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THE ROBBER AXEL VOID.
BY VAX'S IE WILLIAMS.
At n certain village, not far from Ti.
flis, the people were celebrating the feast
of St. Martin, or harvest-home, always
u joyous and merry holhlky, and which,
on this occasion, was kept, ypoae
than the customary pomp and "rejoicing,
on account qf the presence of Prinoe
Yusuf, the governor tJf that province,
who presided over the festival.
The Prince was a young man, and
very popular. He had lately married a
fair bride, who-was’as nnich beloVed for
her goodness as site was admired t<Jr her
beauty; and this sweet hqly rode by his
side, when he arrived at the village, at
tended by his usual retinue. The old
church and all the shrines were gaily
decorated, and ths villagers .were out in
their holiday attire, which rivaled the
bright costumes/ ; of the mountaineers,
and the gay uniforms of the soldiertf
from Tiflis, who had crowded to the
village to take part in the harvest festi
val and t do honor to the prince and
princess.
It was a cheerful and pleasing scene,
and the noble visitors seemed much
gratified by the warmth of the welcome
they received. But it was observed
that the princess looked pale and agi
tated, and the prince explained that she
had been disturbed by an idle rumor
which had reached her ears, to the effect
that Axelvold, a famous robber, had
lately been seen in the neighborhood of
this village.
On hearing this, the intendeut, or
chief magistrate of the town made an
swer :
“I fear, my lord, that this rumor is
not without foundation ; but I beg that
her highness, the princess, will not al
low k to trouble her, for there is not tho
slightest danger. Bold as lie is, Axel
vold would never venture to enter the
village at such a time as this.”
“Although it would be a fortunate
thing for us and for all the country if
lie should do so,” said another of the
leading villagers, “ for wc would not fail
to capture him, and so gain a great’ re
nown, besides securing the price that is
set on his head.”
“By the holy saint whose feast we
keep to-day,” cried a third, “ I only
wish he would take into his hem! to pay
us a visit.”
“No, no, my friend !” exclaimed the
princess, with a shudder. “Do not wish
for such a thing, for they tell wild stories
of this reckless outlaw, and we know
not what he might bo bold enough to
do.”
It was true enough that Axelvoid, the
robber, was credited with many deeds as
daring as this which had been suggested.
His history was known to every one.
lie had formerly been a small trader
at Tiflis, and was very well reputed for
honest industry ; but he fell in love, and
it chanced, unhappily, that the maiden
of l>is choice was a slave, and her owner
a wealthy noble, refused to part with
her, except for a price so high that the
lover had not the means to pay it. How
ever, he did not give up to despair, but
obtained a promise from the noble that
he sheuld have the girl if, in a year’s
time, he could raise the amount which
was demanded for her freedom.
lie then set manfully to work toiling
night and day, with the most extraordi
nary patience and energy, and to such
good purpose that, at the end of the
year he was able to offer the noble his
exorbitant price for the freedom of
lama, and claim the fulfillment of his
promise.
But the treacherous uoble declined to
keep his word, aud declared his inten
tion of marrying the girl to another
man, who was also his serf. Axelvold
remonstrated, entreated, and finally,
such was his love for lama, offered him
self to become the slave of her owner if
she might only be his wife.
Even this was refused, and then, in
desperation, Axelvold returned to bis
bumble home, gathered together what
little he had that was valuable, and fled
to the mountains, carrying off with him
the lady of his love.
The powerful noble, with a body of his
serfs, pursued and captured the runaway
lovers. And Axelvold was cast into
prison, and lama was married to his ri
val.
After a long imprisonment, during
which he was subjected to the most cruel
treatment, Axelvold managed to es
cape, and once more sought refuge in
the mountains, a bitter, disappointed
and revengeful man. He turned rob
ber, gathered around him a desperate
band of outlaws like himself, and be
came the scourge of the loads leading
to Tiflis.
His daring and audacity soon made
The Hartwell Sun.
By BENSON & McGILL.
