Newspaper Page Text
MILLIONS DEPEND
DN THE WEATHER
The South’s Prosperity for
the Coming Year Is In
Danger.
CRISIS OF COTTON CROP
801 l Worm Appears in Texas and Is
Doing Much Injury in Some
Counties—The Showers
Are General Over the
Belt.
The south's prosperity for the next
<welve months is hanging in the balance.
The scales may go up or may go down.
It all depends on the weather. Either too
much rain or too much sunshine will cost
the south millions of dollars. So far as can
be seen now. the rains have not done great
damage to the cotton, but that they have
injured it some in many sections is evi
dent, though no one can tell now what the
Injury has been. In other sections the rain
has been a groat benefit and the crop has
received more help than damage. Again,
in other places there has been no rain .and
the crop is suffering for want of showers.
As the crop appears today, and assuming
that no harm would come to it. but that it
would ripen perfectly, the yield would bo
enormous. Last year’s crop was the largest
ever made. The statistical year does not
end until August Hist and by that time the
receipts will roach very close to 11,250,000
ba Is. so th" cotton authorities say.
The crop which is growing now does not
cover so large an acreage by 2,500,000 acres,
but the yield will 1 so large, according to
present indications, that there will be every
bit as much cotton mad" as there was in
I*l'7. The cron is right now in its most
critic''' „.cge. ]f t„ ...ins continue there,
w’’. be too much weed, and the rust will
ao immense damage on the light gray and
sandy soils. Indeed, reports are coming In
now about rust.
If the rains stop suddenly and the sun
ci n s out hot, the cotton will shed fast
at 1 t vast loss will follow. Over in Texas
th bollworm is hurting the crop badly In
cert tn ;■ "t "ns. It is wor.-e than was < ver
know in some Texas counties. Down In
the sot hvvstern part of Texas tho Mexi
can wee appearing and it is feared
that It will be worse than it has ever been
before.
in Louisiana tho farmers are complaining
of too much rain. In Mississippi the crop
la full of grass, but no very serious damage
has yet resulted.
Colonel R. F. Maddox, Colonel J. AV.
Rucker and their expert, Mr. Nicholson,
said Friday that the outlook indicates
a largo crop, but that no one can tell what
it will be. because of the injury liable to
befall the cotton in tho next sixty days.
"Tho crop may bo cut down 2,000,000 bales,
or even 3,000,000 bales " said Mr. Nicholson.
"Wo cannot tell what the weather is going
to be and the size of the crop depends large-
The Hancock
Rotary Oise Plow
and the
Weekly Constitution
For $45.00.
We imve an arrangement with the South
ern Agricultural Works of Atlanta w’here
bv we can furnish the Hancock Rotary
I'lse Plow, freight prepaid to your own
d'pot. fa - $45. With this offer we give
Thi' Weekly Constitution one year.
We furnish the plow upon the absolute
guarantee of the manufacturers, which we
quote in full:
The Hancock Rotas y £?isc Haw Is
Tha Greatest Flow 3n Earth
For Ira t bn iking black piairie
or red flay lends; for turning und« r corn
or < >tion .-talks, "al or wheat stubble, ber
inu’in d •• Ji-anson -matss there is no
Implement ma mi fa• t uri d which will equal
It. It cuts, fn>ni 12 I" 11 im-hes wide and
from '■ to io jijchcts deep it the will of
th<- user. Jt w.-l bi’-ak up two to three
a. r-’-T a day. and will do it with lighter
draft and pulverize tho ground better than
any <»»■:.« r plow manufactured.
To Get the Best Results
Always k< •;> lie !• crings Well oiled. Keep
all nuts screw'd up tight and keep title disc
sharp. When b’i s is done
We Guarantee
Every Hancock Re'arv- Disc I'low to give
cnt.re satisfaction in any kind of soil or
under any ,■ mditions ami will replace ab
solutely free of charge f. o. b. carts at
Atlanta any part or parts which may
break within twelve months from date of
purchase.
THE SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL WORKS.
ATLANTA, GA.”
!’ow To Got ths Ftow Without
Iha S4&.CO Cash With Order:
Send us ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY
yearly subscribers to The Weekly Consti
tution at $1 each.
Do not retain your commission on these
subscribers, but state witii each order that
it is for your “plow club” and we will both
keep an account of the number and you
will .soon have the plow. Tell your neigh
bors what you are working on and they
will help you out.
We have sold thousands of sewing ma
chines and have hud evjry customer
pleased. This is a case where We are
again bringing the factory and farmer face
to face and we have no fear of tho result.
You will always bless The Constitution for
making you ride a Hancock plow as you
turn and pulverize your land and stir deep
tlie ground that lias never before seen the
light of day.
No time to lose now. Get right at it and
k""i> it up. If you are a farmer you cannot
do without it, and if you are not a farmer
you nted Io make .very farmer buy a
plow and d eible the returns of crops to
bring better times in your community.
Send all orders to
THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION
ly on the weather. Reports from the cotton
belt show that the rains have been general.
In Mississippi Friday, for instance, there
was a heavy rainfall at some points, while
here in Atlanta it was comparatively light.
