Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

, V •* ,r,f»/ Of* ev--- M I ^mason J5Juljr(.2 'LTlTumrl '&&21 VOLUME XL Atlanta, Ga., Week Ending March 8, 1902 NUMBER ONE 15hQ Nemesis A TRUE TALE Or LOVE AMP CRIME IN EARLY SOUTHERN LIFE, BEFORE THE EXPORTATION OF THE INDIANS # « By WALTER REYNOLDS Written for Vhe Sonny Sooth Prologue HE time was seventy years, anti more, ago. The place was a town in middle Geor gia which has since become one of the state'3 most thriving cities. In a room of that city on a winter's night there were three young men. The furnish ings of the room and the hign bred bearing of the young men indicated that they belonged to the patri cian order of the south. One of the young men was standing at the fireplace, leaning against the mantei and watching his two companions who were seated at a table playing cards. The gold and notes before them showed that they were gambling apd for high stages. The pale face, compressed lips and me agitation, hardly restrained, of one of the card players told that he was los.ug heavily. The game progressed a short while and then the agitated player tossed his curds on the table with the exclama tion: "You have won again, and I am penni less. You have had the devil's own luck over since we began playing.” "Not luck,” retorted the other, as he reached to gather In the stakes, "but skill. Before you play again 1 would ad vise you to learn the game,” As he spoke In a Voice Indescribably sneering and irritating, a card dropped from the sleeve of the arm whose hand was busy with the goid and notes on me t o me. The fall of the card was noticed by' the loser, who sprang to his feet, crying: "Cheat!” The winner rose and hissed at his ac cuser the word: "Liar!” The loser sprang at the winner and a deadly struggle began between the two men, which was soon ended; by the fall, of the unsuccessful card player to the floor. A gaping wound in his throat from which the Hood spurted In steady jets showed that a knife had been driven home. The quarrel and combat was so sudden and unexpected that the third young man who was leaning against the mantel ‘■ad no time to interfere. As the wounded man fell, however, he sprang to his side and tried to stanch the blood. But the knife had been driven with savage force and almost instantly the man who had been'cheated at cards was also robbed of life. The third man was occupied with his wounded friend only a brief while, but when he rose the successful card player and murderer had disappeared, not for getting the gold and notes on the table, which represented the price of a human life. When the tragedy became known the next morning, a great sensation was caused. The slayer and his victim were members of leading families qqd the de tails, as related by the only witness, added to the excitement. The family of the slain man offered a large reward for the murderer and a close watch, was maintained by officers for months, but without avail. From the time the mur derer drove the knife home and fled into the winter night, no word of his where abouts or fate ever came to those inter ested In him. A pathetic feature of the tragedy was that the fugitive was betrothed to a beau tiful young woman whose faith in him re- Story and Famous Painting of Roosevelt’s Southern Ancestors “It <was the torture of Tantalus o'her again <with additions that made the agony more . exquisite than that endured by the man of mythology" malned unshaken. She refused to be lieve, .that -her . lover was -in the wrong and lived Arm in' the faith that he would return to clear himself of the charges against him and lead her to the altar. But her faith was vain. Death was the only bridegroom she ever knew. With the lapse of years, the tragedy be came only a. tradition, occasionally re counted by old men when they became garrulous concerning the events of their youth. Even conjecture concerning the fate of the murderer finally ceased. He was a member of a large family and as his brothers rose to eminence at the bar and in the pulpit, in politics' and in busi ness, the public .lost sight of the crime of the erring one In the luster which shone about the family name. Long ago the tragedy of that winter night became "only as a tale that is told.” ONE In 1830 nearly all that portion of Florida south of Jacksonville was a terra in cognita. Barring settlements at Tampa and at a few other points on the coast, the “Land of Flowers” was practically in the same condition as when discov ered by Ponce de Leon in search of that fabled fountain whose waters were to revivify the , body which had been enervated by the too strenuous dalliance which marked the court of the Hidalgos. The thriving town, the well kept orange groves, the pineapple and banana planta tions, the emerald truck farms, the great railway systems and the palatial resort hotels which mark the Florida of today, were still in the womb of the future. Even Plant and Flag'er—the men who Ware to work the-, transforma tion