The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-30
GEN. SIBERIAN fESPoXsIBLE.

the ground that the burning Of Colu,p-
bia was, 10 tar as he is concerned, &C.
eidental.
believe that General Sherman is
fully responsible for the crime of de-
stroying Columbia, and ask leave to
state ono good reason for my belief. Ii
l appeal unto Cesar, Cesar, at least,
ought not to complain. There are
several points III this one reason of
mine:
l. On page 2e7 Of volume /. Of the
Supplemental Report of the Joint
Committee on the Conduct Of the War,
published officially by tho United
States government, are these words in
q dispatch dated Decembcr lS, 1864,
from Major General ii. W. Halleck,
IN Washington, to General Sherman,
then In Savannah: "Should you cap
ture Charleston hope that by some
accident the place may be destroyed; !;
and It a little salt sbould be sown upon
Its site 1t may prevent the growth of
future crops of notification aud scces-
sion" Is not tho meaning Of this per-
fcctly clear?
2. General Sherman wrote, in reply
to the despatch above quoted, under
date Of December "a. l8G4-see the
"Supplemental Report" page 29l-.
these words: Il will bear in mind
your hint as to charleston, and don't
think 'snlt will DC necessary. When
l move the Fifteenth corps will be on
the right Of the right wing, and their
position will bring them naturally
into Charleston first; and if YOU have
watched the history Of that corps you
will have remarked !hat they general
ly do their work up pretty well. The
truth is the whole army is burning
with All Unsuitable desire to wreak
vengeance. upon South Carolina. l
almost tremble at her fate, but feel that
she deserves all that seems in store for
her. / look upon Columbia
as quite as bad as Charleston" Isnot
the meaning OF this also perfectly
clear? 4
s. On the 18th Of February follow
ing above dates General Sherman with
his army reached Columbia. The
Fifteenth corps was on the right of the
right wing OF the army and entered
Columbia first, and the work of pillage,
debanchery and arson was done up
pretty well, and the General " ho was
"supreme IN command inside of Co.
lumbia" felt and still seems to feel that
she deserved all that was in store for
her.
4. Here have shown by General
Shcnnans own testimony that he
wished to wreak vengeance on Colum-
bia; that he assured General Halleck,
his superior officer, that he would so
wrcak vengeance OH Columbia or
Charleston or anything South Caro-
linian, giving in advance his plan for
so doing, without the manlincss Of q
positive military order to burn; and
that his movement into Columbia was
carrying out his announced plan Of
wreaking vengeance-a plan which he
knew (and had so stately would de-
stroy the city.
That is my first reason for believing
that General Sherman is responsible
for the destruction ofColumbia. 1t is
the first but by no means the strongest
Of my reasons for this belief.
Believing that this point is new to
the casual reader OF to-day l respect
fully submit 1t.
JAMES WooD DAVIDSON.
New York, June 2S, 1881.
FEARFUL RAILROAD DISASTER IN
MEXloo.-A special dispatch from the
CITY OF Mexico says the accident at
halpais loses none Of its horror
through receipt Of fuller and more nc
curate advices. For some time past
the district where it occurred has heel
swept b! fierce storms, swelling creeks
INTO torrents, laying waste many fer
tile folds. The bridge spanning the
river at tho point mentioned, although
known to be unsafe, was still in use
when the fated train bearing a battal-
ion ofsoldicrs attempted its passage
The result was crash as the under
mined supports gave way and the Ell.
CINE and cars were hurled headlong
down the chasm. Scarcely had the
magnitude of the disaster become ap.
parent when new horror was added
In the freight cars comprising por.
ton of the train was n consignment o
alcohol. And a consequent explosion
contributed much to the loss of life
The few who escaped uninjnred al
once applied themselves to the rcscut
ofthcir unfortunate comrades, but il
was some hours before the extent O
the disaster became apparent. 1t i.
now known TINT 13 officers and 10!
: privatcs were either killed outright b,
, the fall or roasted to death, while 81
r others sustained hurts Of q more OF
+ serious character. The train was eli
tirely consumed. When informatio,
of the appalling calamity reached th;
this city the excitement was unbound
ed and crowds throDgcd all news cen
tres anxionsly awaiting particulars
Never in tho history Of the republi,
has so frightful casualty been chron
icled, and its occurrence it is fcarct
may still further prejudice the popula,
J MIND against railway enterprises
However, Los Gringas: rs the natives
term all outside barbarians can com,
IN for no share of the blame in thi
connection.
j "A tedious old clergyman hat
!, NrpaChGl for on hnnr. kboi, In so,,a n III.