Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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4 /?ir srMTKK WATCHMAN. Established April. 183? Consolidated Au* 3,1881 ?Be Jast and Fear ?ot-~Let all the ?n?s Thon Alms't at be thy Country's, Thy f.od's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON. Established .Inue. 8UMTSR, 8. 0., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1912. Vol. XXXIV. No. 3. BIG FIRE IN GREENWOOD OREGON HOTEL DESTROYED? LOSS ESTIMATED AT $140,000. Guest* Had Narrow Escape When Well Known Hotel and Block of Stores Went up In Smoke. Greeawood. March 3.?The Oregon hotel and its block of stores here were totally destroyed by Are early this morning;. Where once stood tho famous hotel is now a mere smolder? ing heap of burning debris with frag? ments of ruined brick walls and use? less chimneys standing upright in the midst. The Are represents a property loss of approximately $140.000, with per? haps less than half that amoun. in Insurance. The loss to the town is far greater than the figures would in? dicate. The Oregon hotel has been one of the town's greatest features ever aince its establishment, and to be deprived of it is a very great loss indeed. Most fortunately no lives were lost. Though some who escaped did so 'by th* akin of their teeth' and with* little on save their natural ^ skins. The origin of the fire is unknown. It was discovered about 2 o'clock this morning: The fire alarm register shows that the first aiarm was turned at 2:15 o'clock. A negro bellboy, Bert Lewis, was the first person aware of fire. The smoke filling the downstairs corridor aroused him. He aayn he tried to uae the emerg? ency hoae. but could not make any f headway against the flames, and threw it down to arouse Mr. Brinson. the proprietor, and the guests. . At that time the fire was in the store room from moat of the known facts. The fire must have started either in this room, which Is just back of the pool room, or in the rear of a press? ing clue just adjoining. The proprietor, H. 8. Brinson, In? clines to the opinion that spon? taneous combustion may account for the firs certain materials In this room making lit possible for the fire to gain headway very rapidly if such *vero tm? 'cW TM, room'ls Inimodl- f atery above "die boiler room, but he does not think?In fact, he is sure? that it did not start in the boiler room. The negro fireman was in j !! the room* at the time, and says that he ran out to see what was the mat ter, hearing a noise above. He found , the building in flam*** overhead. The ' building was enveloped in smoke and > flames in an almost incredibly short time. j Mr. Brinson says that his first thought was to awaken a lady, Mrs. Hewlett, of an advanced age and an aged couple, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, both rather feeble. Thooe on the second floor were gotten out but lost 1 alt their effects. Both Mrs. Hewlett I and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are from | New Jersey, and have been spending the winter here. Meanwhile the work of arousing the guests was go? ing on, and some miraculous escapes were had by those on the third floors, who failed to realize the rapidity of the flames and the dangerous effects of Immense clouds of smoke rolling through the entire bullding. G. Strauss of Atlanta, a well known traveling man, had the closest call of any. He was on the third floor, took time to dress completely, but when he went out into the corridor he was overcome by smoke. He did not know which way to turn to find air and an outlet. Rushing back into hi* room, he appeared at the window and aoreamed for help. Max Arnold of Greenwood saw his plight, made I his way up the fire escape into tho room and practically carried him out and brought him down the escape to | safety. Mr. Strauss says he was helpless and ready to drop when he ? was brought out. He was in bed this I morning and very weak, but will be j himself In a day or two. f F. F. Beattle, a prominent young attorney of Greenville, escaped down a gutter but lo8t his clothing. Mr. j Blasgh of Petersburg. Va., made a sensational Jump but lost all his I clothing and effects. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter, on the third Boor, for- , tunately found a ladder near their room, one discarded by some painters and used this to get to the BSCOnd floor, thus being brought down safe? ly. They barely got out of th<dr room DeiOffe being overcome with smoke. No Hvey were lost, though all the guests lost their clothing and bag gage. It was a flerce tiro from the start and swept over the building In a very short time. The merchants in the blcck lost SU their stock-, practically little being saved. As near as can !?.? approximated this morning the losses are as fol? lows: Oregon hotel and furniture cost COTTON MARKET COIfllTIONS. TKADK WATCHING ENGLAND AND FRANCE, Some Planting Has Hihmi Dono in Texas, Xo Farm Work is Reported Elsewhere. New Orleans, La., March 3.?Labor troubles will probably continue to en? gage most of the attention of the cot? ton trade this week. At the end of last week there was a decided differ? ence cf opinion expressed in cable? grams from England in regard 4o how long the coal strike in the United Kingdom would last The trade will want to know how much coal cotton mills have on hand and if it develops that they have less than the month's supply that it has been claimed they have, the market may be adversely affected Not only will the English situation ?