North Carolina Newspapers

1 . If me M3S5enger Prints . the . News ti: ! I siiik;ht after by the peo r . f M'-I"wH, Yancey Bun ' -..n.tjf, Kutberford, Burka n:i 1 i.'tlipr counties in Western y rtti Carolina, aud la thera ! r" a Cood Advertising Madlum Hi; f'irrilali'J on application. THE MESSENGEB. Marlon, N. 0. -MUCDOMiM rom- JOB PRINTING -TO i Marion. N. C. Promrtnsaa. Awnnnr VutfiM and Good Stock Guaranteed. Letter Heads, Note Heads, BUI Head. tr. Pamphlets, and any kind of Printing. J -r- VOL. ILNO. 18. MARION, X. C, FRIDAY, AUGUST 20. 1897. Price 1 Per Year, in Advance. -- 0 tY' it : i i It. : ..ft II i Ti.- t;u I A:..,, Uv:. . t;-:..'v. T,.;. t. ' t:, ' .V. 1 I mm FT mUTlTTTTl nrVTTi 77TT1T "nn TIT inniri 12 TUB MjIMIMU UUL1J rUMi lfl AUSU. S ! Siiitcs Government in : -hi .?7,20O,O0O for the ';i-!; i rays the Chicago I .i 1 back Lor purchase ; ! ii- times, Laving pro i 'p'time it has been a part ! Sm'es about $30,000,- i'.iH yellow metal. i y-M i.f the world are 1 ii'ir frozen Requisition f I- within its barders .-, -e 1 :ih F.ldorado, seem Pluto's mine." ii.'it'ie word jvlondike, i;-';it.-l meaning Deer : , vi t geographers and ., : the Yukon; to-day it , , u-i I is known as . :, .;' the reports be Lut :i :' ,1 1 -! -n i'ic; district i .". i 1 richer in character world known, with -x .,! ion !' California. I r'.i discoveries of the i A! id;a and the report . .: h-s of ' 10 in California n.il'el-i. To the average . --im-s f the coast State Iv in iii:i"e,:ssib!o as are Yukon and its tribu . ,;- tiiore than 2000 miles n ilesert and over p.i 'i:it,iiu passes, beset lio-e deadly attacks : ' i' 'l bleaching bones Y.-t.-rn Sl.ites; tho other i i:i: ' . by water, through ': -.:' , in- j.liuost 4000 1 -.: . 1 u ;i: ,-r, with moun- ' i m'" a dangerous as j ; t i'. i i wealth sent out j : !'i in-'i-rs were no less i i ,'m-- : i. ne.'.'ht l.a"k liV . . Iii av 1 the last cold j i li'; mineral belt, j tii i ; who returned . . 'i . i - i great nuggets i V I'l-.t left little or t'i ,-ioi 1 .f tin hearer, i i . . i 1 1 r i'i the song who n i ' v i th it ho was ae- a ha: 'ill Mind" linds i i !:i V.:!;.!t miner wh; v.;-i 1 out" S-12 in i' !; -a x'e-is that ro- It is hard to tell where the Alaska gold fields are located except that in a general way the best of them are along the Yukon. There are a few "lode" miners near Juneau and along the southeast coast of the Territory (the most accessible part of it), but the ore is of low grade and mining is made profitable only by the most careful management. The placer mines, from which pros pectors are eaid now to be lining their pockets with gold, are in the region remote from civilization, little known, and, on account of its uncertainties, dangerously alluring to the average man. This gold-producing country of the interior is in the vicinity of the Yukon near where that great river turns to the west in its course to fe sea. Before the discoveries ia tlie Klondiko the most productive districts had been along Forty Mile Creeji, partly in British and partly in Ameri can territory, and tho Birch Creek district, all in American territory. Along all of the river in this section, tributaries to the Yukon, gold dig gings exist, and in many places pay the prospector well for his trouble. In all the immense country ovw which the placer mining extends it estimated that cp to last year the:i wore 2000 miners. The districts in which most of them worked were in a a broad belt of gold-producing rock, through which quartz veins carryiug gold occur frequently. Through tho old-bearing rocks the streams have cut deep gullies and canons, and in their beds the gold which was con tained in tho rock is concentrated. Tim mining of this country consists, therefore in washing out the gravel of these beds. Ho the miners worked, being fairly well paid for their labor, until tho "tenderfeet" made the Klon dike discovery. That was nine months or so ago, and the news of it is just lea '-hiii:' the outside world. It was not Ion-; in reaching the miners along Forty Mile and Birch Creeks, though, and they shouldered their picks aud moved forward in a wild rush ut the fi rst word of the new lucky strike. A. a result gold dust and nuggets by the ton are turned into the mints out on the coast, and men who never before ; lj orri II. NINTHS -TolTNTY DOWN LAKE LABARfiE DURING THE WINTER. f V-in's V!ni". i l.ii an 1 California t;oH fields a'"" 'ii I't iii'.' placer mini's. iii'.( is itmoitlv called is i:ii:ii:i'," f.ir the reason dei- without machinery, i:u'ie;u,uts required iu the fe v a i 1 of small cost. A i!' . 'ri tret along very well I. -h d R'l.l gold pan. If ii 'l rieh h: can a voiaplish i'i ly running it through n . i'U: whore t'ie yield is iu u-t -a 1 of line gold ha prefers t. v K'.'ndi!;e sirike was ma do ' 'i- :i-', but nothing was !! i'i tiie United St ttes until !..!, a vessel called the F.x 1 1'. e 1 in San I'lan. iscv laden !'