eOÜNTY CORRESPONDENCE.SEWSY LETTERS FROM OUR SPE¬

CIAL CORRESPONDENTS.

fSems ot Interesst From all Parts ofSumter and Adjoining Counties.

3ÍOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.Hali your letters so that they will

teach this office not later than Tues-

fiay morning. When the letters are

Teceived Wednesday it is almost an

Impossibility to have them appear in

the paper issued that day.

PRIVATEER,Privateer, S. C., Aug. 24.-The Rev.

p. ude is spending a* month at

~*21en Springs.uns« inez Wells is visiting in Sum¬

ter.Ufr. and Mrs. J. W. Jenkins, of

Sumter, spent a few days last week at

Mrs, LL B. Jenkins*.Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Geddings, of

^Pinewood, S. C., spent a few days last

«eek at Mr. E. W. Rivers».Ufte» Fulton, of Columbus, Ga,, is

spending some time at Mr. John M.mdal's.

Mrs. S. H. Ramsey, of Statesburg,la spending some time with her broth¬

ers, Messrs. W. S, and W. D. Lynam.The young men of Privateer gave

a, fish fry in honor of Miss Ida Lee

Parler, who is visiting at Mr. W. H.

-Cuitino's, Mr. and Mrs. CuttinoChaperoned the crowd.

Mrs, S. J. Bradford is visiting af."lanes.

Mrs. Bevel, of Lake City, Fla., h

"visiting relatives in Privateer.* Miss Hermie Mae Bradford is re¬

ported quite sick with fever.The Pinewood /hoys crossed bats

-with the Privateer team Monday aft¬ernoon. The score board showed thatthe game was played to the time of

3.5 to 9 in favor of the Privateer boys.

PISGAH.Pisgah, Aug. 24.-Last wee&'was

fodder week, and all that was -pulled¿got wet Very little was saved that is

sjood. The rains and hot weatherlave caused cotton to open fast and

'prematurely in many places. Pick--âng will commence this week. The

-crop will be short, A gentleman justirom Georgia says the crop in thatState is very poor. So those whothink that an enormous crop will bemade, because there is a large need,twill be sadly disappointed.Rev. T. G. Phillips, of Bishopville,

preached four days at Pisgah lastweek, the meeting closed on Thurs-iday evening. Large congregations at¬tended all the time. The last nightthe church could not near hold thepeople, many from different sectionsattended. Some additions were madeio the church membership. Mr. Phil-Hps is a fine preacher, ànd a pleasantman to meet. He is never tiresome-and holds his adience to the end,.something that very few preachers«an do. His: visit was a great bless¬ing to the church. He has many-friends here, and among other de¬nominations, he is very much liked,as shown by their attendance on his

preaching. We hope he will soon

visit us again.The patrons of the Pisgah public

school have augmented the school-fund by private subscription so theschool will run nine months. This iea. step in the right direction. MissSallie Nelson has been elected teach¬er. This is the young lady referred?to in the Item as going to teach at

Smithville, but it is Pisgah and notSmithville. The latter place standing"pat" where it has been for fiftyyears.

IL. S. Vinson and J. L. Gillis went toColumbia Saturday.

Mrs. L. S. Vinson and son returnedSunday from Golumbia with Mr. Vin¬son, where she had been visiting her?father's family.Mesdames John K. McLeod and

John McCaa and children, came homeSaturday from visiting their sister,Hrs. Entzminger, in Fairfield county.Mrs. McCaa returned quite sick.

Hon. G. W. Mosely-and Mr. TomXtevis, of Kershaw county, Mr. andMrs. L. A. White. James McLeod,Mrs. W. S. Smith, Misses Madge andCora Weldon, Miss Lydia Osteen andothers from Lee county attended themeeting at Pisgah last week. AlsoMrs. J. W. Reams, of Rembert, andMrs. Florence Gardner and family ofthe State farm.

