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Ctyronttie ant)
WEDNESDAY JUNE 10, 1874.
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY.
A friend in New York has furnished
us with the following, which we take
great pleasure in publishing. It is para
graph second of the general order issued
by the Grand Marshal selected by the
Grand Army of the Republic to super
intend the ceremonies of the Northern
Memorial Day. The order is dated New
York, May 20th, 1874:
“ It is announced that the graves of
“ those who were our enemies aro to re
“ ceive from us the same offerings of re
“ spect that our affection bestows upon
“ our fallen comrades. Decoration Day
“ is not intended to keep alive the en
“ mitics or differences of the past, but
“ to do honor to the brave men who
“ died for what they believed to be the
“ truth and the good of their country,
“ and as we are taught that we should
“ know no distinctions in the grave,
“ therefore those who died among us
“ away from the loving hearts who dear
“ ly cherish their memory will receive
“our floral offerings equally with our
“ fallen heroes.”
If the soldiers of the two sections, the
men who braved death in defense of the
cause which they espoused, can forget
past strife and honor the tombs and the
memories of fallen adversaries, it is time
that the bomb-proof heroes of the North
and South, wlio shouldered their guns
wh°n the war was over and there were
no enemies to fight, should lay down
their arms.
RICHARDSON.
General Grant has given another evi- j
dence of his disregard of public opiniqn
in the appointment of the late Secretary
of the Treasury to boa Judge of the
Court of Claims. The act is as bad as
the selection of Attorney-General Wil
liams to till the place left vacant by the
death of Chase. It is small wonder
that the Republican majority in the
Senate, corrupt as it is, should have
hesitated to give their sanction to such
an outrage, and almo t summoned up
courage enough to defeat the nomina
tion. The facts of the case are briefly
as follows : The first act of the House
when the session commenced was the
appointment of a committee to investi
gate what are known as tne Sanborn
contracts, and concerning which there
were so many scandalous reports afloat.
After months of patient investigation
and protracted inquiry the committee
were enabled to discover and expose a
series of the most stupendous frauds
perpetrated upon the Government and
merchants by Sanborn, Jayne & Com
pany by means of the power given these
men by the Secretary of the Treasury and
his Assistant. So still and conclusive
was tUe testimony against them that
when the report of the investigation was
being prepared one of the committee
introduced a resolution strongly cen
suring Messrs. Richardson and Sawyer.
There was every indication that it would
be adopted, and that it would after
wards receive the approval of Congress.
It was then, and not until then, that
Mr. Richardson thought of resignation
as the best means of escape from the
troubles with which ho was environed.
110 declared, however, that the charges
against him were false, and in a state
ment before tlio committee strongly
maintained that ho had done no wrong.
Yet ho was willing to resign his position
if the committee would agree to take no
action upon the resolution of censure.
Was this Iho conduct of innocence?
What has integrity to dread from in
vestigation and censure ? It courts the
one and falsities the other. Asa man
guiltless of the things charged against
him lie should have demanded a judg
ment from Congress. But aside from
the strong and convincing testimony
ngninst him, his base offer of compro
mise contained a plea of guilty. Tha
that it was best for the honor and in
terests of the country to rid the Treas
ury Department of such a man as
speedily ns possible. But Richardson
was unwilling to give up public ofliee
and its emoluments. While he mads
<mo bargain with the committteo he
drove another with the President. Gen.
Grant, as usual, determined to sustain
a man whom it was his duty to have re
moved without the interposition of Con
gress. Ho promised Richardson a
lucrative Judgeship in the Court, of
Claims when ho gave up his portfolio.
A careful canvass of the Senate was
mado and the result being considered
favorable the Secretary resigns and the
resolution of censure goes by the board.
This is the transaction and wo cannot
imagine one more disgraceful to all the
parties concerned—the President, the
Secretary and the Senate. If his con
duct lmd rendered him untit for one
position it had also disqualified him for
the other. If lie was corrupt in the
Cabinet he will be corrupt in the Courts;
and while corruption in any public ofliee
is bad enough, notably the worst
species of corruption is that which de
tiles and poisons the fountains of jus
tice.
“WHO SAVED GEORGIA.”
Under this caption a writer in the
New York Sun replies to the statements
contained in the recent interview be
tween Hon. 11. H. Hill and a reporter
for that paper. The reporter represent
ed Mr. Hint, as stating that as the ef
fects of his letter to the Democracy in
1870, his participation in the Cameron-
Dhlano-Bullock banquet, that when *he
Congressional Committee called for in
formation in regard to the situation in
Georgia, the President, instead of mak
ing any recommendation, merely sent
them the journals of the House and
Senate. In answer to this the writer
above mentioned says :
The letter of your Savannah corres
pondent, in relation to Hen Him* saving
Georgia from carpet-bag rule, was right
ly headed “ Reconstruction Romance.”
1 was at the White House on the 7th day
of December, 188;*, when the Senate
Committee sent to the President for all
the information he had in regard to af
fairs in Georgia, they supposing he had
only General Terry’s report to send
them. An orderly brought General
Terry's report from the War Depart
ment. and said report, if true, ought, to
have hung every man, woman and child
in Georgia for persecuting and commit
ting outrages on the “ truly loyal.” As
the orderly passed through the reception
room the " Georgia Woman’s Appeal for
the State of Georgia ” was placed with
it. Those two papers were sent together
to the Senate Committee, and printed iu
a pamphlet, which was called “ Terry’s
Report and Its Antidote.” Thatjletter
did more for the reconstruction of
Georgia than anything else.
We have censured in such terms as
we thought fitting the egotism which in
duced Mr. Hum to declare iu a speech
to a dinner party of distinguished gen
tlemen that “he saved Georgia.” We
believe that the people worked out their
own salvation, and that no one man can
justly claim the credit of releasing the
State from bondage. At the same time, j
however, the confusion of dates by the
author of the above communication does i
Mr. Hihh very great injustice. In at- j
tempting to convict that gentleman of
falsehood the correspondent only dis
plays his own ignorance of the subject
which he discusses. Mr. Hill alluded
to the attempt to reconstruct the State j
which followed the Democratic victory
of 1870. The writer speaks of whot oc
curred in 1869, when Bullock was ask-,
ing additional legislation from Con
gress. The noble efforts of the “Geor- .
gia woman" in behalf of her Stat- are j
familiar to most of our readers, and we
have the authority of lion. John A.
Bingham for saying that her appeal did
a great deal of good. The “Georgia I
woman ” in question was Mrs. Belt,
widow of- Dr. Cableton Belt, who re
sided up tc the time of his death in Jef
ferson county.
Vandals in Atlanta occasionally smash
up Uncle Sam’s postal boxes attached to
the lamp posts.
COTTON MILLS IN THE SOUTH.
A correspondent of the New York
World, who has been traveling over the
South recently, writes that journal a
long article on the subject of manufac
turing in this section. He alludes at
length to the Graniteville, Langley and
Augusta Mills, and details the large
profits they bring to the stockholders,
and the increase in every other industry
contingent to such manufactures. The
springing up of thriving villages there
since reconstruction; the great ad
vantage of having the raw material near
at hand; the absence of ice obstructions,
and the unsurpassed water power for the
mills is pointed out, and the absence of
the skilled labor found at the North ac
counted for by the facts above referred
to. He assumes in this account that the
manufacturers find it more profitable to
manufacture nothing but coarse brown
goods, and concludes that goods, the
cost of which consists mainly in the raw
material used in their manufacture, can
be made more profitable at the South,
where that material is cheapest; while
goods, the cost of which is principally
in the labor put into them, can be manu
factured with raoie profit at. the North,
in the midst of a better supplied labor
market. The owners of the mills he re
fers to, claim this, and the statistics of
the past few years sustain them. The
writer says he would hesitate to predict
that on a fair trial negro labor would
not prove successful in the mills, while
now only white labor is employed.
MIXED SCHOOLS.
