The Waycross journal. (Waycross, Ga.) 1895-1914, May 16, 1902, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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.