Newspaper Page Text
j r AsitffrjL'-'T
gyald and gdtoyti»er.
Newnan, Ga., Friday, June 22, 1888.
BUSHELS OF SNAKES.
A Remarkable Phase of the Western
Floods.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
As we rowed across toward the hill
we passed floating hay-stacks and sub
merged houses. 1o the piles of drift-
wo .d clung thousands of insects that
ha l been disturbed in their assaults up
on the potatoes, corn and spring wheat.
The potato bug, with his yellow stripes
and meek appearance, was there by
bu
Acting on this suggestion we soon
pulled up near a submerged dwelling,
with the eaves at the back just a few
inches above the water. We were
hardly prepared for the scene that met
our gaze at this point. Over the roof,
stretched out at full length, were
snakes of various kinds and sizes. "W e
counted 200 silken-backed moccasins
and a large number of black-snakes, gar
ter-snakes and blue-racers. 1 he&e
were on the roof, while coiled about
the tin leader and hanging over the
window sill on the sunny side of the
house were hundreds more. Approach
ing the house from the north side we
looked through an open window into j
the second story. There was a bed in
one corner and a lot of miscellaneous
the thousands. The chinch bug, cut
worm and swarms of other insects and j j louse j 10 ] ( i effects strewn about in con-
vermin seemed as happy and contented j fugjon Qn the bed ] av a big cat ap-
as though browsing upon their favorite j nvnt ' ]v af]ee p, while just under the
vegetation. While we were exa.mn-; window> where the sunshine
ing these objects a farmer pulled up m I ]ay a shepher(l dog . and close
a skiff and greeted us: « i beside him, coiled up in the patch ol
“Lookin’ at the varmints, are • l sunshilief was a big rattlesnake. The
S’pose ye think that the_big wateUi \ doir>s bodv was swollen out of shape,
are
the big water'll!
drown’em out, don’t, ye? Well, it won t,
you kin bet on it. 'J hem peskj bugs
and worms don’t give up the ghost so
easy. They just climb on a log, a float
in’cornstalk or anything that comes
along, and sing ‘Life on the Ocean
Waves’ as harmoniously as a class of
12-vear-olds at a country singin’ school.
Why, they’ll float down on them
sticks an’ stalks till they land on high
ground somewhere down in Calhoun
county, and when they do arrive on
land again, with the appetite that a
few days driftin’ ’ll give ’em, they 11
just raise li with the upland far
mer’s growin’ crops. Everything else
may drown, but a tater-bug seldom,
and a chinch-bug never.”
Just as the farmer had finished his
dissertation on the insect family and
we had set our oars for a pull through
a piece of timber a short distance away
he exclaimed:
“Keep yer eyes peeled fer snakes—the
bushes is full ov’em.”
Thinking nothing of what the farmer
said about snakes, but intent on inves
tigating further, we soon shot away
from the drift-wood across a stretch of
open water and into the deep shadows
of the timber, where the current gain
ed some impetus from a channel that
wdund its way under the foliage, and
darted out across the plain beyond.
The boughs hung low, many dabbling
their leaves in the water. Suddenly
the bow of the boat came in contact
with a small tree, and in an instant the
air, the water and the boat were alive
with snakes. Not the little, puny, an
gle-worm kind, but big, lusty fellows
that stood on their dignity and disput
ed our right to thus wantonly intrude
upon the seclusion of their retreat
while they were enjoying a delightful
sunbath in the softly-swinging boughs
of t he little maple.
Here was a situation calculated to
make a man addicted to stiff brandy
nightcaps and early morning cocktails
begin to think that the mission of the
temperance crusader is not a mere sen
timentality.
Snakes of fancy may be bad enough,
but here was the genuine article, squir
ming and writhing, ready to fight to a
finish and contest every inch of the
way, not according to the London
prize-ring rules, in a 34-foot ring, but
within the narrow confines of a 24-foot
skill. Quick action and aggressive
movements soon won the battle, and
nine snakes paid the penalty with their
lives for the bold stand they made
against our combined assault with
eight-pound ash oars; not, however,
until a vicious specimen of the moeca-
n family had set his fangs deep into
le correspondent’s rubber boots, and
agile blue-racer
out of
glance to discover
and it took but a _
that he was dead. j
“Bit by that cussed rattler,” said the j
farmer. “Boor old Bob?” he sighed, j
“Died at his post ov duty like a brave
soldier. He wuz one ov the best and
smartest dogs that ever wagged his tail
on the Snv bottoms. I’ll kill that
darned snake, or he’ll kill me.”
