The Daily banner-watchman. (Athens, Ga.) 1886-1887, August 24, 1886, Image 1
NEAR SCULL SHOALS.
A PLEASANT VISIT TO AN INTER-
•m ESTINGLOALITY.
AN ATHENIAN RAKES UP SOME
REMINISCENCES.
ft
Antiquarians locate t h e Garden
Eden on tlmt tongue of land at the junc
tion of the Euphrates and Tigris fire re;
but our friend, Mr. Isaac Lowe, ofAth
ens, is equally os confident that it was
in Oconeo county, above Scull Shoals,
between the Oconee river and Rose creel,
and that in his younger days he was the
modern’edition of Adam who reigned in
this little earthly paradise. For the past
five years the wonders of this slice of
country havo been rungmtoour ears urn
til had we been offered the choice of
trip around the world or drive to Mr.
Lowo's old home, we would have
unhesitatingly accepted the latter pil
grimage. Saturday afternoon when our
friend proposed to take us on a visit to
this region wo at once laid aside all bus
incss and only t«o gladly accepted. At 3
o’clock sharp M ’. L. called for us behind
a pair of Cooper’s fine roadsters, and we
were soon speeding to this land of
Goshen.
Shortly after passing Watkinsville, we
invaded a road that Mr. Lowe said hehad
not traveiscd in twenty years, and as it
was our maiden trip he pointed out all
tho points of interest, from the long-
leafed pine, growing near the water
1 courses, to the gigantic white oak, now
fulled to the ground, beneath the shade
of which he used to rest when a school
b y. About two miles from Watkins-
vjlle, at a lonely spot on the road side,
is a pi'o of'rocks that tdark tho apot
whore 35 years ago a young man named
Stone was thrown from his buggy and
killed. He kept Books at the lligli'
Shoals factory, and was coming to Ath
ens to visit his friends, when his team
took fright and threw him from his
buggy. For years the spot was looked
"If upon as haunted, and few darkeys would
pass it after night fall. . We passed the
historic Rig Spring church, once under
the pastoral care of that good old man
Uncle Billy Handera, who ws" as noto
rious a character iii Georgia as was
Uncle Jimmie Dannelly in South Caro
lina. We hare hoard a number of anec
dotes on “Unde Billy” in connection
with Big Spring ohurch, of which we
will reproduce two or three: Afier the
first battle of Manassas, the bid gentle
man in a prayer exclaimed, “Oh, Lord,
I’ll tell Thee we’ve given the Yankees a
pn tty genteel whipping.” . That same
day he remarked to a lady, now living
in Athens, upon iho clnse nl bis sermon,
“Will that good lookingyouiig sister o.i
the eend of the bench please raise the
hyine?" It was Mr. Joel llorton that in
his prayer ho designated with, “Oh, Lord,
b ess that erring sinner settin’ there,
named Joel Morton! You'll know him,
Lord, from havin’ green breeches on."
Unolo Billy was a great rebel and a good
man. He once preached a sermon on
“Ike andllecky at the welL” He has been
known to stop on the road side, hitch
his horse under a shade and pull fodder
for halt a day with some man, to get a
chance to talk religion to him. Big Spi ing
church is now going to decay, and tills
crude old building will soon have to givo
way fora modern structure.
“just this side of the old home of “Lit
tle Joo Elder," we passed b.-heath a
. large dead oak with an outatrethed limb
>■ reaching across theroad. This was the
sccno of an amusing incident' of long
ago. An old man named Merriwether
imagined tha^he would have a call to
preach and unceasingly prayed for the
summons. A wag in thj neighborhood,
named McRee, one evening, where he
knew the old man would pass, crawled
out on this limb and concealed himself
among the dense foliage. Just as Mr.
