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? CWtTO SKAlUtaOLDKRS. Year for Good Ifew Tear NM Ml ?d. of IMvtdesusi Free* lb* Daily Item Jan. 4. T*e ?Ml IM? of dividend* by the beaka of the city marked the first of the maw year. Thirty thousand dol .lefg 1* no wore Isaootl in dividends by tjat henke and trust 50mponies which bovine hod o good business too poet year und exopet on in? et* business da ring the com Bemter Trust Company sent out MM usual dividends of 3 per cent on Ibj cagetal stock, amounting to $1,500 |ss| the half ? jar. Here it was report sjg toot e* tineas wot excellent, being sjo good or boner thiin ever before wife ptooneoto that it. will eontlnue to be bettor, tint National Bonk of South Caro tts usual temi-annual Ol? ef 4 per eant. on Its capital totafflag $S,0$o for the half year. The bask reports a good buat igeu la Use past year, one la foot bet bar thaa ever before srtth prospects for a gooiit laereaoo la vidume during the Uli *eeaie*e Bonk iaued $4,000 as fas eson-aaauel dividends. Buslnesb w*? f sported to bo Improving steadily vttb prssgjirls better for the new ygar. Ia Mo Christmas savings fund ; tge> Institution sent >ut between $t, gea aid MM* to Mi aboreheldera. a sr ireviotts year* n City Xataoaal Baak loaned Ma three per cent semi-annual di? et M.HO. or $9,000 forth* watt reported good fb? Natts eel Bank ef ftumter Issued 4 per eon*, sosni-aiinual dividends, aoeeuatmg to $MM. Tbe bank mob aood during the year and le looking for bow business daring the coming rear, ae It feels ,. tm*t It at la a aeatttou to handle it fa* first Notional Baa* of Sum out chocks for $4,000 aa its ? divido? de ef 4 per eeat capital stock the book re depoofto as large and the good dee* during tbe test year to to bo even bettor during the year. Cenxmerelal and aavinge Book to laeae artieetid* bit Moo a which #00 very attiofaetory op Mo etoc*holders. Its buatneao boo greatly durinvf the poet year nop son sow a greater growth the coming year are exceed f?AKCK RKIJCAfUEB MEN. to Uaeftea of JCiesnands Thkea Fro vf aohfngtnn. Jan. 1.?The state de? part otsnt was omcla.ly advised today tbroogb too French embassy that the Fret oh government in response to mode by the United ordered the ImmedUite re? ef German subjects recently re? setted from American ships on the gdfb esaa by the French cruiser Des Tho stole department also was in teased that the men arrested would So turned over to the American consul at Fort de France, Martinique, where they were taken for detention. Fear American steamships wer a up near Puerto Rico last month by tlie Descartes which in eaen case reojMved one or mere Germans or Aast-tans. Chief S award Bchaado taken from the Carolina on De? tter I. On the following day the u WOO bold up ty the Descartes. wbaCi trod two shots across her bow. One Sermon and two Austrians, mom bore ef the crew, wsre taken on board tbo Descartes. On December 16 the Bertnquen was boarded by a party from the French cruiser and the it, William Oarbe of Brooklyn, taken off. Oarfc?. a German by birth, baa taken out his first natural? isation papers. The fourth vessel held up was the Han Juan frc >n which two second cabin passcnscri?, Germans, wsre removed. . Olli BLAZK AT IllllMJNGHAM. Fold Flows Down Creek? Loss $9&0,000. Birmingham. Ala.. Jun. 4.?Fire early tonight destroyed the plant of the Texas Oil Company at North Birmingham, causing a loss estimated at $110.000. Fourteen tanks of oil and gasoline, containing 20,000 gallons each, were consumed end as |hg tanks burst In succession and the burning oil poured Into Village Creek, the flames extended for nearly a mile and a half down that stream. About $4, 000 damage was done to tho Birming? ham racking Company's plant and a bridge across Village Creek was burn The Aamea broke out in the oil plant's pump house and the cause han not besn determined lonlgltt. THOMAS CiUJUD?, JR., MEETS TRAGIU DEATH IN BIRMING I HAM* ALA. I Left (Hero Only Weck Ago for City Mid I Hud Bei? at Work for Only Three Day*?Body to Be Brought Back I Tomorrow for Burial. From The Dally Item, Jan. 4, | The mtAy friends of the family were saddened yesterday and this morning when they hearo\ of the sud? den, and tragic death of Thomas Childs, Jr., of this city, who on Mon? day afternoon was crushed to death In an