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THE AMERICUS WEEKLY TIMES-RECORDER: FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1891.
TfiScRfSP’S HOME
HON. AMOS J. CUMMINGS HAD
' VH to SAV ABOUT IT.
.hip
peitker-
York C
n.iiiie Candida*. * ,)r
„ HunM-VhBt the >
ui»i» Saw Georgia—Three Day
Aiiierieu*.
sun«wv ■
foil.
; letter
, the
York Sun contained the
from flou A must J.
euial congressman from
( unimin^-
the ninth district of -New dork
t several days with .Indue
home in this city. Mr.
made hosts of friends in
ho will ever remember him
ceutly s pet
Crisp "t hi
Cummin?*
America
Ti
pleasantly
such a source, v
tter reads
a letter,
\\ b
jonim^ noth
July appre
The
A'it
thing »
(,a.. Juue 11.—Every-
brigWfueaa litre?* crossing the
[ ilie i,etwee ti lower Alabama and soutli-
' ( ; e „ rj {ia. The sky seems less garish,
tlic magnolia blossoms are sweeter, and
the uelds appear better tilled aim
fertile. You feel that you are i
em! ,ire slate of the south—the land of
Judge Long-street amt Bob Toombs.
J. progressive and not retrogressive.
There is more activl y at the railroad
depots and more life about* the villages.
The inhabitants eat more beefsteak and
less hog and liominy. There are more
horses and less mules. Oattle look more
thrifty, and the cows evidently give
more milk. The blacks are fully, as lazy
aj those in Alabama, but there Is a get-
up-and-get look about the whites that
reminds you of the southern tier of N'ew
York. The men are stalwart and
htrong, and the women brighteyed ami
intelligent The old slouch hat and
shirt bedribbled with tobacco juice gives
place to snowy slnrt fronts, immaculate
collars, neat ties and natty straw hats.
The people talk with more vHn aud rap
idity. They move as if they had more
blood in their veins. They carry less
I sand and more grit. Their completions
lare clearer, their hair ligh'cr in color,
their eyes more blue, aud they develop
pore muscle. There are more gardens
anl more (lowers and roses in the yards
Tin English sparrows seem more snappy
andtiie mocking birds more musical.
Tilde are more whitewashed cabins,
and the pretentious dwellings are al
ways painted.
All this after crossing the Alabama
line. You are still in what is known as
the black licit of the gulf states. The
negro predominates in numbers, but the
white man progresses in civilization,
while tiie black one retrogrades. TIio
Oeoigia cmckci is for in advance of his
Alabama brother. Pat Walsh justly lias
exalted him. IIo Is no Rip Van Winkle.
There are cosmopolitan strains in his
veins. He carried out the colony of
Georgia before the revolution, aud lie
staked out the commonwealth after
Cornwalls's surrender. He was the soul
of the confederacy, and uncomplainingly
he bore the brunt of the battle In the
south. After the war lie was the first to
recoup. He promptly launched his
cypress “dugout" upon the stream of
prosperity. And lie can stand pros
perity.
The black belt is sharing in the general
prosperity. One of its centers is Ameri
cas. It is a thriving little city of be
tween S.000 and 10,000 inhabitants. It
stands on a nest of hills, will'd! afford an
extensive view of the surrounding coun-
tryi Upon the highest point tliero Is a
tall water tower, which can be seen
many miles away. The water comes
from an artesian well, and is sent to
every part of the little city. It is said
to possess medical properties. The
Pump occupies the center of the plaz,
where there is a sort of a public foun
tain. The water Hows into a low iron
tank, surrounded from morn until night
y negroes of both sexes, who drink it
w ‘th great gusto.