Merriwether rode underneet'n, with head
humbly bowed and that old praver
upon his lips, in a sepulchral tone McRee
called out three times: “Meriwether go
preach my Pospelj." At tho third sum
mons the old man put whip to his horse
and dashed home, when he hugged eve
rything in his reach and told the Ismily
, that the call from Gid to preach had at
last reached him, and he now felt it hU
'.dutyto obey; and forthwith went
into the ministry and proved an instru
ment of great good. ,
As we began to near our destination
the topography of the country and char-
acterofthe soil began to change. We
bad traveled spine ridge—tbs backbone
of the country between the two rivers—
but we now noticed that the trees were
larger, the crops more luxuriant, sad
Other evidences of fertility. Mr. Lowe
us with little incidents of his school
boy days. In going and coming ha shor
ed us 13 different spots where he had
broke his leg white wrestling, and there
it not a vale ot romantic nook but what
had witnessed his exploits with some
pretty glrL
About 6 o'clock we drove up to the
old Lowe homestead, now the residence
of Mr. Joel Morton, end were moat cor
dially welcomed and royally entertained.
The Lowe family wore having a reunion,
and the largo old house was full of pleas
ant company. In ante-bellum days this
was a grand old place, of which you still
see evidences on every hand. Had we
been undo and cousin and aunt combin
ed, wo could not have been kinder treated
by this family.
Alter a fow* minutes’ rest Mr. Lows
proposed that we stroll with him around
the promises, which wo gladly did. We
wended our way to tho spring, but oar
companion suddonly halted before a large
poplar, and pointing to it said: “Isn’t it
wonderful whit changes time makes!
The last time I was hdre that old'poplar
was known u the ‘Big Hickorynut,’
and I have gathered bushels of scaley-
bsrks off of 1L We finally reached the
spring. “And they’ve pulled this spring
up by ths roots and moved itl When I
was s boy it used to gush out of that big
<>ck up thare on the hillside across tho
branch. Iwonder what they ever did that
for?” Thus it was that Mr.Lowe found
evsrything changed since his boyhood
days. The hills and vailoys had swap
pod places, and the country seems turned
upsido downl
After supper we found that all the
household had arranged to attend Anti
och chureb, just on the hill-top, ami
hear Rev.S. P. Landrum, the Sam Jones
efthe Christian chufcji. This is one of
the oldest established Christian churches
the Hite, but a more commodious and
iter arranged building is novr being
erected near the old house. We had a
curiosity to hear this famous divine, and
attended also. The building was packed
and people came for miles around
listen to tho “funny proachor,” as Mr.
Landrum is called. The benches are
constructed not with an eyo to pomfort,
and one would feel just about as much
his ease on top of a three-edged fence-
But for more than an hour we
stood the ordeal, and heard another ser
mon on Snnday; but this time service
wtsheld in th- unfinished now church
is tarnished whh 'tnlich. better
hooches. We were disappointed in Mr.
Landrum. We expected to see in him
a counterfeit Sam Jones. If he is an
imitation of ths famous evangelist, it is
s very poor one. Wo believe Mr. Lan
drum’s manner' is natural, and he does
not pattern after any one. Wo think he
is a thoroughly honost man, and sincere.
His face and manner show this.
Mr. Landrum’s delivery is very poor,
tnd his sentences so flighty and discon
nected that they jar on ■ the ear. There
is no relation between his text and his
sermon, bat there is said to bo a strong
similarity between ail of his discourse!,
in fset, bo preached s part of the
sermon twice last Sunday to the same
congregation. Mr. Landrum makes
some good points, but they are mixed
with too much chaff. It is like board-
he could change his Btyle of preaching to
a more serious drift, that, he would meet
with greater success In his good work.'
To-morrow wo will write of jjhe old
homes in this loca'ity, ana other
points of interest . J *j
LOOALciuPS.
•mall Items that! Reporter caught Mthe
Fly Yesterday.
Tho Good Templars made some money
by the excursion.
Cotton pickers will soon bo in demand.
Who will bring in the first bale of cot
ton? It is getting about time for it to sp
pear.
