Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-01-02
Straps and faets.

Republican party, seems to recognize
fully the fact that the financial ques-
ton has not yet been dropped out of
politics. Last week he issued a call
for monetary conference to be held
in Indianapolis, Ind, on January II.
What the conference intends to do has
not vet been given out; but it is likely
that it will at least give this important
matter some serious consideration.
- Another epidemic of bank failures
is in progress throughout the country.
1t began in Chicago about 10 days
ago, and at once extended to several
western cities, and has also included
two banks in Virginia and one in Ala
bama. The total number of failures
so far is more than a dozen. "Bad
collecting" etc., is commonly assigned
as the cause of the trouble, and the
"scarcity of money" seems to be gen
erally realized as the cause of the bad
collections.
"A horrible tragedy occurred on
the Birmingham Mineral railroad,
about 81 miles from Birmingham, on
last Sunday. A loaded passenger train
fell through the Cahaba river bridge, a
distance of 10 feet, and 26 people lost
their lives. After falling, some of the
cars caught fire and many of the un-
fortunates were burned beyond recog-
milton. Only seven persons on the
whole train escaped with their lives,
and these were badly injured. The
railroad people claim that the wreck
was the work of would-be train rob-
bers; but whether or not this is true
has not been positively established.
- The little island of Juan Fernan-
dez, off the west coast of Chilli, and
known to the world as "Robinson
Crusoe's island" has sunk beneath
the waves. The news was first given
to the world some three weeks ago by
a Spanish sea captain, who claimed
that he saw the island disappear, as
the result of a mighty earthquake,
which almost wrecked his vessel many
miles away. The story of the Spanish
captain was not generally believed !;
but it has since been confirmed in part
by Captain Powell, an American skip
per who arrived at San Francisco
recently. He says that he passed near
the place where the island should
have been, and it is no longer there.
- The dispatches from Key West are
still loath to let General Maceo die.
The latest alleged news from the dash
ing captain is contained in telegram
dated last Wednesday. 1t is to the
effect that Maceo was really led into a
treacherous ambush, as has been
charged, and that he was shot through
the neck by DR.. Zertucha. He fell,
but was carried off the field by his
comrades. Since that time he has had
a very close shave but is now being
nursed back to life in place of safety
by skilled physicians. Young Gomez
did not commit suicide, as has been
claimed; but was stabbed to death
with u bayonet, and the note which
was found on his body was written by
Zertucha. The principal corrobora-
ton of this story lies in the fact that
l:Mzeesss- -boaay(has not yet beer pro:
duced by the Spaniards
- A dispatch from Hartford, Conn.,,
says that the town of Manchester is
in a pitiable condition on account of
the cocaine habit. About year ago
a local druggist introduced prepara-
tion of cocaine and menthol to be used
as snuff and recommended as remedy
for headache. Users of the prepara-
tion said it was a good thing and the
sale become general. Almost every
one who tried the stuff soon became
a slave to the cocaine habit, and OF
late it has got to he common thing
for prominent citizens to 60 to the
drugstores at all hours of the night
after the drug. In cases where drug
gists have shown reluctance to get out
of their beds, they have been told that
their stores would be broken open.
Nearly the whole town is in constant
state of stupefaction, and the matter
has become 80 serious that an agita-
tion has been commenced all over the
state to restrict the sale of the drug.
Hon. w. J. Bryan delivered the
first of his series of so lectures under
his contract with McBee and Com
stock, in Atlanta, on Wednesday night
of last week. From a literary stand
point, and even financially, the lecture
was a success; but MIR. Bryan and
others are dissatisfied. All now begin
to realize that if Mr.. Bryan shall un-
dertake to deliver lecture which, OF
its own merit, will be worth the price
of admission, he must necessarily com
promise his dignity as presidential
candidate. Nobody seems to realize
this fact more keenly than Mr.. Bryan.
To friend in Atlanta, he is reported
to have said: "My friends tell me
that 1 have made a mistake to enter
the lecture field, and I am inclined to
agree with them. I have been severe
ly criticised by many for entering into
this contract, and am really sorry
did so. If the thing was to be done
over again I should not sign that con-
tract. I should stop even now, with
out going further, but for the fact that
the managers have number of heavy
guarantees, and if I should not fill the
dates made it would mean heavy losses
to them"
Governor Atkinson of Georgia, has
pardoned, from the state penitentiary
Harry Hill and Sidney Lacelles, two
celebrated convicts, both of whom
were serving sentences for forgery
Their terms were five wears earh and