Just now the eyes of the country are
turned toward Arahricus. It is the home
0 the Hon. Charles F. Crisp, leading
candidate for speaker of the next house
, fiptesentativea of the United States,
ndge t-flap, as lie is called by his
neighbors, Is not a native Georgian, He
eettled here when a boy, was educated
near here, married his wife in an adjoin-
“o county, read law and was admitted
. * le llar here, presided upon the bench
ere for years and was finally sent to
ingress from here. His has tfoen an
f en and a well-rounded life. His con-
j 1 Ulint ' 1 e'i'lently have the same conti
nence in hi m as 1 iis congressional asso-
a es, \\ hatever the emergency, lie is
"ays ready. Endowed with complete
cial T" 1, *‘ ls mlndis eminently judi-
the t i *'as the equipoise and has had
Oak fUII1 ' ni! and eJt Perienoo necessary to
** a K° od speaker. He is plain and
I,™,,. ’ and quiet In hearing aud dis-
ol >- His townsmen are warm in
m r ex P re *» |on a of friendship towards
... ' Ut not boisterous. They respect, ,,.
(ote * aad admire him. The Judge de-
cunJ 1 attent »’n exclusively to his
1 «e s » 0 hal duties. IHs shingle no
ktind t\ ° rn * lls late * aw °® ce * He
practi ■ ISt cou ' d not continue the
his r * °* llis P rof ession and perform
Iecti„,.T? S<ional dutie ® without neg-
client 8 * !l ler **'" censtituents or his
hashing,o'" di!ltriCt WM 100 far froln
•tudv acatiuns ace spent at horaein the
U the L- ' |1,esti6n * of public interests. It
abilltv t nu "' leJ *e thus acquired and the
■o i,on„i > 11 tIlat h ave made him
P°Pular in the house. He never utter,
commonplaces. He lias something origi
nal to say or he says nothing Spring
ing from energetic ancestors ami en
dowed with remarkable physical and
mental stamina there is not a lazy mus
cle in liis body. He prefers newspapers
to magazines. At least a dozen daily
newspapers reach his house each day.
All are read thoroughly. Aside from
these he wades through, an ocean of
weeklies. Indeed, his mails recall the*
exchange list of couutry newspapers.
Sitting in theft-ide hallway of his home
he tears ot! the wrappers aud digests the
contents.
Judge Crisp met me at the train. We
were driven to his home in a cab. It is
some distance from the depot. The day
was very warm. The judge dresses with
extreme neatness, but there is nothing
pretentious in his manners or surround-
iugs. He luis an unpretentious home. It
trails over the ground like a cucumber
itie. There is an air of breezy comfort
about it. The ceilings are lofty and the
rvoms large and airy. You can drive an
Adams’ express wagon through the hall
way The front veranda is embowered
in rose vines. The house sits well back
from the street. The yard is wide aud
well shaded by four great pines. Mock
ing birds have built their nests in the
tops of the trees, and the yard is flooded
with melody night and day. There are
circular walks and beds of lilies, gera
niums, verbenas, and pinks beneath the
trees. Tall hollyhocks bend to the
breeze at sunset, aud the sweet perfume
of cape jessatniue fairly burdens the air
The jessamine tree stands at the end
the veranda.
It is a typical Georgia home. The
house is neatly furnished. Cane rock
ers upon the long porch invite you
rest. Hospitality beams in the eyes
your hosts. The judge has a charm
iug family—a wife and four«children—
two boys and two girls. The oldest
daughter is the wife of Mr. Davenport,
a wholesale druggist of Americus. The
oldest son is encamped with the G
gia militia on the battlefield of Cliica-
mauga. The other daughter aud the
son attend school in Americu*.
Mrs. Crisp, however, is the light Of
the household She was reared in Ella-
villa, not far away, in the lap of luxury
Her Lather was a planter who had
scores of slaves. Her faithful black
nurse still lives, aud is tenderly cared
for by Mr. Crisp. “Mammy,” as she is
termed, is bedridden, but “Pap” still
lives and officiates as a confidential ser
vant to the family. And these are not
the only servants. There is an old cook
who could initiate Soyer into culinary
mysteries of which he never dreamed,
Such chicken pie, such boiled rice, such
grits, such baked sweet potatoes, such
bacon, and such divine coffee arc found
only once in a lifetime. Vegetables
fresh from the garden are placed upon
the dinner table. Fresh milk is served,
and there is pure cream for your berries
You may have ice as clear as crystal
made from the artesian water hundreds
of feet beneath your feet. And all
these delicacies are .seasoned and ren
dered more palatable by conversation
at the table. The reminiscences, wit
and observations become a part of the
viands, and are ^is readily digested,
Nor is there a shadow of ingratitude in
the family for all those blessing, ltegu
larly, morning, boon, aud at night, the
judge bows his head over his table and
asks God's blessing upon the meal
It is a family united in love aud affec
tion, and one in which the good old
Georgia term of endearment, “honey,”
is not forgotten. The children hdnor
their father and their mother, and the
parents honor their children.