elevator shaft of the Steel City's Chemical Corporation building at Bir? mingham. Ala., while at work for that concern. The news of the young man's ter? rible death was first learned here through a telephone message to Mr. Mark Reynolds from Mr. W. B. Nel? son, the manager of the company. Mr. Nelson telephoned Mr. Reynolds at about 5 o'olock Eastern time, soon af? ter the accident had occurred. Out? side of th* fact that young Childs was at work at the Urne, practically no Information has been obtained of the tragedy. Thomas Childs, Jr., was the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Childs of this citr* He was In his nineteenth year and had left Sumter Just one week before the tragedy to go to Birmingham, where he was offered a position by Mr. Nelson. He had been at work only three days when tho ac? cident occurred which crushed out his young Ufa Besides his parents, he la survived ty two alsters, Mrs. T. D. RaveneL Jr., and Miss Clara Childs, and one brother, Master WiKlam ChlMii He graduated from the Sum? ter high ichool a year and a-half ago and bad many friends among the young men and women of Sumter, as well as at the city schools, who will be filled with sadness at his tragic death. grout* OP A SURVIVOR. toben Grant Who Was Saved When Persia Wo* Submarined Tells of His Es perle ace. Alexandria, Egypt, Jan. 4.-?Robert Grant* of Boston, the American sur? vivor of the Persia, today described tbe klnklr.g ofthe liner. He said: "I woe lunching when the explosion came like the bursting v. the boilers. sKlp shivered und begun sinking. Mc feeely wan In baa cbln on the irtar i board side and didn't have a chance to escape. The dining room was fill? ed with smoke, and flying debris. The pasengers rushed deck, singing hymns ant shouting good-bye. I clung to the wreckage until picked up." McNEELY NOT SAVED. Name of American Consul Not on List of Survivors. i Washlpjrton, Jan. 4.-?Consul Gen? eral Skinner of London, today cabled the State department that Robert N. McNeely's name Is not among the offi? cial list o:f Persia survivors Issued by the admiralty. The name of Chs.rles Grant, another American, appears. Consul Kobllnger at Malta, cabled that eleven more survivors, Including Lord Montague, had reached there. All declare that the Persia was not warned. PRESIDENT OS JOB. Making Every Effort to Obtain Fucts In Persia Case. Washington, Jan. 4.?Through his secretary. President Wilson gave out the following statement two hours af? ter his ret irn from Hot Springs: 'The president and secretary of state are taking every means possible to obtain full facts In this gravo mat? ter and will act as soon as the Infor? mation Is obtained." The president then entered a con? ference with Senator Stone. EXPLOSIION ON TANK STEAMER. One Man Dead and Eleven Missing as Result of Accident on Aztec. New York, Jan. 3.?One man Is dead and 11 others are known to be missing an a result of an explosion that wrecked the engine room of the Norwegian oil tank steamer Aztec at Brooklyn dock today. The dead man was a fireman on tho vessel and live of the mlaslng men were members 61 the crew. The other hIx wero cm ployed on.the dock. Several were In? jured, threo of then seriously. The Aztec had Just left a dry dock and the cause of tho explosion Is un? known, although It Is believed to have i .-suited from tho bursting of a tank I of 10,000 cubic feot of gas used in connection with the oil fuel for tho engines. The Azt ?c was under charter to the Interocean Transport company of New York. She recently arrived from France and went into dry dock on December 24 and was to have .salleu for Philadelphia this week to take on a curgo for Franco. COUNTY BOARD MEETING. DELEGATIONS FROM CLARENDON AND CHARLESTON COUN? TIES PRESENT. Discuss Building of Causeway and Bridge Across Santee River and Resolutions Passed Favoring State Highway Commission?Decision to Levy One Mill Extra Taxes to Erect New Jail Building?Petition for New Road at Shiloh. The County Board of Commission ers had a long and interesting session on Tuesday preparatory to their an? nual meeting on Thursday. However, as the matters of chief interest to come up before them were acted on I they will not have nearly so compli? cated a meeting on next Thursday. Delegations from Charleston and Clarendon counties