The watchman and southron. [volume], June 09, 1897, Image 1

About The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930

Image provided by: University of South Carolina; Columbia, SC

                
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THK SUMTES WATCHMAN, E*taMi&hed April, 1850.
"Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thon Aims't^at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's."
THK TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jane. 1366
Consolidated Aug. 2,1881
SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2S 1897.
New Series-YoL X L So. 43
CJe S3f tjm at f0ui|r0 i
PuTslisied Broy Wednesday,
-BY
JM. <3k Osteen,
SUMTER, S. C.
TERMS :
$1 50 per aaa um-in advance.
ADVERTISEMENT:
One Square first insertion.$1 00
Every subsequent insertion. 50
Contracts for three months, br longer will
be made at reduced rates.
Ali coramanicatioos which subserve private
interests will be charged for as advertisements.
Obituaries and tributes of respect will be
charged for.
(jen. Watts' Statement
At Last Made to the Public.
After wading for several days Adju
ant General Watts yesterday evening
gove to the public bis versioo of the
affair. It is as follows :
I b-d boped that it would not be
necessary for me to make a statemen t
as to the an forton a te occurrence that
took placa on the college grounds last
Friday, the 2$th inst., bat as there has
been so mach said and written about
the affair, 1 deem it my dnty to the
militia and myself to give the facts in
tba case, and let the public pass its
own judgment The following order
was isaued May 10. 1897. Special
Order No 12.
Adjutant and Inspector General's Office,
Columbia, 3 C., May 10, 1897.
The annual inspection of the follow
ing companies is hereby ordered : G-07
eroor's Geards, Capt J. M Bateman,
commanding, Colombia, May 26,
1897 ; Richland Volunteers, Capt. J.
D. Frost, commanding, May 26, 1896.
By order of the commander-in-chief.
J. GABY WATTS,
A. & I General.
Owing to a death in my family,
the above order was revoked and Fri
day, the 28th, as appointed for the
inspection of the above commands. I
saw Col. Wilie Jones, whe was the col
onel of the Second regiment of infan
try, and who would be in command on
this occasion, the morning of the 28th at
the Carolina bank. He told me that the
inspection would be held at the asnal
place, the grounds in charge of the col
lege, which are used by the students
for athletic purposes (the time and
place of any inspection is geoer-.iy left
to the commanding officer)'. Coi.
Jones told me to take my position in
front of the stand, which was erected
' for ladies to occupy in order that they
couicj witness the games that are usually
played on these grounds. The battlioo
was formed and the usual line of march
was taken. As I reached the college
grounds I proceeded to take my
position, indicated by Col. Jones,
Jones, but was informed by Mr. Ha
good, one of the students, that a match
game cf ball" was in progress, and
hoped that I would not interfere, or
words to that effect. I theu rode from
the ball grounds and was spoken to by
Prof. Sloan. He informed me that the
boys had permission to play ball on ihs
grounds and that a match game was in
progress. I replied to him that 1 had
no desire to interfere with the game,
but that I had been informed by Col.
Jones bat be bad permission from the
president to have the iospeetioo on the
grounds. I theo cook my position on
the left of the ball grounds and did not
think that I was io any way interfering
with the game of ball, as no opposition
was raised as to my position. The
review and inspection was then started,
and everything was going on very
smoothly anti! the battalionw is passing
io review, whan a bail was knocked
and as one of the players was ran oin g
after it be ran io to Capt. Bateman and
knocked off his cap, the crowd theo be
gan to cheer, the battalion moved on
and nothing was thought of this inci
dent. The bat.aiioo then proceeded
with their field movements, and as they
were marching past tbs inspecting offi
cer I requested a policeman to move
back ooo of the parties who were in
tbe line of march, which be did with
out any trouble.
At this time was stationed to the
left of the bali groaods, aod as far as I
thought was not in any way conflicting
with the game of bali. It has been
stated that at this time a bail was
knocked over ia that directieo and
struck a horse of a member .of my staff.
