Newspaper Page Text
The Georgia Record.
VOL I.
EXGOV. ATKINSON DEAD.
Former Chief Executive of Georgia Passes
Away at His Home In Newnan.
ANNOUNCEMENT CAUSES SORROW THROUGHOUT STATE
Dying Statesman Was Surrounded By Family and
Faithful Friends--A Brief Sketch of His Life.
Ex-Governor William Y. Atkinson
died at his home in Newnan, Ga., at
9 o’clock Tuesday morning. The end
came peacefully. The dying man was
surrounded by all the members of his
immediate family and many of his
friends. He had been slowly sinking
for several days, and Monday after
noon his physicians announced that
he could not recover. His sickness
lasted about fifteen days,during which
time every attention and care that
medical skill could offer and loving
hands could bestow, were given him.
The circumstances surrounding his
death were peculiarly sad and have
cast a gloom over the city of Newnan
and community, and censes sorrow
throughout the state. Early Tuesday
morning it was conceded that in a few
hours the great man would pass away,
and his anxious and inquiring friends
formed an almost unbroken chain as
■3
Wr
/'5
Who Died at His Home in Newnan,
Ga., Hast Tuesday.
they went to where the statesman lay,
hoping for some ground for hope.
Sorrow was depicted on the counte
nance of those advised of his condi
tion, and the expression on their faces
was evidence that the end was near.
The announcement that death had
brought to an end a career that had
found success and fame in Georgia
politics and stilled the heart that was
generous and liberal in the distribu
tion of affection, was no surprise to the
friends of the governor at the capitol,
for nearly all the beads of’departments
had but recently returned from New
nan, where they went to inquire into
Mr. Atkinson’s condition and to offer
their services and sympathy to Mrs.
Atkinson.
The last great effort of Mr. Atkinson
was made in the supreme court about
three weeks ago. He appeared before
that body to argue for the people of
Newnan iu the Atlanta and West 1 oint
railroad rate case. It will be remem
bered that he spoke for several hours
before the court and delivered a pow
erful speech iu favor of his side of the
question.
He had not been well prior to mak
ing this speech and he appeared be
fore the court under the disadvantage
of ill health, but he stood for hours
on his feet discussing the controversy
with great force.
His last illness began shortly after
his return home from Atlanta and at
first it was thought that he had only a
temporary sickness to contend with,
but after a few days the disease devel
oped into dysentery and his physicians
began to take steps to check the dis
ease and it was thought that he would
be brought around all right. A week
ago his condition became more serious
and the friends of the ex-governor
w’ere told that he was a very sick man.
Other physicians werd called in and
everything possible was done to save
the patient, but to no avail. His rela
tives and intimate friends watched at
his bedside day and night, and he want
ed for nothing during his sickness. He
brought his great vital power into the
fight for life and resisted to the last
the grasp of the hand of death, but it
was too muoh for him, the victor of a
great battle of the same kind a few
years ago.
Telegrams expressive of condolence
poured in from every quarter of the
state, from men of high and low sta
i tion in life and from those who, for
| getting petty differences, join in prais
ing the high qualities of the man.
Sketch of His Life.
William Yates Atkinson was born in
Meriwether county, Ga., on the 11th
of November, 1854, at the little post-
EX-GOVERNOR ATKINSON,
office of Oakland, whither his parents
had removed from Brunswick county,
Va. His father, John P. Atkinson, was
a native Virginian, a man of sterling
traits and irreproachable character.
On his father’s side he is a descendant
of the Sudys, the Yates and the At
kinsons, who settled in Virginia in the
colonial days. He is named for Wil
liam Yates, one of his ancestors, who
was a professor in the William aud
Mary college in Virginia iu the early
history of that institution. H“ is the
sixth of eight children. The death of
his father left ,him on his own re
sources at an early age. Nothing
daunted by the difficulties that await
ed him, without means and without
influence, he set to work to educate
himself.
Mr. Atkinson was first elected to
the legislature in 1886, and from that
time on his career may be summed up
as follows:
He was for years a leader in the
legislative halls and party councils.
He was a member of the general
assembly for eight years.
Twice president of the democratic
state convention.
Four years chairman of the state
democratic executive committee.
Two years speaker of the house of
i representatives.
Five years president of the board of
trustees of the Georgia Normal and
I Industrial college and a trustee of the
! University of Georgia.
And before attaining the age of 40
years was governor of Georgia.
In 1880 he married Miss Susie Cobb
Milton, of Florida. She has indeed
been a helpmeet to him.
ATLANTA, GA., SATURDAY, AUGUST 12. 1899.
CONSIGNED TO GRAVE
—4-
Remains of Hon. W. Y. Atkinson
Laid to Rist at ffiewnan, Ga.
