davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-26
Big Fire in Bamberg.
Special to The State.

Special to The State.
Bamberg. s. c., Feb 23.-To-
night Bamberg experienced tn e
most disastrous fire ever known in
her history. The total loss is $780,
900; insurance $4,000
The Bamberg Alliance warehouse
was discovered on fire about half
past 8 O'Clock There were between
900 and / 900 bales of cotton stored
in the warehouse, belonging to the
cotton mill, and about 200 bales be
longing to farmers who were holding
for high prices The State liquor dis
pensary had it's stock in this building,
which is also a total loss, together
with the Alliance warehouse stock OF
groceries, etc.
Thg most heroic efforts were made
by the citizens and the local volun
teer fire department to save the ware
house and adjoining buildings, but
to no purpose.
The losses are covered by the fol-
lowing insurance: Pennsylvania, ST..
900; Hartford. $4,000; Commercial
Union, s. 900; Phoenix, 81, 900; Nor
wich Union, $4,000; London, Liver
pool and Globe, $4,000; Western, S.
600; Greenwich, $4,000: Sun Mutual
$4,000; Georgia Home, $4,000.
Mrs. Dahney Hix loses $1,000 OF
dwelling; insured in Pennsylvanl;
for $500.
The origin Of the fire IS mystery
and is supposed to have been causet
by rats.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-26
Cubans Quietly Shot.
General Weyler's Methods
Already Enforced.

Habana. Feb. 23.-General Wey-
ler has ordered the military COM
manders to make fuller reports in
case of arrests of political prisoners.
Weyler has already ordered num-
Der OF prisoners released. owing to
the lack of evidence Numerous
arrests, however, continue in all
parts of the island Fifty prisoners
were sent to the isle Of Pines last
week The number of men present
ing themselves claiming amnesty is
much less since Weyler's arrival. 1t
is generally understood that offers of
amnesty to al who will lay down
their arms no longer holds good
An American planter from Santa
Clara informed me that Cubans pre-
senting themselves in the vicinity of
his estate are quietly shot and no
questions asked about interment next
morning.
The press censorship has been re
moved in name only American dis
patches fled at the cable Office are
taken to the palace and edited be-
fore being sent. The correspondents
are unable to learn what parts. if
any, are stricken cut Brief cables
referring to the senate discussion
have produced editorials bitter
against the United States The
Americans here hope warship will be
near on account OF the moral effect
by the time action is taken on the
belligerency question.
(Signed) Clark.
Key West, Fla, February 23.-
Private advices to this city this
morning by the steamer Whitney
report that dynamite bomb was ex-
ploded at or near the Henry Clay
cigar factory in Habana yesterday
morning. 1t is supposed to be the
work Of the Cuban revolutionary
committee in that city.
1t is reported that eight or ten of
the Cuban sympathlzers imprisoned
in the Cabanas and Morro Castle are
murdered every night by order of
General Weyler, and in order to stop
this bloody work the revolutionary
in the city of Habana
have issued a maifesto stating that
if it is continued, they will blow up
the city with dynamite.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-26

urge you to adopt the amendment TO
Section Sc Under the authority
given in this section the Comptroller
General draws :ais warrant and the
Treasurer pays the printer, regard
less of the appropriation. Under Sec
tion A the reports are printed at
much greater cost than ever contem.
plated by the General Assembly. In
reports that cost 81 ,667, ~ there are
only fifteen hal pages printed at the
contract price Of 99c per page. all
the balance being in smaller type at a
higher rate.
Your committee believe if their
amendments which are-embraced IN
a bill entitled: ga bill to further reg
u|ate public printing, reports of otfic.
ials and compensation for same, and
also the bill "To amend Section l OF
an Act to provide for the selection OF
Public Printer and to regulate the
awarding of contracts tor public
printing, approved December %, lS-
SO, in so far as same relates to com
pensation,' are adopted and the law
strictly enforced, it will result in the
saving of from $4,000 to $4,000 per
annum.
ALTAMONT MOSES,
Com. on part of Senate.
NJ. B. McSWEENEY,
J. r. EARLE.
| W. OWMAN,
Com on part of House
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-26
r H &
New Work World,
THRICE-.4- WEEK EDITION.
Is PAGES \ WEEK.
1856 PAPERS \ YEAR

