davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05
THE Big FIRE IN FLORENCE.
The Tobacco District Almost
Wiped Out.

Florence, November 3.-Florence-
suffered another most disastrous con-
fagration early this morning, one that.
came very near wiping out the tobac-
co trade district and score or more
of residences.
Shortly after l o'clock this morning
the alarm of fire was given and in few
seconds after the four-story frame.
shingle roof prizery building, owned
by ". E. Dragan and occupied by
the American Tobacco Company, was
a seething mass of fame. It burned
like tinder and went in gale. The
Pee-Dee. tobacco warehouse, only
thirty six feet away, to the north,
then caught and soon the largest to-
bacco sales war house in the State
was in ashes. From this building the
flames leaped to the cooper shop, next
west and then to the Wilkins Planing
Mill. About tbs time the Dixie to-
bacco sales warehouse caught from
the rain of fire that showered down
upon it from the four other buildings
that were ablaze and in few moments
the flames spread over this buildings
so that it was impossible for the fire.
men to save the building, which was.
reduced to ashes. The Dixie ware
house was two-story brick and frame
The residence of Mr.. C. Morgan, a
few feet south, and the residence Of
". j. Bradford, a few feet to the
north, were saved only by hard ano
efficient work of the fremen.
The sparks from all Of the buildings
were carried far away down Evans
street by the fierce wind that was
blowing and set fire to score or more
residences, but by hard work all of
them were saved.
Total value of property destroyed
Sal. 100: insurance, S27, 800.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05
lYNeHING FoR MURDER.
A Negro Burned for1 a Double
Murder at Darling, Miss.

Sardis, Miss, Nov. 1.-One negro,
name unknown, has been burned at
the stake, and two men. implicated by
the negro in his dying confession, are
being held by a posse pending an in
yestigation into the murder Of E. O.
Jackson and mill owner named
Roselle, at Darling, Miss, Wednesday
night.
The negro was burned at Darling last
night by a mob composed Of 4, 600 per
sons from both races. Just before the
lighting of the funeral pyre the cap
tured negro confessed that he had COM
mitted the double murder, with the
assistance of two men. The motive was
robbery and considerable sum was
obtained, which was the nergo stated
was divided among the three. .
After the burning posse went IN
search Of the two white men and soon
captured them. They are being held,
pending an investigation of their guilt
or innocence, and it is believed that a
double lynching will follow if guilt is
proven conclusively. The names of the
prisoners are not known.
D0iAAS, Miss. 10 q SuesiA ooeSoAOAA W
the Lake Cormorant branch of the
Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Rail
road, about twenty-five miles from
this point, with no direct telegraphic
communication.
Later it was learned that the two
white men were released by the mob,
an alibi having been proved by each
man. No furher trouble is expected
tonight.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05
Big FIRE IN MARION.
Fire Broke Out at Midnight and it
is Supposed TO Have Been Due
to Defective Flue in the
Hotel Kitchen.

Marion, October 31.-Marion was
visited by another destructive fire latst
night. About midnight people we're
aroused by the ringing of the fire bell
and soon a large crowd had assembled
at the scene of the fcre. When dis
covered the flames had such headway
there was no chance of subdulng
them. The fire originated in the ekitchen
of the Planters Hotel and is suppose
to have been caused by defective aue.
Among the buildings burned were the
Planters Hotel, large three-story
frame building, owned by Mrs. j. w.
Holiday; the frame livery stables
of Messrs. J. ". Holiday & Son, a
large frame building, owned by Mrs.
Z. W. Oliver, and two smaller houses,
owned by Mrs. M. E. Matthews. All
the buildings burned were on the east
side of Main street, north of the rail
road. It was only by the hardest
work that the livery stables of Nh. E..
E. Evans, just across the street from
the Planters Hotel, and the dwell
ing of j. M. Williams we're kept from
burning.
Messrs. j. ". Holiday & Son had
SO. 700 insurance on their builings and
contents; S., 100 of which was in the
London and Liverpool and Globe, rep
resented by J. W. johnson: 81, 600
in the Commercial Union and 81, 600 in
the Phoenix of Brooklyn, both repre-
sented by Stackhouse & Manning.
Mr.. E. B. Wooten, proprietor of the
Planters, lost all his furniture and
effects, including all his family wear
ing apparel. His loss is about 81, 200,
on which there was 81, 500 insurance,
distributed among the following COM
panies; Phoenix, OF London, $3.50,
Greenwich $3.50, Palatine 5000, all in
the agency of P. B. Hamer, and 5000
in the Equitable, of Charleston, in
the agncy of j. B. White. ". F. Viii.
liams, whose wood shop was among
the bindings burned, had s400 insur-
ance on his tools and materials in the
Orient, ]. B. Whites agency. Z.
E. Taylor had $50 on his barber
shop furniture in the Manchester, j.
B. Whites agency. Mrs. Oliver and
Mrs. Matthews had no insurance on
their buildings and their losses will
amount to about $500 each.
The night was very calm and moth
ing but this fact kept the conaagra-
tion from being much larger than it
was. A slight wind from any direc-
tion would have made it impossible
to save several neighboring buildings.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05
Teacher Killed by Ladrones.