It was court week. The circuit was
the one in which Judge Crisp had pre
sided over prior to his election to con
gress. For five years before that he had
been prosecuting attorney in the same
circuit. The old court bouse, in which
Judge Crisp has sentenced many men to
prison and to death, is still standing.
The building, however, is unoccupied.
Court is held In a new temple of justice,
erected near the water tower. The week
was to be devoted to the trial of negroes,
charged with offenses ranging from
gambling to-murder. A crowd of blacks
gathered around tho entrance as the
hour for the opening approached. His
Honor, Judge Fort, presided. There
was no formality in opening the court-
no “oyez,” or anything of that sort.
The gallery was crowded with negroes.
They aro not allowed upon the main
floor. When the judge took his seat
upon the bench, he swung his easy chair
to the right, and said :
“Mr. Clerk, call the panel.”
“Hats off!” shouted the sheriff, and
all, with the exception of the sheriff and
the court officers, uncovered their heads.
They alone are privileged to wear their
hats while court is in session. It is the
only distinction of office. They carry
no staves and wear no badges. After the
jurors had responded to their names,
judge swung around in his chair and
“Mr. Clerk, call the tails jurors for
excuses.”
Such is an every-day picture of the
court over which Judge Crisp presided.
He swept through southwest Georgia on
his circuit, holding court in one county
one week and in ait adjoining county
next week. It was continuous and labo
rious work. It required an accurate
knowledge of the law* keen insight into
humltn nature, careful and deliberate
judgment, and a clear and concise state
ment. In this office, at a salary of
$2,500 a year, Judge Crisp won a name
In the jurisprudence of Georgia. No
judge ever filled the bench with more
credit to himself aud to his district.
The judge’s townsmen take great in
terest in the canvass for the speakership.
At a barbecue in Magnolia Dell, near
Americus, Wednesday, June 3, a refer
ence to his caudidacy brought out the
most tuiuultmous applause. Georgia
was reminded that she had had no
speaker of the house since the days of
Howell Cobb.. Judge Crisp had beeu
brought to the front by northern demo
crats, his party associates in congress,
because of his qualifications alone. The
office was seeking the man, aud not the
man the office There was another out
burst of applause. When the roast
pig had disappeared and the artil
lery punch had evaporated, there
were loud calls for the judge. .Straw
hut in hand, he responded. He referred
to the baseless attacks upon his tariff
reform record as evidence of the bitter
ness of the contest, hut had only words
of praise for his opponents in the race.
All were good democrats. They had all
done their best In the great tight against
tyranny in the house, and they were all
entitled to the thanks of#those wlio love
the republic. As for himself, he was in
tlie hands of his friends. He could trust
them to repel all uujust aspersions, and
to care for the interest of the \>arty and
of the couutry.
It was a characteristic speech, and It
received characteristic applause. It may
have a characteristic result.
Amos J. Cummings.
EIGHT MONTHS OR $500.1 KNOTTY TIIE PROBLEM
THE SENTENCE IN THE CASE OF TO BE SOLVED BY AND FOR THE
B J. ROOKS- * j FARMERS’ ALLIANCE-
Charged Willi At*ault and Battery he The Fact Thut the Organization U a Secret
Wai Stolidly Indifferent-A Mont Ite-
markahle Cane Tried Tuesday—Al
though Aide he Had no Lawyer.
One Kxclude* Many Whom* Keligio
lief Exclude* Such-Thousand* A
Who May Have to Come Out.
