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OLD SERIES—VOL. LIIXI
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Chronicle an&
WEDNESDAY . . JULY jj, 1871.
MINOR TOPICS.
Tlue New York Jlerabi, of tlio 6th, publishes a
Tory highly interesting account of the cure of j
the horrible malady that follows the bite of a j
mad dog, in the case of a young woman, twen
ty-two years of age, who having been bitten J
by a mail dog two weeks previously, was taken !
ill on the 19th day of September. A physician
was called who found her in all tho convulsions
of hydrophobia. Five days thereafter she was
convalescent, Ihe treatment having been that
she was deprived of seventy-two ounces of her
blood by “the cold and early use of the lan
cet."
The Pall Mall Gazette contains an item of in
telligence of much interest to tho religious
world. It says the Government of the Forte
has prohibited tho salo of Bible* in Turkey,
and has formally announced to the American
Minister at Constantinople that it intends to
maintain the prohibition. This annunciation
specially to the American Minister of tho de
termination of tho authorities was doubtless
on account of the greater preponderance of the
American missionaries and teachers in the
work of introducing Christianity among the
Mahometan subjects of tho Forte.
It is amusing to disinterested parties as well
as instructive to men who are ambitious for
political honors to uotioe tlio various pretexts
which Republican Congressmen find for de
clining a re nomination this Fall. A great many
have come suddenly to realize that their time
is unavoidably demanded for private business.
The chief reason, however, is ill health. There
seems to boa regular epidemic prevailing
among them. Congressman Freeman Clarke,
from tlio Twenty-ninth New York District, iH
the latest one to announce that poor health
will necessitate his declining a renomination.
A hill has boen introduced into tho House of
Lords by the Duke of Richmond for the vir
tual disestablishment of tlio Chur h of Scot
land. It provides that all the livings shall bo
handed over to the "male communicants” of
each parish, the Government giving those it
holds for nothing, and the communicants pa'y-.
ing to tho owners of tho others one year's pur
chase. Tho Government owns 900 livings,
worth about $'150,000, and (lie remaining 000,
held by privato individuals, are valued at about
4900,000. It is thought that the church would
he made stronger by this reform, and that a re
union between it and tho Froo Church, which
separated from it many years ago on this ques
tion of State patronage, mightthen bo cffcctotl.
A pensive gazing out into the future, a won
dering retloctlon upon tho Inlinito, are exer
cises of mind in which everybody more or less
indulgoe. They are especially refreshing to
tliosa languid and profound persons, tlio youth
ful philosophers and poots. It must be ono of
those who mournfully states in the Evansville
Jotirnal "llow many of us yearn to penetrate
tho inscrutable and repair to the open vasti
tudes of tho country to question the blue
vaults studded with golden doors, or to hold
the oeoan of spirit within us in communication
witli tho expanse without !” Ah, too true, too
true! It is this sort of thing that makoH one
fool what a blessed boon tho calm and peace
ful lunatic asylum may bo.
Tho aboltiou of ilio franking privilege hliowh
good results in tho accounts of tho PoHt Of
tlco Department, which exhibit an increase of
ever throe millions in it» resources during tho
llscal year just closod, a considerable propor
tion of which may ho referred directly to that
cause. The chief purpose of tho abolition of
tho franking privilege was not so milch to in
crease tho immediate revenues of tho Depart
ment as to effect a saving iu tho printing of
yseless documents, to which the privilege of
free mail distribution was a constant and ir
resistible temptation. It is gratifying to know
that while a reform, partial as yet, still a de
cided reform, lias boon effected iu this direc
tion, the law has accomplished tho further re
sult of increasing perceptibly the legitimate
resources of tho postal servicer.
' There arc some statues, of brass and of
marblo, which may properly euough be sub
jected to the indignity of stoning ; and if some
fortunate missile should knock of a it so, it
may convert lhat which was simply stupid into
an object of interest, lint wo are surprised
that the Hartford boys should be so lost to all
State pride and legendary reverence as to stoue
the statue of "Old Put," becauso his well
known adventure with a wolf has made him
vojy much a favorite among juvenile students
of history. Perhaps the boys wanted to seo
whether tho statue had had enough of its
original iu it to cotuo down and givo them tho
"sound Hogging which they deserved.
The Roman Catholics of London have pm
eliased ihe ground for tho erection of a cathe
dral worthy tho motroi>olitau see of England.
The plans for the structure have becu drawn,
and very largo sums of tuouey have boen sub
scribed to begin the work; but Archbishop
Manning eteruly insists that not a stone of tho
cathedral shall be laid until every single
poor Catholic child in London is in a Catholic
school and rtoeiving a good Catholic educa
tion. Ho has been eight years at this work.
When he commenced it there were 11.000 of
these children in the schools. Ho has now
got 25,000 on tho books of his schools, but
tliero are 3,000 more "wandering loose about
the streets.” When those are all caught and
tamed, and not before, tho first stone of the
new cathedral will bo laid.
The Sp&uiardi* in Cuba are anxious to revive I
tho odious coolio trade, ands commissioner
has beeu sent from Havana to Spain to do j
what he can there in tho interest of slavery, i
The law passed in 1870 for the omancipatien of :
all slaves born after its passage has not re- j
ceivod the slightest attention, and lias bad no I
, effect whatever. A fear ful death rate among |
the coolies. of whom 50.000 have been brought
to the island from 1847 to 187d, makes it neces
sary that the supply should be kept up by fur
ther importations, and as the slaveholders are |
very powerful they may succeed in getting a j
port opened to the infamous traffic. Tli > same !
commissioner wlio goes to ask for more slaves j
will ask for ten thousand more soldiers; which i
shows that the cause of the Cubans is in a
measure prosperous, and that the power of
Spain in Cuba continues to decline.
Recorder Hackett. of New York, has added
his testimony to the evidence heretofore given
that “'hanging is pjayed out" iu the groat com
mercial metropolis. At the recent trial of
Martin Gill the jury disagreed, although the
testimony, as reported, points so strongly to a
diabolical, cold blooded murder that it is very
difficult to see how twelve sane men could have
had any doubt about it. The prisoner himself
seemed to entertain very little doubt about the
aytter. for spite of the disagreement ho was
unwilling to risk the chance of a second trial,
and offered to plead guilty of murder iu the
second degree. The Recorder accepted the
plea, and, after making tho remarks above
quoted, sentenced the murderer to imprison
ment for life at hard labor. In the light of
such a sentence there would be little reason to
regret that "hanging is played out." were it
not forthe element of uncertainty arising from
the pardoning power.
A decision has been made adverse to the
claim of the United States in the celebrated
New York Central Railroad case. This tax was
levied in March, 1870. for cl. 151,800. It passed
under the review of Commissioner rieasouton
and his successor, Commissioner Douglass,
both of whom insisted that it must be paid.
Commissioner Douglass, however, reduced- the
amount to 4450,000. The tax was finally paid
under protest. The decision of the United
States Circuit Court, sitting at Canandaigua,
New York, Judge Wallace presiding, is to the
effect that the tax was illegally exacted and
must bo refunded. The tax was levied on cer
tain interest certificates, payable out of the
future earnings of the road. The Court holds
that these certificates were not taxable is a
dividend under the Internal Revenue law.—
This result will be received with some surprise
by tiie public, as the department decisions had
been generally accepted as law. It is probable
that an appeal in the case will be taken to the
yuitod States Supreme Court.
NOT DEAD, BUT BLEEPETII.
A Washington special to the Louisville
Courier Journal says : The popular im
pression that the civil rights bill is en
tirely dead is contradicted by experi
enced parliamentarians. The bill lies on
the Speaker’s table. The reason why it
did not pass at the last session of Con
gress was that it required a vote of two
thirds at the time the bill reached the
House of Representatives, and a two
thirds’ vote could not be had. In the
early part of the session it is competent
at any time after the morning hour to
move to go to the Speaker’s table; and
in such case a majority vote suffices to
carry the motion. Rut when the civil
rights bill passed the Senate the House
of Representatives had made so many
special orders that these and the unfin
ished business prevented there Wing any
morning hours, so that the only road to
the Speaker’s table was by the suspen
sion of the rules. At the coming session
there will be morning hours for a month
or so probably, and a bare majority can
go to the Speaker’s table. That there is
a large majority in the House ready to
vote for the civil rights bill is certain.
