Newspaper Page Text
XIX.
ATLANTA. GA., TUESDAY. AUGUST 9, 1887.
PRICE FIVE 'CENTS.-
mEfw op
The Golden Dawn of Civilization's Fairer
Day.
Written for The Conititution.
The son of the nineteenth century had
icatcely risen above the log banks of supersti
tion and old traditions. It was the dawn of
the brightest of all the centuries that hare ever
glorified the earth. The unbroken forests still
covered the hills of the mid-country, stretch
ing away on every hand until thoy met the
purple horizon line that marks the limit of
mortal vision. Tho earth was in its virgin
imrity—an unsullied bride—welcoming with
open anus the bridegroom, Civilization, who
came bounding over the bills to claim bis own.
It was scented Maytnne—the time of mating
birds; of bursting buds, aud the unfolding of
K leaves—the time of lov© and joy and
ul promise. It was a good omen. Meet
It was that this month, of all the twelve, should
be chosen for the drawing up of a treaty of
peace, and the exchanging of assurances of
eternal amnesty and unfaltering friendship.
Tho Ocmulgee fields were green and splash*
ed with many a brilliant hue of blooming flow
ers. The little lake fed by the crystal waters
of New Hope spring, shone like a mirror un
der a sky that resembled the mingled tints of
the gorgeous pansy blossom.
On its margin leafy oaks and rough coated
elms roso upward, bowing and nodding to ev
ery wayward breeze. Close down by tho wa
ter’s edge, where the pond lillies grew, the
yellow-green Williams trailed their drooping
bouglis in the rippling wavelets.
On a rising ground at a little distance from
this fairy nook was a level plateau, with mossy
'banks around it. and the dolicate odor of
•crushed violets filled it with perfume.
Here the great men of tho Creeks, or “Red
•Sticks," os they were frequently termed, as
sembled to meet tho wise men sent by the
Great Father at Washington to treat with
them.
The names of the one are lost in oblivion;
tho names of the others will live os long as
These were General James Wilkinson, Colo-
Bua jviiuruw iivnuus, Ui ovuiu vwumm, ih
high commissioners appointed bv the president
of the United States to treat with tho cliiofs of
tho Red Sticks.
On May 25th these commissioners arrived in
the vicinity of the town, and received a mess
age of welcome from the chiefs, and a request
that they wait till tho next day lor the grand
and formal reception.
Refreshed by restful slumber, the hardy com
missioners, well accustomed to life in the for
est, arose from their pallots of straw and ate
their breakfast by the smoking embers of a
campfire. This was tho only sort of hostolrle
the land afforded them.
At tho appointed hour next morning the
commissioners advanced with slow and digni
fied steps to tho meeting place. Formed on
. tho plain that stretched away toward the river,
the cliiofs and mighty men of all tho powelral
tribes of Crooks from tho mountains to the
Okecfenokoe, and from tho Oconee to tho
rivers of Alabama, formed In procession, ar
rayed in their holiday attire, with nodding
plumes on their haughty heads and barbaric
ornaments on thoir brawny limbs.
. Each bore in hfs hand the plumes of on
•agle, and assembled in a. hall circle wero a
largo body of men and women of the tribes,
'Who joined in the wild music, to which they
kept lively step aa they advanced toward tho
white men.
oitedeacL . , ,
plumes, and after the dance was concluded
thoy pointed General Wilkinson to a seat es
illy prepared for him, behind which they
dug a pit and sot up a willow wand
ped of its oark, boside it. These were the
had dug
••tripped of its . r ,-=— 0 s
.grave of hostility and the unsullied emblem of
■^Tfce head chief whose name was Efaw
Hanjce, “Lord of the River/’ brought forward
a boa* and arrows stained a brilliant scrimson,
With the root of the golden bloomed dye flower,
and broko them all in twain and cast them into
the pit. Frosh earth was thrown upon the
broken emblems of war and a doer skin dressed
as soft as velvet and bleached as white as
snow, was laid upon tho pit as a covering.
• The chiefs then advanced, each bearing a
White deer skin, with which the brows of tlieir
Visitors were wiped, mid then tho skins were
laid upou a log, on which tho chieftains seated
-themselves.
Then arose the Lord of the River and deliv
ered his speech of welcome: “We come this
flay while the sun is undimmed by clouds and
the blue of the sky untarnished by a breath of
mist, to meet our friends, our brothers, and
•our fathers, to take them by tho hand, nnd
welcome thorn to the wigwams of the Red
•Sticks. It is ss our forefathers have done since
time begun. We have dug a grave at the foot
Of your great chief and therein have wo buried
Gib sharp weapons of cruel war, which were
placed in our hands in olden time, and which
par fathers wielded to conquer our enemies.
With soft, white skins of the doerhavo we
ooshioned your scats that you might be highly
honored among us. And now wo oiler you the
crowning emblem, the pipe of peace."
It was thus that the conVentien met, and
thus it continued for forty days.
The camp of the white men was kept well
supplied with the fattest of shad, the juiciest
venison all the best things that the land
•afforded.