Miss Ila May Evans presided at the.organ during the meeting and contri-Imted largely to the interest,

I*et the investigation of the dis-

-pensary go on and those who have

swindled the State, if any. put the

«tripes on them. The law is all right.:bot ls not properly enforced. Graft

has entered into it as it has numerous

departments of the national govern-ment. There are people in this State

who are going to have whiskey, law

or no law, and the sooner this is

xeaüzed will be the better for all con¬

cerned in dealing with this trouble¬some question. All men have equalxight&, and none can encroach on th'e

The friends of Hon. John L. Mc¬

laurin ought to advise him not to mix

^politics with the farmers* association j

when he speaks, as no good can come

out of it to the association. He did

it at Sumter, and referred to Irby,who is dead and gone from the stage

of action. Mr. McLaurin's sense of

justice and right should teach him

to let dead people alone and not be

dragging them out of their graves,

however spiteful he may feel towards

them. Death should sweep all things

away.

Pisgah, S. C., Aug. 29.-The pres¬

ent cool spell is a tonic after the se¬

vere hot weather we have had all the

summer. Not in many years have we

experienced so hot a summer and if

the old signs hold good we will have

a cold winter.

Cotton picking will commence gen¬

erally this week. As yet it is cnly

opening in spots. What the price will

be to pick, is not settled yet Circum¬

stances may vary it from the regularprice paid in past years. Some of my

neighbors will not have much to pickowing to the blight, which will entail

a heavy loss on them.Rev. J. C. Crouch carried on a

meeting at Swift Creek last week. He

had no assistance. His sermons were

fine, never tiresome, and always in¬

teresting. Several additions to the

church were made. Miss Gardner

presided at the organ during the

meeting, and the music was very in¬

teresting and added much to the in¬

terest of the services.Rev. J. W. Kenney filled the pulpit

of Pisgah church on yesterday. Sun¬

day afternoons he lectures to the

young men and old ones too.

B. C. DuPre and T. M. Rogers went

to Sumter last Saturday on business,to take in the baseball game, see the

continued growth of Sumter, see and

be seen, and so forth.Mr. L. S. Vinson and family visited

Mr. Andrew Vinson, his brother, last

week. :

Mr. M. O. Burkett, of Sumter, is

here visiting friends. He speaks of

taking a situation with some of our

progressive business men.

This place needs a doctor to settle

here. At and near Smithville there

are physicians, and we have none be¬

tween there and Boykins, a distance

of about eight miles, so you see how

one is needed in our midst.Senator Manning's position on the

dispensary law is endorsed by a largenumber of good men. Improve it or

let it go. As it is now run, it is a dis¬

grace to the State.The News and Courier is always

ready to pitch into other people for

their position on public affairs. If

this paper had tried to rid Charles¬ton of blind, or rather open, tigers,and upheld the dispensary law as it is

the duty of all good citizens to do un¬

til the law is repealed, its advicewould have more weight. But has it

done so? The numerous violations of

the dispensary law, and a city full of

blind tigers, is an answer to its workin behalf of good government.Talk about the State selling whis¬

key, has it ever done anything else?There is no difference in licensing a

person to do a thing or do it yourself,and the State always did that to thebarrooms. Made them for a license

to sell liquor, and was just as guiltyof wrong-doing as the man who soldit The accessory before the fact isas guilty as the principal.

CATCHALL.Catchall, S. C., Aug. 29.-The last

few days has made us feel like the

fall of the year was fast approaching.The farmers were fortunate to get

their fodder stored away before thecool rains.

Cotton is opening fast.Mrs. Walter Lenoir is visiting at

Asheville, N. C.Mrs. Emma Jackson is visiting her

daughter, Mrs. Moody, in Columbia.Mr. Frank Smith, of Cheste*. who

has been in business at Timberviiî^.Miss., visited here last week. He is

now clerking for Mr. Arthur Jack¬son, at Clearmont.

Mr. K. R. Mobley has his residenceabout completed near Dalzell and will

move into It this week..