L
FUNERAL SERVICE LARGELY ATTENDED
Many Prominent Georffl ' i» Deliver Fit
ting and Appropriate Eulogies (her
the Distlnguishmi Dead.
The mortal remains of ex-Governor
William Y. Atkinson ware laid to rest
iu the cemetery at Newnan, Ga.,
Wednesday afternoon, and the last
offices of the living for the dead were
performed by those who had flowers
for the bier, eulogies f>r his lifework
and tributes for the statesman who had
passed away in the meridian of life.
Newnan saw its g.eatest day of
mourning. All the stores in the town
w ere closed, and peop e came from
many miles around to attend the
funeral.
Many distinguished Georgians were
present. Among them Governor Can
dler and all the state house officials; ex-
Governor Northen, Senators Clay and
Bacon, Judge W. M. Henry, President
George C. Smith, of ths Atlanta and
West Point railroad, Colonel P. H.
Brewster, Judge John P. Boss, Mr.
Harvey Johnson, Major J W. Warren,
Congressman W. C. Adamson, Judge
James Willis, Mr. J. E. Dunston, Mr.
J. G. Truitt.
Judge Candler came f'om Fairburn,
where he adjourned court, with the
entire bar and the jurors serving in
his court. In adjourning court the
judge paid 9 tribute 'los. l e::-
governor, saying he had known him
for fourteen years, and had never
known a man more loyal to duty and
to friends. Many members of the ex
governor’s staff' were present.
All the colored porters at the capi
tol attended the funeral in a body.
The Newnan courthouse was heavily
draped in mourning. All business
was suspended, and never before in its
history had the little city seen a sad
der day.
The body was borne to the Metho
dist church, where the funeral services
were held. A number of the ex-gov
ernor’s friends, those who had been
closest to him in life, made short ad
dresses, in which many high tributes
were paid to the memory of the man
whose work on earth had forever
ended.
It having been the request of Gov
ernor Atkinson that the Masons should
have charge of his funeral, the Masons
of Newaan turned out in a body, and
the last rites were performed by them
at the grave.
The services at the church were con
ducted by the Rev. Dr. Stacy, of the
Presbyterian church, who has been
the governor’s pastor for several years.
He was assisted by Rev. K. C. Adams,
of the Baptist church, and Rev. W.
J. Cotter, pastor of the Methodist
church.
When the church services were end
ed the body was borne to the village
cemetery, where it was confided to
the grave.
There were many beautiful floral
offerings, one being a sword from the
members of his staff, and another
from the governor and the statehouse
officers, which was a large design of
the seal of the state.
There in the quiet city of the dead
he will rest from a life that had its
high rewards, but which had its strug
gles, and the grave will always be the
tenderly cared for sepulcher of a man
who was dearly beloved by the people
of Newnan.
MINERS RESUME WORK.
Coni Creek Company. However, Still Ke
fufteM to Recognize the Union.
The miners in the coal mines of the
Coal Creek company returned to work,
after being out three day The union
miners declined to work for the com
pany because a scale w hich really in
creased the prices for ■ ork done by
them had not been off ially passed
upon by their union. T e scale gave
them 45 cents on the ru r , of the mine,
where they had reeei 1 44 cents.
The difference was setth I by the com
pany allowing the men a I beck weight
man to be paid by them.
The company, however, continues
to fail to recognize th ' union in the
mines. Both union and non-union
men are employed.
STORM IN THE WEST INDIES
Two Hundred Lives Reported Lost On the
Island of Porto Rico. ’
OTHER ISLANDS ALSO SUFFER FEARFUL DEVASTATION
General Davis Sends Report to War Department and
Suggests Relief For Sufferers.
A dispatch by cable from Ponce,
Porto Rico, received Thursday morn
ing, says the town was almost destroy
ed by a hurricane which broke over
i the south coast at 1 o’clock last Tues
day morning and swept northwest.
J There was no abatement for nine
I hours, the greatest damage being done
, between 8 and 10 a. m. The wires
' were down and communication with
the interior for a time was carried on
by couriers.
Almost all of the frame buildings of
Ponce are down, the bridge is swept
• away and there is no communication
I between the port and city proper.
| Damage to the port is estimated at
i $250,000. Two natives are known to
have been drowned. The records and
property of the custom house are
ruined, and all the vessels are ashore.
At Aibonito very little remains
standing except the cathedral and
barracks. Four natives perished and
three United States soldiers Were
badly injured. As the town is with
out food, government relief has been
dispatched.
El Cayey was leveled to the ground,
200 houses being demolished. Two
United States soldiers were injured
; there, and many cavalry horses killed.
At Catano the entire plant of the
| Standard Oil Company was ruined.
■ The loss on the property is $200,000.
| At Bayamon a majority of the houses
i were destroyed and the rest were
I flooded. Two hundred cattle were
I killed and the railway was seriously
i damaged.