appeared to- 'dis? cuss the matter of the establishment I of a State Highway Commission and I the building of a bridge and causeway I across the Santee River Swamp and I river at a point near Wright's Bluff I and the old C. 8. and N. railroad I bridge. Another matter to come up I was the erection of a new jail. Be? sides these matters the board had its I own regular routine matters to attend I to, so altogether they had a busy day. Petition for Road. The board was called to order at 110 o'clock by Supervisor Pitts with I all of the members present. After tho I reading of the minutes of the pre? vious meeting the first matter taken I up was a petition from citizens of Mayesvllle and Shiloh townships of I the Hope Swamp section to open a [road from near Rees Nesblt's on the I Trinity public road to a point near the I Intersection of the Steam Mill and I Scottsville-Shiloh roads, and to re I build the Steam Mill road to the Black I River road near Brick Church, the I lights of way for same being donated. I Action on this matter was deferred I until the annual meeting of the board Ion Thursday. I Supervisor Pitts reported that the I board of arbitration selected to assess I damages to Mrs. E. F. Sanders on ac* I count of a publio road being exten?V led through her property near Hagoofl I had returned a bill for $300 against I the county in favor of Mrs. Handera I This decision was accepted by the I board. A deed from W. M. Graham convey* ling to the city and county Jointly the I Boulevard and road connecting it with I the Plowden mill road was received. The board took no action In the mat? ter. I DECIDES TO BUILD NEW JAIL. Secretary Johnstone and Others Ten of Need of New Building. At noon the County Board of Com? missioners met with Mra A. 8. John stone, secretary to the State Board' Of Charities and Corections, J. C. Dun* bar and C. E. Stubbs, of the grand jury, the Sumter county legislative delegation, and other citizens interest? ed in the erection of a new jail for Sumter county to discuss this import? ant matter and devise the best meth* od of securing funds for the under? taking. Mr. Johnstone reported that ho had inspected the jail and found it to be Insufficient ir capacity to accommo? date the number of prisoners kept in it by the county, insufficient in ar? rangements, without proper means for tho classification of prisoners with regard to color and sex, and unsani? tary in all of its arrangements. Messrs. J. C. Dunbar, R. B. Belser, Dr. H. M. Stuckey, Rev. J. P. Marion and others urged the necessity of erecting a new building for jail purposes. On mo? tion of Dr. H. M. Stuckey It was de? cided to build a new jail on the same site or lot as the present jail, the funds to be secured by a levy of one mill extra taxes for this purpose. The old building will be allowed to remain for such uses as the board may deem ncce8saty. The estimated cost of the new jail With capacity for tho county prisoners is estimated at $25,000. Rev. J. P. Marion was granted per? mission to hold services each Sunday for tho chalngang. or to secure some suitable person to conduct these ser? vices. DISCUSS HIGHWAY COMMISSION. Resolution of E. I. Reunion Favoring Commission and Santee Bridge Unanimously Indorsed. Tho next phase of tho board's meeting came a few minutes after the decision to build a new Jail when the Charleston and Clarendon County del? egations appeared to discuss the mat tor of establishing a State highway commission and the building of a causeway and bridge across the S'an teo River swamp and river at a point a short distance from the old O, S. & N. railroad bridge. This matter was fully discussed by a number of the visiting gentlemen and citizens of Sumter. Mr. J. B. Morrison, a representative from Charleston county made an eloquent address on behalf of the os PELLAGRA FIGHT IS URGENT. McADOO CALLS FOR RUSH AP? PROPRIATION! Secretary of Treasury Pleads With Congress to Furnish Sinews of War for Campaign in South. Washington, Jan. 4.?Pellagra has become such a menace in the South that Secretary McAdoo today asked congress for a rush appropriation of $100,000 for studies and demonstra? tion work in rural sanitation with a particular view to checking that dis? ease and typhoid fever. He submitted a report from the public health service