Mr. Blumenlhsl has returned from
New York, whero he purchased a splen
did stock of goods.
much water to get a little of tho bever
age. But the most objectionable part of
some of Mr. Landrum's discourses is the
coarseness of some of his sentences, such
t3 the following, tint escaped'Jiis. lip*
during hie sermons last Sunday: “1'It
bet a pint of goobers;" “Just os easily
done M to crack e louse;”'“It’s gwinete
rain—so take in your fodder;" “I’d as
sotn wet a hog," and a number of simi
lar silly expressions. Thera was neith
er wit nor point to them, and they fell
flat, without a smile from the congrega
tion. This minister is said to be a fair
atin tnd Greek scholar, and he delights
to display his learning before tho peo
ple, and sceka every pretext to do xo.
He must also be a “fresh" in Masonry,
from the frequent mention he nukes of
the order, without any regard to the
subject under discussion. Sunday
morning Mr. Landrum preached a ser
mon thst was mainly given to defending
Baptism by immersion, and said he had
challenged Rev. Simon Peter Richardson,
of the Methodist church, to discuss the
subject with him, hut he declined, and
had also written to Mr. Myrick, of the
same church, but hod never beard from
tbdl minister either. He senmed to be
ravenously hungry for a Biblical contro
versy; but st the close of h : s discourse
spoke very kindly of all Chriatian de
nominations. Mr. fundi urn hod only
seeured one convert up to Sunday—a
Isdy who had severed her connection
with the Baptist church. In our little
Criticism on Mr. Lend rum’s sermons we
do not intend it as any reflection on his
Christian character; bat we think wn
utter the sentimenU of many members
XO DECLARATION XI0B8BAKY.
Upon investigating the question sub
mitted by petition touching the legality
of Farmington and Salem precincts In
prohibition olccSon held on the 20th day
of May, 1886, for this, Oconee county,
I find that *he election held at both those
precincts was illegal, and cainot bo
counted in consolidating tho votes
said election. Consequently the prohi
bition election for this county has
suited in a majority of legal votes “For
tho Sale.” When the result is “For tho
Sale” the law does not require any dec
laration by publication
B. E. TniusiiEit, Ordinary 0. 0.
Aug. 10th, 1886.-
THE MACON & ATHENS.
The Engineering carps-Xnmorsd Bale or
the Bonn.
The surveyors on iha M. * A. road ore
now cncampod on Mr. Lilly’s land, Jnat
this side of Rlaireville, and tho corps la
now in a mile of tho city limits. They
will remain in camphors for several days.
Athens is exdtad over ths rumored
sale cf the Macon & Athens road to tho
East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia.
Wh«t offect it will havo on the building
of ths road wo cannot now sty.
THE PEOPLE AROUSED.
In Bis Sworn Aaawer Before Jadae Hutch
lntHt lays ths County Wti t “Dry"—I:
Hit Official Act Ht lays “Wef-Why la
It7—Malpractice,'
OBITUARY; \
CoaiUtatton.
R. Wat Adams, a native of Athons, a
graduate and valedictorian of the State
University in 1848, a resident of Hamil
ton county, Fla, since 1859; a member
of the Florida legislature, both in tho
hou^and senate; .captain in the Fifth 5( . r U(I . phthisis too thin. Ho
Honda regiment when twenty years of * imnrin0 lliat tho nconlo believe thi.
age, an extensive planter and successful
merchant at White Spring, and beat of
all, Since 1876, a sincere bcliovcr in and
servant of tho Lord Jesus Christ, died at
White Spring lost Sunday, 16th Inst
A BBOTHER.
BXXOLLIXO TXK ICH0MX3.
Yeslorday was the ;flrat day ef enroll
ing scholars for the public schools of our
city. There were 125 scholars enrolled
up to 12 o’clock, and representing all
classes of our citizens. This speaks well
for the opening and Bhowa that our citi
zens ire thoroughly aroused on the pub
lic. schools. Every morning this wsck
will he devoted to enrolling scholars and
evei y dho who intends to’go totho public
schools should enroll at once.