The New York Timm, the leading or
gan of the Republican party, has rou
tined on the Civil Rights bill, and is
vigorously opposing the passage of that
measure by the House. In an editorial
which appeared the morning after the
passage of the hill by the Senate, it
rasped the Republicans in that body
sharply for their efforts in behalf of the
“silly sentimentality of Civil Rights,”
and told them plainly that they were
doing the colored people more harm
than good. It is now vigorously fight
ing the mixed school feature of the in
iquity, which, according to Senator
Boutwell, is to do so much for the
cause of social equality. We make some
extracts from a recent noticeable article
on this subject, which has appeared in
its columns:
The Southern people do not appear
to deny the right of the black citizens
to have as good and thorough au educa
tion as the whites cau obtain. In all
the imp rtant cities of the South—even
in those where the amount of taxes paid
by colored people is very small—pro
vision has been made for the education
of the negroes. The States which were
once the sternest and most uncompro
mising advocates of a system for keep
ing the negro in n degraded condition,
are now doing much to insure his eleva
tion. * * * It is also noticeable that
even where the negroes have liad com
plete political control they have not, as
a rule, endeavored to establish mixed
schools, nor have they clamored for
them. In Petersburg, Va., where the
colored schools have been remarkably
good, the black voters have not been
heard to express discontent because the
whites have had their own exclusive
schools. Nor have there been any com
plaints of injustice from such cities as
New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston,
Louisville, Baltimore, Memphis, or from
the many towns of lesser size. Some of
the largest and finest buildings in one
or two of those cities are devoted to
colored schools, supported, too, by the
State—not by private muuittcence.
The Times declares that the testimony
of the majority of the State Superintend
ents of Education is that if mixed
schools are insisted upon the common
school system will be seriously injured, if
not entirely destroyed. It feels convinced
that in those States where the Demo
crats have control the appropriations for
educational purposes would bo at once
withdrawn, and in this conjecture it is
eminently incorrect. It states —refer-
ring, we suppose, to the course of Sena
tor Brownlow and other Southern Re
publicans who havo opposed the infamy—
that those who know tlio negro best and
with the following pregnant sentences :
The negroes themselves realize that with
the advent of an arbitrary mixed school
system their chances are for the pres
ent at an end. They, personally, would
lie far better oil' if Congress could con
tent itself with simply recommending
to the Southern people whatever it hon
estly believes to be right, instead of leg
islating on the educational question,
and creating turmoil and chaos where
something like steady progress has
been, after many years of striving with
prejudices, at last secured.
DEMOCRATIC ABSENTEEISM.
The Washington correspondent of the
Louisville Courier-Journal calls upon
the Democratic press of the country to
lash the members of the Jlouse belong
ing to that party who are so often ab
sent from their seats. He gives an ac
count of the second attempt to pass the
Civil Rights bill marie in tho House by
General Butler the other day, which
shows the ill effects of this absenteeism;
It was well understood that tho Civil
Rights bill would be brought up to-day
iu the House of Representatives; but
Butler did not get his opportunity till
late iu the day, and, as the hour for the
usual recess at half-past four was ap
proaching, Mr. Butler just endeavored
to get tho consent of the House to take
the bill from tho Speaker’s table and
have it referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee, with leave to report at any time.
This was refused. He then moved to
suspend the rules and pass the bill,
when several Democratic members mov
ed to adjourn. Tho time required to
take this vote by yeas and nays carried
the House to the hour of half-past four,
and thus the bill lost its chance, the
Speaker holding that no such motion to
suspend the rules could be made at the
evening session. Had the motion come
up earlier in the day none can tell how
it would have resulted. About two
thirds of tho House voted against ad
journing. The absentees to-day among
the Democrats and Conservatives were
Clymeb, of Pennsylvania; Creamer, of
New York (a habitual absentee); Davis,
of West Virginia; Eden, of Illinois;
Hamilton, of New Jersey; Jewett, of j
Ohio; Marshall, of Illinois; McLban, '
of Texas; O’Brien, of Maryland; Par- ]
ker, of New Hampshire; Roberts, of
New York (an habitual absentee); Stk
riiENs, of Georgia (at home sick); Wad
dell, of North Carolina; Wood, of New
York, and Younq, of Georgia. Some of
these gentlemen were paired each with one
Republican; but at this stage of the ses
sion a two-thirds vote is needed to pass
this bill, and, if a dozen or two Demo
crats pair off each with one Republican,
the bill can be passed very readily. If
these gentlemen want to defeat the Civil
Rights bill, they ought to be iu their 1
places iu the House, as the struggle is j
liable to be renewed at any moment, ,
So it seems that if the infamous Civil
Rights bill passes this session we will
have to thank those Democrats who
have more important business to attend
to than their Congressional duties. With
a single exception there is no satisfac- i
tory reason given why every one of the ,
above named members should not have ;
been in their places on Monday. Mr.
Stephens is at home sick and nnable to i
attend the sessions of the House, but.
what excuse have the other fourteen ? ,
The worst of it is that five of them
are from Southern States, which
would be overwhelmed with trouble
should the bill become a law.— j
Pairing off will not do at this stage j
of the game. If Republicans have im-!
portaut business elsewhere or wish to j
dodge a vote ou this question let them j
them go home or anywhere else they !
please. But let them make no bargains
with Democrats. The Democrat who
fails for any cause except serious sick
ness to place his vote on record against
this measure will regret hit conduct bnt
once, and that will be during hia whole
life. This is not the first time that the
same correspondent has called the at
tention of the public to this matter, and
it is but right that the press should
condemn a most pernicious practice.
Let the Democratic newspapers publish j
lists of the absentees every day, and let
Congressmen whose names figure on
them explain ihtir conduct to their con
stituents as best they may.
At Newburg, N. Y., a mad dog was
kilted after biting four persons. A boy
had his hand mangled and apiece bitten
oat of his cheek.
THE MACON FISHING PARTY.
NOTES OP A TRIP TO THE GULF.
The First Expedition.
Two years since General W. S. Holt, .
President of the Southwestern Railroad
Company, organized a fishing party for
the Gulf, composed mainly of citizens
of Macon, with delegations from Golum- j
bus and Augusta. The excursion was a
success, affording delightful amusement
and healthy recreation to every one par
ticipating. So agreeable were the recol
lections and associations of the first
trip to Apalachicola and the Gulf that
our Macon friends determined on a
second expedition, to be organized, con
stituted and destined after the manner
of the first.
The Second Excursion.
The Augusta delegation reported for
duty in Macon, Monday, May 18th, and,
in company with the Macon party, reach
ed Fort Gaines, on the Chattahoochee
river, Tuesday afternoon, after a pleasant
run over the Southwestern Railroad. At
Fort Gaines the excursionists boarded the
Steamer Julia St. Clair,
From Columbus that morning, with the
representatives from that city. The
commissary stores were soon transferred
from the Macon train to the steamer.
The seven hogsheads of ice were lower
ed tenderly from the high bluff and care
fully conveyed on board. All tLings be
ing in readiness, wo turned our backs
to Fort Gaines, and started on our way
rejoicing. The Julia St. Clair is an
iron boat, and was formerly employed
on the Savannah river. She had been
thoroughly overhauled and placed in
first class condition for the trip. On an
expedition of this kind it does not de
tract from one's peace of mind to know
that the boat is in good order, and that
all of the officers are competent ami
careful. Before proceeding further on
our journey we introduce to our readers
the names of the
Members of the Expedition,
From Columbus —Col. It. L. Mots,
Mayor W. L. Salisbury, Col. W. R.
Barden, T. E. Blanchard, C. E. Haek
strasser.
From Macon —Gen. W. S. Holt, Col.
Thos. Hardeman, Hon. C. A. Nutting,
Major W. H. Ross, Col. Joseph Clisby,
Col. R. W. Aderholt, G. B. Turpin, W.
S. Brown, J. B. Holt, D. E. Norris, Dr.
J. S. Baxter, W. D. Palmer, J. B. Eng
lish, J. F. Greer, Hayne Ellis, 11. T.
Johnson, W. E. Flanders, J. E. Jones,
John Valentino, Felix Corput, N. T.
Johnson, H. Burr Brown, W. W.
Woodruff.
From Augusta —Col. Henry Moore,
W. E, Wheelock, J. O. Mathewson, Col.
T. G. Barrett, S. 11. Sibley, Patrick
Walsh.
Officers of the Boat— Samuel J. White
side, Master ; Win. Johnson, Purser ;
Charles Brackaway, Captain; Frank
Tarbett, Engineer; Wm. Hustin, Bay
Pilot.
