Newspaper Page Text
U'c have heretofore refrained
I ora ary coimm-nt whatever on the
ooiible in Oconee county over the
prohibition election, for the simple
reason 1b ! the matter was in the
courts, an J wc did not think it right
or prudent to pen anything that
might be construed into a desire to
inlloence public opinion or warp
, ce. Several parties reported to
us that OrJinary Thrasher interpre
ted our silence into fear of attack
ing him. We gave no ear to such
silly char, for did an editor heed half
i a-news carried to him he would
be always kept in hot water. The
truth is. Judge Thrasher knows vciy
well that the editor of this paper
dor. not hesitate or fear to expose
anv man or measure when the pub
U intrusts require it. But now
that Oidinary Thrasher has acted i
i r matter, and the courts will only
he aske I to pass upon the justice o(
-A-TBCEISrS,
NEAR SCULL SHOALS.
.TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1886
A PLEASANT VISIT TO AN INTER
ESTING LOALITY.
v 1.1
l.l In
I i» decision, he is open.to comment
limn the press and the public. I
ha- been boldly insinuated that Mr
I nrasher was paid for his singu
lar position in this matter, and that
In- is hui the hireling and corrupt
>|' ,, I<> the liquor sellers of Oconee
ii’ur.’v. We have no proof to sub
-in t a e such a charge, and Unre
lated., not make it. Hut we do sav
: .eu is n broad gulf of inconsisten
'he Ordinary's words
>ul.lie acts, and wc can’t
...• how he can teconcile them
l ucre is not an honest man in Ocn.
rre county tmt what knot
u ill affirm that the county voted
s.piaiely I c prohibition, and X'..
I-dm ii i i rasher's declaration to
tin- coni.au is an outrage on ri.-ht
a..d just.re ihat no iree horn an.
I.une peon'e will t derate. Altei
acknowlt ilging under oath that tin
piohihitioi,i-1• cainril the election
he has now sought a flimsy excuse
to disfranci.i-e the voters
districts, wit clr resulle.l in
ing the wishesol the entire co.it,ty,
and gave vision to a minor'.tv. Tin,
step untile part of the Ordinary »a
so usurpations and dietatsiria. as to
stall the pssiplc w 111 surpi se. II.
has tram,, e I the i.allot-h. x undei
fool, and dtslare.l himself tile mas-
,l " *’■ the vi ry | e >ple who hao
cell* I
l.i.O
I he
sei
Was Ih.
tnde
M.
to a
I' o .>
h .1
more II .g ain
Was there
of itigati
constituency f
. Cl, ami snows
aow of excuse
AN ATHENIAN BAKES DP SOME
REMINISCENCES.
T.IR BAM JOXEH ON TUE
CHURCH.
vu
i nl l.trnnii^iv.ii ;nccincts—
I lie hi his ile-
») iIhJ he m l .il u throw out
* * th.it voted “tor the
i t W.IS in the »amc bca*
i >c iidnt lio.Xis? It i»ie vote
.»! 1 \
Old.
land Farmington ua* i!le-
t in the pionihition c«>nte>t
1 masher has r.o ri^ht to
ti» j»o-i• ion i\c now hohU, and
e\e r y ele.don held in Oconee conn
lor the | a*l tvse Ay ytars is ille
gal. The good people of Oconee
.ire outlawed an indignant at the
umiiiiv t>i this county otlicer,
i.ever war hi aver cause given. It
"■a* an open and detiant thrust at
the wry foundation of our republi
can government, and the assump-
t *n !») a pe’ty county (dlicial of
p »w\er that even the monarchs of
the old world hesitate to accept.
Such act* as that one committed by
Ouiinary Edmund Thrasher de-
mmd a public uprising, and
loicLohers shou'.dered tiieir mm-
keis lor even a less provocation.
Tms oHicer had better beware how
lu- tramples the ballots of freemen
:in;’e foot, and installs himself as
dictator of his county! The good
people of Oconee have shown rare
patience, but you can now hear the
indignant muttering* of an enraged
populace, helote which stronger
and mightier powers than this Or
dinary have trembled. , They have
seen this citizen whom their votes
placed in otlice playing battledore
and shut’lecock with their most
sacred rights; and now that he has
assumed unto himself a dictatorial
Antiquarians locate tt-c Garden o
Kilcn on thattongue of land at the junc
tion of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers;
out our friend, Mr. Isaac I,owc, of Ath
ens, is equally as confident that it was
in Oconee county, above Scull Shoals,
between the Oconee river and Hose creek,
and that in his younger days he was the
modem edition of Adam who reigned in
this little earthly paradise. Forth; past
live years the wonders of this slice of
country have been rung into our ears un
til had we hedn olfered the choice of a
trip around the world or drive to Mr.
Lowe’s old home, we would have
unhesitatingly accepted the latter pil
grimage. Saturday afternoon when our
friend proposed to take us on a visit to
this region we at once laid aside all l.us-
iiess and only too gladly accepted. At -I
o clock sharp Mr. L. called for us behind
a pair of Cooper's fine roadsters, and we
ere soon speeding to this land of
oslien.
Shortly after passing Watkinsville, we
invaded a road that Mr. Lowe said he had
not travelseil in twenty years, and as it
was our maiden trip lie pointed out all
the points of interest, from the long-
in lac leafed pine, growing near the water
ri id- courses, to the gigantic white oak, now
felled to the ground, beneath the shade
of which lie used to rest when a school
b y. About two miles from Watkins
ville, at a lonely spot on the road side,
IS a pile of rocks that mark the spot
where 35 years ago a young man named
Stone was thrown from his buggy - r .d
killed. He kept books at the High
Shoals factory, and was coming to Ath-
ns to visit bis friends, when his team
took fright and threw him from his
buggy. For years the spot was looked
upon as haunted, and few darkeys would
it after night fall. We passed ihe
Historic Itig Spring church, once under
the pastoral care of that good old man
“ncle Billy Sanders, who was as noto
rious a character in ‘Georgia as was
Dncio .limmie Dannelly in South Caro
lina. We have heard a number of anec
dotes on • l ncle Hilly” in connection
with Big Spring church, of which we
will reproduce two or three: After tbe
first battle «f Manassas, the old gentle
man in a prayer exclaimed, “Oh, I,ord,
I’ll tell Thee we’ve given the Yankees a
pretty genteel whipping.” That same
day he remarked to a lady, now living
in Athens, upon the close ol his sermon,
“Will that good looking young sister on
the eend of the bench please raise the
hynie?” It was Mr. Joel Morton that in
his prayer he designated with, “Oh, Lord,
bless that erring sinner settin’ there,
named Joel Morton! You’ll know him
Isird, from havin’ green breeches on.”
