Newspaper Page Text
'0
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION - ATLANTA, GA„ TUESDAY JANUARY 19 13F6
THE SEVERED HAND.
REMARKABLE GHOST STORY
FROM A VIRGINIA TAVERN
unumWimit*inw&tu*Du—r~A matt of
MmWm Horrcr-A Osalaa •pim-Ao Ip.
11 —aim ■ Wl -A Tangtbto Apparition
—Afraid to OM Oat of Bod. Sto.
8a?? Antonio. Tesw, December 2 - .-0n the
SBth it December, 1835, I wu traveling
through the southeastern pert of Virginia, end,
owiajc to the violence of a sodden snowstorm,
WU belated and forced to atop for the night at
b little wayaide tavern remote from ordinary
•route* of travel.
I can't my I wu much pleased by the looka of
it Inc*, for a more desolate and lonesome place
1ucver beheld; nor were the countenances of
mine host and the Ull, bony virago ho called
hia wife more prepossessing. I had some vain a
tie goods in my wagon, and a good horse. «>©•
aides tome money, so I was worth roVring.
perhaps, murdering. Jt was Hobson's cL
however, so 1 decided to make the bent ol it;
and, after a tolerable suppe? of fried baron and
eggs and corn bread, I asked to be shown to my
room, for I wasdend beat out with driving so
far In the cold, and over the vilest roads that
ever mortal traveled. It wu truly h wretched
: flair, that room, bcii i nothing more than a
blicd r.ltflChid to the lough bOiirded n .In, dig
nified by the title of tavern, with a single uti
glazed window, closed by a heavy wooden
shutter.
A TANGIBLE AIYARITION.
1 soon fell asleep and must have slept f
some time, for when I awoke 1 found all the
lights In the bouse out and everything pro
found)y quiet. Wluit bad awakened me I could
not tell: but all of n sudden I found myself sit
ling up In bed with my eyes staring wildly,and
my l*air stirring and lifting on my head. A
strange feeling possessed me that something
unci.nny, something dreadful, perhaps deadly,
Was near me. but 1 could neither seo nor hear
anything. After wailing for sumo im>m<<nU in
that state of intense nispunic which follows a
sudden shock from sh op, I regained suflb iont
self-] occasion to remember tlrntl bad a box of
matches in my pockf t, and I reached out my
hand lor my clothes lying ou a chair by Uio
lied. Something warm ami moist tom bed it,
licking it like tlio tongue of a dog. 1 foil im-
mcmcly relieved, of course, it was a dog; a
dog which had been nrltep under tho bed, and
bad < lafricd out to mako acquaintance with
the new inmate. 1 lay down, drew the bod*
clothes over me, and tried to sleep again, but 1
could not. That strange ccrio feeling grew
strong! r every moment. 1 could not persuado
myself that it was a dog in the Mom. A
<log would have made aouio noise; I should
have heard it scratching or walking about, but
everything wu deuiliy still. While 1 lay,
vainly ttying to reason myself into going to
sleep, n soft, warm touch passed rapidly over
my line. What was it? What could it be?
Nothing human, I was sure. Now i really
mu‘t j trike a light and set what was in tho
room. With desperate determination, 1 grab*
lad my clothes, got the matches and struck
out*. As It blazed I cast a furtive, frightened
glum e around. Whnt l feared to seo 1 can't
tell, but something frightful. The match last*
cd so short a time, it was necessarily a brief
and imperfect survey, aud I struck another and
another, but could seo nothing.
AFRAID TO CIKT OUT OF IIEI).
There was an end of tallow candle on tho un*
painted wooden table that did duty fora wash*
bland, but that was at tho other side of the
room, and to savoury life I could not sunimoa
coii in ye enough to get out of bed. 1 am ashau
tcrior had mastered me; I literally
atir. 1 lay stiff with closed eye*, and tried
itftmaiely hard to go to sleep, but try a« hard
ns 1 would that touch roused iuo again ami
again. What was it? 1 asked again. 1 could
not he dreaming; I knew 1 was n»l asleep; I
was htoad awake, aud with every nerve iu too
twitching and quivering with excitement. And
now. ns I lay with my eyes wide open aad
looking nervously about at the dark corners of
lb* turn, tiring to plrtre their shadows, as
people will do when they are badly scarod In
the dark, a strange tiling happened, which 1
don’t suppose any one will believe, hut its as
tine as I am hero. Tho room was Intensely
dark, hut as I glanrcd at the outside door It
an med to me it was uot so dark there aa else*
where. A (hint, lumlnoua base scorned to
glow out of the darkness, anil as 1 gazed
breath Itaaly at It It gradually took form aud
sulfttnncc, and grew into tiro pale resemblance
of a human figure with something crouching at
•s feet, but what I could not distinguish. 1
nbbcd my eves bard, and stared through the
• itkin xs at these strungo appearances, until *
i remeddimly to perceive that the crouchiuu
.figure was that of a dog. At the moment 1
faneird I had made this discovery, a long, low,
auelsnrholy howl echoed through tho room, tho
anoat mournful and lugubrious sound I over
heard. Ah the same Install! a shadowy hand
from the human figure seemed to point to a
npot on the floor over which it bnvcrrd. Then
the apparition vanished aud all was again
(tarknrsa.
A IIOMUFYIKG DISCOVERV.
As trill aometlmrs huppen, rxtrvlilltr of lor'
tor luiir give mo courage. With a desperate
lUU-riuinmtlou to fhtlioui there mysteriua, if
possible, 1 looped from tho hod, huildlod ou iuy
cloth: >, «ud lighting tho candle I approached
tho «|«t whoro I hod omu, or fancied I hod
OMU. I hoot strange thing*. After oo claoo
scrutiny ot tho wretched light woiihl olloor, 1
found something which looked suspicious. In
Ibo door, clooo to the uiiUido woll. o .pore liod
been sawed large enough to admit tin, Isxly of
n nun, end the plonk* hod boon fitted In again
. lowly enough to nvold attracting ohoorvollou
from onjr hat a very suspicious pernon, yet oo
onto boenotly raised from beneath. Lacks ond
bonw.ro uoolno with mrh mnu of Ingmu oo
this, ond my Into •uprrnotnml terror, won,
now oorcoeded by more reasonable bodily
fears. I revolted the villaiuous countenance of
tho landlord ond th* .till inure repulsive look
uf hio wife, thought of my voltmldo pusrewslnns,
mud dccldid thot I was fairly tru|i|H.l iu o
muiderous dan where, probably, mouy on un
fortunate truTclor hod neruhea before me. And
Juot o> I mode this pirating dlacitvtry, the
wretched remnant of n caudle expired and I
woo left in total darkness.
