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Americus Recorder. ESTABLISHED 1879. AMERICUS, GEORGIA, FRIDAY. DECEMBER 26, 1890. FOR FIVE CENTS. ONE NEGRO KILLS ANOTHER. K Oeourred Wednesday Afteraoon-At Pltt’a on 8. A. M.-A Cold Blooded Murder, and the Murderer Esoapes. Killed for a niekle! Shot through and through by a big 44 pistol. The wounded man dies in a few hourB. As brutal a murder as Is on re cord. That’s what the eye witnesses state, and this description of the killing certainly makes it such: It seems that Sam Wagneu, the negro who did the shooting, was once a hand on the road, and on thiB afternoon was loafing around the station at Pitt’s with a number of other negroes. The material train was standing here, and be sides the negrbes on it many country negroes were standing about. Wagnen had a large Colt’s pistol 44 calibre, which he was displaying and after a while .began shooting with others at marks. This was about three. One of the men at the station told Wagnen that the pistol would get him in the chain-gang. Wagnen answered that this was no strange place for him. About this time Wagnen put the pistol back into his pocket, and walked ofT towards the caboose where the negroes stayed. Our In formant saw nor thought nothing more of him until about four when he heard a pistol shot, and saw a negro running from the caboose. As he reached a high bank another shot wbb fired, and he turned, ran under the car to the other side, fall' ing about forty feet away. Only the negroes saw the shoot ing and had nothing to say about it. The passenger train then rolled in, and the negro Wagnen got aboard. After he left, the Injured negro was taken in charge by the white men and cared for. The bullet had entered at the right nipple and coursed downwards, coming out at the back, just above the left hip. He could hardly talk, but gave hU name as Ed Wilson. He said that he had worked for Peacock & Son of Seville, and that Wagnen bad shot him on account of a niekle. This was about all he could say. A doctor was sent for but none could be found, aud the white men cared fnrbiiuas best they could. The negroes would have nothing to do with him, and the whites had to do all the work. Finally, some of them told the story of the shooting, which was merely that Wagnen opened fire on Wilson with no warning but the drawing of the weapoq. They said that Wagnen had a grudge against Wilson, and this was the cause of the shooting. A few months back Wagnen won all of Wilson’s money, some $0, and the latter took up a Winchester and shot Wagnen on the finger, making him drop the money. Ever slnoe then Wagner had been trying to getaonanoe at him, and often said* he would get even with him. All the negroes seemed to fear Wagnen, and their stories were greatly mixed. The whites didn’t even know who did the shooting until the negro hgd left on the train. The marshall of Cordele was im mediately telegraphed to, but the negro was sharp enough to get off at Seville. Wilson died between 10 and 11 that night. . .. Wagnen is desoribed as a mulatto of about 24 years, clean shaved, 5 feet 8 Inches high, and the Index finger of his right hand broken. DIED THIS MORNING. Mr. Charles. T. Btanfleld Passes Away. Charlie Stanfield Is dead! The news reached the elty a lit tle after three this morning He has been slekwith pneumo nia for some days, as Is well known to all, and this morning at 2:30 o’clock passed quietly away. He is too well known to our eitl- sens to need anything said about him here. As a business man he has made a most enviable reputation, and has recently been holding the position of manager of Harrold & Johnson’s store. A more popular man never lived In the community, and bis death will be regretted by all. He possessed the faculty of making friends with all, and the mourning to-day will be to a degree seldom equalled. PIKE'S PEAK. An Interesting Letter From Colorado by an Ex-Amerioua Citizen. Denver, Col., Dec. 24.