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About The Rockdale banner. (Conyers, Ga.) 1888-1900 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 1899)
The Banner Will Give Von All xhe News of Conyers aud Rock dale County. .***'*' —-i * x ■Buramj m n OF feffiajass; on Former Chief Executive of Georgia Passes Away at His Home In Newnan. announcement causes sorrow throughout state Dying Statesman Was Surrounded By Family and Faithful Friends==A Brief Sketch of His Life. Ex-Governor William Y. Atkinson Jied at his home in Newnan, Ga., at 9 o’clock Tuesday morning. The end came peacefully. The dyiug man was surrounded by all the members of his immediate family and many of his friends. He had been slowly sinking . . , ,, for se\eia ( ays, anc iiom ay a er noon his physicians announced that he could not recover, His sickness lasted about fifteen days,during which time every attention and care that medical skill could offer and loving hands could bestow, were given him. The circumstances surrounding his death were peculiarly sad and have ca-t a gloom over the city of Newnan and community, and causes sorrow throughout the state. Early Tuesday morning it was conceded that in a few hours the great man would pass away, and his anxious and inquiring friends formed an almost unbroken chain as f m 1 ■ w t § 9 I Isa i#S||pi > mmt I 3 P & t. /igMk M - \ I ■r: £ e I A # % 1 - * i >■: § i 1 /5 EX-G OVERXOR ATKIN SON, Wlio Died at His Home in Newnan, Ga., East Tuesday, they went to where the statesman lay, hoping for some ground for hope, Sorrow was depicted on the counte nance of those advised of his condi tion, and the expression on their faces was evidence that the end was near. The announcement that death had brought to an end a career that had found success and fame in Georgia Politics and stilled ihe heart that was generous and liberal in the distribu tion of affection, was no surprise to the friends of the govornor at the capitol, for nearly all the heads of departments had but recently returned from New nan, where they went to inquire into Mr. Atkinson’s condition and to offer their services aud sympathy to Mrs. Atkinson. The last great effort of Mr. Atkinson Mas made in the supreme court about three weeks ago. He appeared before that body to argue for the people of Newnan in the Atlanta and West Point railroad rate case. It wall be bered that he spoke for several hours before the court and delivered a pow erful speech in favor of his side of the question. He had not been well prior to mak ’Mg fore this speech and he appeared be the court under the disadvantage °f ill health, but he stood for hours on his feet discussing the controversy with great force. His last illness began shortly after bis return home from Atlanta and at first it was thought that he had only a temporary but sickness to contend devel- with, after a few days the disease oped began into dysentery and his physicians to take steps to check the dis f ase and it was thought that he would FIFE SENTENCE FOR N1TE. f ’ ole Survivor of tho Dalton Gang Con victed at Henderson, Texas. The Jim Nite murder trial was end e at Henderson, Texas, Saturday . SUX'cXXt h jessing e imprisonment. defendant’s The punishment state succeed- at 5 *b° m assisted proving in that robbing Nite is Jim Longview, Jones, the ^ iexas > bank and killing Citizens and wound several prominent in the that followed. Nite is the only ^rviving ^ton member of the notorious gang, the others having been "■“» —* Si “' tWs lie 1 1 ockdale Banner. be brought around all right. A week ago his condition became more serious and the friends of the ex-governor were told that he was a very sick man. Other physicians were called in and everything jrossible was done to save the patient, but to no avail. His rela¬ tives and intimate friends watched at Ins bedside dav and . night, . . . and ,. he waut ed for nothing during his sickness. He brought his great vital power into the fight for life and resisted to the last the grasp of the baud of death, but it was too much for him, the victor of a great battle of the same kind a few years ago. Telegrams expressive of condolence poured in from every quarter of the state, from men of high and low sta¬ tion in life and from those who, for¬ getting petty differences, join in prais¬ ing the high qualities of the man. Sketch of His Life. William Yates Atkinson was born in Meriwether county, Ga., on the 11th of November, 1854, at the little post- office of Oakland, whither his parents bad removed from Brunswick county, Va. His father, John P. Atkinson, was a native Virginian, a man of sterling traits and irreproachable character, On his father’s side he is a descendant of the Sudys, the Yates and the At kinsons, who settled in Virginia in the colonial days. He is