An altogether remarkable case and j The alUancemen throughout the coun-
Churfe^Glast Caught.
Sunday’s Times-Recokder contained
a description of a negro whose suspi
cious action led the marshal of Rochelle
to take him in tow, Saturday. That
negro was Charley Glass who killed his
companion, Lewis Ivey, also colored at
Indian Springs about a week* ago, the
details of which are well known
Timeh-RecoRdik readers.
Glass \As identified by Ivey’s brother
and he immediately acknowledged the
crime, told of its every terrible detail
and gave up £400 which he had robbed
Ivey of after he had killed him. He
said that he committed the crime to get
the money and that ho believes he would
have escaped for good and all had he not
run Saturday. Glass will be carried to
Jackson and lodged in jail until the
time comes for him to answer to the
charge of murder before Butts superior
court.
1 j
one full of interest was tried before ; try find them>elves with a knotty proh
Judge Pilsbury in the county court Tues- j lem to solve just now. Something of
day. . more vital importance than the third
The defendant was Mr. B. J. Rooks, a j party has come up for consideration,
man well known in Sumter county, and The result may he that two branches of
the charge against him was assault aud j the alliance, one secret, the other turn-
battery. He was convicted and was j secret, will he formed,
sentenced to serve eight months on the 1 Or it may be that the whole thing will
chain gang or pay a fine of $500 aud all I be made open in its workings,
costs. f J The problem to he solved and its im-
Mr. Rooks owns a f arm about four | portant hearing on the order is best told
miles north of the city where he lives. | in the following:
MONDAY NIGHT’S BLAZE
WAS ONLY A SMALL AFFAIR BUT SE
RIOUS RESULTS
Would Have Attended It Hud th. Fir.
n.d . Little Morn Headway—How Did
The Fir. Originate?—^We. There Anyone
In the Building?
The Special*. Schedule.
JJy some unaccountable error in the
notice given last Sunday it was made to
appear that Tuesday was the day for
the Sunday school meeting at New
Point. Unt Friday is the day and the
outlook promises a large meeting. The
schedule for the special train has been
arranged. It will leave the city at 9:30
a. m , returning at about 4 p. m. In
irder to accommodate parties living at
Plains of Dura and intermediate points
the special will he run to the Plains and
bring all wlio wish to attend the meet
ing for tiie round trip rate of 25 cents,
am( parties living lit the Plains and in
termediate points will be returned on
the special at 3:30 p. m. All Sunday
school workers and friends are cordially
invited to attend the meeting and carry-
well lilted baskets For other Informa
tion call on Messy., J. W. Wheatley, J.
T. Argo, M. Callaway or Lott Warren. .
They Want Detail*.
Some of the members of the county
hoard of education think the last grand
jury did them an injustice. In Its pre
sentments that body said: “The public
school system as operated in our county
does not work satisfactorily, but we
make no recommedation in that line,”
These members of the board of educa
tion say that tho presentment as sub
mitted loaves the Impression that the
members of the board and the county
school commissioner have notdone their
duty and they are desirrus to know what
was being complained about.
Making Preparation..
The excursion which will be given by
the officers and men of the departments
of the S., A. & M. road to Savannah July
bids fair to be an Immense success—
tho grandest of tho season. Parties who
go on this excursion will have the op
portunity of spending the glorious fourth
at Tybee where a grand programme of
amusements will be carried out. Splen
did accommodations will be offered all
who go, the rate will be exceedingly
liberal, and the popular S., A. Jfc M. men
will be remembered by their friends on
that day.
Anderaonvflle’t School to Close.
The closing pxerci.es of the Ander-
sonvilie high school will begin Sunday,
June 28, when Rev. W. L. Geiger, of
Helena, will preach the commencement
sermon. Wednesday, July 1, will be
commencement day. and on that occa
sion there will be u ..tcrary address by
Hon. James M. Dupree, of Montezuma.
On the nlghttf that day there will be a
public exhibition, to which aU who will
may go, since a cordial Invitation is ex
tended to everybody to be present.
