Newspaper Page Text
The Waycross Journal.
EL) 'T'WICE-A" W K tC K.
•
VOL. VII.—NO. GO.
WAYCROSS, GA., FRIDAY. MAY 16, 1902.
$1.00 A YEAR
Body Was
Burned To a Crisp
Mr. R. E. Heidt Killed by a Live Wire-Terrific Storm
Last Night Did Great Damage.
One of tho most terriffis rain,
hail and electric storm struck the
city last night nt seven o’clock,
that has ever been known in this
section.
Just ns it ceased, Mr. Had K.
Heidt, foreman of the Plant System
railroad shops, was killed by an
electric wire that hud been blown
down in the storm.
Formally an hour the storm
raged with cumulative furry. It
came up from the Northwest and
yj the rain began to fall just as
ydarkucss veiled the city.
The black heavy clouds, the
sulky oppressive heat and tho dis
tant rolling thunder foreboded ter
ror and drove the people hurrying
to their homes. When tho rain
begau to fall it was in large des
ultory drops, the wind began to
blow, th9 rain increased, hail came
pattering down and soon the wind,
rain and hail rushed in blinding
torrents, and swept the city in rol
ling, gushing phalnaxes, the trees
swayed and creaked and snapped,
the lightning lit the elements
with sheets of livid fire, constant
, claps of thunder roared with end
k den, sharp and jarring peals like
the cor.nonading from a hundred
guns,'' the earth and buildings
shook with mighty force that sent
terror to the hearts of the timid
and caused brave men to look
grave.
Finally, one mighty gust of the
elements swept the eacth and the
fury was over. The rain came
straight down and the storm abat
ed to a gentle shower.
Suddenly the inmates of Mr. J.
^ M. Mathis’.home at 38 Jane street,
heard n»^y without, another and
^anot v 'vi and as a fourth and last
PP a/ .zing wail broke the stillness,
they rushed out and by the light
ning Hashes they Baw a form writh
ing on the ground near the gate.
They went to tile rescue, but an
awful truth confronted them, for
there under tho form, now limp
aud still, lay the sparking, deadly
wire, threatening all who dared to
touch its prey.
It was too late. Poor Rad
Heidt was dead and there could
come no help till the cruel wire
was cut. Mr. Hawkins was has
tily summoned and with him his
electrician, who climbed upon a
chair with rubber shoes and wrap
ped his nippers and clipped the
wire which was still burning the
llesli of the dead mail.
He was lying face downward,
with his open umbrella clasped in
one hand and the wire pressed to
his Btomach with the other. It
had burned to a crisp his hand
and a streak across his stomach
Walter Gray Leaves Home
Had Been Reading 2 Dime Novel and
was Moved by Its Stories.
Walter Gray, tile 14-yejr-old
son of Mr. nud Mrs. George \V.
Gray left home last Saturday
morning on a tour of adventure
and as yet there is no clue as to
his whereabsuts.
The incentive that, attracted
Walter away from home was in
stigated by rcadinga book entitled
The Adventures of a Southern
Boy in New York City ’’
Walter is a spirited boy with a
two inches broad and literally I strong pensient for reading and of
cooked his body for several inches
ou either side of the zone.
The ambulance was brought and
the body carried to the hospital.
Less than n week ago Mr. lleidt’s
wife and two little lnys went to
Thomasville to visit her brother,
Mr. Henry Arnold. Since then
Mr. Heidt had been taking his
meals at Mrs. J. R. Knight's. It
late he has gratified his taste with
bookB of adventure and so entic
ing were the pictures presented in
the book he recently purchased
from a news stand that his
thoughts moved him to action and
he is now chasing the end of the
rainbow of illusive sentiment.
Walter is not a bad boy. He
lms always been a model of loving
was tbore he hud started for bis I obedience at home and so implicit
supper when he ran against the
wire that killed him. It was a
small telephone wire hanging over
au electric light wire from which
it received the current that did
the awful work.
Mr. Heidt came to Wuycross
from Brunswick a year ago, where
ho had lived several years. He
was a fine machinist dt-.d a few
months ago was promoted to
the position of foreman in the
shop. He was a lovable man. a
member of the Baptist church and
was very popular with all who
knew him.