- from the Klondike, who ere Udell with gold. ' 1 aim is; incredible tales of e;i of the newly discovered '.-ere fortunes had been ac i ::i a f.'w mouths. Kxpori- rs cud '"to'iderfoet" seemed eired : 'oii fortune alike, and e ju-aee, too. for the credit ' 'Very of the new gold fields i:.e inexperienced men. i - -.-el brought to Seattle n 'y of successful prospectors n:.d n half of gold. These : lr.rcd peril and undergone roso above tlia level of the commonest of miners have come back to civiliza tion and comfort loaded with gold to Ja4 them a lifetime. Take us nn il lustration this list of returned miners who came on the Hxcelsior: Yr uilit Viihiij T. S. T.ippv I", d. II. Row'uer Toe La Due f. ):. lljllinsec.l ViH:a:n Kuliu J.iuies McMami Aeiert lialliraitli Neil Maearthur Tioanlns Macartlmr. 1! raiipl A'lder ton. . . R.iliert Kr....k I re.l Leii.less.T Alexander Orr .I.ihu Marks 1'iiomas Conk X.S. Ner -res" .1. EnuiH'1'er ('nn Stiiuiatiu Albei t I-OK (ireg Stewart .T. C. llctivood 1 lioams I Im 'I; Louis 1!. Rhoads Fred Fri froia Alnsl-a . 0..00') . t0.0l)i) . lO.eil') . H.r,(:) . 17,00.) . 15.0.)!) . 15.o;m . 15.00.) . 13.00;) . H.0;)0 . 11.0)) . FLOOD . 11.. ',00 . 11.50'J . 10.001) . io.oo;) .. loooi) . 8,-ZVI 5,100 O.tMX) . 5.00D o.ooo 5.000 5.000 t 1.000.000 iVIO.OOO 500.000 :s.-i.ooo "0,000 23,000 :i3.ooo L'Q.OOO 250.000 50.000 :i5.ooo ao.mii) Alaska Commercial Co. 250.000 Total. INM THK CniT.KOOT TASS. ,1 I"- in nccumulating the brought, and they told ad a dark ns well as a To follow their example of wealth, health and fur those who are willing iie'es the prospect they m i'lnng. ' "'T tin. Klondike District. -'st of the mines in the ; :; seem to be in the Klou- v miles over the British ;e -.vere discovered, as has 1 y a jiarty of "tenderfeet," t the advice of the old district, wandered "over 'he Klondike" and struck it i Klondike comes much of '1 from Klondiko seems to t;ie excitement. A few b ' going it blind, have the Nation. Out of the their discovery has come, :"d, 82,000,000 worth of og the present summer. "f that gold has found its -"j United StaUs. A l'priloiia Journey. r.vcjy one of these men has a story to tell of the vast riches of tho new gold fields, but they tell another story, too a story of hardship, trial and suitering through long wiuter days, when the sun was smiling on this earth's other pole and leaving them in miserable cold and darkness. They tell a story of prodigious travels, of stagger ing journeys and the daugers that be set tho traveler. They tell what a trip it is to reach the gold rields, and when they get through the faint hearted prospector, who isn't thor oughly convinced that he wants to un dergo the trial, decides to forego the trio to Alaska and dig up his wealth at homo or go without. Some of the gold-mad adventurers, thougu.rusn on unheeding, crowding into the Alaska bound steamers without anything like enough supplies or enough money to see them through ten days of travel on laud. Miners who have been there say that such as those will perish. How to Reach the New Gold Vlelils. There are two general routes to the Klondike district. From Chicago both lead to Seattle, aud there diverge. One goes by ocean steamer west and a lit tle north, and passes through Dutch Harbor, at the extreme end of the southwest Alaskan peninsula. From there the steamer turns north and con tinues on to St. Michael's Island, a little above the mouth of the Yukon, in Ber ing Sea. At that point passengers are transferred to the river steamers to be gin the long journey up the Yukon, which winds northward and eastward, and finally brings the traveler to Daw son City, now the principal town in the mining district, although sixty-five miles from the Klondike rields. The cost of the trip from Chicago this way, as prospecting miners usu ally travel, is 8251.50. It is divided as follows: From Chicago to Seattle (second class), 851.50; from Seattle to Dawson City, $200. .,,pix In tima the trip ooets thirty daya four from Chicago to Seattle, sixteen from Seattle to St. Michael's Island, and ten np the Yukon to Dawson City by the fast boat. The distance in gen eral figures is 2250 miles from Chicago to Seattle, 2500 miles to St. Michael's Island and 1890 miles np the Yukon to Dawson, a total of about 6C00 miles. The other way to the Klondike, the "mountain route," is shorter in miles, but equally long in the time it requires and a great deal more difficult. By this route the traveler Bails more di rectly north to Juneau, which is 899 miles from Seattle, and then goes by lake and river and over the mountains 1000 miles to the new mining terri tory. On arrival at Juneau the trav eler changes to a smaller boat and sails 100 miles north to Dyea. From there he has a portage of twenty-seven miles through the Chilkoot Pass. The last half-mile of this pass is over a glacier and the severest of climbing. Chilkoot Indians are employed to pack supplies to the top of the pass, but