The Pickens County herald. (Jasper, Ga.) 1887-????, July 16, 1891, Image 1

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PICKENS COUNTY HERALD. VOV. IV. WKAK TKKASURY VAULTS A DANGER THAT THREATENS THE MILLIONS OF THE UNITED STATES. Mr. Hu.tun’g Odd Experiment—How Me Was Hustled Along the Corridor at a Pistoi-s Point—A Way Skillful Sa e Burg Ini'. Might Btoonte Worth Mil¬ lion.—A Carefully Guaided Secret- Fear of the ontclals. Six hunured and ninety-one millions of dollars! A sum sufficient to abash a Monte Cristo and to make King Midas turn green with envy. This is the amount, within a few pal¬ try humhede of thousands, one way or the otlif r, for w hich United States Treas¬ urer Nebekcr will sign a necipt lohis predecessor, Col. Huston. Tuanuiti Nebeker is already in office, but ex- Treasurer Husion is still responsible for this sum, and be will continue to be re¬ sponsible until every dollar of it 1ms been counted and :ouud to be correct. A targe force of meu have hi en at work in the vaults of the United States Treas ury for three weeks, and lheir nuge task will keep them busy for at least a month onger. The startling fact about the presence of this glittering mass of wealth in the United States Treasury is that it is in daily aud nightly danger from burglars. The danger is so real that special vig¬ ilance is exercised by the armed Treas¬ ury watch, who patrol its corridors ami watch its portals every moment of every hour in 1 he twenty- four. The danger is so real that Mr. Huston was unable to sleep because of his nervous sense of re¬ sponsibility. The danger is so rod that officials of the Treasury Department dread to have it made known, lest the attention of expn t cracksmen be direct¬ ed to the opportunity that invites their skill. The danger is so real that the count of the money now going on is con¬ ducted under the scrutiny of specially appointed watchmen and sentinels, and with a caution against the admission of visitors never equalled. WHERE- THE MONEY IS HELD. These hundreds of millions of dollars in the keeping of the Treasurer of the United States are held in eight principal vaults. One, known as the great silver vault, contains about $91,000,000 in sil ver dollars and fractional silver. An¬ other, adjoining it, contains 59,600,000 silver dollars, and $26,000,000. Another vault contains $220,1X10,000of bonds held as security for national bank circulation. Another, known as the “reserve” vault, contains $290,000,000 in paper money, held as a reserve to replace worn and mutilated notes. Besides these, three other vaults hold respectively, $3,000,- 000 in national I*mk notes received for redemption ; $5,000,000 or so of mixed moneys received day by day for redemp¬ tion, and $2,000,000 in mixed money used in the daily business of the depart¬ ment. Glittering figures these. And now for the dangers that, menace them. THE VAULTS COULD BE OPENED. During the long session of the last Congress Treasurer Huston became un¬ easy about the condition of these eight vaults, and he sent to New York for an expert to examine them. The expert looked the vaults over and smiled. “Why,” he said, “the best of these vaults can be opened in a jiffy.” To prove his startling assertion, the expert locked Treasurer Huston and two of his clerks in one of the best and strongest vaults in Ihe department. The Treas¬ urer and his companion sat there shiver¬ ing and half stifled in the darkness amidst the millions, but not for long. In fourteen minutes the great door swung open and let in upon them a flood of light. The expert had pried back the lock with ease. The marks of the jim¬ my that he used in this experiment are still to be seen at the edge of the door of tbe vault, although they have been cov¬ ered witli black paint. Then the expert led Treasurer Huston to another of his strong boxes. This yault is built of masonry and steel. The expert produced a drill such as would be used by a mere apprentice in the art of safe-cracking, and in just eight seconds had perforated the wall of the vault near the lock of the door, so that a small charge of powder, such as would make scarcely any detonation at all, would have blown it open. THE TREASURER’S EXPERIMENT. At these revelations Treasurer Huston turned pale, He had the hole drilled into the wall of the safe by the expert filled witli steel, and then he applied to Congress for an appropriation to provide the old-fashioned vaults with modern protection. He made his application to tbe House committee on appropriations. The committee heard his statement in .