SALEM.Salem, S. C., Aug. 29.-A rattier

with fourteen rattles was killed here

on last Thursday by a colored man

who took eo little interest in the mat¬

ter that he didn't even remove the

rattles. But turned over snake, rat¬

tles and all to a bunch of hogs. Just

three years ago a snake of the same

kind, with eleven rattles and a buttonwas killed within one-fourth of a mile

distance fro mthe spot where this one

was made to rattle no more. Thesesnakes are no uncommon sight inthese parts, and this is the season ofthe year they seem to travel the most.A bite from one of them would makea doctor's visit almost useless unlesshe happened to be on the spot at thetime. Considering the number ofthese reptiles that infest th*e country,it is marvelous how few persons are

bitten by them, when the amount of

hunting and fishing is taken into con¬

sideration. !

Mr. and Mrs. E. M. McElveen re¬

turned on Monday from their outingto Old Point, Va., much delighted withtheir trip.

^ / *. .. ?. -v..'-. i-. .'

Messrs. Dabbs and Burgess went to

Columbia today in the interest of the

cotton sellers of this section.

Mr. G. W" McBride, who has been

spending his vacation hours this sum¬

mer in putting up machinery for

Gibbs & Co., of Columbia, is still ab¬

sent, though past due at home.

Cotton picking is in full blast and

50 cents seems to be the ruling price

paid. About 60 per cent, of an aver¬

age crop will about size us up, which

is a much larger reduction in the

acreage than we expected in the earlyspring days, when the reduction in

the acreage was the all-absorbingtopic. Some road worn is being done,but it is by no means general, thoughsadly needed in most places and at

P.lack River in particular.

STA'JHiBUKG.Stateburg, S. C., Aug. 29.-Miss

Mary Cantey returned to her home in

Camden on Saturday after a pleasantvisit to Mrs. R. M. Cantey.

Mr. Mark Reynolds returned to

Sumter on Monday, after spending a

few days at Dr. W. W. Anderson's.Mrs. W. D. Blanding and little

daughter, Sarah, were the guests of

Miss A. N. Burgess on Monday and

Tuesday.Rev. W. H. Barnwell and little son

St. Julien, returned on Friday from

Rawley's Island, where they spentseveral weeks.The Misses Gibson returned to

Sumter on Thursday after havin

spent several months in our midst.Miss Anna P. Burgess is at home

again after a pleasant visit to Mrs. R

M. Cantey.Misses Lottie Nelson and Bettie

Frierson spent Friday and Saturdaywith Misses Mary and Hallie Nelsonin Sumter.

Mrs. H. L. Gaillard, of Pine

visiting Miss Anna Burgess.Miss Ina Mellette returned today

from Privateer where she has been

visiting her grandfather.Mrs. W. J. Norris spent last wee

with relatives near Bishopville.Miss Lee Moore is at home after

having attended summer school in

Sumter.Miss Daisy Burgess, of Sumter, is

visiting at the home of her uncle, MrH. L. Pinckney.

Messrs. Henry Moore, Guy Nelson

and Frank Burgess spent Saturday in

Sumter.

MAX.Max., S. C., Aug. 28.-A revival

meeting closed at Bethel on SundayThe pastor, Rev. B. K. Truluck

preached thirteen very pointed ser

mon's and baptized seventeen members

and three restored. The meeting wa:

greatly enjoyed by the membership!and large crowds attended every serv¬

ice. Good order prevailed at the

church, but on Friday night the par¬

sonage was broken into and a valua-

ble suit case together with nearly all

of the preacher's clothes were stoien.

pinong other things taken was a suit

which he had made to order in Lon -

don while there recently.Rev. J. O. Gough, of Manning; R-2V.

E. E. Driggers, of Greenville; Hon. IL.

W.Dabbs, of Goodwill, and Mr. G. M.

Hick, of New Zion, were among the

many visitors too numerous to men¬

tion.Messrs. Joe Baker and Geo. Ham.

of Beaulan, are critically UL

DURANTS.Durant, S. C., Aug. 28.-Miss

Howie, of Florence, is on a visit to

her friend, Miss Williams.Mrs. James Erunson returned home

this afternoon from a week's visit to

relatives here.Mr.'Carroll Montgomery is at home

after several years' service in thoUnited States navy.