Breaking tlie Ice,
Not that in the hogsheads but the ice of
ceremony was an easy matter; as most
of the party were already acquainted,
and those who were not soon found out
each others “trimmings.” The excur
sionists had one controlling object in
view, which was to havo a good time,
and the tri-partite combination began
operations when a junction of tlie rep
resentatives from the three cities was
formed on board the Julia St. Clair.
The Macon and Augusta’ party had not
failed to improve the opportunity on the
trip from Macon to Fort Gaines, a spe.
cial car having been provided for the
excursionists by General Holt.
Going Down tlie River.
After an eight hours’ ride on a hot
day the change from the dust and heat
of a railroad car to the inviting cabin
of a steamboat and tlib atmosphere of
the river is as welcome as copious show
ers are refreshing on a sweltering day of
August.
The Dead Lake.
Wednesday, at 2, p. m., wo entered
the ent-off leading to the Dead Lake,
steamer to reach tlio Lillie without
much delay, though the windings of the
cut-oil' are as numerous and tortuous as
the reefs of Florida. The Dead Lake
is formed by the Chipola and Apa
lachicola rivers. It is twenty-five
miles long and from two to three
miles wide, with an average depth
of about thirty feet. Here we were
tied up to a cypress tree in the mid
dle of a forest submerged from twenty
to forty feet. Tlio tall cypress trees
bear little evidence of vegetation.
Standing like sentinels over a waste of
wild desolation, the long gray moss pen
dant from the trees, they present a pic
ture weird-like and fantastical. The
vistas that stretch out before you are as
regular as if the trees were planted in
avenues. They seem to run in parallel
lines, and a vivid imagination might
liken the arched dome formed by the
stately pillars and the overhanging moss
to the aisles of some ancient temples
of worship, or the avenues leading
to the castellated mansions of the
barons of mediaeval times. Dead Lake
might properly be characterized as
grand, gloomy and peculiar. We have
seen some places that we would prefer
as a permanent abode. Asa natural
curiosity it is worth visiting, but it
would not lie healthy to stay there al
ways. Our party spent nearly a day in
[ the Lake. The night was dismal
enough outside, but the excursionists
chased away by good cheer the horrid
images of the witches cauldron which
greeted the eye and the ear during that
night on the Dead Lake. The disci
ples of Isaak Walton were not sup-
plied with proper bait for fishing
in the Lake, though they succeed"
ed iu procuring a snfficent supply
of trout and bream for supper, break
fast and dinner. When the steamer was
ready to start the signal was given for
the explorers to return on board. In a
few minutes we were under way. But
we found the tortuous windings of the :
ent-off much more easy of access than ;
egress. It was easy enough to wire in,
but a very different matter to wire out.
After three hours hard badgering out of
the zigzag sinuosities of the entrance to •
the Dead Lake, the Julia St. Clair
steamed away for Apalachicola, where
she arrived Thursday evening.
A Notable Event.
The arrival of a steamboat at Apa
lachicola is such a notable event as to
attract the attention of the entire com
munity. The towii is so isolated and
mail facilities so irregular that commu
nication with the outside world is a
seven days’ wonder. The Apalachico
lians turned out to greet the excursion
ists on their arrival, and the wharf, or
river street, presented an animated ap
pearance for the time being. The party
remained on board at the wharf during
that night. Early Friday morning the
Julia St. Clair steamed away to East
Pass, between Dog Island and St.
George's.
The Sport Commences.
The lines were soon in order, and all
hands set to work with a vim. Trout,
red fish, whiting, bass, flounders and
sheep’s head rewarded the labors of the
amateur fishermen. A few Spanish
mackerel were caught. The villainous
catfish and the sportive skip-jack were
as plentiful as blackberries in June.
The seining party in the afternoon haul
ed in almost every variety of fish in
abundance.
A Sick Trip.
Saturday morning an attempt was
made to reach the Snapper Banks, in
the sloop Red Jacket; but after several
hours spent in the effort the sloop and
her passengers returned to the steamer.
The wind was right ahead and the trip
had to be abandoned for that day. The
sea wii rather rough, and as a necessary
consequence many of the amateurs re
pented of their undertaking. , There are
some things that certain members of thfi
expedition had rather do hereafter than
go-a-fishing in the Red Jacket. The
feeling is not the most delightful sensa
tion in the world. The land-lubber who i
t iiekrj that there is a great deal of sport
on board of a sloop in a rough chopping
sea is very apt to have that pleasant con
ceit knocked ont of him after a five
hours’ trip. He will be in no condition
either to enjoy a hearty dinner or to ap
preciate the exhilerating sport of snap
per-fishing. Col. Thomas Hardeman
spoke feelingly on the subject, though
he is free to admit that sea sickness is
conducive to health.
The Abode of the Black Fish.
After returning to the steamer we went
in search of the wreck of the ship
George Turner. This vessel hailed from
Boston. lir 1866 she was loaded with
cotton at Apalachicola for Liverpool.
She was burnt and sunk in the main
channel of the East Pass. After a brief
search the wreck was found. In a short
time four hundred black fish were
caught out of this wreck. Strange to
say that is a difficult matter to find this
fish outside of this particular locality.
The wreck literaly swarms with them,
and so rapidly do they bite that the
most enthusiastic fishermen of the party
soon become tired. The amusement
wears oft inside of an hour, and hard
work becomes tiresome. Capt. White
i sides informed me that the black fish
were attracted inside the wreck by the
stone ballastr in the hold of the vessel.
The destruction to fish-hooks and lines
was severe. Becoming fastened in the
wreck some portion of the tackling had
to remain as a deposit in the hold or
sides of the sunken vessel.
The Snapper Banks.
The apprehension of encountering a
squall in the Gulf prevented Captain
Whitesides from taking the steamer to
the Snapper Banks on the day previous.
The boat is substantially buijt and capa
ble of encountering rough weather, were
it not for the fact that the cabins and sa
loons afford too much play for the wind,
thus rendering the experiment, in case
of a sudden storm, too hazardous. Two
years ago, while on a similar expedition,
the steamer encountered a storm which
is still remembered by many for the
fear inspired and the good resolutions
formed. Those wlio experienced the
first, did not care to encounter a second.
General Holt, the head and front cf tlio
expedition, was extremely cautious, and
would not allow the steamer to go to sea
until assured that there was no danger
of rough weather. The morning was
ushered in clear and bright, and there
was not a ripple to disturb the glassy
surface of the sea, save the light
swell caused by the motion of the
boat. By seven o’clock we were fifteen
miles out in the Gulf. Cruising about
for a few- minutes, the steamer is over
the Snapper There is a shout
and a commotion on deck. Every man
rushes for his line. The hooks are
baited and over they go right among the
snappers, which you see sporting be
neath you in the clear waters of the
Gulf. Here they come in schools, and
now the glorious sport commences. You
can see your line and bait and the fish
rushing at it as plainly as you see the
lines in print before you. General Holt
lands the first snapper on deck. He is a
splendid specimen of his species, weigh
ing fully fifteen pounds. The snapper
is a glorious fish. He pulls hard and
fights game, and goes bouncing about
the deck with the heavy thud of a militia
company at the command of order arms.
See that man there in his shirt sleeves
playing a huge snapper with a sort of
walking stick arrangement. Now- he
gives him the reel and away he goes,
jumping and plunging, with the hook
firmly fastened in his mouth. He plays
him with the dexterity of an adept in
the business, and after a stubborn
contest lands him on deck. That
fisherman is Col. Wheelock, of Augusta.
The Colonel weighs a short ton, and he
had rather go a fishing than any man on
board. Ho is an expert as an amateur.
Col. Hardeman is no slouch at the busi
ness. Ho looks well in his red shirt and
natural breeches and plays his line ad
mirably when lie gets a full bite at a red
on n-orrr ms-hick, Mix axafc
had just hauled in his twentieth snapper.
The Colonel has followed the example of
his friend, Col. Nutting, who has retired
after landing his twenty-fifth snapper on
the deck of tlio steamer. Fishing for
snappers is amusing enough for a short
time, but when one man hauls in twenty
five it gets to lie “down right foolish
ness” to continue the work for fun after
that. Human nature cannot stand the
strain. The spirit and the flesh are
both exhausted and willing to give up
the light. In less than two hours three
hundred snappers, averaging eleven
pounds each, have beeu hauled in and
landed on deck. Three t housand pounds
of fish for a few hours labor will
do very well for country fishermen.