named for V il limn Yates, one of his ancestors, who was a professor in the William and Mary college in Virginia in the early history of that institution. He is the sixth of eight children. The death of his father left him on his own re sources at an early age. Nothing daunted by the difficulties that await ed him, without means and without influence, he set to work to educate himself. Mr. Atkinson was drst elected to the legislature in 1886. and from that time on his career may be summed up as follows: He was for years a leader in the legislative halls aud party councils, He was a member of the general assembly for eight years, Twice president of the democratic state convention. Four years chairman of the state democratic executive committee. Two years speaker of the house of representatives. the board of Five years president ol Normal and trustees of the Georgia Industrial college and a trustee of the University of Georgia, And before attaining the age of 40 years was governor of Georgia, In 1S80 he married Miss Susie Cobb Milton, of Florida. She has mdeei been a helpmeet to him. GOLD CERTIFICATES ORDERED. Demand Is Made Upon Printing Depart ,nent For More Paper Currency. The treasury department Saturday made requisition upon the bureau of ! -*«*■« wg of $10,000,000 go.d ft in denominations of twenty dollars each. Thetreasurer now hmds a.large ums sued supply of certifieateB of the larger denominations. It is the evident in tention of the treasury departmen to be in a position to msue goldcerM cafes freely for goid coin, shou.d the fall movement or enrrett y lead to . SEE «&SS7.25 ^ CONYERS, GA, FR IDAY. AUGUST 11 1899. AfilllNALDO ISSUES APPEAL. Rebel Leader Asks All the Powers to Recognize “Filipino Independence.” Advices from Manila under date of August 8th state that Aguinaldo has appealed to the powers for recogni¬ tion of ‘‘Filipino indej en lenee,” in a document dated from Tarlac, July 27, aud signed by Bnencamiuo. It has been received by all the foreign con snls in Manila with tho request that they forward it to their respective governments. The Filipinos declare that they had "conquered Ihe sovereignty of these islands from Spain before tho signing of the treaty of Paris, and therefore Spain was in no position to cede them to the United States. They argue that the possession of 7,000 Spanish prisoners captured with their arms, fighting against the Filipinos, “is eloquent proof of the nullity of the Spanish sovereignty, as when they surrendered Spain’s hold was irrevocably lost.” The document then says: “Rep'ying to the Spanish commis¬ sioners’ request to release the prison¬ ers because Spain no longer has polit¬ ical interests in the island, we asked for a treaty of peace and friendship between Spain and the Filipinos, whereby the prisoners would be re¬ leased. But the " commissioners re¬ fused, because it would mean recogni¬ tion of our independence. This is equivalent to sayiug that the prison¬ ers must stay in our hands indefinitely, because their possession is our most efficacious method to adjust our ac¬ count with Spain and obtain from her recognition of our independence.” The Filipinos claim that they con¬ quered all the couutry except Manila, and that they co-operated in securing the latter’s capitulation by surround¬ ing it at the cost of thousands of lives. They also claimed they conquered the country unassisted except for sixty guns Admiral Dewey gave Aguinaldo, and that Admiral Dewey and the British and Belgian consuls recognized the Filipinos’ sovereignty by asking for passes to visit the country. They repeat the claim that they have letters from American consuls and generals recognizing their sovereignty and promising that the Americans would recognize their independence, “which was at the disposition of the powers.” The Filipinos attempt to make capital of the statement that Ad¬ miral Dewey had such confidence that Aguinaldo would serve and fulfill the rules of war that he gave him a hun¬ dred Spanish prisoners which the Americau navy had captured. Finally the Filipinos appeal to the powers to influence Washington to bring to a termination “the unjust war which is devasting the country.” No Apprehension Felt. A Washington dispatch says: The state department is entirely without information as to any addre’ss by Ag uninaldo to foreign powers for the recognition of the Filipinos, either as beiigerents or as constituting an inde¬ pendent government. The appeal is looked upon,however, as creating no particular change, as it has been the desire of Aguinaldo and his associates from the first to secure such recognition. The appeal puts this desire into rather formal shape, and it may bring to an issue the atti¬ tude of outside governments. There is no apprehension, however, that any foreign government