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TREASURER HARDEMAN
AN INTERVIEW UPON THE LEADING
ISSUES OF THE DAT.
Ho Thinks the People Will Demand the Re
demption of Platform Pledges Upon
the State Bank Question, Etc.
In some states there are some favored
sons who seem to be parenuially popular.
They have the rare gift of intuitive sympa
thy with the genuine currents of feeling
and preference among the people anti adapt
ing themselves to this instinctive justice,
walk continnually in the sunshine of sue-
No more conspicuous example of this happy
class can be found in Georgia than the
universally known gentleman whose name
heads this article and whose familiar fea
tures adorn it.
lie is the Hon. Robert U. Hardeman,
treasurer of the state of Georgia, whose
office in the state capitol is a center, not alone
of commonwealth finances, but of agreea
ble companionship to thousands of Georgians
who come and go about the great building
year in and year out.
A Notable Family Name.
Colonel Hardeman comes from one of
the famous families of Georgia. It has pro
duced men who have illustrated the brains
’ (' vl 111 fl 1
w\ Ww,\ 'i '
HON. ROBERT U. HARDEMAN. OF NEWTON.
ind patriotism of the native Georgia Ameri
can in nearly every line of public and pro
gressive endeavor. Some of the best men
who ever planted and gathered in Georgia,
following the first divine and always digni
fied pursuit of agriculture, were men who
bore the name of Hardeman. Among those
who have for generations followed and flour
ished in the walks of the distinctive commer
ces of the south, none have been more
notable for skill, success and integrity than
tile llardemans. In law they have borne
off the honors of the fields of jurisprudem e
with the power and enthusiasm of Templar
knights, in legislation they have been
accomplished and progressive from county
commissions to the congressional halls <>l
the old and new unions. In public service,
whether eleemosynary or philanthropic or
patriotic or by preferment through the pop
ular ballot, the llardemans have always
been faithful, able and equal to the demands
of their day.
The women of this excellent heredity
have been equally noble in traits and dis
tinguished iu their stations. In school they
have shown as brightening stars; in social
life they have won the crowns of queenly
and unquestioned womanhood; iu domestic
* circles they have exhibted the practical
wisdom of their lineage and proven rivals of
Cornelia in bringing forth jeweled sons for
peaceful life ami the mother of the Grac
chi in producing soldier spirits for the fields
of war. In circles of higher moving the
semi-official functions ensuing upon the
stations of their liege lords in state and na
tional capitals, the women of the Hardeman
blood have been marked for beauty, grace
and culture and the sweet suavity <d noble
character. It is easy to verify these charac
terizations in any of the elect circles of the
state and any of those regions where the
family branches have been planted, taken
hold and grown to be factors of force and
fame.
The Man Hi inset t.
“Uncle Hob” is the Georgian’s most unc
tions sobriquet for Colonel Hardeman.
Whether the comer into his office be one of
the polished and sartorially symmetrical
statesmen from tile southern cities or a
crude, tinselvTiged ( ‘mcinnatus from the Cai
okee provinces, both hail him with a hearty
slap upon his broad shoulders and call him
‘Uncle Hob.” Ami he likes it. He is a
sort of daysman between the clay plodder
of the I‘iedumnt escarpment and the sand
plunger of the pelagic escarpment. W tin
him it is noblesse obloge either way. He is
a man of large, rotund physique, yet so
proportioned as to make a figure recalling
the ante-bellum days of strong men of gen
erous diet and consequent self-advertisement.
He is not yet gray enough to be called old,
but lie shows the maturity of Lis years with
grace and vigor. Genial always as a Geor
gia summer day, he glows with good nature,
insists upon the abandon of good fellow
ship and makes you love him and feel glad
of the chance. In wit he has few superiors
in the state. His fund of anecdote is simply
without bottom and his faculty for remi
niscences of the richest and most illus
trative type is one to be envied. An hour
in his presence when be cun ‘turn himself
loose,” is bettor than a day at an ‘old set
tlers' meeting” or ten sessions of the Geor
gia Historical Society. In his intercourse
with men of affairs he is business all over
and that with a big "B” whose insistence
gets immediate recognition. Among t.ie peo
ple he is an adept in the arts of phasing,
making the humblest auditor about him feel
that “Uncle Bob” is one of the common
folks himself and nothing precious to any
one of them is foreign to him. In the cir
cle of his friends and at home he is the
center of admiration and the magnet ot a
confiding, charming love.
A Little History-
Colonel Hardeman was born in the city
of Macon in 1838. ami is now fifty-five
years old. When his years of preparation
were passed he went to Emory college,
at Oxford, to complete his education. He
was a diligent and faithful student under
the famous I)r. Means an<l latpr un<b*r
President Thomas. lie graduated in the
class of ISSS with such men as Atticus
G. Haygood, now a bishop of the Methodist
Episcopal church, south: I. S. Hopkins,
now president of the Georgia School of
Technologv; John IV. Heidt, now presid
ing elder‘of the North Atlanta district;
W. T. Kevill, now editor of The Meriweth
er Vindicator —and others of scarcely less
distinction. After leaving college he mer
chandised for two years in Covington, but
when the day’ of decision had come to
Georgia and she called upon her sons to
stand with her against her northern ene
mies, Mr. Hardeman responded promptly.