Our correspondents say that it is hard to
estimate the effects of the rains now, but
if they continue much longer, or if they
stop suddenly and the sun comes out hot,
there will be losses from shedding. An es
timate of the crop made now may miss tho
result by 3,000,000 bales. The Texas crop is
in danger, too, as well as that of the rest
of the country. They have insect pests
which do not trouble us much, and this year
all insect pests have been worse than in
years. If nothing happens to tho crop, it
will be as large as last year's, but the
chances are that it will suffer more or less
injury."
Mr. Nicholson said that there will boa
large amount of old cotton carried over
this year. He picked up a statement from
Augusta which showed that there was
8,000 bales on hand in that city tho
other day, against 750 bales on the same
date last season. Besides, there is more of
the old crop in the country than is usually
found in August.
Tho Constitution’s exchanges received
last week from tho cotton belt contained
many interviews with farmers who talked
despondently. In south Georgia they were
very blue at tho outlook, all saying that
they have had too much rain.
Former Senator Render, of Greenville,
Meriwether county, says that in his sec
tion there has been entirely too much
rain and that cotton is suffering.
A planter front Texas said that tile crop
in his state was promising a rich yield
until the last ten days, when tho rams
and the insects came on. He was afraid
that tlie yield would be largely reduced.
A representative of one of the largest cot
ton buying houses in Atlanta stated
last Friday that he did not believe
tlie crop had suffered materially up
to tho present, but be feared that if tlie.
rains continued a few days more they
would cause much loss.
STREET DUEL IN GREENVILLE.
Alter Emptying- Their Pistols, Wll
- and. Potts Clinch.
Greenville, S. C., August 2. (Special.)—
An exciting pistol duel occurred ibis atter
nootn about 5 o'clock. 'i'ae participants
were James B. Williams and Charley Rotts.
Tlie latter was shot through tlie rignt lung;
the former was not hit.
It seems that I'otts and Williams had
been drinking together and this morning
ih.id words in Simmons's original package
store or restauramt. Tiny made friends,
but this afternoon Botts, with a man mimed
Buggs, went to Simmons's place, where
Williams stays, and tlie. altercation ,was
renewed. Botts started on from Mam
street down Washington, saying he would
get Williams, who told him mot to go. They
were about fifteen feet apart widen the
shooting began, and bou.t advanced. It
was a game light. Each emptied his 32-
caliber revolver, and when the shots were
out. they clinched and pummeied each oth
er over the Ulead witlli the pistols, Wil
liams’s weapon being knocked out of ins
hand.
W lion separated by Policeman McCarroll,
Botts resisted and still fought, but Wil
liams submitted. They both walked to
ward the .police station, but Botts stag
gered and it was seen lie was shot and a
physician was called. Williams is in tlie
station ihou.se ami says (lie shot to save ills
lite. Ho exhibits absolute coolness ami
mattes a clear st.item* nt. Both are men of
tried courage.
Williams, in February, LS'JI, over cards,
shot and killed Major Dixie \v imams, a
prominent lawyer, Hi.-, trial attracted wide
attention and lie was acquitted on ."11-
defense. Botts lives at Butts Cove, near
tin- North Carolina line, where he h is a
store ami farm, lie was formerly a reve
nue oliieer and has had sum- encounters of
note. Botts's eiiames for recovery are
slight.
- «
GOVERNMENT MUST OWN CANAL.
President Will Recommend Money for
the Nicaraguan Water Way.
Washington, August 1. Ex-Senator War
ner Miller, prtsident of the Nicaragua
canal commission, and Senator Morgan, of
Alabama, had a short cunlerenee on the
Nicaragua canal question, with Bnsident
McKinley today. 'L in- pre.-ldeiit, it is said
Ims cxpressid his acquiescence that the
governmental possession of the Nicaragua
canal is now nee s.-ary, and that the war
and its results make the canal indispensa
ble to the I'nitci States.
Tin- president, his callers say, intends to
make strong recommendations to congress
for legislation making immediate provision
for completion of tlhe canal and lor mak
ing it the direct property of the govern
ment. Ex-Senator Miller, discussing the
future of tlie canal, immediately after tlie
conference said;
"Congress at its next session will lie ask
ed provide lor eompli ting the canal and
its acquirement as tile property of the
United States. it lias been necessary to
us all along; it is now imperative, and
there is no doubt as to what, action would
be taken by congress now. The effect
of the war on th" project is a. complete
demonstration of its immen. <• significance
to us, ami with what Vile war lias brought
in its train in adding to our interests in the
Bacilli-, there will lie -peedy action. r i'b.••
canal can be completed in live years and
put into operation as t'ne valuable link be
tween the Atlantic ami the Pacific.”
M’KINLEY INDORSES THE PLAN.
School Children To Raise Funds To
Build a Battleship.
Washington, August 5. W. Rankin Good
and Hurry J. Brice, of Cincinnati. (>., the
two young men who originated the idea of
starting a fund among school children for
tlie purpose of raising money to build a bat
tl ship to be called “Tha American Boy,"
are in the city forwarding their plans.