(Tnde Billy was a great rebel and a good
man. He once preached a sermon on
“Ike and Becky at the well.” Hchasheen
known to stop on the road side, hitch
his horse under a shade and pull fodder
for halt a day with some man, to get a
chance to talk religitfn to him. Big Spring
church is now going to decay, and this
our crude old building will soon have to give
way for a modern structure.
Just this side of the old home of “Lit
tle Joe Elder,” we passed b.-neath a
large dead oak with an outstretheil limb
reaching across theroad. This was the
scene of an amusing incident of long
ago. An old man named Merriwether
imagined that ho would have a call to
preach and unceasingly prayed for the
summons. A wag in thj neighborhood,
named McKee, one evening, where he
knew the old man would pass, crawled
out on this limb and concealed himself
among the dense foliage. Just as Mr.
Merriwether rode underneath, with head
humbly bowed and that old praver
upon his lips, in a sepulchral tone McRee
called out three times: “Meriwether go
power that makes a king and mas- ! preach my Gospel!” At the third sum-
ter of a public servant they will not
lie much longer restrained.
President Cleveland has ve’oed
more hills than a'l of his successors
comLiiud.
Mrs. Charlotte Smith, of Wash
ing tor., is out as a candidate for
picsidenl ol the United States in
t sss.
Senator Mahone, of Virginia, is
talked of as the lepublican candi
date for cor.giess from the Peters
burg district. Ilis term in the sen
ate expires March q, and it is to be
hoped that he will sink into obscur
itv after that date.
American missionaries are attack-
< d once in a while in China and
their property destroyed. These
attacks off-et the attacks by mobs
upon Chinamen in this country
which occur now and then. The
latest raid on Catholic and Protes-
lant ministers was at Chung King
i 600 miles inland from Shanghai.,
here was no loss of life but a (Treat
1 ns of property. The interference
- f officials prevented loss of life.
cf the Christian church. This is one of
the oldest established Christian churches
ia the state, but a more commodious and
better arranged building is now being
erected near the old house. We had a
curiosity to hear this famous divine, and
attended also. The building was packed,
and people came for miles around
to listen to the “funny preacher,” as Mr.
Landrum is called. The benches are
constructed not with an eye to comfort,
and one would feel just about as much
at his case on top of a three-edged fence-
rail. But for more than an hour we
stqod the ordeal, and heard another ser
mon on Snnday; but this time service
was held in the unfinished new church
that is furnished wi:h much better
benches. We were disappointed in Mr.
Landrum. We expected to see in him
a counterfeit.Sam Jones. If he is an
imitation of the fumous evangelist, it is
a very poor one. We believe Mr. Lan
drum’s manner is natural, and he does
not pattern after any one. Wc think he
is a thoroughly honest man, and sincere.
His face and manner show this.
Mr. Landrum's delivery is very poor,
and his sentences so flighty and discon
nected that they jar on the car. There
is no relation between his text and his
sermon, but there is said to l>e a strong
similarity between all of his discourses.
In fact, he preached a part cf the same
sermon twice last Sunday to the same
congregation. Mr. Landrum makes
some good points, hut they are mixed
with too much chaff It is like board
ing house coffee—a man must drink too
much water to get a little of the bever
age. But the most objectionable part of
some of Mr. Landrum's discourses is the
coarseness of some of his sentences, such
as the following, that escaped his lips
during his sermons last Sunday: “I’ll
bet a pint of goobers;” “Just as easily
done as to crack e louse;” “It’s gwinc to
rain—so take in your fodder;” “I’d as
soon wet a hog,” and a number of simi
lar silly expressions. There was neith- j
er wit nor point to them, and they fell
Hat, without a smile from the congrega
tion. This minister is said to be a fair
atin and Greek Scholar, anil he delights
tc display his learning before the peo
ple, and seeks every pretext to do so.
He must also be a “fresh” in Masonry,
from the frequent mention he makes o
the order, without any regard to the
subjeet under discussion. Sunday
morning Mr. Landrum preached a ser
mon that was mainly given to defending
Baptism by immersion, and said lie hat
challenged Bev. Simon l’eter Richardson,
of the Methodist church, to discuss the
subject with him, but he declined, and
had also written to Mr. Myrick, of the
same church, but had never heard from
that minister cither. He seemed to be
ravenously hungry for a Biblical contro
versy; but at the close of his discourse
spoke very kindly of all Christian de
nominations. Mr. Landium had only
secured one convert up to Sunday—a
lady who had severed her connection
with the Baptist church. In our little-
criticism on Mr. Landrum’s sermons we
do not intend it as any reflection on his
Christian character; but we think we
utter the sentiments of many members
in his own chuich. Wc believe that- if
he could change his stylqof preaching to
a more serious drift, that he would meet
with greater success in his good work.
To-morrow we will write of the old
homes in this locality, anil other
points of interest.
ORDINARY THRASHER
DECLARES OCONEE COUNTY WET.
THE PEOPLE AROUSED.
In Hit Sworn Answer Before Judge Hutch-
lnsHe Says the Coanty Wet* “Dry”--Ia
Hts Official Act He Stye “Wet"—Why Is
It?—Malpractice.’
PRESENTATION’.
The Texas cotton crop, under the
lect of rains or extreme hot wcath-
i, is shedding its forms rapidly, and
reduction of one-third in the yield
' apprehended.
It looks as if Mexico would heve
to pay pretty dearly for the murder
of Rasures by Mondragon, theMex
'can official, who had him kidnapp
ed and shot. A claim for 100,000
on hehall of his widow and children
will he made against the Mexican
government. .
It is believed that the republicans
of New York, by their failure to
CI *H a state convention, have given
'he democrats a chance to elect a
‘cnaior te succeed Warner Miller,
whose term expire* Mfext month
_-et the democrat* go in and win.
o secure tbe senatonhip would be-
a 'riumph indeed. •
p'*'"® Unic'data are opposed to
add!- * * n,en< * ment Ihe Queen’s
mons the old man put whip to his horse
and dashod home, when he huggod eve
rything in his reach and told the lainily
that the call from G rd to preach had at
last reached him, and he now felt it his
duty to obey; and forthwith went
into the ministry and proved an instru
ment of great good.