from there on the traveler has to pack his own load. After getting through the Chilkoot Fass the traveler reaches Lake Linde man. At that point is a 6awmill, where boats are sold for 875 each. Travelers who do not care to pay that price can purchase lumber and build their own boats. The lumber can be bought for 8100 a thousand feet, and about 500 feet are required to build a boat that will answer the purpose. Still other travelers carry whipesaws and get out their own lumber, and a man handy with a saw and hammer can build a boat in three or four days. tiie r.ivnn kouth to dawro!. To continue the trip, though, a boat is necessary and by some means or other one must be had. After securing his boat the traveU cr floats down Lake Lindeman and Lake Bennet t and then has half a mile of portage w here his boat has to be moved on rollers. There is any amount of rollers to be had, thongh, for earlier beaters of the path have loft them. This half mile overland brings the traveler to Lake Tagish, through which he goes six miles and over a quarter of a mile of portage to Mud Lake, and on to the White Horse llapids. Here there is another port agu of three-quarters of a mile, ai: the traveler brings his boat to Lake Labarge. From there on tho journey is through Thirty Mile Bivcr, the Lewis Biwr, J."0 miles to Five Fin ger llapids, to the Yukon lit Fort Sel kirk, and iiica down auvau 250 miles to Dawson. The cost of the trip this way can not bo definitely stated beyond Ju neau, because after that point it de pends somewhat on the bargain made with the Chilkoot Indians, who pack supplies through the iass, and the length of time the overland part of the journey requires. The cost from Chi cago to Seattle is the same as by the other route, of course, S51.50 second class and 810 more for first class. The steamer fare up to Juneau and on to Dyea is .812. What it costs on the overland trip ea'h traveler determines partially for himself, but the Indians who net as guides and pack supplies do not win k without big pay. The Centre of the (Jotd llegion. Dawson City, the centre of the new mining region, although sixty-live miles distant from the Klondike, is saiil to be a typical mining camp minus the guns. The British Govern ment enforces its laws in Dawson, and those laws prohibit the use of lirearms, so few men carry guns. The laws of the camp are enforced by mounted po lice, whose captain is a"civil officer. Though there are said to be 3000 peo ple in Dawson, few houses have been built, for the principal reason that lumber is 8100 per 1000 feet. The general fear is, of course, that there will be great suffering there this win- Coal oil, per gallon .....'.:..-..;... t, 1 .00 Overalls.... 1.53 Underwear, per suit 53 to 7."o bhoes .s 5.O0 Rubber boots 10 to 15.00 Alnnkit and Its KeBotirce. In the purchase of Alaska, the United States acquired a Territory more than half a million square miles in extent, a part of it within the arctic circle and in the region of everlasting ice and the means of transportation to that frozen region are owned by American companies. In the past miners of any national ity have been free to enter any new diggings and stake out their "claims without restriction. Canadian miners are now free to work across the border in the Alaskan fields. What the result of an exclusion act would mean to Wet7 . . s"v vv . ,ttA '?zv?$&ma&&. a. ... ut? A TLACER MINE IN THE KLONDIKE GOLD FIELD.?. snow, where, during part of tho sum mer, there is continuons day and dur ing the winter continuous, dreary night. The Alaskan coast line is greater than our Atlantic seaboard, but the entire pojnrlation of whites, Kski mos and fierce Indian?, who are called the Apaches of the north, is not much more than that of a ward division in Chicago. In acquiring the Alaskan Territory, though the United States moved its center, figured in geographical miles, not in area or population, as far west as San Francisco. The country now extends from about the sixty-fifth de gree of longitude up at the far east comer of Maine to the 122d degree up at the far northwest tip of the Alaskan mainland. This is taking no account of the little island of Attn, 1000 miles out in the Pacific, beyond the Hawaiian group, which, since the purchase of Alaska, has really been our western land limit. - The United States, therefore, may almost say with England that the sun never sets on its possessions. The principal river in Alaska, the Yukon, up which prospectors have to work their weary way to reach the gold fields was culled by Schwatka, the Alaskan Nile. It rises a little more than 200 miles above Sitka, in tho southern part of Alaska, and then strikes northward, following a broad circle to tho west before it empties into Bering Sea through an extensive delta. Six hundred miles in from the coast it is more than a mile wide and the volume of its water is so great as to freshen the ocean ten miles out from land. The