone Co, (the local exchange) and not the Sumter Telephone Mfg. Co., that has applied to the Secretary of State for an amendment to its charter permitting an increase of the capital stock. THE POSTAL BOODLEBS, Investigation Brings Proof of Cor? ruption. Washington, D. C., May 9.-Post? master General Payne today dismissed James Dower, a firemen employed in the postofiBce department, as a result of charges that Dower recently filed against Chief Engineer Jas. O'Donnell and' other superior officers. Dower alleged that a ring to govern promo? tions and other matters existed in the engine room and that improper con? tracts h?d been made. The charges were investigated by a postoifice in? spector and the report does not sustain them. The Postmaster General an? nounced today that the action of Dower in "making the frivolous and scan? dalous charges, giving them publicity and then failing utterly to sustain them, is to the detriment of the ser? vice and subversive of ail discipline, the discharge of Dower is ordered for the good of the service." The in? spector's report says Dower is reported by Assistant Engineer Anderson to have incited or attempted to incite other employees to acts of insubordina? tion. Postoffice Inspector Fosnes today took charge of the free delivery ser? vice. General Superintendent Ma? chen, who was relieved from duty yes? terday, did not appear to turn over the office. He sent world that he was too ill to come. Postoffice Inspector Thorpe, of New York city, who has been assisting in the investigation of the department will remain with Acting Superinten? dent Fosnes to assist him in handling some of the details of the work. Post-* master General Payne said today that the transfer of the free delivery to the office of the fourth assistant and Mr. Machen's indefinite leave was with the full knowledge and acquiescece of First Assistant Postmaster General Wynne. Seymour W. Tulloch,, the former cashier of the Washington city post office, who in a newspaper interview made grave charges against the ad minstration of the postal service at the time of his removal several years ago, was in the city today. "It is a curious coincidence, ' said Mr. Tul? loch, "that the suspension of Mr. Machen follows so closely the report of the replies to the letters the Postmas? ter General sent regarding my state? ments. If the truth was told the in? formation these replies contained must have fully borne out everything that I have said. Mr. Bristow is a tho? roughly honest and I believe, fearless investigator, and his reply must have embodied data of which the Postmaster General had not been previously aware. I regard my statements as substantiated in those replies. If the replies already in exonerates the officials accused the letters would have been immediately made public. The department now knows all about the conditions I have referred to." KELLEY STILL AT LARGE. Sheriff Smith Fails to Get on His Trail Reward to be Offered For His Capture. Daily Item, May 9th. Sheriff Manly Smith of Lee county, passed through the city yesterday afternoon on his way home by way of Columbia from a trip up the Sea? board Air Line into North Carolina in search of Spain Kelley who is reported to have boarded the northbound S. A. L., passenger train at Bethune Wednesday night a few hours after the killing of W. F. Creech. Sheriff Smith did not get on the trail of Kelley and found nb clue that justified him in continuing the chase ;n that direction. He has notified Gov. Hey ward of the killing of Creech and the flight of Kel? ley, and has requested that a reward be offered for the capture of Kelley. There have been no new develop? ments in the case and no new facts have been made public. It was stated yesterday by several citizens of Bish? opville who were in town that the cur? rent rumor and the general belief in Bishopville confirms the statement heretofore made that the cause of the killing was Creech's failure to right the wrong he ha'' done Kelley's sister,, af? ter notice that he would be required to do so or take the consequences. The following is the evidence given by witnesses who testified at the in? quest held by the Coroner : Dr. A. C. Baskin found that the de? ceased came to his death from a gun? shot wound on the neck, the ball enter? ing to the right, passing outward and slightly upward. This wound was suffi? cient to cause death in a very short time. There were also gunshot wounds on right side of face and back of head, presumably from two discharges, also two pistol ball wounds in left arm and a pistol ball wound about four and a* half inches . below left clavicle, four inches to left of middle chest, coming out below left clavicle. H. H. King says that he met Spain Kelley near Mr. Alexander's, that he hailed him and asked if he intended to make the swamp. Kelley did not reply. . Saw that he had double barrel gun in his buggy and was reach? ing for it. Then he picked up the gun and pointed it toward the buggy behind him, in which were Mr. Creech and Mr. Howard Singleton. Kelley shot one time. Mr. Creech got out of the buggy on the right side; Mr. Singleton on the left, and the horses were driven off with the bugggy. King said : 4 ' I pulled out of the road to left to allow the horses to pass, as Kelley wa? following Creech. I called him to my buggy, took hold of him