The sport having become toilsome,,
breakfast was announced. Col. Clisby
behaved with his accustomed gallantry
in leading the charge on this hotly con
tested occasion. The steamer weighed
anchor and the party returned to Apala
chicola between one and two o’clock
Sunday. The hearts of some of the in
habitants of that town were made glad
on our arrival. About two hundred of
the snappers caught in the morning
were distributed among the people.
Apalachicola and Hamburg.
The remainder of the day was spent in
a manner becoming the unbroken solem
nity which reigned over this venerable
town—venerable alike for its years and
its ruins. Apalachicola and Hamburg
and alike in one respect at least—they
are both finished cities. The march of
improvement disturbs not the solitude
of either of the antiquated towns. Ap
alachicola has three, churches—Presby
terian, Episcopal and Roman Catholic.
The City of Apalachicola
Was an important place at one time. It
j was a busy, bustling mart before and
! immediately after the war. In 1865-6
| over two hundred thousand bales of cot
' ton were received from Georgia and Ala
bama. Railroad communication with
the South Carolina and Georgia seaboard
cities being interrupted, cotton was ship
! ped to this port from Macon, Columbus,
Eufaula and other points. Before the
days of railroads the imnnaj receipts of
cotton footed up one hundred and sixty
; thousand bales. There are no indus
tries in the place except two saw mills,
and one of these, belonging to a Penn- ;
sylvania company, has already expe
rienced the customary saw mill luck.
The Pennsylvania Tie Company was or
ganized iu Philadelphia for the purpose :
of making cypress cross-ties after some
patent process to last forever. There is ;
no telling how long the ties would last,
bnt it is easy to tell the duration of the ;
company. After expending 5160.000 the
concern exploded. The mill and other I
effects of the company were sold a few
days before our arrival for SIB,OOO. The
man who bought it will be in luck
if it does not break him. The saw mill
business will swallow up a town or a
rhilroad. It is only a question of time.
Misfortune never comes single. Last
September a hurricane destroyed several
large warehouses and stores on the riiffer
front of the city. As the storm left the
debris, so they remain. Many of the
residences are handsome and in good
condition, and the gardens with their
plants and flowers bear evidence of the
refinement and culture of the owners.
Thefutureof Apalachicolaisnotinviting.
In answer to an inquiry why people
of intelligence and industry remained
in a place where there is no field for:
their labor, we were informed that
they did not wish to leave their homes
behind, them and seek new qpes without
money and without friends. The de- j
preciation of property is very great.—!
Four or five hundred dollars will pnr- j
chase a handsome residence. Fish and :
oysters constitute the chief food of
the citizens, and people who would
be satisfied with this diet would
£nd [cheap living at Apalachacola.
The only ei eiits that break the monotony
of the city are the arrival and departure
of a weekly steamboat,and an occasional
hurricane like that of last September,
i which makes thiDgs lively for a time.
The entire shipping in the port consist
ed of a tug boat and an unfinished ' -’ sse
on the stocks. There were two schooners
at the mill receiving lumber. Apalac n
cola is, however, a pleasant place to
visit in May. A month could be spent
there delightfnlly in fishing. would
like to say a cheerful word for the future
of this city, bnt we fear its great com
mercial prosperity will exist only in tin
memory of its “oldest inhabitant.
After the Bivalves.
We left town for the West Pass Sun
day evening, dropped anchor off St-
Vincent’s Island, and spent the night.
Early next morning we proceeded to Dry
Oyster Bar, and took in a plentiful sup
ply of excellent oysters. The fishermen
of the party took in trout, red fish and
crab. A few hours exercise in a refresh
ing atmosphere is the best kind of an
appetizer, and a lunch on oysters, crabs
and fish, fresh from theirnative element,
is as enjoyable to an amateur fisherman
as roast beef and plum-pudding to the
average Englishman.
St. George’s Island.
In the afternoon we arrived at “the
Gap,” in St. George’s Island; the bow of
the steamer was run ashore, and the an
chors cast on the beach. A few planks
from tlie deck to the shore formed a
gangway which enabled us to reach ter
ra firma without wading. This Island
is a regular sand bed, almost devoid of
vegetation. Here and there you see a
stunted Palmetto, and a few scrub trees,
but for the thirty miles that it extends
its narrow surface, dividing the waters
of the Bay and the Gulf, St. George’s
appears to be t desolate Island of sand.
The ship channels to the bay are at the
eastern and western extremities of the
Island and the light house stands about
mid-way. The Gap, near where the
steamer was anchored, is a portion of
the Island submerged during a storm
many years ago. The waters which
swept over that portion of the Island
have not receded, and the Gap will pro
bably remain, as the waters of the Gulf
are said to be gradually encroaching
every year on the sea front of St.
George’s.
All Hands Ashore.
Capt. Whitesides issued instructions
that all hand's should go ashore that after
noon. This need not appear strange,
for there were some men in the party
who were so much interested in pursu
ing investigations in the cabin of the
steamer that the only way. to get them
away from the tables around which
they and their attention! centered,
was to issue a general order that all
hands must leave the boat and go on
the island. Col. Clisby-, of the Macon
Telegraph cmd Messenger, was the
head-centre of the party who so
assiduously pursued their investiga
tions all day long and into the silent
hours of night. The Colonel .s an ex
pert at the business, and an intimate as
sociation of many years has male him
very much attached to his iavorite
amusement. It seems to be second na
ture with him, but whenever he is inter
rupted in his investigations he is apt to
become fretful and moody. Asa poker
ist lie is a decided success. His work
ox pokerology, prepared during this
trip, will bo received as a standard, au
thority in tlie United States. Watt of
space and the well known modestl- of
our Brother C. prevents us from giving
more publicity to this matter. His an
nouncement that we Yvould publish the
result of our explorations in this tolus
hitherto hidden science is our excise
for calling him and exposing his
Racing on the Beech.
All hands went ashore, and the
commenced. Several impromptu foot
races were made up. Two Macon fa
vorites were entered for the first race-i-
Messrs. Hayne Ellis and Burr Brow?!
The distance—one hundred yards—waj
measured off on the beech. Majol
Ellis was arrayed in a light gossamen
suit, and looked the picture of Appolo.j
His blonde curls were parted in tlim
middle, and as he stood there in his
centre of an admiring throng. Major
Burr Brown, though a little on tlie
Esquimaux order in stature and obesity,
is a blonde, with beautiful blue eyes,
light liair, a face that is child-like and
bland, and the voice of a siren. He was
arrayed in a red, white and blue cos
tume, and bore on liis crest a spoon to
stir it round. The contestants for a
trial of speed toed the mark, and though
the odds were against Major Brown, he
came off victor. Major Ellis thought
that night that a man could find pleas
anter amusement than running a race,
after eating heartily of crabs and oys
ters. Capt. Whitesides and Mr. Valenti
no entered the lists, the latter coming off
victorious. Messrs. Holt, of Macon,
and Mathewson, of Augusta, declined a
race made up for heavy weights by their
respective backers. This sport was as
welcome and enjoyable as in tlie days
when the participants and spectators
were in the heyday of their youth. _
The Seining Party.
After the foot-racing came the seining.
1 hands were dressed in appropriate
stume for the sport. The seine was
led up in the stern of the boat. The
ag was dropped and the seine rolled
t as the boat moved on, describing a
mi-circle. The haul was a slim one.
cond and third efforts were not much
ire successful, either as to quantity or
ality. Among the captives were some
e trout, a splendid specimen of the
eep’s head variety, and a young shark,
; feet long, which was left on the
aud a prey to the pellicans and buz
;ds. The seiuing on this occasion
s not a success as to the quantity of
li caught, but as we had more
in enough for use, the amusement
arded by plunging and wading in the
ter more than repaid the members of
! expedition for their labors. Several
piified gentlemen presented a picture
native simplicity as they indulged in
■ir gambols on the beach.
Hunting for Turtles.
Colonel Aderholt, of Macon, was the
champion turtle hunter of the expedi
tion. While the others were seining,
the Colonel invited a few friends to go
np the beach a short distance to get
some turtle eggs. After walking abont
four miles, Major Norris returned to the
steamer at dark. Aderholt’s short dis
tance was in the-neighborhood of the
light house, eight miles off. He found
the turtle eggs and brought a large num
ber to the boat. The search for turtles
was unsuccessful.
