Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-04-03

tract for 10, O,l25, 600 packages OF Vege-
table seeds, to be distributed to the
public under the recent act of congress,
to D. Landreth & Sons, of Philadel-
phia. The price to be paid for the
seeds is $40, 900, and it is conditioned
in the contract that the seeds shall be
furnished in packages labeled with
the name of Landredth & Sons. In
addition to this purchase, a contract
was also let to L. L. May & Sons, of
St. Louis, to furnish 10000 packages
of flower seeds at one.half cent a pack
age. The seeds will be ready for dis
tribution within few days.
- The second will of Benjamin
Franklin was admitted to probate in
Boston on March 26. When Franklin
died in 1890, he made two wills. One
of them provided for an immediate
disposition of certain property, and
the other set apart the sum of $4,000
to be held in trust for 108 years and
then expended for the use of young
mechanics. 1t was provided that the
other will should be opened at the
same time, and certain other property
disposed of according to directions.
The $4,000 has grown to the sum OF
gill, 900, and the other property is OF
considerable value. Franklin's de-
sires will be as strictly complied with
as possible.
- Senator Vest was making speech
in the senate, the other day, when Mr..
PETER arose and began to speak, and
then Mr.. Sherman, all three addressing
the chair at the same time. Mr.. Vest
looked amazed, and after minutes
hesitation, called out: "Mr. President,
Mr.. President!" The president paid
no attention to Mr.. Vest, however,
when the Missouri member suddenly
changed his tactics by declaring his
desire to make parliamentary inqui-
ry. This appeal was not lost on the
president. "The gentleman from Mis-
souri, will state it," he said ignoring
Mr.. PETER and Mr.. Sherman. 81 be-
lieve I was addressing the senate and
had the foor," said Mr.. Vest, "but it
seems that have no longer got it. If
can't get it any other way, I rise to a
parliamentary inquiry to find out how
I lost it." There was ripple OF
laughter. Mr.. Sherman apologized for
his interruption, and Mr.. Vest contin-
ued to hold the fort.
The great debate between Charles
F. Crisp and Hoke Smith, on the
silver question, took place in Augusta
last Tuesday night in the presence OF
several thousand people. Crisp stood
for the free coinage of silver at the
ratio of 16 to 1. His speech was
mainly based upon the proposition
that silver was demonetized for the
purpose of diminishing the supply OF
money and thereby increasing the
value of that which was left, with the
result of increasing the value of inter
est bearing securities. Smith took the
ground that free coinage would mean
silver monometallism, wages would be
reduced half, and it would be long
time before they could be gotten back
to where they now are. Both debaters
received liberal applause; but Crisp
had rather the best of it. Smith did
not offer any remedy for the existing
order of things; but promised to do so
in a speech to be delivered in Atlanta
on Thursday night.
A horrible story comes from Cuba
under date of last Tuesday. 1t seems
that five Cubans had been condemned
to death by the garote, on the charge
of being "murderers and incendiaries. "
The garote is an implement for the
execution of criminals by torture. 1t
consists Of an iron loop, fastened to a
post, and frightened by means of a
thumb screw from behind. After the
neck of the victim is adjusted in the
loop, the executioner slowly does the
rest. The five men were taken out to
a public place in Havana, and sur
rounded by troops. One of them con-
fessed that he alone was guilty of the
crime for which all had been condemn
ed. The others protested their inno-
cence. 1t was clear that a terrible
mistake had been made; but there was
no help for it. The public executioner
had deputized an assistant to conduct
the affair. The assistant was much
impressed by the confession and
became quite nervous. He trembled
so that he could not perform his
horrible work properly. The first
man took his seat calmly. The exc.
cutioner botched his work and death
followed from slow strangulation, &C.
companied. by the most distressing
cries. The second case turned out the
same way. The crowd was so horri-
fed that demand was made that the
balance of the work be done by the
regular executioner. He had become
so excited he could not do the work
properly either, and executed two
men after the manner of the first two
Then, also overcome by the horror Of
the thing, he ran away from the scene
leaving the fifth and last victim in the
hands of his assistants.
This has been an exciting week in
the field, says dispatch that was sent
to the St. Louis Globe Democrat from
Havana, via. Key West, under date Of
March 25. The rebels have gained
victories against great odds. splendid