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VOLUME V.
A STRANGE AFFAIR.
At a wayside iuD, ou the old road that
ran between Philadelphia and C ,
in the State of Pennsylvania, a very
carious affair occured in the fall of 1797.
Ole dark, rainy, disagreeable night, a
mouuted traveler, well muffled up in a
great coat, with its broad cape turned
over iiia head like a cowl, his chin and
lower part of his face buried in a bandana
haulcerchief, and with a broad black
patch over his right eye, rode up to
the tavern and called for supper and
lodging. At the largo fire burning in
the cliimnev of the bar room he sat and
warmed, and dried himself, while his
meal was being prepared, without re
moving any of his garments, not even so
much as his hat, and when the lanlord at
length announced that his repast was
ready, ho simply remarked:
“I have a severe pain in my face, so
you must excuse my going to the table
as I am.”
He ate his supper in silence, showed
no disposition for conversation, called
for a strong glass of water, and soon
asked to be conducted to his bed-room.
‘I may as well leave my iiocket book
and watch in your posession till morn
ing,’ at the same time handing these
articles to the host, who took them with
some reluctance, saying:
‘I reckon they’d be quite as safe here
with yourself—though I’ll keep them for
you if you wish me to.’
‘You’ll obligo me by doing so,’ rejoin
ed the stranger.
‘Well, then,’ said the inn-keeper, I
must know how much money you’ve got
here, if I’ve got to be responsible for it.’
‘Please open the pocket book, then,
and count for yourself,’ returned tlio
stranger. ’
The host did so, and said:
‘I make it two hundred and fifteen
dollars.’
‘Right!’ rejoined the traveler, ‘and
while lam about it, I may as well add
this purse which contains tifty-ono dol
lars in specie.’
The landlord also counted the coin,
part gold and part silver, said the
amount was right, and went out, bidding
the other good-night.
About two o’clock in the morning, a
neighbor living within a stone’s throw
of the tavern, and who chanced to bo
up with a sick child, fancied lie heard
above the roar of the storm, which had
increased in violence, a wild shriek, fol
lowed by two cries of ‘Help! Murder!’
He was a rather timid man, and was
much alarmed. He blew out his light
cautiously opened the door, looked out,
and listened. The storm beat iu his
face and howled around his dwelling,
but he could sec nothing, not even a
light at tire inn, and he heard nothing
more that sounded like a human voice.
He shut the door and fastened it, and
then woke up liis wife and told her all.
She was a woman of unusual nerve and
courage, and after putting a few qucs u
tions, replied with a yawn:
Oh, Jim, it was one of your fancies.
You are always hearing something that
nobody else does. Just think how many
times you have hunted the house over
for robbers since I’ve lived with you!
Just tend to Mary, will you, and let me
get a little sleep, for you I didn’t have
.any last night.’
* ‘I know it wasn’t a fancy, but a real
human cry,’ grumbled the man, as he
walked away aud allowed his drowsy
spouse to return to her dreams.
The dull leaden gray of morn ing was
jmt beginning to dispel the inky black
ness of the stormy night, when the land
lord < f the wayside inn was aroused by a
series of thundering knocks upon the
outer door of his habitation. He sprang
out of bed, hastily drew on his trousers
and boots, took bis waiscoat in his hand,
and hurried down to wait on liis sup
posed customers. On opening the
door he found himself confronted
by two rough looking men, well muffled
up again-st tho storm, which as yet had
scarcly abated its fury. The horses
panting, splashed with mud, with droop
ing head?, were hitched to the nearest
post, aud showed by their looks that
they had been ridden very fist and far
‘Dal a mounted traveler stop at this
inn last night?’ abruptly inquired one of
the two.
‘Yes,’ wa3 the answer.
‘ls he here still?’
‘He ip.’
‘Will you describe liis appearance?’
‘As well as I cm,’ said the wondering
host, ‘for I didn’t see much of his face;’
aud he not only proceeded with a de
scription of his person, but added al]
the traveler had said and done, includ
ing the affair of the money.
‘I think Ave’ve got him this time,’
said the one who had addressed the land
lord, turning to his companion.
‘lt looks like it,’ was the reply; but
he’s no doubt a desperate fellow, but
we must proceed with all c.utioii till we
make all sure.’