Miss Carrie Durant is sojourning in

Virginia.Mr. Arthur Plowden, after spending

som<? time in the West, is at his oldhome for several weeks with his

grand parents.Mrs. C. D. Shaw went to Sumter to¬

day where she will be for severalweek« with relatives.

Miss Marie Murray, of Sumter S»

among the visitors here this week.

Miss Daisy Witherspoon.is spendinga few days with friends in Sumter.

Miss Brown, after a visit of threeweeks here has returned home.

Mr. Judson Witherspoon has ac¬

cepted a position with Mr. Cooper, of

Mayesville.

REMBERT.Rembert, S. C., Aug. 2S.-The cot¬

ton season is open and picking has

commenced, and. as I stated last week,the crop will be a short one. Now,the question is what wil the farmers

pay for picking it Last year we had

a full crop, and it opened very rapidly,labor was scarce and in great demand,and pickers demanded 50 and some 60cents per 100 pounds, but this yearif the farmers will pull together theycan get their cotton picked for 40cents. Experience has taught me thatyou can get it picked just as easily for40 cents as you can for 50 cents andI trust there will be some concert ofaction among the farmers. As our

present crop has been a very expen¬sive one, and to realize any profit

from the crop we must economize in

every respect.Mr. William Mellette and Miss

Leona Jenning visited the neighbor¬hood last Friday, and Miss Jenningsfriends were delighted to meet her

again.Mrs. E. E. Rembert paid a flying

visit to her home last Wednesday and

returned next, day to her summer cot¬

tage on the Isle of Palms. Her hus¬

band accompanied her to remain a

few days on the beach.Mrs. H. C. McLeod, Miss Adele Mc¬

Leod and Miss Mary Y. Harllee re¬

turned home last week after a pleas¬ant stay at Chick Springs.

Mrs. S. L. Keels and daughter, Miss

Annie Keels, are expected home this

afternoon from Chick Springs.Mrs. Holliday, of Sumter, is on a

visit to her daughter, Mrs. J. D. Mc¬

Leod.Mrs. J. M. Reams is visiting rela¬

tives in Sumter this week.Miss Hussy, of Sumter, is on a visit

to her brother Mr. Tom Hussy, of

IONIA.Ionia, S. C., Aug. 28.-A very heavy

rain fell here Thursday night doingconsiderable damage to land and

roads.There has been very little good fod¬

der saved here this year on account

of the rains.Cotton is opening rapidly and the

gins have already started.Mr. S. J. Corbett's machinery for

his ginnery has arrived and he will be

ready to gin cotton in a few days.Mr. J. A. Galloway is putting downthe machinery for him.

Mrs. W. M. Weathery, of Columbia,who was visiting here last week, has

gone to Bishopville to see her parents,Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Galloway.

Mr. W. T. McLeod is rebuilding hismill which will be very convenient.

DALZELL.Dalzell, Aug. 28.-We are still* hav¬

ing lots of rain, nearly every day.Another rogue caught here last

week. Mr. R. L. Burkett's store was

broken into this time. The tempta¬tion is too much for the rogues, as no

one sleeps in any of the stores.There was a moon light picnic at

Mr. J. T. Cummings' a few nights ago.Miss Hattie and Ethel McLeod, of

Timmonsville, are visiting at Mr.

Cummings' at this time.

Mrs. C. S. Felder has returned from

a visit to her mother and brought two

young ladies with her.

Miss Louise dillispie, of Rock Hill,

is visiting Mrs. W. S. Boykin. Mr. W.

5. Boykin has just returned from a

visit to his brother, Mr. C. W. Boy¬kin, of St. Stephens.

Mr. Joe Boykin, who is clerking in

Bishopville, will spend tonight and

and Sunday at home. He will bringMr. Oliver Durant with him.

The new stores of Messrs. Eowman.