St. Vincent’s Island.
Tuesday morning the steamer anchored
off the western end of St. Vincent’s. This
island is about eight miles long and from
two to three wide. One of the scientists
of the expedition, Col. Clisbt, says that
it “contains an area of about thirteen
thousand acres, interspersed with fresh
water lakes, and generally bar
ren, contains some fertile land.” Capt.
Hatch, formerly Mayor of Cincinnati,
purchased the island since the war for
81,200. He extended the party an in
vitation to visit the island. Several
who availed themselves of it were loud
in their acknowledgements of his
flowing hospitality. The island is well
supplied with deer and wild cattle.—
A foraging party star'.ed out Tuesday
night and returned with two beeves, one
of which Col. Barrett has the credit of
shooting at long range. This snpply of
fresh meat to the commissary depart
ment came in most opportunely. After
living on fish and oysters for a week,
fresh meat is desirable for a change.
Col. Clisbt, in writing up the notes of
his first expedition to the Gnlf, referred
to Capt. Hatch as a hermit. He spoke
of him as exclusive and misanthrop
ic. This time his verdict has beer ;
changed. Col Cljsby, after meeting
him face to face, and enjoying his hos
pitality, refers to him as the Lord of the
Isle, and to his wife as his kind-hearted
lady. The gentle rasping of the Captain
in the former letters of Col. Clisbt in
duced the Lord of the Isle to waive all
ceremony. He visited the steamer at
Hhe citv, and afterwards, in company
with liis wife, while the steamer lay off
the island, we received a visit from them
in their yacht. In addition to his resi
dence on St. Vincent’s, Capt. Hatch has
another in the city* He appears to be
a gentleman of culture and a man of ele
gant leisure. Wednesday, at eleven
o’clock, the steamer weighed anchor and
returned to Apalachicola, where we re
mained until next morning.
Off for Home.
At five o clock on Thursday we bade
adieu to Apalachicola and started up
the river for Columbus. The sports
men of the party amused themselves by
shooting at alligators basking in the
sunshine, but if there is one less in the
Appalachicola river this deponent know
eth not. In the passage down and up
the river something less than a ton of
leul was expended in this harmless
but exciting pastime.
An Abandoned Region.
From Apalachicola to the forks of the
Chattahoochee and Flint rivers, which
form the Apalachicola river, is about
one hundred and fifty miles. The plan
tations on both sides were formerly un
der cultivation, but now that whole re
gion is nearly abandoned, and is fast re
turning to its primitive state.
Prospecting for an Orange Grove.
At lola we took on board Mr. W. W.
Woodruff, who inspected the country
bordering on the Dead Lake with a
view to purchasing au orange grove.—
He reports about twenty groves in the
section he had visited. Some of them
were productive, and the fruit is said to
be excellent, surpassing that of East
Florida. The condition of the people
is discouraging. They enjoy none of
the comforts and but few of the neces
saries of life. We doubt if Mr. Wood
ruff would be willing to live near the
Dead Lake for a dozen orange groves.
A Pleasant Trip.
Our journey up the riyer was as pleas
ant as the party could wish. We passed
Fort Gaines and Eufaula Friday morn
ing and arrived at Columbus Friday
night, at 8 o’clock, making the run from
Apalachicola to Columbus —three hun
dred and sixty-seven miles—in less than
forty hours.
Resolutions of Thanks.
The following resolutions were passed
unanimously at a meeting of the fishing
party, held on board the Julia St. Clair,
on the Chattahoochee river, Friday
morning, May 29th :
Resolved, Asa fitting conclusion to
this delightful trip to the Gulf, this
party tenders their most sincere thanks
to Gen. Wm. S. Hoot, to whose liberali
ty so many of the facilities for making
the trip are due, and whoso politeness
and cordiality have contributed so much
to its enjoyment. We are also under
very great obligations to Capt. Samuel
J. Whitesides, no less for his
official skill and ability, than for
the great personal kindness and
courtesy he has displayed to every
one of us; also, to Captain W. Johnson,
acting purser of the boat; Captain C.
Brockoway, river pilot, and Captain
Wm. Austin, bay and coast pilot; F. C.
Torbitt, chief engineer, and, in fine, to
all other officers and the crew and ser
vants of the boat for their fidelity and
attention to our comfort; and we con
gratulate each other, in parting, on the
harmony and good feeling which have
reigned supreme every hour of our in
tercourse.
Resolved, That these proceedings be
published in the daily papers of Colum
bus, Macon and Augusta.
It. L. Mott, Chairman.
C. A. Nutting, Secretary.
At Columbus.
Friday night and Saturday, up to half
past two o’clock, the party spent at Co
lumbus. The manufacturing interests
of the city are prospering, and the peo
ple of this thriving community are de
termined to leave nothing undone that
will tend to the utilization of the im
mense water power with which nature
has blesssed them. We dropped in on
Major Calhoun, editor and proprietor
of the Enquirer and Sun. The Major
is in good health and enjoys a fine flow
of spirits. He bears no marks from the
recent onslaught made on him by a
citizen of Opelika, who is said to have
. '.’ruination. 'The members of our
party were called upon by Messrs. John
Peabody, Martin J. Crawford, and
Jas. M. Bussell. Col. Mott extended
a cordial welcome to his mansion.—
Major Salisbury entertained some of
I the party handsomely at his elegant
residence.
Oil' For Macon.
At half-past two wo said good-bye to
|>nr Columbus friends, and left on the
IMuscogee Bailroad. A delegation from
'Macon—Messrs. Boss and Johnson—
•net us on the way, and extended hearty
liongiatulations. We arrived in Macon
pn schedule time. The Augusta delega
tion bade farewell to their Macon friends,
'and reached homo Sunday morning.
jThe trip was a most delightful one, and
“will long be remembered for the asso
ciations formed and the pleasures en
joyed.
A Parting Recognition.
Mr. Burr Brown, of Macon, is so
brimful of wit anil humor that his ap
pearance would convulse a Quaker meet
ing. Mr. Felix Corput was pre-emi
nently the silent man of the party. The
timely interference of Major Boss alone
saved Mr. David Norris and Mr. John
Valentino from being talked to death.
Mr. Geo. B. Turpin, Quartermaster and
Commissary of the expedition, received
a vote of thanks for his attention and
efficiency in meeting all the wants and
supplying all tbe requirements of his
companions. To General Holt we ten
der the cordial thanks of the Augusta
delegation.
The annual West Point examination
which has just taken place has been
very disastrous to the applicants for ad
missions into the Military Academy.
Out of ninety-seven candidates thirty
two were rejected, because they could
not spell, write or cipher, and were
shamefully ignorant of maps and geo
graphy. The four colored candidates
went by the board, but there was more
excuse for them than for any of the
rest, and as they had plenty of white
company in their misfortune, the sting
was taken out of rejection. Only one of
the applicants from Georgia —. Tamps C.
Tomlin— succeeded in passing the ex
amination. We agree with the Macon
Td/graph and Messenger that “this
wholesale slaughter of the innocents is
a very significant, and by no means
flattering commentary upon the elemen
tary system of education in this 'coun
try.” _
In publishing the lists of State elec
tions which will occur this Fall, many
of our exchanges are making a mistake
as to Georgia. They state that the elec
tioi in Georgia will take place on the
14tr of October—leaving it to be infer
red that members of the Forty-fourth
Corgress will be chosen on that day.
Thffe will be two elections in Georgia
this Fall—one on the fourteenth of Oc
tobtr for members of the Legislature,
and one on the third of November for
Congressmen. In January, 1875, coun
ty oficers will be chosen. One election
would answer, but the Legislature of
1872 thought best to give us three and
then has been no change in the law.
As we predicted the editor of the At
lanta Commonwealth attempts to make
the proof reader responsible for the pro
fanity of its last issue. This* will not
do. The swearing men about the office
are not the proof readers and composi
tors. But the editor,} quailingjbeneath
the storm of profanity which his pro
fanitr provoked, has adopted the stock
excute of journalism. However, as he
swors at the Civil Rights bill, we will ad
mit i plea of justification; or, imitating
the Vestern jury, we will find the de
fendtnt not guilty, but caution him not
to doit again.