“Hark you, landlord!’ said the first
speaker, iu a low tone, ‘a woid in your
private ear. We are officers of justice
from Philadelphia, in pursuit of a bank
robber, and we suspect your strange
guest to be the man we seek. Here is
the warrant for his arrest. Now con
duce us quietly to liis.room, and if need
be, assist in s(.curing him.
‘Certainly,’ said the host, turning
somewhat pale, as it was afterward re
membered, and seeming not little
agitated.
‘Walk iu, gentlemen—this way,
gentlemen.’
He conducted them into the bar
room, and hurriedly struck a light, for
it was yet too dark to see anything dtr
tiuctly.
‘I hope the fellow has not heard us,’
said one of the officers, drawing a pistol,
while the other produced a pair of
handcuffs.
‘I hcqje it won’t be necessary to
shoot, gentlemen,’ said the host, with
increased agitation.
‘We will go up softly and try his door,’
said the officer with the pistol,’ and if
we find it fast, perhaps it would be
better for us to remain on guard and
wait till he comes out himself.’
The host, light in hand, led the way,
though with seeming reluctance, as if
not over anxious. On reachiug the
door, which the three parties had ap
proached, with light, stealthy steps, the
landlord tried it very gently, aud find
ing it unfastened, slowly pushed it
open and went iu, followed by the offi
cers. The next moment the innkeeper
exclaimed, in the voice of alarm and
agitation:
‘Gracious heavens! what’s the meaning
of this?’
The bed was tumbled but vacant—no
traveler was there, and the sheets and
pillow-cases were stained with blood.
The officers looked meaningly at each
other, and then at the host, who, pale
and trembling, sunk half fainting upon
the nearest seat. For a few moments
there was a deep and ominous silence,
aud then one of the officers said slowly,
and with pointed emphasis:
‘Landlord, this is very strange,’
‘The strangest thing ever I knew,’
fairly gasped the innkeeper, .glaLciug
around in frightened bewilderment.
“Where can the man have gone to?’
‘And this blood, too,’ sternly chim
ed the officer; ‘what does this mean, if
not some foul play?’
‘o,h, gentlemen, said the host, iu a
low' tremulous tone, ‘I hope you don’t
suspect me, for I’m as innocent as the
child unborn. And now I remember,
too, when I went to the door to let you
in, I found it wasn’t fattened, and I am
right sure I fastened it myself before
I went to bed.’
‘We certainly do suspect you, sir,’
said the officer; ‘for how can we help it,
since the man is gone, aud you have
confessed, and you have his money in
your possession?’
‘But he gave me the money to keep
for him,’ cried the frightened host,
‘and I have got it yet,’
‘Undoubtedly you have; but that, you
see, so far from proving you know
nothing of the-affair, only tends to make
the matter worse for you.’
‘Perhaps lie’s about yet somewhere,
suggested the innkeeper; ‘if lie’s a bank
roober, and heard your knocks, he’d be
quite likely to hide himself or mu away,
I should think.’
The idea was worthy of attention, and
a search for the misUng man w’as forth
with begun. On looking under the bed,
blood was discovered on the floor, and
the trail of this was found to lead out of
the room, down stairs, and out of the
front door, showing that the object of
search, either living or dead, had gone
out of the house. Beyond the building
there were no traces, for tho storm had
obliterated them. The hostler was call
ed, the only other man about the house,
but he appeared to be a stupid fellow,
and evidently knew nothing of the matter,
and a look into the* barn showed the
stranger’s horse yet there.
About an hour later the neighbor
mentioned came over to the inu. in
agitation and alarm, said there was a
man lying l y the roadside and also
stated what he had heard during the
night.
Throughout that thinly peopled
section the news spread rapidly, and be
fore night a large number cf excited
spectators, including the sheriff, coroner,
and two magistrates, had collected at the
inn. An inquest was held, and a
verdict rendered in accordance with the
facts, aud although there was no direct
evidence against the landlord, yet sus
picion so strongly pointed at him as the
murderer, that he was taken into cus
tody and committed fc>r trial.
In due time the trial came on, but the
jury could not agree, and he Mas fi lally
discharged. A second trial resulted like
the first, and the innkeeper, whose name
was Willians, was kept in prison for over
a year.