«cre.t session and were so impressed by the facts as he set them forth as prompt¬ ly to report an appropriation which was discreetly pushed through the House without debate. The appropriation JASPER, PKKENS (<)., UA., THURSDAY, JULY l<>, 1891. failed, however, to pace the Senate be¬ cause it was hinted at the time of the jerlousy of rival safe manufacturers. Meantime, Treasurer Huston grew more and more nervous. The thought of the millions thus in danger of attack caused lnm one night to get out of lied, doss and go to the gloomy Treasury budding. The Armed watchman pacing up and down before tlie entrance recog¬ nized him and let him |>ass. Col. Huston hurried along the echoing corridor and climbed the interior stair¬ case to his office- There he substituted a i-air of sliojjers for his shoes and crept back into the corridor for a tour of in¬ spection. He feared that even then some pupil of Jimmy Hope might be at¬ tacking Uncle Sam’s vaults. Stealthily, warily, Mr. Huston cient along the corridor. His slippered feet made no echo, and he fsneied himself unobserved. He said to himself: “I will put this haunting danger to a practical test. I will ree whether 1 can teacha vault and stay there long enough to open it as the expert did, undetected.” Ihe ex-Treasurer, who is a man of slender build, and wirey, elastic frame, came to a corner of the corridor and turned it. As he did so a stalwart fig¬ ure confronted him. “Who are you ! .Stand 1” were the startling words that met, Mr. Huston’B ears, while at the same time the cold muzzle of a revolver was pressed against his forehead. AT THE POINT OF A PISTOL. The nervous Treasurer, startled by t tie sudden apparition and thrilled by the touch of the cold steel, sprang backward as far as a long Indiana leap could carry him. Then, seeing the level pistol trained u|)on him, and recognizing that his questioner wore a watchman's l adge.be recovered his dignity and said haughtily; “I am the Treasurer of the United States.” The watchman was at his side in an instant, and again the muzzle of the re¬ volver was pressed to Huston’s skull. “Ycu are the Treasurer, are you ?” said the incredulous watchman, “Well, .-you, I’ll soon find out who you arc.” With that the watchman led the unresisting captive, who feared every second that the pistol might end his anx¬ iety with a bullet through the brain, to the side of the corridor, and touched an electric button. Far, far away could be heard the ring of tbe answering bell, and speedily the watchman and the frightened Treasurer were surrounded by other men, all armed with big revolvers. : Identification and release followed, The Treasurer continued his stroll in slippered feet, only again to be “field up” at the muzzle of another watchman’s revolver. Then Treasurer Huston returned to his bed and slept. He could find no fault with the watchman who had arrested him, and his mind was easier. RIDDLED WITH BULLETS Tlie Fierce County Ravi.her Lynched at, Black,shear. Brunswick, Ga., July 9.— Tied to a tree and riddled with bullets—that, was the program of a lynching at Blackshear last night. Robert Browne, colored, was the subject acted upon. The story of Brown’s assault on the persons of Mrs. O’Barry and her daughter of Race Pond, a small hamlet near Blackshear, has been published, and those who read the tale were convinced that justice would never be meted out to him by law, nor would the lawyers get an opportunity of pleading his innocence or guilt before a jury. When Sheriff Davis secured Brown after his capture, he was several 4 rues threatened with violence by de 82 >erate men, unless he turned his prisoner over to their care. Sheriff Davis and his charge had to pass through Waycioss, and here, by a fine piece of stategy, the sher¬ iff eluded the crowd, and passed on his way unnoticed, Locking Brown se- curely in his cell, the sheriff returned to his home and, worn out with his ride, was soon asleep. Baffled at their attempt to get Brown at Way cross, the angry ^pl 0 of Kace Pond and the surrounding country formed into a silent mob and started for Blackshear. Arriving there, fifty {of the mob crept up to the sheriff’s home, effected an entrance to his room, and, with a grand push, nailed his prostrate form to the bed. The sheriff fought for his keys, but was overpowered, aDd while some still held him others made for the jail, unlocked tbe outer and cell doors and dragged the doomed negro forth. His piteous cries for mercy were drowned in the louder cries for ven¬ geance that issued from the throats of the mob, ana in a few minutes he was bound tightly to a convenient tree near the jail. Stepping back from the tree the mob leaders gave the word to fire, and a volley of bullets poured out of Winchester rifles, shotguns and revol¬ vers, and soon ended the life of their victim. Blackshear is excited and the better class of people condemn the mob’s action in strong terms. WR SKKK TIIK REWARD OF HONEST LABOR HE CUT A DASH. Wnlim S. Hcre.foru, a ttuppomul Lorrt Bi»r- row* Money Hiul SmpN Out. Home, Ga., July 9.