The lot crop of com that the red men ever
planted on the historic Ocmulgee fields was
* I ?SgotiaUoS»M , T , ait import won being car-
rled on among these representatives of two
mighty races. The final result was the cession
of all the rich territory lying between the
Oconee and Ocmulgee, excepting a tract of
land a league in width by two in length ex
tending from the baso of the bills
.along the. old Ocmulgee fields to
the designated point. This waa
bold to for the purpose of a trading ground,
nnd also for the advantage of the fine ahad
flailing in this pert of tho stream. The Creeks
agreed that the white men should build
a fort and establish a factory on the reserved
*•«, Idea was due to Colonel Benjamin
Hawkins's watchfulness, and it is to this inci
dent the birth of the city of Macon may be
attributed#
No doubt when this worthy statesman and
-diplomat reclined on his chair of state tho
he wrote in his report in glowing terms, of the
beautiea and facilities of this point, and its
adaptability os the site of a factory and trading
post.
President Jefferson was taken with the idea,
and the war department authorized Colonel
Hawkins to select the site for the buildings.
The site was already selected, and that lofty
eminence, witli the broad, level plateau on its
summit had probably been surveyed time and
time again by his kindling vision.
It is passing strange that he, the founder,
the godfather, and the man for whom the
post was named, never commanded or gov
erned it, nor ever resided, except as a transient
visitor, within its walls.
His was a life of usefulness and dying he be
queathed to posterity an honored name, and ~
long record of distinguished services.
His early history is a little obeoure. He was
a colonel in tho war of independence, and snoh
wero his scrvices^liat he'enjoyed the friendship
and confidence of General Washington. After
tho war he was one of theeaTly senators elected
to the United States congress from North Car
olina.
In 1785 he was a commisionor with Andrew
Pickens, Joseph Martin and Lochlan McIn
tosh, to treat with the Creek Indians, and the
famous Golphinton treaty which made the
Creek Indians citizens of the state of Georgia,
was negotiated by him.
gni
he gazed on tile majestic hill that arose to the
•north in primeval grandeur, he thought what
• glorious site for a fortress which would com
mand the passages of the hills and the fording
place at the river, as well os the broad sweep
of level lands at its base.
• He peopled these fertile bottoms with
•worthy slaves, toiling among fields of com
and cotton, tobacco, rice and other products of
civilized cultivation.
On the hills beyond the river he erected
funny »p castle, ond the homes of wealthy
Disinters and the storehouses of princely mer-
chanU lined the terr.v e-1 ike hills that rose so
folly from the river. In his dreams be
hear the faint echoes of the sonorous
_ h bell or the clamor of schoobchihlreu at
'/isdr«amshave n £cn fulfilled In e degree
the Crooks under the control of the
government, and these conflicting treaties
caused President Washington to appoint Sen
ator Hawkins, of North Carolina, Clvmcr, of
Pennsylvania, and Pickens, of South Caro
lina, to adjust matters.
Such wore tho character of his able services
that he was appointed agent for Indian affairs
south of tho Ohio in 1801. His name figured
in numerous treaties and negotiations after
ward, and he seems to hare enjoyed the confi
dence and good will of the red i
much as the respect and esteem
friends.
After thirty years of active life on the fron
tier, in 1810 lie resigned his position and re
tired to his plantation at the Indian agency,
on Flint river, whore he spent his few remain
ing days in honored peace and quietude.
On Juno 16, 1816, the founder of Macon
passed away, leaving to his suocessors the task
of completing what ho had begun.
Unfortunately many of his most valuable
papers, letters and manuscript notes were con
sumed in the flames that destroyed his house
at tho agency soon after.
We have now corner to the point whero tho
comer stone of the third great town that has
arose and flourished on this historic ground
was laid.
Possibly it Is more than the third. Perhaps
the mysterious mound builders had a groat and
~ inlous city horo. Who shall say ? But this
lie third that the annals of history have pre
served.
Macon, Ge. 0 _
Saw a Huge Meteor Fall.
From the Galt, Cal, Gazette.
Dr. T. V. Goodspcod, a resident practitioner
of this place, reports that on.yesterday morning
about2 o'clock, as ho was returning home from a
sick call In tho country, lio wltncs ol ono of the
strangest phenomenal sights ever witnessed here.
About a mile and a half mmiIIi of Galt lie witnessed
the All of a huge meteor. Tho transient luminous
body dropped from above like a streak of lighting.
Bo rapid was tho fall that the doctor was flnnblo
to locato tho direction or course of tho me
teor. Ho says that tho very earth trembled when
tho strange body lighted on terra Anna. Tho
meteor shot into a large slough on tho ranch
of J. B Furnish. Tho doctor was scarcely a quarter
ofamilo distant. Hoi was driving down the hill
directly touth of the slough. "It was a grand sight,"
tho doctor says, '‘although almost Instantaneous."
Tho water splaslioda hundred fret high, aud when
tho spray had cleared away the slough seemed to
bubble and sizzle as if a quntlty of molten metal
had been poured into it. A quantity of steam or
vapor waa produced that befogged tho slough. The
morning was very bright, however, and the doctor
says: "Aftorthe slough cleared off a little 1 could
perceive a yellowish vapor emitting from the wator
where tho meteor fell. The wind waa blowli
toward me, and smelled as If imprognati
with somo foreign substance, sot unlike the
smell of sulphur, and was very disagreeable."