1 out cot ■ coward. though I dou'i let up for
n here, and, like many other* who rind them
selves in • atnit from whirh nothing but cour
age mod presence of mind ran deliver them, I
suddenly d*velope<t hit borto unknown reserve*
of there admirable qualities. I resolved thot If
1 most bo rohbsd ond murdered 1 would M least
die hoed and do os much damage to my atOM*
aino it possible. I listened Intently, but could
boor no sound. I could form bo Idem what
time of night It was, hot decided that it must
be otter midnight, and that the worthy couple
who kept those human shamble, were biding
theirtimo until they could he reasonably cer
tain.funding me sound asleep.
A tecKY roMmins.
Among tho good* purchased in Norfolk wots
bunting knife bought on commission for a
planter near Staunton. It was a splendid
weapon, with richly carved hilt and aheoth
and o abort, strong blade, sharp and tens aa
Toledo sireL Luckily for me 1 hod not park-
«*** In my Who, but had ploeed It in the
valise which contained my clothe*. I stole
Ilka a shadow across tho room, trembling Ism a
tease plaak in th* rraoT floor should betray
me, epeaed the hag and seised the knife. With
this hi my hand I felt I was not entirely de-
fheselrso, and with renewed hope and coni-
doors I took my place .lore by the trap, in
tending, If my roam wen entered, to do my
twat In dttease of my life and property, and
devoutly hoping the number of —ira-ts
might bit limited to the landlg|d and hit wife,
a anvxuxn hard.
I waited mtento after minute, until my
blood, to lately stirred by n sense of desperate
win . * 5fStXMM
the wall un I could, but 1 knew 1 could uot
long remain undiscovered, and at the light
and the eves approached me I started forward
and struck with all my force on the wrist that
upheld the candle. The keen blade shore
through bone and muscle, aud hand and candle
fell with n sickening thud on the floor, while
a single shrill ngomzing shrink without told
that my victim was ;i woman. I shivered
through all tuy body, and hreatbiess with ter*
rot waited in the durkueu for an instant at
tack. I beard nothing, however, except a
atiHWd moan or two. which gradually died
away. I waited and waited, half frozen and
shivciiug with cold and fear. Nothing hap
pened.
At lust I could stand it no longer, and deter
mined to risk going to bed at all hazards, and
having managed to pile ull my heaviest bales
on the trap, so that uo ou© conld enter without
my knowledge. I cat down on the bed, and
wrapping the lied cloth< around me to keep
from freezing, determined to watch till morn
ing.
CONFM'TINO EVIDENCE.
I thought that night of horror would never
end, but nt last gray streaks of dawn rropt
through the tracks in the door» and window
shutters, and I devoutly thanked (Jod it was
over, and that I lived to see daylight again.
As soon an I could see clearly, I got un and
cautiously moved my bales, shuddering in an
ticipation of finding the hand Iliad severed
from the wrist last night. Hut what wax my as
tonishment on removing the last package to
find no trace of band or candle, not even n
traceofldoril lijion the floor, nothing, abjo-
lately nothing, to tell of last night’s horror.
Hud it then really Wen but a droAtu after all?
Ah! the knife! 1 turned ami snatched it un.
Yes, there was tiro red witness plain enough,
still wet, aud crimsoning th blade from |k>1 :
to handle. \ * t. on turning igain to the flo
there was no stain, aud on lose inspection .
wns solid plank from end to cud.
“Well.” thought I, “of all queer plaros that
ever 1 saw.this one takes the lead. Jpjt for this
knife I should Iks almost tempted to heiievo
the events of last night but a vivid dream.
This, however Is indisputable evidence of wbat
Implicat'd, and of one thing I am very certain:
the sooner I get away from Jrorc the better
for my limit)).” I wined the knife on tho skirt
of my coal and placed it in my bosom, taking
very good care to have the handle convenient
to lay hold of. i then opened the door and
called tin landlord.not without many inward
iniflgiviuit-s. to bring out my wagon aud load
it.
SOUTHERN SCENES.
__ RtlrUneb
ly after the trap wav very slowly and softly
raised, a long bony hand holding a tallow can
dle protruded through tiro oneuiug. and a gTay
withered free appealed IwW with wildly
•taring rye* frUewtng the light of the roadie
round the room. I pressed os close against
hut 1 saw no change iu him since last
night. He o/l’cml me brcukfHst. which I at
once declined; uot for worlds would I have
eaten or drunk iu that house. I was in a fever
of impatience to be off, und after paying hia
bill iu the siualhst change I had, and without
any unnecessary display of wealth, I stood by
and Watched him replace my packages in the
agon slid harness the home. 1 did not offer
to maist him, 1 wan too much afraid of being
taken at a disadvantage, but kept my baud ou
my trusty weapon, and never took niy eyes off
the surly villain. His amiable helpmate did
not make her appearance, and 1 thought I
ould give a pretty shrewd guess at the rauae.
made no iuquiric* alter her health, bat
jumped in my wagon and drove off, desperate
ly afraid even yet that something would bo
done to prevent my departure. To this day 1
rauiiot account satisfactorily for my escape.
Tiro fellow must have seen that 1 suspected
him, mid must have guessed at the witness to
his attempted crime, whirh I carried with mo,
yet he mafic no attempt to hinder mo from
going. I can only sunposo he was an arrant
coward, with all his brutality, aud dared not
attack me. knowing mo to bo armed and on
my jtnnrd. especially after hts Accomplice was
TWO YEARS LATKB.