principal cities of Alaska arc Juneau and Sitka. They aro both thriving towns, and probably they will thrive from now on, for a time at least, i as thev have never thriven before. Alaska is ruled by a Territorial Gov ernor, who just now is J. G. Brady, recently appointed by President Mc Kiulcy to succeed James A. Sheakley. The Governor's residence is in Sitka. The citizens up in that frozen coun try do not vote for President of course, being under Territorial government, but they do send delegates to the Na tional political conventions. The judi cial function there is exercised by a district court, established in 18S4. The court sits alternately at Sitka and Wrangle. How odd for a court to sit at Sitka and Wrangle. And speaking of Wrangle, among tho things Alaska lias done for this coun try aside from stirring up the present gold excitement one of the most for ward was to involve it in disputes with England on the boundary question and the seal fisheries business. Both of these disputes threatened war, but white-winged peace settled over the situation in each case and brought the suggestion of that newly invented English-American institution arbitration. However, the boundary question is not settled yet, and the Brit ish lion is even now roaring a little aud angrily swishing its tail because of a diplomatic (the British call it undiplo matic) note from Secretary of State Sherman demanding that British ves sels "keep off the grass" a3 it were in the seal fishing grounds. Canala in a retaliatory measure by the United States, Canadians know better than they can be told. It is not believed, however, that Canada will attempt to exclude Amer ican miners. It is true that the United States excludes Chinese, but Canada probably recognizes that keeping out Chinamen and barring the way for Americans are two different things. Topography, Population and Climate. The Territory naturally falls in six grand divisions. They are the Arctic division, a treeless expanse diversified by icy hills and mountains and with no inhabitants but the Eskimos; the Yukon basin, with its extensive forests near the coast aud its inhabitants of Es kimos and Indians; tho Kuskokwim dis trict, the Aleutian district, comprising the islands off the coast,,where fishing and sealing are the chief pursuits, and where the population is mixed Aleutian and Russian blood; the Kadiak district, including the mainland and islands south of the Alaskan range, and the Sitka district, including the archipel ago and the coast, extending south to British Columbia. The Sitka district is that seen by the tourists from the States. They gaze on its enormous forests aud imagine they Lave seen the country. As a matter of fact, they do little more than set foot on the Terri tory. The census enumeration of 1890 gave the population of the Territory as :jO,G2i), of whom 441G were whites, 82 blacks, 150S half-bred Indians and Es kimos, 13,735 natives not Eskimos (Indians), 2125 Chinese aud 8400 Es kimos. Tho number of whites has probably been more than doubled since then, as the Alaskan gold fever set iu in mild form three or four years ago. In winter the thermometer falls so low in places that no one will recognize it; - mm j . it The llouiidary Question, was not unexpected, of course, that the discovery of gold iu the Klon dike region would revive in a measure rrjii,.r'?V VV- - at. t- MIXERS CROSSIXO TITE BORDER. that it goes down to 70 degrees and lower. During all this kind of winter up in tho Yukon region little can be done but sit about a fire in a vain en- deavor to keep -warm, for darkness exists most of the time, and the life seems like that of a man uncomforta bly seated at the bottom of a well. During tho summer season the days are sometimes even a little bit hot, but not for long. Iu that time, too, there is almost continual day, for that end of the earth (for it may be so called) is the one that is pointed di rectly at the sun. But as the summer brings warmth and daylight it also brings mosquitoes. Aud such mosquitoes. Creatures that buzz aud bite in such a way as to make the dreaded Jersey variety seem by comparison like the silvery, angelic, sweetly, humming fancies of a peace ful dream. The travelers who return from the Yukon region tell stories of bow bravo and strongmen, courageous ' enough to undertake the perils a jour- ' .... . , i -i it ;.ey to tuat country involves, aciuany break down and sob in ntter despera tion and despair under the torments i f these terrible pests. The ice aud tho "magnificent distances" of the country are not the only drawbacks to its exploration or to journeying to the gold fields; the mosquitoes must ever be remembered. Of course, in the southern part of Alaska, where Juneau and Sitka are situated, the winters are not bo rigor ous. There the weather is compara tively mild, and in summer is said to be delightful. But Juneau and Sitka are infinitesimal as compared with the