Without further comment the far
mer climbed into the window, aimed
with a long oar. The snake immedi
ately prepared t© retreat, but before
he was fairly uncoiled ten pounds
of well-seasoned ash came crashing
down upon his body, and a moment
more the music of the reptile’s rattles
ceased, and the farmer picked up the
body with the oar and threw it out the
window.
So intent was the dog’s avenger on
dispatching the rattler that he did not
notice what was above his head, and
not until our warning cries reached
him did he take in the situation and
make a hasty retreat. Every rafter in
the roof was festooned with snakes,
that were awakened from their early
morning snooze by his instrusion into
their ark of safety.
“A nice place to live, ain’t it?” the
farmer remarked as we were moving
away. “I reckon all the houses that
are above water in this valley have the
same kind of tenants just now. I’m
sick at heart and disgusted with every
thing. I’m goin’ to pull for the bluffs
yonder, an’ I’ll never float in a boat or
walk over these cussed prairies agin.
,The snakes kin have the darned place
if they want it. I’m goin’ to roost high
up in the hills after this.”
As we pulled on away from the snake
roost past other deserted houses the
same scenes were repeated. Hay
stacks, floating drift-wood, roofs of
barns and other buildings that had with
stood the flood, were alive with sleep
ing, crawling and writhing serpents.
Even the surface of the water between
houses and hay-stacks was alive with
snakes, evidently searching for food.
Among all the submerged dwellings
that were passed we found but two oc
cupied by human beings, and these
were substantial log houses, with their
second stories above the water line.
The first house had a solitary occupant,
and the stories he told of his encoun
ters with the snakes were amusing. He
closed his windows tightly, but the
snakes crowded in under the shingles
when night approached, and got into
the house in spite of all efforts to keep
them out. When asked why he stayed
in the house alone, he said:
“I’ve got no friends to go to. My
wife died early in the spring, and I’ve
ot books to read here, plenty of tobac
They say that a man that crosses
Broadway for a year can be Mayor of
Boston, but my idea is that he’s a heap
more likely to be Mayor of the New
Jerusalem.”
“Where do you live, anyway?”
“Well, I live near Pittsburg, Pa.,
where business is active enough to suit
most anybody, ’specially when a man
tries to blow out a natural-gast well,
but we make our teamsters subservient
to the Constitution of the United
States. We don’t allow this .Jugger
naut business the way you fellers.do.
There a man would drive clear round
the block ruther than to kill a child,
say nothin of a grown person. Here
the hubs and fellers of these big drays
and trucks are mussed up all the time
with the fragments of your best people.
Look at me. What encouragement is
there for a man to come here and
trade? Folks that live here tell me
that they do most of their business by
telephone in the daytime, and then do
their runnin’ around at night, but I’ve
got apast that. Time was when I
could run around nights, and then mow
all day, but I can’t do it now. People
that leads a suddentarv life, I ’spose,
demands excitement, and at night
they will have their fun; but take a
man like me—he wants to transact his
business in the daytime by word o’
mouth and then go to bed. He don’t
want to go home at 3 o’clock with a
plug hat full of digestive organs that
lie never can possibly put back just
where they was before.
“No, I don’t want to run dwwn a big
city like New York, and nutlier do I
want to be run down myself. They
tell me I can go up town on this side
and take the boat so as to get to Jersey
City that way, and I’m going to do it
ruther than to go home with a neck
yoke run through me. Folks say that
Jurden is a hard road to travel, but
I’m positive that a man would get
jerked up and fined for driving as fast
there as they do on Broadway; and
then another tiling, I ’spose there’s a
good deal less traffic over the road.”
He then went down Wall street to
the Hanover Square station, and I saw
him no more. Bill Nyl.
zled the funds of an orphan asylum
and went to Canada.”
“Very, very heartrending,” said the
friend.
“Obadiah, my next son, took to petty
thieving, became a vagrant and a
drunkard, and has been a tramp and
anarchist for ten years. But it seems
as if it was reserved for my youngest
son, Josaphat, who should be the sup
port and comfort of my declining
years, to try me the worst and fill my
last days with bitterness.”
“Murder,” faltered the friend, “red-
handed, bloody—”
“O, no,” replied the old lady as jbe
again sought her handkerchief, “no,
not murder, though I reckon some of
his victims would rather prefer it. No,
he went to Atlanta and has gone to
booming real estate.”
i exceedingly agile blue-racer made . -
bold attempt to conceal himself in , « to mf*. ow*** *» and t m as
ie ample trouser’s leg of the artist.