It was uearly two years after that I was
traveling tiro same road again, aud passed by
the scene of my memorable adventure. I had
I ssMiro you, no intention of calling, but I
found the appearance of the place so chauged
that 1 tnado sure it no longer belonged to my
former friends, anil enriomty tempted mo tc
stop und inquire what hail becoiun of them,
everything wore a thrifty and cheerful look,
and so did the comely dame who answered my
knock. Upon inuniry after the former occu
pants, 1 heard without either surprise or regret
that they had nt lust received tho punishment
they ao richly merited. The disappearance of
a traveler who was oxpccted in tno neighbor
ing town Ictl to suspicion, suspicion to search,
•‘And would you believe It. sJr,” continued
tho good woiumii. “they found a trspsloor.
in that nlicd room thero were
a false floor, anti under It a deep
hole with tho traveler's liodr iu It, aud
a skeleton of another niau, and of a dog, too,
poor thing! They mutt have killed him for
trying to help bis tnsster, 1 suppose. Ami the
horrid, wieketl wretches were out in jsil and
hung, so they ought to havo Won long ago,
and wo bought tho place dirt cheap, because it
had such a bad nsuio. Indeed, some folks
says it's haunted; hul, la! 1 ain't never aood
nothing, and 1 ain't scared of ghosts, uohovr.”
SHERMAN AND GRANT.
Rai/timore, .Uuuary 1.'.—The Sun will nub
llsh tomorrow tho following lettsr from (ten-
oral W. T. Sherman, iu relation to (Jouoral
Grunt aud tiro rm-out statsiueut in tho North
American Review:
Bt. Lons, Mo., January issrt — Rev. George
Norrhon, Ualilmorc—Dear HU : I have roeelvsd
your letter of I tic 7th tiHli a mnvspapor.alip on-
closed, or course I havo road can-ftiilv tho tliwt
volume of General Grain's Memoir*, and regard it
as admirable In every sense, and uow await the
second volume, which 1 doubt not wilt be cwunlly
valuable atul interesting. From the day
1 reported to him from Paducah till his
death our relations weiv as brothers
rather (lianas comm nude rand commanded. It is
utierly iropuvlblv that I could hare written or
spoken words ns »jnoted iu the December number
or the North American Review. I have a very
largo coritspondciue and converse freely with
thousands or (teople, and. as is natural, u w« often
-peculate wbat might have been bad General
Jraiit gone to tho rear am! t\ F. Smith fought the
battle of Ahlloh, what might hare been hadWash
logton accepted his warrant in the Kngllih navy,
etc., but that I could have written the positive ex
pression *'thnt hail t\ F. Smith lived. General
Grant would have disappeared from history,” Is att
impossibility.
lvtMMialijr I want to lire In posce, hi avoid s
controversy, hut am confident In R ood time we
shall learn on w bat authority or hearsay this pub
lication is based. 1 cuelOH* with this a sllpcouiain-
tng my tart public utterance at»out General Grant,
when I Aimouurcd hts death to Ills old comrades
of the At my of Tennessee. I don't believe any
man. living or dead, has borne more willing testi
mony to Gene nil Grant's great qualities, c-pec lallr
as demonstrated at Henry, Douuelsgu. Shiloh aud
Vicksburg, than mrsolf.
Yours truly. W. T. snooman.
General Sherman iuclosea a printed copy of
a portion of his speech to the Army or tke
Teuuessec aunoiinciug the death of General
Grant aud oulogistug him iu the most Hatter-
ing terms.
A Remarkable Sucees*.
It appears that Atlanta Is about to add another
remeuy to the lone list that has made her the mast
Important drug center in the southern states. Ser
enl or the racdlclttc* manufactured here ore fa
mous throtighout America, and spend from fifty
thousand to two hundred aud uftv thousand dollar*
a year in adrertUUii*. They make an important
element in Atlanta» industrial aud commeteial
inlcutt's Rheumatic (hire, manufactured by
fetitt A to, of Atlanta, b rapidly taking
place among the great medicine*. The sworn cer
tificates of cute* eflfcftrd by it are almost luere«U
bk*. They aro prliiteil orer the name* of wtdl
known i*-»*pu-. whocoimaaml tho respect end con
fidence of our community. In lids the proprietors
of thb medtrim- differ from others. Instead of fill
ing columns with slroh from people that are im-
_ hull dc. en onion for it already, aud from every
city in which it t> introdiiceil come the most »ur-
prbing storlaaof iu w orth. It b unquestionably a
rood mediclue. aud It seems to have caught the
tide. Tbt-gentlemen who are In charge of it aro
reliable, capable and active business men. and aw
enlarging their territory every day.
James Ennis, an ex sergeant of the British
aimy. bo» been sent to ike i luia gang In Rich
mond for vagraury.
seem F.Ml l>ION or FUKK
Cod L*rer «-tl»wtth ltjp.»plio*pbite*.
Ji AVmn.. ' iWf as a flat /V odi.ee..
The luc tease of flesh and strength U perceptible
immcdately after coaunenclng toiuethe Kmalsloa-
The i*od Liter Ot! emuU.ied with the Ilypophjs
remarkable for iu hea‘
t producing qualities
^ketches of Life Iu the Old Plantation
Time.
“Well, T tell yo* w'at mak ’em call it ole
(' ris'mas’. Hit’s 'case do folks lister in ray
fus’ reckerlection have it fo’ day sho nuff.
( "ris’mgt’ dem ole Dutch folks w’at live ’way
up on Tar river, in ole (Vliner, doy dei git
fightlu’ mad ef yo' tell dem dey win koe]»’n’
de wrong day. W’y, I kin 'member, sib,
w’eu dey wus do higges' kin* er tiroes ou ole
Cris’mas’ day.
‘ One fing cu’rous to mo. Dat’s w'at mak
dem rows an’ sheeps all git down on dey
knees on ofe f''ris'mas' night.”