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: ATLANTA. GA.. TUESDAY, MAY 9,1893.
He joined the Second Georgia battalion,
under the leadership of his famous brother.
Colonel Thojnas Hardeman, and went to
Virginia. Later on, upon the organization
of the Forty-fifth Georgia regiment, he
was transferred to it and served continu
ously therein until the close of the war, un
der the command of Colonel Thomas .T.
Simmons, now one of the justices of the
supreme court of the suite.
After the war Colonel Hardeman re
turned to Macon anil kept the books oE_the
extensive business of the celebrated firm
of Hardeman A Sparks. Bitt in IR7C> he
was called to Atlanta to become general
liookkeeper in the office of Comptroller Gen
eral Goldsmith. lie continued under the
administration of Comptroller General
Wright. until 1884, when be was nomi
nated for state treasurer and elected by a
splendid majority, since repeated at each
election to date.
Colonel Hardeman is a marvel of mem
ory, figures and details of the state’s finan
cial affairs and in the office of treasurer has
proven himself one of the most capable
and efficient servants the commonwealth
has ever bad. Ile resides in Oxford, the
seat, of his alma mater in Newton county,
and goes thither every evening, returning
on the morning train. He lives in a cosy,
ample homo just as one enters the village,
anti about him spread over a hundred acres
of fine land, from which he reaps the
rewards of judicious farming. He has in
his family his wife and two children —three
other children, two sons and a daughter—
beipg happily married and established for
themselves.
Colonel Hardeman is one of the most
stalwart Jeffersonian, dyed-in-the-wool
democrats of the state, an acknowledged
power in polities, and hence his views bear
the weight of close observations and strong;,
true-principled thinking.
Vgiiat. I!<» thinks of Tilings.
1 found him spread out, as it were, over
a ponderous ledger upon an ample table
in front of him yesterday, and beguiled
him into talking.
“Colonel, what do you think of the so
called panic m New York?”
“1 wish it. would break every one of the
fellows concerned in the speculative rings
up there. It is an engineered scheme of
one sei of gamblers to freeze out and clean
out the opposing crowd.”
“Will it have any visible and immediate
effects here in the south?"
“I do not think it will have any effect
upon the business of the south that can
be appreciated. It may affect a few stock
but they are so few and far
between, and generally such small opera
tors, that gain or loss with them, makes
very little difference to the general business
of the south.”
“What caused the grand and lofty tum
bling. anyhow?”
“Oh. I think it is simply’ a panic among
the stock brokers who have it in their pow
er to make or unmake each other by jug
gling the marie i prices of securities? But
al the bottom of the whole situation and
the tiling that makes all such schemes pos
sible is the fact <>f the government tam
pering with the finances of the country.
So long as that is the policy of the republic
it lies in the power of the goldbugs and
money controllers to produce stringencies
and panics at their pleasure.”
The Government Should Haiidn Off!
“What do you mean by saying that the
government policy is wrong?”
“I mean that the federal government
should hands off from the business of
making a money that is distinctively, a
national, or government, money. I do not
believe it was the purpose of the fathers
of the republic, nor is it the spirit of the
constitution, that the general government
should set itself up as the chief banking in
stitution of the country and farm out the
money privileges of the people to select
corporations. If 1 read the sacred docu
ment according to strict democratic inter
pretation. the government ought to have
no more to do with money’ than to fix the
values of coins and stamp those values
upon the same when run from the official
mint. The remainder of the money’ busi
ness of this republic should be left to the
states to regulate under systems of proper
and protective legal restrictions. The idea
of this government controlling the curren
cy. trying to regulate its volume and go
ing into the markets to buy money, or the
metals out of which it is to be made, gmd
swapping its bonds while it is solvent to
get gold to keep up its alleged standard,
is all the most dismal travesty’ upon the
popular idea of what this government
should be.”
“You think the result of that temporary
policy will always be to repeat disturbed
financial conditions?”
“Certainly! Don’t you see that they
come as often as the money sharks want
to make a great sweep of values ami scoop
profits. They’ are the controllers of the
government’s basis for money’ and not. the
governmenit itself, and hence they can
squeeze the government whenever they see
it straitened in the treasury and. force
bonds, which .are tlmir shackles by- which
they* hold aii.v government to their demands.
It is a plain case of gigantic pawn-broker
age with the government as the applicant
at the counter.”
I’epeai the Ten Per Cent. Tax.
“As a measure toward stopping that
state of affairs, would you favor repealing
the tax on state bank issues?”