A QUESTION OF TAXATION.
An intelligent gentleman suggests that
the Legislature is prohibited by the
Constitution of 1868 from exempting
any tiling whatever from taxations Com
menting on this, the Athens Watchman
points out a very effectual mode of re
ducing taxation, which is by so amend
ing tho Constitution as to provide for
biennial instead of annual sessions of
the Legislature, and adds: “The most
direct and only practicable way to effect
these reforms is to provide fora Conven
tion to alter and amend the Constitu
tion. The last Legislature opposed this,
and many of the members contended
the people were opposed to a Conven
tion. In this we think they were mista
ken. Be this as it may, let the people
speuk in the coming elections. If they
favor high taxation, let them oppose a
Convention. If they wish their taxes
reduced, let them instruct the Represen
tatives they elect to call one. It need
not cost more than twenty or twenty
five thousand dollars. A single session
of the Legislature costs upwards of one
hundred thousand dollars, and there is
no earthly necessity for annual sessions.”
TIIE VICTORY IN ARKANSAS.
Tho result of tho recent election in
Arkansas cannot but bo gratifying to the
Democracy of tho country. For years
past, since reconstruction laws and con
stitutional amendments turned tho
Southern States over to the control of
carpet-baggers and negroes in 1868, Ar
kansas lias been giving heavy majorities
to the Radicals. She seemed to be in as
helpless and hopeless a condition ns
South Carolina. Her thieves were as
numerous, bold and powerful, her rings
as well organized and unscrupulous, yet
to-day her freedom is attested by a ma
jority of sixty-five thousand. An elec
tion was recently ordered upon the ques
tion of calling a Constitutional Conven
tion. The Radicals opposed, the Demo
crats and Conservatives advocated the
movement. The returns show a clean
majority of sixty-five thousand, and the
Democrats elect delegates from every
county in the State except two. The
Convention will do away with all the
restrictions upon suffrage imposed by
the Clayton government—there will no
longer be disfranchisements and disabili
ties, and at least ten thousand addition
al voters will be free to cast their ballots
against misrule. Wo will soon have
another Democrat in tho United States
Senate, and the six votes of Arkansas
will be cast for the Democratic nominee
in 1876. Oregon, Connecticut, New
Hampshire, Ohio, Indiana, Arkansas—
pretty good work has been done in the
last two years.
IMPROVEMENT OP TIIE SAVAN
NAH RIVER,
Tho Elberton Gazette republishes the
communication which appeared iu this
paper ott tho improvement of the Savan
nah river, but gives the cold shoulder to
the movement. It says:
We are yet to be convinced that the
project is either “feasible or plausible.”
If “Petersburg,” and others believe it is,
the best way to open the subject to dis
cussion i« to get the evidence of practi
cal engineers after a thorough examina
tion of the river. This will awaken
more interest than thousands of news
paper articles will do. The practica
bility of opening up this river for navi
gation was but little spoken of in Au
gusta till work ou the railroad from El
berton to Toceoa was about to be com
meuced, and naturally enough gave rise
to the suspicion that its introduction at
that particular time was only intended
to keep our river citizens from taking an
active interest iu the enterprise. Now
that the success of the railroad is only a |
question of a few months’ time, we can ;
believe those advocates who have just j
entered the list are prompted by more
patriotic motives.
The reply to all this is very simple.
We cannot have a survey of the river
until after the subject has been “opened
to discussion,” and the feeling and wishes j
of the people ascertained. This was j
tho object of Petersburg's comruunica- ;
tiou; this is the object of all the articles
which have appeared iu the Chronicle j
and Shntinkl. We propose to discuss
the question, to show the advantages
which the improvement of the Savannah
would confer upon a large, wealthy and
populous territory with a view to ob
taining Government aid for the enter
prise when Congress assembles.
The Gazette seems to think that the |
scheme has been conceived in opposi- i
tiou to and in order to destroy the new
railroad from Elberton to Toccoa City, j
This is a great mistake. We think the j
Gazette does the people of Augusta and j
the friends of the movement gross iu- -
justice. We do not believe that there i
is any hostility to the Elberton Railway. 1
We do not see why there should be any.
Os course we regret to see our Elbertou
friends seeking another market. But
we do not question their right to do so. i
i We think they are quite right in at
tempting to get railway communication j
with the outside world, and we are onlv j
sorry that the railway is not coming in j
’ this direction, instead of going towards j
Atlanta. There is no reason whv the ■
improvement of the Savannah rivet
should interfere with or prevent the I
completion of the Air Line connection.
If the scheme should be brought to a
successful conclusion Elbert county
will have two outlets instead of one,
and will be benefited to a eorrespond
j iug extent The eastern portion of the
: county will have cheap transportation
:by water at its very doors. If the
railway should impose unreasonable
charges the people can use the river to
bring it to terms, and vice versa. The
interests of the two enterprises jvill not
conflict in the slightest degree, and we
hope to see them both successful. Let
I the people of Elbert, without abandon
; ing or neglecting the one, give their
| sympathy and encouragement to the
1 other, and they will make their county
j one of the most prosperous and wealthy
in Georgia.
In conclusion the Gazette sat/s ;
As to the question of nominating Ma
yor Estes for Congress, in order that ef
forts may be made to securing Govern
ment aid for the opening of this river, it
will meet with no in
the upper counties of this (Amgressional
District. Mayor Estes has done more
to alienate the people here from him
than otherwise; and his Augusta Canal
scheme, we take it, would not be a fa
vorable plea that he was the only man
who could level the bed of the Savan
nah.
So far as Mayor Estes and the" Au
gusta Canal are concerned we have but
little to say here. The enlargement is
an Augusta enterprise, paid for with Au
gusta money, and if the people of this
city are satisfied with the manner in
which it has been conducted and with
their Mayor’s administration, no one
else should complain. But we think our
friends of the Gazette are mistaken in
stating that Petersburg’s letter made a
“question of the nominating Mayor Estes
for Congress.” Prior to the publication
of Petersburg’s letter, a short com
munication was published suggesting
Mr. Estes as a suitable candidate, and
stating that he advocated the Savannah
| river improvement. Petersburg only
stated in substance that he favored the
nomination of Mr. Estes or some man
who, like Mr. Estes, would devote his
1 energies to the accomplishment of this
great work. For ourselves we do not
i doubt that any man—of those gentle
men whose names have been suggested
1 in connection with Congressional honors
—will refuse to heartily co-operate with
: this movement. The friends of the
1 measure have no candidate—they expect
a friend in whoever receives the nomina
tion.
11. I. KIMBALL.
We have received a letter from Mr. H.
I. Kimball, complaining of the injustice
done him by our Atlanta correspondent
in a letter published Thursday morning.
He characterizes the statements as ut
terly false, and, in view of the fact that
they are calculated to do him great in
jury, requests us to do him justice.
Prominent as Mr. Kimball has been in in
volving the State in the most reckless and
extravagant wild-cat railroad enterprises,
and guilty of peculation, as he is believed
to be by the great mass of our people, we
have no desire to prejudge him since it
is justice he seeks. All men, no matter
how flagrant their abuses or revolting
their crimes, are entitled to justice, and
to a trial before their peers. Public
opinion is overwhelmingly against Mr.
Kimball. The people of Georgia be
lieve him guilty of the wildest extrava
gance and of having appropriated to his
own personal use money borrowed on
the credit of the State. They attribute
the financial embarrassment of the State
to his railroad development mania, and
consider him equally as guilty as Gov
ernor Bulloch of peculation and fraud.