— During Feb¬ ruary last Waller 8. IJeresford, of Herefordshire, England, as he claim¬ ed, arrived in Home. Ho made it known that ho was a second son of a certain Lord JBeresford, of Here¬ fordshire, England, who was soul to invest £50,000, and consequently he cut quite a dash. Ho was gay aud debonair, with a Business bearing and dignified air, and he carried a high hand among society people. He whs wined ami dined by the best people here and in Atlanta he was entertained by Ihe Adairs. The Hamiltons, one of the first families in this part of the country, gave credence to his claims as a gentleman because he had letters trom a Mr. Se delton, formerly of Atlanta, but at the time of London. The Hot. Mr. Beresford, as hecalieil himself, weeded quite a big row here and purchased options largely on certain real estate in the neighs borhood. Alter forming the acquaintance of the Hamiltons, he became or tried to become, a particular friend of Harjior Hamilton, and on one occa¬ sion tie mentioned that he was short of change and had the firm of Ham¬ ilton & Co., lo honor his drafts on Ihe Westminster Bank of London, England, for £200- Immediately alter securing the amount in Ameri¬ can money he disappeared and the Hamiltons put detectives and officers o t the law on the trail. Sunday night Sheriff' Moore re¬ ceived a telegram from Inspector Byrnes of New York to the effect that the Hon. Mr. Beresford whh in custody. This morning at 7 o’clock, witli proper papers, Harper Hamil¬ ton and Deputy Sheriff Dallas Tur¬ ner left for New York, and they will bring the young man hack. This afternoon about 5:80 A. S. Hamilton received a telegram from New York, saying: “Bereslord got a habeas corpus this morning. Hearing to-morrow at 10. Requisition papers here for him. Wire at once the hour sheriffleaves Rome. T. J. McGuire. T. J. MiGuire is the man who came here with Beresford, so Col. S. B. Hamilton said. Beresford weeded a big row through Georgia, and if reports are to he believed other states have suf¬ fered- Beresford personally is a nice feilow, and would be apt to deceive one, and his course through Georgia and several other states proves that. He will find a warm welcome when he comes back to Rome. Ownership ot the flxcliange. Ati anta. Ga., July 9—A [imminent alliance member of tlie legislature here to-nignt, is responsible for a statement that Ihe Georgia Farmers’Alliance Ex¬ change is owned now by a party of northern capitalists. He is convinced f urther that this is true of other and [lerliaps all the state t xc hanges of th Southern States, the same party con trolling all of them. This statemen cannot he verified to-night, hut the au¬ thority quoted is reliable. The Ntrvia in Fort. New York, July 9. —The Cunard steamer Servia, which was reported disableo yesterday, reached this jaort to-night, having been towed in by tbe oil tank steamship Chester, assisted by several tugs. Hhe came to anchor below Bedlow’s Island, and tuch of the jiassengers as desired to go ashore were taken off. Among those who did not was Prince George, of Greeee. He and his suite remaining on hoard. To-morrow morning he will be transferred to the Inman liner City of New York. There was no |>anic aboard the Servia at the time of the accident. Rl<l« of the Life Guards. London, July 9.—After a late break- fast with Queen Victoria, Emperor William drove to tbe park where he critically watched the musical ride of the Life Guards, a most skillful eques¬ trian performance. The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Anhalt-Dessau, the Duke of Connaught and Prince Henry of JBat- tenberg, all in brilliant, uniforms, and the Princess of Wxles, Princess Bea¬ trice, Princess Victoria of Wales and the Duchess of life joined the young emperor in watching the ride. The exhibition provoked the greatest ad¬ miration on the part of the emperor, who was very enthusiastic over it, say- ing that it was one of the finest milita- ry spectacles that he had ever seen. RETURN OF THE ITATA- Tli« Ilbol A£«*fiiMf. tli« Robert ait'fi M'iinte lUNIItiNNHl, Los Angeles, Cai.,, July u.