Is ,&.ge- than any weekly or semi-weekly
rnrer published and is the only important
Democratic weekly published in New
York City. Three times hs large rs the lead
ing Republican weekly Of New York City.
i; will be of especial advantage to you during
the Presidential CAmpsie rs it is published
e:erv other day, except Sunday. and has ell
The freshness and t,trel:ness of daily 1t
combines I'll! toe news wi;h Ions, list OF 10
,eres,iag departments, un:qne features, car
icons and graphic illustrations, The latter oe-
irg p specially.
All these improvements iave been made
without any Increase in the cost, which re-
mains at one dollar per year.
We offer this ureqaaIed newspaper acd the
IFa,cllman and Scuthron together one year
for 81 25.
The regular subscription price Of the TWO
papers is g So
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-26
MACEO STILL LIVES

Madrid. Feb ga dispatch to
the Impartial from Habana says that
no official confirmation has been re-
ceived of the report of the death of
Antonio Maceo, the second in COM
mand Of the rebel forces. The ru-
NOR of his death was based on the
finding of a saddle bearing his ini'
tials after the fight at Caminete
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-26
Gin Repairing.

T AN PREPARED to thoroughly overhaul,
l repair. and sharpen Gins AID guarantee
to put same 10 first class order. Work at
tended 10 anvwhere in the country and
orders hy maj: will have prompt a'ten'ion,
if addressed 10 ne at Sumter. s. c. Satls-
factory references given in desired.
Fen 10 W r. JONES.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-26

The Sumter Music House, ii Masonic TEN
pie, sell Pianos, Organs and Sewing Machines.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-25

ties with England our navy would be
found inadequate. To-day we have
only n few ships" he said, scarcely
any battleshlps. Cruisers are only
meant TO act as pickets. When Eng
land sends out a battleship 1t is ac-
companied by four cruisers. We want
battleships and until we get them we
shall not be prepared to fight" He
did not think an English fleet would de-
stroy New York, but it might bottle
us up.
This is intelligent testimony as to
what is needed for the adequate de
Tense of the country and the matter
is of such paramount Importance
that it Is most extraordinary the
representatives of the people in
congress should be apparently so
Indifferent to II. 1t is true that the
financial condition of the government
is not favorable to large appropriations
for strengthening our defenses, but this
is not a valid or sufficient reason for
neglecting this imperative duty. AS
Senator Cullom says, If there is not
enough money in the treasury there are
various ways by which the required
amount can be raised.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-25
LABBY'S HOT RLAST
He Pitches Into the Chartered Grab
bcrs Of South Africa.
J4,I,, rN,,,,L