They have had an interview with Presi
dent McKinley, who gave to them the fol
lowing letter indorsing their ideas:
“Mr. W. Rankin Good. Cincinnati, <>.—My
Dear Sir: The circular which you have pre
sented to me outlining your plan for rais
ing a. fund with which to build and present
to the government a battleship lias, greatly
interested me.
"Love of country and devotion to th" Hag
were neve- more conspicuous in America
than they are today, and 1 am sure our
Loys and girls will deem it a privilege to l>e
numbered among the contributors to th s
patriotic undertaking. A ■ rv sincerely yours,
"WILLIAM M’KINLEY."
Corbett Wants To Meet Fitz.
New York. August 2. Jam ' J. Corbett
today posted $2,5(i0 at the oilice of a min
ing pu|:er for a match with Bob Fitzsim
mons or Jim Jeffries, in the letter author
izing the deposit of money, Corbett says:
"If I defeat McCoy at Buffalo I Shall
expect Fitzsimmons to show a disposition
to make a. match. If lie is unwilling to
do so the $2,5’10 goes for Jeffries, ami if I
defeat Jeffries. I do not see how Fitzsim
mons can decline to meet me."
A Magical Treatment for Men.
This article refers to tlie treatment em
ployed so successfully in the tre.-itm"nt of
nert oils and sexual weakness in me:: by the
rt':.to Midieai Company, of Om ib i.
This ei.irpany is incorporated under the
laws of the state io do and carry on a
medical business and the success which
they a re meeting has alre.ely b -eii too clear
ly demonstrated to require further com
ment in that line.
Fatii-nts seeking treatment from this
company are not ri quir d to ;>ay any money
in adva'nee, but can deposit the amount of
the charges in any reliable bsmk, not to
be paid until a permanent and satisfactory
cure has been effected, or to be refunded
to the patient if they fail to cure.
THE WEEKLY" CONSTITUTION: ATLANTA, GA., MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 1898.
s THE lUNBER OF BOEES IH THE COTTON CHOP SEOSOH OF 1897-93 ;
$5.0Q0 SOLUTION 'i
| BEING SPECIALLY OFFERED FOR MONTHS OF JULY AND f
I AN EXTRAORDINARY OFFER TO CONSTITUTION SUBSCRIBERS! 1
IT IS. READ IT ALL VERY CAREFULLY AND BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE K
W FIRST AWARR Tothesubscriberor subscribers naming ■ SECOND AWARD To the subscriber or subscribers THIRD AW W To the subscriber naming the secon( | X
A the exact number or nC arest to the ox?.ct ( naming the first next nearest we / ;; next nearest we w* ll s ,ve ls the est, “
V number us bales in the cotton crop of 1897-98 we will \ wili give if the estimate is received k mate is received A
$ give if the estimate is received * / During March, 1898 51,590 X During March, 1898 $1,009 A
X During March, 1898 $2,500 « If During April, 1898 | ,250 i If During April, 1898 759 K
If During May or June. .898 1,500 ) If Curing May or June. |B,S |, O OO \ if Dur.ng May or Jull9»8 9 » 600 \
A If During July or August, 1898 L9OQ ' If During July or August, 1898 75Q [ If During July or August, 1898 250 V
I SO, THAT THE MOST WE ARE LIABLE FOR HEREON IS $5,000 iN CASH—|
O X’rk’ri' t? I ”TAT TV T H the EXACT figures are not given during this contest, tlie money will be paid The .mint it to hit it exactly during .’lnly or August, then you have it. In all three of the cases submitted It led
J. IX II I L I*lA‘l ALI J I • ol|t t „ the NEAICKST to THE EX MT Ugures. Somebody will get the tlnctly understood that, should more than one corrector equally correct estimate be tiled in the contest, the amount of tlie
, nol)l .y it doos not emno back to us by any means. prizes so earned will be divided equally among the correct answers. The prizes are ollcre tin cash. There is no “missing wor
Those who solve the problem at the longest range will receive proportionately the highest prizes, as you notice the figures grow In this, no probability for some one to know absolutely the correct answer, but this is brain versus brain, skill versus skill, penot
T less as the time expires and because the number of bales received up to certain dates, as llio time advances, can be known ex- versus pencil, figures versus figures. Everyman Is interested in the cotton crop, the amounted the crop varies the price and
actly, leaving shorter time ami probabilities t-> llgure atalnst. of cotton In our territory Is the barometer of the people’s prosperity.
