The Banner-Watchman. (Athens, Ga.) 1882-1886, April 13, 1882, Image 1

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THE FATAL SHOT THAT USHERS A PROMISING YOUNG LIFE INTO THE PRES ENCE OF GOD. WALTER ROUNDTREE DIES OF THE WOUND RECEIVED AT THE HANDS ^QFjFRANK JOHNSON. J£Lj, Full Particulars of the Shooting—The Witnesses to the Reneontre Examin ed—The Coroner 1 ! Inquest and Verdict, And Frank Johnson is Found Guilty of Wilful Murder. The sequel to the shooting of Mr. Walter Roundtree, the student, by the negro Frank Johnson, is even more fearful, after a thorough investigation, than our hastily-written report of yes terday stated. After lingering until 10:30 yesterday morning this young man hreuthed his last, surrounded by Chancellor Melt, I)r. Campbell and his brother and friends. THKORIQIN or THE DIFFICULTY. The beginning of this terrible trage dy was about three weeks ago, when Walter Roundtree and another stu dent, named Groover, were walking along the sidewalk. They were met l»y the murderer Johnson, who pur posely ran against the latter gentle- man and came near knocking him from the sidewalk, hut passed on without ottering an apology. Mr. Roundtree remarked to Groover that he would not allow a negro to treat him in any such manner without re senting the insult. Johnson over heard tile remark and made some in solent reply, that Mr. R.- allowed to pass unnoticed, as lie was not then prepared for a ditlieulty. After that this negro appeared to make it his business to provoke a quarrel from M r. Roundtree; und only a few days ago, meeting his brother Bartow on the street, actually pushed th«t gen tleman from the sidewalk. The evi dence goes to show that both the de ceased and his brother did all in their power to avoid strife, and actually broached insults that would not have for a moment been tolerutcd from a white man. AN OLD GRUDGE. It seems that for some time many tlie blacks of Athens have made it a rule to insult the students whenever tlie slightest occasion offered, and there has been more than once ins- lulnent danger of an outbreak be tween them. We ull remember the ease of one of these young geutlemeu being cursed by a negro in frontof the post-otllce, while a similar outrage oc curred ut the book store corner. A few months ugo a hand of blacks met several students strolling up the Xorth-Knstern railroad, and went so far as to throw them from the track, when there was plenty of room for all to pass. These insults were received without resentment, the negroes al ways picking a time when they out numbered tlii^r adversaries. The young men have given these people noeurthly cause for this warfare, and their hntred is as malignant as it is uneccountalde. ENCOURAGED BY THE APPOINTMENT OF A COLORED POSTMASTER. NO. XLV11L A TT-TTOSTS. GEORGIA, THURS A/T’RIX. 13.1888 ball evidently did Ripley was standing who held In his hand a rook, and was in the act of hurling it at the head of Mr. Bartow Roundtree when Ripley caught his hand. A SIGNAL. j But before the shooting began John son placed two Angers in his mouth, gave a shrill whistle, evidently sound ed with the intention of summoning help near at hand, but it was not heeded, as no other negroes appeared on the scene. Knoch Kchols had a great deal to say at the first of the difficulty, and was os much responsi ble for the murder as Johnson. THE TERMINATION. After each party had fired two shots apiece, Johnson seeing Mr. Walter Roundtree fall, fled down the street, pursued by Bartow, and that gentle man in turn by Echols—II r. Ripley very naturally will do all he can for his son. Enoch Echols is a tall, well-built black negro, apparently twenty-two or twenty-three years of age,who came to Athens a few months ago from Oglethorpe county, where his family hagai ways been prominently mixed up in politics. VISIT TO THE PRISONERS IN JAIL. Yesterday morning, through the kindness of Sheriff Weir, we visited the Jail where the prisoners are con fined. They were allowed the liberty .of the passage, and when we entered the room found them singing and en joying themselves, apparently indif ferent to their fate. They both spoke very freely of the difficulty, but their statements were garbled and' contra- ..... , dictory. Johnson said he had cora- U j >r e . n ■ plained to the police once about Since the appointment of a colored postmaster a'Athens a great change lias been noticed in our black popula tion. They have become very arro gant in their manner, and there are numerous instances where hut for the forbearance of the whites bloodshed would certainly have occurred. Few of them think of giving the sidewalk even to ladies, and every look on their faces show that they feel the political supremacy of their raee. HOUNDED DOWN. There never was a clearer instance of a man being hunted to his deutli than that of young Roundtree. On the evening of his murder, together with a squad of his friends, he leftthecam- pus for an afternoon's walk. To show that the party anticipated no trouble there was hut one pistol in their pos session,und that carriedbyMr.Bartow Roundtree, und the part of his having it was purely accidental. The party hud separated, some being in advance and others in the rear of the doomed young mnn, who was accompanied by Messrs. Ripley, of Atlanta, and Twiggs, of Augusta, while Bartow ltoundtree was a few paces in the rear. From the latter young gentle men we learn the following: FOLLOWING UP HIS VICTIM. Wliile Messrs. Roundtree, Twiggs and ltipley were opposite Dr. Hamil ton’s residence, sitting on the rock steps, Frank Johnson, Enoch Echols and another negro (u mulatto and name not known), passed the party, without speaking. Shortly after Mr. Roundtree and his friends started down Milledgc avenue, and while nearly opposite Dr. Hunnicutt’s the three negroes overtook them again, hut passed oil without interruption. Bussing by the Home School the party saw five or six blacks, including John son und Echols, ranged