Many pooplc, curious to see the aerolite, have via*
ltod tho slough. Tho meteoric stone lies about in
the center of tho pond, and from Its position wo
should think that it was shot in from a northeaster
ly direction. About six fret of the stone Is visible
above the water. It la Impossible to estimate the
size of it on account of the marshy nature of tho
slough. It looks as if It were wedge shape, about 100
feet wide, and there is no telling Its length. The part
of the ncrollto visible above water is of a dark gray-
It h color, with a scaly, uneven surfree. In the
water in the slough noar tho stono is to be seen a
brownish-blue scum, often noticed in certain mineral
springs. Tho slough was literally alive with catfish,
but they were all killed and are now to be seen by
tho thousands floating in tho water, and upon ex
amination thoy wore found to be parboiled. The
water in t >c slough mint have attained a boiling
temperature, judging from the condltlou of the dead
Ash.
Xar beyond hia wildest imaginings. hostilities
k 00 enthusiastic did tho Pioneer become that [ was over.
THE TERMS GRANT GATE.
In tbe August Century is printed for the
first time a letter by General Grant on the
above topic, from which tiie following is an
extract: Genoral Pemberton, being a northern
man commanding a southern army, was not
at the satno liberty to surrender an army that a
man of southern birth would be. In adversity
or defeat he bccamo an object of auspiclon.
and felt it. Bowen was a southern man all
over, and knew the garrison at Vicksburg had
to surrender or be captured, and know it was
best to stop further effusion of blood by sur
rendering. He did all he could to bring about
tliat result.
Pemberton is mistaken in several points. It
was Bowcu that proposed that he and A. J.
Smith should talk over tho matter of the sur
render and submit their views. Neither Pem
berton nor I objected; but we were not willing
to commit ourselves to accepting such terms
as they might propose. In a short time those
officers rAuroud. Bowen acted os a spokes
man. What he said was substantial
ly this: The confederate army was
to be permitted to march out with
the honors of war, carrying with them their
arms, colors and field batteries. The national
troopa were then to march in and occupy the
city, and retain the siege guns, small *
in the hands of tbe men, ail public
remaining. Of course I rejected the
once. I did agree, however, before we sepa
rated, to write Pemberton what terms I would
give. The correspondence is public and speaks
for itself. I held no council of war.
Hostilities haring ceased, officers and men
soon became acquainted with the reason why.
Curiosity led officers of rank—most all the gen
eral officers—to visit my headquarters with the
hope of getting some news. I talked with
them renr freely about the meeting between
General Pemberton and myself, our corres
pondence, etc. But in nosense was it a coun
cil of war. I was very glad to give the garri
son of Vicksburg the terms I did.
There was a cartel in existence at
that time which required either party to ex
change or parole all prisoners either at Vicks
burg or at a point on the James river within
ten days after capture, or aa soon thereafter as
practicable. This would have used all the
transportation {re had for a month. The men
had behaved so well that I did not want to
humiliate them. I believed that consideration
for their feelings would make them less
dangerous foes (luring the continuance of
bostlli *" *
BY WALLCE P. REED.
For Tbe Constitution.
We were lost in the heart of Costa Rica t
There were six of us in the party, all young
fellows with little or no experience, and when
wo realized our situation wo were in despair.
When we started out from the coast it seem
ed to us that it would be a regular ftolio to
, spend a couple of weeks among the mountains
In the interior. At the end of that time the
brig Pacific would bo ready to depart, and’ we
could then resume our journey to San Ftan-
cisco.
Tho captain of the vessel endeavored to dis
suade us.
“Tho nativos are not likely to bother yon,”
he said, “but very little is known of tho coun
try beyond the mountains. Strange taleshavo
reached my ears, and although I am os fond of
adventure as anybody, the trip would not suit
Wo were well
“It is all right," I told the captain, “with
proper caution there will be no danger. Wo
may moke valuable discoveries and become
famous as explorers. It is time to unveil tho
secrets of this wonderful laud, and it is non
sense to be frightened off by a few sailors'
^Tho captain shook his head and said no
more. Wo completed our preparations for the
trip, and early one morning started off in the
highest spirits.
When the discovery was made, after wo
had been camping out for about a week, that
we had lost our way it appeared to muddloour
heads. . .
Various attempts wore made tohend towards
tho coast, but in every instance we wero com
pelled to return disheartened and uncertain as
to our course.
Tho few natives encountered in our wander
ings wero unlike those along the soaboard.
They wero light colored, handsome and active,
and flod at our approach, refusing to hold any
communication with us. .
Ono evening we camped on the borders of a
lovely lako under the shadow of a frowning
mountain. .
“There is somotlring queer about that moun
tain," remarked Walpole, the only sailor in
ueerV’ I replied captiously. “Everything
is queer in this peculiar land. What is it
about the mountain that strikes you?"
“While I have been resting here," said
Walpolo, who was lazily reclining on the grass,
“I have been using my eyes. The mountain
is as steop on this side as tho face of a stono
wall. If it Is that way all around the top must
bo inaccessible." ■
“Well," I answered, “who wants to climb to
"I do, for one," responded Walpole. “Tho
luminous cloud or vapor around tho summit
and reaching down the sides is a straugo thing.