Smith and Gaillard, are nearing com¬

pletion.Miss Sallie Gillispie passed through

Dalzell yesterday afternoon, on her

way to Roland, N. C., where she will

resume her school duties Monday,the 2Sth. Our school will open Sep¬tember 18, Miss Louise Gillespie will

teach it.

DARK CORNER.Dark Corner, Aug. 28.-Cotton

picking has commenced. It is open¬

ing fast these hot days we have been

having. We have had two good rains

this week, one Tuesday evening and a

good shower Friday night, which is

fine for peas, potatoes, cane, etc.

Mr. L. N. Barwich, Sr., says he has

been eating sweet potatoes for the

last month.Mr. Jim Griffin is building a fine

house for Mr. T. Brooks Mimms near

Pinewood. Mr. GGriffin is becominga fine carpenter. He built the Meth¬odist parsonage at Pinewood and is

putting up a fine dwelling for Mr. J.

Mack Kolb near Ramsey.Mrs. Mollie Bevel, of Florida, is vis¬

iting relatives in Privateer and at

Pinewood. Her aunt, Mrs. EphraimP. Kolb, at the latter place, as still

very ill with no hopes of her improv¬ing.

Old Mr. Jim McIntosh's daughter,Mrs. Lizzie Gardiner, and children,from Smithville, are on a visit to her

father and brother, J. B. McIntosh,Jr.Gus and Dud Weeks have gone to

visit their sister, Mrs. G. W. Scott, to¬

day aft Soeven.Mrs. Joe H. Geddings, of Pine¬

wood, visited her brother, Joe John¬ston last Thursday.

Mr. L. X. Barwick is in Pinewoodtoday.

I fully agree with your Pisgahcorrespondent than men are going to

have whiskey, law or no law, so I

cannot see how high license or pro¬hibition is going to make it any better.But my old gill gourd of a head can¬

not not take in much, and my eyesare so old that they cannot see intothose things like those who have theuse of all their mental and visual

powers. But I will pray God to giveus that which is best.

I have no sick to report this weekand everything is calm and serene inthis Corner.

PINEWOOD PENC ILINGS.Pinewood. S. C., Aug. 28.-Mr. H. E.

Richardson. Jr.. spent Thursday inSumter.

Mr. Thomas Avant returned Friday,after a trip to Lanes.

Mrs. Henry F. Stack and childrenare visiting relatives in Sumter.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Eppersonand little daughter, Margie, with MissLillian Lawrence, returned Thursdayafter visiting Danville, Va.

Misses Mattie and Inez Felder re¬

turned from the mountains last week.Messrs. Pinckney Broughton, R. C.

Richardson, Jr., and H. B. Richard¬son spent Monday in Columbbia.Many regret to know that Mr. S. E.

Barron will not be able to teach"Sand Hill" school this term as theconsequence of ill health.Both of our cotton gins have under¬

gone improvements and are now busydoing fine work. Quite a number of

new bales of cotton were sold in town

last week. Pickers are busy and cot¬

tonfields are white all round thetown.

The last game of ball was playedFrday between Panola and our team.

Pinewood Ang. 21.-Mis3 LeConte,of Columbia is visting Miss SusanRichardson.Mies Edna Broaghton who has been

visiting her uncle, Mr. Geo. Smithreturned to ber home in Sumterlast weekMrs. P. M. Sally and children left

Tuesday to visit ber old home Smith¬ville Va. accompanied as far as Dan¬ville by Miss Lilian Lawrence andMrs. R. F. Epperson where the latterwill visit for several weeks.Mr. J. J. Kolb, of Sumter, was

noted iu town last week.Mr Moron of Richmond, Va., visi¬

ted our town last week.Mr. F. W. Veto, of Hendersonville,

N. C., is relieving Mr. W. P. Mooney-

han, A. C. L. agent, who is now on

a visit to his parents at Elliotts.Mr. Frank Griffin is home again

after undergoing an operation at theMood-Oseen infirmry.Misses Eleanora, and Lizzie Rich¬

ardson, with Messrs Richard and Ran¬som Richardson, returned home aftera pleasant visit to the Misses Flud'sof Stateburg.Mr. Tbcs. Avant, of the Avant

