Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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m mun COTTON STATEMENTS. Aggregate for 32 Days of Season 529,000 Bales Sehind Same Days Last Year. New Orleans, October 2.-Secretary Hester's weekly New Orleans Cotton Exchange statement today shows for the tiro days of October a decrease un? der hst year of 23,000 and a decrease unde: the same period year before last of 42, OOO. Foi the thirty-two days of the season that have elapsed, the aggregate is behind the same last year 5^9,000, and ahead of the same days year before last 2,000, Tho amount bronght into sight dar? ing the past week has been 379,656 bales, against 428,273 for the same sever, days ending this date last year and 813,754 year before last. The movement since September 1 shows receipts. at all United States ports to be 637,900, against 980,656 last .year; overland across the Missis? sippi, Ohio and Potomac rivers to Northern mills and Canada, 2,449, against 31,435 last yearr interior stools in excess of those held at the close of the commercial year 82,481, agai.isfc 181,016 last year, and South? ern J aili takings 132, OOO against 190,929 last year. Fe riegn exports for the week have been 40,557, against 31,411 last year,, making the total thus far for the* sea? son 378,183, against 694,851 last year. The total takings of American mills, Korijx and South and Canada, thus far for the . season have been 265,196, against 299,784 last year. These in? clude 129,251 -by Northern spinners, against 106,555. Stocks at the seaboard and the twenty-nine leading Southern interior centres have increased during the week 52,493 bales, against au increase during the corresponding period last season of 40,828, andar? now 225,134 Jess than at this date in 1902. Including stocks-left over at ports and interior towns from the last crop and the number of biJes brought into sight thus far for the new crop, the supply-to- date is 1,022,629, against 2,55*9,019 for the same period last year. TSBr- WORLD'S VISIBLE SUPPLY. New Orleans, Oct 2.-Secretary Hester's statement of the world's visi? ble supply of cotton issued today shows thc?'total visible to be 1,362,912, against 1,132,633 last week, and 1,938, 123. last year. Of this the total of American cotton is 843,912, against GK!,633 last week and 1,496,121 last year, and of all other kinds, including E&ypt, Brazil, India, etc, 519,000, against 530,000 last week and 442,000 last year. Of the world's visible supply of cot? ton there is now afloat and held in Great Britain and Continental Europe 651,000, against 1,030,000 last year; in Egypt 26,000 against 37,000 last year; in India 267,000 against 245,000 last year, and in the United States 389,000 against 626,000 last year. Willlis, Burton and Frederick Van Wormer were electrocuted at Dame mora prison New York State Thursday for the murder of their uncle on Christmas eve 190L The oil mill at Dillon was burned at 9.30 o'clock Thursday morning. Loss % S40;000, fully covered by insurance. The mill was owned by the Southern I ?Cotton Oil Co. . j Charles Patterson, white, a married j man, was arrested iii Greenville Thurs? day afternoon for the rape of Miss Ida Beevesf 2& years oldj a daughter of E. . W. Reeves, of Felze? The girl went to Greehrile to obtain work in one of the mflhfand fell in with Patterson who decoyed her to the outskirts of the city under pretense of finding her ? situation and a place to board. Augusta^ Ga., Oct 1 .-After having "been reconciles to his wife, from whom be had been separated until yesterday, on account of jealousy, Barney Barns, a telegraph lineman, this morning ?red a bullet through his wife's heart >and then shot himself through the brain. The two seemed in the best of saints when last seen together last Hight . George ?. McClellan ??s'been nomi? nated for Mayor of New York by the Democrats. The banking firms of J. Wm. Mid? dendorf & Co., of Baltimore and J. Xi. Williams & Sons, of Richmond, prominent in the financial affairs of the Seaboard Air Line, are in finan? cial straits and have asked for an extension from their-creditors. It is claimed that their assets greatly ex? ceed their- liabilities and that all tbey need is a little time to realize. It is stated that the Seaboard Air Line is in no wise affected. Marshall, Texas, Oct 1.-A mob of several hundred men tonight battered its way into the jail, took out Walter Davis, a negro, and marched him to the west side of town, where he was banged to a tree. The lynching was the result of the killing of Constable Hajes this morning, while he was tak? ing a negro to jail The officer wr,s shot from ambush, being literally rid? dled with bullets. Shortly after the killing Walter Davis and two other negroes were arrested and lodged in jail at Marshall. Miss Lilla Turner, a young white woman of Columbia, was struck by an Atlantic Coast freight train, near che Glass Factory, Thursday morning about 10 o'clock. She was struck by the pilot and thrown off the track, narrowly escaping falling under the wheels and ?beicg mangled. New Orleans, Oct 1.