davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14

There was quite a commotion in
police circles Monday night about 9
o'clock and the Sumter Light Infantry,
which was drilling on the street was
called upon for assistance At the time
stated person who went to the back
door of Hughson's drug store heard
noise at the back door of the Bank
of Sumter that he thought was made
by burglars breaking into the bank.
He made haste to notify the police
who were on duty on the streets, and
they proceeded to make an investiga-
tion. The police and several members
of the Light Infantry, at the request
of the police, surrounded the back lot
of the bank to cut off the robbers
should they make an attempt to escape
over the back fences. The police then
entered the bank lot, found no one nor
any indication that any attempt had
been made to enter the back door of
the bank. The police went back to
their beats. The volunteers from the
militia were relieved from duty and
the town resumed its normal quiet
ude. The cause of the alarm has not
been located. but it is thought that a
stray cat may have been the culprit.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14
STATEBURG ITEMS.

Stateburg, Aug. Cotton crops
have improved a good deal in the last
few weeks but corn is failure We
have had several pouring rains in the
last ten days accompanied by very
sharp tightening; six trees were struck
in one yard in one evening.
Sandy Gary, a colored farmer, put
his horse and mule in the stable
quite well on the night OF the 2Sth
and both were taken violently sick just
before day, the mule dying in few
hours and the horse has not yet recov-
cred. Several other colored people
have lost their work animals. One
mule being bitten by snake at night,
was dosed with pint of kerosine and
then laid down and peacefully shuffied
off his mortal lien and passed on to
where mortgages are unknown and
hunger troubleth not in the happy
land Of buzzardom.
No fault can be found with the un-
equivocal stand that all of the candi-
dates took on the democratic beliefs
yesterday. There was evidently no
McLaurinism in theirn.'' and if there
vas any such sentiments in the house,
it found the air of the Gamecock
county too unhealthy to make itself
known.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14
Pan-American Exposition Cosmopolitan.

The sale of thousands of copies of a
ten cent magazine at one dollar
apiece was very curious happening
at the time of the Chicago Worlds
Fair. The Cosmopolitan prepared "a
Worlds Fair number, contributed to
by many famous writer's, and so thor
oughly illustrated that it surpassed
even the most expensive book which
had up to that time been issued. In
those days the magazine was printed
from two sets of plates only, and when
these were worn out it was impossi-
bic, without great loss of time. to
put further editions to press. The
newsdealers taking advantage of this
condition, raised the price of the Cos
mopolitan's Worlds Fair number to
one dollar a copy. A few sales were
even made towards the close at the
phenomenal price of five dollars. Un-
doubtedly this happening is unique in
the history Of magazine literature.
The Cosmopolitan will endeavor to re-
peat its past success with a Pan Ameri-
can Exposition Number, which will be
even more attractive if possible, than
its Worlds Fair predecessor.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14
WEBGEFlELD NEWS.

Wedgeield, Aug. Our town ex-
perienced quite surprise on yesterday
and as the result we have lost one of
our 'fairest daughters. At the home
of the brides father Mr.. B. P.
Kelley, at $50 last night, Rev. j. c..
Bailey officiating. Mrs. Maulsey
Kelley and Mr.. D. a. Clark of Mar
tel. Fla, were united in marriage
The bridal couple left on the 9. so
train for the mountains of y. c., for a
few weeks stay, thence to the lands
on flowers, their future home. Mr..
Clark is in the turpentine business in
that state, and has been very success
full.
Mr.. a. E. Aycock has returned from
Cleveland Springs, n. c.. where he
carried his family to spend the rest of
the summer.
Messrs W. 7. Aycock, E. E. Aycock
and Miss Bette Aycock will leave to-
morrow for Buffalo, n. Y, to visit the
exposition.
Miss Carrie Wright is visiting rela-
tives at Eastover.
The fine seasons of the past few
weeks have brought out the cotton
crops wonderfully, but corn is small
and the poorest around here for years.
Mr.. Sam Wallace, formerly OF
Hampton County, but who has been
living with his niece, Mrs. H. D.
Cain, for the past few years, died yes
terday at 10 O'Clock after an illness of
several weeks.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14
PIseAH CORRESPONDENCE.