"I am absolutely’ in favor of the re
peal of the 10 per cent tax on the
issues of slate banks. The democratic
part declared for that and did right to do
so. for in that lies tiie solution of the finan
cial poverties of the south and west. We
need a local ami ample currency’ in these
sections. We can be and ought to be in
dependent of Wall street ami the east.
But as it is there is a small and wealthy
region dominating the finances.of the whole
country and that purely- by reason of the
wrong "financial system of the government.”
“Do you think we could get up an ab
solutely’ safe state banking system here in
G eorgia ?*’
“There could be an absolutely safe ami
adequate banking system established in
Georgia that would give our people all the
relief they could expect from an ample
supply of money easily accessible to their
just and proper demands. And talking
about state banks being safe—do you know
how many state banks failed in Georgia
prior to 1860?”
“No. How many were there?”
“I can remember the number from 1836
to 1861). If there were any before then—
-1836 —l do not recall them. But during
those twenty-four years there were but four
bank failures in Georgia—the Bank of
Darien, the Manufacturers' bank at Colum
bus, the Bank of Ringgold at Dalton and
the old Monroe Railroad bank. That.ought
to settle this talk about ‘wild cat' banks
in Georgia—for that is wild cal talk.
Under the General Law.
“How would would realizedsOS:
“How would you plan for the organiza
tion of such state banks?”
“We should have a general law under
which they could be chartered, as we now
charter other fiduciary institutions of
equal importance, and put the banks under
a system of regulation, reports, inspections
and other protective rules that would guar
antee their safety and solvency to the gen
eral public.”
“Could the creditors, in your judgment,
be as well protected, in the event of a
failure, as they now are under the national
bauktng law?’
“Belter, I think. The state could so
establish the system as to take charge, by
her proper officers, of the assets and stop
all scrambling litigation over them, giving
time to save all moneys from being frit
tered away, absorbed in fees for attorneys
and receiverships, and give protection and
payment to all creditors alike. The national
banking law only protects the bill holders;
and all others must take pot luck as the
assets may be realized. lam sure we could
get a better system than that here in Geor
gia. It is silly to talk of all the financial
brains in the country being in the heads of
John Sherman and his crowd. Their brains
are busy with finances for their own pur
poses and the sooner we get rid of them
and their schemes, the better it wiil be for
the people of the country.”
We Have Ample Assets.
“But do you think there are free as
sets enough in Georgia ready to go into
banking to give us the needed volume ot
local currency?”
“I know there are more than ample
free assets for the purpose. The banking
system under the general government is
based on the wrong idea—that, is, upon the
sole idea of the integrity of the government
itself. The basis of the banks is the
government bond, but a United States gov
ernment bond cannot be sued upon, because
the United States government is a sover
eignty. Hence, the only security beneath
the system is the pure honor of the party
in charge of the government. It is the
same, practically, with the bonds of the
state of Georgia. But, on the other hand,
suppose the basis were, in part, here in
this city, a bond of the city of Atlanta. 1
contend that is one of the best, securities
possible, for you can sue the city upon it
and every house, store, rail and shingle m
the city is bound for the payment of it.
That is a valuable security as long as the
city stands, and especially so in the ease
of Atlanta where you cannot run a debt,
beyond 7 per cent of the taxable property
valuation. I only give you that sugges
tion as a pointer showing that there are
plenty of live, collectable assets in the
country, for all banking needs in every
locality, if the intelligence of the people
could get together and formulate a proper
bill. Our home bonds are as good, 1
think, to issue money on here at home,
as they are to borrow other people’s money
on in New York, Boston and Europe. Be
sides, such a use of them would make a
home market for our” securities and We
would not be dependent on Wall street
and have a heavy financial balance always
against us.”
He Favor# Freo Coinage.
“What do think about the free coinage of
silver?”
•“lam in favor of it. Silver has been
ii money metal from the patriarchal times
and most of the dealings of mankind have
been in that metal as a measure of ex
changes. Even Judas did not sell Christ
for thirty pieces of gold—his pay was in
silver. We must get rid of the idea that
commercial values must determine the
money values between gold and silver alto
gether. It is the purchasing power and
circulating value per consequence of either
that must determine their relations. 'Hie
constitution of the United States recognizes
silver and gold as coinage money metals
and their purchasing power under free
conditions should alone detrmlne their ra
tio o? coinage in a great" and independent
country like this. We are a. silver pro
ducing nation, but if we permit gold own
ing countries to determine the money value
of our silver product we shall always be
financial serfs to them and rank as a sec
ond rate and dependent financial power.
Such a position for a country of our vast
resources and 70,000,000 of people is the
political absurdity of the age?’
]No Silver Delude PcaaibJe.
“You do not fear, then, that free coin
age of silver would flood us with the silver
of the world and cause us to be at the
mercy of the gold standard countries?'’