-As a result of trouble that had existed for some time Charles W. Simpson, of Virginia, shot and killed David A. Callaway on the river front today. The men were house boat owners. Mrs. Callaway is a daughter of Major Rand, of Virginia. New York, Oct. l.-The stocks of the Seaboard Air Line broke abruptly in the outside market shortly before the close today. The preferred stock declined ?% points and the common Zy%. There was no news to account for-the decline, and at the office of the company's financial representatives nc information was obtainable. Capt C. S. Gilbert, who has been i conductor on the South Carvolina Rail way since 1857, except the four year? he * was in the army, died in Charles ton on Sunday. He did not give ui bis position on the road until twe weeks ago. Several inches of snow fell in Min Sunday. BULGARIA VS. TURKEY, i Relative Fighting Strength of the Two Countries. War in the Balkans, so long talked about, seems near at hand at last. Bulgaria. Macedonia's elder blood brother has said all along, in response to Macedonia's cry for assistance, " We will not take the initative. We will abide by the decision of the pow? ers, who have given their word that the promised reforms shall be carried out." Turkey says one thing and, as usual, does the opposite. She declares she does not intend to go to war, but meanwhile feverishly hastens to mobil? ize her troops, calling ont 90,000 irreg? ulars, the Circassians, Kurds, Bash i Bazouks, Albanians, etc., to supple ment the regular army, levying addi? tional taxes, and forgetting the usual Turkish dictum that "Haste is dev? ilish," proceeds with unprecedented vigor to get everything on a war foot? ing. The Macedonian insurgents, discour? aged at the apathy of the powers, say nothing, but keep on with their gue? rilla warfare. The powers stand aloof and virtually say, "Fight it out alone,'' while Bulgaria and Turkey, with lowered heads, take each other's measure and prepare for the conflict. The question that now arises is: What is the relative strength of the principal combatants, Bulgaria and Turkey-what their weight and stay? ing qualities, and who*their backers. In times of peace Bulgara has a standing army of 35,000 soldiers, while in case of war 200,000 stand ready to be called upon, quite as. brave, all of them, as those who under the leader? ship of Prince Alexander wrested vic? tory from the Servians on the field 0f Slivnitza. Though so much smaller numerically than the Turks the quali? ty of the Bulgarian arms is equal, if not superior, for the Bulgarians inher? it the fighting blood of their Thracian and Illyrian forbears, concerning whom Herodotus said : If they could only agree among themselves they would be the geatest of all nations." Even five hundred years of vassalage to Turkey has failed to extinguish their national bravery. Furthermore, both officers and the rank and file of the army are of a much higher order of intelligence than the Ottomans. Since their eman? cipation a fine public school system has provided education for the masses, while the higher official element have all been educated in Austria, Germany, France or Robert College, our own American institution, on the Bospho rus. Until 1892 Russian prestige was paramount, the'army being drilled by Russians and Russian officials domin? ating the court; but the. Bulgarians are most independent of people, and, resenting too much outside interfer? ence, sent the Russians about their own business. Since then Bulgaria has stood for Bulgaria alone ;n church, state and army. Under their own officers today (for Sofia has a fine military school and asks odds of no one regarding instruction) the Bulga? rian army is admirably trained and equipped with all the modern appli? ances for war, even to a bicycle corps, wjjicb could do good service over the superb government roads of Bulgaria, though they would be obviously at a disadvantage in the mountain passes of Macedonia. At least one-fifth of the regular Bulgarian army is made up of Macedonians eager to get the fine military training, even at the .modest stipend of a dollar a month and * found." It was in this way that Sar afoft and his principal associates re? ceived the training that - has stood them in such good stead, even , though the tactics are distinctly different from those necessary to guerrilla war? fare. Itris these white-capped Macer donian troops, well drilled and scat? tered arnon? all the principal cities- of Bulgaria, that have served to keep the sentiment of Macedonian freedom alive among Bulgarians. On their re? turn to their own homes these whilom soldiers have left their uniforms "be? hind and assumed their peasant garb ; but the lessons they have learned in the methods of modern warfare are not forgotten, and are speedily put in practice for the discomfiture of the Turks? In e**ery Bulgarian hamlet, after the hard day's work-xs done, the boys and old men congregate in the village square, while the returned soldier pro? ceeds to