Grocery Co, spent several days inSumter this week.Mr. S. G. Griffin, is .making prepa¬

rations to erect a new store shortly.Dr. M. D. Murray who has been

sick is up again.M r. Edmund Murray of Sumter who

is visiting Dr. James B. Richardson,delighted a large crowd Monday even¬

ing with a musical.Miss Louise Norris, of Columbia, is

visiting Misses Lizzie and AliceHodge.A very interesting game of ball was

played between the married and singlemen last Tuesday. Intense interestwas taken in the game, by both youthand age. It was hardly expected thatthe out of practice explayers would tiewith the regulars. The game was-lo-to-13.Mr. N. C. Stack spent Tuesday in

Summerton.Mrs. J. J. Broughton, is visiting

her parents in Georgia.Mr. Richard Richardson spent Tues¬

day in Sum ter.Mrs. R. C. Ribardson, Sr., is spend¬

ing sometime at Saluda.Mr. and Mrs. «A«bury Felder left

this week for a short stay in themountains.

LYNCHBURG.

Lynchburg, Aug. 28.-As indicationof tbe big fall in the temperature,smoke from a number of chimneyswas quite visible yesterday and thismorning, reminding a body that ma¬

terial for heating purposes was notallays objectionable in the summertime. This unexpected visitor wasindeed welcome, and we trust it willremain with us until we get entirelycooled off, if no longer.The "Rev." Isaac Mack who, with

seemingly murderous intent, shot biswife in the neck with a rifle on the21st July last, is peeping through thebars of the county jail, and doubtlessregretting his inability to take up histri-weekly church collecton, but hisRev. brother Abe Wells, who is enti¬tled to a berth with him may go onwith the good (?) work. It has now

developed that "Kev." Mack has sev¬eral living wives near around, and sohe will have to answer the charge of"bigamy" at next term of court of gen¬eral sessions, as well as " assault andbattery with intent to kill."The Lynchburg Mercantile Com¬

pany's new store is being rapidly filledwith a well selected stock of goods',and Johnnie, and Ernest McIntosh areworking "like beavers."Drs. Darby and Tarrant are bestir¬

ring themselves quite lively, there'slots of sickness around!Mrs. E. F. Darby went to Sumter

with Mrs. Kate Betts today. That"three months old babe'' is growingprettier.Miss Martha Lizzie McIntosh re¬

turned borne from Sumter where shehas been attending the teachers sum¬mer school, on last Saturday night,and her many, many friends, as wellas her relatives, are delighted to haveher back.

Prof. Bronson was in town lastSaturday and passed through again thismorning on his way to Spartanburg. ;Nearly all of Mr. John F. Mat¬

thews famly have recently had mumpsand the old man's turu comes next ;but he seems to be trying to dodge it.If it catches up with him, we mustenre laugh and laugh much.Mr. L. V. Brown is certainly a live

life insurnce agent, and is making a (

success of it. The Equitable Life In isurance Society was fortunate in get- t

ting such a bustler.Old man Frank and Luther went to

the picnic at Horn Branch about 12 '

miles south of this place last week', jand they were just carried away withthe magnificent dinner and the splen¬did speech of Hon. E. D. Smith. J

Ellie was at his best, and every body tknows what an orator he is. ,

Mr. J. D. McNeil, after an extend¬ed visit to his brother J. T., of thisplace, has returned to Greenville. jOld man Frank Potts is "picking

up" a little and his tongue is loose x

again to the discomfort of 1 ' Poor Ellie, i

Mrs. J. A. Kfaame is or? on a visitto ber neioe' Mrs. Phil Miller, ofBennettsviile.Very little cotton is being marketed

here so far.Mr. E. D. Smith h re-elected buyer

for the cotton growerrs association ofthis precinct.

Weekly Crop Bulletin.