I knew nothing of tbs incident
About this time the marshal of the col
lege came to me, followed by a crowd
of students and ball players, aod
stated that the boys bad permission
to play on Lue ball groaods. I told
bim I bad nothing to say as to that, but
only knew thai: Colonel Jones told me
that he bad written permission from
the president of tbe college to have the
inspection on the groaods. I theo re
quested the policeman to keep the
crowd back, and he tried te do so.
The crowd refused to go back and be
gan to defy and abase the policeman,
who blew his whistle for his colleague
who was on another part of the
grounds, bat st: ; I the crowd would not
move bsek and continued to defy the
policeman. I turned round and spoke
to th Nfrowd and asked them to move
back, bat my request was treated io the
same manner ts that of the policemen.
saw there was going to be trouble be
tween the policemen and the crowd,
for by this time they bad become very
mach excited, and. seeing; that a con
flict was inevitable, I considered the
best solution of the difficulty would be
to have the battalion marched forward,
press back the crowd to the street,
thereby renderiog any further conflict
possible between the students and the
policemen. At this Eime there was no
game of ball going on. I then gave
Colonel Jofies the order to move his
command forward, which he did. The
men advanced "at right shoulder
arm9." and there was no order to
'.eharge," as has beeD stated. The
troops advanced very steadily, and the
majority of the crowd moved back, but
three or four students broke through
the line, near where tbe colors were,
and the policemen attempted to inter
fere Tbe battalion moved on to tbe
front, leaving the policemen and those
students tn the rear Theo a general
encounter took place between the stu
dents and tbe policemen
These are the plaio. untarnished
facts io the ease, notwithstanding the
repeated rumors that bave been circu
lated, many of which have been absurd
in the extreme.
J GARY WATTS,
Adjutant aod Inspector General.
A FILIBUSTER CAUGHT.
Key West. Fia ,'Jone l.-The
United States crui er Marblehead,
which left here under sealed orders
Sunday morning, returned at noon to
day with the tug Dauntless in tow.
charged with filibustering. A lieuten
ant of the Marblehead bad been placed
aboard the Dauntless. Upon arrival
the tug was turned over to the customs
officers. About 25 Cubans were found
on the Dauntless, iocluding Charles
Silva, Col Nunez and J. E. Cartaya.
No co m m an "ICE ti on with the boat is al
lowed . Very little ammunition was
found aboard to Dauntless, and only
two rifles, and report bas it that the
erew threw the ramaicder of the cargo
overboard. The tag gave the cruiser
a lively chase down the east coast of
Florida, bat it was overhauled.
Spanish Consul Fernandez bad his
face slapped by J. M. Go vin and a
crowd of Cubans attempted to brow
bim overboard from the wharf, but they
were not successful.
Take JOHNSON'S
CHILL & FEVER
TONIC, ^ -zs^&r
Two Men Killed.
New York, Jane 3.-Five enormous
tanks, each containing 13,000 gallons
of water, fell five stories through the
new building of David S. Brown &
Co., soap manufacturers, at Twelfth
avenue, 51st and 52nd streets this
morning, burying two and perhaps
three men under thousands of tens of
debris. The body of Wm. Frazer, 40
years old. a surveyor io the employ of
the Otis Elevator Company, was taken
from the ruins this afternoon. Jacob
Jacobson, a carpenter, and Andrew
Quinn, a laborer, are missitag Quins
is said to have been seen after the
tank fell
The place was nearly ready for oc
cupancy. The tanks were to have con
tained soap fat. They were put in by
the Cotesville Iron Works, of Cotes
ville. Pa.
Alexander Brown, the brick contract
or. Henry F Kilburn, the architect,
aod Arobie Hamilton, inspector for the
iron work contractors, were arrested,
charged with homicide.
The five tanks shot through the five
floors like a stone dropping throng*, so
much space There were 15 men in
the building at the time of the acci
dent. Tbey were scattered around the
faotory. There was not a second's
warning of the fall of the tanks
They bad been filled with water for
testing aod were nearly full.