in row on the sidewalk, near tree, and as the students passed some remark was made by the negroes iwout “giving un inch of the side walk,” but tlio exact words were not caught. Tin young men, not wishing a difficulty, passed on without reply ing to lunguage that was evidently intended as a t hreat and a taunt.' The party hud reached the point .where Hill street intersects Prince avenue, when they were met by Mr. Bartow Roundtree, who was walking up town but no mention was made of the fact that they were folio wed,* as the stu dents were under the Impression that the negrocsliad gone another direction But ere they had proceeded many steps Frank Johnson, Echols and the mulatto first seen with them overtook the party and were in the act of passing in a manner evidently calculated to provoke an assault, when' somehow a dispute arose and Roundtree gave Johnson the d—d lie. At this instant his brother Bartow seeing them stopp ed by the negroes, returned. Upon his approach, Walter asked if he had pistol, and Bartow replied In the af firmative. In the meantime Johnson had plaoed his hand on the handle of aplstol that was plainly seen by those present, when ' Walter . Roundtree kicked him and turned around, facing his brother. • THE SHOOTING. At this Instant Bartow drew his weapon, but before he could sflbot Johnson took deliberate aim at the behind the latter, of tlie Court-house square Mr. Ripley saw Echols in the act of hurling a stone at Mr. Roundtree’s head, and yelled to that gentleman to dodge, which he did, falling over tlie bank that leads into tlie street. At this in stant Johnson turned, and seeing his assailant’s helpless condition, pro ceeded to fire on him again, following him down tlie street and emptying every chamber of his revolver. THE PURSUIT AND CAPTURE. Dr. Cnmak and Mr. Childers wit nessed the termination of this bloody affair, and lieing determined to locate the negroes, followed them up until they entered the shop of Miles John son. Here they were captured, and from thence conveyed to jail. THE WOUNDED MAN. We will now return to Mr. AValtcr Roundtree, who was evidently wound ed by tlie first shot from Johnson. As he was falling this young man remark ed, “He has shot me, boys,” and fell from tlie sidewalk into the street, the fall causing a contusion on his head thatSvas at first taken for a wound from another bull. HIM LAST HOURS. A buggy was secured, the wounded man placed therein and conveyed to his lioarding-house, Mr. John G. M. Edwards’. Dr’s. Benedict and Gerdine were at once- summoned, and from the first they saw no hope and so told the sufferer. He was entirely con scious, and when tlie Rev. C. D. Campbell came, Mr. R. talked ration ally with that gentleman aliout tlie state of his soul and asked his pray ers. About two o’clock in the night he remarked that he fejt better; but shortly after that began to sink, until 10:30 Wednesday morning when he quietly passed away. A SAD SCENE. A few moments before Walter Roundtree breathed his last we looked in U]K>n one of the saddest scenes our eyes ever rested upon. There was this promising young man, who only a few short hours before had been in tlie zenith of youth, unconscious nnd gasping for breath. At his side sat Dr. Campbell, his head down in sor row; a weeping, broken-hearted brother, and tlie venerable Chancellor of the University—and none more deeply felt this fearful end than he. They were powerless to tender aid and quietly waited the end that all saw was near. HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED. The breath had scarcely left Walter Roundtree's body when tlie fact was known in the city. Our people re ceived the announcement with a calm that appeared threatening. It was an outrage even too deep for indignation. They were determined that the mur der of this young stranger, by a black outlaw, should lie revenged—and that from this hour these outbreaks should strangled in their incipiency. LET THE LAW TAKE IT8 COURSE. We heard not the, first mention of lynch law, and don't think such an idea was tolerated for an instant; but our people are determined that Frank Johnson and Enoch Echols shall re main in prison until the assembling of our Supreme Court on the third Monday in May, when they shall be lawfully tried by our court of justice, and then pay the penalty for this out rageous crime. NOTHING EXTENUATING. We carefully studied the evidence before the coroner’s jury—that was composed of some of the sagest and best men in our city—and we did not hear the first word of testimony that gave these negroes an excuse for as sault, w)th less wilful and malicious murder. These young men did all in their power to avoid a difficulty, but were followed and passed four times by their pursuers before the assault was made. They came prepared to shed the blood of Walter Roundtree and so bitter was Johnson’s feelings toward him that the negro aimed his shot at his breast when his own life was actually in danger from the pistol in Bartow Roundtree’s hands. Roundtree, who had thrown a rock at him, but added: “The police in Ath ens ain’t worth a d—m nohow, and are all a set of infernal cowards.” Just before leaving, the Sheriff told the negroes to go into the cells as he had instructions to lock them up. They hesitated at first, but finally obeyed, Johnson remarking, “HeU! there must be something the matter! How is Roundtree anyhow ?” Nor satisfac tion was given him, when the prison er requested that his father and Capt. Barrow be sent to him, adding: “I want the old man to bring us some thing to eat, as you don’t feed overly well here.” He seemed very anxious to have a commitment trial. ARMED BLACK OUTLAWS. Tuesday night our streets weie filled with armed blacks, who after dark be gan to congregate around the jail in large numbers, until probably two or three hundred were there assembled, Their presence was reported to the Mayor, who sent the police, under command of Capt. Davis, with