VOL. IV--NO. 28.
his name a terror. No carriage nor
caravan could escape him; but, like
most celebrated robbers, he was also
famed for a certain generosity. He
spared the poorer travelers, while he
plundered the rich without mercy.
He discovered that lama was a wid
ow, her husband having died when she
had been a most unhappy and unwil
ling wife for only a few weeks; and
making a bold descent into the very
streets of Tiflis, he carried her ofl, for a
second time, almost from under her
master’s eyes, and bore her away to his
mountain fastness, to be a robber’s
bride.
A large reward was offered for the
capture of Axelvold, but not a man in
Georgia dared to beard him in his den.
One of his own kinsmen once under
took to betray him for the price upon
lis head. He invited Axelvold to he
>resent at the marriage of his daughter,
and the robber, scorning to take precau
tions with one whom he considered to be
lis friend, went to the feast entirely
alone. But while they were drinking
to the health of the bride, Axelvold
faucicd he heard the step of stealthy
footsteps.
“ Who is lurking around your house?”
ie demanded of his host.
The latter turned pale, and began to
stammer some explanation, r.ud his
manner awakened a suspicion of treach
ery in Axel void’s mind.
“ Dastard, you would betray me !” lie
cried, and sprang out of the door, upon
his horse, and away to the hills.
But as lie went he received two gun
shots from the soldiers who were watch
ing for him. lie escaped, however,
and recovered from the wounds; and
from that day forth his traitor kinsman
lived in mortal fear. He kept in con
stant concealment, and never dared to
sleep without a guard to watch over him,
and he died at last, killed by sheer ter
ror at the robber’s vengeance.
Such was the dread which the name
of Axelvold hud inspired in the mind of
the gentle princess, that she seemed to
take very little pleasure in the mirth
and merry-making which was going ou
around her, and prince Yusuf tried in
vain to dispel her uneasiness.
“Surely, my sweet lady,” he said,
“you are not afraid that the robber
will approach this place to-day? Can
you not feci safe surrounded by all these
loyal soldiers and stout mountaineers?”
“He is a bold man, Yusuf,” said the
princess, apprehensively. “He has es
caped the soldiers a score of times, and
they say the mountaineers arc fri’cndly
to him.”
“ I dare say theyj are, said Yusuf,
lightly. “They admire him for his
valor and boldness —and, by St. Martin,
so do I! But he is not bold enough to
show himself this day.”
“ Do you think not, my lord?’ said a
quiet and respectful voice at the prince’s
elbow.
Yusuf turned and saw a young man
in the holiday dress ofu mountaineer
a lithe and active young man, decidedly
pleasing in person, who looked him very
frankly in the face, and said :
“ Permit me to correct your highness
in that mistake. Axelvoid isnotafraid
to show himself here alone and unarmed.
Behold lum!”
The prince recoiled and demanded in
amazement :
“What do you Who are
you?”
“ I am Axelvold.”
The mountaiuoor prdnoiinced these
words so calmly that every one who
heard them was bewildered. The prin
cess clung to her husband in ifflright at
beholding the dreaded robber; although,
had lie not said that he was Axelvold,
she could have seen nothing at all
alarming in the appearance of this
young man. As soon as bis surprise al
lowed him to speak, the prince exclaim
ed :
“ Axelvold, if you are he, how dare
you place yourself thiis in my power?”
“There is not much that I do not
dare, my kird,” said Axelvold, coolly.
* why are you come?” asked the
prince. “ What do you want?”
“Justice, my lord/’
'“What!”
“My lord,” said Axelvold, ‘ I have
heard that you are a just man. You
know that I have been wronged, and
lUKTtvKLL, i;a„ Wednesday, march 10, isso.
driven by the cruelty and injustice of
others to become the outlaw that I am.
I cyme belong you, unarmed and re
spectful,lo big* that you will Inf p ml- to
resume tho life of an hooost mail.”