Broke HU Arm.
Alex West, a young white boy, was
the vlcthn of a painful accident Mon
day afternoon. He was up in a tree at
the dell gathering magnolias when the
limb he was on broke and let him fall to
the ground, about thirty feet below.
Hia right arm waa broken In two place*
and Ms hip was seriously sprained, be
sides other bruises which he suffered.
He wHl not hunt any more ' magnolia*
•oon.
During the first part of the year lie
taught a school in his yard. This school
was made up of four of Mr. U. T. Ito
new's children aud three others. Ac
cording to the evidence yesterday, Ilur-
bel t Renew, a little fellow 11 years old
and small for his age, went to the
teacher and asked him for some infor
mation about a lesson lie was preparing.
Rooks gave the information aud followed
Ifurbert to his seat. When the boy
sat down Rooks hit him a blow over the
head with his list, then lie Blapped the
child, knocking him over. All this was
for nothing so far as was shown to the
court. Not satisfied,however, Rooks forc
ed Herbert Renew to the lloor and held
him, while lie whipped the boy terribly
with a cowhide. From the evidence
the whipping was au inhuman one.
The boy's logs aud thighs were de
scribed by the witnesses as being pur
ple and cut up by the cowhide. Several
gashes, the witnesses said, were also cut
on liis body, from which the blood (low
ed freely. The little fellow carried his
wounds for some II re weeks aud Is now
marked by scars—tlieli result.
When the boy went home he told Ills
mother what happened. Mr. Renew
was greatly angered. He said yesterday
that the case would not have found its
way into court in the shape it was had
not Rooks kept himself hid for several
days afterward. But a warrant was
sworn out and Rooks was arraigned for
commitment. He was put under a $200
bond to appear at the present term of
the county court.
Tuesday he failed to show up. A
gentleman \yho was interested in his
bond went out after him. He said he
was not going to li^ve anything to do
with the case. The gentleman finally
succeeded in getting Rooks to* come to
the city with him. When the cose was ]y
called Rooks stated that Hinton & Cutts
would represent him. He said Mr. Hin
ton had volunteered to do so. That gen
tleman was called, but before he got in
court Rooks said that he had no lawyer
and would get none. When Mr.
Hinton arrived he said that he had noth
ing to do with the case, and stated posi
tively that he had not volunteered to
defend Rooks; that he didn't do business
that way. Rooks refused to secure
counsel. The Judge, however, appoint
ed Col. McCoy to defend him. Then
Kooks refused to make any plea, simply
saying to the court, “I whipped the
boy,” That was all lie would say,
Solicitor Hudson and Mr, Robert L.
Maynard represented the prosecution,
and brought out the evidence told of
above. When the prosecution rested
Hooks absolutely would not let a thing
be done or a word be said in hia defense.
He wouldn’t utter a syllable in the*way
of an explanation or make any statement
whatever. A gentleman who was in the
court room insisted on his making some
statement. The good it might do was
pointed out, but Kooks' only reply was
that they knew it all.
The case was submitted without argu
ment. The jury was out only the length
of time necessary to write a verdict.
Then the judge passed sentence as given
above. Rooks was stolidly indifferent
all the while and as soon as the sentence
had been passed ho took Ills seat In the
prisoners’ box and said he would serve
the time on the chalngang before he
would pay the line.
Rooks' absolute carelessness in regard
to the case is something wonderful. He
owns a valuable farm and is known to
have several thousand dollars on deposit
in Americus. Yet he refused to procure
a lawyer. And he will go to the chain-
gang before he will pay the tine. He
made no effort, either, to clea- himself.
Just such a case has never been heard
of before.
The end of the matter Is not yet. Mr.
Renew has entered suit for damages in
the sum of $2,000 for the injuries inflict
ed on his boy. This will be pushed vig
orously. Unless Rooks exerts himself
more in defending it than he did yester
day that case is as certain to go against
him as it Is tried.
While Hooks would assign no reason
for whipping the boy it Is said that hia
son told Hubert Renew's brother (Jiat
his father (Rooks) had whipped his
mother the night before, and that he
had been mad all day. The lad as
signed that as the reason why Hubert
was whipped so badly.