—Editor Recorder: I have been a wan derer from the good old town of Americus for many years, delicate health necessitating a change of climate. The paBt summer has been spent 'in the Rocky mountains, crossing the "Great Divide” and penetrat ing Canyons, the difficulty being not where to go but what to omit. This wide continent region, as is well known, possesses the finest scenery in the world. My most enjoyable summer’s ex perience was a ride to the top ol Pike’s Peak on the new "Cogwheel Railroad” recently opened to tour ists. It is the most novel railroad In existence. Compared with it those of Mt. Washington, Ne.v Hampshire, and the Ridge. Switz erland, is insignificant, The wind ing and curving necessary to attain the three miles of attitude makes the road ten miles in length. Its cost was half a million of dollars. The road bed is twenty feet wide, culverts are of solid masonry, the bridges aud rails are of the heaviest steel with a double coy rail in the center. The track is substantially anchored at short intervals to the solid rock. The cars without being tilted are hung within fifteen Inches of the rails, and two pinion brakes are so arranged that when necessary the train can be stopped ltf a space of ten inches, either ascending or de scending. The engine was coupled at the rear and pushed the train, a desir able innovation, relieving one’s eyes from the constant annoyance of cinders. Stops were made at all sightly points. The round trip, costing five dollars, occupied three hours, and I considered it the begt Investment of time and money made during ten years of constant travel. A brief chat with Sergeant O’Keeffe, of the Signal Station on the summit, elicited the following Interesting faocs.' The gentleman having made the rude oabin on the peak his residence for five years, and being the only person ever de tailed twice to the same point, his Information may be considered re liable: The lowest temperature ever ex perienced was 67 j>elow aero; the highest 62 above. The mean high est winter temperature was 14 be low. The winter zephyrs are often of considerable strength. In one instance, one hundred and thirty- five miles per hour was indicated, at which time the wind blew the balls out of the socket and the roof from the cabin. This was followed by a marked increase in the veloc Ity, continuing several hours, dur ing which he estimates the speed of one hundred and fifty miles per hour was without doubt attained.. Boulders, weighing tons, are not unusual on the summit, and are frequently utilized for holding the cabin roof in position, for which purpose they are found more ef fective than chains. Sergeant O’Keeffe pronounces the story of the death of an associ ate while on duty at the station, recently published in the New York Sun and extensively copied throughout the country, as fiction. No person of the name given hav ing ever been employed there, and no death ever having occurred He attributes the story to the effer vescing and fertile brain of some N. Y. City scribbler too far removed from “the seat of war” to be able to invent a reasonable yarn. It Is not generally known that a year ago, at the desire of the astro nomical department of Harvard College, thp station was turned over to that institution by the U. Home Harvard “tenderfeet” plains,” where seventy-five mil lions of dollars were expended laBt year for buildings, but also in smaller cities where ail sorts of land schemes, fraudulent and oth erwise, are being cooked to induce people to come.’ A new one to me Is that of the National Bulidiug and Land Co., of Julesburg, Col., who are giving warranty deeds of every fourth residence lot for sev- enty-flv" cents. I took one for luck, as the town appeared to be growing rapidly. The company evidently have for managers men of progressive ideas. They frankly acknowledged that they were deed ing away the lots at a ridiculous price, but were dependlngfor profit on the enhanced value of inter vening lots and neighboring real estate in which they are'deepiy in terested. That they ure square, honorable men is sufficiently Indi cated by the fact that the validity of these warranty deeds and their characters are fully indorsed by the town aud county officers, bank officials, postmaster and merchants, to ail of whom I was referred. The most practical indorsement to my mind was the fact that the town people themselves were in vesting freely,<aud also in the fact that they are erecting and deeding three room cottages to every county agent who sells for them two hun dred lots. - Please favor me with a few extra copleB of your paper for distribu tion among numerous old time resi dents of Sumter county, now resid ing here and elsewhere in the State, whom I have met in my travels. They will, I‘know find home news quite as interesting as does your whiiouf correspudent. J. B. B. THE FUEL FAMINE. PROSPECTS OF AN EARLY RELIEF REPLIES TO “RUTH.” The Coal Mines of Alabama Expeoted to Resume Work-Steam Can Hardly be Bought—What Mr. U. B. Harrold Baja of the Matter. SCHLEY COUNTY POINTS. The Doings Among Our Near Neighbors Near Putnam. S. ■■■■■ were sent out to assume charge, All went well till winter approach ed, when the fair contingents in continently filed, owing, It la eup- posed, to “lack of sand.’’ The U. 8. resumed possession but for a few brief months only. The station has recently been abandoned. The prospective sliver bill, of which the main feature Is free coinage, is already giving Colorado a prominence never before at tained. Mining la to-day prose cuted with renewed vigor and vast fortunes are being rapidly accumu- lated This stimulates real estate, the prices for which have rapidly advanced not only in Denver, the so-caiied “Golden City of the Putnam, Dec. 22.—The Ellavllle lodge of alllancemen have passed resolutions censuring “all” all! ance representatives that voted for Gordon for U. S. Senator. Is the colored man master of the situation 7 During the cotton pick ing Beacon and in the matter of renting he has, and is now proving a success; but report now says that bis latest move is to unitedly de mand one dollar per day for farm labor the ensuing year. Moving now is in order, and many changes will be made. A. J. \Vall has moved from his own place to the place of Mr. Will Allen, where two families consol! date to make one; J. B. McCorkle goes on D. W. Rainey’s place; C. D. Newell and G. A. Chapman go to the Smith place. The little baby girl of Mr. Jerry Rolan bad the misfortune a few days ago to fall from the top of the door steps to her father’s residence and break her arm. At last ac- counts she was doing well. Mad dogs, hogs,, eto., have had the settlement for the past week or two in considerable exoltement. The malady seems to prevail prim olpally among hogs, as four differ ent farmers report one each in about a week. We admit we have always doubted the real existence of such an affection, yet we have sacrificed a little pet canine that certainly had reached a point be yond what might be called a sus picious character. Residences seem to be in mote demand In this town than business houses. The Calhoun store;bulld' lng has just been put upon rollers and moved from Its original site to a more desirable location, where it will be turned Into a residence. The primitive Baptists up hero do not persist In everything old. They are tearing down their old ohurch at Good Hope, and are building a new one. The colored people of the same denomination are building a new churoh at Mount Zion. Mr. G. W. Monroe has a cow peculiarly affected. Some time ago the udder rose, and now the whole of it, weighing eight or ten pounds, has fallen out between the teats. Bob Williams, an old time Marl on county boy, Is visiting friends and relatives near here. Bob is an engineer on a Texas railroad. WhoIsTfalsF The Dawson News Bays: “Last week parties from both Americus and Albany were here consulting the city’s largest capitalist and en deavoring to secure loans. The Americus party, who Is prominent in business circles of that city, wanted $10,000, aud the Albany party $20,000.” “How about the coal famine?” said a Recorder representative to Mr. U. B. Harrold, of the firm of Harrold & Johnson, yesterday. “Well, we are not so seriously in' convenleaced as you might think. We secured two cars yesterday, one to-day, and expect another to-mor row. This, you see, is enough to supply the demand. Sometimes we run pretty short, and have to Cutoff a customer a little while, but have been able to fill all orders. We get just about enough to supply the people. “The reason, as you doubtless know, for tlie scaroity, is the strike of the coal miners in Alabama. Wo get our supply there, and there is Utile to be gotten. The coal there in the grate is Montevallo, the best there is. Anthracite, of course, is not ail affected, but the people here use very little of It. Steam coal ie scarcely to be had, this being that just from the mines. “However, judging from what I see in the papers, and from private advices, the famine is about at an end. The miners are on the eve of 'returning to work; and then there will be no trouble.” “How about the price 7 Is It any higher than natural for this time of the year?” “No, we have made no advance at all. It-may have been put up In some places, but ours Is just about what It usually is.” - So it looks as if the matter of fuel is not so seriouB, and that In short time you can get all you want. The greatest trouble has been in getting steam coal, nearly all railroads, etc., having been obliged to patch out wltn wood. This is where the greatest incon venience has been and is now. Enough Is In sight and on hand to supply ordinary consumers, and the return of the miners to work Vlll be good to those using steam coal. Wood, too, is scarcer than It ever has been. It'commands almost any price, and It is the hardest sort of a matter to get any. All sorts of excuses are made by dealers, but