How the affair would eventually have
terminated had the mystery had not
been cleared up iu an unexpected man
ner ,it is impossible to saA 7 ; but ere the
time for # the third trial arrived, a
stranger appeared before the magistrate
of the c maty, and deposed that he Avas
the individual who had lodged at the
inn on the night ( f the murder, and for
taking whose life the landlord was still in
pnsem
In the douse of ins evidence he stated
that lie had been a merchant in Phila
deljriiia, aalio, finding himself ou the eve
of failure, had / collected a large nmeunt
of money, run away, and that all tn.ee
of himself might be lost, and hi3 death
expected he adopted the plan ( f putting
a small part of liis money in the bauds of
the innkeeper, ostensibly for safe keep-
CAKTEESVILLE, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1886.
ing, and secretly departing in the night
on foot, not supposing anything very
serious would result to the landlord from
this source of action. On getting up
somewhere about midnight, his nose
had set to bleeding which would ex
plain the traces of blood he had left be
hind him. He had made his way to
Baltimore, and thence sailed to Havana,
where he was so fortunate in his spec
ulations as to return and settle with all
his creditors. On coming borne ml
giving an account of his adventure to a
friend, he for the first time learned with
horror cf the almost fatal consequences
to the innkeeper for liis unjustifiable
disappearance, and bad hastened to
make what reparation lay in his power.
His testimony was subsequently cor
roborated ou all important points, and
the innkeeper was honorably discharged,
to the great relief and joy of his sympa
thizing friends. Asa partial recompense
for what he had suffered on liis account,
the merchant made him a present of the
horse and money he had left with him,
and twe thousand dollars besides.
But the clearing up of one part cf
this strange affair seemed only to involve
the other in deeper mystery. A murder
had surely been committed, but by
whom, and wlio was the unfortunate?
Even this, in the course of time, was
gjso manifest. Some years after a vil
lain under sentence of death confessed
that lie was a pardner of the bank rob
ber and that having made an equal
division of the spoils, they had agreed to
leave the city by different routes aud
ageed to meet at an appointed place;
that, eager to secure tiie whole of the
booty, he had secretly taken his
partner’s rood instead of the one agreed
upon, and had waylaid and had murdered
him within a few rods of the tavern kept
by Williams, who, by being arrested for
the crime, had drawn off all suspicion
from himself.
Thus were the records of the deeds cf
that tempestuous night eventually
brought to light, and the innocent cleared
and the guilty detected and punished.
THE SHREWD MAINE MAN.
“Uncle Stead” is what they called a
shrewd old gentleman who used to live in
Winthrop, a little way out of the village,
up the side of the pond near Readfield.
One of hi3 fellow citizens was a man
named Lovejoy, Uncle Stead met Love
joy in the village one day, and said to
him: “Lovejoy, there's a poor woman
living out on the edge of town that needs
some provisions. I’m willing to supply
her, but I’ve sold my horse and have no
means of getting the stuff to her. Now
I’ll buy her a barrel of flour and a ham
and some other supplies, if you’ll cairy
them out to her with your team.”
Loyejoy said, certainly, he’d be glad to
do it. Accordingly, UnclejStead bought
a barrel of flour, a ham, a bucket of sugar,
etc., and, telling Lovejoy where the wo
man lived, sent him off on the errand of
charity with the good things in his cart.
Lovejoy easily found the house where
the woman lived. He unloaded the goods,
puffing like a grampus as rolled the barrel
of flour in, and said to the woman:
“Mr. Steadman sent you thesr provis
ions. He’s a mighty kind-hearted man to
send you all these things.”
‘,Well,ldo not know why he should
not send them to me !” exclaimed the
woman in surprised accents. He’s my
husband !”
DIGNIFIED JUDGE.
We will stop taking testimony for ten
minutes, said a Dakota justice of the
peace, removing his coat, during which
time the court will lick the attorney for
the defense. The constable will please
remove the chairs and small boy, as we
propose to lay him down on the floor
about twenty times. When a lawyer re
fers to this court as a square-cornered
sage hen of the alkali desert, and accused
it of having been bought by the prosecu
tion for $2.50, lie will find that this judi
cial body is loaded for game found only
in the tall timber, b’ars gentleman, large
grizzly b’ars. We propose to maintain
our dignity while setting on this here nail
keg—er bench, and will do so if we have
to stay at home circus day and pound
lawyers. And if we can’t do it alone we
iutend to invoke the power of the United
States and get backed up by the supreme
court and regular army. If the attorney
for the defense has auy friends in the
room, they will be given an apportunity
to shake hands with him and take any
instructions he may wish to send to liis
family. The gentlemen will please form
a ring, and Ave would direct the constable
to pull him off if ha attempts to bite cr
pull hair. Take ypur position for tha
court is a coming!