The battle over, the first thought
as to back the skiff out, for a glance
j the bushes and trees in front of us
lowed that a whole battalion of the
srpentine army were stirring the
iaves in a threatening manner, as
ley coiled and uncoiled their repul-
ve bodies about the branches. Al-
lOugh we had won the preliminary
cirmish, we did not care to follow up
ie victory, and the old chestnut about
iscretion being the better part of val-
r was adopted, and we cautiously pull-
I out into the open water and rowed
L-ound the little neck of timber. It
■emed as if every place that could
old a snake was taken possession of.
ome of the serpents were coiled up
id looked like large rubber balls
- very big birds’ nests among the
aves; others lay stretched out at full
ngth upon the limbs, while others
ling down and swayed to and fro like
piece of rope hanging to a limb. Oc-
isionally one more daring than the
!St could be seen taking a morning
olution in the cooling waters. Blue-
tcers and moccasins, with a few little
irter-snakes, made up the assortment,
at as to numbers we did not feel like
iking the time to count, nor did our
iriosity urge us strongly enough to
snetrate again into the snake strong-
’he farmer, whom We soon over-
lled again, explained the presence
so many snakes in this particular
t by relating the fact that the piece
Amber was on pretty high ground,
1 that when the water first- came
hing into the bottoms the snakes
l to the elevation, but when the
irflow crept up and covered the
undthey took to the bushes and
Dome,” said the farmer, “I’ll take
where snakes roost thicker n flies
, summer kitchen.”
independent as ever Bobinson Crusoe
was. I’ll stick it out a few days longer
anvliow.”
Bill Nye Meets a Stranger.
Yesterday at 3:30 p. m., near the cor
ner of Fulton street and Broadway, a
middle-aged man might have been seen
removing his coat and wiping the
shoulders thereof with a large red
handkerchief of the Thurman brand.
There was a dash of mud in his whis
kers and a crick in his back. He had
just sought to cross Broadway, and the
disappointed ambulance had gone up
the street to answer another call. He
was a plain man, with a limited vocab
ulary, but he spoke feelingly. I asked
if I could be of any service to him, and
he said no, not specially, unless I
would be kind enough to go up under
the back of his vest and see if I could
find the end of his suspender. I did
that, and then held his coat for him
while he got in it again. Then he
walked down the east side of Broadway
with me.
‘That’s twice I’ve tried to git across
to take the Courtlandt street ferry boat
sence 1 o’clock, and bed to give it up
both times,” he said after he had se
cured his breath.
“So you don’t live in town ?’’
“No, sir, I don’t, and there won’t be
anybody else livin’ in town either if they
let them crazy teamsters run things.
Look at my coat ! I’ve wiped the nos
es of seventy-nine different horses and
eleven double teams since 1 unlock,
and my vitals are all a perfect jelly.
I bet if I was hauled up right now to
be post-mortumed the rear breadth oi
my liver would be a sight to behold.
“Why don’t you get a policeman r <*
escort you across ?’’
“Why, condemn it, I did further up
the street, and when 1 left him the po
liceman reckoned his collar-bone was
broke. It’s a blamed outrage, I think.
She Made a Sale.
She was a pretty woman, and she
bowed to me bewitchingly as she came
in, says a writer in Town Topics. She
held up one finger archly and said im
petuously ;
“Notv, sir, I want you to stop your
writing and look at my book.”
Then she blushed charmingly, as if
embarrassed at my look of amazement.
I said:
“My dear madam, I am very busy to
day, and I must beg that you will ex
cuse me.”
She sat down beside me and made
herself comfortable at once.
“Now, don’t let me hear a word
about that, you are going to buy a
book, of cAirse.”
“But, my dear—”
She took my hand gently but firmly
in hers.
“I know—you are a busy man—you
write all day, and are too tired to read
—you hardly find time to look at the
paper—you—”
“Yes, madam, that is precisely the
case.”
She chucked me deliberately under
the chin.
“Do you mean to say that you are
going to refuse me a miserable little
dollar for this beautiful book?”
I gasped feebly, and glared at my
office boy. He was evidently interest
ed. I said:
“You must be a successful book
agent; you have the most fetching
qualities lliave ever seen.”
Rash words!
She rose at once, and, sitting down
on the arm of my chair, threw one arm
around my neck, and bending down
looked tenderly into my eyes.
“Now, you. know, darling, you know
you are going to do just what I say;
you are going to buy—” 1
I heard my office boy chuckle to him
self. I protested. I said:
“My dear madam, this is really em
barrassing—do you know—I am a mar
ried man—that I—”
She replied: “I have nothing to do
with that; I am here for business.”