Manila, November Sd. G. Mont
gomery, superintendent Of schools IN;
Oriental Begros, was murdered on Fri
day by ladrones from Baclod; Nh.
Montgomery was going to Bacolod Tor
consultation with the retiring supeT-
intendent and to assume control of the
division. He had large sum of money
with him. Six natives armed with
bolos and spears attacked the superin-
tendent, quickly killed him and then
mutilated and robbed him. iEe CON
stabulary have offered a reward for
Mr.. Montgomery's murderers and it IS
thought tho they viii be captured. Rob
berry is understood to have been the
motive of the crime.
This is the first instance of teach;
er in the Philippines being harmed
while in discharge of his duty.
Mr.. Montgomery leaves a widow,
who is a teacher in the island OF
Negros. He is from Nebraska.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05
4 DlsTIReT LOSS
TO SOUTH CAROLINA.
capt. John 4. Montgomery Of
Spartanburg is Dead.

Spartanburg, Oct. 31.-Capt. John
H. Montgomery died tbs afternoon al
6 o'clock in GAINESVILLE, Ga. He went
10 Gainesville yesterday on business
connected with the mills there, Of
which enterprise he is president and
treasurer. This morning he was stand
ing on scaffolding, q distance OF
about Is feet from the ground, inspect
inr some work on the new mill OF Che
Paeolet Manufacturing company in
that town, when by some means ne
LOST his balance and fell. His skull
was fractured by the TALL, and he was
rendered unconscious. The physicians
gave no hope Of his recovery from
the first examination, and he fingered
mt Hats this afternoon, and died. His
Wits and children here left for Gaines
ville on the morning tram. His re-
mains viii be brought TO Spartnaourg
for interment Sunday.
John II Montgomery was 6S years
OF age, having been born IN Spartan
burg county Dee. 1888. The hrst
years of his life were spent on the farm
on which he was born. He obtained q
fairly good common school education,
and first started in business as clerk
in a store, his salary begin So per
month and board. He held tbs job for
over year and went so- Columbia and
clerked for several months. He and q
brother-ln-iaW then engaged IN busl-
ness Hobbysville of the mercantile
kind. He served throughout the
Civil war, enlisting in December,
1851, IN Go. e, Eighteenth South
Carolina regiment. During the war
he was appointed regimental commits
sarv Ia this command with rank OF
captain. In 1854 he was made assistant
division eommissary and was serving
as such when Lee surrendered at Ap-
pcmattox. !.
Z &c returned to Spartanburg right
after Che war, without any money
wihatsver, and his only article of trade
was very small stock OF leather. In
1874 he and the late DR. @. =. Fleming
engaged In the fertilizer business.
Ihe late Col. Jos. Walker was also a
member OF this firm. he retired from
tie Srm in 1884. In the meantime,
however, in 1881, the firm of Walker,
Fleming e Co., purchased water
power on she Pacolet river, 13 miles
east Of Spartanburg, and began the
erecting Of the mills of the Pacolet
Manufacturing co. This first mill was
completed in 1883. The company was
incorporated in 1881, and Capt. Mont
gomsry has ever since been is presi-
dent and treasurer. He is also presi-
dent and treasurer OF the two Spartan
Mills, the New Holland Mills and the
Gainesville cotton mill-the two latter
being built BY the Pacolet Manufact-
nring Company in Gainesville. Capt.
Montgomery was married in 1857 to
Miss Susan A. Holcombe, daughter OF
the late David Holcembe, and she
along with the following children sur
yive him: Victor, Walter S. an Ben W.
Montgomery.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05
the CIVIL war IN COLOMBIA.
Both Sides Complain of American
Interference.