■’The glaring absurdity of that argument
is apparent when we remember that we pro
duce 40 per cent of the silver of the earth;
that Europe’s only silver is her silver mon
ey, and that we put 11.34 more grains of
silver into a dollar than that required by
the European standard, and hence Europe’s
silver money circulating at Lome at 100
cents would recoin in our free mint at less
than 77 cents. The world's annual product
of gold is about $100,000,000, but so much is
used in the arts and dentistry as to leave
probably less than $20,000,000 available for
the world’s supply of money. The world’s
annual supply of silver is about 121,000,000
ounces, with a billion people of the earth
anxious to use it. It is a fact that if we
should absorb in this country alone the en
tire annual product of the silver mines of
the world it would require ten years, with
our increasing population, to increase our
per capita .to SBO, the equal of France’s,
the strongest financial country on the globe.
I have here some statistics. Listen to them.
Os the world’s entire population 160.809,-
000 have the single gold standard. Coun
tries having a population of 831,750,000
have the single silver standard, and coun
tries having a population of 214,222,000
have the double standard of gold and stiver.
This shows that one billion, seventy-five
million, nine hundred odd thousand of the
world’s population have either the single
silver standard of money or the double
standard of gold and silver. In the face of
these figures are the enemies of silver able
to maintain their assertions that gold is
the money of commerce? When there is an
unlimited use of silver as a money metal,
then its commercial value becomes its coin
value of necessity?”
“Then, you stand for the full and free bi
metallic basis as it stood before silver was
degraded ?”
“I am in favor of the broader basis of bi
metallism as defined and fixed In the con
stitution of the country. The democratic
party is pledged to it, and if she does not
enact if, y am afraid she will smell ‘brinjer’
in the next appeal to the people.”
The Chicago Platform.
“Just there, since you have said something
about the democratic platform, what do
you think should be the party’s policy with
regard to Those pledges?”
"They should be carried out to the letter
ami made into Jaw. Those promises in the
Chicago platform are so many solemn
pledges to the people and they were the
only things in the wide world that we won
tile election upon. We promised the peo
ple that every single jot and tittle of those
pledges would be carried out if the demo
cratic party succeeded in getting the presi
dent ami both branches of congress. Now,
if there shall be an endeavor to interpret the
platform differently dr to go back on any
part of it. the people will not stand it.
They v. ill demand a rigid carrying out of
those promises. We laid the whole bad
conditou if the country to the republicans
and said that we had never had both
branches of congress, and the president for
thirty odd years. We told them that if
they would deliver the government over to
us wo would right all those republican mis
doings. Their bill of rights, the people de
cided. was enunciated in the democratic
platform, and for us now to evade our prom
ises and go back on the popular expectations
will be the sheerest folly that, could possi
bly happen to the party.”
Down with the High Tariff.
“How about the tariff reform plank?
What is your idea as to it?”
“The tariff should be reduced as much as
possibly can he done and yet raise the rev
enue from thut source required by the treas
ury. An income tax will reduce the amount
to be exacted from customs very materially
and righteously. The people look to us to
keep our promise that the tariff shall be for
revenue only, notjor protection.. Every one
of our speakers on every stump from Maine
to California took up Mr. Cleveland’s fa
mous tariff reform message and told the peo
ple that the party's policy would be to re
form the tariff to a revenue basis purely.
In other words, would be levied upon lux
uries to flip extent of the revenue required
and taken off those things necessary for the
comfort of the people. The masses demand
the redemption of that pledge and that the
tariff shall no longer protect men and in
dustries that they may make high prices
and unrighteous fortunes from the poor.’
'turn the IfascHlN Ont!
"Had you seen the mention that Mr. Cleve
land has turned out fewer republican office
holders to date than Harrison had of demo
crats at a corresponding date four years
ago? How ylo you stand ou the removal
question?”
“I think he ought to turn out the last
mother's sou of them. He should wipe out
the republican regime without hesitation.
There is no use talking about running a
government policy unless we have men ope
rating it who are in perfect unison with the
party responsible for it. Harrison did right
to turn the demograts out and now Mr.
Cleveland ought To turn every one of the
republicans out as fast as he can find goo 1,
reliable democrats to take their places. 1
am one who thinks the democratic party
able to furnish competent men for all the
offices without so much delay and red
tape botheration about it.”
Some state Issues.
“Do you think that the state convict
lease question will bob up in the general
assembly this fall?”
“ No. It will probably be held back until
time cornea to make arrangements for
the disposal of the convicts when the lease
expires in 1899. The people, however, have
made up their minds that something better
must be inaugurated in place of the pres
ent system. lam in favor of putting them
on public works, roadmaking, etc.”
“How about the schools and the demand
of the teaeliers for payment quarterly?”
“Public education is one of the most im
portant subjects now before the people.
They are determined to have it and more of
it. I have been trying to get the legislature
to make arrangements to pay the teachers
by the quarter. I think the next general
assembly will provide some way Jo do so.