«ON SUCH A VITAL PROBLEM YOU OUGHT TO M£KE FJGURES*-A
V rp: z-v . J Z-V| Cabtxf wThe estimate is to be made upon the total United State* THE figuresgiven by Latham, Alexander & Co., of New York, are generally received throughout the Southas A
Jh 1 113 VOfllSSl OSes oCpi. 1 otton c foi lS 8 the crop that has already been 1 official, and we give anexact copy from their latest edition of “Cotton Movement and Fluctuations” as follows: V
fax v -n , • / c * « Season. Acres Planted. Bales In Crop. Season. Acres Planted. Balesin Crop Xm
Xx gathered and is now in the country as official figuresol receipts will show it from September I, 1097, to bep- i*,h?-ss J s,!M> I ,S!>7 J,<)-Hl,S3;f 1N!»2-I»3 I s.CO? ,!»’J t <>.?<»(!.3115
tember I 1898. This is not the crop that is to be planted this spring, because the figures thereon will not , ISSM-SSI 1!>,3« J.W73 <>,!»:sb,2!H» lsi»3-«M 11),fib 1,0(10 7,5 lit,si 7
A be obtainable until Sentember 1 1899. It is for the crop already in and marketed, official figures of which isso-’L) a0,171,500 7,311,322 ISO 4-95 21,151,000 0,001,251 v
will he .mnonnc.-.l in S.member i SSOO-Ol 20,500.053 b,052,507 ISOS-00 15,552,000 7,157,310
iC As a guide ior making your estimate we give the official figures lor each of the last ten crops. I'he I ISIH-02 20,711,937 0,035,370 • sHO-9 7 22,311,000 8,757,001
O' conditions under which this last crop was grown and its probable omput are elements ior you to compute from 1 Their figures will bu used in deciding Lins contest.
x and will aid in the correctness of vour present estimate. [ Their Estimate of the Acreage for the Crop of tho Season of 1597-0 His ■:::,3 30,000 Acres.
0■ = >
v-zsr T oorrst" .r. r- Trr>-' Mrv’T I a 'JO P.G TJC ' First—ls tlie prizes offered under the first proposition die awarded for the EXACT estimate upon tho number of
iyj l FOLIOVViNvX Af\L itic C'JxWl i Ui 111 L LUi.llL.sl. boles, the prizes offered under tlie second proposition will b. ;ii" nearest estimate, but it the lirst prizes at" -iven Sjf'
r . v !•’ x REST estimate no one having named .-orri.Jv the exact figures, then the second prize.-, wonk) come in for the semn.l nea.re.st e.cim.ite and tl. i'l'u priz.-s !or tlie tliaal nearest >.su
o, o'.-h 1 1-' mine one should submit , correct ..-liiiiate in om- d.vision ot the time shown above and --om.- om- should send a correct mite m ■ mm; ..: ■: d.v i.-mi tms jast esunrni" w .1
Wl,l‘th second prizes because the first had been previously awarded to some one who named the amount correctly in tho former period rinrd Flic condition pr lent for send- XT
\ an Ito t S he Cotton Crop is that each and every estimate must be aecompanied by a year's subscription to The Weekly Constitution This must be it in th< id mica ipe that a
i n. s u - monev tha nays for tho subscription. You cannot subscribi now an d send yout estimate afterwards; no forgetting it ot lea ng t out by evident or • h
F-’/ brings t. min v tnat pays tor tnei an llmate afterwar d The estimate must come wit, the sub ci ption, ot not at all In sending your <
7* 'i . O - L.-n Os Th.’ Constitution; you make him your agent and not ours in forwarding your estimate, both a.-» to the correctness of the figun - . you intended them and the certalnt of /i
/'V ?> L rdln/o/the esUmate Should a Y party send more than om- estimate, he or she will be entitled ■<< a share of th< prize-fund under which it may . cure apr z. -or each correct < timate sent
fcjr the fo ’J ,/ * rninv tlhws as they .Mub<cr!pt ioius. and under the rules the sum. person may receive a prize with each <>t the three propositions. Huirth In making \"ii; .hi- X
7% 1 t m’iiv- "l --tim'd" the number of bale of <-otton will be ’ Make your figures very plain We will record them ? s received every .lav. ■ rtlj ■■■ look md will allow fl
(r cha'im.' whatever if you want to make estimates lat. r. or if you want, to repeat the estimates you have made, send other subscriptions. Doni forget every subscription for yourself or
Sb your friends will entitle you to an estimate. ---« /- v r /-w-r I'l-'i t’t'F xa % r a j r '
Ad dress all orders to IliE CONS FI IUJ ION, Atlanta, Ga.
MTI'S TRIBUTE
TO HERO HOBSOH
1
Reception Was the Most Re
markable Ever Witnessed
in Atlanta.
SPOKE OE THE MERRIMAC
Gave a Graphic Description of His Dar- '
ing' Experience and Proves a Good
Speaker as Well as a Good
Fighter—The Day in
the City.
1
\
Lieutenant Richmond I'. Hobson has ,
had at Fast two warm r. .■■•ptions in his ;
life. One was under the belching fires of ;
Morro; tho other was in the midst of At- .
lanta's hospitality y.-st -rd.iy. He of Mer
rimac fame was the toast of ill" whole j
town. From tlie time 1 ■ arriv'd Tues- .
day morning until he departed that night,
ho received one continuous ovation from j
young and old. big ami little, patrician and ■
plebeian. Tlie reception of Hobson proved 1
that Atlanta is not lacking in Her appro- I
elation of true bravery.