One-half of the children born into the
world die before they reach the age of five
years.
An Atkinson girl ate four pounds of
wedding cake in order that she might
dream of her future husband. And now
she says money wouldn't hire ner to
marry tho man she saw in that dream.
Husband (impatiently to Avife)— l told
you I only wanted half a cup of tea, and
as usual, you’ve filled it to the top. Don’t
you know Avliat half-full is? Mother-in
law (grimly)—She ought to by this time.
“Don’t prevaricate, sir,” thundered a
judge to a witness from the mines. “Can
not help it, judge,” answered the miner.
“Ever since I got a kick from a mule that
knocked my teeth out I prevaricate a
gnat deal.”
JEFFERSON DAVIS..
SOME INTEHESTIN G REMINIS
CENCES OF THE
Early Life of the Confederate Leader—
The Boy at School, and the Sol
dier on the Battle Field.
Woodville, Miss — Speaking of Jeffer
son Davis as Franklin Pierce’s Secretary
of War, “Old Fogy” says he “was born in
Christian county, Ky , June 4,1808,” and
that “he graduated pt West Point Military
Academy in 1828 thence there is space
in the childhood and youth of this after
eventful life of aboift 20 years that it can
but interest and iuMruct your readers to
till. From the tim| of his entering the
political arena Jefferson Davis’ career has
been so identified with Mississippi that
the fact, khoAvn to comparatively few at
best, that he was born in Kentucky, is
lost sight of. He Avas not only born, but
partly educated there. In filling the void
spoken of his patriotic descent and blood
will show for itself, tbr his father, Samuel
Davis, a native Georgian, was a soldier in
the American Revolution at seventeen
years ot age, and two of his elder broth
ers, Samuel and Isaac, when mere youths,
like Cincinnatus and Israel Putnam, left
their plows and their farm Avork to en
gage in the second struggle of Uncle Sam
with England. Jefferson Davis was then
a child here. When he was about four
years of age his father went from Chris
tian county, Ky., to Attakapas, La., with
his family, where the experience of a sum
mer’s sickness in that humid atmosphere
caused him to seek a home in the hills,
which he found in Wilkerson county,
Miss., a short distance from Woodville.
As soon as lie was old enough to go to
school his son Jefferson became a day
scholar at what was called the Academy,
not far south of Woodville, and about two
and one-lialf miles from his residence.
He walked to and from school, and at
times, when his younger . nephew, Hugh
Davis, would become tired by the way
side and fret, as tired children will, he
would pack him on his back. Ah ! these
were happy school-boy days, in anew,
wild and romantic land, where Indians
Avere still to be seem and bears, panthers,
wolves, foxes and squirrels in plenty.
“Of all the friends- Who Avere schoolmates
then,” John B. Slierrel,of Woodville, may
say, as BeD Boll’s friend said to him in
the song, “There remain,” Jeff, “but you
and I,” for I cannot recall another living
man that I have heard >va3 his school
mate. At every visit Jefferson Davis has
made to Wilkinson county he has in
quired for John Brown, as he was called
at school—his full baptismal name being
John Brown Sherrel—and they have al
ways met and talked over school-boy
days. Jefferson Davis remained at the
academy under the tutorship of Mr. Shaw
until that worthy teacher pronounced
him a graduate, so far as his course of in
struction reached, Avhen lie was sent to
Transylvania College, Lexington; Ky.,
where he graduated, and then was admit
ted to the West Point Academy, Avhere
‘Old Fogy” has him graduated in 1828.