drill his neighbors according to Bulgar tactics. Sometimes the drill is given witha real gun which every Macedonian keeps hidden in a corner of his garden, or again a stick or one of his crude agricultural implements is made to answer the same purpose. In villages, where Turks form a part of the population, this drill has to take place under cover of the night, the participants stealing forth one by one, to some woodland covert out of si?ht of their prying neighbors. It is from among these men that the Mace? donian committee has been largely re? cruited. It is this experience in border war? fare that has given the Bulgars the same hardy endurance that is usually attributed, to the Turkish troops and it is upon this capital that they pro? pose to trade in the months to come. One great advantage that they will have over the Turks is that they can stand the rigors of a winter's campaign in their own land far better than the Turks, who are largely recruited from the warmer climate of Southern Asia. This, indeed, is one of the reasons why Bulgaria is delaying the outbreak of general hostilities as long as possible. The insurgents now have nearly two thousand men armed with rifles in Eastern Macedonia, while thousands of peasants are ready to join their forces as soon as a general rising shall be proclaimed. Another reason why the revolutionists welcome delay is the fact that an ordered supply of rifles, cartridges and dynamite has not yet been received, while the Bulgarian government protests against Austria's action in intercepting 10,000,000 cart? ridges ordered in Hungary, for whicfc Bulgarian money has been paid tc the contractors. . The Turkish regular army, airead j 300,000 strong in Macedonia, is esti mated to contain at least 800,000 fairl] drilled, well armed, strong and hard} men, known as Nizam. Behind thes< stand the Redifs, or reserves: th< Mustabfaz, or veterans, over 2,000,,00( of them, who have passed through tb< ranks-beside a horde of barbaric ir regulars, who no man attempts t( number Military service is compul sory on all able-bodied Mohammedan! for six years in regular army, eigh years in the reserve and six years in the veteran service. All Turks resid? ing in Constantinople and its suburbs are released ; those who are infirm, who are the sole support of their fami? lies, or who for any special reason may claim exception are required to go through from six to nine months' drill in the regular battalion in the first year of their service, and thirty days' drill at their homes every sub? sequent year, and are also liable on emergency to be called to join the regualr army. Non-Moslems are pro? hibited from entering the military ser? vice, but, instead, pay an exemption tax, which is levied alike on males of all ages.-Brooklyn Eagle. TURKS Ifivl FREE BM Telegrams Sent From the Czar and Emperor to the Ambassa? dors of Austria and Russia Declaring Powers Will Not Interfere. Vienna, Oct. 4.-As an oatcome of the conference between the Czar and Emperor Francis Joseph, at Muerzs teg, the Governments of Austria and Russia have sent the following identi? cal telegram to the ambassadors of those countries in Constantinople. The telegrams were conched in the following terms : " You were recently instructed to de? clare that Austria-Hungary and Rus? sia adhere to the task of pacification which they have undertaken, and are resolved to persevere with the pro? gramme drawn up at the beginning of the year, notwithstanding the difficul? ties hitherto opposed to its execu? tion. For, indeed, while on the one hand, the revolutionary committees have provoked disturbances and de? terred the Christian population of the three vilayets from co-operating in the execution of the reforms, on the other hand, the representatives of the sublime Porte, entrusted with their application, have been generally wanting in the necessary zeal and have not been imbued with the idea which inspired these measures. "Both Powers are united in the de? termination to show that it is their firm resolve to insist on the execution, in their entirety, of those reforms which were accepted by the Porte, and which are calculated to guarantee general security. In this connection you will receive detailed instructions without delay. "While the Powers recognize to the full the Porte's right and duty to sup? press the disorders fostered by the in? surrectionary agitation of the Mace? donian committee, they at the same time deplore the fact that this sup? pression was accompanied by excesses and cruelties from which the peaceful inhabitants suffered. It, therefore, appears to them to be their urgent duty to come to the assistance of the victims of these regrettable occur? rences, and the above mentioned in? structions will acquaint you with the details of the humanitarian action which they deem necessary, with the object of supporting the inhabitnats who have been deprived of all means of existence, facilitating their repatri? ation and restoring the villages, churches and schools destroyed by fire. "The Austro-Hungarian and Rus? sian Governments entertain the firm hope that their continued endeavors to establish a lasting peace in the sore? ly tried provinces will attain their ob? ject and they are convinced that their impartial advice will be heeded by all to whom it is addressed in their own interests. "By command of his Majesty, my august master, I request yon to com? municate the foregoing to the Ottoman Government, after you have arrived at an understanding with your Ru&sian (or Austrian) colleage, who has receiv? ed identical instructions. " GOVERNMENT ToTTON REPOST. Condition of Crop by States Shows Texas Lowest With 54 and Vir? ginia the Highest With 77. Washington, Oct. 3.