A BBXOX (HOW.
Since blue blooded dogs have got te tin
so plentiful in our city, tho Eair Associ-
ing house coffee—* man -must drink too ationJahouM have .bench show at tho
coming fair. Atlanta wo see is prepar-
ing to have one in January, and Athens
can’t afford to be behind.
Burma horse*.
Mr. W.' 8. Holman leavas for tho blue
grass regions of Kentucky, to morrow,
after a drove of hersos and mules. He
will bring bsck some as fino stock as
over was brought to Georgia.
SoSmSk •
Mr. McDuffie received yesterday per
express s thoroughbred St. Bernard. It
is of a yellowish color and a perfect pic
ture. .
FOB THE LEGISLATURE.
Hon. Weldon W. Price, has announced
for the legislature in Ocinee county.
Weldon will make the race lively.
NO FOORDATION*
ere was a report going the rounds
Saturday in onrcity,sndit was also pub
lished in the Atlanta Constitution thst the
Macon tc Athens railroad had sold out to
the Erst Tenn., & Oa., road. On hear
ing the report, Judge W. B. Thomas,
who has done more to bring this road by
Athens than any one else, telegraphed
Mr. Machen for Information and receiv
ed the following reply:
^Naw Yota, - Aug. 22.—Judge W. B.
Thomas; Not tho slightest foundation
for the rumor. Will see yon next week.
K.C.M.
Aranas, Q*., JcxR 1218M
GtRltns: E rin n
Inreplv to jronr inquiry, I may stats
candidly that I think Hortiord'o Bread
Preparation tho boot and (afoot on tho
market.
Town truly,
JOHN GKJUllNE, A 9
The citizens of Oconeo county
surprised and outraged on Saturday last,
as the rumor began to spread that Ordi
nary Thrasher had made up his mind,
in the face of facts and his former state-
.ments, both to the people and to Ills
Honor Judge Hutchins, to declare that
the county, on the 20th of May last,
voted “For the Sale.” This is a won
derful declaration, when wo re
member that Mr. Thrasher admitted to
Judge Hutchins In July last that
tho county went “dry” hy a majority of
42. Tho good citizens are thoroughly
aroused and are determined to soo that
the voice of the pcoplo shall bo respec
ted and tho unfaithful officer shall be
punished. With tho facts as thoy now
exist, Mn Thrasher is, clearly guiltjNif
malpractice in office, and tho grand jury
will doubtless find a bill, st its next
tarin, and tho jurios of- the county will
promptly investigate tho. official acts of
this officer, and if he is guilty, they will
st once so declare, and then Mr. Thrash
er will havo to leave tho office ho en
tered a short time eincc, in a very unen
viable way.
The rumor that pecuniary induce
ment! bad been brought to bear is tak
ings Order hold of tho people, and they
are outspoken jn declaring that without
such influences bring brought 'to bear,
the true and honest result of said elec
tion would have been declared long since.
The position of Mr. Thrasher is an
omolonsonc. His excuse for declaring
“wet" is, we understand, that Salem and
Farmington districts -were “illegally
ft mod” twenty-five years ago, and that
it is high time that they should bo fixed
up all right. Ho forgot that he, os Ordi
nary, was eloctedin an election in which
these precincts participated, and that
every officer that has held office for a
long number of yesrsj has done so under
elections in which these precincts havo
THE LEADERS
BOOTS AND SHOES,
THE BEST
Goods for the Least Money!
ATHENS, OA.
may imagino that tho people believe this
to bdth'e-power behind the throno which
caused his unprecedented action in this
matter, but later on he will realize that
the power actuating this strange and un
warranted act was more powerful than
a mere irregulsity of tho establishing of
a voting precinct twenty-flvo ycnia ago.
