The tribune. (Buchanan, Ga.) 1897-1917, November 25, 1898, Image 1

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VOL. I. MARY DEAR IN NINETY-EICHT. “O, Mary dear. O, Mary sweet! Down at your little fairy feet— Nay, lassie, do not scornful start— I lay my fortunes and my heart. ‘•If you will be my own, own wife, A dream of ease will be your life, And ail that love and gold you.” can do, O, Mary dear, I’ll do for “I scorn your heart. I scorn your bold, gold, I have a sweetheart brave and One of a battleship’s tried brave and crew, My sailor sweetheart true, “He has no gold but strong and leal, He fearless guards his" country’s weal, Aud ns he loves his country so, lie’ll love his own, own wife,I know.” —M. Phelps Dawson, in New York Sun. MOTIVES. A Tragedy of Santiago. After the first day’s fighting at San¬ tiago twomen.lyingside by side, tried vainly to sleep. The nightmare of the struggle left its impress on them. A twitching of the lips or a nervous starting of a limb showed the after-ef¬ fects of tlie strain. They were volun¬ teers, who had picked each other out for the staunch, all-trusting friendship that comes to men who are exposed to danger aud hardship. small The heat of war sends all the conventions of life up into thin sinqjte. Where death and blood surround on every side and the hum of bullets and the shriek of shells whisper a w-aruing that the next to go may be one’s self, the man is reduced to elementary prin¬ ciples. David cleaves to Jonathan with his whole soul and asks no rea¬ son why. So it was with these two. Their hearts spoke directly to each other. The black Cuban night formed a fitting sm-ronut in ; for confidence. A man liked to reach out a hand and find that a friend was ribar. It w as so dark; so empty of God and hope; such a fitting prelude to the frowning morrow. At lust the younger broke the silence: “By gosh, Billy, you showed up well today,” said he. “You went up that hill like a man who wasn’t afraid to live or die. I tell you I was proud of you.” 11 Shucks!” answered the other; “you did the same. ” “Yes—I know,but my reason wasn’t quite the same, I’m afraid. To tell you the plain truth, old man, I only came upon this business to got my name up. I wouldn’t give you three cents a hundred for Cubans, let alone my li£e. 1 wanted,” lie went on in a shamefaced way, “to have the girls jioint me out when I get home—you know: ‘Ain’t he a hero?’ and that kind of thing. ’Tain’t very nobie, is it? I don’t suppose you’ll think much of me after that; but,somehow - , I felt I had to tell it.” The elder man smiled into the dark¬ ness—an exceeding bitter and mirth¬ less smile. 11 What do you suppose I came down here for?” be asked. “I don’t snpppoae anything about it—I know,” answered the other stoutly. “Haven’t 1 been with you every day since you fished me out of the turf? And you’ve never kicked or grumbled, no matter what, came' up. You’re here because you believe in it, and you needn’t say Anything different just to comfort me.” “Listen,” said the other, laying a baud on his arm and bringing liis mouth close to the lad’s ear. “I’m going to tell you something, Kid— something I certainly never expected to tell anybody. But I may get it tomorrow, and I feel that J must speak. Don’t say a wont until I’ve finished, and then see if you want to take my band. “My boy, I came down here to kill a man in our regiment. ” He felt the start the other gave, but went on without a change of voice, “I’d been watching iny chance for a month, when 1 heard that lie enlisted, and I joined. ^Jow, the first time he gets near me aud nobody’s looking, I’m going to shoot him through the heart—right—through —liis— dirty — black—liearj. ” “Good God!” said the other. “It’s the truth,’’continued the elder in the same quiet, voice. “I picked the scoundrel out of the gutter and tried to make a man out of him—took.him right into my home, and that was-the worst day’s job I ever did, for it didn’t stay my home long. My wife—my wife—well, I had no wife after that. I don't kuow what to think. She seemed a good girl—as “Don’t Glvo Up tine Sblp.” BUCHANAN, GA„ FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25. 1898. true a wife as a mail ever had before —for years—bnt—well, Kid, the rea¬ son I charged up the hill today was to show myself that I wouldn’t be afraid to meet him face to face. I'd have killed him openly before, but that would have brought the whole story out, and the bums on the corner nt home could laugh and joke about— about my wife.” The silence fell black around them. At last the younger spoke. “I’m only a kid, Bill, and I don’t quite understand these .things. I don’t know anything abdut them, but I do know that you're a square man. It seems awful to me. But there’s my hand just the same.” The other groped for it and squeezed it heartily. A tingling came to his eyes. The boy’s sympathy was very sweet to his sore heart. “I have always been a square man, and this job goes ngainSt me,” he went on. • “I wish theie was some other way out of it. > » “Oh, Lord, so do I!” groaned the boy. “Ain’t there anything, Bill?” “Nothing, I suppose if we both get back it will be the same old misery all over again. I suppose if I could talk about it to—to-my—wife—per¬ haps it might make some difference— but I can’t speak. The words stick in my throat. ” “Perhaps he’ll get killed?” “Not on your life. His sort never do. No—no—there’s nothing for it but for me to take the law in my own bands. Good night, Kid, I’m going to sleep.” the* The nest day Bill was struck on head by a piece of shell in the early part of the engagement. A man, who had hitherto kept care¬ fully out of -sight, ran forward, and, picked him up, started for the rear, carrying his insensible body. The Kid, who was leaning against the tree bandaging his shattered left arm, looked up as they passed him. “Why, it’s Bill,” he cried. “Say, pardner, where’s he hit? Is it bad?” “In the head—don’t know,” answered the stranger. “Poor old Bill!” said the boy, with quivering lips. “Ob, ain’t this war a horrible business? I don’t want any more of tbeii*--fighting!” He had stood the pain of his own wound without a Avhimper, but the sight of his friend’s bloody face was too much for overwrought nerves. He broke down and sobbed like a child. “Brace up, Kid; perhaps it ain’t as bad as it looks,” said the stranger. •“Oh, that’s all right for yon to say,” answered the boy. “What is it to you? But he was my pardner, and I care something about it.” The arms of the stranger gripped his burden convulsively. He turned a savage face upon the boy. “Shut up, you fool!” he said; then added in a different voice: “Give me a lift with your good arm, will you; I l'eel kinder sick. ” The KicPtook hi.\ friend’s feet under his arm, while the stranger supported the shoulders. So they staggered on until they came to the field hospital. There they laid the wounded man down with all possible tenderness. The Kid went to hasten a surgeon, As Bill touched the earth his eyes opened, vacantly at first, but with gradually increasing intelligence, fury gathering in them the while, until they bent upon the stranger with nb- solute ferocity, The other gazed stea'dily at him. “You here,you black-hearted dog!” at last said Bill, between his teeth. “If I could raise a handl’d kill you!” “Will you listen to me a minute?” answered the other. “I only ask you for a little time, aud every word shall be God’s truth. ” A weakness swept across tlie woun.ded man. Life lost its intensity. He nodded wearily. “Well, Bill,” said the stronger, in a halting, abrupt fashion, “I was a bad lot—there ain’t any doubt of it, and that my feelings toward Sally were wrong I ain’t going to deny, but don’t be too hard on the girl, It was all my fault. I led her along so quiet and easy that she didn’t suspect me. That she didn’t understand right away is true, too; bnt,Bill, we’re all human, and you know I hadrfhe trick of pi eas- ing women. As God is my witness, Bill, It didn’t go as far as you think. Then, and when she understood fully, she wouldn’t let mie so rtiueh as touch her hand. . Still she felt, poor little soul, that she was to blame iu the matter, aud she worked and talked to me, to show what an awful thing we’d done. She brought up how good you’d been to both of us, until I saw —I saw. “Then I enlisted right away—that’s the reason I came down here —to see if I couldn’t get out of it all in a decent sort of a way, for I am sick of myself—dead sick. And, Bill, I’ll never go back—I feel it iu my bones —but even if I should I couldn’t trouble you any more, for the girl gave it up of her own fre§ will, which ain’t a little thing on this earth, where none of us are angels. I might change again—I know it—I never was either good or bad long at a time—but Sally is a different kind. You’ll never have cause to doubt her again,that’s sure.” The wounded man looked at him with sad eyes. “You always were a liar,” he said, simply. “That’s so, that’s so,” asserted the other, eagerly. “But not this time, Bill. I wish I could tell with my dying breath; then you couldn’t help but believe me.” The words bad hardly left bis mouth when there was a ripping sound in the bush, instantly followed by a sharp “thwuek!” A piece of cloth leaped from the stranger’s breast. A fountain of blood spurted after it. His eyes were filled with wonder. He stood erect—so—for a fraction of time, then the muscles gave way aud be came crashing to the earth. A second later he raised himself upon his elbow, struggling with the hurry and confusion of his mind. He fixed his dimming eyes upon his enemy, gasping: help “I’m goue, Bill—all true—so me—God! —Forgive” A And he was dead. Bill covered his eyes with his hands. The vengeance which we gloat over looks horrible when worked by other hands. The bitterness left his soul and a great pity took its place. “Oh, Lord !” he prayed, “send me back to my little girl! “—Criterion. A Sand Storm* In ^crossing that part of Arabia known as Yemen, an English traveler a few years ago encountered a storm of sand. He describes the unpleasant incident in a vivid manner. Tim stinging sensation as tlie sand struck one’s hands and face was most painful. Calling a halt, we crawled under some thick bushes, the men hurriedly arranging a strip of canvas so as to gain the most protection from its scanty folds. We were just in time, for the wind increased in strength and became a gale. The sand, which till uow had been bnt thin,commenced