Newspaper Page Text
■Weekly Constitution.
TUESDAY, JUYL 21,1874
“A Blast Against Texas.’*
Chapel Hill, Texas, July 6,1874
Editor* Constitution: In your issue of
June 30th, I find a letter under the above
caption, and signed by Andrew J. Muse,
which I propose by your permission
briefly to notice, as the author, in his per
verted imagination, can only see one side
of the question. His description of
Texas forcibly reminds me of the expres
sion of a lady, at whose house I stopped
to get dinner in the State of Alabama in
the year 1872. She remarked: “I would
be afraid to live in Texas, there are so
many centipedes, terancheliers and sting
ing lizards,” and that “a centipede would
attack a person on horse-back.” I mildly
replied: “Madam, do you have any idea
what a centipede is t” “No, sir,” was
the reply. “Then, madam, have you
ever seen a worm in Alabama known as
'thousand legs ?’ ” “Yes,” was the ans
wer. “Then, madam, you have seen
something that very much resembles a
centipede.” The idea of a worm attack
ing a person on horse-back was supreme
ly ridiculous; so with Mr. Muse’s descrip
tion of Texas, as I propose to show.
He says: “Those who write letters
from Texas, as a general thing, are in
terested men, and are not vciy scrupu
lous as to the truth of these statements.”
Now, I am a native of Clark county,
Georgia; raised in Lowndes county, Ala
bama; lived in Mississippi from 1836 to
1859; since then in Texas. I have no
personal interest at stake, and do not feel
that I should be injured if Mr. Muse’s ar
ticle was fully credited either socially or
pecuniarily. I have no land for sale, nor
do I hold an agency in that direction; but
I love my native State, and appreciate
her citizens.
Hcsays: “There are hundreds upon
hundreds of nice families now in Texas
doomed to stay there and drag out a life
of disease and regret that they have left
their homes in the old States and moved
to the unsalubrious climes of Texas.”
Now, what is the inference? That Texas
climate is of the worst character, and
that disease and wretchedness were the
inevitable result of a residence in Texas.
Such language sounds strange to one who
has livecTftU his life in the South, and
wbo has spent
FOURTEEN YEAHS IN TEXAS.
I unhesitatingly affirm that in
S oint of climate Texas as
tatc surpasses any of the
Southern States, and, in point of health,
is superior to any of the cotton growing
States. Our breezes are a luxury by day
and night, soft and balmy, so much so
that those who keep in the shade and
place themselves in the breeze seldom
need a fan.
Mr. Mine says the land is rich. Why,
then, are they doomed to “drag out a life
of disease ana regret?” The truth is, we
inako a living too easy, which renders
our labor Worthless, as it superinduces
extravagance and indolence.
He sa^s: “The misreprcHcniations of
friends and emigration Old society agents
are the causes of thousands ever going to
Texas, Many of these emigrants who
Were carried out are to-day in old dilapi-
ted negro bouses, not fit for a negro of
the lowest grade to live in, let alone nice
white ladies.” It may be admitted that
writers do often, in their admiration of
our State, go too far in her praise, but
never to the extent in that direction that
ID*. M. has gone in the opposite, for that
would be simply impossible. There may
be some indifferent houses, but it is not
true iu general. Most of the houses for
FARM LABORERS,
are built of plonk, known as box houses,
with good stone or brick chimneys and
shingle roof, and many of them have a
It is true we have them, but no damage
is done to stock unless a wound is in
flicted; then they are easily removed by
calomel, etc.
The hell tiy is very tormenting to stock.
No stock is troubled by them but cows,
and no damage is done by them. I have
yet to see the first one, and was it not
that cows seek water to stand in at cer
tain seasons of the year, we should not
know that there was such a fly; and now
would you imagine that there was a place
in the South, where the terrible pest to
horse—the horse-fly—was a thing of rare
occurrence. Believe me when I say, in
fourteen years, I have not seen as many
horse-flies as I have at one sight in Ala
bama and Mississippi.
“I found many of my old friends in
Texas. They are not yet satisfied with
the country.,’ Is it not clear that Mr. M.
is not satisfied with Georgia, hence his
long ramble in Texas.
Now as a set off, I have a friend who
spent one year in Texas, and then return
ed to Mississippi. He savs that no man
that spends one year in Texas, will ever
be content to live any where else, and so I
predict it will be with Mr. M.
