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TIIE FORT GAINES SENTINEL JOSHUA JONES, Editor and Publisher. VOLUME III. A tetter from .S«'iiai<>r Steven*.. W* have^been requested to publish the following letter from Senator O. 11. Stevens, which explains itself: lion. W. A. Graham, Fort Gaines, Ga. My Dear Sir:— I have your letters of the 24tli and 25th inst., also the Sentinel, containing the resolutions passed by the mass meeting of your citizens held last Tuesday night, I fear your people give me too much credit for my efforts in their behalf, but I did what I could, and what I thought to be right. The fact that a mass meeting was called to express the appreciation of your people for the efforts of the friends of the measure who helped to tight its battles, m the legislative halls and is exceedingly gratify ing to me, I have no doubt will be to each of the other gentlemen who aided its passage. Your dispensary hill is a meritorious measure, and the dispensary itself, if properly construct¬ ed, will greatly improve the morals of jour town and largely relieve your people of the heavy burden of taxa¬ tion now placed upon them. Then, too, your bill provides that fifty per cent, of all the revenue, raised by the dispensary shall be paid into your school fund, and this will no doubt help many deserving children to ob¬ tain an education that would other¬ wise be deprived of its benefits. Viewing the whiskey traffic from my stand-pomt, I believe local dispen¬ saries in communities that now sell whiskey to be the solution of the whole question, for the present at least. I believe 1 am in a position to speak advisedly when I say that' I do not be¬ lieve the present legislature will pass 41 general dispensary bill, but I appre¬ hend that when a majority of the peo¬ ple of a community want a dispensary, a; in the case of Fort Gaines, the leg¬ islature will grant them their wishes. I am confident tlm! whets your dis¬ pensary has been tried, and the good result* which are sure to come have been seen, the opposition will approve it, and even those Who are now its bitterest enemies will say that it is a »tep in the right direction. With my kindest regaids I am, Yours very truly; (). B. Stevens. Dawson, Ga., Dec. 26th 1896. n«rllnv of City Council, The newly elected city council held tludr first meeting last Tuesday night and elected Mr. 11. F. Kelley marshal and Mr. T. J. Whatley clerk. Both gentlemen are well qualified for their respective positions, and have entered upon the discharge of their duties in a manner which gives promise of effi¬ cient service. The former incumbents, Messrs Ra¬ ley and Brown, made faithful and effi¬ cient officers, and while their friends regret their defeat, they recognize the fact that “turn about is fair play.” There was considerable other busi- ness transacted by the council prepara¬ tory to beginning the work of the new year, of which we are not now in form- cd. Y (ouir.ua was no; .• with ilv Sentinel . for the nuwiwmw < f t! , proceedings of the in. * Gags oi . • council and a quarterly report of the condition of the treasury, and here- after the public will be kept fully in- formed of the management of affairs municipal. A Card of Thunk*. We desire to tender the good people •of Fort Gaines our sincere thanks for their kind assistance in tlie removal of our furniture and oflter effects on each night of the fires last week, when our home came so near being burned, and for other acts of noble kindness. We are especially grateful to those who did such heroic service in our behalf *n combatting the flames. It is such unselfish neighborly a® this on the part of tlie noble men and women of your town that makes life among you a pleasure. Gratefully yours, C. Kavfman and Wife. Cil)' Advnlorcm Tax. City advalotvm tax is now past itue. and 1 am required to collect the same or issue execution*. Parties concerned will please take notice. T. J. Whatley. Clerk Council. ('ongress is still killing time in a fruitless discussion of the tariff ques- !ion, while, the country continues to •uiffer from a lack of wise legislation. THE WILL OF TJIE PEOPJ F, IS TIIE SFPHEME LA IF. FORT GAINES, GA., FRIDAY, JANUARY S, 189.7 L CAL HAITI XIX'.S. ■ TEMS CONCERNING HOME AND OF HOME INTEREST. IVhat the People I>o and Say— l.iltle Hit* of .few* and iio«- sip Gathered oti the Wilis. Personal mention and other local mat¬ ter on last page. Read the new legal notices in this issue of the Sentinel. O'jgf'.T. II. Greene will take your Cab- inet