Tho reception at the man
sii.n, on Peachtree street, Tuesday to tlie I
young lieutenant was one of the most re
niarkablo demonstrations ever witnessed
in Atlanta. Fully 3,000 people called to see :
Hobson and his mother. Everybody was :
invited, and it seemed as if every tody
went. The. lieutenant v> so eomplei-'ly
exhausted shaking so many liande and
speaking a word of appreciation to so
m■ ■a i p< ''i le, ' it 1 * 101 eed • • ■■-
to a room mid snatch a tew moments ,
rest before the reception was over. Mrs. ,
Hobson e.ime v ry near tainting f's the |
result of the heat and press ot the tlir..ng
an ! had to be led into th" open ait out
side for some rest. No more enthusiastic ;
Wi come or greeting h: < vei hi en ex ■ '
tended to any former visiter to the Gate .
* 'Those Who predicted that Hobson is not I
a Rp( aker are mistaki n. He might not b<
el.i .-ed with Depew or Graves, but he has
■i (■•(•iivc’s’ and an earnestness that if?
simpiy ' captivating. His leetur.- at the ,
Woman's t'lub rooms in the Grind builo
ing just before the rec.-p; ;..n .it
the mansion Tuesday night was one ,
the most thoroughly enjoyable dis- ,
courses heard here in smm- time. With I
that wonderful modesty that has charac
terized bis whole career, ho never once I
ne ntiom I himself in bis graphic desvrip
-11,01 of tile trving ordeals through win ’ll I
he ' nas Just passed. Ho told of how the ,
Merrimac vent to the bottom midst that |
hurricane of shot and shell in Santiago |
harbor—and it was "These men ' and n<>t ,
himself. On the other band he claimed
tlie sinking Os Hie Merrimac was no il- I
lustrious deed, but that il was merely I
an evidence that the men of tlie American I
navy stand ready and willing to answer I
any call irrespective of danger or condi- I
tion. that their country might make. The [
speech was most eloquent, not in its flu- I
enev or in its high-soaring idirases, but .
in Its simplicity. To say that it was I
most enthusiastically rev. ived, ami that ;
the hero reached the hearts of every one |
of liis hearers, does not. half express it. |
In company with ids moth, r, he left tha I
city at midnight Tuesday for New York, I
V.’hi re he will oresi.l ■ ov. r the big meeting 1
of il:-.- Solders’ and Sailers’ Family Ro- ‘
lief Association.
Hobson Tells His Story.
Wli n Hobson arrived Tuesday morn. I
ing IT< m Lithia urines lie was approached |
by Miss Powell, president of tho Atlanta !
Relief Association, to know if he would '
give a short talk in tlie club rooms at Hie ;
Grand opera house building for tlie benefit I
of the Georgia soldiers in tlie field. With !
accustomed good nature, he readily |
accepted.
Tl-.e club rooms were packed. Every 1
seat was tik.il and dianding room was
quickly taken I'obsc:., dressed in full
evening attire, which showed off his mag
nificent figure to y idvantage, did not
arrive until S:2O o’clock.
On entering the hall he was greeted
willi enthusiastic eln . is ami was ushered
to ~ >vat or, die s' md 1.v.-i.h' Miss Powell,
Colonel W. A. Hemphill, master of cere
monies, ami SeV "■ 1 m mb'TS of tile relief
association. Mr. V.’illiain Owns opened
tlie exercises with w.j t.-nor solos, and
Colonel Hemphill ir induced tin- guest of
honoi in Hie following well-chosen words.
"Our people hav ■ been looking with
nine , inter st Mi l y - it concern on Hie
aeliievements of our soldiers and sailors
al the front. Since th" beginning of tins
war ilii.-. country has been thrilk‘d t.me
and again witli tin- heroic deeds and glo
rious results of our arms on land and sea
Nothing, however, has cleetrilied our pee
pie to a great' r extent than tlie sink .
of Hie Merrimac in tin- mouth of San
tiago harbor. We ai'e delighted that tills
was done by .1. .-outii. rn man, tin- glorious
and worthy son of the great stats ol Ala
bama, who comes t mlg it n <t wit h studied
speech boasting of his magnificent deed,
but as a patriot to In id this noble band
of young ladies who have organized lor Hie
grand laiijo'" ol giving iiel'i to our
wounded and sick so ilers. i have the
great pleasure of intfedue ng to you tlie
hero of tlie Merrimac. Li- ulenant Hob
son." (Applause.)
Hobson rose very slowly, was greeted
with prolonged .-in "i s, ..nd probably I'roni
force ot habit placed hi ; left hand on in ,
left iiip pocket, where he kept it 'b.uing
must of his di-.'i’iii-". It V.. 1.- evident he
had no well- iiun bed manuscript. 1 ' ■ '
fort was extemjxjr.ineous. His voce vv.is
syinputhetie ami very deep amt rich, it"
suoke slowly and d .-tinctly, of; -n times
hesitating to some extent for the propel
words, but they were proper when the) d.d
come. O' easionally he made a slight ges
ture, but when he was telling ol Hie Mer
rimac he liardly •: - ' ■ ibovi
and one could nluios heir tile lie.:,, in its
over tlie entire house. So thoroughly im
bll d Was he witii bis sul.ji. t that lie seem
ed to forget himself entirely and so real
ami lifelike vv .s ills de: . ription that you
could Utmost see til' sinking ship and al
most hear the roaring guns as they sent
11 of death cross l,er decks. It was
the lirst time lie tin.; "Ver told of bis ex
ploit before tin audience.
"A sailor," said he. "is a man of very few
words. Wiiat few words licit ar. ever
spoken 011 the high v. .is are heard by very
few and tliose whom lie well kn nvs. in
tact, the S' ai'uring profession abhors words.
If you have ever be. n n a man-ot'-war you
have probably noticed tli.i: the numerous
evolutions are carrii.d on by simple signals
or bugle culls The most import.mt uni’- th
that dir. ct the n’llge engines, ..r swing the
great turrets during a light iic giv'.-n
wiUio.it words. If tliis committee that did
me the honor to ask me to speak on this
occasion had p’a.vid. I some entertainment
ir. wl.ii It a mast iml rigging figured. I
would have had no hesitancy in accepting.
I could easily have climbed Jm- 'b’s ladder
on tin- om . ide md down again on the lea
side at a 2:40 gate, and even if this enter
tainment gave me a role in which I was
forced to train a gun on a target eapabio
of responding, 1 think I should have com
plied more readily.
“Not only arc- seamen of very few
words, but they are an emuliati" class,
and they always speak with the deepest
feeling'. 1 cannot help but think of old
Casey, a quartermaster in the service for
forty-live years, and the dean of all prac
tice ships. He bvliev.'il the new school
of lighting was nothing to be compared
tb tlie old, when he ami Farragut went
into Mobile bay. One day the admiral's
horse, hitched outside bis headquarters,
ran away. Without knowing it, the ad
miral ordered Casey to fetch ills horse.
Rather than disobey orders, Casey har
nessed an old drey horse stading close by
and hitched it to tlie admital's rig. I
am as much al sea here tonight as Casey
was when ordered to gel tlie liorse.
What He Saw in Cuba.
"I have tlie good fortune ot having just
arrived from tlie front, where the Ameri
can troops have been botli on land and
on sea. Some stirring scenes have been
enacted there, and let me assure you, tlie
men are taking in their welfare. Tliose
experiences are only the culmination of
our first acquaintance vvit.li Jaekey, or the
sailors. I remember at Annapolis we had
an old practice shin out three quarters of
a mile from shore. (me day two men by
the names of Fitzgerald and Franklin
tried to swim from shore to the shin. It
was nearly dark, and as the men ap
proached the ship we hoard a faint cry
ior help. Realizing that something was
wrong, wo lowered tlie dingy, but could ■
not roach them. In an instant dozens of !
cadets began jumping overboard to the .
assistance of tho men until an officer of ;
tlie dock and give positive orders I
prohibiting any more seamen from jump- |
ing overboard.
“Again I remember an InelJ"nt of a
naval cadet, tlhe nephew of Commodore
Schley. We were accustomed to climb
over the masts for exercise. One day.
Si'lil -y, Just in front of m. . lost his footing .
at the top, struck a topsail yard, rebound
ed. and fell overboard. His body soon ap- ,
peaia.l on -11" water, but there was appar
ently no life in It With the storm that
was raging, It was Impossible to get the ,
ship around with the wind. One of the ;
l. '.' ts was instantly lowered, but the mon I
were quickly overturned, ami were strug- ;
gling in the water for their lives. Another ;
lifeboat witii n full crew was then launmi
ed and overv man. by daring work, in
cluding young Schb y, was brought to the
deck .in safetv. Those men did not know
danger amt they were only average sailors.
But that is tfre sort of stuff the American
navy is made ot today. (Loud che( rs.)
The Sinking of the Merrimac.
“It was this sort <:f m’tai that was
hibitid by the men who sank the Merrlmae.
So eager were tl" nun to mike th.:'. rKp"
dition that only a short while after the
...,11 for volunteers had been made a m'o-
Ihibittvo order wis issm d twit no moi"
nu-u would I"- wanted, one humin d brave
sailors ii.-.l volunteered on the New York
alone; ami the lowa signaled across the
water that 150 men had volunteered t ore.
“j u ( before the ve sei started into t
mouth of the harbor a conversation was
overheard among two of the tm n vim .1
I,' traved the heli"!’ on their part 2mt tn
vess.'i vv is to be run three miles ’ip me
harbor. When the mon took their stations
on the Merrill'.l.■, for their timil start, . very
man lav Hat on his face on the deck with
a special torpedo to manage. Directions
had been given them, ami it was < xpri'ssiy
agreed that no man should lie d th" ene
my's tire, no matter how hot it got. not
oven to raise his itiea.d. More >ver, it was
agreed that incase the projectiles from the '
Spanish guns tl-w thick and fast and any
man was woumlod ho was still to remain ,
at his p"st, attending, if possible, to th" ,
special duty assigned him. Those men lay 1
there, and those im n attended to those ■
ditti's. It was no occasional shot that. |
earn.- from tliose enemy’s guns. It was a (
. rfect grind ... m< tai a rain storm ot ,
shot ami shell. Then e.ime the tremendous '
explosions. but the hull did not I
“ink all at once. It went down by I
degrees, nnd those were moments that ;
those mi n will m ver forget. When a big '
fi-inch sill'll exploit' ll directly in front of I
Hie little group, lying huddli <1 on tlie deck, i
when one slu ll w, nt into the boilers amt '
lot the steam loose by the side of the men,
the strict command. ‘No man move till |
orders,' was obeyid to the letter. If there
was ever .1 time wh- n circumstances would ,
have forced an observance of the old prin- j
ciple of self preservation, it was then, but 1
not a man Lmiged. When those mon were |
in thi'- waiter, being hunted by Spanish 1
boats looking for any that might have es- •
caped, the order that no man should move j
was obeyed perfectly. On the arrival at i
Mori-'', when tho men vv r. placed in cells. 1
and Spanish i nldi -rs m.i.le threatening i
signs at them our sailors merely laughed i
at them. 'We would do it again tonight,
If it were necessary,’ replied one of the
American men, in answer to a Spanish
qm stion.