be? hind the buggy and caught his arm and pulled him in the back of my bug? gy and ran the horses about three and a half miles. Kelley cut one of his horses out of the buggy and followed on horseback. I turned into Mrs. Boykin's, as I saw Kelley was gaining on me I pulled up leaving Creech in the foot of the buggy. I went out to the road, meeting Kelley, and begged him not to shoot Creecli again. I got between him and Creech several times, but he dodged around me and shot Creech once or twice, I think twice, as he lay in the buggy with his double-barrel gun. He had a pistol in his hand and told me if I got in his way he would shoot me. I told him I could have explained the matters between them, but Kelley said he had been hunting him forty-eight hours, and now he had killed him and he would go. He then got on his horse and rode away. Mr. Kelley did not show any sign of whiskey. The shoot? ing occurred in Lee County." Mr. W. T. Brown testified: Mr. H. H. King, on the evening of May 6, drove into the yard of Miss Tallie Boy kin and asked witness to take his horse. As begot out of his buggy Mr. Kelley came up. Mr. King said to Kelley: "Please don't shoot any more, I believe he is already dead," referring to Creech who was in the foot board of the buggy. Kelley got off Iiis horse and they tussled for a good while, Mr. Kelley succeeded in getting past and shot Creecli twice with his gun and once with his pistol in this position. Upon the evidence the jury found the following verdict: "That W. F. I Creech came to his death by a gunshot i wound inflicted by the hands of ? Spain Kelley, and that the same was wilfully done, according to the evidence given." The S. M. A. Picnic. Daily Item, May 9th. The picnic given by the Academy and Seminary at Pocotaligo yesterday was a great success. A number of friends from the city joined the faculty and students. There was an abundance of good things to eat and drink. The Sumter Coca-Cola Company sent sev? era' crates of bottled goods. Pocotali? go is a splendid place for a picnic. Nature furnishes, well shaded sloping hills, beautiful stream, and a spring of cool, clear water. The report made through yesterday's Item as to the manner in which little Miss Bostick was injured was incor? rect. She was not on the trestle, and was not rescued from drowning. She was on an embankment about six feet above the level of the public road. She fell and rolled down the embank? ment into the water that flowed away from one of the springs. It was not more than three inches in depth. The unfortunate accident was deplored by all. O. If the city can come to terms with the Water Co.. and purchase the water works the matter of sewerage will be simplified considerably. The Walhalla Board of Trade has appropriated toward the fund to be raised for a State exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition. What will, or can, the Sumter Board of Trade do? The Darlington County Eductional Association met with the teachers of Epworth High School in Lydia town? ship on last Saturday. There was a good attendance and the discussions were very interesting throughout. Mr. S. H. Edmunds, supt., of the Sumter city schools addressed the association on "the Duties and Responsibilites of the Teacher. " His talk to the teach? ers was an excellent one and should prove helpful to the many teachers who were present.-Darlington News. What For? Mr. Editor: lt appears to the writer that our mayor's salary ought to be increased to fifty dollars per month. Taxpayer. THE BEAR'S GRIP TiGHTE?E Russia Throws h\m Troops In Manchuria. MANY FORTS GARRISONED. Pekin, May 8.-The Russians, it announced, have reoccupied N( Chwang with a large force and ha also put garrisons in the forts at t mouth of the Liao River. They a further reported to be making exte sive warlike preparations. Tlie news of Russian activity, whi comes from a most trustworthy sour at New Chwang, adds that on the return to New Chwang the Russh troops brought with them several lar? guns. A large force has been order to reoccupy Tien Chwang Tai. T. Russians have 14,000' troops betwe< the mouth of the Li?o River and Pc Arthur. The Russians are reported to be co structicg forts on the hills near Lia Yung, commanding the road betwei there and the Yalu River, and tin have arranged to have a large quanti of provisions delivered at New Chwan A dispatch from an official at Ne Chwang says indications point stron ly to these active preparations beii intended to guard against operatio] against the Russians in Manchuria. CHINA TOO WEAK TO FIGHT. London, May 8.-The anaounceme: from Pekin that the Russians ha1 "reoccupied" New Chwang must ni be undertsood as implying that th< ever fully evacuated the place. Tl news is taken here to mean that tl town has been reoccupied by the fon the withdrawal of which was ai nounced in April, when the Russia] said that all the troops except the me necessary for the police guard hi been removed. The Chinese ambassador here, in a interview is quoted as saying he hi not received official confirmation < the Russian action at New Chwang. '. true, he added, it means that Russ: will eventually occupy the who province, and though China is n< prepared for war, she will probafr resent any attempt to do this. The Russian proceedings at Ne Chwang are attributed hereto China refusal to comply with the demanc which Russia recently submitted. Yokohama, May 8.