Photos at SI .50 per doz., for ten days only. (’all early and see display, at Fort Gaines. Mayor W. A. McAllister is the proud papa of another pretty girl baby which arrived about due time for a Christmas gift. Mr. J. A. Murphy, the clever dairy- man, is giving his customers heaped- up measure this week, in honor of a tine boy at his home. Read the change in the advertise- ment of Mr. A. W. Holley. lie his usual mamouth stock of groceries and is preparing for a tugger trade ' than ever before. --- At the election for justices of the peace last Saturday Messrs. E. L. Peter- son and Joshua McLendon were elect¬ ed, respectively, of the Fort Gaines and Blufftou districts. Our citizens have recently been con- vincingly impressed of the necessity of better organized protection from fire, and a movement for that purpose is now on foot. We will have more to say on this subject next week. J3TT have a few choice Silver-laced Wyandott Cockerels on hand, which I will sell at $1.00 each. If you want to get a line bird for your poultry yard this is your opportunity. Come quick. G. I). Speight. Mr. S. P. C. Hatchett has a change of advertisement elsewhere in this pa- per,and you will do well to read it. Be- sides a full line of drugs and patent medicines, he carries many other goods in constant demandby the trade. Ha envites your attention especially to his new line of cigars. Mr. T. M. Brown, the popular gro- ceryman, starts the new year right by renewing his advertising contract with the Sentinel, and the same en¬ terprise may he noted in all his busi¬ ness affairs. He believes in doing business'in a business way. Watch his ad during the year if you desire to keep posted on the grocery trade. AS ran no -cen u'oni a cam ■ se- where in 1 Mi G i; ■ n, who was for several yvars a popular salesman at Brown’s Hardware House, can no v he found behind the counters ,,f £. y. Aforris & Son. It is said that the poor little monkey is inconsolable, and that the X rays might disclose a wide crack in his heart. - Dr. Speck's is a business that does no j suffer much from changing sea- , „ ,s „ T1 1C 1 K0 P . 1 , s ,no , ais 1 e-qmie ' whetting in dull as well as busy sea- sons, and the services of a good dentist are appreciated at all times, if needed, Tlie people of this section are fortun- ate .... 111 iavit ’S oue <d , ,, ^ 8peek r - s pro- ficiency and.experience located within their reach. The cotton season being over. Mr. J. P. II. Brown, who is so well and ^ a ' ora ^’ 1 ' known to the trade of this section, is now with tlie Brown Ilard- ware House, where he awaits your continued favors with his wonted gen- ial smile, warm hand grasp and hberal- hv 5n 5ds dealings. "He says lie lias a bridle patented by Ed Hardin with " hich you can drive a horse without bits. Call and see it. 1 iini* Si**'. ti mg. A. u U1, i:. •• of the holders of the Hank of Fort Gaines, Col. C. V. Morris and Messrs. Joe Yin- son, W. J. Greene, J. E. Paullin and W. A. McAllister were elected direct- ors for the ensuing year, the other old officers being retained iu their re- spcctive positions. Tlie report of the president and cash- ter of the business of the past year was highly gratifying and gives strong proof of a very healthy state of affairs, and is at the same time highly plimentary to the excellent manage- meat of this splendid institution. The net earnings of the bank for the year 1896 were 87,691.05 or 15.38 per cent, on the capital stock. Of this amount a dividend of {) per cent. has been declared, hud 0 per cent, has been added to the surplus fund, leaving 8191.05 to go to account of undivided profits. The hank now lias a surplus $10,000, and 8200 will cover all lhe doubtful paper owned, The dividends paid in the past six ^arss, at the beginning of which period the bank was established, to **3,000 which, together ( * 1( ’ ,000 surplus, makes the handsome sum of 835,000. During the vear just closed 6,352 , hecks wcre ^ceived for collection, and checks were drawn on the Sava-n- nah and New York correspondents for amounts aggregating $671,621.89. Tlie bank loaned during the same P c,, iod $110,597.04. In contemplating its great .and ben¬ eficial convenience an., lme Success, one is led to ask, h >w did Port Gaines uver g et ;iion g without the bank? The spring term of Fort Gaines Ac&Hemy begins next Monday, and it is important that you enter your children on the first day. The school has never had a beftjr corps of teach¬ ers. Prof. Espey, whose high stand¬ ing as an educator