—Judge Rohr, of the United States circuit court, yesterday dismisHcd the libel on the schooner Robert and Minnie, which was seized in connection with the Itata ep¬ isode. The schooner loaded at Ban Francisco with ammunition for the Chilean insurgents, which was trans¬ ferred at Ban Clemente to the steamer Itata and taken to Iquique. Judge Ross in his decision says lliatwhilethe fact alleged may be good reason for confiscating the Itata, there is nothing to * show that the schooner was fitted out for the purposes of war, and hence The libel is dismissed. Commander Miguel Tornad, of the Itata, to day offi¬ cially notified tne federal authorities that through the agency of Admiral McCann, of the United States navy, he had returned to be tried for leaving the port of Ban Diego, March 6, with¬ out the necessary permission. disappointment AT WASHINGTON. W ashington, July 7.—The decision of Judge Ross’ court yesterday, dis¬ missing the libel against the schooner Robert and Minnie, which vessel sup¬ plied arms to the Itata, was a great surprise to ilie officials in Washington. It was generally believed that, the case against her was much stronger than that which could be made out. against the Itata, and notwithstanding the reservation made by r Judge Ross in his decision, it is felt that his action will cause the failure of the original libel lodged against the Chilean vessel, although she may still be held on, some technical charge connected with her escape while under legal deten¬ tion. This outcome would be a severe disappointment to the state and navy department officials after an expendi¬ ture. direct and indirect, in the chase of the Itata, that is estimated to run up closely in the neighborhood of $100,000. THE TTATA ORDERED LIBELED. A telegram was received at. the de¬ partment. of justice to-day from Unit¬ ed States Marshal Gard at 8a.n Diego, Oal., Hiking instructions as to his course in regard to the seized Chilean steamer Itata. The acting Attorney General telegraphed United States Attorney Cole, at San Diego, to libel the vessel at, once and turn her over to the Unit¬ ed States marshal by due process of law. By special arrangement, with the navy department the vessel was trans¬ ferred to the custody of the civil au¬ thorities to-dav. LOOKING AI TERMINALS President H. B. Plant, ol the Plant, Sys¬ tem Here. Savannah, July 0,—President,H. B. Plant, the head of the great rail¬ road system that bears his name, is in the city. He arrived in his spec ial car from Charleston at 3:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon. A visit from him in midsummer is something unusual and all kinds of rumors are afloat as to the cause of his coming. Mr. Plant, however, never tells his business, but that he is not on pleas-" ure bent is quite evident. Doubtless Mr. Plant’s real reason for his southern trip is to take steps to meet the extraordinary demand that has all of a sudden been made upon tbe resources of the Plant sys¬ tem by the rapidly developing phos¬ phate industries. Two steamships are now loading at this port with Florida phosphates, and doubtless more are expected. Mr. Plant, soo after his arrival yesterday, In conns pany with C’apt. R. G. Fleming, auperintendant of the Savannah Florida and Western railway; C. 8. Gadsden, superintendent of the Charleston and Savannah railway; and Mr. C. D. Owens, traffic man¬ ager of the Plant system; visited the extensive wharve,s of the company, to look into matterslncident to mak¬ ing improvements to accommodate this new source of wealth—the phos¬ phates of Florida. Mr. Plant was called on by Mayor McDonough and Col. J. H. Estil. The mayor inyited him to be the city’s guest on Thursday and go down the liver with himself, the aldermen, Capt. O. M. Carter ol the United States engineer corps, and other gentlemen, to see what iB lie- ing dono in improving the harbor. Mr. Plant said he would tie very glad to go and accepted the invita¬ tion without hesitation. He ex¬ pressed himself very strongly in the matter of getting a large appropria¬ tion ho as to eive Savannah all the water her growing importance de^ mands. He was particularly anx- ious to know what the people are doing to secure an additional appro¬ priation, something like that given to Galveston. Up thought if all pulled together the city conkl get everything it waked for. Tliougli Mr. Plant haa iteen ideuti- lied with one of Savannah’s great railways for many yeara, this is the first, opportunity he has had of ars ceptingany attentions from the city’s people. He has always l>een too busily engaged in business. Florida’. Capital City. Tallahassee, July 10.