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PAPER CF W. N. C.
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VOLUME 24.
HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1893
NUMBER 17-
rifrtr nil
SI
Mi
OI K WASHINGTON LETTEK.
Washington, April 24, 1893.
Christopher Columbus is in .Washing
ton. Not the discoverer of America,
but his descendant, the Duke of
Veragua, as the especially invited and
honored guest of the United States,
for the purpose of attending the Ex
position. The Duke and his party, in
charge of Commander Dickins, U. S.
N., arrived here late Saturday evening
and went at once to the hotel at which
a magnificent suito of thirteen rooms
had been engaged and over which the
Spanish Hag will fly during their stay
in this city. Yesterday they attended
service at St. Matthews, and this after
noon a special reception was held in
their honor, by Presideiit and Mrs.
Cleveland, and tonight a musical en
tertainment at the residence of Senator
Brice. Tomorrow will be devoted to
the sights of the Capital, including
Mount Vernon, and Wednesday the
party will go to New York with' Presi
dent Cleveland, Mrs. Cleveland and
the Cabinet, where they will see the
naval review from the deck of the
Dolphin. The Duke and his wife and
daughter express themselves as being
delighted with America and with thej
reception given them in New York and!
Washington, the only cities yet visi
ted. Prompt action on the part of Presi
dent Cleveland and his Cabinet carried
the country safely through what look
ed very much like a dangerous fi
nancial crisis. -The free gold was
exhausted ftud the lemand for gold for
export brought the administration
face to face with the question of
whether bonds should be sold or a
portion of the $100,000,000 gold reserve
should be used to redeem notes pre-
seined to the Treasury. Under the
law gold might have been refused for
Treasury notes, they being payable in
coin, but as it had been the practice
of the department to redeem these
notes in gold it was thought that it
might have a bad effect to discontinue
the practice just now, so it was decided
to use a portion of the reserve fund,
and .-:. 000. fli0 of it was used; but only
lor a single day. Now, the Treasury
has replaced-'what it used from the
fund and has, besides, enough gold to
meet all demands. Public opinion is
with President Cleveland in the belief
that, so long as there is .known to be
'.more than $700,00u,oo0 in gold in the
United States, there is no necessity
for the government 'to sell bonds to
procure it, and as for using a part of
the gold reserve firid to redeem
notes, that is Whit it was accumulated
for, and many say that it should be
used, if necessary, until it becomes
exhausted, before bonds should be
issued. The present indications are
that the Treasury will soon have plen
ty of gold, as bankers are placing their
gold at its disposal, and visitors to the
World's Fair w ill soon turn" a stream
of European gold our way.
Ex-Congressman Vance,' of Connec
ticut, while on a living visit to Wash
ington, dropped some pleasant news
concerning his State, which although
regularly casting its electoral vote for
a democrat,- hasteen unable for a long
period to send a democrat to the
Senate. He says the. legislature to be
elected this vear will be democratic and
that -Senator Piatt 'will be succeeded
by a democrat, and his friends- add
his name will be Bob Vance."
The weather has been uiiusally cool
this spring, but there is no comparison
between the weather and the action of
republicans now holding federal offices
in writing letters to the heads of the
departments, asking that they be:xal
lowed to remain in .office. Even such
a pronounced partisan as Webster
Flannagan. now collector of customs1
at-El Paso, Texas, has written asking
that he be kept in olliee. Evidently
Flanagan is of the same 'mind now
concerning the. holding of federal
ofliee that he was almost a score of
years ago when he startled a National
Republican Convention, when the
same subject was up, by asking; ''What
are we here for?' It is probable that
he will 5oon learn what the democratic
administration is here for, and the
knowledge will hardly please him over
much.
.
Hon. T. F. Bayard, U. S. Ambassador
to Great Britain, will start for London
on May 30th. He lias been, while in
Washington, the recipient of unusual
courtesies and attention from Sir
Julian Pauncefote, the British xnibrl
sador.
MURDERER CAPTURED.
KILLED ON THE EVE OF I1IS WED
DING. Charles Williamson, of Caldwell County N. C. who
Murdered his Brother, Captnred in
! Texas.
A man who killed his brother for his
sweetheart, became a fugitive from
justice, and while in hiding, assisted
in the killing of two other men,
escaped after being captured, became
a fugitive for a second time, and who
after all lost the woman he loved, and
who after all lost the woman he loved
and for whose sake he did murder, and
yet can smile, over the 'whole transac
tion, is a remarkable man.
Such a man spent yesterday in
Atlanta, in the jail, a prisoner of the
law he has' defied, being carried back
to the scene of his first crime to answer
to justice. And strangely enough
there was nothing of the desperado or
outlaw in his appearance. Well dres
sed, erect, smiling, self-possessed and
easy mannered, he looked not the least
a criminal.