As we began to near our destination
the topography of the country and char
acter of the soil began to change. We
had traveled a pine ridge—the backbone
of the country between the two rivers—
hut we now noticed that the trees were
larger, the crops more luxuriant and
other evidences of fertility. Mr. Lowe
became more conversive, and regale q
us with little incidents of his school
boy days. In going and coming he show
ed us 13 different spots where he had
broke his leg while wrestling, and there
1 s not a vale or romantic nook but what
had witnessed bis exploits with some
pretty girl.
At out f> o’clock wc drove up to the
old I.owe homestesd, now the residence
of Mr. Joel Morton, and were roost cor
dially welcomed and royally entertained.
The Lowe faihily were having a reunion,
and the large old house was full of pleas
ant company. In ante-bellum days this
was a grand old place, of which you still
see evidences on every hand. Hid we
been uncle and cousin and aunt combin
ed! 'vc could not have been kinder treated
by this family.
After a few minutes’ rest Mr. Low®
proposed that we stroll with him around
the premises, which we gladly did. We
wended our way to the spring, but onr
companion suddonly halted before a large
poplar, and pointing to it said: “Isn’t it
wonderful* what changes time makes!
The last time I was hdre that old poplar
was known as the ‘Big Hickorynut,*
and I have gathered bushels of acaley-
bsrks off of it.” We finally reached the
spring. “And they’ve polled this spring
up by the rootsiand moved it! When I
was a boy it used to gush out of that big
rock up there on the hilliida across the
branch. Iwonder what they ever did that
for?” Thus it was that Mr.Lowo found
everything changed since his boyhood
days. The hills and valleys had swap
ped places, and the country seems turned
upside down.
After supper we found that all the
household bad arranged to attend Anti
och church, just on the hill-top, and
A Souvenir Presented to Mr. P. A. Stovall
by Hts Associates at the Chronicle of
fice.
Angus’s chronicle.
Last evening at ten o'clock the Chron
icle editorial rooms were the scene of a
most pleasant presentation. Assembled
in the room were Messrs. M.M. Hill, E.
C. McCarty, Jno. Anderson, T.D. Mur
phy, E. W. Barret, Geo. Nees, Jerry Mc
Carty, Mike Walsh, W. C. Casey, P. H.
McDonald, Claude Smith and S. H. Co
hen.
Mr. Geo Nees stated that they had
Something of impor ance to saj to Mr.
Stovall, and requested Mr. Sanford H.
Cohen to state what it was.
ri’ESKSTATIOX.
Mr. Cohen said: Mr. Stovall, it has
often been my pleasure to have the most
pleasant duties imposed upon me, but
none have ever given me as much genu
ine pleasure as this. I have been dele
gated by those who have been associated
with you to express the esteem, admira
tion, appreciation, respect and love with
which you are held b) them; and those
who for long years have been connected
with you, as wellas those who have been j
associated but a short while, request that
you accept this token of their apprecia
tion of your many noble qualities, anil
trust that your success will continue.
We will all lookfotward to thebrightea
reer of our associate, who leaves the
Chronicle the best equipped young jour
nalist in the South. We beg that yoa
accept this cane as but a slight token from
those who wish you a successful aul
useful career, and one worthy of yoar
merits.
MB. STOVALL'S ACCEPTANCE.
Mr. Stovall thanked his friends -oc
theirkestimonial. He said that what ac
knowledgments he might utter would he
the product of surprise and gratification.
He might, however, have anticipated this
occasion for it was but in keeping with
the unvarying kindness he had received
in the Chronicle office since he entered
it in October, 1870.
Hi received with due pleasure and
sorrow tnis golden-tipped cane as a sign
of his banishment, and wherever he
went or whatever might happen, it
would remind him of his old -home and
his old friends. Perhaps, when other
constituencies had become rebellious,
and other communities were weary, it
would serve aa a guide to return and,
resting himself, give the public also a
rest
The citizens-of Oconee county ware
surprised and outraged on Saturday last,
as the rumor began to spread that Ordi
nary Thrasher had made up his mind,
in the face of facts and his former state
ments, both to the people and to ifis
Honor Judge Hutchins, to declare that
the county, on the 20th of May last,
voted “For the Sale.” This is a won
derful declaration, when wi
member that Mr. Thrasher admitted to
Judge Hutchins in July last that
the county went “dry" by a majority of
•42. The good citizens are thoroughly
aroused and are determined to see that
the voice of the people shall ho rcspec.
ted and the unfaithful officer shall be
punished. With the facts as they now
exist, Mr. Thrasher is«clearly guilty of
malpractice in office, and the grand jury
will doubtless find a bill, at Us next
term, and the juries of the county will
promptly investigate the official acts of
this officer, and if he is guilty, they will
at once so declare, and then Mr. Thrash
er will have to leave the office he en
tered a short time since, in a very unen
viable way.
The rumor that pecuniary induce
ments had been brought to bear is tak
ing a firmer hold of the people, and they
are outspokeii in declaring that without
such influences being brought to bear,
the true and honest result of said elec
tion would have been declared long since.
The position of Mr. Thrasher is an
omolousone. His excuse for declaring
“wet” is. we understand, that Salem and
Farmington districts were “illegally
firmed” twenty-five years ago and that
it is high time that they should he fixed
up all right. He forgot that he, as Ordi
nary, was elected in an election in which
these precincts participated, and that
every officer that has held office for a
long number of yearsj has done so under
elections in which these precincts have
participated. But this is too thin. He
may imagine that the people believe this
to he the power behind the throne which
caused his unprecedented action in this
matter, hut later on lie will r alize that
the power actuating this strange and un
warranted act was more powerful than
a mere irregulaity of the establishing of
a voting precinct twenty-five yea’s ago.
For more than two months after the
election lie declared frequently that the
county had votei dry, and that the only
reason he had for not so declar
ing, was that he thought it un
fair to shut down on some and
allow \Y. H. Booth to continue. This he
said would be the result, as Mr. Booth’s
license did not expire until January 1st,
1882. It does seem to us that if there
ever was a case of malpractice in office;
a case in which the voice of the people
have been ignored by an officer, this is
one, and doubtless before another July
Court the Ordinary will wish that his
foresight had been as good as his hind
sights.