—Governor Fleming lias made the following ap- ^ointments; Thomas J. Beatty, of Keysville, to be notary public for the State at large. J. F. Dunn, of Ocala, to be member of the board of education of East Flor¬ ida Seminary, vice W. A. Hocker, re¬ signed. Hou. William B. Lamar, Attorney- General, left yesterday morning to ac- couipauy Hon. E. B. Ba'ley to Europe, where he goes to perfect contracts for delivering phosphates. The Methodists of Tallahassee are going to build a $20,000 brick church. $5,000 has already been subscribed ami the work is but just inaugurated. C. A. Clioate, resident agent of the Florida Colonization, Mining and Com mercial Company, lias goue to Jack¬ sonville on a business trip. The com¬ pany projioses to take up and prose¬ cute, at its own expense, the work in¬ augurated by the bureau of immigra¬ tion. Gov. Fleming has appointed the fol¬ lowing city commissioners for Key West: C. B. Pendleton, R. Alfred Monsalvage, H. E. Mhso and R. Al¬ varez. GEORGIA’S CHOP AVERAGES- Southeast Georgia Hasthe Bent and Middle Georgia ili« Poorest. Atlanta, June 9 —The figures of the crop report show the cotton per¬ centage to be 82, as against. 94 last year. The best average is 90 per cent, for Southeast Georgia, while the percent¬ age for Middle Georgia is only 77. The corn crop averages 95 per cent., and in this again Southeast Georgia shows the best percentage and Middle Georgia the poorest. The wheat, percentage is 85 and oats 75. The average wheat yield is 8 hush els, which is exceptionally large, and the oat crop averages 14 bushels. The grape crop will he a very fine one with a percentage of 90. i’he ap¬ ple percentage is 58, and peaches 38. NEGROE S AT T HE FAIR. They Fre.ont a Candidate to Take Charge of Their Exhibit. Washington, July 9.— The colored members of the bar, of the press, of the Equal Rights League, and various other colored men’s c rganizations of the District of Columbia, held meet¬ ings to-day and at each of them the following resolutions, offered by Judge R. A. Dawson, were adopted for pres¬ entation to the board of control of the World’s Fair to-morrow: “The election of Hon. James M. Townsend, at present recorder of the general land office, as chief of the bu¬ reau for the collection of exhibits on behalf of the Afro-Americans of the United States, showing their progress since emancipation, twenty-five years ago, in arts, science, mechanical and industrial pursuits, would meet not only the approval of the colored citi¬ zens of the District of Columbia, but in our judgment tbe entire country. “We ask that this recommendation be immediately acted on favoiably, in order that the present unrest among the people of our race may be satisfied and assured that in the great world’s exposition recognition will be given to the 8,000,000 negroes in an official and proper way.” Heeling ot the Editors. St. Louis, July 9.—A special to the Republic from Columbia, Mo., save the program for the next meeting of the National Editorial Association has just been sent out from Columbia. The as¬ sociation will mept July 14 in St. Paul, Minn. Every state and territory wiii be represented and the convention prom¬ ises to be the largest assemblage of newspaper men ever held in America. Seven hundred delegates have already been appointed, The programme is thoroughly practical and of exceptional interest. During the session of the as¬ sociation the first public exhibition of typesetting machines will take place. A Defeat for ffalmaoeda. Washington, July 9.— Represents tives of the Chilean congressional party here late to-night received a cablegram from Iquiqu, signed Senor Errazuriz, minister of foreign affairs, saying in ef¬ fect that the army of President Balma- ceda, which was advancing from Co- quimbo to the valley of Hunsco, was met by the constitutionals army at a point four leagees south of Vollenar, where an engagement took place to¬ day. The constitutional army, the dis¬ patch says, obtained a brilliant triumph. NO. M. TORNADO AT BATON ROUGE. The Wall* of th* PonUentHTy Hlow tn. liiiMlnAMfi Tim a* and IvchMoiugh Wrecked. Baton Rough, La., July 9.