bers of south Africa.
London Truth.
1t is a shameful and abominable business
all around, out of which no Englishman can
extract a grain of satisfaction. But If ever
men died with their blood on their own
heads, they are the men who fell in this raid
and IL ever prisoners Of war deserved scant
mercy, Jameson and his comrades are those
prisoners. They may thank their stars that
they have fallen into the hands of men who
are not likely to treat them as they them
selves treated the Matabele wounded and
prisoners. 1t Is not two years yet since poor
old Lo Ben was hunted to death. He has
been well and speedily avenged.
With Jameson, or any who act like him, 1
have no sympathy. But nothing will con-
vince me that he acted in this business with
out the knowledge or the approval of his
chief and patron, Mr.. Cecil Rhodes. Though
| have no regard for heroes of this pattern,
1t is obvious that Jameson is a popular man,
with the faculty of inspiring unbounded trust
and confidence in those around and under
him. / suspect the truth to be that 1t Is
for these and other qualities that he has
been selected for his position by Rhodes, and
he will add one more to the many who have
served that ambitious and crafty individual
to their own ruin.
For such INSCRIPTIONS treachery, whether
Matched with the completely of the dummy
directors at home or not, the company must
pay the penalty. The history of the com
pany is disgraceful from beginning to end.
1t began by trucking Lobengula out of half
his dominions; it went on to rob him by
violence of the other half. Its recent policy
has been to hire ruffians for nlibusteriug
raids and to manipulate the results for stock
exchange purposes. Such operations are a
mere adaptation of the methods and morals
of Captain Kidd to the requirements of
modern civilization. That the British gov
m should ever have countenanced such
dC1ngs is a disgrace to us, and we are reap
ing the result now in the unconcealed aver
sion or contempt Of all other nations.
At the head of this company are two dukes
one of them a relative of the queen-and
their professions of ignorance of the plot
sprung last week show them to be mere or
nanlental figure-heads who have hired them
selves to a financing gang, like the show
directors of humber companies, in order to
cover the designs of the real principals, and
secure influence In the right quarter. That
the thing has been profitable to them must
be assumed; and there can be no doubt that
it has been advantageous to the hirers. To
make money has been the one object of all,
ana all have doubtless succeeded. But every
farthing that has been made has come out of
the pockets Of British investors, and has
been stained with the blood of African ma
tives. To all this is now added that, in the
pursuit of their designs, this crew are ready
to defy every national obligation and every
principle OF international law, to drag the
national honor through the mire, and to
Jeopardize the safety Of the empire even AT
a most critical moment in the international
history.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-25
rnnn


If Il I've true that President Cleveland
has advised the president of Venezuela
to establish diplomatic relations with
Great Britain the advice is good and
ought TO be favorably received by the
government of the South American re-
public. Some time ago II was reported
that Mr.. Cleveland had suggested to
prominent vcnczuelans who called upon
him that their government should care
fully avoid doing anything to ~aggravate
the situation, especially by the commits
sion of any overt act of a hostile ma
turc. There could be no improperly,
certainly, in a simple suggestion, under
existing circumstances, from the presi-
dent of the United States to the presi-
len of Venezuela that il would be well
to restore diplomatic relations with
Great Britain, it being assumed, of
course, that the latter country would be
found willing to have this done.
The severance of diplomatic relations
between the two countries was at the
instance of Venezuela and 1t therefore
devolves upon that country to take the
initiative for restoring such relations.
This suspension of diplomatic relations
has continued since 1887, when Nene-
zuela protested "bcforc her British ma
jesty's government, before all civilized
nations and before the world in general
against the acts of s~poliation committed
to her detriment by the government of
.t,.,,, D,.;tni, ,t.I;nl, e1,n ~ ~ ti,,,a aud
on no account will recognize as capable
of altering in the least the rights which
she has inherited from Spain and re-
speeding which she win even be willing
to submit to the decision of n third
power" Since that time negotiations
regarding the boundary dispute have
been carried on indirectly-in 1890
through the Venezuelan minister in
Paris and a special envoy on that sub
iect and in 1893 through Il confidential
agent.
In one of his notes to Secretary Olney
on the Venezuelan dispute Lord Sails
bury SAID: 'This controversy has I'M
doubleday been made more difficult by
the inconsiderate action of the Vene-
zuelan government in breaking off re-
lations with her majesty's government
and its settlement has been CORE
sp%ondingly delayed" 1t is fairly to be
inferred from this that the British gov
eminent would readily resume diplo-
matte relations if asked to do so by
Venezuela and the latter country could
take such action without in the least
compromising its position. That a re-
sumption of diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries might help
greatly toward an amicable solution of
the controversy is altogether probable.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-25
PRESIDENTIAL TIMBER.