Pisgah, Aug. 13.-The rain last
week, which was regular from here 20
Sumter came in good time for the
cotton which had begun to suffer from
the dry weather The weed in some
sections is large but the fruit is not
there. The crop will be light from
lateness, fully a month behind last
year, and other causes. Corn is very
good in places: so are peas, potatoes.
The merchants can smile little more
than they have been doing of late, as
[ think most of the farmers will pull
through if they, get anything for
cotton.
The protracted meeting at Pisgah
will commence next Sunday and con-
tinue during the coming week. The
church is now erecting around its
cemetery a neat wire fence at consider
able expense The protracted meet
ing at Smithville closed last week.
Mr.. Thacker was assisted by Mr..
Garris.
While leaving his coat about, last
week, where he was engaged in pro-
tracted meeting in Kershaw County,
Rev. ]. W. Kenney was robbed of
considerable sum of money. He had
it in book in the breast pocket of
the coat. He says He has no clue to
the robber.
Mrs. j. D. Evans has been quite
sick of late but is better.
The health of our community at this
time is very good.
a meeting is going on at Mizpah
Church this week. MIR. Kenney, the
pastor. is aided by Rev. Mr.. Phillips.
I hear of marriage to take place
there this week. It seems that this
will 60 on, hard or good times.
The colored and some whites too, l
hear are hard up, or down, 4 think
the latter is the most appropriate to
use) for something to live on. Bacon
and corn are hard things to handle at
this time and very few have any to
spare.
Some of the colored people have the
Florida fever They think that money
out there can be shook from the trees,
and they can sit in the shade and
order what they want, which suits
them best, as well as numerous whites.
There is no lack of shade people in
this country. The sun must be un-
healthy Judging from the way it is
avoided, but then the hand that wrote
so beautifully. you know, about the
dignity of labor was soft and white.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14
NEGRO MURDERED.
loe Wilson Stabbed 10 Deaf, Saturday
Night.

Joe Wilson, colored. was stabbed tc
/ death Saturday night at the railroad
crossing on Manning Avenue, and Al
bertus Elliott, a negro boy about
eighteen or twenty years old. is under
arrest charged with the murder. The
truth concerning the killing seems
be difficult to ascertain, and no one
has been found who admits having
been an eye witness of the murder.
Elliott, the supposed murderer, ad-
mits having had difficulty with Viii
son. his statement being that he and
Wilson were playing and that Wilson,
becoming angry, got short piece OF
scantling and struck him with it.
He took the scantling from Wilson
and struck him over the head with it,
and then ran off. He denies having
stabbed Wilson and refuses to tell
anything more about the difficulty.
Elliott's actions after the difficulty
furnish the strongest evidences Of his
guilt. He ran off and concealed him
self on the freight train which left
the depot for Lanes shortly after the
murder. On the way to Lanes he
told train hand that he had hit a
man at Sumter and was trying to get
away as he did not know whether the
man was dead or not. At Lanes he
asked permission of the fireman to
stay on the engine until daylight.
The train hand told the fireman that
Elliott was the one who had killed a
man at the Sumter crossing, and the
fireman then took Elliott to the tele-
graph Office and wired to the police in
this city to find out if Elliott was
wanted. He was notified to hold FL
lott and to bring him to this city on
the Sunday morning train, which was
done.
Other witnesses who we're examined
by the Coroner stated that they were
near by when the difficulty occurred,
heard no quarrel or loud talking.
They all say that there was a small
crowd standing near the crossing and
that one of the crowd struck Wilson
with stick and then ran. No one
knew or would tell who were in the
crowd. Wilson fell to his knees and
then rolled over on his side, but never
spoke after the witnesses reached him.
and died within few minutes.
A piece of board with blood on it
and knife with blood on the blade
were found near the place OF the diff
Guilty.
Mary Baldwin alias Mary Smith
made statements Immediately after the
killing that led the police to believe
that She knew a good deal about the
killing and was arrested, but at the
inquest Sunday absolutely nothing
could be gotten out of her that would
throw any light on the murder.
The verdict Of the jury was that Joe
Wilson came to his death from a stab
wound inflicted with sharp pointed
instrument and that the said wound
was inflicted by Alburtus Elliott.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14