The village of Carolina was literally
i razed. At Cagua four persons were
killed.
A courier from Humacao, capital of
I province of that name, on the eastern
i coast of the island, reports awful dis-
I truction there. The loss to property
i is estimated at $500,000, but this is
■ the least item in the disaster. The
I courier brought an official report from
Captain Swift, of the Fifth United
j States cavalry, who said:
“Humacao was totally destroyed by
I the hurricane. Forty-six bodies have
been recovered and there are many
more in the debris. Eight privates of
i company C were injured, two fatally,
j North, a discharged private, is miss
j ing. At the port of Humacao eigh
' teen bodies have been recovered.
! Eight hundred people are starving
■i here.”
Three persons were killed nt Las
I Piedras and five at Junco.
Couriers from the other districts are
anxiously expected at the palace. The
i steamer Slocum, Captain Thomas, en
, route from Mayaguez to San Juan,
| was caught in the storm, but her pas
sengers and crew were saved through
the heroism of Mr. Single, the first of
ficer.
The coffee crop is ruined and the
loss will reach millions. Very great
injury has been done also to the or
ange crop.
No definite returns have yet been
received from the southern sections of
the island, apart from Ponce. It is
certain, however, that the food sup
plies in the stricken districts have
been destroyed, and in these quarters
the quantity of government stores on
hand is small. Relief wagons will be
sent out in various directions.
TRANSPORTS IN RESERVE.
Preparationji Made For Hurrying British
Soldierg to South Africa.
The St. James Gazette (London)
says all the shippingjjeompanies under
charter to the British admiralty for
transport purposes have been notified
to hold all their transports in reserve
for the immediate dispatch of troops.
The steamer Dunera has been or
dered to be in readiness Saturday to
ship a detachment oY horse artillery to
South Africa.
NO. 7.
Gen. Davin Send* Report.
The secretary of war received the
following report from General Davis,
commanding in Porto Rico, regarding
the cyclone.
San Juan, Porto Rico, August 10.—
Hurricane of extreme violence passed
over Porto Rico yesterday. The prin
cipal military loss at San Juan, of the
temporary company barracks wholly
destroyed, some quartermaster’s prop
erty damaged. No personal injuries
reported yet, but all wires are down.
No injury to shipping here save two
small schooners sunk, two sailors
drowned. San Juan lights tempora
rily disabled.
“Cable reports from Ponce say all
shipping is ashore. Custom house
sheds badly damaged and goods stored
therein. Messengers from two interior
posts tell of barracks unroofed and
personal and public property damaged.
The losses by the inhabitants is very
great and extreme suffering most re
sult. The last hurricane as severe as
this was in 1876. when, owing to the
loss of houses, fruit and provisions,
there was famine.
I would suggest public notice in the
United States to the effect that con
tributions of food, clothing and mon
ey for the destitute would be received
with the greatest gratitude and will
be applied strictly to relief of desti
tute. Have appointed a board to
supervise destitution. There are many
thousands of families who are entirely
homeless and great distress must fol
low. (Signed) “Davis,
“Commanding.”
Montserrat Visited By Hurr cane.
Advices from St. Thomas, the island
of Montserrat (D. W. I.) was com
pletely devastated by a hurricane
Monday. All the churches, estates
and villages were destroyed and near
ly 100 persons were killed. In addi
tion many were injured end rendered
homeless and terrible distress exists
among the sufferers.
As later advices come in from Mont
serrat it is seen that the first reports
conveyed only a faint idea of the suffer
ing of the people and their deplorable
condition. The administration ap
peals for help.
At LaPointe-a-Pitre, island of Guad
aloupe, immense damage was wrought
and according to a report not yet con
firmed 102 persons were killed.
In the island of St. Croix, the
largest of the Virgin islands, the de
struction was appalling. It was chiefly
wrought at the west end, where the
smaller houses are a tangled mass of
wreckage. Thirty pessons were killed
and the inhabitants are iu great dis
tress.
Storm Visits Guadnloupe.
Advices received at Paris from La
Pointe-a-Pitre, island of Guadaloupe,
state that the cyclone did enormous
damage in the interior of the island, a
number of coffee and cocoa estates be
ing devastated. Le Mourie, a suburb,
was half destroyed. There were a
number of fatalities. St. Jean advices
say the cyclone caused great destruc
tion in Porto Rico, whence it passed
northward to Dominica and thence to
Cape Haytien and the eastern end of
Cuba.
ENCOUNTER WITH YAQUIS.
State Troops Route Bad Indians, Killings
Several of Them.
A special to The Chicago Tribune
from City of Mexico, Mexico, says:
The state troops have had another
encounter with the Yaquis near
Medano, defeating them with a loss of
several killed. The state troops did
not lose a single man, but Lieutenant
Francisco Calles died from sunstroke
during the forced march mado to over
take the Indians.