“Do they, sure 'notigh, Uncle Blentor?” I
asked.
“Well, now, I liaint tollin’ dls fo’ de trufc,
co’sc I hairit, I'm dot er scU’u’ heah er mik
in’ it cs I go. Got so desc days yo’ can’t sty
no’tV’tail’Ixiul anything fo’ er young un'.
Don't dey better go an’ ax yo' er whole
passel er questions ’bout it. nu' ef
yo' don' min’ dev eye an’ root rod idc yo’ an'
mek’ yo’ tell cr lie To’ yo’ git Rough wid it,
yo* Hasn't speak erbovo cr w’isper, desedsy3.‘
“I didn't mean to make you tell a story.
Uncle Mentor, I just wanted to know all
about it.”
“All light, ef flat's w’at yo' drivln' at, dcs go
D*IX some cr yo‘ smmt (HiOfc Don’com-?
axin’er ole ign’aut uiggar w'at don’ know II
fo’m bull’s foot bout sich lings es dese.”
“1 tell yo* w’at dough, I ai’ us beam dat it
wus cr fack dot all dc shcc|>s an' de coWji w'l
gits down in dey knees des at midnight, an’
dey prays ter de good D’od tor son’ er g<*od
crap yean, un’ dey axes 'im to sen’ fa’r wredder
so dey can git dc young t orn soon as dey kin’,
■u' hits er acarTuI sight to seo ’em all kneel
down, un* do black sheeps all kueel on de
grout/ an'de white sheeps all git on de log*
inck dey wiis better dun’ do black 'un*.
I can’t ««y wher* no its so, but I tells y<*' w'at
folks tell me. Tell yo’ ne’r ling bout olo C'ris-
inus. De rosemary a’us blooms ou ilo olo
Crismni.”
Don't it bloom ou new Christmas, too?” I
asked.
“Lookcc licah, boy, cf von got ter toll dls
ling, olo Mentab dess tek oil' 'o hat an' llssen.
No use’ll us all tryin, ter talk at once. Now,
w’at else yo* got ter say 'bout it?’’
“Go on mid tell mo some more, ITuele Bfen*
tor, I ain’t going to bother you no more,” I
raifl.
* The old man was busy with his basket ma
king. and I skipped out In quest of Jake.
It was late in the evening and a fringe of wa
tery clouds bung about the horizon line, ahd
the feeble rays of the wan white sun fell in a
cheerless glimmer on tho blackeuod fields. Tin
vivid green of the oat fields shone up in vivii
contrast to the leaden background of wintry
desolation,and tiro little brown sparrows hopped
ond twittered about the ragged turn rows.
I found Jake In the piney woods new ground
chopping briars, iu comiKtny with half a dozen
others. They were all singing
“I WON’T GO BACK TO GEORGY.”
“Little bee makes tic honey comb,
Dc big bee makes de honey:
Nlggah wo ks de cotton patch,
De w'tte lUHii takes do money—
An’ I won' go back ter Gcorgjr-r,
An’ I won’ go back ter Georgy.”
I wont np to where Jake was. and I broa-h
cd the subject to him about old Christmas, an '
the sheep and cattlo.
“Data des lack Uncle Mcnlah, ’c al'us <
gitt'ii' up some great miration ’l>out sump'n :
tell yo w’at wc km do. I seed cr whole drov
uv sheeps cr fccdlu’ out yondor des w’ilo erg<
an’ wc kin slip out dar 'atcr supper, an’ watch
’em, aud see way Undo Mcntah tellV do trufc
cr no. Dat olo ulggnli er mighty good ole
man, but 'c oo 'sateful, dat dcr’s no |»en'eucc in
wat 'o tell yo’ bout sick lings cs dis ere.”
That proposal just suited uie, so as soon a<
supper was over I repaired to the quarter, and
Jake and Abe soon got ready, and away we
went. Down near tho end of the lane we dis
covered a small flock of sheep,and we sat down
on a log to watch thero.
“I rudder watch goats den sheeps,” said Jake,
“ ’case dey mo’ fun in one billy goat duu dey '
in er wholo pen ftill er sheep.
“Onetime lieerd er mancr tell'u er tale'bout
some ha'nls. Do man say, ’e did, dat w'en
was a young man '© got out’n er job. 8o
went off ter travel, an* him© by V come ter i
man’s honsc, an’ tie man ’c tell ’ini, ’e did,
haiqf|$>tiiowo’k fo* yo’; but I givo you teu
dollars ef yo* go sleep in dat big house up on de
hill yonder.’ Deyoung fellah, 'e ax w’at de
mattnli wid de house, nn’ do man say hits
ha'nted. *K say dat dey kin licah folks crying
derc in do night, an’ dat doy see lights in do ole
plum o’cha’d, an’ dey was one man wentdero
to see ’bout it, an' 'o see er whole lots er blood
on de ilo’, an’ 'e so sca’ed twel V des ruuned
off’ll’ yo’ could’n’ git 'im to go nowhara 'bout
dat house any mo.
"Do young fellah ’c study, an' 'c fink, an'
say tu T o so’f, ‘Ef I goV stay V git back safe,
1 kin mek ten dollaha, but cf dem lm'nU gits
a’tcr me, 1*11 des die, sho’.’ Hilt at Ins’ ’e ssy
ter ole man dat 'e gwino try it if it killed
'im, an'©’ borryed cr pistol, gre’t long ole boss
pistol, au”e got ’im er bottle or w'lsky, an' ’c
wont about ter do olo house, lato in the even
log.
“Fas’ place ’c stop In was de ole palah. an'
dey wus hats in deru, an’lots erdese ole spl
don webs, an' er ugly little ole squi'nr.h owl.
’ud douo tuk un in dere. 'E say dat look ao
lonesome lack uat 'e went inter do Httlo side
room, so's cf do lia'ntacouro inter do iwilah, ’e
gwine lip out atalo windah 'n' run lack fo'ty.