I replied: ‘That statement is unneces
sary; the fact is quite apparent. But
I am really fond of my wife. You’ve
got hold of the wrong man.”
She seemed a trifle hurt at this, but
she did not take her arm from my neck.
She remained in this compromising at
titude apparently lost in thought. T
broke into a cold sweat.
“I’ll tell you what I’ll do,” she said
suddenly, bringing her face dangerous
ly near my own. “If you’ll take a
copy of my book, I’ll promise not to
kiss you before I leave the office!”
I bought the book.
Worth Knowing.
Mr. W. II. Morgan, merchant. Lake
City, Fla., was taken with a severe
Cold, attended with a - distressing
Cough and running into Consumption
in its first stages. He tried many so-
called popular cough remedies and
steadily grew worse. Was reduced in
flesh, had difficulty in breathing and
was unable to sleep. Finally tried Dr.
King’s New Discovery for Consump
tion and found immediate relief, and
after using about half a dozen bot
tles found himself well and lias had no
return of the disease. No other reme
dy can show so grand a record of cures
as Dr. King’s New Discovery for Con
sumption. Guaranteed to do just what
is claimed for it. Trial bottle free at
A. J. Lyndon’s Drug Store.
For sale, also, by J. L. Askew, Pal
metto; G. W. Glower, Grantville.
Primus Jones will have a bale of new
cotton in the market by July 4.
Renews Her Youth.
Mrs. Phoebe Chesley, Peterson, Clay
Co., Iowa, tells the following remarka
ble story, the truth of which is vouched
for by the residents of the town: “I
am 73 years old; have been troubled
with kidney complaint and lameness
for many years; could not dress myself
without help. Now I am free from all
pain and soreness, and am able to do
all my own housework. I owe thanks
to Electric Bitters for having renewed
my youth, and removed completely all
disease and pain.” Try a bottle, 50c.
and §1, at A. Lyndon’s Drug Store.
For sale, also, by J. L. Askew, Pal
metto; G. W. Glower, Grantville.
Troup county will bold a fair this fall.
At Night always have Acker’s Baby
Soother at hand. It is the only safe
medicine yet made that will remove all
infantile disorders. It contains no Opi
um or Morphine, but gives the child
natural ease from pain. Price 25 cents.
Sold by W. P. Broom, Newnan, Ga.
THE
“NEWNAN GIRL”
CIGARS
Take the lead over all compet
itors, and will continue to do
so as long as tobacco is raised
in Havana. These cigars are
made by hand, right here at
home, and are warranted to
be pure Havana Filler. The
only strictly ioc. cigar manu
factured in the State that is
sold for FIVE CENTS. At
wholesale and retail.
M. SALBIDE.
Factory No io. Newnan, Ga.
NEWNAN WAGON
. COMPANY.
AT FOLDS’ OLD STAND,
The Son that Tried Her Worst.
The old lady's benevolent face took
on a sadder expression as she drew out
a large handkerchief with a pink bor
der and said :
“I have been very ss*lly afflicted by
my children—very."
“Yes?” inquired the sympathetic
friend.
“My son, Hazubah, my first-born,
committed forgery and went to the
penitentiary for twelve years.”
“Sad,” admitted the friend.
“My next sou, Abimeleeh, burned up
liis house to get the insurance and got
twenty-eight years.”
“What an affliction,’' murmured the
friend.
“Theu uiy next son, Joshua, embez-
DEPOT ST., NEWNAN, GA.
We are now prepared to do
any kind of Wagon work, and
in the best and most workman
like manner. Nothing but se
lect material is used in the con
struction of our wagons, and
every vehicle of our manufac
ture is sold upon an absolute
guarantee.
All kinds of WAGONS,
(double or single,)- DRA\ S,
CARTS, etc., made to order,
with patent iron hub and axle
or otherwise, as purchaser may
desire.
Special attention given to
buggy, wagon and plantation
repair work. Buggies over
hauled and repainted. Horse
shoeing a specialty.
All work done by skilled
workmen, under the supervis
ion of an experienced superin
tendent, and WARRANTED.
Get our prices and give us
‘ an order; we guarantee satis
faction.
D. J. FOLDS, Supt.
For The NERVOUS
The DEBILITATED
The AQEQ.
A HEME TOH/C.
Celery and Coca, the prominent ta-
gredlente, are the best and safest
Nerve Tonics. It strengthens and
quiets the nervous system, curing
Nervous Weaknem, Hystena, Sleep
lessness, Ac.