While Axelvold was speaking. Yusuf
had made a sign to his officers and
guards, and they had silently drawn near
and closed around the robber, so that he
found himself, with tho prince and prin
cess, iu tho centre x4‘ u circle §f armed
men; Unit he ynanffsted* no fear, und
only by a quiet smile, gave any evi
dence that ho observed this manoeuvre.
“leamc alone,” he continued, “ be
cause my- meu are rough and wild, and
I had rather risk my life than give the
least occasion for alarm to so sweet and
well-bolovcd a holy as her highness;”
and lie ‘maje. a ldw reverence to tho
princevs. “ I came upon this holy day,”
he added, “ because I hoped at such a
time to Had you well disposed to hear
my appeal, prince Yusuf, and grant me
justice.”
More and more surprised, prince Yu
suf listened tt> those rysrarks, and an
swered, wdilvu tone orsaxAasin:
“If you ask for justice, Axelvold, you
well know what I-should reply—that
you must account to justice for your
crimes. This is my answer. Soldiers,
arrest him!”
Instantly, before a soldier could lay
hands on him, Axelvold turned like a
*
flash of lightning to the nearest officer,
and snatched the sword which hung at
his side. So terrible was the flash of his
eye and so menacing his gesture that
the whole ring of soldiers fell back a
step, struck with mingled admiration
and dismay at his : boldness. 1
lie took advantage of their hesita
tion to spring forward, facing the prince
and stretching out one hand, while he
lifted the sword in tho other, he thunder
ed :
“I’l-ince, give me that pistol in your
belt, or I strike !”
“Take it!” returned the prince, and
presented his cocked pistol at tho rob
ber’s breast.
His linger was on the trigger—an
other instant, and Axelvoid had been a
dead man; but the princess with a
scream, flung herself at Yusuf’s feet,
and cried :
“Forbear, my lord 1 Harm not an
unprotected supplicant! Oh, I pray
you, shed no man’s blood upon this holy
day!”
The prince dropped his pistol.
“You arc right, princess,” he said.
“ Robber, will you surrender?”
“Never!” answered Axelvoid.
“Then, for this lady’s sake,” said Yu
suf, “depart in safety. No man here
shall take your life to-day ; so get you
gone, and save yourself before the sun
goes down!”
The robber knelt before the princess
and kissed the hem of her robe.
“Thanks, lady; I will remember
this!” he said with tears in his eyes.
As he arose, the soldiers drew back, at
a sign from Yusuf, and made way for
him ; and lie passed them with a haughty
air, but keeping his eyes about him and
bolding the sword at guard, for Axel
vold had reason to doubt the promises
of princes.
But Yusuf kept his word, and the
robber left the village unmolested.
A little later a mountain lad brought
back the* sword and returned it to the
owner, with a message from Axelvold :
“Her highness, the princess, has
taught Axelvold that he should not
wrong any man on so holy a day.”
Subsequently, prince Yusuf, who was
greatly impressed by the courage and
generous character of the robber, inter
ceded for him with the authorities at Tiflis
and obtained bis pardon ; and Axelvold
returned to the city, with lama, his wife,
and ever after led an honest aud quiet
life.
Abbeville (S. C.) Medium : The
floating bar-room on the Savannah
River has been captured by the reve
nue officers. It was anchored in mid
stream and was furnished with contra
band whisky made at some illicit dis
tilleries on Bear creek in Georgia. W.
C. Guflin, of this place, who is now
I connected with the revenue force, made
! a raid on this battery several weeks
! ago, but without succeeding in its cap
, ture. He was accompanied by two
Devoted to Hart County.
Dear Sir: I notice in to-day's Con
stitution, in Huy news njt the capitol,”
that “ the agricultural department has
several kinds of cotton, corn and to
bacco seed for distribution.” As Sec
retary of the 1 lart ('minty Agr. Society,
I respectfully beg to make application
for a portion of the same, to be distrib
uted amongst the farmers of our county,
and 1 will undertake and promise faith
fully to distribute them in this county,
so you will get whatever results you
require from them. We lirtvc one of
the most flourishing societies in the
State, and it seems to me we should
have our share of those distributions.