in structions to disperse the mob. But these officers were met by a deter mined front, the negroes stating that they had as much right there as the police, and didn’t intend to leave. All night long citizens in that vicinity were kept awake and in dread by*tbe tramp of these negroes, who filled every nook and corner of the ground. Five stopped under one window and loaded their pistols. They remained ull night around the jail, but made no attempt to release the prisoners. They were very boisterous in their language, and were heard to more than once curse the “cowardly whites” and ex press a wish that they would come out. OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT. Every white man who passed in the neighborhood of the jail was watched, and a negro stepped up to one and looked in his face. The gentleman asked what he meant. “I mean that I'segwine to find out who you is,” was the reply. The gentleman re marked that hereafter be would go prepared to meet such insults, when the negro retorted, “and I reckon I can go prepared for you, too!” A student passed seveu negroes on College avenue, when one of the crowd remarked to him, touching a pistol in his hip pocket. “I ain’t go ing to be satisfied till I shoot some of them brass bottons off.” Other boys from the College were shoved from the sidewalk by negroes -and in other ways Insulted. In fact, it seems that the special spleen of these outlaws is aimed at the students in.our city. ARMS AND AMMUNITION. Tuesday night the blacks were buy ing up all tlie arms and ammunition they could find, but yesterday Mayor Rucker requested tlie merchants not to sell either side any more, as he wanted to do aU in his power to quell the riot that all saw was brewing. But bis request amount didn’t to much —so far as the whites were condensed and by noon every pistol and cartridge in the eity was bought up. In tact, some persons sold arms at actual cost, to enable the boys to be prepared for any emergency. ACTION OF THE MAYOR. PREPARING FOR MURDER. To show that these two negroes left home that evening with the avowed determination of following up and murdering Walter Roundtree, we will state that they passed first Mr. H. H, Phinixy and asked the direction taken by Walter Roundtree and that gentle man, suBplcionlng nothing wrong, di rected them. They asked Mr. Basil Cobb a similar question, and when told that the gentleman they were looking for was only a few blocks ahead hastened on and overtook him stated. About two weeks ago, shortly after the encounter with Mr. Groover, Frank Johnson came to Mr. Ed Dorsey to borrow a pistol, stating that he wanted it to kill Walter Roundtree with, who had insulted him. Mr. Dorsey thought at the time It was nothing but an idle threat and made the negro leave hie store. There is other evidence of this kind—all go ing to show a malicious premeditation on the part of Frank Johnson to kill Walter Roundtree. THE MURDERER AND HIS ACCOMPLICE. Frank Johnson is a ginger-cake col ored negro, with good features, about 19 or 20 years of age. Up to a short time ago he has borne a good charac ter, but of late has gotten into bad company and took a leading hand In politics. A few months ago he was about leaving bis father, Miles John son, to open a dye-house in Greenville, Mayor Rucker has a great responsi bility on his shoulders, and he is dis charging his duty faithfully and fear lessly. Yesterday morning be secur ed the names of the leaders in the mob at the jail and had them summoned to appear at court this morning. Last night he detailed fifty extra police men from among our leading citizens, who remained up all night to guard thp streets and nip in the bud-any at tempt at a repetition of the conduct of the night before. Up to the hour of going to press all is quiet—and we will here say.that our citizens are .In no humor for any further outbreaks. EXCEPTIONS. All of our colored people are not in sympathy with these murderers. It is only those insolent, idle negroes who have been cursing Athens with their presence since oar city has turned into a market lor barter votes, and others who make it their busi ness to stir up strife and discord—and then sneak out when danger appears. Many of oar colored men remain at their business, and take no hand whatever in the matter—publicly de nouncing-the crime. THE VERDICT OF THE CORONER'S ' £ JURY. A large number of witnesses were examined, and while the whites all told one story, thq negroes mpae the most contradictory statements—act ually testifying that Roundtree fired three times at Johnson before he re turned* shot. One of their statements impeaches another* After a careful weighing of the testimony the follow ing verdict was rendered: The deceased came to his death on the Sth day of April, 1882, from the ef fects of a pistol shot wound Inflicted on the 4th day of April, 1882, In the city of Athens, at the hands of Frank Johnson, col., and said ’shooting was deliberate and premeditated murder. We find that Enos Echols, col., was an aooessory, -aiding and abetting the act. We also find deceased was a res- ldentof Quitman, Ga., attending Col lege In Athens, Ga., and son of Mr. and Mrs. A./. Roundtree. rt J R. L. Moss, Foreman; James Gallo way, Matthew Carr, John C. Pltner, Charles D. McKie, Young H. Wynn Joseph H. Carlton, Rufus K. Reaves, C. G. Talmadge, James H. Reaves, Arthur E. Griffeth, E. B. Hodgson Peace again reigns in remains of Walter Bonn bounded to his death cold-blood, were yesterday conveyed to the Georgia depot, placed -aboard the morning train, and by flow this inani mate lump of clay is returned to his heart-broken family,from whence b.e parted only a few short weeks ago bouy- ant with evety hd^e of a long and useful life. - . * THE FUNERAL CORTEGE. . Early yesterday morning the two lib. erary societies convened In their respec tive lialls, that were draped in mourning, prepared to pay‘tlie last sad rites to a brother member end-student. Slowly, they