is universally ac- knowledged, is indeed fortunate in the selection of his assistants. Prof. Pip¬ kin is well known to the people of this section, and his ability to teach any class in the school is unquestioned, The children all love Miss Georgia Holmes, and her qualifications for the position she occupies are pre-eminent, Read the announcement elsewhere in this paper. On Chrismas night a serious confla- grat-ion was narrowly averted at tlie home of Mr. J. P.Uest, who lias re- cently moved to tlie Adams place, on I the lull. The family had company that night, and after they had goue to the Christmas tree a lighted lamp was left in the parlor, from which loose w 8 papering caught- fire, sp,, ]}>.• end other members of the family i-ere • ■ . heir rooms with sickness.■ and tlm residence be¬ ing some distance from town it at first seemed that it was doomed to distrac¬ tion before help could arrive. By prompt and well directed action, how¬ ever, tlie dames were extinguished before much damage was done. Editor Powell, of the Blakely Ob- server has our thanks for the follow- ing kind words: The Fort Gaines Sentinel has com- pleted its 2nd volume. Josh Jones is giving the Fort tiie best paper it ever had, and the town is giving Josh a better patronage than she ever gave an editor before. That’s the way to j do it. A liberal patronage will make ! a good lively paper every time. It is I impossible for ail editorte gel out a cheering, readable paper, half smoth¬ ered by debt and Ins hidf punctured constantly by bill collectors. Takc np Yaar Stock. I am required to give no tee that after Tuesday. January .12. all s'ortc found run- j i ning at large will be impiftmd -d and custo- maiy charges will be collected. B. F. Kf.lliA'. Marshal, Eugene Dei*, the u^ted railway , i.tooi . agitato., , n.i- lenounced , Gie Populist party and joined the socialist, That’s the proper place for such as he. DESTRUCT1YE FIRES, CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DURING THE HOLIDAYS. Mr. s. r. itadford’N Saloon and the iiesut ;nce of .nr. j. e. Peter- son B,,r,,cd> The close of the Christmas holidays in Fort Gaines was marked by two de- structive tires. One occurred about 2 o clocx on Tuesday night of last week, destroy- ing the builclihg in which was located the bar of Mr. S. R. Radlord, together with his entire stock of liquors, etc., valued at about $2,400. The two smaller Tore rooms adjoin- —all being the property of Mrs. Coleman, of Texas—were also destroy- ~d. It took hard work to save the Ma- sonic building and the residence of Mi - - C. Kaufman, the first on the east and flic latter on the west side of the burning buildings, with but a few steps intervening.. Rut for an abundance of water (thanks to the , efficiency of Mg K. L ! dams, t ic supuinten dent o$’ tlie water works) and the splendid work of a few citizens aided by the lieroic services of several col¬ ored assistants, these two buildings would have surely burned, and the fire spreading from them still further,there is no telling where it would have stopped. The following night at late supper time the town was again alarmed by the ringing o the lire bell, and tlie res- idencc of Mr: J. E. Peterson was found to be on tire, having caught from a.spark from tlie stove Hue. The wind was blowing some and the tlnme.s spread rapid. Before half the crowd had reached the scene almost the whole of the roof was on fire, and it was impossible to (lo more than save the contents of the building, which was entirely accomplished. The building was situated between the residences of Hon. A. L. Foster and Mr. (’. Kaufman, and but for the same splendid work which accomplish- ed , ‘ so Inuc; , 1 1 , 1C P ie ' 10US night, . . both , these buildings would have been burned. The situation was at times so threatening that much of their con- tents was removed to a place *>f safety. The building burned was the prop- erty of Mr. Foster, and his loss is covered by insurance. We learn that he will rebuild at once. The buildings Tuesday night were not insured. Mr. Radford had 81,800 insurance on his stock, which has been settled by the company’s adjus¬ tor for $1,650. The sad death of Mrs. J. C. Wells, which occurred at her home in Abbe¬ ville,!