whirling in clouds until the air was dark with it. Huddling together, we tied our turbans over our mouths and waited for a cessation. The desert wind was intensely hot and the burning, gritty grains of sand found their way under one’s clothing and into one’s eavs and eyes until life became almost unendurable, I had seen a sandstorm or two before, but none like this. The poor, grumbling camels lay down aud wagged their necks slowly from side to side. So Strong was the sand laden wind that it was impossible for the men. to go even as far as the river to get .water, and ftur throats were parched with thirst. Happily this was the only sand storm we experienced on the whole journey, and I hope I may never see another. Swallowed a Hole. The other day Jimmy, four years old, found one of those bone-rimmed circles which, I believe, ladies call eye¬ lets, and, while playing in the garden, swallowed it. The family were in the house busily engaged with a work oil entomology, when Jimmy ran in, with month wide open, and eyes dis¬ tended to their utmost capacity. His mother caught him by the arm, and trembling with that deep anxiety which only a mother can feel, inquired: “What is the matter? What has happened ?” “Water!” gasped little Jimmy, nearly scared to death. It was brought him, when, after drinking copiously, he exclaimed— “Oh, mother, 1 swallowed a hole !” “Swallowed a hole, Jimmy ?’•’ Yes, mother, swallowed a hole, with a piece of ivory around it!” Agriculture in Bermuda. Writing • i• ot the fertility f ol .. Bermuda, „ . Consul Greene says that the ground often produces four crops of vegeta- bles in a year. An acre plauted in tomatoqs yielded a revenue of $1500 aud one planted in lilies yielded $1800. The lilies of the island, however, are suffering from parasites. The fruits formerly were peaches, pears, oranges, lemons and bananas. Of these only the banana remains, the others having perished from disease. HANGED, BUT MAY GO FREE. Sentenced, but ltope Hroko, and Sen¬ tence Was Commuted. After being tried for the assassina¬ tion of Will Buckley in Madison county, Mississippi, for which crime he was convicted and an attempt at a legal execution made, failing because the rope broke, and after having his sentence commuted by Governor Me- Laurin to life imprisonment in the penitentiary, Will Purvis, the notori- ous Whitecapper, stands a good chance to be pardoned. The governor received a remarkable letter, signed by the three brothers and a brother-in-law of Will Buckley, the murdered man, stating that they believed a mistake had been made, anu that an iunoeent man was suffer- ing the penalty of another’s crime. These relatives have ever since the assassination, been bitter against Pur- vis and have resisted every attempt to have him pardoned. The letter iu question is signed by A. L. Buckley, J. Q. Buckley, F. M. Buckley aud H. C. Turnage. It recites the fact that the continued confinement of Will Purvis in the penitentiary will have a tendency to shield the real murderer of their brother. One brother, Jim Buckley, was with Will when the latter was ‘killed, and testified ou the trial that he saw Will Purvis unbreeching his gnu light after the fatal shot was fired. This, with some corroboratory evidence,was the meat of the prosecution's case and the evidence upon which Purvis was sentenced to hang. During the last session of the legislature a petition was circulated aud largely signed ask- iug that Purvis be pard&ned. Iu acl- ditiou the alonjj people dqpbted of 5jario£ liis guilt. county have all 1’he story subsequent of Purvis’alleged crime and the m-oceedings have already ley been alleged published. have belonged Wjjl Buck- t-j *a was to of '..... Wliitecappejrs *■ * Lx • ' Marion a Snug ft lie*wasthreatened county, was said with death in case he revealed any- thing to the grand jury. He was as- sassinated while returning from court, Purvis was arrested and convicted on tlie evidence recited, above. He was sentenced to be hanged, the but grihind thp rope mi- broke, and lie fell to conscious. He was returned to the jail, and his lawyers made the point before the supreme court that he was . executed. The court held, however, that he had to be dead before the sen- tenee of the law had been carried out. He afterward escaped, and was at large when Governor McLaurin was inaugurated. He offered to return to custody if the governor would com¬ mute his sentence to life imprison¬ ment. He refused to negotiate with him until he had surrendered.. Pur- vis then surrendered and was brought by the governor’s order, to the peni¬ tentiary for safe keeping. There bis senteuee was commuted to life im- prisonment, and over since be has been serving tlie sentence. A Similar Case. Tlie Indian may be unsophisticated by the side of the white man, but Bishop Whipple, writing iu the Temple Magazine, shows that he has a dry sense of humor. His Indian flock was visited by a speculative Yankee who hungered after their good lands, and tried to persuade them to exchange their re- serVation for a worthless tract of conn- try elsewhere. A council of the tribe was called together, and the Yankee addressed the assembly. “MV friends, I have lived fifty-five years‘in this fifty-five