11 will require the raising of $350,000 for
one year only. When the fund is once es
tablished, then it. will continue to be pos
sible to pay the salaries per quarter without
further extra levies. There is no more
justice in asking the tqaehers to teach our
children and Wait twelve months for their
nay than to ask me to wait twelve months
for my salary.”
Colonel Hardeman, in further conversa
tion. reported the finances of the state in
admirable condition. As bank examiner,
he found the banks showing more reserves
than twelve months ago, less bad paper and
a smaller volume of loans —the latter because
the people are living more closely at home
and asking less help from the banks.
Building and loan associations are all in
good condition and few mortgages are be
ing withdrawn for foreclosure.
So closed one of the most entertaining
and instructive interviews of my journal
istic experience. 8. AV. S.
Bright’# Disease of the Kidneys.
"Will Pe-rn-na cure Bright’s disease of the
Kidneys? The best answer to Ibis ques
tion that can be made is the testimony of
the thousands of patients Who have been
cured by it. A single demonstration of a
fact is worth many theories concerning it.
The following letter is a specimen of what
we are receiving from this class of patients:
“Gilmer, Tex., July 18, 1891: The Pe-ru
na Drug Manufacturing Company, Colum
bus, O. —Gents: As my medicine has done
me so much good, I thought I would write
to yon and tell you about it, you can
publish it if you want to. 1 bought
eighteen bottles of Pe-ru-na and Man-a-lin.
1 had Bright’s disease and gravel. I owe
my life to Pe-ru-na ami Man-a-lin. 1 would
not. have lived u month longer if it had not
been for your medicine. Yours truly,
"ii. g. McCullough.”
AU persons desiring further details as
to the above cure, are requested to write
Mr. McCollough, who will cheerfully
answer all letters of inquiry. There is no
form of kidney or urinary disease for which
Pe-ru-na is not a reliable remedy. Gravel,
catarrh of the bladder, diabetes, pain or
weakness in the back or hips, dropsy, puf
finess of the face or feet, smarting scalding,
or scantiness are all curable by Pe-ru-na.
This remedy can be obtained at most drug
stores. In all cases where there is also
constipation or irregularity of the bowels,
Man-a-lin should be taken in additon to Pe
ru-na.
A new publication on diseases of the kid
neys and all kindred ailments sent free by
The Pe-ru-na Drug Manufacturing Com
pany, Columbus, O.
LOSS AT LOUISVILLE.
Thirty-live Buildings Burned Their Last
Tueaidny Night.
Louisville, Ky., May 3.—A fire broke out
inthe Power building a great six-story
structure ou Third street near Green, short
ly before midnight, destroyed and damaged
thirty-live buildings, causing a loss vs be
tween $300,000 ami $400,000.
The plant of the Louisville Steam and
Electric Motor Power Company, is one of
the largest plants in the country and space
in it is rented to small and large manufac
turers. The fire broke out in the depart
ment of the power company ou the fourth
floor, but tiie origin is unknown. The big
building was soon ablaze on every floor and
soon fell in, crushing adjoining buildings
and also the office of The Christian Observ
er across the street.
The fire then spread east to an alley and
then to Green street. The huge livery sta
ble of E. 1. Everson & Co., caught next,
and here was a battle royal with, twenty
fire companies at work.
At 1 o’clock the flames were under con
trol. but still dangerous. Roofs were ablaze
for blocks around, and the office building of
the Louisville Water Company, with valu
able books and papers seemed doomed, but
was saved after hard work. Two fireman,
one named Kessler, the other name un
known, were injured by a falling wall, and
Aerial truck No. 5 smashed to splinters.
The offices of the Frankfort Lottery Com
pany were damaged by water. With the
exception of the power building the struc
tures destroyed and damaged were two and
three stories high and were not very valu
able. The greatest losses are;
Louisville Steam and Electric Motor Pow
er Company, building and plant, $150,000,
insurance $65,000; Ryan, painter, $10,000:
Louisville Lithograph Company, $20,000.
and the tenants of the power building,
whose losses aggregated $175,000. In
surance unknown.
A Childrens’ Ilonm Burned.
Burlington, Vt., May 3.—The home for
destitute children.’ two miles south of this
city, was burned last night. The inmates,
seventy-one children, were all rescued. The
building was a four-story brick, with ad li
tmus supposed to be fireproof. Loss about
$50,000.
General Capers Elected Assistant Bishop.
Charleston, S. C., May 4.—The election
for the Episcopacy in the diocesan conven
tion today turned our contrary to expecta
tions to be almost entirely one sided.
General Ellison Capers, the new assist
ant bishop of the diocese, was born in
Charleston and is a son of the late Bishop
Capers. He received his early education
at the Methodist high school at Cokesbury
in Abbeville county. He was graduated
from the Citadel academy in November.
1857, and after his graduation he accepted
the position of assistant instructor at
the Citadel.