I notice in the reports that in the piyst
years considerable quantities of guano
and fertilizers have been distributed
amongst different counties, but, beyond
the reports and pamphlets, the county
of llart has naver received anything.
If there is any guano to be tried, 1 beg
to enter an application for the same.
My manner of distributing seeds
that wc have received from Washing
ton, is to take them out to first meeting
of Society and give them out in which
ever way may bo agreed upon by bal
lot, drawing for them, &c., and at every
meeting wc receive reports of results
of seeds, &c., which reports are made
part of the minutes of the meeting.
I believe that the better and most
efficient way to have these tests made,
is through the societies of the different
counties, for several reasons : one is,
that the seed or guano thus given out
generally reaches the good farmer, by
a vote of his neighbors given to him
as such, and he does not get it from
his wealth or influence alone, as is too
often the case; and, also, when he is
the public recipient lie strives the
harder to make a true and just report
of the same.
Then, again, I believe that through
the organized strength of societies,
which they throw as an organized body
to the departments both State and Na
tional, only can these departments be
be kept up and in life. Bet them run
down, and the departments at the seat
of government are bound to follow
sooner or later. Not wishing to bother
you with too lengthy a letter, but only
for the purpose of tiling in your depart
ment the application and earnest ap
peal of the Agricultural Society of Hart
County for a reasonable portion of these
seeds and guanos —leaving it all entire
ly to your wisdom and discretion in
inekingthe apportionment—l am yours
truly, C. W. Seidell, Scct’y.
Static or Georgia, i
Dei'ahtment of Agriculture,
Atlanta, Feb’y 23, 1880. }
Col. C. W. Slidell, Sect’y Hart Cos.
Agr. Society, Hartwell, Ga.:
companions but the whisky dealers and
their friends numbered about twenty,
and this was a bigger job than the offi
cers cared to undertake. > lliey inspect
ed the Hosting palace which was vofy
comfortably fixed up and had a large
patronage.
HART AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Iliiiiili'H nf n Kcitiifor MrcltilK of (lie
Soclctj, lii-lil ill Murili
ait. llw.
The meeting was called to order by
lion. JohnG. Mcfurry, l’resideut of
tho Society.
Bead minutes of last meeting, which
were adopted.
Bead correspondence of the .Secre
tary and State Commissioner of Agri
culture, which was ordered to bo made
a part of those minutes, and which is
as follows:
HaiitwkLi., Ga., l'eb’y
Ifox. J. T. 11 icNDf'.usoN, Cinn’r. Ag-
Atlanta, Ga.:
Dear Sir: Your esteemed favor of
‘2oth inst. has just reached me, and con
tents read with pleasure. Your views
as to the proper distribution of the
seeds and guanos are exactly in accord
with my own. Indeed, so far as the
seeds arc concerned, I have anticipated
your suggestion, and have had several
boys employed for three or four days
past, in preparing the greater part of
them for shipment to the agricultural
societies of the several counties, so far
as I am advised of their active exist-'
ence. I have desired also to send the soil
test samples in the same way, and am
always glad when an application is re
ceived from a society, aud especially
from such an one as you represent. I
have, therefore, entered your name
and will send you us many samples as
I possibly can.
Your remarks in reference to the mu
tual relations of the State Department
and the county societies, and the de
pendance of the Department for very
life upon the cordial support of the
societies, are eminently just and wise.
It shall be my constant aim to estab
lish and cement the closest relations
between the people and this Depart
ment, and my confident reliance is on
the county organizations. The seed
will be sent you by express next week,
$1.50 Per Annum.
and will embrace several varieties of
cotton, corn anil tobacco.
Very trul}’, J. S. Henderson,
Com’r of Agriculture.
The Secretary announced that he had
individually received from the Depart
ment of Agriculture three sacks of gu
ano, which ho desired to give to the
Society.
On motion, tho guano wm received.