exouses won’t burn. The main trouble here is in getting choppers and haulers, The negroes all seem to have something else to do, and though high prices are offered, they will not do much. Then there Is a greater demand - for wood than usual, the railroads, Elootrlo Light Company, etc., using a great deal. When the coal famine is over, there will be muoh less demand fer the wood, so in a short time we are apt to have ajl the fuel we want. HAPPILY MARRIED. Mis* Busle Sheppard and Mr. B. L. May nard Joined Yesterday. Yesterday, at the home of the bride’s parents, about six miles from the city, Miss Susie Sheppard and Mr. Robert L. Maynard were joined in the bonds of love and marriage, Rev. A. B. Campbell offi ciating. The groom, with his brother, Mr. P. V. Maynard, of Forsyth, and several friends, and Mr. Campbell, left in carriages for the plaoe where the ceremony was to be performed, and at exactly twelve, when the glorious orb shone forth in atl its splendor, the happy young couple pronounced the words joining them as msn and wife. The party then returned to Amer tons, the newly married couple taking the 2:80 train for Forsyth, the old home of Mr. Maynard. As Miss Sqsle Sheppard, the bride was exceedingly well known through this section, and justly de served the many compliments so often passed on her beauty and In tellectuality. Mr. Maynard Is one of the prom ising young lawyers of the city. He (has resided here but a few months and has already made bis mark as a brainy yonng man. Suc cess is bound to meet bis efforts, and a bright future awaits him. Whtlo no presents were expected a number of nice ones were given, among which was a handsome check for a neat sum glvenby the bride’s father. The Recorder joins In wishing for the newly.married couple a hap-, py and prosperous journey through life. Deacon Hargrove Makee a Statement About tbe Church Festival Matter. AND Enterprise, Ga., Dec. 24.—In an issue of your paper some two weeks ago, but whloh was brought to my knowledge the 21st Inst., appeared an artiole written by a lady df the Leesburg Baptist eburob under the assumed name of “Ruth.” The ar ticle Is a violation of Christian eth- los, and would be so considered by any ohuroh. Not only does the sis' ter critiotse the action of her church in a harsh and unohrlstian manner, but places it in a wrong light before the world through the columns of a se -ulnr paper. About a year ago the uhureh de cided to build a new bouse of wor ship. As this was neaiiugcomple- tlon a committee of sisters was appointed to raise funds - to pur chase lights and suitable furniture. It was pretty generally known that some of the members of the churoh, together with its pastor, were con scientiously opposed to churoh sup pers and church fairs as a means of raising mono; for religious pur poses. . Yet these sisters had a supper without submitting the matter to the church. The most of the mem bers, however, appreciating the motive of the sisters, acquiesced and they were contemplating hav ing another supper, tbe matter was brought before the church in con ference. The following resolution was offered and unanimously adopted. “Resolved, That In our opinion that church Buppers and church fairs are not conducive to tbe best interest of the ohuroh and we are therefore opposed to them.” To this resolution there was not a sin' gle dissenting voice. Suffice it to say that the obuich was well repre sented, there being very few that were absent. The action of tbe churoh in this matter was purely upon the principle that the polloy of raising money for religious pur poses by means of festivals, sup pers, etc. tends to secularize the ohuroh, and defeat the Bible prln- olple, whloh appeals alone to tbe hearts and free will offering of God’s children for money to pro mote His kingdom In this world The ohurch has never at any time Impugned the motives of these sisters, but has shown them every appreciation in their efforts to per form the duties imposed upon fhem. I cannot believe that the sister who wrote that article represented the other members of that commit tee, no never. I don’t know who “Ruth” Is, but I am sure there are but few “Ruth’s” in Leesburg Bap tist church. Indeed, I did not think that there was one sister in the ohuroh who would so far forget herself, as to write and publish to the world through the coluthne of a seoular paper, suob an article about her own ohurch. Sister, you should be ashamed of It. You should apologize to your church. You cer tainly owe it to the other members of that committee to giveyour right name. S. J. Hakorove, Deacon of Leesburg Baptist church. A BIG