The rich lands of Texas, the luxuriant
crops, and the cooling breezes will haunt
him by day and by night.
He concludes with the following para
graph:
“Those who wish to move their fami
lies to Texas had better go first and see
how the ladies and children of Texas are
before taking their families there to drink
puddle-hole water, live on blue beef fried
in tallow, coarse corn bread and black
coffee without sugar. This is the com
mon diet of the country.” How does his
statements again, “too wet or too dry?”
Where, then, can “puddle-hole” water be
found in the long drouths? * ‘Coarse com
bread”—we are well supplied with good
steam mills; why the necessity of coarse
corn bread?
“black coffee!”
Why so? is not coffee coffee all over the
world? or is it true that there is some
thing peculiar to Texas that makes coffee
black? If so, I have never discovered it.
“Blue beef fried in tallow!” Now Texas
beef has a world wide fame for its supe
rior quality. “This is the common diet
of the country.” Now, Mr. Editor, I
affirm, that, so far as my knowledge ex
tends, there is as much flour sugar, coffee,
bacon and lard used in Texas, and as
well served up, as any of the States
it has been my privilege to visit, from
the private families up to the first hotels,
and in the lost two years I have visited
Louisiana and Arkansas, Missouri, Mis
sissippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky
and Ohio. Oh, shame upon any man
that would try and impose upon the cre
dulity of any people by such stuff.
Mr. Muse must have sought the most
obscure and lowest grade of Texas so
ciety, such as no genteel man would as
sociate vitb, or ?ise k? never could have
penned such an article.
Pardon me, Mr. Editor, for the length
of my article. I could not do Mr. M. or
Texas justice by making it shorter.
Respectfully, ^ ,^JonN H. Stone.
FLOODED MASSACHUSETTS.
Bad Details trout the Interior Towns.
[By Telegraph to The Constitution.]
Boston, July 13.—The was a great
flood Saturday night and Sunday in
Western Massachusetts, caused by a rise
of the Westfield River. A dispatch from
Chester says the railroad bridge, highway
bridge ana two buildings at Midalefield
switch station are gone. At Chester
West’s dam and^slioddy mill, four high
way bridges, B. W. Palmer’s and Sam
Otis’ shop are swcpt*away, besides two
railroad bridges partially destroyed. The
dam of the Hampton Emory Company
at Chester is also carried away and a large
amount of emory with it. Every one of
five or six bridges on the Boston and
Albany Railroad, between Middlefield
andjHuntington is either wholly or par
tially destroyed. The embankment of
‘railroad is also badly washed out in many
portico. True they are not palaces, but places, and there is a serious break be-
theyare comfortable, and “nice white tween Springfield and Breeket Railroad
ladies” may and do constitute them pala- travel between Springfield and Albany
ces. will be interrupted for several days.
“I was in Northern, Eastern, Middle,
Southern and Southwestern Texas from
the first of December, 1872, to March,
1874, and I found no place that the water
was good, nnd every place I was at, sum
mer or winter, some one was having
chills.” Nowwhat constitutes good water?
Is it tliat which is cool, clear and healthy,
and though a little unpleasant at first to
the taste, being lime water, one in a
few weeks becomes accustomed to it and
takes it as much as any other. If so,
Texas has an abundance of it in the form
of springs, or may be obtained by digging
at a reasonable depth. I heard one of our
best physicians publicly assert that he be
lieved our well water was healthier than
cistern water, and that is saying a great
deal for Texas lime water—more than
many of your physicians would
say of your good freestone water of Geor
gia. Mr. M. was truly unfortunate in
meeting with chills. “ Every place I was
at, summer or winter, some one was
having chills.” What does he mean by
place? Was it Eastern, or any other di
vision of the State, and if so, how leng
did he remain to find a case, or was it
every family? The latter cannot be true.
This is an old, settled part of Texas, and
has a heavy population, and not a gise of
chills do I know of in my neighborhood.
Last Friday, I went eighteen miles to a
small village, where a quarterly meeting
was held. I saw nor heard of a single
case while there, nor did I in going or re
turning. Con Mr. Muse say more for
Georgia?
ANOTHER CHICAGO FIRE.
Over Half a Mile of the City De
stroyed—Still Burning.
[By telegraph to The Constitution.]
Washington, July 14.—Telegrams re
ceived here to-night report another large
fire in Chicago, which destroyed over a
half mile of the Southern portion of the
city. It began on the South side, and so
far it has been confined to old rookeries,
but it is feared that it will extend to the
other side as the wind is blowing fresh
from the southwest. The First Baptist
Church has been devoured, and at this
time the flames have reached the Post-
office.
Assistance has been asked from all ad
joining towns.
Telegraphic communication is nearly
suspended.
Chicago, July 14—Another conflagra
tion is raging in the heart of city. It
broke out in 12th street, and at half past
six o’clock the flames had made almost
a clear sweep up to the comer Third av
enue and Polk street, burning up the
homes of thousands of people. At the
above comer the Fire Department com
menced the process of blowing up build
ings with gun powder, but the buildings
experimented with were small wooden
affairs, and the process would not have
any effect, making a quicker blaze of
them. The wind is blowing very fresh
from about south to southwest. The fire
is now on the verge of the fire line of our
big fire at Harrison street, west side of
Wabash avenue, is now in full blaze,
which takes many a stately building in
its course which'offered a haven of refuge
in the winter of 1871.
The fire is just immediately in rear of
the First Baptist Church, ana should that
structure go down, the fire will have a
clear sweep to northward and eastward,
and the Exposition building will, in all
likelihood, be the final prey of the fire,
and os that is immediately on the lake
shore, there will be nothing for the fire
to feed upon, provided we have the good
fortune not to have a change of the
wind.
Chicago, July 14—An immense black
pall of smoke is hanging over the ex
pected course of the fire, dropping its
advance messengers of cinders on the
roofs of the buildings. Although pri
vate citizens are doing their utmost to
S revent the fire getting a hold upon their
omes, yet the effort is as futile as for a
child to make the attempt. The rear of
the advancing furnace has the sound of
our old calamity, and nothing 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 en-
. deayoriug to saye their most valuable
1 stock. Wherever a vacant space north
of the fire can be found it is at once filled
with goods of all descriptions and va
rieties. Men, women and children are
doing all they can to save their little all,
and bring it to s me 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 pecuni
ary loss we will have to mourn the loss of
lives. It is next to impossible for a fire
of this magnitude and fury, and burning
through as closely settled district as this,
without 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; consequently therq 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 east
BEECHER SPEAKS.
Letter from the Pastor
Plymouth Church—An Inves
tigating Committee
in Session.
AN
of
An Ox Thief Pleads for a Thrashing
After the Good old Style.
A negro man, Lam Barney by name,
was employed on the plantation of Mr.
John Buchanan, in Russell county, Ala.
He drove a two-ox-wagon to Columbus
and concluded he would dispose of his
team and “vamoose” with the proceeds.
The property belonged to Mr. Buchannan.
Lam’s action created suspicion and he
was arrested. A neighbor of Mr. Bu
channan arrived next morning and iden
tified the property, as he was well ac
quainted with the team. Lam begged
Mr. Buchannan not to prosecute him,
but give him two hundred lashes instead.
Mr. Buchannan consented, provided Lam
would get a colored man to inflict the
punishment Lam got his darkey, who,
with a buggy trace, commenced his work
in earnest, making every blow tell. Be
fore a quarter of the blows bad been in
flicted, Air. Buchannan, moved by com-
passion, had to bes the whipper to desist.
He did so with reluctance. Lam will sin
no more.—Columbus Enquirer.
The Courier-Journal’s Crop Report.
Louisville, July 13.—The Courier-
Journal publishes the crop report from
all parts of the State for three months
past. In Southern and Western Kentucky
not enough rain has fallen at anyone time
to dry the dust The crops are almost
I do not say tliat there are no entirely destroyed, and even with an
cases of chills in Texas, but I do say, af
ter a residence of fourteen years! the
health of Texas surpasses that of Ala
bama or Mississippi; and that we have a
great deal less of chills than either of
those States. I was too young when I
left Georgia to speak of her, but my ear
liest recollection carries me back to a
long attack of fever, such as I never had
in Alabama, Mississippi or Texas, nor
any of my family.
“It is one of the mo6t extreme countries
in the world; too hot or too cold." Now
is this true ? The highest point that I
have noticed has been 95 degrees in sum
mer and 19 degrees in winter above zero.
My thermometer hangs on my gallery.
Is there not greater extremes in Geor
gia?
“The uncertainty of crops is another
great barrier in the way—a good crop-
then from three to five years before you
make another.” Admit it; but what is a
good crop for Texas ? From one to one
and a half bales cotton to the acre, and
com in proportion. Now a failure of a
good crop leaves us half to three-fourths
of a bale of cotton to the acre. With all
the drawbacks resulting from droughts,
caterpillar, etc., does Georgia do half so
well ? It is true of the West, that occa
sionally they are visited with the grass
hopper, but never on the Brazos.
Mr. M. notices
the famous “screw worm."
abundance of rain henceforth they can
not be saved. Of tobacco there will be
scarcely any crop. Com and oats are
very small, but the wheat is the crop for
many years.
Much destitution already reported, and
the Governor has been petitioned to con
vene the Legislature for the purpose of
devising some method of relief.
Rains have fallen in Eastern and Cen
tral Kentucky during the last two days,
but too late to afford much relief. In
the meantime distress and actual cases of
starvation are reported.
The Orangemen.
New York, July 12.—To-day was
celebrated by the Orangemen of this city
and vicinity in a very quiet manner.
Twelve Lodges, numbering about one
thousand men, assembled at their head
quarters in Fourth .avenue and marched
to the chirch o£,tl}eHoly Trinity, where
an apprebriate sermon was preached to
thembyRev. Dr. Stephen H. Tyng, Jr.,
who reviewed, the occasion of their cele
bration, and advised them to beware of
all party dissensions and difficulties and
unite in a universal brotherhood. The
procession dispersed on leaving the
church. During the march the streets
and windows were thronged with spec
tators. Everything passed off in a quiet
and peaceable manner.
Air. Beecher has at length broken si
lence in reference to the charges made by
Air. Tilton in a manner that will com
mend itself to all men, inasmuch as he
has taken" the bold and manly course of
asking for “arwimpartial and thorough
examination dPall sources of evidence”
relation -to the scandal. It will
be seen, also, by. the correspond
ence given below that this action was
taken very promptly after the pub
lication of the letter of Mr. Tilton. On
Tuesday last a letter was addressed
to the Examining Committee of Ply
mouth Church, stating that he had re
quested certain gentlemen, members of
Uie church and of the society, to make a
thorough and detailed examination into
the “rumors, insinuations, or charges
made respecting his conduct,” and asked
them, if they approved of the selection,
to add their official appointment to his
personal request.
Brooklyn, June 27,1874
Gentlemen:—In the present state of
the public feeling, I owe it to my friends,
and to the church and society over
which I am pastor, to have some
proper investigation made of the rumors,
insinuations, or charges made respecting
my conduct, as compromised by the
late publication made by Air. Tilton.
I have thought that both the church
and society sliould be represented, and
I take the liberty of asking the following
gentlemen to serve in this inquiry, and to
do that which truth and justice may re
quire. I beg that each of the gentlemen
named will consider this letter as if it had
been separately and personally sent to
him, namely:
From the Church—Henry W. Sage,
Augustus Storrs, Henry AI. Cleveland.
From the Society—Horace B. Claflin,
John Winslow, S. T. White.
I desire you, when you have satisfied
yourselves by an impartial and thorough
examination of all sources of evidence,
to communicate to the Examining Com
mittee or to the church such action as
may then seem to you right and wise.
Henry Ward Beecher.
This action was approved by the Ex
amining Committee of the church, and
the gentlemen named were formally
authorized to act as a committee Ofl It*
behalf, and report the result of their
inquiry for its information and further
action. The Congregationalist lately
suggested that the charges against Mr.
Beecher should be referred for examina
tion to several distinguished men in dif
ferent parts of the country. But Mr.
Beecher seems to have thought that the
matter might more appropriately be re
ferred to members of his own church and
society, whose interest in the purity of his
ministry would make them do their work
thoroughly and impartially; and who,
having been chosen to official trusts by
their fellow members, would especially
command their confidence.
Mr. Tilton’s publication, it will be re
membered, was made on Thursday, June
25. Air. Beecher, coming to town from
Peekskill, Friday, concluded his usual
prayer meeting, and on Saturday, the
27tli, wrote the above letter, asking his
church to investigate the matter.
The committee has commenced its
work and will prosecute it to the earliest
possible completion.—New York Herald.
SUMMARY OF STATE NEWS.
enterprising
BARBER.
NEGRO
Edward J. Roye’s Career in Africa
and Elsewhere—How a Terre
Haute Barber Became Presi
dent of. and the Richest
Man in Liberia.
Many of our older residents? say of
twenty years ago, will remember an en
terprising and very industrious barber,
whose name was Edward J. Rove* How
long he lived in Terra Haute the writer
does not know; with his career in Africa
and elsewhere I am familiar. In making
his first trip to Africa he took his goods
out on freight, he himself being a pas-
sen«rer The entire value of his invoice
was’not over 83,000. His keen foresight
soon proved to him that the merchants
of Western Africa seldom, if ever, ex
hibited any of the articles called polite
ness. Fortunately he was well supplied
with it, and to this day people tell about
spending money with him for things they
had little or no use for. In less than
eighteen months from the time he sailed
from New York he was back with six
thousand dollars’ worth of oil, dye-w-ood,
ivory, and gold-dust. Spending but little
time in shaking hands and telling stories,
he chartered half a brig in company with
a white man, and about the time his
friends in Africa looked for a letter from
him he anchored his brig in the bay of
Monrovia, laden with a good cargo,
which was at this moment saleable at his
own rates. This was the beginning of
the career in Africa of the most remark
able man, in many respects, the little
black Republic ever had within her bor
ders. Following the tidal wave of his
.rood luck, he put off to England, in the
monthly steamer, where he purchased
English goods, which, in many instances,
are manufactured expressly to suit the
African market—goods of peculiar make
up and color, known only to merchants
dealing with Africa. The point Royc
made in all that move was this: he could
go anywhere where the English held the
trade and furnish both' kinds of goods—
English and American—something no
other American ever did. Crossing from
England to America he made the ac
quaintance of the house of Phelps.
Dodge & Co., of New York city, with
whom lie deposited a sum of money, and
by whom he was introduced among first-
class merchants, which resulted in his
purchasing a vessel and loading her for
Liberia, leayiqg behind him a reputation
and money enough to load a vessel in his
absence.
JOHN ALEXANDER.
The Career of a Fast Young Man
Terminates in His Being Shot by
a Vigilant Committee in Texas
—Robbed of the Virtue of
His AVife, He Becomes
an Outcast and a
Thief.
Talbotton.—Talbotton is buggy rid
ing and dancing in honor of the com
mencement. Rev. V. E. Mangethas
been re-elected by the trustees to the
--TT-. . = Presidency of LeVert College. Ane-
through State street have all been burnt,' gjQ living near Talbotton has invented
nnron roiroa hilt QQ tllO linOQ fin ° . j • ® • J
some forty wires, but as the lines on t an( j now manufacturing a wooden rope.
Canal street are out of all possible dan- jj e makes it out of small hickories,
ger, there will be no interruption of tele- -
graphic communication.
The fire has burnt over so far about a
half mile in length and some four blocks
in width, and although the explosion of
gunpowder is still heard every little
while, there is little hopes of staying the
fire short of the limits given above.
Latest.—The tire broke out at the
comer of Twelfth and Harrison streets,
and has now swept to the comer or Har
rison and Lake streets.
The Post-office has been destroyed, but
the contents were saved.
The Gardiner and Alatteson houses are
in danger. ?
The firemen have no control over the
flames.
The excitement istntonsc.
Burial of Governor Caldwell,
v
Raleigh, July 13.—The remains of
Gov. Caldwell were brought here from
Hillsboro, Sunday night, and remained in
state at the capitol throughout to-day.
They will be carried to Morgantown, his
residence, to-morrow for interment.
Delegations of citizens, officials and
military will accompany them.
Lieutenant-Governor Bragdon has as
sumed his duties of the office of Gov
ernor.
A LIVELY FIGHT.
A Party of Farmers do some fancy
Carving while Returning Home.
[By Telegraph to the Constitution.]
Toledo, July 13.—A party of 8 or 9
farmers, mostly Germans, living in Oregon
township, five miles south of this place,
got into a fight on their way home from
a saloon where they had spent the day.
Alichael Smith was* stabbed and killed.
John Simmons mortally wounded, and
all the others were more or less injured
by knife thrusts. It seems that a feud
had existed for sometime between several
of the parties, a number of whom bad
been arrested.
TILTON’S IRE UP AGAIN.
Some More Letters Threatened.
[By Telegraph to The Constitution.]
Brooklyn, July 13.—Theodore Tilton,
incensed at the publication of Beecher’s
letter, in which he accepts the challenge,
lias published a note to the investigating
committee asserting that he lessened the
force of some facts and withheld others
when before the committee last week at
the suggestion of its counsel, and now
promising to give a full detailed account
of the facts in the case under oath as
soon as he can prepare it
Three Persons Killed by Lightning.
beating and twisting them together. He
sells 30 feet for 25 cents. A gentleman
near Prattsburg has one on his well, and
he says it works admirably.—Standard.
The young Talbotton man who took
kiB sweetheart out into the front yard to
see the comet, last week, hopes to be
able to leave his room by Sunday. It
happened that her papa wanted to see
the comet also, and he followed them
out. The young man, in the exuber
ance of his astronomical feelings had put
one arm around her, and was just direct
ing her gaze to a point a few degrees
west of the north star, and about a quar
ter of an inch from the left hand comer
of his mustache, when papa gathered
him in the rear. The observations were
succeeded by a short hut decisive inter
view. A few moments later a very de-
moralized young man picked himself up
out of the ditch on the other side of the
fence, and thoughtful and painfully pur
sued his way homeward, while a very ex
cited middle aged gentleman assisted a
very subdued young lady back to the
house.
Cuthbert.—Matters are so dull in
Cutlibert that an occasional rabbit mean
ders through the principal street and
furnishes an exhilirating chase to mer
chants and clerks. A negro forger was
jailed in Cuthbert last week. His pro
pensity for playing off jokes by signing
other people’s names to sundry orders for
provisions was wbat got him into trouble.
The Rev. R. A. Mickle, of South
Carolina, has accepted an invitation to
supply the Presbyterian at Cuthbert made
vacant by the resignation of Rev. Mr.
Cozby more than a year since.—Appeal.
Thomasville.—Thomasville is about
to rival Cairo as a poultry mart. The
plaintive squeak of the tender spring
chickens is all that can be heard about
the streets. The new hotel is rapidly
progressing. Judge Moore of the
County Court, means business. Two
white men raised a sheep last week,
which did’nt belong to them, and before
they had got through digesting it, they
were both in the chain gang, where they
have been prevailed upon to remain for
thirty days.—Times.
Deaths.—Alexander Shaw, one of the
oldest citizens of Cuthbert, died sudden'
ly last Wednesday m^liL
THE OLD DOMINION.
Bridgeport, July 13.—During a thun
der storm Saturday the house of Levi
Harrison, in Trumbull, was struck by
lightning and Mr. Harrison, aged 27 years,
his wife and daughter, aged two years,
were killed. They were sitting*on ‘
featherbed at the time.
kLECTEb PRESIDENT 6P LIBERIA
The isolated colonists of Liberia had
not been accustomed to see a colored
man thus march up to the ladder of sue
cess, therefore all eyes were turned to
ward him—many with jealousy and some
with hatred.
The poorer class, who had been often
deceived in the election of government
officials, broke loose from both the old
parties and elected this man, and now that
wealth lay in his path, and honors on bare
shoulders upon him, the idea occurred io
him to get married. At the house of ex-
Govemor Hicks, where he often dined,
was the adopted daughter of the Govern
or, the pretty, brown-faced Hannah,
without kith or kin in the world. So
in his business-like manner, he courted
her three weeks and married her. This,
too, was another wise hit, for Hannah was
born in Liberia, and could speak four or
five of the native languages, which is
half of the battle in trading. Leaving
his wife to manage home affairs, he bought
an English vessel and cargo out and out.
made his first trip to the Gold Coast,
where the Ashantee war had just been
fought This was another twenty thous
and stroke in less than thirty-four months.
Returning, he landed at home in Monro
via, and sent vessel and cargo to England
for sale, and both sold well.
SENATOR AND CHIEF JUSTICE.
J. J. Roberts, the first President, and
now the sixth one, has been a life-long
enemy of Mr. Roye, and the feeling was
entirely mutual between them. Mr.
Roye was three times nominated and de
feated for the Presidency before he suc
ceeded in taking the chair. He was also
Senator and Chief Justice of the republic.
In there positions the worst enemies
could find no fault An examination of
his record as Chief Justice will show that
he knew how to do something else beside
monev-moking and money-keeping. His
plan of laying a railroad to the interior,
in order that the vast productions of that
region, much of which now goes to
waste, might be used for the benefit of
the people, was, and is now, the leading
want of the republic. But there are
fogies and sore-heads in Liberia who
would sink the whole traffic rather than
men who came there later than
themselves rise in the estimation of the
people.
IMPRISONMENT, ESCAPE AND DEATH.
Mr. Roye was elected President in 1868,
the term at that time being two years!
His party being strongly in the ascen
dency, thought they could hold his seat
without an election; they believed that
one hundred and twenty honest voters
could be obtained before the people,
most of whom cannot read or write, for
signing that act. Both he and all the
heads of departments were imprisened
for usurpation; he, remaining several
weeks in jail, made his escape, and, in
attempting to get to a British steamer
then lying in the Bay of Monorovia, lie
was drowned. The body was recovered
and delivered to his family and friends,
and decently buried under the waving
palm trees in his lot in Evergreen Ceme
tery. The Government confiscated some
of his property, and did many little
things common in all places under great
excitement.
Mr. Roye was the wealthiest man
Liberia, and his family will not want un
less they become extraordinarily extrava
gant. Thus ended the life of a black
man that proved, at least, that a negro
can make money and keep it; that he
can aspire to office and get it, and be
come too ambitious, like as other men.—
Terre Haute Express._
« EMOTIONAL INSANITY.”
A Military Reception to the Gover<
nor.
In the recent dispatches from the Ii».
dian nation, the particulars of the shoot
ing of this young man by a vigilant com-
mittee was given. He was there living
under an assumed name, but from a reli
able source, and in covcrsation with a
prominent citizen of Moberiy, Mo., a
Times reporter learned the particulars of
his death and some of the facts o: his
early life.
At the time of the breaking out of the
war he was living in Monroe county,
Missouri, and was engaged in fanning!
Being of a good family, he was looked
upon as a promising young man, gener
ous to a fault, and as brave as a lion.
The state of affairs then existing in
his county, afforded to him the opportu-
nity he ’had longed for, of choosing
the reckless, dare-devil life which his ini
pulsive nature had always craved, and be
took to the hush. lie was mixed up in
number of daring acts daring the war,
and at one time being bantered by a com
rade, the two charged through the streets
of Paris, Monroe county, Mo., there
being then nearly a regiment of Federal
roops stationed there.
After the war lie settled in the same
county, and was married to a Miss Mollic
Matthews, of Randolph countv. When
the now prosperous little city o*f Moberlv
opened such encouraging opportunities
for business, Alexander moved there and
commenced the business of saloon keep
ing. For a time he was liappv, or appa
rently so, having a loving wife, a sweet
little babe, and a veiy lucrative business.
But at hist chaos came in the form of a
wealthy and prominent citizen, and now
an official of the city of Moberiy, who
reduced the wife and made an outcast of
the husband. After a separation from
his wife he seemed to grow more and
more reckless, and after being the princi
pal in one or two cutting and shooting
scrapes, in one of which he cut a voung
man named Jeffries near to death, he be
came a wanderer. He was frequent
ly heard from in different parts
of the State, first in Kansas City
and then in some other place remote
from the one lie would be forced to flee,
until in the last extremity he migrated to
the land of long horns, where lie has just,
been summarily dealt with by a vigilant
committee, being caught in the act of
horse-Stealing. He was shot down with
out a moment’s warning, and had not a
chance given him to compromise or ask
the forgiveness of that Being whom he
had defied and wronged, aud while In
fills a felon’s grave in that far-off State
where people take the law into their own
hands and deal out justice extravagantly
and inconsistently, his wife now plies the
] irofession of a prostitute in this city. A
1 fill record of the deeds and life of this
once promising young man would occupy
more space than wo con devote to it; but,
to point the moral to adorn the tale, it
it shows that slow and inevitable suicide
of a man sunk deep into the fathomless
depths of dissipation and crime seeking
that bourne as the only resource of relief,
and goaded by the thought of a pure and
once loved wife, driven even from the so
ciety of relatives and friends into a pitti-
less world to earn her bread by selling
her soul. He has at last found his fate
at the hands of a class of men who neither
pity nor forgive.