Called for reports from delegates to
the State Convention at Cuthbert, in
response to which one of the delegates,
Mr. F. S. Roberts, said:
We had a very pleasant trip to Cuth
bert, and heard some important matters
discussed in the Convention by the
most able and talented agriculturists in
the State. The whole Convention was
entertained gratuitously and in the
grandest style. Cuthbert is a flourish
ing place. On tho adoption of a place
of meeting for the Convention in next
August, I presented the invitation from
this Society, and there was one pre
sented from Atlanta. The Convention
voted about three to one in favor of
Hartwell. In accordance therewith tho
Convention will meet here in August
next. I think it very important that
a committee should be appointed ut
once to prepare for that meeting. 1
will say this, Tom Hardeman, the I’res
ident of the Convention particularly
told mo for us not to do like the people
of Cuthbert; that the State Society
did not exjmet it. Ho said: " I)—n
them, they have led me and danced me
nearly to death here, and wo do not
want your people to entertain us for
nothing ; we want to pay a reasonable
price."
Remarks were made by several other
members oil the subject of entertaining
tho Convention, after which Mr, Bow
ers moved, “ That the Agricultural So
ciety of Hart County entertain the
State Agricultural Convention next
August gratuitously.” Which motion
was unanimously carried by a rising
vote.
Motion made and carried, that a
committee of ten members of Society
bo appointed by the President to make
arrangements towards entertaining the
Convention, and make a report at next
meeting.
In accordance therewith the follow
ing committee was appointed : J. F.
Craft, W. M. Bowers, Dr. A. J. Math
ews, C. W. Seidell, E. B. Benson,
J. 11. Skelton, Dr. Geo. Eberhart, T.
N. McMiillan, F. S. Roberts, Willie
Sadler.
Distributed seeds from State Agri
cultural Department to the following
members: T. J. Cason, 1 package
Hcrlong cotton seed ; M. M. Richard
son, Newman corn ; W. F. Bowers,
rice ; I*. M. Crow, Hcrlong cotton seed ;
Win. West, Nemassc cotton seed;
Wm. Jones, Hudson corn, James Me-
Curley, Hcrlong cotton seed; J. IB
Skelton, Newman corn ; 10. G. Brown,
Newman corn; Wm. A. Sanders, Her
long cotton seed ; 10. IB Aguew, New
man corn.
Went into distribution of guano.
On motion it was ordered that forty
pounds be given to each applicant who
are required to make careful tests in
accordance with circular from State
Commissioner. The following mem
bers received guano: J. 11. Skelton,
B. M. Cunningham, I>. 11. Aguew,
John Oliver, Wm. A. Sanders, J. B.
Adams, 10. T. Cason, T. J. Cason,
R. 'l'. Buillngton, I*. M. Crow, F. S.
Roberts, A. J. Mathews, C. W. Seidell.
Called for reports of seeds. B. 1).
Johnson said :
Last year at our March meeting I
received a package of rice seed sent
here from Washington, and a short
time after that I received another from
Malcolm Johnson. The first package
I planted on upland. 1 took pains to
put in carefully. It grew finely until
the drouth came, when it seemed at a
stand still for a good while After
wards when the rains came it took an
other start and grew about waist high.
It never headed out to do any good,
and I never gathered any of it. The
other package I planted on bottom
land, and it grew fine!}'. With it there
game up some of the finest grass I ever
saw in my life. I have a great curiosi
ty to know what kind of grass it was.
From this bottom land package I gath
ered a peek and a half of good rice,
which I now have, and will plant this
year. 1 believe the package I planted
on the upland would have doue best,
had the seasons been favorable.
The following names were enrolled
|as members of the Society, the first
j three paying their dues: TANARUS, J. Cason,
Wm. 11. Page, IL D. Adams, J. W.
WHOLE NO. 184.
A. Tcasley, James West.
The following members paid their
annual dues: Wm. J. llsrper, A. J.
Mathews, 11. I). Johnson, John G.