"A Spanish major asked one of the pris
oners what tlie vessel vva.s sent into the
harbor for. 'ln the United States navy it
is net the custom for seamen to know or
ask tlie object,’ was the. reply.
"When 1 relate this occurrence you do
wrong if you apply any great amount of
ere.lit for this little piece of vv nk to an in
dividual. It vva.s merely an evidence of the
fact that the officers am) men of tho
American navy are always anxious to per
form any duty that they are ordered to do,
irre.'peetive of the consequences or the
dangers.
Saw the Battle from His Prison.
"Never shall I forget how I sat in that
dreary prison ami gazed out on tlie battle
fields around Santiago. I could the
American lines ami the Spanish lines.
When I heard the first cra.-k of .1 musket
I knew that there wrus an advance along 1
our lines. 1 saw tlie Spaniards lying in I
their deep tren"hes witii their modern ri
fles ready to pour volley after volley inti 1
the American army. I saw the thin lines I
of brave lads under the stars ami stripes I
slowly ascending those bills, and I saw the |
Spaniards turn loose the.r lead and their I
lire, and I saw many an American boy '
drop out of tlie line and into the dark river |
of death. On July 2d tli" Spaniards were
re-enforced, and the Americans charged I
again, and tlie enemies’ artillery turned I
upon the) American lines. The moral effect
of that galling fire seemed to paralyze our
forces for a while. Those men had never
been under fire before, but it did not take
them long to regain with incr. as d ardor
their patriotism, and with one mighty rush
they drove the Spaniards out of their
trencins and gained a mighty victory.
You can imagine my great anxiety at s e
ing this. It vva.s terrible that I could not
communicate my valu.iblo knowhdgc of
the enemy's fortifleatlons to tlie command
ing officer of our troops. *
"After my release, greatly was I Impress
ed, when In passing through tv Aim rim
lines, I saw men who had giv n up home,
dear ones amt almost everything life holds
for t''r ir < ountr;- The C immamllng ,m rat
slept in a tent not one whit better than
that of the private. It. w.is a gigantic so
ciological force, tho magnitude of which
could not be measuri'd by any h man nv tii
ods-< qual to (lie life blood of tlie last cit
izen.
"M'liat a grand privilege It is to be a
soldier of the I'nited St.ites!”
On taking his s'et the hero was greeted
by prolonged chters. Hon. Porter 'King
stated he had been born in Perry ct-unly,
adjoining Hale county, Alabama, wliffi > pro
duced the M 'rrim.iv hero, ind considered it
tin honor f< r th" great date of Alabama
that she had produced st'eh a m.in as Hob
sen. He then invit'd tin audience to the
governor’s mansion.
Reception at the Mansion.
The thour for the ree 'ption at tile gover
nor’s mansion was 9 o'clock. Long before
tii.it itiour thi' crowds 1> g in to arrive, and
by 10 o’clock the halls of tlie big house
wore peeked almost to suffocation. T In'
lawn were filled with people anxious to
get a glimpse of the lieutenant, ami by
the time the guest of honor arrtV ' <l. shortly
after 10 o'clock, there were fully 3,000 peo
ple present. Tlie music was furnished ny
VV edemeyer . Fii th R< glmi nt id, ...
played patriotic airs on Hie lawn.
Lieutenant Hobson drove up in a earria:■ ■■
with 'his mother and t’oloni I I!' mp.iill. and
was met at the gate by a committee lu .id
,<J bj Mr. I'.. W Martin. It vv
to clear the crowd from the walk, ami t:>
lit utenant, headed by Mr. Martin and fol
lowed by his mother, had to im-tii his way
through the crowd as lies', lie could. '1 lie
front door was blocked by a solid mass,
people being unable to mow either in or
out. It was some time before an entrnm "
could be made. The 'hero was imni'dly
cheered all along the walk from the gate
to the door, and the b ind p'aj’ed th" "Star
Spangled Banner."
'l’he guests of honor w-me ushered into
tlhe big drawing room in the right of the
mansion. Lieutenant Hobson stood uml T
! a large American II tg and look .'. ba ids
. of hundreds of people as thi y pnssed 1> ■’ me
him. Mrs. Hobson also
I a large number of visitors in itie s.iim 1
I room, but owing to Hie t> rriwus
forced to seek the fr. sh air. At om' tine
she came very near fainting.
it was impossil'li to keep the crovvi!