of the Peninsular State by the lav ish use of millions—were infants at their mothers’ breasts. In those days Florida was a sort of "No Man's Land” when once the small settlements that fringed the northern border and the east and west coasts were passed. Through the primeval forests of water oak and pine in their souther drapery of Spanish moss, the Seminoles roamed as yet but dimly conscious of the power of the “Great White Father” at Washington, and caring only for the au thority of their chiefs. Occasionally, a venturesome spirit, us ing the great trail made by the Indians in passing from northern Georgia on visits to their Seminole brethren, would, penetrate the interior of Florida and,- af ter months of absence, return with glow - ing stories of the beauties and wealth of the semi-tropic land. But his tales of • herds of deer too numerous to count and as yet Ignorant of the crack of the hunt er's rifle, of rivers and lakes teeming w!*ii every variety of fish, of beaches strewn with shells that were marvels of beauty, of hammocks that gleamed golden with the lemon and the orange, of great streams Which burst in full strength from the ground and, after flowing for some miles, suddenly disappeared, were regard ed as on a par with the recitals of Prester John or Baron Munchausen. To this "No Man's Land” in those days * C ontlnuod on loot POX* By Maude Heyward (Written for The Sunny South.) 'UT the year 1729 there came to this country from Glasgow, -Scotland, one James Bulloch, Esq., whose name was destined to become one of the' greatest in the history of Georgia, and of his de scendants, two especial ly were to occupy posi tions of great trust and honor, bestowed upon them by their country men. I refer to his son, the- Hon. Archibald Bulloch, first presi dent of Georgia, and of his great-great- great-grandson , Theodore Roosevelt, twenty-sixth president of the United States. Archibald BuEech. the only son of James Bulloch, Esq., and Jean Stobo, was born in South Carolina about 1729-90. Af ter having spent his early youth in Caro lina, he moved to Georgia and became thenceforth identified with the history «*f ’the colony and the state of Georgia. No one Rendered more efficient support to the colony, and no figure stands out w!th greater prominence during the . treacherous and dark .days that marked the- struggle for Independence of the in fant colonies of America than does that of Archibald Bulloch. He was a tower of strength, "his personal Integrity, his high sense , of honor, his patriotism, his admirable executive abilities, his honesty of purpose, his sturdy manhood, his un questioned courage and his enlarged views of the public good were invaluable in shaping the conduct and maintaining the dignity of the infant commonwealth.” Besides these strong and reliable quali ties. he seems to have been a man pos sessed f great modesty, utterly disre garding all ostentatious display of ex- ;.ecutive power. 5 This is particularly evidenced by h!a refusing to have a sentinel posted at his - door, the military courtesy which bad usually been paid to Governor Wright. In his i»te to Colonel McIntosh, commander of the continental battalion in Savannah, he "says: "I beg you will immediately or der the sentinel to be removed from my door; the grenadiers are already removed in consequence of my orders. I act for a free people, in whom I have an entire confidence and dependence, and would wish upon nil occasions to avoid ostenta tion.” Many were the honors that were heap ed upon the Hon. Archibald Bulloch—first he was elected speaker of the assembly on the 21st of April, 1772. He was four times elected a delegate to the continental congress—July 7, 1775; November 9, 1775; • February 2, 1776, and July 4, 1776. He was prevented from attending the congress of July 4, 1776, by official duties at home, otherwise his name would have gone into history as one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was elected president of the pro vincial congress July 4, 177$, and again chosen on February 22. 1776. The crowning glory of this life of un selfish duty to country and countrymen came on the 15th day of April, 1776, when Archibald Bullock was elected president and commander In chief of Georgia, and was invested with the unusual power "to take upon himself the whole execu tive power of government (virtually a dictator), calling to bis assistance not less than five persons of his own choos ing to consult and advise on every ur (ouih The famous painting in the Savannah library. Of Roosevelt’s Georgia ancestors gent occasion when a sufficient number of councilors cannot be convened to make a board.” He did not long hold those powers, as, before a year had passed, he died, drop ping in the harness of executive author ity, which he wielded with unsurpassed ability and brilliancy; he was revered and cherished by his native province; be loved and bemoaned by his people, who placed In him such trust and confidence as is rarely exhibited