filed from their halls, their -ban ners streaming with the emblem,of grief, and headed by the faculty, followed the hearse to the. depot. It was one of the most touching scenes ever witnessed in oar streets, and our eitizens bowed their heads as tlie .cortege moved ou. If young Roundtree had been carried away by a wasting diseased or met his death by one of the many inscrutable ways of Providence, -this last, tribute would not have made such an impress ou the public miqd; bat for a young stranger, committed by Ids parents to the care of our city,. to be wilfully and maliciously hunted to bis death, and murdered in cold blood by-the hand of a negro whom he had never wronged, made the latent flrotn the veins of ev» ry white man burn wit'i renewed fury—and then and there a solemn vow was taken that tiiis mur derer should not—no, by the Eternal shall not—go unwhipt of justice. An escort, chosirn from among ills particular friends and classmates, accompanied the corpse, to pe rform the s&d task of delivering it over to his bereaved and heart-broken parei its. an autopsy. At the request of tlie physicians the coron er’s jury ordered a pout mortem ex amination of the body, that the ball migh t be located and used as evidence in tlie coming trial. This was skilfully done by Drs. Benedict, Gerdine and Carlti in, but the fatal bit of lead could not ioe discovered, without disfiguring the r emains—but in the meantime the pistol used by the murderer was produc ed, wl rich satisfactorily settled the cali bre oi the weapon and will answer every purpe se. The wounds made b£ the scal pel were neatly stitched, so tlmt not the slight est disfigurement of tlie corpse was made.. ,T1 BE ATTITUDE OF THK 8'i UDEXT8. The 'students at the University hav certaii -ly covered themselves with hon or by t heir conservative and law-abiding deport: meat. We never knew a set of young men to act so wisely. While they were as iturally shocked and indignant at the murder, they, at the same time preserv ed the most commendably clear headed coolness. . We mingled and talk ed free ly with these young men, and heard, "not tlie first int imation of taking the lav' into their own hands Chancel lor Me] 1 had lieen talking to them, and the boj s loved and heeded tlie advice of this gn -at und good man. They say that they rare content to rest this matter in the hands of the law, feeling that justice will b o done their dead comrade. Wei in e sday night, when our town was wild with excitement, not a student could ' be seen on tlie streets—they had quietly returned to their rooms, there to await I he events of the night. If their service ,s were required to enforce order they w ere ready to march out at the call oftliei i-professors—but not before. They hare not an idea of taking the law in their.< >wn bands. THE 1J1 FECTOF THIS MURDER ON THE STATE - UNIVERSITY. This unfortunate affair will doubtless do, t-ei nporarily, our State University some- i qjury—but Dot so much as many suppos e. It is one of those outrages that migiit have happened in any town or city In Georgia—and it, waa not in the power of human foresight to prevent. Parent s for a time will feel loth to trust their s ons in a city where black outlaws are r cj lorted to hold high carnival—but we w il 1 say to the people ol Georgia that this n under has learned the people of Athens a timely lesson,’and from this time in l they will meet such cases with speedy punishment—not awaiting for the cwl mination of such hellish spleen. Our til y authorities feel that these stu dents ,are entrusted to their .protecting care, * ud they will see thaj they are shield* d from such outrages as they have so long : and silently borne. IrEDNESDAY NIGHT. AtlK ns never witnessed a more quiet period than last Wednesday night—the time tl .at many were expecting strife. Early in the night lage numbers of blacks were gathered iu knots on the corners of Broad streets, but pretty soon were seen silent figures passing about. There were the one hundred extra police men, d etniled by order of the Mayor— and ev ery man was armed to the teeth and wi is of acknowledged courage. They : making them dlo- A n - —a ■. REMOVAL SPOKEN OF. - If these prisoners remain in jail here itwillbe qecessary to keep a guard there eveiy night, to prevent release and pro tect them against any attempt at lyjteb* law. This will entail a heavy expense on the county. It is now proposed to transfer them to the.Atlanta-jail nntftl&fe May session of court here, where they will be entirely safe from either of these possibilities. It would be cheaper to the county, and at the same time h'elp allay tlie Commotion that now rac-a Vie city. , «THEIR TRIAL. The trial of these prisoners will dopbt- lesa take place at the May session of Clarke Superior Court, as there il no ground upon which the case can be post poned, and the people are determined that speedy justice shall be done. But at best the law is slow in its action, and jn all'probability a year will elapse be fore these men will pay the 'penalty for their horrible crime. The case will will doubtless be carried to the Supreme Court—which will postpone the sen tence until next fall, and even then a shrewd lawyer can stay tlie hand of jus tice for many weary months. But the people need feel no fear but that justice will eventually be meted to these mur derers—and it is best for us to patiently await its conra4. • A ALL SERENE. Last night every appearance of theuom- rnotion passed off, and while our citizens were prepared for any fresh outbraek, a great deal of tlie vigilance of the night before had collapsed. There was no fear of further trouble, and no demonstra tion made by the blacks. IVe anticipate no further trouble, and think both sides have most wisely decided that they will leave the culmination of this murder in the hands oi the law. To-morrow morn ing tlie leaders of the mob that surround ed the jail Tuesday night will be ar raigned liefore tlie Mayor, and will have to afterwards answer for their trans gressions to the State authorities. May or Rucker intends to make an example of these outlaws aud will mete to them tlie extentof the law. HOW JESSEE JAMES DIED. St. Joseph, Mo., April 3.