whole country, and they are not an in dex to what is furnished farther np and farther inland. DAWSON CIT7. IN THE KLONDIKE COLD LEOION. ter, and it will be increased, it is ex pected, by the rush of unprepared prospectors who sailed for the new fields immediately on learning what luck had befallen those who have but recently returned. To give an accurate idea of the cost of living in Dawson City, the price list of a general 6tore there is herewith given: Flour, per 100 pounds Mooso ham, per pound Caribou meat, per pound Benus, per pound Kiee, per pound Sugar, per pound Da-'on, per pound Hutter, per roll Lgsrs, per dozen Better eggs, per dozen Salmon, each 81 to Potatoes, per pound Turnips, per pound Tea. per pound CoiTee. per pound Dried fruits, per pound Canned fruits Canned meats Lemons, each (ranges, each Tobacco, per pound -i Liquors, per drink shovels Pick.., .512.00 ,. 1.00 .05 ,. .10 .. .25 . . .25 ,. .40 . 1.50 . 1.50 2.00 1.50 .25 .15 1.00 .50 .35 , .20 . .50 , 1.50 . .50 j 2.50 rt.8,oo the old question of a boundary line be tween Alaska and the British North west Territory, The Klondike fields are considerably east of Fort Cadahv and Dawson City, aud both of these are on British soil. Into the new regions, though, Ameri can miners first ventured and made the first discoveries of gold. Since then hundreds of them have trooped over the border, 6taked out their claims in the rich hills and begun to dig. Should the Canadian Government pass an exclusion act all of these miners, of course, would be dispossessed. The difficulty of enforcing such ar act, especially on miners who have staked out their claims, i3 at once ap parent. The result in retaliation by the Government of the United States is also easily imagined. The Domin ion Government has already established a custom house on the border, and is doing a fair business collecting duty on the goods that go into the new country, and miners think they will be satisfied with that. The exclusion of Americans would practically close Lthe country for a time, for th bast of I 1 1 I Of Prosperity, Says Dun 4t Co's. Weekly Review of Trade. NO. OF FAILURES FOR THE WEEK All the Textile Industries Are Encour aged by Large Demands of Goods The Haste to Buy Wheat. Messrs. B.. G. Dun & Co's Weekly Review of Trade for the week ending Aug. 14th, says: Every city reporting this week notes increase in trade and nearly all bright crop prospects. The great change in business is emphasized by the presence of a multitude of buy ers from all parts of the country by their statements of the situation at their homes and more forcibly yet by the heavy purchases they are mak ing. But the customary signs of prosperity are not lacking. The strong rise in stocks, the growth of bank clearings and railroad earnings, the heavy speculation in many products, but most of all in wheat, have made the week one of surpassing interest even to those who best remember the upward rush in 1S7;i. At the principal clearing houses throughout the country pay ments in July were for the first time slightly larger than in 1SD2, and 11.0 per cent, larger than last year; in the first week of August 7.7 per cent, larger than in 18!2 and 28.4 per cent, larger than last year, and in the second week of August they are 17.'J percent, larger than in 18!)2, and as. 1 percent, larger than last year. The great crops and the haste of foreigners to buy and ship wheat in view of shortage else where, have made the week memorable. Taking profits by a pool lowered the price 3 cents on Saturday, but it has since risen 5 cents, Western receipts, slow in Jul', have in two weeks been 7, 35)2,713 bushels against ti. 722,302 last year, and Atlantic exports have been in two weeks (i, 114,031 bushels against 3, 384,013 last year. Even the demand for corn, by greatly exceeding that of last year, shows that foreign anxieties are serious, for 5,510, 185 bushels have been expoited in two weeks from Atlan tic porta against 2.514,428 last year. The price has advanced 1. 12 cents, not withstanding enormous stocks being brought over. The urgency of French buying of wheat, re ports that Russia will stop ex ports in order to keep supplies for itself and continued shipments from the Pacific to countries usually having a surplus, make even the largest esti mates of probable supply not too great for the possible demand. In all the great industries, a large demand for products appears, with strong specula tion in materials in the intermediate products. In the iron and steel branch, starting of many works after settlement of wages keeps prices low, and even de presses some, but the fact that demand is crowing leads to heavv purchases of iron ore, 200,000 tons at Cleveland in a week, and of billets 40,000 tons, while concessions recently reiorted in pig iron have ceased. Pales of tin are mod erate, of copper large. All the textile industries are encour aged by a greatly improved and really