world,” he winters said, “and have the winds of blown over my head and silvered it over with gray. As a true man I ad- vise you to accept this yew treaty at once. He sat down, and at lliat moment an old chief sprang to his feet. “Look at me!” he said. “The wind of fifty-five winters have blown over my bead, and have silvered it gray, nut they have not bloiyi away my brains. ” “That conference was ended,” said the bishop, laconically. Po ntoci Sujntestiou. Study of local peculiarities is one of the first conditions of trade success, it is said that German pins and need- fetf in China have completely displaced those of better quality made in Eng- land, because the English persist hi putting tlieirs’up in black paper, which to the Chinese stands for ill luck, while the Germans, understanding this, put theirs up in red paper, which lias a more cheerful omen.— Journal. NO. 52. LIVINC AMONC DEAD BODIES. A West Virginian Back woodsman Disco v— ei’ii Mysterious Kmbulining Fluid. Samuel D. Ypuug of Cumberlaud, Md., 1ms just returned from a trip to the wilds of West Virginia, and tells of a sight he witnessed on bis trip that is seldom heard of in snch an out- of-the-wav place. About two miles and a half from the little towu of Thilippi, along the Baltimore A Ohio railroad, is an old man by the secluded name of Hamrick, who lives iu a spot, and who has achieved the art of embalming to a wonderful degree, This man, who is uow over 70 years of age, lias defied the laws of nature so &»’ the mortification of the hn- man body is concerned. Skilled in the art of preventing decomposition, surrounded by ghastly specimens of his work, he lives n contented life, glorying in bis discovery, and satis¬ fied to carry the secret to the grave w ith liim. By his mysterious embalming fluid he has preserved not. only human bodies, but those of beasts, birds and fish. In his bouse he has these grne- some objects, aud even out ou the lawn lias them in the open air, which seems to have no affect upon them. Mr. Y'onug says the most interest- ing part of Hamrick’s bouse is what he calls his den—a room on the seo- ond floor, where ghastly, grinning faces, that once had the light of life in them, stare one in the lace as he enters the room or den. Two bodies, in two plain boxes, are those of two woipeu, lifelike in appearance, with their eyes wide open, There was nothing ghastly about tjmm, au d the y . looked as if tSev Tlad just a w li kened holm he had a shim bought her. the The TiodfeS old man these ^snjd two women'from an insane asylum in ^ y est Virginia 14 years ago. The bodies lie iu boxes and are covered vvit^i a cloth to keep bard off aijd tlie cold dust. The bodies were as as mar- bl§, but the vpius are visible. _ 'flie head of a colored mail is there, It was Secure cStfple d fr om o? a hospital in ('in- ciunati a yeiijvl o! The flesh on this also head tivo was f)liable. Tim old man has babies; "one ten (Tars** old when embalmed, and both had the natural appearance, and looked as though they were asleep, He also has fowl, fish, eats, dogs,rats. squirrels.pigs, snakes and many other nninials, which have been embalmed for years, In front of the bouse, on the lawn, are mmmfied snakes which are coiled up in the grass in a striking attitude, and would spare almost any one going near them. Some of the reptiles have been out in the weather for years and show no signs of decay. The old man claims liis fluid is harmless and is made principally of herbs and roots. General Chaffee at El Caney. There was a story in the Sun the other day about General (Jhattee aut i how he dealt with a frightened re¬ cruit in tlie action at El Caney. What seems to be the same tale lias just come from another source—from Cnp- tain Haskell of the Twelfth infantry— and hliall have another telling, for no one ought to miss it. As General Chaffee’s line went up a hill into action at El Caney this recruit dropped out of the ranks. The general noticed him and weut to see what ailed him. He found a young and very badly frightened soldier. Captain Haskell says lie said to him, “are you hurt? I saw how well you kept up under lh-e ns we came on. Come with me to the 01 ' eat an<1 look through my glass at the enemy’s works. We shall soon take them in the flank. We will try to lead *ke assault if you like. So, by the gentlest means, he put that recruit on his legs again, shared with him his own abundant courage, mid brought him back, renewed and grateful, into the fight where he belonged. That was like saving a sou!. The story shows the general’s quality—or one strain of it, at least—and makes it easy to believe Captain Haskell’s report that, the Fifth corps look upon him as the Skobeleff of our army—a soldier who, like Skobeleff, combines magnetic in¬ fluence with swift observation, great endurance, and whatever degree of heroism the occasion demands. — Har- pet 's Weekly. Dead Invited to (lie Hanqiiet. On the accession of a new emperof-, of China, lie goes in solemn state to tlie Temple of Heaven in Pekin, and formally announces (o his imperial predecessors the new titles and digni¬ ties which he has assumed, These ancestors are then dutifully invited to the banquet of commemoration,where seats are duly reserved for them.