-The monthly report of the chief of the bureau of statistics of the department of agricul? ture will show the conditions of cotton on September 25 to have been 65.1, as compared with 81.2 one month ago; 5S8.3 on. September 25, 1902 ; 61.4 at the coresponding date in 1901 and a ten-year average of 67.4. These fig? ures indicate the condition on Septem? ber 25 and no attempt is made to anti? cipate the results from future weather conditions. Reports of damage during Sept ember from rust, shedding, drought, caterpil? lars and worms are general throughout the cotton States, the damage in Tex? as being caused more particularly by boll weevil and boll worm. Tho crop is reported as from two to four weeks late and many correspondents report that there will be no top crop. The following table shows the con? dition of cotton by States on Septem? ber 25 in each of the last three years, with the ten-year averages : STATES. Aug Sept Sept Ten 25, 25, 25, Year 1903. 1902. 1901. Av'rge. Texas, 76 47 51 64 Georgia, 81 62 73 70 Alabama, 84 52 65 69 Mississippi, 87 63 66 68 South Car., 80 68 67 68 Arkansas, SI 68 51 66 Louisiana, 86 64 72 69 North Car., 83 68 63 70 Tennessee, 91 76 60 70 Indian Ter., 81 65 61 68 Oklahoma, 75 61 57 69 Florida, 83 68 65 72 Missouri, 81 73 61 77 Virginia, 86 73 73 7? TJ. S. 81.2 58.3 61.4 04.4 - i i ? nm - London, Oct. 4.--The candidature of John Howard Parnell, brother of the late Charles Stewart Parnell, at the parliamentary election for Southmeath which is deeply resented by the Red monites, led to a riot yesterday when John Redmond and other Nationalists went to speak in support of their candi? date David Sheehy. The rival factions cam to blows at Dunshaughlin. Blud? geons and stones were used and many persons wrere injured. John Redmond in his speech denounced J. H. Parnell as a traitor to Irish unity. An earthquake shock was felt in St. Louis Sunday night. THE MACEDONIAN WAR. The Turks and Bulgarians Now Fighting on the Frontier. Conflicting Reports, Bat There is Little Doubt of the Conflict. Sofia, Bulgana, Oct. 4.-Serious news has been received here from the frontier of fighting between Turkish and Bulgarian troops at Demir-Kapia, both sides sustaining losses. In official quarters all knowledge of the affair is denied, but the circum? stantial details given seem to indicate that there is some foundation for the accounts ot the conflict. According to one report, the Turks attacked the Bulgarian frontier post. Another ver? sion says the Turks pursued a num? ber of refugees across the frontier. It is asserted that the Turks fre? quently attempted to provoke hostili? ties, firing into Bulgarian territory and crossing the frontier to steal horses and sheep. The war office here is working at high pressure and 24,000 recruits will be called out. Prince Ferdinand has sanctioned numerous j other measures of a warlike nature. All the cavalry, with the exception of a single regiment, which is Sta? tioneid at Sofia, has been sent into the frontier districts, where are also strong forces of artillery. Vigorous efforts are being made to prevent bands from crossing into Turkish ter? ritory. Two bands, which were sent back, have reached Sofia since yester? day. Disptaches from the frontier received at the revolutionary headquarters re? port that the refugees in the moun? tains are in a terrible condition through their pursuit by the Turks and cold and hunger. Many are dy? ing. Sofia, Bulgaria, Oct. 4.-Measures are being taken here to relieve the worst cases of suffering among the fu? gitives from the frontier districts, Ma? dame Bahmeteff, wife of the Russian agent here, is taking a prominent part in this charitable work. From insurgent sources, it is report? ed that the Bulgarian villages of Obi ditt and Kremen have been pillaged and burned. Many of their inhabi? tants were slaughtered. The Bulgarian quarter of Belitza is in flames. Seven hundred refugees from Belitza are reported to have been killed in a Turkish ambuscade near Samakoff, province of Kirk-Kilisse. Sal?nica, European Turkey, Oct. 4. -The Bulgarian notables here went to the Governor's palace today and in? formed the authorities that a series of fresh outrages in Sal?nica is being planned. All the guards, consequent? ly, have been doubled. It is reported that twenty Turkish villages in the Bazalog district have been burned. The large village of Bonisko, is said to have been de? stroyed, and its 2,000 Turkish inhabit? ants killed. London, Oct. 5.