Mr. Kimball will have to suffer from the
imputation of being dishonest until a
jury of the citizens of Georgia acquit
him of intentional fraud. The people
believe him guilty. They believe that
he ought to be arrested and tried. We
desire, however, to do no mau injustice,
and if Mr. Kimball still feels aggrieved
at tho comments of either our correspon
dent or ourselves we will give him a
hearing through our columns. The peo
ple of Georgia would like to hear from
him. They rather admire his cheek in
coming back to face tho music, and they
would doubtless admire his candor if he
would come out and make a clean breast
of it. If H. T. Kimball would only tell
all ho knows, the people of Georgia out
side of Atlanta would rejoice at his dis
closures. Until he exculpates himself
the verdict of tho people will be agaiust
him.
BEAR ARGUMENTS.
The Bear interest of the North is de
termined that the next crop of the South
shall boa large one. They have even
discovered that what appear to be mis
fortunes are really blessings in disguise.
The great flood in the Southwest last
Spring, which covered thousands of
square miles of the finest cotton lands
iu the country and reduced thousands of
agricultural laborers to the point of
starvation, has really brightened the
prospect of a large yield of the staple.
The New York Daily Bulletin has the
amusing effrontery to assert in this con
nection; “But experience has demon
strated that inundations are not always
calamitous; but, that on the contrary,
the South is actually benefitted by
them.” The Jlears will inform us after
awhile that caterpillars and the army
worm are tho necessary adjuncts of a
large crop.
In this connection, we take the liberty
of publishing the following letter—in
commendation of the position taken by
by the Chronicle & Sentinel. It is
from the pen of one of the largest and
best known planters in the State ;
.Tult 12, 1874.
Messrs. Walsh & Wright, Augusta:
Dear Sirs —ln common with the en
tire planting community I have read
with gratification your sound editorials
upon the subject of the growing cotton
crop. Your views are uncommonly cor
rect, and time will prove it. The course
of the Chronicle on this particular
question has been a benefit to the plan
ters aud is appreciated by us I assure
you, especially when we go iutoour little
stunted, backward cotton and think of
the articles appearing daily in some of
the papers predicting four million bales,
aud giving wonderful accounts of the
growing crop. No greater calamity can
befall the South than for a small crop
and low prices to come together this
Fall. The small crop, you may depend,
is a certainty, and the only hope for us
is a good price. There can be no worse
enemy now to the planter than the news
paper that publishes extravagant es
timates and glowing accounts of the
growing cotton crop.
THE EIGHTH DISTRICT.
In a short time the Democracy of the
Eighth District will be called upon to
elect a Representative iu the next Con
gress. It is important, not only to the
people of this District, but as well to
the people of the whole State, that the
nomination should be bestowed upon a
man iu every way competent to dis
charge the important duties of this I
high position. Too often has it been j
charged against the people of the South- |
ern States—since the war—that their I
Representatives, when not carpet-bag- i
gers or renegades, have been men of
mediocre ability—utterly unable to take
any stand in the House and inca
pable of exercising the slightest in
fluence upon its deliberations or ac
tion. This deplorable result has not
been occasioned by want of talent
among our people—for the South,
•specially Georgia, has always been
great in great men—but has been caused
by the harsh legislation which substi
tuted availibility as the test instead of
' merit in the selection of candidates.
; The time has now come when the South
must resume her former proud position
iu the councils of the nation—when she
must make her influence respected and
felt as in the days of Cobb and Yancey
and Toombs and Stephens. It therefore
behooves the people to exercise unusual
care in their selection of candidates ‘for
Cougress. The indications now are
, that the Democrats will control the
| next House of Representatives, and
the men from the North and West must
find efficient co-workers and able sup
porters in the men from the South. We
trust that the convention which will as
i semble here on the 2d of September
: will see to it that a selection is made
j which will not bring discredit upon the
noble constituency of the Eighth Dis
j tricti
In another column this morning we
publish a communication suggesting
Major Joseph B. Ccmming as a suitable
candidate for Congressional honors.
AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING, JULY" 22, 1574.
While the Chronicle and Sentinel can
have no choice except the nominee of
the party in convention assembled, and
while it should not (as it shall not)
espouse the cause of one Demo
crat against another, at the same
time we take great pleasure
in calling attention to this article and
in endorsing all the complimentary
things which the author writes of Maj.
Cumming. Should the people of the
Eighth District see fit to confer upon
him the nomination, they could not have
a better standard bearer in the ap
proaching contest. He is so well known
to his District and his State that but
few words are necessary from us in
speaking of his qualifications. Six years
ago—in the Presidential campaign of
1868—he was entrusted with the banner
of the Democracy in this (then the
Fifth) District, and he bore it bravely
and proudly to victory. He was a mem
ber and Speaker of the first House of
Representatives chosen by the people
of Georgia after the adoption of the re
construction measures, and in that body
achieved a reputation which has become
a portion of the history of his State. In
the’war he was a gallant and skillful of
ficer in the army of the South; in peace
he has been one of her most useful and
distinguished citizens; in peace or war
he has been a true man, possessing in
the highest degree the confidence and
esteem of his fellow-men. He is an
able lawyer, a good citizen, a devoted
Democrat, brave in battle, sagacious in
council; of unsullied public and pri
vate character—a gentleman sans peur
et sans reproche. Should he be nomi
nated and elected the South will have in
the next Congress no truer nor more
gifted sou than Major Joseph B. Cum
ming.
NOTICE.
The Democratic party of Taliaferro
county is requested to meet in general
convention at the Court House in Craw
ford ville, at 2 o’clock, p. m., on the first
Saturday in August next, for the purpose
of selecting delegates to a District Sena
torial Convention to nominate a candi
date to represent Greene, Taliaferro and
Warren counties in the next Senate of
the State; and for a general organization
of the party for the ensuing campaign.
Many Cttzens.
A LETTER FROM COL. TRAMMELL.
Col. L. N. Trammell writes ns a let
ter, which we cheerfully publish, in re
ply to certain comments contained in a
recent letter of our Atlanta correspond
ent, concerning his efforts to secure the
Democratic nomination for Congress
from the Seventh District. He contra
dicts the charge that he has been active
ly engaged in canvassing counties in
order to secure the nomination. Having
approved and seconded Judge Reese’s
resolution in reference to the improprie
ty of candidates attending primary
meetings and nominating conventions,
Col. Trammell cannot with propriety
or consistency render himself amenable
to the charge of our correspondent.
THE FIFTH DISTRICT.
Col. R. A. Alston, ono of the editors
and proprietors of the Atlanta Herald,
announces himself a candidate for the
nomination of the Democracy to repre
sent tho Fifth District in Congress.
While not running as a Grange candi
date, he would, if elected, take his seat
in Congress as the farmers’ friend.—
Agriculture has occupied his atten
tion and his time for many years,
and is now, we believe, his chief
pursuit; so that Col. Alston is not of
that class who wear hay seed in their
hair because it is popular. What he
does not know about the wants of our
peoplo is not worth knowing, and if he
could not tell that Congress what we
want there is no man in Georgia who
could. Col. Bob Alston is a walking
and a talking bureau of valuable agri
cultural statistics, and of general politi
cal and financial information. During
the war he was a gallant soldier, and
since a useful citizen. If elected he
would serve his constituents intelligent
ly and faithfully.
SUICIDE AND LIFE INSUKANCE.
The Chicago Tribune calls attention
to a recent decision that is of general
interest. As is known, it is usual to in
sert into policies of life insurance a
clause to the effect that if the assured
shall die “by his own hand,” etc., the
policy shall be void and of no effect.