Just watch it for a moment."
Hooked upward at tho precipitous
rock. Tho cloud was stationary, and Mkod
ro like steam than anything else. «
Occasionally," said my companion, •
birds fly out of tho cloud, and after circlini
about for nwhilo they always return. Tncn, if
my cars do not deceive mo, nnd thoy are keen
ones, I chn distinguish various voices all
coming from the direction of the cloud."
“Why, man, you are losing your senses," I
interrupted. * * T If the summit is inaccessible
what can there bo up there to mako a noise?"
“Birds at least/ 1 said the sailor with a
smile, “I can swear to seeing tho birds. I
don’t know what olso maybe up there, but
several times in tho last half hour I havo
heard the clang of metal, and tho sound of
human voices."
“Ho is right," said Hinton, another mem
ber of our party, “I havo hoard the saino
sounds, but I didn’t like to mention it."
“Why not explore a little?" I suggested in*
differently. .
To my surprise everybody agreed. The men
were tired roving about aimlessly with disap
pointment at every turn. They were ready for
—^ (or a change.
_ morning two men started in one di
rection around the base of the mountain, wliilo
two went in the other. Their plan was to pro
ceed until they met, and then return'together.
I remained with one man at the camp. Qth*
era might Investigate Mount Mystery, as we
lied it, but I foil too fatigued for such a
/alpole reached tho
edge of the white cloud or mist. Alto “ *
wo lost sight of him.
How far was he from the summit after he
entered the cloud? Would he be able to pro
ceed? Would ho return alive?
We asked each other these questions as wo
wafted for the result.
It wns perhaps an hour after we had lost
sight ogWalpolo that we heard a cracking,
grinding noise.
We looked at the mountain, and toouruu*
uttornble horror saw great fragments of gran
ite falling over the mountain side, carrying
with them tho the last vestigo of the steps by
which our poor friend had ascended I
Tho debris rattled down into the lake, leav
ing the wall perfectly upright and evou, with-
“■ ~ ' jtion to which anyone
P ^Vo spent one moro night of anxiety aiul
•uspeiuo at tho foot of Mount Mystery.
Thor, was absolutely no hop. of ever scolng
our lost companion again, but ire could not
tear ourselves from the place.
For the last time that night iro heard the
ringing songs and the triumphant music In the
cloud. It scorned wilder, louder, more oxalt-
tuit than before.
"They are rejoicing,” said Hinton, “over
the capture or death of Walpolo.”
I did not doubt it. It was not likely that
theoa strange dwellers In the air would spare
ono from the earth bolow who found his way
Into tlithr midst.
Thotmnult on tho mountain lasted until
daybreak. Thera was nothing to bo gained by
delaying out departure, and It was with a sense
of relief that wo marchodoff, hoping this time
to retch tho coast.
It would be tiresome to relato tho story of
our trials. Wo made our way to tho llttlo port
where tho brig awaited us, and told the cap
tain all about the treglo adventure at Mount
dreaded something of the kind,” said (he
old man. “Da you know that the mountain
lias figured in onr sea stories for moro than a
century? I do not belioTe in anything super
natural, but I hollars that it any explorers
ever reach tho top of Mount Mystory they will
find a tribe of peoplo who with their ances
tors have been cat oil from tho rest of the
world for hundreds of years. As for poor
Walpole it does not matter whether ho Is liv
ing or dead. Ho Is dead to tho world. Ho
will nover get out of that big white cloud and
find his way down to the plains below.”
So wo called away in tlio Paolfio, and
from that day to this I have never hesrd
fort.
During the day we lounged abont and
'ouit-' ’ -■ *“
watehe?tlie cloul-wrappcd phenomenon bo-
foro as. Mora than once I heard a clatter ap
parently In the upper air, and once or twlco I
was tare that 1 heard voices. Evidently
Mount Mystory was a good name for this freak
of uaturo.
Into in the afternoon onr comrades returned.
Thoy bad walked all day, covering many
miles, and they had learned nothing oxcept
that the mountain presented tho same perpen
dicular wall-ilko appearance all the way
around. *
■At one place,” said Hinton, “we saw a tol-
_ __ rock. So there Is water u|
there, and It may bo that the whole surface
productive and Inhabited.”
“Vou forget,” I objected, “that it Is Impo
ible for any living thing
impoM
oxcept a bird to got
‘Of courso I don’t attempt to explain it,”
jd Walpole, “but it is possible that ages ago
the mountain sloped down, at least on one side.
Ulitfes, and better citizens after tbe war
up there.
“Of co
said Walpole,
the mountain » ..
An carthqnake or landslip may havo left It In
" present condition, with a wholo tribo of
..jple stranded there among tho clouds. I
oa\ say that is so, but that msy he the way
of it.” ,
Eight canto upon us again, and ws were glad
to rest.
"What Is that? 1
Hinton was standing over me pointing to
the mountain. I was wide awoke In a mo
ment and listened intently.
High above the earth I heard voices singing
what seemed to be a barbaric chant. Mingled
with the voices I could hear the clash and
sonorous peal of musical Instruments.
“Wliat do yoa say now?” asked Walpole,
coming up.