For more than two months after tha
election lie declared frequently that the
county hail votol dry, and that tho only
reason he had for not, so . declar
ing, was that ho thought it un
fair to shut down on somo and
allow W. II. Booth to continue. This ho
said would bo tho result, as Mr.'Booth’s
license did not expire until January 1st,
1882. It does seem to us that if there
ever was a case of malpractice in office;
a esse in which tho voice of tho people
h*ve been'ignored by an officer, this Is
one, and doubtless boforo another July
Court the Ordinary will wish that his
foresight had bcon aa good as his hind
sights.
The case against Mr. Thrasher does
not seemed to be pushed with thst vigor
thst thu merits of tho esse deserve, or
be would not have boen allowed four
months to do that which the law de
manded him to do st once—and tho
good pecple of Oconee demand that the
law be pushed as rapidly as possible and
that the true result of the election be de
clared, and tho county of Oconee be al
lowed to enjoy the benefits of a law
which they have, by their votes declared,
and that Mr. Thresher be taught that he
is th e servant and not the master of the
people. ' Justice.
OBB YEAR OLD.
The Knights of Labor of Athens cele
brated their first anniversary last night,
st their hall on Broad street. This or
ganization started on the 22d of August,
1885, end are now 800 strong. The
members of the assembly give a splen
did supper to the families of members
and invited guests. Several speeches
were mode by members of the assembly.
Good singing, good music and an enjoy
able time was had by all who attended.
CO RUCTION.
Mr. A. G. Elder desires us to state that
His r mistake as to Vr. Moore being the
handsoine member of the firm of Moore
At Elder, and'that by actual vote of the
citiscns of Athens he has been almost
unanimaiisly declared ihe handsomer of
thetwo.
A FINN COW..
I offer. sale a fine Guernsey and.
Jersey cow out of a gtl. dam. with
her lint coif. A. L. Hull:
URL Fall and Winlerl886
OUR STOCK OF
FALL AND WINTER SUITINGS, OVERCOATS AND OTHER SPECIALTIES
tho ensuing season will bo ready for inspection by SRI* 1’KMBHH ist V.
desire very briefly to state that it h tho
Most Complete Exibit fer Variety, Extent and General Exoelenoe Ever 3'ihriJ
uuntil you havo an opportunity
May ask vou to ra«erve your or t'rs
xamlno tho Bame.
Verytfuly yours,
FERRIS & SON.
Mei chant Tailors a ■
i.ent usinyourcit
cp'i inti-r- Any ml
lOttC-D *"
Fhrnlslilnir Goods. Our Mr E. H. Ferris will rep
a*nmplete On* of sainydoe 'iring the first pert o
I whi» live may be favored wi l receive perso a. a'.
PRIN ri-NG.PRI NTIN G
, —Do you ws «t aiiy printing, now or later?
Don't GsUgenls’ Prices
i and,you Will get bcst>ork>nd lowest prices it/the State
BURKE, Clayton Stre
C A SCUDDER
SILVERSMITH,
Watches Clocks Silverware
TUREE—ILLS
I I Nl 1 i—li— cowratnoo, 1
jm
GRIFFITH &MELL.
INSURANCE AGENTS.
Represent best Companies and insure desirable pro
perty in Athens and vicinity on most favorable terms
List of Compahim.
Georgia Home
Home of New York....
Phoenix oi Hertford
Liverpool and London and Globe.
Insurance Company ei North America.....
North British end Mercantile..
New York Underwriters
Germania of New Yoik.
Merchants of KewVene;
Atlanta Heat (Pays dlvidendmio
LONG TCBM POLICIES ISSUED ON NOTE PLAN.
OFFICE AT BANK OF THE 1 UNI
janlSdly.
Asian.
« 750.00*
. 7 *>,C
4,240/760
14.600,000
M*7,*S*
t,ns,714
M06.877
M»,7U
1.1SM04