These 11 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as .
a city of South Carolina, the county seat of Sumter co. It is on the Atlantic Coast Line, the Carolina, Atlantic and Western, and the Southern railroads. Its industries include a cotton compress, cotton and cottonseed-oil mills, magneto works, wagon factories, etc. The public buildings include St. Joseph's Academy for Girls and a Y. M. C. A. building. Pop. (1910) 8,109; (1920) 9,508.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
FORT, (named after Gen. Thomas Sumter, 1734-1832), an American fort associated with both the beginning and the end of the Civil War; built of brick, in the form of a truncated pentagon 38 feet high, on a shoal, partly artificial, in Charleston Harbor, 3½ miles from the city. On the withdrawal of South Carolina from the Union in December, 1860, Major Anderson, in command of the defenses of the harbor, abandoned the other forts, and occupied Fort Sumter, mounting 62 guns, with a garrison of some 80 men. The attack on the fort was opened by General Beauregard April 12, 1861, and it surrendered on the 14th; this event marked the beginning of the war. The Confederates strengthened it, and added 10 guns and 4 mortars. In April, 1863, an attack by a fleet of monitors failed. In July batteries were erected on Morris Island, about 4,000 yards off, from which in a week 5,000 projectiles, weighing from 100 to 300 pounds, were hurled against १०
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
FORT several victories over the British troops, but in September, 1780, was defeated by General Tarleton. Ten days later he defeated the British general in turn, being himself dangerously wounded. In the spring of 1781 he again began active service and took a distinguished part in the GENERAL THOMAS SUMTER battle of Eutaw Springs. The thanks of Congress were tendered him in 1791, and he was afterward sent to that body as a representative of South Carolina. In 1809 he was appointed United States minister to Brazil and two years later was elected United States Senator from his native State. At the close of his term he retired to private life and died near Camden, S. C., June 1, 1832.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
FORT the fort; at the end of that time it was silenced and in part demolished. Yet the garrison held on amid the ruins and in September beat off a naval attack; and in spite of a 40 days' bombardment in October-December, 1863, and for still longer in July and August, 1864, it was not till after the evacuation of Charleston itself , owing to the operations of General Sherman, that the garrison retired, and the United States flag was again raised April 14, 1865; an event soon followed by the evacuation of Richmond and the Confederate surrender.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
THOMAS, an American military officer; born in Virginia in 1734. He was distinguished for his skill and success as a partisan leader and was known among his followers as the "Carolina gamecock." In the early part of the Revolutionary War he was lieutenantcolonel of a regiment of South Carolina riflemen, but after the capture of Charleston in 1780, he was made a brigadier-general of light cavalry. He gained
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Fort, a national fortification situated on a shoal in Charleston harbor. It is about three miles from the city. The original fort was a brick structure with walls about forty feet in breadth, resting on a riprap foundation. The opening of the Civil War dates from the firing on Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861. The attack was conducted by General Beauregard. Major Robert Anderson, with a garrison of seventy-five men, surrendered the fort on the 13th. They were permitted to board a steamer for New York City. Authorities state that no less than 2,500 shot and shell struck the walls of the fort or fell within them. No one was hit on either side during the bombardment. Various attempts were made by the Union forces to retake Fort Sumter. General Gilmore conducted a siege lasting from August 12 to December 11, 1863. Nearly 20,000 shot struck the walls or fell within the inclosure. The walls were almost demolished, without success, however. The fort was evacuated by the Confederate army on the approach of Sherman, February 17, 1865. On April 14th the Union forces, then occupying the city, held impressive flag-raising services. The same American flag was run up that Anderson had lowered four years previously. The site is now occupied by a modern ironclad fort with steel turrets, and is defended by huge rifles and mortars of modern patterns. See Charleston; Civil War
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Thomas (1734-1832), a partisan leader in the War of the American Revolution. He was born in Virginia. He died near Camden, South Carolina . He was present at Braddock's defeat in 1755. After the surrender of Charleston to the British in 1780, Sumter placed himself at the head of a body of light horse similar to that led by Marion. His pluck, endurance, and activity gained him the name of the "Carolina Game Cock." He swept down upon the foraging parties of Cornwallis with such cheerfulness and cut off portions of cavalry with such success that the British commander declared him one of his "greatest plagues." Tarleton caught him napping on the Catawba once. At the close of the war Congress gave Sumter a vote of thanks for gallant action at Eutaw Springs. Later South Carolina sent him to Congress, first as a representative and afterward as a senator. In 1809 President Madison appointed him United States minister to Brazil. Sumter was the last surviving officer of the Revolutionary army. See Marion
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
PARALLAX OF THE
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
CITY OF THE, Baalbek, formerly center of sun-worship.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
PARALLAX OF THE, or
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
PARALLAX OF THE 93,000,000 miles. More time, labor, and money have been expended in the determination of the polar parallax than of any other astronomical constant, on account of its importance in giving us an accurate base line with which to gauge the solar system and then strike out into the depths of stellar space. Before the last transit of Venus it was thought that careful observation would give an exceedingly accurate value of this constant; but these hopes were disappointed, and it is known that we have at hand at any time more accurate methods of determining the distance of the sun than from any possible observation of a transit of Venus. The most accurate direct method is likely to be the direct measurement of the parallax of the nearer and brighter asteroids by the heliometer.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia