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t >ul Beri.es—V"ol. 25, No. 122.
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HE CONSTITUTIONALIST
WEDHBBQAY, May 5, 1875.
According to the Berlin telegrams,
the Belgian note, in reply to that of
Prussia, has proved entirely satisfac
tory. Thus, for a moment at least, the
“ war-cloud in Europe ” has disap
peared.
lx seems that some of the stockhold
ers of the Central and Georgia Rail
ways are not satisfied with the pur
chase of the Western Alabama, and
have moved by injunction to stop it.
They have retained Gen. Toombs to
represent them.
The city government of Augusta is
certainly very prompt in meeting its
obligations. The notice of the City
Treasurer of the payment of certain
bonds, with interest, is another evi
dence, among many, of the solvency of
our municipality and its fidelity to its
trusts.
Tnn organization of an English So
ciety in Augusta is altogether com
mendable. We have all of seventy
five substantial citizens born on the fast
anchored isle, and can fully apppre
ciate the pleasure it must be to them
to meet together in fraternal union.
May the society live long and prosper.
m m
Mns. Tilton has petitioned Judge
Neilson to allow her to testify in the
Scandal Case. The Judge is compelled,
by the laws of New York, fcto deny her
a hearing before the Court. It seems
to be a great injustice that a husband
should be allowed to testify against his
wife, while the wife is forbidden to tes
tify against her husband. The exact
value of Mrs. Tilton’s testimony, in
the face of her systematic and repeated
falsehoods, can be better imagined than
described.
The superior ability in our Atlanta
letter this morning will amply excuse
its lengt h. Atlanta has been in a great
measure made by its newspapers. They
have been conducted with such trans
cendent ability since the war that the
town, through them, has become popu
lous, prosperous and wealthy. But for
all that they are not nor have been ap
preciated, as the “inner life” of them
depicted this morning amply shows.
The Charleston News and Courier
publishes a decree of Judge Reed au
thorizing the sale of the Savannah and
Charleston Railroad for $1,500,000. Of
this amount $1,100,000 will bo applied
to the payment of the six per cent,
mortgago guaranteed bonds [of 1856
and the seven per cent, first mortgage
bonds issued since the war (amounting
together to about a million dollars)
and to the payment of coupons, &c.
The remaining SIOO,OOO will be applied
to the payment of the funded interest
bonds (State guarantee) and the eight
per cent bonds and other claims. The
State, under the decree, will be re
sponsible for any amount of guaran
teed bonds not provided for out of the
proceeds of the sale.
We publish this morning additional
details of the great cyclone which pass
ed over Georgia Saturday afternoon,
opening with the conclusion of the
report of Mr. Carter. We gave yes
terday morning a comprehensive state
ment of the ravages of this terrible
whirlwind, and to-day continue the
story of the heart-rending details. The
heart runs out towards the poor suf
ferers. Harris county seems to be the
most unfortunate of all, for only forty
one days had elapsed since the cyclone
■of the 20th of March ravaged its plan
tations and killed and wounded many
of its people. Is it not enough to dis
courage a people less brave, less hope
ful, less trusting iu a Providence who
doeth ail things well? It only remains
for the fortunate to bind up the
wounds, to alleviate suffering, and to
do whatever else Christian charity dic
tates.
We think we deserve some credit for
the te'at iu journalism performed yes
terday aborning, It was some work to
gather the joews from twelve Georgia
counties in the track of the great cy
clone of Saturday, in one day, and to
publish eight columns of matter about
it. No such paper w.is ever before is
sued in the city of Augusta. Iu the re
port. were sixty pages of telegraphic
dispatches sent us from along the
line of iLhe Georgia Railroad. It is
gratifying to know that ojir efforts
were appreciated, Tor eight hundred
extra copies were sold to news agents,
besides the sales at the counter. The
day has come when all else than a live
newspaper drags and dies, and, appre
ciating this fact, the Constitutionaust
not only desire to rival but lead in
Southed 11 journalism. We have not yet,
however, put forth all our energy, for
the reason thatinuch rime has been de
voted sinee taking charge in the reor
ganization of the office.
We judge from the positiveness of
Beecher’s evidence that the cross ex
amination of the old man will occupy
about seven years. —Bochester Demo
crat.
II H' iaihj (Constitutionalist
THE WHITE-SOULED ELIZABETH.
She Addresses Judge Neilson and Puts
Theodore in the Pillory.
New Y'ork, May 4. —The Star, pub
lished by Joe Howard, an unqualified
advocate of Mr. Beecher, publishes the
following as the substance of Mrs. Til
ton’s communication to Judge Neilson:
“Sir : By the law’s peculiar phrase
I am debarred from appearing before
you as a witness because my husband
seeks a fortune at \he price of my dis
honor. I have a mother and several
children; I have no legacy to leave
those children save a spotless name.
Judge for yourself, ihen, whether
I can tamely submit to the
taunting lies of him who has
sworn to love and cherish me, and
whose selfish infamies have torn me
from hearth and home, blasted my fair
fame and turned me penniless upon
the charity of friends. I demand to
be heard by this jury, to whom has
been told the falsehood of my protec
tor. Surely if he can address the jury
for days, aided by cunning and unscru
pulous counsel, that he may ruin my
reputation, cast obloquy and reproach
upon my name, and make me the bye
word and scorn of all the world, I, too,
have a right to be heard ; I, too, have
a tale to tell; I, too, have a revelation
to make. Untaught by counsel, un
aided by friends, without the pecuni
ary stimulant of adoring companions,
I come alone and stand pleading
at the bar for justice. I ask no mercy—
I seek no favor. I simply ask that a
wronged wife and au injured womau
may be permitted to meet the calum
nies of a perjured man and faithless
husband. Midnight is daylight when
contrasted with liis treachery. The
father of lies is au angel of purity when
contrasted with this monumental hypo
crite. I seek no sensation. I crave no
publicity, but for my sake, for my
childrens’ sake and for the sake of
womanhood throughout the world, I
respectfully ask the precious boon of
self-defense against the beastly on
slaught of a brutal husband.” It is
not believed that the above is the exact
tenor of the document, though it may
be the spirit oE it.
Joe Howard Makes an Explanation.
Mr. Howard, editor of the Star, says
the document published in his paper
this morning is neither the text nor the
nature of Mrs. Tilton’s communication
to Judge Neilson; consequently the
character of the document remains a
mystery yet.
The Genuine Correspondence Between
Mrs. Tilton and Judge Neilson—Eliz
abeth Cannot Testily.
Brooklyn, May 3, 1875.
Judge Neilson : I ask tho privilege
from you for a few words in my own
benalf. I ftel very deeply the injustice
of iny position in the Jaw and before
the court no\f sitting, and while I have
understood and expected from the be
ginning Mr. Evans’ principle in the
matter, yet since your last decision I
have been so sensible of the power of
my enemies, that nry soul cries out be
fore you and the gentlemen of the jury
that they beware how, by a divided
verdict, they consign to my children a
false and irrevocable stain upon their
mother. For five years past I have
been the victim of circumstances most
cruel and unfortunate. Struggling
from time to time only for a place to
live honorably and truthfully, releaee
for some mouths frora the will by
whose power unconsciously I crimi
nated myself again and again, I de
clare solemnly before you, without fear
of man and by faith iu God, that I am
innocent of the crimes against me. I
would like to tell my whole sad story
truthfully ; to acknowledge falsehoods
wrung from me by compulsion ; though
at the same time I am unwilling to re
veal the secret of my married life,
which only the vital importance of my
position makes necessary. I assume
the entire responsibility of this request,
unknown to friend or counsel of either
side, and await your Honor’s honor
able decision with gieat respect.
Elizabeth It. Tilton.
The Judge’s Reply.
Chambers of the City Court, )
Brooklyn, N. Y., May 3d, 1875. j
Mrs. Tilton —l am directed by Chief
Judge Neilson to return your letter, as
it cannot be read in court; also, to
state that, in civil cases, counsel have
the right to refrain from calling par
ticular witnesses, however competent,
and that neither the court nor the
client can interfere with the exercise
of that right. The Judge also instructs
me to say that the question whether
you could be a witness stands on
quite another ground from that
considered. When your husband
was called and sworn he was a compe
tent witness to testify in his own be
half against a third persoD, a defend
ant, and while tho policy of the law
was to some extent involved, there was
no express statute in the way, but the
statute of May 10, 1867, expressly de
clares the wife to be incompetent as a
witness for or agaiDst the husband.
Yours, respectfully,
(Signed) Geo. W. Knaebel,
Clerk City Couit.
CIVIL RIGHTS.
Charges to Grand .Juries in North
Carolina and Texas.
Wilmington, May 4.—Judge Brooks,
United Stutes District Court, in charg
ing the grand jury to-day, decided that
the Civil Rights bill in its criminal as
pect, which was the only shape in which
it could come before the grand jury,
was unconstitutional and void.
New Orleans, May 4.—Judge Mor
riels, of United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Texas, in
his charge to the grand jury to-day,
reviewed the Civil Rights law and ex
pressed the opinion that all persons
have a legal right to have board and
lodging at inns, transportation on
steamers and railroads or stages, and
entrance in theatres. While they
do not thereby acquire any social
rights to hold that a conduc
tor of a railroad cannot assign
a special car to ladies and chil
dren and their attendants; to the ex
clusion of all others, provided the
other passengers are furnished with
other cars with all neoessary facilities
for traveling would, he says, be to stab
social rights, privileges and immuni
ties ; therefore, his view of the aot Is
that it was not intended to affect social
rights through civil rights. In con
clusion the Judge said that if it should
be made to appear that any inn keep
ers, manager of theatre or transporta
tion had refused proper facilities to
any one, on account of race, color or
previous condition of servitude, the
grand jury would have authority to
find a true bill again.it such person.
Hudson, N. Y., May 4. —Wesley Van
Dusen, a wealthy fanner of this county,
killed his mother and himself.
St. Catharine, Mey I.—Welland Ca
nal is open.
AUGUSTA. GA., WEDNESDAY MORNING. MAY 5. 1875.
FOREIGN.
The Pope Sick—Gold From Africa—
The Colliery Strike Collapsing—A
Terrible Mutiny.
Rome, May 4.—The Pope is again in
a weak state and under the treatment
of his physicians.
Calcutta, May 4.-.—The cholera has
abated in the province of Oude.
London, May 4. — The bark Rose
Brae, from Galveston, and bound for
Liverpool, before reported lost, struck
an ice berg nnd sunk.
Sir John Holker, Solicitor General,
will soon be elevated to the bench, vice
Judge Piggott, deceased.
The steamer Africanus, from the
Cape of Good Hope, brought $50,000
in gold from the diggings, the largest
shipment ever sent from South Africa.
Ono nugget weighed nine pounds.
There are strong symptoms of a
collapse of the strike in South Wales.
Sixty miners have returned to work,
on masters’ terms, in one colliery.—
There were three additional deaths by
the Bunker Hill disaster.
Berne, May 4. — Representatives of
States belonging to the Postal Union
ratified the treaty. France signed it,
subject to the consent of the Assembly.
Paris, May 4. —Minister Dufauro has
drawn up regulations for the election
or a Senate, members to receive the
same salary as Deputies.
London, May 4. — The schooner Jef
ferson Borden, Patterson, master, sailed
from New Orleans March sth for Lon
don. When eighteen days from the
former port a mutiny broke out. Cap
tain Patterson and his officers fought
the men with revolvers and knives.
After a terrible struggle, in which the
first and second mates were killed, the
Captain succeeded in disabling and se
curing all the men who resisted. He
hailed passing vessels and obtained
sufficient hands to work tho ship, and
proceeded on his voyage to London.
The mutineers seized the opportunity
to carry out their plot when on the
watch with the first mate and a boy. The
latter was gagged. The men struck
the first mate from behind and frac
tured his skull. The second mate,
coming to tue rescue, was seized and
thrown overboard alive. Tho boy
meanwhile got free and alarmed Capt.
Patterson, who came up from the cabin
with two revolvers and began firing
with effect. One mutineer received
seven bullets; another was wounded
in the stomach ; and one who was re
ported dying may live until the vessel
reaches London.
Disasters to the Provision Crop-The
Belgium Note.
London, May 4.—The Mark Lane
Express, of this week, says during
April there have been sharp night
frosts and a short allowance of rain.
Unless there is more of the latter
forage will be scarce. Corn threatens
to be late whatever may be its bulk.
In France wheat has already suffered,
and rye still more so.
In Russia the sowers have actually
been beaten off by snow. Tho markets
generally show a decline of prices of
6d. to Is.
Rrussels, May 4. — ln the Chamber
of Representation M. Asprement Lin
den, Minister of Foreign Affairs, read
the reply of the Belgian Government
to the German note oil February 15th.
It denies that Belgium has declined
to c msider the German demand. The
question of fulfilling the obligation to
prevent subjects from disturbing neigh
boring countries applies not to Bel
gium alone, but to all States which re
gard It as their duty to watch over
peace When the Belgian Government
is apprized of tho steps taken in Ger
many and other countries to remedy
the deficiencies in their penal laws, it
will examine them iu their bear
ing on the customs, traditions
and liberties of Belgium with the
sincerest desire to co-operate In
the maintenance of good relations.
Belgium is determined to fulfil the
duties of a neutral State and to cul
tivate the friendship of Germany. M.
Asprement, after rending the note,
stated that investigation of the Duch
esne affair was in progress. He closed
with an appeal to the patriotism of all
parties.
Sporting News.
Nashville, May 4. — The Spring meet
ing of the Nashville Blood Horse Asso
ciation commenced to-day. The weather
was cold and cloudy, with drizzling
rain, up to noon, making the track
heavy. The attendance was very lim
ited. First race, Young America stakes
for two year old colts and fillies, half
mile dash—seven horses started. Won
by creed moor, beating Mediator,
Woodland, Ceylon, Calomel, Fark’s hr.
c. by Virgil out of Lark, and Dave
Saxon, in the order named; time, 5%.
Second race, Bruce stakes, sweepstakes
for three year olds, mile heats—five
horses started. Geo. Graham, 1 1;
Vicksburg, 2 2; Volcano, 33; Withers
& Shank’s b. f. by Lee Paul, dam by
Scythian 4, dis.; John Alcock’s eh. c.
Just Out, dis.; time, 1;54#, 1:54. Third
race, mile heats—Hozem, 3 11; Egypt,
12 2; Granger, 5 4 3; Fair Play, 2, dis.;
Jean Valjean, 43, dis. Time, l:s3ki,
1:54#, 1:09#.
Trial of au Ex-Priest.
Philadelphia, May 4. — The trial of
John W. Gerdemann, ex-priest of St.
Boniface’s Church, for embezzlement of
church funds, commenced yesterday.
The greater part of the day was taken
up with arguments of counsel. As the
accused and wife left the Court House
they were received with jeers from
some and cheers from others.
Minor Telegrams.
The Spencer investigation at Mobile
promises rich developments of the
Southern “ outrage ” business.
The Roman Catholic consecration
ceremonies, at Boston, yesterday, were
grand and imposing.
The following officers have been
elected by the Association of American
Medical Editors: President, Dr. Bell,
of New York; Vice-President, Dr.
Wood, of Philadelphia ; Secretary, Dr.
F. C. Davis, of Chicago.
Marine Disaster.
Boston, May 4.—The steamer AU
hanjbra, ashore at Cape Sable, was at
last aoeounts unloading cargo, which
was an [assorted one and valued
at about $50,000. She had on board
56 passengers and a crew of 32, in
cluding the officers, all of whom were
safely landed. The steamer rests upon
jocks, but It is thought she can be got
off with assistance of a tug, her own
pumps and submarine divers.
A Diplomatic Po'vTwovT
Washington, May 4.—Senor Antonio
Mantilla, who represented the Spanish
Republic here, and Minister Plenipo
tentiary and Envoy Extraordinary, to
day presented his credentials to the
President as representative of the
King of Spain. The usual congratu
latory addressee were made.
STORM KING!
Move of the Great Cyclone
RAVAGES IN ALABAMA AND GEORGIA
CHARTER, JEWELS AND FURNI
TURE OF A MASONIC LODGE
SCATTERED TO THE WINDS!
FflFther Descriptions by Constitution
alist Correspondents.
[Mr. John D. Carter’s Report Concluded.]
Some what under the wooded hill tha*-
breaks away from the eastern side o f
the ravine near Rutledge,whose descrip,
tion concluded my special from Coving
ton Monday night,and measurably thus
protected, stands the house of Mr. H.
W. Tomlin. Its roof was blown off,
trees around it were cut down and
several out-buildings and the fencing
were gone. The roof was carried a
distance of fifty yards, and the fore
wheels of a wagon parted from their
usual companions had found a high
place to spin in a tree top. Mrs. Tom
lin, Mrs. Hannah and Mrs. Crittenden
were in the house, but all escaped un
injured.
Furious Sweep.
From this hillside extends an open
field a good unbroken mile towards
the site occupied by the very pleasant
home of Mr. John Hill Davis. Emerging
from the woods, the cyclone burst upon
this unobstructed area and gathering
fury and power as it rushed heedlessly
along hardly paused for a twinkling to
sweep from the earth Mr. Davis’ house
that stood fair and open surrounded
by a few shade trees and a
young apple orchard on the eleva
ttxl point of the rising ground.-Hardly
a stone of its two rock chimneys was
left one upou another ; the edifice and
its out-houses, the fences and the trees,
wore all alike fearfully and completely
demolished. The only shrubbery un
damaged and remaining on the prem
ises are a half dozen low-set cedars
that mark the family burial ground.
A Brave Wife and Mother.
A buggy and carriage were taken up
and beaten about among the remnants
of the shade trees until they were
shivered and broken to atoms. Tho
cyclone struck the building on the shed
to the west, blew it iu aud then carried
away and separated the timbers of the
main edifice. There were three people
in the house, Mr. aud Mrs. Davis and
their little girl, Lillian, a golden haired
fair and beautiful blonde, asleep on her
trundle. When the crash came, the
mother ran and caught up her child,
and both were felled and covered by
debris together. Mrs. Davis extricated
herself from beneath the timbers, pull
ed out Lillian and then assisted her
husband to relieve himself of a heavy
sill. The latter is suffering with his
leg, aud Mrs. Davis has a terribly
crushed face and back, a bloody hem
orrhage constantly flowing from her |
nose. Liliian, who is remarkable for
her beauty, veiled by a profusion of
sunny locks that hang down to her
waist, was hurt in the hips and other
wise bruised. Her injuries were
thought to be more serious than they
have proven, as Monday she was walk
ing with hardly a perceptible effort.
Dwellings Demolished.
A miie beyond Mr. Davis, Mr. James
Harper had the west side of his house
blown out, when a largo Spanish oak
fell across it from west to east, break
ing three bedsteads, tranks, tables and
other furniture, and crushing in the
roof. He, his wife and three children
were in the room the tree fell into, but
neither one was harmed.
Mrs. Clifton’s home was located a
mile and a half further on, nestling in
a valley, aud to it, as to fancied se
curity, rushed several families living
'near by on the approach of the tem
pest. Thus there were thirteen per
sons under its roof ; and the building
was so blown there seemed hardly
space enough for one person, and yet
not ono of these was scratched.
Imprisoned Animals.
The house of Mr. William Crowley,
four miles further on, after the rav
ages of the tornado, bore the appear
ance of having been burnt. Four
horses were in a stable, and affrighted
by the roar of the winds, gathered in
one stall, across which fell" a big tree,
pinning all the animals closely in one
corner, but each was as gaily and
scatheless as ever when subsequently
released from their strange and very
close quarters.
Roll of Sufferers.
In the path of the cyclone, for eight
miles from Rutledge, were niauy other
more or less seriously damaged houses,
among which we may mention those of
Mr - Ben Walton, Mr. James Benton,
Mr. John Famborough, Mrs. Stallings,
Widow Brown, Messrs. Thomas and
Isaac Allen, Mr. Little, Mr. Reuben Al
man, old and young John Richardson.
Mr. Almau was badly hurt. The Calla
way’s Old Saw Mill place, seven miles
from Madison, was severely banged
about, four houses lying tumbled over.
How Rutledge Fared.
Iu Rutledge itsolf fuw houses were
blown down, but taking in its immedi
diate environs the number demolished
aud damaged will reach thirty. Iu the
town, the log-house of Mrs. Crittenden,
in which were herself and sick son,
was entirely prostrated, but neither
was hurt. Mr. W. S. Yining’s new
house, partly finished, was lifted ten
feet from its pillars. A red oak was
blown across the store-house of Mr. B.
A. J. Harden, and the gin-house of
Capt. D. M. Viniug, freight conductor,
was tumbled and its smokestack laid
low. flie only three ruined houses,
worthy of consideration, are Dr. Mont
gomery’s, Mr. John Stepps’ and the
Masonic Lodge.
This latter edifice, a large two story
wooden building on a somewhat ele
vated site in the southeastern corner
of Rutledge, was entirely blown down,
and to re-erect it would be equal to
constructing a perfectly new edifice.
The charter, Jewels and furniture of
Rutledge Lodge No. 40, F. A. M.,
of which Mr. B. B. Brown is Worship
ful Master, were blown entirely away.
The jewels have been recovered, but
nothing heard of the charter. A school
is held in the second story, and had
the cyclone not happened on Saturday,
as it did, the details of its ravages
would doubtless have been terribly
and dramatically intensified.
Of tho few two-story buildings in
Rutledge, there remain standing and
entirely uninjured the white two-story
residence of Mr. L. L. Chaney, the man
sion of Mr. R. B. Ethridge, and the
Baptist Church, the belfry of which
was not touched. It is wonderful that
where one-story buildings were de
stroyed, houses a story higher and
almost adjacent were ieft unharmed.
Caught Out Hunting.
Mr. W. H. Gregory, the courteous
Western Union telegraph operator at
Rutledge, and Mr. Thomas Rutledge,
had been out hunting Saturday after
noon, and on their return were met
by the cyclone in the woods just north
of the house of Mr. John Hill Davis,
the wreck of which has been men
tioned, at a distance of a mile and a
half northeast of Rutledge. Fortu
nately they were caught only in the
edge of the tornado. Almost before
they could conceive that a heavy storm
was approaching, leaves, twigs, tree
tops and an indescribable variety of
debris were flying over their heads,
huge giants of the forest were falling
and crashing around them, the sun
light was shut out by the
Dark Wings of the Overshadowing
Storm,
a:;d almost the blackness of night
curtained the earth, the whizzing and
roaring air was burdened with com
mingling sounds more deafening than
Niagara’s thunders, hot winds were
suffocating them as if the two young
men were inhaling the hot breath of
demons, and the swiftly moving tem
pest had dashed them from their feet
to the ground. Mr. Rutledge caught a
wiry pine sappling and clung with the
might of desperation to its base, while
Mr. Gregory embraced the bats of
three tough dogwoods and pulled him
self by an extraordinary exertion of
strength into a position where he
braced himself by getting his back
against another one of those deep
rooted and tenacious trees. Thus
clinging for dear life, the hunters re
sisted the terrible force of the passing
tempest. Their hunting dogs, a poin
ter and a dog of mixed breed, cowered
close to the ground by their masters
trembling and whining with fear aud
dread at the awful and convulsive
demonstrations of nature about them.
A miracle could scarcely appeal to our
faith more strongly than the statement
■that neither of these parties was in the
slightest degree damaged amidst this
frightful scene of destruction.
Mr. Joe Long was in his blacksmith
shop when the storm came, and Mr.
John Simmons was engaged in execut
ing some work on the building at the
time. Both men, too apprehensive to
remain inside, braved the danger of
the howling outerworld and held on
to tho first stout sapplings they could
reach. The door of the blacksmith
shop,
Wrung From Its Hinges,
was precipitated against Mr. Long’s
shoulder aud hurt him badly.
Mr. Henry Bostick was rolling some
flour aud provisions to the home of
Mr. Burruss, from a store in Rutledge,
when a big pine fell across the road in
front of him. He thought just then a
good time to pause, and mounted the
fence to get a view of the advancing
show T er. At his first glance from this
elevation, he found himself
Floating iu the Air
on a pile of rails, and has been unable
to remember exactly how it came
about or how many times he gyrated
before his rudder caught to windward
ofia friendly stump ami hold him safely
until the danger passed. The only one
missing from Rutledge is
Au Old Darkey,
who has been living at Maj. Ponder’s,
and had gone ouc to the woods huntinc:
that day. He has failed to come back,
and is thought to have been killed by
falling trees in the forest.
The course of the cyclone was diago
nally through Morgan county, proceed
ing onward from Rutledge in a north
easterly direction, and passing out into
Greene county at Mr. Tom Heads and
Mr. John Stovall’s.
Desolate -Camak,
so pitilessly devastated by the cyclone
of the 20th of March, was not in the
course of this tornado. The little vil
lage is still in ruins, a waste of desola
tion, with fow houses rebuilt, and these
serving more to bring out into relief
the marks of its terrible misfortune than
to cover up the wide-spread traces of
that ever to be remembered calamity.
The details of that catastrophe are yot
fresh iu the public memory, and recol
lections are vivid of the demolition of
the saw mill there, whose debris piled
up still remains, of the destruction of
the hotel, of the sweeping away of the
depot, of heavily freighted lumber cars
huiled from the railroad tracks, of
guano filled box cars loaded with tons
of fertilizers overturned and mashed as
in a collision, of groves uprooted and
fences carried off. How plainly and
with what rare clearness these appalling
scenes were recalled to the minds of its
inhabitants by the whistling winds,
threatening heavens and impending
dangers of that Saturday afternoon,
may be readily fancied. In the strong
blow that then prevailed the houses
that had withstood the shock of the
previous tornado shook and quivered
to their foundations, fences and trees
were rudely lifted, and the strong peo
ple, as well as 4
Weeping Women and Children,
crowded to the places of greatest safe
ty, and pale aud apprehensive prepared
to endure the reinfliction of the tor
tures, dangers and sufferings they had
so recently borne at the hands of the
dread storm king. How heavy was this
burden of woful anticipation that was
lifted from their hearts when the
clouds and winds passod away and the
dreaded visitation was not repeated,
words are hardly strong enough to por
tray.
The observations of your correspon
dent confirm the reports from other
sections of country than that visited
by me that
The Ravages of this Cyclone
do not fall short of those of the March
hurricane. Its track varies in width
from a quarter of a mile to a mile and
a half, the tornado expanding aud con
tracting as it bounded along on its path
of ruin. The material damage to houses
and homes in its track is vast; not a
few human lives have been lost, and
the casualties of a more or less serious
character are countless. Plantations
suffered Horn loss of fencing aud the
felling of trees; while the severe rains
overflowed streams aud the hard hail
storm beat down crops and scathed
fruit trees.
Kindly Friends.
Iu Morgan and Newton counties, as
in other counties, the victims of the
cyclone were promptly succored by
hosts of neighbors and friends. Hun
dreds of persons gathered Saturday
afternoon and early Sunday morning
along the track of the tornado, not as
idle and sentimental sympathizers, but
as tho energetic representatives .of a
liviDg charity and active philanthropy
which at once set to work to feed those
made destitute, to clothe those left
naked, to shelter the homeless,
to bind up the wounds of
the injured, to recover scattered
property, to replace fencing and repair
the waste and ravages of the dread
cyclone. Thesoene presented by these
hundreds of ready handed and earnest
yeomen united in this noble work was
A Picture Beautiful
in its simplicity and inspiring in its
lofty lessons. Such acts lift up human
ity to a higher plane than the dusty
road we usually plod along and they
surround the way of life with fragrant
airs and fields breathing sweetness like
fresh-mown meadows.
Coincidence.
It is not unworthy of remark that
this cyclone and the March hurricane
both occurred on Saturdays, pursued
nearly the same courses, and broke
upon the sections of the State at almost
precisely similar hours of the day.
Last Words.
This report cannot fitly close with
out an expression of acknowledgments
to the agents and conductors of trains
on the Georgia Road and its branches,
for information readily furnished to a
stranger, and to Mr. W. S. Vining, of
Rutledge, and Dr. E. V. Branham, of
Covington, and the genial Hawkins, of
the Covington Enterprise, for kindly
and important aid in making njy tour
along such portions of the trackof the
cyclone as-could be reached on so hur
ried a jaunt. At Covington the most
available service was admirably ren
dered by Miss Ella Dudley, the accom
plished telegraphic operator at that
point. The long special sent down
Monday* night was most successfully
wired by her expert manipulations,
under circumstances of unusual diffi
culty. Early iu the evening the dis
patch was begun to Augusta and
but a few pages had been trans
mitted when the lines refused to
work. The circuit# from Covington
to Augusta, via Atlanta and Macon,
was after trouble and loss of time es
tablished and the entire communication
was sent over the wires that long route.
The highly electrical condition of the
atmosphere resultant from the passage
of the cyclone and the prevalence of
rain with constauely playing lightning
during the night, rendered the-labo
rious task doubly burdensome and try
ing to a delicate organization unused to
night work and so great a demand for
physical strength. The noon of the
night had passed ere the fair operator
had finished the severe labor she had
so kindly and courteously assumed and
so faithfully and expertly performed.
J. D. C.
A Trip in the Track Near Madison.
[Correspondence or the Constitutionalist.]
Madison, Ga., May 4th, 1875.
On my return home last night from
the scene in 'part of destruction by the
storm of Saturday evening, your note
was handed me, but too late to comply
with your request, rind I now under
take to give you as best I can a de
scription of what I observed of the
tornado:
About 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon
it clouded up and threatened rain, and
soon so thick and dark was all .round
that the people became alarmed as to
what was going to happen. In half an
hour
The Winds Began to Blow,
and rapidly increased in violence, with
out any particular direction, twisting
and whirling about from every con
ceivable course. It was terrible in
deed. and at once reminded me of
what is commonly termed among sail
ors a “white squall.” Darkness set
in, and so great was its intensity at
one time that lamps were lit in some
of our business houses. Soon the rain
began to fall, and in torrents down it
came. Now, we are in the midst of it!
An uncommon roar is heard, similar,
somewhat, to the roaring of the surf
as it beats the sea shoro or distant
cannonading. With now and then
loud peals of thunder the lightning’s
flash, quick heavy and sharp. Thus it
continued, I suppose, for about the
space of one hour, when it cleared
away for awhile. Emerging from our
hiding places, as it were, we look
around and inquire, what’s the dam
age; anybody hurt? No damage as
far as we could learn in Madison, save
one dwelling house partly blown down,
but there must have been damage done
to the north of us, so terrible did the
storm appear in that direction. By
night the news comes of a tornado,
and of Rutledge destroyed, together
with many other reports, seemingly of
but little importance ; and finally, Sun
day morning, it all proves to be true.
Reports are confirmed, and more news
comes to us of a terrible destruction of
houses, barns, stables, gin houses,
fences, troes, forest timbers,
Everything Levelled to the Ground
in reach of the titorm. Many of the
citizens hurry to the places mentioned,
and return, telling of things too awful,
too terrible to relate—some saying they
wero afraid to relate what they had
seen and heard, so incredible would
the story appear. We gathered enough,
however, to convince us that it was
worth while goiug to see. So |on
Monday morning about 9 o’clock, in
company with P. W. Skiff, a jeweller
here, I left home with horse and
buggy, taking the road from Madison
leading in the direction of Salem, in
Clarke county. At three miles from
home no traces as yet save a few fence
rails scattered here and there. Hard
Labour Creek is in view,
Overflowing Itß Bankst
and spreading far back up the road.
It looks dangerous to venture in, but
in wo drive, and soon we are on dry
ground again. On for about a mile,
and noar to Robert Douglass’ Dlauta
tion, we meet Mr. Douglass and Mr.
Leak, who inform us wo had as well go
back, for the road is impassable for
miles. Not willing to turn back we in
quired another route and drove on.
Taking a by road to the left hand, we
pass Mr. Douglass’ place and inquired
for a plaee to cross Sandy Creek ; meet
some ladies on horseback inquiring the
way to Mr. Allrnand’s, who, it is ex
pected, is dying, he having been struck
by timbers and
Blown Out of His House
during the storm. Proceeding about one
mile we are brought to a halt. What’s
this ahead ? So leaving the horse and
buggy in. charge of Mr. Skiff, I take it
afoot ahead, when lo ! and behold, we
have arrived on the outskirts of the
Scene of Destruction.
Going some distance in the woods,
and trying to find a passage through,
I find it impossible to pursue my journey
in this direction farther ; so, retracing
my steps, I invite Mr. Skiff to go and
look at the destruction of heavy forest
timbers blown up by the roots, torn
and twisted to pieces in every direc
tion. Soon he returns to me, and ex
claims, “Ain’t it awful!” Now for
another course. So wo down fence and
drive through a corn field, passing
around the woods. Arriving at the far
edge we discover a dwelling house
standing undisturbed, but all around
it
Trees of Every Size Torn Up
by the roots and the stable torn down.
Here we inquire our way, and being
shown the route, drive on through the
cotton field down along the line where
the fence was which was now scattered
to the four winds. We arrive at the
bottom of a hill. Here stands a buggy
with no horse, stopped by an immense
ditch and creek. Well, that looks like
we’ll have to unhitch and take it
afoot. Mr. Skiff gets out, and
I undertake to steer across, but lo'
and behold It’s no use, I’m stuck, my
horse with fore feet up on the opposite
bank. Well, here’s at it; so jumping
into the stream, I hurriedly unhitch
while Mr. Skiff holds on to the horse’,
which by this time has tumbled down
into the mud. Wo are lucky—horse
loose from buggy, nothing broke, no
body hurt, horse all right. So taking
feed out, we leave the buggy where it
is to warn others not to try to cross
and take it a foot up the hill. Hitch
our horse near by to a sappling and
feed him and move on. Soon we ar
rive at Mr. Allmand’s place, meet sev
eral acquaintances, make known the
object of our visit, when they tell us of
terrible things that have happened.
They are neighbors of Mr. Ailmand
busily at work erecting a house for
him and his family to get into. In
quiring for Mr. Allmand’s, its about a
hundred yards over the fence. We
proceed onward and soon wo arrive at
the spot. A cooking stove with the
fire burning and meat frying out
doors under a small peach tree is the
first object suggestive of human hab
itation that we meet. Passing by we
come, to the
Ruins of a Dwelling,
on one side of which is a temporary
shed. Here we met several ladies and
Mr. Ailmand lying on a couch; so
taking a seat we begin a chat with our
wounded friend, who by the way, we
are happy to find better off than was
reported. Still he is badly hurt but not
seriously I think.
Mr. Ailmand, being Inclined to Talk,
gave us as well as he could how it was
about him aud his family. Said he; “I
never saw such a wiud in my life be
fore. My family and myself were in
the house, and my neighbor Butts was
with me. He and I both were trying
to keep the door shut when all at once
it was snatched from us and away it
went, and ain’t been seen-since. Dis
covering the roof was leaving, Mr.
Butts ran out and I started to follow.
I caught a glimpe of him as the
Wind Carried Him Whirling,
and soon it had me in like manner,
and landed me iigainsf yon stump
(showing us the stump) some two hun
dred yards oft Mr. Butts was against
that log just] beyond. I managed to
crawl to where he was and told him
I didn’t believe I could live three
minutes. At this time trees, fence
rails, timbers and so on were flying in
every direction.”
The train is here ; more to-morrow
G. N. D.
Greene County—“ Planting a Post to
Swing to.”
[Private Letter to an Augusta Gentleman ]
Penfielo, Ga., May 3, 1875.—1 have
just gotten home from a trip through
the course of the cyclone in this coun
ty. I can’t describe its destruction. It
is beyond the description of man. It
missed this place about four miles, and
through its course it left nothing—
neither houses, fences nor trees. At
Brightwell’s store, six are killed and
dying. Tne sills of liis store, forty feet
long by twelve inches square, were
blown fifty yards, and planted on their
ends six feet in the ground. Mr. As
bury is left without" a thing. These
people need help. Raise all you can
for them, and send it either to myself
or Maj. McWhorter. I will be down at
the May Convention. This letter is
written in a scattered way. You must
excuse it, for I am in a hurry to get off
to help all I can. I reckon the next
hurricane that comes van will plough
out the middles. I have plantod me a
post in an open lot to swing to.
In haste, J. L. B.
Its Ravages in Harris County.
[Special to the Atlanta Herald.]
Columbus, Ga., May 2, 1875.—Harris
county was visited with the fifth tor
nado since the 20th of March, on last
Saturday. The cyclone was terrible.
It swept everything before it, doing an
immense deal of damage, tearing down
houses, uprooting trees, scattering
fences aud killing people.
The fctorm, as first heard of bv us,
was blowing things away about "Cus
seta, Ala. The amount of damage it
did there we do not know. Coming
eastward, the “storm king” crossed the
Chattahoochee at Hale’s Ferry, and
dashing aside everything that opposed
his course, swept through Harris county
across Pine Mountain, and on. wo know
not where.
Upon entering the county it scat
tered the dwellings, outhouses, fences,
and everything else on Henry Williams’
place, wounding several of his people.
Going directly east it played havoc
with the farm of Henry E. Morse,
(better known as Hal. Morse) two miles
south of Whitesville. There is not a
house of any kind left on his place.
Six negroes were killed by the falling
timbers. Mrs. Morse is wounded, It is
feared, fatally, and several others of
the family slightly. After going about
a mile aud a half further east, John
Booker’s place was crossed and all his
tenants were scattered to the winds.
The report of the number of the killed
and wounded there is conflicting.
The widow Smith's, about a mile
further east, was the next place in the
path of the tornado. There was no
one killed there, but the list of wound
ed is large, and the amount of damage
is considerable.
W. C. Davis’ house, about three
quarters of a mile further, was the
next house that chanced to be in the
track of the wind storm. His house
was blowu down, his leg broke, his
wife’s leg broke, and three or four
children iujured.
Two mile’s further, and Judge
Spence’s place blocked its passage.
After beating against the house for a
while, it gathered unusual strength,
aud, hurling a tenement house from
its path, attacked the Baptisht Church,
which is on his place, and utterly de
molished it; in fact, “ one stone was
not 1-ft on another.” It then tackled
his dwelling house and blew one-half
of it away. Four negroes were killed
and six or seven wounded by the
falling of the building. Scattering fen
ces and ruining crops for about three
miles, it struck Murray & SDence’s
mill, ami did not leave a timber staid?
iug. Jourdan Reiley, the negro miller,
was killed, and three white men were
wounded.
Going up the creek about one mile,
it laid low the house of Pickens Mur
ray. He and his family were only saved
by leaving the house and taking ref
uge In the peach orchard. Still rushing
eastward it, after skipping over two
miles, struck Calvin Teel’s place, leav
ing not a building standing. Then,
crossing Pine Mountain, it changed Its
course by turning a little to the South,
aud commenced its ravages on Col.
James R. Mobley’s place. His gin house
and all his out houses were blown
down, and six negroes vrounded. This
is as far as I could follow it. If I get
any further information, I will write it
to you, G. w<
New Series—V 01. 3. No. 80
started near the Chattahoochee rive?
m Harris, and went through Talbot
The storm neared the recent tornado
and in one place followed it for five
miles. The loss of property is im
mense. Up to this evening it is ascer
tained that seventeen lives were lost
among them five whites. Hon. J M*
Mobley lost about $l5O. Tae people of
Goiumbus are giving their aid with
provisions and clothing. About thirty
nve persons were wounded, and a
of mules and cows killed
hiiwir ' ..^ ncea and houses were
anl *h nt re y awa y. and the crops
PnrtfL the r ,°u te are entlre ly destroyed.
Portions or houses were blown a dis
tance of fifteen miles. *
To the Rescue.
Conyers, Ga., May 3.—Great excite
ment prevails among our citizens on
account of the cyclone which passed
within a few miles of tli;a place on
Saturday last. Contributions are be
ing taken up to assist the afflicted. A
laige posse of citizens and ladies are
going out to replace fences and houses
and relieve the injured. The damage
is greater than at first supptiseiL More
aDon - J. Wood, Marshal.
Around West Point.
[Special to the Herald.]
West Point, May 3—A very destruc
tive hurricane passed one mile north
of West Point at 2p. m. yesterday. It
demolished all the outhouses on ex-
Mayor Reed s place. A large wagou
was picked up and carried across Chat
tahoochee River.
At Colliar’s farm, in Alabama, three
mues fiom the city, all the outhouses
destroyed and three negroes
idlled. The tornado came from the
west and passed on to the east.
Another Storm.
Another hurricane passed south of
here—ten miles—through Berlin Ala
destroying houses of all kinds on the
places of John Booker, where it seri
ously, if not fatally, wounded the wife
of the proprietor, and killed all his
mules ; P. G. Collins, where it wrecked
everything hut killed no one, and J. J.
Benton’s, where it tore do wn all the
outhouses and killed one negro.
' ; i- • J. M. W.
Through Henry and Clayton Counties
Pence Bails Blown Through Trees
j A Mother and Her Baby Blown
One Hundred Yards.
(Special Telegrams to the Herald.)
Griffin, Ga., May 3.—Saturday’s
storm was very destructive. From
MeConnel’s, a farmer in Clayton coun
ty, two miles from Jonesboro, it swept
down Cotton and Indian creeks
through Clayton aud Henry counties,’
crossing the road between McDonough
and Decatur, destroying every house
on a Mr. Johnson’s place, then on
Hightower’s and three other planta
tions, names not known, all torn up.
The last heard of the tornado it had
passed the Goedwyn place, in the di
rection of Covington. In one instance
a fence-rail was driven through a tree,
and rocks were driven into trees like
minnie balls. One child blown off has
not been found, and Mr. Johnson was
injured.
Later.
Mr. R H. Hightower, at Stdekbridge.
has his leg broken; Mrs. Livingstone
and her three months’, old baby were
blown one hundred yards, into a gully
The four-mule team of Cowan & Bro.’s
saw mill, at Whitesburg, were blown
helter-skelter, and Cowan w,s blown
seventy-five yards. Cowan had to cut
his team loose to get them from the
wagon. It is rumored that thirteen
persons were killed iu Harris county on
Stttiirdciy. j*
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
Regular Monthly Statement-Decrease
In April, $2,325,346.
Washington, D. C., May 1 —The nnh
lie debt statement, issued to-day, shows
PUWiC debtUUrinß
BESSES*::::::::: •gggSS
Total sl. 18,229,800 00
Debt Bearing Interest in Money.
Lawful money debt ... tu fi7a
Matured debt, *#££*£ $
Debt Beaming no Interest.
tender notes too yr* nn
Certificates of deposit ..W . X
Fractional currency 438 95'fiso no
Colnoe.tiflo.tes sllijw! SS
Total without interest ... $4331,353 00
Total interest $2,239,.-65,298 00
xotai interest t... 35,628,178 00
Cash in the Treasury.
cSi-Vnei $94,645,669 00
SpSl.TJeposit' h.id Sr. ‘■ C96 • S,S 00
demption of certificates of
deposit, as provided by
“ W 47,865,000 00
Total in Treasury $143,537,044 00
Debt Less Cash in the Treasury.
D^cmSe 6 SftiJf °°
tiio p&st month.. o 04? nn
Decrease since June 30, 1874 ll)778,809 00
Bonds Issued to Pacific Railroad Com
panies—lnterest Payable in Lawful
Money.
Bonds issued to Pacific Rail
road Companies, interest
payable in lawful money,
principal outstanding debt. $64.623 512 oft
Interest accrued and not yet ’
If st 11? ***** by United 1 i2 > 470 00
Interest repaid by trans- 2 ’ &H - 102 00
■ssK3 , I fe b y
the vmu* State, fT. 1 ? m
Decrease of the Negroes—Signifi
cant Facts,—Oliver Alexander Esq
Dancyville, givey us a singular and sig
nificant instance of the mortality among
the negro race. He states that in Dis
trict No. 2, of Haywood couniy, the
population of the two races is about
equal. Three years ago the negroes
started a cemetery at one of their
churches, where a majority of their
number who died since that time have
been buried. This cemetery now shows
one hundred and fifty graves. In the
same neighborhood is a cemetery
where nearly all the whites who died in
the same space of time and in the same
district are buried. They only number
eleven. This is a remarkable dispro
portion, and to our minds is somewhat
significant of a decline of the colored
race. Recent American medical jour
nals contain startling statistics show
ing the same state of things in many
of the Southern States. The decrease
in the colored race is beginning to be
perceptible, and without a change it
will be plainly distinguishable n an
other decade. Is it possible tbat the
negro is to share the fate of the North
American Indian ?— Brownsville States.
Why is a newspaper like a tooth
one of his own, and not be Dorr owing
hi neighbors.