-Three ports of the conflict at Demir-Kapia between Turk? ish and Bnlgarian troops have not yet been confirmed, but the news is con? firmed that the insurgents have re cieved a severe check as a result of their operations in the Struma Valley, where, after a decisive fight in the open with the Turks, the insurgent chief, -Gen. Zontchoff, was compelled to send urgent messages for reinforce? ments. Statements issued from the Turkish embassy in London and dispatches from Constantinople demonstrate that the,Ottoman Government is greatly incensed at the number of Bulgarian officers who are leading insurgent bauds across the frontier from Bulga? ria. Several such officers in uniform are said to have been killed in recent encounters. The direct negotiations between Turkey and Bulgaria are mak? ing no progress. Sofia, Bulgaria, Oct. 2.-The Mace? donian revolutionary headquarters as? sert that they have positive informa? tion that, the whole christian popula? tion of the town of Mehomia (Razalog, ) Provincee of Seres, . was massacred September 28 with the exception of ten men, who escaped with the news. Mehomia is an important town and the seat of the local Government. The population was about equally divided between Turks and Bulgari? ans. The latter numbered 3,200 per? sons. According to the fugitives, when the general rising was declared in the Ra zalog district on Sunday the Turkish troops in the Pirin Mountains hurried to Mehomia and surrounded the town rendering the escape of the Christians impossible. The Bulgarian population were prepared to join in the rising, several insurgents agents being in the Bulgarian quarter of the town at the time. Desperate fighting occurred in the streets, bombs and dynamite being freely used. After fighting for five or six hours the Turks gained the upper hand and proceeded to massacre every Bulgarian they encountered. Sofia, Bulgaria, Oct. 2.-According to advices received here this afternoon the backbone of the revolution in Ma? cedonia is broken, the Turkish troops are gaining the upper hand every? where, several insurgent chiefs have been killed or wounded, others are abandoning the struggle and fleeing to the frontier. The revolutionary bands are sustaining heavy losses and are seeking refuge in large numbers and the Turks occupy every important point along the routes of retreat to the frontier. Fighting is reported to have taken place throughout the districts of Ra? zalog, Melnik, Demirhissar and Nev rokop. Marinette, Wis., Oct. 4.-During a hard squall last night on Lake Michi? gan the passenger steamer Erie T. Hackley foundered in Green Bay and 12 persons were drowned. The steamer Sheybogan rescued the other seven persons on board the Hackey after they had drifted all night in Green Bay, clinging to bits of wreckage, and brought them to Fish Creek today. Mrs. Jefferson Davis is rapidly recov? ering from her recent severe illness and will leave Buffalo for her winter home in New York next week. WASHINGTON LETTER. ? More Indictments of Corrupt Offi j cials-The President Troubled j by the Labor Unions and the Quarrels Among Republi? can Leaders. I Washington, D. C.. Oct. 3.-The grand jury cf Washington continues to find indictments against officials of the Postomce Department. The latest is against W. Scott Towers, iiead of one of the city substations. He is ac? cused of. taking a commission on type? writer books sold by a private company to the government. It is said that he received 850 on every ?200 paid for each of these, and that his fees amounted to 81800 He has been dismissed by the Postmaster General, and is now awaiting trial. Tho republicans are afraid of the political effects of the Post Office scandals and their members in Congress are now clamoring for a congressional investigation of the en? tire department. They state openly that their purpose is to forestall the democrats and prevent their making a political issue out of these evidences of republican mal-administration. I It is said that the President wishes to (name the investigating committee, j which he hopes will be authorized by I Congress. The republicans have adopt-? j ed the same tactics with reference to ' the Indian scandals, as a committee from both House and Senate will go to the Territory to make an official re? port of the state of affairs. President Roosevelt's stand on the question of Foreman Miller of the Government Printing Office and on the "open shop" in government employ-? ment, continues to receive the atten-1 tion of politicians nad labor men. In spite of the cautious and conserva? tive statement cf the executive council of the American Federation of Labor, there are indcations that many labor unions will join issue with Mr. Roose? velt and will show their disapproba? tion at the polls. The President held a conference last Tuesday with the la? bor leaders and many subjects were discussed. On the Miller question, however, there