—Ever since the Ford boys had been witli Jesse they bad watched for it u oppor tunity to shoot him, .but he was al ways so heavily armed that it was im possible to draw a weapon without his seeing it. They declare they had no idea of taking him alive, considering the undertaking suicidal. The oppor tunity they had long wished for came this morning. James was standing on a chair dusting some pictures. His back was now turned to the brothers, who silently stepped between Jesse and his revolvers, and at a motion from Charley, both drew their guns. Robert was the quickest - of the two. In one motion he had the long weap on to a level with his eye, with the muzzle no more than four feet from the back of the outlaw’s head. Evsn in that motion, quick as thought, there was something which did not escape the acute ears of the htinted man. He made a motion as if to turn ills head to ascertain the cause of that suspicious sound, but too late. A nervous pressure on the trigger, a quick flash, a sharp report, and vhe well-directed ball crashed through the out-law’s skull. There was not an outcry; just the swaying of the body, and it fell heavily back upon the car peted floor. The ball had entered the base of the skull and made its ’way through the forehead over the right eye. It had been fired out of a Colt’s forty-five. calibre, improved pattern, silver-mounted and pearl handled pistol, presented by the dead man to his slayer only a few days ago. THE DATE OF THE FIRST EASTER. There is* seen eVery day oil our street^ * qlliet gentleman, long past the torn of life, fat and good natured; and who at- a glance would be tile last man a stranger wqpld take for a pe destrian. This party is 9|r. Charlie Shackelford? who was once the cham pion foot raoer of America, and was never vanquished, although he has entered against the fleetest-footed men that could be produced, of nearly every nationality, down to tlie Mexi can and Indian. After defeating every opponent in Georgia thatdared measure distance with him, Mr. Shackelford was prevailed upon to (go to California when that State was young and the gold fever at its height. His accomplishment soon became known, and while others were dig ging gold Mr. S. reaped a rich har vest with Ms legs. -His fame soon be gan to spread and numbers from a dis tance canie to contest the laurels with him—only to return’with the knowl edge that it was folly to attempt to measure speed with the “greased-foot- ed Georgian.” Spo teamen have searched the pacific slope to find a man to combat him, bringing forth the wild Indians from the plains and the wlerry-limbed Mexican from over the horded; but our friend always left them in the rear. He never ran a race for less than one hundred dollars, be sides receiving a per centage on all bets won. Finally his fame reached down into 1 lexica, and.a wealthy old greasef sport sent for him. Shack elford accepted, and the old man in formed-iris guest that he wished him to enler against a well known runner, who was the undisputed victor of that country. The race was agreed upon, and the appointed day a large crowd was on hand to witness the sport. Mr. Shackelford’s backers had great con fidence in his speed, and took all the bets offered. It is needless to add that the Georgian won the day, leaving his adversary so far behind that he refused'to repeat the race. Mr. Shack elford expected the old Mexican to reward him handsomely for the thou sands he had* won, but the stingy old scoundrel would onjy pay $100. This naturally incensed Mr. S.,who formed a plot with other side to run the ■ race over again and lose, and thus secure the spoils, of which he had been de frauded. This was agreed to,and in the second race Shackelford “accidental ly” stumped his toe and fell,, and. his Mexican opponent won the race. But the parties who had lost their money was not satisfied, and it soon was whispered around that the American had entered into a plot to lose the race on purpose. A mob was made for the stranger, who happily received warn ing in time to make good his escape on foot, over the border. , But Mr. Shackelford has long since given up this sport, and is now living the quiet life of a man whose “race has been run.” * Mr. EmftrySp»«r Indleaottj 1 ble for lire Murdarcf Mr. Roundtree. Macon Ttics/ojJi and Heotenyer. The people of Gedrgt* .we hardly re covered from the shock of the murder of old man Hicks, of pwiqnctt oounty, by a gang of deputy United States marshals, when they as* horrified by the details of the niurdef sf a student of the State University qpon the streets of Athens by a couple of negro politicians. Our readers are, tamiliar with the details of both tragedies, so there is no iccepslty of their reproduction. But were calm, cool and collected, fully determ Ined to see that the outrageous condo*-t of the night before was hot re peated. Our citizens were prepared for any esciergencV They .bad at their grasp needle guns and ammunition in suffi cient quantities to anu over one hun dred men—and had the gang* of strife bee a thrown down the streets of our city would have flowed with blood. They slid i tot wish to provoke an outrage—but they have borne the last grain they in tend eil, and before the morning’s sun had arisen, did an outbroke occur, the question would have been then and there -decided: Who will rule Athens— the Af rican or the Caucasian? Just now there is a great deal of dis cussion in the religious press as to the date of the first Easter. One author of a leading Bible commentary man tains that tlie old idea that our Lord’s passion and resurrection occurred in A. D. 35 (given in most Bibles which have dates in margins) was founded’ on the< tradi tional belief