will heed the ad¬ dress. FIRED ON FRENCH VESSEL. Boat Encroached on English Ground* and Was Pierced By Solid Shot. A London special says: The British torpedo gunboat Leda found a French boat fishing within the three mile limit Wednesday morning. The fisher man attempted to escape and did not stop when a blank shot was fired. The Leda then fired a shot, disabling the fishing boat, the Etoile de Mor, and killing the helmsman. The fishing boat was afterwards towed to London with the body of the helmsman on board her. The incident caused the greatest excitement. The admiralty express supreme fishing boat sur prise at the fact that the disregarded the Leda’s signal to heave to, and in the absence of the official report, they assume that the command¬ er of the Leda only resorted to drastic measures when other means were inef fectual. TIRED OF THE STRIKE. Cleveland, O., Business Men Take Action to Stop Disorders In That City. Five hundred business men of Cleve¬ land Ohio, held an anti-boycott meet¬ ing Wednesday afternoon in the cham¬ ber of commerce rooms. A fund of $10,000 was started to ferret out the criminals who are dynamiting cars and creating discord in the city. than In a few minutes time not less $5,000 was subscribed and the rest of the amount will be fully made up. The meeting was largely attended and it was a representative one in ev¬ ery respect. Millions of dollars were represented in the men present. DREYFUS TRIAL IS UNDER WAY French Captain Is Again Arraigned At Rennes, France. PRISONER DECLARES INNOCENCE A Number of Notable Witnesses Are Absent From the Courtmartial. The proceedings of the courtmartial before which Captain Dreyfus is on trial opened at Rennes, France, Mon¬ day morning at 7 o’clock. Captain Dreyfus entered the courtroom with a firm step, though his features were I>allid. He is partly bald, and what hair he has is partly gray and close cropped. He answered the formal questions of the judge as to his name, age, etc., in a clear determined voice. He sat fac¬ ing the judges with his hands resting on his knees, an impassable figure. The trial opened, so far as Rennes is concerned, in an atmosphere of per¬ fect tranquility. The population is apparently indifferent. A small crowd, at the most fifty persons, had gather¬ ed outside the entrance to the Lycee by 6 o’clock. A majority of these were journalists. Fifteen minutes later the prefect of police gave the order to close the avenue De la Gare for 300 yards in front of the Lyceo and also by streets leading to the avenue. The gendarmes were immediately drawn up along tho avenue and the space in front of the Lycee was cleared of all spectators. The crowd, which by that time lad increased to a few hundred, was kept by the gendarmes at a distance of 150 yards on either side of this passage. Captain Dreyfus emerged from the military prison under escort of a lieu¬ tenant and four gendarmes. He cross¬ ed the railroad quickly and disap¬ peared within the Lycee, the hedge of soldiers hiding him from view. The official list of the members of the court is as follows: President, Colonel Jouaust, director in the engineer corps; Lieutenant Col¬ onel Brongniart, director of the school of artillery; Major de Broon, of the Seventh regiment of artillery; Major Profillet, of the Tenth regiment of ar¬ tillery; Major Merle, of the Seventh regiment of artillery; Captain Parfant, of the Seventh regiment of artillery; Captain Beauvais, of the Seventh reg¬ iment of artillery. ■Notable Witnesses Absent. On the court proceeding to the roll call of witnesses, the most notable ab¬ sentees being Esterhazy, Du Paty de Clam and Mme. Pays, Dreyfus half turned his head toward the seals of the witnesses, especially when the clerk of the court called Esterhazy. But when no response was received, Dreyfus returned to his previous atti¬ tude, looking straight in front of him at Colonel Jouaust. Altogether about one hundred wit¬ nesses will be called on both sides. Major Carriere, tho government’s commissary, then said that in view of the official mission of Genernl Cha nonine and M. Paleologue to furnish the court with all the necessary expla¬ nations respecting the secret dossier, their depositions, as witnesses, would be dispensed with, adding that the consideration of the dossier would probably occupy four days. Dreyfus Breaks Down. When the trial begun Col. Jouaust banded the prisoner a long list of card board, upon which the bordereau was pasted. recognize this document?” “Do you Dreyfus replied with a passionate outburst: “No, my colonel, I am in¬ nocent. I declare it here as I declar¬ ed it in 1894,1 am a victim.” His voice here was choked with sobs, which must have stirred evei^ spectator in court. It resembled the cry of a wounded ani¬ mal. As he ended his reply with the words: “Five years in the galley! My wife! My children! My God! I am innocent, innocent.” Colonel Jouaust said: “Then you deny it?” Dreyfus replied: “Yes, my colonel.” OTIS CONFIRMS NEWS. General Semis Particular* of tlie Bout of Six Thousand Insurgent*. General Otis confirms the report of a battle at San Fernando as follows: ( < Manila, August 9.