seems to have been but slight discussion as the President sim? ply informed the leaders of his deci? sion. In the statement issued imme? diately following the conference the President declared that Miller should remain and that no discrimination should be made between union and non-union labor in choosing employes of the government. He added that the \ law demanded this and that the fact of a man's being a member of a union could no more be allowed to tell I against him than the fact that he was a Catholic or Protestant, Jew or Gentile, i white or colored. The Executive1 Council of the Federation of Labor j made no criticism of the President's statement, but the following day they1 issued an address to organized labor of the country in which they stated posi? tively that the unions would contend for the principle of union shops. The radical men in the "American ! Federation, and they are numerous, j bitterly oppose the President's atti- \ tude and intend to bring up the ques tion at the coming annual convention of the Federation in Boston, on No-1 vember 8. They declare that if Presi- j dent Roosevelt is a true friend of labor ? and expects the laborer's vote he must make the same discrimination between union and non-union labor as he daily makes between republicans and demo? crats. They argue that the labor anions must defend their interests against the government the same as against a private employer. The labor unions throughout the country con? tinue to pass resolutions condemning the action of the Administration and they seem determined that the Presi? dent's statement shall not end the con? troversy. Our government is about to estab? lish trade relations with Abyssinia. Mr. Robert P. Skinner, our consul general at Marseilles, is now in Wash? ington completing preparations for his coming visit to King Menelik, whom he will invite to the St. Louis Exposi? tion, at the same time urging him to make a commercial agreement with the United States. Mr. Skinner has seen the President and received from j I him a message of profound considera-, I tion to the African monarch He j will be taken to the nearest port in an j J American warship and will have an j I escort of United States marines on his ! long journey overland before reaching Menelik's capital. The press of Eu- j rope sees in this expedition an attempt j on our part to establish a footing in ?Africa, but Mr. Skinner has very) I peaceful and businesslike intentions, j Over one third of all the imports of j Abyssinia are from .'.his country and every year we sell Menelik's people I over ?5,000,000 worth of cotton goods; at the same time we get from them ivory, hides, carpet wools and other raw materials. This expedition is ri? diculed by some who suggest that in? stead of going to Africa we should turn our attention to South America where the Germans are making rapid progress against their American and English competitors. His many friends in Washington and elsewhere deeply regret the death of "?3ir Michael Herbert, the British ambassador to the United States. He died last Wedneslday in Switzerland, where he had gone hoping to be cured of tuberculosis, which was the cause of his death. He was ambassador to this country only a few months, but was well known in Washington where he formerly served as charge of d'af? fairs and as secretary of the legation. His wife is an American and he had many personal friends in this country, among them President Roosevelt whom he had known for many years. He was fond of telling how the Presi? dent taught him to play base ball. His most important work here was the settling of the difficulties involved in the attack of England and her al? lies on Venezuela, and the negotiation of the treaty by which the present Alaskan Boundary Commission was created. The foreign Office in London has not yet considered who is to suc? ceed him. President Roosevelt is much an? noyed at the continued quarrels of t e republicans in Delaware. After a con? ference with Senators Ailee and Ball, the leaders of tho opposing factions, he made it plain that if they could not agree on questions concerning their state, he would have to take action which would be disagreeable to both of them The present matter of dis? pute is the selection of a United States attorney to succeed William Michael Byrne. GOL. L. W. SPR?TT QEAQ. _ Jacksonville, Oct. 4.-Col. Leonidas j. W Spratt died here today. Col. j Spratt was the last survivor of the j Charleston delegation to the Secession ; Convention, and the last but sis cf j the signers of the Ordinance of Seces j sion of Sonth Carolina, the six being Dr. James H. Carlisle, Sparfcanburg; Prof. Joseph Daniel Pope, Columbia : Major John Jenkins, of John's Isl? and; Dr Peter Stokes, Branchville: Messrs. Robt. A. Thompson, Walhal? la, and R. C. Logan, Kingstree. Col. Spratt was for many years a prominent lawyer of Charleston, being of the firm of Brewster, Spratt & Bnrke. He was a member of the Sonth Caro? lina Legislature for some years prior to secession, and was an earnest advo? cate of the reopening of the slave trade. In 1853 he succeeded the late B. C. Pressly as editor of the South? ern Standard. After the war, Col. Spratt practiced law in Charleston for ten years or more, but latterly lias resided in Jacksonville. THE SEABOARD AIR LINE. A Standard Oil Firm the Heaviest Buyers of the Stocks. New York, Oct. 2.