In the course of an address at tbe
unveiling of a Confederate monument
at Dallas, Texas, Judge Reagan took
occasion to defend Jefferson Davis from
he charge of- beiog self-willed, imper
ious and stubborn. "More than four
years of constant contact with him as a
member of his cabinet,7 he said, "en
tibies me to say that this was a great
mistake. His habit was. when he took
up a public question on which be had
to act, to exhaust all available sources
of information on it before coming to a
conclusion, always consulting freely
with the members of his cabinet, ar.d
with others who might be able to give
information. After doing this and
reaching his conclusion, the matter
was settled with bim, unies* the presen
tation of new facts required further con
sideration.
Excellent commercial note paper 15 cents
a poand at H. G. Oateeo & Co's-two pounds
for 25 cents.
ASYLUM ON FIRE.
i Heroic Work of the Fire
men-"S20,000 Loss.
Itwasjuet before 1 o'clock that
Superintendent Babcock, Mr. May
hew and some others were sitting
under a tree watching the progress
of the work on the-foundations of the
new negro building out at the hos
pital, when Dr. Babcock happening
to glance ap at the southern able of
the handsome brick structu.b used
for the steam laundry, the engine
and boiler rooms and the electric
light plant, thought he detected a
little smoke carling out from under
the woodwork. Calling the attention
of his companions to it he went
around the wall to investigater Mr
Mayhew was ahead of him The
thirty or more negro female patients
who work in the laundry had just
come oat about 15 minutes before
Mr Mayhew rushed into the building
to see the ceiling beginning, to crack
and the fumes barst forth. From
another room Mrs. Douglas came forth
saying that flames were roaring above
Dr. Babcock summoned all the atten
dants within call and the hand engine
was gotten out. Before the .jose
coo'd be gotten on the fire well flames
burst from every portion of the roof
It seemed that in some way the fire
had caught in the roof and had been
burning some time before it was dis
covered
Dr Babcock seeing that the fire
was too much for his force, ordered
the city lire alarm turned in.
Meanwhile he sent runners to all the
gates and orders were quickly passed
I around to guard the patients care
fully Quicsly those who were io
the yards w* re forced into line by
the excited attendants and hurried
into the wards, where they were
placed under lock and key. The
work was done very quickly and
quietly. There were many white
male patiente in the yard adjoining
These there was some difiiculty in
getting into the building and the
firemen, after catting out a high sec
tion of the board fence in order to get
to the hydrant with their engine, got
in before the unfortunates had all
been gotten into the building
KNEW WHAT IT MEANT
The fire department realized the
possibilities of an alarm from the
State Hospital for the Insane and
the machines were driven with un
usual speed. Every fireman in the
city likewise bastened to the hospital,
as did the mayor, the chief cf police
and every policeman within reach
The Palmetto engine got a good hy
drant inside tbe yard after a winding
I drive and spread her hose. The In
dependents had to cut out a section
of the high bo ird fence and get their
! engiue through it as told above, but
not a moment was lost The Colum
bia engine managed to come through
an archway recently constructed
under the main building and got a
very good locality. The firemen
quickly had thc bose laid and in a
short time three heavy streams of
water were getting in their work
upon the fire which had by this time
obtained great headway ; in fact, the
whole building was a mass of fi mes.
The engineer had^thoughtfully opened
the steamcocks on the boilers in the
building the moment the fire was dis
covered and a stream of cold water
was left running through them dur
ing the progress of the fire He
likewise cut off the electric current
from the city plant wires in the yard.
Employes brought out most of the
clothes in the laundry.
BIT THE CHIEF.
When the fire was discovered, Dr
Babcock summoned all the hands en
gaged upon the new buildings to the
aid of the attendants Among these
were Will M&ckay and Abram
Moore, the latter being well known
over the city as a former colored fire
man and a powerful man. He had
directed them to do what they could
about the building and then start
several freight Cfcrs standing on the
track by the burning structure down
the incline, * ont of reach of the
flames
Chief May soon arrived and en
deavored to get into the building.