which said: | 'Increased demonstrations are ur I gently required to prevent pellagra from becoming a veritable scourge in many rural communities. In Missis? sippi alone there were 10,649 cases and 1,024 deaths from pellagra last year, and in certain other States it has exceeded tuberculosis as a cause of death. It is estimated that there have been approximately 76,000 cases of pellagra throughout the country this past year, with more than 7,500 deaths." The report states that the country population has not kept pace with urban communities along sanitary lines and that improper food has been shown to have a profound influence on the health of populations and to be directly responsible for the in? creasing prevalence of pellagra. I LANCASTER CITIZEN TAKES OWN LIFE. John Crawford Shoots Himself in Heart?Probably Caused by HI Health. Lancaster, Jan. 4 ?John Crawford, one of Lancaster's most prominent citizens, committed suicide here this morning at his home in the northern part of town by shooting himself through the heart. He had been In poor health for several months and it is thought that the worry and anx? iety on account of his condition tem? porarily unbalanced his mind and caused him to take his life. He was the only son of the late Dr. M. P. Crawford and was about 3ft years of age. He is survived by hie wife, who was Miss Lola Heath of Charlotte, and two children, Mar? tin Crawford and an Infant daughter, Lola Crawford, his mother, Mrs. M. P. Crawford, and1 one sister, Mrs. John,If. Poag of this place, and his uncle, Dr. R. L. Crawford. GOING TO MONTGOMERY. Major Bogga to Leave Washington Office of Panama Canal. Washington, Jan. 4.?Major Frank C. Boggs, of the army engineer corps, for the last eight years, purchasing of? ficer and in charge of the Washington office of the Panama Canal, has been assigned to duty at Montgomery, Ala., |?the order to become effective as soon as his services can be spared here. It is understood he will be relieved by his present assistant, Major Earl I. Brown.. tablishment of the state highway com? mission and the erection of a bridge across the Santee river. He related a great deal of interesting history of the State, especially of the low country, and promised his best efforts in behalf of both measures. Mr. R. B. Belser thought that a bridge across the Santee would aid in the development of the low country and had been working for a state high? way commission for several years, he stated. Supervisor Davis of Clarendon county pointed out a natural ridge in, tbe swamp, where he thought that a causeway and bridge could be built at least cost to the State. He stated that the people of Clarendon county were in favor of having such a bridge erected. Messrs. R. F. DesChamps and W. N. Rush promised that they would aid in the adoption of a measure for the erection of the bridge and the estab? lishment of a state highway commis? sion. Judge T. E. Richardson thought that the matter of erecting a bridge across the Santee at the point men? tioned was of such importance that it should be called to the attention of congress, where it should be pushed by the South Carolina representa? tives. Tho discussion showed that such a bridge across the Santee would prove very convenient for automobiles and other vehicles in crossing from the eastern to tho western side of the riv? er, and would aid .in developing cer? tain counties of the State. The matter was brought, to a head by a resolution offered by E. I. Rear don, secretary of the Sumter Chamber of Commerce, who asked that the meeting go on record as favoring a state highway commission and the erecion of a bridge across the Santee river, and asking the members of the county legislative delegation to support such legislation. The resolu? tion wah unanimously passed. The board then adjourned. LAST CHAPTER Of SEMINOIE. WILIE JONES, T. S. BRYAN AND W. A. CLARK ABSOLVED OP WRONGDOING. Breach of Trust Charge Dismissed? Plaint in* Stockholders Held to Have Been Passively Responsible. Columbia, Jan. 6.?The Supreme [Court of South Carolina today render? ed a decision which is very probably the last legal chapter to be written in connection with the celebrated Seminole Securties case. The court in a decision absolved Wille Jenes, T. S. Bryan and W. A. Clark, trustees of the company, and