Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1898 — SOUTHERN. [ARTICLE]

SOUTHERN.

Flood devastated the Arkansas valley. Mil ny towns were submerged. At Mobile, Ala., Sergt. Crowley, Company A, Third Infantry, was fatally shot by a private in the Nineteenth Regiment, whop) he was attempting to arrest for drunkenness. As a result of a mimic battle between the United States and Spain by American and Polish boys from 12 to 16 years of age in Canton, \V. Va., a day or two ago, John Keprofsky is dead and eleven youngsters are locked up on the charge of causing his death. The boys organized two forces, the Poles representing Spain, in charge of a fortress. Keprofsky was sent out to rceonnoiter. He was called upon by the storming party to surrender, but refused, and was shot in the abdomen by one of the American boys. Another tragedy at the volunteer camp at Mobile, Ala., following so soon on the suicide at the regular encampment, caused a great stir among the troops. Collins, sergeant in a Birmingham company, was shot by a negro fruit’ vender named Louis Reeves. The negro got away, but was hotly pursued by over a thousand militiamen, armetj with pistols, knives and clubs. Citizens and police joined in the chase. The negro was finally captured in hiding and the crowd was foiled in its purpose of lynching him by a detective, who got him away on a street ear. Later in the evening he was taken to the county jail under a guard and no further trouble is apprehended. The closing act in the-much-discussed debt settlement compromise between the United States and the State of Arkansas was enacted the other afternoon, when the State board authorized Auditor Sloan to pay the United States $572, the amount called for in the bill recently passed by Congress. As soon as the Government transfers to the Auditor all Arkansas securities now held by it. excepting the SIOO,OOO which the Government is to retain, the Auditor is authorized to pay over the $572. The securities to be turned over to the State amount to a little over $2,000,000. Gov. Jones voted no and filed a protest against the acceptance of the settlement. The protest is similar to the veto message he filed with the Legislature, when tiie measure passed that body last winter over his objections. Auditor Sloan, Sseretary of State Hull and Treasurer Gully voted in the affirmative.