U A nr ITCHING FILES known by moisture
Mll yr like perspiration, cause intense itching
when warm. This form and BLIND,
Yflll BLEEDING or PROTBUDING BILES
! UU YIKI.Ii ATONI'E TO
DR - bo-san-xo’s pile remedy,
lyU / which acta directly on parte affected,
" absorb# tumors, allay a itch inc.efteoting
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nov-wly top col nrm or fol rm
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years, and our Spiral Springs are warranted for 12 years. We are
° recognized manufacturers for the above organizations. Examine our
V dlsnlay at the World’s Fair, in Chicago. Ths only mannfac
-1 in the world that sell their entire output direct to the consumer.
W’ AtijANCE carriage CO.3,SS: r a 0.
A BRAVE JUDGE
WHOM MISSISSIPPI WHITE CAPS
COULD NOT DULLDCSE.
One Hundred at the Court House Demanding
Bail foa Their Crowd—The Militia Call
ed Out—Trouble is Expected.
Jackson, Miss., May 4.—(Special.)—From
a gentleman who was present at the court
house' at Brookhaven today it is learned that
ti railroad case was being tried, when the
judge looked, out and saw a mob of 100
white caps, armed with guns and pistols, ap
pear and surround the courthouse.
Judge Chrisman left the room and went
down to talk with them.
Thp leader, pistol in hand, confronted him.
Allien the judge ordered him arrested a
shotgun was leveled on him and the white
caps exclaimed: "Die, sir!”
The judge answered: “I know you, sir;
you are a criminal.”
Guns and pistols were presented and it
looked us if the brave judge would be rid
dled. Judge Chrisman fearlessly denounced
them and ordered their arrest.
In the meantime the remainder of the
crowd who had remained in th ecourthouse
began coming out but could not get through
the line formed by the white caps.
Finally Judge Chrisman broke through
the line, rushed over to the town, which is
a quarter of a mile from the courthouse,
rang rhe fire bell, formed a posse of twenty
five armed citizens and came back.
The while caps retired upon their appear
ance, They stopped in the woods two miles
from town and an attack is apprehended
tonight, but the governor is there with a
military company and if they come will give
them a warm reception.
The indicted white caps are in jail and
will remain unless the officers are over
powered, whoeh now seems impossible.
The complaint of the white caps is that
there was no warrant in law for denying
their indicted comrades bail. They are in
dicted for arson, which is not bailable in
this state, when the building fired is in
habited by human beings.
This afternoon a military company of
seventy-five men was organized. and
Sheriff McNair swore in forty deputies out
of the company and armed them with the
rilles to do duty during this term of court
and longer, if required.
Doubtless, the grand jury will find indict
ments against the leaders. Judge Chris
man has the support of the best element
of the country, and will enforce the law to
the utmost extent. The good citizens of
the county are aroused, and publicly de
nounce the action of the sympathizers of
the prisoners. Everything is quiet tonight,
and we do not fear any more trouble. The
prisoners will be tried next Monday, ami on
flint day Governor Stone will address the
citizens of the county. Public notice has
been sent out to that effect.
Monday’s Trial.
Jackson, Miss., May 5. —Governor Stone.
Adjutant General Henry and Secretary of
State Gavon returned from Brookhaven last
night and report the town quiet. The forty
needle guns and 1,000 rounds of ammuni
tion, which they took down with them yes
terday, were left there for use by the
forty special deputies who have been sworn
in to guard the court and jail and if another
attempt is made to rescue the prisoners
the orders are to use the guns. Governor
Stone will return to Brookhaven Monday
next, the day set for the trial, and is de
termined to protect the peace and dignity
of the state and stamp out white capping
of such lawless and infamous proceedings.
He will address the people before court
convenes on Monday.
’Twas a Crowd of Toughs.
The mob was composed of as tough an
element as could well be found in the state
and it is more than probable the deputies
sent out to make arrests will meet with re
sistance.
The specific charge against these outlaws
is that they set fire to the houses of negroes
whom they desired to run out of the county.
The section that, they came f ■ tn has always
been regarded as lawless a was the ren
dezvous of the deserters Iron, he confederate
army during the war.
(Doift become constipated. Take Beech
am’s Pills.
A BREAK FOR LIBERTY.
Desperate Attempt of Convicts at Cole City
to Get Away.
Cole City, Ga., May 4.—(Special.)—Ten
of the most desperate convicts in the Cole
City camp made a daring attempt to escape
this morning, and. but lor the bravery and
coolness of the guards, would, in all proba
bility, have succeeded. The gang was led
by a desperate negro named Johnson, who
was sent up from Fulton county for a
long term for burglary, and who was
severely, if not mortally, wounded in the
figiit. lii some way, the convicts secured
some old gaspipe which they converted into
guns by plugging up one end securely.