’E lit er can'lc, an’ tuk er big ole dram' au*
den ’• sot down. A’tcr da’k he hoard curious
noises down back er dc olo plum o’rhard,
sump’n’ ssy Tm a-a’ and as Jake uttcretl
the plaintive aounil a guttural "bah-h,”
sounded mar its, aud wo all jumped
up to run. “Ha, ha, ha,” laughed Jake, “Dat
olo fool sheep fought I was cr little lamb or
biatiu’.”
"Den, go dat way no mo’, Jake,” ploa.led
Abe, and 1 seconded the appeal.
“8hucks," twarnt not’n’ but do ole sheep;
w’at.yo* all so cliick’n h’a’tcd ’bout?
‘TVell, de man ’e gun ter git mighty res’less,
t' 'a hIItmI nn'n datum, in' 'a itnn'ii
did, sn”e scrooch up racr co’aer. an'dar
sot. De men came inter de olo pa'iab, an’ dey
wus er laffin ter dey so’vcs how dey had got
everybody &ca'cd ter come dar, an’ dey skinned
de goat, an’ den dey cat 'ini half in two, an' do
head man ’e say, ‘Bill, I tek dis haf, an’ you
tek dat haf.’ Den ’e grab up de euterLs an e
flung cm inter dc rooms, an’ ’e frowed de hide
'n'd© head, wid dc h’rns ou it frough de win-
dab, an’ V laf, and say he, he, Mistali Dev I,
you tek dat. , 4
“Nov.', yo’ see ’c did’n spi’shnn notin’ boat
noLody bein'in dar w’t-n 'e ssy dat. an’ dc
young fcelah wat in dar 'e tuck’n spread de
hide ovah ’e bead an’ 'e fixed de head on his
head wid dc two h’ms stick'n up. an’ 'e poke-l
’e bead iouu’in de light an* 'e groan au c
say “Ugh-h-b” De nron jump up. dey did, an
de head man 'e say, ‘What dat?’ Ter niau
say, 'Mus’er hen somebody.' Den de fcela.i
in dc room 'e raiso up i slow
an' say, “L’gh-h-h! Dcv’l say 'e want hat
An’ de gen-ter-mens! How dem mea aid light
out fern dar. Dey des went er runoin’ an* er
kollciin,’ an’ de youug fcllsbshot off de ole
he?- pistol, an’ dey got higher. You desorter
seed how dey did run. an’do mau ’e mos die
cr Isfiin' how *c scacd dem fellahs. An' 'e tuck
de goat, an”e ca’re’d it ter de boss man, au'
w’e n ’i tele ’Lout w’at c fcced an’ how’e douo,
dc boss man wus tickled an’ ’o wus shamed
too. Hut de man fay ’e got do ten dollahs,
anyhow, an’ ’c Ixike u;» dem ghojes. Dat pi ''
wa nt no mo’ ha’nted a’ter dat.
“Cr me, lea go. Dem blamed ole sheep done
fr/got dey ’ligion. Di-y ain’ gwine kneel down
•(all, nohow. Dats des some er Uncle Mcntah s
im k uj». Dave gone ’n’ say dat de w ite shi-op
git on do Jog an’ dc black tins git on de grouu .
Anybody know dats cr story. Wat’s do dif-
funce 'twix cr w’itc thcep an’ cr black un? Do
Ho d knows, ef Unde Mcntah can’ pit off some
cr (le onrcnsoncrblcs’ tales dat evah I heeru."
And thus was an interesting fancy dissipated
by Jake’s sober reasoning. But I have novel
been quite convinced tillyei.and I keep think
ing every year I’ll watch them again.
Macon, Ga. M. it. Folsom.
AS EARLY HAY IN DEAD WOOD.
of Lite In
__ ’c walked up’n down, an’ ’o stop’ll lisscn,
an' atcr er w’ilc ’e heah sump’n’ des scream iu
de ole plum o’cha’d, au’ ’e hair stood right
straight up.”
‘Tiet’a go liark to the bouse, Juke, the sheep
’t going to kneel down tonight,” I said.
Yes Vmnmmy ’ll whip me, ef sho fin’ out
I’m_fone,” added Abe.
nil ktv. »w „ v„ ... t „ „ w .
tel I finish tell’u’ you dis
tale. Uow yo’ know but w’at dc tale tu’u out
rale funuy, to’ds de las*?
Dctnau *e gitt’n’ mighty uneasy w’en *o
heah dat cry, an’ den *e heah somebody cornin’
up to’ds de house des er mutteriu’ an’ er
mumTlR' on’ V feel de goose bumbs crawlin'
up’n’ down ’e hack—”
“Jake, let’s go; I'm getting sleepy.”
•*Me, too,” seconded Abe.
“Now, w’at yo’all come ’ere fo’? Did yo’
des rouic out heah to be looklu* erbout, er did
yo’ come out heah ter see dem sheeps kneel
down?” said Jake.
“They are not going to kneel down.” ssiil I
“No, dey ain’t nndder. Uncle Mentor des
■aid dat ter bo talkin’,” said Jake.
•Yo* better not let him heah yo’, scsse.
Uncle Mentor larrup yo’ jacket ef you go ter
'casin' 'im er tailin’ stories. Kf yon say nry
nndder wo’d ’boat gwinter ter de house twel I
gets ready. I'm gwine tell 'im w’at yo* say
’bout ’im, too. An* ef yo* don* be quiet. 1'U
tell your grandpa how you done ole Hoi k to
day. Des tuck and hit ’er wid er gra't big ole
prickly ash stick, an’ make 'er kick up'u Trow
little Charles in de gully.” Jake kucw pre-
i i?cly how to control us. He always kept a
correct record of each day’s misdeeds, ami he
would tteasure them up against us, aud by
that means ho could very easily manage us.
Sometimes he. would bring up thing* a week
old. For instance, he would aajr. “Now, ef yo’
don’ go 'long an' heap all dem trash heap*. I'll
tell yo’ gra’ina ’bout yo’ eettia’.ole Bull ou de
gufnny sow las' sreek. I ain’t fo'got how V
, by dc yeah, an’ des awang
it twel e wax kilt
de hog.” Jake would luivc *aade a first class
wuril politician.