It would seem, at first sight, that this
cause would vitiate the policies of all
suicides; for suicides die “by their own
hand.” In contemplation of law, how
ever, they do not always die by their
own hand, and, therefore, even when
such a clause is introduced, their poli
cies are not necessarily void. When the
suicide was, at the time he took his life,
so insane that he was driven by an
irresistible impulse to commit the act,
or that he was incapable of exercising
his reasoning powers as to its real char
acter, general effect and consequences,
his policy is not void, and the parties
for whose benefit he insured his life
may recover. Such is the law, as laid
down in a recent ease in the Circuit
Court of the United States for the Eas
tern District of Michigan, by Judge
Longyear, in his charge to the jury.
The South Carolina papers are dis- !
cussing a case the history of which will
be found in our Greenville letter, pub
lished this morning. Whatever may be
said in defense of Judge Cooke’s conduct
in ordering the imprisonment of Stokes
for contempt, his proceedings against
the writer for the Greenville News are I
wholly inexcusable. Whether Stokes is :
insane or not is a question which must '
be determined in a proper manner by a ;
proper tribunal. He had been brought
into the Court as a sane man—as defen- i
dant in a civil suit—and Judge Cooke
had no reason to suppose that he was
non compos mentis. But the Judge
greatly exceeded his powers, and was
guilty of a gross violation of law and of
the rights of the citizen when he at
tempted the imprisonment of the author
of a respectful and temperate communi
cation on the subject.
According to a semi-official statement,
the revenue of the National Government
for the fiscal year ending June 30 has
been 8290,000,000, of which 8163,500,000
were derived from customs, 8101,300,-
000 from internal revenue, and $25,200,-
000 frprn miscellaneous sources. The
estimates in Mr. Richardson’s annual
report, added to the ascertained receipts
for the first quarter of the year, gave
8160,200,000 from customs, 891,600,000
from internal revenue, and 819,500,000
from miscellaneous sources. It thus ap
pears that thg receipts from customs
have overran the official estimate 33,-
300,000, and the internal revenue shows
a likeexeesss of 89,700,000.
Col. J. B. Whittle is suggested by a
correspondent of the South Georgia
Times as the proper man to represent
the Second Congressional District in the
next Congress. CoL Whittle was a
gallant officer daring the war, and is en
dorsed by the Macon Telegraph as a
man of ability and energy. He is a
brother of Col. L. N. Whittle, of Ma
con.
STATE ELECTIONS OF 1874.
Three States—New Hampshire, Con
■ necticut and Oregon—have held their
annual elections for the current year,
and all have resulted in the defeat of the
; Administration forces. Kentucky comes
i next, August 3d, when ten Representa
tives to Congress are to be elected. That
I it will result in a Democratic triumph is
; a foregone conclusion. North Carolina
follows, August 6th, when eight Con
| gressmen are to be elected. This State
I went for
I Republican Governor. The election this
| year will be closely contested, with the
; chances in favor of the Democracy, un
! less the Administration pours in an
enormous amount of corruption funds.
Then comes the special election in Ohio
for the ratification or rejection of the
new constitution, August 18th. If
adopted, the election for Congressmen
and State officers will take place Novem
ber 3d; if defeated, the election will
take place, as usual, in October. Ohio
went Democratic in 1872, but the vote
was not a full one, and the contest this
year will probably be a very sharp one,
and the result uncertain. In September
Maine and Vermont will choose Con
gressmen and State officers. That the
Republicans will carry them may be re
garded as about as certain as that Ken
tucky will go Democratic. When they
lose Vermont and Maine they will have
no hold left anywhere.
The second Tuesday in October, In
diana will elect a Governor and thirteen
Congressmen. At the last election the
Democrats elected the Governor, and
the Itepublicans carried the Legislature
and a large majority of Congressmen.
The prospects for a Democratic victory
this year are excellent. On the same
day Nebraska will elect a Governor and
one Congressman. The farmers’ organ
ization is strong in lowa and anti-Ad
ministration gains are probable. The
next day Georgia elects nine Congress
men, and if we do our duty, if we put
good and true men in nomination in all
the Districts, and support them with
zeal and unanimity, we will send to
Washington a full Democratic delega
tion. October 22d, West Virginia, a
Governor and three Congressmen. It is
a Democratic State. November 2d, Lou
isiana will endeavor to get rid of her
carpet-bag thieves, and will be sure to
succeed if an honest election can bo had.
November 3d, the most decisive of any
in the year, nineteen States will choose
State officials and one hundred and
eighty-five Congressmen. Pennsylva
nia, which has usually held her election
on the second Tuesday of October, hav
ing adopted the new constitution, will
hold her election on the same day as
New York and seventeen other States,
so we shall not hear the old cry “as goes
Pennsylvania, so goes the Union.”
These elections will have the effect of
shaping the Presidential contest of 1876,
if it does not actually foretell its result.
Nearly all the Representatives to the
next Congress are to be chosen, and the
of the political complexion of
that body will be felt in the Presidential
campaign.
In all these elections new and numer
ous parties will enter the field, some of
which have already held conventions. As
yet, it is impossible to enumerate their
strength, but as they are offshoots from
the Repulican party they will weaken
that organization, and there is no fear
that they will effect the Democratic
party otherwise than to increase its
strength with the honest voters who will
refuse to follow the old corrupt leaders
into any new organization. —Savannah
News.
THE COTTON CROP.
The following letters have been hand
ed us for publication. They are from
prominent and reliable citizens in their
respective counties. They contradict
the extravagant estimates of the growing
crop that are being scattered broadcast
throughout the country, which, whether
intentional or not, are working pecunia
ry damage to an impoverished section.
following is an extract of a letter from
Captain Thomas C. Burch, of Elbert
county, Georgia, to Messrs. Jennings,
Smith & Cos., of date July 12th :
The article signed “Cotton Factor,”
published in the Constitutionalist in re
lation to the growing cott n crop, is iu
accord with my views, and I have con
sulted with several old experienced
farmers, and they all say that the crop
is smaller and later than they ever saw
it since 1815. Mr. William Grimes, who
you know to be a most skillful farmer,
told me Friday last that he had lived
and farmed in Elbert county for thirty
two years, and that his present crop is
the poorest for that time.
Jefferson County, Ga., July 14.
Mr. W. It. Fleming :
Dear Sir— ln compliance with your
request to give you my opinion of the
growing cotton crop in my section—area
planted, size and condition of the plant,
probable yield, &c.—l drop you a few
lines. I state in the outset that my ob
servation is limited as to the present
crop, and embraces only my own county
(Jefferson) and portions of the counties
of Burke and Richmond; covering an
area of farming territory, however, with
which I have been familiar for over
thirty-five years. I think, therefore,
while I am not prepared to say, or even
to approximate to, the exact number of
millions or hundreds of thousand bales
which the entire “cotton belt” of the
United States will yield, yet I do think I
am prepared to state, with tolerable ac
curacy, the yield, as comparedjwith last
year’s crop, on that portion of said “cot
ton belt” embraced within the limits of
my observation. My statement, there
fore, may be regarded only as a very
small straw, but I do not see why its
size should prevent its showing ivhich
way the ivind blows. The crop with us
—and I mean the entire territory to
which I have stated my observations are
confined—with the most favorable sea
sons and best management from now
until it is gathered cannot be more than
two-thirds of that of last year. The
causes which have contributed to this
unfavorable result are various, and I
enumerate a few of the most prominent:
Area, from 8 to 10 per cent, less in cot
ton; planting, from 20 to 25 and 30 days
later than usual (this was owing to wet,
cold and unfavorable condition of
the land at planting time); guano,
on area examined, fully 50 per cent!
less than last year; stands, gen
erally bad, from imperfect germi
nation of seed, washing rains after it
was up, cool nights, lice, grass etc. •
size of plant unusually small for its age,'
except in garden spots (highly fertilized
land), and “brag patches;” condition of
crop generally grassy and bad. In con
sequence of the extraordinary quantities
of rain which have fallen since the last
of May it has been almost impossible to
eradicate the weeds and grass, where
the tenant system of labor has been the
principal one on plantations. With few
exceptions, crops which have been cul
tivated with hands for money wages are
the only ones which have been kept in
even tolerable condition.