that He was about thirty- three years on earth, combined with the idea that the date of His nativity was four years later than it really was (the actual date of the .event being in all probability, B, C. 4.) The only real doubt about the date of the resurrection la whether it was A. D. 29 or 30. Now astronomy tells os that the full moon, which would be Pasnhal in the former years fell on a Saturday— April* 16—which is inconsistent with the circumstances narrated. Butin A. D. 30 that full .moon was on Thursday, April 6, oi> which day the Passover meal- was eaten, and our Lord suffered the next day (in our reckoning, the same day in Jewish) on which other observ ances connected with the Passover were stiU to be kept. This, then, without * doubt, was the true year, and, if so, of course the first Easter was on April 9th which day the Christian world 'this year will celebrate its anniversary. 1— r Taking Time by the Forelock. At the battle of Groveton, Stonewall Jackson tried an experiment which nearly frightened a Federal division out of tlieir I loots. Bars of railroad iron were cut up into foot lengths and fired from some of bis heaviest guns, and the noise the missiles made as’ they went sailing through the air was a sort of cross between the shriek of a woman and the bray of a mule. The Federate listened in wonder at the first few which banged through the tree tops, and presently one of the pieces fell just in front of a Penn- sylvania regiment. A captain stepped forward to insect it, and after turning it over he rushed to bis colonel with the news: ‘ “Colonel, them infernal rebels are fir ing railroad iron at us!’’ No!” i They Ore, for a fact!” 'Captaip, advance your company to that ridge and deploy, and the minute you find Jackson is getting ready to fire freight £arS at us seftd me word. I don’t propose “to have my regiment mashed into the ground when il can just as -well be decently exterminated In’the regular way!” *■ ” t Kathrtlle American. 1812. fThe first delegated general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church lb America—inclining Cana da- met in New York, B$&y, 1812. All the mdtabers of that conference are dead. 1816. The second conference conven ed in May, 1816. Not a single mem ber of that conference is living. 1820. The third session was held also in Baltimore in 1820. We know of no one living who was a member of that conference. 1824. The conference of 1824 conven ed again in Baltimore. We know of no one living who was a member of that conference except Robert Paine, now our senior bishop. 1828. In 1828 the conference conven ed at Pittsburg, Pa. Of all the dele gates from the territory pow occupied by the Methodist Episcopal church, South, only four are living: Robert Paine, F.A. Owen, and|Ashley B. Ros- zell from the Tennessee conference,and Peter Akers from Kentucky. Dr. Akers is now connected with the Methodist Episcopal church in Illi nois. '*. 1832. The conference met In Phila delphia. The only southern delegates of that conference remaining are Bish op H. H. Kavanaugh and the Rev. Dr. Peter Akers, then of the Kentucky conference, and Bishop Paine, G. T. Henderson and F. A. Owen, of the Tennessee conference. 4 1836. The conference was held in Cincinnati, 0. Of the delegates from the southern conference at that meet ing there remain only Bishop Kava naugh, Bishop Paine, G. T. Hender son and J. B. McFerrin, of Tennessee, and Wm. Murrah, of Alabama, now of the North' Mississippi conference. The venerable Wesley Browning, of the St. Louis conference, was a dele gate, but was from the Pittsburg con ference. 1840. The conference of 1840 con vened in Baltimore. The southern delegation now living are Thos. N. Ralston, of Kentucky; Robert Paine and J. B. McPherrle, of Tennessee; Wm. Murrah, of Alabama, and G. F. Pierce, of Georgia. 1844. The General Conference met at New York. Southern delegates still living: Jerome C Berryman, of Missouri; H H Kavanaugh, of Ken- tucko; Robert Paine and J B McFer rin, of Tennessee. Memphis confer ence, Thos.-Joyner; Arkansas confer ence, Andrew Hunter; Alabama con- ferepce, Jesse Boring and Wm Mur rah ; Georgia conference, Geo F Pierce and J E Evans; ’North Carolina con ference, Bennett T Alnke; Virginia conference, L M Lee. 1845. The convention of southern delegates met in Louisville May 1, 1845. There were present ninety-eight members; of these, seventy-seven have passed away, leaving only twen ty-one yet in the service of tbe Mas ter. How rapidly are tbe ranks thin* ning! In reviewing the past, we are pleased to say there were giants in the former years of the Methodist church, May the strength of .the ministry never be diminished. The Bev. Dr. James E. Evans, of the 'North Georgia conference; Bev, Dr: J. B. McFerrin, of the Tennessee coiiference; Bishop Paine,' Rev. Dr. Jessee Boring, of the North Georgia cofnerence; Rev. Dr. Guilford Jones, of the Memphis Conference, and Rev. Dr. John W. Hanner, of the Tennes see conference, will, be the veterans at the general conference lu^May. ' . A» • QUIET REIGNED SUPREME. Bat happily—and as we all wished— the blacks saw that they could not ad vance another step, and most sensibly 'dpi what all good citizens owe their coant ry—accepted the supremacy of the law. About 9 o’clock they bad all left Broad street, with only an occasional dusk} horseman dashing by with the coma tand to every black he met, “Don’t fail tc • meet at half-past eleven.” Inti-, mxtio n had been received that large bandi s of armed negroes were seen upon the o utskirts and in secluded parts of the c Ity, and we doubt not but what it was! intended to remain on guard around the jail as the night before; but they soon discovered that discretion was the beta :r part of valor, and most ol them disp ersed to their homes before the mid- die of the night. A few videttes attempt ed to bang around the jail—doubtless to feet the pulse of tbe whites—but they feu id it feverish and each finger on a trigger. So’the Mayor and Chief Davis She Backed Out. WiUU't Syfap-Book. A certain boat coming up the Mls^ sissippi daring the flood the other day lost her way and bumped up against a frame house. She hadn’t-more than touched it befofe an old dariey rammed hit head up through armhole in toe roof where the chimney once came eftit, and yelled at the captain orfthe roof: Wbar do hell is yer gwlne wid dot boat? .Can’t you see nuffin? Fast thing yer knows yer gwlne to turn dis house ober, spill do old wqman an’ de chil’en out in de-flood an’ drown ’em, Wat yer doin’ out hero In de country wldyer damn boat, anybowl Go on back yander froo de co’n fields, an 1 git back Into' de ribber, whar you be-') longs. Ain’t got no business sev’n miles out in de country foolin’ roun r people’s houses, nohow!” and She backed out. Failures in This Section.