“Now’s I was tellin* yo* 'bout flat man ’c went
on’ ’e tucker nudder gre’t big ole dram, an’ *e
look down d# puff an* *e see two men cr cum
min’. aud one had er chunk er firv iu ’e baV,
an’ de man w'at In da house tee dat doy wus
iho’nuff folk*, an* dat dey had done kilt er
hig 'goat, dry had. an' doy was frlchiu’ It up
to de ole house. 'R Mowed out de csu’le. *o
A Ftiny of tiro Alarming Features
a Western .’liningCamp-
A pm ty of old timers were sitting in a well
known resort last evening, says the Denver
Tribune-Republican, discussing past events
and celebrated characters of those days. Tiro
convemttion drifted on various affairs fro
the days of'£0 in California to the exciting
events which occurred in Nevada, Montana,
Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado. Tho camps
which had sprung from a small collection of
tents nml cabins, to prosperous cities, only
perhaps to ho deserted at the end of the sea-
son, were spoken of in turn, and tho personal
reminiscences were many. When the Black
HiU.x excitement wax reached one of tbogen-
thtnau spoko upas though that part of the
conversation was of particular Interest to him,
and he knew whereof he was talking.
“I tell you, hoys, the early days of Dead-
woed were hard to beat. I’ve followed mining
excitements for about thirty years; been in all
of'em, in fact, and in all my experience I
never run across nothing like it.”
The f pc-aker wns interrupted by general
words of assent.
‘ The day that Wild Bill was killed there was
the day of days. What an excitement! On
the nij/ht before there had been a killing at
Gayville, near by, and there was great excite*
me ut about tlic lynching that was sure to fal
low. The news being brought to Dcadwood
was the first excitement of the day. During
the forenoon a man was cruelly butchered in
the street, and this event was followed, a few
hours later, by McCnull assassinating Wild Hill
in a saloon. The population of tho towu was
wild when the news spread, and thero is no
telling what would have l>ccu tho result of
the (lay had not matters been strangely turned.
Citizcus were assembled in the street discuss
ing the Wild Hill affair, and au old fellow,
standing on a carpenter's bench, was harangu*
ing the crowd, when a tuan on horseback came
dashing down the street, twinging something
in his hands. When the mad horseman drew
up the ‘something’ was found to he an Indian's
lieud, and it wns being swung about by the
heavy topknot of hair. The haranguor stopped
talking aud the crowd surrounded the man on
hotsebuck. The head was recking with blood,
and tin* horseman's hands gory-looking. The
fellow explained that in a fight just
had with tho Iudians tho whites
had Icon victorious, and this was a
trophy of the battle. Well, a victory over the
Dcadwood, and for a time tho Wild
other excitements of tho day wero lost sight
of. Aciowdcfmcn were soon going from
saloon to saloon, bearing the Indian's bead
with them, celebrating the victory, although
it was a poor victory, for more whites wore
killed than ludians. Tho head was set upon
tho bar und the men drank their liquor to
toasts to tho man who hud slain tho ludiau.
Had this little incident not occurred it is pret
ty safe to say that tho man that .shot Wild
Hill would have been visited by* tho vigi
lantes.”
'There is a good deal that lias uever been
told about thekilliug of Wild Bill." continued
the speaker after a pause. “It was a cold
blooded murder, and McCnull deserved a lea-
►on from the vigilantes. He didn’t even kuow
Hill, and killed him like a ruffian. Hill had a
passion of playing seven up with pilgrims for
the drinks, and lying to them about his ex
ploits. He could lie about as fast as a horse
can trot about somethiugs. Well ho wax play
ing his favorite game one afternoon in August
—Hill was killed on August 19,1976, you
know—when McCnull entered and shot
him in the back of tne head, the same ball also
wounding Captain Massey, who was playing
with Hill, iu the anu. Massey, you know,
claimed a great reputation as a fighter, but
when tho shot wax fired he took to his heels,
und 1 guess never duUtop running. Bill fell ou
hisfucc, (lend ou tiro instant. Tom Mulqueen,
new of Denver, wax the first man to go iuto
the raloou after the shooting, having been ou
the sidewalk in frout at the time. He turned
Hill over on his back, but finding him dead,
he turned his attention to the murderer, who
threw his revolver down on Tom and or
dered him to keep .away. Tom wax not
ariuetl at the time, but lie wcut and got a
rifle, and he and another man started out
after the murderer. They expected Mi-Caull
would resist, and they went prepared for a
tight. Mel’mill was found on the street, and
Te rn got the drop on him with a rifle. Tho
fellow squealed like a pig under a gate, aud
asked that his life be spared. He was taken in
custody without trouble. He was given a trial
before a miner’s jury iu Jack Langrishe’s
theater. He got ofl by lying to the miners,
telling them that Hill had killed hU brother
in Texas years ago. and he had been hounding
him ever since. This excuse seemed to satisfy
the miners and they let him go. That was
lieforc thero was any government in Dead
wood.
After bis release MK'anll swore rengeanoe
on Tom Mulqueen, threatening to kill him on
sight. This was not pleasant for Tom. and as
a consequence, when legal proceedings were
begun against McUaull, Tom took the lead in
huutiug down the taurdcrer. who had then
left the couutry. Tom followed hia man on a
not trail lor weeks, und would have got him
bad not tiro otficcrs got him
at laramie City hist before Tom got there.
Tom had li-eu deputized a deputy Uuited
States marshal, and his traveling companion
in Wyoming when following the murderer’s
trail was Deputy Sheri ft' Foster.
“MtCaull was token to Yankton, found
guilty, and banged. A lawyer who was in
Dcadv Cd at the time of the munlcr, ami
who n le a vow that he would live to pros-
crate ul d bring the murderer to justice, con
ducted the prosccutiou and matte his word
gcod.
“Dcadwood never experienced such a day as
August 19. 1ST6.”
Don't lilies nrxt Week** Constitution. It
wilt iM-oumf the be*t nutnherscverUMietl—
brimming ott-r with good thing*. *ut*M-ribe
BABY HUMORS.