In my boyhood 1 saw the noted Indian
captives Black Hawk, Keokuk and Prop’ll
et, on board the steamboat Warrior, at the
whart at St. Louis, where I and the other
school-boys, hearing of the “big injuns,”
ran doAvn to the river for a sight. Jeffer
son Davis was on board with other army
officers, but I did not know and had nev
er heard of him then. The first time I
ever met him to know him was in 1845, in
Woodville and vicinity, when lie was can
vassing for Congress. I was then accli
mating for residence in Mississippi or
Louisiana. Then it was I made his ac
quaintance. He spoke in the Court
House at Woodville; spoke of his boy
hood’s home, of his alma mater, Shaw’s
Academy, of his beloved old county, pass
ing on to tne political topics of the time.
I Avas impressed with the soundness of his
Democracy, his strict construction views,
in connection with Avhieh he related the
French King who wdslied to know of the
commandant of the harbor why he did
not fire a'salute when he and his suite ap
proached the town, avlio answered : “Par
don me, sire, for 200 reasons; first, I had
not the powder.”
“Ah !” replied the king, “that will do,
you need not state the other 199.” So
said Mr. Davis: “ When I say there
s no powder iu the Constitution for a
tariff for protection, or for the chartering
of a national bank, 1 do not see that I am
called upon to give the other 199 reasons
against these measures.” At that time 1
thought I was a Whig. Two years later
I became convinced I must be a Demo
crat, without having known it. I have
said I Avas impressed. I was even more
surprised that a retired army officer, then
a cotton planter, never having been a
lawyer, or member o fa legislative body,
should have been a fine speaker, nay, so
great an orator. When the election came
for field efficers for the First Mississippi
Regiment for the Mexican war, although
in Congress at Washington, not a volun
teer Captain, he avis cho c ei Co’onel,
while none but Captains of companies
cjuld be elected Lieutenant Colonel and
Major. McClung and Bradford had out
side opposition, but it was ofn avail;
they were selected. Mr. Davis was hoist
ed over the head of all aspirants by ac
clamation as easily as the ensign hoisted
his regimental flag over th ir heads.
When I saw ex-Lieutenant, ex-Congress
man Jefferson Davis next he was Col.
Jefferson Davis, of the First Mississippi
Riflemen. It was at New Orleans, where
he came to join his regiment in July,
1840. I never lost sight of him auy more
until the return from Mexico, except f r
a few days at a time, and during his tem
porary absence to the States on furlough
afrer the battle of Monterey, and long be
fore that of Buena Vista. There are
things he Avell merits to haA 7 e praise as an
officer and soldier in connectionwith
these great battles which I would like
much to say, because history has about as
little portrayed the knightly valor of this
statesman, when in arms on the fields in
Mexico, as the real height of a colossal
statue is seen on the fop of St. Peter's
church, more than 471 feet above the
earth, but I can say no more, at least not
now 7 , for fear of trespassing on your val
uable space. Old Fogy No 1.
MAMIE LITTLE.
A Girl of Very Hud Character.
Ilawkmsville News,
Last Aveek’s issue of the News contain
ed a lengthy account of the lynching of
Jim Moore an ex-poheeman of Macon, for
an alleged assault the person of
Mamie Little. It has been shown since
that the girl is of a very bad character—a
common postitute and black mailer of the
Avorst type. Judging the matter from the
account given of the girl by the Millen
Beacon, we are led to believe that the
lynching of Moore Avas a very unfortun
ate, horrible and hasty affair, and it shows
that mob law should not be resorted to
only in instances where proof is positive
that a heinous crime has been committed
and were summary punishment is fully
deserved. It now seems that Moore was
lynched for no other crime than being
drunk and disorderly and falling into the
clutches of a prostitute and blackmailer,
the most despicable of characters. The
Millen Beacon, publislisd at the former
home of the girl, gives her character as
follows:
In Millen she was expelled in disgrace
from some half dozen places. She was
requested to leave Mr. Ab ler Belcher’s
because she stopped out will a negro
boy very late one night! she was driven
from Mr. VY. J. Kelly’s for inviting a well
known gentleman to meet her there; she
was turned out from Mr. Sexton’s for act
ing in a manner more '■ ■fiMin.; a profes
sional prostitute than a decent girl, and
for similar reasons was shown the door at
Mrs. McClellan’s. She was constantly
seen around negip brothels here, and
even had the impudence to invite Mr.
Kelly with her into one of them. The
girl said she had an uncle living neai ttiis
place. We withhold the name of this
gentleman for the obvious reason that lie
and all his family—with this one noto
rious exception—bear a very enviable
reputation wherever they are known.