< closely watched, t>ut so will the un ?est in France and other European countries and also the disputes be? tween employers and employes on this side of the water. Some of the week-end circulars 'from this market make much of the labor unrest the world over and it m?y be that str'kes, or threatened strikes, will be the dominating influ? ence in the markst for some' time to come. The future markets of the world are bound to pay attention to news from the Southern cotton belt this week for the reason that the begin? ning of the planting season is already here. Some se?ding has already been done in Texas and much planting will be done this week in that State un? less the weather interferes. If the weather is bad, that fact will quickly give to the market by anti-planting Interest. In other sections good weather is imperative in order that plowing may be completed. Planting should begin by the middle of March over a large area and should increase from then on for four weeks, j According to some advices no farm work at all has been done in many important sections of the belt that should have already finished winter plowing. Any continuation of such , conditions can hardly help affecting \ the market bulllshly, especially the new crop months. The time of the final report on the ginning of cotton is approaching. This report carries ginning down to the last day of February and will be Issued by the census bureau on March 20. It may be that some of the private crop reporting bureaus 1 will have something to say about gin- I nlng this week. Any figures on this ( subject will naturally be bearish. HOSE TEAMS CALLED OUT. Much Smoke, Hut Little Fire, Satur? day and Sunday, Cause of Alarms. The hose wagons were called out Saturday and Sunday afternoon by j alarms of fire which upon Investiga? tion proved to be unnecessary. The alarm came In Saturday about 7.30 O'clock from the residence of Geo. P. j McKagen on East Liberty Street. There was found to be a defect In the flue and the smoke had gotten between the ceiling and the roef of the building. No damage was done. The alarm Saturday afternoon ! came in from the residence of W. H. 1 Jennings on South Washington street at about 3 o'clock in the day. It was caused by the soot in the chimney catching on fire. The teams had their run for nothing as there was no flre to do any damage. $95,000; Insurance, $81,000; owned by Mrs ft T. Pal ley. H. G. .Prinson, private linen, fur? niture stock. *tc. $7.000; no insur? ance. MeKollor-Hay-Graham Furniture company, stock, $6.r>00; Insurance $3.500. Holland Brothers, pianos, organs, etc. $5.000; Insurance, $3.200. < NfogOB pharmacy. E. L. Norris. proprietor, stock and fixtures. $12, 100; insurance $5,000. C. A. Latour, barber shop fixtures valued at $1,500; insurance $500, Lion Tal|prB, clothing made to or der and pressing club, no estimate made yet. BtOOh was around $1,000. T. s. Chlpley, automobiles, had three B. M. F. cars In store. All were taken out bul were damaged consid? erably, The Oregon hotel was built by the late Joel s Bailey In I89? and open? ed lo th< public that year ander the management nf H. 1. Brinson, who has kepi it continuously. Last year Joel s. Bailey, Jr., for his mother added the annex, s handsonu Ihree story structure with four stores on the first floor, doubling the capacity .if the hotel SUFFRAGETTES TRY NKW GAME Smith Thousands of Loud* n SI op Windows to Force Government Recognition. London, Marc h 1.?Decause the , j coal miners had been able to gain ! government recognition of their , grievances by threatening the bust- 1 ness of the country, the suffragettes late today also entered upon a policy of menace to trade. And they car? ried it out suddenly and with an ardor that resulted in heavy financial losses, brought consternation to mer? chants of the most prosperous shop- \ ping district of the city and paralyzed business. The police were taken Completely unawares and before they could restrain the women, streets were covered with shattered plate glass. It was a window breaking expedi? tion solely and a thoroughly organiz? ed one. Hundreds of windows In many of the most famous 3hops of the world and in several Government offices and clubs were wrecked by the suffragettes. The damage will aggregate many thousands of pounds, but is largely covered by insurance. One hundred and fifty women were ( taken to police stations by police or excited and indignant merchants. Many others, however, escaped. All those arrested were released this evening on ball, coupled with prom- j ises to refrain from further window wrecking. Some shopkeepers who saw the storm coming were able to close their shutters and barricade their doors. The trouble centered about Trafalgar square, ranged along the Strand east word and westward, and up Regent ( street, Picadilly and Oxford 3treet, j where are situated the fashionable Jewelry and dry goods houses. Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst, veteran of many a suffrag ?tte battle, struck the first blow. In an automobile, ac? companied by Mrs. Marshall and Mrs. Tukes, she drove up to the premier's residence, on Downing street. Three women leaped from the machine and drew out stones concealed in their muffs. Four windows crashed in before the police, who are constantly m guard, could reach the women. The trio were arrested, but while being led to the station managed to heave missiles through the windows of the Colonial office. Pandemonium broke out in the shopping district at the same time. Taxicabs were tho favorite vehicles of approach used by the suffragettes and many innocent looking women were helped out of them by porters stationed in front of stores. There was no hesitation on the part of the women, who at once attacked the show windows with bricks or ham , mers. I The police were unable to deal with such a wholesale and widespread outbreak and at least nine-tenths of the window-smaching army escaped. The air was filled with sounds of po? lice whistles, yells, the slamming of blinds and shrieks of frightened shoppers, punctuated now and then with cries of "votes for women." Whenever a window was shattered there the crowds surged, while the employees of the shop rush"! to the ureet to prevent the unprotected goods from being stolen. Not even the establishments of undertakers were spared. The suffragette's leaders declare that it is their purpose to continue their campaign of window breaking until, like the conl miners, they force the government to take up their claims for suffrage to protect business Interests. KILLING IN CLARENDON. _ i Appears that no Attempt was Made to Arrest Parson's Slayer. Manning. Feb. 29.?Another ne? gro homicide at Silver, ten miles west of Manning, took place this week. According to reports Sylvester Law? yer slmt Robert Parsons in a person? al altercation. the particulars of which are not known. This occurred on Monday and Parsons died Tues dsy evening. Yesterday Coroner Baggett held an inquest and ths jury returned a verdict that Parsons came t i Iiis death fmni the effect of a pis? tol sb<?t wound at the bands of Syl? vester Lawyer. II is said thai Law? yer remained In th<' community un? til he h aul thai Parsons had died and then b<- disappeared and bis present whereabouts Is not known it doei nol appear thai any attempt w - made to arrest and hold him for the shooting. The traged) occurred at th<> house In which Florllla Law son was ihot and killed early In Jan? uary last. WHAT HORSE RACING DOES. Columbia Police Raided Pool Room Club and Broke up Betting on Hone Races, Columbia. March 3.?"Following the ponies" will prove rather expen? sive for a number of young men of Columbia due to the raid of a club at 1335 Main street yesterday after? noon by police officers. The form chart of the Charleston races hung peacefully on the wall, showing the favorites and long shots at the track. A goodly crowd, some in their teens, filled the room and watched with interest the winners of the various races. Excitement was intense. Almost any bet could be placed, combination or single. But. while all this was going on, the Columbia police were also "going in.' Before the followers of the poniei realized it a sipiad of the city's police filed intf> the room, and then rhe tcbuble began. There was confu? sion?no doubt of it. There was money on the table, but no one Claimed it. Therefore the city wins. J Bond was necessary for each or a ride in the patrol. Friends came to j the rescue of some, others pulled out their roll and counted off the $20.75 for appearance at recorder's court. ThiH ended it szcepl the docketing of the causes and the counting of the J money at police station. The IS ar- . rests netted the city of Columbia. | something like $4 50. W. S. Poat was j arrested on a charge of violating the J dispensary ordinance as well as for gaming. j SAVE THE BIRDS, j Audubon Society OfTors to Reduce Dues to $.1 for a Limited Time. Columbia, March 4.?Concerning the work of the Audubon society, W. j H. Gibbee, president, and Jan. Henry , Rice, Jr. secretary, have issued state- j menta of much interest to those in - . terested in the protection of game. It ' is given below: "When the Audubon society was chartered by the general assembly in ' 1907. 