Kingston, Jamaica, November q
The British steamer Trent arrived
here today from Colon, Colombia.
She brings reports that the Colombian
rebels are still to be seen in the vlcln-
ity of the Isthmus and that they occa-
sionally appear in the towns along the
railroad lines. .
Considerable indignation is felt by
the Colombians because American
guards are still maintained on the
line. Officials of the Colombian Gov
eminent claim that what they term
The interference of the Americans pre-
vents them from dealing effectively
with the rebels, who occupy certain
towns, where they collect taxes and
make seizures of property. The ReVo-
lutionists, in their turn, claim tnae
the presence of the Americans pre-,
vents them from bringing about fnal
coup in the revolution.
There is much suffering on The Is
thmus and the position OF civilians
there is becoming intolerahle. -,
1t is reported that terms OF settle,
ment between the Revolutionists and
the Colombian Government are at pre-
sent under consideration and it IS be
lieved these terms provide for an arm
istic of ninety days, during when
time joint commission, composed OF
members of the Government and the
Revolutionary parties, are to frame a
new Constitution which is to give
equal rights to all parties. When the
Tent left Colon last Friday it was
considered doubtful whether the terms
of the proposed settlement would be
agreed to,
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05
HEsTER's COTTON STATEMENT.
Movement of the Crop From Sep
tember to October 81.

New Orleans, October 31.-Secre-
tary Hester's cotton statement today
shows the total for October to be
I /, 954, 6S7 bales, against 2, ITO, l42 last
year.
The movement from September to
October 81, inclusive, shows receipts
at all United States ports 2, 265, 693
bales, against 2,004,673 last year !;
overland across the Mississippi,
Ohio and Potomac rivers to Northern
mills and Canada 1852, 144 bales,
against 1876, ,2G3 last year; Southern
mill takings 1893, 800 bales, against
352, ,66S last year, apd interior stocks
in excess of those held at the COM
mencement of the season 397, Ito,
against 352, 1854. These make the
total amount of the cotton crop
brought into sight during the two
months ending the close of October
8, 3,21s, 507 bales, against 2,876, 4eS last
year.
Foreign exports for the two months
of the season have been 1,575, 295
bales, showing an increase over last
season of 1876, 256.
Stocks at the seaboard and the
twenty-nine leading Southern interior
markets on October 81 were 1,0S2, 603
bales, against l, 142, 444 the same date
last year.
Including port and interior towns
stocks left over from the previous sea-
son and the number of bales of the
current crop brought into sight during
the two months, the supply has been
3, 433, 5Sl bales, against 3, 236, 155 last
year.
The movement into sight during
the past week has been 46S, 745 bales,
against 554, 696 for the seven days end
ing October 81 last year.
VISIBLE SUPPLY OF COTTON.
New Orleans, October 31.-Secyctary
Hester's statement of the worlds
visible supply of cotton issued today
shows the total visible to be 2,722,
247 bales, against 2, 466, S0l last week
and 2, 757, 1877 last year. Of this the
total of American cotton is 1855, 247
bales, against 2,023. 801 last week and
1902, 1877 last year, and of all other
kinds, including Egypt, Brazil, India,
etc., 457, 600 bales, against 443, 600 last
week and 42o, 900 last year.
OF the worlds visible supply OF
cotton there is now afoat and held
in Great Britain and Continental
Europe 1,345, 900 bales; against 1, ,377,-
600 last year; in Egypt 100, 600 against
LII, 900 last year; in India 173, 600
against $4,000 last year, and in the
United States 1,101,G00 against
1,124, 600 last year.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05