-There are pe: sistent report in circulation regardir the movements of Russian troops alon the Yalu River. Detachments have ei te red Korea, ostensibly to protect tl Russian timber concessionaires, and large body of Russian troops is repor ed to be approaching Wiju, Kore* The Japanese Government is protea ing against these actions. SECRETARY HAY TAKES PROMP ACTIONS. Washington, May 8.-The State d< partment has received official confirn ation from its agents in China of tfc increase of the Russian garrison i New Chwang, Manchuria, and thei is reason to believe, if Presider Roosevelt approves, that it is prepa: ing to take vigorous steps in the ma: ter. Secretary Hay is in. communier tion with President Roosevelt i California, and upon the later's d( cisi?n the Secretary's course will de pend. It is stated that the depan ment has had its patience taxed b the course of events in Manchuria, an that it now contemplates a more radici step than any which has heretofoi marked the negotiations between th Powers on this subject. The propose step contemplates joint action b Japan, England and the United State* Preceding negotiations have bee hampered by the inability of th United States to act jointly with othe nations without violating its tradi tions, but it is now hinted that som plan of co-operation with England an Japan may be devised which will hav the effect of convincing the Russia Government of the united determina tion of the three nations to insist upo: Russia's evacuation of Manchuria while not actually committing th United States to a formal alliance This programme is subject to the ap proval of the President. If it is no looked upon with favor by him, th State department may fall back upo: its former method of individual re presentation to Russia and ask anothe explanation of the happenings ii Manchuria. In such event the Rus sian answer is already forecasted b; the officials here. Under the Russiai representation t the Powers th troops were to h ve been withdraw] from New Chwang just one month ag? today. It is understood, as a matte of fact, that some portion of the Rus sian force was withdrawn from th barracks in the city to tents outside It is presumed from Pekin advice: that these trops have now returned t< the city. OUR CHINESE TREATY EN? DANGERED. Accompanying the news of the reoc cupation of New Chwang comes i warning from our agents in Chin* that the Russian attitude is injuring the chances of the treaty whicli Mr. Conger and Consul General Goodnow have been negotiating with China, involving the opening to Americar trade of the ports of Taku-Shan anc Moukden, in Manchuria. The latesl advices are that the treaty is already practically lost, owing to Russian op? position. This fact is construed tc give the United States a direct inter? est in what is happening in Man? churia. PROFOUND SURPRISE IN PEKIN. Russia's coup lias caused profound surprise here, as recent developments had led to the expectation that Russia would compromise ber demands, since they had been revealed to the Powers. The latest manoeuvre is interpreted as being intended asa reply to China's refusal to grant Russia's demands, to the protests of the Powers, and as a declaration that she is ready to fight in order to maintain possession of Manchuria. It is considered significant that the Russian army reoccupied certain strategical posts at just about the time naval reinforcements were reaching the Gulf of Pe-Chi-Li. It has been reported recently that Russia was accumulating great stores of pro? visions and war materials. Ir is im? possible to confirm these reports, but it is known that the Russian military authoritites have been buying many horses. All the available information indicates that Russia is preparing to increase and not decrease her forces in Manchuria. WASHINGTON GOSSIP. Current Gomment on Maliers of Present interest Washington, May H.-President Roosevelt has been baffled in his at? tempt to override the wises of the en? tire white population of Charleston, S. C., and disregard the wishes of the Senate by appointing "Dr." Crum, colored, to the position of collector of the Port of that city. It will be re? membered that the President twice sent the Crum nomination to the Sen? ate and the Senate as often failed to confirm it, in one instance practically voting to report on it unfavorably. After the Senate adjourned Mr. Roose? velt appointed Crum as a recess ap? pointment but now the Treasury De? partment refuses to allow him any fees on the ground that he has been ille? gally appointed, a contention clearly upheld by an explicit law. The only hope which Crum can entertain of re? ceiving pay for the time he has serv? ed is through a special act of Con? gress which is regarded as most re? mote. If the Senate will confirm him next winter he can draw his fees from the date of such confirmation, but there is no more reason to anticipate that the Senate will confirm him in the fu? ture than there was when he was first nominated. Consternation has been aroused in the postoffice department by a warning given to a colored carrier on a rural delivery route running out of Gallatin, Tenn., to the effect that no colored man can carry the mails. The present incumbent, John C. A. Allgood, is the second carrier on the route which