Every man in tho camp was awakened, and
wo spent tlio greater part of tho night listening
to the marvellous concert in the clouds.
The dawn of day found us looking at each
other with pale faces and anxious eyes.
“Shall we break camp and movor’ I asked.
“Yes, tomorrow,” replied Walpole. “Give
mo one more day. I have found out some
thing this morning that may lead to a great
discovery. Down there by the lako there is
what appears to be a streakof moss running in
azig rag fashion np the mountain. Well,
that moss fringes and partially conceals some-
like a rough hewn, or perhaps a natural
of narrow steps winding around up the
tain. I am confident tliat a sailor like my
self could manage to ascend a considerable dis
tance, and I am going to try it.”
We raised a unanimous protest, but Wal
polo was obstinate.
"I will take off my shoe.,” he .aid, “and by
crawling on my handa and knees, and hugging
the face of the rock it will be aafe.”
Thera was no way of talking him out of the
notion, and aa he could climb like a cat we fin
ally agreed to let him try it.
It waa slow work after the brave fellow had
got fairly alerted and we watched him In
breath lent suspense. He crawled at a snail-
like pace, never looking down, bat keeping hi*
eye. fixed oa tome point above.
Two or three of the men made a
terrible effort to follow him, bat woo bed to
retrace their step*. The pathway woe so uar-
JEM HASTINGS’ DUCK.
I From the Alta Californio.
An antiquated Individual, droned In oxcood-
ingly shabby clothes, and with a gray lilrsult
appendage tohtschin that would have made an
ambitious boat of tho nmlo persuasion foci de
cidedly onvlous, nml.ledinto the rooms of the
state mining bureau yesterday. It.. Immediate
ly began io inspect tho varieties of ores ana
ndnoraJi on exhibition there as If lie was an
officer regularly appointed by tho stato for that
purpose. His ndvont upon tho scone was soon
made apparent by a series of guttural sound!
which he omitted at Intervals of fire seconds,
At last thoso sounds culminated In a prolonged j
“Howlin’ snakes!”
He nos standing before some particularly]
fino specimens of gold quarts.
“Is'pueothey call-that gold,” he snorted,
addressing a mock little man who stood beside
him.
Tho meek little man nodded assent. .
I "Wagh,” with another snort, tilts tlraoIndi
cative of disgust. “O'they call them speci
mens el '49? Bay, I don't reckon you wetej
man, thoughtfully.
“Of eonrse you never knowed Jem Hosi
then; me aud hi.
Talk of gold. bV
them ere chunks
i meek
me aud him rail tba bar In the early Sue.
.1 gold. Why we wouldn't troublo 'bout
are chunks of gildod rock. Wo lied the
lump# of solid metal Khlg os your hand.
Where d'yo e'nose our mlno was?”
"Give It up,” was the laconic reply.
"Bight In the middle of Mudlien lake, and
•twos tur'ble deep down, too."
Tire mock little man began to show signs of
interest, and Inquired how thoy got tho aurt-
loygot t
__ /depths.
the anefont ono with a
whar our genius came In.
"Ah,” pursued
mckle, "that’s whar our cenlu
You SCO, Jeff owned, big duck. It's name was
Buster. We discovered tbe mine In this way.
OaedayBasterwaedlvbig and havln'aroyal
time In the water, and after lie had been sport
in'about this way for'bout an lionr, woseo'd
lilmawlmmln’ to shore with somethin' shiny In
his beak. Cuss mo If 'twasn’t a nugget of gold
'Bab,' says Jem, 'onr fortnuo's made.’ He took
Buster and petted him and gave him a solid
meal of cold grub. Wal, that kinder encour
aged tlio bird, and soon as he hed stuffed him
self, Blister Jest went out on that ere lake agin
and begun diving end bringlu' up tho gold at a
great rate. Ye kin Jest hang me with a pick-
handle If Boater in tlio course of the next
two hours didn’t work like a Digger Injun
wheu ho gets » flask of whisky, and pile
up a reg'lar heap of llttlo nnggets on tho
shore. Then he got kinder tired, and we took
and the gold to the tent. Wal,” con-
.„.„cil tho ancient narrator, taking a deep
breath, “wo worked Buster for two days, and
yer had hotter b'lleve tliat we had a goodlah
sight of gold. Moro’n twenty-five pounds, I
I guess. Then on ijeo struck Jem. Uccon-
liuled that there were bigger nnggets at tbe
ottom of tbe lake whleh Buster couldn't ban-
die. Bo we rigged np a new scheme. We
threw a big sack Into the lako with a rock In
it, to that It would sink, and with a rope tied to
the top of It. Fuat we showed It to Buster,
anil he quacked as If he knowed Just what It
for, and when we threw it Into the lake
__ _ :er followed. He was ont of sight in a
minute, and stayed under a long time. Next
we seed him poko bis boad np for a minute, as
If to breatbo, and then go down agin. ‘He's
Ailin' up ths sack, sure, says Jem. In'bout
nti hour Buster swam ashore, and cocked his
caught in an undercurrent, or somethin’, end
was drowned, Buster was tiltin' on the shore
watchin' proceedings, an’ when he seed Jem
! o under he Jesgave one agonisin' qneck end
limped in too. He ect'elly committed suicide
or love of Jem. I couldn't get the hag ashore,
so I cut tlio rope off short. I left with what
gold was In the tent, but I lost It In unfortu
nate speculation. Now, what I propose la this:
I know the location of that ’ere lake, end if I
could get tome capitalist, like yoa, for in
stance”—*
"Say,” cried the little man, Indignation get-
ting the better of his habitual meekness, "did
you ever hear of Ananias?"