to any one. It was also President Bulloch's privilege to have the great honor of being the first man In Georgia to read The Declaration of Independence, which reached Savan nah the 10th of August, 1776, oyer a month from the time it wat signed in Phila delphia. Bulloch Children All Won Prominence President Bulloch married Mary De Veaux, and had four children—James Bulloch, Jr.. Jone Bulloch. Archibald Stobo Bulloch and William Bellinger Bul loch. Each of his sons occupied positions cf trust and prominence. James Bulloch, Jr., the eldest son. at the afce of 14, was made a captain in the Virginia state gar rison troops. He was one of the first members of the Society of the Cincinnati, and clerk of the superior and inferior courts of Georgia. Archibald Bulloch (the baby in his mother's lap in the above picture) was a justice of the inferior court and a prom inent, citizen of his dav. The little girl holding the fruit In her apron is Jane Bulloch, who married Jaihes Benjamin Maxwell. William Bellinger Bulloch, born after the president's death, was Upited States District attorney and United States Sen ator, mayor of Savannah and second vice president of the Georgia Historical So ciety. Janfes-Bullooh, Jr., eldest son of Presi dent Bulloch, left two sons, John Irvine and James Stepheas Bulloch. From John is descended the present Bulloch family of Savannah, Ga., and from James Ste phens President Theodore Roosevelj Is descended. The above picture is taken from the . original painting of President Archibald Bulloch and his family. It is owned by Dr. Joseph Gaston Bulloch, of the United States Indian school service, who Is now stationed in Cherokee, N. C., and is loaned by him to the Georgia. Historical Society, where It hangs In a conspicuous place on the wall of the reading room. It Is Interesting to note that President Roosevelt is descended from the boy to the left of President Bulloch in the pic ture. He was James Bulloch, Jr., and his son, James Stephens, married twice. Martha Bulloch, daughter of James Ste phens Bulloch by his second wife, Mar tha Stewart, married Theodore Roosevelt, S6e SUNNY SOUTH RECEIVES PRAISE FROM HIGH SOURCES I N presenting this first anniversary edition under the present management it is surely a pardonable pride to which The Sunny South has yielded in reproducing words of commendation and praise which cQncern it most intimately. Kindly words and those spoken in praise of good intentions and good accomplishments are welcome, however humble the source. But when the foremost men of the south—men among the leaders of the literary world as well as those at the head of state government—join in good wishes and high praise it is not unlikely that there is some strong reason for it. Not only from men who rule and men who write that words of praise have come to The Sunny South. Hundreds of its readers, who are among the best and most prominent citizens of the south, have written cordial letters concerning the progress of The Sunny South. The lack of space, however, forbids the publication of even a small part of these. Of a special interest are two letters on our desk—one from Joel Chandler Harris (Uncle Remus) and Harry Stillwell Edwards. They write of The Sunny South as follows: From Literary Lights JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS For a number of years I have had my eyes on The Sunny South as a pos sible ’ representative of what is the best feature of the literature produced by southern writers. I have said to nivself that at the proper time it would occur to the mind of some thoughtful person to take hold of this venerable publication with its traditions and to place it in line -with the best “of its kind." This has now been done. The changes which have been made in its appearance are radical, but they are after all the better. Ton are to be congratulated on preserving all that was good from the old Sunny South and adding thereto the features that were es sential to a modern literary week ly. Yours truly, JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS. HARRY STILWELL EDWARDS 1 am glad to see that The Sunny South is now at high water mark both as to abilitv and circulation. I spent an hour reading a single copy and it seems to me that a weekly paper that can interest for so long a time a man whose life has largely been spent in helping to make newspapers must qe well conducted. The Sunny South at 50 cents per annum is simply a marvel. It should be in every home of the south. Respectfully yours, HARRY STILWELL EDWARDS. From Men who Rule COVERNOR McSWEENEY I most heartily commend your efforts to establish a purely literary journal in the south—one pf high standard— and with a good business manager I am sure that It will succeed. They have the literary talent and The Sunny South will help largely in its development. You have my hearty indorse ment and sincere best wisAs. W. B. McSWEENEY. Governor of South Carolina. COVERNOR DOCKERY It is with pleasure that I note