Very respectfully,
Noah Smith.
In this connection we publish the fol
lowing from the Savannah News :
As to the cotton crop—well, perhaps,
the less said about that the better. At
any rate, it is not safe for us, here in
| the cotton growing country, to venture
I to duplicate the puzzling figures and
! statistics which the New York Financial
j Chronicle and other sanguine publica
i tions of that class have already printed.
: These figures are more .than hopeful
they are pretty and their prettiness
consists in the fact that they are based
on results which it is utterly impossible
to predict. The crop is backward, and
the average condition is not as vigorous
as it might be. The first bale of the
season has been forwarded from Texas,
and several planters in Florida propose
to have bales in market by the first of
August This, however, gives no real
idea of the condition of the crop. In
Southern Georgia the wet weather is do
ing serious damage, and laying a sure
foundation for the dreaded worm. This
unwelcome visitor has already made its
appearance in various sections, and
there is no knowing what the end may
be. Last season the worm did not ap
pear until August. Whether its earlier
appearance this season will prove more
disastrous remains to be seen. In any
event it is certain that those who are
now busily engaged in printing rose
colored predictions depend largely upon
their imaginations for facts as well as
figures. A hundred damaging contin
gencies may intervene to cut the crop
short.
THE TWO PICTURES.
Democracy and Radicalism.
The Atlanta papers of yesterday con
tain some interesting comparisons of ex
penditures in the State Executive De
partment under Radical and Democratic
rule. We find from these comparisons
that Bullock offered as rewards for es
caped criminals or criminals at large,
not less than §301,300; all of which was
paid out save about §28,000. He paid
out for advertising these rewards not
less than §IOO,OOO. He offered 25 re
wards of §5,000 each, and one of §6,000.
He offered 85 rewards of §I,OOO each,
and 19 of §2,000. Governor Conley of
fered rewards amounting to §1,600.
Governor Smith has hardly exceeded
§IO,OOO.
On the pardon question some interes
ting facts may be gleaned from the re
cords :
Gov. Jenkins pardoned (criminals), 80
“ Ruger “ “ 14
“ Bullock “ “ 464
Conley “ “ 56
“ Smith “ “ 46
Os Governor Smith’s pardons only 20
were actual pardons; 4 commutations to
imprisonment for life; 5 respites; 2 fines
remitted; 6 fines reduced.
In Bullock’s list of pardoned sinners
most of them were men for whom large
rewards had already been offered.
The Herald says :
A glance at the following table will
show how cheaply a government can be
run when the right man is at the helm,
and how many bungholes may be found
to the Treasury when a willin’ Barkis is
on the inside. We submit the report in
that silence which its enormity renders
eloqueut :
EXPENDITUBES executive department.*
Items. Smith.) Bullock.)
Incidental expenses $ 1,050 00 $ 30,472 87
Expressage 482 38 10,095 38
Telegraphing 553 50 2 347 46
Postage 1,850 41 6,303 99
Stationery 1,889 91 4,589 20
Traveling expenses of
Agents 1,076 30 3,378 52
4 6,902 59 $ 57,185 42
Rewards offered if all
paid 12,950 00 300,350 03
§19,852 59 $857,535 45
‘Approximately records of both administra
tions treated alike. On both postage and sta
tionery furnished all the offices, excopt the
State Treasurer's, is partly included.
(From January 12, 1872, to January 1, 1874,
except rewards, to July 14. 1874. [Our re
porter has only examined so far.)
JFrom July 4, 1868, to January 12, 1872.
GEORGE HARDEN’S DUAL LIFE.
The End of a Remarkable Contest for
Two Milliou Dollars—The Wealthy
Importer’s Strange Domestic Rela
tions.
[New York Sun, July B.]
Surrogate Hutchings heard the sum
ming up by ex-Judge Porter and John
E. Burrill, yesterday, of the long-drawn
testimony, aqd the argument therefrom,
as to who are the legal administrators
upon an estate of §2,000,000, left by
George Harden, who died intestate.
This law suit has revealed the life
long secrets of an uncommunicative man;
has been a continual surprise to every
body, as week after week it has paraded
the dramatic romance of the real life
that we are in the midst of; that we un
consciously, perhaps, sleep under the
same roof with; that we sit by the side
of in assemblies and conveyances; that
we may meet and jostle ourselves against
whenever we leave our own doors. The
great number of witnesses that have
been summoned pro and con from out of
the way places, have included the non
agenerian that leaned on a younger
arm to ascend to the witness seat; the
timid girl of sixteen that on facing a
room full of men and such sharp looking
ones and the terrific cross-questioning,
bowed her pretty head and did not raise
her eyes again, but looked down and
worked her hands and was ready to cry
when she returned to her friends.
the rummy companion
Os Robert Walker and the gentlewoman
from her home on the Hudson have oc
cupied in turn the witnesses’ chair; and
the gentleman who, in 1835 or 1836, was
requested to look after a young Scotch
woman, Elizabeth Steele, who had left
her family and come out on the ship
alone.
George Harden was born in the early
part of this century, near Belfast, Ire
land, and came to this country in his
twenty-first year. He established him
self in business in this city as an im
porter of Irish linens; and subsequently
became the agent of a Belfast house.
Doing business alternately in William,
Pine, Broad and Liberty streets, he
prospered and grew rich. Those who
had business dealings with him knew
nothing of his private life; his chosen
comrades in social life had no knowl
edge of his business relations. He was
reticent, retiring, frugal, almost penuri
ous. His business acquaintances sup
posed that he was a rich old bachelor,
and few of them knew where he lived.
He retired from the importing business,
and increased his fortune by buying
commercial paper and making invest
ments in safe securities. His circle of
acquaintances was very large, and yet
for nearly twenty-five years he lived as a
married man under an assumed name in
an obscure street in the Ninth ward.
DEATH IN CORNELIA STREET.
In 1848 a gentleman fifty years old,
and a lady twenty years younger, leased
a plain two-story house in Cornelia
street. His landlord and liis neighbor
knew them as Mr. and Mrs. Walker. A
young man named Searles, with his wife
and two boys, 1 occupied the second story
for a year, and afterward kept up th°
acquaintance. Mrs. Dunn, who lived
across the street, and a few others, occa
sionally visited them, but they seldom
made or received calls. In the directory
his name was recorded as “ George
Walker.” He purchased the house and
lived there with liis companion until his
death. On the morning of March 7,
1872, George Walker’s few acquaintances
saw with amazement that George Harden
had died at 22 Cornelia street, and soon
after the funeral they heard with in
creased wonderment that their old
friend, Mrs. Walker, who had lived sim
ply and plainly among them for many
years, had applied for letters of admin
istration on the estate of George Har
den, which consisted mainly of personal
property worth 32,000,000. The admin
istrators in such cases are forced to give
bonds for double the value of Uie per
sonal estate; but, as this was out of the
question, the Surrogate placed the secu
rities in the hands of the United States
Trust Company, and then granted the
letters of administration. At this junc
ture
six NEPHEWS
Os Mr. Harden, who lived in Belfast, in
terposed a claim that the lady was Mrs.
; Walker, and not Mrs. Harden—his mis-
I tress —and not his wife, Elizabeth
i Steele was the comfortably-born daugh
ter of a merchant of Glasgow. One of
her uncles was a Presbyterian minister,
and her brother Thomas was a teacher
in the village of Strathaven. She secre
ted herself in the ship of which her
brother Alexander was supercargo, came
to this country, married a handsome
shoe-maker, served as nurse and general
domestic, spent two years in Sing Sing
for stealing a watch, was abandoned by
her husband because she was not good
enough for him, and for the next twen
ty-five years was nourished, petted, her
faults concealed, and twice each day
had the good-by and come-home kiss of
the good and prosperous George Har
den, who for this privilege assumed her
1 name and gave up all other society.