This uncle is personally acquainted with
the proprietor of this paper, and called at
our office Tuesday morning Avhen he
made the following statement:
“It is perfectly true that the girl is my
niece, though it is painful to admit it, for
she is one of the most disreputable of gil ls;
she is capable of doing anything bad, and
has brought terrible disgrace upon her
family. There is nothing too bad for me
to believe about her. I will toil you her
history, so that you may see that she lied
when she said that she had to
do anything for her. Her mother was my
sister, and married a man named Little,
much against our family’s wishes. The
young couple took up their abode in
North Carolina, but just about the close
of the war revenue officers got after Lit
tle for moonshining, deprived him of every
thing, and he had to flee the State, togeth
er with his Avife, on foot and by stealthy
mirclus, so as to evade every possible
danger of arrest. They tramp ed as far as
Tennessee, and in the piny Avoods
there, on a bed ot straAv, mamie Little Avas
born. So soon as possible the party
again took their tramp to St. Louis; on
arriving there Little found employment
upon a steamboat on the river, Of course
Sarah, my sister, terribly disgraced her
self by marrying Little, but her father did
all he could to help her. Shortly after
Little went to work he suddenly disap
peared, and to this day nothing has been
heard of him. Mrs. Little’s relatives
helped her to return to Savannah, Avhere
she died soon afterwards. Relatives mades
up a purse for the little gjrf and sent her
to Ogeechee. The girl’s statement as to
where she was raised is absolutely false.
She was raised by Mrs. Mary Lewis, her
aunt, in Scriven county. I want this to
be distinctly understood. The aunt died
three years ago and so soon as this hap
pened she was offered a home by myself,
by relatives and Mr. George Gannan, ot
S riven county, as avcll as by others. She
must have been about eighteen when ) er
aunt Lewis died, and is therefore, about
twenty-one now, She would accept none
of the offers made her, but preferred wan
dering around. She lias now no relative's
by the name of Powell. I had heard sev
eral ugl) 7 rumous about her, but the first
time I personally saw anything wrong Avas
in this town during fhe January freeze.
She was then entering a certain house
late at night in company with a gentle
man. She lived with me a short time,
but as she was given to talking black
guardly wi 7 h a man living with mer, I
thought it best for her to leave. Even
then I had no suspscion as to her chastity.
How she got her money to wander about
was a mystery to me for some tftne,
though a few months ago I heard that
she had been to Colonel Rogers, of the ■
Central railroad, and begged a pass to
come to vour town. This favor Colonel
Rogers granted. lam so disgusted with
the girl that if such a proceeding could be
tolerated aud committee of five gentle
men appointed to see fair play. I wool i
run her down to the river aid drown
her.”
The Little girl left two daguerreotype
portraits of Ri°rself iti-this toAvn, one of
which was forwarded by the j roprietor of
this paper to a prominent gentleman of
the Central City, who went out to the
present refuge of the girl, and identified
her as the original of the portrait. This
was done on Wednesday night or Thurs
day morning. Will not this fact of itself
suffice to satisfy the incredulous that the
cause of all the trouble in question is the
soiled dove that our town was glad to see
the back of?
CHARLESTON’S LOSS.
THE DAMAGES ESTIMATED AT FIVE
MILLIONS.
The Dead and Wounded —Great Damage
to Railroads—A Night in the
Streets—Prayer Meetings.
Charleston, S. C.; September I.— The
first short of the earthquake was felt ap
proaching last night at 9:50, aDd before
the people could realize what the trouble
Avas, they found themselves being thrown
around and their houses falling down on
them.
Every one ran screaming into the streets,
and in a few seconds the city Avas wild
with human beings perfectly crazed with
fright. On all sides one could hear excla
mations such as “My God, save us!” “God
have mercy on us sinners.” People could
be seen kneeling everywhere in groups
offering up prayers. The first shock was
followed immediately by another, though
of less effect, but renewing the screams
and shrieks, and from the time of the be
ginning to daylight shocks Avere felt at
intervals of half an hour; but each suc
ceeding one being less distinct. Three or
four fires started in at many sections with
the first shock and the city *was soon il
luminated with flames, thus leading all to
believe that what was left by the earth
quake would be devoured by fire. How
ever, the fire department was so well di
vided and handled that the lires were
gotten under control by daylight.