your purpose to enlarge The Sunny South and Increase its circulation. I am in most heartv sympathy with your ef forts to establish a standard literary paper of great excellence. I am sure that our people will most generously indorse the high purpose yon have in view and give the Sunny South a cordial sup- ' port. A. M. DOCKERY. Governor of Missouri. COVERNOR SAYERS It affords me much pleasure, indeed, to note the effort being, made by you to establish a first-class standard lit erary paper In the south. It will un doubtedly receive the most cordial commendation of every one interested in the development of southern liter ature. I cannot too highly commend your enterprise and trust it will meet with the most abundant suc cess. JOSEPH H. SAYERS. Governor of Texas. LATE COVERNOR 8AMFORO I sincerely and heartily commend The Spnny South, which has been for years a welcome visitor in southern homes. Southern people will be glad to know that It has fallen into friendly hands and that It is backed with brain, brawn and bullion. The south has long felt the need of just such a first-class weekly literary, non-political periodical. WM. J. SAMFORD. Governor of Alabama. COVcRNOR LONCINO j I am at hearty sympathy with the purpose of The Sunny South. I believe the people of the south will meet you half way In your enterprise. We have long needed just such a publica tion—a representative not of a sensa tional, commercial or industrial side of our civilization, but of the finer things of our people—of our tradition, our aspirations, the best thoughts of our best men and women in the hours of their exaltation. The Sonny South will prove a genuine blessing to its readers. A. H. LONGINO. Governor of Mississippi. COVERNOR BECKHAM I congratulate you upon your enter prise in The Sunny South and assure you of my cordial best wishes for It. It shows much evidence of the literary and artistic merit and I am confident, that It will become what you desire It to be—a great literary magazine. There is a good field for such a periodical in the south, and the new management has demon strated its ability to make The Sunny South a success. J. W. BECKHAM. Governor of Kentucky. COVERNOR DAVIS The Sunny South Is a periodical which has endeared itself to all people who love tbs south and who have her best isisrests at heart- I not only rec- omaari The Sunny South, but take pleaawe h Being so. The fact that the pricqfNt . _ M place this weakly In every'home. be eon - - ■ - You are your congratulated upon to furnish the south with a weekly which it is a pleas ure to have in every household. JEFF DAVIS. Governor of Arkansas. GOVERNOR AYCOCK We have long needed a periodical like The Sunny South. We need It more and more to develop our south ern literature. Literature is the only means by which we are adequately known to other people. When we shall have educated our entire citizenship, and see men and women devote their time to literature, the south will be the greatest section In the wor'.d. I am glad, therefore, to see the work which you are doing and to express my appreciation and ce.*- dial approval of it. , C. B. AYCOCK* Governor of North Carolina. COVERNOR HEARD There Is need in the south for a pub lication of the character of The Sunny South, for its columns will present the writings of its literary people and in It create a uniformity in southern sen timent which cannot but exercise a wholesome influence in the- southern home and at the southern fireside. The Sunny South has my warm est indorsement and my sincere wishes for its entire success. W. A. HEARD. Governor of Louisiana. COVERNOR CANDLER I have noted with great pleasure the' importance ofi The Sunny South, of which I have been a constant reader for many a year. The demand for Just such a magazine has long been felt and you are to be congratulated for what you are doing for the literature of the south. I am glad to see. how ever. that there is no display of sec tionalism and that on the contrary you ' are conducting your paper upon a broad basis, making it equally inter esting and welcome to both northern and southern readers. It is my sincere desire that suc cess may crown you in your ef forts. A. D. CANDLER, Governor of Georgia. A Word in Closing From governors from many other states havd* been received equally flattering let ters of commendation and good wishes, among them being Governor Tyler, of t’lrglnla; Governor White, of West Vir ginia and Governor Jennings, of Florida. And The Sunny South Intends not only to continue to merit these wo-ds of praise, but to Improve and strengthen until the success that is so cordiallv wished shall have been achieved. By this we do riot mean financial prosperity alone, but the fulfillment of the plans'we have outlined— the establishment of a permanent, pa triotic periodical which will be the offi cial organ of the literary world of the' south, and a visitor to every home In onr fair section. * - .mS* 'THE TURNPIKE HOUSE,” a New Serial by Fergus^*