Assistant Chief of Police Weeks cap
tured Sam Dozier this morning with
a COW in his possession that had been
stolen from Mr.. Sep. Harvin, of Clar-
endon County. Dozier claims that he
did not steal the COW and that he is
an innocent victim of circumstances.
He claims that the COW was turned
over to him to be sold by man named
Carpenter. The excuse was too thin
to pass muster and Dozier was locked
up to await trial at the next term of
court.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14

8 The campaign meeting at New
Brookland Saturday night does not
appear to have been success. The
Columbia correspondent of the News
and Courier says: "Some two hun
dred people heard the Congressional
campigners at Brookland last night.
The questions discussed were all ma
tional, including trusts, expansion
and the ship subsidy bill. Major
Howell arraigned the Republican
party, and urged the people to see to
it that none be set up in South Caro-
lima. Nj. Smith INDUCED in howery
speech. alluding to the Siren voice
Of the dollar and the seductive voice
of progression Mr.. Lever followed
with the statement that he was the
only one of the candidates who could
lay claim to experience in Congression-
al affairs, referring to his position as
secretary to the late Congressman
Stokes, and laid stress on the fact
that he was native of Lexington.
Mr.. Brantley INDUCED in no ranting
or jocularity, but discussed national
questions and made an exposition of
his views. Judge Buchanan was the
last speaker. He did not consume
his allotted half hour. The crowd did
not appear the least interested in the
questions discussed, and continually
interrupted the speakers with queries
about the dispensary. Bryan's name
received no cheers.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14
A Plaque on Both Your Houses

To the Editor of the News and Cou-
rier: Senator McLaurin's gush over
Mckinley is execrable, and son ac-
count of his political views Mr.. Nc
Laurin, in justice to himself (leaving
out South Carolina, ought to resign
his seat in the national Senate, and
while we would not vote for him in a
Democratic primary, we must, and do
most emphatiacally, say that Senator
Tillman, of all men, is the very last
man to raise his voice against McLau-
rim. Tillmal's past record of undemo-
cratic utterances alone ought to com
pei him to keep silent. What are the
facts?
In 1894 Ben Tillman was candidate
as a Democrat for the United States
Senate against NJ. G. Butler. At
Greenville he boldly said: "I have
lost faith in the Democratic party"
Such an utterance as this ought to
have clearly defined his undemocratic
attitude at that time, but he made his
attitude even stronger by bitterly as
sailing Grovyr Cleveland, who was
then President and chief exponent of
Democracy. Senaor Tillman's abuse of
Mr.. Cleveland was not only coarse,
but brutal. Had he been the
rankest Republican all his life, his
remarks would not have sounded more
bitter than they were. In one place
he declared that Cleveland was either
dishonest or the most damnable trai-
tor ever known. On other occasions
he denounced Cleveland as an "old
scoundrel" and on one of these occa-
sions he said:
Judas. when he betrayed Christ
with a kiss, was not blacker or more
treacherous than this old scoundrel,
who talks about fidelity to party
pledges The reader will please bear
in mind that when Senator Tillman
was uttering these violent TRADES
against the chief exponent of Demo
cracy and impressing the people with
the fact that he himself had lost faith
in the Democratic party, he was a
candidate before that same party in
South Carolina for United States Sen
ator. If his utterances, which we
have quoted, were not plain and direct
attacks on Democracy, what We're
they?
It would seem as If the Senator
ought certainly to have been entirely
satisfied with his undemocratic utter
ances in South Carolina in 1894, but
such was not the fact, far from it. In
1896 when the country was on the
verge of Presidential campaign, he
again opened his mouth to aASail the
Democracy, and this, too, in another
State. On Friday, April II, of that
year, he made a speech at Wichiat,
Kansas. and among other things gave
utterance to the following slur on
Democracy:
You Democrats, who say you have
always voted with the party and will
continue to vote with it, God have
mercy on your imbecility.'
When we consider such an undemo
cratic record as the above. we may
we'll ask if Ben Tllman is the man TO
assail John L. McLaurin because the
latter takes Democratic livery to serve
the Republicans in.
Mcdonald Furman.
Privateer, Sumter County, August
10li
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14
A new COMET.