The prisoner was Charles Willamson
of Shelby, Cleveland couuty, N. C,
and two years ago he killed his brother,
Erastus Williamson, under circumstan
ces that have but few parallels. The
two yOung men belonged to an
excellent family, and were quite well
to do. Through the inexplicable
workings of fate it so happened that
both paid attentions to the same young
ladv, and she won both their hearts.
It will never be known which, if either
of the two brothers captured the affec
tions of the charming young lady to
whom they were desperately devo
ted. Charles Williamson secured the
promise of her hand in marriage and
happy at having bested not only his
brother, but many other aspirants for
her hand, he began to make prepara
tions for the wedding. About this
time it became rumored around that
Erastus Williamson was also engaged
to the young lady, and things were
considerably mixed, and naturally
enough much bad blood was engender
ed. The two brothei's became
estranged, and cherished bitter feel
ings toward each other.
A terrible seqtiel followed the
unusual tragedy of two brothers loving
the same woman. One day two years
ago, on a lonely country road the end
came. Erastus Williamson was found
murdered and Charles Williamson was
discovered to be missing. The day
followed the killing was the day set
for the marriage of Charles Williamson
to the young lady who had innocently
caused the killirg, but when his wed
ding day dawned, he was flying for
refuge from the law. He went to
Columbus, Ga., w here he was employ
ed for a time by Carson Brothers. Af
terwards he went to northern Alabama
where he figured in the killing of two
negroes. He was captured, but execu
ted a daring escape, and leaving
Alabama went to'Texas.
He has been in Colorado county,
Texas, since leaving Alabama. When
asked what occupation he followed
while in Texas, he said -with a smile
that he was engaged in stealing cattle;
and-had tolerable good success at it.
Two hundred dollars reward was of
fered for his capture and return to
Shelby, N. C, anil last week his capt
ure was efTeettxl, and Sheriff C. E.
Hambrick, of Cleveland county, was
notified to come for the prisoner, and
arrived in Atlania yesterday morning
on his wav home. He carried Wil
liamson to the Fulton county jail, and
had him locked in a heavv iron
- . m m ' . - . . a . J
i locked in a heavy iron cage
of Lew Is Red wine's rom dur
dav. The prisoner was un-
in. front
mg the dav. uie l
communicative, and said that he was
wanted- for mans -slaughter. Sheriff
Hambrick left on the Richmond and
Danville train last ni hi with his pris
oner. The young woman -to whom Wil
liamson was to be married and who
caused. the killing, has married anoth
er suitor since the trasredy ocurred
and is now living happily with him.
Constitution.
The Sherift Will SnflVr.
Washington, April '21. The Uni
ted States Jupreme Courr has denied
the petition for a writ of habeas cor
pus in the South Carolina Railroad tax
cases. This decision leaves the matter
in the hands of the, South Carolina
courts, and the sheriffs will have to
stand the punishment ordered for con
tempt of court. News and" Obser
ver. The mingling of the ladies with the
sailors down at Hampton Roads just
now is a pleasant way of blending tar
and feathers. Yonkers Statesman.
STATE BANES.
Tennt-fiste Will Test the Question of" Wild
Cat Currency."
Nashville, Tenn., April 22. An act
was passed by the Legislature of Ten
nessee, and since approved by the
Governor, giving authority to State
banks to issue a circulating- medium.
The act requires a deposit of United
States, State of Tennessee or county
bonds, and the currency will be issued
for the banks on these securities, not
in excess of 90 per cent, of their mar
ket value. The act limits currency to
be issued by the,State to $23,000,000.
Periodical examinations of banks, re
demption of currency and other fea
tures of the national banking law are
adhered to. The bank must redeem
its circulating notes on demand in
gold or silver. No county . bnds will
be accepted wnere the indebtedness of
the county exceeds 5 per cent, of the
taxable property, or if the county has
defaulted any time in years prior on
its interest. The circulating medium is
to be signed by the President and
cashier of the bank and countersigned
by the State Controller. The act says:
"The object sought byrhis Legislature
being to furnish, the citizens of this
State a safe, sound arid trustworthy
currency, possessing sufficient elastic
ity to meet the demands of the manu
facturing, farming and business inter
ests and exigencies of the times, a cur
rency based on sound securities, the
stability and sufficiency .of Which no
one can question or doubt, to be over
looked, supervised and guarded by the
State's chief officers for the benefit and
protection ol the public. "
Wkat th War Cost.