was established March 1, the first hav? ing resigned, it is presumed because of a similar warning. The route has been discontinued pending an investi? gation. . Allgood was appointed by a provision of the civil service law which leaves no disccretion with the postal authori? ties. In this connection, a report has reached Washington to the effect that no negroes are to be permitted to han? dle the mail in the South and it is feared that much trouble will ensue. Representative Gaines, who is in Washington, gave an explanation of the situation to your correspondent. Mr. Gaines said there was no denying that the Southern people objected to colored mail carriers because they were colored, but that the objection rose from fear. In the rural districts the heads of the family and all grown males were obliged to go out into the fields to work and leave the women at home defenseless. Because of the nameless crimes of the negroes they could not but regard with apprehension the prospect of negro mail carriers coming to their homes in their absence, especially since the policy of the present administration had stir? red up the bitterest animosty between the races and Mr. Roosevelts' attitude had encouraged many negroes to cher? ish hopes of social equality and misce? genation. Mr. Gaines said the South em people were taxing themeslves to the utmost limit to educate the negro but their work was being nulli? fied by people who, for partisan rea? sons, misrepresented the facts while tliey were utterly ignorant of the true conditions. Another sensational development has just taken place in the postoffice scandals. A. W. Machen, general superintendent of the division of free delivery, has been suspended pending the conclusion of the investigation, the division has been transferred to the bureau presided over by Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow, and Mr. M. C. Fosnes, Postoffice In? spector, has been appointed acting superintendent of the divison. . Mr. Fosnes, it will be remembered, was appointd head of tiie Cuban postal service after the notorious mal-ad ministration cf Estes G. Rathbone. There no longer remains any doubt that irregularities of the gravest pro? portions have been discovered by Mr. Bristcv; but it is also known that many prominent politicians are implicated and it is a matter of grave doubt if Mr. Bristow's report will ever reach the public. If it does a story of cor? ruption involving some of the most respected officials who have been con? nected with the government will be re? vealed. Mr Seymour W. Tulloch has made public an interview embodying grave charges, among them the fact that Mr. Thomas W. Gilmer, a special expert of the comptroller's division of the Treasury, was at one time detailed to make an investigation into Post office affairs but was distinctly ordered not to probe the affairs of the Wash? ington and the New York offices, and that although Gilmer obeyed orders he learned so much that he was dis? charged on the express order of the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Vanderlip. Thus far. the Postmaster General has refused to make public the letters from several officials to whom he wrote asking for information regarding Tulloch's charges and which. Tulloch claims must confirm his state? ments. Another scheme for deluding and probably defrauding negroes, an evi? dent outgrowth of the Hanna ex-slave pension bill, has just come to light. It is a circular issued by the "ex? ecutive committee of the Civil Liberty Party." The circular begs assistance in destroying partisan slavery among the negroes, in securing the passage of the Hanna bill and requests the ap? pointment of delegates to attend a mammoth convention of negroes to be held in Cincinnati, next May. Senator Foraker has been spending some time in Washington recently and it is learned that there is prospect of a vigorous fight betweeon the Foraker followers and the Hanna supporters in the Ohio state convention to be held next month. Senator Foraker has drafted a plank for the state platform endorsing Mr. Roosevelt's administra? tion and urging him for the nomina? tion next year. The Hanna contingent is understod to oppose this plank They do not admit that their leader is a candidate but they claim if is too early to endorse anyone and that there will be plenty of time later on. Mr. Hanna's influence among southern re? publicans is well known. Of late he had missed no opportunity to pose as the workingman's friend, and it is possible that he may at the last moment avoid the fight which Sena? tor Foraker is preparing for him but in any event, unless he absolutely defeats Mr. Foraker and the proposed plank, he will come out of the conven? tion with seriously marred presidential j prospcets. THE MARKET GOES WILD. Cotton in New York and Else? where Goes Up by Bounds and al! Records are Broken. New York, May ll.