The case against Mr. Thrasher does
not seemed to be pushed with that vigor
that the merits of 'the case deserve, or
be would not have been allowed four
months to do that which the law de
manded him to d° at once—and the
good people of Oconee demand that the
law be pushed as rapidly as possible and
that the true result of the election be de
clared, and the county of Oconee be al
lowed to enjoy the benefits of a law
which they have, by their votes declared,
and that Mr. Thrasher be taught that he
is the servant and not the master of the
people. i vstice.
THE GILLSVILLE CONVENTION.
Tnc senatorial convention to nominate
a candidate for the counties of Hall,
Jackson and Banks counties met at Gills-
ville last Friday, and Mr. A. 1*. Wofford,
of Banks county, was unanimously nom
inated to represent the 33d senatorial
district. CapL A. T. Bennett was select
ed as chairman and W. F. Fmdley sec
retary. There were no other names
besides Mr. Wofford’s presented. Capt.
J. E. Hitch introduced a resolution
which breaks up the rotation system,
and when a good representative is chosen
he has a chance to go hack again. The
resolution was unanimously adopted that
each county be entitled to a delegate to
every 250 democratic voters. This puts
it out of the rotation system.
How tre Xallroad Will Worm Ita Way Into
Athens.
ONE YEAR OLD.
The Knights of I-abor of Athens cele
brated their first anniversary last night,
at their hall on Broad street This or
ganization started on the 22d of August,
1885, and are now 800 strong. The
members of the assembly gave a splen
did supper to the families of members
and invited guests. Several speeches
were made by members of the assembly.
Good singing, good music and an enjoys
ab’.c time was had by all who attended.
THE FIRST GUN.
The Candidates Meet and Dlscuse the
Iseues'
. - B. E. Thrasher, Ordinary O. C,
hear Rev. S. S. Landrum, the Sain Jones ■ Aug. 10th, 1880.
*0 DECLARATION NECESSARY.
Upon investigating the question sub-
mitted by petition touching the legality
of Farmington and Salem precincts in
prohibition election held on the 20th day
of May, 1886, for this, Oconee county,
I find that Jhe election held at both those
precincts was illegal, and esanot ho
counted in cotisolkisting the votes of
said election. Consequently the prohi
bit ion election for this county has re
tailed in a majority of legal votes “For
the Sale.” When the result is “For the
Sale” the law does not require any dec
laration by publication.
wag time to bring in another horse; that
■he was better fitted and capacitated to
represent the farming interest, for the
reason that for sever teen years he had
known nothing else. He made a very
good showing, and wag frequently ap
plauded. He said the farmers were 75
per cent of the voters, and they were
'entitled to representation in the legist -
tore.
As Mr. Russell closed the “legislative
discussion,” the Hon. H. H. Carlton was
vociferously called for, and
stepped forward amidst tremen
dous applause and was greeted
by the sweet smiles ahl cheering looks
of the ladies present. He said that as he
had no opposition that he would not
make a political speech, so he said but
little about politics, but for about one
hour he made a very pleasing and inter
esting, as well as a very edifying speech,
3e spoke of Georgia and her resources,
of her brave men and pretty women,
and in his graceful way and inimitable
style, gave aTiistory of the discovery o!
the famous Helicon spring, which he de
clared to be a fountain of healing wafers
The Doctor’s speech was frequently and
heartily cheered.
This closed the speaking and the
young folks called for music and in a lit
tle while they were keeping time with
the fiddle and tamborinc. Judge W. II
Yerby was master of ceremonies, which
accounts for the marked success of the
day. Mr. Y'crbyisa wliolesouled gen
tlemen and never wearies in trying to
make others happy. Guest.
A Far Comer of
THE HAND OF TIME RESTS HEAYI
LYON SOME GRAND OLD HOMES.
THE MACON & A 1'HENS.
On the 8th of next month Mr. Roberts,
engineer on the M. St A. road, will lead
a charming young lady of Monticello to
the altar, and it is intended to celebrate
the event by running the first train of
ears into the town on that day. Sixteen
hundred hands are now at work between
Monticello and Madison; and so soon as
the line from the latter place to Athens
is defined dirt will also be broken on
this gap.
The route from Watkinsville to Athens
is a very rough one, but the fine line
from Madison to that point more than
mak?s up for it. To enter Athens the
road will pass very near Dr. It. I. Hamp
ton’s house, and then through Dr. W.
A. Carlton’s and Dr. Gerdine's land to
the Brittain place, passing between tho
residence and the gin-house. It will
cross the branch at the head of the res
ervoir, and near the old Elizur Newton
house, and then on to the North-Eastern
depot. The grade will not be a very
steep one.
STILL IN THE LEAD
Mr. Editor: Saturday morning as
was walking down the streets in search
ot something that would add to the com
fort of the inner man, I met a gentleman
who wxs bound for the picnic at Helicon
springs, and after being solicited for
short while, I accepted a seat with him,
and after a very pleasant ride of four
miles, we landed in a most beautiful
grove of forest oaks, under the shadows
of which were gathered the chivalry and
beauty of Sandy creek; and from the
moment I reached this lovely grove, adji
cent to the once famous Helicop springs,
until I left, I had one continued season
of pleasure and enjoyment.
The morning was devoted to dancing,
and to say the young people enjoyed it,
is but to mildly express the truth. The
ladles all were graceful, and the men
emphatic.
At one o’clock the dancing ceased, and
we were invited to partake of an elegant
dinner, prepared by the fair ladies of the
community and spread in picnic style.
Dinner being over, the legislative
aspirants being present and ready to
prove to the dear people their respec
tive fitness for the coveted seat in the
legislature, the next thing in order was
peaches. By arrangement, Messrs.
Russell and Murrell addressed the crowd
on the issues of the campaign.”, Mr.
Russell opened the discussion in a
speech ot twenty minutes, Mr. Murrell
followed in s thirty minntes’ argument,
and Mr. R. closed in ten minutes. The
"issues” discussed, as far ss the writer
could gather, were that both speakers
were very anxious to be elected. There
seemed to be no material differences be
tween the candidates. Mr. R. alluded,
ss he said, with pride to his past ser
vices, and said he had never done any
thing but for the good -of his people, arid
never failed to appear in their behalf
whenever it was necessry. He said he
had gotten more money for Clarke coon-
ty than any man who had ever repre
sented her in the legislature, and said
he stood for re-election on his record
which the crowd voted a good one. Mr.