A Walton county man sent his daugh
ter to a Female Seminary in an adjoin
ing Saite, and the expenses of a year’s
teachngcost him near S4OO. She learn
ed to mope about the house and sigh
like » sick kitten. This is the only
good it did her, so says the parental
protestor.
LETTER FROM MIDDLE GEORGIA.
The Murder of Mitchell—Antecedents
of Mitchell and the Bulls—Both Mur
derers—Miss Lueinaa Bull—How
Mitchell was Killed—'l he Letters of
Lucinda to Mitchell—Twiggs County
iu a Ferment—Rains in Middle
Georgia-Crop Situation—Solidifying
the City—Finance and Trade—Card
of Thanks—Abrams’ Paper.
[speclal correspondence ckronicle-and
sentinel ]
Macon, June 4th, 1874.
The Assassination of W. D. Mitch**
Yesterday, Dr. John H. Bull
son, George M. Bull, were
fore Magistrates Adams, Collins aU
Sprints, charged with the assassinat*J
of William D. Mitchell, near MaconJwn
last; Friday afternoon. The court rotfjn
was thronged with people, including; a
great mauy witnesses for both sidefr—
thought to be fifty or sixty. Judge
Weems, for the prisoner, asked that the
case be postponed until next Friday af
ternoon, iu consequence of the illuess of
Colonel Whittle, his associate. Granted,
when Court adjourned and the prisoners
went back to jail.
The Antecedents of Mitchell.
Since the tragic and bloody death of
this man many circumstances connected
with his past life have beeu brought to
life. His neighbors nearly all give him
the character of a born liar, libertine,
drunkard and desperado. He said him
self that he was a native of Catawba or
Cahawha county, Virginia, and that he
belonged to a Confederate company
from there during the war. Ido not re
member such a county, though there
may be. The reason he gave for not re
turning was that he had something to do
with murdering a man there about the
beginning of t lie war. Another story is
that he was a Yankee, and came to Ma
con with the raid of Wilson, and when
that army was disbanded in this city
preferred remaining in Georgia to going
home and answering a true bill f'V au
infamous crime. For several years after
the war he infested ' the doggeries,
brotlials and junkshops of East Macon
and Cross Keys, and was often embroiled
in disgraceful rows. He finally married
the widow Bay, of Twiggs county, and
at once took charge of her jdaee, but
nearly every week would get drunk,
which often ended in a light with
someone. One night whilst intoxi
cated he visited the house of
Louis Crawford, and whilst there
grossly insulted Mrs. C. and another
lady by the use of vulgar and unseemly
language. He was finally put out, and
shortly afterwards Crawford met him in
the public road, when Mitchell com
menced shooting at him. At the fourth
shot Crawford let. drive the contents of
a double-barreled shot gnu, putting
thirty-four small shot in liis right arm
and several in his body. He had in
sulted many other ladies in the neighbor
hood, and one night attempted to com
mit a rape upon a negro woman in the
public road, near Macon, whilst she had
her child in her arms, and in the pres
ence of her husband.
l)r. Bull and His Son George.
Up to this affair I have heard nothing
said against the general character of Dr.
Bull. He is a physician of the Thom
soniau or botanic faith, and therefore
never enjoyed a very extensive practice,
although before the w T ar lie had accumu
lated right smart property about him.
He is known to be a man of
true personal courage, and hence
everybody expected him to kill
Mitchell as soon as the scandal about
him and his daughter was started. As
lie appeared in the Court room yester
day he was over fifty', five feet two, light
frame, gray beard, bald head, which was
partially concealed by combing the side
locks over the crown, and was dressed
in a light cassdmere suit, with black
beaver hat. II is 'face is, rather a good
one, and the whoij»earance of the
man not unlike in?H!f country mer
chant*.
The Antecedents of George M. Bull.
Although his complexion is fair, his
face was not a good one. Forehead
rather broad and receding, blunt nose,
rather large mouth, the whole counten
ance fiat, and wanting in sympathetic
lines. I would take him to bo twenty
five. He is not so tall as his father,
much stouter and broad shouldered. He
appeared in a suit of black cloth and a
new black beaver hat, and bore on air of
indifference in Court. During the war
he
Killed a Negro
In Twiggs county. I met no one who
remembered the circumstances of this
killing, but all agreed that it xvas in
self-defense, and hence he was cleared.
Killing His First Cousm.
About twelve or eighteen months ago
George Ball kept a country^grocery,
whisky always found hi siicfi establish
ments, and which!he sometimes freely
patronized himself. One day his cousin,
a young man by the name of Norris,
was there, and they both commenced
drinking and ended in getting full and
into a tight. During the fight Bull kill
ed Norris on the spot, for which offense
a true bill is now pending iu the Twiggs
Superior Court.
Miss Lucinda Bull.
This is the daughter of Dr. Bull, and
the sister of George, whom Mitchell
boasted that he had ruined. She is
said to be about seventeen years of age
and very handsome. The friends of
Mitchell say thatjetters and notes from
her to Mitchell can be produced very
damaging to her ehastity. These docu
ments are reported to be now in the
possession of Jut,go Ward, the Ordinary
of Bibb county, hat they bear no sig
natures, but aif in the bandwriting of
Miss Lucinda, ku effort will no doubt
be made to havefthem read at the trial.
A year ago it; is said that Mitchell,
while drjjjkingJ boasted of having se
duced Dr. Bulls daughter. The Doc
tor, of course, lpard of this, and ho and
his son George, f. immediately mount
ed their horses iJd rode over to Mitch
ell’s house fori She purpose of killing
him. When tliej met him the purport
of their business Was immediately made
known. Mitchell vehemently asserted
that what he hadlaid was true, but that
the young worn;! freely consented, as
he could prove tyi letters and notes then
in his possession Dr. Bull demanded
the notes and leters, when Mitchell told
him he had the day previously thrown
them into a dri well on the place, but
would immediußly go and get them out.
He started ofjf ’or the well, leaving his
visitors at tljic house, who waited for
several hours *fif him to return, but not
doing so they fijiew that this was a ruse
to get away ifjjm them. Mitchell left
the State and went to Virginia, where
he remained io many months. Dr. Bull,
not caring to kjep his family in a neigh
borhood when so much scandal had
been raised alout his daughter, moved
to Macon. ferine one then wroto Mitch
ell that he hjai left; the matter died out,
aud that he fluid return with safety.
He did so. Tbe was nearly one year ago.
So soon as 1* got back Dr. Bull sent
him a verbal nessage that he would kill j
him on sigh. Mitchell knowing that
he was not a pan to make such a threat .
as that witlioit intending it, kept away ,
from Macon, intil yesterday, and never »
moved abojujlhe plantation or neigh- (
borhood wjjaout being heavily armed ,
with a shot (Bu and a revolver. ,
The Testimlny of the Prosecution
r joresbadoweil.
The prohibition is expected by out
siders to prtve that Mitchell rode into
Macon last Friday morning with Mr.
Walls. Tb t Dr. Bull saw him standing
in the doori.f Traywick’s store, on Third
street, andjffpon approaching, Mitchell
retreated w his mule and went back to
Cross Key 0 then returned to the city
again, an< about one o’clock started
home, in » r npany with Walls. Three
miles from lie city, and whilst passing
through a iwampy place in the road,
flanked by an impenetrable ' gallberrv
thicket onj ich side, Mitchell was shot
through U head and body jmd in
stantly kifi and by a shotgun in the
in the half sos George M. Bull, and
that a narr W path had been freshly cut
through tin thicket ten or twenty steps
in length; tlat an hour or two before the
killing Dr.l ilUnd George had been seen
to cross the oriige over the Ocmulgee
river in the ityi pass under the wagon
road culvej c ! the Central Railroad
beyond and liß\ppear in the woods lie
low. That oOf] afterwards one or the
other of them fas at McCall’s mill, a
quarter or a ha 1 ] mile beyond the place
where Mitchelljiell, describing Mitchell
and inquiring if such a man had passed;
and that Geor (j i Bull was seen on the
track of the IK t con and Augusta Rail
road, this side i the river, later in the af
ternoon, comi(. in the direction of the
city. I presutf s that at least one hun
dred witnesses aye been subptaned in
this and Twigg county. Os the killing
of Mitchell by; be Bulls no one has aDy
doubt. The e* litement in the city was
very high whft; the assassination was
first told, and* great deal of indignation
expressed agaf, it Dr. Bull. But when
it became kna, i what Mitchell was kill
ed for, nobody expressed any sympathy
for him, some'; that whilst he
ought to have ) lied,he perhaps ought to
have been giv| a better chance. The
result can now, ie told. No tr.au can se
duce a warnaai n the South without for
feiting his any kinsman or friend
who chooses %< take” it.