“Annie Nice?” said the “toogh” customer,
thoughtfully; "she monglit have lived over In
I'oorJShoat's camp, bat I’m danged If there
was a petticoat of that name onr way.”
"Here” cried the diminutive man, again,
take this quarter and go and buy a pamphlet
edition of Baron Munchausen.”
“Tkouter,” mattered the other, accepting
the Silver! •that will do toward organizing an
exploring'pany. But leutme tell you some
thin’ ’boat the childhood day* of Jem edack.”
Bat the little man had vanished, and the
self-styled relic of the deported days of gold
lost no time in following his example.
piI^SJ /IJfD C/ISJ.
By Surge.
Written for The Constitution.
“I remember mighty well,” iwid old man
Plunkot, “tlio first confedomte soldier that was
over buried In Georgia soil and, from all I’ve
been able to find out, I know the last,
Tho old man fixed Ills chair at his favorite
place in tho comer, ond continued
“Folks stirred erround llko they war or fixing
for er big campmoeting frolic when the boys
first begun to volunteer and go erway, and
there warnt no man bat wlmt was loaded down
so with clothos and bed quilts and blankets bnt
what it took holp to git ’em on the train. They
lamed better titan that tliongh ’fore it was
through with, tor it got so pretty soon that all
or fellow wanted was the smallest blanket he
oould git er hold of ■ and er little old frying
pau.”
Tho old man asked for a match, lit Ills pipe,
and thon proceeded:
“I went to Griffin to see some of my nabors
off eriong Just after secession had took placo,
and thorwas as fino or looking company of
nion at tho depot as you ever looked at, and I
just stood erronnd and gazed at ’em and
thought I’d like to bo young and supple my
self, so I could go, and I felt real sorry for tho
ynnkees; for I thought they’d be cleaned from
the face of tho earth.
“Thar was one man In the oompany of sol-
diors what I kuowed’and I knowed his wife,
for he had moved out on Flynt river from
Griffin jost erbont or year before tliat, and had
got startod np and waa er doing woll, and I
likod him, aud ovorybody in the settlement
liked him; but nothing would do but what ho
must go aud take er hand In cleauing out tlio
yankoce, and all h(s little wifo could say to
him couldn't persuddo him outon it. Ho’d
Betty, I’ll be back all right In sixty
day., anil that will ho time omotigh to gather
the crop, and yon can auo to things that long.’
"I’oor Frank 1 ho didn't know what ho was
' talking erbout, and he didn’t know nothing
erbont wliat war was, and nono er tho net of
us didn’t r but that little wife of Frank’,, she
dang to tils arm and leaned her head agin him
and crintl. Just llko something told hot It war
gwlne to bo worso than wo all thought it was,
anil Frank lio'd jnst put hia hand undor her
chin and mako her hold up her Itoud, and say:
” ‘Now, don't cry, Betty; I'll ho hack In or
fow days.’
"And tho train como np and It lookod llko
that little woman's heart would break, but
Frank he Just grabbed her up In Ills arms and
kissed her and jumped er board tlio train and
waa off.
"Frank’, llttlo wlfo went on back to tlieir
homo on tho river, and iho attended to tilings
in the day, Mining erround and humming
little songs, doing pretty woll, but just as noon
as night como on and tho whippoorwills begin
to sing erround slic'd fasten up tho doors aud
' tharaudeqperwhlloaml knit crwhllo
h cry ergln,till ulgli on to.cvn-ynlght I _____
burn up er huff er load of llgbtwood kuols 'fore
she’d go to sleep.
"One ovoiilng I went over to 'Bqufro Adams's
to get thehiail, and Iflflle I was setting In tho
. ’ - fow won], up drlv a fellow In
us whar Frank lived
"we oxpeoted ’em to confiscate everything w»
had—land, niggers nnd all—and thoy could e,
done It just after the surrender and tho,
wouldn’t er been ec tiling straugo thought of
It. Fellows went orbout er.talklng In er whls-
per under hhllng orronnd, till, tine day It got
lurratoj erround that Ben Hill war ergwfii*
S mnko er bigspeech In Atlanta, and tharwat
Hows what walked forty miles to git up that
and hear what he would say erbont things. I
went, but I war scared, for Atlanta war full of
yankeeo, and I didn't know what the fool
things war gwlno to do.
“Ben Hill got np tmd started off with hU
speech, and tlio raid chills fairly run up and
down my backbone for- erwliile, and we'd
squint our oyes erround at the yanks to tee how
they war taking It. and then we’d look at old
Ben, and tliar waru't nothing erbout him that
looked sedrey, to, the first thing you knowod.
follows begin to smile erronnd,and tharhadn't
been no smiling In er good whilo in thl,
country, and tho yanks didn't seem to git mad,
aud pretty soon some er the fellows cheered et
llttlo anil kept one eye on the yanks, till
pretty soen old Bon Hill got warmed up, and
he lit In and it wnni't no time 'fore we didn't
care er dafn whether the ytnkeee liked It er
nqt, and we hain’t cared much erbout yankce*
since; but tbar's no doubt erbout 'em having
us down Just after the surrender, and It wara'i
nothing else In tho srorid but tlint tliar con
script law that hacked us. I did hate
officers.”