Mr. Edward Atkinson, one of the
?eeding statisticians of this country,
has been figuring on the cost of the
war and he puts it this way:
Pensions to June 30, 1892, as '
stated by Representative O'Neill
$ 1,550,000,000
Pension roll and trust pay
ments June 30, 1892, to Decem
ber 31, 1891, about 250,000,000
1,800,000,003
Names on roll December 31,
1894, about 1,275,000. If all
were soldiers of 25 to 2G at time
of enlistment, they will then
average 00. . On that basis by I
life tables Ave should have to
pay about 2,000,000,000
$ 3,800,000,000
Expenditures for war pur
poses, seven years of war and
reconstruction. 4,000,000,000
Probable cost of war in money
to the south 2,200,000,000
$10,000,000,000
Interest in all, about 2,000,000,000
Total cost, not including pen
s'ons after December 31, 1894,
about $12,000,000,000
It is estimated that about $4, 000, 000, 000
more will be required to clear up the
pension rolls. This would make the
total cost of the war about sixteen
billion dollars.
It is utterly impossible to compre
hend any such sum, but the figures
show that ours was the most expen
sive war the world has ever seen. But
see how the country has sustained
this enormous expenditure and gone
steadily onward in wealth as well as in
population.
The increase in wealth has been far
greater than the growth of population.
While our population now Ls about
twice what it was in 18G0, the real
wealth of the countrv is at least four
times as great.
The total property . in the United
States in 1800, including slaves, was
about 1U,0.HOQU,000. In spite of the
four years and the abolition of slavery
w e found in l702-2,U(,OtJi),0('X) of prop
erty, gold value.
From 170 to 180 the wealth mow
than doubled and from Isy) to 1890. it
increased fully one third.
It ?Vsafe to say therefore that the
total wealth of the United States now
is at least sixty-five billion of dollars
which is far greater than that of anv
other nation.
We live in a great countrv.
Going Back to First Principles.
The minister of Charlotte, com
iKsing the Ministerial Union, have ar
ranged for a picnic at Tuckaseege
ford, on the Catawba, when there will
be a mutual contest of skill as an
glers.
The first Christian minister were
fishermen.
GENERAL NEWS.
The town of Cumberland Gap, at
the famous mountain pass, has made
an assignment for the benefit of its
creditors. The. town charter has also
been repealed. This is probably the
first instance of the kind on record.
In the contests of the crews of the
war ships of the different nations, in
Hampton Roads, Wednesday April 19,
at boat racing the crews of the U. S.
steamer, San Francisco, won every
race. They beat the other American
crews, and those of England, France,
Germany, Italy, Russia and theDutch,
Last week two death prisoners in
Sing Sing, N. Y., for murder, made
good their escape and are still at large.
Before leaving prison they opened the
door of the cell of Carlyle W. Harris,
who is sentenced to' death for poison
ing his wife, but Harris refused to es
cape. Governor Flower has referred
his case for commutation to a commis
sioner. The Pennsylvania Steel Co. of Steel-
ton Pa., has failed, or rather, gone in
to the hands of a receiver. Several
million dollars are involved. Onlv a
few days ago the directors declared a
semi-annual dividend of 5 per cent, on
$5,000,000 capital stock. The trouble
is only temporary. F. W. Wood, pres
ident of the Maryland Steel Co., was
appointed receiver by a Baltimore
court. Luther S. Bent, president of
the Pennsylvani Steel Co., says the
receivership is not the result of want
of profitable work at both plants, but
of the present unfortunate condition
of the money power. The stock was
selling at ,$120.
Republican Postmasters.
Washington, April 19. All Repub
lican Postmasters will be permitted to
serve out their full terms of four years.
Postmaster General Bisell has so de
cided. The question was brought to
a head to day by Congressman Sprin
ger, who put this question to Mr. Bis
sell. '"Suppose that a Postmaster ap
pointed by Mr. Harrison three years
ago had died, and a Republican suc
cessor was appointed, will this man be
allowed o serve four years dating
from the original commission, or will
he be allowed four years dating from
the issue of his own commission?1
"He will be allowed," said Mr. Bis
sell, "to serve out the four years of his
own."
"That is the ultimatum?''
"It's the rule," said Bissell.
"It's cheerful," said Mr. Springer.
A Drummer's Rough Experience.
Mr. James Coon, a traveling man,
had a rough experience in Greensboro
last Saturday night. He was on his
way from the Benbow Hotel to thede
Xot. Just before he reached the sta
tion, a man stepped in front of him
and without saying a word hit him in
the face with a brick. Mr. Coon was
knocked to the pavement and for a
short while was unconscious. A man
standing near, saw the drummer fal
and ran to him. As he approached
him, the man that had struck the blow
ran on and as he ran said: "He is the
wrong man, I ought not to liave hit
him." The police of Greensboro have
the case in hand. Charlotte News.
The Caterpillars Again Stop a Train.