Chicago Post: II Is positively announced
that Harrison Is In the race, aud we WIN
now have a chance TO see what he can do In
double harness.
Chicago Record. Mr.. Benjamin IIarri-
sons friends and neighbors have not re-
linquishcd by any means the theory that
some good man from Indiana Is the impera-
tive need Of the hour.
Philadelphia Times: Mckinley is said to
be using his leisure holding his hand to his
ear. 1t may be he's waiting for his coun-
try's call, or It may be he's afraid Reed or
somebody may put a nea in II,
Buffalo Express: 1t is doubtful II Foraker
Is yet the open presidential candidate that
some political correspondents represent him
to be. Ii is not his style to be courageous
even in his treachery. He will probably 60
to st. Louis as a Mckinley man and await
his opportunities.
Springfield Republican: Some people think
they see the hand of John Sherman in this
Monroe doctrine resolution pushing Davis
forward as a presidential candidate to crowd
out Allison, in payment of Allison's frequent
services in crowdlng out Sherman. If that
Is not 80, tactics equally petty are back Of
the resolution. 1t offers internal evidence of
this.
Philadelphia Record: The Allison boom
seems to be gathering shape and substance in
the bounding west. The republicans of
Iowa insist that they have no second choice.
Mr.. Allison is a favorite with that large body
OF republican voters who are not violent pro-
tectionists. nor radical friends of sound
money. nor so welded to any political pr!n-
ciple that they could not see the way to
compromise IL occasion offered. Mr., Allison
is cautious, conservative, decent and able.
He would make another such a president as
Benjamin Harrison.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-25
A Cable Subsidy job.

>''N>oS fA'A'N
1t Is stated in the Washington dispatches
that the house committee on commerce will
report a bill authorizing the laying of a tele-
graph cable from the Pacific coast to Hawaii
and Japan and granting a subsidy for twenty
years to the company which does the work.
In return for this grant all government bust
ness is to be done free of charge. AS 1t Is
estimated that the telegraph bills of the gov
eminent cannot amount to more than $40, 900
to $40, 900 a year, and as the lowest rate of
subsidy asked for is $3.50 900, this scheme
would not be a profitable one for the govern
ment, though II would be for the promoters
and exploiters interested in the company.
Nor IL a cable were laid would the CONNER
cial classes of this country use 1t enough to
justify congress in paying $3.50, 900 (nor the
tenth part of that sum to secure its con-
struction. This, is not a good time for sub
sidy bills. What money there is to spare
must be expenaed for steel armored vessels
and coast defenses, batteries and high
power guns, rather than to enable %specula-
tors to make money in laying the ocean
cable proposed
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-25
BAYARD's PLEA.

indianapolis Journal: Ambassador Bay.
ard attaches no Importance to his speeches
and. perhaps, after all, he is the best Judge
Chicago Tribune: Mr.. Bayard does moi
seem yet to be aware that he has committed
a gross improperly and has offended nearly
all Americans. His defense is that he has
done nothing Englishmen can complain of.
II Is their good will he is concerned about.
The president does not seem to have cen
sured Mr.. Bayard yet. Then congress should
do so, and do 1t emphatically.
Springfield Republican: Ambassador Bay
ards case is now in the hands of congress.
The defense offered is not very strong. As
for that Boston (Eng.) speech Mr.. Bayard
certainly ought to know whether the senti-
ments attributed to him were or were not
what he intended to utter, If he cannot tell
whether he was accurately reported or not.
But in any case a warning from the eXecu-
tive ought to suffice. 1t is a matter which
looks small in the light Of subsequent events.
Philadelphia Record: Mr.. Bayard has very
obligingly sent, for information Of congress,
copies of his Edinburgh speech and his ex-
temporaneous remarks in assisting at a High
school function at Boston, England. The
president has transmitted Mr.. Bayard's in
closures to the house, with the
that he has done nothing in the matter
which is equivalent to saying that in his
opinion nothing needs to be done. There Is
not a truer American in America than Tom
Lay uh's ihiS 'DSSNhNS ''1eh' " l''
llshed he would need no further vindication
from the gnats and gallinippers that have
been buZzing about his ears.
Boston Advertiser: 1t is a moderate state
ment to say that the ambassadors efforts to
make out a defense fail completely. 1t
would not be an eXaggeration to add that they
leave him in a worse plight than before. He
pleads. for instance, in extenuation of his
talk about his countrymen being a sometimes
violent people who need a strong man to
rule over them, that the speech in question
was made in connection with the graduating
exercises Of a grammar school and that he
spoke without notes and without any prepa-
ration. Surely, at such a time and under
such circumstances he ought to have been
particularly careful to bride his tongue. He
further urges that what he said about the
president and the American people on that
occasion was spoken in response to an after
dinner toast. We have, indeed, heard that
there is a rule in vogue in England in GER
tain convivial circles that no gentleman is to
be held responsible for anything he says
after dinner, but we do not understand that
the strict instructions which have
been formulated by the United States State
department for the guidance Of diplomatic
representatives, rules whose spirit if not
whose letter Mr.. Bayard violated in his
Edinburgh address, contain any such saving
clause.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-25
WILL NOT BE ARBITR1TED.