Pennsylvania girls> marry young.
Daring the past year twenty-three girls
were married at the age of fourteen, 109
at fifteen, 354 at sixteen, 310 at seven
teen and 1,338 at eighteen.
Many members of our order have re
cently fouud themselves in an embnr-
assiug predicament," said an alliance
officer yesterday. “Tiie trouble is be
tween the Hardshell Baptist church and
the alliance. The Ilardshells, it seems,
have a clause in the creed or constitu
tion qf their church which forbids any
member of tho church being a member
of a secret order. Tho alliance happens
to be a secret order, and as a conse
quence many members of ft have re
cently been turned out of tiie church for
violating its laws. Of course that will
never do. Some of our best; members
are members of tho Hardshell church
and a man should not give up lilschurcb
for anything. The alliance must do
something in the matter. The only
remedy 1 see is to have two branches of
the order—one secret and the other
open. It's a question of deep moment
to us. There are perhaps 2,000 Hard
shell Baptists now in the alliance, and
unless we act quickly they will either
have to get out of the church or the al
liance."
Throughout Georgia there are many
Hardshell or Primitive Baptists, and in
no part of the state have they more
strength than throughout this section,
known as Southwest Georgia. In Sum
ter, Marion, Schley, Stewart and Web
ster it is safe to say that one-third of the
number of Hardshell alliancemen given
above can be found.
These people rank among the best
citizens, most prosperous farmers and
staunchest alliancemen to be found any
where, but they will allow nothing
come between them and the
fundamental principles of their religion,
That clause which says no believer In
that creed or form of religion shall be
* Gerof any secret is as old as the
it thell, faith itself. It taught to the
ly t Ta v .. when they grow up they
arJjfm beh. ”?rs in It.
So something ust be done.
If something is not done those 2,000
goo'd men and true will have to draw out
of the order which is based on principles
that will accomplish much for them.
A reporter mentioned this matter to a
well known allianceman yesterday. He
said:
“Yes, something must be done. We
can’t lose these men now, and I don’t
take to the Idea of two branches of the
order. In fact, that would be a suicidal
policy, for a distrust would be sure to
spring up between the two factions.
It scorns to me -It would then be
nothing more nor less than a bouse di
vided against itself falling. Still, we
cannot run rough shod over the relig
ious belief of thes^eople. The consti
tution of the United States assures to
every citizen of this country freedom of
religious belief, and It would indeed be a
pretty pass that we bad come to if we,
who have banded together together to
support that constitution In all Its broad
conception, should openly fight against
it. I think the best way out of the
trouble is to make the alliance non
secret.”
“But wouidu’t that interfere material
ly with the usefulness of your order?’
was asked.
“I don’t think so. We hare nothing
in our order save that of which we can be
proud, and I honestly believe that it
would extend the influence of the order
and make us more useful if this should
be done. I am almost confident that
many whom we now count against us
would stand shoulder to shoulder with
us if they realized, as they would
then be capable of realizing, how
identical ,our interests aro with
theirs. Down here we are satisfied to
tie to the democratic party, and I con
sider this matter of keeping these men
within our ranks, to say nothing of the
large number who will come in if we are
non-secret, of vastly more importance
than trying to bolster uu a third party
scheme.”
' There are thousands of others In Geor
gia who are of the same way of thinking
and this matter will no doubt be consid
ered with as little delay as possible.
The Sumter county alliance will no
doubt take it up at its next meeting.
TUere came near being a serious con
flagration in Americus Monday night.
About 11:15 o’clock the nlarm was
sounded and soon every man In the city
who was awakened by the big hell was
on his way to the fire. If was- found
that the store of Tom Mitchell, colored,
qn Cotton avenue, was the scene of the
excitement. A door was quickly broken
open, and in a short while after the
alarm sounded, Vigilance, colored, com
pany was playing a strong and steady
stream on the burning house. Theu
came the boys of the Qlegg hose com
pany, who made- the long run from
their reel house on Jackson stroet in
time to got on the uext stream.