large demand for goods, which causes many to advance in prices, With reproduction much curtailed, stocks of cotton goods are rapidly decreasing, and in woolens advances have been made in clay worsted and mixtures, flannels and middlesex suit ines. Speculation in wool continues. with prices about one cent higher, but sales of 23,4'.H),800 iound8 in two weeks show the willingness of some holders to realize. Failures for the week Lave been 239 in the United States against 2'J8 last year and 30 in Canada against 3( last year. SENATOR GKOROK DEAD. A Man of Great Erudition and Legal Attainments. Senator George, of Mississippi, died in Washington on the 14th. He was born in Monroe county, Ga. , on the 2(Jth of October, 1820. After the death of his father, which occurred in the Senator's early infancy, he removed with his mother in 1834 to Noxubee county, Miss., remaining there for only two years and then going to Carroll county, where he maintained his legal residence until his death. He was well-liked in the Senate not withstanding a rather brusque manner. Those who knew him realized fully that beneath the outward crust was hidden a kindly and gentle disposition. He was also universally resected for his great erudition on legal aud constitu tional questions. Probably there has been no man in the Senate during the present generation who had made great er research into constitutional questions or could discourse more profoundly upon the instruments of government. Had he been permitted to serve his entire term, on the 4th of March, 18!)3, he would have completed his 18th year in the SeDate. He had declined a re election more than a year ago on ac count of his health, and Hon. H. D. Money had been chosen as his suc cessor for the term beginning in 18'J'J. SOUTHERN BIBLICAL. ASSEMBLY The Executive Council Elected Stata Meetings t Stir Up Interest. The Southern Biblical Assembly, which has been in session in Asheville, N. C, during the last ten days, is now planning for 18'.8. The following ex ecutive council was elected: President, Bishop Edward Kondthaler; vice presi dents, Kev. T. T. Eaton, D. D., of Louisville; Kev. II. A. White, D. 1., Washington and Lee L niversity, Lexington, Ya. ; Dr. J. 11. Car lisle, presideat Wofford College, Spar tanburg, S. C. ; Bev. J. F. Spence, D. D., Knoxville, president of Ham- man Universitv, and Bev. C. II. Bell, 1. 1)., Sheffield, Ala.; secretary, Charles W. Dabney. LL. 1). , president of State Universitv, Knoxville, Tenn. It was also provided that the council should elect vice presidents to repre sent other denominations that may co operate with the assembly. A new departure vas agreed on. A series of State meetings, three days each week, v 111 be hold in each State, order to awaken interest. It ia probable that the first of such State meetings will be in Louisville, in Oc tober, and that others will follow southward, along the line of the Louis ville S: Nashville Railroad, with a re turn series through the Atlantic States, ending in Virginia. Queer Place of Refuse. The nassencers on a Tenth street trolley car were treated to an unusual sight early yesterday morning. As the car was bowling along in the vicinity of Parish street a couple of snnrrows. one in chase of the other, swooped down in front of the car. Tho pursued, by a quics nanK move ment, eluded its tormentor by darting under the roof of the front platform, and before the motorman knew what was up the bird had perched on his Land which gripped the lever. Thera it sat contentedly, while the passengers craned their necks to get a view of tha odd spectacle. The sparrow didn't seem to mind the fact that the motor man's hand was constantly turning around as he manipulated his lever, and, after riding on its queer perch for fully a block, chirped its thanks and flew away. Philadelphia Record. An Orlando (Fla.) citizen, who is known locally as a successful inventor, has devised an apparatus by means of which he says he can by suction trans port train for several hundred miles from inland fields to river boats. Killed His Girl's Father. Eli Burney, who was forbidden to visit his sweetheart, shot and fatally wounded the girl's father, V. B. Green at Whitehead, Ala. Burney made his escape, and is being pursued by officers. Bryan's Mexican Trip. At the headquarters of the allied sil -ver forces of Kansas a request has just been received from Mr. W. J. Bryan for copies of all documents and statis tical tables relating to the silver ques tion in Mexico, and also text books for acquiring a knowledge of the Spanish language. .Mr. Bryan expects to visit Mexico in October and is preparing an address on the money question, which he hopes to be able to deliver in the Spanish lan guage. A scientific contenqiorary has dis covered a "breed of cats In South America which do not know how to mew." Probably, like other cats, they yowl all the time. Now. honestly, ln't Yvette nuilbert a mil