Watson, I*. M. Crow, F. S. Roberts,
J. M. MeCurley, C. A. Webb, F. S.
Roberts, L. M. Cunningham, W. G.
W. White, Wm. Jones, J. P. Vaughn,
11. J. Com. Wm. Ejtes.
Adjourned to meet the first Tuesday
in April next.
C. W. Seth ell, Sect’}*.
The Cih< of s Negro Rarlsher.
A dispatch fo the Constitution from
Charleston, dated March 2d, says:
On Saturday last a one-armed negro
named Lewis Konder committed aij
outrageous assault upon a white woman
named Byrd, residing near Georges
station, Colleton county, about fifty
miles from this city. A hunt was or
ganized and the villain captured Sun
day morning by a ml veil white and
black posse. He was taken to tho
scene of the outrage and identified by
his victim. A vote of tho posso was
taken, and It was decided not to lynch
him, but to allow the law to take its
course. Render was then taken to
Georges station and plaoed in tho
guard-house under a strong guard.
Monday ho was scut to Walterboro to
Jail Htill strongly guarded. Ou the way
to Walterboro the guard was ovcrjHjw
erod by nn armed force, consisting, it
said largely of the rotations of the out
raged lady, and the prisoner was con
voyed to a secluded spot in the woods
where lie was kept till night. About
9 o’clock last night lie was again con
fronted witli tho lady whom he out
raged and again identified, lie was
again taken to the woods whore prepar
ations were made to hang him. At the
last moment lie confessed tho crime,
and also confessed to a similar outrage
upon a colored woman iu Newberry six
years ago. Ho further acknowledged
tho killing of a colured girl nearlvings
tree last April and confessed to four
burglaries and innumerable thefLs. At
10:30 o’clock lie was hanged, and after
firing a volley of pistol shots into the
body, the crowd quietly dispersed.
Render was a dangerous outlaw, who
for over a year had been the terror of
the neighborhood on which he preyed,
und the action of the vigilants is heart
ily endorsed by both white and colored
residents of tho vicinity.
A Setting Set.
An old farmer with a house full of
boys, was ono day tugging away at a
large piece of timber. Finding it to ho
rather hard work, he called his boys
one after another, at the top of his
voice, but received no reply. Finally,
after he had no need of them, they all
came.
“ Wbcre,” said lie, “ have you been,
and what have you been doing ; didn’t
you hear me call?’,
“Out in the shop, settin’ the saw,” re
plied one.
“And you, Dick?” continued the old
farmer.
“ Out in the barn, settin the hen.”
“And you, Jack?”
“Up in Granny’s room settin’ the
clock.”
4 “ And you, Tom?”
Up in the garret, settin’ the trap.”
“And now Master Fred, where were
you settin’?” asked the farmer, amused
at the peculiarity of the replies.
“ On the door step, settin’ still,” re
plied the youngster.
Itcn Hill an Alleged Seducer.
Hpcciul Dispatch lu Atlanta Constitution.
Washington, 1). C., March 3.—The
National Republican of this morning
publishes the details of a suit filed by
Mrs. Bclva A. Tyockwood, attorney on
behalf of Miss Jessie Raymond, of
Atlanta, against Senator Ben Ilill for
seduction and support of the child—
damages laid at ten thousand dollars.
Senator Ilill denies in toto all connec
tion with her, and since her arrival
here has refused to see her or deal with
her. lie will develop the conspiracy
as blackmail and cause the arrest and
indictment of all parties concerned, in
cluding, it is charged, Mrs. Lockwood,
Lawyer l’elham, of Alabama, and a
Georgian in office here; also a mer
chant and his book-keeper in Atlanta,
whom, she says, have been her friends
in the matter.
It will develop one of the most
startling cases of blackmail on record.
The woman is here at the Washington
House after being turned out of a re
spectable boarding house. S. XV. S.
The owners of Tallulah Falls bought
recently 50,000 feet of lumber, and will
erect, before summer a hotel capable
of accommodating* one hundred and
fifty to two hundred guests.