Infantile and Birth Humors
Speedily Cured by
Cuticura.
txor Cleanring the FkJn and Hcslp or Blrtli
F Humor-, for allaying Itching. Burufegandlu-
lTamniaUon. lor ti:rin^M!ie tint vvramomsoTEexems.
Milk cnxri. Heald Head, Scrofula ana
other inherited skin and blood disease*. Cuticura,
llblc. Absolutely pure.
.‘TEJIItlW.Y AFFLICTED."
Mr. and Mrs. Everett Stcbbtus, Belehortown
Mats., writes: -Onr little boy wa,
with scroll:],. Salt Bbetim. and Erysipelas et er
since he was bom, and nothin* wo could Kite hint
helped him, tratll wc tried Cutieura Wmedle,
which gradually cured him, until he Is non a, fair
as any child.”
"‘*■500 FOB NOTHIXO."
William Gordon. 97 Arlington Avenue. Charles.
town. Mass., writes: "Having paid about to
Ilrst-Class doctors to cure my baby without snccess.
J tried the Cuticura Remedies, which corapletcl}
cured, alter using three package,."
“FROM HEAD TO FEET."
Charles Eavre Hinkle, Jersey City Heights, H. J.,
w rites: "My sou. a lud of twelve years, wascora-
pietely cured of a terrible ca*c or Eczema by the
Cuticura Remedies. From the top of hi* head to
the sole* of his feet was one mas* of scabs. Kverj
other remedy aud physicians had been tried In
ain.
“A I.ITTLF; HOY CURED.”
Nash & Nash, Covington, Ky., write-: , ‘9 ne . of
..iir customers bought your Cuticura Remedies for
hi* little hov, who had n kind of humor in tiro
head, so that he ivns a solid scab or sore*. He was
•• ©ly cured, aud his father fays lie would not
ndge L'-OO for the good it has done him.
d everywhere. Price: Cuticura, W cents;
Itcf-olvont, 81.00: Sonp. cent*. Prepare ! by loi
ter Drug and Chemical Co., lln^ton. Mass
Semi for ‘-Dow to Cure Skin Diseases.”
T) x ■n\r CseCntleum Soap, nn exquisitely
ljj\ Jj j |»<-rfiiincd Skin lleuntltier*
m
ml iuraJlfo
KIDNEY PAINS STRAINS,
RACK AGUE, Weakness and Weari
ness caused by overwork, dissipation,
standing, walking, or the sewing ma
chine, cured by the Cuticura Anti-
Pain Plaster. New, elegant, original
SCROFULA
Humors,
Erysipelas,
Canker, and
Catarrh,
Can be
cured by
purifying
the blood
with
| I il-inot believe tlmt
Ayft'\,.s : if;npariil!t ha,
nn cv.lul a* a reraetly
for Scrofulous Iltt-
luiors. It is pleasant
lo take, pivea strenstli
raid vigor to the botly.
atpl pro-.ltieci a mors
permaneut, hutitr?, re
sult than auv medicine
I ever used. —E.
Haines,Xo. Undale, O.
I have used Ayer's
Sarsaparilla, In my tern-
lly, for Scrofula, nod
Itnotv, I! it Is tahen
faithfully, it will
thoroughly eradicate
this terrible disease. —
IV. F. Fowler, M. !>.,
Greenville, Tenu.
For forty years I
have suffored with ICry.
tlpolus. I have tried
all aorts of remodlc*
for my complaint, but
found no relief until I
commenced using
Avar’* Sarsaparilla.
After taking Ian hot-
tlea of tills medicine I
am completely cured.
—Mary C. Amrsbury,
nockpert, Me.
I hare suffered, for
year*, from Catarrh,
whirh was aa aerer*
(bat It destroyed my
appetite and weakened
niraynirni. After try
ing other retnedlof,
ami gelling no relief, I
began lo take Aver’s
Sarsaparilla, and. In a
few months, wns cured.
—Susan I„ Cook, 908
Alhtuiy at., Boston
Highlands, Mass.
Ayer’s Sarsaparilla
la ait|terlor lo anv blood
purllior that I hare
ever tried. I liavo
taken it for Scrofula,
Cntikur, aad Salt-
Itlteum, nml received
ranch l>emilt from it.
It Is good, also, for a
weak stomach.—Mllllo
•Ittuo Folrce, South
Bradford, Moss.
Ayer’s Sarsaparilla,
Frtp&rxd by Dr. J.C. Ay»r k Co., Lo«r«n, Macs,
l'clco El; Six boUiMt IS*
UtllrfwrjKJ’*
iblcr 1 * iuteuileil.
know.*'
ix questioned respecting hix big
“Ami how old lx he?”
Sudden ( Iraiigt * or Wenther arc productive
of Tluool liw.w. Coughs, Voids etc. There is no
more c.1t vtuai relief in ihi«c «lLesv» ta be found
tbtu in the un- of Btowx's F1»om !iul Tr-k :ikv
Price S rent v
Hnnnicutt’s Rheumatic Cure!
h. r, c.
The s Greatest Known Rem
edy for
RHEUMATISM!
I T IS PCRELY VEGETABLE, AHD EFFECTS A
permanent cure Incaaesof twenty years'staiiding.
A GREAT BLOOD PURIFIER
Addrest, for Treatise and testimonials,
J. M. HUNXICUTT A CO., Ptop’ra.
Atlanta, Qtu
Price-AO cents « bottle. For sale by Druggists.
Jsnifiwsm
DANGER SIGNAL.