—Adjutant Gen era), Washington: MacArthur with 4,000 men attacked insnrgent army, 6,000 strong, concentrated around Ban Fernando at 5:15 this morning. At 10 o’clock a. m. had driven it five miles in the direction of Angeles. Casualties few. Attack ordered for 7th instant, but rain did not permit movement. Railway from Angeles north badly washed by unprecedented floods of last six weeks beyond ability of insurgents to repair. (Signed) Otis.” PLANS SUIT DEWEY. The Arrangements For His Re¬ ception Are Very Satisfactory to the Admiral. A Washington special says: Chair¬ man Moses, of the committee of 100 having in charge the reception of ad¬ miral Dewey on his arrival in Wash¬ ington, which includes the presenta¬ tion of the sword voted him by con¬ gress, has received from the admiral the following letter approving the plans under consideration for the affair: Flagship Olympia, Trieste, July 2!), 1889.—Messrs. W. H. Moss ami W. P. Van Wyckle, Chairman and Secretary of the Reception Committee, Washington. Dear Sirs: I have tho honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th inst. informing me of the arrangements proposed for my reception in Washington, also of a telegram of similar import sent by the secretary of the navy. I am deeply sensible of the high honor your committee proposes to confer upon me and have telegraphed to the secretary that tho arrangements approved by the president and by him are entirely agreeable to me. I note with pleasure that it is proposed to make the exercises as simple as possi¬ ble. It is impossible at this time to fix the date of my arrival in Washing¬ ton, but I will not fail to give you the information on that point as soon us possible. Thanking the committee for the great honor it has paid mo, and you personally for your courteous letter, 1 am very truly yours, George Dewey. An interesting historical fact dating back to 1873 has come to light in which Admiral Dewey was the central figure. Dewey, then a commander, was in command of tho United States ship Narragansett on the Asiatic sta¬ tion, having taken charge of the ves¬ sel on March 1, 1873. The vessel wus on surveying duty when the Virginias trouble was precipitated and a war with Spain seemed imminent. Dewey wrote to the navy depart¬ ment requesting that in case war was declared he would he assigned to tho duty of capturing Manila. The peace¬ ful settlement of the controversy with Spain avoided the necessity for a hos¬ tile demonstration, but the interesting fact is that tho doughty officer had his eye on Manila over a quarter of a cen¬ tury ago. A search will be made for the letter in the files of the navy de¬ partment, and, if found, it is expected an effort will be made by the citizens’ committee to have it reproduced as u souvenir of the reception. COUNCIL POSTPONED ACTION. Atlanta City Father* Wait For Mayor to Recover From IIIiuhm The Atlanta, Ga., city council Mon¬ day afternoon postponed action on the proposition to demand tho resignation of Mayor Woodward until Thursday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock. At 3 o’clock council met. The cham¬ ber was crowiled with spectators, who had -dropped in to hear what was to be said about the matter. No resignation had been received from the mayor, who was reported to be very ill and being constantly at¬ tended by physicians. He had not been advised, his friends said, that his resignation had been asked for, nor had he been allowed to see any of the newspapers in the meantime and was ignorant of the action of council in demanding his resignation. stated Alderman Turner to the chair that he had been advised that the mayor was very ill, and in view of his condition, he thought it was only just that the matter he postponed sufficient¬ un¬ til the mayor should recover ly to appear or at least to give the matter his attention. He then moved that the case go over until Thursday afternoon, as the aldermanic board would meet at that time and the aldermen would have to be at the council chamber. It was then unanimously voted that the entire matter be postponed until the date named. Strike of Printers. The New York state allied printing trades council, in session at Pough¬ keepsie, adopted a resolution con¬ demning The New York Sun and in¬ dorsing the printers’ strike. GOVERNOR SAVED MULLENS. Presence of Georgia’s Chief Executive Prevented a Lynching. John Mullens, the negro who at¬ tempted a criminal assault in Coweta