Following is the weather crop reportas compiled by Section DirecterBauer :

The first of the week ending Mon¬day, August 23, was hotter than usualand the latter part was nnseasonblycool, with the minimum temperatureat Columbia the second lowest ever

rcorded in August, it having been onedegree lower in 1896. The averagefor the week ranged from four degreesi M the upper portion, to one degree,in the lower portions, below the nor¬mal. The air was generally humidduring the hot period and very dry atthe close of the week.Excessive rains occurred in Saluda,

Laurens, Newberry, Greenville, Cher¬okee and York counties, washing landsand flooding bottom lands to thefurther injury to crops on such lands ;the other portions of the state hadmoderately heavy rains that were gen¬erally beneficial although not neededin many localities. The soil is nowwell supplied with moisture over theentire state. The frequent showersduring the middle of the week retard¬ed form work and spoiled considerablefodder that had been pulled, andcaused considerable rotting of ripecotton bolls, and of late finit, butthey were beneficial to late corn, peas,sweet potatoes, pastures, gardens andto recently planted seeds for fall truckcrops.From many localities come reports

that the cotton crop has deterioratedrapidly during the week due to con¬

tinued rust, and shedding, and thatpractically all of the top crop lad fal¬len off, and that on early cotton fruit¬ing had ceased; a few reports of im¬

provement were received, and thatthe plants continued green and grow¬ing rapidly and fruiting satisfactori¬ly, while most of the reports indi¬cate that there a been no materialchange in condition during the week,except that on sandy lands the plantswere not fruiting and that the topcrop would be light. Bolls openedrapidly over the eastern half and slowover the western. Picking made slowprogress, but will soon be active over

the entire state. Caterpillars infestsea-island cotton and some rust hasappeared, but the crop is generally ingood condition.Tobacco curing will be finished by

the first of September : some of thcured tobacco lacks brightness due totoo much rain. Early rice harvestmade favorable progress. Turnipswere planted extensively and came upto fair stands. Pastures are fine. Latecorn generally promising, except wheredamaged by floods ana excessive raiLs

ANOTHER SUICIDE.

William C. Hardison, of Wadesboro,Kills Himself on Account of In¬

dependent Oil Failure.

Charlotte, N. C., Aug. 24.-Mr. Wii-

liam C. Hardison, of Wadesboro, N.

C., committee suicide at 10 o'clocklast night immediately on his return

from a trip to Blowing Rock, where

he had been in search of health. He

arrived home from Charlotte, went to

his room and immediately shot him¬

self, the bullet passing through hishead. Death resulted almost in¬

stantly.The deceased was about 46 years of

age and is> survived by his widow and

six children.Mr. Hardison was manager of the

Wadesboro branch of the Independ¬ent Cotton Oil Company, and was

owner of a very large amount of stock

in the defunct concern. His healthfor the past several months has been

very poor and these financial troubleshave weighed very seriously on his

mind for the past several weeks. He

has been subjected to spells of de¬

pression and it is thought that the

act of tonight was the result of one

of these melancholy fits.It is worthy of note that an attempt

was made but a few weeks before the

Independent Cotton Oil Companyfailed to make Mr. Hardison presi¬dent of the corporation, but this posi¬tion was refused. The events preced¬

ing and subsequent to the tragic end¬

ing of the life of Robert Keith Dar¬

gan in Darlington, several weeks ago

ar«? Killi ire*>h In the public mind and

the suicide <** W. C. Hardison adds

another to the many unfortunate

events that have gone before.

It is understood that the decasedwas involved in the Independent Cot¬

ton Oil Company to the extent of

$65,000.

The store building of W. J. Andrewsm West Liberty street, which is near¬

ing completeion, is one of the mostittractive in appearance in the cityind is an ornament to Liberty street,rhe improvement that has been maden the general appearance of this sec-

ion of the business district by replac-ng Andrews' old establishment withhis handsome modern building must>e seen to be appreciated.The Civic Improvement Club will

probably make a greater success ofheir efforts next, season. Experiences a great teacher. . ,