'he main duty laM on it was, the education of the people in the value of blrd-s, wild animals and fish to men and the State. "It was also given charge of the enforcement of the laws. These du- ' ties were performed without cost of a dollar to, the State until the act was passed creating the office of chief game warden, that is to say, for three full years. In Which time numerous convictions were had and respect for tho laws treated and maintained. "By the act creating the office of chief game warden, the Audubon so? ciety was removed from any connec? tion with enforcement of the laws, and was left to exercise its function of an educational body, but the power of nominating game wardens, as well as the chief game warden, still vest- j ed in the society. I "The crisis brought about by the action of the governor, in vetoing the appropriation for salary and travel? ing expenses of the chief game war? den, which is frankly stated ns a blow 1 at the principle of game protection, j termed interference with the rights of the people,' is a challenge to the principle for which the Audubon so cietv lives. _ i "The answer to that challenge shall be <'us frank and direct. The society will carry on from this hour a fight f ?r bird and game protection from the mountains to the sea "To do this successfully, it is plain- j ly necessary to increase the society's , membership and every effort will be used to secure this result. "In order to popularise the society and to permit a large number to join, the membership fee will be re* dined to $3 until September 1. ' The society will use all its re? sources In spreading abroad informa? tion In sgard to birds and their habits, and will co-operate in the en- j forcement of the laws. "It is hoped that all old members , will renew their membership at once without waiting for notice in order j that an aggressive tight may ho made, i "James Henry Rice, Jr. "Secretary* "W. H. Globes, "President." More Name- for ?'??m Club. Supt, Haynaworth has secured a number more of names to be added to his list of members of the Bumter Countv Dovs' Corn Club. The latest ???,???, ... . , ,?,. ,? Robert Jolly, of Dalsell and I awren? Wnl ford, of South i.\ nchhtirg. Th< rain Sunday was <i"'ti' a dls* appointmenl t< a number of farmers w ho had le-p tl to I* ?:in ??>? ir plo \ 1 Ing today. ROOSEVELT TALKS. MVS HE DID NOT INTEND TO EN TER EIGHT. Indiana Ex-Senator Visited Ojreter Bay to Discuss situation |n His Own Stute. Oyster Bay. X. Y.. March 3.?Col. Rooaevelt'e own views of the present political situation and his reasons for entering the campaign were explained by him today. The former president talked freely of his prospects and briefly stated that his reason for entering into a political campaign as an active car didate was that men who she political beliefs convinced hir. .tat they needed an effective leader. Col. Roosevelt expressed the opinion that on a popular vote he would bo the choice of his party by a big majority. <'ol. Roosevelt said he supposed a great many persons would not believe it, but that he had not wished to enter the tight. "So far as a personal victory is con? cerned, I don't care." he declared. Many supporters had come to him and represented that they needed a leader, and that there was a wide? spread demand that he assume the responsibility'. It was in response to th?*se repre? sentations, the colonel added, that he had at length determined to accept the leadership. In all but four or five States, In? cluding Delaware and Utah. Col. Roosevelt said, he believed he would receive a majority on a popular vote. He added that he felt confident he v.ould have a majority of the Penn? sylvania delegation to the national convention. lie was told that the test vote in New England had given him an alleged slight lead over President Taft and said he wasn't at all sur-, prised at that. Former Senator Albert J. Beveridgo of Indiana came to Oyster Bay today to go over the Indiana situation with the colonel and former Congressman Fred Landls of Indiana. Amos Pin chot of New York, a brother of Gif ford PlnchotL John Bayw, brother of | r Qov. Robert Bass of New Hampshire; | Benjamin Ide Wheeler, president of j the University of California, and Lieut. John C. Greenway of Bisbee. | Ariz., an old friend of the colonel In the Rough Riders, were the other? guests. The Indiana situation was gone j over at length. Col. Roosevelt said that Indiana was the weakest of the ' Wettern States from the viewpoint of the Roosevelt forces. Because there J was no primary system in Indiana for; the expression of preference as to presidential nominees, he said the result was in doubt. Senator Beverldge expressed much I the same views. Ol T OF HIS MfHTII. Letter Writte n June 27 Produced Fol- I lowing Statements. Denials and Humors. Washington, March 3.?Col. Roose? velt's lenlal of stories sent from Washington that the Taft administra? tion hail reason to believe that he would not be a candidate for the Re? publican nomination against the pres? ident and his statement at Oyster Bay yesterday that Secretary of the Navy ' Meyer and Secretary ot War Stimson I could not have said 'that he would j not be a candidate* caused to be made ' i public here tonight a letter written j by Col. Roosevelt June '21, till, de-| nyinK reports current at the time that j he would support Mr. Taft, which concluded as follows: "I have expressed myself perfectly, freely to a large number of men on this matter, always to the same ef? fect; telling you. for instance, per? sonally, and those who were with you i at luncheon at my house, .and telling | Oifford Pinchot, Jim Garfleld and Congressman Madison and Billy Loeb I and Secretary Meyer and Secretary Stimson, all alike, just exactly what I have said always, that I would not < be a candidate in 1012 myself, and that 1 had n?? intention of taking any part in the nomination for or against any candidate. "Cordially yours, "The? >dore Roosevelt." There Is now a total of seven per cent additional taxes- on property on which the laxes hove not been paid, an additional five per cent being add ed at ih< first of March, The county treasurer's office will remain open to 1 tnxes until March 1 ?". when it will close until October 1" . Th< active participation in polltlcH of rural policemen in the intet,-? of , mdidates for office should be made 1 - ? ground for remotel. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES. TO INVESTIGATE SEVERAL IM PORTANT MATTERS. Report to bo Mai at Next Session of the General Assembly?Work Outlined. Columbia March 3.?Speaker Smith of the house and President Smith of the Senate have announced the ap? pointments on the standing and spe? cial committees ' th houses of the general ass- ?? several important matter . investigated by the se- v**v .iimittees and a report will 9 ..de at the next session of the general assembly. The following appointments have been made by C. A. Smith, president of the senate: The committee to examine into the expenditures of appropriations for State institutions: Niels '"hristensen. Committee to examine into books of penal ?.nd charitable institutions: George K. Laney. Committee to check up books of State officers: W. J. Johnson. Committee to investigate progress of code, commissioner: T. J. Maul din. Committee to investigate contracts between the State and the city of Co? lumbia on water: Alan Johnstone. Commission to look into the mat? ter of the State taking part in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the ?attle of Gettysburg (two on the part of the senate): J. H. Whar ton and T. J. Strait. Mendel L, Smith, speaker of the house, has announced the following appointments on the standing and special committees: Committee to examine into the ex? penditures of appropriations for edu? cational Institutions: H. K. Osborne of Spartanburg and H. L. Erckmann of Charleston. Committee to examine accounts of penal and charitable institutions (rec? ommended by the committee on State Hospital for the Insane): Olin Saw? yer of Georgetown and O. L. San? ders of York. Committee to provido forth* ination of the books of certain officers: W. C. Vincent of Beaufort and P. T. Youmana of Richland. Committee to Inquire into the pro? gress of the code commissioner: T. J. Klrkland of Camden and Geo. S. Mower of Xewberry. Committee, appointed under con? current resolution, to make investi? gation with regard to establishment of power plant for State institutions located in Richland county: George W. Dick of Sumter and R. A. Meares of Falrfield. Committee to represent the State on the Gettysburg memorial: W. E. James of Darlington and T. R. League of Greenville, both Confederate vet? erans. As a member of the commission to inquire ;nto the contract between the city of Columbia and the State of South Carolina, for furnishing city water to State institutions in Colum? bia: L. J. Drowning of Union, chair? man of the ways and means commit* tee, representing the house of repre? sentatives. TO KILL "I NWYRITTEN LAW." Maryland House of Delegates Passes Dill to Outlaw This Plea in Crim? inal Cases. Annapolls. Md.. Feb. 28.?The house of delegates has voted f<3 to 31 to pass a bill aimed at the "unwritten law." Tho bill gives judges the right to instruct juries on the law in criminal ?ases and prohibits counsel for the defense from arguing against such in? structions. Delegate Dorsey led the fight against the bill. ? 1 think the unwritten law is one that hangs over the homes of this State as 4 protection," he said. Marriage License Record. Marriage licenses wer?- Issued l? one white couple at d one colored couide Bsturday. Mr. Hiram Johnson, of Privateer, a id Miss Annie Helle Geddings, of Tindal, secured a license Saturday, as did ?ayle Jasper and Julia E. Cut roloi d. of Sumter. i n. Chamber of Commerce has done g.l work and has accomplished valuable and lasting results during the pasl year. This year it can and will. ,t given hearty and united sup? port ? on pllsh even greater re? sults, if not a member, become one if you believe In your town.