Showers of Biin—Jones and Baldwin
-Get Them.
.Here in thacity and in the county of
Bibb the dro th continues. Not enough
rain has falle iq thirtyTtwo days to lay
the dust for t a minutes. A heavy thun
der cloud pat ed to the right of us and
went down the river at 9 o'clock last
night. At 11 the northwest angle of
another following it passed over the city
and favored it with a small shower, but
not near enough to do much good. The
uortliern and eastern horizons in the
directions of Jones and Baldwin coun
ties were at the same time black with
dense clouds, which were momentarily
illuminated with vivid flashes of light
ning. At the moment of writing you I
have received no information as to who
got rains, but I. do know that every
farmer in Middle and Southwestern
Georgia wanted it, and had enough, for
the prolonged drouth is beginning to
tell upon every species of vegetation.
Thunderclouds arenowfecn nil around,
aud we confidently expect to get a bene
fit before twenty-four hours. May Hea
reiikgrant it!
The Crop Situation.
Beports from the plantations are in
the main favorable. The field crops
have not as yet received any permanent
or material damage from the drouth, nt
least no more than a good rain would
speedily repair. Os course a great many
species of garden vegetables nro gone
beyond any hope of redemption. No
amount of water would succeed in re
suscitating them.
Solidifying the City.
It is gratifying'to see the big lots oc
cupied by residences being cut up into
small ones and other houses being built
upon them. Macon has as much, if not
more, ground within its boundary lines
as Augusta, but not. near so many people.
It is a place where one has to walk half
aujhour to get anywhere, and whilst those
broad streets and acre lots with only one
house upon them look well and all that
they tell upon the business man who has
to walk five squares to dinner, or three
squares to see his friend. But, beautify
is an autoeratio mistress, dictating
pleasure with an imperious will.
Finance aud Trade.
Wo continue to chunk off a few car
loads of corn and meat, to retail small
lots of ribbons aud calicoes, with here
and there a sale of household and
kitchen furniture, including a coffin, ob
taining anything but drug store profits.
Yellow corn, §1 05; white, $1 15. Clear
rib bacon sides; 11} cents. Lawyer’s fee
for clearing a man of murder, sso@ssoo.
P. S.—Nobody has been killed iu
Macon since last Friday.
Card of Thanks.
Ever since iny connection with the
Chronicle and Sentinel I have been
placed under renewed obligations to Mr.
T. H. Henderson, agent at Macon; to
Mr. Theodore Wells, money clerk; to
Mr. Bowden, messenger, and to several
other messengers of the Southern Ex
press Company, for favors, and it affords
ine pleasure to thus tender them many
thanks. The Express Company could
scarcely obtain the services of more
competent gentlemen; certainly none
who would more universally win the
good will of the business men of Macon.
Abrams’ New Paper.
Everybody is anxious to see St.-Clair
Abrams’ new paper —The Atlanta Daily
News. Ho will make tilings us lively
down here as in Atlanta, and I have no
doubt his new enterprise can be as
graphically described as the condnct of
Dick Burton at the party, “ Baiseu
h—ll.” Abrams has one peculiarity—he
will leave out a long-winded editorial at
any time to get in a first-class hanging.
Jean Valjean.
EXPRESS ROBBERS.
A Struggle for Life in the Dark—One
of the Robbers Shot by the Messen
ger.
[From tho Detroit Free Press.]
Friday evening,when the express train
over the Central Boad east reached Mi
chigan City, S. B. Heath, the express
messenger, noticed three men lounging
around on the platform. They were
strangers and suspicious looking fellows,
but he gave them no more than a pass
ing glance. When the train pulled our
lie went into his car and began looking
over tho money packages, having the
way bills on his lap aud a solitary cau
dle placed whero it would give him
light. On the Atlantic express the ex
press company has a whole car to itself
next the engine. The front door was
fastened and tho back door locked, and
Heath was all alone. The train had
passed Avery, two or three miles, and
the agent xvas bending over his iron
chest, when, glueing down, he saw a
man’s leg and foot beside him. He
raised his head to look, but had scarce
ly clone so when lie received a tre
mendous blow on the forehead, the
robber striking him with iron or
brass knuckles. Tho fellow at the same
time made a grab into the money chest,
got his hand full of envelopes and ran
for the front door. They had boarded
the train by tho front platform of the
-r— —, —.i i—u ~*“■>< bijt
door with “jimmies.” Tho train runs
like lightning, and the roar of the
wheels had prevented Heath from hear
ing anything until tlio man stood over
him. The messenger was knocked out
of his chair by the blow, and the candle
was knocked across the car. He seized
the second robber, who xvas grasping at
tho mouey packages, and they struggled
together on the floor of tho car in the
darkness. Heath is over forty years
old, an ordinary sized man, but full of
J pluck, and lu: fought desperately to cap
| tore the robber. Ho was dragged half
| way to the door, xvhere the man shook
; him off, but he gained a nexv hold and
they went down on tho floor together,
‘ Heath underneath. He clinched into
the man’s hair xvith one hand, and while
sturdy blows xvere being rained down
; on liis face and chest he reached with
the other hand for his revolver,
, which was in his hip pocket, ift xvas
lying on his back, and to get the re
volver he had to tear his pocket out.
He remembers of preparing to shoot, of
firing, of the robber rolling off' of him,
and then ho knew no more Until the
train was halting at Niles, a distance of
thirty miles. Even then he xvxts too
weak to get up. Hearing some of the
train hands passing the car he called out
and they came in. They thought at
first that he was playing some practical
joke, but as soon ns a light was brought
in they realized what a death struggle
had taken place there in the darkness.
Heath was covered with blood, and the
robber was dying. He gasped once as
they raised him up aud then fell back
dead. The body was removed from the
car and left at Niles. The robber was
well dressed, powerfully built, and had
taken the precaution to empty his
pockets of everything which might
serve to identify him or betray his com
panions.
As for the other man, ho undoubtedly
jumped the train as soon as he secured
the money. The train was a little ahead
of time, and tho engineer ran slow at
some points so as to get back to card
time. Near the front door was found a
package of money containing $1,200,
which had been dropped by tne robber
in his hurried flight. As near as can be
estimated he took $2,700 with him. On 1
the floor of the car was found a wicked
looking knife, the blade open, and evi- I
dently the property of the dead robber. 1
He had the knife in liis hand and was
preparing to murder Heath when the 1
messenger’s bullet entered his brain.— 1
There is no clue to the robbers, or if
one has been secured it has not been an
nounced. Pinkerton, tho detective,
was at Niles yesterday to see tho body
and pick up information.
CABD FROM '! 1I E CHAIRMAN OF
TUB DEMOCRATIC EX KCUTIVK
COMMITTEE.
Macon, June 4, 1874.
Editors Telegraph and Messenger :
I see some of my friends doubt my au
thority to call a meeting of the Execu
tive Committee of the Democratic party.
If they will refer to the proceedings of
the convention creating tho committee,
their doubts will vanish. Others object
to the time, thinking candidates should
be placed in the field immediately.—
Upon conference with some of the com
mittee,l learned that it was more proba
ble I would secure a quorum at the time
appointed .than at an earlier day.
Again, it was thought that a short, ac
tive campaign would be morn effective
than a long, tedious one during the
Bummer months. The Executive Com
mitte also desire, while advocating the
cause of no aspirant for the offices and
honors of the party, to so shape their ac
tion and that of the party as to give no
cause of offense to any one. Hence
they thought that simple justice re
quired that the cal! should be made, so
that all parties,- those present and those
absent on duty, should at least be placed
upon an equal footing. This will pre
vent schisms and jealousies, and was
necessary for the harmony and prosperi
ty of the party.
I hope this simple explanation will
convince all onr friends of the wisdom
of onr action, for we are looking only to
the success of our ca ise and the welfare
of the State. Thob. Hardeman, Jr.,
Chairman Executive Committee.
Dr. Lovick Pierce is quite sick in
Macon.