well known busi? ness men of Columbia, from wrong? doing In connection with a case that claimed attention of the people of the State for several years. The ma? jority opinion was written by As? sociate Justice Gage and concurred in by Associate Justice Watts. Associate Justice Fraser wrote a dissenting opinion. The action was brought in Richland county by J. S. Klugh, T. J. Crymes, J. L. Watson adn J. F. Dalton against the officers and trustees of the Semi? nole Securities company and several banks In the State. "Remotely it is," says the Supreme Court, "are the defendants Clark, Jones and Bryan, personally liable to the stockholders of the Seminole Se? curities Company for $30,000 for a breach of trust. The circuit court found that they were not, and we agree." The court in its decision does not go into a full history of the defunct com? pany, but only recites the cardinal features as affecting the defendants. I The company was chartered January 8, 1908, with a capital stock of $300, 000. The enterprise ran its whole I career within twelve months. The court says that the plaintiff stock? holders are amongst those who under? took to hoist the enterprise. "It is true," says the opinion, "Garllngton and his immediate associates were the initiators of the scheme. But the plaintiffs and all the stockholders stood by like Saul consenting to the 1 death and they are those now com? plaining against Clark, Jones and Bryan, because the scheme failed." The court says that there is no al? legation that Messrs. Clark, Jones or Bryan held any stock or took any hand in the suggestion or direction of the Seminole Company or received any compensation. The opinion con? cludes as follows: "We conclude, [the stockholders of the Seminole, the plaintiffs amqngst them got up the corporation, set it going and named the directors. It was on its face, a balloon floated by hot air. These di? rectors who made the contract with the trustees had the power to modify It, to buy stock in an existing com? pany, Instead of organizing a company, and to permit the trustees to take a part, and not all of the stock of an ac? cident company. If the stockholders in the Seminole have been deceivers, rt has been i * i.hc action of men they put forward to represent them to wit: Garllngton and his confederates. The event proves that those hitherto un? known and untried men hoisted a ! scheme which neither their stockhold? ers nor trustees understood and which but for the timely initiative of the plaintiff themselves and the bold ac? tion of the court to which they went, might have wrought serious damage. The judgment of the circuit is affirm? ed." Concerning the alleged effort to mislead.the public, the decision says: "That Is to say, the president and di? rectors of the Seminole Company, the managing officers, put forward Clark, Jones and Bryan to mislead tho public but the stockholders put forward the managing officers as their representa? tives and the scheme of these manag? ers was thus made possible by the act of the stockholders. The stockholders vouched for Garllngton. May they now say Clark, Jones and Bryan could not If therefore those stockholders have been caught. It Is In trap of their own setting." CAMDEN LIBRARY OPENS. Fine Building Given by Carnegie For? mally Dedicated to Mission of En? lightenment. Camden, Jan. 4.?Last night the Camden public library was the scene of a very enthusiastic gathering of Camden people, together with some winter visitors, at tho formal open? ing of Camden's new library, the gift of Andrew Carneste, the sixth Car? negie library in this State, secured through the efforts of the Civic league by its president, Mrs. Sadie Kennedy vonTresckow. The building, located on Monument square between the two schools, is at? tractive in appearance, is steam heated and lighted by electricity? beautiful reflecting chandeliers hang? ing from the ceiling. The grounds around the building have been ter? raced and make a most pleasing ap? pearance. The new library will not only be en? joyed by the people of Camden alone but will be a source of much pleas? ure to the winter visitors as well. NO OBJECTION TO SERVICE. RAILROAD COMMISSION MEETING RESOLVES ITSELF INTO LOVE FEAST. No Representatives From Southern End of Line and Those From North? ern Are Well