1 hate conscript
porch pawing or fow wh
or enrriago, and ho axed
I told him I was orliout ready to go homo, and
that I wont right by Frank's liouso. I got In
tho osrrisgo with him and we started off, when
ho told mo that ho was on or sad errand, " "
bo;
'"Frank's dead!’
“ ‘Jornsalom I’ said I; 'yon don’t say
'"Yes,’ said tho follow. 'Ho was kll . ...
Pensacola last night and will bo brought to
QrilHn today, and I'ye come out to get lils wife
and let her know It.’
“We drive on np the lane and we soon got to
where sre could see Frank’s honse, and out In
er little patch of cotton erround tlio liouso wo
wed his little wife er picking cotton. She jnst
picked cotton erronnd tho house to keep busy
and to keen from thinking erbont Frank.
"She he'rd the oarriago when It ran orcross
the pole bridge 111 the lane, and she straight
ened np and pnt her hand over lior] eyes and
looked at ns, trying to toll who wo war, bat wo
drive In tlio gate and right up toward her
before oho knowed who wo war, and then when
•he recognized the fellow tho begin to smile
anil yon oould see hor white tooth as wo drive
on up, and tho hold on to the cotton in her
apron and come meeting us, end she 'lowed;
“ ‘Well, woll, who would he' thought of w
you out hero I'
The fellow turned is white ae er sheet and
•he noticed ft, and alio axed him what was the
matter, and then It seemed to strike her that
somethin’ was wrong, and gho dropped the
cotton oaten hor apron and ran np cleee to the
fellow and he had to tell her, and if tho look
•ho gave is she fell hack wam't the eaddest I
ever seed iny name’s not Plunket.
...••a.
“Tho burial took place In Griffin. I was
thar, Thoy brought tho corpse In on thetrain—
the engine was draped In crape—everything
drooped in monmlug. Tho atroele were
— of carriage, and hugi
■Ion moved off under the , . —
inarch, and the young military reversed arms,
and everybody uncovered their heads as the
heau '* ' * " * “*
to dh
hat would not have given him up for all the
orldt
e e e e e e e
“It was In 1801 when I seed Frank hurled,"
continued old man Plunket, after a pause. “In
1H8SI went to Griffin, end I had got erqnalnted
with a young Toxlan by the name of Archie,
who liad been In the hospital thar for eomt
time and was still thsr when the yankecs took
posMSsion, end wam't able to go to hts home.
The doctors sll told Mm ho most hsvs sn
operation performed or dlo, end thst the
chances were that hs’d die anyhow. Ths
ynnkees then hail taken possession of every
thing that had belonged to tbe confederate
government, but the’r doctors Joined In with
some of our doctors to do srkst they oould for
this young ToxISn. Tbe operation was begun,
' tut fie was dead before It wee over with end
was tamed over to er ssrgeent to be buried.
One wagon carried the remains to the burial
AS HE HAD LIVED.
M. Quart in Detroit Fret Prcat.
Day has finally brokon, aud there is a roddeiF
ing of tbe eastern sky. Tho faint flashos deep*
on; thopurpli! fades to gold; tho gold turns ta
fire, and thetopmost rim of the sun rises from
the plain and burnishes tlio crags nnd poaks of
tho Powder river mountains ns. if preparing
them for tomples of worship.
Five minutes latter and a great continent U
boamed upon by tlio full sun of a gloriou/
morning in Indian summer.
You hava soon a grand old horse—almost
blind—almost ready to die from old age, rise
from his grassy bod of a summer morning?
Tho mom soomd to put now life Into him.
There is a fire in his eyes as bo flings bis hoad
•bout and snuffs at tho sunshine, nnd for the
moment ho is young and strong again.
So on this mom, from his cump in tlio foot
hills, rises a grand old men, and, ns ho draws
himself up to his full bight and faces tho glo*
rious east, his eyes grow bright, Ids muscles
quiver, and tho strength comes back to every
limb. But it is not for long. Tho sun is scarce
ly a foot abovo tlio plain when tlio tall form
stoops, tlio limbs bogin to weakon, niuljho fire
dies out of tlio oyes and is replaced by a dull
stare.
It Is tlio wreck of a man—a mighty liuntei
and fighter. These plains and mountains and
valleys have been his home for a score of years.
Face—chest—limbs—ovorywliero about him,
are scars of wounds doalt by sarago or beast.
The going down of tbe sun has found him alone j
U VJ jifru dawn of day lias found him solitary. Iireak
man's heart and he turns fnNB tlio world an!
bates vice nnd virtuo alike* ■
Ho is old and his strength bos waned. Peatk
lias boon long In coming, but it has dawned
nigh at last. Tlio chill of death drivos some
men back to tlio world, to die with tender
hands about thorn. Olliers defy the grim mon
ster to tho last, aud thoy die alone, unwept
uncared for.