“ONE MORE UNFORTUNATE.”
Another Instance of Woman’aWeak-
ness and Man’s Depravity.
A young woman died in this city night
before last under circumstances of a most
painful character, which bring the deep
est reproach upon a man who moves in
good society, is the lieadjof a respectable
family, and is regarded as a man of worth
and respectability. The girl in question
was poor, and that was probably her worst
fault. Sometime since she hired herself to
work in a family whose residence is in a
neighboring town. She was then about fif
teen years of age. AVUiile thus employed
the head of the family, who should have
been her guardian and the protector of
her honor, set about to ruin her, sind so
well did he ply his nefarious purpose,
that the girl fell—
“Fell like a snow-flake, from heaven to heli"’
to be henceforth a disgraced creature, the
scorn and contumely of her sex, or die.
She died. In giving birth to the illegit
imate offspring of her seducer, she
yielded up her own life, and yesterday a
pauper coffin was assigned, large enough
to hold her and her dead babe, and all of
her that was sullied and debased was laid
out of sight forever.
Perhaps the man who wrought her ruin
may console himself with the thought that
the dead speak not; yet his name!! which
is known, is already coupled with infamy
that no act of his can wipe out. That
unmarked grave in the “Potter’s Field”
will be a perpetual monument of Lis
shame, which is greater far than that of
the poor handful of dust that has been
laid there away from the scorn and con
tempt of an uncharitable world.—J/atct*
Telegraph.
THE RESERVOIR DISASTER.
The Fields and Valleys Swept.
A Woman Shoots her Husband, Cuts
one of her Children with a
Razor, and Pitchforks
Another.
[By telegraph to The Constitution.]
Fortress Monroe, July 13.—Gov.
James L. Kemper paid a visit to the
Fortress this evening, and was received
with a salute from the water battery,
after which he reviewed and inspected
the troops of the garrison. He was ac
companied by General William Malone,
Colonel John M. Robinson and a num
ber of distinguished friends. A large
audience was in attendance to witness
the review and get a look at the Governor.
The ceremonies were pleasant and satis-
factery and closed with a dress parade.
[By telegraph to The Constitution.]
McConnelsburg, Pa., July 13.—Early
yesterday morning Mrs. John Moats, re
siding about ten miles south of this place,
while laboring under a state of mental
aberration, seized a gun and while her
husband was still sleeping shot and
killed him; she then, with a razor, in
flicted horrible wounds on the head and
neck of one of her children, and with
a pitchfork almost killed another child,
which is still in a critical condition.
The total assessed valuation of New
York City for 1874, (real and personal) is
$881,547,995.
]By Telegraph to the Constitution.]
Springfield, July 13.—The details of
the flood caused by the bursting of a fac
tory reservoir at Middletown, shows that
the water swept over houses, barns anil
roads, causing great damage to nearly ail
the valley residents in the vicinity. Ches
ter suffered more or less damage to farms
and gardens. Four bridges were carried
off, to replace which will cost several
thousand dollars. No loss of life is re
ported.
Springfield, July 13.—An immense
drive of logs in the Connecticut River
at Turner’s Falls gave way at Northficld.
The bridge is thought to be in great dan-
ger.
In addition to the loss bv the destruc
tion of bridges and washing out of the
track, that by the interruption of busi
ness will be very heavy. The mills of
Church Brothers is standing, but it is re
ported tliat the new mill is partly under
mined. A roll-house and barn belonging
to them was carried away with their con
tents. Several other smaller mills, barns
and houses, were carried away. The
highway between Blush Hollow and
Andlefield Switch was entirely oblite
rated, and six bridges, two of them pri
vate ones, were carried away. It is not
known at this time that any lives are
lost; but several narrow escapes from
drowning occurred. Three or four per
sons are reported as missing, hut it is
hardly probable that they are drowned.