Pleased With Schedule and Have No Kick Except About Lights and Blocking of the Dalzell , Crossing. The hearing before the South'Caro llna Railroad Commission which took place at the Chamber ot Commerce rooms today resolved itself into a kind of love feast over the schedules and service given by the road. There were no objections at all offered to these two most Important features, although kicks were registered on the lights furnished by the road and on the blocking of the public road at Dal? zell by trains. The meeting was called to order shortly after 11 o'clock with G. Mc Duffle Hampton, chairman, presiding, and Messrs. Johh G, Richards and Frank W. Shealy, members of the commission, and J. P. Darby, secre? tary, present. Representing the Northwestern Railroad were Col. Thomas Wilson, president; John WiU son and J. A. Raffleld. Representing Rembort were W. C. Harllee, J. L. x G?lls, W. J. Young, Robert C. Rem bert, J. F. Baker and R. T. Brown; {Dalzell was represented by C. J. Gail lard; and W. H. Chewning was In from Summerton. Others present were J. R. Clack and H. M. Cobh of the Southern Railway; E. L Reardon of the Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. C. G. Rowland. Mr. W. C. Harllee of Rembvit stat? ed that there was no objection to the present service or schedules on the part of citizens living between Sum ter sind Camden. He asked that if change was made that the same schedules now in effect be allowed to remain. His remarks were secondel by Mr. J. L. G?lls; who stated that there had been kicks occasionally on the lights, but otherwise the trains given them by the Northwestern were entirely satisfactory. He stated that the con? nections were excellent and the freight service was as good as any one could desire. Mr. W. J. Young said that if there was any kick coming it was from the other end of the line. He thought the train service was all right, as long as passengers were given some place to sit. Mr. C. J. Gaillard, representing Dalzell, stated that anybody would rather ride on a passenger train than a freight train, but that he really did not see how the passenger traffic would warant the Northwestern ? In putting on such a train, as it would be a source of loss to the road. He stated that the freight service was ex? cellent and that the schedules were all that could be desired. However, he wished to register a kick on the lights, which often were bad, and the blocking of the public road at Dalzell. Outside of these two minor grievances he had no kicks coming. Col. Wilson stated at this point that he had not heard any complaint on the blocking of the crossing at Dalzell before and he would see that this was remedied. Mr. E. I. Reardon, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, stated on be? half of that organization that there was no kick on the trains or service given by the road from the business men of Sumter. Mr. John Wilson stated that a pas? senger service for twice a week had been instituted between Wilson's Mill and Sumter and gave the receipts from traffic for the sixteen runs the train had made, showing that the trains were a losing proposition to the rail? road company. He stated that the Northwestern had to secure the gas for its lights from the A. C. L. and occasionally the supply ran low, but this matter would be attended to more diligently in future. Col. Thomas Wilson stated that he had given much thought to the opera? tion of trains on the road and he thought that the present service and schedules were the best which could be devised, without the road proving a losing proposition. On the promise of the road to stop blocking the crossing at Dalzell and to remedy the poor lights, the com? mission adjourned its hearing and will notify all concerned of their finding at a later date. MUST CLOSE SUNDAYS. Oregon Law Declared in Effect and I Valid. Portland, Ore., Jan. 3.--Oregon'8 Sunday closing law, enacted in 1864; and which for many years has lan? guished, was declared constitutional and effective today in federal court here. The law prohibits transaction of business on Sunday by mercantile establishments, grocery stores, pool and billiard halls and other places of amusement. The only concerns per? mitted to do busines on Sunday are bakeries, hotels and undertaking es? tablishments.