county. Ga., Wednesday, and is now safely in the Atlanta jail, owes his life to Governor Candler. While the mob was forming on the outside of the Newnan jail Governor Candler hurried to that city, where he personally gave directions to the sher¬ iff and the military. It is the first time on record where a governor of the state has gone to the trouble to prevent a lynching, and has taken personal command of the mili¬ tary aud possa, Official Organ of Rockdale Coun ty. Has Largest Circulation in I he County. NO 31. CONSIGNED TO GRAVE Remains of Hon, W, Y. Atkinson Laid to Rest at Newnan, Ga. FUNERAL SERVICE LARGELY ATTENDED Hinny Prominent Georgian* Deliver Fit ling uml Appropriate Eulogies Over the Distinguished Dead. The mortal remains of ex-Governor William Y. Atkinson were laid to rest in tho cemetery at Newnan, Ga., Wednesday afternoon, aud the last offices of the living for the dead wero performed by those who had flow r ers for the bier, eulogies for his iifework and tributes for the statesman who had passed away in the meridian of life. Newnan saw its greatest day of mourning. All the stores in the town were closed, and people came from many miles around to attend the funeral. Many distinguished Georgians were present. Among them Governor Can¬ dler and all tho state bouse offioials; ex Governor Northen, Senators Clay and Bacon, Judge W. M. Henry, President George C. Smith, of the Atlanta and West Point railroad, Colonel P. H. Brewster, Judge John P. Ross, Mr. Harvey Johnson, Major J. W. Warren, Congressman W. C. Adamson, Judge James Willis, Mr. J, E. Dunston, Mr. J. G. Truitt. Judge Candler came from Fnirburn, where lie adjourned court, with the entire bar and tho jurors serving in his court. In adjourning court tho judge paid a tribute to the dead ex goveruor, saying he had known him for fourteen years, and had never known a man more loyal to duty aud to friends. Many members of the ex governor’s staff were present. All tho colored porters at the capi¬ tol attended tho funeral in a body. The Newnan courthouse was heavily draped in mourning. All business was suspended, and never before in its liistory hail the little city seen a sad¬ der day. Tho body was borne to the Metho¬ dist church,where tho funeral services were held. A number of the ex-gov¬ ernor’s friends, those who had been closest to him in life, made short ad¬ dresses, in which many high tributes were paid to the memory of the man whose work on earth had forever ended. It having been the request of Gov¬ ernor Atkinson that the Masons should have charge of his funeral, the Masons of Newnan turned out in a body, and ihe last rites were performed by them at the grave. The services at the church were con¬ ducted by tho Rov. Dr. Stacy, of the Presbyterian church, who lias been the governor’s pastor for several years. He was assisted by Itev. K. C. Adams, of the Baptist church, and Rev. W. J. Cotter, pastor of the Methodist church. When the church services were end¬ ed the body was borne to the village cemetery, where it was confided to the grave. There were many beautiful floral offerings, one being a sword from the members of his staff, aud another from the governor and the stateliouse officers, which was a large design of tho seal of the state. There in the quiet city of the dead he will rest from a life that had its high rewards, but which had its strug¬ gles, and the grave will always be the tenderly eared for sepulcher of a man who was dearly beloved by the people of Newnan. MINERS RESUME WORK. Coal Creek Company, However, Still Re¬ fuse* to Recognize the Union. The miners in the coal mines of the Coal Creek company returned to work, after being out three days. The union miners declined to work for the com¬ pany because a scale which really in¬ creased the prices for work done by them liad not been officially passed upon by their union. The scale gave them 45 cents on the run of the mine, where they had received 44 cents. The difference was settled by the com¬ pany allowing the men a check weight man to be paid by them. The company, however, continues to fail to recognize the union in the mines. Both union and non-union men are employed. OLD SUBJECT REVIVED. Question of General Wheeler’s Seat In Congress Is Up Once More. A special to the Chattanooga Times from Birmingham, Ala., says: “Since General Joseph Wheeler has been ordered to the Philippine islands a renewal of the discussion about de¬ claring vacant bis seat in the house of representatives from the eighth dis¬ trict has begun. The Montgomery Journal, which is looked upon’as the organ of the state administration, was the first to spring the question. This leads to the suspicion that it is sound¬ ing public opinion for the governor with a view to his declaring General Wheeler’s seat vacant.”