It was not long before the fire was
out and the danger was over.’
The building nor the stock were
neither damaged by the fire, but they
were badly hurt by smoke and water.
Indeed, there was not at any time much
fire to be seen. The btAllng Is the
property of Mr. Kamil and Is covered by
insurance. Tom Mitchell had (1,000 in
surance on his stock in a company rep
resented by Capt. R. T. Byrd! This, it
is thought, would have covered the eu-
tire stock.
The building in which the fire waa
located is situated on one of the most
prominent business streets. It is a por
tion of the Ifamy block, and is just
across the street from the Allen House
and in less than a block of the Hawkins
House. If the blaze had made n little
more headway before it waa discovered
it is hard to reckon what would have
been the damage, or how far the fire
would have burned, '
How did the fire start?
That is a question which is a stunner.
Some say it was set afire. Othtrs say
that it caught from a stove la the build
ing. The bouse is used as a combina
tion bar, restauraut and store. The
opinion which most prevailed last night
was that the building caught from the
stove used in the restaurant. Exactly
the location of the fire could not be
fixed. Some say it was right at the
stove, others that it was further bock in
the corner.
There aro those who assert positively
that someone was heard in the building
just before the fire was discovered.
. A short while before the fire was'dis
covered Mr. W. F. Mims, who was pass
ing the Allen House, plainly saw the
blaze and taw what be thought to be
someone cooking. He had been at home
and in bed but a short while when he
heard the alarm sounded.
Mr. SI Hawkins and Mr. Comer of Sa
vannah were fitting in front of
the Allen House. They were at
tracted by a knocking on the glass
In the front doors and went over to see
about It. They felt the gloss. It was
hot and they decided that It was a
cracking caused by the fire that they
heard. About that time, however, they
are positive that they beard somebody
running inside and that whoever it was
knocked over a lot of boxes u he was
making his way out. One of the gentle
men of the party ran to the rear of the
house, but-he saw no one. The.celldt
door, however, was slightly ajar, and
anyone who might have been inside
could have gotten out that wa/
It waa the opinion of the gentlemen
who heard the noise that some dronten
man had been locked up in the building
by mistake and that the smoke had
awakened h'm.
Others say that if there was anybody
in the building that whoever it was
started the fire; that h man suddenly
finding himself In that position would
have oalled for help and made every ef- *
fort to escape.
Many thought Messrs. Hawkins and
Comer might have been mistaken about
hearing anyone in the building, blit they
are both positive that they did hear
someone.
Mitchell left the store earlier
than usual so as to go the opera house,and
didn't go back until the alarm sounded.
He says that he is certain he didn't look
anyone up inside, and that he is almoat
as certain the fire caught from the stove.
A Valuable Ilona Shot, <
Monday Lieut. Marion 8. Harper
had a valuable horse shot. The animal
waa afflicted in a very unusual way, and
it was to end It. sufferings that it was
shot. The first joint of each of the
horse’s Age gave completely and sud
denly away, and the bone protruded
through tho skin. Of coarse the feet
were entirely useless, and tho hone was
let down all around. The case was pro-
pounced Incurable, so the animal was
promptly killed.
Killed Beneath a Tree.
News came from Webster county yes
terday that a little negro boy was
crushed to death beneath a falling tree
in that county yesterday. The accident
happened about noon. The boy had
gone to carry his father, who was split*
liting rails, some water. Just as he
walked up the. tree on which hie father
was cutting began to fall. It went
the ground with n crash and fh!l on the
boy, killing him Instantly. The man's
name is William Avers and the boy wse
hia ton, Dan Avers, about 8 years old.
StiU Protests 1
A gedtleman who was here from
Lumpkin Tuesday said that Owens, the
man who man led Miss Morton and who
iftu jail the;?*' charged with bigamy,
still protests Ills inn&cence most vigor
ously and assorts that he will prove what
he says when the case comes up for
tiial. The gentleman also said that tiie
people around Lumpkin take but little
stock in Owens’ protestations.