Dover, Del, Nov. 3.-Estimaees
from various sources tonight indicate
that J. Edward Addicks will be N
able to control the next legislature.
Wm. Michael Byrne, the Union (Ac-
dicks Republican nominee for con-
gress, predicts combined Republican
majority in the legislature, with
deadlock on the senatorshlp. but the
ultimate election Of two Republican
United States senators. The regular
Republican and Democratic leaders,
however. dispute this claim and assert
that not only will Mr.. Bryne be de-
feated, but that the Addiclzs faction
will elect not more than l6 members
of the legislature, which would pre-
clude the possibility of Addicks' cleo
ton to the senate. Democratic leaders
claim majority over both Republican
factions.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05
FIRE FIEHD At WORK.
Florence, Darlington and Camden
Have Destructive Fires.

At 80 o'clock this morning it was
reported by telephone that a $50, COO
fire occurred ssat Florence. Nearly a
block was destroyed in the central part
of the city, comprising the Dixie :
Tobacco warehouse and the Pee Dee
Tobacco warehouse and several inter
mediate wooden buildings. The fire
was not under control at 2:40 a. n.
The fire having commenced at l 10.
Origin thought to be the work OF
incendiaries.
FIRE IN DARLINGTON COUNTY.
Darlington, November "A fire,
involving loss of eight Or ten thou
sand dollars, occurred at the large
lumber plant of Bridges & Nickel
than at O'Clock this morning. The
two large planning mills, the entire
lumber sheds and ten carloads of
lumber we're destroyed. The fire wnen
discovered had made considerable
headway in the boiler rooms and the
whistle could not be sounded. The
local insurance men are at the scene
today and no details can be obtained.
Work in the planning and shipping
departments will be temporarily de-
layed, but the other business will be
continued as usual.
A CoNFLAGRATION IN CAMDEN.
Camden, November Fire broke
out tonight in the frame building own
ed by John Meeks, colored, which is
within few feet Of S. B. Latham's
livery stables, and for two hours the
FIRE ragged. Eight frame buildings were
consumed. The two or three private
wells were the source of supply OF
water and these were inadequate. The
loss is about seven thousand dollars.
Latham's stables escaped.
Those who lost by the fire were
John Meeks. colored; William Boy
kin, colored James Bennett, colored
Mr.. James Shirley, Mrs. P. Tobias,
two buildings; Reuben Benson,
colored, and Mr.. ". T. Lollis, board
| ing house.
The fire was stopped after the most
heroic efforts at 7. j. Boykin's store.
The total amount of insurance vii.
not exceed 81, 900. Two of the buildings
we're blown up with dynamite, but
this did not avail to stop the fire.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05

Spartanburg, Oct. 31.-Today John
B. Cleveland announced that he will
build science hall on Wofford College
campus. The plans, which are already
drawn, call for the building which
will cost between $4,000 and $500
Mr.. Cleveland authorizes the con-
struction of the building at his ex-
pense. This announcement will be
made to the student body in Wofford
chapel tomorrow morning.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05

With the Inauguration Sunday of the
Golden State Limited, between Los
Angeles and Chicago, over the South
ern Pacific and Rock Island Railroads,
the time from, coast to coast Will be,
reduced to lightweight hours.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05

New Haven, Conn, Nov. Her
bert B. Marble, of New York City, in
the Superior Court today was found
guilty of manslaughter and sentenced
to one year in jail and fined one dollar.
While driving an automobile On the
Wallingford turnpike Marble struck a
vehicle occupied byJohn Molz and his
son. The former was thrown out and
received injuries from which he died
later.
Charleston. Nov. 2.-Train s5, of
the Atlantic Coast Line, due in Char
lesion at 6.17 q. m., yesterday, side
wiped a freight, whcih was moving
into the switch at Elm City, n: O.,
late Saturday night, and killed Engl-
neer W. W. Currie, whose quick pres
ence of mind saved the lives OF prob
ably every passenger on board. The
negro fireman. was fatally injured and
will die. The mail car, which was
next to the engine, was hurled from
its Trucks and thrown into q field. and
Route Agent Woltz was seriously in
jured. Everybody on board was jerk
ed about roughly. bat not single
passenger was seriously hurt.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05