-There was 'a wild market in cotton trading today, with prices covering a range of a dol? lar a bale in this market from Satur? day's closing quotations, and $1.50 to 82 a bale in New Orleans. Prices soared at the commencement of busi? ness, going up by leaps and bouiidings on trading, 20 to 25 Tjoints here, and 30 JO 40 points at New Orleans. The Liverpool markets were almost equally excited. There spot cottton advanced 10 points or equivalent to SI per baie in our fluctuations to the basis of 5s Sd per pound for middling cotton, which is equivalent to ll. GO cents in our markets. At all points all previous high re? cords for cotton options and also spot cotton on this season's crop were sur? passed. Spot cotton here is held at about 11.15 cents per pound,', and 10-% cents at New Orleans, against 9% cents last year. There has not been anything like the equivalent of these high prices since the last week of January, 1901, when option and spot cotton in this market was forced up to 12 cents per pound. That was the highest record for cotton since 1390, when it sold in January of that year in this market at 12% cents and about 7d per pound at Liverpool, after a prolonged season of bull speculation. The shorts in the May option here were practically all driven in last week except some spot dealers who intend to make good their deliveries. That option will soon retire. The stock of cotton here of contract grade, which was only 32,000 bales a month ago, has gradually been increased to about 80,000 bales, through the recent steady advance in prices, attracting cotton here. Almost every stock broker was loaded with buying orders when the market opened, aud there was a great roar when trading began. May sold as high as 11.20 in the afternoon. July, which closed at 10.29, started at 10.40 bid and was bid up to 10.50 before there were any sales. Then the transactions were on an enormous scale, ranging from that price down to 10.45 to 10.49, and then there was a break to 10.41. The August option, which closed at 9.97, started at 10.20, and 10.21, and was as heavily traded in as July, while the September option cf next year's crop, which has only just been planted and which closed at 9.28, opened 14 points higher at 9.42, and sold up to 9.44, and then broke 10 points and afterwards rallied to 9.40. These three months July, August and September, were those which were most heavily dealt in. At New Orleans the July option, which Saturday advanced 25 points and closed at 11.45, started at 35 points higher at 11.80, and then sold at 11.70, and 11.75, while August, which closed at 10.69, started 22 points high? er at 10.91. FALL RIVER ALARMED. Fall River, Mass, May IL-The con? tinued rise in the price of raw cor? t?n and the stagnation in the cloth market, together with certain other unfavorable features, are causing some uneasiness among many of the managers of the forty manufacturing corporations in this city. Mill own? ers in Rhode Island and elsewhere also are watching the situation closely, but in no section has a satisfactory remedy been decided upon. Manufacturers assert that wages, as well as the price of cotton, are too high, while the price of cloth is too low. Some of the managers favor a g?r? erai reduction in wages, while others advocate a curtailment in productior, but so far there has been little disposi? tion among mil! treasurers to act in harmony. Manufacturers say the high price of cotton is not the only difficulty which confronts them. They say the cotton they are compelled to buy is either tinged, stained or dirty, and they cannot hope to store goods made from this kind of staple at the high notch costs now prevailing. Much of the cot? ton that is being offered is little bet? ter than high grade waste, but the brokers say that prices for other grades are prohibitive, and there is little hope for the manufacturers to choose from. DEAR COTTON-OHE&P SLOTH. New York, May IL-The New York Cotton Exchange was the scene tins morning of a most excited flurry. As in the February cort?n movement, the floor was not only crowded with yell? ing wildly gesticulating brokers, but the gallery and space outside the rails were filled with customers. The flurry was caused, it was said, by cables frcm the Liverpool market which showed advances equal to more than 30 points on our markets. This news caused immediate rise at the opening of 20 points on mest cf the old crop options, and from 5 to 10 points cn the new crop options. In Washintgon today W B. Smith Whaley, president of three large cot? ton mills in Columbia, S. C., and builder of many mills in the South, said ho anticipated a general shut? down in New England and many Southern mills, because of the high price of cotton and lew price of cloth. By selling cotton on hand, he says, the mills can make $15 a bale profit, while the less to manufacture would be the same amount per bal6. He has just returned from the scene of the New England strike and says: "The mill operators were only too glad that these strikes were inaugurated, as the strike relieved a much strained condi? tion. The prices at present are our of all proportion : very many New Eng? land mills have shut down, and some of the mills through the South have closed for the summer for repairs. The amount of goods stacked is about 81, 000,000 worth to every 100,000 spindles. If cottton was selling for seven cents it would just permit us to make a profit at the present cloth price," said Mr. Whaley,# "and nothing can be done until the situation is relieved." "When do you think that will be?" ' ' It will come soon. The speculators have run the prices of cotton up, but they forget to do the same thing with the made gods. Now the prices have got to go up on the goods or cotton must come down. "-News and Courier.