Geneva, \. T., Aug. 1L-Encke' S
comet was observed this morning by
DR.. VIM. R. Brooks at Smith observa-
try. The comet is in constellation
Gemini in the eastern morning sky.
It's position this morning was right
ascension 6 hrs. 50 min. 80 Sec, and
declination north 81 deg. II min. The
comet is moving in southeasternlv
direction and approaching the sun. 1t
is increasing in brightness but is rot
visible without a telescope.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14

Fire broke out in the kitchen of
Manheim's restaurant about 1.30
O'Clock but it was extinguished in
short order and without material dam
age. Delgar Reel Squad is not on
duty at present, owing to the injury Of
one Of the horses last week, and No. ?,
did all the work.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14

Work has been commenced on the
excavations for the foundations of
the new passenger depot and rapid
progress is being made with the laying
of new side tracks in the y. c. L.
yard. The house formerly occupied by
the section master is being removed, as
the entire lot owned by the railroad
adjacent to the Brand lots will be
needed for the passenger depot and
train sheds.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14
THE CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN.

The campaign meeting held Thurs
day at Eastover was attended by a
small crowd and was not marked by
any incident OF particular interest.
All the candidates were present and
made speeches similar in all respects,
it is said, to those previously deliver
ed. The crowd was attentive and good
humored and gave each of the candi-
dates a friendly reception. A gentleman
who was present stated on Friday
that Mr.. Smith made a decided
ly favorable impression and will re-
ceive share Of the It's votes polled in
Richland County.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14

There is considerable demand, and
reasonable demand, for the service Of
two general delivery clerks at the post
Office during the rush in the morning
and evening. There is always crowd at
the general delivery window immedi-
ately after the morning and evening
mails are opened and two clerks would
be kept b1sy serving the patrons of
the Office.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14

From France and not America comes
the latest novelty in insurance, says a
London correspondent, Up to the
present the Yankees have led the way
in innovation, and many of them
have been grated on to English and
French systems, but so far no Ameri-
can company has been bold enough to
insure a candidate for parliamentary
honors against risk of failure at the
polls. a French company, however,
has undertaken this work.
Spartanburg, Aug. 11.-After lin
gering from l p. m., yesterday until
five minutes past y this morning, Mr..
4. 4. Linder, who was accidentally
soht by Mr.. B. Frank Bomar, died
at his home at Beaumont.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14

Lexington, Va, Aug. l2.-Assistant
Postmaster John G. Poole and his
family, while attempting to cross a
mountain stream about six miles
from here were swept down by the
waters of cloud burst yesterday af-
ternoon and his wife and three daugh-
ters aged from l to s years, were
drowned. Mr.. Poole and daughter
about three years old escaped The
bodies were recovered.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14

Denver. Col. Aug. Pm view of
the interest taken in the question OF
whether or not animal tuberculosis
can be communicated to human be-
ings. I. l.. Monson, State dairy COM
missioner of Colorado, offered himself
as subject for thorough test of the
matter, provided suitable annuity
for his family should be assured in
case of fatal results. Mr.. Monson has
made study of the matter and is a
strong believer in DR.. koch's theory.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14

San Francisco, Cal. August 10
Jack Winters, who was arrested as a
suspect in connection with the Selby
Smelling Works robbery, has confess
ed, and so far s130.00 worth of bull
lion has been recovered from ,he bay
were he had sunk it.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14

Naples. Aug. u.-Signor Crispi
died at I - o'clock this evening.
He was surrounded by the members of
his family and several intimate
friends. The news was telegraphed i'm
meditely to King Victor Emmanuel
and Queen Helena. The evening pa
pers assert that the body will be con
veyed by steamer to Palermo, where
the municipality will arrange for a
great public funeral
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-14