- Ladenburg, Thal man &, Co., the financial represen? tatives in this city of the Seaboard Air Line interests, had no statement to make today regarding the affairs of the company. Seaboard shares were very weak on the curb, opening with losses of D% and 2 per cent, for the preferred and common stocks, later making further declines. It is known that Ladenburg, Thalman & Co. re? cently took over the stock market holdings of Middendorf & Co., of Bal? timore, and J. L. Williams & Co., of Richmond, both of which are identi? fied with the Seaboard system. This explains in part the recent heavy liqui? dation of such stocks as Pennsylvania, Baltimore and Ohio, Chesapeake and Ohio, Norfolk and Western and a few others of that group. The Midden? dorf and Williams firms are said to have held from ?0,000 to 100,000 shares of these stocks, which they offered as collateral for loans. The loans were closed out recently in this city and the stock offered for sale in the market. It was significant that the heaviest buying on the curb today on the de? cline in Seaboard Air Line was by a firm that is a specialist in Standard Oil. The Baltimore interests sold a good deal, but at the same time bought more or less. The chief market for Seaboard fitock is in that city. Providence Intervened. One of the most miraculous escapes from death which ever occurred in this part of the world happened this week at a farm a few miles from Raleigh. Near an old country barn stood a great oak, which had died, but so recently that its withered leaves still furnished some shade. In the porch of the house eat a mother while a little Negro nurse rolled the mother's pretty baby back and forth under the shade of the sheltering tree. Suddenly as the nurse sang and the baby cooed, the tree fell, bury? ing in its wreck of branches, child nurse and carriage. One big limb pinned the girl to the earth by her dress, but she was unhurt Right and left of - the carriage big limbs were broken off and driven deep into the ground, while under a sort of arch theyj made was the.;baby in the carri? age, not in the least injured. The baby was actually laughing.-F. A. Olds, in Charlotte Observer. Dun's Review of Trade. New York, Oct. 2.-R. G. Dun & Co's weekly review of trade to-morrow wili say : Aside from the reduction in blast furnace activity manufacturing plants are more fully engaged, and several encouraging reports are received, par? ticularly as to foot wear. Wholesale and jobbing trade is well maintained, many cities reporting a larger volume than last year, and business at Chica? go is stimulated by the multitude at? tending the centennial. Latest returns of foreign commerce at this port are favorable, exports increasing, while imports decrease as compared with the same week last year. Railway earnings thus far available for Sep? tember exceed those of 1902 by 8.4 per cent and surpass earnings in 1901 by 19.3 per cent. It is practically certain that a re? duction of pig iron output will be made, averaging about 23 per cent, and this concerted action to prevent accumulation of stocks has already had a sentimental effect on the mar? ket, inquiries increasing in number and extent of tonnage Dry goods markets present no new features Production increases as the mills are able to secure cotton, and there is an impression that stocks will soon be so low that purchases will be compulsory.. Failures this week number 22fj. against 207 the corresponding week last year. _ The Manchester Market. Manchester, Oct. 4.-There was con siderabe inquiry on the cloth market last week for eastern cutlets, notably Chin?,. Buyers are readily disposed to operate, but manufacturers stiffened their rates and business was irregular. Some sellers negotiated a fair number of orders but others made little or no progress. The bulk of the transactions have been for forward delivery and, therefore, producers have not obtained immediate relief and are further cur? tailing their output, some closing their mills altogether until the advent of more favorable conditions., There was more South African business done in order lots. Business in yarns was limited and difficult. Spinners disposed of only a limited production. -. . o Two woman were killed and much property destroyed by a tornado at Plainfield. Wis., Saturdy night. Rev. J. E. Grier, pastor of the Central Methodist church, Spartan burg, died in a Philadelphia hospital Saturday after a long illness. George H. Almeida, a white machin? ist in the employ of the Atlantic Coast Lumber Co., was killed and Night Watchman Wheeler was seriously wounded by a negro at Ronsemary, a small station 15 miles from George- . town on Saturday night. The neg!o made his escape.