1 moving, and peopl" climbed 1:1 and mit ol
tiie windows to get " ’
1 Finally, being almost exhausted, he was
I forced to seek a short r. st in ' room up
stairs. The crowd outbid .
inside, began crying I Hob tnd Mis.
Gov rnor Atkin on, seeing ■'
impossible for everybody to i:e i-
i tenant inside the mansion, request"'! '■.•■'t
; he appear on the front balcony, which he
, consented to do.
Wlivu Hobson made his a py.'a r im-e on
the balcony he " loudly cl •r.■! by the
crowd outside. Mr. (.'.ark lb vw.l. v. ao vv.i..
requested by Mrs. Atkinson to imu'diae
him to the audience, said:
"It is With til." deepest feeling Ol pf.'l'
that Atlanta has welcomed her distmgais!:-
ed guest today. Never in tie ..."
the I.r. sent war haw our m"? - " ■- ’
stirred as by the heroic il 10l ; ; ■ young
man in sinking the Merrimac, ia inv me : ii
of Santiago harbor, .v.mntag l -a. n i.m
achievement because the mro is
erm r, an Alabamian and a tig.iter ior : .
forces of the government. 1 li.ive luegi vi'.
pleasure of introducing Lieutenant 1 Lob
son ”
"As I have said on a previous occasion
tonight*” said tlw lieutenant, "sailor-: a :'e
men of few words. I do m .1 sine r >y a >■
predate the rov.il reception extend d me
by Atlanta, ami I assure .’. "'U I .-L.«»l ev ■ r
be grateful. Soldiers at the trout have
been doing some daring work :•"■ the past
weeks and their liearts are gla.i.li m d by
the manifestations of sympathy that
being sent out. to them. .This war has evi
denced the fact that the sailors ami so',Hers
of the government are ro.iilv . ’i‘l vv ling
to perform any duties for which they are
called upon. I thank you. my trie..ds. for
this great honor."
After the crowd dispersed Lieutenant
Hobson and ills mother bade farevw'ls a -.1
vv re drive.i to the o'.'pot. Here another
eroW'l had assembled and as the hero
boarded fain he wa. "'.l ~■<.) again.
The Day in the City.
Tlie lieutenant arrived al 11:40 a. m. from
Lit'hia Springs. At 1 o dock he was com
phraeuted. KiUiA Clark How-
•Ti al the < ’.ipit il Ciiy I'luii Tliose pros' nt
were: I / .'iite'..anl. Ridimond I’, arson Hub
son. Gai era] A. M. Bennington, goner il
commanding department of gulf, l.’ni ■ 1
States army; G .v rii.u'-deet .Ulen D. C ’.-
dler. Mr. George f. Smith, Mr. 11. M At
kinson. Mr. .1, G. Oglesby. Dr. W S. Bikin,
M H il Gahan! Mr. J. Carroll paym?,
Mr. J. ,1. Spalding. I'.ipmin J. W. English,
Hen. F G. durtignoa, Mr. All, rt Howell,
Jr.. Mr. (Tirk Howell, Jr., Fulton t'olviiie
.1 :: mi-.
Gov, i rnor Atkinson and Mayor Collier
i were invited, but both vvi.ro out of tlie
! city.
Immediately after luncheon the lieuten
ant. in company with Mr. Clark How. .1
called on Mi.- id", Bow 11. president f
: the Atlanta Belief Association, and Mrs.
; W L. Bei l, liia retailv
«, ——
HOBSON RECEIVED WITH CHEERS
Benefft for Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Fam
ilies Had Star Attraction.
New York. August 4.—The benefit for tha
Solders' and Sailors’ Famili,.*' Brotcctlva
Association held tonight at the Metropoli
tan opera house was mon in tlie naturn
of a reception to Lieuti'iia nt II bsm, Min
ister to Spain Woodford and Captain l"!nl
llp, of tlie T xas, than a bcm b’. Tile opera
house was Jammed with people, almost
I 5,000 being pre.-"'iit.
Gem 1.11 Woodford came out upon tho
I platlorm ami the audience received him
Iw it'll a gr, outburst of enthusiasm. A
few minute,; afterwards ,'>nie Presim-i t
John it. Byrne, of the association, vv ao
introduced Lieutenant Hobson as vim pre
-1 siding officer. Tne .ntroduetion was the
.signal for a continuous roumd of cheers.
1 | I,i uteuani Hobson made a speech, in
I which li" recalled tlie actions around Saa
■ ti go md describiHl in detail liow ho and
lus comp.'inlccis sank tin 1 Mori.mac. lie
I Was followed by .Minister Woodford ..ml
i ti l n. William Me.A-iee, former assistant
i seeretar.v of tlie navy, ami Mrs. J. !•; a
i Fo.st' r, vi. ■■ ethairman of tlie Anmriean Na
■ tional Red Cross Society.
I A resolution was adop'tej on behalf of the
I cit of N,'W York city tha".’king Ad-
I m ral <’<’ vera lor his "magnanimous con
duct tow rd Lieutenant Hobson ami his
companions."
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