New York. August 1o.-Jere NJ.
Wilson, Of Washington, who will prob
ably conduct the case of Admiral
Schley before the Court of INQUIRY.
arrived this evening on the American
Line steamship st. Louis.
The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-31

fighting is over to have an excellent
educational system in full operation in
the Transvaal and Orange Colony. The
policy is far-sighted, for schools prob
ably win do more than any other power
can accomplish toward making the
subiucated people reconciled to their
fate.
Suggestions Of overtures toward
peace have been universally received
with pleasure though but meagre hope
has been placed in them. Still there
was always just the glimmer Of hope.
The outlook now is that the Trans
vaal by slow processes will be tranquil
lied. To suppose that conditions are
not unchanged from a year ago is no
doubt erroneous. 1t is impossible that
the British with their mighty army in
the field has not accomplished much,
Lord Salisbury, in his speech that was
so severely criticised, did not speak at
random when claiming important gains
for British arms.
The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-31
VALUABLE ANTIQUES
TO BE SOLD AT AUCTION

Boston. Dec. 90.-As soon as the
seizure warrant can be prepared, Col
lector Lyman of this port will seize
about $16,0 worth of antiquities which
were imported to Boston a few months
ago and entered at the custom house
last October. Those articles are now
in New York, where they have been
exhibited as evidence before the board
of United States appraisers, but they
will be returned to Boston and, in due
season, sold in public auction.
The reason for confiscating the en-
tire consignment is the almost eXtraor-
binary differentiation of some of the
articles they contain. All told there
are nine cases, covering three invoices,
and they are entered at the custom
house by Vital Benguiat of New York,
as having a value of only $4,000, After
a careful examination in which he
called upon several expert importers of
this city, John w. Trafton, the eXami-
ner. added about $11, 900 to this invoice
value and he says he would have been
justified in raising the amount still
higher He found some articles to be
worth $50 per cent more than the in
voice stated. and the average advance
for the whole importation was 2lS per
cent.
The articles are chiefly old church
vestments, hangings, metal embroider-
les on which the basis is silver, old
Flemish and Spanish tapestries, etc.
They were collected in different parts
of the world and brought to London
for shipment to Boston.
No allegation of intended fraud in
connection with the differentiation IS
made. 1t is said to have been careless
ly made in the invoice.
The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-31
THE NEW YORK RACE RIOT

A race riot in the North is very
naturally looked upon in the South as
a trite subject for newspaper leaders.
The fight between black men and
white men in New York. Christmas
day, therefore comes in for its share
of attention. The Savannah News, COM
menting on the disturbance, says that
the negroes arrayed themselves against
the white men and the white men
against the negroes. THE races" it
adds, did exactly what they do in the
South when there is trouble between
them. The only reason there are more
rSoe riots in the South than in the
North is that there are vastly more
blacks in the South in proportion to
the population than there are in the
North AS the number of negroes in
the North increases race troubles will
occur with greater frequency"
All this is well enough, and very
likely is in a considerable degree true.
But the News overlooks the fact that
it is not the sudden outbreaks or trou-
BILE between blacks and whites that
the Northern papers most deplore, but
rather the indiscrminate and terrible
punishment that is deliberately intiict-
ed on the negroes by irresponsible mobs
when such disturbances occur. In New
York, Christmas day, the negroes were
taken to prison to be dealt with in
accordance with law. Perhaps in a
large Southern city the same orderly
methods of procedure would be fol-
lowed in a similar instance. That is
the way such troubles should be dealt
with everywhere. When shooting,
burning, and hanging by mobs cease
in the South, Northern papers cannot
find much ground for criticism.
No one can say what might happen in
case the negro population increases
greatly in the North. But certainly
there must be a mighty change of SEN
timent before lawIessness toward ne
groes will find popular sanction. Where
nIobs have taken the law into their
hands in the North,-and unfortunately
there have been such instances-the
Northern newspapers have been unan-
imous in their condemnation. They
have not made any attempt to palliate
the offense or to spare the offenders.