AH ALTERATIVE.
It drives out the poisonous humors or
the blood purifying and enriching it,
and so overcoming those diseases
resulting from impure or impover
ished blood.
A LAXATIVE.
Actingmildlybut surely onthebowels
it cures habitual constipation, and
promotes a regular habit. It strength
ens the stomach, hud aids digestion.
A DIURETIC. a t
In its composition the best and most
active diuretics of the Materia Medica
are combined scientifically with other
effective remedies for diseases of the
kidnevs. It can be relied on to give
quick relief and speedy cure.
Hundredsof testimonialshave been received
from persons who have used this remedywrth
remarkable benefit. Send for circulars, giving
full particulars.
Price $1.00. Sold by Druggist*.
WELLS. RICHARDSON & CO., Prop’s
BURLINGTON. VT.
THOMPSON BROS
NEWNAN, GA.
FINE AND CHEAP FURNITURE
- AT PRICES—
THAT CANNOT BE BEAT IN THE STATE.
Big stock of Chamber suits in Walnut, Antique Oak, and
Cherry, and Imitation suites.
French Dresser Suites (ten pieces), from $22.60 to $125.00.
Plush Parlor Suits, $35.00 and upward.
Bed Lounges, $9.00 and upward.
Silk Plush Parlor Suits, $50.00.
Good Cane-seat Chairs at $4.50 per set.
Extension Tables, 75 cents per foot.
Hat Racks from 25 cents to $25.00.
Brass trimmed Curtain Poles at 50 cents.
Dado Window Shades, on spring fixtures, very low.
Picture Frames on hand and made to order.
SPLENDID PARLOR ORGANS
Low, for cash or on the installment plan.
Metallic and Wooden Coffins ready at all times, night or
day.
THOMPSON BROS.,
NEWNAN, GA.
FURNITURE!
I buy and sell more FURNITURE than all the dealers in
Atlanta combined. I operate fifteen large establishments. I
buy the entire output of factories; therefore I can sell you
cheaper than small dealers. Read some of my prices:
A Nice Plush Parlor Suit, $35.00.
A Strong Hotel Suit, $15.00.
A Good Bed Lounge, $10.00.
A Good Single Lounge, $5.00.
A Good Cotton-Top Mattress, $2.00.
A Good Strong Bedstead, $1.50.
A Nice Rattan Rocker, $2.50.
A Nice Leather Rocker, $5.00.
A Strong Walnut Hat Rack, $7.00.
A Nice Wardrobe, $10.00.
A Fine Glass Door Wardrobe, $30.00.
A Fine Book Case, $20.00.
A Good Office Desk, $10.00.
A Fine Silk Plush Parlor Suit, $50.00.
A Fine Walnut 10-Piece Suit, $50.00.
A Nice French Dresser Suit, $25.00.
I respectfully invite everybody to examine my stock and get
my prices before buying your Furniture. I have the finest as
well as the cheapest Furniture in Atlanta. Write for prices.
A. G. RHODES,
85 Whitehall St., Atlanta, Ga.
MICKELBERRY & McCLENDON,
WHOLESALE GROCERS,
PRODUCE AND COMMISSION MERCHANTS
NO. 15 SOUTH BROAD ST., ATLANTA, GA.
Hay, Oats, Corn, Meal, Bran, Stock Feed,
Onions, Feathers, Cabbage, Irish Potato
Dressed and Live Poultry, Meat, Flour,
Lard, N. O. Syrup, Dried Beef, Chee
FRUITS AND ALL KINDS OF PROVISIONS AND COUNTRY PRODU
Consignments solicited. Quick sales and promnt remit tnnnes 1
age. Excellent facilities for the care of perishable goods! U d ’ dry ’ J ' at ~P r °ot
rvimuouic gwub. —
Judge Tolleson Kirby, Traveling Salesman
gene^Ty REFEREKCES: Gat * CUy NationaI Bank ' *nd merchants and bankers of Ath
Insure your houses against
Tornadoes and Cyclones,
with
H. C. FISHER & CO., Ag’ts,
Newnan, Ga.
The safest Companies and
lowest rates.
Itcn> Cl5rvrtLemente.
THE BEST
.Spring Medicine
Tarrant's
Seltzer Aperieu
Sold by Tarrant 4 Co, 1
and Druggists everywt
E^=Brixg your Job Work to
Clkxdqn & Co., Newnan, Ga.
■ 1 All kinds'of Legal Blanks for sa
McCIiExdon & Co., Newnan, Ga.