The question as to how much the gov
eminent of the United States should
pay "a damages for the seizure of Brit
iSh sealing vessels in Boring sea in 1856
and 1887 will be settled by a commits
sion, congress having refused to APP
propriate he sun agreed upOn by the
secretary of state and the British min
lister, on the ground that it is excessive,
although greatly reduced from the
amount originally claimed. The mat
ter will now be settled in the way that
should have been adopted at first and
which would have averted a great deal
of controversy not altogether creditable
to this country. There is Il quite gen
eral misrepresentation regarding this
matter, it being assumed by many that
the Paris tribunal of arbitration that
passed upon the Boring sea dispute
made a specific award of damages for
the seizure of British sealers. What
that tribunal decided was that the
United States had no ownership of the
open waters of Boring sea beyond the
usual territorial limits and therefore
the seizure of the British SealerS out
side those limits was not justified. 1t
left the question of damages for the
seizures to further negotiations. The
late Secretary Gresham and the British
ambassador agreed on $425,OOO as a.
fair sum for damages, but congress re-
garded this amount as excessive and
refused to make the appropriation. 1t
has been a somewhat irritating issue
and its settlement will be welcome.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-25

CnlCHEO lltltS-tttIalus
Judge Grosscup has dismissed the indlct-
ments against the packers accused Of con-
spring with officers Of the Santa Fe system
to secure rebates. This action was taken on
technical grounds, the courts principal rea-
son being that no proof was alleged that
money or other valuable thing was paid to
procure Discrimination and that the indict-
ments we're imperfect from failure to specify
the names of any persons who had been dis
eliminated against. Therefore the packers
go free, while the railway officials must stand
trial.
1t is to some degree gratifying that action
has been taken to clean up the cloud under
which theae indictments have rested for
fifteen months. and q speedy trial of the
accused would now be advisable. The public
Is not very we'll informed as to the o%ffenses.
1t only knows what has been charged In the
press and from the platform-namely, that
certain dealers enjoyed illegal rates by
means of which they were able to crush the
life out of competition, and that the Santa
Fe system lost about S13, 900, 600 through re-
bates. and from a prosperous position was
brought to earth with a crash unparalleled
in the history of criminal railway manage
ment.
Who was responsible for this crime? The
Times-Herald is not at all disposed to pre-
Judge the case, but the reply is obvious. The
chief benefciaries of this roguery are APP
parently protected, and they may thank
their stars for the lucky technicalities. But
som of the men who engineered the IRE
bate may be brought to justice. The sooner
the better. There have been too few sue
cessful prosecutions under the interstate
commerce act, and by a course of reasoning
which is none the less deplorable because It
is inconsistent the people have come to re-
gard this statute as a net strong enough to
hold little men but not heavy enough to
Withstand the rich and powerful.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-25

Another investigation into alleged
misconduct Of n state university has
ended in n report unfolding existing
methods of educational work. A know
ing county superintendent preferred
charges against President Charles Ken
dali Adams of the University of Wis
c%onsin, accusing him of attempting to
make the institution aristocratic in
spirit. The Investigating committee
seems to have been unable to discover
the aristocratic tendency and the result
is an endorsement of the presidents
policy.
Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-25

Members of the state banking board
make the announcement that inasmuch
as the new law governing insolvent
banks vests the appointment of re-
ceivers in the district courts. they can
no longer entertain applications for re-
ceivership positions. This is an easy
way to get rid of a bad job, especially
as the board remains free to exert its
influence upon the district judges for
the appointment Of particular men as
bank receivers whenever it happens to
have n preferred candidate.