“It is my last day on earth!" So says ths
grand old man as ho niowly turns on his lieol
to look.about him. Tho vision that could once
discern amoving buffalo half a score of miles
aw ay can now scarcely make out tho rnceod
trees across tho littlo valley. Tho arms which
could havo onco lifted tho most powerful war
rior high in air for a dash to duath, can now
scarcely bring tlio rifle to an aim. Ho lias run
Ids race and his timo has como.
Tho sun climbs up nnd up, and tlie day bursts
forth into full strength. Tho mountains stand
oat with such rttggodiiese and grandness as
nover Wore. Tho valleys and tho liillsideW
nover held tlio suushino as today. Nature Is U
giro the old man a grand funeral.
And the sun climos higher, and it is midday.
And how should ho die—ono whoso summers
and winters—whose months and years—havs
becu passed In tho sunslilno of tlio storils
plains—In tlio shadows of tlio rugged moan*
tains—with the growl of tho grizzly and ths
shout of the red warrior in his ears? Inth|
dreams of the stage mon dio as thoy hare
lived; why not in real life? ,
Tho old man is ready. Rifle in hand—fail
grizzly locks half hidden by bis fur cap—bl|
strength coming book as if he bad been born
again, ho scats liimsolf upon • great rock and
scans the winding valley at bis feet. God give!
him back his sight once more, and no creeping
thing escapes Ills vision. To the right all il
well. To the loft—wait! He half rises fort
bettor look.
Enemies—warriors!
Have they got the word that today !s the old
man’s last Jay on earth, and are thoy to sit la
front and applaud as tho curtain goes down?
It is well. That long rifle has sent morothaq
one warrior to his death. Thst great frame. -
now rapidly westing, bears Ibo scar of bullet
end tomahawk end knife.
A dozen werriore—ft war party bent on rapine
and murder—como galloping swiftly up the
velley. The old fighter growrsyoung in years
es ho watches the advance. The thrill of ex*
cltemont brings tlio blood to his cheek—the
whisper of danger strings ever nerve. Fata
has been kind to h!m;ulie has L red so shall
he die. Would you have tlio berr of a score of
battles die in his bed, alone and unseen, or in
front of his foes, fighting gallantly to ths last,
and hi* death applauded even by those who
•lew him?
Alii thoy have caught ilglit ol him. The
B ant figure outlined against the iky i» a fain-
ir one. It has boon feared for its strength,
listed for the destruction It has wrought. Ks-
oape is out off to the right—to the left—in
front. Tho background la rugged hillside, on
which tho warriors are more at homo than the
.... ThorT.,
the grave end threw tlie dirt upon him. Not*
tear was shed, not a funeral note, but e rough
pern
his ■
bit pistol, h«
Texlsn's grave, seyliig:
“All honor to the dead confederate I”
• ••••••
“Whatever Plunket telle you jroo can de
ni on,” said old man Brown, aa he moved
_ chair around to say a word himself. ,
"Thor wer er let. er difference ’twlxt the
g end the end of this war. If er
./list didn’t wear no stripes on III*
shoulders got any glory oaten this war it war
eriong at first, for tow'nte the end er private
soldier didn't ermonnt to mneh. Thu here
conscript lew did the whole matter of patriot
ism up. Tliar waru't no InthtuUsm after that
conscript business come In, and I can tell yoa
privately that everybody erround here war
Vipped long before the soldiers In the field
,_il down their arms, and there here v«y
stump speeken what's been erround since the
war WX are badly whipped re anybody elre, end
thsr is not er man In the eouthem confederacy
bnt whet knows we've been treated better by
there ben yxnkeee then w. expected."
“I know all erbont it,” continued Brawn;
Make reedy now! The drama of life is neat
. J close. The life and strength which excite,
ment bioaght are beginning to die away. Theit
— - ■ -* r - bH oar.; there U a Uni
shout, come faintly
before hlx eyre; the hands which hold the ride
' with wcaltni M. Death is sweeping up
,.»m— da. Ill M
le with a swift
from tho valley in Us war nj
creeping down from the blllsldi
stepbut invisslble form.
And now tho shouts of tlie warriors are
nearer and louder, and their rlfics are blazing
death at the hunter, and he turns his ftce to
Leaven end ttlcaihi;
“A few lost seconds ofMrragth and sight
and I a*n ready to go!”
They eregfren him. HU ere. clou-hit
form grows erect—ho la the grand old fighte*
once more. Dp comes the riflo-up-up-hls
eye covers the ilghre-the wrepoo U held <es
firm re a reek, end when tlie red flame leap*
oat .chief fling* up hi* arm* and utters hi.
d< The drama ha* ended, and the curtain ha*
gone down. The warriora creep nearer jnd
nearer. They wonder and are my*tllied. They
finally reach the rock to find tbe old man lying
dead, hie tu* upturned to the aun, whore rUlag
will ere Urn no more. There le no blood-no
wound. They gather about him like children
wut e mystery, end they wbliper to each
her:
“It wo* not for n* to *lsy l lm. Tlie Orest
Spirit gave him Us 111*, and the Great Spirit
took it away I”