nice, gentle, dreamy sort f spring chicken to go Into maudlin ec stasies almoin having found the ideal man for a huslKind. That Boston man who insists that there no angel should not Iknit LU observation exclusively to Boston. NEWS ITEMS. PHENOMENON IN GEORGIA. ThomasvlUe People Much Exercised Over a Supposed Volcano. The inhabitants of Thomasville, Ga., are intensely excited over what appears to be the existence of a volcano on a plantation near there. The crater is about twenty-five feet square, and sev eral streams of blue smoke issue from it The ground in the immediate loca tion of the crater has sunk to the ex tent of two feet below the surface. Ex cavations made show that the smoke proceeds from an extensive bed of ashes. Originally the source of distur bance was situated beneath the resi dence of a farmer, but the volume of smoke and intense heat compelled the destruction of the house. It is impos sible that the smoke should proceed from burning mines, as there are no mineral deposits in the locality. Fre quent rains have failed to quench the subterranean fires. The phenomenon is being yisited by hundreds of curious people. YOUTHFUL MURDERERS. Negroes, Six and Eight Years Did, Kill a Baby. At Grapevine, Texas, a little negro was killed by two other little negroes. The murdered child was but 3 years old. The others were 0 and 8 years of age. A few days ago they tortured the little fellow by burning it all over with a Lot iron, w hich caused it great sufl'e: ing, and, to stop it from crying, they took it by the head and feet and threw it off a porch some three feet high and then jumped on it and stamped it to death. Sherman Soon to Retire. A special from Washington to the FLiladelp-da (Pa.) Becord, says Secre tary Sherman's retirement from the Cabinet is expected to occur before Congress meets, but Dot until after the election in Ohio, for it is feared that il he should go out of ollice, even if it was done voluntarily, before November, hie friends in Ohio might turn tho scale against Senator Hanna and givG the State and the Legislature over to the Democrats. Southern Pencil Pointer. Last week's attendance at the Nash ville (Tenn.) Exposition was 3.",S0;t. The smallpox situation in Birming ham, Ala., is very much improved. The local school tax has been de feated generally throughout North Car olina. At Edgefield, S. C, the double stores of Croft A Tillman have been bnrued. There was no insurance. Loss, 7,Ot)0. Senator Thomas B. Turley, of Ten nessee, is to be invitod to take part in the Maryland and Ohio campaigns, 'Squire Alexmider MoBee, of Brushy Creek. Greenville county, S. S., ftil from his back orch and broke his neck. He was 7-' j-ears old. Felix Bobbins, the -rear-old son of O. A. Bobbins, of Charlotte, N. C, was drowned while in bathing at Caro lina Beach below Wilmingtoi Mrs. Idilla Powell Bpnks, a well-to-do widow, h lc .a arrested at lmt mau, tla. , foi drowning her 4-ycar-obl son Albert because he was disfigured in face. Moonshiners murdered Deputy Sher iff WLarton, of Beat tone, Clelorne count v. Ala., for trviuir to breakup tbeir business. Fulton county. Ga. . in wliich is At lanta, shows a falling off in tax returns of S2,22(,S02 from last year. In a recent sermon at Winston, N. C,, Presiding Elder Wood declared in favor of the Curfew law. A negro, Jim Nelson, wronged an 8 year-old paralytic negro girl on the outskirts of Charleston. The negro population is excited. The editor of the Fitzgerald (Ga.) Leader has sent to Hon. Wni. J. Bryau a watermelon weighing 81 1 pounds. The erection of a twenty-ton cotton seed oil mill will be commenced at La ronia, Ga., at once. Bev. James Yates, a Ilaptist minister, committed suicide by hanging himself at Shellield, Ala. He was at outs with members of his church. Ho was CI 3'ears old. Miss Bessie Koonce died at Colum bia, S. C, from poisoning, having; rubbed her teeth with piano iolish. The body was interred without cere mony at her request, lier violin, guitar and music were buried with her in the colli u. In a wreck on the Seaboar Air Line, three and a half miles below Bocking ham, N. V., Willis Taylor, a negro brakeman, was killed and seventeen cars were derailed along with the en gino. The cars were filled with cigar ettes, shoes, canned goods and the like. At Weaverville, eight miles north of Ashevi le, N, C, Bob Urackctt narrow ly escaped being lynched for an assault Ukhi Kitty Henderson, but after being spirited away to Buncombe jail a mob battered the door down, aud it is very likely that he has paid the penalty of his crime. William Austin, known as the giant blacksmith of Stanley county, is to at tend the Universitv of North Carolina this year and join the football team. He is 0 feet ! inches high, weighs 240 IK)unds and is twenty-two years old. He walks with a bale of cotton weigh ing 500 pounds. I lew ill be the biggest football player in tho country. Primary Idea Defeated. Virginia's State