Moore blocked bia way aud said he
could not enter, disputing the right
of the chief to take charge, it ap
pears Three tines the chief toid
him to stand aside. He refused to
do so and Chief May, knowing that
he waa a powerful negro, stooped,
picked up a brick and knocked him
down. As he did so the ot'ier negro,
\Jackay, let drive at the chief with a
half brick lt struck him a glancing
blow on thc elbow and landed on the
left side of his face, cutting an ugly
gash and causing- quite a flow of
blood, besides knocking him down.
Several fireman rushed in and Officer
Do wie grabbed Mackay, slipping
the nippers upon him Then there
was much excitement and Moore
grew dangerous and abusive. Some
one ran to Superintendent Babcock
and told him two of the negroes
were arrested. Meantime things
looked squally and one officer drew
his pistol to quiet Moore. Just then
: Dr Babcock, who had seen nothing
! of all this, came round' the corner,
j followed by Chief Daly. He was
very much excited anyway. He or-;
dered the release of the negro, say
ing he, aa superintendent, was in
charge within the grounds. The
chief was at hand and the release was
made The firemen were very nat
urally intensely angered ; they con
sidered it an act on the part of Dr
Babcock to protect an insolent negrc
who had attacked their chief and at
once the cry was raised to leave the
grounds and let the thing burn down.
It was an exciting moment. The
negroes hastened away to release the
cars and did so In the meantime
Dr. Babcock was informed of what
the negro had done by a friend. He
expressed the greatest surprise.
When he ordered his release, he
said, he thought he was merely being
held to keep him from interfering
with the work, ne expressed great
regret and hastened to apologize to
the chief and inform the police that
the negroes should be turned over to
them as soon as the fire was out.
This poured oil on the troubled wa
ters, but it was not until after the fire
was extinguished that the anger of
the firemen subsided, and many of
them did not wish to leave the
grounds until they knew the negroes
were in the hands of the police
P0 GHT LIKE HEROES.
Volunteer firemen never fought
harder or did more effective work
than they did yesterday: The wind
was blowing the flames towards the
main building and the men stood the
intense beat without a murmer. Many
of them had their clothing torn and
all were scorched more or less Of
course it was unless to try to save
the building, which was like a fur
hace, and the best that could be done
was to 88ve the surrounding build
ings Many of the men got severe
bums and some had their arms blis
tered by the intense heat. Mean
while the ladies of the families of
the authorities of the institution be
gan to serve iced lemonade in large
buckets and every few moments the
buckets were passed among the fire
men But for this many of them per
haps would have been overcome by
the heat The ladies' thoughtfulness
was much appreciated by the men,
and they fought all the harder Time
and again sections of bose would
burst, but the men lost no time in
putting in new sections every time
one would give way.
OVERCOME BY HEAT
Dr. B. W. Taylor, the obairmao of
the board of regents, was soon ar. he
institution, and it was fortunate that be
was. When the firemen were begin
niog to get the fire checked somewhat,
Mr. George Geiger of Columbia No 3,
fell to the ground overcome by heat.
He was promptly laken into one of the
wards aod Drs. Babcock and Taylor
gave him every attention. He was to
all appearance dead when the ice bath
was given him. Slowly he revived in
the course of the afternoon. Soon
afterwards Police Ofiicer Kramer, who
is also a firemen, and was acting in
that capacity, being off duty as an
officer, likewise collapsed. He was
cared for in the same way. About
6.30 o'clock last evening both men
were sufficiently recovered to be re
moved to their homes. In a day or
two they will be able to resume their
duties
The firemen upon returning from the
grounds left sufficient hose to be used
in case of any further outbreak. Dr.
Babcock at once had a census taken of
each ward o see that every patient was
accounted for. There was not a single
one missing. One white man jumped
the wall and got out, but a little giri
eaw him, and in a few moments sev
eral attendants had bim in custody
again.
THE NEGROES ARRESTED.
Jost before the fire was extinguished
one of the negroes about the place tried
to enter a door Ofiicer Fickling was
guarding. When he insisted upon
entering, the officer poshed bim over
and cautioned him to remember that he
was fooling with the wrong man.
After the firemen had left, Dr. Bab
cock sent a message to thc two oegroes
who bad caused the trouble at the open*
ing of the fire. They came up and he
turned them over to Chief Daly.