Murrell insisted that Mr. R. had been
rewarded beyond his merits, and that it
Several Editions of Joe Mnlhatton to the
Classic Clty-
Atliens can furnish several gentlemen
who are the equal, if not the superior, to
Joe Mulhatton. Said one in conversa
tion yesterday:.
There is a man named Davis, living
near YVintervillc, who ate a sixty-pound
watermelon and scraped the rind and
drank all the wat-r at one time.” •
“That is nothing,” said an elderly
gentleman, who has a reputation already
built for telling big talcs. “There was a
man living in Greene county who ate a
forty-five pound watermelon, and after
he had finished it asked Mr. Pollaine to
cut another the same size, as he did not
gdt a good bait. Amos Shaw,” said the
elderly gentleman, “was a blacksmith
and could stand with his hire feet on a
red-hot bar of iron until the smoke from
his burning feet would reach above his
head. Miles Shaw, a brother of Amos,
once swam across a mill pond two hun
dred yards wide and broke the ice with
a large file as he swam.”
The above are im'y-a few of the tales
told, but these are enough to satisfy the
public that Athens has several very good
journeymen story tellers, who are bound
to make their mark in the future.
RELICS OF AX EXTINCT,RACE AND DUVB
WITNESSES TO TIIEIR POWER AND
INDUSTRY.
THE SI OUY OF A BLOODY’ INDIAN 1
MASSACRE RETOLD.
Other News Collected by the Wayside.
THE MACON & ATHENE
Tbe Boats That tie Bead Traverses Throuih
tbs etty.
The surveyors of the Macon & Ath
ens R. R. have reached the city and ran
the line through to the North-Eastern
depot. The line crosses Bread street
near Fuller's store; prases between Mr.
Michael’sand Mrs.Talmadge's residence,
on through Mr. Marks' front pud, pass
es through CoL Stevens Thomas’ yard
and into the street. It then runs in front
of the Christian church and into Dr. Git’s
garden, leaving his house to the left, and
thence to the North-Eastern depot
There is no doubt but that it wi.l be ne-
ccssary to tunnel under the city. The
tunnel will he about five hundred J-Srds
long, and the engineer thinks it will be
mostly through rock. It is sixty-flve
feet from a point in front of Col. Thomas’
house down to a level with the North-
Eastern railroad. This will put the track
so deep under ground that there will not
be much danger of caving in. The line
does not touch a well, and there will be
none to go dry on account of the tunnel.
The chief engineer is very much pleased
with the line through the city, and now
wq only waft to see the hands digging
dirt to be happy.
Monticello is 26 miles south of, but is
a great deal higher than Madison.
Farmington is three hundred feet high
er than the bed of the Appalachee river.
Chief Engineer Roberts rides a circus
hone.
Theroad crosses Lumpkin street in
front of the house of John Mack, col
and through the lhth patch south of Mr’
Britain’s house. It splits Dr. Gerdine’s
land open.
The cabinet discussed the Irish
question, and decided to oppose
Parnell s amendment on the Queen’s
speech. A check for three thou-
sand pounds was sent to Dublin by
the Treasurer of the League.
After breakfast Sunday morning we
joined several friends in a stroll down
the road to the old Dr. Lindsey Durham
place—the home of one of the most noted
physicians in Georgia. This is certainly
A very rich country, as evidenced by the
crops in the fields and the character of
the forest growth; but most of the grand
old ante-bellum homes seem to be given
over to neglect, and it makes even a
stranger sad at heart to see the ravages
of time. There wxs not a grander home
in this section of Georgia than the old
Durham place, or one perhaps more gen
eral y known. It stands back upon an
elevation from the road, with broad piaz
zas and imm inse chambers, a dumb wit
ness to the wealth and hospitality of
long ago. An avenue of crepe myrtle
leads from the road to the mansion,
while on every hand were gigantic forest
trees, forming a dense shady park of the
'rounds that surround the house. This
place is now the. property of Messrs.
Powell & Davenport, who have given it
over to their tenants. On our request
to see the place the gentleman now occu
pying it very kindly invited us in, and
while resting a few minutes Mr. Lowe
gave us a history of the former owner.
Old Dr. Lindsey Durham made a large
fortune by his practice, for his cash re
ceipts seldom fell under $100 a diy. His
patients came from not only every nook
and corner of Georgia, but from distant
states, and he built a regular infirmary
for them. He had a botanical garden of
several acres, in which grew every shrub
and tree that could be propagated in this
climate. Dr. Durham had everything
on tiie most luxuriant and extravagant
scale, as you can still see. The papering
in the parlor of this old house is a curia
osity indeed. It was imported
from England, and is almost as
tough as parchment Above
the “chair-board,” and extending half
way up the walls, encircling the entire
room, is depicted hunting and pastoral
scenes, as natural and life-like as if from
the brush o! at artist. Above these pic
tures is pale, sky-blue paper, reaching to
the ceiling. Although this paper has
been on the wait 1 for perhaps forty or
more years, it is still bright and attrac
tive, and torn in o ily a few places. Y’ou
never see such these days. We went
into l)r: Durham’- old office, that was
first built of logs and weatherkoarded.
Before Dr. D. bought the place this little
building was used as' a bar-room by a
man named Maxey, and bis name with
the date 1821, is still seen made of nail-
heads on the window. But this artist
also, with the same crude implements,
ornamented his door with the picture of
a house with a man standing on its roof,
holding a bottle in one hand and a pitch
er in the other.
From the ’>urham place we turned to
the left through the woods, passing the
quarry from which the stone was taken
to build the factory and mills, and said
tojbc the finest granite in Georgia. It
splits like wood. From this point we
‘took in” Mr. Lum Fambrough, one of
the cleverest men and largest and most
successful farmers in Oconee county.
Mr. Fambrough owns a great belt of
splendid land, extending far up and down
the river, and is one of the few Georgia
planters “who -lives at home and boardq
at the same place.” Y’ou here see on
every hand evidences of thrift and pros
perity. Lum welcomed us in that
hearty manner for which Oconee county
is noted, and scarcely had ^e time to
cool off beftre being introduced to a ta
ble covered with fine watermelons. We
spent a delightful hour here.
