The Atlanta constitution. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, January 19, 1886, Image 10

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'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