From fifteen to tAventy residences and
stores were consumed.
The loss by fire and earthquake cannot
be accurately estimated, but can be
placed safely at five millions of dollars.
As far as could be ascertained during the
night, fifteen to twenty were killed and a
much greater number wounded in all
sorts of ways,
The loss of human Jlife will be
and it will take several days to get at the
accurate number.
Shocks equally as severe were felt at a
distance of 35 miles, and have done ines
timable damage to railroad and telegraph
properties. Charleston is now entirely
isolated from the outside world.
another shock.
Charleston, September I —At 6
o’clock this afternoon the entire popula
tion of Charleston was out in the square,
prepared to undergo another night of hor
ror. They were not disappointed. At
5:15 the usual premonitory symptoms of
an earthquake were heard, and a few
minutes later another wave passed
through the city. No additional damage
was done, but the women and children,
who are lying out in the open air, were
horribly agitated. There are three or
four steamers in port, and many of the
inhabitants are provided with berths on
these boats. Fortunately, the weather
has been good, and the hardships are not
as severe as they might haye been. The
situation, however, is becoming horrible
A community cut off from communication
with the rest of the world, afflicted from
the prospect of immediate death, is the
condition of this people. No trains have
departed here in twenty-four hours. It is
said that the railroads leading into the
city are broken. The statement is that
all railway tracks are twisted into the
shape of snakes.
A NIGHT IN THE STREETS.
Charleston, S. C., September 1. —The
whole city is camped out and it is in a
terrible state of expectation. It is exactly
twenty four hours since the terrible, falal
shock of earthquake visited this unfortu
nate city. The negroes have taken pos
session of all the parks and vacant lots
and are holding exhorting prayer meet
ings. It is as well to state that all the
loss of life and al 1 the damage to property
was caused by the shock last night at 9:55.
Since that time no one has been killed
and no additional property destroyed,
although the city is in a state of terror
owing to the repealed and continued
shocks.
It is impossible at tl is time to give de
tails as to casualties, for the reason that
none of the officials charged with the
keeping of such records are in the city.
In addition to this, most of the dead aie
buried in the debris, and no regular relief
parties have been engaged to dig them
out.. Unfortunately, the mayor of the
city is in Europe, and his place is indif
ferently filled. The chief of police, too,
seems to lie totally unable to meet the sit
uation. The shock occurred at 5:15. It
is now 10:15 p. m., and the peopie are be
ginning to hope that the worst is over.
ANOTHER SEVERE SHOCK.
Charleston, September 1, 11:45 p, m.—
Reported shocks of earthquake of a mild
character are passing to the west of the
city. A rumbling noise can be heaid dis
tinctly, but. no disturbances are felt. The
whole population is awake and the col
ored folks engaged in religious exercises.
Among the whites hopes are generally en
tertained that the crisis is oyer. It Avill
be understood how impossible it is to fur
nish figures when it is understood that
all streets are blockaded and travel
through the debris is impossible, except
with great difficulty and apparent peril.
At this moment another rather severe
shock lias just passed over the city, shak
ing down several houses.
AN ESTIMATE OF THE LOSS.
Charleston, September I.—Owing to
the demeralized condition of everything
here, It is impossible to give correct fads
further than this: The number of casual
ties his not yet been ascertained —proba-
dly from thirty to forty killel; over 100
injured. The loss to property Avill prob
ably reach eight or ten million dollars.
Three fourths of the buildings in the city
NUMBER 17
will have to he rebuilt.
1 here was very little shipping in the
poit, ami none of it was injured. The
disturbances have not at all affected the
water in the harbor. Although it is evi
dent that all shocks came from the south
easterly direction, and therefore from the
soa, there are no signs of a tidal wave as
yet.
ANOTHER SEVERE BHOCK.
Later.— H:sop.m., another shock has
just passed over the city, rather more se
vere than any since that of last night at
J:-vO, knocking down several houses.
A MORNING SCENE in AUGUSTA.