There was no demonstration whatever.
Dr. Babcock also sent for the hospital
carriage and Chief Daly put the men
in charge of Officers Fickling and
Sheppard. They were then driven
without a word to the city jail, where
they were locked up.
Dr. Bibcock rt quests the statement
made that, he did not know when he or
dered* thc men released, assuring he j
chief that he would bo resp msible for
them, whar. they had done Ir. was
after it was over that he heard of their j
behavior for the first, time. Some one i
had said in thc crowd that ho moved
that the firo conipanies witndraw, and
Officer Dowie had said that bc second
ed the motion, when he had the men
released, and he did not understand it.
He promptly assured the chief that the
meo would be turned over to him upon
discoveriog the facts. He also sought
tbe chief of the fire department aod
apologized to him. Dr. Babsock says
be had no desire whatever to interfere
with tbe police or tho fire department.
The building, which was a handsome
brick structure, is a total loss, save for
the walls. In it was an electric dyna
mo plant, which originally cost 6,000.
Besides all the valuable laundry ma
chinery was destroyed. Some clothing
was lost, but oot much. Au engine
was ruined, and three fine boilers were
io the building-two of 25 horse power
.each and one of 20-horse power. In
running over the losses last nig;ht. Dr.
Babcock placed the figures at 20,000.
The building was insured for 3,
200, and the contents for the same
makiug $6,400. This insurance was
divided among nearly all the old line
companies represented in Columbia.
Mr. White, the vice president of the
board, is an insurance man. He has
been wired for aod will arrive here to
day. It is likely that the losses will be
adjusted by oext Tuesday. The build
ing will be rebuilt immediately. The
hospital will feel the loss of the laundry,
but will be able to make some temporary
arra.igemeot The only other incoo ven
will be she loss of the steam for cook
ing purposes, but this is not serious, as
the institution bas other taking ar*
raogemeot8.-The State, June 8.
JOHNSON'S
CHILL AND
FEVER TONIC
Cures Fever
In One Day.
An Impeached Accuser.
Senator Tillman, of South Carolina,
has. with much sound and fury, de
manded that the Senate investigate
itself as to the charges that some of
its members have profited through se
cret knowledge of the work of the
Finance Committee on the tariff by
speculation in sugar stock. Without
discussing at all the question as to
whether another sugar investigation
is needed, or whether it woald not
prove as futile as the one of three
years ago, it can be pointed out that
Mr Tillman is the very last member
of the Senate who can properly de
nounce his associates and assume the
role of righteous inquisitor. For
Mr Tillman is himself accused of vio
lation of the law of his own State,
and has in effect pleaded guilty.
The Dispensary law of South Caro
lina, with the enactment and admin
istration of which Mr. Tillman, as
Governor, had much to do, has given
birth to a cloud of charges of cor
ruption, in which Tillman is directly
accused of sharing. This law de
clares lo be "nuisances'' all places
where intoxicants are given away,
and prescribes a penalty for those
who keep such nuisances of a fine of
not less than 200 and imprisonment
of not less than six months in the
county jail Tillman himself bas
made the following authorized ad
mission :
Samples (of liquor) were sent in
great quantities when I was connect
ed with the dispensary * *
* They were freely distributed
among the visitors to the institution.
I carried some to my house and used
them, as did Gov Evans, and I pre
sume the present State Board of Con
trot have done likewise, and 1 have
no apology to make for it
This defiant confession moves the
Charleston News and Courier to pro
nounce Mr. Tillman guilty of the fol
lowing violations of the law :
First, in maintaining a common
nuisance, that is, a place where in
toxicating liquors are given away.
Second, by keeping in his house,
alcoholic liquors, without certificate
that they had been tested by the
State chemist and found to be pure.
Third, keeping in his house alcoholic
liquors without the certificate going
to show that they were purchased
from a State officer authorized to sell
tbe same.
Upon each of these counts, if con
victed, Mr. Tillman would be com
pelled to pay a fine and to go to jail.