A special from Paris says that w.
K. Vanderbilt, Jr., sentenced to I'M
prisonment and fine for fast auotmo-
billing, will surrender when he returns
to Paris.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05

Memphis, Tenn. Oct. 3l.-Cresceus,
the great son OF Robert McCregor,
was sent against the worlds two mile
trotting record of 4.2S114, held by On
ward Silver, and completed the
circuit twice without break in III
fat, clipping 1l14 seconds OH the
former record.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05
TIE STRIKE COMMISSION.
A Brief Resolution Affecting the
Existing Rate of Wages.

Scrant ton, Pa, DC. 31.-The first
important action by the anthracite
coal strike commission. which Is;
arbitrating the differences existing
between the miners and employers,
was taken today when 1t was an
nounced By Carroll D. Wright, the
recorder Of the commission, that If any
award affecting the existing rates CT
wages Shall be made, the. award shall
be effective from November /. The
announcement of The commission was
contained in the following brief res
oIafion: Voted, unanimously, that Il
the commission, at the conclusion OF
its hearing and deliberations, makes
any award affecting existing rates OF
wages such award shall take effect
Noyember j, 1902. =
It was fully expected the matter
would come up before the arbitrators,
bnt. the action Of the commissioners
shuts OF any possible controversy that
either side may have desired to raise.
The miners wanted the new scale, if
one is made. to date from the time
they returned to work, but the opera
tors left the matter to be decided by
the commission. The mine workers
are pefectly satisfied, however, with
the decision of the commission. The
stike has been off only one week and
most OF che men have not worked more
than four or Eve days.
The commissioners spent the entire
day in continuing their inspection OF
the mines and the mining region about
Scraaton. They visited the Manville
colliery, operated Jointly by the Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western COM
panies IN the forenoon, and the after
noon was spent in riding through the
region on q special trolley car. The
commission viii spend Saturday in the
Ficnity of Wilkesbarre, returning in
the evening.
It is possible the commission may
make a preliminary report on three OF
the principal strike questions. They
are the increase in wages. a shorter
work day and the weighing of coal.
After these have been decided the com.
mission can take up all other questions
without undue haste. 1t is known the
commissioners have this feature under
consideration and it is very likely {
preliminary report will be made.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05

bring Mrs. Roosevelt and they will
occupy rooms in the renovated White
House,
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-05

SION, Gn2J GQGTo were uULuSEOuS op0io-
tors in the anthracite field who were
not committed to the arbitration pro-
ceedings and who were not even con-
suited in the negotiations preliminary
| thereto. Were it not for the fact that
| the election is so close and that SO
much hinged on the. belief that the
4 coal strike was settled for three years,
it is more than probable that the
President would have communicated
| with Mr.. Baer and asked him what
he meant by that statement, in view
of his representations at the White
House AS it is, the people believe
that Mr.. Roosevelt has settled the
strike and it is desired that they shall
do SO, at least until after election.
The argument which it is feared Mr..
! Baer ard his associates, in the event
that the Commission finds against
them, will advance, is that it would
be unreasonable of the President to
ask them to abide by the decision Of
the Commission without insisting on
that decisions being equally respected
by their competitors Of course the
President cannot insist on anything
except through Baer and the other
railway presidents who participated in
the conference and subsequent agree
ment at the White Houes. The Com
mission has invited the other operators,
those whom Mr.. Baer declares were
Gin no way compromised" by his
agreement, to participate in the ses-
sions of the Commission and to
voluntarily submit themselves to the
same inquisition as the railway presi-
dents but there is no reason to believe
that they will do SO unless Mr.. Baer
and the other trust magnates insist
and that they have practically refused
to do. There is no doubt but that tile
work of the commission will be watch
ed with painful anxiety from Washing
ton and it is more than possible that
the next meeting will bring out i'm
portant developments.
The President accepted, last week,
the invitation of Representative Rixey
| of Virginia and left Friday night for
Mr.. Rixey's farm where he will enjoy
two days shooting. This evening he
will pass through Washington on his
way to Oyster Bay where he goes to
! cast his ballot. On his return he will