Mrs Heidt was telegraphed for
last night aud she arrived this
morning. The remains of her
husband will likely be taken to
Fernandina, where his mother
lives for burial.
The damage done to electric
wires and transformers was con
siderable. Several people ran in
to fallen wires but escaped with
out serious injuries.
A large number of trees were
blown down all over the city.
Largo quantities of dead sparrows
were picked up off the streets, it is
supposed the heavy hail killed
them.
Several merchants report slight
damages done by leaks, but iu no
ease was it considerable.
COL TOOMEH
Was Nominated Tuesday
Night.
Rifles Will Have Official Election
Wednesday Night.
Col. W. • M. Toomer has been
^ Dominated for captain of the Way-
cross Rifles.
At a meeting Tuesday night he
was unamiously chosen to lead
that gallant command, and he
now has the acceptance of ««me
under advisement.
The official election will occur
Wednesday night from 8 to 10 o’-
«lock. It is likely that Col.
Roomsr will accept the position,
although he has made do final
decision in the matter-
Col. Toomer was form
The Place You Want-
If you are looking for a comfor
table home iu one of the best
neighborhoods in Waycross it will
be to your interest to confer with
me My residence, No. 10 Butler
street, is for rent, aud possession
will be given June 1. The housejiJ^'t'bc would work hi.
contains five rooms and bath wh#n money gnve oot>
I!?" 1 ’- .'. 1 ! 8 B T.'! Gray 1... wired the police
of all the^fjeorgia cities to look
was the confidence imposed in him
and so harmonious lias been his
home life that there was not the
least suspicion that he was even
dissatisfied.
Walter is a bright boy and laid
his plans well to make good his
escape. He took a companion,
Lee Speer, into his confidence and
they were going away together.
His mother gave him permission
to go on the Baptist pict^jc :,Satjjr-
day and early Saturday' 1 itbmtwf
before tho other members'jf the
family arose, Walter was up'.pack-
ed his clothes in a valise anu'went
to the depot. On bis way he call
ed for his chum, but for some rea
son, Lee had been unable to get
Ins money mid w hile the two were
iu conference, Lee’s mother suspi-
cioned that there was something
up and she called him into the
house, lie evaded the questions
put to him and screened the plan
they had made. /
Walter however, nothing daunt
ed, proceeded to the depot, and
purchased a ticket for Brunswick.
His mother thinking he was on
the picnic thought nothing of his
absence till he failed to return
home in the evening. Then it
was discovered that his clothes
were gone aud his purposed suspi-
cioned. /:
Lee says it was planed that they
should go to Brunswick and then
tnke a ship to New Orleaus, and
in case that failed they were to
proceed by rail. Inquiry in Bruns
wick disclosed that Walter had
failed to find a ship there fur New
Orleaus nnd hud probably bought
a ticket to Atlanta. He had only
nine dollars in money, but be told
ay
Evolution From a
Tram To Trunk Line.
The New Link of A. & B. Completed and Will Be
Opened up May 25—History of the Road.
cold water. Large garden and
cow stall attached. See me early.
D. B. Sweat.
Lemons 17 j cents a dozen.
J. K. Sessoms & Bro.
Can negligee shirts, linen col
tars and silk neckwear please
most of folks. J. W. Adams
* Co.
military man and should he be
come Captain of the Rifles, it is
certain that he will add great in
fluence iu makiug the company
one of tbe very best in the state.
The members arq all enthusias
tic in the anticipation ot having
him as captain, f
out for Walter, and the New
Orleans papers have been notified
of his intention to go there.
Ilia father is greatly distresaed
over the boy’s departure and his
mother is crushed. Every effort
it being made to intercept Ik and
bring him home. \
A dispatch was received om
Saturday, May 24, the last spike
will be driven iu the link of the
Atlantic and Birmingham rail
ryad between Fitzgerald and Cor-
dele, and Sunday, May 25, the
line will be thrown open to the
world for business.
On that day another beautiful
passougcr train will ho put on, nip*
a double daily service put if
operation. L ,
Taken ns a whole, tho evolution
of the railroad is almost ns inter
esting ns tho evolution of man.