When a perron fives yon counterfeit money he
perretrate* a crime Bgzlnit the law and your pecu
niary interest*, but when he fires you au inferior
and dangemux medicine iu the place of one of no-
ufacturcr and the buyer, and the buyers will soon
drop away from a counterfeited medicine that they
find worthier. Manufacturers of counterfeit arti
cle* foil because they have not the experience and
apparatus of the lam manufacturer to produce the
same curative results. The lari© manufacturer*
hare tlic ittnao*4 Incentive, while they are protected,
tonuike their medicine as perfect and curative as
vKr example, take the experience of fifmraons
Mver Regulator, prepared by J. II. Zellin A Oo., of
rhiladclnhia. Their firm has devoted years of time.
pendtd a large amount of money in bringfiif it to
the attention of the people, and its uw has made
Kimmotu' Hirer Regulator widely popular. In order
to make money from the great reputation gained by
Mm menu' Liver Regulator, to draciva the unwary
iuto buy ing their inferior goods.
Fkbn vsdina. Nassau Co., Fla.
I have urod Dr.Kimmons' Liver Regu
lator aud always found it to do what is
ciaiuivd for it. The last bottle and two
package* did me nogund and were woera
Hum nothing. I k-c it U t^ot put up by J.
II. Zeilin A. Co . end not genuine, and a
waste of money to buy it. I would be
glad to get the pure and genuine. Seed
me tome from bone*t hand* (with red Z
and Zeilin A Go.'* signature on wrapper).
The Oct it foils stuff sold will Injure rouse
one badly. Br.xj. T. Ricir.
The genuine Simmons’ Liver Regulator has be
come the Faultless Family Medicine, ami has the
indorronwntof the thousuulx who hare used (L
If yw want Mutaou*' Liver Regulator see that the
Peterkin Cotton Seed,
FORTY PER CENT OF NET LINT,
ft PEN GROWING. PROLIFIC t’PLAXD COT
(J ton, yield. abundanUF. betrat tigj
than other mtr. large bolls, envy to gather Ki
wed well lintel, rtanle eqttol to best ttpUndj S
I.orc to l.aoo pounds yields soo pounMs SSf
Matty excellent phratere hare saltUtis the '
ONLY REALLY IMPROVED COTTON,
letter- from nearly every southern state retort
tiitlforntly In favor of every rlaim msae r.tr thl;
reed,many over 10 per cent of lint, none lelsihoi
SEND FOK THE CIHCULAIt
tsriWwfipaissas 84 ^
r.“L j - A - rctcrk "‘ aud “*35
TARE NO OTHER.
Price, (1.00 per bushel.
1. H. ALEXANDER.
General Agent for Ceorila and all Points West
nii 1 *' 7°,?,"E p i r . mori ' distant points, agencies
will be establlsned In some principal cities Tn the
revera! states, of which notice will bo "iveti o-t at,
plication. 1
Mention this paper. cleciT sunt: wl y!t
KAFFIR CORN.
The seed grown by Dr. J. If. Watkins, or Camp,
ell county Georgia: price Sl.'r, ikt potimE hS,
Ireclloits for planting accompany ench nick.
je. By mail, [tost pnid, 1 pound S1.42,}dpmmd
»cents. “
GARDEN AND FIELD SEEDS,
jilting dtritabk^*btrth ftgj
list ou application. J. H. ALEXANDER
Seed store, AuguKta.(>a
Mention this paper. JanT-suifit wkvst
Seeds—1B86,
NEW SEEDS
i This season. Among them
Kafllr Corn,
Hilo M:tUc,
, . . Teosintee
I and other valuable forage plants,
[Peterkias and other prolate
| Cotton Seed,
Grasses,
Clovers,
Fortllison,
I GhemicaU for Composting, otc.,
I etc.
I Bond for clrcalars and price
tllstaj ast oat.
Mark W. Johnson&Co.
ST Marietta St.,
Mcminn ,hlstaU? ntU> ' £!%!&'
Mention thLx papor.
JsnW—wkyftc o w
Troup Gounty in tbe Lead.
T HAVE ABOUT 75 BUSHELS OF MY IMPROVED
J. cotton t-ccd from the “Fifteen bfUcxraixed oa
five acres,” the premium crop of Georgia, au i the
largest crop ever known. Price, per bushel.
The cash must accompany order*. Scud all order*
to J. G. Truitt & Go., la Graneo. Ga.
GEORGE W. TRUITT.
Mention this paper.
wk 2t
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ALL AIIOUT
JOHNSON GRA.SS
AND’
TEXAS BLUE GRASS,
| Send to Hcadqusrtors for Pamphlet. Addrevx
HBRUEKT POST.
Selma, Dallas County. Ala.
Mention this paper. Jaall-wkylt
lahv!i:st SEED HOUSE
flBHBIAM,Ki«Dsoi'BHM
SEEDSiPUNTS
T. W. WOOD & SONS,
Wbolsssle aad BataU Sj.Jimsn, Btchmond, V*.
■ Mention thb, paper.Jante-wkyOtn
Reduce the Coat of Your Crop I
THE LAMAR COTTON CHOPPER.
S K'TKTiTnitttV
A’cbS:-®—PLANTWi
Bmp]
inte°E? bight acre* aday with one mule. Ltfhft
iple, strung, thoroughly efficient and Terr cheap.
Guaranteed to Do The Work I
mS£i.‘. th *i5!f£J? ,ecu r' h. 8end for Illustrated
‘ggafflsfe. BU)Dt, i3».
DRUNKENNESS
'"^‘neaueea perfect care has followed. It
J .The system once impregnated with
WaBgS&g
SCR»?TI0HS fn
r •^riKNUBaf 1IRAI.TII’’ for
jareot Ciervou. DeWiily, Lore Mso*
Dsspoodeacy.fte. A ropy of isfsbqph
« sent free.scaled. Addrew dC'IHNCK
EALT1I, U1W. gisth. te.Cixreaoau. 0.
oprt—dAwkyty Un sot toe
I/ADIESl ...
The form beamlftilly end [tetmanently developed.
The face, shoulders, limbs, etc., all made to her.
nsonisc. Flesh Increased or > *
pounds a month. The skin 1
white. Wrinkles, pitting*, fr ,
bleck heeds, scare and mperttnons
MADAME LATOCB,
21«t Lexington Are.. K. Y. CUr.
We urge onr reader* whoa they answer
advertisement* to natation that they saw
Id tho Ceastitnlioo. This will help all
INDISTINCT print