The region round about Scull Shoals
was a favorite haunt of the Red Man, as
evidences by the tumuli on the river and
creek banks, and the relics of their han
diwork that bestrew the ground. Every
field in this locality is rich in pottery,
arrow-heads and other indestructible im
plements formed by their crude skill.
Just across the river from Mr. Fam-
brough’s stand three large mounds, while
a number of smaller ones are found on
the -reek bottoms. Mr. Morton tells us
that the large mounds were evidently
intended as a fortification, for many years
ago, after a freshet had carried away the
soil around them down into the clay, a
black circle of decayed wood was seen,
showing where timbers had been driven
into the ground and rotted off. This
stockade perhaps even antedated the In
dian race, as these people could not tell
who erected these immense piles
of earth. Mr. Morton says that after
that freshet Indian relics could have
been gathered by tho cart-load. He saw
several pieces of flint, shaped like a sau.
cer, but hallowed 00 both sides, of dif
ferent colon, cut and polished as smooth
as glass. With tbe rude implements that
the aborigines had, it is a mystery to
know how they fashioned their vessels
The ground around these monnds is nows
pasture and e> vered with Bermuda grass,
and relics are not so easily fonnd as here
tofore. There is a small mound on Rase
creek, that is cultivated, and the plow
hero often turns up the queerest finds,
that are;destroyed.or . thrown aside, as
Indian relics sro .So 'common in this sec
tion that they are not appreciated. Not
far from this smaller monnd’- is some
rocks filled with curions : shaped hojes,
made by the Indians. Some were evi
dently intended is mortars in which to
pound their corn, while others seemed
to be moulds, in which to form spoons
and other implements. These cavities
in rocks sro numerous in this section,
and nesr them are always, found beads,
pottery, stone implements and other arti
cles. The ground near one of these
morticed rocks was strewn with human
taeth. It must have ba*|l' the place■ of
business of an Indian tooth carpenter.
At a famous wash-hole near bid Scull
Shoals are ssetof stone steps, about the
length and dimensions of stairs and per
fectly smooth and regular, beginning on
the bank and leading down to the bot
tom of the river. They are evidently
tho work of Rome extinct race of men,
but for what purpose they were fashion
ed no one can surmise. We did not s- e
these steps, but several reliable gentle
men told us ot their existence. A horri
ble massacre once occurred at Scull
Shoals, across the river in Greene coun
ty, that is still fresh in the minds of the
old people around here, and the site of
the cabin occupied by the unfortunate
family is still pointed out. The Oconee
was then the boundary line be
tween the white and Indian coun
try, and on the east bank there
resided an industrious family
named Thrasher, related to the people
still living in Oconee coanty by the name.
There wxs frequent trouble between the
whites and Indians, ss both races were
constantly crossing the borders and com
mitting depredations. Some lawless
whites once crossed into the Indian coun
try and committed several cold-blooded
murders, that stirred up the savage blood
of these people. In retaliation a band of
them crossed the river at Scull Shoals
and fell upon and murdered and scalped
the Thrasher family, five in number,
ami escaped across the river. After the
murder the Indians stopped at a large
rock near the road side, still pointed out,
and cleaned and loaded anew their guns.
The pursuers that followed found the
rags and pieces of wadding they had
used for this purpose. An Indian trail
once led across the shoals, for in those
days the river could be here crossed by
stepping from rock to rock without even
wetting the feet. Gen. Clark, when pur
suing the Indians that culminated in the
battle of Jack’s creek, crossed with his
troops here.
- RiMy Preston bet Weldon Price a fine
of c* “
There are two origins given of the
name of Scull Shoais: One is, a human
skull was was found between the rocks
by the first white man that visited this
spot, and the other is that the Indians
who massacred the Thrasher family cut
off their heads and made a pyramid of
them at the crossing, after taking their
scalps. Old Scull Shoals is some little
distance above the site of the present
factory, but the filling up of the
pond with sand and mud
has obliterated every ripple of them.
Sand banks are also accumulating below
the factory, and threaten to destroy this
water power by filling up the channel of
the river. The $1,500 appropriated by
congress to clean out this stream is but a
drop in tho bucket to what is needed.
Scull Shoals and its surroundings ate
certainly an interesting and historic
spot, and tho antiquarian can profitably
spend days here. At every step his foct
presses into the earth relics of an extinct
race that would be welcome additions to*
any cabinet of curiosities, while the
towering mounds and acres of exposed
bones reveal an unwritten history of
power, skill and carnage. The country
around Scull Shoals must have been a
favorite burying ground for the Indians,
or a great battle-field where thousands
upon thousands perished.
It has not been a great many years
since the last wild deer was killed in this
section, ami in the early settlement of
the country it was a favorite hunting
ground for both whites and red skins.
Game of all kinds abounded here. But
a short distance from Antioch church
are some rocks that were famous deer
licks, and the impresses made by their
tongues are still plainly seen. Mr. Lowe
was a great coon hunter, but one night
he lost his bearings and after wandering
around for hours in the cold had to
strike a fire and camp. He was awful
hungry, and seeing a potato patch
near, stole a few hills of the
tubers and roasted (hem to
eat He pxssed a wretched night, and
earnestly prayed for light. At last day
broke, when the hunter found himself
camped within 200 yards of his house,
and it was his own potato patch that he
had robbed. It is not an uncommon
thing for experienced hunters to
get twisted around and lost in the most
familiar country at night
SHOUT NOTES.
Half way between the Lowe home
stead and tho Durham place a young
lady named Martiiidale dropped dead in
the road while coming from church,
and for years it was said that her white-
robed spirit haunted the spot That was
long years ago, however.
Mr. Berry Cochran does a fine mer
cantile business at Lowe’s store-house,
and is besides a large and auccessful
fanner. Berry Cochran is a first-class
man, it matters not where you put him
There are a great many beautiful
stones found in this section of Oconee,
some of which are thought to be of val -
ue. This is a matter that should be
looked into.
Mr. T. YV. Powell and family are
spending awhile at Watson’s spring.
Dr. Hester is trying to raise $10,000,
as an inducement to get the railroad to
go tty Salem. It is said that the route
will he changed for this sum.
There is a well OStfeet deep on the
old Durham place. It is walled with
circular brick.
We saw bevies of beautiful girls at
church, just budding into womanhood
The stock law is giving general satis
faction over the county.
Mr. Berry Cochran has bought the old
church, and will roil the building down
the hill and turn it into a store-house.
