Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-05-22

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Convict Escapes.
Correspondence of the Yorkvile Enquirer.
Rock HILL, May 2O.-Thc excur-
sion from Camden, OH last Friday,
was we'll patronized, and several
coaches full of pleasure-seekers landed
in Rock Hill between 10 and II
o'clock. The train stopped first at
the depot, and then brought the rest
of the crowd to the grounds of the
Winthrop college, where it had been
decided to picnic for the day. Most
of the party dined in the large dining
hall, in which Supt. Stewart had kind
ly put up some long picnic tables.
Most of the morning had been spent
in Oakland but after dinner, the
crowd became scattered, and the
many friends of the excursionists
among our own citizens mingling with
them in pleasant social intercourse,
made the day one long to be remem-
bered by both visitors and homefolks.
In the afternoon, some of the crowd
repaired to the pavilion and engaged
for awhile in the pleasures of a dance
a number of others went to the base
ball grounds, where closely contest
ed game between the juveniles of Cam
den and Rock Hill resulted in a victo-
ry for the latter and others still, dis
persed in all directions, walking and
riding, visited various points ofintercst
in our little city. Just before the
train moved off from the depot on the
homeward trip, General John D. Ken
nedy, from the platform Of one of the
coaches, spoke some very pleasant
words on behalf of the visitors, which
were warmly received and heartily
applauded by the crowd of citizens
who had gathered there to bid these
most welcome guests farewell.
The very inclement weather, Friday
night, kept away many who would
otherwise have attended Miss Gertrude
Williamson's musical recital at the
graded school building. Quite a good
audience did attend, however, and in
spite of the fact that several of those
expected to take part could not be
present the concert was a pronounced
success financially and otherwise.
Some natural disappointment is felt
here over the fact that Rock Hill fail
ed to secure the location of the Ep-
worth Orphanage. Those who were
most interested and who showed the
greatest activity in trying to have the
institution brought here, say that while
other places may have outbid Rock
Hill so far as cash subscriptions went,
they feel sure that the benefits that
would have accrued to the orphanage
fromits being so near the Industrial
college, would far outweigh any con-
sideration in favor of the other places
submitting bids.
The presence of Rev. Toji Takada
in our midst yesterday, was rare
treat, not only to the members of the
Presbyterian congregations in whose
houses of worship he spoke, but to hum
dreds of others from the various de-
nominations represented here who
were attracted to these special services.
There was no services in the Metho-
dist church last night, and the i'm
mense crowd that gathered to hear
this gifted young japanese divine tell
of his personal experience in coming
forth from the darkness of heathen
dom to the blessed light of the gospel,
was the largest, probably, that has
yet been assembled within the spacious
walls of the First Presbyterian church
building. Mr.. Takada has made a
warm place in the hearts of the people
of Rock Hill, and many fervent pray
ers will follow this noble young herald
of the cross, as he goes forth to pro-
claim the tidings of salvation to his
own benighted people.
One of the convicts employed at the
Industrial college, made his escape last
night. He was a white man named
Swain, and had been sent up from
Lexington county. The strange part
about the matter is, that he lacked only
a few days of serving out his sentence.
No blame can be attached to Sergeant
Mendenhall or any Of his subordinates,
as Swain had come here about two
months ago from the penitentiary,
where he was classed as "trusty,"
and no attempt had been made to
keep him under close surveillance du-
ring his stay here.