Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-11-09

THE GERMAN SCIENTISTS AT AIKEN.-On
Saturday last DR.. Herman Kobold and Messrs.
Adolph Marcuse and Frederick Carl, members
of the German expedition for the observation
of the transit of Venus, arrived at Aiken and
registered at the Park Avenue Hotel. DIR.
julius Franz arrived at Graniteville on Sum
day on the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta
Railroad and came on to Aiken by private
conveyance DR.. Franz is one of the astron-
omers of the Royal Observatory in Koenigs-
berg, and DR.. Kobold is the manager of pr-
vate observatory in Hungary; Mr.. Marcuse is
the scientific assistant, and Mr. Carl the mech
anician.
On Sunday last we called on these gentle
men, in company with Hon. &. w. Croft, and
were received by Drs Franz and kobold. We
found them most agreeable and cultivated
gentlemen, understanding the theory of the
English language and pronouncing admirably,
when their limited opportunity for practice is
taken into consideration, having only landed
in New York on the 23d ultimo. We learn
from them that they are literally supplied
with instruments by the German government,
and that as soon as they definitely decide on
location they will build an observatory Of
IRON with two towers, covered with sail cloth
and about thirty feet high. We inquired Of
them the number and nature of the lnstru-
ments thev used, and received for answer
four kinds: the first and chief instrument is
the heliometer, used for giving double images
and measuring the distance between the GEN.
tire of Venus and the centre of the sun; Sec
cond, two refractors to observe contacts of
Venus with the sun and occulations of stars
by the moon third, transit instruments, to
observe time and to make telegraphic deter
mination of difference of longitude between
Aiken and the Naval Observatory at Washing
ton fourth, two altazimutha or universal IN
struments to observe latitude and other en-
poyments They are instructed by their gov
ernment to erect pillar of masonry to mark
the exact spot upon which their instruments
rested while making these observations, so
that in after years the identical spot may be
made use of to verify calculations or make
new observations.
The transit of Venus will occur on the 9th
of December, but they will remain in Aiken
probably two OF three weeks longer to finish
up their work. We assured these gentlemen
that every facility would be extended by the
mayor, council and citizens generally for the
prosecution of their scientific investigations,
and after a short but very pleasant visit took
leave of our distinguished guests. The Ger
man Government has sent expeditions to the
following additional points: Punta Arenas,
at the straits of Magellan; Bahia Blanca, in
the Argentine Republic and at Hartford,
Connecticut. .-Aiken Recorder.
MURDER IN HAMPTON CoUNTY.-A dis
patch of last Monday to the Ne,cs md Courier
from Varnville, in Hampton county, says:
Yesterday morning policeman Reid, Of Hamp-
ton G. H., threatened to take pistol from
Jake CAN'T, negro thereupon the latter
went to Brunson, collected about twenty ne
groes and returned to Hampton. Upon seeing
CAN'T, Reid again insisted that he should give
up the pistol. There were six whites on the
spot, Reid, Novel;, Gerald, Samuel Dewitt,
Major Cansey and H. A. Peoples Upwards
of fifteen negroes fired upon Reid, who was al
most instantly killed. The negroes then turn
ed upon the other whites and severely beat and
cut NOVEL;, Gerald and Dewitt. Peoples
jumped on his horse saying II will 60 to
Varnville and summon help" When he reach
ed the edge of town he was waylaid by two ne
groes who stopped his horse and exclaimed
"You are the damned rascal going for help to
Varnville" Thereupon they dragged him
from his horse and stabbed him with knife
on the left thigh and side. They were brutal
ly beating him when, seeing that he would
probably he killed, he resorted to the ruse of
calling on an absent friend to come to his as
sistance with pistol This had the desired
effect, and, after cutting the bride, they left
him.
The negroes had not the slightest proyoca-
tion, as Reid was dischargng his duty. Threats
were made by the negroes that many more
whites would bite the dust by Tuesday night