The father of Dr. E. S, Billups was
killed by the Indians in a fight below
Columbus, Gx
Messrs. Ed: Gordon and James Grif-
feth are in the field for the legislature.
YVe learn that Mr. F. P. Griffeth will
not be in ti>e race. Several dark horses
suit of clothes that he had land that
would this season make 2,500 pounds of
seed cotton per acre.
YVe qaw nee, sugarcane and tobacco
growing luxuriantly in Oconee.
• A young man from Morgan county
was at Antioch, Sunday, and says he
saw 1,600 hands at.work on the M. & A.
road near Shady Dale.
.Rrof-Stovall, son of onr esteemed friend
Mr. Ab. Stovall, of Hlbert, has a fine
school here, and he is highly spoken of
by every one.
Mr. Peck, an old Oconee boy, and now
agent for an Anniston, A lx, piper, was at
church Sunday.
If the canal at the mouth of Rose creek
was cut four feet deeper it would drain
thousands of acres of fine bottom lands.
WANTS A “ROPER-IN.”
a Florida schemer Wants to Entrap Mr.
, F. Fhlnlxy.
YVe yesterday received the following
“confidential” letter, that we treat with
the privacy such communications de>
serve. YVe will inform Mr. Sturdivant
that we make our spare change at a le
gitimate business, and not by trying to
entice our citizens into such wild-cat
schemes as he proposes. Besides, a fel
low must get up • before day when he
catches Mr. Phinizy mopping. Tho fol
lowing is the letter:
Woodbkidoe, Fla., Aug. 23d, 1885.
Mr. Editor. Dear Sir:—I learn you
have a very wealthy gentleman in your
town, Mr. F. Phinizy, who has a great
deal of ready cash, and probably would
be glad to make an investment in Flori-
dx Now just privately between us, I
would say if you can make a trade for
me in an Orange grove, or lots of unim
proved lands of 20 to 50 acres, finely lo
cated as to railroads, towns, etc., I will
g ve you one per cent commission. Y’ou
need not let any one know about our
transaction, but put in if you think ad
visable and try and make the deal.
Write me a receipt of this and what you
think of the chatfces, and if favorable
will forward you a descriptiou of prop-
property. Send copy of your paper and
oblige, yours respectfully,
E. T. Sturdivant.
POLITICS nt JACKSON.
From a gentleman from Jackson we
learn that politics are getting to a white
heat in Jackson, as regards the legisla
tive race. There are two organized, two
independents and two negroes in the
field: They are all working like beavers,
and fears are expressed that the split in
the democratic ranks will result in old
Jackson being represented in the gen
eral assembly. This would indeed be
deplorable, and it is hoped that the
friends of the democratic contestants
will proceed at once to inaugurate con
ciliatory measures by. which this end
may bo averted.
ATHENS BOOMING.
The Qrand Future for the Clastic City.
The word “booming” |has been manu
factured since the war, and whenever a
little town on the line of a railroad builds
a house, they represent the town as on a
boom. So far as Athens is concerned,
and if there is any city on the road of
pi ogress, we can certainly claim to be on
a boom and a big bo am at that YVe al
ready have two railroads,one to the north
and one to the south, which bring in mer
chandise from all parts of the world, and
carry out the products of our county to
other places in need of them. Not con
tent with this, the Macon & Athens road
is thundering at our gates and soon anv
ther line will compete for the freights of
our city.
The water works is the pride of our
city, and we can boast of the best in the
South.
The three large cotton factories are in
a thriving condition and the operatives
are content with their wages, and no ru
mor of a strike disturbs the factory pres
idents.
A large foundry is situated in our city
where everything from a ten penny nail
np to the largest steam engine is turned
out
The Elevator Mills grinds all the meal
and stock food for the city and furnishes
the people living along the lines of the
railroads from Tallulah Falls to the gates
of Augusta and Atlanta
The ice factory is keeping the people
cool, and large quantities are shipped to
all parts of the country.
Large and commodious warehouses
are centnllv located and the cotton crop
can be safely housed in fireproof ware
are tied out! Judge Jime Lyle will pro-
tobly be in the fiald/tlso.
Rev. YVm. Lowe says he can remem
ber when thrre was not a railroad in the
world. his is certainly a fast age.
The Elders is the largest family in
Oconee county, and*as an old citizen re
marked to us, “there his never been «
single black sheep in the flock.” They
are all honorable, good and reliable oiti-
YVe noticedsevcral young ladies and
gents playing mumble peg > during ser-!
vice Sunday gk Antioch.
Crops are fully as good, if hot a little
better, than Isstlyuar. 1 .
For open-handed hospitality, the peo
pie around Scqll ■ Shoals can beat the
world. ’ j, ’ A '*1 ' '* ■['
We learn that Messrs. Powell St Daven
port mads only J5G bushels of wheat ’ on
800 acres this year. They an giving' a
great deal of fine hay, however, and have
some good fields of both corn and cotton •
The bottom lands on Rose creek , have
filled in from four to ten feet in the > lxst
decade. 1.
The two banks keep plenty of money
on hand to move the crops.
Assn educational point Athens stands
at the head of any city in the South. The
University of Georgia has thrown open
her doors and any one can get an educa
tion who is able to pay board.
The Athens merchants all seem to be
in a prosperous condition and a large num
ber of drummers leave our city daily to
supply the wants of the merchants in the
different parts of this state and South
Carolina.
The prospect of opening the public
schools at an early day is promising, and
the superintendent is doing everything
in his power to make ita grand success
from the beginning.
Athens has a splendid chance to get
the school of technology, and if it ia lo
cated here we will be the centre of edu
cation.
The street cars are doing a good busi
ness and run from early morn until late
at night making connections with both
of the railroads.
The hotel accommodations are improv
ing daily, and if they keep on we cannot
he discontented in hotels,
a. There are various other industries and
enterprises in our city that would fill
columns and all prospering. If Athens is
not on a boom then we do not know what
a boom is.
WORKINO FOB ANOTHER RAILROAD.