—A cyclone passed over the lower portion of the town this morning, unroofing houses, tearing up immense trees, and carrying missiles along in the air for many blocks. The governor’s mansion was directly in the path of the hurricane, which made a clean sweep of every chimney and cleared the front of its large trees. The roof of the handsome residence belong¬ ing to Mr. Marshall was carried away, and large damage done to his. place. The boulevard is one mass of trees that have been torn up by the wind, and the street is filled with pieces of house tops and other timbers of almost every descrip¬ tion. The penitentary walls were blown down, ten persons killed and thirty wounded. The loss is very great. The factory building was demolished and the hospital of the penitentiary is a mass of debris. New Orleans, La., July 8.— The Picayune’s Baton Rouge special says: “A terrible cyclone struck this city a little after 6 o’clock this morning, pass¬ ing from southwest to northeast. It en¬ tered the city at the Oraig brick yard, [lassed up through Catfish town, and struck the hill just to the east of John Johnson’s residence. Its path continued ia a northeasterly direction,crossing the north boulevard 100 yards to the east of the governor’s mansion. It then went north, striking the penitentiary building and J. A. Dougherty’s residence on North street and then lieyond the city. The cyclone was 800 yards wide and ricochetted along its course like a cannon hall, devastating as it went. In the city no one was killed, though several jiersons were seriously injured. The state penitentiary is partially wrecked. Ten convicts were killed and thirty-five injured. Five of these are dangerously hurt. The; convicts were at work in the trousers factory in third story of the north wing, when the storm struck the building and entirely demolished the second and third stories, others in the hoapita* story and it is a mir with their lives. John R. Hodus, on* openftig was sitting in the third r WuIUUW to the south, wh^ri he was blown out Into the yard along with bricks and other debris. He escaped un¬ hurt. Ex-Judge E. T. Ford was in the com¬ missary on the first floor when the build¬ ing collapsed. He says he got near the Wall and stood still, muttering a prayer, he felt his hour had come. When the materials quit failing he saw an o|ening and escaped on his hands and knees into the yard uninjured. He immediately went to work to save and tA assist the , others less fortunate. In addition to the north wing the cell building was un¬ roofed and partially destroyed. The woman’s ward was also unroofed. It is impossible to form any estimate of the damage to buildings, as all the property is more or less damaged. In the city fifty houses at least were un¬ roofed or destroyed. Resting Kulde Her Father, Lexington, Va., July 8.—It has just been learned that the body of Mrs. Julia Jackson-Christian, daughter of Stone¬ wall Jackson, was on Friday night at 10 o’clock, secretly removed from its resting place in the city cemetery and placed in the crypt in the vault beside her distinguished father, whose remains will be placed under the Jackson statue. Her husband on Friday pave his per- mission for the removal of the body, __^ TELEGRAPHIC BREVITIES- London, July 8.— The condition of Dr. Spurgeon is now very critical and unless there should be a speedy change for the better, the end must come soon to his brilliant earthly career.— Later.—- Rev. Charles B. Spurgeon is reported as being worse to-night. He is considera¬ bly weaker than lie was this morning. Louisville, July 8,— Henry Watter- son, in an editorial in ihe Courier-Jour¬ nal this morning, advocates the nomi¬ nation of John G. Carlisle for presi¬ dent. Paris, July 8. —The change of th<- Chilian minister here, it is thought, wilt lead to fresh trouble over the Chilian vessels recently built in French ports. Paris, July 8.—Dr. Lannologne has laid before the French Academy the de¬ tails of the new treatment for tubercu¬ losis, in which chloride of zinc is the principal agent in changing tissues. Dr. Lannelogne, who has used the treat¬ ment in his practice, asserts that he hag effected many cures and met with no failures. Washington, July 8.— -The navy de¬ partment fears that trouble is likely to occur in Samoa, between the followers of the rival chiefs,and instructions have been issued to the Iroquois to proceed from Honolulu to Apia. Tfco Charles¬ ton, it is thought, will be. sent to Hono¬ lulu in the place of the Iroquois.