Last year about this time, the News
noted the fact of an immense number
of caterpillars crossing the track of the
Carolina Central railroad, at Bisr
Swamp, between Lumberton and
Clarkton. The number of these in
sects crossing the rails at one time
stopped the iassage of a train on this
road. The same incident recurs this
year. Saturday, as the west bound
passenger train passed Big Swamp,
the driving wheels of the engine be
gan to slip and in a few seconds the
train was at a standstill. Uon inves
tigation, it was found that the track
for several hundred yards w;i covered
with these inects. from one to two
inches in depth, and it was the great
est difficulty that the train passed on
its western joa.-iey. The track of the
Carolina Central divides this swamp
and it seems tliat the ctrpillars are
going to and from each ide of the
swamp, and the nearest route is acros:
the railroad track. Charlotie News
An exchange publishes a marriage of
Miss Angel to Mr. Hellfritz. It is for
the gossips to determine .whether that
match was made in heaven or the ri-
val establishment.
TUE MINERS REPULSED.
BricfBattle Between a Ml
mud Tracy
City Frlon Guard.
Tracy City, Tenn.. April 20. (Spe
cial. The branch prison was attacked
: 11 o'clock last night by an armed
body of miners, who numbered prob
ably 100, their object being to release
the oOO convicts there. The attack hail
been expected ami the guards were
prepared. Firing was quicklv com
menced, but the miners were repulsed
ith one of their number, Bob Irwin,
killed, Matt Parsons wounded, and
mother thought to be wounded. As
sistant Denutv Warden Shriver was
wounded in the head, but the wound
is not considered a dangerous one. A
guard named Walden was fatally
wounded. Sheriff Sanders was at the
prison during the attack.
The convicts are not at work todav.
and all is now quiet.
FIVE A DAY.
Earthquake Shocks Getting: to He Common
Things iu Zante.
Athens, April 22. The details of the
calamity that has befallen the Island
of Zanto show that since the beginning
of April there has been a total of 100
earthquake shocks, averaging fives
every day. There are not in the city
fifty houses that are safe for people to
live in. 1 1 is now; known t hat 150 persons
lost their lives, and this list is likely to
be added to when the ruins are cleared
away, if this is ever done.
Literary Notes.
The next numbsr of Harper's Weekly,
published April 20th, will well main
tain its usual standard of excellence
and timeliness, containing, besides a
variety of other interesting matter, the
following special attractions: Illustra
tions ff tlift Xnvnl TJnf17.vrn nf.
Hampton Roads, with descriptive ar
ticle by Lieutenant J. 1). J. Kelley, U.
S. N!; a portrait and sketch of Hon.
James C. Carter, appropos of his- ser
vices in connection with the Behring
Sea Court of Arbitration; an illustaa-
tion and sketch of the new Corcoran
Art Gallery in Washington; an article
by W. H. Bishop on Bradley's "Colum
bus," illustrated; a portrait and sketch
of the Duke of Veragua; and a graphic
description of the city of Lisbon, by
Armand Dayot, profusely illustrated.
"The Company's Husbands" is the
title of a pleasant little-comedy in one
act, adapted for amateur acting and
parlor representation, which will be
published in Harier's Bazar for April
29th. The author is Rosemarv Baum.
Tke Earl of Derby DU.
London April 21. The Earl of
Derby died at 8JJ0 o'clock this even
ing. Edward Henry Smith-Stanley was
the fifteenth Earl of Derby, and the
head of a house as noble and distin
guished as the one occupying the Brit
ish throne. Born July 21, i82G, he
was the son of that great Earl of Derby
whose talents made him the most dis
tinguished Englishman in a Parlimen
graced i by giants like Gladstone,
Bright, Disraeli and Palmerston.
The Stanleys have been conspicu
ous English history for eight hundred
years. They trace their ancestry in
a clear line back to the Norman con
quest and for generations were- Kings
of the Isle of Man.
Goldsdoro, April 24 Five special
cars with 375 memlers of the State
Guard alxard, left here this evening
at 4 o'clock for Jame; City. They
were the Governor's Guards, of Ral
eigh; the Warren Guards, of Warren
ton: the Franklin Rifles, of Louisburg;
Jthe Edgecombe Guards, of Tarboro;
the Greenville Guanis, the Goldslxro
Rifles and the Wahirton Light In
fantry, with one Hotch kiss" cannon.
Governor Carr nceomianied the sold
iers. A special to the Headlight from New-,
bein tonight give: a boxful view of
the situation at James City. At the
f'lrival of the tram there several of the
leading colored men from Goldsboro
and Kinston went over to the seat of
war and held a conference with the
2,J0 negroes all of whom are now
willing to give in but insist that the
ejectment shall be made by the prorer
author-ties, No further trouble is ap
prehendtVl. Nkwh;i:n, April 2!. Gov. Carr and
staff ;ar here. Seven companies of
the first regiment of the State Guard
are at the fair grounds.
Brigadier General Cotton is in com
mand otthe whole force. Col. Wood,
Lieut. Col. Bogart and Maj. Hodman
are with their regiment.
A move on James City will be made
t omorrow. pnariot te u oserver.