Tho people of Hawkinsville are now
working to secure the Macon and Athens
railroad, and up to Monday morning last
over $22,000 had been subscribed by the
most solid men of the town. The Macon
and Athens is new being graded, and the
road will he extended south of Macon to
Florida, Drobably to Tampa Bay. A route
has been surveyed twelve or fifteen miles
west of Hawkinsville, and in order t»
have : the goad come by Hawkinsville a
delegation of citizens visited Col. Frobel
to find out what would be required of
our citizens to have the road pass through
our town. We think the Macon and Ath
ens road would be of more benefit to our
town and section than either of the oth
er roads spoken of.-oHawkinsvRle Dis
patch. ■: ... , -r,
>ut to married men of a small town
ri South Florida, says thejackjon-
vi >e Herald,wi H.th” ihquiry. -‘why
did you marry?” We give a few ol
the i^HI
“Because I am too lazy to work. :
I. V” 1
“Because Sarah to 1 tive
other young mqn bad proposed to
her. ■ B.”
•••fhe old man thought eight years
courtin’ was almost long en”u<;h.
B;”
“I was lonesome and melancholy,
and wanted somebody to make me
lively. N. B!—She makes me very
lively. D.”
“1 was tired of buying ice cream
and candies and going to theatres
and church, and wanted a rest.
Have aaved money.” J. C.” .
“Please don’t stir me up. J.”
“Because I thought she was one
among a thousand; now Isomev-."
times think she is a thousand among
one. E.”
"1 think it was because I was
cross-eyed; now I am afflicted with
two peirs of cross-eyes daily.
“Peter.”
“Because I did not have the expe
rience I have now. G. fl
“That’s the same fool question* 1
that my friends and neighbors-ask
mte. C.P.”
mi,—,,i ney than •
I knew what to ’do with. Now I
have more to do than I have money. 3m
B. D.” 7M
“I wanted a companion ot the op
posite sex. P. S.—She is still op
posite. Bob.” '
“Don’t mention it. F.”
“Had difficulty unlocking the
door at night and wanted somebody
to let me in. A.”
“I was embarrassed and gave my
wife the benefit of my name so that
I could take the benefit of her name
signed to a check. Scroggs.”
“Because it is just my luck.
P.J.”
“I did not intend to go to do it.
S”
“I yearned for company. We
now have it all the time. Karl.”
“Have exhausted all the figures
in the arithmetic to figure out an ’
aoswer*to your question. Between
multiplication and division in the
family and distraction in addition,
the answer is hard to arrive at
Old Man.”
“I married to get the best wife
in the world. Simon.”
Because I asked her if she’d
have me. She said she yrould. I
think she’s got me. M. V. W.”
Nogales, Arizona, August ai.—
News has just reached here that
while negotiations were pending
between the Mexican authorities
and Geronims, near Arizpe, tbe
Mexicans quietly surrounded the
Indians and now beve them where
there is no possibility of escape.
Geronimo has been notified that the
only terns will be an unconditional
surrender. Captain Lawton has: T; .!
been notified and is now moving to- ^
wards Arizpa.
Judge Stewart carried Newton
county by a unanimous vote.
'1
Annie, the eighteen-year-old
daughter of James Bean, a farmer
living at Coplay, Lehigh county,
was to have been married a few
days ago to George La.nson, a young
merchant of Coplay. Miss Bean
had a favorite Jersey cow which *
she called Daisy and which.
sl.e always milked herself. At
milking time on the day previ- ■”
ous to her wedding a thnnder
shower came up. The girl took
her milk pail and started for the
barn.
_ “I am to milk Daisie for the last
time,” she said to her mother as she
went out of the door. While Miss
Bean was in the barn milking
lightning struck the bam. The
I'iri’s father ran to the barn. The
iolt had killed Both the girl and
cow.
Another startling chapter in the
notorious Robinson Smith poison-
jng case was developed this morn
ing in the announcement of the ar
rest of Dr. C. C. Beers, of Boston,
on the charge of murdering—in
conjunction with Mrs. Sarah Jane
Robinson, the latter’s daughter,
Lizzie A. Robinson, by administer
ing poison to her. The mother is
now in jail on the charge of poison
ing her son, William J. Robinson.
A VERY SAD STORY.
A Young Lady Dies From Fright and Ex
haustion.
Chattanooga, Aug. ao.—A sin
gular and very sad story comes
from Morgan county. Mias Louisa
Voss, daughter of one of the lead
ing families of the county, was
teaching a school nearKUmet. Yes
terday afternoon she received word
that her mother had been taken
dangerously ill. The young lady
would not wyut to secure a convey
ance, and ran rapidly home. Just
as she reached the doorstep at home
she fell dead from fright and ex
haustion, and her mother lived but
a short time.
TELEGRAPHIC SPARKS.
A dispatch from Battle Creek,
Mich., aaya a collision occurred on
the Michigan Central road, six
miles from there.
Colonel Robert L. Taylor, demo
cratic nominee for governor of Ten
nessee, called on Secretary T--mar,
and tendered h:a resignation aa pen
sion agent at Knoxville.
A report from Halifax says the
schooner Millie B. went ashore on
the southeast point of Port Monton
Island. Two'lives were lost.
The government has decided to
remove from Ar.zona the members
of the Chirichuaat'.d Warm Springs
bands of Apaches. It is thought
that they, will be pla> ed at the mili
tary reservation at S’. Augustine.
London, Aug. 2;.—The Porte
has ordered that universal Mussel-
man conscription lie proceeded
with immediately, «ud that reserves
be summoned for set vice. The oc
cupation of frontiers of Macedonia
and Roumelian, has been ordered.
Mr. Pleasant A. Stovall, who f
the past ten yests has been engagt
gn the- Augusta Chronicle, h;
bought a halt interest in the Athei
Banner-Watchman. Athens is
glowing city, and presents a fit
field for the exercise of. those qua
ficauons that characterize the su
cessful journalist. Pleas! will filltl
full measure ot usefulness possib
to a journalist. He has a coi
scientious regard for the grave
sponsibilities ot the post, and 1 ’ t
supply the mental ferce propor> (
ed to the train of consequencf, c *
he drawn. • The News and Ac. Co
tiser, in common with all the Stai
press, extends congratulations to tl
city of Athens on such a promisin
corabinaiion as Gantt & .Stovall.-
Albany News. 1 * *- 'V -• 1 T
The Irish delegates have sailed
for Europe.
IKDINOANT CITIZENS;
Mr, Albin YVilson, of WatkinsTiil
M-as in the city yesterday, and **ys tl
county is aroused over Judge Thrasher
declaration, and even the men who vo
e.l for liquor condemn him as strongly I
the prohibitionists, He will \0 presen
ed to the grand jury for malpractice i
office.