Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-03-27
Scraps aud faets.

ed. The property loss foots up many
thousands of dollars.
A story which reads like fairy
tale of old comes from Scio, a village
near Rochester, N. Y, where Miss
Clarissa Sprague, man-hating spin
ster and nonogenarian, died last week.
Miss Sprague lived all alone, and be-
yond owning the hovel in which she
resided was thought to possess moth
ing but her pet cat, an animal of un-
usual strength and size. Cornered by
several dogs, this cat had become badly
injured some months ago, when he was
rescued by Rufus Sprague, country
lad and distant relative, and carried to
his mistress. Miss Sprague was pro-
fuse in her thanks and told the boy
that when she died she would make
him heir and leave him the bed she
slept upon. Rufus claimed the prize
and was about to fire the straw tick
when he was amazed to find it stuffed
full of gold coin. A careful search was
made and more than $1,000 in gold was
found.
"A day or two ago wiry individual
with flashing black eyes and nicely
carved features, walked into the re-
cruiting office Of the United States
army at Helenwood, Tenn, says a
Nashville dispatch, and asked to be
enlisted. After filling out the proper
blanks, the slender looking individual
was told to divest himself Of his wear
ing apparel, as he would have to sub
nit to a physical examination. Upon
hearing this the applicant became
highly indignant, and with volley or
oaths declared he would never submit
to any such ordeal. The recruiting Of
ficers realized that representative OF
the weaker sex was endeavoring to
gain admission into the regular army.
After allowing her indignation to ef-
fervesce and extracting solemn prom
ise from the recruiting officers that
they would never divulge her name,
this modern Belle Star walked out of
the office, mounted her horse and rode
away, leaving no one any wiser as to
whence she came or whittier she was
going.
The losses of the British army in
South Africa in the month Of Febru-
ary add seriously to the total, which,
since the beginning Of the war,
amounts to 56,1s7, all told. The killed
in action in February numbered S
officers and 123 men; died Of wounds.
officers and So men, and of disease Ii
officers and 566 men. There were Of
ficers and 20 men accidentally killed.
Total deaths 796. The number inva-
lided to England was go officers and l.
498 men, and 4S4 were wounded. The
proportion Of killed to wounded reach
ed the extraordinarily high ratio Of 1
to 3. There were officers and men
reported missing and 62 surrendered.
Altogether the deaths from all causes
up to the end of February, has
amounted to 664 officers and 13,137 men.
No fewer than 1,763 officers and 1854
men were sent to England as invalids;
but most of these are reported to have
rejoined the ranks in Great Britain or
South Africa. The casualties from
fighting and disease were greater in
February than January. The Boer
losses from the same causes are un-
known.
Tom Jones, 40 years old, reputed
one Of the most desperate characters
in North Carolina, was beaten to death
with a double -barreled shot gun last
Thursday, near Mill Springs, by twin
brothers, Ed and Oscar Wilkerson.
The three men were hidden on the road
waiting for three Negroes to return
from still, when they had plotted for
a shooting match at them. A quarrel
ensued as to which one should have the
first shot at the Negroes and the two
brothers sprang upon Jones and with
the gun beat his head into jelly. His
brains were scattered on the ground
near the body. One of the murderers
escaped; the other is in Jail. Jones had
had been seriously shot in three shoot
ing affairs. He had just returned from
the Albany penitentiary, where he
served IS months for moonshining.
The Wilkersons have served a term
in the state penitentiary for murder.
The Federal court, in session at
Knoxville, Tennessee, Judge Clark,
presiding, decided last Thursday that
Uncoi county, Tennessee, is not liable
for the payment Of $4,000 in bonds vo-
ted to the Charleston, Cincinnati and
Chicago railroad, on the ground that
the county had no authority to issue
bonds under the laws of the state to a
foreign corporation. The railroad was
chartered in North Carolina and the
bonds in litigation are now held by the
Municipal Trust company, Of London.
General Funston is now engaged in
a daring project, which promises to
be the greatest and most romantic
achievement of his eventful career,
says Minila dispatch of March %. In
January, from his hiding place ip the
province of Cabella, Aguinaldo WCote
letters anathematizing the sub-chiefs
who have taken the oath of allegiance
to the United States. Later, Aguinal-
do ordered certain insurgent forces in
southern Luzon to join him at a rem
devious in Cabella province. The rebel
officer entrusted with these orders Sc
crstly negotiated with the Americans.
On securing necessary information
General Funston planned Aguinaldo's
capture, and, with General MacAr-
thurs authorization, proceeded two
weeks ago to make the attempt. Gen.
Funston, with Surgeon Major Harris,
Major Newton of the Twenty-fifth in