The citizens of Gettysburg are still
selling relics of the great battlo there.
Every time they sell a relic they “sell” a
stranger.
Eleven French editors ure in prison
this month for being too frank, The
new government doesn’t believe in the
franking privilege.
Benjamin Franklin’s autograph lias
reached Michigan, and it makes one feel
lonesome to see tears trickling down the
cheeks of aged ladies as they gaze upon
the venerable relic, written on paper
made in lsoy.
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Buateed Busted.
Washington, June s.—The Judiciary
Committee to-day decided to impeach
Buateed, the District Judge of Alabama,
on the two first counts—nori-resideuce
and irregularly in holding the Courts.
Tho third charge, which involves pecu
niary corruption, failed.
Personals.
Washington, June 6. —Gen. Sherman
goes to St. Louis for a few days.
Schurz has malarial fever.
Congressional,
The Committee of Conference disa
greeing iu relation to’ the Freedman’s
Bank, the two Houses met this after
noon, at two o’clock, and xvere in session
at 3, p. m. The Senate insists on its
bill, which provides for a complete
winding up of the affairs of the bank in
this city and all its branches. The
House bill allows the banks and its
branches to continue to do business,
but Rets forth explicitly upon what class
of securities loans shall be made.
An amendment to the’post offloo ap
propriation bill,that agricultural reports
pass t ho mails free, was stricken out.
In Ihe House, the deficiency bill was
sent to a Conference Committee. The
House passed the bill relative to Mis
sissippi levees. This is regarded as an
other act of justice to the Southwest. It
provides for tho appointment of a com
mission of two officers of the engineer
oorp sand three civil engineers, to make a
full report of thebest system for the per
manent reclamation and redemption of
the alluvial basin of tho Mississippi,
which report the President is to transmit
to Congress at its next session, with his
recommendations tilt h on. The civil
members of the commission are to re
ceive five thousand a your each and trav
eling expenses, aud the secretary to re
ceive two hundred per mouth. An
amendment making the commission to
consist of three army engineers and two
civil engineers, was adopted. The bill
passed by viva voce vote. This is known
as Morey’s bill.
FOREIGN NEWS.
English Affairs
London, June s. —The House of Com
mons, lastniglit, by a vote of 161 against
126, adopted a proposition of the Gov
ernment that public houses in this city
be kept open on xveek days from 7 *
o’clock, n. m., until 12:30 at night. The
House, also, by a vote of 381 against 42,
approved the Government’s proposal
that such houses shall bo open on the
same days in towns having over 2,500
population from 7, n. m., to 11, p. m.,
aud iu towns of less number from 6, a.
m., to 10, p. m. Mr. Disraeli announced
that the Government had seven impor
tant bills, and that the session would be’
long.
American Pilgrims.
Paris, Juno s.— The American pil
grims to-day xvent in procession to the
grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. They
carried the American flag. Large crowds
xvituessed the procession and uncovered
and saluted the pilgrims xvith loud
cheers as they passed. The sacred ban
ner which x\as brought from America
xvas presented at the throne.
In the Assembly, to-day, M. Batbie,
reporter of the Committee of Thirty,
submitted a proposal reducing the num
ber of deputies from Algeria to tllree.
M. Hevreau, Bonapartist, has been
nominated for the Assembly from Lyons.
Tho Left lmvo organized a pamphlet
campaign against tho Bonapartists.
Documents warning tho people against
the designs, exposing the sophistries and
recounting the fatal history of the Impe
rialist party, xvill be thoroughly circula
ted in Paris and the provinces. The Duke
do Gazes to-day, lmd a conference with
tho committee of tho Assembly on the
postal convention with the United
States. He said the arrangement under
consideration xvas only to serve ns a
transition to a more liberal system,
xvliieh would he embraced iu an addi
tional convention to be hereafter sub
mitted.
Sentenced to Death.
Parts, June 6. —Tho Council of War
has pronounced a verdict of guilty
against M. Melvil Bloncourt, Deputy for
Guadenlope, for participation in the acts
of the Commune, and condemned him
to death in contumacion.
The Prince Imperial.
Tho Lr, Pays (newspaper) says tho
friends of the Prince Imperial strongly
oppose the nomination of Prince Jerome
Napoleon for the Assembly. It is ru
mored that a duel lias grown out of the
violent proceedings in tho Assembly
last Tuesday.
Tlio Pope Improving.
Bomb, Juno 6.—The Pope xvas|able to
celebrate Mnss this morning, and sub
r-eqnenw-y wanted co iris library. Ho Is'
very feeble, but the fever Las left him.
Spain.
Madrid, June C.—General Concha
lms entered Logrono.
The Opposition to Ecclesiastical Law.
Vienna, June 6.—The Catholic Epis
copate of Bohemia lias determined to
resist ecclesiastical laws. Passive oppo
sition lias already commenced, witli ap
pointments to vacant-livings.
From Cuba.
Havana, June G. —Captain-General
Concha has issued a decroo intended to
arrest tho rapid riso of gold, which is
considered to he solely duo to the re
cent law compelling importers to pay
twenty-five per cent, of the duties in
gold, the Treasury no longer receiving
the equivalent in paper, us xvas done at
first. Concha orders the Spanish Bank
to sell gold on account of the Island
Treasury at a less premium than that
quoted on the Exchange or by brokers.
Concha fixes the amount of the premium
for xvliieh Government gold is to ho sold,
tho daily rate for the current day'being
posted at the entrance of tho hank overy
morning, at eight o’clock, so that mer
chants can make their calculations be
fore business hours.
SPLENDID RAINS IN MIDDLE
GEORGIA.
Fine Condition of the Crops.
[special dispatch to the chronicle and
SENTINEL.]
» Macon, June C, 1874.
After over tnirty days of dry weather,
during which time not a shower of rain
fell between tho Chattahoochee and
Oconee and Altamalia rivers, tho drouth
has terminated. The rain commenced
fulling on Wednesday, eontinnod Thurs
day, Fjiday and to-day, and I am not
far wrong in stating that every county
within this territory has received a
bountiful supply, for which “Allah bo
praised. ”
It wu« indeed a Heaven-sent blessing
upon every vegetable and creeping thing
on earth. The drouth just lasted long
enough to allow the planters to cleanout
their crops, to permit cotton to get a
good start. Wo now feel assured of
making an abundance of corn.
The rains in Macon have been most
refreshing—refreshing everybody, every
thing. Jean Valjean.
THE HA I LUOAI) KING.
J. Edgar Thomson’s Win.
Philadelphia, June s. —The will of
Jno. Edgar Thomson was probated to
day. It appoints trustees who, after
providing for his wife and two sisters,
niece and nephew are to appropriate tho
remainder of the net income of his CH .
tate after the payments specified, or so
much of it thereto, to tho eduoation and
maintenance of female orphans of rail
way employees whoso fathers may have
been killed while in tho discharge of
their duties. Preference is to bo given
first to the orphans of the employees en
gaged upon the the Pennsylvania Rail
road, second to those of the Georgia
Railroad, between Augusta and Atlanta,
Ga.; third to those of the lines controlled
by the Pennsylvania Railroad by lease
or otherwise, fourth, to those of the em
ployees of any other railroad company
of the United States of America. His
estate is valued at two millions of dol
lars.
THE AMERICANS.
The New Party Come at Last.
Syracuse, N. Y., June 4.—The after
noon session of the Anti-Secret Society
Convention was turned into a political
meeting. About two hundred delegates
were present. President Blanchard, of
Whenton College, submitted a preamble
and resolutions for tho formation of a
national political party opposed to secret
societies. After a long debate and some
amendments the report was adopted.
The name of the party is to be “The
Americans,” and a platform.of princi
ples is to be framed by a committee of
one from each Btate. A national con
vention is to be called to nominate
Presidential candidates. The debate
was very warm on a proposition to em
body the namo of God in tho Constitu
tion as a plunk in the platform, which
was finally adopted. Pittsburg, Pa.,
was selected as tho place of holding the
next annual convention.
Harper's Ferry has one more popula
tion than in 1870, but he feels bad
enough about it.
The Seneca tribe of Indians now con
sists of one old horse, a chief and tluee
gallons of whisky. A few more setting
suns—a few more moons—a brief sea
son, and that three gallon jug will join
its comrades in the happy hunting
grounds.