-. The following failures are reported inBradstree^’s: Tarver*Co.,grocers Macon, Ga., are offering to comprom ise. They recently gave chattel and realty mortgages for $1,236. R. S Wynn, agent, grocer, Macon, Ga., has been closed by tbe sheriff. Liabilities about $2,500. William Jackson, gen eral store, Palmetto, Ga., has been closed by the sheriff. Georgia Gold Mining. 1 THE IMPOSSIBLE'GIRL. . ' He offered her a handsome opal ring. Excuse me, sir,” she .said, while a blush,crept over her velvety cheek* “opals are unlucky.” ’Thud -he fished a package of caramels out pfhis pock et and attempted to present It to her. “I never touch them,” she murmured languidly, “as they destroy the teeth and*draw) the filling out. My mother got some between her teeth the other day, and her jaws were, held together so tight for two hoars that she could quiet you Railroad Record. a $ A movement is on foot to establish goveromenfcassay office at Dahlon- ega, Ga. “Up to the war there was a branch mint at Dahlonega, and the records show that over twenty ’ mil lions of bullion passed through It. Georgia has seventy odd gold mills at work. One is giving a monthly product of about $7,500. From a care ful look over, no good reason can be given why this belt will dot. produce three hundred thousand dollars per annum this season, and bo prepared, with sufficient machinery, by Janua ry next, to produce five hundred thou sand dollars monthly for the year 1883. The ore is there. All jh&t is required to make an immense yield is energy, good management, scientific superen- tendence and modern machinery. In their rather crude ways of working -the mica, slate and other more hr less decomposed rodks of £his region, it costs but twenty-five cents per ton to Ratine aifomfUfeold-bearing ores. Good gnld Veins assaying from five to fifty dollars per ton, fropr one to twenty tulles from a railroad,* with water, flngftMliibor plenty and cheap, can be bought far from one thousand to twenty thousand dollars, whicbq if intheBocky Mountains, five hun dred miles from any place and all the way up BUI, would be worth half a million doljgrs. A great and’prospew ous future awaits gold mjUting, on an extensile scale, In Georgia. - Rostand legitimate conclusion successful attempt of Mr. Emor Speer to Africanize that portion of the State to gr$tlty.his personal vanity and ambition. We should feci better $bout tbe matter If, we might justly lay the blame of the entire transaction at his door. But it is true, and it is about time for the people of Athens and the surrounding country to awak en to a knowledge of the fact, that they who have upheld and sustained this young mar. in his anything but admirable career, may have to bear a part of the responsibility for the re sults whieh have followed. No doubt, just now, all the better eloments of-. Athens society are clothed in sorrow over the deplorable deed, and Indigna tion of the perpetrators of it. But for the prevalence of wiser counsels, or the determined front shown to the negioes, we might have occasion to chronicle more violence and a further outrage of law and goodordpr. Only a few years since, In the midst of the commencement exercises of the University, we saw this young man mounted on a dry goods box at the corner of two of the public thorough fares of Athens, surrounded by a mob of drunken men, women and children, the most ignorant, idle and depraved of their class. With the. exception of the writer and two or three other white men attracted by a curiosity to hear what he might say to such an au dience, there was not a person present with intelligence sufficient to know or to feel that he or she had any interest in Georgia or the community in which they were cast more than to get a meal as best they could, and a shelter from the sun and rain as best they might. And we listened to this young Mr. Speer harangue this mass upon the bad treatment they and he had re ceived from the Democratic party, the rights that he and they had been de prived of by caucuses aud rings, until by reason of the Influence of the whis- ky or the effect of his eloquence, they were worked up into a frenzy of anger or hatred against every man whose skin was white, save Mr. Speer. Thia was in Athens in sight of tbe State University, within hearing of its fac ulty, board of trustees and visiting strangers; in a city which Justly boaste of its learning, its intelligence, Us re finement and social elegance. And we heard not a protest against this sickening, disgusting and disgraceful scene. In the political contest which fol lowed, then, and was repeated two years afterwards, many of these citi zens of Athens voted that tills young man should be sent to the national assembly as their representative. The trustees of the University endorsed him by selecting him to sit as a mem ber or their body. It is strange under such circumstances, that the ignorant, the idle and the vicious should have rallied to him in sufficient numbers to make his election sure? His Congressional career is a part of a very small, and not respectable part of the history of the time. Its m*ln