Albert Walker was the son of a Su
j perintendent of Police in Ireland. On
j the death of his father he was bound
I out to a shoemaker, came to America,
’ and spent the last twenty-five years as
; an inebriate, vacillating between Black
\ well’s Island and the shoe shop. In the
i midst of the contest for George Harden’s
! estate he was discovered in the alms
i house, and astonished the Court and the
public by declaring himself the wedded
husband of the woman who petitioned
to be George Harden’s administrator.
After W’alker tnmed up so unexpected
ly, “Mrs. Harden” did not appear in
Court. She was, however, snbpoenaed
to appear in Court yesterday, and the
meeting between her and her husband,
the besotted-looking old pauper, and
she the claimant of a million, was look
ed forward to with eager interest by
those who have kept track of the case.
Walker was present early, and seemed
to be elated at the expectation of see
ing Mrs. Walker. The latter, dressed
in deep mourning and wearing a heavy
black veil, appeared iu Court, and was
placed on the witness stand. Walker
sat directly opposite her, but she gave
him no token of recognition. Surrogate
. Hutchings reserved his decision.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Mongrel Pow-Wow at Fiddle Pond—
The Notorious Leslie Delivers a
Harangue—How the Negro is Fooled
and Cheated by Mean White Trash—
His Inferiority to the White Mau—A
Siu and a Shame—Sambo’s Creed:
“Sufficient Unto the Day is the Evil
Thereof.”
[special correspondence chronicle and
SENTINEL. ]
The welkin at Fiddle Pond, eight
miles below Barnwell, was made to ring
yesterday with Republican thunder, on
the occasion of the inaugural movement
towards “reorganizing and consolidat
ing the Republican party.” Among the
orators of the day was ex-Senator Chas.
P. Leslie, recently returned from a pro
tracted visit to the scenes and localities
of his quoudam Democratic triumphs
and associations, where he preferred to
while away the dolce farniente of his
well-earned holiday, after his laborious
and inadequately compensated exertions
in the Land Commission Office, now
happily, no more. This orator, ex-Sen
ator and whilom Land Commissioner has
been in bad odor for a long time with
his sable following in Barnwell county,
on account of his connection with the
Barnwell-Blackville Court House mess,
and threats were made that he would
not be permitted to air his rhetoric at
the meeting of the Congo clans yester
day. On the contrary, it was darkly
hinted that he was to be ruthlessly sub
merged in the dark mud and slime of
Fiddle Pond, should he evince the pur
pose of making any such attempt; but,
like a skillful tactician, as he is, lie bode
his time until the ire of his opposers
had somewhat waned under the sooth
ing vaporing of the Chairman and others,
and then suddenly and dexterously
mounting the stand he opened the hall
by making a reckless, premeditated and
spirited attack upon a gentleman who
has been for many months in his grave
—thus securely putting himself en rap
port with his audience, in which happy
state he remained to the termination of
his harangue. This specimen South
Carolina Republican brick is a candi
date for the Legislature, I believe, and,
I am told, is determined to re-open Court
House hostilities immediately on his
election, and will fight it out with his
old tactics and on his old line if takes
him “all Summer.”
Political meetings will soon be the
order of the day over here, and then
such crops as are not made and “laid
by” will be abandoned to their fate.
Fortunately the cereals are now safe and
cotton will be the only sufferer.
It is discouraging to see how identi
cally and precisely the darkey’s political
status is to-day what it was six or eight
years ago, and how thoroughly and com
prehensively the carpet-baggers and
scalawags do boss him and keep his nose
to the grindstone, all the while beguil
ing him into the hallucination that he is
ruling instead of being ruled. The same
old machinery that proved effective to
delude and terrify Sambo in the first flush
of his freedom is as potent to awe him
into submissive and obedient pliancy to
work the will of his self-imposed task
masters as when first he became a “ward,
of the nation” it came into requisition.
The same old story of his thrashings
while a slave, and the imminent peril of
his re-subjugation into serfdom, if he
dares to make the experiment of think
ing and acting for himself, constitutes
the stock in trade of the South Carolina
politician, and Sambo, in all of his pris
tine credulity, waxes angry and vengeful
at the retrospection, and the direful con
tingency is one
“ Boforo which all nature
Doth tremble like a guilty thing surprised.”
It is all in vain for a white man (i. e.,
a man with a white soul as well as a
white body) to talk politics to the ne
gro with any expectation of impressing
his mind. The moro convincing and
unanswerable your logic the more averso
is the negro to accepting it. In an ar
gument with one of more than ordinary
intelligence I said: “I have no antipa
thy for the black man because of his
color. Black is not a favorite color
with me, for I do not fancy a black
horse, a black cow or a black sheep-, but
this is mere predilection and not preju
dice. I object to recognizing the black
man as my equal, morally, socially or
otherwise, because a higher power than
law or man has, in my judgment, stamp
ed him inferior. If the black man can
prove himself competent to govern white
men in the true acceptation of the term,
I would then cheerfully admit his right
to do so, but until he demonstrates his
capacity to govern black men, it is
absurd to say that he has any right to
attempt domination over a supe
rior race. If I thought that I
had been anywise instrumental in hold
ing enslaved a race equal to mine in the
constituents which may be expanded into
a civilized and cultured humanity, and
could become convinced of the extent to
which I had erred, I should be at a loss
to atone—now that this race is emanci
pated—for my more than mortal sin.
Instead of trying to divide the spoils of
office with this ci-devant down-trodden
and oppressed brother, striving to ap
propriate the best and most lucrative
ones to myself, I should be ashamed to
have an office of profit or distinction
thrust upon me. Instead of playing the
role of carpet-baggers and scalawags—
vising with each other to obtain the
best paying positions, and endeavoring
to persuade the poor negro that the of
fices of school and road commissioner
is about what his deserts call for—it
would be my ambition to urge him to
accept the profitable iucumberances in
the State and county governdtents.
Instead of waiting for thp negro to
find out for himself that if these
offices are not filled by the tax
payers and landowners, or the rep
resentatives of the intelligence and
education of the Commonwealth, they
assuredly ought to be occupied by his
race which represents so largely the la
boring element in the government, it
should be my great delight to anticipate
this discovery on the part of the emanci
pated slave, and earn his gratitude by
teaching him his rights. I should say
to the former victim of the malignant
Bourbons who “can learn nothing and
forget nothing,” something to this pur
pose: “Cuffee, my boy, you have been
for generations “a hewer of wood and
a drawer of water”—you have been the
bequest of “the heathen for thine inher
itance” unto the sons of Seth, but for all
that, you are just as good as any body,
and just as much entitled to revel in the
loaves and fishes as though you were
“native and to the manner born.” The
only difficulty is, that you are not posted
as to the modus operandi of administer
ing the various offices constituting the
Government in all of its departments,
but that need be no insuperable trouble,
for we will instruct you in your duties.
The main thing, however, is that you be
made to enjoy all the profits of the
office, and then we will assure you from
the beginning.” This would seem to be
the correct thing. But what do the
carpet-baggers and scalawags in reality
do ? They say, in effect, “Sambo, you
are not competent to run this machine ;
we must do it for you. You were a
slave ; you are now free ; that ought to
suffice for a while ; don’t Jbe impatient
about getting into responsible offices,
too much of a good thing won’t work
well. It is true, friend Sambo, that you
have 40,000 majority in the State, and
were yon to cast your votes where they
would do the most good you would fill
every office in the State with negroes,
i for there is no carpet-bagger and scala
; wag party in the nation distinct from
| the negroes, and you could have it all
your own way ; *but we caution you
against trying to ‘go it lalone,’ for you
| will certainly be euchred. There’s no
| use trying to get round it, Sambo,
' somebody lias to boss you in order to
keep you up to your best gait, and Ts we*
don’t do it the Bourbon Democrats
will /”
This negro, to whom I was talking,
acknowledged that the situation is, in
fact, about as I drew it, but admitted
that he could suggest no remedy. That
he had often said it was a sin and a
shame that. the colored men of South
Carolina were compelled to carry the
burden of the carpet-baggers and scala
wags crimes in the eyes ©f the nation,
but as often as he protested he was an
swered that it -was “all right,‘the Ad
ministration at Washington approved of
what was going on, and any effectual or
determined opposition on the part of
the negroes to the existing state of af-
fairs would only cause the National Gov
ernment to become the enemy of the
colored man.” He was aware, he said,
that matters could not always go on as
they were now doing, and that when the
tide turned it was goiug to be un
healthy for a great many; that for
the crimes committed against law
and decency during the past eight
years he knew full. well that
somebody had to suffer and he reckoned
it would be the poor negro, but, for all
that, he could see no present remedy
and must, of necessity, abide the result,
whatever it might be. From which it
appears that Sambo clings to his creed,
“sufficient unto the ilayis theevil there
of.” J'he tax unions seem to have
“passed in their checks,” and appear to
be mourned by none, not even the
Charleston News and Courier, which
was erst so enthusiastic over them.