Democratic Conven tion in session at Boanoke nominated A J. Montague for Attorney-General, and defeated the resolution to elect United States Senators by primary. The plat form as published in these columns was adopted. The convention then adjourn ed sine die. Tobacco Claims Allowed. -La Lucha, the government organ published in Cuba, is authority for the statement that the Spanish government at Madrid has issued an order that all claims for tobacco by American manu facturers have been allowed, and that tobacco can be removed. Drummer Evangelist Baptlrd. The North Carolina Baptist says V. P. Fife, the drummer evangelist, was baptized in the ocean at Old Orchard, Me., Saturday, August 7th. He says his mind had been unsettled all of his Christian life and he decided to be im- j mersed. Gold Seekers Returning. A special from Seattle, Wash., says many of the gold seekers who left for Klondike are returning home for the winter on account of the blockade at Dyea and Skagaway, where there will be much suffering during the winter. A Hatfield Scare. The reports that Capt. Hatfield, the escaped desperado, had killed four men during a fight in the mountains in Logan county, W. Ya. , are without foundation. Tobacco Destroyed. A wind, rain and hail storm which passed over Viroqua county, Illinois, done more than $1 00,00) damage to the tobacco farmers. Fully four-fifths of the crop is destroyed. Pity News Items. The fire losses for the first seven months of 18U7 have fallen to ?;4,-Vw,-;jo0 as against 7:, 500,000 for the same period in l'j-l New York is still talking of a World's Fair in 1900 to commemorate tfie consol idation of the various cities which are comprised in Greater New York. Missouri Las raised the taxable valu ation of her railroads and telegraphs by over $3,000,000 and will add 730,000 to her revenue neit year. A New Orleans iap-r brings the Im portant Information that heneeforth Chicago aldermen will ?'-t l..Vm a year." If the time ever com- when Chicago aldermen "tret" only ?l,.Vi a year we t-hall be quite prepared to l Peve that the millennium in lurking right around the next street corner. The world is anxi.ii!y waiting to learn what h i:-. H-ient He- i.onn- iio Ing in "oiu.'iiiia" will ! invented f"r he purpose of allowii.' that w:iit!;y St. Louis Mimgler to Moak out from under. All About the North. Thero will bo 30,000 officeholders in Greater New York. A ship direct to the Klondyke cold fields will leave New York about Aug ust 21st Congressman Ashley B. Wright dropped dead at his home at North Adams, Mass. An association combined of buyers for commercial houses in the various cities has been formed in New York. Hon. W. J. Bryan will speak to the Marion county I Illinois) old settlers at the reunion to bo held September ti. Cincinnati, )., is thecentreof agrent new combine of manufacturers of wood working machinery. The World Fnys that 2,500 babies Lave been abandoned by their mothers in New York w ithin the past year. Lafayette College, nt Easton, Pa., has received by a recent distribution of the l'ayerwf ather estate tho sum of .75, Ooo. Henry Sanford w as elected vice pres ident, and William B. linnuore trus tee, by the directors of the Adams Ex press Company in New York. It is estimated that Kansas will Lave nearly 50,000,000 bushels of winter wheat to sell this year, and that 40 cr cent, of it will be marketed within sixty days. A man by the name of Baker, at Den nison, Texas, has entered suit against Lis wife for divorce on the charge of snoring and excessive use of butter milk. Miscellaneous. Japan will have a gold currency after Oct 1, next. Secretary Bliss has issued a warning relative to the Klondike fields. .Bishop Key says the Southern and Northern Methodists will never unite. American whalers this season have realized $702,4 1:. Win. Cramp A Sons have sued the United States on hip-building con tracts. Thero aro several caRes of typhoid fever in the Vanderbilt household at Biltmore, N. O. Within eighteen month famine and pestilence have killed h,o.0,000 people in India. Most Kansas counties pav a bounty on wolves killed, and Michigan pays for dead sparrows. Ethel M. Harris, colored, of Park ersburg, W. Va , Las sued C. ('. Watts, recent Democratic candidate for Governor, claiming 5,000 damage for assault. An invention Las which will allow- tel from moving trains. been perfected graphing to and A woman's Klondike party Las been formed in Now York. They will sail for the Alaskian gold fields on March 1st, '!. The total bank dealings in tLe United States for the week ending Aug. U'th were $1,153, 070,823; per cent, in crease, 35.!). Exclusive cf New York, $435,'jJ7,37; r cent, iuerease 17.5. A special to the Paleiph (N. C. ) News and Observer tells of another case of rare in this State, This time it is a white man, Henry Jackson. His vic tim is a respectable young woman, Miss Blanche Hodges, niece of the present sheriff of Beaufort county.