A fuse was substituted for a trigger, ana
tlje guns were loaded with anything that
was calculated to kill. This morning,
when the convicts were being moved to the
works, the ten who had the dangerous
weapons suddenly made a break, and.
when called upon to halt, fired. The break
was sudden and unexpected, and, but for
the coolness and bravery of the guards,
would have been successful. The guards
returned the fire, and, after several shots,
the convicts were subdued. In the fight
Johnson and four or five other convicts
were wounded, and it is thought Johnson s
wounds will result in his death. Two of
the guards were hurt, ,<>ntt of them quite
badly. The convicts were subdued, and in
telligence of the affair was sent to the
governor.
Five Were Shot.
'rhe excitement at Cole City over the at
tempt of the convicts to escape died out very
quickly. Ten of the most desperate men in
the camp laid their plans carefully to get
away, but did not quite succeed. they
were armed, and for a few minutes the bat
tle was hot but the guards had superior
arms and the convicts were imprisoned tn
a mine and there was nothing for them to
do but to surrender or be starved out.
AAmiarns may die. He is from Decatur
county ami was sent up for life for mur
<l* The others fared as follows:
.7. T. Roquemore, white, rape; sent from
Houston county for twenty years, slightly
on the nose by the explosion of his own
J. F. T>pLaugliloi\ an express
from Savannah, escaped without a wound.
John R. I’i-nll, of Washington county,
was shot through the thigh and was slight
ly wounded in the left hand.
‘ Sam Merritt was shot through the arm
but not seriously hurt. He is colored and
from Decatur county, and is in for twenty
years for burglary.
John I’ittman, colored, was shot through
the shoulder and arm; not seriously wound
ed. Ho 1s in from Spalding county" Tor
twentv-threo years for burglary.
T. M. Swain, white; Wilson I’almer,
wWief John "Rutherford and John Griggs,
negroes, escaped without any wounds.
Rutherford and Griggs are both from
Fulton and are serving life terms for mur-
Rutherford was convicted originally of
burglary but was in the riot two years ago
and killed one of the guards. He was
tried and sentenced for life. I’almer’s case
is similar.
Captain Reesse wrote that the excitement
had quieted down and that there would be
no more trouble. Griggs and Rutherford
were bad negroes here. All ten ol the men
are desperate ami are closely watched all
the time. They are the worst in the camp.
The prisoners get powder and dynamite
for blasting purposes. Each convict, is re
quired to get out a certain amount of coal
each day and when his task is finished he
can amuse himself as he pleases for the
rest of the day. Many prisoners are able
to mine their task by 1 or 2 o'clock in the
afternoon and they can do extra work for
which they get extra pay or they can sleep
if they desire. Some of them employ the:r
time in concocting plots to escape and in
digging out. A few months ago several
prisoners dug out and got away.
Ono Convict Dios.
John C. Williams, one of the convicts who
was shot at Cole City Wednesday, is dead.
THE RACING BICYCLISTS.
Durant and Howard Nearing the City of the
World’s Fair.
All day Sunday and throughout the day
Monday the greatest interest was mani
fested in the whereabouts of the two cyc
ling newspaper men. Especially Sunday 1
were the inquiries numerous, but on that!
day nothing could be heard of the two'
men. It seems now that they both left!
Chattanooga Saturday afternoon about
1:40 o’clock together and side by side pull
ed for the mountains of Tennessee.
About noon Monday Howard wired his
paper that ho had given Durant the shake
about midnight and that he was then on
his way to Nashville, where he would ar
rive about 4 o’clock in the afternoon. In
his message there was something of a boast
that he had given Durant, the shake and
that Durant was probably lost in the moun
tains of Tennessee and that he would r.ev*
er be able to find his way into Nashvilie.
Throughout the telegram there was a vein
of an idea of victory and many of Howard's
friends began to feel sorry fom-Durant.
But Durant, was not only able to take care
of himself, but ]ie was able to pick up
the trail hours after Howard had made it
and follow it and pass the man who had
been in the saddle s> long. Durant has shown
himself not only the swiftest man of the
two. but he has shown himself to baa
man of more endurance than Howard.
Mr. Durant’s Messaete.
Nashville, Tenn., May I.—(Special.)
Reached here tonight nt <8:10 o’clock, after
making 100 miles since morning. Am in
good condition to repeat the mileage tomor
row and as my Columbia has stood ilie racket
over the mountains witiruu a single mishap.
Was caught in a teriflic thunder storm at)
Beach Grove, about noon, and had to ride
through streams which covered my wheel
to the saddle. When I struck the pike road
I covered ten miles in less than "5 minutes.
From now on the race will be hot.
DURANT.
A Dispatch from Howard.
Nashville, Tenn., May I.—(Special.)
Reached here at 9:02 o’clock. Found Durant
here. 1 came from Pelham, making eighty
live miles. Thunder storm made the roads
bad. WALTHR HOWARD.
Will Work One Hundred Miles a Day.
Gillatin. Tenn., .May 2. -(Special.! A heavy
rain storm delayed me Jn Nashville until 4
o’clock this afternoon. I arrived here at dark
and wiil put up for the uiglit. Howard left.