The illustration afforded by the
growth of the Atlantic and Bir
mingham, from u tram road to a
trunk line, is perhaps one of the
most notable examples within the
limits of Georgia.
Twenty one years ago when
“Bob” Reppard, tho saw mill wiz-
zard of the South, built n track
from Waycross to Waltortown
through tho virgin forests of Ware
over which to haul lumber from
the largest saw mill iu America at
that time, there was no intima
tion, and no mortal mind was
sanguine enough to prophesy, that
one day tin-vestibule traiiiB of the
continent wbuld roll along that
right of way, bearing the opulence
of the bleak North to tho sunny
clime of Florida.
But this is a progressive age
and the well directed efforts of
man are callable of almost any
enterprise the. human mind can
devise.
For years and years the little
seven mile tram was used solely
for the transportation of tho pro
duct from tho successive
that were built and burned at
Waltertown.
Ultimately the timber about
Waltertown grew scarce nnd the
tram was pushed on further into
the rich, black pine forests ns far
ns Beach, to a mill built by C. W.
Pike nnd associates.
Later n further extension was
built to Granville nnd thence to
Nicliolls, the seat of the Southern
Pino Company's big mill. This
was over ten years ago.
At this singe of evolution the
road began to show signs of tran
sition from a tram road to a rail
road. A regular schedule wnB in
augurated nnd an antique passen
ger coach was put ou the schedule
train.
The road at this time was owned
by Cuptuin Johnson and his com
peers. Business along the line be
gan to warrant the idea of further
extension nnd finally it was de
cided to move on to Dougins.
That plucky town offered valuable
inducements nnd in another
twelve month trains were running
into the capital of Coffee.
and building a railroad, it wau
evident that the Air Line had a
future. It. is ns natural and ensy
for the Wadleys to build mid op
erate railroads as it is for a goose
to grow feathers. The Wadleys
interested, soon that great rail
road king, W. G. Raoul, turned
is face this way and two years
. Mr. Raoul, Mr. George Dole
Wndley and associates, seeing the
possibilities of n trunk line
through the riehest pine belt nnd
best farming lauds of Georgia,
reaching out into the coal nnd
iron fields of Alalmiim, connect
ing with the great western roads
nnd having an eastern terminus
running onto the wharves of tile
Atlantic ocean, came down and
purchased the Air Line and
once began the construction of its
extension on to the west. Four
months ngo the name was changed
lo the Atlantic nnd Birmingham,
intimating the purpose of the
management.
COMI'I.ETKI) TO FITZGERALD.
Februury I, 1(101, the link be
tween Dougins and Fitzgerald was
completed and n handsome new
passenger train was bought^ nnd
put on the line. A passenger
service of throe trains each way
wns inaugurated aud the traveling
public wns accommodated toovory
convenience that could ho had.
The drummers talked about it,
the people appreciated it, and the
trains wore always full of passen
gers.
Ill the meant.iine, Mr. George
Dole Wndley, having full control
of management and construction,
ns soon ns he bail completed to
Fitzgerald, began the construc
tion of another link to Cordele.
Sunday May 25, this new link will
he thrown opon to the public nnd
another bran new pnssenger train
will be put on, a double daily
passenger service operated nnd the
freight service further quickened
and perfected.
The now link between Fitzger
ald nnd Cordele lacked four
mouths of completion when man
agement aunnuiiesd that fh» A.
it B., would be extended ou to
Montezuma and Oglethorpe, via
Viena and Byronville, The grad
ing of this new link is to he com
pleted by July 10, and it ieexpect-
ed that trains will be iu operation
over it by Sept. 1. Surveyors are
now in the field selecting the linn
from Oglethorpe to Talbotton nnd
this link will bo in course of con
struction before the year is out.
COMPARISON.
Two years ago, there wn« only
one train a day each wny, and
that a mixed train. With the
THE TOILS.
Valdosta Man Gets 12
Months.
He Persisted In Selling Liquor at Oult-
man. and Finally Got Caught-Others
In Trouble.
Quitman, Ga., Mny, H.—Supe
rior court convened horn last Mon
day.