Bourbon.
DOOMED LHH AGO ! !—THE IITY
AGAIN IN FLAMES ! !
Over Half Milo of the Southern Por
tion of the Town Destroyed.
*
Washington, July 14. -Telegrams re
ceived here to-night report another
large fire in Chicago, which destroyed
over half mile of the southern portion of
the city. It began on Twelfth street,
on the south side, and so far it has been
confined to old rookeries, but it is feared
that it will extond to the lake side. The
wind is blowing fresh from tho south
west. The Baptist Church has been de
stroyed and at this time the llames have
reached the post office. Assistance
has been asked from all the adjoining
towns. Telegraphic communication is
nearly suspended.
Chicago, July 14.—Another conflagra
tion is raging in the heart of the city.
It broke out in Twelfth street, and at
half-past six o’clock the flames had
made almost a clean sweep up to the
corner of Third avenue and Polk street,
burning up the homes of thousands of
people. At the above corner the fire
department commenced the process of
blowing up buildings with gunpowder,
but the buildings experimented with
were small wooden affairs, and the pro
cess would only have the effect of mak
ing a quicker blaze of them. The wind
is blowing very fresh from about south
southwest.
The fire is now ou the verge of the fire
line of our big fire. Harrison street,
west side of Wabash, is now in full
blaze, which takes many astutely build
ing in its course, which offered a haven
of refuge in the Winter of 1871. The
fire is just immediately in rear of the
Baptist Church, and should that struc
ture go down the fire will have a clean
sweep to northward and eastward, and
the Exposition building will in all like
lihood be the final prey of the fire, and
as that is immediately on the lake shore
there will be nothing for the fire to feed
upon, provided wo have the good for
tune not to have a change of the wind.
A dense black pall of smoke is hang
ing over the expected course of the fire,
dropping its advance messengers of cin
ders on the roofs of the buildings. Al
though private citizens are doing their
utmost to prevent the lire getting a hold
upon their homes, yet the efforts are as
futile as for a child to make the attempt.
The roar of the advancing furnace has
the sound of our old calamity and noth
ing short of its final plunge into Lake
Michigan will quench it. Our streets
within a mile of the conflagration are
crowded with teams of every description
loaded to their utmost capacity with
household goods, although store
keepers who are so fortunate as to
secure a team are endeavoring to
save their most valuable stock.
Wherever a vacant space north of tl e
fire can be found it is at once filled with
goods of all descriptions and varieties.
Men, women and children are doing all
they can to save their little all, land
bring it to some place of safety.—
The fire from this on will burn up
as much in five minutes as it has
previously done in fifteen, considering
the value of dollars and cents. The
heat is very great, and no doubt that in
addition to pecuniary losses we will
have to mourn the loss of lives, as it is
next to impossible for a lire of this mag
nitude and fury, and burning through
as closely a settled district as this,
with out human sacrifice. As the
post office is directly in a line
with the fire, its employees will have
all they can do to save the mail
matter in the building, and consequently
there will be no mails from the city this
evening, and there can by no possibility
be one sent before to-morrow evening.
The principal lines of the Western Union
Telegraph Company, running through
State street, have alljbeen burnt—some
forty wires; but as the lines on Canal
street are out of all possible danger
there will be no interruption of tele
graphic communication.
The fire has burnt over so far about
half a mile in length and some four
blocks in width, and although the ex
plosion of gunpowder is still heard
every little while, there is but little
hopes of staying the fire short of the
limits given above.
Latek. —The fire broke out at the
corner of Twelfth and Harrison streets,
and has now swept to the corner of Har
rison and Lake streets. The post office
has been destroyed, but the contents
have been saved. The Gardiner and
Matteson Houses are in danger. The
firemen have no control over the flames.
The excitement is intense.
Loss Between Four and Six Millions—
Small Insurance,
Chicago, July 15, 2:30, p. m.—The
limits of the fire are as follows : On
Clark street, No. 535, which is about
12th street on the south and about Polk
street on the north. On Dearborn street
the southern limit is near 12th street
and the northern limit Polk street, Ou
Wabash avenue, Harmon Court forms
the Southern boundary, find the north
ern limit being between Jackson and
Van Buren streets. On State street the
southern limit is Harmon Court, the
line expending ou the north nearly to
Jackson street. Third and Fourth ave
nues are burned nearly their whole
length. The fire burned a number of
houses on Michigan avenue, but has not
damaged that street to any great extent.
Some twenty blocks are burned. The
loss is variously estimated, but cannot
be given with accuracy. It will not bo
less than four mlilions and probably
will not be over six millions. This is
covered by about two-fifths insurance,
which is divided among numerous com
panies. Since the great fire, companies
have been very careful not to take large
risks in one locality. The following arc
the largest losses : The Jewish Syna
gogue, 830,000; Quinn’s Chapel, §15,000;
the Adelphi Theatre, §75,000; St. James’
Hotel and furniture, §150,000; the post
office, §50,000; the First Baptist Church,
§100,000; the Church of the Messiah,
§25,000; Olivet Baptist Church (color
ed), §40,000. A number of serious casu
alties are reported, and several persons
were doubtless lost in the flames. The
fire is now completely under control,and
no further anxiety is felt for the safety
of property on the north side of the
city.
The Origin of the Fire.
Chicago, July 15, p. m.—-The fire
yesterday originated in a low frame
building used for storing rags and ad
joining an oil factory that stood between
Fourth avenue and Clark street, on Tay
lor street. There was a stiff southwest
breeze blowing, so that by the time the
flames had consumed the small dwell
ings, stables, carpenter shops and build
ings filled with oil, paper and rags, and
reached Starte street, where there were
substantial business houses, they were
like the heat of a furnace and all-con
suming in power. The newspapers com
ment in strong terms on the folly of al
lowing wooden buildings in the city
limits.
The Sufferers.
Most prominent among the business
losses are the St. James’ Hotel; Wm.
Bodeman, druggist; the liemington Em
pire Sewing Machine Company; E.
liemington k Hons, gun and pistol man
facturers; Kuspmessen Bros., boots and
shoes; C. C. Charles, lamps and reflec
tors; H. Slodo, carriages; A. Wheeler,
hardware; G. M. Cheney, stables; the
Prussing Vinegar Works; Schwerer <fe
Huher, stoves, &c.; R. E. Givandan k
Tusten, rings, Ac.; P. M. Platt, cloth
ing; P. & H. Mayer, L. C. Chase & Cos.,
saddles and harness; A. Schrefernter &
Cos., furniture manufacturers; N. W. &
F. Tester, furnaces, ranges, &c.; Frost
k Cos., wholesale liquors; John I). Mc-
Lean & Cos., stoves and ranges; H. k M.
Neuberger, furniture; Van Bramer k
Flood, hardware, and many others.
The Area Burned.
The area burned over covers fifteen
squares. Taking bits and half blocks
here and there and lumping the whole,
the burned area is about a half a mile
long and a little less in width, and em-
NUMBER 29.
braced tumble down shanties and pala
tial avenue residences.