Nashville at the Same time and we sleep in
tiie same hotel tonight. He has developed
into >t wonderfully fast rider on smooth roads,
but I will get away from him tomorrow or
break a trace. W<‘ are both bound for Louis
ville. as the pikes lead that route.
Wilile waiting on the rain in Nashvilla
l iutd my ('o!tiinl>i:t overhauled and cleaned for
for scorching, ami will turn a century tomor
row if the weather and roads hold good.
E. M. DURANT.
Howard wired his paper Tuesday.
Hainesville, Tenn., May 2.—Off into Ken
tucky in good trim. It still keeps raining,
ibe roads arc bad.
WALTEB HOWARD.
.Hainesville is near the state line be
tween Tennessee and Kentucky.
Where They Were Thursday.
New Haven, Ky.. May 4. -(S]>ocial.)—l am
passing through this place ar. o o'clock en
route to Louisville. 1 do not know whether
I will get there tonight or not. Last nigha
1 slept in the country, not in reach of a
telegraph office. 1 have only made forty-five
miles so far today, us the roads are very bud.
IL M. DURANT.
Durant’s Latest Message to His Friends.
Louisville, Ky., May 5, 1:20 a. m.—Just
arrived here, after making a night run of
forty-nine miles. Late this afternoon I was
thrown into a rail fence and was delayed
sopie time. The Model 32 was equal to tba
rail fence, however, and after some repair
work brought me en all right. Since morning
I have covered 110 miles
E. M. DURANT.
Mr. Howard’s Telegrams.
Scottsville. Ky.. May 3.—Arrived in Scotts
ville at 1:30 o'clock. Durant and I were
unable to leave Nashville until yesterday
afternoon on account of heavy rain in the
morning. We arrived in Gallatin last night.
1 think we have taken separate routes, but
liotli are making tor Louisville.
WALTER HOWARD.
In Glasgow, Ky.
Glasgow, Ky., Mar 4.—1 am just leaving
this place at 6 o'clock, headed for Louisville.
103 miles. I will not stop till I got there. I
came seventy-two miles yesterday through al
most n blizzard with a heavy coat buttoned
close about me. The route led through a
country off railroads and the roads were very
muddy and very rugh.
I did not hear of Durant. In many places
there were no foot-logs over the creeks anj
I was compelled to ride through them, being
thoroughly drenched.
Lower Kentucky’s roads are worse than
Georgia’s, and that is saying a great <leal.
My wheel is standing up splendidly and
I rim in excellent spirit for over a hundred
mile run t< d ly . WALTER HOWARD.
On to Indianapolis.
Here is Mr. Durant’s dispatch from Sellersburg f
Sellersburg, Ind., May s.—Heavy rain,
began falling early this morning, delayed me in
Louisville until f> o’lock this afternoon, when I
made a bee line for this place. I will put up hero
for the night and get an early start for Indianap
olis tomorrow, too miles distant. Yesterday I
made a desperate effort to get out of reach of
Howard, but when I came down stairs this morn
ing 1 found him registered. Tiie roads in this
part of tiie country are not as good as 1 anticipa
ted, and making time requires the most persist
ent and strenuous exertion. E. M. DusaAl.
Riding Through Indiana. o
The cycle riders are now rolling through
he Hoosier state.
After leaving Sellersburg, Ind., Durant
pulled over jlie mountains and began hit,
ting the gri,t for Indianapolis, The day was
not the best and neither were the roads, but
The plucky wheelman kept his gait ans
with a thought of nothing but Indianapolis
drove his wheel over the road l.ast nighe
he yas in Columbus, Ind., a town abouK
forty miles from Indianapolis, and wired
back that be would sleep in the big town of
the state that night or not sleep at all
During the day he had more trouble with'
his wheel than he has had since the r ice
began, ami bitt for that would have been in
Indianapolis for late supper. But here i--
Ins telegram:
Columbus, Tnil., May 6.—(Special)—Am
passing through this place at .8 o’clock Vv>>
keep on until I reach Indianapolis Mv c"
lumbia hose-pipe tire brought me safeiv
the ragged t umborlands and throu-di i
worst roads that ever disfigured a
but it remained for a beer bottle to pat-iivV
niy wheel by cutting a two-inch pum-tiir.
Alter I reached level country todav 1 <■■
!J’’, getting the tube in shape'for -fr
Ing. but have been making slow time ~n "
count, of the aeeident. Will wire at lndk :l '
•>Pol>s M 1 reach there in time before M
“gbt- DURAM
Howard was heard from at 2 o’cloak Sst B
day afternoon and was then seventv
from Indianapolis. In the message F
Howard he said:
Crothersville, Ind., May G—Am
through the Hoosier state, indianap'
seventy miles ahead. 1
I will not stop until I get there. Rain *]
repairs have caused us SOIUe delay ?' 4
making good time now ami feeline' u
WALTER IIOW>’
9