The herald and advertiser. (Newnan, Ga.) 1887-1909, June 22, 1888, Image 2

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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.