There is a demand in South Carolina
that the Senator come home and face
these charges ; but he discreetly re
mains in Washington and rants in the
Capitol. His oratory has about it a
flavor f violence that could be fitly
eliminated by the discipline of a
turnkey. The Senate can take care of
if own honor What is the Senator
from South Carolina going todo about
his ? Ile who arraigns his fellow men
should be sure that tho skirts cf his
own toga are clear. The blustering
Tillman should look alter the beam in
his own eye.-X. Y Mail and Ex
press.
Take JOHNSON'S
CHILL & FEVER
FROM THE WIRES.
Habana, June 3-The Lse-Gongosto
commission was entertained at supper
last night by Senor Congosto, and at
breakfast this morning by Consul Gen
eral Lee.
This afternoon Mr. Calhoun left for
the United States by the steamer Sara
toga. He went on board accompanied
by the correspondents of the New York
Herald, The Journal and Advertiser.
Philadelphia, Jane 3-The interna
tional commerce Conference held
its session this morning io the
Philadelphia Commercial Museum
ball. A number of addresses were de
livered by foreign delegates, all of
which related to the commercial bank
ing and industrial conditions prevailing
in the respective countries represented
by the speakers, and in all of which
suggestions were embodied looking to
the increase of trade with the United
States.
New York, June 3.-One of the
most extensive counterfeiting plots ever
discovered by the secret service
bureau of the posteffice department was
brought to light to-day wheo Richard
D. Requesent and his wife, Eugenia,
were arraigned before Commissioner
Shields charged with issuing counter
feit bonds of the Costa Rican govern
ment of the denominations of 100
pesos.
Atlanta. June 3.-The oourt's rec
ord for swift justice was broken to-day.
Tom Kirus shot Annie Johnson, both
colored, three days ago and she died
this morning. The corner held ao in
quest and the verdict said death was
the rpsult of gunshot wound. The
grand jury found a true bill and the
prisoner was arranged in criminal court
this afternoon tor murder and wanted
to plead guilty. He was given coun
sel and will b? tried Monday.
The So. Ca. Editors.
Special to the State.
Atlanta, June 3 -The visit to Jack
son's Belle Meade farm yesterday was
one of the most enjoyable events of the
trip of the South Carolina editors.
His praises of their State and its great
men made them feel a new pride in
their birthplace. The reception given
the great horses Iriquois, Longfellow
and others was the feature of the trip.
Leaving Nashville at ll o'clock, the
party reached Atlanta at 9 this morn
ing and scattered to meet friends.
Despite the heat, the day was relished.
There was fraternization between the
Carolinians and the Atlanta newspaper
men, and Editor Clark Howell of The
Constitution entertained a numder of
the party at the Capitol City club.
The main body leave at 7 :40 by the
Seaboard Air Line for Clinton, thence
to scatter to their s everal homes, after
the most delightful of all the excursions
of tbe association. N. G. G.
Buse ball goode at the Book Store.-H. G.
33teeo & Co.
Cinco, the 5 cent straight navam Cigar
or sale by H. G. Osteen & Co.
Cinco Cigars are made by a firm with 47
years' experience and a reputation for first
class goods only. Sold io Sumter exclusive
ly by H. G. Usteen & Co.
mm I I - i
Something to Depend on.
Mr. James Jon*?, of the drug finn of Jones
& Son, Cowden, 111., in speak-ig of Dr. King's
New Discovery, says tbat last hinter his wife
was attacked with La Grippe, and her case
grew so serious that physician? at Cowden and
Pana could do nothing for her. lt ^seemed to
develop into hasty consumption. Having Dr.
King's New Discovery in store, and selling lots
of it, he took a bottle home, and lo the sur
prise of all she began to g.t helter from the
first dose, and half dozen dollar bottles cured
her sound and well. Dr. King's New Discov
erv for Consumption, Coughs and Colds is
guaranteed to do this good work. Try it
Free trials bottles at Dr- J. F. W. DeLorme's
Drug Store. 5
POWDER
Absolutely. Pure.
Celebrated for its great leavening strength
and healthfulness. Assure? the food against
alum and all forms of adulteration con moo
td the cheap brands. Royal Bakiog Powder
Co-, New York.