The Losses.
The losses nre as follows : On Clark
street, §30,000 ; Fourth avenue, §175,-
000; Third avenue, §250,000; State street,
§300,000 ; Wabash avenue, §1,700,000 ;
Michigan avenue, §150,000; Taylor
street, §50,000 ; Polk street, $40,000 ;
Harrison street, §50,000; Congress street,
§75,000; Van Buren street, §50,000; the
court between Wabash avenue and State
street, §150,000. Total, §4,025,000.
Losses of New York Companies.
New York, July 15.—The fire in Chi
cago last night occasioned some heavy
losses among the insurance companies
in this city. The following is a list of
some of the losses among the local in
surance companies: Home, §150,000;
Phceuix, of Brooklyn, §25,000 to §30,000;
German American, §25,000 to $30,000;
Underwriters’ Agency, §57,000; Conti
nental, §50,000 ; Hanover, §20,000 ;
Standard, $10,000; North British and
Mercantile, §20,000. Asa general rule
the losses are light, as most of the dam
age occurred in districts where the rides
of the board companies were very high,
in consequence of the inflammable char
acter of the buildings.
Another Fire Under Way.
Cincinnati, July 15, 4:30, p. m.—Tho
Chicago operators say that another tiro
lias broken out on the west side. This
is in anew district, separate from tho
lire of last night. The wind is high.
No additional particulars yet obtained,
but it is reported to have burned over
two blocks already.
Later.— The fire oommmenced at tho
corner of Milwaukee’ avenue and Erie
street, west side. Eighteen houses, prin
cipally wooden structure, are destroyed
and the tiro is still burning.
Cincinnati, July 15, 7, p. m.—lt is
now reported from Chicago that tho
west side fire is under control.
Particulars of the Last Fire.
Chicago, .7 uly 15, 8, p. m.—Another
fire broke out about 4:30, p. m., in tho
western part of the city, in tho junction
of Milwaukee and Cliicago avenues.
Fifteen or twenty buildings, comprising
stores, saloons, planing and carpenter
shops, burned in a short time, the flames
being fanned by a brisk northwest
breeze, and fed by very imflammable
material. The fire department suc
ceeded in chocking the progress of tho
flames before it did further damage
than already stated. Cansiderable ex
citement prevailed for a time. A repe
tition of tho scenes of last night was
feared.
Later. —The fire originated in Du
gan’s smoko house, in tho rear of his
packing establishment. Nearly an en
tire block was burnt, but tho buildings
were mostly of an inferior sort. One
planing mill was destroyed, with some
valuable machinery and patterns. Tho
loss is estimated at §OO,OOO.
THE EOTTOIV CROP.
ltcport of the Department of Agricul
ture as to Us Condition.
Washington, D. 0., July 15.—Tho
cotton planters report to the Depart
ment of Agriculture, in ncoordanco with
conditional promise of June report, in
dicate an increase in tho condition of
the plant in every State. The per eont
ages of average condition are higher
than in June by the following figures:
Three in Louisiana, four in Arkansas,
six in Florida, seven in South Carolina,
nine in Mississippi! tin in Alabama,
eleven in Georgia, twolvo in Tennessee
and Texas, thirteen in North Caro
lina and Texas. Tho following nre
tho State averages: North Caro
lina, 102; South Carolina, 88; Georgia,
91; Florida, 9(5; Alabama, 92; Missis
sippi, 87; Louisiana, 73; Texas, 102;
Arkansas, 94; Tennessee, 97. As com
pared with July of last year, the condi
tion is higher, except in Florida, Lou
isiana and Arkansas, though the differ
ence is slight in Tennessee and Georgia,
and not very wide in Mississippi and
Alabama.
In North Carolina the temperature has
been high, rains seasonable, and tho
growth raised, though the plant is still
small and ton days late in certain coun
ties. Tho fields have generally had
good preparation and clean cul
ture. Edgecombe, which produces
one-eighth of the cotton of tho
State, returns the condition at 110.
The improvement has been rapid in
South Carolina and is still progressing,
though the growth is not advanced to an
average. Lice infest some fields. Dar
lington, yielding one-seventh of the fibre
of the State, returns condition at 90.
Seventy-three Counties in Georgia,
representing two-thirds of the crop, re
port thrifty growth, a backward season,
too much rain, bettor and cleaner til
lage than last year—less [of fertilizers
used. Rumors of the caterpillar come
up from Southwestern Georgia.
Improvement is manifested in Flor
ida, with too abundant rains in some
counties and a tendency to tho shedding
of forms.
While rains have been frequent in
Alabama, tho fields have generally been
kept clean. Os seven counties, which
yield a third of tho crop of the Stato,
the condition is placed at9o; in Bullock,
Barbour, Montgomery, Marengo and
Russell at 90; in Halo at 80, and in Dal
las at 100. None are lower than 75 or
higher than 110.
The crop is late in Mississipiii, but
growing rapidly. It is grassy in places,
yet much cleaner than last year. The
condition ranges from 50 in Tunica,
where it was destroyed by the overflow,
to 110 in Desoto and sovoral other coun
ties.
In Louisiana, tho planting continued
after the overflow until Juno 15th, and
the crop is therefore later than else
where, and has suffered in places from
cut-worms, drouth and excessive rains.
The caterpillar has appeared in Rapi
des.
Rarely has Texas had abetter promise
of a fine crop. In some counties tho
growth is not well advanced; in a few lo
calities plants made their appearance
late in June. The stand is generally
better than in other States.
Drouth has been injurious in Arkan
sas. Sofne localities have had no rain
in eight weeks. In one township in In
dependence, 1,000 acres were left uncul
tivated on account of drouth. Rains
have been more general of late in por
tions of the State, yet fully half the
counties report 100 and above.
A majority of thecounties of Tennessee
return the average condition at from 05
to 100, while Shelby county, which
yields one-sixth of the Stuto aggregate,
is placed at 110.
A Singular Freak of Lightning.—
Monday afternoon, between one and two
o’clock, tho house of Mr. L. Donlon on
the southwest corner of Mclntosh, and
Calhoun streets, was struck by lightning.
The electric fluid ran down a chimney
as far as the ceiling of the first floor,
where it pierced a hole through the
bricks and entered tho corner room,
used as a store. Passing along a shell
it perforated thirteen cans of lobsters,
making three holes, situated in the form
of a perfect triangle in the top of each
can. It then continued on, punctured
a large tin bucket, and finally escaped
through tho floor. A kerosine oil
lamp which was hanging in tho mid
dle of tho store was broken by the
shock, but the oil was not set on fire.
The family, with the exception of a
couple of children, were in an adjoining
room at dinner. Tho children, who
were in the store, were not injured. A
bottle of pickles, which Mr. Thos. Rear
don, who was about one hundred yards
distant, had in his hand was broken to
pieces and one of Mr. Reardon’s arms
temporarily paralyzed.
Tiif. Wilkes County Fair.— We have
received the premium list of tho Fourth
Annual Fair of the “Old Wilkes Farm
ers’ and Mechanics’ Association.” Tlieso
Fairs have, heretofore, been completely
successful, and have always attracted
a very large attendance. The exhibition
of stock, domestic articles,
of field crops and mechanical inven
tions has, every year, been remarkably
fine, and each succeeding year renders
these exhibitions more and more attrac
tive. Wilkes county is certainly blest
with a number of choice spirits, whoso
energy, intelligence, public spirit and
enterprise is displayed in her annual
fairs. The approaching exhibition prom
ises to surpass all others, and a visit to
the delightful town of Washington during
its continuance will well repay any one.
The Fair opens on Tuesday, October
20th, and continues four days.
San Francisco, July ]£•— J.
McCormick, Collector of Customs at
San Diego, who told the story of hav
ing been robbed of three thousand dol
lars of Government funds by two men,
was arrested to-day, charged with hav
ing embezzled money. He was released
on bail.