^., on the 24tli ult , was a pain¬ ful shock to her many friends and ac- qnaintaiices here. She was sitting alone before the fire in her room en- goge, lit, prayer au.I reading lhe 11, ble, " ncu hm ciotlnng cauglit tatg, and he- fore assistance reached her she was -so severely burned that she died in a short time afterward. Tier remai.A were brought here for interment, be- iufTbv * ' her husband, CoL ^ .. „ :UK ,, ,er <>u au< . ‘ , au o^h- r e ! ’ • Mrs.M ells was a lady of noble Christian diameter and many womanly virtues and was generally loved by our people, among whom she had lived the great¬ er portion of her life. Mr. T. J. Lighttoot who has been with A. M. Wailerstein for the past two /ears, has formed a co-partner- ship with hts broth or, Mr. M . E. Light- foot. and will he pleased to have his friends and the public generally call next door to the dispensary. when in need of hrst-esass groceries, confectioneries, tinware, crock- etc. He will sell you anything iu his line cheaper than anybody. SUBSCRIPTION $1 PER ANNUM, NUMBER i 'I'll*' I'liristmu* Festival. The success of the Sunday school Christmas festival was such as to de- man( j extended mention, even at this late date, but vve regret that a lack of space will prevent our doing the affair justice, even if we were capable 0 f it. The committee of arrangement ap- pointed by the different schools and named in a previous issue of this paper won the everlasting gratitude of the little folks and the unanimous praise of the older ones for the novel and mag- uificent fete so tastefully arranged,and t] ie committee may well be proud of their splendid success, The program was begun with devo- tioual exercise, Rev. J. II. Corley, the devout and beloved Christian and vete- ran minister, in a beautiful prayer offering thanks to god for Ins nianifofd goodness and invoking his further blessings on this occasion aud liis pen¬ pie everywhere, After which the combined cheirs of the three churches most excellently rendered a charming Christmas carol. The customary Christmas tree was dispensed with, and in its stead we had A1 ad ill’s castle and its wonderful tress- ures. A number of little girls and boys, gayly costumed, played the part of the fairies. They were under the especial training of Mrs. ,T. T. MeAllis ter, and the admirable manner in which they carried out their part re- tlecte(i ca ' u(lit «P°« th:u S° 0<1 ladv and charmed the audience. Mr. G. D. Speight played the part of Santa C’iuu* very successfully. His deers having run away oil route and “dumped his ap¬ ple cart,” the fairies came to his re¬ lief, and inviting him to the castle, placed its rich treasures at his disposal. Every Sunday school scholar in the community received from the walls of the castle a brick-shaped paper box filled with confections, Old Santa being assisted by several others in their dis¬ tribution. When these had been dis- posed of, beautiful dolls, richly dressed, and all kinds of handsome and costly presents, for the old as well as the young, were brought from some nuste- rious source within the depth of the en¬ chanted dell surrounding lhe castle and everybody seemed to be loaded down with presents. The occasion was a success beyond our power of portrayal, and one that will long be remembered by the little folks. The Dispensary on Foot. The dispensary commissioners took charge of the whiskey traffic in Fort Gaines January 1, and the bar rooms passed out of existence, Messrs Cohen and Hurst having sold their stock to the dispensary, Mr. Radford's having been consumed by tire. At a meeting of the commissioners on the night of the 26th ult., Mr. J. C. Simpson was elected manager of I he dispensary at a salary of $50 per month, and his building opposite the livery stables was selected as a suita¬ ble location. Mr. Simpson has had considerable! experisnee in the whis- key business, and his election is no doubt a wise choice, and one which will give general satisfaction. ( R es> beers, case goods, etc., and sell them as cheap as they can be bought anywhere. The only difference is will lay them of the tonn ^ net ' iwoSs^wul *”***“ "“ to'' to"the 10 ihL sujip«rt_of schools aud oilier public institutions:-^- Mf'M-s. ( olieri, Hurst and Rad are all enterprising Im-iness men clever eiti/.i ns, and while we regret their contemplated departure, we, with their many other friends, wal al- ways be glad to hear of their doing well. It will he noticed that this issue of the Sentinel does not contain the usual amount of home advertising, but this should not be regarded aS indicat¬ ing a lack of enterprise or business judgment on the part of our merchants. Some of them are taking stock or have been otherwise too busy to prepare aa announcement for the new year. I^ook out for them next week.