ROW. SEVERAL NEGROES SHOT. GET It Oeourred Saturday Night—Near the Sumter and Lee Oonntj Line—At the Store of Mt. H, A. Blmmone—Four of the Dleturben in Jell at Leesburg. IS IT LA GRIPPE? Or Merely An Epidemic of Common Colds. All Americus Is coughing. ' And nine out of ten people yon meet tell yon they are dying with a cold. And you generally tell them tbe same. The cold snap seems to have eaught everybody, and to have given them a slight remembrance. That Is, It Is sneezed at a great deal, and may be called, slight. Every body seemB to be affected. Old and young, men and women, rich and poor, all tell you in hoarse tones that they know they will die. And they look like they mean It. Never was there each a lot of colds, and It looks as it la grippe Is taking another tour. Men/ of those afflicted say they have alt the feelings given as symptoms of that once' fashionable; Indisposition. They say their bones ache, and they feel as If their last hour had come. Whether It Is the grip nr not, it certainly has a grip on the major ity of .the people here, and bad colds aro the order of the day. The Albany News says that even if Judge Fort does move to Atlan ta he will be a representative of Southwest Georgia. Right you are. There wbb a terrible fight among agang of negroes Saturday night. At the store of Mr. H. A. Sim mons, ten or twelve miles from the city. The news of the battle reached Americas yesterday, but only meagre particulars could be gotten. Mr. Simmons is a well to-do farmer and merobant, who is well known here. His store is just over In Lee county, and in connection with a stock of general merchan dise, he has a bar-room. Here a great deal of drinking is done, and those of the surrounding country do most of their trading there. Saturday nights Is always a big night for the blacks. They get paid off that day, and a great majority of them take that night for a time of carousal. . Last Saturday night the crowd of negroes was larger than usual, and after filling themselves up with whiskey began to quarrel among themselves. Exactly how or why It started could not be learned. First two started tbe talk, and the others took sides with one or the other. The more they talked, tbe madder they got, and suddenly one of the erowd flashed a pistol and fired, striking one of the other side in the hip. This was the signal for other shots, and a regular battle took place. The gentleman reporting the affair, says It sounded like at least a hundred shots were fired. Nearly all the negroes had weap ons, and nearly all took a- hand in -the sorlmmage. One had a mirac ulous escape from instant death. A negro stuck bis pistol against his stomaeh and fired. The ball struck a button and glanced offin- fllotlng merely a flesh wound. At the end five or six wore found wonnded, two of whom may die. Tbe others, while more or less se riously hurt, are not thought to be in danger. Mr. Simmons sent fer tbe Sheriff of Lee county, who arrived Sunday morning, and plaoed four of the combatanta In jail at Leesburg. GOOD WORK. Mr. H. T. Castleberry Buns Down a Chisken Thief. Yesterday The Recorder men tioned the stealing of 16 ohlokens from Mrs. W. W. Guerry. To-day tbe thief rests In tbe look-up. The work was done by Mr. H. T. Castleberry, Mrs. Guerry’s son. It seems that Thursday night Mr. Castleberry found some ohlok ens, which he knew to be bis moth ers, at Mr. Tom Gutce’s meat mar ket. To be oertaln, however, he brought his mother up, and she too Identified the cblokens. Mr. Guice told them from whom he had bought them, describing the negro, and saying that he work ed down at Mr. Wheatley’s variety shop. Mr. Castleberry went down there yesterday and found a ne gro answering tbe description, and recognized him as a negro he bad bonght.somc stolen chickens from a few weeks back. Tbs name of the negro was given as Osborn Bullock. He then came up town and saw Mr. Guice. Mr. Guice, too, had been on the lookout, and found out that the name of the negro who sold him the ohlokens was Jim Sanders. Mr. Castleberry swore out a warrant for Jim Sanders, and the officer who went down to Wheatley’s brought back the ne gro whose name had been given as Osborn Bollock. He was landed in the lock-up to await trial. Chicken stealing is getting too common an occurrence, and a few more arrests like this will put an end to it. The Grady Hospital. Special to RxcouDin. Atlanta, Deo. 23.—Just one year ago Henry Grady died, and the first anniversary of his death was commemorated to-day by the laying of the corner stone of the Grady Hospital. A large crowd waBln attendance, and the ee mony was a very Impressive : cere-