A grunt sensation went through
out the town and county when
Gordon Hopson, a very prominent
white man about 21 years old, was
convicted, under an indictment by
tlie Inst grand jury for taking
orders for nud selling intoxicating
beverages in a local option county.
It is said that lie, with his brother,
Mr. .1. W. rtopson, who runs a
saloon at Valdosta, linvo been en
gaging in this unlawful traffic for
some time, in fact evor since the
county wont for prohibition in
lulls, lie was given twelvemonths
in tile chain gang, with lie alter
native. Owing to tho prominouce
of the young man, some of tho
good peoplo started a petition to
get the judge to fine him instead
of sonding him to prison, but ac
tion bns not been taken yot.
J. W. Hopson, proprietor of the
l’alnce Saloon at Valdosta, is un
der a similar indictment, but is
coufined to his hod nud is unable
to appear for trial at this session.
AlsoJ. K. Gornto, tho malinger
of Mr, Hopson's Saloon, at Val
dosta, wild, will probably bo tried
next week.
Great excitement nnd specula
tion prevails throughout this sec
tion ns to the ultimato outcome of
the matter.
The sentence of (Hupeon ffn
since been changed to a (huf of
(800.
. , , new schedule there are six
u.ing ..Si.ii.ii.iuii . . '"‘iiey pneh way, two freights nnd two
& Co. bought the property am fori fir8 Tw0 r „
a year it was under Mr. Bailey’s rofl( , |md two rnlty Ben(?er
control. Captain Johnson reman,- h w it h „ two aB hand .
ing ns superintendent with Mr. , „ tr#ing „ rm|
* rank Hawkins as auditor. , any rold , D a *orgia, and a third
wadi.eys m'Y it. | mie || M been ordered and is being
Four years ago J. E. Wadley built,
and associates bought tho Airl Two years ago the road owned
Line and with the preitige end | two email engines; today it ii run-
impetus received from the Wad-! mug eight big modern engines and
Odum Wednesday at noon tt t a j ley name the metamorphosis be-j M a „ t er Mechanic Jones is now ia
boy had been stopped there, ut'eame complete, it shed its tadpole the Northern markets to purchase
upon going to Odum Mr Gray d>Aail and became a full Hedged tw „ moro . Two years -ago the
covered that it not Walter* ^^^^|lroid. Thus tho evolution won, Waycross Air Iado was operating
date and the Waycross Air 45 mites of road ; now it ia doing
an a new epoch in ite ex-[business over 108 miles, and the
line, in connection with tbe Geor
LECTURE TO-NIGHT.
Work Will be Started on the Winnie
Davis Memorial Soon.
Prof, K. A. Pound will deliver
his lecture on Robert E. Leo, to
night at the opera houso’,
A large number of tickets have
been sold and tho Winnie Davis
Memorial, will realize a good sum
from the lecture.
Tho Daughters of the Confeder
acy throughout tho state have
raised seven out of the eight thou
sand dollars required to begin
work on the building which is to
be erected as one of the State
Normal buildings at Atheus.
The contest is on.
good guesser?
Are
See lot for sale at (80,
I 1^1 lllfl * wre °PP° rt
mmmmmsBrn.
IIKVKAl.S A GREAT SECRET.
It is often asked how such
startling cures, that puzzle the
best physicians, are effected by
Dr. King’s New Discovery fut
Consumption. Ifore's the secret.
It cuts out the phlegm and germ-
infected mucus, nnd lets the life-
giving oxygen enrich and vital
ize the blood. It heals tho in
flamed, cough-worn throat and
lungs. Hard colds and stubborn
coughs soon yield to Dr. King’a
New Discovery, the most infalli
ble remedy for ail Throat and
Lung diseases. Guaranteed bot
tles 50c and 11.00 Trial bottles,
free at all druggists.
Summer Needs.
Linen colored waist, $1 SO.
Fine white waiet, tl.OO to (8SO
each. The Brad Watson Co.
dley fnmily having gj a Southern and Seaboard, mske j Receipt books &, 10 and 15 cents.
1 work Tif operating Continued on fourth page. | Journal orricn.