points are embraced in an active and industrious conniving with that po litical party, whose success means the_ humiliation and disgrace of the South, the destruction and overthrow of the principles upon which our social and political system rests. If we are to credit the Journals of the city of Ath ens, the elections which have occurred there during his Congressional incum bency have been a disgrace to out civ ilization, and have been managed and controlled by a mob of howling and drunken negroes. Is it to be wondered at, then, that riot, bloodshed and murder have fo)* lowed in quiek succession? Who to say how much more of itis to come before law and order and common de cency shall be again enthroned by an enlightened and civilized public sen timent? I this brutal murder of young Roundtree shall not awaken the peo ple of Athens to their fearful condi tion, and to the immediate hecossity of reformatory action, then the. good name of the place will have passed away-forever. No place can prosper and maintain its credit and reputation not talk.” in the*house.”, “Sir?” must have had ariot In the-house! I mean that your mother must have been so provoke^ that she couldn’t twhlch is at the mercy of a depraved j her nsukl state of beautiful ,and ignorant class, y, bdt’was obliged to £lve '[way , ’And if this state of aftkirs now ram- • feelings,, in spite of her heroic* pant there is to be repeated and con- efforts to appear calm. Would you like to go the 'minstrels to-night?” “No, thank, you. Iam always sad dened by 8U£h woful dramas as ’Ca ndle,’ 'Hamlet’ an£ 'Miss Mutton;' and the last time I was at the min strels I saw how those plays could be made more heart-rending with the jokes of the minstrels worked into them. He (hen Invited her to take a walk and partake of ice cream and other luxuries calculated to thrill tbe femi nine* minc^with ecstacy. Bat she re fused each aud all of them: And the young man danced around with his pocket bookin' hlsh&rfd, ,and thought what expense -4rod!d be saved If all the girls were like this one. And he sang: ' “I’ve foand me a wife U the future, rvefound the Impoulbte Old.” Then heywoke np.and ascertained that he had been d teaming. The Im possible Girl has yet to be discovered V Reclaimed From Shame. Just before the Ce’ntral passenger train left tbe car shed Thursday night two wo men made their appearance,and iu a few seconds were comfortably seated In the ladles’ Coach, ticketed to Macon.. One WlNNirript, Manitoba, "£prll A Canadiah Pacific train, with eight hundred emigrants, is frozen In three miles from the nearest source of sup ply. Provisions are being carried to it by a relief train. It will be tbree or four days before the train can -be got out. / - • •' Capt. Nizwah/who returned partly on foot and partly by sleigh, says a man is dying in the train, and that it is piteoiisto hear little children cry ing for bread during the night. A barrel of biscuits and one cheese were discovered on board and were dealt out, so there is no danger of star vation, but there Is of ftiel and light given out. t The river is now running through some or the streets in Morgan City, La., and the situation is.appalling. tinued the State of Georgia had best close the doors of the University. The fathers and mothers of ths State are not going to gelid their sons to a place to seek the ad vantage of a training and education, where it is known to them that they will have to go armed to ptytect their lives and perhaps be brought back in coffins, the victims of Mr. Speer’s partisans. The people of Athens, the Democrats of Athens and its vicinity cannot afford to close their eyes to foots patent to everybody else. They have Intelligence 'sufficient to see and to appreciate that Georgia la again about to engage in a conflict With a political faction, which has been for'years seeking her life, and they ought to have tlie manhood to cast aside social ties and associations, and personal prejudices long enough to take a band and to do their foil du ty in the struggle. The State government of Georgia which gives to the people the protec tion of courts of law, Which lias re lieved them from an Imported robber band, which has saved the public property and kept inviolate the public credit, apd which .has sustained the 8tete University to its youth—has been snatched Yrom- political revolu tion and guarded from sppUationby of tho women was well known to the por the? Democratici party. Bee, and «; the' other appeared ,o be but aW - ay . *“• i ^ ^ cb ud, Captain Couch determined to interview them. Hardly had lie uttered a woird’before ascertaining that the child was Carrie ‘Mitchell,'the grati hjaughter of an resident pf thjs city. Ouiy a few days ago.Carrie ]efc ber home and entered upon a life of sliame; aml in or der toav.oid her relations, who were making diligent search for lier', ' she de termined to yield to the ad\4ce of iier as sociates in shame and leave the city. - Carrie is a small thirteen-year-old' child with a bright intelligent [face. She expresses a willingness'to return t* her relatives and says she would hav* done so the day after leaving home but for the advice of those witii whom she was stop ping. Chief Connolly supplied lier with a room at the station house for the night.—Atlanta Constitution guard, and give rein to the unbridled ambition and passions of Mr. Speer and his followers, and tho classic walls of the Universlty, within whioh. now lies the bloody corpse of the first of its children murdered by negro pol iticians, will be spattered with the Mood of others, in an effaiwto save them from the hands of a mob of Afri cans raised to madness by the elo quence of Mr. Speer jn the reeital pf his and their wrongs. . W**®'*’ Tlie Secretory of War, iu his r»q>on to tire President on the case of Sar- geant Mason, takes issue with the Judge Advocate General on the ques tion of the validity of tbe sentence or the court martial. Mr. Stephens is up aguin.