As the train pulled Into Augusta in the
cool gray of the morning, a remarkable
scene was disclosed. The center of Broad
street was filled with boxes on which
people had slept all night. On Greene
street there were hasty beds under the
trees, from which early risers were seen
getting up. I recognized the members of
several families I knew sleeping on the
piazzas. The sidewalk at the Planters’
hotel was filled with chairs in which men,
women and children M ere asleep. Cov
ered with shawls and bed clothing, they
made a curious sight. I saw Mayor May
and his family at barely daybreak walk
ing the street, and Capt. Lettuce, of the
Central road, whom we sought, had not
been in his house at all. We met him
and his family on the streets. A little
later Ave saw breakfasts being served in
piazzas. A touching melancholy per
vaded, and the faces of women and chil
dren, paled from exhaustion and anxiety
were pitiful to lock upon. A sad sight it
was to see babies in their improvised beds
asleep on the streets. The tender care of
mothers had been exhausted in the en
deavor to care lbr their little ones. The
children M ere to be seen in twos, threes,
and larger numbers, sleeping after the ex
periences ot one of the most terrible nights
ever known. The house of Hon. Clay-
Foster, which is frame, was filled last
night with fifty persons who refused to
stay in their houses of brick. They slept
on the floors, on the piazzas and on the
back steps.
THE ROAD TO CHARLESTON,
Augusta, September 2.—lt is impossible
to learn anything definite here about get
ting to Charleston. The railroad seems to
be under the general paralysis. The of
ficials know nothing and say less. Large
sums of money are offered for transporta
tion to Charleston, but avail nothing.
People have gone out in carriages to the
breaks on the various roads, only to be
turmd back. The trouble is there are so
many breaks on the roads into Charleston
that transfers cannot be made. Attemj ts
have been made to get to Beaufort, and
hire a tug there, but unavailing. No
tugs will venture out to sea while the
earthquakes are around. The road from
Yemassee to Charleston is completely
blocked. It is said the road bed has sunk
several feet and that the heat has expand
ed and misplaced the rails. The demand
for transportation to Charleston is over
whelming, but no passenger has yet gone
through. Superintendent Brenner, ol the
Western Union, has been along the line
of the Soutii Carolina road for two days,
and has not yet reached Charleston.
NEWS ITEMS.
It is one of the easiest things in the
world to make a blunder, but how hard
it is sometimes to repair one.
The Courier Journal says the receipts
of the government since July Ist have
been nearly four million dollars greater
than during the same period last year.
These figures are takeu as an indication
of the good state of business throughout
the country.
The other day a would-be fashionable
lady called at a neighbor’s at what she
thought would be supper time. “Come
in,” said the neighbor, “we are haviDg a
tableaux.” “I’m so glad,” said the visitor,
“I thought I smelt ’em, and I like them
better than anything for supper.’’
This extract from a letter to the com
missioner of pensions shows how deep the
and. ag net is reaching: “Can twins git a
penshun when one is dead and the other
is a girl? Let me know afore my ole man
dies who has get misery in his stummick.”
What is the best method of feeding cat
tle in winter? We don’t know\ One
man might prefer to take an ox in his lap
and feed him with a spoon. Others
would bring him into the dining room
and let him sjt at the tabic with the old
folks. Tastes differ in matters of this
kind.
Oh, yes, editors ay ill all go to heaven,
and how blessed is the privilege, amidst
the toils ami fatigues of our earthly so
journ, to look forward to the city and far
off land whither we are hastening, to as
cend the mount of promise, anel. with the
power of faith to discern the good country
which the saviour has prepared for us.
The force of habit was strikingly illus
trated-in Palatka a few days since by an
artist. He had been called in to take the
photograph of a colored baby who had
died the night before, and after adjusting
his camera lie vug, ■>v rto Urn c ueb n
which the child lay and arranged ihe
drapery to suit, him, and just a.- he started
back to his instrument he said: “Nuw,
don’t move!”
If you do not want trouble in churning
because the butter will not come, see that
your cows have all the salt they want.
This used to be an old-fashioned remedy
for hard churuiim, and it was offe n a good
one. The secret is that a certain amount
of salt is needed to keep the cow s system
in a healthy condition, and the blood
limoid and flowing, ealt a constant
constituent ot the blood, unu. in
about the same proportion. Any lacK of
it in the system woe! t< nd to a thicken
ing of the blood m and to the production of
a feverish condition of the cow. Put salt
where she can go and lick it at Will.