Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-05-16
Straps aud faets.

neritance tax law.
- This has been a peculiar season
for the farmers and planters through
out the Mississippi valley, says Mem,
phis dispatch, and practically in those
sections in which cotton is the staple
product; on account of the late rains
it was feared for a time that it would
not be possible to get in a big crop.
This fear has disappeared, however.
The only worry which the planters are
considering is that they won't be able
to get all the seed they need. Last
fall the demand for cotton seed oil
mill, was so strong for the product and
prices were so good, that very few
planters had enough seed over to fur
nish all needed for planting. In some
sections the price of seed went up 300
per cent. and in many instances the
seed planting, were sold loose. If the
first planting had been successful it is
not believed there would have been
anything approaching a scarcity OF
seed but when many fields which had
been planted were almost swept away
by the floods, arrangements had to be
made for other seed. To this fact is
due the shortage in seed.
- Alec Whitney, a popular young
social leader Of Augusta, was murdered
last Sunday afternoon by a Negro
dude named Gus Wilson, and although
it is not yet definitely known to be the
case, it is believed that Wilson has
been lynched. Whitney and friend
were occupying a bench in a street
car that was comfortably full. Two
negroes came in and Whitney said
there were no seats for them. Wilson
told his companion to sit in Whitney's
lap, and the companion obeyed. Whit
ney slapped the Negro and a scuffie
ensued, during which Wilson shot
Whitney in the forehead, killing him
instantly. So far as is known, the
Negro who had sat down in Whitney's
lap escaped. Wilson was captured
after struggle, and twenty i've police:
men were detailed with rifles to guard
him in Jail. Afterward the fellow was
secretly put on train and sent into
the country. The mob learned about
the matter and followed. A dispatch
from Goveton, Ga, sent at 2 o'clock
Monday morning, indicated that there
would be lynchiug in short time.
- The house of representatives has
passed without division, the "free
home" bill, which has been pending
before congress for fumber of years
The bill provides that the government
shall issue patents to bona fide settlers
on agricultural lands of Indian reser-
vations open to settlement. These
lands were taken up by settlers who
contracted to pay from $1.25 to rs
per acre. By the terms of the bill the
government assumes the payment OF
the purchase prices to the Indians,
and changes the existing law relative
to agricultural colleges, so as to en-
sure the payment of endowments which
heretofore have come out of the sale Of
public lands, in case of deficiency.
These payments involve 81 200, 900
annually. Of the 29,999,OOO acres in
Indian reservations open to settlement,
for which the government is to pay, or
has paid, $35, 900, 900, about 100000
acres have been taken and about g.
100000 are supposed to still be avail
able for agricultural purposes. A re-
markable thing in connection with the
passage of the bill was speech in
favor of it by Galusha A. Grow, of
Pennsylvania, the venerable ex-speak-
er of the house who, forty-eight years
ago, fathered and passed the original
homestead bill. He was then the
Youngest and is now the oldest men,
ber of the house.
- Jim Jeffries is still the heavy
weight champion pugilist of the world,
says Coney Island dispatch of last
Friday night. He defeated Jim Cor
bett in the 23d round of their fight
with decisive knockout. The finish
ing blow came as sudden and start
ling surprise. Corbett had been max
ing wonderful battle. His defense
was absolutely perfect, and while he
was lacking in strength he had more
than held the limit. He had not been
badly punished and had managed to
mark his man severely. The winning
punch was short left jolt to the jaw.
Corbett dropped like a weight and
was clear out. Jeffries showed ability
to take punching, go any distance
and punch hard. He was clearly out
boxed and at times made to look like
a novice. The crowd which, numbered
fully 5000, was with Corbett, and his
defeat fell upon silent crowd. There
were cheers for him when he revived
and left the ring and he was generally
shown more consideration than the
victor. Corbett is still factor in the
pugulistic game. He has regained
much of his old time form. The bat
tie was clean, and it is doubtful if
there was a single infraction of the
rules. The crowd was most orderly.
- The invention of the soft-nosed ar
NOR piercing shell is not, after all, a
new thing. The Washington cores
pondent of the Philadelphia Ledger
sends his paper the following The
fact is that what is known as the soft
nose Johnson shell has been in use for
several years, and there has been no
secret about its merits. With the high
power guns now used by the navy,
6 inch soft-nose shells have been driven
through IA inches of Harveyized plate,
and it is claimed by ordinance experts
in this country and Europe, and ad-